Tag Israelite

Don’t Be Duped by the Enemies Ruse

Allen Frederick 4 Comments

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD” (Joshua 9:14).

The Israelites Leaving EgyptWhen Joshua and the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they fought many battles. In fact, they fought 39 battles in the Promised Land compared to only two in their exodus from Egypt. God instructed them to wipe out all their enemies completely.The very reason God was giving the land to the Israelites was because of the sin of these nations Israel was to now occupy. God said he was going to drive out all the inhabitants of this land because they had a long history of sin against God. God had instructed Joshua to not make any compromises with these people because God had rejected them and wanted them defeated not befriended.

The more battles the Israelites won under the direction of God and Joshua, the more their reputation preceded them as they entered new territories. The enemies knew they were toast if they came against the Israelites. The enemies knew God was marching with the Israelites and their demise was eminent. Success was on the side of the Israelites.

Such was the case when Joshua and the people came into the land where the Gibeonites lived. The Gibeonites knew they were as good as dead if they didn’t do something. So, they dressed up in old, worn clothes and posed as foreigners passing through. They asked Joshua and the people to make a peace treaty with them.  They pretended to be wanderers from a far off country and was seeking refuge among the Israelites. The feigned to be interested in working with their opposition to infiltrate the opposing camp and then work from within to weaken the Israelite’s resolve,

The scriptures tell us that Joshua and the people made a treaty with them because they did not inquire of God about these people. They assumed what they said was true. The leadership along with the people made a fatal mistake by not seeking out the true intentions of those who were seeking to make a treaty with them. They did not inquire of God to see what the TRUTH was behind the Gibeonites actions. They took them at their word, they trusted that they were being truthful, they trusted the Gibeonites had pure intentions.

They were wrong!

They had been deceived. They now had to pay the consequences. Those consequences resulted in having to work to avoid cross-tribal marriages while they had to make an entire people their slaves. This was something God never intended them to have to do. The relationship was a source of compromise for the Israelites that made them susceptible to future compromises. Trying to keep the infestation contained to only the Gibeonites was next to impossible since the enemy was now living within their own ranks. This day-to-day contact with the opposition weakened the Israelites position since now they had to constantly monitor their own ranks to watch for compromise among the ranks and file.

This initial compromise weakened the position of the entire nation because now their message was no longer pure and their mission was now distorted. How could they drive out and defeat the remaining enemies of the land after having made a COMPROMISE deal with one group? How could they justify continued annihilation of the remaining occupants of the land while they had in their own ranks survivors of that culture?

Thus is the problem with making deals with those who are opposed to your viewpoints or way of life. If the Gibeonites were honorable people they would have begged for mercy based on their TRUE IDENTITIES and admit their true intentions and offer to change their position and embrace the beliefs and pursue the same purpose as the Israelites. But they did not do that, they pretended to be someone they were not to play upon the mercy of the Israelites. They tricked them into believing they were not the enemy but were somehow mistreated by others and were seeking the sympathy of the Israelites.

We see this RUSE today in our own country as foreigners move in among us pretending to be victims of some injustice in other parts of the world. These modern-day Gibeonites play upon America’s compassion to help those who are less fortunate, but these folks have no intentions of conforming to the American way of life, nor adopt the American traditions and customs, instead they adhere to their own identities and infiltrate our institutions to corrupt them and get them to compromise and gradually accept the foreigner’s world view and agendas.  This weakens the county.

Israel today is being asked to COMPROMISE with an occupying force the Palestinians while the Palestinians have no intentions on compromising their position or intentions. They are intent on eliminating Israel and taking over the country for themselves. Therefore it would be a fool’s errand to make a treaty with these enemies of the state. And yet that is exactly what they are being asked to do. And that is exactly what the enemies of the American way of life want us to do as well.

Let us not make the same mistake Joshua made, instead let us inquire of God and seek out the TRUE identities and intentions of these strangers among us.

That is the way I see it! What say you?

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Between A River and the Deep Blue Sea

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Who heard God and rebelled? All those whom Moses led out of Egypt rebelled. With whom was God angry for 40 years? He was angry with those who sinned and died in the desert. Who did God swear would never enter his place of rest? He was talking about those who didn’t obey him. So we see that they couldn’t enter his place of rest because they didn’t believe. Hebrews 3:16-19 (GW)

Jeremiah29_11.jpg (800x640 pixels)They say the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But sometimes that straight line can end up being a very long trip when you reach the land of indecision, the place were fears are birthed. Given time these fears can paralyze an individual for a lifetime, rendering them unable to move from the status quo.

Israel had a hard time getting to where God intended for them to be. The plans and purposes he had in store for them were far greater than where they had already been. The place God was taking them was beyond their ability to comprehend. Not being able to see the end from the beginning left them to wander in the wilderness for a generation. They were unable to move beyond their own fears, doubts, and eventually unbelief.

Egyptian bondage had taken its toil. The people had lost their ability to be free and independent. They felt secure in their bondage, even though it meant daily persecution. The familiar and safe seemed far better than embracing the freedom the Lord offered.

It became a mindset. Get up, do the same thing over and over and look forward to much of the same (day after day) Although they cried out to God for relief, I am not sure they really knew nor wanted what God had in store. It seemed that the more God provided the more they complained, even to the point of refusing to follow into the promised land.

 

 

proclaim.tif (533x800 pixels)They remembered the stories of the promises God had made. They read about it in the books of their prophets. They longed for a time of autonomy. They were looking for a time when they would no longer be oppressed. God heard their cry and came to their rescue. But what happened? They refused the help.

Jesus came unto his own to rescue them from the bondage of sin and to offer a new kingdom. They crucified the Savior. They rejected the offer. They much preferred the way things were, to the way things ought to be. How many times do we miss out on the best God has to offer because we refuse to change? A state of mediocrity seems far better than pristine paradise. We would rather stay in the morass in which we find ourselves then to be redeemed for the life abundant Jesus taught about.

I know first hand how difficult transition can be. We become accustomed to being looked after by those who are not seeking our welfare but rather seeking to enslave us for their own selfish ambitions. Rather than being a free and independent person we find ourselves compromising our values and beliefs for a loaf of bread.


Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.  “Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Gen 25:29-34 (ESV)

Esau sold his rightful birthright for a pot of stew. Many today are doing much the same thing. Instead of reaching for the promises of God set before us, we sell out to the lowest bidder, not even the highest, for a pot of stew. When you think about it, that is how many live their lives, eating from a pot of stew, convinced that is all there is,  never realizing their fullest potential in Christ.

After leaving Egypt and crossing over the Red Sea, beholding the miracle that God wrought before them, Israel was still unable to enter the land of promise. Their biggest challenge was behind them. The Red Sea was far harder to cross over than the Jordan river would be. Having seen the miraculous it is hard to believe that they could not believe once again for a miracle. Oh do not kid yourselves into thinking you would have done anything different. I find in this day and age not many who are able to cross a small stream let alone a raging river.

I do not want to be too harsh on the Israelites because I too am faced with insurmountable obstacles as I try to step out and follow hard after God. I want to emphasize the word HARD in the preceding sentence. Following after God is not easy. It is not impossible but it certainly is not for the faint of heart. Take heart, be not afraid, He promised He would always be with us, even unto the end of the earth. Take a step of faith, be like Peter and get out of the boat of indecision and attempt to walk on the water of opportunity. Cross over to the place where you totally trust in God and you will be far happier and fulfilled than if you stay in the land of indecision.


A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
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Welfare or Well-fare? The Choice is Not Easy

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Weaning dependency from government entitlements proves difficult even for God

The Israelites said to them, “If only the Lord had let us die in Egypt! There we sat by our pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted! You brought us out into this desert to let us all starve to death!” Exodus 16:3 (GW)
So they complained to Moses by saying, “Give us water to drink!” Moses said to them, “Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing the Lord?” But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses and asked, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?” Exodus 17:2-3 (GW)
Pharaoh, the king of ancient Egypt, is often d...

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Moses had led the children out of the tyrannical clutches of the Pharaoh of Egypt, by a miraculous deliverance by the hand of God, and yet the people complained about their newly found independence from Egyptian slavery. In fact it would appear from their complaints they would prefer continued slavery at the hands of their Egyptian slave-masters then independence. Why would they prefer to be treated as slaves than to be free to chart their own course, and live a life independent of slavery?

By analyzing the Israelite’s complaints we can see the root of the problem. The Israelites had become accustomed to government hand-outs, they were unable to wrap their faith around God’s ability to provide for their daily provisions. They had grown accustomed to daily provisions they could rely on. Although these provisions came at the cost of their personal freedom, it appeared they valued the government provisions more than their own independence. Personal freedom, although prayed for daily, was not really what they sought. God’s people cried day and night at the harsh treatment they were receiving under Pharaoh and wished to be delivered from it. God sent Moses to do just that and what does he get for the trouble? Personal attacks from the people he was sent by God to free.

Freeing a people from years of bondage is not an easy task. Those assigned the task of facilitating that deliverance will be viciously attacked personally in their efforts to rescue those bound by the chains of slavery. Those who have been bound for many years grow accustomed to their bondage and the thoughts of freedom frighten them. In fact they will fight against any attempt to save them. There is comfort in the familiar, even if the familiar means living under constant berating and harsh conditions. Although they cried for relief, they did not want deliverance from the daily provisions, just from the harsh provider of those provisions.

In fact what the people really wanted was a change of leadership into someone who would give them their daily provisions and not treat them so badly. They desired for new management and not complete independence. Being free to chart their own course was not what the people truly desired. It would appear from their complaints that they wanted the hand-outs, but did not want the abuse that accompanied the hand-outs. Not once in their complaints directed toward Moses did they thank him for rescuing them from the wicked Pharaoh. Not once did they acknowledge the hand of God in their escape from Egyptian bondage. Not once did they acknowledge their constant cries to God for deliverance. Not once did the words “thank you” cross their lips.

We can not constantly complain and be grateful at the same time. We either are expressing our thanks to God or we are expressing our displeasure with him. Moses knew the people’s complaints where not for him directly but were directed toward God. Moses was the person God used to work through, but ultimately it was God’s plan Moses was implementing. He had been given the instructions from God how to lead the people from Egypt into Canaan. He was following the Lord’s leading, in fact all the people could see the presence of the Lord with them in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Therefore a complaint against Moses was a complaint leveled against God.

Government provisions, although attached to a myriad of strings, are comforting to those who lack faith in God. In fact they prefer slavery because it requires the least amount of effort on their part. Take another look at Exodus 16 verse 3 where the people complained for food and said while they were in Egypt they “sat” around the flesh pots and ate all they wanted. They did not have to prepare it or even earn it all they had to do was show up and partake. In today’s vernacular one only has to cash a government issued check to eat.

Their constant complaining and “testing” of God cost them their true destiny. They were forbidden from entering into the land of promise God made to them.

For 40 years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know My ways.” So I swore in My anger, “They will not enter My rest.” Psalms 95:10-11 (HCSB)

Following the Lord leads to true personal freedom, but few can truly follow Him. The lure of the world and this world’s riches has caused many to go astray. The empty promises of government provisions leaves many faithless. I do not know what I would have done if faced with the same circumstances as the Egyptian Jews, but it is reasonable to assume that the possibility exists that I would respond in much the same way as they did. We too can become so accustomed to our bondage that we fight against God who desires to free us from all entanglements of the world. When we allow ourselves to become accustomed to the ways of this world, we grow increasingly insensitive to God’s ways. Allowing government to take the place of God as our provider and care-giver, eventually leads to total abandonment from God. He does not remove himself from us but we remove ourselves from him.

We need to guard against this truism because the Pharaohs of today are behaving much the same as the Pharaoh of Egypt did. He wanted to defeat the Israelites and forbid them from worshipping God. His treatment of them was brutal and intent on breaking their wills and making them compliant to Pharaoh’s plans and goals. He desired that they worshipped him and look to him as their provider and care-giver. Ultimately he desired for total surrender to him and to look to him instead of God. In actuality he desired to be god.

The second beast forces all people important and unimportant people, rich and poor people, free people and slaves to be branded on their right hands or on their foreheads. It does this so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the brand, which is the beast’s name or the number of its name. Revelation 13:16-17 (GW)

There has been a growing discontent among the populace of the American people for change. They have cried for new, less oppressive, leadership but never-the-less they still want government intervention in their lives. Every time true change is proposed the people revolt and rail against those who are attempting to free the population from government control and regulation. Just like they did against Moses, the people would rather keep on getting their government entitlements then be set free to achieve true liberty. All they really seem to be saying is give us slavery but pick for us a better slave-master.

Beware, the deception of the enemy is to make you doubt God’s ability to deliver and provide for your every need. Although God has proven himself time and time again, it is the goal of the modern-day Pharaoh to get you to hate God and His ways. Be warned that every time you cry out for the flesh pots of Egypt you question God’s leadership in your life. Every time you turn back toward the world you turn your back on God’s leading. In the end this kind of thinking will doom you to an eternity apart from God.

God is seeking your well-fare for which the government substitutes welfare. God seeks your best, the government insists on your failing so that it can continue to be your source. God seeks to enable you to achieve greatness, the government strives endlessly to bring about your demise. In the end there is only one who seeks your well-fare and that is God not the government. Choose than which you would rather serve, God or Mammon. God or the government. Jesus or the Pharaoh. The choice is all yours. Choose wisely for the wrong choice has eternal consequences.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31Open Link in New Window (BBE)

Along for the journey

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