This is such a nutty time. I know I could make that statement a 1,000 different ways, and we’ve all heard all of them. The picture I’ve included here is of my children passing the time by seeing who could walk best in my heels. This one in red is my 10 year old son. My daughters are making rose crowns to place on the dogs and I’m trying to balance the seemingly innumerous demands on my time. A co-worker of mine recently made the statement that we were not designed for the kind of responsibility we are now taking on…work, home school teacher, health aid, and counselor. As a parent, not sure if I agree?
Even with all the additional responsibility, the pace of life seems much slower, I get to be (noticed I didn’t say ‘have’ to be) with my family 24/7, and I’m loving it. One of the biggest pay-offs, outside of family time being all the time, is my time with Jesus. I am reading the bible more than I ever have before. I’m praying more and talking with Jesus more, it’s been eye opening.
My spiritual life is filled with questions, not the ‘where are You in the midst of all of this’, but more like how could the Jewish masses wave palms and praise Your coming one day and less than a week later, bay for Your destruction? Why did God allow so much disobedience in the Old Testament go seemingly unpunished? Why do we hold Gideon up as an example to follow, when actually his actions showed a lack of faith?
I’m working my way though the book of Jeremiah right now and finding that the story of God is a story of childhood disobedience. Not unlike my children. We give them boundaries and rules to obey, and they are constantly pushing those boundaries, trying to sneak under them, negotiation new ones, or just blatantly disobeying them…just because they feel like it. Yet, we as parents, each time correct, instruction, and redirect. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 16). Sounds familiar doesn’t it? As parents, this is our job to establish rules and guidelines and then to ‘parent’ our children through them.
In Jeremiah, God sent His word through the prophet to His people, “Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant “which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 11:4) God speaks and always does what He say’s He’ll do. His word is never shaken, broken or brought into question. Our job is to hear and obey.
We are God’s children, created in His image to bring Him glory and to be heirs along with Jesus. He created us. He isn’t trying to torture us, or make our lives hard, or embarrass us in front of our friends or force us to do unthinkable chores (like folding laundry). No He created us to be in relationship with Him. He wants to give us the very best, that means we need to operate within the laws and guidelines He has created. God is practical, He isn’t asking us to do anything unreasonable or harmful. In fact, what He is asking is in complete contrast to the unreasonable, unethical, immoral and self-centered way the world wants us to live…and it looks like fun. The world wants us to think that God’s rules are outrageous and unfair and serve only to make us unhappy, and we buy it hook line and 24K gold sinker.
We stop hearing Him, we stop believing in His promises and we listen to the creation, instead of the creator. Why didn’t God act sooner to punish the unruly and disobedient Jewish people, because they are His unruly and disobedient children. And just like we would never turn our back on our own children, regardless of their disobedience, He will never turn His back on His children. He will let them take their sin to a point, then, using extreme measures to get their attention, He will bring them back to Himself.
For my kids it’s video games or texting their friends or watching movies. For the Jewish nation it was a conquering nation that carried them off into slavery; more extreme circumstances, same principle.
I may get frustrated and occasionally angry at my children’s actions and choices, but like my Father, I will correct, instruct and redirect. I will allow them to experience the consequences of their actions, missing out on free time, extra chores, not passing a class, or not getting virtual time with friends, but I will never leave or forsake them. I am their parent and I love them… to infinity and beyond. When they turn and return, they will find me running to them with open arms.
“That I may establish the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day” (Jeremiah 11:5)
God always keeps His covenants. He has spoken and will do what He says, we need to hear His words and obey them, that it may go well with us.
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Another good word from your heart encouraging and insightful “God always keeps His covenants. He has spoken and will do what He says, we need to hear His words and obey them, that it may go well with us.” Praise the Lord. Thank you for the blessing Betsy.