Monthly Archives: January 2023

Grande ante los ojos de Dios – Números 12:1-13

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Los talentosos atletas de nuestro tiempo han llegado a ser héroes. Mohammad Ali se proclamó a sí mismo como el mejor boxeador del mundo. Jim Brown se declara el mejor corredor de la historia del fútbol. Muchos consideran a Michael Jordan como el mejor jugador de baloncesto de su época. Michael Phelps es ampliamente considerado como el mejor nadador de todos los tiempos. Pero estas figuras deportivas eventualmente serán en gran parte olvidadas. También palidecen en comparación con alguien que todavía es recordado como el individuo que el Señor consideró como uno de los más grandes de sus servidores humanos.

Deuteronomio 34:10 rinde homenaje a Moisés diciendo: “Nunca en Israel se levantó otro profeta como Moisés, a quien el SEÑOR conociera cara a cara”. Pero, ¿qué hizo que Moisés fuera tan grande a los ojos de Dios? Hebreos 11:24-26 nos dice que, como un hombre de fe en Jehová, cuando Moisés “llegó” en la casa de Faraón, “rehusó ser llamado hijo de la hija del faraón”. En vez de eso, decidió alinearse con el pueblo de Dios, la nación de Israel. Cuando el Señor llamó a Moisés para que fuera Su instrumento por el cual Él liberaría a Israel de la esclavitud de Egipto, Moisés se consideró indigno. Esto fue principalmente porque “Moisés era un hombre muy manso [o humilde], más manso que todos los hombres que había sobre la faz de la tierra” (Números 12:3). Esta actitud de inadecuación fue, en gran parte, lo que lo calificó para el servicio porque lo ayudó a confiar en el Señor y le dio a Jehová toda la gloria. Como representante de Dios en Israel, siempre que el Señor lo instruye, él consistentemente “llamó a los ancianos del pueblo, y expuso en su presencia todas estas palabras que el SEÑOR le había mandado” (Éxodo 19:7). Él no rehusó la oportunidad de ser el portavoz de Dios, ni añadió o quitó las palabras del Señor. Por lo tanto, Dios describió a Moisés como: “mi siervo… fiel en toda mi casa” (Números 12:7). De hecho, Moisés fue fiel, no solo por un tiempo, sino también por décadas y bajo muchas circunstancias adversas. Finalmente, “… SEÑOR hablaba a Moisés cara a cara, como habla un hombre con su amigo” (Éxodo 33:11). Moisés tuvo una relación regular e íntima con el Señor. Si bien hoy no debemos seguir la Ley de Moisés, debemos tratar de emular las cualidades que hicieron a Moisés grande. Debemos cultivar la humildad genuina, una interacción íntima con Dios en la oración, la disposición a servirlo, el cuidado de su Palabra y la fidelidad durante los años.

Paz con Dios, acceso a Dios y esperanza de gloria

Posted on by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Según Rom. 4:25, Cristo fue entregado a la muerte por nuestros pecados y luego resucitó de entre los muertos porque había saldado completamente nuestra deuda. Los resultados de esta poderosa obra de redención son verdaderamente maravillosos para reflexionar.

Primero, significa para todo creyente en Cristo, que “justificados por la fe, tenemos paz para con Dios” (Rom. 5:1). Si Cristo pagó por nuestros pecados y se eliminó la barrera entre Dios y nosotros, ¿por qué no debemos disfrutar de la paz con Dios? ¿Por qué no deberíamos levantarnos por la mañana, hacer nuestro trabajo durante el día y retirarnos por la noche con la plena confianza de que todo está bien; que estamos en paz con Dios y que Él nos ama como a los suyos?

Pero más: el versículo 2 continúa diciendo que por Cristo también tenemos “acceso por la fe a esta gracia en la cual estamos firmes”. Si la barrera del pecado ha sido removida y estamos en paz con Dios, ¿qué hay para mantenernos fuera de Su presencia, especialmente cuando Él mismo nos invita a “acercarnos confiadamente al trono de la gracia, para alcanzar misericordia y hallar gracia para el socorro en tiempos de necesidad”? (Hebreos 4:16). ¡Qué maravilloso tener una posición ante Dios en gracia! ¡estar en paz con Él y disfrutar de libre acceso a Su presencia por fe!

Pero aún hay más. El creyente en Cristo no solo disfruta de la paz con Dios y del acceso a Dios, sino que, como dice este mismo versículo: “Nos gloriamos en la esperanza de la gloria de Dios”. “Esperanza” en la Biblia es, por supuesto, más que un deseo. Es una anticipación ansiosa de cosas maravillosas por venir. Heb. 6:19 dice: “La cual esperanza tenemos como ancla del alma, tanto segura como firme”. El hombre siempre ha tenido miedo de la gloria de Dios. Cuando la gloria del Señor brilló alrededor de los pastores de Judea, “tuvieron gran temor”. Esto se debió a que “todos pecaron y están destituidos de la gloria de Dios” (Romanos 3:23). Pero el creyente en Cristo más simple puede regocijarse con la anticipación de compartir la gloria de Dios algún día.

The Seriousness of Sin – Leviticus 4-5

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

One only has to listen to the local or national news to realize we are living in a sin-sick world. In America, those who are caught in major crimes usually face serious jail time. Other countries impose far more severe consequences for sinful behavior. For in- stance, in Saudi Arabia, the death penalty is imposed for “…murder…adultery, drug smuggling, and…under certain conditions [for] rape and armed robbery.” Executions are carried out by beheading, firing squad, or stoning, in order to deter these serious sins.

We agree with A. W. Tozer who once wrote, “No one has ever overstated the seriousness of the sin question.” Throughout Scripture, the Lord continually seeks to impress upon His children how grievously heinous all sin is in the sight of God. After Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden with the consequences of pain in childbirth, sustenance through the sweat of the brow, and eventual physical death. Later, Israel was given an intricate system of animal sacrifice to temporarily cover sins (Leviticus 4:27-31; 5:7-15). The guilty party laid their hands on the head of an innocent animal-therein symbolically transferring one’s guilt in sin upon the bullock, goat, or turtledove that was to be sacrificed. Its throat was slit, or it’s neck wrung, suffering as it died. Some of the blood of this innocent animal was smeared on the horns of the altar; and the remainder of the blood was poured out at the base of the altar. Then the animal was burnt on an altar with the aroma permeating the area. The animal paid the ultimate price; bearing the consequence of the guilty party’s sin. Only then would the guilty one have his sins “forgiven him.” All of this pictured the Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth for sinful mankind that He might become “the Lamb of God, which taketh way the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As His flesh was torn and His lifeblood was shed for our sins, He became what Isaiah 53:10 describes as “…an offering for [our] sin.”

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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


La severidad del pecado – Levítico 4-5

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Uno solo tiene que escuchar las noticias locales o nacionales para darse cuenta de que vivimos en un mundo enfermo de pecado. En los Estados Unidos, aquellos que son atrapados en crímenes mayores usualmente enfrentan un tiempo de cárcel serio. Otros países imponen consecuencias mucho más graves para el comportamiento pecaminoso. Por ejemplo, en Arabia Saudita, la pena de muerte se impone por “… asesinato … adulterio, tráfico de drogas y … bajo ciertas condiciones [por] violación y robo a mano armada” .1 Las ejecuciones se llevan a cabo por decapitación, fusilamiento o lapidación, todo esto para disuadir estos pecados graves.

Estamos de acuerdo con A. W. Tozer, quién una vez escribió: “Nadie ha exagerado nunca la seriedad de los Pecados”.2 A lo largo de las Escrituras, el Señor continuamente busca impresionar a Sus hijos, mostrando cuán nefasto es todo pecado a los ojos de Dios. Después de que Adán y Eva pecaron, fueron expulsados ​​del Jardín del Edén con las consecuencias del dolor en el parto, el sustento a través del sudor de la frente y la eventual muerte física. Más tarde, a Israel se le dio un intrincado sistema de sacrificio de animales para cubrir temporalmente los pecados (Levítico 4:27-31; 5:7-15). El culpable colocaba sus manos sobre la cabeza de un animal inocente, transfiriendo simbólicamente la culpa de su pecado al buey, la cabra o la tórtola que iban a ser sacrificados. Le cortaban la garganta o le estrujaban el cuello y el animal sufría mientras moría. Parte de la sangre de este animal inocente estaba manchada en los cuernos del altar; y el resto de la sangre era derramada en la base del altar. Luego el animal era quemado en un altar, mientras que el aroma impregnaba el área. El animal había pagado el precio final; recibiendo la consecuencia del pecado del culpable. Solo entonces el culpable tendría sus pecados “perdonados”. Todo esto fue representado por el Señor Jesucristo, quien vino a la tierra por la humanidad pecaminosa para convertirse en “el Cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo” (Juan 1:29). Cuando su carne se rasgó y su sangre vital fue derramada por nuestros pecados, se convirtió en lo que Isaías 53:10 describe como “[un] sacrificio por [nuestra] la culpa”.

Nuestra sociedad minimiza el pecado con excusas, negándolo o racionalizándolo al decir: “Nadie es perfecto”. Pero todo pecado es atroz ante Dios. ¿Podemos nosotros, que conocemos al Señor elegir ver todo el pecado como serio, inaceptable e inexcusable? Entonces, podemos seguir buscando vivir separados del pecado a través del poder de Dios.

Choosing a Leader – Genesis 12:1-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

In a speech to West Point cadets following the Persian Gulf War, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf put into perspective not only our strength in the military but also our strength in business, church, and family. Addressing the young men and women who will play a leading role in our country’s military future, Schwarzkopf said: “In the final analysis, you should never forget that the airplanes don’t fly, the tanks don’t run, the ships don’t sail, the missiles don’t fire, unless the sons and daughters of America make them do it. It’s just that simple.”

Good leaders are hard to find, particularly when one does not know what specific qualities to look for. However, the Lord knows what He is looking for. In the early history of man, our ancestors became so vile that they no longer wanted to retain the knowledge of God in their minds (Romans 1:28). Rather than allow the entire race of man to plummet into eternal punishment, the Lord intervened. He chose one man, Abraham, through whom He would create a nation, Israel, who would be His undeniable testimony to the world, and through whom He would send our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But why did the Lord choose Abraham? The prophet Nehemiah gives us the answer saying, “Thou art the Lord God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur…And foundest his heart faithful before thee…” (Nehemiah 9:7-8). Abraham had a faithful heart to believe whatever God told him and to act in immediate obedience. When God promised to make from his seed a great nation through whom He could bring blessing to the entire world, Abram took God at His Word. He obediently “departed” from the heathen in his family to journey to a promised land yet unspecified (Genesis 12:1-4). After years of Sarah bearing no children, he enquired of the Lord how and when God would fulfill His previous promise. In response, the Lord confirmed that Abraham’s seed with Sarah would become as the stars without number. “And he believed the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Proper candidates to be used as God’s servants must cultivate a similar faithful heart to believe whatever God says, hold His Word as their final authority in all matters, and proceed in obedience. God is looking for a few good men and women. Will you choose to be one of them?

Free Mail Subscription

Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Seleccionar un líder – Génesis 12:1-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

En un discurso a los cadetes de West Point después de la Guerra del Golfo Pérsico, el general H. Norman Schwarzkopf puso en perspectiva no solo nuestra fortaleza en el ejército sino también nuestra fortaleza en los negocios, la iglesia y la familia. Dirigiéndose a los hombres y mujeres jóvenes que desempeñarían un papel de liderazgo en el futuro militar de nuestro país, Schwarzkopf dijo: “En el análisis final, nunca se debe olvidar que los aviones no vuelan, los tanques no funcionan, los barcos no navegan y los misiles no se disparan a menos que los hijos e hijas de América los hagan hacerlo. Es así de simple”.1

Los buenos líderes son difíciles de encontrar, particularmente cuando uno no sabe qué cualidades específicas buscar. Sin embargo, el Señor sabe lo que está buscando. En la historia primitiva del hombre, nuestros antepasados ​​se volvieron tan viles que ya no deseaban retener el conocimiento de Dios en sus mentes (Romanos 1:28). En lugar de permitir que toda la raza humana cayera en un castigo eterno, el Señor intervino. Eligió a un hombre, Abraham, a través del cual Él crearía una nación, Israel, que sería su testimonio indiscutible del mundo, y por medio de la cual enviaría a nuestro Salvador, el Señor Jesucristo. Pero, ¿por qué el Señor eligió a Abraham? El profeta Nehemías nos da la respuesta que dice: “Tú eres, oh SEÑOR, el Dios que escogiste a Abraham. Lo sacaste de Ur … Y cumpliste tu palabra porque tú eres justo” (Nehemías 9:7-8). Abraham tenía un corazón fiel, por lo que creía en la palabra de Dios y actuaba con obediencia inmediata. Cuando Dios prometió hacer de su simiente una gran nación a través de la cual podría bendecir al mundo entero, Abram tomó la Palabra de Dios. Él obedientemente “se fue”, alejándose de los paganos en su familia para viajar a una tierra prometida pero no especificada (Génesis 12:1-4). Después de que pasaran años sin que Sara pudiera tener hijos, él le preguntó al Señor cómo y cuándo Dios cumpliría con su promesa anterior. En respuesta, el Señor confirmó que la simiente de Abraham con Sara llegaría a ser como las en el firmamento. “Él creyó al SEÑOR, y le fue contado por justicia” (Génesis 15:6) Los candidatos apropiados para ser utilizados como siervos de Dios deben cultivar un corazón fiel y creyente en la Palabra de Dios, deben mantener la Palabra como su autoridad final en todos los asuntos, y proceder en obediencia. Dios está buscando hombres y mujeres buenos. ¿Quieres ser uno de ellos?

El valor de las aflicciones

Posted on by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Cuando era niño, una forma popular de insultar a un compañero de clase era decir: “Cuando Dios estaba repartiendo cerebros, ese niño pensó que había dicho ‘dolores’ y se escondió detrás de la puerta”. Seamos realistas, ¡a ninguno de nosotros le gusta sufrir dolores, aflicciones o tribulaciones! Debido a esto, el pueblo de Dios a menudo se puede encontrar de rodillas detrás de la puerta, pidiéndole a Dios que los proteja de estas cosas desagradables, o que las elimine una vez que se conviertan en parte de sus vidas.

¡Y sin embargo, el abrumador testimonio de las Escrituras es que las aflicciones son buenas para nosotros! Considere solo este pequeño puñado de versículos que describen el valor espiritual de las aflicciones:

“Y estando en la angustia, oró a Jehová su Dios, y se humilló grandemente delante del Dios de sus padres” (II Crónicas 33:12).

“Antes de ser afligido andaba descarriado; pero ahora he guardado Tu Palabra… Bueno es para mí ser afligido; para que aprenda tus estatutos” (Sal. 119:67,71).

Cuando el pueblo de Dios no está afligido, tiende a olvidarlo. Hablando del pueblo de Israel, Dios dijo:

“…cuando los hube alimentado hasta saciarse, cometieron adulterio” (Jeremías 5:7).

“Según su pasto, así se saciaron; fueron saciados, y su corazón se enalteció; por eso se han olvidado de mí” (Oseas 13:6).

Hablando de Dios y Jesurún (Israel), Moisés dijo:

“Él le hizo… comer del fruto de los campos… chupar miel de la peña, y aceite del duro pedernal; Mantequilla de vacas y leche de ovejas, con grasa de corderos… Pero Jesurún engordó y coceó… luego dejó al Dios que lo había creado, y menospreció la Roca de su salvación” (Deut. 32:13-15).

Cuando Dios nos habla en ausencia de aflicciones, tendemos a no escuchar:

“Te hablé en tu prosperidad; mas tú dijiste: No oiré” (Jeremías 22:21).

¡Hay algo acerca de las aflicciones que nos acercan más a Dios! Con razón Pablo dijo, “nos gloriamos en las tribulaciones” (Romanos 5:3), “sabiendo que la tribulación produce paciencia; y paciencia, experiencia; y la experiencia, la esperanza” (v. 4). Una vez que aprendemos que la gracia de Dios es suficiente para todas nuestras necesidades, podemos decir con Pablo:

“Por eso me complazco en las debilidades, en los vituperios, en las necesidades… por amor de Cristo: porque cuando soy débil, entonces soy fuerte” (II Cor. 12:9,10).

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Posted on by Pastor Kevin Sadler

“And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

“And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver” (2 Kings 6:24-25).

In the days of the prophet Elisha’s life and ministry, the king of Syria, Ben-hadad II, mobilized his entire army and conducted a large, full-scale invasion of Israel. The Syrians were so successful that they penetrated far into the land of Israel and put Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, under siege. Inside Samaria were the king of Israel and all of the elders of the city. This would be something like laying siege to Washington, D.C., with the President and all of Congress trapped inside the city.

Daily Life in a Besieged City

The Syrians surrounded the city and prevented all business and trade from entering or leaving the city. No one dared to leave it, just as no one dared to enter it, without being captured or put to death. By cutting off the city from all its supplies and necessities, eventually the population would be starved into surrender.

And we learn from verse 25 that the stranglehold of the siege resulted in desperate starvation gripping Samaria. When we are really hungry we might say, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!” Throughout history, however, people have become much more desperate than that in their hunger. And we see such conditions for the residents of Samaria during this siege.

A donkey was an unclean animal according to the law of Moses and was not to be eaten under any conditions. But those in Samaria were so desperate for food that they ignored the law, and a donkey’s head, one of the least nourishing, most repulsive, and cheapest parts of this animal, became a highly valued commodity, selling for eighty shekels, or around two pounds of silver. Not only that, but “the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung” sold “for five pieces of silver” (2 Kings 6:25). Dove’s dung, or bird excrement, would of course not have been clean to eat either. And a half pint of dove droppings sold for five shekels or two ounces of silver.

The king of Israel, King Jehoram, blamed the prophet Elisha for the plight of Samaria and for failing to do anything to relieve the situation. And so the king vowed to kill Elisha (2 Kings 6:26-31). However, when the king came to Elisha’s house, Elisha prophesied that, within 24 hours, God would completely reverse the situation in Samaria.

“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria” (2 Kings 7:1).

Elisha told the king the word of the Lord that, miraculously, the famine would end in one day. Supplies would then be plentiful; there would be both barley and fine wheat flour, which would be sold for remarkably low prices the very next day: seven quarts of flour would sell for one shekel, as would fourteen quarts of barley.

Do or Die

“And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

“If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

“Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

“Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household” (2 Kings 7:3-9).

The scene shifts from inside the city to four lepers just outside the gates of Samaria. Ordinary people of the city were suffering from hunger, and these four, sick men were suffering even more. They were outcasts who were shut out of the city because of their disease, and they were likely beggars who relied on charity. They were dying, not only from the rotting of their flesh, but also from starvation. No one in Samaria had any food to share with them. These men were in an exceedingly desperate situation, and so they decided to take desperate measures.

The four men talked amongst themselves and reasoned that if they tried to go into the city, they would die, because there was no food there. If they stayed at the gate and did nothing, they would die, because no one in the city had enough food to share with them. If they took their chances and went to the Syrians, they might die there too, but it would be better to die quickly from the sword than to die slowly from hunger and starvation. But if they went to the Syrians, who knows, they might find some pity; the Syrians might feed them so they could live.

Having weighed all their options, they concluded that they had nothing to lose by going to the Syrian camp where there was plenty of food. Their thinking was that it was better to die trying! Thus, they all agreed to go to the Syrians and beg for mercy.

Early the next morning while it was twilight, they arose and headed out to the Syrians. Now put yourself in the sandals of one of these men for a moment. As they approached the Syrian camp, they saw the tents from a distance. As they got nearer, they saw the horses and donkeys, still tied up, but they did not see any guards; in fact, they didn’t see so much as even one, single, solitary Syrian.

They continued to make their way into the camp cautiously.

Campfires were still burning. It’s quiet—too quiet. After they finally came to the far side of the silent camp, one of them worked up the courage to pull back the flap of one of the tents. They all peeked inside, but no one was there. But inside that tent were
great treasures of food, drink, clothing, gold, and silver. And within the entire camp there was great abundance. These lepers looked at each other and realized, “We’ve struck it rich!”

An Alarming Sound

Verse 6 tells us the reason that the Syrian camp was empty:

“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host….”

In the account immediately preceding this one, God had enabled Elisha’s servant to SEE the great host of the Lord on the mountain of Dothan: the horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17). Here in Samaria, we find that God enabled the Syrian army to HEAR unseen, supernatural chariots of fire and horses.

In the early morning light, hearing the sounds of onrushing horse’s hooves, on-coming chariot wheels, and the marching of a massive force of foot soldiers near the camp terrified the Syrians. The volume and intensity of the sounds made them believe that the advancing army was even greater than theirs. And the only army this large was that of the Egyptians, or the Hittites, or perhaps even both, and so the Syrians thought that the king of Israel had hired them (2 Kings 7:6).

There was no time to calmly assess the situation or organize a response. Alarmed at the sound and thought of a massive military force descending on them, all the Syrians panicked, ran, scattered, “and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life” (v. 7).

Not long after that, four lepers wandered into the camp. After finding it completely deserted, they did what all starving men would have done: they went into a tent and ate until they were stuffed. After their meal, they looted the tent of its wealth, carrying out its silver, gold, and raiment, and then they went and hid it. Then they went to a second tent and spoiled it as well and again hid what they gathered (v.8). But there was so much, there was no way they could possibly gather and hide it all.

An Attack of Conscience

“Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace…” (2 Kings 7:9).

The four lepers stopped to have another conference to assess their situation. They realized that, while they were stuffing themselves with food and gathering up wealth in this abandoned camp, the people back in the city were suffering and starving. It was
only right that they return to the city and share the good news with the people. They understood that to remain silent and selfishly enjoy this blessing would be wrong. They had a responsibility to share the good, lifesaving news with others.

“So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were” (2 Kings 7:10).

The lepers returned to the gates of Samaria, where they called out to the “porter of the city” (v. 10), or the gatekeeper, and told the good news that the camp of the Syrians had been abandoned. The gatekeepers then passed this report on to the king’s house (v.  1).

The king, however, was suspicious that this was a trap. He reasoned that the Syrians, knowing that Samaria was starving, had retreated and were hiding nearby in the fields, just waiting for the people of Samaria to come out of the city, where the Syrians could fall upon them, kill them, and invade the city (v. 12). From a military point of view, this was a very logical and reasonable suspicion, but the king did not connect the good news with Elisha’s prophecy of plenty on the previous day.

Elisha’s Prophecy Fulfilled

At the advice of one of his counselors, the king sent out scouts (vv. 13-14) and, to their amazement, they found the camp empty. They then followed the Syrians’ escape route all the way to the Jordan River, 25 miles away, and found the ground littered along the way with the clothing and equipment that the army discarded as they fled. They then returned to Samaria and reported to the king (v. 15).

The people of the city immediately went out and plundered the tents. They found an abundance of food to eat and to sell back in the city so that, as a result,

“…a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord” (v. 16).

Elisha’s prophecy from the Lord that food would be plentiful and cheap for the people of Samaria the very next day, as incredible and far-fetched as it seemed, was fulfilled exactly as he said, because God is faithful to His Word. And God, in His perfect wisdom, used those who had come to destroy Israel to be the very means of her deliverance.

God dealt bountifully with Israel here on the basis of His mercy and grace. It was not that the people of Samaria deserved anything from God. In fact, their oppression at the hands of the Syrians was the just consequence of their unbelief and rebellion against God and His law. They deserved judgment. But in spite of their sinfulness and disobedience, God brought about a mighty deliverance.

Our Mighty Deliverance

Like those in Samaria, we are all sinners who have rebelled against God and His law, and are deserving of His judgment (Rom. 3:10,23). Much as those Israelites were trapped in a desperate situation and were dying, so we are trapped in a desperate situation in our sins (Eph. 2:1). But God, by His grace and mercy, has provided a mighty deliverance and has given His Son to die for us that we might be saved from our sins and find life in Him. God, in His perfect wisdom, used what would have destroyed us—sin and death—to be the very means of our deliverance: Christ became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21), and in dying for our sins and rising again, He saves those who believe.

In Samaria’s desperate situation, God provided a miraculous rescue, but no one in Samaria knew about it. They thought they were still trapped within their city walls. But four men knew the truth that they could be free. Like the four lepers, we who have trusted Christ have already learned and experienced the benefits, freedom, and bounty of God’s deliverance from sin. And, like the lepers, we must realize something very important: now we have a message to deliver.

The lepers “said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace” (2 Kings 7:9). In other words, “We have good news; we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves!” Those four men knew that the enemy had been defeated. They knew that the people in the city could be saved. They knew that people who were starving did not need to die. And they knew they should not keep such an amazing, lifesaving message to themselves.

We are just like those four men in that we also have a lifesaving message of good news that we should not keep to ourselves. We say to sinners, “Our enemies, sin and death, have been defeated. You can be saved by Christ!” We say to those who are dying in their sins, “You can live in Christ!” We say to those who are spiritually starving, “There is bread enough and to spare through the Bread of life and trusting His finished work.”

When the king of Israel was told about the abandoned camp and Samaria’s deliverance, he was skeptical and thought that there must be a catch. Likewise,
with many whom we tell about salvation in Christ by faith alone in Him, we get a skeptical response. They think if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But it is the truth of God’s Word to just trust Christ alone and receive deliverance from our sins and have life eternal.

When we discover God’s salvation in Christ, we find spiritual abundance. We have abundance in Christ entirely by the grace of God. We who have believed have experienced the riches of God’s grace, and God wants us to tell others about the rich blessings of grace, hope, and forgiveness that are in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14).

Leprosy is a picture of sin in the Bible. The lepers were outcasts, poor, beggars, and they were dying. They had no resources and nothing to offer anyone. They are a picture of the spiritual condition of all sinners outside of Christ, separated from God. These men realized that, if they did nothing, they would perish. Their only hope was to go and ask for mercy.

Likewise, as a sinner, if you do nothing, you will perish in your sins. Your only hope is to go to Christ to receive mercy (Titus 3:5). If you do, and you trust Him as your Savior, you will find life, provision, deliverance, and abundance of blessing in Him.

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An Unblemished Record – Genesis 6:9

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Among the most important places to have an unblemished record is in the American political arena. Over recent decades, winning an election has become less about the issues in one’s political platform than it is about the amount of mudslinging hurled at a rival. Consequently, candidates have had to drop out of primary races for the Senate or President of the United States, and many have lost the election when their personal or political conduct has been exposed.

In a Christian’s daily walk with the Lord, the need for an unblemished record is just as important. The Lord’s description of Noah was that he “… was a just man and perfect in his generations” (Genesis 6:9). The word “just” means lawful or righteous;1 and the word “perfect” means without blemish, complete, full, sincere, without spot, or undefiled.2 The Lord was not saying Noah was completely sinless. No one other than the Lord Jesus Christ lived entirely apart from sin. The Lord was saying Noah had an unblemished re- cord of devotion to Him, apart from heinous sins, as he consistently “walked with God.” In every dispensation, those who had “the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13) were given a positional standing of perfection. Hebrews 10:14 describes it this way: “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Likewise, I Corinthians 2:6 refers to believers when it says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect…” While we are thankful for this secure standing with God, the Lord also urges believers to maintain a practice of righteous conduct. The “Almighty God” told Abram, “…walk before Me and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). Recognizing this divine expectation, the Apostle Paul’s testimony was: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that… for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). In other words, Abram was being urged to genuinely consecrate himself in devotion to the Lord apart from unrighteousness; and Paul was saying he was sincerely pursuing a consistent, godly walk with the Lord.

But how can anyone realistically achieve a life that the Lord would characterize as “perfect”? A perfect walk before the Lord is not sinlessness. It is a mature spiritual walk in genuine devotion and obedience to the Lord. It is rooted in a daily walk with God that chooses to be transformed by His Word, having regular time in prayer, and surrounding ourselves with fellowship that encourages godliness. Make the decision today to intentionally pursue perfection.

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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."