Tag: Israelites

I Am an Israelite

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the story of the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness. There’s so much of the story to tell of their 40-year journey that it stretches through FIVE books of the Bible (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy & Joshua).

I am always amazed every time I read through their story. Amazed at all the miracles God did for them and also amazed at how rebellious they were despite all the great things God was doing for them their entire journey! I mean, Moses raised his staff to a sea of water and it not only parted, but it allowed two million…T-W-O M-I-L-L-I-O-N people to walk across the sea, on dry ground to get to the other side! How on earth does someone forget such an amazing miracle like that!?! (Exodus 14)

And yet, we do the same thing. We pray to God for something to happen in our lives—a new job, a husband, children, a cure, financial blessing—whatever it is that we desperately want to see changed in our lives. We pray to God, we seek His face, we read our Bible, and we pray some more. And because of the “always-in-a-hurry-fast-paced” society we live in, we expect God to move at that pace, too. And when His timing isn’t the same as ours, we complain that He doesn’t hear us, He doesn’t see us, or He doesn’t love us anymore!

Who do we sound like now? The Israelites.

I’ve always heard pastors tell the story of the Israelites or speakers share about it at women’s conferences. They always say how we’re not any different than the Israelites. We complain to God just like they did, when things don’t go our way or when God is taking longer to fulfill promises than we would like. And I’ve always sat and listened to those messages and thought to myself, “I’m not like the Israelites! Those people were so selfish! They started complaining the moment they left Egypt:

‘Our journey is too long. We’re hungry!‘

‘We’ve been walking in this desert for three days and we’re thirsty!‘

‘Why did you take us out of Egypt? We were slaves, but at least we had food and water!‘

‘Why did you bring us to the desert to die?’

I mean, seriously?!? Talk about the most ungrateful group of people!” (Exodus 15, 16, 17)

Then last week, I was at bible study giving a friend an encouraging word about a job. She shared with us how she needed to find a job and had some great interviews, but no one offered up the job to her afterward. So, I shared with her one of my job experiences. At the time, I was bored with the job I had, so I applied for a new job.  It ended up being about a six-month process between resume submission, phone interviews, different tests I had to take and then the final interview. After the final interview, I received word that the employer had chosen to take a different path and that was that. I eventually moved on to a new job. Almost two years later, I was very unhappy in that job and was praying for God to move in my situation. He did. I got a call from the job I had previously interviewed with that had told me they “had chosen to take a different path.” They had an opening and needed to fill the spot quickly. They remembered me from when I was interviewed before and asked if I was still interested in the job. Needless to say, two weeks later I started my new job with them and I’m still there today. The point I was making to my bible study friend was that just because they’re not calling you now, doesn’t mean they won’t call you in the future. Hopefully for her sake, it doesn’t take two years, but an encouraging story nonetheless. So, after bible study I was driving home and thinking about that job story again. And I began to think through all the blessings God had given; the places where He met me in my weak moments, in my desperate moments, and in my tearful, heart-wrenching moments; God was there with me for every single one. And in every single one of those moments, I realized I had complained to God for not answering those prayers in MY TIME. I had received a blessing from Him, moved about my life, until the next time I began praying for something I wanted or a direction I wanted to take and when He didn’t answer me, I complained. I forgot all about the previous blessing and the miraculous power He used to make that “thing” I wanted a possibility. 

And then it hit me…I AM AN ISRAELITE!  I am just like them! Moaning and complaining when something isn’t going my way or I’m not getting what I want, when I want it and forgetting all about the things God has already done and given me in my life. Dang it! I am just like them!

God has blessed me over and over during different situations and hard seasons. How is it that I forget the amazing things He has done for me and my family? How do I let my faith sway and think He won’t bless me this time? God shows up each and every time I need Him or have something I want or need. He doesn’t fail me. He doesn’t forsake me. He doesn’t say, “Well, Kara, I gave you something last time you asked, you need to be satisfied with that and not ask for anything else. I need to bless other people also.” He doesn’t say that!  Ever! There may be some spaces in time between His blessings, but it doesn’t mean He won’t bless me again! He is always faithful.

God is the immovable, unshakable, everlasting, promise-keeping, uncompromising, miracle-working God.

His promises never return void.

His love never ends.

His blessings never cease.

He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, and our Strength.

Our trustworthy companion.

Our Comfort and our Peace.

God gives healing, freedom, victory, forgiveness, and eternal life.

I am an Israelite and so are you! May we soak in that truth, but also remember that God is always moving in the background and is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV)

March Scriptures

For the past few years, I have taken on the goal of reading my Bible through one of the one-year reading plans.  Mostly, I’ve used the NLT One-Year Chronological Bible. I seem to prefer this particular one because it’s written as it happened, in chronological order.  It’s interesting to me, when reading the Bible this way, how events in history transpired simultaneously through some of the different books and also the different order of the books from how the Bible is laid out.

Like I said, I read the One-Year Bible for several years using this particular version.  But last year, 2019, I didn’t just want to read the Bible, I wanted to make sure I got something out of the daily reading. So I decided I would find one verse or scripture passage that spoke the most to me during each day of Bible reading.

My goal was to read the Bible each day, highlight the specific verse or scripture passage that I found and then write it down to keep in a journal. I used a certain highlighter color so I could keep track of which verse I picked for the daily reading, versus other highlights already in there.

Then, late last year, I decided I wanted to do more with my daily verses, besides keeping them in a journal.  I wanted to share them. So for each month in 2020, I plan to post the scriptures I found for that month in 2019.

My prayer for you is that as you read these scriptures that spoke to me last year, they will speak to you right here and now; either to something you’re searching for, an answer you need or just confirmation of what God has been speaking to you.

March 1—Numbers 6:23-26

“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’”

March 2—Numbers 13:30

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

March 3—Numbers 14:9

Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!

March 4—Numbers 18:29

Be sure to give to the Lord the best portions of the gifts given to you.

March 5—Numbers 20:11

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

March 6—Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not a human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

March 7—Numbers 26:64

Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai.

March 8—Numbers 27:17

Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.

March 9—Numbers 31:47

From the half-share given to the people, Moses took one of every fifty prisoners and animals and gave them to the Levites, who maintained the Lord’s Tabernacle. All this was done as the Lord commanded Moses.

March 10—Numbers 33:53

Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy.

March 11—Numbers 35:34

You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.

March 12—Deuteronomy 3:20

When the Lord has given security to the rest of the Israelites, as he has to you, and when they occupy the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan River, then you may all return to the land I have given you.

March 13—Deuteronomy 3:22

Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.

March 14—Deuteronomy 7:9

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

March 15—Deuteronomy 11:13-14

“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.”

March 16—Deuteronomy 15:10

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

March 17—Deuteronomy 20:4

For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!

March 18—Deuteronomy 23:23

But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.

March 19—Deuteronomy 28:1

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.”

March 20—Deuteronomy 31:6

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

March 21—Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

March 22—Deuteronomy 34:9

Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

March 23—Joshua 4:14

That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.

March 24—Joshua 8:31

He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.

March 25—Joshua 11:23

So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

March 26—Joshua 14:13

So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.

March 27—Joshua 17:18

The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its furthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.

March 28—Joshua 18:1

Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle.

March 29—Joshua 21:45

Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

March 30—Joshua 22:5

But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and your soul.

March 31—Judges 3:30

So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

**All verses are written from the New Living Translation.
**The verses are taken from the NLT Chronological One-Year Bible from YouVersion

February Scriptures

For the past few years, I have taken on the goal of reading my Bible through one of the one-year reading plans.  Mostly, I’ve used the NLT One-Year Chronological Bible. I seem to prefer this particular one because it’s written as it happened, in chronological order.  It’s interesting to me, when reading the Bible this way, how events in history transpired simultaneously through some of the different books and also the different order of the books from how the Bible is laid out.

Like I said, I read the One-Year Bible for several years using this particular version.  But last year, 2019, I didn’t just want to read the Bible, I wanted to make sure I got something out of the daily reading. So I decided I would find one verse or scripture passage that spoke the most to me during each day of Bible reading.

My goal was to read the Bible each day, highlight the specific verse or scripture passage that I found and then write it down to keep in a journal. I used a certain highlighter color so I could keep track of which verse I picked for the daily reading, versus other highlights already in there.

Then, late last year, I decided I wanted to do more with my daily verses, besides keeping them in a journal.  I wanted to share them. So for each month in 2020, I plan to post the scriptures I found for that month in 2019.

My prayer for you is that as you read these scriptures that spoke to me last year, they will speak to you right here and now; either to something you’re searching for, an answer you need or just confirmation of what God has been speaking to you.

February 1—Exodus 3:10

“Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

February 2—Exodus 6:1

Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

February 3—Exodus 8:19

“This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

February 4—Exodus 12:40-42

The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years. In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land. On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So, this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation.

February 5—Exodus 14:31

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

February 6—Exodus 17:12

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So, Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So, his hands held steady until sunset.

February 7—Exodus 20:6

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

February 8—Exodus 23:2

“You must not follow the crow in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.”

February 9—Exodus 28:29

“In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chest piece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord.”

February 10—Exodus 31:17

It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.

February 11—Exodus 34:14

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

February 12—Exodus 35:21

All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.

February 13—Exodus 39:30

Finally, they made the sacred medallion—the badge of holiness—of pure gold. They engraved it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD.

February 14—Exodus 40:34

Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

February 15—Numbers 7:89

Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

February 16—Numbers 8:20

So Moses, Aaron and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the Lord’s instructions to Moses.

February 17—Leviticus 4:35

Then he must remove all the sheep’s fat, just as he does with the fat of a sheep presented as a peace offering. He will burn the fat on the altar on top of the special gifts presented to the Lord. Through this process, the priest will purify the people from their sin, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.

February 18—Leviticus 7:28

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you present a peace offering to the Lord, bring part of it as a gift to the Lord.”

February 19—Leviticus 11:45

For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.

February 20—Leviticus 14:29

The priest will apply the oil remaining in his hand to the head of the person being purified. Through this process, the priest will purify the person before the Lord.

February 21—Leviticus 16:30

On that day offerings of purification will be made for you, and you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins.

February 22—Leviticus 19:12

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.”

February 23—Leviticus 20:7

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

February 24—Leviticus 25:17

Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of each other. I am the Lord your God.

February 25—Leviticus 26:9

“I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you.”

February 26—Leviticus 27:30

“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the tree, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.”

February 27—Numbers 2:34

So the people of Israel did everything as the Lord commanded Moses. Each clan set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them.

February 28—Numbers 4:49

When their names were recorded, as the Lord had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed; just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

**All verses are written from the New Living Translation.

**The verses are taken from the NLT Chronological One-Year Bible from YouVersion.

The Dream and the Wilderness

Mark 9.23

Lately, I’ve been drawn to the story of the Israelites.  Mostly, their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land.  One of my favorite illustrations of this journey is from the book, “One in a Million” by Priscilla Shirer.  I read the book for the first time a few years ago.  I had heard Priscilla speak at a conference and was instantly engaged.  A friend had been reading the book and recommended it so I immediately went out and bought it.  Of course, then I got busy and didn’t read it for a few months.  But when I finally picked it up to read, I couldn’t put it down.

In all my years of attending Sunday school, youth group and church, I never fully picked up on the facts of this story.  Two million people left Egypt with Moses and out of the original two million, only two…T-W-O… actually entered into the Promised Land.  Not even Moses got to cross that final river and stand in the Promised Land.  Why? Lack of faith.  All of the original two million people, with the exception of the two, died in the wilderness during the 40-year journey.  The two million people that did cross into the Promised Land were the offspring of the original group.

It is such an amazing story…sad at times, frustrating at times and happy at times.  And there’s so much we can learn from them.  This has become one of my favorite bible stories!

So as I said earlier, I’ve been drawn to this story, so I decided to dig this book out and read it again.  I’m currently reading it and this will be the third time (yes, 3rd). I’ve also been doing some other reading during my quiet time and each and every reading I’ve done lately…they’ve all referenced this one story about the Israelites and their wilderness journey.  It has just completely blown my mind how everything I’ve been reading or studying or scriptures I’ve found all lead back and tie into this story.  God is simply amazing!!  And obviously has something for me to learn! 🙂

When I read the story about the Israelites, my first instinct is to get frustrated with them for their lack of faith.  I mean, God was with them day and night; He had a visual presence they could see with the cloud and the fire.  He provided everything they needed, every time they needed something.  And when they complained, He provided. They even got to be a part of and witness one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind…the parting of the Red Sea!  They got to see the water split down the middle and become a wall so they could walk on dry land right through it.  They got to see all two million of their traveling buddies walk through completely unscathed.  And then they got to watch Pharaoh’s army follow after them and get swept away as the walls of water came crashing down on them.

They saw it all!  And then they forgot.  And then they complained.  And this is where my frustration with them begins.  And then I remember that I am a flawed human just like they were.  And I remember how quickly I can forget the miracles God does in my life when things start to get hard again or busy or I stop seeking after the One I need.

I’ve been on many wilderness journeys of my own. And I’m sure you have too…we all have!  Sometimes God takes us on a wilderness journey to show us something new or to teach us something we’re too stubborn to learn the easy way.  Sometimes He takes us there to guide us away from something harmful that we don’t see ourselves.  And sometimes He takes us there to breathe new life into us and/or the dreams and visions He has for us.  That’s what my current wilderness journey has been…the rebirth of a dream.

I have always loved reading books.  When I was younger and still some now, good fiction books….you know, the feel-good story with the perfect people who say all the right things at the right time, with the always happy ending. I love to read mystery books and see if I can figure out where the author is taking me before I read it. And I love to read non-fiction books; books like “One in a Million” that teach me something I didn’t know before.

But the one thing I have always wanted to do is to write books.  I’ve had this dream of being a published author for as long as I can remember.  At first, it was to write fiction stories like the ones I get lost in and love.  But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself drawn to non-fiction…to write something that can help someone else.

I have a friend who is a published author and I have asked her countless times how she does it, how she knows what to write or how to start.  She tells me the same thing over and over, “You just sit down and start typing.  God will bring the words to you.”  And that is exactly what He has done!

As I said earlier, all the reading I have done lately has culminated to this story—the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness.  It was deep in the wilderness that I remembered my love for writing.  I realized my friend was right….I just need to sit down and start typing, so I did.  I have. I started keeping a journal a few weeks ago.  Is it profound and professional?  Of course not!  It’s just a way of making a habit to sit down and write something.

But I also felt there was something bigger stirring in me; a story to write; a story to share. And that brings me to this blog.  Although this is about this specific journey of discovery and rebirthing of a dream, I know there will be many more to share.  And as God brings those stories to my mind, I want to share them with you.

Maybe you already follow my blog or found it by happenstance.  Maybe you found this on my Facebook page as it came across your News Feed.  However you came across it, I’m happy you did!  I’ve always loved being an encourager to people around me…seeing the blue sky on a cloudy day.  And I want to continue to be an encourager through my writings and postings as the Lord leads.

Through the vision the Lord recently gave me, I have made some adjustments to my website where I blog and have also created a Facebook page to link future blogs and encouraging posts.

If you’re interested in seeing where God takes me on this writing journey, I ask you to come along with me on this ride. And if you’re not, that’s okay…we’ll still be friends in the blogosphere! J You can find my blogging website at http://kmhlivingbyfaith.com or find me on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/livingbyfaith.kmh.

Thanks for reading and hope to “see” you soon!! 🙂