Jacob: “All these things are against me.”

Genesis 42:36 “And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.”

But were they, really, “against“ him; or was God just working His purpose through this difficult time?

Jacob had twelve sons: but there was jealousy among them.

Joseph was his favorite.

Joseph loved the Lord, and Jacob made him a coat of many colors, which signified his love for him….which only intensified the jealousy and hatred his brothers had for Joseph.

Joseph was sent by his father to find the older brothers who were herding cattle.

Because of this jealousy, he was taken by them, and sold to a passing caravan going down to Egypt.

That coat of many colors was dipped in the blood of goats. Then they told Jacob that they just found it. (They had wanted to kill him; but God would not allow that.)

Horrible story! Jacob was heartbroken.

Years past: Joseph, the boy, became Joseph the man, in Egypt. (His story of when he was a slave in Egypt is an amazing story of God’s goodness, even in a terrible situation. Genesis 39-41)

Joseph had a gift of interpreting dreams. And after years in prison, he is brought out to give the interpretation of a dream Pharaoh had: there would be seven “fat” years, or years of plenty. And then there would be seven “lean” years, or years of famine for the whole world.

Pharaoh was so grateful for the interpretation, he made Joseph second in command under him.

Seven plentiful years came, and Joseph saved up the excess for the famine to come.

Now, the famine was here, even into Canaan, where Jacob and his family was.

Hearing that there is corn(grain) in Egypt, Jacob says to the older sons, “Take money and go buy some, that the children may live.”

But, after losing Joseph, he would not send his youngest son, Benjamin.

So they came to Egypt, to the very one they had so badly treated years before:

But they knew him not.

Genesis 42:7-8 “And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but he 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.”

Joseph speaks through an interpreter, so they would not know he knew what they were saying. He speaks roughly to see what they would do.

They protest their innocence; telling him where they come from, who is their father, and that they have a brother at home.

But Joseph throws them into prison, claiming they “are spies” for three days. (Not the years he was)

After three days, he says that they can go home with corn, but one of them, Simeon, will stay in prison.

And one more thing: they would need to bring the youngest brother, before Simeon could be free.

What?! Oh, no. They can’t believe it! What would this do to their father?

The oldest son then speaks to the rest: This is a judgement upon us for Joseph. We heard his pleadings, yet would not be moved. Now his blood is required at our hand.

But they do not know Joseph is hearing all of this confession.

So, they go home, with the corn that they went for; but sadly, for they knew this would tear Jacob up to hear what happened.

Then Jacob cries, “…all these things are against me.”

“You will kill me, if anything happens to Benjamin. No, he will not go.”

But the famine worsens. There would be several years of depravation to come. They could not hold out.

(The thing is: God had allowed all of this. He had purposed the saving of Jacob’s family by Joseph, and had allowed their hatred of Joseph to go so far….and no further.

Joseph would go before them into Egypt, and God would protect him, and in God’s time, raise him to the powerful position he was in.)

But Jacob did not know this. He looked at the circumstances around.

Famine, and death for all his family.

Or send Benjamin, and maybe lose him, too.

What to do?

Genesis 43:2, 13-14 “And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, and buy us a little food.

Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

So they went to Egypt.

But there would be one more test of the loyalty to their father, that Joseph would give:

He had them in for the noon meal with him, seeing Benjamin for the first time, in years.

Joseph filled their sacks with corn, but also slipped a gold cup of his into Benjamin’s sack.

He let them go just out of the city, and sent his men after them, saying that one had his cup!

When they found it in Benjamin’s sack, Jacob’s sons were terrified. What would happen now? Death? Slavery? What would become of their family in Canaan?

Joseph said that only Benjamin would become a servant: this is quite a test! Would these brothers that sold him into slavery, care about Benjamin, and the heart of their father?

They did. They had learned their lesson.

So Judah stepped forward and begged Joseph (though they did not know it was him) to take him as a servant, and let Benjamin go.

Then Joseph tells them who he really is, and sends for Jacob and the rest of his family to come and live near Joseph; and be provided for.

All that they could need, was provided by God beforehand, only they just did not know it yet.

Genesis 45:28. “And Israel (Jacob) said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.”

Genesis 46:2-4 “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

And He said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will make of thee a great nation.

I will go down with thee into Egypt; I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hands upon thine eyes.”

Jacob had said, “All these things are against me”, when God had purposed his good, after the trial of his sons.

Everything seemed wrong; but God’s Ways led him right.

Psalm 107:6-7 “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.

And led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.”

The Lord will always lead us the right way: through trials, troubles (and yes, it is through them), and joys. He is God Almighty still.

Miserable 

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,  and miserable,  and poor,  and blind, and naked:”

Paul when he saw the sinner that he was….cried,   “O wretched man that I am”.

      Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am!  who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

But here in Laodicea….we are wretched….and are totally unaware of it.

Let us consider sin:

     Romans 14:23 “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

     James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

These are the two definitions.

So we see two things from these….our faith is active against our sin, and will keep us out of it, if we yield to it,…..and sin is very personal.

But there is more said of us Laodiacians than… we are wretched.

We are miserable.  Here that means to be pitiful.

     We are so far below the standard of true spirituality….that we are seen in our pitiful state, by God.

We are seen as poor 

     Lacking true spiritual riches…

…..we are blind 

     As Peter said, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9.    

     But lacketh what things?  Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.    All these we add to our faith by diligence….which is the true measure of growth…..how diligent are we in getting  the promises of God, to us, in our lives,…now?

….we are naked

     When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden…they knew they were naked…no longer clothed with the innocence God gave them.   But we often sin,…(perhaps in our eyes,  small ones)…

……but  when we do not seek the forgiveness and cleansing from it…..this leaves us “naked”….unable to have the sweet fellowship and communion with Christ that we once had.

These are God’s descriptive terms for us.    And they make Him sick of us.

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,  I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:  but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

(When my husband preached on this theme,  he spoke of the sickness of heart the Lord has over His church.   He is standing outside His church….sick of heart over the miserable way we are…and how we are not using His means and grace to be different.    And as he was considering this,  my husband felt sick, himself….like he was going to vomit.)

God’s desire for us….is a life of nearness to Him,…through Christ Jesus. 

 A life of godliness (so Jesus counsels us to get “gold tried in the fire”….the fire of our everyday lives….living for Him.)

A life clothed with Christ, worked out in righteous acts by obedience. (so Jesus counsels us to put on the purity of Christ’s life in me.  Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”)

A life of sight by faith (so Jesus counsels us to use the eye-opening salve of honesty…given by the Holy Spirit, when we yield to Him)

I started this with the title “miserable”.    From God’s view point we are pitiful.   

      But now I wish to talk of us…..miserable us.

(Years ago, my brother, on his farm had a fire in the large round bales of hay that were lined up together.   A few of them burned, and he and my mother, who lived there, got out  and started moving the other bales around them away.  

      Well, they decided that they would move the others too.   My brother had to go to work, so the job fell to my mother….who picked his little chore tractor to use.   She started off loving this!  picking up the bales and zooming down to the place they were storing them now….keeping them seperate by so much!  She loved doing this!

     Then…..she started to think that she was doing all the work!   and shortly, she was miserable!  Nothing had changed….she was sitting, zooming along…..yet she was miserable.

     We are often that same way.   God gives us a call….and we are gung-ho for a while.   Then we look around….and begin to feel “alone” in the work [forgetting those that pray, and encourage us]….and we get miserable.)

I, too, would like the days of “mounting up with wings as eagles”….feeling the Holy Spirit’s influence in all that we do!

But the days of walking….sometimes plodding along….are days of feeling the slowness of my progress in spiritual things….days of seeing the same things happen again and again….days where I begin to look down at my feet, rather than beside me, where Jesus walks, too.

What is the answer?   How can the joy of the Holy Spirit be consistent (not constant, but consistent)? 

We must remember that joy is the second fruit of the Spirit.   Love is first….and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge (Ephesians 3:19) we are all called to.

     But joy is next.   Do we have it?   For joy is the Presence of God in my life….not just my heart and spirit….but my life.

We Laodicians have lost our joy…..and tried to exchange it for happiness.   

    But that leads us astray….for happiness is always about what affects us or ours.   Joy comes to us by the Presence of God in any….and all (good and bad) situations….for it is Him which comes to us in a special manifestation.

So now the Word of our Counselor….we’ve heard it before….but let it sink down into our souls….

      Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; 

and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Our Advocate is giving us the best advice, if we want to leave our miserable state.

    We can have the Holy Spirit’s fruits flowing through us….love, joy, peace,…

…but are we willing to “buy”….through devotion to Christ above all others (and yes, sometimes that is very hard)…..and obedience to His Word?

One more reminder:   In every church age,  Christ approves,….and He corrects.   

      But then He offers to those that overcome by faith….a token of HIs special love for them.  

To the first age, He offers the tree of life.  Not to be under the influence of the tree of good and evil….but to know true life, healing, satisfying life.

(For our troubles in the church are usually from the inside, out.

      In the first church, which lost their first love….leads into the next age which suffered much persecution under the Roman Caesars.   That persecution drove all but the zealous lovers of God out of the church,….and that age manifested the true love and devotion to Christ, before the arena of Rome.)

      To the second church age,  which were persecuted, He offers to not be hurt of the second death.   They may die as martyrs, (“hurt” is an important word, for many were thrown to lions, and many were tortured)….but they shall never die again.   Life is promised, with all the attending joys.

      (All these promises to those that overcome,  are very interesting….and how it shows the Lord’s knowledge of our personal troubles and the Lord’s sympathy with our infirmities. Hebrews 4:15-16)

And so on through the ages of the church….down to now, in Laodicea,  where He offers us…who are lukewarm and miserable….

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

      …if we will get zealous, repent,…and overcome.

The Lord Jesus offers us throne authority with Him, now in this life.

     (Think of the apostles after the filling of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 4:8-13 “…perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”)

      This throne authority also speaks of honor.   The Lord plainly will honor those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

And how do we overcome?  We overcome all that stands in our way of doing His Will….whatever it is.

Miserable is what Christ calls us…..but we can overcome and become zealous (boiling hot for Christ)…repent…and have that authority in our lives, that He offers.

      In Christ’s life we have all things….love, joy, peace,….and His Word, and Will, by His authority.    Are we repenting our ways…and  overcoming the things that hinder, that we can  become zealously in love with Christ Jesus our Lord, again?

To Experience the Call of Christ

Matthew 4: 18-20 “And Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

When Christ Jesus calls someone to follow Him into a work, He says “Follow Me”.

Then He adds the job that He calls you to.

It is of first importance, that we know we are following Him, for He will ever be with us in the work, as He was with His disciples of old.

He empowers us by His Holy Spirit for the work we are given to do; as we follow Him.

His call, first, takes us away from something. They were fishers, and they left their nets and followed Him.

We are not necessarily, to leave the jobs we have; but we are all to leave the lives we have, in ourselves; and follow Him, into the lives He has for us.

This is said many ways in Scripture:

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Paul said about the same experience:

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith

of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

So when these fishermen were called of Jesus; they answered, leaving all their lives: what they had, and did; to be disciples of Jesus.

The call of Christ is away from our way of doing things; to obedience and subjection to our Lord.

But it is not just away from our old lives. It is a call to lead you on to something else: your life in Christ, as His servant, and friend.

(Christ Jesus never asks you to “give up” something; without giving you something to replace it.)

John 15:14-17 “Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

You can see that a life of faith, is a life of obeying His commandments, in love to our Friend, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This call from Christ to us, begins a way of discipleship and fellowship.

Matthew 13:17 “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you have seen, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-12 “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, or ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of the heart.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God.”

The Lord loves for us to be in constant contact with Him. To be listening to His Holy Spirit within, and talking to Him through our day.

We are to learn how to hear aright. We are to learn how to walk in the Spirit; and we are to learn how to love one another, as He loved us.

It is all by fellowship with Christ Jesus, and maintaining that fellowship; by confession of sins, and being cleansed from the power of them. (1 John 1:9)

They go together: forgiveness, and cleansing.

(What good would forgiving a small child for getting his new clothes into the mud, if you did not cleanse him from it? So, Christ does not just forgive us from sin, but cleanses us from it. And from this cleansing, we learn to love purity, and the right way.)

And then our call leads us to being filled with the Holy Spirit:

We are filled with the Spirit to the degree we are emptied of ourselves.

Ephesians 5:17-20 “Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

This life is a joyful one, not without trials, or afflictions: but with Power and Strength which comes from the Lord Jesus being present with us in all our days and nights by the Holy Spirit within.

The call of Christ is a call away from the world, and onward to fellowship and joy by the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is a life of discipleship, and learning. We learn Christ, and that learning will/can go on for all Eternity; for His Life is Endless.

Have you heard His call? Saying, Arise, and follow Me? It may not come in those words, but He will speak to you, your name, for He knows it; He knows you.

John 10:2-3 “But he that entereth by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep heareth his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

The call of Christ is never away from Him, but a drawing closer and closer to Him.

For that is the life He has for us.

Our Place in the World

Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

This was written in a day when Rome and the Caesar’s ruled. Their reign was often terrible. The soldiers could be cruel, or kind. Their judges could imprison or set free, at a word.

Yet, as Christians, we are to respect authorities,…..because of their office. And be subject to them. (God always has His due order. Think of the chaos without the police, fire department, and government.)

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

This is the secret for a quiet life: Prayer for all.

We should pray for our family, our city, the church on the earth,…..for our nation, and it’s leaders.

It is not because we believe, necessarily, in what they do; but rather it is what the Lord wants.

And when we pray, God hears.

Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.”

The Lord can turn the heart of any ruler, politician, judge, etc. as He turns the rivers in there course; to do what ever He wants.

(There are times He allows rulers to go on in there wicked way; simply to increase their punishment, or to make the deliverance of His people from their hand even more amazing!)

Our place in the world is to be lights for Jesus Christ.

To shine God’s life in us.

To do this we are to pray for those we know, who are Christians; and those who have not yet come to Christ Jesus.

To seek the good of our family, neighbors, and city by prayer.

And to pray for our country.

That revival might come to our churches, schools, institutions that are suppose to do good; and to all….

To seek the good of all, in prayer; is a down payment on a peaceful life.

The lessons of the wilderness

Now I want to start out by saying….the Israelites going to Canaan is a great study to the Christian.

They had been redeemed from Egypt and bondage….like when we are born again….we have crossed a great Sea, which drowns all our old enemies in the cross of Christ.

They sang the first song written in the Bible….a song of praise to their Redeemer:

Exodus 15:13 “Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy Holy habitation.”

They were then to go into the wilderness…..go to Mt. Sinai….become a nation under God’s rule and law (where they spent a year, learning these, and setting up the Tabernacle)……..and go to Canaan.

The whole trip should have taken about two years……but…..unbelief made the journey…(or rather wanderings till the unbelieving generation died)……a lot longer.

Our journey from the time we are born again,….till we begin to realize all our portion and inheritance in Christ….having His power and stability in our lives…..varies.

It depends on our belief……will we learn the lessons of the wilderness?

Or murmur,…in unbelief….?

What are those lessons?

First, (and I think most important)……just because we are in God’s Path, does not mean we won’t have problems.

The children of Israel left their praise to the Lord after the Red Sea,…..and three days later began murmuring because of water troubles….their barrels of water were empty…and the water they came to….was bitter….undrinkable.

Here, at Marah (bitterness)….they found that it is what we do about the troubles that matter…

…..for they murmured….but Moses cried unto the Lord…

….and the Lord turned the bitter waters, sweet.

There the Lord told them, trying to get them to see the value of learning lessons:

Exodus 15:26 “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord they God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

Second, that the Lord uses everything to teach us lessons…if we will learn…

A month and a half later, they are in a wilderness, far from everything…and they are running out of food….

….instead of praying, seeking God, remembering God provision from before….they murmur (it seems they have learned how to do that, very well)…

God uses this time of testing, to give them Manna,….a miraculous bread from heaven, which is outside their tents every morning to gather….

…to show them the importance of the Sabbath,….for they were to gather double the Manna on the day before, so they would not gather on the Sabbath….for it was a day set aside to fellowship with the Lord…

…..and to give them an abundance of quail….providing a delicacy in a wilderness.

Exodus 16:12 “I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.”

Third, that warfare was necessary to defend what God gives you.

Israel came out of the barren wilderness and started ascending into a mountainous area….where there was no wells of water.

The Lord gave them water from a Rock (which speaks of Christ, crucified….opening a well of living water for us John 7:38-39)…

…but that brought an enemy which wanted to drive off Israel from the water….so they could have it. They attacked Israel….

Understand, these Israelites were a slave people….they were not warriors;..

….yet they were going to have to fight to obtain the land God would bring them to….and God would begin to show them how to fight….God’s way:

Exodus 17:9-11 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek:…

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

Joshua fought with sword….but Moses prayed with the rod lifted up to God.

Both are necessary to win the Lord’s battles.

Fourth, God is Holy….and it is in acknowledging that….that we can have fellowship….as God draws us to Him.

Israel went on to Mt Sinai…where they camped before the mount.

The Lord said to Moses…to tell the people:

Exodus 19:4-5 “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you unto Myself.

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”

Here was an invitation to be the people of God, which was promised to Abraham….

….but God would first show them His holiness…

Exodus 19:10-12 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow; and let them wash their clothes.

And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about…”

Why? Because God is not our “buddy”….He is our God…Holy and Almighty.

A right relationship with our Lord begins with us seeing ourselves as sinners…then….as His people, with the privilege of fellowship.

Exodus 24:1, 10-11 “And He said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness.

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He laid not His hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.”

(We, too, can “sup” with Him….Revelation 3:20 “…I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me.”

But only as we,…”be zealous therefore and repent.” Revelation 3:19)

But what did they do with these privileges?

To be His people…they agreed.

Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient.”

But to have that personal relationship….

…they refused…another lesson they would not learn…

Exodus 20:19-20 “And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God has come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)…..that awe of His Person, that reverence of His Ways…leads us to complete surrender and trust.

But they chose….again…their way…not God’s.

Fifth, time is in God’s hands…and we should be in step with Him, even when we can not see what is going on.

(I might add here, if they had learned the other lessons…even the lesson of personal reliance on the Word of God for themselves…they would not have suffered such a chastening.)

Exodus 32:1 “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”

Let me say, this is so wrong on so many levels:

The term “delayed”, is wrong….for the timing was God’s not theirs.

They were in a very pleasant place to wait…water, food, their families….what delay?

Then, they had just heard God say…several times…not to make idols, or worship any other god, but Him.

Moses was not the One who brought them out of Egypt….but God had saved them from Pharaoh, slavery, and the Red Sea.

What were they thinking?

(Yet, can we say we have not failed, by looking at what we consider a delay…rather than to the Lord?)

Aaron makes an idol…which they had seen in Egypt…and they make themselves naked and defiled before it (Exodus 32:19, 25)

God sends Moses back to camp to deal with the people…

Exodus 32: 26-27 “And Moses stood at the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.”

This is the first judgement on the people where a fellow Israelite has to do the punishment.

Here is where God separates the Levites for the priesthood, because they were “…on the Lord’s side”…..repenting of their sin…

They went through the camp….and those that did not run and hide in shame in their tents…were slain as these met them. (Three thousand died because they heard God, but refused to honor His claims upon them)

Sixth, When God is ready to bestow a blessing, do not ask “to check it over”……but believe Him, and enter into it.

Israel had left Sinai, after building the Tabernacle and seeing God’s glory come down upon it,…..and had crossed another bit of wilderness….

….they had come to Canaan, the promised land….to a place called Kadesh-barnea…..

…here, they were to make their entry into the land.

(They would not cross the Jordon, next to Jericho (as the next generation did)……..but instead were about 100 miles south of that….coming into a beautiful fertile land….a land that, when taken, would reap great benefits…supplying all Israel with food and water, till they conquered the rest.)

It was a beautiful place….mountains on one side, and the fertile land on the other.

Moses tells them that we have arrived….it is now time to possess all that God has for you!

Deuteronomy 1:21 “Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee: fear not, neither be discouraged.”

God was reminding them that He had promised the land to Abraham….and He had brought them to it….He would surely give it to Abraham’s children.

But….Israel had other ideas….

Deuteronomy 1:22-23 “And ye came near unto me everyone of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by which way we must go up….

And the saying pleased me well:….”

In Numbers 13:1-2, it says, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land…”

When the Israelites came to the land…..they refused to go and possess it at once…..but spoke to Moses about sending men to “search out” the land….

….oddly, he thought it a good plan….he should have recognized their hesitation to obey……

….but he asked God about it…

….and God allowed it….telling Moses to do it.

But that was not the original idea. They were there to possess…..not to search. “Go up and possess it..”

Dividing the land was after the conquest….

….yet, it seemed like such a good idea….

….let everyone know the beauty and plenty of the place!

Yet….it turned out all wrong….for all they saw……was the strong people that lived there….so when they returned….they made all the people afraid…

Numbers 13:31 “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”

There was only two men that believed God….and wanted to go in to possess,….now.

Numbers 13:26-27, 30 “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur 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.”

Israel was to turn back into the wilderness,….and all that generation….twenty years old and older, except Caleb and Joshua….would wander for thirty-eight more years…till they died.

(The next generation came in, and under Joshua, they got the land, as God had said.)

The lessons they could have learned….they refused.

The land they could have had….they refused.

The God they said they would obey….they refused to believe….and so refused to obey.

“…and how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shown among them?” (Numbers 13:11)

What about us? Are we learning the lessons which come to us?….

…lessons which show us about our God, and about the Way He would lead us.

They are often hard….but necessary to walk in…..

…and we should always remember: we are walking in this Way, with Him.

Our Christian walk here, is about growing in grace….to grow up into Christ….and have all those blessings He has for us (Ephesians 1:3)….if we will believe Him.

Are we growing up?

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Peter knew a lot about this; having denied the Lord three times, once even before a maid.

Yet he was restored, and became the first preacher of the gospel after Pentecost. Three thousand were saved that first day.(Acts 2:41)

He had grown some since he had bragged about his loyalty; and then failed Jesus so terribly.

But he knew he was not done growing; he had a lot more to learn. And so when he was old, he warned others about this very thing:

2 Peter 1:10, 12-13 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall:

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance:”

God’s way of revealing His will, is called Light. If we will face the truth about what we are, and how we are, Grace will be applied.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

For He came to save His people from their sin. (Not just the guilt, although that is marvelous; but the power of that sin in our lives.)

As Christians, this is an act of our will: we confess our sin, and turn from it.

As we get obedient to the light we have, more light is given.

And with the light, is the means of obeying Him.

Hebrew 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, not of strong meat.”

Here are the Hebrew Christians; they had been Christians first, so they should have grown in grace the most.

But instead of growing; they had stayed babes in Christ. Taking only the milk of the Word, and could not as yet understand the weightier things of His Will.

Hebrews 5:13 “For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”

“Unskillful” here, means inexperienced. After all these years, and all that they had gone through (persecution, others joining them in belief, and even ministering to their needs when the days of famine came); yet they remained inexperienced.

How? Why?

Simply, they failed to use the Word given them as they should. They failed to meet the demands of that Word.

That Word says: believe, and obey.

Believe they did; but obey they only did partially. They trusted God would do; but expected that He would do without their cooperation. (And if you are going to get experience; doing nothing will not work.)

Every true Christian stands in need of nourishment. We must “eat” the Bread of Life which is Christ.

That involves fellowship in finding His Will, and obeying it.

We must “drink” the water of Life freely which is His Holy Spirit.

That involves yielding ourselves to His guidance and convictions.

If we are to become strong Christians, and not babes, we need to grow.

We need to use what He gives us and gain experience with Him.

(If Jesus were here on earth, and came and invited you to follow Him, would you?

But, though He is not here on earth; He is still inviting us to: Come and Follow Me into the everyday experiences of today, tomorrow, and onward. That is experience worth having.)

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

We have spiritual senses, as well as natural ones.

We are to have “hearing ears” to hear what the Lord says to us. There is no audible voice; but the internal Voice which guides us.

We are to have “seeing eyes” by are eyes of faith.

We are to have the sense of “smell”. This Spiritual sense tells us if a thing is good or rotten, just like our nose does. It is discernment.

And we have “taste”. We are called to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalms 34:8)

That means, we are to experience His sweetness in the comfort, help, and word He gives.

It is of the Holy Spirit, as all of these are: but we are to use His enabling, and learn by the experience. This is how we grow in grace.

If we sit on the sidelines; we certainly may be Christians, but we will not grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and become strong, mature adults.

That is why Jesus Christ is still calling us to, “Come, and Follow Me.”

Because as we do, we learn and grow.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

What a wonderful and beautiful creation it was!  So much so,  that the angels (sons of God) shouted for joy!

Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”

Then there was chaos….and darkness.

Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form,  and void;  and darkness was upon the face of the deep.   And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Notice the punctuation….

…”the earth was without form,”   That beautiful earth was now a waste…without form and purpose.

…”and void;”   Whatever had been created on earth…was gone.

semicolon….which means a pause before considering the next important feature….

…and “darkness was upon the face of the deep”. Where once the light of God shone….now there was darkness.

We believe this chaos and darkness was brought about by the rebellion of Lucifer, the highest of the angels…when he and one third of the angels fell with him.   We believe that he was fully in charge of the earth, under God…by a special creation.

      Pride entered him…and he rose up against God’s Purpose and his place in it.

      But when he fell, he became our Adversary the devil….determined to ruin all of God’s plans and purposes…and he started with the earth.

This fall is set forth in Isaiah:

      Isaiah 14:12-14 “How art thou fallen from heaven,  O Lucifer, son of the morning!  how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

      For thou hast said in thine heart,  I will ascend unto heaven,  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:  I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

      I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will be like the most High.”

This fall was over pride. (Ezekiel 28:14-17)  “I will” the devil said….and many angels believed him…to their doom.

Being cast out of his heavenly position….he wrought chaos on the earth….trying to destroy God’s purpose for the earth….and wrapped the earth in darkness.

But, God was not done with His creation.  He does not forget His Purpose….HIs Will is established.

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens;  God Himself that formed the earth and made it;  He hath established it, He created it not in vain,  He formed it to be inhabited:  I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

And so….”And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

    There are some Hebrew scholars that believe that instead of…”moved upon”,  it should read,… “brooded over” the face of the waters.

And so the Son of God spoke (John 1:3-4, Hebrews 1:2)…..

Genesis 1:3 “And God said,  Let there be light: and there was light.”

He did not need to speak….but by doing so, He manifested the means of bringing His Will to pass….HIs Word, and His light.

[We believe that the Adversary the devil believes that if he can defeat the purposes of God for this old earth enough….which includes the Purpose of God for each one of us….he will come to some better end,  then that which was prepared for him now.

     Matthew 25:41 “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,  Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

    Prepared for the devil and his angels….not for any man.

    For a man to end up in the Lake of Fire there must be a direct act of the will.

Whosoever will may come.   

   But if you refuse…if you won’t come,  you won’t.   And that is your will, choosing.]

As Christians, we know that on the cross,  Jesus said,  “It is finished.”   

   It was not just our penalty for sin, He finished….but the salvation…from sin’s bondage…for all who believe on Him….and for the earth. (Romans 8:21-22)

It is true, that these are not all  seen yet….but they are finished. 

The Spirit of God is still “brooding over” the darkness within the sinner….and giving him conviction of the sin.

Christ is still speaking to the hearts of man….bringing light.

   2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

And God’s Purpose is still being worked out….within us, and through us…to bring His kingdom, within us, now….and His everlasting kingdom, soon.

   Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

In the beginning, God….and in the middle, God….and in the end, God.   He has, is and will see His Purpose accomplished!

  The question for today is…..will we yield to Him, and stand with Him…against the wiles of the devil….being an obedient servant of God…and receive all the blessing He has for us?

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIs might.

   Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

   For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

“Wrestle” here is to endure the hard battles….against our pride, plans, and reasons…and surrendering to the Lord’s Purpose and place for us.

God always has a Witness to Himself….He always has a Remnant.

I have always been amazed at God’s Witness.

Even in the worst of times, He has had a sanctified witness to Himself….in the places and circumstances where they would be heard,…… if any have ears to hear,…and believe.

Samaria, the capitol of Israel, is being besieged by the king of Syria….and because no one could come in or out….there was famine:

2 Kings 6:25 “And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver,….”

It had gotten so bad, they were eating the dead,….boiling the flesh off, rather than starve.

The situation was hopeless….as far as sight was concerned.

But, as usual, they had forgotten God….

….but not Elisha, the prophet….for he was in the city, too.

He was gathered with the (spiritual) elders of the city….waiting upon the Lord.

(This is an amazing thing….the Lord putting Elisha in the very same circumstances…..for God could have sent him away from this place, but God had him there….gathering the spiritual of the city, to pray with him.)

Now the king, becoming angry….sent a messenger to kill Elisha….and the king followed behind….wanting to see it.

The king could have gone to Elisha, before this…..and asked him to ask God to do something….

….but instead, the king blamed Elisha….because he did not do “something” without him having to come to him and ask.

(Are we this way with God, not willing to seek Him and His Will for us?

Going through things we do not need to, because we refuse to humble ourselves?)

The king did not want to humble himself and ask….therefore Elisha waited….

(This is a sad commentary on authorities which will not seek God….

….the people suffer, while they refuse to humble themselves at God’s correction)

But now the wait was over….the king’s foot is at the door where Elisha is…..

….he is finally in the right place, even though it is for the murder of the very man he needs,….. to speak to God for the city.

But before he can carry out his will….God speaks through Elisha.

It shames the king….but it is the saving of the city.

2 Kings 7:1 “Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.”

And it happens…..just as Elisha says….

(It is an interesting story….

That very night, four lepers who are outside the city….go out to the Syrian camp….”if they die by famine, or by Syrian…what is the difference”.

But they find that the Syrians have fled,….having heard noises which they thought were an army coming against them.

They were so terrified by the noice….which God has done….that they left all their food, clothes, and loot!

The lepers tell the watchman, who tells the king, who sends to see if it is true….

…..and what God has said through Elisha, comes to pass)

2 Kings 7:16 “And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians, so a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.”

How easy it is for God to work,…..when we seek His Will!

Many years later:

When Nebuchadnezzar had come to Jerusalem and carried away captives….the best of the young men….educated, and well spoken…

….Daniel was one of these….he was called to make this Gentile king aware of God…and His claims on all people…even monarchs.

Daniel was in the palace of Babylon.

Still, there were many left in Judah.

Jeremiah was one of these….called to make God’s people, aware of God’s claims.

If they would submit….God would keep them in the land.

But if they refused…and sought out others to deliver…..then some would surely be destroyed…and the rest, carried away captive.

Jeremiah was in Jerusalem.

And then, when Nebuchadnezzar came the second time and took the carpenters, and workman away….Ezekiel was among them….called to make God’s captive people aware of God’s claims…even in Babylon.

Ezekiel was in the work camps of Babylon.

God’s Witness was a complete one….so was the revelation to these men of the sin of Israel….

Jeremiah 2:11, 13 “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

After so many times of deliverance, so many times of power, so many times of God manifesting His Presence…..yet they “have forsaken Me”.

Again and again, these three,….in different places, under different circumstances….stood with God…and declared His Will.

Some believed….some refused. But they were faithful….in their place….to the people they were called to.

God always has a remnant of believers…..always has a witness…..because our God is Able.

When Christ came to earth….it was not to the Sanhedrin that the angels came….but to Shepherds,….who having heard….went to see…

….and having seen Jesus….

….went away rejoicing and “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).

God always has His remnant…..

and today……that could be me….it could be you.

Are we ready to speak His word faithfully….in the place we are called….to the people we are called to?

Of One Accord

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

(Solomon’s porch was just off the main temple area. It was where the first church often met.)

“With one accord.” Here is the real power of this verse.

It means to be gathered to the Lord, Himself.

We are not come together for the preaching, or for the music, or for the company….although there is nothing wrong with good preaching, music, or fellowship of company….

….but to be of one accord….

…..Christ has to be the reason we come together.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Gathered together in His Name, there He is in the midst.

To be gathered together in His Name….is to be impelled of the Holy Spirit.

You are there because He has sent you there….and you want to be no where else.

(Years ago, my husband knew a man that came every Sunday,…..but confided in my husband that he would rather be home watching the games on T.V.

My husband looked at him….and told him that he might be better off if he did….for if the heart is not in the “coming”…..that coldness spills out into the life and service. [Sometime we can never really see our lostness when we are hiding in a church.]

My husband had been praying for this man, and had wondered….after all this time, why there seemed to be no spiritual growth. He tried dealing with this man….showing him the wonderful things of Christ….but…

He often said the right words….but the light of the eyes and heart did not seem to be in what he was saying.

Several years past, and this man finally stayed home. He went from one thing to another…..trying the “happiness” of the world.

There are always those….like Demas….who go along awhile….yet finally leave….”having loved this present world”.

….for they would rather leave Christ than give up their loves, or plans.)

“With one accord”

Your whole body, soul and spirit longs to be where the children of God are gathered….to be there for Christ,….and for His Purpose.

That is God’s Purpose and it becomes your Purpose.

That is to be of one accord.

The Vulgar Latin word for “accord” meant….”to be heart to heart with”.

This was the way the first church met.

All would be heart to heart with the Lord…having HIs heart’s desire for this situation.

That gave a power to the services….for the Lord’s Will being done has real practical power in it….and when it is done with all the heart….there is blessing and power.

We say they were on fire for the Lord…. the love they felt for Him overcame every fear and concern.

They were forgiven and wanted to continue in the fellowship and joy of that peace with God….and with their fellow believers.

Love in scripture is willed…..it is the willed tendency of the heart after Someone….Christ.

That love is practical….and the first place it is shown is in our obedience to Him…..heart obedience.

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.”

With His accord you are “heart to heart” with Him…..and this is what He wants….

….your heart so wrapped up in Him, that slight differences with people, or changes in circumstances, will not be a concern….or take our eyes off of Him.

This is, of course, between each believer and the Lord….but it is felt in the corporate ministry….and in the world. (Acts 4:13)

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

When you take care of these little foxes…those little strifes, or desires, or hinderances in your hearts affection…..then…

…you have fellowship with Him…in a new way.

And when that fellowship continues….you will begin to know His accord,…as you are removing all that hinders this from being so.

And by many acts of the will you become heart to heart with Him…..of one accord….with the love and power that it brings.

What will you give in exchange for your soul?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We know this is the summary of Christ’s call to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24-26)

It is a call He gave all…(Luke 9:23-25)

Here, the Lord Jesus puts into perspective the choice we truly make….Him or the world.

If you had everything, and lost your soul, of what value could it be?

(Let us speak for a moment of losing our soul: it is not just going to Hell and then the Lake of Fire….although that is the end result.

No. We are in subjection, as mankind,……..to something.

We do not rule our destiny….we can not…..for circumstances, people, times and seasons, and places are all factors we can not rule.

In fact, we can not rule ourselves…..our souls, our personalities.

We can be phony….pretending to like or love things we do not….for “profit” or advantage in the world.

We can “learn” to like things….making ourselves over in the image of someone we want to be like….but we can never be them….but just us—like them.

We can not, at times, subdue our anger, or our affections….both fly away where they want.

But we can, as Jesus Christ said, come and let Him rule in us.

If you refuse this…..as many people mistakenly think, this liberty is bondage….then the simple answer is:

You will be ruled by the world, the flesh or the devil.

The world’s thoughts will be yours.

You will always be frustrated, because your way is not being done.

The devil will trick you into real bondage of some sort.

You have lost your soul…..and you are not in Hell, yet.

There is still hope…..you can come to Christ Jesus, and let Him bring you into His kingdom.)

Jesus asked, “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Many things in this world, say, “Don’t worry about your soul’s well being….after all your young….or after all your intelligent….or after all you go to church.”

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Bible: “If your religion is worth anything, It is worth everything.”

Christ says we must lose….to gain Him.

We must “Come”……leave where you are…….and then, “Follow”.

Colossians 1:10-13 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

This is what is promised all who come to Christ….who are born again:

Being fruitful…..increasing in the knowledge of God….strengthened with all might….with joyfulness….partakers of the inheritance….delivered from the power of darkness….translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.

It is in the walk we have with Christ….bringing all that we are and have, step by step, and placing it under His control.

By a deliberate act of the will….placing all things at His disposal.

Here, Lord is my anger….I am mad and feeling it worsen….But it not just the anger….it is my resentment toward these people,…..my frustration at the lack of appreciation,….my frustration to You, even.

(By this time, when I pray, I am usually agreeing with the Lord, and giving up the feelings….they are not worth having anything come between me and Jesus.)

Now, Lord, I am sick….I am full of grief….I am weary, so weary….

What ever it is, it is….

…..and must be dealt with by bringing it all….Yes, bringing it all to Christ….to be delivered from this darkness….and no longer under the influence of the Adversary……into Light.

As Christians, we have the ability to bring ourselves into subjection, by the Holy Spirit’s power within us….by our deliberate act of our will.

(I remember talking to a man who was having some difficulties,….and he said:

“I just need more of God in my life.”

Now, I thought that sounded good….and praying for him, the Lord said to me, “What that man needs is a whole lot less of himself.”

God showed me, that He was there for that man….and His power was there for that man….but the man was not letting Him rule……

….pray for that.

And how many times the Lord has reminded me about this….for myself.)

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus tells all who will follow Him…..it will be the world….or Me.

Which will it be?