God Wants What is Best for Us

 Psalm 142            Numbers 28-30                 Mark 5

Today’s song reminds us that when we are obedient to the call to reflect our creator, God whose prefect reflection is Jesus, many enemies will surround us, and we must continue to trust God. It is okay to pore ourselves out before God with our insecurities and fears. Especially when we feel that there is no one that cares about us anymore.

It is then that God becomes our refuge, the one we can hide in. Even though the powers around us are too strong for us to deal with alone God will surround us and deal with us as we deserve.

As God continues to lay out the offerings that are to become a part of the ritual life of Israel, I can’t help but think how God gave the people a way to remember and relate to Him. Offerings to God are never because God needs them but that in the act of giving, we receive a blessing. Each of the offerings comes with a reason for that person to think about their relationship with God and where it could be better or where there is great reason to celebrate.

Chapter 30 is one of those chapters that most would rather we didn’t look at since it talks about the importance of making vows and keeping them. It is also about being responsible for the actions for those we are to care for. In the end it is about being a person whose word is worth believing. In the sermon on the mount Jesus says, “Let your yes be yes and you no be no.” The choice to make a vow is always a free choice and so is keeping it.

Mark 5 is three stories of those that have sought healing and found none. One is suffering so deeply that no one can contain him, another is the helpless daughter of a man of faith, and the other one that found herself rejected and an outcast with no other help. In the end each of them receives healing, are told to go give glory to God and go away proclaiming they have been healed by Jesus. Notice that two come and are willing to submit, kneeling before him, that he would meet their need. One believes so strongly but fears the crowd so much she wants to sneak up and just touch his garment. Each has to do something that humbles them but, in the end, they have what they sought and great reason to rejoice.

Today we are reminded that God wants what is best for us. It really is that simple. We are the ones that want to decide what is best for us, get in trouble, and then want to hide from the sin that got us there. It I when we come to Jesus with the reality of our situation and submit to his will we are blessed.