Month: March 2023

Sarah could not conceive, while Hagar did.

Rachel could not conceive, while Leah did.

Hannah could not conceive, while Peninnah did.

If God had not intervened in these women’s situations. they would have just died in their misery, with no one to rescue them. What could they do anything about it? NOTHING. Who could question God about their situations? No one!

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

It was God who had closed the wombs of these women. People around them could not see God’s hand which kept their wombs closed. So they taunted these women with pointed fingers. But when God’s appointed time came for these women, He did open their wombs and rewarded them for their painful wait. He rewarded them with special children, who were not simply ordinary children. Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was ninety years old, giving us all hope that it is never too late for God to save us from our misery in any situation. Rachel gave birth to Joseph, who was sent ahead of time to Egypt so that the covenant of God could be preserved during the time of famine. Hannah gave birth to Samuel who served as the prophet who anointed the Kings of Israel.

Has God put you on a wait? He has a special blessing for you to compensate your waiting time! Just as how these women could not do anything to change their situation on their own, I mean, simply nothing, we might also be in situations where we can do nothing about them. There is nothing we can do except wait upon God and look toward His merciful hand. We go through the process of pointed fingers by people too. That is part of the journey. Though it can be daunting, considering that we cannot do anything to change our situation, we endure patiently. Because our God is our vindicator.

God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac who was born when he was a hundred years old. If God had not stopped Abraham who was obedient with no wavering, what would have happened to Abraham for the rest of his life? Pointed fingers.

Merciful Father in heaven spared Isaac, spared Abraham, and took it on Himself when He chose to send His own son, Jesus, instead to be sacrificed on the cross of Calvary.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

Romans 8:32 He(The Father) who did not spare His own Son(Jesus), but delivered Him(Jesus) up for us all, how shall He(Father) not with Him(Jesus) also freely give us all things?

Israelites saw so many mighty miracles from God’s hand. They witnessed the ten plagues that devastated the Egyptians, the tenth plague robbing the firstborn of Egyptians and their animals. Then Israelites saw the Red Sea part and drown the Egyptians who chased them. Israelites were fed by manna from heaven every day without having to labor for it, and so on and so forth.

Even after witnessing God’s faithfulness, they complained to Moses, because they began to crave other food than manna. They started to wail and cry, saying, “If only we had meat to eat!”. They craved the food they ate in Egypt – fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic, etc. They began to despise the manna which rained from heaven.

When Moses heard the cries of the people, he got frustrated and complained to God about having to lead these ungrateful people and asked God to kill him instead. The LORD became exceedingly angry towards the people. He told Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves to prepare for the next day to eat the meat that the LORD would provide. The LORD will now provide meat and they will eat it not just for one or two days, but for one whole month – until they are fed up with the meat. The LORD was angry because they rejected Him and said, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”.

Moses said to the LORD, “I have 600,000 men on foot. How do you say that You will give them meat for one whole month? Will there be enough flocks and herds to slaughter? Will it be enough if we catch all the fish in the sea for their food?”.

The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” Numbers 11:23

Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail from the sea. It scattered over the camps of the Israelites. The land was filled with quail and it was within their reach to catch them. Each of them gathered so many of the quails. They cooked them and while they started to eat, while the meat was still between their teeth, the LORD struck them with a severe plague. There they buried the people who had craved other food.

We see the faithfulness of God and the ungratefulness of people. Often we are just like the Israelites. No matter how many miracles we see God do in our lives, we often doubt His power when we face difficult situations. We often wonder if God can fix that situation. If God could part the Red Sea and make a way if He could feed the Israelites every day for forty years with manna raining from heaven if He could quench their cravings for meat by providing quails for 600000 men for one whole month, is there anything that is impossible for Him? NOTHING. The LORD’s arm is not short. His arm is mighty to do anything that He desires.

Psalm 16:5,6 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.