08302024 Sovereign God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our sovereign God. What a comfort it is to know that God is in control, both of the world at large and of me individually.

Job knew this truth. He didn’t always land on the right side of the application of that truth, but he knew it. Whenever Job remembered it and thought on it properly, the truth was a stabilizing comfort, as well it should be.

One of Job’s statements of this truth comes in chapter 23, which is somewhat of a high point for Job. Certainly, it is more hopeful than many other chapters. Regarding God, Job accurately declared, “What his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me” (Job 23:13b-14a).

It is interesting that these statements capture both the universal and the personal aspects of God’s sovereignty. The first sentence covers the universal side. God does whatever He desires to do. There is no limit on the scope of that. In the context of the entire world (and beyond), God is able to accomplish everything that He desires.

The second sentence is very personal. God had a desire (appointment) for Job, and nothing stopped Him from performing that desire. There is comfort in knowing that God does have a personal plan for each of us. What happens in our lives is not random or accidental. It is designed by God. God never makes a plan or design and then fails to carry it out. When God designs a plan, He is perfectly able to bring it to pass.

I once heard a wise preacher say something that I have always remembered and in which I have often taken comfort. He said that when we pray about a situation, about something that we would like to see happen, and we sincerely ask for God’s will to be done, then what happens is God’s will.

God is going to work out the outcome that He has desired and intended to do. When we pray sincerely, not trying to manipulate the situation or circumvent God’s leading, we can be confident in the divine nature of the outcome. Whether that means we get the job with the greatest of ease or whether that means we are turned down from the job, we can know that God did what He intended. Satan (or any other enemy or opposition) is not going to stop God.

Sometimes we will be amazed and filled with wonder and rejoicing by God’s answers. Even when it is something we have prayed for, God can answer with a result that is far more than what we had imagined. Sometimes we will be disappointed, discouraged, or confused by God’s answers. They are still just as much God’s answers. They are still just as carefully carried out in complete fulfillment of His desire.

May God allow you to rejoice this week in the appointments that He is working out for you, and may He give you peace and confidence in His control, regardless of the outcome.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08242024 Nehemiah's Prayer-Breaths

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who answers prayers, even when our prayers are nothing more than prayer-breaths. This is how I think of Nehemiah’s prayers. Nehemiah’s prayer-breaths are brief and spontaneous, flowing freely from his heart whenever he sensed the need.

This certainly does not mean that Nehemiah took prayer lightly. Quite the opposite. It meant that prayer was a central part of his life, something that was habitually incorporated. In fact, Nehemiah’s first prayer lasts for several days. Nehemiah 1:4 gives the impression of serious and devoted prayer, but I suspect that over those several days, there were many prayer-breaths during times that he could not give himself to intensive prayer.

This first recorded prayer is seven verses, by far the longest. Nehemiah says, in part, “I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven … let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night. … Remember, I beseech thee. … O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant” (1:5-11). Nehemiah repeatedly asks God to hear him on behalf of His people.

The words of the second prayer are not recorded, but they were brief enough to be completed between the king’s question and Nehemiah’s response (2:4). The assumption would be that Nehemiah prayed for wisdom in speaking and for favor from the king.

The third prayer comes when Nehemiah and the workers faced early opposition from Sanballat, who ridiculed the effectiveness of their work. The prayer lasts for two verses, but it begins with this prayer-breath: “Hear, O our God; for we are despised” (4:4).

The words of the fourth prayer are also not recorded. They probably were ongoing prayers in the face of the conspiracy and threatening attack by Sanballat and company. In this case others joined Nehemiah in praying. Even the description of the prayer has the essence of intimate prayer-breath. “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God” (4:9).

The fifth prayer is also just one verse. It comes after Nehemiah has had to do some corrective exhortation, and it comes in the midst of the monetary demands on Nehemiah as he lives by faith. “Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (5:19). Nehemiah trusts God to meet his personal needs.

The sixth prayer comes after threatening letters from Sanballat try to pull Nehemiah away from the work. Fear and discouragement threatened, and Nehemiah’s prayer-breath was, “Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands” (6:9).

The seventh prayer comes when a false prophet tried to influence Nehemiah to do wrong in order to save himself. Nehemiah’s one-verse prayer begins, “My God, think thou” (6:14).

The eighth prayer comes after the work is completed. Nehemiah had instituted reforms and had established proper procedures according to God’s laws. He returned for a time to Babylon and then returned to Jerusalem to find abuses and neglect that had started during his absence. As he worked to reverse the evils, he breathes out another one-verse prayer. “Remember me, O my God, concerning this,” he prays, regarding his faithful service (13:14).

The ninth prayer follows Nehemiah’s reestablishment of the sanctity of the Sabbath. His prayer-breath is “Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy” (13:22).

The tenth prayer follows a purification regarding mixed marriages, even among the priests. Nehemiah breathes out, “Remember them, O my God” for their sin (13:29).

The eleventh and final prayer comes in the final verse, after Nehemiah arranges additional provisions for worship and supplies. The final words of the book are Nehemiah’s prayer-breath: “Remember me, O my God, for good” (13:31).

Nehemiah’s requests or reasons for praying were varied. He prayed concerning a potential project, an important interview, the attacks of enemies, personal finances, discouraging attacks, attempted deception, his own testimony before God, the sins of others, and for personal blessing.

Over half of Nehemiah’s prayers have a common request, that of asking God to remember him (or someone else), sometimes translated to “think” on the person. He wanted God to pay attention to the person, to accurately know and evaluate the person’s situation, and to respond accordingly. This is a good request, because God is loving and just. He will do the right thing in every situation, so if He focuses on the person, the result will be right.

What a great example Nehemiah is. He is an example in the frequency of his prayers, in the heart earnestness of those prayers, in the types of things he prayed about, and in his particularly common prayer that counted on God to do the right thing whenever He focused on someone who prayed.

Obviously, there is a need for regular and extended prayer, but I like this idea of prayer-breaths. Of just whispering out a quick prayer to God for whatever needy situation arises. “God, remember me.” May you sense the nearness of our attentive and just God as you carry your requests to Him.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08172024 Lifelong Favor

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of favor. Mankind would be doomed without the favor of God, but from our very beginning and continuing even through the worst of times, God bestows His favor.

In the midst of his struggles, Job recognized this concept. In chapter 10, he gives an interesting description of the formation of his being. I believe that verses 8-11 all describe Job’s formation in the womb. He begins in verse 8 by saying that God's “hands have made me and fashioned me.” He then gives three pictures of what that fashioning was like. In verse 9, it was like molding clay. In verse 10, it seems to have to do with the pouring of milk or cheese into a mold. In verse 11, it has to do with building the musculoskeletal system and clothing it with skin.

Job had no doubt that God had made him, and he rested in that obvious care of God at his beginning. Job also recognized that God's care for him did not end after he was born. As he describes his life, Job says, “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12).

These are somewhat remarkable words coming from a man in Job’s circumstances. His current state does not look like favor, and his very preservation was in question. Nevertheless, Job recognized that this was God's habitual treatment of him throughout his life. He saw that God had showed favor to him and had preserved him.

Job’s concern (or complaint) is that the time of God's care and preservation seems to be past. It seems as if God is now destroying His work (v. 8). It seems that Job is on the verge of soon returning to dust (v. 9). Even if that is the case, Job still makes this wonderful declaration of recognition that God has crowned his life with favor and that it is only God's intervention that has preserved him to this point.

This verse seems much in keeping with Job’s statement in chapter one: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21). Job knew that all the good he had ever received, which was considerable, had come from the hand of God.

This is a beautiful statement from Job in the midst of his intense trial. His statement and its motivating attitude are an encouragement and a challenge to us. Even when life does not seem that great, it is wise to remember that God has been intricately involved from the very beginning of our lives. He carefully formed us, He has favored us with His blessing, and He has preserved us until the present.

Sometimes in the midst of trouble, this is the very thought that we need. We simply need to remember what God has done so far. We need to remember that we are nothing without Him. We need to remember that He has given us everything that we have ever had. We need to remember His lifelong care.

Praise God that He does care for us! He cares even when we doubt. He cares even when we fail to perceive His care. He cares during our very worst moments. He cares when no one else seems to be aware or when the compassion of others fails. Job did not know what his end would be; likewise, we also do not know the outcome. We can, however, rest in the sure knowledge that God does care and that He will work out His plan in the lives of His children whom he has so carefully cared for until now. His care will not stop.

May you rest in His care this week, being assured of it in your heart regardless of what fills your vision. May God’s care be like a warm hug that envelops and comforts you.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com. 

08102024 Categories of Prophets

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of truth. He uses His servants to share His truth. This letter is … different. I hope you find it interesting, and if you read through to the end, I think you will also find it encouraging.

We all know the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. By their prominent roles, I would add four other men to the category of major prophets: Moses (Deut. 34:10), Samuel (I Sam. 3:20), Elijah (I Kings 18:22), and Elisha (I Kings 19:16).

The names, at least, of the minor prophets are also well-known: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

There are a few prominent characters that the Bible calls prophets who we might not expect. These “misidentified” prophets are Abraham (Genesis 20:7) and Aaron (Exodus 7:1).

Next come the “minimal” prophets, of which I located nineteen. None of them authored Scripture, although many of them were the authors of historical records. 1. Gad interacted with David on at least two occasions and wrote a book (I Samuel 22:5). 2. Nathan was involved in at least three major incidents in David’s life and served as a spiritual advisor throughout his reign. He wrote about Solomon (II Samuel 12:25). 3. Ahijah appeared to Jeroboam on two occasions and wrote about Solomon (I Kings 11:29). 4. Shemaiah came to Rehoboam once and wrote a book (II Chron. 12:15). 5. Iddo wrote about Solomon, Rehoboam, Jehoboam, and Abijah, but has no recorded incidents about him (II Chron. 12:15). 6. Azariah had one interaction with Asa (II Chron. 15:1, son of Oded, but some translations say Oded in v.8 ). 7. Hanani also had one interaction with Asa (II Chron. 16:7). 8. Jehu (second-generation prophet?) had one interaction with Baasha and wrote about Jehoshaphat (I Kings 16:7). 9. Micaiah ministered once to Ahab and Jehoshaphat (I Kings 22:8) and was possibly also a rural teacher in Israel (II Chron. 17:7). 10. Eliezer had one interaction with Jehoshaphat (II Chron. 20:37). 11. Urijah prophesied just once to Jehoiakim and was killed for it (Jerem. 26:20). 12-14. Three musicians were called prophets: Heman (I Chron. 25:5), Asaph (II Chron. 29:30), and Jeduthan (II Chron 35:15), along with Jeduthan’s five sons (15-19), who are each named (I Chron. 25:3).

Additionally, God used some prophets without even giving their names. Each of these seven “mysterious” prophets has one mention in Scripture. 1. An unnamed prophet brought a message to Israel prior to Gideon’s deliverance (Judges 6:8). 2. A “man of God” (not called a prophet, but appears to fill the role) delivered a prophecy to Jeroboam. God then killed him for not strictly following instructions (I Kings 13:1). 3. An old prophet in Bethel during Jeroboam’s reign told a “harmless” lie in offering hospitality, which proved fatal for his guest (I Kings 13:11). The rest of the passage seems to imply that he was a legitimate prophet, but in this case, he failed to give proper reverence to God’s instructions. 4. An unnamed prophet came to Ahab (I Kings 20:13). 5. Another unnamed prophet also had a message to deliver during Ahab’s reign (I Kings 20:35). 6. One of the sons of the prophets under Elisha was delegated to deliver a message to Jehu (II Kings 9:1). 7. An unnamed prophet came to Amaziah (II Chron. 25:15).

Some prophets were even more obscure. They were neither named nor singled out individually; these “member” prophets were spoken of only as part of a group. A group of prophets existed during Samuel’s rule, prior to Saul becoming king (I Samuel 10:5). This may or may not have been the same company of prophets that prophesied during Saul’s reign (I Samuel 19:20). An unknown number of prophets was killed by Jezebel, while one hundred escaped and were protected by Obadiah (I Kings 18:4). There were “schools” of prophets under Elijah and then Elisha. These existed in at least three locations: Bethel (II Kings 2:3), Jericho (II Kings 2:5), and Gilgal (II Kings 4:38). One of these groups might have been the sons of the prophets under Elisha (II Kings 6:1). Whether affiliated into groups or not, there were numbers of prophets during the reigns of Joash (II Chronicles 24:19), Manasseh (II Kings 21:10), and Josiah (I Kings 23:2), as well as during Ezra’s rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5:2).

It is probable that there were still more prophets. Several passages, referring to prophets in general, certainly would include those mentioned already, but very likely these “multitude” prophets included some faithful prophets who never received specific mention in Scripture, either as individuals or as part of a group (II Kings 17:13, II Chron. 36:16, Jerem. 26:5, Daniel 9:6).

Finally, there were also some “momentary” prophets. As far as we know, these men did not serve in the official role of prophet, but at a point in time, God chose to enable them to prophesy in accordance with His purposes. This happened to the seventy elders under Moses (Numbers 11:25) and at the same time to two named individuals, Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:26). Saul prophesied twice (I Samuel 10:10 and 19:23), as did three groups of Saul’s messengers (I Samuel 19:20-21).

Sadly, there were also many “mistaken” prophets, possibly numbering even more than the real prophets. This is without counting prophets of Baal or other false gods. These are prophets that claimed to serve Jehovah but who did not, in fact, speak His words. Ahab had 400 of them (I Kings 22:6). Jeremiah said they were “wind” and did not have God’s word (Jerem. 5:13). Ezekiel called them “foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (Ezek. 13:3). In the writings of the prophets, most of the references to prophets are about false prophets. Jeremiah in particular had to deal with them.

So, what’s the point? As I read through the history books of the Bible, I was amazed at how many prophets there were; in particular, I was captivated by the relatively unknown men who did what God asked them to do. They delivered God’s messages, obeyed His leading, served Him, and had a place in His story. Yet they served with little or no recognition, sometimes not even identified by name.

It made me think of God’s servants today. Everyone knows the names of the “major” servants: Carey, Judson, Spurgeon, Moody. We might know the names of many “minor” servants: Lloyd-Jones, Brainerd, Aylward, Borden. But most of God’s servants fit into other groups. They are misidentified, serving in positions that people don’t recognize as service. They are minimal, doing little jobs in little places, and having names that nearly everyone has forgotten. They are mysterious, those humble nightlights in dark hallways, making a difference in quiet ways. They are members, effective as they work as one spoke within an organization. Some are momentary, having brief times of ministry before they are called to other tasks or called Home.

The wonderful thing is that all of them are part of the multitude. Each one is part of God’s plan and mission. Like the Bible prophets, they are imperfect and make mistakes. Probably the vast majority are known only in a small circle, and far more serve in small roles than in major ones. The important thing is not the size of the ministry or the amount of recognition. The important thing is that they do what the Bible prophets did: they deliver God’s message. They obey His leading. They go where He sends them. They serve faithfully. And they have a place in His story!

God needed and used all of them. Yes, He needed and used Isaiah and Jonah, Moses and Abraham. But he also needed and used Gad and Iddo. He used the unnamed son of the prophet. He used the prophet school at Jericho and the prophets martyred by Jezebel. Each one mattered. We don’t need a big name to serve God. He uses every willing Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones. I am reminded of a statement I made often when I was just beginning these letters: “What you do today matters for eternity.” Yes, it does! Big or small, well-known or unknown, just continue serving faithfully!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08032024 Incomprehensible Love

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings again in the name of the God of love. The adjectives I shared last week have lingered in my thoughts and encouraged my heart. Of course, there is no plumbing of the depths of God, so it is not at all surprising that I thought of two more adjectives as I continued pondering!

God’s love is intrinsic. “God is love” (I John 4:8&16). There is no separating God and love. Love is a vital and fundamental part of His nature. It defines Him. To see God and His actions is to see love. God is the best way of understanding what love is.

God’s love is incomprehensible. “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19a). God’s love is so great that it cannot even be understood by human minds. In some ways, the realization of this adjective is the logical response of considering all the others. Who can possibly comprehend love that is unmerited, embracing, unprecedented, everlasting, abundant, overflowing, expansive, inseparable, unquenchable, sacrificial, transformational, and incomparable?

To be sure, we can see limited aspects of many of those qualities in the love of people. The more strongly that any of those characteristics shine within human love, the more amazed we are by such love. But no human can approach the level of God when it comes to these qualities. Furthermore, no person does all of them, nor does any person do a single one of them perfectly or continually.

As I pondered the incomprehensible aspect of God’s love, I asked myself why it is so impossible to fully comprehend. Is it because the human mind is just too small to fully absorb such an amazing concept? Is it because we have no point of adequate comparison in our temporal world? Or is it because God is just too big? Is He simply grand beyond the capacity of humans to understand?

I think both are true, and they are really opposite sides of the same coin. We are so fallen and finite, and God is so great and infinite, that we cannot meet Him or understand Him on our terms. All we can do is stand in wonder. This is true of any aspect of God, and certainly true regarding His love.

My thoughts went to Isaiah 40. The following selections from that chapter are enough to illustrate that God is too great for us frail humans to comprehend. “Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him. … Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. … All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will ye compare unto him? … Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth … that bringeth the princes to nothing. … He shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither … To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. … He calleth them [heavenly hosts] all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power. … Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.” (40:9-28).

Every aspect of God is too much for us to comprehend, because He is so far above us. When it comes to the love of God, perhaps that disparity is best summarized with this phrase: It doesn’t make sense.

To the human mind, the kind of love that God has for man does not make sense. I think two verses can make that abundantly clear. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8).

I’ve been thinking off and on about this all week, knowing that I would reference these two verses. Yet to come to the point of typing them out has brought me to tears. Listen – no one does what God has done! Hardly anyone ever will die even for someone who is really good, but Jesus died for us when we were vile sinners. “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:10-11).

I was the enemy of God, with no good in me, and He loved me so much that He sent His Son to die for me, to rescue and redeem me, to transform me and purify me. I can only conclude that the love of God is incomprehensible. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Truly, there is no one like You!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA