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For They Know Not the Voice of Strangers

“And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him…” — Nehemiah 6:12


“And a stranger will they not follow: for they know not the voice of strangers.” — John 10:5


Discernment is the mark of God’s elect. My mother once objected to my conversion by saying, “Well how can you be sure that the Bible is the word of God and not any other writing or tradition? How could those people in the Middle East have known they have The God.™ I confess to wondering the same thing and the answer appears fallacious to an unconverted mind. There is no higher authority for God to swear by but himself. The Bible authenticates itself. His sheep hear His voice within it in a way you will not experience in any other book. But that’s circular reasoning! says the unconverted heart. So what?


“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God[1].”


Couching the gospel of Christ in worldly logic in order to make the message more palatable only waters it down and makes it of no effect.


“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many might, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty[2]…”


In this day, when lying spirits are running amok we must be vigilant and pray for this discernment God gave to Nehemiah. When the time comes, you will simply know in your heart as Nehemiah did that the person speaking to you is not bringing a message from God. And even better than pure intuition, you have the scriptures so that you can try the spirits and see if they are of God.[3]


“Thou through they commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” — Psalm 119:98


Watch and pray.


Scripture References: [1] 1st Cor 1:18 [2] 1st Cor 1:26-27

[3] 1stJoh 4:1

Prove Israel

“I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.” -Judges 2:21-22


God has many ways to refine his Church, but one method is through the influence of heathen peoples. In the start of the book of Judges we learn that the tribes of Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites from the lands which they conquered. Instead, they made covenants with the Canaanites, adopted their gods, bred their women, and mixed them into their economies.



The tribes became relaxed after they’d received their land allotments and after Joshua had died. Moreover, the generations at the time of the Judges had forgotten how the Lord led their fathers in past conquests and victories. In fact, many of them had never been tried by the hardships of war.


“Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof” -Judges 3:2


Because of this laxity, God gave them over to their stubbornness and allowed them to face the consequences of their mixing and mingling. This was not because God stopped loving his children, but because God intended to prove Israel and to determine the ones that would bring glory to his name.


Though the children transgressed many times, God’s covenant with Israel remained. Each time they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, He had mercy on them and granted them salvation.

“I will never break my covenant with you.” -Judges 2:1.


We see today, in nearly all former Christ-proclaiming nations, the children of Israel lost and scattered among the heathen people. Many of God’s children have gone astray, adopting heathen ways, and falling into sin, and the Lord has rightfully given these nations into the hands of Canaanites.


But the Lord’s covenant still stands today and by his grace and mercy it is made new in Christ Jesus, the ultimate Savior. He shall call all that are His, out of the nations to repentance. He shall prove Israel.


“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” -Psalm 89:34


Image Credit: K Mitch Hodge via Unsplash

A Heart Prepared to Seek

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” — Ezra 7:10

Ezra Reads the Law to the People — Gustave Doré public domain image


David was a diligent shepherd of his father’s sheep before God raised him to be a shepherd over all Israel[1], and Peter was an ordinary fisherman before the Lord called him to be a fisher of men.[2] Ezra likewise had to prepare his own heart and study the law of the Lord diligently before he could instruct the people and lead them to a great revival. Seek ye first the kingdom of God[3], whose mercies are new every morning[4], and do not leave your post until you have wrestled with the angel for a blessing[5].


“…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many…” Daniel 11:32-33


"Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."

Selah.



Scripture References: [1] 1st Sam 17:34-36 [2] Mark 1:16-17 [3] Math 6:33 [4] Lam 3:23 [5] Gen 32:24-26

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