July 17: Trust the Process

He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in . . . that He might preserve us alive. Deuteronomy 6:23,24

God’s gentle call, often a whisper, patiently beckons us to leave behind the thinking and practices that go against His plan for our holiness and genuine happiness. Yesterday we briefly looked at His patiently repeated call to Abram, whose heart was tender towards God—yet he and Sarai slipped back into a popular practice of paganism when Hagar was brought in to be used. They both learned a painful lesson, no doubt, for they never repeated the mistake. But the inevitable strife that resulted within the family and spread further outward (as history proves) is a sober reminder of consequences that are set in motion when man’s ideas are elevated above God’s instructions.

There are two institutions that were introduced into our world before sin made its entrance. The first is the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3), and the second is marriage (v.24). Satan’s attack toward these two precious gifts from Yahweh began stealthily and has been a continued onslaught. Why does our adversary work against these so diligently? Could it be because the marriage covenant between a man and a woman is intended by God to represent an unbroken covenant between Himself and the people who love Him? The family unit, as established by God, is a channel for joy and blessings that point to the Giver of life and every good gift. Sabbath rest with the LORD on His chosen holy day (Isaiah 58:13) is the time for families to rest from work as God did from His. It is exercising faith in His provision for us: He created us, He redeemed us, and now He is sanctifying—or recreating—us if we will allow . . . that He might preserve us alive.

The seventh-day Sabbath is a perpetual memorial to Creation and Redemption. Satan intensified his efforts to undermine the LORD’s identity as Creator when the theory of evolution burst upon the scene in 1844, the very year that brought the two thousand three hundred days prophecy to its end (Daniel 8:14). But long before that, he began working to undermine His authority. There is an orderly way that both creation and redemption are presented in the Word. Both are processes. They are also intertwined, for the Omniscient One knew before the foundation of the world that He would give the life of His Son to redeem us from the dark influences that the adversary would bring. Then, He begins the process of recreating us. Submission to His authority in this process is essential.

Satan relentlessly hounds those who desire to exit his domain (see Exodus 14:5-9). Yahweh has not brought us out just to leave us totally helpless and subject to the adversary’s devices. Our Redeemer wants to bring us in to His kingdom. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:27). He deals ever so gently with us, but our lack of response to His truths may call for drastic measures to gain our attention.

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:10