Remind God?

Numbers 31:54 NLT

So Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gifts from the generals and captains and brought the gold to the Tabernacle as a reminder to the Lord that the people of Israel belong to him.

Numbers 10:10 NLT

Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the Lord your God of his covenant with you. I am the Lord your God.”

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God knows everything. God made the covenant promises to Abraham and then repeated these to, Jacob, and on then to His People through Moses.

So why is it that these two passages tell God's people to remind God?

Can you think of other places in the Bible that God asks people to remind him?

I've had a look at these passages in two passages in a number of other versions of the English Bible. (NASB, ESV, AMP, MSG, NCV, NIV, )

New Living Translation seems to be the only one with this nuance. Making God the one to be reminded. 

But even if it is a fluke of a less than accurate translation. What caused the translators to make this change?

Does God need reminding?

Didn't effectively Moses remind God of his reputation in Exodus 32 when God was going to destroy his people and Moses pleads with God to save them.

"So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people," (Exodus 32:14, NASB).

Victoria quay, Sheffield UK

In this passage not only does God get a reminder but it appears as if he changes his mind.

And then there is Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16, where it sounds as if God is going to wipe them all out and again Moses pleads with God and God seems to change his declared course.

 20Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,21“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”22But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”

Are our prayers a reminder to God?

What do you think?

Write me and tell me: wkbode@gmail.com or reply here and make a comment.

Mistaken identity

Genesis 21:1-7 ESV

The Lord
visited Sarah
as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.
And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age
at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old,
as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said,
"God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."
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How many times have you heard this story? I know I've heard it many times. And it seems to me every time I've ever heard it before I've left thinking of Abraham and even more so of Sarah. And to be sure both of them are key characters. We should empathise with them. It is an exciting miracle. A very old couple have become first time parents. Sarah is ninety! Ninety year old women don't have babies!
But this is not first and foremost a story about Abraham, Sarah, or Isaac.

This is a story about God!

If you take a moment to thumb through your Bible around these chapters in Genesis. Look for the number of times the narration punctuates the action with God or the Lord. God said. The Lord said. The Lord went. God came. God caused.
And crucially in these seven verses above, God has made.

Listen to how Paul puts God the focus of Abraham's sorry in Romans,
Romans 4:19-22 ESV

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."

Romans 9:8-11 ESV

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

Later the author of the book of Hebrews sheds this light on these events,

Hebrews 11:11-19 ESV

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

In every case the story is about God. Is your life story about God? Are you putting your faith in the promise of God to you?

When you review your past or contemplate your future is it seen though the lens of God's plan and God's promise?

Don't try to be the star of this epic saga. Trust God who, keeps giving. Expect God to enable you to fulfil his promise to you.

Do you even know God's promise to you? Here's a clue it is a promise about Jesus. Jesus is the son of promise, born out of time. Born into impossible circumstances. Born to declare God's intention to save. Born to show God to you. Jesus is ultimately the one who in every way fulfils the many promises of God.

Do you know him?
Do you trust him?
Are you expecting him to work out the promise of God to you?
Are you making sure the story of your life is a story about God fulfilling his promise through Jesus?

Is God not more just and merciful than you?

Genesis 18:32 ESV

Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."
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Here in Genesis 18 God debates within himself the appropriateness of telling Abraham his plan to judge Sodom. (v.17) Abraham, most likely thinking of Lot, his nephew, begins to consider the consequences of judgement on Sodom.

Abraham like us knew Lot was wealthy and he had many employees, and some married daughters as well as sons in laws,  so from this considerable family and business surely there'd be 50 people who did not deserve to be judged. 

But Abraham reconsidered his original negotiation with God. He thought about things in Lot's town being pretty bad. So with determination and a bit of fear Abraham haggles with God down to a mere ten. Could this number represent just Lot and his immediate family?
Whatever it was Abraham had hoped there were ten! There were not ten.

But God let's Lot warn family that doesn't take heed and then let's Lot escape to a very small near by village.

I hope you read the Bible everyday and that you read it honestly.

Maybe you've followed along reading some of the passages I've been reading. If you have, you should be seeing a trend in Genesis so far.

People are given everything they need to do right and they choose to do wrong.

It starts with the curse and being driven out of Eden. Then there is Cain the murderer being driven to wander. And people go so far from God's way that during the time of Noah the whole of creation is judged for the wickedness of all the people. And Noah and his family are saved alone. Now Lot and his daughters are saved alone as fire and brimstone rain from heaven.

You should ask yourself, 'Will any one take God seriously?'

It is not like God had not displayed his power and intention. But what do we do with our free will? What do we do to our Eden? What do we do to our brother? What do we do to our neighbour or the weary travellers?

Who is faithful and who is corrupt?

And even now today you have a choice as do I. Who will I believe? Who will I serve?  Who will I fear and worship?

______________

Genesis 18:25 ESV

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"

______________

God's promise to you today is a resounding yes. He will indeed do what is just. And yet he will also be merciful. And for your sake his mercy is your salvation.

Romans 5:17 ESV

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

God isn't playing God, He is God

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God isn't playing God, He is God

Originally posted on Google Groups 1/10/12
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For the LORD hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses. Joshua 11:20

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Joshua 11 is an uncomfortable chapter to read, especially if you do not want to accept God as good and right.

We want to make God in our own image--not even a true image of ourselves but a made-up, false God.

God fights for his people. God utterly destroys the enemies of his people. God does not want his people to trust in the might of military technology. God  required his people to disable it all, the horses and the chariots.

God controls the hearts of the enemies.

God demands obedience from his people. A couple little footnotes: Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who forty years previous had said God would give them the land, but the other ten spies said the land was too hard to conquer because of the walled cities and the giants.

Chapter eleven here is telling us that the giants are no more in the conquered areas of the land. The descendants of Anak were the giants and now they are gone except in the surrounding areas. We hear more of the giants later, when a boy slays the last of them.

But this chapter here (Joshua 11) is full of war, slaughter, genocide, animal crippling, looting, destruction of cultures, men, woman, and children, killed, and kings killed. This was all done as God had instructed. This was God's plan. This plan was God's plan for over 40 years, in fact for nearly 500 years, since Abraham. Can you trust this God? Can you accept that this is the way God works? Can you praise God for doing this? God's wrath is not a thing of the past. There is coming wrath; it is being stored up, and these are the ways God unleashes his wrath.

We must see God for who he is and fear him, love him and trust Him. 

God has not changed. He is the same now as he was then.

EN
Joshua Chapter 11

Israel Defeats the Northern Armies

1 When King Jabin of Hazor heard what had happened, he sent messages to the following kings: King Jobab of Madon; the king of Shimron; the king of Acshaph;2 all the kings of the northern hill country; the kings in the Jordan Valley south of Galileet; the kings in the Galilean foothillst; the kings of Naphoth-dor on the west;

3 the kings of Canaan, both east and west; the kings of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites in the towns on the slopes of Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4 All these kings came out to fight. Their combined armies formed a vast horde. And with all their horses and chariots, they covered the landscape like the sand on the seashore.

5 The kings joined forces and established their camp around the water near Merom to fight against Israel.

6 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and all his fighting men traveled to the water near Merom and attacked suddenly.8 And the LORD gave them victory over their enemies. The Israelites chased them as far as Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward into the valley of Mizpah, until not one enemy warrior was left alive.

9 Then Joshua crippled the horses and burned all the chariots, as the LORD had instructed.
10 Joshua then turned back and captured Hazor and killed its king. (Hazor had at one time been the capital of all these kingdoms.)

11 The Israelites completely destroyed every living thing in the city, leaving no survivors. Not a single person was spared. And then Joshua burned the city.
12 Joshua slaughtered all the other kings and their people, completely destroying them, just as Moses, the servant of the LORD, had commanded.13 But the Israelites did not burn any of the towns built on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.14 And the Israelites took all the plunder and livestock of the ravaged towns for themselves. But they killed all the people, leaving no survivors.

15 As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. And Joshua did as he was told, carefully obeying all the commands that the LORD had given to Moses.
16 So Joshua conquered the entire region—the hill country, the entire Negev, the whole area around the town of Goshen, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley,t the mountains of Israel, and the Galilean foothills.17 The Israelite territory now extended all the way from Mount Halak, which leads up to Seir in the south, as far north as Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon in the valley of Lebanon. Joshua killed all the kings of those territories,18 waging war for a long time to accomplish this.19 No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated.

20 For the LORD hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
21 During this period Joshua destroyed all the descendants of Anak, who lived in the hill country of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and the entire hill country of Judah and Israel. He killed them all and completely destroyed their towns.

22 None of the descendants of Anak were left in all the land of Israel, though some still remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

23 So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the LORD had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

NL

Jozua 11
Israël overwint vele volken
1 Toen koning Jabin van Hazor hoorde wat er allemaal was gebeurd, stuurde hij een dringende boodschap naar koning Jobab van Madon, de koning van Simron, de koning van Achsaf,2 alle koningen van het noordelijke bergland, de koningen van de Vlakte, ten zuiden van Kinneroth, de koningen van de laaggelegen gebieden, de koningen van het bergachtige gebied van Dor in het westen,3 de koningen van Kanaän, zowel uit het oosten als uit het westen, de koningen van de Amorieten, Hethieten en Perizzieten, de koningen van het Jebusitische bergland en de koningen van de Chiwwitische steden op de hellingen van de berg Hermon in het land Mispa.

4-5 Al deze koningen reageerden op de boodschap door hun legers te mobiliseren en zich te verenigen om Israël te vernietigen. Hun gezamenlijke legers, met heel veel paarden en strijdwagens, kwamen bijeen en sloegen hun kamp op bij de bronnen van Merom.
6 Maar de HERE zei tegen Jozua: ‘Wees niet bang voor hen, want morgen om deze tijd zal Ik hen allen in de macht van Israël overgeven. Dan moet u de pezen van hun paarden doorsnijden en hun strijdwagens verbranden.’7 Jozua en zijn troepen verrasten het vijandelijke leger bij de bronnen van Merom en vielen aan.8 De HERE gaf dat enorme leger in de macht van de Israëlieten, die het achtervolgden tot aan Groot-Sidon en een plaats die Brandend Water werd genoemd en in oostelijke richting tot aan het dal van Mispa. Geen enkele vijand overleefde deze veldslag.

9 Jozua en zijn mannen volgden de aanwijzingen van de HERE op. Zij sneden de pezen van de paarden door en verbrandden alle strijdwagens.
10 Op de terugweg veroverde Jozua de stad Hazor en doodde haar koning. Hazor was eens de hoofdstad geweest van een verbond van al die koninkrijken.11 Alle inwoners werden gedood, waarna de stad werd verbrand.12 Daarna bond hij de strijd aan met de andere steden van de verslagen koningen en maakte ze met de grond gelijk. Alle inwoners werden gedood, zoals Mozes had bevolen.13 Behalve Hazor stak Jozua echter verder geen enkele hooggelegen stad in brand.14 Alle buit en het vee van de verwoeste steden hielden de Israëlieten voor zichzelf, maar de inwoners doodden zij.

15 Want dat had de HERE zijn dienaar Mozes opgedragen. Mozes had die opdracht op zijn beurt aan Jozua doorgegeven, die deze dan ook uitvoerde. Alle aanwijzingen die de HERE Mozes had gegeven, voerde Jozua nauwgezet uit.
16 Zo veroverde Jozua het hele land: het bergland, de Negev, het land Gosen, de laaggelegen gebieden, de vlakte van de Jordaan en de heuvels en laagvlakten van Israël.17 Het gebied van de Israëlieten strekte zich nu uit van de Kale Berg dicht bij Seïr, tot Baäl-Gad in het dal van de Libanon, aan de voet van de Hermon. Jozua doodde alle koningen die in dat gebied heersten.18 Er was een lange oorlog voor nodig om dit resultaat te bereiken.19 Geen enkele stad kreeg de kans met Israël vrede te sluiten, uitgezonderd de Chiwwieten uit Gibeon, alle anderen werden met geweld veroverd.20 Want de HERE zorgde ervoor dat de vijandelijke koningen de strijd aanbonden met de Israëlieten in plaats van om vrede te vragen, zo werden zij genadeloos gedood, zoals de HERE Mozes had opgedragen.21 Gedurende deze periode roeide Jozua ook alle reuzen uit. Dit waren afstammelingen van Enak en zij woonden in het bergland in Hebron, Debir, Anab, Juda en Israël. Hij doodde hen tot de laatste man en maakte hun steden met de grond gelijk.22 In het land Israël werd er niet één in leven gelaten, maar in Gaza, Gath en Asdod zijn enkelen overgebleven.

23 Jozua nam het hele land in bezit, precies zoals de HERE Mozes had opgedragen. Hij gaf het aan de Israëlieten als hun erfdeel en verdeelde het onder de stammen. Toen kon het land zich eindelijk van het oorlogsgeweld herstellen.

AR

يشوع 11
هَزِيمَةُ المُدُنُ الشَّمالِيَّة
1 وَحِينَ سَمِعَ يابِينُ مَلِكُ حاصُورَ بِهَذا، أرسَلَ رَسائِلَ إلَى يُوبابَ مَلِكِ مادُونَ، وَإلَى مَلِكِ شِمْرُونَ وَمَلِكِ أكشافَ،

2 وَإلَى مُلُوكِ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ الشَّمالِيَّةِ وَالصَحْراءِ، وَإلَى مُلُوكِ كِنَّرُوتَt وَالنَّقَبِt وَالمُرْتَفَعاتِ الغَرْبيَّةِ، وَإلَى مَلِكِ دُورَ غَرْباً.

3 وَإلَى الكَنعانِيِّينَ فِي الشَّرْقِ وَالغَربِ، وَالأمُورِيِّينَ وَالحِثِّيِّينَ وَالفِرِزِّيِّينَ وَاليَبُوسِيِّينَ الَّذِينَ فِي المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ، وَإلَى الحِوِّيِّينَ السّاكِنِينَ جَنُوبَ جَبَلِ حَرْمُونَ فِي مِنْطَقَةِ المِصْفاةِ.

4 وَخَرَجُوا بِكُلِّ جُيُوشِهِمْ، جَيشاً عَظِيماً جِدّاً، كَعَدَدِ حُبَيباتِ الرَّملِ عَلَى شاطِئِ البَحْرِ، وَمَعَهُمْ خُيُولٌ وَعَرَباتٌ كَثِيرَةٌ.

5 وَاجتَمَعَ هَؤُلاءِ المُلُوكُ فِي مَكانٍ اتَّفَقُوا عَلَيهِ، وَجاءُوا وَخَيَّمُوا مَعاً عِنْدَ جَدْوَلِ مَيرُومَ لِيُحارِبُوا إسْرائِيلَ.

6 وَقالَ اللهُ لِيَشُوعَ: «لا تَخَفْ مِنْهُمْ. فَغَداً فِي مِثلِ هَذا الوَقْتِ، سَأُسَلِّمُهُمْ جَمِيعاً لإسْرائِيلَ لِتَذْبَحُوهُمْ. فَشُلُّوا خُيُولَهُمْ، وَأحْرِقُوا مَرْكَباتِهِمْ بِالنّارِ.»

7 فَأتَى يَشُوعُ عَلَيهِمْ مَعَ كُلِّ جَيشِهِ فَجأةً عِنْدَ جَدْوَلِ مَيرُومَ وَهاجَمُوهُمْ.

8 وَنَصَرَ اللهُ إسْرائِيلَ عَلَيهِمْ، فَهاجَمُوهُمْ وَطارَدُوهُمْ إلَى صَيدُونَ العَظِيمَةَ وَمِسْرَفُوتَ مايِمَ، وَإلَى وادِي المِصْفاةِ فِي الشَّرقِ. وَاستَمَرُّوا فِي مُهاجَمَتِهِمْ حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ أحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ حَيّاً.

9 وَعَمِلَ يَشُوعُ بِهِمْ كَما قالَ اللهُ لَهُ، فَشَلَّ خُيُولَهُمْ وَأحْرَقَ مَركَباتِهِمْ بِالنّارِ.

10 فِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ، التَفَّ يَشُوعُ وَهاجَمَ حاصُورَ وَسَيطَرَ عَلَيها، وَقَتَلَ مَلِكَها بِالسَّيفِ. وَكانَتْ حاصُورُ رأسَ هَذِهِ المَمالِكِ.

11 وَقَتَلُوا بِالسَّيفِ كُلَّ حَيٍّ فِيها، وَقَضَوْا عَلَيهِمْ تَماماً. حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ كَائِنٌ يَتَنَفَّسُ. وَأحرَقَ يَشُوعُ حاصُورَ بِالنّارِ.

12 وَسَيطَرَ يَشُوعُ عَلَى كُلِّ هَذِهِ المُدُنِ المَلَكِيَّةِ، وَأمسَكَ بِمُلُوكِها وَقَتَلَهُمْ قَتلاً بِالسَّيفِ، كَما أمَرَ مُوسَى خادِمُ اللهِ.

13 لَكِنَّ جَيشَ إسْرائِيلَ لَمْ يُحرِقْ أيَّةَ مَدِينَةٍ مِنَ المُدُنِ المَبنِيَّةِ عَلَى تِلالٍ، إلّا حاصُورَ الَّتِي أحرَقَها يَشُوعُ.

14 وَأخَذَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ غَنائِمَ هَذِهِ المُدُنِ وَحَيواناتِها، وَأمّا النّاسُ فَقَتَلُوهُمْ بِالسَّيفِ حَتَّى أفنَوْهُمْ، وَلَمْ يَترُكُوا كَائِناً يَتَنَفَّسُ.

15 كَما أمَرَ اللهُ خادِمَهُ مُوسَى هَكَذا أمَرَ مُوسَى يَشُوعَ، وَهَكَذا عَمِلَ يَشُوعُ، فَلَمْ يَترُكْ شَيئاً أمَرَ اللهُ مُوسَى بِهِ إلّا وَعَمِلَهُ.

16 فَسَيطَرَ يَشُوعُ عَلَى كُلِّ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ وَالنَّقَبِ وَأرْضِ جُوشِنَ وَالتِّلالِ الغَربِيَّةِ وَوادِي الأُردُنِّ وَمِنطَقَةِ التِّلالِ فِي إسْرائِيلَ وَمُنخَفَضاتِها،

17 مِنْ جَبَلِ حالَقَ المُمتَدِّ نَحْوَ سَعِيرَ إلَى بَعلَ جادَ فِي وادِي لُبنانَ إلَى الجَنُوبِ مِنْ جَبَلِ حَرْمُونَ. وَأسَرَ جَمِيعَ مُلُوكِهِمْ وَقَتَلَهُمْ.

18 وَكانَ يَشُوعُ فِي حَربٍ مَعَ هَؤُلاءِ المُلُوكِ لِفَترَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ.

19 وَلَمْ تَعمَلْ مَدِينَةٌ مُعاهَدَةَ سَلامٍ مَعَ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ إلّا الحِوِّيُّونَ السّاكِنُونَ فِي جِبعُونَ. فَقَدْ هَزَمَ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ كُلَّ تِلْكَ المُدُنِ فِي الحَرْبِ.

20 لِأنَّ اللهَ ذاتَهُ قَسَّى قُلُوبَهُمْ لِمُحارَبَةِ إسْرائِيلَ، لِيُهلِكُوهُمْ تَماماً بِلا رَحمَةٍ، فَيَقْضُوا عَلَيهِمْ كَما أمَرَ اللهُ مُوسَى.

21 فِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ، ذَهَبَ يَشُوعُ وَأهلَكَ العَناقِيِّينَt مِنَ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ، مِنْ حَبْرُونَt وَدَبِيرَ وَعَنابَ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ فِي يَهُوذا، وَمِنَ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ فِي إسْرائِيلَ. فَقَدْ أهلَكَهُمْ يَشُوعُ مَعَ مُدُنِهِمْ تَماماً.

22 وَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ العَناقِيِّينَ أحَدٌ فِي أرْضِ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ، سِوَى بَعْضِهِمْ فِي غَزَّةَ وَجَتَّ وَأشدُودَ.

23 فَسَيطَرَ يَشُوعُ عَلَى كُلِّ الأرْضِ بِحَسَبِ كُلِّ ما أمَرَ اللهُ بِهِ مُوسَى، وَأعطاها يَشُوعُ لإسْرائِيلَ مُلكاً لَهُمْ حَسَبَ حِصَصِ قَبائِلِهِمْ. حِينَئِذٍ، اسْتَراحَتِ الأرْضُ مِنَ الحَرْبِ.

Audio Blog

Now on iTunes as a podcast 

The nature of sin.

Audio Blog
Jeremiah 14:20-22 NLT

Lord, we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors, too. We all have sinned against you.

For the sake of your reputation, Lord, do not abandon us.

Do not disgrace your own glorious throne. Please remember us, and do not break your covenant with us. Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O Lord our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.
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Sin by definition is an offence against God.

God is the source of good. So evil is the absence from a situation of God's character, rule or word. Evil is man's suppression of God from thier lives.

If you or I continue down our path of sin and wickedness we are trying to get as far away from God as possible. But as we abandon God, we leave behind light, forgiveness, mercy, grace, hope, love, life, and righteousness.

Every selfish act, every unthankful act of independence and unbelief is an abominable act deserving death. In fact if the offender is left to himself and it was possible his head long run away from God is a run away from life itself.

Every act of greed, envy, or lust plunges us further into darkness. Each lie, harsh word, or worst of all, every act of ignoring God makes us a condemned sinner.

Truly, we have all sinned.

But God has made promises. God intends to save the world from sin. And it is for the sake of his reputation not our worthiness that we should ask for his help.

God deserves to be worshiped. God is worthy of praise. God should be on everyone's lips. God should be seen for who he is, good, holy, full of power, compassionate, loving, and graciously able to forgive.

It is our concern for the record to be set straight concerning God that will motivate our repentance.

He tells the truth. So he should be believed.
He created everything so we are answerable to him for our purpose.
He is gracious and good, so he should be praised.

Our only hope is God. We must follow Jeremiah's example and pray a prayer of repentance and praise. God is the only one that can help us.

https://soundcloud.com/wkbode/consider-the-following-sins

Finally, justice!

Isaiah 11:4 NLT

He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
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The promise God made to King David had always seemed too good to be true. Dynasties don't last forever. David's experience of the promise was seriously threatened before he ever reached the throne. And when the land of Abraham's promise was finally united under David's good rule, it is divided by fights among his sons and generals. Does this throw God's promise into doubt? Solomon appears to be a just king, but he is deeply flawed and wavers.

God's people are waiting for a prophet who will declare his people free of exile and oppression. They are longing for a promised king who will rule with justice and peace. God's people are looking for a Messiah like Isaiah has foretold. Who would be this 'Sent One' whose very words would bring healing and peace?

Surely someone could see that this promise would have to be fulfilled by no one short of God himself. Thus it is Jesus Christ, the God/Man-Messiah, who alone can fulfil this grandiose and outrageous promise from God.

We clearly see in Jesus' words he is the one that Isaiah is speaking of here (read further below).

Do you long for justice? Did your heart crave the peace promised by Isaiah? Does your mind desperately need this safety and salvation?

All this and more is found in Jesus.

Rest assured, Jesus rules a kingdom you can be part of that is all this and more.

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Isaiah 11:1-10 NLT

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

https://soundcloud.com/wkbode/consider-the-following-03

There will be no end...

ISA 9:6-7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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Isaiah starts right out with 8 chapters that have, for the most part, amounted to a litany of more than disappointing behaviour and an understandably harsh judgement. But things have taken a major turn in chapter 9.

God is beside himself with excitement. God can hardly contain the sense of purpose and accomplishment that comes with seeing through his promise to David. And this plan is far far better than anyone previously expected. Oh to be sure the first 8 chapters of this word from God through Isaiah has been a bit grim. So far the majority of God's revealed plans have been scary. Not the kind of news that warmed the cockles of one's heart. But truth and hope of a sort nonetheless.

But this news is colossal and a whole new order of magnitude in the unfolding love story of God's intentions for humankind.

The promise of God to David was going to be fulfilled by God himself, not simply a representative. And this time it was going to be final, fair, and forever.

With the aid of hindsight we can see this is all about the birth, life and rule of the God /Man Christ/Messiah Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace are magnificently hope-giving names rich with meaning and impossibly achievable in anyone short of a divine person.

So God himself would come and fulfill God's promise to David.

Now, let me direct you a bit closer to home. Have a thought to your own life. What is the status of your hopes and your dreams?

Just think, the promise to David had grown in every conceivable way. So the extent of this everlasting rule of God had no end.

The zeal of the rule of God's Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace had expanded to cover you. This hope of God in the midst of great disappointment and harsh judgement orchestrates justice and righteousness over your hopes and dreams.

Can you put your trust in the plan of God? Can you recognise the tickled pink excitement of God's love of a plan that's come together?

The 'no-end'  nature of God's expansive and extensive kingdom rule covers you with peace.

Get excited with God over his plan to take over for you.

God's promise of forgiveness.

Matthew 26:26-28 NASB

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;  for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

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Many times Jesus told his followers that he would suffer and die. 

Jesus was with his followers eating a special holiday meal. The holiday celebrated the time God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. Long before Jesus was born, God sent Moses to rescue his people from Egypt's evil ruler Pharaoh. God told Moses a terrible judgement would come to every home that did not put lamb's blood on the door posts of their house. If God's angel saw the people obeyed God and that they put lamb's blood on the door posts then they would be saved from the terrible judgement. When the God's people survived the judgement God said they needed to hurry and leave Egypt the next day. So God said make bread without yeast. God said you will not have time for the bread dough to rise. God told his people to remember that day by celebrating every year with a holiday called Passover. It is called passover because God's judgement passed over the house with lamb's blood on the door posts.

Jesus was eating the Passover holiday meal with his followers. During the meal it was traditional to eat special flat bread that was made with no yeast. The people did this to remember God's promise to rescue them and because they had to  leave in a hurry. At the Passover celebration the people would drink wine to remember the blood of the lamb that was put on the door posts.

Jesus said the bread and the wine had a new meaning. Now when his people celebrated together they would remember that Jesus died to rescue his people like the lamb in Egypt. On the cross Jesus body was broken and his blood was shed for his people.

Jesus said these were new promises from God. God promised to forgive many people's sin because Jesus died and faced God's terrible judgement.

When we remember God's promise together, we can be sure that because of Jesus' death we are forgiven.

Jesus died to forgive your sin!

Will you remind someone today?

Keeping it simple

John 16:33 NLT

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

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Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
{- Man in Black (Wesley) from the Princess Bride}

The thing I like most about Jesus and the Bible is the it is so realistic. It tells the truth, 'warts and all'.
Jesus isn't selling something. In fact he's giving it away. But he's not glossing over the facts.

-'Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.'

There it is plain and simple. The bare truth with no caveats delivered to people had not even begun to see the worst of it.

But neither had they remotely seen the best of it. That was also yet to come. See I can believe Jesus when he says he has overcome the world at least in part because what he says about the world is true. Here on earth you do have sorrow!

That's not all though. Jesus has healed people, fed people, made lame walk, blind see, deaf hear, and raised people from the dead. Then there are all the prophecies he's fulfilled some very clear and ancient and he's ticked nearly every box. Lastly, he said it. So either he's crazy, a liar or he's telling the truth. And since it looks like he's been telling the truth I've got good reason to believe that he has overcome the world.

Jesus means that as an encouragement. Yep, you'll face sorrows. Some may threaten to undo you, uproot your sanity, and sink you into despair but Jesus has overcome the world. When it gets on top of you, just remember Jesus is on top of the world. He's in charge and large! Jesus can handle your pain. Jesus wants you to know that in the world to come, there'll be no more sorrow.

How does that make you feel?

Everyone is following someone; Who is your Shepherd?

John 10:14-15, 27-30 NLT

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,  just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,  for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”

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Do you listen to Jesus? Do you hear his voice? Do you follow Jesus?

Many people say they are following Jesus but they don't listen to his voice. They don't read the Bible. They don't agree with what Jesus says. Many people say they follow Jesus but they are not willing to do what Jesus did.
Jesus obeyed God the Father. So a person following Jesus would be trying to obey the Father. Jesus sacrificed his life by putting the interests of others ahead of his comfort. A person who was a sheep of Jesus would also live sacrificialy. Jesus went the way of the cross. If you are following Jesus then you too will take up your cross.
If you follow Jesus you are not afraid of death because God promises life. You don't have to cling to this life because God promises eternal life to his followers. Do you believe that God is promising to give you eternal life?

Are you really following Jesus? Is he really your Shepherd?

Still besotted the day after Valentine's Day.

Psalms 145:3 NLT

Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.
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Besotted the day after Valentine's?

I wonder how many are still making the effort to express their love so deeply the day after Valentine's Day?

Psalm 145 is the love letter of someone who just can't get enough of his beloved. Are you so in love with God? Do you just go on and on and on about how great your God is?

No one can measure your greatness.

Read the Psalm pasted in full below and see if you too will fall in such deep love and admiration for your God.

Go on.

Love like this is not easily embarrassed. This God lover is convinced everyone should be as deeply moved as he is. He thinks everyone else should be talking about God.
God's greatness is all he can think about. He end up daydreaming about it all the time.
God is worthy of a song.
God is inspiration for a top ten list! Why stop there? Can you make a top one hundred great things about God list?

Every time I read this passage I'm encouraged to praise, to go overboard, to be OTT, about the wonderful things God has done.

When was the last time you could say enough good about God?

Do you have any insatiable appetites? Can you image if it was praise that you just can't get enough of. Could you be a glutton for glory, or an addict of adoration?

Oh Lord please convice is so deeply of your goodness that we too become besotted with your praise.

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Psalms 145:1-21 NLT

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord , and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord , and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

The Lord keeps me alive!

Psalms 54:1-7 NLT

Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might. Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them. I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord , for it is good. For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

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You can call out to God. You can ask him to rescue you. God will listen. God will answer. God will pay attention.

Have you found that there are people who ignore God? Are they the same people picking on you?

Although the writer of this Psalm is being attacked by evil people who act as if there is no God, he knows God is his helper.

Do you feel oppressed? Are you confident that God can give you victory?  Do you have faith in God?

See the situation was bad. The Psalmist is being oppressed, attacked for his faith, plotted against, troubled, and they are attempting to murder him.

Notice faith in God and trust in His rescue doesn't mean you won't have troubles!

It does mean you know you are not alone. It does mean you know there is justice from God. It does mean you can cry out in confidence that you are being heard.

Look at the difference between the psalmist and his enemies.

They care nothing for God.
He looks to God as a great defender.

They plan to take life.
He knows God keeps him alive.

They have evil plans.
He had plans to trust and voluntarily sacrifice.

Are you trusting the Lord with your life?

If you were Shepherded by Jesus would you want?

Psalms 23:1-6 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
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If the Lord were your Shepherd would you want for anything good? Would you have all you need?

If the Lord Jesus were you're Shepherd would your soul lack enough rest?

If the Son of God were your Shepherd would your strength be being renewed?

If the Saviour of the World were your Shepherd would your life be on a path that was right and brought glory to his name? Wouldn't you have confidence God's was using the path he had set you on for good?

If the Victor of the Cross were you're Shepherd wouldn't you be more peaceful than you thought you'd be even as you faced death or near death situations?

If the Host with the most, thrower of the biggest party of all time, bridegroom of the marriage feast of the Lamb were your Shepherd wouldn't you be holding the golden ticket and laughing all the way to the buffet?

If the man who turned water to wine and multiplied bread were your Shepherd wouldn't you be grazing without a care in the world?

If the God of Abraham, Joseph and Moses were your Shepherd wouldn't you be pretty sure that God would keep his promise and make an impossible situation, even after years, come good? Couldn't he because of his promise and great love extravagantly welcome you into his kingdom?

Is Jesus your Shepherd or not?

Who are you following? Who's your Shepherd?