ABRUPTLY

Ever hear of that "suddenly" when God does something in your life? Abruptly something changes in like what we have seen within the Christian community. Many people were banking on that good season, and someone decided to lie about somethings and keep 'secrets' and a good season changed abruptly. But God is in this house, those who know Him should not be moved by a virus! But some are in this day and hour.
So have you heard of someone speaking of an abrupt change or a suddenly, when what was wrong was made right or what about something right, was going right suddenly changed to something not so good?

Do we notice when a "suddenly" appears and involves nations around the world at the same time?

The Flood occurred to save those who follow God! God show Noah the strategic plan of "An Ark" to save those of Noah's family for the rest of that known world were going to die because of their evil ways! Remember rain appeared abruptly, but Noah knew it was coming and it took some one hundred years to arrive, and it was delivered. And the known world at that time participated in that 'event'.


Then there was the day the Sun stood still and the Moon stopped in place.

Joshua 10 12-15 NKJV Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel and he said in the sight of Israel:   "Sun stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge on their enemies.  Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of man; for the LORD fought for Israel. 15 Then Joshua returned and all Israel with him, to the camp of Gilgal.

The " abruptly" appears out of or from the supernatural of God! It occurs when there is prayer given, when answers are needed and the only one who can get it done is God Himself!

In this passage, Joshua spoke to God in prayer that the sun stand still.....and we all know that we on planet earth orbit around the sun. The point is that sun had to stop its influence on the planets as the earth. Joshua spoke to the sun and the moon!
In earlier passages of Joshua, the man did not consult with God! In Joshua 9:14. You might remember this passage. You know there was a group of men called the Gibeonites and they had heard what God with Joshua and Israel had done had Jericho and Ai!  So these men decided to deceive Joshua and Israel. They decided to be 'ambassadors' and they prepared their deceit by making themselves appear as the weary travelers. They took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. ( Joshua 9:1-5) 
Then they come to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal and said: "we have come from a far country; now therefore make a covenant with us." And Joshua does question them about they might dwell among them and he asks again where do they come from and their response is that they have come from a very far country.....then they say flattering things like" we come because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt.


If you remember from what God told them, they would have to rid Canaan of the Canaanites. These specific men were Hivites who had most likely come into the region from what would have been north of Palestine in Syria. It was meant that they had to rid the land of them like what had been done in Jericho and Ai.
In earlier reading of Joshua, you can find those who live in Canaan as the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites,Girgashites, Amorites, & Jebusites.( Joshua 3:1-13)

As the Israelites entered into Canaan, those who of that land were hearing of their entrance and they began to melt within their hearts that God was moving in and His rule was going to be seen! And yes, kings and the such were shaking for they were to be driven out of that which God promised His people who came to possess that very land! So these Gibeonites did not think they could unite the cities of Canaan to fight against Israel, so they thought they would join them, the children of God, so they could live and not die!

These deceitful men keep speaking:
 Joshua 9:11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take no provisions with you for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us." 12 "this bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 "And these wine-skins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey." 14 Then the man of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.


Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. (Joshua 9:15-17) The children of Israel then came to the actual region these deceitful men lived and allowed them to live. Israel had believed their lies and sworn a covenant with them. But  the rulers said they would have them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them. Addressing that the men be called to him, Joshua asked why they had deceived them and spoke they were people who lived far away from them. Joshua pronounces a curse on them and none would be freed from being slaves---woodcutters and water carriers for the house of his God.

The people ( the children of Israel) grumbled as a whole community against the leadership that were placed before them by God.  But their grumbling was because leadership did not seek God's counsel of the plan on the whole ordeal!


On their march forward across Canaan, the other kings heard of what Joshua and Israel had done to Jericho, and to Ai and how the Gibeonites had joined them. 
( Joshua 10: 3:9) Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, "Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the children of Israel." 

Therefore it was five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jersusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it. And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us." 

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the mighty men of valor. And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. 

Joshua 10:10 So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes now to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel, and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Now Joshua has counsel with the LORD! Now he is not making wrong decisions but right ones in hearing God speak to him the plan.
Now out of prayer the answer has come and the spiritual is seen in the natural! When God gives us authority to speak things happen. Victory occurs in the direction we are to be going. As with Joshua he followed God in prayer, he with his men of war and men of valor, they fought, they did not sit idly by and whine. They went at it with faith in God and hailstones killed more of those than the children of Israel had slain.

Joshua spoke they would be slaves….and we know this came originally from Noah’s speaking:  Genesis 9:24-27    So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan, as servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.” 26 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD the God of Shem, & may Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth; and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; & may Canaan be his servant.”    

                                                                    

These men would be wood cutters and water carriers to carry out laborious work! This act meant that the men of Gibeon (Ghib—on) would do the work or service that their women and children had done for them for centuries... Yikes!

These men were being diminished….they would come into degrading employment: once warriors now they were condemned to perform the work once performed by women or females. It was for self- preservation, these people had sunk to a real low!

The Gibeonites wanted to live, so they became servants or like Joshua had said in  verse ….23 Now therefore, you are cursed, &  none of you shall be freed from being slaves---woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.

 Joshua 9:27   and that day Joshua made them wood-cutters and water carriers for the congregation & for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

(It is amazing to me how people will rather take a curse to live than trust God for what is ours already by the blood of Jesus! People are all out for "that cure " for covid 19 when we have Jesus! They would rather come under that curse thing than stay under the shelter of the living God!)

We should take heed from chapter 9: Lies will not benefit anyone, and that pagans like those people of Gibeon would produce no honor but would only be known for wicked lies and reduced to slavery!

It is important to remember that in speaking, truth should prevail, our conduct should prove having a heart after God and willing to do what He commands. Reading earlier in Joshua 9:17 the congregation of Israel took three days to get to Gibeon, and they went with battle attire and marched 18+ miles overnight!

10 So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, & struck them down as far as Azekah ( A–zee-kah) and Makkedah. 11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel & were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven, on them as far as Azekah, and they died, There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

NOW THAT is GOD! Joshua showed up suddenly……was traveling all night from Gilgal.  The marching was a 18 -26 mile march…and …would have taken 3 days and these men arrived at daybreak……..SO SURPRISE!

In verse 11 that God used hailstones to assist in the attack! This was no natural occurrence.  More were killed by hail-stones than by the sword of the Israelites.

God himself had spoken to Job of the treasury of snow and hail, Job 38: 22-23    ….22 Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail  23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

It is a fearful thing to fall into God’s hands when one is against Him and His people.....So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, & did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel. 15 Then Joshua returned & all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

 God can and will do the miraculous in fulfilling His word.

You and I can be fully loaded and ready for battlements against the enemy. Prayer should be our life as it was seen in Jesus. It is hearing Him and then doing without hesitation, and no uncertainty, the surefooted who know God is with them….even surefooted in the high places where even God has His arsenal ready for action. For God’s word is sure and makes us strong and steadfast without quaking in our shoes where we never shrink or fall backward!

The great power of God crowned the miraculous event…of the sun….and The great faith of Joshua lived a victorious battle for Israel …… 24 hours  became a 48 hour day….

Habakkuk 3:11. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; at the light of Your arrows they went, as the shining of Your glittering spear.

Joshua as one who lived a life that illustrated a heart wholly devoted to the Lord that exhibited a faithfulness and a trust in God!

Evidence proved God is alive and is seen in those men who can move far above and beyond themselves in a victory that is of the Lord God.  He will do what He has spoken. God confounded those idolaters who worshiped the sun and the moon. And that the very things these men worshiped were stopped in place for a whole day!

In this day and time, taking what was promised meant putting to death that which remained in their way! For the Israelites, their success was to be in God and all that He ever spoke to them.

Our allegiance is to God the One and Only TRUE God. Hold fast when others lie, for if you will hold strong in Him, He will not let you go! Those who lie, who bank on lies will be those who will be diminished……but you who hold fast to God will see the miraculous. Israel did!

That which we might take for granted was used against this enemy ………..and God was faithful and proved strong! 

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Whispers!

In a previous blog I had written how our grand-child loves to whisper. The telling of a secret is fun for a small child, but those who are grown up and do not keep them become the teller or the gossiper of said story or tale! But remembering we are to come before God as children, and have that relationship with Him, what does a whisper look like? When coming to God as a child and speaking, what voice does one use?  Again, I think of our grand-child and how she speaks. There are times she is serious, especially about the "artwork" and she speaks seriously about how many pictures to color. As for me, I love to color pictures with her. It relaxes me to hear better and to watch her more intently as she works her way through a day of life living as a child. Her more humorous times comes in the "sun" while out of doors. You have probably read that story as well. She can get loud and can be heard around the whole neighborhood. Yes, she can voice what she is experiencing. And did God not give us a voice to be heard?

In thinking on this writing this morning, I thought of how I always thought of Hannah when praying before the Lord. It was that "whisper" I thought of and how she prayed with moving her lips but so silently speaking in whisper tones of the pain she was experiencing.

She had wanted a son and she had no children at all. In referencing Hannah for this, I am reminded of the "extreme" life she had lived. In her painful existence as a wife, she had no children with her husband. In reading about Hannah, we see that she never stopped sharing her heart with the Lord. In 1 Samuel 1:10, we find her praying out in pain of all that she was dealing with in her life!


1 Samuel 1:9-18.....9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." 

12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" 15 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." 18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. NKJV

Out of the abundance of our heart, we will speak. (verse 16) Matthew 12:34-37...........
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   NKJV

The priest Eli saw Hannah. He evidently had moved closer by verse 13 and he saw her lips moving, but her voice he could not hear. A WHISPER!
Eli in his haste to speak called her a woman who was drunk. He was scolding her to put her wine away. But Hannah responded, "NO, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now."
She had spoken in the past, but the pain was such that she now had only a WHISPER!
AT THAT MOMENT, all she had left within her was that WHISPER OF PAIN. 

Proverbs 13:12......12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.  TLB

Psalm 143:7-10........7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens; don't turn away from me or I shall die. 8 Let me see your kindness to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for my prayer is sincere. 9 Save me from my enemies. O Lord, I run to you to hide me. 10 Help me to do your will, for you are my God. Lead me in good paths, for your Spirit is good.  TLB

Hannah had shared her home with another woman who had given Hannah's husband, Elkanah children. Peninah was mean to Hannah and flaunted the truth that she could give Elkanah children, and we see in 1 Samuel 1:4-8....that Hannah was provoked in a way that irritated Hannah. Hannah was in such an unrest that she could not eat but cried instead.
1 Samuel 1:4-8........ 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" NIV

Hannah was so loved by her husband, yet her womb was closed up. She had not given her loving husband a child! She probably suffered much anguish. I am certain that when Peninah challenged her about the children, Hannah had to confront her anguish by seeking God. Hannah held her ground. 

She demonstrated a prayer life that only ONE God could answer with what she asked. When it came to WHISPERS, she kept her eyes on God for the answer to come. We certainly do not have to experience that which Hannah did, for today there is a law against having more than one wife at a time. But we should still see that in whatever Hannah's problems, she gained a much needed strength in prayer!

Is our prayer life one that truly exists? Is our day set and scheduled around God and His purpose for us that day? I remember a friend stating once that her life-line to God was much like a rope. She considered her prayer time, a time where she would keep one end and throw God the other and wait on Him to answer. She always considered God to keep what she had given to Him in prayer and that answers would come. She prayed to receive them in the form to which He desired to answer her! 

2 Corinthians 4:13-15...........13 We boldly say what we believe [trusting God to care for us], just as the psalm writer did when he said, "I believe and therefore I speak." 14 We know that the same God who brought the Lord Jesus back from death will also bring us back to life again with Jesus and present us to him along with you. 15 These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified. TLB  

         

1 Samuel 1:18-23............18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 

19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD." 21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever." 23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. NKJV

1 Samuel 2:18-21............18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was lent to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.   NKJV

From chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Samuel, we find the Lord blessing Hannah. In verse 20 of 1 Samuel 1, we find she conceived, and called him Samuel. He was to minister before the LORD God. And in 1 Samuel 2:21, we find Hannah conceived and gave birth to three more sons and two daughters. Hannah received her desire and gave him to the Lord without hesitation. What a faith we see in Hannah! A woman who experienced derision and tribulation when another woman shared her husband. But a true beauty came through that her trust was to be in God the Lord and He would see her through those demanding experiences of pain. Because of a thankful heart, she received more children in her union with Elkanah!  We do not reside in a "rose garden" where there are no trials or tribulations. But we do live life that in whatever comes, our expectancy is to be in the Lord. For He will do valiantly, and the more we trust in Him, the more ease and peace, we will experience in knowing He has our back.
I believe Hannah always had a forgiving heart toward Peninah.

I close this by writing to those who may be men reading this. In regards to Hannah and what she believed for in her union with her husband, men can also experience such in the workplace.
I believe this to be a prophetic word to any men who work in the business arena. What God has placed in you to do for His kingdom can still come forward and be given life. For with Hannah, we saw a woman who was so provoked by another, only a whisper remained to pray. If that is where you are today, remember God still hears, and when we truly believe that He can bring to life that which we may have thought was dead or would never happen, God is on your side and He will do what He has promised! Whatever Peninah's surround you in the workplace and whatever "children" the other person has, whatever great idea or concept the other person may hold at this moment, God still hears and answers prayers. He is forever leaning forward, and reaching out to us. All we have to do is speak, even in a WHISPER, "Lord, help me"............and reach out whether it be in anguish, despair and heartache, He will HEAR AND HE WILL ANSWER!  HE WILL BRING FORTH THAT WHICH HE DESIRES TO BIRTH THROUGH YOU IN THE WORKPLACE THAT WILL BRING PRAISE AND GLORY TO HIS HOLY NAME!
Lord, what the righteous desire will be granted (Prov 10:24), When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. (Prov 10:25), the prospect of the righteous is joy (Prov 10:28), and (my )  mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,(Prov 10:31)!

 Father, thank You for those times we must WHISPER! We pray that You will stir us. As we read and spend time with YOU, we use that time in worshipful praise through our prayer time. We choose to continue to give YOU praise and honor for all that happens in this place of worship to YOU.  Father, we pray to be those men and women who will pray and co-operate with YOU and the instruction YOU give us. We pray that You bring illumination to things we may not understand at this moment. Today, we give thanks that YOUR Word comes into places we need to see and to make decisions based on the truth of YOUR Word. We seek to be those who will give birth to the new concepts, the new inventions, the world-changing ideas that will no longer be hindered by our own thinking, but we will prevail, because we hold onto to YOUR ways and thoughts and operate in the wisdom of God that will see the kingdom come in our workplace, homes and ministries.

We believe those decisions we must make, will be made in truth and integrity without pain and any difficulty. Thank Your for showing us things that are hidden to us that we must know. We give thanks in advance of any warnings we may need to know and need to respond to. We desire to keep step with YOU and YOUR ways today. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and Amen.

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