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austplow
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Name: Leigh
Birthday: 4/16/1982
Gender: Male
Interests: God, photography, computers, cricket, cycling
Occupation: Optometrist
Industry: Healthcare
Message: message me
Member Since:
5/3/2006
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The dreadful news took Job by surprise: five hundred of his donkeys and oxen were stolen; seven thousand sheep were destroyed; three thousand camels were stolen; all seven of Job’s son’s were killed. Moreover, this was a significant portion of Job’s family, livelihood and his children’s inheritance.
Things like this did not happen to rich men such as Job. After all, his family was secure and happy.
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:20-21)
An average man would delve into the depths of despair. However, it is possible that Job cried out to the Lord: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
The great accuser (Satan) challenged God to test Job’s heart, in order to get Job to blame God. When things go well, it is easy to trust in our riches for strength and security. We can even be proud of our achievements, and forget God’s hand of blessing:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright." (Psalm 20:7-8)
When trials overwhelm us, can we choose to respond in the following way:
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:4-5)
Many years later, the Lord Jesus told his disciples a parable of two men, where one built his house on the sand, and another on rock. Similarly. Job’s strength was in his God, and his foundation held fast. He chose not to trust in his riches. “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:22). He was like the man in the parable, who built his house upon a rock.
In the calm after the storm, the Lord restored Job’s livelihood through granting him “twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10b).
Knowing God’s strength, we too can rejoice in trubulation knowing that God’s “grace is sufficient” (2 Cor 12:9) for us. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)
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| Milo (Dad's cat) was in a cheeky mood today
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| From within the deep hole, he could hear muffled voices above. Voices that he recognised from his childhood. They were his brothers, and they were plotting evil.
Early the next morning, Joseph was fetched from the hole, and sold to the Ishmaelites. After a long journey, he was sold to a powerful man, named Potiphar.
The Scripture says “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” (Ps 18:6)
With the sores of his brothers’ rejection still stinging in his mind, Joseph chose to trust in his only hope, the Lord God.
Joseph later bore the consequences of Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation. He was removed from Potiphar’s house and thrown into prison. However, “… the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Gen 39:21)
Whilst in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharoah’s cupbearer and baker. However, the cupbearer soon forgot Joseph.
Two years went by with Joseph working in the dirty dungeons.
Joseph knew what it meant to suffer. However, he knew that God worked his best for Joseph in spite of his brothers’ sins. In Joseph’s words “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Gen 50:20).
Then God gave Pharoah had a dream, which no one in the whole kingdom could answer. However, God provided Joseph with its interpretation. The most powerful man in the land was delighted to receive the interpretation. He exclaimed “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is ?” (Gen 41:38)
Pharoah then gave Joseph a new name, authority in the kingdom of Egypt and a wife. As Joseph delighted in his sons, he shared that “God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Gen 41:52).
Later, the Lord restored Joseph’s family, and brought deliverance from famine through Joseph. In the arms of his beloved father and all his brothers (including Benjamin), Joseph may have worshipped the Lord God, possibly similar to the Psalmist:
“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me… I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.” (Ps 18:19-24 part)
If God was in control of Joseph’s life, and comforted him through trials, surely he will lead you through tribulation also.
“…hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Ps 42:11 part)
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| The words still echoed in the elderly man’s ears “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen 15:1). His mind was racing, while his he journeyed onward for three days. He recalled God’s promise to him that if he could “tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, so shall thy seed be. “ (Gen 15:5)
He had been walking in faith along with his beloved son Isaac and supplies for a burnt offering.
The words of Psalm 16 may have rung true: “…for in thee do I put my trust… I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”
It pleased the Lord to see that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son, if only because the Lord required it. “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6)
Perhaps as Abraham and Isaac journeyed down the mountain, they rejoiced together in the Lord that “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11).
God was true to His Promise to Abraham. He does not change (Mal 3:6). Surely he can be taken at his word in your life “…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:20)
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The Prodigal son knew the heights of humanity. He was rich. People loved him, and wanted to be with him. He felt alive.
The once powerful man had built his house on the shifting sands of pleasure. He was fed by fulfilling the lusts of his flesh. While times were plenteous, there was no need to be humble or penitent. After all, he was the god of his own life. Nobody could limit his power.
Just as the man’s money ran out, famine hit the foreign land where he lived. Suddenly, he found himself struggling to find food, work or any semblance of warmth. The winter of his life had begun. He was far away from the love of his family. His friends had deserted him. Rulers now presided over him, forcing him to become the lowest of the servants. He fed the most unclean animal of his day. No longer did he seek pleasure but sustenance. Hunger tormented him. Meanwhile, he edged closer to a lonely death.
When the young man journeyed home, he drew in sight of his old house. He remembered the love of his family, particularly his father. If I can only be granted the role of a hired servant, he breathed.
The man’s father rushed to meet him. He gave his son affection, food, and clothing. What did his father see in him? Was there any beauty that his father could see in him?
Have you ever imagined how the once-prodigal son may have recalled Psalm 23:
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters…"
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Do you know the height and breadth and depth of God’s Love for you today?
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