Meditation

06/04/2020

“Then he blessed Joseph and said, ‘May the God befoe whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—-may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth.’ Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the and of your father.’” (Genesis 48:15-16, 21)

God continues to lead His people from generation to generation. Speaking as the bearer of God’s grace and promise, Jacob, aged and about to die, blessed Joseph and promised the continued blessing of God.

God’s aging leaders should be consciously active in passing the mantle of leadership from one generation to the next generation. This is also true of leadership within our families. We are to teach our children about God and His Word, and also about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is the Triune God that most people have the most difficulty understanding, much less teaching within their families.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, certainly our leaders are not the men of faith that we have known about from history. However, this is no reason why we as leaders within our families need to pick up the slack and address with our whole family. Abba, let us come to the realization that on judgment day, we will be judged on how well we accomplished the task of teaching our families in Your ways and Your truth. It is also our responsibility to pray for our leaders continually, that they might pick up the mantle of teacher in their positions. We are to model righteous living, both for our leaders and for our families. It is in Jesus’ name we pray this. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“As long as you can ‘take Him or leave Him,’ leave Him because He will not be taken half-heartedly.” (Matthew 4)

KNOWING GOD:

“Then the Lord said this to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me. Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:15-16)

God’s will is not always what His people anticipate or desire. God did not simply fight the Egyptians and give their land and power to Israel. Instead, He provided an escape for His people which led through the wilderness. God provides a way for His disciples to do His will when they are obedient. It has been said hat when God closes a door He will open a window. In this case He opened a way through the sea on dry ground.

I AM:

“In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.” (Deuteronomy 1:33)

Faith looks at God’s possibilities, not human impossibilities. To say,, ‘God cannot do it’ is sin and also reveals a lack of faith on your part. For the march from the desert of Sinai to the Promised Land of Canaan, God chose to make His presence visible and guide His people by a cloud during the day. The cloud had come down and covered the Tent of the Testimony on the day the tabernacle was completed. When the cloud rose from the dwelling of the tabernacle, it was a sign to move. It oared abe the ark of the covenant as they moved, and a sign for encamping was given when it came down. The cloud “’looked like fire’ during the night. Whenever the cloud lifted, day or night, they would set out on the journey. God used Moses to make His will known, and the people obeyed His commands. God was with them all the time providing the leadership on which they were depending. Obedience and dependence still are required to enjoy God’s leadership, no matter how He chooses to provide it.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands of the Lord had given Moses.” (2^nd Kings18:5-6)

Hezekiah was unique in his rust in God. As a result of his faith, he obeyed the Mosaic Law and never ceased to follow God. Legalistic obedience without active faith in God will not be adequate in finding and following the will of God.

Dynamic faith,, permits God to reveal His will to His followers. Each generation needs dedicated leaders who trust God and follow His directions.