Source: https://nightlightblogdotcom.wordpress.com/tag/trying-situations/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 07:06:18+00:00

Document:
March Memories: odds ‘n’ ends ‘n’ sparrows.
I’m kind of a collector of lost causes. I’ve got a couple of plants people where I work have thrown away. Both survived and are growing. Then there’s the newborn pigeon on the balcony where I work. The balcony seems to be a favorite breeding-ground for them. Already two messes of babies this year. [I don’t know what you call a group of pigeons, “flock,” I suppose. Considering how dirty they are, “mess” seems like a good choice.] This last batch consisted of two yellow fuzz-balls. One was contentedly settled down in what passed for a nest; the other was having troubles. I didn’t think it would make it. It didn’t.
A “throw-away, as it were. A lost cause.
All of us are bent and broken and full of imperfections and problems.
Yet, through the Lord Jesus, God is pleased to take those bits and pieces, those imperfections, that lostness, and to build Himself a dwelling, which He beautifies and glorifies with His presence.
No wonder the Psalmist, in considering the work of God in his life, said, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it, Psalm 139:6. Then in v. 17, he wrote, How precious are your thought to me, O God!
(originally published July 12, 2013.) slightly edited.
When my wife and I were first married, we started each evening to read a chapter of the Bible before we went to bed, beginning in Genesis. We would alternate verses. We hadn’t been doing this for very long when we came to Genesis 15. As we were reading through this chapter, I noticed something I had never seen before. It made me exclaim aloud, “Now, wait a minute!” As I looked at this thought, the chapter, as well as the Bible’s teaching on faith, opened up to me in a way that was unbelievable.
One word of caution. There’s a standard understanding of this chapter that’s pretty much universally held. I held it myself. In fact, I’ve never seen or heard the approach to this chapter that I now hold. I believe that my view is right. It’s just that every so often someone comes up with some new teaching “from Scripture” – some hare-brained idea that’s all the rage for a couple of weeks, and then fades back into the woodwork. I’m not interested in novel ideas about the Scripture. I agree with Paul in Romans 4:3, where he asked the question in another connection, What does the Scripture say?
I wonder how many will actually do that.
The trouble with this idea is that men HAD counted the stars, or so they thought. The ancient Egyptians catalogued 1025 stars. That’s not a very large posterity – not even really a good sized town. Even as late as 1627, the German astronomer Kepler had only catalogued a little over a thousand stars. It’s only been with the invention and improvement of the telescope that science has discovered that there are innumerable galaxies, each one with innumerable stars. Just in passing, how did the “ignorant goat-herder” who is alleged to have written Scripture know about innumerable stars, when only a handful, relatively speaking, are visible to the naked eye?
There’s another, even more interesting, challenge to the usual understanding of the chapter. That’s why I asked you to read it. There are two phrases which caught my attention that long-ago night, and forever changed my conception of the chapter. Did you notice them?
God told Abraham, “Look now toward heaven….” Some of the later versions omit the word, “now,” but I think my interpretation is still valid.
After the conversation in v. 5, we read in v. 12, now when the Sun was going down, and in v. 17, when the Sun went down and it was dark…. My wife would have read v. 12 and I would have read v. 17.
Now, I don’t know if it was the reading of those phrases, or hearing them read out loud, or what, but they caught my attention. They caused me to exclaim, “Now, wait a minute!” To me, these phrases indicate that it was broad daylight when God told Abraham to look at the stars.
It doesn’t make sense, does it? The idea that God would ask someone to count stars in the daytime?
It seems to me that there are several lessons we can learn from this incident. There are a lot of things in Scripture that don’t “make sense.” That’s why unbelievers and skeptics have so much trouble with them. God told Noah to build a huge boat because a flood was coming, and it have never even rained up until that time. God told Israel to walk around Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day they were also to yell real loudly. What kind of warfare is that? The Lord fed 15,000 or more people with a few sardine-sized fish and a couple slices of bread. Pretty slim pickings.
Yet, in each case, “sense” was wrong, or at least very inadequate.
In addition, Abraham had to choose between what he could see, or what God said. To do that, he had to go against the “science” of his day. That’s still true. At least here in the US, it seems that God hardly exists. Violence and immorality are increasing. Atheism has pretty much become the law of the land and the Bible is illegal in a good portion of our society. As for science, no comment is needed.
Abraham was a shepherd. He’d spent a lifetime of nights under the stars. And he could expect to spend a lot more nights under them. But God said, “Look now….” Abraham couldn’t look to his experiences. God said, “Look NOW.” He couldn’t count on his expectations.
As Christians, we can look back and see how God has blessed us. For example, the way I met my wife involves about 7 years, four states, quitting a job, a long move, several people, a telephone book, and a phone call. But that’s a story for another time….
We can see many times that God has been with us. And, by His grace, we look forward to an eternity which will infinitely eclipse the things of this world. It’s the “now” that’s the problem.
I’ve known and know people going through things I can’t even begin to imagine. And this blog has led me to people who are also suffering. For all these, “now” is anything but enviable.
“All” Abraham had to go on was the naked word of God. There was no “tangible, verifiable evidence” – the kind skeptics and unbelievers are always asking for – just God and His promise. But you see, that’s what “faith” boils down to: an absolute reliance on and trust of, God and His Word, even when everything around us says, “Why?” Why do you think there are such attacks on the Bible? “Faith” isn’t about us getting God to do what we want, it’s about trusting His Word and what He says He will do.
Abraham had to wait 13 years for the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise. He did some foolish things in the meantime, things which echo today in the Middle East. Even though Abraham was foolish, God was faithful to His promise.
For all believers, Paul wrote, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, Romans 8:18.
Let me encourage you, dear readers of this blog. I don’t know anything about your “now,” but God does. I don’t know what to say to ease your burden. I just hope and pray that He will use these few words to encourage and bless you.
(originally published March 26, 2013.) edited.
I’m kind of a collector of lost causes. I’ve got a couple of plants people have thrown away where I work. Both survived and are growing. Then there’s the newborn pigeon on the balcony where I work. The balcony seems to be a favorite breeding ground for them. Already two messes of babies this year. [I don’t know what you call a “group” of pigeons, “flock”, I suppose. Considering how dirty they are, “mess” seems like a good choice.] This last batch consisted of two little yellow fuzz-balls. One was contentedly settled down in what passed for a nest; the other was having troubles. I didn’t figure it would survive; it didn’t.
Got me to thinking about the time our Lord was teaching His disciples and talked about sparrows. In Matthew 10:29, the Lord said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” Luke records it like this: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?” Luke 12:6.
A “throw-away,” as it were. A lost cause.
Then He said, and I think it was with a tender smile, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows,” Luke 12:7.
All of us are bent and broken and marred, full of imperfections and problems.
No wonder the Psalmist, in considering the work of God in his life, said, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it, Psalm 139:6. Then, in v. 17, he wrote, How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
“…others were tortured,” Hebrews 11:35b.
I just finished reading Hebrews (NKJV). This time, chapter 11 really seemed to stand out. I’ll admit, writing this blog has me looking for ideas, but there was more to it than that as I read. As I went down through the catalog of faithful ones, each one seemed to be alive. Then I got to v. 32, where the writer seems to have run into a common difficulty of writers: having more to say than he could really put down. So he summarizes, as it were: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Wonderful. Examples of great blessings. Incredible deliverance. Brave actions. Courage. Victory.
Things worthy of those who believe in and serve God.
What! How can this be? How could God let this happen – to His faithful people!? Why would people go through such things?
Since I have started writing this blog, I have met, via the Internet, people who are suffering incredibly. Terrible illnesses, stressful home situations, personal grief and familial sorrow. People whose testimonies and praise of God shine like a searchlight at midnight. Incredible testimonies. Wonderful faith. Simple trust in God. Not perfect, no, but their focus is on God.
The writer didn’t stop with the suffering of these Old Testament brothers and sisters of ours. He continues: not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
they knew this life wasn’t all there is to it.
The world looks at all this and says, “Well, if God is so all-powerful, loving and good, why doesn’t He do something?” They fail to realize that He is. He is showing His power, not in making everything rosy for all His people, but by demonstrating that even in the worst of times, He is there, strengthening them and giving them grace to go on with life. He’s showing that there are people, like Job, who love and serve Him for Himself, not just for what they can get out of Him.
The world wants nothing to do with and scoffs at such thinking.
But this life isn’t all there is. The grave isn’t the finish line. In some ways, it’s the starting line, because then all these terrible things will be gone for the believer, and only good is left. As Paul put it, Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
When my wife and I were first married, we started each evening to read a chapter of the Bible aloud before we went to bed, beginning in Genesis. We would alternate reading verses. We hadn’t been doing this for very long when we came to Genesis 15. As we were reading through that chapter, I noticed something I had never seen before. It caused me to exclaim aloud, “Wait a minute!” As I looked at this new thought, the chapter, as well as the Bible’s teaching of “‘faith,” opened up to me in a way that was unbelievable. It’s the subject of this post.
One word of caution. There is a standard understanding of this chapter, which I once held, and it’s pretty much the only way it’s looked at. In fact, I have never seen anywhere else or heard the approach to this chapter that I now hold. The eventful evening described in the first paragraph was more than 40 years ago, so there’s been enough time for someone else to see it. But apparently nobody has. I don’t think I’m wrong. It’s just that every so often someone comes up with some hare-brained idea “from Scripture” – some new teaching – and it’s all the rage for a couple of weeks, then fades back into the woodwork. I’m not interested in novel ideas from Scripture. I agree with Paul in Romans 4:3, when he asked the question, “What does the Scripture say?” Actually say?
So, first, before you go any further, I would like for you to read Genesis 15 – yes, right now. It’ll take you less than five minutes. Close your laptop and open your Bible. Read Genesis 15. Or look it up online, I guess, if you’re inclined that way. I’m an old geezer myself and I still prefer books, though, obviously, I do use a computer.
Did you do it? Thank you. Did you notice anything? Now, I’d like you to read my remarks and tell me what you think.
There’s another, even more interesting, challenge to the usual understanding of Genesis 15. That’s why I asked you to read it before reading this. If you haven’t, please do it now…. There are two phrases which caught my attention that long ago night and changed forever my perception of this chapter. Did you notice them? God had told Abraham to “look now toward heaven….” Some of the later versions omit the word “now,” but I think my interpretation is still valid. After the conversation in vs. 1-5, we read in v. 12, “Now when the sun was going down…,” and in v. 17, “when the sun went down and it was dark,…” My wife would have read v. 12, and I would have read v. 17.
Now, I don’t know if it was just the reading of these phrases, or hearing them read, or what, but they caught my attention. They caused me to exclaim, “Wait a minute!” To me, these phrases indicate it was broad daylight when God told Abraham to look at the stars.
Now I hear you say, “Wait a minute!” It doesn’t make sense, does it? God asking Abraham to count stars in the daytime? Well, there are some lessons I think we can learn from this incident. Sometimes we have to trust God when it doesn’t seem to make any sense. There are a lot of things in Scripture that don’t “make sense.” God told Noah to build an ark because a great flood was coming, and it had never even ever rained. God told Israel to walk around Jericho seven days, with the priests blowing trumpets, then on the seventh day, Israel was also to give a great shout. What kind of warfare is that? Jesus told the disciples to feed a crowd of 15,000 or more with a few sardine-sized fish and a couple slices of bread. Pretty slim pickings. Yet, in each case, God was right and sense was wrong, or at least, inadequate.
In addition, Abraham had to choose between what he could see, or what God said. Further, he had to choose between God and the science of his day. That’s still true. At least in this country, the US, it hardly seems like God exists. Violence is increasing, immorality and perversion are becoming the law of the land, and the Bible is illegal in a good portion of our society. As for science, no comment is needed.
But there’s more. Abraham was a shepherd. He had spent a lifetime of nights under the stars. It was likely that he would spend a lot more nights under them. However, God said, “Look NOW….” Abraham couldn’t depend on experience. God said, “Look NOW….” Abraham couldn’t count on his expectations. “NOW”. “NOW”.
As Christians, we can look back of how God has blessed us. The way I met my wife involves about 7 years and at least four states and several people, a telephone book and a phone call, but that’s a story for another time. We can see many times God has been with us. And, by His grace, we look forward to an eternity that will eclipse a million times what this world has to offer. It’s the “NOW” that’s the problem. This blog has led me to many others, telling of people and experiences I can’t even begin to imagine. Things people are suffering. Their “NOW” is anything but enviable.
“All” Abraham had to go on was the naked promise of God. There was no “tangible, verifiable evidence” for him, the kind that skeptics and unbelievers keep asking for – just God and His promise. But, you see, that’s what “faith” boils down to: an absolute reliance on and trust of God and His promise, His Word. Why do you think there are such attacks against the Bible? “Faith” isn’t about us getting God to do what we want. Faith is about what God wants or has said.
Abraham had to wait 13 years for the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise, and did some foolish things in the meantime, things which echo even today in the Middle East. Even though he was foolish, God was faithful to His promise.
Sorry, I got to thinking about this and didn’t like where I ended it. For all believers, Paul wrote in Romans 8:18 that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Not “to us,” but “in us.” I can’t wait!
I find it interesting that three of the greatest confessions of faith in God are found in the Old Testament. I think a lot of people have the idea that the Old Testament is stern and foreboding, all thunder and lightning. And it’s true that there are verses and events in it which are strange, even contrary, to our modern way of thinking. Another of these confessions of faith is found in Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” The third one is the famous, or infamous, I guess, depending on your viewpoint, “sacrifice” of Isaac by his father, Abraham. I’m working on a post on that one. It’s grossly and unfairly categorized as a terrible event.
You also need to note that not a single one of these confessions happens when the sun is shining and all is well with the one making the confession. Job is sitting in the shambles of what’s left of his life, family, possessions and health all gone. All that’s left is a wife with no sympathy for his integrity. Habakkuk is looking at the coming destruction and dissolution of his beloved nation. Abraham is weighing what he’s been asked to do against the promises of God concerning this very son. I wonder how many of us could echo their sentiments in similar circumstances.
I was reading and thinking about the verses in Habakkuk one morning, and they almost rearranged themselves into verse form. Here they are.
Nor fruit be on the vine.
And food be hard to find.
May God bless it to you as He did to me.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.