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What an acrimonious and abysmal situation willful sin can lead us into! After forty years of peace (Jdg 5:31), the
storm clouds were once again appearing over Israel’s horizon. When the pressure of
oppression was off, the people had a tendency to lapse back into the sin of
idolatry (Jdg 6:1); we are prone to do the same thing in times of peace and
rest from oppressive circumstances. We may not be guilty of pursuing some physical idol but from our
involvement with something that competes for the will of God for our life; perhaps it was the same thing that got us into trouble in the first place.
Israel had a terrible time with letting go of idol worship in clear violation of the Law (Ex 20:3-6). We, too, can have a rough time of letting go of some things that are prohibited by God which is tantamount to spiritual idolatry. The period of the Judges was a time when people did what was right in their own eyes. Every man was his own authority who answered to no one but himself (Jdg 21:25). Whatever seemed right was done. The popular words of a song from our feelings-oriented culture would dovetail nicely during the time of the Judges, “Feels so right it can’t be wrong.” Ever “heard that,” ever sung that?
Israel had a terrible time with letting go of idol worship in clear violation of the Law (Ex 20:3-6). We, too, can have a rough time of letting go of some things that are prohibited by God which is tantamount to spiritual idolatry. The period of the Judges was a time when people did what was right in their own eyes. Every man was his own authority who answered to no one but himself (Jdg 21:25). Whatever seemed right was done. The popular words of a song from our feelings-oriented culture would dovetail nicely during the time of the Judges, “Feels so right it can’t be wrong.” Ever “heard that,” ever sung that?
After forty years of rest, thanks to
God raising up Deborah and Barak for the purpose of ending the Canaanite oppression, the Israelites once
again fell back into idolatry (Jdg 6:1, 10) and were being attacked by another godless
people. This time the oppression came from the cruel and heartless Midianites,
lasting for seven years. During those years the Israelis had to literally flee their
homes for the caves and strongholds of the mountains (Jdg 6:2) while the enemy
stripped their land like an infestation of locusts, driving them to the brink
of starvation (Jdg 6:3-6a). It took being greatly impoverished before the
Israelites cried out to the LORD for help (Jdg 6:6b).
Notice it wasn’t until they cried out
that the LORD sent a prophet. Why is it we have to wind up in the pits before
we cry out…? Because for most of us it
takes the pits to make us pliable and receptive to God’s voice. The prophet
faithfully delivered a message they really didn’t want to hear but were now
ready and able to hear. Living for anything that competes for the will of God
for our life leads to this: emptiness, barrenness and futility. It’s a hard and
unrewarding life, and could have been avoided.
All of this that was happening because of the sin of idolatry (Jdg 6:8-10). Imagine going through all that they went through because they feared the demonic gods of the Amorites
instead of listening and obeying Yahweh! How often have we done something
contrary to the Word of God and wound up in a great deal of trouble and misery? It's not rocket science, but we make it so with our sinfulness.
Gideon longed for deliverance from the
evil Midianites, but he never imagined that he would be the instrument in the
deliverance (Jdg 6:15). So he asked for a sign (Jdg 6:17, 36-40).
I am not opposed to people looking for
a sign from God in some matter provided they don’t respond to some indication
that runs contrary to His Word. God will never give a sign that runs contrary
to the teaching of Scripture. Also, I don’t think people should always seek a
sign apart from seeking God’s face through His Word and prayer. But what if God
provided a sign that wasn’t sought after? Such is the case of Camel Lips! All of my blogs are nestled under the umbrella of
Camel Lips Production. I have been
asked why I chose such a strange icon for my blogs.
Well, believe it or not; it came
from the prompting of the Lord...! I realize that camels are strange looking beasts that can go
for several days without drinking, possess a cantankerous disposition, and they have
been used for thousands of years as a mode transportation in the desert, and a beast
of burden that, incidentally, likes to spit I'm told. Yeah, that was the image I was
looking for…. I honestly believe that the Lord put that image in my head and
heart for some reason and off to the camel races I went!
Admittedly, the image appears somewhat trite in comparison to
its contents, but I leave that in the Lord’s hand of people thinking I am being
sacrilegious. Why would the Lord give me such an image? I’m guessing it’s the association
with the Middle East, a caravan of truth…? Your guess is as good as mine!
I felt a pull toward writing religious
blogs to a wider audience than teaching a class every week at church. In my
mind I wasn’t quitting; I was simply shifting the focus of my teaching from the
classroom to the internet. So I made it a matter of private prayer for three
months and continued to teach. My wife was the only person aware of my considerations.
I was convinced that I was at a turning point but unsure of the timing. If I
quit teaching altogether, I would be in disobedience, not a place I wanted to
be.
One Sunday morning I got up at the
break of dawn to put on the coffee. Beverly told me to stop what I was doing and come back into the bedroom. As I stepped through the door she wanted to show me something. She calmly instructed me to lie down on her side of the bed and look toward the window.
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This vision by God, if you will, was meant for both of us to experience. The timing and the precise replication of the image coupled
with my prayers on when to proceed were answered that morning. I do think God
intended for Beverly to see it first because He wanted her to realize that
my season of teaching a connect group was quickly coming to a close, and I would need her moral support to proceed with M-G. The
appearance of that image was a defining moment for me and her.
Shortly after the “epiphany,” I started laughing over how God had a great sense of humor! Even the appearance of the camel lips validated the icon of my ministry. Psalm 8:4 entered my mind. I felt humbled and honored that the very God of the Universe tailor-made this image to reveal to us our next step in service for Him. He is God, and He didn't have to do this, but He did. God knew my heart in the matter. This was totally unexpected!
Shortly after the “epiphany,” I started laughing over how God had a great sense of humor! Even the appearance of the camel lips validated the icon of my ministry. Psalm 8:4 entered my mind. I felt humbled and honored that the very God of the Universe tailor-made this image to reveal to us our next step in service for Him. He is God, and He didn't have to do this, but He did. God knew my heart in the matter. This was totally unexpected!
That morning I announced, with great confidence, to the class that I would be resigning for God was leading me in a different
direction in my teaching ministry; they were not elated as I was, but backed me
in my decision. God had already given me a verse of Scripture in 1 Jn 1:4, ESV three
months earlier. The Holy Spirit had drawn my attention to the words “writing” and
“joy.” Until the appearance of the vision of the camel
lips, I have been mulling over those words in 1 Jn 1:4, being overly concerned that I might be overreaching in my understanding or reading into the text.
How does this tie in with Gideon for
he looked for a sign, but I didn’t? Have you ever felt led to do something for
God, and He even gave you a Scripture to support a decision for Him, but you looked for something beyond Scripture to solidify your move, which by the way, I do not recommend making a practice of doing that?
Though I wasn’t looking for a sign
consciously, perhaps subconsciously I was out of fear of being disobedient. I blame my godly sister who I love
dearly for planting a seed in my head that germinated in my heart, sprouted,
and began to grow that got me in this pickle in the first place; she had suggested
that I should extend my audience by putting my material out on the internet.
I was fearful to resign from teaching after God rekindled the fire to teach again and so graciously put me back in the saddle of teaching His Word. So it was with fear and trepidation as I deliberated on all of this. If I could have sustained maintaining a personal life, teaching a class, writing blogs, and working full time it would have been an easier decision, but something had to give, and quitting wasn’t an option.
I was fearful to resign from teaching after God rekindled the fire to teach again and so graciously put me back in the saddle of teaching His Word. So it was with fear and trepidation as I deliberated on all of this. If I could have sustained maintaining a personal life, teaching a class, writing blogs, and working full time it would have been an easier decision, but something had to give, and quitting wasn’t an option.
Unlike my situation, Gideon was under
the pressure of life and death; I can understand his concern to make sure that this
was God doing it and not something he desired to do apart from God because he strongly
disliked the godless and ruthless Midianites for good reasons. Fundamentally, we all are to take Him at His
Word, but sometimes on rare occasions it takes a sign from God to seal the deal
due to a certain set of circumstances.
Call it a lack of faith on Gideon’s part
or my part, but what you do with the sign given brings great responsibility. Faith
is taking God at His Word. If God graciously gives us a sign, in addition to
His Word, not only will the sign be always consistent with His Word, there is
even a greater responsibility to do what has been revealed. Look at what Gideon
accomplished with only 300 men against multiplied thousands through God. I am pumped over the potential of God using me for His glory.
Let me close with something that is historically negative
that is really unpleasant, ungrateful, and unholy; it sounds like our
sin nature in action! To me, the report sickens my gut to read, but it is so
indicative of the sin nature within every one of us.
Jdg 8:33 So it was, as
soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot
with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god.
Jdg 8:34 Thus the
children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them
from the hands of all their enemies on every side;
Jdg 8:35 nor did they show kindness to the house of
Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.
O LORD! How depressing was this state of affairs! For we are
not immune to falling into this snare! How characteristic of our sin nature to behave
in such a manner as this. Thank You, Lord God, that you give us warnings that
we may calibrate our lives to Your standards of holiness that is so often
needed throughout the life to avoid the dreadful experience of chastening due
to our own stubborn ways.
When our ears long for the tingling, may our hearts be smitten to
return to the wisdom that is from above long before allowing a single blow from a cruel
and godless enemy to strike because of our propensity to do what is right in
our own eyes. Help us to strive in the power of Your Holy Spirit to do what is
right in Your eyes.
Father, may Camel Lips Ministry be a spiritual oasis for the sojourners of the
faith to rest their weary hearts a while, finding spiritual refreshment from
the living spring found here. May Your blessing be upon this place, for it is
a haven of truth off the beaten path where the water of the Word is honored,
respected, and drunk by all who desire to do that which is right in Your eyes and not their own.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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