Tag: Miracles

Crippled made straight

July 19, 2022

Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of a crippled woman who was healed by Jesus. There are many points of interest in this portion of scripture that bear looking at. The first is that it happened on Saturday. This was the Jewish Sabbath day. All you were supposed to do was go to church and hang close to your home.

The original Levitical reference says to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Holy means separate. You have six days to work. The seventh is a day of rest and renewal. Jesus was in the synagogue teaching when he saw a woman that was crippled so badly, that she could not stand up straight. She had been this way for eighteen years.

He calls her to come to Him. He simply touches her and says that she is cured of her illness. She stands up straight and walks home as any normal person would. No sit-ups, pushups, or ropes were not used, and no elaborate ceremony. She was bent over, and she straightened up. Nothing wrong with that.

The leader of the synagogue did not agree. He vocalized his distress at these proceedings. My guess is Jesus would not be invited back next Saturday. His words were to come Sunday to Friday to be healed. Who would spend their time healing folks on the day of worship?

Have you seen a preacher get upset because someone came into their church and did something good? I hope you have not. I witnessed a local minister berating a waitress on a Sunday because she was working. The work she was doing was serving his family. I was the dishwasher and busboy. I was also beginning ministerial school in a couple of months.

When I returned to my station behind the kitchen, she was there and very upset. I told her that I knew the man and did not think much of him as a preacher or a man. She recovered herself and returned to the floor to continue taking care of the customers.

A few months later I received an invitation to speak at this Pastor’s church. I preached on this passage of scripture. I emphasized Jesus’ response to the synagogue leader. Jesus called him a hypocrite. How can a minister that works more on Sunday tell others that their jobs should not be done on that day? I did not mention the scene I had witnessed. The pastor and his family were gone that Sunday. I don’t know if he was told about my message. I was not asked to return for a second time. Probably just a coincidence.

Let’s pursue that word hypocrite a little more. It is a transliteration of a Greek word. The word means an actor. A synonym is thespian. It is also defined as a fraud, fake, or deceiver. The modern definition is someone who does not practice what they preach.

The question should be, “Am I a hypocrite?” Yes, I am. I attend a church that is a hospital for hypocrites. The seats are full of them and so is the pulpit. The difference is that we are trying to be healed of that affliction. Unlike the Synagogue leader in this story who was offended by the words of our Lord. His words should inspire and energize us.

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger

A set back that discourages

March 23, 2020

Joshua 8 30 02

Fear is the reason for some of the Israelite’s advantages according to Joshua 5.  While they were being left alone, they celebrated Passover for the first time in their new homeland.  They also took care of the symbol of the Abrahamic covenant, circumcision of every male.  The manna ends when they eat the first of the produce of Canaan during the celebration.

Tomorrow they attack Jericho, but today Joshua meets the commander of Heaven’s armies.  You will notice that he does not tell Joshua that they are for them or against them. This is the army that will conquer Jericho and all of the Canaanite Cities.

Joshua 6 is the story of the destruction of Jericho.  They begin by walking around the city with the priests leading the way and blowing trumpets.  This is the way it happens for six days.  The citizens of Jericho are wondering what is going on.  On day seven they walk around seven times and shout.

At that shout, the walls fall.  Every living thing in the walls is killed except for Rahab and her family that is saved because of her actions to protect the two spies.  Nothing is to be taken by any individual.  The precious metals are gathered for the Lord’s treasury.  The conquest of Canaan has begun.

Have you ever done something that cost others their lives?  In Joshua 7 Achan does just that.  By taking some of the plunder from Jericho, Yahweh is angered against all the Israelites.  When they attack the city of Ai, they are pushed back and thirty-six are killed.  Joshua pleads their cause and God identifies the individual that has disrupted the conquest of their new land.

When confronted with the truth, he confesses.  The judgment is swift and appears to be harsh.  Jehovah wants our obedience.  That is the point.  No excuses and no apologies accepted.  Today we are forgiven of our sins, but we must accept God’s conditions even now.

Ai still must be taken.  Joshua chapter eight tells the story of the second attack.  Joshua sets an ambush behind the city at night.  While a force the size of the first attackers follows the previous scenario as before, the balance of the Israeli army hides.  The troops from Ai follow as before.  When they are defenseless, they are besieged.

The signal is the burning of the city.  Then the retreating force reverses their direction.  The defenders are trapped and turn to see Israelites behind them and their homes on fire.  The plan works perfectly.

Two towns have been destroyed and Joshua builds an altar to worship Yahweh.  The law is written on stones and read to all the people.  The reminders continue.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Be strong and Courageous

March 22, 2020

Strong and Courageous

We begin the first of the books of history in the scriptures. Joshua through Second Kings gives the stories of the rise and fall of the Hebrew nation and culture. Remember we are following this journey chronologically. We will be bouncing around in the different books.

Be strong and courageous is the theme of Joshua 1.  God promises to be with them and defeat those living in the land.  The size and strength of the enemy will not matter.  Joshua gives a three-day warning that they will cross the Jordan.  The fighting men of the Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh will move out with the other Israelites to conquer the land.

This time in Joshua chapter 2 the inhabitants of the promised land are frightened at the thought of being attacked by Israel.  Two spies travel to Jericho and are hidden by a prostitute named Rahab.  In exchange for their safety, they agree to spare her family when the city is destroyed.  She confesses to them that everyone has heard of the crossing of the Red Sea, the defeat of Moab and other miracles that Yahweh has performed.

Do you spread the word of what God has done for you?  Small things can be miracles.  An accident that could have been worse.  Taking a different way of traveling to and from work and hearing of an accident on the usual path is another example.  Just as the stories of the Jews forty years of wandering frightened the Canaanites, our stories can encourage others to accept Christ.

Joshua 3 tells the story of the crossing of the Jordan River.  The differences in this and crossing the Red Sea are interesting.  The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into the water before the stream stops.  Because the Jordan is not a sea, but a flowing river at flood stage, the water piles up on only one side.  Moses raised his hand and the sea parted until all the Israelites had crossed.  This time it is the priests and the Ark that trigger the drying up of the river.

Joshua 4 tells about another difference which is the monument of twelve rocks that are taken from the river.  It would be a reminder of the crossing each time they pass the rock structure.  This miracle helps to establish Joshua as the official leader of the Jews.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger