June 30

Israel came against Judah and killed 120,000 soldiers and took 200,000 wives and plunder back to Samaria where they were met by a prophet who told them they were in the wrong. Even though God had destined Judah to be defeated, it still wasn’t just. There is a great lesson to be pondered here. God removed His protection because of Judah’s idolatry and used Israel and the Arameans to defeat Judah, yet this “using” wasn’t an order from on high. This subject requires some deep thinking and studying, but the point here is that God allows things to happen for His purposes in us that are not just. Hmmm…

I want to be like the leaders of Ephraim who confronted the soldiers and then gave mercy to the captives. These poor captives were participants in idolatry yet mercy was shown to them. They were clothed, fed, given drink and the weak ones were given donkeys to make it back home.

I need to help people make it back home. Some will certainly turn again to the Lord, but some won’t. That is not mine to decide, mine is to be merciful and help people back home – where God dwells. How much should I do? As much as the word of the Lord said to do. I cannot cool the desert with a massive air conditioner, but I can invite some people inside my dwelling to enjoy an air conditioned atmosphere. Start somewhere and work from there.