Rock of Ages: Balaam, Balak, and the Unchanging God (Numbers 22-24)

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 22-24

Am I largely confused by the story of Balaam and Balak? Yes, frankly, I am.

But … is there any question in my mind that God is a promise-keeping, miracle-working God who never changes and has all authority over all things in heaven and on earth? No, truthfully, there isn’t. I believe with all my heart the words of Numbers 23:19,

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man,
that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Numbers 23:19 ESV

Oh my! Hold the phone. The song, “Way Maker” just came on my Spotify station. What?!? Let me digress for just a moment — Can I confess to you that I find the repetitiveness of this song kinda irritating? Anyone else? But, listen to these words,

“Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are”

Way Maker by Leeland

Back to the matter at hand, the Mid-South is in the midst of a major heat wave made all the more devastating by coming right on the heels of a major thunderstorm with high winds that left a large portion of our city without power. Thankfully, we never lost power, but we are having to work around the extreme heat outside. So, this morning, my husband got up early to mow our 2-acre yard before it got too hot. At 9:15 am, after already finishing mowing over an acre of grass, suddenly the sky grew dark, and we could hear the rumbling of thunder in the distance.

Suddenly, I had this thought,

The sun is as present and bright right now
as it was an hour ago.
The clouds might hide it from view,
but the sun hasn’t changed one bit.

Likewise, God is the same no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. He is unmoving. He is unchanging. He is the rock of ages. May we learn to “kiss the waves that throw [us] against the Rock of Ages,” as Charles Spurgeon so brilliantly said.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise….

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain…

Hebrews 6:13-15, 17-19 ESV
Rock of Ages – Antrim Mennonite Choir

Turn your Eyes: Thoughts on Numbers 21 through the Eyes of a Former Atheist

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 21

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”

Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole.

And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9 ESV

Here they go again. Complaining. Complaining. Complaining. Again it’s all about the food.

We have no food. Well, I mean, this food that You miraculously give us every morning is worthless, and we hate it. Why did you deliver us out of slavery? You’re a mean god. We want to go back home.”

I wish I could say that I can’t relate, but that would be a lie. All too often the thoughts in my head sound all too much like them.

“Father, what are you doing? Why is life so hard? Why did you lead me to this place only to abandon me here? I thought you loved me?”

When the snakes were biting (and killing) the people, the Israelites simply wanted the Lord to take the snakes away.

“Make this pain go away, God! Take it away! Get me out of this desert and put me in the promised land. Now!”

But that’s not what God does. Rather, He sends a Savior, a Rescuer.

He says, “Look up here! Look up at this bronze serpent up here on this pole. Look at it and have faith. Trust Me. Don’t look down at those snakes or that snake bite. Look up here at Me! I love you. Trust Me.”

Jesus referred to this very event when He was explaining to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Him secretly by night, that he must be born again if he wants to enter the kingdom of God.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:14-19 ESV

What happened to the Israelites who didn’t gaze up at that snake on the pole that had been sent by God to save them? They died in their sins.

What happens to people today who don’t turn their eyes to Jesus, the God-Man sent by God to save them? They, too, will die in their sins.

Is that scary? Yes. Yes, it is.

But is God good to provide a way of escape for each of us who are dying in our sin? Yes! Yes, He is!

I’ll end with the words of Jesus from John 6:40, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Heavenly Father, Please draw us to turn our eyes to You. You have already provided a Savior. You have already sent Your son Jesus to pay the price for our sin. Now, Lord, give us the desire and the strength to turn to You instead of turning to ourselves, our circumstances, and other fallen men. Forgive us for our complaining. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Thank You for Your steadfast faithfulness and mercy toward us, a sinful people. We pray for those around us who are running headlong away from Jesus. Draw them to know You. Please, Father. We cry, Holy! Mercy! Save us, Lord! In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Turn your Eyes – Sovereign Grace Music
My YouTube Video about this blog – Come. Pray. Share.

What Can Wash Away my Sin?

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 19-20

Even when I was an atheist, I knew I messed up. I knew I did things I shouldn’t. I couldn’t even obey the rules that I made for myself. I didn’t call these things sin and I didn’t call myself a sinner, but I knew I was far from perfect.

I said mean things behind people’s backs and sometimes even to their faces. I gossiped and slandered and lied. I cussed. I yelled. I manipulated.

Yet I had no solution to this ongoing problem – other than trying harder. Trying harder and failing again.

I was a lone soldier against an army of tanks. I was a lone woman scaling the Rocky Mountains in a blizzard with nothing and no one to protect or guide me.

Then, one day, at God’s appointed time, I heard about the solution to this age-old problem, and it wasn’t found in my own self will or strength. It was found in Jesus, in His will and His strength, for Jesus had gone before me, living the perfect life and dying a sinless death. He has already won the battle. He’s already standing on the mountaintop. He’s already seated on His heavenly throne.

The victory is His. As His born-again child, I am already forgiven, and my sins have already been washed away by His blood.

The blood of Jesus does what no human work can do; it washes clean not only our outer flesh, it purifies even our conscience, giving us the freedom to serve the Living God.

For if the blood of goats and bulls,
and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer,
sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God,
purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Hebrews 9:11-14 ESV

And now by the strength of His Holy Spirit working in me, I’m still fighting and climbing. Not so I can be forgiven – I’m already forgiven. I’m fighting and climbing because I’m His soldier in a war that’s worth fighting. I’m in the Lord’s army, looking for souls in need of rescue. Want to join me?

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:7, 10-17 ESV

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your forgiveness and your Grace, the power of your Holy spirit and the blood of Jesus. Thank you for not only forgiving me but for purifying my conscience and cleansing my heart. Give me the strength to get back in the battle. You have already won, yet You have called me to be a soldier in Your mighty army. This is a battle that cannot be won in my own strength, but only in your Holy Spirit. Your Word is my sword. Have Your way in me and through me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Milk and Honey, or Fish and Onions?

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 13

Yesterday I wrote my thoughts about Numbers 11-12, that the Israelites had made their belly their God – and the truth is that all too often, so do I. Well, today, reading Numbers 13, about that promised land flowing with milk and honey, full of figs and pomegranates and enormous clusters of grapes, I thought, “What about your bellies now? Why are you wishing for fish and onions when you could have milk and honey and grapes?”

And then, again, I remembered how often that’s just how I am, too. All too frequently I’m still wishing for the comfortable, worn-in life that I had in the “good ol’ days” – days that weren’t really all that good if I were honest with myself – rather than being willing to take the risk of pursuing the new, fresh joys that the Lord has waiting for me.

When our heads are turned to look behind us, we can’t see clearly what God has in store for us in the future. Sometimes the only way to press on into the future is to forget what lies behind.

The greatest gifts God has for you aren’t found on this earth. His greatest gifts are found in food or phones, or in family and freedom. Our greatest gifts are found in faith in Jesus Christ. He is our promised land. He is our hope and joy and crown. He is our peace.

And He invites us to come to Him. Now. Today.

There is an enemy fighting against us – the devil, that wiley deceiver, that thief and lion who is masquerading as an angel of light. He is a powerful adversary, but he was defeated the moment Christ rose from the grave.

The winner has already been announced.

Jesus wins! Christ is victorious!

Come and see. Taste and see. God is good!

Heavenly Father, help me to stop thinking about those days of the past where I sat around meat pots and ate fish and onions. I was a slave then, a slave to my belly and a slave to my sin. Jesus has freed me by His blood and welcomed me into Your eternal promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey, full of the abundance of joy found in fellowship with You. Help me to trust and obey, to remember that my foe has been defeated by Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Jesus has triumphed over sin and death, and invited me to do the same through the power of His Holy spirit! Praise the Lord! In the Almighty name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

Waiting on the Lord – Thoughts on Numbers 9

Read Through the Bible: Numbers 9-10

I don’t like to wait. I think quickly, I speak quickly, and I act quickly. I always have.

But this is not who I want to be. I want to wait on the Lord. I want Him to lead, and I want to follow. God has given me this desire, this new “want to,” as part of the new person that I am in Christ.

In Numbers 9, we read about Moses and the Israelites learning to wait on the Lord. They needed to wait for the Lord to speak, to move, to guide — and so do we.

“And Moses said to them,
“Wait, that I may hear
what the LORD will command concerning you.””

Numbers 9:8 ESV

“At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out.

Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.”

– Numbers 9:18-23 ESV

What are you waiting for the Lord about today?

How long are you willing to wait? Five minutes? An hour? An evening? A day? A week? A month? A year? A lifetime?

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we would faithfully wait upon You and that You would renew our strength as we wait. Whether we have to wait for an evening or a week or a month or a lifetime, I pray that we would not run ahead of You, doing whatever seems right to us, and then ask You to bless whatever we have already decided to do … but instead that You would be the One out front leading us. Make us faithful followers. I pray that our lives would be founded on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and Your written word. Like Matthew 7 says, it is the foolish person who hears Your Word and chooses not to obey, but it is the wise person who hears Your Word and obeys. So, Father, I pray that we would search Your Word diligently, listening fervently for Your Holy Spirit to guide us, and I pray that we would have obedient, submissive, humble hearts bent on obeying you in Your way and in Your perfect time. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Waiting on the Lord – Thoughts on Numbers 9 from a Former Atheist

God is my Witness and my Judge

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Numbers 5:1-6:21

Growing up my dad and my grandfather were both lawyers, I participated in mock trial and debate, and I watched countless episodes of Judge Wapner presiding over “The People’s Court.” 😄 I saw the importance of having a good judge as well as good witnesses and good evidence. The judge could only rule so far as the witnesses and evidence proved the case. Without good witnesses and good evidence, you couldn’t win.

In reading the very strange passage in Numbers 5 about how a jealous husband was to prove his wife either innocent or guilty of adultery, I was reminded of how often men and women simply don’t know what is true. In the case of adultery, there will always be at least one witness – the man or woman who you are with – but there is also another witness: God. We may not know what someone else is up to behind closed doors or in the dark of night, but we can trust beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does.

God knows the secret thoughts of our hearts,
and God knows the secret deeds of our bodies.

Is that scary to think about? Yes, frankly, it is. But it is also so very freeing. I don’t need to snoop through my husband’s online history or the pockets of his pants. I don’t need to dig through his trash or his wallet. I don’t need to track his driving history or figure out his whereabouts every minute of the day. Why? Because God always sees him, even when I don’t.

God is not only the perfect judge, He is also the perfect witness. He can judge perfectly, because He knows everyone’s heart and everyone’s motives, everyone’s thoughts and everyone’s actions. He can place blame with perfect righteousness and justice because He knows exactly what happened. He knows who said what. He knows the way of escape that He provided. He knows how your conscience was pricked. He knows it all.

If your life has been touched by the sins of fornication, lust, and adultery, then you know how far-reaching their tentacles can spread. As is often the case, the sins of others can lead you to into the snares of sin in your own life – the sins of bitterness, anger, jealousy, suspicion, manipulation, and the list goes on. Let me encourage you, sisters, with the words of Peter, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling with reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9) and the words of Paul, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

I pray that we would take the higher road, the road of blessing and good, that we would live the more excellent way, the way of love. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not proud; it is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

I pray that we would be like the model wife of Proverbs 31, that our husbands could truly trust us because we are faithful to do them good and not harm all the days of our life, that strength and dignity would be our clothing, that we would be able laugh at the times to come because we have such great faith in God. I pray that we would open our mouths with wisdom and that the teaching of kindness would always be on our tongues. (Proverbs 31:10-11, 25-26)

I pray that we would be like the godly wife of 1 Peter 3, bravely being subject to our own husbands, so that even if they do not obey the word, they might be won without a word by our respectful and pure conduct. I pray that our radiant beauty would come from the inside out, that the imperishable beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit would glow from within us. I pray that we would be holy women whose hope is in God, faithfully doing good and not fearing anything that is frightening.

Dear sisters, someday your boyfriend, your husband, your sons and daughters, will appear before the judgment seat of God. Someday their secret things will be judged. Someday what was hidden in the dark will be brought into the light.

But that isn’t only true for them;
it’s also true for us.
Our hearts and our lives
will be laid bare before Him, too.

What will He find there? What will He unearth in our hearts? What will He witness in watching how we chose to live our lives?

Will He find bitterness, wrath, envy, and jealousy … or peace, faith, hope, and contentment?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, You are the perfect judge, and You are the perfect witness. No one is hidden from your sight. Someday everything hidden will be brought into the light. I pray that my faith would be in You and not in me. I am so weak, Lord. I am so prone to wander, to leave the God I love. Help me, please. I need You. Give me Your strength. Help me to overcome evil with good because You are good and I am Your child. Help me to repay wrong with blessing because that is the example that You gave to me, that You loved me while I was yet a sinner. Help me to go and do likewise. Guide me step by steap in the way that I should go. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Brother, my Friend and Lord, I pray. Amen.

“They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

– Romans 2:15-16 ESV

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

– 1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

– 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ESV

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

– Revelation 21:6-8 ESV

“”Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

– Revelation 22:12-17 ESV
God is My Witness and My Judge – FormerAtheist58

Which Tent are You Serving?

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 13

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:10-14 ESV

Let’s not rush past these verses without asking ourselves some transformational questions?

Am I living for this earthly body, this corruptible, temporary tent or am I living for that eternal tabernacle in the heavens where Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God?

Am I willing to go to Him outside the camp and bear the same reproach that He bore in my place or am I ashamed of the gospel of my salvation and unwilling to endure the shame that the world has for the Name of Christ?

Am I seeking the praise of man, the accolades of this earthly city, or am I seeking the words “Well done, my daughter,” that my Father will one day welcome me with when I pass from the temporary to the eternal?

What am I truly living for … and is what I’m living for worth Christ dying for?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, in our hearts we know the right answers to these questions, but so often we lack the strength to do what we know that we ought. Please strengthen our weak knees and make straight the paths that You want us to walk. We do love You, Lord, but so often it is not with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. We are at best half-hearted followers. Oh, but Father, we want to give You our whole hearts. Please, do it in us. Pierce our hearts with the truth of Your word and help us to see our sin, so that we can be faithful to cast it off and put on Christ. We love you, Lord. It is in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior that we pray. Amen.

I Love You, Lord – Kathryn Scott

The Lord’s Discipline

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 12:7-29

I’ve been hobbling around in a walking boot on my right foot for a month now. And let me tell you what, I’m tired of it. I want to throw it straight in the trash. It feels like it’s hindering me and making me weak, when actually it’s there to help me heal properly.

It’s like the Lord’s discipline. The Lord is a good Father, a perfect Father. He wants for our good. He wants to teach us and train us. He wants to “raise us up right,” and that means that He is diligently working to conform us into the image of His Son.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:11-13 ESV

I don’t want to be left lame. I don’t want to be left weak. I don’t want to have to walk the crooked path. No. I don’t. I need the Lord’s discipline – and so do you.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me Your daughter. It’s so good to be Your daughter. Thank You that You are not punishing me as Your enemy, but disciplining me as Your daughter. You want for my good. You want to make me straight and strong, and You want to teach me to walk on the straight paths. Help me to give thanks in all circumstances and to trust that the path You have me on is Your will for me in Christ Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith and the Savior of my soul. For it is in His holy name that I pray. Amen

How can I Endure?

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 12:1-6

I hope you read Hebrews 11 immediately before reading Hebrews 12, because of that critical first word of Hebrews 12, “Therefore.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

Why do we remember all those men and women of faith who went before us, men and women who didn’t ever receive what they were promised, what they were hoping for?

Why do we cast off sin and all those other not-so-helpful things that are holding us back in this race?

Why do we consider Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, the One who endured such hostility?

Because that’s how we can keep going, that’s how we can endure, that’s how we can continue to run the race without giving in to weariness and faint from lack of strength. Remember those saints. Remember Jesus. Cast off sin and selfishness and pride and cling to your faith.

Life is Hard. God is Good.

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 11

I love, love, love Hebrews 11. I love it from the first verse to the last verse. I could spend a month just studying this one chapter of the Bible.

How can I choose just one verse to focus on?

Do I choose the definition of faith – that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen – that we find in verse 1?

Or how about that the universe was created by the word of God, that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible, like we read in verse 3?

But what about verse 6, that without faith it is important to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him?

Or maybe I should choose one of the stories of faithful men and women, like Noah or Moses or Rahab?

No, I’m not going to choose any of those. Target, I want to take you to some less popular verses found at the end of this chapter, to the stories of other faithful men and women whose stories aren’t so famous as Abraham and Joseph. I want you to read about some men and women who aren’t featured in our children’s Sunday school lessons.

Let’s begin reading at verse 32.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:32-40

Sisters, life isn’t always easy, but God is always good. Trust Him.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for all of these examples of faithful men and women who have gone before us. Thank You for the wonderful stories of miracles like Abraham and Sarah having a baby in their old age, and Moses parting the Red Sea. Help us to remember that even in those joyous stories there is great pain – Sarah’s pain of decades of barrenness, Moses’s years growing up apart from his mother and all the years in the wilderness. And, Lord, there’s also all those stories of men and women who were mocked, tortured, and killed, who never received in this life the rewards and promises they hoped for. Oh, but Father, today they are in Your glorious presence. Today they are You face to face. And someday we will, too, if we do not lose heart. Give us strength to hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, because You, O Lord, are faithful to keep Your promises. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.