An incomprehensible love for the otherwise repugnant - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 58:3-5,

"Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be."

While I am quite sure there is a context to David's discouragement about these wicked individuals in his historical setting, there are some truths here that are timeless. I suspect that he had certain rulers in mind as he penned this psalm, but what he saw in these godless people are things that are quite universal to all sinful mankind.

This is attested to a millennium later, when Paul would quote in Romans 3:13 another psalm of David, Psalm 140, that speaks of the speech of the wicked as the venom of a snake as well. The speech of the wicked is as the venom of a viper, of a snake.

David observes the wicked are wayward, even from the womb. There are those who harbor some notion that people do not "become sinful" till they reach some kind of "age of accountability." This is a foreign concept to the Scriptures, as they speak consistently of all mankind being born into this life as sinners, ever since mankind's fall in the garden. We are all born sinners and headed toward condemnation in the righteous justice of God.

This being the estate of affairs, how astonishing we read of God's unfathomable love of all mankind. Yes, he will condemn all to eternal death who do not respond to the gospel, but that takes place in the context where he loves mankind so much he was willing to send his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for all our sins. This is an incomprehensible love that I struggle in wrapping my mind around. I know of it, I celebrate it, I have availed myself of its reward. However, the love of God simply transcends my ability to understand it, knowing how sinful and rebellious, how repugnant we all really are.

Truly, this is an amazing love!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Suffering at the hand of God? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Job 27:2-6,

"As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies. I will never admit you [Job's friends] are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live."

Job's "friends" had accused him of sin in his life. Job was suffering, therefore there must have been a lack of faith or some sin he was not owning up to. Here is his response. He claimed God had denied him justice, recognizing that it was God who had caused his suffering, but denied he had done anything wrong to deserve the suffering, maintaining his innocence and integrity.

Was Job right in his response? Here is what God had to say to Satan about Job, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Yes, Job was right in his response and truthful when he claimed that God had denied him justice. Job had done no wrong to deserve the treatment God allowed Satan to visit upon him. In the aftermath of Job's suffering, God said to Eliphaz (one of Job's judgmental "friends"), "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has... You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has." Job 42:7-8.

As it turns out, justice was not in view whatsoever, as God used Job to rebuke Satan. This, of course, was something Job and his "friends" had no way of knowing ahead of time. God used Job to show Satan, that unlike him, there are those who will remain faithful to God in spite of whatever suffering and hardship may come into their lives.

However, God did not leave Job without justice in the end. After making his point to Satan and following the suffering Job went through to make God's point, God, afterward, blessed Job. "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part." Job 42:12.

The error of Job's judgmental friends is an error that is persistent today. While many give lip service to reading their Bibles, somehow there are so many who fail to understand the things of God today. Entire denominations are given to misconceptions of the things of God. On occasion I have had the unfortunate opportunity to encourage those who suffered with illness and other issues while other members in their fellowships piled on with their unwarranted condemnation, adding to their suffering.

We need to learn what Paul explained in Romans 8:35-36, where he quotes Psalm 44:22. In that psalm, the sons of Korah observed their suffering at the hand of God for no wrong of their own. This is not to say that people never suffer for their own sinful activity in this life. We reap what we sow. However, just because someone is suffering, an assumption of sinfulness or lack of faith is unwarranted. We must learn, together with the sons of Korah, "Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." Psalm 44:22.

Perhaps we can avoid the unfounded condemnation of others who are suffering by reading and understanding Psalm 44, Job's story, as well as the other Scriptures to become better informed of the things of God.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What does God know? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Job 26:6,

"The realm of the dead is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered."

Following the harsh, and well deserved sarcasm directed at his friends, Job begins a series of observations about God. God transcends mankind in what he sees and knows, his creative acts and his impact on his creation are aspects of God that Job points to.

The theme that all things are open and laid bare before the Lord, indicating his ability to not only know all things, but also to be aware of all things as they take place is found in other places in Scripture as well.

In Proverbs 15:11 we read, "Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord— how much more do human hearts!" Here all can be fully assured that whatever is in our hearts is plainly known to God. We cannot hide the simplest thing from him. Our Judge at the end of the age will know every bit, every aspect of our lives, our thoughts, our feelings, our daydreams, what takes place at night, in the dark and behind closed doors. God knows it all. Our Judge knows it all.

In Hebrews 4:13 we read. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Here we find the same truth. Nothing is hidden from God our Judge. We will have to give an account before him who knows everything we have ever said, thought, felt or done.

As I look at my own life, how thankful I am that my Judge, the one who knows everything about me will stand me before his presence with great joy! "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25. This is only possible through the payment Jesus Christ made for my many sins, because the judge certainly knows all about them!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Words without knowledge in the Scriptures! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Job 25:2, 5-6,

"Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven... If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!"

Not all comments made in the Bible are true. The book of Job is just such an example. Here, Bildad, one of Job's friends, tells us something about God and about man. What he says about God is certainly true, what he says about man obscures the things of God. Before you start stoning me, here me out. I, in high confidence, and without any doubt whatsoever, hold to the inerrancy, accuracy and truthfulness of all the Bible. However, the Bible can relate the conversations of men that may be in error, and Job is a book that does just that - because it tell us that. 

After the three friends of Job and Elihu finish their bloviating about how all things in life can be reduced to the simple formula of: do good and you get good, do bad and you get bad, God steps in and gives them all a coronary with the frightful blast of this question: "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you. and you shall answer me." Job 38:2-3.

Consequently, not all of the dialog found in the book of Job is to be taken as truthful or accurate. Many a commentator and many a pastor have failed to recognize this as they have quoted various passages in the book of Job. It is not to say there is no truth in any of the things Job's friends have said, but their conclusions obscured Gods plans, the words were "without knowledge."

Job's friends had no idea God was using Job as an "in your face" rebuke to Satan to demonstrate that, unlike Satan, there are those who will worship God - even apart from any "blessings" God may send their way, and even in the midst of suffering. As many "do-gooders" still do today, Job's friends had reduced God to little more than a two-dimensional moral principle, a majestic one to be sure, but nonetheless, a two-dimensional moral principle. Their discussion reflects this distortion of the things of God.

What Bildad got right in verse 2 is that "Dominion and awe belong to God, he establishes order in the heights of heaven." What he said that obscures truth is that man is no more than "a maggot" and "only a worm".

What Bildad was not seeing is that God would one day send his own Son as the Savior of the World out of an incomprehensible love he has for mankind. "... for God so loved the world, he sent his one and only Son..." John 3:16.

While I certainly recognize the depravity of the human heart, while I see the lowly estate mankind has brought to himself by his sin and rebellion against God, it was not for maggots that Jesus Christ suffered and died on that cross. In what I can only describe for myself as God's incomprehensible and tremendous love, he died for miserable mankind, and not maggots and worms. Mankind has been the apple of God's eye, the object of his vast love and he has made a way for mankind to return to him.

In Psalm 22:6, David says, "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people." Here he voices his complaint that God has abandoned him at the moment. While his ancestors trusted in God, and cried out to God for help, God delivered them - but at this moment, as he was scorned and despised by the people, God did not rescue him. He felt he was being treated as "a worm and not a man" by everyone. This is a far cry from Bildad's adjudicating mankind as nothing more than maggots and worms.

Mankind has the unique design of being created in the image of God. It is from God himself that we find our worth as his creatures, valuable in his sight, such that he would deign to send his Son to die on our behalf. Far be it from any of us to despise what God finds as objects of his unfathomable affections.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Gentile blood running in the veins of Jesus Christ - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ruth 4:18-22,

"This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David."

We see this genealogy at the end of the book of Ruth repeated as a section in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as provided in Matthew 1:3-6. In Matthew's genealogy, the names of four women are provided who were Gentiles: Tamar (probably Canaanite), Rahab (Canaanite), Ruth (Moabite, and the current interest in this account bearing her name), and Bathsheba (thought to possibly be a Hittite as her murdered husband was.)

The inclusion of Ruth and the other three women in Matthew's genealogy, while traditionally not done in the culture of Biblical times, is thought to demonstrate two things: the first expressing the importance women have had in God's activities in the world, as Matthew will go on next to introduce us to a very remarkable and important young woman that God used: Mary. Secondly, that Jesus Christ was sent into the "world", and his priority is to have the gospel go out to all people - including the Gentiles. Israel had no exclusive claim to the Savior of the world, as Gentile blood ran in his veins as well. While the offer of God's kingdom was first made to the nation of Israel, it was to go out into all the world, its invitation to Jew and Gentile alike.

The blood of Jesus Christ holds a position of absolute importance in our redemption: "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." Hebrews 9:11-12. The blood Jesus Christ offered on the alter in the tabernacle in heaven to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world included the Gentile blood in his ancestry as well.

Something to think about today. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18. The Messiah is for all mankind, the world over.

I am reminded of something Peter said, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. The "anyone" in Peters passage is defined clearly as Paul spoke to the Gentiles in Athens, "... but now he [God] commands all people everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30. The inclusion of a Gentile presence in the genealogy of Jesus Christ provides something of a comfort for me, a Gentile. Just as the presence of the Gentile blood that ran in Jesus veins, the very blood that paid for my sins, so, likewise, his invitation to join his family includes Gentiles such as me as well.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Ruth: a submissive obedient heart - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ruth 3:5,

"'I will do whatever you say,' Ruth answered."

Behind the scenes God is doing something very fascinating with Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Clearly, as God looks ahead in his agenda of redeeming those of faith, he prepares the generational line that will provide the family the Son of God is to be born into. He is here, bringing Ruth and Boaz together. The family line will go from Boaz to Obed, to Jesse, then to David and on to Solomon and so on, down to Joseph and Mary.

I can't help but notice the wonderful submissive obedience that Ruth displays in her response to Naomi. In our culture today, "wonderful" and "submissive obedience" do not fit together. However, transcending our culture and where submissive obedience is appropriate, it is a wonderful quality that very few, I suspect, have manifested, given our sinful nature.

In the Scriptures, the gospel is considered an issue of obedience if we have any desire to join the family of God and inherit eternal life. I recognize the gospel as an invitation that makes its appeal to our own free wills. However, as Jesus pointed out, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.", John 14:;6, our desire for eternal life is not something that we get to define for ourselves. We must embrace, in submissive obedience, the person and work of Jesus Christ. "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10.

This gospel is a message we must submit to, with all of the humility and obedience displayed by Ruth, a woman of true noble character. In reflecting on his ministry, Paul says, "Through him [Jesus Christ] we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake." Romans 1:5. He further says, later in the same letter, "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God." Notice the reference to obedience when discussing a response to the gospel.

Just as Ruth's wonderful character displayed a submissive obedience to her mother-in-law, so we must toward the gospel, toward the Lord, if we wish to participate in God's family and enjoy an eternity of life with him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God behind the scenes - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ruth 2:3,

"So she [Ruth] went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek."

Following Naomi's return to Bethlehem, with Ruth in tow, who had insisted she return with Naomi from Moab - her own country - Ruth went out to see what she could do to provide them food. She entered a field that was being harvested and gleaned there. It turned out the field belonged to Boaz, a relative of Naomi.

As this beautiful story goes, Boaz eventually marries Ruth and the two build a family together. That family will be a part of the genealogical line through which Jesus Christ would come into the world. As all know who have read the book of Ruth, it is a wonderful story of godly people coming together and participating in the human chain that would be used to bring the Son of God into the world.

With its many references to God, God is never mentioned as manipulating the events that are chronicled in the account of Ruth. However, the presence of God bringing about the turn of events that take place in this book is unmistakable. Just as in other passages that we have in the pages of Scripture, the presence of God working behind the scenes is clearly evident but not mentioned, such as in the book of Esther where God is not mentioned at all.

I think of this kind of thing today. Which events in the news today reflect what God is busy doing to build his kingdom - yet remaining in the background? Which activities on the world stage among the various nations? What might God be accomplishing and how do those things fit into his agenda?

One thing I am certain of is that this age is entirely given to God's program of redemption - he is building his kingdom. This life is like the OB ward in a hospital where babies are born (through second birth) and brought into the family. Behind much of what we see happening today, as in Ruth's day, God is clearly here bringing things together to accomplish his agenda.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Religion in the public square - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 22:20,

"When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin."

This reminder was made to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh over a misunderstanding. The two and a half tribes had built a massive alter by the Jordan upon their release by Joshua to return home to the east side of the Jordan. The other tribes thought they were abandoning the Lord by constructing a heathen place of worship and wanted to keep them from bringing God's wrath down upon the entire nation. However, the purpose of the two and a half tribes was to build a monument for succeeding generations to remember the solidarity and union of the two and a half tribes with the other tribes located on the west side of the Jordan as God's people. The altar was to be a monument, not a place of worship. When explained, the other tribes were satisfied.

The reference to Achan was an account of a man who disobeyed God during Israel's invasion of the promised land at Jericho. No loot was to be taken, but was to be "devoted" to the Lord - that is, totally destroyed as a tribute to the Lord for their victory. However, a man named Achan took a beautiful Babylonian robe, some silver and some gold and hid it under the ground in his tent. This brought from the Lord's hand a defeat at their next objective, Ai. Not just Achan, but the entire nation suffered as a result of Achan's actions.

The account of Achan was the ground upon which the Israelites confronted Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh. If those tribes turned from the Lord, all would suffer. Not just the culprits, but all Israel! Here is something all believers today need to be aware of: when it comes to individual judgment, we will all have to give an account for our own sins. However, when God decides to judge a nation for a turn from him, everybody is impacted. All. Not just the culprits. Yes, including believers, including those who follow the Lord, just as in Achan's day. God's blessings cannot be enjoyed by anyone when he removes them.

I am reminded of what the Lord said in Jeremiah 18:7-10, "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it." This has impact on all who live in a nation that will either be blessed by God or be judged by God. The wicked share in the blessings of a godly nation and the godly share in the sufferings of a nation judged by God. All individuals share in the conditions God brings to a nation.

I recall that years ago I was sharing the gospel to a protester in a group that didn't like a conference on the evil of abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide. I was told I had no say in the public square. It was not right for me to "push my religion on others." 

Tell that to Achan's countrymen as they suffered their humiliating defeat at Ai.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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God's mercy:a sanctuary - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 20:1-3,

"Then the Lord said to Joshua: 'Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.'"

These six cities of refuge, required by God of the Israelites, were chosen from among the 48 cities given the Levites. Three on the west side of the Jordan, and three on the east, provided centrally from north to south to provide accessibility. Those who had killed someone unintentionally were to flee to one of these cities for refuge as their case was adjudicated by the elders within those cities. The need for refuge was from a next of kin that was rightfully identified as the "avenger of blood" for the death of a family member.

These cities of refuge not only provided sanctuary for someone who had killed another accidentally, but also helped to mitigate the potential for a sincere next of kin, with the responsibility to avenge the death of a family member, from taking the life of someone who never had any intention of harm.

Contemplating these cities of refuge brings to my mind several thoughts. One is that in this lost and fallen world, a world estranged and removed from its Creator, things have a way of happening. The notion that God is going to insert himself into every event and manipulate a just outcome within the context of this life is unfounded. Judgment is coming after the end of this age and at that time all things will have to be accounted for. However, for now in this age, where God may choose to insinuate himself in some or even many events in this life, he has never committed himself to do so in all events. Thus, he has made provision for a variety of things for his people in this life. One, certainly, was the establishment of these cities of refuge. They provided for a need his people would have.

Another thought is the recognition that the life of every individual is important to God. Moses was given the law that demanded the protection of innocent life and the justice to be exercised when innocent life was taken. It is within the concept of accounting for the taking of innocent life these cities of refuge were established. It would be wrongful to punish someone who accidentally and without malice caused the death of another.

In a limited way, the cities of refuge bring to my mind the mercy of God. God provides for those who cast themselves at the feet of his mercy. I say in a limited way because I sense to see a metaphor in the cities of refuge to God's plan of redemption falls apart on the recognition that we are all guilty of sin, none of us are innocent, and these cities of refuge were established for the safety of one who never intended harm. Nevertheless, the provision of God in these cities of refuge do speak to the mercy and love of God's wonderful provision.

Over and again, God tells us he is merciful, and just as he provided sanctuary in these cities of refuge, he provides us sanctuary in something far greater he has provided, a sanctuary for all of us in the payment Jesus Christ made for all of our sins... each and every one of us. He only asks us to trust in him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The stimulation of the enchanting fulfillment of desire! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 19:1,

"The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans."

Joshua, chapter 19, begins with Simeon's turn in the lottery for the distribution of what part of the land they would receive - God's promised land to them. I can just envision their excitement and celebration upon their receiving of it!

In the midst of reading of the distribution of the promised land among the various tribes of Israel, my mind is drawn to a future time, a time when those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will inherit all that God has promised, will inherit eternal life, will inherit as co-heirs all that the Son of God receives from the Father, will inherit all that our magnificent God of incomprehensible love richly bestows on the objects of this love - us!

What will our inheritance be like in the resurrection? What will our excitement and celebration of it be at that time? I am quite certain that any distribution of real estate will pale significantly in the face of some of the things we are told.

In Revelation 21:3 we read, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Unlike our present existence in this world that is estranged and removed from its Creator, we will live in the very presence of God as he makes his dwelling place among us. I find to consider and to muse on this a great cause of wonderment and enchantment. How unlike this world - how astounding and astonishing it will be to live within the very presence of God! To live in a neighborhood where what is right and just, what is loving and kind always prevails, is quite something to consider.

We will live in the resurrection within an entirely new order of things, "'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." No longer any cause for fear, no longer any cause for anxiety, no longer any deprivation of any sort. We are told the curse on mankind from his fall in the garden will no longer exist, Revelation 22:3.

David speaks of what life will be like in the resurrection, "... you [Lord] will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11. As Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4, I find what he says tantalizing, "'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived' the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

These are the things I feel important to muse on from time to time to keep my batteries charged, to set an edge and bring fresh excitement to my hope, to provide great encouragement in difficult times, to bring life to my love of the Lord who has done so much for a man such as me. How stunning!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What from God should I have taken hold of by now? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 18:3,

"How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?"

After the Israelites entered the promised land and took possession of part of it, they gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. At that time Joshua castigated the Israelites because seven of the tribes had still not taken possession of their land by this time.

Here we have God giving something that the intended receiver failed to take possession of in a timely way. It would require effort, work, and I suspect some sacrifice on their part, but God intended to give this land to these tribes of Israel.

Is there a lesson here for us? What might God be intending to give us today that may take effort on our part? What is it that God may want us to work for, that he might ask of us, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of this?"

I am reminded of this kind of issue in the early church. The writer of Hebrews points to some in the church with the charge, "... though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:12-14.

Earlier believers were culpable before God to take, to possess what God had for them: the more mature truths of God's word, the ability to distinguish good from evil, teaching about righteousness, etc. We are as well.

What might there be that God wants me to take possession of that may take effort on my part? Is there anything I should be pursuing? Those in the early church who were mature had trained themselves through constant use of God's word. Perhaps there may be something God wants me to possess that requires an effort on my part.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Faith and work - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 17:16,

"The people of Joseph replied, 'The hill country is not enough for us,
and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with
iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the
Valley of Jezreel.'"

The "people of Joseph", the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, verse 14,
complained they needed more land for themselves when the promised land
was divided up among the tribes of Israel. They approached Joshua who
told them to clear the forest in the hill country of Ephraim and this
was their response.

They would have to work for the additional land they had not yet
occupied, and trust God to give them the military victory, in spite of
the advantage the Canaanites had with their iron chariots.

Have faith in God, and work to receive what God promised them..

Sometimes we get the notion that when God gives us something, he just
drops it in our laps. Sometimes work, effort, exertion, pain and sweat
on our part are required to acquire good things from God - and a great
deal of faith.

I'm not thinking of our salvation here. Jesus did all the heavy
lifting for that. As we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace
you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." There is
nothing we can do to embellish the suffering of our loving Messiah on
that horrible cross to pay our redemption price. That we obtain by
faith and faith alone.

However, following our assimilation into the family of God, further
things may require effort. Growing in our understanding of the things
of God, developing a grasp of God's will and his agenda for us all,
knowing God intimately will require effort on our part.

Faith in God and work on our part, just as the tribes of Ephraim and
Manasseh would have to invest in order to expand their inheritance in
the promised land, is something we all need to consider. I am reminded
of Philippians 2:12-13, "... continue to work out your salvation with
fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act
in order to fulfill his good purpose."

As Paul continued his thought in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's
handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do."

What is it I should be believing God for today and what effort should
I be making?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just
respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Promises, promises! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 14:12-13,

"Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day... Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance."

When Moses sent out the twelve men to spy out the land God promised Israel, only two returned to Israel with a report of encouragement, a report of faith. Now these two spies meet together forty-five years later, Joshua, who was selected by God to succeed Moses as leader following his death, and Caleb. Caleb reminds Joshua of God's promise on the day they both gave their report.

Joshua followed through on the promise God made to Caleb prior to the forty years of wilderness wandering. This is God's way: he always, without fail, keeps all of his promises. I am reminded of Paul's reflection, "God's gifts and his call [invitation] are irrevocable." Romans 11:29. Paul also acknowledged that Abraham knew what Caleb experienced on that day, "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:20-21.

What kind of promises has God made to you and me? One promise I am very excited about is found in Romans 10:9-10, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

The greatest of promises made by God for all who embrace him in faith is stated in 1 John 2:25, "This is what he promised us—eternal life."

How wonderful is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Our part, God's part - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 13:1, 6,

"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over... As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites.'"

Joshua had been given the task to lead the Israelites in conquering the occupants of the promised land. The Lord had given Israel land that they needed to take possession of. Here, at the end of Joshua's life, there are some things left undone, some things that needed to be tended to. Some, the Lord delegated Joshua the task, others, the Lord said he would do it himself.

This, of course, speaks to me of those things the Lord wants me to accomplish myself, before I start pushing daisies. It also speaks to me of those things in my life the Lord has said he would take care of himself. For all of us who have embraced the Lord in faith, there are those things the Lord wants us to do and some he will do himself.

I am reminded of Paul's words, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13. Here is a responsibility the Lord has given us with a hint at what he intends to do ("God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose"). Here is another one from Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God has some things he is going to do in our lives, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. We don't keep ourselves strong or firm to the end, God does that and has taken this on in our lives as something he does. Here is something else he does we are told of in Jude 24, " To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..." God will keep us from "stumbling" and will present us without fault and with great joy before his glorious presence!

God has some things he wants us to do while here and he has some things he intends to do in us while we are here. Blessed is the one who does what God wants and sees God doing what he intends to do himself in their lives.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God's promises are as good as done - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 12:7,24,

"Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan... thirty-one kings in all."

Thirty-one kings west of the Jordan river. Add to this the kings on the east side of the river Moses conquered as he led Israel: Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og, king of Bashan. Thirty-three kings in total.

Thirty-three kings Israel vanquished, thirty-three kings Israel defeated. There was still further land, more kings Israel needed to conquer to full take possession of all the land promised them, but at this point they had defeated thirty-three kings.

At the beginning of the book of Joshua, the Lord told him, "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life." The Lord promised to bring victory to the Israelites. All Israel had to do was to follow her Lord.

Thirty-three kings could not stop Israel. God had promised, therefore the defeat of all kings in the land promised Israel was a fait accompli as long as Israel followed her Lord. When the Lord gives his promise, something very important needs to be recognized: God is faithful and God is more than capable of delivering on all his promises.

Paul places faith in God's promises as well as his power to fulfill them as the unique kind of faith God looks for in all of us. In considering Abraham, Paul says, "Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:20-22. It is this kind of faith that brings us a righteousness from God, just as it did Abraham.

Something important to keep in mind as we consider God's promises -- to those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith -- of our coming resurrection, and the blessings that will be ours, "you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Our dreadful God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 8:1-2,

"Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.'"

Following the victory of the Israelites over Jericho, and an initial rout at Ai, the Lord gives Joshua and the Israelites the direction to destroy Ai. After this was completed, using a masterful military strategy employed by the Israelites given them by God, here is the summary provided us: "When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai. But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day." Joshua 8:24-29.

The entire city was annihilated and its king impaled on a pole till evening... thousands killed in a genocidal attack that left all dead. While we may find such an account shocking and at-odds with our concept of our loving God who commanded it, we really don't have a full account of what these people from Ai were culpable for. However, we do know the inhabitants of Palestine were given to idol worship, Numbers 33:52. They did not worship God, but false deities, whose worship included child sacrifice as well as other abominations.

God didn't ask the folks from Ai how they might feel about being annihilated. He didn't take a survey and didn't conduct a poll. These people had turned from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our Creator God, and turned to the abominations of idol worship. They did not served any purpose for the roll out of God's plan of redemption, and, in fact, by possessing a portion of the promised land, their presence impeded what God intended to do. Thus, they fell into the cross-hairs of God's judgment.

A cautionary tale, it helps remind us that, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31. It also helps us to understand that God's perspective on life in this age, as well as the next, is different from ours. We recoil at the thought of destroying a whole city of people, we recoil at the notion of genocide.

Shall I insist that God begin seeing things my way, or should I work on seeing things his way?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

National identity in the resurrection - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 36:7-9,

"No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors. Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father's tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors. No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits."

An issue arose in Israel as they anticipated taking possession of the land promised them. You recall that the promised land was divided among the tribes of Israel. What about land inherited by daughters, if they should marry outside their tribe? Would the land allotted a tribe transfer to another if the daughters married outside their clan? Tribal identity was very important and the thought of one tribe losing portions of the land allotted to them to another tribe, and possibly significantly so over years, became a concern.

This passage is the resolution the Lord provided for the concern and gave to Moses.Tribal identity and tribal presence with its footprint in the land was to be observed and maintained. The nation of Israel was not to be "homogenized" in the promised land. Every person's tribal identity was to remain intact.

Although this is an historical account of what was to happen within the nation of Israel in the land of Palestine as they took possession of it, it brings to mind something fascinating to me about life in the resurrection. In Revelation 21 we read of "the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" to earth, verse 10. A bit later we read, "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it." Revelation 21:24-26.

Note that "the nations" will walk by its light (provided by the glory of God). Not simply people, but "the nations". Also, "kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it", indicating, again, leaders of nations. We are told the glory of "the nations" will be brought into the New Jerusalem. It is my understanding that "nations" is not simply a synonym for "people", but, a reference to countries, to nations as we understand them.

Just as Israel was to maintain tribal distinctions, tribal presence and tribal dentity, so we find in the resurrection we will continue to have a form of national identity. All mankind will not be "homogenized" by removal of national distinction, but we will be the people of God, God's family, his kingdom, represented as individuals that retain some form of national identity.

How this identity works out in the resurrection, I have no clue. Some nations collapse into other nations, some nations arise out of others in this life, as we all know. Whether the nations in the resurrection reflect the national identities of this life - again, I don't have a clue. But, here it is. Nations in the resurrection!

How else would we count medals in the Olympic games in the resurrection if we had no national identity? ;o)

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What are you in touch with? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 19:22a,

"Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean..."

The law God gave Moses included a number of regulations regarding "clean" and "unclean" things. These clean and unclean things (and people) appear to be either of a health/hygiene nature or a ceremonial nature, and sometimes both. Failure to follow through on the regulations regarding an unclean man who had touched "a human bone or a grave or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death", verse 18, defiled the sanctuary of the Lord, verse 20, and were to be cut off from the community. That which is unclean and not dealt with properly results in a sinful condition.

The observation that "Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean...", brings to my mind the realization that the touch of sin taints, the touch of sin corrupts, the touch of sin propagates through casual contact.

We are all born in sin. We live in a lost and fallen world and we find ourselves in this life to be controlled by a sinful nature.

What excites me about Jesus Christ is that he provides us freedom from sin. In Romans 6 we are told that believers are no longer enslaved to sin but have been set free.

And, not just that!! When we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, his embrace of us makes us holy. "Jesus also suffered... to make the people holy through his own blood." Hebrews 13:12. "... we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10.

What this means is that where sin once corrupted us, now, by the touch of our Lord, we are found holy and blameless! "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." Ephesians 1:4. As a result, on the day we all appear before God, we will be presented without fault and with great joy! Jude 24.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The cost of breaking a vow - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 27:14-15,

"If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs."

Bob Deffinbaugh, at "bible.org", describes the "vows" discussed in Leviticus 27 as "a kind of 'credit card' act of worship." A promise to worship God at a future time by giving something as a person, an animal, a house, an inheritance, land, etc. Something promised to God, to be provided in the future. The reason for the delay in delivering on what was offered is that the worshiper, motivated by gratitude for something God had done or provided them, was unable to provide what was offered at the time and so makes a vow to provide it later. What is discussed in this chapter refers to voluntary gifts folks promised to God and now have reconsidered.

Recognizing the regret that many may have over having rashly vowed something to the Lord in the heat of a moment, direction here is provided as to how what was vowed might be redeemed back by the worshiper. In the above example of a house, a fifth of the value is to be added to the value of the house if the owner wanted to "un-vow" it, to "buy back" his vow to the Lord. In this way the house could be redeemed without harm to the fickle worshiper.

From this I recognize that God knows us all too well. He knows how we can be impulsive. He knows how we can be caught up in a moment we may later reconsider - even a moment of legitimate gratitude. How often I have been blessed by God in some wonderful way, only later to find my appreciation waning...

This, I believe is not good. God certainly deserves better from me. In regard to vows, the Scriptures tell us not to make them lightly. "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." Proverbs 20:25. "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. Better to not vow, than to make one and not keep it. I find this particularly true with wedding vows, when what is vowed to the spouse is vowed before God. Here in this passage, I note that not following through on a vow is to cost something. In the case of a house, it is 20%.

I find it fascinating that the Lord does provide for our weakness. It is precisely his propensity to do so that we call God our wonderful Lord of Grace. He makes a way... not because we deserve it, but in spite of the fact we don't.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

When we touch God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 15:13-15,

"When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean. On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the Lord to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. The priest is to sacrifice them, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement before the Lord for the man because of his discharge."

I'm quite certain there are more tasteful things I could be writing about than the directions provided by the Lord for a man who is unclean because of a bodily discharge. However, there is something here that catches my attention that is quite wonderful concerning the Lord, I'll get to that in a bit.

There is that in the Lord's directions to Israel concerning the health and hygiene for individuals and the community as a whole. What we see in the above verses, however, are directions for a "ceremonial cleansing" that is to follow him being "cleansed from his discharge." Beyond the concern for germs, disease, heath and hygiene, a spiritual cleansing is required.

This need for a "ceremonial cleansing" following a medical issue in the community of God is not difficult to trace. All death, all disease, all infirmity, all the physical, emotional and spiritual maladies that affect all of us is directly attributable to man's fall in the garden of Eden. It was when mankind rebelled and turned his back on God that death, disease, illness, etc. entered into the now fallen human race. In the midst of suffering physically from sin in the garden of Eden as an ultimate cause, it should not be lost that unsaved man in his natural condition is unclean and when visited by the consequences of sin, makes him ceremonially unclean under the law among God's covenant people.

So, there is need in the community of God for direction both in regard to health and hygiene, as well as addressing the ultimate origin of cause for theses infirmities, while under the law. This, a reminder that sin brought devastation to the lives we have here.

Here is something I find interesting and wonderful about God. In a constant concern for potential illness in the community and a ceremonial "unclean-ness" as well, anyone who touched a person who was unclean, became unclean himself. "Whoever touches the man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening." Leviticus 15:7. When man comes into contact with the "unclean" he become unclean. However, when anything touches God, it becomes clean and healed and made whole. I am reminded of a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She touched just the robe of Jesus Christ and was immediately healed. Luke 8:43-48. Jesus turned to her and said, "your faith has healed you."

The ugly things of this life can destroy us, make us "unclean", but the touch of God through faith overcomes uncleaness, disease, and any other vestige of living in our lost and fallen world.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Why the account of Esau's family line? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 36:1,

"This is the account of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom)."

Esau was Jacob's twin brother and son of Issac and Rebecca. We are provided various accounts of Esau, especially in relationship to Jacob. I suspect most familiar is the account of when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Genesis 36 is devoted to providing the family line of Esau.

The writer of Hebrews observes that Esau was a godless man, Hebrews 12:16. In Romans 9:13, Paul quotes Malachi 1:2-3 where it is written, "'Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'"

Since Esau was viewed as a godless man, a man whom the Lord hated (in Malachi it is not just Esau, but also the descendants of Esau that God claimed to hate, while he loved Israel) and that the progeny of Esau became bitter enemies of the nation of Israel in succeeding generations, why does the Bible spend time on his family line? It is precisely these kinds of observations and questions that provide me with the absolute certainty that the Bible is not what its critics claim it to be. It is heard on occasion that the Bible was written by men who intended to subjugate people to "the elites" of the day, to invent or reinvent religion,  to bring about revivals and reforms, etc. Such criticism is best aimed at the Qur'an and other false religious literature.

It seems to me that no one would showcase the "bad guys" as Genesis 36 does if the Bible had such an origin. And, not just that, but, not only are we presented with the account of Esau's family line in Genesis, which demonstrates the Genesis accounts are not spun out of thin air - but historically well-documented, it also presents us with the failings of the "good guys." Abraham's lying and deception, Jacob's lying and deception, Judah's procurement of temple prostitutes, and on and on.

The authenticating material of historical documentation is one of the Scripture's very strong points, and lays to rest the many attacks by less-informed critics.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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The deadly radiance of God's majestic splendor - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 40:34-35,

"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."

The majestic splendor of God radiates in a visible glory that can be see and felt. How astonishing the Creator enters into his creation to make his presence among his people! Following the assembly of the tabernacle, God manifested his presence with his glory filling it, resulting in Moses no longer being able to enter.

There was a curtain in the tabernacle behind which God's glory radiated. I suspect this made it possible for God to commune with mankind here on earth in a way that was survivable by man. Earlier, when asked by Moses that God would show him his glory, the Lord said "'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence...  But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.'" Exodus 33:19-20.

Paul made an interesting observation about this physical manifestation of the radiance of God's glory, "...God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." 1 Timothy 6:15-16. This radiance of God's glory is something that is apparently fatal for sinful mankind if encountered.

In something of a humorous account (from our perspective, not theirs), after having spent time with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, when Moses came down to the people with the second set of tablets of the law, this glory was reflected in Moses' face and sent his brother and the other leaders of Israel off in a panic, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai." Exodus 34:29-32.

This resulted in Moses needing to use a veil for a period of time, "When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord." Exodus 34:33-35.

All of this speaks to me of the transcendence of God over his creation, manifested in a physical glory of his majestic splendor that radiates in a deadly wavelength of light - an unapproachable light. How awesome our God!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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God creates beauty - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 38:21,

"These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law, which were recorded at Moses' command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."

How much in metals used? An astonishing amount! Over 1 ton of gold, 3 3/4 tons of silver, and 2 1/2 tons of bronze! The tabernacle was lavish and extravagant!

It must have been something to behold. The craftsmanship of engravers, designers, embroiderers and weavers was beyond anything ever seen, as these craftsmen had been endowed by the Holy Spirit to produce what mere mortals on their own could not. Exodus 35:30-35.

The construction of the tabernacle was a joint venture of sorts. It was designed by God, built according to God's specifications by craftsmen he endowed with beyond-human skill and ability. Without a doubt, it was one of the great wonders of the world in Moses' day.

To me, the tabernacle stood as a testimony to the beauty of something God can create in this lost and fallen world. Today, I see this in brothers and sisters God has conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ, carefully crafting each one, Romans 8:29. God builds things like love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control into believers lives, Galatians 5:22-23.

The most wonderful people I have met have been those who have been shaped by the handiwork of God himself. Folks who are a joy to be around, an inspiration to get to know, and a great and wonderful encouragement to spend time with.

God creates beauty.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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A thought on building God's kingdom - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 37:1-5,

"Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it."

The account of the construction of the tabernacle, the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the basin for washing and the courtyard are all provided with interesting detail. The materials used, some information on design and on the construction are provided us.

Where this passage may be that which many folks skim through to get to the other accounts found within Exodus, it is interesting from a few perspectives. The one perspective I have as I read through these accounts is the recognition that these things were constructed by individuals who were "filled ... with the Spirit of God" and enabled by the Spirit "to do all kinds of work..." Exodus 35:31-35. These folks were enabled by the Lord himself for the work,"every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work..." Exodus 36:1.

This tabernacle is to be the place where God meets with man. It is the place where man can approach God with his worship. It is the place where the priests, who will represent the Israelites before the Lord will do their work. It is the place where the glory of God will rest and become the "nerve-center" of the community. It is here where the people of God will be set apart from all other nations on earth.

Due to the role the tabernacle, with its equipment and furnishings, all of it is to be constructed from the materials the Lord dictated. It is to be constructed according to the design the Lord dictated. It is to be constructed with the divinely inspired skills and abilities the Lord provided the Israelites.

I don't see much here about "winging it", "gettin 'er done the best we can", or "throwing it together" to get it finished by the end of the day. This was an important effort, one that would result in the acceptable place for God to meet with man. The shear thought of having a place where God met with man is an amazing thought to me.

All this has bearing on my understanding of what may be important and what may not be important as we commit ourselves today in joining with the Lord in the building of his kingdom. The Lord can be specific in details, as is evidenced in the construction of the tabernacle. Where he may not be specific, perhaps we inject some distortion to our concept of the things of God when we fill in where God has not. Where God wants things done in a certain way, we see he can communicate that. Where he chooses not to be detailed, perhaps we need to recognized that as well.

Given what we know, how might this influence your thinking about how we go about the building of God's kingdom today? Exactly how has he asked us to participate with him in the effort?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Only the willing... - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 36:2,

"Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work."

We are told the Lord gave certain Israelites special ability to create and construct the various aspects of the tabernacle, "engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers." Exodus 35:35. Among them two are mentioned by name: Bezalel and Oholiab.

What catches my eye this morning is that when Moses summoned these workers to begin the work, two requirements were required on their resume. The first is they had to have been given "ability" by the Lord for the work, the second being they had to be willing to come and do the work. Enabled and motivated.

While I am certain the Lord is quite capable to motivate any one of us for his purposes, I note here that the willingness to come to do the work was something looked for within these workers. From the context, it appears to me that there may have been those who had been equipped by God for the tasks that needed doing, but also unwilling. In any event, the only ones called to the task where those equipped by God and willing to do the work.

I note the Lord appears to operate in much the same way today. When it comes to the work of building God's kingdom, he equips his people for the things that need doing, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13.

In addition to equipping the saints for works of service, the Lord also encourages those he has gifted to exploit those gifts he has given. Listen to how Peter puts it, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. Apparently, some of us need the encouragement, we must be willing. God's people are not forced to use what God has gifted them with, they must be "willing to come and do the work" just as those who created the furnishings, equipment and the tabernacle itself in Moses day.

It is interesting to me to see how God equips us. We have all been given the ability to do certain things the Lord wants done. The lone question is whether we are willing to show up to use what it is he has given us.

It appears to be to be very rare in the Scriptures where God overrides the volition he has given to each person when he created us in his own image. Interesting, isn't it? What does this tell you about God?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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God "might" do something? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 33:3,

"Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

The Lord told Israel to leave Mt. Sinai and go to the promised land, the land he promised "on oath" to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. he told them he would send an angel ahead of them to drive out the current inhabitants, but he would not accompany them himself. He told them that since they were "a stiff-necked people" he might destroy them on the way were he to accompany them. I note later, in verse 14, that God tells Moses, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

I can't think of a clearer passage of Scripture that points to the reality that far from being some kind of a fixed "moral principle", God is a person - a real person - the ultimate person. While he himself never changes and is at all times consistent and faithful to his word, he responds in real time to the thoughts and actions of others. Here in this passage he tells Moses it is best some "distance" be placed between himself and Israel, given Israel's hardheartedness. Since God actually exists beyond the dimensions of time and space, the distance here must be construed in terms not commonly thought of.

We know that since God exists beyond the dimension of time, he also is aware of all that will happen ahead of time. However, to make exceeding clear to us in the Scriptures of his interaction with us, he tells Israel what "might happen" given the condition of their hearts and the choices they may make. We see God as a "real" person acting in a "real" way in regard to the circumstance of the potential choices of Israel. This is not a picture of God functioning in a fixed, manufactured, and predetermined way as though he were manipulating Israel as marionettes on strings. The operational word which drives my thoughts this morning is how the term "might" is used here, "I might…".

I think at times we develop in the back of our minds some assumptions of God which may not accurately depict who and how he is. Thankfully, the Scriptures can relieve us of our misconceptions of God and this passage does exactly that. In our concept of the sovereignty of God, or God's "sovereign will" passages such as this need be accounted for. I always need to remind myself that when I enter into the sacred pages of Scripture, I always need to leave my preconceived theology at the door.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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God responds! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 32:10,

"Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

Here God tells Moses to back away because he is going to lay waste the Israelites and replace them with Moses' own offspring. How shallow the commitment and faithfulness of Israel! Israel is but a sample of all mankind and so it must be recognized that all mankind is corrupt and unable to remain true to God. Israel is here showing just how weak and unreliable sinful mankind is. Israel just entered into a covenant with God, and Moses' absence for forty days and nights on Mt. Sinai was all that was needed for this pitiful display of a lack of faithfulness. In Moses absence, the Israelites convinced Aaron, Moses' brother, to create a golden idol of a calf to worship.

In an amazing exchange between God and Moses, one that many people's theology today will simply not allow for, Moses reasons with God and God relents!

God can be approached! God can be reasoned with! God can be persuaded! God responds in real time and space! We are told in verse 14, "Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." And, this at Moses' reasoning with God! Here I find one of the greatest of reasons to be faithful in prayer, to bring our cares and concerns before the Lord to seek his help, to seek what we need, to seek what we desire.

What I don't see in this event is that God has everything already pre-scripted and then orchestrates things according to a fixed set of circumstances he has determined ahead of time. The account simply will not support that line of thinking. What I do see is that God interacted with Moses, listened to what he had to say, and our all-powerful and all-knowing God responded to what Moses said. I think this is one of the many possible reasons the account is provided us in this way.

In the Qur'an, Mohammed used this account in his anti-Semitic rants against Israel. And, certainly, if the Bible is a contrived set of writings produced for the purpose of elites to control the "little people", as many atheists "believe", this is one account that would certainly not have been included.

There is much to learn and consider about God and our interaction with him in this passage!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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A transfer of holiness - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 30:29,

"You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy."

The Lord provided direction to Moses and the Israelites regarding the recipe for anointing oil and its use. This oil was to be used to anoint and consecrate the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant, the table for the tabernacle and its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and its utensils, and the basin with its stand.

Following this direction, an interesting comment is made by the Lord. He says anything that touches these consecrated items "will be holy." A transfer of holiness! One thing made holy from another!

I'm not certain of the ramifications of this. For instance, I don't know if these newly made-holy things that might touch the consecrated things might be considered "devoted to the Lord" and subsequently destroyed or what.

However, I can't help but think of this transference of holiness. One thing making another holy. Something holy, of course, is something that is acceptable to God, something to be considered good, righteous and sacred, something set apart for God.

I am reminded that people are made holy, with the very attributes I just mentioned. Paul calls the believers in Corinth (as well as at other churches and so all believers) as being sanctified and "called to be his [Jesus Christ's] holy people." 1 Corinthians 1:2. Believers are told they are made holy by God in order to present them to himself as holy, "But now he [God] has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation..." Colossians 1:22.

We are told very specifically how people are made holy, "By that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10.

Through the consecration of the tabernacle objects, things were made holy if they touched them. Just as these things were made holy, people are made holy through a transference as well. If we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, the sacrifice of his body will make us holy!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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God meets with man! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 29:42-43,

"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory."

After providing directions to Moses about the construction of the tabernacle, the altar, the priestly garments, the consecration of the priests, and the daily burnt offerings, the Lord tells Moses he will meet with him at the entrance to the tent of meeting and speak with him. He will also meet with the Israelites. The place will be consecrated by God's glory.

Here we see God establishing what will be required for him to meet with mankind. Sinful, rebellious mankind who has given himself over to a sinful nature that dominates him since his decision to turn from God in the garden of Eden. It really is quite remarkable that God makes provision that he might interact with estranged mankind.

Why would he do such a thing? Why would our transcendent God stoop so low as to communicate with man? Our Creator exists in the pristine environment of his many-splendored perfections, an immense and massive radiance of his glory of brilliance, and yet, he reaches out to lowly mankind. Why would he do such a thing?

As we read on in our Bibles we find that his interest in mankind, his love for mankind, is as vast as it is incomprehensible. He himself will send the Son of his love to come and die a miserable death to pay the penalty for our sins, providing his own justice with what is required that he might welcome us into his family, to give us a place at his table, to provide us a share in the inheritance he as for his Son, Jesus Christ!

Astonishing to think of!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Light at the tabernacle - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 27:21,

"In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."

In the planning of construction for the tabernacle, its courtyard, furnishings and so forth, the Lord prescribed the use of lamps to be kept burning from evening till morning. The place of the Lord was to be kept lighted at all times.

This speaks to me of the reality that with the Lord there is no darkness, no shadow. In John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." This light was foretold in Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

With the lamps of the Lord burning at the tabernacle all night, it served as a reminder of the presence of the Lord in the place he had chosen for himself among his people Israel. This light spoke of the radiance of his presence as seen on the mount of transfiguration, when Jesus displayed his glory to Peter, James and John, "As he [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning." Luke 9:29.

When Jesus was asked by his disciples about coming things, he told them his day would be marked by light, "For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." Luke 17:24. 

The lamps at the tabernacle speak to me of these things. The radiance of God's glory was to be prefigured in light that was to be continually present in the tabernacle - a place with no darkness, a place with no shadow. It also prefigured the coming of light into the world, "In him [Jesus Christ] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it..." John 1:4-5.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com