Angels in Flaming Chariots

II Kings 6:8-23

A theme that used to be common in many action movies was the enemy surrounding the main protagonist, and then, just in the nick of time, in swoops help.  Often in old Westerns it would be the cavalry riding in on their horses to save the otherwise doomed main character.  Sometimes we may feel like we are also surrounded by enemies, whether at work, in the neighborhood, or even in our family, and we would wish that there was a cavalry ready to ride in and rescue us.  In our Scripture today we will read of a time when one prophet of God and his servant desperately needed such help.

Our Scripture today is set in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, between the years 895 - 885 BC.  The king of Israel at this time was Jehoram, the son of the more famous King Ahab.  A major prophet at this time in Israel was the prophet Elisha, who followed in the footsteps of his mentor, Elijah.  Though King Jehoram was not a believer, he was not as antagonistic to Elisha as his father had been to Elijah.  During this time the king of Syria to the north, King Ben-Hadad II, was periodically making war and attacking Israel.

As we begin, the king of Syria was making plans for another attack on Israel.  As the king planned to set up camp at a certain location, the Lord revealed the plan to Elisha, who promptly told King Jehoram (vs. 8-12).  This seems to have happened before, as King Ben-Hadad was angry and frustrated, thinking that there was a spy in his royal court.  One of his courtiers explained to him that it was the prophet Elisha who knew whatever plans they made, and he told his king.

God knows every secret plan of the enemies of His people.  No enemy can outmaneuver the omniscient God, and He will protect His people through His Word.  Elisha gave the king the warning from God, and we have His Word with us today as our defense against any deception and danger.

This angered King Ben-Hadad, and he found out where Elisha was staying, and sent an army to capture the prophet of God (vs. 13-17).  The army surrounded the city he was in at night.  When morning came, Elisha’s servant saw the city was surrounded by the Syrian army,  and he panicked and despaired.  However, Elisha did not panic.  He learned well from his mentor Elijah, and fully trusted the Lord.  He responded with one of the most comforting verses in the Bible: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then he prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant to see the protection that God supplied, a mountain full of angels with flaming chariots, heavenly warriors protecting them!

Elisha’s servant was not walking with his spiritual eyes opened.  He could see the enemy, but not the host of angels protecting him and Elisha.  When our eyes are opened, we can see sin and rebellion against God, and we see that Jesus has already won the victory.  He already rules in heaven.  This world is in His hands.  We should have no fear, for we know He wins.  Spiritual reality is greater than physical reality. The servant saw danger, but Elisha saw deliverance.  Fear comes from seeing only the physical.  Faith comes from seeing the spiritual.  God’s angels actively defend His people.  Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve believers.

Elisha then prayed to God to blind the eyes of the Syrian soldiers, and he led them into the capital city of Samaria, and right to King Jehoram (vs. 18-23).  The king wanted to destroy them, but Elisha instructed him to show mercy, feed them, and send them back home.  God can disable the enemy.  He blinds them, not to destroy them, but to display His power.  Elisha refused revenge and chose mercy, foreshadowing Jesus Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:44.

Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be.  Things are always better than they seem to be when we remember that God is on our side.  The servant momentarily forgot that until his eyes were opened and he saw God’s army.  Syria may have had an army of soldiers, but God’s people had angels in flaming chariots!!

Elisha had calm confidence.  He did not panic.  He did not retaliate.  Elisha trusted God’s power, obeyed His leading, and displayed His mercy.  God is always at work in ways we cannot see.  The armies of heaven are real.  God’s protection is real, and His mercy is real.  God rules over both individuals and over nations.

We are not alone.  We don’t have to be stronger or smarter than the challenge before us.  Jesus is with us, and His power is greater than all rivals.  We may be afraid of the enemy forces, but God provides protection and hope.  Our Savior will never leave us or forsake us.  He who is with us will always win the ultimate victory!

A Mother's Persistent Faith

Matthew 15:21-28

When we have a desperate need, and there is really only one source to go to for help, the last thing we want to hear is “No” for an answer.  This is especially true if the help we need is for a very dear loved one.  We will go to any length to help them, sometimes even refusing to accept that “No”.  In our Scripture today we will meet a mother who would do anything for her daughter’s health and well-being except to accept the word “No”.  We’ll see how the Lord Jesus tested her faith, and if she passed that test.  Let’s take a look.

As we begin, we see that Jesus and His disciples had gone to the region of the two Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon, right along the Mediterranean coast.  (Today they are in southern Lebanon).  This was Gentile territory, which would be significant as just earlier in the chapter there had been a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees about external traditions and internal purity.  The Jewish people at this time, particularly the Pharisees, considered the Gentiles impure, and being around them, talking to them, and particularly going into a Gentile’s home, would make one unclean.  A good Jew would avoid going to a Gentile city unless one had very urgent business.  However, this was where Jesus took His disciples.

While there, a Canaanite woman approached Jesus, crying out for Him to have mercy on her and her daughter (vs. 21-22).  She used Jesus’ Messianic title, “Son of David”, which was remarkable for a Gentile to use.  She based her desire for His help, not on any sense of entitlement as she knew she had none, but instead on the mercy that she had heard He had for those in need.  Her daughter was possessed by a demon, and she must have heard that Jesus had cast many demons out of people before.  This mother recognized that Jesus had authority over them, and now approached him with both humility and desperation.

Jesus, however, did not respond to her cries (vs. 23).  This mother must have followed Him around for hours, as after a while the disciples asked Jesus if He would just send her away, as she must have started to seem like a pest.  Why was He silent?  Some have had the audacity to say that this woman taught Jesus a lesson in compassion.  Our Savior does not need any lessons in compassion!  He was not being cruel!  Jesus was testing this woman, testing her faith by delaying His answer.  He was drawing her deeper, to reveal the sincerity of her heart.  God’s silence is not a rejection.  It is often preparation.

Genuine seekers who have not yet obtained the blessing can find comfort in this passage.  The Savior did not immediately bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in Him.  Although it is true that faith brings peace, it does not always bring it instantaneously.  God may have certain reasons for faith to be tested rather than immediately rewarded.

When He did respond, Jesus clarified to the woman what His mission was (vs. 24).  He affirmed the order of God’s redemptive plan - Israel first, and then the Gentiles.  This does not exclude the Gentiles.  God initially went to the people of Israel with His message of salvation, and then they were to take it to the rest of the world.  Christ’s earthly ministry focused on Israel, but His ultimate mission includes all nations.

This mother was not going to be put off! (vs. 25).  Her daughter needed help, and she knew that Jesus was the only One who could help her!  Again, Jesus’ answer sounded a little bit harsh, however He was still testing her (vs. 26).  Dogs here refers to the small, household pets, not the wild scavengers that frequently roamed the ancient Middle East.  He was testing her humility, drawing out a confession of faith that aligned with God’s order, not insulting her.  This woman must accept God’s plan before receiving God’s blessing.

In response, she gave a humble, but brilliant response (vs. 27).  She agreed with Jesus.  She did not argue for equality, she argued for mercy.  She believed that even a crumb of Jesus’ power would be enough to heal her daughter.  This woman knew that Jesus was so fine a divine housekeeper that there would be plenty of bread on His table.  There would be such an abundance for the children that there would be crumbs to throw on the floor for the puppy dogs, and the children would fare none the worse that the puppies are fed.  Even though her daughter needed a demon cast out, she believed that Jesus was so powerful that it would be nothing for Him, only a crumb.

Jesus rarely said that someone had great faith, but He said that to this mother (vs. 28).  She persevered through silence, and accepted God’s order.  She trusted in His mercy and refused to let go until she received His blessing.  As a reward, her daughter was healed instantly, demonstrating Jesus’ authority over demons, and His willingness to bless Gentiles who come in faith.

People today get so easily offended all too often!  They are offended that Jesus seemed to call her a dog!  They close their eyes to the lessons that God wants to teach us.  Fortunately, this mother didn’t get offended.  She kept coming back, and Jesus rewarded that.  This mother opened her soul very wide, expecting great things of Jesus, and He filled it with His love.

Faith Comes Through Hearing

Romans 10:8-17

There is a way that many Christians today prefer to use in sharing the Gospel with others, and today’s Scripture from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans shows that this method is not God’s preferred method that He wishes us to use.  Let’s see what we can learn from Romans today.

The method of witnessing that I am referring to, one which I have heard countless people say is the only method that they ever use, is that of the “silent witness”.  In this method, they say that they let their actions, their lifestyle, be a witness to their neighbors.  They hope that their neighbor will “see Jesus” through their actions, and that will be enough for them to come to faith in Him, they won’t have to say a word.  What does the Apostle Paul say about this method?  The answer is in our Scripture passage.

Today we’ll start at the end of the passage, and work our way back to the start.  In verse 17 Paul states that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Faith comes by hearing, not by seeing.  The Bible states here that faith is created by the Word of God - specifically the preached Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is not produced just by seeing someone live a good life, doing a few good deeds.  The lost need to hear the saving message of Jesus in order for them to come to faith in Him.  True, the way Christians are supposed to live their life is important, otherwise we will be considered to be a hypocrite if we say one thing but live the other.  However, speaking and telling others about Jesus, their hearing the Word of God is essential.

As we read in verses 14-16, the lost cannot call upon the Lord Jesus as their Savior if they don’t believe in Him, and they cannot believe in Him if they have not heard the message.  They won’t hear the message if nobody preaches or speaks to them about Jesus.  Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah by saying that the feet of those who bring the Gospel message to others are beautiful (Isaiah 52:7).  They are beautiful in the sense that they carry the message of peace and salvation.  Unfortunately not everyone believes, as Paul quotes Isaiah again (Isaiah 53:1).  But in order for anyone to believe, they first must hear the message.

Now let us return to the beginning verses of our Scripture, which will tell us what it is that one must hear in order to believe (vs. 8-13).  Paul begins here by quoting Deuteronomy 30:14, showing that God has made His Word accessible to everyone.  He has not hidden salvation.  The Gospel must be proclaimed by the mouth and believed in the heart.

The message that brings salvation is clearly stated in verse 9, that one must confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.  This is not mere lip service.  It is a declaration that Jesus is Yahweh, the divine Messiah, risen and reigning.  The resurrection is the proof of Christ’s deity, His victory over sin, and the sufficiency of His atonement.  The heart believes unto righteousness, and the mouth confesses unto salvation.  Belief in the resurrection is essential.  If someone denies this, they have rejected the Gospel and cannot be saved.  The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God who overcame death.  It affirms that God was satisfied with His Son’s death as the sacrifice for mankind’s sins.

Paul states plainly that there is no distinction, that salvation is offered to both Jewish people and non-Jewish or Gentile people alike.  Salvation is offered universally, but must be received individually.  Verse 13, which comes from the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32) teaches that those who call on the Lord will be saved.  Calling is the outward expression of the inward faith.  It is not a ritual prayer, but is the cry of a repentant sinner trusting in Jesus Christ alone.

In closing, we see through this Scripture passage that faith comes by hearing.  This shows that God does not want us to only be a silent witness for Him.  Yes, as mentioned above, we should live a good and godly life that is a testimony for Jesus, but we are also supposed to be a verbal witness, as well.  Others need to hear about Jesus.  Pagans and atheists can live a virtuous life.  If we are honest, how many people ever actually came to faith in Jesus because they saw that their neighbor was a good, upstanding fellow?  Some might be inclined to go visit a church, but it is there that they hear the Word of God and hopefully are saved.  Let us be faithful to the Lord, and tell those He brings across our path about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

God's Blessing is for Ministry

Psalm 67

When someone gives us some money or other resources, and tells us that it should be used for a specific thing, the proper thing to do is to use that money or resource for that thing.  If you give your son some money and tell him to go to the store and buy a certain item, you want him to come back with that item, not the latest computer game.  If your boss gives you certain resources to be used on a specific project, you should use it on that, not your own pet project.  Our psalm this week speaks of God blessing His people, but blessing them for a specific purpose.  Let’s see what we can learn from this psalm.

As our brief psalm begins, the unknown author prays for God’s blessing upon himself and the people, and for His face to shine upon them (vs. 1).  It is always nice to know that God’s face is shining upon oneself.  When someone’s face is “shining” upon you, you know that you have their favor.  It is a smiling, benevolent face, not an angry one.  Having God’s shining face would mean that He is looking towards and on you with favor.  God’s shining face is part of the blessing He commanded the priests to use for the people (Numbers 6:24-27).   In the light of God’s shining face, the people would be blessed and marked with His Name as His holy people.  Those who do not have God’s blessing, His shining face, face His terrible wrath (Psalm 34:16).  For those who have called upon Jesus as their personal Savior, we can have God’s face to shine on us.  That is because on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion the face of God turned away from Him while He was on the cross, bearing our sins.

The psalmist, though, is clear as to what the purpose of this blessing was to be (vs. 2).  God’s blessing here is to be evangelistic.  God’s blessing is to help us so that His ways will be known upon earth, so that we can go forth and tell others about the Lord.  There are plenty of preachers, many on television, who claim that God wants to bless us so that we can be rich, have all the material possessions we want - bigger houses, fancier cars, even so the TV preacher can add another jet to his fleet!  However, God’s Word says here that His blessing is so that we can make known His salvation, deliverance, and redemptive work so that others may come to know Jesus as Savior, not for our own personal wealth or prosperity.

As the psalmist continues, he prays that the people of the world will praise God (vs. 3).  This is universal praise, not just from the people of Israel.  This looks forward to the day when the Gospel message will be told all over the world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).  God’s plan has always been for His message to go to all people throughout the world.

We read in verse 4 that God is the Judge of all the earth.  Yahweh is not a tribal deity, or the God of just one group of people who follow Him.  He is God, Lord, and Judge of all people everywhere, and in every time.  His rule is righteous, unlike the corrupt rule of human governments.  This verse also looks forward to the Lord Jesus Christ’s millennial reign, where He will rule the nations with perfect justice (Isaiah 11:3-5; Revelation 20:11-15).

The psalmist repeats verse 3 in verse 5.  This shows his urgency and longing for global worship of the Lord.  God deserves worldwide praise.  Continuing on he speaks of God’s physical provisions and blessings (vs. 6-7).  These are tied to His spiritual purpose, which is for us to tell others about Him.  God’s blessings are for us to give testimony to Him, so that others will come to know Him, praise, and fear or give Him reverence.  The psalmist ends his psalm with confidence that God will accomplish His global purpose.  This certainty is grounded in God’s promises.

Our psalm today teaches us that God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to the world.  This is the same type of blessing that God gave to Abraham when He called him to follow Him.  God blessed him so that he would in turn bless others by telling them of Yahweh (Genesis 12:1-3).  Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, and the Church today continues that mission.  This psalm looks forward to the day when all nations will fear God, and Christ will reign in righteousness.

As we look back over today’s Scripture, we see that God’s blessings upon us are not specifically for our comfort, but for our usefulness in His kingdom.  We have a mission, and that is to give, go, pray, and witness to others for God.  Our life is meant to make God’s ways known to others who do not know Him.

No Second-Class Citizens

Isaiah 56:1-7

Have you ever been made to feel unwelcome at some place you went, that you just weren’t wanted there because of who you were?  Maybe it was some club or organization that was open to many but not to you because of your nationality, your education level, your lower income level, or maybe even because of something physical about you such as your weight or physical ability.  Such occurrences are hurtful, and they are especially hurtful if they happen at a church, which unfortunately they sometimes do.  In our Scripture today, the Lord gives His Word about this.  Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.

Our Scripture today comes from the words of the prophet Isaiah.  In this message the prophet declares that God’s salvation is near, and His righteousness is about to be revealed.  Because of this, God’s people need to live in obedience and holiness, and be faithful to their covenant with Him.  Isaiah also declares that God is including, if they trust and believe in Him, those who others have cast out, regardless of their nationality, any deformities, or other things that others have ostracized them for.  Isaiah’s message here is simple and urgent.  Because God’s salvation is near, His people must live faithfully.

Isaiah begins his message by urging the people to obey God and His Word (vs. 1-2).  This is not optional.  It is evidence of salvation, of genuinely belonging to Him.  God proclaims that His righteous acts will soon be displayed, which was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s first coming, and will be completed in His second.  Obedience to God is the proper response to His promises.  Salvation by grace does not cancel the need for personal holiness.  True faith will produce visible obedience to God.  He will bless those who take His commands seriously.

Next we read God’s encouragement to the outcasts (vs. 3).  Two groups of people were often excluded from worshiping in the Temple - those who were foreigners or Gentiles, and eunuchs.  Today people are still being excluded because of their nationality, both in the world at large and also in our churches.  And though we don’t typically think of eunuchs today, we do, however, judge and often exclude people because of the way they look or any other physical characteristic.  God says, though, that they are not cut off from Him.  God will welcome those who turn to Him.  In His church, people from all nations are united in the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:11-22).

God then gives a promise to the eunuchs (vs. 4-5).  Since they were unable to have children or to carry on a family name, the Lord promised that they would have a place in His house, an everlasting name with Him, and a legacy secured by Himself.  To all those who turn to the Lord in faith, He promises to replace any earthly loss with eternal blessings.  Faithfulness to God will overwhelmingly outweigh any earthly limitations.

God promises to the Gentiles, those outside of the nation of Israel, that if they join themselves to Him and obey His Word, they are also welcomed fully (vs. 6).  This is not the false doctrine of universalism, which says that everyone will be saved.  God’s Word here is saying that He welcomes all those who submit to Him and obey His covenant, regardless of their national background.  It is faith, followed by obedience, not ethnicity, that defines God’s people.

God’s intention has always been to have a holy house, a praying people, and a global invitation to come to Him (vs. 7).  Jesus quoted the last part of this verse when He cleansed the Temple, getting rid of anything that hindered people coming there to worship (Matthew 21:13).  God gathers the faithful from every nation, and they are welcome in His House.  This anticipates the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His disciples to establish the worldwide church.

All those who have at any time felt excluded from God are welcome to come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, including from any country or people, and regardless of any physical condition.  Those who feel excluded, broken, or unworthy can find full acceptance in Jesus.  The death of Jesus tore down the veil in the Temple, and anyone can now come to Him through the Blood of His Son.  God does not want there to be anyone treated as second-class citizens in His Kingdom.  They will not have to hold back and remain in the outer courts.  God will welcome into His presence everybody who loves and trusts Jesus as Savior.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Matthew 14:22-33

I have a fear of walking across bridges, which sort of goes along with my bad fear of heights.  A number of years ago, for a little while I worked at a company in Chicago where I had to cross a bridge spanning the Chicago River.  Every morning and evening I had to walk across the bridge, and panic would set in.  The only way I could force myself to do this was to look straight ahead, and refuse to look down towards the river.  I would focus my gaze on some object on the other side of the bridge, and then proceed to walk swiftly until I got there.  If I looked away and looked down, I would freeze.  Keep the eyes focused on the object ahead!  In our Scripture today, the Apostle Peter also needed to keep his eyes focused on one thing, and when he looked away, he found himself in a bad situation.  Let’s read what happened.

Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.  It was now evening, and as the crowds left, He had His disciples get into a boat and proceed across the Sea of Galilee while He would go up the mountain alone to pray.  While they were in the boat, a storm came with strong winds, and the boat was being tossed about (vs. 22-24).

As the Son of God, Jesus knew that a storm was coming.  We might wonder why He would explicitly send His disciples off in the boat, knowing about that storm.  This was intentional, not accidental.  The disciples were caught in that storm because they obeyed Jesus, not because they disobeyed Him.  Obedience does not exempt believers from trials.  God often leads His people into storms to grow their faith.  Jesus, up on that mountain, was not unaware of their predicament.  The disciples probably thought He had forgotten all about them.  However, He knew exactly where they were and what they were experiencing.  Jesus saw them even when they could not see Him.  No darkness can hide us, and no trial can obscure His vision.

Jesus came to His disciples during the fourth watch of the night, which would be between 3 - 6 am, which is the darkest part of the night.  As we read, He walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee (vs. 25-27).  This is not merely a miracle, it is a divine act.  As we read in Scripture, only God can walk upon the waves (Job 9:8).  Through the darkness, wind, and waves, the disciples saw a figure walking across the water and feared it was a ghost.  Their fear blinded them to His presence.  However, Jesus called out, giving them encouragement.  He told them it was Him.  He literally said I AM, echoing God’s covenant name, and told them not to fear.

Peter, realizing that it was Jesus, called out to Him, and asked if it really was Him, that he might be able to walk on water towards Him (vs. 28-30).  That was a remarkable request, but he didn’t act presumptuously.  He waited for Jesus’ command, which He gave.  Peter then stepped out of the boat and took some steps on the water.  This was an impossible act, but made possible by faith in Jesus.  Peter was the only one willing to step out of the boat.  Taking that first step requires courage, faith, and risk.

However, Peter made one mistake, and that was to take his eyes off of Jesus (vs. 30).  Peter looked towards the wind and waves, he looked at the problem, and fear quickly replaced faith, causing him to sink.  Faith looks to Jesus, while fear looks at circumstances.  We begin to sink the moment we shift our focus.  Peter froze in his tracks and didn’t know what to do, so he did the only thing he could think of, and that was to call on Jesus.  “Lord, save me!”  A short prayer, but a powerful one.  Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter (vs. 31).  Jesus was there to lift him up, and He’ll be there for us, too.  His rescue is swift.

Jesus then gave a gentle rebuke.  He didn’t say that Peter had no faith, only little faith.  The issue is not the amount of faith, but the object of faith.  Doubt is not intellectual uncertainty, but spiritual distraction, taking our eyes off of Jesus.  Doubt says “I wonder if it could be.”  Unbelief says “I know it is not.”  Doubt offers God the opportunity to prove Himself to you, and He will.

When Jesus entered the boat, the wind immediately ceased (vs. 32-33).  The disciples then worshiped Him, saying that He was the Son of God.  This is the first recorded instance of the disciples openly confessing Jesus’ deity.  This miracle led to worship.  True faith recognizes that Jesus is the divine Son of God.

Looking back at this Scripture we see that obedience may lead into storms, but Jesus will never abandon us.  He sees us, even when we feel alone in the dark.  Look to Him, not at the waves. What we focus on determines whether we walk or sink.  Trust in the Lord.  He hears our prayers and will help us.  The best thing is for us to not ever take our eyes off of Jesus.

A Burden for the Lost

Romans 9:1-5

Most of us have either family or friends who are not saved, who are not believers or followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Perhaps it is your sibling, or cousin, or maybe a good friend at your gym.  Or maybe it is someone even closer and more beloved, such as your spouse, your parent, or your child.  We pray daily for their salvation.  In our brief Scripture passage today, we read of how distressed and anguished St. Paul is over those in his family that may not be saved, and not just extended family, but even more particularly, those of his countrymen as a whole, the nation of Israel.  Let’s see what he has to say from the opening verses of chapter nine of Romans.

The Apostle Paul had always had a strong burden for the lost.  That is readily seen with his numerous missionary journeys, the Epistles he wrote, and the numerous hardships, including physical assaults, that he endured while spreading the Gospel message.  However, these opening verses in chapter nine are one of the most emotionally charged passages that he wrote.  Paul had a very strong and heartfelt burden for the salvation of Israel, and a deep sorrow over their rejection of Jesus, the Messiah.  As we will see in this study, God gave them many special privileges, which makes their unbelief an even greater tragic reality.

Paul begins with a very strong affirmation of how distressed he is over the lost condition of his countrymen (vs. 1-3).  This isn’t just fancy rhetorical language, it is his solemn testimony.  He has great sorrow and continual grief because they have rejected their Messiah.  Paul even goes so far as to say that if he could, he would give up his own salvation, wishing he were “accursed from Christ”, if they would only turn to Him (vs. 3).  Of course, since Paul was saved, he could never lose his salvation, and such a bargain is not possible.  Everyone must come to Christ on their own.  No one can make a bargain with God on behalf of someone else’s salvation.  However, this expresses the extremity of his love for them.  Moses prayed something similar when the people of Israel sinned against the Lord by making the golden calf (Exodus 32:32).

Next Paul listed eight God-given blessings that belonged to Israel (vs. 4-5).  These were special graces and blessings that God gave to them.  Because of each, the people should have believed in Jesus, but because they didn’t, it only heightened the tragedy of their unbelief.  First was their national adoption.  Paul was not speaking of personal salvation, but how God chose Israel as His covenant people (Exodus 4:22).  Israel also had the Shekinah glory, the visible manifestation of God’s presence with them in the tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem.

Over the centuries, God had made numerous covenants with them, such as the Abrahamic, the Mosaic, and the Davidic covenants, along with the promises of the New Covenant with the Lord Jesus.  Israel was the recipient of God’s redemptive agreements through these covenants.  He also entrusted Israel with His revealed Word.  No other nation or people had God’s specific Word at that time (Psalm 147:19-20).  They had been given and instructed in the Temple worship, the sacrifices, and the priesthood, each God-ordained means of approaching Him.

Israel had been given many promises by the Lord, both Messianic promises, kingdom promises, and prophetic assurances.  As a nation, they had the Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were the foundation of God’s covenant dealings.  And then Paul gives the crowning point, the greatest privilege, and that was that the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, came from their flesh, their lineage.  He came from them “according to the flesh”, but is also “over all”, a reference to His deity.  He is both God and man, simultaneously.

Israel’s unbelief does not mean that God’s promises have failed.  The Apostle Paul will later proclaim in this letter to the Romans that God’s sovereign election and plan are still intact.  Because of their revelations and privileges, Israel had greater accountability.  Because the Lord Jesus came through the people of Israel proves that God is faithful.  Their rejection cannot undo God’s redemptive plan.  Paul’s sorrow over them reflects God’s own heart.  The Lord is not indifferent to Israel’s current unbelief.  He has a future plan for them, as we can read in Romans 11.  Though some of the people of Israel came to Jesus during the days of the early Church, and to this day some continue to accept Him as Savior, the nation as a whole rejected their Messiah, despite immense privilege.  However God’s plan for Israel continues.

As Paul gave us the example, we too need to model deep compassion for the lost, both those in our families and circle of friends, our fellow countrymen, and the world at large.  It is a serious thing to reject God’s revelation.  Those who have had the privilege of hearing the message of the Lord Jesus have a greater responsibility before Him.  We also need to pray for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.  As we see in Romans 11, God still has a future for them.  God is faithful.  He keeps His promises even when people fail.

The Voice of the Lord

Psalm 29

As far back as my childhood, I have always enjoyed watching thunderstorms, and where I have spent my whole life, in the central part of the U.S., we have always had plenty of them every year, with a lot of tall, billowing storm clouds, and plenty of thunder and lightning.  Those frequently lead to the threat of a tornado, and I have gone through several in my lifetime.  Every few years a blizzard will come through in the winter.  Though there are some major fault lines here, thankfully in my lifetime all we have ever had are an occasional gentle rumbling.  And fortunately with regards to weather events, we are very far from any coast, so there has never been the threat of a hurricane.  In our psalm for today, David describes several events in nature, and how these occur through the voice of the Lord.  Let’s look at this psalm and see how God is behind these, specifically weather-related events.

In the ancient world many pagan cultures worshiped storm deities.  Zeus was the Greek god of thunder, lightning, and storms.  Thor was the Northern European equivalent.  In the Old Testament times, the pagan Canaanites worshiped Baal, who was the god of storms and the rain necessary for a good crop.  As David wrote in this psalm, he gave testimony that it was not any pagan god who brought these, but storms came instead from the voice of the Lord, Yahweh.  The psalm proclaims how the Lord’s power, absolute authority, and glory are displayed in creation, and that He rules over every force in nature.

David begins this psalm by calling upon the “mighty ones”, (who would be heavenly beings), to give God the glory due His Name (vs. 1-2).  God is so glorious that even angels must acknowledge His majesty.  Worship is not something optional that we sometimes might do if we feel in the mood.  It is owed to the Lord God.  Our worship should be reverent and God-centered, not man-centered emotionalism which we sometimes find.

Over the next several verses David describes the Voice of the Lord in the Storm (vs. 3-9).  What happens when God speaks and His voice goes forth?  His voice is the voice of thunder.  It can break massive trees.  It can bring forth earthquakes and bring down mountains.  His voice causes lightning and fire, and can strip a forest bare.  As David speaks of these events, he is not merely describing weather.  He is declaring that God controls every force of nature. Storms do not just happen at random. They are expressions of Yahweh’s divine control and authority.  These most powerful natural phenomena are servants of God’s voice.

God created everything, including the forces of nature, and as we see in this psalm, He actively governs His creation, nothing just happens on its own.  The Lord is also not an uninvolved, remote deity who made the universe and then just sits back without a care.  He is above His creation, but yet interacts with it directly.  When storms come in our life, whether literal or figurative, they are never outside of God’s control  His voice still speaks through circumstances, reminding believers of His power and presence.

As David closes the psalm, he proclaims that Yahweh is enthroned as King forever (vs. 10-11).  After the storm passes, David shifts from the powerful imagery of nature to the calm assurance of God’s rule.  He rules over the chaos of every powerful storm, and His rule is eternal.  Thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes all serve God’s purpose. They demonstrate His power, and should not be attributed to anyone or anything else.  His power is untameable and demands respect.

You never know when a storm is coming, so be sure you are worshiping the Lord God, and giving Him all the glory.  We can trust God in the storms.  No storm is greater than He is!  He who commands the storm also comforts His children.  His power is not only destructive, it is protective, strengthening, and peace-giving.  He gives strength and peace to His people, and brings a blessing after the storm.  David affirmed the Lord’s protection of His people even when the world shakes.  We are secure in His eternal rule.  The Voice of the Lord is ultimately the voice of peace for those who acknowledge and submit to His reign.  If life is stormy just now, worship the Lord and wait on Him.  The storm will pass, and He will give you peace.

Jonah's Prayer

Jonah 2:1-10

Many of you are familiar with reading about Jonah in the Bible, how he fled from God, was swallowed by a great fish, eventually spat out, and then did what God had wanted him to initially do.  It is a short book in the Bible, but contains many lessons which we should all learn.  One part of the narrative, though, is often overlooked or just quickly skimmed over, and that is chapter 2, where Jonah prays to the Lord from the belly of the fish.  If that prayer had not happened this story might likely have had a very different, more tragic ending.  Let’s take a look.

As we know from the account of Jonah in the Bible, the prophet had been called by God to go bring His message to the people of Nineveh.  Nineveh was the capital city of the ancient Assyrian Empire, who were enemies of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of Judah.  Jonah hated those people and did not feel that they deserved to hear God’s message nor receive His mercy.  Because he would not obey, Jonah thought he could go far from home and hide from God.  However, as we should all know, no one can hide from God.  While on board a ship a violent storm came, and Jonah was thrown overboard.  At this time, God prepared a giant fish to swallow Jonah so that he would not drown (Jonah 1:17).

Jonah remained in this fish for three days and nights, and while inside this creature, he prayed to God.  This prayer is what we will be looking at today.  This is a chapter in the Bible that vividly shows a picture of repentance, mercy, and God’s sovereign deliverance. It shows Jonah’s cry of distress, his acknowledgment of God’s justice, his repentance, and God’s gracious deliverance.

We read that Jonah prayed “out of the belly of Sheol” (vs. 1-2).  Sheol indicates a place of death.  Jonah must have felt, having been swallowed whole by some giant fish or type of sea creature, that though he was still alive and conscious, he was as good as dead.  He acknowledged that it was his own rebellion that led him there, but still he knows that God will hear him as he prays.  God will discipline His children, but His ear is still open when they repent (Hebrews 12:6; Psalm 66:18-19).  God has a purpose when He chastens His believing children.  Even when they fall, He remains merciful to the repentant.

Even though it was the sailors who threw Jonah overboard at his own request, the prophet knew that God was the ultimate cause, that the storm had been caused by Him specifically because of his rebellion (vs. 3-4).  God has supreme and ultimate power over circumstances, even those caused by human sin.  Even though Jonah felt cast out from God’s sight, he still expressed hope.  His faith was being revived, and he believed that restoration was possible.

God arranges and plans events to bring His children to repentance.  Rather than just having Jonah wash up on shore somewhere, He used something as horrific as being swallowed alive by a giant fish to bring him to repentance.  Sometimes God has to use something big and shocking in our life to get our attention and bring us to our knees in repentance.  But, like with Jonah, He always has mercy if we turn to Him.  Jonah recalled the experience of his near drowning (vs. 5-7).  God sometimes needs to bring sinners to the end of themselves so that they will turn to Him.  It was here, where all of his pride was stripped away, that Jonah cried out to God.

As Jonah continued in his prayer, he recognized that running from God was trusting in his own way, instead of God’s command, and that this was a form of idolatry, in his case by putting himself and his wishes before those of God (vs. 8).  Idolatry is not only worshiping statues, it is anything placed above obedience to God.  Jonah promised to give God obedience again (vs. 9), and he believed that God would save and deliver him.  At this time God commanded the fish, and it spat Jonah out upon land (vs. 10).  Salvation, whether physical or spiritual, is entirely God’s work.  Jonah contributed nothing to his rescue except by being repentant of his sins.  God’s mercy followed his genuine humility, and He restored the once disobedient prophet.

As we see, Jonah’s suffering was a direct result of his disobedience to God.  The Lord will discipline His children to restore them.  Jonah’s prayer is a model of repentance.  He acknowledged his sin and God’s sovereignty, and then renewed his commitment to Him.  His rebellion and then repentance did not cancel God’s mission for him.  God restored Jonah so that he could fulfill the calling he tried to escape.

The Lord brought a corrective storm into Jonah’s life.  Because He loves us, He will similarly disrupt our plans when we insist on going our own way instead of submitting to His will.  God’s storms are designed to get our attention.  They will humble us so that we realize we are not in charge.  God’s storms should lead us to repentance, and then for us to yield to His will.  We can remember, though, that even when the consequences are severe, such as being swallowed whole by a giant fish, God’s mercy is always available.

Our Lack But God's Abundance

Matthew 14:13-21

One might be surprised, but there are only a few events in the life of Jesus that are mentioned in all four Gospels.  Other than the events that surround His crucifixion and the Resurrection, there are actually only two other things mentioned in all four Gospels.  Those would be His baptism (mentioned explicitly in the three synoptic Gospels and alluded to in John’s Gospel), and the feeding of the 5,000, which is told in all four.  Even the Nativity of Jesus is only told in two Gospels.  Today we will take a look at this one miracle of Jesus that is told in each Gospel.

As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus had just received the news that John the Baptist had been executed by King Herod (Matthew 14:1-12).  When Jesus heard the news, He wished to go off by Himself to grieve and pray (vs. 13).  Not only was John the Baptist a relative of His, but he was also the forerunner of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:10).  However, no matter where He went, the crowds followed Jesus.  Rather than turn them away in order to have some time in prayer and solitude, Jesus had compassion on them (vs. 14).  Even in grief, Jesus’ compassion overrides His desire for solitude.  This is divine compassion, flowing from the heart of God.

With the day coming to an end, and evening approaching, the disciples told Jesus that the people should be sent home so they could get something to eat.  Jesus, though, told them that they should give the crowds something to eat (vs. 15-17).  The disciples’ jaws must have dropped at that statement, as there were at least 5,000 men, not counting the women and children, which could easily have brought the total to over 15,000.  The disciples saw only the problem: the late hour, the huge crowd, and very limited resources - only a few small loaves of bread, and a couple of fish.  Jesus was not asking them to perform a miracle.  He was inviting them to trust Him.

Five loaves and two fish.  This detail is important as it underscores the impossibility of the situation.  It also magnifies Jesus’ power, and shows that God often begins with what seems insignificant.  These loaves of bread were typically small and round, and would feed about two people, so five loaves would have been enough for a small meal for the disciples, but not this crowd.  This was enough, though, for Jesus to feed the crowd, and He asked that they bring Him what they had (vs. 18).  Jesus asks that we surrender whatever we have to Him, and He will then work through us.

Jesus had the crowds sit down, as He brought them to order before He gave the blessing.  He then blessed the food, acknowledging God as the source.  The disciples then distributed the food, and there was more than enough for the crowd (vs. 19-20).   This is a picture of Gospel ministry - Jesus is the source, and we are the channels.

So often when we give, we give just a little, just a “bite or two”, just enough for the person we are helping to get by.  When Jesus gives, He gives abundantly.  These people weren’t just fed a few bites.  They were fed until they were full (vs. 20).  This is divine abundance, not human adequacy.  There was enough left over from what Jesus provided to fill up twelve baskets.  The Savior provided not only for the crowds, but also for His disciples, as they undoubtedly took the twelve baskets to provide for a meal or two for each of them.

The miracle that Jesus performed here also anticipated what He would preach to the crowds the next day when He declared “I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35).  Jesus not only provides for us physically, but He also provides spiritual sustenance.  This physical feeding points to the spiritual truth, that only Jesus can satisfy the soul.  He alone fills the deepest hunger of the human heart.

Only God can create food out of nothing.  This miracle is a direct demonstration of Jesus’ divine power.  Though the disciples’ resources were extremely small, nowhere near enough to provide for the crowds, the Lord’s power was infinitely great.  God wants us to bring our “little” to Him.  Our time, abilities, and resources may seem small to us, but Jesus multiplies what is surrendered to Him.

When faced with an impossible situation, just like the disciples were that day, we must learn to rely on Jesus.  It is not about what we can do, but about what Jesus can do through us.  When we turn all that we have over to God we can expect Him to provide abundantly.  Not just barely enough, but abundantly, overflowingly, and graciously.

Love That Will Not Let Go

Romans 8:35-39

Have you ever felt that something might happen and you would lose your salvation or that God would just stop loving you?  Perhaps something you would say or do, something that someone might do to you, or some terrible event happens in your life and you would slip through God’s fingers, and be lost, or that God would stop loving you?  If some thought like that ever crossed your mind, then this Scripture is for you.  As we wrap up several weeks of studying Romans 8, let’s look at what the Lord has to say in these final verses.

The life of a Christian has never been an easy one, particularly in the days of the early Church.  It’s not easy for anyone, but particularly for a Christian, and especially if the believer is someplace where being a follower of Jesus is not generally accepted.  Persecution for the faith was common in the Apostle Paul’s day, and it is a very real experience for many Christians today.  As our Scripture begins, Paul listed seven types of suffering: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword (vs. 35).  These were threats in his time, as well as in our own today.  However, none of these can break the bond of love that Jesus has for us.  We don’t have to fear that because we are going through some terrible things, that it is a sign that God doesn’t love us, or we have lost our salvation.  On the contrary, our salvation is secure because God’s love is not sentimental.  It is covenantal and purchased by the Blood of Jesus.  Nothing that happens to us can ever undo it.

Suffering has always been a part of the experience for God’s people, going all the way back in time.  Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 to show this (vs. 36).  Suffering does not indicate that God has abandoned us.  Sometimes it confirms how faithful to Him we are.  Persecution will happen for those who stand true to the Bible, and even if that ends in martyrdom, that will not separate us from Jesus.

Paul continues on by saying that through all of these we are “more than conquerors” (vs. 37).  The Greek word used here is “hypernikao”, which means to gain a decisive or surpassing victory.  Picture being so victorious that you are like a super-hero.  Believers do not merely survive trials, we triumph through Christ’s sustaining power.  This victory, though, is not achieved by our human strength, but “through Him who loved us”.  It is the love that Jesus has for us that helps us persevere through to victory.

The apostle then lists in verses 38-39  ten forces that cannot separate us from God’s love.  Paul covers the entire universe, and declares that no created thing can undo what God has done.  Nothing that we ourselves, nor what anyone else does to us, can separate us from God’s love, nor destroy or take away our salvation.

When you are walking with a little child, holding their hand, whose handclasp is the one that really matters?  It is yours, not the child’s, as your grip is stronger and more powerful.  We don’t cling to Jesus by our own strength.  He holds us.  Our assurance rests in His grip, not in our performance.  We need to remember that death cannot harm us.  Life cannot overwhelm us.  Spiritual forces cannot defeat us.  And the future cannot intimidate us.  God’s love for us is not fragile - it is invincible!

No matter what happens, nothing will ever keep the love of God away from us.  In whatever battles or conflicts we are facing, we need to lift up our downcast eyes and see our Savior.  He has successfully completed His divine mission of grace, which was designed to forgive our sins and save our souls.  We can rest secure in knowing we are more than conquerors through Him, and nothing can separate us from His love.  The Christian’s salvation is eternally secure because God’s love to us through Jesus is unstoppable, unchangeable, and unconquerable.  No suffering, no spiritual force, no future event, no cosmic power, and no created thing can undo what God has sovereignly accomplished.  Jesus suffered upon the cross so that all who accept Him through faith will never have to experience separation from the love of God.

Telling the Next Generation

Psalm 78:1-33

Some families like to pass down to the younger generations stories about the family’s past.  They will tell the stories about relatives from generations earlier who did famous (or maybe infamous) deeds, or how the family persevered during difficult times.  For many others, though, the past generations are quickly forgotten, little more than a name on a family tree.  Though it might be nice to remember the deeds of some illustrious ancestors, what is more important is whether the faith of believing ancestors is passed down to future generations, along with the accounts of how God moved and worked in their lives.  Our psalm for today, written by Asaph, a Levite who wrote several psalms, tells of the importance of passing on one's family past, particularly what God has done for them.  If we forget what God has done in the past, then it is all too easy for our faith to falter when faced with trials in the future.  Let’s take a look at the first half of this rather long psalm.

It’s nice to be able to pass along stories of family victories, however, it is equally important to tell of past mistakes and failures, too.  This way, hopefully the younger generation can learn from the mistakes, and not make them in their own lives.  God’s people must remember His works, obey His Word, and pass truth to the next generation, or they will repeat the same tragic cycle of unbelief.  Asaph sought to instruct God’s people that forgetting His works leads to unbelief, rebellion, and judgment, while remembering His mighty acts will strengthen faith and obedience.  Israel’s failures were recorded in Scripture so that believers today will not repeat the same mistakes (I Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4).

Asaph begins his psalm with a call to listen to what God wants to teach them (vs. 1-8).  This is not optional.  God demands our attention.  He tells us that it is vitally important that we teach our children about Him and His Word (vs. 5-6).  This instruction was specifically given in Deuteronomy 6:1-9.  The next generation must know God’s works, so that they will set their hope in Him, and not be like previous generations who were stubborn and rebellious.  Israel’s failure began when they forgot what God had done for them.  Forgetting the truth is never neutral.  It leads directly to rebellion.  We see this today.  Over the past several generations many believers have failed to instruct their children and grandchildren in the Lord, and thus churches sit empty.  This has led to society becoming more and more evil and morality becoming a cesspool.

The psalmist continues by showing a pattern: God would work, but Israel would forget, leading them to rebel (vs. 9-20).  One example was the tribe of Ephraim.  When they encountered their enemies they were armed, but because their faith was weak, they fled (vs. 9).  They had the resources, but because they had forgotten God, or were never properly instructed by the previous generation, they lacked faith.  Israel had a persistent problem with forgetfulness (vs. 10-11).  They did not keep God’s covenant.  They also refused to follow His law, and thus forgot His works and wonders.  This is the spiritual root of all of their failures, and is too often the cause today.

Asaph listed many of the miracles that the people had witnessed in prior generations, such as God dividing the sea so the people could escape slavery to Pharaoh, His leading them by cloud and fire, and splitting the rock so they could have water in the desert (vs. 12-16).  However, what was Israel’s response?  They sinned more and more, they tempted God, spoke against Him, and questioned His ability (vs. 17-20).  This was not innocent questioning.  This was rebellious unbelief.  God had shown them visible, undeniable acts, yet Israel still doubted.  This unbelief was not intellectual, it was moral.

The remainder of this section of Psalm 78 shows God’s provision, but also Israel’s judgment (vs. 21-33).  God was angry because they did not believe in Him, nor trust in His salvation.  Unbelief is not just a weakness.  It is a sin.  However, despite their rebellion, God opened the windows of heaven and gave them manna and meat in abundance until they were filled.  God’s grace continued even while they complained.  He also, though, did not withhold His judgment because they sinned, their hearts were not right, and rebelled in their unbelief.  There will be judgment because God is a holy God.  His patience is great, but it is not endless.

This lesson doesn’t just apply to Israel in the days of the Old Testament.  It can apply to us today, as well.  It is vitally important that we teach our children and grandchildren about the Lord Jesus.  The truth about the Lord does not pass to the next generation automatically.  The Bible must be taught intentionally.  Forgetting about God’s works will lead to spiritual collapse.  Christians must tell the younger generations about God’s faithfulness regularly.  Just because we have received some blessings from the Lord does not excuse rebellion.  God provided for them abundantly, but judgment still came.  God is both merciful and holy.  Grace does not cancel accountability.  Let’s be sure that we never suffer from spiritual amnesia.

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Nehemiah 9:16-20

When we think of confessing sin to God, we generally think of confessing our own personal sins.  “I cheated on my test”, or “I lied to my parents”, or any number of other sins.  We don’t generally confess someone else’s sins to God.  However, several times in the Bible we see people coming before the Lord and confessing the sins of the nation to Him, asking for His forgiveness for the whole country.  Today’s Scripture is a portion of one such confession.   Let’s look into what this is about.

The Book of Nehemiah tells of how after a portion of the Jewish people returned to the Promised Land after decades in captivity, they began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  When the rebuilding was completed, the people gathered together and the Scriptures were read, followed by confessing of the sins of the nation and worship of the Lord.  It was for the sins of the nation that they had gone into captivity years earlier, and they were confessing and seeking forgiveness.  As we read this portion of that confession we see the stubborn rebellion of Israel, and how it is contrasted with the unfailing mercy, patience, and provisions of God.

This section of the confession focused on the sins of the people during the years of their wandering in the wilderness, following the Exodus from Egypt and prior to their coming into the land that God promised them.  The people, as a nation, had sinned and rebelled against God all throughout those years, however there was one particular occasion of sin that glaringly stood out above all the others, and that was the golden calf they made and worshiped.

As we begin reading we see that the people of Israel had become very proud (vs. 16).  Pride is the root of rebellion against God.  Pride blinds people to God’s authority.  They hardened their neck, which is just what an ox does when he doesn’t want to put on the yoke and submit to the farmer.  They had become stubbornly resistant to the Lord, and refused to listen to or obey Him.  This was not ignorant sin, this was willful disobedience.  It was not passive, but active rebellion.  They had God’s commandments, but their sinful heart resisted God’s authority.  We see this in the world today.  People know what God has said, but they willfully shake their fists at Him.

God had just weeks before delivered them from years of slavery in Egypt.  He had parted the waters of the Red Sea, allowing them to escape the army of Pharaoh, but now they were refusing to obey Him (vs. 17).  They were even appointing a leader other than Moses to bring them back to Egypt (Exodus 14:11-12; Numbers 14:4).  What was God’s response to their sin?  He was ready to pardon them.  God was gracious and merciful.  He didn’t give them what they deserved.  He was slow to anger.  God’s patience is long and His wrath is measured.  This is the same way He acts towards us with our sins.  He remains gracious and remains faithful to His covenant.  Salvation is rooted in God’s mercy, not in any merit of ours.

As we continue reading in verse 18, we read of one particular act of apostasy. While Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and the Law of God, the people rebelled against God and made a molten calf to worship as their god (Exodus 32:1-10).  This occurred immediately after God’s mighty deliverance of them from Egypt.  The people had replaced their true God with a man-made idol, a false god whom they attributed with their deliverance.  When we replace God with anything, whether it is a false god of another religion, an object, an idea, or another person, that is idolatry.

We see the love and mercy of God shown abundantly here (vs. 19-20).  You might think that God would destroy them all, or wash His hands of the people and let them perish in the wilderness.  However that is not what He did.  Despite their sin, God did not abandon them.  He continued to guide them through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud and fire.  His guidance continued.  God’s mercy towards them, and towards us today with our many sins, is abundant and overflowing.  He has great patience with His people, and is committed to His promises and covenant.  God gave His Spirit to teach them, along with manna and water.  God’s grace is not only forgiving, but sustaining.  He does not merely pardon, He shepherds.

Despite Israel’s sin, God remained merciful, patient, faithful, and present for them.  He does so with His Blood-bought children today, as well.  God keeps His promises even when His people fail.  God’s grace is greater than our sin.  As St. Paul said in Romans 5:20, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

Pride is still at the root of all rebellion.  As believers, we need to cultivate humility and submission to God and His Word.  God’s mercy is our only hope.  His readiness to pardon us is the foundation of our assurance.  As we read in today’s Scripture passage, we see our own tendency to wander, and God’s unwavering commitment to bring us back to Him.  It reminds us that the story of redemption is not the story of human faithfulness, but is of divine mercy.  God’s grace is deeper than our rebellion.  His patience is longer than our stubbornness, and His kindness is greater than our sin.