Tag: Faithful

When God Orders the Steps – Daniel

~ Sowmya Gali

Daniel 12: 13

“But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Daniel was a young man when he was taken as a captive to Babylon during the first siege of King Nebuchadnezzar. We do not know the specifics of Daniel’s background. Which family he belonged to? Which tribe of Israel? We can only speculate that he may have come from a decent family with some education. King Nebuchadnezzar appoints Ashpenaz, his chief official to identify some young men from the captives of Judah, who belonged to the royal family or nobles, wise, endowed with intelligence and knowledge, good-looking and had the discernment, to serve in his court. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were among the young men who fit the requirements. They honored God by living honorably. They were to be trained for three years in all kinds of royal duties, after which, they will enter the king’s personal service.

Daniel served faithfully in Babylon under four kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. During the years in exile, God blessed Daniel and his friends, who entered into king’s personal service. Daniel was elevated to high position in the kingdom that even when Darius and Cyrus conquered Babylon, he was still a sought-after man. Each conquering king appointed Daniel to some high position where the kings sought Daniel’s advice. God protected him and placed him in high honor under four kings and three empires. King Darius was especially fond of Daniel and treated him like a friend.

Despite all the achievements that Daniel gained, his heart ached for Jerusalem and the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. God, in His divine providence, revealed to Daniel that He will restore Israel, the remnant will return to Judah, and rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. However, Daniel will not have the privilege to return to Jerusalem and will not see the temple and the city being rebuilt. Daniel fasted, confessed on behalf of the nation and prayed that the nation of Israel would be restored. However, Gabriel came to him and explained the decree of God. Until seventy weeks would pass, there will be no restoration. Daniel calculated and understood the time until the restoration of Israel. God, in His grace, also revealed the ultimate judgment to Daniel that would come upon the world. The visions he sees not only pertain to the near future of his time but also the distant future.

In all this, Daniel understood the magnanimity of a Sovereign God. He understood the times he was living in and came to terms with the judgment that was imposed on them. Daniel, who had such a noble desire not for himself, but for his nation, was not permitted to return to Jerusalem. Despite his high and influential position under three empires, he never used his influence to return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding. He did not take matters into his own hands but allowed God to carry out His will for His nation. Daniel recognized that a Sovereign God is righteous in all His ways. When God’s will takes precedence, life or death doesn’t matter. The cares of this world don’t matter. For the future that awaits God’s saints is much more appealing than the temporal happiness that the world offers.

Dear Saints, how many times do we get frustrated and anxious about a noble cause? How many of us are fasting, praying and waiting on God for His answer, His will to be revealed to us? Are our needs taking precedence over kingdom needs when we pray? Daniel, in the days of evil, oppression and uncertainty, he chose to stand on the side of God. He did not succumb to the pressures of the culture. His faith was in a God who was righteous and faithful in all His promises. Despite our dire circumstances, are we willing to trust in a righteous God and wait on His promises to be fulfilled or are we taking matters into our own hands and trying to help God in achieving what we want? In the process, are we surrendering to an Almighty, All-knowing God who knows our every step? If we only trust in Him, He will lead us on the path that He ordered for us.

Psalm 37: 23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

Psalm 37: 3-7

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commityour way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

When God Orders The Steps – Joseph

~ Sowmya Gali

Genesis 50: 24-25

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised an oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.”

The story of Joseph is filled with dreams, interpretation of dreams, tragedy, heartbreak, separation, reunion and much more. Joseph suffered betrayal at the hands of his own brothers who hated him. He suffered injustice at the hands of his Egyptian master Potiphar who imprisoned him wrongfully. He waited patiently to be redeemed of his circumstances. God duly rewarded him of his perseverance by elevating him to the second highest and powerful position in all of Egypt.

In all his trials, he never once questioned God. Instead, he witnessed the hand of God working in his life. No wonder he was able to declare confidently to his brothers that what they meant for evil, God turned it for their good. Joseph came to a realization that no matter where he was and in what circumstance he found himself in, God’s hand was with him, protecting him, granting him favor and guiding him. Joseph could have been bitter and vengeful towards his brothers. Instead, he chose to forgive and help them in time of their need. Furthermore, he helped them to see God’s hand of provision in all their situations. He helped them to see how God ordered steps in his life to provide a way to survive the famine.

The Bible doesn’t record if Jacob ever told his children about the promise that God gave to Abraham. Jacob was not too eager to go to Egypt even though he heard the news of Joseph being alive. Upon God’s command and assurance that one day they will return to the land of Canaan, Jacob traveled to Egypt. Jacob never sees the land of his fathers again. Only his body returns to the land of Canaan to be buried in their familial tomb. Joseph too never returns to the promised land. Only his bones will be carried by the Israelites 400 years later.

Joseph, whose life took so many turns, not of his own volition, understood that God was in control of his situation. His reliance upon God, his fear and love of God are noteworthy. He knew that God would not abandon him. He may have felt lonely several times but he continued to believe in God. He may not have built altars to God like his fathers but in his own quiet time, he must’ve sought God’s presence. As God was building him up for the role he had to fulfill, Joseph grew in confidence that His God will not abandon him. When he became the prime minister of all the land of Egypt, he realized that God had a purpose for his life: to preserve a remnant of people for God.

In all this, Joseph’s desire to return to the land of his fathers was never fulfilled. He had all authority to return to Canaan but understood that was not Lord’s will. He knew that and came to terms with that. His only request he makes of his brothers is that one day, when God will take them back to Canaan, they should carry the bones of Joseph to be buried there. His brothers promised to do that.

Dear Saint, we go through life not understanding why we are going through certain trials when it is not of our own making. We don’t see the light at the end of the dark tunnels. We wonder if we will ever find respite from our trying situations which keep mounting. Every turn brings a new challenge, a new mountain to climb, a new obstacle to overcome. Take heart, beloved! Despite your circumstances, know that God is walking with you in all your trials. He is paving the way through the challenges, through the mountains, and through the obstacles to reveal the beauty, the blessing and the prosperity that awaits us. We may not see what we have been expecting to see but something more beautiful that only God could have forged it.

Psalm 112: 5-9

It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgement. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.