The Wisdom from Above – Bible heroes

There is so much wisdom to be gleaned from God’s Word. So many stories in the Bible we can learn from. I desire to be more like those who are to be admired in His Word, and less like those who are not. It is a daily struggle where sometimes I lean on Him a little better, other times more of my own understanding. These stories came to mind when I was reflecting today on how I’m not seeing as many of the good examples of these Bible characters as I would wish for. And I’m not talking about a Holier than Thou character, these were all flawed, but their faith was in Him.  So, I pray the Lord would raise up more humble people of faith, especially more like some of the examples we see in His Word. 

I have linked each story to the Bible reference, in the hopes some might make this more of a time in His Word than listening to any of mine.

There is much wisdom in the prophets, one from Isaiah speaks to me constantly as I watch the world (and even some believers) excuse evil for any reason.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

I am praying for our country and for our President. I am praying for those he has set into positions of leadership for reforming certain areas that we are seeing obvious wrongs and weaknesses in. Praying for even the looters and rioters which He also gave Himself for. But I’m not wanting to spend much time on that today, more than to say I desire for more to be in prayer as we see these things (and strengthened by His Word), the very best way to answer the enemy of men. The best way to have an abundant life.

HOPE & COMFORT

Many are discouraged from all walks of life in light of all the turmoil around us. There is hope. Let’s look to the Word, which gives us comfort and hope in these times (Rom 15:4), and also to God who gave that Word ahead of time so we can be encouraged.

All these people I’m going to mention are people just like us. People who said, ‘I can’t do it’. Men who sinned grievously at times. Humans like us, with weak faith, and sometimes great failures, but a God who still restored them, guided them and loved them with a great love. And remember, He was with them.

May the Lord rise up more like the prophet Daniel. As a young man he was faithful to God, kind, diplomatic, brave, not speaking evil of leaders, yet standing up in love for others — praying for those in power (who were very evil). Gathering others to pray and beseech those in power (yes, even the wicked like Nebuchadnezzar). When he was given wisdom regarding the dreams he gave God the glory. Yet Daniel also called out evil as evil. But he spoke in wisdom, and prayed for Neb not to do the wickedness he had set out to do (more than once), and we see Nebuchadnezzar come to faith in God because of it. God also gave Daniel great prophecies. He was a humble man who saw and admitted his iniquity as well as the iniquity of his people Israel.

BUT IF NOT — the fiery furnace

May we see more Shadrach, Meshach’s and Abed-nego’s (Daniel 3). Refusing to bow down to anyone but God. No matter what horror we are faced with, we can remember the powerful words from the movie Dunkirk — ‘but if not’, which are taken from Daniel 3:17-18.

(Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego)  

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

So be encouraged — our God is more than able to deliver us. And especially remember the fourth man in the fire. He is always with us no matter what we are walking through, so we need to see beyond what our circumstances are. The god of this age is keeping people blinded, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine on them (2 Cor 4).

Abraham, friend of God

May we be more like Abraham, who was known as the ‘friend of God’ (James 2:23; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). Simply believing God for His Word, and that belief was counted as righteousness, yet moving forward in action to where He wants us to go. In obedience, prayerfully seeing far more children of promise. A man of great faith, who simply believed God. From him would come many nations and many who would become a child of Abraham through faith (Gal 3:7-9). He also failed in believing God, but where we fail in our faith, He is there to uphold us. Had God not intervened, Abimelech could have taken Sarah as his ‘wife’ (Gen 20).

Just think about Abraham being asked to sacrifice his own son Isaac (a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of God’s own Son Jesus). What torment, yet what great faith in knowing that God had promised and He would either stop him and provide a sacrifice (which He did), or He would resurrect Isaac from the dead (Gen 22). Abraham’s faith was not always like this, he didn’t always believe perfectly, as we do not. But we can build our faith by the hearing of His Word.

Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness

Noah was by no means a perfect man, yet Noah was called a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). In light of mocking, hatred and great sin we see in these perilous times, consider Noah. He continued in perseverance to build what God asked of him in spite of ridicule, hatred and extreme darkness. And think on how alone Noah was in his convictions. How many did God spare? By faith and fear of God, Noah did what God asked him to do (Heb 11:7). He was called blameless in God’s sight, yet we are well aware of the account of his drunkenness. God knows our frames, that we are but dust. He is familiar with our frailties. Faith is important.

But we are looking forward in great hope to the near future of His second coming. Remembering how the wicked will perish — God does not want that. Like Jude said, let us have compassion on some, making a distinction or difference. Pulling them from the fire, yet hating the stench of their garment (Jude 22-23) Fleeing wickedness like Lot, when we have instruction to do so from the Lord – but don’t look back (Gen 19).

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Most of you remember that Mordecai spoke this to Esther about remaining silent.

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

May the Lord rise up more Esther’s at this time (Esther 1-9). Both men and women willing to seek wisdom from God, in such a time as this. To trust Him to do the delivering. To keep our eyes and ears open to what is going on around us. Being wise and thoughtful in our speech, desiring God’s will in all things, walking worthy of Him, praying in all things.

The Wisdom of Solomon

May we pray for (in faith) and grow in wisdom like Solomon (1 Kings 3:16–28). Being fair in justice, listening to both sides first before judging. But we can also learn from Solomon’s weaknesses, not slacking in our flesh. Fight against letting any of our lusts and the sins that so easily beset us, lead us into error. As we know it led Solomon into great error in the end of his life.

David, a man of war, a man after God’s own heart

May more of us be like David. Courageous in faith while facing giants. Having a heart for God, yet called a Man of War (1 Sam 16:18-19), (interestingly as the Bible says God is also, after defeating the Egyptians by the parting and swallowing up of the Red Sea). As Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is even a time for war.

The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. (Ex 15:3)

David publicly had great failure — actually causing the murder of his friend after committing adultery with his wife Bathsheba. Many of the Psalms are a picture of being humbled (some in order to recognize our failures), and getting back up again with God’s help. Being restored to the joy of our salvation. Others may be just part of life, and yet God will use it.

Friends that stick closer than a brother

May some of us be a silently supportive and loving friend like Jonathan (a good example of 1 Cor 13). Not seeking the limelight, not demanding his own way or rights to the throne, but literally sacrificing himself for love of God and his friend. John 15:13 shows us the ultimate great love.

Re-read the story of the Good Samaritan, and ask the Lord to help you do and be like him — loving others as ourselves (Luke 10:25-37). Demonstrating love, pity, compassion, and gentleness towards others who need our help. As well as standing up for things that will hurt our neighbors (bad laws, leaders, etc.).

Moses, a Deliverer

I pray people will rise up to walk in similar ways to Moses (Ex, Num, Deut). Being the leaders we need, even with frailties as he had. Moses ran from God’s plan for awhile, was in the desert awhile, and was a great deliverer of God’s People. (Can’t blame him as his own people accused him and didn’t want him telling them what to do.) Yet Moses finally stood up (after 40 years) and trusted in God even in the face of grumbling, ungrateful and very sinful people. And was called the most humble man. Leaning on God’s strength versus anything he could bring to the table. He was a man who held up a rod long enough for God to part the Red Sea (Ex 14), and weak enough, he needed friends and family who helped him prop up his arms during battle (Ex 17:12). We can be Moses, Aaron or Hur. All are good when we do it in God’s strength.

Lord grant us more young men like Joshua and Caleb (Josh 3). Willing to go into scary territory, even in light of frightening true reports of giant men. Choosing instead to believe and obey God and enter the Promised Land. Doing it God’s way when trying to pull down strongholds like Jericho (Josh 5:13-6:27). It may have seemed foolish, but they trusted in God instead of their own strength. They leaned wholly on Him.

May some men and women alike become more like Boaz, Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1-4). Boaz, having love and compassion for the Naomi’s and Ruth’s in need that the Lord brings into our lives. Or faith and trust like Ruth in difficult times of loss and need. Or as Ruth, showing loyalty and working hard for one she loved. Be a Boaz in letting those in need glean the best part of our fields. A picture of compassion, love, and acting wisely in redemption (reminds me of Col 4:5-6).

In today’s climate I pray for far more Joseph’s (Gen 37-45). Mistreated, hated, lied about by his own family — some seeking his death (just like Jesus). But he took what the enemy meant for harm, and let God use it for good in his life. A beautiful example of doing good to others that have wronged you terribly, great forgiveness in light of such hatred. Success born out of adversity. Think on it, some were brothers from another mother (as we all are). We are all from one blood (Acts 17:26-27).

May we act accordingly if we’ve been a Zacchaeus in our own life (Luke 19:1-10). We are responsible for our own sins and injustices to others and the consequences they may cause. So may we seek Jesus in understanding His forgiveness for our past and consider restoring others that we may have wronged. 

Even Samson, who was a Nazirite constantly breaking his vows. A man of riddles and another man of war. He trusted in his own strength and was humbled as a result. The Philistines gouged out his eyes blinding him, but his hair grew back and with it his strength. In the end the Philistines wanted to worship and rejoice over their supposed victory concerning Samson. They were to offer a great sacrifice to their false god Dagon, and brought Samson to their temple to (Judges 16:23-31). In the end, Samson brought the temple down around their heads, God had the victory.

First and foremost, may we always strive to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ in our speech and behavior. Showing love and tender mercy towards others, while still calling evil evil. Be pleasing first to the Father (Mk 1:9-12). Answering the accuser of the brethren properly using Scripture as He did in the Wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). Be healing to others with our words, speaking in love to those we may have previously thought of as Samaritans. Calming storms and having faith in Jesus during them (Matt 8:23-27).

None of these things will gain us eternal life with God though. Do you know Him? Do you know where you would go if you died today?

I ONCE WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE

The most important — Help others find their sight to see (Jn 9), in essence a picture of raising others from the dead (John 11:1-44). May we wash the feet of others (John 13:1-17). If we are a prodigal, then return to your Father post haste (Lk 15:13-32).

To those who think they’ve done good all their — lives — think again. No one is good enough, we have all sinned, all of us, so it is impossible for us to save ourselves (Mk 10:17-27). And even one lie is a sin against a perfect, eternal God. It will cause eternal death, unless you believe in His work on the cross for you, in order to be saved (1 Cor 15:3-4; John 5:24-25; 6:47). You can give up all you have and it will avail you nothing — but with men, things are impossible, with God, all things are possible.

Believers, don’t deny Jesus like Peter and His disciples, either in word or in deed (Lk 22:54-62). Remember what Jesus did in His resurrection. He died for all men in great love, and those who believe again, will rise again one day to eternal life with Him. Best way for us to better accomplish good once we are saved, is through His Spirit. We cannot finish in our flesh (Gal 3:1-3). We need to continue in His Word, have our minds renewed by it, taking heed to it to be cleansed, hiding it in our hearts as to not sin against Him (John 8:30-31; Rom 12:2; Ps 119:9-11).

And we can all do that by choosing to be more like Mary rather than Martha (Lk 10:38-42). We are far too busy and distracted many times with what is going on around us — even in serving. We need time with Him, and time hearing His Word. Spend some time talking to the Lord and choosing that good part, which will never be taken from you. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8). Ask for Him to restore the joy of your salvation (Ps 51:12). Again, continue in His Word (John 8:31-32) if you are really to be disciples.

We can’t feed others, until we are fed first (Is 55:10-11). Kind of like the oxygen masks on a plane. They tell you to put yours own before helping another. The theory is that you won’t pass out before a young one can’t do it themselves thereby you all falling into unconsciousness. 

Pray without ceasing for the church, for all men (1 Thess 5:17; 2 Tim 1:1-6). Remember the two greatest commandments and ask Him to help you to love Him more, and to learn to love others as yourselves. Lastly, when you’re dealing with others, try to remember the wisdom that is from above from James 3.

All of us have offended in word. Our tongues can kindle a great fire and defile us and others, only God can tame it. Don’t let blessing and cursing come out of your mouth.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (vs. 13-18)

Love in Christ <3