Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jun 5, 2008 23:10:06 GMT -5
Trusting God In The Dark (2)
You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will.
John 13:7 NIV
Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus didn't come until their brother Lazarus was dead. "Lord… if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (Jn 11:21 & 32 NIV). But instead of giving them reasons, Jesus replied, "Did I not tell you… if you believed, you would see [God glorified in this?]" (John 11:40 NIV). When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac he didn't understand, but later he witnessed God's faithfulness when Isaac was restored to him. Moses didn't understand why he had to spend 40 years in the wilderness, but later when God called him to lead Israel to freedom, he got it. Joseph didn't know why his brothers mistreated him or why he was imprisoned unfairly, but later he saw God's hand in everything. His father questioned why Joseph had been taken away from him, but later, looking into the face of the man who had been made governor and who'd saved the lives of the nation, God's purposes became clear.
Just like your children don't always think your decisions make sense, we don't understand God's ways. That's why Jesus said to Mary and Martha, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will" (John 13:7 NIV). God doesn't expect you to understand, but He does expect you to trust Him. In spite of his boils, bankruptcy and bereavement Job said: "When He has tested me, I will come forth" (Job 23:10 NIV).
Is God testing you? If He is, what are you learning? Is the experience making you bitter, or making you better by causing you to draw closer to Him?
THE VINE/THE WORD FOR TODAY
www.thevine.co.nz
© BOB GASS MINISTRIES
You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will.
John 13:7 NIV
Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus didn't come until their brother Lazarus was dead. "Lord… if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (Jn 11:21 & 32 NIV). But instead of giving them reasons, Jesus replied, "Did I not tell you… if you believed, you would see [God glorified in this?]" (John 11:40 NIV). When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac he didn't understand, but later he witnessed God's faithfulness when Isaac was restored to him. Moses didn't understand why he had to spend 40 years in the wilderness, but later when God called him to lead Israel to freedom, he got it. Joseph didn't know why his brothers mistreated him or why he was imprisoned unfairly, but later he saw God's hand in everything. His father questioned why Joseph had been taken away from him, but later, looking into the face of the man who had been made governor and who'd saved the lives of the nation, God's purposes became clear.
Just like your children don't always think your decisions make sense, we don't understand God's ways. That's why Jesus said to Mary and Martha, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will" (John 13:7 NIV). God doesn't expect you to understand, but He does expect you to trust Him. In spite of his boils, bankruptcy and bereavement Job said: "When He has tested me, I will come forth" (Job 23:10 NIV).
Is God testing you? If He is, what are you learning? Is the experience making you bitter, or making you better by causing you to draw closer to Him?
THE VINE/THE WORD FOR TODAY
www.thevine.co.nz
© BOB GASS MINISTRIES