COURAGE 4 - Dare to honor God, even when people laugh at you

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Devotional Thoughts about 1 Samuel Chapter 17

Israel was in dire straits as its army stood across the valley from the Philistines. These enemy neighbors had a history of keeping Israel at a disadvantage to insure their own upper hand in their frequent skirmishes (see 1 Samuel 13:29-22). Plus, there were giants among them, as the Israelite spies had discovered centuries earlier on their first trip to Canaan (Numbers 32,33).

The Philistines sent out Goliath, one of those giants, to take on any one of the Israelites they chose. King Saul, who at his coro­nation had been described as being “head and shoulders above” everyone else (1 Samuel 10:23), was probably among the closest to a giant that the Israelites had, but there’s no mention of his taking on the challenge.

Young David, arriving at this juncture, was indignant when he learned the reason for the 40-day impasse. Goliath was making fun of God and His people, and nobody— not King Saul, not David's brothers nor anyone else—was doing anything about it! When Saul heard of him, he sent for him, and David volunteered for the job right away.

Goliath felt insulted that a boy had been sent to fight him, and blustered abuse. David replied, making clear that he had come in the name of the Lord of Hosts and that the victory would come from Him. And so it did when David had slung just one stone.

Lord, please give me the courage to speak up to praise and glorify you when others speak against you.

COURAGE 3 - You miss out on a lot when you're afraid to trust God.

Courage 3 - English files

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Devotional Thoughts about Numbers Chapters 13 and 14

The first year of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Canaan was very eventful, including the first Passover, the Red Sea crossing, receiving the Law at Sinai, the golden calf, the tabernacle and many of God’s provisions and the people’s rebellions along the way.

As it was now time to go into the Promised Land, which was just north of where they were camped at Kadesh-barnea, God told them not to be afraid or discouraged (Deuteronomy 1:21,22). Moses picked out a man from each of the 12 tribes to form a group to explore the land and return with samples of the harvest and information for the conquest.

After spending 40 days in Canaan, the reconnaissance group returned with a mixed report. All 12 agreed on the basic facts: The land was quite fruitful; the people were very tall, and their cities were well-fortified. However, only Joshua and Caleb wanted to go in with God’s help while the other ten panicked, proposing a return to Egypt and spreading their fear to the general public, who then wanted to lynch Joshua and Caleb.

God intervened, and the masses of people were punished by getting their own way: Those over 20 would never go into the Promised Land. They would all be dead by the time the people had waited for 40 years—except for Joshua and Caleb, who had believed God.

Lord, please help me trust you and give me the courage to obey.

COURAGE 2 - Dare to help others!

Mut 2 - German file 

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Devotional Thoughts about Esther

The account of Esther is a parade example of God’s providence for His people in danger. The backdrop of the story is the opulent center of the huge Medo-Persian Empire comprised of many people groups, including Jews whose families had been torn away from their homeland gene­rations earlier.

King Xerxes, the absolute monarch, was shown in this story to be proud, moody and indifferent. Haman was an architype of an ambitious courtier, clawing his way to the top as he indulged in his anti-Semitism.

Esther was genuinely afraid of approaching the king unbidden but finally agreed to do so, only if the Jews in Susa and her own servant girls would fast with her for three days—prayer being implicit in the fasting. She was willing to risk death.

I’ve often wondered why she didn’t tell the king her request at the first banquet. Maybe she was simply afraid and just couldn’t spit it out. Yet although she couldn’t have foreseen it, the timing was impeccable because it wasn’t until that night after the first banquet that Xerxes discovered he owed his life to Mordecai and hadn’t rewarded him.

That set the scene for the worst and last day of Haman’s life. In the morning he was mortified by having to honor Mordecai. At midday he faced the doom-saying of his wife and friends. Then he went to the fatal second banquet. We’re not told why Mordecai had initially told Esther to keep the wraps on her ancestry, but she did, and it sharpened the surprise and irony when Haman’s plot was overturned.

Esther couldn’t have honestly said she wasn’t afraid. She was, and her fear wasn’t unfounded. But with Mordecais admonition, she dared to do the right thing for her people, and God blessed her intercession. Lord, please help me to do the right thing, even when I’m afraid.

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COURAGE 1 - Fear God, not men!

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Mut 1 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about Jonah Chapters 1 and 2

The text doesn’t actually say that Jonah was afraid to go to Nineveh, but his action speaks for him. He fled from God to keep from following His command. As God’s prophet, Jonah surely knew that there’s no place where God isn’t, and thus nowhere anyone can hide from Him, and yet he tried it.

He charted a journey so diametrically in the opposite direction as the topography would allow. And as historical accounts of the Assyrians (whose capital was Nineveh) document their extreme cruelty, Jonah’s reluctance was certainly understandable.

In the Book of Jonah, the sailors’ fear is emphasized (1:5,10). As they were people for whom storms were surely a routine occupational hazard, they must have believed that a tempest so extreme surely had a supernatural origin, and they were determined to discover it.

Once they’d identified the guilty party by throwing lots, they began peppering Jonah with questions, and he confessed. They actually turned out to be more humane than I would have expected, trying all other options before throwing Jonah into the sea. Then when the storm immediately calmed, they feared the Lord, making sacrifices and vows to Him.

When Jonah found himself alive inside the fish, he prayed, describing his misery and confessing that the Lord had saved him. After three days and three nights, the fish spit him out.

Lord, please give me the courage to obey and follow you.

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KINDNESS 4 - Be hospitable!

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Nächstenliebe 4 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about 2 Kings 4:8-17

Those who practice hospitality resist the selfishness inherent in each of us and decide to give and share what they have with others. And classic hospitality (as opposed to “the hospitality industry”) opens up one’s own home, letting others come near and enjoy without feeling a need to repay the favor.

The adjective describing the woman in this story is translated in the Bible as “great”, “important” or “wealthy”. She clearly stood out in some way; maybe she was already known for her hospitality. When Elisha came to Shunem once, she invited—actually urged— him to come over for a meal. The visit led to a habit whenever the prophet, who seemed to travel often, came through.

She recognized Elisha as a holy man of God and discussed with her husband a plan to make him feel even more welcome on his frequent visits. They built him a room of his own on the roof of the house. He must have felt very honored to be the recipient of this luxury.

When Elisha asked what he could do for her, she said she was content. When his servant pointed out to him that she had no children, Elisha told her she’d have a son the next year, and she did.

Lord, help me to learn the joy of sharing what You’ve given me with others. 

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the first in the topic Courage.