Christ Chapel Couples Ministry Blog

In Duet 7:1-6 we see the command of God to TOTALLY drive out the nations before Isreal.  The command was not to take or be given in marriage, make no treaty, and to destroy them “TOTALLY”.

Someone reading those words may ask how a loving God could seem so cruel?  Why is “destruction” necessary?  Why is there no peaceful resolution?    While I understand the “humanitarian” side of that question… I also see the truth of what God commanded.

It is sometimes easier to pursue peace…  Sometimes it make sense to attempt to find “Middle Ground”.  The fact here is that there is NO FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN DARKNESS AND LIGHT!!  The principle is one of “cutting out” the things that can lead you to destruction. 

Most of you may know that this very command is the one which gave the Isrealites YEARS and YEARS of headaches.  Generation after generation saw fit to stand near “Sin”, rather then remove it… and in time it caught them and beat them down.  Ask Sampson if you may have forgotten the price many paid for not “Cutting Out” the possibility of sin.

I guess this opening into Deut is one more reminder to us all… that sin and the opportunity to sin is something to run from, something to avoid, something to CUT OUT and DESTROY!  I wonder how many of us have allowed the “World outside” to co-habitate in our homes?  To “intermarry” with our kids?  Remember these words as we continue to read… they will haunt generations to come!  I just hope the same will not be said one day of us…

OK, let the jokes begin. I just know that reading this familiar story will bring on all kinds of “Donkey” references out there…. So have at it and enjoy.

In the midst of this passage one question is most common.  WHy did the angle of the Lord stand before Balaam and his donkey?  Why would God be “Very Angry when he went”?  Didn’t God give him “permission” to go just a few verses earlier?

The simple response is this.  Balaam knew for sure that Isreal was God’s chosen people.  Balaam  knew for sure that he could not and should not attempt to curse them in any way.  You can see that he was well aware of this… BUT Yet he still “entertained” those who tried to sway him.  Not just once but twice.  He offered for them to stay with him, socialize, hang out and stay for a while.  He told them he would “check with god to see what he says”. 

Remember the contrast a few pages earlier to a man named Joseph who when he knew God would not be pleased.  Joseph ran and seperated himself.  In this instance it is almost as if Balaam “Wanted” the rewards being offered to him… “wanted” to entertain what he knew he sould not do.  Some of this thought is backed up by the fact that when Balaam eventually faced the Angel he immeadiately fell to the ground and the first words he speaks are “I have sinned”.

This is an amusing story that kids always love, but there is a reminder to not entertain the opportunity of sin.  In this case, even though God “allowed” him to go, He was still not pleased that Balaam would entertain the idea.  God allows us to do lots of things, but they are still not pleasing in His eyes.

We are ALMOST DONE!!!  I know that at times this is not the easiest book to read.  I know that some of the details scramble my brain a little… but there is a brief thought that I always fall back on from the book of Leviticus.

HOLINESS!  Maybe you picked up on it, but the central theme of the book is the question of how a sinful man can gain access to a Holy God. 

There are sacrifices and offerings… there is the priest who stands in mediation for the people… there are laws that stand as a guide… there are feasts and celebrations… all presented as a part of the bridge between a sinful people and a Holy God. 

The word Holiness actually appears over 80 times in the book.  In all its detail Leviticus stands as a reminder that there are steps we need to take to be in right relationship with God.  Holiness is a big part of it!  We may not need to burn a goat or sow the field… but the standard of Holiness is still before us.  We have a standard to live up to, and a guide to follow. 

As we turn the page to the New Testament we will see that the rules of changed (THANK THE LORD) but the standards are still the same.  God expects us to strive for Holiness in all that we do, in word and in deed.  Although I am just going to type that once, not 80 times!

Chapter 47 covers the depth of the famine in the land.  Verse after verse people across the land are forced to give up more and more to survive.  First money, then livestock, then the land and even themselves, all given in exchange for food.  Each step of the way the people lose more and Joseph, Pharoh and “Egypt” gain more and more….  Many fell further and further behind as the “Rich got Richer”.

What is the real difference in this case?  Preparation!  Joseph was prayed up, in tune with what God was doing, and went out and worked to be prepared for the famine to come.  I find a small comparison to the lifestyle of today.  It is not uncommon to hear of those who bought bigger and nicer and were not prepared for when the recession hit our area. 

The issue of preperation is alway one to be reminded about.  Preperation is a real KEY in this attempt to have us all read through the Bible together this year.  2 Timothy 4:2 says in reference to knowing and sharing God’s word “be preparred in season and out of season”. 

You never know when famine may hit.  You never know when you will need a word of encouragement.  You never know when a friend will turn to you in great need.  The challange is to be prepared, even in the off season. JFK once said, “ The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”

I truely believe that the time we are all spending going through the Bible together this year is preparing us for whatever may come….

Todays reading are interesting to me for a few reasons. 

It’s interesting to see God’s plan come full circle.  The last ten chapters have been a long and winding road to accomplich the DREAM that God placed in Joseph’s heart in chapter 37.  Its not too uncommon for the road to a blessing to be a long one… perhaps an unexpected one… perhaps one you would never have chosen yourself.  Regardless of the journey, in the end God’s blessing and promises all came to pass.

Its encouraging in our own journey’s to realize that maybe we are not lost… Perhaps its just an unexpected path to God’s blessings?

The other thought I can’t help but ponder is the tone of the “Big Move”.  I can just see the credits starting to roll on the fianl scene, the happy ending, the last chapter of the Joseph Saga.  Everyone seems happy.  It seems like a big day for the “Family”… and why shouldn’t they all be happy?

There is no way that they knew that this moment was a big confirmation of “You reep what you sow”.  The day that Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they never would have imagined that the entire clan would be moving to Egypt with him…  Wonder what happens after they all move in?  Wonder how the whole “Egypt thing” works out??? 

I am sure many of you now realize that this is NOT the final scene of the movie.  This is now the first chapter of the entire nation of Isreal becoming Slaves!  Those who sold Joseph into slavery, are about to become slaves themselves.  Generations of Isrealites are about to pay the price for those mean spirited brothers. 

Sometimes its easy to minimize the effects of our poor choices.  May I never forget that each day effects the many to come…. often more then we think.

Am I the only one that laughed at this verse… “when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go back (to Egypt) and buy us a little more food.”  Gen 43:2

Thank God I was born in good old 1971.  I really never would have made it back then.

 I have a 7-11 at the end of my neighborhood, and I still can’t always get together the energy to “Run Out” to pick up something.  If I had to go to PHILLY to get stuff??? 
You have got to be kidding!

Be blessed in all your readings.  Enjoy it, find humor in it, be challanged by it, and may you grow in your understanding of who God truely is.

P Bill

Part of todays reading is Genesis cahpter 21 the birth of Isaac.

I have to remind myself that the people in these stories are Godly people… people who were blessed.  They were people of promise.  These are people that God used mightily to carry out his plans.

Yet somehow it seems that trouble in the home often caused even the strongest and most dedicated of christians to scramble. 

The birth of Isaac, the jealousy of Sarah, the “distress” of Abraham, the hurt of Hagar… All these things led to snap decisions, hurt feelings and some crazy circumstances.

All of this serves to remind me of the craziness that can occur behind closed doors when we decide to do things our own way.  The best of christians, maybe even pastors, must truely guard our steps… and guard our homes. 

All the craziness of Chapter 21 began with doubting God… it began with doing things there own way… it began with scrambling to make things “work”… not trusting God and doing things right.

May we all be reminded to trust in Gods direction and guidance for our homes…