Promise for Today - God's Math Doesn't Add Up

So this is the family line descended from Shem: Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram, later known as Abraham.
The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. These are their genealogical records:...
1st Chronicles 1:24-29 NLT

In reading through the Bible Recap this year - a chronological study with author and speaker Tara-Leigh Cobble - we're at day 113 and chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Chronicles. Thus begins yet another retelling of the generations, beginning with Adam. I was listening to it instead of trying to read all the names, but I must admit, I could feel my eyes glazing over. And as the narrator droned on about names I would not remember, let alone pronounce, I found myself talking to God about it. 

My intention was not to express my editorial opinion on Scripture, but to sincerely try to glean what I should be learning from hearing/reading this again. "Father, I don't mean to be disrespectful to Your Word. I believe the Bible is Your living Word and every word in it is there for a reason. I believe there is purpose and meaning. Please reveal to me what the purpose is for going through another litany of who's who in the lineage."  I closed the book with my eyes still glazed over, so I didn't search for any divine inspiration. 

This morning, my friend, Hope, sent an email with this revelation: "What I gleaned from these two chapters of Chronicles about God is that He kept His word to Abraham about making his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky." And that was exactly it!! 

In my disdain of so many chapters of whose sons were whose, I missed a HUGE, VERY IMPORTANT Truth. God ALWAYS keeps His Word. Think about Abraham and Sarah for just a moment. She was 90, he was 100 when Isaac was born. Both well past childbearing age. Yes, he had Ishmael by Hagar, but last time I checked 1+1 still only equals 2 - a far cry from too numerous to count... but God. Abraham BELIEVED God.  "As your faith, so be it unto you..." (Jesus speaking - Matthew 9:29). 

"As your faith, so be it unto you..." There are so many times that what God did or does or is doing just doesn't add up. It should not come as a surprise to those who believe because God doesn't add; He multiplies. 

Prayer:

Father, 

         Forgive me/us for those times when we want to just skim over, discounting the diamonds that can be found if we glean. Thank You for reminding us over and over about the proof of the Truth of Your Word. Help us to understand and know that repetition is how we build knowledge and fitness because we want to be able to rightly divide Your Word.  Birth in us a fresh desire to celebrate Your faithfulness and goodness toward us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Whatever It Takes

God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2nd Peter 3:9 The Message

I'm still chewing on the thought of that boatload of people who found God because of the storm He threw at Jonah. A friend of mine asked, "Do you think they saw the fish swallow Jonah?" I don't know. All I really know is God did whatever was necessary to redirect Jonah, to get the Ninevites to repent, and save a boatload of sailors in the process. Whatever it takes. 

In Texas, we never like it when we think that someone is holding back on us. Of course, I imagine that's probably the same wherever you are. No one likes to think they're not getting the full measure of something; nor do they want to receive less than what they've been promised. So, how often does it whittle at our faith when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should?  He's not holding back to deprive us, He's doing whatever it takes...

Do we start to not believe that God is Jehovah Rapha when someone isn't healed? Do we doubt His sovereignty when we witness Christians martyred for their beliefs? Do we lose it because His ways are higher than our ways - when He's already told us that He has a higher purpose in whatever comes our way? What IS that purpose? 

I believe the purpose is that ALL should come to repentance! God is not willing that ANYONE should be lost! He is so committed to our eternity that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him. Both God and Christ were willing to do that, knowing that in Heaven there is no more pain, no more crying, no more dying, but to get there from here, we have to come to repentance! And God is willing to use WHATEVER IT TAKES to get us there! 

Storm. Fish. Whatever it takes...

Prayer:

Father,
          Open our eyes and our hearts so that we can see Your hand and feel Your love in everything that You allow to touch our lives. Let us heed Your guidance and direction and follow each and every step You ask us to take - no matter where it is as long as You are with us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen