What God thinks, does, makes and wants

Today: Micah

Today's chapters followed a similar pattern: God talked to (and through) a prophet about His disappointment in His people. He prophesied hard times ahead as consequence for their disobedience. However, as I read Micah today, I saw God's hand at work through the ups and downs of Israel. Through everything (and even through these short chapters), the love of God and the hope He has for His people was crystal clear.

Let's review this segment where Micah talks about ungodly people's views of God's work with His people:

These blasphemers have no idea

what God is thinking and doing in this.

They don't know that this is the making of God's people,

that they are wheat being threshed, gold being refined.

On your feet, Daughter of Zion!

Be threshed of chaff,

be refined of dross.

I'm remaking you into a people invincible...

I love the hope in these sentences: While God's people are facing consequences for their disobedience, God is shaping them into something stronger. He used hard times in their history to build them up. When that kind of God-shaped transformation happens, most of us don't see it because it looks like a mess--it looks like a bunch of problems and challenges and disasters. But those things can refine us--as long as God's in it and we don't allow problems, challenges, and disasters to define and destroy us.

I also liked this excerpt about God's clear direction for His people. Just before these verses, the prophet describes God's relationship with Israel through history--how He led them out of slavery and blessed them with good leaders, like Moses, who led them to the Promised Land. Take a look:

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.

It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don't take yourself too seriously—

take God seriously.

Isn't that good?

Often we fail because we try to do things our way, instead of God's way. We think we're strong and independent. We think we know the answers. We think we don't need Him--we think wrong.

God thinks beyond what we're able to comprehend. God does the unexpected. God makes miracles--transforming lives and situations that seem lost and hopeless.

Perhaps the most shocking idea in the Bible? God wants us.

God wants us to choose Him, love Him, trust Him and live the lives He's dreamed for us long before we were ever born.

Tomorrow: Nahum

Lions and visions and kings--oh my!

Today: Daniel 4-6

This morning I was watching the "Today" show and saw a horrific news story (fyi: this video link is only part of it) about a bear that attacked, killed and injured campers in Yellowstone National Park. This event came to mind as I read today's passage and the famous story of Daniel in the lions' den with a fresh perspective.

The campers at Yellowstone did nothing to provoke a bear attack--the bear that attacked them was probably only at each camp site for minutes. Similarly, Daniel did nothing to provoke anyone, but was placed in a den with very dangerous lions FOR HOURS! In fact, people who were thrown into the lions' den after Daniel were basically killed in seconds--before they even hit the floor.

As I read the story again today, I realized just how miraculous it was. Not that I should be surprised--even in these short chapters, God performed other major miracles for Daniel, giving Daniel the power to interpret dreams and mysterious writing on a wall (from a disembodied hand!).

In several of these incidents, it was interesting to see the responses of people who doubted God before--people who thought they were god-like in power themselves. King Darius was one of those guys. I'd like to close today's post with his reflections on the miracle of Daniel in the lions' den and the incredible power of the God who saved him:

King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth:

"Peace to you! Abundant peace!

I decree that

Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared

in all parts of my kingdom.

He is the living God, world without end.

His kingdom never falls.

His rule continues eternally.

He is a savior and rescuer.

He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.

He saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

My love, my friend

Today: Song of Solomon 1-8

Attention all readers of today's passage: You did not accidentally pick up a Danielle Steele novel with a Fabio look-a-like on the cover. This is not a poem by William Shakespeare. I promise--Song of Solomon is actually part of the Bible.

Or perhaps today's passage didn't sound romantic to you? I'm a pretty sentimental chick myself, but I wouldn't exactly swoon over a guy who compared me to a well-groomed mare, who likened my chest to mountains (um...it's definitely not at sea level, but I'm no Dolly Parton either!) or compared my hair to a flock of goats. Times were different for the writer of Song of Solomon, I guess. :)

I'm joking a little, but this book of the Bible is different. It may seem odd to you after all, there's little mention of God. This is a passionate story of romantic love and it may seem a little steamy for Scripture, right?

However, it's important to remember that God is love. He created men and women to love Him as God, but He also created men and women to love each other...and to love each other as husbands and wives. Although Song of Solomon may appear strange to some, it's a poetic illustration of people who love each other and enjoy life to its fullest (similar to what I wrote about yesterday).

There's a lot in these chapters about physical love and desire, but it was also interesting for me to read about the pride these two lovers had in each other. Here's one quote from the woman:

"Everything about him delights me,

thrills me through and through!

That's my lover, that's my man..."

And one from her guy:

"There's no one like her on earth,

never has been, never will be.

She's a woman beyond compare..."

These two people are unabashedly crazy about each other. While their love is passionate, I think it's interesting that Song of Solomon also portrays their friendship. I thought these Scriptures were absolutely beautiful:

"...You've captured my heart, dear friend.

You looked at me, and I fell in love.

One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!

How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend..."

Most human beings have a desire to be loved this way--we want someone to think we are "beautiful from head to toe" or the handsome guy who "stands above the young men in town." All of us want to experience the deep love of a friend. But finding a true friend who will love you for life as your spouse? That is a miracle. Thankfully, I believe in a God who makes miracles happen every single day. :)

Tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

Beauty, the brain and brokenness

Today: Job 8-10

Isn't it amazing how real the Bible is sometimes?

We've already read about the tough things Job faced in his life. And in this passage, there are sections that seem downright depressing. Job says things like, "I wish I had never been born!" and "I can't stand my life--I hate it!" He definitely dealt with deep human emotions like grief and a sense of abandonment. However, there's some beauty in the midst of Job's brokenness. I love what he said here about God:

You gave me life itself, and incredible love.

You watched and guarded every breath I took.

But you never told me about this part.

I should have known that there was more to it...

Confession: I've felt exactly that way at moments even though I haven't come close to experiencing Job's tragedies. As humans, we can't fully comprehend the whys of the universe (but we try!). Our minds don't understand how a good God could allow tragic things to happen to good people.

The fact that we just don't get the mysteries of the universe may be a good thing. I, for one, can't fully get the concept that beauty can come from brokenness--much less the idea that the brokenness itself can be beautiful. I can't fully explain things like love, grace or miracles. The fact that I don't know everything is good--because it brings a sense of awe, surprise and wonder to my life. Job recognized that, too, when he said this about God:

We'll never comprehend all the great things he does;

his miracle-surprises can't be counted.

Somehow, though he moves right in front of me,

I don't see him;

quietly but surely

he's active,

and I miss it.

Tomorrow: Job 11-13

Doubt and a double miracle

Today: 1 Kings 15-17

Have you ever doubted God--or even a person--even when they've already proven themselves to you?

Today's passage describes an interesting story along these themes. The prophet Elijah approached a widow and asked for a meal. Unfortunately, the widow only had a handful of flour and a little bit of oil--enough to make a final meal for herself and her son. But selflessly, she trusted Elijah. Here's what it says:

And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked.

And it turned out as he said—daily food for her and her family.

The jar of meal didn't run out and the bottle of oil didn't become empty:

God's promise fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it!
Later on the woman's son became sick.

The sickness took a turn for the worse—and then he stopped breathing.
The woman said to Elijah,

"Why did you ever show up here in the first place—

a holy man barging in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?"
Elijah said, "Hand me your son."
He then took him from her bosom,

carried him up to the loft where he was staying,

and laid him on his bed.

Then he prayed, "O God, my God,

why have you brought this terrible thing on this widow

who has opened her home to me? Why have you killed her son?"
Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy,

praying with all his might,

"God, my God, put breath back into this boy's body!"

God listened to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body—

he was alive!

Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. "Here's your son," said Elijah, "alive!"
The woman said to Elijah,

"I see it all now—you are a holy man.

When you speak, God speaks—a true word!"

I thought this story was interesting because the widow had already witnessed one of God's miracles--He provided food to save her and her son. However, when her son was sick, her first reaction was to turn on Elijah, God's messenger in her life. But despite her doubt, God healed her son.

I can't imagine what this woman's life was like--she lost her husband, she faced desperate poverty, she watched her son suffer from severe illness and then she watched him die, too. I'm sure moments of doubt plagued her periodically. Where was God in her suffering? Why did all of these bad things happen to her?

I honestly don't know the answers to these questions and I don't think the woman in this story did, either. But the truly amazing thing is the fact that her life was not defined by her suffering. In the midst of her doubt, this widow selflessly gave her last meal in obedience to one of God's messengers. Her life wasn't defined by her suffering, but by a selfless step of faith...that ultimately led to a miracle.

Another interesting thing? Her second miracle didn't require anything on her part. She didn't do anything. She didn't even have the strength to believe her son could be healed or come back to life after death. But God intervened and performed a miracle anyway--it was pure grace and goodness.

By definition, all miracles are unexpected, supernatural gifts. I think that sometimes miracles happen partly because of faith (e.g. Jesus' words in Matthew 15). But one thing is certain: Miracles always happen because of God. God can make the impossible happen despite anything we do, think or believe--that's what makes Him God and what makes something truly miraculous.

Tomorrow: 1 Kings 18-20