11-21-21 Today in the Word

God's Protection Sunday, November 21 | Micah 6:4–5 Did you ever have a time in your life when you thought, Wow, I’m so glad that I didn’t succeed in doing what I wanted to do? Have you ever considered that maybe God was intervening in your plans? As God’s people stood trial before him, the Lord presented His “case against his people” giving evidence of His faithfulness (Mic. 6:2). In verses 4–5, we are given a few specific examples of God’s protection that may need a bit of explanation. The Lord tells of the time when Balak, king of Mobam, hired Balaam, a prophet, to curse His people (Numbers 22). Of course, with God in control, Balaam could only give a blessing (Num. 22:12). Even the king’s promise of a huge reward fell on deaf ears (v. 19). God intervened again and again, through a talking donkey (vv. 28–30) and the appearance of a sword-bearing angel of the Lord (v. 31)! Finally, the prophet said to the angry king, “I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord— and I must say only what the Lord said” (Num. 24:13). God had protected His people! Also mentioned in Micah 5, Shittim is where the Israelite men “began to indulge in sexual immorality” even worshiping foreign gods (Num. 25:1–2). Gilgal is where God’s people encamped before entering the promised land, with God drying up the Jordan River for them to cross. Clearly, God had been faithful to His people. He provided for them, protected them from outside threats, led them into the promised land, and disciplined them when necessary. He is always faithful and true. >> Sometimes we don’t realize how God has been working in our lives until much later. Think about a time when you realize (now) that God directed your path. Or, ask someone else if they have a “God protected me” story. Read also: Numbers 22 Pray With Us Lord, we rejoice as we recount the ways You have provided, protected, directed, and disciplined us throughout the time we have known You. No matter how repeatedly our faith falters, You continue to be faithful!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t...
Read more

9-25-23 The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas

The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas :: By Bill Wilson Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:Bill Wilson, General Articles There are a lot of terrible things going on right now in the world. But we are at the time of the year when we, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We can choose to be impacted by the world around us in its dimly lit arena, or we can choose to let our light so shine. I choose the latter. I want to tell you a little about the Christmas that I had growing up on our family farm in Ohio. I was blessed to be born into a horse and cattle farm that has been in our family for some 200 years. And Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, was a wonderful time for our family. December 24 was my Dad’s birthday. And my Dad was well-loved by his neighbors and friends, so we had a lot going on Christmas Eve. I remember one special Christmas Eve. I must have been about four years old. The night was falling, and the wind and snow were whipping across the barny...
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th...
Read more