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Writings by Barri Cae Mallin

Hidden Nuggets

Tuesday 25 November 2003 - 14:50:06

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
who comforts us in all our affliction
so that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any affliction with the comfort with which
we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance,
so also our comfort is abundant through Messiah.
2 Corin. 1:3-5

The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo, as one is called to the side of another.
In Hebrew, the word is nacham, and we see the use of this word in Nahum, one
of the prophetical books in the Bible, as well as Nehemiah.

We are a people who need comfort; God created us this way. As we endure
sufferings, we receive God's comfort. God never wastes suffering, for He gives
comfort to enable us to endure. Then He uses us to minister to others,
of the comfort we received. He turns our pain into triumph, He gets the
glory, and He brings purpose for the suffering that we previously endured.

All through Scripture, we read of God's comfort:

David spoke of God's comfort
Because Thou, O LORD, hast helped me and comforted me. Ps. 86:17

Isaiah spoke of God's comfort
For the LORD has comforted His people,
And will have compassion on His afflicted. Isaiah 49:13

I, even I, am He who comforts you. Isaiah 51:12

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; Isaiah 66:13

God's rod and staff comforts us (Psalm 23:4), the Holy Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31),
Lazarus was comforted by God (Luke 16:25) Scriptures comfort us (Romans 15:4),
love comforts us (Phil 2:1), others comfort us ( I Thess. 5:11).

One of the cities that Yeshua Jesus dwelt in was Capernaum, in Hebrew it is Kfar Na-um -
city or village of comfort. It is beautiful to pause and reflect that:

Yeshua settled in Kfar Naum - Matt. 4:13
Yeshua healed in Kfar Naum - Matt. 8:5-13
Yeshua did miracles in Kfar Naum - Matt. 17:24
Yeshua taught in Kfar Naum - Mark 1:21
Yeshua cast out demons in Kfar Naum - Mark 1:23-26
Yeshua spoke of humility in Kfar Naum - Mark 9:33-37
Yeshua issued a call for discipleship in Kfar Naum - John 9:59-65

These are challenging times for us believers. Face it, the TV, radio, newspapers and magazines
are bringing forth no good news right now. May I confess to you that I have not received the
local paper in years. I told the telephone soliticitor that when they begin to print good
news, then I will order the newspaper.

But there is great Good News in Scripture. Look for hidden nuggets! Since life
has changed so much, plunge into the various mighty men of valor and war
categories, and be ready for a feast.

To encourage you to dig deep, here is a passage from Nahum, a prophet
whose name means comfort - Nahum 1:2-7

A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;
The LORD is avenging and wrathful.
The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
In whirlwind and storm is His way,
And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
He dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
The blossoms of Lebanon wither.

Mountains quake because of Him,
And the hills dissolve;
Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence,
The world and all the inhabitants in it.

Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are broken up by Him.

The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.