So, if the book of Judges can be seen as nonfiction comic book full of superhero stories, our next hero is Shamgar son of Anath. God used this man to rescue Israel next. The writer of Judges does not give us much information about Shamgar except to say that he once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad. I had no idea what that was but, thanks to my Google search, I found out it is a long sharp stick used to prod animals. Sounds like Shamgar had some mean NINJA moves! Now, that’s quite a claim to fame!

But the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight and he turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor and his commander Sisera, who ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years. Scripture says: Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help (Judges 4:3). Did it take them 20 years to cry out to the Lord for help or 20 years for Him to answer their cry for help? The way it is written it seems like there was a long delay before they asked for help.

Lord, forgive me for all the times I try to handle things on my own for a while before I finally give up and ask You for help! I do not want to delay my recognition that I am helpless on my own. I KNOW I need you every day, in every situation!

The next normal, average person turned superhero by God is Deborah – the Bible’s Wonder Woman. This is the first time we hear in Scripture of a woman placed in a formal leadership position. She would sit under 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. Deborah must have also strategically positioned herself in God’s presence because she heard from Him. He gave her a message to give to Barak, calling him to lead a group of 10,000 warriors into battle to set the people free of their current oppression.

One thing that stands out to me about this co-hero, Barak, is that he put conditions on his obedience to God’s call on his life. He would go into battle, just as God asked, but only if Deborah went with him. Does this hit close to home for anyone else?
Yes, Lord, I’ll do what you ask as long as…
I’ll obey if you…
I want to trust you, but…

Lord, forgive me for all the times I have put conditions on my obedience to your call. Forgive me for my selfish desire to be comfortable while following your plan. Give me the strength to always say “yes” and never “yes, as long as…”

“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” – Judges 4:9

At first I thought Deborah was talking about herself, but as we read on we see that the battle was finished by a woman named Jael. Although Jael was not in leadership and was what we would maybe now call a “stay at home mom”, God strategically positioned her to do great things. He saw worth and value in a woman whom the current culture did not value.

When Barak led the warriors into battle, God caused Sisera and his warriors to go into a panic. Sisera leaped from his chariot and escaped on foot to the home of Jael, because her husband was a friend of King Jabin. She invited him into the tent. He asked for water and she gave him milk. He laid down, exhausted from his flight, and she covered him with a blanket while she took watch for anyone approaching.

As soon as he fell into a deep sleep, Jael took action. She saw that God had strategically positioned her and she was up for this opportunity to let God do SUPER THINGS through her. 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 when she drove the tent peg into his skull, killing him and finishing the battle God had called the Israelites into.

So on that day Israel saw GOD DEFEAT Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him. – Judges 4:23-24

Deborah and Barak led the people of Israel in celebration of this victory. They recognized that when God marched across the battlefield, the earth trembled; when God was present, the mountains quaked. The people of Israel were living in fear until Deborah “arose as a mother for Israel” (5:7). I love it! The description of this superhero was “mother” – perfect! My mother is definitely a superhero in my eyes so I get this connection.

The song of celebration continues:
Listen to the village musicians gathered at the watering holes.
They recount the righteous victories of the Lord and the victories of his villagers in Israel.
THEN the people of the Lord marched down to the city gates. – Judges 5:11

What a great idea – what a great example! Before entering into a battle God has called us to fight, let’s look back and remind ourselves of the many victories God has performed in the past. The God of our PAST struggles is the God of our CURRENT battles and our FUTURE victories.

Lord, we strategically position ourselves in your presence this morning. Fill us with your strength and your courage. We are ready to do what you have asked us to do. Lord, thank you for being the source of victory in our life. We trust you and we obediently follow you today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Judges 1 – 3:30

I love superheroes! Maybe it comes from the cartoons I watched every Saturday morning growing up or from my love of Wonder Woman, but I enjoy the plot of a superhero coming in and saving the day. Therefore, when I read the book of Judges, I can easily see it as a comic book of superhero stories. The people get themselves into a mess and God sends a superhero (or judge) to come in and save the day!

Now these superheroes are not perfect. After all, even though Superman was “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound,” he did have this aversion to green Kryptonite. He went from strong & powerful to pained & nauseous in the presence of this substance.

The heroes in the book of Judges do not have super powers like Superman, but they are flawed. They are just regular people willing to let God do something with their lives. God called them into leadership and filled them with His Spirit so that God could rescue His people through them. The true Super Hero in this book is God Himself and He is looking for regular people who are willing to let Him to do something amazing with their lives.

When the tribes of Israel went to conquer the land and defeat the Canaanites, they did not fully obey the Lord’s command. Most of the tribes failed to drive out the people living in the land, even though God’s command was to completely destroy them. Because of their disobedience, God declared he would no longer drive out the people living there but would allow them to stay and be thorns in the sides of the Israelites and a constant temptation with their false gods (Judges 2:2-3). These people would test the Israelites – would they obey the commands the Lord had given their ancestors through Moses? (3:4)

This first generation wept at their sin but the next generation did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. In His anger, the Lord allowed raiders to come in and steal their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies (2:10-14). After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, God’s plan was to give them a peaceful and beautiful land but, because of their disobedience, they would instead struggle – needing rescued over and over again.

The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel and he turned them over to [their enemies]…But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer [superhero] to save them…The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. – Judges 3:1-10

First there was Caleb’s nephew, Othniel through whom God gave the Israelites victory over King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim after 8 years of suffering (don’t you wish you had that name?!!) Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and King Eglon of Moab controlled Israel for 18 years. When they cried out to the Lord, He gave them their second hero or judge – Ehud. Now here’s a superhero story for you:

His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin [I did not understand this detail at first but it makes sense later, I promise]. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.

Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in the cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand [see what I mean, surprise attack], pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied [yuck!]. Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine [double yuck!!]. – Judges 3:15b-23

Perhaps God is calling us to do SUPER things with His help. The trick is to remember who the real Super Hero truly is. In the moment I see myself as Wonder Woman, I forget about the Wonderful Counselor. When I believe myself to be Mighty Mouse, I forget who is the Almighty God! When I start believing I am like a Marvel Hero, I take my focus off my Marvelous Lord! There is only one Savior in this world and His name is Jesus Christ! To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Today’s Reading: Joshua 7-24

A covenant is a formal or serious agreement between two people or two parties. God had entered into a covenant relationship with the people of Israel. The agreement was that the people of Israel would obey God out of love for Him and He would be with them and bless them. If they chose disobedience, there would be curses instead. God affirmed to Joshua that his success was dependent on listening obediently to God for his every move.

After their victory at Jericho, God gave specific instructions to NOT take any of the things from Jericho but to destroy everything. If anyone disobeyed, it would bring trouble to the entire camp. A man named Achan saw a beautiful robe, 200 silver coins and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. He wanted them so much that he took them (7:21). God had supplied Achan’s every need but Achan was focused more on what he wanted but didn’t have, instead of on all God had provided.

Unaware of this hidden sin, Joshua led a group of 3000 warriors to the next town, but they were defeated and lost 36 of their men. God’s people were so confident that God would bless them and give them victory, yet God did not work as they expected. The people were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events and their courage melted away. They tore their clothes in dismay and bowed down to the ground asking God “why?”

I relate to this description of fear this morning. When I hear that a strong believer in the faith dies of cancer or loses their battle against disease or injury, my world is rocked and I find myself scared. I tend to live with this confidence that nothing bad will happen to us and then, when I see something bad happen to someone else, I find myself in dismay – paralyzed with fear, courage melting away. I fall to my knees and ask God to strengthen my faith and to protect my family. I long to trust God in spite of the pain and suffering all around. If I’ve learned anything from Joshua, it is to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS – to not fear but to recognize God’s presence with me and before me, holding tight to God.

When Joshua and the people came to the Lord, seeking an answer for their defeat, God revealed that the covenant relationship had been broken. Achan was found guilty – his sin not only destroyed him and the 36 warriors who died in battle, but also his entire family. His selfish decision affected those he loved most and brought trouble to the entire camp.

Now that the sin was confessed and taken care of, God renewed His covenant and helped the Israelites find victory of the town of Ai, wiping out everyone and everything. Joshua then took the time to read the blessing and curses laid out in God’s covenant, reminding the people of the importance of obeying God (8:34-35). In spite of this renewed covenant, we read in Joshua 9 that the people of Israel still had a lesson to learn. They made a decision and entered into a peace treaty with the Gibeonites without consulting the Lord (9:14). Their foolishness, like that of Achan’s, reaped negative consequences.

So why does God want us to inquire of Him? RELATIONSHIP – it is evident even in the Old Testament that God wants a relationship with each of us. He does not want us to live independently, but to inquire of Him – to call on Him. And He will listen! He does not want us to live in fear, but in faith. God repeats His Joshua 1:9 instructions in Joshua 10:25, just like He reminds us again today:

“Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, for the Lord is going to do this…” – Joshua 10:25

When five Amorite kings united in hopes to attack Gibeon and defeat Israel, the Lord confirmed to Joshua that he would give them victory. They called on God and He listened to them.

On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,

So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies….There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! – Joshua 10:12-14

Not only will God listen to us, He will respond. Because God was fighting for them, the promised land of Canaan was conquered and divided between the tribes. Joshua knew the source of his victories because he had a relationship with God, the Victor. Joshua did as he was told, carefully obeying all the commands that the Lord had given Moses (11:15). He followed God wholeheartedly (14:8) and, at the end of his life, he had these words of advice for God’s people. Listen carefully for all the words that speak of RELATIONSHIP:

“Love the Lord your God, walk in his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” – Joshua 22:5b

“Hold tight to God, your God, just as you’ve done up to now” (Joshua 23:8, The Message).

“So be very careful to love the Lord your God…Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (Joshua 23:11,14).

“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)

One of the last things Joshua told the people was to turn their hearts to the Lord, yielding to Him (24:23). Or, as The Message interprets it: Say an unqualified Yes to God!

Today’s reading: Joshua 1-6

In many ways, Moses was a mentor for Joshua. Joshua served faithfully under the leadership of Moses and Moses took the time to teach him along the way. Moses would not be entering the Promised Land but God allowed him to be a part by investing in the future of His people, by training his successor. It was kind of like an apprenticeship or internship. God had instructed Moses: “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see” (3:28).

Moses was now gone and Joshua heard from God firsthand, making it clear that this was his God-appointed moment – that God had called him and would be with him.

“…the time has come for you to lead…I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you…No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people…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 1:2-9

That last verse is one of my daughter’s favorite verses. She learned it at a very young age, while participating in children’s Bible quizzing. She has spoken that verse out loud many times to remind her of God’s command. She has written it on her mirror and even sang the song she learned in quizzing – “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Don’t be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.” She is a risk taker in so many ways, loving the idea of adventure and fun, but she also has to overcome anxiety and fear. I think we can all relate to Brooke – to those moments when you want to follow God with all your heart but it takes overcoming fear to really embrace your faith. I am guessing Joshua knows a lot about this battle between fear and faith.

Joshua was commissioned by God with very specific instructions:

– Be strong and courageous, I am with you
– Be obedient

FAITH AND FEAR cannot coexist. God wanted Joshua’s attention and his focus. He wanted him to study and be familiar with God’s law and listen obediently to God for his every move. Joshua’s success was dependent on this.

Joshua’s faith and obedience were tested in the first city they came to. 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).

The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’” – Joshua 3:7-8

TEST #1

The Jordan River was at flood stage and, in order to follow God, Joshua had to cross the Jordan. FEAR OR FAITH. God gave Joshua very clear instructions and told him to obey with strength and courage. They were to step into the rushing waters with confidence in the Lord. 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 experienced many AMAZING things just as God had promised (Joshua 3:15-17).

TEST #2

Jericho was “tightly shut up” and God gave Joshua specific instructions. They were to march around the town once a day for six days. God’s people were told to not say a word until they were given the instruction. This was not a sneak attack but rather a six day display in front of their enemies. FEAR OR FAITH. They chose to be patient and obey and they experienced AMAZING things (6:2-20). On the seventh day, they marched around the town seven times with the priests blowing the horns. When they gave one final long blast, all the people began to shout as loud as they could, just as the Lord had instructed Joshua.

Suddenly the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it (6:20b).

Do you want to see God do AMAZING things in your life as much as I do? We have a choice – FEAR OR FAITH. What will it be? When moments appear today that are obviously God-ordained appointments, let’s step forward in faith and obedience. Let’s be strong and VERY courageous!

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 31-34

Today we finish up the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible. This last month has given us a great opportunity to picture God’s relationship with humankind – from the Garden of Eden to crossing over into the Promised Land. He has clearly laid out how to enter into a covenant relationship and what will break that covenant relationship. We have a choice. If we truly love God, obedience will flow from that love relationship.

“When you go out to fight your enemies and face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, is with you.” – Deuteronomy 20:1

Moses told the people that he would not be going with them into the promised land but that God would be with them. In fact, not only was God going with them, He was also going before them. As he handed leadership over to Joshua, he gave them words of encouragement to be strong and courageous.

“The Lord will destroy the nations living in the land, just as he destroyed Sihon and Og…So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them…Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:4-8

Then the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.” – Deut. 31:23

The reason Moses would not be going with them into Canaan was because he did not fully obey God’s instructions. When God told him to speak to the rock to make water flow, Moses struck the rock instead. I find it ironic that God gave Moses a song to sing and teach the people in his last moments – a song that speaks of a different kind of rock. The song warned the people that they would again abandon God and God would again respond to their disobedience. His hope was that they would know their fate and choose life instead of death.

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

“But they have acted corruptly toward him; when they act so perversely, are they really his children?…
They abandoned the God who made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation…
The Lord saw this and drew back, provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters.
He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them.
For they are a twisted generation, children without integrity…
Israel is a senseless nation; the people are foolish, without understanding.
Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!
Oh, that they might know their fate!
How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?
But the rock of their enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize…
Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people, and he will change his mind about his servants, when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.
Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?…
Look now; I myself am he!
There is no other god but me!… – Deut. 32:1-5,15,19-20,28-31,36-39

Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo where he could see all of Canaan to the east. The Lord showed him the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses died, just as the Lord had said he would, and the Lord buried him in a valley but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was strong and his eyesight was clear when he died (34:1-7). The same Moses who had argued with God when called, who questioned his own ability to be used by God, and who had a moment of trusting more in his own strength than in God’s word – this Moses had an intimate relationship with God like no other man had ever had.

There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. The Lord sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharoah, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. – Deut. 34:10-12

Thank you for being a personal and intimate God! Thank you for your grace and mercy that picks us up when we fall and gives us new opportunities to be used for your purposes. Father God, we praise you for your steady and faithful presence in our lives. May we see moments today when you make us strong and courageous, trusting in the Rock that goes before us and is with us. May it be said of us when we die that we had a personal relationship with the Rock of our Salvation! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 27-30

“Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.” – Deuteronomy 26:16-18

What a great description of the covenant relationship God set up with His people. If the people would declare their obedience, not just in word but with all their heart, they would be his special treasure. Love and obedience were both necessary in this covenant relationship with God. If they chose love but not obedience, or if they chose obedience but not love, they were breaking their covenant with God.

God was looking for more than just token obedience – following a set of rules, doing the bare minimum required. He was looking for a wholehearted commitment. The psalmist put it beautifully when he declared, “I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32). Can you picture the path and the choice to RUN WITH VIGOR the path marked out ahead? God’s commands provide the boundaries for the path and He gives us direction as He calls us to walk this love journey with Him.

Moses laid out for the Israelites all the blessings that would be theirs if they would FULLY obey the Lord and CAREFULLY keep all his commands (28:1). He also laid out the curses that would come and “overwhelm” them if they chose their own path or walked outside of the boundaries God’s commands had established (28:15). In fact, he spent 14 verses describing the blessings and 54 verses describing the curses. All together, these 68 verses laid out the terms of God’s covenant with the people of Israel (29:1,29).

Moses showed them that this covenant relationship was for all of them standing there that day and also for future generations. If they chose to break the covenant and disobey, it would affect the next generation and the generations to come. Someone will ask, “Why has the Lord done this to the land? Why was he so angry?” The answer will be because the people abandoned their covenant relationship with God. They thought they were safe and could follow the desires of their own stubborn heart (28:24-25,19). But if you return to the Lord, the Lord will have mercy and do a work in your heart. He will transform your heart so that you love him with all your heart and soul. He will give life and you will be successful in all you do.

“The Lord will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” – Deuteronomy 30:10

This next passage is one of my favorites and I have been anticipating getting to it. I love how Moses lays out the choice before God’s people – the choice for life or death, for blessings or curses.

“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ it is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you LOVE and OBEY the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” – Deut. 30:11-20

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 13 – 26

Have you ever sliced a pie and then eyed the piece you want for yourself? Have you ever looked at the cake and thought – I want the piece with the most icing? Have you ever rushed to the front of the potluck line to get your pick of the food before the best is gone? Have you ever had a “me first” attitude, or an “every man for himself” spirit?

The words of Moses to God’s people as they were entering the Promised Land hold great advice for us today. By studying these instructions, we increase our understanding of the holiness to which God has called us.

“Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 12:28

“The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” – Deut. 13:3b-4

There will be those who will try to lead you away from your walk with God. They will try to talk you out of doing all that the Lord your God has commanded you to do. Do not give in or listen to them. Listen only to His voice and keep all His commands, doing what pleases Him instead of what pleases others (Deut. 13:5,8,18).

“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own special treasure…you are set apart as holy to the Lord your God.” – Deut. 14:2,21b

If you carefully obey all the commands God has given you and if you always love the Lord your God and walk in His ways, He will give you “this land.” He will enlarge your territory (Deut. 19:8-9). And here is my advice to those in leadership – to the king or the one the Lord chooses to lead His people: Do not store up wealth for yourself. Do not build up a large stable of horses for yourself or take many wives for yourself, or accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold.

Your focus should be on God’s word. Keep a copy with you and read it daily as long as you live. Then you will learn to fear the Lord by obeying all His instructions and decrees. This regular reading of God’s word will prevent you from becoming proud and acting as if you are above those God has given you the privilege of leading (Deut. 17:15-20).

In fact, it is your responsibility to take care of those who are less fortunate – the poor, the widows, the orphans and the foreigners. If you truly love the God you are serving, you will serve those He calls you to serve – sharing your blessings with those in need.

“At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work.” – Deut. 14:28-29

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” – Deut. 15:10-11

“Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.” – Deut. 24:14-15

Remember that you were once slaves and that God rescued you from your slavery. That is why I am commanding you to be generous with those in need, as you were once in need. When you are harvesting your crop, don’t take it all for yourself but set some aside for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do (Deut. 24:18-19).

Then take all that you have harvested from the land God has given you and put some of the first produce from each crop into a basket and bring it to the place of worship – the place where the Lord your God chooses for His name to be honored. In thanksgiving for all God has done for you, bring the first portion of the harvest to God. Then you may go and celebrate all of the good things the Lord your God has given to you and to your household. So, before you slice the pie and enjoy what God has blessed you with, give God His portion and share generously with those in need. Then you can enjoy what God has given you (Deut. 26:2,10-11, 13).

Father God, thank you for your words of wisdom for us today. As we sit in your presence and drink from your cup, fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity that we may think of others more than we think of ourselves. May our love for you increase and pour out toward others. Whatever you have called us to do, whatever land you have laid out before us, remind us that our calling is still about you and not about us. Lord, we love you and it is our heart’s cry to obey and please you in all that we do. We give today to you, recognizing that this day was first given to us by you. Show us the needs of those around us and give us opportunities today to bless others with the blessings you have given us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 6-12

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves WHOLEHEARTEDLY to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Moses continues his farewell speech to the Israelites by encouraging the Israelites not to forget the Lord who has rescued them but to fear the Lord and serve Him only. For the God we serve is a jealous God and he desires for us to DILIGENTLY obey the 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).

Next week, I am going to a meeting with the agenda of looking back over the last year. Together we will remember ALL that God has done and all HE has accomplished. We will celebrate God’s generosity and His grace over the ministry to which He has called us. We will then look forward to the rest of 2015, asking God for guidance and His blessing to accomplish all that HE desires. We long to see His vision for His ministry, His plan in His time.

Perhaps you went through this same process a month ago – looking back at 2014 and looking forward to 2015. Perhaps you felt like the Israelites as they saw the mistakes they had made and the consequences of their decisions. There were probably moments to celebrate and moments to regret. Looking forward to 2015 might have felt like getting a blank slate or a chance to start a new chapter of your life. 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. Perhaps your year has gotten off to a rough start and you need to put January behind you and get a fresh start tomorrow.

Moses was having a similar moment with God’s people as they stood between the wilderness and the promised land, looking back and looking forward. He told them that in the future their children would ask – Why do we do what we do? Why do we follow these traditions and rules? LET THEM HEAR THE STORIES. Make them aware of where God has brought us from and that we will be counted as righteous when we obey all God’s commands (Deut. 6:20-25).

“…Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure…Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavished his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today.” – Deut. 7:6,9-11

You have seen it with your own eyes! God has led you – sometimes humbling you, sometimes testing you, but all the time teaching you. He has provided in order to teach you that people do not 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 the 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).

“..But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire…Don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No…it is not because you are so good or have such integrity…You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this land because you are good, for you are not – you are a stubborn people.” – Deut. 9:3-6

So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of GOD that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.

When your ancestors entered Egypt, they numbered a mere seventy souls. And now look at you—you look more like the stars in the night skies in number. And your GOD did it. – Deut. 10:12-17 (The Message)

Father God, I cannot help but laugh out loud at your goodness! My heart is overflowing with all you have done! Thank you for being a generous God, even when we fail and struggle. Lord, thank you for the privilege to be called to holiness, to be set apart for your glory and for your excellence. We feast in your presence this morning as we rejoice in all you have accomplished because you have chosen to bless us (12:7)! Fill us with your strength and your righteousness today, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 1-5

Have you ever anticipated something for a long time? Then you get to that moment and someone makes you pause for a moment of reflection. Have you felt the anticipation of what is about to happen and the anxiety of something delaying that moment you have been waiting for?

Christmas morning – you can see the gifts piled up but wait, it’s time to read the Christmas story and thank God for how generous He has been. As a child, it was all I could do to listen when all I could think about was what was under that beautiful wrapping paper!

You have been driving for three hours to get to the amusement park. You are finally through the gate and you can hear the screams of those fortunate enough to already be on the roller coaster. But wait! We have to pose for a quick picture by the park sign before we ride the rides. But wait! We need to decide where we are going to meet and at what time.

Consider those hot summer days. All morning you look forward to going to the local pool. Your mother took FOREVER to finish all she wanted to accomplish before loading the car but now you are finally standing at the age of the beautiful blue water. But wait! You need sunscreen applied…let the sunscreen dry first…you just ate lunch, you should probably let your stomach rest for a few minutes before you swim…UGH!

I wonder if this is what the Israelites were feeling as they stood between the desert they had wandered in for so long and the beautiful Promised Land of Canaan. After defeating King Og of Bashan and King Sihon of the Amorites, while camped east of the Jordan River in the Land of Moab, Moses took the time to address the people he had led this far. What could have taken eleven days had taken forty years due to the Israelites disobedience. Moses reminded the people of what God had done for them and of the covenant relationship He had entered into with His people.

The majority of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last speech to the Israelites before handing leadership over to Joshua. He starts by looking back over his time with God’s people, reminding them of God’s faithfulness to them through some of the hardest times. First he reminds them of the moment when God said it was time for them to go into the Promised Land and take possession of it.

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

In response to this lack of faith and obedience, God’s people wandered for 40 years but God did not abandon them:

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has WATCHED OVER your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has BEEN WITH YOU and you have not lacked anything (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Moses’ continues his speech to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:3…

“You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did…” Now obey! This is the main theme of his message. “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember…” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10a).

There will be tough times ahead of you, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

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:

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39).

“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).

Dear God, we thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the times in our lives when you have carried us as a father carries his child. We praise you for those times when you have made us wait – when you have gone ahead of us in our journey, preparing the way and directing us down the right path. Your plan has never been for us to fear but always for us to trust in your provision. Thank you for watching over us, for remaining with us even when we struggled to trust you, and for your provision. We have not lacked for anything!

Abba Father, we thank you for being a God who is there for us – a God we find every time we seek you with all our heart and with all our soul. We choose to walk in your way today, to remain in a covenant relationship with you. Guide us into your perfect plan, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Numbers 23-36

God had a purpose for Balaam – a place he needed him to be. Because Balaam responded in obedience when God blocked his way, God was able to use him in this next story:

After forty years of wandering around in the wilderness, the Israelites were finally making their way toward the promised land of Canaan. When they came to the edge of the land occupied by the Amorites, they sent a message to the king asking for permission to travel through their land on their way to Canaan. They promised to stay out of the fields and vineyards, staying only on the King’s road and refraining from drinking from any of the wells.

The King of the Amorites refused to be generous with God’s people and instead mobilized an army to attack the people of Israel. The King obviously UNDERESTIMATED THE POWER OF GOD. The Israelites slaughtered the army sent by King Sihon and occupied the land. They moved on to Jazer and then marched up the road to Bashan, where King Og was waiting to attack them.

The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have HANDED HIM OVER TO YOU, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who rules in Heshbon.” And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land. – Numbers 21:34-35

Now King Balak of Moab saw everything that happened and watched the Israelites camp across the river from Jericho. He sent for Balaam, offering him money to curse the people of Israel. Unlike King Sihon, Balaam understood the power of the Israelite’s God and replied:

Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. – Numbers22:18

After hearing from the Lord, Balaam traveled to King Balak but warned him, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth” (Numbers 22:38).

Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal, built altars and made sacrifices in hopes that Balaam would curse Israel. Balaam went alone to the top of the hill and God met him there, giving Balaam the words to say and the message to give back to Balak – a message blessing Israel instead of cursing them.

Frustrated, Balak took Balaam to another place overlooking the Israelites. Balak asked Balaam to at least curse some of the Israelites if he couldn’t curse all of them. They built more altars and offered more sacrifices. God commanded Balaam again to bless the people of Israel. This was the message Balaam delivered:

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!…” – Numbers 23:18-20

Balak took Balaam to a third place, hoping it would please God to curse the Israelites from there. God again blessed His people and Balak flew into a rage. God gave Balaam a final message for King Balak. Not only would he bless and not curse the people of Israel, he would use Israel to crush and destroy the nation of Moab.

I wonder if we ever communicate with God in the same way that King Balak did. Like moving from place to place to get better cell phone reception, do we refuse to listen to God’s first reply to us and continue to manipulate our circumstances to get a different result? “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?” When God gives us clear instructions, do we stall and try other methods to get what we want instead of obeying and accepting His plan?

God, this morning we have gone alone to our mountaintop and You have met us there. Show us your plan and give us direction, giving us also the strength to accept your will. Reveal if there is anything you have told us to do and we have ignored it, hoping for a different message next time we hear from you. Forgive us for manipulating our situation instead of submitting to your Lordship. Lord, may our heart’s desire to please and serve you be stronger than our own selfish desires. We love you, Lord. Amen.