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A heart for God…. (devo reflection)

Esther 2:1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her.

Going back to the fact that God is not mentioned by name in this narrative, I find it fascinating that, more so than any other chapter thus far, as I read this morning, verses about God readily popped into my head. As I was reading about Xerxes’ appalling attitude towards his wife, I thought of Gen 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” This certainly gels with what I know of the book of Esther.

Esther 2:2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.”

And again, as I wrestled with this archaic beauty pageant, solely for the king’s gratification, I thought of 1 Samuel 16:7: But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” While Esther was clearly pleasing in outward appearance, she also has a heart for God. 

Esther 2:3 “Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.”

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder, the certainty, that You are with us, always, working for our good and Your glory, even if we can’t perceive Your presence or Your plan. Thank You that You can see past outward appearance and into our hearts. Thank You that You can take even things meant for evil and use them for good. Draw us closer. Amen.

Esther 2:4 “Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king and he followed it.

Have a blessed day.

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Abundance instead of a lack…. (devo reflection)

2 Chron 31:8-9 When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed His people Israel. Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps….

My anger and frustration, my impotent fury at the present situation, my utter misery at my current attitude—all these things were going through my head as I read this chapter. I also thought about Gen 12:12 “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.” I’m definitely not blessing anyone with my current attitude. 

2 Chron 31:10 …and Azariah the chief priest…answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed His people, and this great amount is left over.”

I also thought about those most impacted by my current attitude, those I am around the most—my family and my students. I’m not being very faithful with shining His light. I’m definitely spewing. And then I thought about Hezekiah’s command to give, about how that could have been received and how it was received, about how the people’s giving led to an abundance instead of a lack. All of these things were swirling around as I read today’s scripture.

2 Chron 31:20 This is what Hezekiah  did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that my current attitude is hurting myself and those I love and care about. Nothing good comes from it. It is not uplifting; it points no one to You. Show me positive ways I can affect this negative situation, Lord. Help me to uplift those I come in contact with instead of dragging them down. Draw me closer. Amen.

2 Chron 31:21 In everything that he undertook in service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

Have a blessed day.

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Off the beaten path…. (devo reflection)

Gen 21:20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness….
Our family returned last night from a three day hiking and camping trip on the Appalachian Trail. I considered writing two reflections before leaving and putting them up on the website (bethduncan.net), but as I tried to read the next chapter of 2 Samuel Sunday evening, I found I couldn’t feel God’s Spirit with me in the words, so I decided to take a two day break from writing reflections and focus on reconnecting with God in a completely different way by being fully present in our trip and looking for Him along the way.
Deut 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Our God is so faithful, and I found Him everywhere I looked. From the vibrant wildlife (a bright orange Red Eft) and plant life (verdant green ferns, gorgeous wildflowers in reds, purples, yellows, and whites) to a small youth group from Ohio the same age as our boys to the encouragement we were able to give each other along the way to the weather (clouds mean less searing heat and less sunburn), God was with us every step of the way. 
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day. Thank You for Your presence and steadfastness, for being with us if we will only look to see You. Thank You for the ability to connect with You in a different, very powerful way. Help me not to be afraid to step out of routine connections and seek You and find You off the beaten path. You are with me always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Luke 11:9 “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Have a blessed day.

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Use everything in my life for Your glory…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 1:4 …“The men fled from battle….Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
Saul and Jonathan were killed in the battle with the Philistines, the same battle that David was eager to fight in to prove his loyalty to the Philistines, the same battle the God barred him from fighting, which led a dejected David back to Ziklag, which led him to avenge the loss of property and kidnapping of persons against the Amalekite’s, which all, somehow, led David back to the feet of the Lord.
2 Samuel 1:11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.
Both the commentary for 2 Samuel 1 and today’s devotional in The Upper Room sent me to Genesis 50:20 this morning: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good….” There is so much going on in the world right now that can (and sadly does) lead me to bitterness, but God has used my time with David to reinforce that bitterness is not the path He wants me to walk, that no matter why humans act or react the way they do, no matter what evil they may intend, God is bigger, stronger, mightier, and sovereign, and He can use it for good as long as I keep my heart focused on Him.
2 Samuel 1:12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the nation of Israel….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for seeing my heart and understanding where I am right now. Thank You for the reminder that I am working for You, with You, and in You, that my help comes from You, as does my reward. Help me to focus solely on You. Always. Use everything in my life for Your glory. Amen.
2 Samuel 1:17-18 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow….
Have a blessed day.

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Observations and insights…. (devo reflection)

Numbers 23:3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me….
I wish I had wonderful words of wisdom on Numbers 23, but I don’t. I was thinking, “Even though Balaam was acting out of self-interest, God still spoke through him,” but commentary reminded me that God spoke through a donkey in Numbers 22. So in light of my utter inability to speak eloquently on Numbers 23, let me offer some observations instead. 
Numbers 23:4-5 God met with him…. The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
1. This section of Numbers offers a shift in perspective. We were seeing how God was working in and through (and dealing with) the Israelites. Now we are looking at how He is dealing with outside forces against them. 2. He knows Balaam’s heart is not right. He could have reduced him to a pillar of salt. And yet, He chooses to speak to Balak through him. 3. Balaam was paid to curse the Israelites, but God will only let him bless them. 
Numbers 23:11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the ability to make connections and gain insight from Your word, even when I don’t feel I have any earth-shattering revelations to add. Thank You that even when humans intend harm, You use it for good (Gen 50:20). Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 23:12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”
Have a blessed day.

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No matter what…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 15:2a “The LORD is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation….”
Commentary on this verse pointed out an incredibly important distinction about the wording here. It does not say “The LORD gave me strength.” It says, “The LORD is my strength.” If the LORD only GAVE me strength, I would still have to use it, employ it. If He IS my strength, He’s got me covered. He does the work. It is a gift to me. Thank You, Jesus.
Gen 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
The wording of Exodus 15:2 reminds me of Genesis 15:1, which I love. Again, there is the very distinctive wording: He IS my shield. He IS my reward. It’s not something He GIVES me. It’s something He IS for me. No matter what happens. No matter how situations turn out, I can cling to the fact the HE is my strength, HE is my shield, HE is my reward. And because of that fact, NO MATTER WHAT, I will be ok, and so will those I love because He gives them the same promise. Actually, we will be so much better than ok, no matter what our feelings tell us, because we are His. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 15:2b “…He is my God, and I will praise Him….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your promises. Thank You, especially when life is overwhelming and frightening, that You are our strength, our shield, our very great reward. Help us to cling to and celebrate that fact, no matter the path we are walking. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 15:13 In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling.
Have a blessed day.

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How long…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 10:3 … ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? …’ (NIV)
God, through Moses, asks Pharaoh this question, and it’s definitely got me thinking this morning: What does it mean to humble yourself before God? And how does one wade through all the noise of this world to ensure that one is humbling oneself before God and not simply acquiescing to the noise of the world?
Exodus 10:3 … ‘How long will you refuse to submit to Me? …’ (NLT)
The more I ponder, the more questions come: If I humble myself before the LORD, is that when His peace descends? So if I’m not at peace, does that mean I have not humbled myself to Him? Jesus, Help me!
Exodus 10:3 … ‘How long will you stubbornly refuse to obey? …’ (CEV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the ability to ponder this question. I want to humble myself to You. I want to submit to Your will, but I am afraid of so many things. I know that in You is perfect love and perfect peace. I know that You don’t want me to be afraid. I know that You love those that I love more than I am even capable of loving. Please, Lord Jesus, please help me humble myself before You. Draw us all closer—to You and to each other. Remove this fear. Amen.
Exodus 10:3 … ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself in My presence? …’ (GWT)
Have a blessed day.

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The way of peace and hope…. (devo reflection)

Gen 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for the wrongs we did to him?”
My heart hurts a bit for the brothers here. They are so firmly locked into the human mindset that they are afraid that now that Jacob has died, Joseph will exact revenge on them for their earlier treatment of him. Not only are they wary of Joseph’s true motives, believing his kindness was because of their father and not God, but also, they believe that Joseph’s forgiveness of them earlier was not genuine. Or perhaps they had not forgiven themselves, and that caused their skepticism. At any rate, their turmoil and fear floats just below the surface and is a bit heart breaking to see.
Gen 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good….”
Throughout the commentary on Genesis, there has been a parallel drawn between Joseph and Jesus. It is something I have never thought of before and definitely something I would like to think on and read about further, but I can definitely see, in Joseph and Jesus, an unwavering trust and faith in God’s sovereignty, regardless of earthly circumstances. I want that type of unwavering faith, and the peace that it brings, in my life.
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this walk through the book of Genesis. Thank You for the unexpected lessons and the timely reminders encountered here. Thank You for the reminder at the end of Genesis that Yours is the way of peace and hope. Help me to trust and obey. Draw me closer. Amen.
Gen 50:21 “So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Have a blessed day.

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A personal relationship…. (devo reflection)

Gen 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring….”
Jacob, Israel, has reached the end of his life. We see, as he is blessing his sons, particularly in this section where he is blessing Joseph, that he, Jacob, finally seems to have a real and personal knowledge of who God is. 
Gen 49:24 “But his bow remained steady… because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel….”
In Gen 31:53, Jacob refers to God as “…the God of Abraham.” He knew God through his father’s relationship with God. In this section, he refers to God as “the Mighty one of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel” (Gen 49:24), “your father’s God, the Almighty” (Gen 49:25). This God is personal to Jacob. This is a God that he has formed a relationship with, that he has personally come to  know and understand. That is what I want for my own children—for them to know and love and trust God, not because I do, but because they have come to know Him personally.
Gen 49:25 “…because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for wanting and pursuing a relationship with us. Help us each to pursue a personal relationship with You. Help us to lean into You, to trust You, to know You for ourselves, on a personal level. Draw us closer. Amen.
Gen 49:26 “Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessing of ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills….”
Have a blessed day.

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The way things “should” be…. (devo reflection)

Gen 48:18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
I am the world’s worst for thinking about the way things “should” be. The older I get, the more I see how I have lived my life using the expectations of the world. “But this isn’t the way it SHOULD be!” has often been a refrain in my head if not on my lips. 
Gen 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know….his younger brother will be greater than he….”
But we see God subverting this attitude again and again in scripture, including throughout Genesis. Abraham should be too old to father children. Sarah should be barren at her age. Isaac should take the sacrifice with him when he goes up the mountain with Abraham. Jacob, as second born, should not receive the blessing of the covenant. He also should not be considered a godly figure. He’s rather devious. Joseph, as a slave, should not be second in power only to Pharaoh. Again and again and again, God shows us that we can’t bank on what the world thinks should (or should not) happened. God doesn’t think, act, or work according to the world.
1 Sam 16:7 …“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that Your thoughts and ways are beyond anything we can imagine. Thank You for being bigger, stronger, wiser, and more sovereign than the ways of this world. Help me not to worry about what “should be” according to anyone but You. Help me to fix my eyes on You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
Have a blessed day.