Daily Scripture Threshing for Monday, August 10, 2020
Today’s Text: Isaiah 45:6-13
Key Verses: Isaiah 45:9 (KJV) — “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”
Today the 10th of August is a very special day in my family. Exactly 35 years ago, by God’s unquestionable secret, my father-in-law, a reportedly godly man, who I am not privileged to meet was harvested from the face of earth. Therefore, as I join Ododoeye, my 3 children, and entire Okunoye’s family in solemn remembrance of Deacon Samuel Alabi Okunoye, the Lord pointed my attention to this mostly misinterpreted text of the Bible — and I hereby dedicate today’s devotional thoughts to his glorious memory. We don’t always or mostly understand why God in his sovereignty and divine economy allows what goes on in the world, but since we cannot contend with Him, we must remain content with His will.
Whereas the sequence and syntax of this text may not be apparent at first due to certain alterations along the process of textual preservation; however through a sensitive, informed and deliberate study, the Holy Spirit helps us to recapture the original and true spirit of the message. As if we are looking at our family album, we see, in this text, how we are like Israel in many ways. We murmur against God and question Him concerning His plans like Israel criticized God pertaining to His choice and designation of Cyrus. We always do this during unclear moments: when we don’t understand what He is doing and why; when there’s a loss, or an unexpected change and the clouds of pain hide God’s invisible hands behind the complexities of our situations. By this text, we are never called to understand God’s will; no, but we are called to undertake His word. We are duty bound to accept His counsel, walk in His ways and trust Him regardless.
Secret things belong to God, and it is not ours to strive on why He chose Jacob and not Esau; or why He loved one and hated the other. It’s non of our business why He chose the ruddy David and rejected the handsome Eliab. This was the spirit by which the prophetic messanger reprimanded the people of Israel for striving with their maker. Hence, the proverbial let the potsherd strive with potsherds speaks to us that we can only contend with ourselves — dust with dust and clay with clay, but never with our Porter and Maker. Are you in submission to the Lord, or are you striving with Him? Can you ever resist His will no matter how hard you try? If no, then why bring upon yourself the burden, guilty and folly of criticising the Almighty. As believers, we have been graced enough to ask whatever we desire in prayer; but according to His will. If what we ask is for our good and is in keeping with His counsel, we have it, otherwise, He withholds it. The same word of God which is our guiding staff is sometimes laid upon us as our reproving rod. But whatever it is, rod or staff, His favor or frowns, they altogether comfort us. Whenever it seems to us that the Lord hides His face, we can always wipe our tears and see that His thoughts for us are not evil but good.
Quote for the Day: "We are never called to understand God’s will; no, but we are called to undertake His word.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, Your word says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Help me, in response to your word, to always thank You for knowing and doing what is best for me. I, pray in Jesus name. Amen.
With all my love and prayer,
Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD
The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),
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