Do You Want Peace? Be Respectful, Be Wise, and Follow the Path

In this week’s study, we’ll look at how being respectful, being wise, and following the God-ordained path can bring us peace.

           

            As we roll up our treasure map and move forward on our hunt for peace, we’ll head for the “book of Exodus,” where we find Moses after his burning bush encounter. God has given him instructions to return to Egypt to tell the Pharaoh — the ruler of Egypt — that God wants Pharaoh to let His people (the Israelites) go — to release them from the bondage of slavery. He wants Pharaoh to find someone else to make his bricks for him.

           

            But before Moses picks up and leaves on his mission, he goes to his father-in-law, Jethro, and says to him:

           

            “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see

             whether they are still alive.”

             And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in Shalom.” (4:18)

           

            So let’s examine what just happened here. Moses has had an encounter with God, and God has given him explicit instructions on where to go and what to do. Moses has received a Divine calling and been given a responsibility to surpass all other responsibilities, to change the course of history. To confront one of the most powerful rulers on earth and lead millions of people to freedom in a promised land flowing with milk and honey. It will be an event that will identify Moses and his people for eternity, one that will be taught in schools and recreated in books and modern movies. (And argued about for centuries.)

           

            Yet, what is the first thing Moses does after receiving this divine calling and direction from the Almighty and heading out on a journey that will likely take Moses away from the employment of his father-in-law for a very long time, or permanently? (Keep in mind that Moses tends Jethro’s animal herd. In essence, he works for Jethro.)

           

            What does Moses do? He goes to Jethro and asks for permission to go!

           

            He has just received a calling from the Creator of the Universe, and yet he humbles himself before his father-in-law. He just received Divine direction, and yet he extends Jethro the respect and courtesy due his position in the family.

           

            Moses is probably the most humble person you’ll ever meet in the Bible (outside of Jesus), and it’s worth noting the example he sets for us.

           

            He wants to part ways (at least temporarily) with Jethro on good terms. He even says, “Please.” Moses wants to leave his father-in-law in peace and receive the blessing of Shalom from Jethro before he goes.

           

            The passage implies that Moses doesn’t give Jethro some long-winded explanation of why he’s going, or regale Jethro with a detailed account of what happened to him at that burning bush, or brag about being chosen by God to ride off to Egypt, conquer Pharaoh with just a shepherd’s rod as his “weapon,” and become a national leader.

           

            Moses gives Jethro a reasonable, nothing-out-of-the-ordinary explanation for why he wants to go. And Jethro gives Moses the blessing he seeks: “Go in Shalom.”

           

            “Go in rest and happiness, Moses,” Jethro is saying. “Have peace in your heart that I have given you my blessing.”

           

            Now, what if Jethro had said, “Well, uh, no Moses. I really need your help. I’m getting on in years and need you around. You’re the only one I can really trust, and you’re a great shepherd. None better, in fact. Where will I find a replacement for you? Uh, sorry, but I don’t think so. It’s not convenient for me right now.”

           

            Then I think Moses would have divulged more details. But I don’t think Jethro’s refusal would have changed Moses’s mind and caused him to stay home. If it had, God would have found him again in the desert and probably chewed him out and ordered him to go. (Moses didn’t seem too thrilled about going anyway, so maybe he would have used Jethro’s refusal as an excuse. But that’s not what happened, so we can move on.)

           

            But Jethro is a wise and gracious dad, and he sends Moses off with a blessing of peace.

           

            But can you imagine what Jethro would have thought if he’d arisen one morning to find Moses, his daughter, and his grandsons gone, and his wild stock wandering shepherdless around the rocky hillside? No doubt he’d be upset enough about the lack of Moses’s concern for, and neglect of Jethro’s possessions. But what do you think would hurt his heart more? I suspect his heart would be crushed by the lack of respect Moses showed toward him as a person. A person in general, and a person in a position of familial authority. And the hurt would be compounded by the memory of the kindness Jethro had once shown Moses. Don’t you think maybe he might be just a little bit angry? Or devasted? Shocked even?

           

            But none of those things happen, because Moses did the right thing, and God made sure Jethro let him go in Shalom. Jethro gives Moses a parting blessing. And that blessing may have been helped along because Moses was respectful.

           
            Moses does go to Egypt and lead God’s people to freedom. You can read all of the exciting scenes in the next twelve chapters. And then in Chapter 17:13, we find Moses sitting before a stream of Israelites who have lined up to be judged by Moses. Essentially, they're bringing their complaints and questions before him, and they want him to make a decision about their concerns. Moses sits there from morning until evening, listening and dispensing wisdom. And his father-in-law Jethro, who has joined the wandering Israelites, is evidently sitting near Moses and watching all of this listening, arguing and judging. And he doesn’t like what he sees.

           

            Jethro asks Moses what he’s doing, and Moses explains the process. Jethro listens and then delivers a judgment of his own: “The thing you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.” Then Jethro outlines for Moses how he should choose qualified, exemplary, God-fearing men from the twelve tribes who will first learn the statutes and laws from Moses and then will be sent out among the people to be judges themselves of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Great matters they should bring to Moses. Together, they will rule the people.

           

            Then Jethro finishes by saying, “If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in Shalom” (18:23).

           

            Moses does follow his father-in-law’s advice and sets up the Wilderness College, the first theological institute for higher learning. And the selected men gather to learn and then spread out among their people to judge small disputes and dispense decisions. The “hard cases” they take to Moses.”

           

            Moses had been trying to do all of the listening and decision-making on his own, and Jethro had recognized that Moses was on the fast track to burnout. Jethro gave Moses advice that would help him endure physically, spiritually and emotionally, and allow the people to go in rest and happiness. They would be content. (Can you imagine how quickly contentment would dissolve if they had to stand in line for hours, or days, just to have their time with Moses for a “hearing” about their issues? It doesn’t sound very practical, and, (living in a desert environment myself), I can’t imagine it was good —emotionally or physically — for the people to be sitting out under the hot sun for hours! Not only would Moses be better off, so would the people.

           

            Moses takes some good father-in-law device and establishes a justice protocol for the people. He demonstrated wisdom when he took sound advice.

           

           

            But now we’ll close Exodus and open the pages of “Leviticus,” Chapter 26 verse 6.

           

            The title of this chapter is: “Promise of Blessing and Retribution.” The word “blessing” sounds really nice, but the retribution thing (punishment for doing wrong) doesn’t sound appealing. But that’s exactly what this chapter is — God instructing the Israelites on what they need to do to uphold their side of the agreement and how God will bless and reward them if they do; and how the people will suffer and be punished if they do not heed God’s words and live according to them. Then God tells them what they’ll need to do to re-establish their relationship with Him in order to once again enjoy His favor and peace.

           

            It’s a beautiful and then ugly and then redemptive picture. In verse 6, God says,

            “I will give Shalom in the land, and

            you shall lie down, and none

            will make you afraid;

            I will rid the land of wild beasts,

            and the sword will not go through

                        your land.

            That sounds like a blessed picture of prosperity, rest, happiness, health, peace, safety, and welfare. Conditions of life all of us seek. But is there any way for us to find it?

Questions to Ponder

1. Let’s consider Moses’s actions with his father-in-law Jethro following Moses’s encounter with God. God has spoken to him, selected him for a humanely impossible task and given him directions on how to accomplish it. And what was the first thing Moses did? He went to Jethro and asked to go. Moses didn’t make a big deal about what the God of the Universe had asked him to do. He gave Jethro a practical reason for leaving, and Jethro not only told him he could go, he told him to go in Shalom. He gave Moses a traveling blessing.

           

            My questions for you today are: When God directs you to do something BIG like

            he did Moses, what is your reaction? Do you sound the alarm and blow your horn

            so that everyone sits up and notices? Do you just pack up and “leave” without

            warning to your loved ones and expect them to go along with the calling

            because you’ve been called?

           

            Do you possibly give some of your relatives or friends too much information

            about your calling? Do you give them more than they can understand or

            handle? Do you talk too much? (That’s me. Completely guilty on that one. Because 

            I am often driven by guilt, I sometimes feel as though I need to give

            someone every reason in the book as to why I’m doing something I’m

            doing. I’m desperate to explain myself.) Do you need to be wiser about how

            much information you share about what God has called you to do?

           

            Conversely, do you demand that people explain themselves when they tell

            you they need or want to do something? When they honor your position,

            do you lord that position over them or graciously release them? And do you

            put the icing on the cake by offering them a blessing of Shalom in their

            journey, even if you don't understand why they're going?

           

            Is there someone you need a blessing of Shalom from in regard to your

            calling from God? Have you asked them for it, or just charged off without

            saying anything? If so, perhaps you should return to them, apologize, and

            ask them for their blessing. Tell them how important it is that you receive it.

2.  When Moses takes Jethro’s advice to set up a “court system” it brings relief and order to Moses and to the Israelites. Dr. John MacArthur writes about this event in The MacArthur Study Bible: “Jethro’s practical wisdom was of immense benefit to Moses and the Israel, and has been lauded as an example of delegation and management organization by efficiency experts for centuries—and still is.” MacArthur goes on to say that the same spiritual qualities that Moses looked for in the men he would choose were also required qualities of the New Testament leaders (see Acts 6:3, 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

           

            Is there anything in your life that you need to delegate to someone else? Are you,

            or others, missing out on Shalom because you are too controlling, afraid to let

            go and teach others to follow in your footsteps and lead?

           

            Are you doing things in your life that are too much for you right now? In order

            to have Shalom in your life, would it be better if you dropped the activities

            altogether, or delegated some of the responsibilities to someone else? If so,

            pray that God will show you godly people you can teach or to whom you can

            turn over responsibilities. Or seek out a wise, godly counselor who can pray

            with you and help you identify where in your life you can reduce.

3. When you consider verse 6 in Leviticus, do you believe it is possible to achieve that kind of peace today? This verse talks about an environment that sounds like nirvana, a utopia.

           

           

            I think we are often in danger of claiming every verse in Scripture as our own, as   

            promises made directly to us. These promises of blessings and retribution were

            written specifically to the Israelites thousands of years ago. They are Old Covenant 

            blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience, and a provision of repentance.

           

            But we now live under the New Covenant blessings — where redemption has

            been provided (to those who accept it) through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because 

            of that, I see this as more of a picture of the New Heavens and the New

            Earth, something we will enjoy in the future. Yet we can learn from it: God does

            have standards, and we would do well to live by them, if we want our hearts filled with

            Shalom. Holding this future vision in our hearts gives us hope! And with it, a deep sense 
            of peace.

           Look around you? Who usually has the most Shalom in his heart? It’s the person who chooses carefully and lives wisely on the path that God has laid out before him.

Next week we’ll study Shalom in the "book of Numbers." It's an exciting — and challenging — study! (And it will be a much shorter one, too.)

Until then, may your week be full of blessings that you receive and give, your heart be full of joy and thankfulness, and your days be filled with laughter! Build a little heaven in your life right now, and watch your heavenly garden grow!

In Christ’s love and peace,

Andrea

When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth. ~ A. W. Tozer

Would you like to receive this study in your email in box every Monday? If so, just sign up via email to brokenheartsredeemedblog@gmail.com. Enter “broken hearts blog post” in the subject line, and you’ll automatically receive them! And don’t worry, your email address will never be shared or sold! If you ever decide to unsubscribe, just send an email to the above address, stating you’re no longer interested, and you’ll be removed from the list. It’s that easy, and safe!

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Do You Want Peace? Be Hopeful, Be Prepared, Be Forgiving

            Last week we saw examples of how being honest, being prosperous and choosing our battles wisely contributed mightily to experiencing a Shalom type of peace — rest, happiness, favor. Isaac chose his battles wisely, journeyed where God led him, and experienced a Shalom treaty with a powerful king. He lived in prosperity and peace. This week we’ll leave Isaac and move forward in time to his son Jacob in Genesis 28: 21, and discover how being hopeful, prepared, and forgiving contribute to having peace.

            The backstory to this passage is that Jacob, under the tutelage of his conniving mother, Rebekah, has usurped the coveted birthright blessing from his older brother by posing as his brother before his blind dad, Isaac. (Ugly picture, isn’t it?) When Jacob’s older brother, Esau, learns of it, Esau threatens to kill Jacob, after Isaac dies, of course.        

           

            Rebekah hears about Esau’s oath and plans a getaway for Jacob. So, under the guidance and command of his mother, who sets up Isaac to make it seem like he’s the decision maker on this plan, Jacob flees to his Uncle Laban’s (his mom’s brother). In the process of running away, he meets God in the wilderness.

           

            At nightfall on his first night out, and using a rock for a pillow, Jacob dreams a prophetic dream about a ladder that extends from earth to heaven. In the dream, God makes Jacob promises about giving Jacob the land on which he’s lying, and making him prosperous in descendants. God also promises to protect Jacob and safely bring him back to his father’s land.

           

            When Jacob awakens, he has one of those “Ah ha” moments. And he’s so giddy with joy that he makes a vow, which starts in verse 20.

            “…If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give

            me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s

            house in Shalom, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have

            set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will

            surely give a tenth to you.”

           

            Now, let me first point out that the first word “If” is under debate among Biblical

scholars and teachers. Some read it as “If” while others say it should really read “Since.”

I’m not going to get into a debate about it here, since that would sidetrack us from the point of the Shalom. But I tend to come down on the side of “If” because of the way the rest of the passage is worded, and the words “shall be” which indicates future. (Unless, of course, Jacob is making a statement as though it’s already happened, and he claims God right there as his God, too, not just his father’s and grandfather’s.) And if you read ahead, you know that Jacob does return years later, but in the process he wrestles mightily with God and is so terrified of Esau still being on a death hunt that he chickens out and sends the women and children ahead of him to meet Esau! Doesn’t sound to me like a guy who is convinced of the promises God gave him in his dream. But I digress…

           

            For us in this study, the point is that Jacob, like most of us, wants to live in Shalom — peace, rest, safety, health and prosperity. He wants to live in harmony with his family, and he wants to return home one day. He hopes that this running away and tension and hate won’t go on forever. And he knows that God alone is the one who can make that happen for him. He acknowledges that. And he does try to honor God by setting up an altar, a memorial standing stone of sorts, to remind him and others of what happened there. And he promises to give back something of his wealth to God. He knows and acknowledges that God deserves something. And he makes a vow to God about it. But from this passage, we know that living in Shalom is uppermost in Jacob’s mind. And you could say that he was hopeful about the future God has foreshadowed to him.

           

           

            But we’ll leave Jacob at his standing stone and move onward in Genesis to Chapter 41, verse 16. And I’ll need to give you a backstory here, too, although this story is well known. Perhaps you’ve heard it in Sunday school. It’s about Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph — the son of his beloved, deceased wife, Rachel.

           

            Joseph has been sold into captivity by his ten brothers. (They were very jealous of him and the favoritism Jacob showed him.) Joseph ends up in Egypt, where he becomes a slave and household servant in a rich and powerful man’s house. Joseph is such a man of integrity, though, that the rich and powerful man trusts him with everything. Unfortunately, the man’s wife takes a liking to the young, handsome Joseph and tries to seduce him. Joseph won’t have anything to do with that, and she, in her rebuffed rage, accuses him of trying to molest her. Well, Joseph gets tossed in jail for a very long time. But God has granted him a special gift: the ability to interpret dreams. And that gift will save him.

           

            Fast forward to a day when the Egyptian Pharaoh has had some disturbing dreams none of his magicians can interpret. Quite suddenly, Pharaoh’s butler (who had also been imprisoned at one point) remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh that Joseph is the man who can interpret his disturbing dreams. So Pharaoh sends for Joseph, and Joseph washes off the prison filth and gets all tidied up to meet with Pharaoh. We’ll pick up the story in verse 15.

                        And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who 

                        can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a 

                        dream, to interpret it.”

                        

                        So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh 

                        an answer of Shalom.”

           

            Well, if you read on, you will find out that Joseph isn’t going to tell Pharaoh something happy and peaceful. He’s going to prophecy about a horrible famine that will come on them in the future, after a period of tremendous prosperity. So Joseph is not providing Pharaoh with an interpretation of entirely smooth sailing and peaceful times ahead.

           

            What he is providing Pharaoh is the peace of mind that comes from understanding the disturbing dream and knowing what to expect and being able to plan for it. For knowing and being wise in his actions in order to provide for his people, so they don’t suffer in the famine. And it is God who provides that knowledge and wisdom. Joseph immediately gives God credit for that, before he hears or interprets the dreams. And, ultimately, the story does have a happy ending — for a while, at least.

           

            Joseph interprets the dreams, and Pharaoh is so impressed and happy with him, that he makes Joseph second in command, under Pharaoh, over all of Egypt. Pretty impressive! Joseph has given Pharaoh Shalom, and Pharaoh is overjoyed! He has helped Pharaoh be prepared.

           

            But now we’ll skip a couple of chapters to a time in Joseph’s life when he is miraculously reunited with his brothers, whom he hasn’t laid eyes on in years. He recognizes them, but at this point, (Genesis, Chapter 43), Joseph looks more like an Egyptian prince than the young Israelite shepherd they last saw, so his brothers don’t recognize Joseph. Joseph meets with them once, when they come begging for food to survive the famine, and then he orchestrates events so that he meets with them a second time.

           

            Joseph is now a man of great power and wealth, and he has set them up in a way that forces them to return to meet with him. He is, in fact, playing out a lesson-teaching game for them. They are terrified about finding money in their grain sacks, money that doesn’t belong to them, and they have returned it to Joseph. (For once in their lives, they are being honest.) Joseph calms their fears in verse 23.

           

            But [Joseph] said, “Shalom be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God

            of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.”

           

            Joseph’s estranged brothers should actually start catching on now, or questioning some things, since this should sound like a common Hebrew blessing to them: Shalom (peace) be with you. Joseph calms their fears with an endearment, a word of assurance to quiet their pounding hearts.

           

            In Genesis 44:17, though, Joseph is still playing out this lesson to his clueless brothers, to teach his brothers and to learn valuable information from them. He wants to find out the state of their hearts. He again plants his gold cup in their sacks, to make it look as though they have stolen something priceless from him. His brothers return the object and ask for Joseph’s mercy. But Joseph doesn’t give it, to all of them anyway. He tells them:

            

           “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man [his brother Benjamin] in whose 

            hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in Shalom to

            your father.”

           

            Really, Joseph!? Go back “in rest and happiness” to our father and leave his favorite son with you? The only remaining son of his favorite wife? You’ve got to be kidding!

           

            Actually, he was, in a way. He just wanted to see what they would do, how they would react. Again, he wanted to see if, and how, their hearts had changed. They had wronged him, and now they are on the receiving end of injustice. Joseph knew that if they went home there really would be no peace in the family. His aged father’s heart would be devastated at the loss of yet another son. Thankfully, they pass the test, and Joseph finally reveals himself to them in Chapter 45, and they are all reunited — aging father, sons, brothers, and family. A happily-ever-after ending.

           

            In spite of everything that they did to Joseph, he forgives them — knowing that their evil plan God used for good, and they do finally live together, in Shalom. Joseph is a forgiving man from whom we can learn much!

Questions to Ponder

1. Like Jacob in our first story, have you ever met God in the wilderness? It’s not always an easy place to be, but it’s most often where we really get to know God — because we’re more apt to listen to Him there.

           

            Think back to a time when you were wandering in the wilderness. What did

            God say to you there?

           

            Are you in the wilderness now? If so, rather than trying to fight your way out

            of it, maybe you should lean into it, ask God what He’s saying to you. What

            does He want you to learn? Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, like He did to

            Jacob and then really listen to what He tells you. Note it in your journal.

2. Have you ever felt the way Jacob did? That you were running away from home and your desire is to eventually return home in peace? Who can make that happen for you? Have you asked Him? Are you ready to release the vice grip you have on your ego to make it happen?

           

            Take a moment to think about how God may have spoken to you in the past. 

            Maybe it was through a dream, or perhaps another person. An event in your life. 

            Did you listen and hear God speak to your heart? What did He say to you?

           

            Another important point we can’t miss is that Jacob prays for the basics:

            bread, clothing, and Shalom. When was the last time you prayed for bread

            and clothing and peace? The simple basics of life. Or are your prayers

            padded with lots of  extras? For the next week or more, try focusing your

            prayers on the simple needs of life, and determine in your heart to be

            satisfied with those things. Thank God for their provisions. Then note in

            your journal how your heart changes toward how you view God, and your

            life, and if you have more Shalom.

           

            Think about Jacob’s relationship with his brother, Esau, and what he did to 

            contribute to that poor relationship. Is there a rift in your relationship with 

            someone right now? What have you done to repair it? What has the other

            person done to help repair it? If they have extended Shalom to you, how

            have you responded to it? How could responding, or not responding, bring

            more Shalom to your heart?

3. Now think about Pharaoh’s disturbing dream.

           

            Have you ever had a dream or event in your life that distressed you, or

            robbed you of your peace? Who did you go to for wisdom on how to handle

            or “interpret” the dream or event? Do you know someone who has been given

            that gift? Remember, God is the one who can interpret and restore to you the         

            peace of mind you need to be proactive and successful in your plans. Are you

            absolutely confident that God can speak to you through that person?

            This story reminds us that there is Shalom in knowing, even if the news isn’t

            the best. Maybe it teaches you that in your years of abundance, you can prepare

            for the lean years, so you won’t have to live “lean” or in a state of distress

            through them. As American financial guru Dave Ramsey likes to say, “If you

            live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” Is that something you

            need to do now, in order to have Shalom in your life later?

4. Joseph calmed his brothers’ hearts by giving them a word of assurance.

           

            Can you remember a time when your troubled heart was quieted by a good

            word of peace from someone? A family member or friend? Who do you know 

            right now that needs a word of peace, a kind word of assurance?

            You may be the one with a troubled heart right now, like Joseph actually had

            in this event. He was overcome with emotion and love when he saw his

            brothers. But passing on a word of peace to someone else, like Joseph did,

            often does wonders for the state of your own heart. This week, plan to write, 

            call, or meet with that person to pass on a word of Shalom. Ask God to give

            you just the right words to say to encourage the person’s heart.

5. Joseph had every “right” to turn his brothers away, not help them in their distress, or make them suffer as they had made him suffer. But he doesn’t do any of those things. While he does put them through several tests, ultimately he forgives them, loves them, and blesses them beyond measure. Like God does for us, he gives his brothers what they don’t deserve. He extends us love, grace, and mercy.

           

            When was the last time you forgave someone who did not deserve your

            forgiveness and love? Can you test the waters with them to see if their hearts

            have changed and they are ready to reconciled with you so you can extend love

            to them the way Joseph extended it to his brothers?

            Either way, God wants us to love our enemies and extend forgiveness, so that

            we might be peace makers and have Shalom in our hearts. And we can have

            this Shalom even if the other person doesn’t accept this love or gesture of

            forgiveness. If you have done God’s will, you will have Shalom. I promise!

Next week we’ll move on to the Book of Exodus and see what Shalom lessons we can learn there.

Until then, may your week be full of blessings that you receive and give, your heart be full of joy and thankfulness, and your days be filled with laughter! Build a little heaven in your life right now, and watch your heavenly garden grow!

In Christ’s love and peace,

Andrea

When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth. ~ A. W. Tozer

Would you like to receive this study in your email in box every Monday? If so, just sign up via email to brokenheartsredeemedblog@gmail.com. Enter “broken hearts blog post” in the subject line, and you’ll automatically receive them! And don’t worry, your email address will never be shared or sold! If you ever decide to unsubscribe, just send an email to the above address, stating you’re no longer interested, and you’ll be removed from the list. It’s that easy, and safe!

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