The Downfall of Abimelech

 

January 1, 2021

 

Judges 9:22-23

 

The Downfall of Abimelech

 

Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.   And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,  that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.   And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

 

And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.   And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival, and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.   And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?   Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”

When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.   And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, 

 

“Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed, and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.   Now, therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.   Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.”

 

Do you recall when the people tried to get Gideon to be king and then his sons, he was very clear on this point, I will not be your king, nor my sons, but God will rule over you, and the people agreed.  But Gideon has died and Abimelech the son of his servant girl has now killed 70 of his brothers and only his youngest brother has escaped.  Do you recall the speech he made to the leaders and now God is doing all that Jotham has said?

 

God did not tell Abimelech to kill his brothers, after three short years of ruling over Israel, God is going to bring the judgment that Jotham has proclaimed.  Keep reading!

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Jotham's messaGE To those who kill his brothers

 

December 31, 2020

 

Judges 9:16-21

 

 “Now, therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved— for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,  and you have risen up against my father's house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.   But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”   And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech, his brother.

Lessons you and I who are followers of Christ can learn from Jotham's message to the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo.  No threats of retaliation or revenge, no Jotham just laid out the fact, and reminded them of the mighty acts and risk his dad had done for them, setting them free from the hands of the Midian.  He explained in a very clear and understandable way how the action they had been part of in the death of his 70 brothers.  Jotham also said, “if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.”?

 

How in this upside-down world we live in of evil being called good and good called evil, many in leadership in this country would have no problem being part of returning evil for good, and the words of Jotham would have no effect on them.  How do I know this to be true, I like you if you live in the USA, have watched the evil of these people, in Washington D.C., also governors, mayors, and others, all over our nation do as their evil hearts and their Father the devil has directed them to do.  I have no doubt these words of Jotham fell on empty ears, for their hearts were evil.

 

I believe Jotham's actions were pleasing to God, in fact, his actions sound more like a prophet of God, for they came too past, just as he said.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

A Godless Nation rejecting it Roots

 

A Godless Nation rejecting it Roots

 

December 29, 2020

 

Judges 9:7-15

 

 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.   The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’   But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’   And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’   But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’   And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’   But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’   Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’   And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me, king, over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

 

 I’m sure, that Jotham, has understanding and wisdom much greater than the people of his time, or the people of 2020.  He used trees, vines, and bramble.  The olive and fig understood why God had made them, and the joy they brought both to God and mankind.  They were not about to leave this to rule over anyone, for they were satisfied and content with who they were.  But the bramble had no understanding of why it was on planet earth, so it left its place with foolish joy to be king over the trees.  Do you understand its vines would cover them, steal and kill and destroy many of them, and also become a tool to only take but not give anything in return?

 

It is clear in Scripture that man has always longed for a king to rule over them, so God allows them and us to have our desires met, with this warning; found in 1 Samuel 8:11-18.  “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots.   And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.  He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.  He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.  He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.   He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work.   He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.   And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”  

 

The people then and also the people of 2020, are very foolish, godless people who rejected God and cried out that we want a king.  As we enter into this year of 2021, the people of the United States have spoken, we need big government to rule our lives, we do not need a bill of rights, we do not need the Constitution, nor do we need God.  We need socialism, free stuff, and I believe God is saying, I will allow them to have this and more, but I will no longer be their God, and they will no longer be my people.

 

For God’s people have allowed the world to mold them, they are lukewarm and not hot or cold, and God said, “I will spit them out of my mouth.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Gideon's Ephod

 

December 24, 2020

 

Judges 8:18-21

 

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

 

Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.”   And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”   So, he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man.  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

 

His son was still a young man and was a little fearful of these two kings, and so Zebah and Zalmunna told Gideon in so many words but on your big boy pants and take care of the business at hand.  And that's what Gideon did.

 

Gideon's Ephod

 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”  Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”   And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)   And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil.   And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.   And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.  So, Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

 Leadership is not allowing the world-minded people to control you; many a man would have allowed pride and arrogance to rule the day but not Gideon, for he knew that it was God’s battle, and God was the only one to lead Israel.   

But Gideon did have a request, and he asked for the gold earrings and it was 1,700 shekels of gold, and also the crescent ornaments.  And I have no doubt Gideon had the best of intentions when he made the ephod, but the people whored after it and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.  It is easy to allow the culture of the day to mold us into doing things without going to God and seeking His direction.  We live in an evil time; darkness is increasing and yet we can be a light to all if we just follow Jesus.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Promise Keeper

 

Judges 8: 10-17

 

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.   And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure.   Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah, and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.

Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres.   And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men.   And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’”   And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson.   And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Yesterday we discussed that Gideon was a man who kept his promises to God and to men, and today we see that he has kept those promises to the men of Succoth and Penuel.  Do you recall Gideon’s request of the leaders of these towns?  He wanted bread and something to drink for his men so they could capture these two kings; Zebah and Zalmunna, but neither food nor drink was given by the leaders of these two towns.

 

For the rest of the story, first, he captured a young man of Succoth and he got the names of the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men, and when Gideon came back with the two kings in chains he punished those men as he had promised.  Gideon also broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.  We do not know why he did more than he promised, but we must understand that when God's hand is on a person and they ask you to be part of that in some small way, be open to doing so.  It should have been clear to all that God was leading Gideon and his 300 men, and they like many of us were willing to watch and hope for freedom, but these two downs were not willing to do anything to be part of God’s and Gideon’s actions.

 

Do you recall the account of Nabal, who was very wealthy and a fool, for David and his men had for a year protected his sheep and his shepherds and when asked for some food for his men, the fool Nabal sent the ten men of David back after he had disgraced them?  So, David and his 400-armed men were going to kill Nabal and all the men of his household.  But God used  Abigail, Nabal's wife, who was a very beautiful and wise lady to keep David from doing as he had planned in his heart to do.  You can find the account in 1 Samuel 25, and it is a clear message of James 1:20, “Man’s wrath does not work out God’s righteousness.” 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Gideon was a Promise Keeper

 

 

Judges 8:4-9

 

And Gideon came to Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.   So, he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”  And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”   So, Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”   And from there he went up to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.   And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

 

Most of us hold men who keep their promises in high regard, and we are in good company for God loves men who do as Gideon, hear from God and obey his commandments.  We do not see many men today that keep their promises, and when we do we hold that person in high esteem.  

 

You and I know that the Scriptures are clear, that our ways and our thoughts are not at the same level as God, not even close, so often God looks and sees something in a person that no one else sees.  Let us be clear no one else was calling Gideon a mighty warrior, including Gideon, or his brothers or dad.  But God was, and God handpicked Gideon and allowed him to test God before he was willing to obey.

 

It makes me wonder how many of God's chosen people, those who are called by His name, have been called for a task that seems totally out of their ability or gift mix, so they pay little attention to God’s calling on their lives.

 

Tomorrow we will see that Gideon kept his promise to the men of Succoth, and Penuel, and we who have been protected by the grace and mercy of God have come to a time where that protection allows us to experience the persecution that many in other countries have experienced.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

 

December 21, 2020

 

Judges 8: 1-3

 

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.   And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?   God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.

 

When God puts His seal on a man to lead, it is amazing how that man’s character and wisdom change.  When the angel of God first encounters Gideon, he was hiding in a winepress threshing wheat, but do you recall what the angel called Gideon?  Look back to Judges 6:12, “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”  It leaves you and me who have the Holy Spirit of the living God living in us, to wonder, why we hide in our home and with our neighbors, and business associates and do not proclaim we have been chosen by God to be about His business.

 

Look at the wisdom God has given Gideon, when the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?”  And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?   God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.”  Only God gives that kind of wisdom to a young farm boy, who has never read the book on how to win friends and influence people.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

God will overcome your Fear

 

December 16, 2020

 

Judges 7:9-18

 

That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.   But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah, your servant.   And you shall hear what they say, and afterward, your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah, his servant, to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp.   And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.  When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.”   And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.”

As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has given the host of Midian into your hand.”   And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars.   And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do.   When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

Are you fearful, I will answer that one for you, sure you are Covid-19 proved how many who go by the name Christian did all kinds of things, so many of you changed up your lifestyle, because of fear of the unknown.  I must confess, Jan and I were foolish by the world's standards. being in our seventies, we did not change but trusted in what God had promised in his word.  Yes, we wore a mask when required, but God showed me and I am a man who has weak faith in a big God, that He would be our protector. 

 

That is why I get so excited when I read this account of Gideon going into the camp of the Midian.  God who is all-knowing, understood Gideon's fear and told him to take his servant Purah with him if he was fearful.  I’ve never seen locusts come in unbelievable swarms but my mother told us stories of seeing them when she was a girl on the farm, come in huge swarms and destroy the crops.  That is what the Midianites and the Amalekites look like to Gideons, but God.  Yes, God's word to Gideon proves true and it still does to all who will be still and listen.

 

He came back and did with 300 men what God instructed him to do and as we will see tomorrow, it was one of the great battles, for it was not Gideon and 300 men, but God who defeated the Midianites and the Amalekites.  Let me leave you with Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  And Psalm 91:9-12, “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands  so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Sign of the Fleece

 

 

Judges 6:36-40

 The Sign of the Fleece

 

 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,  behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”   And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.   Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.”   And God did so that night, and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

 

This obscure wheat thrasher of a small clan and the youngest of the family first was addressed by the Angel of The LORD, and then the LORD twice, and he asked for a sign.  You read the account above, and if you read Chapter six you have seen what God has done for this young insecure man.  The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 

 

I wonder if Gideon looked around the threshing floor to see who the angel of the LORD was referring to, I am sure that I would, then and now, for I’m not mighty or a man of valor.  But neither was Gideon and that was the rest of the story.  When God does for a person what He has done for Gideon, it is a game-changer.  Do you recall God telling the following to Gideon;  And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”  This is not a church program, Gideons is not at the temple, he is hiding from the enemy, trying to save some wheat for the family, no, it is an encounter with the Creator, and God has picked Gideon the never was to be somebody in God’s power.

 

Did you take note that God did not get angry about Gideon his small faith, and I am so glad for I often have small faith, in my big God,  In some ways, most of us are fleece people, and many of us are more in tune in to the latest program, and not the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  My wife and I got into one of those programs, it is a good and needed thing in our Church, but we never asked the LORD if that was where He wanted us, it was a very long year.  I’m of the old school, and I learned, you do not quit a job, because it is hard, or not enjoyable, you finish what you agreed to.  But one day at coffee with a brother in Christ, I was sharing how it was almost like taking the prep for a colonoscopy each week.  He asks a question, did God tell you to do it, or was it is a need.  That is the first time I understood, it was not a call, it was a need, and I was doing it in my power, and we finished the year, but now we wait for the LORD to assign our service.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

 

Judges 6:28-35

 

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built.  And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”   Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.”   But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.”   Therefore on that day, Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.

 

Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.   But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.   And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

 

When the gods you are putting your trust in are broken down, men first get mad, and then they lose hope.  If you do not believe me; it only requires one to go back in our history and look at the actions of many in the 1930 stock market crash who had wealth and lost it overnight.  And many of them kill themselves, the altar they worship at had been torn down. 

 

That is what is taking place with the people who lived around Gideon, and yet the God who they had rejected was Gideon’s protector, and God used Joash Gideon's dad to be his entrustment of protection for his son.  One man with God was greater than all the men of that area, and all he said was if Baal can’t defend his altar, is he a god worth getting all upset over.

 

Can the gods you are putting trust in defending themselves, are you willing to listen to the words of a Joash when they speak the truth.  That day Gideon was clothed by the Spirit of God and he called the nation to battle against those who were God’s enemies, the worshipers of little gods, gods who cannot see nor hear.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Call of Gideon

 

 

Judges 6:11-18

 

The Call of Gideon

Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.   And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”   And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?  And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’  But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”   And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”   And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”   And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”  And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.  Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”

It is not going to be easy for most to put themselves in this story, first you nor I have had to hide our food to keep an enemy from taking it from us.  Second, most of us have not had an angel of the LORD appeared to us and state; “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”  If you are the youngest in the family of the smallest clan of your people, you might have a few questions.  Why me?  Are you giving a lot of thought to us not starting is, what have we done that made God withdraw His hand of blessing? 

 

Do you recall the Scriptures stating an angel of the LORD spoke to Gideon, but it now says; “And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”   And you can read Gideon’s reply, but this is what the LORD said; ”And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” 

 

Have you ever tried to buy time, that I believe is the approach Gideon has taken, and he is asking for a sign, now that is not faith, but it sure is what most of us are about?  So. allow me to ask you a question when Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to confront you about the sin of unbelief, did you ask for a sign, did you agree and repent and confess your need for a Savior?  I will never forget the night the Holy Spirit addressed my sin of trying to look at myself and others and not looking to Christ.  It happened at a motel in Victoria, Texas, and I opened a hotel Bible to Romans 10:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.   For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

 

By faith that night, I got on my knees and agreed with the LORD, I had not one thing He needed, but He had everything I needed, and that night I became a new creation in Christ.  I was 27, and now 51 years later, I can tell you I’ve often dropped the ball, I still wrestle with my fleshly desires, such as pride, arrogance, and wanting to be served and not serving others.  But each day I come to this thought; “I can’t,  He never said I could, He can, and He promised He would.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Midian Oppresses Israel

 

Judges 6:1-10

 

Midian Oppresses Israel

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.   And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian, the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.  For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.   They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey.   For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in.   And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.

When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery.   And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land.   And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”

 

As you read the book of the Judges it sounds like a broken record, the people chased after the false gods of this world, they put faith in them and worship at their altars.  God gave them what they were chasing after and the enemies of God make them slaves.  The people cry out to God and He forgave them and sent a Judge to lead them back to Him, but they keep repeating this hunger for the little gods that cannot see, nor hear, that are not able to give life, or peace, or joy.

 

And you and I say boy are they stupid, and never reflect on ourselves, never ask the question of the person in the mirror where are you putting your hope.  But if there was ever a season for you who go by the name of Christian to stop and ask a few questions to that face you see each day in the mirror, it should be now.

 

Maybe I’ve been the guy that needs the mirror the most, for this season of the pandemic and seeing the masses looking to the little gods of the mask and social distancing, science, and fear of death.  I am so foolish to believe that God has numbered my days before one of them was and putting my trust in Him.  To believe that Proverbs 3:5-7, is where my faith should be and to seek the Lord and His will for my life.  So, call me a fool, but I’m God’s fool, and I’ve yet to find in the Bible, where I am to put my faith in man, but in the Lord.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice 

Trust is the Center of Life

 December 9, 2020

 

Ephesians 5:15-17

 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time because the days are evil.   Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

Our fellowship at Oakwood in New Braunfels, Texas is reading through the Bible chronologically and in last night's reading it began with Ephesians 5:15, and these Scriptures 15-17 spoke into my life.  This Scripture came into my mind as I was writing; found in Proverbs 4:20-27, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.   Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.  Give careful thought to the^] paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

 

I have always tried to be transparent with you, it is my belief that this China virus was created in a lab in China with the intent to cause harm to the world economy, by very wealthy people.  It sure has worked, we as followers of Christ have put trust in what the news media and governments are telling us and have forgotten to watch how we walk.  I have received our right lies almost every day from both people who go by the name of Christian and non-Christian.  As a follower of Christ, and once more let me confess I have been guilty of passing some of this own without checking the source, and that is wrong.  When we as a follower of Christ put our eyes on anything but Jesus and His written word we have taken our eyes off the path and will believe the battle is with people and not with that scheming devil.  Go back and read Ephesians 6:10-13, and let me share verse 12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

I’m fearful that many of you have put trust in masks, and social distancing and followed the science and taken your eyes off of Jesus.  Proverbs 3:5-7 has been ringing out in my mind since this mess began, and if I was to tell you that the election and who may become our President has not affected my path, I would be lying.  With that said, let me give you something that is true to fix your mind on; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice