Wednesday, June 13, 2007

My holy fit against unbelief

A few nights ago, I got mad with the tribe of Judah. Yes, you are allowed to laugh at this situation, but it is true. My heart was racing. I also got mad at the tribe of Benjamin. Then, I got mad at the sons of Ephraim, Zebulun, and Naphtali. Don't even get me started on the sons of Asher.

Now you should know that I am not one prone to anger. I wasn't transferring anger from another situation to this one either. I had a holy fit though. And I haven't been able to speak to the beginning of the book of Judges for a few days now. I will confess; I gave the tribes of Israel a bit of the silent treatment and ran to talk to my Jesus.

The tribes of Israel have finally entered Canaan, their promised land. They are to take possession of it and remove the enemies from their land of inheritance. God has promised to deliver their enemies unto them. He has promised to be their Captain of Host. He has "given the land into their hands." (vs. 2). And then it happens...

vs. 19 "Now the LORD was with Judah (don't miss that point)...but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they (their enemies) had iron chariots."
vs. 21 "But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites ... so the Jebusites lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day."
vs. 29 "Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer; so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them."
vs. 31 "Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites..."
(You get the point...)

The tribes of Israel, the people deemed His treasured possession, got me in a tizzy. They forfeited part of their inheritance, and 'settled' in their settlement. They allowed themselves to live amidst the very people that God had commanded them to drive out. He had been clear that they were to destroy the altars of their false gods and make no covenant with them (2:2). Yet the Israelites allowed them to stay. A people group whom God had said would be a snare to them, lived in their land of promise. And they permitted it!

I'm no scholar, but I'm going to propose that the generational sin of unbelief roared its ugly head again. They saw the 'iron chariots' (vs. 19) of these 'giant' Canaanites, allowed fear to direct their steps, and gave in. They didn't even fight. They "did not drive them out."

Did not drive them out...did not drive them out...did not drive them out.

Sigh...don't we do the same dear sister? God has promised us a life of purpose, a life meant to be victorious in Him, a life that bears much fruit, and yet we've been lazy or fearful, and decided not to fight. We have not driven out the "little foxes that ruin the vineyards" (SoS 2:15). We have walked in the sin of unbelief, deciding that this 'thing' is too big or difficult to be free from, and allowed it to live in our God promised land of inheritance! We have accepted our strongholds, addictions, and unhealthy states of mentality, allowing them to be our own "iron chariots," whose grandness in our minds is really only a pretense that needs to be taken captive and made obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Might I add that several of the tribes even made some of these 'enemies' servants and forced labor. Sweet sister, those sins taking up space in your promised land that you think you have control over may not be as much under your reign as you have been hoping. Dare I say that we are the ones enslaved, if we are not absolutely bound to the freedom of Him and His law? Dare I agree with Him that those 'things' will become a "snare" to us?

Dear friend, we do not have to 'settle' in our settlement. It is our absolute right as a child of God to walk victoriously in the land of freedom that He has promised to deliver to us, if we would just work with Him! BELIEVE God to do what He has promised to do for you, and cease allowing the 'giant' in your promised land to remain there. Oh, would we but uncover the revelation of who He is by believing Him! May we fight in Jesus' Name! May we destroy the altars and break covenant with those false gods.

Our Yahweh has sworn Covenant to us. By His might, we can fight the 'Canaanites' in our lands of inheritance. Take possession of what He has called you to sister. He is faithful to His Word. And your Deliverer. Believe Him.

And PS - I have forgiven the tribes of Judah. Grin.

10 comments:

Lisa Bolling said...

I am so touched by this post - it is just what I need this day. I am not living as victorious as I would like - your prayers would be appreciated.
You have such a gift - God is using you in such profound ways.
Love in Christ!

debra parker said...

I feel a good amen coming along...crazy because that is not usually a me thing to do...

jennyhope said...

THIS WAS SO GOOD! Just what I needed. One thing to that I think keeps us from God's best is insecurity. The fear of man brings a snare every time. Some of my biggest field trips to sin have been rooted soley in insecurity. I look back and think about the havoc that I have reaked on my own life and of course our sins affect the whole body of Christ. But I look back and think man if I had just believed you Lord and if I were just rooted and grounded in your love...steadfast in You...I wouldn't havce walked right into that open door.
I was praying for you tonight and thought I would check in with you.
I am going to link to this on my blog. Girl we have to keep encouraging one another daily as believers so we won't become hardened by sins deceitfulness. I really started to buy into the fact that God had maybe forgotten to show pity or compassion on me with this meningitis. How lost I would be without His word. thanks for sharing! love jenny

connorcolesmom said...

Shelly,
Oh so true!! I have read the OT many times and thought the same things you just mentioned. Then I realize how often I have acted just like the people of Israel. Oh how thankful I am for God's unfailing mercy and grace :)
Keep the lessons of truth coming!
Much love siesta,
Kim

Patty said...

Preach it sister!! Every single time I come for a visit I get a strong and powerful Word from the Lord. There are many snares out there to trip us up and please God help our unbelief and any time we choose anything over you and your Word!!! May our bolts be as strong as our iron gates!!

A big hug to you Shelly!!

Love,
Patty

Anonymous said...

Amen to your words Sister! I'm fed up with those enemies trying to come into my "settlement"....I'm encouraged by your post to once again say NO and GO to anything in my life that is stealing my "blood bought" PEACE....Is.48:18 states "if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river.
Speaking of altars/idols...check out this chapter from Tozer's book http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/tozer/5f00.0888/5f00.0888.02.htm
The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing and his prayer at the end:Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but 1 do come. Please root from my heart all those things which 1 have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter avid dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thanks for sharing,
Donna Hazelwood

Anonymous said...

I don't think all of the address for the chapter from Tozers book got on my last comment...
try this one:
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer - chapter 2 "The blessedness of possessing nothing"
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/tozer/5f00.0888/5f00.0888.02.htm

Kristen said...

Oh how I had to learn the hard way to say No and Go as one poster put it!!! Praise God that He has given me discernment - and by prayer the ability to listen to the Spirit nudging me when something "just not right" tries to move in and create a stronghold.

I am so glad you posted on my new blog, and that I took at peek at yours! This is completely new to me! Praise Jesus for bringing Christian woman from all over the globe together to glorify Him!

Little Steps Of Faith said...

Hey:)

I gotta tell ya that said A LOT!

You and Beth Moore would probably be great friends.

Anyhow, I just thought I would say hi:)

I am 26yrs, and going back to school full time in August, SO much yet to be done!

Hope all is well and God Bless!

Angie

Toknowhim said...

One thing I absolutely love is when I see someone who is passionate for the Lord. You have been given a gift... the way you look into the Scriptures and find the truth and life of His Word is beautiful... I have a Best Friend like that...

I am in my 30's and am just really starting to get it.. Jesus is Life... He is Everything!!! It is so exciting to see your generation (and even younger) have such a burning desire "TO KNOW HIM".

I will be a regular visitor of your blog. My Best Friend and I are going to Deeper Still. Maybe we will run into you, and some of your blogging Sistas (or Siestas :)

Kim (the other "To Know Him")