Stay Focused on God
Numbers 32:1, 5-8, 16-18, 20-24; 33:51-53
Conditions were very bleak in the Philippines during World War II for my missionary father-in-law, his wife and two young daughters. He had elected to stay in his post as the storm clouds gathered because he knew he would be needed. That decision meant no paycheck for the duration of the war and constant danger. There was precious little food; however his testimony of God’s continuous care is thrilling. “Chinese Christians took care of us.” Neither their faith nor God’s care could be extinguished by man’s inhumanity to man.
The Israelites had experienced great victories over various Canaanite and Amorite kings. Their victories struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. The king of Moab sought to enlist Balaam, a pagan diviner, to put a curse on the Israelites. God confronted Balaam about his evil intentions and instructed him to proceed on his mission, but to say only those things that God instructed him to say. Balaam did receive a message from God and delivered it to Balak, the king, but in the end remained an enemy of God. This is a reminder that what others mean for evil, God can use for good.
The great theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was imprisoned and executed by the Nazis near the end of the Second World War, but Bonhoeffer used the time of persecution and imprisonment to contemplate, study, pray and to write volumes that continue to inspire millions of people. Bonhoeffer never lost hope or allowed his circumstances to diminish his faith. What his captors meant for evil, God has used to bless generations.
Most of us go through periods when we feel forsaken and alone. There are times when we wonder if God has forgotten about us. Many gifted Christians have written about what they call the dark night of the soul when they wrestled with their doubts and feelings of aloneness. In every case, they discover that God is always present and is always at work on their behalf. Christians have that assurance from God that he is always at work.
During my dad’s funeral, his pastor said, “Many times Mr. Claude has come to me and asked me to pray for Imogene and Mitchell. ‘Preacher, they are having a hard time.’?” Neither my sister nor I had any knowledge of these prayers on our behalf, but God was at work on our behalf. What a blessing!
This is the beginning of a new year. It offers a great opportunity to examine our lives and revisit those times when God was at work on our behalf, but at the time we were unaware of his care. In the days that lie ahead, we can walk with assurance that God is with us.
Carnell– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Mitch Carnell, member of First Baptist Church, Charleston.