God's Smoke!

We have real enemies in this life. God has a way of dealing with them if we but pray, believe and wait for Him. I often I try to deal with problems on my own. I get weary, tired and frustrated. Even small things like putting a screen in a window without tearing it for a dear friend, Rev. Cooper; to dealing with mistakes I personally make; God is right here waiting for us to ask Him for help. He's that involved in our life. Not just on Sunday mornings when we sing a few songs, put a piece of money in a golden plate, and listen to a 20 minute sermon - but He's involved in even the minutest detail of our everyday life.


If we but wait upon Him, which has always been difficult for me, His wrath will smoke against our enemies-it will burn and devour like fire and coals are kindled by it. Some, by their own sin and rebellion are coals to be kindled, fuel for His fire-they will be consumed by it.


He will ordain His arrows against the persecutors of His children and He sends His arrows forth wheresoever He pleases. The arrows He sends are sure to hit their mark and do execution for the arrows are as lightening's. He shows His readiness to plead our cause and He works deliverance on our behalf. I have a tenancy to be like King Saul; tired of waiting for a Samuel (the Holy Spirit) to give direction. I only push ahead and mess things up worse than they already are.


God rides upon a cherub and flies for the maintaining of right and relieving His distressed servants. When He works here is no opposition or obstruction that can be given to the One who rides upon the wind and travels through the heavens for the help of His people. He operates in excellency on His skies!


He will show us His condescension in taking cognizance of our case, or cause, whatever it may be. God is no respecter of persons. What He does for one He promises to do for another if we but wait with a humble, expecting spirit. What He said to King David, Jeremiah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He says to us. Acts 10:34.35 says, " Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; But in every nation those who fear Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. "


Also, Deuteronomy 10:17 says, " For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward."


God will bow the heavens and come down; He will not send an angel but He will come Himself for He is associate with the affliction of His people; He will only allow so much. Isaiah 63:9 says " In all their afflictions He was afflicted and the Angel of His presence saved them- in His love and in His pity He saved them-and He bore them and carried them all the days of old."


God wraps Himself in darkness at times, and yet He commands light (revelation) to shine out of our darkness for us to see what is happening. He is often a God who hides Himself and He will make darkness His pavilion. His glory is invisible, His counsels are unsearchable, His proceedings are unaccountable- But rest assured; He is ever present!


Often, like the Children of Israel, clouds and darkness are round about Him. Exodus 20:21 says, " And the people stood afar off-and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was..." Again, in Exodus 19:18, " and Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly."


We do not always know the way God takes; even when He is coming to us in mercy. Wait upon Him! Even though His designs are secret, they are always kind for God is love. Though He hide Himself He is the God of Israel, our Saviour.


At His brightness thick clouds pass-comfort returns, the face of our affairs change-that which is gloomy and threatening and seemingly hopeless becomes serene and pleasant.


Wait upon God!