Tag Archives: Old Testament Lessons

ARK OF GOD

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2  SAMUEL    OUTLINE- Background!

This outline of 2nd Samuel begins where we learn that Samuel died (1 Sam. 25:1). His work for the Lord was finished.  As we left the book of 1 Samuel David had just lead his men to attack & destroy the Amalekites, who had raided David’s home and took David’s wife’s Ahinoam and Abigail and all of the rest of the people and possessions. David immediately turned to God for strength and direction. David was lead to an Egyptian slave who had been abandoned by the Amalekites and was eager to pay them back. So the slave helped them surprise the Amalekites who were celebrating in a field. David and his men defeated them and recovered everyone and everything.  In the meantime the Philistines attacked Israel and killed 3 of Saul’s sons, including Jonathan. Saul was so severely wounded that he finally fell on his own sword. So as 1 Samuel ended, the stage was set for David to soon become king over Judah.

Overall the book of 2 Samuel tells the story of David as King- first as king of Judah and then in 2 Sam. 5:1-5 over all of Israel. These two kingdoms would remain unified through David and Solomon’s reign. Then in 1 Kings 12 the northern tribes of Israel would revolt and remain divided. In Isaiah, Israel is devastated except for the City of Jerusalem because of God’s promise to David.

In 2 Sam 1:4 it tells that David learns of Saul and Jonathan’s death and David composes a funeral song for both 2 Sam 1:17-27. David is anointed king of Judah (2:3). However, one of Saul’s surviving sons, Ishbosheth, was named king of Israel (2:9).  Then a war between Judah & Israel developed (2:12-16) and in 2:17 we are told David & his men defeated Abner, Ishbosheth’s army commander. It did not end the war but signaled the start of a very long war between the two nations (3:1).  During this time 3:2-5 gives an account of the birth of 6 sons to David.  The turning point in the was is told in 4:7-8 when Ishbosheth is murdered.  The tribes of Israel came to David (5:1-2) and wanted him to be king of Israel. This occurred in 2 Sam 5:3.  With God’s direction David captures Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it the City of David 5:6-7. Now the Philistines became concerned about David strength and combined all of their forces to attack David 5:17-18. In 5:19 David went to the Lord for direction and was given the go ahead to take on the Philistines and given assurance of victory. 5:20-25 tells of the two battles with the Philistines. Between these battles David went to the Lord again and was given the direction to circle them and wait for the Lord’s signal. This is our lesson for waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).  This brings us to the heart of today’s lesson.

BASIC THOUGHTS

Chapter 6 begins by moving the Ark of God to Jerusalem. Saul had virtually ignored the Ark- another of Saul’s many failures.

Read 2 Samuel 6:1-5   Honor God in God’s Way

David would reign for 33 years over all of Israel and Judah. David was determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant home. All seemed Good!  However David was human and he failed to follow God’s instructions and law for the Ark. David had the Ark placed on a cart- which was exactly the way the Philistines had moved the Ark from the Israelites (1 Sam 6:7).  In Numbers 3:30-31, 4:15, & 7:9 it tells how the Ark should be carried by the sons of Kohath- using poles and leather base described in Ex. 25:12-15. However not even the Kohath were permitted to actually touch the Ark. David used 2 of Abinadab’s sons to guide the cart. So David was dishonoring God even though his motives were sincere.

Read 2 Samuel 6:6-11    Respect What is Holy

We learn when the oxen pulling the cart stumbles, Uzzah, Abinadab’s son, grabs the Ark to prevent it from falling. Uzzah thought he was doing the right thing but was outside of God’s will. Uzzah was struck dead. This is a clear message to all of us. This could have been avoided if the move had been handled according to God’s instructions. We are not to become complacent about God’s Holiness. David became angry over the death and then his anger turned to fear. This renewed his respect for God. Essentially David put the Ark in storage after this and waited to see if and when the Lord would permit the Ark to be moved to Jerusalem.

Read 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17 Worship With Enthusiastic Reverence

Upon hearing about the 3 month blessings that the family had received while Ark was in their care, realized it was time to move the Ark to the City of David. So this time the Ark was handled exactly as the Lord had commanded to show the proper reverence. David became exuberant, put on a priest’s ephod, and began dancing in public. David prepared a special tent to place the Ark to honor God. David also made several offerings to the Lord.  So we are to worship God joyfully and enthusiastically to praise Him and obey Him. This is to respond to His infinite Holiness and Mercy!  Finally- we find our highest good in relating to Him through faith in Jesus and reverently doing His will in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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HANDBOOK FROM GOD- LEVITICUS

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BLESSINGS OF HOLINESS

The Book of Leviticus should remind us how often God had to repeat Himself to His people. Could it be that the people of Israel just didn’t understand what God meant when He said “Be Holy because I, Yahweh your God, am holy” (Lev. 19:2)? Believers today often have the same trouble. We know what it means to be “holy” unto the Lord. Leviticus 26 paints a plain picture for us to see and behold, yet for some of us we can’t seem to stay on track. Sin, we may rationalize, doesn’t “feel” bad but rather “good” while are engaged in act. We may believe just one more sin will not hurt us. Some even rely on the grace of God’s forgiveness, which is a topic apostle Paul vigorously discussed in Romans and Galatians. However, the way in which we respond to the Holy Spirit’s chastisement shows the true mettle of our Christianity. Will we repent and seek Christ’s forgiveness so that we may grow and experience the blessings of holiness or will we be stubborn and rebellious and harden our hearts? This lesson sets out three great truths, fruitfulness (how to live so that we walk in His Love), Yahweh’s presence (and the blessings that come with an intimate relationship with Him), and restoration (how to allow Yahweh to pick us back up off the floor once again, and make the fall a learning experience.)

Read Leviticus 26:3-10 Fruitfulness

Leviticus functions as a “handbook” for holiness for Israel. Chapter 26 deals with the common conduct of the nation of Israel. There is a two-pronged focus of the chapter- essentially “blessings and curses”, depending on the behavior of the supplicants. Considering first the blessings, verse 3 began with “If you follow My statutes…”. What was God’s blessings contingent upon?  (Keep my statutes but also faithfully observe my commands.)What follows this is an examination of the blessings which Yahweh promises the nation are bountiful harvest, supremacy in battle, and a crucial swelling of their numbers. Peace shall come to those who honor God, and none need to be afraid. The Lord will “have regard” for them and bounteously provide for their needs. Most significantly He will “walk among” them, and they will belong to each other. They will live securely in the land, enjoying the fruit of their labors.

The “shock value” of these first few verses is often lost on the Western conscience with the abundance of food to which we have access. In the ancient Near East, Israel and her neighbors were strongly dependent upon a yearly agricultural cycle.  This cycle included the grain harvest early in the summer months. If for any reason (drought, blight, or simply bad timing of rains) the cycle was thrown off, then often famine would be a threat. Famine brought death, disease, and destruction, and was often seen ultimately as punishment by Yahweh. We may also be surprised by how peculiar verse 6 sounds if we really think about it. We know that during biblical times wild, exotic animals inhabited Canaan, including lions and bears but God would remove them. Then reference to no sword passing through the land meant a metaphor peace. David had been told that there would always be war in his house (“the sword would never leave your house” 2 Sam. 12:10). However, this passage promises safety (no wars) if the nation would follow Yahweh’s law. So how could the Israelites go against Yahweh and refuse all of these blessings? These are the same type of decisions that we all face.

Read Leviticus 26:11-13 Presence

The wondrous presence of Yahweh promised in verses 11-13 gave Israel hope. It is very significant that He will “walk among” them, and they will belong to each other. The basis for the confident hope is given in verse 13. Imagine the joy of a slave set free. God took the children of Israel out of bitter slavery and gave them freedom and dignity. We, too, are set free when we accept Christ’s payment that redeems us from sin’s slavery. We no longer need to be bogged down in shame over our past sins. We can walk with dignity because God has forgiven us and forgotten our sin. But just as the Israelites were still in danger of returning to a slave mentality, we need to beware of the temptation to return to our former sinful pattern.

In verse 11, Yahweh says “I will place My residence among you”. This is easy to think back to the Garden of Eden when God was with Adam and Eve. A literal translation of the Hebrew in this verse would connote God “tabernacling” with men. In essence, Yahweh was saying that He would tabernacle with man and not reject the Israelites. The tabernacle was that special place where God and man had fellowship. Remember how God would come to the Israelites in a cloud to reaffirm Moses. It was a place where God determined to dwell among the His people as long as their sins were dealt with in the proper manner. What Yahweh desired for His people was that intimate fellowship that signified an ongoing, growing, loving relationship. Paul cited Leviticus 26:12 in 2 Corinthians 6:16 to connote believers as the living temple of God! Christians are that special, living holy temple that the Holy Spirit now inhabits. Yahweh extended to His people the possibility that if they followed the covenant and forsook rebellion in favor of obedience, then they could see the blessing of His presence. Of course, it ultimately would take the life of His Son, Jesus, to even make this possibility a reality. Humanity, it its fallen state, would not nor could not possess this continued reality of living with God’s presence except through the blessings of Yahweh. How does it impact you to know you have Someone in your life you will never lose? (There are a lot of feelings that come to mind—joy, confidence, hope, peace, security, etc.)

Read Leviticus 26:40-42, 45 Restoration

Verses 14-39 recount the consequences of living unholy lives, including the reversal of each aspect of fruitfulness highlighted in verses 3-10. However, God offers to return the blessings of holiness to those who seek restoration. The first step in restoration with God is to confess our sins before Him with a contrite heart. In our popular culture people often think that remorse is the same as repentance. Nothing theologically could be further from the truth biblically than such a false notion. The idea of remorse for some is nothing more than feeling sorry that one was caught in the act of sin. However, remorse does not carry with it the life changing idea of repentance- a turning away from sin and toward God for guidance. So God lays out some very strict guidelines for dealing with our sin.

These verses show what God meant when He said He is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among their enemies. God would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to Him. His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow. Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes over whelming, unless we can see that God’s purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. The hope we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11-12. “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.” To retain hope while we suffer shows we understand God’s merciful ways of retaining to His purpose.

The heart of Yahweh desires to restore His people. This is affirmed in 1 John 1:9 where God is pictured as “faithful” and “righteous” as well as forgiving of our sins. Verses 42, 45 picture this faithfulness of Yahweh, especially when He says that He will remember the covenant with their fathers whom He brought out of Egypt. This section is closed with God’s comment that “I am Yahweh”.

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ISAIAH-SUFFERING SERVANT

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ISAIAH 53:1-3 THE SUFFERING SERVANT

This is the fourth and most compelling of Isaiah’s servant songs (52:13- 53:13). It contains the clearest description of the suffering Christ –although Isaiah never uses the name Christ – it did not exist in human speech yet.  Isaiah begins with a sharp contrast: the Servant is valued by God, but rejected by man (52:13-15). Eager for a powerful ruler, God’s people see no beauty in the carpenter of Galilee, despite His good works (53:1-2). Despised by His own people Christ was a sufferer, not a conqueror (v. 3). His affliction might be seen as evidence of God’s displeasure, but His suffering actually is for us, that we might be healed by His wounds (blood). Time and time again, Isaiah calls the Messiah – the Suffering Servant.

Appearances are still deceiving. Let’s not look at a person’s cash, clothing or even their differences from us, but at their commitment and compassion. Probably, we all have heard the thought of how would we react if a man dressed in a long, torn robe with saddles and dirty feet came in our church before we knew that person was Jesus. The values that demonstrate human culture are far from the values held by God. What seems beautiful and majestic to most human beings has no attraction for God. The true beauty of Jesus was His willingness to suffer and the true majesty was in His humility. We need to concentrate on making ourselves beautiful – to God!

It is hard for me to understand why so many of the Jewish people have refused to accept Jesus with all of the Old Testament signs, prophecy, fulfilled promises, and proof that Jesus is the savior for which they were looking. It may be somewhat easier to understand how non-Jews (today or back in Jesus’ day), with little or no Old Testament knowledge have rejected Him. However, we must not misunderstand Jesus’ purpose. He came to save -not to rule or conqueror. Isaiah says it so clearly that He dies “for the transgression of My people”- yet so many of Isaiah’s people rejected Him and so many still do! Isaiah also believed strongly that the “Suffering Servant” would come for all- even Gentiles. Isaiah was so instrumental in setting the stage for the Gentiles to accept salvation.

This is the message we need to be prepared to tell everyone, in a gentle, loving way. No matter who “they” are or what their appearance, we need to show the love and humility of Jesus. He showed that love and humility in His life and in His death.

Prayer

As we praise your name, we seek your help, wisdom, healing, patience, love, mercy and grace. We thank you for your blessings each day and for the promise of eternal salvation if we but believe, confess and commit. We ask for the Holy Spirit to be present with us and to guide as we seek your will for our lives. Lord, help us to share your love with others and give us the humility to serve you.

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PROVERBS- A PERSON OTHERS NEED

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BECOMING A PERSON OTHERS NEED

The book of Proverbs gives us insight into character traits that benefit both us and those around us, especially those we care about. I can remember going to a Christian church with my mother and grandmother two blocks from where we lived in my hometown.  We also went to another Christian, small rural, church for a short time in another town, about 6 miles from my hometown, for about a year or so. My grandmother, as I remember, was always going to church and my mother and I would go with her. She was a God-fearing woman and helped me and my mother over many rough times, due to my mother’s divorce. After losing my grandmother to cancer, her influence remained with my mother and me.

In the first 24 chapters of Proverbs, Solomon weaved together basic lessons that served as an instruction manual for fathers to pass down to their children, particularly their sons.  He developed the instructions in Proverbs 6 around the theme of character development with regards to practicing financial prudence, developing a strong work ethic, dealing with people, and remaining sexually pure.

Read Proverbs 6:6-11 Work Diligently

Notice the down-to-earth quality of the advice in verses 6-11. In this day the so-called “work ethic” is often ridiculed and blamed for many of the ills of society. Those “hung up” on working hard and trying to achieve are regarded by many as the enemies of society where it is quite acceptable to be a consumer rather than a producer, a user instead of a creator. Here the busy little ant is cited as proper example for the lazy person. Watch her as she appears to scurry tirelessly to and fro, ceaselessly doing her work. The ant possessed a God-given wisdom on work diligently and effectively. She is laying in her stores for the rainy days ahead. Verses 9-11 are a wonderful observation about life. Here is the perfect proverb. It expresses a commonly-accepted truth and puts it in graphic, rememberable words. This particular gem of truth is that one does not have to set out deliberately to be trifling and no-account. All one has to do is fold one’s hands and let it happen. Life is a lot like gardening. You don’t have to plant weeds; all you have to do about them is nothing. They will take over. Inertia is a powerful negative force against which one must struggle.

Solomon took off the gloves with the accusing question, “How long?” This question implied something bad had been going on for too long, unless the “slacker” took decisive action immediately, judgment would fall. The slacker was challenged to learn from the ant. Solomon mimicked the lazy man by asking for a little sleep. The lazy man would rather escape reality and enjoy a little more slumber than face the world. Those last few moments of sleep are delicious; we savor them as we resist beginning another workday. But Proverbs warns against giving in to the temptation of laziness, of sleeping instead of working. Of course, this does not mean we never rest. God gave the Jews the Sabbath; a weekly day of rest and restoration. (So it is okay to take a Sunday afternoon nap.) Solomon is saying we should not rest when we should be working- especially for the Lord. The ant is used as an example because it utilizes its energy and resources economically. Solomon warned that laziness results in poverty. To what degree did this type of person bring benefit to those they cared about and others? (Probably zero!  In fact, they may have even caused harm to others.)

Read Proverbs 6:16-19 Demonstrate Integrity

Solomon’s instructions stated the demands of integrity in the negative. He is certainly indicating that integrity must be built continually. Few people decide to outright lie or cheat; instead, they find themselves taking shortcuts. These shortcuts lead to eroding our standards. Solomon provided a catalogue of negative actions and character traits that the Lord hates. Each of them targeted its victim for ruin, but they can return upon the troublemaker as well. Solomon was describing a concise and vivid description of the troublemaker. Notice the physical imagery of these vices. Five of them are associated with parts of the body: eyes, tongue, hands, heart and feet. The body itself is not evil, no part of it. The use one makes of it, however, is the critical issue. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit if we make it so, or it is a vile instrument if we choose to make it so. The last two of these “detestable” things describe those who break the bonds of confidence and loyalty by offering false testimony and stirring up trouble among brothers.

Arrogant eyes head Solomon’s list. These are eyes turned upward in arrogance rather than downward in humility. A lying tongue signifies a person who has no regard for the truth and displays aggressive deceit intended to harm others. The hands that shed innocent blood show a violent tendency of the troublemaker and display a lack of control over anger. (Note the use of “innocent”. A lot of blood was shed in the Old Testament due to war.) The heart resides at the center of the human anatomy and gives rise to all of a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual life. A heart that plots wicked schemes would drive the evil action of the person. Solomon puts together three words, “plots wicked schemes”, to heighten the nature of the heart’s propensity toward evil and indicates this person will bend the rules for personal gain at another’s expense. Then Solomon says a troublemaker will use their feet to run to evil, emphasizing this person’s zeal and enthusiasm to follow his inner compulsion as soon as possible.

Because a believer’s heart seeks to glorify Christ, their good works follow them. God has called us to demonstrate integrity as we live for Him. When we avoid these seven actions and traits, people will take note that we live as people of integrity. (There are times when I feel our quarterly leaves out some verses that are important for understanding the full contexts of a section. In searching several commentaries, I feel a need to read verses 6:20-22 before moving into our last section.)

Read Proverbs 6:23-27 Exhibit Purity

Verse 20 begins with a familiar address “My son”. This is followed by the usual admonition to follow the guidance of parents, giving a general promise of benefits of following such guidance. It is natural and good for children, as they grow toward adulthood, to become increasingly independent of their parents. Young adults, however, should take care not to turn a deaf ear to their parents- to neglect their advice just when it is needed most. Their years of experience may have given them the wisdom the young adult seeks. Solomon’s wisdom and advice that follows in verses 23-27 is also appropriate for us. Maybe Solomon in his wisdom sets this up to say that if a person falls into the problems described in verses 23-27, they are still like the young adult who needs to go to some older, wiser counsel also. They, too, need the command and teaching that the parental “light” provides for walking in wisdom. Solomon seems to be trumpeting the biblically based counsel of parents as sharing the function of God’s Word- who is the ultimate Father.

Look at the imagery of wisdom’s companionship: she will walk with you in the day, watch over you in the night when you sleep, and talk with you as a companion when you are awake. The specific warning of this passage is introduced at verse 24. Wisdom will be a shield for you against “the smooth tongue of the adventuress,” literally, the “strange woman”. One reading Proverbs will be impressed with the extensive treatment of the sin of sexual immorality, especially with another man’s wife. Remember that these teachings are directed to male youths. There the warnings are to young men as indicated in verses 20-22, rather than to both sexes, and are designed to caution the inexperienced young man against the wiles of an older married woman who is looking for sexual adventure with a young man. The emphatic teaching is that such sin may not be excused on the ground of temptation to give in to a physical need, but that the sin is folly, a folly that has dire consequences. Thus, “do not let her capture you with her eyelashes” is a graphic metaphor to describe the elaborately made-up temptress who has not only unveiled her face but made more alluring by the use of cosmetics (v. 25). The lustful looks of such a woman are most enticing to the inexperienced male, and this can be true for all men at times.

Verse 26 suggests that the adulteress is a woman more greatly to be feared than a prostitute whose motive is money. The prostitute does it for a loaf of bread, but the stakes are the life of the gullible youth who is ensnared by the sex-hungry adulteress. Retribution is inevitable, says the Proverbs. One does not carry fire in his arms without burning his clothes. Nobody escapes immorality’s consequences. The law of cause-and effect works rigorously here as does the law of sowing and reaping. Solomon offers us great instructions from his own failings.

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GOD’S BIG PICTURE

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THE BIG PICTURE

SO YOU THOUGHT BIBLE STORIES HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT!! FOLLOW THIS STORY FROM GENESIS AND SEE HOW GOD WORKS EVEN IN THE SMALLEST OF ISSUES.

We know that God is at work even in the midst of conflict. However, all conflict can feel like it is keeping us from more meaningful issues or activities. God can use whatever conflict we are facing though, to bring meaningful results to our lives. Sometimes resolution can be found in conflict where this resolution can lead us to a far stronger relationship with others. God can strengthen our faith and endurance through conflict. Today we will consider the favoritism, hatred and envy involved with the family of Jacob. The older sons of Jacob so hated Joseph that they wanted to kill him. You probably remember why Joseph’s brothers hated him so much, but turn to Genesis for a reminder.

Read Genesis 37:5-8

Jacob (Israel v.3) and his 12 sons lived in Canaan. Joseph was only 17 years old and worked with his brothers tending sheep. One occasion, he brought an unfavorable report concerning some of his brother’s behavior. We are also told that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph had been born to Jacob when he was in old age (v.3). Can you think of another reason Jacob may have favored Joseph? (Joseph was the first born by Rachel, who Jacob loved more than Leah.) This was part of the unwholesome environment in the family (v.3-4). One day Jacob gave Joseph a special multicolored robe. This all added up to this conflict between the other eleven brothers and added up to this conflict between the other eleven brothers and Joseph, but that was not all. Verse 5 tells us about Joseph’s dream and that he demonstrated immaturity by describing it to his brothers.

In Joseph’s day, everyone had a robe or cloak. Robes were used for warmth, to bundle up belongings for a trip, to wrap babies, to sit on, or even to serve as security for a loan. Most robes were knee length, short sleeved, and plain. In contrast, Joseph’s robe was probably of the kind worn by royalty- long sleeved, ankle length, and very colorful. The robe became a symbol of Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph, and it aggravated the already strained relations between Joseph and his brothers. Favoritism in families may be unavoidable by its divisive effects should be minimized. Parents may not be able to change their feelings toward a favorite child, but they can change their actions toward the others. (Remember the Smother’s Brothers?)

While Jacob’s favoritism with the robe was at the heart of the family’s disputes, Joseph’s dream and the way he handled it brought everything to a head. The brother’s hatred of Joseph grew because he delighted in telling them about his dream. The dream in verse 7 seems to telling his brothers that they needed to bow down to Joseph. Then Joseph had a second dream (v.9). In that dream, Joseph, said the sun, the moon, and 11 starts (catch the fact that there are 11 brothers) bowed down to him. Now even Jacob was incredulous and reprimanded Joseph. If we stop at this point and think about what was in store for Joseph, we realize what those dreams really mean. We also see God’s plans in those dreams. Clearly we know that all people have freedom of choice but everything that happened to Joseph by the hands of his brothers actually fulfilled these dreams that appear to be from God and led Joseph to be in position to save his whole family.

Read Genesis 37:26-28

Judah, who was Jacob’s fourth son and fourth by Leah, came up with a plan to make some money from Joseph’s “disappearance”!  It is difficult to determine if Judah just wanted to make money, sincerely wanted to prevent Joseph’s murder or he just wanted to satisfy his brother’s thirst for revenge with a lesser evil. Regardless, he saved Joseph’s life. As God’s plan unfolds, the buyers of Joseph, the Midianite traders, passed by the brother’s location. In previous verses 198-25, Reuben was the first to come to Joseph’s rescue. He convinced the others to put Joseph in a pit rather than to kill him. Reuben’s plan was to return later and get Joseph out of the pit so he would not die. Before Reuben could come back for Joseph, Judah’s plan was agreed to and Joseph was removed from the pit and sold for 20 pieces of silver. This began Joseph’s journey in Egypt.

Verse 28 uses two different words that appear to refer to the same group; Ishmaelites and MIdianites, but were they? However, it is likely that Ishmaelites designated the caravan as a whole; while Midianite referred to an ethnic group in the overall caravan. The Midianites had developed a connection to Potiphar, who was the captain of the palace guard for the Pharaoh of Egypt. So Joseph was re-sold to Potiphar and started a whole new chapter in his life. So even though this was not what the brothers had in main when they first thought to kill Joseph and toss him into one of the cisterns. The end result actually worked out well for them later. Joseph was alive and sold instead of being killed because the brothers developed a conscious about committing murder.  Sometimes we jump at a solution because it is the lesser of two evils but still is not the right action to take. When someone proposes a seemingly workable solution, first ask “is it right?”

Read Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph’s brothers thought they would never see him again. But God was in control of Joseph’s life and had other plans. A lot of things had happened from when Joseph first arrived in Egypt and when we find out Jacob had died.  Joseph’s position in Egypt again involved dreams. First he interpreted dreams of two prisoners to win back the approval of Pharaoh. Then Joseph understood Pharaoh’s dreams that forecast a seven year famine. This famine got Joseph and his family back together again. Joseph showed forgiveness and even love for his brothers. Joseph got the Pharaoh to settle his whole family in Goshen (43:15- 47:31).  This is where Jacob died.

Before his death, Jacob did two things. He insisted that Joseph promise not to bury him in Egypt. Jacob wanted to be buried in his homeland, in the burial ground at Hebron with his ancestors (47:29-31). Jacob also gathered his sons around him and gave to each a blessing before he dies. He showed great insight into the personal qualities of each of his sons. His words were indeed prophetic, but he also spoke of traits that had already shown up in each of their lives. What each of the sons would become could already be seen in what they were. Remember Jacob’s name had been changed by God to “Israel” (32:28). So what would the twelve sons establish? (The 12 Tribes of Israel.)

Now that Jacob was dead, the brothers feared revenge from Joseph. However, Jacob knew that Joseph had forgiven his brothers but had made the request that Joseph forgive his brothers (v.17) for the brother’s benefit. To the brother’s surprise, Joseph not only forgave them but assured them, offering to care for them and their families. Joseph’s forgiveness was complete. He demonstrated how God graciously accepts us even though we don’t deserve it. With all that Joseph went through, it shows he had great faith in God. Verse 19 asks the question “Am I in the place of God?”. This meant not only that God’s purpose prohibited Joseph from taking revenge but also that Joseph had neither the power not the right to interfere with God’s workings. Because God forgives us even when we have ignored or rejected him or think we have the right to take matters into our own hands, we should graciously forgive others.

THIS SET THE STAGE FOR MOSES’ GREAT STORY!

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REVELATION: PARANORMAL

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THE PARANORMAL

Young-Ha Kim, a South Korean writer, recently wrote that in the twenty-first century it is not uncommon for Korean C.E.O.’s to use fortune tellers and shamans to do their business. They use shamans who observe the shape of one’s eyes, nose, and foreheads to determine whether they will be reliable business partners. They hire fortune tellers to see whether business will be good or bad based on one’s birthday. Why? Because they believe that the occult gives them direction and insight to make wise business decisions. This author is extremely skeptical as we may be also. Many people are skeptical about occults because they don’t understand them. However, the paranormal is very common place in many circles today that many don’t see it as dangerous. Some Christians, it is reported, even read their horoscopes or get their palms read because they consider them harmless. The Bible doesn’t present them as harmless, because they encourage us to seek guidance apart from God. In the Book of Deuteronomy, God warns His people against horrific occult practices because they lead to death rather than life. Truth is found in God, and He gives us all the direction we need.

Read Deuteronomy 18:9-11

The Scriptures in this study are tough to read but they tell of “detestable customs” about which God gives strong warnings for the Israelites, and all of us today, to avoid. Moses uses this “detestable customs” phrase which is translated from the Hebrew word “toeboth” that means something abominable before God. This section is part of the “leadership laws” found in chapters 17-18. These chapters tell of God’s design for the leaders of Israel, namely, the laws of prophets, priests, judges and kings. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 focuses on the call for faithful priestly and prophetic leadership among the people. These leaders were vital to Israel’s well-being. Faithful priests led God’s people to understand their relationship with God (through teaching, sacrifice, and prayer) while prophets were “covenant enforcers”. In fact, it was when these leaders failed that Israel descended down into sin. So, faithful leadership was vital to the spiritual health of the people. The quality of their lives depended upon it.

But the temptation to stray from God and His ways was always with Israel. Moses proclaimed that Israel would be tempted to stray to the occult. Some define the occult as tapping into supernatural or mystical power. But this definition of the occult can be misleading. We need to remember that the Christian faith is, at its root, tapping into supernatural power- Jesus. The Spirit of God indwells those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, enabling them to live well before the Lord. So, the Christian faith is about tapping  into something other than the natural. The apostle Paul, for example, consistently spoke of what it means for a Christian to a “spiritual” person (1Cor. 15; Gal.6:1; Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:9). We should never forget that the Christian faith is living according to the supernatural power of God. Deuteronomy 18 depicts the occult as a practice of engaging pagan or demonic supernatural power that leads to death. So, the difference is that the occult is from Satan, which is a very different power than the power of God.

Moses mentioned eight occultic, detestable practices in verses 10-11. “No one among you is to” Sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire. We have read that the Phoenicians engaged inhuman sacrifice in or around the time described in Deuteronomy. The Old Testament records horrific child sacrifices (2 Kings 3:37; 16:3; 23:10). For pagans, human sacrificing was a way of talking about burning a sacrifice to their gods. Leviticus 20:2-5 reveals such practice to be absolutely abhorrent. The pagans did this to manipulate a god to act on one’s behalf, which is detestable. “Practicing divination” has to do with rituals or acts that are meant to tell the future or give omens. The Old Testament describes a number of rituals that could qualify as divination. In Lev. 19:26 it uses this language to describe witchcraft. The idea behind divination is to discover the mind, plan or will of a pagan god. To “Tell fortunes” in Hebrew has to do with  making something visible which was formerly unclear. Another way to translate the Hebrew word “me’onen” is “sorcery”, which may have to do with consulting the dead to find out about the future or about one’s fortune. This is similar to a “medium” who can or tries to speak with ghosts or the deceased to discover direction or insight for life. King Saul did just this in the witch of Endor story in 1 Samuel 28:3.

The goal of each of these practices, and the others mentioned by Moses, was to manipulate a god, a dead person, or events to one’s own favor. These practices were taught, learned, and passed on to the next generation. The threat for the people of God was so serious that Moses instructed the people to avoid at all costs such manipulative practices. They brought pain, not comfort; they brought confusion, not direction; they brought death, not life. In short, the occult promises something that it cannot provide, at least not for long.

Read Deuteronomy 18:12-14

An interesting point about Moses’ instruction is that he assumed these pagan practices, at least sometimes, worked. Just as the Egyptian sorcerers performed the same miraculous actions of Moses for the first three (Ex. 7:1-8:7) and the witch of Endor really did call up Samuel from the dead (1 Sam. 28), these practices apparently were effective. The Lord does not or did not forbid these practices because they did not work. The Lord forbade these practices because they turned Israel away from their God. God required Israel to be blameless. The language here indicates that Israel was to be spotless and pure. This is the same terminology used to describe a sacrificial animal fit to be offered to God. As Israel was blameless they did not die; in their sacrifice to the Lord they found life. Instead of following the occult practices that lead to death, as we see from the nations being driven out of the land (v.14). God calls His people to be blameless and discover life in Him, in His land, under His rule.

In the world today, all too often we flirt with danger and evil. While working at P&G I went to New Orleans many times to work with the Folgers plant. This is a beautiful city, rich in heritage, sights and sounds. It is filled with some of the best human culture, but it is also filled with the worst of human culture. We went to Bourbon Street for some very good places to eat, but were told to leave the street by 9:15 PM. So, we left no later than 8:45 PM. I did not experience any of the occult shops or other horrific shops and practices- but we were told they existed. We cannot flirt with disaster or evil. We must understand the occult and the lies it tells. Only Jesus gives the life and guidance that keeps us from the occult that is falsely advertises as okay.

There are some lasting truths from Deuteronomy 18:12-14:

  1. Occult practices falsely proclaim that guidance and direction comes from consulting the dead rather than from open and honest conversation with God.
  2. Occult practices falsely proclaim that analyzing the heavens can combat fear of the future rather than trusting in God and His Word.
  3. Occult practices falsely proclaim that we can manipulate God to do what we want through human sacrifice or other ritual acts when God has already proclaimed His plan to us and with us.
  4. When we die to self and sin, we discover life in God.

Read Deuteronomy 18:15-18

The Lord called Israel to complete devotion. He is the God of life (Deut. 30:15-16) and so the direction, help, guidance, and life for which Israel longed appeared in God alone. For this reason, God demanded that His people avoid any kind of occult practice, and He also commanded His prophets to speak only His Words. Verses 15-18 seem to shift abruptly from a focus on priests and occult practices to describing a prophet like Moses whom God would raise up. However, it is not as much of a change of subject as one might think. Most likely, many in the audience of Moses’ teaching wondered what they would do after their great leader was dead and gone. Who would hear God on their behalf? Who would pray for them as Moses had done? Would it be Joshua or Caleb? Who would lead them? Who would speak words of comfort, direction, or rebuke like Moses had?

Moses clearly outlined in verses 9-14 whom they should not go to for direction or leadership: those who practice the occult. But then he states howt the Lord told him to describe whom they should go to in the future: a prophet like Moses (vv.15-18). God would speak to His people through His appointed prophet. Prophets were not unique to Israel. Israel’s prophets were “covenant enforcers”, meaning God wanted His prophets to speak only what He gave them to speak. Through the prophets, God would call His people to obedience and faithfulness to His covenant relationship with them. Prophets rebuked Israel’s sinfulness, and reminded Israel that death and destruction would come if the people continued to stray from the Lord’s commands- which we know they did. God’s covenant with Israel was meant for life of the people and the good of the nation (Deut. 30:15). The covenant was a true blessing!

The problem with the Israel prophets is that they, like the people, had a tendency to abandon both God and His covenant. They were often faithless and practiced some of the detestable customs of the nations. The Book of Jeremiah testifies of the faithfulness of the prophets (14:11-14; 27:15). The Book of Lamentations reveals the sins of the prophets (2:9,14; 4:13). So, God tells Moses to record that He would raise up a prophet that they could believe (v.18). The text reveals a number of characteristics about this coming prophet: 1) The prophet would be raised up in the future (v.15); 2) He would mediate between God and Israel and pray for the people (vv. 16-17); 3) He would come from “among your own brothers” or that he would be an Israelite (v. 18);; 4) God would put His own words in this prophet (v.18);  5) The prophet would communicate every word that God gives him (v.18); and 6) The prophets’ words would carry the binding authority of God (v. 19), because this prophet would speak only the words of God and speak in God’s name.

Our study of Deuteronomy 18 reminds us that if we desire to overcome the occult, we must learn to read and engage Scripture. As we read the Bible, God opens our eyes to see the evil that can so easily entangle us. The Spirit of God leads us to God’s truth, so we can understand what is right and put away what is wrong. Our trust in Jesus must be greater than our trust in other things we believe provide ultimate security or happiness in life. We are to have the help of the Holy Spirit every day. How’s that for putting the trinity together?