It all started with a little boy and itchy skin, which is honestly the worst way for anything to begin. He was my little brother, two years old at the time, and as the scratching continued, it became clear the cause was more than an irritation from running around in the grass or an aggravated mosquito bite. Still, my parents applied hydrocortisone cream and hoped for the best, leaving a message for the pediatrician to call in the morning.
But overnight, I, too, began to scratch my skin, and red bumps proved the cause to be more than an allergy to something we’d eaten for dinner the night before. By morning, my mom was also itchy which was the final straw to explain our fate: chicken pox.
So there we were, all three of us, left to schedule back-to-back oatmeal baths, share anti-itch cream, take turns complaining, and inconvenience our one remaining caretaker, my father. To think this all started with a little boy and itchy skin.
Israel was quick to assume sin was a “someone else” problem, and if I’m being honest, I’m often guilty of doing the same. The crime at Gibeah? Certainly it was someone else’s fault. Surely, the people of Benjamin were the only ones who didn’t have it all together, and war needed to be waged against them to make everything right.
But first, God used the war against Benjamin to point out the ways Israel, too, was infected with sin. While these accounts are difficult to take in and unfold like a horror story, they all play a part in God reminding His children what happens when they forget Him and rely only on what they can see. Everyone was doing what appeared to be right in their own eyes, and that led to death and destruction.
The Israelites’ first defeat at the hands of the badly outnumbered Benjaminites caused them to weep before the Lord and inquire of Him if they should attack again the next day. It wasn’t until their second failure that they turned to fasting and making sacrifices for their sins. It’s dangerous to keep on living in sickness, but unfortunately, many times it takes something truly terrible to recognize the destructiveness of sin.
Judges 20 isn’t necessarily something you’d want to write on your dry erase board or commit to needlepoint, but it’s significant to the heartbeat of humanity. It’s been said that sometimes, to receive the depth of the good news, we must first be able to swallow the bad. And yet, here is my favorite part of this passage: God answered the Israelites, despite their sin. When they asked questions, no matter how infected their souls were, He answered. And that is the God we serve.
We may waver from Him and, for a time, commit to our own selfish ways, but by the grace of God, His commitment is to the changing of hearts. Our stories will all end with our sinful selves redeemed by the faithful Father. Thanks be to Him.
Lifting you up in prayer this morning Teresa ❤️
@Teresa DONLEY – praying for you, your procedure to go quickly and the people who are working with you. You are strong and the lord has you.
Happy Thursday ladies!! Praying for you all! Finally getting caught up after the glitch in the app. My family and I are heading to Minnesota tomorrow for the Vikings game this weekend for my dads birthday! If you’ve been around awhile you know how special my dads birthday is. Praying for you all today.
I would like to ask for prayer on Friday. I will be having a spinal tap to help determine if I have Alzheimer’s or Lewey Body Disease. I’m nervous about the test itself. I will have to spend 24 hours flat on my back. The doctor said it will take several weeks to get the results back because it has to be sent to the lab at the Mayo Clinic. Please pray that the test goes well tomorrow with no complications, and pray for the time I will have to stay in bed. I think this might be a good time to listen to the Bible rather than try to hold it. Also, please pray for accurate results from the test, and guidance on what will happen from here. I’m scared to death of having any form of dementia. My biggest fear is forgetting my family, especially my daughter and grandchildren. And I pray that I’m able to know that I am a Child of God, no matter what else I might forget. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Thanks for your prayers Shes. Update: I had to close the account, open a new one, and file a police report. 1 – 6 months, we will need to wait for funds to be restored either by the thief, his bank, or our bank. Fun times.
On a lighter note LUCY ROBERTSON how do you get two smile emojis to get through!?
Thankful for God’s grace and commitment to the work of changing our hearts. Some mornings I wake up and have a particular hymn already singing in my head. Today it was O’ Thou Fount of Every Blessing running on a continuous loop. It feels like a gift from God to start my day this way. Most times it’s a song that is useful to the day. Haven’t posted this week. Trying to complete a remodeling project and prepare for resuming babysitting responsibilities of two grandchildren next week. DIL maternity leave is ending. A little nervous adding an infant into my routine with the 3yr old. It’s a good problem to have… just have to be patient with myself in adjusting to a new normal.
Today’s reading was so tough. I was really sobbing. The lamentations just made my heart burst because of the great great suffering of the children of disobedient. Did they know? Have they not been cautioned? God is to be feared, greatly to be feared. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong (Exodus 23:2). Please never never follow the crowd in wrong doing, please keep ourselves diligently in the fear of the Lord, even though that means we sit alone, we eat alone, frowned upon, gossiped at. STILL… it’s better than reaping the consequences we read today. My heart broke! Will we trade the company of ONE for the approval of the crowd? What’s shocking is God will not spare evil, the Lord approved civil wars to happen for the purging of evil within Israel. How much more today? The wage of sin is truly death. I was brought to these verses after reading today’s awful consequences, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 8:11-12). May the fear of the Lord keep us and sustain us, our families and children within the paths of righteousness, so mercy and goodness will follow us all the days of our lives.
Prayers lift up, KELLY NEO (so sorry, praying Proverbs 6:31 over you, and the peace that surpasses understanding), TINA & TRACI (grace, strength and love for your dear hearts), CEE GEE (hope you feel better), LEXI B (dear friend, so sorry, may God’s will be done and directions are given), FOSTER MAMA (was thinking of you lately, prayers that all is going well with you and your babies). Praying over all our sweet she’s and your precious families for good health, sound mind, unwavering hope and fixed eyes/attention on our Lord as we march forth, wading through the darkness of this world, leaning on Him, wiping tears, but also praising and dancing, for the Lord is always faithful to those who seek Him.
Be blessed dear sisters.
Something SEARCHING said about “if only.” If only they had unified in the beginning and cleared out all their enemies from the Promised Land like God commanded….reminded me about “if only” Adam and Eve would have obeyed the command from God about the forbidden fruit instead of listening to the manipulative lies of Satan…
If only we all obeyed the original command instead of listening and giving weight to the lies, and landing ourselves in the age old cycle of Rebellion->Oppression->Cry For Help->Rescue->Peace. Someday it will actually end with PEACE. Come, Lord Jesus.
Praying for my dear fellow She’s today. Only one more day of the “bad news” before dwelling on the “GOOD” as we finish out 2023.