Judges 13-16

Those who are familiar with the Bible know the story of Samson will know he is all about second chances.  Samson loved beautiful women and they were his downfall.  But God gave Samson a second chance to save Israel from the Philistines.  Here is his story.  It is written in first person.  Scripture quoted in this story is from the New Living Translation and is in italics.

Samson’s Story

My parents struggled to conceive me until one day angel of the Lord appeared to my mother and said  “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. 5You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”   

My mother went to my father and told him what the angel said.  She told my father the angel was frightening to look at, so she knew he was from the Lord.  My parents wanted more instructions so my father prayed the Lord would send the angel back.  And the Lord answered my father’s prayer.  The angel came back and appeared to my mother again.  My father was out in our fields plowing so my mother went to get him so my father could also question the angel.

My father asked the angel “Are you the man who spoke to my wife the other day?”  “Yes,” he replied, “I am.”  “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”  13The angel of the Lord replied, “Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her. 14She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food.”

Then my father asked the angel to stay while he prepared a goat for the angel to eat.  The angel said he would not eat but for my father to offer the goat as a sacrifice to the Lord.  Then my father asked “What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you.”18“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”

So, my father offered the goat and some grain as an offering to the Lord.  When my father set the fire for the offering the flames shot up toward Heaven and the angel went up in the flames.  My father was so frightened he thought they were going to die.  But my mother, in her usual common sense, said if God were going to kill them, He would have already. 

Soon my mother became pregnant.  She was careful not to eat or drink any of the things the angel told not to eat or drink.  When I was born, she named me Samson.  The Lord was with me and I had unusual strength.

The Riddle

The Philistines were always tormenting Israel.  We as a nation had started worshiping the gods of the nations around us.  The Lord allowed the Philistines to oppress us for forty years. Finally, Israel realized they had sinned against God and cried out for God to save them.  According to my parents I was going to save Israel. 

When I was twenty years old, I visited the town of Timnah.  I saw a beautiful young woman there who I fell in love with instantly.  The problem was she was a Philistine, but I did not care.  I found out who she was and that she was still single.  The way she looked at me I knew she loved me back.  Little did I know back then how wrong I was.  I was so lovesick I went home and told my parents I wanted to marry her.  They tried to reason with me, they hoped I would marry an Israelite woman, but I insisted so my father arranged with the woman’s father for us to marry. 

The day arrived for my parents and I to go down to Timnah to meet the girl and arrange for the wedding.   As we near Timnah my parents went ahead to talk to the girl’s parents.  I saw a lion by the Timnah’s vineyard, and I killed it.  I grabbed the lion by the mouth as it was roaring at me and pulled its jaw apart until it died.  I did not know my own strength.  I felt the Spirit of the Lord come upon me before I killed the lion.  I am not sure how my parent will react to this, so I am not going to tell them.

I finally got to sit down and talk to the girl I want to marry.  She is so beautiful and perfect.  Everything is wonderful and I cannot wait for the wedding.  It is all arranged.  We will come back in two months for the wedding.

When we returned to Timnah wandered off to the vineyard and saw the carcass of the lion I killed.  Apparently, a swarm of bees had made honey in the carcass.  I reached in a took some of the honeycombs.  It was so sweet, just like my bride to be.  I went on to catch up with my parents and gave them some of the honey.  They said it was some of the best honey they had ever tasted. 

My parents went to meet with the bride’s parents to make the final arrangements.  The wedding was just eight days away.  In the meantime, I threw a party at the home we were staying at.  The bride’s parents selected thirty young men to be my companions during the week before the wedding. 

I said to the thirty young men “Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing. 13But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.”  They all had been drinking and a little drunk so I thought I would have some fun with them, after all they were the hated Philistines.  They said let us hear it!

I replied, “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.”

For three days they tried to figure it out but could not so on the fourth day they said to my bride to be “Ask your husband to be to tell you the riddle or we will burn down your father’s house with you in it.  So, my wife to be came to me with tears in her eyes and asked “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”  “I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” I replied. “Why should I tell you?”  From that time on she made me miserable with her crying and begging.  I was broken hearted the woman I loved would cry like that over a silly riddle.  Finally, on the seventh day I gave into her and told her.  She brightened up right away and left suddenly.  I guess she went and told the thirty men because they came to me before sundown and said “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?”

I was mad!  I thought my wife to be loved me and would keep my secret but no, she was just playing me.  So, I said “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!”  She did not deserve to be called anything better than a heifer for that trick she pulled on me!

Suddenly I felt strong again.  I jumped on my camel and went to Ashkelon and killed thirty men and took their clothes.  I brought the clothes back and gave them to the thirty men.  I was still mad and told my parents let us just go home.  I am too mad to marry right now my wife to be needs a lesson so she can just wait to get married.  So, we went home.

But as time went on, I started to miss my wife to be and forgave her.  I killed a young goat and went to her father’s house to say I am sorry and to marry her.  However, when I got there and wanted to go up to my fiancé’s room her father said no.  “I truly thought you must hate her,” her father explained, “so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her younger sister is even more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead.”   I became incredibly angry at this and said, “This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines.”

I was so angry, and my strength had returned so I went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied their tails together with a flaming torch between them.  They were so frightened, and I let them into the fields of the town of Timnah.  The foxes burned down all the fields of wheat and barley then they went into the vineyards and destroyed them too.  After that I caught the foxes again and untied them and let them loose.  The townspeople were hopping mad!  They found out it was me and why I did it and took revenge on the poor girl and her family for marrying her off to my best man.  They burned the house down while they were all asleep.  This made me angry again since they killed the woman I loved.  I killed many of the Philistines the next day. 

I did not want to return to my parents house any more for fear the Philistines would harm my parents, so I went to live in a cave.  I was right.  The Philistines attacked a town called Lehi.  The townspeople said to the Philistines “why are you attacking us?  We are peaceful people.”  The Philistines replied “We’ve come to capture Samson. We’ve come to pay him back for what he did to us.”  So, the townspeople said they would hand me over to the Philistines in three days.  The Philistines vowed to leave the town alone after they had Samson.

The Capture

While I was living in my cave three thousand men came to me and said “Don’t you realize the Philistines rule over us? What are you doing to us?”  I said I only did what I did because of what they did to me.  They replied, “We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”  I said okay but please do not kill me yourselves.  They tied me up with new rope and I stayed that way until we arrived at the Philistine town of Lehi. 

The Philistines came shouting at me like they were victorious.  I laughed and broke the new ropes like they were mere thread.  I picked up a jawbone and killed a thousand of the Philistines.  After this victory I judged Israel for twenty years.  The Philistines continued to rule over Israel, but they stayed away from me.  Until one day I met Delilah.

Delilah and the Final Chance

I fell in love with Delilah right away.  I spent all my time with her.  I thought she loved me too.  One day she came to me and asked me why I was so strong?  I lied and said, “If I were tied up with seven new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else.”  That night I woke when Delilah said wake up the Philistines have come to capture me.  She had tied me up, but the bowstrings were no match for my strength. 

A few days later she confronted me and said, “you do not love me, or you would tell me what makes you so strong”.  So, I lied again and said if I were tied up with brand new rope my strength would leave me.  I love this woman, but I am not going to tell her where my strength comes from.  Of course, she woke me up and I was tied up but snapped the new rope like before.

She tried again a week later.  She was crying “You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how you can be tied up securely.”  “If you were to weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on your loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I would become as weak as anyone else.”  I told her.  Guess what?  She awoke me again and my hair was tied to a loom and I broke free easily. 

After that Delilah nagged me every day to tell her where my strength came from.  I finally gave in and told her the truth.  “My hair has never been cut,” I confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”

That night I awoke, and my hair was gone.  I felt as weak as a newborn.  The Philistines came into the room and captured me.  They took me to prison and put out my eyes.   They forced me to grind grain for them.  I felt like God would never forgive me.

Yet as time went on my hair started to grow back.  I started to feel like my strength was back again too.  One day the Philistines came and brought me out of prison.  They led me up to their temple of their god.  They surrounded me and shouted “Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!” 

I could sense there were people all around me and more on top of the roof of the temple.  I asked the young servant who was leading me to put my hands on the pillars holding up the roof.  He did and I prayed to God to forgive me and asked Him to restore my strength.  I knew what I had to do, and I knew I would die doing it.  I took ahold of the pillars and pushed with all my might.  I heard a loud crack and the roof came down on top of me.  I killed many Philistine that day.

Second Chances for Samson

Samson loved the wrong women, and, in the end, it cost him his life.  But God gave him second chances to make things right for Israel.  How has God given you second chances?

Mighty Warrior

Judges 6-8

Even though Gideon tested the Lord, two times, the Lord still gave him a second chance to save Israel.  Gideon’s story takes us to the battlefield where God wins the battle.  Israel started following other gods and got themselves in a lot of trouble.  This is right after the Judge Deborah was the judge.  See: https://northwoodsgirlblogging.com/lessons-learned-deborah/)   They forgot God and Deborah.  The Midianites had taken over the land and were destroying crops and stealing the Israelites livestock.  The Israelites were hiding from the Midianites in caves in the mountains and other strongholds.  After seven years Israel came to their senses and cried out to the Lord. 

The following story is Gideon’s story and written in first person.  As with other stories the scripture used is from the New Living Translation and is in italics. 

Gideon’s Story

The Midianites have come in to destroy all our crops again.  We are all afraid of them as they are many.  Like many I have taken my family and we are hiding in a large cave in the mountains.  I managed to grow some wheat but not enough to feed all of us for any length of time.  We are starving, the whole country is starving from the Midianites destroying our crops.  When will it end?

There was a prophet in the land, and he was telling everyone

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

I started to wonder if my father’s gods were worthless since they have not help us at all.  I remember stories my grandfather told me of the Lord how He rescued Israel time and time again.  I hope the Lord will have mercy on us soon because I do not think we can last much longer. 

One night I was threshing wheat in our winepress by the great tree at Ophrah so the Midianites would not know we had wheat.  Suddenly there was a man sitting on a rock under the tree.  He looked different but I could not figure out how.  He said something strange to me.  He said, “Mighty warrior, the Lord is with you.”   I looked around to see who the man was talking to because he could not have been talking to me.  I saw no one.  At this point I was beginning to think the man was a messenger from the Lord. “Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”  

And he said to me “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”  But, sir, how can I rescue Israel from the Midianites.  My clan is not noticeably big, and I am the smallest of all them. 

“I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”    If you are here to help me fight the Midianites, I would like a sign from you showing you are from the Lord.  Stay here until I get back.  The man said he would stay.

I went home and cooked up a goat and made a flat bread.  I put the meat in a basket along with the bread and the broth in a pot.  I brought it out to the man, and he said to put it on the rock.  He said to pour the broth over the meat and the bread, so I did.  I was wondering if he was going to eat it when suddenly the man took his staff and touch the food with the tip, and everything burst into flames and disappeared along with the man.  I realized it was the angel of the Lord.  I thought I was going to die because I saw the angel.  Then, in quiet voice I heard the Lord say

23“It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.”

I went to work immediately to build an alter to the Lord.  I believed now that all my families gods were not going to save us, but the Lord would.  I named the alter Yahweh-Shalom, God is peace.

That night I had a very vivid dream.  In the dream the Lord told me “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. 26Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”

I woke with a start!  If I did that my family and all who are living here in this cave would be mad at me and want to kill me.  I decided to do it right away before morning and before I chickened out.  I took ten of my trusted servants.  The alter to Baal was large and the Asherah pole was very tall.  It took a couple of hours, but we did it and made a well made alter to the Lord.  I killed the bull and burnt it on the alter just like I was told.  I was happy to be rid of that pole of the half-naked goddess.  It was ugly!

The next day the people went out to pay homage to their gods only to find them destroyed.  The people started asking who did this.  I guess someone saw us and told everyone I did it.  They went to my father Joash and said he needed to go get me because I should die for what I did.  I was surprised by my father’s answer.  “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!”  From then on, many called me Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself.

The Testing

Within a week we noticed the armies of Midian, Amalek and others who lived in the east came together and crossed the Jordan river.  They were looking to wipe out all Israel.  Many of the people were frighten beyond belief.  It was the scariest time I could ever remember.  Yet I knew God was in control.  Something had come over me.  I felt a strength I knew was not me own.  God was with me and His Spirit was on me.  It was our custom in those days to blow a ram’s horn when you were calling Israel’s army together.  I climb up as high as I could and blew the horn.  The first to respond was the clan of Abiezer.  From them I sent out messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali.  All the warriors responded.

The Tests

I wanted to make sure this was from God.  I know God had sent His angel and He has been speaking to me ever since, but what if I am doing this battle in my own strength?  So, I asked God for a sign.  “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.”  And guess what, yep, you got it the fleece was so wet when I wrung it out it filled a large bowl, but the ground was bone dry.  But I got to thinking, what if it was just a fluke of nature the fleece was wet, but the ground was not, so I asked God again.  “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.”  So, the next morning I got up and went to where the fleece was laid out and it was muddy all the way to the fleece.  Yet the fleece was dry.  Okay God, I know You are going with me to this battle.

So, I led the army to the spring of Harod.  We could see the armies of Midian to the north of us in a valley near the hill called Moreh.  There the Lord spoke to me again.  “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’”  Twenty-two thousand left that day.  I could not blame them.  The armies of the Midianites seemed like they numbered in the millions.  That left me with only ten thousand men to fight against them.  Yet the Lord spoke to me again.  “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine    So we all went down to the spring.  There the Lord said “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream. “who will go with you and who will not.”  Only three hundred men cupped the water in their hands to drink so they could stand and keep watch while they drank.  Then the Lord said to me “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”  I was afraid but I still trusted God and sent everyone home but the three hundred.

The Battle

During the night the Lord spoke to me.  He said if you are still afraid go down and listen to what the Midianites are saying.  So, I snuck down as close to their camp as I could and there were men talking.  One said “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!” 14His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”  I had to cover my mouth I was so surprised by what they said.  I hurried back to the Israelite camp and told everyone to get up.  I told them the Lord had given us the victory.  I divided the men into three groups.  Each one was given a ram’s horn, a torch and a clay jar.  Everyone lit their torch and hid it in their jar.  I told them to watch me and when I give the signal to blow your horns and shout “For the Lord and for Gideon!”

We all went down to the camp and surrounded it.  It was just after midnight.  I gave the signal, and everyone broke their jars blinding everyone in the Midianite camp.  Then we blew our horns and shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”

The Midianites were in such a panic they started fighting each other.  Many of the Midianites were killed in the confusion.  We just stood there and watched.  God was right.  It was His battle.

Those who were still alive of the Midianites fled.  I sent messengers to the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh to join the fight.  The Lord gave us victory over the Midianites that day.

Gideon’s Second Chances

I think Gideon was unsure of himself in the way he was always testing God in this story.  Yet God gave him second chances to prove to himself God will use him if Gideon would let Him.  I know I have been afraid to do stuff I thought God was leading me to do.  Sometimes, though, the leading is so strong I plunge right in and God always has the victory. 

I did mention Gideon in another blog post.  See https://northwoodsgirlblogging.com/gideon-and-moses-i-cant-do-that/  Like Moses, Gideon was afraid but God led him to do great things for Him.  Are you afraid?  Trust Him!

A side note: As I was writing this story, I was reminded how fearful times could be.  Gideon said, in this story, it was the most fearful time he had ever seen.  It reminded me of what we are facing right now.  The COVID virus is still going strong and I know someone who has it.  Rioting and violence are everyday occurrence and does not seem to be letting up.  And people are at war with each other over wearing of a mask or not.  Just remember: This is God’s Battle!  He is still in control!  DO NOT BE AFRAID!  Trust Him!

Below is affiliate links I recommend. If you click on a link and make a purchase I will receive a small percentage of you purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps keep this website running.

Defined by Moments: Leadership Lessons from Gideon the Biblical Judge
By Joel E. Medley

Wheat in the Winepress: How the Story of Gideon Can Help Us Fight the Good Fight Today
By Bob Hext

Is not God all about second chances?  Throughout the Bible and history, we see people get second chances in life.  This is a new series titled “Second Chances” which are stories, like the Lessons Learned series, about Bible characters.  While the Lessons Learned series was about women, the Second Chances will be about men. 

I wanted to write about John Mark because of an Our Daily Bread devotional I read recently.  As I have done in the past, I posted a contest on Facebook on who was my next blog post.  I listed clues for my friends and family to guess and one of the clues was second chances.  I got a lot of ideas so I decided I would venture into writing about men.  Don’t worry, I still have more women to write about.

Many scholars believe John Mark wrote the book of Mark in the Bible.  He is mentioned in Acts, Colossians, II Timothy, and I Peter.  Scholars also believe he wrote about himself in Mark 14.  Now before you look that reference up let me tell you John Mark’s story.  As usual, the story will be written in first person and scripture will be from the New Living Translation and is in italics.

John Mark’s story

I was there when they arrested Jesus.  I was amazed of the mob that came to arrest him.  Jesus had just been praying off by himself and the rest of us were waiting for him.  Actually, we fell asleep, I am embarrassed to say.  When the mob came, we awoke, and Jesus walked up to them.  I saw Judas come up to Jesus and kiss him on the cheek. I was so shocked at Judas.  I thought all those who were Jesus’ disciples were saints.  Judas has done Jesus a terrible injustice turning again him. 

 Jesus spoke to the mod.  “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 49Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”

Then they took him.  By then everyone had run away but me.  I wanted to go with Jesus and followed behind but suddenly someone from the mob grabbed my long linen shirt.  I was so scared I ran off leaving my shirt behind.  Yep, I was naked, and my Mom was going to kill me.  The only reason she let me hang out with Jesus and the disciple is because Peter is a family friend and he said it was okay.  She made that shirt just for me.  She said I look just like my Dad when I wear that shirt.  He had one just like it when he died.  It is just me and my Mom now.

The next day was Jesus’ trial.  I watched from afar.  It was unbelievable how they treated Jesus.  Then they crucified Jesus.  My Mom and I watched.  She cried as her and the other women hugged each other.  We went home so dejected.  It was the Sabbath and some of us gathered at our house to wait for it to be over.

Sunday morning, we heard from Mary Magdalene.  She came and told us Jesus had risen from the dead.  We were all excited and saw Jesus that very night.  He had risen, indeed!  We saw all his scars, including the nail prints in his hands.  Surely, Jesus is the Son of God.

About forty days later Jesus and his disciples were eating at my Mom’s house when he told them

“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Later, when Jesus was teaching on the Mount of Olives near my home he said:

8” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then Jesus started to rise toward Heaven.  We were watching him go and he was getting small so we could hardly see him anymore.  Our hearts hurt.  Suddenly, there was two men, dressed in white, standing among us.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

We all went back to my home.  We all stayed there, praying and fellowshipping.  There was about 120 of us one day when Peter spoke and said they needed to replace Judas because he hung himself.  So, the eleven chose Matthias to be the twelve Apostle.  Being only 18 years old I am glad they did not consider me for the job. 

On the day of Pentecost, we were again gathered at my home.  We were all praying as we felt led.  Suddenly, there was a loud rushing sound, like a windstorm, filling the house.  And then, tongues like fire settled on each one of us.  We were suddenly speaking in languages from all the known nations on the earth.  People from nearby heard the sound of the wind and then heard the believers speaking in different languages.  Many were in Jerusalem for Pentecost from different countries and they heard their own language being spoke.  “How can this be?”  They asked?  You all are from Galilee; how come you can speak to us in our own language.  Some even said they thought we were drunk.  But no, it was only nine in the morning.  That day we were able to share the wonderful things God had done through Jesus. 

Peter and the other eleven got up and address the crowd that had gathered.  Peter told them they were not drunk.  Peter went on to tell them what they were seeing was written about in the prophet Joel.  He told them how God had proven Jesus was His son through the miracles Jesus preformed.  Continuing, Peter spoke of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Peter spoke of what was happening, how the Holy Spirit had ascended on each one of them.  Then the crowd asked, “what should we do?”  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”  That day about 3000 people became believers.

From then on, we became a community.  We shared what we had with each.  We sold our things and gave the money to the Apostles to help those in need.  We held meeting where the Apostles would preach, we ate together, prayed together and had the Lord’s Supper.  Every day the Apostle would preach from the Temple courts and many became believers.  And many were healed from their diseases by the Apostles.  It was amazing! 

Yet, the religious leaders became angry at the Apostles for preaching Jesus rose from the dead.  The religious leaders put the Apostles in jail, but God would often intervene, and they were released, sometimes miraculously.  As time went on the persecution of the believers became worse.  One day Stephen was stoned.  The believers began to fear a man named Saul for he oversaw hunting believers and persecuting them.  Believers fled Jerusalem and the Gospel was shared with many others because of persecution.

Then one day I heard Saul became a believer himself.  Amazing!  Saul was on the road to Damascus.  It has been told Jesus spoke to Saul directly from Heaven.  After that, the church had a time of peace.

Yet, it did not last long.  Soon the religious leaders were persecuting believers everywhere.  One time Peter was put in prison and God brought him out during the night.  We were all at my Mom’s house praying for Peter.  Our servant girl Rhoda came in and said, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15“You’re out of your mind!” we said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

Then we all heard the knocking at the door.  Someone opened the door and it was Peter.  We m so amazed.  Peter told how an angel came and woke him and led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said.  Then Peter went to another place. 

One day my cousin Barnabas invited me to join him and Saul to go on a mission trip with them.  I asked my Mom if that would be okay.  She is always worried about me since my Dad passed away years ago.  I am sure I have given her much to be concerned about.   She was always shaking her head at my foolishness.  She would always say “Oh John Mark, when will you ever learn to think before you do something.”  I would tell her “I am trying Mom!”  I am so surprised she said yes, but only if Barnabas makes sure I behaved myself.

At first it was exciting.  One day we met a sorcerer who tried to keep the governor from listening to Saul and Barnabas.  The governor wanted to hear about God.  Saul, who is now called Paul, spoke to the sorcerer and told him God will punish him by making him blind for a while and He did.  

We traveled to several places.  Sometimes we experienced hardship.  We were always aware Jewish leaders did not want us preaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection.  I got to the point where I was always looking over my shoulder to see if we were going to be arrested.  I was constantly afraid and it was affecting how I slept.

I continued to grow tired and fearful.  Barnabas tried to encourage me, but I was not listening to him.  One night, when we sailed back to the town of Pamphylia, I stuck out of where we were sleeping and headed home to Jerusalem.  I had had enough!

I got home and my Mom sat down with me and we had a good talk.  I told her how scared I was all the time.  I told her I did not get along with Paul at all.  He is a little bossy.  My Mom asked me if I believed God was in control of my situation.  I said “of course”!  Then it struck me.  All this fear and discord was not from God.  I was with some of the greatest preachers of the Gospel of our time and I was not listening to them or to God. 

I asked my Mom to pray with me.  I asked God to forgive my doubt and to give me a heart for God!  I felt like a huge weight was lifted off me.  I spent most of my days listening to the Apostles and other teachers.  I met with Peter often to hear his stories about Jesus and I wrote them down so I would have them.  I hoped Paul and Barnabas would forgive me and take me with them on their next mission trip. 

But that was not the case.  I met up with Paul and Barnabas and asked if I could join them as their assistant like I had before.  Barnabas welcomed me with open arms and not Paul.  Paul was still angry with me.  I told him how I realized I was not trusting God before and how I have been sitting under the teaching of Peter and other Apostles.  Yet, Paul thought I was not mature enough.  I heard Paul and Barnabas arguing and it broke my heart.  Finally, Barnabas comes to me and says we are going a different direction than Paul.  I was heartbroken but glad to finally be able to serve the Lord.

Barnabas and I went to Cyprus.  There we taught as we traveled around the island.  I learned a lot and was able to do my share of the teaching.  I also worked on writing my book of the life of Jesus.  I can really feel God giving me the words to write.  I trust Him completely and have no fear.  Even Paul has forgiven me and has invited me to join him.  I praise God He saved this scared kid and turned him into a servant for Him.

John Mark’s Second Chances

John Mark did a lot of growing from the time he was at Jesus’ arrest to the time he wrote the book of Mark.  Even though he messed up and left Paul and Barnabas he was welcomed back.  His cousin, Barnabas, had a lot to do with that I am sure.  Also, his mother.  Though it is not well known, his mother Mary, had a church in her home. 

How have you grown from second chances in your life?  For me, I made some mistakes while in grad school and they may have been one of the reasons I was not able to find a counseling job.  Yet, I learned over the past few years how to trust God and have grown so much.  My ability to write is my second chance.  I often find God directly gives me the words to write just like He did for John Mark.  I may not be a counselor, but I enjoy writing so much more than I would have counseling.  God’s ways are the best and He is always giving us second chances.

Below is some affiliate recommendations for you. If you click on a link below and make a purchase, I may receive a small percentage of the sale. This helps with the expenses of the website. Thank you.

Let’s Study Mark
By Sinclair Ferguson

When John Mark wrote out his “good news” about Jesus two thousand years ago, his Gospel was a completely new kind of book. No one had ever written one before. In fact no one would have known what a Gospel was… What made the Gospel of Mark unique was this: it was not written merely as the memoir of Jesus as a great man, not even as the greatest man who had ever lived. Rather it was meant to persuade its readers that Jesus was the Son of God…Who is Jesus of Nazareth? What is the good news(gospel) about him?…This commentary provides us with Mark’s answer.

Life Lessons from Acts, 2018 Edition
By Max Lucado

Max Lucado’s Life Lessons from Act is a 12-session study for groups or individuals. In the book of Acts you’ll see that the men you read about in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have been transformed. They may still look the same and have the same mannerisms, but with the Holy Spirit indwelling them, they are not the same and because they are differnt, so is the world. They founded the early Church and gave us a legacy of faith.

Key Themes:

• The foundations of the early church were established in the aftermath of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension
• The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to spread the gospel into the world as Jesus commanded
• The first struggle of the gospel was to stand independently of Jewish tradition and faith
• The sacrifice Jesus made was for all people

Each lesson has the following sections: Key Scripture Verse, Reflection, Situation, Observation, Exploration, Inspiration, Reaction, Life Lessons, Devotion, and Journaling. Ideal for a small-group setting or for individual study.

Christianbook.com Home

Mighty Women

Judges 4 and 5

Deborah was the only woman judge in Israel at the time of judges, before Israel had kings.  The book of Judges tells how Israel would fall away from worshipping the Lord God and start worshipping other gods.  Then the Lord would allow other nations to oppress Israelites until they cried out to the Lord and He would save them again.  The judge’s role in this book of judges is one of leadership.  They are the ones who lead the people back to God.  They are close followers of the Lord and the Lord often spoke through judges during this time.  Deborah’s story will include scripture taken from the New Living Translation and is in italics.

Deborah’s Story

The Lord has always been close to me.  Unlike many of our neighbors my family has always worshipped the Lord.  When it came time for me to marry my father made sure my husband was also from a family who had not forsaken the Lord.  When Lappidoth asked my father if he would let Lappidoth marry me my father warned Lappidoth I was a strong woman.  “God is with her”, my father said, “and she is very wise”.  Lappidoth is a good husband.  We raised two sons and a daughter to be God fearing adults.

As I was raising my children, I became known as one with great wisdom to end disputes among our neighbors.  Soon Israelites from all over would come to me for decisions on their disputes.  I set up a place for people to come to me.  It was under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim.  Some even called the place the Palm of Deborah. 

It was a dark time in Israel.  The Israelites had, once again, turned their backs on God and were worshipping the gods of other countries.  These gods, while made of wood or stone, allowed people to behave any way they saw fit.  Israel abandoned God’s laws, made for their protection, so they could do as they pleased.  But the Lord continued to love Israel and sent King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king, to oppress them.  King Jabin had a commander named Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. 3Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots.  Sisera had been oppressing Israel for twenty years. 

God spoke to me as He often does and gave me specific instructions on how Israel was going to be saved from King Jabin.  The Lord told me to send for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali.  I sent my messenger to Barak and they both came back right away.  I told Barak I had heard from the Lord.  I told him “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”

Barak must have had more faith in me than he did in the Lord because he asked me to go with him into battle.  9“Very well,” I replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”

We went together to Kedesh.  There Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali and got together 10,000 warriors.  There we were on Mount Tabor looking done at Sisera and his 900 chariots and I said to Barak

 “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.”

And I watched as Barak and his 10,000 warriors headed down the slope and was amazed!  Suddenly Sisera and his men were in a battle with unseen forces and I saw them die before any of Barak’s warriors got to them.  As I watched I saw Sisera head away from the battle as Barak and his men entered the battleground.  I yelled to Barak, but he could not hear me.  I saw Sisera head for a tent off in the distance.  As I watch I realized that was Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab’s tent. HeHeHe had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.  I headed down from my safe point on the mountain to find Barak to let him know where Sisera was hiding.

Barak and his men chased any of Sisera’s men all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive.  I followed and as soon as I could I found Barak and told him where Sisera went.  We head to Heber’s tent.  We arrived and Jael, Heber’s wife, had just come out.  She was holding a mallet.  She said

“Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.”

We went in the tent and there was Sisera dead with a tent stake pounded straight through his forehead.  I hugged Jael and told her we are all grateful for what she did that day.  Barak looked a little beaten, but I did warn him.  I reminded him he was still God’s mighty warrior.  He seemed to accept that praise from me.  I headed for home.  The Lord and I have always been close but after that day I felt a change for the good in our relationship.

Following the battle, I wrote a song.  One of the lines in the song is “March on with courage, my soul!”

23So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. 24And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him. 

Lessons Learned from Deborah

Deborah reminds me of my sister-in-law Debbie.  They both are strong women who love the Lord and seek His face often.  Most of my stories about Bible women are about women who overcame challenges.  I do not see this here except maybe being a woman on the battle front was challenging?  However, my sister-in-law has faced some mighty challenges in her life.  I will not going into detail at all, but I admire her for how she has, and still is, handling her challenges in life.  There is a song I love which we sang in church this morning.  I cannot remember all the words but some of the chorus goes like “When you don’t move the mountain, I want you to move…I will trust in you!”  I am sure Debbie can relate to this song.  Even more I can relate.  This past week I went camping at Dells Christian Campgrounds (see  https://northwoodsgirlblogging.com/dells-christian-campgrounds-my-memories/).  I had bought a tent and had just set it up and tripped over the tent pole when I went to get my air mattress.  I landed on my face.  I was shaken the rest of the day, but I was not in pain until I went to work two days later.  I guess I injured or reinjured my left shoulder and have been in constant pain since then.  I work all week and my job causes me a great deal of pain anyways.  I want God to move the mountain of working at Walmart so I will not have to have so much pain, but I will trust in him!  I do not know what my future holds, I do know in seven weeks I will be 62 years old and plan on taking social security and working part time.  I know I can write.  I know Walmart wants to keep me.  But most of all I know I can trust God!  Do you trust him?

Note: You can read Deborah’s song in Judges 5

Here is a link from another blogger who gave some great insight on Deborah. https://bloggersforthekingdom.com/deborah-in-the-bible/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=grow-social-pro&fbclid=IwAR3TjY1WZcbvPnA3qLSrsXVNlk4pzK2_G1IevkSnZTZ0KFp8aycPArC7D-A

Below is some affiliate links to products I love. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn of percentage of the sale at not additional cost to you. This helps keep this website working. Thank you for your support.

The Deborah Anointing: Embracing the Call to Be a Woman of Wisdom and Discernment By Michelle McClain-Walters Women of God, it’s time to rise up and embrace the calling God has for you. Like the Old Testament leader Deborah, you can be a woman who defies the cultural and gender boundaries around you and fulfill God’s great destiny as a strategic intercessor, and prophet. As you learn about this judge and leader who lived many years ago, you’ll be emboldened to become a modern-day Deborah, walking in a lifestyle of prayer and worship, bringing others to Jesus.

The Prophetess: Deborah’s Story #2 By Jill Eileen Smith Outspoken and fearless, Deborah has faith in God but struggles to see the potential her own life holds. As an Israelite woman, she’ll marry, have a family, and seek to teach her children about Adonai–and those tasks seem to be more than enough to occupy her time. But God has another plan for her. Israel has been under the near constant terror of Canaan’s armies for twenty years, and now God has called Deborah to deliver her people from this oppression. Will her family understand? Will her people even believe God’s calling on her life? And can the menace of Canaan be stopped?With her trademark impeccable research and her imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel’s most powerful woman in a novel that is both intriguing and inspiring.

It Must Get Done!

I struggled with the Lord on this one because I did not want to write it!  That is because Martha is a lot like me.  Every day I have a long list of things I must get done.  Most of them I struggle to get done but I am determined.  I need to be more like Mary, Martha’s sister, and sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him.  Do you put your to do list before everything else in your life?  Or do you sit and enjoy life and fellowship?  These are questions I need to answer about myself while writing this story.  Portions of Martha’s story will be quotes from the New Living Translation and is in italics.  John 11:1-44, Luke 10:38-42, John 12

Martha’s Story

We are a close threesome, my brother Lazarus, my sister Mary and I.  Lazarus is a successful businessman.  Mary and I are both widows but neither of us have children.  We all live in the same house. 

We became friends with Jesus last year when He came to Bethany to preach and heal.  We all believed immediately Jesus was the Messiah.  We had Jesus at our house many times.

Mary and I are so different.  Mary loves to sit and learn.  I am a doer.  When I see something that needs done I do it.  I love to entertain but it is a lot of work. 

An example of this is one day when Jesus was visiting Mary sat by His feet and listened to Jesus teaching.  I was making a big dinner for Jesus.  I wanted it to be special.  I went to him a complained.

“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

Instead of making Mary help me Jesus said

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

So, Mary was right!  Jesus wanted me to realize his teaching was more important than making an elaborate meal.  I should have realized, Jesus would rather I pay attention to him.  We ended up having a simple meal that evening instead of the many courses I originally planned.  I learned a lot about Jesus that day and from him.  My heart is still warm from the remembrance of how Jesus taught with love about many things.

One day the unthinkable happened.  Lazarus became extremely ill.  We sent word to Jesus to come quickly but he did not come until it was too late.  I was so upset!  Many people came to mourn for Lazarus, but Jesus did not come until four days after Lazarus died.  When I heard Jesus had come into Bethany, I ran out to meet him. 

“Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus answered me “Your brother will rise again.”

Yes,” (I) said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25Jesus told me, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27“Yes, Lord,” I told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

I went back to the house to tell Mary Jesus was here and wanted to see her.  Mary went to where Jesus was and fell at his feet weeping. “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

There was a lot of mourners with Mary and Jesus looked very troubled and asked.

34“Where have you put him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus started crying.  People around us were whispering.  Some said Jesus loved Lazarus while others said if he could heal why did he not heal Lazarus before he died.  Mary and I, along with the others, took Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb.  Then an amazing thing happened.  There was a large stone in front of the tomb to protect the body. 

39“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

I looked at Jesus and said “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”  ThenJesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out! 

And suddenly Lazarus came out of his tomb!  Jesus said to unwrap him from his burial cloths.  I was so happy!  My brother was alive!  Jesus truly is the Son of God!

After that day Jesus stayed away from Bethany because it was so close to Jerusalem.  The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus.  Then six days before the Passover Jesus came again to our house.  I made a nice meal for everyone but not an elaborate one like the first one when I got so upset.  That day Mary was so happy to have our brother back again she did something very unusual.  She went and got her jar of expensive perfume.  She broke it open and poured it on Jesus’ feet.  Then she did something no self-respecting Jewish woman would ever do; she undid her hair and wiped Jesus’ feet.  I was so proud of her though.  The room smelled amazing but more importantly, Jesus was worshipped in this incredibly special way. 

Some of the others did not get it though.  Judas Iscariot said, 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”  I have heard rumors Judas carries the bag of money for Jesus and his disciples and often helps himself to it.  Thief!

Jesus promptly told Judas off and said “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Back then I wondered what Jesus meant when he said it was in preparation for my burial.  Now I know.

The next day Jesus entered Jerusalem.  People were shouting and we thought Jesus would become king.  But by Friday Jesus had died on a cross a horrible death.  We were heartbroken.  Then on Sunday, we learned Jesus rose from the grave, just like Lazarus.  We saw Jesus one more time before he ascended into Heaven.  I look forward to Jesus’ return when we can live with him forever!

Lessons Learned from Martha

At the time I thought about writing this story I felt a lot of stress over all the things I needed to get done.  I was stressed out to the point it was making me ill and I was having episodes of vertigo.  Not good!  I have been trying to get one story or blog post written per week and post it in a Facebook sharing group to comment on Monday mornings.  Then continue to post it in the sharing group along with other social media to get maximum exposure.  This, and working almost 40 hours per week, while wearing a mask and constantly cleaning registers, I got worn out.  (I work at Walmart in the self-check area.) 

So, I eased up on myself and rested a lot and now I am feeling better.  I think Jesus wanted me to slow down.  I think he was telling me housework and blog posting will always need to be done but rest and listening to me (Jesus) is more important.  So be more like Mary and less like Martha.

The following are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a percentage of the sale.

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Audiobook on CD By Joanna Weaver The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet…but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him… yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then comes Jesus, into the midst of your busy life, to extend the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters from Bethany. Tenderly, he invites you to choose “the better part”, a joyful intimacy with him that flows naturally into loving service. With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story and its creative, practical strategies, Joanna shows how all of us-Marys and Marthas alike-can draw closer to our Lord, deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy. Unabridged. Read by Jill Gajkowski. 6 CDs. 9 hours.

Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done By Katie M. Reid Are you a Martha who feels guilty for not being a Mary? Good news! Jesus loves you just the way you are! Drawing on the timeless story of Martha and Mary, Katie M. Reid shows how to rest in your heavenly Father without compromising your God-given gift as a do-er.With “It is Finished” activities at the end of each chapter and a five-week Bible study for individuals and groups. Made Like Martha helps you find rest from striving even as you celebrate your God-given design to “do.”