Now the LORD
had said to Abram...
So Abram departed
as the LORD
had spoken to him,...
Genesis 12:1a; 4a
While living in Mesopotamia Abram heard the voice of God telling him to depart from where he was and go to a land that God would show to him. This Abram did making a person wonder as to how, in such a pagan land, how could Abram hear from God, or even know of God, the God of the universe, the true God? Was he not in a land of many pagan gods? Were not those pagan gods worshiped and held in reverence? Yes! Fear not! Do not become as so many people do and this to become myopic, to see the trees and not the forest, to examine things as we now see them and forget the past. Too often we come to believe that all the world was pagan and that Jehovah God was not well known. Put that behind you, for in the days of Abram Jehovah God was well known, and the evidence of the Great Flood was still present, although far too often misapplied to gods that were of their making. An example of such pagan thinking can be found in Babylon: "Three times (every 1200 years), the gods were distressed by the disturbance from human overpopulation. The gods dealt with the problem first by plague, then by famine. Both times, the god Enki advised men to bribe the god causing the problem. The third time, Enlil advised the gods to destroy all humans with a flood, but Enki had Atrahasis build an ark and so escape. Also on the boat were cattle, wild animals and birds, and Atrahasis' family. When the storm came, Atrahasis sealed the door with bitumen and cut the boat's rope. The storm god Adad raged, turning the day black. After the seven-day flood, the gods regretted their action. Atrahasis made an offering to them, at which the gods gathered like flies, and Enki established barren women and stillbirth to avoid the problem in the future."
While living in Mesopotamia Abram heard the voice of God telling him to depart from where he was and go to a land that God would show to him. This Abram did making a person wonder as to how, in such a pagan land, how could Abram hear from God, or even know of God, the God of the universe, the true God? Was he not in a land of many pagan gods? Were not those pagan gods worshiped and held in reverence? Yes! Fear not! Do not become as so many people do and this to become myopic, to see the trees and not the forest, to examine things as we now see them and forget the past. Too often we come to believe that all the world was pagan and that Jehovah God was not well known. Put that behind you, for in the days of Abram Jehovah God was well known, and the evidence of the Great Flood was still present, although far too often misapplied to gods that were of their making. An example of such pagan thinking can be found in Babylon: "Three times (every 1200 years), the gods were distressed by the disturbance from human overpopulation. The gods dealt with the problem first by plague, then by famine. Both times, the god Enki advised men to bribe the god causing the problem. The third time, Enlil advised the gods to destroy all humans with a flood, but Enki had Atrahasis build an ark and so escape. Also on the boat were cattle, wild animals and birds, and Atrahasis' family. When the storm came, Atrahasis sealed the door with bitumen and cut the boat's rope. The storm god Adad raged, turning the day black. After the seven-day flood, the gods regretted their action. Atrahasis made an offering to them, at which the gods gathered like flies, and Enki established barren women and stillbirth to avoid the problem in the future."
The evidence that is found around the globe is that there was a flood and that flood was attributed to a god, or gods. For the people there was a god that was in control of all that happened upon the earth. They recognized their god(s) sovereignty even though the god the imagined him to be was a false god and not the true God that actually brought forth the Great Flood and now was controlling Abram. Furthermore, the Tower of Babel was not that far distant in time, and the confusion of languages, the dispersion of the people; God, the God of Noah would have a presence in their minds. Abram was faithful, apparently to God, but it was not just his faithfulness as the reason why God chose him. God chose Abram because God determined to choose and use Abram to be the means by which He would accomplish His end desire, His purpose. What was true of Abram, being controlled and ordered by God, that his life was in the hands of God, determined by God, we too, if we examine our lives, can see in our experience that our life has been ordered by an intelligence and not just by our own. What is true for individuals is also true of nations. This fact can be seen as to how God orchestrated the events of the Hebrew nation, the individual lives of such as Joseph being sold, and eventually aiding and saving his family that was to become the Hebrew nation, The conquest of the Hebrews both in all that occurred in the desert and as to their entrance and control of the Canaan. All history records that there has been and is an intelligent eye, the all-pervading providence of God, we see His majesty and power.
As to nature, the Scriptures are not silent as to God's providence in that arena as well for we can see His agency exercised in the operations of nature. How? For one the physical laws, their operations and necessity for life and for the motion of the heavenly bodies that are so harmoniously orchestrated. We can see it in our world as the snow falls, as the rain pounds on our roofs, the hail; it is God that controls by means of His providence all of nature. Job in answering his friend Bildad states: "He (God) made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, (the cluster of stars the make up constellations, My remarks) and the chambers of the south" (Job 9:9). Then God, speaking to Job answers: "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades (this refers to the constellations, the Bear, and Orion), or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth (Constellations) in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs" (Job 38:31-32). Paul adds to our understanding by saying: "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17). No better witness to the Providence of God over nature for the good of His creation is given by The Son Of God: "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). Notice whose sun it is; it is God's, and it is God who sends the rain upon all. Nothing is too small to be orchestrated and controlled by God, even what we may think is mundane: "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith" (Matthew 6:39). Increase your faith, God is Providential and cares for you: "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will" (Matthew 10:29).
It is good that we examine all that God holds in His Providential hand, but even more, God is Providential towards man, His special creation, that which He gave "Living Life" too and not to any other creature. Jesus gives to us these wonderful words: "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). Yet, God requires of His children, those He elected to eternal life, that they believe upon Him, follow His Law and commands, that we are to never be ashamed of Him and of our obedience to Him and Jesus offers this sound advice: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:31-33). God who is Providential in all that He does, and so cares for those to whom He has chosen, and in His mercy provides even for those who deny Him; should be not be ready and able to give our all to Him? For with Jesus Christ, the means of God to provide salvation and propitiation for our sins, God provides life, not just life in this temporal world, rather, life eternal: "He who finds His life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).
In our experience and in nature God is in control. The spiritual question to ask is: Is He in control of your life? This is the question we all must ask ourselves; this we do by examining our life in light of His Word. If that be true then it is our requirement to be in His Word, studying, meditating, and most of praying for the guidance and help that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Do this and make your election sure (2 Peter 1:10).
If the righteous one
is scarcely saved,
where will the ungodly
and the
sinner appear?
1 Peter 4:18
God will give you grace
Richard L. Crumb
It is good that we examine all that God holds in His Providential hand, but even more, God is Providential towards man, His special creation, that which He gave "Living Life" too and not to any other creature. Jesus gives to us these wonderful words: "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). Yet, God requires of His children, those He elected to eternal life, that they believe upon Him, follow His Law and commands, that we are to never be ashamed of Him and of our obedience to Him and Jesus offers this sound advice: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:31-33). God who is Providential in all that He does, and so cares for those to whom He has chosen, and in His mercy provides even for those who deny Him; should be not be ready and able to give our all to Him? For with Jesus Christ, the means of God to provide salvation and propitiation for our sins, God provides life, not just life in this temporal world, rather, life eternal: "He who finds His life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).
In our experience and in nature God is in control. The spiritual question to ask is: Is He in control of your life? This is the question we all must ask ourselves; this we do by examining our life in light of His Word. If that be true then it is our requirement to be in His Word, studying, meditating, and most of praying for the guidance and help that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Do this and make your election sure (2 Peter 1:10).
If the righteous one
is scarcely saved,
where will the ungodly
and the
sinner appear?
1 Peter 4:18
God will give you grace
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment