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timewithgod.blog-city.com — March 2009
Deuteronomy 9 & 10 Sometimes The Truth Hurts
Moses knew that the Israelites required regular reminders that their pride would get them into trouble if left unchecked. Moses recalled three times when God exposed their unrighteousness. It's amazing, disturbing, and yet almost enco
Moses knew that the Israelites required regular reminders that their pride would get them into trouble if left unchecked. Moses recalled three times when God exposed their unrighteousness. It's amazing, disturbing, and yet almost encouraging to me to hear God say about His chosen people: "It is not because you are good; you are a stubborn people....You would not obey the Lord from the day you left Egypt until you arrived here!" God is bringing them out on a wing and a prayer, and yet they still can't simply trust and obey.
Moses had just been up on the mountain, not eating or drinking for 40 days. Then, upon coming back to the people and witnessing their sin, he threw himself to the ground in prayer for their sin for another 40 days. Such intercession! He did not base it on their own merit, but instead on them being God's possession, on God's promise to their ancestors, and on God's power being called into question by other nations, according to my commentary.
Verses 12 and 13 of chapter 10 seem to give us a big key to unlocking and sustaining our relationship with God --
Respect Him
Obey Him
Love Him
Serve Him.
And it is all to be done with our whole hearts, not with divided hearts. They hadn't done any of that, yet He still loved them. That means there's hope for all of us as well!
Father, please show me the things in my life that indicate a lack of respect for You, disobedience towards Your will for my life, a lack of love for You, or a failure to serve You as I should. I want to be near You, not written about someday as the Israelites were here.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 11 -- They Did Not SEE ....
I heard God's heart reaching out to all parents in this chapter, talking to us about what we've experienced with Him that our kids have not:"They did not see what He did .... They did not see what He did for you....They did not see what
I heard God's heart reaching out to all parents in this chapter, talking to us about what we've experienced with Him that our kids have not:
"They did not see what He did .... They did not see what He did for you....They did not see what He did.... It was you who saw these great things the Lord has done. So obey all the commands I am giving you today....Remember My words with your whole being. Write them down....Teach them well to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and walk by the road, when you lie down and when you get up .... If you are careful to obey every command I am giving you to follow, AND love the Lord your God, AND DO what He has told you to do, AND are loyal to Him, then...no one will be able to stop you."
Their kids weren't around when God pulled them out of slavery supernaturally. They didn't witness firsthand all the might things He'd done. They needed to hear about it -- regularly, so they would always be able to envision it all, so they could believe.
My boys weren't here when I dared to allow myself to think I knew better than God what was right for me. They hadn't yet been born when God, in His great love, gently drew me back and showed me more about Himself that I'd ever dreamed. They'd barely learned to walk when God began to tug at my heart about international adoption. They were blissfully unaware that God had brought me within hundreds of miles of them in order to speak to my heart strongly enough to insure that I'd not turn back. They had no clue that people they didn't know were filing papers to get them approved for international adoption at the same time that I was about to travel. And on those two separate days when God first pointed out their pictures to me, four and six years ago, they had no idea that He was sending me to them, and that they'd have a father when they'd never known one, OR that in a matter of months they'd say 'yes' to their Father as well.
They did not see all He'd done for them, so I must tell them often. I must remember with my whole being. I've also got to make sure that they hear about what He's been up to over the last several millennia as well. For I want them to know Him BETTER than I do. And I want to know Him more.
Father, all I can manage to say right now is 'thank You'. My heart is overwhelmed at how good You've been to me and to my sons. We choose blessing, Father.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 12 -- Don't Investigate....Just REJOICE!
Two things really caught my eye today. First, in instructing the Israelites about entering the Promised Land and destroying the inhabitants, God "solemnly warned them not to even investigate the idolatrous practices of the heathen, lest th
Two things really caught my eye today. First, in instructing the Israelites about entering the Promised Land and destroying the inhabitants, God "solemnly warned them not to even investigate the idolatrous practices of the heathen, lest they be tempted to introduce these wicked practices into the worship of the true God," according to my commentary. "In the NT, Paul tells us that the motivating force behind idolatry is demonic," it said.
God knows how easily we can gravitate to that stuff, so He doesn't just forbid us from worshiping idols. He also says not to even read or learn about them. He doesn't want us to get our curiosity stoked up about it. How I wish I'd caught this verse before a so-called friend started telling me about New Age stuff right after college. God is absolutely right on this. It makes me wonder about the wisdom of trying to learn about the Muslim faith, as I've seen several churches starting classes to help members "combat" attempts to spread Islam in America.
The second thing that caught my eye was about how they were to worship once they reached the Promised Land: "There rejoice before the Lord your God. EVERYONE should REJOICE.... EVERYONE must do this....REJOICE in the Lord your God's PRESENCE ABOUT the things you have worked for."
Rejoice, to me, means more than having a "rejoiceful smile" on your face.... more than sitting quietly with your rejoiceful smile, thinking that you are doing what's "appropriate". To me, "rejoice" sounds like exuberance -- the smile and warmth of coming home from a long trip and seeing family and friends again for the first time in a long time -- overflowing love and happiness fit the bill nicely, along with a sincere desire to express that love continually as we worship, regardless of the place or the format.
Father, guide us not to even be tempted to investigate other religions. Help us not to succumb to the temptation to learn about their ways, which can take us away from You. And help us to express great joy and continual love to YOU as we worship You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 13-15 When God Says 'No', It's LOVE
In chapter 13, God's commands almost sound barbaric today. But they are actually the kindest things He could say in the overall scheme of things. After all, He wants us to be near Him. His commands, when followed, lead to the be
In chapter 13, God's commands almost sound barbaric today. But they are actually the kindest things He could say in the overall scheme of things. After all, He wants us to be near Him. His commands, when followed, lead to the best life possible. Those who try to lead others away from Him will someday face stiff punishment.
To love Him with our whole being, we are told to serve only him, to respect Him, keep His commands, and obey Him.
In chapter 14, God says, "You are the children of the Lord your God ... You are holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. He has chosen you from all the people on earth to be His very own." He knows His creation well, and He created certain animals for certain purposes. Those purposes make them unfit to be consumed by us. HE knows on a molecular level what's going on -- things our scientists today can only guess at. Whereas we hear daily of new studies telling us what to eat or what to avoid, with one contradicting another regularly, God's wisdom is far above ours. He wants us to live healthy lives.
My commentary points out about chapter 15 that although God's ideal is that there be no poor people, in this world of sin there will always BE poor people, partly as punishment and partly to teach others compassion in sharing. God shows that those who give freely will be richly rewarded. Since He provides all that we have, giving freely Himself, He wants us to experience the joy He has in helping others.
Father, Your love for us is amazing. It's often best seen in the "nots" You include in Your word, for You want to keep us from giving ourselves enough rope to hang ourselves. It's difficult to imagine just what life would be like if we could and would keep all of Your commands. In loving You fully, we would be loving ourselves fully as well.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 16 & 17 -- God IN Government
It was amazing to see how God set up a system of civil order before the Israelites even entered the Promised Land, and how He anticipated the people's desire for a king 400 years before it happened. Unlike the American Revolution, the Israe
It was amazing to see how God set up a system of civil order before the Israelites even entered the Promised Land, and how He anticipated the people's desire for a king 400 years before it happened. Unlike the American Revolution, the Israelites were marching into a country under orders from God to defeat the inhabitants and rule the land. That's almost like what we see Russia doing in its history, only God wasn't their motivating force. It was basically greed.
Yet the early Americans wanted to set up a government based on the biblical principles we see here -- not so much the religious feasts as the moral order.
Their "Supreme Court" was probably more feared than ours. In verse 12, it says, "The person who does not show respect for the judge or priest who is there serving the Lord your God must be put to death.... Then everyone will hear about this and will be afraid, and they will not show disrespect anymore."
If their "Supreme Court" was due that much respect, then how much more should God be shown respect and not be disrespected??
Solomon should have seen his name written all over verses 14-20. They fit him so well. They are good words for choosing a leader, even today. According to my commentary, they say:
-- He must be the man of God's choice.
-- He must be an Israelite (in our case, an American)
-- He must not depend on natural means for victory over his foes.
-- He must not take the people back to a place of slavery from which they've already been freed
-- He must have only one wife, and she must worship and respect God also.
-- He must not let riches lure him away from dependence upon God.
-- He must write, read, and obey the law of the Lord, lest he become proud and willful
-- By continually spending time in the law, the king was to become a model for the people.
Every president, vice president, senator, representative, cabinet member, and judge should strive to adhere to these principles. What a nation we would have!
Father, I especially pray for our president today. Lead him to find these verse and to follow them to the letter. Give him wisdom beyond what he could ever hope to possess. Give him Your eyes to see with Your vision. Guide his hand to sign or veto laws according to Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 18-19 Satan Never Stops Trying
Verse 9-13 in chapter 18 could be coming right out of today's newspapers and movies. My commentary said:"Satanism, demons, and the occult are dark, sinister realities, not tricks. One of the signs that we are nearing the close of
Verse 9-13 in chapter 18 could be coming right out of today's newspapers and movies. My commentary said:
"Satanism, demons, and the occult are dark, sinister realities, not tricks. One of the signs that we are nearing the close of this age is the widespread interest in witchcraft, astrology, and other forms of the occult .... Thousands consult their horoscopes each day, attend séances, or seek to communicate with deceased loved ones. There's also a great interest in Satanism and demons. The Bible repeatedly warns against such practices."
Make no mistake about it. If you haven't heard of the New Age Movement, you will before long. Some twenty years ago, a "friend" sucked me into it, and it is incredibly tempting, offering so-called "enlightenment" and talking about hidden knowledge. They even talk about our Higher Self that we need to communicate with. How remarkable that they picked a name with the same initials as the Holy Spirit.
So many people see this as harmless entertainment, but it certainly drew me away from God for awhile, causing me to doubt His love for me. I am so very thankful that He drew me back to Himself, while I was still His enemy!
How I wish I'd seen verses 15-19 back then as well - a prediction about Christ.
Father, Satan really is a pimp. I hate that way he tempted me back then. I hate how far away from You I went. I hate the memories of those years. Most of all, I hate the fact that I lost years with YOU because of my own stupidity. Were I to live to be 100, I would not have enough time to learn about You the way I'd like. Draw me closer every day, and please act as a line of defense for others who might be deceived by Satan as I once was. Thank You for being my God!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 20-21 A Line Of Comfort
In giving the Israelite men instructions for war, Moses told them that God would be with them. "Don't lose your courage or be afraid. Don't panic or be frightened, because the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you aga
In giving the Israelite men instructions for war, Moses told them that God would be with them. "Don't lose your courage or be afraid. Don't panic or be frightened, because the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, and to save you."
In the sidebar to this chapter, it speaks of "a line of comfort" -- "You shall not be handed over to the men you fear." It comes from Jeremiah 39:17, when Jerusalem is about to be taken by the invading army. The sidebar continues, "What is the thing that you most fear and most earnestly pray about, the thing of all other things that you dread? If you love your Lord, and yet know your own weakness, is it not that something may happen to sweep you off your feet, or that your strength may be drained and you may yield and fall, and FAIL Him at the end?... Take comfort! God knows our hearts, too. He knows who the men are of whom we are afraid (what the forces of trail are); and He assures us and reassures us, "You shall not be handed over to the men you fear."
In the youth Bible study Sunday night, I saw a similar reminder from Psalm 103:
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him .... As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust."
Father, thank You for knowing my weaknesses, for understanding where I need to be most careful not to fail. Thank You for the promise and comfort of Jeremiah 39:17 and Psalm 103. Thank You for remembering that we are dust, and yet for treating us like gold through Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 22 -- More Than Just A Life Of "Thou Shalt Nots"
God warned the Israelites about being indifferent to what's going on around them. If a neighbor's animal was found wandering, they could not see it and only move on. They had a duty to return it or care for it until the owner came
God warned the Israelites about being indifferent to what's going on around them. If a neighbor's animal was found wandering, they could not see it and only move on. They had a duty to return it or care for it until the owner came for it. Verse 3 says, "Don't just ignore it." God holds us accountable for sins of omission.
Verse 8 mentioned a requirement for people to build a low wall around the flat roof of a house. People usually gathered on the roof, and failing to provide such a wall would be considered a sin of negligence.
My commentary says that the prohibitions in verse 9-11 may seem odd to us, but they had symbolic meanings. Verse 9 prohibits "adding to the pure Word of God". Verse 10 "describes the unequal yoke in service", and verse 11 "speaks of the mixture of righteousness and unrighteousness in the practical life of the believer."
I think they also speak of us not mixing our values with the world's values -- keeping spiritually pure.
Father, You call us to more than simply a life of "thou shalt nots". You call on us to serve others when we see a problem, rather than seeing it and failing to act. You also call us to take actions to prevent problems from ever cropping up, and in our practical, everyday living, You want us to keep our hearts and minds pure and fixed on You. These verses have added fresh legs to Your command to love You with all my heart, my soul, and my strength. Help me to always put this into practice.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 23 & 24 Your Timing, As Always, Is Impeccable, Father!
In the middle of all the rules and regulations, I've highlighted and underlined and starred several verses over the years:From 23:5, "....because the Lord your God loves you."From 23:14 "The Lord your God moves around through your
In the middle of all the rules and regulations, I've highlighted and underlined and starred several verses over the years:
From 23:5, "....because the Lord your God loves you."
From 23:14 "The Lord your God moves around through your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies for you, so the camp must be holy."
From 24:16, "Each person must die for his own sin." (except Jesus, who died for my sin)
I think I cry a tear every time I read the word "orphans" in these chapters, because there but by the grace of God would have been going my sons. Thank You, Father!
God, I was like an orphan, too; in my sin, I was separated from You and Fatherless. Yet You came in the midst of my spiritual poverty and lifted me up, dusted me off, and adopted ME. You showed Yourself to me in Your Word. And every time I hit the word "orphan", You tugged at my heart. Thank You so much for helping me to listen to Your proddings. Six years ago yesterday, Curt and I left America, in a time of war and disease, to go find Josh. Six years ago today, we set foot on Ukrainian soil for the second time, unaware of the tremendous gift You would give me in my son Josh. As I relive those days again each year at this time, I marvel at Your watchcare over me and the amazing plan You had all along to bring us together! You are truly an awesome and mighty God! Thanks for making me a father to the fatherless. Thanks for making Josh and Joseph my sons!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Deuteronomy 25 & 26 Facing Up To The Fact That We ARE Dust
We know that the Law was actually given to show man that it is impossible, due to our sinful nature, to keep all of the Law. Yet in chapter 26, during the third year offerings, each Israelite family was to go before the priest with an extra tit
We know that the Law was actually given to show man that it is impossible, due to our sinful nature, to keep all of the Law. Yet in chapter 26, during the third year offerings, each Israelite family was to go before the priest with an extra tithe and repeat a long "testimony" that included the following:
"I have done everything You commanded me; I have not broken Your commands, and I have not forgotten any of them .... I have obeyed You, the Lord my God, and have done everything You commanded me."
It is an absolute ideal which they should all strive to be able to honestly repeat, but due to our sin nature, no one has the ability to do that.
If a person came up to the priest and did state this testimony, then wouldn't he then be lying, thus adding ANOTHER sin to the list?
Moses went on with what God had directed him to say: "Today the Lord your God commands you to obey ALL these rules and laws; be careful to obey them with your whole being. Today you have said that the Lord is your God, and you have promised to do what He wants you to do -- to keep His rules, commands, and laws. You have said you WILL obey Him .... But you must obey His commands."
They must have felt like dirt as they came up 3 yrs later and had to say what God had directed, knowing it was a lie, knowing that there was no way they would ever BE able to say it with confidence. The self-hate surely became overbearing.
Father, I too feel that way at times, but You quickly respond in love, reminding me that I AM dust, that total obedience isn't possible in this life, and that's why I needed a Savior. Thank You for Your Son. Without His death for my sins, I would have no means of approaching You, for it is only through trusting in Him that, despite my sin, I am able to be seen by You as clean. His blood covered my sin for all time.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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