The Unyielding Hunter: Nimrod's Legacy and Our Pursuit of Purpose
Gen. 10:8-9 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
In verse eight, we see the beginning of something general; in verse nine, we see the culmination of something specific. In verse eight, we see the birthing of a mighty one; in verse nine, we see more specifically the maturing of a mighty hunter before the Lord. I point this out so that you might notice the progression from one verse to the next. So it is with us! Though our beginning may be small, yet our latter end shall greatly increase as God works in our lives.
Might I add that the only way anyone can be fulfilled in this life, is not only to find their purpose, but to live out their purpose before the Lord. What good is purpose if it is never pursued? Better yet, what good is the pursuit without the presence of the Lord as your compass? These two things must work together in order for anything significant to occur in us and through us; our purpose, and God’s presence. You can find your purpose, but it is no good if you do not know Christ! Likewise, you can bask in the presence of Christ so much that you never come down from the mount of transfiguration to live out your purpose of declaring Him to this generation. The two must be one.
Some are mighty, but not before the Lord; others are before the Lord, but not mighty. May God help us to be both, even as Nimrod, mighty in our purpose and before the Lord! We often make the mistake of pursuing our dreams, goals, and ambitions in life just to find out that we’ve been wasting our time and spinning our wheels, because we have not been before the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance in our daily affairs.
Now, before we conclude, let us notice how the text may also seem to imply that the Lord actually took notice of Nimrod’s might. What could it have been about him that captured the Lord’s attention? May I suggest that it was his passion? After all, he was a hunter! Think of Jacob, who sought the Lord with such passion that he said, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” And for doing so it was said, “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Later Christ said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Are you hunting for the Lord?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
In verse eight, we see the beginning of something general; in verse nine, we see the culmination of something specific. In verse eight, we see the birthing of a mighty one; in verse nine, we see more specifically the maturing of a mighty hunter before the Lord. I point this out so that you might notice the progression from one verse to the next. So it is with us! Though our beginning may be small, yet our latter end shall greatly increase as God works in our lives.
Might I add that the only way anyone can be fulfilled in this life, is not only to find their purpose, but to live out their purpose before the Lord. What good is purpose if it is never pursued? Better yet, what good is the pursuit without the presence of the Lord as your compass? These two things must work together in order for anything significant to occur in us and through us; our purpose, and God’s presence. You can find your purpose, but it is no good if you do not know Christ! Likewise, you can bask in the presence of Christ so much that you never come down from the mount of transfiguration to live out your purpose of declaring Him to this generation. The two must be one.
Some are mighty, but not before the Lord; others are before the Lord, but not mighty. May God help us to be both, even as Nimrod, mighty in our purpose and before the Lord! We often make the mistake of pursuing our dreams, goals, and ambitions in life just to find out that we’ve been wasting our time and spinning our wheels, because we have not been before the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance in our daily affairs.
Now, before we conclude, let us notice how the text may also seem to imply that the Lord actually took notice of Nimrod’s might. What could it have been about him that captured the Lord’s attention? May I suggest that it was his passion? After all, he was a hunter! Think of Jacob, who sought the Lord with such passion that he said, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” And for doing so it was said, “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Later Christ said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Are you hunting for the Lord?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill