Wisdom of the Old Testament

No, I'm not talking about Proverbs.  This is a more general observation.

 

I have often marveled at the wisdom that you find in the Old Testament.  Some of the dietary rules for example were later born out by science.  I mean who hasn't been told to wash your hands before you eat? 

So I noticed this today.  It is part of the passage where Moses is telling the Israelites that God will drive out the nations before them as He gives them the promised land.  What caught my eye was the detail that I highlighted.
 

Deuteronomy 7:22-25(NKJV)

And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 

But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. 

And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 

 

God said He would give the Israelites the promised land little by little.  The reason was that there were not enough Israelites to hold all of the land if God had given it to them all at once.  If you don't have enough people to control the land then you don't really own it. 

God mentions the beasts of the fields but it applies to human animals as well.  It made me think of a more recent time in history where this principal was born out.  Back in the early 1800's, after Mexico fought for it's independence from Spain they had a problem. 

They captured all of this land but didn't have enough people to occupy it and tame it.  So there was this little country to the northeast called Texas.  Yes, Texas was it's own country before it joined the United States. 

Mexico invited the Texans to settle in the land which would help Mexico occupy the land.  Over time Mexico allowed so many Texans in that Mexico could no longer control their own land  which led to a war which led to Mexico losing a bunch of the land that they couldn't control because they didn't have enough people.

Isn't interesting that the Old Testament offered this warning way back in the day!

Acts 10 - a watershed moment!

 

I've read Acts 10 many times.  I've always focused on God telling Peter that all people should here the Word of God. 

 

What I don't think I have ever made note of before though is that I think this is the first place in Scripture where God gives the Holy Spirit to someone other than a Jewish person.

 

I don't know about you but I find that to be a watershed moment.

 

Can you imagine not having the Holy Spirit in you?  Not having that direct line to God so that He can guide you?

I know I am incredibly thankful for that.  If you have never experienced that direct line to God, it starts with accepting Jesus.  That's just a fancy way of saying asking Jesus to guide your life.  Have a talk with Jesus and let Him know what you need and see where it goes from there.

 

"Dear Jesus…."

So you think eating meat is immoral?

First let me say that I am not against being vegetarian.  I eat very little meat myself anymore.  But that is by choice, not because I feel that there is anything morally wrong with eating meat. 

My issue here is with people who cast the choice of eating meat or not as a moral one.  I ran across this verse today.  I'm sure I've taken note of it before but I thought I would point it out again.

 

Acts 10:9-13(NKJV)

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 

Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 

and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 

In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 

That is God telling Peter specifically to kill and eat animals.

God doesn't tell people to do immoral things.  Case closed in my opinion.

As I said above, I eat very little meat today but that is simply a food choice. 

 

Giving God the credit and praise!

 

I am praising God today for a miracle in my life.  I want to give Him all the credit and glory!

 

I little over a year ago I was really overweight with many of the health issues that go along with being overweight.  Diabetes runs in my family and if I wasn't diabetic I must have been pretty darn close. 

My Grandma and my Dad were both diabetic.  I watched my Dad go through a couple of years of 3 times a week dialysis.  What a tough existence.  Not something I wanted to go through but unfortunately I could see I was almost certainly headed in that direction.  Needed to lose weight but didn't have any real hope of doing so.

 

That is when God brought Noom back around into my attention span.  Noom is a weight loss app for your phone that I had started keeping an eye on about a year previous.  I had checked it out and it seemed to make sense but I wanted to see if it had staying power before I tried it.

 

At just the right time, when I was ready, God dropped the thought into my brain, "hey remember that Noom thing?".  I love the way God does that.  He just plants the seed, points me in the right direction, and sends me down a new path.

Long story short.  I signed up.  How much did I want to lose?  I picked 50 pounds because it seemed like such and impossible number.  They said it would take 7 months.  I lost the first 50 pounds in 4 months.  Decided to head down to 160 pounds.  I am slightly under that today.  I lost over 80 pounds in 7 months and have kept it off. Noom taught me how to eat healthy.

Here is why I give God the credit and glory.  I had tried to lose weight on my own many times in different ways.  Usually lost short term and then gained it back and more.  But even when I did lose weight on my own it was a struggle and I hated it. 

Once God stepped in and showed me the direction I needed to go the rest was easy.  Not only was it easy but it was enjoyable and fun!  Really kind of weird.  Doesn't mean it is a perfect world.  I still have cravings and I still have the occasional night where "the elephant gets out" and I eat everything in sight.  But the system I learned to deal with issues like that works most of the time.

 

So here is the additional blessing of trusting and following God.  Because of all that weigh loss my health has improved dramatically.  I am no longer obese.  In fact my BMI is now in the normal range.  My medications for my couple normal ailments have been adjusted down or eliminated. 

And best of all, my A1C was right in the middle of the normal range.  Folks, I don't believe this would have ever happened without God's intervention.  I am so grateful for this new lease on life.  Thank you Lord!!!
 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God" Matthew 5:9

 

I just returned from the best vacation of my life!  A week at the beach in Pt. Austin MI.  All of my kids and their spouses were there, as well as all of my grandchildren.  To get to see my grandkids playing at the lake together was cool beyond measure. 

While there were countless memorable moments there is one that will forever stand out in my mind above all of the others. 

The first morning, last Saturday, about 5:50 AM or so I was laying out on one of the boulders on the shore.  I was enjoying a cup of coffee, watching the sky turn red with the breaking dawn.  The wind was blowing a bit and the waves were crashing on the rocks.  I was just soaking in the moment and thanking God for all of the great changes in my life the past year.  It was so cool!

What made it even cooler was I heard a noise behind me.  It was my son Jed.  He knew it was going to be a busy day so he was up at dawn to do his daily devotions.  It was just so cool to spend that time together there on the rocks watching the sun rise. 

One of the things I am most thankful for in life is that Jed, as well as my other two kids, all took ownership of their faith at an early age and have continued that throughout their lives.  Imagine getting up at dawn when you are on vacation to make sure you get your devotions in!  :)

Little did Jed know that later that day events would unfold which would lead to the duty that he has to perform today. 

You see Jed is a police officer.  And just like so many policer officers, men and women,  out there, Jed is a good person, a Godly person.  A person who willingly makes sacrifices that many of us would never make to protect many who don't appreciate it. 

These fine men and women do this day in and day out without complaint, knowing that they may pay a price for doing their job; a price that most of us will never face for doing our jobs.  That price is the loss of their lives.

Unfortunately, last Saturday night Sgt. Ryan Proxmire was killed in the line of duty.  He sacrificed his life protecting his community.  He gave his life for his fellow man.  No greater love is there than that.  But it is not his sacrifice alone that was made.  His family made that sacrifice right along with him.  It wasn't just the love of a single man that made the sacrifice, it was the love of the whole family that supported that sacrifice! 

As Matthew tells us in Matt 5:9, it was Jesus Himself who said "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."!   I doubt if Jesus would object if we broadened it a bit.  Blessed are the peacemakers and their families!!!

Please keep the family in your prayers.

As far as the duty that Jed has to perform today.  He is part of the honor guard for his department at the funeral today.  It will be an emotional day for him.

Jed I just want you to know that I love you, I admire what you do, I'm proud of you, and I'll be praying for you today. 

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"!
 

In essence, let God sort it out! :)

LOL!  I love the simple wisdom of this guy.  He seems to be saying let God sort it out.  Take a look.

 

Acts 5:34-39(NKJV)

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 

And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 

but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

 

Well after 2,000 years it hasn't died out so it must be from God!  (Which many of us knew all along!  :)

 

"Tend My Sheep"

 

What if your sheep don't want to be tended?

As a Lyft driver one of the most perplexing problems I see as I drive around is the problem of the homeless.  The reason I find it so perplexing is that there are so many jobs available that just about anyone can get hired right now.  I realize that some of the homeless have substance abuse problems and/or mental illness and they just can't work.  I get that.  But there are many others who still appear strong and healthy.  What is stopping them?

I see some of these people out on the street corner day after day, almost as if it is a chosen lifestyle.  Those are the people that come to mind when I ask the question, what if they don't want to be tended?  Some of these people work harder at begging than they would ever work in a factory job for example.  So why do they choose to keep begging? 

It occurs to me that we should pray for those who don't want to be tended and help those who do want to be helped. 

But even within the group of those who want to be helped, many don't truly want to be helped; they simply want to be fed and cared for.  Is that why Jesus used the specific word "tended", almost like tending cattle? 

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that until just now. 

Sad but something to ponder!

Now let me throw something else out there.  In other Scripture Jesus says that only those who hear His voice (meaning follow Him) are actually His sheep.  So in this context is Jesus telling the disciples to feed and tend just those who follow Jesus or is Jesus telling them to feed and tend everyone?

Hmm?