Words from a Branch

              All throughout the Bible we find stories of faithful people in difficult situations, waiting for God to do what He had promised to do. Noah building the ark, and preaching repentance awaiting the first rain; and then again waiting for the waters of the flood to pass. Abraham waiting for Isaac as he wanders as a stranger in a strange land. Joseph laboring in captivity, and then in prison; and Israel would wait till Joseph’s name was forgotten to leave that land. Moses too waited for many years before the time came for the exodus, and then he led God’s people for decades in the wilderness facing hardships and trials. Moses would not enter the land of Promise, but even the land the people had troubles for generations. David waited on the run, and through civil war for God to grant him the throne. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel endured much and did not live to see the exiles return. When the prophets fell silent hund...

  Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 NASV             Confronted with a man born blind the disciples jump to exactly the sort of conclusion we might, that a bad result came out of a bad action. Sin directly leads to blindness. This a human logic, this is karma; and it is hopeless. Indeed, it is hopeless, and must remain hopeless until God enters the equation setting fire to logic to empower it to good. Now we must understand that our Lord’s reply is logical, it makes just as much sense as what the disciples have concluded; but no, it must make more sense if we believe the words of Proverbs 1:7.             Whether you will concede the rationality or not, the redemption cannot be denied. Before the one born blind was dammed to remain blind, and more to remain in ...