Many people spend many years planning their whole life down to every detail, that they forget to ask or disband Gods plan for them. Woody Allen once stated, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.” The very same can be said for Isaac's son Jacob, who instead of listening to Gods plan, went out and made his own choices and ended up in a life of great turmoil. The events include the deceiving of his brother and father to gain both the blessing and the inheritance, his uncle deceiving him by working many years for the wrong bride, and his disagreement with God on what his next plans were. I believe this to be the most important testimony because we must always hear Gods plan, for he knows what's best for his children and must obey Him. I believe Jacobs testimony is very effective because it shows how his life went amiss after constant disobedience from God. His disobedient actions started with the deceiving of his brother and father over the …show more content…
This testimony is universal among many problems that we may face today like marrying the right person, or taking the right job. Jacobs testimony is meant to show people what life is like and how it can spiral out of control and the one thing you want to do is wrestle with God. To fully submit to his will and put full faith in him is to live a happier life that is blessed by God. This is why Jacobs testimony is so unique and so heartfelt because it shows his fall and struggle with Gods plans like many of us do at some point in our lives. It also shows what great blessing god can bestow upon us when we listen to him. Finally, Jacobs testimony can be heard from any person in the world and can still relate to its meaning. Even though we have the option of free will and can make our own decisions it is always better to have our heavenly father looking over us and guiding our way to
Genesis 22 opens with God calling out to Abraham. Abraham responds, “Here I am!” (Gen 22:1). According to Levenson’s analysis, Abraham is not simply telling God his location but he is conveying “readiness, attentiveness, and responsiveness” (Levenson 67). Similarly, in the Gospel of John, when Jesus responds, “I AM” to the men looking for him, he conveys readiness, attentiveness, and responsiveness (John 18:5). But in addition, Jesus’ reply also expresses his divinity. These words are seen before in God’s call and commission of Moses in Exodus. “I am who I am… This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you” (Ex 3:14). This is only the beginning of the many parallels these narratives seem to share. Fundamentally, however, Jesus’s passion clearly supersedes the near sacrifice of Isaac.
Jonathan Edwards uses every talent he possesses to persuade listeners and readers alike. His knowledge of biblical verse, skillful use of visual imagery, and comparisons between a doctrine and application combine to form a strong and moving argument that revolves around his intense desire for salvation.
As I continued to chat with my pastor that day, I really sensed the hurt in his eyes – the anger that comes from an unsolvable injustice, the tiredness of a problem. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked, “Having a bad day?” Sensing that I was truly concerned, he let the truth be told. “I talked with a woman today whose baby died suddenly of unknown causes. As we worked through her grief, she talked about how numerous friends and family, even a religious leader had patted her on the back, shook their heads and said, ‘It was God’s will.’ I find few things worse to say to a grieving parent. Saying nothing at all would be of more help.” It was obvious from our conversation that he had an understanding greater than I about God’s will, and his insight created in me a curiosity and desire to learn more.
"The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles." Letter. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2000. Lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 15 Feb. 2012.
...stood and from our perspective, we clearly see the goals and the reasons behind it. We know what is correct and desirable in Hashem’s eyes and our job is to follow the correct path. Let us not be discouraged, but used it as a motivation to serve and pray our God wholeheartedly.
For example, Jack who was his sisters husband gave him some words of wisdom to start changing himself for the better, ‘Put yourself in Gods hands and you cant go wrong’. I knew Jack was right and when I got back to New York in the fall of 1973 for my junior year in high school I resolved to jump back into my studies and rebuild myself… I lay in bed at night praying to Him to make me strong, to rid me of anger, to make me a man, and He listened, and I began to change” (McBride 161). After spending some time with Jack, James wanted to fix his life. So he resorted to God for help just like his mother did and God came through for him. James is now on the road to a bright future. Later in time he managed to get accepted into Oberlin College for his strong musical abilities. After a couple of years he decided to track down his mom’s side of the family, the Whisky’s. When James did some research he came across some answers and he had an epiphany. For instance, “A penetrating loneliness covered me lay on me so heavily I had to sit down and cover my face. I had no tears to shed. They were done long ago, but a new pain and a new awareness were born inside me” (McBride 229). He thought of his mother’s family as another family. However his sudden realization of all the pain that his mother went through because of her family was his family too. James has accepted his mother’s
gain an understanding of God's message and to fulfill His purpose in our lives. John portrays Jesus as being the light of men and demonstrates that the darkness does not understand the light. John the Baptist would bear witness of the light in order that men would believe through him. In 3:19-21, Jesus states that the light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness. Their works were evil and so they would avoid the light for fear that the evil works would be exposed. But the ones who practice the truth come into the light so that it can be seen that their works were done through
The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) and account of God’s faithfulness to his promises to Abraham.
Being raised in a very religious home, young Joseph Smith Jr. was always taught to attend church, pray, read the Bible, and trust in God in hard times. By the age of fourteen he began to have concerns and wondered which church was the true church of god. There were so many churches that he decided to go to each one and see which one made the most sense. As he did he found that when one church said this a different church said the opposite. He was so confused about which church he should attend. Then one evening as he and his family were reading the scriptures, Joseph stumbled upon a scripture in The Epistle of James chapter one, verse five; “If any of lack wisdom, let him ask of god, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” This scripture empowered him so much that he knew he had to ask of god to know what church was true. So after careful consideration, he decided to obey the Epistle of James and to ask of god.
God called Abraham to leave his ancestral home, the lands his family had farmed for generations, and the graves of his ancestors. He had to leave his valued past behind. Furthermore, he had to go to a destination that God did not disclose to him at first. By leaving, Abraham would have left his name, family and friends behind, he would be moving to an undefined future. This shows true biblical faith as Abraham was willing to sacrifice all he knew and owned for a future he was unclear of.
The story of Joseph, the prophet is a pivotal cornerstone for two of the three major Abrahamic religions. In it, both Judaic and Islamic followers have crafted a story which establish God’s ability to intervene and protect his resolute followers. Throughout time, both parties have diverged on the fundamentals of this story to benefit their definition of faithfulness. As such, Both Islamic and Judaic faiths have crafted a story in which the view of God, Joseph, and the other characters present a significant example of the power of God and Allah.
Repetition is also the concept that the Hebrew Creator-God uses throughout the story of Genesis to educate Abram about God's purpose and His nature. God is aware of the doubtful and cynical nature of Abram. Over time, God uses Abram's own repeated mistakes to build a conceptual understanding of Himself for Abram. This model provides Abram with a relevance for God in Abram's own life. Though the classic view depicts the patriarch Abraham as blindly, obedient, there is significant evidence within the story of Abraham to show that he was not so naturally submissive. The text often depicts Abram as doubtful, indignant, and sarcastic to a fault. Taking this side of the text in context illustrates Abraham as the antagonist in a battle against God. In this struggle with God, Abraham achieves excellence by learning, through repetition of his own errors and the reinstatement of God's promise, that it is in his best interest not to fight against his own personal idea of God, but to recognize, respect, and accept the true will of God.
Faith, is an important part of any person’s life, not just those who are Christians. We rely on our faith to get us through any tough situation, such as when we put our faith in God, when things may seem at their worst and with our faith, we never give up. In this movie, faith is displayed in an incredible way because Joseph never gave up and he had faith in God through whatever was thrown his way. Faith is something that is not let go or broken easily. Without it, we would not have hope, and without hope, we would not be able to get past any obstacle that may be put in our way. Joseph clearly expresses this because faith is what guided him, and that faith is what guides us each in our own Christian experience and everyday life.
While I was being asked to speak today and being given the topic of my talk I was reminded of an experience that I had as a young man preparing to serve a mission. I recalled a moment spent in the Priesthood Session of General Conference mere months before I was to attend the MTC in Provo, Utah. I knew that leading up to the time appointed for my mission that I had a lot to do to prepare to teach the gospel, to live as a missionary, and to be a witness for the Savior. I recalled the days leading up to the Conference and vowing in my heart and to Heavenly Father that I wasn’t going to let this Conference be “just another Conference”. I remember being taught that in order to truly gain the most out of the experience that I should prepare myself
The book of Job is essentially one that tests faith. Job was a righteous man of God and lived a prosperous life. Sadly, a series of unfortunate events caused him to lose everything; his source of income, his family, and his health began to suffer. Even though this test was prompted by Satan, God allowed it because he wanted to see if the many blessings he bestowed upon Job were the reason for his loyalty. However, the conservation that transpired between Job and his friends left God very angry. The key to figuring out why is to first know the exchange of words then comprehend the meaning that lies within.