365 Devotionals: The Promised Land

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22 AMP

The Seeds of Promise Devotional Series

Lord, Have Mercy

“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself”. John 1:1 AMP

« The Promised Land
« Daily Reading Plan
« Devotions Home

March	Book	Read From	Read To	Devotional
23^rd	Judges	Chapter 3	Chapter 5	Lord, Have Mercy

Memory Verse: And the Lord sent fear on Sisera and all his war-carriages and all his army before Barak; and Sisera got down from his war-carriage and went in flight on foot. Judges 4:15 Bible in Basic English

God promises a warning before destruction.

It is written in Romans 14:11 that, “…every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He [Jesus] is Lord;” In the third chapter of Judges, God says under no uncertain terms that there is a difference between His people and the Egyptians (Exodus 11).

When the Children of Israel did evil, they lost battles that could have been won; their crops failed; there was famine and destruction in the land. When God’s people repented, He restored them. This meant that they were again eligible to receive all of His benefits. The Bible says that when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, He heard them and provided a “deliverer.”

Do you see a pattern of taking God’s mercy for granted? Yes, God is forgiving. This is not a license to sin. People can become desensitized to their distance from God by consistently making steps in an opposite direction. Likewise, the closer you get to God, the better you know his will and purpose for your life. It is better to learn from your mistakes and return to God, than to waver in every situation, straddling the line from obedience to wilful sin.

Recall Pharaoh in the eleventh chapter of Exodus. He was given ten “chances” to submit to God, right? Actually, Pharaoh was given fewer opportunities than that to submit. Because Pharaoh had consistently defied God in his heart and outward displays, God literally made it impossible for Pharaoh to submit in that He hardened the heart of Pharaoh.

The Bible speaks of the reprobated mind. This is a mind after wilful rejection of God’s commandment, which would neither obey of obligation, nor submit in reverence to God.

In response to a reprobate Pharaoh, God set the stage for a profound example of his omnipotent power; and His covenant. Pharaoh thought that because his kingdom reached far and wide, because many bowed to worship him, because he had riches and power, that he could stand against God and whom God had sent.

God said, “Not so.”

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. Judges 5:31 KJV

« The Promised Land
« Daily Reading Plan | Devotions Home