10.22.25 ~ Skeletons In the Closet
Good morning!
The story of the Genesis flood is such a negative story and the residue of it lingers to this day. Isn't that just how the stench of the past is in most people's lives? More on the positive tomorrow :-)
But today, I want to ask you a private question: "do you have skeletons in the closet"? It's the strategy of the enemy to remind you of your past. It's the merciful presence of God that moves us beyond (Gen. 9:14,15)!
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Gen. 9:14,15)
All throughout the Scriptures we have stories of an evil influence into the lives of mankind to bring us down spiritually, emotionally, physically, relationally and financially. Whether it's the serpent in the Garden, Nimrod the tower builder, the Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph, the Amalekites, or the most diabolical and 21st century-like...the plot of Balaam and Balak who were all about trying to destroy the Israelites calling from entering the Promised Land; but the past failures renewed on each of the three mountain tops was not the answer. God's people had moved beyond that. They were victorious over their past, but that doesn't mean they weren't susceptible to the age-old temptation of the desire to be loved and love (Num. 25:1-5)...the most deadly strategy in the world! One that is being employed by our media today at a frantic, nonstop, constant barrage and incessant attack (and yes, I'd look those verses up :-)
It’s a challenge for all of us! What, you ask? Taking the negative events of our past and projecting them into the future. It’s bad enough when we do it to others, but when we do it to ourselves it’s even more grievous. The greatest heroes in Scripture all had to deal with this reality in their own lives. Very few overcame it as well as my favorites Ruth and Boaz. Very few overcome taking others’ pasts and projecting them into the future as well as Ruth and Boaz did.
Ruth didn’t allow the curse placed upon her as a Moabite (Deut. 23:3) to influence her future. She kept her focus on what was important and didn’t allow the negative past to influence her positive future. As a Moabite, her people came from an incestuous relationship (Gen. 19:36,37). Boaz’ line came from the less than honorable relationship between Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38).
Contrary to an overemphasized cliche', opinions of people matter! There isn’t a serious believer who doesn’t desire to have favor with both God/Elohim and man (Prov. 3:4; 22:29); like Yeshua did (Lk. 2:52)! As we’ve learned in previous studies, every decision we make is based on three perspectives: past, present and future. Just as Yahweh Elohim is the God/Elohim that was and is and is to come, man created in His image has the ability to make decisions in the same way, just not omnisciently.
Stories like Adam and his wife in the garden; Cain and Abel presenting their offerings; Noah and the Ark; the tower of Babel; Abraham and his wife Sarah; Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob and Esau; The 11 boys of Jacob and Joseph; Moses, Miriam and Aaron, The Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land; Ruth and Orpah, and so many more teach us all life lessons. All of the stories teach us through examples and warnings, which is exactly how we learn life-lessons!
The challenge before each of us is, can we distinguish between the two? Oftentimes the same person teaches them. My Father taught me volumes without even saying a word. I learned work ethic, being on time, finishing a task I start, putting others' needs before mine, showing hospitality to friends as well as strangers, and this list goes on and on. I was also fortunate to learn from his challenging experiences in life and am able to take those as warnings.
Every person in our life, including those I don't know in the world, are either gathering or scattering with their lives (Matt. 12:30). Everyone is teaching by either example or warning. The key to distinguishing the two is to look at the end result.
Both Ruth and Boaz on the threshing floor could have failed to learn from their ancestors. Ruth could have been like Lot’s daughters, and seduced Boaz, but she didn’t. Boaz could have manipulated Ruth, as Judah did with Tamar, but he didn’t. They learned restraint on the threshing floor by warning. Their work ethic, integrity and wisdom they also learned from their ancestors, just different circumstances. They overcame the need to be loved, through inappropriate means, to establish the need to be loved, in appropriate means, to change the world (Ruth 4:22).
When my son was just a boy, I told him to pay attention to everything around him. Never stop learning! Keep growing. You can learn from everyone and, actually you will learn from everyone! And the results will be either graduating with high marks in wisdom or you'll have the opportunity to graduate magna come LUCKY in the school of hard knocks. If you've already graduated from the school of hard knocks that was the past. Be careful not to project it into your future. There are better days ahead.
Pay close attention! There's teaching and learning going on all around. How's your learning?
It's going to be a week of zealousness! May the mindset of Pinchas be yours (Num. 25:11). May each of us be like Noah and, being warned of the difficult days ahead, built an ark for the saving of your house (Heb. 11:7)
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
(Heb. 11:7)
Shalom!
But today, I want to ask you a private question: "do you have skeletons in the closet"? It's the strategy of the enemy to remind you of your past. It's the merciful presence of God that moves us beyond (Gen. 9:14,15)!
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Gen. 9:14,15)
All throughout the Scriptures we have stories of an evil influence into the lives of mankind to bring us down spiritually, emotionally, physically, relationally and financially. Whether it's the serpent in the Garden, Nimrod the tower builder, the Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph, the Amalekites, or the most diabolical and 21st century-like...the plot of Balaam and Balak who were all about trying to destroy the Israelites calling from entering the Promised Land; but the past failures renewed on each of the three mountain tops was not the answer. God's people had moved beyond that. They were victorious over their past, but that doesn't mean they weren't susceptible to the age-old temptation of the desire to be loved and love (Num. 25:1-5)...the most deadly strategy in the world! One that is being employed by our media today at a frantic, nonstop, constant barrage and incessant attack (and yes, I'd look those verses up :-)
It’s a challenge for all of us! What, you ask? Taking the negative events of our past and projecting them into the future. It’s bad enough when we do it to others, but when we do it to ourselves it’s even more grievous. The greatest heroes in Scripture all had to deal with this reality in their own lives. Very few overcame it as well as my favorites Ruth and Boaz. Very few overcome taking others’ pasts and projecting them into the future as well as Ruth and Boaz did.
Ruth didn’t allow the curse placed upon her as a Moabite (Deut. 23:3) to influence her future. She kept her focus on what was important and didn’t allow the negative past to influence her positive future. As a Moabite, her people came from an incestuous relationship (Gen. 19:36,37). Boaz’ line came from the less than honorable relationship between Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38).
Contrary to an overemphasized cliche', opinions of people matter! There isn’t a serious believer who doesn’t desire to have favor with both God/Elohim and man (Prov. 3:4; 22:29); like Yeshua did (Lk. 2:52)! As we’ve learned in previous studies, every decision we make is based on three perspectives: past, present and future. Just as Yahweh Elohim is the God/Elohim that was and is and is to come, man created in His image has the ability to make decisions in the same way, just not omnisciently.
Stories like Adam and his wife in the garden; Cain and Abel presenting their offerings; Noah and the Ark; the tower of Babel; Abraham and his wife Sarah; Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob and Esau; The 11 boys of Jacob and Joseph; Moses, Miriam and Aaron, The Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land; Ruth and Orpah, and so many more teach us all life lessons. All of the stories teach us through examples and warnings, which is exactly how we learn life-lessons!
The challenge before each of us is, can we distinguish between the two? Oftentimes the same person teaches them. My Father taught me volumes without even saying a word. I learned work ethic, being on time, finishing a task I start, putting others' needs before mine, showing hospitality to friends as well as strangers, and this list goes on and on. I was also fortunate to learn from his challenging experiences in life and am able to take those as warnings.
Every person in our life, including those I don't know in the world, are either gathering or scattering with their lives (Matt. 12:30). Everyone is teaching by either example or warning. The key to distinguishing the two is to look at the end result.
Both Ruth and Boaz on the threshing floor could have failed to learn from their ancestors. Ruth could have been like Lot’s daughters, and seduced Boaz, but she didn’t. Boaz could have manipulated Ruth, as Judah did with Tamar, but he didn’t. They learned restraint on the threshing floor by warning. Their work ethic, integrity and wisdom they also learned from their ancestors, just different circumstances. They overcame the need to be loved, through inappropriate means, to establish the need to be loved, in appropriate means, to change the world (Ruth 4:22).
When my son was just a boy, I told him to pay attention to everything around him. Never stop learning! Keep growing. You can learn from everyone and, actually you will learn from everyone! And the results will be either graduating with high marks in wisdom or you'll have the opportunity to graduate magna come LUCKY in the school of hard knocks. If you've already graduated from the school of hard knocks that was the past. Be careful not to project it into your future. There are better days ahead.
Pay close attention! There's teaching and learning going on all around. How's your learning?
It's going to be a week of zealousness! May the mindset of Pinchas be yours (Num. 25:11). May each of us be like Noah and, being warned of the difficult days ahead, built an ark for the saving of your house (Heb. 11:7)
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
(Heb. 11:7)
Shalom!
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