the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
Let those who are suffering according to God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).
The Talmud (Menachot 29b) preserves a legend about one of the great teachers of Israel, Rabbi Akiva. When Moshe (Moses) heard what a great teacher Rabbi Akiva would be, he asked God why he (Moshe) had been chosen to give the Torah, instead of Rabbi Akiva. God's reply was enigmatic but unequivocal: "Be silent, for such is My decree."
Moshe then asked that he might be permitted to see what reward Rabbi Akiva would receive. With God's permission he was able to see that Rabbi Akiva would be martyred, dying a most painful death. Moshe was shocked. "Lord of the Universe," he protested, "Such a great Torah teacher and such a reward?" "Be silent," God replied, "For such is My decree."
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) put it succinctly, "Don't both bad things and good proceed from the mouth of the Most High? Why should anyone alive complain ...about the punishment for his sins?" (Lamentations 3:38-39)
None of us deserves good from God. If he would pardon the sins of only one person, we would have to say that his grace is infinite. And yet he has provided pardon through the death of his Son to all who believe. God is not confused; he has the very best reasons for what he does and allows to happen. "Are we to receive the good at God's hands but reject the bad?" (Job 2:10)
...acknowledge that God's wisdom and his definition of goodness are far above my own, and I will entrust myself totally into his faithful hands.
RP
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
