VISION = The ability to think about and plan for the future, using intelligence and imagination. Someone’s idea or hope of how something should be done, or how it will be in the future. Something is seen by other than normal sight; something perceived in a dream, trance, etc. or supernaturally revealed, as to a prophet. The ability to see more.
From the beginning of His relationship with Israel, God required their loyalty and allegiance. He told them continually that their disobedience would end in their dispersing and captivity. Consequently, He informed the prophets of Israel of the pending seventy years of captivity which took place as He said. Upon the completion of the seventy years, remnants began returning to Israel under the leadership and encouragement of men like Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah, and King Cyrus, Artaxerxes, and Darius.
This blog will focus on the works of Nehemiah who God gave a vision and a burden for Israel. Furthermore, despite the opposition, he remained focus, had a plan of execution, perceived what others could not, and successfully passed the vision test.
Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, was a trusted, loyal, cupbearer in the service of the Persian King Artaxerxes. After receiving information on the state of affairs of the Jews that had returned to the province of Judah, he became burdened for his countrymen. This burden led him into a time of mourning, weeping, fasting, sadness, and intercession. When the king questioned Nehemiah about his apparent sadness, Nehemiah explained his concern for his countrymen and asked permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. The king granted Nehemiah’s request and sent him with an escort, letters addressed to the governors of the areas for safe travel, and a letter to the manager of the king’s forest to give Nehemiah lumber for his project.
Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah surveyed the walls, and then he called for the officials and voiced his concerns and plans. With his encouragement, the people who had become complacent rallied to the cause. The rebuilding took two months to complete. It was two months of prayer, continuous labor, enthusiastic people willing to work, questions and division within Judah, defending the poor and oppressed against mistreatment from fellow Jews, ignoring the taunts and threats of their enemies, and a readiness to fight the enemy when and if necessary.
Let me share this scripture that summarizes Nehemiah’s effort, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days” (Nehemiah 4:6-9, 16-18a; 6:15-16).
Nehemiah did not stop after building the wall, but he also became the governor of Jerusalem for twelve years. While in this position, he re-established and reformed the religious and natural institutions needed for Israel successful growth and development. His life was a life committed to God, and he often sought Him in prayer. God honored Nehemiah’s sincere actions and strengthened him to carry out the vision.
Each believer has an assignment and a vision which needs prayer and Divine direction. The more we connect with God, the more apparent things will become. In the spirit, we will see what to do, how to do it, who will assist, and who will hinder; for those vision given by God are meant to be fulfilled.
On today, if you are struggling with your vision, along with prayer, I recommended you do an in-depth study of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. I know they will enlighten and encourage you to pass your vision test.
Loving= affectionate, kind, warm, dear, friendly, devoted, tender, fond, ardent, cordial, doting, amorous, solicitous, gentle, sympathetic, considerate, and warm-hearted.
Unlovely = Not deemed visually attractive, disagreeable, not likable, unpleasant.
Today’s blog is about loving the unlovely. I believe each one of us will get an opportunity in our lifetime to experience this test. Jesus tells his disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” He knew they understood the first and greatest commandment which was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” therefore, He emphasizes the second one which was equally as important. Believers must love the unlovely; we must do good to those that hate us, and say all manner of evil against us whether it is family, friend, or foe. Understandably, when a stranger mistreats you, it is often easier to handle than when it is a family member putting a knife in your back. However, though extremely hard to do, it is still a Divine command and it must be done.
This blog shares the parent-child relationship between David and his son, Absalom. Also, it reveals despite all the evil that was done, David’s love for Absalom remained constant, and he continued to want the best for him.
Absalom was the third son born to David, and his mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. Little is said about Absalom’s childhood, but he grows into a handsome young man with a charming, charismatic personality; however, he was ambitious, vindictive, bitter, unforgiving, and treacherous.
Davis had eight wives, which resulted in children born from different mothers. The first son born to David was Amnon, and his mother was Ahinoam. Amnon fell into a lustful love for his half-sister Tamar who was Absalom’s sister, and he rapes her. David did not reprimand Amnon for his actions, and this made Absalom furious. He plotted and waited two years, and then he had Amnon killed at a sheep-shearing event which he sponsored. Fearing reprisal from his father Absalom flees to Geshur where he remains in exile for three years until his father, who longs for him, sends for him to come home. Unfortunately, upon his return home, David refused to meet with him for two more years. Absalom became frustrated with his father’s actions and used Joab, David’s commander-in-chief to advocate for his return to court.
After gaining access to his father, in revenge, Absalom plots to overthrow his father’s government. He began to promote himself in the eyes of the people. Also, he subtly began to arouse feelings of hostility and disgruntlement among the people toward David’s rule. After doing this for four years, Absalom gathers his conspirators in Hebron and has himself declared king. When David hears of this, he flees Jerusalem with his household and followers leaving ten of his concubines to look after the palace. When Absalom and his conspirators arrive in Jerusalem, he takes possession of his father’s harem and initiates his kingly rule.
David, in his darkest hour, is on the run from a son that he loved but allowed to go unchecked. He crossed over Kidron, ascended Olivet with a weeping band of people, and finally ended in Mahanaim. During this time he learns who his friends were and who his enemies were.
Meanwhile, Absalom was stationed in Jerusalem plotting His father’s demise. A military plan was conceived, but it ended in disaster for Absalom in the woods of Ephraim where he was hanging from the boughs of a terebinth tree when his long hair was caught in it. It is there that he was found and killed by Joab despite David’s request to his army not to injure Absalom.
2 Samuel 18:33 records David’s reaction to the news of Absalom’s death, “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” David became so lost in overwhelming grief that his followers began to feel dishonored and shamed. Finally, it took Joab’s verbal rebuke of his actions to stir him back to reality and cause him to go and applaud his followers for their loyalty and efforts.
What a contrast in behavior, despite all that Absalom did, David loved him and did not want to see him injured or killed. Absalom, however, did not care what happens to his father. David loved him and tolerated his misbehavior and Absalom sowed discord and division when he disapproved of David’s actions. Absalom acted lovingly to the person’s he was attempting to influence and displayed hostility and unloving acts to those that opposed him. In his life, David was unwilling to touch the Lord’s anointed, but Absalom was willing to kill the Lord’s anointed.
Though David was not a perfect parent, his intentions were honorable and noteworthy. Thus, his mistakes are shared that we might make corrections in our lives where we have blundered, and to pass the test as God has prescribed.
PATIENCE = the ability to continue doing something for a long time without losing interest, especially something difficult. Tolerant and even-tempered perseverance. The capacity for calmly enduring pain, and trying situations. To suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.
This blog is a continuation from my previous blog, “The Word Test.” In that blog, I spoke about Abram and Sarai and how Abram received a word from God, and he had to wait twenty-five years before it came to fruition. Though the scripture said this about Abram, “He believed and it was counted unto him as righteous,” the scripture also revealed after ten years of waiting without consulting God he followed the suggestion of his wife which has caused complications for his descendants even to this day.
Bible history does not reveal why God chose Abram to be the father of the Jewish nation. From what I have read, Abram prior to Genesis 12 worshipped other gods. However, his encounter with the true God was impactful, and he relinquished his old religious practices to follow God.
God’s initial conversation with Abram took place in the land of Haran. God gave him directions with a conditional promise which Abram follows, and then God makes a covenant promise which entails land, Abram’s descendants, and blessings. Over the next twenty-five years, God periodically rehearses this covenant with Abram until Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham has a son with his wife Sarah whose name was changed from Sarai.
During those twenty-five years Abraham became impatient. He wanted a child badly, but his wife was infertile. When she suggested, they have a child using her maid Hagar (which was the custom for childless couples) Abraham agreed. According to the scripture, Ishmael was born from this union, and he was considered a child born of the flesh. From the time of Ishmael’s conception, Sarah realizes she had made a grave mistake and Ishmael and Hagar become a thorn in her flesh; however, Abraham loved Ishmael and had feelings for Hagar.
Unfortunately, these words spoken to Hagar by an angel before the birth of Ishmael remain prevalent, “Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren” (Genesis 16:11-12). History reveals Ishmael lived in the wilderness region of Hejaz (the Arabian Peninsula) and most of his descendants founded the Arab nations. Today, it is these Arab nations that are continually warring with Israel over their land. Thus, from the life of Abraham, we learn impatience can cause long-lasting, generational problems.
After receiving a word, it is necessary to wait patiently for it to come to pass. This has proven to be difficult for those whose waiting time has been long. Impatience has caused many to take matters in their own hands resulting in mistakes and errors that cannot be reversed. This is what we saw in the life of Abraham and Sarah.
Unlike Abraham, who did not have a bible, when we become discouraged and anxious, we have the word of God that we can read and from which we are able to gather encouragement. So, I close with these scripture of encouragement for you to rehearse and on which to meditate.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
James 1:3 – 4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Hebrews 10: 35 – 36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 6: 10 -15 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
WORD = Something said; an utterance, remark, or comment. A command or direction. An assurance or promise. A short speech on a particular subject.
In our lifetime, many of us have received a prophetic word. The Bible tells us that we can judge the validity of the word we received by its’ fruition (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). For numerous people (me included) numerous years have passed, and I have yet to see some of my prophetic words come to pass, and like Abram and Sarai whom I am going to discuss in today’s blog, I may have to wait a long time. During my waiting period, it is crucial that I have a patient attitude; for without it, I allow doubt, fear, and human reasoning to control my thoughts which may derail, or delay my word.
Let me share the history of Abram and Sarai and how they handled the word test.
Genesis 11 introduces us to Abram the son of Terah, and his beautiful barren wife Sarai.
Genesis 12 shares the directional conversation that God has with Abram and Abram’s response to God’s instruction. It reads as follows, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him.” (Genesis 12:1-4a). At the time of this event, Abram was 75 years old, and Sarai was 65.
In Genesis 13, the Lord once again talks to Abram about the land He will give to him and his descendants.
Genesis 15 occurs after the passing of many years without the birth of an heir for Abram. Abram has a vision in which he questions God concerning his servant Eliezer of Damascus being his heir and God responds to him with these words, “This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them. So shall thy seed be.” The bible says this about Abram in verse 6, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” In other words, Abram’s trust and dependence on God put him in right standing with God.
In all of these chapters in Genesis, God never communed with Sarai; neither did he tell Abram that Sarai would bare him a child. So, in chapter 16 when Sarai suggest to Abram that her handmaiden become a surrogate mom for them, which was a common practice during that time for barren couples, Abram complies with his wife suggestion and has sex with Hagar who conceives and bare Abram a son they named Ishmael. This event takes place ten years after Genesis 12.
Abram was ninety-nine years old when God appeared to him in Genesis 17. God changes his name from Abram to Abraham and Sarai’s name changes to Sarah. God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham and tells him this concerning Sarah, “And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him.” After receiving this amazing word concerning Sarah, you would think that Abraham would be excited to share it with her, but apparently, he did not as we witness in the next chapter.
In Genesis 18, God again appears to Abraham but this time He comes to Abraham’s tent. He speaks to Abraham about Sarah having a baby the following year, and Sarah being close by hears this conversation and laughs. When God hears her laughing, He questions Abraham about Sarah laughing. Sarah is hearing the question God ask Abraham and being fearful responded with this, “I laughed not” and God said to her “Nay; but thou didst laugh.” The scriptures reveal Sarah was surprised with the announcement of her future pregnancy and the only time in the scripture we hear of God talking to her He calls her a liar.
In Genesis 20, Abraham places Sarah in a dangerous position when he moves his family to Gerar, but God intervened and rescued her from being sexually assaulted.
Finally, the word Abraham received twenty-five years ago in Chapter 12 comes to fruition in Genesis 21. The chapter begins with this statement, “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.” God’s word which is faithful and never fails, falters, or is false came to pass even though it was a long wait, some wrong decisions were made, and Abraham’s and Sarah’s humanity, frailties and impatience were exposed. Therefore, to pass the word test, having trust and patience is vital in experiencing the word of God coming to pass without complications.
In my next blog, “THE PATIENCE TEST,” which will be a continuation of this one, I will share more details on how patience and word must work together for success.
REJECTION = A refusal to accept, approve, or support something. A refusal to show someone the love or kindness that they need or expect.
It appears very fitting during this time when Christians are celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that I discuss the rejection test using Jesus as an example of a person that experienced this test. Though He is our Savior, on earth, He experienced human challenges and rejection.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah 53 reveals a clear picture of this plight. It reads, “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:2-12).
The above scripture verses describe the purpose and plan of God for the life of Jesus. The Jews were looking for a person of royalty to be their king and deliverer out of the hands of the Roman government; however, Jesus was born into a poor family, and his birth took place in a stable. There was nothing in His features or stature that made people pause and speak of His beauty. His childhood was without pomp and public acclaim. He was compassionate, kind, and sympathetic to the sufferings of others. Verbally and physically He suffered at the hands of men without rebuttal. After all the miracles that He performed on earth, the masses turned their head and rejected Him at the time of His death. Though innocent of all charges brought against Him, He was crucified like a criminal between two thieves and buried in the sepulcher of a wealthy follower. Finally, the Word discloses Jesus experienced all of the world’s rejection willingly too provide us with salvation and all the benefits that it renders.
The following scriptures in the New Testament also depict that despite all the good He did on earth Jesus was rejected by his family (John 7:1-5), hometown (Mark 6: 1-6), cities (Luke 4:29; Matthew 11:23; Luke10:13-15), some disciples (John 6:60-66), priest and elders (Luke 9:22), Samaritans (Luke 9:51-56) Pharisees (Luke 7:30), and Sadducees (Matthew 16:1-4); yet, He did not allow any of them to alter or deter His purpose.
The key to our success is following His examples and realizing we were born with a purpose. Our existence on earth was in the plan of God; therefore, we must seek to know and execute that plan and not allow the negative opinions of haters to stop us; for in so doing we too will pass the rejection test.
FAITHFUL = 1. Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea. Marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious; dependable; reliable.
SERVANT = One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper. One in a state of subjection or bondage.
In books that have discussed test, the faithful and the servant test has been discussed separately; however, since the scripture (Matthew 25:14- 30) that I will be using in this blog combines these two words in its description, I will also discuss them together as one test.
In Matthew 25:14- 30, Jesus is having a private discourse with his disciples concerning the signs of His return to earth. Also, He is sharing with them pertinent information concerning the believer’s positive and negative activity while He is gone. Let’s explore this parable.
Jesus shares the story of a man who is going on a trip, but before his departure, he confers with his three servants and gives them monies which he expects them to invest, while he is away. Knowing his servants, the amounts given to each was different. The man gave them what he knew they could handle. Two of the servants took the monies and doubled it, while the third who had received the smallest amount hid what he had received in the ground. After a lengthy absence, the man returned home, and he gathered the servants together for them to give an account of their actions. For the two who had doubled the man’s monies he gives these words of commendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21) When the unprofitable servant was questioned, he claimed his fear of the man caused him to do nothing with the monies. The man rebukes and condemns him with these words, “Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:26-30)
Here are some notable extractions that I made from this parable.
- We are called SERVANTS; that is our position in the kingdom.
- All that we have belongs to God. We had NOTHING until he invested in us.
- What we received is determined by God; accept His allocations.
- God assess our abilities and entrust us with His goods.
- Be careful how you treat God’s goods.
- Don’t worry about what others have or what they are doing with it. Mind and handle your own business.
- All believers have the ability to multiply.
- Everyone receives something from God.
- The amount that we receive does not matter, what matters is what we did with what we received for God measures success not by what you have but by your character and tenacity.
- We are given time to accomplish.
- Believers will be held accountable for their actions.
- God rewards us not on accomplishments but FAITHFULNESS.
- You can start as a servant and end as a ruler.
- The reward for faithful service is greater responsibility.
- The reward for work well done is more work to do.
- The reward for investing is being blessed with more investments.
- A believer’s view of God is reflective of how they serve Him.
- Fear produces stagnation.
- God expects believers to know how He operates and govern themselves accordingly.
- God does not accept excuses.
- The believer who is punished is the believer who did not try.
Jesus has given us the criteria by which the words, “FAITHFUL SERVANT” can be pronounced on us. The decision on whether we hear these words lie entirely in our hands. If you have not been a faithful servant, I pray this blog has not only given you something on which to ponder but also inspired you to do better.
SECURITY = Freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear. Something that gives or assures safety. The condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially.
In the book of Judges, we see Israel experiencing poverty, invasion, captivity, and civil war due to their disobedience in following the laws of God. The underlining factor for their failure is found in Judges 17:6 which describe the actions of Israel, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Fortunately for them, God in His mercy would repeatedly raise up a judge that would help deliver the people out of the hands of their captors. It is the story of one of these judges that I will utilize in discussing the security test.
Judges 6 opens with Israel being oppressed by the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east for seven years. In their usual fashion, they cried unto God, and God hears them and chooses Gideon from the tribe of Manasseh for the task of deliverer and judge.
An angel appears to Gideon with a message from God, which he questions because of his insecurities and Israel’s misfortunes. The angel reassures him with these statements, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:12,14,16)
With these words of encouragement, assurance, and sign from the angel Gideon built an altar unto the Lord and called it Jehovah Shalom. That same evening God gave Gideon his first directive. He was to tear down the altar of Baal which belong to his father, cut down the grove that was by it, build an altar unto the Lord and offer a sacrifice as specified by God upon it. With ten of his servants, Gideon did as the Lord had directed; however, the men of his city was not pleased with his actions and threatened to kill him. Gideon’s father defended him, and the men of his city relented.
Consequently, there were several events that solidified Gideon’s feeling of security. First, when it was time for the next battle, Gideon fleeced God two times, and God did what he requested. Next, God allowed him to sneak into the enemy’s camp and hear a soldier talking about their defeat at his hands. This empowered him to lead his small army of men; for when he had summons the men to fight thirty-two thousand men of war gathered, but God reduced that number down to three hundred by processes of elimination, so they would not feel they were victorious due to their ability.
Judges 7:16–22 best described the battle. It reads, “And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.”
As seen many times in the scripture, Israel did not have to fight because God caused their enemy in confusion to turn on each other. This all happened because of Gideon’s sense of security in God and His word. Throughout this ordeal God let Gideon know He was with him and he would be triumphant. Despite the size of the enemy’s army and the smallness of Israel’s army, Gideon chooses to believe and not doubt. His security allowed him to give his army a successful warfare strategy which ensued with victory and forty years of peace.
Hopefully, from this blog, you have been encouraged; feel confident in God in the midst of whatever you are presently experiencing, and ready to pass the security test. If fear, doubt or anxiety assails you, remember Gideon.
WARFARE = The waging of war against an enemy; armed conflict. Military operations marked by a specific characteristic. A state of disharmony, conflict, and strife. Acts undertook to destroy or undermine the strength of another. A contest or struggle.
Israel during the reign of King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam divided into the Northern and Southern tribes. Each of these tribes had their king, and unfortunately, most of the Northern tribes’ kings were ungodly and led the people into forsaking the laws of God. In the Southern tribe, which consisted of the people of Judah and Benjamin, there were several good kings that followed the laws of God. One of these kings was named Jehoshaphat, and one of the warfare experiences that happened during his reign chronicled in 2 Chronicles 20 will be the focus of this blog.
King Jehoshaphat learned that three nations consisting of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites, were about to stage a military attack against his nation. King Jehoshaphat knew he did not know what to do, and he must go to the only one that could help him. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 states, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” Jehoshaphat and the people understood the outcome of this attack would be devastating. They knew they need not delay; they needed direction and a solution.
As a nation of people, they came together, humbled themselves, fasted, and prayed. Jehoshaphat, as the leader of the nation, petitioned God. First, he acknowledges God’s past relationship with Israel, and then he avows God’s omniscient, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Next, he reminded God of His promise to save them if they sought Him before His temple and he ends his prayer asking God to judge these military invaders for he and the people were helpless and did not know what to do.
God gives the people this word through Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17). After hearing this word, King Jehoshaphat and the people bowed down and worshiped God, followed by the Levites standing up and praising God clamorously.
On the next morning the King encouraged the people with these words, “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Then he appointed singers to go before the army praising the beauty of God’s holiness, and His mercy, which endures forever. As the Levite sang the Lord set up ambushments and the invading forces started fighting among themselves and destroying each other leaving an abundance of spoil and precious jewels which took Jehoshaphat and his people three days to gather. After this auspicious event, King Jehoshaphat and the people blessed the Lord and returned home with joy for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.
The enemy had planned a major attack on Judah, and they came with reinforcements. They wanted to strike fear in the hearts of the people, and they wanted their land. Our enemy functions in the same manner. He does not attack us with one thing; he piles things on, making us feel overwhelmed, hopeless, and fearful. He wants what we possess. He wants our peace.
When Jehoshaphat hears of the planned attack, he does not ignore it; he acknowledges it for what it is. When the enemy attacks us, it makes no sense to think he will go away without accomplishing his goal. Like Jehoshaphat, we need to seek help from the only one that can give us proper direction, and this may include a time of fasting and praying. Additionally, Jehoshaphat realized even though they had received a word, fear, if allowed, would attempt to cloud and distort what they heard, so he encouraged the people not to waver or be fearful.
Often when God directs us, we try to impose our thoughts and execute our plan, which often leads to failure. In this text, God provided the people with instructions which they did not alter, and they reaped a bountiful reward.
Finally, I think it is important to note that throughout this whole experience, the people maintained their contact with God in petition, worship, and singing words of praise and thanksgiving. Thus, despite what we may see, feel, or hear from our enemies lets follow this excellent example provided for us in this text and watch God fight our battle.
FRUSTRATION = an act of hindering someone’s plans or efforts, a feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized, the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals, a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs, a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something, the act of preventing the success of something.
Moses at age eighty while keeping the flock of Jethro his father in law on a mountain in Horeb has his first encounter with God. God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush and commissioned him to go to Pharaoh in Egypt with a message from Him. During this encounter, Moses presents five reasons why he should not go, and God rejects all them. God tells Moses what will happen when he goes to Pharaoh, what to say to the elders of Israel, and that Aaron, his brother, will assist him in this commission.
Moses reluctantly goes to Egypt and follows God’s instructions. After ten plagues and increased hardship placed on the Israelis by Pharaoh, the Israelis a total of 600,000 men plus women and children are finally allowed to leave Egypt with Moses leading them across the Red Sea and into the wilderness.
During their time in the wilderness, God was their benefactor. He provided for them all that they would need; however, they murmured and complained continuously, and they not only directed their hostility toward God but also to Moses whom the bible stated was a very meek man above all the men of his time. Moses was a sincere, dedicated, and compassionate man who loved his fellow kinsman. He was a leader not by choice but by God’s appointment, and he was doing the best he could to lead a rebellious, ungrateful, hardheaded people. All he wanted to do is to bring these people into the land of Canaan, but they refused to be willing participants.
The Israelis murmured against Moses over food and water. They murmured against him and threatened to stone him due to their fears and cowardliness concerning entering the land of Canaan. They grumbled and were jealous of his leadership and place of authority. They blamed him for every difficult situation they were experiencing, and it finally took its’ toll on him.
In their traveling the Israelis are once again at a place where they have no water, and they proceed in their usual fashion to complain. Moses and Aaron intercedes for the people, and God gives Moses this instruction, “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Numbers 20: 8). Unfortunately, in his anger and frustration, Moses does not follow God’s instruction completely; instead, he calls the people together and says, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10) Then he lifts up his hand, and smites the rock twice with his rod. God found this unacceptable and states this, “Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12). Moses begged God to change His mind, but God would not comply. In kindness, God did allow Moses to view the Promise Land from Mount Nebo before he died in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 32:49-52).
What did I learn from Moses’s experience? Sometimes God will give us an assignment that we feel unqualified to fulfill, but since he gave it, He knows we can handle it. This assignment may be with people who will cause you a great deal of heartache, headache, anger, and frustration. Plus, the enemy will use them to thwart your assignment. However; we cannot allow our emotions to become so overwhelming that we forget our instructions, for one wrong move may cause you to forfeit seeing and experiencing your promise land.
So, I close this blog with this thought, “I may become frustrated, but I will remain focused and not deviate from my assignment.”
LONELINESS = A feeling of disconnectedness or isolation and is usually based on the perception of a person’s relationship with others. Also, feelings of loneliness have been linked to an assortment of physical, emotional, and mental health issues.
In 1Kings 17, Elijah told King Ahab there would be no rain in the land until he spoke the word for it to come. Three years later, after living in Cherith and Zarephath, God instructs him to go to the King and inform him, “God will send rain upon the earth.” During his absence Elijah did not know what was happening in the land of Samaria and to his fellow prophets; however, while on his way to the king he was informed by Obadiah the governor of Ahab’s house how Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, and how he took a hundred prophets, hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. Also, Elijah was told that King Ahab had desperately searched for him in every nation and kingdom.
When Elijah and King Ahab meet, Elijah tells the king to gather unto Mount Carmel: Israel, the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves which eat at Jezebel’s table. When assembled Elijah says, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God (1 kings18: 21-24).”
The prophets of Baal followed his instructions and called on the name of Baal from morning until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. They cried loudly and cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out. However, they received no response from their god.
Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench about the altar, which he filled with water. He cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood which he had placed in order on the altar and then he had people fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood three times. Elijah prayed this prayer to God, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again (1 Kings 18:36-37).” The response to this prayer was God sent fire that consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When this happened, the people fell down and said, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. Elijah had the people gather all the prophets of Baal and he slew them at the brook Kishon. Then he told Ahab to eat some food and go home because it was going to rain and just like Elijah said it happened.
When King Ahab got home, he told his wife Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including slaying all the prophets of Baal. This infuriated Jezebel, and she sent a message to Elijah, telling him she was going to kill him. In fear, Elijah fled to Beersheba and then into the wilderness where he prayed and asked God to take his life. Exhausted Elijah fell asleep and slept until an angel woke him, and had him eat. Elijah went back to sleep and the angel came the second time again, woke him, and had him eat again. After eating these energizing meals, Elijah was able to travel forty days and forty nights unto Mount Horeb without eating again.
“What doest thou here, Elijah?” is the word of the Lord which came to him while he is lodging in a cave in Mount Horeb. Elijah response was, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” God had Elijah stand on the mount where he experiences a great strong wind renting the mountains, and then an earthquake, followed by a fire. God, in a still small voice, repeats his question to Elijah with Elijah repeating the same answer. God then gives him instructions, tells him about future events in Israel and lets him know he is not the only person serving him for He had seven thousand in Israel which have not bowed down to Baal. With this information, Elijah leaves the mount and goes forward obeying the instructions that he had received from the Lord.
Elijah had been isolated from fellow believers for several years. Except for himself, he thought no one was serving God. He was feeling lonely and thus experiencing emotional, physical, and mental issues. He viewed Jezebel as being more powerful than God. He knew God could provide him with shelter and food but questioned His ability to keep him protected. He allowed his thoughts and feelings to erase from his mind what God had done for him and with him. Elijah allowed himself to fall into a state of depression. He failed the loneliness test.
Loneliness can be used as a weapon of the enemy to draw us into a state of depression. Therefore, during these periods of loneliness/isolation, we must guard our minds, read the Word, and apply it to our lives. We must remember, despite what we may be experiencing that God is with us. We may be isolated from people, but we are never separated from God. Finally, God may manifest His presence in a demonstrative manner, but he often speaks to us in a still small voice.
The Teacher's Pick 