If God works in patterns . . .

Numbers 16; Psalms 52–54; Isaiah 6; Hebrews 13

This morning I asked God to show me His will for my life today. Then I read Numbers 16 and shuddered. I’ve already heard preachers say that this current pandemic is to warn God’s people, and that God works in patterns. I do not know for certain that the event described in this OT book is a pattern but must consider it. A rough outline . . .

The people are angry with their leader. He was put in place by God yet they challenge his authority. He has no right to tell them what to do. God says, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment.” (Numbers 16:20) Moses and Aaron interceded. God spared all but judged the leaders of this rebellion. The ground opened and swallowed them. Then the rest of the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying they killed these people. At that, a plague began. Aaron interceded but before the plague stopped, 14,700 people died.

All I can say is that grumbling against those who are trying to lead us is not the will of God. Instead, I am to pray for them and do what they say:

First of all, then, I urge that 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 is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1–4)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1–4)

The reading in the Psalms is not cheerful either. Psalm 52 condemns those who love evil more than good and lying more than speaking what is right. Psalm 53 points to the fool who says there is no God and points to God’s rejection of such persons. Psalm 54 is the prayer of David asking God to deliver him from unrighteous enemies who seek his life. It seems that these are also repeating patterns today as the persecution of Christians increases in our world along with an increase in those who reject the very existence of God.

Isaiah cries out as history is repeated in his time; God’s people are rebelling against Him. The prophet says,

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5)

And the Lord responds saying that the people will not hear His message. When the prophet asks how long, God says:

“Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, and the LORD removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump. (Isaiah 6:11–13)

Again, is this a repeating pattern? Many modern preachers are calling out to God’s people to change their ways because they have become complacent and disobedient. I do not want to be one of them!

Hebrews 13 tells me what God expects, a lengthy list of His will for His people. It includes hospitality to strangers, ministry to prisoners and those mistreated; morality in marriage; freedom from the love of money; contentment; relying on God for help; no fear; respect for leaders; sticking to sound teaching; strength from God’s grace; bearing persecution; praising God; doing good; sharing with others; obedience to leaders; praying for others; and relying on Jesus who will “ . . . equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:21)

APPLY: Keep in mind that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hates sin but will forgive those who repent. Also remember the alternative for those who reject the grace of God. I must rely on His grace, trusting Him to enable and equip me to be an obedient, faithful follower. The challenges of doing His will are great but also great is the goodness and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen; it’s important!

Exodus 24; Job 42; John 3; 2 Corinthians 12

Exodus 24 describes Moses going up a mountain to meet with God, confirming the covenant He made with them. It was a little like other ancient covenants — a lesser power agreed to abide by the rules set down by the stronger power, pay certain taxes, and maintain proper allegiance. The greater power would promise protection, defense, and loyalty. In His covenant, one difference was that it involved the shedding of blood and the people agreed to abide by it:

Then (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:7–8)

Agreeing with God and awe go together. I know a tiny bit of this awe. Our plan today included a flight to northern Mexico to visit our granddaughter who teaches there in an International school. We also prayed if God did not want us to make this trip, He would make it clear. Granddaughter called. Schools were closed and she worried we would get there and not be able leave due to the virus issue. Then, our government said no citizen should fly out of the country unless necessary. Those who did must self-quarantine 14 days after returning. We decided to stay home; God was speaking and we obeyed. Oddly, I am filled with a sense of awe.

This setback was nothing like Job’s yet I can also relate to the end of his story. God’s direction came at the last minute yet my heart felt joy at Job’s words to God, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2) Yielding in trust produces joy.

The Lord “restored the fortunes” of Job and we are finding His same compassion in our much smaller experience; everyone is refunding the money we spent, including the B&B rentals, etc. Again, this produces a gladness, not merely about refunds but that God cares and is able. His timing is always perfect.

Reading John brings me to Jesus. Chapter 3 is wonderful in its description of salvation through new life that the Bible calls being ‘born again.’ Some scoff at the term but it is a real experience. The end of this chapter tells how Jesus speaks. It also describes the results of listening to His voice — and what happens to those who do not listen:

He (Jesus) who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:31–36)

Could anything be clearer? Jesus is like us but not like us. His words are the truth of God and He holds the power of God in His hands. To refuse to listen to Jesus is the most dangerous choice I could make. For us, this explains our decision to cancel our long-made plans to fly south, not because our ‘wisdom’ said anything because we honestly were willing to go even amid the warnings and pandemic fears, but because we’d prayed and both heard the Holy Spirit telling us to stay.

A bigger reason to listen is that the choice in these verses is about eternal life and my eternal destiny. If I had rejected the words of God to my heart that day more than 50 years ago, the wrath of God would have remained on me. There would be no more warnings, no more guidance, just my own ‘wisdom’ to tell me what to do. What a tremendous loss!

2 Corinthians reminds me of even greater losses. Not only His guidance but knowing His power when I need it most. As He says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can even boast of my weaknesses because of Jesus.

Further, He deals with that former life, setting me free from “quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20) and enabling repentance and His new life to be evident, all because He speaks so I can listen.

APPLY: Keep listening. This is for daily life, for guidance on choices for this staycation, but more importantly, listening and obeying is about eternal life and being with Jesus forever!

Bad News first, then Good News . . .

Most people say they like others who speak their minds, who are open about things and do not have hidden agendas or hide their opinions either in fear or manipulation. Christians are told to be like that. We use the words ‘transparent’ and ‘integrity’ to describe this as virtue, yet not everyone likes it. This is a God-thing, a trait of Jesus that eventually brought Him to the cross. The religious leaders of His day did not want to hear what He really thought of them. They preferred the flattery of the people and were angered by His disapproval.

I see from the first chapter of Romans that Paul was straight-forward in this communication with the Christians at Rome. He began with thanksgiving, moved quickly to his reason for wanting to be there, and then contrasted those who live by faith with those who reject the revelation of God.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. (Romans 1:8)

So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:15–17)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20)

The first two passages are nice on the ears. I love hearing someone thank God for me and give an appropriate reason. I also love hearing the boldness given to those who believe and preach the Gospel which is powerful to change lives. That power is from God given by grace to those who trust Him.

However, the third passage is uncomfortable. I am sure it is quite unacceptable to those who fit its description. Those who know that God exists, see His power in creation, and then turn their backs on what God has revealed to them are in trouble. They know enough to turn to God in thanksgiving at the very least, yet they say NO to what is clear and have no valid excuses for their rejection.

Not that excuses are not made. God’s eternal power is denied with words like fate, coincidence, luck. His divine nature is pushed away as He is blamed for all things unpleasant and not thanked for His goodness. The next few verses say:

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:21–23)

In our culture, the exchange of God’s glory is not usually for images and idols, but instead the worship of money, fame, famous people, success, accomplishment, and human ability. These and other stuff become objects of trust and adoration with God pushed to a back burner or ignored entirely. And no one wants to hear or read what Paul has to say about the wrath of God.

Yet this book of Romans does not stop with these lines that no one likes to hear. It goes on to describe the Good News of salvation by grace, of redemption freely offered through faith in Jesus Christ. The truth is that all need to hear the bad news before we can welcome the good news. Without realizing the reality and danger of my sin, I would not be interested in God’s solution for it and His amazing plan of rescuing sinners from the ungodliness of my soul.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, again I am thankful to You, rejoicing that even though I am a sinner, I have been redeemed and given new life in You. Each day is filled with the abundant life that You promise to those who trust in You. For that, I am so grateful. I’m looking forward to this quick dash through Romans, knowing that You took the condemnation I deserve and Paul describes in this letter how You did it and the ways it changes everything.

Today’s thankful list . . .

A changed life.

No longer under the wrath of God.

Energy after a tough workout yesterday.

Soup and sandwiches.

The ability to sew.

Progress in purging my file cabinet.

Finding someone who wants our never-used juicer.

Music on Abiding Radio all day without talk.