Last year proved to be one of the worst years of my life for a number of reasons. It started with the betrayal and loss of close friends. Then I faced a career setback. Each of these contributed to new health concerns. As the holidays approached, I began reflecting on the year and I began thanking you God, as I remembered a few sacred truths.
It was then I remembered a series of blogs I wrote over a decade ago about God’s ways. Originally, I discussed the ways God talks to His people. God is always talking, even when we don’t want to hear or understand, I get it.
Over the years I’ve realized that not only does God communicate with His people in different ways, He uses them differently as He gifts them; specifically, in contrast to the ways of this world. This is a particular theme throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. The Jewish people use the term, “Way of Yahweh.”
The phrase is first used in the book of Genesis as God talks to Abraham about keeping the ways of God and not this world as God tested him (Genesis 19:18.) God’s command of not living like the rest of the world continues throughout the Old Testament as He saved His people and separates them from the world, He is a waymaker! God’s ways aren’t like the ways of man; even Christians don’t always understand God’s way—because we are flawed humans.
The Jewish people understood God’s ways are not like the world’s ways because God is with us; however they repeatedly failed to obey them. Eventually, God spoke through the great prophets and called them wayward sheep (Isaiah 53:6) and adulterous people (Ezekiel 16:32, Jeremiah 2:25.) And this is the lesson for us today, it is not enough to know that God’s ways are different than that of this corrupt world; we must understand God’s ways are better for us and walk in them. God’s ways aren’t like the ways of man, even Christians don’t always understand God’s way. Because we are flawed humans.
This supernatural teaching of God’s way continues into the New Testament when John the Baptist arrives preparing the way of the Lord (Matthew 3:1-3.) Again, John urges God’s people to change and turn from the ways of this world. Then when Jesus established His earthly ministry, He proclaims Himself as the Way (John 14:6.)
Next, Jesus says it is necessary for His followers to deny themselves daily (Matthew 16:24-26); because we cannot live God’s way and our way, which only gives us the glory. The apostles keep grinding this discipline of following God’s way and not holding on to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:11.) We must say goodbye to our ways also (Prov. 3:5-9.) There is a clear line between God’s ways and the ways of the world and ours in the Bible.
In hindsight, I’ve heard all of the different descriptions for the Bible, ranging from God’s playbook to a love letter to God’s people. However you choose to look at it, its purpose is the same, God is communicating His ways, will, and love for those who accept His ways.
For the church, it is one of the primary ways we learn, encourage, and find correction; each of which is different from the world’s version of them. Communication is essential to survival. We see this in nature when animals warn others of danger.
However, this is why sheep need shepherds, they cannot protect themselves and often pursue whatever their flesh craves, a hungry or thirsty sheep will follow a butcher straight to the slaughtering block.
So will a believer who doesn’t heed the warnings within God’s Word. The original audience for the Bible was common rural people; they would immediately understand its analogy of God’s people to sheep.
The Bible wasn’t written for or to a select group of trained persons, as the great reformers of the church Luther and Calvin stressed the emphasis on the priesthood of the believer. Today scribes, Sadducees, and religious people aren’t needed to “interpret” Scripture, the people who do often bend it to their own liking; it is not to just have headknowledge or go on a powertrip. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Word in the flesh (John 1:14.) There is no Bible without Jesus, and without Him, we cannot know the way of Yahweh!
3 Comments
I love how the Bible is alive. It spoke to our forefathers and continues to speak to us today. Thanks for the message of encouragement.
I enjoyed reading your post. So true that people the Bible to get to know the God of the Bible.
Certainly, His ways are not our ways.
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