The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Judges 1:1-7, “Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”

2 The LORD said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.”

3 Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I in turn will go with you into the territory allotted to you.” So Simeon went with him.

4 Judah went up, and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands, and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek.

5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings, with their thumbs and their big toes cut off, used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.”

What does any organization do when it loses its appointed leader? It seeks another to take his place. Joshua’s death required that someone competent take his leadership position; so those who were going to battle against the Canaanites looked to the LORD for His choice of leadership. Judah was the LORD’s choice, along with the promise that he would be “given the land.”

Regardless of how gifted and brave a competent leader may be in warfare, he needs assistance. Thus, Judah chose his brother Simeon to fight with him against the Canaanites; and he, in turn, would assist him in his fight against the Perizzites. Ultimately, both the Perizzites and Canaanites were defeated, and Adoni-bezek was disabled.

None of us have all the answers, whether it’s physical warfare or not. Have you ever gone soul-winning with a friend? One takes the lead until it becomes necessary for the other to step in with assistance. No one has all the answers. That’s why we always have Jesus!

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Joshua 10:6-14, “Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, ‘Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.’

7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors.

8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.”

9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

10 And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon.’

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? “And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.”

14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.”

Computers had just come to McDonnell-Douglas while I was living in that area. Two Christian men decided to trace the Scripture passage above on the computer. They were able to reach the time addressed where “the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.”

We too often give in to fear instead of trust. When we belong to Him, we need never fear anything! He is our LORD and Savior, not only for eternity, but for the here and now! Yet, we need always to put our absolute faith and trust in Him. He never fails!

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 20:1-20, “All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.

14 Then in the midst of the assembly, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

15 and he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.”

Remember the man of whom I spoke some time ago. He used to say, “Don’t tell me it doesn’t pay to worry; nothing I ever worried about ever happened!” It seems to me that Jahaziel said almost the same thing. The Tribe of Judah was pretty much like any other people in that they saw that the odds were not in their favor – at least, not humanly in their favor!

Judah needs to stop right there and let Jahaziel have the reins of leadership; it may not have looked to be the right thing in Judah’s eyes, but it was right in the eyes of the LORD, and that’s what really counted!

Look back at how He opened and operated those “impossible” tasks and gave His people victory! Space on this paper is insufficient for me to list the “impossibles” that became reality in my own family’s life because He taught us to operate on His orders instead of on our own!

No magic here! No schemes! No clever “dos and don’ts.” Just listen, learn, and follow! You’ll see. Judah learned! So can you!

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:12-16, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Thanksgiving Day is upon us. It is, for many, the most delightful celebration this side of Christmas. The precise origin of the day varies somewhat but is historically traceable to A.D. 1621, subsequent to the time the early settlers arrived from Europe. Having made friends with Indian tribes, the Pilgrims celebrated with a time of prayer and a huge feast with the Indians.

We all have experiences for which we ought to be thankful. For my part, I am thankful for my parents, Eugene (Bud) Jeffries and Velma Elizabeth Anderson, who lived the Christian faith before me and led me to a saving faith in Jesus Christ when I was but seven years old. Further, I am thankful for my grandparents, who led my parents to trust Jesus as their Savior, and I am exceedingly thankful for my late wife, Rose Marie, and for our three children, Richard, Teri, and Robert, each of whom she led to profess Christ at an early age, and for their continuance to follow and picture Him in the face of their children. Further, I praise the LORD for my nine great-grandchildren and those awaiting to burst on the scene at any moment!

I am exceedingly thankful for the Word of God, for His saving grace, and for the privilege of sharing Jesus Christ with many thousands throughout the far-flung areas of our world. I am also grateful for the many faithful men and women who have befriended and helped me in multiple ways throughout the years. May they, too, ever receive His blessings!

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 21:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.”

The Jewish definition of engagement occurred when men and women were said to be betrothed. Betrothal usually took place a year or more before marriage, and from that time, the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed. He was also her legal husband.

How long the young Jewish couple had known each other is not disclosed. They were, however, notably righteous, as Joseph was ready to cancel the entire arrangement, so as not to disgrace Mary. Undoubtedly, the entire situation must have been a huge shock to the young couple.

Joseph’s initial plan was to spare Mary the shame and disrespect she was certain to endure. There is no indication of concern for what others might have thought or that he even cared about what they thought. His intention was to deliver Mary from what initially appeared to be her disgrace. It must have torn his heart out!

Like all true solutions, this one came from Above. The Angel of the LORD appeared and ordered Joseph to stop the annulment proceedings. What he thought had occurred had not occurred at all. It was the planned activity of the LORD.

We are to learn from this that things are not always what they appear to be. Furthermore, the LORD is thoroughly embedded in all of our righteous activities. We must listen and learn from Him.

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America