우리가 돌아가 의지할 곳(WHERE TO TURN)

💙 우리가 돌아가 의지할 곳

 ✝  이사야 30:12 - 30:18 

“여호와께서 기다리시나니 이는 너희에게 은혜를 베풀려 하심이요” [이사야 30:18]

고등학교 시절 잭은 여유로운 태도와 운동 실력으로 모두의 부러움을 샀습니다. 한 손으로 스케이트보드를 잡고 다른 한 손은 균형을 잡기 위해 쭉 뻗은 채 하프파이프 (스케이트보드용 U형 구조물 : 역자 주) 위 공중으로 날아오른 잭은 가장 행복해 보였습니다.
동네에 있는 교회에 다니면서 그는 예수님을 따르기로 결심했습니다. 그렇게 결심할 때까지 잭은 심각한 가족 문제로 힘들어했고 그 아픔을 잊고자 약물을 복용한 적도 있습니다. 예수를 믿고 한동안은 모든 일이 잘 되어가는 것 같았습니다. 그러나 몇 년 후 다시 약물을 사용하기 시작했습니다. 적절한 도움과 지속적인 치료도 못 받은 채 그는 결국 약물 과다 복용으로 사망하고 말았습니다.

우리는 어려움이 닥칠 때 자기가 친숙한 쪽에 의지하기 쉽습니다. 이스라엘 민족은 닥쳐올 앗수르의 공격을 두려워하고 있을 때 그들의 노예 시절 주인이던 애굽 사람들에게 도움을 청했습니다(이사야 30:1–5). 
하나님은 그들이 이 일로 곤욕을 치르게 될 것이라고 예상하셨지만, 잘못된 선택에도 불구하고 계속해서 이스라엘 백성들을 보살펴 주셨습니다. 

이사야는 하나님의 마음을 이렇게 전합니다 “여호와께서 기다리시나니 이는 너희에게 은혜를 베풀려 하심이요 일어나시리니 이는 너희를 긍휼히 여기려 하심이라”(18절).
이것이 하나님의 성품이십니다. 우리가 고통을 피하고자 다른 곳을 찾아 헤맬 때에도 하나님은 우리를 기다리시는 분입니다. 하나님은 우리를 돕고자 하십니다. 
우리가 중독적인 습관으로 상처 입는 것을 원치 않으십니다. 어떤 물질이나 행동을 통해 순간의 안식을 맛보려 하지만, 하나님께서는 우리가 그분과 가까이 동행할 때 진정한 치유를 베풀기를 원하십니다.

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실패를 겪을 때 주님의 은혜를 인정하는 것이 왜 중요할까요? 당신은 어떻게 하나님과의 관계에서 그분처럼 신실할 수 있을까요?

<사랑하는 하나님, 저를 죄의 굴레에서 자유롭게 하소서. 다른 곳에서 안식을 찾으려는 유혹에 빠질 때 주님을 의지하는 용기를 주소서.>

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[이사야 30:12 - 30:18]
12. 이러므로 이스라엘의 거룩하신 이가 이같이 말씀하시되 너희가 이 말을 업신여기고 압박과 허망을 믿어 그것을 의지하니
13. 이 죄악이 너희에게 마치 무너지려고 터진 담이 불쑥 나와 순식간에 무너짐 같게 되리라 하셨은즉
14. 그가 이 나라를 무너뜨리시되 토기장이가 그릇을 깨뜨림 같이 아낌이 없이 부수시리니 그 조각 중에서, 아궁이에서 불을 붙이거나 물 웅덩이에서 물을 뜰 것도 얻지 못하리라
15. 주 여호와 이스라엘의 거룩하신 이가 이같이 말씀하시되 너희가 돌이켜 조용히 있어야 구원을 얻을 것이요 잠잠하고 신뢰하여야 힘을 얻을 것이거늘 너희가 원하지 아니하고
16. 이르기를 아니라 우리가 말 타고 도망하리라 하였으므로 너희가 도망할 것이요 또 이르기를 우리가 빠른 짐승을 타리라 하였으므로 너희를 쫓는 자들이 빠르리니
17. 한 사람이 꾸짖은즉 천 사람이 도망하겠고 다섯이 꾸짖은즉 너희가 다 도망하고 너희 남은 자는 겨우 산 꼭대기의 깃대 같겠고 산 마루 위의 기치 같으리라 하셨느니라
18. 그러나 여호와께서 기다리시나니 이는 너희에게 은혜를 베풀려 하심이요 일어나시리니 이는 너희를 긍휼히 여기려 하심이라 대저 여호와는 정의의 하나님이심이라 그를 기다리는 자마다 복이 있도다

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💙 WHERE TO TURN

 ✝  Isaiah 30:12 - 30:18

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you."[ ISAIAH 30:18 ]

Everyone in high school admired Jack’s easygoing attitude and athletic skill. He was happiest in midair above a half-pipe ramp—one hand holding his skateboard, the other stretched out for balance.
Jack decided to follow Jesus after he started attending a local church. Up to that point, he’d endured significant family struggles and had used drugs to medicate his pain. For a while after his conversion, things seemed to be going well for him. But years later he started using drugs again. Without the proper intervention and ongoing treatment, he eventually died of an overdose.

It’s easy to turn back to what’s familiar when we face difficulty. When the Israelites felt the distress of an upcoming Assyrian attack, they crawled back to the Egyptians—their former slave masters—for help (ISAIAH 30:1–5). God predicted that this would be disastrous, but He continued to care for them although they made the wrong choice. 

Isaiah voiced God’s heart: “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion” (V. 18).
This is God’s attitude toward us, even when we choose to look elsewhere to numb our pain. He wants to help us. He doesn’t want us to hurt ourselves with habits that create bondage. Certain substances and actions tempt us with a quick sense of relief, but God wants to provide authentic healing as we walk closely with Him. -JENNIFER BENSON SCHULD

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Why is it important to recognize God’s grace in times of failure?How can you better mirror God’s faithfulness in your relationship with Him?

<Dear God, please set me free from sinful patterns. Help me to turn to You when I’m tempted to find relief in something else.>

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[Isaiah 30:12 - 30:18]
12. Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Since you have rejected this word, And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,
13. Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant.
14. "And whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter's jar; So ruthlessly shattered That a sherd will not be found among its pieces To take fire from a hearth, Or to scoop water from a cistern."
15. For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,
16. And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses," Therefore you shall flee! "And we will ride on swift [horses,]" Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17. One thousand [shall flee] at the threat of one [man,] You shall flee at the threat of five; Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top, And as a signal on a hill.
18. Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him