Our days are numbered

            When my dad died a few months ago, I could not for the life of me convince my mom that God had appointed February 12th, 2008 as the day that dad was to be with the Lord. I have always used the verse in Hebrew 9:27 to prove that we have an appointed time with death. However, after my mom could not be convinced that this verse carried that specific meaning, I began to question my interpretation. Other pastor's were asked if they agreed with my interpretation...some agreed and some did not. Then I found Job 14:1-6 and Psalm 139:16.

            Psalm 139:16 states that "our days were formed for me."

            Job 14:1-6 states, "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not....Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass,..."

            Job gives us a very powerful statement to the sovereignty of God and the detail by which man is governed. Both the months and the days are determined and bounds set. The word “bound” in Hebrew is defined as                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            his “set time” has been determined.

            When I think of our days being numbered, I also think of Hezekiah in the books of 2^nd King and 2^nd Chronicles where he was told by God to set his house in order because he was going to die. There is no doubt in my mind that man has a predetermined date when he is to die that is set by God.  As in the case of Hezekiah, God can change this appointment and extend a person’s life. Whether the same is true concerning shortening a person’s life, I cannot say. Whatever the outcome, it is determined by a holy God who works all things together for good, to them who love him.