Wednesday, November 13, 2013

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 Time with Jesus - 14 Nov 2013
Hi all,
Questions and Answers: That’s our topic for meditation today. Christians should have a lot of Questions. Answers to these questions very often come much later; which reminds me of a story from Northern Ireland. Bear in mind that in general, there are two “religions” over there. The one is Roman Catholic. The other is largely Protestant from a number of denominations. 
The story is of a visitor to Belfast in the middle of the “troubles”. It seems that the ubiquitous Van der Merwe was visiting as part of a South African sports contingent. Anyway, “Van” was out for a walk one evening in one of the darker parts of Belfast. Suddenly, he felt the muzzle of a gun pressed into his back. Then the voice said to him, “Are you a Catholic or a Protestant?”
Van didn’t know what to say. “It’s 50/50” he thought. “No matter which answer I give, there’s a 50/50 chance of my dying here on the street”. As quick as lightening he came up with a wonderful solution. “I’m a Jew!” said “Van”. Then there was a cackle of laughter from the man as he spoke the words, “I must be the luckiest Palestinian in Belfast!”
As a youngster, I was taught never to question God. What was meant by this was, never to question His authority. I recall thinking that questioning Him would be a bit futile. It’s a bit like challenging one of those 300kph bullet trains the Japanese have successfully built. The best recommendation is not to get in its way. It will crush you like a bug without even noticing your presence. 
Years ago, while studying theory of machines, I learned that it was due to what is called inertia. The best explanation was what happens going uphill and downhill. Which way is easier? No prizes for saying “downhill”. At least, that was what I thought until I came across government. Now I know that it is the resistance experienced when visiting any government department. Getting action varies proportionately as a direct function of seniority. The higher up the ladder you go, the more the resistance you find to doing anything. 
When you reach the highest office in the land, nothing happens whatsoever. Trying to oppose this is virtually impossible. Try it. All you’ll get is ulcers. There is only one “thing” I know of that is more futile; trying to resist God.
However and here is the most interesting part; although you cannot question God, He loves you to ask Him questions. I learned the difference many years ago when starting to get into the Bible. I would read a passage and wonder what it really meant.
We find a good example in a very popular verse in John. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and about sin. In the discourse He says; 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:35-36 NLT

Clearly Jesus was speaking about a slave and a member of the family. The reference to sin and slavery to sin requires no explanation. But what has this to do with the son setting you free? To get a feeling for this we need to know something of the culture and happenings of those days. Now Jesus did not approve of slavery. He would have abolished it if He could. Sadly, in those days, slavery was common. You could buy a male slave for 30 pieces of silver. A female slave would cost you about 20 pieces of silver. Now if you were a slave, you disobeyed your master (owner) on pain of death. He had complete control of you. 
So if the master saw an attractive young female slave for sale, he could buy her. She was then his property. If he decided to have a child by her, there was nothing to prevent it. Furthermore, to do so wasn’t considered immoral. An illustration from the Old Testament is Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. Hagar was Sarah’s slave. So if Sarah wanted Abraham to have a child by Hagar, it was normal and quite acceptable. We find much the same in the life of Jacob, his two wives Leah and Rachel and their slaves Bilhah and Zilpah. Jacob had two sons by Bilhah and two sons by Zilpah at his wives request!

In such circumstances, the children of the slave girls were the owner’s offspring. Technically, they were also slaves. He could treat them as slaves or as sons. The choice was entirely his. In some instances, these children were sold as slaves. In other instances, they were treated as sons. However, their status was not assured. A final decision concerning their future occurred after the owner died. The owner’s eldest son could sell them or set them free. If he set them free, they were slaves no longer. In many instances they were considered as the brothers of the eldest son. If he set them free they were free indeed!

I’ve spent much time looking at the incident of Jesus cursing the fig tree. My problem is why He cursed it? Yes, the Word tells me that He was hungry. Even so, I find it very difficult to understand my Lord cursing a tree. It appears to be a very petulant action and appears to be out of character with the Lord we all love. Nevertheless, the incident is there for all of us to see recorded for us in Mark 11. The question is why would the sinless Jesus Christ curse a tree? Somehow I suspect it has something to do with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Could it be that in some way Jesus was cursing a “representative” of the tree of the fruit which brought about the fall of man? 
Certainly Jesus was crucified shortly thereafter. Was He somehow “cursing” the “curse”? Because of Jesus Christ, the “curse” of the law (not the law) is gone. We are redeemed from the curse of the law. Was His action depicting this?
Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland



Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – Thursday 14th November 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
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These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Strange statements and words with hidden meanings were very popular during the 1950’s. One that comes to mind is, “How high is a Chinaman”. Pronounced and spelled this way it’s meaningless. But when it’s spelled, “How Hi is a Chinaman”. It’s no longer a question but a statement. Mr How Hi is clearly Chinese.
Perhaps the best known riddle in the Bible was the one posed by Samson. 14 Samson replied, "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." For three days they couldn't give him the answer. Judges 14:14 NIrV We know that eventually, Samson’s “wife” gave the answer of the riddle to the Philistines. It made Samson angry and he dealt with them accordingly.
Riddles posed by men to men are one thing. When God poses a riddle it’s seldom that He is looking for an answer. An example in today’s Scriptures is found in Jeremiah 12:5. “Suppose you have run in a race with other men. And suppose they have worn you out. Then how would you be able to race against horses?” We are left with this open question.
Almost the entire book of Job contains questions and answers. Some have straight-forward answers. Others do not. Some of them were posed by his three “friends”, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. These three “friends” tried their best to convince Job that full responsibility for this disaster was at the door of Job himself. Those who have read the book know the facts!
Toward the end of the book, another “friend” Elihu the Buzite, continues with the interrogation process. From Chapters 32 to 37, he questions and challenges Job in a remarkable way. Some of his questions are quite extraordinary. We are prompted to wonder where and how a young man could ask such deep questions. But if we take a look at his name, we see something rather beautiful. His name Elihu, means, “he is my God himself” A strange name for such an interrogator. Then, suddenly in Chapter 39, the Lord begins to ask questions. This raises the issue of whether or not Elihu’s words didn’t originate from the heart of God?
The Lord’s first statement to Job is: 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Job 38:3 NLT One of my favourite verses from Job is found in Job 41: 1 "Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? Job 41:1 NLT Reading these words I feel embarrassed for Job. How can anyone answer such questions? Toward the end, we get a glimpse of God’s greatness and our smallness. This is the God Who created the universe. We are little more than a speck on the surface of a tiny planet in a cosmic backwater. But He loves us. Why? That’s the biggest riddle of all!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
5 The LORD says, "Suppose you have run in a race with other men. And suppose they have worn you out. Then how would you be able to race against horses? Suppose you feel safe only in open country. Then how would you get along in the bushes near the Jordan River?
Jeremiah 12:5 NIrV
He called it a “canackler”; that’s how my Dad described
A question without answers that clever men contrived.
Like what’s the basic contrast between water, ice and steam?
They are the same, but different; like butter, milk and cream.
And then there is the snowflake. Each one looks just the same.
But looked at through a microscope – now that’s a new ball-game.
Can you compute precisely the true value of “Pi”?                   {(Pie) - (π)}
If you want to do it, go on - give it a try.
Or, how long is a piece of sting when cut right through the middle?
And is there any difference between violin and fiddle?
These questions all sound silly. But don’t take me to task
Until you check the questions which God Almighty asked.
When you compete with other men in an athletics race.
If you are feeling tired out, please tell me how you’ll face,
When running against horses! Do you think you will cope?
A little word of warning friend, you haven’t got a hope.
These are the sort of questions the Lord delights to ask.
He’s wants us to confess to Him, it’s far too big a task.
Usually He asks them, when we forget our place,
And we feel so embarrassed; with “egg upon our face”.
Obedience is better. For when He speaks to you,
Then do and do and do and do and do and do and do!
If He says “You have to jump”; then leap into the sky.
The only proper question is, “O Father God, how high”?
The river Jordan was in flood and it could not be forded.
When the Priests bearing the ark, by Joshua were ordered,
To march into the river. Some thought that he was mad.
Perhaps he’d lost his marbles? Or he’d done something bad?
But when the priests who bore the ark put one foot in that stream
The flow of water somehow stopped. It all backed up it seems.
We’re told it rose up like a dam as far as Zarethan
And everybody walked across. Each woman, child and man!
When the priest had walked across and reached the other side,
The water started rushing back like an enormous tide.
So when the Lord has told you to do some “crazy” thing.
Do not even hesitate. His words may have the ring
Of something so outrageous that you would rather not,
Just go ahead and do it. It’s the only chance you’ve got.
Jim Strickland
Written
14th November 2012
15 (The Jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest season.) When the priests who were carrying the ark came to the edge of the Jordan River and set foot in 16 the water, the water stopped flowing from upstream. The water rose up like a dam as far away as the city of Adam near Zarethan. The water flowing down toward the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. Then the people crossed from the east side of the Jordan River directly opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the LORD'S promise stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.
Joshua 3:15-17 GW
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9 TNIV
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4 NIV
2 You will pass through deep waters. But I will be with you. You will pass through the rivers. But their waters will not sweep over you. You will walk through fire. But you will not be burned. The flames will not harm you.
Isaiah 43:2 NIrV
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.
Revelation 1:17-18 NIrV

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