We will continue our lesson on what God allows.
In my research and studies, I at first aimed to show Satan falling from Grace. I was led in a different direction. Yes, he is allowed to tempt, but God keeps him on a leash. We see this in Job, Yes! Satan met with GOD and other angels and was asked where he had been:
“One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan,
“Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Job 1:6,7
Why is Satan allowed to tempt and torment? We see what was done in the time of Adam and Eve. For the most part, Satan had free rein at that point. By the time we are introduced to Job, we see that The LORD used Satan to prove Job’s faithfulness. So much can be said about Job’s trial, so many times I am reminded in my personal trial of the season of Job.
As I said, Satan is kept on a leash and is allowed to test, tempt and try us all, but he remains on a leash. Even in the midst of our trials God is still blessing us AND holding things back! Think about that.
Now imagine if you had a bulldog, why would you have one you ask? To dissuade intruders. In truly ‘unsafe’ neighborhoods, a fierce dog would be necessary to dissuade. Now, what does God do? If He spoke, Satan would be no more. So why then is he still here? To The GLORY of The King, The LORD of hosts!
Why do you think we have the story of Job? Many things may have been added over time, but the lesson remains the same. We go through so much. When we turn 100% to GOD and hand over 100% of our struggles to Him, as He has instructed us, mind you, I did not my say 99.9%, I said 100%.Without God, you are nothing! It takes me a while to explain this. If you were not created, you would not be here. There would be no you. This is where being of the Medical persuasion kicks in.
Sperm and an egg leads to an Ova, then development, birth, survival. For a second imagine where things could have gone wrong or do go wrong any place during this process. What do we have then? Regrets? Funny thing is I have met many parents with disabled kids. For the most part it makes them stronger, different.
Me for example, I was in a near fatal accident. My parents did everything in their power to bring me back. Even if I were crippled, I would be a crippled extension of them. Affording me life to their discomfort, gave them comfort. I went through so much, my accident, my lack of foresight, their advice, their Love. Still being, an individual I set out on the path that I chose. However now at this juncture in my life, I have come to realize that all was not in my hands. God knew before I was created what would happen to me, becoming a surgeon, parent, motor vehicle accident, months in a coma, getting a glimpse of Heaven and coming out of my coma to dedicate my life to serving Him. All known AND allowed by my Father above.
Our parents always wish, hope and push their children to be more than they have been. I remember with shyness, how proud my parents were on college graduation, medical school graduation, fellowship completion, my first job and so on. Little did I understand at the time that they were expressing who they are. With untold regret, I miss the so MANY “I Love you’s” that passed. More so, I am given the opportunity to state fact in this my second go round.
In Part 1 of this extended share, we started out talking about Abraham—father of many nations. Abraham did not always do God’s perfect will. He was in his 80’s when Ishmael was born, 99 when Isaac was born. After Sarah’s death, he had even more children. According to the biblical Book of Genesis, Isaac (/ˈaɪzək/; Hebrew: יִצְחָק, Modern Yiṣḥáq Tiberian Yiṣḥāq; Arabic: إسحٰق/إسحاق, Isḥāq) was the son of Abraham and Sarah and father of Jacob; his name means “he will laugh”, reflecting Sarah’s response when told that she would have a child. This stems from her age at the time the messengers of God’s plan spoke. We can go through their arrival, but instead, I will point out the fact that a 99 year old land owner would, in His old age, bow himself to the ground at the approach of those sent. With his relationship with God, we can imagine what went through his Spirit.
”The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
”Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
Genesis 18:1-6
We must remember that Ishmael was born at this point. Sarah, when she was told that she would bear a child laughed. Again, in the physical there are impossibilities and such a thing unheard of, but in The Spiritual ALL things are possible to him that believes.
Now let’s look again at Job. He experienced loss of all his land, goods, children, health… All his earthly possessions were stripped by Satan in his attempt to make him speak ill of The LORD. But Job remained faithful. Even in disease, he scaped and scratched with molten clay bits.
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:3-10
In our ‘season’ of Job (trials and tribulations) turn to God! I must admit that there are times that there is no other place to turn. At times suicide seems like the only answer. I will point out that our existence only truly starts after we die. Consider the billions who existed before us. We have discussed ‘recycling.’ I have placed a dare on the table, forget about your heirs and place it all (your riches) in an account for your next ‘go round’ or ‘recycled spirit.’ I was argued down when an individual stated we might be back as animals. I could not help but laugh. “For real!” I said. “So, I guess in that case you would not be able to withdraw the money!” Then it gives the money more ‘time’ to appreciate. How about if the bank ceases to exist? In those cases, I wish I was a banker. There must be a period in which unclaimed funds revert back to the banks property when they are unclaimed. We can look this up.
There is almost $33 billion in unclaimed money from old payroll checks, utility refunds, trust distributions, stocks, banking or checking accounts, certificates of deposit and the contents of safe deposit boxes, according to estimates by the National Association of Unclaimed PropertyAdministrators.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum11/lostandfound.html&ved=2ahUKEwi4q_rInsvYAhXByoMKHVcXB6MQFjADegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0cowOCdZt57COrW1qZfow6
Ok, enough clowning around. There is a realm we all go to.
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-study/what-happens-when-we-die/
https://exemplore.com/paranormal/Where-Do-We-Go-When-We-Die
Like I have said, unnecessary to repeat what has already been Written and researched. It is just nice to open doors.
How did this start? We can go back and follow through. Let me note a few things. When did this start? Who were Abraham’s five children?
Isaac
Son
Ishmael
Son
Jokshan
Son
Zimran
Son
Midian
Son
We see that after the passing of Sarah Abraham had more children. One thing that I wanted to note was that Abraham and Sarah did not always follow the perfect will of God. He was asked to step out of his comfort zone. So many times we are asked, or made to do this:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/stepping_out_of_your_comfort_zone
There are so many examples, feel free to browse the subject ‘comfort zones.’
I just want to point out that Abraham was not always in the will of God
https://www.intouch.org/read/blog/in-the-will-of-god
For example it was Sarah that realized that he did not have an heir. It was Sarah that encouraged him to bed her handmaid:
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai, his wife, took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, Hagar began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”
“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”
Genesis 16:1-12
Again, what God permits, He permits for a reason. With God, things occur in seasons. I had my season of plenty, this has been followed by a season of despair and learning to lean 100% on Him, my God. Essentially, there is no me. I have been made to realize it is God in me. I have pleasure in speaking with my Father. I have learned to give Him thanks in ALL things. There is a reason I am where I am at. Being where I was before I was shaken to my roots, I was and had so much. In our times of plenty: Worship Him, thank HIM and bestow praises on to Whom they are due which is only God!! Amen. In my plenty, I lacked gratitude for what I had, humility for where I was placed. I look back and realize there was so much wanting, and yet I PRAISE GOD and thank GOD for who, what and where I am today!!
So many things have been pointed out. We are supposed to give a portion of our blessings. If you do not go to church, your hands, your way, people you pass can be blessed. Have that old sweater, those unused slacks, even that bag of old socks, even underwear. Give until it hurts, you will be blessed. I am moved to see all these multimillionaire pastors. Yes, they have congregations and people they serve. It was pointed out in my heart that mother Theresa was known for her good works, yet as publicised as it was, she remained serving. Yes, she could have retired and passed in wealth, but she chose to live as the people she served.
For a moment, I point out our example – Jesus, on Palm Sunday sent his disciples for a donkey that was owned by others! The Son of God who was present at the creation of the Universe, did not own a horse! We have pointed out that he came as the step-son of a carpenter. In His temptations, He was offered worldly adulation and temporal riches. He kept His eyes focused on The ONE Bathing—the purpose for which He had been sent to fulfill God’s will. Jesus realized that He may be given a name, presence and riches worth more than had ever been known, but for all that awaited Him in Heaven, it was easy to cast this temporary joy away for the GLORY that awaited. His Name was given before His time, such as Abraham’s son with Sarah’s handmaiden.
At this point, I point out something that struck me. Sarah was given Abraham’s seed and bore a child. Let us turn the tables a slight bit. Let us say you were in Sarah’s position. All her 86 years she had not borne Abraham an heir and then she was pregnant. The emotions that washed over her, imagine! This 86-year old past her prime, and now I have his seed growing in me. Reason for scorn, ridicule, stepping away?
“He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.”
Genesis 16 :4
The more mind-blowing thing is that we say (most do not believe) God knows all. It is said so many places in The Bible. Why does He not change things? Why does He allow suffering? Realizing who He created, He gives us choice. When we make the ‘choice ‘ to continue to praise and worship Him DESPITE our circumstances, it is to His Glory!!
Amen
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