Tag: Trusting God

Bible Studies

“Necessary Action” – The Story of Abraham

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 21:8-21 NLT – Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away – When – Bible Gateway

“So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.” Genesis 21:14 NLT

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We all had problematic decisions to make in our lives. They are a lot easier to make when we know it is the right thing to do and the Lord is leading us in that direction. Abraham has a decision to make this week in our study of Biblical Insights but not as hard as another decision he will face in the future. Last week in our story of Abraham, the promised son Issac, was born to a man one hundred years old and his wife of ninety. That doesn’t happen in our day and age and didn’t happen during Abraham and Sarah’s day that we know of. It was an immense joy for both of them after waiting twenty-five years from the time God promised it would happen. Even at that time it seemed impossible for both of them. Waiting impatiently for what they perceived as running out of time they took matters into their own hands and had a child through Sarah’s servant Hagar. It was inevitable problems would arise. They did. But God is faithful and still blesses in spite of our foolishness as we will see.

“When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.” (Gen.21:8 nlt) Issac is three years old, the customary age for weaning in the ancient Near East. Another custom were the huge celebrations that families would have to mark the occasion. On this day in Abraham’s family all were having fun and enjoying themselves at the feast with two of them having too much fun. Abraham’s son by Hagar, Ishmael, was mocking young Issac. His mother, Hagar, joined in the ridicule. Ishmael, now about seventeen years old may have seen his inheritance slipping away. Hagar may have felt the same way, and Sarah feared trouble for her son Issac. Sarah didn’t stall but immediately went to her husband and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!” (Gen.21:10 nlt) The tone of Sarah’s voice and the use of the term ‘that slave woman’ rather than ‘maid and servant’ revealed she was serious. She wanted Hagar gone and her son gone. In that culture to drive out a son from a servant woman was to disinherit them and it was prohibited to arbitrarily expel a servant woman’s son. This caused Abraham much distress for the decision he was to make. He loved Ishmael for he was his son, and he would be violating the customary laws.

But God came to Abraham and told him not to worry and to send both Hagar and Ishmael away. God said Issac would indeed be the child of the covenant and then said to Abraham, “I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.” (Gen.21:13 nlt) God is a merciful and gracious God. He will bless Ishmael as well. He will become a father of nations.

“So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.” (Gen.21:14 nlt) As hard as it was for Abraham to send his son away, he had faith in God that He will do what He promised for Ishmael. We may wonder why Abraham only gave Hagar limited supplies with all the riches he had. One reason may be Abraham trusted God and knew the only way Hagar and Ishmael would make it was by the hand of God.

A mother hugging her tired child, seated on sandy desert ground with sparse bushes and distant hills

The food and water was soon gone as they traveled through the hot, rough, and rugged wilderness of Beersheba. Certain of death, Hagar put her son under a shady tree and herself one hundred yards away. She could not bear to watch her son die. But God heard Ishmael’s cry just as He heard Hagar’s cry eighteen years ago when she ran away from Sarah. Ishmael’s name means ‘God hears.’ He heard Ishmael’s cry also this day. Just then the angel of the Lord called out to Hagar, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” (Gen.21:18 nlt) The Lord gives Hagar the same promise He gave to Abraham. Ishmael will be a father of nations that has carried through to this day.

God then filled their immediate need, water! Hagar looked a saw a well full of water in front of her. Did she miss seeing the well in her physical and mental state earlier or did the well appear by divine intervention? Either way, it doesn’t matter. God’s hand was in it. He is the same God who has his hand in our business when unexplainable good things happen to us. Hagar quickly filled her container and gave her son a drink. God always fulfills His promises.

Scripture fast forwards to note Ishmael grew up in the wilderness and became a skillful archer. He settled in Paran which is in north central Sinai. Hagar arranged marriage for him with a woman from Egypt which was customary in those days. God shown favor and kindness to Hagar and Ishmael in the necessary action that needed to be taken. One Bible commentator noted ‘that God was not against Ishmael and his descendants.’ God was with Ishmael and had a promise for his future. Ishmael’s descendants are the many nations of the Arabic people.

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Next week Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech…….

Devotionals

Who do you trust for your needs?

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 12:41-44 NLT – The Widow’s Offering – Jesus sat down – Bible Gateway

“Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.” Mark 12:42 NLT

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The Bible is full of practical answers for all matters of life in this world. For instance, any question we may have concerning our lives we can find an example to cover it. A big concern for most people is financial stability. The Bible has a lot to say about money and Jesus did not shy away from the subject. We can be confident of God’s Word to lead us in a right direction.

God has given us the gift of work to meet our needs. I know work does not seem like a gift on some days, but be assured, it is. He has given us free will with what we do with our money with certain guidelines. The important thing to remember is this; how successful or unsuccessful we are have come from the hand of God. Yes, our ability and hard work contributes to our success, but again our ability and knowledge comes from God.

Jesus and His disciples were sitting in the Temple watching people drop money in the collection box. Many rich people put in substantial amounts from their surplus and a poor widow dropped in two small coins. It would seem obvious who contributed more but not really given a closer look. Jesus said the widow put in all she had to live on. She trusted God to meet her needs. She didn’t worry about where her next meal would come from, she knew God would provide. This poor widow, indeed, put in more. So, who do you trust to meet your needs? Are you depending on yourself or on God?

Devotionals

Twice a fool         

Loring Schultz

“As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.” Proverbs 26:11 NLT

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Have you ever done a foolish thing? Have you ever done a foolish thing twice? Do I dare say three times. Well I can say been there, done that! We are not perfect beings, but flawed creatures of habits, sometimes bad habits that get us into that same foolish thing with the same results. It won’t be different this time around if it is not in the will of God. But we fool ourselves into thinking that it will be.

The Lord is aware of our failures done in the pursuit of foolish things. Sometimes He waves a yellow flag warning us to slow down and think about what we are doing. When the red flag appears it’s time to stop if it is not late. Often times God allows us to go our way as He gives us free will, but He is always close by watching and providing warning signs. Will we trust God enough to heed His warning signs?

Some of us are innocently fooled to repeat a folly because of our desires. These desires may not be wrong in themselves but are we having conversations about them with God before we pursue them again. The Lord says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Ps.37:3-4 nlt)

 Whatever reason we are drawn again into an act of foolishness we can learn from it if we are trusting in the Lord. He does not want to see us repeating our folly. God is a gracious and merciful God who wants nothing but the best for us and will give us the desires of our heart as it aligns with His will. So, if you are twice a fool, no worries, bring it to the Lord and ask Him to give you the desires of your heart and be a fool no more.

Devotionals

Can I Trust Him?

Loring Schultz

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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Life is complicated for most people. Even for those who live in rural communities where not too much is going on, there’s always something going on, yes life is complicated. We all need a little guidance to help us along. Guidance is needed not only to be successful in life, but to have continued joy and contentment. Given over to ourselves, we are not always successful in life and our efforts for joy and contentment are but moments soon to drift away. We need someone who is bigger than ourselves, God, but can we trust Him?

The wisest man who ever lived on this earth, King Solomon, said God can be trusted. Solomon wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart……and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr.3:5-6 niv) The idea of making our paths straight is to remove any obstacles that are in the way. Who would better know how to remove those obstacles than one with the ability to know what we will encounter before it happens and has the power to remove them. We are often confused lacking understanding in the way God is leading us, but we must rest assured His plan for us is good and will not fail. When we fully submit to God trusting His leading as we reject our own temptation to do it ourselves, God will surely lead us to complete joy and contentment. Yes, you can trust Him!

“I cannot always understand, The Way God leadeth me, The why, and when and wherefore Is oft a mystery. But I can trust His wisdom, I know His way is best, His heart knows no unkindness And on His love I rest.” (1)

(1) Cowman, Mrs. Charles E. Streams in the Desert 2. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966. p.138

A Christian Perspective

Whose Leadership Do You Trust?      

Loring Schultz
Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash

“Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time. The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.” Daniel 11:27-28 NLT

Years ago, many Bible preachers would be heard saying ‘read the headlines in the newspaper and you’ll find much the same in the Bible.’ It still applies today to any creditable news source. The Lord has laid out for us the good, the bad, and the ugly along with future events and the recorded past in His Word. God does not want us to be ill informed, but to know the signs of the times. The evil times in which we live, as bad as they are, have been on-going since Cain and Abel. God has given us His Word, reliable for truth, for us to know who to trust in our troubled times.   

In Daniel chapter 11, a conference was prophesied to take place between two kings, Antiochus and Ptolemy, who lie to each other at the conference table. Deception to the hurt of the other was politics as usual as it is today. Our News headlines are the same as centuries ago. Antiochus was also a vile individual who hated the Jews, persecuting them and desecrating the Temple. (Dan.8;13) Sounds like a current day news story, hatred of the Jews by some of our world leaders.

For Christians it comes down to this, whose leadership do we trust today. Every one of our most trusted leaders across this world has flaws of some kind. Conferences, peace talks, etc. don’t have long-lasting effects and never will. The Lord God is where our trust should be. May we see the events happening in our world as God at work leading the nations and let us be content, He is in control.

Devotionals

Rejoicing in Our Problems

Loring Schultz

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT

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There isn’t anyone alive who hasn’t faced problems during their lifetime. We all face problems or if you prefer to call them trials and tribulations or sufferings and afflictions, we all have them. Probably not too many of us can say we have rejoiced during those unforgettable periods of our life. Perhaps even fewer could say it was beneficial going through that trial. But there are always benefits of any trial we go through, even if we fail or refuse to see and acknowledge them. God’s hand is involved in all things in this world and that includes our individual lives. He will work it out for good. (Ro.8:28)

The apostle Paul says we can rejoice during our problems and trials. He is one who is qualified to make such a statement for he had his fair share of problems in his life. First Paul says our problems help us develop endurance. We learn to endure, holding fast in our situation if we don’t give up. This develops strength, both physically and in our character. Professional athletes face times when endurance is essential to get them to the next level or overcoming a rehabilitating injury. Our newly developed character is just what we need to get us through and what others need as they witness our strength in character despite our circumstances. This character strengthens our hope in God, and the confident hope of our salvation through Christ.

Suffering, trials, and all sorts of problems are not what we look forward to in life. But they come to all of us when we least expect it. After the initial shock wears off, look to the Lord God for His purpose in it, and rejoice that He has your best interest at heart. It is only then you can look forward to developing endurance, strength of character, and a confident hope in the God of your salvation. And be ready to share your rejoicing with others.

Devotionals

Not Rejected, but Reworked

Loring Schultz

“And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” Jeremiah 18:4 ESV

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How many times have you seen your plans and goals in life slipping out of reach? You have a college degree in your desired field but can’t get your foot in the door to plant your feet. You find yourself in a career you haven’t chosen, and as the years go by your dream job is becoming less plausible. It could be you hindered yourself by some regrettable decisions you’ve made placing you where you are now. Have you ever asked yourself, how did I get here? I have. The answer is I put myself here. But it is amazing how God still works out His perfect will for us, wherever we are.

Being in a place you don’t want to be is frustrating. But there is a reason why you are there. I’m not one to say, ‘just make the best of it’ but to say, ‘trust in God to show you the way.’ You may be surprised that you are not where you want to be, but you are where God wants you to be. Once you accept that, it makes all the difference in the world. Trust me, I know. We have our plans and goals, so does God. Sometimes they match, sometimes they don’t.

The Lord gave the prophet Jeremiah an illustration of His sovereignty over the people of Judah. He had him go down to the potter’s house and watch him. “And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” (Jer.18:4 esv) Whatever the reason for being spoiled in the potter’s hand, He is reworking you to be all you were meant to be. The Lord has plans for you. You’re not rejected, but being reworked. You may get that dream job after all, just not where you thought it would be. And if you don’t, your dream will come true right where you are if you allow the potter to do His work.

Devotionals

Going where you may not want to go 

Loring Schultz

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it……… seven nations greater and stronger than you.” Deuteronomy 7:1 NASB.

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Have you ever had the opportunity to do something great? You have been promoted in your job due to your skill set and work ethic, but your new job description is way over your head. You feel intimidated as you examine the scope of your new assignment, but those who put you in there have the confidence you will succeed and have paved the wave for an easy transition. You proceed with hesitation going where you may not want to go.

The nation Israel was about to enter the Promised Land where seven nations that were much stronger than they were resided.  The Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, each one greater than Israel, knew the land well due to their long history of living in the land. Israel was promoted to go into the land with detail job descriptions of their assignments. The first and most important one was to trust in God who had been leading them for forty years. The Lord promised that they would be successful in their new position, “When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess and clears away many nations before you.” (Dt.7:1 nasb) The Lord is going to clear away the obstacles in their first assignment through their trust in Him. Israel will still do the work, but it will be the Lord working through them.

You are no different than the nation Israel when God gives you an opportunity for advancement and to glorify His name. You may be overwhelmed by work and the accountability involved, but the Lord will clear away and help you deal with anything over your head. He will give you comfortability and assurance that you can handle the job He assigned you to. Just trust God! You may not have wanted to go, but once you’re there you’ll be glad you did.

Devotionals

Going in Circles   

Loring Schultz

“You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” Deuteronomy 2:3 NASB

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Life has a way of having us going in circles. We find ourselves engaged in several tasks at the same time. So many things to do and not enough time. Some things are left undone or put on the shelf until a more convenient time which almost never comes. Failing to reach the goals we have set for ourselves is on-going. We start over and repeat the process again and again. Like a dog chasing its tail, we run around in circles. That’s life!

But perhaps going in circles is your own doing. Perhaps you’re running around in circles due to disobedience to God. Most of our troubles stem from the bad choices we make in life. God gives us free will to make choices, but He also expects and desires us to make choices that please Him. Now, there is a difference between a deliberate sinful choice and an honest miscalculation in a choice we made. Unfortunately, we need to deal with the consequences just the same, and the Lord is aware of the circumstances. He will see us through them with grace and a lesson learned. But there are times when the Lord will allow us to wander for a while due to our bad choices.

The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years for their choice in not obeying God to go forward into the Promised Land. This too was for a season, a long one, but it did come to end by God’s grace. The Lord told them, “You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” (Dt.2:3 nasb) So too, however long you’ve been going in circles for whatever reason it will come to an end. You can count on it. Trust God. You’ll soon hear, turn north!

Devotionals

Intimidation         

Loring Schultz

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” Proverbs 29:25 NLT

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Sometimes there are people who try to get the best of us, meaning getting under our skin or intimidating us making us fearful of their intentions. Christians especially come under the attack of intimidation. Standing up for Biblical values in a secular world and claiming Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven will give plenty of fuel for people who think otherwise to prove us wrong. Intimidation presents itself in various ways, but it is always to make us fearful and second guessing ourselves.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said that when we become fearful of others, we set ourselves up to be trapped. If our focus is not continuously on God, we will start to lose our confidence as we get bombarded by others trying to intimidate us. This will lead to our becoming fearful eventually trapping ourselves in doubt and confusion trying to defend ourselves when our trust is to be in the Lord.

The Lord will never leave us standing alone. He is always with us. “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’” (Heb.13:5b nlt) When we put our trust in Him, we need not fear for we are safe. As Christians we are to do the work He gives us, proclaiming the gospel, and living in accordance with His Word. So let the world intimidate us for our Biblical worldview, and be not fearful, but answer boldly in the fear of the Lord our God, trusting Him for His safety and protection on us. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” (Ps.4:8 nlt)