Loud and Clear

Day 25: Deuteronomy 28 (I caught up off line)

Amazing blessings, "small" requirement.

All these blessings could be yours IF you obey the Lord your God. It's noteworthy to me that the blessings don't simply make my own life 'better', but these types of blessings listed also affect the people around me.

My city, my children, my 'flocks', my food, my land. Everything in my life, everyone in my life benefits (essentially) when I choose to obey the Lord.

I'm writing these two phrases on a card this week:

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. (maybe put this on a door)

If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom

Reading 21: Numbers 11 (Yes, I'm a day behind.....)

Moses is struggling under the burden of sole leadership. And asks the Lord to either kill him or send him some help.

As leaders, we've all been there. Sometimes we're there more than once.

Moses has to bring 70 people to recieve the Spirit to be leaders, even the ones who were too busy for the meeting still get the job!

It's interesting how the people of the camp are unsettled by the new leaders. Sometimes people have a hard time not just taking on leadership, but accepting shared leadership.

Reading 20: Exodus 32
Reading 21: Leviticus 26

As I reflect on the possibilities of ministry and chances for the future, I'm in constant reflection on whether or not we are "following God's lead". I think it's important to take time to check the direction of our efforts.

I do believe that we can be in the center of God's will, and experience difficulties, struggles, and conflict, the Leviticus passage says that obeying God's lead results in:

rain and fruition of crops
peace
fearlessness
victory over enemies
fruitful and increase in numbers
so many blessing, just keeps piling up
God will walk among you
you will walk with head held high

the contrast is:
life waste away
defeat
hard work with no results
constant hunger for 'more'
fearful hearts

The Ten Commandments

Reading 18: Exodus 20

I keep coming back to the very first phrase of this chapter:

"And God spoke all these words"

It was important to the writer that we understand these are God's rules, from God's very mouth. These are not arbitrary laws, created to oppress a people just escaping from oppression. These are encouragements to pattern a lifestyle.

If I could take these commandments to heart in my own life, think of how much easier life could be? I heard a sermon once on the fact that the first 4 govern my relationship with God, and the last 6 govern my relationship with other people.

1. No other gods
2. No false images
3. No misusing God's name
(in other words, just 'cause you tack God's name on to it doesn't mean He endorses it.)
4. Keep the Sabbath
5. Honor mom and dad
6. No murdering
7. No adultery
8. No stealing
9. No lying
10. No coveting other people's stuff

Time for Action

Reading 15: Exodus 3

I'm not sure that my first response to a burning bush would be to rush over and look at it. I'm pretty sure, I'd have panicked probably thinking of ways I could put the fire out. But Moses rushes over to this miraculous bush, and recieves a direct and personal word from God.

What are the "burning bushes" in my life? What miraculous signs has God placed around me that I am running away from? I don't think my instinct to run is limited to physical fire. I often run away from spiritual fire, emotional fire,...anything that has the capacity to burn or hurt me.

But what if instead of running away, I did like Moses and ran towards it? Think of all the possibilities that this "burning bush" holds! I think that in every 'burning bush' we will hear a direct and personal word from the Lord, but too often we are running away, afraid of getting hurt.

Behind the Scenes

Reading 13: Genesis 41

I sit eating beef stew for dinner, with no thought or concern as to where my next meal will come from. People in Gaza tonight, have no such luxury. Famine and distress are as real today as they were then.

Pharaoh was warned in a dream, interpreted by Joseph, and acted accordingly. It's another lesson for me on how when God speaks into my life, what is my response? Am I slow to act? Do I rationalize non-action? Or do I comply with the desires of my God?

Part that stuck out to me today was that Joseph was shaved and given new clothes (vs. 14) before coming before Pharoah, and then presented with new clothes and new jewelry. It's important to prepare for the role we will play in God's plan...

Something Undeserved

Reading 11: Genesis 28

The story continues. This is quite the dysfunctional family...

Isaac blesses Jacob once more (odd...maybe he wasn't as upset with being tricked as previously thought, otherwise why bless him a second time??) and tells him to marry a daughter of his uncle Laban. (ewww..but completely acceptable in the time frame)

There is a quick shot of how Esau really prefers to please his parents rather than frustrate them. After hearing that his father dislikes Canaanite women, he goes out and marries another wife that happens to not be Canaanite (and also happens to be a relative...).

Jacob makes a vow to God that starts with 'IF'. "If God does _________, then He will be my God." If? Can one really make demands of God? Is it safe to give God ultimatums? Unfortunately I know I do it all the time. A lot of my "promises to God" begin with "If...".

I think that the stories of the OT tend to allow for a chance to 'bargain' with God. We see in person after person this thread of making covenants with conditions. Covenants that are truly attempts at upholding the original Abrahamic covenant.

Hmmmm....so, in my own life, what am I bargaining with God about?

Jacob gets the blesssing

Reading 10: Genesis 27

There is a GREAT Liz Curtis Higgs novel series based on this very story. If you've not read, I strong recommend it. Find information here.

Jacob steals the blessing. Honestly, in our modern society and my cultural understanding, I've never completely understood why Isaac couldn't just take back his blessing and give it to the son it was intended for...but that's not the point.

Jacob does only what his mother tells him, and ends up alienating himself from his entire family. But what a blessing to steal!

May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness—

an abundance of grain and new wine.

May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.

Be lord over your brothers,

and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.

May those who curse you be cursed

and those who bless you be blessed.

Final Exam

Reading 9: Genesis 22

Both times that the Lord called to Abraham there was an immediate response of "Here I am." Both times. Even at the point when he had the knife in the air and was prepared to do as God had commanded him earlier, he paused to respond to God's call.

When God calls into my life is there an immediate response? Am I quick to say 'Here I am', or "Just a minute..." "Let me finish this one last thing..."

These past two readings have contained two very different responses to God when He speaks into your life. Lot hesitated and bargained. Abraham responded, obeyed, and was blessed.

May I always remember to obey and be blessed...so I may fulfill God's covenant with Abraham and bless others;

"I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

The Catastrophe Sent By God

Reading 8: Genesis 19

Lot hesitated twice. Twice. And he still ended up in the mountains. He lost a wife, 2 son-in-laws, and who knows how many friends and colleagues.

What a tough moment. Once again, God has become so fed up with a portion of His creation that His choice is to do away with it. To utterly destroy it.

I don't find Lot (or his family) to be the most positive of role models. Lot offered his daughters to be violated, his wife clearly disobeyed the angels, Lot's son in laws don't take the threat seriously, Lot argued with the angels (who argues with angels???), and his daughters decided to empregnate themselves through trickery. Interesting bunch, aren't they?

Yet the poinangt part, for me, is the fact that God kept to His promise. He promised Abraham that He would not destroy Lot, that Lot would be spared this catastrophe of raining sulfur. (Unfortunately, Lot created his own personal catastrophe, even as the angels personally escorted his family to safety)

How often do I hesitate to heed God's protecting command? How often to I shamefully beg for a different decision? Really, am I any better than Lot and his family? Sadly, usually not. But the magnificent part is that God is always the same!

The Plan

Reading 7: Genesis 15

Abraham had been chosen by God for a very specific promise: your descendants will be as numerous as the stars.

A new 'rite' seems to be established as part of God's people; the covenant. God passes through the time's customary display of a covenant between two people, but He passes alone. This signifies that He alone is responsible for the complete fulfillment of the covenant being made.

The part that catches my attention in this reading is the fact that God prepares Abram that his descendants will be slaves for 400 years! He knew and believed in God's promise still! He accepted God's plan and God's decisions...if only I could be so faithful...

The other line that speaks to me specifically today is:

Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own

As I am a stranger in a country not my own, I can identify with this plight. Just a few days ago I was mentally tallying how many of the "great" Biblical characters were foreigners in their time of ministry. It's just a chance God takes to remind me that I'm not the only one to deal with being away from home or being a cultural newbie...