Sometimes life happens.

I purchased a new Bible the other day- I probably have, well more than my fair share. but, hey its what I do.. anyway, the copy of the Scriptures that I picked up was the NIV 2011 edition. 

Now, for most of my life I have used the NIV 1984 edition, and love it. I have most of the verses memorized in that 84 edition, but from the moment I saw this new bible I purchased it.

when I got home the first place I opened it up to was 2 Chronicles 32.

SIDE NOTE-While I do recommend you opening up your bible and reading it, I don’t recommend opening it up anywhere and reading— if you do that you’re missing out on so much.. content, context…

Anyway the verse that I opened up to is this: “ After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.” (NIV2011)

I immediately thought to myself: “Isn’t that the way it goes! We are are faithful to God and then the bottom falls out of life. We are diligent in our Bible reading, with our service to our church, and then the wheels fall off the cart, and we are left scratching our heads.  

Sometimes life happens. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it bad.

In this case, Hezekiah was burdened at the news that Sennacherib was about to invade his space. so Hezekaih did something about it. they got to work and shut off the water supply and made plenty of weapons and appointed military leaders and got everyone together for a pep-rally and reminded them to be: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” (NIV2011)

We would do well to remember these words from King Hezekiah. 

No matter what comes our way, God is bigger than it all, and He can handle whatever comes our way. 

So the next time life pins you down, go to God and remind Him that the battle belongs to Him! 

Follow the Cloud

Fresh new post today… Sorry it has been a while. Have been in hospital for 15 days and then needed the time to recoup from that, but I read a nice passage this morning in my devotional time and I wanted you to read it and ponder it and maybe even pray it. 

just to set this passage up, Moses had been speaking with God and giving the Israelites rules and commands to live by and where God would live and how the people were to interact with God Himself— He is holy, therefore not just anyone can walk right in to HIs presence—(remember, this is the Old Testament… Now, because of Jesus, we have access to God 24/7/365, but that was different in the Old Testament. 

Just before the People of Israel were about to pick up camp and begin to set out in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, we are come up against this passage, found in Numbers 9:

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it.[a] But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. 16 This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. 18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. 20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.” (NLT2)

There is so much going on in this awesome passage! Just let me highlight a few. 

The Cloud, represented God’s Presence. It was with the people of Israel as they were crossing the Sea of Reeds, (Red Sea), and the Presence of God is here, as well. 

The people of Israel were to take their cues from the Cloud. If it lifted, it meant the people of Israel were going for a walk. 

If the cloud remains were it was— hovering over the Tabernacle, the Israelites were staying where they were. 

Sometimes the Cloud stayed over the Tabernacle for a long time, sometimes it stayed for a very short time. The idea was that if the cloud lifted, the people were on their way. If the Cloud Stayed, they stayed. 

Verse 23 is especially sweet: “So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.” (NLT2)

I love it.

this, at its core, is a picture of obedience. For this time period, the Children of Israel were being obedient to the Lord their God. 

The same can be said about us today. All God is looking for from is the same thing. He wants us to obey Him. To move when He tells us to move. To stop when He tells us to stop. 

Maybe you could take this passage and ask the Lord where He’d have you go; what He’d have you do, and where He wants you to go. All God is looking for is obedience. 

“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22, NLT2