Idols

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 4-8

What comes to mind when you think of an idol? Perhaps you’ve visited archeological sites and seen how the ancients worshipped? Perhaps you’ve walked through museums and seen the religious symbols of different cultures throughout history? Perhaps it’s a golden statue from the Indiana Jones movies? Those kinds of idols are easy to spot. It’s much harder to discern the idols of our own lives. Technology. Money. Possessions. Positions. Idolatry comes all too easy for us. John Calvin was right when he wrote that our hearts are idol factories. We produce them at a relentless pace, as if they were on an assembly line.

We’re so prone to idolatry that we turn good things, even godly things, into ultimate things. Consider the nation of Israel. Under threat by their Philistine neighbors. Having been defeated once already in battle. Afraid of what might happen if they were defeated a second time. They called on their priests to bring them the ark of the Lord. Now we all know the ark of the Lord is sacred. It resided in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. The very place where the high priest met with God. It was perhaps the most important religious symbol in all of Israel. But at the end of the day, it was just a box. It held no power of its own. Carrying it into battle did nothing for Israel. Even though it was a good thing, it was not an ultimate thing. Even though it was a sacred thing, a godly thing, it was just a symbol. It was no substitute for God Himself.

Israel made the mistake of placing their trust in a gift rather than the Giver. They believed the ark “contained” God and if they just carried it with them in battle, they could not be defeated. But the heavens cannot contain God’s glory, much less this little box Israel carried around with them. And while it’s tempting to look down on Israel’s foolishness, how often do we make the same mistake? How often do we try to put God in box? How often do we try to control Him? Manipulate Him? Judge Him? Evaluate Him? Remake Him in our own image? I think of the number of people who’ve said to me over the years, “I could never believe in a God like that…(insert whatever quality you take issue with)” I think about the number of times I have said or thought something similar. But God is not bound to our ideas of Him. He is not bound to our understanding of Him. And every time we try to reduce Him down to size, we are engaged in idolatry. Every time we try to capture Him with our theological systems, we are in danger of misrepresenting Him. Placing our trust once again in ourselves rather than in God.

Towards the end of our reading for today, Samuel calls Israel to return to the Lord. He challenges them to put away all their false gods. He challenges them to worship God alone and not place their trust in idols, even if they are sacred objects. “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the Lord.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This same challenge remains for us today. To set our hearts on the Lord and worship Him alone.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 9-12

Dedication

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 1-3

Recently our church took a survey. One of the questions went something like this, “Are you willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord?” Not surprisingly, a smaller percentage of our congregation said, “Yes.” I had several people ask me about it later. Most of them took issue with the word “everything.” After all, “everything” could include their work, their home, their livelihood, their future, or their 401K. But those weren’t really the things that tripped people up. What really tripped people up was the idea that they might have to give up their children or their children’s future for the Lord. That’s the reason I heard over and over again as people answered “disagree” to that particular question and I get it. I really do. I have four kids myself. I love each of them fiercely. I want the best for them. I have worked hard to sacrifice so they can have all kinds of opportunities in life. The idea that I might have to give them up to the Lord is a foreign concept to me.

However, it wasn’t a foreign concept in Israel. The people of God loved their children as much or more than we do. They just understood God loved them more. They understood every child was a blessing from the Lord and therefore belonged to Him. Yes, we are entrusted with raising our children. Teaching our children. Protecting and providing for our children. But our children are from the Lord. They ultimately belong to Him which is why Hannah was able and willing to let go of Samuel. Her firstborn son. Her only child. With no guarantee she would get pregnant a second time. It’s an incredible act of faith. And the only reason she was able to find the courage to take this step is because of how much she trusted God. Listen to the words of her song again…

My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord.

My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you! 

And there is no rock like our God. Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him. 

The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength. 

Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more.

The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away. 

The Lord brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. 

The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. 

He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. 

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; he has set the world on them. 

He guards the steps  of his faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a person does not prevail by his own strength. 

Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; he will thunder in the heavens against them. 

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed. (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Hannah believed every word of her prayer which is why should could relinquish her son to the Lord. She knew God had a plan for her son’s life though she could not have known the great man and prophet he would become. She simply knew he would serve the Lord and she knew the Lord lifts up the humble and poor and powerless. When you think about it, everything Hannah prays about comes true in Samuel’s life. He becomes the greatest and wisest judge in Israel’s history. He is a great leader and warrior. He presides over a period of stability and prosperity. He anoints Saul and David as kings. None of that would be possible except for his mother’s deep faith.

So let’s ask the question again…are you willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord? Imagine what He could do with whatever you decide to entrust into His hands? Your future? Your finances? Your work? Your home? Your family? God wants it all. Not to take it from you but to do with it what you could never do. This is His promise to all who would give their lives to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 4-8

God’s Ways

Readings for today: Ruth 1-4

I love the book of Ruth. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of the most horrific circumstances, God is always at work. Even when things look dark and bleak, God’s light begins to shine through. The Book of Ruth takes place in the time of the judges. It doesn’t tell us which judge but we know from what we’ve just read this week that the “time of the judges” was a time of great hardship and suffering in Israel, most of it self-inflicted. The time of the judges was a time of great idolatry and sin in Israel. It was a time when terrible crimes were committed. Crimes against humanity and genocide. It was a time of hardship and pain and suffering as nation after nation attacked Israel and enslaved them. It was a time of political upheaval and uncertainty as leaders came and went. But even in the midst of the chaos, God was moving.

How was God moving? The way He always does…through human families. Elimelech marries Naomi. They have two boys named Mahlon and Chilion. Life is good until a famine hits their hometown. They move to another country. They settle in. The boys marry women. Elimelech dies. Mahlon and Chilion die. The women are left destitute. The famine ends. Naomi moves back home. One daughter-in-law stays in Moab, the other refuses to leave her side. The two women come back into town, hoping to find support from their extended family. Boaz enters the picture. A prominent man who was a relative of Elimelech. Ruth gleans in his fields. He notices her. Protects her. Provides for her. Marries her. They have a son named Obed.

It all seems so mundane. So ordinary. And it is. Because that’s how God works. Behind the scenes. Under the surface. Often in ways we cannot see or understand. Naomi and Ruth had no idea when they returned to Bethlehem what God had in store for them. Boaz had no idea as he threshed his grain what God had in store for him. Boaz and Ruth had no idea what God had in store for their son, Obed. I imagine Obed and Jesse and even David himself had no idea what God had in store for them. They were simply living life. Managing their day to day. Never knowing what part they had to play in the great salvation plan of God.

God is still moving, friends. Amidst all the chaos and hardship and suffering and pain and injustice and violence in our world. It’s easy to lose hope when we watch the news or scroll through social media. But the Lord is present, as He always is. He is working through regular, ordinary people like you and me. He is working through our families. Working in our lives. Working right alongside us as we manage our day to day. We may never know the part we have to play in the great salvation plan of God but God does! And God will make sure to bring to completion the work He’s begun in and through us.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Raw

Readings for today: Judges 19-21

Today’s reading is one of the most horrifying in all of Scripture. A woman is raped to death. Her body cut into pieces. A war ensues. Tens of thousands are killed. An entire tribe is put at risk. More violence ensues. Women are captured and forced into marriages. It’s brutal. It’s terrible. And none of it is from the Lord.

This is honestly what I find most compelling about the Bible. It is raw. It is real. It never tries to sugarcoat or whitewash the depravity of humanity. The reality is human beings are capable of all kinds of evil. We are capable of all kinds of violence. We are capable of all kinds of exploitation and oppression and injustice. Our history is replete with example after example. Just watch the news and you will see it. Pay attention to what’s happening in the world today and you will witness it. For all the scientific and technological advances we’ve made as a species, we have made so little progress morally and ethically.

What is our fundamental problem? I think the last verse of Judges sums it up well. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.” (Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Everyone did what seemed right to them. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Everyone looked out for themselves and no one else. The disease that afflicts every human heart is selfishness. We privilege ourselves above everyone and everything else. Taken to an extreme, we will engage in all kinds of violence in order to preserve what we believe is rightfully ours. The Levite believed his concubine was worth sacrificing for his own life. The people of Israel believed the tribe of Benjamin was worth sacrificing for their national pride and honor. When the conflict came to an end and they realized what they had done, they believed the women were expendable as they sold them to the men who were left of the tribe of Benjamin. This is what happens when there is no king in Israel. When there is no authority in Israel. When there is no God in Israel.

What about us? What about our communities and our towns and our cities and our nation today? Is there a righteous authority? Do we honor God? Are there godly men and women in positions of leadership? Or is everyone doing what is right in their own eyes? Is it every person out for themselves? How do you live your life? How do I live mine? These are great questions to ask and the only way to avoid going down the road Israel found herself on is to submit yourself to God.

Readings for tomorrow: Ruth 1-4

Imperfection

Readings for today: Judges 14-18

I grew up in church. Sunday school every weekend. Learning the Bible stories via flannel board. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Noah on his ark. Moses parting the Red Sea. Joshua and the battle of Jericho. One of my favorites was Samson. For a young boy, what’s not to like? Strength. Power. One man winning victory after victory culminating in a final heroic act of self-sacrifice where Samson literally brings the roof down on his enemies!  

As I got older, I began to learn about all the stuff my Sunday school teachers left out. Adam and Eve’s rebellion and descent into sin. Noah and his family being saved but at an incredible cost. Moses parting the Red Sea but often getting into violent clashes with others that would end in entire families being wiped out. Joshua devoting entire cities to destruction. And Samson. Morally compromised. Selfish. Immature. A man who seemed to use his God-given gifts for his own gain and self-gratification. What are we to make of such unlikely heroes? Men and women who are subsequently enshrined in the great “Hall of Fame” of faith in Hebrews 11? 

First and foremost, we are to see them as they are...not as we wish them to be. They are just ordinary men and women. Sinners just like us. People whom God chooses to use despite their imperfections. This is one of the best arguments for the trustworthiness of Scripture, by the way. It paints an honest picture of God’s chosen people. Putting their weaknesses on display right alongside their strengths. Compare that to the sacred writings of other major world religions where heroes are whitewashed to perfection.  

Second, we look beyond them to the true source of their strength. The true source of their wisdom. The true source of their miracles and great victories. It is the Spirit of the Lord that rushes on Samson and gives him the ability to tear a lion apart. Kill a bunch of Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Trap and tie torches to hundreds of foxes. Tear off a city gate. Bring an entire building down around him. This is not Samson’s doing. It has very little to do with the length of his hair. Keeping the Nazarite vow was a sign of his devotion and dedication to the Lord, the true source of his strength. When he treated his vow casually by allowing his wife to nag him to death, his strength left him. Again, not because he cut his hair but because in so doing, he despised the Lord.

Finally, the entire book of Judges is meant to lead us to a sense of holy despair. Each judge seems less and less capable of leading well. They are increasingly morally compromised. They increasingly lose sight of God. They increasingly abandon the ways of the Lord and following their own paths. In fact, the city of Dan - a major city in the Northern Kingdom of Israel - will continue to be a city known for its idolatry. Jeroboam will put one of his golden calves here in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. So what begins with violence and idolatry by the tribe of Dan will continue until the day God sends the Assyrians to wipe out the northern kingdom altogether. 

The goal of Judges is to teach us yet again of our desperate need for God. Over and over again, the same narrative is reinforced. Humanity is helpless to save themselves. From Adam and Eve to the Great Flood. From Noah to the Tower of Babel. From Abraham to slavery in Egypt. From Moses to the end of Judges. With each generation, humanity’s inhumanity only grows and becomes more pervasive. And we would be lost except for God. He continues to pursue us. He continues to reach out to us. He continues to be faithful even in the face of our unfaithfulness.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 19-21

Devolution

Readings for today: Judges 10-13

If I had to sum up the Book of Judges with a word, it would be “devolution.” A downward descent. Order to chaos. Degeneration. A move from higher levels of understanding of God and identity and community to lower levels. We see it all over the place. The conflict between different tribes of Israel that result in terrible violence like the killing of the Ephraimites. The terrible vow taken by Jephthah that results in the sacrifice of his daughter. The continual evil and idolatry Israel engages in that brings them under judgment. Perhaps the best indicator that things are headed downhill is the statement Jephthah makes in Judges 11:24 CSB, “Isn’t it true that you can have whatever your god Chemosh conquers for you, and we can have whatever the Lord our God conquers for us?”

Why is this statement so wrong? It reduces Yahweh to the level of a tribal god. It treats Yahweh as the equal of the pagan gods like Chemosh or Baal or Molech. It makes Israel just another warring tribe in a land of warring tribes. They are devolving from their place as God’s chosen people. God’s holy nation. God’s treasured possession and instead, embracing a pagan understanding of God. No, it is not true that the Ammonites can have whatever Chemosh conquers for them and Israel can have whatever the Lord conquers for them. The conquest of the Promised Land is not a battle between equal and opposing divine powers. It is not a contest to see which god is greater. God is already great. He has no rival. He has no equal. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Yahweh reigns supreme over all the other false gods in the world. And it is Israel’s continued failure to grasp and understand this fundamental truth that gets them into trouble over and over again. It’s why they have seasons where they choose to worship the Baal’s and Ashtoreth’s and the gods of the various tribes around them. They lose sight of the true nature and glory and majesty and splendor of Yahweh. They forget their history and how Yahweh proved Himself more powerful than all the gods of Egypt. They fail to pass on the many, many stories of God’s deliverance over the generations. As a result, their knowledge of God diminishes over time, leading to all kinds of pain and suffering.

We are no different. It is just as easy for us to “devolve” in our understanding of God. Especially if we neglect the very means He has given us to get to know Him. When we neglect the disciplines of prayer and meditation on Scripture, corporate worship with our church family, sacrificial service in the Lord’s name, and sharing our faith with others; we too can fall into disbelief and idolatry. We too can begin to remake God in our own image. Reducing Him to terms we can understand or control. Calling on Him to bless our plans, our purposes, our lives instead of laying all that we are and all that we have before Him. God is not our co-pilot. God is not our boyfriend. God is not a cosmic bellhop, always at our beck and call. God is not a first responder, there for us in case of emergency. God is God. He reigns and rules supreme over all He has made. He is sovereignly at work in our lives even now, bringing about His purposes and will, whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not. The sooner we surrender to Him, the better. The sooner we submit to Him, the more our lives will be filled with purpose and power. The sooner we give our lives to Him, the more we will receive in return.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 14-18

Trust

Readings for today: Judges 6-9

I love the story of Gideon. He reminds me of me so much of the time. How many times over the course of my life has the Lord come to me? Spoken to me? Reached out to me? Reminded me He is with me? And what is my typical response? Why has all this happened to me? Why have all these bad things taken place? Where are all Your signs and wonders, Lord? Why haven’t you delivered me or my family or Your people from injustice, oppression, and the power of sin in this world? Why do you allow young people to harm themselves? Why do my friends lose jobs and livelihoods? Why do those I love and serve get cancer? Why do women I know suffer abuse? Why do immigrants I know find it almost impossible to navigate the visa process? Why do pastoral colleagues of mine find themselves battling depression and despair? Why do church planters I know around the world get imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and even killed for their faith? I ask these questions a lot in prayer which is why I resonate to how Gideon responds to the Lord. “Please, my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” (Judges 6:13 CSB)

And what is the Lord’s answer? Almost every single time? “I am sending you.” You are My instrument. You are My servant. You are the one I have chosen to preach good news to the poor, release for the captives, and deliverance for the oppressed. You are the one I am sending to proclaim the gospel to those who have never heard. You are the one I am calling to fight injustice and raise up a banner for righteousness and take a stand for the truth in this world. “The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” (Judges 6:14 CSB) Be careful what you ask for! Be careful what you complain about! God may just choose you like He chose Gideon and like He has chosen me. The great news, of course, is that we don’t go alone. God had already promised to be with Gideon. I have always found that those whom God calls, God equips. He doesn’t send us out without the resources we need to accomplish His plans for us.

However, just like Gideon, I like to make excuses. The reality is I don’t want this responsibility. I want someone else to shoulder the burden. I want someone else to lead the charge. “Gideon said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” (Judges 6:15 CSB) But once the Lord has spoken, the issue is settled. God doesn’t always choose the strongest, wealthiest, or most powerful and influential. He doesn’t look on the outward appearance but on the heart. Your station in life doesn’t matter. Your caste doesn’t matter. Your education doesn’t matter. Your native ability doesn’t matter. All that matters is your obedience. Your willingness to go when and where the Lord sends.

Here’s the truth of the matter. God’s presence is more than enough to overcome every obstacle. God’s presence is more than enough to break down every barrier. God’s presence is more than enough to tear down every dividing wall of hostility that prevents us from accomplishing His goal for our lives and for our world. Our job is to simply believe Him. Our job is simply to trust Him. Like Abraham, we must be fully confident God is able to deliver on what He promises. “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.” (Judges 6:16 CSB) So the only question you or I have to answer is NOT am I strong enough? Am I smart enough? Am I powerful enough? Am I wise enough? Am I good enough? None of those things matter. The only question we need to answer is this…do we trust God?

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 10-13

Leadership

Readings for today: Judges 2-5

One cannot overstate the importance of leadership. Specifically, godly leadership. Leaders who seek the mind and heart of Christ. Leaders who seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Leaders who put God first, others second, and themselves third. Leaders who are humble yet bold. Meek yet strong. Peaceful yet not afraid to take action. When an organization or community or a church has such leaders in abundance, they thrive. When they lack such leaders, they struggle. I’ve been in leadership in churches and Christian organizations for almost thirty years now and have seen the impact of godly leadership - or the lack thereof - firsthand.

The Book of Judges is a test case for leadership. When a godly judge is raised up to lead God’s people - Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, etc. - they thrive. They throw off the yoke of their oppressors. They defeat their enemies. They achieve peace in the land for many decades. When these godly leaders die with no one to replace them, God’s people suffer. They are defeated in battle. They are conquered and enslaved by their enemies. They turn to all kinds of sin and idolatry. God Himself promised this would happen. “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate  ways.” (Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬, ‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB)

This same dynamic holds true for us today. We see it in politics, business, schools, churches, basically any organization where people gather to accomplish something together. If there is strong, godly leadership, the plan almost always succeeds. If there is weak or no leadership, the plan often fails. All of us are leaders in our own way. It could be in our homes. In our extended families. At school or at work. In our community or church. One of the biggest lessons we can learn from the Book of Judges is how to be a godly leader and make an impact for the Kingdom in our sphere of influence.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 6-9

Forgotten

Readings for today: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1

“Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.” - Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf.

When I was young, I dreamed big dreams. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to be recognized and acknowledged. I wanted to win awards. It could be at school. It could be on the athletic field. It could be in the community. Whatever I did, I did it for the reward. I did it for the medals and trophies. I did it for the accolades that came my way from my parents, friends, and other people in my life. Sadly, I carried this same attitude over into my life as a Christian. Yes, Jesus changed my life in college but this part of me remained. So I worked hard to be the “best” Christian. I wanted to be recognized for my devotion and sacrifice. I wanted other people to know how committed I was to the Lord. I wanted the ministries I served to thrive. I wanted the churches I served to grow. I worked hard to achieve great things for God. I began to burn out. I had a spectacular ministry failure. My reputation was shot. The life I had worked so hard to build came crashing down around me.

God met me in the wreckage of my life. He met me and He reminded me that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Every blessing. Every achievement. Every success. All of it is grace. It is unearned. It is undeserved. He met me and He challenged me to recalibrate my thinking. Reorder my priorities. Instead of working so hard to prove myself to everyone, He challenged me to walk in humility. He challenged me to take the place of a servant. In short, He challenged me to become like Jesus.

Joshua, of which the name “Jesus” is the Greek transliteration, was a great military leader. Perhaps the greatest military leader Israel has ever known aside from David. He led Israel well after Moses. He led them to victory after victory on the battle field. Under his leadership, they conquered the Promised Land. They took hold of the inheritance God promised. They established themselves as a geo-political force in the ancient near east. It would have been tempting for Joshua to look back on all he accomplished and take credit. It would have been tempting for Joshua to look back at all that had transpired and look for a little recognition. As he recited all that had happened to Israel since Egypt, he could have promoted his own role in the process. But that’s not what happened. Joshua gives all the glory to God. Joshua acknowledges it is God who has accomplished these things. He was just an instrument. He was simply a vessel. A link in a much larger chain that will lead one day to his namesake, Jesus.

You and I are just links in a chain as well. This doesn’t diminish us or our contributions in any way but it does put them in proper perspective. The goal of the Christian life is not to be known. It’s not to be remembered. It’s not to be recognized. It’s to give glory and honor to God. My hope and prayer at the end of my career and the end of my life is that the name of “Doug Resler” will be long forgotten but the name of Jesus will be known by my children and children’s children. By the people I loved and served. By the people I met in faraway places who had never heard the name of Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Witness

Readings for today: Joshua 19-22

What does it mean to be a witness? And what are we “witnessing” to? For the tribes of Israel, the altar by the Jordan was built to remind them they were all part of one large family. Deeply connected by their common kinship with Abraham but also their covenant with God Himself. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were concerned that future generations might forget this connection and start to see the Jordan River as the boundary between God’s people and the rest of the world. They didn’t want to be left out so before they crossed the Jordan to take possession of their inheritance, they built a monument of “imposing size.” Not for burnt offerings. Not for sacrifices. But a witness to all of Israel that they were one people under Yahweh. Every time an Israelite would pass by the monument, it would “witness” to their shared history and deep connection. 

In the Book of Acts, Jesus calls us “His witnesses.” We are witnesses in our neighborhoods, cities, nations, and to the very ends of the earth. In this way, we are living memorials to all God has done. We are living monuments to a shared history. A common heritage. The deep connection we share as God’s chosen people. We “witness” to the glory and goodness of God. We “witness” to the unity we share as the family of God. Anytime someone “passes us by” or interacts with us on any level, they should leave having “witnessed” the mercy and grace of God and having felt the deep love we have for one another.

Ultimately, the Bible itself is the pre-eminent witness. I love what Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” The only reason we know this statement is true is because we have an accurate record of what took place. This is why we read the Old Testament. Within its pages, God “witnesses” to us over and over again of His great faithfulness and love. Even in the face of our sin. Even in the face of our rebellion. Even in the face of our evil. Even in the face of all our brokenness, God pursues us. God relentlessly chases us. God never lets us go.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1

Choices

Readings for today: Joshua 15-18

God’s promises are always sure. Always true. Always good. In the Book of Joshua, God makes it clear that His great desire is for His people to dwell secure in the land He had promised them. At the same time, God’s people are not perfect. They are not faithful. They are not whole-hearted in their devotion. Their strength fails. Their resolve weakens. Their obedience is not complete. The result is an incomplete conquest. A delay in the fulfillment of God’s promise. Does this mean God has failed? Absolutely not! It means God has remained true to Himself. True to His plan and purpose for the world. True to the creature He first made in His image.

In the beginning, God gave human beings dominion over all He had made. We were created to work the “garden” that is this world. We were created to cultivate and help it flourish. We were entrusted with this responsibility. We were given agency so we might freely choose to serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. We were given a will that was free which means our choices are real and result in real-life consequences. So when human beings in places like Israel and Gaza fail to resolve ancient tribal differences, it breaks out into open war. When human beings conduct experiments with dangerous pathogens, it breaks out in deadly pandemics. When human beings live beyond their means in unsustainable ways, it disproportionately impacts the global poor. When human beings funnel money intended for national development into their personal coffers, it destroys families and lives for generations.

Israel was entrusted with the Promised Land. Each tribe allotted a specific portion by lot. They were to conquer that territory and drive out the pagan inhabitants. But Israel failed in her mission. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to fully subdue the land. They allowed certain Canaanite tribes to co-exist. And even though they forced them to do hard labor, they were setting the stage for future uprisings and conflict. From this point forward, Israel would struggle to remain faithful to God. Struggle to resist the temptation to worship other gods. Struggle to maintain their control over the land. Struggle to rest in the promise of God. Again, this is not because God somehow failed. Not at all! It is Israel who failed to remain faithful thus setting a pattern for generations to come.

You and I are no different. Created in God’s image. Given dominion over all God has entrusted into our hands. Our time. Our talent. Our treasure. Our influence. How are we stewarding all God has given us? How are we laying hold of the promise of God for today? How are we walking in obedience even in the midst of our current cultural crises? The choices we make in this cultural moment carry real consequences for good or for ill. The agency we exercise is real as is the responsibility we bear for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and the human race as a whole. What tone are we setting for future generations? What legacy are we leaving to our children and grandchildren? When they look back at this moment in history, what will they say? Will they see Christians responding with faith over fear? Peace amidst all the anxiety? Grace in the face of all the outrage and judgment? Sacrificial love in a world full of selfishness and greed? You and I will be held personally and corporately responsible for how we respond in this moment. May we respond like Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 19-22

Inheritance

Readings for today: Joshua 11-14

I remember sitting in a class at the University of Colorado and discussing anthropology with our professor. The history of Homo Sapiens is a violent one. From the moment our ancestors began to populate the earth, they engaged in all kinds of warfare, especially with other hominid species. Some historians argue that violence and conflict is an intrinsic part of being human and there are very few periods in history where we haven’t been at war with someone, somewhere around the world. Perhaps this helps put into context our readings for today.

Israel, like every other tribal nation in the ancient near east, fought wars. They fought to establish themselves in the Promised Land. They fought to secure a future for themselves and their children. They fought to accumulate land and wealth and resources. They fought to secure the inheritance God had promised them. This is what every tribe did in the region at that time. It was either kill or be killed. It was a war fought for survival. In fact, many of the tribes listed in the Book of Joshua would return the favor and attack Israel at different points in her history. And while it may seem strange to us in the 21st century, it is the norm throughout human history.

God works through human culture. You’ve read those words time and time again on this blog. God refuses to work apart from the creatures He made in His own image. He refuses to revoke the mandate He gave us at creation to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all He has made. He refuses to absolve us of our responsibility to act as His chosen instruments in the world. At the same time, He will not override our freedom. He will not force Himself on us nor will He coerce us into doing His bidding. He works through even our bad choices, sinful choices, evil choices to make Himself known. He works through our brokenness and corruption to make His will known. So even as Israel invades the Promised Land and puts entire cities and tribal groups to the sword, God is at work. Does it mean He approves of everything they do? Clearly not. But God is capable of using all things - the good, bad, and ugly - to bring about His sovereign purposes.

We still live in a world at war. Conflict rages all over the globe. Gaza. Ukraine. Azerbaijan. Turkey. Syria. The list goes on and on. There seemingly is no end to the violence. Man’s inhumanity towards man knows no boundaries. It is perhaps comforting to remember that God is at work even when we cannot see Him. He is at work even when we cannot hear Him. He is at work even when we cannot understand His plan or purposes. He is bringing His Kingdom to earth. He will set all things right. He will make all things new. And we will receive the inheritance He has stored up for us in heaven.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 15-18

Collective Grace

Readings for today: Joshua 7-10

Today’s reading is a tough one. Ancient near east justice was often brutal and terrifying and impacted more than just the individual who committed the crime. Achan broke faith with God. He took items dedicated to the Lord and hid them in his tent for personal gain. This was not just stealing, it was sacrilege. Taking what is holy and desecrating it. Notice the play on words in this passage. Devoting the spoils of war to destruction typically meant burning them in a great bonfire as an offering to the Lord. However, Achan kept some of the devoted things for himself therefore the anger of the Lord “burned” against the people of Israel. Furthermore, once the sin was discovered, they took Achan and his family and all his possessions and “burned them with fire” in the valley of Achor.

There’s another aspect to ancient near east justice that troubles us…the idea of collective guilt. Achan sins by taking some of the devoted things but the Lord’s anger burns against the people of Israel. Thirty-six men die in the ensuing attack on Ai as God withdraws His protective hand in judgment. Many more are probably wounded in the assault as well. So much grief. So much pain. So much suffering. All because of one man’s sin. And God makes it very clear He holds Israel responsible for what Achan has done. “Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart.” (Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Why did God not just kill off Achan? Why did He punish all of Israel for one individual’s transgression? How in the world can this be fair?

Once again, we come face to face with cultural distance. We have been raised in a modern, western context which elevates the individual above the community. We think of ourselves as independent agents first and members of a community second. When a person sins or commits a crime, they do the time. They pay the price. They suffer the consequences. Not their family. Not their community. Not the people they are connected to unless they were active accomplices. The ancient near east was a much different world. The people of Israel held a collective identity. They understood themselves to be members of a community first and individuals second. They saw themselves as intrinsically connected to each other so when one person sinned, all were culpable. All had a share in the guilt. All were accomplices in allowing such a thing to take place.

While we may not like the idea of “collective guilt”, we love the idea of “collective grace.” We recognize we are not just individuals with a personal relationship with God but members of a collective body called the church. So what we say and do impacts those around us. Our individual sin creates a ripple effect in the community that does have consequences. We are our brother and sister’s keeper. We are responsible one for another. We are held accountable by God on some level for the way we contribute to the overall health and well-being of those around us whether it is in our families, among our friends, in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities. Our actions or lack of actions matter to God and they make a significant difference in the world. Thankfully, God doesn’t just judge us collectively. He redeems us collectively as well. 1 John 2:2 says, “Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” Thanks be to God for collective grace!

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 11-14

Dependence

Readings for today: Joshua 3-6

I used to read these stories and marvel at the men and women of faith. I would marvel at their deeds. I would marvel at the miracles they performed. I would marvel at the things they accomplished. I’ve been to the Jordan River valley and cannot imagine watching it part. I’ve stood on the walls of Jericho and cannot imagine watching them fall. I’ve stood on the plain where Israel camped before going into the Promised Land and can’t imagine what it must have felt like to celebrate Passover with the Promised Land in sight. Here’s the biggest thing I learned from those experiences. God is the primary actor in these stories. God is the hero not Joshua. Not Caleb. Not even Moses. He is the one performing all the miracles. He divided the Jordan River. He brought the manna from heaven. He brought down the walls of Jericho. Israel did none of these things. They were simply the witness. They were simply the bystanders. Yes, God worked in and through them but it was all for His glory.

What marked Joshua as a leader? It was the same thing that marked Moses. He depended on God. He was obedient to God’s commands. He followed what God said and lived his life for God’s glory. He doesn’t try to assert his own authority. He doesn’t use his position to enrich himself. You never get the sense that Joshua has any agenda but the Lord’s and God honors him as a result. “On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.” (Joshua‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬) It’s a powerful reminder to us all that we are to live for the Lord alone. We are to seek His will above our own. We are to humble ourselves before Him and submit to Him and follow His commands all the days of our life. This is what it means to depend on God. And we do this not to earn His favor. Not to earn His love. Not to earn our salvation. Not for any of the eschatological blessings God has to offer but simply because God is worthy. He is worthy of all our praise. He is worthy of all our devotion. He is worthy of our allegiance.

This maps out in a lot of different ways in my own life. First and foremost, it means I spend time in worship. Daily in my devotional time. Weekly when I gather with God’s people. Making worship my first priority reminds me constantly of my need to depend on God. Second, it means I serve my wife and children and extended family. I put their needs above my own. I make time for them. I try to be fully present for them. I pray for them. This is not easy as my natural selfishness gets in the way. Third, it means I dedicate time and energy and effort to serving my church family. I give them my best effort. I don’t count the hours. I make myself available to them whenever the need may arise. Finally, I focus on myself. I take care of myself. I take a Sabbath every week. I get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I eat healthy. I exercise. I stretch myself intellectually. I work on myself emotionally. I want to be as healthy as possible so the Lord can use me as His instrument. This is what it means to live a life of dependence on God for me. What does it look like for you?

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 7-10

Springtime

Readings for today: Joshua 1-2, Psalms 105

It’s springtime in the Rockies. And that means wild temperature swings. One day it’s sixty or seventy degrees and the next it’s snowing. One evening I’m sitting on my back porch and the next I’m bundled up in my house next to a fire. It’s like nature itself can’t figure out which way to go or what time it is or what it wants to do. We’ve sprung forward at this point and that means more sunlight in evening. The days are getting longer as winter begins to recede. But we still aren’t quite there yet.

Winter is not all bad, of course. Despite appearances, winter is not a “dead time.” It is simply a time where life goes dormant for a while. Trees that may look dead on the outside are churning on the inside as life gets ready to burst forth again. I think the same is true for us. We all have periods of dormancy spiritually. Dry seasons where we struggle to taste the Living Water and eat the Bread of Life. Sometimes we feel like we’re wandering in the wilderness and the journey can feel lonely and hard. But I have always found that if I walk by faith, these “winter” seasons pass and eventually give way to a new and beautiful spring.

What does it mean to walk by faith? Even when things seem so dormant and God distant? How do we best make use of the time we are given to prepare ourselves for the springtime God has planned for us? I love what Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.” (Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬) The reality is that our “winter” seasons can be a kind of Sabbath for us. A time for us to slow down and wait on God. The Bible is clear. God is waiting for us to turn to Him. To meditate on His Word. To talk to Him in prayer. To share all the fears and anxieties of whatever season we may be experiencing with Him. Nothing about our situation or circumstance has caught God by surprise. Nothing is beyond His control. Nothing that happens in our world today escapes His notice. And His promise is that He is at work even now, through the creatures who bear His image, to bring about His will in His way and in His time.

How can I be so confident? Read Psalms 105. Look at what God has done! Remember His mighty acts! Remember His saving ways! God is deliverer. God is rescuer. God is savior. God will never leave or forsake His people. God will never distance Himself from our pain. God has a “Promised Land” ready for all those who call on His name. This is the truth of the gospel, friends! And it forms the foundation of our hope in fearful and chaotic times.

You know, I imagine Joshua felt much the same way we do today. As he stared across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, he knew there were no guarantees. He knew the future would be hard. He knew the people of Israel simply didn’t have the strength or the fortitude to make it on their own. Their only hope was God. Their only path to victory was with God. Their only way forward was to trust God. So he pointed them to their history. Drew on the experiences of their forefathers and mothers. Encouraged them with the testimonies of God’s goodness from their past. And this gave them the courage to face the challenges of their day. As you consider the current challenges you face in your life or we face in our world, what brings you hope? What testimonies do you lean on during these difficult times? How are you turning to God’s Word to find courage and strength as we wait for spring?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Succession

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 31-34

It’s not an easy thing to contemplate one’s mortality. It’s not easy to come to the end of a season, the end of a relationship, the end of a career, much less the end of a life. It’s not easy to come to terms with the fact that our lives are just temporary blips on the radar screen of eternity. We are eminently expendable. Completely replaceable. None of us is here forever. Father Time is undefeated. One day, we will all walk out the door of our jobs for the final time and someone else’s name will be on the door. One day, we will all say goodbye to our spouse and loved ones and hand off our work to the next generation. Even the best and most successful runs professionally and personally have an expiration date. It’s why succession planning is so important.

Moses had a succession plan. He knew his time as the leader of the people of Israel was coming to a close. He had accomplished his main task which was to bring them to the Promised Land. For forty years, he had been faithful. For forty years, they had looked to him for guidance and wisdom and to discern the Lord’s will. For forty years, he had led them through success and failure in battle and in their journey in the wilderness. They had seen him perform miracles. They had seen him make hard choices. They had seen his face light up with the glory of God. But now a new generation of leadership was needed. And though Moses’ “eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him”(Deuteronomy‬ ‭34‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬), it was time for him to pass on the mantle of leadership to another. Thankfully, Moses had been intentional. Joshua had been his right hand man for years. God had been at work preparing Joshua for this moment. And when the time came, Moses was able to pass away in peace, knowing God’s people were in good hands.

Do you have a succession plan? It’s never too early to work on one. It’s never too early to think about who or what comes after you. For your family, succession planning involves a will and power of attorney and advanced healthcare directives. For your job, it means making sure everything you do is written down so it can be passed on to the next person. If you are in leadership, it means identifying and training your potential successor. If you are a pastor, it means making sure the church you lead has a strong and deep leadership base so they won’t miss a beat if you get called on or get called home. Again, none of us is irreplaceable. All of us are expendable on some level. Not because we have no value or worth but simply because our lives are like “sparks that fly upwards.” We are here today and gone tomorrow. Our goal should be to make whatever contribution we can with the gifts and talents and resources we’ve received and then humbly hand the work off to the next one in line.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 1-2, Psalms 105

Covenant

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 28-30

I have the privilege of walking with a lot of people from a lot of different walks of life in my work as a pastor. They give me the honor of sharing their lives with me. They share their successes and failures, their joys and sorrows, their happiness and heartbreaks with me. Some of them have experienced incredible transformation and triumph. Others seem to never get out of the spiral they find themselves in. Almost always, the key difference has to do with surrender to God.

It’s tempting to read through today’s verses and find “cause and effect.” If I do this, God will do this. If I obey, God will bless. If I disobey, God will curse. Conclusion? Obey and I will live. Disobey and I will die. However, we all know life is not that two-dimensional. It can’t be flattened out. Life is far more complicated because human beings are far more complicated. We are a mixture of all kinds of emotions and motivations that drive our choices and behavior. Who among us can truly say we make decisions with the purest of motivations? I don’t believe any of us can make that claim honestly. There is always a bit of selfishness involved even when we are at our most noble and godly.

The nation of Israel lived in a covenantal relationship with God. The covenant was not based on their obedience but God’s faithfulness. At the same time, there are blessings when we obey God. When we prioritize what He cares about. When we put Him first and worship Him alone. Does that mean all of us will experience health and wealth like the prosperity preachers promise? No. This is not a means to a worldly end. God cares far more about the state of our souls than He does the balance in our bank accounts. He cares far more about the people we are becoming on the inside than the outside. It’s not that God doesn’t care for our bodies. He does! And He will raise us physically from the grave in the resurrection! It’s just that God understands how temporary life in this world can be. Even at our best, we might live into our nineties or maybe one hundred. But our health will fail. Our wealth will eventually be useless to us. So why put our focus there? Focus instead on the higher things. The more important things. Like how our lives bring glory and honor to God. “The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he swore to you, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you bear the Lord’s name, and they will stand in awe of you.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Bearing the Lord’s name. That’s the true blessing of obedience.

And it’s why God is so quick to forgive when we fail and fall short. When Israel disobeys the covenantal commands and falls away, God offers them a way back through repentance and forgiveness and grace. “When all these things happen to you, the blessings and curses I have set before you, and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing  everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there.  The Lord your God will bring you into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Friends, there’s always an opportunity to choose life. It’s never too late to turn from sin. We are never too far gone. We are never without hope. The arm of the Lord is long and the reach of His grace is great. I love how Psalms 139 puts it, “Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”  — even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 31-34

Perspective

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 24-27

Perspective has great power. My mother grew up desperately poor at times. She experienced a lot of uncertainty. A lot of transition. Her father was a pastor who moved around quite a bit due to the philosophy of the denomination he served. He was also quite successful at turning around struggling churches so they would send him to some of the hardest places to do his work. And even though my mom has been blessed with abundance materially and great health physically and a lot of stability in her community, it still shapes her perspective. For example, we gathered on Saturday for a meal at a very nice restaurant. My mom paid the bill which was significant. As she was paying, she remarked to my brother and I that she was going shopping with a coupon the following day that would save her a few dollars. She didn’t see the irony at first but it made us all chuckle.

One of the things Moses attempts to do in his final sermon is remind Israel from whence she came. He wants them to have a healthy and humble perspective as they move into the Promised Land. So he says things like, “Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the journey after you left Egypt…Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. Therefore I am commanding you to do this…Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬, ‭18‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Why do we observe laws regarding disease or refuse to deny justice to the immigrant, orphan, and widow or leave the gleanings of the fields and orchards for the poor? Because Israel herself was once poor. They were the stranger, the foreigner, the alien. They were the slave, the poor, the fatherless. This is heart behind the Lord’s commands. His laws are not arbitrary or capricious. They are designed to help Israel maintain her perspective. The same is true when they bring the firstfruits of their offering. Every time they do give to the Lord, they are to recite their “origin story.” Deuteronomy 26:5-10, “My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt with a few people and resided there as an alien. There he became a great, powerful, and populous nation. But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, and forced us to do hard labor. So we called out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression. Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders. He led us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” What a powerful reminder of God’s great generosity and grace and what a powerful motivator for Israel to give.

What shapes your perspective? Over the years, I have found it helpful to recite all the things God has done for me. I have written down my testimony in various places, detailing all the different events over the course of my life where the Lord clearly interceded. Returning to my testimony or the “origin story” of my faith has served as a powerful reminder to me that informs how I live and how I serve and how I love and how I give.

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 28-30

Confusion

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 20-23

Whew. All kinds of confusing stuff in today’s reading. Holy war. The massacre of innocents. Strange regulations regarding unsolved murders. Intermarriage with female prisoners. Inheritance rights. Rebellious children. And then a whole string of random laws governing livestock, agriculture, and fashion. Followed by an extended section on sexual immorality and ritual purity. Then another string of random laws governing slavery, banking, and sacred vows. It’s enough to make one’s head spin!

What do we make of it all? Well, first and foremost, we must acknowledge many of these laws are specifically directed at ancient Israel and therefore have no real application for today. They are designed for a cultural context with which we have no familiarity. They may seem barbaric at times and odd at other times but they held real purpose for an ancient people who were just getting started as a nation. However, this doesn’t mean we have nothing to learn from the text. God is communicating something about Himself to us through these ancient words. For example, purity. Notice how God restricts the sowing of two different kinds of seed and the mixing of fibers in clothing and forbids cross-dressing. God is clearly concerned with keeping things distinct and orderly and “according to its kind” much like He did in the creation narrative in Genesis 1. Second, holiness. Why does God demand Israel kill everything in the pagan cities they conquer? He’s concerned anyone or anything left over will become a problem for Israel. He’s concerned they will be tempted to worship other gods. He even says as much in Deuteronomy 20:18, “so that they won’t teach you to do all the detestable acts they do for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.” I know this sounds incredibly harsh and unyielding and unfair in our ears but God will not tolerate any rivals for our affections. He is serious about the sin of idolatry. And for those who might be tempted to dismiss the Old Testament God in favor of the New Testament God, please remember Jesus’ words about the final judgment. God will separate the believers from the unbelievers. Heaven and hell are eternal realities. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Reading this text today can also expose our natural bias. We typically come to the text with a “hermeneutic of suspicion.” Which is to say, we come to the text demanding that it prove itself to us. Prove it’s worth by giving us something to apply to our lives. We have this natural tendency to want to turn the text into a self-help manual. A roadmap to our “best life” now. We want the text to speak to our cultural moment. We want to rub the text like a lamp and treat God like a genie. Instead, texts like the one for today demand something from us. Demand that we take God seriously. Demand that we treat the text on its terms and not our own. It forces us out of our cultural arrogance and chronological snobbery as we come face to face with the holiness of God.

Does that mean there is nothing here for us to hold onto for hope? Not at all! We just have to keep digging. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep searching. Dig down deep enough below the surface regulations and what do we discover about God’s nature and character? He loves His people. Fiercely. Loyally. Stubbornly. He does not want to see them fall into temptation. Our God is a God of reconciliation and forgiveness even in situations where justice cannot be served because the murderer cannot be found. Our God is a God of mercy and compassion which is why He graciously welcomes those women captured in battle - who in ancient times were often treated brutally - as part of His people. He orders society for the good of all, protecting property and inheritance rights. He protects the poor from predatory lending and provides for them by allowing them to glean in the fields. He is concerned about the pain and suffering that comes from rampant sexual immorality so He places protections around the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. All of this is in the best interest of His chosen people.

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 24-27

Generosity and Joy

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 16-19

The pursuit of happiness. It’s one of the “inalienable” rights granted to us by our Creator according to the Declaration of Independence. It’s one of the key values in our society. Everyone is looking for happiness. They look for it in a bottle, a bong, or an edible. They look for it in the gym, the salon, or the store. They look for it in travel, adventure, and challenge. They look for it from their doctor or therapist. Not all of these are bad, of course, but all of them do share a common thread. We think we can find true happiness by focusing on ourselves. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I love how the Book of Deuteronomy describes the annual sacred feasts of Israel. Yes, there is a lot of ceremony. A lot of sacrifice. A lot to remember. And it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds and miss the point of it all. “Rejoice before the Lord your God in the place where he chooses to have his name dwell you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite within your city gates, as well as the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow among you…Rejoice during your festival you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, as well as the Levite, the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow within your city gates.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬, ‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬) These feasts were celebrations. They were filled with joy. And not just for the people of Israel but for everyone who lived in the Promised Land. They were intended to be huge parties where the name of the Lord was lifted up and all God had done for them proclaimed to every generation. I can only imagine being a “resident alien” and living in Israel at the time. Imagine seeing the people of God worship the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Imagine the expressions of joy as people danced and sang and feasted. It must have been so compelling.

And what made such feasting possible for everyone? Generosity. Every person giving generously from the heart. Every person offering back to the Lord from the bounty He had provided in the previous year. “You are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God with a freewill offering  that you give in proportion to how the Lord your God has blessed you. Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬, ‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This was not a tithe. This was not a law. The people didn’t give out of a sense of obligation or guilt or shame. They gave a “freewill” offering. They gave from the heart. They gave in proportion to all God had given them. They gave to bless others. To bless the community. To bless everyone who lived within their midst, from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich. All were included. None were left out. Can you imagine it?

What could this look like today? As Christians, we don’t keep the Old Testament feasts. All the ceremonial laws governing worship were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. But that doesn’t mean the party ends! On the contrary, because of what Christ has done for us, every day is an opportunity to rejoice! Every week when we gather with God’s people, we have the opportunity to celebrate and share our joy with others! And when we give generously of our time and talent and treasure, everyone gets to share in the blessing. Everyone gets to celebrate what God has done. No one is left out. This is the life God has called us to as His church. A life of abundance and blessing and generosity and joy!

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 20-23