Tuesday

Question 1

What examples can you find in the Bible of God doing things in His own
time that can help you learn to trust that He will do for you what's
right in His own time, as well? (Think, for instance, about Abraham and
Sarah and the promise of a son.) At the same time, ask yourself, "What
might I be doing that could be delaying a prayer that could have been
answered long ago?"

Personal Ponderings-----

I was just thinking yesterday that I should have been concentrating more on being a successful housewife years ago, regardless of whether we were ever able to have children. Now, I'm still struggling with getting my menues planned by seasons and organized into grocery lists---digitally. This is what I'd been working on when we went in for fertility treatment several years ago (we now have two boys aged 3 and 6). Today I see how simply waiting on God back then rather than focusing so much time on the treatment worries would have been far wiser. He later showed us how perfectly capable he was of performing this miracle with very little medical help.

Thirteen years of infertility proved to be a cruicible too overwhelming for me at the time. I, like Sarah, added an element of complexity to God's plan--via IVF. Now I see that. I understand just a part of what God might have been trying to do in my life if I'd just trusted Him more. Had I been willing to wait patiently instead of worrying so much about 'helping' Him out---I might have been better prepared for the daily burdens of life now. Many times I've wished that I'd gotten at least a couple different rotating menues completed on the computer (so I could have printed off the grocery lists easily) before my children arrived. God knew I was going to need all the help I could get raising two boys without any extended family around.

However, I look at my weaknesses yesterday as a way to glorify God today. He has revealed to me His All-Knowing Wisdom and Omnipotence. I trust Him more today than I did yesterday. That's what I take away from the experience. Hope and Praise to Him. He is so trustworthy.

Wednesday


This scriptural reference is rich with metaphore.


1 Kings 19
1And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?


In my humble opinion, Elijah went through an important experience when he realized just how inadequate he was. Sure running was the cowardly thing to do. But, he was human. He had genetic tendencies that were ingrained in him from generations of sin. His failure made him realize he "was no better than [his] fathers." That's when the metaphores begin tell a story of mercy and love. Angels feed him with bread and water. The symbols of bread and water remind me of how Isreal was fed manna and water from the Rock in the wilderness. And as if that wasn't enough beauty revealed in scripture for one chapter, God makes sure that He imortalizes the the fact that it all happens in the wilderness and for forty days and nights. Forty days and forty nights is also bursting with metaphore.

God revealed Himself to Elijah after he admitted he was powerless. Up until that point I'm wondering if Elijah had sometimes depended mostly upon his own strength. It is very interesting to me that God comes so close to Elijah after his pitiful failure and acknowledgement that he is no better than his fathers. I love the story of God's tender mercy here. Also, God wastes no time in directing Elijah to continue his work as a prophet. I somehow missed any words of reprimand in this chapter. There's only that gentle question, "what are you doing here?" And that, only after He has miraculously fed and strengthened Elijah for forty days and nights. Soon afterward God would reveal Himself to Elijah in a very special way.

With all due respect to the writers of today's lesson---I would prefer to focus on what TO DO rather than what NOT TO DO in the study of Elijah's life. His weakness gives God the glory. And scripture tells us, "My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Now, I better go check to make sure I got that last quote right--

Thank you Lillie Belle ... I was blessed with your thoughts and your testimony.