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Anna – Dedicated and Committed
Lesson 5 of 6
April 6, 2022
The Asherites were the most blessed among the tribes of Israel and settled in the western and coastal lands of Galilee. Their rich and fertile land was filled with wooded hills and orchards, and they were known for their olive oil which they provided to Israel in times of scarcity. Think about it–this one tribe had the capacity to fulfill all of Israel’s need for olive oil. This little bible nugget won’t mean much to you unless you know how many Israelites crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. There were 600,000 fighting men, excluding women and children. And they didn’t settle in one place; they were stretched far north as Asher to as far south as Kadesh-barnea.
Like most Jews in the Babylonian era, in the days of the Assyrian king, they were taken captive. But not all were enslaved. The Assyrians weren’t blind. They saw how fertile the land was and took full advantage of it by leaving thousands of Israelites behind to farm it. Over time, after those in captivity were released, many scattered across the globe. Several tribes can be traced from Ethiopia to India. Others returned to Jerusalem. And that’s where we find Anna, the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Asher, the eighth son of Jacob and Leah’s maidservant, Zilpah.
During the time of Jesus, life was not favorable to widows. Some were destitute and left to beg in the streets. After reading Anna’s tribal history, I don’t get the feeling she was in this same predicament.
Being from the tribe of Asher … being a faithful and godly woman, I would caution you about looking upon Anna as someone in financial duress. This was an exceptional woman, spiritually and physically. If you will keep her story in context with the miraculous birth of Jesus and John the Baptist, it’s not too farfetched to conclude God’s miracles extended to Anna–and not only to Anna, but Simeon as well. Simeon is the righteous man who after proclaiming he had finally seen and held the Christ-child, he said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: …” (Luke 2:29-30)
Think of what this proclamation meant to them.
You have any idea how long God has been silent? Do you have a clue how long the people of Israel have been waiting for the Savior?
It’s been 400 years of silence from the end of Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament writings. And from 63 BC to 476 AD the Roman Empire entered and ruled over the Israelites.
When you’ve been oppressed that long, you are in dire need of a Savior.
If we read the Bible without researching, we miss the significance of these silent years. We tend to gloss over these years because we anxiously want to move on to more profound events in the Bible. We don’t realize these silent years are powerful moments in time. We don’t understand a change is about to take place.
After being under the mighty rule of Rome for many centuries, and growing accustomed to God’s agonizing silence, the people are desperate for relief. It’s not because they are being taxed in astronomical proportions, or weighed down with heavy rules and regulations. It’s because they are enslaved, their God is silent, their freedom gone, and nothing they own is really theirs anymore.
To complicate this time period in which they lived, the Jews are bombarded with soothsayers, false prophets, witchcraft, sickness, diseases, schizophrenia, demonic possession, theft, and disloyalty. (This is the result of disobedience.) Like our street-corner evangelists who preach “the end is near,” the Israelites had their fair share of fake prophets shouting promises of the coming Savior, and emboldened and arrogant enough to claim to be the Savior himself.
During this dreadful spiritual drought, the chief priests added laws to Torah and required more than the people could bear. Oppressed on all sides, the Jews are worshiping without their heart and soul spiritually connected to the Father. They are faint of heart, feeling like a desperate people with no hope. Those in control have no qualms about selling their pigeons and lambs and doves at a high price to the poor. They, too, have lost their spiritual connection to the Head and feel no shame or guilt.
This was the era in which Jesus had arrived.
Imagine how chaotic their place of worship had become–filled with people coming and going–rarely anyone sitting in a peaceful state to absorb the meaning of Torah. Romans ruled. Jews constantly on guard. Unrest, prevalent. People scared. Watchful. Nervous. Rebels angry. Itching for a fight to take matters into their own hands and rescue their people from slavery.
Anna was brave. Amid all this chaos–Roman soldiers lurking nearby … Pharisees and Sadducees correcting … scolding … taxing … working both sides of the political spectrum–Anna was focused. A lot of things were against her. To stand up in the temple was a no-no for a woman of any age, but she did it. To be such a loudmouth in the temple, near the temple, would draw attention to herself and the Roman soldiers might inquire, possibly have her locked up, thrown out, or beheaded. They were touchy — these Roman soldiers — they didn’t like the Jews stirring up trouble. The Jews outnumbered them. The Jews might band together and overtake the Roman soldiers. Any skirmish, any sign of trouble, would make these sensitive and skittish Romans over-react.
Still, Anna stood up and proclaimed the Lord’s arrival.
In the midst of adversity, have you ever stood up for the weak? Have you dared to shut down negative talk and gossip? If you didn’t, what does your silence indicate? What does your silence say about you?
What if the Roman soldiers had heard Anna’s proclamation?
Jesus to rule Jerusalem? You mean, this baby will grow up and some day rule Israel?
Any of the Roman Emperors would have rushed to the scene, snatched the child, and not hesitate to kill him on the spot. Even hundreds of years earlier, had the Roman rulers heard of such a king, they would have bribed the chief priests and given them anything they wanted just to know Jesus’ lineage so they could wipe the tribe out.
But that didn’t happen. That wasn’t Jesus’ story. His death would come later, at a time he, and he alone would dictate.
Here is a woman who is not only spiritually knowledgeable but physically ept–with enough stamina to preach with enthusiasm about the Christ that out-bolstered any man alive at the time. In this era, healthcare was limited to the very rich, and in a worse-case scenario she should be on her deathbed. If we were to read the text without knowing Anna’s age, we’d see a vigorous, dedicated, and healthy woman. But seeing that she is old, there’s no doubt Anna is challenging us to preach the Word of God no matter our circumstances.
If an old woman can stand up and proclaim the Lord, what’s wrong with you? What’s keeping my mouth clamped shut? Age has nothing to do with it. Dedication and Devotion does.
Speaking of age — let’s address Anna’s age.
Calculating her age may have a great deal to do with the Bible translation you use. For our purposes today, I want you to take as many translations into account as possible because the language, the punctuation, and the wording can make a huge difference in the way we interpret Anna’s age. If you disagree with my assessment, please don’t let it overwork you. This isn’t extremely important. Just keep in mind that Anna, no matter what her age, was very old. (See commentary: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/anna-in-the-bible/ )
Luke 2:36-38 says Anna had been widowed for 84 years. If Anna married at the young age of 17 and had been married for seven years at the time her husband died, then she is estimated to be 24 years of age. When you add the 84 years she’s been widowed to her 24 years, that would make her approximately 108 years old when she sees Jesus. If Anna was 12 years of age when she married she would be approximately 103 years old.
That’s a lot of alone time.
Take a closer look at Luke 2:36-38 one more time and let’s examine seven things that stand out about Anna.
- 1. First of all, she’s a prophetess (a rare position for a woman as compared to the number of men who held this role; I can account for only two others that the Bible specifically addresses as prophetesses)
- 2. Anna is also a young widow who has committed herself to the Lord, and her commitment only gets stronger with time
- 3. Anna also never leaves the temple
- 4. She worships day and night
- 5. She fasts and prays all the time
- 6. She doesn’t fail to give thanks upon seeing the Holy One of God
- 7. Finally, Anna speaks about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem–in other words, she prophesies about the coming Redeemer.
FIRST, let’s address Anna’s status as a prophetess.
If someone stood in this room and prophesied, the first thing all of us would say, “Well, my goodness. Where did she come from? What was that all about?”
It would be so out of the ordinary, we would have a hard time believing the prophetess wasn’t drunk, or out of her mind. Reminds you of which story in the Bible?
… like Eli supposed Hanna was drunk. (I Samuel 1:13)
And yet, the Bible clearly tells us in I Corinthians 14:1-5:
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
Why is accepting the spiritual gift of prophesy so hard?
For way too long we have been exposed to so-called prophets who are not prophets. We’ve been led to believe profound utterances and noises–which have turned out to be just that, noises–are signs of prophesy, when they are, in fact, not. There is no edification of the church through noises. There are no words of encouragement to lift us up through noises. What we’ve received instead is division, not a spurring to worship and glorify God in spirit and in truth.
Yet, the Bible calls us to be open and accept prophesy. As intelligent people, we need to constantly remind ourselves what the Bible means by prophesy. In I Corinthians 14:1-5, prophesy is understood, it’s encouraging, and it offers consolation. Those familiar with scripture are hesitant to accept the spiritual gift of prophesy. In order to get to a spiritual place where we can accept prophesy, I must ask an important question. Are we so anchored deep in tradition that we cannot be obedient in this spiritual area of our lives?
I dare say there’s not a person in this room who would have accepted the likes of John the Baptist. Can you hear him? A loudmouth shouting from the hills. Dressed in animal skin. Wild, wooly hair. Looking like he needs a bath. Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, you and I would have stood at a distance, arms folded, wagging our heads, and mumbling, “How ridiculous,” under our breaths.
Here it is 2022, and we can hardly stand looking at a woman walking down the aisles of our congregation covered in tattoos. How can we expect to accept John the Baptist sitting next to us today with half of his wild hair brushing against our shoulders, or his locust breath preaching repentance?
As you sit there self-reflecting, are you not liking your reflection? You shouldn’t.
I’m not liking what I’m seeing either. But I must ask myself …
What’s the opportunity here?
Let go of religious tradition and change your heart to one of submission and repentance. (And by the way, I have no idea what that will look like for you.) But if you let go of your tradition, that would mean we would need to be open to God’s direction. If I’m open to him, he might pull me away from my comfort zone. On the other hand, if I don’t follow his lead, it might be harder to purify and refine me pure as gold.
Here’s an important question for you: Do you want to grow, or do you want to stay comfortable? Do you want a close relationship with God, or do you want to hold on to tradition and have everything remain the same, sound the same, and people act the same?
I know. You don’t want to change. You like things just fine the way they are. I get it. You don’t want to work that hard. I hate change, too. I HATE IT!!!! I don’t like to move from place to place, house to house. I don’t like anyone moving my furniture. I don’t like things out of place. I. DON’T. LIKE. CHANGE. — HATE. IT!
But here’s the thing: The word “grow” is in direct contradiction to the word “tradition.”
Keep that in mind.
Babies don’t remain babies. They grow. They change. They mature. They age. They die. They spiritually live again. Keeping your world the same as it was in yester years is a lot like asking your spiritual self to remain in its infant state. Is that what you really want? Do I honestly want to stifle my spiritual growth by remaining in a state of infancy, or should I feed on the “meat” of the Word and grow spiritually healthy?
What if Anna had made the choice to remain in an infant state and not proclaim Christ? What if Anna had not taken a risk, stepped out in faith, go against the grain to proclaim, “Folks, Christ is here?”
SECOND, Anna dedicated herself to worshiping God.
It’s hard for some of us to get up at 6:15 for Sunday morning worship. I mean, “Who gets up this early–besides Grandmother.” Can’t I sleep another 45 minutes? I do. Guess what happens. I wake at 9:50. Hurry about. Then remember, “Oh, I can watch service on Youtube.”
That is “NOT” dedication.
I am convicted by Hebrews 10:24-25:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Notices what sticks out the most in this verse.
“… and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Planning is involved for the first day of the week.
I need to plan to worship.
I need to go to bed earlier.
I need to pray for a peaceful night’s sleep.
I need to be diligent about getting up at the appointed time so I can prepare my heart and mind and soul to worship–on purpose.
You see how we can turn something as simple as going to worship into an arduous task? Our struggles with obedience are endless. Let’s fix this.
Personal Story —
We were led and baptized into Christ on April 1, 1975. After we became Christians, we were on fire for the Lord. My husband and I stood on OU street-corners preaching the word; grabbed hold of fellow students and opened up scriptures; set up Bible studies; called our local preacher in Norman, Oklahoma, at two and three in the morning in search of scriptural answers to our questions, or to appease our curious minds and thirsty souls for more of God’s Word.
Sometimes we’d miss morning worship because we were too tired. (Probably because we stayed up too late playing cards.)
We’d get together for cards again, and during our fun times, we’d discuss the error of our ways. So, we came up with a plan. We called each other every Sunday morning and encouraged one another to get out of bed. If we stayed up late playing cards, we agreed we’d get up and go to church no matter how tired we felt. We were submissive toward one another during those phone calls, heeding the call to get up and stay true to our word. After a year past, those phone calls were unnecessary.
It helps to have spiritual relationships with people who love the Lord.
It helps more to love God Almighty.
To be enslaved to my friendship with this couple is good in the beginning, but it would not sustain me over a long period of time. I would need to grow up and stand on my own two spiritual feet and ante up. God needed to be my anchor. Not my friends.
The Bible should convict you. It should trouble you. It should lead you to admit your failures. And if you allow it, it will help you confess your sins before God. If you ask, God will help you develop a plan to address your issues. Follow the plan.
My spirit is so filled with conviction when the Holy Scriptures reveal the error of my ways that all I can do is shake my hands like they’re on fire.
The truth hurts.
And it saves.
I thank God for his Word because it makes me aware of my failings; makes me desire to be a better servant; places me in a submissive posture.
And though it hurts … though it is convicting … though it is uncomfortable, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Why?
Because God is near during my moments of conviction. Where else would he be? He’s the one convicting us. He’s the one giving us the answers to our questions. He’s the one providing help for our infirmities.
What’s the opportunity here?
Stop running from your convictions and sit still before the Holy One and recommit to serve him in whatever area of your life that lacks attention. Don’t avoid repentance. Don’t avoid confession. Don’t run from correction. God disciplines those he loves. It is truly love when God calls you out. He’s saving you a lot of heartache.
THIRD, Anna never leaves the temple.
The temple was a holy place for the people of God to gather and worship him. Over time, this holy place became no more than brick and mortar. New Testament Christians are members of the spiritual body of Jesus Christ of which Christ is the head. When we look at Jesus’ body being the holy temple that embodies his sisters and brothers, how can we possibly leave it?
In many ways.
Recently, I had a conversation with a dear sister in the Lord that disturbed me. Years ago, she remarried outside the body of Christ. Somewhere along her new journey, she decided to leave the church for the growing affection of another.
How did this happen?
Could have been a need to please her husband.
Could have been a matter of convenience–separate cars going in separate directions; two people never able to worship together, but want to.
What’s my point?
Jesus is at the bow … guiding your spiritual journey … giving directions … telling you where to turn … how fast to go … when to slow down and wait … what to say or not say.
If you fail to follow his instructions, you will be left behind or possibly fall out the boat.
Watch yourself!!!! Your first responsibility is to keep yourself blameless. Faultless.
I Timothy 4:14-16, reads:
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery (body of elders – definition mine). Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (emphasis mine)
What’s your opportunity here?
Listen and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. He was given to you as a guide, a comforter, a teacher, an interpreter, and as an intercessor for your prayers. Listening to him will lighten your load and cause the world to ponder, and perhaps envy the hope within you. Do not forget what the scripture says in John 16:12-15:
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
What peace there is for those who belong to God and obey him from the heart.
FOURTH, Anna worshiped day and night.
Okay, I will confess. When I first read this, I envisioned Anna on her hands and knees all day and all night. I immediately rubbed my arthritic knees and back, and thought, “How in the world did she do this?”
Spiritual reality set in and I later understood the commitment it takes to focus on sincere worship. The fruit in this pudding is not time. It’s quality. When the Bible says, “all day and all night,” I get all bent out of shape. My mind goes ballistic! I think about my valuable time. I’m important. I can’t possibly stay on my hands and knees all day. I’ve got things to do. Who will do the washing? The cooking? The ironing? The grocery shopping? I’ve got to have some ME TIME, right?
If you think Anna was exempt from taking care of herself, think again. At 84 or 103–depending how you calculate her age–most, if not all of her family is dead. She would need to rely on the kindness of neighbors for most of what she needed. Let’s face it, Anna had to bathe, eat, and interface with neighbors, even if it were for only a moment.
Because of her dedication to serve God, and him only, I suspect there wasn’t much time for frivolous talk. That’s one way to stay clear of gossip, isn’t it?
There are too many examples in God’s Word of people who have dedicated themselves to service and worship for me to declare I can’t do the same.
Amid much adversity, Nehemiah rebuilt the City of Jerusalem. People plotted against him. Wanted to kill him. Nehemiah not only rebuilt Jerusalem despite hardship, he also stood before the people of Israel and reminded them of their sin against God, urging them to turn to God and worship him only.
Barren and without an heir, Hannah prayed continuously for a son and promised to dedicate him to God. And she did. From Hannah’s womb, came the prophet Samuel.
Abraham, son of Terah, was 75 years old when God commanded he leave Harran for the land of Canaan. Abraham served and worshipped God until he died … through ALL adversities, especially when asked to sacrifice his only son.
These commitments took discipline. And discipline never fails to produce perseverance; and when perseverance perfects its work in you, you will lack nothing. (James 1:4)
In Hebrews 12:10-13:
“For they disciplined (speaking of our parents – my explanation) us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”
What’s your opportunity here? What’s your challenge?
Regardless of your struggle, I suggest you begin with prayer.
You might say, Anna didn’t have the distractions we have today. It’s not possible to spend that much time in prayer.
Who’s telling you that?
Where you get the idea that you cannot devote your life and time to the Heavenly Father?
Think it’s ridiculous?
Okay. Let’s say it’s ridiculous. Then why are you here? Why pick up your Bible and bring it to worship if you don’t plan to use it, place notations in it, or highlight it?
I tell you what’s ridiculous — Playing church is ridiculous! It’s a waste of time.
But you can’t deny that I’ve now placed you in a precarious position. You are confronted with the choice to improve your worship and prayer time, or you will choose to harden your hearts and do the exact opposite, remaining in the same lifeless rhythm as before.
Too often we read about Abraham, Joseph, Mary, Samuel, Hannah, Nehemiah, and Anna and sit back and “wish” we could be as dedicated.
YOU CAN BE! God says you can. Anytime God commands you to do something, he’s commanding what you “CAN” do. He NEVER asks you for the impossible. NEVER!!
If this is true, how will you go about retracing where you’ve been so you can plot the error of your ways? How will you set out (like Abraham) to change and be obedient to our Heavenly Father?
HOW will you do that?
You know you need to make a change.
HOW. WILL. YOU. DO. IT?
Begin with prayer.
Why?
Because no one knows YOU better than the Father. I can encourage you, but I can’t be with you every day to hold you accountable. I don’t know your weaknesses. And I won’t always be able to know when you’re lying to me. The church can pray for you, but they can’t make you do anything. You, and only you, can change you. God offers and leaves the door open, but you must walk through it.
You may stumble through the doorway. You will sometimes bump the wall. But only you can choose to get up again and start fresh “every” morning. Every morning, for the rest of your life, the Word of God can produce in you the godliness God intended.
Make the choice. Make the change. Pray for it. Follow God’s lead.
FIVE and SIX — Anna fasted and prayed and gave thanks for the Holy One of God.
You have probably heard me say it before — we get so caught up with asking God for what we want that we don’t take enough time to ADORE him for who he is–the GREAT I AM.
Please don’t hear me say that you shouldn’t make your requests and petitions known before God. You should tell God whatever you want to tell him. You serve Him. Not me. But I encourage you to spend just as much time, if not more, ADORING GOD.
In the COMMENT section of this lecture, request a copy of scriptures devoted to ADORING GOD and I’ll send it to you. When you receive them, read them during your prayer time.
SEVEN, Anna can’t shut up about the Lord.
How powerful!!
This gets me excited.
When was the last time you met someone on fire for the Lord? Do you wake up at 10 o’clock on a Wednesday morning and go, “Woo-Hoo! The Lord is here!”
Isn’t that exactly the way we should feel in the early morning hours? There needs to be a thanksgiving on our lips and a song in our heart from the moment we rise until we lie down in the evening.
God is gracious enough to allow me to see one more glorious day, so we should sing songs of PRAISE!
I admire Anna’s boldness.
Think she cared what people thought of her?
Oh, my goodness, she was probably antique as the pillars holding up the temple, people walking by her as if she was one of them. Only sojourners thought she was insane. Everyone else was accustomed to such outbursts, for there were many who proclaimed the coming of the Christ just like there are those today proclaiming the end of the world. These sojourners probably looked in amazement–because of her excitement … because of her boldness–not because of her proclamation.
Soon, they would come to know the Truth when he walked the earth, going from village to village, painstakingly preaching “he is the living water.” Only those anxiously looking for the Lord, who have faith, believe he is the Christ–the Son of God.
To everyone else, he’s another prophet who is about to get what is coming to him. He’s another prophet who will fizzle away in time, leaving them with nothing but a shattered faith, and dwindling hope.
None of this dampens the Truth. The Truth is herald throughout the countryside on a swift wind. Everyone hears about Jesus. Some believe. Some don’t. Some are healed. Some are not. Some see. Some remain blind. Some rejoice. Some look upon him with disdain.
Isn’t it the same way today? Some landing on fertile soil. Some landing on rocky soil, never taking root.
Anna was a prophetess. A bold one. A woman with a one-track mind. GOD was on her mind day in and day out. She spent every waking moment serving and giving thanks to him. He was her mission. He was her goal. He was her salvation. He was her food. He was her strength.
She didn’t have time to criticize, patronize, ostracize, horrify, desensitize, and marginalize those who preach the Word of God.
No one had to tell Anna how, when, or where to serve God. She served him everywhere, all the time. Her service to God meant more than the title, PROPHETESS. To be in his service was who she was from a young age until she was an old woman. Nothing … Nothing knocked her off course.
If fills me with great joy to know Anna left us an example of how to persevere through arthritic conditions, feeble knees, political and social unrest, and still serve the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Circumstances shouldn’t determine our faith. Our faith should determine how we handle our circumstances.
Spiritually handle your circumstances with the Sword of Truth!
This is the freedom our Father talks about. His yoke is easy. He’s laid it out for you. He’s drawn you a roadmap. He’s given you an instruction manual. Read it. Do it his way. Because … in Christ … when you read and follow his instructions, love his decrees, magnify his name, pray in ADORATION of Him, sing in the Spirit, testify, prophesy, understand his glorious nature, ENJOY his bountiful love, and ACCEPT with all thanksgiving his endless mercy and grace, FREEDOM IS YOUR!!
With this FREEDOM, we can’t help but shout … PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE HEAVENS!!
Today, you can become a woman like Anna. Someone who worships God no matter what anyone tells you, what they accuse you of … if your skin is darker, lighter, or you’re pale as a ghost … no matter your financial status, education, political affiliation, or if you live in a rent house, townhouse, boathouse, three-story house, or a $3B mansion.
You see … that hardworking machine pumping inside your chest … that large mass inside your head … Your heart and mind is what God examines. He doesn’t give two figs about earthly wealth. HE CARES ABOUT YOU!
What we need to do right here and right now is examine ourselves to make sure we’re in the will of the Father. Every word you utter matters. Every thought you have matters. The way you treat your sisters matter. The words out your mouth; the way you treat the brotherhood is a reflection of your relationship with the Father. If there’s spiritual interference between you and the Father, there will be division and skirmishes within the body of Christ. And when that happens, you can almost assuredly trace it back to selfishness, self-centeredness, and pride.
So, gather your pencil and paper and map out your day, putting God at the top of your list. Set your mind on him and be dedicated and committed to the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
MAKE TODAY A DAY OF CHANGE.
Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
BE OBEDIENT!! Even when it hurts. Even when it’s uncomfortable.
Worship. Every. Day. Live it. Be Holy.
So, what have we learned?
- Be Discipline
- Be Deliberate and Worship on purpose
- Create a plan
- Ask God’s blessings over your plans
- Give thanks and ADORATION
- Live out the Word even when it’s uncomfortable
Serving him with every fiber of your being is of utmost importance, because by doing so, we not only build a close relationship with the Father, but we encourage others to do the same.
May our God who knows all things grant you peace.
Amen!
by Donna B. Comeaux
My only credentials: one in a billion women who love the Lord our God
Leah – Imperfections Don’t Alter God’s Plan
Lesson 2 of 6
February 9, 2022
God has shown he is more than capable of doing great things through sinful people. He is magnificent, glorious, and his perfect plan of salvation reconciles the penitent to himself. His very nature exposes our sinful state. Rather than recoil at our nakedness, he lets us know Imperfections Don’t Alter His Plan to love and care for us.
Whoever he chooses to use for his purpose, be reassured no one comes perfectly packaged together.
Like us, Leah is flawed, and so is her family–parents, in-laws, grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, alike.
Inside Leah’s story are the complex dynamics of two families whose distinguishing traits are a lot like your own. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you might yearn to read a story about better people.
There are none.
Perhaps there’s a slight tendency to suggest God should have shaken his head in disgust and moved on to Plan B.
That’s not what he did.
He chose deceivers, liars, and thieves–jealousy linking these terrible idiosyncrasies together like glue.
One of the greatest lessons learned from this story is Leah and Rachel can’t sin their way out of the path God has laid out for them. No amount of bickering, stealing, manipulating, or lying can sway God from carrying out his will for mankind. Yes, some will be saved; some will be lost. After all, there are rewards for the saved; doom and destruction for the disobedient.
Like the contrast between the obedient and disobedient, there’s a striking differentiation between Leah and Rachel.
Leah had weak eyes, and from her moaning and groaning, you witness her low self-esteem. Can you blame her? She was abandoned. Chosen last. Unloved. Excluded.
Rachel was a shapely woman, beautiful, and strong–her strength very much in line with her duties as a shepherd.
Are we saying Leah’s story is all about outward appearance?
Let’s not kid ourselves. God is not shallow minded. He doesn’t make decisions based on appearance. He rightly judges the mind and heart of man.
Perhaps what we need to do is dig deeper … go behind the scenes … return to the beginning to uncover the depth of understanding necessary to appreciate what God is saying in Genesis 29-31.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …
He made every kind of animal, beast, creeping things, and fowls of the air … male and female he made them … commanding all to populate the earth after their kind.
In the beginning …
One Wife. For Life.
Let’s imagine Leah whimpering, praying, and crying out to God for love. Share in her agony as travelers enter her father’s home, sitting around a fire, everyone ignoring her. Leah’s tendency to shy away goes unnoticed. Excluding herself from decisions is never questioned. To please his guests and attract a husband for his daughters, Laban sends for Rachel, insisting she lay down her staff and leave her sheep to serve his guests. He’s assured the men will cast flirtatious glances at Rachel, but she is not interested and serves the men in haste.
Once Jacob arrives, everything changes. Rachel is smitten by his presence. So is Leah. And before Leah has a chance to showcase her domestic abilities to make blankets and cook stew, Jacob watches Rachel’s every move. Leah sulks. Wishes she was as beautiful … as strong … as pleasing to the eyes as her sister.
Somewhere deep in her gut, life for her has ended. The handwriting is on the wall. Jacob will marry Rachel, taking her away and leaving Leah to her hopeless end. She’ll never marry. She will die a lonely death while weaving blankets for her father … while cooking for her hungry brothers … while thirsting for what she can never have–a family of her own.
When Jacob asks for Rachel’s hand, it stands to reason that Laban had to meet with his daughters to share his deceitful plan to marry Leah to Jacob. How else can this deception unfold? This didn’t happen in a vacuum, right? They had to know. They know the scheme is wrong, and Leah had to feel bad about it. What is she to do? Entangled and sucked into a web of right and wrong, there’s something about her father’s devious plan which prevents her from speaking up. The lie they’ve woven will help her escape the void in her life … that emptiness too deep to touch … too large and all encompassing to grasp. This chance at marriage is the glimmer of hope she desires. Taking a stance for truth will leave her wanton, and any hope for a family will be wiped out.
Against her better judgment, Leah says nothing to her father; less to her sister; her familiar look of timidity masking fear eating away at her soul. Her hands tremble as she fastens her earrings. Her knees weaken as servants tug and meticulously wrap scarves around her waist. It’s a struggle to be joyous while preparing for her wedding … Rachel’s wedding. Hard to ignore the tears puddling in her sister’s eyes.
She loves and hates her so.
Odd.
At this moment, Leah loves Rachel more than ever. She’s drawn to memories of her teenage sister looking up to her … how she taught little Rachel to weave her first blanket … how she watched the toddler’s first reaction to stories of Noah and the Ark … how she rescued her baby sister from a snake which had made its way inside their home.
Leah bit the inside of her lower lip, releasing a salty, metallic pool in her mouth–a reminder of what she was about to do to her sister. She can no longer look at Rachel who is on her knees smoothing Leah’s garment. “Don’t give in,” Leah says to herself. “This is my only chance. Rachel will one day marry. She’s strong. An excellent shepherd. Beautiful. Men love the sight of her. Even in simple wedding clothes, she’s more beautiful. I’m nothing. If I wait, there won’t be a second chance for me.”
So, beauty and hate, like vinegar and oil, separate these two, and Leah digs in deep to claim the day as her own. During the wedding ceremony, through her colorful veil, Leah sees the joy in Jacob’s eyes, hears the laughter of satisfaction in his voice. On their marriage bed, she’s pleased with his satisfaction, his declaration of love, his promise to give her children.
But during the night when Jacob has long gone asleep, Leah remains focused on the sound of sheep off in the distance; highly alert to movements across the land; skittish with the uneasy stillness that comes later in the night. Desperately, she pines for the darkness to remain, to veil her, unrelenting to the dawn. It seems like moments after their wedding daylight bursts forth and snatches away every ounce passion. Harsh rays of light begrudgingly reveal a stark reality, one she will not soon forget. Something bitter, and rotten, and foul is about to unfold. Suspicions of a boisterous uproar is about to disrupt her joy, and never ever will it return to her again.
Unexpectedly, Jacob stirs. Reaches for his bride.
When he discovers the family’s deceitfulness, Leah is forced to accept the awful consequences for her failure to speak truth. She’s convinced it is punishment … a death sentence as her father declares Rachel will marry Jacob at the end of Leah’s bridal week. Out of all the possible repercussions from her deceit … their deceit … this is the most dreadful.
Unable to contain her anger, many heated battles with her sister ensue. Tearful days elongate sleepless nights. Nothing pacifies the loneliness which finds a home in the center of Leah’s soul. Nothing soothes her longing for Jacob.
If I’m writing this script, which I’m not, I think at this point I’d get out my red pen and do some heavy editing to recast these misfits. They are not turning out to be good examples of God’s people. In my mind, they ought to be law-abiding followers, anxiously waiting on God to unfold his plan, and less tempted to take the bull by the horn.
However, if they followed my idea of how they should conduct themselves, I’d be pulling the log out of their eyes and keeping it wedged in my own.
What are we to do when we encounter people like this? People like us?
Snub them?
If that’s the case, I should be the first to go.
I’m just like them.
And so are you.
God is a stickler about his commandments. Wouldn’t you if you had taken the time to sit on a mountain with Moses to write each and every law? He didn’t write these laws for his good pleasure. He wrote these laws to keep you from harm and to reconcile you to him. He’s also a stickler about how we treat the weak and feeble; the old and frail; the lost and abandoned. God did not like Jacob having more than one wife. And neither is he pleased with Jacob’s favoritism toward Rachel.
Yet, he doesn’t rewrite either of their stories. He allows their deceitful ways to play right into a script he’s already read.
Why?
He sees the whole picture.
What appears right and good, pure and perfect can often be misleading. The opposite is also true. What seems dysfunctional, ill-fitted, and misaligned can be the very thing God uses for his purpose.
Let’s look at a video clip to prove my point.
[NOTE: Begin video at precisely 4:27 minutes; end at 5:35 minutes. Return to the beginning of the video and run for 35 seconds.]
(This video is having issues pulling up. Just click on the link above to get to Youtube to see it.)
If you saw Itzhak Perlman (It Zok) on the street for the first time, your first reaction would be, “Oh my, that poor man.” But as you watched him on this video, in his element, unaware of his physical limitations, you immediately expected a grand performance from a well-fitted individual. It wasn’t until you watched him struggle to get seated that you gained a new appreciation for what he “can” do with that tiny violin, rather than what he “couldn’t” do with his legs.
Imperfections Don’t Alter God’s Plan. They ENHANCE THEM. REVEAL them. EXPOSES God’s greatness, power, glory, and goodness.
Leah isn’t looking at what God can do for her. All she sees is what he’s “not” doing. She doesn’t have the love of her husband or the comfort of children to sustain her.
Like for so many of us, there’s a large schism separating Leah’s feelings from spiritual reality. She’d rather focus on her hatred toward her sister than find hope in God’s promises.
As a result, the rivalry between these two sisters is unleashed with fury. Their love for Jacob puts them at odds with one another and increases their determination to win their husband’s affection.
We quarrel with one another because we are struggling to measure up. Our comparisons to one another grows out of control. We’re blinded and unwilling to recognize that every single time you align yourself alongside another imperfect individual, the result is a slightly curved measuring rod. No matter how much you tap that yardstick to get it straight, that curve remains.
Why?
Because: Imperfection + Imperfection = Imperfection
We create quite a bit of misery and trouble for ourselves when we choose to live a life based on our comparisons to someone else. And let’s not ignore the hatred and bitterness soon to follow.
Spiritual truth is this: God turned Leah and Rachel’s fierce competition into a blessing. He wasn’t pleased with the way they behaved. He didn’t like it. But he wasn’t confined by it either.
Months after God opened Leah’s womb, she became a delighted and proud woman. She now had bragging rights.
She names her firstborn, Reuben, then says:
“… because the Lord has seen my misery.” (Genesis 29:32)
She conceives again and names the second child, Levi, and says in deep agony:
“… for surely my husband will become attached to me now.” (Genesis 29:34)
Can you hear the desperation in Leah’s voice? She has two healthy sons, children she always wanted, and she’s still not happy.
The third time Leah conceives she names her son, Judah, and declares:
“This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35)
What has happened to Leah?
She changed her focus — from Jacob to God. Though this transformation took some time, Leah continued in her spiritual growth.
Whining over Jacob’s inability to love her was getting Leah nowhere. She turns to God, her everlasting peace … the one who does not fail her … the one who truly knows and loves her.
Why now?
Why didn’t Leah turn to God four sons ago? Think on this for a moment.
It’s true–Leah was never favored by Jacob. She lived most of her married life selling and buying back the services of a husband who didn’t affectionately love her.
I can’t imagine coming to you and using a cake of figs or a roasted lamb, or mandrakes to bargain for my husband’s bed for the night. That’s just crazy to me. God’s original intent has always been “one” wife for life. If he wanted man to have two wives, he would have made another woman to work alongside Adam and Eve.
And mandrakes? What in the world are mandrakes?
Let’s take a look at this video.
In this video, you can see mandrakes are fleshy, green-colored (unripe) berries that have an outward texture a lot like a nectarine. They are barely two inches in diameter. They grow from September to April and bloom glossy green and violet flowers. They have medicinal benefits: alleviating stomach ulcers, colic, constipation, asthma, hay fever, convulsions, arthritis, whooping cough; trigger vomiting, sedate, reduce pain, jaundice, inflammation, varicose veins, depression, spasms, arouse sexual desire, and controls maniacal behavior (wild or maniac).
Their roots are a lot more interesting than the edible fruit. The roots and leaves are poisonous. In ancient days, witches and sorcerers boiled the roots. This sweet-smelling root is intoxicating, having aphrodisiac and hallucinating properties often used to charm or stimulate fertility. In other words, it’s a modern-day Viagra, of sorts.
If you wanted to exhibit more sinister behavior, all you had to do was pull up the root, rather than WAIT on God, boil these roots, and allow their narcotic properties to intoxicate your victim.
Could Leah and Rachel have done such a thing? It’s not too far-fetched. They are idol worshippers, and there’s no telling which idol practices they used to sway the outcome they desired. They are bent on having the attention of their husband who is about 84 years old. We know from their bickering back and forth that these two women would have gone to any length to have children. When they couldn’t or didn’t have babies in a timely manner, they concluded God needed extra help, using their handmaidens to do just that–Help.
Help, however, was not what God wanted.
He wants OBEDIENCE. If that means WAIT on the Lord, then I suggest you WAIT on the Lord. Otherwise, like Leah and Rachel, you will cause yourself a lot of heartache and misery.
Flawed people have flawed thinking, and each time we try to lend God a hand, we end up making a mess of things. It doesn’t occur to us to be still. What seems sensible and right to us is far from what God intended.
Why didn’t Leah turn to God the moment her father concocted his deceitful plan against Jacob?
Why are we flawed in this same way? Something to think about.
Many years pass and everything has changed. Jacob’s family has grown. His flocks have increased as well.
Strange how that happened.
Laban, the mater of trickery, convinced Jacob to continue to work for him, and as payment he’d give him all black, spotted, and striped sheep. On his way home, Laban must have laughed his head off and called Jacob an idiot. Over ninety percent of Laban’s flock is white, and the ten percent that were blemished he separates from Jacob so they can’t be accredited to Jacob as his own. Let me be clear — Laban was bent on having Jacob start with nothing and end with nothing. Laban is absolutely sure God is blessing him as long as Jacob stays with him, and Laban plans to milk this train for as long as he possibly can.
God, however, saw Laban’s crafty ways. What Laban didn’t know was he couldn’t out-fox the Father.
When the sheep come to drink water from the well, Jacob would strip slivers of bark from poplar, almond, and plane (sycamore and chestnut) trees, creating a striped pattern in each of the branches. He’d place them in water, letting the healthy and strong ewes eat the twigs and drink the powdery substance that emitted from the twigs and into the water. To distract the healthy ewes, he faced them toward the blemished sheep who also came to drink water from the same well. The blemished animals served as a distraction for the healthy ewes who drank from the trough. While drinking from the trough, male sheep came from behind and mated with them.
This passage puzzled me, so I dug deeper to find the answers to my nagging question: Why is Jacob putting striped twigs of poplar, almond, sycamore, and chestnut trees in the water?
Poplar, almond, and plane (chestnut and sycamore) trees have medicinal value and are known to cure inflammation, uterus infections, promote health and fertility, and fight off infections. During a scientific study, scientist separated sheep equally, feeding half the sheep with the medicinal properties found in these branches; then feeding the other half of the sheep with regular feed. The sheep fed with the medicinal properties from the tree branches increased in weight, were healthier, and produced more multiple births (twins) than the sheep who were not fed with the medicinal properties of the trees.
To this day, the medicinal properties found in these trees are used to feed sheep and other animals.
Does this mean God did not miraculously increase Jacob’s flock?
Of course not.
Keep in mind God used the wind and fire to hold back Pharoah’s Army and to keep them from killing the Israelites. God used creepy things to pester the Egyptians. He can use anything he chooses to attain his goal. He’s God of the universe, over the living and the dead, over the firmaments and the earth.
Jacob eventually sees there’s no end to his uncle’s dishonesty. He’s ready to go home, but patiently waits for an opportunity to escape.
By early spring, the time is right.
It’s sheep shearing time.
Let’s look at this video clip on sheep shearing.
Begin video at 4:05 minutes.
Laban has an enormous herd of sheep, and Jacob calculates sheep shearing will keep Laban and his servants busy for several days.
Sheep shearing season is a festive time of year. People all over the region come to settle debts and celebrate their profits. The wool is sold, but some is set aside to be cleaned and woven into blankets, clothing, and saddles. Women were busy extracting lanolin from the wool, carefully placing it in jars to later use it as moisturizers to be sold at market. Revelry and boisterous laughter are heard throughout the city, along the hillside, as everyone is in high spirits because of the profits they will receive from the wool. Marriages are hastily conducted. Slaves steal off in search of freedom.
It’s a great opportunity to get away.
Because Laban has an enormous herd of sheep to be sheared, Jacob concludes he’ll be long gone by the time Laban realizes he and his family have escaped.
And so it came to pass that Jacob left Laban’s household.
There’s a penalty for their dysfunctional behavior?
A stressful family unit.
Jacob doesn’t appreciate Leah for many years. Her beauty never intensifies. He could no more expect Leah’s beauty to increase any more than we can expect Itzhak Perlman to walk without crutches. Matter of fact, we appreciate the violinist even more because of his handicap.
Despite all this, Jacob is blessed. So is Leah.
What does Leah’s blessings spiritually mean?
Though Leah wasn’t Jacob’s first choice … though he made her feel abandoned by favoring her sister, Rachel, God remembered and blessed a whole nation through her.
God never forgets the abandoned.
Reminds you of what verse?
“So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16)
Take a look at us … here at this church. We are a big congregation. Not as big as some mega churches, still we’re large in number.
Here you sit. One of many. A dot. Insignificant. Nameless.
And yet, God knows you by name.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
In the beginning, I’m sure Leah felt like you … like she was left on an island.
See, if you believe you’re on an island, then you’ll act as if you’re on an island.
It all begins with our belief system and our daily interaction, or the lack thereof, with the Father. If our spiritual belief system is not strong enough, our potential to spiritually fail goes up. We act as if we need to be cornered with no way out before we look UP in search of God. We have this tendency to converse with everyone on the planet, seeking help by any means necessary until we exhaust every avenue available to us before realizing the Father knows us best … before realizing all we need to do is ask him for what we need, then wait on him.
Your belief system is like a battery. As long as your battery is charged and in good working order, you function just fine. If you stray away from the Word, your spiritual battery is slowly sapped of energy.
Get in the habit of checking your spiritual charge, or you’ll wake up one day and not know or understand how you fell in the pit.
On some level, Leah finally understood the Father loved her.
How? How did Leah know God loved her?
Since her trickery has whittled down and she’s had all the babies she can have, there’s no need to compete with her sister anymore. At some point, Leah became wise, slowed down and focused on matters of importance–spending time in contentment with God and being thankful.
Leah had a lot to be thankful for.
This is Leah’s real story.
From this woman’s womb, a nation was born.
The bad things that happened to her and by her did not negate God’s love for her.
She was abandoned AND God blessed her.
She was unloved AND God loved her.
She was alone AND God gave her six sons and a daughter to raise.
God even made provisions for Leah’s burial.
Rachel died first, while giving birth to Benjamin and is buried beside the road to Ephrath (pronounced–Eff wrath), which is called Bethlehem.
Leah dies later and lays in a burial place Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hittite. Before Jacob dies, he instructs his sons to bury him next to his wife, Leah.
Did you hear that?
His wife.
Think on it.
Before Jacob marries Rachel, he marries Leah, first. A week after he marries Leah, he marries the woman of his dreams–Rachel. Out of tradition and hardship, come a blessing.
Here at this place, you might be unnamed. You might feel insignificant among these massive amount of people, but you are not forgotten. You are not being ignored. God sees and hears and knows your pain. He feels your loneliness.
We may feel left out, but IT’S A LIE! Don’t believe it. You are a child of the King. You are not forgotten. You are not less than anyone else. You are not more than anyone else. You are included. Set aside your worldly status, your financial gain, your emotional turmoil, your neglectful parents, your bullying co-workers, and your abusive spouse, and reflect on God’s truth–
“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; …” (Isaiah 43:4-5) [Emphasis mine.]
Don’t be fooled: your real family are those in the body of Christ … those in heavenly places … those who are at rest waiting for your arrival.
Don’t allow your circumstances to define who you are, but rather who you belong to. You were bought with a price. Don’t waste his blood. Let it cover you … drench you … pour all over you. Allow God’s grace to be active within you. Do not fight the Holy Spirit. Obey him. Listen to him, for,
“He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come.” (John 16:12-13)
Leah was not perfect.
GOD IS PERFECT.
Not one speck of darkness can be found in him. He’s come to save us and cover our sins … to clothes us like he clothed Adam and Eve.
Think on this:
Above the Ark of the Covenant is the Mercy Seat (the lid), and underneath the Mercy Seat are Aaron’s staff, tablets of the Ten Commandments, and bowl of manna. God is hovering over the Mercy Seat and a law we could not keep. Without Christ being the Mercy Seat, we are forever separated from the Father. But Christ as the Mercy Seat is our perpetuation — our go-between to get to the Father. Come to God’s Mercy Seat. Give up your manipulative behavior, your white lies, and your bad attitude, your political view, and everything that separates you from Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the saints. Come rest and let God’s Mercy be enough.
We can’t perfect our way out of our struggles. Imperfections Don’t Alter God’s Plan for you.
IN SUMMARY, what have we learned?
- Our failures have no power over God’s purpose for our lives.
- We are to be in full obedience to our Father, but dotting every “I” and crossing every “T” shouldn’t be our full focus. We are not called to legalism. The Mercy Seat — Jesus Christ covers our failures.
- Sharpen your listening skills. By listening to the Holy Spirit, you are reassured he will “never” steer you wrong.
- Don’t minimize God’s power to miraculously turn your plans into a blessing.
- Though most of the time we make choices according to the flesh, God is not confined by them.
Let’s pray.
Father-God, help us to listen … to really listen to the Holy Spirit and follow his lead. We know you love us, but we often need to be reminded just how much you love us … how you continue to sacrifice for us. Help us remain OBEDIENT and walk in your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Donna B. Comeaux
Another woman out of billions who love the Lord our God.
EVE – God is God — I Am Not
Lesson 1 of 7
This lecture I presented on Eve goes much deeper than the video you are about to watch. I will go deep and as I do so, you and I will discover many things we never considered before today. But I assure you the learning process will prove: we are all like Eve to one degree or another.
During this presentation, I want you to come with me into Eve’s world to discover God’s faithfulness–even when we are not. I will ask thought-provoking questions to stimulate self-awareness so you can spiritually examine your walk with God. Not your neighbor’s walk. Not your family’s walk. Not your spouse’s walk. Not your preacher’s walk. But YOUR walk. My goal isn’t to leave you with warm fuzzies, but rather, to spiritually convict you to repent. I’m hoping the conviction you feel will lead you to have a deeper love, a deeper affection, and a deeper commitment to Christ.
To prepare for this lesson, I sat down and placed myself in the Garden of Eden to presuppose Eve’s struggle with good and evil–listening intently to what was said and what was going on around her. By doing this, I was able to relate to Eve’s dilemma and the wrong choices I’ve made along with the repercussions that ensued.
So, let’s go to the Garden of Eden and see what things we have in common with Eve, and the dilemma she finds herself in.
IN THE BEGINNING …
Imagine a place of perfection … the environment is pleasant; food is plentiful; work is a joy; having babies is painless; clothes are unnecessary; long pleasure trips are a waste of time. Everything around you is quite lovely. You have a bird’s eye view of majestic mountains, giant creatures, and all the zoo animals you can stand. Matter of fact, there’s no need to dig up dead dinosaur fossils. There are more than a hundred of them walking all around you. And you’re not afraid. Fear isn’t a part of your vocabulary. Every living creature God created are plant-eaters, not people-eaters.
All you need to do while living in this perfect world is not go into the middle of the garden and touch or “… eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
God’s ONE and only command.
Think about that for a moment.
Adam and Eve had only ONE command to follow. Just ONE.
How many of you have heard of the Torah?
The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament. It was written by God through Moses. This is one of the many reasons why Moses was up in the mountain with God for so long, during which time the people were making a golden calf.
Which five (5) books are they?
In Hebrew, the books are: Be’reshit, Shemot, Va-yikra, Be-midbar, and Devarim–all of which correspond to our English Bible as: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The Torah has 613 commands1 — 248 positives (do’s) and 365 negatives (do not’s).
THAT’S A LOT OF RULES!
As I tried to wrap my mind around the Jews having to succumb to such restrictions, I couldn’t help but recall the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1. They were found blameless by God, though they hadn’t received the one thing they wanted–a child.
The political uproar from the oppressive Roman Empire was the main stumbling block for the Jews, giving them reason to grow anxious for the Messiah. If the political atmosphere wasn’t enough to concern them, low wages, high taxes, and pressures from the religious sect to adhere to every word of the Torah made life almost unbearable.
The thought of having to pay government and religious taxes is absurd to us, but in addition to the Herodian government taxing the people’s crops, they collected a “head tax”–a denarius for every male over fourteen, and female over twelve. This amounted to a day’s wage. Then there were road taxes (tolls) and port taxes2. The Pharisees also imposed a religious tax, taking a tenth from the people to support the priests and other various causes.
Despite this hardship, God found Zachariah and Elizabeth BLAMELESS.
… during a time when religious leaders (the Pharisees) were dead set on binding the people to 613 laws.
… during a time when the world … their world was in chaos.
… during a time when Zachariah and Elizabeth were late in years and without a child.
I’m sure Adam and Eve would gladly follow God’s ONE command if they had another shot at it.
But let’s face it. Adam and Eve didn’t obey God’s ONE command. And though you and I can make the choice to be more like Zachariah and Elizabeth, we are forever repeating Adam and Eve’s mistakes.
What’s so complicated about God’s ONE command anyway?
God is thorough. He tells you what you can have. He tells you what not to do. And he lays out dire consequences if you are disobedient.
What else you need to know?
A few years ago, my daughter-in-law sent us a video of our four-year-old granddaughter. This darling little girl was dressed in a cute red and white striped Santa outfit with a Santa hat on her head. My daughter-in-law and her mother placed red candies in a jar then set them on a table, specifically instructing my granddaughter not to touch them. This giggling four-year-old nodded with glee, but the moment everyone left the room, she placed curled fingers to her face, stared at the jar for half a second then gobbled up two or three candies.
There’s something exciting about the naughtiness of breaking rules. We laugh at these little infractions until a price needs to be paid.
In the garden, Satan dismissed the consequences of disobedience, sowing seeds of doubt by twisting God’s words around to say, “Did God really say, …” (Genesis 3:1) Then later lying, “You will not surely die, …” (Genesis 3:4)
Can you hear him whispering out his lies?
He does this over and over again. Never changing his tactics. His strategy is indeed monotonous, but effective.
Satan has whispered in our ears for so long that he’s worn down our spiritual defenses, turning our spiritual boldness into a lulled sense of complacency.
No doubt, Satan sported a sly grin as he tempted Eve, peeping through tree branches to get a good look at her, choosing his words carefully to spur doubt, alert to any indication of success.
For as long as I can remember, I surmised it wasn’t Eve’s fault. She didn’t know what Satan was doing. After closely examining scripture and listening to Eve’s response, you’ll see my defense of her doesn’t hold up.
"We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." (Genesis 3:2-3) [Emphasis mine.] Is Eve without excuse? Is she? No! What were her options? Challenge the challenger. How? By responding to Satan with this: "Who are you to question God? Let's summon the Father and see what he has to say about your proposal." Instead, Eve placed Satan's offer on a scale beside God's command, and her growing desires pulled the scale in her favor. She should have heeded God's warning. When we are confronted with new ideas that are not aligned with scripture, more often than not, we fail to question the source of the new information. Unfortunately, we become too lackadaisical about going to the Word in search of Truth. We need to admit the obvious! Eve knew what God had said word-for-word and understood the penalty for disobeying him. Yet, where does she find herself? In the middle of the garden. As I studied this scene in Genesis, I got the sense the evil one begins his conversation with Eve at a distance from the fruit, enticing her to move from her place to examine it. I see this unfolding at a snail's pace. It's a deliberate, methodical act. There's time to think and break down the have's and have not's. Time to walk away. Time to consult her husband. Time to call on God. Tell me ... Have you ever left your place and drifted away from God? Ever wonder how you got so caught up in a world of deceit? Ever get mad and frustrated about your pull to the dark side? Anger is a God-given emotion with a God-given method on how to handle it. Anger exercised outside of God's will provides a nice opening Satan uses to slip inside your head. He tells you what you want to hear, feeds your anger, lingers to appease your desire, your sense of righteousness then questions your commitment. If he stays too long, he becomes familiar... less threatening. Then, day by day, you lose your way home. We should ask God to rebuke him, but like Eve, we listen. Spin it. Replay his ideas in our minds and mold and reshape them until they are tailor-made to our needs. I meditated on Genesis 1-3 then speculated why Satan didn't threaten or physically harm Eve. Why disguise himself to be something he's not--a negotiator--when in fact, he's a fallen angel doomed for destruction. He's your first ventriloquist. None of the animals could talk. He's also the first prosecutor to lose in God's court of law on the pretense of having a strong case. Satan disguises himself because it falls within his character--he's the father of lies. He's not about to show himself as he really is. He doesn't physically harm Eve in any way because (1) he's not after her physical body. He's after her soul and the soul of her offspring and is using this opportunity in the garden to milk all he can from Eve; and (2) since Adam and Eve hadn't crossed the threshold of sin, Satan is limited in what he can do. He's a master of disguise--masquerading like an angel of light--and at this point, all he has at his disposal are disguises and twisted words. Don't lose sight of what's most important here: one of the most powerful things God gave man was freedom of choice. Satan's goal is to take away that freedom and enslave you. To have you DIE with him. I speculated about something else. Why did Eve listen to someone with whom she was unfamiliar? Ooooh, now here is where paying close attention to scripture is important. The Bible says, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1) He was familiar! Did you notice Eve was never afraid of him? She had seen him before. The Word describes him as a wild animal, crafty (deceitful, sly, cunning, skillful in evil schemes). During Satan's discussion with Eve, he awakens her desires, emphasizing she can have what only God possesses--the knowledge of the tree of good and evil. To sweeten the pot, he throws in the idea of becoming wise as God. Let's break this down. If you become wise as God, then you intend to be like him. And if you're like God, what need do you have of him? Did Eve think this through? I know you're tempted to let her off the hook, but DON'T. Eve thought it through carefully. Satan didn't ask, "... Did God really say ..." just to be asking the question. He questioned her so she could indeed repeat what God had said, so he could use it against her at a later time. He planned to whip her with guilt over what she had done. He would later make her feel unworthy of love, powerless, insignificant, mess up the family system God had set up and make her think she was first ... she was in control. His plan was to dilute woman from her godliness to the point of despair ... to make woman chase the man's leadership role to the point of exhaustion. Eve's doubt and questioning of God would become a nightmare. Listen to Satan's persuasive half-truths: "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5) Satan takes the truth and delicately weaves it into something that feels good and sounds even better but is vastly different from what God had said. Soon, doubt is his foot in the door and victory is on the horizon. In the meantime, God's angels are not wielding swords in front of Eve to make/force/cajole/persuade her to obey. Neither does Satan have any power to strangle or threaten her. Free Will is exactly what it implies--FREE. WILL. God won't make you do anything. Neither can Satan. Satan can't even share some of the fire he's under. Only he is feeling the heat. But he sure wants you to join him. The evil one can only entice Eve. That's his limit. And it's enough. The second Eve succumbs to Satan's devious scheme, you know she had to feel rotten about it. The effect of disobedience is immediate. Imagine the darkness ... the unmovable heaviness anchored to her soul. Guilt. Shame. Fear. Running. Hiding. Heart pounding and racing out of control. She and Adam trying to fix it by covering themselves with leaves ... unable to repair the damage. How would you feel if you had brought sin into the world for the first time? Consider how you may have brought sin upon your family. Perhaps you manipulated your family's finances so you could get new furniture; or buy new clothes; or take a needless and expensive trip ... only to later wake up one morning to an upsetting telephone call. You're now in financial hardship. You can't hide it. Your family suffers, or worse, your marriage ends in divorce. Perhaps a family member has become a drug addict and resolved to stealing and ends up in prison, embarrassing you, your family, ruining your good name and reputation. Sin is serious business. And it effects the whole family. In Joshua 7, we read about the sin of Achan. You will recall Joshua is leading the people of Israel to the promise land, and they need to take Jericho. God promises them victory. Joshua sends men to fight the enemy, but the Israelites are defeated and men die. Joshua tears his clothes and lays prostrate on the ground, crying out to the Lord. Joshua 7:10-15, reads: "10The Lord said to Joshua, 'Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their possessions. 12That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. "13Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow: for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. "14'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. "15'Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!'"
God hates disobedience and will not allow it to go unpunished. The Bible says his anger “burned.” A price needs to be paid for disobedience and Achan’s entire family paid a heavy price. They all died.
Like Adam and Eve, Achan brought sin upon his entire family. The consequence was death. Joshua brought Achan and his whole family before the Lord, took them to the Valley of Achor, stoned them, burned them then placed a heap of rocks over them. Then the Lord our God turned away from his fierce anger toward Israel.
God punished Achan … without hesitation … weeding him out tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, man by man.
He punished Satan … without a stutter.
He punished Eve … without considering her as a weaker vessel.
He punished Adam … without considering his excuses (“… the woman you gave me …”).
YES! We should have reverent fear of the Lord our God.
But he also sacrificed an animal … an innocent animal to clothe them … because he loved them … because he refused to abandon them.
Before the Fall of Man, there was no shame or guilt or lying or hiding or fear. After the Fall of Man, Adam and Eve are like the world is now–sinful, emotional, fearful, guilty, liars, manipulators, pretenders, unrighteous. And God sees it all! From the moment Satan became victorious in getting Eve to eat the fruit, he’s been in her head … in her ears feeding her lies ever since.
Consider this question: if he’s not in her ear, then what was the point? Why tempt Adam and Eve if his aim isn’t to spiritually destroy them and pay them a daily visit to break their commitment to God? Another way to look at it: what else does he have to do? He’s got all the time in the world to torture them … and us.
So, the guilt over what Eve had done stayed with her, hindering her ability to fully accept God’s grace and forgiveness. She must have had bad days when her struggle was almost unbearable, pushing God’s forgiveness to the side, overcome with sadness over the burden she’d placed on the world and on her children.
Everything is all messed up now. Their family dynamics is going down the tubes. Where there was joy, there’s sadness. Where there was praise and worship, there’s depression. Where there was understanding, there’s confusion. The good life is behind them–on the other side of the angel who is wielding his sword back and forth to keep them out of the garden. After being kicked out of the garden–their original home–their new surroundings are far removed from where life began.
The bottom is up.
The top is down.
Nothing is the same.
As far as Satan is concerned, the destruction of God’s family has begun. He literally hates God’s family … God’s authority … and he will butt up against it every chance he gets.
Let me show you what this raging war against good and evil looks like in our society.
From the time you rise until the time you lie down, you are busy feeding, listening, ironing, taxi driving, performing as counselor-in-chief, acting as judge and jury, teaching, scolding, storytelling, healing, coordinating, volunteering, studying, tinkering like a repairman, attempting to juggle numbers as an accountant, and spiritually encouraging everyone in your path.
To combat our weariness, we read the Bible on our phones, on the computer, CDs, DVD, televisions. There’s no time to sit and meditate. We’re guilty about short-changing God, so we get busy feeding, listening, ironing, taxi driving, performing as counselor-in-chief, acting as judge and jury, teaching, scolding, storytelling, healing, coordinating, volunteering, studying, tinkering like a repairman, attempting to juggle numbers as an accountant, and spiritually encouraging everyone in your path.
And the cycle continues.
Like Eve, we want to be like God.
You might respond, “But that’s not my intent.”
Isn’t it?
We want to manage and manipulate and control everything, right?
We think all of our “busyness” will spiritually save our family … make everything perfect at church … at work … at home.
Where did we get this idea that we needed to be god to everyone?
In the garden …
From the serpent …
And we still haven’t stopped this obsession to be a god.
Case in point —
Lately, I’ve watched my life spiral out of control. My need to bear the weight of my family’s spiritual growth sometimes overtakes me.
Let me be clear: These are grown people I’m trying to spiritually care for, not young children.
I pray day and night for them as if our lives depend on it.
I wring my hands as my anxiety grows.
There is nothing my family can discuss with me without me expressing God’s will for their lives. I give examples. I warn them. I press them to read their Bible. “Pray,” I say.
Not much has changed.
I have one family member who doesn’t read the Word because of a silly notion that they have it all under control; all you need to do is think things through very carefully. You see, like Eve, they are wiser, more intelligent; they’ve got a handle on the situation.
My family’s not spiritually growing. At least, that’s my take on it.
I want to help them. I can’t. But I keep trying.
I’m exhausted all the time.
Why do I feel so much weight on my shoulders?
I’m the oldest.
I’ve taken care of them all my life.
I cooked for them. Bathed them. Disciplined them. Encouraged them. Listened to their heartbreaks. Took them in and put a roof over their head. Cried with, and, for them.
I’m responsible.
I’m convinced I must live out Christ so I don’t lose them to the evils of this world.
There’s only one problem with my conviction.
WHO. MADE. ME. GOD?
GOD IS GOD — I AM NOT!
Is there any place in God’s Word where he overloaded his people with responsibility?
Do you think Eve ever felt like making up for what she had done by trying to help her offspring stay clear of sin?
I’m sure Satan was in her ear all the time, reminding her it was a lost cause to help them, reminding her of the decision she’d made. I’m certain she battled guilt for a little while before concluding she needed to completely trust God. As her trust increased, like us, her spiritual growth evolved. Her growth didn’t leap into being. It didn’t happen overnight. It took time.
God never intended for us to take on responsibilities that weigh us down to the point of desperation or exhaustion.
Okay, but isn’t it right to be a good example for those around me?
At what cost?
Our obsession to save family is rooted in distrust and we’ve forgotten the scriptures that read:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:3-6)
My behavior contradicts God’s commands and dilutes the words of encouragement found in scriptures. Peace goes hand-in-hand with your trust in our Holy One and does not bring about anxiety.
If I’m wringing wet with sweat because fear and anxiety have overtaken me, waiting on the Lord won’t be an option for me. My fretful state will sidestep the written Word of God and increase my vulnerability to Satan’s craftiness. It won’t be long before I’m listening to the wrong voice and making the wrong choice.
A daily diet of God’s Holy Word subsides all fears.
Amen?
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)
You and I will, no doubt, encounter every human emotion known to man, but these emotions shouldn’t be in control. No matter how you feeeeel about your circumstances, be obedient.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)
Another passage reads:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (I John 5:14)
These scriptures lay bare the true war raging in our spiritual bodies–a lack of trust and confidence. Confidence requires belief. Our beliefs are challenged by evil spirits, but these evil spirits can’t hold us down unless we loose connection with the Head (God).
I warn you! Don’t lose your connection to God.
GOD IS GOD — I AM NOT!
Remember, we are presupposing Eve is like you and me … experiencing every emotion known to mankind — guilt, shame, doubt, feeling unworthy and insignificant — all brought on by disobedience.
With that in mind, I want you to listen closely to this next scripture.
After deep meditation, it has encouraged me to make changes in my spiritual walk with the Father.
Philippians 2:12-18 reads:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose …”
Tell me — Is Paul encouraging them to “continue to work out [their individual] salvation with fear and trembling …” or is he saying they should work out the salvation of others?
Oh my!
You mean, I’m responsible for me, and you’re responsible for you?
But I thought we are to be a light to the world?
Indeed, you are.
But to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling means you must go through a spiritual process (spiritual growth, if you will) on your own so your love, faith, and trust in God is forever evolving and increasing.
How do you expect to do that for someone else?
No matter how guilt-ridden Eve felt for her mistake in the garden, she, like you, had to come to realize four things:
- She must confess her sins;
- Ask for God’s forgiveness;
- Submit herself to God; and
- Remain obedient.
Notice something even more important in this scripture:
“… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose …“
Let me get this straight — if God is working in me to will and to act, why am I so exhausted all the time?
If Moses was admonished for trying to do too much, and Moses is so much greater than I, could I learn from his mistake?
You bet.
That stirs up another question: Am I in full obedience when I have too much on my plate?
NO! You are not in full obedience when your plate is too full.
Why?
The Spirit who lives in you is not one of chaos, confusion, or quarrels. He doesn’t run late or is always gasping for air. Neither will he weigh you down with responsibilities you can’t carry. And he’s sure not going to tell you to do something that’s not aligned with scripture. He only speaks what he hears from the Father.
So, what drives me to take on so much?
FEAR!
Too often we say, “I can’t trust anyone to do it right.” Or, “I can’t rely on anyone.” Or, “No one will volunteer.”
Trying to convince us that you’re Little Miss Perfect and nothing will go wrong if you remain in control is preposterous. Here’s the thing: you don’t really believe that and neither do we. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes things just need to fall. — Donna, how can you say such a thing? — I can boldly say this because the fact of the matter is this: GOD IS ABLE even when you are not.
We’ve all sinned.
We all make mistakes.
No one is immune.
What good is it for you to carry the weight of responsibility for someone else if they are fully capable of fulfilling their own obligation to the Lord?
How can someone gain from spiritual growth if you’ve taken away their opportunity to rely on the Father?
You’re not only hindering their spiritual growth, but you’re also stealing it. Stop being a thief!
I believe Eve was finally encouraged through God’s forgiveness and grace. She didn’t hide in a cave of depression or allow guilt to drive her father away from the Father. Yes, she wrestled with guilt, but she won the war. This woman of God went on to raise her family, live in submission to her husband, and walk in full obedience to the Father.
Let’s face it, like Eve, we make mistakes. Sometimes we head in a direction detrimental to our spiritual, psychological, and emotional growth. Some of these wrong turns have all the right landmarks to lead us home, but we fail to pay close attention to the detours up ahead. It’s not until we’ve gone too far that we realize we’ve made a wrong turn.
Many roads look the same, sisters, but they don’t all lead home.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Not long after God showed me that I was not trusting him to answer my prayers for my family, and after a tumultuous week of one family issue after another, I sat my family down and sternly told them that they needed to spiritually grow up and be responsible for their own salvation.
That was May 2021.
It’s now January 2022, and I’ve got a new issue. I’ve become a problem within the solution. Just like I took over God’s job to oversee the spiritual growth of my family, I’m also trying to take control of the solution.
Sin in the garden continues. We are in constant spiritual warfare. Like Eve, I’m trying to be like God. A war rages in all of us and we need the Father to steer our ship or we’ll loose our way.
It’s unfortunate, but opportunities to work out our salvation come during hardship. I had to bump into a wall before concluding that if I was ever going to win this battle of trying to be like God, I must put several safeguards in place.
- If my sorry does not lead to repentance, then my sorrow is worldly and it will not bring forth the godliness and holiness God desires. In other words, avoid getting tangled up in wishing and hoping and regretting what you’ve done. REPENT! Then let God fix it. Ask God to give you spiritual peace and confidence as you live with the consequences of what you’ve done. Because, believe me, there’s always consequences for our sinful behavior.
- Think twice before I act out of anger or haste. My next move can and will effect my entire family and it may take years to recover from poor decisions. Keep in mind, some family members may never recover.
- Humble myself before the Lord, pray for forgiveness–for me, and for others. (I John 1:5)
- Believe in all I ask of God.
- Consider each temptation to “fix” my family as an opportunity to trust in the One who can. This is a crucial step. Do whatever you need to do to remember it.
- Adore God. Offer praise of thanksgiving. Sing to Him. Your adoration of Him will reestablish and reaffirm your trust in the One who can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. (This is beautifully written in Ephesians 3:16-21.)
- Repeat No. 5 above.
So, what have we learned from this lesson?
- There are no substitutes for obedience. Learn from Eve’s mistake. Obey the great I AM.
- We are like Eve … still fighting guilt and shame. And like Eve, we can overcome. If Zachariah and Elizabeth can be obedient in a turbulent world and be found BLAMELESS, so can we. It’s doable. Believe it! (Read: I Thessalonians 5:23 – “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”)
- Obey from the heart.
- Mistakes aren’t the end of the world. Eve picked up the pieces, repented, trusted God, took care of her family, and lived a long full life. Eve believed and trusted God.
- Shift your focus. Work out your own salvation and pray for the salvation of others. This is worth repeating several times a day.
- At every opportunity preach the Word.
- God’s forgiveness is far-reaching, and he doesn’t forget to provide for you.
IN CLOSING, I want to reemphasize we are all replicas of Eve in some way. Our efforts to maintain a spiritually balanced life is a work in progress that won’t come to full fruition until our Father calls us home.
Please, don’t be weary. “… the battle belongs to the Lord.” (II Chronicles 20:15)
GOD IS GOD — I AM NOT!
We don’t need to carry so much weight. God is strong and powerful and able to make your burdens light.
All you need to do is PREPARE FOR BATTLE.
Buckle the belt of Truth around your waist.
That means: God’s word of Truth offers spiritual FREEDOM.
On your chest, put on the breastplate of righteousness.
That means: Guard your heart – Proverbs 4:23.
Set your feet in blocks of the gospel of peace.
That means: Be ready to preach Christ – I Peter 3:15.
Take up your shield of faith to extinguish the evil flaming arrows.
That means: Guard against doubt.
Firmly place on your head the helmet of salvation.
That means: Protect and guard your mind – Romans 12:2.
Tighten your grip on the sword of the Spirit.
That means: Hold on tight to the Word of God.
The next time you’re in the fight of your spiritual life, imagine hearing the trumpet of the Lord. Yes, imagine it.
STAND FIRM and keep your position.
But …
WAIT! Don’t draw your sword, yet. You must wait on the Lord.
Know there’s an Army all around you.
Can you see them? (No, don’t look at me … at your family). Look Up!
The Army of the Lord is waiting for God’s command.
THE FATHER IS ABOUT TO FIGHT FOR YOU!
The Father is about to fight for you!
Did you not hear me?
The Father is about to fight for YOU!
And I guarantee, you won’t leave the battlefield with a scratch on you.
AMEN!
by Donna B. Comeaux
The Park Church of Christ
Tulsa, Oklahoma
1The 613 by Archie Rand (11 September – 13 October 2018). Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art – James Madison University. https://www.jmu.edu/dukehallgallery/_images/000_banner.JPG
2The Political and Religious Structure in Jesus’ Time. St. Mary’s Press Essential Quick Charts: Bible Basics (2007) by Gary Dreier – 2010 Saint Mary’s Press – Living in Christ Series – Document # TX001327.
LESSON 2 has been rescheduled for posting on February 9th. Our Wednesday Morning Ladies’ Class was canceled due to inclement weather. Thanks for your understanding.
UPCOMING BIBLE STUDY
WOMEN OF THE BIBLE
January 2022 – May 2022
An Introduction
It’s been two long years. Too much death. Too much confusion. Too much heartache. Too many outside noises disrupting my spiritual peace.
I want a new beginning. For that to happen, I must get rid of my god-complex.
You see …
I’m a deep thinker. I don’t take things lightly. Don’t know how. I’m serious most of the time. Sensitive. Always problem-solving. Always gathering information from what’s going on around me. Proactive most of the time. If I miss something, as I often do, it’s because I’m focused on a perplexing issue I must get under control. (OUCH! There it is! That god-complex again. We’ll discuss this later.) Needless to say, I like puzzles–piecing unfamiliar things together as if I’m smart enough to see the whole picture. I also love wearing four different hats at once. BUSY.Busy.busy is the name of the game, right? I enjoy finishing your sentences—even if I do so inside my head. But I like surprises. Love giving.
Am I saint?
Absolutely.
Why?
Because God constantly cleanses me from my sins and purges me from my egotistical attitude … humbling me … warning me that he’s the one who planned out my salvation … not the other way around. He tells me through his Word — I AM. NOT. HIM.
I’m not, you know.
There’s only one God.
And I’m not him.
Like Eve, I want to be. I want to be one step ahead. I want knowledge. To be “in the know.” I want to scold and manipulate and correct and encourage to the nth degree so people will do what’s right. Did you catch that narcissistic need to control? I wear myself out trying to be what I’m not—perfect. I know I can never do enough … that my works won’t get me near the heavenly gates. I’m in a terrible predicament. I want to save the world, but sometimes find myself bumping into walls and unable to find a way out.
I thought I knew it all. I thought I was GOoD. I never used that exact language, but the end result to my pathetic and vigorous struggle speaks louder than words. (If you don’t believe me, count the number of times I’ve used “I” in this blog.)
Recognize my dilemma? Flesh v. Spirit?
Why does everything need to center around me?
Why can’t I be more like Christ? To serve rather than be served?
It’s a battle, isn’t it? Flesh v. Spirit.
We all fight it.
How did this fierce war for our souls begin?
It first occurred in the garden … initiated by the serpent … the evil one.
How do we win the war?
WE FIGHT!!!
STRATEGIZE.
GET EQUIPPED for it. Put on spiritual armor and prepare for war.
We don’t sit in a corner and pretend we are not in the fight for our spiritual lives. We don’t cry day in and day out and do nothing. We don’t wave our hands in despair, as if we have no hope.
NO!
We prepare for battle, STAND OUR GROUND, and FIGHT.
But how?***
- Know the scriptures one chapter at a time.
- Surround yourselves with god-fearing people.
- Know your weaknesses because the enemy sure knows them.
- Pray without ceasing.
- Obey. OBEY. OBEY. Scriptures were not written for entertainment. They were written to reconcile you to God and encourage you to stay in the fight.
Beginning Wednesday, January 19, 2022, we will study WOMEN OF THE BIBLE here on my blog.
This study is a repeated lecture from our Ladies’ Wednesday Morning Bible Class which I will co-teach every two weeks through May 4th.
I will pull back the curtain and help you imagine standing in the middle of the ancient world to experience what these women went through. By doing this, you will quickly discover they were no different than you and me. Their lives will provide more encouragement than you ever imagined. I will dig deep and ask thought-provoking questions in hopes of getting you to self-reflect—to take inventory of your spiritual walk with the Lord and seek his guidance to get closer to him.
Prepare your hearts and minds by reading scriptures on the following seven women:
January 19th Eve
February 2nd Leah
February 16th Abigail
March 2nd Gomer (through Hosea’s eyes)
March 23rd Mary, Mother of Jesus
April 6th Anna (the prophetess)
April 20th Woman at the Well
May 4th Summary of what we’ve learned
At the end of this written lecture, there will be a section for comments. Feel free to express your likes and dislikes about the lecture. I will use the information as a learning tool to improve my lectures.
More than ever, we are in for the fight of our spiritual lives. Time is growing short for the evil one and he’s desperate to snatch us from God the Father. At the very least, he’s determined to make us miserable (diseases, heartache, disappointment).
DON’T LET HIS TACTICS WORK ON YOU!!
STAND FIRM.
“… If God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31)
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
Together, we will encourage each other to stay in the fight.
After all, in the end, we know who wins!!
Amen.
by Donna B. Comeaux
one of many women who love the Lord our God
December 30, 2021
***More details will be given in the first lesson to help equip you for this spiritual battle for our souls.