Dr H Reflections

Be careful what you ask for ∙∙

Be careful what you ask for ∙∙

So he gave them what they asked for, but sent leanness into their soul. – Psalms 106:15

Psalms 78:23-25

23 But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven.

24 He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven.

25 They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold.

It seems that no matter how much we have, it is never enough. We might think this results from the overabundance of “things” in the highly materialistic, productive 20th and 21st centuries. However, “wanting more” seems to be part of our human DNA.

Beginning in the Garden of Eden, an impeccable, pollution-free, idyllic, temperature-controlled, perfectly designed environment, the cornucopia of things provided by the Father was just not enough. Even though every need was satisfied, Adam and Eve still wanted more. The adversary recognized this vulnerability and devised a cunning temptation that led to their downfall. They succumbed.

Indeed, it is understandable that some may believe the temptation and the tempter were overwhelming, making resistance impossible. But that is not the case. Regardless of how strong the temptation may be, there is always another way. The onus is on each of us to seek that way out, muster the strength to resist, and ultimately break free from its grasp.

1 Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

What other layered, unseen risks are at stake in giving into temptation? Foremost among them was jeopardizing one’s relationship with the Father, the living God.

Regrettably, when we disregard the consequences, we often trade something precious for instant or short-term pleasure or gratification.

Psalms 78 recounts the story of the children of Israel’s lack of gratitude and discontentment with the miraculous provision of the Father. With limited food and water and such vast numbers of people, the children of Israel faced extreme scarcity in the wilderness. In a remarkable and supernatural act, the Father made accessible a miraculous provision: manna from heaven. This organic health food was sent directly from the Father’s hand to sustain them.

Psalms 78:23-25

23 He commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven.

24 He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven.

25 They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold.

What could possibly be wrong with manna? In a word, it’s sameness. It was predictable and boring! Manna, manna, manna, day after day manna! Roasted manna, boiled manna, sunbaked manna, fried manna, barbecued manna, no matter what you do with it, it’s always just manna.

Numbers 11:18 Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!

This one sentence overflows with layered ingratitude, defiance, and rebellion. They remembered and longed for the “good old days.” The “good old days???” Did they forget that they had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years? They craved and lusted after what they did not have. They were impatient and unwilling to wait for His provision in His time. Were they afraid that the Father would be unable to provide for them? Had they forgotten the magnificent miracles the Father performed on their behalf to free them?

Psalms 78:18-19

18 They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved.

19 They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.”

Take a moment to reflect on this. After all, they had seen and experienced, they now shamelessly provoke the Father, putting Him to a test. The challenge was bold-faced and audacious. Can the Father do what they were asking Him to do? They questioned His abilities and intentions. It was almost as though they were making bets. Can He, or can’t He? Would He, or won’t He?

REFLECT & PRAY

“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough” (Lao Tzu).

Father help me to learn to be content and grateful with what You provide for my needs.

INSIGHT

Their “demand” was granted. They got the short-term gratification they were seeking. They got their wish, but there was collateral damage, grievous unanticipated consequences. With the gift came disaster: a wasting disease in their souls (Numbers 11:18-20).

Psalms 106:15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalms 106:15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. The Hebrew word translated as leanness, plague, wasting, or disease is razon. Razon refers to becoming meager, diminished, atrophied, powerless, etc. While their stomachs may have been full, their spirits were weak and depleted. A lean soul is a spiritual disaster.

Numbers 11:33 While the meat was still between their teeth before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very severe plague.

How do we avoid developing lean souls? How do we grow strong spirits (Luke 1:80)? The battle is in the mind and heart.

1 Corinthians 10:6-11

6 These things happened as a warning to us so that we would not crave evil things as they did,

10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

We need to be able to say, “Enough is enough.” Instead of grumbling about what we do not have, we need to be grateful for what He has provided. Feed on the true Bread from Heaven.

John 6:27-35

27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.”

33 “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

They forgot His works, the undeniable evidence of the Father’s wisdom, power, and goodness. In so doing, they forgot the Father. The Father “makes himself known by his works” (NET).

What have you asked for? Have you received it? Has your soul become lean?

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Futile rage ∙∙

Futile rage ∙∙

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? – Psalms 2:1

Psalms 2:1-6

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and his anointed one.

3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then in anger, he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Rage is a form of violent, uncontrollable anger. It influences our reasoning and judgment. Rage is angry resentment or prejudice against a person or group. Frequently, our rage is unfair and unjustified.

Road rage, however, refers to aggressive and angry behavior displayed while driving. The term was first coined in 1987 in response to a series of shooting on freeways and interstates in Los Angeles.

Rage behaviors on the road encompass a range of offensive actions such as rude gestures, verbal insults, and threats, both physical and through driving maneuvers. These actions are motivated by the driver’s desire to alleviate their frustration, but in the worst cases, road ragers aim to intimidate or cause harm to others. Shockingly, some incidents escalate to the point where a driver leaves their vehicle to assault or even use firearms against another driver.

Alarming statistics reveal that road rage is increasing. More than 1500 such cases are reported each year, resulting in over 12,000 preventable injuries. Perhaps even more concerning is that at least one firearm is involved in over 37% of road rage incidents. During a seven-year study, over 200 murders were attributed to road rage incidents, highlighting the severity of this dangerous behavior on the roads.

Rage is often thoughtless and blind. Sadly, it lurks in the heart of every fallen person. If you search, you will probably discover its silent presence. Tragically, the Father is the object of rage and rebellion.

Who is ultimately in charge of planet Earth and the created universe? Where does the buck stop? The Scriptures unequivocally answer this question. The Father is the architect, the intelligent designer, and the Creator of all. He is sovereign over His creation.

Psalms 2 recounts the senseless rejection of the Father’s rule and authority. His chosen and anointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ, is also targeted. Psalms 2 reveals an astonishing yet consistent pattern found throughout the Scripture. The Father sits serenely and confidently upon His throne. He is composed, ruling with peace and confidence. He is sovereign over all aspects of existence. He has made choices, and His choices stand firm. On the other hand, people tend to be obtuse, stubborn, self-absorbed, willful, rebellious, and defiant.

The opening word of the Psalm sets its tone: “Why.” The psalmist, however, isn’t seeking information or clarification. Why is he asked why? He is expressing a sense of puzzlement and even astonishment. In modern English, we might ask, “How can people be so foolish?” Why do they erupt in tumultuous rage, surrender themselves to senseless anger, and “waste their time with futile plans?”

People deceive themselves into believing they can successfully rebel against the sovereign, omnipotent Lord of lords and King of Kings. They delude themselves, thinking that their futile struggle and defiance have the power to alter somehow or overthrow His absolute authority.

In their folly, they envision themselves as contenders in a battle for supremacy. On one side stand the kings and officials of the earth. Their adversaries are the Father Himself and His Anointed One, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This appears to be an utterly unwinnable contest. It is like a bunch of angry mice screaming and plotting against an alpha male elephant. Yet even this feeble analogy fails to capture the absurd incongruity of the situation.

If we base the outcome solely on numbers, who would be victorious? Throughout history, their combined armies have numbered in the billions. On the other side, there are only two opponents: the Father and the Son. However, it is no contest. The Father is greater than all.

It is worth noting that their entire rebellion is in words only. They only raise their voices against the Father, never their weapons.

The absurdity of it all is reminiscent of a fairy tale, like the one about the big bad Wolf and the three little pigs. Similar to the Wolf, those who are in opposition to the Father are full of hot air. They huff and puff, but absolutely nothing changes. The Father’s plans and choices are set in granite. They stand firm, unwavering, and no created force can alter them.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is almost inconceivable that anyone would be so foolish and imprudent as to wage war against the Father, knowing they cannot possibly win. Nevertheless, against all reason, some still choose to do so.

Father it is so easy to judge and condemn others. I must confess that rage lives within my wicked heart as well. Thank You for forgiving my rebellion. Enable me to understand and forgive others as well.

INSIGHT

Psalms 2:1-3

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

The Hebrew word translated as rage, angry, and in an uproar is ragash. It signifies being in a state of great anger, to behave violently or irrationally. “The verb ragash designates any noisy or riotous assembly that practically seethes in its antagonism” (Leupold). The nations gather in a frenzy of tumultuous anger, and it escalates from there.

They “devise futility” (Leupold). They make plans, they plot, they scheme, they ruminate, and they strategize. The Hebrew word translated as vain is riq. It has the sense of being empty, useless, pointless, or worthless.

The bottom line is that neither rage nor pathetic, pointless scheming can bring about any change.

The French common language version (FRCL) translates the Hebrew as a question and a statement: “The nations are in an uproar – but why? The people plot, but it is useless!” (UBS).

Pause momentarily and visualize the psalmist penning these words and shaking his head in disbelief (Johnston). They cannot possibly win; their cause is absolutely futile, so why try? Rage, murmured shouts, and scheming are rooted in the hearts of every fallen individual. Our hearts, by nature, are naturally bent against the Father, the living God.

How does the Father react to such feeble rebellion and raging anger? He laughs!

Psalm 2:4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

Just imagine in your mind’s eye for a moment, the Father, regally sitting in heaven. He is shaking His head, laughing. I can hear Him saying, “Really! You can’t be serious!” He scoffs at them, ridicules them, and mocks them.

Despite being children of the King, each of us possesses the same fallen nature. We are prone to indulging in self-pity and harboring angry resentment. Yet, the Father is not angry with us, for He understands our frailty, knowing we are mere dust (Psalms 103:13-14). So, how does the Father respond to His children? Perhaps He, too, would ask the question, “Why?” And with some incredulity, He ponders, “How can My children act so foolishly?” He exclaims, “They just don’t get it now, but someday they will.”

In a twinkling of an eye, the Father transitions from astonishment to a deep and sorrowful longing, followed by overflowing forgiveness, all while yearning for our complete restoration.

Why do we become so angry and rage? Why do we waste our time with futile plans?

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Jail time ∙

Jail time ∙

Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” – Acts 5:29

Acts 16:22-32

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.

23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.

24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.

28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

On June 9, 1963, Fannie Lou Hamer and six other black passengers stopped to eat in a diner at a Greyhound bus terminal in Winona, Mississippi. They sat at the “white only” lunch counter. Winona Police Chief Thomas Herrod ordered the group to go to the “colored” side of the depot. They refused and were arrested and jailed. Each of them was severely beaten, but Fannie’s received the worst. Ms. Hamer never recovered fully.

What happened in Hamer’s heart afterward is perhaps even more remarkable. Although the whipping severely damaged her body, her spirit emerged hardened for righteousness.

Hamer spent the night in silence, but a day later, while still in jail, she started to sing. Known for her resonant and inspiring voice, the same mouth that had been screaming in pain just the night before began sounding the strains of freedom.

“Paul and Silas was bound in jail, let my people go.

Had no money for to go their bail, let my people go.

Paul and Silas began to shout, let my people go.

Jail doors open and they walked out, let my people go.”

Doing the right thing often results in harmful downsides. When adverse consequences emerge, we always have a choice: complain and gripe or be grateful and rejoice.

REFLECT & PRAY

Courage and cowardice lurk in each of our hearts. We imagine both fleeing from danger and standing firm.

Father I long to have the courage to stand firm for You. It should not take the risk of a severe beating, jail time, or immolation to force me to decide. Encourage me to stand for You right now and keep right on standing!

INSIGHT

Standing for the Father sharing truth, bringing joy to others, and suffering the consequences is not a matter of conscience or ambivalence. Instead, it is a requirement for all children of the King. The only question is will we follow it?

Imagine the scene in Acts 4 and 5 more and more people accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior. They are drawn by the gospel and the miraculous power wielded by the apostles. The religious leaders are alarmed and confront them.

The apostles were unintimidated and went returned to the streets preaching the Word. The religious authorities are astonished and have them brought before them to threaten them again. The apostles were busted for publicly proclaiming the truth.

“It is a tense moment. They have been duly warned, and now they can be convicted and severely punished. Peter, as always, speaks up for the group. Putting in positive form . . . this bold apostle now declares for all time: We must obey God rather than any human authority!” (Acts 5:29) (Chalmer Ernest Faw).

And so it was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 3:14-29

14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?

15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.

27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

Acts 16:34 And he [the Philippian jailer] brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

The Greek word translated as rejoice is agalliao. Agalliao means to exult, rejoice greatly, or experience ecstatic joy and delight. In the New Testament, it always signifies a deep spiritual joy. “Their hearts were singing” (UBS).

Jude 1:24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault

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I want out ∙

I want out ∙

As for me, I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. – Psalms 55:16

Psalms 55:4-18

4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me.

5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.

6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!

7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

8 How quickly I would escape – far from this wild storm of hatred.

11 Everything is falling apart; threats are rampant in the streets.

12 It is not an enemy who taunts me – I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me – I could have hidden from them.

16 But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.

17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.

18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.

At least 60 percent of adults admit to having at least one unreasonable fear. Secular research is not clear on why these fears manifest. One theory is that humans have a genetic predisposition to fear things. Another theory is that it results from previous traumatic experiences (Psychology Today). Fear is emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune.

Could it be that fear is one of the consequences, collateral damage, from the Fall? When Adam and Eve realized they were naked, they felt shame and were afraid (Genesis 3:7-10).

At times, our world can be a very scary place, causing fears to surface and leading us to be driven by worry, dread, and heartache. This is especially evident when it comes to fearing the future. Fear can be a mix of rational responses based on factual information and irrational reactions stemming from painful past encounters or exaggerated imaginations. Fear can seriously affect our activity or even immobilize us.

But fear reveals more about us than our circumstances. While it is natural to experience anxiety when danger is present or bad things happen, overcoming fear is possible. It all depends upon what we do with it.

In Psalms 55, it appears that David is heading towards what we might refer to today as a nervous breakdown. The uncertainties surrounding him were becoming too much to bear, and he longed for an escape. David wanted to run away. Correct that David wanted to fly away like a dove and escape (Psalms 55:6-8).

David had developed a lifestyle of faith in the face of overwhelming odds. Rather than giving in to fear, David chose to pursue hope and confidence. Rather than running away from his pain, he chose to face it and ran to the Father. David called upon the Father to rescue him in his circumstances, not from the circumstances (Psalms 55:16).

“When the walls close in and the floor gives way, we often wish we could be anywhere but where God has put us. Trusting God, however, means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees” (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

When future-oriented worry and fear bubble up, we can capture and disarm it. Remember, bubbles eventually burst.

Father it is so easy for me to be fearful. So many difficult and dreadful things have happened. They have left me with a hollow ache that often turns to dread and anxiety. But, Dear Father You are my unique and wonderful liberator from fear. Rescue me.

INSIGHT

The Lord Jesus Christ, through His atoning death, resurrection, and present intercession for us at the right hand of God, has broken the power of fear.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Because we are children of the King, members of the Father’s Forever Family, we have a dynamic and remarkable power residing within us to overcome our anxieties.

Fear doesn’t become ingrained in us overnight. Courage and confidence will not happen suddenly, either. Developing the ability to trust the Father with boldness and unwavering confidence, rather than yielding to our natural fears, is a gradual process. Peter shows us the way. It all starts with humility, paving the way for a deeper connection with the Father and transforming how we handle fear.

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, he will lift you up in honor.

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Faith or fear, the choice is ours. The Father promises perfect peace to those who trust in Him.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Psalms 97:11 Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.

Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

The psalmist does not say, “If something ever scares me,” he says, “whenever I am afraid.” Fear is a natural human reaction to danger. The Father does not tell us to ignore our fears but to bring them to Him (Stanley).

“If people are afraid, it is because of something in the past that haunts them, or something in the present that upsets them, or something in the future that they feel threatens them. Or it may be a combination of all three. A believer in Jesus Christ does not have to fear the past, present, or future, for he has experienced the love of God, and this love is being perfected in him day by day” (Wiersbe).

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,

over all victorious in its bright increase:

perfect, yet still flowing fuller every day;

perfect, yet still growing deeper all the way.

Trusting in the Father, hearts are fully blest,

finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

(Frances Ridley Havergal)

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

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Hardened for righteousness ∙

Hardened for righteousness ∙