The Time Is At Hand

Focus verses: Jeremiah 39:15 - 40:6

We have read the prophecies of woe and doom to the city of Jerusalem. Now that day has arrived. The leaders (most of them) have been summarily executed. Gedaliah has been appointed as sort of a territorial governor over the remnant left in Jerusalem. And Nebuchadnezzer has carried off the rest of the people to Babylon.

Make no mistake. What God says will happen does happen. It may not be exactly when you expect it, but it will come in God's own timing. When it happens, there is a way of escape for those who are faithful to the Lord.

Jeremiah 39:17-18 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.

Salvation, however comes because of our trust in the Lord. This cannot be just a lip-service trust. If we say we trust in Him, but do not behave as if we trust in Him, we really do not trust Him.

Trust in the Lord appears as an unshakable faith when things go wrong. Trust makes no allowances for circumstance. Every circumstance in our lives is allowed by the Lord for a reason. We may not see the reason - nor understand it. But if we truly believe that God is sovereign and we trust Him implicitly, we can endure anything in obedience to His will.

We can be assured that no suffering is ever wasted. Whatever pain you may feel, God can use that to help someone else overcome similar pain. Whatever trials you may encounter can blaze a path through the jungle of despair for someone following after you.

We need not know nor understand His purposes. They will be clear to us in the hereafter. Our duty and privilege is to walk faithfully the path He has laid out for us. Keeping to His course for our lives will result in ultimate joy, eternal joy.

Father, God,

Help us to remain faithful, trusting in You, no matter what the world throws our way. We offer our obedience to Your will as our ultimate sacrifice of praise. For You are the Lord our God.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Interpreting A Dream

Focus verses: Daniel 2:17-45

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon while Daniel was in bondage there. The king had a dream which he wanted interpreted, but he would tell no one the content of the dream. He insisted that the interpreter tell him what he had dreamed.

None of his magicians, enchanter, sorcerers and astrologers could tell him the content of the dream. They asked him to reveal the content, but the king grew angry and would have had them all executed. This would have included Daniel and his friends. But Daniel went to the king and asked for some time to interpret the dream. Then he prayed, and God revealed the dream and its interpretation to him.

He asked the Lord for this specific wisdom, and it was granted to him. "You have made known to us the dream of the king."

Then, if you will notice, he tells the king that the dream came from God as an unbidden knowledge. God was revealing the future to the king. Daniel can interpret the dream, not because he is wiser than anyone else, but because God has revealed it so the king could know what went through his mind.

The whole point of this exercise is that all wisdom comes from God. When we ask His wisdom, He is generous to reveal it. He gives us the knowledge we need for the time at hand -- when we ask.

Unfortunately, most of us rely on our own wisdom, not the Lord's. We tend to go about our daily business, blissfully unaware of the power and knowledge available to us if we but ask.

Father, God,

Help us to check the arrogance of our own intellects. Remind us that all wisdom comes from You, not us. Give us the grace to seek Your will before committing to a course of action.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.