Voice of Reason

"Now the angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. So Manoah said to his wife, 'We will surely die, for we have seen God.' But his wife said to him, 'If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time.'" -Judges 13.21-23

The wife of Manoah tells her husband what has happened, and Manoah prays that the God sent would come and again and teach them more about what they would need to know for the boy that has been promised. God answers the prayer and when the angel comes the second time the wife runs to get her husband. They speak with the angel and then are instructed to make a burnt offering to God, and the angel ascends in the flame. It is at this point that they realize they have been speaking to an angel.

Here Manoah has a freak out/panic moment. He belives that they have seen God and are about to die. Enter the voice of reason, and his wife, who is nameless in the Bible, points out that God is not going to kill them because of what He has shown them and that He accepted their offering. They have been promised a blessing from God, and death is not going to follow.

In relationships I believe that the role of the voice of reason can shift. When my wife and I first got married it was her. When I was frustrated she would be able to help we calm down. If I worried, she was able to help me trust. For a while our roles shifted as our life has changed, and I became the voice of unshakable faith and serenity. Now it's all situational. There are moments when she is the voice of reason, and there are moments when I am.

Men, God gave us wives for many reasons, one of which is to be the voice of reason at times. It shouldn't be her role all of the time, otherwise we are failing to lead. A leader has to be able to be calm, collected, and confident. But at the same time, there will be times when we don't know what to do. Enter the wife who takes up the needed role to support her husband and care for her children. God created us to be partners, each playing a vital role.

Let us be men who are willing to listen to our wives when we aren't thinking rationally. Let us focus on the voice of reason.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Born with Purpose

"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.'" -Judges 13.2-5

Israel does evil in the sight of God; God allows the Philistines to oppress Israel. This time the deliverance is different. The Spirit of the Lord does not come upon an adult who is ready to take action, rather an angel appears to a barren woman and tells her that she will conceive and give birth the one who will free Israel form the Philistines.

This child will be human, not God incarnate like Jesus, but he will be set apart for God's work from birth. He is born with a purpose, and his parents are to follow certain guidelines so that he will be able to fulfill that purpose. The angel appears twice, upon request from the woman's husband, and the instructions are given a second time. Their son will be born with a purpose.

Men, you were born with a purpose. Your children are/will be born with a purpose. What are you doing to live your purpose personally? What are you doing to prepare your children to learn and fulfill their purpose?

Let us be men who strive to find the calling God has given us. Some of us have been blessed with men in our lives who have encouraged us and helped guide us. Others have not, and have found that purpose from God personally. Do you know that you are here for a reason? Your life is not an accident, you are here intentionally.

Let us be men who guide our children and encourage them to find their purpose. Manoah and his wife were given specific instructions on how to raise their son and what he would accomplish. And while today we don't get the details the Bible contains, what I personally believe to be, the most important lesson any parent can give their children.

Proverbs 3.5-8, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones."

Let us be men who strive to live that. Let us be men who teach those words. Let us be men who live with the purpose we were born for.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

When You're Offended

"Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, 'Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you.' Jephthah said to them, 'I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon; when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand. When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?'" -Judges 12.2-3

The men of Ephraim come to Jephthah and aren't thrilled with him to say the least. They ask why he went to war without asking them to go with him and threaten to burn his house down while he's inside. Jephthah says that they were in trouble and when they did call on Ephraim they didn't come, and when they didn't he took action to save his people. A civil war occurs between the men of Gilead and the half tribe of Ephraim. Under Jephthah's leadership Gilead is victorious.

Ephraim is offended that Gilead went to war without them. Jephthah points out how he called on them for help and they didn't answer. His people were in danger and he acted to save them because no one else would. Looking at a map of the land after it was divided it looks like Jephthah passed through the land possessed by Ephraim and fighting took place there; Ephraim is upset that they weren't involved in a conflict on their own land. As a result they threaten the house burning and a war results. They were offended and it resulted in the deaths of 42,000 men of Ephraim.

Men, when you are offended what is your reaction? Do you out with threats of vengeance, or do you seek a peaceful resolution? How often are you offended and find out you're in the wrong? Is your reaction the same? What are the results of your attitude?

The men of Ephraim were angry over something that they had caused, and it resulted in tens out thousands of their people being killed. When you're offended what is the result?

Let us be men who seek peace. When an offense is given, let us seek rational resolution. Let us not start a war over something that was our own fault.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Man's Foolishness

"Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 'If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.'" -Judges 11.30-31

The Spirit of the Lord has come upon the valiant warrior and he is on his way to battle. He knows that he needs God's help to attain victory for Israel and free them from the oppression of the sons of Ammon, and so he makes a vow to God. He pledges that if God will give him victory then he will give God the first thing that comes out of his house when he returns home.

Reading this I'm wondering what he was thinking. Did his kid have a cat he hated? Was their a servant he was really annoyed with all the time? Was he hoping that either of these two things would walk out first and not only would he be victorious but also rid of something he couldn't stand? Or was it a vow without really thinking about what it could entail?

Jephthah, with the help of God, is victorious, and when he returns home his daughter comes out of the house singing in celebration of his victory to welcome him home. And this is what he must now offer to God. He could have told God he would offer the finest bull in Israel. He could have promised to sacrifice one hundred spotless lambs. But rather than that he promised God the first thing that walked out of his house. I can't imagine how his heart sank when he saw his daughter.

Here we learn another lesson from the life of Jephthah, don't make foolish promises.

Men, have you made a promise to God? Did you think before speaking or did you get caught up in the emotion of the moment? Take God out of it, have you made a foolish, or hasty, promise to someone else? Have you over committed your time and now are unable to follow through with everything? Have you committed resources you don't have, and never did? It costs you your reputation.

Jephthah lost his only child because of a foolish promise he made to God. May we never make the same mistake.

Let us be men who commit to things we can follow through on. Let us think before we speak. Let us guard our reputations and not fall into foolishness.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Man's Work

"When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; and they said to Jephthah, 'Come and be our chief that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.'... Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, 'What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?'...'I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me; may the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.'" -Judges 11.5-6, 12, 27

Judges 11.4-28 show the story or real man. He was a valiant warrior, driven from his father's home by his brothers. While in Tob other men, with no identity were drawn to him and begin to find an idnetity because of him. Israel is oppressed and at this point the elders of Gilead go in search of a man who will deliver them. Those who drove Jephthah out aren't doing anything, and so they go and find the valiant warrior. The will make him their leader if he will lead them in battle, giving him the honor that was never given to him.

He accepts and begins the work of a leader. The enemy king demands land to be given, but Jephthah tells how this land was never taken by Israel, and that the sons of Ammon had every opportunity to take it back but didn't. He stands his ground firmly and doesn't give in to the demands of this king. He knows the truth and stands behind it. The king of Ammon doesn't agree, because he isn't getting what he wants, and so he is ready for war. But Jephthah is not about to back down.

This story inspires me. You have a man who knows his identity calling out the man in others who have no identity. Then when he is needed those who drove him out turn to him, realizing that he is the only man who can deliver them. In the face of opposition he delivers the facts, standing firm on the truth and refusing to give in to the demands of another king.

Men, does your life look like this? Do you have an identity that circumstances cannot take away? Are others drawn to you because of it? Does your identity stand out so that when difficulties arise people know that you can be counted on? Are you able to stand your ground in the face of opposition because you know the truth and that you are rooted in it? What would it take for that to be you?

Let us be men like Jephthah. May we know our identity and help give one to others. May we rise up when called upon and stand for truth. May we speak rightly and never back down from a bully.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Call Out the Man

"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. And Gilead was the father of Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, 'You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.' So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows gathered themselves about Jephthah, and they went out with him." -Judges 11.1-3

Jephthah is a valiant warrior, but because of his mother, something outside of his control, he becomes an outcast. He is driven away by his brothers and lives in the land of Tob. While there other men gather around him and begin to go out and fight along side him.

The text says they were worthless, the Hebrew word means empty or vain. These men had no identity, they lived only for themselves, and as such were probably outcasts as well. But they are drawn to Jephthah, a man who is described as a valiant warrior. They are drawn to this real man, one with an identity, who even when in unfavorable circumstances still stands out and others are willing to commit to him. Perhaps it is with Jephthah that these men stop being worthless. Maybe he gives them an identity and calls out the men in them. He must, because they go out with him, willing die with him.

This is what the world needs most desperately. To many men fall into the category of worthless. They are empty with no identity and no purpose, so they become vain, living only to please and satisfy themselves. They need a man who is man to help them become who they are meant to be. We need men like Jephthah, who even when faced with adversity and rejection don't lose heart. We need valiant warriors who know their identity, and aren't defined by what they come from.

Men, maybe you fall into the category of worthless. Maybe you have never had a man pour affirmation or love into you. Maybe you don't know your identity and feel like you have nothing to offer. This is not the truth, you were created to be a valiant warrior. Your circumstances are not the thing that defines you. God will show you who He made you to be, and He will call out the man in you. I believe that He will guide you to a man who can pour into you as well.

Maybe you don't fall into that category, maybe you're like Jephthah. Maybe you know who you are, and your circumstances will never shake the identity that you have. Wherever you are, rally men, and call them out. Help others by giving them an identity, by helping have a cause to fight for. Call out the man in them.

Let us be men who are not worthless but warriors. Let us call out the man in others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Genuine Confession

"Then the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, 'We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.' The Lord said to the sons of Israel, 'Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines? Also when the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hands. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.' The sons of Israel said to the Lord, 'We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.' So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer." -Judges 10.10-16

Once again Israel has strayed from God. As a result they have been oppressed, this time it's the Philistines and the sons of Ammon. After eighteen years of oppression the people cry out to God for help, but they don't get the response they are hoping for.

Initially God says, "No, deal with it. This is what you have chosen." He reminds them of every time He has delivered them in the past, listing the enemies He has defeated. He points out how in spite of all that He has done they have turned and served other gods, and so He is no longer going to deliver them because they have made their choice. The false gods they have chosen will need to rise up and deliver them.

The people know they have made the wrong choice. The continue to cry out to God, admitting their sin, and acknowledging their need of Him. The text then tells us that they put away the foreign gods and serve the Lord. They no longer worship pagan idols, but turn to God and begin to follow Him. It is at this point that God is ready to deliver them. He has seen that they are genuinely repentant, and now He begins to deliver them.

Men, how do you cry out to God? Is their genuine confession? Is there a real desire for transformation? Do you want God or are you simply looking for Him to make your life easier by taking away some hardship? Do you seek God for what He can do for you, or are you genuinely interested in Him for who He is? Is your confession a genuine acknowledgment of your need for God, or simply a desire for convenience?

Let us be men who turn to God and forsake everything else. Let us be men who are transformed, and rescued, with genuine confession.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Wickedness Repaid

"Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them." -Judges 9.56-57

Gideon dies an old man, and leaves 70 sons, the text says that he had many wives. One son was not born from a wife, but a concubine. Abimelech was the son of this woman. He goes to the town of his mother and convinces them that he should rule out of all of his brothers. The people of Shechem follow him and he then goes and puts all of his brothers to death, removing the competition. However, one of them, Jotham, the youngest, hides and escaped.

Abimelech has done a pretty despicable thing. I'm guessing he was probably an outcast among his brothers because of his mother. He waited and found an opportunity to get even, and when he could, took advantage of it. Initially he seems to have succeeded. He has achieved something for himself, but it hasn't been gained honestly and he will not keep it.

For three years he rules, but God sends and evil spirit the divides Abimelech and the men of Shechem, who begin to deal treacherously with him. Shechem is taken, battles follow and Abimelech is killed after a woman throws an upper millstone on his head. The wickedness of Abimelech is repaid to him by God.

Abimelech did whatever it took to get ahead, and in the process intentionally killed his own brothers. In the end he was betrayed and died a painful and humiliating death. Dishonest gain does not bring peace or satisfaction. Anything not is not built on trust and honesty cannot stand. Betrayal follows betrayal, dishonesty follows dishonesty. And God does not allow wickedness to go unchecked.

Men, this story brings a warning of dishonest gain and wickedness. Have you followed the model of Abimelech? Have you betrayed those closest to you to get ahead? God sees it, so do others, and it will not be overlooked forever.

Let us be men of honesty and integrity. May we never rely on deception and betrayal to advance ourselves.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Outside of the Calling

"The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks. Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household." -Judges 8.26-27

Gideon refuses the crown, but he requests tribute from the men he led into battle. He doesn't ask for much, just a single gold earring from each warriors spoil, but it adds up, and when added to the spoils he has already taken, he has some decent wealth. He goes home and makes an ephod, a priestly garment used in worship. Initially it was probably used to worship God, after all Gideon refused the crown pointing to God as king. But over time the item itself became an object of worship, and once again the people strayed from God.

In this act we see Gideon over step his bounds. The role of the priesthood belonged to the Levites, Gideon was from Manasseh. He has no business making priestly garments. This is not the role God called him to, and trying to do something outside of that calling became a snare for him. He had done so well in refusing the crown, but here we see that he lost sight somehow.

Men, what is the calling God has placed on your life? What lies outside of that calling? Do you desire more than God has given you? Do you seek greatness or victories that are meant for others? Be careful that you don't become ensnared like Gideon. It may not look like a physical idol, but it could be jealousy. It could be envy.

Let us learn to rejoice with others as they fulfill their callings. Let us humbly and obediently focus on what God has called us to. The calling may change and expand over time, but may we never try to force our way into things God has not called us to.

Let us be men who fulfill our calling.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

When You're Popular

"Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.' But Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.'" -Judges 8.22-23

Midian is defeated, Israel is free, and Gideon is offered the throne of Israel. He could have been king, and his sons would have followed him as rulers, but Gideon refuses. He points the people to God, declaring that He is king. He could have ruled, but he refuses. Why, I don't know, but we see here a lesson to heed.

Gideon does not capitalize on success for his own benefit. He delivered the people from oppression, and yet when the time comes for the people to repay him, he refuses their offer. In the height of his popularity he points the people to God. This was the reason God had empowered him. He delivered the people because they cried out to Him, and to bring them back to Him. Gideon is empowered to drive out the Midianites, and God has him do it with only 300 men armed with trumpets and torches in watering pots. God drives out the enemy, and Gideon, the people's champion, reminds the people that it is only because of God that they are now free.

Men, in you moment of success what do you do? When you're popular, what is your reaction? Do you take full advantage of it, trying to advance yourself as much as you can, or gain as much as you can? Or do you give the glory back to God, knowing that you have only succeeded because of Him? If you are offered a crown that isn't yours to wear, what do you do with it?

Gideon refused to take God's place as king. He could have, but he refused. In his moment of glory he directed the focus of the people to God.

Let us be men who don't take the credit that is God's. Let us be men who always point others to Him.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Fearless and Ready

"The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, "My own power has delivered me." Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, "Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead."' So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, "This one shall go with you," he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, "This one shall not go with you," he shall not go.' So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, 'You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.' Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. The Lord said to Gideon, 'I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.'" -Judges 7.2-7

The army has been assembled, and they are ready to go to war, but they are still greatly outnumbered. Verse 12 describes the enemy like locusts covering the valley, with camels as numerous as the sand on the sea shore. But these 32,000 brave Israelites have God on their side, so they prepare for battle. But there is a problem, God says the force is too large. If Gideon leads these men into battle they will win, because God is going to deliver them, but they would become boastful, saying they did it themselves.

God is saving His people so that they will act like His people. If they take the credit they will end up right back in oppression like they are now. So God cuts the army by allowing all who are afraid to go home. Over two thirds of the men leave, but it is still too great a force. God again cuts the army down from 10,000 to 300.

The warriors God chooses are the ones who stay ready and alert. They bring the water to their mouths so that they can still observe their surroundings. If an attack came while down by water, these men would be ready to fight. And here we find the original 300. God takes a sizable army and cuts it down to 300 fearless and ready men.

Men, would you make the cut? Twenty-two thousand men went home because they were afraid of going into battle with God. Another 9,700 were dismissed because they dropped their guard in battle preparation. Only 300 had the faith to courageously trust God and the discipline to stay alert at all times. Only 300 out out 32,000 made the cut. Would you? Do you have the courage to trust God against an overwhelming enemy? Do you have the discipline to stay alert and ready for an attack at all times?

Let us be men who make the cut. Let us be part of the 300 warriors fit for God's service. Let us be fearless and ready.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Mt. Moreh (verse 1)



Mt. Moreh and part of the Jezreel Valley (verse 12)

Clarity from God

"Then Gideon said to God, 'If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.' And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.' God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground." -Judges 6.36-40

Gideon has taken the first steps following God's command. He tore down the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole that belonged to his father. The men of the village were angry, and called for his death because he had desecrated the sacred altar of Baal. His father refuses and says that if Baal is really a god he can rise up and speak for himself.

Following these events the enemies of Israel gather in the Jezreel Valley to prepare for battle. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Gideon and he begins to call Israel to war. This is a big moment. Making a stand in your village is one thing, but taking on an entire army, that is something else. God had appeared to Gideon and commanded him to tear down the altar, and before he leads an army he wants to make sure he has heard God correctly.

He places a fleece out and asks God to confirm the calling he has been given by making only the fleece wet with dew. When it happens, he requests that God do it again, only this time making only the fleece dry. Both times God answers, and Gideon has his confirmation that he is God's chosen deliverer.

Men, there is nothing wrong with seeking confirmation from God. There is nothing wrong with asking God to make His will clear to you. It is not a lack of faith or trust in Him to confirm what He has said. It is simply wanting to be sure that you have correctly heard what He has said. There is nothing wrong with seeking guidance for a decision. God is not angry with Gideon for asking, and He answers both times giving Gideon the confirmation that he needs.

It is important to point out that while it is ok to throw a fleece out, we must not manipulate them, as my Old Testament professor said. You don't throw out a fleece that you know won't happen just to get what you want. My professor used the example, "Don't say, 'God if I'm not supposed to marry this girl, make the sun not rise tomorrow'." Stuff like that is manipulation, not really seeking God's will. But asking for a sign is not a bad thing.

Let us be men who seek clarity from God on what He has commanded. And when He gives it, let us move forward in faith.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Valiant Warrior

"The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.'" -Judges 6.12

Once again Israel has done what is evil in the sight of God, and God has allowed them to be oppressed, this time by Midian. Israel cries out to God and God prepares to deliver them once again. This time God's chosen champion is a young man named Gideon.

When God shows up to talk to Gideon he is hiding in the wine press, beating wheat, in order to hide the grain from the Midianites. He is the youngest member of the family, that is least in the tribe of Manasseh. But when God comes to him, He doesn't give him the identity that Gideon gives himself, or that others have probably given him. God comes to him and identifies him as a valiant warrior. This is how God sees him, and this is his true identity.

Men, how do you see yourself? Are you the youngest? The weakest? The one always chosen last? Are you hiding away doing a task so that your work isn't taken from you? God doesn't see you as inferior, as useless, or as a coward. God sees you as the valiant warrior He created you to be. God sees you as bold and courageous. God sees you as brave and heroic. God sees you as worthy and excellent. God sees you as He created you to be.

The question becomes what do you do with the title God has offered to you? Do you stay hidden away working on your task simply hoping to survive? Or do you grab hold of the identity God offers to you and begin living it? God created you to be a valiant warrior, and that is how He sees you. That is what you have it in you to be. What do you choose to do with that?

Let us be men who see ourselves through God's eyes. Let us claim the title He gives us and make it our identity. Let us be valiant warriors.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Sunrise

"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord; but let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." -judges 5.31a

Deborah and Barak sing a song declaring what God has done in Israel. They praise Him for the warriors that rose to fight and free Israel. They praise Him for the victory He brought and how that land now has rest from war. Their song ends with a request that all of the enemies of God will perish, but that those who love the Lord will be like the sun as it rises.

Have you ever watched a sunrise? Really watched it? A few years ago I was with a group of teens for a weekend retreat on one of the Lake Erie Islands. Sunday morning I got up early and went down to the beach just to spend some time alone with God. There was a lot going on in my life and I was seeking some solitude and hoping for guidance. That morning I watched the sunrise over the water and I noticed something I never had before.

Sunrises are over quickly. As the sun nears the horizon the colors are breath taking, but as soon as the sun is visible all of those colors mesh into a yellow that overtakes the sky. Once the sun breaks the horizon there is no stopping it, it seems to rise even quicker once it is visible. And the hope of Deborah and Barak is that those who love God will be the same way.

Men, what if the presence of God in your life was so powerful that the moment you entered a room it overwhelmed everyone there? What if the presence of God was so powerful in your life that nothing could stop the work you did for the Kingdom? What if the presence of God in your life was like the sun rise after a long dark night?

Let us be men who are so full of the Spirit of God that it is utterly overwhelming. Let us be the sun rise in a world of darkness.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Partnership

"Then Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.' She said, 'I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.' Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him." -Judges 4.8-10

Deborah the prophetess is judging Israel who is currently under the oppression of the Canaanites. The people have cried out to God and He has begun His plan of delivering them Barak has been summoned and Deborah tells him how God is going to deliver Israel. After she shares the plan he asks her to come along.

In this chapter of Judges the role of the hero falls to women. Deborah and Jael are the ones who bring the victory. Both men and women are made in the image of God, and here God chooses to act through women. I'm not going to get into the whole women in ministry discussion here, although I will say my thoughts on the subject are changing, but long story short, women are used by God too. God created men and women to work together, men leading and fighting the battles, women nurturing and sharing in the adventure. God created men and women to work together in a partnership.

Men, your wife is not there to look pretty, cook for you, give you children, and support your hobbies. She is given to you to live adventurously with you. She is there to be your partner and helper along the journey. The two of you are to work together, combining the unique characteristics of God you bear to reveal Him to the world.

How would your marriage change if you began to look at it this way? Do you treat your wife as your most trusted ally?

Let us be men who truly value our wives and what they have to offer to the adventure. Let us invite them to share the adventure that God has called us to. Let us be partners.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Mt. Tabor (verses 12-14)

Spirit Equipped

"When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went out to war, the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. Then the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." -Judges 3.9-11

This is the last three parts of the cycle for Israel, the cry out to God, God raises up a deliverer, the people are freed and the land has rest. The phrase that stands out is "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him" this will appear throughout the book of Judges, as well as the Old Testament. God's people are in trouble and need a champion, so God empowers someone with His Spirit to deliver Israel. The Spirit of God empowers an individual to do great things, supernatural things, for the deliverance of the people.

When a job needs done for God's purpose He will empower someone to do the job. The Spirit of the Lord descends upon a person to equip them for the task at hand. God does not send His servants out alone. He does not send anyone to do a task that He does not equip them for.

Men, if God has called you to a task, He will equip you to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit will be with you, working through you and in you, to enable you to accomplish the task that God has give you. Trust His, and know that He will be with you.

My college preaching professor told me something the last day of class that I have written in the front of my Bible. "May you always be confident to preach the Gospel, but never so confident to think you can do it alone. Preaching is a partnership." That statement can be applied to any task God has called us to. May you always be confident to fulfill God's calling, but never so confident to think that you can do it alone. The work of God is a partnership. God's Spirit will partner with us for the completion of our task.

Let us be men who fulfill the will of God. Let us be men who courageously trust God. Let us be men who are Spirit equipped.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Tested Love

"These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses." -Judges 3.3-4

Verses 1 and 2 tell us that nations were left so that Israel could learn warfare. Verse 3 goes into some detail about what nations were left and verse 4 says that there were left for the testing of Israel. Joshua gave the people the choice to serve God or others gods before he died, and here God is giving them the opportunity to make the same choice.

God gave humans the ability to choose (free will) and so there must be options to choose from. Without the ability to choose something different there cannot be real love. This is why God placed the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of Eden, so Adam and Eve had the freedom to choose God or not. Here Israel is presented with the same opportunity, obey God or follow pagan nations.

God does not force Israel to follow and love Him, He gives them the choice. If they decide to follow Him the will have His presence, provision, and protection. If not then the forfeit His blessings, but the choice is theirs. The nations left in the land are there so that Israel's faithfulness and commitment to God can be tested with the ability to choose something different.

Men, everyday we are faced with tests from God, will we choose to follow Him in each moment? Just as Israel was given the opportunity to choose for themselves whom they would serve, so are we. God allows these tests so that we can truly love Him.

Let us be men who choose God. Let us reject everything that is false and choose to serve and follow God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Taught War

"Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly)." -Judges 3.1-2

Judges 3 begins by stating that God has left some nations in the land in order to test Israel. The Promised Land was the cross road of the ancient world. Three continents are connected by the land of Israel. It will be a place that is fought over for a long time. God has promised that if Israel remains faithful then no enemy would stand before them. Think about that, had Israel remained faithful to God, Alexander the Great would have fallen before Israel, and the Roman Empire would never have taken possession of the land. But the promise of God is not an excuse fo idle laziness. God would go before them and fight with them, but Israel would still have to fight.

There was a need to train new generations how to fight. They had to learn war, and while school and training are good, it doesn't capture the same aspects as on the job training and experience. In order to learn war properly, the emotions and chaos of the battle field, you have to be on the battle field. We see that God has allowed some nations to remain so that the next generations could learn to do battle.

Israel has the advantage, first if they are faithful, God is with them, ensuring victory. But secondly, these are nations that have heard about the victories Israel has had, maybe even seen some of them first hand. They know that God is with them and that He fights for them. In a sense they are learning in a controlled environment, but is fully real none the less. And this is how we are to learn to fight.

Men, we live in a world at war, and we have been given strength so that we can join God in the battle. He still fights for us and with us, but we need to add our shields to His phalanx. Have you had on the job training? Have you learned under the instruction of another godly warrior how to fight spiritual battles? Have opportunities to test your strength and experience danger and adventure been arranged for you? Are you arranging them for others?

Just as it is crucial that we personally experience God, we must learn to do battle. Just as we must teach and encourage our children to experience God, we must also teach and allow them to fight for God. We must arrange for opportunities for them to have battle field experience in a controlled environment. Let them get a taste of what goes on, while still under your strength and protection. That is how they will best learn, and it is our responsibility to make sure they learn. You get your children for 216 months (birth to 18), and in that time you have to prepare them as best you can.

Let us be men who first learn to fight under the guidance of a godly warrior. And with the experience we gain fighting for God, let us teach others to fight as well.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Personal Experience

"All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel." -Judges 2.10

Judges 2.11-23 describes the cycle I mentioned in the previous post. The generation mentioned in verse 10 had left Egypt. They had seen God deliver them, provide for them in the wilderness, and bring them into the Promised Land. This new generation saw none of that. They were born in the Promised Land, knowing only the fulfillment of the promise, not the journey that brought the people to that. They didn't witness God at work, or see Him on the mountain and fall down in terror. They didn't experience God, and so they were led astray after Baal and Ashtaroth.

No doubt they had heard the stories of what God had done, but they didn't experience the power of God for themselves. Stories only take you so far, and you might get to the point where you feel like the story is simply that, a story. Maybe you fall into the line of thinking, "That's what God did a long time ago, but He doesn't do that still." When God is reduced to fairytales, or a has been, what motivation is there to follow Him?

Here we find a crucial element that we must incorporate into raising the next generation. We must challenge, and encourage, them to experience God personally. Christianity is not a religion, a system of habitual rituals done to please God; it is a relationship, something deeply intimate and personal, that everyone is meant to pursue. Who is to say that one religion is better than another? That certain rituals are right and others are wrong? But relationships change your life, they have meaning and significance.

We'll see in the Psalms that God is not after the ritual but the relationship. Rituals don't transform you, but relationships due. Rituals don't require much, but relationships require everything. Rituals are done the same way for centuries, but every relationship is uniquely personal.

Men, there are two things, first, we must come to personally experience God for ourselves. Hearing stories about Him from the Bible, or history, is good, but God is not done working. The same God who did the great things of the Bible is still at work doing great things today. Your parent's faith is their faith. Your pastor's faith is His faith. The stories of the glory days from the 1950's are good, but they aren't the end. What is your faith? What has God done in your life for His glory? How are you experiencing God?

Second, once we have experienced God we must challenge the next generation to do the same. Your faith is your's, not your childrens. Teach them to pray. Teach them to study the Bible. Teach them to seek God. Share the stories of how you have seen God at work, how He has brought restoration, and tell them that God is not done. Help them know that He wants to, and can, do the great things of Scripture in their lives. Help them to find and develop their own relationship with God, encourage it, and you can help to avoid the cycle that is found in Judges. And it is crucial to note, that not every cycle involves turning back to God.

Let us be men who have experienced God in deeply personal ways. Let us know Him and serve Him because of what He has done both past and present. And let us be men who challenge others to experience God in deeply personal ways.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Partial Obedience

"Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, 'I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, "I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars." But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? Therefore I also said, "I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."'" -Judges 2.1-3

Judges 1.19-35 gives an account of the cities the tribes of Israel did not take and the peoples they allowed to live and remain in the land. Some of them became forced labor when the people became strong enough, but God's command was to destroy them completely. Israel has partially obeyed, they have destroyed the peoples that they were able to, and they have enslaved the rest, but God's command was never to take the people of the land as slaved.

At the beginning of Judges 2 an angel of the Lord comes and speaks to the people. He recalls God's promise and commands, tells how God has kept His promise, but not tells how Israel has not. Partial obedience is not sufficient. God told the people what would happen if they allowed the pagan nations of the land to remain among them. They would become thorns in their sides and a snare to the people. The influence that was allowed to remain would work its way into Israel's beliefs and practices and lead them away from God.

Men, partial obedience is not good enough. Doing part of what God said isn't enough. Partial obedience means that there is also partial disobedience. When God gives instructions we must be diligent to complete them. He says what He says for a reason, not just to hear Himself talk. Everything He says is for our good so that we can live in a better relationship with Him.

Israel's partial obedience left an influence that would work to pull them away from God. There is a cycle that unfolds in Judges:

The people rebel against God
The people are oppressed and cry out to God
God raises up a champion to deliver the people
The people are saved and follow God
Repeat.

This cycle was avoidable had they just completely obeyed God. Had Israel driven out all of the inhabitants of the land there would have been no one to lead them away from God. What cycles in our own lives are avoidable?

Let us be men who fully obey God. Let us be men who do all that He commands.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Don't Fight Alone

"Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, 'Come up with me into the territory allotted me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I in turn will go with you into the territory allotted you.' So Simeon went with him." -Judges 1.3

Joshua is dead, and there is still land to take. The people seek God on who is to lead the attack and God says that Judah is to go and He has given the land into their hands. Before the tribe of Judah goes into battle they turn to Simeon and ask them to go up and fight with them. It makes sense for Judah to ask Simeon because Simeon's land was located inside of Judah's so the alliance makes sense, but regardless of the reason we see an important lesson, don't fight alone.

God did not create us to go it alone. From the very beginning He said it was not good for a man to be alone. We were created for relationships. God created us for a relationship with Him, a relationship with a spouse, and relationships with our brothers in arms. Men don't need accountability partners, we need brothers in arms who have our back. We need people who will go into battle with us, who will fight by our side every moment.

The Spartans had the phalanx, each warrior's shield protected the man next to him. The secret to their strength and battlefield success, even Thermopile was a success, was the phalanx. Each individual Spartan was a force to be reckoned with. Each one was taught to ignore pain and trained in the art of war. They were battle hardened and each one could more than hold his own. But no single Spartan was anything compared the strength of the phalanx. They knew that fighting alone meant certain death, that one weak point in the phalanx meant its collapse. They never fought alone.

Men, don't fight alone, you weren't made to. You might be strong, you might be able to hold your own for a while, but no matter how strong you are, you need the phalanx. Your strength, when added to the strength of your brothers, becomes unstoppable. Don't go it alone, add your shield to the ranks and fight side by side with others.

Let us be men who fight together.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Personal Decision

"Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24.14-15

Joshua is giving his final words to Israel. He recounts how nothing God has promised Israel has failed. He tells how God chose Abraham and then how Jacob went down to Egypt. He tells how God delivered the people and brought them into the Promised Land. And then he comes to what is recorded in verses 14 and 15. Because of everything God has done, the people are encouraged to fear God and serve Him. They are do do away with the false God's their ancestors worshiped and serve God.

However, Joshua does not force them to follow God, that isn't how this works. He tells them that if it is disagreeable to serve God then they can choose who they are going to serve. The god's of Ur, where Abraham came from, the god's of Egypt, or the god's of the Amorites. They are free to chose who they will worship, but Joshua tells them that he and all of his family, will be serving God. Each of this us is faced with a decision, whom shall we serve? What shall we live for?

I know that my great-grandfather was a minister for a while, and that is as far back as a I know. At the very least I am a fourth generation Christian. But there are those of my extended family that have no interest in serving God. My family history is marred with adultery, abandonment, alcoholism, and unwed parents. It is not a legacy I am particularly proud of. My family name has already been dragged through the mud, and there are some of the most recent generation that are bent on heaping as much mud on it as they can. They have come from the same heritage I have, but their choice is very different than mine.

I have come to peace with the fact that there is nothing I can do about their decisions. I have no control over the damage they do to my family name, but I do have control over what I do. I am committed to doing what I can to remove the mud that covers the past so that my children may be proud of their heritage. I have no control over the choices that my family makes, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Men, what is your decision? You have the choice to serve whom you will. Regardless of what you come from, you can change, or continue, the path into the future. You can set the tone and chart the direction for your family. Will you serve the Lord, or life for self? What example will you set to be followed.

Let us be men who serve the Lord. Let us set an example for others to follow after. Let our personal decision be to serve the Lord.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Investment

"So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God. For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you." -Joshua 23.11-13

Joshua's final instructions have begun with the most vital thing for Israel to do. They must continue to hold firmly to God and follow Him. Here he warns them of what will happen if they fail to do that. If they choose to abandon God by intermarrying with the pagan nations that are left, associating with their sinful worship, then God will not be with them. IF they turn their back on God, He will let them go.

God has blessed the people and been with them. He has given them His standards to live by, and as long as they are faithful to Him, He will continue to be with them and protect them. But at the same time, He is not forcing them to be His people. They have the ability to choose and when they choose Him, they receive all of the blessings that He offers. If they decide they no longer want to follow Him they have that choice, but in choosing that they forfeit His blessings.

The idea here is that you receive what you choose. If the people continue to choose to devote their lives to God they will receive His goodness. If they choose to pursue the pagan nations of the land, they will find the destruction that lifestyle brings. Where you invest yourself determines the outcome. Investing in God brings His presence and blessings. Investing in anything else brings about suffering.

Men, where are you investing? Are you pouring yourself intentionally into God, being diligent to love Him, obey Him, and follow Him? Or are you investing in the things of the world? Are you seeking to gratify your own, fleshly, desires? What are you living for? Who are you serving? Who/what do you love? We choose if our investments become a snare or the source of life.

Let us be diligent in our love of God. Let us invest ourselves in things that bring life.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Final Instructions

"Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day." -Joshua 23.6-8

Joshua is old and is preparing his final words for Israel. When Moses delivered a similar message Israel was preparing to enter the end and take it. Now they have possession of the land and rest from war. But even though their circumstances have drastically changed for the better, Joshua gives a very similar introduction as Moses did.

Joshua tells the people to be firm and do all that the law says. They are not to turn aside from it, or associate with the nations that still remain in the land. They are to continue to cling to God as they have. Joshua does not want the people to wander from God. As another leader is preparing to step out of leadership he is passing on the most vital instructions he has.

Men, what instructions have you passed on? What sort of example are you setting so that when the time comes to pass on instructions people will heed them? Joshua had set an example for the people of obedience to God, just as Moses had, and he is instruction them to follow that example after he is gone.

The most important thing is faithfulness and obedience to God. This is the emphasis of Joshua's final instructions.

Let us live in a way that permits us to give final instructions. Let us offer final instructions that give the most vital information.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Investigate the Truth

"When they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a large altar in appearance. And the sons of Israel heard it said, 'Behold, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.' When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves at Shiloh to go up against them in war." -Joshua 22.10-12

Israel has possession of the land and rest from war. The tribes from the east side of the Jordan have returned home, but on their way they built an altar. The other tribes, unsure of what the purpose is, but assuming it will be used in worship that God has not prescribed, go off to investigate. However, they go out dressed for war.

Israel has turned from God many times. They disobeyed Him and worshiped false gods. Every time they did His presence and protection was removed from the people. Having learned from the past, they are not about to sacrifice the land they have just won, and so they go to see what is going on. Here in this story we see how we should respond.

They go to investigate first. They aren't set on destroying anything or anyone. They go and ask question with a rational reason for their concern. When they find out that nothing has been done to violate God's commands or disobey Him in any way, they praise God and return home. However, they were ready to act if something was wrong. If the eastern tribes had fallen into pagan worship, they would fight to restore holiness to Israel.

When something causes us concern we need to investigate it rationally, not emotionally charge. We need to be ready to act in the event that something false is being spread, but we only act after we know what's going on. And it is crucial to note that this course of action took place among the tribes of Israel, not with a foreign nation that did not live by God's standards.

Men, what is your response, do you investigate or go in with guns blazing? Do you attack those outside of the faith, who don't believe the same things that you do? The response we have needs to be ask questions first, and then only attack if necessary. And this response is meant to those who claim to be part of the faith. We have the responsibility to help those within the faith live by God's standards and grow into Christlikeness, it is not our place to condemn those outside of the faith and embark on a crusade against them.

Let us be men who act rationally, but are prepared to fight for the truth. Let us investigate.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

After Battle

"You have not forsaken your brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." -Joshua 22.3-5

Before Moses had died the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh asked Moses for land on the east side of the Jordan. Moses grants their request, but on the condition that they join the rest of the nation and assist in taking the Promised Land until they have received their inheritance. Now that the land has been taken and they have kept their promise, Joshua sends them home, but he does so with instructions.

He tells them to be careful to observe and obey God. They need to keep His commandments and serve Him with all their heart and soul. I believe this warning is crucial, especially after battle. In the midst of fighting it is easy to depend upon God. You need Him for victory and your very survival. But when the fighting ends, when peace and rest are the norm, it is easy to not depend upon God.

Like wise, when there is no battle to fight, it is easy to become bored, distracted, and fat and lazy. When there seems to be no purpose to your existence any more its easy to fill the time with things that waste it, or to simply give up. I've heard stories about guys who retire and six months later are dead. This is why we need to have hobbies outside of work. This is why we need to have passions we pursue outside of our obligations.

Men, when the battle ends, we must be careful that we don't lose sight of God. We must be careful that we don't grow complacent and apathetic. We must be careful to observe all that God has commanded us and walk in His ways. We cannot lose sight of Him when the battle is over. We still have a purpose when the fighting has come to an end.

Let us be men who live for more than battle. Let us be men who are dependent upon God before we ever go off to war. Let us be men who live with obedient purpose after the battle.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

When it Comes to Pass

"So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." -Joshua 21.43-45

The land has been divided, cities of refuge set up, and a portion given to the Levites. God has done all that He promised. There is peace in the land, and no enemy will stand before Israel. Every good thing that God promised Israel has come to pass. What next?

When everything comes to pass what happens? When you come to the place where you have "arrived" what do you do? I have hopes and dreams for the future. I'd love to have a piece of ground where I can escape to, grow 97-100% of my own produce, and be able to shoot guns there. I'm pursuing two master's degrees with the hope of returning to full time ministry at some point shortly after the completion of school. What happens if it comes to pass?

For a lot of us I think we'd set our sights on the next thing. Maybe another degree (I honestly don't see that happening for me), a bigger house, more stuff, the next promotion, etc. I don't want that to be what happens. If it all comes to pass I want my first response to be praise and contentment. I don't want to say, "Thanks God, now could we work on this?"

Men, that kind of attitude starts with contentment in the present, before everything comes to pass. It begins with being satisfied and thankful with what God has given us now. There is nothing wrong with dreaming and hoping for the future. It gives us a goal to shoot for. Contentment in the moment guards our hearts for the future. It keeps our motivation in check.

Let us be men who are grateful for what God has done. Let us be humble, and if it comes to pass, let us praise God and be content.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Consequences

"He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled." -Joshua 20.6

I really hope this is the last chapter that talks about cities of refuge. They were something God set up to protect people who had committed manslaughter, not murder, from being killed for an accident. They show God's justice and protection against things that aren't intentional or premeditated. However, it is important to note that every action, whether intentional or accidental, brings consequences.

A person could flee to a city of refuge to be saved from an unjust punishment. In that time they had to live in the city, away from their home and family. Even though the action was accidental, there were still consequences that had to be faced. An accident did not permit someone to get off easy. God set up a place for their life to be saved, but it didn't mean everything went back to normal.

Men, let us face the consequences of our actions. When we make a choice, own the outcome. When we act, own the result. Don't try to pass it off on someone else to try and get things to go back to normal for you, man up and deal with the consequences that you have brought on with your decision. It may mean life being inconvenient or uncomfortable for a while, but part of being a man is about taking responsibility.

Let us be men who own our decisions and live with the consequences.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor