Life Learning Series

Israel had a pattern that the LORD engrained in the congregation, for extension of vines that would spread out among itself, the mixed multitude of Israel. This pattern is in the law of Moses. It involves the work that was assigned to the priesthood.

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. (Exodus 28:36-38)Specifically, the assignment was to the family of Aaron.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Eighteen –

In a prior section of our study of collateral damage and the Heart of God, we spoke of, rooms of separation from the principles of grace and redemption, such as one occupies when one moves too far from the center of the LORD’S will. This was a state in which the children of Israel often abided; however, it was not a state that was permanent. As given for the sake of the people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, this promise of the LORD still prevailed; even when Israel was in one of those rooms.

And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

(2 Chronicles 7:12-16)Thus, in fulfillment of that pronouncement of the LORD; the time would come, when the LORD would extract Israel from its room of rebellion. Actually, there would be many such extractions. Two detailed progressions of rebellious circumstances that would require extraction are contained in the book of Leviticus, chapter twenty-six, and the book of Leviticus, chapter twenty-eight (The Curses). We have included these lists as an addendum to this portion of the study of collateral damage and the Heart of God.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Seventeen –

Previously, we received an introduction to the fact that; in the preparation of the vine of the LORD, there is an acceptable set of principles for pruning the human branches, in preparing them for service to the LORD. Here is a refreshing of that introduction.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

(John 15:1-5)

As with plant husbandry, so, too, it is with humans: there are varying intensities of pruning. At the most benign end is the pruning that tweaks the mind to shift from an intention that has not yet been acted upon. In that level of pruning is activity such as this.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Sixteen –

The potential to send out branches from a rod has been identified. We need to have more clarity about the identity of a very special Branch. This is the Branch that was ordained, by God, to grow and branch out further; so as, to fill the earth with the glory of the presence of God, with us. To get us to that point, my mind has been called to this Scripture.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

(John 15:1-7)Please know that; that Scripture is full of stress, and a goodly measure of turmoil. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about that dynamic.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Fifteen –

By the use of the buds of prophecy, the LORD was moving the world closer to perfection, in God. This was being done in the LORD’S spoiling of the competing principles of the world. The method that was in operation was, and still is, as is declared here.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

(1 Corinthians 1:18-21)

On the other side of that disruption of mankind is this: the beneficence of the LORD. This beneficence is such that; in the battle to transform the world, many of our principles that compete with it will become collateral damage. Many of the impacts from the LORD will be unpleasant. To lessen the unpleasantness, we need to be ever mindful of the agency that is in the transformation. This is that agency.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Fourteen –

To begin the restoration of the reassignment of the prophetic weight of responsibility (as was in the bud of Israel into the world) would require the apportionment of a measure of collateral damage. There was a cancer in the world, which had to be removed by the LORD. The identification for the cancer is described in the following Scripture, along with the therapy that was prescribed to combat it.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

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(Ephesians 6:11-16 . . .)The constituent cells of the cancer were–each one–a human being. The more obviously malignant core cells are of this sort.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Thirteen –

The prophets seemed to be much like, buds as from the vine of service to the LORD God. These buds were under constant attack, as collateral damage of the willfulness of Israel, by name, and, mankind, in general. Much of the time, this was a result that came in the form of, what we refer to as; mob rule. A notable incident of that sort is the following affront, which was in response to the prophecy of Micaiah. The king of Israel started the confrontation.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?

And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him.And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

(2 Chronicles 18:17-22)It might seem to be normal that, the prophets of reference, the ones with the accusation of having a lying spirit would be offended. However, it does not seem reasonable that they would use anything other than prophetic pronouncements as the way to refute the accusation. Then, the king could have compared the claims of authorization. But, these prophets were a mob, and, therefore, they moved in the mob mentality. So, this is what happened.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twelve –

The prophets seemed to be much like, buds as from the vine of service to the LORD God. These buds were under constant attack, as collateral damage of the willfulness of Israel, by name, and, mankind, in general. Much of the time, this was a result that came in the form of, what we refer to as; mob rule. A notable incident of that sort is the following affront, which was in response to the prophecy of Micaiah. The king of Israel started the confrontation.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?

And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him.And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:17-22)

It might seem to be normal that, the prophets of reference, the ones with the accusation of having a lying spirit would be offended. However, it does not seem reasonable that they would use anything other than prophetic pronouncements as the way to refute the accusation. Then, the king could have compared the claims of authorization. But, these prophets were a mob, and, therefore, they moved in the mob mentality. So, this is what happened.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Eleven –

 

In addition to custodianship over Israel, Joshua was destined to link Israel with the other nations of the world.  To set this in motion, the LORD instigated a candidate connection.  The candidate connection is the type that would be formed in reaction to fear.  The LORD gave Joshua some practice in being that kind of intercessor for a certain one of the other nations; starting here.

And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

(Joshua 9:1-5)

The candidate connection was not, just for a confederation.  What is a confederation?  Here is an example of an interaction in a confederation, as might be applied to international affairs.

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Ten –

To reach someone’s intellect, we must have a component to which they can relate.  In the beginning of the LORD God’s introduction to the peoples of the world, God extended the following portion of His Self; a portion of interaction, to which the world would relate, from that time, forward.

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

(Exodus 4:21-23)

In the beginning of the LORD’S introduction to the broader population of the world of Moses’ day; the people of the world formed only a very cautious connection to the people of Israel.  That connection was based on fear, primarily.  This atmosphere went forward, across the wilderness journey, and onward, into the adventures in the land of Canaan.  In the time of Joshua, fear was a powerful parameter in the other nations’ assessment of Israel.  We see this, clearly, in the following interaction.

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Nine –