Prayer: Father, injustice is a character trait of man. Justice is a character trait of Yours. I pray protection upon those who have no voice and cannot protect themselves. Amen.
Reading: Job 24 key: vs. 3-4
3 They drive away the orphan’s donkey
and take the widow’s ox as a pledge.
4 They turn the needy off the path;
they force the poor of the land into hiding.
Attention: I received an email a few years ago from a desperate widow on the east coast of the US who was in danger of losing her business. In further conversation, I discovered that she had already lost her home due to foreclosure. I got the impression that she had equity in her home, and she should not have lost her home if someone who knew how to refinance or secure legal protection had helped her. She did not know what to do or where to turn. I called a couple of pastors of area churches near her. I am not sure anyone came to her rescue. I remember that call, vividly and I have never forgotten her.
Every time I read scripture which addresses the issue of injustice against the widow and orphan I am reminded of this woman. You see, even in Job’s day, orphans and widows were being taken advantage of. In Jesus’ day He called out and accused the scribes and pharisees of “devour(ing) widows’ houses (Mark 12:40; Luke 12:40, Matthew 23:13-14).” What was Jesus charging them with? The charge was taking advantage of the vulnerable. If they had a debt, their house was seized to satisfy the debt. If they did not have a house to take, children were taken captive and made slaves. Jesus told us (Luke 4:25-30) “there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was closed for three and a half years and there came a great famine over all the land. Elijah was not sent to any of them, but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon, to a widowed woman.”
We have all heard reports of predatory lenders, and this practice still goes on today. But the passages I just referenced exposed the religious leaders of that day as being predatory. They were seizing widows’ houses. No wonder they were angry at being exposed by Jesus.
I heard a report last night about the plans for the near future which includes driving us to deplete our savings and then offering help which would include seizing our property. This will make all widows who do not own their property outright, vulnerable. We may be too late, but how many widows can we help? If you have not heard of Operation Goel, please contact me: Rolland@firstplaceministries.com. The goal and aim are to monetize widows with a residual cash stream to make their life a little more comfortable.
The thing I would remind you of is that the widow of today and tomorrow is your mother, grandmother, sister, or aunt. Will you engage in the help of the widow today?
Action: I will engage in Operation Goel and help widows save their homes.
Yield: I am surrendered to being the instrument through which God cares for the widow.
Engage: I am engaged when I “do.”
Relationship: I am a bondslave of Adonai.
Prayer: Father, I cannot sit back and ignore the injustices imposed upon the weak and vulnerable. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Memory Verse: Luke 20:45-47
45 Then with all the people listening, Yeshua said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the Torah scholars, who like to walk around in long robes. They love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at feasts. 47 They devour widows’ houses and make long prayers as a show. These men will receive greater condemnation!”
Music Video: Keith & Kristyn Getty, Dana Masters—O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”