How does this work?

“How’s this going to work, Lord?” That may have been Abraham’s thought when God promised him children numbering like the stars in the sky. He and his wife had no children and were beyond child-bearing age.

That’s often our question when things look difficult.

Our family is going to Mexico in a couple of weeks to film a promotional video for a ministry there. (I’m highlighting the ministry tomorrow.) When the director of the ministry invited us to also fly into Cuba to film their work there, we hesitated.

Doing so more than doubled the cost of our trip. “How is this going to work, Lord?”

The director then added two more days to the trip. “I think you’ll really be blessed if you can do this,” he said as he directed us to a new mission work which will involve a long drive into the mountains of Cuba. “But if you can’t afford to go, do what you can.”

The price kept climbing.

We sent out a few letters to friends and family, asking for prayer and financial support. But crunch time came Sunday. We had to decide how much of the trip we would do. We prayed as a family and, taking a deep breath, pledged the money we’d set aside for our next car.

“You’ll be quadruple-blessed,” the director had told us, “if you can get to Cuba. You’ll see what God’s doing.”

So we’re going to Mexico and Cuba in two weeks to help promote God’s work there.

But that’s not the end of the story. A letter from friends came yesterday. In there was a check for the cost of the Cuba portion of the trip.

When the children of Abraham were ready to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded them of God’s promise: “God, your God, has multiplied your numbers. Why, look at you—you rival the stars in the sky!” (Deut 1:10)

God’s promise to a childless couple had been fulfilled. Not only had they had a son, but now their offspring were a nation.

Moses had more words for these children. “And may God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, keep it up and multiply you another thousand times, bless you just as he promised.” (Deut 1:11)

We wondered, too, “How does this work, Lord?” and he opened his generous hand to us.

Today I can tell you that God is Jehovah Jireh, the Great Provider. We’re praising his name!

Topsy Turvy

David was carrying a newborn baby lamb when his brother shouted from on top the rise. “Dad wants you!”

“What for?” David settled the lamb beside its mother and watched the wobbly-legged baby begin the amazing search for its first meal, butting the ewe’s front leg and falling in a heap.

By now, Micah had joined his brother at the delivery site. “He told me to watch the sheep so you could go. Cute baby. What do I do with it?”

“Make sure it gets a drink. Don’t leave until you’re sure it does because you might have to help it.”

“It’ll figure it out,” Micah declared. “I don’t want to touch it. Phew, you smell like afterbirth and sheep. Nobody will want to be around you. Look at you! You’re filthy.”

“I like to be here for the new lambs,” David wiped his hands on the dry grass. “Birth is exciting.”

“Well, you’re going to see a priest. You better wash yourself well or you’ll be unclean. He’ll send you away.”

Imagine Samuel, in search of a king, meeting this young shepherd. David might have still been damp after scrubbing the unclean remains of the sheep. The scent of the lambs still hung on his robe. Shepherds were lowly.

Samuel was looking for a tall, handsome man to lead Israel and here God brought a shepherd to be anointed. What madness to politicians and generals! It was a topsy-turvy choice, selecting the lowest to be the highest.

David’s resume was spotty and his job skills appeared ill suited for ultimate leadership.

But you know the rest of the story. David became the greatest king in the history of Israel. The man after God’s own heart lifted God’s people to the very height of their history. David spawned the kingly line of Judah, leading straight to Jesus.

Maybe you feel like you need to wash up a bit before standing before God. Maybe you feel your hands aren't clean enough yet and your habits need some straightening.

We look on the outside but God... well, God looks on the heart.

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Sam 16:7

Choices

I had already waved at our son, Nathan, who was 11 at the time and standing out in the front yard, when Becky, 6, came rushing out of the house carrying a big stick and a bread basket, nearly knocking my tools out of my hands.

“What’s all that for?” I asked.

“Oh!” The excitement lit her face. “Nathan says that you can see for 3 seconds after you get your head chopped off so we’re going to go find out.”

Ah, the rush of choice.

This, by the way, was the same energetic daughter who climbed a tree at age 2 and hung by one hand some four feet from the ground, calling for me to rescue her.

I think God made many of us parents so that we’d understand his nature slightly better.

God is no protectionist. He laid the ripe fruit in Eden and warned against it. He calls our name but never sedates our heart.

When Nathan and Becky rushed out for their guillotine experiment, I went to the kitchen to make supper. I trusted their good sense, partly because I had not rescued a little girl a few years before.

They knew the limits of choice. Freedom may look boundless, but we must learn our own limitations. My daughter did get herself down from that tree. She didn’t stop climbing trees but she learned to test the branch and gauge the height before starting. And the kids didn’t come to supper headless that night.

We understand that choice allows us to worship freely. It also teaches us to trim our sails and navigate this life in the abundance that God promises us.

Friday Five: Our Access to God

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?

Deut 4:7

The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

Psalms 145:18

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

John 10:9

In him and through faith in him

we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Eph 3:12

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb 4:16

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord, Selah
to him who rides the ancient skies above,
who thunders with mighty voice.

Psalms 68:32-33

My heart's desire

When Moses remained up on Mount Sinai longer than expected, the people of Israel decided it was time to switch horses and find a god better suited to their tastes.

While Moses was basking in God’s presence, the people built a calf out of their own melted jewelry and began worshipping it. For those Israelites, Moses represented God’s presence. They certainly didn’t feel that presence when Moses was gone.

They suspected he was dead. He wasn’t expected to be away for 40 days and so they turned to their own designs.

Like the Israelites, we have a desire for God’s presence.

Newsboys have a song, Presence (My Heart’s Desire), which has some great lyrics on this desire for divine presence:

I lift up my voice
to The King, The King of glory
I hold out my hands
to The One who is worthy
I long for Your presence
I long, Lord, I need Your touch

Come, oh Lord, and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart's desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart's desire

I long to be washed
in the well of Your mercy
I long to be warmed
by the fire of Your glory
I long for Your presence
I long for Your healing touch

The Israelites had some similar longings. They had been surrounded by the multitude of gods in Egypt. They had only a vague understanding of the one true God and very little perception of his constancy. So they trusted their own understanding. They thought God had abandoned them – maybe even taken Moses from them. They understood gods. So they built one.

We, like those ancients, want God’s presence. Our heart’s desire is to feel his mercy and healing touch. We, too, are surrounded by a multitude of gods. Many believe in the god of entertainment or the god of convenience or the god of stuff (if I have enough possessions, I’ll finally be fulfilled. Or my garage will be filled.)

The Israelites longed for God’s presence but settled for an empty substitute.

It’s not always easy to stand when others are rushing to gods of their own understanding, but it’s the difference between trying to be warmed by a photograph of a fire or by a blazing bonfire.

There’s just no substitute for presence.

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Ex 33:14

Did God create evil?

I found this on Godtube and thought you might enjoy seeing it.