Post by jazzlover on May 1, 2006 22:39:13 GMT -5
All Things DO work together for the GOOD!
In God’s wisdom he allowed Abel to die, Leah to be hurt, Joseph to be enslaved, Israel to suffer 400 years in Egypt, David to be pursued by Saul, Josiah to be killed in battle. (Josiah was Israel’s most sanctified king), and Jeremiah to be abused. All of these people had one thing in common, they all suffered and they were not evil people, in fact most were very righteous. The “Hall of Faith” in the Book of Hebrews list people that were believers that served God yet suffered. Many say a good God won’t allow the righteous to suffer; they obviously never read Habakkuk. The prophet sought God’s face about this very subject. God’s reply was this: “The just shall live by their faith.”
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 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.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Many faith movement teachers say Job was in error when he said the Lord “hath taken away” because they teach God is not a taker but a giver. If this were true then Job DID charge God foolishly, and the Word clearly states that he did not. Job was right! Ultimately EVERYTHING is in God’s control. God did not directly cause Job’s suffering, but he allowed it. God is STILL a good God because in His infinite wisdom He knows the outcome of every event and what we ultimately need. Job needed something and we will later address what it was.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (Isaiah 55:9,10)
Part of our problem is we think “goodness” means never losing anything at all. Think in terms of a natural parent. When I was a teen-ager my mother made me avoid certain friends. I thought she was cold and mean…until those friends ended up in jail or dead. My mother had insight and wisdom where I was lacking. Even though we are spirit-filled, Bible reading, and sometimes theologically trained saints, we STILL are not as smart as God almighty and we will never be. Sometimes we are like Job’s friends. We presume to know God better than anyone else. Theology isn’t an exact science (preachers!). We can study and meditate on the things of God 24/7 and still unless God chooses to enlighten us on a particular matter; we are in the dark. False prophecies are not helping this cause either. We are sometimes so starved for spiritual insight we will believe anything. You want a personal Word from the Lord? Then get personal with Him! Get to know Him in prayer, study, and meditation.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven. (Matt. 16:17)
The spirit can only understand spiritual things. We must seek God’s direction in every area of our lives. (Proverbs 3: 1-6) We often assume God is saying something. I am always wary of people that say, “God told me something to tell you.” This same person often can’t remember the last time they were in prayer about their own lives. Now this may shock you, but God doesn’t tell us everything. Sometimes God withholds information for our good. Job and his “friends” didn’t know why God allowed Job to suffer. (They thought they did)
The Rabbi
In God’s wisdom he allowed Abel to die, Leah to be hurt, Joseph to be enslaved, Israel to suffer 400 years in Egypt, David to be pursued by Saul, Josiah to be killed in battle. (Josiah was Israel’s most sanctified king), and Jeremiah to be abused. All of these people had one thing in common, they all suffered and they were not evil people, in fact most were very righteous. The “Hall of Faith” in the Book of Hebrews list people that were believers that served God yet suffered. Many say a good God won’t allow the righteous to suffer; they obviously never read Habakkuk. The prophet sought God’s face about this very subject. God’s reply was this: “The just shall live by their faith.”
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 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.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Many faith movement teachers say Job was in error when he said the Lord “hath taken away” because they teach God is not a taker but a giver. If this were true then Job DID charge God foolishly, and the Word clearly states that he did not. Job was right! Ultimately EVERYTHING is in God’s control. God did not directly cause Job’s suffering, but he allowed it. God is STILL a good God because in His infinite wisdom He knows the outcome of every event and what we ultimately need. Job needed something and we will later address what it was.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (Isaiah 55:9,10)
Part of our problem is we think “goodness” means never losing anything at all. Think in terms of a natural parent. When I was a teen-ager my mother made me avoid certain friends. I thought she was cold and mean…until those friends ended up in jail or dead. My mother had insight and wisdom where I was lacking. Even though we are spirit-filled, Bible reading, and sometimes theologically trained saints, we STILL are not as smart as God almighty and we will never be. Sometimes we are like Job’s friends. We presume to know God better than anyone else. Theology isn’t an exact science (preachers!). We can study and meditate on the things of God 24/7 and still unless God chooses to enlighten us on a particular matter; we are in the dark. False prophecies are not helping this cause either. We are sometimes so starved for spiritual insight we will believe anything. You want a personal Word from the Lord? Then get personal with Him! Get to know Him in prayer, study, and meditation.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven. (Matt. 16:17)
The spirit can only understand spiritual things. We must seek God’s direction in every area of our lives. (Proverbs 3: 1-6) We often assume God is saying something. I am always wary of people that say, “God told me something to tell you.” This same person often can’t remember the last time they were in prayer about their own lives. Now this may shock you, but God doesn’t tell us everything. Sometimes God withholds information for our good. Job and his “friends” didn’t know why God allowed Job to suffer. (They thought they did)
The Rabbi