God Left Him to Test Him

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31 NIV).

Hezekiah was a godly king who sought God with all his heart. There … Read the rest

How Long Will You Wait?

So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3 NIV).

One of the simplest reasons why we fail to enter into God’s blessing for our lives is that we never do … Read the rest

Despite Their Fear

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices (Ezra 3:3 NIV).

It is not surprising that a people who returned from exile and captivity to their own land now lying in ruins are … Read the rest

First Seek the Counsel of the Lord

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 18:4 NIV).

It is a sad thing to note that seeking the counsel of the Lord is the last thing that many Christians do. They do not think of seeking God’s wisdom and guidance in the decisions … Read the rest

Be Holy, Because I Am Holy

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy… I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:44a, 45 NIV).

We often try to define sin. Actually it is an attempt to find out … Read the rest

Jerusalem, She Did Not Consider Her Future

Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her (Lamentations 1:9a NIV).

Prophet Jeremiah is mourning over the total destruction of Jerusalem. Among many other things he finds one sure reason why this most favored city of God was destroyed–“she did not … Read the rest

Who Despises the Day of Small Things?

Who despises the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10a NIV)?

God begins all His great works from small things. In this passage people were asked not to despise the day of small things. This is because it is part of human nature to look down upon small beginnings.

People are generally impressed only by the … Read the rest

Altars for Sinning

Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning (Hosea 8:11 NIV).

God is here giving us a solemn warning. It points out great pretensions that can happen in our spiritual life. God had given the Israelite people the ability to build a temple for His name. They were asked … Read the rest

A Curse on Him Who Is Lax

A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on him who keeps his sword from bloodshed! (Jeremiah 48:10 NIV).

The context here is God’s command of the destruction of the Moabites. That is why there is mention of bloodshed. The command is so important that God has put a … Read the rest

A River that No One Could Cross

He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in–a river that no one could cross (Ezekiel 47:5 NIV).

Prophet Ezekiel was given a lengthy vision of the New Temple of God in Jerusalem. He was given … Read the rest

Like Clay in the Hand of the Potter

Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel (Jeremiah 18:6b NIV).

God asked Prophet Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. God promised to give Jeremiah a special message there. At the potter’s house Jeremiah saw him working at the wheel. He saw that … Read the rest

Although

Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash (2 Chronicles 24:24 NIV).

There are occasions in life where we meet with unexpected defeat. There seems to … Read the rest

Destroyed Fruit Above and Roots Below

I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below (Amos 2:9 NIV).

In this passage God is declaring to Israel what He had done for them. God had dislodged and destroyed the Amorite people from before the … Read the rest

Confess and Renounce Sin to Find Mercy

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).

This is very plain. It looks simple. But it is not easy. Those who have tried might have found it difficult and stopped trying. The problem is that when one sins, that person derives some sinful … Read the rest

Jehoram, to No One’s Regret

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings (2 Chronicles 21:20 NIV).

Jehoram was the first-born son of a good and godly king. His … Read the rest

God’s Word: A Lamp and a Light

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105 NIV).

We carry lamps so that we may light it when darkness comes. God’s word is the light that makes our traveling in a dark world easy. Therefore we have to carry God’s word in our hearts.

A heart … Read the rest

Where Is the Whitewash When the Wall Collapses?

When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” (Ezekiel 13:12 NIV).

In this passage, God is denouncing the false prophets of Israel. Instead of proclaiming God’s message, these false prophets were making the people of God believe in lies.

They caused the people of Israel to … Read the rest

Time for Paneled Houses?

Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? (Haggai 1:4 NIV).

The Lord’s house was remaining in ruins. Nobody seemed to care about this situation. Then God Himself calls the attention of the people to this pathetic condition through the prophet.

God questions … Read the rest

The Spirit of God Was Hovering

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2 NIV).

When a man turns to Christ and accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord, there is a certain condition that prevails before his acceptance. It is similar to … Read the rest

A Watchman

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me (Ezekiel 33:7 NIV).

A watchman may have the lowest rank in the list of a king’s soldiers. But in importance this post is key to the safety of the … Read the rest

Another Generation Not Knowing the Lord

After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals (Judges 2:10,11 NIV).

A lot of important things are to be learned here. The … Read the rest

Choose to Serve the Lord

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served be
yond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15

Read the rest

Watch Not the Wind or the Clouds

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV).

Many men live defeated lives because they are controlled by their circumstances. But a few live victorious lives because they trust in God and overcome their difficult circumstances.

We stand to lose heavily if we stop our … Read the rest

Did Not Trust in Me Enough

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, `Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them’ –(Numbers 20:12 NIV).

Trusting in God is good. But when you are leaders of God’s flock … Read the rest

Are You Complacent?

One dictionary defines complacency as: “A feeling of satisfaction with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not think any change is necessary; the state of being complacent1.”

This sin of complacency is what destroyed the Israelites from enjoying the fullness of the Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua asked this question to them: … Read the rest

Future Fear

The Urge

Most people are anxious to know their future. For this they depend on horoscopes or palm reading or go to meet astrologers. A few resort to more powerful methods or persons.

The sad fact is that all these sources of knowledge about the future have their origin in evil. The not so known … Read the rest