MOTIVATION = the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior.
In this blog I will share the story as found in 2 Kings 5 of Naaman the leper who was a valiant captain in the Syrian army, cherished by the king of Syria for his many successful military campaigns and was willing and motivated to go to a place where he knew he would be stigmatized for his leprosy to be healed.
During one of his military campaigns, a captive brought out of the land of Israel was a young maid who was given to Naaman’s wife as a servant. This maiden told her mistress about Elisha the healing prophet who resided in Samaria. Her words were relayed to the king who then sent Naaman to the king of Israel with a letter telling him to heal Naaman of his leprosy. When Jehoram the king of Israel read the letter he became distraught because he knew he was powerless to heal; however, the news of this event reached Elisha, and he told Jehoram to send Naaman to him.
When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s home, Elisha did not come out and greet Naaman, but sent these directions to him, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.” Naaman became angry because of the lack of reception and the manner in which he received direction from Elisha. He also felt if he was to wash and be clean the Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus were better to wash in than all the waters of Israel.
Rejecting the instructions, a furious Naaman was leaving to return home when one of his servant’s said to him, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” This question had a positive effect on Naaman for he went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, and his flesh came like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman was so thankful he returned to Elisha’s home, met face to face with Elisha and declared, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.” Naaman had brought with him the following gifts: ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. However, Elisha adamantly refused to receive anything. Naaman, because of this miracle, became a believer of God and pledged his allegiance to God. He requested earth from Samaria to take back to Syria as a symbol of conversion and belief. He also asked God’s forgiveness ahead of time for having to bow with his master when he accompanied him into the house of Rimmon (a false god) to worship. After hearing Naaman’s declaration, Elisha sent Naaman home in peace.
Naaman’s motivation to be healed sent him on a long journey on the word of a young girl. He did not know if this child was telling the truth, but he was willing to see, for back then, unlike today, there was no curable treatment for leprosy. Leprosy was a contagious disease that affected the mucous membranes, skin, and nerves, causing lumps on the skin, discoloration and, in severe cases, deformities and disfigurement. The scriptures do not reveal the extent of this disease in Naaman, but it was troubling enough for him to want to be rid of it.
It is important to note that in Israel as instructed by God, people that had leprosy were isolated from the general public. No doubt this was the reason Elisha did not come out the first time Naaman came to his house. In other nations, this isolation apparently was not enforced. Therefore Naaman was insulted when Elisha did not go out and address him.
Naaman had to make an attitude adjustment to receive his miracle. Naaman had to get over his frustration and anger at Elisha. He had to humble himself and do the unthinkable (dip in the nasty Jordan River), but the results brought him immediate success. Also, his religious convictions motivated him to carry earth back home because he wanted to do what was right in the sight of God.
Naaman is an excellent example for us. Are we motivated to go to a place to receive the benefits of God? Are we motivated enough to make an attitude adjustment when necessary? Are we motivated and willing to humble ourselves when given instructions we don’t like? Are we motivated to carry a load for a distance to honor God? Naaman’s motivation and actions brought him success; I pray that yours is doing the same.
TRUST= Firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance. Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person. To place confidence in; to rely on, to confide, or repose faith. To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
In this blog written from 1Kings 17, I will share the story of Elijah the Tishbite and a Gentile widow in Zarephath and how they handled the trust test.
Elijah, a mighty prophet in Israel whose name means, “The Lord (Jehovah) is my God” is sent to the wicked King Ahab with a word concerning a nationwide drought which would last for several years and would not cease until he said so. After delivering this word, God instructs Elijah to go and hide by the brook Cherith that is east of Jordan. He is also told that he would be able to drink water from the brook and ravens would bring him a meal of flesh and bread two times a day. Elijah obeyed the instructions and was kept protected and nourished until the brook dried up. At that time God sends him northeast about a hundred miles to the Phoenician city of Zarephath to a widow whom He had commanded to sustain him.
As Elijah was entering Zarephath, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He asked her for a drink of water and a morsel of bread. Listen to her answer to this request and then Elijah’s response, “As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said unto her, “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1Kings 17:12-14).
Prompted by God, this widow, who was not acquainted with Elijah heeded his words. Thus, she experienced a daily miracle for the barrel of the meal did not empty, and neither did the cruse of oil fail. Despite these provisions, the widow had her doubts concerning Elijah’s authenticity; however, a significant crisis proved to her that Elijah was a man of God who spoke the word of God.
This event unfolded when her son became ill and died. At first, she felt his death was caused by the sins she committed and Elijah’s presence in her household. Elijah did not condemn her, but he took the child from her, carried him up into his loft, laid him upon his bed, interceded to God, and stretched himself upon the child three times. God responded affirmatively to Elijah, and the child was revived. When he took the child down to his mother, she then acknowledged Elijah as a true man of God.
In these years of drought, trust in God is exhibited by Elijah and the widow. First, Elijah believed that God would sustain him and feed him via ravens. The raven known for its’ intelligence, omnivorous diet, and versatility in finding sources of nutrition is the first cousin to the common crow. Its’ nature was to feed itself, but these special ravens also fed Elijah. Secondly, in going to Zarephath, Elijah knew it was located in close proximity to where his enemy King Ahab lived, but he continued to trust God for divine protection. And finally, God did not send him to a rich person but to a widow who was about to starve, and his obedience resulted in continued substance for both of them.
The scriptures do not share this Gentile widow’s personal history or why God chooses to send Elijah to her. It does states He directed her to feed Elijah, and without much hesitation, she did so. She trusted God, and He did not fail her. He gave her not only provisions but the life of her son.
From this text, we see that we can trust God for our daily bread even when it comes from unlikely sources. His grace extends beyond His chosen people but also to those who will believe and obey His instructions. He can restore life to that which is dead, and He will keep you safe from your enemies as you put your trust in Him. So I close today with these two words that encompass all situations, “TRUST GOD.”
SELF-WILLED = 1.Determined to do what you want even though other people may not want you to do it. 2. Governed by one’s own will: not yielding to the wishes of others: obstinate. 3.Bullheaded, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful.
The best example of the self-willed test is found at the beginning of time when God created the angels and established His kingdom. He created a cherub named Lucifer who became Satan due to all the characteristics that are found above in the definition of self-willed.
Ezekiel 28 describes Lucifer’s appearance before his fall. The scripture calls him, “the anointed cherub that covereth” and states God positioned him on the holy mountain of God. Lucifer was perfect until iniquity was found in him. The arrogance he displayed because of his military prowess, commercial prosperity, and intellectual ability was rooted in the spirit of pride or self-will, and it was this iniquity that led to his downfall.
Lucifer was created in beauty and given a high position in God’s kingdom, but he was not satisfied. He lusted after that which did not belong to him. Isaiah 14:12-14 describes his thought process and his five erroneous “I will” attempts. First, he wanted to move out of his assigned place/territory and ascend into heaven. Secondly, he wanted to change his position and elevate himself above the other celestial beings. Thirdly, he wanted to rule over the universe, thus, redirect God’s plan and purpose for his life. Fourthly, he overestimated is potential in thinking he could rise above the glory and majesty of God. Fifth and final he became delusional in his thinking and thought he could be like God.
Unfortunately, this same attitude and thinking can be found in believers. We reject God’s plan and purpose for our lives while subscribing to and pursuing what we want. We forget that God knows what is best suited for our lives even when it brings us discomfort.
Jesus was and is our perfect example of how to pass the self-will test. When faced with decisions He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5: 30). When faced with the greatest challenge that would change the course of our lives and provided us with salvation He said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).
On today I encourage you not to lean to your understanding but in all your ways to acknowledge God. To trust God and His plan for your life no matter what heartaches and pain you may be presently experiencing, for in so doing, you will pass the self-willed test.
DISCOURAGEMENT = 1. A feeling of lost hope, a loss of confidence or enthusiasm. 2. The act of making something less likely to happen or of making people less likely to do something 3. Something (such as a failure or difficulty) that discourages someone. 4. The act of trying to prevent something from happening, especially because you do not approve of it or think it is harmful
In this life, everyone will have the opportunity to experience discouragement in one form or another. We will either be discouraged or attempt to discourage someone. In this blog, I will share two events which will display both of these forms of discouragement and prayerfully it will help you in the future to respond wisely to discouragement.
This first form of discouragement has to do with an unexpected traumatic occurrence. David and his band of soldiers had left their home in Ziklag unprotected while they accompanied King Achish to Aphek to engage in a major campaign against Israel. When the princes of the Philistines saw David and his men, they questioned his loyalty and allegiance to them; therefore, they sent them back to their home.
After a three day journey, they arrived in Ziklag to discover the Amalekites had invaded, smitten and burned Ziklag with fire. The Amalekites did not kill anyone, but they had taken captive the wives, sons, and daughters of David and his men. 1 Samuel 30:4& 6 reports this response to their findings, “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” First, David’s two wives were gone, all of his material things and livestock were taken, and his place of abode was destroyed. To make matters worse, his loyal men were so angry and hurt; they wanted to do him bodily harm. Not only was he discouraged, but he was also in a big dilemma.
In my research, I discovered during their sixteen-month stay in Ziklag, David had been out of relationship and communication with God. Gad, the prophet had told him to abide in the land of Judah, but in fear of King Saul, David had left that region (1 Samuel 22:5). He was a disobedient man on the run with his followers. While in Ziklag he was dishonest, a liar and a renegade but now David had sense enough to realize he needed some divine direction and he sent for Abiathar the priest and the ephod. David enquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? “His answer, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
Accordingly, David and four hundred men were able to overtake and defeat the Amalekites recovering all. “And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David recovered all” (1 Samuel 30:19).
The second discouragement scenario has to do with the children of Israel. They had been in the wilderness for two years. God had given laws, statues, and commandments by which they were to adhere too as a nation, and now it was time for them to go and possess the land of Canaan. Twelve men were sent to search out the land. This is Moses’s instruction to them, “And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strongholds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land” (Numbers 13:18 – 20a).
The twelve men returned from searching the land after forty days with one cluster of grapes, pomegranates, and figs. Ten of the men gave this discouraging evil report, “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (1 Samuel 14: 27-29, 31-33). These men were pleased with the land but scared of the inhabitants of the land. They forgot about the mighty God who promised to be with them and how He had previously delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh.
Caleb and Joshua attempted to convince the congregation who had spent the night weeping after receiving the evil report not to despair. They said, “The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” However, the congregation did not respond favorably but wanted to stone them, and they murmured against Moses and Aaron saying, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt? Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”
At this point God was willing to smite them with a pestilence and disinherit them; however, Moses interceded for them and God pardon them and declared this judgment on them, “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: As truly as I live, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise” (Numbers 14:22-23, 28- 34).
The difference between David and Israel was their response to discouragement. When David became discouraged, he remembered the mightiness of His God and sought Him for direction, but Israel allowed the words of men to prevail. Thus, David succeeded, and Israel perished.
Keeping God in our mind, meditating on His love, goodness, and mighty power is key to our success and survival in times of discouragement. Remembering how he delivered us and others in the past when the enemy tries to send discouragement our way will help us encourage ourselves to keep holding on until a decisive change takes place. Also, remembering life has its’ peaks and valleys, so utilizing all the weapons of warfare and trusting God and His Word will bring you from discouragement to hope.
Wilderness = A desert, a tract of land or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings, an area of land where people do not live or grow crops and where there is no building. A period of time when you are not as successful as you were previously, and a state of disorder.
On today I am going to share information on Israel’s wilderness test, and I pray this information will aid you in your walk with God.
According to the scriptures, the children of Israel had been in Egypt for 430 years, and while there they became an idolatrous people worshipping the gods of Egypt (Ezekiel 20). Nevertheless, God, because of His mercy, and Word to their forefather Abraham, sent a deliverer named Moses to deliver them from the tyranny of Pharaoh, and to bring them out of Egypt.
After ten plagues, the last being the death of all the firstborn males of the Egyptians, Pharaoh permitted the Israelis to leave; however, he quickly reverses his decision and pursues after them which ends with him and his army being drowned in the Red Sea.
Exodus 13:17-18a states, “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.” Being in bondage in Egypt had its advantages, for the Israelis as a people did not have to engage in warfare. The disadvantage was, they were not trained soldiers, and they were not equipped for war. Therefore, God directed them in a route that would prevent discouragement and attack from the hands of their enemies. He took His people into the wilderness.
In Deuteronomy 6:2-5,14-18 Moses in his farewell address to Israel further discloses the reason for the wilderness experience. He states “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.” and “Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” So, the wilderness as defined above as a dry, uninhabited place became a classroom for Israel to learn about themselves and God. Their experiences were not always pleasant; sometimes, it was painful and grueling, but all with purpose.
In this place where there were no great nations dwelling to influence them or a place to purchase the daily conveniences and provision of Egypt, Israel was humbled, tried and proved. Unlike Egypt where all their basic needs were met, they now had to depend on God to supply their needs. This was done to reveal to them their real character and willingness to be grateful and obedient to their God. The goal was to teach them to adhere to the Word of God, which would sustain them in every situation. Also, in the future, when they became a prosperous nation, the wilderness experience was supposed to remind them of the greatness of their benefactor.
Unfortunately, Israel failed the wilderness test miserably. They continually murmured, complained, and rebelled against God (Numbers14:22), and God chastised them for their actions. Moses, after forty years in the wilderness, admonishes them, “to be no more stiffnecked” because he knew firsthand that Israel had yet to humble themselves honestly (Deuteronomy 10:16).
Regrettably, Israel’s actions mirror us. God continually proves himself to us, but we question His ability when problems arise in our lives. We do not yield to His will and often display an unteachable spirit. We doubt, complain, stress, and turn from God. When He chastises us, we wonder why we are experiencing bad things. Many of us are slow learners, and for this, we suffer the consequences.
The five requirements of God that Moses shared with Israel remains the same for us today, and if we do them during our wilderness testing, we will not fail. So, I close with these valuable words of Moses, “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
Have you ever been betrayed? It is a horrible feeling, and especially if it is done by someone you called a friend. This experience is extremely hurtful and has changed the way many people view the world and the people with whom they come in contact. Today, I am going to share how Jesus handled the betrayal test at the hands of someone who was supposed to be his disciple and a friend. Let me start with the definition of the word betray and then discuss how Judas betrayed Jesus.
Betray = 1. to aid an enemy of (one’s nation, friend,) 2. to hand over or expose treacherously to an enemy 3. to disclose (a secret, confidence,) 4. to break (a promise) or be disloyal to (a person’s trust) 5. to disappoint the expectations of; fail 6. to show signs of; indicate 7. to reveal unintentionally 8. to lead astray; deceive 9. (euphemistic) to seduce and then forsake.
Little is revealed in the Bible about the life of Judas Iscariot who was the son of Simon (John 6:71) and who was a Judean from the town of Kerioth in southern Judah. He is first introduced to readers as one of the twelve ordained disciples that Jesus chooses to be with him, and that he would send out to preach, heal sicknesses, and cast out devils (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). Also, noted in the group of twelve, Judas served as the treasurer who handled the monies, and unfortunately he did not have compassion for poor people as Jesus did, but instead he was a thief(John 12:6; 13:29).
It is interesting to observe the actions of Jesus toward Judas. Judas ministered with Jesus for three years, and despite his character flaws, Jesus did not expose him nor treat him contemptuously. Jesus knew that his ministry time on earth was coming to an end, he knew that Satan had entered Judas, and he had plotted with the chief priests to betray him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-14; Luke 22:1-6), yet, he washed his feet (John 13:12) and ate his last supper with him sharing bread that was dipped into this bowl which denotes a mark of honor. It was during this supper that Jesus revealed Judas as the betrayer and that for this heinous act it would have been better for Judas not to have been born (Matthew 26:20-24; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-22; John 13:18-26). Judas being delusional and deceptive asked Jesus was he the one to whom Jesus was referring (Matthew 26:25). Jesus answered him affirmatively and dismissed Judas who goes to the chief priest and temple officials to bring them to Jesus while the multitude that followed him was absent.
Since it was nighttime, a signal was predetermined to alert the officials who Jesus was. So, when Judas arrives at the Garden of Gethsemane with a great multitude of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people the scripture states in Matthew 26:47-50, “And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.” There are many types of kisses, but the kiss on the cheek was the customary way a pupil greeted a Rabbi in Biblical times, and it denoted affection, greeting, and respect. Ironically, Judas kiss was that of a traitor and an accomplice. Since these men were coming to capture Jesus at night, his actions would be the sure way to know that they had captured the right man. This scripture further state, “And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?” What is amazing to me is, Jesus, knew who he was and what he had done still considered him a friend. Unlike us, Jesus did not hold on to grudges or resentment even when death by crucifixion was pending.
After Jesus is captured and taken in custody Judas remorsefully realizes what he has done, Judas admits that he has betrayed an innocent man, and he attempts to return the silver which was a comparatively modest sum for his act of betrayal to the chief priest who refuses to accept it. Judas who served with Jesus did not learn the many valuable lessons that Jesus had taught on servanthood, riches, and forgiveness. If he did, maybe he would have repented and ask God for forgiveness instead of committing suicide by hanging himself (Matthew 27:3-10; Acts1:15-20).
From the life of Judas, we learn what we should not be: a traitor and betrayer of an innocent person. From his interactions with Jesus and the teachings of Jesus on last day occurrences, we learn how to respond to a person that we know means us harm and not good. It is a tall order to follow, but it can be done with the much-needed help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus passed the betrayal test, and so can you. Remember, the next time your Judas comes to kiss you, call him a friend and leave his demise in the hands of God.
Forgive 1. To give up resentment against or stop wanting to punish (someone) for an offense or fault; pardon. 2. To relent in being angry or in wishing to exact punishment for (an offense or fault). 3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).
One of the most challenging acts to do in life is to forgive someone that has hurt you, and everyone that lives will experience many opportunities to forgive and to be forgiven. Whether you are able to do so displays your willingness to adhere to the Word and your understanding of the freedom and release in your spirit and soul which avails itself to you when you can move beyond the offense. Satan wants us to hold on to unforgiveness for he knows when we do, we remain in bondage to our offender. Thus, the truth of the matter is, forgiveness is more beneficial to the offended than for the offender.
A good example of a person who was offended at various stages of his life is Joseph. He suffered, but in the end, he overcame and was victorious. Let me share some of those significant crushing events. The life story of Joseph the eleventh son of Jacob and first son born to Rachel can be found in Genesis 30,37-50.
For many years after the marriage of Jacob and Rachel, Rachel appeared to be barren and unable to conceive. Finally, God opened up Rachel’s womb, and she conceived and bore a son who became the apple of his father’s eye. Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors which represented royalty, and he favored Joseph over his brothers, causing them to be jealous of him. In his youth, Joseph also informed his father of his brother’s wrongdoings which further infuriated them, and then he had two dreams about him being superior to family members which he shared with them, and this caused his brother when the opportunity presented itself to sell him into slavery to Ishmaelite traders.
At age seventeen, Joseph, who received preferred treatment, was now a slave. The Ishmaelite traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, a captain of the guard of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and Joseph became a servant in Potiphar’s house. The spirit of excellence was on Joseph, causing Potiphar to promote Joseph to the position of personal attendant eventually. Joseph’s beauty and physique appeared enticing to Potiphar’s wife, who continually attempted to allure Joseph into committing fornication with her, but he resisted her. When she saw her attempts were failing, she told her husband Joseph tried to rape her, and he put Joseph in prison.
In prison, the spirit of excellence continued to rest on Joseph, and before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of prison activities and the other prisoners. During this time, two of the king’s servants offended the king, and he put them in prison. Both of these men had a dream which Joseph interpreted and just like his interpretation: one was killed and the other restored to the service of the king. Joseph made this request to the restored servant, “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon” (Genesis 40:14-15). However, the servant forgot about Joseph until two years had passed, and the king had a dream that no one was able to interpret, and then he remembered and told the king about Joseph.
The king immediately sent for the thirty years old Joseph, who appeared before him after he had shaven and changed his garments. Joseph interpreted the king’s dream about seven years of prosperity, followed by seven years of famine. The king was pleased with Joseph’s interpretation and advice, so, he put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt to collect and store crop during the time of plenty for the time of famine. This is the king’s words and actions toward Joseph, “Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On” (Genesis 41:39-45).
During the time of prosperity, two sons were born to Joseph. Genesis 41:51-52 states, “And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” The name of his sons reflected the pain, inner turmoil, and emotional scars that Joseph had experienced for thirteen years. He was wounded by his brothers, the Ishmaelite traders who mistreated him and put him in shackles, Potiphar and his wife, and the restored servant who forgot him for two years. Now, he was ready to move on with his life, not realizing he was going to be confronted with his brothers in the near future.
During the second year of famine, famine had spread to the land of Canaan, and Jacob sent his ten older sons down to Egypt to buy grain. The youngest son, Benjamin who was the son born to Joseph’s mother Rachel, who had died during that birth, he kept home with him. Genesis 42:6-9 states, “And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them.” Joseph chooses not to reveal himself to his brother but instead test their feelings to his younger brother Benjamin.
How Joseph tested them, and their response can be found in Genesis 42-45. Joseph finally reveals to them who he was with these words, “Come near to me, I pray you. I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither” (Genesis 45:3-9). Joseph did not berate, mistreat, or condemn his brothers, but he wept, kissed them, and sent them loaded with goods back to Canaan to get his father and their households.
His brothers went back to Canaan and brought Jacob to Egypt where he has united once again with the son he loved dearly. As he stated, Joseph took care of his brethren and their households even after their father Jacob died, and his brothers thought he might retaliate on them. Joseph once again reassured, comforted and spoke kindly to them with these words, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones” (Genesis 50:19-21). Apparently, despite the pain, we may experience, God has a purpose for it all.
Joseph’s actions show us forgiveness must be continually maintained and not allow the hurts from the offense to resurface. Since we know Satan is out to steal our joy, we must use our knowledge and spiritual weapons to combat his schemes. Simply put, with the help of God we must forgive and move on; for in so doing we will pass the test of forgiveness.
How long will you trust and believe in God’s Word? Will, you become impatient and deviate from what He instructed you to do because a long time has passed? The time test tries a person’s endurance; it shows if you can remain consistent despite what you see or feel. In this blog, I will share information on the life of Noah as found in Genesis 6-9, and how he handled the time test.
Noah is first introduced in Genesis 6:5-8 which states, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
Man’s wickedness and evil practices reached an apex that God could no longer tolerate, and He decided as their punishment He would eradicate them from the face of the earth. However, living during this period was a righteous man named Noah, who found favor with God, and God planned to reward Noah by saving him and his household.
God planned to punish humanity with an event that they had never experienced and it was called a flood. To protect Noah and his family from this catastrophic event God gave Noah specific instructions on building an ark of gopher wood in which he, his family, seven pairs of clean animals, two pairs of unclean animals and daily provision of food for all would be housed. In today’s imperial measurements, the ark was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high with three levels; it was gigantic.
Research of the scriptures does not reveal how long it took Noah to build this enormous ark, but the scriptures do reveal that Noah was close to 500 years old when God gave him the instructions and 600 years old when the rain started. Also, history does not record a prior vessel of this magnitude being built; therefore, I can only imagine that Noah’s countrymen thought Noah was crazy as they watched him build it. 2 Peter 2:5 states that while Noah was in the building process, he ministered to the people. No doubt, he got weary of building and ministered, but he did not stop. Days turned into months, months turned into years and time elapsed, Finally, the day arrived that the ark was finished and unfortunately, Noah’s countrymen had rejected his message, and now they were going to suffer the consequences.
Genesis 7:1-9 shares the assembling of those that were to be safe in the ark and 7:16 states, “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.” It rained for 40 days and nights until the whole earth was submerged in water and every living creature except those in the ark was dead. Noah and his household remained in the ark for approximately one year. One year shut-in with no place to go, one year living with everyone’s body excrements, one year living without their usual comforts, one long year wondering what is going to happen next, and one year grateful to be alive.
Finally, the earth was dry, and God allowed the ark inhabitants to come out, and He said to Noah, “Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.” Also, God established a covenant with mankind that He would never again destroy all flesh by a flood; neither allow a flood to destroy the whole earth, and God’s token of this covenant would be a rainbow in the cloud.
Upon reading the story of Noah, I found God’s communication with Noah was limited. He gave Noah instructions, and Noah followed them. In the building of the ark, and the habitation of the ark, time was long, but Noah’s obedience without continual prompting was seen. Noah had faith to believe that what God said would come to pass, and for this, he and his family were saved. Can we say the same? Are we becoming weary because we do not experience the fruition of God’s word? If so, let me encourage you today to remember Noah. Your trust, obedience, and endurance over time will bring a good reward, and it may also save your family.
In this blog, I will discuss the character test. The dictionary defines character as: fiber, the inherent complex of attributes that determines a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions; a distinctive trait; quality; attribute; the pattern of behavior found in an individual or group; moral strength; self-discipline; fortitude; a peculiar quality, or sum of qualities, by which a person is distinguished from others; the principles and motives that control the life. God allows kings, and jealous government officials to test the four testees who are found in the book of Daniel in this area. Were these testees successful, or did they fail? Continue reading to see what happens.
King Nebuchadnezzar has conquered Jerusalem and taken captives back to Babylon. Among the captives are handsome, intellectual young men of nobility who became chosen trainees to be taught the language, customs, arts, letters, wisdom, and laws of Babylon. In the group are four young men whose names can be found in Daniel 1:6-7 which states, “Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.” No doubt the name change was to mark a new beginning and to obliterate their past.
In Daniel 1 we read the attempts to indoctrinate and assimilate these young men into the Babylonian culture; for it was the king’s desire after the three years training program to use the brightest of the trainees in his government. Besides the studies, the trainees were fed sumptuously from a diet that was contrary to their heritage and religious teachings. Rather than succumb to the lifestyle of Babylon, these four trainees refused to partake and defile themselves like their counterparts. Daniel requested, “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.” At the conclusion of the allotted time, their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter than the other trainees; so, they were permitted to continue with their restricted diet. Also, at the end of the three years the king communed with them and found them to excel above all the other trainees, magicians and astrologers in the land for God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
In Daniel 3, years have gone by and King Nebuchadnezzar has made and set up a golden image that the people are required to bow down and worship. It was reported to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not following this mandate. This report infuriated the king, and he had them brought before him for questioning. Here are the details of this encounter as found in Daniel 3:14-18, “Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Further infuriated by their reply, the king has Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bond and cast into the furnace which he had made seven times hotter and to his astonishment, he sees them and another man which he deemed the Son of God walking in the furnace unharmed. The king calls for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to come out of the furnace; he acknowledges their God to be a God that delivers, decrees that anyone that speaks against their God will be slaughtered, and he promotes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in his kingdom.
Lastly, in Daniel 6 Daniel, who is in senior years, have lived through the reign of several kings, is now assigned as the senior president in Babylon by King Darius. This appointment causes jealousy among his constituents (presidents and princes), and they plot to have him killed. They fool the king into making a decree that anyone that ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except the king shall be cast into a den of lions. They knew that Daniel would not adhere to this decree, and when Daniel, in his usual custom, prayed to his God, they reported Daniel’s actions to the king and insisted that Daniel is punished. The king reluctantly enforced his decree, and Daniel was cast into the lion’s den. The king spent that night fasting, and in the morning he goes to the den, and in a lamentable voice he spoke these words to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” Daniel responded and said, “O king, live forever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” The king was ecstatic, and he removed Daniel up out of the den, commanded those men who accused Daniel along with their families be cast into the den of lions and wrote the following decree, “ Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” The chapter concludes by saying, “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
In all three incidents, we see men’s character being tested; however, unlike their fellow countrymen, they refused to be tainted, influenced, or persuaded by the society in which they were thrust. Their actions and righteous behavior caused attacks; yet, they stood firm in their morals and ethics. They displayed self-discipline and unwavering trust in the God of their forefathers, and for this, they found favor with man. They lived the same throughout their lifetime, showing believers that no matter where we find ourselves, we can maintain a Godly character.
As I stated in my last blog, in this blog, I will share more information on the three components of a test as I understand them. To do this, I want to examine the components (tester, testee, and test) as we experienced them during our formal education.
The first component of a test is the tester, who is the one administering the test. This tester usually prepares the testee for a test by sharing material in advance of the test. Also, the tester may use various tools to accomplish this goal of learning. During the test, the tester is present and silent; he/she will not engage you in conversation; there is no talking by either tester or testee. The result of the test provides the tester with knowledge concerning the testee’s skills, aptitude, fitness, and comprehension. With this information, the tester will make a decision on the advancement of the testee.
The tester in this blog series is God who is omniscient; therefore, the test is not to reveal anything to Him but rather for the testee’s enlightenment and feedback. God has provided His Word, which contains instructions to allow the testee to successfully pass the test if he/she adheres to the guidelines. In biblical times the commandments, laws, and statutes of God were sometimes hidden, and if not previously, taught or shared with the people they were ignorant concerning God’s principles. Fortunately, success is available for most of us present-day believers because we always have an open book exam. As we go through our time of testing, we can still search the Word for answers. It may cost us time, pleasure, and comfort, but the reward and result will be worth it all.
The next component is the testee, who is the person taking the test. The age of the testee can vary, and this will also determine the severity of the test. It is the responsibility of the testee to study and prepare for the test utilizing the teaching materials and tools offered to them. During the teaching and learning period, the testee can ask questions. However, once the test begins, communication with the tester is halted. Usually, if a testee is talking during a test it is because they do not understand the test, they need clarification, or they are trying to cheat. Engaging in any of these practices can result in failure of the test.
For this series, the testee who is taking the test will either be a person or nation. I will share with you the lives of biblical personalities and how they handled their test. Prayerfully, we will learn from their success and failures.
The final component is the test which is the instrument used to see if the information previously given was successfully learned, and it can vary in style, duration, intensity, location, requirements, and frequency. The result of the test determines if you graduate. If you fail, you are detained in the same grade another year and you are given the same test over again. The tester will use the same standard curriculum; it is not new, and your promotion depends solely on you learning the old material. Also, at the beginning of the school year, a tester may give a pre-test which will reveal what you already know, and at the end of the year, a post-test is given to determine if the testee has retained any knowledge from the year’s work. So testing can happen at any time, and it pays to be alert and ready.
I hope the above information has been informative. In closing this blog, an excellent principle to learn is: PREPARATION FOR A TEST IS PARAMOUNT AND CAN BE THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS.
The Teacher's Pick 