Sabbath Year

"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year. All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.'" -Leviticus 25.2-7

God had commanded His people to take one day out of seven to rest. It was a time set aside for worship and renewal of their bodies, souls, and minds. On that day they were to do no work, simply to rest, worship, and fellowship with each other and God. While on the journey to the Promised Land it required faith because God didn't send any food on the sabbath, so they had to gather twice as much the day before.

Now He is telling them that the land is also to be given time to rest and renew itself. Every seventh year they aren't to plant any crops or prune their vineyards. They aren't to gather anything that is produced. Instead God had promised that during the sixth year the land would produce so much food that it would last for three years. They would eat it during the sabbath year, when they were planting the eighth year, and until they the harvest from the ninth year (Leviticus 25.20-22). The sabbath year was a test of faith, and a chance for the people to remember God's provision and blessing. It would give them yet another reason to rejoice and worship God for all that He had done.

Men, has God called you to take a sabbath year? I'm hoping at some point in the next decade (hopefully less) to find a decent piece of ground to live out my days on. I've made layout plans for all kinds of produce: fruit trees, grape vines, berry bushes, nut trees, and several garden beds. There is even a maple grove so that I can make syrup. Every time I'm at the grocery store to buy apples I look hopefully to the day when I won't ever have to pay for an apple again. I'm hoping to be able to grow most of what my family would eat. What if God asked me to do a sabbath year?

For you it might not be with gardening. Maybe God is asking you to take some time off of your job to pursue ministry. Maybe a mission trip, or your education. What do you do? Do you have the faith that He'll provide for you and your family financially? When God spoke to the people about the sabbath year He promised that in the sixth year they would have food for three years. They only needed food for two. They need food during the seventh year since they weren't plowing, planting or harvesting, and they needed food for the eighth year since they didn't collect anything the seventh year. But God goes above and beyond all that we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3.20-21), and so just because of who He is He gives food for a third year, just to bless His people and show His love and provision for them.

We have no reason to doubt God. The Bible is full of His promises, and the fulfillment of those promises. Israel never practiced the sabbath year. They never trusted that God would provide for them. For 490 years they lived in self reliance, and they ended up as captives, exiled in Babylon for their lack of faith.

If we choose to ignore God, to not live in faith and trust of His promises, we too will be exiled. It might not be literally like Israel, but we may find ourselves exiled for the peace and joy, certainly from the full blessings of God, because we refuse to trust Him.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Hardships to Trust

"But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." -Exodus 7.3-5

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and the work of the people was increased. Moses is wondering why God even sent him at this point because things have only gotten worse. And as he seeks God's direction, signs are promised. God says He is about to act. Here we find one of those verses that has given many people trouble over the years. God tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I think people have trouble because they don't read the rest of the verse. Why is God going to harden Pharaoh's heart? So that He can multiply His signs and wonders. God is going to harden Pharaoh's heart so that He can display His power.

Israel hasn't known God for centuries. They have heard stories of Him passed down, but He is always referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And if you think about it that's how He was always referred to. He has been the God of one man at a time, never a nation. And for four hundred years they have been slaves, which God told Abraham would happen, but they haven't heard from Him or learned about Him in that time. They don't know who He is, or what He is capable of. How are they to trust Him? God is going to make it easy, He's going to show them His power.

Men, sometimes God does things that don't make complete sense to us in order to show us what He is capable of doing. Sometimes God allows hard times to take place so that we can learn to trust Him more. And sometimes He allows us to experience hardships so that we come to know Him. He said that the Egyptians, a polytheistic pagan culture, would know He was the Lord. Sometimes it's only at the bottom that we can clearly see Him.

What are you going through right now? What hardships or struggles are you facing? What is God trying to teach you? Financial issues? God could be teaching you to have faith in Him to provide for your needs. Family issues? God could be allowing them to help you mend relationships, or maybe sever them. Trouble at work? God could be preparing you for something else, something that excites your heart. What is it in your life?

God is trustworthy. Not everything He does will make sense to us, but everything He does has a point, and ultimately that point is to show us that we can trust Him.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Excuses

"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.' The Lord said to him, 'Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.'" -Exodus 4.10-12

Moses is running out of excuses. Everything he has brought up God has countered. He's given him a location, a name, and signs to perform. And even with these Moses is still unwilling to jump in with both feet. For some reason there is still fear and timidity, and so he starts making excuses for why he can't do this thing that God has asked. "I can't go, I don't speak well, never have." God's response is simple, "Who made your mouth? I did. God and I will be with you and show you what to say." God promises to be with him even in the area's of his physical limitations.

Men, what excuses are you making to God? Lack of time? Lack of money? Lack of help? Lack of... fill in the blank? What is your excuses? Now ask yourself, is that really the issue, or is it the security blanket you're holding on to, hoping God will change His mind? Think of what your fear is costing you.

First, it is costing you the chance to be part of something epic. God has a part for you in His story, a part only you can play, and fear is keeping you from it. Second, it's costing you time. The older I get I realize how short life is and how fast it goes by. I don't have time to waste being scared.

Third, fear costs us the opportunity to watch God do something great. Every shortcoming, every hindrance we see as preventing us from going, are just opportunities to see God work. A time issue is the opportunity to gain discipline, and watch God cut the unnecessary from our lives. A money issue is the chance to watch God come through and provide in ways we never imagined. A help issue is the chance to trust God and watch Him come through, and call others to use their gifts. Whatever your excuse is, it is the chance to watch God work wonders, and fear is keeping your from it.

God doesn't provide Moses with the words at that moment. He doesn't immediately become an eloquent communicator. God simply says, "I made your mouth. I will be with you. Trust me, and I will teach you what to say." Yet again there is the call to faith in God.

Without faith in God we cannot be part of His story. Without faith in God we cannot accomplish the epic. Without courage from God we cannot follow Him in faith. God has promised to be with us, and He will handle every excuse we can make if we'll trust Him.

What is keeping you from following? What are your excuses?

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Final Reminder

"Joseph said to his brothers, I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.' Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, 'God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.'" -Genesis 50.24-25

Joseph is nearing the end. He's lived a good, long life. Aside from some rough patches in his late teens and through his twenties, he really doesn't have much to complain about. He's been successful with his career and with his family. He's one of the most powerful men in the world and he's watched his children grow up. Has been able to enjoy grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren. In his life he has learned to trust and rely upon God, and his final words are passing on this faith.

He tells his brothers that he is about to God, but that God will take care of them, and eventually take them back home to fulfill the covenant He had made. Joseph had been taking care of them, and with his death there was probably a little concern for the future, but he sets those concerns to rest by pointing them back to God. His final reminder is to stay focused on God.

Men, when the time comes to say your final goodbyes, what will your final reminder be? What will be the final words that your children and grandchildren remember you saying? Will they be words of hope and comfort for those you are leaving behind? Will it be a testimony of the goodness and blessings of God that inspire faith and trust in Him?

From the very beginning of their lives I am teaching my children to live out Proverbs 3.5-8. More than anything I want them to trust fully in God and lean not on their own understanding. I want them to acknowledge Him in everything and watch Him strengthen their paths. I want them to be humble before Him and to turn from evil so they can experience the peace and healing that righteousness brings. What greater testimony and teaching for this than to live it personally, and then die with it? If the final words they hear from me are the things I've taught them, and strived to live with, all of my life, what greater testament is there to God's goodness and the validity of His word?

Men, the final words you say will be a reflection of how you have lived all your life. What will your final reminder be?

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Faith in the Face of Fear

"Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.'... Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac." -Genesis 31.3, 17-18

Jacob has grown wealthy, and he has a large family, but now his brother-in-laws are angry with him. Even Laban's attitude has changed towards him. His shrewdness has made him rich and Laban's flocks have gotten weaker. And God speaks to him and tells him to go home. Go back to where Esau is.

Remember at their last meeting Esau was planning to kill Jacob after their father dies. Jacob stole his blessing and their mother sent Jacob to Laban to protect him. It's been two decades (verse 38), but who knows what Esau is thinking. That's a long time to stew, or plenty of time to get over it. But Jacob took everything from Esau, and that could be something he won't forget about.

I'm sure Jacob was terrified. He has to get away from Laban, but that means going back to see Esau. Neither option seems that great, and yet Jacob gets his family and his livestock and heads back to Canaan. And he goes because God has reminded him of the promise "I will be with you." And in this he finds faith in the face of fear.

Men, there are going to be times when we're afraid to move forward. The commitment is huge. The risks are intimidating. The outcome is uncertain. But God has said "Go." What do you do then? Your decision in that moment will mold your character. What is your reaction in the face of fear? Will you act in faith, or run and hide?

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Father's Faith

"Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' And he said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together." -Genesis 22.6-8

Father and son have come to Mt. Moriah, and after loading up they begin their trek to the top. The son knows they are there to offer a sacrifice. They have wood, fire, and the knife, but something is missing, the lamb to offer. So the son asks his father, "Where is the lamb?" His father knows what God has told him, offer your son. But he also knows that this is the son of promise. This is the son that God has made a covenant to bless the world through. And so the father replies, "God will provide the lamb." And the two continue on together.

We see here the faith of a father. God has made a promise, and then has asked for the fulfillment of that promise to be sacrificed. But he has faith in God that the promise will still be fulfilled, somehow. And we see in the father, the reassurance to his son, that God will provide the lamb.

Father's we don't have all the answers. We don't know what God is up to, or how He is going to work. But our children look to us for comfort and guidance. They look to us for security. It is our job to provide it. It is our job to trust the Father. God's will may come with difficult requests. We may find ourselves, time and again, in difficult situations with very few answers. But it is not our job to have every answer. It is our job to trust God.

Our children will learn that God is dependable and trust worthy from us. They will learn faith and confidence in God from us. What example are you setting? Do you have faith in God to provide, or are you overcome with worry and doubt?

God will provide, have faith and trust Him. Your children are watching you, and they will learn from what they see. As their father, set an example of faith.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor