posted by MarkG filed under General
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This week we covered chapter six of Judges and the story of Gideon. Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and let the people be dominated by another nation. Eventually his people cried out again to their God (we’ve seen this cycle haven’t we). The Lord came to Gideon and told him he was the warrior that he would use to free his people . Gideon wasn’t sure, and showed his reluctance with many questions!
- “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?
- “But Lord ,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
- “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me”
Gideon was reluctant to believe what God was saying and obey. Eventually he agrees to do the things God asks, and tears down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah poles. These were the first steps in God’s plan for him.
In your reluctance …
… do you question the veracity of God?
… do you question God’s discernment and his ability to use you?
… Are you willing to worship God in his awesomeness?
… Are you willing to obey what he has called you to do?
May each one of us be a Gideon and keep trusting – even when we are unsure or reluctant. Get ready for next week by reading Judges chapter 6-7 and witness God’s faithfulness!
posted by MarkG filed under General
What are the "if's" in your Life?
If I had more money, I would be more generous.
If my kids would listen, I wouldn’t get so mad.
If God spoke more clearly, I would follow.
The word “if” is really useful to make excuses isn’t it?
This past Sunday Kevin shared the story of Barak from Judges chapter 4. Barak was called by God to be a part of God’s plan to release his people from captivity. Apparently Barak wasn’t real sure about this plan since God sent a prophetess named Deborah to remind him. As we see in verses 8-9, Barak still wasn’t sure about leading his people.
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”"Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.”
In the end Barak led his people, but the honor of the battle went to another.
What are the if’s in our lives that prevent God’s glory from being revealed and shared? Are we willing to change the focus of our lives from ourselves to purposes that God has in mind and how is willing to use us in the process?
posted by MarkG filed under General
Who is sitting in the director chair?
This past Sunday Steve Finkill shared with us from Judges about some of the ways the Israelites forgot their God. They not only forgot that he exists, but who he is to them – their true king.
In chapter 3 we read in verse 7, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs”. God sold them into the hands of a foreign king. In their anguish they soon remembered the Lord and cried out to him. During this whole time God was still their real Lord and King – even though they forgot him. Once again, he brought his people back to him.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to think about God as a king. Most of today’s kings function not as rulers with control, but as a ceremonial king with no real power. In America our leaders are very temporary – here today, gone the next election. It might be easier to relate to a movie production. The director has control over the events of the production and can usually be found in the special director chair – his/her throne. People in a movie production know who is in charge, and the director usually has a bullhorn to remind them. The director knows what’s best for creating a blockbuster and oversees and guides that process.
Who is sitting in the the director chair for your life? Have you been trying your hand at running the show? God intended for us to be in a relationship with him where we know him as brother, friend, and king. Sometimes we just want to be a part-time director for certain areas of our lives.
If you found yourself in the director chair this week God is ready to hear you cry out to him! As you can see from the book of Judges, God knows his people. He responds to their cries as they go through this spin-cycle of putting him first and forgetting his rightful position.
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