Saturday, August 7, 2010

mosquitoes


I get up very early, before others are stirring and at camp I would steal away from the campsite for time alone with GOD before the sun came up. On our last morning there, I walked on up to the Silver Lake a quarter mile or so from our campsite. There was a stillness and I saw two geese moving out toward the center of the lake and more joined them with soft honking back and forth between them.

Then all of a sudden things became very clear and I realized all around me were hords of mosquitoes. I was set to run when one of GOD’s names, the LORD of Hosts came to mind.

Now that name: YHWH Sabaoth or Jehovah Saboath means LORD of armies. HE is LORD over all armies whether human or angelic and it is even said HE sends forth an army of scorpions. So when that name came to mind, I knew what GOD was saying to me.

HE was saying, “They are MY army, Sharon.” And I answered HIM quickly, “Tell them not to bite me.”

Calm came over me and I watched the thousands of teeny newly hatched mosquitoes which looked like minute helicopters diving, rushing ahead but never colliding. I was amazed at the seeming confusion yet perfect order in their zooming this way and that.

I was there sometime and yet they never did bite me.

As I stood watching them and later on the walk back down to camp I thought of the end times, days of great troubles. Yet, I was reminded that as the mosquitoes were under the control of GOD so each of the foretold events are under HIS control. Just as HE kept the mosquitoes from biting me so HE is able to protect any who will seek HIS protection.

In Amos 4 this morning I was reminded of HIS armies. This portion says that if people refuse to hear GOD and obey HIM HE is forced to bring hard things their way in an attempt to get their attention so they will turn back to HIM and obtain life. GOD relates 5 such attempts in HIS dealing with Israel and ends each with the words, “The LORD GOD of hosts says, “Yet you have not returned to ME.”

Can’t you hear the anguish in HIS words?
GOD does not delight in the death of the wicked but that they turn and live. Ezekiel 18:23

Earlier HE had said, “Surely the LORD does nothing (what? does NOTHING=not one thing) unless HE reveals HIS secret counsel to HIS prophets. Amos 3:2
That is us, people of the light, we who choose to listen to the voice of GOD in HIS word and go with the nudging of the Holy SPIRIT. Like the young boy Samuel, if we want to hear what GOD is saying, we are told to listen and promised that we will understand. Then we must warn others.

Mark 4:23-24-- If anyone wants to hear, let him be listening and he will perceive and comprehend… Be careful of what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will be measured back to you in virtue and knowledge and more besides will be given to you who listen and hear.

Then be bold to warn others

Amos 5:4 for thus says the LORD, seek ME that you may live…

If you use the NIV you will not find the name LORD of Hosts… for the translators translate it LORD GOD ALMIGHTY leaving the concept of armies out of the picture. We miss out on a rich illustration that way.
hugs
me

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