Dear Family,
Today is Sunday, June 2, 2024. It is Day 36 and Day 1 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.
The story of the nation of Israel being attacked by the Amalekites is a sad one (Exodus 17). However, even sadder is the existence of a group of people who attack the weak, elderly, sick, and helpless. No wonder God has such a passionate negative approach towards Amalekites.
These people do not represent a bloodline as much as they represent an attitude toward others God has created. Throughout mankind‛s history, there have been “Amalekites” of a kind. Tragically, even in the last one hundred years, groups of people have been attacked by them. There were the Nazis of Germany. And, today, there are Muslim extremists. These attackers harm physically and terrorize psychologically.
The Nazis and extremist Muslims are easy for us to detect. It is more difficult for us to identify other “Amalekites.” One of the worst places to find Amalek is among ourselves.
Yes, occasionally the Amalekite attitude can be found among those who assemble with the brethren and call themselves sons of God, even though they employ Amalekite tactics. Paul the Apostle addressed such negative approaches to one another in the book of Galatians.
Galatians 5:12-17 (12) I would they were even cut off which trouble you. (13) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (16) This I say then; Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
God‛s people are to destroy “Amalek” wherever he is found. We are told to even blot out the remembrance.
Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses; Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Deuteronomy 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.
As we move toward Pentecost, let us seek to be led by God‛s Spirit of brotherly love, being tender-hearted and gentle. That‛s God‛s way! God‛s true people replace evil with good.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ‛s sake hath forgiven you.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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