Exodus 9:27,29-30,34: [After God inflicted the land of Egypt with hailstones, resulting in utter destruction of the vegetation] "Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. 'This time I have sinned,' he said to them. 'The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the LORD . . . .Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer.' Moses replied, 'When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's. But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.' . . . . When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts . . . He would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses."
Here again is a good example of a supposedly penitent heart that (1) acknowledges that he has sinned, (2) confirms that the LORD is right, and (3) asks that Moses pray for him to bring deliverance. Still what is lacking in Pharaoh is a heart that is willing to submit to the LORD.
When God's judgment of hailstones ended, Pharaoh revealed his true heart. Even though God had stopped the plague of hail and rain at Moses' request, Pharaoh again desired to challenge the Lordship of the true God and keep God's covenant people in captivity. Pharaoh and his officials "hardened their hearts" in order that they might assert their own quest for lordship over the One Sovereign Lord (9:34).
Today, we must all evaluate ourselves to see who is on the throne of our lives. Are we passionately pursuing our own "rights" to divinity, or are we submitting to the One and Only True Lord?
Job 15 says that the wicked man, "shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty, defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield." In the end, the one who attempts to challenge God's Sovereignty will see God's righteous wrath. Still, those who surrender to the rightful Lordship of God through repentance, faith, and obedience will live in the blessing of the LORD's goodness (Lam. 3:25).
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Greatness in the Eyes of God
John 3:26-30: "They came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan-the one you testified about-well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.' To this John replied, 'A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.'"
John 10:41: "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."
Matthew 11:11: (Jesus said) "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
John the Baptist is a great example of a man who had the right perspective concerning his purpose in life. He had a significant following of disciples around the Jordan River, where he taught the people repentance. So impacting was his ministry, that "the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him" in the desert to hear his preaching of repentance (Mark 1:4-5). John had amassed quite a following of people who wanted to hear more about God's forgiveness of sins; however, when Jesus began his ministry, many people deserted John in favor of Jesus. John's disciples warned their leader that they were losing their following.
John rightfully identified Jesus as the Christ, and he knew that his own purpose in ministry was to exalt the Messiah over himself. John could exclaim that he was full of joy, for he knew that the true Bridegroom had come into the world to bring the very repentance of which he had been preaching. One of the most profound statements found in all of scripture is John's response to his disciples' concern about Jesus' ministry: "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less."
In effect, John was saying, "It's not about me . . . It's about my Lord . . . He should have the praise . . . I yield myself to Him."
What is fascinating is a very small statement made several chapters later in John 10; in the text, John is described as having never performed a miraculous sign. John was not the flashy prophet who parted waters or called down fire from heaven or raised people from the dead. He was an ordinary man who was obedient to God's calling to teach repentance and who submitted himself to His Lord. He was not the type of prophet who attempted to draw attention to himself . . . he wanted Jesus to receive the praise.
So, what was Jesus' opinion of John the Baptist? If one reads the Matthew 11 passage above, one can see that Jesus proclaimed that John was greater than anyone else ever born. Jesus saw the greatness in John, for John proclaimed the truth of God boldly and yet he didn't let his success take his eyes off of his Savior. Although God did not perform extraordinary miracles through John, God still considered him greater than any other prophet, priest, or teacher. What an incredible tribute by our LORD!
John 10:41: "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."
Matthew 11:11: (Jesus said) "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
John the Baptist is a great example of a man who had the right perspective concerning his purpose in life. He had a significant following of disciples around the Jordan River, where he taught the people repentance. So impacting was his ministry, that "the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him" in the desert to hear his preaching of repentance (Mark 1:4-5). John had amassed quite a following of people who wanted to hear more about God's forgiveness of sins; however, when Jesus began his ministry, many people deserted John in favor of Jesus. John's disciples warned their leader that they were losing their following.
John rightfully identified Jesus as the Christ, and he knew that his own purpose in ministry was to exalt the Messiah over himself. John could exclaim that he was full of joy, for he knew that the true Bridegroom had come into the world to bring the very repentance of which he had been preaching. One of the most profound statements found in all of scripture is John's response to his disciples' concern about Jesus' ministry: "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less."
In effect, John was saying, "It's not about me . . . It's about my Lord . . . He should have the praise . . . I yield myself to Him."
What is fascinating is a very small statement made several chapters later in John 10; in the text, John is described as having never performed a miraculous sign. John was not the flashy prophet who parted waters or called down fire from heaven or raised people from the dead. He was an ordinary man who was obedient to God's calling to teach repentance and who submitted himself to His Lord. He was not the type of prophet who attempted to draw attention to himself . . . he wanted Jesus to receive the praise.
So, what was Jesus' opinion of John the Baptist? If one reads the Matthew 11 passage above, one can see that Jesus proclaimed that John was greater than anyone else ever born. Jesus saw the greatness in John, for John proclaimed the truth of God boldly and yet he didn't let his success take his eyes off of his Savior. Although God did not perform extraordinary miracles through John, God still considered him greater than any other prophet, priest, or teacher. What an incredible tribute by our LORD!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:3,7,11,13-14: "He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come . . . The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned the city . . . . The king came in to see the guests; he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes . . . . Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited but few are chosen."
As one reads this parable of Jesus, one is reminded of the preceding parable in Matthew 21 concerning the tenants. In the chapter 21 parable, the story is told of a landowner who had entrusted his land to tenant farmers, who were to submit to the will of the landowner and cultivate the land to produce fruit for harvest. Instead of following the decree of the owner, the tenants strove to take the inheritance from the landowner by first killing the servants sent to collect the harvest; then these farmers killed the son of the landowner thinking that they would then be able to take the land for themselves. In effect, Jesus is sharing a story about those who would challenge the rightful Lordship of God (the Landowner).
Then Jesus further addresses the foundational issue of Lordship by interjecting the parable of the wedding banquet. The imagery of this story portrays God's plan of salvation for humanity. Salvation IS the blessedness of being invited to His Divine, eternal Wedding Banquet. It is the opportunity of entering the joy of His eternal presence in Heaven . . . a place that is beyond our finite physical senses and understanding today (I Corinthians 2:9). He has paid the price for our redemption solely through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Still, God's calling to those invited necessitates a response of submission to Him. Although the parable suggests that the king (i.e. God) invited many to the banquet, many refused to come. The people were willing to shun the invitation, because they did not want the king telling them what they must do. They desired their own wills over the blessing of the king's wedding banquet . . . they would rather stay in the dark, dingy streets where they could maintain control of their lives than enter the glorious splendor of the king's court and enjoy his spectacular feast. Here we see that Jesus is addressing a lordship issue; for each man must come to a point of reckoning, whether he will surrender himself to Jesus Christ as Lord or continue to seek his own selfish desires above God (e.g. desiring to be God himself).
After those who had refused to enter the king's banquet had been destroyed (figurative of eternal judgment); the story shifts to the royal court where the king enters to enjoy the banquet this those who had entered. Upon his entrance, the king notices one man who was not wearing wedding clothes. This latter story is symbolic of one who wants the benefits of salvation, but still has a problem with lordship. This man thinks that he can get by and experience the blessing of the wedding feast by doing things his own way, instead of being obedient to the king's command. We find this parallel in our society today. Whereas God has decreed that salvation is provided solely through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is actualized for the individual through his repentance and submission to Christ as Lord, we still find people who think that they can gain entrance into God's eternal "banquet" of heaven through their own efforts. As the man in the parable thought he could do things his own way and then could expect God to let him into the banquet, so too people today think that if they are a "good person," then God must permit them to enter heaven.
The story is quite sobering when the king commands his attendants to "tie (the man) hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus is telling the hearers of the parable that God will not tolerate those who would attempt to circumvent his proscribed provision of salvation by attempting to merit favor with God through their own vain efforts. Only by surrender can one be welcomed into God's eternal banquet.
In summary, we find two groups that are excluded from the kingdom of Heaven:
(1). Those who obstinately refuse the Gospel of Christ (a Lordship issue).
(2). Those who attempt to enter heaven through their own attempts at self-righteousness (a Lordship issue).
In either case, the power of the cross and resurrection is not merited, for these two groups have forsaken Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Again, submission is the key!
As one reads this parable of Jesus, one is reminded of the preceding parable in Matthew 21 concerning the tenants. In the chapter 21 parable, the story is told of a landowner who had entrusted his land to tenant farmers, who were to submit to the will of the landowner and cultivate the land to produce fruit for harvest. Instead of following the decree of the owner, the tenants strove to take the inheritance from the landowner by first killing the servants sent to collect the harvest; then these farmers killed the son of the landowner thinking that they would then be able to take the land for themselves. In effect, Jesus is sharing a story about those who would challenge the rightful Lordship of God (the Landowner).
Then Jesus further addresses the foundational issue of Lordship by interjecting the parable of the wedding banquet. The imagery of this story portrays God's plan of salvation for humanity. Salvation IS the blessedness of being invited to His Divine, eternal Wedding Banquet. It is the opportunity of entering the joy of His eternal presence in Heaven . . . a place that is beyond our finite physical senses and understanding today (I Corinthians 2:9). He has paid the price for our redemption solely through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Still, God's calling to those invited necessitates a response of submission to Him. Although the parable suggests that the king (i.e. God) invited many to the banquet, many refused to come. The people were willing to shun the invitation, because they did not want the king telling them what they must do. They desired their own wills over the blessing of the king's wedding banquet . . . they would rather stay in the dark, dingy streets where they could maintain control of their lives than enter the glorious splendor of the king's court and enjoy his spectacular feast. Here we see that Jesus is addressing a lordship issue; for each man must come to a point of reckoning, whether he will surrender himself to Jesus Christ as Lord or continue to seek his own selfish desires above God (e.g. desiring to be God himself).
After those who had refused to enter the king's banquet had been destroyed (figurative of eternal judgment); the story shifts to the royal court where the king enters to enjoy the banquet this those who had entered. Upon his entrance, the king notices one man who was not wearing wedding clothes. This latter story is symbolic of one who wants the benefits of salvation, but still has a problem with lordship. This man thinks that he can get by and experience the blessing of the wedding feast by doing things his own way, instead of being obedient to the king's command. We find this parallel in our society today. Whereas God has decreed that salvation is provided solely through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is actualized for the individual through his repentance and submission to Christ as Lord, we still find people who think that they can gain entrance into God's eternal "banquet" of heaven through their own efforts. As the man in the parable thought he could do things his own way and then could expect God to let him into the banquet, so too people today think that if they are a "good person," then God must permit them to enter heaven.
The story is quite sobering when the king commands his attendants to "tie (the man) hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus is telling the hearers of the parable that God will not tolerate those who would attempt to circumvent his proscribed provision of salvation by attempting to merit favor with God through their own vain efforts. Only by surrender can one be welcomed into God's eternal banquet.
In summary, we find two groups that are excluded from the kingdom of Heaven:
(1). Those who obstinately refuse the Gospel of Christ (a Lordship issue).
(2). Those who attempt to enter heaven through their own attempts at self-righteousness (a Lordship issue).
In either case, the power of the cross and resurrection is not merited, for these two groups have forsaken Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Again, submission is the key!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Did God Really Strike the Child Dead?
2 Samuel 12:13-14: "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.' Nathan replied, 'The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.'"
2 Samuel 11 marks the transition in David's life from triumph to tragedy. David had been the recipient of God's Divine blessing, which brought the king continued success in all that he did (see 1 Samuel 18:5,15,28; 2 Samuel 5:10). By the time of the above mentioned verse, David had expanded his kingdom by defeating the Philistines, the Moabites, the Arameans, and the Ammonites. Many of these neighboring nations subjected themselves to David's authority in the region, for God had blessed the Israelite king and made him a powerful and prosperous ruler.
Tragically, David's prosperity and popularity would lead to his egregious sin with another man's wife. While his army was away fighting the Ammonites, David stayed at home in Jerusalem. One evening, he awakened from his bed to walk around the roof of the palace, and as he strolled around the top, he noticed a married woman bathing. Thinking himself to be above any law or any one, including God, David violated the marital covenant that this woman, Bathsheba, had made with her husband, Uriah. Then to cover up the sin of adultery, David had Bathsheba's husband Uriah killed so that he could take her to be his own wife.
God intervened by sending the prophet, Nathan, to address the king for his sins of murder and adultery. The prophet approached the king with an illustrative story of a rich man, who, despite his great number of livestock, took from a poor man his choicest possession, one ewe lamb, to be slaughtered for his dinner. This taking was not out of necessity, but out of arrogant disdain for the man less fortunate than he.
David was aroused with indignation at this story, and he decreed that this rich man would be subject to payment four times over for such a sin of arrogance and lack of pity. David was so angered at Nathan's account that he suggested that such a sin was deserving of death.
When Nathan pointed at David and declared him the arrogant man, David in turn acknowledged his sin. And although the sin was forgiven, the punishment for his royal edict was still to be carried out. Four times over, David would see the loss of a son, first with the death of the child conceived through adultery, second with the death of Amnon, then Absalom, then Adonijah. The sentence of death for David's child with Bathsheba was the consequence of the royal curse that David decreed against himself. God was carrying out the punishment that David decreed for this sin. When one begins to see the horrific deaths that the older sons experienced, one can see Divine benevolence in taking the child early before such a similar fate.
God's judgment was the result of the king's contempt for the covenant of marriage, which caused the enemies of the Lord "show utter contempt" (2 Sam. 12:14); still, the death of the child was the result of the king's decree of a four-fold retribution for the sin. From this event forward, David would see the pain of "the sword never departing from his house (2 Sam. 12:10).
2 Samuel 11 marks the transition in David's life from triumph to tragedy. David had been the recipient of God's Divine blessing, which brought the king continued success in all that he did (see 1 Samuel 18:5,15,28; 2 Samuel 5:10). By the time of the above mentioned verse, David had expanded his kingdom by defeating the Philistines, the Moabites, the Arameans, and the Ammonites. Many of these neighboring nations subjected themselves to David's authority in the region, for God had blessed the Israelite king and made him a powerful and prosperous ruler.
Tragically, David's prosperity and popularity would lead to his egregious sin with another man's wife. While his army was away fighting the Ammonites, David stayed at home in Jerusalem. One evening, he awakened from his bed to walk around the roof of the palace, and as he strolled around the top, he noticed a married woman bathing. Thinking himself to be above any law or any one, including God, David violated the marital covenant that this woman, Bathsheba, had made with her husband, Uriah. Then to cover up the sin of adultery, David had Bathsheba's husband Uriah killed so that he could take her to be his own wife.
God intervened by sending the prophet, Nathan, to address the king for his sins of murder and adultery. The prophet approached the king with an illustrative story of a rich man, who, despite his great number of livestock, took from a poor man his choicest possession, one ewe lamb, to be slaughtered for his dinner. This taking was not out of necessity, but out of arrogant disdain for the man less fortunate than he.
David was aroused with indignation at this story, and he decreed that this rich man would be subject to payment four times over for such a sin of arrogance and lack of pity. David was so angered at Nathan's account that he suggested that such a sin was deserving of death.
When Nathan pointed at David and declared him the arrogant man, David in turn acknowledged his sin. And although the sin was forgiven, the punishment for his royal edict was still to be carried out. Four times over, David would see the loss of a son, first with the death of the child conceived through adultery, second with the death of Amnon, then Absalom, then Adonijah. The sentence of death for David's child with Bathsheba was the consequence of the royal curse that David decreed against himself. God was carrying out the punishment that David decreed for this sin. When one begins to see the horrific deaths that the older sons experienced, one can see Divine benevolence in taking the child early before such a similar fate.
God's judgment was the result of the king's contempt for the covenant of marriage, which caused the enemies of the Lord "show utter contempt" (2 Sam. 12:14); still, the death of the child was the result of the king's decree of a four-fold retribution for the sin. From this event forward, David would see the pain of "the sword never departing from his house (2 Sam. 12:10).
Friday, January 4, 2008
Submission is the Key to Salvation
Exodus 40:26: Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him.
I can imagine the priest walking into the tabernacle and seeing the visible reminders of the way of atonement for himself and his people. As he walked into the most holy place, he would look to the right and see the table of bread prepared and to the left the lampstand with golden almond buds. He would then approach the golden altar of incense to present an offering of incense to the LORD. All of this would occur before he could go through the curtain into the Holy of Holies.
In reflecting upon Christ, we can see ourselves walking through the tabernacle in the OT. As we look toward the right, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the bread of life . . . the offering that is the sacrifice for the sins of the world. As Jesus Himself so aptly said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty . . . . And I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:33-40).
As we look to the left, we see the golden lampstand with seven lamps in the shape of almond blossoms. We remember that Jesus said that He is the Light of the World. In John 8:12, Our Savior said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
As we walk forward in the Most Holy Place, we are then separated from the curtain leading into the presence of the LORD by the altar of incense. Incense was offered to deities to acknowledge their deity and to demonstrate submission to their lordship over one's life. Before we can enter into the presence of the LORD, we must first come to a point in which we submit to the LORDship of Jesus Christ. We capitulate our wills and our lives to the one who is Sovereign, and who has initiated our reconciliation with Him through His sacrifice on the cross and His triumph in His resurrection.
Once we offer the sacrifice of submission to the LORD (Romans 10:9-10), we are then able to enter the Holy of Holies. Again, this admittance is offered through Jesus Christ and our submissive response to Him. We then walk into the presence of the Lord, where the atonement altar is located. Here we find three objects at the altar . . . The ten commandments (representing God's law that tells us that we have sinned (Romans 3:20), Aaron's rod that budded (the instrument that was used to affirm that he was the one who would be the intermediary between God and man, and manna (divine bread that brought physical life to a people wandering in the wilderness of sin). Blood of a perfect sacrifice was offered upon the atonement altar, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). And as the blood was poured out on the altar, the shadows of crimson would befall the standard of law, the intermediary, and the deliverance . . . all presenting testimony of the coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the penitent.
With the death of Christ, the curtain has been torn at the entrance into the Holy of Holies. So we all have opportunity to approach the presence of the LORD and receive forgiveness of sins. But we still find blocking our way the Altar of Incense. To our left and our right are the evidences that Christ is our bread of eternal life that provides us the light of truth for salvation. Will we respond at the altar of incense? Will we submit to His Lordship? Then let us boldly approach the throne of God and celebrate the sacrifice of blood for our salvation and the immeasurable blessings afforded to us as sons and daughters of the Almighty!
I can imagine the priest walking into the tabernacle and seeing the visible reminders of the way of atonement for himself and his people. As he walked into the most holy place, he would look to the right and see the table of bread prepared and to the left the lampstand with golden almond buds. He would then approach the golden altar of incense to present an offering of incense to the LORD. All of this would occur before he could go through the curtain into the Holy of Holies.
In reflecting upon Christ, we can see ourselves walking through the tabernacle in the OT. As we look toward the right, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the bread of life . . . the offering that is the sacrifice for the sins of the world. As Jesus Himself so aptly said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty . . . . And I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:33-40).
As we look to the left, we see the golden lampstand with seven lamps in the shape of almond blossoms. We remember that Jesus said that He is the Light of the World. In John 8:12, Our Savior said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
As we walk forward in the Most Holy Place, we are then separated from the curtain leading into the presence of the LORD by the altar of incense. Incense was offered to deities to acknowledge their deity and to demonstrate submission to their lordship over one's life. Before we can enter into the presence of the LORD, we must first come to a point in which we submit to the LORDship of Jesus Christ. We capitulate our wills and our lives to the one who is Sovereign, and who has initiated our reconciliation with Him through His sacrifice on the cross and His triumph in His resurrection.
Once we offer the sacrifice of submission to the LORD (Romans 10:9-10), we are then able to enter the Holy of Holies. Again, this admittance is offered through Jesus Christ and our submissive response to Him. We then walk into the presence of the Lord, where the atonement altar is located. Here we find three objects at the altar . . . The ten commandments (representing God's law that tells us that we have sinned (Romans 3:20), Aaron's rod that budded (the instrument that was used to affirm that he was the one who would be the intermediary between God and man, and manna (divine bread that brought physical life to a people wandering in the wilderness of sin). Blood of a perfect sacrifice was offered upon the atonement altar, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). And as the blood was poured out on the altar, the shadows of crimson would befall the standard of law, the intermediary, and the deliverance . . . all presenting testimony of the coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the penitent.
With the death of Christ, the curtain has been torn at the entrance into the Holy of Holies. So we all have opportunity to approach the presence of the LORD and receive forgiveness of sins. But we still find blocking our way the Altar of Incense. To our left and our right are the evidences that Christ is our bread of eternal life that provides us the light of truth for salvation. Will we respond at the altar of incense? Will we submit to His Lordship? Then let us boldly approach the throne of God and celebrate the sacrifice of blood for our salvation and the immeasurable blessings afforded to us as sons and daughters of the Almighty!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Complete Annilhation of the Amalekites?
Deuteronomy 25:17-19: "Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!"
In this passage of Deuteronomy, God seems very emphatic that He desires the complete destruction of the Amalekites, and this command is reiterated to King Saul 500 years later in 1 Samuel 15:3: "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." When Saul refused to destroy neither the choicest of livestock nor the king, God decreed that Saul was now the enemy of the Lord and would die for his failure to carry out "God's fierce wrath against the Amalekites" (1 Samuel 28:18). So the question arises, "Why such vehement wrath upon one people?"
To find the answer, one must travel back to the accounts of the wandering Israelites in the first few books of the Old Testament. The Amalekites represented the group of people who attempted to thwart the entrance of God's chosen people from entering the Promised Land. First, one finds the Amalekites waging war against the Israelites at Rephidim in Exodus 17. Again in Numbers 14:45, the Amalekites were the ones who drove the Israelites away from the entrance into the Promised Land back into the desert at Hormah. The Amalekites were the pagans who desired to thwart any attempt by God's chosen people from reaching the intended destination from the LORD. God desired for His people to experience the blessing of His abundant provision, and the Amalekites wanted to prevent this from happening.
If we see the Promised Land in the Old Testament as a prefigurement of heaven, our eternal "Promised Land," then in a sense, the Amalekites represent everything that is anti-Christ. They embody the forces of evil that would desire to prevent God from redeeming his bride into His glorious presence. The Amalekites are not unlike Satan himself, who wants nothing less than to see all of humanity fall short of salvation. So it seems as if God's fierce wrath that brings utter destruction to the Amalekites (see David's account in I Samuel 28) is a symbolic parallel to the utter destruction that He will bring upon all the forces of evil that would attempt to keep His redeemed from heaven. Revelation 20 speaks of the eternal judgment upon Satan and his followers of evil. They will meet God's Divine wrath in the lake of fire, where they will be "tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).
So, God's fierce wrath against this one nation had to do with their desire to challenge God's will for his chosen people. As God utterly destroyed this people from the face of the earth, so He will judge all evil in the last days. God will not be challenged. As the Almighty, Sovereign One, the Lord will prevail.
In this passage of Deuteronomy, God seems very emphatic that He desires the complete destruction of the Amalekites, and this command is reiterated to King Saul 500 years later in 1 Samuel 15:3: "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." When Saul refused to destroy neither the choicest of livestock nor the king, God decreed that Saul was now the enemy of the Lord and would die for his failure to carry out "God's fierce wrath against the Amalekites" (1 Samuel 28:18). So the question arises, "Why such vehement wrath upon one people?"
To find the answer, one must travel back to the accounts of the wandering Israelites in the first few books of the Old Testament. The Amalekites represented the group of people who attempted to thwart the entrance of God's chosen people from entering the Promised Land. First, one finds the Amalekites waging war against the Israelites at Rephidim in Exodus 17. Again in Numbers 14:45, the Amalekites were the ones who drove the Israelites away from the entrance into the Promised Land back into the desert at Hormah. The Amalekites were the pagans who desired to thwart any attempt by God's chosen people from reaching the intended destination from the LORD. God desired for His people to experience the blessing of His abundant provision, and the Amalekites wanted to prevent this from happening.
If we see the Promised Land in the Old Testament as a prefigurement of heaven, our eternal "Promised Land," then in a sense, the Amalekites represent everything that is anti-Christ. They embody the forces of evil that would desire to prevent God from redeeming his bride into His glorious presence. The Amalekites are not unlike Satan himself, who wants nothing less than to see all of humanity fall short of salvation. So it seems as if God's fierce wrath that brings utter destruction to the Amalekites (see David's account in I Samuel 28) is a symbolic parallel to the utter destruction that He will bring upon all the forces of evil that would attempt to keep His redeemed from heaven. Revelation 20 speaks of the eternal judgment upon Satan and his followers of evil. They will meet God's Divine wrath in the lake of fire, where they will be "tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).
So, God's fierce wrath against this one nation had to do with their desire to challenge God's will for his chosen people. As God utterly destroyed this people from the face of the earth, so He will judge all evil in the last days. God will not be challenged. As the Almighty, Sovereign One, the Lord will prevail.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Timing Is Everything
Numbers 13:2ff "(The Lord said to the Israelites) 'Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites' . . . . But the men who had gone up with him (Caleb)said, 'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.' And so they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored . . . All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, 'If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?' . . . . And the whole assembly talked about stoning Joshua and Caleb (for their word of admonishment to be obedient to God) . . . . The Lord said to Moses, 'How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them . . . . Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times - not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers . . . . In this desert your bodies will fall . . . . Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home . . . . You will suffer for your sins, and know what it is like to have me against you.'"
This story is a tragic account of a people who were given the opportunity of dwelling in the blessedness of God's Chosen Land that He had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before (see Genesis 15) through a covenant agreement. This land was a bountiful harvest of livestock and vegetation (milk and honey) just waiting to be received by these descendants of Abraham; still, the Israelites had to take the step of faith of entering into the land itself. Moses had sent out 12 spies to survey the land and report back to him what they had found. After 40 days, ten of the spies returned to confirm the richness of the land in providing choice food for the people; however, they also reported that the land was inhabited by huge and powerful pagans who would likely destroy them. Only the remaining two spies, Joshua and Caleb, advised Moses that the Israelites SHOULD take the land, for these two knew that the LORD would be with them.
Once the ten spies were able to convince the people that it was not a good idea to enter God's Promised Land, the people's fears overtook their faith in the Lord. They began to grumble against the leaders, Moses and Aaron, and they decided that it would be better to appoint a new leader who would take them back to bondage in Egypt. These Israelites in effect called God a liar by saying that He would not give them what He had promised, but was "bringing them into the land only to fall by the sword" (14:3). They would rather have the pain of enslavement to a hostile people over God's chosen best for them. These Israelites put their faith in what they physically observed; they were not willing to trust God through the apparent obstacles.
Joshua and Caleb knew that the people were rebelling against the Lord, so they tore their clothes as a demonstrative act of mourning for the sacrilege of the people. So depraved had the thinking of the people become that they sought ways to stone Joshua and Caleb for calling their sin of rebellion to account. They wanted to silence the two who were identifying their behavior as rebellious against the Lord. God quickly responded with His own words of reprimand. He told Moses that the people were treating His Holiness with contempt for not trusting in His Word. In the end, God judged these recalcitrant Israelites by barring any entrance for the adults to enter His Promised Land. These faithless Israelites would have to wander in the barren wilderness for 40 years until each of them died, never having tasted the blessing of God's promised, abundant provision. For these people who were so worried about the giants warring against them, God now wanted them to know what it was like to have the Sovereign Almighty Lord as their enemy(14:34).
The people mourned for not having trusted in the Lord. After God's declaration of judgment that they would never enter the land, they decided that now they wanted to proceed ahead. They now wanted to take what God had once promised them, but it was now too late. Their late timing in response to God's provision would prove to be their utter downfall.
Moses warned the people that this act of entering the land was an act of further disobedience against the Lord and would result in their utter defeat. Still, the people decided to move forward and were defeated soundly by the Amalekites and Canaanites, who sent the Israelites running back into the desert.
As promised by the Lord, they would wander for 40 years (a year for each day that the scouts were surveying the land) until everyone over the age of 20 who had grumbled against the Lord had died.
There is great imagery for each of us as we contemplate the parallel for our lives. To each of us, God has afforded the opportunity of dwelling in His eternal Promised Land, heaven; however, to step onto its hallowed ground, we must all come to a point that we understand that God is providing this grace to us . . . it is not attainable by our own efforts. In fact, if we were to look at the requirements of entrance (i.e. complete holiness) we would turn away in utter defeat. This is why the timing of this opportunity is so important. Today is the day of our choosing; today is the day of our salvation. Today is the opportunity for each of us to enter into salvation SOLELY through the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was His death and resurrection that will defeat the "giant sins" that stand in the way of His Divine blessedness for us.
For some, the time of opportunity to respond to God's provision of grace will pass. With their physical deaths, these people will be declined entrance into heaven, and will experience eternal spiritual death in the barrenness of God's judgment in hell.
We must all take time to reflect upon this story as a word of direction and conviction. Do we have faith in God? Do we desire His eternal provision of blessing in heaven? Are we willing to step forward, knowing that it is He alone who provides deliverance? We must decide now, for tomorrow may be too late. Remember, timing is everything.
This story is a tragic account of a people who were given the opportunity of dwelling in the blessedness of God's Chosen Land that He had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before (see Genesis 15) through a covenant agreement. This land was a bountiful harvest of livestock and vegetation (milk and honey) just waiting to be received by these descendants of Abraham; still, the Israelites had to take the step of faith of entering into the land itself. Moses had sent out 12 spies to survey the land and report back to him what they had found. After 40 days, ten of the spies returned to confirm the richness of the land in providing choice food for the people; however, they also reported that the land was inhabited by huge and powerful pagans who would likely destroy them. Only the remaining two spies, Joshua and Caleb, advised Moses that the Israelites SHOULD take the land, for these two knew that the LORD would be with them.
Once the ten spies were able to convince the people that it was not a good idea to enter God's Promised Land, the people's fears overtook their faith in the Lord. They began to grumble against the leaders, Moses and Aaron, and they decided that it would be better to appoint a new leader who would take them back to bondage in Egypt. These Israelites in effect called God a liar by saying that He would not give them what He had promised, but was "bringing them into the land only to fall by the sword" (14:3). They would rather have the pain of enslavement to a hostile people over God's chosen best for them. These Israelites put their faith in what they physically observed; they were not willing to trust God through the apparent obstacles.
Joshua and Caleb knew that the people were rebelling against the Lord, so they tore their clothes as a demonstrative act of mourning for the sacrilege of the people. So depraved had the thinking of the people become that they sought ways to stone Joshua and Caleb for calling their sin of rebellion to account. They wanted to silence the two who were identifying their behavior as rebellious against the Lord. God quickly responded with His own words of reprimand. He told Moses that the people were treating His Holiness with contempt for not trusting in His Word. In the end, God judged these recalcitrant Israelites by barring any entrance for the adults to enter His Promised Land. These faithless Israelites would have to wander in the barren wilderness for 40 years until each of them died, never having tasted the blessing of God's promised, abundant provision. For these people who were so worried about the giants warring against them, God now wanted them to know what it was like to have the Sovereign Almighty Lord as their enemy(14:34).
The people mourned for not having trusted in the Lord. After God's declaration of judgment that they would never enter the land, they decided that now they wanted to proceed ahead. They now wanted to take what God had once promised them, but it was now too late. Their late timing in response to God's provision would prove to be their utter downfall.
Moses warned the people that this act of entering the land was an act of further disobedience against the Lord and would result in their utter defeat. Still, the people decided to move forward and were defeated soundly by the Amalekites and Canaanites, who sent the Israelites running back into the desert.
As promised by the Lord, they would wander for 40 years (a year for each day that the scouts were surveying the land) until everyone over the age of 20 who had grumbled against the Lord had died.
There is great imagery for each of us as we contemplate the parallel for our lives. To each of us, God has afforded the opportunity of dwelling in His eternal Promised Land, heaven; however, to step onto its hallowed ground, we must all come to a point that we understand that God is providing this grace to us . . . it is not attainable by our own efforts. In fact, if we were to look at the requirements of entrance (i.e. complete holiness) we would turn away in utter defeat. This is why the timing of this opportunity is so important. Today is the day of our choosing; today is the day of our salvation. Today is the opportunity for each of us to enter into salvation SOLELY through the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was His death and resurrection that will defeat the "giant sins" that stand in the way of His Divine blessedness for us.
For some, the time of opportunity to respond to God's provision of grace will pass. With their physical deaths, these people will be declined entrance into heaven, and will experience eternal spiritual death in the barrenness of God's judgment in hell.
We must all take time to reflect upon this story as a word of direction and conviction. Do we have faith in God? Do we desire His eternal provision of blessing in heaven? Are we willing to step forward, knowing that it is He alone who provides deliverance? We must decide now, for tomorrow may be too late. Remember, timing is everything.
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