God Helps Those Who Help Themselves – Not

Deut. 32:36 The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

He will have compassion on his servants when their strength is gone. gone. not that he’ll help them just before it’s gone. gone.

If Jesus came and helped Lazarus when he was *almost* dead, then Lazarus could have gotten a little credit for having a little life in himself that Jesus could help along.

Nope. He was dead.

Colossians 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

You weren’t a a little bit alive and God healed you. If you’ve been saved, you were saved, not helped. And if you haven’t been saved, then you’re dead, not just sick. I usually don’t play the Binary Christian that sees everything in black and white, but in this context it fits.

He will give His servants compassion when He sees their strength is gone.

Jesus was about 25 miles away when he heard that Lazarus was sick. He could have easily made that trip in two days, but when he would have arrived, Lazarus would have STILL already been dead for 2 days. On the one hand, Jesus knew to rush would be hopeless. On the other hand, Jesus knew to delay would show the disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and the rest so much more.

God really is the hope for the hopeless. He thought that was important to tell us. Important enough that he painfully let His friend die and other friends cry their eyes out. Can you believe that He would let so much pain happen to people He loved, to show His glory?!

I can. I can only imagine that nobody ever felt the joy and amazement that Mary and Martha felt that day that Lazarus got unwrapped. I can only imagine how much Peter must have trembled after seeing this Guy boss storms around and make food come out of nowhere for thousands.

God is the hopeless seeker, the hopeless blaster, and the hope bringer. He is an expert at compassion and power mixed, and He brings it whenever His servants run out.