But you have followed what I teach, the way I live, my goal, faith, patience, and love. You know I never give up. [2 Timothy 3:10 (NCV)]
After Israel accepted the Lord’s Covenant, Moses returned to the base of Mt. Sinai with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. It was then that every one of those men gazed upon the God of Israel from afar and ate a covenant meal in His presence. Before Moses departed to climb up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, he entrusted the Israelites to Aaron and the elders who then went back to their camp. Moses, accompanied by his servant/apprentice Joshua, climbed a short way up the mountain and a cloud covered it. The two men made camp and stayed there for the next six days. On the seventh day, God called to Moses from within the cloud and the Israelites’ leader disappeared into the mist.
By this time, Israel had seen the waters of the Red Sea part and Pharaoh’s army drown, watched as bitter water turned sweet, received manna from heaven and water from a rock, and experienced victory over the Amalekites. Israel saw the glory of the Lord like a consuming fire on Mt. Sinai’s summit and, during the Covenant ceremony, they all promised, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” Seventy-three of the elders saw the God of Israel and ate a meal with Him! Yet, despite the miracles they’d experienced, Israel lost faith and grew impatient during their leader’s forty-day absence. Fearful that Moses was lost and wanting to set their own time line for getting to the Promised Land, they decided to fashion another god to lead them. After doing so, they celebrated with a pagan feast. When God saw their disobedience and corruption, he sent Moses back down the mountain.
While we know that Moses was on top of Mt. Sinai communing with God, there is no mention of Joshua’s whereabouts or activities during those next thirty-three days. We can only assume that, after watching Moses disappear in the mist, Joshua patiently remained there until Moses’ return. If I’d seen someone vanish into the fog, I’m not sure I would have lasted four days alone in the cloud-covered wilderness but Joshua lasted more than four weeks! As the days wore on, did he worry that Moses may have been eaten by lions or consumed by what appeared to be fire? Did he wonder how long he should wait before giving up? Waiting alone in the wilderness, did he fear for his own safety? Think of the patience and faith it took for the young man to remain there day after day waiting for Moses’ return.
We think of Joshua as a scout, military strategist, and leader but do we ever think of him as a man of patience and faith? Yet, the same man who waited day after day alone in the wilderness had to wait an extra thirty-eight years before setting foot in Canaan! His faith and patience, however, were rewarded when he arrived in the Promised Land.
Faith and patience go hand in hand. If we have patience, we won’t lose faith in God’s plan and timing as did the Israelites. And, if we have faith, we can be patient, even when things take longer than expected, as they did for Joshua.
The principle part of faith is patience. [George Macdonald]
Some of the lesser-known heroes of the Bible are found in the lists of David’s mightiest men. Among his warriors, David’s mighty Three had the most authority, influence, and leadership. Their leader was Jashobeam, a man who once used his spear to kill 800 warriors in a single battle. Next in rank was Eleazar who remained with David in battle when the rest of the troops fled. He killed Philistines until he no longer could lift his sword. The third of the Three was Shammah. After being attacked in a field by the Philistines, the troops fled. Shammah alone remained to defend it and bring victory to Israel. These three were so devoted to David that, when he expressed a desire for fresh water from Bethlehem, they risked their lives to break through enemy lines to get some for him. David’s Three were among the best of the best when it came to valor, courage, and allegiance.
When writing about issumagijoujungnainermik, the Inuit word for forgiveness, I came across a word in the Tshiluba language spoken by the Bantu of the Congo: ilunga. Because isumagijoujungnainermik is made up of several Inuit words, it easily translates as “not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore.” Like issumagijoujungnainermik, ilunga has to do with forgiveness but, unlike the Inuit word, it resists an easy translation. In fact, back in 2004, 1,000 linguists gave it the questionable honor of being the world’s “most difficult” word to translate!
Following Jesus’ resurrection, the Apostles met regularly at the Temple where they boldly preached and healed the sick. Alarmed at this turn of events, the high priest and his officials had the men put in jail. That night, an angel freed them and told the men to return to the Temple and speak to the people there.
In 1 Kings 21, we learn of Naboth, the owner of a vineyard adjacent to King Ahab’s palace in Jezreel. A choice piece of real estate, Ahab wanted it for himself and offered to purchase or exchange it for other land. Property, however, wasn’t to be treated as a real estate investment—it was to remain in the family to which it had been allotted. Because Jewish law prohibited Naboth from selling his ancestral land, he rejected the king’s offer. Angry at his neighbor’s refusal’s, Ahab acted like a spoiled child, took to his bed, and refused to eat. Upon learning the reason for her husband’s sulking, Jezebel hatched a devious plan. She arranged for false accusations to be made against Naboth that would result in his immediate death. Jezebel’s evil plot went as planned and, upon news of their neighbor’s death, she told Ahab the land was his and he took it for himself!
With few exceptions, when we find mention of pride in Scripture, it has a negative connotation. It refers to arrogance, conceit, disrespect, haughtiness, and effrontery. Often called stubborn, insolent, willful, and selfish, prideful people don’t fare well in Scripture. Consider Pharaoh whose pride made him stubbornly defy the power of God; as a result, his entire nation suffered plague after plague, he lost his eldest son, and his entire army was decimated. Lucifer’s insolence and pride got him evicted from heaven. Nebuchadnezzar’s conceitful boasting resulted in the king living as a field animal and eating grass for seven years! When arrogant King Uzziah overstepped boundaries and burned incense in Temple (something only priests could do), the proud king became an outcast leper. Indeed, “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Proverbs 16:18]
Devotions of the Heart 