Gods Call One

Moses is arguably one of the most influential people in the Bible. He led the children of Israel out of Egypt, received the ten commandments and the instructions for the sanctuary from God, and the first five books of the Bible were written by him; He is frequently referred to throughout the Scriptures as a source of authority and a noble example. With such a record, Moses must be a character worthy of our consideration; but what was the secret to the success of his life? What can we learn from him, and how can we apply it to our own lives? Let’s find out! Moses started out his life as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. As a youth, he was trained in military skill and diplomacy, educated with the highest wisdom and culture that Egypt could offer, and living a life of prosperity; yet before this time of youth, when he was just a little boy, he was taught by his mother about the Lord and trained to love and fear the God of heaven above all else. She recounted to him the promises o...

  Imagine having to fill the shoes of one of the greatest leaders in history and lead a vast nation into a foreign land occupied by fortified cities full of giants. How would you feel? Scared? Inadequate? Discouraged? How about if the God of the universe commanded you to be strong and courageous, and promised you victory? This is what we see in the story of Joshua. His life was one of courage, fidelity, and perseverance. Let’s take a look at this man of courage. Before the wilderness wandering, Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent out by Moses to scout out the land. He and Caleb were the only ones who brought back a good report, the only ones with confidence in God. Because of the rebellion of the people, Joshua and Caleb, though faithful, had to endure forty years of wilderness wandering with the rest of the unfaithful nation. Forty years later, after the death of Moses, Joshua is called by God to lead the Israelite nation through the Jordan river and into the land of promise....

  Imagine being called to leave your home, your friends and family, your goals and dreams, and everything familiar, to travel out to some unknown place, with no idea where you’re going. Imagine being told that even though you and your wife are almost a century old, you will have a child who will bring forth multitudes of people and will become a great nation. Imagine being told to go and sacrifice that promised child as an offering to God. What would you think? How would you respond? This is the story of the life of Abraham, and it is full of insight and encouragement for us. Let’s take a deeper look. The story of Abraham begins with a call from God to leave his country, Haran, and go to a place that God will show him. How do you think he responded? How would you have responded? He does not question, nor complain, but the very next verse says, “So Abram went, as the LORD had told him…” What a testimony. Right from the beginning we see a man who trusts God enough to do what He is...

Have you ever wondered why things have happened the way they have in the past, or where God is during difficult circumstances? The same questions have burdened the minds of thousands upon thousands, yet the Bible has a wonderful story that can shed light and insight upon our experiences, and strengthen us with hope and courage as we continue our journeys through this life. The story that I am mentioning is, The Book of Esther. The book of Esther is an inspiring read in the Old Testament recounting the experience of Esther, a Jewish woman alive during the time of the Medes and the Persians, around 483-473 BC. The Jews at large were freed at large from captivity, yet some still remained in Babylon. To make a long story short, Esther is personally chosen by the king to be his wife, and then, when her uncle finds out about a plot to destroy the Jews, she purposes to do what she can to thwart this plot against her people. This story tells of the bravery and nobility of Esther, along with t...

  Children can be difficult in a sinful world. Freedom of choice and autonomy can be both beautiful or awful, depending on what is done with it. Have you ever seen a child who will not listen to or respect their parents, but rather exercises their freedom to willfully disrespect and defy the authority of their parents? How does it make you feel? How would you respond? This is what we see in the first children of Adam and Eve, in the story of Cain and Abel. After the fall, God instituted a sacrificial offering to point forward to the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for their sins. God desired Cain and Abel to show their faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus by participating in this offering of a lamb. Abel submitted to what God desired and required, gratefully accepting the sacrifice, and he was accepted by God. Cain on the other hand, felt no need for an atonement, and desired to give God the works of his own hands, to willfully disregard what God desired and required, and do his ...

Oftentimes debates arise about God’s sovereignty in our salvation and His involvement in the outworking of our lives for good or for evil. How much of our destiny is dependent on God, and how much is dependent on us? The Bible speaks clearly and extensively on this subject, but I want to highlight one aspect in particular that is clearly illustrated throughout the histories of the Biblical characters: our choice. I will be focusing on three separate instances where the election of grace as shown through our choice is made manifest: Isaac and Esau, Saul and David, and Samuel and the sons of Eli. Jacob and Esau were both born at the same time, and God had prophetically declared that the older would serve the younger, but this was a result of their own choices and cultivated dispositions. Esau was rash and passionate, focused on pleasure and a wild life. He despised his sacred birthright, and sold it to Isaac for a pot of soup. Jacob on the other hand, although deceptive and imperfect, cu...