Today I want to look at Psalm 81:7-16:
7 You called in distress and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
8 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you—O Israel, if you would listen to Me!
9 There shall no strange god be among you, neither shall you worship any alien god.
10 I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
11 But My people would not hearken to My voice, and Israel would have none of Me.
12 So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!
14 Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 [Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the Lord would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever.
16 [God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.
I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have had people ask me how a God of love could allow sickness and disease, poverty and death, to take place on the earth. They also ask how a loving God could send anyone to hell. The answer to these and all other similar questions is found in the verses above! God has wonderful plans for His people (Jeremiah 29:11) if they would only trust and rely, hear and obey Him! When Israel obeyed God and walked in His ways, the entire nation prospered and lived in peace and safety. The problem was that in times of peace and prosperity, they would neglect to continue in His ways, giving HIM the praise, thanksgiving and worship that was due to Him for all that they were blessed with! When they would turn their eyes from HIM, they would get caught up in what was going on among the other nations, and, wanting to "fit in", they would forget about the One, True God. When that would happen, He would have no choice but to be true to His Word and allow them to live as they chose, choosing the death and the curse rather than life and the blessing. Read Deuteronomy 28-30 to see what God promised!.
Even though Israel wold fall away from God, whenever they would repent and call on Him for help, He would answer them, deliver them, and then counsel them to stay in fellowship and obedience. The New Birth is proof positive that our God IS a God of Love and that He cares for all of us! Now let's look at Galatians 4:4-7:
4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, 5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.
The God Who so greatly loved the entire world (John 3:15-18 AMP) that He would send His only Son to become sin and die for us a most torturous death so that we could be born again, become children of God, heirs of God and ministers of God, is most certainly not holding anything good back from us! HE is not making the decision for whether we are walking in the fullness of blessing, protection, provision and safety. WE ARE! HE has given us the opportunity to know for certain that we have Heaven as our home when we leave this earth AND to have a most wonderful life while we are here, going about HIS business! It IS His desire for us! John 10:10 and 3 John 2:
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP
3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. KJV
He has given us His Word and Holy Spirit to teach us. He has given us the promises and the instructions for how to walk in them. He has given us the CHOICE for what we want to allow in our lives. Along with those wonderful blessings comes the responsibility of CHOICE! I hope that YOU are making wise choices, beginning with the choices to be born again, to be filled with His Spirit, and to learn and grow in the knowledge of His Word (Find out how on our website through the link on the left)! Now make the further choice to be a DOER of His Word (James 1:22) and you will find your life begin to change for the better in every area. When it does, never forget Who those blessings and good things came from (James 1:17), and never neglect to give HIM praise, thanksgiving and worship for them! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":
Shalom in Him!
