Psalm 78:8-9
"They would not be like their forefathers - a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle"
One of my greatest fear is that the youths whom I taught or am teaching currently will someday lapse into their old self the moment I move on and stop being their immediate leader. I say this not of pride nor of need to gain self accomplishment but really because I know that every one's mettle is only proven when the storms of life hit and you are left to make your own choices. As seen in the bible through many examples such as this: "No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the LORD their God" (Judges 8:33-34a)
Ephriam was not just any other tribe, it is the tribe from which Joshua was from. Numbers 2:18-24 also tell us that the tribe of Ephriam were a priviledged tribe who were placed to the west of the ark of covenant in the Israelite formation.
Yet, greatness of one's history or heritage does not secure the equal greatness of one's character. Just because your forefather was one of the greatest leaders in history does not make you of equal standing like them.
The men of Ephraim were well equipped and furnished with the required weapons, however, they failed in faith and courage and retreated before the foe. What a tragedy it is to be equipped with the required weapon and then fail to muster the moral courage to fight gallantly as required and trained.
The account of the men of Ephraim in Psalm 78.9 can happen to anyone of us. Let's not kid ourselves, talk of us being in faith with God is cheap. I don't believe that anyone of us in church today can say that we're not equipped with the weapons to defend ourselves or to take the higher ground in battle.
Today, you can serve actively in church or be involved in a ministry or cell that is providing you with a covering, but in the day of your own battle where you are to stand for your faith and do what you are to do, will you turn your back like the men of Ephraim?
May you always stand your ground in faith and loyalty to God.
Blessings,
M.
"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:26-27)
08 November 2007
In the day of Battle
Psalm 78:8-9
"They would not be like their forefathers - a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle"
One of my greatest fear is that the youths whom I taught or am teaching currently will someday lapse into their old self the moment I move on and stop being their immediate leader. I say this not of pride nor of need to gain self accomplishment but really because I know that every one's mettle is only proven when the storms of life hit and you are left to make your own choices. As seen in the bible through many examples such as this: "No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the LORD their God" (Judges 8:33-34a)
Ephriam was not just any other tribe, it is the tribe from which Joshua was from. Numbers 2:18-24 also tell us that the tribe of Ephriam were a priviledged tribe who were placed to the west of the ark of covenant in the Israelite formation.
Yet, greatness of one's history or heritage does not secure the equal greatness of one's character. Just because your forefather was one of the greatest leaders in history does not make you of equal standing like them.
The men of Ephraim were well equipped and furnished with the required weapons, however, they failed in faith and courage and retreated before the foe. What a tragedy it is to be equipped with the required weapon and then fail to muster the moral courage to fight gallantly as required and trained.
The account of the men of Ephraim in Psalm 78.9 can happen to anyone of us. Let's not kid ourselves, talk of us being in faith with God is cheap. I don't believe that anyone of us in church today can say that we're not equipped with the weapons to defend ourselves or to take the higher ground in battle.
Today, you can serve actively in church or be involved in a ministry or cell that is providing you with a covering, but in the day of your own battle where you are to stand for your faith and do what you are to do, will you turn your back like the men of Ephraim?
May you always stand your ground in faith and loyalty to God.
Blessings,
M.
"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:26-27)
"They would not be like their forefathers - a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle"
One of my greatest fear is that the youths whom I taught or am teaching currently will someday lapse into their old self the moment I move on and stop being their immediate leader. I say this not of pride nor of need to gain self accomplishment but really because I know that every one's mettle is only proven when the storms of life hit and you are left to make your own choices. As seen in the bible through many examples such as this: "No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the LORD their God" (Judges 8:33-34a)
Ephriam was not just any other tribe, it is the tribe from which Joshua was from. Numbers 2:18-24 also tell us that the tribe of Ephriam were a priviledged tribe who were placed to the west of the ark of covenant in the Israelite formation.
Yet, greatness of one's history or heritage does not secure the equal greatness of one's character. Just because your forefather was one of the greatest leaders in history does not make you of equal standing like them.
The men of Ephraim were well equipped and furnished with the required weapons, however, they failed in faith and courage and retreated before the foe. What a tragedy it is to be equipped with the required weapon and then fail to muster the moral courage to fight gallantly as required and trained.
The account of the men of Ephraim in Psalm 78.9 can happen to anyone of us. Let's not kid ourselves, talk of us being in faith with God is cheap. I don't believe that anyone of us in church today can say that we're not equipped with the weapons to defend ourselves or to take the higher ground in battle.
Today, you can serve actively in church or be involved in a ministry or cell that is providing you with a covering, but in the day of your own battle where you are to stand for your faith and do what you are to do, will you turn your back like the men of Ephraim?
May you always stand your ground in faith and loyalty to God.
Blessings,
M.
"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:26-27)
