Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse reading–Judges 17:1-6; 18:1; 19:1; 20:1-7; 21:25 (day two) …and his mother said, “I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the Lord for my son to make a graven image and a molten image”…vs. 17:3

No matter how many times you reread that verse it still sounds ridiculous. How could anyone think that the best way to dedicate something to the Lord would be to make an idol? You’re right it just doesn’t make sense. How could anyone ever get to that point in their discernment to allow such an incongruity to happen?

It seems like a blatant affront to the ten commandments, but are we so far removed from Micah? We may not be making graven images, but I am sure there are things that we are consciously putting in front of God. How often do we decide to take a Sunday off? What about our time alone with the Lord. Do we value our sleep our personal time, more than what he has asked from us?

If someone were to write our story would they react the way we do when we read about Micah?

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day two)  Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” 

Who was more deceived in this story Samson or Delilah? Samson had been toying with her by not revealing the source of his strength, but where was his gaze fixed. He was a man who certainly followed his eyes. If he saw a thing of beauty, particularly women, he pursued her. He knew that he was consecrated to the Lord, but he was focused on satisfying his own desire. Three times a trap was set for him. Surely he understood that this woman that he was being seduced by was not on his side, but he was blinded. It is fitting then, isn’t it, that they gouged his eyes out. Those things that led him astray would not deceive him again. It was then that he saw most clearly God’s purpose for him.

Don’t be so seduced by your own lusts that you completely miss the trap you are falling into. Be consumed with what the Lord wants for you, not what pleases you at the moment.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 11:1-6, 28-40 (day two) “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.'” vs. 2

“But the king of the sons of Ammon disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.” vs. 28

Tragic story. Not at all a Disney version, and born out of rejection…twice. The first time by his half-brothers who were repulsed by his illicit beginnings. Even after he had grown and the Lord had placed in a place as a Judge of Israel  he was rejected by the Ammonite King. This, perhaps, was a catalyst for the hasty pledge made towards God to sacrifice “whatever comes out of the door of my house.” God did not make that pledge, Jephthah did. Do you let your past rejections fuel your decision making process? Where God has placed you, he will use you. Let your love for him guide your path, not your fear.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 7:2-8, 15-22 (day two) 

“When they blew 300 trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army…” Vs. 22a

Never underestimate what God can do with a good brass band! Think about it, they brought down walls in Jericho, and caused an entire army to turn on each other in the story of Gideon. I am sure it wouldn’t surprise anyone if I would wax poetic about that musical power > military power, but let’s just consider how God continues to confound the wise with his unorthodox methods. How will the Lord demonstrate his power, love, and mercy in your life. Are you expecting a Damascus Road experience? Perhaps you are hoping that the Christians of the world will rise up and seize power from the corrupt leaders of our time. What if God chooses some unlikely set of circumstances to bring about his glory. Will you recognize the Lord, or dismiss it out of hand because it wasn’t what you have envisioned. We need to stop trying to outthink God, and let him use us in his infinitely creative ways. Personally, I’m hoping the next time he uses a choir.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 6:1-2, 11-28, 36-40 (day two)

 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. 6:38

Gideon wanted to be sure. God was very patient. It began with the first encounter (6:17) Gideon said “show me a sign”, and the Lord swallowed up the offering in flame. Then just to be sure he was hearing correctly Gideon asked for another sign. This time it was the dew on the fleece. God appeased the request. Then, just to be sure, Gideon made another request, this time for dew on the ground and not the fleece. God again made his power clearly known. Gideon trusted. Gideon obeyed.

At some point our bluff will be called. Have you come to the point where God has demonstrated himself through his Word, his people, or in some other way? God is patient, but at some point Gideon had to stop asking for signs and start trusting. Is it time for you to start trusting again?

Re:Verse reading–Judges 4:1-22 (day two) 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.” vs 8

The Lord was very clear in his instructions to Barak given through Deborah, but it didn’t bring peace to Barak. He knew what he was to do, and was even guaranteed a successful outcome, but he wanted insurance. He felt if Deborah would accompany them into battle it would turn out well. She went, they succeeded, but Barak had to learn a lesson in trust.

Have you ever put conditions on the Lord? Have you clearly heard from him only to continue to demand things of him? “I’ll obey, but…” This is where our lack of true faith is made evident. God will accomplish the task that you have been called to be a part of, the only question is will you put your own conditions on him, and jeopardize your blessing?

Re:Verse reading–Judges 2:1-3, 6-22 (day two)

“‘I will never break My covenant with you, 2 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?” 2:1b-2

What happens when someone in a covenant relationship breaks fellowship? Does this end the covenant? The very nature of what a covenant is should answer that for itself, and yet we still struggle with how to deal with this in our own lives. The people of Israel willfully choose to defy the instructions of their youth, Joshua, and the judges. This grievous action requires course correction, not a call to scuttle the ship. God in his  mercy made a pact with his people, and he is faithful to see it through. We, in our brokenness, will continue to find ways, like the Israelites, to break that promise. As a result we are chastised, punished, corrected, but never abandoned.

We are not born into new life only to be given free reign to our selfish ambitions. When God corrects our course it serves only to remind us of the eternal pact he made with us. Stay focused on him, and stay to course.

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 23; Joshua 24:14-15 (day two)  “But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.” Vs. 8

Joshua had seen the nation of Israel as far as he could go. Another moment of transition was upon them, and these words were a fitting end to his ministry. They were a reminder that although God had delivered nations, lands, and blessings to the people of Israel they were still surrounded by foreign cultures that were in opposition to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s past deliverance is not a get out of jail card from all future trials and temptations. Joshua’s counsel to his people was to remember, tell the stories of God’s faithfulness, and hold true to the word.

When we are freed from sin and places of darkness it is common to have a period of clean living followed by a return to the old life. If you are delivered from darkness it stands to reason that those temptations haven’t disappeared. God wants us to remember where we’ve been, and how he freed us from bondage so that we will not repeat those mistakes. Cling to his word, trust his promise, live in his mercy.

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 9 (day two) So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. vs. 14

 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land? vs. 22

Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware. I have never been good at negotiating. Whether with my siblings, or for a new car, or house. I suppose most savvy business folks would say that I don’t have what it takes to secure the deal. My problem is always the same. I begin with the assumption that everyone will be completely forthcoming in the process. I will be very forthright about what I can pay or exchange, and I assume that you will do the same. To put it another way, I always put all my cards on the table from the start. It’s a very trusting posture, but not a very sound one in making deals.

I have learned this about myself, and as such I try to never make a deal on the fly. I force myself to stop, sleep, and pray. If I can’t find peace about it, it is not for me. Joshua would have been wise to follow this advice. He looked at the situation and assumed he understood. He did not seek the Lord’s counsel, and as a result were deceived.

Nothing is worth getting ahead of God.