In my writings and wonderings about the country side as a sojourner in a strange land, I have often wondered how many others have heard a voice that speaks out of no where and with no person seen or known to be near by. How many have actually heard a voice speaking to them as if it were from no where but from the very core of their being, seems to be what questions me. Todays post will look at GOD's knowledge in a general way. But first for Pastor Hoekstra's pen and teaching on Grace while looking at Abraham to whom and through whom GOD promised His restoration to the nations, this being the same promise made to Adam in Genesis 3:15. But in Genesis 12:3 and elsewhere takes on even more meaning as it seems to be solely directed to a people, when in fact it is for all mankind. When that mankind has acquired a faith like that of Abraham's. This being available through GOD's knowledge and His Son when He is heard as a voice coming from no where, even our conscience. Getting back to that voice that seems to come from no where, Samuel as a young lad heard such a voice. And it was for that reason it is recorded for our own learning should this happen to us as well. Now I will be again using the ESV translation for our study.
"Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith"
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." (Hebrews 11:13-14)
"We looked at Sarah's testimony here in Hebrews previously (in the meditations on God's promises). Consequently, we will press on to consider a strategic extension of Abraham's testimony concerning his obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith. Therein, we saw him traveling through life on earth as an alien, a stranger (in the world, but not of it). Now, we will see Abraham's patient, heavenly pilgrimage, by faith. His previous testimony (witness) concluded with this pilgrimage theme: "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD" (Hebrews 11:10). Early in the present continuing testimony, the two themes are coupled. "They were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." A stranger (sojourner) is one who does not belong to the given locale. The pilgrim is one who is marching toward a given spiritual destination. Marching to the beat of a different drummer if you will.
Abraham and his family (Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob) were promised the land flowing with milk and honey. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises." They did not personally experience the possessing of the promised land. Yet, they lived with a sense of guaranty that GOD would fulfill His promises: "but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them." They fully accepted the certainty that the LORD would some day give that land to their seed. Meanwhile, they confessed that they were content to live as strangers concerning this world and as pilgrims anticipating the world to come: "and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Now, the pilgrimage aspect of Abraham's testimony (and his family's) is emphasized. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." As the years passed and the promised land was not given to them, their hearts yearned for a true, lasting, eternal homeland. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." GOD wants to develop this perspective of heavenly pilgrimage in our hearts as well. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11). The LORD wants us to set our daily course toward heaven, rejecting earthly cravings that diminish and weaken our spiritual vitality."
GOD's Knowledge,
1Samuel 2:1-10 and Psalm 69:5-12, 139:1-6 "Now Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. "There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our GOD. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a GOD of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorned. The LORD kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them He has set the world. "He will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by [mans] might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them He will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed."
Psalm 69:5-12 "'O GOD, You know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from You. Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O LORD GOD of hosts; let not those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for Your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me."
Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
Isaiah 40:27 "Why do You say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my GOD"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting GOD, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Daniel 2:17-23 "Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the GOD of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of GOD forever and ever, to Whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To You, O GOD of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter."
Matthew 6:7-8 (Jesus is speaking) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
1Corinthians 3:18-23 and 1John 3:13-22 "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with GOD. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (Job 5:13) and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (Psalm 94:11) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is GOD's."
1John 3:11-12, 13-22 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has Eternal Life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His (earthy) life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does GOD's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the Truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."
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