God’s binding agreement with Noah here was the first Divine-human covenant. God’s eternal promise of never again destroying the earth by flood was symbolized by the brilliant rainbow in the sky. And even to today when we see that rainbow in the clouds we are reminded and assured of His promise, His grace, and His Words, “Never again.”
King Herod had already killed the Apostle James, and when it seemed to please the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter with the intention of executing him also. The night before Peter’s trial we find him sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two sets of chains, with sentries standing guard at the door. But none of this could stop God from rescuing Peter by sending one of His holy messengers. The glory of the Lord shone softly in the darkened cell as the angel jabbed Peter out of his slumber and told him to “Get up!” At that the chains fell from his wrists…and he walked free. So remember this, no matter how dark it is, how stark the situation, or how desperate it may all seem, God can rescue and free you from your chains. “He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.” (Psalm 116:16)
The hand of God, or the favor of God, is powerful assistance and/or deliverance we should never take for granted. For as responsible Christians, His blessings can always be traced back in our actions to His sovereign actions. When God’s hand is upon the situation He will cause even non-Believers to be favorably disposed towards what we ask for…think of the Israelites asking their Egyptian masters for articles of silver and gold in Exodus 12:35-36. In this verse Ezra asked the king for many things…including provisions for the Temple, and the administration of justice in the area…and the king granted Ezra everything he asked for. God’s providential control will give success to all our endeavors when His hand is upon us and we are in the center of His Will…for our good and His glory.
God had given Abram (Abraham) and his wife Sarai (Sarah) vision and a great promise, (Genesis 12:2-3) and had reiterated it again in Genesis 15:5, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can…So shall your offspring be.” But in her impatience, Sarai, tried to move the divine promise along more quickly than how it was transpiring. Sadly, her plan ended with strife and her actually blaming God and her husband for the situation she had gotten herself into. On the other hand, rather than listening to God and trusting in His timing, Abram listened to his wife and his own carnal fleshly nature. And when everything hit the fan and their grand scheme backfired in their faces, Abram passed the buck rather than take control of his household. (Genesis 16:6) Anytime we try to “help God” or run ahead of His plan, it won’t end well for us. That’s because God’s timing is always perfect…despite what we think.
Both were fathers of Jesus, but in very different ways. Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, He was his offspring only legally and socially. And even though initially Joseph was ready to reject his pregnant wife-to-be Mary for infidelity, through a dream he accepted his role as earthly father to Jesus. But Jesus was also the Son of God…His One and only Son…a precious, beloved Son…chosen to save the world from sin, and “in whom My soul delights.” (Isaiah 42:1)
The strength of our faith fluctuates with every situation that comes into our life. Depending on the circumstances, our faith can grow because of it, or waver from doubt and disbelief. But this verse tells us that even when we are faithless, God remains faithful to us. Romans 3:3 goes on to say, “Will our lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” Our unbelief doesn’t void God’s promises in His Word to us… He keeps them regardless…for He is a promise-keeping God. But the bottom line, Praise God, is that our salvation doesn’t ultimately rest on our faithfulness or lack there of, but rather on the perfect faithfulness of the Lord…for He will never fail.
As Christians we all have the inclination to become spiritually lazy. We also all go through difficult and trying times when our trust in God and His promises are put to the test. The warning in these verses not only focuses on not forsaking the eternal God but in our role to help guard others from turning away. It says we are to encourage one another daily, and the Greek word for “encourage” here is very interesting. It goes way beyond just comforting or cheering someone up. It’s more like beseeching or counseling… fully intending to produce a particular effect… and with a much stronger force than just asking. This is “get in your face” exhorting because I love you as a brother or sister in Christ and I see something in your life that isn’t right kind of encouragement.
Can you only imagine how difficult it would be if God was as impatient with us as we are with Him? But praise God He’s not! On the contrary, God is patient with our impatience, or as II Peter tells us, “The Lord is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish.” The Lord patiently keeps trying to teach us…bringing us back again and again to an area of our lives that need change…but never loses patience with us if we balk or make excuses. For God’s ultimate purpose is His persistent patience… calmly perfecting His work in us.
From the darkest depths of the realm of death called Sheol did Jonah summons God’s aid. And God not only heard him but delivered him. Similarly, Psalm 18 finds David praising God for delivering him from trouble and distress at the hands of his enemies when he called out to His God. Know that no matter what you may be going through today God is near to answer and rescue you…for He hears you and will lift you out of the depths. (Psalm 30:1)
Our birthdays come and go each year, and with them the realization of our ever increasing fragile mortality. But there’s one birthday that can only spark hope, expectation, and confidence of future blessings based on God’s Word and His promises to us…and that’s called being born again. When we receive new spiritual life from God we are reborn and our body which is now corruptible, will someday receive God’s incorruptibility on the day of resurrection. Or as I Peter 1:3-4 tells us, “In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” So we have not only been given a “new birthday” but we now have living hope which is unchangeable and everlasting.
Safetypinlove 