Wall post late 2005:
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every could He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify out beliefs until out relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child – a relationship simply between God and our own souls….Is our relationship with God becoming more simple that it has ever been?
This is a quote from Oswald Chambers, a 19th century Scottish minister (you can find a site of his works here: My Utmost for His Highest). This is actually one part of a larger devotional.
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR CLOUDS?
“Behold, He cometh with clouds.” Revelation 1:7In the Bible clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God. It is by those very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were no clouds, we should have no faith. “The clouds are but the dust of our Father’s feet.” The clouds are a sign that He is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near without clouds, He does not come in clear shining.
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials: through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child – God and my own soul, other people are shadows. Until other people become shadows, clouds and darkness will be mine every now and again. Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has been?
There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.
“They feared as they entered the cloud . . .” – Is there anyone “save Jesus only” in your cloud? If so, it will get darker; you must get to the place where there is “no one any more save Jesus only.”
The thought on unlearning something is an interesting idea. Typically we seek to learn many things, and even learn what God wants for us. But think of all the things we must do that we should unlearn. Bad habits, perpetual sins, judgement of others…my list could go on. I don’t think that it’s instinctual for us to unlearn, so we must give ourselves to God and let go of those things keeping us from Him.
