Does God Change His Mind?

DOES GOD CHANGE HIS MIND?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

This article was written in response to a claim by a  Facebook friend who denied that God changes His mind.

He had argued that there was a theological tension of sorts between the account of Hezekiah's restoration (Isaiah 38:1-8) and God's compassion on the wicked Ninevites [who repented in response to the preaching of prophet Jonah] (Jonah 3:1-10) on the one hand and other Scripture passages that, in his view, reveal that God does not change His mind. He cited 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19 as evidence that God does not change His mind.

In this article, I have sought to demonstrate that even though God makes absolute determination in some cases, there's explicit evidence in the Bible that He changes His mind in certain circumstances.

Let me now address the two Scripture texts that were cited in defense of what the writer refers to as "tensions" between them and the previous passages that we engaged.

1 Samuel 15:29 (NIV) says "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

The NKJV says "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

The YLT says "and also, the Pre-eminence of Israel doth not lie nor repent, for He [is] not a man to be penitent.'"

CONTEXT

This text lies in the passage of 1 Samuel 15:10-35 where God proclaimed His rejection of Saul as king. Saul had disobeyed God by failing to destroy the Amalekites and all the war spoils as commanded by God.

Let us now examine the text in context.

1 Samuel 15:29  (NKJV) says "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

We learn from the plain reading of this text that God is faithful to stand by His divine counsel. This truth is affirmed in James 1:17.

The text aptly and concisely conveys God's mind on His resoluteness in rejecting Saul. God had completely settled the fate of Saul and in the next chapter of 1 Samuel 16, God restrained Samuel from continuing to intercede or mourn for Saul. He was commanded to anoint his replacement immediately (1 Samuel 16:1).

Bible scholars say that it took more than a decade before Saul was killed in the Battle of Jezreel, paving way for David to take over the throne (cf.1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 2:1-7).

Does 1 Samuel 15:29, when read in context, suggest that God never changes His mind at all? Does this text present some contradiction of sorts when read together with the passages of Isaiah 38:1-8 and Jonah 3:1-10?

I will briefly hold my response as we examine the second text presented by the Facebook friend.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) says "God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

ANALYSIS

Numbers 23:19 lies on the wider passage of Numbers 23:13-26 which is dedicated to the second prophecy of Balaam.

In the first prophecy recorded in Numbers 22:41-23:12, Balak prepared burnt offering on the altar of Baal in the hope that God would permit Balaam to curse the children of Israel. God commanded Balaam to bless them instead.

In the second prophecy of Numbers 23:13-26, which is the context of our text, the scene of sacrifice was changed but the results were the same. God stood His ground, so to speak.

Then comes the text of Numbers 23:19 as an affirmation of what God had previously declared. It reads:

"God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

This Scripture is similar in nearly all aspects to 1 Samuel 15:29.

We can conclude that God had determined to bless Israel (and indeed had blessed them) and would not accede to the plea by Balak, the heathen Moabite king to curse them.

We should bear in mind that:

1) The petition by Balak was actuated by malice. No harm had been caused to him by the pilgrim nation of Israel whose only fault was to pass through Moab on their way to the Promised Land. The Moabite people failed to show a human face to the people of Israel whose lineage historically intertwined with theirs (cf. Genesis 19:30-38).

2) Even if there was a legitimate cause that warranted Balak's petition, God was the final arbiter. His verdict had been given in Israel's favor.

3) God cannot be worshipped on the altar of Baal, a Moabite deity. This is an abomination to the God of Israel!

4) We learn from other sections of Scripture that Balaam's ministry was motivated by gain and that he was responsible for leading the people of God into apostasy.

Balaam is described in Revelation 2:14 as the man who "...taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality."

For this reason, Balaam was killed during the battle of Midian in Numbers 31 (cf. Joshua 13:22).

In Deuteronomy 23:1-8, God commanded that Ammonites and Moabites would be excluded from the assembly of God's people even to the 10th generation (cf. Nehemiah 13:2). This was a resolute command.

However, we learn from the Book of Ruth that God permitted a Moabite woman to intermarry with Boaz and she became the great grandmother of David. The rest is history.

CONCLUSION

Does 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19 affirm that God never changes His mind?

Is this claim consistent with the revelation of Scripture read in context and in whole?

Are there circumstances recorded in Scripture that demonstrate that God changed His mind when a passionate petition was made to Him?

My view is that each of these texts should be understood in their respective contexts. If in studying the teachings of Scripture we arrive at conflicting positions concerning God's revelation that cannot be hermeneutically resolved, it would be an act of wisdom to allow for divine resolution.

Now looking at the two cases cited by my Facebook friend, we can deduce, in the first case of 1 Samuel 15:29, that God had made up His mind concerning the rejection of Saul and nothing, not even the petition of His prophet, would change His mind. This, in my view, is what the writer of Scripture sought to project in this context.

Notice the import of the statement of 1 Samuel 15:35 that says "....Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel."

Turning to the second text of Numbers 23:19, we can conclude that God had determined to bless Israel in keeping with His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15). Balak's petition, by whatever merit, therefore fell flat.

Genesis 15:18-21 says "On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Having said as much, there's however evidence in Scripture that God does change His mind in circumstances where His compassionate heart is touched.

The cases of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-8) and the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-10) are just but some of the examples.

There are dozens other cases in Scripture that affirm this truth.

For instance, when God sought to destroy the rebellious children of Israel under His righteous anger, Moses successfully pleaded with Him and His wrath subsided (Exodus 32:10-14).

When David numbered the children of Israel in disobedience, God punished Israel, resulting in the death of 70,000 souls (2 Samuel 24:15). When David erected an altar at the threshing floor of Arunah and offered burnt offering, God's wrath was appeased. 2 Samuel 24:25 says "And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel."

God heart was touched by David's prayers and He withdrew the plague.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is perhaps another classic Scripture that reveals that true repentance touches God's heart.

Is there tension or conflict between the two sets of Scriptures that we have evaluated? Apparently none! In circumstances where God makes up His mind on a given issue, Scripture is explicit. Where God changed His mind following a petition, this again is plainly outlined in the relevant passages.

If God would never change His mind concerning our circumstances then our prayers are in vain. Nineveh would have been brought down to ashes; Hezekiah would have lost his 15 years of grace and Israel would have been destroyed in the wilderness for their rebellion.

Only in a deterministic worldview is God portrayed as a monster deity who is without compassion, uncaring, unreachable and robotically manipulates His creatures.

The truth is that God's sovereignty cannot be detached from His moral nature that is revealed in His word. His loving grace and mercy sustains us and the eternal hope for His covenant people stands on this truth. God's sovereignty cannot be obscured or diminished by His change of mind. It is affirmed by His unfailing grace.



Shalom


© Ezekiel Kimosop July 2020

Should Christians Tithe?

SHOULD CHRISTIANS TITHE?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Should Christians tithe?

The following questions should perhaps guide our thoughts and responses when addressing the above question.

1) Do you think that the preacher adequate handled this issue in the Biblical context or has he exaggerated the concept of tithing?

MY RESPONSE

The preacher has rightly raised legitimate concerns over the neglect of the tithing practice by God's people in the church age. He has however not given a biblical authority for his exhortation.

He should perhaps have quoted the relevant Scriptures in support of his message. It is also possible that the clip was part of a longer message that carried more details.

2) Should we (believers) tithe from practically EVERYTHING we receive?

MY RESPONSE

Deuteronomy 14:22 says "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year."

This is also emphasized in Deuteronomy 26:12. This principle is reflected in Genesis 14:20 where Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the war spoils. It is also mentioned by Jacob under his vow recorded in Genesis 28:20-22.

This affirms that the patriarchs practiced tithing long before the law of Moses came. We can therefore confirm that tithing is based on the increase of our resources, whether incomes, profits, or farm produce.

3) Should we also set aside 10% of our time each day for worship and service to God. Is this practicable?

MY RESPONSE

Whereas it is a godly thing to set aside daily time for prayer and the devotional study of God's word, and even to serve God with our skills, talents and abilities, there is no instruction or command in the Bible that compels believers to tithe their time. 

4) How should we interpret the tithing concept in the light of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 23:23?

MY RESPONSE

Matthew 23:23 says "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." (KJV). 

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for taking the Scriptures out of context. They had stretched the practice of tithing to irrelevancy. God does not demand that we tithe from everything but from what He has revealed in Scripture. For instance, there is no reason to tithe from Bank loans because this is not an increase but a financial debt which must be repaid by the borrower.

I also find no reason to tithe from a gift or allowance. This does not constitute an increase in the context of Scripture. However, each believer should follow their convictions on areas that are less clear.

5) Is it compulsory for Christians to tithe or is it a free will giving just like offerings?

MY RESPONSE

This is a difficult question that has divided Christian societies for ages. Let us examine both sides of the argument.

ARGUMENT AGAINST TITHING

Those who consider tithing as an Old Testament command argue that they do not find a compelling theological reason to tithe. They say that tithing is a legalistic practice that ended with the coming of Christ who has fulfilled all laws. They cite the instructions in 2 Corinthians 8-9 as evidence of the standard guide for Christian practice.

We should however bear in mind that 2 Corinthians 8-9 related to collection of donations meant for Christians in Judea who were facing severe famine (2 Cor 8:16). These donation did not constitute regular church giving. Whereas we can borrow important principles on giving from the passages (see 2 Cor 9:6-8), this incident does not present the full picture of congregational giving among New Testament Christian communities. It does not imply that tithing was not practiced.

ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF TITHING

Those who recognize that the tithing principle preceded the law of Moses will argue that tithing is a universal and timeless divine principle that could not have ended with the Old Testament period. They insist that there is no command from Jesus or any New Testament Scripture that forbids tithing. They cite Matthew 23:23 as evidence that Jesus tacitly approved tithing but condemned the misapplication of the practice outside its divine boundaries.

Besides, proponents of the tithing practice also observe that the teaching of Malachi 3:8-12 was futuristic in scope given that this Book concludes with a prophetic look into the Messianic age and is the last Old Testament canonical writing that immediately precedes the New Testament Scriptures.

CONCLUSION

My concluding view is that tithing is a legitimate practice for God's covenant people in all ages. It is therefore a legitimate giving for the church in the same way that offerings are. However, no believer is compelled to give God anything. Those who chose to withhold the tithe should not be condemned. They should follow their convictions.

We should support our churches financially, not out of compulsion but in submission to Christ and to the glory of God. Malachi 3 addressed both tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8). If the practice of tithing ended with the Old Testament period, as claimed by critics, then offerings should cease as well! How will the gospel be advanced without our giving?

I concur with the view that tithing preceded the law and cannot have been extinguished by the fulfillment of the law in Christ. It is a noble Christian practice that calls for sacrifice and discipline.

Giving to God, whether by tithes or offering should be done on a free will basis in the knowledge that God's blessings are available to those who lovingly serve God.

Malachi 3:10-12 says "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
“And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts."


Shalom




© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

_______________________

The writer is a Ph.D. student in Theological Studies at Africa International University. 

What Does it Mean that God spoke to Moses Face to Face?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD SPOKE TO MOSES FACE TO FACE?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

The Bible declares in John 1:18 that no man has ever seen God at anytime. Exodus 33:20 also teaches that no one can see God and live.

So what does it mean that God spoke to Moses face to face?

When the Bible says in Exodus 33:11 that the "LORD spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend", Bible critics and skeptics quickly jump to the conclusion that there is a serious contradiction between this Scripture and the other two Scriptures we have quoted above!

The truth is that when the Bible is read and interpreted in context, there is no iota of contradiction or disharmony.

This is the more reason why we should not just read a Bible passage in a literal sense without considering the hermeneutical context and overall harmony of the entire body of biblical Scriptures!

To arrive at the correct interpretation of the above Scriptures and to do away with the apparent contradiction of sorts, we first need to ask ourselves how the apparent "contradiction" may have arisen.

Bible scholars agree that the writer of the Book of Exodus could not have deliberately contradicted himself in Exodus 33:11 by first stating that God spoke to Moses "face to face" and a few verse down in Exodus 33:20, the same writer records that God did not permit Moses to see His face!

One of these two Scriptures must be teaching something different and this is what we need to decipher through a methodical hermeneutical approach.

Let's now explore the Scriptures...

God declares to Moses in Exodus 33:20 "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live". We need to bear in mind  that God Himself is proclaiming this truth here! Besides, God is the ultimate author of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

James 1:17 affirms that God cannot contradict His own word. There's no variableness or shadow of turning with God. He cannot therefore misrepresent His mind to us through contradictory statements (cf. Numbers 23:19).

To deal with this apparent confusion, we should apply the rules of interpretation with prudence, giving glory to God so that we do not misrepresent His voice to imply what Scripture never intended for us.

First, in harmonizing the messages of John 1:18 and Exodus 33:20, we arrive at the inescapable conclusion that indeed no man has ever seen God and that Moses never saw God's face. God emphatically proclaimed this truth in His word.

We have already affirmed that God cannot contradict His own voice. The two Scriptures appear in the Old Testament and New Testament, respectively.

There is a general principle of biblical interpretation that says if a teaching or command appears in both the Old Testament and New Testament Scripture, then the teaching is absolute.

For example, God condemns divorce in Malachi 2:16 and Jesus upholds that truth in the Gospel books (Matthew 5:31,19:3, Mark 10:4). This settles the issue of Christian divorce. It is forbidden by God in all human civilizations and no mortal has the authority to alter the voice of God in His word.

This then implies that we need to revisit and interpret Exodus 33:11 in a manner that is consistent with the overall harmony of the Scripture as regards the authority, inerancy and infallibility of the word of God. We can therefore safely conclude that the writer of Exodus, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, could not have contradicted the voice of God. There must be another meaning to his statement which is outside the literal facade!

We can therefore state without any fear of contradiction that Moses [who is believed to have written the first five Books of the Bible] was perhaps demonstrating a deeper truth using metaphorical language and that the phrase "face to face" could not be assigned a literal rendering without violating God's word.

What was the writer's message here?

Bible scholars generally agree that by employing the phrase "face to face" the writer of Exodus was demonstrating that God was intimately close to Moses and his use of this phrase was simply a figure of speech that underscored this spiritual proximity. Moses was privileged to access the mind of God directly.

This Scripture should therefore not to be understood in its literal sense.

We can therefore conclude that Exodus 33:11 does not imply that Moses literally saw God's face with his naked human eyes. This is because he would have dropped dead!

You may also recall that Elijah, another great prophet of God, shielded his face in the presence of God at Mt Horeb because he understood the implications of coming face to face with his glorious God (1Kings 19:13).

This hermeneutical exercise has now resolved our question on the alleged contradiction between Exodus 33:11 and Exodus 33:20.

Perhaps a question related to this issue would be handy at this stage: Shall we (believers) ever see God face to face in heaven?

It is my firm conviction that one day, when Christ shall appear to take His Church to Himself, we who love the appearing of Christ, shall see God face to face and dwell in His glorious presence forever (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Rev. 22:4 says that "they [the redeemed in Christ] shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads." This is a literal promise in the Bible. I believe that there will be no divine barrier separating us from God in His divine presence because the question of sin and disobedience shall have been resolved.

I further believe that we shall not only see the face of God the Father at that time, but that we shall also walk around His great white throne and shall reign with Christ for ever in the presence of God.

Up till then, no person can literally see God with their naked human eyes while under the sun. That's a settled case.

This implies that those latter-day, self appointed prophets who claim to have directly seen the glorified Christ in person or heard His voice in visions should be flatly rejected.

God never speaks outside His word [Hebrews 1:1-2), neither does He anywhere contradict His word or misrepresent His divine nature (Hebrews 8:13; James 1:17).

Similarly, the Holy Spirit affirms the word of God and never contradicts His divine truths. He reveals to us the mind of Christ.



Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2019

A Portrait of a Wicked Society: Lessons in Micah 7:1-7

A PORTRAIT

OF A WICKED SOCIETY: LESSONS FROM MICAH 7:1-7

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

I am about to conclude my study of the Book of Micah which I have been focusing on for a number of weeks now.

I was deeply captivated by the passage of Micah 7:1-7 which is currently my passage of study. As I scanned through the poetic literature in this passage, I couldn't help but notice a growing similarity between the ills in the society of Micah's day and those of our contemporary society.

ABOUT MICAH

Micah was a pre-exilic minor prophet of Judah. Bible scholars say that he prophesied between 727 – 696 BC, about a century before the fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. He may therefore have witnessed the fall of Samaria (Northern Kingdom) to Sargon II in 722 BC and the invasion of Judah in 701 BC by Senacherib.

Micah spoke about the coming judgment on Judah and condemned the idolatry that was prevalent in his society. He also spoke of God's mercy  through the coming of the Messiah (5:2-5). He proclaimed God's restoration and forgiveness for His people (7:8-20). God would therefore preserve His faithful remnant.

Micah’s contemporaries were Isaiah, Amos, Hosea and Jeremiah.

PASSAGE ANALYSIS

In Micah 7:1-7, Micah presents a picture of a society gone riot. Law and order was broken down; greed and dishonesty reigned among the ruling class and justice was open to the highest bidder, so to speak.

Micah laments in deep sorrow about the moral decay in Jerusalem. Here is the specific picture captured in Scripture. For the purpose of this reflection, I have structured it along five parts below:

A) The poor were neglected. The society was so insensitive to the plight of the vulnerable among the people that gleaning left overs during harvest was impossible. (7:1-2). This is a sharp contrast to the picture presented in Ruth 2:5-20 concerning Boaz's kindness to Ruth, a destitute Moabite woman.

B) The righteous were scarce. It appears that the faithful were persecuted and many may have perished because of their convictions against evils in the society (7:3). The other possible scenario is that the society was so given to evil that even the righteous fell into the corrupt system. This is perhaps a stronger possibility. No one spoke the mind of God or condemned evil which was now a lifestyle in the society. Perhaps only an insignificant remnant of faithful people (including the prophet) could be found in Judah.

C) Wickedness had pervaded the society and had become a way of life. People were senselessly murdered and possibly robbed. Others were betrayed even by people who were closely related to them (7:2-3).

D) Corruption was so rampant among the ruling class that it was an open secret. The justice system was rotten to the core. Injustice was systemic and endemic. The mighty outdid one another in corrupt schemes! (7:3-4).

E) The passage concludes with a prophetic exhortation to faithfulness. The prophet warns those who have ears to hear to exercise wisdom in dealing with the despicable circumstances.

What should the righteous do in the face of this scale of wickedness?

They should not trust people without exercising their prudence. Even the closest friend may turn out to be an enemy on a mission to betray the righteous. The faithful are to be candid about what they disclose to others for the sake of their safety (7:5-6). There was a siege mentality against the righteous.

The fact that members of a family could betray one another is evidence of a rotten society whose moral bonds were broken by wickedness.

Is it possible that the regime of Micah's day may have turned into a police state of sorts? There may have been vigilantes who turn in those who oppose the policies of the ruling elite or questioned the moral excesses of the society.

F) The message of hope. The prophet concludes the passage by placing his hope in God. He proclaims "Therefore I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me" (7:7).

This is an encouraging conclusion to a sad tale of a depraved society. Yes, no matter what prevails around us, those who know the LORD shall wax strong in their life of obedience. God will preserve them for His divine purposes.

Yes, God hears His remnant who call on Him in truth. He knows them by their names. He will spare them (cf. Malachi 3:16-18)

The Bible warns in 2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

May we therefore remain standing in the midst of the growing wickedness in our society.

This warning was possibly meant for the few faithful remnant in Micah's day who may have rejected the evil system and suffered for their convictions.

CONCLUSION

Having studied this passage, I can identify several moral applications that are relevant to our society of context.

The world is increasingly becoming wicked and ungodly. The poor and downtrodden are at the mercy of the powerful ruling elite who abuse their positions of authority for personal gain and perpetuate acts of impunity.

The fear of God is no longer evident in our heavily secularized society where skepticism about religion is widely embraced.

Those who stand out against the excesses of our society are often persecuted or humiliated. It is therefore easy for godly people to be tempted to look the other way in circumstances that their voices should be heard.

Some would readily argue that it is inappropriate to stand out for others because such actions come at a price.

Corruption is so common nowadays that a traffic police officer collects bribes from a motorist in full view of his passengers or passers-by!

On the issue of justice, powerful elites are hardly convicted of crimes, thanks to a corrupt judicial system. A recent judicial ruling on a corruption case touching on some members of the political class sent shivers down the spines of elites in Kenya.

This was a rare one of its kind.

How should Christians respond to these vices of society? Is it enough to keep off? Should we speak out on societal ills or will that attract the social justice movement tags?

Allow me to conclude with a famous quote by Pastor Martin Niemoller, a German Holocaust survivor:

"First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out for I was not a socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out for I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

Think about that....


Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

A Guide to Spiritual Nutrition

THE BENEFITS OF SPIRITUAL NUTRITION

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Dear Friends, the search for balanced food nutrition today has never been greater. This is perhaps more pronounced during this difficult season of the COVID 19 pandemic when medical experts warn that people with nutritional challenges are likely to suffer from the infection.

Medical journals contain nutritional guides for healthy living. The herbalists on their part claim to have the traditional formulae for healthy living. The choice lies with the consumer.

There is no doubt that healthy nutrition is critical to human survival and longevity.

How long can we live without food and water?

This is an interesting question to ponder. Medical experts say that the human body can survive without food and water for about seven days and thereafter the essential body organs would collapse from severe dehydration. Prolonged dehydration eventually leads to death. Food and water are therefore essential to our daily wellbeing.

The Bible too recognizes the essentiality of a healthy and balanced nutrition. The children of Israel were promised that they will posses the Promised Land which was described as "flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 16:13). This was a Hebrew metaphor denoting the abundance found in Canaan.

During their wilderness experience, God provided manna for food (Exodus 16). When the people faced water shortage, God commanded Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and water gushed out to quench their thirst (Exodus 17:1-7).

The manna and the water have been used in the Bible to symbolize the word of God and the Spirit of God, respectively. Manna is mentioned five times in the New Testament Scripture and in most cases, it symbolizes God's divine provision for His people by His word.

In John 6:22-58, Jesus taught that the manna that God gave the Israelites in the desert only satisfied their immediate hunger. It was a stop gap earthly provision. By His coming, Jesus introduced a new type of manna, one which completely satisfied the hunger of the human soul.

Jesus proclaims in John 6:54-58: "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Let's now examine the significance of the word of God under five dimensions.

A) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION

The Bible goes on to teach that man shall not live by bread alone. It mentions a second powerful ingredient for our daily living: the word of God.

What does it mean to live on the word of God?

There are several passages of the Scripture that underscore the significance of God's word in the daily nourishment of the believer. Scripture is the authoritative source of spiritual instruction.

The children of Israel were commanded in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to carefully observe the commandments contained in the word of God so that their days may be prolonged and that they may multiply greatly on earth.

They were also commanded to teach the commandments in the word of God to their children and bind them as a sign on their hands and between their eyes. They were also to write them on their doorposts.

There is power and blessing attached to the devotional study and obedience to the word of God. Believers are products of men and women who consistently and diligently taught them the principle of Scripture in our formative years.

During His temptation in the wilderness recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus reinforced the authority of this scriptural truth, saying that man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

B) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL PRESERVATION

In Psalm 119, David proclaimed two powerful truths regarding the efficacy word of God in preserving the believer from moral disobedience. The psalmist demonstrates that the word of God preserves and directs believers to walk in truth.

In Psalm 119:11, David confesses to God that he had kept [treasured] the word of God in his heart that he might not sin against Him. What a powerful revelation! Believers ought to identify with David and confess this truth with confidence. This is not to suggest that David was a perfect man before God. He had his moral flaws, some of which are captured in Scripture. David was however a devoted student of the word of God! Scripture attests to David's zeal for God (and His word). Acts 13:22 says "...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."

This is God's testimony of David's faithfulness in his generation.

The regular devotion to Scripture is one of the indispensable disciplines that are necessary for the moral sanctification of a believer.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (NKJV)

C) THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR SPIRITUAL GUIDE

In Psalm 119:105, David proclaims that the word of God is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.

Let us briefly reflect on the implication of this statement.

In Hebrew culture people would chose to travel at night because of the scorching desert temperatures of the day. The night travelers needed protection from wild animals, snakes and sharp stones along the path. The lamp came in handy in illuminating the traveler's path.

David metaphorically spoke of the lamp and its light to demonstrate the significance of God's word in his life. Scripture is therefore the compass by which the believer navigates his journey of faith.

Matthew 5:14-16 speaks of the believers (the church) as the light on a lamp stand giving light to the world.

D) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE REVELATION OF GOD

One of the theological foundations of Scripture is that it reveals to us our Creator. In the Bible, we learn about God's nature and his redemption plan for us in Christ Jesus.

More significantly however is that God himself is revealed. His eternity, omniscience, omnipotence, His love and mercy and His justice.

In Genesis 1, we learn about God's creation of the universe and all that is in it. The opening statement of Genesis 1:1 is instructive. In the begging God created the heavens and the earth. This is later affirmed by several passages of Scripture (see Psalm 24:1-2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-18).

Several other passages of Scripture affirm God's omniscience (He knows all things); His omnipotence (His unlimited power); and His love mercy and justice.

Nothing perhaps underscores God's love and mercy more than the statements of John 3:16; Romans 8:5 and Philippians 2:5-11. His justice is demonstrated across sections of the Old Testament Scripture such as Genesis 3, 6-7, 19. It is explicitly outlined in the final judgement of Revelation 20:7-15.

We cannot effectively relate with God if we don't understand His nature and His purposes. This is why our spiritual nutrition - our regular focus on the teaching of Scripture is indispensable for us.

E) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE GUIDE TO OUR ETERNAL DESTINY

The destiny of the Church is perhaps one of the most compelling truths found in the Bible. It captivates the saints and sinners. We learn from the teachings of the prophets that God preserves a remnant of faithful people for Himself in every generation of human civilization.

Micah 5:1-5 says of the coming Messiah and His ministry. It also mentions a remnant of God's people that will be preserved by God.

This concept of the remnant is later identified with the Church. In Acts 20:28 Paul admonishes the Ephesian elders saying, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

Jesus guarantees His redemption for every soul that will place their faith in His saving grace. Their hope and destiny in God is sealed by the Holy Spirit once they believe in Jesus (Ephesians 4:30). They will be part of the great congregation of saints dresses in white robes from all tongues and nations that shall surround the throne of God and worship Him (Revelation 7).

CONCLUSION

The fundamentals of the Christian faith would perhaps be lost to succeeding generations that neglect God's word. The generation described in Judges 2 was morally disconnected from the previous generation of Joshua and the elders that served with him.

The new generation of the children of Israel fell for idolatry and apostasy because "did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). The knowledge of the LORD and His works is revealed in Scripture.

We shall conclude this article by confronting four hard questions below whose answers would be critical in determining our spiritual integrity. I will phrase them in the first person.

1) Am I walking in the light of God's word?

2) Does the word of God inform my daily source of wisdom and instruction?

3) Do I find time to study the Bible in a devotional manner?

4) Do I influence those within my immediatel society of context with God's word?

5) Do you have the hope of eternal life? Have you placed your hope in Christ Jesus?

May the word of God be part of our daily spiritual nourishment and may it always inform our daily prudence in the knowledge and fear God. May it be our exclusive guide to our destiny in God.


The word of God is indeed our nutrition to our healthy Christian living. It is our guide the understanding of God and His divine purposes and our light to our eternal destiny in Christ Jesus.



Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

The Rise and Fall of Samson - Lessons from Judges 13-16

THE RISE AND FALL OF SAMSON: LESSONS FROM JUDGES 13-16

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

The story of Samson is recorded in Judges 13-16. It is a fairy tale type of narrative condensed in only four chapters. It carries powerful moral lessons for covenant believers in all ages.

Samson was one of the twelve judges that ruled Israel during the cyclic apostasy period after Joshua's generation rested (see Judges 2).

Little is however known about Samson's life as a judge. One of the outstanding lessons from the story of Samson is that whereas the writer of the Book of Judges sought to depict Samson's moral excesses, he nevertheless underscores that God ultimately used this "superman" to accomplish His purposes for Israel in an amazing way. The story meanders along low and high moments which are inextricably interwoven in the four chapters.

We shall focus on one of the incidents that perhaps most aptly reveals the moral escapades of Samson and around which his ungodly marriages and activities stand.

Samson never got to marry the woman he loved. Of course he got it wrong on his choices on all instances. He trusted his eyes and instincts more than the wisdom of his godly parents and settled for Philistine women. American televangelist John Hagee once said that love at first sight is cured by a second look! How true.

The second Philistine woman to come into Samson's life is Delilah, the girl from the Valley of Sorek, who was equally up to no good. The Hebrew meaning of her name is "delicate", a name that has come to be associated with treacherous and voluptuous women. Delilah was perhaps the equivalent of a cold war double agent spy-queen, who was under the direction of the enemies of God's people (Judges 16:4-5).

THE BIRTH OF SAMSON

Let's begin with the story of Samson's birth...

The young Nazarite was miraculously born to a Danite man called Manoah, whose wife was until her conception of Samson, barren (Judges 13). Samson, like Isaac, was a miracle child. Samson's mission was spelled out by God before he was conceived. Judges 13:5 attests that Samson was born to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Philistines. He was a special child, set apart as a Nazarite who was forbidden from taking strong drink or shaving his hair (Judges 13:4-5). It is instructive that the mother was forbidden from taking strong drink during her pregnancy.

SAMSON'S EXCESSES

In Judges 14, Samson began his ministry journey on a wrong footing. His decision to marry a Philistine girl went against the wisdom of his godly parents and was perhaps the beginning of his downfall. However, God ultimately used his unpleasant circumstances to fulfill His divine purposes for Israel.

Before Samson could take the first Philistine girl, he got into a number of misdeeds, some of which, in the eyes of the young men, were perhaps heroic.

We shall draw our evaluation of Samson's moral flaws from the incidents described in Judges 14. It is important to appreciate that the people of Israel were morally fallen at this stage. They had departed from God's covenant in several ways. Intermarriage with heathen nations was nothing new at the time. Moses was at one time accused of marrying an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12).

Judges 2:11-23 carries a deep lament on the moral corruption identified with the generation that came after Joshua's generation had departed. Thankfully, God had His faithful remnant. Samson's parents were perhaps among this small group of faithful covenant people.

THE FIREFOX INCIDENT

Judges 15:6-5 says "Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves." (NKJV). This incident came at the backdrop of a special event. Samson had gone to meet his Philistine wife [a girl betrothed to him in violation of Ezra 9:12 and Nehemiah 13:25]. As stated earlier, the Jews were forbidden from intermarrying with the Canaanites.

Earlier in Judges 14, we learned that Samson had hosted a celebration at his in-laws, perhaps in fulfilment of the cultural requirements for marriage. The feast went awry. His wife betrayed him by revealing the secret behind his riddle to the Philistines. Samson killed 30 of their men in a bout of anger when he learned that he had been tricked. He had however acted in utter foolishness.

His father in law decided to give Samson's wife to his best-man. This now confirms that she had only been betrothed to Samson and was not married to him at this stage! The customary practice of betrothal was a common Middle Eastern custom. It is perhaps most clearly demonstrated under Joseph's relationship with Mary in Matthew 1:18-25. Elsewhere in the New Testament Scripture, the Church is symbolically portrayed as a bride that has been betrothed to Christ. The marriage feast of the Lamb is described in Revelation 19:6-10. Up till then the Church prepares herself for this feast.

Samson was shocked to learn that the woman he deeply loved had been snatched from him (Judges 14:20). His youthful anger burned and he mindlessly destroyed a large plantation of wheat by catching 300 foxes and tying them in pairs and placing fire torches on them before sending them into the ripen farms (15:3-5). 

Judges 15 does not reveal how Samson was able to accomplish this strange act. It is however not a prescriptive narrative. None of us can replicated what Samson did and neither is it needful or beneficial for Christian obedience!

Another tragedy followed. His father in law and Samson's wife were killed by the Philistine farmers who were enraged by the economic loss that they attributed to the betrayal by Samson's father in law.


THE FALL OF SAMSON

Samson was finally captured by the Philistines after he fell to Delilah's trickery (Judges 16). He revealed the secret behind his unique strength - his uncut hair. Samson died in the hands of the Philistines after enduring humiliation and pain. The Philistines gouged out his eyes and used him for sport (Judges 16:25-29).

Meanwhile, Samson's hair sprouted and grew and with that God's strength returned to him (Judges 16:22). Samson finally summoned his strength through a dying wish which God granted him. Judges 16:30 says "Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life." (NKJV).

MORAL LESSONS FROM SAMSON'S LIFE

1) Unbridled  or uncontrolled anger is dangerous! Elsewhere in Scripture, the Bible admonishes believers, saying "Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27, NKJV). We need to contain our anger even under great provocation. 

2) We should refrain from vengefulness. Samson acted in revenge because his wife was given to someone else. He caused more harm in the end. Romans 12:19 says "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord."

3) We should never misuse the gifts that God has bestowed upon us for selfish and ungodly purposes. Samson was highly gifted but the manner in which he exercised his gifts is not worth emulating. He crossed the red line. 

4) Never marry from among the unbelievers. God forbade his people from intermarrying with heathen Canaanites. Samson defied the wisdom of his godly parents and disobeyed God. Believers should not marry from among unbelievers. Scripture underscores our separation from the sinful world, saying "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God..." (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, NKJV). 

5) God will always accomplish His divine purposes even under the most unusual circumstances. No situation is beyond Him. He preserved the people of Israel during the reign of Samson and ultimately used him to destroy the Philistines. With God all things are possible. 

CONCLUSION

Few people would perhaps deny that God used Samson to ultimately fulfill His purposes in destroying Israel's enemies. This is alluded to in Judges 14:4. It is finally revealed and affirmed in Samson's death under the statement of Judges 16:30. We may not find a compelling reason to celebrate Samson's life in the context of his deplorable acts described in the passages of context of Judges 13-16. He simply failed God's moral test and for this, the Bible conveys a warning to God's people never to emulate him.

On the flip side, Samson's case is a depiction of our moral fallibility, our sinfulness which only Christ's shed blood could cleanse. We should however be sympathetic to Samson's cause in the concluding passage of Judges 15. God used Samson's death to destroy the Philistines. This is perhaps the reason to celebrate him in the end. Having walked the path of ruin, Samson became a tool at God's disposal by which the Philistine forty year siege over Israel was finally broken (ref. Judges 13:1).

This truth should therefore never escape the reader's mind.

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

Dealing with Tragedy - Lessons from David's Response in 1 Samuel 30:1-8

DEALING WITH TRAGEDY: LESSONS FROM 1 SAMUEL 30-1-8

By Ezekiel Kimosop

TEXT

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was [a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” (1 Samuel 30:1-8, NKJV). 

INTRODUCTION

The passage of 1 Samuel 30 picks up from the events reported in 1 Samuel 29 that terminate in 1 Samuel 31. David's offer to fight alongside the Philistines in the battle of Jezreel had been turned down by the Philistine commanders who feared that David may betray them to Saul. The Bible reader will notice that King Saul perished along with his three sons in the battle of Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-5). God preserved David from shedding the blood of Saul and his sons, one of whom was his covenant friend. God used Israel's enemies to execute His judgment against Saul. 

David and his band of 600 men returned to their Ziglag camp with heavy hearts, having missed an opportunity to showcase their military skills in fighting Saul, their sworn enemy. Little did they know that God had divinely permitted their withdrawal from battle for what awaited them at their camp! 
After their three days journey back to Ziglag, the men were in for a rude shock! 1 Samuel 30 relays the story of tragedy, devastation, and divine intervention rolled together. This is where we shall draw important lessons on how we should handle the tragedies or devastations of life.

It is instructive that no believer or Christian community is immune to the afflictions of this passing evil world. God's presence however hovers over His covenant people in all ages. The passage of 1 Samuel 30 reveals seven critical phases in David's response to his circumstances of tragedy.

STAGE 1: THE TRAGEDY

The first stage is the stark pain of tragedy and devastation. David and his men were rendered speechless when they found their camp reduced to ashes. There was not a single soul left who could explain what exactly took place or where the invading enemies had fled with their people. The Amalekites had taken away their wives and children together with all their possessions. This incident is captured in 1 Samuel 30:1-8.

This is how sudden tragedy can become. It often strikes when one is least prepared. One of the most profound tragedies recorded in Scripture is perhaps Job's experience. Job 1:13-22 reveals that Job, a faithful covenant saint, lost all his children and property in a single day of devastation after Satan was permitted by God to strike him. Worse even, Job suffered bodily affliction. He suffered leprosy and was forced to live in isolation from those whose company he badly needed at the time. His frustrated wife asked him to curse God and die! We shall be drawing theological parallels from Job's tragedy in this article. 

STAGE 2: THE OUTPOURING OF EMOTIONS

The immediate reaction by David's team to the devastation was an outpouring of grief and emotion. The men wept until they had no strength left (1 Samuel 30:4). They were faced with an existential apocalypse. Weeping is a healthy response to devastation and pain. In most African cultures, men are taught never to weep! They are required to demonstrate courage even in circumstances that human frailty could not withstand the agony of loss and despair. However, God gave us tears for this natural purpose and weep we should for ourselves and for those we love. 

Jesus Himself wept when He witnessed the pain and hopelessness at Lazarus' home (John 11:35). Jesus was expressing His humanity. The Bible exhorts that we should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

In Job's case, his emotional outpouring is recorded in Job 3. In the depth of his agony, Job regretted his existence and cursed his day of birth! He laments in Job 3:11-12 saying: 

“Why did I not die at birth?

Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

12 Why did the knees receive me?

Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?"

Job's three friends who came to visit him did not make things any better for him. They blamed him for his misfortunes, arguing that Job must have sinned against God (Job 3:4-5). Scripture however ultimately attests that Job did not sin against God in this context. This is not to suggest that he had attained moral perfection for no one can do so under the sun. Job faced his afflictions with the fortitude and wisdom that could only come from a man who had a close covenant walk with God. As Job engaged his friends, his emotions played out. He raised fundamental theological questions about his tragedy that was laced with residual divine mystery. God finally answered Job, not with articulate answers but with confounding theological questions that left him speechless! In Job 38-39, God reveals that His sovereignty was beyond human comprehension.

We may never comprehend why certain afflictions are permitted by God upon His saints. Someone would perhaps why evil things happen to godly people. Suffice it however that we allow the Scriptures to speak to us under those difficult circumstances. 

Job 40:3-5 says "Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am vile;

What shall I answer You?

I lay my hand over my mouth.

5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;

Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job finally admitted that he was no match for His creator. His theological prudence was nondescript before a deity before whom all men must bow in obeisance. He submitted Himself to God in silence. 

STAGE 3: THE BLAME GAME

Following their pain and anguish, David's men broke the team spirit and began to lay blame on their leader David. Some even sought to stone him to death in utter frustration! (1 Samuel 30:6). They were unable to reign in on their emotions. Their military command structure and team spirit were deeply tested at this point. We should guard our Christian brotherhood in the face of tragedy lest the bond of unity is inadvertently broken!

It is common for people in trouble to seek to lay blame where they believe it should lie - far from the confines of personal responsibility. This is scapegoating. Our solutions to problems should be handled with wisdom. If David was to blame as the group leader, where does that leave his loyal men who willingly accepted to travel to the Philistine territory with him? The entire team should take collectively responsibility for failing to provide adequate security arrangements at their camp during their absence.

Did they perhaps presume that their desert camp was secure for the period they would be away? Were there sentries who were overpowered by the Amalekites? Scripture is silent on the details!

These are just but a few of the many hard questions that perhaps rang through their minds as the painful picture of their ruined camp unfolded. Someone said leaders should have a thick skin because they will ultimately be the center of focus when things go awry! Their wisdom and fortitude must count at the hour of need.

Again, in Job's case, we learn about his moral fortitude in tragedy. He did not blame God for his afflictions. Despite the many questions that crossed his mind, Job was careful to submit to God under his difficult circumstances. His human limitations however played out until God's voice rung out. 

Job's brokenness before God is revealed in his repentance and restoration recorded in Job 42:1-6 which says: "Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak;

You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.” (NKJV). 

Job's discernment of God's incomprehensibility finally dawned on him. His revelation of God was considerably expanded through his discourse with God. He realized that he had offended the divinities by his presumptive attitude. It is wise to repent and seek forgiveness from God where we have sinned against God in dealing with our anguish and devastation.  

STAGE 4: THE RISE OF A LEADER -  DAVID'S REACTION

David exemplified mature leadership spiritual discernment during the Ziglag crisis. 1 Samuel 30:6 reveals that David, though heavily distressed by the loss of his wives and children, was deeply grieved by what his men were seeking to do. David's prudence and stature towered above the rest and through him, the needed leadership was found. Great leaders rise from the ashes of ruin and hopelessness and provide godly direction for people. God ultimately uses them to reshape the direction of things and offer practical solutions. Scripture says "Wisdom strengthens the wise, More than ten rulers of the city" (Ecclesiastes 7:19). 

To his credit and to the glory of God, David acted with profound wisdom! He sought refuge and comfort in the LORD! The Bible states that David strengthened himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). There can be no greater refuge in times of disaster than in the hands of God. A great leader discovers and cherishes God's leading during tragic moments of life and always leads his people towards God. Weak leaders lead people through blame games and witch-hunts and self preservation. They lead people further and further away from God.

What kind of leader are you?

David here offers us a glimpse of important lessons on crisis management under the hand of God. Solutions to our many problems only begin to unfold when we turn to God for answers. It is only God who has the answers to our life issues. No witchdoctor or self appointed diviner has access to the mind of God in our difficult times. God alone is the source of our eternal security.

Psalm 18:2 says "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

STAGE 5: SEEKING DIVINE LEADING

David sought wisdom and direction from God on the way forward following his tragedy. Despite his vast military experience, proven battlefield prowess, and the many victories for which he was decorated and celebrated, David rightly discerned that without the hand of God guiding him during his lowest moments, his efforts would be an exercise in futility. He turned to God in prayer and sought His divine leading. He asked God whether he should pursue the enemies and whether he would overtake them. This is where his dependence on God was most practically demonstrated. 

Do you seek God's leading during the darkest moments of life? 

Notice that the three day gap that stood between David's return from Jezreel and the fleeing Amalekite forces may have been strategically impossible to bridge. It was legitimate for David and his men to have feared for the worst. They may have thought that the enemy had probably decimated their captors. This was the worst case scenario. As we wrestle with the ashes of life, we should bear in mind that God alone can lead us out of the ruin that stands before us. 

STAGE 6: GOD'S RESPONSE

God graciously gave David the answer to his tragedy, having seen the sincerity of David’s heart before His presence. He directed David to pursue the enemy saying that he will overtake them and recover all! David would only succeed under God's leading. 

We need the discernment of God to appreciate what God is saying to us concerning our difficult circumstances of life. Until and unless God speaks, we remain helpless and without direction. Our strategies and actions should be informed by divine the wisdom that we can distill from the word of God and the leading of His Spirit. We need patience in the presence of God so that we may walk with confidence in confronting the many troubles of this life. God never called us into comfort and bliss. He however assures us of His presence comfort and leading in those difficult moments. 

David profoundly understood this divine truth. In Psalm 123:4, David proclaims: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

This scripture reminds us about God's awesome presence that surrounds the lives of His covenant people at all times including during the most horrifying circumstances of life. 

One famous church hymn writer Horatio Spafford wrote the famous hymn: "It is well....It is well with my soul..." Interestingly, this hymn was a tribute to one of the most tragic and devastating moments of his life. Mr. Spafford, an American real estate investor and church elder, lost his property through the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. His real estate fortune went up in smoke! Before he could recover from his investment loss, another tragedy visited him. He also lost all his children through a transatlantic shipwreck in 1873. His wife was sailing to France with his three daughters. Only his wife survived. By ordinary standards, this man would perhaps have been asking difficult questions about his relationship with God rather than praising God. The man however found refuge in God's immeasurable grace at his lowest moment and this explains his unparalleled courage under the dumbfounding distress. He threw himself into God's arms! God later restored him. 

As for David's case above, God miraculously provided vital intelligence details and direction using an abandoned Egyptian slave who was part of the raiding party (1 Samuel 30:11-15). The man had been left to die in the desert after he fell sick. This was miraculous in all proportions because such captives were usually eliminated by the enemy to rule out any possibility that they may be captured and would betray the enemy's cause. God permitted the Amalekites to abandon this sickly Egyptian slave for a divine purpose. When we emerge through harrowing circumstances of life and look back, we discover God's divine footprints through the people and events that stood along our recovery path! God can use strangers or unusual people to lift us out of the ashes! These are divine agents appointed by God under those circumstances. 

STAGE 7: DIVINE VICTORY/GOD'S PURPOSES SERVED

1 Samuel 30:16-20 records the glorious victory that God granted David against the Amalekites. It also mentions David's bountiful recovery. To the glory of God, none of their families were killed. They had simply been taken as war prisoners, perhaps with the intention of enslaving them. God graciously preserved David's people not just because David was faithful to God and served him with dedication but because God is exceedingly gracious and merciful. He also captured lots of resources that the Amalekites possessed. 

We need to appreciate that even when we walk faithfully before God, He may permit some afflictions to come our way to to test our faith. Some tragedies result in unpleasant outcomes even for God's people. However, we must remain steadfast in allowing God to have His way in those painful circumstances. We should never give up on God or question His sovereignty. 

All the great men and women of the Bible were tested under different sets of afflictions. Some even perished under their convictions but God later approved them as saints (Hebrews 11). We should therefore hold a healthy view of trials and afflictions to the glory of God. 

Psalm 34:19 says "Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all." (NKJV)

James 1:2-4 says "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (NKJV). 

In Job's case, we notice that God finally restored him. God affirmed Job's covenant faithfulness. He rebuked his three friends and asked them to take seven bulls and seven rams and present them to Job for their sacrificial atonement (42:7-8). This is evidence of Job's priesthood. In the end, God restored His servant Job. Job's restoration is recorded in Job 42:10-17. No matter what afflictions we suffer in this world, our hope in Christ Jesus will never fail. 

Paul faced his martyrdom with profound courage. His valedictorian confession in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 is deeply inspiring. He proclaims:  

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

CONCLUSION

This passage of 1 Samuel 30:1-8 has taught us vital lessons in dealing with tragedy or crises in our lives. David knew where the secret of his success lay. He always turned to God. God alone can restore us from the tragedies of life. He restored David, Esther, Mordecai, Daniel and his three friends and countless others. He restored Joseph in Egypt. He restored us from Adam's disobedience and fall that resulted in our separation from a holy and righteous God until Calvary. This is the greatest restoration that we can receive from God. 

Do you turn to God in your lowest moments or do you blame God or others for your misfortunes? What afflictions are you now undergoing and what prescriptions are you contemplating in response to them?

Let us always turn to the Lord for answers to the many afflictions affecting us, our families, our Christian communities; our society, and nation at large. God alone has the solutions.

More significantly, however, we should remain hidden in Christ so that we are shielded from the tragedy that awaits the wicked. Revelation 20:11-15 says:

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

There can be no greater tragedy. 

Is your life hidden with Christ in God? 

Is your name written in the Book of Life?


Shalom




© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020