Scripture References: Numbers 13, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 18:18-33, Psalm 74
What does a prince of Egypt, a Father of two Religions, a King, a thief on a cross, the apostle Paul, and you and I have in common?
One word - grace.
Memories can be very powerful. Sometimes, we have memories that are so intense that we can recall even the smallest detail – from the way the air felt at a certain event; to the fact that one pant leg was a little more wrinkled than the other; to how we smelled, or what we smelled – it’s amazing.
Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets or psalm writers often offered supplication to God (that’s requests, by the way) – they would often get His attention by recalling His faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When you look at Moses in Numbers 13; Noah in Genesis 9:1; Abraham in Genesis 18:18-33, or David in Psalm 74. They were often doing this in hopes of turning God’s wrath away from them by intercession on behalf of His glory. They knew their sinfulness, and were begging for the mercy of God, using His greatness as a bargaining chip.
Fast forward a thousand years later to St Paul, struggling with a thorn in his side; asking God to remember Him. God’s response was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Those words contain just as much truth and power now as they did then. When I wrote this song, I was really struggling with the will of God in my own life – and yet, I knew of His faithfulness to me – that His spirit was pouring down grace upon grace in my life – I just couldn’t see it with the eyes of my heart. Like the convicted thief next to Jesus on the cross, I am a weak person, and the fact that God could use you or i or anyone for that matter to help lead the people of God in song is completely mind boggling to me. Not only that, but that God used fishermen to build His church; that’s mind boggling. And yet, somehow – it’s not. I think He does that to show that His grace, well, it IS enough – to build His church; to sustain us on the way; to lead us further and further into relationship with Him. That was, and still is, the posture of my heart when I pray this song.
Date Created: 9/22/2006
Author: Matt Maher
Orginal Post: http://worshiptogether.com/resources/bibleStudy.aspx
