Reading
SAA Notes
This list is of the exiled and dispersed tribes that had been greatly blessed by God in the past and had been prominent in Israel. God blessed them in their days of faithfulness – will He not do the same for us today?
SJA Notes
* Blessed God, we cry to You in our distress, and You answer us.
“And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.”
Ephraim was a tribe that would dominate the north of Israel, but here we see tragedy striking at the beginning.
When hardship hits, when tragedy strikes, it is very easy to lose hope.
Ephraim’s brothers came and comforted him.
We can do (and have done to us) the same for God’s family – Gathering and comforting our brothers and sisters in our grief.
Praise God then that He is the God of the LIVING< the death-conqueror, messiah and saviour.
Our God continues to be sovereign and true and holy, even when we can’t see that for the logs and planks in our eyes, the hardness of our hearts, the turmoil and storms running through us, our pain and sorrow clouding our sight.
This is good to be reminded of.
* Father God,
Thank You for the comfort You alone provide, our ever-present Good Shepherd, Comforter and Friend – On whom we can cast all our cares and worries, our anxieties and strains.
Please help us to reflect Your love to each other, to comfort each other in our troubles and grief, and to point to Jesus.
Amen.