Part of the wonder concentrated in the word “behold” in today’s verse is generated by the unbelieving mourning of the sentence before it. Zion had said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (Isaiah 49:14 ESV). The divine mind seems to be amazed at this wicked unbelief! What could be more astounding than the unnecessary doubts and fears of God’s favored people? The Lord’s loving rebuke should make us blush—He cries, “How could I forget you, when I have engraved you on the palms of my hands? How dare you doubt that I always have you in mind, when the reminder is set on my very flesh?” Oh, unbelief, what a strange marvel you are. We don’t know which should have our greatest wonder—the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times, yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never fails; He is never a dry well; He is never like a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a dissipating fog—and yet we are as continually bothered by anxieties, suspicions, and fears as if our God were a mirage in the desert. “Behold” is a word intended to excite admiration. Indeed, we have here a theme for marveling: heaven and earth are rightly astonished that rebels would obtain such a great nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written on the palms of His hands. “I have engraved you”—it does not say, “I have engraved your name.” The name is certainly there, but that is not all: “I have engraved you.” See how full this is! I have engraved your person, your image, your condition, your circumstances, your sins, your temptations, your weaknesses, your wants, your works—I have engraved you, everything about you, all that concerns you. I have put every bit of you there, in my hands.” Will you ever again say that your God has forsaken you, when He has engraved you on His own palms? - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Oh these days in which we live. I was reading this morning again in Jeremiah and also in Hebrews. Both have much to say on how God directs lives to be changed and how important it is to obey the Word of God.
Some exiles who had come to Jeremiah for a word from God on which way to go, evidently didn't really consider what they were asking nor how the reply would be crafted. They got a straight to the point answer. If you go to Egypt you will die. Stay and you will live. The intent of their heart was to get confirmation to go to Egypt. They wanted to get away. They were caught in how God replied.
We live in a time where it sure feels like God's not listening. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. There is always work behind the scenes when it comes to Christ and the Holy Spirit.
I admit that there is an ever present feeling of anxiety. Evil people have exposed themselves as such in the politics of our country, and unlike in decades past, the media is helping them hide the truth. I see posts of people praying concerning the President. Maybe that's part of the point. To, as I have heard more than one Pastor say, get off their blessed assurance and do something. Yes, I am of the opinion that for the first time in the history of our country, an election is being stolen.
The ramifications will go well on after it.
Yet, for me, it comes back to prayer. God has not forgotten nor forsaken His people in the United States. He's calling on them to pray. People have been trying to organize revivals for years. Hate to break it to everyone, to all denominations, nobody on Earth can trigger a revival. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. We can spend time, energy and effort trying to organize revivals but if the Spirit isn't there to cause it to happen it's not going to be successful.
We who are in Christ are not forgotten, we are not forsaken. It's indeed scary times. But if you have been reading your Bible, you would know that we were told these times were going to happen. Jesus told us it would be this way.
Bible Prophecy says a lot, it leaves out a lot too. Such as a country like the United States. Israel must stand alone at the beginning of the Tribulation period. We will be among the nations who will, at that time, not be standing with them. Either God does something to our country to take us out of world affairs or we take ourselves out. That covers everything from the political landscape to physical disasters. At some point there has to be a rebirth of the old Roman Empire. That's in Bible Prophecy. At some point there WILL be an elected, World Leader. The nations of this world WILL give him all the authority to rules this planet. Sounds crazy huh? Well, my friend, look back even a dozen years. The here and now look crazy compared to then. What's happening now everyone thought impossible.
It's not easy keeping anxiety at bay. For me, I tend to pray more. God's door is always open to receive my prayers. These words from these posts aren't necessarily from me. God directs whatever is typed.
Pray for our country.
Pray for our President.
Pray that the lies would be exposed.
Pray that the truth would prevail.
After all that...pray.
No comments:
Post a Comment