Louise Gevers
Ook tot in julle ouderdom is Ek die Here, tot in julle grysheid sal Ek julle dra. Ek het julle gemaak en Ek sal julle vashou, julle dra en julle red. Jesaja 46:4, 1983-vertaling
Watter aangrypende, vertroostende belofte van God vind ons nie in vandag se teksvers nie. Dit weerspieël God se deernis en liefde vir sy kinders, selfs wanneer hulle oud is en hulle hare grys word. Dit wys dat Hy menslike swakhede verstaan. Vandag se teksvers word voorafgegaan met die woorde: "... julle vir wie Ek gedra het van julle geboorte af, wat Ek vasgehou het vandat julle daar is." (Jesaja 46:3b)
Hoe kosbaar is dit nie? God is teenwoordig van voor ons eerste asemteug en bly teenwoordig as 'n getroue Vriend in elke stadium van ons lewe, en in vandag se teksvers beloof Hy om in hulle ouderdom steeds sy kinders te dra, te onderhou en te red.
Hierdie tema word pragtig geïlustreer in Genesis 24:1-10 wanneer ons lees van Abraham, die man wat bekend was as " 'n vriend van God" (Jakobus 2:23) en alhoewel nou reeds baie oud, God steeds volkome vertrou. Abraham staan voor 'n belangrike taak – hy moet 'n vrou vir Isak, sy seun, vind. Abraham steun egter nie op sy eie wysheid en planne nie, maar wel op die getrouheid van God. Daarom kan hy die opdrag aan sy getroue slaaf, Eliëser, toevertrou.
Hierdie gedeelte is 'n getuienis van God se wonderlike vriendskap en dat Abraham presies geweet het wat om te doen om in lyn met God se beloftes aan hom te bly. Hy getuig ook van sy volgehoue geloof in God wanneer hy Eliëser beveel om 'n eed af te lê in die Naam van God, die een ware God in wie hy glo, en dan sal hy, Eliëser, ook ervaar hoe God gebede verhoor en weer eens vir sy eienaar voorsien. En God het hulle nie teleurgestel nie.
Eliëser het gebid en God het hom geantwoord: “Aan die Here die God van Abraham wie se slaaf ek is, kom die lof toe! Die Here het nie sy troue liefde van my eienaar weerhou nie en vir my het die Here reguit gelei na die huis van my eienaar se broer toe.” (Genesis24:27) Daar is geen twyfel aan Eliëser se vreugde oor die sukses wat hy in hierdie belangrike sending behaal het en oor sy verwondering vir wat God deur hom gedoen het nie. Eliëser se woorde getuig van God se onwrikbare teenwoordigheid in Abraham se lewe.
Abraham se lewe getuig van 'n lewenslange vriendskap waartoe God ons ook uitnooi. God se getrouheid gee, as ons lewe in Hom geanker is, selfs tot in die gryse ouderdom vrede en 'n doel vir ons lewe en Hy voorsien vir ons. God gee om vir elkeen van ons. Moet ons nie in verwondering staan oor hoe Hy alles in ons lewe tot die fynste besonderhede uitwerk wanneer ons Hom vertrou en sy vriend word nie?
Laat jy Hom toe om dit vir jou te doen?
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, dankie dat U vir altyd ons getroue vriend is en dat U ons daaraan herinner dat dit nie saak maak hoe oud ons is of wat ons beleef nie, U is altyd daar en gereed om ons te dra, te onderhou en te red. Ons vertrou, net soos Abraham, in u voorsiening en leiding. Help ons om altyd op U te steun en bly te wees in u onfeilbare liefde. Amen
Louise Gevers
Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4, NIV
What a poignant, comforting promise from God is found in our verse today. It reflects God’s faithful compassion and love for his people, even when they age and their hair turns grey, and shows how he understands human frailty. He precedes this verse with, “... I have upheld [you] since you were conceived, and have carried you since birth.” (Isaiah 46:3b)
How precious is that? God is present from before our first breath and then remains as a faithful Friend through every stage of life; and now he promises to carry, sustain and rescue his people in old age.
Beautifully illustrated in Genesis 24:1-10, this theme takes up with Abraham, the man known as “the Friend of God” (James 2:23), who is now well advanced in years but is still walking in deep trust with him. Abraham is faced with a vital mission – to find a wife for Isaac, his son. Abraham’s confidence isn’t in his own wisdom and strategies, but in God’s faithfulness, and so he entrusts the assignment to his faithful servant, Eliezer.
In a wonderful testimony to God’s friendship, Abraham knew exactly what to do to keep in line with God’s promises to him, which also showed Eliezer his continued faith in God, as he instructed him to swear by God, the one true God, whom he worshipped; he, too, would see how God answered prayer and provide yet again for his master. And God did not disappoint.
Eliezer prayed, and God answered. “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” (Genesis 24:27) There’s no mistaking Eliezer’s joy at the success of this significant mission and his awe at what God has done through him. His words are a beautiful testimony to God’s unwavering presence in Abraham’s life.
Abraham’s story is a testimony to the lifelong friendship God invites us to. His trust, even in old age, reveals how a life rooted in God brings peace, purpose and provision. God cares for each one of us. Don’t we stand in awe of how when we put our trust in God and become his friend, he works out even the most intricate details in our lives from beginning to end?
Are you allowing God to do that for you?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being our faithful friend for life, and for reminding us that no matter our age or season, you are near, ready to carry, sustain and rescue us. We trust in your provision and guidance, just as Abraham did. Help us to lean on you in every season, and rejoice in your unfailing love. Amen
Louise Gevers
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. Luke 6:47-48a ESV
“The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began”, said JRR Tolkien. Where and how it began will always influence the perspective of the person on the road, as on the journey of life, and determine the outcome. The foundation of anything is vitally important, because on it rests whatever is built, physically or metaphorically, and whether it succeeds or fails depends on its quality.
I had the opportunity to walk on a frozen lake recently – which I did gingerly – walking two kilometres to the middle, and then back again; but the fact that it was cracking, in the process of melting, and that the foundation would soon be water, did not inspire confidence in me to continue to the other side. A good foundation has to be well-built and remain solid for the building it supports to stand the test of time.
Isn’t that true for faith too?
Looking back on my childhood, the greatest gift I received was being introduced to Jesus early in life. Of course, I wasn’t aware then that each new thing I learnt about Jesus – each Sunday School lesson, each Psalm memorised, each Nativity Play – was laying a foundation. What I did know was that learning about Jesus brought me joy; his love made life rich with meaning, a richness I still feel today.
In today’s verse, Jesus speaks of digging deep to lay a foundation, comparing those who hear his words and put them into practice with someone building their house on rock. It’s not enough to listen, only; doing is essential. Hearing alone is like admiring architectural plans but never building the structure. But when we act, the foundation is laid, and the house begins to rise – strong, secure, and lasting in any storm.
James emphasises this when he writes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, NIV) Jesus warns against being lukewarm – half-hearted faith won’t stand. (Read: Revelation 3:15-16) A house built on sand collapses, but one built on rock endures, demonstrating the stability that comes with obedience.
Those early lessons anchored me in Jesus to withstand the doubts, fears and uncertainties of life’s storms. Though I still face trials and uncertainty, his Word continues to be my guide and strength; and by applying his truth to each challenge, I and my faith grow.
Prayer: Precious Lord Jesus, you are my Rock, my firm foundation. To remain deep in you is my greatest desire. Please give me the joy of not only hearing your words, but living them daily. Amen.
Louise Gevers
“Elkeen wat na My toe kom en my woorde hoor en daarvolgens handel – Ek sal vir julle verduidelik soos wie hy is: Hy is soos 'n man wat besig was om 'n huis te bou. Hy het gespit en diep gegrawe, en die fondament op die rots gelê. Lukas 6:47-48a, 2020-vertaling
“The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began”, sê JRR Tolkien. Waar en hoe dit begin het sal altyd, soos ook in die geval van die lewensreis, die perspektief beïnvloed van die persoon wat op pad is, en ook die uitkoms bepaal. Die fondament van enigiets is lewensbelangrik, want wat ook al daarop gebou is – fisies of metafories gesproke – se staan of val, hang af van die kwaliteit van die fondament.
Ek het onlangs die geleentheid gehad om op 'n bevrore meer te loop – wat ek versigtig gedoen het – twee kilometers tot in die middel en weer terug. Die feit dat die ys besig was om te kraak en te smelt, het nie genoeg vertroue by my ingeboesem om na die anderkant te stap nie. 'n Goeie fondament moet goed en stewig wees sodat die gebou wat dit ondersteun die toets van die tyd kan deurstaan.
Is dit nie ook die geval met ons geloof nie?
Kyk ek terug na my kinderjare, besef ek die grootste geskenk wat ek ontvang het was om op 'n jong leeftyd aan Jesus voorgestel te word. Ek was egter nie toe bewus dat elke nuwe ding wat ek oor Hom geleer het – elke Sondagskoolles, elke Psalm wat ek gememoriseer het, elke Kersspel – gehelp het om die fondament te lê nie. Wat ek wel geweet het, was om van Jesus te leer my bly gemaak het. Sy liefde het ryke betekenis aan my lewe gegee, iets wat ek vandag steeds ervaar.
In vandag se teksvers sê Jesus dat daar diep gegrawe moet word om die fondament te lê en Hy vergelyk diegene wat sy woorde hoor en daarvolgens handel met iemand wat sy huis op rots bou. Dit is nie genoeg om net te hoor nie. Om te doen is noodsaaklik. Om net te hoor is soos om die argiteksplanne te bewonder, maar nooit die struktuur te bou nie. Wanneer ons egter tot aksie oorgaan, word die fondament gelê en die huis gebou – sterk, veilig en blywend, selfs in die grootste storm.
Jakobus beklemtoon dit wanneer hy skryf: "Wees doeners van die woord, en nie slegs hoorders wat julleself mislei nie." (Jakobus 1:22) Jesus waarsku ons om nie louwarm te wees nie want halfhartige geloof sal nie oorleef nie. (Lees: Openbaring 3:15-16). 'n Huis wat op sand gebou is, sal ineen stort, maar die een wat op rots gebou is, sal bly staan en dit demonstreer die stabiliteit wat met gehoorsaamheid gepaardgaan.
Daardie vroeë lesse het my in Jesus geanker sodat ek die twyfel, vrees en onsekerhede van die lewe se storms kan weerstaan. Alhoewel ek steeds beproewings en onsekerhede beleef, bly Gods Woord steeds my gids en krag, en deur die waarhede van die Woord in elke uitdaging toe te pas, groei ek in my geloof.
Gebed: Dierbare Here Jesus, U is my Rots, my vaste fondament. My grootste begeerte is om U elke dag beter te ken. Skenk aan my die blydskap om nie net u woorde te hoor nie, maar dit ook daagliks te leef. Amen