Daily Treasure

“But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing”  (Deuteronomy 24:18).

What did God want the children of Israel to remember when He issued His commands in Deuteronomy?  He wanted them to call into remembrance their time in Egypt. They were improverished, oppressed and in bondage. God redeemed them.  How could they do less than to help those in dire need like the stranger, the fatherless and the widows? God didn’t say maybe or perhaps.  He spelled it all out in Deuteronomy saying, “therefore I command thee to do this thing.” What are you doing for the widows and fatherless around you?

Next week we will feature a story of a widow and her pot of oil.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray God would give assurance and bountifully supply the needs of widows in your community facing daunting winter fuel and heating bills. Ask God what you can do to help.

“Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor the fatherless, nor take a widow’s raiment for the pledge”  (Deuteronomy 24:17).

John Gill writes this about the first part of today’s verse: “’Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless…’—who are unable to defend themselves, and have but few, if any, to take their part; and therefore particular care should be taken by judges and civil magistrates to do them justice, or God will require it of them:”

God did not want anything taken from a widow as a pledge for a debt. All she might have had were the clothes on her back.  Taking anything away would only add to her grief. One of the many things on the mind of God was easing a widow’s grief.  One way of helping widows then (as well as now) was not taking advantage of them. Widows are very vulnerable in their grief.  The fatherless and the stranger often find themselves in this same state.

God admonishes all His children to look after widows. Be aware of their problems and needs. As a widow myself, I thank God for all those who still come to my rescue.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Continue in prayer for  Free Will Baptist 2013 Convention planners meeting together this week in Tampa.

“When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shall not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and for the widow”  (Deuteronomy 24:21).

As with olives, so with grapes, God instructed people  to leave some for those in dire need.  Though the stranger and fatherless are mentioned in these laws, widows seemed to be resourceful—first in finding these remains. That’s just my opinion, but, then maybe that’s what God had in mind.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray wisdom for Elizabeth Hodges and Florida Women Active for Christ leaders as they attend pre-convention planning meetings this week in Tampa.

“When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the bough again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless and for the widow”  (Deuteronomy 24:20).

Another portion of the law involved the olive tree. When beating its boughs with sticks and staves, people were told not to go back over those branches. Olives were a precious commodity in Old Testament times. It would be easy to become greedy, but God commanded the people to leave some olives for those in need like widows.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for widows in Home Mission congregations. Ask God to give them unique ministry opportunities and fulfilling roles in these new churches.

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands” (Deuteronomy 24:19).

As I began to search commentaries and deal with my own experiences, I came to at least two conclusions. First, I observed an overwhelming contrast between Old Testament widows and 21^st century ones.  Second, God was and continues to be with widows, helping ease the dilemmas they face.

We look this week at “Widows and Deuteronomy.”God set in motion a plan to keep widows from devastating poverty.  Leviticus 19:9 also mentions these Jewish laws. Today’s verse starts first with the harvest and gives the promise of God’s blessing upon people’s labors if they obeyed.  It was also on God’s mind that we do what we can to show love and concern for widows today.

My mind drifts back to the summer of 2005 just months after my husband’s passing. I attended our state’s women’s retreat. Surrounded by my sisters in Christ, I will always remember one of the women, who had been a widow for several years, coming over to speak with me.  I will never forget her timely words. “God has not brought you this far to abandon you now. Hold tighter to His hand. He will see you through the rest of your journey.”  Do you know widows who could use that kind of encouragement?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray encouragement for widows, specifically missionary widows who have served with FWBIM. Why not send a card or email today?

“In that day the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians…”  (Isaiah 19:21 NLT).

Are we falsely believing God is required to show us where it is He’s working?  Have we bought into the lie that God must show us in miraculous and mysterious ways that He is still in control?

He’s not required to do anything of the sort.  He, in His knowledge, is willing, at just the right time and just the right place in our life, to show us a glimpse of Himself.

He is in the air around us.  He is in the sky above us.  He is in the ground below our feet. He is in the make-up of the DNA that courses through our bodies with every beat of our hearts.

And when He will be most glorified, He chooses to make Himself known to us.

Will we notice?  Will we be looking for it?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would be glorified in every aspect of your worship in this first Sunday of the new year.

“As for strength, he has it…”  (Job 9:19 NLT).

Is strength what you’re lacking today?

The strength to continue?

The strength to get out of bed?

The strength to take the same stand you’ve been taking—again today?

The strength to believe?

The strength to love?

The strength to live?

Our bodies tire.  Our minds attempt defeat.  Our thoughts become clouded with doubt, fear and utter despair.  Our efforts seem worthless and unnoticed.  Our abilities seem lacking.  Our best intentions go unappreciated.  Our church family fails us.  Our pastors don’t select the right Scriptures to inspire and convince us.  Our mountains seem to grow higher, wider and more treacherous overnight.  Our friends take sides: some encourage and prod; others lovingly mention it might be time to throw in the towel.

But, there remains hope…

Our God has all the strength we need to continue in the purpose He has for our lives.

Tap into it.  Hook up to it.  Soak it in.  Ask for it again, and again, and again.

“As for strength, he has it…”  Job 9:19 NLT

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for your church leadership as they establish new goals and seek to guide those within your church body to greater spiritual maturity.