Daily Lesson for July 30, 2020

Today's Daily Lesson comes from 2 Kings chapter 20 verses 1 through 7:

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord: 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah prince of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” 7 Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.”

This morning the Fort Worth ISD School Board is meeting in emergency session to consider whether or not to open in-class instruction at the beginning of this Fall semester.  I cannot imagine the pressure these persons must feel as they weigh the balance of our children's future and the lives of everyone in our schools.

This morning's Lesson gives a sigh of relief.  The students are resilient.  The time lost in instruction can be regained. There will be a vaccine.  And this whole generation will not be lost.  It is not forsaken.  God is still the God of time and the time lost can be regained. 

I recognize these are not easy decisions.  It's not a cut and dry, "Choose life or choose death", black or white situation.  These officials have to weigh the social consequences of both meeting in schools and not doing so. Each is bound to have its losses.

But the Lesson reminds us that we are not alone in all this -- even when up against a terrible affliction.  God is on our side.  And God can make up for lost time.  A year can be regained.  The clock can be slowed.  And a long, extended summer we can survive -- at least until somebody finds the lump of figs which will conquer this disease.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year.  Tomorrow's Lesson comes from 2 Chronicles 32-33.