When Men (and Women) Do Only What is Right In Their Own Eyes.

Today, I read the horrible story of the concubine in Judges 19. The chapter begins by stating, "There was no king in Israel." Countless times throughout Judges it recalls how the people were choosing to do what was right in their own eyes. I believe this account of the concubine is an extremely vivid example of the consequences that come from the choice of going our own way instead of doing what is right in God's eyes. 

I did a little bit of research today trying to understand the story a little bit better because, frankly, it broke my heart. 

Who were concubines? Concubines were women that had a relationship with a man who was normally married. Think mistress, but generally was more accepted by the man's wife. They played more of a servant type of role to the man. 

 In chapter 19, a Levite took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem while sojourning in Ephraim. She was unfaithful to him, and fled to her father's house back in Bethlehem. He pursued her and went to speak kindly to her. Some think he may have caused her to flee by getting angry after she was unfaithful. Her father was so happy to meet the Levite that he persuaded him to stay 5 days! Finally, the Levite took his concubine, his servant, and two donkeys and left the concubine's fathers house.  They passed by Jerusalem and decided to spend the night in Gibeah. They have no place to stay, till they run into an old man coming in from working the fields and he invites them to stay with him at his home. 

Then worthless men of the city surround the house, beating on the door, asking for the old man to give them the Levite so they can "have their way with him." 

Does this not remind you of a similar story? How about the story of Lot and his angelic visitors? This story almost exactly parallels that one. 

So, here is what happened:

The old man answers the worthless men of the city, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.” But the men would not listen to him. So the man (the Levite) seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning.

Because everyone did what was right in their own eyes, it was wicked for the worthless men to have their way with the old man's visitor, but it was not wicked for them to do what they did to the concubine? 

I just want to pause and cry! This girl was not of a most moral sort by any means, she had made herself a sex slave of sorts to men. But without God, men (and women) are only going to pursue wickedness. In a world where God is pushed aside and people go about trying to live without him, women tend to get abused and mistreated. We see it in this city and we see it today in our world. This is why a healthy, God centered, marriage relationship is so important! This is why God stressed that we follow Him! It is only then that wickedness is avoided and women are treated with respect and dignity, and love! 

Unfortunately, the story does not end here for this concubine. She was abused so horribly by the worthless men that she died. Her master took her and went home and then cut her in 12 pieces and sent her piece by piece throughout all of Israel. 

The world we live in today wants nothing to do with God and we can see the affects of that decision by turning on the news each day. Women all over this world are treated as objects by men, abused, raped, and killed. 

We need to do everything we can to support our husbands and encourage them to be Godly men! We need to raise our children to live lives where they desire only to follow God! How do we do this? By being women who do that which is right in God's eyes! 

Where is our focus? The story of Samson

As you make my way through Judges, you begin to see a continual cycle. The people of Israel continually do what is right in their own eyes and turn away from God. God then appoints judges over the people to try to revert their focus back to where it should be...on God alone. One of those Judges was Samson.

His story begins in Judges 13. 

The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So, God gave them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years! The Philistines were the enemies of both God and the children of Israel. Aggressive and warmongering people given to pagan worship. 

There was a man named Manoah, from the tribe of Dan, who's wife was barren. One day, an angel of the Lord came to her and said,

“Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

I am sure this woman was excited! She ran and told her husband these things! 

Then she obeyed the commands given, and gave birth to Samson. He grew and God blessed him! 

After you read the rest of the story of the life of Samson, you can't help but cringe. Samson's life can be summed up with these words, "He did what was right in his OWN eyes."

And it all began with a simple choice in chapter 14. 

Samson SAW a daughter of the Philistines and determined in his heart that he was going to have her as his wife. His parents even questioned his decision and tried to encourage him to look for a wife from their own people. But Samson declared in verse 3, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”

It is clear from the beginning that Samson was not living his life to please God, but rather to please himself. I wonder what would have happened if he had chosen a wife from his own people as his parents tried to encourage him to do, or to do what was right in God's eyes. It is a simple choice, but one that can alter our future greatly! 

The next mishap comes while he goes down to meet this woman of the Philistines. A lion comes upon him and he tears it to pieces with the strength that God has given him. According to Old Testament law, he would have been unclean at this point. But he continued on and did not tell his parents what had happened. Because he was unclean from touching the carcass of a dead animal he needed to go through the ritual of cleansing. But he did not.  And again, after some time he passes by the carcass of the lion and sees a beehive and fresh honey inside the carcass. He then takes and eats the honey and gives to his parents to eat it too. He does not tell his parents where it has come from. Again, he is unclean and disobeys the law of cleanliness because he is choosing to do what is right in his own eyes!

While he is at the feast of his marriage to the Philistine woman he seems to make a bet of sorts with the thirty companions at the feast. He tells them a riddle and bets thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes that they cannot figure out the riddle by the end of seven days. He is then swindled by his new wife to tell her the answer to the riddle. She then tells the companions. Obviously, there is a lack of trust in this new marriage. So, Samson, in his hot anger, goes and strikes down thirty men and takes their spoils and returns back to his fathers house. His wife is then given to his best man to be his wife. A consequence of doing what is right in his own eyes. 

After some time, Samson seeks out his wife to go in unto her, but her father steps in his way and tells him that she is not his wife anymore and tries to give Her sister to Samson. Again, he reacts in anger and ties together the tails of 300 foxes and sets them on fire and lets them loose in the fields of grain and olive orchards. Destroying the crop of the Philistines. As a result, his wife and his father in law are burned with fire. 

By this point, you are begging Samson to see the results of his actions and turn and seek what is right in God's eyes! But let's continue on. 

When the Philistines come to Judah to find Samson and get rid of him, he uses the strength God has given him and kills 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. 

Then in verse 18 of chapter 15 of Judges: 

And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived.

Again, Samson could only give himself credit for what was done. Everything was all about himself. He did not give God the glory for what was done. 

And it only goes down hill from there....

Chapter 16 begins with him making use of a prostitute and then he lays eyes on Delilah. For the first time it says he loved a woman. Unfortunately, she would be the end of Samson. Delilah was approached by the lords of the Philistines who offed her 1,100 pieces of silver if she could tell them Samson's weakness. So, she seduces and presses Samson 3 times. The first two times he does not tell her the truth and he gets out of his bindings, but the third time he shares that his hair has never seen a razor and if it does he will lose his strength. So, while he sleeps she has a man shave his head and then she wakes him by once again saying that the Philistines are upon him! He rises and, not knowing that his strength has left him, goes out to fight them and is subdued by the Philistines. They pluck out his eyes and bind him with bronze shackles. 

After this, the lords of the Philistines hold a grand feast to celebrate how their pagan gods allowed them to conquer Samson. Over 3,000 men and women were on the roof celebrating and they brought Samson bound before them to entertain them. Samson was brought forth and he asked the man who held him if he could lean against the pillars of the house. 

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

And Samson then leaned on those two pillars and put all of his weight into it and he brought the whole house down and killed himself and all those 3,000 of the lords of the Philistines. The number of those he killed with him was more than he had killed in his life. 

Even in his last cry to God, Samson's focus was on himself and what he could do instead of on God and what God could do. His focus was off. As I read the story of Samson, I couldn't help but go back to the beginning and wonder what would this story be like if Samson had a focus on God and what would have happened if his choices were God centered choices instead of self centered choices? I do believe that he could have been used in a greater way for the glory of God! Yes, Samson still began to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines as the angel had declared in chapter 13, but Samson wanted the glory for himself. 

Samson also made it into the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews chapter 11:

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Samson was made strong out of weakness and was used to begin the salvation of Israel from the hand of the Philistines. Despite Samson's misplaced focus, he was greatly used by God. We may also have a misplaced focus in our lives like Samson did. Does that mean God can't use us? No! But I do believe if we have a God centered focus, God can use us in greater ways! Let us begin today to give God the glory for EVERYTHING! It is only through Him that we have the gifts of strength, compassion, helps, prophecy, etc! Where is your focus? Let it be on God alone! 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

  

Achsah. Springs of water in the desert.

As the book of Judges begins, I began to highlight pink a challenge that Caleb gave. Caleb proclaims that whoever attacks and captures the city of Debir and it's inhabitants will win the prize of marriage to his daughter Achsah. Othniel, Caleb's younger brother accepts the challenge and wins. Caleb then gives Achsah to Othniel as his wife. 

But the story doesn't end there. Knowing she was going to be living in the Negev (the desert region), she urges her new husband to ask her father, Caleb, for a field. She then decides to do it herself and asks her father for a blessing...a particular blessing. She asks for springs of water! So, Caleb gives his daughter two springs of water. 

This simple little story jumped out at me. Here was a beloved daughter. She knew the days ahead would be tough as she would be living in the desert. She had initiative! She goes right to her father and simply asks for the one thing that anyone would want if they knew they were going to be spending time in the desert. Water! She simply asks for water. And her father grants her request. 

How can we apply this little story to our own lives? What can we learn from this story? Achsah obviously had a healthy relationship with her father. She obviously must have been close to him to ask such a big request. She probably talked with her father daily and her father knew her heart and she knew his. Achsah had foresight. She could see the hard times coming her way. She knew what she would need and prepared accordingly by asking for the one thing that would sustain her life and her families life during their time in the desert. She also knew who she could ask who could supply her need. 

As Christians, we go through times in our lives that very much feel like we are in the desert. Times are tough. We don't seem to be able to keep up with the demands placed on our shoulders. We are weary. We need to do as Achsah and go to our heavenly father and ask Him for water! Ask Him to give us what we need to get through. That water can be anything....strength, humility, endurance, or even something more tangible like a need supplied or a friend who brightens our day! But we need to go to the One who we know has the power to supply our need! When we know we are entering a time in the desert let's have the initiative to ask for the water that we need before hand to help us thrive even in the midst of a desert! 

So, if you are in the desert or you know you will soon be entering the desert, ask your Father now to supply that "water" that you need to thrive! 

This is such a simple story and one that I easily could have missed....but one that my heart needed to grasp today! 

God Keeps His Promises!

I have just finished up the book of Deuteronomy and have begun the book of Joshua. God promises to not forsake those who keep His commandments and who follow Him! He also promises to go before the children of Israel as they cross over the Jordan and enter the promised land. 

In chapter 2 of Joshua, we meet a woman by the name of Rahab. She is described as a prostitute. Obviously, she has a not so moral choice of work. But she has heard of these people and their God who goes before them and leads them and fights their battles for them and who comes out victorious! She can see that these people are special and that there is something different about them. So, she hides two spies in her home that Joshua has sent into her city of Jericho. The king of Jericho gets word that the two spies entered her house and demands she bring them out. She tells the king that they are not there, but have left and so the king leaves to pursue after them.....but Rahab had hid the two spies on her roof! She goes up to the roof and speaks with the two spies. She knows their God is the God of heaven and earth and simply asks that when the land of Jericho is overtaken that she and her family be delivered from death. The two spies promise to honor her wishes as long as she does not tell the king of their whereabouts. They tell her to tie a scarlet cord in her window and she and her family will be saved when the city is conquered so long as they stay inside the house. Then the two spies depart and report back to Joshua. 

Rahab is a brave woman! It is amazing to see how God again keeps His promise in providing for the children of Israel and continually goes before them to provide a way and work everything out according to God's plan. And God uses a woman that most would consider not worthy to even be used by God! A harlot, a prostitute, a woman who had chosen a wrong path for her life. Yet, God used her in a mighty way and consequently preserved her life and the life of her family.  

Do we ever feel unworthy of being used by God? Do we ever feel like our sin is so great that we are useless before our mighty King of Kings? Our sin ought to make us feel that way when we stand before God, but there is forgiveness at the cross! Rahab proclaims that God is ruler of heaven and earth! She believes! Therefore, her life was saved! Jesus Christ had not yet come to die on the cross, but I do find it amazing that she was to hang a scarlet cord out of her window in order to be saved from certain death. The symbolism cannot be overlooked! Just as Jesus Christ had to die in our place, hanging on a wooden cross and shedding his precious blood, this scarlet cord had to hang from this window in order to save the life of this sinners family. Have you proclaimed the Name of the only One who can save your life from certain death? I am not talking of physical death, but rather spiritual, never ending, eternal death. This death is like no other, for it means an eternity apart from your creator and a death of eternal darkness and horror like nothing you will ever experience. If you have not accepted the gift that God gave to you when his precious Son, Jesus Christ, died in your place on the cross, you can do it today! Admit that your sin is too great, ask for forgiveness, realize who God is and follow him all the days of your life! 

If you are a believer and feel you have sinned so greatly that you cannot be used by God, take heart! God used this prostitute! Ask for forgiveness and follow God! He can still use you too! I do not believe Rahab continued her former ways after her life was saved. I do believe she followed God for the rest of her life. 

Our goal as Mommies, and Trusting God!

As I was reading along in Deuteronomy 5-7 today, I was reminded of my duty as a mother. Yesterday was mothers day, and a very influential mother in my life shared how she committed these verses to her life as a mother: 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

She filled in her children's names in place of "O Israel." I thought this was amazing! And challenging! How am I doing at teaching Gods Word to my children? Yes, they are still little and may not understand, but they see my walk, they hear my talk, and they learn from what I do. Yesterday morning my husband preached a message on what makes a mother. He used many examples from the Bible of godly mothers and how their children were an example of her testimony. Her goal was not that she be exalted through her children, but rather that through her example and her children's lives God was exalted! Oh what a challenge to my heart! So, how are you doing? Are you teaching your children Gods Word today? 

Also, as I was reading along in this passage I felt like God was speaking directly to my heart. The children of Israel were about to go into the promised land and God was going before them preparing the way for them and asking them to simply trust Him and follow his leading. I felt God was encouraging my heart to trust Him for what lies ahead in life, and empowering me to go on knowing that He would go before me to tackle whatever obstacles might lie ahead on this path. 

As women, I think it is hard for us to fully trust God when we cannot see the path before us and when things may not be all secure and settled. I know for my heart this is true. May I trust God even in the midst of change and uncertainty of the road ahead!  

The Lord your God fights for YOU!

Just a quick blurb as I go along in the beginning of Deuteronomy.....I find it interesting that no matter how tall the walls of the cities or how large or great the people and armies, when God was with them fighting their battles, they conquered and were victorious. God specifically said He would not be with them if they tried to conquer certain cities. Just a comforting thought that when we are following God ( and not going our own way apart from God ) and obstacles come our way, no matter how large, or scary, or daunting they might be God will go and be with us and will fight for us! And will conquer those obstacles that seem impossible! The key....we need to follow His way and His leading and direction only! 

"You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you." Deuteronomy 3:22

A visual glimpse of some of the places mentioned in Numbers.

As I was reading today in Numbers 19-21, I couldn't help but think of my own journey through this same land 2 years ago! So, I thought I would post some pictures so you can also get a glimpse of this area and have a better idea in your mind of what it looks like!

These are pictures of the Wilderness of Zin. It probably hasn't changed all that much since Bible times. This is where Miriam died and was buried. (Numbers 20:1-2)

In Numbers 20:17 you hear reference to the King's Highway. I have been on this road. I did not take any pictures because we were up high on a mountain and it was incredibly foggy and the road was rather windy and I was turning wonderful shades of green! But I have been there! 

These 2 pictures above are of the mountains near Petra. The exact location of Mount Hor is not known, but it is possible one of these could be what was known as Mt. Hor. This is where Aaron died and was buried. (Numbers 20:22-29) The bottom picture was actually taken from our hotel room window! The top picture was taken from the balcony off the main lobby of the same hotel.