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Archive for the ‘Bible Characters’ Category

Self-Reliance

Posted in Assurance, Curse, Explanations, Joshua, Prayer, tagged on July 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai … And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him … Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” – Joshua 7:2-3

Fresh from a great victory over Jericho, where the walls fell flat at their shouts, Israel decided life would be a piece of cake, but they were surprised and dismayed when the little town ate their lunch.

They failed because instead of asking God how to proceed they thought they could handle it themselves, unaware of circumstances within their camp that prevented success.

There are so many things we, too, simply do not see or perceive. It is always best to ask God’s guidance on every task. Proverbs puts it this way,

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!” – Proverbs 3:6 (Message Bible)

fritz@langgang.com

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Neither

Posted in Angel, Joshua, tagged on June 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Joshua went up to [the angel] and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD…” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence – Joshua 5:13-14

We start seeing life from an “Us vs. Them” perspective and when it doesn’t go well ask God, “Who’s side are you on, anyway?!

His answer is always the same, “Neither!” God is not obligated to defend our views, causes, or desires. He has his own agenda which is always right, honest, good, and true without regard to whose side it’s on.

Joshua quit asking God to be on his side and, instead, choose to be on God’s.

Sound Bite: The right question is NOT if God is on our side but if we are, really, on his.

– fritz@langgang.com

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A Lesson From Hair

Posted in Belief, Calling, Samson, tagged , on June 24, 2011| 1 Comment »

“Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again …” – Judges 16

The Bible has a story about a man who lost his strength when his hair was cut.

Most are familiar with the story from Judges 16 – a man dedicated to the Lord before birth and called to God’s service, loses his strength through foolish choices, culminating in his hair being cut, him being blinded, abandoned in a foreign prison.  

Most know the ending, his hair grows back and he gains his strength again to topple an entire building, striking vengeance on God’s enemies. 

Such a sad story of loss, regret, death!

Was he a role model of what NOT to do, an example of what happens to those who aren’t careful to maintain their morals?  

And what’s the deal about his hair?  Cutting my hair has no effect on my strength!

A little background may help.

Sampson was a Nazarite.  Nazarites had a few rules, the two most noticeable being: No wine, not even eating grapes, and no razors.  Their abstinence and hair were symbols of dedication to God.  Letting his hair be cut was the final abandonment of his lifelong commitment. 

Here’s the lesson from hair, God was sending a message to us about his call on our lives!

Just as hair grows back with time, God’s purposes and calls endure and return — even after severe loss.

The apostle Paul put it this way:

“Looked at from the long-range perspective of God’s overall purpose … God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded

Romans 11:29 (Message Bible)

Soundbite: The sacrifice of Christ still pays for all sin, God holds no grudges, and when call to service is given, it endures if we let it.

— fritz@langgang.com

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