Tag: Faith

Posted on

The Exodus story lives on in us.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When one looks closely you can see the story of death, sacrifice and blood from Genesis to Revelation. God himself killed the first animal to clothe the couple in the garden, covering their nakedness (Gen 3:21). Some scholars disagree, but I believe it subtly showed up with Adam’s sons, Cain and Able. Able chose to give God the best of his flocks, the firstborn of his lambs. Cain just gave some of his crops (Gen 4:4). One was a blood sacrifice, one was not. God chose this object lesson about blood to span the eons of time for humans.

The Exodus is an eternal story of redemption and sacrifice that points to the Messiah, Jesus, and beyond. Yet, even after Jesus’ own innocent blood become the markings on a wooden cross for us, death did not pass over Christ. Jesus gave his life as the one and only perfect sacrifice for anyone who would believe and recognize his death, his blood, as payment for their sin. Remember, anyone who eats the fruit of the tree of knowledge will die! The couple ate and immediately, spiritually died and eventually physically died as well.

Every human being has also eaten of the forbidden fruit since! Every human being, ever born, has believed the lie, eaten the fruit, and disobeyed God. Thus, every human is destined to die both spiritually and physically. Jesus death, his blood becomes the “sign,” the covering, on the doorposts of our heart and our life. To believe means that through faith, we have applied that covering so the death angel will pass over us as well, because we are marked (the New Testament uses the phrase, sealed with the Holy Spirit).

In the final book, Revelation, the ending of all things, we see the same theme of the blood as an end-cap to God’s grand story of redemption, of exodus, of completion. A loud voice declares that believers in Jesus have conquered the slanderer by the blood of the lamb (Jesus) and the word of their testimony (they lived and spoke of – not their own truth, but of Christ’s truth). We actually “bear witness” through belief and telling of our own story of being rescued! The Exodus story still lives on, in and through our lives today. Once I was blind, but now I see. I was lost but now I am found. Amazing grace how sweet the sound.

Prayer

​Dad,
What a grand story we are living! I am so thankful to not just be alive today, but to be a part of Your very long story.

Bravo God 🙌🏼 🙌🏼 🙌🏼.

When I was young in faith and in understanding of who You are, I thought these themes of sin, death and blood were so dark and creepy. Now, as I have matured, I see them as marvelously mysterious! I am not a huge fan of blood, I get pretty queasy, but I am a huge fan of being rescued and restored to a full and amazing life. I see more clearly now than ever before. And, I am hundreds of times more grateful.

Posted on

Lessons from an introverted leader.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Moses, the man, the legend! Moses’ life is a great example of God’s calling on a person. His story is famous, but his journey to fulfill God’s call is often overshadowed by the amazing scenes of miracles God did through his frailty. Moses wasn’t a weak man, not in grit or girth, but in his self confidence he was weak. His view of himself was not at all what God saw in him.

At eighty years old, God catches Moses’ attention out in the middle of nowhere. And, God waited forty years to approach him. Forty years is plenty long for the death of one’s dreams. At forty, Moses’ anger had finally boiled over when he murdered an Egyptian foreman because the man was mercilessly beating one of his own people. Moses escaped and fled to Midian, the desert where people can disappear. Now at 80 years old, he curiously checks out this crazy fire-bush.

A casual conversation with God on the side of a mountain takes place. God tells Moses his plan. He says, “I’m getting my people out of Egypt, out of slavery and setting up a new place they will call their own. A beautiful place fill with plenty, but there are some folks already there, but I’ll move them out to make room for my people. I’ve heard their cry and I am ready to send someone to lead them out. I am sending you!

It was all a nice conversation until it came down to a command. It wasn’t a question, like with Isaiah, “Whom should I send?” No, it was an order. Moses protested! Moses asked the most telling question of anyone who has ever been called by God. “Who am I?” This wasn’t humility, this was truth. Moses saw himself as a nobody because he was a nobody! He was living a quiet, simple life with his whole new family. He was married, had a kid; Egypt and his former existence was a lifetime in the past. Yet, God would not take no for an answer, because it wasn’t a request, it was a command. God’s patience is sweet, but He would have his way. Moses protest goes on for a very long time, from 3:11 to 4:17, you’ll find every excuse presented and dismissed. But you’ll notice a shuttle shift in wording in verse 10. Moses changes his method from “protest” to “pleading.” Three specific protests and two pleas! The final one, “But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”” God relented and Moses thought he was off the hook, God said, “fine,” I’ll let your brother, Aaron do the talking, but YOU are still going! What an incredible exchange between the God of all creation and this broken, wash-up, now invisible man, living in the desert.

Who can tell God no? The fears and frailties are real. The common misconception is that God “prepares” those he calls. Ha! That’s funny. Yeah, God prepares alright! He says, “Here’s what you’re going to do… now obey me and get going!” That’s the prep! I don’t know who started this nonsense that somehow miraculously one slowly grows into what God sees in them, when they cannot see it themselves. I can tell you from my experience, I grew and learned through OBEDIENCE. There was no model, no template, no lectures on methodology and no practice test. There was only, “Here’s the plan, go and be obedient.” It required 100% faith to cut through the overwhelming fear that I was not enough. I was not old enough, experienced enough, nor knowledgeable enough. I learned about leadership through obedience. You can take dozens of classes. Listen to hundreds of podcasts about how others did it. Follow a more experienced person and try to emulate what you saw. NONE OF IT compares to obedience and faith. You just have to DO IT.

Moses obeyed and told his father-in-law, then Aaron, then the leaders of Israel, living in Egypt, then finally Pharaoh himself. He became an extraordinary leader, not perfect though. I still see the pattern in Moses’ life… God speaks, he obeys.

Prayer

Dad,
Obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience is faith in action. Obedience is not in my beliefs, it’s in my behavior. I can imagine that I am obedient to your will, your way, all day long, but until my behavior follows through, it’s just a game, a pretense. Thank you your patience, grace and kindness as I get over myself and learn to just do what you say.

Posted on

Jealous of us?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul, along with Barnabas, are specifically called to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people. And in that calling, God had given Paul divine insight into both the history of Israel as well as the spiritual journey they have with God. Paul gives the big WHY behind the what! Why would the Jews be jealous?

He’s writing to the churches in Rome, which had both Jews and Gentiles in them. He’s encouraging the new Gentile converts as well as the new Jewish believers who made their decision that Christ was indeed the Messiah. But in this letter, we find a lot of answers to hard questions about the will of God, the law of God and the patience of God.

Earlier, Paul shocks his readers by writing about the Jews, “They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.” Now why would any law abiding Jewish person be jealous of a Gentile receiving salvation? Because they not only believed that their special relationship with God gave them privileges (they could do anything they pleased and God would still save them). But, they also believed that it was the law that guaranteed their right standing even if they didn’t keep it.

How’s that possible? They believed the sacrifices they made or the priests made on their behalf covered them and protected them. God had told them, it was not true. God had told them that it was their obedience and their faith that held them in right standing with himself. The jealousy of the Gentiles would come from Israel seeing God’s acceptance and blessing on them specifically because of their faith not in their attempts at keeping the whole law. Paul’s admonishment is for both the Jews and the Gentiles (us).

Paul writes that God is not finished with His special relationship with the Jews. At some point, they will turn and return to God on His terms, not through their stubborn, religious practices. However Paul’s words are also for us Gentiles. We should not be arrogant in this gift of grace! He writes, “So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.” Vs‬ ‭20‬-‭22‬. Even though our faith is not based nor secured “in the law,” it does not mean that we can take advantage of God’s grace by doing whatever we please and thinking that God just excuses our behavior nor is passive about our sin. Our faith, our relationship is still grounded in obedience and faith. Yes, we sin. But also, yes, we confess that sin. What may seem like ancient commentary to Jewish folks or really old warnings to these new Gentiles coming to faith, is still very true and very important for our faith today!

Prayer

Dad,
I understand that my sin is still serious business, still deathly destructive to me and everyone around me. Your grace and forgiveness are not a “pass” to sin more, but to live in freedom to do what is right. I confess my sin, knowing that you are faithful and just to forgive my sin and clean me up from unrighteousness. For that, I am thankful.

Posted on

Our craving for the supernatural.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I no longer think miracles are the epitome of necessary proof needed to believe. I know, we would think that an undeniable miracle happening to us or a family member would just be THE thing, the moment that sweeps away our doubts about the reality of God and His desire and ability to intervene in our human affairs. Jesus seems to suggest otherwise!

The guys supposedly working FOR God demand a show of proof to settle the open case of “by who’s authority do you do or say these things.” Remember, one group tried to accuse Jesus of working for Beelzebub! Jesus pulled some lessons from history using some famous people as an object lesson. He used the Prophet Jonah, but really drew a verbal picture of a court scene where the people of Nineveh were called to judge the generation Jesus lived in at the time. Nineveh, that vile, cruel people group who took pleasure in torturing their enemies. Jesus mentioned that even they recognized their sin and at one point, repented! Those folks would testify that the current generation was WORSE than they were! It would be like Hitler getting up on the stand and saying, “and you thought I was evil…” check your own hearts! Then Jesus name-drops another very famous name out of history – Queen Sheba. This powerful, beautiful, smart and accomplished woman came to test Solomon’s wisdom, where she found him the most wise person person on the planet (1 Kings 10:1-13 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. “She exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true!” Jesus personifies Sheba getting on the stand and testifying that Solomon’s wisdom cannot even come close to the Son of God’s wisdom.

Both of these examples showing the disparity in what Jesus called, “this generation.” When the wicked testify against the mindset and attitudes of the Pharisee’s wickedness and the queen of Sheba testifies how little their knowledge has translated into wisdom – it is supposed to be crystal clear! We are not better, we are worse.

We have not gotten better with the knowledge of good, we’ve gotten worse with practicing evil. We’ve not increased in wisdom, as philosophers and atheists have predicted, we’ve increased in foolishness. Why? Because we may know more about our world, our history and even ourselves, but we have used that knowledge to consume things unto ourselves.

Teacher, show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority? So we can mock it, criticize it and get back to our own will and own way? Jesus says, a miracle will not fix us! “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign…” Jesus closes this thought with a haunting illustration of what happens if we should happen to figure out how to “clean ourselves up.” An evil spirit comes back to find the place clean and invites his friends 😱. What should we ask for…? Jesus, we want you to forgive us and show us mercy!

Prayer

Dad,
When I was younger, I really thought that people just needed to see you working in supernatural ways, performing a miracle to convince them that you are real. I know better now. After multiple times of hearing the promises to believe based on a miracles and not a simple faith, I’ve seen too many folks forget and go back to life as usual. The supernatural is just not sticky enough to hold our hearts in place! Faith and a relationship with you is what keeps us. I am impressed by the miracles of mercy, but more impressed by your faithfulness through the highs and lows of this life.

Posted on

The less I know, the better?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The longer I live, the less I know. Of course faulty and forgotten memories play a part, but it’s more than that. The game to be played and won is just not as important now. It’s no longer a push or a rush to be first, to win at all costs and to be the brightest and smartest in the room. Is that just a game for youth? I certainly don’t have much to prove anymore!

Oh, but there is one thing I do know and still hold onto – I don’t need to know everything. And I am absolutely learning that I don’t have control over much at all. Circumstances? Nope. People. Nope. Economy. Ha, no way. Outcomes of elections, senate bills or supreme court decisions. Definitely not. The Church or the local church? Nope, I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet!

This psalm was put in the book late in David’s life. It’s titled “pilgrim’s ascent,” but it’s really his reflections, looking back over the span of a complicated, tumultuous, successful life. I just want to hug these two amazing lines out of this psalm. “I don’t concern myself…” oh, what truth. With matters too great, or too awesome for me to grasp. There it is! Years of wisdom finally spoken in moments of blissful truth.

David’s anecdote to the poison of worry and control… “I have calmed and quieted myself.” This from a guy who saw more, lived more, had more money and more power than I will ever see. This from his humble, field beginnings, to one of the most powerful men of ancient times. My simple faith and trust in God and Him alone should suffice, it must, if I am to finish well.

If you are in your angsty thirties, or your self-aware forties, listen to David’s godly advice. Practice this: Do not concern yourself with matters beyond your control or too complicated to even begin to understand! Trust God. Obey God. This will bring a calm quietness to your soul. When peace like a river attendeth your way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever your lot, God hast taught you to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Prayer

Dad,
Reading one of David’s later psalms has given me hope. I don’t have to know or control everything. I simply must know you. I think about Paul’s powerful words to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” I should be far more content and at ease knowing that you know! You know me. You know everything. And, there is a peace that comes with the confidence that you are working all things out for good, mine and everyone else’s good, for those who know you, and have faith in you. What a mental relief to my soul! Thank you for all that you have done and all you are doing in my life today.

Posted on

Little experience, big expectations.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This seems to be Jesus’ leadership development plan. We want more training, more time. Jesus wants us to have more faith.

Faith is more for than just things we’ve hoped for, it’s on the job training, it’s experience in action. It’s doing, not just thinking. It’s Ignatius Loyola’s mantra to “live with one foot raised.” It’s Home Depot’s slogan, “How doers get more done.” One person writes, “John’s Gospel never uses the noun (“faith, belief”) πίστις (pistis), but only the verb (“to believe; to trust”). πιστεύω (pisteuō). Faith in the gospel of John is a verb, not a noun.”

Here in Matthew, when Jesus said, “go,” no one misunderstands or confuses the word “go” with anything like, “think about going,” or “plan on going,” or “eventually, you should go.” That’s hilarious- go means go!

In Season 3 of the series, “The Chosen,” Dallas Jenkins has this scene in Episode 2, “two by two.” The episode captures the reality of this moment we read here. The disciples are all in shock, dumbfounded! Jesus gives the itinerary ToDo list, saying, “this is what you will be DOING.” Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cure those with skin diseases. And….dramatic drumroll please, CAST OUT DEMONS. Everyone has questions. In The Chosen episode, he answers them. However, here in the text he does not answer them. Matthew just dutifully writes, “Jesus sent out.”

I remind myself, Jesus fully intended his followers to completely emulate everything he did himself through the power of the Holy Spirit. I know, we are all a little rusty at some of these commands, er… opportunities. Heal. Raise, Cast out. Whew. I need more training? For what? I need more time? Why? Oh, because in my mind, in my experience, I AM THE ONE EMPOWERING these commands. That is completely ridiculous. I can’t heal, raise or cast out anything. However, Matthew told me in 10:1, “Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” Of course I knew you and I would gravitate towards the excuse clause, “called his twelve disciples.” I am not, you are not, in the original twelve apostles group, so none of this applies to us, right? Sure, I can rest thinking that’s my out. But if I believe that as an excuse, it means all those other cool promises are only for the people Jesus originally spoke to back in ancient days. Even the blessings? Promises? Yeah, you’d have to scratch those as well.

When Jesus also said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” John 14:12. He didn’t mean, really mean, anyone, right? Wrong. He did mean anyone who believes. Anyone who is a follower of Jesus. They have the authority of Christ, under the direction of the Holy Spirit to do the works of God here, now, on this planet. How much of the Holy Spirit do I need to be obedient? It’s not about quantity or quality of God’s presence in me. It’s about this verb, believe (pisteuō) like John wrote. It’s about the faith verb, not about faith noun! It’s about more doing, less waiting. Experience is an excellent instructor of faith. Let’s just believe and do.

Prayer

Dad,
This idea of DOING faith, verses just having faith, haunts me and excites me. I think big thoughts and sometimes even talk big faith, ah, but doing it… No wonder you sent them off in twos. I’ve been with friends when either their faith or mine is boosted when we have done things together. Alone, in doing faith, is no fun! However, if I can’t find a faith buddy, I so want to just do it on my own sometimes. I have got to quick thinking an pd writing about this and just DO IT. Help me. Thanks for your encouragement and patience.

Posted on

A commander who knows about authority.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

First of all — SHOCKER — a military officer, a government sponsored individual is comfortable approaching Jesus and asking for help in an area of specific expertise! The unnamed centurion knows a lot about life and men, command and crowd control, war, loss and death. But one thing he is not good at… healing and miracles. Leaders know they don’t have to know everything. They just need to know one person that knows about things they don’t!

As a man who was required to track the stories and the “word on the street,” this commander had heard about Jesus and knew when he was in town. I just think it’s ironic that this centurion’s job was to know things and get things done. But, this rough, tough, seasoned soldier had something else greater than his ability to command. He had compassion. Isn’t it interesting that a Roman Centurion and Jesus could have something in common? The commander had compassion for the servant in his care. He had a heart. The officer approached Jesus not with a order, nor with power, but with a plea.

Strangely he knew his own way of life, although prestigious among his peers, was not the same quality of life as the rabbi. He told Jesus not to come because he wasn’t worthy of having him in his home. The centurion then tells Jesus, “just say the word,” and gives Jesus a quick summary on how authority works in his profession.

Ah, but isn’t something else happening at the same time? The commander knew about commands and authority, but apparently he also had something else that impressed Jesus. The Roman, the Gentile had faith! Not just a little faith – BIG faith. Jesus said, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” Hmmm, compassion, faith… sounds like this man was showing signs of believing that Jesus is who he said he was – God. What happened to the commander’s young servant? Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” “And the young servant was healed that same hour.”

I am also impressed with this Centurion. He understood authority, possessed compassion and exercised faith. There are so many people around us that may seem intimidating because of fame or fortune, power or prestige. Can I remind you that they could very well be on this journey of believing in Jesus. And, you may just be the one they approach with a question or a plea. Maybe it’s a need outside their ability to fix themselves? Do we have faith that God can heal, save or restore? I do. Will we be ready to believe for them?

Prayer

Dad,
You are such a big God with big power to restore human lives to yourself. Sooner or later folks will come up against something difficult that is way bigger than their ability to fix. And you will be there waiting to hear, to heal, to forgive and even to fix their lives. I just want a small piece of that action! A small bit-part that listens, has faith and helps connect them to you.

Posted on

Hitting basement bottom.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation. You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem— and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets. Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory. For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭102‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Psalms have a rhythm, a pattern that often looks down, laying out the reality of grief before turning our hearts and heads upward. This idea of lamenting is often seen as negative and many of us are trained to stop it in ourselves and others, lest we plummet to the bottom. Maybe that’s where we are supposed to go. But, just not stay there.

Daniel (yes, lion’s den Daniel) wrote this Psalm just before Babylon began to release Israel from their 70 year timeout. Notice, there is no stand off between Cyrus the Great and God. Cyrus, the Persian king, had conquered Babylon and sent Israel home. No plagues, no death, no Red Sea, no wandering, just freedom to go home. However, just before Daniel pours out his heart as if he had hit bottom. Daniel didn’t feel like he could stand one more minute of being an immigrant in a foreign land. He wrote, “For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.” Daniel was done. He continued, “I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.” I can’t imagine someone telling him to stop being so negative and just snap out of it. No one seems have been there to tell Daniel how blessed and favored he and his people were for being in captivity because they were being disciplined by God himself. Do we have ANY room in our theology today for suffering or discipline?

But as with most of the Psalms, there is a healthy, true ride to the bottom before coming up again. After pouring out his heart before God and recognizing how disheartening and difficult their situation was, he begins to look up. “But you, O Lord…” How arduous the ride down, but how beautiful the ride back up into the presence of God. “You will arise and have mercy,” Daniel declares.

I don’t know if Daniel and Nehemiah were even aware of each other, it seems they did not know what the other was doing. However, you’ll see a small reference in Daniel’s renewed reflection of God’s grace on their beloved city. Daniel writes, “For your people love every stone in her walls.” Isn’t that amazing! We know from Nehemiah, that the people loved those stones so much that they were able to rebuild Jerusalem’s protective wall in just 52 days!

Daniel’s lament turns into a swell of hope and faith in God, “For the Lord will rebuild….” These Psalms are perfect prayer templates for us. Don’t be afraid to ride the pain, grief, loneliness and sorrow all the way down to the bottom, even the basement. Just make sure after you’ve hit bottom, you push the button of faith and trust God that the ride back up will be filled with His grace and glory. I believe Daniel and his prayer, God will not reject our pleas!

Prayer

Dad,
I should not fear the trip down, even as life, in its reality looks dark. I remember one of David’s Psalms that said, “if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.” Because even when I hit bottom, I can look up and see your mercy and be embraced by your grace! Thank you.

Posted on

Joseph knew.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Joseph lived a very long and productive life! He held his viceroy position in Egypt for 80 years and lived to 110 years old. But he knew Egypt wasn’t his final resting place. Moses records, ““Soon I will die,” Joseph told his brothers, “but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, “When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.”

“So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬. Jewish historians tell us the Egyptians, at the time of Joseph’s death, ALSO knew that the Jews would not stay in their land forever. However, they did not want Joseph’s family to take their beloved leader out of Egypt, when the people would finally leave.

To guarantee the Jews could NOT honor Joseph’s solemn request, one of the stories is the Egyptians put Joseph’s body in lead casket and sunk his remains in the deepest part of the Nile river. Even more mysteriously wild is the story that Moses went to one of Joseph’s long-living nieces, Serach, and asked her where they had sunk the casket. Moses, supposedly went to the edge of the riverbank and called out, “Joseph, Joseph – present yourself or release us from our oath!” Of corse this is all in Jewish folklore and not in the Bible at all. But it is fascinating to think that both the Egyptians and Joseph knew Israel would be moving on.

Jewish history tells us that it was 139 years later that Joseph’s bones would be taken with them and be buried in an odd, full-circle, final resting place. In Joshua 24:32, it is recorded that they bought a piece of land in Shechem, “The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.” Why is that so strange? The Jewish Talmud says, “It was from Shechem that they [the brothers] stole him, and it was to Shechem that he was returned.” And continues, “Remember that when Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers and taken away from his dear father, it was in Shechem. Bringing him back to this site was an act of closure and historical justice.”

Are you kidding me? That’s so amazing! What’s the takeaway in all this? God is really into keeping His word and the level of detail spanning thousands of years is unfathomable! Everything, and I mean everything, is not just for a specific reason, it is also accurately timed and supernaturally placed to defy the possibility of anything being a coincidence. Everything God does is providentially perfect. The sooner we wrap our brains around that the faster we understand how critical it is that we not only trust God but in total faith believe Him at every second of every day.

Prayer

Dad,
Wow. Just wow. I am always so impressed by the level of detail and perfection that you carry out your will and your ways! No wonder Isaiah said your thoughts and your ways are so far above ours! It is so amazing to see this truth in history, yet so difficult for me to see them in both the present and the future. How can I doubt when there is such consistent evidence of your patient faithfulness in all of our human history? I have faith, but I always seem to need more when facing a dilemma or decision. Thank you for your grace as I grow in that faith.

Posted on

Fleecing or filtering God.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬-‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Not growing up around church all that much, I had heard about this idea of asking God for miraculous proof before I had ever read the Gideon story. This request is know as Gideon’s fleece! There was always a warning that came with exercising a fleece before God. Don’t do it, I was told. I don’t see any rules regarding a fleece in Gideon’s own story. All I see is a desperate man, wanting God to rescue his country and trying to find out if he’s really the guy for the job.

Of course he’s got insecurities. We’re talking about taking a farmer and turning him into a warrior. Who wouldn’t need a boost for that? Oh, I understand the whole element of faith and trusting God. I think Gideon had faith in God to eliminate the enemy, he was just shocked that there weren’t more qualified volunteers. You’ve been there right? I sure have! My entire faith-walk has been filled with Gideon questions. God, surely there has to be someone better? God doesn’t seem to mind our unqualified experience or opinion. God didn’t seem to run us through the list of people He spoke with about the job.

Israel had no king, but there had to be some battle ready warriors hanging around. Ah, but none of them honored God, and Gideon did. Let’s not forget, the chapter begins with “The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.” Midianite and Amalekite raiders would wait until the crops or herds would get to a certain size and then just camel-ride in for a shopping spree taking everything. The people of Israel finally asked God for help, they were ready to repent and get their act together.

Gideon was God’s answer to their prayer, he just didn’t know it yet. Preachers always point out the humor of the angel of the Lord (Jesus in the OT), when he greeted Gideon, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Who me? Hero? That’s funny. But God saw what would be, not what was! God always sees what would be, could be with our obedience and faith in him. Past, present and future is always NOW with God! Gideon’s fleece, the battles, the beginning and the end of Gideon’s life on this planet – are all NOW with God.

Gideon “fleeced” God several times, needing some extra help in his faith. The wool wasn’t the only one. Once Gideon got down the way faith works, he started obeying without all the props to get him moving. I remember a couple of times God asked me to do something and I gave the ol’ fleece a try. The fleece happened and I was still stuck with being obedient!

I don’t do “fleeces” anymore. I do use a set of filters to help guide me in making sure it’s God telling me to do something and it’s not me trying to get or manipulate something. There have even been a few times I was obedient and did what I was asked and never saw the results that I expected. The first filter is always – does it line up with the Bible? If it’s extra-biblical. it’s a no go. The second is a moral filter – what’s in it for me? If there is a win or a gain on my part, I’m pretty suspicious that it’s me and not God. If there’s no selfish advantage I go to the third filter. Am I willing to see the whole thing through? Not just drop a comment or do a one time act, but do I love this person enough to stay with it, even if the person or situation turns against me? If it’s not the purity of love then I don’t commit. As you can see, I don’t ask God for a “sign” as much as I question my motives and my own sanity! Trust comes as faith is exercised.

Prayer

Dad,
Interestingly, I don’t think I have ever been comfortable being asked to do your will. I just assume there will be a level of uneasiness just in being obedient. I do want to make you happy and obey you, but that’s never been all that fun. However, I am still willing to obey you and try not to wrestle with all the thoughts about what others will think of me. And, I was way more bold before I had a reputation and a life, family, or job to think about 😬.