by Shannon Tillman | Mar 27, 2025 | Bible Study
I was so tired. A certain health issue combined with family stress had caused my body to crash. The idea of washing dishes seemed to be too overwhelming, much less accomplishing anything that really seemed to matter. The fatigue was not as discouraging as the thoughts of all the things I “should” be doing. Failure seemed to mock me on every side. I was definitely not doing “enough” based on some idea or expectation of what I assumed “enough” should look like.
God, in His gentle mercy, reminded me that I am not accountable to what I think I “should” do. Also, I am not accountable to the opinion of others or what they consider I “should” do. Instead, moment by moment I just need to be aware of the Lord. He will lead me in His time and in His way. On that difficult day, the Lord just called me to rest in His mercy, comfort, and strength.
When Jesus arrived on the scene, the Jewish community had their ideas of what the Messiah “should” do. He should rescue them from Rome, conquer all their enemies, reign from Jerusalem as their King, and usher in the Messianic era. Their expectations came from promises written in the Old Testament. One of these many Messianic prophesies could be found in the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:2
“to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God…”
The Messiah will declare favor over His people and vengeance over the enemy. The Israelites were waiting for this promised victory and believed the time had come for its fulfillment. Jesus had other news for them.
Luke 4:16-20a
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
“Wait a minute, Jesus. You only said the first part of the promise from Isaiah. We want to see vengeance on the enemy. We want to see Rome conquered and an earthly kingdom set up. Why did you stop halfway and not complete this section of scriptures?”
Jesus knew what God had called Him to do in that season of life. He knew that in His first coming, this was what He would accomplish, nothing more, nothing less. The people’s expectation of what Messiah “should” do was not going to influence what the Lord had already determined to happen. Jesus did not put more expectations on Himself or cave to the expectations of others. He simply stayed with the mission.
Luke 4:20b-21
The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus models the timing of ministry. He knew what He was to accomplish at that time and He knows what He will do in the future. Jesus will return to earth and will reign as King. He will conquer every enemy. However, that was not the purpose of His first coming. There was a gap of time in between that was not understood by the people. Jesus was not living according to their ideas; He was following God’s will. Thus, He was faithfully completing the part of the plan He was called to at that time.
By the way, Jesus knew the people would not like the fact that He was not going to meet their expectations.
Luke 4:24-27
And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
Jesus was letting them know that even the Old Testament gave accounts where the Gentiles (non-Jews) received from the Lord while the Jewish people did not. God’s intention for salvation encompassed all people, not just the Jews. Jesus knew His death on the cross would provide access to the Father for everyone who chooses to believe. Since this was not an expectation they had of the Messiah, the people were enraged at Jesus.
Luke 4:28-29
And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.
They attempted to kill Jesus! This is His hometown of Nazareth so the crowd would have included some family and friends. (When I was struggling with my family, Jesus reminded me that although my situation was hard and painful, cruel and mean, at least my family did not try to throw me over a cliff like His did!) Their hostility did not change the mission Jesus was on.
Luke 4:30
But passing through their midst, He went His way.
Jesus knew it was not time for Him to die. He was to proclaim good news, freedom, and God’s favor. He would continue to do what God had told Him to do until He would faithfully accomplish another set of prophesies from Isaiah:
Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
One day, Jesus will return and fulfill the rest of the Messianic promises in Scripture. He will rescue His people, vanquish the enemy, and reign from Jerusalem. Until that day, we are to be faithful to the Lord and not be weighed down by all we think we “should” do or by the expectations of others. God will tell us His plan for us and guide our steps so we can fulfill the purpose He has for us in this season of life.
by Shannon Tillman | Mar 13, 2025 | Bible Study
I avoid doctors. Due to the fact that I have become nauseous just looking at the medical posters on the wall, I treat the medical community as an unwanted, unnecessary, evil intruder in my life. However, years ago, when I had some very suspicious and concerning medical situations arise, I immediately made an appointment. Thankfully, the medical scare was something benign.
Why does it usually take a crisis until we pay attention? Throughout the Bible, it is often the pains of life that cause people to cry out to God, to change their ways, and to receive the help they need.
The book of Jeremiah documents many losses Israel suffered because of their refusal to repent of their sin. The prophets had been warning the people for hundreds of years to forsake idols and to return to the Lord their God. The people did not listen. The Lord allowed outside pressures to continue to accumulate, but it was to no avail. Finally, the Lord let the people know that they would be captured by the enemy, many would be killed, others would be taken as slaves, and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. And it all happened just as the Lord had declared through Jeremiah who saw the destruction of his people and his land.
The pain, though, had a purpose.
Jeremiah 31:1
At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”
The Lord longs for relationship. He will allow adversity to bring us back to Himself. He wants to be God over every family. He wants us to be His people, not in name only but in character. The nation of Israel had the label of being “God’s people” but did not act in accordance to God’s ways. Often, we too do the same. We may be “Christians” but not look like Christ. When God is our God, then He makes us His people. In any area of our lives where God is not God, then we do not act, respond, or live like His people. Instead, we live and act according to what we prioritize over the Lord. For example, we may respond with control instead of trust, or pity instead of prayer, or drowning our sorrows in food or shopping compared to seeking the Lord. The hardships in life strip away the idols that we worship so that we may truly be connected to the heart of our Father in heaven. It is discipline with a purpose.
Hebrews 12:9-11
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
The discipline is to bring us into holiness, the very character of God. It is so we can enjoy our relationship with Him. The discipline is not to continue endlessly. There is a point of time that God has determined to bring wholeness back into our lives.
Jeremiah 31:1
AT THAT TIME,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” (emphasis mine)
God looks forward to the exact moment when the relationship thrives between the Lord and His people and between one another. Families are restored as we forsake idols and serve God alone. We become His people, reflecting His heart towards others. The discipline leads to encountering God in a way we have never experienced before.
Jeremiah 31:2-3
Thus says the Lord, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when it went to find its rest.” The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying,“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
The discipline was an act of love to draw us out from our idols to the wilderness, to be in a place where it is only the person and God. We then encounter His grace, rest, and love. Here, we have Him speak His personal love messages to us. Then, He commissions us to healing and joy.
Jeremiah 31:4-5
“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.”
The discipline not only rescues us from ourselves and from our idols, but it enables us to make a difference in the lives of others.
Jeremiah 31:5-6
“Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria; The planters will plant and will enjoy them. “For there will be a day when watchmen on the hills of Ephraim call out, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”
Others will reap the fruit of our changed lives and will discover the Lord God. How much better than for others to reap the destruction caused by our idols! As we evaluate our lives, may anything not of the Lord be a point of repentance and may the ways of the Lord be embraced. We want to be one of “God’s people” in every area of our lives so that our families and those around us can also be impacted by the Lord.
Maybe today is time for a “spiritual” check-up. Lord, show us where we are your people and where we are not acting like your people. Help us to repent and change. We can rejoice together over our lives being transformed by your grace and love!
by Kevin Tillman | Mar 6, 2025 | Bible Study
If you’ve been around Christianity very long at all, you’ve heard the word “freedom”. It’s at the core of the gospel message. We are set free from our bondage to sin and death.
Galatians 5:1
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
So, here’s the million dollar question: If freedom is the whole purpose, why are so many Christians not free? Before you get scared off, this isn’t going to be yet another blog about “get your act together and quit sinning.” I mean, sure, our sins without a doubt are a major source of our bondage, but maybe there’s more to the story. What about the Christian that is sincerely trying? I mean seeking God … doing Bible study, attending worship, praying, practicing the disciplines. They’re even fighting their fleshly desires. Yet still, the freedom seems to be elusive.
In this blog, I’d like to propose the idea of levels of freedom. In other words, there is some freedom found, but then there is something else that seems to keep us bound. It’s like a never-ending cycle. We are free, but then, we’re not free. We’re free from one thing, and then it’s something else. I know this seems a bit confusing, and for the theology nerds almost heretical, so let me point to scripture.
We’ll take a look at one of the most popular stories in the Bible (for you old timers out there, you’re about to see Charlton Heston). God’s people, the nation of Israel, was in captivity. They were slaves in Egypt. This lasted 430 years. Don’t gloss by that number. We read the Bible too quickly sometimes and miss the numbers. 430 years is a really, really long time. For comparison sake, we live in 2025 at the time of this writing. 430 years ago was 1595. For kicks I googled famous people in 1595 and came up with William Shakespeare and Pocahontas. We get all worked up over a situation that lasts more than a month. But slavery for 430 years? That’s a really long time!
Finally the day came, the plagues were too much. Pharoah was done with it. So …
Exodus 12:31
Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.
There it is – freedom. Finally, set free from slavery. They are now free to go. After 430 years, what a day this was. A time to celebrate. This one event is the central piece in Judaism, and Christianity as well. Jews commemorate Passover annually as a reminder of the day they were set free. For Christians, it is a precursor to the cross, but another blog for another day. Without a doubt this is a huge deal. But wait, there’s more, this story is just getting started.
Exodus 13:17-18
When Pharaoh finally let the people go, GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM ALONG THE MAIN ROAD that runs through Philistine territory, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS THE SHORTEST ROUTE to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt LIKE AN ARMY READY FOR BATTLE. (emphasis added).
Do you see the emphasis there? They are set free, but God doesn’t give them the short cut. Even though they are free, there are still obstacles ahead. As believers, so often we think that an answered prayer and a “word from God” means it’s smooth sailing from here on out. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this instance, the reason is given for the detour … “they might change their minds and return.” We don’t always get the explanation for our detours, and God doesn’t owe us that. But, we can be sure, if there is a detour, it has a purpose. I love that last part as well, “like and army ready for battle”. Set free? Yes. But still ready for what might be coming. we should be vigilant and prepared for any attack that might be coming. And oh, by the way, that’s exactly what’s about to happen in this story …
Exodus 14:5-9
When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
They haven’t been free long at all, and now they are being chased down. Not just a little by the way. Once again, don’t gloss over the numbers and words in the Bible. “He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots”, but it goes on to say, “along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander”. First we have to overcome the image of a puny chariot. If you’ve seen the old movies, you have the image of this thing on two wheels being pulled by a horse. It’s struggling to not tip over as it moves along the rough terrain. We compare those to our modern day warfare. Yeah, it’s no match for a tank, but in those days it was the tank! we see there are 600, but also more. Those 600 were in likelihood the generals, the top dogs. So, they not only brought their one chariot, but also all of the forces they commanded. We don’t know the number, but there would be more horsemen without a chariot, foot soldiers, we do know there are even more chariots that aren’t generals. Now, picture the spearmen and the archers. A general would never travel alone, but rather he would be surrounded by a variety of infantry and weapons. So, make no mistake this is an all out pursuit.
These next few verses are some of the saddest in Scripture, not just because of this story, but also it’s implications today …
Exodus 14:10-12
As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
They have been set free. They are no longer under slavery. Yet, here they are in fear for their lives. Before we judge them too harshly, picture yourself there as well. This massive army is approaching. Remember this is a huge mighty force coming to get you.
Isn’t that just like us though? We experience some level of freedom, but then a road block occurs. We feel trapped. We don’t see a way out. And then, there it is, our past is chasing us down. Thoughts of “why don’t you just go back” creep into our thinking. Or, “at least you knew where you stood” back there. As believers, the enemy doesn’t ever give up on us. There is always a plan to bring us down. There is a pursuit, a battle for you.
So, how did this happen? Why did God allow this? How did they even get here in the first place?
Exodus 13:20-22
The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
How did they get in this trapped situation? God led them there. Wait, what? Yeah, God led them by a cloud pillar during the day, and a pillar of fire at night. He led them right to this point, and now they are stuck. Hold tight, there’s a reason, and we’ll get to it.
Have you ever just said, “God just show me Your will”? Or, “God can you make this clear for me?”. Well, in this case it was obvious. I mean sometimes I wish I had a big ole ball of fire that would show me what to do. They had it. The Israelites had an undoubtable direction. Can you imagine the celebration up until this point? 430 years of slavery is gone, and now a ball of fire is leading them. Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!
But, that’s not the end of the story. They had experienced freedom, but they are about to experience another level of freedom.
Let’s set the scene again. We know the approaching army is close enough to be seen. The Israelites are now in fear. These aren’t the days of radar, so this blitz is close. They are within minutes of being overtaken. Fear is in the camp. You likely know this story, and the ending, but on the other side, there is no where to run. There lies the unpassable Red Sea. They are stuck.
Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Another number to not minimize. We know there were around 600,000 men with the Israelites. That means a rough estimate that includes women and children would be around 2 or 3 million people that Moses is talking to. That’s roughly the population of Chicago for comparison sake. Moses doesn’t know the outcome. He doesn’t know how God is going to work this out. He does, however, have a disgruntled mob in front of him. I don’t envy what Moses had to do. In my own translation, he basically said, “every one calm down, it’s going to be OK, God is going to show up”. You just know there were some in the crowd that were yelling back. “Yeah but how?” or “Why did God do this to us?” or “That’s not good enough” or even those that wanted to usurp Moses’ authority … “who does this guy think he is?” or likely, “shut up dude, sit down”, and yeah, there was the smattering of “boos”. This was an angry mob on the verge of riot. They were ticked off.
Once again they are trapped. The Red Sea is before them, the army is approaching from the back. And they got here how? Because God led them right into this predicament.
Exodus 14:19-20
Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.
What a night this was. That fireball that had been leading them into this dead end, suddenly moves behind them. This cloud and fire parks itself right between the pursing Egyptians and the Israelites. Basically, the Egyptian force was stopped cold in their tracks. The best fighting army on planet Earth was stopped by a bunch of fog and a ball of fire.
We should take note, that when God leads us out of our bondage, He’s going to continue to protect us from it. That’s a pretty important sentence I just typed, worth repeating .. When God leads us out of our bondage, He’s going to continue to protect us from it.
The stage is set. They now have a rear guard, but there’s still a major obstacle ahead. You know the story …
Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
Here it is, another level of freedom. They had been set free from slavery a mere few days ago. But it wasn’t over yet. There was yet another level of freedom to be had.
You know the rest of the story. The Egyptian armies continued their pursuit through the walled off waters of the Red Sea. Not specifically stated in the text, but we can easily interpret that the angel of cloud and fire removed the barrier, allowing the Egyptian pursuit. Once they were in the waters, and the Israelites were safe on the other side, Moses raised his rod again, and the waters flooded back in. The enemy was defeated. The past was now longer there to chase them.
Exodus 14:31
When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Within a few short days, two major miracles. First, the release from bondage in Egypt. Second, the miraculous Red Sea crossing. Two levels of freedom achieved and witnessed. And their faith was strengthened.
Wouldn’t it be great if the story ended right there with “and they lived happily ever after.” Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Here’s the quick cliff notes version. After crossing the Red Sea, God establishes His covenant with His people through the Ten Commandments. Immediately, disobedience and idol worship takes place, so 40 years of wandering in the wilderness happens. After 40 years, they finally entered the promised land, but again idol worship and conflicts occur. A period of judges is instituted due to the unfaithfulness of the people. There was constant backsliding and worship of foreign gods. Many kings came and went. Good kings and bad kings. Prophets continually pointed to the truth. During this time the nation of Israel followed God, then didn’t. They made idols, then they destroyed them. They were up and they were down. It would be around 1500 years from the Red Sea crossing until the birth of Jesus.
The point is, freedom happened. They were set free, but there was still more freedom to be had. There was a “next level freedom”. It could be said that Jesus was the ultimate freedom. I wouldn’t argue with that point, because all of the Old Testament did indeed point towards Jesus. He is the “once and for all” sacrifice. He brings that ultimate freedom.
But, I think we can still learn a bit about our human nature and the concept of freedom from these Old Testament stories. In other words, we can be set free from our past slavery, but it’s still going to chase us. We can get in dire circumstances like the Red Sea that seem impossible. Then, even after those levels of freedom, there is still wandering. There is still the challenge of idols in our own lives. Once we are set free from one thing, another thing can be there waiting on us.
Freedom over sin, and freedom over death is a once and for all. Jesus has paid that price, and if we are “in Christ” we are set free. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a cake walk. There are still levels of freedom. Our walk with God is a constant pursuit of reaching that next level of freedom.
Wherever you are today in your freedom journey, know that there is more. There is always more. There is another level of freedom.
by Shannon Tillman | Feb 27, 2025 | Bible Study
“It just didn’t work out”. This sentence summarizes an end to a situation or a relationship. However, this statement is from our perspective, not from God’s point of view. The Lord has a different summary over our circumstances:
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God says “It will work out”. We may not know when or how, but it will work for good even if we are not around to see it happen.
Such was the case for the prophet Isaiah. He would not live to see the miracle from the murder. This story began not with a crime, but instead with a healing from a death bed.
2 Kings 20:1-6a
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life…
Hezekiah was on the verge of death, yet God added fifteen years to his life. This is one of those “hallelujah moments”. Imagine how faith in the Lord increased by all of those who had witnessed this miraculous event. Isaiah had the honor of declaring the word of the Lord to king Hezekiah and to see the king recover. God honored His promise and Hezekiah lived another fifteen years. During this time, he fathered a son named Manasseh who would become king after his father’s death.
2 Kings 21:1-3
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
Manasseh was evil. His father, Hezekiah, had been a godly king, but Manasseh was considered the most wicked king in all of Judah’s history. He not only set up idols, he sacrificed some of his children to them. He practiced witchcraft and placed evil images in the holy temple of the Lord. God told the prophets that Manasseh was more wicked than the nations that had been driven out of the Promised Land before Israel settled there.
2 Kings 21:9
…Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.
His evil corrupted the nation of Judah which followed his wicked ways. This led to a loss of many lives, for Manasseh was a cold-blooded killer.
2 Kings 21:16
Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
According to ancient Jewish and Christian tradition, the prophet Isaiah was killed by king Manasseh. He was murdered by being sawed in two. Some scholars believe a verse of Hebrews may reference Isaiah’s death:
Hebrews 11:37-38
They were put to death by stoning; they were SAWED IN TWO; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. (emphasis mine)
Let’s put the pieces together. Isaiah informed Hezekiah that the king was about to die. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord. God told Isaiah to let Hezekiah know that his life would be extended fifteen years. Three years later, Manasseh was born. Nine years after that, Hezekiah died and Manasseh became the most murderous, idolatrous king in Judah’s history. His reign of terror included killing the very prophet who was a part of his father’s miraculous healing.
Can you imagine Isaiah’s cries to the Lord? He had to witness the complete surrender of the nation to evil, such evil that people were killed to appease these false gods. Isaiah knew Manasseh was born after the miraculous healing of Hezekiah. “Why, Lord?” If Hezekiah had died, Manasseh would not have been born to kill so many people, to entice the nation to idolatry, witchcraft, and perversion. On top of the wretchedness Isaiah witnessed in the nation, he himself is murdered by Manasseh. I think an understatement would be to say “That didn’t work out”. This story has so many heart-wrenching questions and layers that seem to end in only allowing evil to triumph and good to be destroyed. Except, God intervenes in a surprising way.
2 Chronicles 33:10-11
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.
The Lord had given warnings, most likely even through the prophet Isaiah. For the book of Isaiah records many warnings to the people of Judah. Yet, Manasseh and the people ignored the warnings. The Lord allowed Manasseh to be taken prisoner to a foreign land.
If this was the end of the story, we could at least settle for our ideas of justice taking place. Yet, this justice turns into a miracle.
2 Chronicles 33:12-13
When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
Manasseh, the murderous idol worshipper, becomes a believer in the Lord God! Manasseh, the evil king, became the humbled prisoner, was miraculously released from prison and allowed to rule again in Judah. This time, he reigned with a new heart.
2 Chronicles 33:15-16
He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, as well as all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. He set up the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he ordered Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
The idol worshiper becomes an evangelist of the Lord! Only God could have foreseen such a tremendous ending to an otherwise horrendous story.
On the day Isaiah died, it may have seemed that “Things didn’t work out”. The truth is, it worked out for a greater, miraculous good than could have ever been imagined. God is faithful to His promise:
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Whatever situation that looks like it is not working out in our lives, means that it is not yet over. The final chapter has not been written. At some point whether we are still on earth, or only seeing the highlights in heaven, we will be able to testify that God did work it out for good and it is truly marvelous!
What do we need to do while we wait for God to work it all for good? We must pray. Manasseh cried out to the Lord from his prison cell and received a miracle. His father, Hezekiah, had cried out to the Lord from his death bed and received a miracle. Cry out to God, in your situation that looks hopeless and wait for the Lord to intervene and bring a miracle.
by Shannon Tillman | Feb 20, 2025 | Bible Study, Thoughts
My husband and I have been walking through a season of profound loss over the last few years. Every part of our lives has been impacted. My heart would still be grieving over one loss when another would burst upon the scene. My emotions felt so raw and our lives so mangled. At a conference I spoke at, I told the crowd that we were living a country song because we even lost our precious dog. You can’t get more country than that!
My prayers seemed to be more tears than words. My dear prayer partners were often left speechless as the events of my life unfolded; they did not know what to say to even attempt to encourage me. The book of Job was sometimes referenced and I often heard, “I don’t know, but I can pray for you.” Their prayers for me were so precious because they knew I did not have any more prayer inside to pour out. One day, I said to the Lord, “I have been stripped of everything.” There was not a single area of life that I could point to that had not been devastated in some way.
The Lord’s answer to me was gentle but clear, “If something or someone is already surrendered, it would not be stripped.”
At first, I was taken aback by what He said. Did that mean God stripped me to punish me? But then my mind felt the words of Job:
Job 1:21
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job spoke these words after the loss of all his possessions, the loss of the majority of his servants, and the loss of all ten of his children. It was not the Lord who actually caused the devastation; Satan did that.
Job 1:8-12
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan proceeded in wreaking havoc in Job’s life. Yet, Job responded in worship rooted in His profound trust of the Lord. Job understood that God is sovereign even over the enemy’s devastation in our lives.
Job 1:22
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Life will have its share of pain and loss. Jesus even promised it:
John 16:33b
“…In this world you will have trouble…”
That is usually not the promise people print out and stick on their mirror for encouragement for the day. “Yippee, I get to face trouble today!” We want the promises of victory, strength, blessings, healing, and prosperity; not verses on trouble.
The truth is, life is trouble. We live in a fallen world, with sinful people (which I am one of especially when I am hungry, so this is your warning), with a powerful enemy who seeks to destroy us. There will be losses; there will be pain; there will be heartaches; there will be death.
If we hold tightly onto the people and things around us, losses will feel like pieces of our heart are being stripped away. But when we surrender each piece, each person as painful as it may be, we are surrendering to the sovereign God who rules over every situation in our lives. I realized that day God was inviting me to surrender my pain to Him. Instead of staying focused on all that was stripped from us, I needed to look to the one who was over my entire life. “Lord, I do not understand why this was allowed to happen, but I choose to trust you.” The loss was the same, but my heart was changed.
I knew God could have prevented everything that happened and the season we are still walking through. He is mighty, powerful, and able to perform miracles. Yet, in my world I still have trouble. I can blame God or I can blame others which just keeps me distant from true comfort in my time of pain. I can focus on the losses and stay stuck in the question of “why” which magnifies every painful situation and leaves me feeling like a victim in a cosmic war. Or I can surrender each heartbreak to the Lord and trust that He sees, He knows, and He will eventually bring blessing out of the pain in His timing and in His way.
Job 42:12
The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.
There will be a moment when I will finally see the goodness of God in each area of my life that has been impacted by the severe losses we have suffered. In the end, the blessing of God will overtake the destruction of the enemy. I do not know when that will take place or how it will look in the end. However, I know I can trust all that has been surrendered to Him.
Job 1:21b
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
by Kevin Tillman | Feb 13, 2025 | Bible Study, Thoughts
The word “word” has two words in the Bible. Confused yet? Read it again … in the Bible we see the word “word”, but that word has two different words in the original Greek language. Those two words are “Logos” and “Rhema”. Stick with me this is so important.
Most Christians are familiar with the “Logos” translation. This is a written word. This is God’s Word to us. This is the Bible. The word “logos” is used 330 times in the New Testament.
Less familiar is the “Rhema” translation. This is a spoken word. It is a present word. It is an immediate call to action. The word “rhema” is used 68 times in the New Testament.
I know, this isn’t making a ton of sense yet, but hang on, this is so important. Let me give. a few examples ….
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word (Logos) was God.”
This verse is speaking of the person of Jesus Christ. It is referencing the eternal nature of Jesus. It also shows the unity of the Father and Son and the eternal word (logos) of God.
Here’s another …
John 1:14
“The Word (Logos) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
A reference to Jesus becoming a human, but still retaining the eternal nature of the Logos.
So what about “Rhema”? This is where it gets interesting …
John 15:7
“If you remain in me and my words (Rhema) remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Once again “Rhema” is a spoken word, a present word. It’s a call to action. Here Jesus is saying, that “Logos word” needs to be a “Rhema word” inside of you. In other “words” (ha) … it’s not enough to just know the scriptures, it must be dwelling in us. It has to be active. It must be a present tense message. That’s a “Rhema”, and that’s what produces the power. The verse isn’t saying if the Bible is in you, ask whatever you wish. The verse is pointing to a “Rhema” word. This is a word for that moment. It is a combination of a written word (Logos), and a current reality in your life. The Holy Spirit then delivers a “Rhema” word.
Still confused? Here’s another one …
Ephesians 6:17
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (Rhema) of God.”
This one is a slight mind shift for us. Growing up I’ve always pictured this verse by using the Bible as the sword. My mind’s eye even imagines beating the devil over the head with a big ole fat KJV family Bible, but I digress. Growing up we even had Bible drill competitions that were dubbed “Sword Drill”. This isn’t a bad interpretation at all. The Bible is after all, a weapon that we have in our arsenal. It is something we use when fighting Satan. However, the “Logos” can only take us so far. The power is in the “Rhema”. The “Logos” word of God is a stored up knowledge we possess. It is information based on our years of experience in studying the Bible and being in relationship with God. But, a “Rhema” word is a current word. It is given to us in the right now for the situation right in front of us. It’s practical and it’s applicable in the present tense.
Before I’m labeled a heretic … read Jesus’ own words…
Matthew 4:4
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word (Rhema) that comes from the mouth of God.”
When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, his response was a “Rhema” not a “Logos” word. In other words, He answered with a specific word for that particular situation. It wasn’t a general proclamation of the entire Bible, it was a direct answer to the direct temptation. It was a word for that moment and that issue.
So, with that foundation what do we make of all of this? First, notice that Jesus did respond with “Rhema”, but that “Rhema” was from the “Logos”. In other words, both are vital, and neither should ever contradict the other. They are in cooperation. The “Logos” is the foundation. For our purposes, the Bible, the Word of God, the Scripture is the basis for everything. God will never give us a word (Rhema), that contradicts the Word (Logos). Therefore, we must be students of the Bible. We need to know the Scriptures.
But, just knowing the Word (Logos) isn’t enough. God can then speak to us, and give us a fresh word (Rhema) for our situation. The Bible is indeed a weapon for us to use, but it’s not a knife we just hurl in the air at the evil that comes at us. We aren’t just blindly swatting the devil with our Bible. No, it’s the Rhema that holds the power. We yield this specific word.
Have you ever had a situation where you read a passage of Scripture that you may have read 100’s of times, and suddenly a new insight hit you? That’s the Logos becoming the Rhema. As a reminder, they will never contradict. If they do, that Rhema isn’t a Rhema, it’s a “made up in your head”.
A Rhema word is life changing. It is a direct, fresh experience with God Himself. While the Logos is something for us to study and know, the Rhema is something we should yearn for. A Rhema is a present tense answer and encounter with God Himself. The prayer could be “God speak to me, give me a “Rhema” today.” It’s a word for right here and right now.
The apostle Peter had this encounter …
After fishing all night and catching nothing, the professional fisherman Peter was instructed by Jesus.
Luke 5:4-6
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so (Rhema), I will let down the nets.”When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Did you see it? Peter knew who Jesus was. Peter was also a professional fisherman that knew his trade well. But Jesus gives a “Rhema” word. A word for right then and right there. He tells Peter to try the other side of the boat. This story has always struck me as funny. I could see Peter almost flippantly carrying this out. It’s as if Peter would be saying, “oh yeah, the other side of this little boat, yeah didn’t think of that one”. But he did it! Peter, because he received this “Rhema” word did it. And, of course, they caught so many fish the nets began to break.
Hallelujah, don’t miss that one. When we receive a “Rhema” word from God, we need to follow through. Even if it sounds crazy, it’s go time. A fresh “Rhema” word can lead to breakthrough. We can be full of all of the knowledge, but that one new message can change everything.
So, what do we do? First we make ourselves students of the “Logos”. The Logos is eternal, and it never changes. Jesus gave Satan a “Rhema” word, because He knew the “Logos”. Actually He WAS the “Logos”, but the point still stands. Peter received a “Rhema” word, because he knew the “Logos”.
I’ll wrap up this blog with one more verse. It’s yet another reminder of the power of the here and now, and the “Rhema” word.
John 6:63
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words (Rhema) I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”
God’s Word (Logos) will give us God’s Word (Rhema). Get grounded in the Logos, and passionately seek the Rhema. The (Logos) word is foundational, but the (Rhema) word brings life!
