I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Abraham’s servant offers us yet another model to follow in today’s passage, as does Rebekah. Once he had determined the women whom God had chosen for Isaac, he wanted to continue moving toward their marriage without delay. Rebekah’s brother and mother attempted to convince him to delay leaving with Rebekah, but he insisted on going at once. They left the decision up to Rebekah. This is where Rebekah showed us the same model. She also was eager to be about following the path which God had laid out for her. Are we prepared to move as swiftly when God shows us the path He wishes us to take?
In today’s passage we have three different reactions to Jesus. In the first vignette, we have a religious leader who is initially eager to follow Jesus, but when he discovers that he would need to endure hardship to do so, he makes excuses. The second vignette shows us the disciples frantically waking Jesus from sleep in great fear from a storm. Jesus questions their faith then calms the storm. The disciples are in awe of Jesus and do not know what to make of Him, but they continue to be eager to learn more. Finally, Jesus arrives on the other side of the lake and sends demons out of two demon possessed men into a herd of pigs. The pigs promptly ran into the lake and drowned. The people of the town, hearing what Jesus had done for the demon possessed men and to the pigs, immediately asked Jesus to leave them alone.
So, one reaction is to want to follow Jesus because it will make us feel good about ourselves, but making excuses not to when we discover the difficulties which doing so would entail. Another reaction is to be overwhelmed by His power and, despite our weak faith, choosing to stick around to learn more. The third reaction is to want nothing to do with Jesus because it might mean economic troubles for us. What is your reaction to Jesus?
It may seem like God is far away when we face trouble. We may see the wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor and brag about their evil plans. The wicked are too proud to seek God, they think belief in God is for the weak. They believe that God is dead and unable to bring them to account for their actions. But God does see what they are doing. He observes their evil and the harm they bring to those weaker than themselves. He will come to the defense of the helpless, He will protect the orphan. God will turn the evil of the wicked back upon them and punish them for the harm they have caused to others.
If you become convinced of your own wisdom to the point that you think you know better than God what is the right and wrong thing for you to do, you are making a grave mistake. Rather than trust in your own wisdom, fear God and follow His instructions about what is right and wrong.