By God's Grace, You Can Do It

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” (Jos 1:7 AV)

These words are tender and challenging.  These words are from the LORD to Joshua upon the death of Moses.  They are a challenge because it places success in one’s life and calling squarely on obedience to the word of the LORD founded upon the faith given by the Spirit of God.  This need not any more exposition, but it needs more emphasis.  Many desire success and blessings in life, but few are willing to exercise the discipline of obedience to attain it.  Obedience requires yielding.  Yielding to the influence and control of the Spirit.  Relying upon the power granted by the Spirit as we walk with God to fulfill that which God asks.  He does so as every godly parent desires the same.  We desire for our children to be successful before the LORD and enjoy the blessings which come of the obedience.  There is no greater joy than to learn self-denial that the grace of God might abound to His glory!  There is another side of this verse which we wish to meditate upon.  That truth is the tenderness of God towards His children and the desire of the divine to see that His children are blessed indeed.

I have known a few fathers who have been intimidated by the success of their children.  It seems they were in a constant state of competition with their child so their child never exceeded their own accomplishments.  Instead of words of encouragement and motivation for higher goals, these fathers tear down their children and convince them they will never measure up.  These children go on into life being under-achievers.  Because their father had no faith in them, they have no ability to have faith in what God can do with them.  They are stuck in a life of mediocrity because they think their life will always be one of failure at worst, average at best.  In our verse above, God certainly does not think that of Joshua.  The verse is not only one of challenge, it is one of encouragement and positive expectation.  This verse above shows us God’s tenderness towards His children and His belief that if the child of God will simply obey His word and trust Him with all, there is nothing God cannot do with him.  What a word of hope!  What a word of dreams and visions!  Goals can be set and achieved.  There is nothing too hard for the LORD.  Yielding is the only thing God requires.

The devil makes a career out of discouraging the child of God.  He is the accuser.  He is the destroyer.  If he can convince you that you are beyond God’s ability to transform to the end He might gain the glory, the he has won.  This is his device.  This is his hope.  He hopes the child of God will see himself as absolutely beyond God’s grace and give up in his mediocrity.  This results in pattern of life of disobedience and lack of faith.  Maybe not out and out rebellion.  Just enough disobedience to make his life of no consequence.  If God believes you are not beyond His grace and work, then you need to believe the same.  Walk in obedience and faith and be astounded at what the LORD can do through you!

God our Guide

“He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (De 32:10 AV)

The context is the song which God gave to Moses which he was to teach to the children of Israel.  It was a reminder of what God did for them and what God is capable of doing when times are hard and the enemy seems overwhelming.  God promises that no matter what challenges they will have in the future, He is more than able to meet and defeat those who would harm the apple of His eye.  One of the manners in which the Holy Spirit gives us emotional and spiritual victory is to remind us of where we were when the LORD came down.  The verse above speaks of Israel in bondage to Egypt.  The verse speaks of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness as a means for the people of God to learn some lessons they would in no other way, learn.  When we are struggling in the present, it is always good to look back and see how far the LORD has brought us.

I remember one of the first times I climbed the mountain behind my in-laws house.  My Father-in-law was teaching me how to still hunt.  Directly behind his house is perhaps one of the steepest of all places to ascend.  He could walk up those hills without breaking a sweat.  Me?  Heart attack city.  The further up we climbed, it seemed the harder it became.  The thing is, the higher we went, the less steep it was.  I also remember getting near the top.  I couldn’t go any further.  But then I looked behind me and across the valley.  Realizing that I had far more trouble behind me than ahead, we pressed on to the top.  Sitting down on a log and enjoying some hot coffee from a thermos never tasted so good.

The point is this.  Sometimes we can have our eyesight on the trouble right in front of us that we forget just how miraculous our journey has been.  We forget how fruitless and pointless of a life we had before Christ saved us.  My life almost ended in suicide.  I had nothing to live for when Jesus came and changed all that.  As I get older, the LORD has given more patience.  The hill doesn’t seem nearly as steep as it once did.  The apex is near.  The race is two-thirds run.  I may not be able to sprint, but I can trudge on because the God who brought me thus far will carry me over the finish line.  That dry and thirsty land is in the distant past.  God did a work for me.  A work that still boggles the mind.  He has brought me through a great divide.  Over treacherous waters He has carried me.  Always faithful.  Never derelict in His duties!  God will honor His word.  There is still a mighty climb to ascend.  But He is there!  More so then ever before.

Yeah, I Don't Think So

“And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:” (De 29:19 AV)

The height of obstinacy is to believe one will not suffer the consequence of misery for one’s sin.  This hypothetical is a Hebrew citizen determining that he will enjoy his life and be at peace with it even though he is in direct disobedience to the laws of God.  One can do ahead and make that choice.  But it will only last for this lifetime.  Once eternity starts, there is no choice he can or will make that results in peace while in torments of a devil’s hell.

This verse describes perfectly the attitude of our present world.  They know that are in rebellion against God.  They are ok with the natural results of their sin.  What comes to mind is the tragic results sin is having on the most innocent of us all.  The most hideous being the murder of unborn or partially born human beings.  When a society does not protect the most vulnerable, it is on its way to complete hedonism.  This lack of concern and deliberate rebellion is spilled over into our young people as well.  Those who are in rebellion could not care less of the spiritual and emotional trauma sodomy and perversion causes our young people.  They are happy in their sin and at peace with the consequences.  I have had my share of funerals of those young people who have taken their own lives.  If there was never another, it would be great. Yet, they happen at a breakneck speed.  Those in the periphery who mourn the loss of an acquaintance, never give a thought to what drove them to do such a thing.  They are at peace with the decision of the deceased will those closest to him or her struggle with confusion, regret, and bitterness.  The tragedy that surrounds our species is celebrated.  It is seen as normal and acceptable.  We are at peace.

But there will come a time when there is no peace.  When the sodomite must suffer an eternal torment because he or she had never repented and placed their faith in Jesus, it won’t seem as so much fun anymore.  When the wicked are turned aside to suffer an eternity for choices of which they came to peace with, they will wish they made peace with God.  The Bible clearly and correctly states, there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Joy Is A Matter of the Eyes

“And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.” (De 26:11 AV)

The good things God gives don’t always fade away.  There are good things that remain.  It is those good things in which we should always rejoice.  Yes, there are hard times.  I agree with Job when he declares that man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.  However, no matter how much trouble we are born unto, there are still good things for which we can rejoice.  Perhaps this is a commandment because we are prone to see only those things that are not good.  We dwell on those things and because we do, we cannot rejoice.  Perhaps our admonition should be that when things get hard, think on those good things so that we can endure through the hard things with joy.

When we stop and take inventory of our lives, if we are honest, we can see the hand of God’s blessings all over our lives.  The problem is, we are not acclimated to look for them.  One of the traditions that families have at their Thanksgiving meal is to give a testimony to one thing for which they are grateful.  Young people and guys usually groan at such a task.  The young people do so because it seems too irrelevant and manipulative.  The guys have a hard time with it because we have to get in touch with our emotions.  Or, at least that is how we see it.  Some struggle to come up with one thing.  How about looking at the table in front of you?  Or, the family God has given?  What about the clothes on your back?  Most importantly, what about salvation?  How about the relatively good health you enjoy?  Or, how about the country you live in?  Perhaps a reflection of God’s grace is in order.  What about the forgiveness of sin that comes by the blood of Christ?  What about the blessings of prayer?  How about the indestructible word of God which few generations had so readily as we?  Our culture tempts us to be discontented and discouraged because it is trying to sell us something which will overcome it.

The context above is the general attitude the nation of Israel was required to have once they entered the land of Canaan.  An attitude which their forefathers failed to have, and which cost them their inheritance.  Because they murmured in the wilderness and failed to live in faith, God required that generation die off in the wilderness so that a new one could take its place.  A new generation that would be grateful for whatever the LORD provided even if they were still in want of other things.  A nation that was willing to walk in obedience and faith so that God could bless them more and more.  Perhaps it is not about the lack of blessings, but our neglect in numbering them that is the cause of our discouragement.

Distinct Purpose Requires Distinct Appearance

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (De 22:5 AV)

When we speak and teach of dress standards, we seldom consider the entire context of the above verse.  What we need to notice is that separation of kind also means separation of purpose or function.  In the context of this verse, we find the requirement to separate other things as well.  There is the separation of a mothering creature as meat verses a non-mothering creature.  There is the separation of a rooftop and other floors of a house.  The roof top is to be secure.  There is the separation of different seed.  Each has its own purpose.  There is the separation of an ox and ass.  Both serve a different purpose.  There is the separation of different clothing material.  Wool is used for colder climates wherein linen is used for warmer applications.  Considering the verse above, it does not say a woman cannot wear the cloths of a man.  The word of God says that which pertains to a man.  This would include garments but are not limited to garments.

God created things different and distinct.  I love watching nature shows.  The balance and interdependence of creation is a testament to the wonder of God’s wisdom.  Each creature fulfills a unique purpose in the system in which it finds itself.  There is no other creature that can fill that purpose.  On one such show regarding hunters and prey, it astounded me how many animals are singly focused on a particular prey.  It is all they eat.  There are other animals who serve a purpose that is not exclusive to their survival, but it is to another species.  Regardless, God has created all things with a distinct and unique purpose.  Their appearance aids in that purpose.  Whether it is a fish that looks like a rock or a bird that attracts a mate, their appearance serves a purpose.  Some creatures are camouflaged.  Some have the appearance of a larger animal so as to scare off a predator.  Their appearance serves a purpose.

The reason why we have a problem with distinct dress standards for distinct genders is our pursuit of the unisex generation.  Breaking down the bounds of gender specifics has now come to its natural conclusion.  There are no genders.  All are gender fluid.  This is what happens when we do not honor the design of gender specific purpose in family and society.  It is not just about dresses verses slacks or boots verses clogs.  This is not merely about hair length.  It is about God’s design for gender specific roles.  When we do not embrace the wonder of how and why God created us, then we will refuse to appear in the manner in which God intended.

No Harbor

“And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.” (De 20:11 AV)

What God demanded of the enemies of Israel, He demands of the enemies of the saint.  The LORD is not interested in a truce.  He demands surrender.  When Israel conquered Canaan, the inhabitants had only two choices.  They could either surrender and become servants, or die in their efforts of resistance.  Before we get a bit too empathetic towards the inhabitants of the land, they were described as devil worshipers in the previous chapters.  Regardless of the fact of who was there first, the fact of the matter is, the land belongs to God.  Period.  He has the right to evict anyone whom He pleases.  But I digress.  God is not interested in maintaining the status quo.  He is not interested in an amiable agreement.  Those who are His enemies must be in subjection to those who are not.  There is no other way.

We have three enemies.  We have the world, the devil, and the flesh.  These three enemies war against our spirit as we seek to walk with God.  They are God’s enemies as well.  We are not to pacify them. We are not to be amiable with them.  When the word of God and their values or desires conflict, then it is the enemies of God that must be in subjection as far as our own heart goes.  There is no middle ground.  There is no agreement or referendum of understanding.  God’s law and God’s way must rule.  The devil is a no-brainer.  We can understand that and war accordingly.  He has nothing to bring to the table of which we might feel we need or desire.  The world and the flesh are different.  There are things of value which each brings to our existence.  The world provides the means of living.  The flesh lives.  These two are always in a state of mutual relationship.  But that does not mean we are required to placate their demands.

It amazes me how much the people of God have given up their true liberty.  The freedom to determine for self that self will walk with God and need not be in subjection to any and all that which would hinder that goal.  We readily take the position of subjection when it comes to the world and the flesh.  “Live free or die” was the cry of our nation’s birth.  This should be the same for the believer.  Better off to bring the enemy into subjection.  If not, we become the slave.

New And Improved is Not Improved at All

“Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.” (De 16:21 AV)

As a child, my father had purchased a bit of land that was originally a potato farm.  He dug a two-acre pond, planted a massive amount of fir trees, and allowed the rest to revert back to nature.  We used this land as a place of rest and exploration.  We cleared a court for volley ball and badminton.  There was the every-under-construction log outhouse.  There was the fire pit for cooking and the fire pit for water sterilization.  We took our bicycles with us and had our own wilderness BMX trail.  One particular activity was for all us boys to build our own ‘forts’.  My father would not allow us to cut down trees, but we were able to use fallen timber to construct our own ‘home-away-from-home’ which no one was allowed to visit.  No matter how crude, we took pride in our shelters.  They were something that we built from our own imagination and with our own craft.  It wasn’t nature.  It was a manipulation of nature.  Such is the case above.  Improving on, or modifying God’s design because man might have a bit of pride in doing so, was forbidden.

The Hebrew word for ‘…grove…’ is the same word used as the name for a Phoenician goddess.  Although in this particular passage, the grove that was planted was not carved into a goddess, the images mentioned in verse twenty-two were.  The altar was to remain in the court of the tabernacle and eventually the temple.  If the children of Israel were to plant groves to surround the altar, one of two things were true.  They would have to replace the tabernacle with something of their own design, or believe they were improving on God’s original design.  Either way, if they were to do this, they believed God’s design lacked a certain human ‘flare’ and the addition of groves or idols would only enhance the worship experience.

I have been around a long time.  I have seen many things.  There is a fine line between divinely ordained and designed worship and man’s attempt at improving upon it.  It is easy to cross over into what is not of the LORD and purely man-made.  Much of what we offer today has too much humanity in it.  This is the entire foundation of bible translation perversion.  This is the foundation of much of what we call Christian music today.  Even preaching has devolved into this practice of commentary on our behalf and little to do with Holy Spirit empowered and lead preaching.  I have been guilty of this very thing.  Holy Spirit led worship cannot be improved upon.  Mankind and God’s people have been tempted to do this since Cain offered vegetables.  To the LORD, this is an abomination.