December 02, 2011
A couple more thoughts about what I wrote yesterday. The ten days later continues to stick in my mind. I believe there is a reason why God puts the little details in while recording the events and I don't believe it is just to make the story more interesting. Details like Ishmael and his men "eating a meal" with Gedaliah before they killed him, or "ten days later" God spoke to Jeremiah. It is so often those small things that seem to grab my attention and I believe those "small things" often holds the key to the point God is trying to get across. It's the things you miss if you aren't purposely reading God Word and are instead just quickly reading a chapter so you can say you've had your devotions.
"Eating a meal" tells us so much about Ishmael. It was bad enough that he intended to kill Gedaliah, but to have that in your mind and then sit down to eat with him first is: calculating, cunning, malicious, arrogant, brash, manipulative, corrupt, scheming, unconscionable, evil... and the list continues. This was not someone who in a fit of anger or in a moment of protecting himself killed someone. No, his plan was well thought out, premeditated, and executed. God wanted us to know what kind of man Ishmael was, so he included the words "eating a meal."
"Ten days later" tells us so much about Johanan and his men. If you are truly seeking God's will, ten days is not a long period to wait. But, if you are full of pride, have the need to be in control (pride), and want the power of being in charge of your own destiny (pride), then ten days feels like an eternity to wait. This was obviously the case with Johanan and his men, for their decision was made before Jeremiah even told them what God said, and three little words in Jeremiah 43:2 tells us why. He and his men "were too proud." The words they used when they went to Jeremiah to inquire about what "your" God had to say sounded sincere enough. And they probably believed and meant the words while they said them. But the ten days wait revealed the truth. They didn't trust God to be in control. God was not "our" God, he was "your" God. If what God said matched what they wanted to do then they would agree. But if it was different than what they wanted, then Jeremiah was lying or people were saying things against them to hurt them.
The little details many times gives us the "why." "Eating a meal" totally let us know what kind of man Ishmael was. "Ten days later" revealed the truth about Johanan and his men. I'm so grateful God gave us HIS words and that HIS Holy Spirit reveals truth to us. There is a reason it is called the Living Word of God.
I have been in Jeremiah for a very long time (since 9/22/11) almost two and a half months. God has shown me and taught me so much. There is no time table in completing this Bible journal. When God releases me from a passage I go on. If He doesn't, then I continue to write the thoughts He gives me. It will be interesting to read these journals someday and see the path God has led us on and what all He has taught us.
Someday—when I have finished the last book and the last chapter—I will read it. I hate to see it end. I wonder what God will have me to do then? We will wait and see.
Addendum: 8/14/15 ~ "It will be interesting to read these journals and see the path God has led us on and what all He has taught us... I wonder what God will have me to do then?"
I first wrote those words in December of 2011. I had NO idea what God's plans were for my Bible journals. NONE. It wasn't until almost three years later that God began to unveil HIS plans. See LORD – What Am I to Do? ; The LORD Answers! ; and I Didn't Know—BUT God Did!!
I am still amazed by this. We don't know what we don't know! I've said that phrase to my classes of Sunday School girls many, many times. All throughout scripture God gives us examples of people He used to further HIS plans. People who had NO idea how God was planning to use them. Moses, Esther, David, Gideon, Noah—to name just a few. They were just ordinary people God chose to use because of their obedience and availability.
God has a plan for our lives! He has a plan for your life too! Plans that we can't even begin to imagine. The key is obedience and availability. We don't know what we don't know!!
Next Entry: Jeremiah 40:1 – 45:5 (Continued)
A couple more thoughts about what I wrote yesterday. The ten days later continues to stick in my mind. I believe there is a reason why God puts the little details in while recording the events and I don't believe it is just to make the story more interesting. Details like Ishmael and his men "eating a meal" with Gedaliah before they killed him, or "ten days later" God spoke to Jeremiah. It is so often those small things that seem to grab my attention and I believe those "small things" often holds the key to the point God is trying to get across. It's the things you miss if you aren't purposely reading God Word and are instead just quickly reading a chapter so you can say you've had your devotions.
"Eating a meal" tells us so much about Ishmael. It was bad enough that he intended to kill Gedaliah, but to have that in your mind and then sit down to eat with him first is: calculating, cunning, malicious, arrogant, brash, manipulative, corrupt, scheming, unconscionable, evil... and the list continues. This was not someone who in a fit of anger or in a moment of protecting himself killed someone. No, his plan was well thought out, premeditated, and executed. God wanted us to know what kind of man Ishmael was, so he included the words "eating a meal."
"Ten days later" tells us so much about Johanan and his men. If you are truly seeking God's will, ten days is not a long period to wait. But, if you are full of pride, have the need to be in control (pride), and want the power of being in charge of your own destiny (pride), then ten days feels like an eternity to wait. This was obviously the case with Johanan and his men, for their decision was made before Jeremiah even told them what God said, and three little words in Jeremiah 43:2 tells us why. He and his men "were too proud." The words they used when they went to Jeremiah to inquire about what "your" God had to say sounded sincere enough. And they probably believed and meant the words while they said them. But the ten days wait revealed the truth. They didn't trust God to be in control. God was not "our" God, he was "your" God. If what God said matched what they wanted to do then they would agree. But if it was different than what they wanted, then Jeremiah was lying or people were saying things against them to hurt them.
The little details many times gives us the "why." "Eating a meal" totally let us know what kind of man Ishmael was. "Ten days later" revealed the truth about Johanan and his men. I'm so grateful God gave us HIS words and that HIS Holy Spirit reveals truth to us. There is a reason it is called the Living Word of God.
I have been in Jeremiah for a very long time (since 9/22/11) almost two and a half months. God has shown me and taught me so much. There is no time table in completing this Bible journal. When God releases me from a passage I go on. If He doesn't, then I continue to write the thoughts He gives me. It will be interesting to read these journals someday and see the path God has led us on and what all He has taught us.
Someday—when I have finished the last book and the last chapter—I will read it. I hate to see it end. I wonder what God will have me to do then? We will wait and see.
Addendum: 8/14/15 ~ "It will be interesting to read these journals and see the path God has led us on and what all He has taught us... I wonder what God will have me to do then?"
I first wrote those words in December of 2011. I had NO idea what God's plans were for my Bible journals. NONE. It wasn't until almost three years later that God began to unveil HIS plans. See LORD – What Am I to Do? ; The LORD Answers! ; and I Didn't Know—BUT God Did!!
I am still amazed by this. We don't know what we don't know! I've said that phrase to my classes of Sunday School girls many, many times. All throughout scripture God gives us examples of people He used to further HIS plans. People who had NO idea how God was planning to use them. Moses, Esther, David, Gideon, Noah—to name just a few. They were just ordinary people God chose to use because of their obedience and availability.
God has a plan for our lives! He has a plan for your life too! Plans that we can't even begin to imagine. The key is obedience and availability. We don't know what we don't know!!
Next Entry: Jeremiah 40:1 – 45:5 (Continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment