COMING SOON..Alley Rose: An Inspirational YA Historical Novel
What Is Your Excuse For Delay?
When It Comes To Doing God's Will, We Always Seem To Have An Excuse or Reason For Delaying Obedience. Which Can Be Dangerous.
MINDSETS
6/4/20266 min read
In these times of cataclysmic and unpresidented change, as soldiers of God's holy army, we cannot afford to be pacifists or passive any longer. Therefore we have to be able to discern the enemy's devices, strategies, and traps.
Barak's Doubt
In Judges 4, Barak-a military leader of Israel-is commissioned to gather an army and pursue the Canaanite army and defeat them. Though he already knew God's will, he was hesitant out of fear. Because Sisera, the captain of King Jabin's army, had nine hundred chariots of iron. What's more, the Canaanites had been strongly oppressing Israel for twenty years. As a result, Barak dealt with doubt and fear, which caused him to delay obeying God. So God sent Deborah, a judge and prophetess, to encourage him to obey God's command.
Still, he is doubtful and makes a serious declaration:
And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. Judges 4:8
Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him he will lose something as a result of his reluctance to quickly obey God.
And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. Judges 4:9
Judges 4:17-22 tells us Jael kills the captain of the army-Sisera-and she receives the honor for it.
Eli's Indifference
Eli was the high priest of Israel and he had two sons who were priests. Hophni and Phinehas.
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial(worthless or wicked); they knew not the LORD. I Samuel 2:12
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. I Samuel 2:22
The Bible tells us that Eli's sons didn't listen to him. It seems his attempts to rebuke them for various sins were possibly far and few between. He wasn't consistent in discipling Hophni and Phinehas. Whatever the reason-passivity, slothfulness or timidity- he chose not to be the priest or father that God called him to be. And God had warned him of the judgment ahead. More than once.
A Man of God Prophesied To Eli-
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. I Samuel 2: 29, 30
Young Samuel Prophesied To Eli-
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. I Samuel 3: 13, 14
Eli's attempts at rebuking his sons appeared to be 'too little, too late'. What's more he refused to use his authority as high priest to removed them from the priesthood. Just like the man of God told him-Eli honored his sons above God. And he continued to do so until their deaths.
Abigail's Wisdom
Abigail was the wife of a rich man named Nabal. One day, David and his troops were running from Saul, when they came near Nabal's place. David told ten men to go and ask him for food, because they were low on supplies. He sent the men back to David with nothing but insults. He got very angry and ordered about 400 of the men to take up their swords and go with him to attack Nabal's home.
One of Nabal's servants told Abigail about the situation and she quickly gathered food for David and his men. When she met up with them, she asked him to not regard her husband, Nabal-which means fool. And she says God had prevented David from shedding blood and taking his own revenge.
And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person. I Samuel 25:32-35
The next verses reveal how Abigail had good understanding (wisdom) when she delayed telling Nabal about her conversation with David. This is one example that shows 'delay' can be a positive thing when used with discernment.
And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. I Samuel 25:36-38
Word Connections For Today
Barak's delay cost him. Yet, God had mercy and encouraged him, even allowing Deborah to go with him. If he'd only believed God when he spoke to him to go fight Jabin's army, and Sisera would be given into his hands. Doubt caused Barak's delay. Barak allowed the knowledge of the 400 iron chariots and the twenty years of oppression from the enemy, to bring fear into his heart. We have the same hindrances to obedience today. God's word tells us to walk by faith, not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7) Moreso, if we want to live by faith, we must hear-and obey-the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Eli may have started out as a good priest, and father to his sons. But, eventually he became slothful and indifferent. He thought more of Hophni and Phinehas than honoring God's house, laws or name. He and his sons were idolaters. Not true worshipers of the One God. (Colossians 3: 5, 6) We, as true believers, are called to crucify our flesh by being led by the Spirit of the Living God. (Romans 8: 13, 14)
If you study the story of Abigail, you will notice she was quick to take action when needed. As a result, she helped save many lives, including her foolish husband. (Proverbs 13:10) She used good judgment in delaying, also. God will teach us when to stand still and when to pursue. How do we receive such understanding? The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Not the fear of man. Always remember-
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37: 23, 24
RED, WHITE & BLUE COLLECTION
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