Thursday, 9 August 2018

Conflict

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Conflict (Hebrew 'riyv') - this is a legal word, used to describe disputes, cases or lawsuits; it has overtones of struggling, contending and striving.

Jeremiah said, "Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me - a man of conflict and strife with all the land." (Jer 15:10). He was used to struggling with his fellow men to bring forth the word of G-d that they didn't want to hear and he would often rather not speak, but needed to be spoken so that justice could be proclaimed to the people and righteousness. The L-rd Himself bring charges against His people: "Hear the word of the L-rd, O people of Israel! For the L-rd has a case against the inhabitants of this land, because there is no honesty and no goodness and no obedience to G-d in the Land" (Hos 4:1).

We must be careful not to strive against the L-rd, but to to be striving with Him as Rav Sha'ul said: standing fast in one Spirit, "with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil 1:27), "striving with all the energy that He stirs up in me so mightily" (Col 1:29), "striving against sin" (Hebr 12:4).

ur striving and our work find their strength and fulfillment in Him, as Yeshua said: "Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My

yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30).

When we are teamed with Yeshua, our striving takes its proper place and we will see the kingdom grow.