Category Archives: Character of God

All Powerful / King of All, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Learning To Pray Effectively, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Slow to Anger

“Slow” to Anger Does Not Mean “No” to Anger

The kings of Israel continued to lead the people to sin and do evil in the sight of the LORD. The LORD was patient and made many attempts to call them back to Him. The stubbornly refused, continuing in the ways other pagan nations worship their gods and even worshipping other false gods directly. They were so far from the LORD that even when dominated by the Assyrians, there is no mention of turning to the LORD for help.

For those nations whose strength was founded in fear of the LORD, such as Israel or the United States, when they continue generation after generation turning away from the ways of God and continue to do evil in His sight there will be consequences. In 2 Kings 17 we see an example where He not only removed His hand of blessing, but actually brought Israel to defeat. We should not think of this as some old story, but realize a similar situation applies even now in the United States and we should be humbled and repent as a nation.

2 Kings 17:1-23

Hoshea Reigns over Israel

      1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned nine years. 2He did evil in the sight of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute. 4But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.

      5Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.

Israel Captive

     6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Why Israel Fell

      7Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods 8and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced. 9The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 10They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the LORD had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil things provoking the LORD. 12They served idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 13Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.” 14However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. 15They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them. 16They forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him. 18So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah.

      19Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced. 20The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.

      21When He had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the LORD and made them commit a great sin. 22The sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them 23until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day.

The LORD can raise up an adversary to conquer or simply let our nation rot and decay from the depravity of our own minds internal to our nation. The point is that any nation that drew strength and blessing from relationship with the LORD, as I believe the USA did since its founding for many generations, should take heed if / when they turn from the Father’s ways and pursue the ways of man.

It is not much better to mix and mingle false gods with worship of Yah than to simply turn from Him completely. Both are very bad.

I hope each of us can humble ourselves and pray for our personal lives, our family, our communities, the body of Christ as a whole, and our nation. Pray for repentance and that God would lift up righteous leaders and bring down wicked godless ones, even if they acknowledge Him with their lips. We can see with their policies and actions whom they serve.

In all of this, we must remember that our true enemy is Satan, and not individual people who come against us. We fight above all else, a spiritual war and should always remember that prayer and repentance is a huge part of any strategy that will bring our nation back to the one true God. (Read more on Spiritual Warfare.)

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, you and you alone are God. There are none like you. There are none whose works are like yours. Please help me personally and help your people collectively to humble themselves, turn from our wicked ways, and pray for your forgiveness and victory. Please restore the hearts and minds of the people of our nation to you and away from the paths of wickedness. Lift up righteous leaders and protect them with your right hand. Bring forth restoration and revival and a complete purge of wickedness and false teaching from our nation and most certainly from those who claim to follow you. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Healer, Purposeful / Intentional

Do Not Be Discouraged from Seeking Yeshua’s Help

Many in this world will try to hush us up when we truly and desperately call out for Yeshua. When we know we are beyond what we can solve ourselves and need Him to save or heal us, to deliver us from some difficulty… people around us will discourage us. Sometimes it may even be others that follow Him.

Take a lesson from the blind men in Matthew 20. Be persistent in your faith and in calling out for Yeshua to help, even when others discourage you. Do not let up. Continue seeking Him and calling for Him.

Matthew 20:29-34

Sight for the Blind

      29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to rely on you. Please help me to seek you desperately and not be discouraged by others in doing so. Help me to have strong faith that you can deliver me from the challenges I face and even if you do not, that I would still call upon your name in faith and trust in you.  Help me to encourage others rather than discourage them in seeking your help and your mercy. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Contentment, Help / Serve Others, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

The Greatest Are Those Who Serve and Sacrifice

Do not seek to be great in the LORD’s kingdom for your own glory, but rather for His. Do not take lightly what it means to be glorified and lifted up in His kingdom either. There is a cost to be paid. We must also remember what it means to be great in His kingdom, which is very different than what it means in the eyes of men.

Matthew 20:20-28

Preferment Asked

      20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” 22But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

      24And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to seek to honor you over myself. Let me be joyful and content with whatever you call me to do. Help me to be prepared and willing to courageously face difficulty and persecution for your glory and for your name. I ask also these things on behalf of your people everywhere, that we would all serve you more abundantly and selflessly. Help me not be tempted by personal glory in the eyes of men. 

Shalom.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Submitted / Servant, Thankfulness

Yeshua Sacrificed Willingly For Us According to the Father’s Plan

We should often pause from our busy lives and reflect on the fact that Yeshua willingly and knowingly went to suffer and die for us. He was not guilty. He was not surprised. He was not trapped. He went willingly.

Matthew 20:17-19

Death, Resurrection Foretold

      17As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

He knew it would be painful and difficult. However, He also understood the Father’s plan and was fully submitted to it.

Matthew 26:36-46

The Garden of Gethsemane

      36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

      39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

      42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46“Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

As we reflect on this, let us seek to apply it in our lives. We may be called by our Father to go through difficult circumstances for His greater plan. Try to follow the example of Yeshua and go willingly, even in to hard situations. Let us also be thankful that He went to suffer and die for forgiveness of our sins. Do not take it for granted.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to be thankful for Yeshua willingly suffering and dying for me, for my sins. Please help me never take it for granted as if it was not a painful and deliberate sacrifice. Help me to follow in His example in submitting fully to you in whatever you call me to do.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Submitted / Servant, Thankfulness

Do You Want Yahweh to Be Fair?

It is an interesting question. Do you want Yahweh to be fair? It sounds good at first. We will see in the following parable a typical reaction to a situation where people feel they are being treated unfairly and then see God’s perspective on it.

Matthew 20:1-16

Laborers in the Vineyard

      1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2“When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3“And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5“Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6“And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7“They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

      8“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9“When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10“When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11“When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14‘Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16“So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

I have read this scripture with people before and heard some minor clamoring about how unfair the master was to the people who worked all day. This seems reasonable at first blush, but consider the point made in the parable. They all got what they agreed to. Further, consider that this parable represents our salvation, not just a workers wage. None of us deserve or earn salvation, no matter how hard we work or how long we submit to the LORD.

Fair would be for Yawheh to send us all to hell for sin. The wages of sin are death and we can not pay them. However, He has made a way through Christ for us to be redeemed by grace through faith.

It is mercy and grace that permits us to come into His service and receive the same gift of salvation as others, even for those who come to Him late in life, or even at the very end of their life.  The key to embracing this seems to be to get the focus off of our works or our efforts as if they earn us salvation and forgiveness. To recognize that we could serve Him a lifetime and still not earn forgiveness is to be one step closer to realizing that we are only saved by grace, and we should rejoice for every one who joins us in Christ.

Consider truly if you want Yahweh to be “fair”, or if you prefer grace and mercy instead. Then consider how this may apply for how you treat others. Will you treat them “fairly” or with grace and mercy?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to not compare what you have given me to what you give others. Let me not be concerned with what seems fair in my eyes. Instead, help me to trust in you and celebrate and rejoice that you act with grace and mercy. Lead me to have a thankful heart and attitude of contentment and joy. Help me to treat others with grace and mercy. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Blessed, Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Loving / Kind, Money / Finances / Wealth, Provider, Submitted / Servant

There Are Rewards for Those That Follow Yeshua

There are rewards for those that follow Yeshua. We can be encouraged to know this, especially as we sometimes have to walk away from other things we value today. As a caution, I might also emphasize that should not be our primary motive for following Him. If it is, then we are following selfish motives and not really given our heart to Him.

Matthew 19:27-30

The Disciples’ Reward

      27Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30“But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Scripture says we will receive many times as much as we had to leave behind to follow Him and inherit eternal life. What an encouraging reminder for those who face persecution or are having strife in their family because they choose to follow Christ and walk in His statutes and commandments.

As a side note, we also see that we should pay close attention to context to understand which promises apply to all believers and which apply to His closest disciples when He was in His earthly ministry. Notice not everyone is promised to sit on thrones of judgment. There are only twelve referenced here. Verse 29 is more broad, and emphasizes “everyone…”.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank you for encouraging me with knowledge that I will gain more than I lose by following you. It should be obvious to me, but often I can be so focused on my wants and desires and needs today, in the short term, that I can lose focus on eternity. I ask you to help me and all those who are called by your name to be encouraged by your word and promise of reward, but let us follow you out of love and not for personal gain. Please help me to live my life putting you first, above all other things and people. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Kindness / Gentleness, Loving / Kind, Parenting, Purposeful / Intentional

Do Not Be Too Busy for Children

It is often easy for us to get busy pursuing what we think we need to do, including ministry. We can sometimes overlook the children, even our own, to some extent. Yeshua loves children. He does not want us to overlook them. He wants us to make time for them.

Matthew 19:13-15

Jesus Blesses Little Children

      13Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me and all your people to look favorably on children, to make time for them, to treat them as having significance and not just being “in the way”. Please especially help parents to embrace their children as a blessing and not look at them as a burden. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Love, Parenting, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Should We Do What Is Allowed by God or What Is Desired by God?

Should We Do What Is Allowed by God or What Is Desired by God? This is a simple question, that if you truly embrace it, could change your life and your walk with our Father. What is spoken in Matthew 19 about marriage is clearly very important and we need to remind ourselves about Yeshua’s instruction, but the applicability of this scripture goes much wider to all aspects of our lives.

Matthew 19:1-13

Concerning Divorce

      1When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; 2and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.

      3Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? 6“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 7They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” 8He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

      10The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12“For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

How often do we act like the Pharisees in this way? How often do we focus on what is “allowed” instead of what is “desired” by God? I have encountered more than a few who when you start discussing application of Biblical teaching to their lives, instead of asking “what is more pleasing to God”, they focus on “what is allowed without sending me to hell”. Boy, there is certainly a wide range between those two positions. If we are really trying to decide what to do based on “not going to hell”, that is the wrong heart and attitude. That is selfish rather than loving God. Let us rather start by focusing on doing what is pleasing to the LORD.  This is what demonstrates our love for Him, in that we die to self and surrender to Him.

Let us compare it to someone who works for us, perhaps maid or gardener. Do you want them to do only what is the bare minimum for you not to fire them? or would you be more pleased if they directed their work such that they met your desires and preferences, going beyond the minimum? How do you feel in each case? Which way do you want God to feel about you?

The same could be said about a parent and child relationship. Do you want your child constantly doing the bare minimum? If you ask them to clean their room, do you prefer they go do it properly or just move a few things or maybe half and then claim they have accomplished what you requested? Even if you allow them to get away with that, which approach is more pleasing? Again, which way do you want God to feel about you?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me and all those who are called by your name to focus on what is pleasing to you and not simply what is allowed or tolerated. Let it transform me personally, my family, and all those called by your name so that we would truly be submitted servants that are pleasing in your sight and can serve as lights to others to come to you. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

 

 

Discerning / Judging, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Loving / Kind, Merciful

The LORD May Work Through the Unrighteous to Serve His Purpose

There are many people who conclude that someone is righteous and what they teach and follow must be what God approves of because they see Yahweh at work in and through that person. It sounds good on the surface, but what does scripture say?

The LORD works through evil people to serve His purposes as He sees fit. He does not just work through the righteous. 2 Kings is just one example. Pharaoh who stood against Moses during the plagues is another. There are many others as well. Pay attention to Jeroboam son of Joash in the following scripture.

2 Kings 14

Azariah (Uzziah) Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

      17Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20Then they brought him on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 22He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.

      23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher. 26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel. 27The LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

Zechariah Reigns over Israel

      28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might, how he fought and how he recovered for Israel, Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.

Jeroboam son of Joash did evil in the LORD’s sight but the LORD still used Him to save Israel. In this case the LORD was moved to show mercy on and help His people Israel and thus used someone who was unrighteous. The simple message is that just because someone can be seen with Yahweh working through them does not mean that person is necessarily walking in the proper relationship with the LORD, following His statutes and commands.

We must test everything against the written word of God in the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to give us discernment. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the written word, properly understood and in context. If we the LORD is working through someone, great. Pay attention. However, do not simply adopt all that they say or teach or how they live. Test everything and hold fast to what is good.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, Please help your people (including me) to have discernment in whom we follow. Let us not simply follow everyone you may be using, but rather with the help of Holy Spirit, let us have discernment to test the teachings and actions of others against your unchanging holy Bible. Amen.  

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Interceding for Others, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Repenting from Sin, Strong in Our Weakness

Trust in the LORD Alone to Be Your Shield and Provider

Almost every historical record about the prophet Elisha is intriguing. He was bold and passionate for the LORD. He asked for a double helping of what Elijah had, and received it from the LORD. His death was no less dramatic or impactful for Israel.

2 Kings 13:14-25

Death of Elisha

      14When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 18Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. 19So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”

      20Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.

      22Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

      24When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

This chapter can be a bit confusing. There are actually two Kings that are referred to as Joash, one who ruled Judah and one who ruled Israel. (For more context, Who Was King Joash in the Bible? on GotQuestions.org.) Both did evil in the LORD’s sight.

I find it a bit challenging to understand why the LORD through Elisha granted victory to Joash over Aram as it is not mentioned that he was repenting or walking in the ways of the LORD. In fact, given how Elisha treated other kings of Israel who were wicked over the preceding chapters, there seems to be a significant difference in how he treats Joash of Israel. However we can see Joash humbled himself in desperation and came to the LORD’s prophet on behalf of the suffering people if Israel. In the end it comes back to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are God’s people.

23But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

I also think it is interesting that Joash was supposed to know how many times to strike the ground with the arrows. Maybe that was an indication of his heart not fully trusting in the LORD? However, scripture does not say that explicitly.

How about the miracle that is just seemingly thrown in on top of the rest of the action, where someone is thrown on the bones of Elisha and gets raised from the dead? Wow! Let us not get confused and put upon Elisha’s bones any supernatural power. It is always Yahweh who has the power and He must have done this for His glory by highlighting the importance and power shown through His prophet.

This is an action packed chapter.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help your people to turn to you in good times and bad. Help us to humble ourselves and bring our supplications before you. Lead us to give thanks as well. Bring forth more powerful leaders to help the people draw near to you and walk in your statutes and your commands. Let your people not rely on kings or presidents or congress (e.g. government of any kind), but upon You and You alone. For the sake of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, please restore righteousness to your people, all those who have been grafted into Israel through accepting Yehsua as Messiah. Let us not suffer at the hands of the wicked who wish to transform our nation to grow further from you. Cast out the wicked and lift up the righteous in those who govern and throughout the nation(s). 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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