Questions

I just love to look at the questions that show up in each Bible Lesson. This week there were several and I have been pondering them all week.

 The first one, in Section One, follows the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. He and his men of war and the  priests conquered the city without firing a shot. They laid 'open siege' to it, compassing it about for seven days before shouting at Joshua's signal. Those walls fell down flat. The question posed in Science and Health is "On which side are we fighting?"  Siege can mean a prolonged period of time. There are sometimes challenges we work on that seem to be a bit overwhelming and we wonder just how we are going to overcome those 'walls' of resistance. Here is an assurance that our 'open siege', our prolonged fervent prayers can be totally effective. Those 'walls' can fall down flat so that the way opens up to move forward successfully, to master the situation, to see a healing solution.
We have to stay alert and be sure just which side we are arguing for, the spiritual side or the material picture.

The next question was in the Fourth Section which shows our ability to deal with 'breath' issues, like allergies or lung disease. "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?"  Stop identifying with the man in Genesis Two, created from the dust of the ground, and subject to that dust. Understand man made in God's image and likeness as explained in Genesis One. We reflect God, Life, just like the reflection of the original in a mirror. God is Spirit, God is Mind so we are ideas held and maintained in Mind, spiritual not material. As for the severity of the claim, as in allergies or disease, nothing is impossible to God, Spirit. Jesus healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease with perfect assurance and success.

A thought-provoking question shows up in Section Five. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"  Gilead was a mountainous part of Palestine where balm (balsam) was found and in the same place would be found those skilled in its use. Jeremiah is speaking, anticipating the captivity and the distressed cries of the exiles. The people had lost one chance of deliverance after another, and might now despair.  Here is another 'siege' situation where persistence and faith can bring about healing. Prayer works.

The Golden Text mentions 'stumbling blocks'. Stumbling blocks are defined as an obstacle or impediment. They will appear as we move forward on our spiritual  journey but they can also be considered stepping stones, opportunities to put into practice what we are learning as we study these Bible Lessons.

I am grateful to have these questions to think about each week and even more grateful for the healing solutions that lead to spiritual growth.