God of the Hills

God is the God of the hills and the valleys. Ahab, the king of Israel, learned this when he faced the Syrian army. Even though the enemy army looked to be more powerful, the Lord told Ahab through a prophet that if he would be obedient, he would win the battle on the hill. Ahab did as he was directed, and the opposing army was defeated (I Kings 20:13-21 NKJV).

The prophet came to Ahab again, warning him that the Syrian army would be back in the spring. Because the Israelites lived in the valleys, the enemy's plan this time was to attack in the valley because their king had been told, "Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain [valley], surely we will be stronger than they" (v. 23).

That attitude must have challenged God, for He told Ahab, "Because the Syrians have said, 'The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,' therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord" (v. 28). And God gave the Israelites their second victory over the Syrians.

There are times in our lives when we find ourselves facing the enemy on high hills, and we are wondrously victorious. But there are also times when we encounter the enemy in the darkest valleys, and we're tempted to be fearful. But God's Word assures us that we need not be afraid because our God is the God of the hills and the valleys. He is with us at all times and in all places to fight for us.

My Declaration of Faith for Today

No matter where I am, God is with me to fight my battles.

Major on Mercy

"I beseech thee, show me thy glory."
(Exodus 33:18)

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What would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What's His most important characteristic? Some people would say it's His power. Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer. 

You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory. 

Now the word "glory" could literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their worth. 

So what Moses was actually saying was, "Lord, I want to see the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest attributes." What did God say to him in response? 

Chapter 34:6-7 tells us, "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." 

Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy. 

That means if you and I are to imitate God (Eph. 5:1) we must major in mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our behavior above all else. 

Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.

Remember Noah

And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
(Genesis 6:7-8)

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One of the dirtiest, most damaging lies that the devil ever told you was when he said, "You aren't important." Don't you ever believe that. 

You are important! Every born-again member in the Church of Jesus Christ has a part to play in God's plan. God has something for you to do that no one else can do just like you can. If you don't take your place and do your part, things won't be quite right. 

I can just hear you thinking, "Oh, Gloria, I'm just one person. What could I possibly do that could be so significant?" 

Look in Genesis 6, and you'll see the answer to that question. There you'll see that the people on the earth had gotten so wicked that God had regretted that He'd made them. He was ready to wipe the whole population out--but He didn't. Why? Because of one man: Noah! One obedient man saved the human race. 

Think about that. What if Noah had said, "Well, this is just too much pressure for me. I can't live upright before God in the middle of this ungodly generation. I mean, everybody around me is living the other way. Every man around me imagines only evil in his heart. I can't make any difference in this dark world anyway. I'm just one man." 

Praise God, Noah didn't say that. He didn't picture himself as an insignificant man whose life didn't matter. According to Hebrews, he saw himself as a man to whom God had spoken and by faith he obeyed God. And because of that he ended up being the only thing that stood between mankind and total destruction. 

Next time you're tempted to shrug off the instructions of God and be disobedient, next time you catch yourself thinking, "It doesn't matter what I do"--remember Noah. Consider the fact that, whether you understand it or not, God is counting on you to carry out your part of His plan. Live like you're someone important in the kingdom of God. And sooner or later you'll realize, you are.

God of the Valleys

Joseph of the Old Testament was someone who experienced many valleys in his life. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery. Later Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, and then he was thrown into prison (Genesis 37:24; 39:7-23 NKJV). But God was faithful to Joseph in his hard times. When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, he released him and made him administrator over all of Egypt! 

Joseph could have gotten egotistical in his high government position, but he didn't. He knew the Lord of the valleys had turned his suffering into fruitfulness. Joseph named one of his sons Ephraim, meaning fruitful in suffering, in recognition of what God had done in his life. 

Later, Joseph's father, Jacob, prophesied over him, saying, "Joseph is a fruitful bough...by a well; his branches run over the wall" (Genesis 49:22). Because he let God be real in his valleys, Joseph was blessed, and his branches ran over the wall to bless others as well. God saved his family and generations later through them brought forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The story of Joseph can help us learn an important lesson: Life is full of ups and downs, but God can make us fruitful in our valley times. When we let God be God of the hills-the good times-and God of the valleys-the low times-not only are we blessed, but we become a fruitful bough that grows and blesses others as well.

The Most Depresing Day

READ: Exodus 6:1-9

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. —Matthew 14:27

Scientists in the UK have calculated that the most depressing day of the year comes in the third week of January. Winter days are dark and cold, holiday excitement has worn off just as Christmas debts are coming due, and New Year’s resolutions have all been broken. The celebrations, gift-giving, and good intentions that once made us feel happy now press us down and leave us feeling hopeless.

Long ago in Egypt, the Hebrew people had high hopes that Moses would rescue them from slavery. But their hopes were dashed when Moses’ good intentions led to worse conditions for them. Instead of gaining freedom, the people were pressed even harder by slave drivers who demanded that they produce the same amount of bricks with fewer resources.

Moses cried out to the Lord, “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all” (Ex. 5:23). As Moses and the Hebrew people were about to learn, God’s rescue plans sometimes don’t kick in until all hope seems to be gone.

If the circumstances of your life seem to be going from bad to worse, sending you into depression and despair, remember that God always hears and answers our cries—but it’s in His time, not ours. —Julie Ackerman Link

Our strength and hope are in the Lord—
We rest secure in His sure Word;
And though we’re tempted to despair,
We know we’re kept within His care.  —D. De Haan

When you feel hopeless, look to the God of hope.