God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)
SCRIPTURE: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.” Romans 11:36 (NASB)
Our Creator God has and continues to use all kinds of people to accomplish His purposes throughout the ages. Imagine His use of the raven and then a dove to serve as indicators of the floodwaters’ recession after the global flood—for the sake of His servant Noah and his family—and that of the preserved animals, tool! (Genesis 8:6-12) Only our omniscient Creator would possess the divine forethought to create birds so diverse in purpose that some would be primarily scavengers, (eg. ravens), who would not be as prone to return so timely to the ark, as opposed to the dove, a bird with a far more selective palate. Its return to Noah after its second land-seeking mission informed him of the proximity of a disembarkment spot.
We get an unmistakable picture of our Creator’s exhaustive patience with rebellious folks when we read of His diversified chastisement of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Consider God’s unleashing of swarms of locusts, frogs, and flies against that defiant and arrogant leader. Talk about man’s extremity being God’s OPPORTUNITY! When the backs of His people were against the wall, El Shaddai summoned the animal (and insect) world to press His point against the enemy! In the book of Numbers (22:28), we read that God miraculously empowered a donkey to speak to a man named Balaam because the latter, on a mission to badmouth God’s people, needed his eyes supernaturally opened to see the Angel of the LORD wielding a sword in the middle of the road, poised to slay both that donkey AND Balaam! (Way to look out, smart donkey!)
You’ve undoubtedly read about God’s use of a huge fish to “persuade” Jonah the reluctant prophet-evangelist, who wanted God to ZAP those foolish and cruel Ninevites (Jonah 1:17). And let’s not forget the BEARS of 2 Kings 2:23, 24! God sent out a couple of she-bears to teach forty-two young men to respect Elisha, His hand-picked prophet and successor to Elijah. (They’d been cruelly teasing the prophet, calling him ’baldy,’ as he was en route to Bethel to begin his Lord’s special assignment). I’m glad that our holy and ever-gracious heavenly Father lets us read about, and sometimes SEE, His being El Nekamoth --the God who avenges (Ps. 18:47; Rom. 12:19). What a MIGHTY God we serve!
PRAYER: Dear Abba, help us to recognize afresh that You have indeed made ALL things—including both animals and habitually unrepentant human beings-- to fulfill Your divine purposes. Thank You in Jesus’ name—amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
We get an unmistakable picture of our Creator’s exhaustive patience with rebellious folks when we read of His diversified chastisement of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Consider God’s unleashing of swarms of locusts, frogs, and flies against that defiant and arrogant leader. Talk about man’s extremity being God’s OPPORTUNITY! When the backs of His people were against the wall, El Shaddai summoned the animal (and insect) world to press His point against the enemy! In the book of Numbers (22:28), we read that God miraculously empowered a donkey to speak to a man named Balaam because the latter, on a mission to badmouth God’s people, needed his eyes supernaturally opened to see the Angel of the LORD wielding a sword in the middle of the road, poised to slay both that donkey AND Balaam! (Way to look out, smart donkey!)
You’ve undoubtedly read about God’s use of a huge fish to “persuade” Jonah the reluctant prophet-evangelist, who wanted God to ZAP those foolish and cruel Ninevites (Jonah 1:17). And let’s not forget the BEARS of 2 Kings 2:23, 24! God sent out a couple of she-bears to teach forty-two young men to respect Elisha, His hand-picked prophet and successor to Elijah. (They’d been cruelly teasing the prophet, calling him ’baldy,’ as he was en route to Bethel to begin his Lord’s special assignment). I’m glad that our holy and ever-gracious heavenly Father lets us read about, and sometimes SEE, His being El Nekamoth --the God who avenges (Ps. 18:47; Rom. 12:19). What a MIGHTY God we serve!
PRAYER: Dear Abba, help us to recognize afresh that You have indeed made ALL things—including both animals and habitually unrepentant human beings-- to fulfill Your divine purposes. Thank You in Jesus’ name—amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
February
People Are Laughing Out Loud at My BibleMe, Myself, and I (Depression)I Have to Qualify to Run the RacePreach, Preacher!Does He Know You?LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part II)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part II)PRAISE God for WITNESSES!Sock LintSock LintNO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part I)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part II)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part I)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part II)MORE THAN 'SUPER,’ MORE THAN 'HERO'!HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part I)HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part II)MAKE FEBRUARY THANKSGIVING HISTORY MONTHTAKE HEED HOW YOU WALKTrust and ObeySpiritual ImmaturityMake It PersonalCain was Able and So are YouClimate Change
March
Loving My SpouseStop! In the Name of Love!Ask Not, Have Not!Beneficial GraceThe Incomparable ChristRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IIDETRIMENTAL DELAYSFootprints On the Mountainside Part IFootprints On the Mountainside Part II...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...The Heartbeat of His HeartThe Wayward and The ObedientThe Potter and His Vessels of ClayGod Can Use Anybody!You’re Canceled!Today’s Assignment!There You Go, Again!I Messed Up!The Worker and The Work!Repent and Obey!God Can Reach Anybody, But Will You?Wonder Working PowerThere is Work for You to Do!Yes, God Does Reveal Himself to Us!Now Hear ThisImperfect, But Usable!Preach the WordGod Can Save AnybodyThe Hard WordThe Message of Salvation from God
3 Comments
Amen my sister! I've learned a lot about the animals God used from this devotional! Thank you!
Amen, won't God use His creation to chasten His creation!
Amen. What a MIGHTY God we serve.