Good King Uzziah and How He Died

 We are almost done with II Chronicles. We have just read a couple of pretty intense stories and are now in chapter 26. Uzziah! The name didn't sound familiar to me. He became king at 16 years of age following his father's murder. 

The Bible told us right away that Uzziah reigned for 52 years. Of course, I had to pause right there for my little guy to add 16+52 and inform me that Uzziah was 68 when he died. Well, that is what we presumed anyway.

Uzziah got right to work building cities and conquering enemies. He built towers and dug wells. He planted vineyards and raised cattle. King Uzziah employed some very talented inventors. They built what the KJV Bible calls "engines". The engines shot arrows and huge stones from the towers of the city wall. This part really captured our imagination. What do you think this engine looked like?

Soon people from as far away as Egypt knew who King Uzziah was. The Ammonites sent him gifts. It seemed everyone wanted to be friends with this guy. He was good at everything he did. He was strong and God blessed him.

 One day his heart was filled with pride. He had succeeded at everything he had done, so far. But, there was one thing he had never done. So, he walked into the temple. He walked right up to the altar of incense. He began to offer incense, he reached for the holy censor. 

Suddenly he was surrounded by about 80 priests. "What are you doing here?" they asked him. "You have no business here. God has consecrated us, the Levites, to serve in the temple."

"You are trespassing!!" 

"You need to go, now!"

Uzziah got angry. He held up the burning censer. He glared at the priests. 

Immediately, on his forehead appeared a white sore. It was leprosy! The High Priest, Azariah, began to thrust him out of the temple, and this time King Uzziah went. In fact, he ran! He wanted out of there! He ran all the way home, but he wasn't allowed inside. They didn't want leprosy! 

He was no longer King.

He went to a house for lepers and lived there for the rest of his life. Evidently, we were wrong about him dying at 68. That is how old he was when he lost his kingdom. We don't know how long he lived suffering from his affliction.

His son, Jotham, became King instead of him. Jotham continued the good that his father had done, and also learned from his mistakes. 

When Uzziah died he was buried as a leper. For, "when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction."

I have heard it said that it is hard to stay strong for God during times of trials and persecutions. But, someone else said that it is even harder to stay strong for God during times of prosperity. Why? Because we think we don't need to rely on God and we can do it all ourselves. 

I thought I would just tell the story this time and not end with a lesson. I didn't think there really was much of a lesson in this story, but I guess I was wrong!

So, if next year, or even 53 years from now, finds us healthy and strong. Let's not forget 2020 and the God who brought us through. Let us never presume that we can do everything in our own power. May we never get to the place where we don't need God or our brothers' and sisters'. Instead, may we be like Uzziah's son, Jotham, who became mighty because he asked God to guide him in all he did! 

Yes, instead of being good like Uzziah, may we be mighty like Jotham! 

Josiah's Fruit

 Near the end of Kings and Chronicles is a story about a little boy. You probably have heard of him. Josiah. The Kings of Israel and Judah had been moving farther and farther away from God. Some had made compromises and some had outright rebelled against God. They had been killing their own children and encouraging immoral behavior and idol worship. But, one day Judah anointed an eight-year-old boy King.

This little boy was eager to learn. A big portion of his studies was to study the kings before him. His favorite king was David. David was Josiah's ancestor. As a little boy, he probably got excited hearing all the battle stories. But, when he got to be about 16 he started digging deeper. He asked his scribe to find everything he could about David. He learned about David's sins and shortcomings, and that he was so very human. He learned about David's heart toward God and God's love for him. He, no doubt, noticed the consequences of sin in David's life. Maybe he went to David's grave and wondered what it would be like to meet him. But, in II Chronicles 34: 3 it says he went beyond learning about David. He began to seek David's God. 

Who was this God who delivered David out of the hand of the lion, bear, giant and so many other trials and tribulations?

He searched. He asked everyone he met.

When he was about 20 he started cleaning up the place. Idols were torn down. Groves were cut down. But, the question still remained: "Who is the God of David and what does He expect of us?" It was time to clean the temple! The idol his Grandpa set up in the temple had been removed, but the place was in need of some serious work. Hilkiah was the high priest at that time. He was busy coordinating the repairs. 

One day Hilkiah asked for a meeting with Josiah's scribe. A man named, Shaphan. 

"I found a book while we were cleaning," Hilkiah said.  "It is the law of Moses."

Shaphan took the book and went to King Josiah, who was in his mid-twenties by this time. He had been seeking after God for a decade already.

"Everything is going good in the repairs of the temple," Shaphan reported. "The workmen have been paid, and everything you said has been done. Also, they found a book..."

When he held out the book I imagine the king getting teary-eyed. He probably knew what it was immediately. He asked Shaphan to carefully unwrap it. Any other activities of the day were canceled. Josiah was about to get some answers!

Shaphan began to read and Josiah listen intently to every word. The "Law of Moses". He heard about Mt. Sinai and Moses's encounters with the Most High God! He heard about all the complaining and outright rebellion by so many of his people. He listened to the lists of dos and don'ts. As he did his head bowed lower and lower. They were not a righteous nation. They had done what God said not to do. They had not done what God said to do. They had mistreated the land and their fellow humans. They had ignored God, or put him in a little box.  

"If you do these things you will be blessed!" God had said. "If you don't, you will lose your land, bad things will happen."

As Shaphan finished reading he heard the sound of tearing cloth. King Josiah tore his clothes! "God is very angry with us!" he admitted. "We have sinned." He had a meeting with some men he knew he could trust: Hilkiah the Priest, Shaphan, and his son Ahikam and a couple other guys. 

"Go, ask God what He wants us to do!" 

Even Shaphan's kids were given scrolls to read. Everyone poured over the law. The more they learned, the more trouble they realized they were in. How could they find out what God wanted them to do now? Were there any prophets at this time? Did anyone know of any prophets of God? Anyone?

Well, there was a woman... [ya, really. Even in this story! I can't believe all the women I am finding] Her name was Huldah. She was married to a guy who worked in the King's wardrobe. (Had this couple been praying as they laundered and sewed and folded the King's clothes?) Huldah worked in the college in Jerusalem, and there they found her. All these really important guys who had important jobs came to ask a woman for a word from God. And, guess what? No one in the story seemed to hesitate at all. She was the one who had a special connection with God, so they ran to find her!

"Tell the MAN who sent you..." she began. Yep. Josiah was right they WERE in BIG trouble! All those curses he had just heard were definitely about to happen. She listed specific evil things the people had done. They knew they deserved it. 

But then she paused. Her voice softened. "But, tell the KING... the King who is searching for God with all his heart. The King who humbled himself before God and His word. The King who sent you to ask.  Tell him God is so pleased with him! God heard the cry of his heart. God saw his tenderness before Him. God saw him tear his clothes and repent. God will hold off punishment and Josiah will not have to see any of it!"

"I have heard you!" God said to Josiah. And Josiah was blessed.

A great revival came about during this period in History. The greatest Passover celebration since the time of Samuel. People were hungry for God and He blessed them.

There were others who were seeking God and trying to live right during this time. How do I know? Because I see their fruit. Another little boy! Maybe it was Ahikam, the son of the scribe who fathered him. Maybe it was Josiah himself. But, during this time of revival, or shortly after, a baby was born to parents whose eyes were wide open. 

What did they tell him? Did they teach him to read as early as they could? Did his mother pray over him and sing to him when he was at her breast hoping maybe he would remember some of these words? Did they pray three times a day? Did they have him memorize large portions of scripture? Did they hide scrolls in his bags when King Nebuchadnezzar came to take their son away? Were they killed never knowing what would become of their son?

Josiah died knowing hard times were coming. But, did he know, that because of his faithfulness in searching and seeking and teaching, another little boy would have the tools he would need to stay strong in a foreign land and face his own giants and even lions? 

I guess you know by now I am referring to Daniel. The man whom God called, "Greatly Beloved!" Daniel 10:19

May God give all of us Mama's and Daddy's wisdom as we teach our children and give them the tools they may need in the not so distant future. May these opinionated, strong-willed kids, not be afraid to speak the truth and stand for what is right, even if they are the only one standing!

And, on this election day may we remember that Rulers and Kingdoms may rise and fall, but our God and His word are everlasting.

Time With God Called Sabbath

What does the word Sabbath mean to you? Does it make you mad? Do you picture a list of restrictive rules? Do you reject it completely without question?

What would you say if I told you that you probably have actually kept the Sabbath at least once in your life without even realizing it?

So, what does Sabbath look like? I really can't tell you what Sabbath should look like for you. You see, Sabbath is not something to be served. Sabbath is a gift, from our Creator, for us! We were not created to serve the Sabbath. The Sabbath was created after humankind was. The Sabbath serves us. It is for our good!

I like to think of it as a date night with God. 

When I go on a date night with my husband we might choose to do, or not do, very different things than you and your spouse. Would it be fair for me to impose my ideas of what a date night 'should' look like on you? Sure there are a few things that everyone would agree would totally NOT work as a date night. And, there are a few things that MUST be included, or it can't be called a date night. For example Both spouses must be present. You can't go on a date night by yourself! It is the same with Sabbath. There ARE a few ways that the Sabbath must be kept, but how that looks can really vary. 

This season we are in is a sabbatical of sorts. It is a time to cease from the usual and slow down, reflect, and meditate. A mental health day! A reprieve. 

The Sabbath is not meant to be a burden. In fact, I think it is fair to say that if keeping the Sabbath feels like a burden to you, then you are probably doing it wrong! 

God wants to be number one in our lives. But, we have to make a living. Somedays we get so busy just surviving that we don't have much time to just sit and listen. It was two weeks into this quarantine when I woke up and realized that my mind had slowed enough that I could think! I didn't realize how busy I had become. We do this every week. We are slaves to our jobs, to the clock, to routines. All the things that demand out attention right now.

When you are getting ready to go on a date night with your spouse what do you do? Do you make sure you have things prepared ahead that the children might need, so they won't have to interrupt you? Do you make sure your work will not interrupt you? Maybe you turn off your cell phone or ask someone else to work for you that evening. 

What about vacation time? Do you plan ahead? Some people fix or buy foods that are easy to prepare so they won't have to spend time cooking from scratch at vacation time. I usually don't think much of cooking on Sabbath. We usually get easily prepared foods for that day, but if I have to heat it up I don't worry about it. Once we went camping and we were really roughing it. We had to build the fire pit, gather wood, get the fire cooking, and then cook a full meal. That was work!!! It was then I realized that the man running all-around gathering sticks on the Sabbath wasn't just picking up a couple twigs on the ground as he hummed a little praise song. 

God wants our full attention. Just for a few hours, he doesn't want us to serve, or be controlled by anything other than Him! What controls us? The clock?  Dishes? Laundry? Work? School? Not today! The Sabbath is a time to not have to constantly look at the clock! We try to put an -ish after times on Sabbath. We don't set the alarm clock on Sabbath. We gather to worship whether it is on Zoom, or in our backyard with family at noon-ish. We set an approximate time to start, but it isn't pushed. There is no ending time at all. Why should there be? There are not very many things that can't wait a few hours. We have all day to quiet down and rest. To turn off everything we possibly can and be still.

Sabbath is a delight. God wants us to look forward to our date with Him. When my girls were little they were only allowed to eat candy on Sabbath. Sabbath is a feast day! But, it isn't like Thanksgiving feasting. Thanksgiving has way too much work to be considered restful! When you go on a date do you have to cook? Even if the celebration is at home, the cooking is usually done before the date and the dishes are done later- maybe even the next day. That is no different than Sabbath. We usually have plenty of healthy snacks and quick, easy foods to grab and eat. If someone is hungry, they eat. If someone is tired, they sleep. We read, snuggle, do puzzles, walk by ourselves or with others, sing, pray, play games, etc. Sometimes we watch movies, shows, sermons, etc. Sometimes we are tired of the noise and need quiet.  But, those are things we do. Your way of celebrating may be entirely different than ours. The goal is to not serve, or be controlled by anything except God. I know that is for all of life, but realistically we do have to go to work, and school and have time restraints. Money is a major stressor for me. I appreciated not having to do anything that deals with money on Sabbath unless it is giving money (as in tithing or giving).

I will never cease to be impressed by how church services can start and end at precise times. How does that work? How can they start exactly at 11 and end exactly at 12? Where is the waiting on God? Where is the lingering in His presence? What if God wants to change things up a bit? Is there room in our schedules for that? Can God call you up on Friday and say, "Hey, can you leave work a little early and get ready, I want to take you somewhere special tomorrow?" What would you say? What would you leave at home? What would you take? What would you turn off? What would you turn on?

So, as you sit at home with your family and you wish you could be busy doing and going, take a minute and ask Him to show you another way. May God use this time to teach us how to rest. I know I need practice. How about you? 

Little Known Bible Stories #5: Caleb's Kids

Hello, friends!
Here we are a whole month into this quarantine and I haven't even written one story for you. Well, today I am finally sitting down to write. The story on my heart today is another one I don't remember ever hearing in Sabbath School class. Did you know Caleb had a daughter?

So often in the stories of the judges or kings, we read that their children, or grandchildren, fell away from God. It is so sad to read about how quickly people lost all that a previous generation had fought so hard to conquer. This is a good news story though!

Caleb's dad had a cool name: Jephunneh (Jeff Funny). I don't know if he had a sense of humor, but he sure had a positive view on life! Remember the story in Numbers 13 about the twelve spies going into the promised land? Remember, Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who believed God was big enough to help them slay the giants in their way? Remember all the other people were crying and shaking and beaten before they even started? Well, in case you don't remember, the children of Israel had experienced a miraculous delivery from oppressive slavery in Egypt. God opened the Red Sea for them when there was no other way to escape the Egyptian army. God fed them with bread from heaven when they feared starvation in the wilderness. But, when they got to the land God had promised them they began to cry to go back to Egypt. Why? There were scary giants in the land. There were huge walls preventing them from entering. It was at this time we meet a man from Joshua's generation. A man named, Caleb. I didn't see him mentioned before this. He wasn't an elder. He didn't get his name in the Book for helping organize the trip out of Egypt. But, here he is. Suddenly. He stands up and says something like: "Quit freaking out everyone! Are you kidding me!? Let's go! God's got this!" He was full of the optimism of youth, even though he was way past 20. Sadly he had to endure 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because his comrades wouldn't back him up.
Did Caleb dream of the beautiful land he had explored? Did he tell his children about the huge cluster of grapes the spies had found? Did his kids ask what grapes were? I don't know, but, I do know that he didn't lose his optimism. He married a beautiful lady who, no doubt, shared his dream. He kept healthy and strong by walking every day! ;) He never lost hope that, someday, would enter into his inheritance.

Finally, the day arrived. He was in his 80's. He had been fighting for several months with men a lot younger than him. Never did he complain. Joshua is mentioned several times, but not Caleb. Not a word of him all of Deuteronomy and half of Joshua. Much younger men had already built houses for their families. Finally, in Joshua 14, Caleb comes to visit his old buddy. Joshua and Caleb talked about the old days. They talked about Moses. They talked about those many years ago when they had first walked this land. Then, Caleb looked at the mountain in front of them. Mount Kirjatharba. He knew that mountain well. He had walked all over it for 40 days when he was a spy. He had revisited it, no doubt, many times in his dreams. Perhaps he still had a map he had drawn all those years ago. "Moses, the man of God... promised me this mountain!" he said. Moses had said he could settle that area. He was finally home. It was time for Caleb to take what was promised him.

 Joshua blessed his buddy and sent him on his way. Caleb had waited his whole life for this moment. He led his tribe into conquering the mountain. He renamed it, Hebron. He was as strong and determined as ever. His faith and hope were unrivaled. The Bible says that Caleb followed God with his whole heart (Josh. 14:14). That can't be said of very many people, then, or now. He killed giants! He scaled the mountain! Then he got to Kirjathsepher. He now knew the great feeling of conquering and providing a place for his family. He looked at his daughter Achsah. He knew she was also ready to settle down. She had been traveling her whole life. It was time for her to marry and start a family of her own. It seems she was his favorite child. However, he says something that makes our modern ears cringe: "Whoever takes the city of Kirthjathsepher gets to marry my daughter Achsah!" Yikes! Poor girl! But, wait. Othniel steps up and does the job and gets the girl!

 Who was Othniel? Don't worry. He was the best! Caleb knew this man very well. He was his nephew. Caleb probably had a twinkle in his eye as he made the announcement. Othniel didn't give anyone else a chance to take his girl. Maybe Achsah was Caleb's youngest and the last one to marry. Othniel and Achsah's wedding was no doubt exhilarating!  I imagine Caleb spared no expense. The happy couple began their new life together.

I guess the love birds walked their land hand in hand, picturing their future children running and playing, imagining large flocks of sheep grazing on the hillside... "You know what we need?" Achsah asked Othniel. "Water!" "Yes!" Othniel agreed as he began scanning the area for a good place to dig a well. "Look over there," she said. "A little spring right next to our land! Let's ask Daddy for it!" Othniel had already received so much from the oldest man in Israel! How could he ask for more? "Please?!" she asked sweetly. "It is such a nice little spring. You should ask. I know he'll let us have it." Othniel didn't say much. In fact, it sounds like he never went to visit Caleb. When his ass arrived at Caleb's tent it was Achsah who jumped off.

"What do you want?" Caleb asked her, ready to give her the world.
She politely and gratefully asked for his blessing. She thanked him for the land and asked for the nearby spring.

Not only did Caleb give her the spring she requested, but another spring on the other side. I like to imagine he remembered drinking from that spring as a spy and knew that there was another one near there too. She thanked him and hurried home to her groom.
Othniel saw his beautiful bride riding up and heard her voice before she even got close enough for him to understand her words.

"Daddy said there are two springs we can have. One is over here, and the other is that way!" she pointed them out. The two love birds worked hard on their land. They loved each other very much. But, they also loved God with all their hearts. How do I know? It doesn't say this in Joshua. At first, I just imagined it would be so. Even though I have read many stories of the children of great men turning from the Living God, I really hoped this couple would be different. I was kind of relieved when their names didn't come up again. Maybe no news is good news. I left them on the hill nestled between 2 springs, just past Papa Caleb's tent. Happy and full and blessed.
Judges chapter 1 repeated the story and, thankfully, no sad news was added. Judges chapter 2 described this generation as staying true to God. But, as expected the next generation began fiddling around with idolatry. They fell in love with sin. Marrying wickedness. So sad. Caleb's grandchildren, or maybe great-grands? I sighed. I wondered if Othniel and Achsah had also forgotten their first love.

And, so, as I continued reading Judges, the vicious cycle began... The people strayed. God took away his protection and allowed their enemies to oppress them. Then a few years, or decades later, the people would remember God and think, "Hey. Maybe God can help us!" So, God would feel sorry for them and send them a judge, or prophet, or king. They would get deliverance and live in peace until they again forgot God!

I turned the page ready for some familiar names to appear and some I had forgotten. Do you know the name of the first judge mentioned? Othniel?
Our Othniel?! Yes! Othniel became the elder! The first Judge of Israel to be mentioned in the Scriptures.

When the children of Israel strayed and God gave them into the hand of their enemies, Othniel and Achsah stayed on their hill, between their two springs and waited. When the people had enough, I imagine someone visited the family on the hill. Achsah and Othniel opened their door and listened and talked. Othniel was older, a lot older, but he was still strong. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel. He rose up. He led them in gaining victory over their enemy. For forty years the people listened to Othniel. For forty years they stayed true to God. For forty years they had peace.
I must end there because I promised this would be good news. And, it IS good news! Caleb stayed strong for God his whole life. He lived for God when the rest of his generation was full of fear and disbelief. Caleb led the next generation into the promised land. He must have been so proud of the strong, obedient young men and women who sought after the Lord with their whole hearts. Not only that but, his kids lived through the time of victory and prosperity. They say good times are the hardest times to stay strong for God. The cares of this life and temptations around them didn't distract Caleb's kids. They stayed true when many of their peers lost their way. Then, when hard times came, their faith still did not waver. All the way to the end of the life of Othniel, the son-in-law of Caleb, the wife of Achsah, he was strong.

Did you think this story would be about a woman? Well, it is. So many of Othniel's peers married women from the people around them, who did not worship God. They married for many reasons, but Othniel married the daughter of the man whose heart was stayed on God. He married a girl who loved her Daddy and loved her God and loved her man and wanted all they could possibly give her. She inspired Othniel to do more, be more and love more. I say this with confidence because I can see her fruit. An old man who stayed strong more than likely had an old woman next to him reminding him of who he is: the blessed of the Lord.

Holy Waters, Healing...Leaves?

Guys! I just have to share something new I discovered when reading Ezekiel 47.  I was listening to a song about us being like trees that are growing next to living waters. -not a new concept. Then, I opened my Bible and began to read Ezekiel 47. I love this vision as well as the parallel prophecy in Revelation 22!

   Ezekiel has been seeing a very detailed vision of the temple of God. An angel is giving him a very thorough tour. They are measuring the walls and the doors. Chapters go by. I'm not exactly sure why all of this detail is important, but I do believe that every word is there for a reason. Chapter 47 is so amazing and picturesque! The angel takes Ezekiel back to the door of the temple. Water is flowing out from underneath the temple. It seems to be coming from the altar. Ezekiel wets his feet in the water. They walk downstream exactly 1,000 cubits (everything is exact in this vision). Again Ezekiel walked across the stream. The water covered his ankles. They measured exactly 1,000 cubits farther and the water came to his knees. They continued until the water was a wide river that was DEEP and WIDE! He swam a bit, but couldn't cross.

Then, the angel brought him back to the bank. He had something else to show Ezekiel, TREES!!! Many trees were green and growing and bearing all kinds of fruit! They grew on both sides of the river.

He looked downstream and noticed that the river had reached the Dead Sea. But, it wasn't called the Dead Sea anymore. The waters had healed the Sea. Now fish were swimming in the area that was once dead! Wherever the waters came they brought life! To the dead, barren places new life was springing. All kinds of fish swam in the waters. Fishermen lined the banks.

  Then, Ezekiel looked back at those trees, so green and fruitful. I smiled as I remembered Revelation 22's description of the tree of life. The leaves are for the healing of the nations, for medicine. We use leaves for healing and helping us feel better when we are sick. I am so looking forward to rubbing those Tree of Life leaves on all those bumps and bruises I have from living in this broken world.

  Now, I really don't want to confuse anyone by what I am going to say next. You see the Bible is so awesome! I remember my Grandma telling me that Bible prophecies are often fulfilled more than once. First, it was for the people at that time. But, many of them also pointed to when Christ would come to earth; our lives now; and, of course, eternity!

 Personally, I love poetic language and mysterious visions in scripture. It doesn't bother me if I don't understand it all. Someday I will see Jesus and will have all of eternity for Him to explain it to me. So, for now, I sit and read and ponder and let the word wash over me.
  But, this time, it didn't just wash over me. I took a big gulp! Another strange verse with beautiful words popped into my head. John 7:30 says that "living waters" will flow out of our bellies! The Bible also teaches that we are supposed to "bear fruit". What does Psalm 1:3 talk about? Suddenly my mind was getting filled with verse after verse. WE should bear fruit! OUR bodies are the temple! WE should bring forth living waters. OUR prayers are like incense. WE bring the SACRIFICE of praise.
 Maybe this passage meant something very literal in Ezekiel's day. Most likely, this passage is speaking of eternity, when all will be healed. But, today this passage opened my eyes to a new concept.
 You see, I have always known we are to bear fruit, but I never thought about the leaves. I always looked forward to that living water flowing, but I forgot that we are HIS vessels and that deep and wide river flows out of US to the world around us.
  Out of us (the temple of the Holy Ghost- I Corinthians 6:19) flows this living water (the Holy Spirit- John 7:30). Wherever the water flows, it brings life. It brings life to the desert, the wilderness, the barren lands.
  We are like trees! Our roots go down deep into that living water and we bear many kinds of fruit (Galatians 5:22) and many leaves. We should bring life to the area where God has planted us. We are to bring healing to the broken, hurting people near us.
   Suddenly this passage isn't just about something for me to one day receive. It is a lifestyle for me to live, right now. I'm not sure what this looks like practically, but my desire is to be like Jesus and grow fruitful in Him wherever He plants me.
As springtime comes, may God bless you with a fruitful year, spiritually as well as physically!

Little Known Bible Stories #4: That Weird Family

   The following story is very short but is probably the first "little known" story that I found and fell in love with. It changed my perspective on how God views our family traditions. For some reason, I thought traditions were not important. I also thought that there is one set of rules for everyone to follow. For example, I presumed that if my parents said it is wrong to go to the theatre, then it must be wrong for everyone. Of course, I was just a child when I made these presumptions. As a teenager, I went through the natural stage of questioning everything. The Bible has always been my standard, so that was my source for sorting it all out. When I came to this little story I realized that different families have different beliefs about what is okay to do, and what isn't. That doesn't necessarily make some families better than others. And, if we do things the way Grandpa taught us, it might not mean we are stuck in a rut and backward. This story takes place in Jeremiah 35.
 
   Jeremiah came from a family of priests. He knew God's laws. He knew the prophecies of old. He knew there were a whole lot of things that the people of God were doing wrong! God had been speaking to Jeremiah for some time. He had given him messages to tell the people of Israel. God was very upset. His people were hard-hearted and rebellious. Judgment day was coming!

   One day God gave Jeremiah an assignment that didn't seem as depressing and embarrassing as some of his assignments had been. He was to find a certain family and invite them over. There was a little room off the temple just for these kinds of meetings. The room was comfortable and it was even well stocked with wine. They could have a few drinks and Jeremiah could get to know them a little and maybe figure out why God wanted him to meet them. They were known as the Rechabites! Jeremiah didn't seem to recognize the family name. They weren't a very well known family. But, he asked around and found a few of them right there in Jerusalem!

  Jeremiah escorted them into the room he had prepared. God had told him to offer them jugs of wine, so he gladly did. He was being very hospitable. He sat down and waited.
There was an awkward silence. Would it be rude to take a drink before his guests? Oh, maybe they were waiting for him. He took a sip. Still, they sat there. Not one of them touched their cup. What was going on? Finally one of them spoke up. He explained that their family doesn't drink wine. The patriarch of their family had taught them never to drink wine, or plant vineyards, or build houses. They were nomads.

  We have always obeyed our father. They explained. Except, we are in Jerusalem right now because of the war. But, we will go back to our tents as soon as it is safe to do so.

 "Did ya' hear that?!" God asked Jeremiah.
  "The Rechabites obey their father. They do everything he commanded them to do!"
  "Why can't my people obey me like that? Why is it that they do the opposite of what I tell them to do?"

I presume Jeremiah was pretty impressed. He probably felt honored to have met the Rechabites. He sent them away sober and with a blessing. God promised that their family would always have at least one man who was God's kid, forever!
  Somewhere out there, is a Rechabite who loves God with all his heart. Maybe he lives in a house now, or maybe not. Maybe that person is you, or me. Or, maybe we can just learn from this story. Maybe when we look at people who say something is "wrong" because that is what they were taught. Instead of trying to convince them that it is really okay to drink and live in houses, maybe we can encourage them and say, "Good for you for honoring your heritage! I respect your beliefs. May God bless your family!" And then we should look up at our heavenly Father and ask Him if we are listening to Him as well as our friend is listening to their earthly father's rules.

  Oh, I wanna be a part of the family! -the family of God.
How about you?

Little Known Bible Stories #3: Don't Mess With God's Girl

Don't Mess With Tamar

   Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah. King David was one of her descendants. This, of course, means that she was also an ancestor of Jesus Christ! I guess Judah probably thought it was just a coincidence that he chose her as a wife for his firstborn son, but it appears that God is really the one who chose her. Not only that, but God seems to have been really protective of how those boys treated sweet Tamar.

   I picture her as kind of quiet and easy-going. It seems like she just went along with things the way they were, for the most part. I'm sure you know girls like this. A girl who is really kind and patient and puts up with all kinds of things. Then, all of a sudden she does something. Maybe it is kind of extreme. Maybe it seems out of character. But, as a friend of hers, you can't help but smile and say, "Good for her! It's about time!"

   This story takes place in Genesis 38.

   Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and little Shelah. Er was of marrying age, so, as the custom was, Judah picked out a pretty girl from the area. Her family agreed to the marriage, and Tamar joined Judah's family.

   However, as I said, God had His eye on this girl. These tough shepherd nomads were no match for the King of Heaven! It wasn't long and Er did something God didn't like. What was it? Had he mistreated Tamar? God called him "wicked" and it wasn't until after he got married, so it sure sounds like he wasn't kind to her.

   Poof!

 He was gone! 

Out of the picture! 

Dead.

   According to the culture of that day, Tamar was Judah's responsibility. The custom was, that if a married man died without children, his younger brother (or another relative) was supposed to give her a child. It kind of sounds weird to us today, but it was very much like what surrogate moms and sperm donors do today.  So, after the days of mourning for Er were over, sweet, easy-going Tamar married Judah's second son, Onan.

  The deal was that they would have a child together, who would inherit Er's portion of the flock of goats, or family fortune. This child would care for Tamar in her old age.

  Well, Onan went in unto her all right, but he "spilled his seed". Oops! The petri dish dropped. Oh well. Sorry, Tamar. No baby. No inheritance. Onan did his duty, she didn't get pregnant, now he could go on his way.

  Nope! God sees even in secret! He knew Onan's heart. Tamar was too gentle to say anything. God was fed up with Onan too! No one treats His girl like that and gets away with it! Making babies is a serious business. Each person has a place in God's plan. Tamar was supposed to have children. God planned for her line to lead to His Son. A line of Fathers who would teach their children to love God with all their hearts! A line of Mothers who would teach their daughters to love God first! Godly women who would lead to Mary the mother of Jesus.

   Onan wanted the inheritance to himself. He took advantage of Tamar but didn't provide for her. 

Too bad. 

He lost it all! 

Now, he gets nothing! 

Poof! Dead! 

Thanks, God! (Onan was kind of a creep.)        

 Judah seemed pretty oblivious to what is really going on.
     "Ummm, okay, sorry about that Tamar. Don't worry. I will take care of you. You can stay here, as a widow until the kid, Shelah is grown. He will give you a son."
  So, Judah gave her a nice comfy tent, and probably a goat, or two and a maid and a couple of chickens and ... conveniently 'forgot' about her.

  A few years went by and Shelah is a fine, strapping young man looking for a bride. Tamar sees this. She knows she has a right to have a child by Shelah before he starts his own family. Again, weird, I know, but it is how they took care of their own. An old woman without kids to care for her would have a very rough life in those days. Tamar isn't old yet, but she knows that once Shelah gets married, it's just a matter of time and she will be begging for bread. Judah had promised he would care for her. But, Tamar would probably outlive Judah. Who would want to marry a middle-aged woman whose first two husbands had died?

  Good old Judah hadn't really forgotten. He was just scared. Er and Onan had both died shortly after marrying Tamar. Judah needed security for his old age. If Shelah died, his line would end! There would have been one less tribe in Israel. No King David. No Mary. No Jews!!!! History would have looked so different! Of course, he didn't know all that. He didn't even know what terrible husbands his sons were. So, he began making preparations for his youngest son's wedding.

   Well, needless to say, Tamar was feeling pretty desperate. There weren't sperm banks back then, but the law did allow for the woman's father-in-law to donate in extreme cases. So, here she was. A last-ditch effort to have the child that she must have known God promised her.
  She knew Judah was shearing sheep in a specific area. Tamar also knew those guys didn't have a whole lot of self-control on those long, lonely treks in the wilderness. So, she kind of disguised herself and sat down near a desolate intersection and waited. Sure enough, here came Judah, full and happy from shearing sheep.
  Never being the kind to really think things through, he followed his heart. He stopped and asked this mysterious lady if she would give him a good time. She would be paid. He would send her a little kid from his flock.

  "What will you give me as collateral?" she wisely asked.
  "Oh, yeah. Whatever you choose."
  "Okay. Give me your signet, bracelet, and staff."
  Now, Judah may not have been the most civilized, but he was a man of his word. He presumed to get all those things back the next day. He planned to send her the best kid of the flock. He wasn't a bit worried as he agreed to her demands.
   They had a one-night stand. He treated her kindly. She conceived. Everything worked beautifully for our hero. She went back home and changed back into her clothes. Shelah could marry whomever he wanted to. But, there was one problem. Prostitution was illegal!

   Judah and his mysterious prostitute could legally be stoned to death. But, as usual, Judah was unconcerned. Most people just kind of laughed it off in those days. -kept it all hush-hush. What you don't know, won't hurt ya. Judah sent his servants to pay the prostitute. They went to the area and asked around, but no one knew of any prostitute around those parts. Judah really needed his stuff, but he was also pretty embarrassed. He told his servants just to forget about it.

    Then, a few months later an announcement was made. Widow Tamar was pregnant! She played the harlot! Judah, being the head of the clan, was presented with the information.

"Who? Tamar? Oh, um, yes. Prostitution is against the law. She should be killed." Judah was probably a bit relieved to be rid of her finally.

Wise, quiet Tamar was ready for this moment.
When the servants came to escort her to be stoned she had one request.
"Show these items to Mister Judah. Tell him these belong to the father of my child."
Tamar knew Judah well enough to know he would do the honorable thing.
The servants presented Judah with his staff, his signet, and his bracelet! "These belong to..."
"I know." Judah interrupted and broke down.

"Set Tamar free! She is righteous! This is all my fault. I didn't have Shelah marry her like I was supposed to. She really didn't have a choice. She did right. I did wrong. Those belong to me."
Of course, the servants knew that. No one was really mad at Judah because the law did allow him to go in unto his daughter-in-law in such instances. All other times it was considered incest, but, as I said, there weren't sperm banks and everyone seemed to need to have kids in order to survive old age.

 Judah only went in unto her that once, but God blessed Tamar. She had been married twice. She bare two sons! Perhaps one inherited Er's portion and one inherited Onan's. Tamar was no longer alone!

   Her boys were definitely part of the family! At the time of their birth, little Zarah stuck his hand out of the birth canal. The midwife tied a string around his wrist and then, he pulled his hand back in. Tamar push again and out came a little head and soon a screaming little, red-faced baby slipped out
... minus a string around his wrist.
Did it come off?

  Nope.
Out popped little Pharez, sporting the string, already glaring at his wee brother!

It would be generations before a "Man after God's own heart" would be born into this wild family. His name was David. He became Israel's most beloved King. He had a daughter. Do you know what he named his little princess? Tamar! After the woman who became the matriarch of the tribe of Judah.

  It was again many generations before a baby boy was born who did not come out fighting or mad at the world. This child was called the Prince of Peace!

  All of this was realized because a dear young lady was patient and let God fight her battles when she could do nothing to defend herself.  But, who also, stood up for justice when she knew she was being treated unfairly.
  So, if you have been made to feel like you should meekly accept abuse:
             - may God, in one way, or another, destroy your Er's and Onan's
              - may you have the courage to confront your Judah's
             - may you be blessed with a double blessing for all the trials this broken world has dealt you!

Don't be afraid to reach out! There are laws in place to protect you!

God bless!