RUSSELL SANDERS

12-3-2025

WHY GOD ALLOWS EVIL

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God allows both good and evil to co-exist in the world. He has a purpose for this that His greater power and glory may be manifested. We see and example of this in 2 Chronicles 22:9 and 23:15.

God brought judgment upon the evil king Ahaziah and he was slain. His wicked mother, Athaliah, arose and killed all the royal seed that would be heir to the throne. She then became queen. 

She did not know that one child of the royal seed, Joash, an infant, escaped death by being hidden for six years. Evil Athaliah ruled for six years until Joash, now seven, was brought forth and legally made king. Athaliah and her evil followers were then slain.

Joash was a righteous king. Evil may reign for a while, but God’s judgment comes and the evil is put down so the righteous can arise. This glorifies God. 

Following the death of Athaliah, Joash ruled, and after his death, his son Amaziah ruled. They both ruled righteously. This shows that God will allow evil for a season, but then His righteousness will prevail. God always wins in the end.

HELEN SANDERS

12-3-2025

GIVING UP THE WHAT WAS

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When God wants to bring advancement in our lives, He brings isolation. Isolation is much like it was for Elijah. 

In 1 Kings 17 Elijah prophesied that there would be a drought without rain or dew for three years. God spoke to him in verse 3 to hide himself during this drought near a brook called Cherith near Jordan. 

During that time of isolation God brought food miraculously to Elijah by way of ravens. He drank from the brook and was sustained. After a while, the drought he had prophesied also affected him and the brook dried up. 

Elijah listened to God and was obedient to go to Cherith, but when the brook dried up, he might have thought, “Now what?” The brook is dried up. 

God had a new assignment for Elijah. He spoke again and told him to go into the enemy’s country, to Zarephath, to a widow, who was ready to eat her last meal then die.

Elijah could have stayed by the brook, protected, isolated, and fed, but God had a different plan. He followed God’s plan. The widow would give Elijah her last meal, but in turn, God multiplied her oil and the meal in her barrel. This not only provided for her and her son, but also for Elijah. It was a miraculous provision.

Has your brook dried up where you once were sent by God? Are you holding on to “what once was” believing it will get better? I believe when the brook dries up that God has a new plan, a different plan, often hard to understand, but a plan that must be activated by our obedience to follow it and let go of “what once was.”

If Elijah hadn’t been obedient that woman and her son would have died of starvation. Not only was he provided for, but she was able to sell the oil that was in abundance. 

Is it time to let go of what has dried up? Ask God, and if he says yes, be willing to give up “what was” for what is to come.