Understanding the Times

I Chronicles 12:32 talks about the sons of Issachar who are described as “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…” We desperately need sons of Issachar today. Our national problems seem overwhelming and few seem to have good solutions.

Our leaders continually seek out human wisdom to solve our problems. When we seek answers outside of God’s Word we will usually come up with the wrong answers. Scientific method, for example, leaves God out of the equation therefore it arrives many times at the wrong conclusion. Since, according to science, God didn’t create the heavens and earth, we are left with the Big Bang, which doesn’t answer the question anyway. We still have to know where the matter for the Big Bang come from?

I coined a saying years ago. You might want to remember it because it may be famous some day. I said, “When man tries to solve man’s problems man’s way, he ends up creating the very problem he is trying to solve.” Meditate on that thought for a minute. For example, we thought we would greatly reduce poverty by creating welfare. What did we do? We created a permanent poverty class. That’s just one quick example.

We are blessed to have the complete Word of God at our fingertips. All the answers are there. Discernment is something that takes both effort and practice. It comes with maturity and a desire to become conformed to the image of Christ. Hebrews 5:14 says it this way: “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Before we can have answers to problems and situations we need to know the questions. We need to discern the times. Then, find God’s answer.

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, God’s Word applies to all of life. There is no biblical distinction between secular and spiritual. Everything has spiritual implications and God’s Word applies to everything. When we truly apply God’s Word to situations, everyone benefits. It’s always win/win. May we all commit to becoming true Sons of Issachar.