BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2010

  • Human Weakness and God’s Purposes

    Scripture reading for March 6th: Joshua 13-17

    Are you old or feeling old and tired?   God understands that we get old and tired!  God even reminded Joshua that he was old and that there was still lots of work to be done in the promised land.  (Joshua 13:1, 13)  God is not on the same time schedule that we are to see His work completed. In fact, He understands us and uses us anyway to fulfill His purposes and when our time is over, He raises up someone else.

    The Israelites had not completed taking the land and driving out the Canaanites who resided there.  God had told them to march through the land and He would give them every place that the sole of their feet would tread.  (Joshua 1:3)  He told them to be strong and courageous and obey Him completely for He would be with them wherever they went.  (Joshua 1:6-9)  God kept His word but they had not done the walking He asked them to.  However, even when we are faithless, God remains faithful to His word! (2nd Timothy 2:13)

    Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the previous generation to enter the land of promise.  They did so because of their faith and obedience.  Caleb and Joshua remained true to God and sought to walk faithfully in the promises, even if they did not fully complete the tasks the Lord gave them.  Caleb’s example always amazes me.  He was about 85 when he spoke to Joshua about getting his inheritance.  (Joshua 14:10-12)  He had endured the 40 years of wandering and the years of conquest and was as strong as ever!  He remembered Moses’ promise from God to give the Israelites every place their foot would tread.  He was ready to take the mountain stronghold of the Son’s of Anak in Hebron.  The word of God records that Caleb followed the Lord “wholeheartedly.”

    Even in our weakness, God can make us strong.  Faith brings strength to obey and conquer.  Faith makes God smile and fulfills His purposes.  When our time on earth is over, God honors faith.  It is not up to us to complete all the work, only the work of believing Him each day and doing what He has asked.  If Jesus tarries, we will all get old.  But we can walk by faith every day of our life and please God!

  • The Power of Words

    Scripture reading for March 5th: Joshua 9-12

    God’s words are powerful.   He has given authority to those who are in covenant with Him.   This authority involves asking in prayer for needs and speaking in faith to mountains or hindrances.   He has told us that we may ask for anything in accordance with His will in prayer and if we know that He hears us, we will have what we ask for.  (1st John 5:14-15)  He has told us that if we have faith in Him and  we can speak to mountains and they will obey.  (Mark 11:22-24)  Today’s reading has an amazing example of the power of faith-filled words!

    Joshua had neglected to inquire of the Lord and made a covenant with one of the tribes that God told him to destroy, the Gibeonites.  They had used an elaborate ruse to escape death by lying about where they lived.  Joshua made an agreement with them and then found out that they lived close.  (Joshua 9:14-15)  He made them servants of the Israelites and told them they were under a curse for lying but honored his word to spare their lives.  (Joshua 9:20-21)  Joshua understood that our words are powerful and carefully accounted for by God.  When we make a promise or oath, He expects us to keep it even if it hurts.  (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6)

    The Gibeonites came under attack by other Canaanite neighbors and called to Joshua and the Israelites for help. (Joshua 10:6-7)  Because of the covenant, Joshua and his men immediately set out for an all-night march to Gibeon.  The Lord spoke to him, encouraging him to be fearless because he would be victorious.  A word from God helps us every time because we can count on it!

    The next morning Joshua took the enemy by surprise and the Lord threw them into confusion before Israel.  Great hailstones fell from the sky and pounded them to death.  (Joshua 10:11)  The Amorites ran and were being defeated but Joshua could see that for a complete victory, his army would need more time.  He spoke to the sun about noon in a prophetic poem.   (Joshua 10:12-13)   God listened to his words and caused the sun to stand still for about a full day as the Israelites pounded the Amorites.  Joshua found the five kings and had his commanders put their feet on their necks as a picture of total conquest. Praise the Lord!

  • The Power of a Shout!

    Scripture reading for March 4th: Joshua 6-8

    Fresh from recovering from circumcision, the Israelites were told by the Lord that He had given Jericho and all its fighting men into their hands.   They were facing a walled city with heavy defenses.  God gave Joshua the battle plan and he shared it with the people.  It was a strange plan that sounded more like a worship celebration than war.  When God’s people go to war against strongholds, their tactics are not like the world’s tactics!

    God told Joshua to have the men march around the city once each day for six days.  Seven priests were to carry and blow their trumpets just ahead of the Ark of the Covenant.  No one was to say a word as they marched.  (Joshua 6: 8-10)   This must have been a very strange sight to those in the city.  An army marched ahead of the Ark of God led by seven priests blowing their trumpets.  Everyone was quiet; the only sounds were the trumpets blasting  and feet tramping around the city.

    On the seventh day, the plan was altered.  They marched around the city seven times  and on the seventh time, as the trumpets sounded, each warrior was to shout.  (Joshua 6:15-17)  This shout was an act of faith that the Lord had given them the city.  The shouts rang out and the walls collapsed and the warriors ran into the city and put all living there to death by the sword.  They were devoted to the Lord and all the silver, gold, iron and bronze of the city was to be given to the Lord.  (Joshua 6:19-21)

    The interesting thing about the destruction of Jericho, was the salvation of Rahab and her household.  Rahab the prostitute had hidden the spies and was promised protection if she stayed in her house and tied the scarlet cord to the window.  The collapsed walls did not harm Rahab and Joshua spared her as was promised!  God is faithful and merciful to those who choose to follow Him.  (Joshua 6:22-23)

    This story helps us today to see how the presence of God and obedience brings victory over strongholds.  God fights the battles and leads his people.  Faith shouts can bring down the most hardened walls of opposition.  God protects those who are committed to Him and leads His people in victory through worship!  Give God a shout today as an act of faith!

  • Rolling Away Egypt’s Reproach

    Scripture reading for March 3rd: Joshua 1-5

    God used an unusual mark for His people.  All males were to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant that they had made with God.  Moses, himself, had neglected to circumcise his son and God had tried to kill him for this oversight.   ( Exodus 4:24-26)  This happened after God had appeared to Moses and commissioned him to lead His people out of Egypt.  The leader must be obedient to set a proper example. God takes relationships and covenant very seriously!

    The Israelites had wandered for forty years in the dessert and had neglected to place this important covenant mark on those who had been born in the desert.  As Joshua led them into the promised land, their first stop was at Gibeath Haaraloth.  There the Lord spoke to Joshua about circumcision. (Joshua 5:2-4)  He was to make flint knives and circumcise all the males who had not been marked in the desert.  They were to stay there until they healed.  Joshua obeyed and did this rather painful marking process.  They were ready to come into their inheritance, but this painful process must come first.

    “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.” (Joshua 5:9)  God viewed this action as an act of separation from the corruption of Egypt.  His people were set apart from the most powerful worldly nation by a mark that made them different and promoted cleanliness and safe sexual relations.  This mark reminded them of the covenant they had with their God to be faithful to Him.

    In the New Covenant that we have in Christ, circumcision is now of our hearts.  The true life giving organ is not sexual, but the seat of control in our inner man.  It is with our hearts that we believe and have faith.  When we are born again, God gives us a new “circumcised” heart.  The apostle Paul had a battle with the Jews who were promoting circumcision and the Law.  He let them know that, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)

    We have the world’s reproach rolled away from our hearts in Christ alone.  We are set apart in the New Creation as belonging to God.  We are marked by the precious Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14)  Thank the Lord!

  • The Last Prophetic Song of Moses

    Scripture reading for March 2nd: Deuteronomy 31-34

    God knows that His people like music, so He gave Moses a song to conclude his ministry with.  God knew that a song would get into the hearts of the people and help them remember His word.  He knew that a song would be sung over and over and could easily be learned by the younger generation.  Music has always held a place in the word of God and much of Scripture is written in poetic form that could be memorized easily or sung.

    This last song began with a proclamation of God’s goodness and grace towards Israel.  God’s word had fallen like rain on their thirsty hearts!  (Deuteronomy 32:1-2)  The teachable people soaked up the word of God and grew like plants in a well watered garden.  This song told of God as Israel’s “Rock”.  He was perfect in all His ways and His justice was widely seen and recognized.  He was faithful, upright and incapable of doing wrong.  (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)  Their Rock had faithfully led them through the wilderness.  He had justly punished those who were unfaithful and  He rewarded those who humbly followed. Their Rock was also their Father and Creator.  (Deuteronomy 32:6)  He had made them and formed them as His own people.  It seems that the understanding of God was an important concept that Moses was to teach the people through this song.  Faith’s foundational teaching concerns God as Father and creator of all things.  (Genesis 1:1) (Hebrews 11:3) (Matthew 6:9)  This is an area of attack in our culture.  Evolution denies God as Creator and Father! God their Rock was also the avenger of His people’s enemies. (Deuteronomy 32:35-36)   Their Rock would put thousands to flight. He would save His people when their strength was gone.  He would avenge the blood of His servants and His land.  (Deuteronomy 32:43)   This was and is comforting news to God’s children!  This thought is repeated in the New Testament as well! (Romans 12:17-19) Israel was a blessed people because of their Blessed Lord who would save them!  (Deuteronomy 33:28-29)  He would be their shield and helper and glorious sword!  This sounds like the armor of God described in Ephesians 6 that talks of Jesus Christ!  We are a blessed people, too!  We can sing songs and hymns and spiritual songs by the Holy Spirit who teaches us about our “Rock” Jesus Christ and our glorious future!

  • Timeless Advice

    Scripture reading for March 1st: Deuteronomy 27-30

    Moses is almost finished preaching to God’s people.  Sometimes people look at the preacher as just someone who likes to talk.  But now with 3500 years of history to test these words, we can see how God spoke through Moses.   This amazing man who was so human and yet loved and followed God had a final altar call and prophetic word.

    Moses had set before the people the covenant blessings.  If God’s people would willingly obey God and serve Him, then the blessings would come on them and overtake them.  (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)  They would enjoy being set on high above all nations and see abundance in their flocks and herds as well as in their own offspring.  Their enemies would be defeated and flee from them.  Everything that they set their hand to would be blessed because God lavishes blessing on obedient children.

    Moses also set before the people the curses that would come on them if they were stubborn and disobedient.  These curses would overtake them and they could not run fast enough to get away from them.  (Deuteronomy 28: 15)  They would be cursed in their baskets and their crops and flocks.  They would be defeated by their enemies and confused and fearful.   The curses included plagues and severe illnesses.  They would be uprooted from their good land and scattered to the nations.  They would be under siege so severe that they would even eat their own offspring!  (Deuteronomy 28:56-57)  They would be full of fear and end up going back to Egypt, which God warned them never to do. (Deuteronomy 28:68)

    Looking back through their history, we find that when they obeyed God and returned to Him, He was always merciful and blessed them.  When the Israelites disobeyed and departed from God, they experienced these consequences.  God’s promises are true, whether you choose blessing or curse!

    “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord you God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.  For the Lord is your life. . “ (Deuteronomy 31:19-20)  Take time today to reflect on your own life.  Are you making wise choices?  This 3500 year old message has timeless advice for you and your children!

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection:Blessing and Curse

    Dear Friends,

    Greetings and blessings in the Name of Jesus Christ!  He is our peace and the One who brings us blessings!  He bore the curse of the broken law of God on our behalf and we now are in a place to receive blessing.

    As Moses repeated the history of the last 40 years, he continually brought to their memory the need for these younger survivors to carefully listen to and obey God.  Moses defines this obedience as loving God.  (Deuteronomy 11:22)  Love always brings blessing!  When you love someone, you desire their best and do what you can to see that they have the best.  God initiated this love relationship because He alone is love.

    Moses set up the case for obedience and loving God as a choice between something good and something evil.  To obey was the choice for blessing and to disobey was a choice for a curse. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)  If they chose to disobey, that would mean that they followed other gods and were unloving and unfaithful.

    Man has an impossible task in perfect obedience in himself because of the sin nature.  (Galatians 3:10-11)  We are prone to disobey and go our own way.  We end up following other gods and under the curse.  The curse is God’s decreed reaping for disobedience.  When we know His law, we are responsible to keep it.  We fail in our own strength because of sin and rebellion.  Who will deliver us from this terrible curse?

    Thanks be to God, He has Himself!  Jesus Christ was made a curse for us.  All the curses written against us were nailed to His cross and taken out of the way!  (Galatians 3:13-14)  He redeemed us so that the blessings of Abraham might come on us!  Instead of obedience to the law, we inherit the promise of the Holy Spirit received by faith!  The Holy Spirit is our down-payment of the blessings to come!  (Ephesians 1:13-14)  Blessings that are beyond what eye can see and ear can hear are awaiting those who love God and know Him through Jesus Christ!  What a day of rest we can enjoy today and in eternity!  In His Love, Pastor John

  • God’s Treasured Possession

    Scripture reading for February 27th: Deuteronomy 21-26

    Everyone needs encouragement and God offers that to His children.  In the New Testament, He is known as a God of hope and encouragement!  (Romans 15:5-6)  His word also gives hope and encouragement to His people and as Moses ends this second message, he speaks a wonderful word of encouragement.

    “You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in His ways, that you will keep His decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey Him.  And the Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.  He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame, and honor high above all the nations He has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He has promised.” (Deuteronomy 26:17-19)

    This conclusion sums up the covenant promises and conditions that each party verbally agreed to do.  God’s people promised to walk in God’s ways and keep His laws and fully obey Him.  They willingly offered their pledge of faithfulness.  God, Himself, adopted the Israelites as His very own people.   In fact, they were his treasured possession.  God kept them as a man would keep a very special treasure.  He would guard them and watch over them with great care.

    God further promised to set His people above the other nations and give them praise and fame and honor.  This praise and fame and honor would come from their “holiness”.  They would be whole because obedience to God’s law brings perfect love and healing into our life.  Those who fully followed and obeyed the Lord would enjoy exaltation by the Lord Himself!

    It is interesting to note that God’s people failed to fully keep the law.  Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came from this set-apart nation would be able to do this.  Because He did, He was set on high above all and given a name above every name.  (Philippians 2:8-11)  When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we become God’s treasured possession too!  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1st Peter 2:9)

  • God Cares for Trees!

    Scripture reading for February 26th: Deuteronomy 17-20

    “When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit.  Do not cut them down.  Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them?  However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.”  (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)

    This unusual title and Scripture passage probably has you wondering if I have gone “green”!  No, I’m not a “tree hugger”! In this passage of Scripture, God was laying down rules for making war and how the Israelites were to  fight under His direction.  God was going to be with them and fight for them and give them victory over their enemies.  They did not have to do it all themselves!

    God wanted His people to have victory and after the battle to enjoy the fruit of living in the land.  A tree takes a long time to grow and produce fruit.  Cutting it down can be done in a very short time.  In war, most pagans destroyed everything in the land and did not hesitate to use even the fruit trees to destroy a city.  God was with His people and they were to be compassionate and think about the future needs of those who would reside there.  God’s compassion and love are evident here!

    Fruitful trees are like fruitful people!  The righteous man is likened to a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit even in a dry year.  (Psalm 1:3)  He meditates on God’s law and draws life-giving water from God’s river of life.  Another Psalm likens the righteous to a palm tree planted in God’s house, bearing fruit in old age.  (Psalm 92:12-15)  Fruit bearing trees are blessed by God!  However, trees that should bear fruit but don’t, are under a curse.  Jesus cursed a fig tree because it had no early fruit and it dried up immediately! (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

    I am not sure these passages are necessarily related.  God has used trees as examples of both righteousness and wickedness in the Bible.  He cares for creation!  He cares for His people!  Give Him praise today for His care of you and do your part to care for His creation!

  • Instructions for Being Blessed

    Scripture reading for February 25th: Deuteronomy 12-16

    Everyone loves to be blessed!  Blessings are good things or special favor that come to a person who puts himself in a position to receive them.  God is generous and He loves to bless His children who are obedient.  In His desire to help them be ready to receive, He laid down instructions for receiving the blessings.  Faith is required because some of the instructions go against our feelings and we struggle to see how blessing can come from giving away what we already have.

    In the reading today, God instructs His people to only worship Him at the place He chose for them.  (Deuteronomy 12:4-7)  They were not to use the pagan places of worship used by the Canaanites, nor were they to just worship wherever they chose.  God had a specific place where His presence would dwell in their midst.  It was His presence that brought blessing, not just the act of sacrifice or worship.

    The Israelites were to set aside a tenth (tithe) of all their produce and eat some of this in the presence of the Lord.  There in God’s presence, they could rejoice and find rest and acceptance.  They were to bring their tithes and offerings to help care for the Levites, who had no inheritance.  (Deuteronomy 14:22-27)  Their tithes in the third year would also be used to feed the aliens, the fatherless and the widows in their towns so they would not go hungry.  God promises blessing for giving this away to help the Levites and the hurting.

    After 7 years, all debts were to be canceled.  God did not want His people becoming poor and slaves to another.  He designed a year to release debts to help those who had had trouble managing their money.  If the Israelites would do this as an act of obedience to God and love for their brothers, God would bless them!

    If there was a poor person, God’s people were to be generous.  (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)  They were to give without a grudging heart and God promised blessing.  He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord and He will repay. (Proverbs 19:17)

    To the natural mind, it looks like God’s people were always giving away to God or to those in need.  This was God’s plan for blessing.   God’s presence is near when we obey and He is the ultimate giver!