Grains of Sand

Google Images It’s interesting the difference a few hours can make. When I read Deuteronomy 9 earlier in the morning yesterday, it did not make as powerful a statement to me as it did later on that afternoon. Let me set the stage. Moses is continuing his instructions to the Hebrews as they prepare to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land of Canaan. He is reviewing their history and in the first six verses he reminds them of what happened after the twelve spies had returned from their scouting expedition into Canaan some forty years earlier. Those men had come back with glowing reports of the abundance to be found but ten of them also reported that the cities were heavily fortified and the people were “giants.” They spread fear among the Hebrews, a fear that lead the Israelites to rebel against God. Their rebellion was the cause of forty years of wandering in the desert until, now, at last, they have returned to the gateway into the land that God has promised their forefather, Abr...

Google Images If Zechariah and Elizabeth were taken by surprise by the announcement that they would have a son in their old age (Luke 1:12, 13), we can just imagine how surprised Mary was to learn that she would have a baby without ever having a relationship with a man. Today that would be possible, but not back then in ancient Israel (Luke 1:30)! Mary took the announcement in her stride—a testament to her faith—and hurried off to see her cousin, Elizabeth, who was in her sixth month of pregnancy by that time (1:39). Several years ago, when in a transition period in my own life, I laid claim to the words that Elizabeth pronounced over her young relative, recorded for us in Luke 1:45. " Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. " Both Elizabeth and Mary had entered significant transitions in their lives. Mary, by the time she returned to her hometown, would be obviously pregnant. The fact that she was engaged, but not ...

Google Images The water was rough, the waves high, and the rowing was difficult. When the situation didn’t seem like it could get any worse, “ they saw Jesus approaching ” (John 6:19). Jesus had sent His disciples away, commissioned to cross the lake while He retreated to talk to His Father. The wind came up. It was dark. The Master wasn’t with them and the circumstances threatened to overwhelm them. Then...” they saw Jesus approaching .” As soon as the Lord stepped into the boat, they were “ immediately ” on shore (6:21). They were safe. Another interesting little detail appears in these few verses. When the disciples first saw Jesus they were frightened. After all, they hadn’t expected to see Him walking on water! But when they recognized Him, “ they were willing to take him into the boat ” (6:21). In the middle of the storm, they needed to see Jesus, they needed to be willing to put aside their fear and take Him into the boat. Only they could they feel the solidness of land unde...

Ask anyone. It is unlikely that there are many people on the planet who can't come up with at least one challenge that they are currently facing. Big or small, significant or not, there is always something. As Moses continues through his final discourse to the Israelites before he takes his final journey, he has some words of encouragement for the nation. Some might raise their eyebrows at that one since the instructions about obedience and faithfulness and the consequences of rebellion seem so prominent in the Old Testament books. But, yes, there are words of encouragement. As we start Deuteronomy 9, Moses reminds his audience about the report that had come back from the ten spies forty years earlier. These men had warned that there were giants in the land and were not at all excited about taking those giants on. Yes, admits Moses, these Anakites are big brutes (9:1, 2) living in strongly fortified cities. But God was bigger. " But be assured today that the Lord your ...

Reading: Luke 8, 9 You’re going down for the last time. The water is up to your chin and each wave fills your mouth and nose with water. You raise your hand, desperate for someone to see your plight and come to your rescue. From the distant shore comes the triumphant voice of the old revivalist preacher, “I see that hand!” But you’re still going down, overwhelmed by wave after wave of life events. And it doesn’t seem like anyone is going to help. You are going to drown. Enter Jesus. He’s been there all the time, but you’ve been so busy struggling to save yourself that you didn’t notice His hand reaching out to grab yours. Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia And you answer His question with tears generated by both shame and expectation: “Yes, Lord, where was my faith?”