"AND RUTH THE MOABITESS SAID TO NAOMI, 'PLEASE LET ME GO TO THE FIELD AND GLEAN AMONG THE EARS OF GRAIN AFTER ONE IN WHOSE SIGHT I MIGHT FIND FAVOR.' AND SHE SAID TO HER, 'GO MY DAUGHTER.' SO SHE DEPARTED AND WENT AND GLEANED IN THE FIELD AFTER THE REAPERS; AND SHE HAPPENED TO COME TO THE PORTION OF THE FIELD BELONGING TO BOAZ, WHO WAS OF THE FAMILY OF ELIMELECH." RUTH 2:2-3
God is in the everyday ordinary. When we rise us in the morning, He is there. When we cook the dinner meal, He is there. When we go to work each day, He is there. When we struggle with grief or pain or loneliness and believe He has gone around the corner or turned His back on us--no, He is there right beside us, filling the void.
Such was the case with Naomi. Widow of Elimilech, she buries her two sons in a foreign land and turns home to Bethlehem. She states to anyone who will listen:
"the hand of the Lord has gone against me." (Ruth 1:13)
"The Almighty has dealt very bitterly against me." (Ruth 1:20)
"the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me." (Ruth 1:21)
In her grief, she cannot see past the pain and despair. But one person can: her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Somehow this Moabitess, a foreigner, has seen God in the midst and wants to adopt Him as her own as well as Naomi and her people as her own. Ruth leaves everything behind to accompany Naomi and seek refuge under the eternal Father's everlasting wings.
The shelter and protection they find comes in the daily, ordinary dealings of life. No major miracles here. It is a simple story of obedience and faithfulness in the normal everyday. The Law of Moses had set up a provision for the poor: the corners of the fields were not to be reaped but left for the needy. (Leviticus 19:9) How humbling to walk the fields amongst people you do not know, a foreigner and a stranger, fearful for your safety, gathering grain to feed two widowed women who have no other means.
In the midst of this story there is a precious jewel: "and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." (Ruth 2:3) Wait a minute--Elimelech--that's Ruth's father-in-law who died in Moab. Wait a minute--Boaz--this is who would become Ruth's husband. Wait a minute--Boaz and Ruth together--this is who would become the great-grandparents of King David. She just
H-A-P-P-E-N-E-D to glean in the one field on this one day that would bring life anew, provision, and protection both from God on High and Boaz here on earth? It just goes to show you that there are no coincidences in life because God is in the details and God ordains our very footsteps.
How about you? It is easy to see the Lord God Almighty in the parting of the Red Sea and when the walls of Jericho come tumbling down, but do you see God in the everyday,ordinary tasks? The grocery shopping, the friendships that are developing, the children you dress each morning. Ruth was known as a "woman of excellence" (Ruth 3:11) for simply being faithful in the ordinary. Rise up and call Him blessed and seek what He has in store for you today. In His footsteps ordained for you the ordinary becomes extraordinary. When Ruth went out to glean a field for food, she did not know that her name would be recorded in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the first book of the New Testament. She was simply faithful to perform the tasks set in front of her day by day because she was obedient to God's calling. May we follow in her example and footsteps and do the same.
About Me
- Sharon B. Woolmington
- Mother of Three, Mother-In-Law of One, Wife to my Wonderful Husband, Daughter/Sister, and Accountant. Loves Hiking, The Colorado Rockies (which means the mountains AND the baseball team), Entertaining family & friends, and Baby Calves in Spring but Most of All: I Love Jesus because He First Loved Me.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
WHAT IS YOUR HISTORY?
"JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, WHO STANDS BEFORE YOU, HE SHALL ENTER THERE; ENCOURAGE HIM, FOR HE SHALL CAUSE ISRAEL TO INHERIT IT." DEUTERONOMY 1:38
Faith is given to us in an instant, but it takes a lifetime to develop, to strenghten, and to mature. Twelve men were sent to spy out the land the Israelites were about to enter. All twelve men were leaders of each of the family tribes of Israel. All twelve had lived through the plagues cast onto Egypt by God, had walked over dry land as they crossed the Red Sea, had drank water from the rock at Horeb when they were thirsty and had eaten manna from heaven when they were hungry. They had each seen and experienced The Lord first hand in action.
These twelve were sent out and for 40 days they walked the land promised to them by God. Ten of the spies came back with a bad report. They looked at the people who were strong and the cities which were fortified and proclaimed, "We are not able to go up against the people." (Numbers 13:31) Then men looked at the circumstances and said no. Two of the spies, however, looked to God and said yes: Joshua and Caleb. Their minority report: "Do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land...their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them." (Numbers 14:9)
The Israelites chose fear instead of faith. They murmured and cried in their tents and then picked up stones to put Joshua and Caleb to death. The popular opinion did not matter, however--only God's vote counted. His glory appeared in the tent of meeting and He rendered His judgment. Joshua and Caleb alone would be the only ones of their generation that would enter the Promised Land. The remaining Israelites twenty and older would wander for 40 years and die in the wilderness for their unbelief.
So how do two men stand up to a nation of two million people, willing to speak the truth and die for believing God and His promises? This was not a momentary act of faith. No, it started before, as mapped out in the life of Joshua. There are three instances that stand out in the life of Joshua as he learned to trust God and grow in Him.
In the first battle after leaving Egypt, Joshua led the army militarily against the Amalekites. The physical battle was mixed with a spiritual battle: when Moses' hands were held high overlooking the battle, the Israelites prevailed. When his arms grew heavy and dropped, however, Amalek prevailed, so Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands up until the battle was won. Joshua experienced the spiritual and the practical played out together in a very important victory.
A second mention of Joshua was when he sat at the foot of the mountain for 40 days while Moses met with God to receive instruction and bring down the Ten Commandments and the Law. It says Joshua went up and went down with Moses, but it does not say that he sat in on the meeting with God and Moses. We do not know what he saw, but we do know that God's glory rested on Mt. Sinai: to Moses it looke like a "midst in the cloud" but to the sons of Israel it looked like "a consuming fire." (Exodus 24:16-17) That means Joshua was faithful to sit and wait. Meanwhile the Israelites were back at camp being unfaithful, building and worshiping a golden calf because God had delayed. No impatience is mentioned for Joshua, however. He was faithful at his post and was exposed to the glory of God and the stories of Moses.
My favorite verse regarding Joshua, however, is found in Exodus 33. It says that Moses would enter the tent of meeting and God would talk with him face to face. All the people would see the pillar of cloud and worship at the entrance of their own tents, but "When Moses would return to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent." (Exodus 33:11) In other words, he lingered in God's presence. He could not get enough of God!
This up close and personal walk with the Lord would allow Joshua to later lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land and believe by faith that God was the victor as He had them cross over the flooded Jordan on dry land and walk around the walls of Jericho to make them tumble down. Joshua never questioned and never flinched at such strange, humanly impossible instructions. This is because he saw life through God's eyes, plus his own eyes had seen and experienced God's power, His glory, and His faithfulness throughout his lifetime.
What about you? What is your story of your walk with God? Where are you building faithfulness day by day, peering in and seeing God for who He really is? After all, your story is really His-story, because "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Allow Him to reveal Himself to you by yielding to Him day by day, moment by moment. Believe in the miracles he has set before you today. Walk the journey of faith that Joshua did who, during his lifetime was known as the servant of Moses, but in the end was called "the servant of the Lord." (Joshua 24:29)
Faith is given to us in an instant, but it takes a lifetime to develop, to strenghten, and to mature. Twelve men were sent to spy out the land the Israelites were about to enter. All twelve men were leaders of each of the family tribes of Israel. All twelve had lived through the plagues cast onto Egypt by God, had walked over dry land as they crossed the Red Sea, had drank water from the rock at Horeb when they were thirsty and had eaten manna from heaven when they were hungry. They had each seen and experienced The Lord first hand in action.
These twelve were sent out and for 40 days they walked the land promised to them by God. Ten of the spies came back with a bad report. They looked at the people who were strong and the cities which were fortified and proclaimed, "We are not able to go up against the people." (Numbers 13:31) Then men looked at the circumstances and said no. Two of the spies, however, looked to God and said yes: Joshua and Caleb. Their minority report: "Do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land...their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them." (Numbers 14:9)
The Israelites chose fear instead of faith. They murmured and cried in their tents and then picked up stones to put Joshua and Caleb to death. The popular opinion did not matter, however--only God's vote counted. His glory appeared in the tent of meeting and He rendered His judgment. Joshua and Caleb alone would be the only ones of their generation that would enter the Promised Land. The remaining Israelites twenty and older would wander for 40 years and die in the wilderness for their unbelief.
So how do two men stand up to a nation of two million people, willing to speak the truth and die for believing God and His promises? This was not a momentary act of faith. No, it started before, as mapped out in the life of Joshua. There are three instances that stand out in the life of Joshua as he learned to trust God and grow in Him.
In the first battle after leaving Egypt, Joshua led the army militarily against the Amalekites. The physical battle was mixed with a spiritual battle: when Moses' hands were held high overlooking the battle, the Israelites prevailed. When his arms grew heavy and dropped, however, Amalek prevailed, so Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands up until the battle was won. Joshua experienced the spiritual and the practical played out together in a very important victory.
A second mention of Joshua was when he sat at the foot of the mountain for 40 days while Moses met with God to receive instruction and bring down the Ten Commandments and the Law. It says Joshua went up and went down with Moses, but it does not say that he sat in on the meeting with God and Moses. We do not know what he saw, but we do know that God's glory rested on Mt. Sinai: to Moses it looke like a "midst in the cloud" but to the sons of Israel it looked like "a consuming fire." (Exodus 24:16-17) That means Joshua was faithful to sit and wait. Meanwhile the Israelites were back at camp being unfaithful, building and worshiping a golden calf because God had delayed. No impatience is mentioned for Joshua, however. He was faithful at his post and was exposed to the glory of God and the stories of Moses.
My favorite verse regarding Joshua, however, is found in Exodus 33. It says that Moses would enter the tent of meeting and God would talk with him face to face. All the people would see the pillar of cloud and worship at the entrance of their own tents, but "When Moses would return to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent." (Exodus 33:11) In other words, he lingered in God's presence. He could not get enough of God!
This up close and personal walk with the Lord would allow Joshua to later lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land and believe by faith that God was the victor as He had them cross over the flooded Jordan on dry land and walk around the walls of Jericho to make them tumble down. Joshua never questioned and never flinched at such strange, humanly impossible instructions. This is because he saw life through God's eyes, plus his own eyes had seen and experienced God's power, His glory, and His faithfulness throughout his lifetime.
What about you? What is your story of your walk with God? Where are you building faithfulness day by day, peering in and seeing God for who He really is? After all, your story is really His-story, because "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Allow Him to reveal Himself to you by yielding to Him day by day, moment by moment. Believe in the miracles he has set before you today. Walk the journey of faith that Joshua did who, during his lifetime was known as the servant of Moses, but in the end was called "the servant of the Lord." (Joshua 24:29)
Friday, May 13, 2011
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
"THEN MOSES SAID TO GOD, 'BEHOLD, I AM GOING TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL, AND I SHALL SAY TO THEM, 'THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS HAS SENT ME TO YOU.' NOW THEY MAY SAY TO ME, 'WHAT IS HIS NAME?' WHAT SHALL I SAY TO THEM? GOD SAID TO MOSES, 'I AM WHO I AM';AND HE SAID, 'THUS YOU SHALL SAY TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL, 'I AM HAS SENT ME TO YOU." EXODUS 3:13-14
At times we are at a loss when it comes to our English translation of the Bible. Hidden underneath the words "God" and "Lord" are a vast array of meanings and revelations into God's character. For instance,"I AM WHO I AM" is Jehovah or Yawheh, which translates "Lord". It is rendered from a Hebrew verb which means "to be". It also signifies the source of everything, without beginning and without end. How vast. How hard for us as finite creatures to understand! This name the God gives Himself allows us to learn a little bit more about who He really is.
In the original Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible, the list is quite lengthy of the various forms and meanings of God's names. For example, a few other names of God:
All Sufficient One (El Shaddai)
The Lord My Friend (Jehovah Raah)
Most Exalted or Most High One (El Elyon)
The list goes on forever, but what has captured my attention in the last few weeks is not the names that God has given Himself, but rather the names people have given God out of experiencing Him in their lives and learning more about Him. Here are some examples:
GENESIS 16:13: "Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'You are a God who sees..." El Roi. God of My Vision. Hagar had fled from Sarai's harsh treatment after she had conceived Abram's son. But an angel of the Lord comes to her in her affliction, comforts her, and promises her to make Ishmael a great nation. This means that God sees our suffering and takes heed of it!
GENESIS 21:33: "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God." El Olam. The God of Eternity. This comes exactly one verse before God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the altar. In the book of Hebrews it says that, since God had promised Abraham's heirs would be through Isaac, then Abraham believed that God would bring Isaac back from the dead. In His perfect timing, God taught Abraham that He is eternal and that He rules over life and death, so Abraham could therefore could place his trust in Him and have confidence to be obedient. He does the same for us today!
GENESIS 22:13-14: "Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place "The Lord Will Provide..." Jehovah Jireh. The God Who Sees or the God Who Sees To It. He is the One who meets our needs at just the right time as He did for Abraham, even supplying what is required of us when He asks!
EXODUS 17:15: "Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner." Jehovah Nissi. God is our rallying point and our way to victory--the one who fights for His people. That means when we are in the midst of a battle, we are to focus on Him and not the circumstances that surrounds us and that He fights our battles for us!
How about you? Where do you need to get to know God better? If you need healing physically, emotionally, relationally, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals. If your life is filled with strife, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace. If you have a hard decision to make or don't know which way to turn next, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Ra-ah, the Lord Our Shepherd. Whatever your need, He is the only true God, revealing His character and His love for you in a very personal way. Call on the name of the Lord; there is no other name!
At times we are at a loss when it comes to our English translation of the Bible. Hidden underneath the words "God" and "Lord" are a vast array of meanings and revelations into God's character. For instance,"I AM WHO I AM" is Jehovah or Yawheh, which translates "Lord". It is rendered from a Hebrew verb which means "to be". It also signifies the source of everything, without beginning and without end. How vast. How hard for us as finite creatures to understand! This name the God gives Himself allows us to learn a little bit more about who He really is.
In the original Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible, the list is quite lengthy of the various forms and meanings of God's names. For example, a few other names of God:
All Sufficient One (El Shaddai)
The Lord My Friend (Jehovah Raah)
Most Exalted or Most High One (El Elyon)
The list goes on forever, but what has captured my attention in the last few weeks is not the names that God has given Himself, but rather the names people have given God out of experiencing Him in their lives and learning more about Him. Here are some examples:
GENESIS 16:13: "Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'You are a God who sees..." El Roi. God of My Vision. Hagar had fled from Sarai's harsh treatment after she had conceived Abram's son. But an angel of the Lord comes to her in her affliction, comforts her, and promises her to make Ishmael a great nation. This means that God sees our suffering and takes heed of it!
GENESIS 21:33: "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God." El Olam. The God of Eternity. This comes exactly one verse before God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the altar. In the book of Hebrews it says that, since God had promised Abraham's heirs would be through Isaac, then Abraham believed that God would bring Isaac back from the dead. In His perfect timing, God taught Abraham that He is eternal and that He rules over life and death, so Abraham could therefore could place his trust in Him and have confidence to be obedient. He does the same for us today!
GENESIS 22:13-14: "Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place "The Lord Will Provide..." Jehovah Jireh. The God Who Sees or the God Who Sees To It. He is the One who meets our needs at just the right time as He did for Abraham, even supplying what is required of us when He asks!
EXODUS 17:15: "Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner." Jehovah Nissi. God is our rallying point and our way to victory--the one who fights for His people. That means when we are in the midst of a battle, we are to focus on Him and not the circumstances that surrounds us and that He fights our battles for us!
How about you? Where do you need to get to know God better? If you need healing physically, emotionally, relationally, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals. If your life is filled with strife, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace. If you have a hard decision to make or don't know which way to turn next, maybe you need to get to know Jehovah Ra-ah, the Lord Our Shepherd. Whatever your need, He is the only true God, revealing His character and His love for you in a very personal way. Call on the name of the Lord; there is no other name!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
GOD IN THE MIDST
"THEN THE CLOUD COVERED THE TENT OF MEETING, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE." EXODUS 40:34
God has just spend 15 chapters in Exodus asking the Israelites to raise a contribution for the tent of meeting, giving detailed instructions on how to build exactly, detail by detail, this portable structure, and then the precise carrying out of His design by skilled craftsmen that He has appointed to direct and oversee its completion. In the middle of this, there is the story of the people going their own way, building a golden calf to worship instead of the living, Holy God who parted the Red Sea and brought deliverance for them from the mighty hand of the Egyptians.
God forgives them, God redeems them, and God renews His covenant with them. Why? Because He wants to be with them, in the midst: to be worshipped, to be reveranced as a Holy God, but also to forgive and to be with His people on a daily basis.
He has always wanted to be with us! First in the garden. Next, in the Old Testament, in the tent of meeting and eventually in His temple still to be built. And today, under the New Covenant, if you have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour, then He abides in your heart through His Holy Spirit. How amazing! How wonderful!
God was in the midst of their camp night and day
Directing the nation of Israel's every step, every way
A cloud by day, at night a burning fire
To be amongst them was His holy desire
God alone would direct when to go and when to stay put
So His people would wait a day or two or even a year to set foot
A journey of faith to follow His lead
A washing of sins from the animals that would bleed
Offerings and sacrifices His people would bring to atone
To the Lord they were dedicated to worship Holy alone
Until one day in the future the Lamb of God who was slain
The ultimate sacrifice on the cross to be obtained
Holy Holy Holy is the Almighty God, Sovereign Lord!
Worship Him. Love Him. He is to be adored!
How about you? Where is your tent of meeting with God? Where do you daily worship Him, bow down before Him, love and adore Him? Where do you confess sin, fellowship with Him, receive instruction, and reverance Him as Lord of all? Maybe it is in your living room chair with a cup of coffee. Maybe it is on the floor of your walk-in closet. Maybe it is early in the morning before the sun rises or late at night. Wherever and whenever it is, it is one on one fellowship with the Creator of the Universe. Open up the pages of His living, active Word, and listen to Him speak to your heart. Then visit with Him in prayer. It is what He desires: to be with you and be intertwined in the midst of your day-to-day life. Bring it all to Him and lay it at His feet, because He is worthy.
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