You Be God's Physical Representation On Earth Today.

Day 63:  Exodus 13, Psalms 63 and 1 Samuel 14

When God led the Israelites out of the land of Egypt He did not leave them alone to decide which path to take, but He led them personally in the form of a pillar of cloud extending to heaven during the day and a pillar of blazing fire at night.

This allowed the Israelites a unique benefit.

1. They always knew which way God wanted them to go because they were following Him.
2. Through the cloud and fire they were able to travel at any time God chose. The pillar of fire was bright enough to illuminate the land so that several million people could see to travel, even at night.
3. Imagine if you were an enemy of the Israelites and you sent spies out to check on them and they saw this huge pillar of smoke and fire present with the Israelites all the time - a fire at night that was bright enough to be seen for many, many miles.
4. When the Israelites would set up their tents there were holes in the top and they were arranged around the Tabernacle (once it was constructed) where the pillar of fire or cloud would rest when they were camped.  That meant that every Israelite, during the day or night would be able to see the pillar and know if God were with them or was moving on.

This sounds pretty amazing doesn't it?!  God's presence with you every day and night.  Wouldn't it be great to have this pillar today?  To lead you exactly where God wanted you to go that day, or to stay when He thought that was best.  Everyone would know that God was with you because of the pillar of smoke or fire.

But that is not how God works today.  Right before Jesus was taken to heaven, after the resurrection, He told His disciples that another counselor was coming from God.  This counselor would not just be with them, as He was, but would be in them and work through them.  This personal presence is far superior to following a cloud or a fire.  In us we have the Holy Spirit - God's very Spirit to be our guide.  Not to lead us as a child leads a dog on a walk, but to share with us the very mind of Christ that we might be the representation of God on the earth.

You and I, as believers, as walking pillars of cloud and fire.  We are the presence of God in us, a visible, earthly expression of God's associating with humanity.  When we move it should be as God moves.  When we stay it should be because God has stayed.  Jesus said that He came to do the will of His Father who sent Him - and the same should be true for us.

Don't wait for God to reveal Himself in some other physical form, you are the form of God on earth through the Holy Spirit's presence in your life.  Tap into that presence that is promised.  Seek His leading and guiding.  Move in accordance to the Spirit's movements and you'll find yourself exactly where God wants you to be.

Jesus said that He did whatever He saw His Father doing.  That should be our goal too.  But in order for that to happen we must be watching our Father.  Our eyes must be on His heart and what He would do and then the Holy Spirit will give us the ability to carry it out, whether it be little or big, it's nothing for God.  

You be the representation of God on the earth so that when others see you they see Him and worship Him.

My Sin Has Been Passed Over.

Day 62:  Exodus 12, Psalms 62 and 1 Samuel 13

The night before the Israelites fled Egypt God sent a plague that took he life of every first born male from the least family to the greatest and even from every flock and herd.  Every home that did not have the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts and the lintel (the sides of the front door and the above it).

That night thousands, perhaps 100's of thousands died because of Pharaoh's stubbornness.  But the Israelites were spared because of the blood.

The perfect lamb that was to be slaughtered and eaten and whose blood was used for the door is called the Passover Lamb because it was through this blood-mark on the door that the "angel of death," would "pass over" the homes and spare the first born inside.

Now, 1400 years later Jesus became OUR Passover Lamb, a perfect male lamb who was sacrificed that and His blood spilt so that death might "pass over" those who symbolically are washed or covered by His blood.  Jesus died, as the first-born of God in our place.

Consider also that in the Christian Church we offer communion every week.  A time to symbolically associate with and remember the death of Jesus and we drink a small cup of grape juice that represents His blood.  The blood that was shed for our salvation so that we would not face death as though who are NOT covered by His blood.   Gives a little more meaning to this act of worship that we take time to remember each Sunday, doesn't it.

You and I deserve death because we have hardened our hearts against God from time to time just like Pharaoh.  We have made promises we didn't keep and seen God work in our lives just to pass it off as a coincidence and forget about Him again.  But the blood of Jesus covers our sins - not because we're perfect, but because we obeyed.  Because we believed that by marking ourselves with the blood of Jesus through His death burial and resurrection and participation in that through baptism we would be saved.

And now we no longer fear death because the perfect Passover Lamb has been slain for us and we have been covered by His blood and death has lost it's sting.

Thank you Father for your perfect plan that wasn't caught up in what we do but in whose we are - blood children of Yours through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

Day 58:  Exodus 8, Psalms 58, 1 Samuel 9

We're in the first four plagues that God brought on Egypt through Moses and Aaron.  And something interesting is taking place that is just too strange to pass over.

The first Plague was the staff turning into a snake, then the Nile turned to blood.  In chapter eight its the frogs and the gnats.

But what is strange is the way it all played out with the Egyptian magicians.  In the first plague the magicians were able to turn their staffs into snakes, but Moses staff/snake ate the snakes of the magicians. And it just gets more strange from there.

When the Nile is turned to blood so that the Egyptians could not drink it or bathe in it the Egyptian magicians turned a bunch more of the limited water of Egypt to blood (remember this is a desert environment).

Then the frogs came, millions of them hopping out of the waters of the Nile and covering the land.  They didn't have homes like we do so there were frogs everywhere.  Open the door and you'd step on frogs as you went to work.  Frogs in your house, on your furniture in your bed on your body they could not get rid of them or keep them from getting into every nook and cranny in their homes.  They were in their tubs and pots and pans, everywhere.  Then the Egyptian magicians also made frogs appear.

But when God brought that gnats on the land the Egyptian magicians could not duplicate that plague and finally admitted that it was God who was bringing the plagues.

Here's the thing.  The Egyptian magicians were able to imitate these plagues of God by the limited power of Satan.  They could imitate the staff to snake but their snakes were eaten up.  They could imitate water turning to blood and they could imitate the frogs.

But consider this, if you were an Egyptian magician trying to prove that these men were not from the all powerful God wouldn't you want to EASE the suffering of your people instead of increasing it?  Wouldn't you turn some of the bloody water back to drinkable water?  Wouldn't you want to somehow kill the frogs so the plague was not as bad?  Instead these brilliant magicians actually make the situation WORSE!

If I were Pharaoh I would not be very happy with my magicians.  Satan can imitate some of the power of God but he can not duplicate it.

Instead of being enamored with Satan's power I would suggest your look at what is really going on.  Is God's power being imitated or duplicated - there is a huge difference.  Satan's power is limited and that means those who would wield that power are limited also.  Don't give Satan more power than he actually has.  He can imitate but he can not duplicate.  And he always makes matters worse instead of better!

Everybody Else Has One...

Day 57:  Exodus 7, Psalm 57, 1 Samuel 8

We always seem to want what we can't or what we shouldn't have.  Too often we seek God last instead of first.

It was God who led Israel out of Egypt.  He who delivered them from Pharaoh's hand, crushing his army and saving the people of Israel.  He revealed Himself in a pillar of fire and cloud - something that had never been done before.  He turned bitter water sweet, made the sun stand still, routed armies before Israel even assembled for battle.  He was with His people and they were led by men who were His voice to the people.  When they obeyed God and served and worshiped Him alone the nations around them trembled.  They all knew what God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt and to every nation that oppressed the people of Israel so that they feared the God of Israel.  But none of this was good enough.

When the prophet/judge Samuel was advanced in years the people came to him and asked for a king to rule over them.  Their reasoning was two-fold:  1, Samuel would soon die and his two sons were not like him.  They did not serve the people before God honorably.  2, They wanted to be like all the other nations around them who had kings.

Can you believe that?  They had the perfect setup.  The God of the universe had chosen them to be His people.  He fought for them, protected them, provided for them and had a great plan for them as a people, but they wanted to be like everyone else.  So even though He revealed Himself to them through incredible signs and wonders they still worshiped other gods - idols of wood and stone and metal.  And if the division of their hearts was not enough they chose a mere man to lead them instead of God-of-the-angel-armies.

So God gave them what they wanted.  He laid out all that would go wrong with their king but gave them what they wanted.

I sometimes have to do this with my kids.  Explain that what they think they want will change their lives in ways they can't understand and won't like but, then, let them have their way.

God does the same with us today.  He will not force Himself on you.  If He did there would be no "freedom in Christ."  His desire is that we would choose Him because of who He is and what He has done, but He does not force Himself on anyone.

Yet, we constantly choose to look like the world around us.  We idolize people and worship them.  Whether they be athletes, movie stars or simply characters from a favorite book or movie.  We want to dress like them, look like them, act like them.  And little by little they become our gods.

If you are a believer listen to me.  God will let you go off and follow your own pursuits.  He will let you become a servant to whatever king you choose.  He warns... but allows.  However, this is never to your benefit.  Whatever is king over you soon ends up taking from you instead of giving.  Your best ideas, your youth, your beauty, your strength, your focus and maybe even your life.  God, on the other hand, wants to give to you.  He wants to give you life.  He wants you to have eyes to see your own beauty.  He becomes your strength and pours out creativity.  He even makes your youth count for something beyond you.

Every other king we may choose to lift up will take from us, but God, our invisible yet clearly perceived King wants to give us everything we ever wanted.  Sometimes, what everybody else has isn't what you really want anyway.

Seek FIRST His Kingdom...

Why Should He?

Day 56:  Exodus 6, Psalm 56 and 1 Samuel 7

In Exodus 6 God hears the groaning of the Israelites under the heavy burden of their slave drivers.  They aren't really crying out to God, since when God enters the picture through Moses and Aaron they are pressed harder in their work.

I have groaned to God before.  I probably shouldn't have though.  My problems are infinitesimal to those of others.  But it is still comforting to know that God hears me, even when I'm just whining.  And He also knows when I am truly in trouble.  He is God after all and can tell the difference between my belly-aching and when I really am feeling oppression.

Sometimes though, that oppression comes from God.  Not in a punishing kind of way, like it did with the Israelites, but in a corrective way.  God is allowing my life to get crazy to help me focus on Him and cut out the garbage.

That's what is happening in 1 Samuel 7.  The Israelites have once again sinned and started worshiping other gods and part of that worship was a whole host of sexually immoral acts committed under the guise of "worship."  To correct this behavior God allowed the Israelites to be punished, ravaged, oppressed and raided but he Philistines.

So when it gets bad enough they cry out, just like their ancestors in Exodus 6, except this time, they deserved the "correction."  So Samuel makes this statement to the people in verse 3, "If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and Ashteroh poles (the places where the sexual immorality would take place) from among you and direct your hearts to God and serve Him alone; He will deliver you."

I think that all too often we think that God should deliver us from our correction before we correct our behavior.  We cry out to God for help and say things like, "if you deliver me from                        then I'll serve you" (go to church more, give more, whatever).  But it doesn't work like that for followers of Jesus.  He expects us to give up those things that are bringing the correction before He steps in.  If He stepped in every time I whined without waiting for me to change my behavior, I would soon realize that a change in what I was doing was not necessary - God's gonna bail me out so why stop?

This is not alway how He works with those who don't already believe.  In those cases He is revealing Himself to them through some form of salvation so that they might learn to trust Him with their lives.  That happens on the front end, once your relationship with Him is established why would He allow you to continue to sin just so He has to continue to save your back side?

So, the next time you're feeling oppressed consider these questions first - In what areas have I left the Lord?  What am I worshiping instead of Him?  Is there immorality in my life?  How can I focus my heart back on God?

When you discover your sin, confess it and repent of it, He will get involved and deliver you.  And just like David in Psalm 56 you can say, "when I am afraid I will put my trust in You...what can mere men do to me?"

Have You Settled?

Day 51:  Exodus 1, Psalm 51 and 1 Samuel 2

When a new king came to power in Egypt they were fearful of the Israelites who were in the land of Goshen, a bottleneck between the nations of the East and Egypt.

Two different decisions were made in this story, one by the Egyptians and one by the Israelites.

First, the Egyptians made a decision about the Israelites based on nothing but their location.  They were afraid that the Israelites would join forces with anyone who came to attack them in an effort to overthrow them.  So the Israelites were forced into slave labor because the Egyptians thought they might one day turn against Egypt.

Second, the Israelites really had it made in Goshen.  It was a fertile land between the Mediterranean sea to the North and the red sea in the South.  It was a perfect place for them to graze their flocks and herds.  Once they moved to Goshen to let Joseph care for them they became comfortable in their new digs.  They thought they had everything.

How many times have you made a decision based on what you thought might happen?  When we do this we take God out of the equation and run our lives by our own smarts.

Have you ever found yourself settling for what you think is perfect instead of what has been promised?  You find what you think is the perfect situation and you settle instead of pushing forward to God's promise.

Here's the problem, God was not in the land of Egypt.  The Israelites had settled in a perfect land without God.

When we jump to conclusions we take God out of the equation.  And when we settle we may have a good place but we don't get God.  Either option keeps us from God's best.

Thankful I Don't Have To Be Perfect

Day 50:  Genesis/Psalm 50 and 1 Samuel 1

Don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes.  Surely you've heard that said before.  At the center of this statement is the idea that it's difficult to criticize someone else's choices/decisions if you haven't been through the same things they have.  When reading the Old Testament we should approach it with the same caution - we haven't walked in those shoes, er, sandals, so some of the things we read may seem strange.  But it was a different time, it was a different covenant between God and mankind (the word testament means covenant or contract) and so some of the concepts we think are outrageous were simply part of the every day life for the people involved.

It is this difference that I am really happy for.  Look with me at the last verse of Psalms 50.  It reads, "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God."

Here are the reasons I am happy about this:

• I'm happy I don't have to offer any sacrifices for my sin - my two dogs and one gerbil are happy too!  (and they'd be gone in about 10min I'm afraid!)
• I'm happy that I don't have to live a perfect life - but just be found in the perfect Savior.
• I'm happy that the Salvation of God is given to those who believe in Jesus, not those who always make the right decisions.

In the Old Testament salvation came through obedience, perfection really, was needed in order to be saved.  Of course no one really could live up to that standard.  Today, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ - not the perfection of our lives, but the perfection of the Savior in whom we believe.

So while I attempt to make the right choices  and "order my ways aright" I realize that I will make mistakes and that makes me thankful for my perfect Savior.

Here's how I try to live now, I offer willing sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise to God who orders my ways aright and has given me salvation in Jesus Christ.

Remember that the life of faith in the New Covenant (Testament) is about persistence not perfection.

Some Old Testament Smack Down

Day 44:  Genesis/Psalm 44, Judges 20

So yesterday was a tough one and today, well, it's not much better.

In Genesis 44:16 Judah (the son of Jacob and brother of Joseph) says to Joseph, "God has found out the iniquity (which means premeditated sin) of your servants..."  I can only assume that he is referencing the sin of he and his brothers in selling Joseph to into slavery all those years ago.

Then in Judges 20 the punishment for Gibeah's sin is doled out.  But it isn't just Gibeah that faces loss.  First the whole tribe of Benjamin refuses to hand over the men of Gibeah who committed the sin and instead join them in battle with 26,000 men arrayed for battle.  So Israel gathers 400,000 men armed and ready for battle.  But it isn't a slaughter.  On the first day of battle 22,000 men of Israel fall.  On the second day another 18,000 men from Israel fall - yes, they are supposed to be the ones who are winning!  On the third day, finally, Israel defeats Benjamin dramatically.  With little losses on the third day Israel puts to the sword over 25,000 of the 26,000 men of Benjamin - only something like 600 remain.  But that's not all.  The people of Gibeah are all killed and the city destroyed along with several other cities of the tribe of Benjamin.

The point of this is that sin is costly.  The punishment for sin often extends not only to those who committed the sin but also to those who allowed it.  Sin infects and spreads like a cancer.  It eats away at you, sometimes slow and sometimes fast.

But here's what I'm thankful for today.  I do not have to face the punishment of my sin.  Unlike Judah and his brothers and the people of Benjamin God does not hold my sin against me.  I am not punished for my sin because Jesus paid that price a long time ago.  Jesus died for sin, He took our punishment. The punishment that I deserved (and you) was put on Him.  So God punished Jesus instead of me.

As a believer in Jesus Christ I am not longer punished for my sin but I am corrected.  There is a big difference.  God punished those in the Old Testament for their sin out of His wrath.  But since He poured out the full cup of His wrath on Jesus there is now no punishment for sin for those who are in Christ Jesus.  We are corrected in love, not punished in wrath.

I am so thankful that:
1.  I had parents who loved me enough to bring me up in a Christian home (not perfect, but full of love) and helped me understand the God of love and His Son Jesus Christ.
2.  That Jesus was willing to go to the cross to take that punishment so that I could receive grace instead.

Thank you Father for your plan of salvation and that through faith in Jesus' life, death and resurrection I am no longer and object of wrath because of my sin but an object of your grace and love.

What's The Point: A Must Ask Question

Day 43:  Genesis/Psalm 43, Judges 19

Let me admit right off the bat that the subject matter and the situation in today's reading in Judges 19 is very difficult to deal with.  It is one of those stories in the Bible that I just really wish would have been left out.  The social, sexual, gender and physical injustices are almost too much to bear.

As I read today's chapter I found myself upset with the father-in-law for not allowing his son-in-law to leave when he planned.  Then I was frustrated with the son-in-law for not being more direct and leaving when he intended.  Because, I assumed the whole ugly mess from this chapter would have simply been avoided.

I was angry that the events of this chapter were perpetrated by people who were supposed to be God's people and should have all been caring for the travelers as the man who invited them into his home.  I was disgusted by the fact that no one invited them in because they either knew what going to happen or they were planning it.

It makes us angry to think that the host would offer his very own daughter and the concubine up as offerings to the mob.  I have a daughter and can't imagine doing that.  I would fight to my last breath to protect her.  I'm irritated that the men of the city, Israelite men, wanted to have sexual relations with the men, an act clearly forbidden by Jewish law (which was God's law).

We are outraged that the man would 1) be able to sleep all night peacefully while his concubine was outside having all kinds of unspeakable things done to her, and 2) that the man simple says, "get up" when he finds her dead on the doorstep.

But after all those feelings I had to ask God, "What's the point?"  I think it's important to ask this question because honestly, it's easy to get sidetracked with the evidence and not zero-in on the crime.

I think the point is that once again Israel has fallen completely away from God.  There is no judge at this time it appears and no king and everybody seems to be doing whatever they want.  They have disregarded the law of God and so quickly after God had given them the land He promised.  We see in this chapter the sin of not showing hospitality to guests (at least by the city at large).  The sin of homosexuality and how distasteful it was to the host that he was willing to sacrifice his daughter to the crowd to keep them from committing this sexually immoral act.  There is the sin of rape and murder - which the mob doesn't seem to care about at all.

It is so easy to focus on all of these details that we forget the point.  The point is that sin had run rampant.  There was no moral compass.  There was no restraint.  The mob in the city is simply living off their basest instincts.  They are driven by desire and lust and this is what happens when those feelings are left unchecked.

This chapter is not about the details but about the hight from which this tribe from Israel had fallen.  This chapter is in the Bible to show us what happens when we live for ourselves only and only to fulfill our sexual or physical desires.  It stands as a warning to everyone who says, "it's okay."  "I'm not hurting anyone else."  "If it feels good..."  This is what you get when you do whatever you want.  Wrong becomes right.  Day becomes night.  We become a people not just ruled by our lusts but driven by them to a place where our sin is not just tolerated but celebrated.

I'm thankful that I know what happens in chapter 20.  But I'm also thankful that, while I don't always succeed as I would like, I try to live my life not based solely off my own desires, feelings or passions but by the commands and precepts of my God who said, "love God and love others."  If either of these two commands would have been followed that night in Gibeah this chapter would not have been written.

This chapter is an example of the place that unbridled sin leads us to and chapter 20 will be the conclusion.  So when you come across a difficult chapter or text in the Bible ask yourself, "what's the point?"  And see if it doesn't give you a fresh perspective.

NOTE:  While this chapter references some behaviors that we simply can not understand - namely the way the men treated the women they were supposed to love - remember that this is an entirely different culture.  And before you get so upset that you just close your bible and quit reading I want you to realize that this sort of thing happens today, yes today, in other countries around the world.  Women were in that culture seen as they are in many Middle Eastern cultures today, as property.  A man could do what he wanted with his wife/daughter.   Make sure that you focus on the point and not the periphery.

God + Nothing

Day 42:  Genesis/Psalm 42, Judges 18

I'm going to go back a little bit to Sunday's reading in Judges about Samson and Delilah and mix it up with Judges 18.

When Delilah was begging Samson to tell her the secret of his strength he finally gave in.  He told her that he was a Nazarite to God since birth and that the secret to his strength was his hair.   In Samson's mind I guess it was God + hair.

In Judges 18 men from the tribe of Dan came to the home of Micah and find a Levite priest there who is acting as his personal priest inquiring of God on Micah's behalf.  But in the house there are multiple idol images that Micah and the Levite have incorporated into their worship of God.  It's God + the idols.

But God has never shared the stage well.  The olympics are going on right now and I just watched USA win it's first ever medal in the Luge.  The American will be sharing the stage with two others.  God doesn't do silver and bronze.  It's Gold and it's all God's.

It is true that Samson did lose his strength when his hair was cut but his strength came from God - not his hair.  His hair was the visible sign of his covenant with God but God was the source.  And Micah's priest was seeking to worship God through the idols that they had made.  But idols are nothing.  God is everything.

Mankind has an inherent problem with trying to always do God and... but it has always been God only.  We try to get to God by church attendance or giving or service as though salvation comes through God + our effort or good works.  We talk about the Christian life at times in terms of God + our hard work.  We will say super-spiritual things like, pray as though it all depends on God, work as though it all depends on you.  We think God + the perfect spouse (our one true love) will gain us a perfect life.  God + a good job will meet our financial needs.  God + a healthy dose of                          will get us what we want.  God + our dreams will help us achieve greater things.

But the reality is that it is God + nothing.  He doesn't want to share the stage.  And the problem with Samson and Micah is the same problem we struggle with we try to edge ourselves or something/someone else on the podium with God and it doesn't work.

If you want a spouse who will love you and cherish you and build you up seek God only.
If you want a career that will fulfill you and meet your needs seek God only.
If you want to have a life of purpose and possibilities seek God only.
If you want to experience real life seek God only.

It's not God + spouse.  God + career or God + life.  It's just God.  If you want to experience all that God has for you in this life and the life to come it's God. Only.

Seek FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.  Matthew 6:33

Your life and my life and this life are about one thing, God only.  When we figure that out He'll begin to work in our lives like we never dreamed.  What do you need to get rid of so it's God only in your life?

When God Makes A Move

Day 41:  Genesis/Psalm 41, Judges 17

Joseph has been called by Pharaoh to interpret a couple dreams he had.  Pharaoh's magicians couldn't interpret these particular dreams, though it appears they had had come success with dream interpretation previously.  But these dreams they can't figure out so Joseph is called in.

Joseph is able to interpret the dreams after making sure Pharaoh knows that it is not Joseph's smarts but God who will reveal the dream to Joseph so he can fill Pharaoh in.  This is an incredible story of how God  brings Joseph, a no-account Hebrew, into the second highest position in Egypt.

But lets look back at all the moving pieces here.

• Joseph the spoiled child has to have some dreams about his brothers and family bowing down to him knowing that he is the kind of kid who would blabber his dreams to his family instead of keeping them quiet.
• Joseph's brothers, sick of his spoiled attitude, decide to kill him, then leave him for dead in a cistern and finally, when a band of traders comes through at the exact right moment, they sell him and make a few dollars.  All the while they are thinking that they are rid of Joseph and surely now his dreams will come to nothing.
• Joseph serves in Potiphar's house and is blessed and put in the highest position until the wife takes a liking to him.  But instead of giving in to her and possibly saving his job (for awhile at least) he runs away and is still thrown in prison for something he didn't do.
• While in prison he's put in charge once again and there meets two men who work directly for Pharaoh who just "happen" to be in prison also.
• These two men, the baker and the cup bearer have two different dreams with two completely opposite outcomes - both of which come true.  Neither of these men are followers or believers in God but they have dreams about eminent future events that only God could know.
• Later, when Pharaoh has a dream the cup bearer remembers Joseph and he is brought to Pharaoh to interpret the dreams.  Pharaoh is not a follower or believer in the God of Joseph but he also has a dream about future events.
• The magicians who would normally be able decipher Pharaoh's dreams (but not by God) although perhaps his dreams didn't come by God previously could not do so this time.
• Joseph is able to interpret this dream and lays it out for Pharaoh.
• The Pharaoh not only believes Joseph but trusts his interpretation so much that he makes puts in command of the entire nation.

Joseph is the only one who knows about God, yet God uses the dreams to three other men, an adulterous wife, jealous brothers, a band of traveling salesmen and a stretch in the joint to bring about His ultimate plan - the salvation of not only Israel (Joseph's family) but all of Egypt and much of the known world (all who came to buy grain from Pharaoh).  

Are you in a difficult situation right now?  Perhaps you're feeling like your in a pit like Joseph or maybe something just happened to you that you think is unfair or maybe you even found yourself in a cell that you didn't deserve.  Your life is not the only life that God has control over.  It is not ONLY your circumstances that He can rearrange.  Don't think that God is limited by your abilities, your bank account, your know how or your influence.  

God is unlimited.  He can use anyone at anytime for any reason He chooses.  AND, He is already working your situation out in ways you can't possibly imagine.  It may be that you have to spend time in the pit in order to get to the promise.  You may have to sit in a cell in order to accomplish your call, but He is faithful and you are His child.  He will always bring you to the promise.

Sin Zero

Day 38:  Genesis/Psalm 38, Judges 14

In a zombie movie that came out not too long ago those trying to solve the puzzle were looking for person-zero, the person who first had the disease.

In the Genesis reading today Judah has one problem after another.  In the end, after sleeping with a woman who he believed to be a prostitute, he discovers that he had actually slept and impregnated his daughter-in-law!

As I read through the chapter I wondered where did he go wrong?  So I looked back and discovered that sin-zero for Judah was when he chose a Cannanite woman for a wife.  This was forbidden from God, Judah, as an Israelite was to marry only another Israelite.  That first sin - choosing a foreign woman led toe the birth of sons who displeased God and then to Judah breaking his word to his daughter-in-law and then his sleeping with a "prostitute" and then he wanted to kill his daughter-in-law for getting pregnant, until he learned he was the father of her child and in the end simply says, that this woman who pretended to be a harlot was a better person than he.

Judah's life took a turn for the worse with one sin.  Sin-zero.  From there he made another and another and before he knew it his life had spun out of control.  If you're the type of person that thinks impregnating your daughter-in-law is a definition of "out of control."

In contrast, David, In Psalm 38 is praying to God as he recognizes he has sinned.  He talks about how the discipline of God is affecting him deeply and he's crying out to God because he is wasting away because of his sin.  Instead of continuing in sin, he recognized it, repented of it, sought restoration through it and wanted to then refrain from it.

Instead of letting his sin lead to another and another he stopped the process and allowed God to deal with it.  Judah never allowed God the time to deal with his sin he simply continued in it.

when you are going through a difficult time and feeling like your life is spinning out of control I suppose you've got two options, continue on the same path adding sin to sin assuming you'll find your way out sometime.  Or, you can stop.  Go back and find sin-zero and follow the pattern of David, recognize where you went wrong and stopped going God's way, repent of that sin in humility before God, seek to be restored to Him and those who've been hurt by your sin and then don't forget the last step, attempt to refrain from that sin that set you off on your own course.

So many believers throughout history have simply blown over their sin, making Jesus' sacrifice for our sin a small thing - easily earned and easily forgotten.  But when we recognize our sin for sin and humbly deal with it before God we can change the course of our lives and grow in faith and closeness with God.

Stuck in sin?  What's sin-zero for you?

Pits Look Different Depending On Your Perspective

Day 37:  Genesis/Psalm 37, Judges 13

When I was a little kid, maybe three or four, my brother put me in a pit that our uncle and father had been digging.  I don't recall what it was for but it was big enough for me to fit into and was over my head.  Once at the bottom he and others kicked some dirt on me before I was rescued.  I've dug a lot of holes since then and am a little taller too, and I've noticed that no pit looks as scary from the top side as it does from the bottom.  At the top the sun may be shining and you look down and think, it's not that deep.  But from the bottom it's dark, the sun seems a long way off and the walls appear unscalable.

In Genesis 37 we begin to read of the story of Joseph.  I like Joseph's story.  Perhaps because I was the youngest child in my family and I had an older brother who liked to throw me pits!  Although, my older brother and my sisters would say it's because I was the favorite child.

What we hear of Joseph in chapter 37 is just the very beginning of his incredible story but I must say, he doesn't start off too well.  He appears to be a spoiled brat.  In verse two we find Joseph tattling on his 1/2 brothers.  In verse three we learn the reason for his tattling, he was his father's favorite.  And he knew it.  His father didn't even try to hide it!  In fact, he made Joseph a multicolored coat - a difficult and expensive thing at that time.

Joseph was so sure of himself that when he has a dream that clearly depicts him as a ruler over his brothers, he doesn't keep it to himself, ask his father for wisdom or guidance or just tell his friends, he runs right out and tells his brothers!  Who immediately hate him more!  And when he has a second dream that depicts not only his brothers but his father and mother bowing to him he tells them all!  The second half of verse eight tells us that his brothers hated him for his dreams (which they only knew about because Joseph told them) and his words (which he used to convey the dream).  All of that to say, Joseph made it easy for his brothers to hate him.

So when they are a long way from home and have the opportunity to get rid of their smug, dreamer of a brother they jump at the chance.  And later in the chapter we find Joseph stripped of his precious coat and sitting at the bottom of a dark, deep pit.  Instead of killing Joseph or leaving him in the pit to die his brothers make a bit of money off him by selling him to some merchants who just "happened" to be passing by.

And that begins the story of Joseph.

God gave Joseph a dream.  And because he chose to share that dream with his brothers he ended up in a pit, the first of two he will find himself in.  He was there because verse 20 tells us that his brothers were trying to keep Joseph's dreams from coming true.  They thought if they got rid of him by selling him into slavery that his dream of ruling over his brothers would never come true.  In reality, their treason actually created the opportunity for his dream to be fulfilled!  God used Joseph's favorite child status, his smug tattling and dream telling AND his brother's attempt to be free of him as the means by which He accomplished the result he had revealed to Joseph.

What this means to you and me today is this, when God gives you a dream it already INCLUDES every obstacle, challenge, detour and scheme of Satan.  God knew Joseph was a spoiled brat and would smugly tell his brother's the dreams.  He knew that the brothers would attempt to leave him for dead and he knew that at that exact moment the caravan would be passing by and the brothers would try to make a buck.  And God used all those twists and turns to grow Joseph into the man he eventually became.  The pit actually perpetuated the promise - it didn't destroy it!

Isn't that amazing?!  God gave Joseph a picture of the end result knowing every event, pit and peril and prison that would lead Joseph exactly where God wanted him to be.  The pit and even (as we'll see later) the prison are not detours they were part of God itinerary to get Joseph exactly where God wanted him to be exactly when He wanted him to be there.  God had already chartered Joseph's course through the pit to the promise.

Are you in a pit?  Is it dark and damp and stinky?  Does it look impossible to get out of?  Are you forgetting your dream because of the dilemma you're in?  God knew you would be exactly where you are right now.  He wants you to learn to trust Him.  He wants you to learn humility and a servants heart like His Son Jesus.  And He wants you to know that He knew you would be in the hole you're in.  He knew exactly how deep and wide your pit would be and He already knows how you're going to get out.

Don't lose hope, but seek His help.  Let your pit become your platform.  Because while you're at the bottom in the dark, He's at the top shinning His light on the rest of your journey.  Your perspective may be bleak, but His perspective is beautiful.

What's My Sin?

Day 36:  Genesis/Psalm 36, Judges 12

Today I want to pull a little bit from the reading of Psalm and Judges because I think there is a connection here that is worth noting.

In Judges Jephthah who is the current judge of Israel has crossed the Jordan river and fought against his enemy, the Ammonites.  Apparently Jephthah had requested help from the tribe of Ephraim, their brothers, but they refused to help, or didn't come to their aid fast enough, so Jephthah and the men of Gilead went out to fight Ammon on their own.  When they had successfully routed Ammon the men of Ephraim came to Jephthah and were angry that they did not get to share in the victory of the Ammonites.  Jephthah explains that they did not come soon enough.  In the end the men of Gilead went to war with their brothers from Ephraim.

Have you even been in a situation when you were upset because of how you perceived a situation and so you went on the offensive against someone you "thought" was your enemy?  Perhaps you even found out that it wasn't personal toward you but you were already angry and so you just couldn't let it go.  How did that turn out?  Did you end up fighting with someone for what turned out to be a ridiculous reason?

Anger clouds the mind.  It is impossible to think clearly and rationally when you're angry.  So you often end up doing things that should never have been done.  In fact, for me, I usually discover in the end that what I thought was the issue or the problem was not accurate at all and I end up going to war with someone or with some issue or challenge or problem and never needed to!

David says this in the first two verses of Psalm 36, "Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.  For it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it."

There were three types of sin in the Old Testament language:
1.  Sins - these were unintentional sins where a person just "missed the mark" they were aiming for.
2.  Transgressions - this was willful disobedience that was intentional sin.
3.  Iniquities - premeditated with out repentance so they were continuing in the iniquity.

David is saying that the willful choice to sin speaks to the heart of the ungodly where they "plan" out sin without considering the consequence or having any fear of God.  This sin speaks to him and flatters him so that the discovery of the act as sin and the hatred of it is covered up.

To be fair David is speaking to the ungodly, remember that.  However, sin is no less flattering to you and I when we engage in it.  Often, when we get angry about something sin creeps in and flatters us into thinking we are 100% right and the other person is 100% wrong.  The reality is that most of the time it is a 50/50 split.  Because we are not perfect in our behaviors and thoughts we can never fully blame the other person.  We might say it was all their fault but our own behaviors and thought patters fed into the situation.  Sin blinds us to our own failures while magnifying the failures of others.

That was most likely the situation with Jephthah and the Ephraimites.  Each was probably guilty of sin but instead of recognizing their own sins and seeking repentance and reconciliation they pushed ahead assuming each was faultless and the sin was all the others.

In the end, what could have been resolved peacefully is escalated to all out war.  Each side regretting the actions done in haste and anger.  At that point forgiveness and reconciliation is hard to come by.

So, if you are currently in a situation where you are blaming someone else for some perceived or actual sin against you ask yourself this question, "what is my sin?"  Ask God to reveal to you what your part in the situation was and how you can repent and reconcile for that.  And if you're thinking, "I didn't do anything wrong!"  Remember what the Bible says, "if you claim to be without sin the truth is not in you" (1 John 1:8) and that is sin.

How Do You End Your Prayers

Day 35:  Genesis/Psalm 35, Judges 11

David's prayer in chapter 35 is once again written as he is pursued by his enemies.  This is not a movie or a play, this is real life.  David is actually being pursued by trained fighting men who want to kill him.  That's not something I understand.  I have never been pursued by those who want to take my life.  I've been called a lot things and been the focus of some real hate, but I've never been in fear for my life.  But just because my enemies are not flesh and blood doesn't mean they are not real.

Satan is the enemy of every believer in Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us that his desire is to destroy us and kill us.  He wants to stop us from spreading the Truth about Jesus and connecting with others in a way that leads to changed lives.  He hates seeing people find real life in Jesus.  Hates it.

So Satan does whatever he can to stop us including killing us, destroying our faith or stealing our joy, peace or contentment.  If Satan can shut us down by any of these means he gets a win.  When we are silent, Satan wins.  So he wants to get us to shut up and he will use any means necessary.

David was God's man for God's time just like you and me.  So Satan wanted to get him to shut up.  To stop leading others in the ways of God.  So he was pursued.  Just like you and I are pursued.  And like David, you and I are spared by the grace of God.

But I often tend to get angry with God when in the midst of the pursuit.  I find myself asking, "why" even when I know the answer.  I get frustrated and remind God of all the "good" stuff I've done as though that should keep me from being attacked.  It doesn't.  In fact, the more vocal I am, the more effective my ministry, my more disciplined I am in my spiritual life the more Satan is on the offense.  The more He wants to shut me up.  The more he brings attacks.  And often, instead of running to God and standing in His strength, I whine and fuss.

But not David.  Here's how he ends this prayer in chapter 35, "My tongue shall declare Your righteousness and Your praise all day long."

What's been going on in your life?  Do you recognize that Satan is your enemy and is out to silence you?  Can you see that he is using your circumstances, relationships and situations as a means to keep you quite about your God and your faith?  When you are being pursued by your enemy how do you end your prayers?  Like I have all too often?  In frustration wanting some relief?  Or will you stand on your faith and the Truth that God is always out for your best.

When we are hotly pursued by the enemy we should be more vocal about God's righteousness and praise Him all day long.

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