Acts 12:1-11 ~ the Lord has sent

Amazon Jungle near the Waodani Tribe

Acts 12:1-11

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter had a difficult time believing an angel of the Lord would be sent to protect him. Snopes has the same problem when discussing part of Billy Graham's book "Angels: God's Secret Agents". The writers of Snopes have a hard time believing angels deliver people and end the article by saying, " The Christian commandment not to bear false witness isn't getting the mileage that it used to." http://www.snopes.com/glurge/26guards.asp

We walk by faith and not by sight. I believe with faith, prayer saves people - the hand of God moves to deliver them. I believe, just like Peter, it is hard to believe, but miracles happen. Reverend John Paton was protected by the hand of God when natives were going to kill him and his entire family in New Hebrides Island. Later, God's protection allowed the natives to understand Jesus Christ isn't for the perfect, Jesus Christ is for those who need a Savior.

In the whole Snopes article, they are appalled at the variations of the same theme. The theme is God protecting people and spreading His word. It happens again and again.

Well, what about the famous Jim Elliot, missionary to the Waodani Tribe? Didn't God fail him? No, the Waodani Tribe were an extreme human example of the capacity to murder. They killed Jim, and four other missionaries, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming and Nate Saint after repeated acts of kindness and gifts from the missionaries.

Jim Elliot's last journal entry was published in a book by his wife, Elizabeth Elliott, in "Through Gates of Splendor". He said, in part:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain, that which he cannot lose. (Quote from Phillip Henry)

Luke 16:9
that when it shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Scripture leaves so many stories untold."

Jim Elliot was right. The Gospel of John 21:25 says there are so many stories of Jesus, the world itself could not contain all the books. We have another story of Jesus Christ. There is an important account of the deaths of these loving men, that remained untold for decades. It was the murders' account of the deaths. Given, also, in the movie, "End of the Spear".

Here is the Waodani account of their murders of the missionaries:

"Two Waodani women and a man came to see the 5 foreigners. Nate took the man up for a ride in the plane. The mission team is exhilarated. Everything seems to be going according to plan. Contact has been made. The first three Waodani they had interacted with seemed positive.

At this point, a lie sabotages the missionaries’ strategy. The Waodani man, Nenkiwi, concocts a lie to tell the other men who had been hunting: “The foreigners attacked us. We ran. They killed and ate Dayumae!” The men respond: “We must spear them!”

The joy of the missionaries on the sand bar is suddenly shattered as the Waodani warriors run from the jungle and without any warning begin spearing the men. Following behind them the women hack at the fallen men. Despite being armed, the missionaries offer no resistance. They die courageously, fully committed to reaching the Waodani for Christ, trying to communicate their message of God’s love to the very end.

A rainstorm erupts. Canoes with armed men searching for the missing missionaries come down the river. A military helicopter comes overhead. Mincayani hiding in the forest expresses the fears of the men: “We have angered all the spirits!” They torch their village and flee."

What were they speaking about when they killed the men and said 'they had angered all the spirits.' As the missionaries lay dying, the Waodani involved all saw heavenly spirits appear around the men. It scared them so much, that their lives were permanently changed. It wasn't until decades later, when children of the murdered missionaries returned to see the evidence of the tribe's Christianity that the message of the heavenly visitation was found.

God's hand moved after the sacrifice of these lives, but many people were changed by love by this ultimate gift. The murders in all the tribes stopped with great sacrifice to the people brave enough to act with love. For the first time in Waodani history, there is a generation of young children with grandfathers.

The end of this video is amazing, the Waodani today.



Father God, we live our lives - not by sight - but in the hope of Your great mercy. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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1 Samuel 9 ~ to lay aside

Is Saul also among the prophets?

1 Samuel 9 (New International Version)

- Audio Link - 1 Samuel 9

¹ There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. ² He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others.

³ Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys." ⁴ So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

⁵ When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

⁶ But the servant replied, "Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take."

⁷ Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?"

⁸ The servant answered him again. "Look," he said, "I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take." ⁹ (Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)

¹⁰ "Good," Saul said to his servant. "Come, let's go." So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

¹¹ As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and they asked them, "Is the seer here?"

¹² "He is," they answered. "He's ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. ¹³ As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time."

¹⁴ They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

¹⁵ Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: ¹⁶ "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."

¹⁷ When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."

¹⁸ Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"

¹⁹ "I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father's family?"

²¹ Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?"

²² Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. ²³ Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside."

²⁴ So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, 'I have invited guests.' " And Saul dined with Samuel that day.

²⁵ After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. ²⁶ They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get ready, and I will send you on your way." When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. ²⁷ As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us"-and the servant did so-"but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God."

"Is Saul also among the prophets?" Was an important saying - a pop culture question for millenniums ago - during the time when Saul was elevated to be leader of God's inheritance - King. It wasn't really a question... when it should have been. The people of Israel were used to godly leadership. Saul, in their eyes, was anointed by God, therefore a judge of Israel, a prophet, like Samuel. The people expected a Samuel - type person, but in warrior fashion. The people expected this in Jesus, as well.

2,700 years ago or today, we are always looking for more security and more happiness. Maybe there isn't enough thanksgiving, gratitude or prayer.

This is a great Scripture chapter for people considering marriage or even dating.

When you think about the Book of Judges, you'll remember there were always raids and skirmishes, sometimes some oppression from neighboring enemies. Small wonder, when Israel had been the new neighbor. But the grass is always greener, the people wanted more security.

The people of Israel had asked to put aside Samuel, who was old, and to have a king, to be like other nations. Just as Saul didn't have the inclination to know about Samuel and the real gifts of God, the Children of Israel were in the same pop culture frame of mind. The people did not ask or pray to God for a man like Moses, Joshua or Samuel, they merely asked Samuel for a king. Unconcerned about spiritual blessings, they were interested in only the seen, the practical aspects of life.

Beautiful and tall, Saul is already displaying his flaws and virtues, even in the very early morning of his first meeting with Samuel. Saul has no idea where Samuel - the Judge of Israel, the Seer, is from. And importantly, his offering to the Lord doesn't even come from Saul, but the servant. Hannah, Samuel's mother, had no offering to bring of her own, when she prayed so earnestly for help (a child). But Hannah's concern wasn't the offering or sacrifice. Saul's first concern is payment for the prophet, not an offering to the Lord.

The Old Testament is quite different from the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the baptized in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, people were powerfully servants, driven to be instruments for the Lord. The Holy Spirit rested powerfully on one individual instead of the group of people, following the Lord, we see in Acts, Chapter 2. We see from the beginning of 1 Samuel 9, Saul has the worldly attributes of a winner, but the gifts of God haven't concerned Saul enough to learn of them in his past. This does not mean God didn't love Saul and plan good for him. Saul still brought safety and care to Israel.

We've read 1 Samuel 9, this year, in Scriptures for Today. If you'd like to see another aspect of this chapter, the Lord's forgiveness extended to Saul, please see - 1 Samuel 9 ~ behold.

Father God, help us to remember Your requirements for each person & each day are different from our own. With Your wisdom, mature us each day to learn to put aside what isn't needful for us. Help us Jesus, to become the person - soul - You would have us to be. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Job 6 ~ darkened by thawing ice

Job 6 (New International Version)

- Audio link to Job 6

¹ Then Job replied:

² "If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!

³ It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.

⁴ The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God's terrors are marshaled against me.

⁵ Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

⁶ Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egg ?

⁷ I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.

⁸ "Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,

⁹ that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut me off!

¹⁰ Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?

¹² Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?

¹³ Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,
even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
as the streams that overflow

¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,

¹⁷ but that cease to flow in the dry season,
and in the heat vanish from their channels.

¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go up into the wasteland and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.

²¹ Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.

²² Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom for me from your wealth,

²³ deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?

²⁴ "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.

²⁵ How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?

²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?

²⁷ You would even cast lots for the fatherless
and barter away your friend.

²⁸ "But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?

²⁹ Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. [my righteousness still stands]

³⁰ Is there any wickedness on my lips?
Can my mouth not discern malice?

We have arrived at the book of Job again. To be honest, I don't leap for joy at Job. Yet Job has a discernment to it that our generation, media watchers, can fully comprehend. In the previous generations, they didn't have nearly as much emphasis placed on entertainment. Job has an element used in Sci Fi or Horror Movies. Job knows in his soul, he keeps trying to tell his friends, that God has sent these problems to him, purposefully. Job wants to lament with Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar how unjust God is to do this to him, personally. (Here we could use a chorus of the Jaws movie theme - and pan a shot to black ice.)

Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar, totally, & completely don't understand what Job has perceived. They have decided Job is guilty and deserve what comes his way. His friends grow tired of Job's complaints and want him to confess he does not comprehend God.

So... we'll just remove the chapters of Job where Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar speak- their advice to Job is as enlightened as black ice. That would be only chapters 4,8,11,15,18,20 & 22. No. We aren't. Scripture remains in the Bible because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Actually the chapters of Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have some Holy Spirit led insights to the goodness & justice of God. Insights about friends who search for God themselves, but friends are human. An important guide to understanding friends is important, but not to place them in the same category as the Holy Spirit to you.

The Book of Job has another hidden virtue - which lends itself more to the finesse of literature, instead of the glamor of movies - Job writes off the advice of his friends because he doesn't want to hear it. But Father God, creator of the universe is vast, more enduring, more faceted than any diamond - He created, is telling us Job won't want to hear about the attributes of God. A guide to direct those needing Spiritual help, but not receptive. A reminder for those of us trying to help a loved one, God is still the one in control.

But back to our original opening paragraph, Job is at the complete end of his tether because he just Knows God Has Done This to Job with Malice and a Poor Sense of Justice. How does Job arrive at the conclusion of peace? Job has heard, and discarded, what his friends have said. Partially Job is correct, God has judged Job to be a good man. Righteous. But how is Job going to arrive at the peace Job eventually finds? Job finds it by searching his own soul and allowing the Words of God to soak in. God saves Job, not his friends.

Job is partially correct, God has allowed Job to suffer. Job is incensed. Job just knows he is too righteous to have suffering. Job is cast down that his wife, his children (the ones left living), his servants, his family and his friends look down on him for his troubles. Job just knows he was righteous and worthy enough to sit with the village elders at the gate to welcome people. Job did a good job looking good for God.

Job eventually calms his soul well enough for the Words of God to soak into his soul. God allows us to have trouble, are we to judge God? Job eventually realizes God does not judge us incorrectly. Job is not God and must realize God's purposes are good. All the time. Job must consider Job is not righteous enough to save himself. Just as God tells Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar they have flaws even as they attempted to correct and direct Job. The close of the Book of Job touches on the majesty, the vastness of God. Job, Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have all attempted to touch on God's attributes and have partially understood. But not being God themselves, have hidden flaws they must allow God's enduring grace to save them. They must grow in faith to lean in to trusting Him.

Job 40:1-4
1 The LORD said to Job:

2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!"

3 Then Job answered the LORD :

4 "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

Job 42:12-17
¹² The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. ¹³ And he also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵ Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 

¹⁶ After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. ¹⁷ And so he died, old and full of years.

Father God, help us to love and follow You with an undivided heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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2 Kings 25:1-12 ~ he was captured, he was taken

The actual fired lapis colored bricks of King Nebuchadnezzar's Ishtar Gate in Babylon. The children of Israel would have been driven into the city through this gate. Now in the Berlin Museum.

2 Kings 25:1-12

- Audio Link - all of 2 Kings 25

¹ So in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. ² The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. ³ By the ninth day of the fourth [the same is said in Jeremiah 52] month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. ⁴ Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king's garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah, [Jordan Valley]^c]"> ⁵ but the Babylonian army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, ⁶ and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. ⁷ They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

⁸ On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ⁹ He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. ¹⁰ The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. ¹¹ Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. ¹² But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

As we sit in our safe computer chairs and read this 2,500 years later, my thought is - this sounds terrible, more than I would want to live through. To historians, this is another little nation and the regular perils of 500 B.C. during waring empires. This is the kingship Israel cried out for. When Israel allowed Judges to rule, God was their King and there weren't any fierce invasions, even though empires existed and could have invaded.

Judah was invaded 3 times - last time the king, king's families and officials were carted off to Babylon. 2 Kings 25 is the final, most grim, most brutal, 3rd invasion. Zedekiah isn't king by the usual succession. He is actually Mattaniah. The name Zedekiah was given to him by the king-maker of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Mattaniah/Zedekiah is actually the reigning king's Jehoiachin's uncle. Jehoiachin surrendered and lived comfortably in Nebuchadnezzar's palace. Nebuchadnezzar's puppet king decided to rebel, the consequences for Judah is complete enslavement.

We know Jeremiah cried out for Judah to turn to the Lord. Jeremiah's cry for reform was heard by King Josiah, but the next 3 kings (Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin & Zedekiah) and the children of Israel were deaf to the Lord, through Jeremiah.

The actual prophesy of the end of the kingdom was made by Samuel, hundreds of years before the end, before any king was anointed:

1 Samuel 8:18-35
18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

It was Joshua who told of God's plan for Israel:

Joshua 24:15
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

John 14:6
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Help us each day, Father. To choose Whom we will serve, guide us and lead our lives. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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Psalm 105:23-45 ~ Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.

Psalm 105:23-45

23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful
and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.

26 He sent Moses, his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them
and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
they did not rebel against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the first fruits of all their strength.

37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!

When the children of the Israel leave slavery, they leave in style. In the shadow of God's glory!

Many years after Egypt, the children of God were returning from being slaves in Babylon. King Cyrus of Babylon decreed he would rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. He would return the former slaves to freedom with gold & silver from their former masters and King Cyrus would personally account for all the return of each of the golden Temple Tools. Ezra 1:2-8.

What would it look like to have been Egyptian - to have seen the plagues - to see the former slaves leave with gold & silver given by former masters - to have seen the powerful Pharaoh brought down, who had been revered as a god? The Ipuwer Papyrus, found near the pyramids of Saqqara in Memphis, Egypt, have survived since circa 14th century B.C. (Before Christ, still). Ipuwer now resides in a museum of Leiden in the Netherlands. This particular person saw the Exodus as a failure of government to plan effectively. Interestingly, each time Pharaoh is mentioned, the name has been obliterated. Never before, this letter says, has a Pharaoh been so defeated.

What were some of the problems mentioned? 1. The Nile turned to blood 2. Reptiles began to excessively breed. 3. Hail killed all the crops in the field. 4. Later hail was mingled with fire, the fire ran upon the ground. 5. not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the fields, through all the land of Egypt. 6. the crops of the fields were destroyed in a single day. 7. All animals, their hearts weep. Cattle moan... (Exodus 9:3..Papyrus 5:5). 8. Papyrus 9:11 The land is without light. 10. The statues of the gods fell and broke in pieces. 11..He who places his brother in the ground is everywhere. (Papyrus 2:13, 4:4...Exodus 12:30).

Papyrus 4:2 Forsooth, great and small say: I wish I might die.
5:14f. Would that there might be an end of men, no conception, no birth! Oh, that the earth would cease from noise, and tumult be no more! The escaped slaves hurried across the border of the country. By day a column of smoke went before them in the sky; by night it was a pillar of fire.

Servants abandoning their subordinate status, Papyrus 3:14–4:1,6:7–8, 10:2–3.
Ipuwer Papyrus 1: “The plunderer is everywhere, and the servant takes ”

Papyrus 2: “Indeed, poor men have become wealthy.”

Papyrus 3: “Gold, silver and jewels are fastened to the necks of female slaves.”

Ipuwer Papyrus 5: “Slaves (who have now been freed) are throughout the land.”

Papyrus 10: “The king’s storehouse has now become common property.”


It seems comical, and rather endearing, humanity has not changed in all these millenniums; the writer of the Ipuwer Papyrus concludes while no other Pharoah has ever been defeated by so many disasters - it ended Pharoah's life - this could have been prevented if only the government had planned better. The writer continues by saying, a government as strong as Egypt should be better prepared & hopes these catastrophes will not be allowed to go unsupported in the future.

Not only was Egypt glad when the children of Israel departed, they hoped for better government in the future.

Father God, help us to see clearly the events of our lives as You would have them be seen. We ask You each day for the blessing of wisdom as we rely upon You. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Luke 9:37-44 ~ a man from the crowd

Luke 9:37-44

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”

We all have something only God can do and it causes us to marvel. I am astonished when I fly in an airplane at night and see lights on the ground - houses - cities - and God knows each of us as a light, loves us, created us and knows us better than a first name basis - intimately.

Today, I was thinking about what Jesus said when another man from the crowd asked Jesus a question and phrased it, "Good teacher." Jesus replied, "Only One is good."

Imagine having an extremely unusual work day. So unusual, in fact, that Moses and Elijah drop in. And it.... scares your co-workers to death....they start talking about building another office for them. Your co-workers are so scared, they start mumbling really funny little ideas. At that point, are you supposed to listen to your famous visitors or take care of the co-workers who are as afraid as if they'd seen a ghost? In the middle of this amazing time, you've got a balancing act, instead of a precious memory.

Let's add another component to this really unusual day and say that you've also come to terms with a diagnosis of being terminally ill with something very painful. So, you've got a lot on your plate. After your famous visitors leave, you are trying to come down from this mountain. You've got a lot to think about, but one of your many clients, a situation your employees should be able to routinely cope with, comes in with a very serious problem with the client's son.

Wouldn't you like to tell them all to just leave you alone for a minute? Or even rage at the incompetence of these blunderers. Or even something like this gritted teeth reply, "Excuse me, I have to go take care of an important call." And that would be a mild reply.

And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

We love a God who has made time for us when He is busy..... A God who is honest enough to say, correctly, we are faithless, when He could have said many more hurtful things and stayed well within honesty. We love a God who cared when we pushed our hurting child forward....

We are never a face in the crowd to God, but sometimes we put God far away in our crowd.
We love a God who would die for us. We love a God who redeems us, at an enormous cost to Himself.

Thank You, Father God, You have time for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Job 19:1-22 ~ You magnify

Job 19:1-22

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6 know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
12 His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp [their way] against me
and encamp around my tent.

13 “He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?

An expression used a lot that says, "Success breeds Success and Failure breeds Failure." We like it - Job can't even get the servant to answer him without begging - our talents and our faults promote us or we deserve the bad events occurring in life. All through the Bible, it doesn't say this; it says God gives us gifts. He determines who will be lifted up and who will not.

Job, like people with trouble in their lives, isn't the most sought after book in the Scriptures. It's like rain on a picnic. Really, to blame people for events in life, is like saying the showered out picnic was a judgment from God.

Well, we reason, God used Job's trouble for a purpose. Yes, He did. God uses circumstances in our lives, by faith and not by sight, we believe He shapes our lives. Job begins to see, at the end of the book, God's purpose is best because it is God's.

The book of Job has another purpose, it is our map and our guide when we have trouble. How did Job deal with all of his loss and pain?

23 “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’
29 be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is a judgment.”

Job believed in God, he had hope. Solomon, after a lifetime of judging good & evil in Israel, believed God is just as present in adversity as in blessing. Just as David prayed for the infant he was told would die, David always believed, in unfortunate times, in the goodness and mercy of a loving Father.

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Psalm 60:3-12 ~ your beloved ones may be delivered

The Salvation Army is a Christian Church, began in England in 1865, known for evangelical charitable work. It is an international Church currently working in 121 countries. Every country showing a color has benefited from the Salvation Army.

Psalm 60:3-12

3 You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow.[that it may be displayed because of truth ] Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6 God has spoken in his holiness: [sanctuary]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.” [over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph]

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

Yesterday we read about Ahasuerus and Esther, or Hadassah & Xerxes; their names change in order to blend into each culture. Why would God be interested in a story about the Persian Empire after the slaves returned to Israel to become free citizens and rebuild the Temple with the original Temple Tools? Hadassah and Mordecia couldn't have been very devout to remain after the remnant was allowed to return. The people who remained were the people who indoctrinated themselves very well in a polytheistic culture.

Psalm 60 seems to tell us we need help from our foes, but here God's quote is Moab, Edom, and Philistia (always at war with Israel) are as much His as Shechem and the Vale of Succoth. Both are physical locations God claims as His own, but Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah are the descendants of Jacob/Israel. God is claiming even the areas not worshiping Jehovah as God are His. God tells us our foes may be quite different from mere stereotypical labels, but perhaps our unkindness to the people different from ourselves. God tells us what we do to the least of our brothers, we do to Him.

God promises He will valiantly trod down our foes, even when we are our own enemy.

Jesus told us why Ahasuerus was blessed. Jesus repeated why God chose to offer salvation outside of the children of Israel, and he told the people he'd been raised with, in their own synagogue:

Luke 4:18-27

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

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Esther 2 ~ suggested

Tomb of Xerxes - it is an interesting shape

Xerxes (Ahasuerus), the Persian King featured in the movie "300" & video games Assassin's Creed and Civilization II & III. In 484 BC, Xerxes abolished the Kingdom of Babel and took away the golden statue of Bel. The above photo is Xerxes Cuneiform: "Ahuramazda is the great god, the greatest god who created the sky and created the land and created humans Who gave prosperity to the humans Who made Xerxes king King of many kings, being the only ruler of the totality of all lands. I am Xerxes, the great king"

Esther 2 ~ (New American Bible)

1

After this, when King Ahasuerus' wrath had cooled, he thought over what Vashti had done and what had been decreed against her.

2

Then the king's personal attendants suggested: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.

3

Let the king appoint commissaries in all the provinces of his realm to bring together all beautiful young virgins to the harem in the stronghold of Susa. Under the care of the royal eunuch Hegai, custodian of the women, let cosmetics be given them.

4

Then the girl who pleases the king shall reign in place of Vashti." This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.

5

There was in the stronghold of Susa a certain Jew named Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,

6

who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the captives taken with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had deported.

7

He was foster father to Hadassah, that is, Esther, his cousin; for she had lost both father and mother. The girl was beautifully formed and lovely to behold. On the death of her father and mother, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.

8

When the king's order and decree had been obeyed and many maidens brought together to the stronghold of Susa under the care of Hegai, Esther also was brought in to the royal palace under the care of Hegai, custodian of the women.

9

The girl pleased him and won his favor. So he promptly furnished her with cosmetics and provisions. Then picking out seven maids for her from the royal palace, he transferred both her and her maids to the best place in the harem.

10

Esther did not reveal her nationality or family, for Mordecai had commanded her not to do so.

11

Day by day Mordecai would walk about in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was faring and what was to become of her.

12

Each girl went in turn to visit King Ahasuerus after the twelve months' preparation decreed for the women. Of this period of beautifying treatment, six months were spent with oil of myrrh, and the other six months with perfumes and cosmetics.

13

Then, when the girl was to visit the king, she was allowed to take with her from the harem to the royal palace whatever she chose.

14

She would go in the evening and return in the morning to a second harem under the care of the royal eunuch Shaashgaz, custodian of the concubines. She could not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and had her summoned by name.

15

As for Esther, daughter of Abihail and adopted daughter of his nephew Mordecai, when her turn came to visit the king, she did not ask for anything but what the royal eunuch Hegai, custodian of the women, suggested. Yet she won the admiration of all who saw her.

16

Esther was led to King Ahasuerus in his palace in the tenth month, Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17

The king loved Esther more than all other women, and of all the virgins she won his favor and benevolence. So he placed the royal diadem on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

18

Then the king gave a great feast in honor of Esther to all his officials and ministers, granting a holiday to the provinces and bestowing gifts with royal bounty.

19

[To resume: From the time the virgins had been brought together, and while Mordecai was passing his time at the king's gate,

20

Esther had not revealed her family or nationality, because Mordecai had told her not to; and Esther continued to follow Mordecai's instructions, just as she had when she was being brought up by him.

21

And during the time that Mordecai spent at the king's gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted in anger to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

22

When the plot became known to Mordecai, he told Queen Esther, who in turn informed the king for Mordecai.

23

The matter was investigated and verified, and both of them were hanged on a gibbet. This was written in the annals for the king's use.]

This is the king portrayed in modern movies, like "300", and video war games as ruthless and wholly corrupt. The Scriptures show a lot of suggestions are made to the king all the time, but the chapter begins with Xerxes re-thinking his actions. This is a man favored with God's help, a plot against him is averted by his choice of new queen & the queen's family. One of the major Scriptural themes in this book, God does not desert the people faithful to Him, and all of His works forward His plan.

Father God, bless us each day that our words and our work may further Your plans. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 16 ~ I have no good apart from You

Psalm 16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

When the wild winds of life blow, it is good to have refuge in the Lord. The Lord is my chosen portion and cup; my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices! My flesh, not just my soul, also dwells secure.

In You, Father God, we hope and put our faith in You.

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Psalm 100 ~ give thanks to Him; bless His name

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; [and not we ourselves]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

When we give thanks to Father God, it is a joyful thing to Him. God spoke the words it is more blessed to give than receive. When we give thanks with gratitude, we've actually received. We receive the ability for gratitude to guide us - to know our blessings, to exist in happiness, hope and joy.

Thank you Father, for the precious blessings you give us. Help us each day to take the time to remember the blessings in each day. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Garden by Thomas Kinkade

Psalm 86

1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Because I am a human being, not a number bible searcher - I was married in 1986 - this Psalm always reminds me of marriage. Please remember I've been reading the Bible for decades and have used lots of memories to find & remember Bible verses. This Psalm is not the part of marriage created by lovely wedding planners, but regular life. Marriage, if you've been married for any amount of time you know, isn't just about the feeling between two people, but also the way two people encounter life events together. Sometimes life feels like a storm on the ocean with two people in a row boat.

The two people in this row boat have something secure to hang on to. They believe God is listening when they pray. They believe their small part in life matters. Even when that boat is a good place to be, they know life rocks the boat. They believe God is their answer. When difficulties come, they believe they will be continue to hope in God. Because He alone is God. In this life and the one to come.

May Father God, know I've received blessing in my marriage of 24 years, may He continue to hold all of the people together in marriage. Father, continue to provide Your Holy Spirit to all those in marriage. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

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Psalm 130 ~ my soul waits for the Lord

Psalm 130 ~ (New International Version)

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

² O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

⁴ But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

⁶ My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Psalm 130 is a great friend of mine in the Scriptures, it is a place I long for and love to read. Psalm 51 causes me to examine my soul for the unpleasantness I have within me. Psalm 130 is the joy of being forgiven.

Just as Jesus Himself declares He has carried our sins and placed them away from us, Psalm 130 urges us to rejoice and to let Him be our full redemption.

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Nehemiah 1 ~ whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand

Nehemiah 1

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month of Chislev [November/December], in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, [fortified city] 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Now I was cupbearer to the king.

This week we've looked at Psalm 116; God hears prayers willingly. The return from Babylon occurred over 3 sets of king's reigns, in other words, over time. Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes.

One improvement, then wait, then the next. Still an amazing, fantastic thing. Slaves, children of God, were returned from exile and were free people to worship their God.

The same Living God. The same willingness and joy to hear prayer, years ago and today.


Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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