I am behind. But I hope to get back on track this weekend.
I have read my passage anyway.
Reba
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Week 17 Day 3 The Rise and Fall of a Leader
Judges 8 and 9
I have to admit. I have had a hard time with this passage. I have mentioned before...I am not a violence person. And that basically covers these two chapters.
I don't really care to relive it all.
So I will just give highlights.
Gideon was asked to be the ruler of the people.
He refused. In fact, he went as far as to say he wouldn't rule over them, nor would his son.
Except that Gideon didn't have just one son. He had 70 sons.
70.
That is a lot.
How would you keep up with all of them?
Anyway, one of those sons was the son of a slave woman.
Abimelech.
He was not like his father.
He did want to rule.
And after Gideon died, Abimelech convinced the relatives that he should be made ruler.
Then he promptly killed all of his brothers. (Nice guy, huh???)
Except for one.
One brother.
Jotham escaped.
In the end, Abimelech continued to grab power anyway he could.
Until his quest for power ended up being the death of him.
(One kind of funny, as funny as this stuff gets anyway...during an attack, a woman dropped a grinding stone on his head which obviously was going to kill him. Abimelech actually asked someone to kill him with a sword so that nobody could say a WOMAN killed him.)
Hoping for calmer waters in tomorrow's reading...
Judges 10-12
Reba
I have to admit. I have had a hard time with this passage. I have mentioned before...I am not a violence person. And that basically covers these two chapters.
I don't really care to relive it all.
So I will just give highlights.
Gideon was asked to be the ruler of the people.
He refused. In fact, he went as far as to say he wouldn't rule over them, nor would his son.
Except that Gideon didn't have just one son. He had 70 sons.
70.
That is a lot.
How would you keep up with all of them?
Anyway, one of those sons was the son of a slave woman.
Abimelech.
He was not like his father.
He did want to rule.
And after Gideon died, Abimelech convinced the relatives that he should be made ruler.
Then he promptly killed all of his brothers. (Nice guy, huh???)
Except for one.
One brother.
Jotham escaped.
In the end, Abimelech continued to grab power anyway he could.
Until his quest for power ended up being the death of him.
(One kind of funny, as funny as this stuff gets anyway...during an attack, a woman dropped a grinding stone on his head which obviously was going to kill him. Abimelech actually asked someone to kill him with a sword so that nobody could say a WOMAN killed him.)
Hoping for calmer waters in tomorrow's reading...
Judges 10-12
Reba
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Week 17 Day 2 To Dew or Not to Dew
Judges 6 and 7
I really did get up early Monday to read my passage. And I did read. I just didn't get to the posting part. Then yesterday...well, I am not sure about yesterday other than it was a tough day all around.
Anyway, on to the passage.
I am sure by now you know the routine.
The Israelites (once again) started doing the wrong thing.
So for 7 years there was misery.
God allowed the Midianites to kind of take over the land.
Here the Israelites had had it all. The run of the land. Cattle. Crops.
Now they were hiding in caves, starving.
So 7 years later, here they are again. Calling out for help.
And God listened.
I have to admit, I find myself thinking, "Why did God listen?" Again? But thankfully He did. And thankfully He still does. Even when I find myself struggling with the same sins seven years later...
God not only listened but He answered.
Gideon.
Even Gideon was surprised to be the answer.
"Me, God? You really want to use me? I am not important!"
But God insisted that was who He wanted to use.
The funny thing is that Gideon struggled with this for quite a while. He kept asking God to "prove" it. Like putting the wool out in the dew. The next morning, Gideon gets up and checks the wool. It is soaking wet. Yet the ground is dry.
But typical human he is, Gideon isn't satisfied.
He insists that God show Himself again.
So the next morning, Gideon runs out to check the wool. This time it is dry, yet the ground is wet.
Sometimes we think of God as a God quick to judge, quick to condemn.
But in moments like this, I find that He is a God of patience. A God of love. A God who cares.
The fun part for Gideon is that God has him prove himself over and over.
The Israelites are all prepared to go to war, to claim a victory, to get rid of the evil around them.
But God has Gideon pare down the troops with a variety of "challenges" or "tests".
Until only 300 men are left.
I have to give Gideon credit.
He could have balked at that number. Only 300? How could that possibly work?
But once he knew for sure God was serious, He didn't waver (as far as I could tell).
And once again, God was victorious. The Israelites (through God) prevailed.
They defeated the Midianites.
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 8 and 9
I really did get up early Monday to read my passage. And I did read. I just didn't get to the posting part. Then yesterday...well, I am not sure about yesterday other than it was a tough day all around.
Anyway, on to the passage.
I am sure by now you know the routine.
The Israelites (once again) started doing the wrong thing.
So for 7 years there was misery.
God allowed the Midianites to kind of take over the land.
Here the Israelites had had it all. The run of the land. Cattle. Crops.
Now they were hiding in caves, starving.
So 7 years later, here they are again. Calling out for help.
And God listened.
I have to admit, I find myself thinking, "Why did God listen?" Again? But thankfully He did. And thankfully He still does. Even when I find myself struggling with the same sins seven years later...
God not only listened but He answered.
Gideon.
Even Gideon was surprised to be the answer.
"Me, God? You really want to use me? I am not important!"
But God insisted that was who He wanted to use.
The funny thing is that Gideon struggled with this for quite a while. He kept asking God to "prove" it. Like putting the wool out in the dew. The next morning, Gideon gets up and checks the wool. It is soaking wet. Yet the ground is dry.
But typical human he is, Gideon isn't satisfied.
He insists that God show Himself again.
So the next morning, Gideon runs out to check the wool. This time it is dry, yet the ground is wet.
Sometimes we think of God as a God quick to judge, quick to condemn.
But in moments like this, I find that He is a God of patience. A God of love. A God who cares.
The fun part for Gideon is that God has him prove himself over and over.
The Israelites are all prepared to go to war, to claim a victory, to get rid of the evil around them.
But God has Gideon pare down the troops with a variety of "challenges" or "tests".
Until only 300 men are left.
I have to give Gideon credit.
He could have balked at that number. Only 300? How could that possibly work?
But once he knew for sure God was serious, He didn't waver (as far as I could tell).
And once again, God was victorious. The Israelites (through God) prevailed.
They defeated the Midianites.
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 8 and 9
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Week 17 Day 1 Working Woman
Judges 4 and 5
I am really not blowing off Bible Study. I was just getting back into the swing of things with school. Pretty much everything in life was at a standstill for a few days.
I do know that I want to be more consistent this year, reading the Word. I want that to be a first priority in my life, not a last. And that may mean (probably means) getting up much earlier than I usually do. I won't lie, that is a challenge for me. I like sleeping.
Anyway, on to today's passage.
Once again, those Israelites had fallen away from God.
They didn't even notice until it really started to hurt them.
Then once again, they called out to God.
And once again, He heard their cries. He answered them.
His answer?
Deborah.
Yes, a woman.
It is easy to read the Bible and think, "Were women second class? Did God think less of them?"
I will admit, I have had those doubts, those fears before.
And there were a lot of men mentioned in the Bible.
But there are women too.
And these women had BIG jobs.
Does the name Mary come to mind?
Anyway, Deborah. She was chosen to be the next judge.
By the way, she was married.
So she wasn't just a woman. She was a working woman.
I don't know if she had kids or not.
At the same time, though, I feel like this gives me a little validation for being a working woman.
As you can probably tell, I have felt criticism for that in the past.
Anyway, Deborah was a judge.
And she called out to God. And God heard. He told her to have Barak gather men to go up against Sisera, the bad guy of the story.
Know what Barak said?
"I will go if you will go..."
And Deborah did.
That says a lot to me about her faith. She had to have truly believed what God had told her. Otherwise she would have hung back and just told the men to fight the battles.
But wait, Deborah is not the ONLY woman listed here.
Jael.
Not a household, common name.
But she is mentioned too.
She stopped Sisera in his tracks in a sense.
Okay, I can't talk much about it. It kind of makes me sick to think about.
But we will say she was instrumental in stopping Sisera's reign.
And once again, peace in the land.
For 40 years anyway...
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 6 and 7
I am really not blowing off Bible Study. I was just getting back into the swing of things with school. Pretty much everything in life was at a standstill for a few days.
I do know that I want to be more consistent this year, reading the Word. I want that to be a first priority in my life, not a last. And that may mean (probably means) getting up much earlier than I usually do. I won't lie, that is a challenge for me. I like sleeping.
Anyway, on to today's passage.
Once again, those Israelites had fallen away from God.
They didn't even notice until it really started to hurt them.
Then once again, they called out to God.
And once again, He heard their cries. He answered them.
His answer?
Deborah.
Yes, a woman.
It is easy to read the Bible and think, "Were women second class? Did God think less of them?"
I will admit, I have had those doubts, those fears before.
And there were a lot of men mentioned in the Bible.
But there are women too.
And these women had BIG jobs.
Does the name Mary come to mind?
Anyway, Deborah. She was chosen to be the next judge.
By the way, she was married.
So she wasn't just a woman. She was a working woman.
I don't know if she had kids or not.
At the same time, though, I feel like this gives me a little validation for being a working woman.
As you can probably tell, I have felt criticism for that in the past.
Anyway, Deborah was a judge.
And she called out to God. And God heard. He told her to have Barak gather men to go up against Sisera, the bad guy of the story.
Know what Barak said?
"I will go if you will go..."
And Deborah did.
That says a lot to me about her faith. She had to have truly believed what God had told her. Otherwise she would have hung back and just told the men to fight the battles.
But wait, Deborah is not the ONLY woman listed here.
Jael.
Not a household, common name.
But she is mentioned too.
She stopped Sisera in his tracks in a sense.
Okay, I can't talk much about it. It kind of makes me sick to think about.
But we will say she was instrumental in stopping Sisera's reign.
And once again, peace in the land.
For 40 years anyway...
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 6 and 7
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Week 16 Day 7 On Again, Off Again
Judges 3:7-31
The title pretty much describes life with the Israelites.
They would follow God.
Then fall away.
They would worship idols.
So there would be consequences...like being defeated.
So the people would call out to God for help.
God would hear their cries.
He would save them.
In this case, He used judges.
Things would be hunky dory for a while.
Then the judge would die.
And guess what the people would do?
Fall away.
A cycle.
A vicious cycle.
How will it ever be broken???
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 4 and 5
Reba
The title pretty much describes life with the Israelites.
They would follow God.
Then fall away.
They would worship idols.
So there would be consequences...like being defeated.
So the people would call out to God for help.
God would hear their cries.
He would save them.
In this case, He used judges.
Things would be hunky dory for a while.
Then the judge would die.
And guess what the people would do?
Fall away.
A cycle.
A vicious cycle.
How will it ever be broken???
Tomorrow's reading:
Judges 4 and 5
Reba
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Week 16 Day 6 Those Who Ignore History...
Judges 2:6-3:6
are doomed to repeat it.
Oh, those Israelites.
They were in a good place.
God had just led them through the Wilderness for years. He led them straight to the Promised Land.
And His one command?
Follow His commands.
Except they didn't.
Oh, they did for a while.
But then Joshua died. And the other leaders of the time died.
And the people forgot.
Soon, they were turning away from God. Maybe not purposely at first. But slowly, they turned to other gods. They quit following Him.
And there were consequences.
I cannot tell you how many times a day I use that word.
Consequences.
"If you would follow the rules, there wouldn't be consequences you don't like."
I say it alot as a mom and as a teacher.
And I am pretty sure that is what God was thinking with His people. Well, in a more Godly way than I say it.
So the people started getting robbed. (Been there, done that, not fun) They started losing wars.
God tried to help the people out. He appointed judges to help the people.
But surprise, surprise.
The people didn't listen to the judges either.
At least until they started hurting.
Then they were ready to listen.
And God felt sorry for them.
So He guided the judges.
But then the judges died.
And soon the Israelites were back to their wicked ways.
Actually worse.
I think the exact words were that they were "very stubborn and refused to change their evil ways".
And God said, "Done. I am done."
Well, not exactly. I may have added that little part.
He did say that He would no longer stop the other nations who fought against the Israelites. No, He wouldn't stop them. He would use them to test the Israelites, to see if they would turn back to Him.
So, what do we think? Will they turn back? Or continue in their stubbornness?
Tomorrow's reading: Judges 3:7-31
Reba
are doomed to repeat it.
Oh, those Israelites.
They were in a good place.
God had just led them through the Wilderness for years. He led them straight to the Promised Land.
And His one command?
Follow His commands.
Except they didn't.
Oh, they did for a while.
But then Joshua died. And the other leaders of the time died.
And the people forgot.
Soon, they were turning away from God. Maybe not purposely at first. But slowly, they turned to other gods. They quit following Him.
And there were consequences.
I cannot tell you how many times a day I use that word.
Consequences.
"If you would follow the rules, there wouldn't be consequences you don't like."
I say it alot as a mom and as a teacher.
And I am pretty sure that is what God was thinking with His people. Well, in a more Godly way than I say it.
So the people started getting robbed. (Been there, done that, not fun) They started losing wars.
God tried to help the people out. He appointed judges to help the people.
But surprise, surprise.
The people didn't listen to the judges either.
At least until they started hurting.
Then they were ready to listen.
And God felt sorry for them.
So He guided the judges.
But then the judges died.
And soon the Israelites were back to their wicked ways.
Actually worse.
I think the exact words were that they were "very stubborn and refused to change their evil ways".
And God said, "Done. I am done."
Well, not exactly. I may have added that little part.
He did say that He would no longer stop the other nations who fought against the Israelites. No, He wouldn't stop them. He would use them to test the Israelites, to see if they would turn back to Him.
So, what do we think? Will they turn back? Or continue in their stubbornness?
Tomorrow's reading: Judges 3:7-31
Reba
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