God's Miraculous Restoration

God's redemptive power is seen in His power to restore what is broken to wholeness.  After the severe testing of Job God gave him double what he had previously.  His health was restored, many children were born to him, and Job was held in great honour.  Job was faced with the temptation to lament all God took from him previously or celebrate the grace and goodness of God with what He provided.  Is your tendency to grieve over what you no longer have or rejoice in God's presence today and the help He provides?

Naomi is a woman who suffered the loss of her husband and two sons in a foreign land and returned to Israel bitter and angry at God.  Her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, was all she had to show for the many years she was abroad because of famine.  Naomi said, "I went out full but the LORD has brought me home again empty."  Ouch.  Despite the bitterness of Naomi, Ruth loved her and worked to support her by gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem.  It was then God began to unfold a beautiful relationship between Ruth and Boaz, a relative of Naomi.  Her heart began to soften as Naomi sensed an opportunity for Boaz to redeem Ruth as wife, fulfilling the obligation of a kinsman redeemer to raise up seed for her household so the inheritance would be retained.  The LORD was faithful and Boaz delighted to be joined to Ruth in marriage.

Ruth 4:13-17 reads, "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. ¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! ¹⁵ And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him." ¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. ¹⁷ Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David."  Little Obed born to Ruth could not replace Naomi's late husband or two sons, but Ruth and her son were used by God to restore Naomi.  This child was a great comfort to elderly Naomi who had seen much evil and suffered much pain.  Her future with the little one was sweeter than the bitterness of days gone by.  Could she have remained bitter?  Sure.  But how blessed Naomi was to gladly receive this little one and hold him close to her heart:  a gift from God who would be the grandfather of King David and in the line of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

When a car is "restored" the usual intention is to return it to the original condition with stock parts--maybe with a little extra chrome under the hood.  God restores in a completely different way:  He transforms us and brings us into seasons we have never experienced before.  Naomi went from being a widow and childless to being a grandmother.  She had a daughter-in-law from Moab who loved her who was better to her than seven sons!  A woman in Israel would have given almost anything to have seven sons who might fall in battle in a day, yet Ruth and Obed were precious gifts from God Naomi could rejoice in all her days.  Because God is with us and will never forsake us we can be bold in declaring His goodness and provision even when we have suffered loss (Hebrews 13:5-6).  We can choose to regret our past or rejoice in our Saviour who holds us close.  Fear and feelings of shame are drowned in the goodness and grace of our God.  The spiritual metamorphosis Christians experience by faith in Jesus leaves nothing to be lamented.

Joel 2:21-27 reads, "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvelous things! ²² Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; for the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength. ²³ Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you--the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. ²⁴ The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. ²⁵ "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. ²⁶ You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. ²⁷ Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."

More Than Reformation

When Jesus walked through Israel teaching and doing wonders people disagreed about His true identity.  Some said he was John the Baptist, others claimed he was Elijah, or one of the old prophets had been reincarnated or risen from the dead.  None of these contradictory opinions were true because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  Elijah and John were reformers but Jesus was a Redeemer.  We know our Redeemer lives because He is risen!

Elijah spoke strongly against the regime of King Ahab and the idolatrous condition of the nation.  He conducted a test between the prophets of Ba'al and himself to prove to the people who was the true God to be worshipped, and God answered with fire from heaven.  Having exposed Ba'als prophets as frauds, they were swiftly executed.  John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance, driving home to individuals their need to confess sin and change.  Various groups of people (including tax collectors and soldiers) asked what they needed to do in light of their present situation and John the Baptist provided guidance (Luke 3:10-14).  John boldly spoke against the unlawful conduct of Herod and was imprisoned.

It was around this time Jesus began preaching repentance and the kingdom of God through the Gospel.  It seems many people, including the disciples of Jesus, expected Him to do as they imagined Elijah or John the Baptist had done.  Jesus explained He did not come to destroy the Law and the prophets but to fulfill, to bring them to completion.  He did not push for social or political reform but demonstrated the love of God for sinners by dying on the cross for their sins as the Lamb of God without blemish.  He did not come to reform people or to improve living conditions for men on earth but to redeem all who believe and provide spiritual transformation.  People looked for Jesus to set up His kingdom in Jerusalem by force, but Jesus established His kingdom by grace through faith in love.

People would have been content with government reformation and social improvements yet God intended to redeem.  This means He is not in a hurry (like we often are) to change our circumstances for the better.  The scripture reveals our good God allows suffering and pain for His redemptive purposes.  Instead of making us calloused towards the suffering of others or indifferent towards our own, remember God is a Redeemer who is compassionate, gracious and merciful.  Having received such grace and kindness such qualities ought to mark our lives as we take courage in the God who will never leave or forsake us.  May our prayers and desires move from directing God to "Do this!"  or "Change that!" to "Thank you God for being my Redeemer."

What Jesus Sitting Says

The LORD is faithful to bless those who read His Word.  Because the wisdom of God is infinite and His ways unsearchable, there will always be revelation for us in the scripture.  Today one minute I was reflected with amazement how I didn't comprehend basic biblical truth in my youth yet moments later noticed something new to me, a fresh connection which confirms the truth I am still learning.  Jesus says not one "jot or tittle" would pass from the Law until all was fulfilled, saying that the smallest of markings remained of great significance.  We know tone, timing, and emphasis can tweak the meaning of a simple sentence, and the writer of Hebrews keyed in on the posture of Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father to confirm the effectiveness of His sacrifice and much more.

A little historical background:  it was customary morning and evening to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle and later the temple in obedience to the Law of Moses.  After Jesus died on the cross, the veil which surrounded the Holy of Holies was torn top to bottom.  The writer of Hebrews alluded to that resembling the torn body of Jesus on Calvary, that through His shed blood that provided atonement those who trust in Jesus now have access to God by the Holy Spirit.  Paul affirmed what spiritually occurred during the crucifixion, how the Old Covenant of the Law was nailed to the cross with Christ in Colossians 2:13-15 and how the New Covenant in Christ's blood made the old obsolete.  When Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, Paul exhorted believers in Colossians 3:1:  "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God."

Jesus seated at the right hand of God is an important observation seeing He is our Great High Priest.  When the high priest offered the morning and evening sacrifices they stood--they did not sit.  When the annual sacrifice was offered to atone for the priest and the nation the blood of sacrifice covered sin but could not eliminate the need for future sacrifice.  The writer of Hebrews showed how the sitting posture of Jesus proves there is no additional sacrifice possible for sin:  Jesus sat down because the purification for sin is complete.  Hebrews 10:11-14 states, "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."  Isn't this amazing?  Jesus is the LORD who has fulfilled Psalm 110:1, sitting down at the right hand of God.  We are enabled to stand in righteousness because Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, having "perfected forever those who are being sanctified."  Having been purified from our sins, we ought to present ourselves as living sacrifices to the One who laid down His life for our redemption.

Jesus sits as the Great High Priest who has forever finished the work of atonement, but on a couple of occasions He is mentioned standing.  Jesus said He stood at the door of the church of the lukewarm Laodiceans in Revelation 3, and before his martyrdom Stephen cried out before the council Acts 7:55-56 says, "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"  This shows me though Jesus sits He is not inactive or unmoved by things which concern His people on earth.  He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks; He rises to be our advocate and will someday rise in judgment upon an unbelieving world, delivering all who trust in Him.  He sits at the Father's right hand yet is not sedentary.  He sits to show He is on the throne and rules over all, has once for all offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, the shadow of Law has been made obsolete by the New Covenant, by grace through faith we are perfected forever, and we are being sanctified by Jesus.  Who could have thought Jesus sitting could mean so much?

Light, Gladness, Joy and Honour

The book of Esther provides a great example of God's deliverance and the marvelous reversals only He is capable of.  The wicked Haman had signed into law of the Medes and Persians (which could not be changed) the Jews were to be slaughtered and plundered.  At the persistent urging of her cousin Mordecai, queen Esther brought the evil plot of Haman against the Jews to light before her husband and king.  Furious at this great betrayal, King Ahasuerus executed Haman, promoted Mordecai to a position of honour and power who drafted a new law which allowed the Jews to protect themselves from all adversaries.  Filled with ironic turns and unbelievable plot twists, the book of Esther puts the best Hollywood attempts to shame.

Mordecai and the people went from fasting, mourning, and wearing sackcloth because of their eminent doom to celebrating together.  Esther 8:15-17 says, "So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. ¹⁶ The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honour. ¹⁷ And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them."  Mordecai who once sat in the dust left the presence of the king clothed in royal apparel wearing a crown of gold; people who were in the shadow of death had "light and gladness, joy and honour."  Jews who looked to the 13th day of the 12th month with fear and dread suddenly instead had a holiday with feasting and gifts.  Inhabitants of the land who were very relieved not to be Jews (seeing they were condemned to death) converted to being Jews!

I cannot read this historical account without considering how followers of Jesus Christ share a similar experience with the Jews in Esther's day.  We were condemned by our sin according to God's righteous Law, but Jesus has provided forgiveness and atonement by shedding His blood on Calvary.  All men are heading to certain death and destruction in hell forever yet through faith in Jesus have the hope of eternal life, having been adopted by God and clothed in His righteousness.  Through Jesus we too have "light and gladness, joy and honour" we do not deserve.  Because Jesus is the Bread of Life we have an everlasting feast by faith in Him and victory over our foes--even Death.  Every year the Jews celebrated Purim as a reminder of the great deliverance God had wrought for them, and the book of Esther is an awesome reminder of God's love and faithfulness to His people under the Old and now the New Covenant in Christ's blood.

Jesus is the Light of the world, and may we walk in His light with gladness.  He grants us fullness of joy and peace that passes understanding.  Though Jesus and His followers are hated by some, we have been granted unspeakable honour by His grace to be called by His name.  The Jews of Shushan rejoiced to have a man of their own Mordecai ruling rather than Haman the Agagite, and how blessed we are to be ruled by Jesus Christ rather than Satan whose skull has been crushed underfoot by the Son of God.  Isaiah 25:8-9 says what the God of Israel has done in Jesus Christ:  "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."