Job 39

 

In the middle of this chapter, God speaks of the things that a horse can be trained to do. Horses can be trained to charge into battle, to respond when the horn is blown, and even to ignore the sword coming its way. Man can train a horse to do these but what man is really doing is training the horse to do what it can do when we want it to do. Men can't train horses to fly, why? They don't have wings. We can't teach horses to breathe water, they aren't designed to do that. Yes, what horses under the control of men and women can do is amazing, but God originally gave them those abilities we use. We can brag about what we did but at the end of the day, we just used what God created. We have nothing really to brag about. 

Galatians 1

 I usually enjoy reading biographies and what I have noticed is what appears to be differences in the telling of events what is emphasized and what is left out. I just started reading a book about the life of Ulysses S. Grant. The author pointed out how other writers seem to skip over some of the more honorable parts and others the embarrassing parts. I'm still reading so I will find out if what he will do. However, what does this have to do with Galatians? The reading of this chapter seems to tell a different story than what is said in Acts and the truth is it isn't. What Galatians is doing is giving the emphasis Paul thinks is important to the argument he is making that the gospel he has preached isn't something man-made, but from God. The emphasis Luke is making in Acts is quite different and therefore does not include this part of Paul's life. Some of course have used this to "prove" that the Bible is full of errors and was created by men alone. Of course, if it was written later and scholars wrote the Bible to suit their purposes, then wouldn't they have corrected this? Of course, they would have. It's left unchanged even though some then as now realized it seems not perfectly in line because they were wanted what written to be passed on even if some would criticize it.  

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Psalm 35

 

God will contend for his people. We don't always see the fight or how God will move but he will bring those who trust in Him into His salvation. Some may see David's cry as wrong wanting God to destroy and kill his enemies but the truth of the matter is that is the ultimate fate of those who fight against God. Yes in this world it may seem that they have the victory but the day will come when everything will change and God will make it all right. 

The difference between humanity and God is that God's preferred method of defeating His enemies is to change their hearts and turn them to His side. The greatest example of this in the Bible, I believe, is Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul. What happens to the enemy? You could say God did strike him down, but only to raise him up to fight for the side of God in a new way. Yet, this is what God offers to all of mankind, a way to change and join the right side. 

Exodus 40

If you have been doing Bible Reflections, we have been reading here for a few months, but for Israel, it has been a year since the first Passover. It has been a year full of amazing and disappointing moments. They had the Red Sea crossing, the bitter waters, manna and quail, the water from the stone, God spoke from the mountain, the whole golden calf debacle, the killing of those who were the ringleaders and worshipers in that debacle, a plague from God, a renewed commitment to God, the offering for the tabernacle, and the making of that tabernacle. It was a busy year. 

Now is a new day, a new year, and a new way to worship. Yet, men and women are still the same and will continue to live out what we have seen in this last year. There will be times of victory and defeat, obedience and disobedience. God, however, never changes. God will lead and guide. His mercy will be seen over and over, and when people come to God as they should God's glory will come into their midst. It will shine through into a dark and broken world. 

  

Exodus 39

The statement, "Just as the Lord commanded," is found several times in this chapter and it could be easily dismissed. However, how often have people before and since done it almost like the Lord commanded. Earlier in this book the Children of Israel worshipped God but not as the Lord commanded because they made an idol and called it the "LORD." Later we will see it happen again in scripture and let's admit that people do it today. We do it almost as the Lord commanded which means we aren't doing what God said. So when we see that they did it right it is something to celebrate and yes to repeat, They did it just as the Lord commanded.

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Isaiah 43

 

God wants Israel to be His witness, His proof to the world. However, Israel fails repeatedly, yet God still promises to work in them and bring back the faithful to Himself. God says he forgives for His own sake not because we deserve it. 

I note here that it seems like God is flipping back and forth first saying one thing and then something seemingly quite different. The reason is that the messages written together were not always delivered right after the next one. Time passes and the situation changes in the life of Israel. These prophecies are all true but should not necessarily be seen as given in one sitting. God isn't changing His mind in just a few sentences because it may be that the people, circumstances, and times have changed. I bring this up now because we see in this chapter three different messages, one of encouragement, one of promise, and one of correction. We may read them in one sitting but like I said, they weren't given in one sitting. 

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Job 38

 

Job had asked for a chance to lay his case before God and now it begins. First, Job has to answer a few questions. I think of this as the examination one has to take before arguing a case before a court. If Job can answer then he is qualified. What we quickly find out is that Job doesn't qualify and when we look at the questions we quickly realize none of us qualify. The amazing thing is that as we look through Scripture God gives us permission to come before Him and lay our case before Him. We are unqualified as we are still given the right to speak to God. The key to it is to do it in a spirit of humility because as we see here none of us pass the qualifying exam.  

Acts 18

The people at Ephesus wanted Paul to stay longer but Paul felt it seems that it was time to leave. What happens next is amazing, Apollos shows up. Yes, he didn't understand everything fully but Priscilla and Aquila were there to train him more fully. God ended up bringing in someone else to help teach the truth the people wanted to hear. From the sounds of the text it seems he may have done a better job than Paul was doing. The people wanted to hear more and God provided. Isn't that just like our God, providing from somewhere we weren't even expecting. 

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Psalm 34

 

David in the first two verses is making a commitment that he will praise God. This is not some light promise but a determination to follow through. The amazing thing about this commitment is it comes after for most would have been a humiliation. He acted like a madman. He let himself be seen in a position of weakness. When the Bible relates the story it says they drove him out. I'm quite sure it wasn't a pleasant experience. Soldiers throwing out  a madman before there was any moral (in the pagan world) or legal protection for the mentally ill. So here is a man who probably could have taken out the soldiers tormenting him going quietly. Then once thrown out in humiliation, praises God. I have to say that David had faith. 

Exodus 38

What has actually gone into the making of this "simple tent?" Just in the metals (approximately), the total weight of gold is 1 metric tons (64.3 million USD), silver is approximately 3.44 tons(1.2 million USD), and bronze is approximately 2.67 tons or 2.42 tons (USD 12000). That is a lot of money not to mention the time and other materials which would have over doubled the cost. Here again, I see that God isn't offended about the people building him a nice place. On the flip side, there weren't any starving Israelites either. When we invest in places, we have to ask whether God wants it built or do we just want something to brag about. 

Exodus 37

 

Did that lamp for your living room cost a lot? Consider this: The lampstand for the Tabernacle would cost around 1.7 to 2.2 million dollars just in gold in today's economy. Talk about not sparing any expense. That is amazing and that is just for the lights. For me, this is a reminder that when it comes to the work of God there are absolutely times when we shouldn't worry about how much we spend. Jesus in the money spent anointing him didn't offend Him, so there is a time we shouldn't worry about the cost but just be willing to pay it. Yes, the Bible does speak about sharing wealth with those in need and not hoarding it, but this isn't hoarding this was creating something for God's glory at His command. 

Another thing that this reminds me of is the cost that God paid to bring the light to the world. It cost him, everything,.It cost Jesus everything but He found it worth it. Thank God that He is willing to pay the price to bring us light. 

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Isaiah 42 & 43

To complete the thought we have to look at the end of chapter 42 and the beginning of chapter 43.

Isaiah 42: There is an old saying that says, "No one is so blind as he that refuses to see." God says Israel has been that person. They have heard many things but haven't listened. They had the Law but didn't follow it. They had been chosen but they ended up under God's punishment. 

Isaiah 43: Yet God says that he formed and created Israel and God is telling them that in the middle of all that is happening, God is with them. God isn't throwing with away. This is the faithfulness of God, he does all he can to save those who are His own. Even when he punishes them, he is there working to redeem them.  

Job 37

Previously, Job said he wished to present his case to God and be heard.  In verse 19 Elihu tells Job that when we consider the majesty of God there isn't a case that can be drawn up. Elihu tells Job that we as humans are in darkness which is another way of saying we are in ignorance. Today science can explain some of the questions about lightning and thunder that Elihu posed but in our discoveries, we have found even more questions we don't know the answer to, so even today we are in darkness when it comes to how God does what he does. So Elihu's point is still true today, we don't have the knowledge to lay a case before God. 

The amazing thing is though it is true we are in the dark, God still encourages us to come to him. He tells us in the Scriptures to place our requests before him and in the Psalms we see examples of people asking God, "Why?" God isn't afraid of our questions or considering our requests but he does have issues with those who want to say, "I know better" or to say it another way as Lucifer did, "I will be like the most High God" (I'll take His place). The difference is humility or pride in how we ask. 

Acts 17

 

Where do you want to preach? Personally, I would like to preach in an Acts 2 environment than in the Acts 17 setting.  In Acts 2, we see a people that God had prepared for generations and they reacted in a life-changing way. In Acts 17, Paul is preaching in Athens where ideas are free-flowing and rarely considered concrete enough to change your life. In Acts 2, thousands are saved. In Acts 17 a number are saved but not a great number like at Pentecost. So why point this out? I point this out because there are places where we may see great numbers responding to the gospel. After all, God has prepared the ground and there are other places where we are preparing the ground. Or to say it as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor" (NIV). We shouldn't worry about the results just be faithful doing what God has given us to do. 

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Psalm 33

 If Psalm 33 had been written today, the Psalmist might have said, "A fighter jet is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength, it cannot save." We work really hard in our world to protect ourselves and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The problem comes when we depend on what we have done and not God. I have seen signs saying things like "God, guns, and the constitution," the problem is only one of those can ultimately be trusted and it isn't the last two. God is the one who will ultimately save us from our troubles. It is God who works the bad to good, who rescues the martyred by leading them into paradise. It is God who opened doors we can't and stops the enemy of our soul at times we don't even know about. A gun may have some strength. The U.S. Constitution may protect some freedoms (but what about the rest of the world?), but it is God who always saves.  

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Exodus 36

This last year Selma Christ Church helped the city by storing much of what had been given to those who had been devastated by the tornado. We quickly realized that we had far more than we needed and called other communities nearby and asked if they needed what we had too much of which was almost everything. We had to quickly put up signs saying we were not accepting any more donations of food, clothing, and other supplies. We had way too much. It was amazing. At that time, I could understand Moses trying to tell people, "Please, quit giving." There were actually people upset that they couldn't give but the needs as the community leaders saw at the time were met. They were sure as I was that there would be other needs later but there was no place to store it all. It was great to see. 

It is a reminder that when people have something they believe in and they can help, people do. 

Side note: The extras, it was decided by those in charge (not me thankfully) were to be dispersed among other charitable agencies that could use them. 

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Exodus 35

 I notice that God didn't just give talent to Bezalel and Oholiab but God also gave them the ability to teach. The work that needed doing was greater than the two of them could do alone so God wanted them to teach others and share the load. This applies to us today because the work of God is greater than any one or two of us can do alone. It is important not just to do work but to be willing to share the knowledge with others so the work of God can be accomplished. A refusal to share the load is an example of pride and selfishness which should never be in the life of a believer. 

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Isaiah 41

 The king coming from the north is according to many scholars Cyrus. Cyrus would be the king who allowed the Jews to return from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple giving the people the opportunity to worship God as they had before. Since this was prophecied years before it took place, it was to give proof that God was true and real, unlike the gods of the pagans.  This however as with many other things God did to prove himself didn't convince everyone of the power and presence of God. Even today if God did some mighty act there would be those who refuse to believe, but God is not like other gods he fulfills His promises. 

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Job 36

 

In verse 15, Elihu says that God "by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity" (NLT). I have to agree with Elihu, God often gets our attention when things go wrong. This is why it is often said that someone has to hit rock bottom before they will look up. There are times when adversity is the only thing that will get our attention or correct our behavior. I think of the people who ignore their doctor until something goes wrong and then all of a sudden they are willing to listen. It is the same with God. In fact, I would say that in this affliction may be our friend and a gift from God.  Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn (The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956) said “Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying upon the rotting prison straw, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we are made to believe, but the maturity of the human soul.” 

Sometimes the greatest pain gives the greatest good when God is in it. 

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Acts 16

 

We see here that there are times when God stops us from doing good work. Where do you say? Paul and his compatriates were planning to preach through Asia (Asia Minor, we would call it), but as good as that may have been it wasn't where God wanted them to go. Paul when God first prevented them didn't stop and do nothing we can assume he used their minds and thoughts and went to the next obvious place but God stopped them again. I noticed both Paul's unwillingness just to wait (God didn't tell him to do that) and Paul's complete willingness to allow God to change his plans.  

Today, I have seen both extremes. People doing nothing but waiting around until God gives them the vision and the perfect plan before they even start doing anything and those who once start on a plan won't stop even if it's clear God isn't in it. God has given us abilities and passions and we need to use them in the ways He would. He gave you the tools to use them. However, some get their ideas on what needs to happen and ignore God. They are the opposite because they have a plan and want God to bless it even when He has been saying STOP. Let's use Paul's example and find the balance. 

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Proverbs 8

Several years ago, I began a project with my wife called Wisdom For My Daughter. It was to be and hopefully will someday be a paraphrase of Proverbs to what it may have been if Solomon had penned it for his daughter rather than his son.  Here is our first attempt at Proverbs chapter 8. 

8:1  Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise his voice?

2  On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, he takes his stand;

3  beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, he cries aloud:

4  "To you, O women, I call out; I raise my voice to all people.

5  You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6  Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

7  My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

8  All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

9  To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10  Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

11  for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with him.

12  "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

13  To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

14  Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

15  By me queens reign and rulers make laws that are just;

16  by me princesses govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.

17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

18  With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

19  My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21  bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22  "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;

23  I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

24  When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

25  before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

26  before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

27  I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 When he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29  when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30  Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

31  rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

32  "Now then, my daughters, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

33  Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34  Blessed is the woman who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

35  For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

36  But whoever fails to find me harms herself; all who hate me love death."

 

Exodus 34

 

Moses coming?

Moses stayed up on the mountain for another forty days and nights except this time Israel didn't look to make another idol. I account for this as they learned something from the last time. We often need multiple mess-ups before we learn from our mistakes/sins. Yet I give Israel credit that this time they waited and boy did they get something they weren't expecting, a radiant Moses.

Moses came down from the mountain and this time there was something different, Moses' face shined with the radiance of God. Why didn't he the first time? My guess it was the fact he was angry but that is just my thought. It could have been that this time God showed on Moses' face because the people were ready for it when they weren't when they had a golden calf. Whatever the reason Moses' face shined and served as a reminder he was in the presence of God. We may not have a literal shine on our face but people will know if we as Christians spend real time in the presence of God. 

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Exodus 33

 

There is much in this chapter but the verse that stands out to me today as I read is verses 15-16, "Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”' 

Moses asks the question that I believe is relevant in the church (gatherings that claim Christian roots) today. Is the presence of God with us? If He isn't, then Moses is correct there is nothing that distinguishes us from anyone else. A church without the presence of God is no different from a Buddhist temple or a Muslim shrine. This is why some people see all religions as the same, man's attempt to seek God. Moses knew otherwise without the presence of God even when it meant judgment when they sinned was better than not having it. 

This should be our heart cry today. God send your presence into our church even if it brings correction and judgment for your judgment/correction is better than the mercy of the world.  

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Isaiah 40

 

If you are doing the Bible Reflections Journaling program you just read Job yesterday. As I read verse  27, Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God” I can see Job saying these words. Yet the answer is found in this chapter. The answer is having hope in God. Job lost his hope. He had his integrity, but he lost hope in God. This chapter is meant to give hope to Israel and that hope is found in God. 

Too often we look for security, money, relationships, political parties, and the like for hope but ultimately they all fail. The only place we can find hope isn't in a place but in the person of God and I would add as a New Testament believer that person is Jesus, God incarnate. 

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Job 35

 "He (God) does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it." Elihu is pointing out that there are times when God doesn't answer the cries of the oppressed because their hearts are wicked. Though this isn't the case with Job, Elihu is making the point that though there are times when it seems God is allowing the wicked to triumph, but if the other side would gain power they would be just as bad. It's like asking which drug lord we should support in a gang war. Neither because both are just as bad. There are times according to Elihu that God doesn't answer because those crying to him are really just as wicked as the other. We may think that God isn't helping but that is because we can't see into the heart of others. 

To take this on a personal level, I would say there are some fights we just need to stay out of. Unfortunately, we don't. We don't on the personal level and we don't on the national level. Too often, we try to decide who is the "least bad." However, that is like saying would you rather die of a gunshot from a 38 or a 44, when we should say neither. Sometimes the right answer is to not get in the fight. 

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Acts 15

 Paul and Barabas according to some were sinning at the end of this chapter. How? Some see any form of disagreement and separation as a sin. If that was the case then God would have corrected them, but we don't see that. What we do see is two people who could not come to an agreement on how to proceed together and thus going separate ways. I have talked before about the Mezpha, Genesis 31:49, and that God at times calls for people to be separate. In Genesis, there was never a reconciliation but later Paul will say that John Mark is fit for the ministry and asks for him. In this world, there may not be reconciliation due to differences or even sin, but for the Christian, there will ultimately be a day when we are in the presence of God and then we will be able to perfect unity.   

Another note to add here is that when Paul split for Barnabas and John Mark, he didn't go out alone. He found another person to work with him. This is another reminder to me that in the New Testament, we rarely see anyone going out alone to do ministry. We need people to help us and to keep us true to God's Word. We need accountability and partners to help carry the burden of ministry. 

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Psalm 32

 

The greatest gift that a person can have is when God forgives them. We may think our sins are against other people and in some way they are but the ultimate crime of sin (disobedience to God, selfishness, etc) is against the one who made us. When we do evil against a person we do evil against the God who created them. At the end of the day or perhaps I should say at the end of our lives it will be God that we stand in front of and it is he who will judge us. That is why we can be glad if our sins are forgiven because on that day there will be no excuses and no justifications. After all, then the real motives of our hearts will be known not the ones we tell ourselves and those around us. For myself, I'm glad my sins are forgiven and that the Spirit of God is working in my life to make me a better person. 

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Exodus 32

 "It's not my fault." How often do people say that and here Aaron, one of the ones left in charge, is saying it. I appreciate democracy but if you are a leader and the people want something wrong you are not free to give in to their demands. Aaron blamed the people and flat-out lied about where the calf came from. He had shaped it and now he is looking at Moses and claiming it supernaturally came out of the fire. The excuse is laughable but when someone is caught it is amazing the excuses we make. I wish I could say I have never made such lame excuses but I am sure I have thankfully I don't think I have presently, but I'm not looking too deep into my memories, I don't want to feel dumb right now. However, it is predictable. Didn't Adam and Eve first do it? and we have been following their example ever since. 

Maturity comes when we are willing to admit we did wrong. Thankfully, Christ has given His Spirit to those who follow Him and if we let Him then we can have the wisdom and the courage to confess. The great this is when we are willing to confess and repent then God is willing and happy to forgive. 

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