Challenging God ( by Carley Evans )

Sennacherib (Photo credit: Averain)

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, sends a threatening letter to Hezekiah, the king of Judah. In the letter, Sennacherib taunts: “Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’” (2 Kings 19:10) Then he boasts he is capable of destroying Judah as the kings before him destroyed whole countries! “And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them?” (2 Kings 19:12)

Sennacherib compares God to idols, to gods that are “only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands.” (2 Kings 19:18)

Hezekiah takes the letter to the temple and “spreads it out before the Lord.” (2 Kings 19:14) He asks God to take notice of the insult. “Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.” (2 Kings 19:16)

Isaiah sends a message to Hezekiah, saying the king of Assyria “will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way he came he will return; he will not enter the city.” (2 Kings 19:32-33) God promises to “defend this city and save it, for [His] sake and for the sake of David [His] servant.” (2 Kings 19:34)

That night the angel of the Lord puts to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. In the morning, only dead bodies greet the city. Sennacherib returns to Nineveh where he is murdered by his own sons while worshiping his god Nisroch.

Father God, help us to pray as Hezekiah — concerned about the insult to Your Name, he asks You to take heed. He does not worry about the fate of Jerusalem; his only concern is Your Honor. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

 

Never Denied ( by Carley Evans )

“or if he asketh an egg [or if he shall ask an egg], whether he shall areach him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:12, WYC)

Have you given your child a scorpion — a creature capable of killing your offspring with a single strike — when she pointed into the refrigerator and reached out to the carton of eggs? If so, then you are considered an extraordinarily inept parent, perhaps an immoral one at that!

Therefore, when you ask God for a blessing in line with His perfect will, He is incapable of denying you that good thing. This denial of good goes against His very nature; and that nature is perfection.

Father God, we praise and thank You for Your perfect will for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Brothers ( by Carley Evans )

Hank at 6 weeks… and Robi at 9 weeks… Big brother, little brother.

 

Let us love one another, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.

After two days of having both dogs in my home, I’ve already seen Hank, the big brother — Hank, who is only 13 months old himself — take an interest in his little brother, Robi in a manner I did not anticipate. After all, Hank has been a member of my family almost his whole life. Robi should be an intrusion.

Yet, I’ve witnessed Hank stand over Robi’s entire body and walk with him — of course, not all the time but here and there. He’s both protecting and educating.

My dogs don’t know — well, intellectually — anything about Christ. But we do!

A Room for Elisha ( by Carley Evans )

In Shunem, a wealthy woman urges Elisha to stop in for a meal and he does. Every time he comes to Shunem, he comes by this wealthy woman’s home to eat with her and her husband. The woman recognizes that Elisha is a man of God, so she asks her husband to make a small room on the roof of their home as a place for Elisha to sleep whenever he comes.

The room contains a bed, a table, a chair and a lamp. One day, Elisha goes up to his room to rest on his bed. He says to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” When the wealthy woman comes to Elisha’s room, he asks her what he can do for her since she has been so generous to him.

The woman implies she has all she needs, saying, “I have a home among my people.” (2 Kings 4:13, NIV)

Elisha ponders, “What can be done for her?” And Gehazi suggests to the man of God that the woman has no son and notes that her husband is old. Elisha has Gehazi call the woman back, and as she stands in the doorway, he says to her that by this time next year she will have a son.

The woman protests. “Don’t mislead [me].” (2 Kings 4:16) Yet, she becomes pregnant and has a son, just as Elisha promises.

Her son grows, but one day finds his father who is out with the reapers in the fields; and cries, “My head! My head!” The boy is taken to his mother who holds him on her lap til noon at which time her son dies. She takes her son, lays his body on the bed of Elisha, shuts the door and goes out. Elisha is not there. Accompanied by a servant, she rides a donkey to find Elisha at Mount Carmel.

Elisha sees her coming from a distance, and sends Gehazi to meet her and ask if everything is alright. She says that everything is alright, but she keeps coming to Elisha. When she reaches him, she takes hold of Elisha’s feet. She is in great distress, but Elisha does not know why.

“Did I ask you for a son, my Lord? Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes?’” (2 Kings 4:28)

Elisha sends Gehazi ahead to lay his staff on the boy’s face. Gehazi does so, but the child does not come to life. Gehazi returns to Elisha who is traveling with the mother back to Shunem. When Elisha reaches the house, he finds the boy, shuts the door “on the two of them” and prays to the Lord. He stretches out on the child, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands twice. The boy sneezes seven times and opens his eyes. Elisha calls Gehazi and tells him to call the Shunammite, which he does. When she comes, Elisha says, “Take your son.” (2 Kings 4:36) And she falls at his feet and bows to the ground. She takes her son and goes out.

Father God, sometimes we are afraid of the good things You give us. We are so afraid of losing them, of them being taken away from us that we hesitate to ask You for them in the first place. We sometimes doubt Your loving-kindnesses. Help us Lord to always trust that what You have in mind for us is the very best. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Not for Sale ( by Carley Evans )

After being healed of his leprosy — healed by his obedience to the command of Elisha to dip himself seven times in the river Jordan — Naaman and all his servants find the man of God. Naaman declares to Elisha:

“Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift.” (2 Kings 5:15, NIV)

Elisha refuses a gift. Naaman presses him, but Elisha is adamant as God’s healing is not for sale. Naaman then asks Elisha for a gift — for as much earth as a pair of mules can carry. Presumably this earth will be ‘holy ground’ upon which Naaman will be able to worship only the God of Israel. He also requests pardon for the assistance he must provide to his king during worship. The king leans on Naaman’s arm when bowing in worship to the god of thunder and rain. Naaman, as the king’s servant, must bow in tandem with the king. But, Naaman pledges never to “make burnt offerings to any other god but the Lord.” (2 Kings 5:17)

Not rigidly legalistic, Elisha tells Naaman to “go in peace.” (2 Kings 5:19)

Later Gehazi, who is one of Elisha’s servants, believes Elisha has been “too easy on Naaman.” He determines to “get something from him” (2 Kings 5:20) and runs after Naaman’s chariot. Naaman is concerned. “Is everything all right?” (2 Kings 5:21) Gehazi lies, telling Naaman that God’s healing is for sale, after all. He asks Naaman for two talents of silver and four sets of clothing, enough for two men. Of course, Naaman happily gives up what is requested.

Gehazi essentially hides these items in his own house, then goes to Elisha who confronts him. “Where have you been, Gehazi?” (2 Kings 5:25) Gehazi lies again, declaring he’s not gone anywhere.

Elisha says, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” (2 Kings 5:26)

Gehazi becomes “leprous, white as snow.” (2 Kings 5:27)

Father God, thank You that Your Son paid the price for our healing. You accept no gift from us; instead You give us the very earth we need to worship You in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ Name, we praise You. Amen.

“Do Some Great Thing” ( by Carley Evans )

Naaman, a commander in the army of the king of Aram, is admired. He is a man of valor, but he is also leprous. A captive girl of Israel — serving Naaman’s wife — is bold enough to say to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3, NIV) Obviously Naaman’s wife tells her husband of the girl’s suggestion for Naaman asks the king of Aram if he may go to the king of Israel regarding this cure. The king says, “By all means, go.” (2 Kings 5:5) He even writes a letter of introduction to the king of Israel for his servant, Naaman. And, Naaman does not arrive in Israel empty-handed. He comes with silver, gold, and “ten sets of clothing.” (2 Kings 5:5)

But, the king of Israel is distressed by the request for a cure. He tears his clothes, and says: “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” (2 Kings 5:7) (Talk about misunderstanding an email!)

Elisha, the prophet, sends a message to the king. He asks, “Why have you torn your robes?” (2 Kings 5:8) Then, he suggests the king send Naaman to him for the cure he seeks so that “he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:8)

Naaman comes to Elisha’s front door, but a messenger greets him rather than the prophet. The messenger says, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (2 Kings 5:10) Naaman is enraged. He’s angry that a representative of the prophet Elisha gives him only a message, not the cure itself. He reasons the rivers of Damascus are better than the river Jordan in Israel. “Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” (2 Kings 5:12)

Naaman’s servants calm him. They so wisely say, “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (2 Kings 5:13) Naaman goes to the Jordan and dips himself in the waters seven times, as commanded by Elisha. His flesh is restored and he becomes clean “like that of a young boy.” (2 Kings 5:14)

Thank You Father God for Your awesome cure for sin and death. May we respond to Your call to healing, and dip ourselves in the waters of your sacrificial love. May we remember that Elisha did not command Naaman to do some great thing; rather he told him to wash and be cleansed in the Jordan. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

God’s Example of Love ( by Carley Evans )

God asks Hosea to love his wife again, even though she is an adulteress and has betrayed his trust. God says, “Love her as I love the children of Israel even though they betray Me with other gods and with addiction to alcohol.”

“Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.” (Hosea 3:1, KJV)

God says to Hosea, “You think you’ve been hurt! I created Israel to be My own, and this people turn against Me! Yes, you are hurt as I Am hurt. Like Me, take your adulteress wife back into your defiled marriage bed and make her your own again, despite her betrayal. Do this according to the example of love I set for you. Love the unlovable.”

What’s Next? ( by Carley Evans )

What’s better than ‘puppy-love?’ At this size, Robi – he’s four weeks old – is completely dependent upon mother and breeder. Total dependence, and without any effort on his part. He’s dependent because he has to be – if not, he’ll die.

Too bad we find our dependence upon God, our Father, so difficult. Rather than coming to us naturally as dependence does to Robi, we find ourselves struggling against God’s large warm hand as He holds us.

Look at Robi. This puppy is relaxed in the breeder’s hand. No fear, no struggle, no squirming. Instead, a bit of ‘what’s next?’

Despite Tears ( by Carley Evans )

Esau is starving. He deems his birthright as being of no worth to him if he dies of starvation, so he sells it for food. And he thinks nothing of giving up the rights of the firstborn son.

“Esau answered, Lo! I die, what shall the first begotten things profit to me? (And Esau  answered, Lo! I am starving right now, and what good is my birthright to me!)” (Genesis 25:32,WYC)

We’ve all heard the adage that ‘hindsight is golden.’ Esau looks back at his foolish decision and mourns the loss of his birthright. But, for all his tears, the consequences of his decision remain, coloring his life. He hates his brother, Jacob who supplants him twice, first taking his birthright and later his blessing.

Forgiveness is glorious; we each must appreciate the washing away of our sins and mistakes. Consequences remain, but God is able and sometimes willing to even wash away these. Esau and Jacob reconcile despite one’s foolishness and the other’s subterfuge.

“Forsooth Jacob raised up his eyes, and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him; and he parted the sons of Leah, and of Rachel, and of both the servantesses (and he divided the children between Leah, and Rachel, and the two slave-girls).” (Genesis 33:1)

“And so Esau ran against his brother (And Esau ran to meet his brother), and embraced him, and Esau held his neck, and kissed him, and (they) wept (together).” (Genesis 33:4)

Who would imagine these brothers, so different in temperament and purposes, would come together in forgiveness and brotherly love? Yes, Jacob is cautious, wary of his older brother. On the other hand, Esau is ready to forgive and forget the past harm. True, Esau never regains his birthright despite tears. But he does regain his brother.

Only God makes freedom from sin and relief from some of its dire consequences possible.

But Dreaming is Life, Too ( by Carley Evans )

I hear the Lord — yes, dangerous to assume the small voice in my mind is His and not mine — say, “Get up. Go to Mepkin.”

I glance at my clock — it’s 4 a.m. Lauds starts in 1 1/2 hours; the drive is about 1 hr. I can make it if I get up now!

“But, Lord.” I say weakly. “My hair’s dirty. I could wear a hat, but the only ones I’ve got are baseball caps and who knows what the monks will think about that! And, yes I’ve got time to take a quick shower, but…”

Then, I remember the newfangled metal automatic gate at the entrance to the abbey. Ah, I think, gotcha now.

“But, Lord.” I say with a bit more confidence. “The gate! What if the gate is shut? Gas is so expensive. What a waste if I can’t get in.”

And here’s the real fear — right here. “But, Lord.” I say this emphatically. “What if the monks disapprove? What if one or two or all glance my way and think, oh no, she’s back?”

A little background is called for. I used to travel to Mepkin Abbey almost every weekend. On Friday night, I’d ask the Lord to wake me if He wanted me to go. Usually I woke up about 4:20 a.m. just enough time to throw on clothes and get in the car. I’d drive the 45 minutes to 1 hour, go through the old wooden — yes, open — gate, park beside the Clare Boothe Luce library, walk to the sanctuary, quietly enter, sit in the visitors’ section in the semi-dark and wait for one of the monks to acknowledge me and perhaps offer me a place in the — I don’t know what it is called — on either side of the church and facing each other are two lines of wooden chairs, each with a wooden bench that can be folded up so as to lie flesh with the wall so you are able to stand against the wall. Then the bench can be folded back down for sitting. Hopefully, you can imagine this, or have seen it yourself. At any rate, I was always acknowledged and if the guests — the retreatants — were already seated and a place remained for me, I was allowed to join the liturgy.

Now, my fear of being looked at with disapproval is not of God and comes not from the monks of Mepkin but from myself and perhaps from some ‘force of evil.’

I say this because Mepkin has brought to my life nothing but joy in the Lord. I never regret going; I definitely regret the last thing I said to God this morning.

I heard Him say, “You want to get up. You’re wasting your life.”

And I said, “But dreaming is my life, too.”