2023_11_10 Insight Post- Julie Christensen

Although we are reading about the final events in history this week, the end of time isn’t coming to mind. What is coming to mind for me this week is all the contrast. First, let’s think about the opposites, “present, future.” The more we read and study Scripture, the more we learn about what God has done in the past. This will help build our confidence as we trust His capabilities for our future. Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

What about the opposites, “front, back”? When we must navigate something new, God is right in front of us paving the way. Not only is God directing our way forward, but He also protects us from the rear. When Pharoah finally allowed God’s people to leave, God steered them to safety with the large fire ball in the sky and protected their backs from the encroaching army with a large cloud. We have guaranteed protection that the Lord will go before us to point the way and be behind us for protection. Isaiah 52:12 “But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

Many more opposites came to mind while reading this week:

• known, unknown
• servant, king
• reject, accept
• strong, weak
• pleased, opposed
• corrupt, perfect

The last one we’ll look at today is the opposites “marred, beautiful”. Our Savior, our unblemished Lord, our sovereign King has a beautiful place awaiting our arrival for eternity. He has made Heaven so easily attainable for us all. Yet, His journey to the cross was marred. The lies and human injustice He took for our sins marred the beauty of His single act, God’s justice. Many rejected Jesus as God’s son, while many others accepted that fact. As we round out this week’s reading, I’ll be in prayer for us not to allow Satan to mar the beauty of what God has done for us.