5/30/2026
"In the cellar of your heart lurk the ghosts of yesterday's sins.
Sins you've confessed; errors of which you've repented; damage you've
done your best to repair.... Do your self a favor. Purge your cellar.
Exorcise your basement. Take the Roman nails of Calvary and board
up the door. And remember...He forgot."
Max Lucado, God Came Near
Whew! This has been a week and a half for me. Actually, the battles have continued on for a considerably longer time, but it has intensified exponentially this week. I must have done something right for a change, as the enemy's arrows have been flying from every direction. I have become very much aware of spiritual warfare, but this has been ... different! It makes me wonder what will come next, but nothing is ever surprising to me, even though I am nobody special in the world's eyes by any means. I imagine even donkeys are threat to many these days.
I live close to the US Army base, where I used to work many moons ago, in the Race Relations office standing against prejudice and unfair treatment in the 70's. There seems to be so much action in the air these days with helicopters flying over my home that I wonder if I'm being watched. I have to laugh, but these days there are mixed views on those who side with Israel. Seems ridiculous, as we all should stand with Israel, especially if we are believers in Christ and know the Biblical prophecies or walk in moral clarity. But then, I speak about this so often that I don't want to belabor the subject again tonight. Tomorrow is another day.
Today our Torah reading began in Numbers 4:21 - 7:89 where the Lord spoke to Moses and told him take a census of Gershon's sons, after which He divided up tasks to the Levites in caring for and carrying the tabernacle from one camp to the next. Every word spoken by God to Moses was precise and to be followed to the letter. To disobey or not pay attention to detail bore consequences, as Moses found out, as well as others. Why can't we simply follow the rules? We do need them. Directions on how to do just about anything these days are available on line. And as in the early days, checking the facts or when in doubt...read the directions! The word of the Lord is here to bless us, not to jerk us around or keep us on a leash or chain. The word of God is about His love for all people, as everyone is made in God's image, and He desires that none perish but all come to eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. What's so wrong with that? It's a choice, and no one is breaking anyone's arm.
What caught my attention about the Torah portion beginning in Chapter 5 about the ceremonially unclean persons being isolated in order to keep sin outside the camp, as the tabernacle was holy unto the Lord, the place where God dwelt among them. Other rules followed for dealing with questions of sin in the camp. Sometimes reading about these things becomes tedious and even seems harsh, but again, God is a holy God, and He wants His people to be holy in their lifestyles. Of course God knew this was impossible for mankind, or He wouldn't have had Jesus come to earth just to die in order to save us from our sins. When God described the unclean things He listed three: leprosy, discharge, and touching a corpse. Immediately I think of Miriam when she and Aaron were complaining to Moses about Moses' leadership. God cursed Miriam with leprosy for her unbridled tongue and criticism of God's anointed. For the discharge I think of the woman with an issue of blood for twelve years, and for death - perhaps a family member who had died, or a dead animal that had to be moved outside the camp. But these physical examples could also be compared as spiritual examples for us today. Leprosy, although treatable today and no longer deadly, unless left untreated, came upon Miriam, because of her sinning with her mouth. Words we say or dis-charge from our mouths lead to our further spiritual downfall, and can eventually lead to spiritual death from a bitter spirit or the refusal to forgive our brother. Whereas I had not looked at this passage of scripture in this light, I have always warned that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)
Bill, our Shepherd Pastor, always reminds us to live in our purpose, and be faithful in the little things, because God has to test our motives before we can graduate to higher purposes. This made me think about the vision God had given me that leads me to remind Him that I am aging. I wonder how in the world can I accomplish this task if I am getting older by the day. It's not that I despise the smaller things, no I really like being unseen in what I do. But I do want to fulfill His call on my life in the way in which He wants it. Not knowing what that way is, I continue to continue doing what I am doing. I am being obedient to the things that come or what He last set me to do. Or at least I hope I am. I do dream, but I do not want to become known per se, although in writing a book there is the possibility. Remote at best, but if God is in something, only He knows.
As a host for Harvest Ministries in an online group there are days when I wonder "How long, O Lord?!" But when all is said and done, I actually love the ladies and the group, and they are growing in their walks with Jesus. So, when Bill said that whining or not having a grateful attitude with ALL things could lead to leprosy of the spirit, I paid attention. I don't want to have a rotting corpse attitude. I want the joy of the Lord as my strength, and I want others to see God's joy and His character shining through my life. So should we all, as that is the goal. We have to let our light shine for this dark world to see that Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life.
So all in all this was an interesting day, and a restful one. My home was in peace, God's shalom peace, that transcends our imaginations!
