Ministering to the Hopeless

 “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It seems to us that, when people are in need, they would be most open to the gospel. It seems to us that, when they are desperate, they’d most readily receive it.  This, however, is not always the case.

We see an example of this as Moses came to the people of Israel, having been called by God to deliver them from bondage. Having been enslaved for four hundred years, it seems to us that this would be welcome news. It seems to us that the people would receive this with gladness. But, as we see in the above passage, they didn’t respond as we might expect.

We find that, as Moses brought to them this good news, they did not listen to him. They did not listen because of their broken spirit. They did not listen because of their harsh slavery. Their suffering had led them to a sense of despondency and discouragement.

The people were so demoralized, it seems, that they would not receive the good news as it was brought to them. And this being the case, Moses wondered how Pharaoh would ever listen to him. He, then, brought this question to God.

The same can be said, I believe, of many today. Many among us are so broken, their spirit is crushed to such an extent, that they have shut their ears to the gospel. Their hopelessness has caused them to shut down to any thought of relief. And we may wonder what we can do that they might hear, understand, and receive the gospel.

As Moses brought this question to the Lord, he was simply told to carry out his calling. He was told to do so, with the assurance that God would act. And this, of course, is what Moses did.

As we ask this question of ourselves, or as we direct it to the Lord, the answer is the same. We can do nothing to remedy this situation. We’re unable to open anyone’s ears. And we are unable to change hearts and minds. 

We can only be faithful to the call God has given us. We can only proclaim to them the good news. And we can only entrust the people, along with our service, to the care of God.

We can do so knowing that he will work. We can do so knowing that he will act. We can do so knowing that he will work in the hearts and minds of those who hear his Word.

Although, in one sense, this may seem discouraging to us, it’s also a relief. It’s a relief because the changing of hearts and minds is dependent not upon us. It’s dependent not upon our creativity, our giftedness, or our determination. We simply carry out our calling trusting that, as we do so, the Lord will act.

Serving God

 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

(Matthew 25:40 ESV)

As Christians, we know that we’re called to serve the Lord. But we often over-spiritualize this. We make it into something that's ethereal. We make it into something almost intangible or immaterial.

Serving God, to us, can be made primarily, or even fully, about spiritual disciplines. We can make it about prayer. We can make it about Scripture reading. And we can make it about worship. We can make it exclusively about practices that enable our personal relationship with Christ, as we like to think of it.

And please don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. These practices are, indeed, important. In fact, they’re essential. If we aren’t devoted to prayer, Scripture, and worship, something is wrong when it comes to our life of faith.

However, that being said, serving God is about so much more. And it’s simpler than we often make it out to be. It may seem, in a sense, to be far more mundane.

We see this in Matthew 25 as Jesus describes the final judgment. We’re told that when he comes in his glory, he’ll sit on his throne and separate the people from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And as we read this description, the basis of this separation, the basis of this judgment, is our actions. It’s our service.

We do have to be careful with this. We have to be careful with this because Jesus is in no way suggesting that we’re saved by our works. Our works, rather, reflect our faith in the Lord or our lack of it.

But he commends those on his right, he commends the sheep, because they had served him. And as they question how they’d done so, he answers with the words above. He tells them that as they did it to one of the least of these, his brothers, they’d done it to him.

As he condemns those on his left, we see something similar. He condemns them because they’d failed to serve him. And when they questioned how they’d failed, he told them that as they did not do to one of the least of these, they had not done it to him.

The simple point I’m trying to make is this: We serve the Lord as we serve our neighbor. And as we fail to serve our neighbor, we fail to serve the Lord.

Our service of God, then, includes many things. It means serving our spouse and children by preparing them a meal. It means serving our children by bathing them or changing their diapers. It means serving our family by cleaning the toilets and the showers. 

It means serving in the church. It means teaching Sunday School, serving as an usher during worship, or shoveling snow not only at home, but at church. 

It means serving our community. It means donating food to the food bank. It means helping our elderly neighbor with their lawn. And it means visiting those who are in the hospital or the nursing home.

None of this is exciting. And none of it seems spiritual in the least. But it is the very real way in which we serve the Lord.

The Necessary Use of the Sacraments

 “At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it…”

(Exodus 4:24–25 ESV)

Quite often, as we think of the sacraments, we believe that they’re unnecessary. We believe they don’t matter. We believe they’re unimportant. And we believe they are nothing more than signs or symbols of our faith in the Lord.

We, then, reach for extreme examples to make our point. What about a baby who dies moments after delivery, and doesn’t receive baptism? Is he saved? What about a man who is brought to faith in Christ but dies before he’s able to be baptized? Is he saved? 

We also point to situations like the thief on the cross. He clearly came to faith at the end of his life. But, as he was being crucified, and as Jesus was being crucified along with him, there was no opportunity for baptism. And we conclude from this that the sacraments don’t matter.

Using cases like these fail to make the point. They fail in their effort to demonstrate that the sacraments are nothing more than signs. And they fail in their effort to demonstrate that they are unnecessary.

The passage above demonstrates the exact opposite. God, you recall, had commanded circumcision to Abraham and his descendents after him. A promise of God was also attached to this act. Being circumcised, having their foreskin removed, meant that they were a part of God’s people and heirs of his promise, the promise given to Abraham.

We find in Exodus that, after fleeing from Egypt, Moses married the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. And he had two sons with her before being called by God to return to Egypt to bring his people out of their bondage. He then went, with his wife and children, back to the land from which he had fled.

However, at a lodging along the way, the Lord met Moses and sought to put him to death. The reason for this is not clarified in the text. But Zipporah, the wife of Moses, clearly knew.

She took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it. We see from this that Moses had failed to circumcise his son. He had failed to obey this command of the Lord and to ensure that his son received the promise of God.

This had angered the Lord. It had angered him enough that he sought to put Moses to death. But, because of her actions, the Lord left him alone.

The physical act of circumcision is no longer required for the children of God.  But baptism, Scripture tells us, is a type of circumcision. Through baptism, Colossians 2 tells us, we are circumcised without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. 

Realizing this, and looking at Exodus 4, we can see how seriously God takes it. And, as he takes it seriously, so must we. Baptism, along with the Lord’s Supper, is a means of grace, by which God bestows his precious promise and blessing upon us.  We, therefore, must necessarily make use of them.

Not Me!

  “But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses…”

(Exodus 4:13–14 ESV)

As believers, we’re called by God into his service. Our service, of course, plays no role in our salvation. We are saved by the grace of God alone, through faith in Jesus. But, as the children of God, we are called into his service, which results from our faith.

We receive this call in two distinct ways. We receive it, as it’s given generally to the church as a whole, to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation and to make disciples of all nations. And we receive it specifically, we receive his call as the Spirit of God gives to us gifts that we are to use in his service, filling a distinct role in the body of Christ.

As noted in my last post, our tendency, when we are called, is to make excuses. Our tendency is to list all of the reasons why we cannot or should not carry out the task assigned to us. What it often comes down to, however, is our unwillingness to do so.

This was the case with Moses, as God called him in Exodus 3, to bring his people out of Egypt. He first listed several excuses. He wouldn’t be able to tell the people God’s name, if asked. They wouldn’t believe him. And he was not a good speaker.

In each case, God provided for his need. He took away each excuse Moses offered. He shared with Moses his name. He gave to Moses miracles or signs he could perform to convince the people that he’d been sent by God. As he assured Moses that, as he made man’s mouth, he would be able to speak.

When all was said and done, however, Moses spoke the words seen above. He asked that God would send someone else. He asked that he might not have to do it.

We, then, see God’s response to Moses. We see that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. We see that it burned against Moses.

Based on this, I believe it’s safe to say that his response to us is the same. What I mean is that God’s anger burns against us, as we refuse to serve him. His anger is kindled against us as we refuse his call. 

This, then, is not something that can be taken lightly. It is clearly sinful. It’s clearly an act of disobedience, it’s an act of rebellion on our part.

Moses’ words and actions also did nothing that led God to revoke his call. God’s call remained. And Moses finally submitted himself to the Lord and departed for Egypt.

Could God find someone else to do what he’s asked of us? He certainly could. But he desires that we, as his people, will honor him by doing what he’s asked.

As we, then, demonstrate an unwillingness to serve, we should recognize it for what it is. We should recognize it as sin, confessing it to the Lord, and trusting in Christ for the forgiveness he provides. And, like Moses, we should embrace his call by serving our neighbor.

No Excuses

 “Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

(Exodus 4:11–12)

When we’re called to serve, our first instinct is to get out of it. And, typically, we begin listing excuses. We begin listing all the reasons why we can’t do what’s been asked of us.

When the call comes from people, we’re more inclined to this than ever. We feel little guilt in doing so. We want to do anything and everything to preserve our time and energy.

However, that being said, we do the same when the call comes from God. As he calls us to serve, we again make excuses. Even if we feel guilty for doing so, we begin thinking of all of the reasons we cannot serve.

As we look at Exodus 4, Moses did the very same thing as God called him to lead the people out of Egypt. And if any call was intrusive on someone’s life, it was this. It meant giving everything, it meant giving his entire life to this task.

Moses first told God that, if he came to the people claiming that God had sent him, they would ask for his name. They would want to know the name of the God who sent him. And God gave to Moses his name.

Moses next told God that they wouldn’t believe him. God, then, gave him miracles that he could perform. He gave him signs to convince the people of his claim.

Finally, Moses told God that he was not eloquent. He said that he was slow of speech and tongue. And, for this reason, he could not do as he’d been called.

God then spoke to Moses the words of the passage above. He asked who made man’s mouth. He asked who made man mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind. And he pointed out that it was he, that it was the Lord himself, who did so.

He then repeated his call to Moses. He again told him to go. And he reassured Moses that he’d be with his mouth and would teach him what he should speak.

This is a great reassurance to us. When we are called by God, our shortcomings should not be an issue. They should not be an issue because, if God has called us, he’ll also supply to us the ability to carry it out.

On one hand, this removes all excuses. It puts the pressure back on us to do as we’ve been called. But it’s also reassuring.

It’s reassuring because God isn’t asking us to fulfill our calling by our own strength. Nor is he asking us to do so by our own abilities. He’s telling us that we’ll do so by his strength and ability.

Rejoicing in the Proclamation

 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

(‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

We are often critical of other believers. We’re critical of other churches. We’re critical, focusing primarily upon our disagreements and differences.

We also question the motives of these groups or individuals. We question their purpose. And we assume that they’re less than sound.

Although this isn’t always the case, we may even be right. Our criticisms may be well-founded. And their motives may be less than pure.

We’re also right to be concerned about the faithful teaching of God’s Word. We should desire that it be rightly taught and proclaimed. And we should desire that it be proclaimed with the right motives.

The fact remains, however, that we have no say when it comes to those outside of our church. We have no say when it comes to what they teach. And we have no say when it comes to what they do.

We also can do nothing to ensure the purity of motive. Because of our sinful nature, our motives are often impure. And, if this is true of us, we can do nothing to ensure the purity of motives when it comes to others.

So, how do we respond in such cases? How do we respond to believers or to congregations with whom we disagree? How do we respond to those whose motives we question? Do their successes cause us to grumble? Or do we seek their failure?

We see the response of Paul in the verse above. As he was imprisoned, the reason for his chains had become widely known. It was very clear, to the imperial guard and to all, that his imprisonment was for Christ. It was the result of his faith in Christ and his ministry in the Lord’s service.

His imprisonment had also caused his fellow believers to become more confident and bold. They’d been led to share the Word of God without fear. But the motives of these individuals were not one and the same.

Some, he said, preached Christ from good will. They did so out of love. But others did so from envy and rivalry. They did so out of selfish ambition and a desire to afflict Paul, or to cause him distress, during his imprisonment.

Yet, knowing this reality, Paul rejoiced. He rejoiced in the fact that Christ was proclaimed. He rejoiced in the proclamation of the gospel, even if the intent of those proclaiming it was less than pure.

And this, you see, is to be true of us as well. We should focus less on who is proclaiming Christ and their motives in doing so. And we should simply rejoice that Christ is proclaimed.

Lacking Assurance

 

“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…”

(Romans 4:16 ESV)

 

In the month of October, we celebrate the Reformation. Specifically, October 31^st is recognized as Reformation Day. We do so because this date marks the beginning of the attempt of Martin Luther to reform the Catholic Church.

 

One of the primary tenets of the Reformation is the fact that we are saved by the grace of God alone. And this grace is received through faith in Christ alone. Our efforts and our own perceived goodness, in other words, play no role in it whatsoever.

 

This is a great comfort to us. However, although we know the gospel, we revert naturally back the law, seeking our salvation. We depend, once again, upon the works of the law to attain for us the forgiveness of our sins. And it’s our sinful nature that leads us to do so.

 

It leads us to depend upon ourselves, rather than Christ, to gain the mercy we so desperately need. And the result of this is that we have no peace. The result of this is that we have no assurance of salvation.

 

As we trust in the law and our obedience to it, we can never know if we’re good enough, or if we’ve done enough, to satisfy the righteous requirements of God. This, then, leaves us in a state of doubt. It leaves us in a state of uncertainty. It leaves us worried, that we may be found to have fallen short.

 

It does so because, in that case, there is no guarantee. There’s no sense of security. And there’s no confidence when it comes to our life in eternity.

 

Paul, in the fourth chapter of Romans, addresses this. And he reminds us that the promise of God, given to Abraham and his offspring, came not through the law. It came, rather, through the righteousness of faith.

 

This promise, in other words, was not dependent upon Abraham or his obedience. Nor was it dependent upon the obedience of the people. It was, from first to last, the work of God.

 

As we see above, in verse 16, this leaves no room for question or doubt. And it provides to us the assurance of our salvation. Since it depends on faith, he says, since it rests on grace, it is guaranteed to all his offspring.

 

In this case, the promise of God is sure. It’s confirmed. It’s valid, steadfast, and certain.

 

And, as he refers to Abraham’s offspring, he’s not merely talking about those who are physically descended from Abraham. He says that it does so for those who share the faith of Abraham. It’s talking, you see, about you and me.

 

By faith, we have the guarantee of God’s blessing. By faith, his blessing is sure. By faith we know that what he’s promised to us is certain.

Where Hope is Found

 “And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We often act as if this world is all there is. We believe that it’s in this world that our hope is found. And we believe that it’s in this life that our hope is found.

Salvation means to us deliverance from all of our worldly trials. It means the end of our suffering. It means the end of illness. And it means the end of conflict. 

We often find that this was the mindset of the disciples as well. Even as they followed Jesus, even as they hung on his every word, and even as they saw his every deed, they failed to understand that he’d come to bring something more. He’d come to deliver a blessing that’s far greater.

We see this in the above passage. As Jesus was transfigured before them, and as Moses and Elijah appeared to them, they seemed to think they were here to stay. And, for this reason, they offered to make a tent or a booth for each of them.

They failed to understand, however, that this experience would soon come to an end. They failed to understand that Jesus, who stood before them in his glory, would soon appear to them as an ordinary man. And Moses and Elijah, who were there speaking with Jesus, would soon be gone.

It’s true that Jesus would one day reveal his glory always. But that day was not then. And it’s true that, one day, Moses and Elijah would be forever in their presence. But it was not in this world.

The same principle applies to us, in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It’s true that Jesus came to deliver us from all suffering. As he paid the penalty of our sin, its consequences will also become a thing of the past. But this will happen only at the end of this age.

At the return of Christ, a new heaven and earth will come to us. Those who have died will rise from the dead, while those who remain will be transformed. And we’ll spend eternity in this place, free of sin and death.

Realizing this, we should not place our hope in this age. Nor should our hope be found in this place. We should, rather, anticipate the return of Christ and the ushering in of his new creation.

Words of Assurance

 “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As we endure seasons of hardship, various platitudes are frequently offered in an attempt to comfort us. And, quite often, they seem like nothing more than that. They seem like nothing more than cliche statements, from which we derive no comfort.

In our moment of struggle, we’re simply unable to receive them. More than that, we’re unwilling to receive the comfort they provide. As we’re in a period of emotional and spiritual struggle, they provide little hope.

Yet, even though we derive no comfort from them, and even though they seem like nothing more than empty words, they are, in fact, true. They are accurate. And, if received, they offer us great hope.

We see this as we look at the above passage. These words were spoken by Joseph after many years of enslavement and imprisonment. And they were directed to the very men who were responsible for his suffering.

God had since delivered Joseph from his misery, making him the ruler of Egypt. And as his brothers had come, seeking provision in a time of famine, he understood why God had allowed it. God had used the wicked deed of his brothers, and even the false accusation of his master’s wife, that he might save his family along with the nation of Egypt.

Throughout his suffering, Joseph had no idea why these things were happening. And although Joseph was eventually enabled to see the reason for his suffering, this isn’t always the case. It’s not even usually the case. 

However, even if we don’t understand why God has allowed our suffering, and even if we never understand this, the fact remains that God is able to work through it. He’s able to work through it to provide his blessing. He’s able to work through it for our blessing or, perhaps, for the blessing of others.

God may not use our suffering like that of Joseph. He may not use it that our family, along with thousands of others, might be saved. But there are many subtle ways in which the Lord can use it.

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4, God comforts us in our affliction that we may be able to comfort others. We, then, are able to share with others the comfort that we have received from God. We’re able to bless others with a comfort we’ve received only because of an affliction suffered.

We, then, should never look at the assurances of Scripture as mere platitudes. And we should never look at them as cliche, empty words. No matter how we might feel in the moment, his promise is certain.

In the Hour of Darkness

 “And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.”

 (Genesis 39:20 ESV)

There are times in life when it seems that everything is falling apart around us. Although we pray, we feel that our words have gone unheard. In fact, we feel that we’ve been abandoned by God. 

It seems as though, rather than living in his blessing, we’re living under his curse. Instead of living in the love of God, we feel that we’re regarded as an enemy. We simply feel that he’s doing nothing to help us.

This is what came to mind as I read the account of Joseph. You may recall that, although he was loved by his father, his brothers had sold him as a slave into Egypt. And while there, he was falsely accused by his master’s wife and ended up in prison. 

If anyone had reason to feel abandoned by God, it was Joseph. Regardless of his faith, nothing seemed to work in his favor. And no matter how intentionally he lived out his faith, his circumstances only became worse.

However, as we look at his story, we find that God was with him. No matter how it seemed, and no matter how he felt, God was with him. We know this because of the truth that is repeated in his story.

After he was sold into slavery we’re told that the Lord was with Joseph and that he became a successful man. We’re told that Joseph found favor in his master’s sight, and that he was made overseer in his house and over all he had.

Although he was imprisoned, we’re told that the Lord was with him. He showed to Joseph his steadfast love. And, again, Joseph found favor with the keeper of the prison.

The Lord eventually provided for Joseph’s freedom. And he ultimately placed Joseph into a position of great authority. However, the years spent by Joseph as a slave and in prison were many.

This, you see, is important for us to remember in times of hardship and struggle. Even though life isn’t easy, this does not indicate that God has abandoned us. And even though things seem bleak, this in no way indicates that the Lord isn’t working for our blessing.

The Lord is with us in the dark times. He’s blessing us in seasons of difficulty. No matter how things may outwardly seem, God is faithful and shows to us his steadfast love.

Loving Much

 “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

(Luke 7:47 ESV)

Our tendency is to think we’re good people. Although we acknowledge our sin, we believe we are well intentioned. And we believe that we do far more good than bad.

When we compare ourselves to others, we come off pretty good in our own eyes. We’re always able to find those who are worse, or more sinful, than us. And this enables us to think more highly of ourselves.

When we err, we err on the side of minimizing our sin. We err on the side of overestimating our goodness. We err on the side of self-reliance.

The result of this is that, although we profess faith in the Lord, we have little love for him. We have little trust in him. And we have little need of him.

This is what Jesus is saying in the above passage. However, in the preceding words, he says the opposite. We find that, when we see our sin, when we acknowledge it for what it is, the opposite happens.

When we see our sin, when we understand it, and when we acknowledge it for what it is, we love much. When we trust in Christ and his promise, we love much. And when we receive his forgiveness and mercy, we love much.

This was expressed as a sinful woman came to Jesus. She wet his feet with her tears. She dried them with her hair. And she kissed his feet over and over again.

Jesus, then, assured her that her sins were forgiven. He told her that her faith had saved her. And he told her to go in peace.

This is also the Word, this is the assurance we receive when we come to Jesus. It’s the assurance we receive as we confess to him our sin. And it’s the assurance we receive as we look to him for deliverance.

We’re assured of the forgiveness of our sins. We’re assured that our faith has saved us. And we’re, then, enabled to go forth in peace.

Insulted by the Gospel?

 “She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.””

(‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Each of us has heard the gospel many times. And we understand it. We understand that we’re sinners. We understand that we’re undeserving of forgiveness and salvation. We understand that the only way these blessings have been made available to us is through Jesus and the sacrifice he offered on our behalf.

Yet, as we read the above passage in context, it’s difficult for us. It’s difficult because Jesus seems anything but gracious and merciful. He seems, in fact, to deny this woman in her hour of need.

He ignores her at first. And when he finally does address her, he tells her that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Being a Gentile, this seems to suggest that Jesus would do nothing for her.

Explaining himself, he goes on to say something that seems downright insulting. He tells her that it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. And we struggle with the fact that he addresses her this way.

This woman, however, doesn’t take issue with it in the least. In fact, she acknowledges it. She acknowledges the fact that she is not one of the children of Israel. And, more than that, she acknowledges the fact that she is a dog.

She in no way sought to deny God’s blessing to the people of Israel. And she acknowledges that she is undeserving of his blessing. She acknowledges that she’s in no way entitled to it. 

This is where you and I tend to struggle. We’re reluctant to acknowledge that we’re undeserving of God’s blessing. And we’re unwilling to acknowledge that we’re not, by nature, one of God’s children.

This, to us, is insulting. It’s offensive. And it’s degrading.

However, when the woman acknowledged the reality of her situation, she received exactly what she asked for. She received the blessing of God. She received it as Jesus healed her daughter.

And the same is true of us, as well. When we acknowledge the reality of our situation, Jesus will also grant us his blessing. He'll, then, provide for us exactly what we need.

The Promise

 “But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’””

(‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

In our hour of need, we bring our request to God. We bring it to God in prayer. And, whatever it may be, we ask him to grant it.

But what is the basis of our request? On what grounds do we make our request? What is the justification of our request?

More often than not, we base our request upon our goodness. We base it upon the things we’ve done for the Lord. We base it upon the fact that we’ve trusted in the Lord for a number of years.

The problem with this is that we’re undeserving of God's blessings. The problem is that we can do nothing to merit his blessings. And this is a reality we’re unable to change.

What, then, are we to do? On what basis are we to bring our requests to the Lord? We find the answer in the words of Jacob above.

Jacob offered this prayer as he prepared to meet his brother, Esau. This is the same brother who had desired to kill him. And it was reported that he was coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men.

He was naturally afraid. He was afraid for himself, but also for his wives and children. And he brought this concern to God.

He told the Lord that he was unworthy of the blessings he’d received. But God had made to him a promise. God had promised that he’d make his offspring as the sand of the sea, which could not be counted.

If this promise of God was to be fulfilled, he had to survive. He could not be slaughtered by his brother, along with his family. He, then, appealed to God by this promise.

God is faithful. He does not lie, nor does he change his mind. And, for this reason, when God makes a promise, we know it is certain.

We, then, should follow the example of Jacob. We base our appeals to him not on who we are or what we’ve done. We base it on the promise he’s given us.

He’s promised us salvation. He’s promised us forgiveness and everlasting life. And he sent his Son to provide these blessings for us by his death on the cross.

This, then, is the basis of our appeal. This is the grounds on which we should base each request. And this is to be the justification for each appeal we make.

In the Face of Disappointment

 “When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Life can sometimes be a disappointment. Not all of it, mind you. But there are often aspects of life that we’d like to be different.

Yet, no matter how often we go to the Lord about it, asking for his help, nothing seems to change. Things remain as disappointing as they’ve always been. And we begin to feel that God is withholding his hand of blessing.

This isn’t true, however, as we see in the above account. Leah found herself in difficult circumstances that never changed. And the Lord’s work in her life can give us hope.

Although she was married, she felt that her husband didn’t want her. He was with her out of obligation. And this caused her great sorrow.

He had, in fact, been deceived into marrying her. He followed through with their marriage to get the wife he truly desired. And this other woman was none other than Leah’s sister.

But, as we look at the above passage, we see something interesting. Even though Leah was hated, even though she was not loved, the Lord blessed her in another way. The Lord opened her womb and blessed her with sons.

Her disappointment didn’t go away. Her desire to be loved by her husband remained. And this, I believe, is normal. It makes sense.

Each time a son was born, Leah hoped that things might get better. She hoped that this might cause her husband to love her. But it didn’t. In fact, it created a rivalry between the sisters to see who could bear more sons for their husband.

However, the fact remains that, although Leah was never loved, although she was never desired, God blessed her in ways outside of a husband’s love. He blessed her with many children and descendants. Jesus, in fact, was born of the line of Leah.

The same can be true in these areas of our own lives. Even if these disappointments never end or never get better, God can bless us in spite of them. And he often does.

Perhaps our family life is far from ideal. But God may bless us in terms of our service, and the lives we touch. Perhaps we never find satisfaction in our work, but God blesses us in terms of family. The examples are endless.

The point is that, in spite of our disappointments, God has not forgotten us. He has not withheld his hand of blessing. He blesses us in spite of them and in ways we’d never imagine.

The greatest blessing, of course, is that of forgiveness and life everlasting. Even if this life remains disappointing, we have a great hope. He’s prepared for us an eternity where all of these disappointments will be no more.

An Undeserved Promise

 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

(Genesis 28:15 ESV)

The passage above is a promise of God, given to Jacob. It’s a promise of God given to a man whose very name means “he cheats.” It means “supplanter.” And it refers to one who overreaches.

He was given this name because, as he was born, he was grasping the heel of his twin brother. It seemed to his parents that he was grasping for that which rightfully belonged to his brother. It seemed to them that he was grasping for that which was not his.

Not only was this their perception, and not only was this his name, it’s also something we see in his character. We learn that he took advantage of his brother to gain his birthright. And he later went along with a scheme of his mother to gain his father’s blessing.

Now, in one sense, it’s commendable that he sought God’s blessing. And it was, in fact, God’s will that Jacob would receive it. But the way he went about it was far from noble.

Yet, even though this is true, God spoke these words to Jacob. As he fled his brother’s hatred and threats, God spoke to him these words. He received this promise of God, of which he was completely undeserving.

And that’s exactly the point. He in no way deserved the promise of God. He in no way deserved the blessing of God. It was given to him by grace.

This is reassuring to us. It’s reassuring because, like Jacob, we seek God’s blessings in all the wrong ways. Rather than trusting in God, we seek to gain them for ourselves. We rely on our own wisdom and efforts, no matter how sinful they might be, to gain what we desire.

But even though this is true, even though we are sinners undeserving of God’s blessing, he’s given to us his promise. And he’s done everything necessary to ensure our blessing. He’s done everything necessary to make it possible.

He sent Jesus into the world, who atoned for our sin by his death on the cross. And because of him, God’s blessing has been made available for us. It’s been provided for us.

Like Jacob, we need only to trust in the Lord. We need only to trust in his work. We need only to trust in his promise.

God, after all, is faithful. As he assured Jacob, he will not leave us until he’s done what he promised us. He will be with us until his promises are fulfilled.