Category: presumptuous sins

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Numbers 22-23 A Conundrum

God knows each puzzle piece

A conundrum is a puzzle that seems to be unsolvable. Balaam fits in that category. Historians say this about this man: “Balaam is the pagan counterpart to Moses the man of God. The recovery of prophetic texts of Balaam in Aramaic from the sixth century at Deir-’Allah in Jordan shows how very famous this man was in the ancient Near East, even centuries after his death.” On the one hand he displays honorable intentions towards the Israelites but on the other hand, his fear of what God might do to him if he curses them causes him great anxiety and a lack of direction. 

Because Balaam did not heed the instruction of the Lord, God sent an angel to correct him using a donkey to speak to him. God is not only the God of wisdom but He is also the creator and author of the animal kingdom. Balaam ignored the donkey’s persistent actions of denying Balaam’s journey and after three times God opened the mouth of the donkey to show Balaam His displeasure. 

Throughout this whole scenario we see a man who seeks monetary gain more than God’s blessing. He is a person with what we call a “forked tongue.” He speaks gracious words as long as the money pot is filled but when it is not, he is left penniless. Beware of men like Balaam who seek to undermine God’s plan. Stay alert and apart from them for they are servants of Satan and no good will come of your interaction with them. Be discerning! 

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Numbers 16 The Cost of Sin

God was clear as to His choice to lead the nation out of Egypt and into the wilderness where God would test them to see if they would wholly follow the Lord. We don’t know when this took place, but it was after the anointing of the men who would care for the Tabernacle. They had seen the miracles, witnessed the building of the Tabernacle, witnessed the anointing of Aaron and his sons. God’s mercy had been clearly revealed even when Aaron led the people astray with the golden calf. And yet…the sin of pride and the sin of grumbling raised its ugly head. 

We have seen this even today in churches that split and we have experienced it in three different churches we attended, yet God protected us in ways that we could never have expected. He removed us before the final crushing blow so that we would not be there. The devastation it brings to the body is beyond description. Satan knows our weakest point and in the case of Korah, his weakest link was bending his ear to the gossip, as was the sin of our former churches, which led to grumbling and finally to the division of those churches. For Koran it was death by the hand of God. God hates grumbling and He hates when we selectively choose whom to disregard. God will bring it to its conclusion either by us humbling ourselves or by some other means. 

Oh Father, keep us from grumbling, keep us wholly devoted to you and your servants whom You have chosen. Give us a discerning spirit to know what is truth and what are lies from the enemy. Believer, put your armor on for the battle is real and certain. 

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Leviticus 24 Warning!

This is a story that ought to be told over and over! “any man curses his God, he will bear responsibility for his sin, and one who misuses the nameof the Lord must surely be put to death.” Today we hear the name of God used in a profane way without thought or consequences. Perhaps if we followed this there would be less of that and more of honoring the Lord’s Name! Clearly God wants His people to be pure and holy and this is one way we bring dishonor to Him and it all begins with the loss of temper. Curtail your temper and remember to honor God and other men. 

Wisdom speaks: “A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.” And again: “quick-tempered person stirs up dissension but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.“ [Prov 14 and 15]

Today speak with calmness and avoid solving problems with a temper tantrum otherwise you might find yourself in a predicament like this young man. 

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Leviticus 10 Sin is Costly

Moses honored the Lord with the gifts that the children of Israel brought. After all that, we wonder why the two sons of Aaron brought strange fire?  The Lord found them guilty and He pronounced death upon Nadab and Abihu for their sin. The cost of their sin was their life. We casually sin and then offer a prayer, but to God any sin is costly and He will deal with it; sometimes even death. 

We fail to consider how costly sin is. That is one reason Jesus came and offered Himself. He paid the cost for our “casual” and important sin; sin is sin. What sin do I need to seek His forgiveness today that I may not have to face His punishment for unforgiven sin. 

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Genesis 19 Compromise Fails

compromise

As we read this account of Lot after the account of Abraham’s dialog with God we come away with several lessons. First sin looks beautiful but is ugly in its demands. Second, when we compromise our beliefs, others pay the price as well. Thirdly, God hears and answers prayer for He is compassionate. 

So let’s take this story apart. Lot had looked at the well watered plain and he moved near to Sodom. Next he moved into Sodom. Psalm 1 reminds us that God blesses “the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” [Ps 1:1] Lot failed in all areas. First he walked, then he stood, then he sat. His compromising actions leaves us the visions of the destruction of Sodom, the loss of his intended sons-in-law and tragically, his wife and lastly his own daughters who thought incest would be blessed but instead, became the thorn in the lives of the Israelites for centuries and even today. Moses reminded the Israelites that sooner or later, one’s sin will be found out. Num 32:23 “you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will findyou out.”

Is there anything positive from this account? We can look at Abraham and see how he sought God’s righteous character above all else. God answered his prayer to remove Lot from this situation. We too can pray that God remove the sinners from our presence so that He can bless us and direct our paths in righteousness. Are we praying that today? Or are we like Lot who compromised and lost his family? 

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Be Impartial

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

James 2 See with Jesus Eyes 

When I grew up, I was faced with prejudice and all its faults. I was forbidden to have interactions with those of another race and another ethnic background. I found it hard to understand but found that little by little those factors crept into my thinking. So, when God saw that He sent me three people to change that perspective, and I praise God for that. No longer do I see with my human eyes the differences but now pray for God to show me His love for each one regardless of their background or ethnicity. James seems to have faced this head on in the church in Jerusalem where there were both the poor who had come to Christ and the wealthy who had come to Christ. Yet, both carried the baggage of their former life into the church and so it is with us; sadly. 

James reminds the reader to look at this situation through the eyes of God. He accepted Rahab who had no lineage to the Israelites, yet it was to her that He revealed Himself and she called him “El Roi,” the God who sees me. He also accepted Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. To both He is saying; “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” [James 2:9] Beloved, this should not be! Christ died for all and all should be accepted equally.  

The question before us is this: are we looking with our heart or with our mind? Are we evaluating each through the heart of God? Do we select to whom we will offer the cup of cold water? Jesus ministered to all no matter their social background or lineage. How about us?  

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Hoodwinked or Free?

Galatians 5 When Christ was preparing the disciples for his departure, He told them that He would not leave them as orphans but He would send them the Helper, the Holy Spirit. to be with them always. The Holy Spirit would teach them the all things and bring to their remembrance everything Jesus had taught them. In addition, as Paul notes, He would come and fill us with the fruit that manifests the true family nature. Paul is wondering how this truth has been lost to these new believers.Today we wonder too when we see those who have been corrupted by the false legalizers who demand this or that. They deny the Christ who died to free us from the bondage of the Law. They come into our fellowship  and  insist that we must obey the OT rituals in order to be saved. Paul reminds them that because of that they have been hoodwinked

Where are you today beloved? Have you been hoodwinked by those who say they are Christians but they deny the Christ or are you demonstrating to them and to others the Fruit that only the Spirit can give? Does your life mirror that of Christ? Do we love as Christ loved? Are we gentle, kind and forgiving? What does our life show to others? 

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What does your heart reveal?

Luke 7: Do you have a heart of compassion for the most needy among our society or do you wonder and think that there is no hope for them. Listen to the story Jesus has recorded for us about two individuals; one is a noted sinner and the other is one who feels or thinks he is the righteous one. The most “righteous” one says to himself, doesn’t he realize what kind of woman this is that has come uninvited to my home? How often do we too make judgments and we presume without the compassion of God? That was Simon, the Pharisee.

The scene is this: Simon invited Jesus to dinner and while dinner was being served, a woman of the streets crept in uninvited and lay down at the feet of Jesus. Scandalous! Doesn’t Jesus realize who she is? While this happening, Jesus tenderly turns to her as she lay weeping, wiping his feet with her tears and pronounces her faith and her forgiveness. Jesus then turns to Simon and in compassion asks him about who should be more forgiven, the one who has sinned much or the one who has sinned little. 

Jesus placed this story here to remind us that we quickly presume and often judge without compassion. We wonder if Simon learned that lesson that evening. We never know when Jesus will open our eyes to our sin and our lack of compassion. Be alert! We are not forgiven because of our many works but because our heart is open to His love. 

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Deception is like a spider web…

1 Sam. 17-20 King Saul needs a warrior to destroy the enemy, but he doesn’t think the shepherd David is up to the task, so he dresses him as a soldier. However, David has never worn battle gear because he is a shepherd, so he gives up the armor and kills that giant Goliath with his trusty slingshot and a stone.

As Saul becomes more and more recluse, he hires David to minister to him. But, in time, because God’s Spirit has left Saul, he flies into a rage off and on. David probably wishes he were back with his sheep at this point! 🙁

David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, become fast friends and vow to care for one another no matter what. Also, the people begin looking more and more to David, not the king or Prince Jonathan, so the king seeks to deceive David by offering him wealth, the hand of his daughter, and freedom from taxation. Sadly, this truth is apparent: what a tangled web we weave when we first set out to deceive.

Know this truth; there are deceivers around every bend of the road, be alert to them. Stay true to your humble beginnings and pray for discernment!

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How Dare We Play God!

Life and death are determined by God

1Samuel 26 “Life and Death are God’s Domain.”

These past few weeks, we have seen a spate of mass shootings by people who seek revenge for unknown reasons followed by their suicide. Our hearts ache for these because they have no truth that God alone is responsible for life and death. David’s nephew had the mindset of those who take matters into their own hands. Abishai saw the opportunity to kill King Saul and sought David’s permission to kill him. “Now let me drive the spear right through him into the ground with one swift jab.” [1Sam 26:8] Yes, the opportunity was available, but David was a man of God and understood three things:

  1. No one can kill the Lord’s anointed one and remain guiltless.
  2. The Lord Himself will strike him down, meaning God knows the day he will die.
  3. Or the Lord will allow him to die in battle or for some other circumstance.

That is a lesson we need to remember, and Job knew that as well. “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.” [Job 1:21] To take a life is nothing more than murder, and whoever murders shall be accountable before God for that life.

The Hebrews author wrote: “it is appointed unto men once to die..” [Heb 9:27], but only God knows that date. “The Lord both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up.” [1Sam 2:6]

How dare we play God is the lesson the world needs now and we have the answer in Jesus Christ.

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