Meditation

02/03/2023

“There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:14, 42)

The God of election fights to preserve and protect those elected to carry out His purposes. Only God could command the sun so that Joshua and the Israelites could defeat the Amorites. In so doing He confirmed the power He had shown and the salvation He provided in the Exodus. Israel knew election as the continuing experience of God’s deliverance rather than a a doctrine to be learned and defended.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Dear Abba, You chose to participate in the destruction of the five kings and their lands, show that You are willing to fight for Your people and did so in the Exodus and also in Joshua’s time as well. In the meantime continue to pray our troops serving in faraway lands and those in the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, that the recent offer from Ukraine for finding a peaceful solution brings Russia to come and work for a peaceful conclusion to the fighting. We also pray for those around this country and around the world who are suffering under persecution and natural disasters and man made disasters, hoping You will protect all. We also pray for those who are suffering from the loss of loved ones, for all who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, and for those we don’t know. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Faith is believing what the unbeliever cannot see.”

KNOWING GOD:

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. When when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird—-no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them!” (Hosea 9:10-13)

At first Israel was as dedicated as luscious grapes and good figs, but at Baal Peor she left God to worship Baal (See also Numbers 25:1-3; Deuteronomy 4:3). Moral decay set in. Ephraim, like the city of Tyre, would be given up to destruction. Nations and individuals can lose their status of moral beauty and spiritual health. Election does not place a people in a moral and spiritual vacuum. The elect continue to face moral and spiritual decisions of utmost important. If you have lost your moral and spiritual compass, then you must call upon God to restore you to righteous living, or you risk losing salvation.

SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our Father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the foot of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:9-10)

Arrogance marked the crowds who came to hear John the Baptist preach. Their superiority complex moved them to believe that biological identity with Abraham: gave them immunity from the penalty of sin and guaranteed their election as children of God. John warned that like trees and vineyards destroyed for the lack of good fruit, the process was a work, already cutting them off from election status and promise. From stories God can raise up new children of Abraham to participate in His election purposes. Only true repentance guaranteed the blessings of election.