Alignment with God

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2 Chronicles 32 captures the story of Hezekiah, the war time King, preparing for the onslaught of an invading army that could easily destroy his kingdom.  Hezekiah had led the nation in implementing spiritual reform and leading the nation in a revival, “he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.” Yet now he is facing another threat, instead of a spiritual crisis, a physical crisis. “After these things and these acts of faithfulness, King Sennacherib of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.” (32:1)

Hezekiah does all the necessary and proper preparations for war; outside the wall he built another wall, reinforced the inner city, made weapons and shields in abundance and appointed commanders. As the vast army of King Sennacherib moved into place, Hezekiah rallied the nation.

Hezekiah understood the importance of making all the standard military preparations, but he knew, more importantly, that prayer was an essential and critical part of preparing for battle. Standing before the people he encouraged them saying, “Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Crisis leadership brings out the best and the worst in leaders. Franklin D. Roosevelt reassured a nation with his famous fireside chats throughout the years of the Great Depression and ultimately World War II. England’s opposition leader, Hugh Dalton, said of Winston Churchill that he was “the only man we have for this hour.” Churchill led his nation through the difficult years of the war with determination, focus and energy until victory was achieved. Yet in the years following, he failed as a peace-time leader.

Hezekiah did well in crisis; for he trusted fully in the LORD. Yet in prosperity and peace, Hezekiah didn’t do well as “many brought gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem and precious things to King Hezekiah of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.” In the years of peace and prosperity, Hezekiah failed to keep his eyes on God and focused more on the adoration and praise given him by others.

How easy to forget God when life is easy, when the storehouse is full. We can never stray from staying in alignment with God. Our pride will be our downfall – personally, or as a nation. “Sin is not what is wrong with our minds; it is the catastrophic disorder in which we find ourselves at odds with God.” (Eugene Peterson)

“Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” Thankfully God welcomes repentance as Hezekiah awakened to the reality of his pride and arrogance. “A soldier asked Abba Minus if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things he said, “Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away” He replied, “No, I mend it and use it again.” The old man said to him, “If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about his creature?”

History is filled with leaders who did well in crisis yet failed miserably in peace. Living in the darkness of crisis leaves us with only two options: turning to God or living in hopelessness. Yet living in the light of peace also leaves us with only two options: staying focused on God or living for self. Eugene Peterson says it well “When we pray, we immerse ourselves in the living presence of God. When we pray the Psalms we pray through all the parts of our lives and our history and cover the ground of our intricate implication in sin.”

Lord, as You give us our daily bread, let us receive it with thankfulness. If You give us peace, let us live with our eyes on You. If You give us a crisis, let us never forget, “with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

God is great,

Now Faith

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“Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.” (Gen 6:14-16)

Standing in the shadow of the Ark replicate at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky, I was overwhelmed at the size and scope of this wooden structure. At 510 feet in length, 85 feet in width, and 51 feet in height it is simply immense. Regardless of the impressive size of the structure, far greater is the story of salvation which is the real story of the Ark.

Life on earth had not been the same since the rebellion in the garden. Granted, there had been some spiritual bright spots within the generations. Abel sought to genuinely worship God even though it cost him his life. (4:4) Enoch sought such a close intimacy with God that he “walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.” (5:21-24) Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969 years. However, the spotlight has to shine on a man named Noah. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.” (6:9)

In spite of these few bright spots overall the lifestyle of people on earth didn’t look good. “The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. (6:5) Creation that had been declared “good” by God has deteriorate to the point that “the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth.”

Somewhere along the way parents forgot to pass along the stories to their children of how “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (1:31) People got so busy with life that they no longer “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden” (3:8) No longer did anyone grieve over sin which had caused God to drive their ancestors from the garden of Eden.

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.” (6:11) No longer was God able to enjoy the beauty of his creation because of the wickedness of mankind. Those once cherished moments of relational intimacy that had marked creation now “grieved him to his heart.” He had reached the point where “the LORD said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” (6:7)

Can you imagine such grief? Yet one man “found favor in the sight of the LORD.” In the midst of wickedness, violence and evil, this one man, Noah, found favor as he walked with God blameless and righteous in the midst of society. One man chose to walk with God and stood in the gap. Through this one’s faith, generations would experience life.

Noah was given a God-size task, to build a boat in the middle of nowhere. Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives went to work. It wasn’t easy to cut the trees, saw the planks, build the rooms, gather the food, collect the water and listen to the laughter and ridicule of their neighbors. Yet “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” (6:22)

Noah could have joined in with his siblings and neighbors to simply fit in with the culture around him. Surely it would be easier to be part of the party than to be an outsider. Yet “By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

“Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark…” and there Noah sat with his family and all the animals for seven days. The door was closed and there they sat with all the mooing, grunting and chirping. Waiting is hard.  Noah could hear his brother’s voice ridiculing him. Maybe Mrs. Noah could hear the high pitch whisper of her sewing club talking about how foolish she was. Jesus used Noah as an illustration about being watchful when he said, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” Otherwise life as normal “until the flood came and swept them all away.” (Matthew 24:36-39)

Noah obeyed, yet seven days can seem like an eternity. Did I hear correctly?  Doubting if all the years of living a righteous life was really worth it. Looking down at his calloused hands from all the manual labor. What does he have to show for his life?  Seven days! Then he hears the first drop of rain and he bows his head in worship.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

God is great,

Lynn