March 30, 2006 - Judges 9-10 and Luke 5:17-39
This passage shows us another result of a group of people getting away from the Lord. They choose the wrong kind of leaders, and they follow men, instead of following the Lord. This was the case for Israel, and it is the case in the church today. Let God speak to your heart through this passage in this area of leadership.
Remember, at the end of chapter 8 the people wanted Gideon to become the king and for his sons to reign after him, because he won a great victory. Gideon said no, God will reign over you. However, when Gideon died, his son Abimelech did proclaim himself to be the king, and he killed his brothers, except for the youngest. Did he seek the Lord in that decision? No, it was a totally selfish desire. Did the people seek the Lord in making him king? No, he was from their area, so they thought he would favor them. Did he make a good king and lead the people to the Lord? No, they continued in idolatry. In the end he killed the people who made him king, and he was killed by a woman to finish the prophecy or curse of his one living brother. What a mess! That is what comes from human wisdom and desire. That is what happens when we don't seek God man for the position and proceed in God's way.
Even in chapter 10 when they had judges like Tola and Jair, the people were just following a man instead of really following God. Once the judge would die, they would go right back to idols. That showed their hearts. That is how people are today, when they just follow a pastor, but they do not have a strong personal relationship with Jesus. They can be swayed to do the wrong thing very easily. Yes, God gives us leaders to follow, but we are always to follow them based on how they follow God themselves. Therefore, we must stay right with God ourselves, so we can know what God is doing, and we can know if the leader is leading in God's will. It always brings trouble when people have their eyes only on a man, and not on the Lord, first.
Luke 5 ends up with some excellent lessons. Jesus rewards faith, as we saw yesterday. He even responds to the faith of a group of people who are trying to do His will. He healed the paralyzed man based on "their" faith, not just "his" faith. Isn't that interesting? I wonder what God would do today, if His children would get together in faith like those men did then? Jesus called a hated tax collector as a disciple, and he brought his friends to Jesus at his home. This angered the leaders, but it was perfectly in line with Jesus' mission. He came to call sinners to repentance. Do we have the same mission today? We should be actively seeking out those who don't know the Lord, and we should call them to a loving Savior. Finally, Jesus explains about fasting, but it is not really about fasting. It is about the New Covenant and the changes that were taking place. Jesus was telling them that the New Covenant would need to be expressed in a different way than the Old Covenant had been expressed. There would need to be changes, because the two could not exist together. You could not mix the two. Therefore, there would be changes, but people don't like change. They would rather stay with the old and the familiar. Jesus was challenging them and us to accept the new ways of the Lord and embrace them. Don't get comfortable and stay with the traditions, just because we are used to them. Let's follow Him all the way, even if it means change.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges11-12 ans Luke 6:1-26.
Remember, at the end of chapter 8 the people wanted Gideon to become the king and for his sons to reign after him, because he won a great victory. Gideon said no, God will reign over you. However, when Gideon died, his son Abimelech did proclaim himself to be the king, and he killed his brothers, except for the youngest. Did he seek the Lord in that decision? No, it was a totally selfish desire. Did the people seek the Lord in making him king? No, he was from their area, so they thought he would favor them. Did he make a good king and lead the people to the Lord? No, they continued in idolatry. In the end he killed the people who made him king, and he was killed by a woman to finish the prophecy or curse of his one living brother. What a mess! That is what comes from human wisdom and desire. That is what happens when we don't seek God man for the position and proceed in God's way.
Even in chapter 10 when they had judges like Tola and Jair, the people were just following a man instead of really following God. Once the judge would die, they would go right back to idols. That showed their hearts. That is how people are today, when they just follow a pastor, but they do not have a strong personal relationship with Jesus. They can be swayed to do the wrong thing very easily. Yes, God gives us leaders to follow, but we are always to follow them based on how they follow God themselves. Therefore, we must stay right with God ourselves, so we can know what God is doing, and we can know if the leader is leading in God's will. It always brings trouble when people have their eyes only on a man, and not on the Lord, first.
Luke 5 ends up with some excellent lessons. Jesus rewards faith, as we saw yesterday. He even responds to the faith of a group of people who are trying to do His will. He healed the paralyzed man based on "their" faith, not just "his" faith. Isn't that interesting? I wonder what God would do today, if His children would get together in faith like those men did then? Jesus called a hated tax collector as a disciple, and he brought his friends to Jesus at his home. This angered the leaders, but it was perfectly in line with Jesus' mission. He came to call sinners to repentance. Do we have the same mission today? We should be actively seeking out those who don't know the Lord, and we should call them to a loving Savior. Finally, Jesus explains about fasting, but it is not really about fasting. It is about the New Covenant and the changes that were taking place. Jesus was telling them that the New Covenant would need to be expressed in a different way than the Old Covenant had been expressed. There would need to be changes, because the two could not exist together. You could not mix the two. Therefore, there would be changes, but people don't like change. They would rather stay with the old and the familiar. Jesus was challenging them and us to accept the new ways of the Lord and embrace them. Don't get comfortable and stay with the traditions, just because we are used to them. Let's follow Him all the way, even if it means change.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges11-12 ans Luke 6:1-26.