understanding...

From the beginning... we have been looking at things and making decisions based on our own understanding... deciding for ourselves what is good... and what is evil...

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6 ESV

This is a big mistake... a sin in fact... that leads to death...

Even before we sinned... we were judging... discerning... wrongly...

We were not created to make these decisions on our own... 

We were created to listen... and obey Him... who judges perfectly... and deems all things good... or evil...

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon the earth. Selah

Psalm 67:4 ESV

Understanding... that we weren't created to use our own understanding... has sort of astounded me... I always assumed sin broke our ability to discern correctly... but we were never equipped to make such judgments...

And I see even greater futility... after the Fall... of living a life based on our own understanding and reason... rather than on God's Word... Scripture... and direction from the Holy Spirit...

Some define God... by their own reason... and understanding...

There are statements on [the Bible's] pages that I don't believe capture the character and will of God. ...

---Adam Hamilton, Making Sense of the Bible

It's not ours to understand... or decide what we believe about God... it's ours to accept what He reveals in His Word... and walk in it by faith...

Wrestle with the hard parts... Yes... but do not succumb to the temptation of fitting it into your own understanding and judgment of who you believe Him to be...

Just because we don't like what we read... doesn't mean it's not true...

He warns...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Faith... is about trusting Him... His Word... His Way... no matter what we think... or how much we understand...

Ours is to trust and obey...

This week's readings for The Journey...
Monday                   Leviticus 14
Tuesday                   Leviticus 15
Wednesday              Leviticus 16
Thursday                  Leviticus 17-18
Friday                      Leviticus 19