But, As for Me (and other reflections)
April 08, 2017
"But as for me ..."
It is my response to truth for which I am either culpable or commendable. I am not in charge of anyone else's opinions or choices. I can care, but I cannot control. I can converse, but I cannot coerce. I can seek to convince the mind, but I cannot convict the heart. Neither need I be swayed by the resistance of another. I need not the validation of peers in order to believe that which resonates truth in our hearts. We can relax in this because trust is resting in God and waiting for Him.
" But as for me, I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me."
(Micah 7:7 ESV)
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"Why should the nations say,
'Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.'"
(Psalm 115:2-3 ESV)
The longer we live in and with faith, the less we feel compelled to justify, prove, or vindicate God for being God. We come to rest, not only in God's goodness, but in the unshakable reality of the truth God embodies and exercises. Truth shall been known and shall not be tilted nor shifted by our words or opinions. Sometimes we just need to wait until it is made known and not be rattled by the rantings of nations or pseudo nations.
" O LORD our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Exalt the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy!"
(Psalm 99:8-9 ESV)
God does not let us get by with our sins; He forgives them. That is two different things. Being forgiven is not "getting by" with something. It is a mystery that, for the follower of Jesus, makes sense in the drama and reality of the cross and which always leads to awe and worship.
Even Moses doubted in the midst of the mission.
"But the LORD said to Moses, 'Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.'"
(Exodus 5:22-6:1 ESV)
Even while performing signs and wonders, having seen what he had seen and having experienced what he had experienced, he doubted and questioned God.
But he dealt directly with God about the matter. He did not skirt the issue or complain to others. He took the matter to YHWH Himself and this was also a part of that later reflection that he would speak to God like no other had before, face to face.
When he brought the matter to the Almighty, he was heard and he was answered. Greater glory would come by letting the process play itself out.
"Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, 'O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.'"