Yet we are reminded that God has promised never to leave or forsake us, and that he is with us even in the hard times.
Exodus 14 tells us of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt , and stopping to camp at the Red Sea . Pharaoh and his officials declared, “What have
we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their
services!” So Pharaoh had his
chariot made ready and took his army with 600 of the best chariots along with
all the other chariots and officers over them, and pursued the
Israelites, and overtook them as they camped by the sea. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites
looked up, terrified and cried out to the LORD. What have you done
to us by bringing us out of Egypt
Joseph had bragged about his dreams, and his brothers were jealous
of their father's attention to Joseph.
When he arrived with lunch for them, they bound him and put him in a pit
while they decided how to kill him. Can
you imagine the anxiety Joseph must have experienced while in that deep hole? - - Things
didn't look so good about then.
The three Hebrew children refused to worship the golden image,
and the furnace was being heated 10 times hotter than ever before. Things didn't look so good.
Job was a Godly, rich and prosperous man, and his children were
celebrating the birthday of their oldest brother. It was a happy day, but out of the blue there
came a messenger saying, the Sabeans swooped down and have taken away all your
oxen and donkeys and killed the servants, and I only was able to escape.
While the man was still speaking another messenger came saying,
the lightening from heaven has burned up the sheep and the servants, and I only
was able to escaped to tell you. That
wasn't all - - here came another saying, The Chaldeans made a raid upon your camels and killed the servants, and I alone was able to escape.
While he was still speaking there came
another who said: Your sons and daughters were enjoying the birthday
celebration, when a great whirlwind took the house off it's four corners and it
fell on your children, killing them all and I was able to escape to tell bring
you this terrible news. - - Things didn't look so good about then.
Jesus was hanging on the cross.
He had been unmercifully beaten, mocked, spit upon, pierced in hands and
feet, and when the sins of the world were placed on his body, His Father God
could not look at him and pulled a dark curtain over the sun for about 3 hours. - - Things
didn't look so good about then.
Each one of these horrible events played out in real time to
provide a happy ending. The Children of
Israel finally made it to the promised land.
Joseph became second to the Pharaoh in Egypt
Our neighbor city of Paradise, and our County has
suffered great loss in the past few days.
Fires raging to take lives and livelihood, homes and possessions. Things don't look so good; yet there is hope
to recover. Not all our citizens have
this hope. More than ever before, our
citizen's need Jesus. As we go to prayer
today, let us remember that even when things don't look so good, God is still
there. The enemy has tried to defeat us
but we shall not be defeated, because God and His angelic army is there
surrounding us.
Luke
12:32: Fear not, little flock; for it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. God is giving us our City, our County and
our State for His Glory.
I wondered how close you were to the fire up north, now I know. It's been a time for reflection and sorting our priorities for so many. How right you are, things sure do not look good in so many areas and if it not for the Lord I would faint and live in a constant state of worry. But since I still have some mental say about what I think on, I chose to think on God is good even though things don't looks so great. The fire is not good, the loss is not good but He is and will work to bring His children to that place. I met with a former missionary last night whose father just died. she came home from a ministry overseas, stepped out of our mission because she let personal feelings get her down in a pit. She has been struggling so, bitter, hurting over things she cannot fix. she said to me as we left, well I guess I know why God had me come home, that was an answer to prayer. Yes, things are still not good over the issues she left but she is finally seeing beyond them. Good post Hazel.
ReplyDeleteWow. Well done and poignant post. When things look bad to us in our flesh we need to remember your point; God is sovereign and on the throne!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for you, Hazel. God bless you for sharing His Word, and for praying. You are a blessing! Happy Thanksgiving.
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