Isaiah 55: 6-9
Our faith is filled with paradoxes. A paradox is a statement or proposition which combines contradictory features or messages. It could be a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement that when investigated may prove to be well founded. The bible is filled with statements that fall into the category of the Paradox text. Because of these, many less knowledgeable persons in the faith and also those outside the faith more often conclude that the bible contradicts itself.
Paradoxes are like a coin having two sides. If you see only a side, you don’t have the whole picture. Reminds one of the folktales about four blind men’s encounter with an elephant. Each touched different parts of the elephant. The one that touched the ear concluded that the elephant was flat like a sheet. The other one touched the elephant’s leg and proclaimed that it is like a tree. Another touched the trunk and said the elephant is like a snake. The last one touched the side and said the elephant was like a wall. They were all correct in these contradictions but did not get the true picture until the segments are put together as a whole.
In the same way, many statements in the bible may appear contradictory until viewed through the lens of a wholesome viewer. If you hold on to a part without the other(s), your conclusion can not but be contrary to what the bible intended. God is not the author of confusion. Whatever he says is yea and amen. He says what he means and means what he says. There is no ambiguity with God. Whenever and wherever the word appears contradictory, all that is needed is more knowledge. It is only when knowledge is acquired that understanding can follow. In the next few days, we shall examine a few paradoxes in our faith and learn a few lessons. Today, we look at the scripture below:
Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle, Deuteronomy 2:24.
There appears a contradiction here. The LORD says he had given the Israelites the Land. But they should battle and contend with the inhabitants before they could possess. One would say, If He had given, why do we need to fight for it? Whatever is given should be a “fait accompli”.
There should be no further contention, moreso, as the LORD himself is capable of delivering what is given unto our hands!
The issue is simple. God gives; but you must fight for you to possess. This is a principle of life. You have to contend for what is yours. God gives good and perfect gifts. But you must contend for it. Our faith is a free gift, but your efforts shall be necessary to benefit. Beloved, God has enabled you with brains, arms and other potentials to possess. True, you have been given, yet you must fight for it. Noting comes free. In life, when God gives, what he does is to provide the enabling atmosphere. The Word itself is God’s divine messenger to help you accomplish what he sets before you. Hence, when he gives you contend and possess.
MEDITATION: He gives! I contend! I possess.
