When GOD’s Vision Seems Broken

When GOD’s Vision Seems Broken

Exodus 5: ²² So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

 

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Moses was content in the desert. He got married and had kids. Then GOD appeared to him and gave him HIS purpose to tell Pharaoh to let HIS people go. Moses reluctantly obeyed and went to the children of Israel and performed the miraculous signs GOD was going to do to the Egyptians. Moses told Pharaoh the message and life got harder for the Hebrews. Moses went to GOD to ask “Why/”

 

My Observations:

• Moses expected immediate positive response from Pharaoh because GOD gave him the mission.
• Pharaoh’s cruelty got worse and now Moses felt that he was the cause and now everyone would hate him.
• Moses asked, “Why?” as if to say, “Do something about this!”

 

Questioning GOD’s motive was not the problem here. I believe Moses was questioning the response to his obedience. Things got worse when Moses obeyed. He went to GOD and said that when he spoke in GOD’s name, Pharaoh did more evil to the people. “This is YOUR vision,” is what I would imagine Moses saying to GOD. I have said this as well when things look like they are getting worse.

 

Moses may have gone all the way back to Mount Horeb, otherwise known as Mount Sinai. During the walk, he may have rehearsed what he would tell GOD. Unlike Noah, GOD did not physically walk with Moses. GOD knew Moses thoughts, but chose to appear in a specific place. This journey took time. Meanwhile the Egyptians were treating people worse and worse. The urgency was great. GOD had warned Moses the Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about his return and how he expressed his concerns to HIM?
• Has GOD given you a vision and things seem to have gotten worse?
• Even though things may seem worse, will you believe GOD’s plan accounted for it and HE is in control?

Sensing Something is Wrong

Sensing Something is Wrong

Genesis 25: ¹⁹ This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. ²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

 

²³ And the Lord said to her:

 

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

 

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Isaac’s genealogy starts off differently than Ishmael’s. It begins with trouble. Rebekah was barren. Isaac had his own relationship with the LORD, so he pleaded with HIM to provide a child. The LORD granted this plea. But then Rebekah, who never had children, knew something was wrong.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah, like Sarah, was barren and needed a miracle.
• Isaac, like Abraham, spoke to the LORD about children HE promised.
• GOD granted the plea and explained to Rebekah the spiritual ramifications of her children.

 

You would think that GOD’s promise would come easy. Sarah, baren. Rebekah, baren. Both needed GOD’s intervention, so this may be been a supernatural situation that both women faced. It required faith that only GOD could work this problem out. Isaac showed the same faith of Abraham by asking the LORD for favor. HE showed favor.

 

But there was another barrier. Something was wrong with the pregnancy. Even though Rebekah never had children before, she could tell something was wrong. She went to the LORD and asked “Why am I like this?” GOD explained what was going on with the struggle. GOD answered Rebekah.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD explain Isaac’s genealogy differently than Ishmaels’ to Moses?
• Has GOD made you a promise and you could sense something is currently wrong?
• If you sense something is wrong with the current situation, will you ask GOD to clear the path today?

It is Allowed

Lamentations 2: ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he planned;
    he has fulfilled his word,
    which he decreed long ago.
He has overthrown you without pity,
    he has let the enemy gloat over you,
    he has exalted the horn of your foes.

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“What next?” was my question as it seemed like one thing went wrong after another. It was one of those periods in my life when everything I tried to do “seemed” destined for failure. Pulling it together, I got up and went to work. With headphones on I said to myself, “This isn’t so bad” then I opened one of the stalls and someone had smeared poop everywhere. It took most of my shift to clean it up. I guess “this” was next.

• There are times when it seems like everything that can go wrong will.
• There are times when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
• There are times when it seems like burdens are piled higher than the blessings.

GOD’s people had stopped following HIM which aroused HIS anger. There was no trust, faith or hope in the living GOD, only lust, greed and selfishness. HE sent them into exile which seemed harsh but really was not. HE let them experience what it felt like to “be on their own” and the entire nation fell, same with me sometimes. GOD allows me to go through trials, some ordained to bring me back to my senses.

• GOD will allow me to be cursed or blessed; it is up to me to choose daily.
• GOD allows me to choose sin or HIS way; it is up to me to choose daily.
• GOD will allow me to fall into the hands of my captors or rescue me on wings of angels; it is up to HIM to decide.

Supremacy is what the Devil fought against. “Why can’t I do what I want to do?” the Devil said as he thought he could be GOD. BUT GOD wasn’t having it. HE threw the Devil out of heaven to return no more. When I compare HIS sentence to the Devil and the teeny, tiny problems I have gone through, there is no comparison. I can see GOD’s rod on my rear sometimes but HIS discipline is short lived.

HE comforts me and leads me beside still waters. HE restores my soul. It is amazing how many people do not want to hear about the GOD filled with wrath. I see HIS wrath and recognize just how good I have it. HE could crush me but instead HE preserves me for another day. GOD blesses me in spite of me.

• Are you going through a period where everything you do seems to fail?
• Do you think GOD has it out for you?
• Can you turn your eyes to GOD and acknowledge HIS supremacy?
• Will you praise HIM no matter what you are going through?

Replanting the Uprooted

Jeremiah 12: ¹⁴ This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. ¹⁵ But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.

¹⁶ And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. ¹⁷ But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.

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After waking up from a long journey of life, I wanted a breather. It seemed like GOD had allowed calamity to fall on me, meanwhile those who could care less about HIM seemed to have an easy life. “Hey GOD… What about me? I thought.”

• Problems sometimes have a way of making me complain about GOD’s methods.
• Difficulties sometimes have a way of making me question GOD’s love towards me.
• Trials sometimes have a way of making me look at GOD as if HE were the problem.

Like many others, Jeremiah complained to GOD. I did as well. It just seemed like GOD allows the wicked to do what they wanted and I could not even take a paper clip from a large corporation without feeling wrath. What’s with that?

• GOD said to me “I loved you so much that I died specifically for you.”
• GOD said to me “I have compassion for you because you believed in MY death and resurrection.”
• GOD said to me “I know life seems difficult but I have gone to make a better place for you, meanwhile I have sent the COMFORTER who will be with you each and every minute.”

Things are never as they seem. While sometimes life looks difficult, GOD is there feeling the pain more than I do. HE goes through each problem with me and absorbs the difficulty at the same time. HE is not distant rather very active in my life. HE cares and knows HIS way is truly the best for me. I thank GOD for showing me compassion.

• Do you feel sorry for yourself?
• Do you think you deserve better from GOD?
• Can you stop comparing your life to others and rejoice about your relationship with HIM?
• Will you grow more today by thanking GOD for what HE “is” doing?

I want what’s mine

Job 41: ¹¹ Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.

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Bonus time was also the time in which they would announce promotions. “This is my year” I said to myself. I mean I worked very hard this particular year and my boss seemed to like me. When they made the announcement, I was elated. I got the promotion just like I thought, but it came with a twist. I was promoted to run one of the most unruly groups in the department. It was bittersweet.

• Sometimes I don’t know how to react to certain situations.
• Sometimes I don’t know whether to complain or praise.
• Sometimes I don’t know if I’m being punished or protected.

This unruly group was extremely challenging. They did not like each other or me. I asked GOD for wisdom and HE provided me with some advice.

• GOD said to me “Treat people the same, just like I do.”
• GOD said to me “Have patience and a plan for each person just like I do with you.”
• GOD said to me “Love each person as you love yourself.”

I had to stop thinking “levels” and start believing that GOD loves each person just the same. GOD sees something special in the person I feel is belligerent. When I met with each person one on one I got to know them and they weren’t so bad, in fact they had some great ideas and had not been listened to.

I did as GOD said in spite of some of their insults and tantrums and soon I was blessed with a cohesive team. I am slowly understanding that “Everything under heaven belongs to GOD” even situations I have yet to face.

• Are you complaining?
• Do you think you can change GOD’s mind by acting good?
• Can you ask GOD to open your eyes to HIS plan versus yours?
• Will you accept HIS will and move forward with faith instead of fear?

Asking Why

Job 3: Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,
    whom God has hedged in?

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After bargaining with GOD and blaming HIM, my thoughts went to questioning HIM as Job did in this passage. “Why” was the beginning of my question each time I went through something. Then I would add an extra helping of “Why” when I would compare my life to someone else’s.

• When I have gone through trouble I have asked “Why?” and received no answer.
• When I have gone through problems I have asked “Why?” and did not receive a sound.
• When I have gone through issues I have asked “Why?” and hear nothing.

“Why” is a question of clarity but it can also carry a tone of entitlement as if I could change GOD’s mind by making HIM reason HIS way into thinking like me. Does GOD owe me an explanation?

• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already shown HIS maximum love by dying for me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already forgiven me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has a plan for me that is HIS perfect will.

Sometimes I forget that GOD is supreme. I think HE can and should change HIS mind to think like me. I squirm and wiggle and HE stays steady. I then realize the struggle against HIS will is futile. The better question is “What” instead of “Why”. “What would YOU like me to do today?” “What is YOUR will and can you help me align to it today?”

Asking GOD “What” helps me accept the fact that Satan wants to thwart GOD’s plan. It makes me get up off the ground and fight another day. “Why” points to the past, “What” points to the here and now.

• Are you going through something?
• Have you been facing this problem very long?
• Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself by stopping your “why” question?
• Will you gain your life back by asking GOD “What” for a change?
• Will you receive HIS glorious power by being led by HIM today?