The Day The Sun Stood Still
In the Book of Joshua in the Bible, there was this strange battle that took place somewhere in the Ancient part of the Middle East, thousands of years ago. To be specific, you’d find that account in Joshua 10:7-15.
It was a day like no other. Five versus one. Bullies versus neophytes. Battle-scarred veterans versus rookies. Experienced versus inexperienced.
Every seeming advantage was on the side of the five Amorite kings who banded together against the Israelites.
The Amorite kings knew the terrains. They knew which is the best place to start the war and where they could have the upper hand.
Their armies were formidable because they were many, had more weapons to use and the war cry was thousands of times louder compared to the Israelites because they were numerous as the sands on the seashore.
Yet, in all these advantages, the Israelites had One Reliable Ally – the Lord.
The Israelites, led by Joshua, had been forcefully advancing in claiming the Canaanite lands. One by one, the “resident” kings of the Promised Land fell into their hands. At this point, the Amorite kings had been seriously threatened.
And with the Lord promising to give them the victory (verse 7), all the more, Joshua and the Israelites’ confidence were sky high as they went for the offensive.
The Lord delivered as promised, throwing the enemies into confusion according to verse 8. What made things worse for the enemies was the Lord even rained down hail stones, a battle scene never before seen in any other accounts of the Bible.
More Amorites were killed by the large hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.
The Lord was fighting for the Israelites! And when Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still till they have total victory over their enemies, the Lord answered him in an astounding way.
Lessons we can learn from Joshua and Israel’s battle agains the Amorites:
- The Lord is a promise-keeper (v. 9-10). When He says something, He means it. His word is His bond. We can rely on Him. That’s why even though the Israelites’ enemies were overwhelmingly powerful, the Lord intervened and brought huge victory to Israel.
- The Lord is powerful. Our problems can be overwhelming at times when we look at it. Bills piling up and money is going low. Sometimes, our health fails us. We feel anxious about our future. We lose hope at times. But in all these difficult circumstances, the Lord is fighting for His people. And He will show Himself faithful and even powerful. The large hailstones He hurled was a proof of His power over nature. And the sun standing still for a full day was another testament to what God can do in the midst of our seemingly overwhelming problems.
- The Lord is our peace. When the Lord intervenes, we can be assured of His peace and security. Joshua confidently approached God in prayer when he asked that the sun stand still. He knew that the Lord will answer his prayer not because he said so, but because the Lord is faithful. He had peace in his heart even though outside, there was turmoil going on.
May 2011 be marked with “sun-stand-still” moments–which would leadto greater worship and praise to God.
Photo Source: http://www.kingwoodbiblestudy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sun1.jpg
Able & Willing
My dad is one of the hardest working people I’ve known in my 34 years of existence. He’s generous as well, always thinking of us or other people before himself.
However, here’s what I noticed, while his generosity amazes and inspires me a lot, there are times when he just doesn’t have the capacity to give when we ask for something. In other words, he’s willing, but not able.
This morning, I’m reminded of Someone from the Bible who is not only willing to intervene in our lives daily, but even able to sustain us, provide for us and reveal to us who He really is.
Reading the brief account of the leper, who had the guts to approach Jesus during his early years of ministry (see Mark 1:40-45), here are some interesting observations I had.
Without hesitation, this leper broke the rules of his time by approaching Christ in public (Leviticus 13:45-46) . You see, lepers during their time, were not allowed to mingle with “healthy” ones. He could have received harsh treatment from people for approaching Jesus. But he didn’t mind it anymore. All he wanted was to exercise his faith by coming to Jesus.
Jesus knew the prevailing cultural practice of his time. Lepers were outcasts of the society. It was a deadly, infectious disease. But Jesus wasn’t intimidated. He didn’t bow to the rules of his time. He was above legalism. What He saw instead was a man who needed healing and the validation of his faith.
So when the leper came to Him and asked that he be healed, Jesus healed him by touching him. Instantly, the man was cleansed from his disease.
The disease that all his life, left him unwanted, burdened, publicly humiliated and despised–all disappeared in his life-changing encounter with the Lord.
We all are like the leper at some point. We carry with us a disease that makes us outcasts in our society. Our habits, lifestyle, immorality–all these, make us “infectious” and therefore, considered the “outcasts” of our family, or circle of people we live with.
Yet, such a disease loses its grip on us when we humble ourselves before the Lord. Acknowledge that by our own effort, we can’t do anything significant. And then yield out lives completely to His reign.
For Jesus’ cleansing of the leper was a testament to Christ’s power and authority over anything that burdens and enslaves people, including sickness and disease.
Are you burdened? Sick? Discouraged? In pain emotionally or spiritually?
Christ is there, always willing and able.
Photo Source: http://cain0110.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/an-open-hand/
Risk-Taker’s Place In History
Here’s what I learned this morning in my book-reading: Good can never become great unless we are willing to take risks in life.
I remember some Bible characters–imperfect ones–like you and me–who changed the course of history and made God famous after taking risks in their own generation.
* Joshua rose to greatness as an Israelite leader after choosing to trust God and be bold and courageous in the face of “giant” oppositions in the Promised Land.
* Esther saved a generation of Jews after making a bold decision to face the king and tell him the truth about her lineage and the impending destruction of the Jewish race.
* The three Hebrew friends--Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego (in the book of Daniel)–occupied influential positions in the Babylonian kingdom’s political world later on, after standing pat in their decision to bow down to God only.
Good can never become great unless we are willing to take risks in life.
What risk is God telling you to take today–in your campus? In Your work? In your business? In your family?
Living With The Turnaround Specialist
Joseph may have had one of the saddest stories in the Old Testament.
Favored by his dad Jacob, he was greatly envied by his brothers. He was falsely reported by his brothers as dead, bringing grief to their aging daddy Jacob.
He was also sold by his brothers as a slave to some Ishmaelite traders, who were on their way to Egypt, where he became a slave.
Though not of his own doing, he was later, falsely accused of attempting rape to the wife of his boss Potiphar. Potiphar, in anger, threw Joseph to prison.
Joseph absorbed each test like a wicked punch from world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the stomach.
However, when all seemed lost after ending up in prison for his “attempt to rape Potiphar’s wife”, Joseph experienced what became the greatest single turnaround in human history.
At one point, he was a good-for-nothing prisoner, with no hope and no future; but then, through his God-given gift to interpret dreams, Pharaoh found the wisdom of God from Joseph and so he appointed him the second-in-command of the whole land of Egypt.
From rags to riches. From horror to honor. From ridicule to respect. God is a turnaround specialist.
We have our own “pit or prison” moments, where we thought we just give up hope and let circumstances batter us to pulp.
But check out Genesis 50:20. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Joseph refused to be embittered by the shabby treatment he received from his brothers. He refused to wallow in self-pity when he was wrongly accused of rape.
And he refused to give up hope when he ended up in prison.
We can all learn a powerful life lesson from Joseph’s life: When all hope seems lost, realize that the Lord is a turnaround specialist.
He’s not just bringing you out of your mess, but he’s also building your character for the long haul.
Photo Source: http://pyramidportal.org/tag/great-pyramid-of-giza/
Powerful Reasons To Worship God
It’s been nearly a week since we concluded in a big blast the Every Nation 2010 World Conference at SMX Convention Center.
One of the memorable sessions I had at the conference was the one shared by Darlene Zschech.
She said: “We’re created to give God glory not receive glory”.
As I was checking through some of files at the office, I got hold of a copy of Reasons to Worship God. I can’t remember who wrote this down, but at that time, I made sure, I get this printed so I can be reminded…
Powerful Reasons to Worship God:
1. He forgives my sins
2. He heals my diseases.
3. He redeems my life from destruction
4. He crowns me with loving kindness
5. He satisfies my mouth with good things
6. He executes righteousness and justice for the oppressed
7. He makes his way known
8. He is merciful
9. He is gracious
10. He is slow to anger
11. He will not strive with us.
12. He will not keep His anger forever
13. He does not punish us according to our iniquities
14. He shows great mercy to those who fear Him
15. He removes our transgression from us (Transgression – a crime or any act that violates a law, command or moral code)
16. He remembers we are dust
17. His mercy is everlasting
18. He rules over all and His throne is established
We are created to relate with God and worship Him. May every act, every word and everything we do be a worship to God.
