Daniel 1-Hosea 14
The book of Daniel contains many things... stories from the past that provide encouragement and visions of the future that scare the pants off of me...
I was reading of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace and realized it is a not just a story. It is a picture of what is happening today in our world. We are all walking around a fiery furnace. We've been put here because of our rebellion. We've rebelled against God and made some bad choices resulting in Satan's domain being increased in our everyday world. Yet the challenge is because the heat is slowly constantly being turned up we don't realize it is getting hotter and hotter nor the danger we are in. But just as the three men were protected by a 4th we too are protected by God's grace and the Holy Spirit with us today. Yet we cannot see our protector. The fact that we aren't burned by the sin run rampant around is is evidence enough that He exists. He has not yet given us completely over to our own selfish ambition. He is still walking around with us... and not a hair on our head should be burned as long as He is still present.
Later in Daniel 9 when I read Daniel's prayer I began to weep. "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.... " (Dan 9:5) Is this not like today. Should this not be my prayer everyday? "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation...."(Dan 9:17) Let this be not just a written prayer, but the cry of my heart today and always.
I mentioned earlier that parts of Daniel scare me. I know God will provide and He is in control. However, I don't claim to understand all of what Daniel's vision contains. Yet I do read that there will be lots of suffering and strife. This is what scares me. Daniel 12 records some of Daniels thoughts which are my own as I read this.... "I heard but I did not understand, so I asked, "My lord what will be the outcome of this?"" (Dan 12:8) "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days. AS for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your alloted inheritance." (Dan 12:11-13). Press on my friend. Strive to reach the end and we'll receive our inheritances together.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 24-25; Days 61-62
Ezequiel 24-48
Let me set the context for this posting. I just arrived in Australia for a business trip. A grueling 24 travel experience to get here... but I'm here safely. It seems no matter when I travel some of my best "thinking time" comes on the plane as I'm aware that I'm apart from my family and will not be rejoining them soon. It causes me to be self-reflective and sometimes somewhat morose. This travel experience was no different.
Then I turned to the Bible to for comfort and wisdom as I pursued the reading for these days....
Wrong passages to look for comfort from. Ezequiel receives visions and pronounces judgement on all of Israels enemies and neighbors. Their waywardness and treatment of the nation of Israel have caused God to pronounce their demise. Yet toward the end of Ezequiel I see the promises toward Israel. Despite their wickedness and waywardness, God still promises to bring them back together and to protect them despite their past. He calls them - through Ezequiel - back to their roots... the division of the land, the calling of Levites as priests, instructions for the temple... etc.
What I gain from this is the steadfastness of our Creator. No matter where we may go, He is always there. He never left Israel. They moved. Their suffering and depravity was a result of their choices. Not God's will. Everything He did, he did with the expressed purposes of bringing them back to Him. Is it not the same today? When we feel afraid or are experiencing suffering is it because we've moved away from God? And perhaps it is because no matter what, He is acting - even in the midst of suffering - to move closer to him.
So While I'm now about 9000 miles from home - on the other side of the earth from my family I have moved. But God has not. As my heart aches to be reunited with my family this momentary suffering is enabling me to get closer to God to feel his presence in a way that I haven't been able to in the past few weeks. On the plane I actually shed some tears as I was reading this. Realizing that - though my suffering wasn't the same as the suffering that Israel went through - it is still real and God is still talking to me. I began talking a back to Him and what do you know... I feel his presence again. Even 9000 miles from "home." Our God is a great big God who cares for us in itty bitty ways!
Let me set the context for this posting. I just arrived in Australia for a business trip. A grueling 24 travel experience to get here... but I'm here safely. It seems no matter when I travel some of my best "thinking time" comes on the plane as I'm aware that I'm apart from my family and will not be rejoining them soon. It causes me to be self-reflective and sometimes somewhat morose. This travel experience was no different.
Then I turned to the Bible to for comfort and wisdom as I pursued the reading for these days....
Wrong passages to look for comfort from. Ezequiel receives visions and pronounces judgement on all of Israels enemies and neighbors. Their waywardness and treatment of the nation of Israel have caused God to pronounce their demise. Yet toward the end of Ezequiel I see the promises toward Israel. Despite their wickedness and waywardness, God still promises to bring them back together and to protect them despite their past. He calls them - through Ezequiel - back to their roots... the division of the land, the calling of Levites as priests, instructions for the temple... etc.
What I gain from this is the steadfastness of our Creator. No matter where we may go, He is always there. He never left Israel. They moved. Their suffering and depravity was a result of their choices. Not God's will. Everything He did, he did with the expressed purposes of bringing them back to Him. Is it not the same today? When we feel afraid or are experiencing suffering is it because we've moved away from God? And perhaps it is because no matter what, He is acting - even in the midst of suffering - to move closer to him.
So While I'm now about 9000 miles from home - on the other side of the earth from my family I have moved. But God has not. As my heart aches to be reunited with my family this momentary suffering is enabling me to get closer to God to feel his presence in a way that I haven't been able to in the past few weeks. On the plane I actually shed some tears as I was reading this. Realizing that - though my suffering wasn't the same as the suffering that Israel went through - it is still real and God is still talking to me. I began talking a back to Him and what do you know... I feel his presence again. Even 9000 miles from "home." Our God is a great big God who cares for us in itty bitty ways!
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