Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello there, special people.
All the trees in my view are gently glazed with ice…a result of fog below freezing. It’s cold out there (25 degrees). And I need to go out there to take on some work. Two job objectives are awaiting me. In both cases, I’ll most likely make a small fire so I can have access to a hand-warming resource. If my hands don’t work, I can’t either.
It really is difficult being required to select a small amount of inspiration from the large volume presented in these 3 chapters. But that’s OK. I’d much rather have it that way than to read this account and glean little or none.
Blessings on your UNKNOWN future (today) as you subject it to what you KNOW.
Love, Dad/Ray.
I sure don’t KNOW much, but I have come to basically KNOW what I believe God wants me to basically KNOW—that the most important stabilizing standard for living my life is on the basis of what I KNOW (objective truth) rather than what I FEEL (subjective illusion)—which, with the help of a HEART AFTER GOD, leads me to KNOW Him as Savior and LORD. Nevertheless, I observe an ongoing challenge—a subtle tendency to FORGET what I KNOW. That’s why it’s so critically important to continually replenish the contents of my KNOW tank. I KNOW too well that my human FORGETFULNESS causes dangerous leaks.
Of course, the Sovereign LORD wanted to Moses, Aaron, and the entire people of Israel (descendents of Jacob) to KNOW Him as their Savior and LORD—their only hope for security and deliverance. But the record indicates that He also wanted everyone to KNOW Him in this way—evidence that He’s not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). “And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it” (7:5). We are in error to think that God loved Israelites but hated Egyptians. Both need to KNOW Him as Savior and LORD. After all, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). There is no place for arrogant superiority.
Consider the tank idea again. To KNOW God in this sense is another way to describe FAITH. So you and I are wise and secure in being found faithful—FAITH-FULL. Faith-half-full will put us at risk.