Scripture

 But as for you, only do not rebel against Yahweh; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has been removed from them, and Yahweh is with us; do not fear them.

~Numbers 14:9, LSB

Quote

All of life can be considered one big  miracle that God is continually performing before us.

~David Brickner

The Jews have a play that is popular during Purim. In one of the scenes in the play Vashti is outraged when she gets word that the king has requested her presence so he can show off her beauty. Vashti had a fit and began smashing furniture. Vashti became Smashti. She broke wooden tables with one lick. The crowd watched in awe as this beautiful woman smashed furniture like a martial arts expert. One curious spectator went behind stage after the play. He asks one of the stage hands: how did this woman who weighted a hundred and ten smash these wooden tables that had four inch legs. The stage hand said, “That is easy, the tables have already been cut into pieces and with one lick anyone can smash the table. You can’t see the cuts in the audience but they are there.” This is basically what the LORD told Israel, “I have removed their protection and I will give them into your hand.”  The problem is that the Israelites did not believe the LORD. They refused to trust His word.

The Israelites disobeyed God and that lead them into full fledged rebellion and rebelling against God is never wise. But there is one other lesson here: things are seldom, if ever, what they appear. From the audience, the table appeared to be strong, far too strong for a beautiful woman to shatter into pieces. Yet the table had been fixed or prepared for the stunt. In truth, the table was not strong at all. They had no integrity. They had been cut into several pieces. Don’t jump to conclusions based on appearance. When we start jumping to conclusions, ninety percent of the time we land on a lie. Things are seldom what they appear.

Extra

Another great day of VBS and Grace Point had two present yesterday: Lexie and Charlie were with us. I was unloading the wagon and I reached out to help this pretty little girl off and it was Lexie; then a few minutes later, Charlie showed up. Charlie is in the Kindergarten class and they have 29. I borrowed the trailer from a friend but I could make one if I could find a 4 wheel wagon frame. If you know where I can find one, let me know. I think we had 265 in VBS yesterday. You would have go back to the turn of the century to top those number. We did exceed the 400 number one year in enrollment and we have had over 300 several times. I haven’t had time to pull up the records. I don’t think we have ever had that many in a 3yr-6th grade VBS. In the old days we went through the 8th and one year we did YOUTH. Hey, it is a sight to behold and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

I do want to say how thankful I am to get to work along side my children and grandchildren this week. June and I have four grands who are workers, one grand as a student and one great grand. Lexi always helps in VBS and Holly takes off to work and has been doing this for the past several years. Hope is working this year. If I could get Sister to show up Friday, I would have all four kids working in VBS.

Joyce Dotson is having surgery this morning in B’town. Pray for Joyce.