Scott Beyer

Unanswerable Questions

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)
 
The LORD doesn’t tell us everything. There are mysteries of this universe and the vast galaxies that only He can fathom. There are fish in the ocean that only He sees and wonders in the heavens that only He observes. The divine wisdom of God understands and observes every hair on my head, but I only know the number is diminishing.
 
We also don’t know why everything happens. Why do God’s people suffer? Why does one person enjoy blessings while another must grieve like Job did? These unanswerable questions caused David to question his life and his faith – when David contemplated the success of the wicked and the struggles of the righteous he said, “my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped, for I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Ps 73:2-3). In the dark and hollow days of sorrow, it is natural to ask, “Why?”
 
The answer to personal suffering is – I don’t know. None of us does. We don’t get to know everything – we just get to know Him who does.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor 1:3-4)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Appropriate Expectations

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.” (Deut. 30:11)
 
If God expects something of you, He will provide the strength to do it. Excuses are lists of what is preventing us from doing something, but God has removed all things that would prevent us from successfully serving Him.
 
You are smart enough, strong enough, rich enough, and talented enough to do what God has commanded – you may just not be brave enough or faithful enough. That is the blunt truth of God’s Word. It isn’t that the command is too hard, it is often that we are too soft. Excuses are our way of avoiding the hard truth that our shortcomings are personal and not circumstantial.
 
When it comes to following the Bible, it is never ‘I can’t’, it is only ‘I won’t’.
 
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

The Storehouses of God

“The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand” (Deut. 28:12)
 
After the farmer has plowed the field, planted the seeds, weeded, and fertilized; he is left to watch the clouds – helpless to control the rains. The heavens are God’s storehouse of blessings and completely out of our control.
 
After all your hard work, all your toil, sweat, and tender care, the increase still belongs to God. Every day people strive for success without achieving it. Turns out that the intangible things, the things often attributed to luck, happenstance, or serendipity have more control over your life than you do. You have no say in what the weather will be, when and where you are born, the mood of your boss, or the traffic along your commute. The uncountable and unquantifiable belongs to God.
 
So accept vulnerability and weakness. Accept your limitations and inabilities. When we do that, we are prepared to lean upon the God of all understanding. The omnipotent I AM becomes our guardian and guide, and after we have plowed and planted, we farmers can simply sleep peacefully as we await His rains in their season.
 
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.” (Jas. 1:17)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Seeking Confirmation

“Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.” (Deut. 27:26)
 
Confirmation is the act of reinforcing something. Someone says that North Korea has nuclear arms… best to confirm that before launching a full strike. If the doctor says you have cancer, might be a good idea to get confirmation with a second opinion.
 
God’s word is a beautiful thing, read by billions of people over the centuries, but when Christians confirm that Word through our actions we are blessed and those around us are too. When we read the laws of God and then live them it reinforces their value as we see them in action. The doing confirms and establishes how correct God was all along.
 
This is what Paul meant when he said that in the gospel the “righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith”. The book of faith is meant to lead us to live a life of faith. Reading the faith should lead to practicing the faith which leads to becoming people of faith.
 
Paul also directly quotes Deut. 27:26 in Gal 3:10 to point out that another side effect of confirming God’s laws by doing them is the realization that you don’t practice them perfectly. The word also confirms our sinfulness – and that is important too, because Christ came to save sinners. You have to realize the need to appreciate the gift.
 
“Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.”
(I Timothy 4:15)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

The Solitary Road

“Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deut. 24:16)
 
We’ve all been affected by the consequences of other people’s sins, but nobody should bear the guilt for other people’s sins. In a drunk-driving accident, there may be many people harmed by the sin of drunkenness, but there is only one sinner – the person behind the wheel.
 
Your sins are your own and you have to face them yourself. We are each behind the wheel of our own life and that means there is no such thing as blaming someone else for your choices. Acknowledging our own faults and recognizing our own sins is just as important as realizing that other people’s sins aren’t your fault.
 
When you stand before God, it will be your life that you give account for and it won’t matter what bad (or good) those around you have done – there is no such thing as guilt or innocence by association on the Judgment Day. Take charge of you. There is only one person you can control.
 
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.” (Deut. 22:8)
 
Cain asked the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – apparently, if it’s your house you are! The typical architecture found in Israel was a flat roof that doubled as an outer patio/balcony. If you were going to have people go up on your roof, you better build a parapet (i.e. a low wall or railing) so they didn’t fall. In other words, every Jew was responsible for thinking about the safety and well-being of others. It was the Jewish equivalent of building codes.
 
If through neglect in our own craftsmanship and service we fail to consider the health and safety of our fellow man, we are wrong. “Whatever our hand finds to do we should do with all our might” (Eccl 9:10). A Christian should not cut corners in whatever service he is active in… especially when that service impacts others, and it almost always does.
 
Neglect and apathy are not found in the fruits of the spirit, but self-control and faithfulness are.
 
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Be Kind

“Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.” And all the people shall say, “Amen” (Deut. 27:18)
 
Weak people mock other people’s struggles. Read the news and you will find it full of stories of people taking advantage of others because they can. Making fun of people’s struggles is taught early and often in every schoolyard across the country. Kids quickly learn that wearing glasses, awkwardness, being overweight, etc. leads to mocking almost immediately. Bullies abound.
 
People are people. Souls are souls. Be better than the culture.
 
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:21)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Happy Wife, Happy Life

“When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.” (Deut. 24:5)
 
Why was this command to men? Probably because we are the first to forget it… off with our band of brothers, men are prone to forget their wives and the care of marriages. Men – marriage is about responsibility of service. It is about what you put into it, not what you get out of it. The marriage vows are a commitment to make your wife happy and to bring her happiness.
 
What if every husband in America spent the next week bringing joy to their wives? What if we thought of that as our conquest and mission instead of the earthly pursuits that often fill our days? What would happen if our goals became to create godly marriages and godly families?
 
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church because we are members of his body.” (Eph 5:28-30)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Like a Good Neighbor

“You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman.” (Deut. 22:1)

Common courtesy was built into the fabric of God’s laws to the Jews. Looking out for the well-being of your neighbor was simply part of being a servant of God. Whether it be returning an ox that strayed or in more modern application, returning someone’s dropped wallet or forgotten sunglasses, there is always room for more kindness and human decency.

Never underestimate the power of simply being a thoughtful citizen and neighbor. In a selfish and sin-grieved world, every act of selflessness matters.

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Test the Prophets

“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deut 18:22)
 
If God says something, it will stand the test of time. Unfettered by the shortsightedness of humanity, God keeps His promises, properly sees the future, and orchestrates His plans with exceptional precision.
 
So, how do you know God wrote the Bible? It is a book full of prophecies. Specific prophecies that are finely-tuned in their specificity. Ezekiel 26 describes the fall of the nation of Tyre hundreds of years in advance. Isaiah 40:22 describes a spherical earth even while flat-earthers still debate the subject today. And Psalms 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10 describe the crucifixion of Jesus… before crucifixion had been invented. No fortune cookie prophecies for God – specifics are in and details matter.
 
No other religious document holds up to the scrutiny God’s Word faces. So next time you read the text, remember that human philosophies come and go – don’t be afraid of the modern prophets of humanism and materialism. Like all false prophets, they will come and go.
 
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
(Psalms 119:160)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4