Walking with God in a Confusing World

-

Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:3  "Judah had three sons from Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Their names were Er, Onan, and Shelah. But the Lord considered Er, the firstborn, to be a wicked man, so the Lord killed him."

The Bible tells us that Er was wicked, and because of this, God killed him. This short story can make us ask some hard questions. Was Er really so bad that he deserved to die? Does God sometimes kill people? How can a God who tells us not to murder also take a life?

These are honest questions. They show that we are trying to understand God’s ways. But we must remember that we see things from a human point of view. Our understanding is limited. The writer of this history was telling the story as he understood it. He believed that God is the judge of all the earth and that Er’s death was an act of God’s justice.

However, this does not mean that we should blame God for everything that goes wrong in life. It is important not to drag God into every small event, especially sad or tragic ones. If we quickly say that every bad thing is God’s doing, we might actually misrepresent Him. We might make people think God is harsh or unfair, which is not true.

God gives life and has the right to take it away. But we must be very careful not to speak for God in situations we do not understand. It is not our job to explain why God allows certain things to happen. Instead, our job is to trust that God is good and fair, even when life is confusing.

The story of Er is a challenge for us. It asks us to have faith in God’s perfect wisdom, even when we don’t have all the answers. We can believe that God is love and also that He is just. We may not always see how both are true, but we can trust that they are.

So let us be careful in how we talk about God’s actions. Let us not be quick to blame Him for human suffering or natural events. Instead, let us focus on being His faithful servants, showing His love and kindness to the world.

Prayer: 

Lord, sometimes we read things in the Bible that are hard to understand. Sometimes life itself is confusing. Help us to trust you even when we don’t have all the answers. Keep us from blaming you for every bad thing that happens. Help us to represent you well by being people of love and grace. Amen.

Popular posts from this blog

A Glimpse of God's Goodness

-
Verse: Genesis 48:11 (NIV) 11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and yet God has allowed me to see your children too." As Jacob gazed upon the faces of his loved ones, he felt as though he was beholding the very face of God. In this moment, he realized that experiencing God's goodness was akin to seeing God Himself. The joy, the peace, and the love that radiated from their presence was a tangible manifestation of God's divine goodness, a reflection of His loving character. Jacob's heart overflowed with emotion as he grasped the magnitude of God's love. He felt the warmth of God's embrace, the comfort of His presence, and the assurance of His guidance. In this moment, all his doubts, fears, and worries seemed to fade away, replaced by a deep sense of trust and surrender. "Oh, the goodness of God!" he exclaimed, his heart overflowing with praise. "To see Your face in the faces of my loved ones is to behold Your ve...
Read more

A Divine Encounter: From Fear to New Identity❤️

-
Verses:Genesis 32:22-32 "That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' The man asked him, 'What is your name?' 'Jacob,' he answered. Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'" In this remarkable story, God comes down to meet Jacob in his moment of fear and uncertainty. Jacob is worried about his upcoming encounter with Esau, but God has a different plan. Inste...
Read more

When Superstition Overcame Faith

-
Verse:2 Kings 3:27 "Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land." The alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom had marched against Moab, confident in their impending victory. God was with them, ensuring their success. Yet, in a desperate act, the king of Moab did the unthinkable—he sacrificed his own son on the city wall. Instead of pressing forward in faith, Israel retreated in fear. Why? Because superstition, deeply rooted in their hearts, deceived them.   Though they were God’s people, Israel had never fully abandoned the pagan influences around them. Even their kings—Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom—were not wholly devoted to the Lord. When they saw the horrific sacrifice, they were overcome not by divine judgment but by their own lingering belief in the power of such rituals. They assu...
Read more