Tag: Israel

Daily Word

Deuteronomy 32

judyinthesky91

Read Deuteronomy 32 – Rock-a-bye-Baby… I was comforted by that song as a child even though it’s a bit dark.   Moses’ song is like that.   It starts off powerful, with full attention to the LORD and moves through rejection, anger, punishment and second chances.  

Read verses :1-4 aloud.  That is the LORD.   This song is comforting and serious. We serve a mighty, just and perfect God.

Sin enters the picture. (:5-6)  And God is gracious to remind Israel of the things he has done to rescue them in the past. (:7-14)

They turn against the LORD, and worship foreign gods.   The people grow lazy with complacency… something we all should guard against. (:15-18)

The LORD responds by turning his back on Israel, which leads to punishment. (:19-27)  And Beloved,  the LORD’s punishment is harsh and awful… may the threat of punishment be all that’s needed to steer you back to his narrow path. 

The song goes another 16 verses,  speaking of the great lengths the Lord will go to. Believer, believe! 

After the song,  the LORD tells Moses to climb a mountain from which he can see the Promised Land.   He wasn’t fit to enter it, but the LORD did let him see it before he died.   In the New Testament,  Moses shows up with Elijah for Jesus’ transfiguration. (Matthew 17)  Both of these things assure us that God is full of justice and mercy.  

And what about this song? Does knowing the evidence from the past and the consequence of rejecting God change things for you?   There is so much at stake and here is God’s Word,  available to all, teaching, admonishing and encouraging us to know Jesus and live fully!

Daily Word

Deuteronomy 31

judyinthesky91

Read Deuteronomy 31 – Moses passes the torch.
Moses is 120 years old. He has led Israel from slavery in Egypt, through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, right up to the promised land they were about to enter. The LORD himself would cross over the Jordan ahead of them. He would destroy the nations living there and give them possession of their land. Joshua would lead them. It was time to be strong and courageous! (:1-8)
Moses then wrote the book of instructions and gave it to the priests. It was to be carried with the Ark of the LORD’S Covenant. It was to be read every 7 years to all of the people of Israel. He also put it to song (which is recorded in our next chapter). (:19)
Beloved, think about it, every nation I can think of has a national anthem song. It is a song that defines the nation. The LORD gave Moses a song that would stay in the hearts of the people long after Moses was gone.
The LORD had Moses call Joshua to the Tabernacle and he met them there. The LORD said to Moses, “You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them….” It starts in vs. :14 and goes on explaining that Israel will abandon the LORD, and that this law would serve as a witness for the LORD against the people. Remember, the LORD knows the beginning to the end. He does not say this might happen. He says it will happen, and indeed, it does.
We have a National Anthem song in the USA. It seems we should be singing it more often and teaching it to our children. Many in our country have lost their way, much like the LORD said Israel would. “God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her, and guide her through the night with the light from above….” Remember, the LORD did not say knowing these things would save them, much like the law does not save us, but it serves as witness to show us our need for a Savior. And praise the LORD, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Daily Word

Genesis 49

judyinthesky91

Read Genesis 49 – Prophecy  and blessings – Jacob called his sons together with a prophetic benediction for each one that we will see confirmed with time.  It is a sober time. 

Reuben, Jacob’s first born, lost his standing when he had sexual relations with his father’s concubine,  Bilhah.  He is called as stable as water.  

Simeon and Levi, next in line, also lost their standing over their cruelty and wrath in Shechem.

Beloved, there is godly and ungodly anger.  Theirs was ungodly because it was rooted in bitterness and wrath… It was motivated by self righteousness.  God’s Word says in Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin.”  And in Ephesians 4:31 we are told to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger.

And now,  Judah, from whom King David and later, Jesus, would come.   He is pronounced the one whom his brothers will praise.  Jacob says,  “Judah is a lion’s whelp. ” Later, Jesus is described as a lion from the tribe of Judah. (Revelation 5:5) 

Jacob’s words over his sons will be confirmed in the land divisions (covered in Joshua), and in Jesus’s life and ministry… It is remarkable and a stretch above me to put it all together.

Beloved, soak in as much as you can and ask God to give you wisdom and insight as you go. 🙏 

Daily Word

Genesis 33

judyinthesky91

Read Genesis 33 – This is an answered prayer.

In Genesis 32:8-12, Jacob prayed to be saved from Esau’s likely attack. And we see Esau receiving Jacob with joyful enthusiasm (:4). One can only speculate that God changed Esau’s heart considering the fact that he brought 400 men with him to meet up with Jacob, and the last time they were together Esau wanted to kill him.

Jacob/Israel approaches his brother with utmost respect. And their reunion is wonderful. Esau wants Jacob to come with him to Seir, but Jacob says he will meet him there. Scripture does not say this happened. It says Jacob went to Sukkoth and built a place for himself and shelters for the livestock… in other words, they would be staying a while.

After, they went to Shechem and Jacob set up an altar, and called it El Elohe Israel. “The God of Israel”.

It seems as if Jacob/ Israel is rather cautious as he steps into the future the LORD has given him… the perfectionist in me wants him to show up in a cape, heroically stating, “I AM ISRAEL! GOD IS WITH ME AND NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST ME! ” I tend to put these expectations on myself to a degree as well. But Israel is doing just fine being sanctified into the man God will use. So am I. So are you. Grace to us all, Beloved, may the grace of our Lord and Savior keep us walking closely with Him.

Daily Word

Genesis 32

judyinthesky91

Read Genesis 32 – Let’s learn to view life “from now on”.

Jacob can’t get back home without passing through Esau’s region.  Remember, Esau was set on killing Jacob before he fled (Genesis 27:41), and now Jacob forms a plan to heap gifts of livestock on his brother in waves to soften his heart before they are face to face. 

Jacob wisely spent the evening in prayer, reminding the LORD of His promises, showing gratitude for all that he had and asking for rescue from Esau’s hand (:9-12). 

Jacob took his people across the river, then returned to camp.  He was alone when “a man” came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. :24  The man had to go, but Jacob would not let him go unless he blessed Jacob.  “The Man” told him, “Your name will no longer be Jacob.  From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” :28 

Beloved, Jacob had a shady start, but from there he worked hard and remained close to God.  After one final night of wrestling with God he was ready to become Israel – as God intended all along.  As you consider these events, ask yourself, “Do I hold on to the past so tight that I am delaying the future God has for me?” 

May you live with a FROM NOW ON attitude, no longer wrestling with the past, and confidently stepping forward with your new identity in Christ Jesus! 🙌🦸‍♀️❤☝️❤🦸‍♂️🙌

Daily Word

1 Kings 13

judyinthesky91

Read 1 Kings 13 – Drama unfolds –

King Jeroboam of the 10 northern tribes, receives unfavorable news from a prophet.  His solution is to point at the prophet, shouting, “Seize that man!”  The Lord instantly caused his hand to be paralyzed in the pointing position.  He could not pull it back, as the altar cracked and ashes spewed out… just as the prophet declared (13:1-5).  Jeroboam pleads for his hand, the prophet prays, and the Lord restores it. 

Jeroboam wants to give the prophet a gift and a nice meal, but the prophet was instructed by the Lord not eat or drink anything in Israel. 

On his way back to Judah, an older prophet meets him and offers him food and drink.  The old prophet assures the young prophet that an angel of the Lord told him to do this – BUT HE WAS LYING!!! (13:18) A lying prophet – lying to another prophet – what terrible times…

We will face terrible times, it will be hard to know who to trust.  That is why we must each train ourselves to discern the Lords voice, reading the bible as we are, being rooted in church, and praying without ceasing… dig deeper with John 3:16, John 14:6, Ephesians 6:10-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.