Re: Verse reading–2 Samuel 13:1-2, 20-22,30-37, 2 Samuel 14:21-24, 2 Samuel 15:7-14, 2 Samuel 18:6-15, 33 (day four)
Isaiah 55:11 says, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” To set the stage for this narrative of Absalom’s life…David had just committed his terrible sin with Bathsheba. Nathan had delivered God’s judgment…the sword would never depart from David’s house, evil would arise from his own house, his wives would be given to another and be violated in broad daylight in public. David’s sin had far reaching consequences! Now in the lives of Amnon, his first born son, and Absalom, another son, David experienced God’s judgment. God’s Word is Truth! None of God’s Words are void…none will just pass away without success. Do you treat God’s Word with understanding of their validity? Do you trust them to come true? Trust…Believe…God is faithful and true!
Re: Verse reading–Genesis 47:27-31; 48:1-2, 8-19; 49:33; 50:1-6 (day four)
Joseph had been separated from his family. What his brothers meant for evil, God meant for good. Now he was in high authority in Egypt and had provided food in time of famine for his family. God’s purpose was fulfilled. Now, Jacob was about to die. He wanted to bless Joseph’s sons according to God’s instruction. When Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob, he placed the boys in the proper position to receive their grandfather’s blessing. But God had other plans. Jacob blessed Ephraim, the second born, as if he was first born. Joseph was sure there was a mistake…but Jacob was certain. It was God’s plan. God looks on the hearts of men. It is not the one who has a right or the privilege, God looks for the man whose heart is completely His! “Lord, cause me to be the man you would have me to be. May my heart be completely Yours!”
Re: Verse reading–Numbers 13:1-2, 17-33; Joshua 14:6-10 (day four)
God had given a specific command to Moses…send out spies to check out the land ‘which I am going to give to the sons of Israel’. The spies were not to evaluate the strength of the inhabitants or the difficulty of the task. Only Caleb and Joshua understood their assignment. They trusted in what the Lord had said. Verse 14:9 says, “Their protection has been removed from them,”…Caleb recognized that his sovereign God was able to provide. He trusted God to be faithful to His promise. Are there any giants in your life? Are you struggling to see God’s provision for the need in your life? God is the majority wherever He is. Where the line is drawn, the battle will ensue. God will often allow us to experience need in order to learn trust. Pressure conforms us into His image. Like Caleb and Joshua, we must not rebel against God and fear man…God is with us!
Re: Verse reading–Genesis 41:25-57; 45:4-8 (Day four)
God was about to do something in Egypt. Twice He told Pharaoh what his plan was, but Pharaoh could not hear God’s voice. Without a relationship with Him, Pharaoh’s hearing was ineffective. God often makes His message plain for all to see, but only those in relationship with Him have the ability to understand. Joseph had trusted in the Lord through many hardships. His relationship with the Lord had stood the test of time. The message was certain…when God speaks, He always is true to His word. Twice He had given Pharaoh the same message. It was for this purpose that God had sent Joseph to Egypt many years before. Joseph would not only organize the preservation of Egypt, but he would also provide for his own people. It was the fulfillment of the prophetic dream given to Joseph as a young boy. It was God’s call in his life. God has a plan for your life…can you hear it?
Re: Verse reading–Ruth 1:1-19a (day four)
Today is Independence Day. To live in freedom is a great blessing. Freedom is the opposite of oppression or enslavement. There are many things that can oppress us in life…Naomi and Ruth were oppressed by their circumstances. The culture of the day dictated how they could survive financially after the death of their husbands. God provided for their needs and brought freedom. To follow the blessing to the final result, Ruth and Boaz had a son who carried on the lineage leading to the birth of King David and ultimately the Savior. What is it that has you enslaved? Is it sin? Is it a difficult relationship? Is it a financial need? Is it the circumstances of your life or the culture surrounding you? There is freedom in Christ. Just as Ruth placed her life in the hands of Boaz, we can place our lives in the hands of Christ. The freedom He brings is true freedom.
Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 1:1-20 (day four)
When Hannah was in distress, she brought her needs to the Lord in prayer. Hannah’s prayer was that God would remember her. Had God forgotten her? Or was Hannah a part of a larger plan that God had for the nation of Israel? To believe that God is sovereign is to believe that He has a plan for the circumstances of our life…that He will receive glory through them. Hannah responded to her distress by praying and accepting God’s plan by faith. Even before Hannah prayed, God had already answered her prayer. Not only would she have a son, but God would have a faithful prophet and servant in Samuel. ‘Samuel’ means ‘Asked of the Lord’…Hannah asked according to God’s plan. Her faith rose from God’s plan in her life. We too can pray in faith. To pray in faith is the result of a relationship with God that precedes the desires of our heart.
RE Verse Reading–Genesis 24:34-67 (day four)
Ten days didn’t seem too long…but what if they were ten days late? One day does not seem much; but one day more may be one day too late, and one day too late may be too late forever! Obedience is doing the right thing, at the right time, with the right heart attitude! Even one second on the clock could mean missing Christ forever…either for you or for someone else. Satan plays the same game over and over. He doesn’t oppose religion openly, but ‘everything in its proper place’…”this is just not the time for it; wait a little longer…say, ten days!”
Satan desires that no one come to Christ, but if he cannot keep us from Christ, he wants to have us just a little longer. Not only can he get more service out of our lives, but he can often pile on shameful baggage that can cripple our service to God. He seeks to sow tares into our wheat field!
Re: Verse reading–Genesis 37:2-14, 18-28, Genesis 39:1-12 (day four)
Isaiah 55:11 says, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” God had a plan for Joseph. He shared it with Joseph when he was just a young man…he would be in a position of authority. There was no way for Joseph to understand all that would occur in order for God’s plan to come about in his life. Even the jealousy of his brothers and their desire to kill him could not thwart God’s plan. If fact, it was used to accomplish His plan. Potipher’s wife could not sidetrack God’s plan either. Joseph stayed true to the God who loved him and kept himself pure for the work God had planned in his life. For us to remain usable to God, we, like Joseph, must consecrate our lives for His service. What God plans, He accomplishes!
Re: Verse reading–Judges 16:4-30 (day four)
From his birth, Samson had been different. He was set aside as a Nazarite for the work of the Lord. A razor had never touched his head and his physical strength was unequaled. God, in His sovereignty, had plans for Samson. Unfortunately, Samson did not consecrate his life to God. He accepted the gift of physical strength, but his spiritual strength was lacking. Even before Samson had his eyes gouged out in V. 21, he was blinded. Blinded by his own selfish pride. He had been used of God to judge Judah for 20 years, but Samson had moved so far from God that when God departed from him (V. 20), he didn’t even know it. But God honors faith! Samson responds to his defeat by the Philistines by asking God for one last burst of strength. His response of faith qualified him for the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. God wants His people to depend wholly upon Him in faith!
Re: Verse reading–Daniel 1 (day four)
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He might strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” Certainly, the Lord saw Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their hearts were intent on obedience to God…so much so, that they were willing to incur the wrath of the king in order to be found faithful before God. How did God support them? Verse 17 says, “God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom;” Verse 20 says, “As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the others.” Have you ever asked God to make you ten times better at something? It can’t be a selfish request…remember, you heart has to be completely God’s! God is sovereign over all the earth…He will exalt His name. Let’s seek to be the instrument used to bring glory to His name!
