Kenneth Winter's Blog, page 2

No More Manna

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Have you recently lost a job or seen a significant income stream dry up? Are you feeling discouraged or confused about what’s happening? Are you struggling to make sense of an unexpected change in your life? There’s a lesson to be learned from the Israelites’ experience soon after they crossed into the Promised Land.

Few Israelites were old enough to remember the days before they ate manna. For them, it had become a basic staple of their diet—like fresh ground peanut butter is for me today. The generation that perished in the wilderness had been the ones grumbling, “If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt… There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”(1) God responded to their complaints and miraculously provided them with manna.

One morning, nearly forty years earlier, someone noticed a thin, white layer of crust where the dew had evaporated.(2) They had never seen anything like it before. One neighbor pointed it out to another, and soon curiosity led them to investigate. Someone broke off a piece and picked it up. It didn’t feel like anything they had ever touched before. They smelled it—it didn’t resemble anything familiar. Then someone tasted it, and it was unlike anything they’d ever eaten. In unison, they asked Moses, “What is it?” Moses replied, “It is the food that God has promised you.” Every day thereafter (except on the Sabbath), God kept His promise and provided them with manna.

For almost forty years, it was a staple of their diet—like rice is in many parts of the world today. i imagine Hebrew mothers became quite creative in developing new recipes for using manna. It was likely gluten-free, which would make it quite popular today! It was always available fresh, every day of the year, so storage wasn’t an issue. The only time they needed to store it was for the Sabbath, and if they tried to keep it any other time, it would rot. God intended for the Israelites not to hoard it, and i imagine He made sure that there was nothing worse than rotten manna.

Now, on their fifth full day in the Promised Land on the west side of the Jordan, they had just celebrated their Passover meal the night before. That morning, the first person walked out from camp to gather their daily portion of manna—except it wasn’t there! Imagine the reaction. Gathering manna in the morning had become as routine for the Israelites as that first cup of coffee is for many of us. But now, they looked around, and it was nowhere to be found. It had once been everywhere; now it was gone. Imagine the confusion on their faces. Scripture doesn’t tell us that God announced the night before that He would stop providing manna. It simply says it no longer appeared. God allowed them to discover they no longer needed it. The King James Version of Joshua 5:12 reads, “And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land….”

i imagine a sense of panic began to set in, especially among those who struggled with change. Someone likely went to Joshua and the leaders to ask what had happened. i can imagine someone saying, “Remember how Moses had us place a sample of manna in the Ark? God instructed Aaron through Moses, ‘Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the LORD to preserve it for all future generations.’”(3) Aaron did as the LORD commanded, eventually placing it in the Ark of God, in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. God had told them that once they entered the Promised Land, they would no longer need manna, and He wanted them to have a reminder of His faithfulness.

From that day forward, they ate from the crops of the land. Initially, they consumed the grain left by the Canaanite farmers until it was exhausted, and then they ate from the harvest of their own planting.

There are four principles of God’s provision evident in the manna:

1.       God provides just what is needed for as long as it is needed—no longer.

2.    God provides through extraordinary means when ordinary means are unavailable. The manna, an extraordinary provision, and the grain, an ordinary one, were both from God; the difference was only in how He chose to meet the need.

3.    God provides based on need, not desire. The manna was given because it was needed, not because the people desired it.

4.    Our needs and, therefore, God’s provision may be very different throughout our wilderness journeys than they are in our land of promise. In His wisdom, God knows exactly what is required. This is what Jesus taught when He said, “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need…”(4)

So, what is the “manna” (the provision that you need God to provide through extraordinary means) that you require today? And what is the “grain” (the provision He enables you to have through your work and effort) that you need today? Paul wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”(5) God provides both manna and grain.

He will faithfully provide manna when needed, but not when grain is sufficient. Trust His provision—in both your wilderness and your land of promise. Don’t be surprised if His provision changes or looks different; trust Him to provide, regardless of how He chooses to do so. As Moses reminded the people just before he left them, “For forty years [GOD] led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out… He gave you food so you would know that He is the LORD your God.”(6)

He is the LORD our God! Trust Him to supply the manna when needed—or the grain when manna is no longer necessary. Either way, He will be faithful!

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You can read about God’s response to the Israelites in the fifth chapter of the Book of Joshua.

 

Portions of this post are excerpted from chapter 13 of my book, Possessing The Promise. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Exodus 16:3 (NLT)

(2)  Joshua 5:12 (NLT)

No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.

 

(3) Exodus 16:33-34 (NLT)

(4) Matthew 6:7-11 (NLT)

(5) Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

(6) Deuteronomy 29:5-6 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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The Staff That Blossoms

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There is a powerful example in the Book of Numbers that illustrates how we should live as followers of Christ. Ironically, this example arose from a dispute among God's chosen people. They were arguing over who should hold the highest position.(1) In some ways, this mirrors the debate among Jesus’ disciples about who would be the greatest in the kingdom.(2) In both cases, selfish ambition reared its head, just as it often does in our own lives.

God decided to put an end to the controversy about who should serve as a priest on behalf of the people. Despite the judgments of death God had already rendered earlier in the passage, He now used a life-giving sign to settle the issue once and for all.

God instructed Moses to collect the staff of each leader from the twelve ancestral tribes, along with Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi. These thirteen staffs were placed overnight in the tabernacle. God promised that the staff of the man He had chosen would sprout buds, signifying His selection.

All of these staffs had been branches from trees, but now they were dry, lifeless sticks, severed from their source. A dried, separated branch cannot blossom or bear fruit. Only a living branch, connected to the tree, can do that. To the naked eye, these staffs looked alike. Some may have been shorter or longer, thinner or thicker, or made from different types of wood, with slightly different colors. Yet, all were crafted into staffs for a singular purpose—serving their masters.

Now, think about where these staffs were placed—in the Tabernacle, the earthly dwelling place of Almighty God, before the Ark of the Covenant, where God’s physical demonstration of His covenant with His people was kept. These were His people under His first covenant—the Law. As followers of Jesus, we are now God’s people under a new covenant, sealed by the shed blood of His only Son. That night, as the staffs lay in the presence of God before His covenant, the one He had chosen began to sprout, blossom, and bear fruit. But to blossom, the staff had to be in the right place and chosen by God.

This is a picture of what Jesus taught His disciples in John 15.(3) We have all been prepared for service by our Master. We may differ in size, shape, and appearance, but each of us is uniquely made for our Master’s purpose. Jesus called us branches—just like those sticks. He also said we must be properly positioned—in the presence of God, at His feet. This is what Jesus meant when He said we must abide in Him—surrendered, submitted, and resting at His feet.

Jesus told us that God the Father, the Vinedresser, has chosen us. It is by His choice that we are grafted into the Vine. Before this, we were dead, dry sticks. But now, grafted into the Vine (Jesus), we have been made living branches through which God bears fruit—just as He did through Aaron’s staff. This fruit points unmistakably to the work of the Father.

No one that day worshipped the staff. They understood that the fruit was produced by God. If we abide in Him as His chosen branches, the fruit in our lives will be recognized as His—because dry sticks don’t blossom.

It’s also noteworthy that Aaron’s staff had sprouts, blossoms, and almonds all at once. This again confirmed God’s work, as even a living branch can typically produce only one thing at a time. But God enabled all stages of growth to occur simultaneously. This shows us that God can produce fruit in varying stages of development through a living branch connected to the Vine. He is able to nourish the fruit for each stage, ensuring it grows as He intends.

Later, God instructed Moses to place Aaron’s budding staff inside the Ark of the Covenant, where the fruit remained as a lasting reminder of His work. In the same way, the fruit that God produces through our lives will be lasting, for His glory.

As you journey through life, remember: the staff that blossoms is the staff chosen by God and rightly positioned before Him. Be that staff—the one that blossoms for His glory!

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You can read about God’s response to the Israelites in the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Numbers.

Portions of this post are excerpted from chapter 24 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Numbers 17:1-5, 8-10, 12-13 (NLT)

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take twelve wooden staffs, one from each of Israel's ancestral tribes, and inscribe each tribal leader's name on his staff. Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. Put these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark of the Covenant, where I meet with you. Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to this murmuring and complaining against you." …When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, blossomed, and produced almonds! When Moses brought all the staffs out from the LORD's presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. And the LORD said to Moses: "Place Aaron's staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant as a warning to rebels….” Then the people of Israel said to Moses, "We are as good as dead! We are ruined! Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the LORD dies. We are all doomed!"

(2)  Luke 22:24-27

(3)  John 15:1-17

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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Seen the Cloud? See the Glory!

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If you are a follower of Christ—if you are one of God’s children—He promises to go before you, not just some of the time, but all the time.(1) When we walk in His way and according to His will, He guarantees that every step we take is sure and secure—even when it doesn’t feel that way!(2) As long as we are walking in His way to the best of our understanding, we can trust that every situation and circumstance—whether He placed it there or not—will work for our ultimate good, His purpose, and His glory.(3)

Let’s consider an example of this truth. From the day the Israelites left Egypt, the Lord gave His people a constant reminder of His presence. He sent a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire by night, so they could travel without losing sight of His leading. In Exodus we read, “The LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire from the sight of the people.”(4) This visible reminder was with them for the entire month since their journey began.

Have you ever wished you could see that cloud or pillar of fire going before you? Or found yourself thinking, “It must have been easy for them—they just had to look up and see God’s guidance with their own eyes?”

When we think like that, we miss two important truths. First, the fact is that we actually have the greater advantage! The Israelites were not indwelt by the Spirit of God. They had to look up because He wasn’t inside them to guide them. But as followers of Christ, we have His Spirit within us at all times, and Jesus promised that He would guide us in everything.(5)

Second, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are to walk by faith, not by sight.(6) And Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(7) In other words, we now have the equivalent of that cloud and pillar of fire within us, guiding us by faith every step of the way.

The cloud and pillar had gone before the Israelites as they camped at Pi-hahiroth; it had moved behind them to protect them when the Egyptian army approached. It led them to Marah and Elim and continued to guide them through the Wilderness of Sin. Yet, despite this constant reminder of His presence, the people grumbled and complained. Even though God’s presence was visible and had never left them, they lost sight of Him.(8)

Their sins—rebelliousness, faithlessness, bitterness, and anger—blinded them to His presence, deafened them to His promises, and hardened them against the confidence of His purpose. And that is our reality as well. Sin blinds, deafens, hardens, and separates us from the God who loves us, indwells us, and surrounds us with His presence. Though He was right there with them, just as He is with us, they could no longer see Him for who He truly was.

So Moses, through Aaron, called them back, saying, “Come into His presence.” In essence, he was saying, “Turn away from yourselves; turn away from the things that have blinded and distracted you, and turn to the Lord.

“He has heard your complaints; now hear His reply! Have you convinced yourselves that you will perish or that this journey will end in disaster? You’ve looked at your circumstances and tried to determine your reality. But the truth is, you don’t know the reality of your situation until you’ve heard from God.”

Often, God doesn’t tell us what we want to hear, but He will always tell us what we need to hear. And when we hear His voice, He will require a response—a change, a step of obedience.

As Aaron spoke to the people that day, they turned from their tents—from themselves—and toward the desert, where the pillar of cloud stood before them. Then their eyes were opened, and they saw the awesome glory of the Lord within the cloud.

On our journeys, have we, too, become blinded to His presence? Have we allowed unconfessed sin to linger, turning our eyes from Him to focus on our circumstances? Or have our circumstances spiraled out of control because of that unconfessed sin?

He hasn’t left us. He hasn’t abandoned us. He has always been there! The solution is as simple for us as it was for the Israelites: we must turn our hearts back to Him. We must turn away from ourselves and toward Him. We must repent of our sin and look to Him again—and we will once more see His awesome glory leading us, even in the midst of the troubling circumstances which He promises to use for His glory!

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You can read about God’s response to the Israelites in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Exodus.

Portions of this post are excerpted from chapter 12 of my book, The Journey Begins. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

(2)  Psalm 37:23 (CEV)

(3)  Romans 8:28 (CEV)

(4)  Exodus 13:22 (NLT)

(5)  John 16:13 (CEV)

(6)  2 Corinthians 5:7 (CEV)

(7)  John 20:29 (ESV)

(8)  Exodus 16:9-10 (NLT)

Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say this to the entire community of Israel: 'Come into the LORD's presence, and hear his reply to your complaints.'" And as Aaron spoke to the people, they looked out toward the desert. Within the guiding cloud, they could see the awesome glory of the LORD.

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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And the Peace of God …

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(1)

For many years, the first of these two verses has been a familiar “go-to” for me. Paul encourages us not to be weighed down by anxiety, but rather to bring everything to God in prayer, trusting that He is greater than any situation we may face. Over time, i’ve found this to be sound advice and have endeavored not to let anxiety take hold.

However, i must admit that i have often overlooked the next verse about the peace of God. That may seem odd to you. You might wonder, if anxiety is surrendered to God, shouldn’t peace naturally replace it? For me, it was confidence and assurance—confidence that i could entrust anything and everything to God, and assurance that He is able to take whatever was intended for bad and turn it into good. My faith in God was unshakeable on that point—or so i thought.

That changed for me a few weeks ago when i was told that i might have metastatic lung cancer that has spread to other parts of my body. For those of you who have followed this blog over the past six years, you know that i rarely write about myself. Typically, I focus on the lessons learned by the Israelites as they followed God from Egypt to the Promised Land, or on the experiences of the disciples of Jesus and the early church, and what we can learn from all of them.

i’ll return to that focus in the weeks ahead, but today i feel compelled to share what God has been showing me about His promise of His peace. Why? Because i believe many of you, like me, may have handed your anxieties to God in prayer, yet find they keep returning—not because we doubt God’s ability, but because we haven’t allowed His peace to fully take over.

You see, Paul describes it as a peace that surpasses our understanding. And like many things, if we can’t fully comprehend it, we struggle to embrace or hold on to it. In my search for a deeper understanding of this truth, I began to envision that God not only guards our hearts and minds with His peace, but floods our hearts and minds with it.

When our hearts and minds are flooded with His peace, there is no room left—not even a sliver—for anxiety to return. Peace fills us to overflowing!

On August 30, 2004, just three weeks after my family and i moved to Richmond, the remnants of Hurricane Gaston stalled over our city and triggered fatal flash flooding that claimed multiple lives and caused millions of dollars in damage to the city’s historic Shockoe Bottom neighborhood.(2) Many of us who lived here that day remember it vividly. By God’s grace, i narrowly escaped being trapped in one of the flooded areas, due to an appointment that took me outside of the storm’s path just a few minutes prior.

But when i think about God’s peace flooding our hearts and minds, i don’t imagine a flood like that of August 30. Instead, i think of the flood in Noah’s time, which covered absolutely everything. Nothing could survive that flood that wasn’t in the ark. And in our case that ark is God’s peace. When His peace floods our hearts, there is no space left for doubt … or worry … or anxiety.

God has shown my wife and me that the flood of His peace can cover it all. We’re still early in our storm, but we’re trusting Him to keep His promise throughout it all. i have no doubt that God will be faithful. Please pray with us that we’ll continue to surrender everything to Him in prayer, and remain flooded with His peace. And i promise to do the same for you—whatever your storm or circumstance may be. Please let me know so we can encourage each other along the way.

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By the way, i do not plan to use this blog to post updates about my medical condition. If you would like to join with us in prayer and stay informed about our journey, you can do so by visiting our Caring Bridge page by clicking HERE.

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You can read God’s promise of peace in the fourth chapter of The Letter of Paul to the Philippians.

 

(1)  Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

(2)  As reported by CBS Channel 6, WTVR.com

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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He Goes Before Us

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Years ago, i heard someone say, “God is preparing you for what He is preparing for you.” This simple reminder underscores the truth that God is always at work, often in ways beyond our understanding. He is not limited by time, space, or location. Whether working in the heart of one person or many—whether they are across the street or around the world—God brings people, circumstances, and events together in His perfect timing to fulfill His divine purpose for His glory. Most often, we don’t realize it until we experience that “God-moment.”

This truth holds as much weight today as it did in the days we read about in the Book of Acts. It is worthy for us to look at those events because many, like this particular one, have had a ripple effect that has impacted each one of our lives.

About nine years had passed since the Holy Spirit came upon the believers in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. Saul, now a follower of Christ instead of a persecutor, had just recently left Jerusalem for Tarsus. Through Peter’s ministry, God had just raised Tabitha from the dead, and Peter was still about thirty miles away in the city of Joppa. The door of faith had already been opened to the Jews in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, with Peter to using the “keys of the Kingdom” to usher in the Holy Spirit to dwell among those groups. Now God was preparing to open the door to the Gentiles, starting in Caesarea through Peter, and soon to follow in Syria and Cilicia through Saul.(1)

God’s ways are certainly not our ways.(2) He accomplishes His purpose in His own way,(3) and He can work in multiple places at once. He is not confined by space or time.(4) That day in Joppa and Caesarea was no exception. While Peter was staying at Simon the tanner’s house in Joppa,(5) God was simultaneously preparing the hearts of Cornelius and his household in Caesarea.

At that time, most Roman soldiers stationed in Judea were local recruits, behaving more like mercenaries than professional soldiers. However, Centurion Cornelius led a contingent of one hundred elite soldiers trained in Rome. They were stationed in Caesarea, where Pilate and the Roman officials lived. Romans, for the most part, were polytheistic pagans, worshiping many gods.

Yet, Luke describes Cornelius as “God-fearing.” Though not a Jewish proselyte, Cornelius apparently prayed to Jehovah God and worshiped Him, albeit perhaps not exclusively. He likely had no formal teaching on how to pray, but he prayed as best he knew, with a sincere heart. As a Roman officer in an oppressive regime, it was unusual for him to give generously to the poor,  but Luke points out that he did so with great charity.

In many respects, Cornelius was a model of religious respectability. Outwardly he behaved better than many Christians today, but inwardly, he was unrepentant and lacked a true relationship with God. Ironically, as compared to the Jewish religious leaders of the day, he knew his religious acts would never be sufficient to save him. Many today believe their good works will earn them a place in heaven because they have not grasped the weight of their own sin or the saving power of God’s grace. Cornelius, on the other hand, recognized his need for salvation and was asking God to show him the way. By His grace, God chose to hear the prayer of Cornelius. He will always respond to the prayer of a sincere heart seeking Him.

Warren Wiersbe tells the story of John Wesley, who in many ways resembled Cornelius. “Wesley was a religious man, a church member, a minister and the son of a minister. He belonged to a religious club at Oxford, the purpose of which was the perfecting of the Christian life. He served as a missionary, but even as he preached to others, he had no assurance of his own salvation. On May 24, 1738, he reluctantly attended a small meeting in London where someone was reading aloud from Martin Luther’s writings on the Book of Romans. ‘About a quarter before nine,’ Wesley wrote in his personal journal, ‘while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.’”(6) At that moment, Wesley surrendered his life to Christ, trusting Him alone for salvation. He stepped from religious beliefs into a relationship with Christ. The result was a revival that swept countless souls into the Kingdom of God!

God sent one of His heavenly “soldiers”—an angel—to Cornelius, just as He did to Wesley. Cornelius immediately obeyed the command to send for Peter. Despite others possibly being closer to Caesarea, Peter was God’s man for this assignment. Philip may have already made his way back up the Mediterranean coast from Gaza. Saul had sailed out of Caesarea only a short time earlier, and God could have easily orchestrated a visit while Saul was still in the city. And yet, God’s plan involved Peter.

Remember, Peter “held” the “keys to the Kingdom”. The Father had ordained for him to be the one to open the door of faith to the Gentiles. But God had to work in Peter’s heart first, preparing him to step out of his comfort zone. It would have been less challenging for Saul, or Philip, but God’s work isn’t about our comfort—it’s about His calling. That’s why God does not, most often, call the equipped; rather, He equips the called.(7) He empowers us through His Spirit—the same Spirit who goes before us to make a way.

More than likely, most of you who are reading this post or listening to this episode would be considered Gentiles—just like me. i am certain that as you look back over your life, you will see spiritual markers where God divinely orchestrated events leading you to salvation through His grace. But it is important to remember that at that moment in Caesarea—and in Joppa—God was at work preparing the way for the door of faith to be opened for us. Cornelius’ obedience put in motion the means through which the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. It occurred through Cornelius’ obedience in sending for Peter, and that set in motion events that would open the door of faith to all Gentiles.  What may have seemed like a small act had a ripple effect that continues to touch lives today.

Yes, God is still at work preparing us for what He is preparing for us. No matter how small or large the step may seem, trust Him and take it. We cannot know the ripple effects it will have in the future … as He goes before us … until He returns.

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You can read about Cornelius’ obedience in the tenth chapter of the Book of Acts.

This post is adapted from chapter 29 of my book, Until He Returns. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Acts 10:1-8 (NLT)

In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

(2)  Isaiah 55:8

(3)  )  Isaiah 46:9-11

(4)  Psalm 139:7-12

(5)  Acts 9:43

(6)  Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 1, Page 445

(7)  Hebrews 13:21

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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Oneness

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Have you ever felt completely separated from God with pain, fear, and anxiety setting into your heart in a way you just couldn’t shake?

On the night before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus knew His disciples were about to face their greatest fears, pain, and anxiety. He wanted to prepare them. While gathered in the upper room, we read the words of comfort He spoke to them, as recorded in the Gospel of John.(1)

It’s important to remember that the focus of John’s Gospel is to help us see, discover and know Jesus as the Son of the Living God. John wanted us to behold Jesus in the fullness of His glory as God incarnate. Jesus’ desire for His apostles—and for us—is that we would see the glory of the Father and come to know the Father through Him. Before He spoke these words of comfort,  Jesus had told the disciples that He was going to His Father’s house to make a way for them—and us—to join Him. He seized that moment to remind them that if they truly knew Him, they knew the Father as well.

 Throughout the Gospels, the apostle Philip brought people to Jesus. As soon as Jesus called him,(2) Philip immediately went to find Nathanael and brought him to the Lord.(3) And from that moment on, he continued to introduce people to Jesus, including the Greek pilgrims who sought Him earlier that week.(4) So it was only natural that Philip, with a heartfelt desire to see the Father, said to Jesus, “Lord, you don’t need to take us to Him. We know  that You are His Son. Simply show Him to us, so we can get a glimpse of Him like Moses did, and we will be satisfied.”(5) Just like the Greeks had said to him, “We would see Jesus,(6) he is now saying to Jesus, “We would see the Father!” And just like the Greeks knew that Philip could help them to see Jesus, Philip knew that Jesus was able to show him and the others the Father.

Can you think of a greater desire than “we would see the Father”? It’s a desire that surpasses any  earthly goal we may have—the yearning to behold the glory of God. i don’t believe Jesus responded to him with frustration. Instead, He patiently helped Philip—and the others in the room—understand that in seeing Jesus, they had seen the Father.

Oneness can be defined as “the quality or state or fact of being one: such as singleness, integrity, wholeness, harmony, sameness, identity, unity and union.”(7) Jesus wanted Philip, all the disciples–and all of us—to know that He and the Father are One, in every sense of the word. They are One in appearance, as Jesus said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” “Everything that I am, and everything that I do is a reflection of the Father.”(8)

“The words I speak are not My own,”(9) Jesus said. The Father and the Son can never contradict one another. The Son speaks only the words of the Father—words that are enduring, true, honest,  and without error. The Word of the Father became flesh in the person of His Son(10) and that  Word is unfailing love and faithfulness. If we’ve heard the Son, we’ve heard the Father.

Jesus also said, “My Father, who lives in Me, does His work through Me.”(11) Every miracle and every action—including Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection—was in accordance with the Father’s plan and the Father’s timetable. Each act was a work of the Father through the Son, and of the Son in the Father, for they are one in appearance, in word, and in work.

But Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on to say, “Anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works.”(12) Those who believe in the Son are one with Him. When Jesus says, “belief,” He doesn’t mean mere mental assent. He’s not simply describing some intellectual exercise. Rather, He is talking about a belief that involves our entire being—heart, soul and mind—a complete surrender of our life to Him.  As the apostle Paul wrote:

 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (13) 

We are one with Him in His work. We no longer focus on our own work, but on joining Him in His, responding to His activity and invitation. In doing so, we witness “even greater works,”(14) because it is the work of His Holy Spirit in and through us. Paul also writes:

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”(15)

We are also one with Him In bringing glory to the Father through prayer. Jesus said, “You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!”(16)

Even if we don’t know what to pray, His Holy Spirit within us will guide us in prayer:

“The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”(17 

We are united with Him in prayer, as His Holy Spirit works within us and the Son of God intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father

Lastly, we are one with Him in love through obedience. Jesus said, “If you love Me, obey My commandments.”(18) He also told His disciples that the world would know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.(19) Obedience is not what makes us His; rather, we obey because we are His. Our obedience is an expression of love, not an expression of law. It’s a reminder that our bond with Jesus is one of love, not obligation. We are one with Him through obedience, which is our response to the love He first showed us—a love that led Him to the cross.

 That night in the upper room, Jesus wanted His disciples to fully understand His oneness with the Father, and their oneness with Him. Today, as we take up the cross and follow Him, He wants us to fully understand that we are one with Him—and with one another—through Him.

* * * * *

You can read about Jesus’ assurance to His disciples in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John.

 

This post is taken from chapter 36 of my book, Taking Up The Cross. For more information about the book, cclick here.

 

(1)  John 14:7-15 (NLT)

“If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!”Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do. I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it! If you love Me, obey My commandments.”

 

(2)  John 1:43

(3)  John 1:45

(4)  John 12:20-22

(5)  John 14:8 (NLT)

(6)  John 12:21 (NLT)

(7)  “oneness.” Meriam-Webster.com. 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oneness  (11 Sep 2024)

(8)  John 14:10(NLT)

(9)  John 14:10 (NLT)

(10) John 1:14

(11) John 14:10 (NLT)

(12) John 14:12 (NLT)

(13) Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

(14) John 14:12 (NLT)

(15) Romans 8:11 (NLT)

(16) John 14:13 (NLT)

(17) Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)

(18) John 14:13 (NLT)

(19) John 13:35 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by JesusPixs on Lightstock

Which is the Greater Tragedy?

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* * * * *

Our news feeds are constantly filled with reports of death and destruction, whether caused by accidents, natural disasters, or inhumane acts of terror committed by individuals, gangs, organizations, or governments. No city, nation, or part of the world is exempt. We can trace the existence of tragedy all the way back to the murder of Abel at the hand of his brother Cain, and follow its heinous path through history to the present day.

The time of Roman rule when Jesus walked the earth was no exception. Though Scripture does not provide details, it does tell us that Pontius Pilate, the governing prefect of the region, ordered the killing of some Galileans as they were offering sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem.(1)

An incident recorded in Jewish history, just before Jesus began His ministry, may offer some context for Pilate’s action. Pilate had decided to build an aqueduct from the Pools of Solomon to the city of Jerusalem. In order to finance the project, he demanded money from the temple treasury. Outraged that funds dedicated to God would be used for such a purpose, the Jewish people sent a delegation to Pilate to demand the money back. In response, Pilate sent soldiers disguised as common people into the crowd, and at his signal, they killed those who had come to demand the money. Whatever the specific cause, Pilate used his power in tragic ways to keep the people of Israel in line as subjects of Rome, with these Galileans being his latest victims.

Jesus also spoke of another incident where eighteen people died when a tower in Siloam collapsed. These two incidents led the crowd to ask Jesus what these victims had done to deserve such a fate. In other words, they were asking, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Why does tragedy occur under the hand of a cruel ruler, or through accidents? Were these people worse sinners? Was God meting out His punishment on them?

There are three factors at play in the crowd’s question to Jesus. First, it’s important to note that the religious leaders were looking for ways to trap Jesus. What better way than to have Him make a disparaging remark about the Roman prefect? Such a comment would quickly be reported back to Pilate, potentially leading to harsh repercussions for Jesus.

The second factor is that the people’s view of God the Father had been grossly distorted by a religious system focused on rules and laws. God had been reduced to a deity who demanded obedience and dispensed punishment when it wasn’t given. This distorted view was modeled before their eyes by religious leaders who lacked compassion and holiness, instead imposing  their own version of cruel punishment and judgement. Sadly, this distorted view of God persists today among too many.

The third factor stems from the second: if the people saw God primarily as a judge who dispensed divine punishment, then it made sense for them to assume that that those who suffered must be “worse sinners.”  

Their belief was that human tragedy—whether through violence or natural disaster or even disease—was divine punishment. Anyone who experienced such tragedy was assumed to be guilty of some great sin and therefore deserved the wrath of a vengeful God. This is the same reasoning that Job’s “friends” used against him, and it’s a mindset that still exists today,  along with the false belief that God is uncaring or indifferent to human suffering.

Jesus turned their questions and misconceptions into an opportunity to call for their repentance. He emphasized that the real tragedy wasn’t physical death, regardless of the cause, but rather eternal separation from God due to sin. Jesus warned them that unless they repented of their sins and turned to God for forgiveness, they too would perish eternally. The question wasn’t, “Why did these people die?” but rather, “What must you do to have eternal life?”

To illustrate His point, Jesus told the parable of a barren fig tree. The gardener in the parable asked that the barren tree be given more time, hoping it would bear fruit, reminding us that the Father is gracious and patient with us. He has made the way for each of us to repent, follow Him, and bear fruit.(2) Though He has every right to judge us for our sins now, in His mercy, He gives us time to repent and follow Him. However, we cannot presume upon His kindness and long-suffering, because one day, the day of judgment will come. Not one of us knows when our last day on this side of eternity will be, but one day it will come.

Jesus didn’t provide a conclusion to the parable. Did the tree bear fruit? Was it spared or cut down? We have no way to know about the tree. But we can answer that question for our own lives.

In a world where disasters and tragedies seem constant, it can be overwhelming to hear the constant flow of those news reports. But the reality is, unless Jesus returns first, the probability of each of us dying is certain. The greatest tragedy would be if, when that day comes, we have not repented of our sins and received the free gift of eternal life through Jesus.

That’s the question each of us must answer. If you haven’t yet repented of your sin, turned to Christ for forgiveness, and placed your faith and trust in Him, you can do so right now. And if you have, remember that many others still need to hear the Good News. As the gardener in Jesus’ parable said to the owner, “If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.” Let’s not allow our family members, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone else who hasn’t yet heard the Good News of Jesus to be cut down. Because that would be the greater tragedy!

* * * * *

You can read about this teaching from Jesus in the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

This post is taken from chapter 51 of my book, Walking With The Master. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Luke 13:1-9 (NLT)

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

 

(2)  Matthew 3:7-10

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by FootageFoundHere on Lightstock

Faithful to the Finish

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* * * * *

Despite having witnessed God repeatedly overcome countless obstacles on their behalf, the Israelites were overwhelmed and discouraged by the size of the force now standing before them. Their fear eroded their confidence in God’s faithfulness. i don’t know about you, but i fear i am often guilty of allowing my fear to do the same thing.

The kings of the northern cities had seen how the God of the Israelites defeated other kings in Canaan. They had witnessed the destruction of Jericho and Ai after those kings had foolishly tried to resist the Israelites alone. They saw the five southern kings unite, only to be defeated. But instead of seeking peace, surrendering to the Israelites, and submitting to their God, the northern kings hardened their hearts. Driven by selfish ambition and pride, they chose to fight the Israelites.(1) As Joshua led the Israelites north, the northern kings decided that their only chance of survival was to unite all the armies of the north.

You have probably heard the saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” i’m not sure that’s always true, but it certainly was in this case. The northern Canaanite tribes were far from being friends, but their fear of the God of Israel brought them together. All the kings came out to fight, choosing the site of the battle and positioning themselves with the advantage of the high ground.

As they assembled near Merom, they “formed a vast horde. And with all their horses and chariots, they covered the landscape like the sand on the seashore.”(2) It’s estimated that this combined northern Canaanite army consisted of 300,000 foot soldiers, 10,000 on horseback, and 20,000 chariots. Militarily the Canaanites held a great advantage over the Israelites. If this were a movie, this would be the climactic battle scene, with the protagonists appearing hopelessly outmatched.

From a human perspective, the situation looked bleak for the Israelites. Yes, we know that God was with them, but we also have the benefit of hindsight. Even for a man of courage and faith like Joshua, the situation seemed dire. There’s a reason that the LORD said to him, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel….”(3) Joshua needed that encouragement!

Let’s pause for a moment. You might be in a situation right now where your circumstances seem bleak, and you feel overwhelmed and discouraged. (That’s exactly how Joshua felt—and he was responsible for the lives of two million people under his leadership.) Don’t beat yourself up if you’re feeling discouraged. It doesn’t make you less of a Christian, or less of a leader.

The key is what we do with that discouragement. We can either allow it to defeat us or bring it to the Lord and hand it over to Him. Allow Him to give you a fresh word of encouragement. The Lord repeatedly told Joshua to have courage and not be discouraged, as recorded in the latter portion of Deuteronomy and the first few chapters of Joshua.(4)

Despite having heard those words from God before, and seeing God deliver the Israelites by His miraculous hand, Joshua still needed to hear them again. And so do we! Let the LORD say to you, “Do not be afraid.” “‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”(5) His arm has not grown weak!

Keep in mind, the circumstances did not immediately change when God told Joshua not to be afraid, and more than likely, neither will ours. They might not change tomorrow like they did for Joshua and the Israelites. But trust Him at His word… in His time… in His way. And by the way, write His word down and read it over and over again. Recite it, rehearse it, remember it… and hold onto it… until you see it come to fruition!

i think it’s worth noting the progression of the opposition the Israelites encountered in Canaan. First, there was Jericho, where there was no direct attack from the enemy, just those towering walls. Then came Ai, a small city—but although they were aggressive, they were greatly outmatched by the Israelites. Next, the five kings of the south—a larger force, but again, handily defeated by the LORD. And finally, this vast horde. i’m grateful that our LORD often allows us to grow in our trust and faith in Him through similar progressions. By His grace, He usually doesn’t start us out facing “the horde.” But i’m also grateful that if He chooses to do so, He promises to give us grace that is sufficient.

Lastly, the Israelites were faithful to leave nothing undone. Joshua led them to follow the LORD’s instruction completely, sparing no detail. A dear friend of mine used to say, “I must clean my plate before I can expect the LORD to give me anything else. I can’t leave even the crumbs.” He knew that before the LORD gave him his next assignment, he needed to be faithful to complete every detail of his current one.

Too often in our Christian walk, we are content to just get by with the minimum—often leaving the crumbs and sometimes even “large chunks” undone. Yet somehow, we still expect God to bless us to the maximum. There’s no question that we can’t outgive God, any more than we can earn His blessing. That’s why it’s called “grace.” But too often, i fear, we use “grace” as our excuse to be slackers and disobedient to His commands.

Reading through the accounts of the Old Testament kings, we often read that a king did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but he didn’t do everything the LORD had instructed him to do.(6) When we do the same, we miss out on the fullness of the blessing God desires to accomplish in and through our lives. In essence, He has established His best (His perfect will), but by our choice and lack of obedience, we settle for less than His best (His permissive will).

At Merom, the Israelites left nothing undone. They experienced victory and the fullness of God’s blessing by His grace.

May God find us faithful to face the obstacles ahead, fully confident in Him and His promise to give us victory. And may He find us faithful to “clean our plates,” leaving nothing undone.

* * * * *

You can read about the encounter between the Israelites and the five kings of northern Canaan in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Joshua.

This post is taken from chapter 26 of my book, Possessing The Promise. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Joshua 11:1-15 (NLT)

All these kings came out to fight. Their combined armies formed a vast horde. And with all their horses and chariots, they covered the landscape like the sand on the seashore. The kings joined forces and established their camp around the water near Merom to fight against Israel. Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel…. As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua. And Joshua did as he was told, carefully obeying all the commands that the LORD had given to Moses.

(2)  Joshua 11:4 (NLT)

(3)  Joshua 11:6 (NLT)

(4)  Deuteronomy 31:7; Deuteronomy 31:23; Joshua 1:6; Joshua 1:9; Joshua 1:18; Joshua 8:1 (and that’s to list just a few!)

(5)  Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJ)

(6)  See 2 Kings 14:3 for just one example.

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Bobby Brett on Lightstock

A Lesson in Unbelief

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* * * * *

They were God’s people. They were the people whom He had delivered from the bondage of Egypt so that through them, He might reveal His Name and glory to the nations. These were the people with whom God had made the covenant: “If you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to Me. And you will be to Me a kingdom of priests, My holy nation.”(1)

Yet, time and again since leaving Egypt, the people had forgotten, doubted, or outright rejected God’s promise. Now, standing on the edge of the land God had promised them, they had heard the report that it was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey—everything God had said it would be.(2)  He had led them all the way; the end of their journey was in sight.

God had defeated their enemies, provided for their every need, repeated His promise, revealed His presence, and redeemed His people. And now, on the eve of what could have been the greatest day of their lives, and their history as a nation—the day they were to enter God’s Promised Land—they chose to reject Him and refused to enter.

By rejecting God in disbelief the people were turning their backs on Him, positioning their faces away from His promise. It wasn’t God who turned them back to the wilderness; it was they themselves; it was their unbelief. Those who despise the promise of God will be kept from it. Yet, in His faithfulness, God preserved His promise for their children.

God had set their faces toward the Promised Land. Every step in the wilderness had brought them closer to this place and this day, preparing them for what lay ahead. But now, as they turned their backs on God, their faces were set back toward the wilderness. Instead of being a place of preparation, the wilderness would now be a place of winnowing. And the process of winnowing would come from their very own words. Since they had placed their trust in the testimony of the ten men who brought a negative report (see last week’s post), they would now wander in the wilderness for forty years—one year for each day the twelve men had explored the land. Instead of inheriting the Promised Land, this entire generation, save only Joshua and Caleb (the two men who presented a faithful report), would be buried in the wilderness.

Before we draw the conclusion that God uses the wilderness in our lives as a punishment, let’s revisit its purpose. God uses the wilderness to humble us, to prove us, and to reveal what is in our hearts. It is a time of preparation and refinement. He also uses it to display His provision and power, working in and through our lives throughout the journey. The wilderness is a place where God gives us a greater hunger and thirst for Him and for His desires.  And in His perfect timing, He will bring us out of the wilderness and into His promised land.

We will step from the trials of the wilderness into the rest and reward of His promise. It is hard to fathom that, at this point, the Israelites were longing for the slavery of Egypt or the trials of the wilderness over the fruit of God’s Promised Land. But instead of stepping forward by faith, they turned back out of fear and rejected God. The wilderness they were about to re-enter would become a place of death and desolation by their own design for the generation that rejected God’s promise due to unbelief.

How often have we chosen to turn our backs on God and our faces toward the wilderness? How often have we, in fear, rejected God’s promises and His Person, choosing to live out our lives in restless wanderings through the wilderness? We’ve rejected the unseen promised blessings of God and, out of disobedience, turned to the trials and difficulties of the wilderness because we doubted His promise—when all the while, He was right there waiting for us to enter into His promise.

Let us be forewarned—there will come a point when our rejection of God, our turning our backs on Him, will prompt Him to turn us back into the wilderness. His promise, having been rejected, will now be beyond our grasp, and we, too, will be destined to live out the remainder of our lives in the wilderness.

Fellow sojourners, heed this important lesson from the wilderness. Keep your face turned toward the God who has led you to where you are. Remember—the same God who has led you this far, will lead you all the way!

* * * * *

You can read about the result of the Israelites’ faithless disobedience in the fourteenth chapter of the Book of Numbers.

This post is taken from chapter 20 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Exodus 19:5-6 (NLT)

(2)  Numbers 14:1-3, 11, 21-23, 25 (NLT)

Then all the people began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron. "We wish we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!" they wailed. "Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and little ones will be carried off as slaves! Let's get out of here and return to Egypt!" And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people reject me? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the LORD's glory, not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they tested me by refusing to listen. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will enter it. Now turn around and don't go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea."

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved. 

Photo by Daniel Wray on Lightstock

When Strength Becomes a Stumbling Block

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* * * * *

During my years as an associate pastor, i was blessed to serve alongside many gifted servants of God. i witnessed how the Lord uniquely prepared each individual for their respective assignments and called them to their positions of service at just the right time. i saw the remarkable way their complementary strengths and gifts came together under God’s leadership.

However, there is a potential weakness among even the most outstanding members that must be safeguarded against. An exceptionally talented group may be tempted to rely on their own strengths and abilities, attempting to do God’s work in their own way. This group might confidently advance based on human wisdom while neglecting to seek the Lord.

As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, the Lord instructed Moses to assemble a group of twelve men—each a leader from one of the twelve ancestral tribes.(1) These men were highly respected and trusted by their peers. In those days, it was common for a person’s name to be reflective of their character, so we can learn much about them by examining the meanings of their names. Let’s take a closer look at this who’s-who of Israelite society whom Moses selected.

At the top of the list was Shammua, son of Zaccur, representing the tribe of Reuben. His name indicates that his achievements and distinguishing qualities were celebrated not only within the tribe of Reuben but among all the Israelites. Within a population close to two million people, Shammua was widely admired, respected and renowned.

Shaphat, son of Hori, represented the tribe of Simeon. The tribes of Reuben and Simeon often worked, camped and traveled together. Shaphat’s name implies that he was recognized among the tribes for his sound judgment and fairness in deliberations. He was respected for his wisdom and discernment.

The tribe of Judah, the leader of the twelve tribes during their wilderness journey, was represented by Caleb, son of Jephunneh. Caleb was known for his courage, faithfulness, and confidence in God. He was a man who looked at his circumstances in light of God’s promises rather than the other way around.

Igal, son of Joseph, represented the tribe of Issachar. This tribe had a knack for being politically astute before it became fashionable and for forming savvy political alliances. Igal’s name implies that he had been redeemed from enslavement in Egypt before the exodus. Whether through political connections or wealth, Igal had not lived the life of a slave in Egypt, yet he was not distrusted for this distinction by the tribe. Instead, he was respected and seen as a leader.

Hoshea, son of Nun, whom Moses renamed Joshua, represented the tribe of Ephraim. Hoshea means “salvation,” and Joshua means “the Lord is salvation.” Joshua’s name change reflects a life surrendered and submitted to God. As seen throughout the early books of the Old Testament, Joshua had a heart to seek God and a deep faith in His Person, power and purpose.

The tribe of Benjamin was represented by Palti, son of Raphu. Palti’s name reflects that he was a fearless man who walked with boldness and confidence. The men of his tribe respected Palti, though some may have admitted that they also feared him.

Gaddiel, son of Sodi, represented the tribe of Zebulun. God had conspicuously blessed Gaddiel, possibly in wealth and possessions or, perhaps, in business acumen. Gaddiel apparently had the ability to turn a challenging situation into an opportunity.

Gaddi, son of Susi, wasn’t as blessed as Gaddiel, but he was considered a fortunate man. Representing the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi had also experienced the blessings of God in a conspicuous way, bringing him to the forefront of leadership in his tribe.

The tribe of Dan was represented by Ammiel, son of Gemalli. Ammiel, a son of wealth and influence, may have been one of the more ostentatious and pretentious of the group.

Sethur, son of Michael, and Nahbi, son of Vophsi, representing the tribes of Asher and Naphtali respectively, were apparently both the strong, silent type. In contrast to Ammiel; they commanded respect through their humility and lack of pretense.

Finally, the tribe of Gad was represented by Geuel, son of Maki. The tribe of Gad often walked in the shadow of the Reubenites and the Simeonites, and Geuel walked in the shadow of Shammua and Shaphat. However, his name means “the majesty of God,” and his life reflected the blessings of God’s majestic hand. Although he would not emerge as a leader among the twelve, he would not be intimidated by them either.

Here we have the commission of explorers—an impressive and diverse group. Each member had strengths and weaknesses, but their different qualities would complement one another as they embarked on their mission to explore the land of milk and honey that God has promised the Israelites.

They would be the first to see the fruit of the promises of God. What everyone, up to this point, had visualized by faith, they would now see with their own eyes. Imagine the honor to be chosen, the privilege of going to see, and the responsibility of being commissioned and sent. As they went, they needed to pray that they would not be distracted by their own abilities or wisdom; they were on God’s mission, not their own. With the talent this group had, it would be easy to rely on their own understanding.

You and i have the benefit of knowing how it all turned out. Regrettably, when they returned from spying out the land, ten of the men allowed their natural abilities to shape their recommendation, bringing a report based on their own understanding. Only two of the men followed the leading of the Spirit of God by faith.

Each of us is on a journey ordained by God, through which He intends to fulfill His purpose. The question is: Will we proceed according to our own strength and ability, or will we lean on Him? As a wise man once said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.”(3)

* * * * *

You can read about the account of the twelve Israelite leaders in the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Numbers.

This post is taken from chapter 16 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

 

(1)  Numbers 13:1-3 (NLT)

The LORD now said to Moses, "Send men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to Israel. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes." So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.

(2)  Numbers 13:25-33

(3)  Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

 

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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