Alone With Favor

Alone With Favor

Genesis 6: ⁹ This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. ¹⁰ And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

 

¹¹ The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹² So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

 

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Generations had passed since the creation of Adam and Eve. Cain’s descendants were plentiful. They heard stories about GOD throwing humans out of the Garden of Eden. Cain was doubly cursed because he killed his brother over jealousy. No longer would the ground produce fruit for him. Cain possibly was trying to build his own Garden of Eden, which was not pleasing to the LORD.

 

Cain built an entire city. He showed that his ingenuity was a basis of not needing GOD. When GOD would walk with a few people, many would stay away, blaming HIM for being outcast. Noah’s great grandfather Enoch was taken by GOD because of his righteousness. Noah followed in his footsteps, but no one else on earth followed GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Noah walked with the LORD when it was not popular to do so.
• Noah’s siblings did not walk with the LORD and may have sought out the descendants of Cain to learn how to perform various industries.
• Humans stopped walking with GOD, possibly thinking they could overtake the Garden of Eden.

 

Searching all the earth, GOD saw that not one man or woman thought kindly of HIM, except Noah. They despised GOD and did not recognize that HE was the one who provided what little food they had. It was HIS building materials they used to engineer cities, cooking utensils and weapons.

 

The strong and mighty made people bow down to hierarchies that pointed to the rich and powerful. Corruption had reached its pinnacle and the way of life was to take instead of give. BUT GOD saw Noah and was pleased with him.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD repeat the genealogy of Noah to Moses?
• Have you ever tried to serve GOD around selfish people who could care less about HIM?
• If you are alone with your belief in JESUS, will you stand firm so HE can walk with you in unpopular decisions?

Longest Life

Longest Life

Genesis 5: ²⁵ Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. ²⁶ After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. ²⁷ So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.

 

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“You are as old as Methuselah” people would say as a reference to being very, very old. Methuselah lived to a ripe old age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years. His father was taken by GOD at three hundred and sixty-five years of age.

 

My Observations:

• To be on this list, I believe these people all walked with the LORD.
• Methuselah walked with the LORD the longest.
• Methuselah saw his father’s excitement for the LORD and may have been influenced to pass this excitement on to his family.

 

By the time Methuselah died, the population had grown significantly. But somehow GOD spent time with Methuselah and other people. Methuselah did the same as seven generations before him by calling on the name of the LORD.

 

His long life may have been the pattern for a commandment that would be later given to Moses, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”

 

Challenge

• Do you think GOD told Methuselah about taking HIS father?
• Are you worried about your life and about how you will make it tomorrow?
• Have you considered placing your life in GOD’s hands so HE can manage it better than you think?

Not Going to Stumble

Matthew 11: ² When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

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Wind propelled pellets of ice and snow in my face. I zipped my coat up to my nose and pulled my hat down to my glasses. The mile walk was long and my foot sunk deep into the mucky drifts. I felt like giving up and turning back. “Keep going” were the words that popped in my head. When I arrived at the bus stop, four busses arrived at once!

• Many times I felt like giving up.
• Many times I thought GOD was a waste of time.
• Many times I questioned HIS plan as if HE were the problem versus the Savior.

Giving up on GOD means I refuse to take the next step with HIM on life’s journey. I gave up on HIM and stopped praying to HIM at one point. I mean “What good is it to pray if HE says ‘No’ all the time?” was my immature thought. GOD was gracious enough to me to have patience.

• GOD opened my eyes to my selfishness and showed me just how blessed I am.
• GOD opened my ears to tell me HIS message and to bring other people to HIM.
• GOD repaired my broken spirit and gave me legs to walk to the poor and proclaim HIS good news!

Difficult times bring on a choice. Either I will choose to cling to JESUS or I will blame HIM for my problems. It is that simple. Stumbling happens. My faith gets shaken when the snowy winds of life hits me in the face. BUT GOD blesses me “when” I do not stumble and show a mustard seed of faith.

• Are you ready to give up?
• Do you think the road is too far and life is hitting you in the face?
• Can you keep going in your faith so you can make it to GOD’s destination for you?
• Will you choose not to stumble today?

The Long Journey

Psalm 74: ¹² But God is my King from long ago;
    he brings salvation on the earth.

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“Stop” has popped up in my mind many times as I was driving along distracted by life’s events. Each time I obeyed and each time I avoided a catastrophe. What was this voice? Why did I get saved each time?

• Looking back I see that GOD was there watching over me.
• Looking back I see that only GOD could have saved me from the things HE saved me from.
• Looking back I see that GOD was there the entire time protecting me and watching over me.

It’s not just avoided accidents or evaded pitfalls that GOD has guided me through. HE has blessed me beyond my imagination and taken me places I would never have dreamed. So why do I doubt?

• I doubt when I forget what GOD has done.
• I doubt when I think I know the answer and GOD has another path.
• I doubt when I lose my faith by placing faith in something else.

GOD want me to remember all the great things HE has done for me and to think on these things. HE wants me to retract the wonderful salvation HE has done and place HIS power to the forefront of my mind. GOD wants me to remember HIS greatness and continue to look forward to HIS everlasting love.

• Are you in a place of doubt?
• Do you think GOD has left you?
• Can you look back at the times GOD has miraculously saved you?
• Will you let GOD deliver you HIS way in HIS time?
• Will you continue to move forward without doubt like you used to?

Steady as It Goes

2 Chronicles 27: ⁶ Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.

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“You need to meet the right people” a mentor told me when I inquired about being successful. I looked around and the “successful” people were drunkards, liars and thieves. One of my coworkers asked me to attend a very “visible” bible study that the “successful” people seemed to shun. What was I going to do?

• Hanging around the crowd seems so satisfying at times.
• Compromising my values seems like the right thing to do at times.
• Desiring something to the extreme makes me want to join the wrong group at times.

When I woke up I actually remembered the mentors’ real statement. “You need to meet the right people within your values” is what he really said but not what I heard. I thought I had to change my value system and become something I was not created for. BUT GOD showed me something different.

• GOD says “I will give you rest unto your soul.”
• GOD says “MY burden is light.”
• GOD says “I will lead you besides still waters.”

I chose the harder route and went to the Bible study. The Bible leader and I spoke to a person about CHRIST and he began crying and accepted HIM with zeal. This was a greater reward than promotions. But that’s not the end of the story. The CIO watched me and so did my bosses boss. They were followers of GOD and I didn’t know it. I was later promoted to areas I never would have believed.

• Are you ready to throw in the towel with GOD?
• Do you think you have to change or compromise your values?
• Are you so desperate for money or success that you are thinking of giving up on GOD?
• Can you choose GOD today?
• Will you continue to walk down the path with GOD no matter how rocky it may seem?