Even if We Commit Adultery through Idolatry, Our Groom-like God will Never Fail Us

I learned a new name of God today. He is speaking to Moses on the mountain for the 2nd time. The 1st time Moses came near to God, the people of Israel grew impatient in their waiting & took it upon themselves to erect their own god. When Moses arrives on the scene & sees the adulterous worship of the golden calf, he smashes the 10 commandments in burning anger.

This time, as he stands before God with two new stone tablets, the LORD introduces Himself with an imperative & a new name. He says,

”You must worship no other god for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” 

We serve a God Whose name is Jealous because He loves us like a husband loves his wife!

This is the 1st place that God introduces His covenant with us as a representation of a marriage tie. There are 2 specific pillars to the covenant.

•Separation 

•Worship

He promises to be Yahweh, their God  of compassion, faithfulness & & unfailing love Who conquers their enemies, but they must separate themselves from surrounding nations. No covenant, treaty, marriage nor friendship may be made with the pagan nations in order to keep themselves pure for their groom-like God.

He warns them that if they do commingle, that their sons will be seduced to adultery by worshipping other gods.

That is exactly what the Israelites did when Moses was on the mountain the1st time!

They committed “adultery through idolatry.”

God commanded them to destroy every monument erected to replace their Rescuer so they might worship Him in pure union.

All of the commands to keep a day holy & to remember sacred festivals on certain months are all reminders that created a rhythm of worship.

Separate & worship. That’s what we’re called to do. Even when God seems long in coming, guard yourself from erecting your own god of rescue.

Father, like my husband, I’m thankful that you are jealous about Your relationship with me. Help us to separate from little g gods that take Your place. Remind us that money, power, likes, followers & friends have no ability to rescue. Guard us from committing  adultery through idolatry. Create a rhythm of worship in our lives focused on You alone!

#OneYearBible

February 12th One Year Bible Readings

EXODUS 34:1-35:9

MATTHEW 27:15-31

PSALM 33:12-22

PROVERBS 9:1-6

When Things Feel Shaky

This week my friend & I just finished teaching a parenting class on Proverbs 22:6 => “Train up a child in the way he should go…” We’ve taught it several times, but as we focused on the word “should”, I had many thoughts. Suzanne said, “Just because our child “should” go, doesn’t mean they will.”

We as parents want to train our children to “go” fully prepared with bags packed full of knowledge & experience of who they are & Whose they are, so wisdom will guide them as they go.

But what happens when their will supersedes the “should”?  On a grander scale, what happens when any of our wills override the perfect plan God intends?

David writes about this in Psalm 33 reminding us, “The Lord’s plans stand firm forever & His intentions can never be shaken.”

This Truth can be so hard to comprehend, right? Unlike our will that can be subject to our mind & emotions, His will is unwavering. His plan is steadfast. This verse proclaims that nobody & no thing can alter, edit, affect or modify what He has in store.

This Is hard to reconcile when hard things happen, or when our children choose their way over God’s. Sometimes when it seems like we are subject to people’s will (& affected by it) more than God’s, we can feel hopeless.

I don’t have a pretty bow for this post. No cute phrase to fan the flame of faith. What I DO have is God’s Word. If He said it, I believe it.

If He says that His intentions can NEVER be shaken, then whatever is shaking in my life right now must be His intention.

No change in circumstances can change His plan. No attack from the enemy can defeat it & no will of mine (or my children’s) can supersede it.

I often wonder if God just shakes His head in wonder as we wander far from His Way 🤗 The moments when hard things happen or when God seems to hide Himself, just might be part of His divine plan to woo us back to His perfect path.

He loves us enough to let us go our own way, & He loves us all the more to MAKE a Way back to Him!

Father, thank You for the comfort of knowing Your plans are unshakable. Things feel shaky for many right now. Steady our hearts as we steady our gaze on You, praising You that Your intentions shall NEVER be shaken!

#OneYearBible

February 11th One Year Bible Readings EXODUS 32:1-33:23 MATTHEW 26:69-27:14 PSALM 33:1-11 PROVERBS 8:33-36

Remembering the Intermission

There was a season when my sons were involved in theater. Opening night was always so exciting! All the months of practice finally culminated into this beautiful masterpiece. The thing that always threw me off a little, however, was intermission. The cadence of the storyline built up gradually & then suddenly, at a cliff hanger moment, the house lights would pierce the darkness of the theater.

It always felt a little jarring & my brain would take a bit to slowly withdraw from the storyline to focus on the people mingling & munching on goodies from concessions.

That visual came to mind this morning as I read about God’s command to keep the Sabbath. The root word for Sabbath means to cease, desist & rest. It also means, “intermission.”

God doesn’t just command us to keep the Sabbath, He warns us to be careful to keep this “intermission” in our work week. We are given 6 (not 5) days a week to work on career & home stuff, but then we are called to turn on the house lights & disengage from all the drama that is unfolding before us. Why? 👉🏽To remember.

Setting aside unplanned time is part of God’s plan! Remembering what He’s done for us keeps us humble. Remembering that He is Lord, guards us from pride & keeps us close to wisdom. In fact, this set aside day is SO important that God declares, “This is a covenant obligation for ALL time.”

I can’t say that I’ve been faithful to keep this command. Y’all this is SO important to our health, wholeness & HOLINESS that God even modeled it for us! He created the heavens & earth in 6 days, but on the 7th, “He stopped working & was refreshed.”

Are you feeling worn out & weary? When’s the last time you took 24 to disengage from the hustle & bustle of life, & “do” only what brings rest & refreshment?

Father, You created me to be a get-it-done-girl. Stopping for the Sabbath can be hard & sometimes feels frivolous. I’m tired today & realize that rest has not been a priority. Help us to remember Your command so moments of refreshing may come. May we choose to prioritize this important intermission to our work week so the light of your Presence pierces the darkness, reminding us that You are Lord & Peace so that we CAN rest!

#OneYearBible

February 10th One Year Bible Readings

EXODUS 30:11-31:18

MATTHEW 26:47-68

PSALM 32:1-11

PROVERBS 8:27-32