This week we will look at “How Can” questions from the Old Testament and consider the lessons we can learn from them. The first question is found in Deuteronomy 7:17.  “If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them.” The setting for this question is God giving them instructions on what they were to do to take the land of Canaan and dispose of the nations that were already there (7:1-16)  God’s answer is given in 7:18-26.  Briefly stated it was that they could not on their own, but if they would remember what God had done for them and have faith in Him and be obedient to Him  and with His help they would take the land and live safely in it.

Exodus 14:13-14 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”  This is an example they could remember and know that God was able. 

While God does not work miracles today to enable us to achieve  His will, we can have the same assurance that He will help us in the troubles and trials of life and by His help we can be successful.  Consider the promise Jesus made in Matthew were He promised  “I am with you always even unto the end of the world.”  We have this promise in Romans 8:31-32,  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Consider Hebrews 13:5-6,  “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

The same things that would enable the Jews to take the land of Canaan will enable us to obtain eternal life in heaven. Those things are faith and obedience. Read Romans 11, James 2, Matthew 7:21, Romans 5:8-9 and 1 Peter 1:22.

Our next question is from Ezekiel 47:7,   “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.”  This chapter gives the certainty of God’s judgment against the Philistines.  Some related scriptures are Isa. 37:26-27, 46:10-11, Ezek. 14:17 and Amos 3:6. This “How Can”  question has a very serious and stern warning for man in all ages, including those today. It is a warning of the surety of God coming judgment against those who do not obey the gospel and obtain the forgiveness of their sins. Not one person who has not been obedient to God’s word will escape the condemnation of eternal punishment! “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” (2 Thess. 1:6-9). What God has said, He will do, that is more certain than day and night. There is no power of man or of Satan that can prevent it!

Our last “How Can” question for this week comes from Esther 8:6,  “For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”   The setting of this question by Esther is that Esther has come into king  Ahasuerus to plead for the degree of Haman to have all the Jews killed to be reversed and the Jews be saved.  Esther endangered her own life to plead for the life of her people. The lesson for us is how much concern do we have for the spiritual well being of our kindred, friends and man in general?  Do we have any real concern about those that are lost all around us.  What effort are we making to help save their souls from eternal destruction. Do we have enough love and concern to even inconvenience ourselves to seek to save them, much less endanger our physical lives.  If we do not have that love for souls we endanger OUR OWN SOULS!