Thought for September 17

 History:

  • 1394: Jews expelled from France
  • 1683: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek reports the existence of bacteria
  • 1717: First synod of the Presbyterian Church in America
  • 1787: Constitution signed by delegates at Philadelphia
  • 1849: Harriet Tubman escapes slavery
  • 1862: Battle of Antietam--22,000 killed, wounded or missing
  • 1873: 19 students attend opening class at Ohio State
  • 1900: Commonwealth of Australia proclaimed
  • 1916: The Red Baron wins first aerial combat
  • 1920: 12 teams pay $100 each to join the American Professional Football Association--became NFL in 1922
  • 1950: 49ers play first NFL game--lose 21-17
  • 1954: William Golding publishes "Lord of the Flies"
  • 1963: "The Fugitive" premiers
  • 1972: "MASH" debuts
  • 1980: Solidarity movement founded in Poland
  • 1989: Hurricane Hugo begins sweep through Caribbean
  • 2010: Final episode of "As the World Turns" after 54 years
  • Born: Friedrich von Steuben [leader of the Continental Army], Leon Foucault [pendulum], JW Marriott, Warren Burger, Hank Williams, Roddy McDowall, Stirling Moss, Anne Bancroft, Maureen Connolly [1st woman to win Grand Slam], Phil Jackson, John Ritter, Wile E. Coyote [debut], Jimmie Johnson, Alexander Ovechkin, Patrick Mahomes,  
  • Died: Dred Scott, Charles Pillsbury, Laura Ashley, Spiro Agnew, Red Skelton, George Hamilton IV, Cokie Roberts, 
Thought:
Today I am focused on Joshua 9:14--So the men of Israel took some of their provisions and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. 

You know the story of the Gibeonites. They lived in the land of conquest, but when they heard about Jericho and Ai, they devised a scheme to trick the Israelites. They put on old torn clothes, got some stale bread and old ragged wine skins and came to Joshua at Gilgal. Joshua asked if they lived in the country and they denied it saying they came from a long distance to make a covenant and be servants because of the fame of the God of Israel. The men of Israel believed their eyes and their ears and failed to ask the Lord. They made a covenant with the Gibeonites in violation of God's orders to drive out all the people in the land. 

This story is a reminder to me to always pray and seek the counsel of the Lord before making decisions. The world tries to deceive believers and presents things that trick our eyes and say things that deceive our ears. Satan is a liar and there is no truth in him. We are told that the righteous shall live by faith and not by sight. We are to base our decisions on God's truth, His promises, His word. When we lack wisdom, He calls us to ask and promises that He will grant us wisdom. He has warned us that the world's ways are not His ways and the world's thoughts are not His thoughts. 

So the world comes to us with promises about what will make us happy, satisfied, content. The world comes and tells us what is important, what it takes to get ahead, what it takes to get along. Notice what the people from Gibeon brought to give to Israel--stale bread that was crumbling, wine sacks that were leaking. Just like the promises of the world--things that will not satisfy or nourish us. The Old Testament prophets called them broken cisterns--Jeremiah 2:13-- they look like cisterns, but they cannot hold water. 

Today, go to God for wisdom, consult Him for guidance and direction. Do not rely on your human senses. The world and the prince of the power of the air are trying to deceive you. 

Blessings
Larry

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