PREPARED BY GOD: Part Two

PREPARED BY GOD: Part Two

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Exodus [GW] 36:1-2 Moses continued, "So Bezalel and Oholiab will do the work as the LORD has commanded. They will do this with the help of every other craftsman to whom the LORD has given the necessary skills and talents. They will know how to do all the work for constructing the holy place." 2 Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every other craftsman to whom the LORD had given these skills and who was willing to come and do the work.

Esther [GW] 4:14 [Mordecai communicated to his niece Queen Esther] “The fact is, even if you remain silent now, someone else will help and rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will die. And who knows, you may have gained your royal position for a time like this."

John [GW] 9:1-3 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him.          

  Since writing Friday’s DT I’ve continued pondering the topic, doing further Bible study, and now share with you several more thoughts.

·         God, in His sovereignty, chose and prepared craftsmen. I believe from birth. (Ps.139:13-14)

·         God didn’t beforehand tell the craftsmen or their parents they were being developed to build a project of eternal importance honoring and glorifying Him that then and now granting message of Him. In addition to explanations in God’s Word, there are many books and diagrams explaining the significance of details of the tabernacle and all it contained and its use.

·         God didn’t reveal His larger purpose to them until the fullness of time.

·         God prepared a number of craftsman capable of doing the project, but in and by His grace He, as always, allowed free will decision to leave their normal employment or not.

  I hear it said that God of the Old Testament is changed; that He is different in these New Testament times. This I do not believe. To begin with, in His Word, Old Testament and New Testament, He states He is invariable. (Ex.3:14; Mal.3:6a; Isa.46:9-11; Rom.11:33; Heb.13:8; Jam.1:17) Also there is the record of His doings in OT ad NT, and let us not forget that which is foretold in Revelation and other passages.

  Applying the same study principles to John 9:1-3, what do we see?

·         God in His sovereignty did form a person handicapped . . . to serve His higher purpose.

·         God didn’t in advance reveal reason for blindness to the man, his family, or the community.

·         God prepares individuals and groups for his plans, whether large project lasting a limited period of time, lifelong endeavor (Wilberforce and others come to mind.), or momentary encounter . . . which could be over the pallet at Sam’s Club!

  So, God being constant, how are the factors of the OT stories of tabernacle craftsmen and Queen Esther, or the NT healing miracle applicable to you and I this day?

·         God doesn’t want catastrophic thinking to be our mind. (Jn.14:27; 2Tim.1:7)

·         God, in this lifetime, doesn’t always reveal the understanding for everything. (Heb.11:1-40) It’s called trust. To demand or expect understanding in all scenarios is not trust.

·         God equips every one of us with one or more abilities. (1Cor.12:1-31)

·         God continues to grant free will in leaving it up to us whether to surrender, volunteer, or not. It is always our choice to how, where, when, why, how, for who we use our abilities.

  As you can see, though rapidly approaching ancient status, Sword at hand I’m still learning. I await your responses that aid me in this. Your fellow traveler, EBB4