192 - Who leads you in the way that you should go

Chareen's Thoughts

• I form the light and create darkness, I make peace [national well-being] and I create [physical] evil (calamity); I am the Lord, Who does all these things. Isaiah 45:7
• Isaiah declares that He is Lord of All.  He speaks about The Lord of Creation.
• He speaks about the deliverance from Babylon and the Judgement on Babylon.
• Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose, Isaiah 46:10

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go. Isaiah 48:17

May you be blessed as we remember that He is our Redeemer the Lord our God who teaches us and leads us in the way we should go.

Blessings 

60 - God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie

Balaam and the Ass
by James Tissot 1900

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Israelites continued their journey and camped in the plains of Moab. The people of Moab were frightened of them and so their king sends for Balaam to curse them so he can go to war and win.
• ... for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. Numbers 22:6
• The LORD appears to Balaam and insructs him not to curse Israel because they are a blessed nation and not to go with the officials of Moab.
• The king then bribes Balaam with the promise of honour and requests his presence and curse Israel. He said no way even if I was given a house hold full of silver I could not go.  But the Lord appears to him and says go.
• Interesting God tells Balaam to go to the king and then sends an Angel to confront him because He is not pleased with Balaam going and calls it an evil thing.  Twice he warns Balaam to only say what He tells him to say.
• The king meets with Balaam but Balaam warns him I can only say what God wants me to not what you want me to.
• Balaam requests 7 altars, 7 bulls and 7 rams. Balaam meets with the Lord who gives him a poem to tell the king that there is no curse.
  How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? Numbers 23:8
• Once again the king tries, he takes Balaam to another look out over Israel and sacrifices with 7 altars, 7 bulls and 7 rams  and God says no they are blessed.
  God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good? You see, I have received His command to bless Israel. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse or qualify it. Numbers 23:19-20 
• Balak takes Balaam yet to a third look out and sacrifices once again. So God used Balaam to pronounce His blessing over Israel from the heights surrounding their encampment.
• Balak then got angry with Balaam because he blessed and did not curse and Balaam says to him but I told you I can not curse whom God has not cursed.

Today I was reminded of just how great our God is. He is not a man He does NOT lie and what He has said He will do He WILL do. He has a good plan for me and And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 I know He says For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 and therefore I need to Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Blessings
Chareen

37 - The LORD a God Merciful and Gracious

The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin:

Chareen's Thoughts:

• Exodus 32:1-29 is all about the golden calf and how the people wanted something to worship because Moses had not reappeared from the mountain. 
• I have been reading a commentary on the golden calf by Rabbi Ken Spiro where I learned a lot about the story of the golden calf and it's implications to the Jewish nation. 
• In Exodus 32:26-29 we read how Moses asks Who is for the LORD ? and the levites stand with him and then go through the camp and kill those who were involved in the sinful act.  You see that Jew kills Jew. One of the moral lessons learned by the Jewish nation through the story of the golden calf is:  Judaism teaches you're either part of the problem or you're part of the solution, and that you have a legal obligation to be part of the solution. Being a by-stander is not an option. (Till today, the Bible is virtually the only moral/legal code in the world that demands that you actively do good as epitomized by the expression "...go in His ways." (Deut. 28:9) - Rabbi Ken Spiro
• Its at this point the Lord chooses to leave the people and let the angel lead because He is so angry.  He says to Moses: ... But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way. Exodus 33:3
• At this point the people remove their jewellery as a sign of repentance/mourning for their actions. Exodus 33:4 - 6
• Tent of Meeting was made and erected outside of the camp as a symbol of the Lord separating Himself from the people as a consequence of their sin. This is where Moses went to meet with the Lord. Exodus 33:7-11 Interestingly I note that Moses came and went but Joshua would not leave the inside of the tent (verse 11).  It also interested me that each time Moses went to the tent of meeting the people spent that time in worship (verse 10)
• Exodus 33:12-23 Moses interceded for the people and God says He will return and lead His people.
• Exodus 33:18 Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory.  What an amazing request of the God who made the heavens and the earth. Even more importantly the Lord grants His request. (verse 19 - 23)
• Exodus 34:1-28 Moses once again remains with the Lord for 40 days and the Lord sustains him.  The Lord renews his directions for worship and following Him.
• Exodus 25:1-7 The Sabbath rest for the land.  Interesting.  The Lord made the harvest of the sixth year 3 times the normal size so the people would have food for the sabbath year, the year they sowed up to the next harvest.
• The year of Jubilee !  Wow imagine living with this gracious law.  To be set free and celebrate! Exodus 25:8-24

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. Exodus 34:6-7
“For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:4-5 AMP

Blessings
Chareen

For Further Reading

• Golden Calf over at Wikipedia
• Only a tiny portion of Jews participate in worshiping the golden calf. So why blame the whole nation? by Rabbi Ken Spiro over at A Crash Course in Jewish History #12. ♥♥♥♥ highly recommend this article.
• I found this 5 minute teaching on what happened when the people made a idol. I can't find the second half but was encouraged just the same. 

37 - Moses came down from Mount Sinai

The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin

Kathleen's thoughts

Exodus 32 - 34 Leviticus 25

After all what Moses and Aaron went through to this point Aaron falls short and listens to the Israelites to make a foreign god. One would think by this time Aaron would have known better for he walked with Moses and heard the Lord speak.

Moses comes down from the Mount after speaking with God to find the Israelites not behaving in a Godly manner and long with it his brother doing the same. Moses loses his temper by throwing the tablets to the ground! Moses asks Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?"

Moses' pleas and God answers. Exodus 32:33 The Lord replied to Moses: "Who ever has sinned against Me I will erase from My book.

So we can see here that God records in the book of life, this I found interesting.

God speaks to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Exodus 33:11

Moses asks God to see His Glory... Exodus 33:18-23

The Moses said, "Please let me see Your glory.," He said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion"

But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live." The Lord said, "There is a place near Me, You are to stand on the rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back but My face will not be seen"

Then in Exodus 34:5 The Lord came down in a cloud stood with him there, and proclaim His name Yahweh. "Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed.

What He proclaimed is absolutely beautiful.

Yahweh - Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrong doing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers; wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

Moses goes back up the mountain taking with him 2 tablets that was commanded by God to bring so as to rewrite the 10 commandments.

Blessings.

11 - Job restored

Job restored to prosperity by Laurent de la Hyre

Job 42:10

After Job had prayed for his friends the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions.

 Job 42:16-17

Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. Then Job died, old and full of days.

 Chareen's Thoughts

About the Lord

• Job 37:5 God thunders marvelously with His voice
• Job 37:5 ... He does great things that we cannot comprehend. Isaiah 55:8 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.' This is the LORD'S declaration.I have really wrestled with wanting to understand God.  To know the why behind the happenings in my world, my struggles, my issues.  My mind knows these verses so well but my heart continues to strive to understand. This truth needs to penetrate to my heart and spirit.  I think this is key to me gaining a heart at peace.
• Job 37:6-7 ...His mighty torrential rains, serve as His signature to all mankind, so that all men may know His work. This is an interesting way to look at torrential rainfall.
• Job 37:10 Ice is formed by the breath of God, ...

Job 41 is an interesting description of Leviathan. Can you imagine walking the earth with this beautiful creature ?

Job 38 : 4 - 41 God Himself speaks of the things He does / did that we just accept as part of the world around us without giving half a thought as to who / what makes it happen.

At times reading Job felt like a chore but I am pleased that I took the time to think about it and read it slowly.  I saw things I had never noticed before.  Some days I dreaded reading more Job and interesting those are the days that I learned and grew the most.

Looking forward to tomorrow:  God Calls Abram !

Blessings my friends
Chareen

What others are saying about the book of Job:

• SparkNotes: Bible The Old Testement Job.
• The Biblical Book of Job – Is It Old or Real Old?
• Lessons from the book of Job from ShareFaith
• Crusade for World Revival  (CWR) on the book of Job (publisher of Cover to Cover)

10 - Framework for Righteous Living

Chareen's Thoughts

Job 31 Here Job was speaking about himself and his choices.  He speaks about the secret depths of his heart. I notice that the things we are encouraged to commit to at church in our walk with the Lord are the very things that Job made personal commitments to. As I read I also noticed that he framed his life around the Ten Commandments.

Jobs Framework for Righteous living.

• Job 31 : 1 A commitment to not look at another woman Exodus 20:14 (Ten Commandments) Matthew 5:28 Jesus says: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. As you read further on you Job elaborates upon this issue.
• Job 31:5 committed to honesty Exodus 20:16 Though shalt not bear false witness
• Job 31:15 He points out that God made everyone including the servants and that in itself is a reason to treat those working for you with respect. He listened to those in his service and did them justly.
• Job 31:16 - 21 Job is a man who cared not only in word but in action for the widow, orphan and poor. Jesus admonishes us in the New Testament to do these very things.  What is faith if there is no action - it's dead faith.
• Job31:24-28 He speaks about idolatry and the root of it been .... denying God above. Exodus 20:3-6 (1st Commandment)
• Job 31:30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.  Wow imagine being able to say I have not allowed my mouth to sin.  I struggle so much with my mouth it gets in the way so often.... James 3:1-11. James word on the tongue is so encouraging.
• Job 31:32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler.  Hebrews 13:2 We are encouraged to look after strangers. This is not an easy thing to do.

About God ...

• Job 33:14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. I have been guilty of this so often. I wonder where I would be in my journey of knowing Him if only I had taken notice and acted upon His voice.
• Job 34:10 ... It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.
• Job 34:11 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
• Job 34:19 God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor; for they are all the work of His hands. Sometimes when I look around me and see the wicked prosper or friends at church being blessed with what I desire then I have thrown childish tantrums and felt as though the Lord favours some more than others. I need to remember this verse that He has no favourites.
• Job 34:21 For His eyes watch over a man's ways and He observes all his steps.
• Job 36:5 Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one; it is so good to know that He despises no one.  This is often hard to remember when I look at those who are openly walking in sin. I am blessed to know that God does not have a low opinion of anyone.
• Job 36:26 Look, God is exalted beyond our knowledge; the number of His years cannot be counted Over the years I have wondered how old God is and my children have all asked me how old He is.  Never noticed this verse before ! Think about it the number of His years cannot be counted ! How great is Our God.

Matthew 5:11

"Blessed are you when they insult you 

and persecute you and 

falsely say every kind of evil against you 

because of Me."

Reading Job today has given me a deeper understanding of this verse in Matthew.  I wonder how many times we have judged a fellow Christian who in truth was not in sin but being tested as Job was tested ?

Blessings

Chareen

6 - More on Job

Chareen's Thoughts:

I can not imagine the anguish and despair that Job felt as he sat there. You can see his complete sense of hopelessness and despair.

I have often thought of the question that Job asked in Job 7:17 What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him ?

I discovered more about God:

• God is wise (Job 9:4)
• He is all powerful (Job 9:4)
• He preforms great and unsearchable things (Job 9:10)
• His care guards life (Job 10:12)
• He gives life. (Job 10:12)
• The depth of God is higher than the heavens (Job 11:7-8)
• His depth is longer than the earth and wider than the sea (Job 11:9)
• Wisdom and strength belong to God (Job 12:13)
• Counsel and understanding are His (Job 12:13)
• True wisdom and power belong to Him (Job 12:16)
• He is the one who reveals mysteries (Job 12:22)

 Blessings
Chareen

5 - A man of perfect Integrity and the search for loyal friends

Chareen's Thoughts: 

Integrity an interesting word. It is defined as: The entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness, Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive;   Imagine being known as having perfect integrity ?  This is the description of Job he was complete; not defective and of unimpaired character. He was the greatest man among all the people of the east compared to Nimrod who was known as mighty.

Job 1:6 Once again we read about the sons of God coming before God accept this time they are there with Satan. Some versions call them angels and some sons of God.  I find this an interresting statement. Sons of God: plural will need to do some research to understand this better.

Job 1:21 ... The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of the LORD. Wow what a response he praised the Lord.

You can see Job's uprightness that even when he is in the midst of the grief of losing his 10 children and all his wealth he still guided his wife. Job 2:10 he admonished her for her foolish speech and challenged her faith. The bible recognises that he did not sin in what he said.

Job 2 : 12 - 13 Jobs friends arrive and sit in silence with him for 7 days 24 hours around the clock. I wonder what they thought about.  They waited for Job to speak first.  Job was so ill they barely recognised him.

Job 4:3-4 We see that Job has the reputation of a man who strengthened and encouraged those who were weak. He was a teacher.

The character of God.

• Job 5: 8-27 verse 9 Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number
• I was encouraged that I may appeal and present my case to God.(verse 8) 
• I love how God is known for frustrating the schemes of the crafty and bringing an end to evil. (verse 12-14)
• I see that correction from God brings joy. (verse 17) 
• I read how my God strikes but brings healing, He is known as the redeemer from death.  (verse 18)
• I love how He is known for keeping people safe from slander. (verse 21) and even if destruction comes from slander we are instructed not to fear it.
• He protects from the thief (verse 24)

 Instruction to friends

A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty. Job 6:14 I am pleased I saw this verse today.  It has spoken to me about being a loyal friend and not a judgmental critical friend. It speaks to me of support. I  have much to think about. As I continued in Chapter 6 I read about Job's appeal to his friends to remember him and who he is as that has not changed. He appeals to them to be his friend and not look for sin and error or point fingers.  He is low he needs encouragement not judgement.  As a friend I need to be encouraging and lifting up my friends.

How do you support and encourage your friends ?  How loyal are you ?

Blessings

Chareen