Ex 5; Lk 8; Job 22; 1Co 9
Exo 5:22 — Exo 5:23
Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you ever send me? From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!”
vs
James 1:2-4 (NASB)2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Job 21:8 — Job 21:15
Their children are firmly established
in their presence,
their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe and without fear;
and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
Their bulls breed without fail;
their cows calve and do not miscarry.
They allow their children to run like a flock;
their little ones dance about.
They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp,
and make merry to the sound of the flute.
They live out their years in prosperity
and go down to the grave in peace.
So they say to God, ʻTurn away from us!
We do not want to know your ways.
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain
if we were to pray to him?ʼ
It all sounds so good - it is what we long for and it is only in the last verses that we see that this is actually the description of and conclusion of the wicked... Life is good, what do we gain by submitting to the Lord?
Luke 7:9
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!”
Why would anyone take offense?
Luk 7:22 — Luk 7:23
So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
They were baptized and repented because they saw their need...
Luk 7:29 — Luk 7:30
(Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged Godʼs justice, because they had been baptized with Johnʼs baptism. However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected Godʼs purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
Luk 8:7 — Luk 8:8
Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it. But other seed fell on good soil and grew, and it produced a hundred times as much grain.” As he said this, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”
Luke 8:18
So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
Luke 8:25
Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”
Luke 8:37
Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left.
Note: Again there is great fear at God's activity, but there is a different reaction. Some people want nothing to do with God's presence. Mark 5:16 hints that economic reasons motivated their request.
Luk 8:45 — Luk 8:46
Then Jesus asked, “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.”
This flies in the face of most evangelism training - what is the reward? To preach the gospel! If you do it out of obligation you lose...
1Co 9:17 — 1Co 9:18
For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.
1Co 9:26 — 1Co 9:27
So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.
