It occurred to me recently how God brings deliverance and salvation in ways we could never expect. He raised up deliverers for His people from unexpected places, men like Moses who was a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's house and David whom God prepared as he kept his father's flock. God also used means seen as unthinkable by God's people to chasten them to repentance and humility. He is willing to go to lengths what men might consider extreme to revive and restore a faithful remnant before Him.
Reading through the prophets there is found a common theme of surprise among devout Jews God would employ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (whom God called His servant) to bring the nation into captivity. Habakkuk the prophet of God was left astonished at this revelation. How could God possibly use a heathen nation who was under God's judgment to chasten God's people? In the New Testament Peter explained judgment begins at the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17). God was not turning a blind eye to the idolatry, witchcraft, and sin of the Babylonians. They would face judgment before a holy God. They would be God's chosen yet unlikely rod of discipline - unthinkable from the perspective of God's people, of course!
The scriptures also reveal God uses unlikely means to correct and humble His people: unclean spirits. When King Saul was lifted up with pride, the Holy Spirit departed from Saul and God sent an evil spirit to torment and harass him. This is stated as a matter-of-fact in 1 Samuel 16:14-16: "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well." What may surprise you is God allowed a messenger of Satan to afflict the apostle Paul, a man who remained loyal to God. He explained in 2 Corinthians 12:7, "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." King Saul started well and Saul who later became Paul finished well, yet they both received treatment from God we might think odd from our limited perspective.
The scriptures prove God is in control of nations and individuals, of those who fear God and to those lifted up with pride. People both near to God and far from Him remain subject to His authority and are offered His peace and love. He sovereignly allowed Job to suffer at the hand of Satan, and also graciously restored double-honour unto Job after the trial. God is willing to allow those He loves to experience pain and buffeting so we will be refined and cling closer to Him. God knows the deadly danger of idolatry and pride and loves people too much to allow us to be comfortable on the broad path which leads to destruction. The fact God allowed Satan to enter Judas who betrayed righteous Jesus Christ to suffer and die on a cross to demonstrate His love for us and extend salvation to all who repent and trust in Him cannot be overlooked. If we should receive such consolation and comfort from the sufferings of Christ and even Paul, isn't it likely in our suffering God has redemption and revival in mind? (2 Corinthians 1:3-6)
Let us not be dismayed when we too face difficulties in this life. I have come to believe if a child of God is defeated, God is the one responsible. We can think the devil is responsible when God Himself is refining us! He allows the burdens of life to be heavy upon us to test us, to see if we will trust and obey God in pain or go our own way to try to avoid it. God is good to crush us under the weight of our sin, inadequacy, and apparent fruitfulness so we might cast our cares upon Him in humble desperation. It is written in Isaiah 57:15, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." If a car fell off jack stands and crushed down on a man's chest as he worked on a car, he would instinctively struggle to free himself from the weight. When the conviction of sin come crushing down upon us, when our failures seem heavy, when we make a mistake when we try to wriggle free. It is good for us to humble ourselves in repentance before God, for God dwells with the humble and contrite - the crushed, the broken - and will revive the heart and spirit of the same.
This crushing is not pleasant or fun, even though God redeems it for good. Paul prayed fervently on three occasions the spiritual attacks would stop, but God did the unthinkable: He said no. Let us hear from Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10: "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul did not cower in fear, nor was he disillusioned or depressed as if God had forsaken him. God allowed a messenger of Satan, but with the buffeting provided bountiful consolation in God. Paul responded to this beautifully as we also ought, gladly rejoicing in infirmities and the sufficiency of God's grace. Paul's accuser delivered him from pride and caused him to abide with God in humility and truth. Because Paul suffered and overcame by God's grace, and in weakness discovered strength, we can do the same even when God allows things we can't explain or escape.
Reading through the prophets there is found a common theme of surprise among devout Jews God would employ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (whom God called His servant) to bring the nation into captivity. Habakkuk the prophet of God was left astonished at this revelation. How could God possibly use a heathen nation who was under God's judgment to chasten God's people? In the New Testament Peter explained judgment begins at the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17). God was not turning a blind eye to the idolatry, witchcraft, and sin of the Babylonians. They would face judgment before a holy God. They would be God's chosen yet unlikely rod of discipline - unthinkable from the perspective of God's people, of course!
The scriptures also reveal God uses unlikely means to correct and humble His people: unclean spirits. When King Saul was lifted up with pride, the Holy Spirit departed from Saul and God sent an evil spirit to torment and harass him. This is stated as a matter-of-fact in 1 Samuel 16:14-16: "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well." What may surprise you is God allowed a messenger of Satan to afflict the apostle Paul, a man who remained loyal to God. He explained in 2 Corinthians 12:7, "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." King Saul started well and Saul who later became Paul finished well, yet they both received treatment from God we might think odd from our limited perspective.
The scriptures prove God is in control of nations and individuals, of those who fear God and to those lifted up with pride. People both near to God and far from Him remain subject to His authority and are offered His peace and love. He sovereignly allowed Job to suffer at the hand of Satan, and also graciously restored double-honour unto Job after the trial. God is willing to allow those He loves to experience pain and buffeting so we will be refined and cling closer to Him. God knows the deadly danger of idolatry and pride and loves people too much to allow us to be comfortable on the broad path which leads to destruction. The fact God allowed Satan to enter Judas who betrayed righteous Jesus Christ to suffer and die on a cross to demonstrate His love for us and extend salvation to all who repent and trust in Him cannot be overlooked. If we should receive such consolation and comfort from the sufferings of Christ and even Paul, isn't it likely in our suffering God has redemption and revival in mind? (2 Corinthians 1:3-6)
Let us not be dismayed when we too face difficulties in this life. I have come to believe if a child of God is defeated, God is the one responsible. We can think the devil is responsible when God Himself is refining us! He allows the burdens of life to be heavy upon us to test us, to see if we will trust and obey God in pain or go our own way to try to avoid it. God is good to crush us under the weight of our sin, inadequacy, and apparent fruitfulness so we might cast our cares upon Him in humble desperation. It is written in Isaiah 57:15, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." If a car fell off jack stands and crushed down on a man's chest as he worked on a car, he would instinctively struggle to free himself from the weight. When the conviction of sin come crushing down upon us, when our failures seem heavy, when we make a mistake when we try to wriggle free. It is good for us to humble ourselves in repentance before God, for God dwells with the humble and contrite - the crushed, the broken - and will revive the heart and spirit of the same.
This crushing is not pleasant or fun, even though God redeems it for good. Paul prayed fervently on three occasions the spiritual attacks would stop, but God did the unthinkable: He said no. Let us hear from Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10: "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul did not cower in fear, nor was he disillusioned or depressed as if God had forsaken him. God allowed a messenger of Satan, but with the buffeting provided bountiful consolation in God. Paul responded to this beautifully as we also ought, gladly rejoicing in infirmities and the sufficiency of God's grace. Paul's accuser delivered him from pride and caused him to abide with God in humility and truth. Because Paul suffered and overcame by God's grace, and in weakness discovered strength, we can do the same even when God allows things we can't explain or escape.
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