April 6 - Judges 19-21: Civil War to Purge Evil

Today’s Reading: Judges 19-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have made it through yet another book of the Bible (#8). The most depressing part is over (for a while, at least). Look for a great story tomorrow.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God's Chosen People do not want to fight their brothers but they have no choice.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

A Levite man and his concubine stayed in Gibeah, a city in Benjamin’s land. Unable to get at the Levite to molest him, Gibeah's men raped his concubine until she died. The Levite sent pieces of her body to the tribes. They sent representatives and decided to kill the men of Benjamin. They each swore not to marry the tribe's daughters.
Before each battle, God directed their steps and allowed the tribes to defeat Benjamin.
Distraught, the surviving Benjamites asked for wives for their sons. The other tribes allowed them to take wives from the people who did not fight.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

This story shows how evil God's Chosen People could become.

This story is out of chronological order—it happened near the beginning of the time of the judges. This story brings out the similarities between Sodom and Gomorrah and Gibeah. When Sodom and Gomorrah defiled God's land He rained fire upon them and destroyed the cities. In one way Gibeah is worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. They did not have a covenant with God. They were not God's Chosen People. God had not saved their ancestors from slavery. God did not give them land. Gibeah had no excuse. God's Chosen People have no excuse to do wicked acts.

The people of Israel are rightly outraged and are willing to act.

This is important for the entire story. It is not enough that the man has provided proof of what happened. Israel must act swiftly to purge the evil from the land. So they fight. God can set things right on this earth when His Chosen People are willing to police themselves.
What does this mean for Christians today? This part is difficult because we have such different communities of Christians who are no longer in one culture. Several churches attempt to police the entire Christian world even though they have no influence on the ones they are trying to change. They preach sermons, they write "open letters," they teach classes about what other churches do, and they tell each other how bad these groups are. These acts are not the same as what went on in Israel. The best place to apply this text is our local congregation, our local towns, our spheres of influence. Americans getting hot and bothered by what Christians are doing in the Outback of Australia won't change anything until they are willing to send a force to bring justice to these Christians. Condemning the sins of people outside of your sphere of influence from pulpits and gossip is not the same thing as setting things right on the earth.

The tribes ask God to measure their response.

Israel does not want to fight Benjamin; however, they must purge their land of evil. This quandary is solved by asking God for the proper response. "They set out and went to Bethel to inquire of God. The People of Israel said, "Who of us shall be first to go into battle with the Benjaminites?" God said, 'Judah goes first'" (20:18, The Message). This continued every day they fought. When God's Chosen People police themselves, they should ask God for the proper, measured response.

May we all obey God and never need policing.

March 29 - Joshua 22-24: The Conquest Concludes

Today’s Reading: Joshua 22-24

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we finish Joshua! (If you are keeping count, that's seven books.) The nation of Israel is at last at peace. Tomorrow we begin the interesting time of the Judges.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel is now willing to punish anyone not willing to worship God alone—even their own people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Joshua dismissed the three tribes to return across the Jordan. They were very rich from the spoils of war.
On their way, they built a large altar by the Jordan. It was built to symbolize the common history of the tribes on both sides.
Many peaceful years later, Joshua warned Israel of the surrounding nations' gods and reminded them of their history with God from the time of Abraham. He repeated the harsh penalties for cheating on God. He called Israel to choose who they would worship. Joshua and all Israel chose to worship God.
Joshua and Eleazar died.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have followed through on their promise.

To receive land east of the Jordan River these three tribes promised to go with their brothers into Canaan until all of that land was conquered. Their job was completed. Now, roughly eight years later, they are able to go home—rich from what was salvaged from the Canaanites. God can set things right on the earth when His Chosen People fulfill their promises.

For all of its drama, the story of the altar, "A Witness Between Us," gives a great example of conflict resolution.

Phinehas is a man willing to bring God's punishment on anyone who worships another god—even his own countrymen. Yet he does not run among the three tribes "guns a-blazing." He openly and forcefully tells the tribes why he opposes their actions and allows them to give their rationale in constructing this massive altar. At the end of their explanation Phinehas has changed his mind. This altar served as a sign of peace and unity. Because Phinehas was willing to be open about his feelings of hurt and listen (and believe) to the three tribes' feelings peace was preserved. When a person is open about their hurts and listen to the other side's intentions God can set things right on this earth.

Joshua repeats the warnings against the influence of the surrounding nations.

In yet another example of the leader of the Israelites warning them to stay free from the harmful influence of the nations around them Joshua tells his people to stay away from the other nations' gods.

Don't get mixed up with the nations that are still around. Don't so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them. And by all means don't worship or pray to them. Hold tight to God, your God, just as you've done up to now. God has driven out superpower nations before you. And up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you. Think of it - one of you, single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run! Because God is God, your God. Because he fights for you, just as he promised you. (23:7-10, The Message)

God's Chosen People must be wholly for God!

Joshua gives Israel a choice in who they will worship.

After he repeats how God called Israel, liberated Israel, and gave land to Israel, Joshua gives Israel a choice: the gods of their ancestors (that did not call, liberate, or give land to them), the gods of the people who lived in Canaan (that did not call, liberate, or give land to them), or God (the god that called, liberated, and gave land to them).
The fact that Joshua can give Israel a choice, "If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve - and do it today" (24:15, The Message) shows how God is a benevolent god. God gives us a choice in what god we choose to worship. Make sure it is the God who liberates and protect you!

Be strong and courageous!

March 5 - Numbers 23-25: Balaam Proves Faithful, Israel Cheats on God

Today’s Reading: Numbers 23-25

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Balaam, a non-Israelite, proves more faithful than the actual Israelites.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Balaam told Balak he would only speak God's words. Three times Balak took Balaam to a high place to curse Israel. Three times Balaam blessed Israel. Balaam spoke of Moab's downfall to Israel. Annoyed, Balak sent Balaam away.
Some Israelite men cavorted with Moabite women and worshipped their gods. God ordered the public executions of Israelite leaders for this great sin. Moses ordered the executions of the guilty men. Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, followed one son of an Israelite leader and a daughter of a Moabite leader and speared them together, killing both. Phinehas's zealous attack for God soothed God's anger.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Balaam presents a great example of someone not willing to compromise his task for any reason.

Balaam could have used this as a chance to gain money, fame, and power by doing what Balak wanted. He had faith that someone would not kill him on the spot. He submitted himself to God and God used him to bless Israel. God will work through anyone willing to speak His word regardless of the circumstance or the potential outcome.

The blessings Balaam gives Israel are noteworthy.

Balaam's blessings come from what God saw in His people. Because they obeyed God Balaam blessed them. Israel would defeat Moab and occupy their land. Nothing would prevent God's word from coming true—not armies, magic, or other gods.
Christians today should listen to Balaam's blessing. When God makes a promise, nothing in this world can stop the promise from coming true.

Israel's crime was worshiping other gods, not being around the Moabite women.

God's several warnings came true. The people of Israel spent time with Moabite women, fell in love (or lust) and began worshiping their gods. It is as if they forgot God in the face of a pretty girl. Beware people with allegiances to other gods. They can and may lead you to split your allegiance with our God.
As I wrote then I want to reiterate—this is not about racial or denominational purity. God does not want His Chosen People fraternizing with people from other allegiances because they are to be His Holy People. This does not mean we should stay in a social cave and never speak to anyone else.

Phinehas ends God's anger by bringing God's justice to a powerful man's son, not executing two guilty people.

Remember, these people are God's Chosen People. They have made a vow to serve only the God of Abraham. God has promised them land and great blessings. When we make a vow and break that vow, there are great repercussions. The man was the son of the leader of the tribe of Simeon. Phinehas could have started a civil war by executing this man. But this does not stop him from bringing justice. God can set things right on this earth through His Chosen People when they ignore political power and implement God's justice. This does not mean all sinners should be executed. It means justice does not respect political power.