God’s Higher Education Plan
“Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NASB
Call – Today’s post-modern culture ignores the most important part of education. Once God is removed from the system, education takes on a completely different objective. The goal is no longer instruction in righteousness. It is accumulation of information in an effort to control our destinies. Yeshua would say, “What does it profit a man to know everything there is to know about the world and never discover what God is telling him?” We have learned everything about life except God’s answer. In our world, we rely on accumulated uselessness. We are the world’s smartest fools.
The purpose of life is preparation for eternal service in the Kingdom. If my educational plan does not include instruction that makes a difference in the Kingdom here and later, then I have wasted my efforts. My Ph.D. might not matter in the ‘olam ha’ba, but the character of my submission to His authority certainly will.
God has designed the world so that I will not know the significance of my life until after I die. If my education plan constantly strives for significance in this world, I am deluded. I have to look over the horizon to see what life is really all about.
Qara’, the root word for “call, name, summon, invite, declare”, is the first step in true education. But it has an undertone that should not be missed. Qara’ is often associated with sovereignty. To call is to establish a relationship of ranked order. The caller acknowledges the superiority of the one being called. I don’t ask for an answer from someone who knows less than I do. So, when I call on God, I am really acknowledging that He is my authority. I invite Him to give me instruction with the assumption that I am already committed to carrying it out. That’s why I call on the name of the Lord. I intend to do what He says.
Is that your education plan? Do you ask God questions fully committed to do what He says? Or are you simply seeking a bit of heavenly advice that you will consider along with your own views? God doesn’t bother with that foolishness. How many times have you gone to God asking for validation of what you already decided or wanted? Is that submission? God is not interested in rubber-stamping your desires. Is God’s reply command or information?
God answers when we call. He doesn’t answer when we ring Him up for advice.
Topical Index: call, command, qara’, Jeremiah 33:3
A reminder to us all through the words of Paul, 2nd Timothy 3:16. All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching rebuking for correcting for training in righteousness. Verse 17. So that the man of God maybe completely equipped for every good work. (Not excluding the preceding verse 15) study and show yourself approved unto God for a Workman needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth. These versus alone instruct us in remembering the words of Torah to remember the Commandments of old are there not to be skimmed over but, to reflect upon them for our daily walk. I am hearing some say, that it is also being considered as part of our sanctification. The more I study the more I would agree with this. Jeremiah 6:16 stand at the crossroads and look, ask for the ancient path ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your soul but you say …we will not walk in it. I appointed watch menu over you and said… Listen to the sound of the trumpet of you said we will not listen. Therefore here. You Nation. You are a witness. Observe what will happen to them… Disaster comes when we do not listen. And it is the non-believer that is to observe the consequences. I really do think that the church is beginning to wake up. But there are some deceptions that go with returning. We always need to study. I was once in a Bible study in mainstream AG Church and I mentioned having a study buddy in the words of Torah. I was rebuked for the blind leading the blind. So it wasn’t long before I packed my bags and found others of like faith. And to my amazement, over the years, it would appear to be….. A Revival to Torah Hallelujah
Good reminder Brett
I remember being very excited my first day of school. I figured I finally had the full attention of an adult who knew the answers. I was ready. I had a long list as well as a short list of questions that I really wanted the answers to, as well as a list of subjects I felt I really needed to learn. It was obvious to me that children, who didn’t know, should be asking the questions of the ones who did know.
I sat patiently through the day where I was told all the rules. That was fair. I should follow the rules as my end of getting what I wanted. It was the very end of the day when the teacher FINALLY asked if anyone had any questions. I thought I should start at the top of my short list. I raised my hand and said that what I wanted was to learn Latin. It was all downhill from there, folks. I never could figure out why the people who did know spent all my time asking me the questions, when I already knew that I didn’t know!
I like God’s education plan a whole lot better. I cannot think of a single time I asked Him that I did not get an answer. Before I even called, sometimes, I would get that answer! Y’all, we have not because we ask not. Try going through your whole day asking questions about everything as it comes up, just like a little kid. And listen. It’s a whole lot funner than thinking you already have to know, that’s for sure!
Skip,
Thanks for one of your classic gems:
“God has designed the world so that I will not know the significance
of my life until I die.”
Sure helps to remind me Who owns the ball in this great adventure!
I find life to be the U of Yahh. Here’s an example. Warren Hayes is the head of the City of Santa Rosa Police Chaplaincy program. I read this at the city counsel meeting last night as they put emergency powers in play while also being bombarded by a lobby of the homeless. Now I have a great heart for the homeless as well. Santa Rosa City Staff have now 68 staff members homeless. It’s good to keep reality in perspective that is of course reality 101… Warren shares his heart and his word say’s it all as we in Sonoma and Napa counties are in the U-of Yahh Reality 101… “”Good morning, I’m Warren Hayes, this is my dog Lexi, this is my fathers 1928 Martin this is my wife Becky, and these are the clothes on my back. Your are my friends and family and all I have and all I need… I have seen Sonoma County come together in ways I have never seen before… It’s worth having my home in ashes to see this kind of care, compassion and generosity… I am a rich man”. Sunday@ Alexander Valley Church
PS. You will find particularly great Cabernet and Chardony’s in Alexander Valley. But not this year, however 2013 was a very good year. Remember always the wise words of John Eldredge “a glass of Cabernet is a beautiful thing, a whole bottle is something else altogether.” Keeping it real blessing one and all!
Dare we ask, I mean Job asked and was humbled by the response… I think the purpose of asking is enlightening… Not making meek. As Laurita explained how her willingness was turned against her… The same seems to have been the outcome of Job’s quest. Lauritz so true ask questions rather than provide answers makes life more tolerable and of even adds value to the situation.
If we will only be able to look back and say cool things worked out as I thought they would after death… Then why ask at all as everything is working according to his blueprint if I can call it that.
Have we really been answered when we will only know after death. But then death is when dust which includes memory stored in the dust returns to dust. And is God not a God for the living not the dead…
My life experience and religious convictions are like the sea waves. Now I feel I am in control and on a high the next moment they are way down there and I feel totally unprepared too idiotic if I may to deal with the lesson or situation. When I admit my inabilities others accept and work around my ignorance.
Now do I call on God… No, I rather trust in Him and that has never failed. Ask for wisdom and he grants it freely James reiterated. Nothing more. If Yeshua is right he says YHVH knows before we ask… So why ask? Or is the asking just a way of submission… But is that not trust and patience? Proverb 3 reads acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight. How do we acknowledge other than admitting we do not know and his hand is at work?
Or would Jeremiah be referring to incidents like Isaiah 45 when God administers a tasking… Our everything becomes this instruction. And yes nothing will stop us.
Skip I appreciate your guidance here, I am just trying to understand is call upon literally or implied to be in humble submission… Acknowledging where never possible.
Paul did not call upon neither did 90% of those we read of in the scripture yet they become great God fearing men and women of their times.