For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Ex. 15
I have somehow never noticed before that Moses threw a tree into the waters of Marah to make them drinkable. How symbolic, since Jesus died on a ‘tree’ to turn the bitterness of sin in our lives into His sweet righteousness.
Luke 18
I’ve mused before over Jesus’ immediate response to the rich young ruler’s question about inheriting eternal life. He said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Lk. 18:19b). What did that answer have to do with the question? I mentioned before that it was a subtle way of saying that no one can be good enough to inherit eternal life on their own. This morning I am thinking that it is also a subtle way of saying that the man’s heart was in the wrong place.
Jesus was so much more than just a “Good Teacher”. He was God. But this young man seems to have missed that. Rather than pursuing what was truly good, he pursued being good. He sought eternal life when he should have sought God. The commandments Jesus told him to keep? They were all about being good. The ones Jesus didn’t mention – the ones that come first – have to do with seeking God. Sadly, these were the commandments the rich young ruler couldn’t keep because he cared more about what he had than about being with God. And since eternal life is really all about being with God, I’d say this man didn’t even understand what he thought he was looking for.
Job 33
Elihu asked Job a great question that I think we would all do well to keep in mind. He said, “God is greater than man. Why do you complain against Him that He does not give an account of all His doings?” Who are we to question why the God who created all that is does anything? Can we possibly know what He knows? Can we understand His ways? The hard truth is that God doesn’t owe us anything – no explanations, no apologies…not even any blessings. All the good that He does for us and all the wisdom and understanding He gives us through His Word and Spirit, He does and gives out of His great love for us, the most prized of all His creation. Humbling.