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