Job 38:31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Are there influences beyond our control? I can see direct and indirect influences. I have distanced myself from negative influences that have a direct impact on my. In the same way an alcoholic avoids bars, I surround myself with a support system that helps me keep focused on my goals.

The stock exchange is influenced by a wide variety of factors. The complexity of that industry effects job markets, savings, credit ratings, prices of goods and reaches far beyond our country. It is a global community. Because of this what happens around the world effects us indirectly.

Where do you get your news? If what happens in the world has an indirect influence on your life, then to prepare for effects, don’t you try and stay informed? Who do you believe? All the major players are funded. Money is influence in the media industry. Without funding no access to the distribution system. Does the funding have an agenda?

The issue of celestial influence has been around for thousands of years. Three wise men followed a “star” to Bethlehem to see a King. While horoscopes carry the disclaimer “for entertainment value only” there are people who are so invested in the idea that they allow it to influence daily decisions.

So, how much do you allow the Word of God to influence your life?

Daniel 10:19 O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

Exodus 17:12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Last night while beginning our study of Hebrews I was trying to be ever so clever with words. I declared that Hebrews was a comparative narrative. Loving words as I do it seemed appropriate. Sometimes I do learn things by comparing the use of words translated from the Hebrew and Greek that have the same English meaning yet meant something else then.

Stayed has been weighing on my minds lately. So I did the comparative narrative on stayed. In the Hebrew it is to grasp, lay hands on. In some cases it is used to indicate to keep captive, tie down, stake out or pen up. It is restrictive in nature, keeps one from wandering off.

The use in the Greek is not as frequent but one of the uses was rather delightful to be found. It is used to check a ships heading, to make course corrections. The difference between the two is freedom. In the Old Testament usage there is a binding force. In the New Testament there is a compelling force. The freedom to choose your heading and make course corrections requires a cooperative effort.

The OT says do or die. The NT says I love you and set you free, will you love me and follow me? Love does not demand, it hopes.

1 Corinthians 13:5 It ^(love)does not insist on its own way; it ^(love)is not irritable or resentful; (ESV)