GOD'S COMMITTMENTS AND OUR FAITHLESSNESS

Before I begin, I want to apologize for two errors I made in yesterday's blog.  First, the schools have only been closed an extra day this week, not all week.  But they may change their minds and close them Tues.as well as today, for tomorrow is to be equally as cold as today.

Secondly, there is some dispute about the age of Elizabeth and the bible doesn't say how old.  Probably not as old as I am, but she was an "older relative of Mary."

'Nuf said!

..Today's title is ridiculous! But it's real and as real as this title is, the situations that come from these two opposites can become extremely problematic.  I can't help but wonder if all the troubles between the Arabic countries, first with each other, and secondly, with the west, didn't begin way back in the days of Abraham!  I think there might be some credence to these thoughts.

God had spoken to Abraham telling him that he was to be the Father of a great nation and this nation would be in a covenant with Him forever.  Abraham and Sarah were to have a son and name him Isaac.  But they were in an age far past childbearing and had never had a child before. Their disbelief caused them to interfere with God's timing and work the problem out themselves. Sarah talked her handmaiden, Hagar, into sleeping with Abraham and the maid became pregnant with Ishmael.  God had chosen Isaac to be the covenant child, but promised Ishmael and Hagar that the boy would lead his own great nation in another land.

Well! Could the "proof be in the pudding" as my grandmother used to say? It might seem so. And is there anyone or anything to blame?  I guess we can only blame the human condition of not having enough faith to see God's promise fulfilled.

What we have now is a hot potato in the mid-east, as the mid-east is struggling under two different sects of their own religion, a religion born of similar yearnings as the Judeo-Christian religion.  I am not sure at all of what the Moslem religion teaches, but I have been told that it has some similarities of our own culture.  Maybe it's time to find the similarities and try to be considerate of our differences.  If one teaches war or harm, that cannot be condoned.  But if there is brotherhood to be had, let us find it.  Let the two be two, but in peace and good will.

In order to do that, perhaps those of us who believe in God, should also do a better job in trusting God. Beginning with me, I might add. I am very much like Sarah.  I want to fix the problem  First, I am a good problem solver.  But I am not to mess up God's plan just because I see a little problem ahead!! Convincing me must have been a tough job for God, but I have been convinced!

My next big step is to trust, trust, trust and trust some more.  First obey; then trust.  Like Abraham and Sarah, when God seems to want the impossible and I begin to doubt his leading, I must focus on God's commitment to fulfill His promises to me and then continue to obey. If I am in a position like Ishmael, I must think regardless of my circumstances, God has not forgotten me.  Obey him and trust in His plan.

I guess it's Trust and Obey, for there's no other way...

Be warm!  Jo