Do Not Try to Figure It All Out

 

God in His Word the Bible declares some great truths about Himself.

 

Numbers 23:19:

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

 

What God declares in His Word will come to pass. You can trust Him to fulfill all His promises that are in His Word. He not only has the ability to back up what He declares but also the willingness to do so.

 

Romans 4:20,21:

He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;   

 

And being fully persuaded that, what he [God]  had promised, he [God] was able also to

perform.

 

What God promises, He performs. Jesus, who always did the will of His Father, while teaching his disciples proclaimed that God would supply all their fundamental need.  

 

Luke 12:22-34:

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no [unnecessary] thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

 

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment [clothing].

 

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

 

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

 

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

 

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,  neither be ye of doubtful mind. 

 

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

 

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

 

For where your treasure is [your thoughts are], there will your heart be also.

 

God establishes here that if you seek His kingdom first, then all the essential necessities in life will be provided by Him for you. In fact, God makes the point that He is very aware that you have to have these in order to live and function in life; food, water, clothing, shelter and in our culture transportation.

 

God informs us that we are to take no unnecessary thought to how He will provide these things. He tells us that we are to not be of a doubtful mind, but to trust that He can provide since He does so for the birds, the flowers, and the grass. Aren’t we better than these?

 

The same is true for the saints today. God will supply all our need according to His riches by the accomplished work of Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 4:19:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

Thus, we should not be anxious over the essential needs in life. God will supply. Instead we should turn our anxiety over to God and let Him be aware of what we desire. Then we can think about the things God wants us to occupy our minds with.

 

Philippians 4:6-8:

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.              

 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

 

The God of peace will guard our hearts and minds through the accomplish work of Christ. The Greek word for guard was used of a military force that guards against an invasion or keeps besieged citizens of a city from leaving. “Minds” is noema from noeo meaning understanding.

The God of peace will protect our understanding from being invaded through the accomplished work of Christ.

 

How does God do this? We don’t know! But we believe He can and does because His Word says so. It is beyond our human understanding to comprehend how He will do it.

 

Ephesians 3:8:

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

 

God had unsearchable riches throughout history.

 

Ephesians 3:19a:

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge…

 

The love of Christ passes knowledge. Then can we totally understand it? No.

 

Romans 11:33:

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 

In the book of Job, God has a myriad of questions for Job that He knows Job cannot answer.

 

Job 38:1-8:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

 

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 

 

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast

understanding. 

 

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

 

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  

 

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

 

He continues in chapter 40 with some humbling questions and statements for Job, but in reality, for all of mankind.

 

Job 40:1-14:

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

 

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

 

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

 

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

 

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

 

Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

 

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

 

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

 

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

 

Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

 

Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

 

Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

 

We do not need to try to figure out God and how He does everything that He says He can and will do. We are to obey and to act on what He has told us in His Word. We are to keep moving with what we know of God’s Word and live it. Don’t waste time trying to understand it all; act on His promises.

 

Peter and John did. They were going to the temple to pray. There had been much spectacular growth in outreach in Jerusalem and they were interested in more. So God figured out a way that they would be noticed, so they could witness to many more about His greatness.

 

Acts 3:1-12:

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

 

And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

 

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

 

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

 

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

 

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

 

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

 

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

 

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

 

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

 

The healing of the lame man certainly attracted a crowd. Not only was the lame man delivered but God’s calling cards of signs miracles and wonders drew quite a block of interested people who were questing for more information. Peter did not disappoint them.

 

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

 

And then he continues to teach them about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Did Peter and John figure all this out at the breakfast table. No. God worked within them to heal the lame man that in turn attracted a crowd that genuinely wanted to know what was going on. This brought glory to God.

 

Luke 1:26-38:

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

 

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 

 

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

 

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

 

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

 

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

 

Mary did not understand the full ramifications of how all of this was going to work, but she accepted the word of the angel Gabriel as coming from God and acknowledged that it would be fine with her. She had good questions as to how, but she realized that God was capable of performing what she was told would happen.

 

Exodus 3:7-14:

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

 

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

 

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

 

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

 

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

 

And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

 

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

 

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 

God said that He would become whatever He needed to become to help Moses complete the plan. Did God? Starting immediately with the three supernatural examples he showed Moses to the 10 plagues, the Red Sea crossing, the giving of the best Law ever given, clothes that never wore out, the feeding of millions with manna and quail, not to mention water that sprung forth out of rocks; it certainly looks like He did.

 

II Kings 6:25-7:20:

And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

 

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

 

And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 

 

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

 

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. 

 

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

 

Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

People always want to blame God for their problems. The famine was because of the idolatry of the nation; starting with the king.

 

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

 

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

 

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

 

Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 

 

No one is sure how God is going to do this, but the prophet believes that it will happen just as God had revealed it unto him. Elisha may not have known how God was going to perform this, but he believed it would happen exactly as God said that it would.

 

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

 

If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

 

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

 

For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

 

Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

 

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household. 

 

So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

 

And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.

 

And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

 

And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see. 

 

They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

 

And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

 

And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

 

And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

 

And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

 

And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

 

And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

 

Again God told His prophet what was going to happen and “somehow” it worked out exactly as God had said.

 

We should not limit God. We can trust Him with everything and in everything.

 

Jeremiah 17:7-10:

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

 

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 

 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

 

Romans 10:11:

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

 

One text reads: …you shall not be disappointed in your expectations.

 

God will never disappoint us. Don’t try to figure out how He will back up His Word, just trust that He will and start moving on the path in front of you.

 

Proverbs 3:5,6:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.