A Torch. A Trumpet. A Voice.

Day 31:  Genesis/Psalm 31, Judges 7

I've read the story of Gideon in Judges 7 many times.  I've heard countless sermons on the chapter and how God doesn't need an army to accomplish His will.  I've heard it preached that God is looking for the right men who are ready to fight and that He can do more with 300 than can be accomplished with 32,300.

But I got to thinking during this reading.  Why 300?  If God wanted to pair the group down so that they would not be able to boast that it was their own military strength that saved them, why didn't God use 100 men?  Or even 10 men?  Or, I'm talking nonsense, just 3?  Gideon broke his band of 300 men into three groups, right?  And each of those groups had torches and trumpets.  Gideon put them around the camp of his enemy in three strategic places.  So why not just three guys with trumpets and torches?

God didn't need 32,000 men or even 10,000 men but He did need a large group.  In the middle of the night, from a distance three torches surrounding a valley would have been barely distinguishable.  Three trumpets would have been barely noticeable and three guys yelling would have sounded like the wind blowing.

But you take three groups of 100 men and separate them around a valley.  Three groupings of 100 torches takes on a whole different look in the dead of night.  The blast from the trumpets would have sounded in stereo in the valley and echoed as a clarion call and the shouts of 300 men from three different locations would have convinced the sleepy enemy that they were surrounded and about to die.

God didn't need 32,000 men with swords He just needed 300 men holding torches, blowing trumpets and raising their voice, "FOR THE LORD AND FOR GIDEON!"

God knew on the front end how the battle would be won.  Just because no one else did didn't matter too much.

Here is God's word to Zerubbabel from Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."

Have you been waiting for God to move?  Is there a battle that you need to fight?  God doesn't need your sword or your strength or your cunning He needs your trust.  I see so many people trying to fix their own lives by going further into the mess they already created.  They try to do it on their own, in their own wisdom and fall short.  It's time to stop and let God prepare you for battle.

First of all - are you willing to fight?  Is the thing you're after worth it?
Second - are you alert and prepared or are you just along for the ride?  God wants you to trust Him with your fight, not dump it in His lap and walk away.
Third - what do you have to fight with?  If you're holding onto your sword you're not trusting... Use what God gives you, even if it's a torch, a trumpet and your voice.

The goal of your struggle is not for you to win, it's for God to get the glory.  Don't make this about you when it's about Him.  If it's about you, you're not ready for battle yet.  

Are You Struggling With Something?

Day 30:  Genesis/Psalm 30, Judges 6

There are a lot of people struggling... duh, it's a constant in our world.  We struggle with finances and fiancé's,  relationships and reconciliation, pain and promises.  There never seems to be a shortage of struggles and difficulties.

Now, to be honest, most of the garbage I find myself dealing with is brought on by me.  If God weren't in the habit of rescuing us from ourselves and our mistakes I think He'd be pretty bored.  I, and a lot of others keep Him plenty busy.

Last year over spring break I went with another church on a mission trip to Mexico to build a house for a local family there.  The ride was like 20 some hours long.  It was horrible.  On the way back we got caught in a blizzard and for hours we drove about 20 MPH because we could barely see the road. It was miserable.  I began to nearly have a panic attack thinking we might never make it.  I just wanted to be home - it was all I could take.  I felt horrible, trapped, freaking out in my head.  And then we got to the church.  I got in my car and Tristen and I drove 15 more minutes home and I got in my own bed.

The next day, the fear was gone.  The panic was gone.  I was home.  And all the feelings I had on the drive seemed like just a dream.  In the moment I thought it would never end.  But it did end.

I think that may be how David felt when he penned these words in Psalm 30, "His anger is but for a moment, His favor for a lifetime; weeping may last for a night, but a shout comes in the morning."

Thankfully, we serve a God who is long in love and short in anger.  In fact, I wonder if God is angry much at all, I think He's more sad than angry.  He has so much good for us, so much blessing stored up for us but we keep going our own way and doing our own thing.  We claim to be doing what He wants at times, but really it's what we want, we just blame Him and then blame Him again when we don't get what we want.  I think God is sad because He knows the potential He placed in us and we all too often squander it.

I'm off track... No matter how down you feel right now because that relationship you thought was going to be "the one" is over.  No matter how bleak the future looks staring at it through the zeros in your bank account.  No matter how hopeless you feel trying to hold your family together alone... His favor is for a lifetime and a shout comes in the morning.

He will see your through if your eyes are on Him.  Look to that relationship you thought was it and you'll be left alone.  Dwell on what you don't have instead of what you do and you'll continue to be captive.  Consider your family, spouse, etc., the most important thing in your life and you'll remain alone even if they stick around.  But put your eyes on Jesus and whatever you're in the middle of right now will soon be just a dream.

One day soon you'll wake up with a shout of JOY and you'll realize that if He's the center of your life, His favor will last your whole life through.

Don't hang your head - pick it up and look for Him.

Praise Him In The Storm

Day 29:  Genesis/Psalm 29, Judges 5

In Genesis 29 is the story of how Jacob met his future wife Rachel.  It's a beautiful story.  A beautiful mess, Rachel and the smooth but strong Jacob meet at a well.  Jacob is so taken by Rachel that he vows to work for her father for seven years in exchange for his daughter - this apparently is the bride bride price since Jacob did not bring any means to pay for Rachel.  But Laban, Rachel's father deceives Jacob and at the end of seven years of service gives his oldest and ugly daughter Leah to Jacob as a wife.  However, seven days later Rachel is also given to Jacob (after the next day when Jacob realizes the betrayal in the light of day and shudders) as his wife in exchange for another seven years of work.

Leah spent her whole life not very attractive.  We don't know exactly what the situation was, the Bible graciously tells us that Leah had, "weak eyes" which to most means she was not attractive.  We can infer that this is the case since Rachel was of marrying age and her older sister Leah had not yet been married (no one would pay to have her as his wife).  Then, after Jacob works for Laban seven years, Leah is still not married off.  No one wanted her.

I guess we could say that is a father's love for his ugly daughter that drives him to deceive Jacob and give him Leah as his wife knowing that at least she would be cared for, even if Jacob didn't love her.  But more than likely Laban used it as an excuse to get Jacob to work for him another seven years.  After all, Laban must not have been very wealthy if his beautiful daughter had to tend the sheep instead of hired helpers.  Jacob actually increases the holdings of Laban as he served him the first seven years, Laban didn't want that to end.

Anyway, now you know the story and area caught up to what I really want to share.

Because Leah was unloved and Jacob spent all his time with Rachel (don't blame Jacob and Rachel, it was not their fault Leah was put in this position, it was her father's fault).  But God saws that Leah was unloved and Rachel was loved so he opened Leah's womb to conceive, even through Rachel was unable to conceive.  The conception of children was a big thing in those days.  Women who were unable to have children were seen as cursed and often times were divorced because they could not produce offspring to carry on the name.  Sarah was unable to conceive until God gave her that special ability at nearly 100 years old.  Many times in the Bible we read of women who are unable to conceive praying to God and when He opens their wombs their children do incredible things in the Name of God.

Now, by the end of chapter 29 Leah gives birth to four boys (the greatest thing a woman can do for her husband in those days) and she gives them each a different name.  This seems a bit odd since it is usually the father who names the children.  Look at the progression of the names of her boys.

1st - Reuben - named because "the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."
2nd - Simeon - "the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also."
3rd - Levi - "this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons."
4th - Judah - "this time I will praise the Lord."

The first three boys of Leah were named in relation to how she felt, unloved and what she wanted, her husband by deception to love her.  The fact is, she was not going to get married because no one wanted to marry her, sad but true.  Either she was just unattractive or there were other reasons also, physical deformity or mental challenge that had kept her from being married, however, her focus was on her husband and the love of a man who had never loved her and who should have never had to marry her.  This is not Jacob's fault is what I'm saying.  It's Laban's fault.

But by the last child Leah's heart begins to change.  When the first three boys she bore to Jacob didn't change her situation or his love for her she came to a place of peace and said simply, "this time I will praise the Lord."  This in fact, is what she should have been doing all along!  Praising God!  God had allowed her (through deception even) to be married - an honor for a woman in that day.  She also had now bore four sons when her sister had not bore any - an honor for a woman in that day.

We often accept blessings from the Lord with the focus on everyone and everything else except the Lord.  We make the blessing about us and then we want more.  That blessing doesn't make us happy or fulfilled.  When what we should do is praise God for the blessing no matter what.  It's not enough in your eyes, praise Him.  You still want more?  Praise him.  The blessing doesn't get you what you wanted?  Praise Him.

There's a line from a song that goes like this, "I will praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands.  For You are who You are, no matter where I am.  And every tear that falls, You hold in Your hands.  For though my heart is torn.... I will praise You in this storm."

Are you in a storm?  Feeling unloved or have unmet expectations?  Are you receiving blessings from God but not recognizing them?  Take a look around you and begin to make a list of all that God HAS given you.  Perhaps He's simply waiting for you to recognize and praise Him in the midst of your storm so you will see Him as your source and support and not someone or something else.  Praise Him and see what happens.

It's Not A Gender Thing, It's a Servant Thing

Day 28:  Genesis/Psalm 28, Judges 4

At this time in Israel's history they are being overseen by judges.  Men and women whom God chooses to guide Israel - usually militarily - freeing them from their oppressors and then leading them by helping the nation return to the worship and fear of God.

In Judges four we are introduced to the first female judge of Israel, Deborah, and some interesting developments.  I'll just list some things that I noticed about Deborah's term as Judge.

• We are first introduced to Deborah as she is convening some sort of court.  Unlike the other male judges who are called to fight first Deborah appears to have been more of a mouthpiece for God.
• Deborah calls Barak and informs him, apparently as a word from God, that he is to go to battle for Israel against Sisera with 10,000 men and God will give them victory.
• With every male judge God instruct that person to do the fighting and gain victory over Israel's enemies, they never use someone else, they always lead the charge themselves.
• It seems that Barak either isn't sure that Deborah hears the voice of God, or at least he doesn't believe it enough to put his life on the line if she isn't willing to put hers on the line too and so he refuses to go to battle unless Deborah travels with them to see it through - not to fight but more like a good luck charm I guess.
• Deborah informs Barak that God will give commander Sisera into the hands of a woman instead of giving the victory directly to Barak, presumably because he did not trust Deborah, her status as judge or perhaps God.
• Barak goes to war with Sisera.  Sisera's army is destroyed but Sisera himself slips away unnoticed and is killed by Jael, a woman, while she was offering Sisera a place to hide and rest in her tent.

It seems to me that while God's use of Deborah says a lot for the way He views women, the men of Israel had a difficult time following her.  Remember, this is the first time EVER that a woman is seen in any position of power or authority over a man, probably in history - it was a male dominated world for sure.  So God really is the first to elevate a woman to a position of authority and then He supported her by seeing to it that what He spoke to her was done exactly as she said it would be.  

But also notice that Deborah didn't beat Barak down or send him away and find someone else, she simply let him know that she would go with him but because he doubted he would not have the satisfaction of killing Sisera himself (killing the king or commander of your enemy's army was seen as a great honor) and instead a woman would gain that victory and status was a low blow to Barak.  Whenever the story was told of the routing of Sisera it would be Jael, not Barak who was discussed at length.  

Still, it's interesting that God did not use Deborah to fight herself, she was the one who relayed God's message to a man who went and fought.  And guess what, she doesn't fight for more rights.  She doesn't yell at Barak or beat him down or talk down about men.  She plays the role that God called her to.

In this way, Deborah is an example to us all.  No matter what your position, gender, socio-economic standing or political affiliation God can use you, but only to the extent that you make your service about Him and not some political or gender discussion.  Deborah didn't argue for the right to fight like the other judges, but she didn't back down either.  She let God be God and she played the role that He called her to in a way that allowed God to get the credit, not her, not Barak even, but instead, God gave the victory to the wife of a man no one even knew about before.

Don't use your position or your spiritual muscle to go beyond what God has called you to.  Whether your a woman or a man.  Let God be God and you be His servant.

Some Things Never Change

Day 27:  Genesis/Psalm 27, Judges 3

*"Is not the testimony of history that one becomes what one worships?"

When the Israelites were driving out the people of the land that God had promised to Abraham (see chapter 1 or Judges) some of the nations refused to be displaced.  Either they were at the time too strong for the people of Israel, which seems unlikely because who is too strong for God?  Or the Israelites were just tired and decided not to worry about them.  It's the "good enough" idea.  You know, they were supposed to drive out all the people but 9 out of 10 nations in this geographical area is "good enough" so we'll call it good.

In Judges three we read why this happened, or rather, why God allowed it to happen.  Verses one and two read, "These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wards o Canaan.  He did this to teach warfare to the generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.

So God allowed these nations to stay in the land so that He could use them to test the Israelites faithfulness to Him and also to help them keep their fighting skills sharp.  But in verse seven we're told that the Israelites failed the test.  They did evil in the eyes of the Lord, they forgot about Him and instead served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.  So the Lord was angry with them.

I did a little research and it seems that the Canaanite god Baal (means lord or master) took several different forms but overall appears to be their storm and fertility god whose image was that of a bull.  His name was used often as a generic term for any god who they worshiped.  Asherah was a fertility goddess and her images were phallus'.

It's interesting to me that the two gods who led Israel astray all those years ago represent the very two sins that most cause us to stumble today.  The idea that we are our own "lord" and sexual immorality. The Bull was supposed to represent strength and virility and we often and easily believe that we are smarter and stronger than God so we decide that we can make our own choices and go our own way without Him.  And perhaps the most devastating sin in terms of it's trapping, mis-information and spiritual destruction is that of sexual immorality.  Many a person, institution and spiritual giant has fallen at the hands of sexual sin and yet we continue to fall for the same traps and even now have made the sin of sexual immorality a thing to be celebrated and fought for and bragged about.

Like Israel, the nation, person or family that falls for these traps of satan, that we're our own god and that sexual sin is okay, will soon and completely be destroyed.  Not by God, but by the very sin that we fight to commit.  Like an addiction it quickly enslaves and controls us.

God, let me always see you as wise and righteous even when I don't understand why you tell me to avoid certain sins.  May I obey your commands and avoid the traps of the devil who seeks my destruction and not my liberation.  And may I fight to keep my body, heart and mind free from sexual sin which wages war against my body and does so much more to destroy me and my relationships than it does to build them up.  Again, let me always conform to you and the image of your Son no matter how good the feeling or how powerful the urge - Your ways alone are right and good.

*Bible.org Baalism in Canaanite Religion and Its Relation to Selected Old Testament Texts

All The Single Ladies (All The Single Ladies)... And Men

Day 24:  Genesis, Psalm and Joshua chapter 24

In this chapter Abraham sends his servant to his hometown to find a wife for Isaac and you see some interesting character traits and faith moments develop.

First there is the wise servant of Abraham who is faithfully discharging his duty to find a wife for Isaac.  That's a big job!  So before the interview process begins he prays to God.  He asks for success and presents a test so he will know the woman God has chosen for Isaac.  The woman who gives me a drink and volunteers to water the camels will pass the first test.  The second test is all about her family line - if she passes the first test AND is from the line of Abraham's family then the servant will know that this is God's chosen wife for Isaac.

Next we meet Rebekah.  She comes out in the evening to get water for her family and Abraham's servant asks her for a drink.  This was a society that was kind and hospitable but there is a big difference between giving a person a drink and watering all their animals!  The servant asks for a drink from her jug which she gives him and then, without being asks she volunteers to water the camels, until they have all had their fill.  Consider this, it's the evening.  There are still chores that need to be done and no one wants to work harder than they have to.  So Rebekah's willingness to do this kindness though it was not required or expected was a big deal.

The third character I want to point out is Isaac, the one for whom Rebekah was found.  When the servant and caravan, along with Rebekah get back to Abraham the first person Rebekah sees is Isaac. And what is he doing?  He is walking and meditating.  Perhaps he knows that any day now the servant of his father could return with a woman and he is praying about who she might be.  Perhaps he knows his father is close to death and that he will have to carry on the legacy of faith in God and he is considering the implications.  Whatever he was actually thinking, the first time he sees Rebekah has been spending time with God.

My standard line to single men and women for many years has been this, when you seek God, He can provide a spouse.  When you seek a spouse, they can not provide God.  When your priority is God He can direct your paths to a person He might choose for you, but when your priority is another person you will not be led closer to God.  In fact, the opposite is usually true.  In fact, many of the people I've talked to are single because they sought that person, instead of God in the first place.

So what do we learn from these three people?

First, the servant teaches us to start the process of finding a spouse with prayer.  God, show me who you have chosen.  He also helps us understand that it's not a problem to have standards as long as those standards are deeper than the skin on his or her body.  He prayed that she would be willing to give him a drink and water his camels and be from the right family.  Thats pretty wise.  Ask God to reveal to you a person of character who also knows and loves God.  Seek a spouse that is seeking God so that you can take that journey together.

Let me get more specific.  By asking Rebekah for a drink the servant was testing her graciousness.  She didn't have to give him a drink but it showed kindness on her part to take the time to offer this cup of cool water to a stranger - that's a great character trait!  But she also offered to water his camels which means that she had a servants heart.  She was not doing the bare minimum to get by, she was willing to do extra work to further extend that kindness.  Ladies, quit marrying men who treat you like trash.  If they don't treat you well before you're married, only trying to get as much as they can from you, they will treat you worse after you're married.  Men, a woman who doesn't respect you now isn't going to magically respect you tomorrow.  Look for a mate that is gracious, kind and has a servants heart.  They are out there you just have to be seeking God to see them.

Last, we find Isaac meditating in the field when Rebekah shows up.  Here is a man who is seeking God presence before he finds his wife.  He was not looking for her when he saw her, he was looking for God and found her.

Note:  you will not find a man or woman after God's heart in places that God would not hang out.  Stop looking in the wrong places.  Like the servant go to the right places to find a spouse.  You say there aren't singles in your church?  God doesn't need church to bring the right person into your life - he can do that at a well.  But if you're spending time in the right places He is able to bring that person to you who wouldn't be found in the wrong places.  Know the character traits that are important to you on the front end.  Ask God to bring you a man who is kind and gentle or a woman who is loving and nurturing.  And then DON'T SETTLE if they don't match up, move on!  Seek God and He will add these things, like a spouse, to you because you sought Him first.

Finally, I do not believe there is ONE person out there for each of us.  That is a fallacy that allows us a get-out-of-marriage-free card.  Because all you have to decide is that your current spouse isn't "the one" and the new guy or girl at work who treats you nice is "the one" and so you can get out of your marriage because you "made a mistake" and chose the wrong soul-mate.  Choose well on the front end and there doesn't have to be a back end.  There is more than one for you so don't feel like you've missed out, what you've probably done is moved up.

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means...

Day 23:  Genesis, Psalm & Joshua - chapter 23

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well known and often used passages of Scripture.  I have been asked to read it in nearly every funeral that I have preached and even used a version of the Psalm written specifically for bikers.  But while the passage often brings images of comfort and peace to our minds its full meaning is often lost because we do not fully understand the culture and circumstances of its writing.

Most likely this Psalm was written while, then King David, was waiting for news from the battlefront.  His son Absalom had attempted a coup and were, at the moment this Psalm was penned, fighting David's men for control of Israel.  It was perhaps the darkest time of David's life.  And that is saying something!

But let's look a little closer at this Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Sheep are not the smartest animals.  They required a shepherd in those days to protect them (sheep will stand by and watch as one of their flock gets eaten by wolves instead of scattering for safety) and to lead them to water and green grass for food.  The sheep would starve or die of thirst without the shepherd, especially in the harsh surroundings of that area.  David is stating in this first verse a truth, God is his shepherd and he is trusting God to take care of him.

He makes me lie down in green pastures...
Have you ever considered why the shepherd had to "make" the sheep lie down in the pasture?  Often times a wayward sheep would not stay with the flock and after many attempts by the shepherd to help the sheep learn to stay put, and many rescues when the sheep would run off, the shepherd would break the wandering sheep's leg in order to "make" it lie down with the rest of the sheep.  The shepherd would then have to carry the sheep everywhere they went and the sheep would learn to trust the shepherd completely.  David knew what it meant to be broken by God in order to learn to trust Him completely.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
David had seen more than his fair share of these dark valleys.  Pursued by King Saul for many years, afraid for his life, yet learning to trust God who was his protector.  David had learned that no matter how dark things got he did not have to fear evil because God had always been with him.  Like the shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep, God had always fought for David.  There was no need to fear, God would provide.

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The shepherd's rod was a shorter stick, fashioned with care, and would often have a small ball at one end.  It was plucked and shaped with the root part still attached to achieve this rod that was used for discipline and protection.  The sheep knew the sound of the rod as it whistled through the air and they knew what it meant.  The rod was used to protect the sheep against predators and the shepherd was deadly accurate to hit snakes with the ball end.  David most likely remembered fighting the bear and lion using in his hands the rod that he carried.
The staff served a different purpose.  It was used to guide, comfort and retrieve the sheep.  Unlike the shorter, stouter rod, the staff was long and slender with a crook or hook at the end.  The hook was used to get the sheep out of trouble to retrieve them safely if they had fallen among other things.  The staff was also long enough that it served to guide the sheep as they walked.  The shepherd could stretch out the staff and gently nudge the sheep in the right direction.  He could also use the staff to pull sheep close to him for careful examination.
The rod and staff were the shepherds greatest tools for discipline, protection, guidance and comfort.  David saw God in all of these areas and the discipline as well as guidance were an equal comfort to him.

Prepare a table... anoint my head... my cup overflows
David fully expected God to once again fight for him.  Though his heart went out to Absalom, his son, David had always been victorious in battle and surely expected that God would bring him victory over his enemies.  After all, if was David's head that the prophet of God had anointed with oil all those years ago.  David was God's chosen man.  And he had been blessed by God.  As David looked over his life with all the ups and downs he could not help but realize that God had caused his cup to overflow with blessing.

The 23rd Psalm has been well used while perhaps not being completely understood.  Like a good shepherd God will at times bring sorrow and even pain into our lives by way of discipline, but it is always for out good.  God never brings pain for the sake of pain - he is not cruel but loving.  In this way even his rod of punishment is an instrument of grace, bringing correction so that further sin and perhaps death would be avoided.  When God is leading our lives we do not need to fear the difficulties that come, we can trust that God will lead us through, gently correcting and diligently protecting.  In the end, our lives will overflow with goodness and lovingkindness no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Where The Lord Provides

Day 22:  Chapter 22 - Genesis, Psalm & Joshua

God has finally given Abraham a son through his wife Sarah (chpt 21) and the boy, Isaac, is now weaned and probably a young pre-teen.  God puts Abraham to the test to determine his heart in two areas, one, has Abraham learned to trust God completely even when he doesn't understand?  And two,  is Abraham willing to do whatever God asks of him?

This chapter is difficult for us to understand in part because of what God asks and also because we are separated by thousands of years.  However, Isaac was not only Abraham's ONLY son, he was also the son of the promise of God.  It was through Isaac that God's promise, to make Abraham into a great nation, was to come.

But this chapter is not really about Abraham or Isaac or the gruesome act God asked Abraham to perform (an act - child sacrifice - that God abhors).  This story is not really about Abraham and Isaac at all, it's about God and His Son, Jesus.

Think of it as the modern idea of foreshadowing in books and movies.
Isaac is a representation of Jesus.  Abraham is a representation of God.
Isaac carries the wood for his own sacrifice up the hill, so did Jesus.
Abraham was the willing participant in an incredibly difficult place, the taking of his own sons life, God also willingly had to sacrifice His own Son or His death would have been stopped.
There is no indication that Isaac struggled against his father as he was bound to be placed on the alter,  neither did Jesus struggle as He was bound, beaten and hung to die.
The only real difference here is that Isaac was spared and instead a substitutionary ram was slaughtered instead.  Jesus actually was that substitutionary ram, sacrificed in your place and mine upon the alter of our own sins.

What a beautiful of picture on that mountain, not of the near sacrifice of Isaac, but of the story of Jesus sacrificial death thousands of years in the future, but played out by these actors on a lone mountain.

In verse 14 we read that Abraham called that mountain, "The Lord Will Provide" and the saying goes, "In the mount of the Lord it will be provided."

One last thought.  When you're on the mountain of the Lord that He has led you to it will be provided for you.  The problem for most of us is that we climb our own mountain.  Possessions, prestige, power, position, family or any other of a million different sorry substitutes for God and when we get to the top of our hand-made mountain we expect God to provide for us there.  God provides on His mountain.  You can't build your own life, go your own way, and expect God to rescue you - you can't expect it, but it happens anyway.

Jesus is your substitute whether your on God's mountain or your own.  He died so you don't have to no matter where you are or where you've been.  God has always provided a way for salvation because He provided His Son.  You simply have to believe that God will do and has done what He said He would, save you through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

He is your substitute sacrifice.  Do you believe?

The God Of Promise

Day 21:  Chapter 21 of Genesis, Psalm and Joshua

Genesis 21:1 begins the chapter this way, "the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised."

It's nice when a promise comes through isn't it.  When someone says they are going to do something and they actually do it - that's a welcome event.  Especially when it's something really big.  We live today with the saying, if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't.  It's too bad we even have to have a saying like that.

Wouldn't it be nice if every promise was fulfilled?  If you did actually win that million that dollars the postcard said you, "might already be a winner of..."  If the key that came in the mail actually fit your dream car.  If you really could be approved for credit since the slogan was, everyone's approved.  But that's not the case.

We live in a time when most of us are used to disappointment.

Imagine how Sarah felt, well passed the age of child bearing she actually becomes pregnant a year after her husband is visited by angels - the precise time they said it would happen.  The Lord kept His promise.

Our reading for today ends the same way.  Joshua 21:45, "not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."  Amazing.

I was thinking about promises from God.  I don't have any really, not like Sarah and Israel, anyway.  God hasn't told me exactly what He's going to do in my life.  But I did think of one thing that is comforting me this evening as I write.

God said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."  That's a promise I can claim for myself because it's a promise based on who God is.  No matter where I go, how far I may fall or how fast I try to run away from Him He will never leave me or forsake me.  He will always be right there.  So I don't have a great, grand promise from God about my life, a child or a piece of land, I have the promise of His presence in every moment of every day and night.

I'll take that promise... to the bank.

Who Gets The Glory?

Watch much sports today and you'll see a lot of men and women who seem to love themselves.  Take, for instance, Richard Sherman immediately after the NFC Championship game on Sunday Jan 19th.  Seattle had just beaten San Francisco after a brilliant defensive play by Sherman against 49er receiver Crabtree when Sherman was interviewed on the field.  The video is all over the internet as Sherman begins to rant at a classic level will surely be recalled for years.  Interviewer Erin Andrews asks Sherman about the last play where he deflected the ball and all he could talk about was how great a player he is and, in contrast, how bad Crabtree is.  Apparently Crabtree had made some comments about Sherman pre-game and that was all it took.

I played sports, I still play for fun and guess what, I still like to win.  But self-love has reached an all-time high it seems in todays culture.  Watch local high-school sports and you'll see for yourself.  Students jumping around like they just won a gold medal at the Olympics.  I've seen players strut and talk like their the best and congratulate themselves for scoring even though they are down by 20 points in the last few minutes of the game.  I don't get it.  

David, the writer of Psalm 20, probably wouldn't understand it either.  In this Psalm you come away knowing one thing.  God gets the glory.  As you read through this Psalm you see that God is the one who is called on when David and his country are being attacked.   God is seen here as the one who can offer support and help, who is asked to remember the sacrifices of his people.  God is the one who is sung to upon victory.  It is banners to God that are set up after victory is secured, not banners to David or any other.  It is God who saves, and these people know it.

God's victory only gives David more trust and more hope that whenever there is a struggle God will come through.  That David doesn't have to rely on his own ability or strength because God fights for him.

In verse 7 he contrasts this issues, "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the Name of the Lord, our God."  

Who gets the glory in your life?  When you win that promotion or earn that raise who are you praising?  Is it not God who gives you the victory?  Is it not God who has provided you with the knowledge and ability you have?  

What do you put your trust in?  Your own smarts?  Your own physical stature?  Your possessions?  Your training?  

As believers in Jesus we should be like Jesus.  When we face trouble we should call on God who is our ever present help.  When the enemy comes against us we should seek refuge in God alone who is our protector and deliverer.  When the victory is secured it is God who should get the glory and praise.  And when He delivers us once again we should learn to trust Him more and more.

Some boast in their physical ability and some in their IQ, some boast in their vehicles or their title but we will boast in in the name of the Lord our God.  It is His banner that we will wave when victory is secure so that the whole world will know who gets the glory, God alone.

What Did He Just Say?!

Friday 1/17/2014 - Genesis, Psalms, Joshua 17

One of the things that has bothered me about David's Psalms is that he often talks about God testing him and finding nothing false in him.  He speaks of his righteousness and talks like he never did anything wrong.

In Today's reading David makes this statement, "Let my judgment come forth from Your presence... You have tried my heart... You have tested me and You find nothing..."

I could not begin to pray that prayer.  I know my history.  I'm aware of my sin.  If God were to try my heart I would be found lacking.  My life deserves the fire of hell and I'm aware of it.  How can David get away with talk like this?  David.  The guy who committed adultery and then compounded it with murder.

How could this same guy talk like that?  Well, it occurred to me that David wrote these Prayers before his moral failure and I recall some pretty dark prayers he prayed after.  Still, my instinct is to not cut him very much slack.  It wasn't like he was perfect.

Then I realized that for all my time in the faith I still struggle with a performance mentality.  Like God should love those who don't sin as much more than those that do.  I often think that God should use those who sin less to accomplish more for His Kingdom.  But I read in the early chapters of Genesis about a man named Enoch, not too many generations from Adam and Eve.  Enoch's life story takes up about two or three sentences.  Enoch walked with God and then he was no more...

Enoch was one of the few, the very few, in the Bible who has no record of sin.  Do you know what the Bible says he accomplished for the Kingdom or how mightily God used him?  Nothing.  But Gideon, David, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Peter, all these God used.  And all these sinned.

I was reminded that our usefulness to God is not based on our performance but on our persistence.  God didn't use David, Abraham or Noah because THEY were perfect.  He used them because HE is perfect.  Say it another way.  God used each of them because God used each of them.  He is God.  He can use who He wants, when He wants for the reasons He wants.  Not because of them, but because of Himself.

So the next time you are feeling like a failure or like you've blown it again.  Remember that God is using you and will use you and can use you not because of you, but because He has chosen you.  That's what makes you special - His call on your life, not your life.

I'm free to make mistakes because He chose me not based on my merit but on His mercy.  So I will be persistent and let Him be perfect.

My Way Is Best... Or So It Seemed

So interesting to me how the stories in my daily reading in both Genesis and Joshua seem to line up so closely with one another.

In the sixteenth chapter of both Genesis and Joshua God's plan is sidetracked by the seemingly good ideas of people who really don't have a clue about the devastation they are introducing.

In Genesis God has promised Abram and Sarai (Abraham and Sarah) that they would have a son who would be the heir through which He would make Abraham into a great nation.  But God took too long to give them a son.  So Sarah in her wisdom and in the custom of the day, she gave her maidservant, Hagar to Abraham as a sort of concubine, a lesser wife, who would provide for Abraham a son (they hoped) and Sarah thought she could raise the boy as her own and usher in God's plan of blessing through her act of will.

Well, it sort of worked.  Abraham did succeed in having a son through Hagar but as soon as Hagar realized she was pregnant she knew what was going to happen.  She had heard of the promise and she knew Sarah would want to "take" her son as her own.  So Hagar is not looking forward to this situation.  Sarah is now mad at God for taking too long in fulfilling His promise.  She's mad at Hagar for having a fertile womb and she's mad at Abraham for agreeing to sleep with Hagar (even though all of this was Sarah's idea).

Anyway, God is not going to fulfill His promise through Hagar and her son Ishmael, He has a better and more perfect plan.  But because of Abraham he blessed Hagar and Ishmael and made Ishmael into a great nation as well.  Little did Sarah and Abraham know that for the rest of time Abraham's offspring and the descendants of Ishmael would be bitter enemies.  Bloodshed and strife and death would be present down through the line any time these two people groups crossed paths... like in Joshua.

In Joshua the Israelites are actively capturing territory that had been promised to them by God.  They were driving the indigenous peoples from their homes by force and taking what God had promised them all the way back in Abraham's day.

In chapter 16 Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph's sons... God called Abraham, Abraham had Isaac who had twins Jacob and Esau, Jacob's name was changed to Israel and he had 10 sons but then "adopted" his next to youngest son Joshua's two sons as his own thus making 12 "tribes" or sons of Israel, got it?) are receiving their inheritance of land and driving out the people but verse 10 tells us that they, "did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer... they became forced laborers."

Whether Ephraim and Manasseh got tired or just had a "brilliant" idea I don't know.  But for whatever reason they decided not to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer and instead make them cut their firewood and deliver their water every day.

Here's the problem.  Ishmael and later Esau are actually the ancestral "fathers" of pretty much every body that the people of Israel are now driving out of the promised land!  And in a few years from Joshua 16 the Canaanites that were allowed to stay would introduce the Israelites to the worship of other gods and begin the moral decay of the nation of Israel that wold eventually split the nation into norther and southern kingdoms and even brings about the destruction of the Temple of God and most of the Jewish nation is hauled off to Babylon under lock and key.

Abraham and Sarah waited 10 years for God to give them a son before they tried to force God's hand through Hagar and Ishmael.  They would have to wait another 13 years (23 years from the promise) for Isaac to be born (Abraham would be 99).  Had the Israelites completely driven out the Canaanites how much would they have been spared?

When we decide we know best it never ends well for us.  When we trust God even when we can't make sense of it and we follow even when we can't really see where He's leading the outcome is always better.  Who knows the pain we would avoid if we just followed God's plan.
Honor the marriage bed and keep it holy...
Obey the law of the land, for the king doesn't bear the sword for nothing...
Do not covet, steal, murder...
Do not take God's Name in vain, serve and love Him only...
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth...
Do not forsake the gathering together of yourselves for worship...

What Would You Do If God Were Your Shield?

In Genesis 14 Abraham takes out after the kings that had captured his nephew Lot.  Once he conquered them and took back his nephew, the people of the cities and the plunder he refused payment from the King of Sodom.  He said he didn't want anyone but God to get the glory for "making" Abraham rich.

Chapter 15 starts out with God speaking to Abraham in a vision.
"Do not fear, Abram (Abraham),
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great."

This got me thinking... What would I do if God were my shield?  What does it even mean to have God as a shield?

A shield is used for protection.  Abraham was certainly protected by God.  He was protected when he left his home to go to the land God would show him - but which he did not know of before he arrived there.  God protected him when he kinda/sorta/mostly lied to Pharaoh and then Abimelech saying that his wife, Sarai (Sarah) was his sister leading them to believe that she was NOT his wife.  It may be true that she was somehow related to him but it was misleading at best.  God was Abraham's shield when he went after Lot's captors in chapter 14 and over and over throughout Abraham's life.

God was Abraham's shield when he fought for righteousness and when he fought for personal reasons.  When He was walking in the footsteps of God and when he was out of step and off track.

God wasn't with Abraham because he was perfect, but because he was faithful.  Abraham, believed God.  Even when there was nothing for Abraham to trust in except God's Word.  Abraham did not ask for a sign, like Gideon.  He did not get angry at God like Elijah and he did not question God like Moses.  It wasn't his perfection at following God, it was his persistence.

What if God were my shield?  I would step out a LOT more in accomplishing the impossible for the kingdom and for my own church.  I would take risks.  I would be taking ground from the enemy and walk boldly before the world... if God were MY shield.

If God were my shield I would not fear.   I would not fear making a mistake with His people or His finances.  I would not fear the enemy.

If God were my shield I would lead with boldness and step out of the boat... If God were MY shield.

I think I've got some work to do... Because as God was with Abraham so He is with us.  And not just with us but in us and works through us by His Holy Spirit.  He is not JUST my shield he is my sword, my helmet, my sandals and my breastplate!  Who can stand against us?!

These Two Would Give The Avengers A Run For Their Money

In Genesis 14 and Joshua 14 today there are two men who lead two groups of people and overcome incredible odds in much the same way.

In Genesis, Abraham hears how a group of four kings has destroyed the armies of five kings who came against them.  The four kings then carried off the women and possessions of the five cities of those kings and even took Lot (Abraham's nephew) who lived in Sodom.  So Abraham gets his servants, about 300 fighting men and a couple of his allies, presumably with their households, and takes off in pursuit of these four kings.  They overtake them at night, route them and carry back all the possessions that were taken including the women and Lot and his family.

Three families wiping out four kings and their trained fighters.  This is amazing to me in part because God didn't tell Abraham to go and fight, Abraham was just reacting to the capture of his nephew.  But when God is with you and you're fighting not just your enemy, but God's enemy (these were pagan people) God is with you in a mighty way.

In Joshua is the story of Caleb.  Caleb was one of the men, along with Joshua who answered in truth and faith before God sent the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40 years.  Moses sent 12 men from Kadesh-Barnea North to spy out the land that God had promised them in order to give a report to the people.  All the men reported how great the land was but ten of them said that the land could not be conquered because of the people who lived there.  Only Joshua and Caleb stood up and said, yes it seems impossible but God is with us (remember God had already parted the sea, brought the ten plauges, turned the bitter waters sweet and defeated their enemies) so we should just go up and take the land.  He said, "I brought word back to him as it was in my heart...I followed the Lord my God fully."

For their faithfulness God allowed only two people to survive the 40 years of wandering, Joshua and Caleb.  Now Caleb was promised by Moses the land which he had spied out the only problem was there were in inhabitants, which were great and mighty and Caleb is now 85 years old.

I don't think it was Abraham's or Caleb's strength that provided for them, it was their trust in God and the fact that they followed Him fully.

Do you have a difficult decision to make?
Are you facing a challenge that seems impossible?
What is in your heart?  If you fully follow the Lord your God then no army can stand against you.  No task is too great for you.  No physically limitations can halt you and no fear will overcome you.  When God is for us, who can be against us?  Stand tall and fight because the Lord your God goes with you.

Times Don't Change That Much

This Psalm of David (from Sunday's reading) gave me some hope and I wanted to share it with you.  Sometimes we get to thinking, with all the crazy stuff going on in our world, that we are the worst generation - I think every generation thinks that about the one that comes after it anyway.  Take comfort in the realization that sin has always been present and that God always knows what's happening.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven
    times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.

If you watch much news you may get to feeling like David in this Psalm, no one is faithful, the loyal have vanished from the human race.

We have exchanged the truth for a series of lies - no matter what they are, lies have become the new truth.  And the poor, whether that be poor financially, poor spiritually, poor morally, physically, ethically or those who are poor when it comes to willpower or independence are exploited.

But take heart, because the Lord will keep the needy safe and protect us from the wicked.

Wait, is that our experience?  Are the needy cared for and the wicked put in their place?  Not usually... So how can this be true?  It's true because God invites His people to join Him in caring for the needy and standing up to the wicked.

Tell the truth and live a generous life, in this way the Lord will protect us from the wicked and keep the needy safe.

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Be Bold In The Lord

In Joshu 10 something amazing happened, something the writter tells us has never happened before or since.  Joshua is persuing his enemies and he prays this prayer very quickly, in the presence of Israel's fighting men as they were engaged in the battle, "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."  And that is exactly what happend.  For about a day the sun and moon didn't move so that Joshua and the Israelites might destroy their enemies.

This is pretty gutsy I have to admit.  Who would have even thought to utter such a request?  Everyone knows that you can't stop the sun, or move a mountain into the sea, or speak to a storm and demand calm or cause a plant to wither and die.  That's crazy.  But when you're in the middle of a battle and you know The Lord is with you, I guess you gain some confidence to ask for the outlandish.

If you go up to verses 11 and 12 you'll see why Joshua felt like he could ask for the sun to stand still.  You see, while Joshua and his men were fighting God got involved.  He began to hurl large hailstones down on their enemies.  Pretty cool, right?  So you're being persecuted by someone who doesn't believe in your God and He just tosses a hail stone down from the sky and crushes Him.  Cool.  In fact, it says that God actually killed more people that day than Joshua all of Israel's finest!  Even though God us using Joshua and his men, strengthening then and giving them victory He still does more damage to their enemies than they could.  

Verses 12 then says that on that Day The Lord, gave the Amorites over to Israel.  So here's what happened.  Joshua and his men were being strong and couragous and also fighting in the strength God had given them but God was actually winning the battle.   Seeing God actually get involved must have given Joshua confidence to ask for the impossible, if you jump to the New Testament you read that Jesus actually says, ask for whatever you want in my Name and it will be done for you.  When we ask God to do what He wants to do guess what?  He delivers!  

So the sun stood still while Joshua's men persued and slayed their enemies.verse 14 makes this obvious statement, "surely The Lord was fighting for Israel."  Ya think?

Then Joshua, in the days that followed, rapidly captured and destroyed all the cities of the kings that had fought against him.  And way down at the end of the chapter in verse 42 you read this, Joshua conqured all this in one campaign because, "the God of Israel, fought for Israel."  

Guess what.  The God Israel is also your God.  He wants you to fight for you too.  Not to destroy enemies and conquer lands for conquest, but to destroy the strongholds of satan and conquer hearts for Jesus.  So here's the secret for experiencing your own Sun stopping moment, take notice of what God is doing, join Him and then ask for the impossible to help you accomplish His mission.  Oh, and ask boldly, in front of your people, becasue without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Here's us seeking to see the sun stand still that lives might be changed, when The Lord, the God of your life fights for you.

Pray Like David

I had always thought that Psalms in the Bible was another book like all the others.  You know, all about God and stuff.  But I heard a few years ago something that really made me think about this book in a whole new light.  And honestly, I felt really dumb for not putting my finger on it earlier.   All the other books in the Bible are about God relating to man or mankind.  But the book of Psalms is a glimpse into how man relates to God.  That is amazing.  In this book we get to see the struggles, pain, heartache, joy and peace of a man's personally prayers to God - sometimes all of those emotions come in the same Psalm!  

There are like four parts of David's Psalm that I think are really great and would be good if we could incorporate in our own prayers.  

The first six verses are a recount of great things that God had done, routing enemies and destroying strongholds.  David is recounting some of the great acts of God in his life.  Sometimes we forget that God has done some incredible things in our lives and recounting them actually help us realize just how great God really is.  Like remembering a kindness done to us by a spouse.  It's a sweet memory and in David's case got him thinking about the next part of his prayer.

The next section up to verse 10 is a natural next step for David.  He first recounted some of God's accomplishment and now he saying, you haven't just done great things, YOU ARE GREAT!  Just and powerful and a stronghold for those who run to Him.  We must remember that God is our strength and our refuge, in Him we can fully trust.  He IS power.  He IS mercy.  He IS love.  Count on Him.

Because God is so great and He has done great things it is completely appropriate that we seek for everyone to have eyes to see this incredible God we serve.  So David takes the next several verses, through 14, to say, EVERYONE should know God and proclaim His greatness and lift their eyes to Him for help.  We should also pray for those far from God that they would know how much He loves them and cares for them and desires for them to find purpose and fulfillment and peace in Him alone.

The last section is David getting really practical, those far from God need to come to a place where they recognize their need for God, realize Him AS God and humble themselves or they will lose their fight with Him because, after all, He is God.

So I suggest, at least sometimes, fitting these aspects of David's prayer into your own.  

Recount God's mighty acts in your own life - this will help you remember and set your focus.

Recognize God for who He is - sometimes we lose our awe for God but every person who has been in His presence has done the same thing, fall in fearful worship.

Reconcile, or at least pray that your friends and family far from God would be reconciled to Him through Jesus, that they would "lift their eyes" and see Him for who He is.

Realize that there are those who will not see or cannot see, they will be lost unless God intervenes on their behalf.  Pray that happens in whatever way necessary.

Most importantly, pray.  Remember it's not so much the how or following a plan, it's a conversation - but sometimes we have to reminded who were talking to and why.  Pray on.

God's Got Your Best In Mind

Most people, no matter where they've been, can't wait to get home.  Even if their home isn't the best or their bed the softest there is something about being in the familiar and calling a place yours that causes us to seek home.

In Genesis eight and Joshua eight similar situations are happening and it causes me to be thankful.

In Genesis eight the flood is ending and after the ark comes to rest on Ararat, Noah sends begins sending some birds out to see if the land has produced any vegetation (necessary to sustain the life.  But here's the kicker.  Noah and his family have been on the ark for some 150 days.  The ark is resting on solid ground.  But they can't leave.  They have to stay on the ark, where they have food.

In Joshua eight the Israelites are once again in battle with the people who now inhabit the land God had premised to His people.  So one by one they are driving the squatters out.  But the Israelites have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.  They have lived in tents, eaten not much more than manna and quail for that entire time.  And they come to Jericho (Joshua six) and now Ai and conquer the cities.  But instead of inhabiting the ready made cities with homes and creature comforts they burn the cities to the ground and leave them a smoldering heap.  Uninhabitable.  Then they return to their... tents in the wilderness.

For Noah, I think his situation would be like going on a long vacation and when you finally get home and park in your driveway you continue to sleep and live in your car.  Your house is right there but your stuck in the car.  For Joshua, it's more like finding a great home you could own, turn key with everything you dreamed of, then destroying it and living in a tent in the backyard.

I'm sure each of these people had a hard time following God's commands.  They could see the thing they wanted to desperately but could not take possession of it.  Like always, God has a plan.  Noah couldn't leave the ark because the recently flooded earth could not yet sustain the vegetation necessary to ensure the survival of the animals on the ark.  But on the ark they had food and water enough to survive.  So even though they were cramped, tired and probably a little stinky, their best bet for long term survival was to stay put.  For Joshua and his people the same was true.  God knew that if the people took possession of these early cities they would become comfortable and loose the will to fight.  The result would have been disastrous.  The foreign peoples living in the area would have had a much bigger and quicker impact on the Israelites, turning their hearts to foreign gods and intermarrying - this was forbidden by God.

In the end each story would have turned out the same, the best situation for survival both physical and spiritual would have been lost had Noah or Joshua not listened to God.

Sometimes we don't understand the motives of God.  Why He tells us to wait or tells us know when what we desire looks so appealing and perfect for us.  But we can only see what is right in front of us, God sees how those decisions and actions will affect us, our children, our churches our faith, our relationships and our spiritual health.  He is not interested in our short-term comfort He is interested in our long-term health.

So the next time you really want something but it seems God is holding back, pause.  Remember Noah and Joshua and trust that God has a better plan for you than you do.  And there is a reason and purpose behind everything He does - always.  God does not make split decisions or have knee-jerk reactions.

Consider this, every decision God makes was actually made before the foundations of the world were laid.  He's had an eternity to ponder them and consider every possible outcome.  With millennia at His disposal He has planned every decision and every event and every action to be perfect.  Trust Him a little.  He's earned it.

It's Catchy, And Devastating

Last night my daughter saw something on television that made her holler out, "That's not right!  You don't get sick because of the cold,  you get sick because everybody stays inside and there there are more germs!"

Genius.

A little later I was doing some reading in Joshua chapter seven.  It's the story of the first sin on the West side of the Jordan river.  Israel had been wandering in the desert for 40 years but had just crossed the Jordan river to finally begin taking possession of the land God had promised them hundreds of years earlier, when they weren't even a nation - just a man, Abraham.  Now they had crossed the river, camped and watched as God destroyed the city of Jericho and it's defenses.  All the people of Israel had to do was walk around the city for a few days and play some music.  God got the victory that day.  In exchange He was to receive all the plunder from the city, gold, silver and jewels for the Temple treasury and the rest of the city was to be destroyed.

But one person decided that he wanted some of that loot for himself.  So he took some.  A few days later Joshua sent a few thousand fighting men to a little town called Ai they should have taken easily, but instead, 36 Israelites were killed.

God revealed to Joshua the reason for their loss, someone had sinned and taken some of the plunder that was to be devoted to God alone.  Turns out is was one guy.  God reveals him to the nation and he, his family, his possessions are all killed and destroyed.  One man sinned and 36 men are killed in battle and then his family is put to death.  More than forty people suffered because of the greed of one man.

The old wive's tale that you will catch a cold or the flu by being outside in the winter is false.  You catch it because everyone stays inside the house with the windows closed up.  there is little new air but lots of old germs.  One person picks something up from school and pretty soon everybody has it.  It spreads like crazy.

Sin is like that.  One person's sin can affect a large number of people.  It's not an individual thing and it's not just a family thing.  Sin affects the whole.  Especially when it is tolerated and allowed to continue.  Precautions have to be taken.  Spiritual disinfectant needs to be used - like church attendance.  Did you know that when you are actively sinning it becomes harder and harder to just go to church?   When you are engaged in sin you will either stop the sin or stop attending.  Disinfectants can also be daily Bible reading and prayer, listening to Chrisitan radio or spending time with with Christian friends.  All of these help to keep your life free from sin.

God said to Cain in Genesis 3, "Sin is crouching at your door.  It desires to have you, but you must master it."

Take some inventory of your life right now and see just how many people are affected by your sin.  How can you begin to master it today?

PS.  You think your sin is secret?  Pornography or some other addiction you engage in only at home? It's not.  Even secular psychologist are rapidly agreeing that sexual sins like pornography are destroying men, women and marriages.  Porn is a multi-billion dollar industry, is it any wonder that rape has skyrocketed?  That marriages continue to be destroyed from the inside out?  Your sin affects your marriage, your children and if left unchecked it will affect the church.  Don't be an Achan (the guy who sinned in Joshua seven).  The Bible tells us to confess our sins one to another and God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We are to confess our sins to God as well and seek forgiveness.  Confession is the key to freedom from sin.  Get healthy today.

Good Works And Faith

In Joshua 6 I read today about the fall of Jericho.  It was a well fortified city close to the Jordan river and a first-strike city so it's walls has been built big and strong.  How would Israel be able to take this city which had withstood many an attack in the past?  God had a plan in which He got the glory.

God  told Joshua to have all the people march around the city once every day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day and the wall would fall down from the inside out.  Amazing I know.  But it worked.  Despite the concern of the Israelites who were doing the marching God showed up and accomplished just exactly what He said He would.  

Here's where my thoughts are going today...

Did the Isrealites earn the capture of Jericho or did God?  Did the work they put forth, in walking around the city eveyr day, equal the result of that work?  

Walking around the city is work.  It's wasn't done in a few minutes.  It took effort and it was a command of God that they do it.  So, it was a work they performed, but did their effort earn their victory?  

When you and I go to work we give mental or physical effort for a pay check.  We earn our pay.  It's work.  The return (sometimes, not always) is equal to the effort but it usually is an agreed upon amount.

Some believe that baptism (primarily) is a work and therefore it is excluded as a part of the process of salvation based on Ephesians 2:8-9 which says, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Here's my argument.  Baptism isn't any more a work than marching around a city.  They were both commanded.  God commanded Joshua to have the people march and Jesus commanded the church to baptize in Matthew 28.  Baptism by itself no more earns us salvation than marching around a city earns the band a victory.  They don't match. 

Baptism can't be a work because it doesn't earn us anything.  It is our response and an act of obedience just like marching around the city.  It is God's chocie to forgive us and give us His Holy Spirit  based on our obedience in the act of baptism, (see Acts 2).  No one can stand before the Throne of God and claim God "must" let them in based on their baptism.  Therefore baptism can not be a work that earns us salvation.  Saying baptism has nothing to do with salvation is like saying God would have feld the walls of Jericho even if the people had not walked around them.  

God acted in response to their obedience not because of it.  Just like He does in baptism, His reponse based on our obedience is to save us, cleanse us and give us His Spirit - not becuase we've earned it but because we've been obedient.  Lest it become a work and we can not be saved based on what we do but based on our faith, expressed in obedience.  

Come Over To the Edge...

From nearly the beginning men and women have been less than excited about serving God and much more eager to declare themselves gods, or at least to be considered His equal.  It's the same in nearly every situation in which one person feels (whether they truly are or not) subservient to another.  Children can't wait to be out from under their parents control.  Some women today believe that even the institution of marriage is a form of control.  Our Declaration of Independence  talks about throwing off such government... I'm not saying in some of these cases that's a bad thing, but trying to show that in pretty much every area of our lives we fight for independence, superiority and control of our own lives.

Genesis 3 shows us that we are selfish people.  We do not want to be told what to do even if it is for our own benefit.

That's how Satan got her and it's how he gets us.  If you eat this fruit you will be "like God."

Let me give you an analogy.  When I was too young to remember my whole family went to the Grand Canyon.  I've seen pictures but have no recollection of it, though I was old enough to get around.  Now, knowing my mother like I do, I would guess that she spent the whole time telling my brother, sister and I to stay away from the edge.  Not because she didn't want us to get the whole view but she knew that it was dangerous.  Satan puts a piece of candy right on the edge.  He doesn't push us off, he can't, but he does entice us to go places and do things that he knows (as we do) have a high likelihood of a fall.

He couldn't make Eve eat the fruit, but he could taste it himself to "prove" to her that you wouldn't immediately die.   Of course, he already knew the difference between good and evil and had his death date secured.  (Part of this was Adam's fault for telling her that if she even touched the fruit/tree she would die, that is not what God said, but Adam was trying to protect her.)

When God comes back around there is a discussion and immediately Adam blames Eve and Eve blames Satan saying, he "deceived me..."  Consider this, deception only works if the person being deceived wants to be deceived.  How do most deceptions work?  We are offered something that it too good to be true or we are convinced that what we've been told NOT to do is really okay.  In the first case we so desire that which is not real (too good to be true for a reason) that we are willing to risk what we already have and in the second case we simply set aside what we've been told in order to buy into something else.

In reality, we're not really deceived we simply choose to take the risk.  We know the ledge is slippery and it's a long way down but we risk it in order to get the candy.  We weren't deceived by the candy, we chose it over our own safety.

My guess is that I will never become a drug addict because I have never and will never try a drug.  They could legalize marijuana and it wouldn't matter.  I believe that God wants me in control of my faculties and does not want my judgement impaired because He knows the dangers.  So I won't try it. In part, because I might like it and if I like it I'll want more and soon that won't be enough and I'll pick up every piece of candy that is laid down until I go over the edge.  So I don't drink.  I don't smoke.  I don't use.  That does not mean that I am sinless - if you only knew - but it does mean that in these cases I choose to give up my "freedom" so that I might remain free.

Eve and then Adam took the bait and feel over the edge.  Not only did they get kicked out of the Garden but they pretty much ruined things for the rest of us AND allowed Satan to have pretty much free reign to place those little tasty, tempting pieces of sin-candy wherever he wanted.

Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."  What are you sowing in your life?  Are you following the candy trails?  Or are you sowing seed that will keep you grounded.  I'll leave you with one more passage, James 4:7, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

I'm thankful for a loving God who continues to rescue me from the ledge, but I'd really like to keep Him less busy rescuing and more busy teaching/training and loving me.

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Trying To Color Outside The Lines

Todays reading is from Genesis 2 and Psalm 2 and I think these two chapters go very well together.  In Genesis we read the story of the creation of Adam and Eve and how Adam was shown every animal that God had created but a suitable helper could not be found.  So God created Eve from Adam and she was a perfect match.  Genesis 1 tells us how God made all the plants and animals with their seed in them so they would produce after their own kind.  Eve was no different.  God created Eve to be similar to the animal/plant world in that she could reproduce but only with the help of Adam.

Eve was a perfect helper for Adam.  Remember we're talking about a perfect place where everything was exactly the way God wanted it, no sin had yet entered their reality.  Which means that the relationships we often see between men and women today do not accurately reflect the relationship that Adam and Eve had in the Garden.  There, Eve was a perfect helper, designed to be a perfect match for Adam emotionally, physically, mentally and sexually.  Perfect.

Psalm 2 starts out this way, "why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?  The kings of the earth take their stand the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us"  (NASB).  The writer of this Psalm recognized that the people of the earth were tired of doing things God's way and they wanted freedom.  They wanted to throw off the control that God had over them and do their own thing, be their own boss.

This has been happening ever since Adam and Eve blew it in the Garden.  Mankind has desired to be free from God.  So we've devised our own rules and orders.  We've exchanged the desires of God (for our own good and benefit) for our own desires which are all too often selfish and damaging - oh, we don't always see it that way we see it is freedom and "choice" we even will go so far as to say that certain things were how we were "created."  But the reality is we have begun to color outside the lines and make our own path.

The writer of Psalm 2 recognizes the place of God though.  If God is God then the plans and devices and desires of mere men have little impact on Him.  So verse four says that, "He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them."

From the fall to this very minute mankind, me and you, have struggled with a desire to go our own way and do our own thing.  We try to convince ourselves that we're right, that it is okay and that God surely understands or even approves of the sin in our lives we try to justify.

Psalm 2 ends this way, "Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling.  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way (the way of your sin presumably), for His wrath may soon be kindled.  How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!"

I am grateful for passages like Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (NIV).  Today, recognize what ways you may be attempting to throw off the fetters or cast off the cords of God's rule in your life.  Even if you are a believer there may still be areas of Scripture (The Bible) that you simply chose to ignore because you don't like them, think their outdated or because you simply do not want to obey.  A believer in Jesus should be seeking to always look more like Jesus who ALWAYS did what He Father asked, even to the point of giving His own life.

What are you NOT willing to give up for the One who sits on the throne?  A vice?  A choice?  A whim?  A thought process?  A plan?  I'm reminded right now of another passage from the Bible, Psalm 37:4-6,
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

God's Favor Means Satan's Focus

Welcome to 2014!  A New Year in which to wipe away the mistakes of the past and start fresh.  I hope you will join me on this trip through the Old Testament in 2014.  I plan to blog 5 days a week about things from the reading that pop out at me.  Today, the reading was in Genesis, Psalm and Joshua the first chapters of each.  Will I found some good stuff in each chapter I want to focus in on the Joshua passage.

When I read I try to always ask God to give me eyes to see and ears to hear Him through His Word.  God's Word is probably the primary way that He speaks to and encourages me.  As I read I often read things that I think must be meant just for me at just that time.  There are no random coincidences where God's Word is concerned, no matter how you get it, it's Him speaking to you.  Amazing.

In Joshua 1 verses 6, 7, 9 and 18 all contain the same phrase to Joshua.  The first three come from God the last, from Joshua's men, the fighting men of Israel.  In Joshua 1 Moses has just died and the mantle of leadership is passed to Joshua who has been Moses' number 2 for many years.  In fact, Joshua was the only other person who was allowed to go near the tent of meeting (when the pillar of cloud or fire would rest over the tent where Moses stayed to signify God was talking to him) and he was also the one that accompanied Moses in most ever circumstance.  

Now, Joshua is number 1 and the people are all looking to him.  So God speaks to Joshua and reassures of him of a few things.  As God was with Moses He would be with Joshua, big relief.  As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan river and begin to take possession of the land God had promised them they faced the inhabitants of that land who were not going to simply pack up and leave.  So this was welcome news.  So was the news that God would fight with Israel and every place they walked God would give them.  Basically, God is going to do some incredible things and he is reassuring Joshua that He (God) is in charge.

But four times Joshua is told the same thing, "Be strong and courageous."  Why, if God is going to drive out the people before them does he need to be strong and courageous?  Well, I think for this reason.  Just because God was guaranteeing victory did not mean Joshua and the people would not have to fight.  God's favor for Joshua and the Israelites meant Satan was going to focus on them in an attempt to stop whatever God was planning to do.  

Sometimes in our lives we can assume that if God is for us, no one can be against us so we don't have to try.  But that is not the case.  If God is for us no can stand against us but there will be plenty of people who will try!  Joshua needed to be strong and courageous because there were going to be lots of times when he faced situations that looked completely hopeless.  In those times he would need to be both strong and courageous to keep pressing on even though it looked like they wouldn't succeed.

You may have felt over this last year (2013) like everything went wrong.  Nothing worked out the way you thought it would.  Guess what.  In the same way God was with Joshua He is with you.  That's right.  God was with Joshua through the Holy Spirit, but now, the Holy Spirit actually lives IN you so wherever you go He is there, going before you cleaning the way.  What you need to do is be strong and courageous knowing that God is with you and will fight for you.  

You have God's favor because you are a child of His.  That means you also have the focus of Satan and he wants to stop you from seeing God's work in your life.  Will you cower and run away?  Or will you stand strong in the power of God and see Him gain the victory.  God being with you doesn't mean you don't have to fight, it just means He's guaranteed the win.  Fight on in strength and courage.