Jasmine's Place Issue No. 14 - December 2014 | Page 56

There are a number of moments just
like this one, where I am reading
something for the first time and I am
completely blown away at the power
of God and what He does when His
people call on Him. God never grants
a request in a simple way - He always
wants for those in doubt to
understand that He is sovereign. In
my very first post, The Novice, I
reveal that I did not grow up reading
the Bible. My idea of what the Old Testament
was was so far from what it
actually is - I imagined that it was full
of “Thou art”, “Thou Shalt Not’s” and
the like. I did not realize the richness
that unfolds through story after story
of God raising up the least likely
individual to deliver His chosen
people in ways still unimaginable to
me in my limited knowledge.
Yes, I considered myself a Christian,
but knew very little of His Word. I
knew about Noah and the Ark - but
did not understand that there was a
flood that God created to wipe out
mankind because of sin. I knew of an
old man named Abraham, but did
not get that he was incredibly adept
at hearing God and obeying -
regardless of how hard that might be
for us to comprehend. I did know
that a disciple named Judas would
betray Jesus, but I never knew that
the betrayal was sealed with a kiss
and for 30 pieces of silver. Not seeing the Chaldean names given
to Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego
written in ink in the Bible can cause
one to hear Abednego as “a billy
goat”.
I will admit, the Bible has always
been intimidating to me. When you
do not open it regularly and read
with the humble heart of receiving, it
is almost certain that you will fall
prey to misunderstandings
of parables, stories and people that
are referenced over time.
Yes. This is true. A billy goat.
Not only that, but not knowing who
these young men were and how they
were willing to sacrifice themselves
because of their complete and
faithful devotion to God
is unfortunate to not know. Thank
God for the Book of Daniel.
Thank God for all of His Word.
JASMINE'S PLACE
56