The Covid-19 pandemic continues to grow with daily reports of people being sick and dying around us – family, friends, staff’s family. A terrible time. And now the riots. I have never seen such large scale looting and theft in our history. Many people lost their livelihoods, their businesses and their property. A lifetime’s hard work – gone overnight.
It is so easy to judge, so easy to call ‘them’ names. It’s so easy to be totally dismayed by what we see while we blame the unjust labor laws, the government and weak leadership (to only mention a few) as we watch the destruction from the comfort of our warm, comfortable and safe homes.
During the early morning hours I cried out to God – Lord, what is going on?! Isaiah 41:10+13(b)+14 came to mind
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand….For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid….do not fear, for I myself will help you.”
I continued to read in Isaiah 41 and my eyes fell on verses 17+18
“The poor and the needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.”
Isaiah 58 then came to mind where God explains what type of fasting He would like – but we have fasted Lord! (v3) Have you not noticed!?
“Yet, on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers (v3b)…Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke….is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (v7) (There was also a time that I had to readjust my staff’s salaries – when I could least afford it! – and a time I turned my back on my family. And when I repented and restored, God heard my cries.)
If we do all this, (look after my workers and look after my family) then I can grab hold of the promise given in verse 8+9
“Then your light will break forth like dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.”
Come my friend, let’s forget all our excuses and reasoning, and join me in doing what is right – pay our workers more than just a fair wage and make right with our family – so that our light will break through and our healing quickly appear. Then, when we cry out to God, He will answer and say “Here I am”.
Baie dankie Nico wat ‘n bemoedigende woord in die tyd !!!! en om my prioriteite weer in lyn met onse Vader se Woord te kry…….was so maklik om vas te hak by die verwoesting om ons. Baie dankie!
Thank you Nico. So encouraging to know God is the one one we can trust
Thank you Nico. It has been a horrific time…. BUT GOD….He has given peace and protection and I am sure that good will come out of what was meant for evil. We stand firm in our faith and cry out to Him and He will deliver us and provide for us in a mighty way.
Dankie Oom Nico… Waar woorde
Amen Nico!
Amen en Amen!
Dankie Nico vir die woorde van aanmoediging,waardeer dit baie! Vanoggend lees ek ‘n post op Facebook wat sê: “Satan may be winning a bunch of little battles right now, but make no mistake, God wins the war!” Ons trane kan nie Suid-Afrika red nie, maar ons gebede kan verseker! “God will carry you through the strorm” Isaiah 43:2 Bly glo en vertrou! xx
Powerful!!
This is all so true. I also pray from far away
Dankie Nico vir hierdie woorde van bemoediging.
This encouragement meant a lot to me today. My people are living in so much fear. From our safe, comfortable home it is all so unfair. Thank you for sharing this, Nico!
Nico, ek waardeer altyd jou “word of wisdom”. Dankie weereens vir hierdie bemoediging en blessing!
Dankie Pa. Ons uitroep is na die Here
Thank you for your insightful and sensitive reflections. Take care.
Wow A powerful blessing and so encouraging. Thanks Nico.
Share the food with the hungry. We are all guilty Nico. We must repent and let the word cleanse us