Scattered

Scattered

Genesis 11: ⁵ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ⁷ Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

 

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From the beginning, humans tried to become GOD. Adam and Eve were manipulated by Satan to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. He knew that his sentence was sealed up in a scroll and only a perfect human could open it. All humans, from that point, were imperfect and were born with a sin nature. All but ONE.

 

Imperfect Abel fought against his sin nature by mimicking GOD. Cain, on the other hand, tried to build his own Garden of Eden. Cain was cursed. Humans rejected GOD. Something had to be done. Only Noah believed. He and his family were saved from the great flood. But Canaan, Noah’s grandson did not believe that GOD should rule. This attitude spread to many people. They had one voice against GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was not worried about human ingenuity, rather HE saw their arrogance and pride that mirrored Satan.
• GOD said “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”, so HE scattered them.
• Humans who have an ideology that is against JESUS being GOD, who died and was raised from the dead, will fight a losing battle.

 

One language did not seem to be the problem here, rather they had one common goal, take over! BUT GOD saw through their plan and intervened. The humans started with the massive tower. It took engineering, planning and extreme will to build the structure. Night and day, humans toiled. Years passed. Then GOD, allowing them to finish the tower, came down and confused them.

 

People may have started fighting over who’s name should go on the tower or who should get the best parts of the city. Ideologies were now separated. Humans could not stand to be with each other, to the point that they had to get away from each other. Some people may have studied the ark. They heard that the land was larger than it currently was at the time, so they may have built ships to go to other lands. GOD scattered the people and they developed local languages.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about HIS intervention?
• Have you ever gotten mad at GOD and found others who were mad at HIM as well?
• Have you examined your heart to see if you are with the LORD or fighting against HIM?

Worthless Commerce

Worthless Commerce

Acts 19: ²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

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Needing money, I quickly thought of ideas for businesses that would bring in income quickly. I looked at triangle shaped schemes, get rich quick investments and begging a crowd for a few dollars each. None of them had any appeal. I felt lost.

• There were times when I worried about money.
• There were times when I considered doing “anything” for money.
• There were times when I felt desperate enough to do something “temporarily” for money that GOD would not be pleased with.

Demetrius was a wealthy, known businessman in the community. He brought the business community together to speak against Paul, who was speaking about JESUS being GOD. Demetrius knew his business would be hurt if people believed in JESUS. Instead of changing professions, he formed a mob.

• GOD wants me to keep HIS ways in front of me.
• GOD wants me to base my decisions on HIS commands.
• GOD wants me to let HIM handle those who will not follow HIM.

Desperation for money can bring on some extreme thoughts. I mean, when I walked in fear, I would lie cheat and steal to get a few dollars. BUT GOD showed me another way. GOD wants me to show love rather than hate when it comes to business.

HE is pleased when I pray for my enemies and treat all people fairly. Bowing down to GOD shows HIM I fear HIM in a healthy way. I am grateful HIS way is always solid.

• Are you lying to yourself about your profession?
• Is GOD pleased at what you do on your job or your business?
• Will you look at the examples of JESUS and believe only in HIM for your next move?

The Path to All is Well

Jeremiah 7: ²¹ “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! ²² For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, ²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

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Rebellion was not pretty as I said the words, “I will not serve YOU.” I was not getting “my” way so why serve a GOD who seemed to just leave me on my own to fend for myself, meanwhile the rich and powerful filled their bellies on whatever they wanted.

• There have been times when I complained about GOD’s ways.
• There have been times when I looked at GOD and others as “the problem.”
• There have been times when I was so focused on “me” that I could not appreciate the right way.

Things started to go downhill quickly. I felt even more alone now that GOD wasn’t in the picture. Tired of being alone, I returned to church, not GOD. I figured that HE wanted a few dollars from me so I placed my five dollars in the plate and expected my problems to go away. More problems came. “See, this is why I left GOD in the first place” I thought. BUT GOD was gracious.

• GOD said to me “Obey ME and I will be your GOD and you will be MY people.”
• GOD said to me “Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.”
• GOD said to me “Give me your entire heart and I will mold it into something new.”

Giving up my heart was GOD’s expectation of me. HE wanted me to stop complaining, lusting after the things of Egypt or whining about perfect conditions being deplorable. HE wants me to see HIM no matter what situation is going on at the time. GOD’s road is filled with praise to HIM rather than complaints. GOD wants my heart, not half-hearted service.

• Are you serving GOD and mad at HIM?
• Are you trying to get your way instead of asking GOD for HIS way?
• Is your heart full of complaints?
• Can you turn your complaints into obedience for GOD? 

Want a blessing today?

Deuteronomy 15: ¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

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Sitting in the “counselors” chair a homeless person sat across from me and had to hear the “Gospel of CHRIST” from me. He wreaked of booze but was coherent enough to answer my questions. During our anticipated and somewhat robotic conversation it dawned on me… I wasn’t getting through to him so I asked those in charge, “Do we really have to give this guy some food?”

• When I serve with a grudging heart, I am not at my best.
• When I give out of obligation I hurl my money at the need in a tantrum.
• When I expect a monetary blessing because I have served, I may be on the road to manipulation instead of gratitude.

Poor people will always be around me GOD says. HE wants to bless me, but sometimes I see what this person is going to do with “my” money and I become the judge and jury and provide a verdict that is not favorable for the person standing in front of me. I mean this person is a drunk and that person is a drug addict and that person won’t stop being whatever they are being. I mean shouldn’t “my” money go to someone who “deserves” it?

• GOD says to me “judge not and I won’t judge you.”
• GOD says to me “look beyond the messy person I delivered to you and give them your best.”
• GOD says to me “I know you are weary from giving but my grace is sufficient.”

Sometimes it’s hard to give because I am either not seeing the change I want to see fast enough or the ocean of people seems too great for “my” power. I may feel overwhelmed because the need seems too great. BUT GOD says to me “do what you can with what I have blessed you with for I have many servants.”

I must trust that GOD has plenty and that I am only one of many distribution points for HIS wealth. Yes, the wealth is not mine but HIS and HE wants to do with it as HE pleases.

• Are you giving with a grudging heart?
• Are you serving out of expectation from GOD?
• Can you give and serve without expecting something from GOD?
• Won’t you trust that HE will bless you the way HE wants to bless you, when HE wants to bless you?

Am I ready to be blessed?

Deuteronomy 12: ⁷ There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

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“Just look at how they handled my bags! I should complain.” I thought to myself staring at the mountain of luggage in a pile on the cruise. “What do you mean I can’t upgrade to first class? I have the right status” I verbalized in my complaint. “This rental car smells funny” I should complain I thought to myself.

• Habitual complaining is easy to fall into.
• Habitual complaining is blinding.
• Habitual complaining is detrimental to my witness.

After traveling all over the nation I found myself in the same complaining mode as the rest of the passengers. My complaining spawned impatience which birthed rage and even contempt for “poor service.” I sought better treatment since “I” traveled so much I “deserved” it, right? Wrong!

• GOD wants me to recognize HIS blessings instead seeking what I can get from complaints.
• GOD wants me to understand people will mistreat me because they murdered HIS SON.
• GOD wants me to treat others as I wish to be treated no matter how poorly they are treating me.

Looking back I see I wasn’t a good representative of GOD in my complaining instances. HE would rather see me praise HIM for the many blessings HE has bestowed on me. HE wants me to see beyond the here and now and look to the place HE is taking me rather the place I am right now.

• Are you complaining about something?
• Are you blaming someone?
• Can you stop focusing on what isn’t and look to where GOD is taking you?
• Won’t you stop for a moment and truly praise GOD for the many blessings without expecting something from it?

Complain or Compliment

Numbers 14: ⁹ “But don’t refuse to obey him. And don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will swallow them up. The Lord is with us. So nothing can save them. Don’t be afraid of them.”

¹⁰ But all of the people talked about killing Joshua and Caleb by throwing stones at them.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. All of the people of Israel saw it. ¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “How long will these people make fun of me? How long will they refuse to believe in me? They refuse even though I have done many miraculous signs among them. ¹² So I will strike them down with a plague. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than they are.”

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Slander was the weapon of choice in the corporate environment. I didn’t even think I was using it because I had convinced myself I was right in the situation. We sat in a room and came up with rebuttals and retorts to the other groups’ desires.

When I presented our desires after the other group pitched theirs I knew I had the upper hand. To my dismay Senior Management said, both ideas would not be funded and they were going to merge our fighting departments.

• Complaints are despicable.
• Complaints are low.
• Complaints are excuses wrapped in situations that I want my way and I’m not getting it.

GOD knows when I’m throwing a tantrum.  HE knows my motives and doesn’t take kindly to my complaints especially when I have fooled myself into thinking I am right.  With blind eyes I blurt out a complaint about what someone else is doing and I forget to look at how I am contributing to the situation.

• GOD loves when I accept HIS plan no matter how difficult it may look.
• GOD loves when I listen to HIM and can face difficult tasks without disobeying HIS ways.
• GOD loves when I use compliments instead of conflict to accomplish HIS goals.
• GOD loves when I let HIM do my fighting.

“My ways are not your ways” says the LORD. HE has incredible plans for me because HE has forgiven me, but HE doesn’t like when I treat HIS grace as if I deserve it. HE has blessed me thoroughly and I am eternally grateful!

• Are you complaining about something or someone?
• Have you lost your grace?
• Have you asked GOD to manage the situation no matter how bleak it looks?
• Won’t you let GOD direct the situation?

Think before complaining

Numbers 11:The people weren’t happy about the hard times they were having. The Lord heard what they were saying. It made him burn with anger. Then the Lord sent fire on them. It blazed out among the people. It burned up some of the outer edges of the camp.

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“What is it” I jokingly sneered at the dorm food plopped on my plate! It looked funny, smelled funny and tasted not so funny but bad! I passed on that meal knowing another was on its way in a few hours. I complained about the food.

The next year I had my own apartment. I stepped into the kitchen waiting on someone to hand me my meal and there wasn’t anyone there. I looked in the refrigerator and there was no food there either. I begged to get into the dorm cafeteria and couldn’t. When I got out I had a ticket on my car and had no money to pay it!

• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like complaints about HIS plan.
• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like grumbles about HIS gifts to me.
• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like protests about HIS creatures.

When times were difficult, I complained to GOD and guess what… things got worse! Wait a minute, you mean GOD doesn’t like it when I have a request? A request is different than a complaint.  When I grumble about my situation, no matter how bleak it is, I am saying “GOD you don’t know what you are doing and I DO.”

• GOD cannot stand any form of pride from me especially when it’s wrapped in a complaint.
• GOD does not like it when I have my life all figured out and pout when I am not getting my way.
• GOD will not yield to my rants or complaints because HE is GOD.

Making GOD “GOD” means I have to accept when HE will say “No” or “No” or “NO!” I may have a plan in mind but without HIS blessing, nothing will come to fruition. If it is HIS will HE will bring me through difficult times and lead me beside still waters, if not the HE will provide the endurance and testimony to draw many to HIM.

GOD doesn’t want me to be phony and pretend to be “happy” but HE does want me to respect HIS choice and “joyfully” serve HIM and those HE chooses to send to me.

• Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
• Why does GOD have you in this position?
• Don’t you understand HE knows where you are and what’s best for you?
• Can you turn this difficult time into a testimony instead of burying the opportunity in a complaint?

Complaining about GOD isn’t smart

Complaining about GOD isn’t smart

Exodus 16: ²⁶ Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

²⁷ Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. ²⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 

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Alarms, whistles and bells don’t sound when I want to sin.  There is a small still voice that says to me, “you shouldn’t do this” but I quickly ignore it and proceed anyway. Am I trying to prove GOD wrong or do I just want my way?

• GOD says to me, ”I have heard your complaints.”
• GOD says to me “How long will you refuse to keep my commands?”
• GOD says to me “How long will you refuse to keep my instructions?”

Honestly, this is the side of GOD I get a little nervous about. HE does have love that spans all of my sins but it doesn’t give me license to blatantly sin.  GOD heard HIS people complain in the desert and HE didn’t like it at all. Since HE doesn’t change I believe HE still doesn’t like complaints, especially about someone HE has a plan for.

I believe the more I complain the more GOD stores up against me.  HE knows I am coming from a very selfish place and HE isn’t pleased when I look at someone else as being the problem.

• GOD wants me to see HIS creations as being perfect.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS plan and not wander away from it.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS timing because HE know how to instill patience while providing.

Waiting on the LORD has not been one of my strengths so I complain. GOD wants me to turn my complaints into praise. This changes my perspective and puts me back on course!

• Are you complaining?
• Do you think your complaints are pleasing to GOD?
• Can you stop complaining and start serving?