여호와께서 주신 것으로 Given by the LORD

여호와께서 주신 것으로 Given by the LORD 여호와 하나님은 자식도 없는 아브라함이 그의 말씀을 따라 가나안에 도착한 때 그 땅을 그와 후손에게 주리라 하시더니 세월이 지나 그 후손 이스라엘이 이집트에서 번성하다가 노예가 되어 고생하는 것을 보시고 하나님은 모세를 통하여 그들을 해방시켜 아브라함에게 약속하신 땅으로 인도하였다. 여호와는 스스로 계시는 분으로 모든 존재의 시작이다. 그가 모든 것을 만들고 소유하기에 그가 원하는 자에게 필요한 것을 주신다. 약속의 땅에 이들이 도착하여 지파별로 살 곳을 분배한다. 출애굽의 세대는 가나안 점령을 말한 여호수아 갈렙 외에는 모두 광야에서 죽었다. 여호수아 15장에서 여호수아는 모세를 이은 지도자가 되어 땅을 분배하는데 그는 여호와 하나님의 지시를 따라 기랏 아르바 곧 헤브론을 갈렙에게 준다. 그곳에는 강한 아낙 자손이 살고 있지만 여호와께서 허락하셨기에 그들을 몰아내는 힘을 주신다. 갈렙은 멀지 않는 곳의 기랏 세바를 점령하는 것이 필요한 것을 알고 스스로 할 수 있지만 그 일을 하는 자에게 자기 딸 악사를 아내로 주겠다고 한다. 자라는 이세 중에서 인물을 길러야 한다는 생각이다. 갈렙의 조카 옷니엘이 그 일을 하여 악사를 아내로 받았다. 악사는 출가하며 남방 땅과 함께 샘물을 요구하여 받고 새로운 삶을 시작한다. 여호와께서 이스라엘 백성이 안정되게 살도록 땅을 주셨기에 갈레은 받은 땅에서 조카와 딸에게 필요한 것을 나누어 주었다. 하나님은 자기 백성이 골고루 안정되어 사는 것을 원하신다. 내가 리치몬드에서 공부하고자 5명 가족이 옮겨간 때 학교에서 학비와 아파트는 주지만 생활비는 스스로 해결해야 하였다. 아내가 직장을 찾는 기간 무엇을 먹을까? 아침에 문을 여니 문 앞에 여러 식품이 놓여 있다. 하나님이 주시는 만나로 감사히 받았다. 아내가 급여를 밭기까지 한달동안 계속되었다. 하나님은 자기 사람을 버려두지 않고 돌보아 주시니 감사하다. 내가 목회에서 은퇴할 때 교회는 그간 교역자들이 떠날 때 제공하는 수준으로 은퇴금을 책정하였다. 은퇴금이 없어도 나는 사회보장비와 연금으로 살 수 있기에 재정장로에게 은퇴금을 둘로 나누어 장로교 재단과 내가 졸업한 신학교 대표자에게 장학기금으로 전달하게 하였다. 하나님이 주신 것을 나눈다는 생각이었고 매년 30여 단체에 작은 액수이지만 하나님께 드리는 심정으로 한 동안 후원하였다. 하나님은 내가 드린 것보다 훨씬 큰 것으로 갚아 주시어 편안하게 살게 하신다 .그는 물질만 아니라 건강과 삶의 공동체 등 우리 삶에 필요한 많은 것을 제공하여 주시니 그는 여호와라 그의 크고 위대하심을 찬양하며 높여 드린다. Given by the LORD When Abraham had no children of his own and arrived in Canaan in obedience to the word of the LORD God, the LORD promised that He would give that land to him and his descendants. Years later, his descendants, the people of Israel, had multiplied in Egypt but had become slaves and were suffering under oppression. Seeing their misery, God delivered them through Moses and led them to the land He had promised to Abraham. The LORD is the One who exists by Himself, the beginning of all existence. Since He created and owns all things, He gives whatever is needed to those whom He chooses. When the Israelites arrived in the Promised Land, the land was distributed among the tribes, each receiving a place to settle. All the generation that had come out of Egypt died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb, who had believed that Canaan could be conquered. In Joshua 15, Joshua, who had succeeded Moses as the leader of Israel, distributed the land according to the LORD God's instructions. He gave Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron, to Caleb. Although the powerful descendants of Anak were living there, the LORD had granted the land to Caleb and gave him the strength to drive them out. Caleb knew that it was also necessary to capture Kiriath-sepher, a nearby city. Although he could have undertaken the task himself, he announced that he would give his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captured the city. He believed in developing capable people among the younger generation and giving them opportunities to demonstrate their abilities. His nephew Othniel accomplished the task and received Achsah as his wife. As she was leaving her father's home to begin her new life, Achsah asked Caleb for springs of water, along with the land in the Negev, and he granted her request. Because the LORD had given the Israelites land so that they could live in security and stability, Caleb shared what he had received with his nephew and daughter, providing them with what they needed. God desires His people to live securely and abundantly, with each having what is needed. When my family of five moved to Richmond so that I could continue my studies, the school provided tuition and an apartment, but we had to take care of our living expenses ourselves. While my wife was looking for a job, we wondered what we would eat. One morning, when I opened the door, I found various food items left right outside our apartment. We gratefully received them as manna provided by God. This continued for an entire month, until my wife began receiving her salary. I am thankful that God does not abandon His people but faithfully watches over and cares for them. When I retired from pastoral ministry, the church determined my retirement benefit according to the customary amount it had provided to pastors who had left before me. Even without that retirement payment, I could manage with my Social Security benefits and pension. So I asked the church's financial elder to divide the retirement gift into two portions and deliver them as scholarship funds to a Presbyterian foundation and to representatives of the seminary from which I had graduated. I did this with the conviction that I was sharing what God had given me. For some time afterward, I also supported about thirty organizations each year with small contributions, giving them with a heart of gratitude to God. God has repaid me with far more than what I gave, allowing me to live comfortably. He provides not only material resources but also the many things essential to our lives, including health and a community in which we can live and belong. How grateful I am! He is the LORD, and I praise and exalt Him for His greatness and majesty.