Building on the Foundation

  As you read through the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, you see that most kings of Israel and Judah paid lip service to Almighty God, but they didn’t obey Him. They thought they could mix worship of the true God with idolatry and paganism, just as most people do today. Some kings of Judah did follow God, but not with loyal hearts. When troubles and tribulations arose, they became fearful and wandered off His path. Or, after being blessed by God for their obedience, they became puffed up with pride and forgot Him. But a few other kings of Judah truly set their hearts on God and on walking in His ways, and they remained faithful until they drew their last breath. Yet, like us all, these men, too, had their flaws. Sometimes their human nature got the best of them, and they strayed from the path until God corrected them. The apostle Paul explained to the congregation in Rome, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience ...

  Of our great Creator, we read, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers” (Isa. 40:22). Compared to Him, we are tiny, puny creatures. Or, as Abraham put it, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord” (Gen. 18:27). Again, God says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). The Almighty is so far above us, and so much greater in every way, that it boggles the mind. How, then, can we comprehend such an all-powerful and all-wise Creator as a friend to any of His puny creatures? Next to Him, we are nothing! Why would He even desire friendship with such creatures? And yet He is a friend, and He does desire such relationships! God plainly called Abraham His friend, saying to his descendants, “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8). T...