Isaiah 31 Combined notes

In Isaiah 31, God is questioning the wisdom of Israel in trusting Egypt in a contest that is ultimately against God. Israel has been in rebellion against God’s ways. Now, God is using the nations around them to punish them. Ultimately it isn’t a physical army they need.

In the natural world, if you are facing an enemy the wise plan is to get an ally more powerful than you and hopefully more powerful than your enemy. However, the problem is Israel is facing armies but their real antagonist is God. Bigger armies can’t protect Israel from God. 

The Egyptians are only men and unlike other enemies, there is no contest. By going to Egypt, the Israelites have actually assured the defeat of the Egyptians. I wonder if Egypt might have lasted longer if they had refused to help the rebellious Israelites? I also wonder if God might not bless some people because they would assist someone whom God is allowing to go through difficulty? 

 Yes, it is good to help others but there are times when we shouldn't. This was one of those times for Egypt. They should not have helped. Were they destined to be conquered? Yes, according to other prophecies, but perhaps it would have been different if they had not joined in alliance with God's rebellious people. 

The lesson for us is that if we are trying to help someone God is trying to correct or judge, we may face that judgment. Listening to God isn't just for when we need help it is also something we should be doing when giving it. There are times when the worst thing you can do is help someone. Especially if you are weak yourself. Your intentions may be noble but if you're offering help you shouldn't then you're going to be hurting. 

To say it another way, a way that has been said before, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Isaiah 35

 

There will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. We may disagree on what holiness is and what it looks like the truth is that holiness is something God wants from those he redeems. We aren't just sinners saved by grace but transformed. Yes, we see in life and scripture that the transformation to complete holiness in spirit, soul, and body doesn't happen immediately at salvation, all branches of Christianity believe it will happen. Some only at death, most as a process the Holy Spirit begins to work out in the believer's life here on earth. What we do see is that it will be completed when the Lord returns or truly no one would be able to walk on this road.  

Personally, I'm glad as a Wesleyan/Methodist that I have hope that God can begin to change me now. I have hope that God can entirely sanctify those who follow him. I wouldn't want to think I have to stay the broken person I was when I first came to Christ without the hope of the Spirit's transforming power. 

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Job 30

 

In one of Nassim Taleb's books, he mentioned that people want to hear the positive and mentioned the book, What I Learned Losing A Million Dollars by Jim Paul. He commented that the book was good and should have done better except that people have a propensity to want to hear from lucky winners rather than from experienced losers. I believe he was correct and so does Job. 

However, beyond that Job laments that now evil that he would have tried to stop is now running rampant. He can't stop it now and that is bad. I have to agree. When bad times come to good people the world around them suffers. On the flip side, if the world he lived in depended on him alone to keep things right they were already in trouble. In the less-than-stellar Superman 3 (1983), the world learns that if it depends on Superman to bring world peace then everything can fall apart if something happens to Superman. 

Outside of Jesus being the head, this is why I believe the church isn't set up under the control of just one superstar. Even Catholics have a check and balance as it were for the Pope. God understands we can't depend on just one, we need many. Yes, that does mean things aren't perfect, but the alternative is chaos when "the one" can't fulfill his/her job. 

By the way, this doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do what we can to make things right when it seems we are alone with God. We should, but we should also realize that if others don't take up the burden too then eventually everything will fall apart. 

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Acts 10

 The night before I wrote this I woke up feeling wonderful. My back which was hurting had no pain. My sinuses which felt a little stuffy before going to bed were clear. I felt as if I could get up and do the work I had done twenty years ago wouldn't be a problem. I even felt like I had lost weight. It was great. The thought came to me. How does the miracle work? I was confused. It wasn't a demonstration of faith or something I had done it was...well... miraculous. How does the miracle work? I didn't have an answer. the only thing that came to my mind was, "It doesn't." It doesn't work because I did something a miracle works because Jesus does something. Jesus does the miracle, period. It is a miracle after all. 

The thought wouldn't leave my mind and so I got up and wrote this in a tablet I have by my bed. "How does a miracle work? It doesn't, Jesus does." We don't decide we get one Jesus does and we need to accept how he does it.

This brings me to the scripture today. The Jews had an understanding of how Gentiles could receive God's miracle of the covenant. It was through circumcision and following the law. Jesus had another plan. He told and showed Peter and the other disciples that he could cleanse the heart and the outward mark of circumcision was not needed. How did this miracle work? Jesus did it, period. 

Side note: When I actually got up this morning, I was back to physically being who I was. What happened? A miracle not in my body but in deepening my understanding. A reminder that I need to let Jesus be the healer and not me dictating how he should do it. 

Psalm 28

As I write this I am preparing a message on Shepherds/Pastors and what they mean to the body of Christ. However, the hope that we all have is that we can trust in the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Here at the end of this psalm, David prays that God will be a shepherd to His people. So how important is it for God to be a shepherd to Israel? Consider these notes from my message:

PASTOR – Shepherd – guiding caregiver

Shephard makes sure the flock gets what it needs. 

Rachel, Jacob, Zipporah, Moses, and David were all examples of shepherds

In John 21 Jesus is calling Peter back to him but also calling him to be a shepherd to His people. 

Things Pastors should demonstrate:

1. Compassion 

2. Protective

3. Resourceful

4. Persuasive

Shepherds don’t look at sheep as commodities.

Dangers Shepherds face

1. Natural disasters

2. Thieves

3. Other Shepherds 

4. Beasts

5. Armies

Tools of a shepherd

1. Voice (leads them) – John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

2. Staff – pull the sheep back from danger

3. Rod/sling – To fight threats

Yes, they needed God to be a shepherd to them and so do we. 

Exodus 22

God in this chapter calls for restitution for damages. This isn't a taking from those because they have it to give, but making right what you ought to have taken care of no matter how much you have or don't have. There are exceptions for things people could not have prevented and calls for people to work out their disagreements if something seems questionable. As I read it, it seems very reasonable to me. 

Another thing that is pointed out is that if a thief comes in at night and is killed then the person who was protecting his family/possessions isn't guilty. On the other side, if revenge is taken later and not as we would say in the heat of the moment then the person who takes revenge is guilty of murder. 

God commands that restitution be made for one who steals and has nothing. This may seem unfair but consider how God set up what we would call indentured servanthood. This system was supposed to be a hand-up. It said, in a sense, yes we know you are starving and poor but since you can't take care of yourself, we will give you a job, a place to stay, provision for you and your family, and in a few years a new start. At least that was how it was supposed to be, unfortunately, it didn't happen that way in ancient Israel nor in the workhouses that Charles Dickens wrote against. However, both broken systems claimed God's ordained right for what they did even as they did the opposite of what God commanded. A reminder that we need to make sure that what we claim is a divine decree is actually from God.  

Exodus 21

When we see this chapter many are offended that God would allow people to sell others. This would be correct if the selling is what was seen in the context of chattel slavery. The slavery that happened here was when people is when people got into debt and could not pay it back they could sell themselves into servanthood or what would later be called indentured servanthood. They would work for up to six years and then be free to go no matter the amount owed. In fact, later passages require that the person releasing them was to give them resources to start a new life. We also see if any real damage was done to a servant the master was to free them and reimburse them for the damage. There was also an option to continue service to a person for longer which would mean that the owner would now be responsible for the person for the rest of their life even when they could no longer work.

The plan gave a person who made a mistake a chance to repay, keeping their dignity (by paying back) and also knowing that they would be free. It also gave a way for those who needed someone else to keep them secure (the irresponsible, or lacking ability) to find a secure household to join. Before condemning this system remember that thousands of people are currently working at jobs they hate for decades because of debt, especially student debt which can't be discharged through bankruptcy. Where this system broke down is when people stopped following the command God gave. When this happened people weren't freed, slaves were abused, and people instead of being able to have hope had none. This happens every time we don't do things God's way. 

I wouldn't want to go back to this system, but I have to admit if administered as God intended it would be better than how we often handle things now. The reason I wouldn't want to go back to this system is because I have seen humanity's track record and within a generation or two (if that long) what started out as an indentured servanthood would become everything we hate about slavery. 

Isaiah 34

Unquenchable!? A fire of judgment that will never go out?  We see this image in other places in Isaiah, Revelation,  Jeremiah, and Jesus talks about a place where there is a fire that will not go out. There are many opinions about this is it literal, figurative... What we can say for sure is that God's judgment on wickedness won't stop as long as wickedness is a problem. God won't decide that after, let's say, next Friday I'm going to stop holding people accountable. God's fire against wrong never dies down. Yes, he wants to save, but he also will hold those responsible who chose sin. 

Job 29

 How I long for the days when everything was easy. 

Isn't this what we all say. For Job, it wasn't wistfully thinking it was true. Job lived a good and godly life. Job was truly healthy, wealthy, and wise. He did what was right. In this chapter, Job describes his life and all he tried to do to live holy. Here are some of the reasons God could say in chapter one that Job was righteous and unlike any others. I would add that though he didn't list it, it was Job's faith in God that was the key to God's praise of his life. It was that faith which caused him to live like he did. As James would say show me your faith without your works and I will show you mine by my works (James 2:18). 

Another thing I would point out is that although Job is longing for earlier days, he isn't, unlike my comment, isn't saying when things were easy. He just wishes for the days before his affliction. I doubt living a life of integrity was any easier for Job than it is for anyone today. However, since he had lived it he was enjoying the rewards from doing so. These rewards are laid out in the book of Proverbs, the issue is however, that though the principles are true we live in a fallen world with an enemy and sometimes it doesn't work out perfectly. As Charles Bowen said: 

“The rain it raineth on the just

And also on the unjust fella;

But chiefly on the just, because

The unjust hath the just’s umbrella.”

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Acts 9

The transformation of Saul is usually the high point in this chapter as I have mentioned before. However, what is happening in the life of Peter is nearly as amazing. Peter has seen God use him in the past to heal people and to cast out demons but now Peter is going to face something he had only seen Jesus do, raise the dead. Peter trusts God and God performs a miracle. What must it have been like for Peter to see God do such a miracle through him? 

Yet, I will point out that this is not the usual result. The disciples buried Stephen, no miracle then. Later James would die, no restriction then. We read a lot about miracles in the book of Acts but then as now, they are the exception, not the rule. As I heard Chuck Swindoll say (I don't remember where), "They're called miracles, not commons." They are the exception and we should rejoice when they take place but keep trusting God when they don't. Most of us have to live our lives facing the same challenges as the rest of humanity, just like Jesus did.

Psalm 27

Though a mighty army surrounds me,

my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked,

I will remain confident. (verse 3, NLT)

As I read this I was reminded of the words of three Hebrew children in Daniel 3:18, "But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." 

In both settings, the Psalmist and in Daniel both express trust in God even if the worst should come. Why can they do this? Because they have put their trust in God completely. For us, we can because we know that God will work things together for good for us (Romans 8:28), and on top of that we have a hope for something greater beyond this life (2 Corinthians 5:6, Philippians 1:23).  

Exodus 20

I would dare say that many would think the effects of bad behavior cause more damage than good behavior brings about good. I have felt that way often but then I come to this scripture and see where God has said in verses 5-6 that the effects of bad last for 3-4 generations but because of God's love the effects of good done by His people will last for a 1000 generations. I recall my math and 1000 is always greater than 4.  

Side note: God isn't maliciously laying the effects of sin on children. However, God has put into effect in the world that actions have consequences. So good and bad choices have consequences and unfortunately, those pass on to the people around them if they are bad. Remember the same dynamic that shares bad consequences, also makes it possible to share good. Ultimately it isn't God's fault if you make a bad decision it's yours. 

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Isolation - A Short Story

Charles opened the window. Two grasshoppers long dead hung from the bottom of the windowpane. Grass, dust, and a little bit of other bits of nature flew into the bathroom. Charles groaned. “Well, I guess that's something I'm gonna have to clean that up.”

The sun was in the West but was still several hours before sunset. The sun was partially obscured by clouds but enough of it was getting through that the light blinded his eyes if he looked directly out that direction. Charles stuck his head out and then his arms. Taking a deep breath took in the grass, the dust, and even the heat into his partially stopped-up nostrils. It was warm and  he leaned out even further taking in a deep breath through his mouth as it was the only place he could do that from. Several times he breathed in and breathed out. He looked down at the grass and stared for he didn’t know how long.

“Someone could get out here and mow this grass,”  Charles said to no one in particular. “I could get out here and do it myself.”

Charles pictured himself jumping out the window and finding the garage which had to be near by and mowing the grass. Instead, he stared down at the grass. It was so green. Several shades of it actually, depending on the type that grew. Dandelions and other weeds were scattered among the grass adding even more texture to the carpet of green he so desired to touch. The wind gently blew and several of the longest blades moved giving the grass the illusion of greater movement than was actually taking place. Remnants of moisture glistened on some of the blades and sat on the ground in the few places that were not covered with grass, a reminder of the rain that had come through earlier that day.

Charles stared and listened. Off in the distance, he could hear the noise of cars on a road and somewhere a prop plane was flying close enough to the ground to be heard. He didn’t look up to see it because of the brightness of the sun and his momentary fascination with the grass.

“I’ve got nothing better to do, I could write about this.”

“A man or a woman sneaking out of their place of confinement, dropping to the ground and hoping the fall wouldn’t hurt them but knowing that one step on the grass,” he huffed, “even lying on the grass may be a reprieve from what awaited them, solitude, isolation, loneliness for who knew how long.”

Charles stopped his narrative. This was too close to the truth. He closed his eyes and raised his face to the sun, letting the heat of the early autumn sun warm his face. The sound of some type of equipment or another generator being started filled his ears. He didn’t move and the sound grew softer.

“Maybe they are doing some extra research,” Charles said aloud a couple of minutes later.

“Pull yourself back to reality. You can’t go out there. It wouldn’t be safe.” And with that Charles slowly drew himself back into the bathroom and even more slowly closed and latched the window. “It’s a nice size window for a bathroom. I’m glad it was here but.”

There was no need for Charles to say anything else. He would be safe if he went out. Whatever it was he hadn’t been anything worse than a bad cold. The doctors said as long as he kept isolated from people nothing should happen. Isolation was the prescription at least until he was over it and there was no trace in his system. If there was anything that could be said about Charles was, that he followed the rules. Well, as long as they were just and fair even if he didn’t like or fully understand them. These rules, however, were the ones he had set up and he knew the consequences if he didn’t.

Charles wasn’t going to pull a McConnell. He would stay where he was. There would not be a black death, a 2020, or a Pompeii on his conscious. He could wait to keep everyone else safe.

“Besides what I saw was worth a bit of boredom.” Then he paused and thought about all the people he cared about. “Yes, being a little stir crazy” With that he rolled his eyes “is worth protecting all of them.” Charles took a deep breath of room air and blew it out, then he lowered the blinds and began cleaning the grass and debris that had been blown in.  

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Exodus 19

 

When I read this chapter a question was raised in my mind which I thought I knew the answer to and that was why not have sex if you're married? What I found others said confirmed what I thought. First, there was the chance that the person might become ceremonially unclean and not realize it. Another unknown to me was that other religions also called for priests to refrain from sex before especially important ceremonies. This might remind Israel that they were called to be something special to God and that this was an important event. Finally, the one that I did think of can be found again in 1 Corinthians 7:5 and relates even to today and the church. It said, "Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."  This final one was so that the people would focus on God and not on physical pleasures which might be okay but might serve as a distraction from what was truly important. To say it another way, hearing from God is more important than getting a good feeling.  

Isaiah 33

 

After a woe to the enemy who has not been defeated, Isaiah moves on to discussing be blessing God is going to bring to Zion. Parts of this chapter remind me of Psalm 15. What is clear is that God's promise for Zion isn't just a place where people live but a place where people are living right. The key to the promises God is giving Zion according to Isaiah is found in verse six, "The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." 

The fear of God, or one might say the correct reverence for God is where true wisdom and understanding are found. We see this repeated in both the Old (Proverbs, Job, Psalms, & others) and in the New Testament. If we are going to be in the right relationship with God it begins in the fear of the Lord. 

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Job 28

 Only men according to Job search for gold, silver, iron, and precious stones in the darkest place of the Earth. Only men break up the ground as they do going into the darkest places to find it. Yet with these great riches Wisdom and true understanding can't be found or bought. God alone has wisdom and understanding. The one thing that God has put in every man is this, Fear the Lord is wisdom, and shunning evil is understanding.  

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Acts 8

 Acts 8 is one of the few examples of someone going off alone to do ministry. We see Jesus and later the Apostles going out into ministry with others with them. Paul was sent away without Timothy or Silas in Acts 17 but that was for his safety. He noted later that he was alone (though Luke was with him) in 2 Timothy 4:9-12 making it sound like a rare thing he wasn't surrounded by other believers. What is going on? Why groups when as we see here one person going off alone can do ministry? I believe the answer is seen in Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." We would like to think we can do it on our own but the truth is we usually need help. We need others to stand when we are weak and to watch when we are tired. Especially in the New Testament, believers are referred to as being part of a body. We are not as one pastor put is "called to be Lone Rangers." We are a part and we need each other. To say it as John Wesley did, "There is no holiness but social holiness."

This being said, we do see where God has called some to go out alone. This however isn't the norm it is the exception. There is a time to stand alone, but we had better make sure God told us to do it. 

Psalm 26

 Concepts and ideas are frequently repeated in the Psalms. Here in Psalm 26, we see one from Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." We see in Psalm 1 that it is pointed out that one who avoids being influenced by wrongdoers is blessed. Here we see the Psalmist saying he is one of those people. He is saying that he makes it a priority not to hang around those who would lead him astray. 

This truth is repeated in other places in Scripture. Just two are Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" and 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.'” 

This isn't a command to cloister ourselves away. It is a warning over those who have the power to influence us and close friends are the ones who can do it the easiest and often without us even realizing it. 

Exodus 18

What a change? It might be easy to miss but when Moses named his youngest son who was born before God delivered Israel from Egypt, he called him Eliezer saying "My father's God was my helper..." However, as Moses' life would continue it would later be said that God spoke to Moses face to face. What a change from knowing God as your father's God. What changed? Moses. Moses spent time with God and his relationship with God changed. It makes all the difference when you know God and not just know about him from others.

This reminds me of a story in Acts where seven brothers tried to cast out a demon in "The name of Jesus who Paul preaches." The demon replied (in my version of events) I know Jesus and Paul, they are connected with God and real power but I don't recognize you guys so you are fair game and I'm going to have fun beating the living daylights out of you. If you are connected it makes all the difference. 

Exodus 17

Here is an interesting miracle. Not the water from the stone but the winning of a battle by uplifted hands. We aren't told why God did it this way but it clearly can teach us a lesson.  The lesson is that as the leader you need others to come alongside to help you if you want victory because if you try to carry the burden yourself you will wear out. Moses needed Joshua to lead the men in battle. Moses needed Arron and Hur to hold his hands up. In one sense, the fight wasn't won due to Moses' effort but the effort and perseverance of those around him. It was a lesson that Moses didn't seem to get (see the next chapter).

On a side note, in the New Testament Jesus and later in Acts the Apostles were sent out two by two. In fact, other than when God told Philip to go out to the wilderness (Acts 8), I don't remember any time they were sent out alone. We need others and I hear one preacher put it, "God didn't call us to be lone rangers."

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Isaiah 32

God isn't blind but He's always just.

When I first looked at this chapter I thought it was strange between verses 18 and 20 that there is a verse on the destruction of the forest and the city. How does God bringing good to His people mean that the forest and the city are destroyed? On deeper examination of these verses, showed that the forest and the city are a reference to the enemies of God's people. This clears things up because a people aren't truly secure and at peace if their enemies are standing over them, as it were, ready to pounce.  

We see this in God's final judgment. The righteous are rewarded and the wicked are punished. Some have asked why does God have to punish the wicked? The reason is God would not be just if he allowed the wicked to get away with it. It would be like a rich person trying to buy off the wrongdoing of their child and we wouldn't call that justice. God is just and every wicked/sinful deed will be paid for. For Christians, they are paid by Christ and by death to their sinful selfish nature. 

Justice doesn't always come when we want it to but it will come and for those who serve God, it will bring peace. 

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Job 27

 Job is saying, in verses 9-10, that the wicked aren't heard by God, and neither do they call out to him. He is pointing out that he isn't one of those because he has cried out to God. From what we read in the first chapter he called out to God when times were good and now he is calling out when times are bad. There isn't a time that God hasn't called out to God. This is the difference between the righteous and the wicked, one has access to God and uses it the other has neither. 

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Acts 7

Acts 7:35 "This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush."

In the middle of the history lesson, Stephen is giving the Sanhedrin, he lays the foundation for the accusation he will make. He is pointing out that originally Moses, the great lawgiver and deliverer, himself was rejected by Israel. This will tie into Stephen's accusations about Israel's repeated rejection of prophets sent by God and ultimately their rejection of Jesus. He is saying, as it were, you have a history of rejecting God's word/prophets at first, but now that you have done what you have always done, now is the time to get it right. The people weren't ready to accept that and they rejected him with prejudice. 

Psalm 25

 

David begins and ends this psalm by saying he trusts in the Lord. Yet in the middle, he pleads with God several times that he needs forgiveness. He wants to know God better but realizes that his own sins are what he needs to be released from more than just deliverance from his enemies. This is true for each of us. We may need deliverance from trouble and protection but what we need more is forgiveness.  

Exodus 16

"Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord" vs. 8b. Here is a great reminder for those in church leadership (and you're doing the right things), when people grumble it isn't your problem it's God's to solve. Too often people take offense when people grumble/complain about the direction things are going in a church and those in leadership take it personally. However, if the leader follows God's path (double check you are) then the complaint isn't against you. This is God's issue to fix.   

A thing for everyone to remember is that hard times come. You can be in the center of God's will and it may seem you are going to starve or die (like what Israel faced a few chapters before). Some may quote the song and say God "Never promised you a rose garden," or a bed of roses and he didn't. In this life, it may seem he gives us a bed of roses but only when you consider how many thorns are on those roses. In this life there are troubles. The key is when you follow God's way there are a lot of issues you don't have to worry about and when things go wrong God promises to work it out for you (Romans 8:28). So even here it's not our problem, it's God's.

If we sin then that is another issue. If the issues we face are a result of our actions then we can ask for forgiveness and God will help us through this problem we have created. If we don't ask for forgiveness then there may be other issues but we will see that later in the story. 

Exodus 15

 

Miriam the prophet.

Here is another example in scripture of God using women in leadership. Though we don't have any prophecies of Miriam handed down that doesn't mean that her messages were less important they were evidently not messages for us today. This doesn't diminish her work or her role as a messenger of God. Yes, when we see this and other examples written it does mean that we have to ask ourselves what Paul might have meant in the New Testament (if read out of cultural context) but what we see here is God uses women as he uses men to deliver His word to people.  

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Exodus 14

 

For two more times, Pharoah is going to make horrible decisions and once more he is going to have his heart hardened. First, in chasing after Israel when he answered the question wrongly about why they let Israel go. They let them go because God was fighting and winning against your gods. However, the only thing Pharoah saw was the loss of labor. The second was when he chose to chase Israel through the Red Sea. Here looking at what had happened before with God protecting Israel and judging Egypt it should have been a no-brainer not to go into the sea, but they did it anyway. This is what happens when we refuse to recognize God, we make bad choices. 

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Isaiah 31

 

To continue on the thought I made in my original post on this chapter, God warns the helper. It is good to help others but there are times when we shouldn't. This was one of those times for Egypt. They should not have helped. Were they destined to be conquered? Yes, according to other prophecies, but perhaps it would have been different if they had not joined in alliance with God's rebellious people. 

The lesson for us is that if we are trying to help someone God is trying to correct or judge, we may face that judgment. Listening to God isn't just for when we need help it is also something we should be doing when giving it. There are times when the worst thing you can do is help someone. Especially if you are weak yourself. Your intentions may be noble but if you're offering help you shouldn't then you're going to be hurting. 

To say it another way, a way that has been said before, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

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Job 26

 

Job 26 begins Job's final reply to his "comforters." It is his chance to speak again about how he is innocent and how he sees God and His works. One of these works is cutting Rahab into pieces. It may seem confusing for someone with just a little knowledge of the Bible and no access to a Bible commentary. Isn't Rahab a Prostitute in Jericho? Yes, she is but that is not who this is talking about. The Hebrew here can refer to the "Storm" or a "sea monster."  Either way, The powers of the sea are no match for God. The sea was and still is one of the most uncontrollable forces known to man, yet for God it is nothing. God is greater than it all. If this is a monster, I can't help but steal a line from Veggie Tales: "God is bigger than the Boogieman and the monsters on TV," or any monster in the sea.        

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Acts 6

 

Consider

On the scene comes Stephen a deacon but something more. Stephen seems to be not just a person who helps the poor but who also can defend the faith and through whom God is doing miracles. Stephen is probably a Hellenistic Jew and may have been part of the Synague of the Freemen before following Jesus. What we do know for sure is that the logic of Stephen and the miracles done by him could not be argued against. So what do you do if you can't win an argument? Bring false accusations and recriminations, and take their words out of context. Seems like the same thing people do today. 

Here again, is a perfect example of what to do and not to do. First, the don't. Don't try and win the argument by deception, character assassination, or literal killing but that is later in the story. Do trust God and let him shine through. 

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash