Daily Bible Reading - December 5, 2017

Today's Reading:

Ephesians 3

Ezekiel 8-9

Isaiah 41

Listen to the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

One of the many things I love about Yahweh is how deeply caring and personal He is with His children. If there is a matter, which concerns you, your loving Heavenly Father is tenderly attentive to that situation and need. Today our reading takes us over some very personal ground for my family. And since I can't read Isaiah 41 without thinking of a miracle story that happened to my father, I thought you might be encouraged by it, as I have been. First, let me point out the special verse in Isaiah 41, which God used to encourage my father:

Isaiah 41:15 "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff."

God gives us special messages through His Word. Reading the Word of Yahweh is like no other Book. The Bible is a Living Book. And Yahweh uses it to give His people special messages, which sometimes have personal application that may not even have been intended in the original writing.

To show how this works, God used Isaiah 41:15 to encourage my father, Lou Davis, when his truck broke down back when I was a teenager. 

Having lived in North Pole, Alaska (which is near Fairbanks on the map), for a time, my parents (and I) were in the process of leaving Alaska and moving back to California. My mother and I had gone on ahead earlier in the week. But my father had a few loose ends of projects to finish off before he could drive the moving truck and follow us down to California.

Mid-week, my father finished up his projects and started his trip down. He was driving a medium-sized, International truck which contained our family furniture and belongings. It was his plan to drive the whole distance to California before Sabbath, which should be easy to accomplish as he'd started his journey on Wednesday. But, then came a wrinkle in the plan. My dad had just reached Prince Rupert, in British Columbia, when the truck’s clutch plate broke. 

My Dad found himself stranded on the side of a hill. But by the mercy of Yahweh, he had broken down near town and was only about two blocks from a truck repair place. My father easily walked the distance and informed the shop manager of his breakdown.

The manager of the repair shop immediately responded by trying to find the needed parts to repair my father's truck. After trying all of his connections, the manager of the repair shop informed my dad that it would be impossible to get the parts quickly. It looked like there was no way for Lou to reach California by that coming Friday, as planned.

Due to the situation at home, my father's presence was urgently needed-on time. Knowing this, my father cried out to God in prayer. During his prayer, he held his well-used Bible in his hands. As he said "Amen" and opened his eyes, God impressed my father to read in Isaiah Chapter 41. No verse was indicated. But my father was certain the Spirit of Yah was leading him to read this particular chapter.

My father read the chapter, trusting Yahweh that there must be something relevant to the situation in Isaiah 41. As he read through the first several verses, he came to verse 15. As his eyes fell upon it, his heart leaped with joy! It was just the assurance he needed to know that the Heavenly Father was going to fix the truck in time. (Parenthetical notes are added in italics to the verse to show the personal meaning God gave to my father):

Isaiah 41:15: 

“Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument (The truck my father was driving was an International. The International company was first developed making harvesting equipment!)

...having teeth (the working parts needed for the clutch assembly):

thou shalt thresh the mountains (remember that he was stuck on the side of a hill), and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff (you'll be flying over those hills very soon! And you'll make it in time).”

Overjoyed, my dad shared the Father’s message with the skeptical auto-repair manager. The manager shook his head and told my dad that in an out-of-the-way town like they were in, it would take several days to get the parts needed - as they would have to be shipped. The man was certain that no one in that small town would have the parts.

My dad smiled and assured the man that, although he didn't know how God was going to accomplish it, somehow God was going to provide the needed parts that very day. He was certain of this because of God's promise in Isaiah. The repair manager again shook his head in amazement at my father's faith. 

Again bowing his head in prayer, my father was impressed to go to the bus depot, which wasn't far across town. The bus depot had International buses. The man there told him where to go and the parts my father needed were found in a place about 20 miles away. The manager of the auto repair shop was able to get the parts and fix the truck that day, just as God had promised. 

Bright and early the next morning, my father was “threshing” the mountains with his fully-functioning truck. And, just as God had promised through a unique and personal application of Isaiah 41:15, he did reach California on time!

What about you? Have you noticed how relevant the Word of God is to you personally? As you've been following this blog and reading through the Bible this year have you experienced times when the Words of Scripture were especially meant for your situation? Yahweh is a relevant, personal God! And I'm so very glad that He is. Be encouraged, as He truly does care for you.