2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Here is a test of proving myself.

Genesis 4:15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Ezekiel 9:4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Revelations 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Is there a connection between these three scriptures as to the mark and meaningful revelation?

The effort that is to be put forth in answering this question needs to pass the smell test of 2 Timothy 3 stated above. In this I should begin with a series of questions about what I see in scripture.

Who profits? What proof is to be found? What thoughts need correction? Does it lead to righteousness?

That sounds like a lot to consider over a simple search of the scriptures. Hidden within those questions is a testing of self. Number one on that list is who profits. More often than not an honest search of our motivations in asking that question will reveal much. Is God to be glorified or me?

That answer alone will stop the search of many frivolous questions.

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

We need that self-test to know the difference.

Joshua 6:1-2 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

I love the past tense language the Lord uses in telling Joshua about taking Jericho. God says it is done, as a thing already accomplished even though instructions have not even been given.

Now these people of Jericho put their trust in what they had built together, strong defenses, high walls, that had served them in the past. But they had never come up against the God of Abraham, the God of Faith.

Joshua trusted God. He had seen what God had done to lead them out of bondage. He had spied out the land of promise and believed God could give it into their hands. Joshua trusted God and acted on that trust. Because of it, God gave leadership of Israel to Joshua after Moses died.

I’ve often thought about the role of leadership and why some are elevated to a position of leadership while others more knowledgeable, with a deeper relationship with the Lord have not been promoted. It is that trust alone fails to take action. Many see trust in the Lord as the Lord taking action rather than taking action themselves.

There is always going to be that generation of men that see God do miracles and believe and trust God yet do not have the vision of being used of God to exact His will. They do not recognize themselves in God’s will. Now the why is as vast and varied as the number of men who do not step up.

Is it possible that the reason behind all of those excuses boils down to that Joshua 6:1 action? “none went out, and none came in.” They placed their trust in the works of their own hands and hid therein.