God Can Install and Uninstall Whom He Pleases

Scripture: And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, Judges 9:23

Observation: Abimelech went to the leaders of Shechem, his relatives, and offered to kill his 70 brothers and become their king. Instead of 70 strangers ruling them, they could have one relative. They agreed, and yet soon they turned against Abimelech and tried to kill him. What soured their relationship so quickly? God himself. He sent an evil spirit in between them to divide their relationship. And though Abimelech had taken the throne illegally, without God's appointment, God was able to correct this.

Application: God can get his way. He can correct injustice. He is more powerful than the schemes of violent men. I am sure there were people who wondered where God was when Abimelech took over. The truth is, God was right there and he had a plan. God is able to install and uninstall people from positions.
I have seen God do this in a smaller scale in my life. People that need to be removed from a position or a a company or even a church. I wonder what God is doing and then I see his plan at work. I need to trust that God knows what he is doing and is at work, behind the scenes, to accomplish his purposes. And that sometimes he has to allow the occasional Abimelech.

Prayer: God, today I affirm my trust in your leadership. You know what you are doing. Evil does not win. Your kingdom moves forward. Help me have the peace of trusting you today.

Something More Important than Fear

Scripture: So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night. Judges 6:27

Observation: When the angel of the Lord showed up to where he was working, Gideon, begged him not to leave without giving him a sign. Later, the Lord told Gideon to tear down an altar to Baal. Gideon did, but waited until night because he was afraid. When God asked him to lead an army against his enemies, Gideon pressed God for a sign. He knew that testing God was wrong because he asked God not to be angry with him. Later, God told Gideon to scout the enemy camp, and told him if he was afraid to scout the enemy by himself, he was to take his servant with him.
Gideon did as the Lord told him, but with a spirit of fear and uncertainty. He needed constant reassurance that he was doing what was right. God was gracious to him, and gave him the reassurance he was looking for, but then upped the ante by reducing Gideon’s fighting force from 32,000 to 300 men—further stretching Gideon’s faith. In the end, Gideon, clothed with the Spirit of the Lord, was successful.

Application: God can use people of weak faith. In Gideon’s defense, he never let his fear hold him back from obeying God. Ambrose Redmoon once wrote: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Gideon judged that obeying God, removing idols, and defeating the enemy was more important than his fear.
In my world, I have many reasons to need reassurance. To need external validation that I am going in the right way. I may not cast a fleece, but I may look for the words of others to confirm direction. But the reality is that God has declared a course for me, and I need to hold fast to it. Seeking reassurance may be fine, but in the end, I need to judge that something else is more important than my need for reassurance—obeying the call of God.

Prayer: God, you have outlined some clear paths. Do not let naysayers or questioners cast doubt on your direction. Keep me open to your voice, but when I have heard it, let me judge that it is more important than fear. Help me to keep moving forward.

Rob Bell and Deuteronomy

Scripture: "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Observation: God is warning his people not to be swayed by signs, wonders, or any other appearances of divine empowerment when it comes to people who claim to speak for God. The key to knowing if a person is truly a prophet is not success, or accurate predictions, or even miracles and signs. It is not if the person can reform miracles or heal people or have thousands of followers. The key is the theological test. Who does this person say that God is? What does this person say about God's word?
"Let us go after other gods" may not be someone intentionally enticing false religion, but if we lead people to a version of God that is inconsistent with scripture, then we, in effect, are leading people to other gods and are not to be listened to.

Application: Everyone is tweeting and testing about Rob Bell's forthcoming book, yet few have read it. I have not read it yet, and am trying to withhold a rush to judgment. But as I read the book, my criteria for whether Rob Bell is a person to be listened to is not if his prose is compelling, or if he is genuinely living out the signs of life of Christ, nor is it even the miracle of thousands of followers. In the end, it will come down to: "who does he say that God is?". This answer must be centered in scripture, and not in a sanitized or palatable version. If that answer leads us to a God different than scripture, then we have to stop listening.

Prayer: God, help me make sure my words reflect who you are and not who I want you to be or who I think people want to hear you to be. I pray also for Rob Bell, that his evident love for Christ and people would be guided by the truth of your word.

Obstacle or Opportunity?

Scripture: And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to reveal what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2

Observation: God led his people into some strategic situations where their patience and obedience would be tested. He did this to reveal what was really in their hearts. All people can promise obedience, but the true test is obedience under fire—how we act when our comfort and desires are challenged.

Application: I tend to look at challenges and problems as obstacles to me getting where I want rather than opportunities to obey. Chances to demonstrate to God that I will keep his commandments. These tests reveal what is really in my heart.

Prayer: God, help me today to see the tests I face as opportunities to obey you. Let me find joy I choosing your leading over me.

God Longs for it to Go Well With Me

Scripture: Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Deuteronomy 5:29

Observation: Moses is giving the people the deut nomos, the second giving of the law. After the giving, receiving, and disobeying of the first law, God is gracious to reaffirm the terms of his promise. Here, Moses relates God's reminiscing about that moment. God remembers how the law was given and how the people promised to obey. And he remembers how they feared him with a holy fear. There was genuine honor and respect for God and a desire to follow him and obey.
The Moses relates this one lament of God's, "Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!" while God values their fear, he longs for that t be more than fleeting. God longs for their fear and desire to obey would be permanent. Why? Not so God gets something out of it,but so that it might go well with the people whom he loves. In other words, God's heart is aching for his people to experience e best life has to offer, and he know the only path to that lies in holy fear and obedience.

Application: this is a good reminder for me that God asks for my obedience not because he is on a power trip--my obedience or disobedience does not affect his reign one whit. He asks for my obedience because he longs for life to go well with me. He longs for me to avoid the pain and troubles of wrong paths.
As I consider this, I need to ask, is this my motivation as I call others to obedience? Do I ask for obedience among my kids because I need to control, or because I long for it to go well with them in life? Do I call our church to follow God because it makes me feel better, or because I long for it to go well with them in this life? I need to examine my motives, and make sure my call to obedience in others is matched by a longing for blessing in their lives.

Prayer: God, examine my heart today as I prepare to lead with our staff. I am calling all of us to obedience. May my heart ache for them to experience it going well in their lives. May they hear that longing under the surface of all I say today. Let me lead with strength and grace and patience today. Amen.

When the Sure Thing isn't so Sure

Scripture: And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan." Numbers 32:5

Observation: The tribes of Israel are moving into the promised land, to cleanse and occupy it. As they are about to enter, two tribes, Reuben and Gad, ask Moses if they could hang back. They have found land much more suitable for their needs on the other side of the Jordan. Were they afraid of battle? Maybe they saw the land on this side of the Jordan as "a sure thing" compared to the risk of the promised land.
Moses strikes a compromise with them. If they will fight alongside the other tribes until the promised land is secure, then they can return to this land and live there. The two tribes agree and fulfill their obligation.
However, history shows this to be a bad decision. The land Reuben and Gad requested is referred to as the Transjordan. It lacked natural defenses, and was vulnerable to Israel's enemies. It was often the first land invaded. Several times, Israel lost control of this land. In fact, when Reuben is mentioned in the bible, it is never in a way that shows it controlled this land. The sure thing turned out to be not so sure.

Application: Be careful what you wish for could be the immediate takeaway. But the problem is not poor land assessment. The problem is that God gave the tribes a land of promise and two tribes thought they could do better. Moses even connects this decision with the fear of the spies who initially surveyed the land. The problem is that Reuben and Gad could not trust that what God had for them was better than what their eyes could see. They walked by sight, not by faith.

What is it in my life that God has promised, but I am turning down for what appears to be better? Can I hold out for His promise, or do I need to grab what I can now? Is it really a sure thing if is is not God's thing?

Prayer: God, show me today where I am choosing the Transjordan for the Promised land. Don't let me take the easy road.

What He Requires, He Will Provide

Scripture: The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’ Numbers 28:1-2

Observation: Here we find the calendar of sacrifices. What to offer, which day to offer it. It is a detailed list. And sometimes, these offerings could pile up on each other. For example, if the Sabbath day fell on the first day of the month, a priest would have to offer not only the daily offerings and the Sabbath offerings but also the first-of-the-month offerings. That’s a lot to offer. According to the ESV Study bible, these sacrifices, over the course of a year, could total 113 bulls, 1,086 lambs, over a ton of flour, and 1,000 bottles of oil and wine!
One way to look at that is with pressure and responsibility. “You mean we have to produce that many animals and flour and bottles? Oh boy!” Another way to look at this is to see it as a promise: God will provide for what God requires. “You mean we will be prosperous enough to be able to sacrifice 100 bulls, 1000 lambs, and 1000 bottles of wine? Praise God!” Pressure or praise hinge upon seeing God’s unspoken promises.

Application: I deal with a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I look at that and feel the pressure, “You mean I have to come up with _______?” Today, God is reminding me that what he requires, He will provide. I can look at my responsibility (which has not changed) and see that God is going to provide. Greater responsibility means I need greater provision, and greater opportunity for God to flex his muscles.

Prayer: God, I have some tasks before me these next few weeks. Tasks that have increased due to illness. Yet today I ask for and trust that You will provide for all you have required of me. I cannot do it myself.