Well, here we are on Day 19, and we've finished the book of Genesis. The twelve tribes of Israel are established (I'm quite taken with the beauty of the poem), and the stage is set for Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Again, I'm taken with Joseph's forgiveness at the end of Genesis:
"'Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.' In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them."
What is it with Jesus and mustard seeds? He needs a new image of something small. I find the language Jesus uses quite interesting. Many times, like in Mark 6.8 or Matthew 13.58 he speaks of people's "unbelief", but here he speaks of his disciples "little faith". There must be a difference in this deliberate choice of words. The footnote in my Bible says: "Little faith as distinguished from unbelief. Jesus' saying is in figurative language; faith is concerned with God's will, not with moving mountains." I honestly don't see that explicitly, but perhaps something is lost in translation. I do, however, believe what the note says. In the Lord's prayer we pray that "[God's] will be done". I suppose you could phrase it that if I believe I can move a mountain, I am wrong. If it is God's will that I move a mountain, then with faith I can move a mountain. There's a major difference there. I think people often times fail in doing "God's will" when they are really pursuing their own will. It's very difficult to know the difference some times. I, for one, can be a very willful person: I know what I want, and I go for it. It would be good practice for me to ask God for guidance, and then to actually listen for His response.
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