Musing – Just Like Us, Joshua Faced Seven Enemies!

 Hebraic Musing – Just Like Us, Joshua Faced Seven Enemies!

As Joshua became leader of a new generation of Israelites about to enter the “Promised Land”, God gave them important perspectives and critical commandments.  “When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—  and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. …” Deut.7:1-2 NIV  (map on next page) 
(BTW - When you crossed over and entered the “Promised Land”, what did you face?)

The character, tradition or occupations of the translated names of these seven enemies revealed the nature of the enemies they will encounter.  Are each of these “nations” and/or their characteristics still our enemies today?

HITTITES – This name means terror. They were giants who brought fear, confusion and discouragement.  The Israelites were to only fear God and not anything other than God; and definitely not man.

GIRGASHITES – The word "Girgashite" means one who returns back from a pilgrimage, i.e. people that know better but go back and are earthly.  We have to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and not go back or covet the world we came out of.

AMORITES – A peoples who were arrogant and boastful in their speech.  They have high self-esteem and their pride leads to finding fault in others.  This is our enemy too because God is the only judge. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Prov.8:13.

CANAANITES – Their name means merchants who humiliate. They were financial giants. The Canaanites were motivated by greed and lust for the accumulation of earthly and material wealth.  Isn’t this our enemy too as we try to serve two masters?  "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?” James 4.4   This world's possessions are temporary.

PERIZZITES – These people separated themselves and lived in unprotected, unwalled villages; thus they lacked discipline and restrictions.  We face this enemy whenever we ignore God's commandments?  "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

HIVITES – They offered their definition of a Good Lifestyle – "if it feels good do it", "don't worry what other people think" and "look out for number one".  They live a luxurious life; but does this become our enemy when we worship mammon instead of our LORD?  "… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Tim.6.10

JEBUSITES – A people who exploited and polluted others through immoral activities. Who are our “friends”?  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matt.5:27-28    “…your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,…” 1 Corin.6:19

God warned the Israelites about these enemies; do we face the same enemies?

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

We are in the Battle of the Ages.  What is expected of a good soldier?
* Keep his body and mind fit, and continue training.
* Master the use of the weapons, ready for battle at any time.
* Be alert and protect the borders from attack.
* Always obey the commanding officer.

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier
     gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Tim.2:3-4

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          August 25, 2020
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note - Inspired and excerpted from   www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2014/Sep_Oct/7Enemies.htm

Musing – Men Need to Learn to Love; Women…to Respect?

 Hebraic Musing – Men Need to Learn to Love; Women…to Respect?

Like many other married couples and those in ministry, we have traditionally been told that ‘Love’ and ‘Communication’ are the keys to happy marriages.  Those ‘keys’ are typically preached from a woman’s perspective!  Why?  Women sob over their marital issues, while Men rarely share their marital issues.  I’ve heard many women complain about their husband, but in 40+ years of ministry with men I have rarely heard a husband complain or say anything negative about his wife!!!  Men are respectful by nature.

Okay, what does the Bible say?  Paul said it in Eph. 5:25  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”    And again in Eph. 5:33 “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”  Note Paul’s use of the word ‘must’.  I wonder why it says ‘must’?  Maybe “love” does not come as naturally to men?

The importance of ‘respect’ in the marriage is revealed in the marketing blurb for Dr. Emerson’s book.*      “Discover the single greatest secret to a successful marriage.  Psychological studies affirm it, and the Bible has been saying it for ages.  Cracking the communication code between husband and wife involves understanding one thing: that unconditional respect is as powerful for him as unconditional love is for her.  It's the secret to marriage that every couple seeks, and yet few couples ever find.”     

The Secret?     He must Love her;    She must Respect Him.   Here’s a powerful biblical perspective:
     Jesus loves us;    We are to respect Him.       He’s the ‘Groom’; we are the ‘bride’.

We’ve been told that the Secret to a happy marriage is Love!  But there’s been no change in divorce rate!  We’ve also been told that the key to marriage is Communication!  But we are still missing a key word – Respect!

The biblical foundation is clear; Paul never told a woman to love her husband, and he never told the man to respect his wife.  You do not have to tell someone to do something that comes naturally to them.   So Paul is focusing on telling us what we need to do that is not natural for us to do. 

This revelation is key to understanding that God made man and woman to be different.  God felt man needed a “help-mate”.  “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Gen.2:18 KJV Actually they were made to have an opposing relationship!  In Hebrew the word translated “meet or mate” is neh’ghed meaning “Opposing force”.  Therefore we each have different needs; and need each other! 

Women speak language of ‘love’;  Men speak language of ‘Respect’    

·      Women are designed to Agape love.  Think of a woman’s motherly nurturing traits.

·      He asks “Where do you want to go for dinner to celebrate our anniversary?”  She says “Wherever you want.”  So he says “How about the Route 66 Steak house”.  (Wrong answer!)  Didn’t he realize she lovingly expected him know her preference?!?!

·      Different color glasses!   Different color hearing aids! (If she says “I have nothing to wear”; he hears…?)

·      Ask a Man – do you ‘respect’ your wife?    Typical answer “You bet I do”
     Ask your wife if she ‘respects’ you?  Typical answer – “Well in some areas, but obviously not all”

·      Women want their husbands to love them by (a) Remembering birthdays; (b) Talk about it NOW; (c) Wanting to talk, not wanting advice; etc.  (d) Women want to talk about problems on a daily basis

·      Men don’t want to think about it now.  “We’ll talk about that later”.  Why? They want solutions, not talk.

·      Women - Expressive responsive.   Men – Compartmentalized; thus Men are willing to die for a cause!

So, what is the wife’s ideal view of  her husband? – “Her husband is respected at the city gate, …” Prov.31:23

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Men, do you need her opposing view sometimes?
Men, why does the word “Love” appear 509 times in the Bible written primarily to men?

Do you sometimes find yourself in the ‘crazy circle’, wondering what happened?

♫ What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of…♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     August 18, 2020
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*   Inspiration from “LOVE and RESPECT” by Emerson Eggerich.   I’ve listened to his audio(s) many times,
      most important message I have ever heard.  It enriched my marriage even after 50 years.

Musing - How to Practice the Presence of God?

 Hebraic Musing - How to Practice the Presence of God?

We serve an Omnipresent God, whether we want to realize it or not.  And if you are like me, you want to be fully cognizant of His divine presence at all times!  Here are some relevant quotes from Brother Lawrence.*

When he “became religious” he – “Took a resolution to give myself up to GOD, as the best return I could make for His love, and, for the love of Him, to renounce all besides.”  When I, Joe, fell to my knees I said “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  So, we have somewhat similar testimonies!

What did Bro L do?  “For the first year I commonly employed myself during the time set apart for devotion with the thought of death, judgment, heaven, hell, and my sins…” and he found himself “applying my mind carefully the rest of the day, and even in the midst of my business, to the presence of GOD, whom I considered always as with me, often as in me.”   “At length… which caused in me great delight and consolation.” 

Instant solution?  No.  He goes on to confess – “Such was my beginning: and yet I must tell you that for the first ten years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of my sufferings.”

Bro L thought he would “End my days in these troubles” until “I found myself all at once ; and my soul, which, till that time, was in trouble, felt a profound inward peace, as if she were in her centre and place of rest.”

This is what I would refer to as his achieved level of devotion.   “As for what passes in me at present, I cannot express it.  I have no pain or difficulty about my state, because I have no will but that of GOD, which I endeavor to accomplish in all things, and to which I am so resigned that I would not take up a straw from the ground against His order, or from any other motive than purely that of love to Him.”

He describes his present business – “And I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to GOD, which I may call an actual presence of GOD; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent and secret conversation of the soul with GOD, which often causes me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great, that I am forced to use means to moderate them and prevent their appearance to others.”

And I call this his summary statement for now.  “In short, I am assured beyond all doubt that my soul has been with GOD above these thirty years.  I pass over many things that I may not be tedious to you yet I think it proper to inform you after what manner I consider myself before GOD, whom I behold as my King.”

In another writing, Bro L describes “Means for Attaining unto the Presence of GOD” – “The first is a great purity of life; in guarding ourselves with care lest we should do or say or think on anything, which might be displeasing to GOD; and, when any such thing happens, in taking heed to repent thereof, humbly begging His forgiveness.”   I’ll bet he was truly truly truly truly repentant!

Bro Lawrence has a lot more to say, but I hope and trust that you find this as inspiring as I did/do.

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Do you feel challenged?    Do you sense His presence?  …at all times?

How wonderful to be loved by an Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent GOD!
And what a responsibility!

“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,
and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.
For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19-20  NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     August 11, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*   Inspired & excerpted from “The Practice of the Presence of God” – Attributed to Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c.1614 – 12 Feb. 1691) who served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris.  He is remembered for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God as recorded in “The Practice of the Presence of God”.

Musing – What made Nehemiah a Great Leader?

Hebraic Musing – What made Nehemiah a Great Leader?

If you are in any kind of leadership role in God’s Kingdom (and if not, why not?) then God has given you a task much bigger than you can handle on your own.  And in our “New Normal” you are likely to be facing big, new challenges.   Nehemiah heard of a big problem to which he responded.  “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Neh.1:3 NIV   How big was the problem?  For 80 years exiled Israelites thought restoration was hopeless.  There are four critical characteristics in Nehemiah’s account that are found in great leaders.*

Compelling Purpose - You need a vision that drives you forward.  Nehemiah had dissenters scheming to discourage him, and four times he had to tell them - “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”  Neh.6:3  He knew this project mattered; he was committed to a great cause in the Kingdom of God.  He was not to be distracted by distractors or trivial matters.  The task was a singular priority.

Clear Perception - You also need to be able to see trouble ahead of you.  Whenever you attempt something big and important, trouble will come your way.  Nehemiah had incredible discernment.  Whenever a trap came up, he sensed it.  For example, he knew the enemy’s plans - “But they were scheming to harm me” Neh. 6:2  How did Nehemiah know this?  He was perceptive.  Where does a leader get this necessary perceptive wisdom?  We can only get it one way - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God”  James 1:5.  By spending time in the Word of God, we are taking on the mind of Christ which results in a uniquely perceptive leader. 

Continual Prayer - Nehemiah was a prayer addict!  When faced with a challenge, how did he respond?  “For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.’  But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”  Rick Warren explained it this way - “That’s all you need to do, too.  If people are falsely accusing you as a leader, you don’t need a lengthy defense.  Just say, ‘It’s not true,’ and then take it to the Lord.”  Sometimes the accusation is not deliberately false, just discouraging, distracting or otherwise hindering.  When in doubt, remember - ♫ What a privilege it is to carry, Everything to God in prayer. ♫  Nehemiah didn’t retaliate, he simply said what they said wasn’t true—and prayed about it.

Courageous Persistence – If you are inclined to take-on a Kingdom project don’t give up too easily.  Keep doing what God wants you to do!  I like the way Rick Warren puts it – “Just because you show courage during difficulties doesn’t mean you’re not afraid.  Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is moving ahead despite your fear.”  Nehemiah took a stand in verse 11 - “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life?  I will not go!”  Nehemiah felt fear.  He knew his life was in danger, but Nehemiah knew he was near the finish line.  He refused to run away.  God does not want you to run from the challenge, but to face the troubles if you know you are pursuing what God wants for your church, community and family.

SUMMARY - The book of Nehemiah shows how good leadership resulted in the completion of a project heretofore thought impossible.  With Godly leadership, the Israelites were able to complete a project in 52 days; a project that, for 80 years, people said couldn’t be done.  Look through history from Nehemiah to the present and you’ll see these four characteristics prevail in every leader who reaches God-given goals. 

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Everything rises and falls on these four attributes of a good leader,
so review and ponder these four questions:

1.      Do you have a compelling purpose that drives you forward?

2.      How’s your spiritual sensitivity?

3.      Are you praying constantly for what God has called you to do?

4.      Are you persistent in doing God’s will?

Chazak Chazak V’nitzchazek;  Be Strong, Be Strong, Let Us Be Strengthened

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          August 4, 2020
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*  Inspired and excerpted from “4 Characteristics of Great Leaders”  By Rick Warren    July 21, 2020