…just as He said…

 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Joshua 13:29-33

 

And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans.

Their region extended from Mahanaim, through all Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities,

and half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. These were allotted to the people of Machir the son of Manasseh for the half of the people of Machir according to their clans.

These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.

But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.

 

God gives. Scripture says he rewards those who diligently seek him. They will first of all find Him and the blessings of knowing Him will follow. He blesses those who seek His glory rather than their own. He keeps His promises. The promise given Abraham is not forgotten even though Abraham has long passed from this life. His promises continue to future generations. Israel gives us examples of what happens when we stray away from following Him. They found themselves wandering in a wilderness; later, they found themselves chastened by loss and in bondage once again to those to whose ideologies and philosophies they had turned. With repentance and returning to God’s ways they found that God once again was faithful to return them to His promise, the land given to Abraham.

 

Are we faithful to teach our future generations, not only what the scripture says but how to apply it to their lives? Are we faithful to introduce them to the One who created them, loves them and wants a relationship with them as well? Are we faithful to live the overcoming life before them? How do we handle stressful situations? Do we seek first the kingdom of God? Are we showing by example how to follow God’s commands and the joy that comes from serving Him? Even if they stray, what they see and hear, study and know will follow them throughout their whole life.   God’s Spirit will not depart from them. They will return to that place of knowing in the spirit. They will receive their inheritance. The kingdom of God is forever.

 

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

A promise of rest…

 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Joshua 11:12-23

And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.

But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned.

And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their plunder. But every person they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed.

Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland

from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them and put them to death.

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle.

For it was the LORD’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities.

There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain.

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

 

Some key phrases stand out while reading this passage. The first is “defeated with the sword” in one translation, “struck them with the edge of the sword” in another. The believer’s sword is the Bible. As Jesus came against Satan in the wilderness with scripture, so we can fight off that which is not of God with scripture. The enemy is cunning; remember the use of scripture by Satan. Jesus did not back down but continued to use scripture even in that attack. Remember to be aware and alert which requires knowledge of scripture and that requires being found in the Word studying, meditating, and remembering. We have the Holy Spirit to assist us in these battles. So continue to hold everything to the high standard of scripture and don’t be surprised if the attack comes from other believers. Pray that the Holy Spirit give us the sure knowledge to know when scripture is being used amiss; manipulated to serve the purpose of mankind.  Satan knows our vulnerability and is not opposed to using us against each other. We who walk by faith in the knowledge of His Word can be victorious as Israel was through the use of the sword, for us the Bible.

 

Another two phrases are “struck and put to death” and ” utterly destroyed.” When the Holy Spirit reveals to us that which must be removed from our own lives we are to strike it and put it to death, removing it completely from our lives. Note the revelation comes from the Holy Spirit; Spirit to spirit. This is not to imply that we are to go about cleaning each other up. Jesus tells us

“…[Mat 7:3 ESV] 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?…”

 

As Israel cleansed the land of its inhabitants, we can with the Holy Spirit’s assistance cleanse our ‘land,’ our lives, of that which hinders the work of the Lord in our lives. We can live victorious lives in the promised land given to us by the Lord.

 

Everything was “in keeping with orders Adonai had given Moses”; also stated “in keeping with all that Adonai said to Moses.” God’s word is our key. God’s commands are to be followed. God’s Word tells us how then we shall live. And once that is accomplished the phrase ” the land rested from war” reminds us of the promise of God’s rest. How sweet it is to rest in the promised land of a victorious life; knowing we are where He wants us, living in tune with His will and not our own.

 

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Promise of life…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 26:11-21 

  O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.

O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance.

They are dead, they will not live; they are shades, they will not arise; to that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them.

But you have increased the nation, O LORD, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

O LORD, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them.

Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD;

we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

  Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.

For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

We in ourselves are powerless.

  “We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen. ” 

We will rise from death.

  ” Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! ” 

We can hide in our God’s protection.

”  Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. ” 

Punishment is coming.

” For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. ” 

Are we afraid?  No!  The believer knows who God is and what He does.  The believer knows who they are in Him; knows what He says of them.  The believer knows where to hide until the fury is passed.  He is our provider, our healer, our victor, our strength, our joy.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Promise

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 9:1-7

 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

  You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

  For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

  For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

The promise.  The promise fulfilled in Christ.  The promise lived out in us.  Praise be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

The promise…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Hosea 13

When Ephraim spoke, trembling,

​​He exalted himself in Israel;

​​But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.

Now they sin more and more,

​​And have made for themselves molded images,

​​Idols of their silver, according to their skill;

​​All of it is the work of craftsmen.

​​They say of them,

​​“Let the men who sacrifice  kiss the calves!”

​​Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud

​​And like the early dew that passes away,

​​Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor

​​And like smoke from a chimney.

​

“Yet I am the LORD your God

​​Ever since the land of Egypt,

​​And you shall know no God but Me;

​​For there is no savior besides Me.

I knew you in the wilderness,

​​In the land of great drought.

​​When they had pasture, they were filled;

​​They were filled and their heart was exalted;

​​Therefore they forgot Me.

​

“So I will be to them like a lion;

​​Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;

I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs;

​​I will tear open their rib cage,

​​And there I will devour them like a lion.

​​The wild beast shall tear them.

​

 ​​“O Israel, you are destroyed,

​​But your help is from Me.

I will be your King;

​​Where is any other,

​​That he may save you in all your cities?

​​And your judges to whom you said,

​‘​Give me a king and princes’?

I gave you a king in My anger,

​​And took him away in My wrath.

​

​​“The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

​​His sin is stored up.

 ​​The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him.

​​He is an unwise son,

​​For he should not stay long where children are born.

​

 ​​“I will ransom them from the power of the grave;

​​I will redeem them from death.

​​O Death, I will be your plagues!

​​O Grave, I will be your destruction!

​​Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

​

Though he is fruitful among his brethren,

​​An east wind shall come;

​​The wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness.

​​Then his spring shall become dry,

​​And his fountain shall be dried up.

​​He shall plunder the treasury of every desirable prize.

Samaria is held guilty,

​​For she has rebelled against her God.

​​They shall fall by the sword,

​​Their infants shall be dashed in pieces,

​​And their women with child ripped open.

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Hsa&c=13&v=1&t=NKJVP>

This passage ends on a sad, disturbing note.

“…she has rebelled against her God.

​​They shall fall by the sword,

​​Their infants shall be dashed in pieces,

​​And their women with child ripped open….”

Reaping the harvest of the seeds sown; reaping the whirlwind, the harvest of the wind; these are laws set in motion no different from the laws of nature we recognize such as gravity.  And the harvest is grave, brought down to the earth.

“…​​Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud

​​And like the early dew that passes away,

​​Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor

​​And like smoke from a chimney….”

But within the passage is a promise,

“…I will ransom them from the power of the grave;

​​I will redeem them from death.

​​O Death, I will be your plagues!

​​O Grave, I will be your destruction…”

“…Yet I am the LORD your God

​​Ever since the land of Egypt,

​​And you shall know no God but Me;

​​For there is no savior besides Me….”

the promise of the coming Savior and the defeat of death.

“…I am the LORD your God…”

One world, one God, one rule…

Ezekiel 37:24-28

“David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ’

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Eze&c=37&t=nkjvp>

What can we learn of God?  He loves His people.  He will give them one king and one shepherd.  The shadow of unity is apparent.  He desires that they follow His laws and His decrees.  We can differentiate between God’s laws and man’s laws.  He wants His people to be in the place He gave them, forever.  He desires to live among them, loving them and being loved by them.  He would have a sanctuary among them, a place of peace, rest, and safety.  He wants them to know Him.  He wants to be their God and them to be His people.  He wants all to know that He is God.

When God speaks it is so.  We can so count on him and his word!  Jesus came from David’s lineage, son of God, to rule over his people in unity, love, and bringing peace and a new covenant.

“…David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd;…”

God’s word fulfilled.  Jesus quotes scripture and tells us that He is the good Shepherd, He knows His sheep and they know His voice.  Can we see the parallel?

“…John 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine….”

The Spirit overrules the physical.  The Spirit has no limits. The physical is limited by time and space.  We exist in Christ, in spirit and so can soar over the confines of the physical.

“…John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him….”

He has brought us to a place he gives.  He has provided a sanctuary within each of us and lives among us.  We have him in common providing a unity the world cannot sustain.  O how He loves you and me…

May this song minister to us this day:

click and listen or sing!

O How He Loves You and Me!

Song title: Oh How He Loves You and Me lyrics
by Kurt Kaiser

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calv’ry did go,
His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me.

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Song title: Oh How He Loves You and Me Chords
by Kurt Kaiser

How good is our word, our promise?

Ezekiel 17:11-21

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 “Say now to the rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon. 13 And he took the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him, and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, 14 that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. 15 But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

16 ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17 Nor will Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company do anything in the war, when they heap up a siege mound and build a wall to cut off many persons. 18 Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.’ ”

19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head. 20 I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and try him there for the treason which he committed against Me. 21 All his fugitives [fn2] with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Eze&c=17&v=1&t=NKJVP>

When we give our word, we need to keep it.  The Lord calls Israel a rebellious nation and says that their king even after being granted a reprieve rebelled.

“…“Say now to the rebellious house: …But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt,…”

The nature was unchanged.  The attitude was unaltered.  Mercy was shown, a powerful head of state that could have crushed the nation of Israel and their king had extended an opportunity to live and continue to flourish under the treaty drawn up and sworn to by their king.

“…he took the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him, and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, 14 that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. …”

But their king’s son’s word was no good.  The haughty nature spoken of in Ezekiel was unbroken and so the final judgment was complete.

“…Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?…”

God provided for his people and they scorned the provision.  Their nature remained unchanged.  They were guilty of more than breaking a treaty with another country and king, they were rejecting the provision made for their continued prosperity in their own land.  The principle of honesty and truth is broken.  This speaks of a root of disobedience that remains.  For disobedience there is judgment.  God is not mocked.

We are offered a reprieve from the penalty for sin, the sin we are born into and the sin which we commit.  The original covenant with God is broken and a reprieve is offered in a new covenant.  Mercy is extended to us through Christ.  When that is rejected the full judgment of God is executed and the punishment for sin is sure.

“…As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head….”

There is no way back from eternal separation from God.

Accept the offer and eternal life rather than death is the result.  Eternity starts now and it can be full of joy or full of despair.  Accept life. Accept Christ.  Then keep the word that is given.  Let the attitude be altered and the nature changed.  Let the miracle of new life begin.

“…you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken.”…”

Promise in the storm…riders on the storm

Acts 27:27-44

Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”  Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.  So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.  But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,  and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

           

“Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”  A promise sent through Paul and it so encouraged him he broke the fast and encouraged all of the rest to do the same.  They saw no reason to believe they would make it to safety other than Paul’s confidence in God’s word.  This confidence speaks volumes to those around us.  When we are in the middle of life’s storms do others see our confidence in what God is able to accomplish, or do they hear  our complaining and moaning about how hard life is and what a terrible situation we are in?  Demonstrating faith as Paul does here, is an exercise of faith that is pleasing to God.  Scripture says without faith we cannot please God.  Do we demonstrate this kind of faith in our storms?  Going further into the passage here we see that they followed Paul’s example and ate and then threw what was left of the food into the sea!  They weren’t planning on needing it?  They were with Paul and expecting to find safety on land.  Once again let it be noted that while God could have calmed the storm he did not.  He took them through the storm.  In the process He was glorified, through Paul’s example.  When we are in our storms are we glorifying God or demanding an explanation?  Are we whining and complaining or are we praising God for what He is doing in us and what He will do for  us?  Are we allowing our faith in Him to be strengthened?  In all things give thanks God’s word tells us.  Paul gave thanks, ate and was taken to safety.  Let us also take our storms to the Lord, then watch as He takes us through them.  Let us be careful to give thanks and have faith.  Let us glorify the God who created us and can and will keep us.  “…he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. “  Be an encourager, share your faith, glorify God in all things.

Another post on the same subject from a younger perspective.  It is a good read.

The Perfect Storm  at:

http://mikeschuerman.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-perfect-storm

We know what to do…

John 14:28-31

You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

 I am going…I am coming back to you.  The world must learn that I love the Father, and do exactly what my Father has commanded.  Christ’s promise to us.  He went; he is coming back.  Will we say, do we say with him that we love our Father and we do exactly what our Father commands.  We have his word; we know what to do.

From 1 John 2:29  – But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.  We do not need to seek answers from mankind; the answers to our questions rest in the Word of God.  We have His word; we know what to do.