Knowing God - He Will Hold Your Right Hand

Isa 41:13

 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

The Lord understands that we face things that make us afraid.  When the Lord tells us that we are not to fear, He doesn’t mean that we aren’t allowed to experience fear in response to something.  The Lord is letting us know that the fear is not to determine our decisions or keep us back from what He is asking us to do in response to the fearful situation.  Here, the Lord is letting us know that He will hold our right hand.  The right hand often represents authority and decisions.  It represents the choices and direction we will take.  He wants to hold our right hand and give us the help we need to not be led by fear in a fearful situation.  He wants to order our steps and He wants to be what we sense present stronger than that which has elicited fear within us.  Our Lord knows our frame.  We will fear, but when that fear comes we must consciously yield our instinct to His leading and trust Him to lead us.  Our fearful condition makes us vulnerable to the enemy’s suggestions.  Remember, when you are afraid, the Lord your God will hold your right hand and He will help you.

Proverbs - God as Our Father

Proverbs 3:11-12

  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;

even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

                        We don’t always like discipline, just like our children, but the Lord loves us enough to straighten us out and like braces hurt and produce a great smile, His correction will produce wonderful results in the transformation of our personality.

                        Here we see that discipline is associated with correction.   When we discipline our children the process should include not just punishment for what is wrong but some sort of measure to bring about the right behavior.  They need to not only see where they have blown it but the standard to which they are being encouraged to take on.  They also need instruction on how to reach that standard that is age appropriate and doable.   Take some time to ask the Lord for His heart of discipline towards the children in your care.  If you do not have children, pray for some of the mothers that you know.

Knowing God - He Brings Liberty

2 Cor 3:17

 Now the Lord is that Spirit:

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Lord is the Holy Spirit.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.  Liberty means freedom.  The Lord’s leading and the Lord’s presence results in freedom.  A believer can walk without fear of unseen obstacles when he is being led by the Holy Spirit.  The Lord is bigger than anything that wants to entangle us or cause us to feel constrained and bound.  Our God is Spirit and He is not bound by anything either.  If some sort of religious rules or expectations come into our lives resulting in our believing that the Lord is keeping us down and holding us back it may not be from the Holy Spirit.  If something comes in that allows us to freely obey the Lord regardless of other’s opinions and agrees with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is there.  If you find yourself rather bound within Christianity or feeling like the Lord is keeping you back, open up to the Holy Spirit.  Ask Him to fill you.  Ask Him to lead you.  Ask for the Spirit of the Lord to fill your life, your plans and your day.  Walk in the liberty His Spirit promises you!

Proverbs - Honor Him With Your Substance

Proverbs 3:9-10

  Honour the LORD with thy substance,

and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

                      How might we dishonor the Lord with our substance?  What is on the television we purchased?  What is in our grocery cart?  Do we spend more of our substance on clothing ourselves that we might be glorified rather than looking for ways to bring Him honor with our substance?

                        The firstfruits means just that.   The first of everything our lives yields.  Our time, our money, our energy and anything else He has so graciously allowed us to bear.  Do we give the government the firstfruits from our paycheck in taxes, then our bills, and then the leftovers for the Lord?  We must be searched and really bring by force the firstfruits to the Lord however He may direct.  There is a great promise here regarding such a priority.  Some people say they cannot give regularly to their local church because their barns are barren but perhaps that is why their barns are barren. 

                                                                                      

Knowing God - He Wants Us to Understand

Matt 15:16

 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

Peter was asking Jesus about the meaning of a parable.  Jesus asks him this question before Jesus explains it to him.  It almost sounds like Jesus is a little disappointed that Peter wasn’t able to grasp what the Lord was saying.  The Lord is asking many of us if we still lack the understanding He wants us to have.  He desires for us to grow up in all things and will question where we are with the intent of seeing us mature and gain understanding of whom He is and what He means.  The Lord went on to explain these things to Peter but was hoping Peter was beginning to move beyond the cold, clear, letter of law and into a place where he could pick up on the warm, permeating, heart of God through the Word.  The Word tells us to lift up our voices for understanding.  If we don’t understand things, we can go to the Lord and He will explain them.  As we do, we will begin to know His heart and be quicker to understand His ways.  He wants us to handle His Word skillfully. 

Proverbs - Be Not Wise in Thine Own Eyes

Proverbs 3:7-8

Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

                        Again we are told not to be wise in our own eyes so we can be reasonably sure that we tend to think we are right and must humble ourselves in the presence of the One who has all wisdom.  The fear of the Lord will help keep us humble in mind.  When we know that He alone has the perfect answers we will be less likely to exalt our own understanding and seek Him all the more.  It will result in our frame being strong and unlike osteoporosis which deteriorates the very structure of our being, we will be able stand against the evil one, get up from falls without serious spiritual injury and be able to support others as well.

Knowing God - He HAS Blessed Us!

Eph 1:3

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

This verse is stated in past tense.  When we are in Christ, all spiritual blessings have already been given to us.  The Lord has given us EVERYTHING pertaining to life and godliness in Christ.  I love the phrase ‘in Christ’.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ…”  “If any man is in Christ he is a new creation…”  Here we see that when we believe and find ourselves in Christ, our God and Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.  Our God is generous and when we became His children we suddenly became privileged to all that is part of His inheritance.  Thank You, Father, for having blessed us.  Oh Lord, let us be a people who expectantly look for whatever we need from You.  You are generous.  You are kind.  We have so much more than we have drawn from.  Open our eyes to these spiritual blessings.  

Proverbs - TRUST!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Trusting Test

Answer these questions out loud please!

How much of our heart should we trust in Him with?  That’s right!
And where exactly is this trust supposed to be deposited?
How many of our ways should we consult Him regarding?
Are we even allowed to give our own understanding a bit of credibility?


What a wonderful promise that He will order our steps and direct our paths. Obviously our trust, understanding and who we are consulting has everything to do with how the journey of our lives will be directed.

Is there a part of your heart trusting/depending on someone or something else?
 Is your analysis of a situation of more credibility than the promise of a God who can do all things?  
Are there certain roads in your life you have taken control of and not acknowledging His leading on?

Take every thought captive to His obedience today and enjoy Jesus as the Shepherd of your path.

Knowing God - He Fights For Us

Josh 23:3

 And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.

Joshua was dying and he gathered the leaders of Israel that had been with him for a while.  He reminds them of all that the Lord had done.  He tells them that they have seen all that He has done BECAUSE of them.  Our God not only fights battles because He is a warrior and purposes but also He is a God who fights our enemies BECAUSE of us.  He loves us and He is most interested in our lot in life.  Because of us, Jesus died on the cross.  God is complete without us.  He didn’t need to atone for sin in order to fulfill anything lacking in Him.   Christ died BECAUSE of us.  Our God actually does things BECAUSE of us.  Thank You, Lord, that I matter to You and that Your love is a love that I can see in deed and in truth._

Proverbs - A Great Necklace

Proverbs 3:3-4

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck;

write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

                        Mercy and truth help us in our relationship with God and people.  We need to look at things as they are and choose to have mercy, or let it go, forgiving others so that things don’t get clogged in these two vital relationship areas in our lives.

                        Mercy is being able to recognize something as a legitimate short coming and choosing to let it go.  You cannot have mercy without truth.  Here we see that these two attributes allow us to have healthy relationships.  We can communicate that we have been offended or sinned against - that is the truth.  We can communicate calmly and with the intent of being committed regardless of their response - that is mercy.  These two will help us with our human relationships and pleases the Lord as well. 

When God sees our lives He sees everything in truth and yet in His mercy deals with us patiently and with an acceptance regardless of where we are in the maturing process.
Let us have mercy and truth in all of our dealings and see good understanding and favour manifest themselves.

Knowing God - God Calls Us to Come Up

Ex 24:12

 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

The Lord called Moses to come up to Him.  He told Moses to get away from all of his responsibilities and come to Him on the mount.  He told Moses – “Be there”.  I love it!  Show up Moses!  Be there!  The Lord tells Moses that if Moses turns aside from all of his day to day things and shows up, the Lord will give Moses things that He has written so that Moses may teach them to others.  The Lord calls us away to a place where He wants to give us things.  He tells us to be there and He will meet with us.  The Lord wants us to be there and He promises to give us things from His own mind that we might be able to teach others.  Have you shown up today?  He truly has something to give you.

Proverbs - Guard His Words

Proverbs 3:1-2

 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

                        If the Lord tells us not to forget the law then we are correct in concluding our tendency is to forget the law

                        Here we are told to have our heart keep His commandments.  This word ‘keep’ means to guard or protect.  Do you fight for your time in the Word of God at church or alone with the Lord?  Do you protect and guard that time not allowing the opposing forces to come in and steal this away?

                        Recently, I went to get my wedding ring cleaned.  The jeweler noticed that a prong had bent and the diamond was about to fall out.  What an expensive tragedy that might have been!  My diamond is of great value to me.  I took the ring off and put it in a safe place until I can get it fixed.  This is the type of guarding we should do when it comes to the jewels of His truth.  Reviewing what we’ve heard and being careful not to lose what  jewels we have been given.  Think right now.  What is one ‘jewel’ you have received from the Word of God in the last week?  Do you remember or is the ‘prong’ a bit loose?

                        His commandments will add good stuff to our lives.  How foolish we are when we neglect such wonderful benefits by forgetting His Word and treating His commandments so casually.

Knowing God - He Wants Us to Remember

Ex 17:14

 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

The Lord told Moses to write down about the victory they had over the Amalekites.  He also wanted it read out loud to the person who was used in the victory.  We learn that the Lord knows we need reminders and records of the victories and battles the Lord has taken us through.  The Lord knows our frame and He knows we tend to forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget.  The Lord will speak to us to record certain battles and their outcomes.  Have you taken the time to recount a victory the Lord has given you?  Have you considered writing it down for the generations that are yet to come?  The Lord wanted Moses to do it immediately afterwards.  He didn’t want Moses going on to the next thing without considering the great victory the Lord had given them.  Even the Lord stopped after each day of creation and beheld that it was good.  Let us take heed and recount some of the great things the Lord has done for us.

Proverbs - Walking Upright

Proverbs 2:20-22

That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,

and keep the paths of the righteous.

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth,

and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

                        The Lord desires us to walk in a good way.  He wants us to have friends and companions that are vessels of His love and faithfulness in our lives.  He wants us to be challenged by those around us and stirred up to run the race even more steadfastly than ever before.

                        We must be searched and desire to walk in an upright manner, a manner that is built upon the revealed Word of God and without confusion and other sources that contradict those things that make a life sure-footed.

                        No one will get away with anything.  We are told in Gal 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  We take our orders from our Creator and Maker and just as a farmer waits for the harvest, confident seed is taking root even when he doesn’t see anything above ground, we, too, continue steadfast in making choices based on the wisdom the Lord gives knowing a harvest will come as well.

Proverbs - Wisdom Not Flattery

Proverbs 2:16-19

To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger

which flattereth with her words;

 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth,

and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

                        Wisdom and discretion are also given to deliver us from the strange woman.  This is that side of us as women that definitely still remains in the ‘old man’ being put to death daily.

                        We should never be people who use words to gain someone’s favor or get what we want.  We must be careful as women that our words are placed in a way to build up not to puff up.  Truth must be behind these statements and love must be the motivating force.

                        Have you forsaken the guide or your youth?  This would be the Holy Spirit for us as believers today?  Have you been with the Lord so long that you really think you can navigate your own life?  Don’t be a woman who forsakes or forgets.  Rather retain and remember. Stay close to your guide and ponder the covenant of your God.  Renew your commitment to Him today and look for His leading in every step.

Knowing God - He Has Heard You

Ps 120:1

 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

In our distresses we really need to be heard.  Others go on with their lives and we are in a place of distress and trouble that others just can’t always seem to connect with.  When we are in distress, having a listening ear is such comfort.  It is so important that we cry unto the Lord in our distresses.  He hears us.  We are being listened to.  Our God cares about us and wants our cares put upon Him.  When we finish praying in our distresses it would be good to thank Him that He has heard us.  This will protect us from believing the enemy’s lies that the Lord does not care about us and that we are alone in our distresses.  In your distress, cry unto the Lord, He will hear you.  

Proverbs - Crooked Paths

Proverbs 2:13 – 15

             Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

            Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

             Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

                        People laugh at evil things in the name of entertainment.  These shows rejoice to do evil and people delight in the more perverse and bizarre the scenarios are.

                        The paths of uprightness are safe.  Sure they can seem a little boring at times but are we here for excitement or to experience dwelling safely?   The Lord says in Jer 32:37b, “..., and I will cause them to dwell safely: “  Do we really enjoy crooked paths?  We can’t even enjoy the journey when we have to keep looking down to be sure we are even on the path.  Wisdom will deliver us from this sort of life and we will dwell safely and enjoy the journey!

Knowing God - He Reveals Himself

1 Sam 3:21

 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

The Lord reveals Himself by His Word.  We have been born in a time where the written scriptures have been completed, the Spirit of God has been promised to each believer and most of us are able to read.  This means that the availability to know God as He reveals Himself through the written Word is extremely accessible and within our reach.  Sometimes we try to get a revelation of God through prophetic words or situations that align themselves up to display God’s dealings in our live and end up frustrated trying to discern His presence.  The Lord always reveals Himself in His Word.  If we find ourselves a bit distanced from His presence, it would behoove us to take a promise from His Word and mull over it today.  Meditate on the truth within it and cherish the Words of God.  We will find ourselves drawing near to Him and then discover He has drawn near to us.

Proverbs - Wisdom and Discretion

Proverbs 2:10- 12

 When wisdom entereth into thine heart,

and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;     

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man,

 from the man that speaketh froward things;

                        Wisdom must do more than be admired and espoused.  Wisdom must enter our hearts and we must delight to do the right things.  If we don’t really want to do things God’s way and talk ourselves right back to our own understanding or laziness, wisdom will not deliver us.  Just like a life preserver left on display next to the pool’s edge it won’t save one who is drowning unless it is received by the person who needs it.

                        Discretion is an attribute we don’t hear too much about these days.  We need to be able to have this.  The ability to assess things based on wisdom versus foolishness.  How we use our time, our tongue or money etc.  We need to have discretion.  It will preserve us and guard us from so much unnecessary conflict and wounding.

                        We need to be delivered from people who speak the wrong thing.  People who teach and deliver philosophies contrary to the Lord are labeled ‘evil’ in this text.  Do we see this or do we admire the actors and actresses who act out sinful scenarios and entertain us with those very things that Christ died for on Calvary? 

Knowing God - When, When, When

Deut 20:1

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

WHEN we go out to battle; WHEN we see horses; WHEN we see chariots; WHEN we see a people more than us; DON’T be afraid of any of them.  Our lack of fear is to be rooted in the Lord our God who is with us.  Our God desires His presence to be our power.  He is not just watching down from heaven observing our battles and occasionally sending strength and strategy.  Our God is with us.  He wants us to know that He is with us and wants us to know that His presence should be our confidence.  When we go to battle, don’t be afraid He is with us.  When we see those horses, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  When we see those chariots, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  When we see that the people are more than us, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  It is amazing how many times the Lord reminds us in His Word that – HE IS WITH US!  That MUST mean we tend to forget that He is with us and that many of our fears might very well be rooted in a lack of perception that He is with us.  Thank You Lord that You are with us!  We will not be afraid!

Proverbs - Bank Account of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:6-9

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:

he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Then shalt thou understand righteousness,

and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

                        The Lord has an account filled with wisdom for us and when we approach Him for wisdom we can be confident that we are going to the right source and He has plenty to give.  The Lord tells us in James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

                        He is guarding the paths of judgment and His standards don’t change.  He is preserving our paths and wanting to lead us in the right way.

                        When we go to the Lord for His judgment on a matter we will understand what is right and fair and what a good life really is according to the One who created life in the first place.  He knows us, loves us and has the clear cut wisest choice in every matter settled and ready to be revealed to us.

Knowing God - He is Greater Than All

Ex 18:11

 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, made this statement after Moses came and told him all that the Lord had done in delivering His people from Egypt.  After hearing Moses’ report, Jethro begins to realize how great God was.  Egypt was a powerful nation and Pharaoh was greatly esteemed.  We learn here that the Lord is greater than anything esteemed by this world as powerful, wise or mighty.  They dealt proudly with God’s people and God dealt with them.  Our God is above the highest ranking authority and desires to reveal Himself in this way.  We mustn’t fear what is revered on this earth.  We must realize that our God is greater than all that are considered ‘gods’ on this earth.  Worship Him today.  Realize that whatever is mightily affecting you today, He is mightier still.  Whatever is powerfully oppressing you, He is more powerful still.  Whatever is pursuing to overtake you, He is stronger still.  Our God is greater than ALL gods and no matter how proudly someone is acting, He is above him still.

Proverbs - The Pursuit

Proverbs 2:1-5

 My son, if thou wilt receive my words,

 and hide my commandments with thee;

 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom,

and apply thine heart to understanding;

 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge,

and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

                        There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in this section.  As a matter of fact, I count 8 different exhortations to us that will result in us having the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. We need to receive, hide, incline, apply, cry, lift up our voice, seek and search and then we end up understanding the fear of the Lord and knowing God.

                        Our ears need to be open and our efforts towards the Lord. There is a passion and focus that the Lord wants us to have in our pursuit of Him and His ways.  This is not earning salvation but this is fervency in our pursuit of all He has for those He has saved.  God is referring to our ears, heart, emotions, voice, eyes and posture.  We must love Him with all of our heart, soul mind and strength.  He deserves nothing less and we benefit from this kind of fervent pursuit of the Lord who has pursued us. 

Knowing God - New Leadership

Num 27:18-19

 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

The Lord told Moses to take Joshua before the entire congregation with the priest to put him in charge of them.  Leadership is God’s idea and putting a person in charge is one of the ways God leads His people.

 God wanted people to see that there was going to be a transfer of leadership.  We don’t always do well with that new pastor, new ministry leader, new landlord, new president or new manager.  The Lord knew that the people were used to Moses by now and they were going to go through some adjustment when the baton passed to Joshua.  The Lord wanted all to see a clear transfer and be ready to submit to Joshua as their new leader.

The Lord cares about change in leadership and the Lord desire to be involved in it.  Look to the Lord when things change and trust Him to help you transition.   Man’s leadership may change but God is always the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Proverbs - Sour Grapes

Proverbs 1:29-33

For that they hated knowledge,

and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of my counsel:

they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,

and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,

and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,

and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

                        Knowledge and the fear of the Lord are tied together.  We should always be seeking those things that please the Lord and then we will understand how to live.  If we hearken to our own understanding we are in danger of making foolish choices. 

                        Oftentimes we eat the fruit of our own way and blame others or even the Lord for such ‘sour grapes’.  We should be quite thankful when the foolish things we do turn out horrible.  The prosperity of fools shall destroy them.  We should thank the Lord when things turn out wrong as a result of a foolish choice.  This proves God right and turns us back to seeking Him and His ways. 

Sure, the wise choice isn’t always the most exciting but the results of having our steps ordered by the Lord, creates a quiet, safe lifestyle free from the fear of evil.

Knowing God - His Name

Deut 5:11

 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His name in vain.  This reveals something about our God.  He considers His name worthy to be revered and handled with great respect.  His name is associated with His character.  We cannot see Him at this time and it is through His name we have access to Him.  The Lord tells us in Psalm 9:10 that those who know His name will put their trust in Him.  The Lord tells us that His name is excellent in all the earth.  We are told to declare His name to the brethren.  We are told that it is through his name that we will push down our enemies.  In Psalm 45:17, the psalmist declares that he will make the Lord’s name to be remembered through all generations.  In Psalm 74:10 we learn that the enemy blasphemes the name of the Lord.  The Lord has chosen to reveal Himself through His name.  He is the Lord God, our provider.  He is the Lord God, our Deliverer.  He is the Lord God, our Shepherd.  He is the Lord God, our Healer.  He is the Lord God, the Warrior.  Oh that we would speak His name often and NEVER take it lightly.

Proverbs - Don't Neglect

Proverbs 1:24-28

Because I have called, and ye refused;

I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

            But ye have set at nought all my counsel,

and would none of my reproof:

             I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

            When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

             Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;

 they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

                        Sometimes we cry out to the Lord for help in situations our own foolishness got us into and we even remember the Lord trying to give us the wise way to do things in the first place.  He loves us so much that when we do call out to Him in our affliction He hears us and loves to deliver His children.  In some cases, though, it will be hard to hear the wise way out, because of our own stubbornness and refusal to hear.  We must humble ourselves when we get into those messes and be quiet before the Lord that we might receive the wisdom we need to get through such calamity.

Knowing God - He Has a Place of Refuge

Josh 20:2

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

                                                                            

Joshua was being reminded by the Lord of the instructions the Lord had given to Moses.  The Lord tells Joshua that He had spoken to Joshua through Moses.  Moses was Joshua’s mentor and predecessor.  He was someone Joshua served alongside.  Our God can tell us the directions for our lives through those He places in authority over us or those that have been our examples.  Moses had long died when Joshua was to appoint these cities of refuge, but the instructions Joshua received through him were to be remembered and obeyed.  The Lord had been speaking through Moses.  God speaks to us in His Word.  God speaks to us through spiritual occurrences, but God also uses those we have followed in the past to lead us even today.  Perhaps your parents are deceased.  The Lord can still use their advice to help you know.  Maybe that bible study leader has moved far away.  The Lord can still use those admonitions to prioritize your life today.  The Lord speaks through those who have led us.