by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Judges 7-11
Let’s backtrack a little to get up to speed.
Gideon is one of the greatest heroes of the Bible. Yet he certainly has attributes with which we can identify.
If you ever feel discouraged, take a look at Gideon. If you ever feel small and insignificant, you might also take a look at Gideon.
Gideon is the youngest member of the “least” family of Manasseh, and as such, has no regard among his peers. An unimportant, unnoticeable individual. And that’s the way he sees himself.
Yet there is something about Gideon which arouses God’s attention.
We first see him as an angel appears to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.”(6:13). (Remember, our Lord speaks things into existence. At the moment, Gideon does not appear as a valiant warrior).
The salutation elicits an explosion of frustration from Gideon. “If God is with us, why this and why that?” Have you ever felt that way? Of course, you have. All of us have.
However, God is ready to make a big move – and Gideon is just the man for the job. Our God doesn’t see as man sees. Man always wants to go to the high, the mighty, and the connected to get their job done. God goes after a heart which is willing to obey Him – and He seems to specialize in going to the “least.”
So Gideon tears down the altar of Baal, and there is no turning back!
If you are going to tear down the altars of idols, you’d better be ready to follow through with the alternative, and Gideon is ready. He is renamed “Jerubbaal” which means “Let Baal contend against him.” The Israelites now have their eyes focused on Gideon.
A huge crowd of men assemble for battle, but God rejects them. He doesn’t want men thinking that they are the ones to win the battle, so he calls for those who are afraid, to leave. 22,000 leave, with 10,000 remaining, but the Lord still says there are too many.
God wants an unmistakable claim to this victory coming up, so He calls them to do something absolutely impossible. He has Gideon bring the men to the water and watch how they drink. Everyone who laps like a dog, stays; everyone who kneels to drink, putting their heads down, have to go home.
Only 300 men survive the test, and God is requiring something totally impossible. A huge army, as “numerous as locusts” and camels as “numerous as sand on the seashore” awaits this tiny group. It’s impossible.
But God has a plan. The 300 are to hold a trumpet in one hand, and a torch, covered by a pitcher in the other. They are to, at the signal, break the pitchers, exposing the light, and blow the trumpets – all at the same time as they run toward the enemy. Fear overtakes the opposing armies, and they flee.
The rest of the Jews are called to finish the job, and Israel is delivered from the Philistines.
There are tons of lessons we can learn from this story. Of course, nothing is impossible with God, when we are walking in obedience.
Further, if God calls us to do something, we can do it through Him. We may think that we can’t because of our position in life, or our lack of education, or our lack of funds.
Yet, with God, truly all things are possible.
Luke 5
“I am willing!” We can’t hear this word enough in our society.
There is a tendency for people to say, “If it be Thy will, please heal me.” I don’t see in the ministry of Jesus where it was ever God’s will for people not to be healed. He healed all who came to Him in faith.
I really don’t understand why that error has gotten into the church. I guess when we don’t see things happen, we try to explain them away.
I would much rather go to the Word of God and prayer and get the answers. I know there are delays sometimes, but i never consider them to be the fault of God.
If we could ever “get it” that His love for us is beyond human imagination. His goodness is perfect. And His will is always to heal and restore, then we would have the faith we need.
There are times when any of us feel overwhelmed by the atmosphere of doubt around us – which tries to invade our minds. That’s when it’s important to draw aside to the Lord, and spend time with Him.
In those times if we would just praise Him and worship Him. Then let his Word restore our minds.
He has all the answers – and power to bring his will into our lives. His good, perfect will. We just have to reach for it.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Road trip today! We’re taking a trip to Calvary.
It’s Good Friday, and Christians around the world are celebrating the three days of death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I thought it would be a good time to take a break from our reading schedule and delve into the subject of the cross. Why the cross? And what in the world happened there that made us call it “Good” Friday.
So let’s go to the prophecy which explains it.
Isaiah 53
There are some mysteries here for sure, but this is what we know. When God created the world and gave Adam delegated authority over it, to represent God in managing the earth, Adam blew it! He turned around and sold out to Satan, so that he lost his authority, lost his relationship with God, and set all of mankind on a path to perdition.
For some reason (and this is one of the mysteries), there had to be a second Adam to take back the authority. This man, since the world had been sold out to Satan, had to be a perfect man and had to go into Satan’s very headquarters just as Satan demanded, to pay the price for the sin of the world.
There was a dilemma, however, since there was no perfect man. Satan thought he had everything tied up forever – until Jesus appeared on the scene. He was obviously the Son of God and the son of man. He was born to a woman, but by the Holy seed of God.
Satan was nervous as he saw Jesus represent God on the earth, but he thought, “If I can just kill Him, then, I’ll win.” Little did he know that he was playing into God’s hands. It was God’s plan to have His Son crucified and go into hell. From there, God’s resurrection power would catapult Him out of hell, out of the grave, back to earth, and eventually up to Heaven.
So Satan took the bait, and God’s plan – the plan that was made before the foundation of the world – came into effect.
When we look at the cross, death, burial, and resurrection, all of the chapters we have been reading take on more clarity. God had to raise up a group of people who could bring His Son into the world. (And sometimes this took extreme measures).
He had to teach these people that He was a Mighty God and that He could be trusted. God had to teach them that He was a covenant keeping God, so that eventually we could understand the covenant we have with Him through Jesus.
He had to teach these people about the necessary sacrifice of a perfect lamb. Only then could they – and we – understand the sacrifice of His perfect Lamb, Jesus. He had to teach them that they would not be able to keep the law; only through Jesus would we have the empowerment to obey God.
Lesson after lesson, year after year, our Father led these covenant people to the culmination of all things.
As we read Isaiah 53, we see the prophecy foretelling the cross. (Especially notice verses 4-6). He took our griefs and our sorrows. He took our sin, our pain, our sickness. Oh, this is much more far-reaching than we can imagine!
Jesus paid the price not only for our sin nature, but He made the way for us to escape the result of sin. Sickness, poverty, and pain are all part of the curse which came on the earth when Adam sinned. We have been redeemed from all of that.
We’ve been talking about taking the Promised Land, and this is that! These are promises, but they don’t fall on us like the manna did in the wilderness. These promises are taken through “faith and patience.”(Hebrews 6:12)
To take the Promised Land provided by Jesus, we have to follow the rules of Joshua. “Ever place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given you.”(Joshua 1:3) We have to put our foot down to receive the abundance.
We still have an enemy who tries to trick us and rob us, but we have a Savior now. Our Savior has paid the price for an abundant life, but we do have to take it.
I am confident that when we get to heaven, we will be amazed to see what He paid for. It’s so easy to get distracted and settle for “whatever comes.” But there is more. Much, much more. If we will reach out for it.
My prayer today is that you and I will meditate on Isaiah 53 until we see beyond what we have before seen. He paid the price for us to go to heaven, and much more here on earth.
“What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:12-13.
I want my life to be a witness to the goodness of God, don’t you?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Judges 1-3
Some sad days ahead for Israel. After Joshua and all of his generation died, “there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work He had done for Israel.”(2:10)
It’s hard to believe that a group of people could encounter the Lord in such a great way and yet not pass on their beliefs to their offspring. But we see that over and over – in scripture and in our own generation.
In my own lifetime I have seen such changes in perceptions of people. Of course, the changes in race relations have been good, but the changes in morality have been horrible. Now sexual immorality is accepted as the norm by many levels of our society. Such a shame. So many precious babies are affected.
Getting back to Judges, we see in the first three chapters that the Jews would turn away from God and lose their protection. So they would serve another king for a number of years, for they could “no longer stand against their enemies.” (2:14)
Again and again God would raise up judges who would help them be delivered from their enemies, but “when the judge died, they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers….they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.” (2:19)
God’s people had to serve the king of Mesopotamia for 8 years, until Othniel helped deliver them. They had rest for 40 years, and then Othniel died. Then back to the evil. They then served the king of Moab for 18 years, until Ehud was raised up to deliver them, giving the Jews 80 years of peace.
Without strong leadership the Israelites seemed unable – or unwilling – to follow God. They preferred the gods of the nations around them, particularly Baal, the god of prosperity.
Does that sound familiar today? We don’t call him Baal, but prosperity is worshipped by many in our society.
I pray that through God’s help we will keep our hearts pure from the worship of money. I also pray that our nation and our world will learn from the Jewish experience and turn back to the one true God.
Luke 4:1-30
When Jesus entered the wilderness for His 40 day fast, He was full of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated to us that the warfare against the devil should be done through the spoken Word of God, which is our “sword of the Spirit.”(Ephesians 6:17). After the fast and temptations, Jesus returned to Galilee in the “power” of the Spirit.(Luke 4:14).
He was ready to begin his ministry in its fullness, with God’s supernatural gifts flowing.
Isn’t it noteworthy that as long as Jesus was the young local guy who often read the scriptures in the synagogue, He was admired and appreciated? Yet after he received the Holy Spirit baptism and was ready for His ministry, he was hated.
He announces Himself as the One mentioned in Isaiah, and true rage follows. These people who have known Him all of his life, cast Him out of the city and try to throw Him down a cliff. But he “passes through their midst.” (4:30)
How does that happen? A mob has Him in their hands, and He just “passes through their midst?” Sounds like an angelic visitation to me.
Not only was Jesus walking in supernatural power, He had supernatural protection and provision.
Jesus had no fear because He knew that God’s protection was with Him all the time. Eventually he would “lay down His life,” but not yet. Until that time, angels would keep Him from any harm.
Today God wants us to have faith for that type of protection. His angels surround us as we perform His purpose. Let’s count on that protection and be willing to trust Him at all times.
Remember the slogan, “What would Jesus do?” Well, that’s what Jesus would do. It’s one thing, at least. He would trust God for divine protection at all times.
Lord, increase our faith!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Joshua 22-24
Mission accomplished. Joshua finished his assignment by bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land and dividing their inheritance. All of their boundaries had been established, and there had been peace within their borders for a time.
One more time Joshua reminds his people of the history they share with God, and he reminds them that only the true God is to be served, then he “goes in the way of all the earth.”(23:14)
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh are an interesting bunch. They helped fight for the territories, and they built an altar to remind their children that they are part of God’s inheritance, but they chose land across the Jordan – away from the others. Land that was really not part of the Promised Land.
Their attitude reminds me of some Christians today. They want to be considered Christians, but they really don’t want to enter all the way into God’s best. Hanging around the periphery seems good enough for them.
There’s a warning here, however. These tribes were to be the first ones to go into captivity. They will eventually be easy pickings for the Assyrian army.
I want to be right in the middle of what God is doing, don’t you?
Right now there are some tremendous revivals going on around the world – and even in our country. There are some Christians who know nothing about it – and there are some who are right there, praying and ministering with their whole hearts.
Lord, let me be a part of it! I want to be right where You are moving – and I want You to move where I am!
Luke 3
In John the Baptist we are seeing the fulfillment of prophecy. First the prophecy of Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness…”(Luke 3:4-6; Isaiah 40:3-5). But also the prophecy of Zacharias, John’s father. (Luke 1:77)
John is calling people to repentance. He spares no words as he deals with the church leaders, calling them a “brood of vipers.”(7)
When pride prevails, it’s hard for people to see that they need a Savior. The Savior has come and is about to be revealed, but these people need to know that they need Him. Only the contrite of heart are able to receive from God.
We see the trinity when Jesus is baptized. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove, and God’s voice came out of Heaven, “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am pleased.”(21-22).
Thus begins the ministry of Jesus. The Holy Spirit having descended, He is ready to finish His mission on earth.
As Christians, this same Holy Spirit is with us today – leading us, guiding us, and empowering us to fulfill our missions. As we are sensitive to His bidding, we will be able to accomplish our purpose.
I say, “Yes, Holy Spirit. I want You to lead me.”
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Joshua 19-21
The rest of the land gets divided, and all of the tribes are settled in their places.
“So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it.
And the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that he had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand.
Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” (21:43-45)
What more can I say? Nothing, except that there are more declarations God has made to the world. Those, too , will come to pass.
His Word doesn’t fail.
Luke 2: 21-52
God always has His intercessors. While many of the church leaders were parading around in their priestly robes, trying to impress their subjects, God had some less significant people praying for His purpose.
Those intercessors were the ones who saw and recognized Jesus!
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, once said, “I am convinced that God does nothing on the earth, except in response to believing prayer.” When God’s ready to put a new piece of His puzzle in place, He first impresses upon the hearts of His true prayer warriors to pray for it.
That’s what we see in Simeon and Anna. Neither of them was a person of position or great honor, they were simple people. Both of them were advanced in years and both spent lots of time praying. It was to these two that God revealed the identity of Jesus.
Both of these people had seen in God’s Word that the Savior would come, and they were praying for it to happen. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he wouldn’t see death until he had seen the Christ, and that’s exactly what took place.
The joy which comes from that man is evident as he recognizes Jesus and proclaims God’s Word. Overhearing these words, Anna agrees, and her joy exudes to others – the Savior has come.
God’s methodology hasn’t changed. There are many today who parade around in their pride and arrogance, ignoring God’s plan, and even discounting his Word.
Then there are others. There are those who love God and His Word, and who spend time praying for it to come to pass. Sometimes these people are unrecognized, even by those around them. But God knows what they are doing, and He is pleased.
Our world is in great need of awakening, and that’s a promise God has made to His people. As those who will believe God and allow Him to direct their prayers, rise up to their positions of prayer, we will see His plans come to fruition.
We have already begun to see trickles of it, but we will see more. We will see God move in the hearts of people, calling them to a greater life in Him.
Significant change is on the way.
I choose to be a part of His prayer team. Do you?
