How To Stand Your Ground. Part [14] 12/07/2023 (Evening thought)

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 316] Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined. The tumult increased. A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the multitude. There were some who remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy. A few who ventured to denounce the proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated, and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.

Aaron feared for his own safety; and instead of nobly standing up for the honor of God, he yielded to the demands of the multitude. His first act was to direct that the golden earrings be collected from all the people and brought to him, hoping that pride would lead them to refuse such a sacrifice. But they willingly yielded up their ornaments; and from these he made a molten calf, in imitation of the gods of Egypt.

In the final conflict between good and evil, it is not a guarantee that all who would stand up for right will not lose their lives. God has promised to protect us, but this will be according to His will, and discretion. Others may not fare so well as to pass through the ordeal unscathed.

2nd Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

How To Stand Your Ground. Part [13] 12/06/2023 (Morning thought)

Leviticus 10:And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

It was this singular disposition of preferring to choose the path of least resistance that led Aaron to overlook serious faults in his own sons, for rather than correct them, when correction was due, he let things slide, in order to remain in their favor. When Christians choose to take the path of least resistance, when there is confrontation between truth and error, they will be bulldozed by devils, for the mob mentality will be invoked and the wavering pliable Christian, will be overwhelmed with the firm, unrelenting dispositions of the popular majorities.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 316] In the absence of Moses, the judicial authority had been delegated to Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent, with the demand, “Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.” The cloud, they said, that had heretofore led them, now rested permanently upon the mount; it would no longer direct their travels.

They must have an image in its place; and if, as had been suggested, they should decide to return to Egypt, they would find favor with the Egyptians by bearing this image before them and acknowledging it as their god. Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not of this character.

Exodus 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!