Have you ever wondered why some arguments or deliberations go on forever without a resolution? Why there is a general misunderstanding of some people’s situations and choices? Stick around as we uncover the reason why?
We are always searching for that one perfect thing in life but somehow we never find a satisfactory answer. The most sought-after being a perfect marriage, the perfect relationship, partner or spouse, the perfect career, the perfect life, the perfect person or friend, and so on. Why do we not seem to find the answer you may ask?
Ex 32:9-12
9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.
From the above text who was right and who was wrong? Which of the two was the smart move? Both decisions were correct. Though it may seem that Moses counseled the Lord against making a bad decision it wasn’t bad after all. God is not answerable to anyone so he had to be worried about what the Egyptians were to say about his action.
What is the lesson that we can draw out here? As Christians, we have this mentality of always looking for the one true answer or solution out of many. Wisdom however proves us otherwise.
Moses wasn’t smarter than God. God’s decision to start all over wasn’t a bad one either. As we read the bible his decision was only delayed as the children of Israel were wiped out slowly during the course of the 40 years. Only two people out of the group that left Egypt managed to enter the Promised Land. Moses’ was a good gesture that God adopted at the time.
A fellow member of the church needed advice on a particular challenge they were facing. They had just converted to the Adventist church but their working days stretched up to Saturdays. As per their belief Adventists are not to perform any labor for gain on the Sabbath day. So they posted this question on a church member chat room hoping to get some advice. Received were many varying bits of advice. Here are some of the bits of advice gathered.
“Choose between God and your work”
“The Bible is plain on this subject thou shalt not labor”
“Resign quickly”
“Pray about it before you make a decision”
The one answer fits all method does not work all the time. Sometimes it can destroy a life that would have somewhat thrived as in the case above. Of all the answers the last answer is the most reasonable to me I don’t know about you but wisdom and experience will tell you that you don’t leave a job hastily. It might take some time before you contract a new one.
Talking to your boss about it would also be a good move which might make things go your way. They may approve which is a win for you. If they reject it’s all the reason for you to linger around till you find your preferred job.
2 Chron 1:11-12
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12, therefore, wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
God is the head of the food chain. He has made nature and animals to be interdependent. If you remove a part of the food chain the whole ecosystem suffers. Similarly, with man each one of us has a purpose why God brought us to the earth and that’s the important thing. God cannot make us all doctors or pilots or rich all at the same time or else who is going to teach, bake, pastor, and so on. Variety is the spice of life.
Job 28:20-23
“Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. 22 Destruction and Death say, ‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’ 23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
Our minds have been channeled to always look for the one superior thing by such elements as the media. As a result, our level of comprehension is weakened. Take a look at how media influences our view of beauty. The constant exposure to images of idealized beauty has shaped the understanding and preferences of many.
As we consume media, we internalize these beauty standards and we start to believe they are the norm or the ideal to strive for. There is no one perfect career but just different types, no perfect wedding or marriage but different types, no perfect life but different livelihoods, no perfect person or character but different temperaments, and so on.
May God help us to seek not the wisdom that comes from mortals because it leads to confusion but only that which comes from his word because it gives life.
God bless you and see you in the next lesson
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