Day 7/7 – A Time to Disobey

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
A Time to Disobey
Day One Hundred Eighty-eight

“And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.” II Kings 2:2

It was time for God to take Elijah and his servant Elisha somehow knew that it was imminent. Three times Elijah told Elisha to remain behind while he went on, and three times Elisha disobeyed him. This narrative affords two important lessons:

First, when working with others in the cause of Christ, you must be able to distinguish between when God is testing you vis-a-vis leading you in a different direction. God tested Elisha by offering him opportunity to stay behind. Elisha, understanding that it was not the leadership of God, but a test, refused to comply. Because he refused, insisting on staying with Elijah, he received the blessing. Ruth refused to obey the entreaty of Naomi to return to Moab, and as a result received the blessing of being in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.261

Second, note that Elisha did not ask for supernatural gifts or sensational power. He didn’t request the recognition of men, but instead coveted the God of Elijah. When asked what he wanted, Elisha said, “I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”262

These two lessons are related. You can see the heart of Elisha by the request he made. The Psalmist prayed, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.”263 When you covet God you delight His heart. Such an attitude helps when you must distinguish between God leading in a different direction and a test.

261 cf. Ruth 1:6-19
262 II Kings 2:9
263 Psalm 73:25

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Job 34-35 Acts 15:1-21 (New King James Version)

Job 34-35
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2
“Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3
For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4
Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5
“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
But God has taken away my justice;
6
Should I lie concerning my right?
My [a]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7
What man is like Job,
Who drinks [b]scorn like water,
8
Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10
“Therefore listen to me, you [c]men of understanding:
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11
For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12
Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13
Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14
If He should set His heart on it,
If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15
All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16
“If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17
Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18
Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19
Yet He is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
20
In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21
“For His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22
There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23
For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24
He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25
Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26
He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27
Because they turned back from Him,
And would not consider any of His ways,
28
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29
When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30
That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31
“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32
Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33
Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34
“Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35
‘Job speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36
Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37
For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2
“Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3
For you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4
“I will answer you,
And your companions with you.
5
Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6
If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7
If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8
Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9
“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10
But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,
11
Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12
There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13
Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14
Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.
15
And now, because He has not punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16
Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Footnotes:
• Job 34:6 Lit. arrow
• Job 34:7 derision
• Job 34:10 men of heart

Acts 15:1-21
Conflict over Circumcision
15 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, [a]acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus [b]Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had [c]become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [d]Lord who does all these things.’
18 [e]“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from [f]sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Footnotes:
• Acts 15:8 bore witness to
• Acts 15:11 NU, M omit Christ
• Acts 15:13 stopped speaking
• Acts 15:17 NU Lord, who makes these things
• Acts 15:18 NU (continuing v. 17) known from eternity (of old).’
• Acts 15:20 Or fornication