The Scriptures are full of Irony. Irony is an outcome of events that is contrary to what might have been expected. Imagine the irony in Pharaohs decree to kill the male Hebrew children. He began to fear that Israel’s rapid multiplying would result in their rising up against Egypt. Yet his daughter drew Moses from the bulrush and raised him in the place of Egypt. It is an irony that the one Pharaoh feared was living in his place and eating at his table. Hear the irony of Solomon’s words when he writes: “There is that makes himself rich yet hath nothing; there is that makes him=self poor yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).
And there is irony in the New Testament as well. We hear irony in Jesus’ words when He tells the disciples: “Whosoever would be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matt. 20:26), or “The last shall be first and the first last” (Matt. 20:16).
The Apostle Paul experienced a great irony in his own life. He wrote in detail about it to the Corinthians. He was describing his familiar “thorn in the flesh” that he prayed three times to be delivered from when he made a great discovery. “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Paul discovered that when he was at his weakest the power of God was at its strongest in his own life. Let me ask you:
· Do you feel weak today?
· Are you wrestling against difficulties that you have no resources to overcome?
The message for us is that times of weakness are a blessing if they place us in the atmosphere of experiencing the strength and power of God.
His strength for our weakness is a truth that weaves its way throughout the Scriptures. It is illustrated clearly when Israel had her back to the Red Sea and Pharaohs chariots were rushing in upon her.
Over the next few days this message (HIS STRENGTH FOR OUR WEAKNESS) will be presented in separate blog postings illustrating three (3) major points:
1. THE SITUATION THEY FACED (No Place to Go – A Great Dilemma)
2. THE TEMPTATION WITH WHICH THEY FLIRTED (No Strength Left to Fight – A Great Danger)
3. THEIR GREAT DISCOVERY (No Task is Too Great for God – His strength for Our Weakness)
Be sure to check out the next few blog postings and gain victory by finding His Strength for your Weakness.
