Hebraic Musing – Whom
do you choose to serve?
We
may have to make some choices as the nation’s and world’s culture change.
One
of my favorite verses comes at the end of Joshua’s challenge to the Israelites
as they were about to cross the Jordan.
After describing the history of what Almighty God had done for them, he
said: "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the
gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the
Lord. But if serving the Lord seems
undesirable to you, then choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your
forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land
you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the Lord." Josh 24:14-15 NIV (We
had an excerpt of that verse on
our home answering machine for many years.)
The
ruins of Masada are a popular destination for tourists to Israel because the
event that took place on this high rocky mountain has become a modern-day
symbol of the resistance and faith of the Jews and their commitment to serve
the one true God. The site is a reminder
of the courageous and tragic event in which 960 first century Jews killed
themselves rather than submit to Roman capture and enslavement. The final words of the Masada leader, Eleazar
Ben Ya’ir, resonates with people of faith: “Since
we long ago resolved never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than
to God Himself, Who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now
come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice.”
Remember
Ruth’s declaration of loyalty to the God of Naomi? “Where
you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people
and your God my God” Ruth 1:16
How
can we forget Elijah’s memorable challenge to the people of Israel on Mount
Carmel as he prepared to battle with 450 prophets of Baal? “How long will you waver between two
opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” 1 Kings 18:21.
Based
on the events of the world around us, people of faith in Almighty God and His
Word may well be facing circumstances similar to those faced by (a) Jews atop
Masada being attacked by the Romans, or (b) Joshua having to call for a
decision from the people, or (c) Ruth having to choose between her home or the
God of the Universe, or (d) Elijah having to confront 450 false prophets.
We
each must make a choice daily as to whom we will serve on matters like money
management, utilization of our free time and with whom we spend our time, etc. But there are faith challenges of much greater
consequence ahead, like how to deal with the pressures of ungodly cultural
changes around us. How are we to deal with these questions? (a) Who we choose to marry? (b) What does marriage
mean to us? (c) What does “love” really mean? (d) When does life begin? And (e)
How to treat what God calls sin but is now being flaunted and legalized?
So,
as we face the changing times, choose for yourselves this day whom you
will serve,…. But as for me and my household, we will
serve the Lord.
Points
to ponder
What
choices are we going to have to make?
And
on which issues will we have to take a stand?
July
28, 2015
Lord, we thank you for your Word. What would we do without it?!?!
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd, Author::
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