SUNDAY
The Big Weather Picture
Friday night I heard Michael say, “I want to see the big picture.” Because I have been thinking so much about “The Big Picture” all week, I looked to see what he was talking about. He was looking at his weather app to see how the upcoming storm was going to affect us. After he saw the map of our area, he zoomed it out to see the direction of the coming storm. As I thought about this I remembered that Jesus talked to the people about the signs of the weather.
“1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-3)
I am glad that we can see the signs in the sky for the upcoming weather. I am even more thankful that God has given us signs of the times in His Word. I truly believe that we are close to the last days.
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:1-5)
MONDAY
Caleb Saw Big Giants, A Big Mountain, And A Big Promise
Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent to search the land of Canaan. “And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.” (Exodus 13:23) They reported that the land flowed with milk and honey. The Promised Land was everything that God had promised. Caleb was ready to go in and possess the land. But, 10 of the spies discouraged the people because of the giants in the land.
“30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Exodus 13:30-33)
The people did not trust God to fulfill His promise and give them the land. God told them that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until everyone over 20 years old would die and their children would be able to go into the Promised Land. Caleb remembered the mountain and waited until the time came that he could go in and possess the mountain that he was promised!
“9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.” (Joshua 14:9-13)
TUESDAY
“The LORD Was With Joseph”
Jacob served Laban 7 years to marry his daughter, Rachel. Laban switched his daughters and Jacob married Leah, the oldest daughter. Jacob agreed to serve 7 more years to marry Rachel. Of his 12 sons, Jacob loved Joseph, the son of Rachel, the most. He gave him a coat of many colors and his older brothers were jealous and sold him into slavery. They dipped his coat in animal blood and gave it to Jacob. Joseph was taken to Egypt, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2) Then Potiphar’s wife lied about him, his master put him in prison. “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison… The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. ” (Genesis 39:21& 23) God had given Joseph dreams, and interpretations of dreams, several times during his life, and He gave him the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams.
“38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:38-41)
Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery, and he was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh. I don’t know at what point Joseph saw the big picture in his life, but I do know that “the LORD was with Joseph.”
WEDNESDAY
“All These Things Are Against Me”
Have you ever thought, “Why is everything against me?” Jacob did. His beloved son, Joseph, was gone. There was a famine in the land and because God had given Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph had collected food over the 7 years of plenty. Joseph was over the land when his brothers came to buy food, but they did not recognize him. He made Simeon stay in Egypt in prison. He also asked them to bring their youngest brother, who was also the son of Rachel, his mother. After the food ran out, Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt and they said they had to take Benjamin. “And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.” (Genesis 42:36) Jacob did not know that Joseph was alive and a ruler in Egypt. Jacob did not know that God was using Joseph to save their family during the famine. He did not see the big picture until Joseph sent for him and he saw how God had been with his son all that time. There are times in our lives when we feel like everything is working against us and we don’t see the big picture. But, God has given us His Word, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
THURSDAY
"Is There Not A Cause?"
The Biblical story of David fighting against the giant is a very popular one for the children in Sunday School. Even as we get older, the story encourages us with the reality that God can help us overcome big problems, which sometimes seem larger than life. There are many going through trials now, and sometimes we think about giving up. But, David saw the giant and heard him defy the armies of the living God and it gave him courage to step up and fight for the cause. Our title comes from the last five words of I Samuel 17:29, "Is there not a cause?" Let's look at the verses that precede our question, "Is there not a cause?" and see what David was talking about. When I was younger and we were asked the question, "Why?" we often replied, "Cause." For my parents it was often, "Cause I said so" and that was all the answer I needed. I knew to let it go. But, for us, it was just, "Cause." When we read this chapter we see that David is doing exactly what his father told him to do, yet he is criticized by his oldest brother. When I put that with verse 29, "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" I thought David was answering in response to his brother, like our, "Why?" and "Cause" conversations. Then, one day God showed me that the "Cause" was much bigger than brother differences. The "Cause" was to stand up for the armies of the living God. I am afraid that sometimes we get bogged down with differences of opinions and we only see the little causes. Maybe Satan tries to start the little battles, so that we will be blinded to the greater cause. I think the media tries to get our focus on little things just so we won't pay attention to the bigger things. Let's pray and ask God to help us keep our hearts and minds, and our eyes and ears, focused on the main cause, the big picture, the Cause of Christ!
"20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" (I Samuel 17:20-29)
FRIDAY
A Glimpse Of God's Glory
We have never seen the big picture of God in His glory. But, there are examples in the Bible where some were given a glimpse of God’s glory. King Uzziah reigned over Judah 52 years and he did right in the sight of the Lord. (In II Kings 14:1 he is called Azariah.) If we had a leader that followed the Lord and did right in the sight of God, we might wonder how the next leader would be. Isaiah didn't have to worry about earthly leaders, for when King Uzziah died, He saw the Lord sitting on His throne. Notice his reaction when he saw the glory of the Lord.
"1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5)
In the 5th verse we see the humility of Isaiah when he saw the Lord. We see the reaction of Abraham in Genesis 17:1-3. "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face..." (Genesis 17:1-3) In Exodus 3:6 we read, "And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." In Leviticus 9:23-24 the glory of the Lord appeared to the people, "And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces." You may remember Joshua, "And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?" (Joshua 5:14) "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake." (Ezekiel 1:28 and again in 3:23) In Daniel 8:16-17 Gabriel spoke to Daniel, "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face:" Even in the New Testament we read, "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." (Matthew 17:5-6) When we see the glory of the Lord, we will fall on our knees to God. "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." (Isaiah 45:23) "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11)
SATURDAY
Heaven
We have promises of everlasting life in heaven, but I don’t think we could ever imagine how great and glorious it will be. Jesus promised, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3) Paul told the Corinthian believers, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9) We won’t know, or see, the big picture of heaven until the Lord calls us home to be with Him, but John got a glimpse, and it is beyond our comprehension.
“10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 21:10-27 and 22:1-5)
