Judges 7:15 "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'"
The Israelites once again have turned from God and this time God raises up Gideon to save them. As the angel of the Lord is challenging Gideon to go and save the Israelites from the Midianites, Gideon repeats this all too common and rather stupid question.
There appears to be a recurring theme in God's story of God using the weak and the small. Gideon believes himself to be inadequate for the job, but the angel of the Lord disagrees. God continually does this. And we continually doubt him. How foolish are we? If he is God, can't he do anything through anybody at anytime? Why do we doubt, whine, and complain? God uses the weak. He uses the small. He does this to all the better show off his glory and power. In our weakness he is strong. What am I weak at today? I need God to be my strength in that area.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being my strength. Help me to not doubt you. Amen.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
You Go Girl
Judges 4: 21 "But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died."
At this point in Israel's rollercoaster relationship with God, they find themselves harassed by Jabin king of Canaan. A gal named Deborah emerges as the next judge and she declares war on Jabin and the commander of his army, Sisera. As the Israelites were routing Sisera and his army, Sisera escapes to what he believes to be a friendly home of another gal named Jael. Unfortunately for Sisera, he takes a nap in Jael's home, and while sleeping she drives a tent peg through his skull!
Another awesome story in the OT! And this one includes some brave women as the main characters. What can I learn? God has his plan and he uses everyone and everything-men, women, children, and tent pegs! And as always, God continues to show his faithfulness to his people despite their infantile behavior.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the godly leaders in my life-men and women alike. Amen.
At this point in Israel's rollercoaster relationship with God, they find themselves harassed by Jabin king of Canaan. A gal named Deborah emerges as the next judge and she declares war on Jabin and the commander of his army, Sisera. As the Israelites were routing Sisera and his army, Sisera escapes to what he believes to be a friendly home of another gal named Jael. Unfortunately for Sisera, he takes a nap in Jael's home, and while sleeping she drives a tent peg through his skull!
Another awesome story in the OT! And this one includes some brave women as the main characters. What can I learn? God has his plan and he uses everyone and everything-men, women, children, and tent pegs! And as always, God continues to show his faithfulness to his people despite their infantile behavior.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the godly leaders in my life-men and women alike. Amen.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Tale of Ehud the Left-Handed Judge and Eglon the Fat King
Judges 3:15 "Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer-Ehud, a left handed man..."
The Israelites have entered the promised land and have seen the faithfulness and power of God, yet they continue to desert him and follow after other gods. Each time God allows other nations to conquer Israel, yet in his mercy he raises up a judge to guide and rescue them. This particular judge is named Ehud and he is left-handed! He also stabs a rival king in his fat belly with a sword!
The story of Ehud just jumped out at me today. So often we take the Bible so seriously, always looking for depth and theological wisdom to guide us in our pursuit of God. And that's all well and good but sometimes it's fun to look back at our story and be entertained a bit. Ehud stabs a king named Eglon who is so fat the sword sinks into his belly and Ehud can't get it out! That's kind of funny. At least to a youth pastor. What can I learn from this story? Lots of things. But today I just enjoyed the story.
Dear Jesus, help me be reminded daily of my role in your story. Amen.
The Israelites have entered the promised land and have seen the faithfulness and power of God, yet they continue to desert him and follow after other gods. Each time God allows other nations to conquer Israel, yet in his mercy he raises up a judge to guide and rescue them. This particular judge is named Ehud and he is left-handed! He also stabs a rival king in his fat belly with a sword!
The story of Ehud just jumped out at me today. So often we take the Bible so seriously, always looking for depth and theological wisdom to guide us in our pursuit of God. And that's all well and good but sometimes it's fun to look back at our story and be entertained a bit. Ehud stabs a king named Eglon who is so fat the sword sinks into his belly and Ehud can't get it out! That's kind of funny. At least to a youth pastor. What can I learn from this story? Lots of things. But today I just enjoyed the story.
Dear Jesus, help me be reminded daily of my role in your story. Amen.
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