Scripture

A man burns part of a tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says,”Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left and makes his god – a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshipping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”

Observation

The Lord will pour out His Spirit on Jacob’s descendants, and His blessing will on their children.

There is nobody like the Lord who called together a people and explained their future.

The people who worship idols are foolish – who but a fool would make his own god? A man takes a part of a tree and uses it to keep warm and then takes the rest of the tree, carving it into an idol and praying to it.

The Lord made all things. He exposes false prophets and makes fools of fortune tellers. But He carries out the predictions of His prophets.

Application

Idolatry is the highest form of foolishness, especially for those who make the idols. They never reflect on the fact that they take one part of a tree and burn it for cooking and then worship another part of the same tree carved into the shape of a god.

The various forms of witchcraft and paganism that have sprung up in recent years, re badged as “New Age” are equally foolish. We have a revelation of Christ. We know the grace of God. So why would people seek salvation or enlightenment through crystals or tarot cards?

The true God, who created all things and who hand crafted every individual, invites all of us into an intimate friendship through Jesus Christ. I have the Spirit of God inside me!

Why would I turn to the lesser things?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for inviting me into friendship with you. You opened the door through the death of Jesus. Please help me to walk in friendship with you every day. Amen

Scripture

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 

 Observation

The Lord has ransomed Israel. He promises to go with them through floods, fires, difficulty, and oppression.

The Lord exchanged other, greater, nations as a ransom so that He could have Israel.

The Lord will send an army against Babylon. He is the one who parted the sea to let Israel escape from Egypt. 

Now he will do something new. He will create rivers in the desert to refresh his people, Israel. They have not brought sacrifices to the Lord, but He will blot out their sins anyway. 

 Application

Just as the Lord called the nation of Israel by name, so He calls us by name too. He moulded us in our mother’s womb and knows exactly what our lives are meant to be about.

For that reason, we can be confident and trust him. He walks with us through the floods and fires that threaten to consume as. He shows us the way to stand firm in the midst of troubles and oppression.

He doesn’t shelter us from the trials of life. He doesn’t click his fingers to make everything sweet for us. He does promise to walk through these times with us. 

Even when you feel like you are alone, the only one in that situation, God is with you. He will never abandon you.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you are always with us, even when everything seems to be falling apart. Amen.