2018-09-03
Psalm 83:18 KJV
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they regarded as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the “self-existing One,” and the “I Am.” He was the Creator of all things; an awesome and unknowable supreme being. But God desired to be known in a personal way. So He added to the name Jehovah five revealing titles – word-portraits of Himself to help us better understand and relate to Him. Israel discovered these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress, and they will bless and encourage you during your times of need. Let’s look at each. Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb for the offering in Isaac’s place. In response, Abraham called Him Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. And it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. The New Testament says the Lord sees your needs and provides answers. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth…ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32 KJV). Like a caring, alert, observant parent who anticipates his child’s every need, God provides well-timed solutions. Before a child’s shoes wear out a good father provides new ones; his child doesn’t need to beg, bargain, and plead. “Then why don’t I have what I want?” you ask. Because God knows what you really need – you don’t! What you see as “needs” might simply be “wants” in God’s eyes. Remember – Jehovah-Jireh sees your needs and will provide them!
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; Luke 19:11-27; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 22:27-29
2018-09-02
Romeine 8:31 NLV
In sy familie se oë, sou Dawid nooit iets meer as ‘n skaapwagter wees nie (sien 1 Samuel 16:11-12). In God se oë was hy egter Israel se volgende koning. Dis snaaks hoe mense ons die oomblik wat ons gebore is, begin kategoriseer. Iemand sê, ‘Jy lyk net soos so-so,’ of oortuig jou dat jy net ‘n gemiddelde student of ‘n ‘plain jane’ is. Voor jy jou oë uitvee, begin jy hulle opinies glo. Sommige mense het gedink dat Timoteus te jonk is om ‘n leier te wees. Dis hoekom Paulus aan hom geskryf het, ‘Moenie dat enigiemand minder van jou dink omdat jy jonk is nie…’ (1 Timoteus 4:12 NLV). Ons lys van ander mense se waarneembare tekortkominge kan hard en onversoenbaar wees. Dit sluit dinge in soos om arm te wees, onopgevoed te wees, fisiese en geestelike uitdagings te hê of etnies verskillend te wees. Dit neem selfs die dom foute wat hulle jare gelede gemaak het in ag. Sou jy oor dieselfde kam geskeer wou word? Nie so gedink nie! Toe Adam Clarke, een van Engeland se produktiefste agtiende eeuse predikers jonk was, het sy pa vir Adam se onderwyser gesê dat hy nie dink dat Adam goed in die skool sou presteer nie. Die onderwyser het geantwoord, ‘Hy lyk vir my baie slim en wakker.’ Adam het daardie woorde gehoor – en dit het sy lewe verander deur hom uit die boks uit te haal waarin sy pa hom gesit het. Clarke het twee-en-sewentig jaar oud geword en ‘n beroemde Metodistiese prediker geword. Raak dus van jou beperkende gedagtes ontslae en begin droom. ‘Wat sal ons dan van al hierdie wonderlike dinge sê? As God aan ons kant is, wie kan ooit téén ons wees?’ Met God aan jou kant, kan jy die bo-punt van die leer bereik!
Sielskos: Fil 2:5-11; Op 19:11-16; Hand 3:1-16; Matt 1:18-21
Romans 8:31 KJV
In his family’s eyes, David would never be more than a shepherd (See 1 Samuel 16:11-12). But in God’s eyes, he was Israel’s next king. It’s amazing how people categorize us the moment we’re born. Somebody says you “look exactly like so-and-so,” or convinces you that you’re “just an average student,” or a “plain Jane.” And before you know it, you end up believing their assessments and opinions. Evidently some folks considered Timothy too young to be a leader. That’s why Paul wrote and told him, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). Our list of other people’s perceived shortcomings can be harsh and unforgiving. It includes things like being poor, uneducated, physically or mentally challenged, or ethnically different. It even takes into account the foolish mistakes they made years ago. Ask yourself, would you like to be measured with that yardstick? Didn’t think so! When Adam Clarke, one of England’s most prolific eighteenth century preachers, was young, his father told Adam’s teacher he didn’t think his son would do well in school. The teacher replied, “He looks very bright to me.” Adam heard those words – and they changed his life by letting him out of the box his father put him in. Clarke lived to be seventy-two, became a famous Methodist minister, and gave the world one of its greatest Bible commentaries. So get rid of your labels and life-limiting thoughts, and start dreaming. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” When God is in your corner, you can rise to the top like cream!
Soul food: Phil 2:5-11; Rev 19:11-16; Acts 3:1-16; Matt 1:18-21
2018-09-01
Genesis 32:25 NKJV
When you try to run from God, you keep running into Him at every turn. It happened to Jacob. He ran from his brother Esau’s anger, and when things got too hot in his father-in-law’s house, he ran from there too. Finally, when he could run no more, he ran into God at a place called Peniel. And it was there that his name was changed from Jacob the deceiver, to Israel, which means “a prince with God.” The Bible says: “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed'” (vv. 24-28 NKJV). When God dislocated Jacob’s hip, in essence He was telling him, “Your running days are over, and your limp will be a constant reminder of your total dependence on Me.” We all need a “Jacob experience.” Oswald Chambers said when God wants to use a man, “He hammers him and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him.” Everything Jacob needed, he found when he ran into the arms of God. The same is true for you.
Soul food: Josh 1-4; Luke 19:1-10; Ps 84; Prov 22:24-26
Genesis 32:25 DB
Wanneer jy probeer weghardloop van God af, hardloop jy om elke draai in Hom vas. Dit het met Jakob gebeur. Hy het van sy broer, Esau, se woede af weggehardloop en toe dinge te warm vir hom by sy skoonpa se huis raak, het hy ook daarvandaan weggehardloop. Uiteindelik, toe hy nie meer kon hardloop nie, het hy in God by ‘n plek genaamd Pniël vasgehardloop. Dit is daar wat sy naam van Jakob, die bedrieër, na Israel, wat ”n prins met God’ beteken, verander is. Die Bybel sê: ‘Jakob het alleen duskant die rivier agtergebly. Terwyl hy nog so staan, het ‘n man hom skielik gepak en hulle twee het begin veg. Dit het tot dagbreek die volgende oggend aangehou. Toe die man sien Jakob is te sterk vir hom, het hy Jakob ‘n laaste harde hou op die heup gegee. Dit was so erg dat die heup heeltemal uit sy potjie gespring het. Die man sê toe: ‘Los my tog nou, want dit is al dagbreek.’ Jakob het toe gesê: ‘Ek sal nie. Voor ek jou los, moet jy my eers seën.’ ‘Wat’s jou naam?’ stotter die man. ‘My naam is Jakob,’ het Jakob geantwoord. ‘Van nou af,’ sê die man, ‘sal hulle jou Israel noem. Nie meer Jakob nie, maar Israel.’ Die man het verder gesê: ‘Vannag het jy teen God en mens geveg, en gewen’ (verse 24-28 DB). Toe God Jakob se heup ontwrig het, het Hy in wese vir hom gesê, ‘Jou dae van weghardloop is verby, en jou mankheid sal ‘n konstante herinnering aan jou totale afhanklikheid van My wees.’ Ons almal het ‘n ‘Jakob-ervaring’ nodig. Alles wat Jakob nodig gehad het, het hy gevind toe hy in God se arms ingehardloop het. Dieselfde is waar vir jou.
Sielskos: Jos 1-4; Luk 19:1-10; Ps 84; Spr 22:24-26
