CONFUSION AND CONFUSING

I Was Just Thinking About – CONFUSION AND CONFUSING.

Within society and the culture of our nation, there is an increasing measure confusion. The government are generally referred to as "leaders" of the nation and influencers of the "policy of the people." This notion as evolved over many years. Are the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate "leaders"? Are they not supposed to be REPRENTATIVES of the people who elected them to office? Do they adequately represent you? Or, do they more accurately represent special interest groups and lobbyists? Whose voice is being heard?  This same group of questions should be posed in terms of religious groups in the nation. When did they become "activists" to champion their special interests? The prophets and apostles did address the leaders of their day BUT theirs was a message from the Lord to specific individuals (Kings) about their particular sins.
What is confusion? There are multiple meanings: "disorder, upheaval; tumult; chaos; lack of clearness or distinctness; perplexity; bewilderment. There are some instances when God used "confusion" to accomplish His purpose. One example is Exodus 23:25-28 as Jehovah makes a promise to His people as they begin their journey to The Promised Land. "You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you. No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run. I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way." God promises and assures His people they will have nothing or no one to fear because He will: "throw into confusion every nation you encounter."

Another example of how the Lord used confusion of the enemies of His people is given in II Chronicles 20:21-23. The enemies had amassed and the battle lines were determined. King Jehoshaphat summoned the people to seek the Lord. As the king prays, he receives a word from the Lord and is instructed what he and the people are to do. "Jehoshaphat... appointed those who would sing to the Lord and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for His loving devotion endures forever.” How effective will they be as they shout and sing before the Lord? Will it quell their fears? Will it frighten their assembled enemies? The Lord is pleased and honored and responds: "The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them completely. And when they had made an end to the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another." 

What basically brought about this result? What did King Jehoshaphat and the people need to believe? Verse 15-17 indicate that which they needed to believe and act upon: "The Lord says:  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them...You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you." Do you believe that God cares about the details of your life? Are you settled in your faith so that you believe what the Lord has spoken and are willing to act upon it? Is this how you presently live your life?

The act of confusion in the New Testament and the devious nature of it is stated in First John 4:1-3, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world." The false spirits and false prophets will use the tool of confusion among the people of God. They will infiltrate with that which is false. Their aim is to corrupt and confuse. Does the child of God have a valid way to identify and/or counter the devious goals and false representations?  John continues: By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time."

Do you differentiate between the false and true? Do you allow yourself to be confused with doubts and fears rather than being confident with certainty, hope and peace? 

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.