Category Archives: plan of God

courage to act

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

1 Kings 18:1-19 Elijah determines that the time for hiding is over.  It is now time for a confrontation.  Sometimes safety is the best that you can ask for.  But when the Holy Spirit is ready for a show-down, the … Continue reading →

Posted in courage, Elijah, plan of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

submitting to the stretch

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

1 Kings 17 Both Elijah and the widow of Zarephath learn the same lesson.  God will miraculously provide if need exists, but he might also occasionally place his children in a position where their faith is stretched.  He does this … Continue reading →

Posted in Elijah, plan of God, submission | Tagged | 2 Comments

adventures in failure

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

1 Samuel 9:1-10:16 It was a singular journey in which Saul and his companion set out to find his father’s lost donkeys, and failed.  But along the way Saul discovered Samuel, and was treated to a number of miracles and … Continue reading →

Posted in dependence upon God, faith, plan of God, submission | Tagged , | Leave a comment

ministry and conflict #1

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 10 The massive acquisition of the Southern Canaan territories came about as a result of responding to a plea for help by the Gibeonites.  The kings of those lands had determined to punish Gibeon for its alliance with the … Continue reading →

Posted in conflict, courage, dependence upon God, plan of God | Tagged | 1 Comment

God’s sovereignty and missions

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 2 Rahab’s choice to protect the Israelite spies is an example of how our human wills work in conjunction with God’s sovereign choice in salvation.  Rahab would become an Israelite, even an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5).  The LORD … Continue reading →

Posted in church, commitment, dependence upon God, grace, plan of God | Tagged | 1 Comment

in retrospect: no empty word

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47 Moses’ retirement speech was not a series of platitudes and celebration of the past.  He shared a warning for the generations that followed.  God is not like the gods of the nations that the Israelites are about to … Continue reading →

Posted in dependence upon God, enemies, ethnic Israel, judgment, plan of God | Tagged , | 2 Comments

looking back as we walk

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Numbers 33:1-49 Here Moses records the places where Israel had camped on their journey to Canaan and their wandering in the wilderness.  Where they had walked was a testimony both to the LORD’s provision, and to their own stubbornness and … Continue reading →

Posted in discernment, discipleship, plan of God, relationship with God | Tagged | 1 Comment

Azazel devotion

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Leviticus 16    Each element of the Day of Atonement was profoundly significant.  The bull represented the high priest whose sins had to be atoned for because he was representing the Messianic high priest, who would be (and is) sinless.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in dependence upon God, future, holiness, plan of God, sanctification | Tagged | 1 Comment

Exodus: hardening

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 6:10-7:13      Even with his brother’s help, Moses found it difficult to get through to Pharaoh. The great king was being hardened in his own obstinacy. This happened so that once the exodus took place and the Israelites were freed, … Continue reading →

Posted in plan of God, submission, wisdom | Tagged | 1 Comment

Exodus: God saw and knew

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 2:23-3:22    40 years in the Midian desert taught Moses that he was not qualified for the mission God was sending him on. Let us not think that this was false modesty on Moses’ part. It was recognition that the … Continue reading →

Posted in deliverance, evangelism, plan of God, sovereignty of God, will of God | Tagged | 1 Comment