So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

 Zechariah 1:1-6

So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’” Zechariah 1:6b

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 1:6b, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions - entitled God’s Reassuring Words Call Us to Return to Him - for the text vv1-6 (1:1-3, 1:4-6a, 6b).  The commentary calls to mind the often quoted saying "you never realize how much you miss something until its gone." Of course in this case, God's people had gone captive and into exile as God sought to get their attention for their wandering from Him (and their resulting wickedness).  God speaks through Zechariah and He does not want God's people to repeat what their ancestors had done with their wandering from God.  He reminds them that after being taken captive and into exile, they had finally recognized what they had done - missed God's fellowship and returned to Him.  This is what God sought through Zechariah and what He still seeks for believers now.  Let us not ever forget how gracious God is and even in our punishment we should see what He is doing in our lives and know that He never stops loving us and always seeks for us to return to Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always good and You never stop loving us, and Your amazing grace for believers continues to flow - ceaselessly.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your goodness, love, and amazing grace.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Genesis 42-44

At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” Genesis 42:28

I maintain a pause on my study of Ecclesiastes to focus on Joseph, in particular Genesis 42-44, and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Series volume for this book. Based on the commentary's breakdown of the divisions and subdivisions of this text (see post from Monday, 24JUN), I move on to the third subdivision of of the first division, which explores Genesis 42:27-38.  In the text for today, we see Joseph's brothers (less Simeon who remains detained in Egypt and Benjamin who remains at home with his father Jacob) on their journey home to Canaan, and they pause for lodging on their way - v27.  When one of the brothers goes to feed his donkey - v27 - he finds that the money given to Joseph in exchange for grain has been returned, he and his brothers are fearful exclaiming - v28 - '[w]hat is this that God has done to us?' In vv29-35, upon return home, they recount to Jacob what has happened to them and that Benjamin must go to Egypt as proof that they are not spies.  Jacob is distraught as he now experiences the loss of not just Joseph, but also Simeon.  He refuses to let the brothers take Benjamin to Egypt - see vv36-38.  The commentary emphasizes how the brothers see God's hand in their circumstances - v28:  "[t]his is the first time they have acknowledged him with regard to their situation. Until this moment, they have looked at their challenges from a human perspective. But now they consider this one from God’s perspective. They consider whether his hand, his providence, might be at work behind things. This is a critical step for God’s people when they face adversity. Indeed, when presented with difficulty or hardship, we should consider whether God might be at work behind the situations we encounter (Romans 5:2-5). The brothers attempt to do this now." Chapter 42 ends with the family at a critical juncture as they are faced with a dire situation and a difficult decision.  Believers must see how God is at work in this text as He always has been and always will be as He is both the Alpha and the Omega.  It is during these times when faith in God is imperative as we lean into Him that He loves us and is always working for good in our lives. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who is full of amazing grace and is always working for good in my life.  Thank You Jesus for Your mercies that are new every morning and never cease.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah 29

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” v10-14

Like any good father does for his children, God comes to His children who are being carried into exile to Babylonia. They deserve this punishment.  Yet God offers words of encouragement - this punishment is designed to be for your good and my glory. This is unconditional love - God may not approve of what we are doing and He may be disappointed in us, but He never stops loving us any less and all that He does is out of love for us. 

See also post from a few days ago. 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God and I love You.  I know that all that I do is out of love for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. v10

Isaiah continues to deliver words of encouragement how, despite His disappointment with His children and how they spurned Him, God will restore Israel.  God is good - He always keeps His promises.  He will never leave or forsake us. 

Like a parent who punishes a child for his own good - it is out of love that God disciplines us.  See also post from a few days ago.

He never stops loving us and we must God's love - even when we see Him disciplining us.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who never stops loving me - You came to rescue me - knowing everything about my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

Exodus 2

So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. v25

God is not some distant being that is not active in our lives.  First, we must understand that he is always with us and He will never leave us.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

God love us...deeply.  We may not understand (Isaiah 55:8) what He is doing in our lives in the moment but whatever He is doing is for His glory and our good.

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that You are a God that never leaves us or forsakes us, nor do You stop loving us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I continue to be selfish, etc. and other sin continues in my life.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.