“Only when our greatest love is God, a love that we cannot lose even in death, can we face all things with peace.”
10So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.(9:10-12)EXODUS 9-10
MATTHEW 18:1-20
10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]a
12“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
JOURNAL
Life is precious and fragile, we all are one moment away from the grave. There are things in this world that are avoidable and things in this world that are not. Yes I should do my best to ensure I take care of my life and the body God gives me...but the ultimate reality is that its temporary and ultimately it's destiny is the grave.
This brings up the issue of Pharaoh...The verses about Pharaoh have always troubled me, because it seems that Pharaoh doesn't have a choice. Over and over it says that God "hardened" Pharoah's heart. Doing some research on the subject I found that the problem is in the translation. Since it is in the past tense the wording is indicating that God allowed his heart to be hardened. God allowed Pharaoh to be stubborn. Just as God allows me to be stubborn and disobedient.
God's heart is shown in Matthew when Jesus declares that God does not desire that any child should perish. It's God's desire for all to be reconciled yet he still allows us to choose. He gives us the means and the path to relationship with him, yet he does not force our hand. It is the same with my boys. I desire their love and relationship but I cannot force that. I can create situations and cause consequences etc...but whether they choose to love me or not is in their own heart and mind.
While that is a crude comparison...it's really the only one that I can even begin to wrap my head around. I also have to come to accept that God is not my personal servant...here to serve my dreams and my desires. Yet I often find that that's how my thinking tends to go...I get frustrated when things don't make sense and don't work out the way that seems best to me. But again who am I to make that declaration? If even Jesus refused to go there what authority do I have to make such demands???
So what I am left with is the fragile, ignorant, confines of my own mind and heart. While they are amazing and powerful they are flawed and ultimately permitted by God to exist. To think otherwise is to step outside of reality. This is sobering and confusing but ironically it's acceptance promises to bring peace and joy. And as I allow my fingers to loosen their grip on the future, I do strangely find that there is a peace and a joy in just living today...this hour, this moment.
Life is precious and fragile, we all are one moment away from the grave. There are things in this world that are avoidable and things in this world that are not. Yes I should do my best to ensure I take care of my life and the body God gives me...but the ultimate reality is that its temporary and ultimately it's destiny is the grave.
This brings up the issue of Pharaoh...The verses about Pharaoh have always troubled me, because it seems that Pharaoh doesn't have a choice. Over and over it says that God "hardened" Pharoah's heart. Doing some research on the subject I found that the problem is in the translation. Since it is in the past tense the wording is indicating that God allowed his heart to be hardened. God allowed Pharaoh to be stubborn. Just as God allows me to be stubborn and disobedient.
God's heart is shown in Matthew when Jesus declares that God does not desire that any child should perish. It's God's desire for all to be reconciled yet he still allows us to choose. He gives us the means and the path to relationship with him, yet he does not force our hand. It is the same with my boys. I desire their love and relationship but I cannot force that. I can create situations and cause consequences etc...but whether they choose to love me or not is in their own heart and mind.
While that is a crude comparison...it's really the only one that I can even begin to wrap my head around. I also have to come to accept that God is not my personal servant...here to serve my dreams and my desires. Yet I often find that that's how my thinking tends to go...I get frustrated when things don't make sense and don't work out the way that seems best to me. But again who am I to make that declaration? If even Jesus refused to go there what authority do I have to make such demands???
6Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
8“Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9Do you have an arm like God’s,
and can your voice thunder like his?
10Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11Unleash the fury of your wrath,
look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12look at all who are proud and humble them,
crush the wicked where they stand.
13Bury them all in the dust together;
shroud their faces in the grave.
14Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.
JOB 40:6-14
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