When Joni Eareckson Tada and Ken Estes wrote When God Weeps,
they made the controversial statement that it isn’t just that God allows sorrow,
He appoints it.
How I remember talking to our grief-struck daughter, Sally, after her dad’s death.
We were swimming to our neighbor’s raft when Sally flipped on her back, looked up at the rose-colored clouds, and asked the really hard question.
“Mom, I’ve been reading Ann VosKamp’s One Thousand Gifts and she says that even the hard things are planned by God. She quotes Amos, who said, ‘Does disaster come upon a city unless the Lord has done it?’
Did God plan for Dad to die?”
I told her I knew God would bring good out of it, and she said,
“That’s not what i’m asking. Did God plan Dad’s death?”
Though it seems harsh to say, “Yes,” to me, that is the only answer
the truly comforts.
Why?
If I thought my husband died because Satan won,
or because we chose the wrong chemo,
or because God was punishing us and turned His face from us
when we needed Him most,
I would be in despair.
As we will see this, and as illustrated by story after story in Genesis,
God is in control, and indeed, for the believer,
there is always a promise of an ultimate rescue.
This is the confidence I see in our own Mary E who is in a fierce and painful battle with cancer. She has moved us all with her trust. And it is so sweet that she and are own Lizzy have bonded so — communicating daily. God made a way for Mary and Lizzy to visit her face to face recently. What joy! Here they are together — and Mary was able to meet Philip too! Lizzy credits Mary’s model in facing huge medical challenges with strength to her growing confidence that she could handle a child with huge medical challenges.
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? Comments?
Monday: Dismantling The Lies
1. Satan’s lies are always an attempt to cause you to doubt God and back away from Him.
A. Of what was the serpent trying to convince Eve in Genesis 3:1-4? Put it in a “soundbite.”
B. How, according to the “first gospel” did God give Satan only enough rope to hang himself?
(See Genesis 3:15c)
2. How do we know, according to John 19:30 that believers are not being punished for their sin?
3. What do we know according to Psalm 139:16?
God does not punish believers, but He does appoint sorrow: for unbelievers, which is both judgment, but it could also be mercy, for it may bring them to their senses. He appoints sorrow for believers, for many and often mysterious reasons. With Job, it was not for judgment, but for testing, refining, and strengthening the body of believers for ages to come. So often, we simply do not know why, but we trust because God is wise and good.
Tuesday: A Foreshadowing of the Gospel in Noah
Let us consider the gospel foreshadowed in Noah. As with Adam and throughout Genesis, there is a pattern, a pattern that Peter tells us will happen again, so we need to be ready. It is also a “Gospel” pattern of bad news and good news.
4. Read Genesis 4:23-24 and describe how you can see increasing deterioration in humanity through Lamech. Find everything you can.
Derek Kidner makes an interesting note that despite Lamech’s polygamy, the sons of Noah were monogamous.
5. Read Genesis 6:5-8 and describe how you can see the pattern of human sin, judgment, and redemption.
Wednesday: The Kindness and Severity of God
6. Noah is described as one “who walked with God” according to Genesis 6:9.
A. Consider others who are described as having this kind of intimacy with God: Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses… What do you think this means?
B. Why might this be a good description of a true believer?
C. Is this true of you? How or how not?
7. How do you see both judgment and redemption in Genesis 6:17 and 7:1?
8. What did God do in Genesis 7:16? Compare this to Philippians 1:6.
A. Do you see a parallel — if so, what?
B. How does this give you comfort in regard to your salvation?
“And the Lord shut him in.” This expression beautifully shows God’s fatherly touch, at the very brink of judgment. The same care that saw this matter through carries our salvation to its conclusion.
Derek Kidner
Thursday: A Foreshadowing of Christ in Noah
9. According to Hebrews 11:6, how did one man rescue his family? Do you see a parallel with Christ?
10. How has Christ’s death given you confidence and hope in your darkest hours?
Once, at a Moody Bible Institute Conference, I was speaking on The God of All Comfort. I closed with a prayer for the women to trust His heart when they didn’t understand what He was doing. I always remember Babbie Mason coming up quickly and singing this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWk8DRwDYDc
Friday: The Promise of the Rainbow and The Warning of The Judgment to Come
Whenever I see a rainbow, as I did this morning and snapped this picture, I think of what Charles Spurgeon said about the rainbow. In the Hebrew, the word is actually bow, like a bow and arrow. And Spurgeon said that the reason we as believers have no fear of judgment is because the bow is pointed up, the arrow will pierce God’s heart.
When Noah and his family came out of the ark, they also brought sin with them. But one day, indeed, “as in the days of Noah” Jesus warned, a final judgment will come to wipe out all sin forever.
11. How does Jesus describe this in Matthew 24:36-44?
Saturday:
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
149 comments
8. According to Hebrews 11:6, how did one man rescue his family? Do you see a parallel with Christ?
I believe the verse is Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.” Noah feared God, and when he was warned of what was coming, he believed it and took it seriously, and did what God commanded him to do. He built the ark that would carry them safely on the flooded earth. A parallel with Jesus….is it that Jesus is our “ark” who will carry us safely when the flood of judgment comes?
10. How has Christ’s death given you confidence and hope in your darkest hours?
I guess I haven’t thought of it this way before….I turn to Him in my dark times because I know He is my only hope, but I haven’t thought about his death giving me confidence and hope. Tim Keller said in a sermon that Jesus went under the waves so that we would never have to. Reasons for confidence and hope because of His death….He understands any and all of my pain, trials, and suffering because He suffered, too….He proved that death doesn’t have the final say because He was raised, and He promises me the same….He doesn’t expect me to go through anything that He didn’t “taste” first.
11. How does Jesus describe this in Matthew 24:36-44?
Jesus tells us that no one knows when “that day” is coming, not even Himself. He says that just as in the days of Noah, people will just be living life – eating, drinking, getting married, working, and suddenly, it will happen. The people in Noah’s day know nothing until they were swept away.
Here’s a thought/question, as I’ve never read it in this way before. Jesus just said that “the flood came and took them away” – those people were taken away to judgment and they died. Then, He says “that is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the fields; one will be taken and the other left.” I’ve always been taught that being ‘taken’ means being ‘raptured’….yet if this is true then the first statement (Noah’s day) and the second (what is to come) don’t match. In Noah’s day, being taken away was not a good thing. Am I off base to wonder if the one in the field who is taken away is taken away to judgment as in that’s not a good thing?
Susan, I “get” your insight about the Matthew 24 passage when you say,
“Two men will be in the fields; one will be taken and the other left.” I’ve always been taught that being ‘taken’ means being ‘raptured’….yet if this is true then the first statement (Noah’s day) and the second (what is to come) don’t match. In Noah’s day, being taken away was not a good thing.”
You might be right. If we understand the analogy with Noah’s day, then being taken away might mean the “flood” of judgment. Interesting. A new way to look at this passage of Scripture.
12. What is your take-away and why?
I’m glad that I dug back into our study this week and that we all pondered and wondered and questioned together. There are women here who have and who are going through deep suffering and I appreciate that this is a safe place where we can get it all out on the table. Laura asked hard, blunt questions, Chris shared from her own personal experience how she just can’t reduce God to the “smallness” of being One who just comes in after the mess happens, Mary inspires us all with her unswerving trust through cancer, Rebecca is comforted by Him in the midst of parenting children with autism/Asperger’s, and Dee also knows of suffering and loss. I love how Lizzy was given courage to adopt Philip, who has a life-long medical condition requiring blood transfusions because of Mary. And there are a lot more examples represented here, but the encouraging thing is that we’re all still here! We help each other not to quit. This week has reminded me to trust in His character and believe that He is good and suffering is never meant to inflict punitive punishment upon me. Oh but there are times when I’ve accused Him of that – how that must hurt His heart.
Susan, I feel so much the same way as you do. ” We help each other not to quit.” With my busy schedule, I feel discouraged when I can’t comment here but you all keep me encouraged to come back and do what I can.
Susan–I always love your thoughts, and just this one nugget of truth from you reminded me of hope this morning–so good: “trust in His character and believe that He is good and suffering is never meant to inflict punitive punishment upon me.”
9. According to Hebrews 11:6, how did one man rescue his family? Do you see a parallel with Christ?
These are the verses that describe how the believers “…by faith….” did something that God asked them to do without being able to actually see or understand why they were doing it; by faith, Noah built the ark. I do see a parallel in some ways. They believe, they act, they are blessed, and then saved.
10. How has Christ’s death given you confidence and hope in your darkest hours?
I’m not sure I am actively remembering Christ’s death each time I am in a dark place. I should be, but needless to say I am mostly focused on myself. Lord, I am sorry for that 😔. If I “…Turn my eye upon Jesus…” maybe I would be comforted. The verses in Hebrews comfort me this morning though, remembering how each person, by faith, believed, acted, and was blessed. It gives me hope that if I do the right thing in my darkness, I too will be rewarded by being blessed.
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
My answer to Question 8 is what stood out to me. In the midst of my depravity, God sent His Son to take on my punishment. I am safe in Jesus’ love.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8. What did God do in Genesis 7:16? Compare this to Philippians 1:6.
A. Do you see a parallel — if so, what?
According to Genesis, God shut the door to the ark. Noah and His family were kept safe from judgment during his days.
According to Philippians, what Jesus has started in me through my salvation He is working out while I am still here on earth no matter what suffering He appoints and will be finished when He comes again. I am “shut” in in the safety of His promises and His finished work on the cross. The ark of God represents our safe place from judgment. Jesus invites us to come in.
B. How does this give you comfort in regard to your salvation?
No one can pluck me out of the safety of my salvation in Christ. Once saved, always saved. Thank you, Lord!
Bing–this is beautiful: ” I am “shut” in in the safety of His promises and His finished work on the cross. “
I’ve missed you all this week. I was in Baltimore last sat thro Mon for my son’s promotion in the Coastguard. Also got to see my youngest son in DC 🙂 When I feel out of control & unable to fix family dynamics, ( & seeing my own faults & weaknesses),I have been comforted by reminding my soul that “He who began a good work in you will complete it”. I love the thought that “God shut the door” & Noah was protected & sealed. Thank You Lord for bringing us safely into Jesus , the Door, into Your family forever. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. I always feel some fear & sadness for my husband & kids, & just long for them to be in that ark before the door is shut. As the song said, “when you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart”.
Loved the pic of Mary with Lizzy & Phillip! What an incredible blessing 🙂
I love you ladies and this harbor for our souls. Thanks for letting me pop in from time to time. I think I mentioned that I had been to a Redemption Group last week. I told ‘my story’ and came home feeling a bit heartsore. The topic this week was timely.
A friend sent me a link to this blog, it was written by the leader of the group I was in.
https://redemptiongroups.com/2017/10/03/trajectory-tragedy-las-vegas
I am struggling with how hard it is for me to speak of our tragedy, trying to reconcile that pain with how much it encourages others to hear of it. It makes me so grateful to you Dee, sharing your deepest, most personal, pain with others comes at a cost. I keep hoping to find it something that I can do more readily.
My husband and I have signed up for a Nancie Guthrie retreat weekend next March for people who’ve lost a child. I often feel impatient with my progress or lack thereof. I have been advised to be kind to myself 🙂
Chris, hugs to you in this hard week. It is so brave of you to share your sad story of losing a child to senseless violence. Your story does indeed touch many lives and is so timely in this heartbreaking news of Las Vegas. I am glad you feel you have a safe place with us. The Nancy Guthrie retreat weekend sounds helpful. Do be gentle with yourself. Hugs!
Love and hugs Chris (( ))
11. How does Jesus describe this in Matthew 24:36-44?
Basically we should all be ready at any hour for The Father to come for us; no matter what we are doing, He will come. Be alert!
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
The thing that keeps coming to me this week is how we all go through hard times and we really are held by God through it. What is actually in our hearts? God knows. With everything my family has endured the past few months, we really have been blessed. He makes beauty from ashes. I am hopeful that I see this with my daughter one day.
I am going to start praying that God will allow your hope to become a reality Laura. My goodness, this week’s study was so good, with so many rich, deep and powerful posts.
Thanks for prayers Wendy😉
I love showing my students that the rainbow is half a bow, pointed at the heart of heaven itself, because the next time He judges us, it won’t be a flood that destroys all life, but His very son. I also love pointing out that just as the only life that did not perish in the flood was on the Ark, the only life that will not perish in the coming judgement of the world will need to be found IN Christ. I had not put together that Jesus is the door with God closing the door. Can’t wait to point that out on Monday. I have John 14:6 painted on the wall of my classroom.