Tag: God is in control
Day 4–God Sets our Boundaries
Scripture reading for April 9: Acts 17:25-29 “. . .since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for “In Him we live and move and have our being’;. . .”
Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Man makes plans and often arrogantly thinks that he is the master of his own life and is in control. He sees no need for God and relegates those who seek God’s plans to ancient history. But Scripture teaches us the truth. God is the life-giver to all creatures including man. God also made from one man every nation and tongue who live on the earth. Scripture states that God sets the boundaries of each person’s habitation on earth. He determines our address and the length of time we will reside there.
As we feel our way along through life’s hills and valleys, God draws us to Himself, and His goodness leads us to repentance and life. As Paul states, God is not far from each of us. We are like fish in an ocean of God. Yet He does not overwhelm us or force us to know Him. True love must be freely given. God demonstrates this love through the giving of His Son.
As responders, a biblical world view that recognizes God’s nearness and good plans to help all mankind enables us to rest in God while we work. The fact that God made us all from one man means that we are all on level ground, there are no big ‘I’s or little ‘you’s’. Each person is precious and made in God’s image. God has and is setting boundaries for each person. When we face death, we understand that God is there and has the final say. We do the best we can with what God provides and trust Him for outcomes. Even when our plans get diverted in unexpected ways, we can and must trust God is ordering our steps for His purposes.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are in control of all things. Help me to recognize Your direction of my steps and the steps of those I am sent to help. Help me to treat each person as special and demonstrate the love of our amazing Father. Amen.
King of the Flood!
Scripture reading for June 9th: Psalms 25-30
Psalm 29 contains an unusual phrase about the Lord. He is pictured as ‘enthroned over the flood’. The word used here for “flood” is “mabbul” which is used exclusively of the world-wide flood described in Genesis 6-9. Why was the King David the psalmist caught up in this idea of the flood?
This psalm began with David exhorting the ‘mighty ones’ to ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. In the previous psalm David had cried to the Lord to save him from wicked men and God had answered him. We are not sure if these mighty ones are his “mighty men” or the mighty angels that attend to the Lord and cry “Holy,Holy,Holy” before his throne. We do know that all creatures owe worship to the Lord of glory! His holiness makes him awesome to behold and to think upon.
We don’t know if David was near some body of water, but possibly a thunderstorm broke loose as he was writing this psalm. David spoke of the voice of the Lord in the thunders. It was majestic and broke in on his consciousness. Perhaps a bolt of lightning struck one of the cedars of Lebanon and splintered it, reducing it to a smoldering pile of sticks right before his sight. These cedars often grew over 100 feet tall and over thirty feet around. The power released to break the tree would make a real impression and cause anyone to worship or fear! David saw the violent thunderstorm as a manifestation of God’s mighty power and experienced God’s power to shake the earth. David realized that he was small and God was almighty and that all in God’s temple are crying “Glory”!
It is at this point that David spoke of the Lord as enthroned over the flood. This violent storm brought the great flood of Genesis to his remembrance. He realized that God was judge and in control over wind and storm! This same King promised to never destroy the world with water again. (Genesis 9:15-16) What a God and King!
“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood, The Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:10-11