It began to dawn on me as I was sitting in class today how I’ve probably butchered the summations of the lessons that Julie Meeks so eloquently brings to us week after week. Therefore, to many folk’s relief, I’ll spare you my full page of notes from today’s message! Though I don’t always understand everything I should, I have learned much by merely listening and taking notes! Sitting in the Genesis class today, and then hearing Bob Gillespie at the 11 o’clock service, I discovered certain parallels. After the brutalities at Virginia Tech this week, I watched and listened to many people questioning God’s presence. Job did the same as he watched his wealth, family, and health annihilated. Events like the one that took place at VT cause even the most devout to question—Where was God that day? Why must the innocent suffer? What did they (or I) do to deserve this? Humans don’t enjoy witnessing pain or suffering. We tend to want answers (like Job did) when bad things happen. God has the confidence in His people that we will continue to be faithful throughout disastrous occasions. God is where He always has been. Bob Gillespie reminded us of a hymn he enjoys when things don’t always go the way we want them to:
“This is my Father’s World-
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.”
Continue to know that the Lord is pure, righteous, and trustful. Carry on living a moral life and repent from sin. God is more interested in our faithfulness than our pleasure. If we can endure, grand things lie ahead!
To be prepared for next week brush up on Deuteronomy!
~Beth
