These moments also allow us to see how
God is not only answering their prayers
but formingtheir character. - P3
As we see them mature, may we trust that God is also patiently at work in us. - P3
How do you respond to difficult situations
in your life?
Do you see them as hurdles to overcome
by your own strength or as opportunities
to humble yourself before God? - P181
He endeavors tohelp readers understand
that humility is not a virtue we strive to
attain but is simply our response to God
when He trains, disciplines, or convicts us. - P181
The book opens with the question of howwe can humble ourselves, given that
Scripture commands us to be humble.
Mathis‘s answer is that humility does not
come from our working hard and trying
to do better; it is a result of God‘s work in
us as we say yesto Him. - P181
He then introducesfive ways we can participatein God‘s work of humblingus, namely, Scripture, prayer,fellowship, fasting,
and avoiding self-centeredness. - P181
We also learn that God chose to humble
the righteous as well as those who walked
in stubborn rebellion until He disciplined
them. - P182
Hezekiah, a righteous king of Judah,
prayed and humbled himself when God
confronted his sin.
As a result, God withdrew his wrath from
Hezekiah and his people. - P182
Manasseh, on the other hand, was one of
the most idolatrous kings of Israel.
But when he was sent into exile,
he prayed and humbled himself before
God and was granted restoration.
- P182
The last comparison Mathis lays out is
between self-indulgent humanity
and the Son ofGod who emptied Himself
on the cross,
which serves to highlight the source andultimate role model of humility. - P182
In Humbled, Mathis invites us to accept
and participate in God‘s work of making ushumble and shows how this draws us closerto the Father and makes us more like JesusChrist, the perfect model of humility. - P182
If you find yourself responding to
hardships with defensiveness,
or feel overwhelmed by thedifficulties of life and struggle to see Godat work in them, Humbled is a helpful reminder to give ear to God‘s voice, let yourheart be softened,
let go of your pride, andsay yes to God. - P182
It will encourage you to fix your eyes on
your Savior and surrender to God in your trials so He can lift you up in His time. - P182
[NIV] 1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacobchildren, she became jealous of her sister. So she saidto Jacob, "Give me children, or I‘ll die!"
- P22
2 Jacob became angrywith her and said, "Am I in theplace of God, who has kept you from having children?" - P22
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacobslept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore hima son. - P22
6 Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me; he haslistened to my plea and given me a son." Because of thisshe named him Dan. - P22
8 Then Rachel said, "I have had a great struggle withmy sister, and I have won." So she named him Naphtali.
- P23
9 Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn‘t getting pregnant anymore, so she tookher servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. - P23
11 Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she namedhim Gad. - P23
12 Leah‘s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.
13 Then Leah said, "How happy I am! The women willcall me happy." So she named him Asher. - P23
Rachel is jealous that Leah is able to bear children but she cannot. - P24
Eventhough she already has the one thing that her sister desperately wants-the affection of her husband-this is not enough. - P24
She is neither gratefulnor satisfied but is desperate for children, believing this will be thesolution to her unhappiness. - P24
The enemy is very good at convincing usthat finding fulfillment is just beyond our reach. When we, like Rachel,
believe this lie, we will grow tired and miserable in our pursuit of something that in the end, will not actually satisfy us. - P24
It is only when welearn to pursue God as our true treasure that we can be truly satisfied. - P24
Rachel gives her maidservant, Bilhah, to Jacob so that she might bearchildren on Rachel‘s behalf. - P24
When Bilhah gives birth to two sons, Ra-chel considers this to be her vindication and victory in her struggleagainst her sister. - P24
When Leah stops bearing children, she also gives herservant to Jacob and celebrates the birth of two more sons. - P24
While Rachel and Leah believed
they had manufactured a clever solution to theirproblems, they were actually creating deeper wounds and rifts withintheir family. - P24
We can make the same mistake when we turn to our owndevices instead of relying on God for wisdom and direction. - P24
When weface a difficult situation, let us turn to God first and follow His lead. - P24
Lord, I confess that I have tried to find satisfaction and solve my problems apartfrom You. - P24
Help me to rely on Your perfect wisdom in every challenge I faceand trust that You are the only source of true happiness. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P24
[NIV] 14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out intothe fields and found some mandrake plants, which hebrought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Pleasegive me some of your son‘s mandrakes." - P28
15 But she said to her, "Wasn‘t it enough that you tookaway my husband? Willtake myson‘s mandrakesyoutoo?" "Very well," Rachel said, "he can sleep with youtonight in return for your son‘s mandrakes."
- P28
17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant andbore Jacob a fifth son.
18 Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me for givingmy servant to my husband." So she named him Issachar. - P28
19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me withhonor, because I have borne him six sons." So she namedhim Zebulun.
21 Some time later she gave birth to a daughter andnamed her Dinah.
- P29
22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to herand enabled her to conceive.
23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son andsaid, "God has taken away my disgrace."
- P29
24 She named him Joseph, and said, "May the LORDadd to me another son." - P29
The rivalry between Rachel and Leah continues as they scheme andmake deals in an effort to have more children. - P30
While neither of thesewomen appears to consider God in their plans, it is mentioned that
"God listened to Leah," and "God remembered Rachel." - P30
God is faithfulto His promise to make this family into a great nation and shows favor
to the wives of Jacob, giving them the children they so desperately desire. - P30
In this story, we see that God‘s faithfulness is unhindered by humanfaults and inadequacies. - P30
Even when we pray with the wrong intentions,
God listens us. - P30
Even when we forget God and try to do things onour own, He remembers us. - P30
God is faithful to the undeserving becausenothing in this world can break His commitment to fulfilling the promises
He has made to His children. - P30
Dear Jesus, You are wise and loving. You know exactly what we need andwhen we need it. - P31
Teach us to be patient and to keep trusting You as wepresent our requests to You. In Your name, amen. - P31
In Kuwait, Christians report that people are so hungry for the Word that it just finds its wayto them. - P30
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