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Overcoming Opposition!

Today’s reading in Ezekiel reveals a coming worldwide opposition to God’s people. We also see their ultimate victory by divine and supernatural intervention. This opposition will grow so strong that God will intervene and destroy Israel’s enemies. “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. (Ezekiel 39:21, NLT)

While much of today’s reading is yet for a future time, there is a similar spirit of opposition, or anti-Christ, that is alive and well even now against Christians. Why are Christians persecuted across the globe? Why is the name of Jesus Christ so offensive? Why do the wicked attack the church, the body of Christ? Why do the ungodly rage against righteousness, God, and His people? Because the god of this world, the Devil, is in a losing battle against God. Because sin and iniquity abound in the hearts of men. Because the Gospel is foolish and offensive to the unbelieving.

Yet, despite this opposition, we have assured victory! …despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NLT) Additionally, there is coming a day when all shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11). In light of these things, I am reminded of what Paul said: being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:11–13, ESV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 38-39.

God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Responsibility!

Yesterday’s reading and today’s reading highlight God’s sovereignty over the nations. Reading these chapters exposes us to deep theological truth. For example, Scripture makes it clear that God is ruling in men’s affairs. Is man, therefore, responsible for his actions? If God raised Babylon to chasten Judah and exile her—and they do that—but then God holds them accountable and punishes Babylon for doing it, how do we reconcile this?

A Mysterious Relationship

Great is the mysterious relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. So often, to reconcile this mystery from our massively limited point of view and fit it neatly in our small box of understanding, we deny the one to support the other. Yet the Scriptures unite God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. Did not God harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he refused to let Israel go, yet hold Pharaoh responsible for his actions and judge him accordingly? Did not God bring Babylon against Judah and then hold Babylon responsible?

The Stumbling Block

This does not have to be a stumbling block, though it often is. Notice what God says about Himself.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9, KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans 11:33–34, KJV)

Notice what Job said of God: For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. (Job 9:32, KJV)

The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man united are only stumbling blocks when we have a shallow view of God that fits inside our tiny box of reason.

God Is Good

What was the testimony of those who saw Jesus on this earth? In Mark 7:37, they say that he did all things well. Acts 10:38 says that Jesus went about doing good. In Romans 8:28, we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. The Bible says in James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Many more verses reveal God to us—that God is good. So, can God be trusted?

The Power of Faith

What is it that pleases God? But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, KJV) Can we trust God? Yes! Is He good? Yes! Is this trust bigger than our small perspective? Yes! Is God’s sovereignty and our responsibility a stumbling block? Not any longer! Humbling and yet comforting, isn’t it? What we can see by faith is amazing! By faith, let’s trust God and see past these stumbling blocks!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 49-50.

Warning the Hard-Hearted!

When people reject God, they also reject those who love God. They reject their message, care, concern, and loving effort to draw them back to God. Such was the case with Jeremiah.

Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.” (Jeremiah 18:18, NLT)

The Plot to Kill The Prophet

At this point, Jeremiah is beginning to experience what God has dealt with for centuries—hardened hearts, stiff necks, and rebellion. God’s patience and longsuffering certainly outlasted Jeremiah’s, for Jeremiah changed his tune considerably.

Yet you, O Lord, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger. (Jeremiah 18:23, ESV)

In fact, Jeremiah decided he would stop prophesying to such hard-hearted people, but he found he couldn’t. On the one hand, he asks God to destroy them—he’s done with them; on the other hand, he finds that he cannot keep quiet.

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. (Jeremiah 20:9, KJV)

The Servant Is Not Above His Master

As believers, let us not grow weary in warning the hard-hearted. Let us not be discouraged by their treatment of us who love them enough to warn them. Though this world plots evil against the righteous, let us not forget our Lord suffered the same, and as His servants, we will experience what our master suffered. Have we not a promise which gives us great hope and strength?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35–39, KJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 18-22.

The Eve of Judgment: A Call to Repentance!

Zephaniah, the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, warns the people of the coming Day of the Lord. He prophesied during the days of Josiah, King of Judah. As you might recall, Josiah is remembered for his great spiritual reforms, calling Judah back to worshipping only the LORD. He was the last good king Judah would have. Zephaniah speaks of the immediate future following Josiah’s death.

Judgment Is Near

Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near… “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs…” (Zephaniah 1:7–9, NLT)

Yes, God’s people were on the eve of judgment for their sins. God does not overlook sin. What a thought that our sins, when they were placed on Jesus while He hung on the cross, God spared not even His own Son, but judged them (Romans 8:32)!

A Call for Repentance

Yet, on the eve of judgment, what does the prophet say? Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins. (Zephaniah 2:2, NLT)

God prefers repentance! Sadly, notice the people’s response. She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; She trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. (Zephaniah 3:2, KJV)

The Promise of Restoration

Though a terrible judgment was coming, God made a promise of salvation. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: For I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, When I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:20, KJV)

God would not forever cast off His people! After they were chastened, He would restore them! …The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV)

God is a good God! He warns. He patiently waits for repentance. He corrects. He restores.

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Zephaniah 1-3.

God is sovereign!

Wow! Today’s reading is like something out of a spy movie, except that spy movies don’t show a sovereign God at work in mankind’s affairs!

On the surface, the insurrection of Absalom has gained momentum. He has taken over the city of David, Jerusalem, and is now calling the shots from the king’s house (2 Samuel 16:15). David is on the run, having crossed the Jordan into the wilderness beyond (2 Samuel 17:22). He has mobilized his troops. Positions are taken to counter the first attack from the rebellion (2 Samuel 18:1–4). Ahithophel, the traitor, is counseling Absalom with wise advice that has the power to devastate David’s cause (2 Samuel 17:1–4). David’s double agent (2 Samuel 16:16–19), Hushai, has worked his way into the thick of it, countering the wisdom of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:7–14). There is even an elaborate communication network set up to get intelligence back to David on Absalom’s plans and troop movements (2 Samuel 17:15–17).

Below the surface, there is even more intrigue. We see the effects of David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband fully underway. The prophet Nathan foretold that David’s family would live by the sword, his household would rebel against him, and his wives would be publicly humiliated for what David did in private. Yes, sin is devastating! At the same time, God works in both seen and unseen ways to bring about His eternal plan. God answered David’s prayer from 2 Samuel 15:31 and countered Ahithophel’s counsel in 2 Samuel 17:14. God has many people still loyal to David who come out of obscurity to sustain David and his men in the wilderness (2 Samuel 17:27–29). God is even at work in one sticky situation where the communication network was exposed. He preserves the lives of David’s informants (2 Samuel 17:17–22). In the end, the rebels met their end, and the rebellion was crushed.

In all of this, we are comfortingly reminded that God is sovereign over all things. First, God has created all things, and He alone holds things together!

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16–17, ESV)

Second, He is working all things together for our good—despite the mess of sin that ravages the world!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Third, no man or plan can back God into the corner!

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2, ESV)

What does this mean for us? We, too, will find, as David did, that God is always in control. As His children, this brings a deep, abiding, anchoring peace amid life’s chaos. Let’s rejoice in our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, …who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (1 Timothy 6:15, NKJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Samuel 16-18.