Tomorrow is a big day in my world—RELEASE DAY for Isaiah’s Legacy!
Do you KNOW that a year of blood, sweat, and tears was poured into that book? Not just mine, but a whole team of people—each one representing a household in which men, women, and children have had good days and bad.
I’d love to invite y’all to celebrate the birth of this book-baby with me tomorrow night from 8pm-9pm (EDT) at a Facebook Live Release Party. Two wonderful co-hosts will help me announce the winner of the Pre-Order Giveaway and give out more prizes every ten minutes! I’ll share behind-the-scenes details about writing the book, and give you a glimpse of who I am—but will you KNOW me?
Though you’ll know a little about me—how I look, how my voice sounds, some of my mannerisms, etc.—only long-time friends really know my heart.
How Can We Know A Person in the Bible?
If knowing a person that we can see, hear, touch, etc. is so difficult, how can we ever hope to know someone in the Bible? Someone who lived in a completely different location, culture, and time?
That’s where I believe research and God’s Holy Spirit work in our favor. As we read God’s divinely inspired Word (the Bible), His Spirit reveals to us truths that our minds couldn’t otherwise absorb. It’s the only way I would dare research and write biblical novels.
Though I don’t believe my words are “inspired” at the same level as the Words of Scripture, I do believe the Spirit gives me direction to know the characters as I do my part to research and learn about their lives and culture.
As I’ve been reading through the Bible this year with a group on the YouVersion Bible app, I’m seeing that knowing biblical characters can help me—and others—know God. Here’s what I mean.
Jacob & Joseph
While pondering how these two men handled adversity in their lives (Genesis 25-50)—Jacob in Haran/Canaan and Joseph in Egypt—I realized the contrast couldn’t have been starker. Joseph was betrayed, enslaved, unjustly accused, and imprisoned; yet we see not even a hint of bitterness in the record of his thirteen years in Egypt.
Jacob, on the other hand, was consumed with bitterness and aimed it at his remaining sons.
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’” Genesis 42:1-2
Wouldn’t a kinder question like, “Why don’t you boys go down to Egypt and see if you can get us some food?” work just as well? Or did his sons deserve the venom because of what they did to Joseph (even though at this point Jacob didn’t know their full guilt)? But the fact is, regardless of what they did, the bitterness was eating up Jacob’s heart.
Jacob’s bitterness couldn’t change Joseph’s absence, his other sons’ attitudes, or the years of deceit and dysfunction that preceded it.
No matter what others do or don’t deserve, only we can change our inner turmoil.
~ And ~
Only God can change our emotions when we GIVE UP THE RIGHT to feel hurt and cheated.
Knowing God
Throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (reading not for the faint of heart), I’ve been tempted to count the phrase, “I am the LORD your God.” Yahweh repeats it whenever He gives the fledgling nation of Israel a law or command because it reveals something about His character—something that helps them (and us) know Him better.
I know folks get pretty discouraged when they see the “wrath of God” in the Old Testament. I’ve even heard some say, “I don’t like the god of the Old Testament. I like the god of the New Testament.” Notice I didn’t capitalize “gods” because those folks aren’t talking about the Triune God—Father/Son/Spirit. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
When God takes decisive action in those early chapters and books of the Old Testament, it’s because He’s training His people in WHO He is. They must KNOW Him, and He corrects them when they’re wrong.
That realization made me stop and think—no wonder people have a poor opinion of God in our culture today! So many carelessly toss out His name in a moment of anger, fear, or disappointment. Why wouldn’t people connect God with the bad things that happen in their lives?
My Job & Yours
If you’re a Christ follower and have made Him Lord of your life, it’s our mission to ensure those around us know Him by watching us.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
Terrifying, huh? To think that Jesus left the advancement of His Kingdom in our hands? Eeee-gad! But here’s the good news. We’re not called to do it alone.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
THAT is the God we know.
Tweet-Ables:
- Join @MesuAndrews #IsaiahsLegacy FB Release Day Party from 8pm-9pm EDT for prizes, freebies, and inside info on her writing process to the sequel Christy-winning, #IsaiahsDaughter. https://www.facebook.com/MesuAndrews/
- Only God can change our emotions when we GIVE UP THE RIGHT to feel hurt and cheated. #IsaiahsLegacy #LiveUnchained @MesuAndrews #newrelease https://www.facebook.com/MesuAndrews/
- It’s a little terrifying to think Jesus left the advancement of His Kingdom in our hands, but we’re not called to do it alone! (Gal.2:20) #IsaiahsLegacy #LiveUnchained @MesuAndrews #newrelease https://www.facebook.com/MesuAndrews/
Today’s Question:
- What helps you know God best? Sermons? Reading the Bible? Prayer? Spending time with godly people? Quiet time in nature?
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* Do you enjoy my books? Maybe wish I’d write a little faster? Beginning March 2020, I’m doing a little experiment with shorter, more frequent fiction. For just $3 a month, I’ll send out one biblical fiction short story per month–at least 4,000 words–delivered directly to your inbox through Patreon.com. (I need to charge for the stories because I’m paying for editing.) Interested? CLICK HERE for more info!
