pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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As Long As You…

Readings: 2nd Chronicles 14, 2nd Chronicles 15, 2nd Chronicles 16

2nd Chronicles 15:2 – “The LORD is with you as long as you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but…”

Photo credit: Marcel Eberle

Asa’s reign fills chapters 14-16. Asa is a good king who seeks to walk in God’s ways and to lead Judah to do the same. Good, however, is not perfect. Following Abijah’s kingship and his sound defeat of Israel, Asa experiences 10 years of peace to begin his reign. He removes all of the foreign altars, shrines, pillars, and poles. He builds fortified cities to strengthen Judah.

After 10 years the Cushites come against Judah. They outnumber Judah almost 2:1. Asa turns to God, asking God to help the weak. He declares their reliance on God. The Lord strikes the Cushites and Judah wins a great victory. Judah collects a great amount of loot and plunder.

It is at this high point that the prophet Azariah comes. He begins by saying, “The LORD is with you as long as you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but…” We know what comes after that “but…” Azariah closes this word from God with an encouragement to be brave, to not lose heart. This word leads Asa to remove all idols. All Judah gathers, joyfully and wholeheartedly entering into a covenant with God. They declare that those who refuse to seek God will be out to death.

In Asa’s 35th year Israel attacks. Asa seeks an alliance with Aram instead of seeking God. Aram attacks Israel, ending that threat. But Hanani the seer comes with bad news. Because Asa did not seek God, war will now be the norm. In anger Asa throws Hanani in jail and takes his anger out on “some other people.” What a far cry this is from repentance.

Asa’s reign ends with continued disobedience. Good but not perfect – just like us. In illness Asa seeks help from doctors instead of from God. In our times of need, where do we turn other than the Lord?

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to be faithful and obedient, help us to remove the shrines and idols that we set up in our lives. Give us the bravery and the faith to remove these other gods. Fill us with your Holy Spirit power so that we can confidently rely on you alone. Strengthen and encourage us in our times of need. Amen.


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As for Me and My House…

Readings: Joshua 18, Joshua 19, Joshua 20, Joshua 21, Joshua 22, Joshua 23, Joshua 24

Joshua 24:15 – “But my family and I will serve the LORD.”

Today’s seven chapters close out the story about inheriting the Promised Land. It begins with a way to divide up the remaining land west of the Jordan. Lots are cast and land is allotted to the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Nephtali, and Dan. Joshua also receives a legacy. Then, in chapters 20 and 21, the Levites are given cities and their surrounding pastureland. These 48 cities are spread out amongst the twelve tribes and they include the six refuge cities. God is preparing here for a day yet to come. God is good.

Now that the land legacies have been given and now that peace has come, Joshua summons the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. He thanks them for their faithful service and sends them home with a charge to be obedient and faithful to the Lord. At the Jordan these tribes build an altar as a witness to their belonging to the people of Israel west of the Jordan. It is a standing reminder.

Chapter 23 holds Joshua’s final words of warning. He first reminds the Israelites of all that God has done and then implores them to be faithful and obedient. Joshua warns them about mixing with the locals. They will be “a snare and a trap.” Joshua warns Israel that they will “vanish quickly” if they violate the covenant.

Chapter 24 closes Joshua’s story. He begins with a great review that takes Israel from Abram to this very moment. Joshua challenges Israel to decide “whom you will serve.” Joshua declares that he and his house will serve the Lord. So too will the people of Israel. May it be so for you and for me and for our households.

Prayer: Lord God, the story of another great leader and a meaningful period in Israel’s history comes to a close. Yet the choice at the end of Joshua remains our choice today. It’s a choice we make every day. So each day, O Lord our God, empower us to choose you. Amen.


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The Closing Chapters

Readings: Numbers 32, Numbers 33, Numbers 34, Numbers 35, Numbers 36

Numbers 33:53 – “But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those you allow to remain will prick your eyes and be thorns in your side.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

Our last day in Numbers begins with the tribes of Reuben and Gad requesting the recently conquered lands east of the Jordan as their inheritance. They have very large herds and this land has great pasture land. Their willingness to go before the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan seals the deal.

Chapter 33 is mostly a flashback – it recounts the trip from Egypt to the edge of the Promised Land. The chapter closes with instructions about driving out the inhabitants of the land. Idols and shrines are to be destroyed. There is a warning too: if you don’t drive out the inhabitants, they will become “thorns in your sides.” This will be lived out again and again as we journey through the rest of the Old Testament.

Chapter 34 establishes the boundaries of the land that the tribes will inherit and appoints a leader from each tribe to oversee this process with Eleazar and Joshua. Then in chapter 35 cities and pasture land is prescribed for the Levites. Six of these 48 cities will be refuge cities. They are places that someone accused of murder can safely reside in until trial. The person can remain there, if found innocent, until the death of the high priest. All of this works to prevent revenge being taken.

Numbers closes with how land inherited by daughters will stay in tribal possession. These women must marry from within their own tribes. Tomorrow we turn to Deuteronomy, where Moses gives “the second Law.”

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your continued good care of Israel. We see your goodness and your order revealed. We see your sense of justice and fairness being shown. We ask that these traits would continue to be a part of our lives and our faith as well. Thank you, O God. Amen.