“And they put him in prison, that the mind of the LORD might be shown them.” Lev. 24:12. Oh, how important it is to know the ‘mind of the LORD’ concerning any matter whatsoever. The word for mind is the Hebrew word (peh) and means mouth, as the means of blowing, particularly speech; specifically the edge, or the side of the mouth. It is translated, commandment, the mind, mouth, saying, sound, speech, sentence, wish, or word. So, we get the sense here of knowing the spoken, or revealed word of God. His commandment, His mind, His Word in a certain instance or matter! But how do we find the mind of the LORD in any particular matter?

Just like Moses did in Numbers 15:30-36, with a man who was gathering sticks on the Sabbath; Simple, he went to God and asked Him! If you really want to know anybody’s opinion or mind on a specific matter, what is the easiest and quickest way to find out? Go to them and ask them! Not by trial and error, not by a religious survey, not by how you feel about it, but what that individual thinks or has said about the matter. What the LORD told him in v.35-36 was that the man was to be stoned to death outside the camp by the whole congregation for breaking one of God’s commandments v.30-31. Question, was gathering sticks prohibited? No, it was the Sabbath, and they were not allowed to work or start a fire on the Sabbath, the only restrictions given by the LORD, Ex. 33:1-3, “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD; whosoever does any work therein shall be put to death. (pretty simple) You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” (oops!) He was going to make a fire, that’s why he was gathering the sticks and God knew the intentions of his heart, as He does yours and mine. (oops!)  Aren’t you glad you are not under the law but under grace? The law was given to show us we are sinners, Rom. 3:20, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “All our righteounesses (mitzvot) good deeds are as filthy-rags, used menstrual cloths…” So, think of that the next time you think you are keeping the law, some of the law, half of the law, or part of the law and offering it up to God and He says, “Thank you, do you have any more for Me, maybe tomorrow you can do better and give Me two?” Listen, God says, “My Son, Jesus The Christ, died on a cruel, ugly cross for you 2,000 years ago and paid for all your sins and all your unrighteous rags and you can do nothing except, accept that sacrifice as full to payment for all your penalty, Period!” In fact, James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (One Point!)

In Num. 27:1-5 the daughters of Zelophehad had a problem because they had no male descendant to inherent their rightful possession in the promised land. So Moses, “Brought their cause before the LORD.” v.5; The LORD told them the land should pass to the daughters in the absence of a son or to the brethren in the absence of children or to the next of kin, so the inheritance would stay in the family and so we have the story of Ruth and the mind of the LORD.

In Exodus 18:13-26 Moses is judging the people, because he had a direct line to God to know His mind in these matters. What was his direct line? PRAYER, talking to God, in fact he like we had an ‘800’ number, even though he didn’t have a cell-phone. It was 1-800-537-3323 for 1-800-JER-33:2-3, “Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” Prayer, genuine prayer is all that is needed sometimes to know His will, and His mind in certain matters. (Sometimes fasting is required, study and meditation) The other half that is vital is His Word! If it is written in His Word, you don’t need to inquire except for wisdom, James 1:5-6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him; But let him ask in faith nothing wavering…” (the key!) By the way Moses is ‘Burning Out’ in Exodus 18 and his father-in-law Jethro, a Midianite priest, had to help him out with some fatherly advice to share the load, before he crashed. So, he found ‘able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…and made them to be rulers over the people with him, and bear the burden.’ v.21-22. Then all the people went back to their tents in peace because they had a plurality of leadership. They made known, “the statutes of God and His laws” not their opinions, the key to Godly counseling, use His wisdom, it is never wrong. A word to the wise today is insufficient, that’s why you need to use God’s word when counseling.

If His Word says, “Thou shalt not steal…” then don’t ask Him if you can; If it says, “Thou shalt not covet…”don’t inquire about it; If it says, “Be ye not unequally yoked…” then don’t ask Him to save your unsaved boyfriend or girlfriend, just breakup with them and then pray for God to save them. God’s perfect will and mind are perfectly revealed in His Word. The Word of God is like a giant mirror, reflecting His perfect will and mind on any certain subject or matter. You can go to Him about anything or anyone and talk to Him, He is the greatest listener in all the universe and He has the answer! If we would just do that, then we would have, “perfect peace” not just “peace” but “perfect peace” the kind that passes all understanding, “the peace of God.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon Thee, because he trusts in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever, for in the LORD YeHoVaH is everlasting strength.” The words ‘perfect peace’ are the exact same words in the Hebrew text, (shalom, shalom) peace on the outside and peace on the inside. The only way you can have peace on the inside is to invite the ‘Prince of Peace’ into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior and the only way there will be real peace on earth, on the outside is for the ‘Prince of Peace’ to come down and set up His kingdom on earth and reign for 1,000 years from Jerusalem, “Even so come Lord Jesus.” Now that is ‘Perfect Peace!’ Do you have have it?

Phil. 4:6-7, is the New Testament fulfillment of this concept, “By Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Prayer and the Word together clearly reveal His mind on any subject or matter. If you don’t know the mind of God don’t worry the Holy Spirit does and He will help you to pray, read Rom. 8:26-27. “That the mind of the LORD might be known;” Lev. 24:12. Oh my friend, how we need to know the mind of the LORD today more than ever. We need to give ourselves to Prayer and His Word, especially as we see the time of the Lord’s approaching. Amen? That was weak. 🙂  Well until next time, we’ll see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“The Prayer For Wisdom” – ‘Lev. 24:12’  1/25/13