pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: fear


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“Justice”

Readings: Job 22 through Job 31

‭Job 23:10 – “Surely he knows my way; when he tests me, I will emerge as gold.”

Eliphaz begins by listing Job’s sins. He is speculating about what Job could have done. He again encourages Job to confess and repent. Then God will again be Job’s “prized possession.” Job responds, declaring his innocence, desiring an audience with God. He then noted an absence of justice in the world. Wicked people move boundary stones and take the poor as collateral, “but God assigns no blame.” The wicked simply go on living and in the end, like everyone else, they die. Bildad then surrenders to this hopelessness too, calling humans and their children “worms… grubs.”

Job’s final speech to his friends runs from chapters 26-31. He does begin by acknowledging God’s “thunderous power.” In response to Bildad’s surrender, Job states that his lips won’t utter wicked words or deceit. He then returns to God, the source of true wisdom, the one who alone understands this wisdom. Job says the closest we can get to the wisdom of God is to fear the Lord. Job then reviews his former status and good deeds. This was how he lived out “justice” – caring for the needy, giving good advice to those who sought it. And now they all mock him.

Chapter 31 is Job’s closing argument. He is laying out proof of his innocence. He did not commit adultery. He did not receive others. He did not abuse his slaves. He did not ignore the needy. He did not worship gold or any other idol. He did not rejoice over his foes’ ruin. Job closes this list with a verbal signature. He wants his accuser (who he thinks is God) to write an indictment. An indictment is coming next. It’s not from God, though. That is yet to come.

Prayer: Lord God, you are indeed the source of all power and wisdom. You are far above us and our ways. We seek, as Job did, to follow your commands. We strive to avoid wickedness and sin too. In moments and seasons of trial, Lord, empower us through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. Lead us to dive deep into that reservoir. Amen.


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One Problem

Readings: Job 1, Job 2, Job 3, Job 4, Job 5

Job 1:21 – “The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD’s name.”

Photo credit: Marek Pospisil

We begin Job today. Whereas in Esther there was a threat of suffering that prompted action, in Job the suffering comes – in one huge jolt. Both Esther and Job “argue” against the universally held belief of the time: obey God and be blessed, disobey God and be punished.

As Job begins the narrator makes a very important statement for us to hold to as we read this book: Job is honest and full of integrity; he fears God and avoids evil. Job is so righteous, in fact, he makes sacrifices just in case his children have sinned. Because Job is righteous, in ancient thoughts, he should not suffer. But suffer he does! At the hands of the Adversary, Job loses all his livestock, his servants, and all 10 children. This would lead a lesser man to curse God. Not Job. He says, “The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD’s name.” Job too operates, at least for now, under the blessing and punishment paradigm.

To further test Job’s faith the Adversary receives permission to afflict Job’s health. Severe sores cover his whole body. Job’s wife – who has also experienced this rush of loss and who knows herself to be innocent of sin – encourages Job to just curse God and die. Why fight it? But Job responds much the same way: how can one accept good from God but not bad from God as well? Again the paradigm.

Job’s three friends arrive. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar sit with Job for seven days. They too look at Job in his present state and assume that he is a great sinner. Why else would this happen to him? Job speaks first, rueing the day he was born. In the religious thinking of the day, there was no concept yet of an afterlife. The greatest gift of God was life itself. Job wishes that he had never received this gift. This is an indication of Job’s struggle to understand what is happening to him.

Eliphaz responds. He sees Job as a sinner who needs to repent. This drives all that he says. If one “plows sin” then one “sows trouble.” He encourages Job to put his case to God. He reminds Job that God wants to forgive and will bind up and heal. One problem: Job is sinless. What case can he possibly bring before God?

Prayer: Lord God, what wrestling we begin today! Suffering and loss continue to be a part of our lives and our world. Questions continue to abound! As we walk with Job, his friends, with you, help us to gain understanding and insight into who you really are: not the cause but the one who walks with us. Amen.


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Saul’s Warning Signs

Readings: 1st Samuel 8, 1st Samuel 9, 1st Samuel 10, 1st Samuel 11, 1st Samuel 12, 1st Samuel 13

1st Samuel 8:7 – “Comply with the people’s request… because they haven’t rejected you. No, they’ve rejected me as king over them.”

Photo credit: Falaq Lazuardi

Today we transition with Israel from judges to kings. Samuel is the last judge and Saul is the first king. Problems with leadership continues to derail things. Samuel’s sons are just as evil as Eli’s were. The people see this as the writing on the wall and they ask Samuel to appoint them a king. Although Samuel knows it is a bad idea, here is God’s response: “Comply with the people’s request… because they haven’t rejected you. No, they’ve rejected me as king over them.” Samuel then explains how a king will exploit them and they still want a king – “so that we can be like all the other nations.”

Saul has a “chance” encounter with Samuel. Here we first see Saul’s insecurity – “smallest tribe… smallest family.” Samuel anoints him in private and prophesies three encounters. All come true. Next Samuel calls all of Israel together at Mizpah. Saul is selected by lot. Except he is hiding. Saul is presented as a king but some people question the choice. Saul then leads Israel to victory over the Ammonites. The naysayers are remembered and the people want to kill them. Saul chooses mercy instead. It is a day of victory. The next day all of Israel gathers to make Saul their king.

Samuel then warns the people. Obey the Lord and it will go well with you. Disobey and feel the Lord’s hand against you. He encourages them to fear the Lord and to serve God faithfully. Our passage closes with a story of impatience. Saul has Jonathan attack the Philistines, who respond in force. Fear leads to soldiers deserting and Saul takes matters into his own hands, sacrificing the well-being offering himself. Samuel arrives just then and asks, “What have you done?” Saul’s days are now numbered. God will seek a new king – “a man following the Lord’s own heart.”

Prayer: Lord God, what familiar foes – insecurity, doubt, fear, impatience. Saul is not alone in these battles. It’s in the hearts of Israel, it is in our hearts. Grant us an abiding faith, a resolute heart, a trusting spirit. Lord, teach us your ways, instill in us your heart. Amen.


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Imperfect But Usable

Readings: Joshua 6, Joshua 7, Joshua 8

Joshua 6:38 – “Don’t be angry with me… Please let me make just one more test.”

Today’s chapters focus on Gideon. In Gideon we see faithfulness to God right alongside his battles with doubt, fear, anger, and pride. We experience these things in our walks of faith. Like Gideon, we want to obey God, but often stumble over our own will and ways. More than anything, though, in these chapters we see that God can use Gideon’s flaws to ultimately work out God’s plans for Israel. God can and will do the same for you and for me.

The people have sinned and God allows the Midianites to cruelly oppress Israel. They cry out. God sends a prophet who reminds them, “You have not obeyed me.” Then God’s messenger calls Gideon. He is reluctant. He has excuses. He tries God’s patience. At one point Gideon says to God, “Don’t be angry with me… Please let me make just one more test.” God works through all of his tests. Satisfied for now, Gideon calls for an army. Yet fear persists. God allows him to overhear a dream which restored his courage. God then tests Gideon, whittling his army of 32,000 down to 300. Credit must go to God. Pride rises up in Gideon as he gives the battle cry: “For God and for Gideon.” Following a wild plan of God, similar to Jericho, victory is won. God’s plan is complete. Yet Gideon chooses to pursue the enemy kings.

In Gideon’s pursuit he asks the people of Succoth and Penuel for bread. They deny Gideon and his army any bread. He threatens them. Soon he captures these two enemy kings and executes them – revenge for killing Israelites. He returns to Succoth and Penuel, exacting violent revenge here too. Pride and anger rule in his heart. Yet when asked later to be Israel’s ruler, he states, “The Lord rules over you.” Apparently he is not part of this “you” though as he collects gold earrings and makes a priestly vest. This trap leads straight to idolatry and the continuing downward spiral of Israel. More on that tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to learn both from the good and the bad that we see in Gideon. Help us to be faithful and to follow your plans. Help us to see, though, when it becomes about us and our plans. Keep us from the perils of sin. Guide us to walk in your ways. Amen.


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This Happened So That…

Readings: Joshua 4, Joshua 5, Joshua 6

Joshua 4:24 – “This happened so that all the earth’s peoples might know that the LORD’s power is great and that you may always revere the LORD.”

Photo credit: David Clode

After Israel crosses over, 12 stones are gathered from where the priests carrying the ark stood. Joshua then sets up 12 other stones right there as a memorial marker. As the priests and ark exit the riverbed, the water starts to flow again. Soldiers from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, plus the half tribe of Manasseh go before Israel in battle formation. Joshua then sets up the 12 stones at Gilgal. When children ask about the stones, parents will tell the story of the miraculous crossing. This crossing has instilled fear in the hearts of the Amorite and Canaanite kings.

Joshua, following God’s command, then circumcises all the males. Those born in the desert had not yet been marked as belonging to the Lord. Israel then celebrates the Passover. In these two rituals they are reclaiming their identity as the holy people of God. Readied as a nation, Joshua next meets the commander of God’s heavenly armies. Sandals come off, bookending Moses’ “holy ground” moment with God. Instructions are given for the battle of Jericho. Israel’s army and the ark will march around the city once for six days. On the seventh day they will march around Jericho seven times. All of this is done in silence. After the seventh circling on the seventh day, the trumpets will sound and the people will shout… and the walls will come tumbling down. This strategy is to test Israel’s faith and trust and obedience to God.

All goes as planned and Jericho falls. The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are holy to the Lord and are to go into the temple treasury. All else – save Rahab and her family – all else is wiped out “without mercy.” Joshua pronounces a curse on anyone who rebuilds Jericho. What great victory the Lord has brought to Israel! Like the crossing, there is the same “why” – “This happened so that all the earth’s peoples might know that the LORD’s power is great and that you may always revere the LORD.”

Prayer: Lord God, what moments of faith and obedience, what experiences of your power and might! What faith and identity building times these were for Israel. Lord, help us to claim these as part of our faith story too. And, God, help us to claim and to see and to keep our own faith moments in our hearts. May these faith encounters build up and encourage who we are in you. And, like Israel, guide us to tell these stories of faith, encouraging others who are on the journey with us. Amen.


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Moving Forward

Readings: Numbers 15, Numbers 16, Numbers 17, Numbers 18

Numbers 18:29 – “You will present each gift offering to the LORD from all your gifts, from its best portions and its holiest parts.”

On the heels of choosing fear over faith and being doomed to wander the wilderness for 40 years, in chapter 15 God details the offerings to be given when they do enter the Promised Land. The wander is clearly a detour. God has a plan. So God reviews the offerings required for unintentional sins. God is clear that there is no reconciliation offering for deliberate or intentional sin. They are cut off. In the next chapter we will see what that looks like. The chapter closes with instructions to place blue fringes on all of their clothing. Blue represents holy. The fringes will remind them of the commitment to their holy God.

Chapter 16 contains challenges to Moses and to Aaron. Korah and his Levite clan want more power. Dathan and Abiram think Moses has too much power. Korah and his family are gathered. God plans to consume Korah’s entire household. Moses intercedes for the innocents. God relents. Dathan and Abiram refuse to appear before Moses. They and their families are swallowed up by the earth. Korah and his 250 followers are consumed by God’s fire. The community grumbles against these deaths and therefore against Moses and God. God sends a plague. Moses sends Aaron out into the community to stop the plague. Aaron stands between the dead and the living, halting the plague.

To reiterate God’s call on Aaron, the staffs of the 12 tribal leaders are gathered and placed with Aaron’s staff before the chest. Aaron’s staff buds, revealing God’s choice. The people lament. For now they fail to see the humility required to be in God’s presence. Today’s readings close with priestly duties and their compensation. It mostly reiterates earlier instructions but also adds a requirement of the priests. Since they belong to the Lord they will not be given a land inheritance. Instead they will receive the tenth of the crops and herds given to the Lord. In turn God will require them to give 1/10 of this to the Lord as their gift offering. It is to be “from its best portions.” May we too return to the Lord a portion from the best of our blessings.

Prayer: Lord God, in spite of the Israelites’ disobedience and rebellion and sin you keep the plan moving forward. You see and know the end results. In our lives we disobey and rebel and sin. You continue to work in our lives as well, leading and guiding, shaping and forming us into who and what you call us to be. In response, may we gratefully give our best to you in all situations. Amen.


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When Will They Learn?

Readings: Numbers 11, Numbers 12, Numbers 13, Numbers 14

Numbers 14:8 – “If the LORD is pleased with us, he’ll bring us into this land and give it to us.”

Photo credit: Anne Nygard

Chapters 11-14 are a great summary of the Israelites time in the wilderness. It has it all: complaint and grumbling, anger and punishment, faith and doubt, trust and fear, intercession and forgiveness, victory and defeat.

Our reading begins with a little grumbling. God’s fire burns against this unnamed complaint, burning the edges of camp – a sign of warning. Some “riffraff” ignore the warning. They allow their craving for meat to lead to grumbling and a longing for those “better days” in Egypt. Moses is frustrated and overwhelmed. God responds by giving him leaders to help bear the weight of leadership. And God brings waves and waves of quail. God will be so abundant that “it will come out of your nostrils and nauseate you.” God’s anger then burns against the riffraff. They are buried there in the desert.

The complaining turns personal as Aaron and Miriam question Moses’ leadership. They are jealous. They claim a connection to God that only Moses has. Miriam is struck with a skin disease. Aaron begs for Moses to intercede. Miriam must bear the shame of their sin for seven days. After her isolation period she is healed and returns to camp.

Chapters 13 and 14 cover the exploration of the Promised Land and the people’s lack of faith and trust. The spies return with huge grapes and stories of huge people and fortified cities. Caleb tries to rally the people. Rumors ensue and soon the people are discouraged. The people once again long for Egypt – or at least to die in the desert instead of by the sword. Joshua then speaks, trying to rally their faith. He says, “If the LORD is pleased with us, he’ll bring us into this land and give it to us.” That is a really big “if.” The people want to stone Joshua and Caleb.

God’s anger burns hot as God decides to start over with just Moses. Moses intercedes again and God’s anger relents. But there will be a consequence: those 20+ will indeed die in the desert. They will wander for 40 years – one year for each day of exploration. Bitter mourning follows this news. And yet a group decides to enter the Promised Land anyway. Moses warns them. They are struck down by the people of Canaan.

Prayer: Lord God, how clear are the results of faith versus fear, of obedience versus disobedience. I start to think, when will they learn?! And then I realize that we’re still learning, that I’m still learning. Thank you, Lord, for your unending love and for your enduring faithfulness. You give mercy and grace that we and I don’t deserve. Yet it flows generously and abundantly. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Necessary Steps to Take Steps

Readings: Numbers 1, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4

Numbers 1:2-3 and 46 – “Take a census… of every male 20 years old and above… All those enlisted were 603,550.”

Today is day 34 of our Bible Year reading project. Today we begin Numbers, the fourth book of the Bible. Leaving Mount Sinai in chapter 10, their journey will continue. As God leads, guides, and provides, Israel is shaped more and more into a kingdom of priests. At times they will step forward as a faithful nation. Much of the time they will allow fear to lead to disobedience. The generation that walked out of Egypt will pass and the next generation enters the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. Along the way God walks with this holy nation.

Numbers begins with a census. All males 20+ are counted. The men eligible for military service totals 603,550. The Levites are not included in this census. They are assigned to the tent of meeting. God orders the camp – three tribes will camp on each side of the tent of meeting. Then the Levites are counted and assigned places to camp. They form a buffer zone around the tent of meeting. There are 22,000 Levite males age one month and older. A tally of the oldest males is made for all the Israelites. This equals 22,273. The extra 273 are redeemed to their families by paying 5 shekels each.

Lastly, duties are assigned to the 3 Levite clans. The Kohathites are responsible for carrying the Holy items – the chest, table, lamp stand, altar… The Gershonites are responsible for carrying the coverings and the Merarites are responsible for the frames, poles, bars, bases… Only Aaron and his sons can touch the holy items. These are packed and covered in cloth and then in fine leather. In all, there are 8,580 Levite males age 30-50 responsible for taking down, setting up, and transporting the tent of meeting and all of its equipment.

These laws and counts and organization are necessary steps for the holy nation to step forward towards the Promised Land. Again today we are reminded that God is a God of order and detail. There is a plan. And, always, everything is done “as the Lord commanded Moses.” Obedience is necessary too. Likewise, may we too do all that the Lord commands us to do.

Prayer: Lord God, what efforts are made to organize this holy nation of Israel. These are practical things necessary for your people to move forward. Lead and guide us today, Lord, so that we too can move into the world to take the good news of Jesus Christ to all people. Amen.


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Relationship

Readings: Exodus 19, Exodus 20, Exodus 21

Exodus 20:1 – “I am the Lord your God.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

As the Israelites travel on in the wilderness they arrive at Mount Sinai. Moses goes up the mountain and God speaks to him. Through Moses, God invites the people into relationship – obey me and stay true to the covenant. To accept means that Israel will become “my most precious possession… a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” The people accept the invitation, paving the way for the giving of the Law. In order to be ready to receive God’s law, the people prepare themselves, becoming ritually clean.

God descends on the mountain, filling the people with fear. They are warned to stay off of the mountain while God is present. Then Aaron joins Moses as they go up the mountain. In chapter 20 God begins to give Moses the Law. It begins with the Ten Commandments. These well-known verses begin with this foundational statement: “I am the Lord your God.” The “I am” echoes who and what God is. This was God’s name that Moses brought with him when he first went to Egypt.

The first four commandments are about us living in right relationship with God – no other gods or idols, no using God’s name carelessly, honor the Sabbath to covenant with God. The last six deal with our relationship with one another. They cover how to treat each other. An interesting side note – the last one, the one dealing with coveting, is the only one against inward thoughts. One can look at the last as a summary too. Coveting leads to the actions covered in commandments five through nine.

Today’s readings close with instructions that apply these relationship rules to some specific situations: slavery and animals. While many of these do not apply to us anymore, there is value in understanding their spirit. John Wesley’s simple rules “do no harm” and “do good” convey this same spirit. They are about treating and loving each other as God loves and treats us. May this be the spirit that we live by.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for taking the time to define, to explain, to invite us into faithful living with you, our covenant God. Fill us with your Spirit and empower us to live as your witness to love, grace, and mercy. Amen.


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Obedience and Faith

Readings: Exodus 1, Exodus 2, Exodus 3, and Exodus 4

Genesis 2:24-25 – “God heard their cry… God remembered his covenant… God looked at the Israelites, and God understood.”

Today we begin the story of the Exodus! It is the story of God’s deliverance from oppression and it is the story of the formation of God’s people. The story begins with the fulfillment of part of the covenant – Abraham’s descendants become numerous. Seventy quickly grows to be thousands upon thousands. Pharaoh fears them then enslaves the Hebrews. Growth continues. Faith is demonstrated by Shiphrah and Puah, thwarting plan A. Plan B is to drown all Hebrew baby boys in the Nile River. Moses is born and goes into the Nile – in a tarred basket. Providence has him rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. He grows up largely as an Egyptian.

Turning to adulthood, Moses defends a slave, killing an Egyptian. Moses then flees to Midian where his rescue of some shepherdesses connects him to Jethro and family. Moses marries, settles down. The Israelites cry out. At the end of chapter 2 we read, “God heard their cry… God remembered his covenant… God looked at the Israelites, and God understood.”

Out tending the flock on Mount Horeb/Sinai, Moses is drawn to a burning bush. It is holy ground – God is present. God asks Moses to rescue the Hebrews. Moses has lots of excuses. Sound familiar?! The excuses: Who am I? Who are you? How will they know you sent me? But I can’t talk well! Can’t you just send someone else?! Only the last one angers God. Yet God relents and sends a long Aaron to help. Pharaoh’s stubbornness is foreshadowed, as is the final plague.

Obediently, Moses goes. Yet obedience must be complete. On the way, God appears and tries to kill “him.” Is Moses or his son Gershom? Either way this is about circumcision – the symbolic act that identities the Israelites as God’s people. Zipporah reads the scene correctly and she acts quickly. The chapter closes with Moses and Aaron’s initial meeting with the Hebrew elders. They believe and then they worship the Lord their God.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how we are like Moses! Raised in two worlds – yours and this place we call home. We too can be confused about who and whose we are. And when you come to us, we can make excuses with the best of them. Yet, in love you lead and guide us. You desire relationship. You are not a tyrant. You invite us to be co-creators with you, loving and caring for your intended world. Thank you for the invitation. May we respond with both obedience and faith. Amen.