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"Missing the Test" by Duane Brush
Judges 2:16 But then Adonai raised up judges, who rescued them from the power of those who were plundering them. 17 Yet they did not pay attention to their judges, but made whores of themselves to other gods and worshipped them; they quickly turned away from the path on which their ancestors had walked, the way of obeying Adonai’s mitzvot — they failed to do this. 18 When Adonai raised up judges for them, Adonai was with the judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies throughout the lifetime of the judge; for Adonai was moved to pity by their groaning under those oppressing and crushing them. 19 But after the judge died, they would relapse into worse behavior than that of their ancestors, following other gods to serve and worship them; they abandoned none of their practices or stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of Adonai blazed against Isra’el; he said, “Because this nation violates my covenant, which I ordered their fathers to obey; and they don’t pay attention to what I say; 21 in the future, I will not expel ahead of them any of the nations that Y’hoshua left when he died. 22 This is how I will test Isra’el, to see whether or not they will keep the way of Adonai, living according to it, as their ancestors did.” 23 So Adonai allowed those nations to remain where they were, without quickly driving them out; he did not hand them over to Y’hoshua.
3:1 These are the nations which Adonai allowed to remain, in order to put to the test all the people of Isra’el who had not known any of the wars with Kena‘an. 2 This was only so that the generations of Isra’el who had previously known nothing of war might learn about it. 3 These nations consisted of the five chiefs of the P’lishtim, all the Kena‘ani, the Tzidoni, and the Hivi who lived in the hills of the L’vanon between Mount Ba‘al-Hermon and the entrance to Hamat. 4 They stayed there to test whether Isra’el would pay attention to the mitzvot of Adonai, which, through Moshe, he had ordered their ancestors to obey. 5 So the people of Isra’el lived among the Kena‘ani, Hitti, Emori, P’rizi, Hivi and Y’vusi; 6 taking their daughters as their wives, giving their own daughters to their sons and serving their gods.
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It had been a very busy semester. I had prepared diligently for final exams. I had copied my exam schedule from the bulletin board. I had two tests that day, back to back. I finished one and sprinted to the next room. When I entered, I recognized no one. The chalkboard indicated this was the final for another course. This was the right room, but why was it wrong? Returning to the bulletin board I found my mistake. I had the right room and time, but the wrong day. My test had been given the day before! I pleaded my mistake, paid my fine, and was allowed to take the test. I passed, but that experience still haunts my dreams.
Israel, sadly, didn’t recognize the test when it came. Instead of remaining faithful to the covenant, they adopted the ways of their neighbors–even worshiping their neighbors’ gods. They failed miserably. Yet the Lord used their failure as an opportunity to call them back. Israel would be tested many times, but ultimately, they were never abandoned.
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Hymn for Today: "His Way with Thee" by Cyrus S. Nusbaum
1. Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
2. Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
3. Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
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Thought of the Day: Nehemiah 9:31 Even so, in your great compassion,
you didn’t completely destroy them;
nor did you abandon them,
for you are a compassionate and merciful God.
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Please Pray: That many people in Barbados will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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you didn’t completely destroy them;
nor did you abandon them,
for you are a compassionate and merciful God.
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Please Pray: That many people in Barbados will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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