Today, we reach Day #40 in our "Counting the Omer" devotional series.
In our previous devotional book, River & Streams in the Desert ~ The Forty Forties of Scripture (A Repentance Devotional (by Westbow Press), it stated:
"I don't know about you, but this devotional study has given me a new and deep understanding of what "40"
really symbolizes in scripture. It's almost as if, in the spiritual world, once we reach the
"40"
mark it's..."GAME ON!"'
I think most people, even those who would not consider themselves biblical scholars, would easily recognize that
"40"
represents a wilderness experience in the scriptures. There were
40
days and 40 nights of raining Judgment in Noah's day. There were
40
years of the Israelites trekking through the desert. Jesus fasted for
40
days in the wilderness to resist the devil's temptations. At the END of any
40
period, it is the completion of that trial and testing. A new day dawns in which those who endure are rewarded with God's fulfilled promises and the promised land.
So why do most people hate the desert experience? For those of us experiencing a testing period, we usually can't wait to get to the end of it. We want to "rush" through God's process of crucifying the carnal flesh. Instead we need to view it as God sees it: a time of purification, a time of refinement. He is working on His Master Peace.
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
~ Hebrews 12:11 (Berean Study Bible)
Since the Fall, all of creation and mankind have been in an inexorable march towards a state of decline. God created a perfect world...harmony and order out of chaos. It seems mankind is intent on rushing headlong back into the chaotic void. We can see this slow deterioration even in our own bodies as we age. However, there is a marked difference in scripture between "hurrying" and "rushing."
I studied out these two words in the Bible: "Hurry" and "Rush". At first glance, you might expect to find that the meanings are relatively similar. Interestingly, "hurry" in the Bible is more often associated with Godly pursuits while "rush" connotes evil folly. For example, the Bible tells us to "hurry" in the following examples:
Hurry out of Sodom and Gomorrah (sinful state).
~ Genesis 19:22
Hurry out of Egypt (bondage/servitude/reliance on man's government)
~ Exodus 12:33
Hurry to sacrifice pleasing offerings to God (prayer, service, worship)
~ Genesis 18:7; 1 Samuel 9:12
Hurry to confront evil (Goliaths in your life)
~ 1 Samuel 17:48
Hurry to give God's message to STOP OPPOSING Him (prophetic message)
~ 2 Chronicles 35:21
Hurry to a place of shelter under God's protection
~ Psalm 55:8
Hurry away from an evil law/decree (so appropriate today in America)
~ Matthew 2:13
Hurry God!...have a burning desire for God's help to come.
~ Psalm 71:12
My personal favorite!:
Hurry to the assembly of atonement (Corporate REPENTANCE!)
~ Numbers 16:46
...and God saved the best for last:
Hurry to reach the Day of Pentecost (fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit)
~ Acts 20:16
The Day of Pentecost comes after Day #50 of Counting the Omer!
"Rush" on the other hand is found in verses like this:
This are six things the Lord hates,
Seven that are detestable to him:
Haughty eyes,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked schemes,
Feet that are quick to
RUSH into evil.
A false witness who pours our lies
And a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
~ Proverbs 6:16-19
Here's another verse about "rushing." It is in reference to pigs RUSHING headlong into destruction:
He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, RUSHED down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. ~ Mark 5:13
I believe Jesus told Judas to do his "dirty work" quickly because He knew it HAD to happen. This release of evil HAD to precede a God-ordained Masterful work of Redemption. God does not tempt anyone. They are tempted by their own evil inclinations. God simply allows them the free will to rush into evil or hurry to do God's work. If someone chooses evil "rushing," He will still use it for His Sovereign Plan to bring His Glory. The only question is: will we rush and end up like Judas or hurry to do God's will?
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
~ James 1:13
Judas had already tempted by his own desires to make this evil choice. God was simply, in effect, saying..."now get it over with so we can see the Glory of God despite your evil plan."
And when Judas had taken the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, "What you are about to do, do quickly."
~John 13:27 (Berean Study Bible)
With the current slate of spiritual leaders and political candidates worldwide that seem more Socialist and Marxist with each passing day, we can say like Christ said to Judas: "Go ahead and rush to do what you are already hell-bent on doing." Like pigs to their own slaughter, they go ahead and follow their evil inclinations of betrayal. THEN will we see the Glory of God.
The Christian Church has precious little time to waste. Drop the mega-building programs, forget the vain-glorious spotlight and arm your battle stations. As gun rights are beginning to be removed from the public square, we are to pick up the spiritual warfare weapon that is closest to us. If you preach, then use the pulpit. If you are a gifted writer, then sound the alarm by social media. If you are financially able, donate to those on the front lines. Anyone can take some time to pray outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic.
So, to you and me and the entire Church...HURRY UP AND DIE ALREADY!
~ Hurry up and die to selfishness
~ Hurry up and die to cheap grace preaching
~ Hurry up and die to false prosperity preaching
~ Hurry up and die to watered down, man-pleasing religion
~ Hurry up and die to heresy
~ Hurry up and die to growing apostasy
THERE IS GOING TO BE MUCH WORK TO DO AND MORE WORK TO COME.
Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest."
~Matthew 9:37-38
For the evil-minded politicians who are redefining democratic nations into Marxist States by removing our Judeo-Christian Heritage and our God-given rights:
WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO...DO IT QUICKLY.
Then we will see the Glory of God made manifest.
Prayer:
