I have been captured by a passage of scripture that I have not been able to shake… I have been living in it for the past couple months and I will attempt to preach it this weekend in South Africa.
The Lord imparts to Ezekiel the consequences of a nation turning against God; Ezekiel 14:14 “Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God”. Again, Ezekiel 20 – “even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness”.
What is it that is unique about these three men? As you read about these three men and get the answer, you then must cry out to God and ask Him to make you desire to be just like Noah, Daniel and Job; and that is a dangerous prayer!
Noah – Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” 6:9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation” 6:22 “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him”. 7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation”.
For over 100 years Noah was faithful to build his ministry on faith and obedience. God said, “It is going to rain”, what?! What is rain? It had never rained on the earth. Think about year 25; “God, where are you, where is this rain you are talking about”? His kids must have been ridiculed by their friends, “Your dad is crazy”, his wife asking him what the heck he was thinking… year 50, year 75; God, HELLO, where are you?! Think about when he felt that first rain drop; what was rushing through his spirit; adoration, excitement, dancing –
and then despair, terror, a true since of the fear of the Lord as the towns people came running, screaming, knocking on the giant door of the Ark, “You were right, let us in”! Noah was defined by radical obedience.
Daniel – It says in Daniel 1 that the “King found none equal to Daniel and his mates; In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom” Daniel changed kingdoms, prophesied over nations and end times, shut the mouths of lion, and always gave the credit to God; he was a man of radical faith, wisdom and authority.
Job – read Job 29; 1-25 the Chief men refrained from speaking, the voice of nobles were hushed and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths when he entered a room. Job was favored, he rescued the poor and fatherless, the widow; he defended and was a father to the needy… his life was defined by James 1:27; he was a man of authority, humility, and grace.
Is it ok to desire that your name or a whole generation would be written in the same context? I hope so…
