Sunday, November 11, 2018


Two Roads

"Man proposes, but God disposes” —Thomas à Kempis. 

"The king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road and decides by divination which of two roads to take. He draws straws, he throws dice, he examines a goat liver. He opens his right hand: The omen says, 'Head for Jerusalem!' So he's on his way with battering rams, roused to kill, sounding the battle cry, pounding down city gates, building siege works" (Ezekiel 21:20-22, The Message)

The Babylonian army stands at a crossroad awaiting directions: One branch of the highway leads east to the city of Rabbah in Ammon; the other leads west to Jerusalem in Judah. Which way shall they go? 

The diviners ply their trade. All signs point to Jerusalem. 

Yet, Ezekiel reveals a hidden truth: There is a cause behind all causes: God had said, "I have drawn my sword out of it’s sheath (against Jerusalem)” (Ezekiel 21:1–5. 15). 

It wasn’t the king and his counselors that determined the strategy and tactics of the Babylonian commanders. It was Israel's God, confirming once again the biblical paradox: Men and women enjoy freedom of choice yet God determines the outcome.

This is indeed a mysterious, yet a hopeful thought in that it enables us to be at peace with the all-too-often, ill-begotten schemes of our leaders. We fear their decisions, but they are not running amuck. Everything is under control.

David Roper

Going and Not Knowing

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing...