Unification Brings Joy!

When I was in kindergarten and primary school, sometimes the punishment for misbehaving in class was to sit in the corner. In an earlier era, when a student did not pay attention in class, he might have to sit in a corner wearing a dunce cap. Today, when a child misbehaves, she might have to take a “Time Out”.



The Exiled Jews were like a Misbehaving Child

In all the above cases, the child is separated from their friends, and more importantly, from the one in authority. After spending some time alone, the child is reinstated with their fellow students.

Imagine the shame the student felt when separated. Imagine the joy the student felt when reunited with their friends.

Today’s reading is Nehemiah 9:9-21. The exiled Jews had returned to Jerusalem. They were exiled because they had sinned, tremendously, against God. Figuratively speaking, God gave them a “Time Out”, sat them in a corner and maybe even made them wear a dunce cap.

The chosen people had been exiled and their city destroyed. Imagine their lives in exile, in a foreign culture and without their God to turn to.

Now they were reunited! Imagine the joy they felt.

The Jews were now confessing their sins and repenting. They were rebuilding their spiritual life and re-establishing a relationship with God.

They were not just confessing individual sins, but the sins of their entire race. Like all of mankind, the Jews had turned away from God. It is man’s nature to think he does not need God, to think he is in charge of his own life.


Adam and Eve turned from God, and so did the Sethites.  Mankind turned from God when it built the Tower of Babel. Nonetheless, God chose Abraham to be the father of his chosen people.


As today’s story shows, even the chosen people turn from God.


Today we are no better. We are all sinners. We deserve more than a “Time Out.” We deserve death.


Yet God loves us so much that he re-instated us into a relationship with him, through the death of Jesus Christ.


Unification brings great Joy!

Joshua 5:2-9

This text, especially verse 9, has me searching for meaning. The reproach of Egypt is said to be the Egyptians view of their and ridicule of the Israelite nation for taking so long to get to their Promised Land. Moses brought the people out of bondage and waved the flag of freedom from oppression, and here they were, almost 40 years later, still wandering, still searching.

God was working with His people, refining then and ultimately growing them in ways that took an entire generation. So many sins and mistakes plagued the sojourners that God declared they would not enter the Promised Land, but their off-spring would. During this period of 40 years, the people must have begun to get comfortable, recognizing that this was life for them. The saying, "It is what it is" may have gotten its start with the people of Israel.

This is a familiar tune to me, and I imagine some of you as well. We know where we want to go, but it is taking so very long to get there. It is human nature to look forward to the next major milestone in life and long for that day to arrive. It may be the years it takes to get through with all the schooling required for your chosen field. It may be the years of working with the longing for retirement dangling like a carrot, just out of reach.

Every path we take and every road that needs years to travel, are all part of God's plan for us. He grows us with each step. He nurtured and cared for His Chosen People back then, and He does the same for His Chosen People today.

Joshua 5:9 (NIV)
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Read Joshua 5:2-9 here


Listen to Joshua 5:2-9 here

Out of the darkness, into light - 1 Peter 2:4-12

Do you ever feel as if you just don't belong?  Does it ever seem like you don't connect with the world?  One thing I notice as I walk closer to Jesus is how different I think and feel now.  The more I immerse myself into His Word and then attempt to apply it to my life, the more I feel a distance from the world and from the person I was just a few years ago or even months ago.

God is constantly refining His followers; and those who believe in Him do not stay the same.  Every new situation life throws at them is processed differently.  I find I no longer get angry with people and work myself up into such a lather when I have been mistreated.  My reactions to others is different, my actions are more self-controlled and patient.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

Having stepped out of darkness and into light has provided a new attitude.  Jesus lights the road ahead, His light helps me to see better, helps me to process differently.  I can see the world in a new way, I no longer expect someone who is not Christian to act like one.  I understand that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of wrong-doing.  Only those who have accepted Jesus as Savior will receive the Holy Spirit.

I now must be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [you] to give the reason for the hope [you] have.  (1 Peter 2:15)

Read the 1 Peter 2:4-12 text here.  Listen to it here.