The Prodigal Son...

I believe when our hearts remember the good, the wonders God has worked in our lives, we will be bolder in our faith, expectancy and reliance in our Almighty God. 

In the Book of Exodus, Israel was in bondage to Egypt. On their way to the Promised Land the Egyptian galloping horses were gaining on the Hebrews. Hundreds of chariots were racing them. There were high mountains on the left and to their right. The Red Sea loomed ahead of them. 

“What do you do when you don’t know what to do?” 

I realize, most times, this is our question. And especially now, during these dark times, when the answers are not up to us. But then again, we kind of pushed ourselves to believing that the answers were always up to us. 

For the people caught between Pharaoh, the mountains, and the Sea, to remember how they got there meant remembering that God had established a covenant with them long before. It meant to remember that God had never abandoned them even when they were unfaithful to that covenant. It meant to remember that God had led them out of captivity in Egypt and had given them a hopeful vision of a promised land. That’s how they got to where they were. God had led them there. 

Finding oneself on shaky ground, all caught up is no accident. That’s where you’re bound to end up when you’re following God’s call. (For this example-the case of the Israelites). The same God who called you there will call you out of there. God will see you through to the next place. 

In the case of COVID-19, we are right in the middle of nowhere. I say nowhere, because we have brought this on ourselves. Sorry is a beautiful word. That is what we need to feel in our heart, and tell God, how deeply we feel for the wrongs we have done. Having prayed and being in prayers, we need to be STILL, which we are but we have to be in God. That is ‘TRUST GOD!’ 

“What do you do when you don’t know what to do?”

We remember the mercy and faithfulness of God. We remember that God’s love endures forever. We remember the mercy of the Father for His son in the Parable of The Prodigal Son. 

The long-suffering Hebrew people wondered out loud if God had abandoned them. But God replies: How could I forget you? Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she forsake the child of her womb?” 

We bring to remembrance those who are dying of COVID-19 and those who have died. We try to understand what it must have felt for them. They died, with no family members around their dying bed, where someone could have held their hand. They suffered intensely and in their dying moments, they felt abandoned. 

Jesus Crucified, cried with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

Having felt abandoned, Jesus knew, His Father, is always with Him. The Father never abandoned His Son Jesus and He never abandoned those dying of COVID-19. He will never abandon anyone of us.

We pray for the COVID-19 dying, that in their feeling of abandonment, the Spirit fills them with the dying Jesus and His words and a fresh understanding that no matter how they feel, that God never abandons. I pray for Gods arms around each of the dying. 

No matter who they are, we pray that their heart be filled with Your Love oh, Lord and their fear gives in to Your strength. Fill them with Your Peace, all encompassing God! 

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; Isaiah 49:15-16 

“What do you do when you don’t know what to do?” 

The Battle of Jericho, the Israelite’s first, is won by surrounding the walls of the city and walking around them, causing them to miraculously collapse.

It’s always good to Remember…. Remember the miraculous siege on Jericho? Remember God’s faithfulness: 

PROBLEM– Israel had a big problem with the city of Jericho being so heavily fortified. verse 1 

PROMISE– The Lord had promised Israel the victory “see I have given Jericho into your hand” v2 

PARTNER– The Lord, their partner gave Joshua the strategy “You shall march around the city…” v3-5 

PREVAILED– Victory! “They utterly destroyed everything in the city” v21. 

Remember When God says it He settles it. 

We forget that God is in control and He will take care of us. In forgetting we open the door of our minds to anxiety and fear. 

Remember-Remember: God is for us and with us. 

We need to remember that God watches over the Sparrows, He watches over me. 

“What do you do when you don’t know what to do?” 

The parable of The Prodigal Son, one does not hear of the Father losing his temper or even saying anything to that matter, to his son who asks for the share of property. In fact the Father, gives to him, his share, no terms-no conditions attached. Luke 15:12 And he (the father) divided his living between them. 

The father on catching a glimpse of his son from a distance, returning home, runs towards him and full of compassion, embraces and kisses him. 

We get a glimpse of the loving heart of our Abba Father, His heart that is tender, so full of love. His ways that are gentleness and compassion. And He waits for us with no questions, but a heart that is ready to embrace us, like we did nothing to hurt Him. 

We begin by remembering that God, will not abandon us here, in this fight. 

R E M E M B E R . . . . .