God Is In Charge

Reading 27: Joshua 6

This is the verse that stands out to me today:

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.


Jericho was tightly shut up, but the next thing God says is "See! I have delivered Jericho into your hands." It's just like God to see the bigger picture. Sometimes I look at a problem that's all "shut up" no way in, no way out...but God is there and He sees the whole picture. He knows the whole story, and He says "See, I have already taken care of everything". All I have to do is trust His lead.


New blogging plan (if anyone is reading): Blogging about the reading every day was getting entirely tedious and was sucking the "joy" out of my 180 days....so I decided to cut back to just a few times a week, and continue to read on the off blogging days from my physical Bible.

A Long Forgiveness

Reading 14: Genesis 45

Joseph forgave his brothers. A long hard road that eventually led him to the top of the local economy, and he just forgave them.

Joseph chose the higher road in his situation. He was able to see the bigger picture, the picture that involved God weaving the details together. He was able be objective in his situation.

In the passing of time in my own life, am I taking an objective view? It's rather helpful, in taking a look at the whole of my life and "connecting the dots" of how God has pieced together His story in my life's events.

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?

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 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...

The Rainbow

Reading 6: Genesis 8

From the time Noah stepped foot into the ark, to the time the muddy earth was finally drying out an entire year had passed. An entire year! Cooped up with animals, children, wives...all kinds of things that can make long trips miserable. :)

One rabbi suggests that the rainbow holds special significance regarding God at war with man. That the rainbow reminds us that God would no longer destroy man in effort to "clean up the act" and reminds us of a bow and arrow pointed away from earth. It's an interesting comment; click here to read the rabbi's comments on the dove and rainbow.

The verse that stood out to me today is this:

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man

One person's sacrifice can make a difference. Noah offered what he had, and God "smelled the pleasing aroma"...quite a difference from His reaction to Cain. Perhaps this is the attitude offerings require: willingness, thankfulness, self-directed not law-directed.

I pray that my offering (time, talent, etc) is a pleasing aroma.

The Crash

Reading 3: Genesis 3

I was just thinking today that one of Satan's most powerful tools against the children of God is: doubt.

The serpent simply suggested to Eve (which wasn't even her name yet...) that perhaps she misunderstood or misheard God. Doubt. "Does God really want to keep you away from that tree?" Doubt. "Do you think God is just trying to keep something really good away from you?" Doubt.

Perhaps part of the lesson of the mere existence of a tree that was to be untouched is the need we have to trust God's plan. We won't know all the reasons, but we know God.

This is a true lesson in my own life currently. It seems as we begin to embark on a new ministry, a chance to gain more ground for the Kingdom, the enemy begins his attack of doubt. "Is this really what you should be doing?" "What if no one comes?" "What if, what if, what if" Doubt.

Trusting God's guidance contains a lot more possibility than the results of taking things into my own hands.