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Tag: Peace be still

Nahum 1:4 – On dry ground amidst walls of water

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On July 23, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The first part of Nahum 1:4 reads “He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers.”

During the time of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the people of God found themselves caught in between a pursuing army of the Egyptians and the Red sea, which at that time would have seemed like a watery grave. The people started to murmur against God’s, servant, Moses, who was leading the Israelites out of the land of physical bondage (Egypt) to the land God had promised them, and in that manner, provoked God (Psalm 106:7). Moses assured the people that God’s would show forth his salvation and that they had nothing to fear about (Exodus 14:13). All that the people needed to do was to stand still (Psalm 46:10) and they would no longer have to face their enemies anymore after God saves them (Exodus 14:13). God told Moses to lift his his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea, and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:16). True to his word of deliverance, God saved the people for his name’s sake and so that his mighty power is known and rebuked the Read sea and it dried up, so that he could led the people of God through the depths (Psalm 106:8-9). At the blast of the breath of his nostrils, the channels (bed) of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke of the Lord (Psalm 18:15). God split the Red sea and made it dry and when the enemy army pursued the people of God, God turned back the waters on them so that the enemies of his people would drown and be no more (as per he promised). The people that saw the great work which the Lord did (upon their enemies – the Egyptians) and feared the Lord and believed the Lord (Exodus 14:31).

In another instance, as the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the Lord dipped in the water of the Jordan river, the water which overflows all the banks of the river parted and the priests stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). This was to show that the living God was among the people of God (Joshua 3:10) and that he does wonders (Joshua 3:5). Once again, the Bible records that the Jordan river parted when God’s servants Elijah and Elisha had to cross over. Elijah smote the waters of the river with his mantle and the river parted and they crossed over on dry ground. Now after Elijah was taken up, in a whirlwind into heaven, in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire, Elisha returns to the Jordan bank, and questioned, “Where is the God of Elijah?” and smote the Jordan river with the mantle of Elijah that had fallen when he was taken up. Elisha smote the river with the mantle just as Elijah had done and the river parted and allowed Elisha to cross over (2 Kings 2).

Points to ponder:
God is indeed a Wonder working Great God (Psalm 86:10). His name is Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6) and he is full of wonders. He can make his people walk through dry ground amidst walls of water. He asks “Is my had shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? and asserts “behold, at my rebuke, the sea dries up and the rivers become a wilderness (Isaiah 50:2). When we are faced with tough situations and when things seems like there is no way to go through the seas of troubles we face, we can rely on a God who divided water from water, who can separate the issues that trouble us and make us pass through on a dry and solid foundation. He is a God who rebukes our troubles away for his name’s sake so that people would known his mighty power and believe in him. Do you believe in this wonder working mighty God? His name is Jesus Christ and when he rebuked the storm on the seas, peace set in and prevailed. No matter what your troubles and burdens are, believe in Jesus, who is the Salvation of the Lord, and cast your cares on him and the peace that passeth all understanding shall fill your heart and you shall walk on dry ground amidst the walls of your troubles.

Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

Exodus 14:13,21-22,29-31 (KJV)
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
…
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
…
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. 

Joshua 3:15-17 (KJV)
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

2 Kings 2:8, 13-14
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
…
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Nahum 1:3 – In the whirlwind and in the storm

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On July 19, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The mid part of Nahum 1:3 reads “the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm.”

The direct reference to whirlwind here is to the Babylonian army that will come as a whirlwind (Habakkuk 3:14) and as a storm  and carry the Assyrians captive as chaff (Job 21:18). The Assyrians were cruel and afflicting the people of God (Judah), but the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm suggests that it will be God who is in control of the Babylonian army to destroy the Assyrian kingdom completely. Whirlwinds and storms are natural phenomena that cause destruction (Proverbs 1:27) and as the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation (Proverbs 10:25). When the Babylonians captured Assyria and overthrew Nineveh, the Assyrians were utterly cut off (1:15) meaning that they were no more.

Secondarily, the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm affirms that God is in control of all things, including natural elements. He spoke to Job from a whirlwind  (Job 38:1), and assured that when Job life was tumultuous (like in a storm), he was still in control. Jesus commanded the storm to be calm and they obeyed (Mark 4:39-41).

Points to ponder:
People of God ought not to fret and be dejected, losing hope, when the wicked around them oppress them, for the Lord is in control. In the storms of our life, we can count on Jesus alone, who speaks to us from within the whirlwind and the one whom even the wind and the sea obey. If your life is stormy, call on Jesus, for when he commands the storm, even the great ones, to abate, it will. The Lord (indeed) has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm. 

Nahum 1:3 (KJV)
3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Mark 4:37-41 (KJV)
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

To be still or not to be

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On June 17, 2010

In Christian, Movie Motions

In the movie, The Karate kid, Jackie Chan expresses that to be still does not mean you are doing nothing. When training his student, he asks the boy to look into the water and asks him as to what he sees. The boy replies that it is his reflection that he sees. Now the master stirs the water and asks the same question, to which the boy responds that the image is blurry. It is only when the water is still and clear, can the reflection be seen. Unfortunately, from the time of Adam in the garden, man’s selfish pursuits have often put him in a grind for things that don’t matter. We are constantly seeking answers to all unanswered questions and a solution to every problem we encounter. Sadly, to be still is often misunderstood to be “useless”, “non-engaging”, or even worse “doing nothing”. So what does it mean to be still?

When Jesus rebuked the raging storm of wind and waves that threatened His disciples in the boat, He said, “Peace, be still” and the wind ceased and there was great calm (Mark 4:38-41). When the winds and the waves obeyed Him and became still, the disciple questioned “What manner of man is this?” In the stillness and the calmness of the elements was a question that surfaced which sought to answer and exposit “What manner of man Jesus is?” a.k.a. “Who Jesus is?” God’s image was reflected in Jesus, in the calmness of the sea and they questioned as to who He is. Likewise when we are still, our calmness needs to reflect who Jesus is and have those around us, ask “What manner of man/God Jesus is?”

In a world that is constantly on the rush with its ephemeral pursuits,  we often blurry the image of life that God has ordained us for. To be still does not mean we are doing nothing. When we are still, God’s image can be clearly (not a blurry image) seen and this should lead those around us to recognize who Jesus is, the (manner of) man in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily (Colossians 2:9).

Point(s) to ponder: Is your/my life calm that we are reflecting Jesus Christ and making those around us ask as to who Jesus Christ is.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

In a world that is constantly on the rush with its ephemeral pursuits,  we often blurry the image of life that God has ordained us for.

Rebuked the …

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On June 1, 2010

In Christian

In the account in which Jesus stills the sea as recorded in the gospel according to Jesus’ disciple, Mark, the scripture tells us that when Jesus was awakened and questioned, as to whether he cared not that his disciples would perish, Jesus rebuked the wind and calmed the stormy sea (Mark 4:39). Rightfully so, it was not the wind that needed rebuke, but it was the mind of those who fretted without faith (Mark 4:40) while they had the one who created the sea (Psalm 95:5), right there with them. Furthermore, the disciples in their lack of faith, interestingly and ironically questioned Jesus on the very purpose, that He came. Jesus who is the Life itself was questioned at to whether he did not care if those with him lost theirs (perished). He came to give life and to give it more abundantly (John 10:10) and all who believe in Him, though they die (perish) shall live (John 11:25), for God not only cared, but He loved the world so much, that He sent His only begotten Son (Jesus) and whoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall NOT PERISH but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Rightfully so, Jesus should have rebuked the mind of the disciples, but he spared them of that and rebuked the wind. It was the SPIRITUAL storm of blown faith and doubt INSIDE and not the PHYSICAL storm of wind and waves OUTSIDE that needed rebuke.  Are you and I questioning God, due to the lack of our faith, that deserves rebuke? God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind (one that does not deserve rebuke).

John 11:25 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

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