Ezra’s Faith

Ezra 8:21—23
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our G-d, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our G-d is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our G-d for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

G-d heard the prayers of Ezra and the people who were traveling with him to Jerusalem from Persia. G-d extended His mercy toward them by covering their journey.

Some years ago an American traveler stood awaiting an Indian train that would take him north to the Nepalese border. As the sun set, he pulled out a copy of “Lonely Planet” guide book. He became alarmed at a short paragraph that described the train north upon which he was about to board. It said not to travel at night. Bandits were known to attack the train. He knew Americans were particularly vulnerable to such escapades. At that time, an American passport was worth 100,000 Rupees, he’d been told. He was concerned. He wondered if he should turn back, waiting until morning. He prayed. When finally the train arrived, he boarded it without delay.

G-d’s mercy extended to Ezra after He saw the fasting and heard the praying of Ezra and his company. G-d extended His grace to the American traveler. That traveler didn’t fast. Sure, he prayed. But only after he became concerned. G-d acted, not on the prayers themselves, but in His mercy, which He extends to whom He chooses, when He chooses, in the time He chooses. Additionally, it doesn’t seem to be based upon the righteousness of the recipient. Conversely, the lack of grace extended isn’t a product of righteousness or lack there of.

Pastor Jayasen died. Other pastors and ministerial workers throughout the world are persecuted. There are those we can agree that are truly wicked that seem to thrive. The wicked haven’t seen the wrath of G-d. Not yet, anyway! In the Psalms the cry is often put out to G-d that the righteous are persecuted and die, while G-d’s enemies seem to go free. Yet, what shall we make of Ezra’s statement to the Persian ruler? “The hand of our G-d is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” C.S. Lewis wrote about the belief in the after life, which I think has some guidance for us. “It is surly therefore, very possible that when G-d began to reveal Himself to men, to show them that He and nothing else is their true goal and the satisfaction of their needs, and that he has a claim upon them simply by being what He is, quite apart from anything He can bestow or deny, it may have been absolutely necessary that this revelation should not begin with any hint of future Beatitude or Perdition.” (from Reflections on the Psalms)

We are the clay, while G-d is the potter. All things work for the good. . . the Apostle Paul wrote. G-d sees beyond our day or week or month. G-d looks beyond our present time. He has a plan. Good thing, too. He is the Potter. We are the clay.

Also while we THINK the wicked thrive, they are only saved for a great wrath that will one day come to them. Perhaps G-d has completed what He wanted to do in Pastor Jayasen’s life. Perhaps the pot that our Lord was making was done. Pastor Jayasen is now with the Lord. The wicked have now another opportunity to come to know the Lord—before His wrath consumes them.

So, back to the American traveler on an Indian train in hostile territory heading north. After a couple short stops, an off-duty police officer boarded the train, sitting in the same car as the traveler. That traveler felt it a sign from G-d that G-d’s grace would be sufficient for his safe travel. And so it was, not just for that night, but for many, many days and nights afterward. G-d’s grace is still sufficient, operating in his life. Obviously, the Lord isn’t finished with him yet. The pot that he is, isn’t ready to put on the Heavenly shelf, so to speak. It’s still in production.

Pastor Jayasen, Orissa, India

Last week I received an email sent through Renewal Ministries Fellowship that contained two emails from India about the death of Pastor Jayasen of Orissa India.

“Our beloved brother Pastor Jayasen served our Lord in an area of Orissa (Odisha) India that has suffered much persecution. He also travelled to many other areas of India as he worked to build and unify the body of Christ and strengthen everyone else’s ministry…”

“i am very sorry to inform you pastor Jeyesen is passed away from world .yesterday .i don,t know reason who killed him but i heard news some anti Christians are kill him in his room.”

Hadassah (countinued)

Exodus 1:8-20
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

What we saw, I believe, with Mordecai was a passive disobedience: Mordecai didn’t reverence Haman as required. Remember Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who protested the school policy for all students to study Islam? Prior to any disobedience, he protested to the school. His protest was based upon current Iranian law that permits choice in religious practice. He hadn’t been given a chance to disobey, but was arrested and eventually sentenced to death. Pastor Youcef was given the chance to recant, however, which would mean denying our Lord and Messiah Y’shuaJesus. He choose not to do so.

Now in Exodus we see the midwives serving the Jewish people. The Pharaoh’s command to the midwives was to kill all male newborns, which they did not do. The midwives went a step further from passive inaction, and lied to the Pharaoh.

In each of these cases, Mordecai, Pastor Youcef, and the midwives, we see that they did not connive with those who know not our G-d. They bravely made choices. They decided not to go along with the worldly program guided by “dark” spiritual powers, and principalities, that are against our G-d. I don’t know whether or not there were those who counseled them to not take the action, but it remains that action, even if passive, was taken. But had there been un-G-dly counsel, it was ignored. Had there been counselors that weren’t listened to, they’d have had cause to say, “I told you so!” when trouble came.

Now, take a look at that cadet. He listened to a counselor, and went along with the “worship” of a homecoming football. That was a first step to walking in the way of the sinners, as the psalmist cautioned about. But who of us has not at some time or other went along with something we didn’t fully support? I’ve heard it said that it is better to not “buck the system.” It takes strength to walk in righteousness. It takes a well-maintained relationship with Y’shuaJesus. How many times, how many hours, did Y’shua go off into the night to pray to our Father in Heaven? Countless times, I’m sure. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see a glimpse of the prayer to which Lord Y’shua was accustom. Agonizing prayer. Tearful prayer. Intense prayer.

May we experience such incredible times in prayer ourselves. It’s good practice, in good times, preparing for times that are not so good.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

Image via Wikipedia

Psalm 26
A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

C.S. Lewis, in his “Reflections on the Psalms,” writes of connivance pointing to Psalm 26:4 , “the good man is not only free from ‘vanity’ (falsehood) but has not even ‘dwelled with,’ been on intimate terms with, those who are ‘vain.’ ”

One of the things I enjoy about Mr. Lewis’s writings on connivance is that he often states, “. . .I do not know the answer.” He explores the life we are to live based upon the the Word of G-d through the Bible. In one place he writes, “How ought we to behave in the presence of very bad people?” Mr. Lewis then writes about how “Christ [spoke] to the Samaritan woman at the well, [how] Christ [dealt] with the woman taken in adultery, [how] Christ dined with publicans, [this] is our example.” Yet Mr. Lewis also writes, “But I am inclined to think a Christian would be wise to avoid, where he decently can, any meeting with people who are bullies, lascivious, cruel, dishonest, spiteful and so forth. Not because we are ‘too good’ for them. In a sense because we are not good enough. We are not good enough to cope with all the temptations, nor clever enough to cope with all the problems, which an evening spent in such society produces. The temptation is to condone, to connive at: by our words, looks and laughter, to ‘consent.’ ”

When we are around those who do not conduct their lives in accordance with Biblical principles, do not look to the Lord our G-d as their Lord, their Savior, we may inadvertently condone their practices. Thus, as Mr. Lewis states, “By implication we are denying our Master; behaving as if we ‘no not the Man.’ ”

We cannot avoid all contact with non-believers, though. But we don’t need to join in, giving the appearance of approval. Neither, as Mr. Lewis points out, do we continually need to be contentious and interrupt with ‘I don’t agree.’ Silence is our refuge, Mr. Lewis states. But at some point, as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, there is a time to disagree, to point out the truth. Mr. Lewis puts it this way: “There comes of course a degree of evil against which a protest will have to be made, however little chance it has of success. There are cheery agreements in cynicism or brutality which one must contract out of unambiguously. If it can’t be done without seeming priggish, then priggish we must seem.”

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

Psalm One

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The military academy cadet. His counselor told him it was only a game, he could bow to the homecoming football, it was okay. He dried his tears and the next time the ball, carried on a silk pillow, came down the hallway, he joined the other freshmen and bowed low. Trivial example as it is, and with no real intent to actually worship the football, I suppose it didn’t hurt to go along. Or was there? What’s the difference between bowing to the homecoming football and kissing a rabbit’s foot for good luck? And what of the counselor that spoke to the cadet? Was he a wise counselor? What if a counselor had spoken to Mordecai in the same manner? Is paying homage to the king’s representative, Haman in the Book of Esther, just a game and not serious worship?

What about “Sieg Heil,” the German salute during the Nazi years prior to, and during, WWII? Read what Wikipedea says about this salute:

“Sieg Heil was a ritualistic chant used at mass rallies, where enthusiastic crowds answered Heil to the call of Sieg (“victory”). For example, at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally, Rudolf Hess ends his climactic speech with, “The Party is Hitler. But Hitler is Germany, just as Germany is Hitler. Hitler! Sieg Heil!” At his total war speech delivered in 1943, audiences shouted Sieg Heil as Joseph Goebbels solicited from them “a kind of plebiscitary ‘Ja’ to self destruction in a war which Germany could by now neither win nor end through negotiated peace”. In correspondence with high-ranking nazi officials, letters were usually signed with “Heil Hitler”.

“On 11 March 1945, less than two months before the capitulation of Nazi Germany, a memorial for the dead of the war was held in Marktschellenberg, a small town near Hitler’s Berghof residence. The historian Ian Kershaw reports, “When the leader of the Wehrmacht unit at the end of his speech called for a Sieg Heil for the Führer, it was returned neither by the Wehrmacht present, nor by the Volkssturm, nor by the spectators of the civilian population who had turned up. This silence of the masses… probably reflects better than anything else, the attitudes of the population.” ”

Perhaps it is harmless to bow to a silly game football, but if we take seriously Psalm One, then by going along on this instance leads down another path, a path that does not lead to the Victory of Y’shuaJesus. Going along with wrongdoing is connivance. Walking with sinners. Sinners. We are now judging people, saying they are sinners? Yes. And no. Yes, we are judging them as sinners if they walk not according to the Word of G-d. No, we are not the judges, but the Word of G-d judges and we are in accord and obedience to the Word of G-d. In fact, Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said All Are Sinners. All Fall Short of the Glory of G-d.

Covered in the Blood. Isn’t that an expression once used in Baptist churches across America? We are covered in the blood of Y’shuaJesus, our sins atoned by His death on the Cross. We are sinners saved by grace. But not all are saved. All are offered redemption, but not all accept it.

C.S. Lewis has some things to say about connivance, too. Let’s take a look on Wednesday.

Until then, Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon you and through you to this hurting, challenging world in which we reside as visitors, strangers. . .

Hadassah (continued)

“When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry. . .” Esther 4:1 KJV

“. . .and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law–to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:7-14 ESV

Okay, so undoing Mordecai’s disobedience of the king, his not reverencing Haman, is now the responsibility of Hadassah? Oh, that’s right, we are not considering Mordecai to have disobeyed, but to simply have obeyed G-d. So it is G-d that has made a mess that Hadassah must risk her life to turn around, right? Why? Why ever would G-d cause a situation in which His own people would be put into harm’s way? As I see it, G-d’s people were already in harm’s way. And it was just a matter of time that something else would have triggered a massacre of His people. G-d foresaw it coming, prepared people in the right places. Look at what Mordecai tells Hadassah: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

G-d is wise. We try. One thing I notice throughout the Bible is that G-d has the end in sight. He has a plan. And as rough as it is for me to take, G-d allows suffering if it produces what is necessary for G-d’s plan to succeed, for G-d to succeed. For if G-d succeeds, we succeed. He is our Victory. His Victory, is our victory. It can be no other way. We are too short-sighted. We haven’t the end in sight. We live too much in the present. Oh, sure, that’s what the New Age is all about—living in the present, not the past, not the future. And certainly, in some instances this may seem prudent. But we must have hope, and G-d’s Victory is our True Hope.

We must remember that in taking a look at various scriptures within the Book of Esther, or any Book of the Bible, it is easy to loose sight of the whole picture. Esther shows us there is persecution of those who would belief the One Lord, the One G-D. And we are shown that in the end, the Goodness of G-d prevails against His enemies. That’s right. Haman isn’t just the enemy of G-d’s people; Haman is the enemy of G-d. As I’ve said, and say again, G-d is Victorious. We are victorious in Him. Thank G-d for Y’shuaJesus, through Whom we come to G-d, the Father, and have right to be called Sons and Daughters of the Living, Holy G-d.

Still curious about connivance? Maybe next time. And remember the military academy cadet? Perhaps we shall discuss this event, too.

Until then, let us keep the Feast, and think of the Feast with Y’shua to come. Maranatha, Lord, Maranatha!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The Feast of Purim; Sundown Tonight

“Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9:20-22

Home made Haman's ear (Photo credit: zeevveez)

Purim is celebrated by the reading of the Scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillat Esther, which relates the basic story of Purim. Under the rule of King Ahashuerus, Haman, the King’s prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of the land from destruction. The reading of the megillah is typically a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud.

Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only Book of the Bible in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Chanukah, is viewed traditionally as a minor festival, but elevated to a major holiday as a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman became the embodiment of every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance in Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become – a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival against all odds.
This is from: http://urj.org/holidays/purim/

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

Y’shuaJesus said: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to G-d the things that are G-d’s.” Matthew 22:21

Y’shuaJesus offers a glimpse into the dilemma I threw out for thought: whether we are bound to follow completely the Apostle’s Paul’s command to obey rulers, as they are appointed by G-d, or follow only G-d, as if no other law existed to us, i.e., we are above the Earthly laws.

Driving yesterday, I thought that IF I were not bound by Earthly laws, but only those who do not know Y’shuaJesus, then I could go as fast as I wanted, not following the posted speed limit. I have yet so see a speed limit in the Bible. But I opted to get a driver’s license, agreed to follow the highway regulations. As such, I am bound to those regulations. Those regulations are not contrary to G-d’s Law, either. This, I believe, is the balance that we must achieve in following the Law of G-d and the law of man. We do not have the right to break a human-enacted law simply because we disagree with it. We also are not bound to follow, in fact are prohibited from following, any law that contradicts G-d’s Law. For as we have seen, through out history men who, once appointed ruler or leader, have abused, disused, rejected, G-d’s Laws.

So, Mordecai’s refusal to pay homage to Haman is obedience to G-d’s Law prohibiting idolatry. And this doesn’t contradict what the Apostle Paul commanded regarding obeying leaders and rulers. At least we must consider that Paul would not contradict G-d’s Law, else he condemn himself when he condemned others bringing false teaching.

Balance. Achieved!

For Mordecai, it was fairly cut and dry. A no brainer, as they say here.

Now how do we respond to this: Many years ago, at a military academy in Wisconsin, a ninth-grade cadet stood at attention, tears running down his cheeks. The counselor before whom he stood wanted an answer for why the cadet would not bow down to the Homecoming Football as it was paraded around the school. The young man told the counselor that it was wrong to bow before anything, for it was idol worship, and against the Law of G-d. The counselor explained that it was just a game, and not real worship. So it’s okay!

If that had been you, how would you have reacted, and acted in the future?

Lord willing, we shall move into connivance next time.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Haddasah (continued)

“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them.” Esther 3:8

Thinking last night about Mordecai’s disobedience of the king’s edict, I reread Matthew Henry’s comment: “The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman.” So Mordecai’s obedience to the Lord sets him at odds with Hamman, setting the stage for reprisals toward all Jews. Now consider what Paul commands the believers in Rome: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1,2)

You can see where I’m going with this, right? Here is a man who resists authority, yet rather than incurring judgement, he is rewarded, and all Jews living in the king’s realm are receive a reprieve from a death sentence. Okay, I suppose one explanation might be that Mordecai’s disobedience resulted in all of G-d’s people being under condemnation, which G-d could not have happen. So, G-d had to rescue all his people. But would G-d still allow Mordecai to receive eventual honor, despite his violation of the law of the kingdom? Perhaps Mordecai should not have disobeyed; maybe he should have honored Haman. That would have appeased Haman. What do you think? Does appeasement of evil really work? Or does it merely postpone the inevitable confrontation between good and evil, light and dark?

You’ve had Pastor Youcef on your heart, and in your prayers. Perhaps he felt he must stand up and protest the teaching of a religion to which he was not a member. He needed to be an example and a protective shepherd of a flock to which The Lord gave him charge. But according to Apostle Paul, G-d appointed the rulers of Iran, and to their authority all must defer. Is that correct?

Digest that for a minute or two.

Now let’s look at another possible scenerio. Perhaps G-d appoints rulers over those to whom He is not known. And we, as His children-by-adoption, are exempt from the authority of humans. We are subject to a greater Authority. We are directly subject to the Master and Creator of the Universe. There are no intermediaries, except Y’shuaJesus, who makes a relationship with the Father possible. Perhaps. But that does sound a bit arrogant. And, of course, we’ve never been accused of being holier-than-thou, arrogant, pompous, fools, have we? There are many opposed to the Truth, to the Lord. They persecute those whom they perceive as close to the Truth. They really are jealous of us, however. They can’t accept the Truth, so condemn it.

There are some ideas that I have that might place us somewhere between blindly following the Earthly kings of the land, and the shunning all Earthly authority saying we are following the commands of G-d. I also want to speak about something that C.S. Lewis wrote about: connivance. But we shall begin that next week.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

“. . . Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. . .” Esther 3:5

The dissent of Mordecai is a passive, non-violent form. It is a refusal to obey edicts or laws contrary to Scripture. He did not protest openly an edict, or law. In Iran, today, a pastor is in jail for openly protesting a law. According to Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), (see article here) “Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school.”

Recently, VOM contacts told VOM “the chief justice in Gilan province told Youcef’s lawyers last week (Jan. 16, 2012) that if Youcef repents, he will be released. Youcef told his attorneys repenting means leaving Christianity to return to Islam. He said it was impossible for him to “return” to Islam, since he was never Muslim.

“Our contacts write, “Because of your prayers and concerns, the regime is afraid to issue a negative verdict, and yet they do not want to release him…”

“Please continue to surround Youcef with your prayers. Pray that the chief justice will have a change of heart.”

Pastor Youcef objected to a law. He protested that law. That’s different from not obeying a law, right? Perhaps he could have just let things go along quietly. Perhaps. But what of Mordecai? All he did was to disobey, and that got him in trouble with Hamman. Had G-d not intervened, Mordecai and most of G-d’s people would have been executed. And G-d’s intervention included active work by Mordecai. More thoughts on that later.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .