Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
My cell phone weather report says it’s 29 degrees. Becki and I already did our walk/jog. Now she’s off to her Bible Study event in Woodburn.
I have a confession to make—I did something very un-spiritual last evening. Whereas our evening Bible lesson in Dallas was cancelled, I took it as a little window of selfish opportunity…and ran up to the mountain to do a short round of night skiing. Had a good time. And I don’t even feel guilty.
Some snow flakes are falling right now outside this window. I would doubt it would get very serious.
Have a great day doing whatever you need to be doing.
Love, Dad/Ray.
EVERYTHING IS AGAINST ME! My hunch is that you too have had occasion to suffer from a key-hole view of things and know something about that emotional exclamation. My hunch is that you too have been tempted (at least once) to believe that your life and circumstances were worth no more than about 30 cents—with the 3 rubbed out! (That’s an expression often used by my late good friend, Roy Dunagun—about 40 years ago.)
So, was it true? Was everything against Jacob? Since we are given a Paul Harvey-like perspective by knowing “the rest of the story,” the facts of the matter were quite the opposite—everything was working out according to God’s general plans and purposes—which were definitely in Jacob’s favor.
God had already personally promised Jacob that “I will be with you” (31:3). He had already promised Jacob exceptional blessing and prosperity (35:9-12). And look Who’s making these promises!—“I am God Almighty” (35:11)—as opposed to a wimpy pip-squeak god—or a figment of his subjective imagination. However, it’s also important to notice that God never promised Jacob’s course to be an easy one—it’s just that his flawed trust made the way harder than was necessary.
Let’s rehearse Romans 8:28—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Please agree that we need to keep knowing what “we know.”