Without Respect for Persons
The Heart of God
“The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” (Gen 6:5
In describing God’s reaction to the corruption of the world it doesn’t say He was mad (although I’m sure He was), nor does it describe God’s clinical plans to start over… because they weren’t clinical.
Instead, it says that we made God sad. We broke His heart.
We aren’t Jehovah’s playthings or His tools, we are His children. He loves us and grieves over the loss of each wayward soul. You can, and do, affect His mood. You can’t change His character, but you can stir His heart.
“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Gen 6:8)
Noah brought Him joy and the rest brought Him sorrow.
God, the heart-knower, has invested His heart in us.
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4
Your Own Hands
“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands are to bring offerings by fire to the Lord.” (Lev 7:29-30)
There is no such thing as worship by proxy. In Israel, the greatest king brought his own offerings to the altar just like the poorest pauper. King David or mighty Solomon could not simply send their servants to bring their gifts to God. It had to be their own hands that brought the offerings. All are equal before the great altar of Jehovah.
We outsource everything nowadays. In a society where every field is so specialized, we tend to hire things out instead of doing it ourselves.
Outsourcing is alright with things like car repair, but it is wholly unacceptable with serving God. Your service to God is your own and no one else’s. The church can support you in your service to God, but it can’t do it for you… nor should it.
“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13)
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4
Can’t or Won’t?
“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” (Ex 13:17)
Just like God knew the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart, He knew the weakness of the Israelites. He knew what they could handle and what they could not.
400 years and countless generations of slaves were not yet ready to face the difficulties of war and He wasn’t going to put them through something they couldn’t handle. This is the same God who later destroyed this generation in the wilderness because they wouldn’t fight.
There is a difference between “not able to” and “don’t want to”
In the beginning, God showed patience because they were not yet able to handle the rigors of war. Later on, He condemned them for shrinking from their duty to do what was hard.
So, take comfort as babes in Christ – He does not expect any more than what you can do. Just do what you can and that is enough (Mk 14:8)
And take heed seasoned Christians – He expects no less than what you are capable of.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb 5:12)
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4
God More Than Family
“You shall not marry a woman in addition to her sister as a rival while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.” (Lev 18:18)
What is so impressive about this particular verse is its location. This command is in Leviticus, a book named after Levi. Levi’s mother was one of two sisters, Leah and Rachel that were married to the same man, and certainly were rivals.
This command shows that following God doesn’t mean following your forefathers. Following God isn’t a religion of family tradition – the Bible often condemns the behavior of faithful people. God loved Leah and Rachel and God loved Jacob, their husband, but God was not pleased with that arrangement and specifically told the next generations to run where their parents had stumbled.
Following God means following His Word and not others. And it also means that if we train our children to follow Him, we parents have hope that our children may surpass us in faith and righteousness. With God as their guide, the Levites could surpass their father, Levi, and their grandfather, Jacob.
Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
(Matthew 10:37)
May our children love Him more than they love us.
#Biblebites Matt 4:4
I AM WHO I AM
“This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.” (Ex 3:15)
Names matter. They identify us and become the fingerprint for our reputation. Our names are society’s first introduction to who we are.
When the Lord told Moses that His name was ‘Jehovah’, He did so purposely. God could have chosen any name He wanted, but the name He chose means “The Existing One”. God chose a name that literally means “I am here, I always have been, and I always will be.”
God’s name isn’t flashy like Zeus or Poseidon. It also isn’t alluring like a Venus or Andromeda. It is simply fact. I AM.
You don’t believe in Me? I AM, nonetheless.
Feel scared and unsure about the future? I AM permanent.
Afraid the world is falling apart? I AM unchanging.
Frustrated and angry and tired? I AM here.
Don’t like My rules and judgments? I AM WHO I AM.
Jehovah is entirely comforting and disconcerting at the same time. Comfort to those who accept that He is who He is and disconcerting to those who try and avoid acknowledging Him. His name is a memorial, a reminder, that HE EXISTS. We can no more change that then ships can change the ocean.
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4
Leaders Do Less
“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you.” (Ex 18:17-18)
Moses took it upon himself to hear every concern and struggle that the Israelite people had. He thought good leadership meant handling every person and every detail. His father-in-law thought otherwise. Turns out, God agreed with Jethro and not Moses.
Turns out good leadership isn’t the same as doing everything for people. Good leadership trusts people. David had his mighty men. Joshua led Israel’s army as a young man while Moses looked on with staff held high. Jesus had His apostles and sent out the seventy.
“If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” (Ex 18:23)
Leadership that delegates doesn’t face burn out, and is exponentially more effective. Delegation empowers people to serve and work instead of just being spoon-fed truth by the already mature. To exercise their talents and gifts instead of simply waiting for others to make it happen.
“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:2)
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4