It is amazing that we get just six chapters into the Bible only to see God ready to destroy mankind and start over. One has to wonder why God created a world with the possibility of sin and corruption. And then as we travel through our Bible we see difficulty and affliction covering its pages. The people in Ezra's day experienced persecution from those who did not want to see the prosperity of Jerusalem. Jesus, in Matthew 6, refers to the affliction we feel as we worry about our food, and drink and clothing. In Acts 6 there was the problem of the distribution of food and the persecution of Stephen. What's going on here? God didn't make a mistake here, did He? Is He in heaven wringing His hands wondering where things went wrong? Or....is all this part of His plan to bring glory to Himself?
For the Christian I hope the answer is obvious. In His unsearchable wisdom God created such a world because it would bring greatest glory to Himself. We learn so much about God in the midst of affliction and difficulty. There are things about God we would never learn unless we had gone through the trial. Think about what Noah and his family learned about God as they were delivered from His judgment through the ark. Think about what the people in Ezra's day learned as they saw God influence the hearts of kings. There was great rejoicing in those days when the last stone was laid to finish the temple.
Personally I'd have to say that I have learned, I mean really learned, most about God's goodness in the midst of my most difficult times. I can remember during one especially trying time, being so surprised that in the midst of it, God became more real to me. His character shoned so much more brightly, that it brought me to praise and worship like never before.
No, God didn't make any mistakes. He has loving purposes for the affliction He allows in our lives. Ultimately, He reveals more of Himself to us through those afflictions and as He does that He teaches us more and more that we can trust Him. Beyond that our afflictions do serve to transform our character, making it more like Christ, and does enable us to relate better to fellow suffers, dispensing to them the grace that God gave to us in our affliction.
Are you afflicted today? You might be at the cusp of learning some amazing things about God, if you will turn your gaze toward Him and not be overcome by the situation around you. There are no mistakes with God. He will not waste your pain!
So tell me...what did God reveal to you today through His Word?
After my reading this morning, I have been so aware of how God comes to the aid of his people in the midst of affliction and man's wickedness.
ReplyDeleteGod was grieved by the wickeness of man, but Noah found favor with God and God provided protection for Noah and his family through the flood. God provided aid to the remanant of Israel that returned to rebuild the temple, through the king of Babylon. Stephen was aided by God, and was filled with the wisdom of God's Spirit as he stood up against those who accused him.
This has encouraged me all day, being reminded that we move throughout our day and it's responsiblities with the aid of God. My morning prayer has been answered with quiet reminders of His aid and care, all day. Praise Him!
I, too, have found that insight very encouraging to carry me through the day. Thanks for sharing.
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