WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED?

[31]

GIDEON

Read Judges 6–7

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Judges 6:12 13 NIV

* * *

     For seven years God had allowed the Midianites to attack Israel, and they so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. (6:6) Israel had repeatedly returned to idolatry, followed by defeat and desperate prayers for help. Then God would send a leader to deliver them from their enemies. Once again God listened to their cry, and this time, His choice of a deliverer was a young man named Gideon.

     The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon saying, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Surprised by this greeting, Gideon questioned, “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?” Gideon could not understand how God was going to use him–the youngest member of his family in the smallest tribe–to lead Israel to victory. The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?” (6:13–14)

* * *

     Lord, like Gideon, sometimes we don’t understand why certain things happen the way they do. But I know that You have promised never to leave or forsake us. Give us the faith to trust Your provision in our lives, even when we cannot see how You are going to do it.

* * *

     Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJ

JOSHUA’S FINAL WORDS

[30]

Read Joshua 24; Judges 2:1-10

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NIV

* * *

Just before he died, Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel together and they presented themselves before God. In the exact words of the Lord, Joshua reviewed all God had done since He brought them out of Egypt. Then Joshua said, “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness…But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14–15)

* * *

God had kept all of His promises, but Joshua knew the people would persist in turning to their false gods. After Joshua’s generation passed away, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10) The older generation served the Lord, but failed to tell their children the stories of what God had done.

* * *

Lord, help us to remember to talk of your love and faithfulness to our children and to remind them often of the responsibility they will have in telling their children. Don’t let it be said of anyone in our family that they “neither knew the Lord nor what He had done for their parents.”

* * *

Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel. Joshua 24:31 NIV

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is coming up this next Monday. This is a time when we stop and think about the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Here in America, most of the time we tend to take that freedom for granted. Only those who have lived in countries where it is not free really can appreciate what that means.

I have been thinking today about how this holiday can be a reminder of the freedom I have in Jesus Christ. He paid the ultimate price, but then He conquored death and promises eternal life to all who will believe on Him. This freedom cost me nothing, but it was not cheaply bought.

The same can be said of our American freedom that we take for granted. Most of us were born into it and have had it all of our lives. For eternal freedom we must be born again, transformed into righteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ, and set free from sin and death. Let us make this Memorial Day a special one as we remember both our national freedom and our freedom in Christ.

Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death
NKJV

The Gibeonites

THE SUN STOOD STILL          

Read Joshua 9:1–10:14

             The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”   Joshua 10:6 NIV

 

 * * *

            When the Gibeonites heard about Israel’s miraculous victories at Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They pretended to be traveling from a distant country when in fact they were near neighbors. They said, “This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is.”  The men of Israel sampled their provisions “but did not inquire of the LORD.” (Joshua 9:14) Then Joshua signed a treaty with them and the leaders ratified it by oath.

In spite of the questionable way this treaty came about, God expected Israel to honor it. The Lord worked a mighty miracle on the day the Israelites defended the Gibeonites’: The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.  (Joshua 10:13)

 

* * *

            Lord, help me to be careful when making promises and faithful to keep them–especially to my children–remembering that You are a covenant keeping God. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV)

 

* * *

          There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!     Joshua 10:14 NIV

THE JORDAN RIVER

Read Joshua 3:1–4:24

 

          “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?‘ tell them… ‘The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea.‘”   Joshua 4:21–23 NIV

 

* * *

            The people Joshua was called to lead had not experienced the miracle at the Red Sea.  They had heard the stories, but now they themselves watched as God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea.  No sooner had the priests set their feet on dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. (Joshua 4:18b) Later at Gilgal, Joshua took twelve stones and set them up as a memorial. Then he spoke to the people saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know saying… ‘The LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over‘… that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”  (Joshua 4:21–24 NKJV)

            We can never overestimate the importance of teaching our children what God has done. When they love and serve the Lord, our own influence will be multiplied many times over – but if we fail to pass on our faith, no other ministry will make up for the personal loss.

* * *

            Lord, help us to find “stones of remembrance” that will serve as object lessons for our children. Give us thankful hearts to acknowledge You in everything we do.

 

* * *

            Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.   Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

THE DEATH OF MOSES

Read Numbers 20:1–12; Deuteronomy 32:48–52; 34:1–8; Matthew 17:1–8

* * *

Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised… I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4 NIV

* * *

Moses was a leader and prophet like no other, but in his anger at the people he made a fatal mistake: God had instructed Moses, “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.” But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:8, 10) God was the miracle worker and Moses failed to give Him the glory – an offence which shortened his life.

* * *

The good news is that this is not the end of Moses’ story. We see him again in the New Testament on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking with Elijah and Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a Voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. [Matthew 17:4–5, 8]

* * *

Thank You Lord that Your plan for us goes far beyond this life–and that Jesus paid the price for all the times we have failed to honor You. One day we will stand with Moses and Elijah and all of those who have trusted in You. In that day, with sins forgiven, we will give all the glory to You.

* * *

They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…” Revelation 4:10b–11a NIV

PURPOSE OF THIS WEBLOG

THE GOD WHO SEES ME – A Devotional Prayer Journal

takes a fresh look at Old Testament people and the choices they made. There is much to be learned from their relationships with God and other people – it is in these Scriptures that the foundation is laid for understanding God’s gracious gift to us in Jesus Christ.

* * *

Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets and in the lives of people like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In these stories we see pictures or types that point to the promised Messiah – our Lord Jesus Christ. When the apostles preached about Jesus, they often did a review of the Old Testament stories to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.

* * *

We do well as Christians to know these stories as a basis for understanding all that He did for us on the cross. For New Testament readings see my devotional blog at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/CharlotteMathis

THE LIVING BREAD

Read Deuteronomy 8; Luke 4:1–13; John 6:26-66

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

* * *

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he fasted and prayed for forty days. At the end of that time, when he was hungry, Satan said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (Luke 4:3) Jesus answered by quoting Moses, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone.”

Jesus referred to the story of Moses again when speaking to the Jews, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” After he had said this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:49, 51, 66) They refused to eat the true Bread of Life coming from the mouth of the Lord.

* * *

Dear Jesus, help me remember that You said, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life.” (John 6:27 NKJV) Lord, You are the One who provides our daily bread. Help us trust in Your daily provision, even as we trust You for everlasting life.

* * *

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:17 18 NIV

DO NOT FORGET

TEACH THE CHILDREN
Read Deuteronomy 4:1–10
“Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40 NIV

* * *

Moses anticipated that the children and grandchildren of those who were born in the desert would need to be reminded of what had happened there. He warned, “Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them… Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (4:9; 6:7b)

God’s laws were not meant to burden His people, but to lead them to prosperity and blessing. The law functioned as a tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.(Galatians 3:24–25 NKJV)

* * *

Dear Father, thank You that the law no longer condemns us, but in fact, brings us to the only One who could satisfy its demands. Remind us to tell our children and grandchildren the stories of how You introduced us to the Savior, so they too, will place their trust in You.

* * *

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:15–17 NIV

JOSHUA AND CALEB

Read Deuteronomy 1:1–40

“See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 1:21 NIV

* * *

The Israelites were miraculously delivered as God divided the Red Sea and let them walk across on dry ground– which should have been enough to convince them that God was on their side. In spite of this, when it was time to enter the promised land, they did not trust in the Lord their God. They said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart…” (27b-28a) Ten spies were sent into the land, but only two believed that God would give them victory. God, through Moses, said to the people, “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, except Caleb and Joshua… your children who do not yet know good from bad…they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.” (1:35-39)

* * *

Lord, grant us the faith to do Your will, no matter how challenging it may be. Help us to wait upon you for the emotional and physical strength only You can give. I pray that we will be faithful to lead our children into Your promises, and not fall behind so that they must enter alone. “May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful!” (Jon Mohr)

* * *

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31 32 NIV