The 21st Century believer is well abreast of time, when it comes to the iconic, heroic and transformational stories or accounts of some great wo/men that walked with God in the Bible. These stories actually serve as mending elements or prove of the Power of our existing, living and active God. The ever reliable, dependable and omnipotent God. Actually, it is impossible for God to lie(Hebrews 6:18). Our trust in the Supreme God is our responsibility.
I've always been very vocal and emphatic about our gracious and merciful God being a Father who is not an author of confusion or evil in any dimension, value, perspective or regard. In fact the Bible states clearly in the first book of Corinthians chapter fourteen verse thirty-three that; " For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
How can a just, infallible and loving God concoct evil or confusion that inflicts pain?
This is a question many ask when they read the many iconic stories that serve as Pillars of reference when we preach the gospel especially urging believers to have an unwavering trust in the supreme God. His many attributes defines his completeness and immensity in goodwill.
Maybe you've also been asking same questions but looking at the same Bible, I noticed how often we get alot of things wrong or twisted when it comes to understanding the methods of God. Firstly, we all have to agree that our God is a God of process and purpose. He could have created the world and everything therein in just a flash of light or a blink of the eye but he chose to do it in six days. HE did that to establish his progressive methods of process.
Most of the great names and stories we read in the Bible gives expression to God's progressive methods of process that takes an individual or creation from one point to a purposeful expected end. The sun rises and sets. The winds move or travel. The billows row with storms. The clouds form with raging winds before it rains. The seeds die, rot, germinate or sprout. Trees grow like humans grow and have roots. Time itself is not static but dynamic and progressive.
Everything God created is established in his progressive method of process. We need a certain level of revelation to decode his ways or we would be caught in a Web of doubt or wandering cycle of hopelessness. I read in the Bible how God gave Hannah a child after years of barrenness and tears. 1 Samuel 1:6 says 'God closed Hannah's womb'. Did God really close Hannah's womb?
Unfortunately, I don't think so because the Bible in James chapter one verse thirteen tells us God does not tempt. I believe God allowed the enemy to have his way with Hannah like he did with Job, Daniel, Joseph and all the others. This is because God's word and decrees are absolute in themselves and if scripture cannot be broken and nothing really beats the word, then the Omniscient God knows all challenges were going to work together for their good.
God being faithful and just did not truncate the progressive methods of process that had to take place before his children entered and fulfilled the purpose of their lives. God showed Joseph all of his dreams and knew what his own siblings would do when they hear about the revelations yet he didn't stop Joseph from narrating them. Joseph was a slave, maid servant, prisoner and finally a prime minister. He became Lord over his master Portiphar. The process was very important.
Hannah suffered mockery and pain from her rival and community, her pastor queries her drunkeness not knowing it was sorrow and tears that had battered her but God allowed it all. She received very little from her husband. Is God really a Father of infertility? I don't think so. He knew the enemy's scheme would end well for Hannah so He allowed it. In the end, Hannah made a grand request to God to give him a son and she would in turn give HIM a gift. Hannah ended up with a son who is a Prophet and a King Maker.
When Daniel was thrown into the Lion's den God was watching on. In fact his omnipresence proves that he was in there with him. HE was right there watching Daniel when he prayed in the Lion's den. The three Hebrew boys(Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) were no exception; HE knew they won't denounce HIM so HE joined them in the fire (Deuteronomy 32:6). Prophet Prince Manasseh Atsu preached it better in his sermon titled; The Fourth Man.
Often we are plunged into dismay, pain and hopelessness by the things we suffer or experience at some points in life. Often the ordeal is served us by our own relatives, friends, siblings, husbands, masters, bosses and etc. It actually makes the pain and experience unbearable. Imagine Joseph as a slave, maid servant and prisoner. When we come to this juncture of trials or challenges, we often do not readily remember the promises of God.
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
When you put into perspective what God said in Isaiah 54:15-17 where God promised us how those that gather for our sakes will fall; HE who was watching the blacksmith form his instrument of destruction; The same Yahweh who said no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, will not and cannot take us for granted or say and not do.
Finally, God watched on with patience and love as David was relegated to go look after his father Jesse's sheep whilst his other siblings engaged in more honourable exercises like being in the military and understudying royalty to be enthroned Kings or made Generals. God saw the lions and bears that tried to kill David's sheep or even harm his life. God was right there when Saul sought to end David's life but just as HE rescued him from the Lion's, bears and a giant, God knew King Saul won't succeed.
I don't know what you're going through or experiencing right now, but I came to tell you the Lord is right there with you. HE's watching and cheering you on as you go through the process into your life assignment and purpose. Just know that you'll never get it wrong with God the moment you're in HIS will nothing can truncate HIS plans for your life.
©️ 2022 | Listowell Acquaye (ChosenYesuBa)
#IamChosenYesuBa #ArmourBearer #GloryLife #SpiritLife #YearOfSpeed
