Embodying Valor: Faithfulness and Divine Statutes

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in Divine Statutes

Statutes are divine commands that may not always make sense to us but are to be followed faithfully. They are everlasting decrees from God that require our obedience, even when we don't fully understand their purpose. This teaches us the importance of trust and faith in God's wisdom and sovereignty. The law of the red heifer in Numbers 19 is a prime example of a statute that may seem perplexing to human logic but is given by God for a specific purpose. By following these statutes, we demonstrate our trust in God's greater plan and wisdom. [03:04]

Numbers 19:2 (ESV): "This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come."

Reflection: Think of a command or teaching in the Bible that you find difficult to understand or follow. How can you trust in God's wisdom and choose to obey it today?

Day 2: Obedience to God's Boundaries

The Israelites' journey around Edom, Moab, and Ammon highlights the importance of obedience to God's specific instructions. They were not to engage in warfare with these nations due to their shared ancestry with Abraham. This teaches us the value of respecting God's boundaries and understanding the broader context of His commands. By obeying God's instructions, even when they seem restrictive or unnecessary, we show our respect for His authority and His greater plan for our lives. [06:04]

Deuteronomy 2:5 (ESV): "Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you struggle to respect God's boundaries? How can you better understand and obey His specific instructions today?

Day 3: The Cyclical Nature of Faithfulness

The story of Jephthah and the period of the Judges illustrate the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and idolatry. This ebb and flow serve as a reminder of our own tendencies to drift away from God and the importance of continual repentance and return to Him. Jephthah's story, in particular, shows how God can use even those who have been rejected and marginalized to fulfill His purposes. It also highlights the need for vigilance in our spiritual lives to avoid falling into patterns of unfaithfulness. [12:35]

Judges 2:19 (ESV): "But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps can you take today to ensure you remain faithful and avoid the cyclical nature of drifting away from Him?

Day 4: Valor in Men and Women

Valor is not limited to physical strength or masculine traits. Women, too, can possess valor, as seen in the examples of Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman. Valor encompasses strength of character, bravery, and virtuous living, qualities that both men and women are called to embody. This broader understanding of valor challenges us to recognize and cultivate these qualities in ourselves and others, regardless of gender. [40:07]

Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come."

Reflection: Identify a woman in your life who exemplifies valor. How can you encourage and support her in her journey of strength, bravery, and virtuous living?

Day 5: Applying Valor to Modern Life

Jephthah's story and the concept of valor are highly relevant to us today. We are encouraged to be steadfast in our faith, to avoid the pendulum swing of faithfulness and idolatry, and to embody the qualities of valor in our daily lives. This means being strong in character, brave in the face of challenges, and virtuous in our conduct. By applying these principles, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with integrity and faithfulness. [46:28]

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV): "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to demonstrate more valor? How can you take practical steps today to embody strength, bravery, and virtuous living in that area?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we delved into the Torah portion named "Huchat," which means "statute." We explored the concept of statutes as divine commands that may not always make sense to us but are to be followed faithfully. Our scriptural readings spanned from Numbers 19:1 to 22:1, covering significant events like the law of the red heifer, the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, and the fiery serpents incident. We also touched on the New Testament reading from John 19:38-42 and the Haftar portion from Judges 11:1-33.

We discussed the historical context of the Israelites' journey, particularly their interactions with Edom, Moab, and Ammon, and how they were instructed not to engage in warfare with these relatives of Abraham. However, the Amorites, led by Kings Sihon and Og, did not allow Israel to pass peacefully, leading to their defeat and the Israelites' acquisition of their land.

Our focus then shifted to the story of Jephthah, a Gileadite and a mighty warrior, who was rejected by his family due to his mother's status as a harlot. Despite this, Jephthah gathered a band of outcasts and became their leader. We examined the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and idolatry during the time of the Judges, highlighting how Jephthah's story mirrors this pendulum swing.

We also explored the concept of valor, not just as a masculine trait but as a quality that women can possess as well. We looked at examples from the Bible, such as Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman, to illustrate that valor encompasses strength of character, bravery, and virtuous living.

In conclusion, we reflected on how Jephthah's story and the concept of valor apply to our lives today. We are encouraged to be steadfast in our faith and to embody the qualities of valor in our daily lives.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding Statutes: Statutes are divine commands that may not always make sense to us but are to be followed faithfully. They are everlasting decrees from God that require our obedience, even when we don't fully understand their purpose. This teaches us the importance of trust and faith in God's wisdom and sovereignty. [03:04]
2. Historical Context and Obedience: The Israelites' journey around Edom, Moab, and Ammon highlights the importance of obedience to God's specific instructions. They were not to engage in warfare with these nations due to their shared ancestry with Abraham. This teaches us the value of respecting God's boundaries and understanding the broader context of His commands. [06:04]
3. The Cyclical Nature of Faithfulness: The story of Jephthah and the period of the Judges illustrate the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and idolatry. This ebb and flow serve as a reminder of our own tendencies to drift away from God and the importance of continual repentance and return to Him. [12:35]
4. Valor in Men and Women: Valor is not limited to physical strength or masculine traits. Women, too, can possess valor, as seen in the examples of Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman. Valor encompasses strength of character, bravery, and virtuous living, qualities that both men and women are called to embody. [40:07]
5. Application to Modern Life: Jephthah's story and the concept of valor are highly relevant to us today. We are encouraged to be steadfast in our faith, to avoid the pendulum swing of faithfulness and idolatry, and to embody the qualities of valor in our daily lives. This means being strong in character, brave in the face of challenges, and virtuous in our conduct. [46:28]
### [46:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:04] - Understanding Statutes
[06:04] - Historical Context and Obedience
[12:35] - The Cyclical Nature of Faithfulness
[40:07] - Valor in Men and Women
[46:28] - Application to Modern Life
[59:05] - Closing Remarks and Blessings

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What is the significance of the law of the red heifer as described in Numbers 19? How does it relate to the concept of statutes? [03:04]
How did the Israelites' interactions with Edom, Moab, and Ammon differ from their interactions with the Amorites? [06:04]
What were the key events in Jephthah's life that led to him becoming a leader despite his initial rejection by his family? [11:04]
How does the New Testament reading from John 19:38-42 connect to the themes discussed in the Torah and Haftar portions? [04:32]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God gave statutes that may not always make sense to us, like the law of the red heifer? What does this teach us about faith and obedience? [03:04]
How does the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and idolatry during the time of the Judges reflect our own spiritual journeys today? [12:35]
In what ways does the story of Jephthah illustrate the qualities of valor, and how do these qualities apply to both men and women? [40:07]
How can the historical context of the Israelites' journey and their obedience to God's specific instructions inform our understanding of God's boundaries and commands today? [06:04]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you followed a command or instruction from God that didn't make sense to you. How did that experience impact your faith and trust in God's wisdom? [03:04]
The Israelites were instructed not to engage in warfare with Edom, Moab, and Ammon due to their shared ancestry with Abraham. Are there boundaries or relationships in your life that God is calling you to respect or handle differently? [06:04]
Jephthah was rejected by his family but still rose to a position of leadership. Have you ever felt rejected or undervalued? How did you overcome that, and what role did your faith play in that process? [11:04]
The story of Jephthah shows the importance of continual repentance and return to God. What are some practical steps you can take to avoid the "pendulum swing" of faithfulness and idolatry in your own life? [12:35]
Valor is described as a quality that encompasses strength of character, bravery, and virtuous living. Identify one area in your life where you can demonstrate valor this week. How will you take action? [40:07]
How can you embody the qualities of valor in your daily life, especially in situations that challenge your character and bravery? [46:28]
Reflect on the examples of Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman. How can you cultivate similar qualities of valor and virtuous living in your own life? [40:07]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "I think as we've been all on this journey of studying torah we have understand the weight particularly when it comes to vows and oaths that we just don't speak of idly but i think also you know i look back at my life and and i'm not and this is not judgment to other people but i look at other people and look at how we function to in the past towards god how we've been in relationship with god are we like were we like that pendulum where we were swinging back and forth well i am i believe in god but i'll go do this you know what i mean and so i think when we look at this this is what i'm trying to say i i want to be a pendulum of a grandfather clock that then doesn't tick if that's the case i want to be on one side you know and be constant with him" [32:33] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I wanted to highlight that both men and women are to be men and women of valor and we see a lot of verses when it comes to valor that is linked to men understandably and that's okay and we can glean from that like i said michelle really tapped on that last time but we automatically think it just has to do with brute strength and therefore only applies to men but as you can see this word hayel is broader than that and i would actually encourage you to do your own study on hayel there's if there's even more behind it from than what i'm going to touch on today thankfully though being men and women of uh valor is not just based on what we are capable of or who we feel we are because you know rather being in this place being men and women of valor is based on who god is and so when we come against these giants in our lives like what we're seeing today with yift hath um and you know the ammonites that he's going to have to deal with we can have peace that god is going to go before us" [46:28] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I think you guys are picking up what I'm trying to convey here. I'll go to Glenys first and I'll finish off that, what we're trying to say. believe i've been blessed because i have done what what i said i would beautiful that's that's awesome glennis i think i think yeah i would wholeheartedly agree with you guys i think as we've been all on this journey of studying torah we have understand the weight particularly when it comes to vows and oaths that we just don't speak of idly but i think also you know i look back at my life and and i'm not and this is not judgment to other people but i look at other people and look at how we function to in the past towards god how we've been in relationship with god are we like were we like that pendulum where we were swinging back and forth well i am i believe in god but i'll go do this you know what i mean and so i think when we look at this this is what i'm trying to say i i want to be a pendulum of a grandfather clock that then doesn't tick if that's the case i want to be on one side you know and be constant with him" [32:33] (102 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "I personally find this story of Yitzhak is reminiscent of two things. Firstly, it represents the difficult period of the judges. I mean, if you think about it, the Israelites in this period of time would have seen a lot of battles. Because they were taking the land that God had given them from these other nations, be it people, groups, you know, whatever. And we see this difficulty acutely in this account today. The other thing that I want to highlight is that the story of Yitzhak is reminiscent of how Israel was functioning at the time. That is their relationship with God. Israel was like, you could say, was like a grandfather's clock pendulum. You know, the thing that swings under the grandfather clock and it's swinging back and forth. They would swing one way and be on fire for God and then they would turn another way and turn away from them." [26:08] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I think having this understanding about him being a mighty man of valor from God's perspective, gives us perhaps a better insight to who and what he was about. All right, now Judges 11-2, we'll move to, we see that it's all about the sons wanting to throw Yifcap out. Now, it is thought that the sons of Gilead's wife, his actual wife, not the prostitute, thrusted Yifcap out of the house after his father's death. Why? So the remaining sons could receive the inheritance. Verse 3, this is when we see he flees. So this happens and then he flees to Tome. And, you know, it's clear here that he didn't want to be, why would you want to be somewhere where you're not wanted? I'm sure he didn't want to be treated with contempt anymore. No one wants to be around that. And it obviously was problematic and he obviously didn't want to be depended." [47:47] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I think as I've read through it, although we're seeing this swinging pendulum, my perspective of Yiftach, sorry, is very different to how I probably viewed it, you know, a couple of years ago, to be honest. You know, so you dive a bit deeper, you find out these gems and exactly what you're saying, Maxine, how he handled communicating with the King of Amun as well." [55:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I think as we've been all on this journey of studying torah we have understand the weight particularly when it comes to vows and oaths that we just don't speak of idly but i think also you know i look back at my life and and i'm not and this is not judgment to other people but i look at other people and look at how we function to in the past towards god how we've been in relationship with god are we like were we like that pendulum where we were swinging back and forth well i am i believe in god but i'll go do this you know what i mean and so i think when we look at this this is what i'm trying to say i i want to be a pendulum of a grandfather clock that then doesn't tick if that's the case i want to be on one side you know and be constant with him" [32:33] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I wanted to highlight that both men and women are to be men and women of valor and we see a lot of verses when it comes to valor that is linked to men understandably and that's okay and we can glean from that like i said michelle really tapped on that last time but we automatically think it just has to do with brute strength and therefore only applies to men but as you can see this word hayel is broader than that and i would actually encourage you to do your own study on hayel there's if there's even more behind it from than what i'm going to touch on today thankfully though being men and women of uh valor is not just based on what we are capable of or who we feel we are because you know rather being in this place being men and women of valor is based on who god is and so when we come against these giants in our lives like what we're seeing today with yift hath um and you know the ammonites that he's going to have to deal with we can have peace that god is going to go before us" [46:28] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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