Like many of you, I believe this last week has been full of spirit directed assignments in giving ministry to others. In following The Spirit, I was blessed to see what is “really important” and was directed back to an article I wrote last year regarding “Bo” meaning to enter or go. I hope this article continues to bless you as much as it has blessed me.
Still Blaming Others?
After some 15 years, I still remember some amazing words given to me from my master teacher while completing certification in Life Coaching. He basically stressed the idea that we should always pay attention to circumstances given to us, in that these very circumstances are God’s way of drawing our attention to our own “challenges.” He went on to clarify that when our issues are addressed, we will be better equipped to coach others. How true!
This week’s study of “Bo” is an amazing review on getting “our house in order” before we blame others, our circumstances, or even try to fix others and the world.
Before Yahweh delivered the final plague on Egypt in the book of Exodus, He gave His people specific instructions on how to prepare themselves to avoid certain death. The solution centered around a Lamb that had to be taken into the home. The act of eating the Lamb, dividing the Lamb and sharing the Lamb was detailed and was very precise for this event. Why?
For the Israelites, this Lamb was to represent the secured covenant from YHWH, that of the promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. Naturally, if this picture represented a sacrifice for redemption, I would except a solemnness to occur from those who would partake. In doing so, I believe the details of the Passover caused for an introspection of the house—both physical and spiritual.
Think about it for a moment. If you knew an angel of judgment would be passing over your home with permission to kill you if “the Lamb” was not present in your home, what would you be thinking about that night? I guarantee you wouldn’t be talking about the fitness of Moses to be leader, the latest conspiracy theory, or who was or wasn’t an Israelite. No, I believe your reflection would be centered around your personal life actions and belief in Yahweh. You would probably be asking, “Will I or my household be able to withstand judgment from the Almighty?”
“Now you shall eat it in this way: with your garment belted around your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in a hurry—it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and fatally strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the human firstborn to animals; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Ex. 12:11-13
The practicality of this text is amazing to me. Notice the sense of urgency to Bo or go. No one is sitting down waiting to be a part of Yah’s Kingdom. Instead, they are instructed to be in a hurry—to walk out as redeemed people. But at the same time, it’s obvious that they would not be able to enter the work of the Kingdom until the blood of the Lamb was on their doorpost. This reminds me that personal examination with the Messiah must be rendered before any of us go out into the world to change it.
The apostle Paul instructs the early church believer of the same thing, when they were arguing over “church issues.” He states, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a person must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the body.” I Cor. 11: 27-29
Over the last few weeks, I kept running across articles and podcasts that are all talking about division. It’s not just about politics or the public square. Churches and families are being divided over all kinds of things. Personally, I think this is happening due to the amount of knowledge being dumped onto people via the internet versus people being able to weigh that knowledge with wisdom. Naturally this would cause a population explosion of educated fools, for “a fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.” Prov. 18:2
This is concerning to me. Why aren’t we able to recognize our human imperfections and therefore steer clear of division? When imperfect people get together, disagreements, hurt feelings and misunderstandings are inevitable. If our expectations of others are too high, disappointment is certain and can cause further feelings of hurt and resentment.
A church or family tear may happen when someone seeks to manipulate people and/or events for their own end. It may be that there is pride in rule-keeping and those who do not keep the same rules are ill-treated. It may be that one interpretation of a non-essential and obscure doctrine is emphasized and used as a measure for who is included or excluded. Or, it could be that someone wants to wrest leadership from a person who has been given headship. The excuses for conflict are numerous, but they all stem from the same root cause—pride and selfishness.
James 4:1-3 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it.
I was reading a twitter survey conducted by Thom Rainer. He compiled “25 Silly things Church Members Fight Over.” I’ve listed just a few and his comments for your enjoyment:
- Argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard (I think I saw a verse in Scripture that indicated it is to be no more than 1.5 inches longer than the pastor’s beard.).
- A deacon accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter, and deciding to settle the matter in the parking lot (The church could have sold tickets to this event and raised a lot of money.).
- A petition to have all church staff clean shaven (No church planters are allowed.).
- An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not (I thought gluteny was a sin.).
- A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil (Are you sure he’s not red? That’s what I’ve heard.)
I can tell you right now from my travels and interviews that this happens in the Hebrew Root community as well. They might not be as silly as the arguments presented by Rainer, but they can be just as troubling. In that all of them fail to “come near” to the Messiah. And instead, have the same “odor” of the Pharisees who failed to “see” or “come into” the Messiah. Some of the most common arguments include:
- The evilness of certain kinds of symbols
- Leadership or no leadership
- Who is or isn’t in control over world events and governments
- Proper Hebraic dress
- Defending or correcting calendar observations
- Who is Yeshua
The list can be just as long as any good Sunday keeping church. Why? Is it because our human nature is determined to support our own “called out” agenda in order to give ourselves fleshly value? Maybe if we took the time to actually read The Word, we wouldn’t be so quick to quote or believe anything and everything that comes our way.
I would challenge you and myself to consider the concept of getting our house in order before setting everyone straight. If our attitude is fixed on the works of Yah, our argument will cease and His timing will increase. When saying this, I think about such great Biblical characters as Daniel and Joseph, two men who were specifically called by Yah. At first glance, their circumstances seemed rather terrible. They worked, lived, and operated with people who were pagan. Their environment embraced multiple god worship, immorality, spells and potions, but yet these two men kept their head above it all. How did this happen?
Would Daniel and Joseph have been as effective as they were had they worried about their circumstances? I dare to say no. I believe they looked at the bigger “Yahweh” picture. They allowed the King of Kings to change heart and minds. How were they able? I’m convinced they learned the secret of putting their personal house in order before ever trying to correct the world. They had staff in hand and sandals strapped to their feet to fulfill Yah’s calling and not their own calling. They listened to the Spirit.
Friends if your house still has strife, jealousy, anger, pride, lust, chaos, and confusion, then you are not in order. If you can’t show up to a church, to a family event, or fellowship because you aren’t winning an argument with them, then your house is not in order. Consider the Lamb—the Son of God. Partake of Him, share Him, and be ready to move according to His direction and you will find yourself in the middle of Kingdom work.
Yeshua himself said, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but the will of Him (my Father) that sent me.” John 6:38
Be Blessed,
Rollyn