The Enemy's Schemes

Nehemiah 6[i]

Nehemiah was uniquely positioned.  He was the right person at the right time in the right position.

This is true of many of the heroes of the Bible.

Moses, Joshua, Debora, Samson, Ruth, David, Elijah and Esther all can be described in the same way.

These people all share a common theme.  They each served a history-shaping purpose in God’s plan for His people.

For Nehemiah, his history-shaping purpose was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, as well as leading in the spiritual reformation of God’s people at that particular time in their history.

Not one of the people mentioned above operated alone.  Many, many people helped, advised, supported and strengthened them in their calling.  The leaders are the names we know, but others had a part.

You and I may not be Bible heroes, but God calls each of us for His purposes.  We almost never have any idea of the history-shaping nature of the work God calls us to.  You or I may not be the one whose names are put on the book, but we all have a part.

The New Testament likens the Church to a body and says:

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”  The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”  In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.  (1 Corinthians 12:21-22)

In the Body of Christ, each member has a part.  Each member is gifted by the Holy Spirit to fill a particular need or place.

As an important part of what God is doing, each one of us can expect to face opposition.  This is why in Ephesians 6:10 we are encouraged to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”  Accompanying this admonition to be strong is the command, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”  (Ephesians 6:11, ESV)[ii]

In Nehemiah 6, we see the schemes of the devil at work.

By this time in Nehemiah’s account, all the gaps have been closed in the wall.  The only thing remaining was to set up the doors in the gates.  (Nehemiah 6:2)

The first thing the enemy did was to try to stop the work.  Nehemiah chapter 4 tells the story of how Nehemiah’s enemies tried to attack and stop the work.  In my analogy, this is equivalent to our enemy who tries to stop us from coming to Christ in the first place.  Our enemy will do anything to try to stop even one person from accepting Jesus as Savior.  Once a person accepts Christ, a wall of protection exists around that person.  The Bible says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4, ESV)  1 John 5:18 explains that the evil one cannot touch the child of God.

Today, we are looking at the devil’s schemes once the decision has been made.

Once the wall was built, the builders were not vulnerable to attack in the same way.  However, this does not mean that their enemies gave up.  Their enemies changed their strategy.

The first strategy or scheme was to trick Nehemiah.

We see this in Nehemiah 6:1-3.

Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.  So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.

But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”

When the straightforward frontal attack failed, Nehemiah’s enemies resorted to trickery.  On the pretense of wanting to talk, they sought to draw Nehemiah out into the open where he was vulnerable.

This scheme is still used by our enemy.

One common way he practices to deceive is to convince us that the consequences of our behavior will not be bad or that the behavior itself is not bad.  God’s protection is on those that love Him and obey Him.  If our enemy can trick us into disobedience, he can get us into the “open” where we are vulnerable.  The Bible warns us:

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)

This phrase “Do not be deceived” for our purposes today could say, “Do not let the devil trick you.”  As believers and children of God, we can still sow to the flesh and from the flesh reap corruption.  However, the devil tries to trick us into thinking this is not so.  These messages are in our culture.  We cannot have sex outside of marriage without consequences, but our world says it is okay.  We cannot harbor resentment in our hearts without consequences, but the enemy convinces us that we are justified in our bitterness.  We cannot be selfish and greedy without consequences, but the enemy tells us that we need these things.  The list goes on and on.  Therefore, the way to counter this is found in the verses above.  We reap what we sow.

Nehemiah wanted a wall so he stayed working on the wall.  Metaphorically speaking he sowed a wall and reaped a wall. 

Do you have a clear vision of what you want to reap?

If you seek God with all your heart, he will make your path clear.  If you are praying, reading God’s word and seeking God, then you should pursue whatever God puts on your heart.

When Nehemiah could not be tricked out into the open, his enemies tried another scheme or strategy. 

They sought to intimidate and discourage Nehemiah.

This is found in Nehemiah 6:4-9:

Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.  The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said:

“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall.  According to his reports, you plan to be their king.  He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’

“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”

I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”

They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work.  So I continued the work with even greater determination.

Nehemiah’s enemies openly accused him of treason, which was a capital offense.  Nehemiah knew there was no truth in these accusations.  However, they were frightening and just by being brought up, these accusations were very dangerous.  Instead of being intimidated, Nehemiah trusted God for strength to continue the work.

When trickery does not work, our enemy will use a different scheme.  He will accuse us in order to intimidate and discourage us.  Depending on the work, this can be a public accusation like Nehemiah experienced, or it can be a personal, private accusation.  We all experience the personal private accusations.

The personal, private accusations are usually related to our identity as children of God.  “You are not good enough.”  “You cannot do that.” 

When fear and uncertainty threaten to keep you from doing the work God has put before you, remember two passages of Scripture.

First, Philippians 4:13: 

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

And second, James 4:7:

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Notice with me that Nehemiah did not waste much time with the accusation.  He all but ignored it.  He denied it and then got back to work.  For us, when the devil accuses us, we need to remind ourselves of the truth of Scripture and get back to work.  It is true.  I am a sinner, but so is it true that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9, ESV)

When trickery, intimidation and discouragement did not work, Nehemiah’s enemies tried a third scheme.  They sought to discredit him.  They did this through another form of trickery.

This is found in Nehemiah 6:10-13.

Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home.  He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut.  Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”

But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger?  Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life?  No, I won’t do it!”  I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.  They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin.  Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

Here we see that Nehemiah says that his enemies were trying to intimidate him and cause him to sin.  This would allow them to discredit Nehemiah.

Nehemiah’s enemies tried first to create fear, and then do something inappropriate based on that fear.

Fear is not from God.  The Bible says:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

The Spirit of God gives us boldness.

The Apostle Paul asked for prayer saying:

I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador.  So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.  (Ephesians 6:20)

What is your biggest fear? 

Is it financial?  Is it health?  Is it a relationship?  Is it fear of failure? 

Whatever your biggest fear is, the devil will use it to get you to do something inappropriate if you do not learn to handle fear with faith.

This is why Ephesians 6:11 says:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  ESV

The devil and his schemes have not changed since the days of Nehemiah.  We can still expect trickery, intimidation and attempts to discredit us.  However, we have the encouragement of the Scriptures which say:

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  (1 John 5:4)

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

The Prayer the Lord Hears

Nehemiah 1[i]

Jerusalem lay in ruins for 70 years.

Nebuchadnezzar and his army tore down the walls, burned the houses, destroyed the temple, and those they did not kill, they took captive to Babylon.

Then Cyrus issued a decree, and fifty thousand Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Fifty thousand is a small number compared to the people and nations already occupying the territory to which the Jews returned.

In spite of opposition, the temple was rebuilt, being completed on March 21, 516 B.C.[ii]

The time from 538 B.C. to 516 B.C. represents 22 years during which the Jews labored in the rebuilding of the temple.

Nehemiah 1:1 dates itself as being in the 20^th year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.  This puts the events of Nehemiah 1 at 446 B.C.  This means another 70 years have passed since the end of the Jewish Exile.

Nehemiah works for the King.  He is the King’s cupbearer.  (Nehemiah 1:11) The cupbearer was a high-ranking official.  The cupbearer served the drinks at the royal table, and he guarded against the king being poisoned. In order to protect the king from poison, it was the job of the cupbearer to swallow some of the drink before serving it to the king.  (A nice job to have unless someone tried to poison the king.)

Nehemiah 1:2-4 says:

Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah.  I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah.  They are in great trouble and disgrace.  The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

When I heard this, I sat down and wept.  In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Have you ever received news that caused you to mourn, fast and pray for days?

We all face these moments in life. 

Where do you turn?

When Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem still lay in ruins, he was devastated.  He mourned, fasted and prayed for days.  The prayer recorded in Nehemiah 1 takes less than 5 minutes to read.  Therefore, we can assume it is a synopsis of his prayers.  It is an actual prayer, but I am sure it grew out of days of struggling in his heart.

God caused this prayer to be recorded for our instruction.  It is not the only example of prayer in Scripture, and much needs to be learned about prayer by experience and applying the whole of Scripture.  However, by examining this prayer we can discover principles that will help us grow in our prayer life. 

The Apostle Paul taught us that we should never stop praying.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 he tells us:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  ESV[iii]

Let’s take this instruction seriously, and see what principle we can apply from Nehemiah’s example.

The first principle we learn is that we should pray fervently.

We see this principle in Nehemiah 1:4.

When I heard this, I sat down and wept.  In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah’s petition was not half-hearted nor was he detached emotionally.

James 5:16 says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Our Lord Jesus addressed our desires when he said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

From these two passages of Scripture and others, we can see that our desires and emotions are involved in prayer.

E. M. Bounds wrote:

Desire is not merely a simple wish; it is a deep seated craving; an intense longing, for attainment.  In the realm of spiritual affairs, it is an important adjunct to prayer.  So important is it, that one might say, almost, that desire is an absolute essential of prayer.  Desire precedes prayer, accompanies it, is followed by it.  Desire goes before prayer, and by it, created and intensified. Prayer is the oral expression of desire.[iv]

The intensity of our desire is not what brings an answer.  Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”  (John 15:7, ESV)  Abiding in Jesus and in His word creates in us spiritual desires and a “hungering and thirsting after righteousness.”  When Jesus prayed in the Garden, He prayed that the cup might pass from Him, but then He appended this request with “Not my will but thine be done.”  This shows us the nature of a spiritual hunger that wishes for the will of God to be accomplished above all else.

This is not a cold mechanical thing.  It is a fervent desire born of days of mourning, fasting and prayer.  God does not want us cold.  He said to the Church of Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!”  (Revelation 3:15, ESV)

We need to abide in Jesus and let His word abide in us to the point that our desires are in line with God’s desires.  This brings about fervent prayer. 

In addition to praying fervently, we also see that we must pray with humility.  This is the next principle we see in Nehemiah’s prayer.  We must pray with humility.

Nehemiah prayed with humility when he said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer!  Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel.  I confess that we have sinned against you.  Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!  We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.  (Nehemiah 1:5-7)

Two aspects of humility are apparent in this part of Nehemiah’s prayer.

First, he acknowledges who God is.  Nothing can keep us humble like acknowledging that God is the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love.

When Isaiah saw the glory of God he said, "It's all over!  I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.  I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips.  Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies."  (Isaiah 6:5)

The first aspect of humility is acknowledging who God is.  The second aspect of humility follows naturally from this acknowledgement.  The second aspect of humility is the confession of our own sin and sinfulness.

In regard to his sin, David said, “Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.”  (Psalm 51:4)  When a person sees God for who God is, that person then understands that God’s judgement is just. 

Nehemiah saw the sinfulness of his ancestors, and saw their sinful attitudes and practices in himself.  He did not try to find someone else to blame.  He did not point the finger at anyone else.  He confessed his own sin and sinfulness.

If we cannot take responsibility and admit our sin, we cannot be right with God.  1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” 

Prayer starts with desire and continues with humility.  The next principle we see is that prayer requires faith.

When I say faith, I do not mean blind, leap-off-a-cliff hope.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for according to Hebrews 11:1.  We see faith expressed in Nehemiah’s prayer when he prays:

“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.  But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’”  (Nehemiah 1:8-9)

Nehemiah is praying based on God’s revealed will, God’s word.

Romans 10:17 says:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  ESV

Faith is based on an understanding of what God has said and then trusting that God will do what He has said.  Effective prayer is based on the word of God.  Nehemiah prayed with confidence because he prayed according to God’s word.

Desire, humility and faith are principles of prayer that we see in Nehemiah’s prayer.  Obedience is the final principle that ties these all together.  Nehemiah prays:

“The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.  O Lord, please hear my prayer!  Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you.”  (Nehemiah 1:10-11)

Nehemiah began by acknowledging that God is “the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands…”  (Nehemiah 1:5)  He ends his prayer by pointing out they are God’s servants and that they delight in honoring God.

When God’s people refused to pursue Him with fervency, acknowledge Him in humility and approach Him with faith, God did not hear their prayers and instead sent them away into exile. 

Romans 8:28 is a favorite verse for many.  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  This verse does not promise that God causes everything to work together for the good of everybody.  Things did not work out for the good of Pharaoh.  Things did not work out well for Haman.  Things will not work out well for any persons who set themselves in opposition to God. 

The promise of Romans 8:28 is for those who love God.  Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.”  The requirement here is that one takes delight in the Lord.

When we love God and take delight in Him, obedience is a natural outgrowth of our relationship with Him.  We naturally love His commands and want to do what pleases Him.

When God’s children pursue Him with fervency, acknowledge him with humility, approach him and faith and love Him in obedience, He hears, He listens and He answers.

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI.  copyright 1985, 1995, 2002.  pg. 679

[iii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

[iv] The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer.  Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI.  copyright 1990. pg. 29

Haman

Money and power draw a lot of attention.

Much of our world revolves around money and power.

The president of the United States deals with money and power on a worldwide scale.

 Each of us deals with money and power on a different scale.  No matter the size of our money and power, we each have control over some small kingdom.  As to scale, your sphere of influence may not extend beyond the boundaries of your living room or the TV remote, nevertheless the exercise of power is involved. 

We are all accountable for how we use our money and power.  Jesus states a principle that we all need to remember.  He said, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”  (Matthew 12:48)[i]

Today, we are going to look at Haman.  Haman is going to represent the abuse of money and power.  He was entrusted with much, but he did not use it well.  He is the villain in the story of Esther, and as such, ends up being hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

From Haman’s life, we will learn some lessons, and then we will apply those lessons to our world and to our lives today.  Our expectation is that we do not want to be like Haman.  So, in the process of learning, we can also expect to see areas in our own lives where we need to make changes. 

We meet Haman in the third chapter of the book of Esther.  Esther 3:1 says, “Sometime later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire.”

At our first meeting, Haman is promoted without reason to the highest position in the land.

Lesson number 1:  Life is not fair.

Esther chapter 2 ends with Mordecai saving the king’s life, and he was not rewarded for it.  Esther chapter 3 starts with Haman’s promotion without reason.

Life works like this.  You may have thought because you worked hard and your ideas brought success that you would get the promotion at work, but it never materialized.  You may be more qualified than the schmuck that got the job, but they chose the schmuck.  It happens all the time.  This gives us the opportunity to become bitter, jealous and/or envious.  The antidote or opposite of this is to trust God. 

James 4:1-3 says:

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?  Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?  You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.  Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

In the court of the king, this is how things operated.  Money and power give opportunity for our evil desires, and we fight and scratch to get what others have.  It is not obvious in the story of Haman, but we see it in the way Haman plays the game. 

Mordecai can serve as our example.  We must humble ourselves before God and let Him raise us up in His time.  James 4:10 offers this conclusion:

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

Life may not be fair, but God is in control.  The question each of us must answer is, “What have I done with what God has entrusted to me?”

Haman was entrusted with the operation of an Empire.  What did he do with it?

Esther 3:2-6 gives us a feel for how Haman used what was entrusted to him.  It says:

All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded.  But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.

Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”  They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order.  So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage.  He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone.  Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.

Mordecai was a nobody.  Haman was the top man in the empire.  But Haman was filled with rage because Mordecai would not bow.  Haman was concerned with Haman.  He was taking care of number one.

Yet, something even more insidious and evil is at work.

Mordecai’s reason for not bowing is contained in this account.  The palace officials asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” Mordecai’s answer is indicated in verse 4 where it says, “Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.”

I have a Jewish friend who loves bacon.  I tease him.  “You are a Jew and yet you eat bacon!”  He responds, “Yeshua has set me free from the Law.” 

I imagine a Jew might explain not eating pork by saying, “I am a Jew.”

“Why don’t you eat pork?”

“I am a Jew.”

“Mordecai, why don’t you bow down?”

“I am a Jew.”

The second commandment says:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.  (Exodus 20:4-5, KJV)

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.”

The king was considered deity, and apparently, Haman was elevated to some sort of divine status by the king’s order.  Mordecai’s refusal to bow was a matter of religious conviction.  Therefore, when Haman brought the issue to the king he said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else.  Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king.”  (Esther 3:8)  The refusal to bow before any other god is just one such law that Haman is referring to.

Haman’s pride is injured, and he has found grounds for eliminating the Jews, but I have not yet explained the full extent of the insidious evil that is at work.

Let’s go back to verse 1 of Esther chapter 3 where it says, “King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite.”

One might just read over this without a thought, but it is very significant.

Let me give you some background.

When the Jews left Egypt under the leadership of Moses and after they had crossed the Red Sea, the Israelites (Jews) were attacked by the descendants of Amalek.

Amalek was the son of Eliphaz, who was the firstborn son of Esau, the brother of Jacob who was the father of the Jews.  They were of the same family and descendants of Abraham and Isaac.  However, because of their attack on the Israelites, God cursed the Amalekites and said, “I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:14)

When God had established the nation of Israel and their first king, Saul was on the throne.  God gave instructions to Saul that He should attack and wipe out the Amalekites, leaving nothing alive, not even any animals.

Saul carried out these orders with a couple exceptions.  1 Samuel 15:9 says:

Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them.  They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

Agag was the king of the Amalekites, and Haman was his descendant.

Somewhere close to six hundred years had passed since the slaughter of the Amalekites by Saul, but apparently it was not forgotten.  Haman probably grew up hating the Jews.

This is not unusual. 

Parents teach their prejudices to their children.  I have watched Palestinian TV programs designed to teach children hatred for the Jews.  The Jews of Jesus’ day taught their children to hate Samaritans.

What do we teach our children to hate?   

In summary, Haman’s life was characterized by hatred, self-seeking, greed and a lust for power.  Therefore, when he had power and money, he used them in the interest of these things.

The story of Esther and Mordecai shows how God worked to stop Haman.

Do you want to end up like Haman, impaled on the pole you set up for your enemy?  Then just let hatred, greed and a lust for power have its way in your life.

If the antidote to jealousy is to trust God, the antidote to hate, greed and self-seeking is to love your neighbor as yourself.

The Apostle Paul said:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 2:3-5, ESV)[ii]

We all know that government should operate in the interest of the governed.  However, every institution quickly becomes corrupt as those in power seek their own interests.  It takes constant vigilance and work to fight against and stop evil workers like Haman.

In 1 Timothy 6:5, Paul speaks of those who bring  controversy and conflict into the Church because they see godliness as a means of gain.  In other words, greed, hatred and self-seeking can find its way into any human relationship.

When we are given money and power, do we use it for ourselves? 

Remember, your life is a stewardship entrusted to you by God.

Why has God put you where you are?

Do you trust God?

Do you love your neighbor?

If we do not want to be like Haman, I would add two more admonitions.

1.     But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

2.    If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (Colossians 3:1-3, ESV)

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Who are the “cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1 and what are they doing?

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  NLT[i]

Hebrews 12:1-2 is a call for us to run with endurance the race God has set before us.  The Christian is to keep his or her eyes on Jesus.  This is where we get our endurance.  This thought is a continuation of the thought expressed at the end of chapter 10 where it says, “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.  Then you will receive all that he has promised.”  (Hebrews 10:36, NLT)  “But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction.  We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”  (Hebrews 10:39, NLT)

Between chapter 10 and chapter 12, Hebrews 11 gives us example after example of those who lived and conquered by faith, those who had run the race with endurance.  Hebrews 11:4 speaks of Abel whose offering gave evidence and who being dead still speaks to us by his example of faith.  Hebrews 11:5 speaks of Enoch who was known as a person who pleased God.

Hebrews 11:2 says, “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” Then after recounting the stories of many who pleased God by their faith, Hebrews 11:39-40 says:

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.  For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. 

Chapter 12 begins with the word “Therefore” and it refers back to all of these examples.  These people bear witness to the necessity of endurance and the benefit of finishing well.  Therefore, an obvious and clear meaning of witnesses is that of ones who give  testimony.  However, this does not give an explanation of  the analogy of the text comparing the life of faith to a race.

A race has observers.  Hebrews 11:40 says that those who are our examples would not reach perfection without us.  Compare this to the statement of Hebrews 12:23 that says:

You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things.  You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.

The author has drawn in the testimony of those who have lived the life of faith, and also referenced the fact that they are our observers.  Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”  (John 8:56, NLT)   Apparently, those who have gone before are aware of what is happening on earth.  Examples of this awareness are:  1) the story of the rich man and Lazarus, 2) the story of Job and the sons of God mentioned in Job 1 and 3) The souls of the martyred dead of Revelation 6:9 who appear to have an interest in what is happening on earth.

Those who have gone before are not only observers but they also rejoice in the work that God is doing in us and through us.  The praise for God and the Lamb in Revelation is great as events leading to the completion of the Age unfold.

Paul wrote to the Philippians that they were his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1), and to the Galatians that he was suffering labor pains a second time for them (Galatians 4:19).  If these churches were the fruit of his labor, we are as well.  He has a vested interest in what is happening to us.  I would dare to say that your grandmother has an interest in what happens to you.

The Bible does not tell us all that those who have gone before are doing, but they are interested in what God is doing on earth.  They are interested in the fruits of the labor that they have done, and they are apparently aware of what is going on.

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[i] Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

What is meant by “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… ESV[i]

The Lord Jesus left us with a commission.  He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

This is our job until He returns.  He left us His Holy Spirit to empower us for the work.  (Acts 1:8)  We are His ambassadors.  2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  This is remarkable!  God is making His appeal through us.  The fact that God makes His appeal through us is part of the mystery of godliness that 1 Timothy 3:16 speaks of.  1 Timothy 3:15 describes the church as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 

The word translated “foundation” in this verse could be translated “base.”  The ESV translates it “buttress.” The actual meaning is the ground or base established to support the foundation.  The Church is established by Christ to support the truth, to proclaim the truth and to preserve the truth until He returns.  Another analogy used to describe the Church is the body.  We are His Body, His hands and feet on Earth. 

His work on the Cross is sufficient to the salvation of all, and it is complete and perfect.  What remains to be filled or is “lacking” in His work or suffering is the personal presentation of that work to each individual.  When we do our job of making disciples, we “fill up” what remains to be done in regard to the work of Christ.  There is nothing lacking or insufficient in the work that Jesus did.  However, He has given us a part, a part to “fill up.” 

Because of the tremendous honor and privilege God has given to us to participate with Him in this way, Paul says, “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body.” (Colossians 1:24, NLT)[ii] 

Peter also says:

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.  For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.  You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.  (1 Peter 4:1-2, NLT)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.  (1 Peter 4:12-13, NLT)

This “partnership with Christ” is what is meant by “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”

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[i] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

What does the Bible say about burying vs. cremation?

 Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”  ESV[i]

The Scriptures do not address directly how the body of a deceased individual is to be treated.  The Scriptures do report history, and historically, the Jewish people practiced burial and the Egyptians practiced embalming.  These practices are reflected in both the historical accounts and the culture as it appears in Scripture.

When God created man, He formed him from the dust of the ground.  Therefore, when man sinned and God pronounced judgment on him, God said, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  (Genesis 3:19, ESV)

We know that the body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God who gave it.  Hebrews 9:27 adds to this the idea of judgment when it says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment . . .” ESV

As for the treatment of the dead, the Law was clear that Jews were not to mutilate themselves in mourning.  (Deuteronomy 14:1)  And, the Nazarite was not to break a vow to the Lord even for the sake of the dead.  (Numbers 6:7, Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head.  ESV)  These passages are indications of the principle that ceremonies for and the treatment of the dead need to honor God above the deceased.  While respect for and honor of the deceased is appropriate, they are people like us and it is inappropriate to pray to or seek their advice or to assume they are somehow deified for having passed on.

The Bible does tell us the dead will be raised.  1 Corinthians 15:42-44 says:

So is it with the resurrection of the dead.  What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.  It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  ESV

We all look forward to this resurrection, and a resurrection body.  It is not dependent on the disposition of the earthly body.  The earthly body has presumably returned to the dust from where God took it. 

The treatment of the body after death varies with culture, and is not regulated by Scripture.  The spirit returns to God who gave it and faces judgment for the things done while in the body.  The believer in Jesus Christ looks forward to a resurrection body that will live forever.  Our concern should be to honor God in our ceremonies and respect the deceased.

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[i]Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.