God as the sole provider was manifested in yesterday’s reading as well. In Hosea 7:8-16 the Bible says that Israel (the Northern Kingdom) was turning back and forth for help to Egypt and Assyria. They should have been seeking God.
Lately in my own life I have been experiencing some of this. Not only in the role of Israel seeking fulfillment, joy, protection, salvation that can only come from God, but also in the role of Egypt or Assyria. I want to be a source of fulfillment, joy, protection, salvation for those around me. Not only is that unrealistic, but it can be incapacitating. The needs of my family and those in my sphere of influence are beyond my capability to fulfill. The list is long and not knowing where to start can mean not starting at all. It is only as I yield to God’s Spirit that I can be a vessel through which He ministers to those around me. My roles as the leader of my home and protector and provider and shepherd are not to be shirked. But ultimately, I should be lovingly (which means sacrificially) pointing my family and those around me to God. If I am not, then I am leading them astray.
The study notes in my Ryrie Study Bible say this about the Scripture quoted below: “This great invitation, extended to all, is threefold: (1) to come and receive salvation; (2) to learn in discipleship; and (3) to serve in yoke with the Lord. The yoke involves instruction under discipline. Yet, in contrast to the teaching of the scribes, Jesus’ yoke is easy. Through the ages these verses have been among the most beloved in the N.T.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV) These are the words of the Jesus who bore the penalty of all my sin—through Whom I have received forgiveness and life everlasting in the presence of God. I like to return time and again to the fact that eternity with God will be more wonderful than anything we can imagine because it will be in God’s presence and we cannot imagine that. A converse and sobering fact is that for all those who go into eternity without having trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior their eternity will be more terrible than anything we can imagine because it is to be without God for eternity. God will not drag people into His presence for eternity if they spent all of this life not wanting anything to do with Him. What kind of god would force his eternal presence on creatures that with responsibility for their freedom of choice chose him not?
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