Iron Chariots

“Some boasts in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD” Psalm 20:7.

In the book of Judges we find the Israelites comfortably settled in certain areas of their Promised Land – easily and previously conquered areas.  The problem was that God didn’t deliver them to only be victorious over the easily conquered lands – they were delivered to live in the abundance of all their God-given land.   But they avoided the areas that would provide a challenge and require faith on their part.  ‘One reason the Israelites disobeyed God’s command was their fear of the ‘iron chariots’ employed by some of their enemies.  Israel was making decisions based on their limited supplies instead of on the boundless resources of God…If God had commanded their enemies’ destruction, He had also taken into account their iron chariots and had planned to equip His people for victory regardless.’  Gideon – Priscilla Shirer, p. 9.

Yesterday during church we were given some time to complete a survey to determine if we are meeting the spiritual goals of our church.  One of the questions that I really had to think about was the area of my life which I felt least equipped.  My answer was in sharing the message of the gospel with others.   I know that those with whom I am surrounded are already Christians with different levels of faith.  My call in this season is to encourage and build those up during their times of crisis.  In the depths of my heart I realized that my answer was more about the insecurity of reaching out to those who do not have a personal relationship with God.  My ministry deals primarily (to my comfort and security) with ‘areas previously conquered’ – those who already experience intimate fellowship with God…easy land in which to live and work.  But like the Israelites, I wasn’t delivered to experience partial Promised Land living – Christ died for me to experience the fullness of His kingdom on earth.  I was rescued to overtake whatever areas God purposes as He equips me for that service. 

Yesterday, the sun didn’t even set before God gave me a sliver of challenging land to conquer with Him leading.  I was substituting in Grief Share when a member of our group was courageous enough to admit that they weren’t sure if they really knew God.  This person was laying out uncomfortable land for me to walk through, but God equipped me and the entire group with the words, testimonies and truths of His message.  It felt as if we were seamlessly walking upon holy ground which God had invited us to be a part of.   We all felt such a powerful sense of the Holy Spirit leading this conversation.  God saw a piece of spiritual land that had fertile soil …a longing heart to experience intimacy with God in a way never before known. 

Through this precious experience, I know that what God purposes will be accomplished, and I will be equipped to conquer any land God determines.

Swimming Lessons

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8

When my children were young each one had to go through the trauma of learning to swim.  The first step was jumping into my arms while I was in the water.  I remember specifically being at a condo with an indoor pool trying to coax my little one to jump.  After much encouragement and pleading on my part, she finally leaped into my arms in the water.  I was so encouraged for the moment only to realize the second time would require just as much work…and the third…and the fourth.  I couldn’t believe that time after time the same fear would be so paralyzing since I was catching her every time.  I kept explaining that if I caught her one time…and twice…and three times then why on earth would she not believe that I would catch her every time.

When I consider our sweet Father I sometimes feel like that little girl on the edge of the swimming pool when facing challenging and fearful situations.  I see Him…I know He is there…cheering me on….reaching out His capable arms…and yet I stand there.  I wring my hands and bite my nails afraid to jump into the arms of the One who has never let me fall.  My circumstances keep me paralyzed on the sideline and focused on the deep water.  But thankfully our Father is the same One who has been faithful in our yesterdays, steadfast in our todays and unchanging in our forever.  The One who brought us through our past seasons is the same patient Father who is reaching out to us.  He is prepared to catch us and desires to carry all of His children.  When we focus on our Father of yesterday we build the courage we need today to run to the edge of our circumstances and jump into the arms of the Father of today.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."  Matthew 19:14-15.

Steadying the Ark

“David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah…to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim…When they came to the threshing floor…Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark… the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah” 1Chr. 14:9-10.

The Ark of the Covenant was where the continual manifestation of God was displayed.  This event was full of joy and celebration as the Ark had not been with them for some time due to the reign of King Saul.  I can just picture everyone celebrating with musical instruments and dance as they are marching in the name of the LORD.  Then, it happens…Uzzah reaches out and touches the very thing that is forbidden.  He didn’t do it out of sin or out of any bad intentions.  He did it for the same reason we do it – we think God needs our help.  We think that we must give God a leg up…a boost…a nudge…a steadying of the ark in our circumstances.

Over the course of my adult life there have been more times than not when I reached out taking matters into my own hands.  There were seasons when I toiled and strived to manipulate the outcome of a situation… steadying the ark.  There were instances when I meddled with God’s decisions by believing that I knew best…steadying the ark .  Are you in a season when you are reaching out and trying to help God with His job?  Are you allowing the decisions of God to go untouched even though your circumstances appear to be teetering on the edge of discomfort?

There was another child of God who didn’t take matters into his own hands, but waited for God to instruct his movement.  It was our beloved Moses who knew the importance of God leading in all circumstances.  “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea’…Moses stretched out his hand…and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.’” Ex. 14:26-27.  Moses did not get involved until God instructed him as to when and how – that is what brought about the success of the miracle.  Without God’s guidance and timing the waters would not have parted and the ground would not have been dry.  

This morning, are you tempted to steady the ark?  Are you inserting your own plan or decision over the plan and will of God?  We must be a people who refrain from reaching out before God instructs us.  We must be individuals who steady our faith in God instead of trying to steady our circumstances.

Freedom In the Desert

“‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’  But God said to him, ‘Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant.  I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring’” Gen. 21:10-13.

For anyone who feels this morning that your situation is leading you right into disaster, take heart!  Sarah demanded that Abraham banish their maidservant, Hagar and the son she had conceived with Abraham.  When Abraham took this heartbreaking situation to God, he was told that all would be alright.  God was going to allow the worst case scenario for Hagar and Ishmael.  At first glance it seems unfair…unjustified…unimaginable.  But, we must turn the prism to a different angle.  Abraham was no more than a master to Hagar and Hagar was no more than a servant to Sarah who hated her.  Ishmael would never be more than that boy of that maidservant.  He would always live in the shadow of Isaac just as Hagar would always live in the shadow of Sarah.  So the story continues…Hagar and Ishmael found themselves in the desert with no provisions…no one who cared…and what seemed to be no life ahead.  But God revealed Himself to her as her new Master, their new Father, and Provider.  ‘Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation…’ God was with the boy as he grew up.’ Gen. 21:20.

Before Jeremiah 29:11 was ever penned the Lord was demonstrating this principle in the life of Hagar and Ishmael.  ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ What seemed like life with Abraham and Sarah was really less than God’s abundance, and what seemed like the desert became life with God determining their future…not man.  Whatever circumstance feels like life is being derailed we must look to this story with hope and encouragement.  The life of freedom that Hagar and Ishmael experienced could have only happened after the situation forced them into the desert.  It was there that they experienced God at His best. 

Our difficulties birth the need for God, and provide the backdrop for Christ to become bigger through our faith.   If we are angry with our circumstances, it could be that we do not see God as love, so we miss out on His comfort.  If we fret and worry, we may have convinced ourselves that He is not able, so we miss out on His peace.  If we move ahead of Him, we have convinced ourselves that He is not wise in His decisions, so we miss out on His guidance.  We will experience God at the depth that we believe in His abilities and character.   So as we consider our challenges this morning, let us allow God to be the expanding and emerging God-power that He is, trusting Jeremiah 29:11 for our lives each and every day. 

Focusing on Pharaoh

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.  They were terrified and cried out…Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see…the Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” Exodus 14:10-14.

It had been less than a week since God had supernaturally and miraculously delivered the Israelites from their enslaved living…ONE WEEK!  However, they were scared to death …terrified beyond belief…filled with fear and hysteria.  You would have thought that the wonder of the Lord would have lasted longer than six or seven days in the minds and hearts of its recipients.  As we know the pillars of cloud and fire – God’s manifestation – never departed the Israelites.  It constantly filled the skies illuminating His presence, and yet Scripture states that they looked up and saw the Egyptians.  I wonder…how were they able to look beyond God’s manifestation?  How did they develop spiritual amnesia so quickly?  Before we judge too harshly are we not guilty of the same behavior?

How many times has God provided or delivered whatever it was we needed?  How is it that His presence shines so brightly in our lives with infinite blessings yet we focus on Pharaoh?  Why do we look beyond the pillars of Power and fear what seems to be enclosing upon us?  How can we look beyond His brilliance and fear the circumstances up ahead?  Priscilla Shirer, author of One In A Million states, ‘Many times we are so consumed with the past and concerned about the future, we miss out on what God is doing right now...God’s peace cannot hit a moving target.’  It is guaranteed that if we focus on what is up ahead or what is behind we will miss God’s glory for the moment.  We must take the advice of Moses…Be brave…Be faithful…Be watchful… Be still.

We must make intentional efforts to resist fear, remember God’s past victories, stay alert to His presence and cease striving for our own answers.

The Sweet Spots

“Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.” Exodus 15:27.

Back in November I began walking to get a little healthier and avoid going on medication for cholesterol.  The place I chose to walk was a road I had seldom paid attention to, never noticing the large hill I would have to climb.  The first time I turned the corner on that curve my eyes could only see the climb and nothing else.  I felt discouraged but committed so step by step I climbed the hill.  When I got to the top I was relieved to see the land flatten out for a good distance…Aaahhhh…breathing normally again…breeze through my hair and a smile on my face.  What I experienced was a mere fraction of what the Israelites encountered.  No doubt they dragged themselves step by step through the wilderness becoming exhausted, thirsty, hungry and dirty.  They had been led by God into the wilderness with nothing but open and empty land as far as they could see.  And then, out of nowhere they see the beautiful places of renewal and restoration.  I can see them acting like little children running up ahead into the water, splashing each other and drenching themselves with the fresh water.  Of course they camped…

My Bible study this morning shows the contrast between the desert and the wilderness.  ‘A wilderness is peppered with oases, places of hope for a weary traveler.  A desert is a barren expanse that can support little life or vegetation.  At first it seems that the wilderness through which God led His people was a desert, but in reality it was a place with grassy areas, upland plains, and even surface water.  God’s people were able to withstand the journey because God led them not through an arid desert but into a wilderness complete with natural rest stops.’ One In A Million, p. 53.  I find it very interesting that what appeared to be a desert of nothingness was really a wilderness of God’s wonders. 

Whatever you face this morning or whatever parched land on which you are walking, please be comforted that God has placed grassy areas up ahead for your refreshment.  This could be a word of encouragement from a stranger or a note from a friend.  He has provided waters of the Holy Spirit to quench our thirst of hopelessness.  Even if you cannot see anything up ahead, you can be confident that God has already been there placing an oasis of His wonders exactly where you need them.  God knows where all of the sweet spots are on our journeys…after all, He placed them there!   

Common Clouds Wrapped In Glory

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide…and by night in a pillar of fire to give the light” Exodus 13:21.

Day after day how the enslaved Israelites must have dreamed about the way things could have been…still could be…perhaps even will be.  As they worked on the grounds of their brutal masters, did they occasionally look to the skies praying for something more?  When they built fires to cook on could they have ever imagined that God would use something so common to man to show His presence?  How many millions of moments did they dare to dream when looking upon the clouds as they drifted from their view?  Eventually the very things that were common to them were the elements God wrapped around His glory to show His unwavering presence.  Once they had recognized these elements as God's indwelling, there was no question in their minds whether Emanuel was with them. 

We only have to look outside of our windows to see the creation of the Lord and the splendor of His handiwork.  If we are a believer, we have been indwelled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit who has become our inner pillar to guide us.  God didn’t send His son to save us only to hide His plan from us.  We have that inner Guide to lead us through our own wilderness and light up the way to go.   In addition to the Holy Spirit, many times God uses His creation to speak to us and reveal His plans for our lives.  Like the Israelites, we can look to creation to witness His presence.  The clouds were just clouds and the fire was just fire until the power of its Creator was supernaturally infused with His creation. 

‘God still wants to make Himself fully known to us and does so by working through what He has created.  He can and will encourage us in our journey by allowing, when He sees fit, His children to have visible evidence of His working on our behalf…as we can expect miracles in our lives.’ One In A Million, p. 47.

We must be watchful in the common things to man to see the uncommon glory of the Creator.