Grain by grain a loaf, stone by stone, a castle. Yugoslavian proverb on patience
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.
ISAIAH 42:16 NASB
The prophet Isaiah told the nation of Israel that because of their spiritual blindness they would suffer being prisoners and captives of another nation, the nation of Babylon. Isaiah also gave a message of deliverance to the nation of Israel, that God would bring them back home after their captivity, and have them led a new way, paths they do not know. How could the nation of Israel, who prospered because of their dependence upon God for centuries, and having lived in the presence and glory of God, choose to go a different direction from the way God had directed them? How could God allow them to slide off into darkness? The second question is easy to answer, God will let us choose any direction we want to travel. What a freedom we have spiritually to make our own decisions. Of course many bad decisions lead us into painful experiences and even death, but we are free to choose which way we want to go. The other question I ask myself, how could Israel walk away from blessings and prosperity? This is not so easy to answer. I think of the old saying, all that glitters is not gold. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but that is only because that is where the septic tank and the sewage are drained. I am learning that because other people look like they are having fun, look like they are doing the right thing, and try and get me to join in, does not mean that it is the right thing to do. Reading this Scripture today lets me see how my life in some ways has paralleled the experiences of Israel. I too was blessed by receiving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into my life, and was set free from my self-centered addictive and criminal behaviors. But within a few years I made the decision to revert back to my old ways diving deeper and deeper into the darkness of self-gratification. How could I walk away from the freedom and blessings into a life of failure and bondage? I could because I could, I had the freedom to choose my direction and become blind if I wanted to. It is so awesome how a little bitty light can expel such great darkness. Like a single match lit in an pitch-black auditorium, it can be seen everywhere. At my darkest point little flickers of light were brought into my life. I am ever so grateful. Today a loving God guides me on paths I have never known, darkness has turned into light right before me, and rugged places in my life have been made smooth. God has done for me what I could not do for myself.
The real question is whether we can learn anything from our experiences upon which we may grow and help others to grow in the likeness and image of God. (Bill Wilson)
Bill W. puts the icing on the cake today, grow and help others to grow in the likeness and image of God. God will light and show us the way, but we must help others also as we travel paths we have never known. Thanks for letting me share ..JRE
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.
ISAIAH 42:16 NASB
The prophet Isaiah told the nation of Israel that because of their spiritual blindness they would suffer being prisoners and captives of another nation, the nation of Babylon. Isaiah also gave a message of deliverance to the nation of Israel, that God would bring them back home after their captivity, and have them led a new way, paths they do not know. How could the nation of Israel, who prospered because of their dependence upon God for centuries, and having lived in the presence and glory of God, choose to go a different direction from the way God had directed them? How could God allow them to slide off into darkness? The second question is easy to answer, God will let us choose any direction we want to travel. What a freedom we have spiritually to make our own decisions. Of course many bad decisions lead us into painful experiences and even death, but we are free to choose which way we want to go. The other question I ask myself, how could Israel walk away from blessings and prosperity? This is not so easy to answer. I think of the old saying, all that glitters is not gold. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but that is only because that is where the septic tank and the sewage are drained. I am learning that because other people look like they are having fun, look like they are doing the right thing, and try and get me to join in, does not mean that it is the right thing to do. Reading this Scripture today lets me see how my life in some ways has paralleled the experiences of Israel. I too was blessed by receiving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into my life, and was set free from my self-centered addictive and criminal behaviors. But within a few years I made the decision to revert back to my old ways diving deeper and deeper into the darkness of self-gratification. How could I walk away from the freedom and blessings into a life of failure and bondage? I could because I could, I had the freedom to choose my direction and become blind if I wanted to. It is so awesome how a little bitty light can expel such great darkness. Like a single match lit in an pitch-black auditorium, it can be seen everywhere. At my darkest point little flickers of light were brought into my life. I am ever so grateful. Today a loving God guides me on paths I have never known, darkness has turned into light right before me, and rugged places in my life have been made smooth. God has done for me what I could not do for myself.
The real question is whether we can learn anything from our experiences upon which we may grow and help others to grow in the likeness and image of God. (Bill Wilson)
Bill W. puts the icing on the cake today, grow and help others to grow in the likeness and image of God. God will light and show us the way, but we must help others also as we travel paths we have never known. Thanks for letting me share ..JRE