Closer Today Than Yesterday: Whats of My Tribe?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Whats of My Tribe?

I am studying Deuteronomy 33 today in which Moses is 'blessing' the various tribes of Israel prior to his death. The chapter is divided into stanzas with each stanza representing a tribe. Within these stanzas I note that Moses frequently speaks of each tribe in three tenses; past, present and future.

He speaks of what they have done, what they are doing and then calls down from heaven prophetic insight into their future. As one could imagine not everything is rosy for each of the tribes.

When I got to the tribe of 'Asher' I was particularly drawn to V27. Here it is;
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’" (Deuteronomy 33:27, NIV)

What struck me was the quiet assurance and confidence that is implicit in the statement "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Apparently, 'Asher' had a history of running to the Lord in times of trouble; their faith was strong. They did not rely on the work of their hands or their skills; neither birthright or intellect; neither honor nor money.

The question that looms large in my mind is 'what is my refuge?' Is it truly the Lord God or is it only the Lord God when other things fail me? In this time of economic uncertainty I must constantly remind myself to depend on God and not on my dwindling 401k. The fact that I even have that thought reveals the truth of my weakness. Upon examination I see that I still sometimes run to my intellect in times of trouble, I consider the future in terms of Social Security stability and 401k returns. I've missed the point and I stand convicted.

I want it to be said that 'the eternal God is my refuge' and not that God is my backup plan. I must bring my heart, mind and house into proper order starting right now.

Humbled,
Carl

1 comment:

Bill said...: Your challenge, Carl: "The question that looms large in my mind is 'what is my refuge?' Is it truly the Lord God or is it only the Lord God when other things fail me? In this time of economic uncertainty I must constantly remind myself to depend on God and not on my dwindling 401k. The fact that I even have that thought reveals the truth of my weakness. Upon examination I see that I still sometimes run to my intellect in times of trouble, I consider the future in terms of Social Security stability and 401k returns. I've missed the point and I stand convicted."

Personally, though many can't see it, I think God has placed a major-league blessing for us in the form of this financial crisis. He's saying with it, as did Jesus, "Which leader do you trust, Me or money?" We cannot serve two masters, can we?

Prayerfully, we will choose to trust God, as you alluded in your blog. And when we do, in the Spirit of Matt. 6: 33 and 2nd Cor. 12: 9, we will find that His grace is sufficient; and His store house is bottomless for our needs.

<'BB><; November 19, 2008 at 8:25 AM

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So I Stand Near The Gate

I read the below poem at a critical point in my life and it's message resonated with me. My ministry, "Near The Gate" was named in homage to this poem. When reading this poem, feel free to substitute the word 'gate' for the word 'door' and you'll have a little glimpse inside my head.

SO I STAY NEAR THE DOOR

By the Reverend Canon Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr., D.D., S.T.D.

I stay near the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,
The door is the most important door in the world–
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside, and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it - - -
So I stay near the door.
The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door–the door to God.
The most important thing any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch–the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own touch.
Men die outside that door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter–
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live, on the other side of it–because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him - - -
So I stay near the door.
Go in, great saints, go all the way in–
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics–
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, or sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in,
Sometimes venture a little farther;
But my place seems closer to the opening - - -
So I stay near the door.
There is another reason why I stay there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great, and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia.
And want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled
For the old life, they have seen too much;
Once taste God, and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving–preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stay near the door.
I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door,
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay too long,
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there, too.
Where? Outside the door–
Thousands of them, millions of them.
But–more important for me–
One of them, two of them, ten of them,
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
For those I shall stay by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
"I had rather be a door-keeper . . . "
So I stay near the door

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Whats of My Tribe?

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Whats of My Tribe?

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