The key verse for today’s meditation is taken from Joshua 3:5, “Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”” (ESV)
As Joshua led the people of Israel he admonished them that God was willing to do wonders amongst them, but that in order to receive them they would have to sanctify themselves. When God’s counsel came to the people of Israel they obeyed it without any questions or hesitations, and the result was that they had astounding victory.
God is consistently giving His counsel to those of us who are His children, through His ministers, His people, and His word. There are three ways that we can handle the counsel that God gives to us. Firstly, we can obey God’s word implicitly as it comes to us. Secondly, we can listen to the counsel of God, and choose to do the exact opposite. We have been given free-will to choose and we can obey God if we wished to or can also choose to disobey, and it is totally up to us. Thirdly, we could be those who will say that we will obey, but will in reality disobey God’s counsel. However, it is only when we decide to listen to God’s counsel, accept it, and obey it are we prepared to move to the next step, and will receive the mighty wonders that God has in store for us. Let us ask God to help us listen to His counsel and obey it with sincerity, and not shun them in any way.
The Lesson from Lot’s wife
A good example of this was given as a reminder to us by Jesus in his teaching in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot's wife.” (ESV)
Jesus spoke about Abraham and Noah, and then taught about Lot’s wife as someone from whom we should learn a lesson. We know that Lot and his family were living in the land of Sodom which was filled with wickedness. This was a city filled with sin, and when it came to a point of being destroyed, God graciously chose to save Lot and his family. Think about how loving and gracious God was, to Lot and his family.
The instruction
We read in Genesis 19:15, The next morning at dawn, the angels were trying to make Lot hurry. They said, "This city will be punished, so take your wife and your two daughters who are still with you and leave this place. Then you will not be destroyed with the city." (ERV)
The angels were persuading Lot to hasten, and flee from Sodom along with his family before it was destroyed so that they could be free and safe. However, there was a hesitation on the part of Lot and his family. Not sure what they wanted to take, and what they found hard to leave behind.
When the angel of the Lord noticed this hesitation we read that this is what the angels did.
The hastening
This is found in Genesis 19:16-17, When Lot did not move fast enough, the two men grabbed his hand. They also took the hands of his wife and his two daughters. The two men led Lot and his family safely out of the city. The LORD was kind to Lot and his family. So after the two men brought Lot and his family out of the city, one of the men said, "Now run to save your life! Don't look back at the city, and don't stop anywhere in the valley. Run until you are in the mountains. If you stop, you will be destroyed with the city!" (ERV)
The instruction that was given to Lot, and his family was not a difficult one. They were asked to flee from the city of Sodom, to not look back and to run to the mountains. Think about it that at a time when there was such a grave and impending danger, God in His grace had given them good counsel in order to protect themselves from His righteous wrath.
The disobedience
Let us see what Lot’s wife did in this situation as found in Genesis 19:26, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (ERV)
Lot, his wife and two daughters were fleeing for their lives, but sadly Lot’s wife looked back. One might argue as to why looking back was such a grave sin that needed such a punishment? If the four of them had been in that city they along with all the people of Sodom would have perished, but God in His grace had made a way of escape for them.
God’s gracious plan
So also, if Jesus Christ did not come into this world to take all of our sins on Himself, we too would have to perish. God in His grace sent His son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The blood of Jesus has redeemed us, and we have the privilege of being called His children. Even if we have to face death we have the assurance that we will live with Him forever. Oftentimes, many who have received this forgiveness of sins are hesitant to obey the counsel of God. The whole world is going its own way, and there is a thought in the mind of many believers as to why they have to follow God’s way. Children of God let us be reminded that God’s counsels are always and only for our own good. Both in small things, and in big we must be willing to obey God implicitly.
Be cautious in friendship
There are some who come for counselling, and it will be quite obvious that their friends are the cause for the trouble they are in. If we were to tell them so, they would be unwilling to accept this.
We read in Proverbs 22:24-25, “Don't be friends with people who become angry easily. Don't stay around quick-tempered people. If you do, you may learn to be like them. Then you will have the same problems they do.” (ESV)
The counsel of God in the above mentioned verses is that one should take caution about the kind of friends one chooses. God’s counsel is that one should not be closely associated with a person who is angry. Often you might have heard people of the world attest to this thinking that a person who gets angry is a person of character. However, this is not what God’s word teaches, for we are warned that it we will certainly learn the ways of those whom we are close friends with. There are many who justify their friendships, but in reality there are some friendships one must separate from, in order to walk in the ways of God.
King Jehoshaphat’s friendship
There is a great example to drive home this point from the bible.
We read in 2 Chronicles 18:1, “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.”(ERV)
Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah who had an abundance of riches and honor, because King Jehoshaphat did all that was pleasing to God. It was this fear of God that God was pleased with and He bestowed riches and honor on him. However, we read in the latter part of the verse that Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahab.
The testimony of King Ahab is mentioned in 1 Kings 16:30, “He did what the LORD said was wrong. Ahab was worse than all the kings who were before him.” (ERV)
King Ahab was a wicked king worse than all other kings of Israel and sadly, Jehoshaphat developed a friendship with Ahab.
Generally, these kinds of friendships that are not healthy will appear good for a while.
Guess what happened to the friendship between Jehoshaphat and Ahab. We read about it in
2 Chronicles 18:2, “A number of years later Jehoshaphat went to the city of Samaria to visit Ahab. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. He tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead.” (GNB)
A few years later King Jehoshaphat goes to Samaria to visit King Ahab. Over the years probably, their friendship had become deeper. Ahab organized a great feast in honor of Jehoshaphat. The next thing that happened was that King Ahab persuaded King Jehoshaphat, who was leading a peaceful life, to join him in war.
It is a practice these days for two or three families to get together, and have meals together. It is a good thing to offer hospitality because of love, but anything that becomes a regular habit will oftentimes end in problems. We should be wise in all our relationships, and maintain a limit with everyone. When one is constantly dining with someone else, there will come a point when they will feel obliged to do everything that the other person asks of them. One person shared his experience of how he received a notice from the bank, for a loan that he was not responsible for. He was close friends with a person, and used to eat often in his house. When that friend asked him to sign a document in the bank, this person did so without checking out all the details, and now found himself in deep trouble. The reason he gave me for being unable to refuse this favor to that friend, was that he had been having meals in their house regularly, and hence felt obliged to do whatever he asked of him. The outcome was that the relationship was broken, and he was now in much trouble. As children of God be cautious about friendships we hold on to, and this is God’s counsel to all of us.
Jehoshaphat accompanies Ahab to war
When King Ahab gave the invitation to accompany him to war, this was King Jehoshaphat’s reply as found in 2 Chronicles 18:3, “And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.” (ERV)
Just observe how their friendship had become so close that Jehoshaphat made himself one with Ahab, and also assured him that his people would be as Ahab’s own people. King Ahab did not have that kind of courage to say as Jehoshaphat did. We see that Jehoshaphat got himself into a situation that was unnecessary and uncalled for.
The Lord counsels us to be careful about our friendships, and not to get into wrong associations. There are many who even after their marriage value their friends more than their family, and there are some others who spend several hours in their friend’s homes. Instead, it is wise for us to spend time with our families and our children, so that our families are built up. Ask God to help you stay away from friends who are a hindrance to your walk with God. There are many who have not set limits to their friendships, and the result is that after years of being together, they have had bitter experiences, and have severed their relationships with each other. God wants us to exercise wisdom and caution in all our friendship.
The trap Jehoshaphat fell into
As King Jehoshaphat and King Ahab went to war this is what Ahab advised Jehoshaphat.
We read in 2 Chronicles 18:29, Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments." So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise. (ERV)
King Ahab decided to go into battle disguised, but asked Jehoshaphat to go to battle with his royal garments. This was a cunning ploy on Ahab’s part as he knew that the enemy would first strike the king. Jehoshaphat was so blinded that he did not even know the trap that was being set for him. Jehoshaphat was unable to discern this though he was a man of God, because his friendship meant more to him than his love for God.
When the enemies surrounded Jehoshaphat, he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord graciously spared his life. However, Ahab was found out, and he was killed in battle.
Some people speak highly about their friends saying that they will never let them down, but I want to encourage you to ask God to help choose godly friends. Take this counsel that I share with you as godly counsel, and let go of all those friendships that do not edify, and God will do wonders. Your will be safe, and can avoid all troubles in your future. The bible refers to God as a ‘wonderful counselor’ and when we heed his counsel, we will receive much good.
God’s counsel to Cain
This was the counsel God gave Cain as recorded in Genesis 4:6-7, And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (KJV)
The background to these verses is that the sons of Adam and Eve, namely Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord. Cain thought God would accept anything from him. However, God did not just look at the offering that Cain and Abel offered, but He looked at their hearts. Abel brought an offering that was best and pleasing to God, and Cain brought an offering that did not please Him. God approved of Abel’s offering, and despised Cain’s offering. When Cain got to know this he was irritated.
The Lord could perceive that Cain was angry with his brother, and therefore He asked him as to why he was angry with his brother. God is aware of our inmost thoughts and feelings. God also asked Cain as to why his countenance had fallen. This gives us the awareness that God is very close at hand that He can notice even a change of countenance. There is no need for us to call upon God as though He were far away from us. We have such a wonderful God.
Cain had anger and irritation against his own brother Abel. When God saw that Cain turned against his brother Abel, the heart of God was grieved and He warned Cain to be cautious.
Generally we bring offerings to the Lord, and give it in church. Sometimes there is some bitterness and misunderstanding between brothers. It is a given that where there are people interacting with each other, there is bound to be conflict.
Even today if a brother turns against another and is bitter or angry the Lord is not pleased. That is why Jesus taught in Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (KJV)
The Lord reminds us that when we come to give our offering to the Lord, he may remind us of someone with whom we are not in good terms. There may be some misunderstanding or heartaches. God reminds us that we should first leave the gift at the altar, and be reconciled to that person. Our offerings are in vain if our relationships are not set right. Let us ask God to have a heart like His that is willing to love and accept everyone. God’s will is that we become more like Jesus.
If we want to know the heart of God think about how Jesus dealt with His disciple Judas Iscariot, who was part of the chosen twelve, but decided to betray Jesus, and that too with a kiss. Jesus knew everything, but yet He did not love Judas less than the others.
If we claim to be the children of God, are those who worship the living God, think that we are those worthy to inherit the Kingdom of God, it is necessary that we let go of our ego, bitterness and anger against each other. We can worship God together, pray together and do everything possible, but if we are not reconciled with each other, God will not accept any of them.
When we have a misunderstanding with someone in church, one thing that is commonly done is that people leave that church to join elsewhere, or will come at some other time in order to avoid that person. This is surely not pleasing to God, and in heaven there is no room for divisions, hatred or quarrels. If we therefore, desire to inherit heaven, it is necessary that we let go of all these things that will find no place in heaven.
Paul writing to the church at Corinth wrote this way, 1 Corinthians 6:6-7, But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?(KJV)
The Lord is asking us as to why we are unable to accept wrong, and are not willing to be patient when we are not treated fairly. One brother takes another brother to court, are at enmity with each other all of their lives, and do not speak to each other. No matter what the misunderstanding is, let us choose to set it right, and God will certainly grant His peace to us.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
