Sifted and Saved

"For surely I will command, and will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground."

Amos 9:9

The writer of Hebrews reminded believers in chapter 12 not to despise the chastening of the LORD because this shows He is treating us as beloved children.  The children of Israel who entered into a covenant with God were no exception.  Amos revealed to the northern kingdom of Israel judgment was coming for the sins of the nation, but God would preserve those who repented and sought Him.  Even after being taken captive by Assyria and Babylon God would sift the house of Israel from wherever they were scattered to gather them again:  not the smallest grain would be lost.

Sifting isn't a comfortable process.  Grain, chaff, dirt, and other debris were tossed together to separate the grain from all the undesirable material.  C.H. Spurgeon made a great observation concerning the sifting God does with His people to separate them from what is undesirable to Him to sanctify us unto Himself:  "I think I see you, poor believer, tossed about like that wheat, up and down, right and left, in the sieve, and in the air, never resting. Perhaps it is suggested to you, ‘God is very angry with me.’ No, the farmer is not angry with his wheat when he casts it up and down in the sieve, and neither is God angry with you; this you shall see one day when the light shall show that love ruled in all your griefs.”  Times of hardship and upheaval does not mean God is against you, for He loves those who trust Him.  Like the children of Israel sin always has negative consequences for us, but having repented in submission to Jesus we find His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

What confidence we can have God will not leave, forsake, or forget us!  He has sifted His people from among Israel and Gentile nations so we might be one Body with Jesus Christ as our Head.  Romans 10:12-13 says, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  We are like the smallest grain He refuses to waste because God treasures us according to the riches of His grace because we have obtained righteousness by faith in Christ.  Whilst the Amos passage can be applied to the life of believers, Israel still has a special place in God's plans and purposes (see Romans 9-10).  The church has not supplanted Israel whom God compares in many places to His betrothed.   Praise the LORD for His goodness to all who trust in Him!

The Unprofitable but Good Servant

I am often amazed by the depth of insights in God's Word in passages familiar to me.  It is similar to sitting down to assemble a challenging jigsaw puzzle and find myself unable to find the piece I am looking for.  How many times have I walked away from the puzzle to make a tea or grab a snack and seconds after returning find many pieces which fit!  The internal consistency and accuracy of the Bible provides exceptionally strong evidence of its divine origin.

Take the parable Jesus told of the master who gave one mina (worth about 3 month's salary according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary) to ten of his servants and told them, "Do business until I return."  Luke 19:15-16 says, "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'"  The first servant who reported to his master had been most productive.  Undoubtedly he threw himself into his master's business and came away with a sizable profit.  In the hands of this faithful servant the mina had multiplied into ten.

Now had I been this servant who reported on the results of trading almost every sentence I can think of would start with "I":  "I invested the money in gold" or "I earned ten minas."  What would you say of your accomplishment, happy to report concerning your success?  The servant simply said, "Master, your mina has earned ten minas."  This servant completely downplayed his role in investing, trading, working long hours to achieve this good result.  Listening to him it seems the exponential increase had nothing to do with him:  without the money provided by his master he would have nothing.  He remained a servant despite his success, for all he had (and himself besides!) belonged to his master.  More than a savvy businessman, this servant was truly humble.  That's what came through to me.

Luke 19:17 says, "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'"  Is it any surprise the master commended his faithful and humble servant?  The good servant demonstrated rule over management of time and resources, and he who is faithful over little will be faithful over much.  What great virtues are honesty, integrity, and humility, and these God will reward such who walk in obedience to Him.  Proverbs 16:32 says, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."  The servant demonstrated himself faithful with the master's money so the master gave him cities to oversee.  Wise business and wealth management has many benefits, but the humility of the servant is what I covet to see reflected in my life by God's grace.  We cannot blame God for our failure but ought to always honour Him in our success.

Should humility ever be perceived within me, like the good servant I cannot rightly lay claim to it being my doing though it involves effort and sacrifices.  Humility is not my natural inclination or desire.  What Jesus taught in Luke 17:7-10 illustrates this well:  "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? ⁸ But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? ⁹ Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  We couldn't even be slaves except God had purchased us by His grace.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Worship in Secret

During a conversation a friend of mine made a wonderful observation of genuine worship by Gideon who trusted God.  The Bible reveals God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites who oppressed them.  Though he did not feel worthy or even competent to do what God commanded him, he was obedient as God led him step by step.  God was gracious to speak to Gideon and confirmed his calling, and he was emboldened and empowered to take a leadership role.

As the Midianites and Amelekites camped in numbers beyond measure, one night God commanded Gideon to venture into their camp because He had delivered it into Gideon's hand.  God told Gideon if he was afraid to go alone he could bring his servant with him--and he did.  Judges 7:13-15 describes what Gideon and his servant encountered:  "And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed." ¹⁴ Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." ¹⁵ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."

How amazing is this?  In enemy territory and darkness Gideon silently worshiped the LORD.  The Hebrew word translated "worshiped" means "to prostrate, bow down, do reverence, made to stoop."  When he heard the dream of the man and the interpretation which included God delivering Midian into his hand, worship was his reflex.  The text does not tell us Gideon even said a word as he worshiped God, but it was real and received by God who knows the hearts and thoughts of men.  It is good to sing praises unto the LORD and express our gratefulness through words and deeds to extol and glorify Him.  In the secret place of our hearts, having been made holy by faith in Jesus Christ, we find a private and personal temple to honour and worship the almighty God whose presence dwells within us.

Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5-6, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."  Those who are born again can pray to our heavenly Father "who is in the secret place," who created, redeemed, and loves us.  Part of a routine health exam is the testing of knee reflexes:  is the worship of God in the secret place of your heart a regular reflex for you?  In darkness we can worship God in light of His goodness and faithfulness.  In the camp of the enemy we are enabled to celebrate God's triumph and faithfulness--even before the conflict is complete.

Remembrance and Responsibility

Remembrance Day is observed in Australia on 11 November to remember and honour Australians soldiers.  What was once called "Armistice Day" was later called "Remembrance Day" after World War II, and many in Australia pause and observe a minute of silence at 11am to respectfully remember those killed or wounded in warfare.  Though it is not a national holiday from work, it is fitting such sacrifice and bravery be remembered today and for generations to come.  Those who have been granted knowledge also have a responsibility to enlighten their children.  This is a very light burden compared to those who lost family members in war or being a soldier who never lived to have children of their own.

This coupling of remembrance and responsibility is seen when the children of Israel were brought into the promised land by Joshua.  God caused the Hebrews to pass through the Jordan on dry ground and directed 12 men to each carry a large stone from the river to make a memorial.  To be numbered among those who experienced the miracle by God's hand meant there was responsibility to instruct their children of the future generation.  Joshua 4:21-24 says, "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; ²³ for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

God commanded stones be arranged as a memorial so a future generation would know of God's great salvation, deliverance, and faithfulness--and it wasn't to stop there.  Generation after generation of God's people were to be taught of God and His fame was to spread to "all the peoples of the earth," that all would know the mighty hand of God and fear Him forever.  If God's people neglected to teach their children, how would their children know God?  How could all the people of the earth hear of His mighty works?  Memorials or special days do not guarantee the knowledge of God, for Judges 2:10 describes what happened after the death of Joshua and those he commanded:  "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel."  We cannot blame the first generation for the second not knowing the LORD, for how many believers in God have raised their children with the benefits of church who did not fear Him?

Whether or not our children are receptive to the things of God does not release us from our responsibility before God to teach them of Him.  The Joshua passage shows in answering simple questions we can wisely include wisdom from the scriptures as we remind ourselves of the mighty hand of God.  It is not for us to change people or guilt them into church or ministry involvement to please us.  Jesus commanded His followers to receive communion together and "Do this in remembrance of Me."  The death and resurrection of Jesus impacts our lives every day forever, not just on Christmas or Easter.  What humility Jesus showed by taking on human flesh as the only begotten Son of God!  What love He demonstrated for us unworthy sinners by laying down His life on Calvary!  What power over sin and death He displayed when He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father in glory!  We who remember are responsible before God to walk in light of His salvation, redemption, and forgiveness in the fear of the LORD.  If we will not teach our children by Christ's example, who will?