Today’s Reading: Ruth

In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. – Ruth 1:1-2a

In a time of severe famine, when their family needed a place of refuge, God graciously provided a peaceful resting place for Elimelech and Naomi. But trouble and sorrow are often a part of everyday life and Elimelech died, leaving Naomi alone with her two sons. Contrary to God’s command for Israelites to not marry foreigners, Naomi’s sons married Moabite women – Orpah and Ruth. Ten years later, tragedy struck again and Naomi lost both her sons.

SOMETIMES GOD ALLOWS TRAGEDY IN OUR LIFE.

“…the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.” – Ruth 1:13b

These are the words of a woman with a broken heart, struggling to understand why the God who had provided so well for her over the years would now allow such tragedy to strike her family. She had praised God during times of plenty but now pitied herself during times of loss.

Naomi encouraged her two daughters-in-law to return to their families, but Ruth loved Naomi and begged to return to Naomi’s homeland with her, pledging “…Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God…” (1:16b).

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited to see her. The women could hardly believe they were seeing their longtime friend, Naomi, returning home. It did not take them long to realize this wasn’t the same person who had left years before. Naomi had suffered tragedy and lost her joy for life. Naomi left seeking God and returned bitter towards God. She could not see beyond her pain to rejoice in what God had blessed her with. She only saw what she was without.

HOW OFTEN DOES OUR PRAISE TURN INTO PITY WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES?

We struggle to understand why the same God who has blessed us so generously could allow heartache and pain to come into our lives. We live in an imperfect world where death and disease are a reality, yet we blame God for not intervening and saving us from the worst pain we have ever felt. But it is important for us to know that we serve a God who cares for us when tragedy strikes. We have been redeemed by Christ and it is time to recognize that we are precious to Him; He cares about what we are going through.

During her time of discouragement and grief, Naomi was blessed to have the love and care of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Returning to her homeland and her relatives without her husband and sons was difficult for Naomi. It was late spring, the beginning of harvest time, but no one had been there to care for Naomi’s land. This meant there was nothing to harvest, therefore nothing to eat. Ruth volunteered to go and gather any stalks left behind by those harvesting their fields.

Ruth found herself at the field of a relative of Naomi’s husband. When Boaz inquired about this woman who was gathering grain in his fields, he learned that it was the Moabite woman he had heard so much about. He knew she chose to leave her family behind in order to care for Naomi. He provided safety for her by inviting her to continue to gather grain in his fields and to drink from the water the workers had drawn from the well.

“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” – Ruth 2:12

Every day, Ruth returned to the fields of Boaz to gather grain. At the end of the harvest, Naomi instructed her to approach Boaz privately, asking him to “spread the corner of his covering” over her. Boaz treated Ruth kindly and sent her back to Naomi with 6 scoops of barley.

BOAZ HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FAMILY REDEEMER FOR NAOMI AND RUTH.

Boaz then went to Elimelech’s next of kin to ask if he was going to buy Naomi’s land and marry Ruth. When the family member voiced his concern over what it might cost him to redeem his inheritance, Boaz offered to purchase the land and marry Ruth. God blessed their marriage and Ruth gave birth to a son, even though she had never been able to have children with her first husband.

God saw the broken heart of Naomi and He was not done blessing her. Through a “family redeemer”, God provided Ruth with both a husband and a son. God showed His loving care of a grieving widow and her loyal daughter-in-law. The women of Bethlehem rejoiced and said to Naomi:

“Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4:14b-17

TRUST GOD THROUGH THE TRAGEDIES. HE CAN REDEEM OUR STORY FOR HIS GLORY!

God knows the good things He has planned for us and our children. From Naomi’s grandson would come the first King of Israel, David, and then the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. What a great reminder for us to trust God through the tragedies — to let the hard times increase our faith and trust in the God who knows what is ahead and loves us enough to send His son to die on a cross for us — to become our ultimate Redeemer. Praise the Lord, who has provided a Redeemer for all of us!

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.
Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice.
Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:16-17, 22

Today’s Reading: Judges

When I read the book of Judges, it reminds me of a superhero comic book. Over and over again, God’s people get themselves into a mess and He sends a superhero (or judge) to come in and save the day! God gave some pretty ordinary people some pretty extraordinary moments!

The superheroes in the Bible were not perfect, but superheroes rarely are. They were flawed, imperfect people with a desire to see God do something heroic. God called them into leadership and filled them with His Spirit so that He could rescue His people through them. The true Superhero in this book is God Himself.

THE HEROES IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES WERE REGULAR PEOPLE WILLING TO LET GOD DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY WITH THEIR LIVES.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, God’s plan was to give them a peaceful and beautiful land but, because of their tendency towards disobedience, they needed to be rescued over and over again from the villains in their life. So God raised up “superheroes” to lead them out of the trouble they found themselves in over and over again.

First there was Caleb’s nephew, Othniel through whom God gave the Israelites victory after 8 years of suffering. Then there was Ehud, who was left-handed, which came in useful when he reached with his left hand for his dagger and plunged it into the king’ belly. The king was so fat that the dagger disappeared. Ehud locked the doors and escaped down the latrine (3:15-23).

After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad. — Judges 3:31

The next average-person-turned-superhero is Deborah – the Bible’s Wonder Woman. This woman of God would sit under what became known as the Palm of Deborah, and people would come to her for judgment. Obviously God had given her the gift of wisdom and trusted her with great responsibility.

When Barak led the warriors into battle, God caused Sisera and his warriors to fall into a panic. Barak and his men chased after the fleeing army and killed all 900 warriors, but Sisera had hopped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Heber’s wife, Jael, invited Sisera into her tent. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. When he laid down, exhausted from his flight, she covered him with a blanket while she took watch for anyone approaching. But as soon as he fell into a deep sleep, Jael took action.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS, EVEN HARD THINGS, THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

Jael saw that God had strategically positioned her and she was up for this opportunity to let God do SUPER THINGS through her — she made the decision to do a hard thing! I believe God must have given Jael some extra strength as she picked up the tent peg and hammer, walked across the tent, and placed the end of the peg on Sisera’s temple. I believe God must have given her extra courage and superhero strength in order to drive the tent peg into his skull, killing the king and finishing the battle.

After Deborah and Barak led the Israelites to victory, there was peace in the land for forty years. But the Israelites began doing evil in the Lord’s sight, so he handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. When they finally cried out to God for help, he called Gideon to be the next judge or superhero.

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree of Ophrah…Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” – Judges 6:11-12

When Gideon asked for a sign that God was really calling him to take action, God gave Gideon the proof he asked for. Although he still experienced fear, Gideon now also had peace. That’s what God often does for us — He gives us the peace we need to obey Him, even when it does not make sense to us. At first Gideon followed through with God’s plan at night, out of fear, but then scripture says the Spirit of the Lord took possession of him (6:34a). Now filled with the MIGHTY SPIRIT, Gideon blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms. He sent messengers out, calling all of Israel’s warriors to come together to fight.

A great lesson for Gideon and a good reminder for me today is that God ALWAYS keeps His promises. When He sends us to do something, He equips us with the strength to be obedient. There is no need for Him to repeat Himself or to prove His faithfulness, for God can be trusted. I want nothing more than to blindly follow God wherever He leads, allowing my extremity to be His opportunity.

More judges came and went for the people of God – Tola judged for 23 years and Jair for the next 22 years. Next God used Jephthah, the son of a prostitute, to rescue the people of Israel. He was a great warrior because God chose to use him to give His people victory over their enemies.

NO MATTER WHAT IS IN YOUR STORY, THE GOD OF MERCY CAN USE YOU TO DO AMAZING THINGS IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

And lastly, we are probably all familiar with the way in which God used the strength and confidence of Samson. Samson’s biggest problem was that he consistently thought HE was winning the battles. He saw himself as the hero in his stories, missing who the true hero was. He did not recognize that his battles were won when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He thought he was avenging himself, but God was using this AVENGER to bring trouble to the Philistines, who were oppressing God’s people.

I may be the main character in my life production, but the hero of my story is God. Every victory experienced is for His glory, every battle won is to His credit. Thank you, God, for the gift of your Spirit in my life, giving me the strength to accomplish what you have called me to do. I make myself available today to be used by you — my Hero!

Today’s Reading: Joshua

“Be strong and VERY courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and very courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7-9

God’s instructions for Joshua were very clear — be strong and courageous, and be careful to obey all of my instructions. Joshua’s leadership was God-ordained, but he was never meant to lead out of his own strength and wisdom. God had provided Joshua with His word so that he could study it and meditate on it. All the instructions were there for him, just as God would provide the courage.

GOD GOES WITH US, PROVIDING THE COURAGE WE NEED TO SAY YES TO HIS ASSIGNMENT.

Leadership is hard. The moment Joshua stepped into the top leadership position, it may have seemed to others that he was living his best life. But leading God’s people had never been easy for Moses, it would not be easy for Joshua, and it is still not easy today. Leadership assignments come with stress and anxiety; they come with tough decisions and interpersonal conflicts. But God promises to be with us.

Joshua sent two spies ahead of them to scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially the walled city of Jericho. When they arrived, they stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. But word got back to the king and he ordered Rahab to bring the two men to him. She deceived the king and told him the men had already left.

Then Rahab went up to the roof where she had hidden the two Israelite spies. She told them how the reputation of God’s people had arrived in Canaan way before they did. The people of Jericho knew how God had rescued them from the Egyptians; they knew how He had parted the Red Sea so that they could cross safely on dry ground. They had heard how the Israelites had already conquered and destroyed Sihon and Og, and were afraid of what would happen if this large army arrived at the gates of Jericho.

Our God is so amazing! He struck fear in the hearts of the people of Jericho. He started fighting the battle for His people even before they took their first step of obedience into the land God had promised them. He did this for the Israelites and He does the same thing for us today.

HE IS THE GOD WHO GOES BEFORE US — WHO CROSSES OVER, PREPARES THE WAY, AND GIVES US THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO RESPOND TO ALL HE IS ASKING US TO DO.

Joshua’s faith and obedience were going to be tested moving forward. God told Joshua – you have never been this way before, SO FOLLOW ME for tomorrow I will do AMAZING things among you (3:3-5). You do not have to figure out how to cross this river on your own; I am going to lead you.

When Moses had led the Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea, they were told, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today” (Exodus 14:13a). Moses had stepped forward with his staff, raised his hand over the waters, and the Red Sea had parted. The people walked across dry land to reach the other side. But this time, God was requiring those in leadership to take the first step into the rushing waters. They were about to see the mighty strength of their God on display, but they had to step out in faith first.

But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. – Joshua 3:15b-17

It wasn’t until their feet touched the Jordan that the river parted and dry ground appeared in front of them. They chose faith and not fear, and therefore experienced many AMAZING things just as God had promised. They took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and carried them to Gilgal, where they would camp for the night. Then Joshua stacked twelve more rocks where the priests were standing with the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial of the miracle their God had given them.

GOD DID MORE! GOD DOES MORE! GOD IS MORE!

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” — Joshua 6:1-5

And this is exactly what happened! God did more than they expected Him to do, and He continues to do more than we give Him credit for today. God is more than we will ever need.

What is your battlefield today? How is life pressing in and in what ways do you need God to step in and take over? Let go of the fear and the worry, because panic just leads to us running away from the battle. Trust that God has gone before you, that He is with you, and that He will do more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly…Choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15

God, we thank you for your faithfulness and your daily presence in our lives — for this incredible opportunity to live in relationship with you. Lord, cause our love for you to grow so that our hearts naturally desire to obey you, to trust you, and to follow you. Help us to be content with what you have provided, and help us to call on you when life gets hard, knowing you will fight our battles for us. Today we choose to serve you and you only. Today we say an unqualified YES to you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy

The majority of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last speech to the Israelites before handing leadership over to Joshua. He took time to pause and remember — to look back over his time with God’s people, reminding them of God’s faithfulness to them through some of the hardest times.

Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. — Deuteronomy 1:29-33

Moses’ strong desire was that history would not repeat itself — that Israel would learn from their past mistakes and move forward in righteousness and faithfulness to their covenant relationship with God. He reminded them of the 10 Commandments and then gave them this very wise advice:

“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” – Deuteronomy 5:32-33

Moses continued his farewell speech to the Israelites by encouraging them to look back and remember how the Lord had rescued them. He told them to fear the Lord and serve Him only, for God is a jealous God and He desires for us to DILIGENTLY obey His commands. He calls us to do what is right and good in His sight so that all will go well with us (Deut. 6:18).

I love those pivotal moments in my life when a new chapter is beginning or a new season is just around the corner. These big life changes give me the opportunity to look back over the last season — to remember ALL that God has accomplished in my life and through my life. I celebrate God’s generosity and the evidence of His grace in my life. I look forward to what is ahead, asking God for His guidance and His blessing.

GOD GIVES US MOMENTS LIKE THESE TO PURPOSEFULLY STAND BETWEEN WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US AND WHAT HE PROMISES TO DO IN THE COMING YEARS — LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD WHILE PRAISING GOD FOR EVERY MOMENT.

Moses reminded the people of how the Lord had provided in order to teach them not to live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord — Your clothes have not worn out; your journey has been long, but your feet are neither blistered nor swollen. Now praise the Lord for this good land He has given you. In the midst of your plenty, do not become proud and forget the source of all blessings. Don’t think you have achieved anything by your own strength and energy, but remember that it is the Lord who gives you the power to be successful (Deut. 8).

“Today you are about to cross the Jordan River…But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.” – Deuteronomy 9:1,3

GOD WILL CROSS OVER AHEAD OF YOU. HE WILL WATCH OVER YOU AND FIGHT YOUR BATTLES, BUT YOU MUST CHOOSE HIM.

It is because of God’s grace that the people of Israel experienced victory over their enemies, not because of their own righteousness. It is because of God’s undeserved favor in our lives that we experience His blessings, not because of anything we have done to earn His love. I am overwhelmed with gratitude this morning that God crosses over ahead of us, that He allows us to experience His presence, that He sets out a road for us to follow. I will daily choose to love Him, serve Him and obey Him.

“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat.” — Deuteronomy 11:13-15

God was calling His people to relationship; He was calling them to a life where they would serve him with all their heart, and He would provide them with all they would need. But, if they chose to serve other gods, His jealous anger would burn against them and He would withdraw the rain. Without the rain there would be no harvest, and without the harvest, there would be no food. It was their choice to make, but they needed to be aware of the consequences that were attached to each option.

GOD IS CALLING US TO BE ALL IN — TO LOVE HIM AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART AND SOUL — SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

God calls us to look at the treasures of this earth as temporary and unimportant. He knows that clinging to our earthly belongings will only bring us satisfaction for a short time, but using our earthly resources to make a difference in the lives of others will give us lasting joy. Do not look at the blessings received on earth with pride or selfishness, but turn around and offer those blessings back to the Lord. Perhaps He will do something wonderful with your earthly treasures and be glorified because of your selfless attitude.

Father God, thank you for loving us. Our heart’s desire is to walk in your ways and to respond in obedience. Because you have set our hearts free, our response is to joyfully run down the path of your commands. We ask for you to fill us with your Spirit and give us the strength to be fully committed to you. Help us to see the path you have laid out for us on this love journey — a path with boundaries provided to keep us in the center of your plan for our lives. Today, we choose you. We choose to love you, to obey you and to commit our lives firmly to you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Numbers

While Moses was on the mountain, God gave him detailed instructions regarding the building of a holy sanctuary where God could live among the people of Israel. Those instructions included specific patterns for every piece that furnished the Tabernacle. Each detail had a purpose. One detail was to set up seven lamps in the lampstand, placing them so that their lights would shine forward (Numbers 8:1-4).

There was an intentionality to direct the light in such a way that others would see it — that they would be drawn to the light. The light had significance and it was meant to be cast forward for all to see. Just like the lampstands were built by design, we are also created with a purpose. We are to be a light in a world full of darkness.

WE ARE CALLED TO REFLECT GOD’S LIGHT SO THAT OTHERS ARE IMPACTED BY OUR RADIANCE.

The people of Israel (all 603,550 of them plus women and children) were still wandering in the wilderness and had not yet arrived to the land God had promised. Eventually the Israelites became tired of this way of life — wandering from place to place, daily picking up and moving on. Manna was no longer enough for them. Now they wanted meat. Moses became aggravated with the people and began to feel sorry for himself, taking out his frustrations on God.

Moses responded – Where am I supposed to get enough meat to feed all these people?!! Oh Moses, I relate to your faithless behavior. I know I serve a God who provides generously, yet I find myself asking how I am supposed to do what God is calling me to do. I can also sadly relate to the people who had been blessed by God yet had become dissatisfied and bored, ready for God to bless in a new and different way. Oh, what a patient God we serve! Oh, how we must frustrate Him!

Numbers 11:23a
God answered Moses, “So, do you think I can’t take care of you?” (The Message)
“Has my arm lost its power?” (NLT)
“Is the Lord’s arm too short?” (NIV)

Over and over again Moses had witnessed the Lord’s provision, yet he lacked the faith to believe that God could do what He said He would do. I would love to sit here in judgment of Moses but the truth is that I am no better than him. I hear the Lord asking me, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? So, do you think I can’t take care of you? Has my arm lost its power?”

WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

Now the Lord told Moses to send out men into the land of Canaan to explore the land. Twelve men were chosen, one leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The men came back and reported what they had found, and they brought back the fruit of the land to show Moses. The land was indeed flowing with milk and honey and the fruit was luscious, but the people were powerful and the cities fortified. They celebrated the bounty of the land but also worried about the “giants” in Canaan.

God was blessing them with a wonderful opportunity — the fulfillment of His promise to them. God had proven to them that He was both their protector and their provider, yet they lacked the faith to step forward in obedience. They chose fear instead of faith. Thankfully two of the spies saw the size of their God rather than the size of their enemy.

Because the people of Israel lacked the faith to cross into Canaan, Moses asked God to forgive them for falling short once again. God had rescued them from Egypt, allowing them to see His power at work through the plagues as well as the crossing of the Red Sea. They had walked on dry land, received quail and manna from heaven, and been nourished by the water God caused to flow from a rock, yet they lacked the faith to take the final step into all God had promised them.

Had they learned nothing from their journey with God? Because of their lack of submission, tomorrow would look much different. Instead of stepping into all God had beautifully planned for them, they would turn around and head back to the wilderness. For every day the 12 spies had spent in Canaan they would spend one year wandering in the wilderness.

When God’s people camped at Kadesh, there was no water and they began to rebel against Moses and Aaron once again. They blamed the leaders for their discomfort and circumstances. Without water, there would be no grain, no grapes, no pomegranates, and obviously nothing to drink. The brothers went to the Lord and God gave them clear instructions, just as He is in the habit of doing for us.

Moses took his staff of leadership with the intent of following God’s instructions but, when the moment came for him to act on his leadership, Moses trusted in his staff more than He relied on His God. He was instructed to speak to the rock (20:8) and instead struck the rock. Water poured forth and their needs were supplied, but not in the way God had instructed Moses. Moses found himself relying on the strength of his own leadership instead of God’s miraculous power, and the consequence was great.

Moses was not called by God to rescue the Israelites from Egypt; he was called to be the leader through whom God would deliver His people from their enemies. Moses was not tasked with leading the Israelites to the Promised Land; he was assigned to follow God as God daily led His people by a cloud during the day and fire at night. But because he had a moment of doing things his own way instead of God’s, because he received the glory instead of allowing God to demonstrate His holiness, Moses would never cross over the Jordan River again.

As they followed God out of the wilderness, they experienced attack after attack, yet the Lord faithfully gave them victory over those who were choosing to oppose God’s people. He provided for them according to His plan, each day bringing them closer to the land He had promised to their forefathers. Following God did not mean a life without opposition but He was with them each step of the way.

WE ARE CALLED TO TRUST IN THE GOD WHO LED US TO THIS MOMENT.

Lord, thank you for teaching us through the stories of your people. May we live in confidence today that you are more than enough. Looking back at the many ways you have provided for us and protected us along the way, we choose to follow you into your plan for our future. May our willingness to trust you become a light for those around us as we reflect your radiance. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Leviticus

By reading through the instructions for the priests of Israel, we better understand the God we serve. We understand that He is a holy God and that He has provided for the atonement of our sins so that we can worship our holy Father and live in a relationship with our holy Creator. Each sacrifice described, each holy day required, teaches us something about the God we serve and what He requires of us.

“For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.” – Leviticus 11:45

GOD CREATED A PROCESS FOR THE ATONEMENT OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE.

Chapter 16 of Leviticus describes the Day of Atonement – a day in which the sins of God’s people were presented to the Lord in confession and payment for those sins was made in order to make right what was wrong. The blood and life of an animal was presented to God as a substitute for the life of the sinner. As the animal parts were ceremonially presented to God, His anger was appeased and the worship of His people was accepted.

The role to which Aaron and the other Levites were assigned allowed the Israelites to experience purification. They mediated the covenant relationship between their holy God and a sinful people. As we study the role of the Levites in the book of Leviticus, we see a reflection of the role of Jesus Christ.

The death of Jesus on the cross makes it possible for us to be in a right relationship with a holy God – a God who requires us to live a holy life. The blood of Jesus was spilled so that we can be freed from the power of sin and filled with the righteousness of God. It is impossible for us to reconcile ourselves to God on our own. Thank God for His generous plan of salvation. Praise the Lord for the blood of Jesus shed for our sins! It is the blood of Jesus that makes atonement for our sins today.

JESUS NOT ONLY BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR US, HE ALSO BECAME THE PRIEST.

Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice and mediated a new covenant between God and His people. Because of this sacrifice, we have been adopted into God’s family and will receive an eternal inheritance. The writer of Hebrews does a beautiful job of explaining this role.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. – Hebrews 9:13-15

This is clean; this is unclean. This is permissible; this is unacceptable. You can eat this, but don’t eat that. Chapter after chapter in Leviticus defines how God wants us to separate ourselves from sin and from situations that might tempt us to sin. We serve a God who requires holy living, but who also generously equips and supplies us with HIS holiness. Praise God!

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY. – Leviticus 20:7-8

I love this! The Lord God, who requires us to be holy, makes us holy. That’s the kind of gracious God we serve! He clearly lays out his expectations of holy living and what it looks like to obediently follow his commands, but He knows we cannot make ourselves holy. It takes the hand of the Almighty to reach down and do something in our lives as we submit our will to Him. Praise God for His holiness!

HIS HOLINESS IS ON DISPLAY AND NOT OUR OWN EFFORTS TO PERFORM.

You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. Do not bring shame on my holy name, for I will display my holiness among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY.” – Leviticus 22:31-33

The book of Leviticus lays out the requirements of God for the people of Israel — requirements of how to worship, how to make sacrifices and how to live their daily life. God instructed them on how to live in relationship with a holy God and how to live in relationship with others. Just as we learned in Exodus, God’s command is clear – to love God also requires that we love others.

The God-required response to our salvation is to love each other. Our salvation is not just about us. We were not saved to live focused on ourselves but we were saved to focus on God in obedience and love. We were called to holy living and that call includes living a life of love and kindness toward others. That is what God required of the people of Israel in Leviticus, that is what God required of the Jewish Christians to whom Peter wrote (1 Peter 1:14-22), and that is what God requires of us today.

Our holy God, who calls us to be holy, will make us holy. What He is asking us to do, He will equip us to do. He will give us spiritual gifts and He will supply us with the strength and energy we need to do what He is asking us to do. Why? So that our lives will bring glory to Him. That is my desire this morning – to live a life of obedience, letting God come in and MAKE ME HOLY for His glory and for His purposes. Lord, this is my prayer!

Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.
May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name! – Psalm 97:11-12

Today’s Reading: Exodus

God spoke into Job’s situation, and he was humbled. God was paying attention. He was never unaware of the suffering Job was going through. This generous God is the same God we serve today. He is present, He is aware, and He is paying attention. We see evidence of this in the history of God’s people as we review the book of Exodus, which we studied in depth in February.

Life in Egypt was bitter for the Israelites as they were made to work hard for Pharaoh, without mercy and under the pressure of ruthless demands. The more Pharaoh oppressed God’s people, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread. So Pharaoh gave an order to the Hebrew midwives to kill every newborn boy, only letting the baby girls live. But the Hebrew midwives feared God and refused to carry out the King’s orders, making excuses for why the baby boys were surviving. So Pharaoh ordered all the Egyptians to kill every newborn Hebrew boy (1:22). God heard the cries of His people and raised up a leader from among those targeted baby boys to rescue his people — his name was Moses.

BUT GOD IS NEVER CAUGHT UNAWARE. HE IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN.

Time and time again in history, we see evidence of God’s response to the oppression of a group of people. He raises up a leader or a team of people to stand up in opposition to injustice — racism, sexism, discrimination, hatred, abortion and more. God is not uninvolved, nor is He unaware. He does not wring His hands in uncertainty or turn His back. He empowers and equips His people, calling them to rescue and restore.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. – Psalm 34:19

From a burning bush, God called Moses to go to Pharaoh and command him to let God’s people go. Feeling as unqualified and unequipped as we would have, Moses struggled to accept the calling the Lord was placing on his life. Together with his brother, Aaron, Moses obediently did the hard thing God had called him to do.

GOD EQUIPPED MOSES WITH A STAFF AND TEN PLAGUES.

The Israelites became the audience to God’s grand display of judgment. During all of these plagues (blood, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and then the death of the firstborn children), God’s people were protected. The Israelites were given specific instructions to follow so that the angel of death would pass over their house, sparing their firstborn. God’s people had experienced His power firsthand and now had a story to pass on to their children and grandchildren — from one generation to the next for the remainder of time.

When Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go, God did not lead them along the main road. He did not take them down the shortest path to their destination. He took them in a roundabout way. The Lord went ahead of them, guiding them during the day with a pillar of cloud and at night with a pillar of fire. At one point He even told them to doubleback and camp along the shore, and they obeyed.

Then God revealed to Moses what was about to happen, preparing him for a moment in leadership that was going to be tough. He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart once again and an Egyptian army would soon be in pursuit of them. When the people looked up and saw the massive army approaching, they panicked and asked God — Why? Why did you lead us here? Our old life of slavery was better than this.

The pillar of cloud that had been leading them this whole time moved from the front and formed a wall behind them. The clouds settled between God’s people and their enemies. As night fell, the cloud changed to fire, casting its light upon the situation. The enemy stood still while God sent a strong east wind to blow across the sea bed, creating a dry path for His children to walk across. The people stood still and watched as God fought their battle. What a beautiful sight!

IT DIDN’T HAPPEN IN AN INSTANT BUT IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

Tell me again why we don’t trust God? Why do we doubt a God who can do ANYTHING? When the Red Sea is in front of you and the Egyptian army is behind you, you can trust God to form a wall of protection between you and the danger pressing in. You can trust Him to part the waters and provide dry land, as He unleashes His mighty power. Stand in awe of the God who can do ANYTHING.

As we study Exodus, we see God teaching the people who He is and what it should look like for them to have a covenant relationship with Him. What first appears to be a list of instructions or rules (10 Commandments) is actually God teaching His children about who He is — about His character and holiness.

The first four commandments help us understand our Holy God and why He must have our undivided attention. He is the Lord our God and nothing should be more important than Him. We are to treat His name as holy and dedicate the Sabbath to Him. Our covenant relationship with Him requires that we give Him first place in our lives — that we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

The next six commandments are about how we are to treat one another: Honor your parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not testify falsely against your neighbor and do not covet what your neighbor has.

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. – Exodus 20:6

Lord, it is such a joy and privilege to be in a covenant relationship with you. I long to understand you, and to be filled with your holiness so that I can love you by loving others. I want to trust you, even in the most difficult of situations. Help me to live out my faith daily through my actions. May my response to your holy character show in my ability to love others the way you love me. God, only you are capable of producing this kind of love in my heart. Fill me with who you are; lavish me with your unfailing love. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Job

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. – Job 1:1-3

Most of us know the story. Job was a righteous man who had been blessed abundantly by God. He had a large family, lots of servants and lots of animals. He was known to offer burnt offerings for each of his ten children, just in case they had sinned. This shows the heart of a man who desperately wanted God to be pleased with him, as well as with his family.

One day, after patrolling the earth to see everything that was going on, Satan entered into God’s presence. God asked him if he had seen the integrity of his servant, Job. Satan’s response sounds familiar to attitudes often found today (Job 1:9-11) — Of course he serves you when everything is going right, but he would curse you if you took away your protection and blessings!

With God’s permission, everything in Job’s life changed in an instant. A messenger arrived to tell him that raiders had stolen all of his oxen and donkeys, and they had killed his farmhands. Before he had finished speaking, another messenger arrived to say fire had fallen from heaven killing all of his sheep and shepherds. A third messenger arrived to say raiders had stolen his camels, and his servants were dead. A fourth messenger arrived to say that a strong wind had blown down the walls of his oldest son’s home. All of his children were together when the house collapsed, and all ten of his children were now dead.

In his deep grief, Job refused to blame God for his troubles He responded, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21)

Satan, the Accuser, stepped into God’s presence once more to challenge the faith of Job. His accusation was that Job was still worshiping God because his pain had only been emotional and financial. So God allowed Satan to test Job physically, causing him excruciating pain from his head to foot.

Job sat in the ashes and scraped his boils with a piece of broken pottery. What a sad picture of a man who once had everything, but now had nothing. When his wife nagged him, encouraging him to curse God and die, Job’s response was powerful: “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10). Let’s ask ourselves that same question this morning:

SHOULD WE ACCEPT ONLY GOOD THINGS FROM THE HAND OF GOD AND NEVER ANYTHING BAD?

Job had a difficult time despite his faith in God. He felt the pain and suffered from the loss just like anyone else would. He was surrounded by friends who loved him enough to travel from their homes to be with him. Not only did they watch him grieve, they grieved alongside him. Their friendship was strong enough to be willing to sit in the dirt with him for a week, challenging him when he confessed that he wished he had never been born. Job’s response was — Don’t I have the right to complain to God?

Job developed an attitude of self-pity and defeat. After all, what good does it do to argue with God if He isn’t listening? Why cry out to a God who doesn’t bother to respond? Job went from sorrowfully feeling like God was no longer paying attention to demanding the opportunity to defend himself in front of God. He accused God of turning his back on him. He described himself as a target with God’s archers surrounding him, unfairly piercing him with arrows (16:12-13).

JOB QUESTIONED THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
JOB QUESTIONED THE GREATNESS OF GOD.
JOB QUESTIONED THE HEART OF GOD.
JOB QUESTIONED THE JUSTICE OF GOD.
JOB QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF GOD.

A young bystander, Elihu, finally stepped into the conversation to remind all of them WHO God is and to caution them when making such grand accusations against God. You remember who God is, right? The Creator of the world, the Almighty, the One more powerful than we can comprehend or imagine?

As many of us have experienced, there is a choice to make in difficult circumstances. We can push God away and decide that He is not the good God we have always believed Him to be, or we can pull closer to Him so that He can comfort us in our darkest hour. I am so thankful to serve a God who welcomes my questions, who understands the pain I am going through, and who willingly comforts me when I am struggling to understand why He has allowed something in my life.

I HANG ONTO THE BELIEF THAT GOD IS GOOD — ALL THE TIME!

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. – Psalm 3:3-4

Job’s story has a happy ending. God stepped in, healing Job physically and restoring him with earthly possessions even greater than what he once had. And the great news for us today is that our story has a happy ending also! No matter what our current circumstances are, no matter how much we are suffering today, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more loss.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – Job 19:25-27

Today’s Reading: Genesis 21:3-50:26

God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a son and they named him Isaac. They quickly learned that the same God who blesses us with children also asks us to trust Him with what comes next — to do anything God would ask us to do with the blessings He has provided for us.

“Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. – Genesis 22:2-3

God promised Abraham that he would have countless descendants. Isaac was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, yet God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. I would have reacted with confusion and a lot of emotion, but that is not how Abraham displayed his faith. He trusted God to provide and faithfully, without hesitation, walked up the mountain with his greatest possession – his son.

WE DO NOT NEED TO PROTECT WHAT GOD GAVE US FROM THE GOD WHO GAVE IT TO US.

Abraham was willing to take what he had been given and give it back to God. Just as he was about to sacrifice his son, Abraham heard the angel’s voice and then saw that God had provided a ram for the sacrifice. On that mountain, both father and son learned that God provides.

Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” – Genesis 22:14

God keeps His promises, and He provides for the fulfillment of those promises. This knowledge keeps us going when it seems like life is moving too fast and when life gets really hard. This is what helps us cling to the Lord instead of embracing all the blessings He has bestowed on us.

When asked to perform the important task of finding a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s servant was willing, he was prepared, and he left equipped to do what he had been asked to do. Next he strategically positioned himself. He was there to find a young woman, so he went to the place where the women were known to go each day and draw water for their families. Then he prayed to God for success (Genesis 24).

AND THE LORD PROVIDED A WIFE FOR ISAAC. NEXT HE PROVIDED A LARGE FAMILY FOR JACOB.

Isaac’s son, Jacob, was also sent to his mother’s family to find a wife. On the journey, Jacob had an encounter with God. Provision was promised — provision for Jacob and for his numerous descendants. God promised to both provide and protect. He promised to be with Jacob, and what could be better than the provision of God’s presence? So Jacob took the pillow God had provided and set it up as a pillar, pouring oil on it and named it Bethel. And in this moment, he made a vow to God just as God had made a vow to Him — If you are with me, then I am with you!

Jacob’s story consists of both good times and bad. Jacob was blessed with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and one daughter. He had acquired much wealth but his household had also acquired pagan idols. Jacob had to seek peace among his wives, peace with his uncle, and then lastly to seek peace with his brother, Esau. Life was difficult but God was present.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that God has a plan even when the choices of others are outside of God’s will — even when life is difficult. When I rest in His sovereignty, I learn how to trust Him despite everything that is going on around me. I learn to trust that God will provide in the midst of it all.

Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, was affected time and time again by the sinful decisions of others, but God was NEVER uninvolved. Out of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers sinned against him when they sold him into slavery, but God did not abandon Joseph. A lot of good came out of Joseph’s life, even though the trajectory of his life drastically changed when his new master threw him into prison. I believe it was not God’s perfect will for Joseph to be sinned against and separated from his family, yet God’s plan was to use it for good.

THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS UNAWARE OF JOSEPH’S SITUATION OR WITHOUT A PLAN.

God used Joseph’s location to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. When Joseph was placed in a position of authority, God used Joseph’s position to store up food during the years of plenty in order to provide during the years of famine. When his brothers arrived to buy food for their families, Joseph revealed his identity to them.

“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives…God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an advisor to Pharoah…” – Genesis 45:4b-8

God takes all of our experiences in life and He executes a beautiful plan for how to use them for our good and for the good of others. God can take the deepest pain and the most tragic of stories and redeem it for the building of His kingdom. But first we need to stop acting for God and fully surrender our pain to Him. We need to stop seeing through the lens of our victimhood and allow the Lord to fully restore our hearts, bringing joy to the space we were reserving for self-pity, anger and hatred.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Lord, thank you for the many ways in which you have provided for us. We choose to give you our past, trust you with our future, and live today in confidence that YOU ARE THE GOD WHO PROVIDES. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1:1-21:2

Over the last ten months, we have studied the Old Testament chronologically — from Genesis to Malachi. We have studied the history of God’s people, giving us insight into who God is and the relationship He created us for. Before we move into the New Testament, let’s take time to review some of the major themes woven through the stories of the Israelites.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place — what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority — the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! – Psalm 8:3-9

Simply by speaking the world into existence, God took what was formless and empty and created the amazing details of this life. The world went from empty to full at His command. In the same way, God took the empty pages of your life and began your story. And He is not done yet. Today the Lord will continue to write your story; each chapter will be perfectly designed by Him. When we recognize that He is our Creator, we humbly see ourselves as His creation.

GOD WEAVES US INTO HIS STORY SO THAT HIS WILL CAN BE DONE IN US AND THROUGH US.

“Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” – Genesis 3:1

When the serpent approached Eve in the garden of Eden, he started planting seeds of doubt. He convinced the woman that she would not die if she ate from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. He planted in her heart the desire to be like God — to make her own decisions, to be enlightened, to do whatever she wants.

This seed of arrogance is where sin continues to sprout and grow today. We believe society’s lie that we have the right to do whatever we want to do. We fall for the deceptive thought that hell isn’t real — that there is no such place where God punishes sin. It didn’t take long for the serpent to convince Eve, and sadly it does not take long for us to believe these lies either. The world gives us permission to walk away from all the truth found in the Bible, but departure from God’s way does not bring joy.

What happened in the garden is a perfect example. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were indeed opened, just like the serpent said they would be. But instead of it making them wiser and greater, it immediately brought shame. New emotions poured in and they were shook by the unfamiliarity of their feelings.

REBELLION AGAINST GOD STEALS OUR PEACE, BRINGING SHAME AND ANGER.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” – Genesis 4:6-7

Sin was not just a Garden of Eden incident; sin became a generational pattern. Cain gave God less than his best and became angry that God did not reward his small contribution. Instead of confessing his jealousy, Cain wrapped himself in self-pity which led to murder and the refusal to take responsibility for his actions. When confronted with his sin, Cain could have humbly chosen confession and repentance; instead, he chose indifference.

But God is not indifferent to our sin. It breaks his heart when we reject Him. The God of the universe cares enough to grieve when we push Him away in our attempts to live our own life and chase after all the world has to offer. He has a wonderful plan of salvation He was willing to sacrifice His Son in order to offer, and it saddens Him when we push His plan aside to make room for our own.

In Genesis, God grieved over His new creation and their lack of love for their Creator. He saw the selfish desires of their heart and how quickly the people gravitated toward evil. But He also saw the heart of one person who kept his eyes focused on God, who chose to walk in close fellowship with his Maker. God saw Noah serving the Lord in the midst of a very sinful world, and He sees you too, my friend.

God sent a flood to cover the earth, and then He filled the sky with beautiful colors as a reminder that He keeps His promises. That rainbow reminds us today that we serve a God who keeps His promises. As the psalmist said, his promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

God promised Abraham that he would have descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore and the stars in the sky, and God promised to protect him if he continued to obey. Abraham did not have to make sure that God would keep His promise; he did not have to remind God of the word He had spoken. In fact, it was unnecessary for Abram to fear that God would forget the covenant He had made. God was faithful — faithful to provide and faithful to protect.

GOD ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISES

The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. – Genesis 21:1-2

What a great reminder to start off our day! God will do exactly as He promises at the exact time He said He would do it. He is faithful and He can be trusted. He is omnipotent and nothing is too difficult for Him. He is the God who does the impossible, providing for us over and over again. May the Spirit of God remind you of that truth throughout today.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord!
His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension…
The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love. – Psalm 147:4-5,11