Nothing is impossible with God

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:1–5)

This barren woman was startled, even fearful, when told by an angel that she would have a son and not an ordinary son. He would begin to defeat Israel’s most powerful enemy, the Philistines. It would be a long battle. After many defeats and efforts, they were ultimately subdued by King David around 1000 BC but continued to exist as a distinct group until that came to an end around 604 BC when Nebuchadnezzar finished their existence as a culture. However, since the name of Palestine comes from their name, perhaps the desire of that earlier enemy for Israeli land still exists.

As I read the above passage for personal application, two responses produced two emotions. One is that God prepared this woman to raise a child who would be a fighter for God. Sometimes his methods were wild and got him into trouble. He eventually died, taking with him many of those enemies. I know a bit about how she would feel as she watched him grow up and how God used him do those things he did. 

While some believe this is folklore, at least one researcher says, “the stories portray Yahweh working secretly, through human actions, with all their ambiguity, and openly, in direct answer to prayer, to defeat Israel’s enemies and the enemies’ god.” 

I tend to agree. I’ve also seen God use seemingly idiotic things like having sinful people deal with sinful people. I cannot judge God by the actions of such people. He had a plan and picked a most unlikely person to fulfill it. The NT backs this up.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

My other response is that I was told how to raise my children, but as a new Christian did not realize how foolish it was to think that my way would be just as good. I’m thankful that they live decent lives and do good, but regret not paying closer attention to the Lord. At the same time, I know that He can do whatever He wants with anyone’s life, so am able to trust Him with my family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren. That means my regrets always need to be replaced by trust. Manoah and his wife were not perfect parents, and Sampson was a far from perfect son, but God did what He wanted and blessed them anyway.

Jesus, I know how easily I can slip from faith to thinking I can earn Your favor (or miss it) by the way that I live. This is the biggest error of sin — supposing that “if I only knew better” would make me better instead of remembering that Your blessings are neither earned or deserved.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

 

History does not need to keep repeating itself…

And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” 
And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 
And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:9–16)

For months I’ve been thinking that the Lord is saying to this world the same thing He said to His OT people. They turned from His care and did their own thing, then ran into trouble and cried out to Him. He said they thought they had ways and means to live well without Him so He refused to bail them out.

Many in this era have ignored God, even insist that He does not exist. And as we watch things fall apart, it seems God is saying a similar thing: “You want to run your own lives? Let’s see how that works for you.”

The Israelites were distressed, but at least they recognized why they were having problems. They confessed their sin and begged God to deliver them. Were they sincere? Or were they trying to manipulate God? Only God knows motivations and the heart, but He took pity on them and sent a deliverer. However, the narrative of Judges revealed how this scenario kept repeating itself as the people “did what was right in their own eyes.”

And this history keeps repeating itself. The only way to have a genuine change of this cycle is true repentance which involves a change of mind and heart regarding sin. It is not merely saying I’m sorry because I got caught or was facing the consequences. However, it is also a gift from God, not something I can do apart from His mercy.

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

While God tells us to repent, I know from personal experience that I might feel sorry for sinning, but any change of life is not a “work” that I can do to earn favor with God. If I could turn from sin, I would not need Jesus. He said, "Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), indicating that recognizing my need for a Savior is the first step toward receiving God's mercy. This requires faith in what Jesus has done to secure my redemption.

Repentance is also a lifestyle and the key to spiritual growth. The NT makes clear that Christians are delivered from the penalty of sin, yet all our lives God is at work to deliver us from the power of sin — and repentance is part of that process.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:7–2:1)

When first saved, my mentor had me do a Bible study on sin. God revealed so much of it, and keeps revealing it. I am not fully like Jesus, yet that is His goal. If I sin and merely make excuses, or ignore it, or try to explain it away, then I am throwing a monkey wrench into the transformation process.

Jesus, You died to save me from the biggest sin of trying to live my own life without You. You live to transform me into Your image (Romans 8:28-29) and repentance is so vital to make that transformation possible. Help me to always be honest with You regarding sin and thankful to You for the gift of repentance.

Is there good news in bad news?

When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.” (Judges 9:30–33)

When a leader becomes evil and angers God, there are usually others who support them anyway. Just reading the world news shows this is still true. Zebul gave Abimelech what he thought was good advice. It was followed and with ‘success’ in that this man destroyed many people. However. God used his decisions to destroy him.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it. But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower. And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. (Judges 9:50–57)

As I read and listen to current events, this OT story helps me to pray. I do not know the will of God but I do realize that many ‘leaders’ are making decisions that destroy people and the places where they live. Will God turn their own decisions against them? It is possible, and stories like this one give me confidence that God can use anything to serve His purposes. Even in the deaths of many, is He turning people to faith in Him? We hear those things, but not in mainline news. 

Sadly, even Christian news websites focus mainly on bad news rather than the greatest good news of all. Instead of glorifying the Lord, many of the stories are about the failures of humanity and of Christians to live for Christ, or about liberal groups that do not promote the gospel at all. Could these mean that His return is near? I don’t know, but all of it burdens my heart to pray more.

Yet You know, Jesus, the difficulties I’m having with prayer. It seems the hardest work of all, especially because I’d rather do just about anything else. Keep at me and block the discouragement and distractions. Help me see that the size of the needs are nothing compared to the power and grace of You.

When marking my x at the polls…

Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved— for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” 
And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. 
Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. (Judges 9:14–25)

This is a parable telling how choosing an unworthy person to be a leader is not a good idea. It is difficult to understand the details of this narrative, but various authors helped me see:

• A lowly bramble could destroy a noble cedar, just as the lowly-born Abimelech could ruin the lords of Shechem.
• We must not be deceived into judging the fitness of a man for any post by the eagerness with which he seeks it. 
• For myself, I need to never be motivation by self-seeking in any part of life. This is a low and dangerous sin that will bring harm to me and dishonor the Lord.
• But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:14–16)
• Weakness is better than selfish power as it encourages trusting in God’s strength. 
• Better have no king than a bad king. As a good government is the first blessing of a nation, so a bad government is its greatest curse. 
• Entering blindly into needless obligations will open eyes when these activities begin   to cause harm. 
• It is easier to confer power than to withdraw it from an ambitious person. 
• There is one King under whose leadership all people can be secure and rest: 

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:1–5)

Jesus was mocked as King of the Jews, yet Revelation 1:5 calls Him “the ruler of kings on earth” who is seated on an eternal throne. Blessed are those who have positions of authority and who listen to this One who rules over them. 

Lord and King Jesus, ‘kings’ who do not listen to You are obvious, yet You are King and can use their decisions for Your purposes. You can set kings up and take them down. May leaders in this world fear You and pay attention to Your Word. May “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” This pleases You because You desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)

When Less is More…

Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ ” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” (Judges 7:1–4)

Imagine a congregation of 32,000 people being attacked by an enemy bent on destroying them. They are eager to win this battle but more than half of them went home. Was it because they were “fearful and trembling”? Not according to the Lord who sees the heart. He was aware of their tendency to take credit for what God had done. He knew the reason; they were afraid of losing. 

This translates to fear that God was not big enough to deal with this enemy? And I remember the NT verse that says “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

After that the Lord reduced Gideon’s army to 300 men who passed His unusual test of how they drank water. These went against “The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.” (Judges 7:12)

God is asking me to pray for what seems to me a huge issue and a large number of people. Me? Is there anyone else? Has He recruited an army or just me? My hubby sees the need so he is praying? Are we the only ones? 

I can pray for wars on the other side of the world and for cult members and large groups, and I often say, “We have a big God” and He is. Perhaps this one seems  more challenging because it involves people I can see and touch, people I’ve had meals with and spent time with. In any case and no matter how often I try to put it in God's hands, He tells me to keep praying.

Jesus, persistence in prayer is a challenge for ADHD me. I get distracted by what I think is easier to pray about rather than stick to the problem at hand. Grant me a heart that cares and pray with increased desire to see You work a miracle in this situation.

In a war…

When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar. (Judges 6:28–32)

This week God opened my eyes to a serious problem in Christian lives. As I realize the importance of glorifying the Lord in all that happens, I’m also seeing how so many speak of their accomplishments as if they did it without Him. Maybe they did. Or maybe they take the praise that should be offered Him. Whatever is happening, it feels like the Holy Spirit is punching my stomach.

I’m hearing the Lord telling me to make this a matter of serious prayer because this is spiritual war. At that, I’m faltering and the above passage gives a glimpse at why. When anyone goes after false gods, the enemy will contend and try to stop them. But this enemy is not easily routed. The NT gives rules for war:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10–20)

I cannot do this in my own strength. In fact, that counters the very lie that I pray against, the lie that so many fall for without even realizing it. This enemy is not other people. Even that is another lie that messes with Christian soldiers who are at war. These enemies use it to get us upset with one another instead of their tactics.

I need to wear the armor God gives me: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace with God, faith as my shield so God is not doubted, the helmet of salvation to keep my head from the lies to counter that reality, and wielding the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God. Bible truth, His righteousness, remembering the purpose of the Gospel, not deviating from what God says when bombarded by the enemies’ weapons.

The liar tells me stuff like: “You are too old for this” or “You will have time for nothing else” or “This will drain you” or “You really don’t know what you are doing.” And Jesus merely says, “Just do it.”

My role is not proclamation but prayer that God's people will hear Him, listening and obeying with all their heart, but also accepting their own weakness and if they are relying on Christ, they will say so rather than speak as if all their blessings are their own doing. That could mean hard trials for them and for me, but also gentle nudges. Most of all, it means trusting God myself as I pray.

Jesus, You keep showing me Your power and challenging me to share Your glory when I talk with others. I cannot want this obedience for others without doing it myself. This means tearing down the altars of false gods and contending with them and who knows what that could mean. I’m even feeling much like a new recruit with a task way too large for me.

Choosing the right god…

And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:7–11)

The world news troubles me. So do local events. The Bible speaks of God's power through His people, but sometimes His people are crippled by fear, anger, personal loss, and a host of life’s responsibilities and distractions that we neglect to plug in to God for His instruction and guidance.

When talking with other Christians, I often hear about their problems. That is okay for I consider listening and caring is important, but I also consider their words as prayer requests, even if they are not given with that designation.

That lack bothers me because it seems as if the people with the problems have forgotten the power and love of our great God. In the above passage, this was happening and God was not happy about their lack of faith in Him. I could pray that He grant them greater ability to trust Him, but that is not what He does about their need. Instead, He sends them into captivity. Interesting is that the meaning of Cushan-rishathaim is “double-trouble.” After years of more stress under this enemy, He raised up one person to get them out of their mess.

Othniel’s name comes from a root word meaning “force of God” which honors the One who sent him. This one man went to war and overcame double-trouble. Like much of what God does, we are not told how this happened, but it did, and the people had rest for forty years.

The NT passage that comes to mind is this one:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:1–10)

The problem in both passages is God's people serving other gods. In the OT it was the Baals and Asheroth. In the NT it is the world and its fleshy and selfish desires. We may get along nicely for a little while but if motivated by the old nature a long time and as a group, it will eventually wind up as a form of slavery — fighting with one another — unless God raises up someone who honors Him.

Jesus is the force of God to save us from ourselves. And if we neglect Him. We will wind up in slavery to our troubles. Yet in grace, He still fights to set us free. My option is: Have my way and run my life accordingly, or fight alongside Him in prayer for God's will to be done — in my life  and in those who are serving the god of self. That could include a few years of slavery to make it happen, but after that — peace.

Jesus, I see You neglected by many Christians who have not yet humbled themselves to Your Lordship or live according to Your direction and voice. Their goals and aspirations are worldly and I know how easy it is to fall into wanting the wrong things. I tremble at the responsibility of stepping out of this sin and as an Othniel, going to war as Ephesians 6 describes our war against false gods, so that Your people can have peace, yet if this is what You want, grant me all that I need to be faithful.

Promises, promises

I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’ “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 
But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 
And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 
Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” 
And they said, “We are witnesses.” 
He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 
And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” 
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. (Joshua 24:13–25)

This conversation sounds familiar to me. How many times have I wanted to do the right thing, failed, made a promise never to do that again, but did? Yet best intentions and trying harder do not work.

This morning, my hubby and I talked about shared experiences where we admitted our sins AND our helplessness. Instead of promising to do better, or ‘never again’ we knew that was folly and admitted only our inability and weakness — only to realize over time that sin was no longer happening in our lives. How did that happen?

We agreed is that no one wants to feel useless or helpless. We want to be able to do the right thing, but as Joshua said, we are not able to serve the Lord — not in our own strength or initiative or ability. Instead of saying “I can do it” — the only way to be able to do anything well is plead with the Lord not to remove our weakness but to help us embrace it:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Often we say that God's ways are not our ways, and these verses make that clear. I ask to be powerful and He asks me to admit I am not. He asks me to do the impossible when I ask for power. but the secret to being able is admitting that I’m not able and never will be on my own. Most certainly, His ways are not mine.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

Jesus, You are teaching me something many others think is sheer nonsense. You want me to pray for Your strength as I realize my weakness, but not in despair but in joy because I know You will surprise and even shock me with the wonder of how You answer those prayers. How glad I am that I can’t do a thing without You. 

Praise God, not me…

And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23:3–13)

Before opening my Bible, I sing worship songs. Today, one of them was “Count Your Blessings” and this reading tells me how to lose them and how to retain them.

Losing them has been easy. Disobedience does it. So does being more aligned with the goals and ideals of this world than with God. Instead of clinging to Him, if I think those gods are more important, or even if I assume I can be ‘godly’ by my own efforts, the blessings slip away. Not that they are gone completely, but my ability to enjoy them or even count them alludes me. I’m thinking more about what I don’t have than what I do have.

Last night someone told me of presenting an unusual solution to a difficult problem. He was surprised that it was accepted and that it worked. I asked what would happen if no one wanted to try it. He said that he would have to come up with something else.

In my life, when no one listens to me, I pout, feel inadequate, quit, and feel sorry for myself. Clearly, it is possible to count blessings when they seem to be missing, but I’ve not learned that yet. Not that the solution is hidden — the psalmist knew it:

All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Psalm 73:13–17)

This one and other passages tell me to remember and dwell on what God says, not on what people do. It is easier when people do bad things to other people, but when I am treated as if I don’t know anything or no one listens (and I know I spoke truth) that is my challenge. 

Joshua’s words are a diagnosis. He warned about the idols of this world and one of them is recognition, being respected, appreciated, put on a pedestal. This is the rub — for one other song that I sang this morning was “Let Jesus Christ be praised” and this is the response that ought to come from my heart when I feel neglected or ignored.

Jesus, I tell others to praise the Lord and not boast about themselves as if I have this response to life myself. But that is a vain thought. Help me honor You all the time, even when others do not, even when I am dishonored. Who am I to be listened to anyway? It is You who deserve all glory and praise. For shame that I want it for myself.

 

Aggressive in spiritual battles

Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.” Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. (Joshua 14:6–14)

The reason God was pleased with Caleb and rewarded his efforts seems obvious; this man did what God wanted, following Him with his whole heart. However, because the Hebrews had this thing about names and the meanings being important, I looked up the names mentioned to see if there was more to this than the obvious. 

I discovered that Caleb is from a root word meaning doing something with force. This man vigorously went after the enemies of Israel. This made me think about the prayer life of many Christians today. Our enemies are not flesh and blood, so we fight them with prayer:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:11–13)

This familiar passage is about wearing spiritual armor and defeating the forces of evil with constant and vigorous prayer, boldly and confidently winning over them in forceful determination, like Caleb.

Wondering why Caleb’s father was mentioned twice, I looked up him also. His name means to be prepared and with a change of direction. Amazing how God speaks to me through this. I’ve prayed for salvation for other for many years. Lately God is giving me direction to pray against the Liar who keeps people in darkness. This is one more reminder: change the direction of how I’m fighting the enemy and be prepared for war. Ephesians 6 gives specific attitudes and my dozens of books on prayer do the same. I need to be ready for battle and do this with forceful determination.

One thing stands out. Joshua says Caleb was given what he asked for because of his persistent determination and whole-hearted obedience. Answered prayer isn’t because I talk God into something but because He has talked greater obedience into me.

Jesus, this is really important. Some of my prayers seem totally impossible requests, yet You continue to surprise me with doing what I ask. Yet I also realize that if I am not being obedient, You work on me. Your priority is not always on those things I pray for but many times on my attitude and love toward You.

Death for sin

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:22–26)

Yesterday I glanced at this passage and spent some time thinking how it points to NT truth. Achan had sinned by taking spoil from a battle and did a forbidden thing; he hid it for himself, angered God, and the price was death.

In the NT, Jesus paid the price for my sin. Sin is simply living for myself and doing whatever I want that is contrary to the will of God. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

Honesty must admit the extent of sin and its power to rule a person’s life, even a seemingly good person, if their lives are not motivated by faith. It is easy to take the spoils of our battles and the trinkets of this world for ourselves. According to the Word of God, this deserves death.

However, Jesus’ death set me free from the penalty I deserve. God hates sin and it must be punished, but He sent Jesus to take that punishment, unlike Achan who showed his lack of faith by his actions. There is another NT death though, the death of my old nature. 

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (2 Corinthians 5:14)

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:3–10)

These passages stress the importance of saying no to sin because it is the way that my identity and relationship with Christ is made visible. Sin is the actions of a dead person, someone separated from God and the life of His Son. God put that nature to sin to death, but if I don’t obey Him, I might as well be under a pile of rocks.

Achan’s sin ruined the power of God’s army against their enemies but also robbed God of His glory by choosing his own way instead of obedience. 

Jesus, when I obey You, You are exalted. People see You in action and marvel. But I must die to my ways and consider the old me dead and useless. This means humility, not pride, and saying no to all my ideas and plans so I can hear and obey You. 

 

Discernment needed…

The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’ ” (Joshua 7:10–15)

This event illustrates an important truth: my sin affects others who follow Jesus. The entire OT congregation could not stand before their enemies because one person took from those enemies a forbidden item and therefore created a vulnerability that ruined their power.

Move up to the present time. What do Christians ‘steal’ that is supposed to be devoted to the Lord? Time? Sabbath rest both spiritual and literal? Possessions? This page is not long enough to list all that belongs to God that we could put on our own list, whether it be tangible stuff, or actions, or His glory.

This is convicting. Could it be that when I see a Christian or a congregation that has gone off the rails and is doing their own thing because they see in me something I hold for myself that belongs to the Lord — so they assume it is okay?

The NT term is stumbling block. It means doing something that I have faith (or not) to do and others copy me thinking that what I’m doing is okay for them, but it is not. Worse, I then criticize them for their actions.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:10–19)

The reasoning behind this instruction is that all of us are to live by faith, not by copying the way others live…

The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:22–23)

Not every believer understands their freedom in Christ as I do. If they copy me instead of heeding God's voice, that is sin. 

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:9–13)

Not that what I say or do is always a stumbling block, but I need discernment, and listen to God, act in faith, and keep short accounts. I also need to speak up or shut up,  depending on what He says.

Jesus, grant me great love and discernment.

Exiting wandering, entering spiritual growth…

And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you (all your enemies). Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:10-17)

It is not likely that I would connect this event with Christian baptism, but one of my commentaries does. The link is in the details. Baptism enters believers into a covenant with God by a declaration to be dead to the world and alive to serve Him. For most, it is a turning point and a change of focus. Those who are baptized enter into a life of both blessing and warfare. At the same time, those who believe but do not take this first step seem to remain in wandering.

The commentary says baptism introduces us into new obligations and entitles us to claim the aid of God in our conflict with evil. In other words, it is the starting-point of our sanctification and this is God's work. He alone parts the waters for us to cross from the world into His kingdom. That world can drown all human effort, but declaring our faith enables us to have success in our war against our own and God’s enemies. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

This does not mean baptism gives us anything. This power is from Jesus Christ alone, not our actions apart from faith. Also note that before this event, the people were guided by a pillar of fire and a cloud. Now they would be guided by the Ark of the Covenant. The Law was dark and uncertain in them but faith in a coming Messiah gave light. Now our guide is the person of Jesus Christ, a “better hope.” (Hebrews 12:18-24) The humanity of Jesus reveals the One who is unseen and we can follow Him as we enter into His promises and experience His presence.

Crossing the Jordon when it was overflowing magnifies God's glory and my inability. He is like that — powerful to be with me when I need Him most. Yesterday’s sermon was one of those times. I’ve felt so inadequate in several areas and the preacher pointed to each one and to the adequacy of Jesus Christ and His powerful ability to deal with my enemies, such as fear and hopelessness. What joy to know that He knows just what I need.

The times of trouble are the times when He manifests His power. It is then that He makes His will most “plain before my face.” Both Churches and individuals are apt in their prosperity to say, “I shall never be removed.” But in adversity I run to God in humility, and He makes me a way through the deep waters. “The swellings of Jordan” abate at His presence. “The overflowings of ungodliness” are defeated by His word. When He speaks, sorrow and distress flee away. When I am grieved at life’s events, He makes “straight paths for my feet” to overcome my disappointments and despair.

Thank You, Jesus.

Key to Success

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:1–8)

In this study of ‘therefore’ as a word about consequences, God is showing me how the OT points to Jesus and NT truths. That is, the OT events point to a greater reality. This passage is another one of them.

Moses and Law remind me of the promise of a Messiah and that God’s people wanted to obey but continually failed to keep the law. Then the death of Moses changed leadership. Joshua. Because Moses died, Joshua was given leadership into the land of promise. And I know this does not point to heaven but to a difference in their lives.

Joshua means “Jehovah saves” — another phase in the history of redemption. If I look at it as part of a salvation journey, it points to being set free from slavery to sin and learning how to walk in that redeemed freedom. It takes a lifetime and without the power of Christ, I cannot do it, just as the OT people of God struggled in their battle to live out the will of God in the land He gave them.

Again, this is not heaven. If it were, there would be no enemies and no battles, no lessons in how to live in total surrender to the God who saves. This is why He told Joshua and He tells me that He will be with me. All blessings are mine, and no one can take that from me. Obedience is vital to my success. So is reading and thinking about God's will day and night.

Fear and becoming down-hearted are my enemies so He adds: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9–10) This is not about emotional stability but about remembering and knowing that He is with me — all the time and wherever I am.

Jesus, Your presence is always with me, like the air around me. If I forget that, my life goes sideways or upside-down. It is never Your fault for You are faithful to Your word. May I alway be mindful that You never leave me alone. You are my strength and my obedience, my Savior and success.

Two kinds of Consequences

Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy. (Numbers 20:4–13)

While this passage could mean that Moses ‘lost his salvation’ because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, the rest of the Bible makes that interpretation impossible. With that in mind, I have to consider the symbolism or types used by OT events to point to NT realities.

The promised land can point to heaven but another and even better way to look at it is that it points to the fullness of life in Christ. In other words, if I disobey God as Moses did, my sin results in broken fellowship with Him, a loss of joy and peace, and perhaps other things.

In Moses’ situation, he got to see the land but not enter it. These passages say nothing about repentance, only about separation and the loss of going into this promised land of plenty. 

That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:48–52)

The NT has a difficult passage that this Moses incident reminds me of — that those who see the results of redemption and know what God wants, but reject it, will not be able to repent and go to that land or have eternal life. In the same way they are disobeying what they know, as Moses did. But the difference is that Moses actually trusted God and enjoys eternal life, but those talked about in this NT passage only saw the promise of new life in this world but rejected it:

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. (Hebrews 6:4–6)

This is hearing God but refusing to obey Him. I know at least one person who is dangerously close to this consequence. She knows it all, has even confessed errors, but holds back on acknowledging what Christ has done on her behalf. My hope is that because contempt is not yet visible that she is still thinking rather than hardening her heart.

Jesus, Your mercy is awesome. For this person and others in the same situation, I pray Your patience and grace would prevail and they would say yes to what You have shown them, lest they perish and so they become “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” because they finally say yes to the light You have given them.

 

Responsibilities and Privileges

For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.” And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. And your contribution shall be counted to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord’s contribution to Aaron the priest. Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.’ Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be counted to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor, and as produce of the winepress. And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have contributed the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, lest you die.’ ” (Numbers 18:24–32)

This is a difficult passage. I read a few ideas from others about its significance then and implications for God's people today. These are important attitudes and actions for me.

First, when all that I have, including time, money, talents, opportunities, and influence is dedicated to serving the Lord, I can enjoy life with glad of heart. I may not have all that others have, but joy is not about possessions but about being filled with the Spirit and committed to loving Jesus.

Even though I have no worldly inheritance, Jesus is mine and I am His. I have many things to enjoy, but they are not mine but only entrusted to me for a time and for my stewardship. I may hold these blessing yet only on condition of giving any or all up at once, without complaint or astonishment, if called to do so. Yet I am not poor though having nothing; but rich beyond compare, having Jesus and in Him I have all things.

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:21–23)

Some of the Levites might have wished to be landowners rather than Levites yet they had the great privilege of serving the Lord. They were not forgotten but received houses, gardens, pasture lands and were commended to the care of the nation. In today’s family of God, those called to serve are provided for in every way. Those who hear that call to be pastors, evangelists, or missionaries have every reason to obey it. Such full-time service may have many trials and heart-aches yet God’s Word promises: “Them that honor me I will honor.” This means preferring God without the land to the land without God, and having no fear that God will fail His commitment. He wants me, regardless of what He asks of me, to commit my soul entirely to Him and have no “second portion” to fall back upon if anythings seems to not work out as I hoped. Of this, I need not fear. I have accepted God’s offer to be His and can say: 

… I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, (or whatever He asks of me) which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:11–12)

Jesus, I realize that the vital responsibilities of the Levites have their parallel in the entire consecration You ask of me. Shrinking from my responsibilities is less of a temptation as You remind me of my privileges, even in a much lesser role than those listed above. I’m thankful that You promise safety and sufficiency. You are my portion and security, even made me Your inheritance. I am Your child, and I have all that I need.

Respect God's Decisions

Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!” And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. (Numbers 16:1-11)

It happens these days; a congregation decides the leaders God appointed did everything wrong and they wanted to be treated as leaders themselves. Reading the rest of the story shows what God thinks of such behavior. He was angry, separated those who grumbled from the rest, then opened up the earth and swallowed the whole works, including their wives and children.

I’ve known of a church where the congregation was so difficult that their pastor committed suicide. Some leaders are dismissed, kindly or otherwise. Some just leave. The above passage says that the rebellion was actually against God's choice. Moses was not teaching false doctrine, or taking advantage of anyone. The problem was not with their leader but their desire to rule their own lives.

I know how that feels when trouble hits. Impatience wants it fixed, now. Yet God gave me two verses as a new Christian and these thoughts have made a difference. He will not let me forget His plans for me:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

After moving many times and attending many churches, I’ve seen that the Lord can use even poor preachers to teach me something. His goal is transformation — and Jesus never rebelled against anything that others would want fixed. Instead, He died for our sins.

The OT rebelled against God and He had every right to destroy them. He could do that to me also, but instead He sent Jesus who was swallowed up by death that I might live, that I might experience “all things” including the tough stuff so He could replicate Himself in me.

Jesus, how important to respect and learn from Your choices. I could complain — and be swallowed up by worldly and sinful values. I could grumble about a lot of things, complaining and demanding their removal. Doing that would totally miss the point of why You bring challenges into my life. Thank You for reminding me again to be thankful and trust You, no matter what. 

Crave Freedom

Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving. (Numbers 11:31–34)

The people wanted meat like they had before He rescued them from bondage in Egypt. So God gave them meat, but with it came His anger at their desire for that which represented sin. In their consumption, this ‘meat’ meant judgment and death. The place where they died was called Kibroth-hattaavah, meaning graves of craving.

This event points to what happens if I let my sinful desires become so important that I cry out to God to do for me what I want rather than be thankful for all that He provides. My spiritual life is damaged. In their case, it was a physical death. In mine, it is a separation from God and just as deadly. I cannot function when filled with sinful selfishness.

Yesterday I talked with someone who professes faith in Christ but is off on a tangent over worldly matters. Some of it reminded me of this NT warning:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

It was not that person who was caught up in a love of money, but he is listening to several people who seem to be and they have clouded his judgment. This reminds me of another truth:

Let God be true though every one were a liar. . . .  (Romans 3:4)

How do we know that our human sources are telling truth? The Lord calls Satan a liar and the father of lies, and says he can disguise himself as an angel of light. That means we need to listen to the One who says “I am the truth” lest we are deceived.

Going back to that event in Numbers, the root of their sin was a craving for the perks of their old life. They seemed to forget the bondage and focused only on what they were missing, at least for a time. As I listened to the views of the person I talked with yesterday, it came out that his views were rooted in wanting a prosperity rather than seeing the dangers of craving and the consequences of insisting his views were truth. (Long story for this short space.)

For me, the bottom line is: How do I know if something is truth? Jesus said if I know the truth, it will set me free, free to trust Him, free from anxiety about events and the way other humans behave, free from trying to figure out the ‘whys’ of life and free to let God take care of those who live contrary to His will. Truth is found in Christ and in His Word. People who are duped need prayer and His light because they cannot see it without the Holy Spirit opening their eyes. 

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:2–6)

Jesus, I know I can fall for lies too. That is why I run to You every day. You never lie to me. I might get it wrong, but eventually You sort it out and keep me listening to You. The main truth is Your incredible faithfulness to keep Your people from being overpowered by that Liar. 

Be careful what you pray for. . . .

And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?” ’ ” But Moses said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?” And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.” (Numbers 11:18–23)

Just after Christmas I prayed asking the Lord to help me lose some weight. Shortly after that, I became ill and didn’t feel like eating for days on end. This affected my sweet tooth also, and I didn’t even want the 59 chocolates that had been gifted to me. Of course I lost weight. Also, a month off sweets seemed to kill that addiction. I’ve laughed and told my friends to be careful what they pray for…

The people of Israel liked the food they had in Egypt, even though they were in bondage there. When they whined about missing that food and were sick of eating simple manna, God gave them the meat they craved to the point of being sick of it.

I’m thinking of the parallel to Christian life. Those who follow Jesus sometimes get caught up in wanting stuff that does not fit with our profession of faith or the principles of living as God’s family. It might be an obsession to collect stuff, from salt shakers to luxury cars. It might be having the best and latest stereo or computer equipment. It could be a hobby or a sport. Not that these things are sinful (certainly eating meat is not necessarily a sin) but if they draw me or any of God’s people away from faith or away what God wants for us, it is a problem. He may correct it in a surprising manner!

Over-eating, whether it is sweets or just too much food,  is not good for my health. God desires to bless me with good health and has done so for many years. Bad habits in that or any other issue is not from Him.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

If I am filled with the Spirit, not filled with a pile of “I-wants” then God is at work in me and His life shows up. No self-control reveals that I have put Him aside and living as if my desires are more important that His will. Not only that, the other ‘fruit’ is missing, including love, joy, and peace.

Jesus, it bothers me when I see a brother or sister in Christ moping or suffering or complaining, as if God has forgotten them even though the opposite is usually the explanation. Selfishness can rob me from Your goodness. You can overcome that and sometimes do it by letting me have my way only to find out that it is not at all going to be a blessing. I thank You that You know exactly how to deal with my fleshy ways so that I don’t crave anything but being in a right relationship with You.

My stuff isn’t really mine

That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field. “In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. You shall pay your neighbor according to the number of years after the jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops. If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you. You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God. “Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives. (Leviticus 25:11–22)

In a sermon series on generosity, our pastors have made it clear that I do not own anything but am a steward of what belongs to God. That is, He is the owner and I am a steward who He entrusts what He gives me to care for it according to His will.

For some time, I’ve thought of my fabric stash that way and that I have a responsibility to use it wisely and generously. However, that translated to using it up before I die. Then along came a friend who is moving and decided to downsize her stash. She gave me a large bag of lovely quilt fabrics, so large that she could not carry it. I could have said no, but didn’t. After a few weeks of letting it sit out of sight, I decided to sort everything as a good steward should. This verse was like a shot between the eyes:

But all things should be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

It is now in order and with that the sad realization that in my lifetime, I cannot use it all. This made me think more deeply about stewardship.

Two more things happened. One was a lady who advertised her expensive sewing machine and furniture and other connected items for about a tenth or less of their retail value. It was quickly snapped up but she had some longarm accessories that she gave to me. One still had a price tag of a couple hundred dollars. When I asked her motivation, she said, “I just want all this to go to someone who will make quilts for needy people.”

The other event was a time with some quilters who talked about needing just a bit of this or that — and realizing how I could supply those needs, that I don’t have to use all my fabric stash myself, but give it to those who can. My anxiety about failing as a steward vanished. People need quilts, but quilters need bits of this and that to finish projects. God was giving me another way to be a good manager of my stuff.

Reading Leviticus and these rules for living also is a prompt to think the way He thinks. His people are in this together, needing to think of one another with goodness and in fairness. We don’t own what we have and if someone else needs it, God can ask us to give it to them. As my sister always said, if we need it, He can just as easily return more of the same back to us.

Jesus, Your way of doing things takes a burden off me. I can trust You to help me be a good steward and give me innovative ways to be generous to others as You are generous to me. It is so simple that I am sorry for not ‘getting it’ a long time ago. Thank You again!

God has reasons for saying NO…

 “You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:22–27)

Some find this OT book a boring read, but if read with the will of God and godly principles in mind, it changes my thinking and my life. For instance, this passage points to two very different areas of life; the food I eat, and the way I seek spiritual truth.

The food issue has not been thoroughly studied, but I know one thing — what God forbids is generally not healthy. In those days, pork was prone to have parasites and other bacteria. While these dangers have been reduced now, back then people died from eating pork. I don’t know much about other forbidden foods, but trust God who knows what is dangerous to my well-being.

As for mediums and others involved in summoning the spirits of the dead, this is in the realm of demonic activity. Even if a sincere truth seeker in this area can open themself to dark and evil forces. Jesus called the devil a liar and the source of lies. If I go that direction, I would be setting myself up for disaster, even destruction. 

All of this seems obvious to me now, but not all Christians are aware of these dangers. Some mess with horoscopes or eat forbidden food as if it were a delicacy, not realizing that God is not being a rule-maker without reason. While keeping these laws does not make me a redeemed person, paying attention to them marks me as someone who pays attention to God, trusting Him to know what is good for me and what is dangerous. It is faith in Him that makes the difference between trust and obey, or living by rules.

Jesus, we have been to restaurants that offer strange stuff on the menu that You say is unclean. We also have events in our city that feature mediums and others who tell fortunes and act as if they have knowledge of the spirit world, luring others to trust and even pay them to tell their futures or explain their problems. These and many other ‘forbidden things’ are not only a danger to true godliness, they insult You as if You are not Lord of all. Keep me alert and avoiding these lures that could destroy me. I’m so glad to know and trust You.