Hope and patience
Day 325, Wednesday, July 2
Isaiah Chapters 32 – 33
“Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied and water will not fail them”
Amid the prophecies of destruction come glimmers of hope.
Those who are righteous will find refuge; their needs will be supplied.
Today’s meditation, though, stands in stark contrast to that hope.
Job, we have been told, is righteous, yet today we read of the loss of his children and his livestock.
The only way I know to reconcile this is to accept that in the fallen state of the world, both the righteous and the unrighteous suffer.
In Matthew 5:45 we read, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
We look forward to a time when the good and bad are separated like the wheat and the weeds and the good will receive only blessings, and the evil will receive their justice.
For the moment, we can only count the many blessings we have among the challenges, and join in praying, “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress.”
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Wednesday meditation
Job 1:13-19
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Prayer focus
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.