We have reached the end of this particular journey. Today our reading will take us to the end of Elisha's earthly life.
Read 2 Kings 13: 14 - 23
Our protagonist has grown old and is sick. Jehoash, king of Israel goes to pay his last respects to the old prophet. The use of the phrase "My Father" was typical of the times when a younger man was showing respect to an older. And the use of "the chariots and horsemen of Israel" links Elisha with Elijah. It is a tribute. This king is truly honoring the prophet.
The interchange in verses 15 - 19 seems strange to our ears. Obviously there is symbolism regarding Israel's victory over their enemy, the Arameans. What is it about this striking of the ground that we read in verses 18 - 19? Most of the commentators that I read think that it is symbolic of half-hearted commitment by the kings of Israel to devote themselves to God - to fully trust God. If that is true, the lessons literally leap off the page! How is your commitment to trusting God with your life? Are you in the "strike the ground 3 times only" group, the half-hearted group, the "I'll go along a little way, but not too far" group? Those who will talk of commitment to Christ, to His church, as long as it is easy and convenient? Our God requires all of us - not part, not "one day a week". His requirement is "all".
Scripture is full of the concept of "all". Listen to Jesus when asked about what really matters: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." I don't want any half-hearted response from me. Do you? Give it all. Pray that God will open your eyes to see where you are holding back your trust in Him.
And Elisha died and was buried. (verse 20a) Such understatement!
While the detail around his death and burial is so sparse, God allows us to see the strength, the power, and the significance of this prophet of His. Verses 20 - 21 are almost comedic. God raised a dead man because his body touched the bones of this great prophet. Wish I had been there to see that!
Elijah - the dramatic prophet - the voice calling Israel back to her God - a beacon in his time.
Elisha - the gentle prophet - one by one calling Israelites, calling kings, back to their God - a light in his time.
What about you? Whatever your personality, whatever your style, wherever your circumstances take you ... God has placed the same mission in our laps ... calling people back to their God. Be a light ... be a light in your family ... be a light in your circle of influence.
"This little light of mine ...
I'm gonna let is shine.
This little light of mine ...
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine ... ALL the time ... let it shine."
I pray that you will ... and I pray that I will ... Let's be light!
Showing posts with label Light in Darkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Light in Darkness. Show all posts
April 27, 2010
April 22, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 12, Day 3
We left Samaria in desperate conditions in our last reading. The city was surrounded by an enemy army and shut off from any resources and help. It was surrender or die. There was famine so severe within the city that cannabalism was being practiced. It is with that horror in our minds that we go back to scripture today ...
Read 2 Kings 7: 3 - 20.
As we observe the relief that comes to Samaria, there are two things that stand out to me.
First, you can't help but notice how the Lord took care of the enemy army without any help from the Israelites. They did NOTHING! As I read about that, I was reminded of Zechariah 4:6 which says, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." I so often think that God needs my help to accomplish His will. When the reality is ... His will and work WILL be done. The question is whether I will participate in that or not. God doesn't need me ... He allows me. He offers me the privilege of joining in, of experiencing His work. Jesus taught us to pray ..."Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) I think this is a statement of fact, of reality. And it will be - not because of our might or power or cleverness or persuasiveness - but by the Spirit of God. I long to do my part ... not because it won't get done without me ... but because it is a divine privilege to work alongside the Lord Almighty. Never forget that the Lord is able to handle whatever problem you encounter. Sometimes He may have you work with Him to a solution ... and sometimes He may do it without your help at all! Bottom line is ....... trust Him!
Secondly, did you notice that God used lepers to be the first to find the deliverance? Our God so often uses the disenfrancised from society to reveal divine splendor. Remember He chose shepherds to receive the only formal announcement of the birth of Jesus. The first missionary that we read about in scripture was a Samaritan woman of unsavory repute! (John 4) Be careful before you write someone off as being unworthy of revelation from God!
I love the moment when these lepers' consciouses kick in gear. They realize that the treasure they have "stumbled upon" is too great to keep to themselves. You see, they KNEW they were dying. And they KNEW they had found food. And they KNEW the knowledge was too splendid to selfishly hold for themselves alone.
Do you give witness of the gift of life that you have received from the Lord? I often wonder if we are so hesitant to speak up because we really do not believe we were dying. O my friends ... give testimony to the saving grace of our Lord! Be willing to speak it. Let these 4 lepers be your example ... "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves." (verse 9)
To whom will you speak the good news of our "living bread" this week? Who needs to hear your voice talk about never being hungry or thirsty again? Let your voice be heard ...
Read 2 Kings 7: 3 - 20.
As we observe the relief that comes to Samaria, there are two things that stand out to me.
First, you can't help but notice how the Lord took care of the enemy army without any help from the Israelites. They did NOTHING! As I read about that, I was reminded of Zechariah 4:6 which says, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." I so often think that God needs my help to accomplish His will. When the reality is ... His will and work WILL be done. The question is whether I will participate in that or not. God doesn't need me ... He allows me. He offers me the privilege of joining in, of experiencing His work. Jesus taught us to pray ..."Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) I think this is a statement of fact, of reality. And it will be - not because of our might or power or cleverness or persuasiveness - but by the Spirit of God. I long to do my part ... not because it won't get done without me ... but because it is a divine privilege to work alongside the Lord Almighty. Never forget that the Lord is able to handle whatever problem you encounter. Sometimes He may have you work with Him to a solution ... and sometimes He may do it without your help at all! Bottom line is ....... trust Him!
Secondly, did you notice that God used lepers to be the first to find the deliverance? Our God so often uses the disenfrancised from society to reveal divine splendor. Remember He chose shepherds to receive the only formal announcement of the birth of Jesus. The first missionary that we read about in scripture was a Samaritan woman of unsavory repute! (John 4) Be careful before you write someone off as being unworthy of revelation from God!
I love the moment when these lepers' consciouses kick in gear. They realize that the treasure they have "stumbled upon" is too great to keep to themselves. You see, they KNEW they were dying. And they KNEW they had found food. And they KNEW the knowledge was too splendid to selfishly hold for themselves alone.
Do you give witness of the gift of life that you have received from the Lord? I often wonder if we are so hesitant to speak up because we really do not believe we were dying. O my friends ... give testimony to the saving grace of our Lord! Be willing to speak it. Let these 4 lepers be your example ... "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves." (verse 9)
To whom will you speak the good news of our "living bread" this week? Who needs to hear your voice talk about never being hungry or thirsty again? Let your voice be heard ...
April 20, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 12, Day 1
Today, read 2 Kings 6: 8 - 23.
These verses contain one of my favorite events in all of scripture. I love the interchange between Elisha and his servant. A massive, armed contingency, complete with horses and chariots, encircle Elisha's home city, ready to capture the prophet and take him to the King of Aram.
The servant saw them first. And he was scared! I would be scared. Would you? What to do ...
Elisha responded to his servant in the same manner that God so often responded to his frightened leaders. He said, "Don't be afraid." Why not? It's an incredibly frightening situation!! Because, Elisha continues, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (verse 16)
I can sense Elisha's calm alongside the panic in the servant's spirit. That spirit of calm is what I long to feel and exhibit in the heat of frightening circumstances. And we all have them from time to time - those horrifically huge giants that loom before us - sometimes physical health, sometimes financial, ocassionally tragedy and loss and abandonment - those giants whose shadows threaten to swallow us whole. Close your eyes and listen for the whisper of God ... "Don't be afraid. I am with you. You do not face this one alone. I am bigger and stronger than this crisis. Don't be afraid."
Then Elisha prays ... not for strength, not for protection ... he prays that his servant's eyes can be opened to see reality. And God responds. Opens his eyes. I think that actually needs to be our continual prayer for ourselves. Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see what is real and what is temporary illusion. I think we would be amazed if we could see into the spiritual realm. Open our eyes ...
Then we observe the enemy army blinded ... led into the very capital of Israel ... delivered to the king of Israel. Killed? No. Put into a prison camp? No. They are treated to a great feast! Now where is the logic in that? Only our Lord would do something like that. Only Jehovah. A feast when bread and water is deserved. Honor when punishment is deserved. Only God. Are you beginning to see yourself in this scene? From the Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible: "This feast is one of those still points in history, a foretaste of a world thoroughly transformed by God. For the Church, this foretaste is also the Eucharist, a meal that allows us to stock our experience and imagination with powerful images of hospitality and peace."
A picture of what is to come ... a reminder of grace and mercy.
Close your study time today reflecting on the words of another prophet, Isaiah, as he foretells ...
These verses contain one of my favorite events in all of scripture. I love the interchange between Elisha and his servant. A massive, armed contingency, complete with horses and chariots, encircle Elisha's home city, ready to capture the prophet and take him to the King of Aram.
The servant saw them first. And he was scared! I would be scared. Would you? What to do ...
Elisha responded to his servant in the same manner that God so often responded to his frightened leaders. He said, "Don't be afraid." Why not? It's an incredibly frightening situation!! Because, Elisha continues, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (verse 16)
I can sense Elisha's calm alongside the panic in the servant's spirit. That spirit of calm is what I long to feel and exhibit in the heat of frightening circumstances. And we all have them from time to time - those horrifically huge giants that loom before us - sometimes physical health, sometimes financial, ocassionally tragedy and loss and abandonment - those giants whose shadows threaten to swallow us whole. Close your eyes and listen for the whisper of God ... "Don't be afraid. I am with you. You do not face this one alone. I am bigger and stronger than this crisis. Don't be afraid."
Then Elisha prays ... not for strength, not for protection ... he prays that his servant's eyes can be opened to see reality. And God responds. Opens his eyes. I think that actually needs to be our continual prayer for ourselves. Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see what is real and what is temporary illusion. I think we would be amazed if we could see into the spiritual realm. Open our eyes ...
Then we observe the enemy army blinded ... led into the very capital of Israel ... delivered to the king of Israel. Killed? No. Put into a prison camp? No. They are treated to a great feast! Now where is the logic in that? Only our Lord would do something like that. Only Jehovah. A feast when bread and water is deserved. Honor when punishment is deserved. Only God. Are you beginning to see yourself in this scene? From the Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible: "This feast is one of those still points in history, a foretaste of a world thoroughly transformed by God. For the Church, this foretaste is also the Eucharist, a meal that allows us to stock our experience and imagination with powerful images of hospitality and peace."
A picture of what is to come ... a reminder of grace and mercy.
Close your study time today reflecting on the words of another prophet, Isaiah, as he foretells ...
"On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food
for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the
the finest of wines. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud
that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe
away the tears from all faces; He will remove the disgrace of His
people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken."
April 19, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 12, Day 2
Today's work is difficult. The passages we will read take us into horrific places. They remind me of movies I have seen like "Schindler's List" and "Hotel Rwanda" - movies that take us into wretched times of evil and suffering and pain. Scripture is carefully realistic. And this is a fallen world where evil and rebellion and wickedness abound - where war and inhumanity are viewed in technicolor. We cannot gloss it over or pretend it does not exist and does not effect us. So take a deep breath, pray for God's Spirit to be your teacher and let's read ...
Some time has passed, we don't know how much, from the events we studied in Day 1.
Read 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:2.
We are going to observe negative examples today. So many times in our lives we stand at crossroads and have to make decisions about which way to go. What makes it difficult is that we seldom get to see the end of the road. We choose using some criteria. In this passage, God, in His mercy, allows us to see the END of some of the roads that are chosen by humanity.
In the farthest reaches of my imagination I cannot imagine this scene. But here it is. Starvation leading to cannibilism. But a mother? Her child? I can imagine that this woman has chosen SELF at all of the crossroads in her life. Her driving force has been to meet her own needs ... first ... and at all costs. On the early part of this road, it doesn't seem so bad. In fact, culture convinces us that it is a good thing! I mean, if you don't look out for your own needs, who do you think is going to?! So we choose SELF ... We find this woman at the end of this road of SELF and her life-long focus allows her to do this unthinkable thing.
Lessons for us? Don't get on that road! Of course I do not mean that you don't take care of yourself. You can't serve anyone - God, family, others - when you are sick and unhealthy. Pray that God will show you healthy ways to express your own needs. You can't ignore them ... but they can't be the primary driver in all your life decisions. God must be that driver! His truth, His Word, His presence must be that driver.
A second negative example in these verses is found in the King of Israel. He is appalled when he hears this woman's request! He is overwhelmed. He is in mourning for his country, his capital, his people, himself. But he never takes the crisis to Israel's God! Instead, he lashes out in rage against God. And since he cannot kill the Almighty God, he goes after God's prophet - he seeks to kill Elisha. I mean, you have to blame someone for this tragedy. He certainly would take no responsibility upon himself ... so go after God.
Have you ever been there? Or have you ever witnessed someone choosing that road? Life crashes in, tragedy strikes, the unthinkable actually happens. Casandra Martin says that the King illustrates people who "use God as a vending machine. I have put in my money, or time. Now, God, do what I want." And when God does not seem to do what we want, there is outrage ... blame. And at the end of this road, we witness people saying exactly what this king said in verse 33, "This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?"
Lessons for us? Where can you release the rage and frustration and hopelessness that can come in times of great crisis? I think we need to take our signal from David, the writer of many of the Psalms. He takes his cries, his anger, his frustrations, his self-pity, his vengeful thoughts ... he takes them all to God in brutal honesty. You can feel him raging in so many of the Psalms. But at the end, he always returns to giving thanks and to praising God. ALWAYS!
Close today by remembering ... GOD IS GOD ... I AM NOT ... THAT IS GOOD!!
Some time has passed, we don't know how much, from the events we studied in Day 1.
Read 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:2.
We are going to observe negative examples today. So many times in our lives we stand at crossroads and have to make decisions about which way to go. What makes it difficult is that we seldom get to see the end of the road. We choose using some criteria. In this passage, God, in His mercy, allows us to see the END of some of the roads that are chosen by humanity.
In the farthest reaches of my imagination I cannot imagine this scene. But here it is. Starvation leading to cannibilism. But a mother? Her child? I can imagine that this woman has chosen SELF at all of the crossroads in her life. Her driving force has been to meet her own needs ... first ... and at all costs. On the early part of this road, it doesn't seem so bad. In fact, culture convinces us that it is a good thing! I mean, if you don't look out for your own needs, who do you think is going to?! So we choose SELF ... We find this woman at the end of this road of SELF and her life-long focus allows her to do this unthinkable thing.
Lessons for us? Don't get on that road! Of course I do not mean that you don't take care of yourself. You can't serve anyone - God, family, others - when you are sick and unhealthy. Pray that God will show you healthy ways to express your own needs. You can't ignore them ... but they can't be the primary driver in all your life decisions. God must be that driver! His truth, His Word, His presence must be that driver.
A second negative example in these verses is found in the King of Israel. He is appalled when he hears this woman's request! He is overwhelmed. He is in mourning for his country, his capital, his people, himself. But he never takes the crisis to Israel's God! Instead, he lashes out in rage against God. And since he cannot kill the Almighty God, he goes after God's prophet - he seeks to kill Elisha. I mean, you have to blame someone for this tragedy. He certainly would take no responsibility upon himself ... so go after God.
Have you ever been there? Or have you ever witnessed someone choosing that road? Life crashes in, tragedy strikes, the unthinkable actually happens. Casandra Martin says that the King illustrates people who "use God as a vending machine. I have put in my money, or time. Now, God, do what I want." And when God does not seem to do what we want, there is outrage ... blame. And at the end of this road, we witness people saying exactly what this king said in verse 33, "This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I hope in the Lord any longer?"
Lessons for us? Where can you release the rage and frustration and hopelessness that can come in times of great crisis? I think we need to take our signal from David, the writer of many of the Psalms. He takes his cries, his anger, his frustrations, his self-pity, his vengeful thoughts ... he takes them all to God in brutal honesty. You can feel him raging in so many of the Psalms. But at the end, he always returns to giving thanks and to praising God. ALWAYS!
Close today by remembering ... GOD IS GOD ... I AM NOT ... THAT IS GOOD!!
April 17, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 11, Day 3
This week we are reading 2 Kings 5 - that intriqueing story about Commander Naaman's miraculous healing from leprosy.
Today, read again verses 19 - 27.
Elisha's servant, Gehazi, just couldn't stand it! Money was offered and Elisha refused to take it. For the prophet of God, there were more important things at stake than money. I suspect Elisha NEVER wanted Naaman to doubt the healing he had received from God. It was pure grace. Naaman did not earn it ... deserve it ... or buy it. Isn't it difficult to just accept grace. We are so programmed by our culture that "nothing is free" - "you get what you pay for" - "there's no free ride"! Therefore when we bump up against the grace of God, we don't know how to react. And so we struggle with the concept. We have a hard time believing that we REALLY CANNOT EARN OR DESERVE GOD'S GRACE! So we work hard at religion to deserve it - can't be done. We try and try to be "good" to earn it - can't be done. These are fine things to focus attention and energy upon ... but if the motivation is to deserve God's gift ... then the motivation is wrong. God's grace is pure gift. As a believer in our Lord, you are a recipient of this priceless treasure - wholeness as a gift of God. Response? Say with Naaman, "Now I know that there is no God except You." And offer yourself ... again ... in gratitude and wonder.
As I have mentioned to you earlier, I have become quite a Naaman fan as I have reflected on this chapter this week. But we also see an example in these verses that we need to learn from in a negative aspect. Gehazi.
I see some greed in that man's heart. Couldn't stand to let some money pass him by when it was there for the taking. I see a good rationalizer. I can say that because I am a bit of an expert in that arena! Did you notice how Gehazi rationalized what he wanted to do? Forget that Elisha had said, No" to the offer. Forget that Gehazi was Elisha's servant and, therefore, not the one to overturn the decision. Forget that Naaman was already "some distance" away ... Gehazi wanted it. So he goes - deliberately, intentionally, after Naaman. Then we see the third strike against Gehazi. He is dishonest. He devises a tale that it totally untrue to get what he wants. I have a theory ... I think Naaman would have given him some money if Gehazi had just asked for it for himself. But he did not have that much courage. He did not have the strength of character or the courage to speak the truth. And he continued the lie when he returned to Elisha. But wait, we know about that ... how a lie grows.
Truth matters. Being a person whose word is dependable matters. In Proverbs 6: 16 - 19 there is an interesting list of things that God hates. It is surprising to me what is there ... and what is NOT there. But for our discussion today, most interesting is that "a lying tongue" is number 2! On down the list, in position 6 is "a false witness who pours out lies."
Truth matters. To God. And Paul tells us how to deliver truth. In Ephesians 4:15 Paul tells believers to "speak the truth in love." You see, both aspects are vital. If one speaks the truth, and there is no love present, it can come out harsh, even mean, and will sound judgmental. If one only speaks with love - no truth - it can be mushy and sentimental and weak. So both components are necessary. Truth ... Love. They go together.
The challenge I see for us as we close this week ... more like Naaman: generous, willing to listen, eyes to see God ... and less like Gehazi: greedy, deceptive.
And before you leave this site today ... say with me (out loud!)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love. (Psalm 33: 4 - 5)
And so we worship ...
Today, read again verses 19 - 27.
Elisha's servant, Gehazi, just couldn't stand it! Money was offered and Elisha refused to take it. For the prophet of God, there were more important things at stake than money. I suspect Elisha NEVER wanted Naaman to doubt the healing he had received from God. It was pure grace. Naaman did not earn it ... deserve it ... or buy it. Isn't it difficult to just accept grace. We are so programmed by our culture that "nothing is free" - "you get what you pay for" - "there's no free ride"! Therefore when we bump up against the grace of God, we don't know how to react. And so we struggle with the concept. We have a hard time believing that we REALLY CANNOT EARN OR DESERVE GOD'S GRACE! So we work hard at religion to deserve it - can't be done. We try and try to be "good" to earn it - can't be done. These are fine things to focus attention and energy upon ... but if the motivation is to deserve God's gift ... then the motivation is wrong. God's grace is pure gift. As a believer in our Lord, you are a recipient of this priceless treasure - wholeness as a gift of God. Response? Say with Naaman, "Now I know that there is no God except You." And offer yourself ... again ... in gratitude and wonder.
As I have mentioned to you earlier, I have become quite a Naaman fan as I have reflected on this chapter this week. But we also see an example in these verses that we need to learn from in a negative aspect. Gehazi.
I see some greed in that man's heart. Couldn't stand to let some money pass him by when it was there for the taking. I see a good rationalizer. I can say that because I am a bit of an expert in that arena! Did you notice how Gehazi rationalized what he wanted to do? Forget that Elisha had said, No" to the offer. Forget that Gehazi was Elisha's servant and, therefore, not the one to overturn the decision. Forget that Naaman was already "some distance" away ... Gehazi wanted it. So he goes - deliberately, intentionally, after Naaman. Then we see the third strike against Gehazi. He is dishonest. He devises a tale that it totally untrue to get what he wants. I have a theory ... I think Naaman would have given him some money if Gehazi had just asked for it for himself. But he did not have that much courage. He did not have the strength of character or the courage to speak the truth. And he continued the lie when he returned to Elisha. But wait, we know about that ... how a lie grows.
Truth matters. Being a person whose word is dependable matters. In Proverbs 6: 16 - 19 there is an interesting list of things that God hates. It is surprising to me what is there ... and what is NOT there. But for our discussion today, most interesting is that "a lying tongue" is number 2! On down the list, in position 6 is "a false witness who pours out lies."
Truth matters. To God. And Paul tells us how to deliver truth. In Ephesians 4:15 Paul tells believers to "speak the truth in love." You see, both aspects are vital. If one speaks the truth, and there is no love present, it can come out harsh, even mean, and will sound judgmental. If one only speaks with love - no truth - it can be mushy and sentimental and weak. So both components are necessary. Truth ... Love. They go together.
The challenge I see for us as we close this week ... more like Naaman: generous, willing to listen, eyes to see God ... and less like Gehazi: greedy, deceptive.
And before you leave this site today ... say with me (out loud!)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love. (Psalm 33: 4 - 5)
And so we worship ...
April 14, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 11, Day 2
We are in 2 Kings 5 this week, the story of the miraculous healing of Naaman. Today, read again verses 9 - 19a.
Were you surprised at Naaman's first reaction to the instructions from Elisha? They were incredibly simple. I suspect Naaman was accustomed to a certain level of deference from people. After all, he was a powerful man - one with the ear of the king. Elisha was not rude. He just treated Naaman as he would have treated anyone - no better, no worse. Naaman was used to being treated better! And I think it took him off guard. Have you ever been there? Ever been caught off guard and reacted badly? I think most of us can remember times when our reactions have been less than stellar!
That is the very reason I think we can learn a valuable lesson from Naaman. We see another servant willing to speak the truth to this master. First it was a young girl from Israel ... now it is a male servant traveling with the commander. How they must have trusted this man's character. They were not afraid of him. They were willing to give their opinions. And this master was willing to listen and weigh the words delivered to him, even from servants.
I see much in these verses that leads me to prayer. Are you willing to join me in this prayer?
Our Father ... I pray that You will put people in my life who are willing to tell me the truth. I pray that You will give me the eyes to see what kind of atmosphere I am creating in my own home. I long for it to be one of openness, of honesty, of gentleness. I want to be the kind of person that people are willing, unafraid, to say hard things to - even my children - those who may be "under" me. Give me Your wisdom so that I will be able to evaluate all things said to me. Give me a heart that is willing to change when needed. Help me lay aside the pride that wages war in my spirit. Thank You for preserving this encounter so that I can know about Naaman. You are the God of miracles ... of healing ... of courage. I join Naaman in saying, 'I know there is no God except You'. I worship You this day.
Were you surprised at Naaman's first reaction to the instructions from Elisha? They were incredibly simple. I suspect Naaman was accustomed to a certain level of deference from people. After all, he was a powerful man - one with the ear of the king. Elisha was not rude. He just treated Naaman as he would have treated anyone - no better, no worse. Naaman was used to being treated better! And I think it took him off guard. Have you ever been there? Ever been caught off guard and reacted badly? I think most of us can remember times when our reactions have been less than stellar!
That is the very reason I think we can learn a valuable lesson from Naaman. We see another servant willing to speak the truth to this master. First it was a young girl from Israel ... now it is a male servant traveling with the commander. How they must have trusted this man's character. They were not afraid of him. They were willing to give their opinions. And this master was willing to listen and weigh the words delivered to him, even from servants.
I see much in these verses that leads me to prayer. Are you willing to join me in this prayer?
Our Father ... I pray that You will put people in my life who are willing to tell me the truth. I pray that You will give me the eyes to see what kind of atmosphere I am creating in my own home. I long for it to be one of openness, of honesty, of gentleness. I want to be the kind of person that people are willing, unafraid, to say hard things to - even my children - those who may be "under" me. Give me Your wisdom so that I will be able to evaluate all things said to me. Give me a heart that is willing to change when needed. Help me lay aside the pride that wages war in my spirit. Thank You for preserving this encounter so that I can know about Naaman. You are the God of miracles ... of healing ... of courage. I join Naaman in saying, 'I know there is no God except You'. I worship You this day.
April 12, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 11, Day 1
We are nearing the end of our study. I want to commend you for staying the course and reaching Lesson 11! I also want to encourage you to finish well. I find that starting things is actually quite easy. But finishing well - that's a different story. You have made it to the final lap - the last quarter mile! Keep on my friends!!
This week our focus will be on 2 Kings 5. Read the entire chapter to keep the flow of the story. Then, go back and focus on verses 1 - 8 for our thoughts today.
First, consider the two new characters to whom you are introduced in these verses. There is Naaman. You may not recognize the country, Aram. It is on the northern boundary of Israel and is more commonly know as Syria. Naaman is a Syrian military commander. An important, powerful man. Then there is this young girl, an Israelite, we don't know how old, currently a house slave serving Naaman's wife. An insignificant, no-power girl. What two extremes from our human evaluation.
Secondly, don't miss what is indicated in verse 1. Aram had been given military victory by God because of Naaman. He is obviously a man of character. But wait, Naaman was not Jewish. No, he was Syrian. That one phrase in verse 1 reminds us that God is the God of the universe. He created all peoples. He loves all peoples. He is sovereign over the affairs of mankind. All mankind. His eyes roam to and fro over the earth in search of hearts that seek Him. Remember, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ..." (John 3:16) Lesson for me? There is no room for "better than" thinking among the people of God - regardless of race, nationality, economics, education, etc. God grants His favors on whom He delights. There may be some people not in your "group" that God favors!
Third, disease has a powerful way of leveling the playing field! Disease is it's own cruel master. Because of disease, this powerful man became needy. And he couldn't fight his way out with his own skill and strength. This had to be taken to God. And he was receptive ... he was desperate. Disease does that to us. Whether physical or spiritual or psychological, take your own dis-ease to the sovereign Lord. Place it in His hands. And listen ...
Another thing that impresses me in these verses is the apparant comfortable atmosphere in Naaman's home between his wife and her servant girl. I think I would like these people - Naaman and Mrs. Naaman. This young slave girl did not seem hesitant to speak up, to give her opinion on the matter at hand. She was obviously concerned about her master and trusted her mistress enough to speak up. I am impressed by both her courage and her faith. And that is the essence of being light wherever you are - the courage to speak the name of God and the faith to trust the outcome in His hands.
We learn lessons from unlikely people in unlikely places. Keep your eyes open today for what God would have you learn ...
This week our focus will be on 2 Kings 5. Read the entire chapter to keep the flow of the story. Then, go back and focus on verses 1 - 8 for our thoughts today.
First, consider the two new characters to whom you are introduced in these verses. There is Naaman. You may not recognize the country, Aram. It is on the northern boundary of Israel and is more commonly know as Syria. Naaman is a Syrian military commander. An important, powerful man. Then there is this young girl, an Israelite, we don't know how old, currently a house slave serving Naaman's wife. An insignificant, no-power girl. What two extremes from our human evaluation.
Secondly, don't miss what is indicated in verse 1. Aram had been given military victory by God because of Naaman. He is obviously a man of character. But wait, Naaman was not Jewish. No, he was Syrian. That one phrase in verse 1 reminds us that God is the God of the universe. He created all peoples. He loves all peoples. He is sovereign over the affairs of mankind. All mankind. His eyes roam to and fro over the earth in search of hearts that seek Him. Remember, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ..." (John 3:16) Lesson for me? There is no room for "better than" thinking among the people of God - regardless of race, nationality, economics, education, etc. God grants His favors on whom He delights. There may be some people not in your "group" that God favors!
Third, disease has a powerful way of leveling the playing field! Disease is it's own cruel master. Because of disease, this powerful man became needy. And he couldn't fight his way out with his own skill and strength. This had to be taken to God. And he was receptive ... he was desperate. Disease does that to us. Whether physical or spiritual or psychological, take your own dis-ease to the sovereign Lord. Place it in His hands. And listen ...
Another thing that impresses me in these verses is the apparant comfortable atmosphere in Naaman's home between his wife and her servant girl. I think I would like these people - Naaman and Mrs. Naaman. This young slave girl did not seem hesitant to speak up, to give her opinion on the matter at hand. She was obviously concerned about her master and trusted her mistress enough to speak up. I am impressed by both her courage and her faith. And that is the essence of being light wherever you are - the courage to speak the name of God and the faith to trust the outcome in His hands.
We learn lessons from unlikely people in unlikely places. Keep your eyes open today for what God would have you learn ...
April 10, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 10, Day 3
We are still in "Elisha's Photo Album". (Look at Day 2 if that makes no sense to you!) In photo 1, we saw the beautiful picture of redemption. Christ is our redeemer.
Photo 3: Read 2 Kings 4:42 - 44
Remember that this event takes place in a time of famine. There is a 7 year famine in Israel at the time of this event. That fact makes this man's offering all the more poignant. Twenty loaves of bread and some ripe grain from the FIRST of his harvest - not the left-overs. God told Israel to bring Him the firstfruits of the land - produce and livestock. Have you ever thought about why? God is about encouraging faith in us. Trust Me - He says in a myriad of ways. Firstfruits is an act of trust. It says that I will offer to my God the first in my hand ... and I will trust Him for my care. This is a man of faith. Am I? What about you? Consider your offering to God. Is it firstfruits of your life and your resources ... or is it leftovers?
As we look for images of Jesus in these pictures ... listen to 2 Corinthians 15:20
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Many of you will recognize this multiplying of food from the story in the New Testament when Jesus did this very thing. You find it in Matthew 14:13 - 21. One thing that continues to impress me is the reality that God is sufficient - even abundant. God's provision is sufficient for me. In fact, Christ Himself is my nourishment. Hear Jesus say, "I AM the bread of life." (John 6:35) Have you taken Him into yourself? Are you feasting on Him every day? He is your life!
Photo 2: Read 2 Kings 6: 1 - 7
In this scene we see the impossible being made possible by God. Iron does not float. And yet God caused this iron axehead to raise up from the bottom of that dirty river. It was lost ... and yet became found. Consider ...
*Is there anything in your life right now that seems impossible to resolve? Don't give up. Pray. Be patient. Nothing is impossible to God.
*Do you feel that you are so far down that nothing can bring you back up? Never fear. You cannot go so far that God does not have His eye on you. And since God is sovereign ... and wise ... and powerful ... He can bring you back to Himself. Trust Him. Talk to Him and trust Him.
Close your time today with these words from Psalm 52: 8 - 9:
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
I will praise You forever for what You have done;
in Your Name I will hope, for Your Name is good.
Photo 3: Read 2 Kings 4:42 - 44
Remember that this event takes place in a time of famine. There is a 7 year famine in Israel at the time of this event. That fact makes this man's offering all the more poignant. Twenty loaves of bread and some ripe grain from the FIRST of his harvest - not the left-overs. God told Israel to bring Him the firstfruits of the land - produce and livestock. Have you ever thought about why? God is about encouraging faith in us. Trust Me - He says in a myriad of ways. Firstfruits is an act of trust. It says that I will offer to my God the first in my hand ... and I will trust Him for my care. This is a man of faith. Am I? What about you? Consider your offering to God. Is it firstfruits of your life and your resources ... or is it leftovers?
As we look for images of Jesus in these pictures ... listen to 2 Corinthians 15:20
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Many of you will recognize this multiplying of food from the story in the New Testament when Jesus did this very thing. You find it in Matthew 14:13 - 21. One thing that continues to impress me is the reality that God is sufficient - even abundant. God's provision is sufficient for me. In fact, Christ Himself is my nourishment. Hear Jesus say, "I AM the bread of life." (John 6:35) Have you taken Him into yourself? Are you feasting on Him every day? He is your life!
Photo 2: Read 2 Kings 6: 1 - 7
In this scene we see the impossible being made possible by God. Iron does not float. And yet God caused this iron axehead to raise up from the bottom of that dirty river. It was lost ... and yet became found. Consider ...
*Is there anything in your life right now that seems impossible to resolve? Don't give up. Pray. Be patient. Nothing is impossible to God.
*Do you feel that you are so far down that nothing can bring you back up? Never fear. You cannot go so far that God does not have His eye on you. And since God is sovereign ... and wise ... and powerful ... He can bring you back to Himself. Trust Him. Talk to Him and trust Him.
Close your time today with these words from Psalm 52: 8 - 9:
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
I will praise You forever for what You have done;
in Your Name I will hope, for Your Name is good.
April 7, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 10, Day 2
I love photo albums. While enjoying the instant nature of digital photography, especially the 'delete' feature, I prefer holding photos in my hand. Maybe it is age and familiarity, maybe I am a kinesthetic person and need to touch something. Whatever the reason, I love photo albums. A snapshot tells a story. I look at a photo of my daughter and I see my husband. I pick up a photo of my granddaughter and see my daughter's eyes.
For the next two sessions, we are going to look at some events in the life of Elisha that remind me of snapshots - quick pictures of people and events, of life and trauma and joy. And yet there is a common thread that runs throughout. Look for images of Jesus as you read these scenes.
Scene 1: 2 Kings 4: 38 - 41
I find it interesting that Elisha does not tell them to throw the poisoned stew away. Just dump it out and we will start over. This batch is bad. I have certainly done that often in my kitchen! While this pot of stew was all messed up and even carrying death, it was still redeemable. Has life "poisoned" you in any way? Life outside of God is a path to death. Sin is a path to death. Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death". I am grateful to God that He finds me, and you, redeemable. In essence God says to us, "No, my child, we don't need to throw you out. I can deal with the poison. I can make you good."
Elisha puts flour in the stew and it becomes nourishing. Odd. Maybe not. We know that in the Jewish worship and sacrifice system, one of the required offerings was called the "sin offering". It was necessary as a sacrifice for the person's sin. It was the way to cleansing, to purity. We learn in Leviticus 5: 11 - 13 that if a person had no money for the required animal to use as a sin offering, he was allowed to bring a handful of flour for the sin offering. Offer the flour and the redemption, the clean-ness would follow ... as a gift from God.
Can you see Jesus? Romans 8:3 says, "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering." Our Lord is the flour! Our Lord is the source of any clean-ness, any wholeness, any goodness in me or you. It is He, and He alone, that can take the "death out of the pot"!
Close today with the words from Psalm 51: 1 - 2: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."
I have a new image in my mind with these verses after today's reading. Not only can I picture standing under a shower of water and washing clean ... we can now add the image of being covered with flour! All over! White! Thank you Lord!!
For the next two sessions, we are going to look at some events in the life of Elisha that remind me of snapshots - quick pictures of people and events, of life and trauma and joy. And yet there is a common thread that runs throughout. Look for images of Jesus as you read these scenes.
Scene 1: 2 Kings 4: 38 - 41
I find it interesting that Elisha does not tell them to throw the poisoned stew away. Just dump it out and we will start over. This batch is bad. I have certainly done that often in my kitchen! While this pot of stew was all messed up and even carrying death, it was still redeemable. Has life "poisoned" you in any way? Life outside of God is a path to death. Sin is a path to death. Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death". I am grateful to God that He finds me, and you, redeemable. In essence God says to us, "No, my child, we don't need to throw you out. I can deal with the poison. I can make you good."
Elisha puts flour in the stew and it becomes nourishing. Odd. Maybe not. We know that in the Jewish worship and sacrifice system, one of the required offerings was called the "sin offering". It was necessary as a sacrifice for the person's sin. It was the way to cleansing, to purity. We learn in Leviticus 5: 11 - 13 that if a person had no money for the required animal to use as a sin offering, he was allowed to bring a handful of flour for the sin offering. Offer the flour and the redemption, the clean-ness would follow ... as a gift from God.
Can you see Jesus? Romans 8:3 says, "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering." Our Lord is the flour! Our Lord is the source of any clean-ness, any wholeness, any goodness in me or you. It is He, and He alone, that can take the "death out of the pot"!
Close today with the words from Psalm 51: 1 - 2: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."
I have a new image in my mind with these verses after today's reading. Not only can I picture standing under a shower of water and washing clean ... we can now add the image of being covered with flour! All over! White! Thank you Lord!!
April 5, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 10, Day 1
Before we leave the Shunammite woman, there is one other bit of information we get to read about her. Read 2 Kings 8: 1 - 6
Did you see again the faith of this woman? She so trusted God that when His spokesman, Elisha, told her of a coming famine, she believed him and responded. We read it so quickly - in such a few sentences - it is easy to miss the impact of the event. This woman is faced with a decision that is monumental. Leave your house ... leave your community ... leave your country ... go to a foreign land among people you do not know. All scripture tells us is: "the woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away ..." (verse 2) I just don't think it was all that simple! Many of you have moved - some of you have moved a LOT. You have first hand knowledge of what all is involved in relocating. And while the times were different and the culture was different - I don't think women are different. She left her home and her community. Because God warned her through His prophet.
I think of the many warnings that come to us through the pages of scripture. Do I respond? Or do I want to wait and see if the dire things are really going to happen? In this study, we are getting a crash course on the effects of idolatry on a people - on a country. Do you believe it? What is your response?
Paul, in Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." I am not a Greek scholar. So I don't know if the use of idolatry applies to "greed" or to the whole list of earthly, fleshly stuff. Either way, I see what God considers idolatry from me - from you. And I see this as a warning from God through the pages of scripture as much as the woman from Shunem received a warning from God through Elisha. God said to her, "Get out of there". And she did. God says to us, "Get rid of ...". And how will our story read?
I love this woman!
As we close today, enjoy a chuckle about God's timing. This lady "happened" to walk into the king's presence as Gehazi "happened" to be telling the king about Elisha raising a boy from the dead. And, what do you know, here she is!
Don't doubt God's timing in your life as well. Even when you can't see the end of something ... know that our sovereign Lord has timing well in control. And it is different from ours! Trust Him.
Did you see again the faith of this woman? She so trusted God that when His spokesman, Elisha, told her of a coming famine, she believed him and responded. We read it so quickly - in such a few sentences - it is easy to miss the impact of the event. This woman is faced with a decision that is monumental. Leave your house ... leave your community ... leave your country ... go to a foreign land among people you do not know. All scripture tells us is: "the woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away ..." (verse 2) I just don't think it was all that simple! Many of you have moved - some of you have moved a LOT. You have first hand knowledge of what all is involved in relocating. And while the times were different and the culture was different - I don't think women are different. She left her home and her community. Because God warned her through His prophet.
I think of the many warnings that come to us through the pages of scripture. Do I respond? Or do I want to wait and see if the dire things are really going to happen? In this study, we are getting a crash course on the effects of idolatry on a people - on a country. Do you believe it? What is your response?
Paul, in Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." I am not a Greek scholar. So I don't know if the use of idolatry applies to "greed" or to the whole list of earthly, fleshly stuff. Either way, I see what God considers idolatry from me - from you. And I see this as a warning from God through the pages of scripture as much as the woman from Shunem received a warning from God through Elisha. God said to her, "Get out of there". And she did. God says to us, "Get rid of ...". And how will our story read?
I love this woman!
As we close today, enjoy a chuckle about God's timing. This lady "happened" to walk into the king's presence as Gehazi "happened" to be telling the king about Elisha raising a boy from the dead. And, what do you know, here she is!
Don't doubt God's timing in your life as well. Even when you can't see the end of something ... know that our sovereign Lord has timing well in control. And it is different from ours! Trust Him.
April 2, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 9, Day 3
I am not ready to leave this Shunammite woman yet. Let's read 2 Kings 4: 8 - 37 again today, looking for things about this woman that impress us.
I think this woman will go on my personal "heroes of faith" list. I so wish I knew her name! I see so many characteristics and behaviors from her that I want to emulate.
1. We looked at her spirit of hospitality in Day 2.
2. She used the resources available to her for good. This particular woman had many resources it seems, but that does not make it a "given" that she would use them for good. I know women with much ... and I know women with little. And I have both witnessed and been a recipient of generosity from those with much and with little. A woman can be greedy and stingy with much or with little - 0r she can be generous. It is the heart within her that dictates the use of those resources. And the size does not matter. Lessons for us? Use what you have for good. Help when and where you can. I hear the apostle Paul saying, "Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:10) I challenge us to examine our hearts - and practice generosity of spirit ... with what God has placed in our hands.
3. She had learned to live with a spirit of contentment. When Elisha asked her what he could do for her ... the response, in essence, was: I am well. She had learned to be content in her circumstances. Did she have everything she longed for? Obviously not. As most women, she had longed for a child - and had none. But that emptiness did not turn her into a bitter person. Again, I hear the apostle Paul saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Philippians 4:11) Lessons for us? See the fullness in your own life - focus on the fullness - think on the fullness. And practice saying, "I am well."
4. When crisis hit ... she went to God. Her passion to get to Elisha, knowing him to be the prophet of God, shows us that she knew where to take her situation, her heart's desire, her crisis. She did not go to Elisha when she had exhausted all other possibilities. She went to him first. That is a heart of faith. She reminds me of Jacob when he wrestled with God and would not turn loose. You read about that in Genesis 32: 22 - 32. I hear him saying, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Lessons for us? Take it to the Lord - whatever your "it" may be. And don't quit ... don't turn loose. Go to God first. He may very well send you to some other person. But go to God first. Spend time wrestling with Him over the situation first.
5. And finally, I watch this woman respond to God in pure worship. The encounter closes with these words: "She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground." (verse 37) That is the heart of worship. The contemporary Christian song, "The Heart of Worship" has this phrase: "I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it. When it's all about You." Worship is a heart bowed low before the sovereign Lord. True worship is not about forms and styles. It is about God and my heart before Him. Lessons for us? Worship God - with your whole being. Worship.
Yes - this woman from Shunem goes on my "heroes of faith" list. I want look more like her in my particular circumstances and behaviors. She was truly "light" in her dark, idol-worshiping culture. I want to be that kind of light. Join me?
I think this woman will go on my personal "heroes of faith" list. I so wish I knew her name! I see so many characteristics and behaviors from her that I want to emulate.
1. We looked at her spirit of hospitality in Day 2.
2. She used the resources available to her for good. This particular woman had many resources it seems, but that does not make it a "given" that she would use them for good. I know women with much ... and I know women with little. And I have both witnessed and been a recipient of generosity from those with much and with little. A woman can be greedy and stingy with much or with little - 0r she can be generous. It is the heart within her that dictates the use of those resources. And the size does not matter. Lessons for us? Use what you have for good. Help when and where you can. I hear the apostle Paul saying, "Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:10) I challenge us to examine our hearts - and practice generosity of spirit ... with what God has placed in our hands.
3. She had learned to live with a spirit of contentment. When Elisha asked her what he could do for her ... the response, in essence, was: I am well. She had learned to be content in her circumstances. Did she have everything she longed for? Obviously not. As most women, she had longed for a child - and had none. But that emptiness did not turn her into a bitter person. Again, I hear the apostle Paul saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Philippians 4:11) Lessons for us? See the fullness in your own life - focus on the fullness - think on the fullness. And practice saying, "I am well."
4. When crisis hit ... she went to God. Her passion to get to Elisha, knowing him to be the prophet of God, shows us that she knew where to take her situation, her heart's desire, her crisis. She did not go to Elisha when she had exhausted all other possibilities. She went to him first. That is a heart of faith. She reminds me of Jacob when he wrestled with God and would not turn loose. You read about that in Genesis 32: 22 - 32. I hear him saying, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Lessons for us? Take it to the Lord - whatever your "it" may be. And don't quit ... don't turn loose. Go to God first. He may very well send you to some other person. But go to God first. Spend time wrestling with Him over the situation first.
5. And finally, I watch this woman respond to God in pure worship. The encounter closes with these words: "She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground." (verse 37) That is the heart of worship. The contemporary Christian song, "The Heart of Worship" has this phrase: "I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it. When it's all about You." Worship is a heart bowed low before the sovereign Lord. True worship is not about forms and styles. It is about God and my heart before Him. Lessons for us? Worship God - with your whole being. Worship.
Yes - this woman from Shunem goes on my "heroes of faith" list. I want look more like her in my particular circumstances and behaviors. She was truly "light" in her dark, idol-worshiping culture. I want to be that kind of light. Join me?
March 31, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 9, Day 2
Today, read 2 Kings 4: 8 - 37
What a rich story! We will spend two days of study with her. We see again the care that God has for women. This woman stands in contrast to the widow we met in verses 1 - 7. This lady is wealthy and far from physically destitute. She makes room in her life for God's prophet - providing him with food and lodging whenever he is in the area of Shunem. As we remember the gross idolatry and Baal worship that permeates Israel at this time ... it is no small thing that she welcomes a prophet of God. I see her standing against her culture. She not only welcomes Elisha, she goes the "extra mile" by providing a place for him in her own household.
This woman exudes the beautiful and gracious gift of hospitality. When Paul describes sincere love in Romans 12 ... listen as he says, "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13) The apostle Peter, in his letter to believers, says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4: 8 - 9)
The Greek word used in these 2 references means: generous to guests; showing care to strangers. In the definitions of the English word, hospitable, we find: "being receptive and open".
We often fall into the trap of equating hospitality to wonderful party-giving. That is a wonderful gift and if you have it - by all means use it!! It is a blessing to your guests. But that is not the sense of this word and concept. Believers, we are to be hospitable people - all of us! And it has nothing to do with size of home or resources available or cooking skills. It has everything to do with heart - with how I receive people. My question for myself (and for you) is: Am I hospitable? If not, why not? How can I practice hospitality this week?
Another interesting point about hospitality before we close today ... Peter told us to practice this gracious gift "without complaint". Why did he go that far!? If I take that instruction to heart, then I must deal with heart attitude. How about you? I did some tracking on the word that Peter chose for "complaint". I had hoped it meant loud, boisterous, negative comments - because, that is not me. What I found was this: the word means "murmuring, muttering, a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed." Ouch! Hospitable - without complaint. Yes, we see again that God is more concerned with our hearts and our attitudes. The behaviors will follow.
So ... this week ... how can you be hospitable to everyone you interact with? Everyone you meet? Your family members with whom you live?
Practice hospitality ... without complaint ... Lord, help us see our own hearts in this matter. Help us know when we are ... and when we are not. You are our stellar example. The way you welcomed and cared for people ... all kinds. More like You, Jesus ... more like You.
What a rich story! We will spend two days of study with her. We see again the care that God has for women. This woman stands in contrast to the widow we met in verses 1 - 7. This lady is wealthy and far from physically destitute. She makes room in her life for God's prophet - providing him with food and lodging whenever he is in the area of Shunem. As we remember the gross idolatry and Baal worship that permeates Israel at this time ... it is no small thing that she welcomes a prophet of God. I see her standing against her culture. She not only welcomes Elisha, she goes the "extra mile" by providing a place for him in her own household.
This woman exudes the beautiful and gracious gift of hospitality. When Paul describes sincere love in Romans 12 ... listen as he says, "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13) The apostle Peter, in his letter to believers, says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4: 8 - 9)
The Greek word used in these 2 references means: generous to guests; showing care to strangers. In the definitions of the English word, hospitable, we find: "being receptive and open".
We often fall into the trap of equating hospitality to wonderful party-giving. That is a wonderful gift and if you have it - by all means use it!! It is a blessing to your guests. But that is not the sense of this word and concept. Believers, we are to be hospitable people - all of us! And it has nothing to do with size of home or resources available or cooking skills. It has everything to do with heart - with how I receive people. My question for myself (and for you) is: Am I hospitable? If not, why not? How can I practice hospitality this week?
Another interesting point about hospitality before we close today ... Peter told us to practice this gracious gift "without complaint". Why did he go that far!? If I take that instruction to heart, then I must deal with heart attitude. How about you? I did some tracking on the word that Peter chose for "complaint". I had hoped it meant loud, boisterous, negative comments - because, that is not me. What I found was this: the word means "murmuring, muttering, a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed." Ouch! Hospitable - without complaint. Yes, we see again that God is more concerned with our hearts and our attitudes. The behaviors will follow.
So ... this week ... how can you be hospitable to everyone you interact with? Everyone you meet? Your family members with whom you live?
Practice hospitality ... without complaint ... Lord, help us see our own hearts in this matter. Help us know when we are ... and when we are not. You are our stellar example. The way you welcomed and cared for people ... all kinds. More like You, Jesus ... more like You.
March 29, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 9, Day 1
You have moved past the half-way point in our study! I want to thank you for your diligence and for your desire to know God better through a study of His Word. I continue to pray for all of us that God, in His mercy, will teach us the things we need for this day. And I continue to pray that each of us will respond in faith and obedience to what we learn. Keep on ...
Our reading today is 2 Kings 4: 1 - 7. As you read, make note of the things that stand out most dramatically to you.
A couple of historical elements before we consider some lessons ...
First, in L. Ginzberg's, The Legends of the Jews, he says that Jewish tradition identifies this nameless woman as the wife of Obadiah. Do you remember reading in 1 Kings 18 about the prophet who hid 100 faithful prophets of God in caves, hiding them from Jezebel? Legend says this is the man. Scripture does not identify him for us and it does not change the lessons from the story ... but it's interesting, don't you think?! He says the debt was most likely accumulated when Obadiah had to borrow money to feed all those men. Perhaps ...
Secondly, in the ancient Near East, the lawful custom was for creditors to conscript labor for unpaid debts. However, it was not to last forever. Exodus 21:2 "When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt." We read more of those laws in Leviticus 25: 39 - 41.
Let's consider lessons for us ... I would love to hear what yours are! What appears to me is:
1. Elisha is ready to help this marginalized woman. He reflects the heart of God because Jehovah is always concerned about those who are the "least" in their world. Another reading from Exodus says: Exodus 22: 22 - 23 "You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry". Jesus himself continually reached out to those His society had no use for ... those who were expendable. In the New Testament letters, James says "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) Yes, Elisha was ready to help. Am I? Are you? Keep eyes open for the "least" that God places in your path. And respond.
2. I love that this woman was to use what she had. God could have made pots appear in her house. God could have made FULL pots appear in her house. But there is value is using what is in our hands. What has God given you? What is in your hand? What resources? What talents? What spiritual gifts? Will God's work be done with or without you? Yes ... it will. However, you will miss the thrill of participating with God in His miraculous work! Don't miss it!! Offer what you have ... and watch God multiply and supply.
3. Did you wonder why the closed door? I wonder about the significance of that little fact. Perhaps that is no significance ... but I can hear Jesus saying "When you pray, go into our room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6) There is intimacy in the closed door. This woman cannot credit Elisha with this provision ... it is from God ... it happened behind a closed door with no one else there. It is the same with you and I as we take our needs to God. Sometimes He will use another person to meet a need but the work of faith and the work of peace and the decision for obedience is first done "behind the closed door".
Have you spent time "behind the closed door" with your God today?
Our reading today is 2 Kings 4: 1 - 7. As you read, make note of the things that stand out most dramatically to you.
A couple of historical elements before we consider some lessons ...
First, in L. Ginzberg's, The Legends of the Jews, he says that Jewish tradition identifies this nameless woman as the wife of Obadiah. Do you remember reading in 1 Kings 18 about the prophet who hid 100 faithful prophets of God in caves, hiding them from Jezebel? Legend says this is the man. Scripture does not identify him for us and it does not change the lessons from the story ... but it's interesting, don't you think?! He says the debt was most likely accumulated when Obadiah had to borrow money to feed all those men. Perhaps ...
Secondly, in the ancient Near East, the lawful custom was for creditors to conscript labor for unpaid debts. However, it was not to last forever. Exodus 21:2 "When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt." We read more of those laws in Leviticus 25: 39 - 41.
Let's consider lessons for us ... I would love to hear what yours are! What appears to me is:
1. Elisha is ready to help this marginalized woman. He reflects the heart of God because Jehovah is always concerned about those who are the "least" in their world. Another reading from Exodus says: Exodus 22: 22 - 23 "You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry". Jesus himself continually reached out to those His society had no use for ... those who were expendable. In the New Testament letters, James says "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) Yes, Elisha was ready to help. Am I? Are you? Keep eyes open for the "least" that God places in your path. And respond.
2. I love that this woman was to use what she had. God could have made pots appear in her house. God could have made FULL pots appear in her house. But there is value is using what is in our hands. What has God given you? What is in your hand? What resources? What talents? What spiritual gifts? Will God's work be done with or without you? Yes ... it will. However, you will miss the thrill of participating with God in His miraculous work! Don't miss it!! Offer what you have ... and watch God multiply and supply.
3. Did you wonder why the closed door? I wonder about the significance of that little fact. Perhaps that is no significance ... but I can hear Jesus saying "When you pray, go into our room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6) There is intimacy in the closed door. This woman cannot credit Elisha with this provision ... it is from God ... it happened behind a closed door with no one else there. It is the same with you and I as we take our needs to God. Sometimes He will use another person to meet a need but the work of faith and the work of peace and the decision for obedience is first done "behind the closed door".
Have you spent time "behind the closed door" with your God today?
March 26, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 8, Day 3
Today's reading: 2 Kings 3: 1 - 25
Three kings together to wage war against Moab. Why? Israel seems to be weakening as a national presence in the region and Mesha, the king of Moab, decided to take advantage of the situation. He stops paying tribute. Joram, king of Israel, recruits the help of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. King of Edom probably doesn't have much choice since Edom is subject to Judah at this time. After 7 days of marching in the wilderness, the water is gone. Desperation sets in.
Two responses to crisis. We have seen them before. We have experienced both in our own lives. This passage gives us a clear picture of the human response to difficulty. Joram blames God. Isn't it interesting that this king who does not worship God - he is a Baal and a calf worshiper - blames God. It is so like us ... to blame God when things go awry in our lives.
In contrast to this response we see Jehoshaphat desiring wisdom from God. He wants to inquire of the Lord. It may be a bit after the fact. We do not have record of any consultation with the Lord and/or His prophets before the campaign began. However, that is quite like us as well. Have you ever forged forward with a plan ... only to hit a wall down the path ... and then decided to seek God's wisdom? I'm getting better about asking first. Praying first. Are you?
God does speak to them through Elisha - out of respect for Jehoshaphat, not Joram. And He reveals His plan for their victory over Moab. I wish I could know what the words from the mouth of Joram were when he heard the instructions. I wonder if he argued. I wonder if said it was a stupid thing to do. I wonder if he complied because the other two kings gave him no option and no voice. We don't know. What we do know is that the instructions from God were followed. Dig ditches ... all over the valley floor. Make space for the water that was going to come. And the water came.
Again we see the hand of God responding to the obedience of people.
Three kings together to wage war against Moab. Why? Israel seems to be weakening as a national presence in the region and Mesha, the king of Moab, decided to take advantage of the situation. He stops paying tribute. Joram, king of Israel, recruits the help of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. King of Edom probably doesn't have much choice since Edom is subject to Judah at this time. After 7 days of marching in the wilderness, the water is gone. Desperation sets in.
Two responses to crisis. We have seen them before. We have experienced both in our own lives. This passage gives us a clear picture of the human response to difficulty. Joram blames God. Isn't it interesting that this king who does not worship God - he is a Baal and a calf worshiper - blames God. It is so like us ... to blame God when things go awry in our lives.
In contrast to this response we see Jehoshaphat desiring wisdom from God. He wants to inquire of the Lord. It may be a bit after the fact. We do not have record of any consultation with the Lord and/or His prophets before the campaign began. However, that is quite like us as well. Have you ever forged forward with a plan ... only to hit a wall down the path ... and then decided to seek God's wisdom? I'm getting better about asking first. Praying first. Are you?
God does speak to them through Elisha - out of respect for Jehoshaphat, not Joram. And He reveals His plan for their victory over Moab. I wish I could know what the words from the mouth of Joram were when he heard the instructions. I wonder if he argued. I wonder if said it was a stupid thing to do. I wonder if he complied because the other two kings gave him no option and no voice. We don't know. What we do know is that the instructions from God were followed. Dig ditches ... all over the valley floor. Make space for the water that was going to come. And the water came.
Again we see the hand of God responding to the obedience of people.
Trust ............................................. and obey.
Trust ............................................. and obey.
Where are you needing to trust, and obey the word of the Lord in your own life right now?
Casandra ends her lesson this week with the following statement. Read it slowly, carefully, thoughtfully ... and place your circumstances in the middle of it ...
We need to learn to measure our problems and struggles not against our own strength,
but against the power and might of our God.
March 24, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 8, Day 2
Today read the strange encounter found in 2 Kings 2: 23 - 25. As you read, remember that Elisha is being confirmed as God's resident spokesperson and prophet in Israel.
To understand this very strange encounter, there are a couple of the words that we need to get a clear picture of.
The first is the word translated "youths" (NIV). The way we use this word in modern English indicates a kid. That is not the Hebrew word. In fact, this is the same word used in Genesis 41:46 describing Joseph and he is 30 years old at the time. So to try and understand these verses, we need to understand that we are reading about a gang of men, probably middle years rather than old. It is a large gang ... 42 of them are mauled and that seems to read as if that was not all of them.
The second word is the one translated "jeered" (NIV). This word is also translated "mocked" in the Old Testament. It is prideful derision. This is not an incidence of middle-school boys being stupid and name-calling. It is much more serious than that. Their words reek with rebellion. Their words echo blasphemy.
In the book of Habakkuk, God describes the Babylonians with these words ...
"that ruthless and impetuous people ... they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor ... they fly like a vulture swooping to devour ... they all come bent on violence ... they deride kings and scoff (our same word!) at rulers ... guilty men whose own strength is their god." (from Habakkuk 1: 6 - 11) These "youths" coming out against Elisha were not just teasing!
That helps me get a better sense of what is going on in these verses. And derision against Jehovah God will not go on forever. God stops this instance ... dramatically!
There is an interesting passage in Leviticus 26. The chapter is all about rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. Then tucked away in verses 21 - 22 ... "If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted." It proved very literal for these men!
Lessons for us? My attitude toward God MATTERS! There is no room in my heart for any seeds of disrespect or dishonor toward God. Now, take it further. My attitude toward God's people MATTERS! There is no room in my heart for any disrespect or dishonor toward God's people. That piece is harder, isn't it? What about those with whom you disagree? What about them? What about those you just don't like? What about them?
Close your reflection time today with 1 Peter 2:17
To understand this very strange encounter, there are a couple of the words that we need to get a clear picture of.
The first is the word translated "youths" (NIV). The way we use this word in modern English indicates a kid. That is not the Hebrew word. In fact, this is the same word used in Genesis 41:46 describing Joseph and he is 30 years old at the time. So to try and understand these verses, we need to understand that we are reading about a gang of men, probably middle years rather than old. It is a large gang ... 42 of them are mauled and that seems to read as if that was not all of them.
The second word is the one translated "jeered" (NIV). This word is also translated "mocked" in the Old Testament. It is prideful derision. This is not an incidence of middle-school boys being stupid and name-calling. It is much more serious than that. Their words reek with rebellion. Their words echo blasphemy.
In the book of Habakkuk, God describes the Babylonians with these words ...
"that ruthless and impetuous people ... they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor ... they fly like a vulture swooping to devour ... they all come bent on violence ... they deride kings and scoff (our same word!) at rulers ... guilty men whose own strength is their god." (from Habakkuk 1: 6 - 11) These "youths" coming out against Elisha were not just teasing!
That helps me get a better sense of what is going on in these verses. And derision against Jehovah God will not go on forever. God stops this instance ... dramatically!
There is an interesting passage in Leviticus 26. The chapter is all about rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. Then tucked away in verses 21 - 22 ... "If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted." It proved very literal for these men!
Lessons for us? My attitude toward God MATTERS! There is no room in my heart for any seeds of disrespect or dishonor toward God. Now, take it further. My attitude toward God's people MATTERS! There is no room in my heart for any disrespect or dishonor toward God's people. That piece is harder, isn't it? What about those with whom you disagree? What about them? What about those you just don't like? What about them?
Close your reflection time today with 1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone:
Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
This leads me into prayer ... for forgiveness ... for wisdom ... for God's eyes and Spirit to direct my relationships with His people ... in all their variety of form and style ... in all their variety of opinion and thought! Join me?
March 22, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 8, Day 1
Read 2 Kings 2: 19 - 22.
Elijah has gone in a "flaming chariot" into the heavens and was seen no more. This particular human being, this man "just like us", was extraordinarily spared walking through physical death. And we left Elisha holding Elijah's mantle and commission to the work of God's prophet and spokesperson to Israel. We know God has honored the request for this "double portion" of His spirit to rest on Elisha ... first sign of that? Elisha parted the waters of the Jordan and walked on dry land!
These verses we read today happen most likely soon after because he is still is the region of Jericho. The men who come to him with the problem are from Jericho. The problem? Bad water in the springs of the area were resulting in unfruitfulness. This unfruitfulness seems to be two-fold. The land is unproductive. The interesting piece is that the word for "unfruitful" is the Hebrew word shakol. This word means barren, or childless, or miscarriage. So it seems that the women of Jericho suffered much from inability to carry or take pregnancy to completion. Nothing is thriving in Jericho. These men, maybe the elders or leaders, of the city bring the problem to Elisha.
A new bowl and salt? And God does a miracle through His prophet. I think there is symbolism that we can benefit from. Consider ...
1. A new bowl ... God is going to do a new work. I think the new bowl symbolizes that fact. After all, Jericho was under a curse. Back in the days of Joshua, when the Israelites were victorious over Jericho, he pronounced a curse on that city. (Joshua 6:26) We revisited that a few weeks ago when we were in 1 Kings 16:24. Well ... God is about to do a new thing. That curse is going to be lifted. A new work requires newness. Lessons? Don't be afraid of new things. Jesus said "No one sews a patch of unshrink cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9: 14 - 17) Each generation brings new things to the table of the practice of religion. YES - hang everything beside the plumb line of scripture. But if a new thing hangs straight ... don't be afraid of newness. Celebrate it!
2. Salt. I would not have chosen salt to put in water to make it better. As He does so often, God uses a method that we would not choose - things that make no sense to us. Salt in Elisha's day was a precious commodity - useful for preservation. But there is more to it than that. In Leviticus 2:13, God says to this fledgling people just out of slavery, "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings." And God directs Elisha to dump it in the spring! Can you hear Jesus saying centuries later, "You are the salt of the earth"? Our world needs us ... dumped in - all the way - permeating every aspect of this crazy, dark, mixed-up world. Be salt.
And a miracle happened. God purified that water. The writer of 2 Kings said that it was still good when he wrote the book. It is still good in 2010. Elisha's Spring outside Ain es-Sultan (the site of Jericho) is still sweet water. If you travel there ... taste it! You see, when God purifies something ... it is PURE!
Close today by letting 1 John 1:7 settle into your inner self ...
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."
Elijah has gone in a "flaming chariot" into the heavens and was seen no more. This particular human being, this man "just like us", was extraordinarily spared walking through physical death. And we left Elisha holding Elijah's mantle and commission to the work of God's prophet and spokesperson to Israel. We know God has honored the request for this "double portion" of His spirit to rest on Elisha ... first sign of that? Elisha parted the waters of the Jordan and walked on dry land!
These verses we read today happen most likely soon after because he is still is the region of Jericho. The men who come to him with the problem are from Jericho. The problem? Bad water in the springs of the area were resulting in unfruitfulness. This unfruitfulness seems to be two-fold. The land is unproductive. The interesting piece is that the word for "unfruitful" is the Hebrew word shakol. This word means barren, or childless, or miscarriage. So it seems that the women of Jericho suffered much from inability to carry or take pregnancy to completion. Nothing is thriving in Jericho. These men, maybe the elders or leaders, of the city bring the problem to Elisha.
A new bowl and salt? And God does a miracle through His prophet. I think there is symbolism that we can benefit from. Consider ...
1. A new bowl ... God is going to do a new work. I think the new bowl symbolizes that fact. After all, Jericho was under a curse. Back in the days of Joshua, when the Israelites were victorious over Jericho, he pronounced a curse on that city. (Joshua 6:26) We revisited that a few weeks ago when we were in 1 Kings 16:24. Well ... God is about to do a new thing. That curse is going to be lifted. A new work requires newness. Lessons? Don't be afraid of new things. Jesus said "No one sews a patch of unshrink cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9: 14 - 17) Each generation brings new things to the table of the practice of religion. YES - hang everything beside the plumb line of scripture. But if a new thing hangs straight ... don't be afraid of newness. Celebrate it!
2. Salt. I would not have chosen salt to put in water to make it better. As He does so often, God uses a method that we would not choose - things that make no sense to us. Salt in Elisha's day was a precious commodity - useful for preservation. But there is more to it than that. In Leviticus 2:13, God says to this fledgling people just out of slavery, "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings." And God directs Elisha to dump it in the spring! Can you hear Jesus saying centuries later, "You are the salt of the earth"? Our world needs us ... dumped in - all the way - permeating every aspect of this crazy, dark, mixed-up world. Be salt.
And a miracle happened. God purified that water. The writer of 2 Kings said that it was still good when he wrote the book. It is still good in 2010. Elisha's Spring outside Ain es-Sultan (the site of Jericho) is still sweet water. If you travel there ... taste it! You see, when God purifies something ... it is PURE!
Close today by letting 1 John 1:7 settle into your inner self ...
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."
And when God purifies ... it is PURE!
March 17, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 7, Day 3
Read again 2 Kings 2: 1 - 18, slowing down in verses 10 - 18.
Elijah is convinced of the commitment, determination and dedication of Elisha. Therefore, he asks Elisha what else can he do for him before he is taken from this earth. And Elisha asks for a "double portion of Elijah's spirit". What is he asking for?
The Hebrew word for spirit is ruah. "In Old Testament terms, the ruah is not an individual soul or spirit. Rather, it is the creative energy of God." (The Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible) It is sometimes translated 'wind'. This is the same word used in Genesis 1: 1 - 2 which says, "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." It is that creative 'wind' that broods over the waters of chaos.
Psalm 104: 29 - 30 says, "When you take away their breath (ruah), they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit (ruah), they are created and you renew the face of the earth." Ruah is the very breath of life.
It seems that Elisha recognizes this energizing spirit in Elijah and knows it is the life of God. And so he asks for it - only in a double portion.
Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4-5) In Acts 2, on the day of the Pentecost celebration in Jerusalem, this gift from the Father was realized. Do you remember the sound that accompanied the gift? A rushing wind! The creative wind that broods over the waters of our chaos. Peter preaches powerfully to the multitude that gathered that day - miraculously empowered by the spirit. As the crowd reacts to his words Peter says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39)
Elijah is convinced of the commitment, determination and dedication of Elisha. Therefore, he asks Elisha what else can he do for him before he is taken from this earth. And Elisha asks for a "double portion of Elijah's spirit". What is he asking for?
The Hebrew word for spirit is ruah. "In Old Testament terms, the ruah is not an individual soul or spirit. Rather, it is the creative energy of God." (The Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible) It is sometimes translated 'wind'. This is the same word used in Genesis 1: 1 - 2 which says, "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." It is that creative 'wind' that broods over the waters of chaos.
Psalm 104: 29 - 30 says, "When you take away their breath (ruah), they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit (ruah), they are created and you renew the face of the earth." Ruah is the very breath of life.
It seems that Elisha recognizes this energizing spirit in Elijah and knows it is the life of God. And so he asks for it - only in a double portion.
Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4-5) In Acts 2, on the day of the Pentecost celebration in Jerusalem, this gift from the Father was realized. Do you remember the sound that accompanied the gift? A rushing wind! The creative wind that broods over the waters of our chaos. Peter preaches powerfully to the multitude that gathered that day - miraculously empowered by the spirit. As the crowd reacts to his words Peter says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39)
Elisha witnessed the difference it made in a life to have this spirit of God, the very breath and life of God, flowing through a human being. Have you witness that miracle? Have you experienced that miracle? If you belong to Christ and answer "no" to those questions ... then I must ask, Why not?!
Perhaps it is time ... even past time ... for you, for me to ask for a double portion. Perhaps it is time ... even past time ... for the church to ask for a double portion. However, as I think on these things ... the issue is not getting more of the Spirit of God ... the issue is surrendering myself more fully so that the Spirit of God is free to work in and through my life.
I want to be like Elisha today. Lord, show me how to be more for You. How to have more of You. How to be more of Your woman in my little world today. Give me You ...
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 7, Day 2
Today, read 2 Kings 2: 1 - 18.
The prophetic ministry to Israel is passing from Elijah to Elisha. So we are witnesses in this passage of Elijah's final training mission with Elisha. The final tests of readiness and commitment. Did you wonder why Elijah seemed to be trying to shake Elisha loose? I suspect it was a commitment test. After all, Elijah knew first hand the difficulty of being God's spokesperson in a country as idolatrous and rebellious as Israel was at that time. Elisha would have to be fully sold out to the task. And Elisha is. He repeatedly tells his mentor that he will not leave him. It reminds me of the cartoon of the chicken and the pig discussing giving breakfast to the farm family. The pig's comment: "Fine for you to offer. For you it is a gift. For me it is total commitment!" For Elisha ... it was total commitment.
Today, let's learn from the geography in this chapter. If you are keeping a notebook, list the 4 geographical sites mentioned. They begin in Gilgal (v.1) - go on to Bethel (v 2) - next to Jericho (v. 4) - and finally to the Jordan River (v. 6) I believe that Elijah chose these particular locales because of their significance in Israel's history. Remember ...
1. Gilgal (Joshua 4: 19 - 5:12) Such an important place! It marks the first camp that was set up on the Promised Land side of the Jordan. It is where the first monument was established in the Promised Land. What was the monument for? "So that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." (Joshua 4:24) This is the location where circumcision was re-instituted as the sign of the covenant between God and this people. This is where the manna was stopped because now they could eat the produce of Canaan. Gilgal was the place to remember covenant - to remember the powerful deliverance of God. Do you have any memorial stones in your life? The moments or events that point you to a mighty God? Visit them often! Go to your own Gilgal.
2. On to Bethel. We are first introduced to this locale with the patriarch, Jacob. (Genesis 28:10-22) Jacob is running away from home because his brother is out to kill him. Why? Jacob stole his birthright - the privilege of the first born. Jacob is scared, alone and isolated. It was in Bethel that God appeared to him in a dream ... a dream of a ladder opening up into heaven. God reminded Jacob of the covenant that God had made with Abraham, his grandfather. God reconfirmed His promises to Jacob at Bethel. He reminded Jacob that He, the LORD, was indeed still the God of Jacob. Do you ever need those reminders? Do you ever doubt God's promises are for you? Do you struggle with believing God when bad things happen in your life? Or when God's time frame and yours do not match? Go to Bethel.
3. Next stop was Jericho. (Joshua 5: 13 - 6:27) This is the site where the Israelites learned, Joshua learned, beyond a shadow of doubt, that God is a holy God. The is the site where the Israelites learned beyond a shadow of doubt, that God fights for His people. What are you doing battle with right now? Are you remembering the holiness of your God? Are you remembering to show honor and worship to Him? Remember Jericho.
4. Finally, Elijah goes with Elisha to the Jordan River. (Joshua 3) This was the place of cross-over. This was the entrance point into Canaan for the Israelites. They had to trust God to step into that flood-swollen river! But when they did trust ... when they did obey ... those waters parted and they walked across on dry ground. God will make a way - always. He goes before and behind us. Will you trust Him with your life and your circumstances? That's the message of the Jordan.
Apply each of these locations to your own life right now.
The prophetic ministry to Israel is passing from Elijah to Elisha. So we are witnesses in this passage of Elijah's final training mission with Elisha. The final tests of readiness and commitment. Did you wonder why Elijah seemed to be trying to shake Elisha loose? I suspect it was a commitment test. After all, Elijah knew first hand the difficulty of being God's spokesperson in a country as idolatrous and rebellious as Israel was at that time. Elisha would have to be fully sold out to the task. And Elisha is. He repeatedly tells his mentor that he will not leave him. It reminds me of the cartoon of the chicken and the pig discussing giving breakfast to the farm family. The pig's comment: "Fine for you to offer. For you it is a gift. For me it is total commitment!" For Elisha ... it was total commitment.
Today, let's learn from the geography in this chapter. If you are keeping a notebook, list the 4 geographical sites mentioned. They begin in Gilgal (v.1) - go on to Bethel (v 2) - next to Jericho (v. 4) - and finally to the Jordan River (v. 6) I believe that Elijah chose these particular locales because of their significance in Israel's history. Remember ...
1. Gilgal (Joshua 4: 19 - 5:12) Such an important place! It marks the first camp that was set up on the Promised Land side of the Jordan. It is where the first monument was established in the Promised Land. What was the monument for? "So that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." (Joshua 4:24) This is the location where circumcision was re-instituted as the sign of the covenant between God and this people. This is where the manna was stopped because now they could eat the produce of Canaan. Gilgal was the place to remember covenant - to remember the powerful deliverance of God. Do you have any memorial stones in your life? The moments or events that point you to a mighty God? Visit them often! Go to your own Gilgal.
2. On to Bethel. We are first introduced to this locale with the patriarch, Jacob. (Genesis 28:10-22) Jacob is running away from home because his brother is out to kill him. Why? Jacob stole his birthright - the privilege of the first born. Jacob is scared, alone and isolated. It was in Bethel that God appeared to him in a dream ... a dream of a ladder opening up into heaven. God reminded Jacob of the covenant that God had made with Abraham, his grandfather. God reconfirmed His promises to Jacob at Bethel. He reminded Jacob that He, the LORD, was indeed still the God of Jacob. Do you ever need those reminders? Do you ever doubt God's promises are for you? Do you struggle with believing God when bad things happen in your life? Or when God's time frame and yours do not match? Go to Bethel.
3. Next stop was Jericho. (Joshua 5: 13 - 6:27) This is the site where the Israelites learned, Joshua learned, beyond a shadow of doubt, that God is a holy God. The is the site where the Israelites learned beyond a shadow of doubt, that God fights for His people. What are you doing battle with right now? Are you remembering the holiness of your God? Are you remembering to show honor and worship to Him? Remember Jericho.
4. Finally, Elijah goes with Elisha to the Jordan River. (Joshua 3) This was the place of cross-over. This was the entrance point into Canaan for the Israelites. They had to trust God to step into that flood-swollen river! But when they did trust ... when they did obey ... those waters parted and they walked across on dry ground. God will make a way - always. He goes before and behind us. Will you trust Him with your life and your circumstances? That's the message of the Jordan.
Apply each of these locations to your own life right now.
Gilgal: Surrender again to your covenant with God today.
Bethel: Believe the promises of our Faithful God.
Jericho: Worship the holiness of God and allow Him to be the general in your battles.
Jordan River: When God says, step out ... do it. Trusting ...
March 15, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 7, Day 1
Our lesson this week is from 2 Kings 1:1 - 2:18.
Today ... read 2 Kings 1.
We learn at the end of 1 Kings 22 that Ahaziah, son of Ahab, takes the throne at his father's death. How we wish he had learned something from Ahab's end of life repentance. But it does not seem so. He steps into the path of idolatry, of arrogance, of following the Baals that had been modeled for him by his parents all of his life. (Learn that lesson well!) Israel as a nation is weakening on the world scene. Moab rebels against its subjugation to Israel. And King Ahaziah has a serious fall that threatens his very life. Crisis all around!
Question - what was the last crisis that hit you or your family and when was it? Or are you in the midst of a crisis right now? Ahaziah is in crisis.
Crisis in our lives offers opportunities for reflection, for re commitment, sometimes for repentance. At the least, they cause us to stop dead in our tracks and look around. I have a young friend that has just lost his sister - shouldn't have, too soon, no rational reason. Crisis. I have a brother who buried a daughter a season ago - excellent mountain climber, caught in an avalanche, tragedy. Crisis. I have a friend who lost her eyesight as an adult - unfair, now dependent. Crisis. I can go on. But you can make your own list. Crisis hits - never expected, always harsh and cruel. What do you do ...
We have 2 negative illustrations in this chapter - 2 examples of what NOT to do when crisis sinks its talons into your skin and life.
1. Don't run for advice from the wrong sources. Ahaziah sends messengers to seek the counsel from Baal-zebub ... not the God of Israel ... the god of the Philistines. What foolishness! Has he learned nothing from his mother and father's experiences and their deaths? Obviously not. When crisis comes into your life, seek counsel from the true and living God - through His Word, through those who trust in Jehovah, the living Way, Truth and Life.
2. Be careful about your own anger. It will tend to lash out ... watch out where it lashes! Ahaziah lashes out in vindictive anger against Elijah - the one who delivered the message from God. And his anger was brutal. He wanted to kill - to destroy. When crisis comes into your life, know that anger will come. Be ready for it so that there will be no uncontrolled lashing out at those closest to you - particularly little children!
The chapter closes with King Ahaziah's death. This is all we know of him. We do learn some things from this king ... but the learning is from the negative side, the warning side. May our legacies have more positive examples than negative ones!
Today ... read 2 Kings 1.
We learn at the end of 1 Kings 22 that Ahaziah, son of Ahab, takes the throne at his father's death. How we wish he had learned something from Ahab's end of life repentance. But it does not seem so. He steps into the path of idolatry, of arrogance, of following the Baals that had been modeled for him by his parents all of his life. (Learn that lesson well!) Israel as a nation is weakening on the world scene. Moab rebels against its subjugation to Israel. And King Ahaziah has a serious fall that threatens his very life. Crisis all around!
Question - what was the last crisis that hit you or your family and when was it? Or are you in the midst of a crisis right now? Ahaziah is in crisis.
Crisis in our lives offers opportunities for reflection, for re commitment, sometimes for repentance. At the least, they cause us to stop dead in our tracks and look around. I have a young friend that has just lost his sister - shouldn't have, too soon, no rational reason. Crisis. I have a brother who buried a daughter a season ago - excellent mountain climber, caught in an avalanche, tragedy. Crisis. I have a friend who lost her eyesight as an adult - unfair, now dependent. Crisis. I can go on. But you can make your own list. Crisis hits - never expected, always harsh and cruel. What do you do ...
We have 2 negative illustrations in this chapter - 2 examples of what NOT to do when crisis sinks its talons into your skin and life.
1. Don't run for advice from the wrong sources. Ahaziah sends messengers to seek the counsel from Baal-zebub ... not the God of Israel ... the god of the Philistines. What foolishness! Has he learned nothing from his mother and father's experiences and their deaths? Obviously not. When crisis comes into your life, seek counsel from the true and living God - through His Word, through those who trust in Jehovah, the living Way, Truth and Life.
2. Be careful about your own anger. It will tend to lash out ... watch out where it lashes! Ahaziah lashes out in vindictive anger against Elijah - the one who delivered the message from God. And his anger was brutal. He wanted to kill - to destroy. When crisis comes into your life, know that anger will come. Be ready for it so that there will be no uncontrolled lashing out at those closest to you - particularly little children!
The chapter closes with King Ahaziah's death. This is all we know of him. We do learn some things from this king ... but the learning is from the negative side, the warning side. May our legacies have more positive examples than negative ones!
March 12, 2010
A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 6, Day 3
1 Kings 21
Today our focus is on verses 17 - 26
I would love to know what stood out to you as you read this chapter. Was it Ahab's 2 year old fit because he did not get his way? Was it Jezebel's willingness to do whatever it took to get what she wanted - even at the cost of a man's life? Was it the way she followed the "letter of the law" by calling a fast, by honoring the requirement of 2 witnesses even as she plotted with nothing less than evil intent? Was it sobering to you to see that Naboth's physical life was not protected? There is much drama in these events!
God calls Elijah back into action to confront King Ahab. God is still trying to reach this king. He is still trying to call Ahab back into relationship with Him. Amazing. But that is our God - ever desirous of His people's hearts! Did you notice that Ahab is held accountable for Naboth's life even though he was not specifically the one to set it all up? He can't say "She made me do it" before God. By the way, neither can we pass blame for our sin on to others. Ahab seems to have reached a point in his life when the pronouncement of his doom is finally heard. And he is humbled. He repents. He "went around meekly" (verse 27). The lesson that screams off the pages to me is "Do not be slow to repentance!" God has called out to Ahab on numerous occasions - we have read many of them in this study. Why did it take him so long to respond? What keeps us from responding when we hear a message from God? Have you ever experienced a conviction in a sermon, or a lesson, or from a friend? Did you ignore? Did you bury it - deciding that the things of God are really not all that pressing? What a warning we have from this king! My friends, respond now. Turn now.
Ahab repents and God relents. The consequences for his sin will still be experienced ... but God honors the repentance of this wicked king. I gave up on Ahab several chapters ago! He was a hopeless case in my mind. But God is relentless in His pursuit of His people. Would you have still tried to reach out to Ahab? Now ... are there people in your sphere of influence that you have written off, given up on? That is the lesson that I see for me. NEVER give up on people. NEVER give up on that family member that seems so impossibly far from God. NEVER give up on that one-time friend that has abandoned his/her relationship with God. NEVER give up. Continue to pray ... continue to reach out when you can ... continue to pray ... continue to pray.
How do we shine in this dark world? We never give up on people. That fact alone will make you stand out from the masses in our world. People matter. People have value - all people. Commit with me today ... I will not give up on ___________ (fill in your blank!) In fact, stop and take that person to prayer right now. That one matters!
Today our focus is on verses 17 - 26
I would love to know what stood out to you as you read this chapter. Was it Ahab's 2 year old fit because he did not get his way? Was it Jezebel's willingness to do whatever it took to get what she wanted - even at the cost of a man's life? Was it the way she followed the "letter of the law" by calling a fast, by honoring the requirement of 2 witnesses even as she plotted with nothing less than evil intent? Was it sobering to you to see that Naboth's physical life was not protected? There is much drama in these events!
God calls Elijah back into action to confront King Ahab. God is still trying to reach this king. He is still trying to call Ahab back into relationship with Him. Amazing. But that is our God - ever desirous of His people's hearts! Did you notice that Ahab is held accountable for Naboth's life even though he was not specifically the one to set it all up? He can't say "She made me do it" before God. By the way, neither can we pass blame for our sin on to others. Ahab seems to have reached a point in his life when the pronouncement of his doom is finally heard. And he is humbled. He repents. He "went around meekly" (verse 27). The lesson that screams off the pages to me is "Do not be slow to repentance!" God has called out to Ahab on numerous occasions - we have read many of them in this study. Why did it take him so long to respond? What keeps us from responding when we hear a message from God? Have you ever experienced a conviction in a sermon, or a lesson, or from a friend? Did you ignore? Did you bury it - deciding that the things of God are really not all that pressing? What a warning we have from this king! My friends, respond now. Turn now.
Ahab repents and God relents. The consequences for his sin will still be experienced ... but God honors the repentance of this wicked king. I gave up on Ahab several chapters ago! He was a hopeless case in my mind. But God is relentless in His pursuit of His people. Would you have still tried to reach out to Ahab? Now ... are there people in your sphere of influence that you have written off, given up on? That is the lesson that I see for me. NEVER give up on people. NEVER give up on that family member that seems so impossibly far from God. NEVER give up on that one-time friend that has abandoned his/her relationship with God. NEVER give up. Continue to pray ... continue to reach out when you can ... continue to pray ... continue to pray.
How do we shine in this dark world? We never give up on people. That fact alone will make you stand out from the masses in our world. People matter. People have value - all people. Commit with me today ... I will not give up on ___________ (fill in your blank!) In fact, stop and take that person to prayer right now. That one matters!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)