Judges 7, Proverbs 15, Philemon

This chapter of Judges tells of another, most unlikely, battle and victory for the Israelites. A pattern is emerging. God approaches a person who seems to have certain abilities and gives him or her an assignment far outside those abilities. The assignment is daunting, with huge ramifications. The person takes some persuading, but eventually obeys. God does a miracle and His assignment is accomplished.

1. What is God's assignment for you?
2.  How far outside your comfort zone is your assignment?
3.  Will you obey?

Proverbs 15 is primarily about words. What we say indicates the state of our hearts. How was Gideon's battle won? Partly with words: "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" These words of the soldiers indicated the faith in their hearts. There is power in our words. We need to make sure the condition of our hearts and minds produces wise speech. If we pay attention to what we way, the content and attitude of our words, and discover not wisdom, but foolishness, sorrow, scoffing, anger, strife, disdain, or pride, we need to recognize the problem. We are not living a life of obedient faith and God cannot accomplish His purposes through us.

What was God's assignment for Philemon? To receive Onesimus back into his household, not as a run-away slave, but a brother in Christ. Unheard of. And outside Philemon's legal rights.

What was God's assignment for Onesimus? To go back to the man he ran away from and face the consequences, even though he didn't have to as long as nobody told Philemon where he was.

I can imagine that neither man relished his assignment. We aren't told the outcome, but since the letter is included in the Bible, we assume Onesimus did go back and that Philemon accepted him as a Christian brother. Only obedience to God and His power at work could have accomplished this reconciliation.

1.  Is there someone to or about whom your words might indicate a need for reconciliation?
2.  Is this the God-sized assignment He has for you?
3.  Will you obey and let God do the work?

Check your heart condition. Begin saying the right words. And watch to see what God does.

Joshua 6, Psalm 140, Colossians 1

Joshua chapter six describes the fall of Jericho into the hands of the Israelites. It was a most unusual battle, without a shot fired. Not even arrows flew. Joshua led his army to march around the walls of the city while seven priests blew trumpets. They were followed by priests carrying the Ark of the Lord. The army followed the priests. Can you imagine living inside Jericho and wondering what was going on? How unnerving! The Israelites just marched around the city once each day for 6 days in a row while the trumpets blared. Then they went back to their camp. But the seventh day, upon Joshua's command, the whole army shouted at once. At the sound of the shouts, the city walls collapsed.

To really understand this amazing story, we need to turn back a few verses into chapter five. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua and told Joshua He, the Angel, was the commander of the army. Not Joshua. With that kind of commander, who could lose? But Joshua had a critical role to play. He could have whined about not getting to be in charge. He could have said, "Lord, that is the craziest plan I've ever heard. It won't work so we'd better do it my way."

When the Angel of the Lord is on your side, miracles happen. But trust and obedience also have to happen. Like the old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way." Joshua trusted God and obeyed His odd-sounding instructions. The people trusted Joshua's leadership and obeyed. And God fought and won for them.

God will fight and win for me and you, too. But our part is to trust and obey.

In this Psalm, David is surrounded by evil men. Just like God helped Joshua and the people, David knows He will help him. It doesn't matter whether we're on the offense or the defense, God is still the same and the battle and victory are both His. We can trust Him.

I think we sometimes forget what it took when Christ fought for us on the cross. We were His enemies, but He gave everything so we could be called His friends. This kind of friend is so worthy of our trust and obedience! He has everything under control. We can trust Him.