December 11 - Embracing Disappointment 좌절을 수용하라

December 11 - Embracing Disappointment

 

“After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” – Genesis 15:1

 

 

Genesis 15 consists entirely of a long encounter between the LORD and Abram. When the ''word of the LORD'' comes to Abram in a vision to reassure him of God's support, Abram takes the opportunity to press God with questions. Abram asks both about his childlessness and how he knows he will one day possess the land of Canaan. God responds, and Abram believes. God's response includes leading Abram through a covenant ritual involving slaughtered animals and a prophecy about the future of Abram's descendants before the time comes to occupy the Promised Land.

 

Genesis 15:1–21 falls between Abram's heroic rescue of Lot in Genesis 14 and his less-than-heroic choice to have a child with his wife's servant in chapter 16. Chapter 15 features Abram's hard questions to the LORD about how the lofty promises of uncountable descendants and possession of the land will be kept. God responds, in part, by formalizing His covenant promises to Abram with an elaborate ritual. He also reveals to Abram details about the difficult circumstances his descendants will face before they come back to take possession of the land ''in the fourth generation.''

 

After the dramatic events in the previous chapter, the LORD spoke to Abram again. Specifically, we're told that the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision. This language is sometimes used in the Bible to describe God's relationship with a prophet. As with other prophetic visions, this encounter will involve dramatic imagery.

God's first words to Abram are reassurance: Don't be afraid. I am your shield. Your reward will be great. The following verses make it clear that Abram did indeed have questions about how God would keep the enormous promises He had made to Abram. God addresses Abram's emotions: It is safe to set aside your fear. I will serve as your shield, your protection against harm. The reward will be worth the wait.
His concern is understandable, given that God called Abram at seventy-five (Genesis 12:4) and had not yet had any children. Abram is not necessarily questioning God's ability but asking for more details on how He plans to accomplish His purposes.

 

Apostle Paul says, “Rejoice in our sufferings”(Romans 5:3). What does it mean? It’s not trying to avoid problems or pretending they don’t exist. It’s not even gritting our teeth in quiet submission to our circumstances. It means embracing every situation, even Abraham's unbearable turmoil and disappointment in their childlessness. God calls his people to rejoice, not despite tribulation, but because of it. To the world, this response seems insane. But for us who are alive in Christ, the most reasonable thing we can do is rejoice because we understand what immeasurable benefit tribulation brings us (Romans 5:3-5).

 

There is no greater witness in the world than Christians who endure, truly embrace God’s will for their lives, and overcome everything the world and the devil can throw at them. Trusting these things to work for us and not against us is the key to true faith and spiritual warfare. Have there been difficult times in your life when you questioned God’s love, wisdom, or power? How can you “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2) amid difficult circumstances? 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that Christians will be diligent stewards of the earth’s resources.

Prayer Pointer: God, our Creator, has stored great potential, strength, and ability within our minds and personalities. Prayer helps us tap and develop these powers. – A.P. J. Abdul Kalam

Bible Reading: Hosea 9-11, Revelation 2

 

 

---

 

 

 

12월 11일 - 좌절을 수용하라

 

“이 후에 여호와의 말씀이 이상 중에 아브람에게 임하여 가라사대 아브람아 두려워 말라 나는 너의 방패요 너희 지극히 큰 상급이니라” – 창 15:1

 

 

창세기 15장은 모두 하나님과 아브람의 긴 만남에 관한 말씀으로 구성 되어 있습니다.  여호와 하나님의 말씀이 아브람에게 환상을 나타나며 하나님께서 그를 도우시겠다고 확신시키실 때에 아브람은 하나님께 어려운 질문을 합니다. 아브람은 아들이 없는 것과 가나안 땅을 언제 차지하게 될 것을 어떻게 알 수 있는지 질문합니다. 아브라함의 질문에 답하시고 아브람은 말씀을 믿습니다. 하나님의 응답의 말씀에는 동물의 언약 의식을 통해 아브람을 인도하고 약속의 땅을 들어가기전에 그의 후손의 미래에 대한 예언의 말씀이 포함되어 있습니다.  

 

창세기 15:1-21은 창세기 14장에서 아브람이 롯을 구출한 것과 16장에서 아내의 여종을 통해 아이를 갖기로 하는 이야기가 나옵니다. 15장은 아브람이 많은 후손에 대한 약속과 땅을 소유하는 방법에 대해 하나님께 어려운 질문을 하는 내용입니다. 하나님은 부분적으로 정교한 의식을 통해 아브람에게 언약의 약속을 공식화하 응답하십니다. 하나님은 또한 아브람에게 그의 후손들이 4대째에 가서 가나안 땅을 차지하기 위해 돌아오며 그 전에 직면하게 될 어려운 상황에 대해 자세히 말씀해 주십니다. 

 

14장에서 드라마틱한 사건이 있은지 얼마 후, 하나님은 아브람에게 나타나 다시 말씀하셨는데  특히, 환상가운데 아브람에게 말씀으로 임한 것입니다. 이 환상의 언어는 성경에서 하나님과 선지자의 관계를 묘사하는 데 자주 사용되고 있습니다. 다른 예언적 환상과 마찬가지로, 하나님과 아브람의 만남에도 극적인 이미지가 포함되어 있습니다.  

 

하나님께서 아브람에게 하신 첫 말씀은 '두려워하지 말라'는 확신의 말쓴입니다. 즉, 나는 너의 방패이고 큰 상급이라는 것입니다. 아브람이 하나님께서 하신 엄청난 약속을 어떻게 지키실 것인지에 대해 의문이 다음 구절에 나옵니다. 하나님은 아브람의 감정에 대해 말씀하시면 두려움을 버리는 것이 안전하다고 말씀합니다. 하나님은 그의 방패가 되시고 보호하신다고 약속합니다. 상급은 기다릴만한 가치가 있는 것입니다. 아브람이 75세에 하나님의 부르심을 받았고(창세기 12:4), 아들이 없었다는 점을 감안하면 그의 걱정은 이해할 만합니다. 아브람은 하나님의 능력에 의문을 제기하는 것이 아니라 어떻게 성취 할 것인지 하나님께 묻습니다.

 

바울이 말하는 “환난 중에도 즐거워하나니”(롬 5:3)라는 의미가 무엇일까요?”이것은 문제를 회피거나 문제가 없는 것처럼 위장하거나 무조건 상황에 적응하라는 것이 아닙니다. 이 말씀은 모든 환경에 수용하는 자세를 가지라는 것 입니다. 자녀기 없어 실망했던 아브라함과 같이 견디기 어려운 상황과 좌절을 수용하라는 뜻 입니다. 환난에도 불구하고 즐거워하는 것이 아니라 그 환난 자체 때문에 기뻐하라고 것입니다. 이 세상의 환난과 어려움에 대해 기쁘게 반응하는 것은 비정상적으로 보입니다. 그러나 그리스도안에 있는 자들은 환난을 통해 얻는 엄청난 유익을 알기 때문에 환난중에도 즐거워 하는 것이 당연한 것 입니다(롬 5:3-5)

 

그리스도인들이 환난을 인내로 극복하고 마귀의 시험에서 승리하며 모든 것이 하나님의 뜻 가운데 있는 줄 믿고 환난을 수용하는 삶보다 더 큰 간증은 없습니다. 고난과 환난이 해가 되지 않고 큰 유익이 된다고 믿는 신앙을 가지는 것이 영적 전쟁에서 승리하는 비결입니다. 하나님의 사랑과 지혜, 그리고 능력에 대해 질문하게 만드는 고난을 경험해 본 적이 있습니까? 어떻게 어려운 상황에서 “온전히 기쁘게”(약 1:2) 여길 수 있습니까? 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 그리스도인들이 지구의 자원을 잘 사용하는 부지런한 청지기가 되도록 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 우리의 창조주 하나님은 우리의 마음과 인격 속에 큰 가능성의 힘과 능력을 저장해 놓으셨다. 기도는 이러한 능력을 두드리고 개발하도록 도와준디. - 아브들 가람.

성경 읽기; 호세아 9-11장; 요한계시록 2장