“Why does God allow evil to exist?” – Judges 3:12-25

Judges 3:12-25

“And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit[a] in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.

When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.”

Many people in our culture struggle with the idea of how God could be good but still allow evil in the world. This idea has troubled many people in our world to the point that they have no desire to have a relationship with Jesus. They are quick to blame a holy and perfect God but are slow to look at themselves as the producers of evil. We live in a culture where we place responsibility on everyone but ourselves. To answer this question more adequately, we must put more of the focus on our evil than God’s “so-called” evil.

The people of Israel continued to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord again and again. As a consequence of their evil, they were defeated by Eglon, the king of Moab. God strengthened the Ammonites and the Amalekites to defeat Israel because their evil had grown so much against God. God desires to lead His people to holiness, never to evil. God is a God of justice, so He allowed Israel to be defeated to bring them back to holiness.

Israel cried out to God for help, and out of God’s grace, He raised up a deliverer for them by the name Ehud. Ehud made a sword with two edges and hid it under his clothes as he went to see the wicked King Eglon. His job was simple, straightforward, and sneaky. Ehud’s mission was to kill Eglon and he did just that. This allowed the people of Israel to find new freedom, which only came through the grace of God.

God is not evil. You are evil. God loves you so much that He has made a way through the perfect deliverer, Jesus Christ, so that you may be holy. Trust Him. 

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s passage. 
  • Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
  • Explain – what does the passage mean? 
  • Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
  • Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Macon Jones, Pastor to Students and Young Adults

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“What Makes a Hero?” – Wednesday – Judges 16:25-30

Judges 16:25-30

“And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.”

As a kid, I remember thinking that Sampson was about as close as you could get in the Bible to a traditional superhero. But as I got older and re-read the biblical account, I realized I had gotten the condensed and sanitized version of his story in children’s church. Sampson was a hero but only in regards to his strength. In every other area of his life, he was a complete mess. He strayed from the path of his calling, used his talents out of anger and arrogance, and squandered his opportunities with poor choices. 

It wasn’t until the end of his life, after suffering from the consequences of his sin (pain, humiliation, and captivity) that Sampson acknowledged where his strength and ability came from and begged for an opportunity to make his final chapter one that made a difference. 
None of us want to look back in regret at a wasted life or missed opportunities. We might have talents and abilities that separate us from the pack, but if we don’t use them in the manner that God intended, we’ll never make the impact or have the fulfillment that we would have had otherwise. History is littered with people of potential, but history is made by those who rely on the strength and wisdom of the Lord. 
God delivered His people through an imperfect vessel, just as He can do with us. He can use our talents and abilities but He is not reliant on them. In fact, He doesn’t need us at all to accomplish His agenda. But in His love and mercy, He allows us to play a part. As we think of the life of Sampson, let’s consider three things: 
  1. God has gifted us for His glory, not ours.
  2. God can use the broken and flawed, but He would rather bless us for obedience. 
  3. It’s not too late to acknowledge Him as Lord and the source of our strength and see Him shine through our remaining days. 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • What are some gifts and abilities that God has given you? 
  • Have you used them for your glory or His? 
  • Take some time to pray that God would work through you (not around you). 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

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“The Most Powerful Weakness” – Judges 6:11-16

Judges 6:11-16

“Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Humans have a skill that can also be a great flaw. We know how to hide our weaknesses. Well, we actually think we know how, but weakness hangs out everywhere.

God also has a skill that we often underestimate. He can bring strength out of our weakness. Read Gideon’s life and see what I mean. Gideon admitted that his family was the weakest in the nation and he was the weakest in his family. Yet, God used Him to defeat an army that was 100 times bigger.

When God called him a mighty man, he wasn’t referring to Gideon’s strength. God was referring to what Gideon would do in God’s strength. If only we could realize that God wins His own battles. So what are the reasons God works in our weakness?

  • Because we are weak! We have no strength for Him to use.
  • Our weakness is an opportunity for God to work powerfully in our lives.
  • God’s grace allows us to take part in His glory.

We are not the kid on the sideline wishing we could play in the championship game. In His grace, He lets us into the fight. He gives us the armor, the strategy, the Spirit’s power, and the cross that has already defeated the enemy. The only thing God required from Gideon was his “yes.”

So, the most powerful weakness is not the one we hide. The most powerful weakness is the one in God’s hands.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What is one weakness that you try to hide from others? What are some possible consequences of trying to hide it? 
  • How might God use your weakness for His glory? How might it be a potential opportunity for God to work in and through us?  
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams

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Overview of Judges – Judges 21:25

Judges 21:25

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

“Anarchy” would be another appropriate name to describe the history of Israel between Joshua and Samuel. The Israelites became like the 19th century wild west. There was no law and like a film right out of the dusty landscape of Arizona, a lawman had to come into town to deliver the people and bring order to the land.

After Joshua’s death, more kingdoms needed to be wiped out before Israel could completely settle in the land. Judges 1:19-ff reveals how one tribe after another tried to conquer the land but failed. Israel lived scared and enticed most of these years.

The issue was not God. The issue was that Israel had become lawless. The people began to mingle with the wicked kingdoms and took part in their idol worship, which left them insecure and intimidated. They abandoned the strength of the Lord in favor of sin. Therefore, God made them servants of those kingdoms until they recognized a need for God. Then God raised up judges to deliver them. These judges were not perfect, but God used them to bring His people back into right fellowship with Him.

So what is the point for us today? Be careful how much of the world you are willing to embrace. If you mingle with carnality, victory will elude you. The world has some pleasure but offers no solutions to your struggles. Total surrender to Christ is always the better option.

Pastor Stephen Williams

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“What if Jesus is still dead?” – Matthew 28:11-15

Matthew 28:11-15

“While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

1 Cor 15:14

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

“What if…?” That small phrase is as scary as clowns and ghosts in the dark. It can alter an entire life. What if we did something different earlier that would better or worsen today? Regrets, dreams, and even disasters surround “what if.” Paul gives us a taste of this phrase in 1 Corinthians 15:14, where he says, “What if Christ has not been raised?”

If Christ is still dead then our faith is in vain. Why believe in a dead God? If Christ is still dead, our sins are still unforgiven. If Christ is still dead, life has no meaning. If He is still dead, humanity would have nothing to live for.

If Christ is still dead, God has no use for the world other than wrath. Can you imagine that God would keep a world that has no relationship with Him? If Christ is still dead, there would be no heaven. There would be no second coming to rid the world of sin. There would be no one to prepare a place for people to live in eternal joy. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor 15:19)

If Jesus Christ did not rise, He would not be sitting on His throne to take care of human affairs. God’s love would never be experienced. God’s holiness would never be satisfied.

But, praise God that our Lord Jesus Christ is very much alive! Every “what if” can be put to rest. Jesus is alive! Because He is alive, His Spirit is alive, His people are alive and His church is alive. Christ is still saving, encouraging, and leading. Celebrate and keep serving!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What are some “what ifs” you need to surrender to God? 
  • Do you have some “what ifs” about Jesus and His resurrection? Check out some of the resources from yesterday’s post to help answer your “what ifs.”
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams 

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“That You May Have Certainty” – Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1-4

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

As the early church moved further from its inception and spread among cultures foreign to what had unfolded in Jesus’ ministry and mission, church leaders realized that they had to be more intentional with how the gospel message would be carried forward.

Among the Jewish followers of Jesus, there were common accounts of his ministry that had been shared by word of mouth from eyewitnesses and his closest followers. But it was time to put these accounts in writing and frame them in a way that would communicate best to the intended audience. So we have four accounts (gospels) in our Bible from different authors, writing to different audiences, emphasizing different elements of Christ’s ministry but all culminating on the cross.

Because of the efforts of these authors, we can have confidence in the truth we find in their pages. When antagonists ask for scientific proof of Jesus’ life and resurrection, they misunderstand what they’re asking. Scientific proof relies on a controlled environment that allows for the proof to be shown over and over. Historical proof, however, is shown through a different set of qualifiers.
  • The amount of time between when something happened and when it was written about
  • The number of copies we have of the manuscript and their closeness in similarity
  • An agreement with other historical documents and archaeological findings
  • The integrity of the author of the account
In each area, the validity of the New Testament’s account of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection, is historically reliable and its evidence overwhelming when compared to other ancient events that we have record of. In fact, several of the resources I have listed below were written by people who set out to disprove the claims of Christianity (specifically concerning Jesus’ resurrection) and became believers through their research.

If you’d like to dig into this further, you’ll be excited about what you find! 
Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s passage: 
  • Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
  • Explain – what does the passage mean? 
  • Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

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