Tag Archives: sin

The Lord Helping Me

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Joshua 12-17

There are two separate and opposite approaches to following God in these chapters. God had given the land to the Jews marked it out for them so each tribe knew what was their’s. However, there were people already living on that land and in those cities. Taking the land would require more than a U-Haul. It would require wars – victories and defeats. It would require strength and faith and obedience.

So here is approach #1: CALEB (14:10-15)

At 85 he was as fit as he was at 40. (I am neither). God had promised Caleb a portion of the land after he and Joshua had spied out the land and came back with a report saying they could defeat the giants living there. The other spies threw fear into the people and the whole nation was forced to wander 40 years in the wilderness as punishment for their lack of faith in God.

Now it was time to do what they should have done 40 years earlier. Caleb had been ready then. He was ready now. Here is his approach:

You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, BUT, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out JUST AS HE SAID. (vs 12b) (emphasis mine)

Caleb was ready to take the land at 85! Why? He trusted God. He knew God would help him do what God told him to do.

Which leads to approach #2: THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH (17:14-18)

They had already taken the land God had given them. Well, kind of. The Canaanites didn’t go down easily and were still living shoulder to shoulder with the Jews. The descendants of Joseph were living in the land, but they were outgrowing it. There just wasn’t room for the Canaanites AND the Israelites.

So they went to Joshua and complained about the crowded living conditions. “We need more land,” they said.

I think Joshua probably shook his head and rolled his eyes “No you don’t,” he replied. “You just need to use what God has already given you.” He told the people to get off their couches and continue the work God had assigned them. “Clear the land…you can drive out the Canaanites. Problem solved.”

We see Caleb ready to plunge head first into battle knowing God would be with him. We see Joseph’s clan hitting a road block of their own making, and wanting to take a detour. They wanted the blessing without the work. They wanted God to give them, without having faith God would help them, get what they needed.

In which approach to following God do you see yourself? I know God has given you a task, has given you land to clear so to speak. Do you grab His hand and go to work? Or do you sit back and expect Him to give you land already cleared by someone else?

Do you expect blessing without obedience, favor without faith?

There is still land to possess, souls in need of a Savior, sins that need to be annihilated in your life and mine. God says, “Go.” How do you approach obedience? How do I?

God WILL go with you. He WILL fight for and with you. Do you trust Him? I pray that you – and I – will say with Caleb:

I know that what God is asking me to do seems impossible but, the Lord helping me, I will take the land.

Don’t Go Back

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Deuteronomy 26-28

“A journey I said you should never make again.” (28:6b)

God, as He repeatedly does, lays out His demands, His blessings for obedience, His punishment for disobedience. There need be no question what is involved in God’s kingdom.

Throughout Scripture, God begs us to follow Him. He pleads with us to obey Him. He warns us over and over about the consequences that come with disobedience. He lays out a path for us to take that leads to glorious blessings. He wants us to take that path. But He won’t force us.

That path is paved with the blood of Jesus. It’s the path that leads us away from our bondage to sin, away from darkness and pain, and into freedom, love, light, and joy. It breaks God’s heart to see anyone turn around and head back toward the darkness and bondage.

It’s a journey we should never make again.

Yet some do. Some choose sin over holiness, self over surrender, things over a relationship with God. The path isn’t always easy. And some people just don’t want to make the effort.

These days when so many people are “deconstructing” their faith, please don’t go back. Hear God say:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it. (Isaiah 30:21)

In which direction are you heading? My prayer, and God’s desire, is that you will follow Him with surrender, obedience, determination, faith, and joy. Because not following Him is a journey you should never make again.

If Only

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Numbers 33:55-56

If only. If only Israel had listened to and obeyed God, and had driven out the inhabitants of the Promised Land, life would have looked a lot different for them – and maybe for us.

If only I had eliminated sin in my young life, and obeyed God instead of ignoring Him, life would undoubtedly look different for me – and maybe for my family.

If only I would take my sin seriously today and drive it out instead of tolerating it, my life and that of those I love would look differently.

If only.

All of It

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Numbers 30-31

War is horrible. The killing, looting, and destruction reveals the worst in man. But what do you do when it’s God ordering you to go to war? How about when He orders you to kill all men, women, and children? You probably do what the Israelite soldiers did, and show compassion, and take the women and children captive instead of actually killing them.

Bring them home. Give them work to do and a place to live. That’s the compassionate thing to do.

We learn, however, that there was a very good reason God insisted the women die. They were the ones who had embraced idolatry and lured the Jews into their sin. They were more God’s enemies than the men! And here the Israelite soldiers are inviting them into their own homes.

This side of the cross our battles are not with flesh and blood. Thankfully we are NOT called to take the lives of people who have different beliefs or who have hurt us in some way.

Our enemies are spiritual, but they are no less threatening. God commands us to go to war… and kill them all.

Yet sometimes we think, “I’ll eliminate greed. I’ll destroy adultery. I’ll put to death impure thoughts. But…”

We tell ourselves God didn’t really mean put pride to death. I’m supposed to look out for number one! Surely God didn’t mean to eliminate resentment. That man hurt me. He doesn’t deserve to be forgiven.

One little lie. One unkind word. Just a little gossip. That hint of jealousy. I’ll make room for them in my heart. They are just “children.”

But the Israelites had to kill the children, too. Why? Because children grow up, get stronger, have more influence. And so do baby sins.

Yes, it’s hard to read these chapters. We are compassionate people. But don’t let your compassion prevent you from hearing God tell you to go to war against sin in your life.

All of it.

Them is Me

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Numbers 16

The people just saw the men who challenged Moses’ God-given authority, along with their families and possessions, being swallowed up by the earth. The ground split, they fell in, the land closed up.

But then, and this has me shaking my head, they went back to Moses and complained THE NEXT DAY. About 1,500 more people had to die before the Israelites got the message: You don’t mess with God.

I could lament over the same thick-headedness of people in 2024. The blatant rejection of God, of Truth, begs for the same judgment we read about in Numbers.

But I can’t make this about “them.” If I’m honest, there I times my own heart is stubborn, my “self” rears its ugly head, I question and complain against God. And there are times I find myself thinking I should be able to do and/or believe what I want and expect God to just accept it. It begs for the same judgment we read about in Numbers.

Oh, I’m not out there picketing against God’s Law, or filming a Tik-Tok video about how unfair God is. My rebellion is much more subtle than that. It’s rooted in my heart. It shows up in my attitude, my unrest, my refusal to forgive. It ignores the parts of Scripture that require me to submit, to repent, and to stand firm.

I’m so thankful for God’s patience and long-suffering grace and mercy. But I best pay attention. God is not fooled. Eventually the guilty will be punished. And it’s not just about “them.” Them is me.

Silence is a Sin

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Leviticus 5-7

If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about he will be held responsible. (5:1)

Why do we send missionaries? Because we are responsible to tell what we know. Why do we stand up for life, deny the current belief that gender can be changed, say no to drag queens in public schools, call truth Truth? Because if we don’t, we sin.

And sin is serious. All sin is serious.

It’s easy to say, “Those sinners out there are gonna pay,” until I look in the mirror and see a believer with her mouth closed.

Know Your Enemy

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Genesis 36; 1 Chronicles 1:35-2:2

Reading these chapters can be tedious. Names hard to pronounce. People long gone with seemingly no relevance today. But if all Scripture is inspired by God, these chapters must be here for a reason. What does God reveal about Himself? What does He want us to learn?

First of all, I see a God who knows us by name. He knows the details of our lives like the guy who discovered hot springs, or the guy who had a sister.

Second, by listing these historical names we are reminded that Scripture is not a fairy tale. These are real people who lived real lives one real day at a time. They had hopes and dreams, and good days and bad. Some had happy homes and some had heartache. Some were rulers and some worked in the fields. The Bible is about people and their relationship with God. The Bible is true.

But here’s what struck me today. I can understand why God documented the genealogy of Israel. It was one way of proving the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham that the Savior would be his offspring. But why give equal time to Edom, the enemy of God’s children? Why should we care which evil person fathered which evil person?

Could it be God’s way of telling us we need to identify our own enemies? Someone has said, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Is that the message here?

I doubt it because God inspired Paul to tell us to run from temptation. But you’ve got to know that what tempts you is from the enemy. You’ve got to be able to recognize the enemy so you know what it is you are to be fleeing.

Thank you, God, for this reminder today. I don’t want to blow off any of my enemies. I want to look them in the eye and say, “Get behind me, Satan. Get behind me jealousy, anger, impure thoughts, selfishness. I see you. I recognize you. And I reject you in the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ.”

I would challenge you to read God’s Word, not for the enjoyment or for the ease of it. Read it and ask God to reveal Himself, His truth, His will for your life. It’s in there on every page.

Just Like Me

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Genesis 32-35

The Bible doesn’t portray God’s people as saints. In fact, God is very honest to paint a picture of flawed, deceitful, prideful sinners. From Adam to Israel we see rebellious, foolish, and violent people who squander their relationship with God.

Why didn’t God cover up their disobedience when He inspired men to write out His history with His people? Why didn’t He rationalize their sin, give excuses for their sin? Why didn’t He make it look like people with a relationship with Him do no wrong, and always have everything they need and want? You don’t try to sell a used car by pointing out the bald tires and faulty transmission.

God didn’t sugar-coat what happened because God’s people are no different today than they were then. We are no less accountable for our choices than they were. And God is as patient and willing to forgive today as He was in the pages we read in His Word.

God lays it all out there so we can relate, we can recognize our own bent to sin, and we can trust Him to do what He’s always done – forgive repentant sinners just like Jacob…

and just like me.

Restrained

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Genesis 18-20

God kept Abimelech from sinning. He’d planned to have sex with Sarah, Abraham’s wife because he thought Abraham and Sarah were brother and sister. Somehow God stepped in and thwarted Abimelech’s plan so that he would not commit adultery.

We don’t know what that looked like, but Scripture tells us God intervened on behalf of Abimelech (and Sarah).

I wonder how many times God has intervened on my behalf without me even being aware. How many temptations has he swatted out of my way, how many doors has he closed, and prayers He’s not answered so that I would not sin?

I was a child long before car seats and seatbelts were required in cars. We kids sat (or stood) on the front bench seat and our safety restraint was Mom’s right arm thrust between us and the windshield when she saw danger ahead. I have that picture in mind when I think about God’s protection of Abimelech; God’s right arm thrust between Abimelech and sin.

I thank God for intervening on my behalf, too. Not that I’m sinless because sometimes I barge right through the barriers God puts in place. But today I want my walk with God to be close enough that I will recognize when He’s got HIs arm out, and allow Him to restrain me. I thank Him for wanting to.

You Are Not The Exception

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Luke 12-14

Is Jesus the only way? Really? People want to believe that, if there aren’t multiple ways to God, a least they themselves will be the exception. In theory, Jesus is the Way, but God is too loving to send a good person like me to hell. Right?

That’s not what Jesus says. Jesus says the way is narrow, the invitation to the banquet comes with restrictions, the landowner demands obedience, even those rich according to their own standards will be held accountable to God’s standards.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter what you think. You aren’t God. It only matters what God says about His design.

Like it or not. Believe it or not. Jesus is the only way…

And you are not the exception.