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The
Discriminating Individual |
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Each
of us, no matter how different the path has been, have made a series of
personal choices to bring us to this ‘walk of faith’ at this time.
This is by no means the end of the journey or the end of the need to
keep making personal decisions. We
are guided by ETERNAL, [ who uses the Tanakh as the major way to show us
His will], into and through different situations. The testing is
consistent – will we handle matters ETERNAL’s way? The
story of Moses gives us a telling example. Moses was obviously called by
ETERNAL to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. We, with the benefit of
hindsight, can see that ETERNAL was active in Moses’ life, from his
birth through the years until the burning bush incident, to equip and
prepare him for the work to come. Moses had a relationship with ETERNAL
that was very special. When he had a problem with delegation, ETERNAL
arranged for Jethro [Moses’ father in law] to visit and give good
counsel, when other people spoke against Moses ETERNAL acted against
them. This was good until Moses acted presumptuously in the second water
from the rock incident. Instead
of giving ETERNAL credit for the miracle of water, to sustain over a
million people and their livestock, from a rock, Moses acted as if it
was he who was doing this. Moses failed the test! Because of this, he
was not allowed to enter ‘the Land’. He could look at it, see what
he was missing but not go onto it. Read
this in your Tanakh, Numbers 20:6-13. Being
able to enter ‘the Land’ was a privilege, not a right. A whole
generation of males, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, had to die
during the forty years of the Exodus because the ‘spies’ had spoken
against ‘the Land’ ETERNAL had given them. Many, many times ETERNAL
told the people, through His prophets, “If you are not obedient [to
His words in the Tanakh] you will be driven out of ‘the Land’ and
scattered among other peoples.” At a later time, some of us will seek
ETERNAL or He will call us out of the false religions of the people
around us. Some people will be called back to ‘the Land’. This
is important. ETERNAL decides who will be called, and when.
The Land, which is part of the covenant, is not just the current State
of Israel. For us to rush over to Israel without an absolute assurance
that we are being called there by ETERNAL is an act of presumption. If
ETERNAL so values obedience and our acknowledgement of His sovereignty
in our lives, He will not offer us His protection if we go to places
that He has not sent us to. ETERNAL makes His wishes for our individual
lives clear if we will learn to discriminate between the testing and the
prompting. Many
of the organizations around us have a uniform of one kind or another.
The armed services, the sporting teams and fans, the police, certain
religious groups and so on. When we see, or wear, the uniform it shows
that the individual has given over some of their individuality to the
aims or purposes of the group. There are many situations where that is
desirable. However, in this walk of faith, we are truly individuals.
Until ETERNAL restores the Priesthood there is no hierarchy – no
positions of power to be sought or schemed for. The only positions
available are for obedient servants. Joseph
gives us a great example. Although he had been sold into slavery it was
obvious to other people that he was being blessed by ETERNAL. He was a
good servant and was quickly promoted by Potiphar. Joseph did not
succumb to the sexual wiles of Potiphar’s wife. Joseph passed the
test! Although he went to prison ETERNAL was still obviously blessing
him and Joseph was allowed much freedom. From prison to prime minister
was the next move for Joseph. These moves were all made by ETERNAL to
have Joseph in exactly the right place to provide a home for all his
family. Joseph was an intelligent servant. We
are called to use our brain. Read the Tanakh and think about the words.
If we are reading it in English we may miss some of the nuances of
Hebrew [and the possibility of multiple meanings of words] but ETERNAL
has put us where we are now. The Tanakh is a guide book – it shows you
the major pathway to follow. It is not an absolute, all inclusive set of
directions. The Tanakh is silent about computers, mobile phones, the
stock market, bus tickets and the car parks at shopping malls - but the
guidelines it gives us about honesty, consideration and the community
let us know how we should act as Tanakh obedient people in all of
life’s situations. If the Tanakh teaches us to treat an ox with
consideration, it should be clear that we should not be cruel to a
buffalo. If the Tanakh teaches that homosexuality is wrong then it would
seem sensible to be against lesbianism. The clear teaching against males
wearing female clothing and females wearing male clothing gives the
guidelines. Each of us is responsible directly to the CREATOR of the
Universe for our obedience – or the consequences of our disobedience.
Do not allow other people to set your path if you cannot find support
for the action in the Tanakh. ETERNAL answers prayer. Ask Him, seek His
guidance, it is the only guidance you can trust implicitly. |
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kennygee@bigpond.com |