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

Remember the road

Today: Deuteronomy 8-10

I've never been a fan of cheesy inspirational posters. You know, the kind with a picture of a country road and big type at the bottom that says something like "Vision." Typically, I also avoid cliche inspirational comparisons like, "Life is a journey." However, perhaps some things are cliche because they communicate ideas in way most people can tangibly relate to.

If I were to describe life as a journey, I would say that sometimes the road has serious potholes--the kind you can drive over in a small car (like my faithful-since-college Ford Focus) and wonder, "How did I not lose my tire in that?" The road of your life may have some fatal collisions, traffic, dead possums and dog poo (did I really just type that?!?). However, it might also have kind drivers who help you change your flat tire on the side of the road in the rain. It may have police officers who help you navigate some rough spots. Sometimes you might be in the carpool lane with some pretty amazing people. And at times, it may feel like you're driving in the sun on a freshly paved expressway with nothing holding you back.

Do you ever take time to remember the road--and reflect on how you got to where you're at today?

In today's passage, Moses repeatedly encouraged the Israelites to "remember the road." More specifically, he instructed them to remember God's intervention, provision and miracles along their journey through the desert. Let's refresh by taking a peek at these verses:

Remember every road that God led you on

for those forty years in the wilderness,

pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of,

whether you would keep his commandments or not.

He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry.

Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about,

so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only;

we live by every word that comes from God's mouth.

Your clothes didn't wear out and your feet didn't blister those forty years.

You learned deep in your heart

that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child.

So it's paramount that you keep the commandments of God, your God,

walk down the roads he shows you and reverently respect him...

And here's a different part of the passage:

...So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you?

Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence,

follow the road he sets out for you,

love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you,

obey the commandments and regulations of God

that I'm commanding you today—

live a good life.

Sound familiar? This passage ties closely to some of the other themes in recent passages (see my blog site for the last few if you're interested). In these chapters, God (via Moses' message) isn't just encouraging the people to remember the roads they've been on--He encouraged them to remember His miraculous faithfulness, guidance and correction. I believe this instruction isn't about focusing on the past, but learning from it--it's about turning away from mistakes, living in obedience and most importantly, trusting in God all along the way. And you don't even need a cheesy poster to do that. :)

Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 11-13

The chase...and the path to promise

Today: Exodus 13-15



God keeps His promises. It's a common theme I've definitely seen so far throughout this project and reading the Bible together. But today's passage illustrated how sometimes the path toward a promise fulfilled can look a bit different than most human beings would like...in fact, it can look frightening.


Today we read about the Israelites' escape from Egypt and how God miraculously parted the Red Sea. That's what most people remember most about the story. I've heard, read and seen it a hundred times (hello, Charlton Heston and "The Ten Commandments" movie!). Usually, I focus on the miracle. It's pretty amazing, right?


However, I think some lessons from this passage are not about the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. I think we could probably learn something about God (and ourselves) from the Egyptians' terrifying chase through the desert.

God promised His people that they would be set free, loaded up with riches from Egypt and led to the Promised Land. He promised to be with them. They were thrilled to be on the path toward a promise fulfilled. Things happened just as God said--they were released by Pharaoh and loaded down with treasures from the Egyptians.

Then something changed...Pharaoh's mind. His army of skilled soldiers and battle equipment charged into the desert after the Israelites. (I don't know about you, but I would be horrified if an army of trained soldiers surrounded my defenseless family!) The Israelites had their children with them. They felt trapped--they felt that Moses and God duped them. They were scared and angry, too.

But God never promised the Israelites (or us, for that matter!) that the path toward His promises would be easy. It may look scary at moments--totally different than what we ever wanted or imagined, but it could be a path that leads us to a miracle.

Remember this: Before the Red Sea, there was a chase. The path toward promise isn't always paved...but God's Presence is always there.


Tomorrow: Exodus 16-18

Signs and the wonder...of a stubborn heart

Today: Exodus 7-9

"There is a stubbornness about me

that cannot bear to be frightened by the will of others,

my courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me."
- Elizabeth Bennett, Pride and Prejudice

Stubbornness is an interesting characteristic--it's one that can be used for good or evil. Some stubborn people have this determination to beat the odds, fight for causes they believe in and stand up for themselves and others. That's admirable.

My sister has that kind of stubborn in her, I think. She has this compassionate nature and desire for justice that often puts her in a place of saying things like, "That's just not right!" The good kind of stubborn can be developed into courage, like what is described in the quote from Elizabeth Bennett above.

But stubbornness can also be problematic.

My parents tell this story about disciplining one of my sisters and I when we were little. When I misbehaved as a preschooler, all they had to do was put a frowny-faced sticker on the fridge. I would burst into tears--absolutely devastated--and admit my wrongdoing. When I was older, it morphed into conversations where words like "I'm really disappointed in you..." would do the trick (one of the worst possible things anyone could ever say to me!).

But my sister was different. Mom and Dad could threaten to spank her or ground her for life and she would look at them with sarcastic determination as if to say, "Is that all you've got?!?" When she was older, the girl debated and stood her ground...even when she was totally wrong. Luckily, as she's matured, the bad stubborn traits have dissipated (and on the flip side, I've developed more of the good kind of stubbornness, too).

In today's passage, we read about a guy with a seriously stubborn heart (in the worst possible way!)--Pharaoh. What's amazing to me is that even when the miraculous signs and wonders of God are right in front of his face, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn. It was almost as if he was like an obnoxious little kid in the back of a minivan on a long road trip, covering his ears and shouting in an annoying, sing-song voice, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

Ugh.

But in all fairness, how many people are like Pharaoh? I think most of us have had moments where we've messed up--and instead of admitting we were wrong or asking for forgiveness (from God or people), we are like that obnoxious kid. We'd rather continue on in our own stupidity than listen to reason from wise people or the Word of God. Instead of opening our eyes to see the facts or even miraculous signs from God Himself, we pretend to be content in our blindness.

Many times, our stubbornness turns us into obnoxious children or cold, hard-hearted people like Pharaoh. Instead, let's be stubborn in a different way--by courageously choosing to live in child-like wonder of wisdom and miracles.

Tomorrow: Exodus 10-12

Miracles in the mundane

Today: John 7-8

Every morning, I wake up. I wash my face, put on moisturizer, brush my teeth and put in contacts.

When I get to work, I check my e-mail, answer urgent messages and then take a walk to Starbucks.

These are a few of the routines in my life. And as boring as they sound, I bet you have a few routines of your own (well, I hope you at least brush your teeth and put on deodorant every day, too!).

But when you think about it, although these routines are mundane, they're also a bit miraculous. I mean, the fact that I breathe in and out every minute while simutaneously blood flows to my brain to think and my muscles to move is pretty amazing when you think about it. That, and the fact that I'm capable of having any sort of conversation pre-Starbucks. :)

Most of the time, I am not aware of miracles in the midst of my mundane moments. I think most people are probably in the same boat. I love what Jesus said to the religious leaders in this passage today:

"You're tied down to the mundane;

I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons.

You live in terms of what you see and touch.

I'm living on other terms.

I told you that you were missing God in all this.

You're at a dead end.

If you won't believe I am who I say I am,

you're at the dead end of sins.

You're missing God in your lives."

Wow. Jesus himself was a miracle in the midst of the mundane. And I wonder if He works that way today as well...

Tomorrow: John 9-10