One example of how we go our own way…

And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” 
So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. 
The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 
And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 
And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 
Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” (1 Samuel 15:1–15)

While this part of the story does not tell the consequences of Saul’s disobedience in regard to the nation, it goes on to describe how Saul claimed to have obeyed, then confessed his sin when told God had rejected him from being king. But he then blamed it on the people and said to Samuel, 

“I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 
And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 
Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” (1 Samuel 15:24–30)

Excuses and lies. This man didn’t get it. God wants obedience, and if sin happens, He wants honesty. Instead, Saul tried to blame others and wanted God to change His mind so he could worship Him — blaming his inability to worship on God’s ‘failure’ to be lenient and refusal to do what he wanted. 

Lord, how foolish is a proud and sinful heart to think that God has to earn our love and obedience by doing what we want. This selfish thinking is just one of the many reasons You died.

Beware of making assumptions

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” (1 Samuel 1:4–16)

The Canadian hockey team lost the Olympic gold medal game in the early part of overtime. Cameras went to the face of the team captain and his sorrow. Last night, that same player got a last minute tripping penalty and the opposition scored to win the game. Again, the cameras went to his face. Was he overcome by those two losses? Was he upset at his own failures? Was he thinking of four more years to try for gold again? Was he sad that he let his own team down by that penalty? 

When I tell a story, I notice that many times my listeners respond to it as they would if the same thing happened to them. Because I have the peace of God as a Christian, many times my responses are foreign to unsaved people. They are trying to relate to me, give me sympathy, or in some way identify what I’m going through, but many of those responses sound like an attempt to change the subject, or reveal they have no clue about how I think.

Elkanah responded to his weeping wife as if she had no one to love, and forget he was there for her. He didn’t understand her sorrow at all. The other wife did. That gave her more power to mock and hurt her.

Eli didn’t get it either. He saw her silent lips moving and for reasons unknown, he thought she was drunk, a total insult to her broken heart. Whatever caused this assumption, he insulted her instead of giving her comfort, at least until she explained her sorrow.

From Hannah to hockey player, I can see the folly of assuming meaning without first asking questions, yet from watching reporters say, “How does that make you feel?” I realize I can also make assumptions. That question annoys me because it seems to ignore the obvious, but the obvious that I see may totally miss the mark.

I’ve dozens of personal examples, enough to make me realize that I need to be more careful. A pastor tells of assuming the weeping women in the front row was was deeply affected by his sermon, but when he asked her about her tears, she said that her cat died that morning!

Jesus, I do not read minds or know human hearts like You do. Help me remember to ask questions and not make assumptions — as if I know more than I really know.

 

Something for nothing?

Jacob, son of Issac and Rebekah, was often blessed by God and never seemed to deserve any of it. None of us do, but when a scalawag is continually bailed out but always treated well, it can seem unfair. This passage suggests he may have grown to expecting blessings without any effort on his part:  
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month. Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” (Genesis 29:13–15)

It seems to me that God is not using this to illustrate salvation, which is never earned or dissevered, but addressing the attitude of the one is blessed by God’s favor. Gratitude is not the same as taking Him for granted. I often call myself God's spoiled brat, but realize this is not the same as having a totally grateful attitude that humbly knows His love and kindness, rather than always expecting it.

I’ve been really sick for a few days, likely a virus and no fun at all, but snapping my fingers for the Lord to fix it is not part of His plan, at least not at this time. I know that He wants me to accept this and keep my mind on the joy set before me, not grumble or wonder why He isn’t doing something for me right now.

Jesus, I’m learning to accept discomfort, even extreme and long sessions of struggle. this is on Your mind, but was not on mine. However, I do trust You and believe You lovingly remain in charge of my life. For the joy set before me, may You grant the endurance needed to glorify You.

Oh my, I would never have thought of that . . .

 

 

READ Job 33-36

When calling others for help about any situation, the story of Job instructs that even the most well-meaning of counselors may rely on their own experience and understanding without first seeking God’s input. Why is that?

My experience tells me that God’s input is startling, not what I expected, and sometimes seems outlandish. My own ideas are not evil. They may seem to suit the situation, but God’s counsel is radically different.

Example. Our son was threatened by two older boys in junior high school. They wanted a physical altercation to show their superiority. He told me and I prayed. An idea came from the Lord and it was not what either my son or myself expected. He was to tell the boys how much trouble he would be in at home if he fought at school, but it was okay to fight after school, in our garage, with boxing gloves. My son was appalled. However, God added one more instruction: the boys would be invited inside for milk and cookies before the contest began. Of course this plan worked. It never even got past the invitation stage and the conflict was over.

Job’s friends, including the young man who said he wanted to “justify” him, could not accept that God had any other reason for this man’s predicament than punishing him for sin. Their ‘advice’ was, for the most part, appropriate for such a situation, but it did not fit Job. The unseen scenario of Satan’s accusation that Job would not trust God if He stopped blessing him remained unseen. Would God have shared that with those ‘friends’ had they been humble enough to ask instead of saying things like:

“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” (Job 33:29–33)

Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’ (Job 34:4–9)

‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’ Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” (Job 34:35–37)

“Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.” (Job 35:16)

“I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.” (Job 36:3–4)

Not once did these ‘friends’ tell Job that they had no clue why the Lord was silent, or why this man was suffering even though he had done nothing to warrant it. Not once did they tell him they would pray and ask the Lord for answers. Instead, they claimed to know it all, to be wise, to have wisdom even without pleading with God for it. In their minds, their assumptions were all they needed.

Some Christians have the spiritual gift of discernment. This gift requires great caution. It is easy to put together reasons for the behavior of others without knowing the full story. Even when the story is known, it is easy to assume knowledge of how to counsel or what to do about it without first asking God. And since God’s ways are higher than our ways, when the answer comes it is easy to dismiss it as ‘impossible’ or folly of some sort. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Two examples: Elisha’s servant was filled with fear when he saw the enemy forces all around the city. Elisha said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” The Lord opened the eyes of the servant and he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha who then prayed, “Please strike this people with blindness” and God did just that. (2 Kings 6:15–18) God was asked to show that servant His mighty resources.

Sin ruined lives. Trying harder didn’t work. God sent Jesus who was delivered up according to His definite plan and foreknowledge and He was crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men so that sinners could be redeemed. (Acts 2:23) God’s plan made no sense to many who witnessed it.

God is far more creative than my imagination. I cannot let preconceived notions or what seems wise interfere with what He says or tells me to do. Learning to listen and obey is vital to living according to His will!