Keep the Fire Burning.

Keep the Fire Burning. Exodus 27:20-21.

The tabernacle structure was as a portable temple the children of Israel were to take with them where every they went. Set in the middle of their camp all the tents of Israel would surround it as it would become the center of their life.

The tabernacle offered redemption from the penalty for sin. Through it God would show His glory, uphold their covenant with Him, and bring security to their hearts.

True peace comes to people when God brings security and the only way we can have such security is to be obedient to what God tells us to do. Our obedience to God is the only way we can escape the corruption of the world.

The world doesn’t corrupt, it is corrupt; and all who are born into the world are born into corruption. Yet God would have all people to escape this corruption and seek a relationship with Him. This is what the tabernacle brought into their lives.

Every aspect of this tabernacle had significance. From the Holy of Hollies to the very exterior; the making, the contents, and the materials used were all requested to send a message explaining whom God is and how we are to relate to Him.

I have heard people call God, the man upstairs, the big guy, and the eye in the sky; these references are such a misrepresentation of God and show a person’s lack of understanding of who God is. These are not ready to meet God.

God is our loving Father, a friend in time of need. He is the great I Am, the King of Kings, and The Most Holy. He is God Almighty, My Provider, and The Everlasting God; to treat him otherwise discounts the message sent to us through encounters with God through history.

Through this tabernacle Moses and the Children of Israel would learn God is to be the center of their life, the center of their attention, and the center of their worship. God was to be the focal point of their community, their greatest cause, and the reason they lived.

Their relationship with God was to be protected, honored, and their relationship with God was to be respectful. Their attitudes and actions were to be that of holiness.

God wanted Israel to take their encounters, record them, teach them, and ensure all their children would do the same. As promised to their father Abraham, God wanted, through them, to bless the entire earth with the opportunity to know God and have peace with Him.

“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. Exodus 27:20

Oil lamps were a very common feature in the ancient world and are still used to this day. Simply by placing olive oil in a dish and placing a wick in the oil, it will burn with little smoke, for a long time. Yet, God wanted this common tool to represent much more.

The golden lamp stand, so lavishly made, was to light the Holy Place and to be kept full and continually burning. God wanted this to be the duty of the Priests. They were to select the olive oil, cut the wicks, and ensure the fire did not go out.

The oil was to be of the highest quality and pressed from the finest olives. In this process, Israel was to devote themselves to and every person in their camp could participate in furnishing the oil. Therefore, the gathering of the olives and the pressing became a dedicated process of purity; a holy undertaking.

In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel. Exodus 27:21(NKJV)

God intended this to be a “statute;” it was to have symbolic meaning which all were to know and continue to teach all their children.

This meaning is this: God is light and in Him dwells no darkness. God made a way to have our sins forgiven through sacrifice and we are to be able to see that clearly, all the time.

John taught us that Jesus was the light of the world. Yet He was rejected because people loved darkness rather than light.

Jesus taught His disciples you do not put a lamp under a basket, you place it openly in the house so that all can receive the benefits from it. Jesus also taught the eye is the lamp of the body and if our eye be good, clear, focused properly, our whole body will be filled with light; if not it will be filled with darkness.

It is the duty of misters to tend to keeping the flame lit; preaching the word faithfully, preciously, with precise detail to attention. No darkness should be in the house of God, the house of worship, the place people come for the sacrifice for their sin.

Yet it is the duty of everyone else to ensure the light is in our homes, our lives, and taught to our children. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and never let them stray. Yet if we hide our lamp, we stand to lose our possessions to a thief who will break in and steal what is precious to us.

Because people let darkness into their lives they lose their children, family members, and friends to darkness; like dominoes, generations of people fall, losing the knowledge of God. All it takes is one generation to cover up the light and many are hurt.

Jesus also told a story about ten bridesmaids traditionally waiting for their groom to come; He was speaking about the church being ready for His return. The bridesmaids were to keep their lamps full and wicks trimmed; yet the foolish slept while they should have prepared.

When the bride groom came, the foolish women looked at the wise and said, “Give us some of your oil so our lamps do not go out” to which they replied, “No, you better go and by some more.” But while they were away the bridegroom came and shut the door.

“Let us in” they cried upon their return and the reply given by the bridegroom was this, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Jesus then told His disciples, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Mathew 25:13(NKJV)

As a Christian there is nothing more important than keeping the flame burning; filling our lives with pure oil, and ensuring the flame does not grow dim. To do this we attend church services and Bible studies; we pray, worship and fellowship.

We are not to let time separate us from the day we were saved or years as a Christian cause us to become less excited in the salvation God brings.

We are to be lights into this world showing them the way to the Father; the sacrifice of the son, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

All of this began at the tabernacle and a command to keep the fire burning; even so should we.

We Deserve Judgment.

We Deserve Judgment. Exodus 27:1-19.

During this time, where God was describing the design of the tabernacle, Moses came to the realization the materials used all had a spiritual significance. The wood used represented strong, but perishable mankind. The silver used to hold up the wood represented redemption, and the Gold represented God’s royalty.

In God’s description or building plans, it started from the center of the Holy of Holies, the most significant part of the Tabernacle. This center, where God would accept their sacrifice, was the most lavish part of the Tabernacle and spoke towards the covenant made with Israel to be their God if they would obey His commandments.

As God continued to detail the plans, the further the materials were to the Holy of Holies, the less quality was used; however, they were still significant.

Brass, a lesser valued metal, speaks of judgment and is used in great amounts in the court of the tabernacle.

When looking at the Tabernacle you must realize it as a place to have sins forgiven. Outside of the tabernacle people dwelt in sinful despair. Though they would like to live in perfect harmony with God, it was impossible because of sin.

The further we move away from God’s Holiness, the worse a person’s situation becomes. Sin engulfs our lives.

Sin is like a barbed hook; it penetrates our flesh and becomes imbedded in our life. Deceitness, wickedness, lasciviousness, hatred, prejudices, and all forms of ungodliness are common to our human condition. Even if a person can have some control over their life, every sin pushes them away from God’s holiness.

The judgment for one sin is “guilty;” therefore, we are as guilty in one sin as we are from many sins. There is only one thing which can save us; it is God’s design for the forgiveness of sin. It is a sacrifice.

“You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. Exodus 27:1-2(NKJV)

The altar is where the sacrifice would lay, blood dripping, and burning. Animal sacrifice would become very prevalent in Israel’s society; for the innocent blood of an animal could temporarily atone for a person’s sin.

The penalty for sin is death and yet, God does not want any person to perish; but that all would come to repentance. He created humankind for Himself; to walk with and talk with Him. However, a greater plan had to be enacted to deal with our freedom of choice.

This plan included the situation of sin; causing us hardship, danger, and a way to escape. God wanted humankind to escape and once escaped they would respect their freedom and never chose to sin again.

God sees the big picture and in the design of this tabernacle, the big picture can be seen also.

Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it. Exodus 27:3-8(NKJV)

Every time the sacrifice was handled, it had to be handled by an instrument of bronze. Bronze was to remind them of judgment for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and we deserve judgment.

You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver. Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver. Exodus 27:9-11(NKJV)

The other metal they would see many times in the tabernacle is silver. Silver is symbolic of redemption. There has to be judgment to have redemption. Silver hooks and bands held up the sockets of bronze. Indicating redemption holds up judgment.

If we choose not to be redeemed, judgment will be upheld and we will be judged for our sins. A person who does not present a sacrifice to God will be judged on their own merit.

Innocent blood had to be shed; the penalty for sin has to be carried out. If a person is going to present an innocent animal for their sin, the animal had to be killed. Therefore, in Israel many animals would be sacrificed and on this alter they see many sacrifices.

“And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. Exodus 27:12-15(NKJV)

This courtyard was going to be at the center of their encampment. Weather you were on the east, west, north, or south, their tents doors would face this place of sacrifice. Sacrifice was to become the center of their life, the most important aspect of life and never to be ignored.

The walls of the tabernacle compound would be seventy five feet wide and one hundred feet long. The height was twenty three feet and had thirty foot wide gates. This structure was the only large structure in their encampment. Thus life would revolve around it.

“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets. All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze. All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze. Exodus 27:16-19(NKJV)

Mentioned earlier, all this was part of God’s plan to make humankind respect holiness and to redeem humankind unto Himself.

God wants to be the center of our lives and when the redemption is complete, God wants to walk with us as did He with Adam and Eve.

However, the tabernacle was for a short time. Later Solomon would build a temple and in that temple atonement for sin through animal sacrifice would continue.

The tabernacle and the temple were both temporary structures and animal sacrifice could not perfectly atone for sin. In their construction, God was using items to reference a future plan; the plan to perfectly redeem all who would repent of their sins.

The death of Christ on the cross was the completion of the plan. God sent His own son to die innocently and the cross became the alter where His blood was spilled.

For the first time in history a perfect, sinless man had His life taken; therefore, it upset the rule of sin and death.

To Jesus, the Messiah, was owed life and He chose to give life to all who would accept Him as their sacrifice for sin. Where we deserved judgment, we now can have atonement through Christ’s blood.

No longer is there a need for sacrifice, an alter, or a tabernacle. Yet this tabernacle being given to Israel pointed forward to the future plan of God.

What’s Separating you from God?

What’s Separating you from God? Exodus 26:31-37.

On Mount Sinai, Moses stood alone. He was the only one allowed to come so close to the presence of the Lord and even then, the Lord had to shield Him behind rock formations so He would not disintegrate in the presence of the Lord.

Our God is a consuming fire; yet He used to walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden, God was approachable and the difference was Adam and Eve were both made pure; they had not sinned. It was only after Eve took fruit from the tree they were not to eat from, did things change.

When Adam willingly followed his wife into the sin she committed, Adam knew he had sinned also. In fear they hid themselves and God had to deal in a new, different, way with both of them.

We know that God spoke to them; however, it is doubtful they saw Him. God had to somehow shield them and as dramatic it was for Moses, it was dramatic for Adam and Eve too.

The scriptures tell us they were afraid and knew they were naked. Though God clothed them, mere animal skins were not enough. They had to be driven from the presence of God and could no longer dwell in the garden with God.

We read in Genesis that God stationed two Angels with flaming swords who were instructed to keep all humans from entering the garden. Since this time, a separation between God and people has been maintained.

As we read about the instructions for this tabernacle, it included a place called the Holy of Holies where a priest could enter once a year to offer the sacrifice of atonement for sin. This place had to be shielded from sight and tucked away into the back of the Tabernacle to keep others from harm.

When God’s presence appeared to accept the sacrifice; the priest offering the sacrifice would be shielded by two large gold angels, whose wings touched covering the mercy seat to keep the priest from harm.

“You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. Exodus 26:31-33(NKJV)

This veil, inside the Tabernacle, separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies where the offering would be presented to God.

The colors for the veil were of royalty, blue and purple. These were blended with scarlet, the color of blood, and pointed a future where God would present himself a sacrifice for sin. Until that perfect sacrifice was made, the veil would stay in place. Even when the temple would be built, this veil would separate the Holy of Holies.

The veil had two angels a warning reflecting back to the Garden of Eden. The same danger of seeing God existed behind the curtain.

The curtain was hung on perishable wood wrapped with gold to make it solid, but perishable. This was a symbol of perishable people keeping up the veil through the strength of God.

Then the upright columns of gold and wood stood on silver foundation; a metal which represented redemption. Therefore, the commitment to keep the covenant with God and follow God’s commands was significant. Israel had to be adhered to this commitment if they wanted salvation from their sin.

This veil was four inches thick and stood as a shield from the presence of God. It protected those who needed to approach God to present and offering. Yet it was made from linen, a perishable material; indicating it was temporary.

When Christ died on the cross and shed His blood for us. The holy of Holies would no longer be the place God would meet with men. It was no longer needed because a perfect sacrifice was made. Then upon Jesus death, as the earth quaked, the veil in the temple was ripped from bottom to top.

Sixty feet of four inch thick woven cloth ripped in two. Not cut by a sword from top to bottom; but ripped from bottom to top by the hand of God.

The perfect sacrifice was made; the promise was kept to the Jews and this sacrifice was His own Son, Jesus the Christ.

You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side. Exodus 26:34-35(NKJV)

It was only after the veil was in place could the mercy seat join the ark in the holy of holies. Before sacrifices could be made the Tabernacle must be set in order, every piece of furniture arranged according as Moses was told.

Therefore, coming into the Holy Place one would see the light from the beautiful golden lamp stand; illuminating the inner parts of the tabernacle. The person entering would know they were being examined for every part of them could be seen because of the light. Therefore, they had to consider if their life was consecrated before approaching God.

Also they would see the Table of Showbread with one loaf of bread for each of the tribes. This would remind them that God is able to sustain them, even in times of drought, shortage, and hunger. God provides for their needs and that included salvation from sin.

It was only after contemplating these things was the priest ready to enter and go behind the veil.

Nothing has changed to this day; except there is no more veil. A person who wants to be forgiven of their sin must enter into the presence of the Lord and present their belief in the sacrifice of His son.

As they enter they will see the bread of life, Jesus, and then His light will reflect to show the person if they are ready and live a consecrated life. Every blemish, every sin, will come to light and repentance will bring them to God.

Otherwise they must be serious; ready to turn from their sin, and boldly come into the presence of the Lord through prayer and worship. This is what saves people; belief in the work that God can do in their life to change their relationship with Him.

No longer are we held out by a veil; we can come freely to the throne of grace, being careful that we do not enter unworthy. Jesus makes us worthy.

“You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them. Exodus 26:36-37(NKJV)

The entry of the Tabernacle was not locked, barred, or did it present a great barrier; it was a simple screen. It was woven and declared the beautiful colors of royalty. It was held up much the same as the inner veil; however the sockets or foundations these pillars stood on was of brass; a metal signify imperfection.

It is our imperfections that keep us from entering into the presence of the Lord. John said that because men preferred darkness they would not recognize or come to the light which was Jesus Christ. Their hearts were dark and they loved wickedness.

The Tabernacle from front to back was God telling people He wants to restore the relationship sin had ruined. God wants to draw us closer and now it is possible through the redemption of God’s grace.

Are You Standing in Redemption?

Are You Standing in Redemption? Exodus 26:15-37.

Leaving Egypt the children of Israel had Egyptians walking up to them and handing the gold and silver jewelry, gold vases, bowls and other items of wealth. It must have seemed like a dream to them and the average Israelite would have been dumb founded to find they were now rich.

These caravans leaving Egypt was one of the richest group of people ever to do so. Then as they walked away, they feared being pursued. How long was it going to take for all of Egypt to become upset with losing their riches to the Israelites?

It was only after watching the Red Sea crashing down and destroying the Egyptian army did Israel realize they made off with such a great treasure. They were now rich men and women; what could be better?

Being called to the top of Mount Sinai, Moses received the plans for the making of a tabernacle for God to meet with Israel for the atonement for their sins.

As God detailed each section, Moses could see the riches of Israel dwindling away. They were asked to freely give their riches to God and until this time, it was only the gold. Now God was going to ask for the silver too.

The tabernacle was made of four layers of curtains; the inner most being the most beautiful. Preceding outward each layer was necessary; however, less costly and less beautiful. The beauty of holiness was covered from the naked eye and only the priests would see it when they came to offer sacrifices to atone for Israel’s’ sin.

God’s presence among Israel would remain unseen and people would be separated by layers of curtain just as people are separated from God’s holiness by sin.

When Christ died for all sins, the separation ended and God chose to place His essence inside of those who would accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Individuals, saved by God’s grace, would become the temple of the Lord and God’s beauty would be within.

Christians are like the tabernacle, while the outside is imperfect flesh and human, God’s beauty and presence dwells within.

This tabernacle, with the elements it is made from, is a look forward to what God desires for all men and women. God desired to have fellowship and union through sacrifice and when the perfect sacrifice was made, the tabernacle became our hearts.

In our passage we explore what holds up the curtains; what keeps the holiness of God from being exposed. How do we keep our hearts covered?

“And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. Exodus 26:15-19(NKJV)

Acacia wood is dark colored wood also called, in Moses’ day, Shittiym. The acacia tree is known for its protective thorns and its use in the tabernacle was very significant.

Silver is a metal representing redemption; where gold represents royalty, sliver is a lesser metal and large amounts of this metal would keep the supporting, upright boards for the tabernacle enclosure, standing.

We must remember this silver, as was the gold, was a free will offering gathered from among the people. Those who would open their hearts to the building of this tabernacle did so with open hearted free will.

These are they who wanted God’s redemption. These are they who wanted their sins forgiven. These are they this tabernacle was made for.

And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. Exodus 26:20-24(NKJV)

The amount of silver needed was going to almost deplete the supply of silver taken from Egypt; if not all, it was going to dig deep into the treasures of the Israelites. Yet, none of the metal given was to be given of necessity but of a willing heart.

So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards. “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end. Exodus 26:25-28(NKJV)

To relate this structure to ourselves we see the perishable wood is held up by redemptive silver. Much like the way people are redeemed and caused to stand upright, these perishable boards made the supporting walls of the tabernacle.

Though we do not know their typological significance, the cross bars helped all the boards stay together and add support. I like to think of this being a symbol of Godly people who stand on God’s redemptive grace, holding up the covering of God’s holiness, and sharing a dialogue with each other through the years.

The words of the fathers of Israel are recorded in scriptures. They teach us what redemption is, what grace is, and what love is. The scriptures become a dialogue enabling many people to stand in redemptive grace.

You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. Exodus 26:29-30(NKJV)

Perishable wood is overlaid with royal gold. God was building kingdom of kings and priests from perishable people and wrapping himself around their lives, becoming a protector for His purpose.

Through Christ, we are adopted into the royal family as children. Those who have forgiveness for their sins are covered, as with gold, shielding them from decay.

Though our earthly bodies will perish, our souls will be given a new body in heaven and we will be kings and priests unto God in eternity.

We are held together by the careful passing of the scriptures and each generation is encouraged to let God become their strength. The scriptures are like the cross bars holding up people through the ages.

The walls of this tabernacle, as the other items within the compound were God’s intentions pointing into Israel’s future; for all who would accept the coming Messiah would find a perfect sacrifice from sin. These, who accept the Messiah with an open heart, stand in redemption made possible through Jesus Christ.

The most general understanding of this passage is for all people to be held upright in God’s redemptive plan and the grace of God will cover you as with Gold, protecting you forever.

Israel opened their heart to give their treasures to God. Their gift of silver symbolized their redemption. Yet it was not the amount of silver or gold they gave God was pleased with, it was their open heart and desire to have their sins forgiven. By their gifts they stood on redemption.

What Makes You Who You Are?

What Makes You Who You Are? Exodus 26:14.

Following the instructions given by God to Moses, the tabernacle was to be build without missing one detail; for each detail had a spiritual reference to the future.

God puts heavy meaning into every aspect of this life. The story of and future of our earthly existence is written in the stars. Every molecule on earth has a value, and interaction, and a purpose to perform on this earth. Everything works harmoniously for God, except for those who would oppose Him.

Therefore, with God having put so much care into the creation, should He have not put even greater care into the scriptures that we study? Should we not care for our lives, our spirituality, and our future?

God wants us to see Him through His creation, see the future through His word, and understand what is truly going on around us. God desires every Christian to become a reflection of Him to show others His goodness. He wants love to motivate us and loyalty to keep us near to Him.

Moses saw every of detail of this Tabernacle clearly on the mountain; then it was up to Moses to convey the design to the people. Moses was to have the tabernacle built, and teach people of its significance.

In the design, the inner most place was the most beautiful. Made with the finest gold and linins, the Holy place and the Holy of Holies were rightfully fitting for God. Yet, as the additional layers were being made to cover this place, the lesser the material quality became.

The actual tent of the tabernacle had four layers of curtains, which when stretched and when draped as directed, made walls and a covering to protect what was inside from the elements.

The most beautiful inner curtains were covered up by a strong, material made from woven goat’s hair. The goat’s hair completely covered all the beauty of the first covering, sealing all its magnificence inside.

The next layer which would cover the goat’s hair would be rams skin.

“You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that. Exodus 26:14(NKJV)

The ram’s skin was a tough material and would seal out the noise that the inner material would allow through. It was dyed red and becomes a very significant covering.

On top of the rams skin would be a curtain of badger skin; which some have translated to by a type of sea cow; otherwise a skin that would keep out wind, sand, & rain.

By the time all these layers were assembled the Tabernacle was no longer a display of beauty as it was in the beginning. The layers covered up the inner beauty and through this, God is telling us, “It is what’s inside that counts.”

As people we have layers upon layers covering up what is truly inside us. When looking at a person, you cannot tell if they are godly or not.

Some people cover up their true self with displays of pride, over confidence, lies, hypocrisy, greed, and meanness. Yet, we should not have anything covering us from having God inside.

Deep inside a godly person, God resides. Our lives are called to be the temple of God. When a person surrenders to Christ, God comes into them and His expressed presence dwells there.

Then there is the layer of the unity of the brethren God uses to strengthen our beings. Without the church our lives have no strong support. This is why the author of the book of Hebrews wrote, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” Joined in a group, people make each other strong.

Over the top of these layers and perhaps most important is the layer of the covering of the blood of grace. When Jesus died, His blood was spilled for our sins, thus signified in the rams skin dyed red.

The only way for God to dwell in the holiest place of our heart is to have the blood of Christ covering our sins. It is this layer that covers the church and necessary for the church to survive.

Our outer layer is what everyone sees and where many become self absorbed to make this outer layer speak about who they are. Through the making of this Tabernacle, God is telling us the outer layer is the least important.

How you look has nothing to do with who you are and no matter what anyone tells you, God sees you as His child and He has a new body awaiting us in heaven. It will be a perfect body and this is why Paul tells us these bodies are just tents. Temporary tabernacles only designed to last for a short time.

It is only after putting much work into the coverings of your life will you find who you are in Christ Jesus.

First you must exalt God for who He is; He is God, the only God, and the All Mighty God of Heaven.

Second, you must join into His plan for your life. God intended people not to be alone and He called His disciples to lift Him up and He would draw all people unto Himself.

Jesus came to build a church, a congregation of saints who would gather in His name and where two or more are gathered in His name, Jesus promised He would be there.

Therefore, a person is to go to church and fellowship with other Christians. They are to work together in building their fellowship; encouraging and supporting others as they reach out to bring in more people.

Third, a person who comes to church must be saved from their sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are to call all peopel to repentance and when they do repent, the blood of Jesus Christ becomes a covering to keep them safe.

When covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, the noise of the world is blocked out; making fellowship, worship, and prayer, possible.

The world says to fear; the Christian knows they are safe. The world says to sin; but the Christian hears God’s voice calling them to be holy.

Where the world is filled with the noise of looking good, feeling good, and caring for what other think; building a relationship though God’s instructions makes us not care about those outward focuses.

Our focus is to be on the holy place in the center of our life and the coverings which keep us protected. In fact, our outer covering is to be strong and repellent from what the world can do to a person.

The grief of sin wants to tear holes in you tent, but through God the outer defense is strong.

You Get What You Pray For.

You Get What You Pray For. Exodus 26:1-13.

Over four hundred years the Children of Israel endured hardship living in Egypt and they had to spend their last years in Egypt under the Pharaohs’ tyranny.

Daily they would pray to God for deliverance and it happened; they received what they asked for. It is common for people to feel the squeeze of trials and call out to the Lord; however, it is not common to consider how God will answer.

In His timing, God answers prayer. James tells us there are times we will not have what we need because we have not prayed for it. In the same discourse, James said people ask, selfishly, for the wrong thing and therefore, the answer to their prayers is “no.”

Though we are taught to be careful over nothing, and pray for everything, we must remember that God will answer in a way best for the overall purpose of building His kingdom.

This is what God was doing with Israel. He had delivered them and now God was making a way for them to have a relationship with Him. They asked for deliverance and received a covenant with God; which included building this elaborate tabernacle they would have to carry for many generations.

This tabernacle would hold the expressed image of God and therefore, it had to be made specifically per God’s instructions. Every item had to be meticulously made and where it may sound elaborate to us, consider that God chose people who were from generations of master craftsmen.

All the hardship they endured in Egypt had made them great in their abilities. Each person had a craft, a talent; and this is why the Pharaohs found so much value in them. It was only in God’s timing were their skills ready to serve God; it was then God call then to make the move out of Egypt.

They were made ready by their hardships; and now they were involved in the work of the Lord, building the tabernacle where God would meet with them for four hundred and eighty years.

Each detail important, each detail significant, and each detail an answer to their prayer; thus making the tabernacle their service to God.

When first introduced to the tabernacle we started with the center; the Holy of Holies, where the expressed image of God would reside; a place few people would ever see.

Each priest who entered the tabernacle into a room called the Holy Place; where the Table of Show Bread and the Golden Lampstand would greet them. Beyond this Holy place was a veil and behind the veil was the Holy of Holies containing the Ark of the Covenant. The overall building was called The Tabernacle.

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. Exodus 26:1(NKJV)

The tabernacle was to be a portable tent like structure and the walls of The Tabernacle were to be made from four overlapping curtain layers; with each layer being made by joining fabricated curtains.

This first layer of curtain described for us was made from woven dyed fabric and would only be seen from the inside of the Holy Place.

The priest entering the Holy Place would have a spectacular sight; instilling to each entrant God is to be honored as a King and worshiped as the only true God. Therefore, one would see brilliantly embroidered angels adorning the walls dyed in the color of royalty.

The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements. Exodus 26:2(NKJV)

A cubit was approximately 18″, the distance of a forearm from elbow to finger tip. This made the height of the Tabernacle forty two feet and this first layer of curtain was an embroidered masterpiece.

Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle. Exodus 26:3-6(NKJV)

Fastened together, these two curtains became one large covering for The Tabernacle. This speaks of a significant fact that God’s desire for Israel and God’s desire for the New Testament church, is to be one people united by holiness.

“You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. Exodus 26:7-8(NKJV)

The second layer of curtains would cover the first; this curtain would be made of goat hair. These curtains, joined together, would cover the first curtain and touch the ground, where the first did not.

“Why goat’s hair?” you may ask. The hair of goats woven together makes for an excellent material for a frequently shifting encampment. Ropes, grains sacks, cloth, and rugs were commonly made from goats hair and still use in Bedouin camps today.

The more interesting aspect is as you move further from the Holy of Holies; the materials are of lesser value. Goat hair for the covering and brass for the curtain rings are a reminder for the need of continual cleansing for God’s people.

And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set. And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it. Exodus 26:9-13(NKJV)

This curtain was to be hung as not to touch the inner curtain. It was made of lesser materials and speaks to our humanity. We can draw close to God, but in our current physical state, we cannot have complete oneness with God. Yet we are to have unity among ourselves.

Israel prayed to unite to their God. They desired to be God’s people; yet the work and significance of their work they did not consider.

None of them envision themselves having to give up their riches to labor over a tent. Perhaps if they knew before hand they would have not made this decision.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Father, give us our daily bread.” This open prayer does not demand of God to do it the way we choose; for the way God intends to bring our daily bread may be through trials and circumstances or even, hard work.

Our lives, submitted to God, are for God’s discretion. As He leads us we must follow and as we do our work for Him, we will learn of its significance as we go. He only asks that we do every instruction as He shows us.

From this passage we learn when a person prays to have God in their life, the answer to their prayer is acceptance by God; but the outcome is us laboring to build His Kingdom. God will use you to bring about His glory. Is this not your prayer?

Do You See Yourself?

Do You See Yourself? Exodus 25:31-40.

God was describing this tabernacle to Moses and for the Children of Israel to build. It was going to be a place for God’s presence to dwell; however, inside the tabernacle it would be very dark. Is that like God to bring darkness into His people’s life?

When we first meet God, in the book of Genesis, He says, “Let there be light.” Beginning there, light was good and separated the darkness. Therefore, to God, darkness is not good.

In the scriptures darkness is associated to hiding; ways of covering up ones true self. Darkness also grows and when a person hides their sin, their heart and life are enveloped with darkness.

In the dark a person cannot see the truth about themselves and people with darkness flooding their soul, hate the light; for in the light their sin is exposed.

Now that we have the completion of the scriptures, we know that God is a God of light and light is synonymous with truth, holiness, exposing darkness. In God there dwells no darkness and God seeks to bring His light in to every heart of all people.

Therefore, God had a plan to eliminate the darkness from within the tabernacle; for the tabernacle was to be a holy place.

“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. Exodus 25:31-32(NKJV)

All the other furniture for the tabernacle was wood overlaid with gold. This lamp stand was to have no wood; which becomes a significant change in the design method, which God would have us contemplate.

Why no wood? Wood is perishable, gold is not. Where the wood in the other parts of the tabernacle would deteriorate, though it would take many years, gold will not. This lamp stand would outlast the tabernacle and pointed to life after their covenant with God perished.

Yes, the covenant of God, made with the children of Israel, would come to an end. It would end when God chose to make a new convent with people. The new covenant would be made in the shedding of the innocent blood of His own son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the light of the world and this lamp stand would have much significant value, in the way it was manufactured, pointing to Jesus. It becomes obvious God was pointing Israel to recognize attributes of the Messiah.

Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. Exodus 25:33-36(NKJV)

Notice the lamp stand was not molded or wrapped around wood, it was beaten from one piece of gold. The lamp had to be first beaten into the correct form. Much like Jesus was beaten as He went to the cross, being formed from the golden Son of God into the Messiah.

The lamp stand was fashioned to look like vine with branches elongating from it. Jesus told his disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5(NKJV)

The lamp stand was to be hammered from one piece of gold to look like a single vine spreading into six branches. The branches were to have blossoms and ornamental knobs that looked like fuit.

When Jesus first sent out His disciples to witness to different cities, He sent them out two by two; therefore making six groups to be an extension of Himself. Their message was to unify Israel saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Later Jesus would also tell His disciples they should love one another  like He had loved them; and by their love, all people will know that they were His disciples. Therefore, Jesus preached that He the vine and the branches should be unified in purpose and in love; therefore they would be one.

An interesting fact, which goes along with this same thought, is the disciples, the branches of Christ, would also be beaten. They would share, in unity, of the abuse Jesus received.

You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.  And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils.  And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. Exodus 25:37-40(NKJV)

The lamps would hold olive oil; another commodity which is only produced by the crushing of olives. The olive oil would be lit by a wick and burn within the lamps arranged to shed light so it lit up the whole tabernacle.

The brightness of the light would reflect of the fruit, the buds, the branches, and the vine, so this candle would be a magnificent light for all those who entered into the tabernacle to minister to the Lord.

We know the tabernacle was not a walk through museum for all the Israelites to share. It was a place where the priest would come to present the sacrificial blood on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.

Entering into the tabernacle the priest would be exposed by the light, allowing them to see themselves and remind them of who they were. They were sinful people coming before a holy God and their preparation for entering, their life had to be in order before approaching or they and the people’s sacrifice would be rejected.

If you were a witness to the priest entering into the tabernacle to present this offering, you would hear bells attached to his garment and see a rope tied around his ankle. Should the bells stop ringing, those outside knew the sacrifice was not accepted; a sign to pull the dead body out of the tabernacle.

The passage we quoted earlier, in its entirety, reads, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  ”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John15:1-8(NKJV)

The lamp stand was of specific design; held a specific purpose, and was beautiful to see; yet, it provided light to see oneself before they approached a holy God.

Oh the opportunity we have to get our lives in order; however, many will not and when approaching God, they will not have prepared themselves to present the sacrifice to cover their sin.

Like the directions for the making of the Lamp Stand, unity with Jesus Christ, His church, and the purpose of God for our lives must be completed as it is shown to us by God.

How Much Does your Faith Cost You?

How Much Does your Faith Cost You? Exodus 25:23-30.

Have you ever felt you were just stumbling through life? Every day, things seem to work out; but it feels like chance?

Each day, when we wake, there is a chance our day will turn out good and there is a chance that it will turn out bad. The day when it does not turn out well can be very un-enjoyable and cause a person to become a pessimist about life.

This is why every day we are to look to God for His protection and assurance. He wants us to be confident people, who have faith in Him. When becoming pessimistic, God wants us to refresh our self in His word and drive away the pessimism.

The Israelites were called to be a nation of holy people, to become a kingdom of priests. The amazing truth is nothing has changes since those days when God called Israel.

The Apostle Peter wrote that Christians are to be a holy priesthood unto God. The Apostle John wrote into the book of Revelation his opening salutation saying, To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5b-6(NKJV)

Therefore, the Christians share the same calling as the Israelites; thus we have many scriptures calling all Christian men, women, and children to holiness.

In this passage we find God giving instructions for the building of a portable tabernacle which God would inhabit with His presence to accept sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins.

The inner sanctum of the tabernacle would be the holiest place and only a priest who had consecrated his life could enter. In this place, there was a box called the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments and other items God used to confirm His covenant with Israel.

These were just items which represented God’s intent for Israel and existed to remind Israel of their sacred covenant with God.

In this description of the outer area, approaching the Holy of Holies, were other items God wanted to be understood as significant in spiritual value. As a matter of fact, they carry their value even up to this day.

These items where a look back at God’s work and a look forward to His coming work; they stood to remind Israel that God is faithful daily.

“You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. Exodus 25:23-26(NKJV)

Israel was using up large quantities of gold to make the tabernacle. With every instruction for the building materials, each of the twelve tribes had to reach deeper into their pocket and offer the riches they were given when leaving Egypt.

This type of sacrificial giving cut deep into each person’s value and it is a significant fact for us to understand the gold they gave would be out of sight and serve the general person little. This offering to God would never be seen by most all of Israel.

Why gold? Gold was the most precious commodity of the day. The items they gave up were rings, amulets, crescents, bracelets, ear rings, and others items which give a person the figurative display of riches. To which we must ask, “What is more important having riches and impressing others, or building the house of God?

God asked the Israelites to give up much of the riches they had massed. This deeply impacted their economic ability and as always, those who valued God most gave the most.

Acacia wood was a perfect wood for making furniture and flooring. Acacia is very durable and when overlaid with gold, makes it an object that could last for a very long time. This table they were making to God’s specification was to be lasting; much like the purpose for the table was to be lasting.

The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always. Exodus 25:27-30(NKJV)

Israel would carry the complete tabernacle with them where ever God led them. Therefore, it had to be durable, to last many years. Likewise was the purpose for the table to last and it’s significant meaning pass from generation to generation.

Each golden implement cost their society more and more of their riches. Therefore, the pessimistic person could complain or worry how they were to survive when they needed to buy food or trade other nations for goods. Giving all their wealth to craft this table and it’s implements, which they never see, could be an awful consuming challenge.

Yet those who looked deeper into God’s purpose would see that the table would hold twelve loafs of bread; one for each of the tribes of Israel. It had deep significance for when they were in drought, God brought them to Egypt and provided for them.

Then when they were mistreated by the Egyptians, God moved on the Egyptians to expel them out of the country and to give them the riches they possessed. In other words, they would see that before God they had nothing and if He was able to provide once, God would provide again.

The important necessity was food, not gold; because of God’s faithfulness they should treasure the message sent by the table of showbread. It said, God will provide.

In our time we can look backward and see this tabernacle no longer exists and the Jews do not have it in their possession. Evidently, when the work of God was finished and the furnishings they crafted are gone. This can mean the covenant with Israel must also be temporary.

When Jesus came, He said He was the bread of life. He claimed to possess a new covenant and when He died on the cross; His blood became the perfect sacrifice.

No longer is their need for this tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, or the table of show bread, with its golden implements. This is where the table of show bread pointed forward to God’s work in the future.

There were twelve loafs of bread and Jesus picked twelve disciples. Jesus did several feeding miracles where He multiplied bread when they had need. Jesus said he was the bread of life and no person comes to the Father but by Him. Therefore, to enter the holiest place where God dwells, a person must consecrate their life through Christ and pass by stopping at the table of the Lord.

He called those who were burdened and heavy laden to come unto Him and He would give them rest. Therefore, we can relate also, the burden of carrying the heavy tabernacle was over. Jesus became the fulfillment of the meaning of the tabernacle and now men and women can accept God’s perfect provision, the provision of salvation in Jesus Christ.

God wanted to keep His faithfulness as a primary thought in their lives. He had them invest their lives into the remembrance of that fact. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, no matter what it costs us here on earth.

The Ark of the Covenant; where is it? Well, let’s start with “What is it?”

God had made His presence known to the children of Israel. Descending from the clouds with rumbling, fire, smoke, and a great noise, His presence descended upon Mount Sinai. This grand display of His power was enough to shake them all into reality; however, they now had the fear of God in their heart and it was time for them to know Him as a peaceful, gracious, God.

Have you ever wondered why God does not do more fearful appearances on earth? He could command the whole world with just a few displays of His power. A grand entrance, covered by the world’s news stations, and the entire world could see God’s power converting even the hardest of souls. Yet, where would faith and where would free will be? People would be scared straight; but God wants people to straighten up and love Him.

If you count the number of times God has intervened into the lives of people making majestic displays, there would be so many to list books could not contain them all. Yet as Israel progressed through the years, God wanted them to remember His strength, but respect Him for His’ grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

In our passage God is going to tone down His image and gives instruction to make a tabernacle; a residence and a dwelling place, so Israel would not see Him as threatening their lives. God desired Israel to worship Him in love, not obey Him because they are scarred of Him.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. Exodus 25:1-2(NKJV)

God wants people to come to Him because they have a willing heart. As people seek God, He wants them to see sin and their need to be forgiven.

Then God wants to forgive their sin and cleans them so they feel comfortable to consider themselves the people of God. God wants them to find He has grace for those who would freely come to Him.

And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. Exodus 25:3-11(NKJV)

Only those who wanted to give towards this tabernacle were to bring their precious metals, finest linens, and other components for the making of this place. For this had to be a finely crafted residence so it represented more than royalty; it represented the only great, majestic, glorious, gracious, God.

“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you. Exodus 25:12-16(NKJV)

The Ark of the Covenant was to be a box which would hold the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod, and manna, the food that God provided. These contents represented God as a God who had mercy on the people of Israel. God delivered them from Egypt and taught them how to be holy and fed them, taking care of their needs.

This remembrance was to travel with them throughout history and be a reminder that God is with them always.

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. Exodus 25:17-21(NKJV)

The grandness of this forging was to be like none other. Pure gold, crafted images of Angels were meticulously forged. It was between the angels and above the mercy seat God would inhabit with His glory. God’s “Shekhina” or presence would dwell here.

And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. Exodus 25:22(NKJV)

The Ark of the Covenant would be kept in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle was to be a place of instruction. Like as we saw with the mountain, not all of Israel was going to be allowed in the place God’s presence dwelled. Only those consecrating themselves and selected as priest would be allowed to meet with God.

The Ark of the Covenant would be used in the ceremony of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, where a priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer the shed blood of a lamb to atone for the sins of Israel.

The gold angels served a greater purpose than making of a royal masterpiece; the angels and their out stretched wings would cover the Shekhina Glory of God, so the priest could be shaded from looking directly at the presence of God.

The blood would be sprinkled on the mercy seat and the presence of God would appear to accept the offering extending a sign of forgiveness; the grace from God for their sin.

It was not just the act of offering blood to appease God; it was the preparation and consecration of their hearts to God, culminating in a sacrifice. However, God does not accept insincerity; the spilled blood means nothing, if a person is not sorry for their sin.

This concept of a merciful God was a great revelation to Israel; however, it was imperfect. Year after year the same sacrifice had to be made. Yet, in God’s wisdom it was allowed until the time arrived for the perfect sacrifice.

This perfect sacrifice was God’s own son; who He sent to be born a man. Jesus came preaching peace, mercy, and that God should be considered as a Father in Heaven. Yet because men’s hearts were wicked, they killed the Son of God. His innocent blood was spilled and accepted to atone for every person who would consecrate their life before Him.

When Jesus died, the earth quaked and the Jerusalem temple veil, which separated the Holy of Holies, ripped from bottom to top; signifying no longer did God need the sacrifice of animals.

The veil was 60 feet high and four inches thick and it was written by a Jewish historian saying two horses tied to each side could not tear the veil. Yet the work of the holy place for God was over and was signified by God ripping the veil in two.

Never again would the presence of God dwell in a temple; yet through grace the spirit of God can dwell in us.

Jesus said in John’s Revelation, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelations 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Where the Ark was a place for the covenant of God with Israel; our hearts have become the place of the new covenant with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is a Consuming Fire.

God is a Consuming Fire. Exodus 24:1-18.

God made a convent to protect, guide, and lead, Israel into the Promised Land. It was a contract of holiness extended to sinners. It was a contract sealed in blood; for the penalty for sin is death and therefore, blood can be the only atonement.

Sin drove a separation between people and no longer could people stand in His presence. Adam and Eve were driven away from the garden of God and it started a time where should a person see the face of God they would be consumed as by fire. In our passage today, more about this will be discussed.

The Apostle John wrote, No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18(NKJV) The same is presented to us in this book of Exodus we are studying, God had to hide Moses from seeing Him and said to him, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:20(NKJV) Therefore, the following passage has to have special consideration as to what the individuals saw while on Mount Sinai.

Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. And Moses alone shall come near the LORD, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him.” Exodus 24:1-2(KJV)

It would have been a fearful event being called near the presence of the Lord. They felt the ground rumble, the heard the loud noise, they saw the fire and smoke descend on the mountain and now some of the Israelites were being called to come closer?

Yet not all were called to this closeness with God; it was only the tribal leaders. These were people dedicated to the consecration and selected to lead the people in doing the same. By their selection God honored the leaders before the people.

So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the LORD has said we will do.” And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.” Exodus 24:3-8(KJV)

It is our hope the people who want to follow God in holiness can do so; however, it is the human condition of inherent sin that keeps people apart from God.

The people responded that they would do all the things God commanded them and in hope, Moses sprinkled the blood of a sacrifice over alters, the priests, and the people.

This sealed the covenant and purified the sins past committed. Yet the sacrifice of animals is not a complete covering and the spilling of animal blood does not please God; God is only satisfied by a repentant heart that seeks to consecrate ones’ life.

Though the sacrifice sealed the covenant, Israel would have to continue to offer sacrifices for their sin. Though repentant, there was nothing that could keep them from the separating power of sin. Therefore, the sacrifice was imperfect and pointed towards the need for a perfect sacrifice.

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24:9-11(KJV)

Though the passage says these elders saw God, later in the passage it says that God was inside a cloud and God’s glory was a consuming fire. What they were privileged to see was the purifying effect of God’s glory.

Extreme heat purifies and this is why sinful people cannot come face to face with God. Until we are purged from our sins, passing through the fire safely, made possible by the grace provided through Christ, we cannot enter heaven.

In addition, these onlookers witnessed the effect extreme heat has on the earth. The fire of God burned away the purities and the essence of God turned the ground like a crafted sapphire stone that flowed like glass under the cloud. These fortunate people stared into a glimpse of the beauty that is God.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” Exodus 24:12-14(KJV)

It is interesting to see God allowed Moses to bring an assistant to journey up the mountain with him. It was also a privilege for Joshua to be considered worthy to see the glory of the Lord and move closer.

This assistant would later become the leader of Israel and cross over into the Promised Land. This says much about the character of Joshua; he had seriously worked to consecrate his life and God, with Moses, considered it an achievement for the young man.

Oh how wonderful it is to find a young person who has committed their life to the Lord. Moses must have felt delight to bring such a person to God; yet Moses too was in awe of God’s presence.

Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:14-18(NKJV)

Moses and Joshua camped on the mountain; for God was going to see them in His perfect timing. Why the wait? Could it have been God building the patience of Moses and Joshua, a work that God so excellently completes in our life?

Perhaps it was time for building respect for Lord Almighty? The danger in life is losing our respect for God. Standing, waiting, closer to God was a time for gaining the righteous desire they needed to complete their work on earth. They watched the mountain top covered in a cloud, feeling the shaking and strength of His presence, and seeing the glow of the consuming fire that is God.

When we are first introduced to the concept of God we are far off from the presence of the Lord. As Christians we are taught to draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to us. This begins the journey to understand the value in church, worship, prayer, and fellowship. However, in addition we must resist sin that pulls us away from His presence.

Like those on the mountain, we come closer to the Lord according to the purity of our heart and dedicating our lives to Him is pleasing in His sight. Young Christians grow in Christ and their faith increases as they surrender their desires to the Lord.

Year after year, little by little, we grow in the Lord edging closer to His presence; where one day this culminates as we shed our earthly bodies and by grace pass through the consuming fire that God is. There we will forever be accepted into His kingdom.

Our faith is not in vain and our journey up the mountain takes time. We do not know the day or the hour that God will call us into His presence; however, daily we consecrate our lives for this time.

The Angle of the Lord.

The Angle of the Lord. Exodus 23:20-33.

The children of Israel grew up hearing about a land flowing with milk and honey and now, they were heading towards this promised land where they would be rich farmers with servants, possessing flocks, and developing a society all of their own. All the promises passed down through their ancestors were coming to pass.

The Israelites were told that God would deliver them from Egypt and then saw God’s deliverance as the Red sea parted for their escape from the Egyptian army. Then they witnessed the desolation of the entire Egyptian army as Pharaoh and his followers were consumed when the walls of water collapsed upon them.

When they reached Mount Sinai they were welcomed with a warning to stay away from the mountain and they watched fire, smoke, and lighting consume the mountain as a manifestation of God descended onto the mountain. The sight, the rumbling, and the shock would leave a lasting memory of the power and majesty of God.

It was God that chose them; He considered Israel His people, if they would follow His moral laws of holiness. They had to be willing to follow every detail and be a holy people.

Choosing God back is shown in how a person lives and they live by what is in their heart. Where our hearts are filled with many choices, the choice to follow God by following his precepts cleans our heart from unrighteousness.

The land they were to occupy had many nations of inhumane people. Though God called them to follow Him, there were questions upon their minds and though they did not know the outcome, they had to follow God by faith. Is this not the way it is in our life too?

We cannot see the future, but are told that God will provide all of our needs according to His riches in glory. Yet we face forces that can devastate us?

This is why faith is such a treasure. We get to see God work in our behalf; but at the same time, face battles that may and will, one day consume our earthly existence. Yet through righteousness, our lives go beyond the grave to eternity as children of the Most High.

Like the children of Israel, we are not left alone in our struggles; God is watching, working in our behalf and closely guarding us. He is molding us into the people He desires; a people ready for eternal life in a kingdom with Him.

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. Exodus 23:20-21(NKJV).

The word angel means messenger and this is the Children of Israel’s first introduction to Angel of the Lord. This angel was with them to protect, guide them, and to bring them comfort. He was God with them and existed in a dimension unseen and upheld the ordinances of God.

This Angel of the Lord would make many appearances that are recorded throughout the Old Testament and would remain faithful to His mission for the Name of God was in Him.

Yet the actual name of the Angel of the Lord is not revealed; however, we know through studying scripture that Jesus was also given the name Emmanuel, meaning God with us. John tells Jesus, Emmanuel, was made flesh and dwelt among the people.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11(NKJV) Therefore, Jesus was given a mission to compete and most biblical scholars recognize this Angel of the Lord as being Jesus before He was made flesh.

Christ is the author and finisher of our faith; It was God’s command, written in Matthew 17:5, for us to hear Him and we are to follow all of His commands, Mathew 28:20.

But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. Exodus 23:22-23(NKJV).

For Israel, this was an awesome promise. Today, our enemies are also held at bay and we are strengthened and encouraged to fight against them pulling down spiritual strongholds in high places; for we are the children of God called to serve Him with our lives.

You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. Exodus 23:24-26(NKJV).

O what precious promises were extended to Israel and we fill find that when the people were faithful to their covenant with God, God was faithful to His covenant with them.

God slowly worked in their behalf driving out their enemies. Slowly they possessed the land as God did miraculous works. Yet, over time, Israel would regress in their spirituality and make God less important.

At times, God would reprimand His children and because of sin; Israel would have an on again off again existence with God. The Old testament is filled with these stories as we see God continually calling them to repentance for their sins.

A preview of the completed story of Israel’s obedience is this, the land they gained they would lose; and the freedom they enjoyed would turn to slavery for disobeying God’s law.

Where once, they dominated their enemy, their enemy would dominate them.

Were they were free of sickness, sickness would take it’s nasty toll; all because they did not continuously keep the covenant with their God.

In addition, when the Angel of the Lord became flesh, Israel rejected their Messiah and a “new covenant” was establish will all people; who so ever will believe in Christ Jesus will be saved from the destruction of their souls and have eternal life.

Still the same principals are at work in the New Covenant. We will not have any other god in our worship; and we will not join, but help deliver others who are caught up in the worship of false Gods.

If we chose other than His salvation, we choose emptiness and an existence without God. Yet if we choose His salvation, He goes before us to prepare a place for us.

At this time in history, Israel was yet to begin their journey into the Promised Land and while in the wilderness they had to rely, in faith, on these promises.

“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Exodus 23:27-29(NKJV).

God works in behalf of His’ people. In the old Covenant and the New Covenant we are covered by his protecting wings. Our true enemy, the Devil and his fallen angels are being with strained by the power of His might and we go into the world of the lost to deliver their souls.

Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. Exodus 23:23-31(NKJV).

Little by little the church progresses on its mission to build the kingdom of God. Yet this Old Testament covenant which we study, speaks towards Israel obtaining the Promised Land, little by little. This is a difference in the two covenants; they were building a nation, the church is building a Heavenly Kingdom.

You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” Exodus 23:32-33(NKJV)

Paul put it best when quoting Isaiah the prophet when writing, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

The covenant is a necessity in our lives. Just as it were for Israel, we cannot sin against the Lord. We must in faith, surrender our hearts, our minds, and our souls, to Him.

The Consequence of Ignoring Danger.

The Consequence of Ignoring Danger. Exodus 23:10-19.

As we live our life there are times where really small events blossom into big life changing events all because we did not pay enough attention. Like a person who was enjoying a brisk morning walk, crossing the street to be being struck by a speeding car brings a drastic change to one life. If we neglect little small indicators and one detail, our lives and the lives of others can be drastically altered.

As we study through laws given to Moses they can seem arduous and small, as these address their oxen, the way they treat others, and in this passage their farms. Yet, be alarmed! For what we will study today, God held Israel accountable for.

“Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. Exodus 23:10-11(NKJV)

Much like the rest on the seventh day, Israel was to give their land a Sabbath rest every seven years also.

This instruction was given while they still journeyed to the Promised Land. In the mean time they were traveling through the wilderness and currently encamped at Mount Sinai. Therefore, this observance was still in their future.

Now if it were I, I would make the note and go on. I would be dreaming about the great farm that I was going to have because the law applied to famers. That was my future, my family’s future, and I would be excited to get there so I could begin and watch God bless my work.

Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. Exodus 23:12-13(NKJV)

“This I can do. I will create a farm, a big farm. I will have servants, animals, herds, and children. God will bless me and it will be a glorious farm. “Why would I ever need another god in my life?” This would be the way I would be thinking; how about you?

“Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD. Exodus 23:14-17(NKJV)

“We are also going to throw these great big feasts? What a party!” What a grand thing; God was going to prosper the people and make abundant their efforts. They would be able to take a year of after every six years and each year they would have three great feasts! What a blessing.

Think about how grand this must have sounded; for when Israel held a feast it was a time of fellowship, family, food, and fun. God was so good to them and to repay God all they had to do is work, rest, and throw feasts; but never show up empty handed.

Note: We should never show up before the Lord empty handed. A free will offering from what He has blessed us with is a gesture of respect.

The Feast of Passover, held in the spring, was to be served with unleavened bread. All leaven was to be purged from their homes; a symbol of purging sin from their lives.

This feast was to commemorate when God prepared their hearts, made them ready to leave Egypt, the death angel pass over their homes, and God delivered them from bondage.

The Feast of Pentecost, held in the summer was when they would begin to harvest their crops; to which they would bring their first fruits. It was a time to thank God for His mercies.

The Feast of Tabernacles, held in autumn, was to rejoice in the harvest that the Lord had blessed them with. It was a time to celebrate their God and to reaffirm that they did not have to act like the surrounding gentile nations who had practices of superstition.

“You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning. The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. Exodus 23:18-19(NKJV)

The gentile nations practiced all kind of superstitious ways to ensure a good harvest. One gentile practice was to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk and then sprinkle the “mystical, magical” way upon their gardens and fields. The children of Israel were to put their emphasis on God only, not superstition or false gods.

It all sounds doable; doesn’t it? When settling in the land Israel did keep these instructions and the feasts were the best part. Their harvests were awesome and everyone was prosperous. However, after many years, they began to neglect the Sabbath rest for the land. Here is where they stepped out in front of the speeding car.

God watched them as they continued to farm the land and they were not giving it a rest every seven years, nor were they letting the poor come in and harvest on the seventh year. They became workaholics and greedy with what the Lord gave them.

God sent prophets to warn them and the prophets were mistreated. Then after four hundred and ninety years, God held them accountable. Everything the prophets warned them about came true.

The King of Babylon sent troops to Jerusalem and began to round up all the Israelites and took all of them into captivity to be slaves in Babylon.

Their temple was looted and destroyed. The articles in the house of the Lord were carried away to a city called Shinar where they were put into the house of a false god.

Israel lost everything, their land, their temple, their freedom all because they did not keep the law of the Lord to let the land rest.

Israel remained in the captivity for 70 years; that is 1 year for every seven years that they did not let the land rest.

It is important to remember God’s instructions. Reading them and understanding them can sometimes be arduous and takes time; however, it is better to bless God than to ignore Him.

Do You Treat Other Poorly?

Do You Treat Other Poorly? Exodus 23:1-9.

There is a fearful side to grace, where God peruses the rights of all those infringed upon by another. We must remember that we are all God’s creation and though some may not go to church, He loves all people.

In grace, God forgives people of their sins. So serious was He that He sent His only son to earth so that He might suffer at the hands of church people and die.

Die at the hands of church people? Yes! Those who plotted to kill Jesus were those who ran the organized religion of that day.

The High Priest, the Pharisees, and the Scribes all felt their hold on their culture was being ripped away and they brought up charges before the Roman authorities and Jesus was nailed to a cross.

These, who took sides against Jesus, will know the fearful side of God’s grace; for God sees those who are mistreated or abused. Even if abused by a person who goes to church, God will hold the abuser accountable for their actions.

In our passage Moses is charged with getting this point across to the children of Israel. Though you may be called of God to be His people, God will not allow you to abuse others. God will have grace for the oppressed and revenge the actions against them.

If you call yourself a Christian and deal wickedly with people, you may be only fooling yourself. The hurt you do to others will return to you with God’s retribution.

“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Exodus 23:1(NKJV)

Do you lie? Lying is a easy sin to commit when put under pressure. It may be the pressure of fitting in to a group, at work, or even in a social setting; lying is not to be a thing a person of God does.

Even if the lie is against an evil person; it is God who revenges evil and to repay evil with evil is ungodly. Therefore, God does not accept a person who bears false witness.

Knowing this fact has caused me several embarrassing moments. I once had a supervisor who loved to belittle me. He favored all the others, but suppressed me because I was a Christian.

There were several occasions where he put me on the spot and I lied to him. However, each time, after having the lie on my conscious, I would return to him and confess my lie and tell him why I lied. He would look at me as if I was a fool; however, it was God that I was pleasing.

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. Exodus 23:2(NKJV)

Crowds assemble to gain momentum to a cause. Before joining a crowd, a person should think about the end result before joining them. The momentum of crowds can get out of hand and engulf those who only came to watch.

That was the atmosphere of the day Jesus was sentenced to die. The crowd was gathered by rumor and curiosity. After the Roman, Pilate, examined Jesus, he could not find him guilty. Yet the crowd was pressing on him to act according to their desire.

In reality, it was not the crowd’s opinion; it was the opinion of those who set Jesus up. They disbursed through the crowd and started yelling, “Crucify Him” to which many in the crowd joined in only because that is what others were doing.

The sad thing is that those who joined themselves to the crowd became a part of that crowd and in God’s eyes they share the guilt for the crowd’s action. Therefore, be careful about the crowds you join yourself to.

You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. Exodus 23:3(NKJV)

Again we can reference Jesus in this statement. Jesus was not respected by the leaders of Israel because their leadership involved families with money. Jesus was poor, coming from Nazareth. In their minds, nothing good could come from Nazareth for the people of Nazareth were poor.

The way they saw the scriptures was perverted and even this verse could have been on their minds, twisted in a way that caused them not to change their partiality towards a poor man. Poor men were those who cost the community money; therefore those with money were good.

Yet the verse is asking people to treat poor people just as anyone else. If they have done well, treat them well. If they have done wrong, treat them as wrong. Just treat them the same as anyone else.

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. Exodus 23:4-5(NKJV)

A corner stone of grace is that we do not hold grudges and we do not allow bad things to happen towards people if we can stop it.

Never will we get along with everyone; however, to treat them as you would treat yourself is mandatory in God’s eyes.

You may not want to do it, but you have to do it. It builds your integrity and will bring satisfaction when facing the onslaught of you neighbors anger. Yet this gesture is to stop the bitterness and mend the relationship.

As Christians we are to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. We are to be kind to those that try only to use us and if asked to walk a mile with them, offer to walk two. God would have us do more to help them if it is in our power to do so.

“You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. Exodus 23:6-7(NKJV)

Our passage truly is centering on the very things that happened to Jesus. Line for line, verse for verse came true when they killed Jesus. They killed an innocent and righteous man because he was poor.

They perverted judgments against Jesus. They plotted to kill Him and they did kill Him. Jesus was an innocent man and those who enforced the dispute will not be justified.

And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. Exodus 23:8(NKJV)

A person of God should rely on God to meet all their needs. Money should not become a temptation. Money is to bring satisfaction and thanksgiving should surround what we do have. God provided what we have and we honor what He brings.

To take a bribe is expressing dissatisfaction, greed, and is a step away from your relationship with God. Again, going to the story of the crucifixion of Christ, Judas valued money over his value of godliness and betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver.

“Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus 23:7(NKJV)

Strangers are looking for acceptance and that should be given freely to them. The stranger should not have to work for our acceptance or pay their way into our groups.

A stranger should be honored at all times for you never know when you are entertaining a person with a message from God for you.

When meeting a stranger, your warm welcome should remove the strangeness and warmly accept him as you would your closest friend.

This was not what happened to Jesus; they accepted Jesus as a stranger and kept Him at bay like a stranger. Those who led the church did not welcome Jesus and it was to their own loss.

Therefore, let us be people who love God, live righteously, and treat others like we would like to be treated.

The Fearful Side to Grace.

The Fearful Side to Grace. Exodus 22:22-31.

For too long people have only considered grace as only extending to sinners; however, there is another side to God’s grace. The heart of God goes out to those who are troubled, afflicted, and poor. This side of grace we must all understand and learn.

Being made in the image of God, we humans look into the sad eyes of child and melt. Seeing the downtrodden, the homeless, and the afflicted should move our hearts with compassion; this is the other side of grace.

However, if we cannot feel compassion, our hearts have become calloused and the spiritual side of our life is spoiled. There is a danger to having a calloused heart and saying that you are jaded is no excuse.

Let it be known that God rejects people who cannot see the need of others and His anger flairs when the downtrodden are trampled upon. Selfishness is not in God’s nature and neither should it be in ours.

“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24(NKJV)

This verse holds a great promise all should understand. God will revenge these who have been afflicted. The statement does not exclude them who call themselves Christians. This is written to and encompasses all of God’s people.

Jesus told of His disciples, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Luke 12:4-5(NKJV)

This side of grace can nullify the other side of grace. A person who has accepted God’s sacrifice for their sin can cause much conflict between them and God if they go on to live selfishly; self centering on their own needs or walking past the needs of others.

God’s sword and vengeance will come upon the Day of Judgment. People from all ages will be lined up before the throne of the Lord and He will separate them like sheep from goats. Families will be separated as a great divide slashes through the people, separating the mass in two.

One side will be the goats and the other side will be the sheep and the words spoken to the sheep will be, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Mathew 25:34-40(NKJV)

The goats will hear something different; they will hear, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Mathew 25:41-43(NKJV)

Though our passage only mentions widows and orphans, as you can see the principle extends to many situations where God’s heart has compassion.

“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. Exodus 22:25(NKJV)

It is the principle of grace. If God showed us grace while we were yet sinners, should not we show grace to others? Should we gain from the poor and needy or give of ourselves to help them? Just in this one principle many can be divided into two groups.

If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. Exodus 22:26-27(NKJV)

In principle a person should always consider the hard and cold lodgings of others and never make them worse. Though in our day we cannot house the world and many choose to be homeless, we should never add to their suffering.

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. Exodus 22:28(NKJV)

This short sentence is packed with meaning. In the New Testaments the Apostle Paul taught extensively that people are to be subject to their magistrates. Those in authority are allowed their authority by God.

Where some in authority may be godly and others ungodly; they answer for their decision in a greater accountability to God.

People should never revile God by cursing or speaking badly of those in authority. To do so would be stepping into God’s business to try to change the situation and there could be no greater criticism or lack of respect towards God.

“You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me. “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. Exodus 22:29-31(NKJV)

Everything we have, from our lodging, our food, our clothes, to our status in life, is granted to us by God. Using it within Godly precepts is our duty before God.

The giving of the first fruits is a way of thinking of God before we think of ourselves. It is the order that God would have us live in so that we might have respect to all of our possessions, talents, gifts, and status.

Giving of our best or first to God, softens the callousness which grows inside our heart. The world and it’s ways push upon us to become cold, bitter, ungracious, and selfish; however, our God would have us be different.

Holiness is living in grace. It is not only grace for us; it is grace for others. Seeing their need, then helping and at least not making their situation worse for them; God’s people are to be like Him and He is holy.

When the beasts of the field tear another animal up; we are never to feed on its caucus. This statement extends past how to manage living amongst the animal kingdom. How much more does it apply to living among the treacherous people of our world. Let us not be of the world while we are in the world. Let us live holy, as God is holy.

Punishment for Immoral Values.

Punishment for Immoral Values. Exodus 22:16-21.

The Apostle Paul taught Timothy, his student, in the last day’s people would be lovers of themselves.

Paul wrote, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5(NKJV)

What Paul saw was a decline in morals caused by the rise in population. As populations increased, ungodly behavior was being accepted. Paul was able to look forward because Paul studied the past and passages as the one we are looking at.

The passages we read are moral laws that God wanted people to enforce. They were laws that would help the people live holy, stopping conflicts and detouring crime.

It is respect to God’s law which gives a society respect for itself and without respect the Children of Israel would be like other societies of their time where only the strongest survive.

However, it is also these moral laws which caused societies to hunt witches and indiscriminatingly kill the innocent. Thinking themselves to be wise, godly people, crimes have been committed which include the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as we review these review these laws we must remember our society is not their society; it has changed because of perilous times. However, God has not forgotten those who offend His’ laws.

“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins. Exodus 22:16-17(NKJV)

Evidently they had a problem with guys who seduced women; tempting the women to disobey their fathers. The principle of honoring your Father and Mother was in tack and this showed great disrespect to the woman involved and to her family. Thus if he was going to treat the daughter as a whore and the daughter was going to act like a whore, the man who did such a thing was going to pay great money to the family.

The paying of a penalty did not erase the crime; it did however, make a statement to daughter and the man saying, “This is not acceptable.” Often times this fee caused the men significant hardship and they would know life as a servant losing their freedom.

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Exodus 22:18(NKJV)

Sorcery is a direct rejection of God and a worshipful bow to Lucifer. Though it gets painted as a mystical, magical practice; sorcery is evil to the extreme.

Sorcery opens the doors to demonic influence and possession; making God’s people vulnerable to spiritual attack.

Even the acceptance of the sorcerer or “witch” opens the door for Satan to work from within their society to corrupt it. Therefore, the opportunity to purge sorcery was a reasonable option; for evil will be destroyed in the end anyways. Why wait for it to destroy their society?

To balance our performance of eradicating sorcery, we have to look to the scriptures. The Apostles encountered sorcerers in their time and never did they take steps to kill the sorcerer.

In the Apostles time, sorcery was larger than one person; there were hundreds of sorcerers and to enforce every penalty for every law would skew the message of the gospel.

In fact, the message of the gospel is a message of forgiveness of sin, no matter the sin. Therefore, the punishment for breaking the law was for the time of the Children of Israel, and in our time grace is rendered.

In no way is this acceptance of sorcery; sorcery is still a devilish worship and if they do not repent, God will hold them accountable on the Day of Judgment.

“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. Exodus 22:19(NKJV)

Bestiality is naturally wrong. God made men and women to mate with in their own species. Any twisting of the natural state of intercourse between a man and a woman is punishable.

Again, enforcing punishment was for their time, and in our time grace is offered. To turn down grace and forgiveness of sin will be handled on the Day of Judgment.

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. Exodus 22:20(NKJV)

The truth of destruction never changes; weather punishment is rendered on the spot or on the Day of Judgment, God will enforce these moral laws upon society. These laws will judge all societies; but, hopefully they will lead some to repentance while grace is offered.

“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21(NKJV)

Among all the punishments for crime rendered, along comes this statement of mistreating strangers. As we go back through history, it becomes apparent people have misdirected accusations towards people expected of a crime, having judged them before they even knew them.

God does not tolerate this either. To take advantage of a person’s ignorance will not be tolerated. Therefore, the judicial system of the Children of Israel was for those who lived among them and were familiar with the guidelines and punishments.

God is a forgiving God; though many point at the punishments here as brutal, God sent His only son to innocently suffer death. God allows the spilled blood of Jesus to be a covering for sin. Therefore, Christians will say, “Jesus died for our sins.”

No matter what sin or practice you have involved yourself in God is willing to forgive you of that sin and cleanse you from acting unrighteous.

Where you might have been a stranger, no longer are you stranger to the love of God. Today if you would like God to forgive you of your sins, you can ask Him right where you are now.

The laws of God are good. Their intent to keep order in our societies is good. Though the punishment has been deferred to the Day of Judgment, the order of holiness in God’s kingdom has not. Therefore, let us embrace the principles of God’s laws in grace and truth.

Facing your Fears.

Facing your Fears. Genesis 32:1-21

So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim. Genesis 32:1-2(NKJV)

This is the second divine meeting where Jacob saw angels and therefore, he calls the name Mahanaim meaning “Two Camps” for he knew the presence of God was there.

If we could pull open the veil separating our existence to see the spiritual realm, our hearts might fret from what we see. Angels battling demons, angelic processions hailing the work of God as He intervenes into our lives; all this would be too much for us.

Jacob had an opportunity to peek behind the scene of the acts of God in his own life; it had such an effect on him that he now desired to face the fear of meeting his brother and attempt to humble himself and repent to him. Jacob was going to right the wrong that he did.

This is what prayer and worship is about. When we enter church and worship, we are inviting God to reveal Himself to us, touch our hearts, and heal them. When we get alone to pray and we patiently wait as we praise the Lord, He will change us and the result will be a person with a softer heart. A person willing to right the wrongs in their life and to do good to others. God’s presence affects us.

Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”‘” Genesis 32:3-5(NKJV)

This message, though it did not admit guilt, showed Jacob’s willingness to humble himself before Esau. It was a brother reaching out in love to restore the relation and make that relationship what it could be and healing what it was.

This is where restoration begins; first by reaching out with soft words opening opportunity to meet. This step is often the only thing stopping restoration.

Families become torn apart, each desiring a better satiation. Jealousies, hatreds, ignorance, and haughtiness, all become a wall and that wall can only be torn down by gentleness, kindness, and repentance.

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.” Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” Genesis 32:6-12(NKJV)

Jacob was over running; he was going to face his brother and attempt to put the past behind and restore what was lost. Though Esau came with a force ready to battle; Jacob was going to stand in the power of the Lord’s might.

Jacob was fearful and making decision for survival. He was thinking if he had to pay with his life, he wanted his family to be safe.

Notice, that though he knew God was for him, Jacob still feared. This is a common reaction when we face trials; we want the best, but we fear the worst. Yet Jacob turns in a right direction, as he turns to the Lord in prayer.

In our faith, God calls us to not be afraid. That should be a goal for our life and yet for God to help us meet our goals, it takes trials to build our faith. When the Apostle James calls us to embrace our trials, he promised it would lead to patience that waits on God. Yet until that perfect faith occurs, we will often face fear.

Even though you pray, God lets you face your fear. He wants you to feel His presence, though you cannot see Him. Many people feel ashamed that they fear, when they know the scriptural promises that God has made; however, God does not look down on you when you fear.

The action Jacob takes is for preservation. There are times in life God will use the threat we face to motivate us to make decisions of preservation because they are needed. God uses situations for our good.

So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’” Genesis 32:13-18(NKJV)

Jacobs’s actions were in line with what Jesus taught His disciples. Jesus taught to do good to those who persecute you, turn the other cheek, and to go the extra mile. Enemies can only be enemies if we class them as such. When we humble ourselves to them, we breakdown that wall that divides.

So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. Genesis 32:19-21(NKJV)

Jacob was taking care of the sin in his own life and not worried about the difference he and his brother had. He dropped the bitterness, he left the past behind, and submitted himself to his brother. Oh what a wonderful world it would be if each and every person had the attitude of Jacob.

Do you have a Passion to Serve God?

Do you have a Passion to Serve God? Genesis 32:22-32.

And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Genesis 32:22-24(NKJV)

To rise at night was not a common occurrence for a family traveling in almost unknown territory. However, Jacob knew that there was someone coming close to them and for the sake of his family, he sent them across a tributary of the Jordan River called Jabbok and interestingly he went back to face the threat.

Jacob was a man who was learning to face his fears and face his adversary. He was traveling to face his angry brother, who he had not seen for twenty years. It was possible that the person following Jacob’s family could have been his brother, for his brother was a cunning hunter. Regardless Jacob goes into the night with boldness.

As the story continues we find that this man following was none other than the expressed image of God. We are made in God’s image; therefore, having the figure of a man is not beyond God, for the very son of God was with God in the beginning of the world and nothing was made without Him. Therefore, it is well possible that this man was our Lord, Emanuel.

How daring was it of Jacob to put his own life at risk to face an opponent that grabbed him in the dark and began to wrestle. Even more amazing was his fortitude as Jacob did not give up wrestling all night long. This match was not to harm the other, but bring the other into submission.

Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32:25-26(NKJV)

At some point in the fight Jacob says “I will not let go unless you bless me;” therefore we know that Jacob knew that this was definitely a great man capable of yielding the blessings of God. Jacob was not going to leave without a blessing and his fortitude should shame us all.

Not too many people who hold on to God have the fortitude to wrestle with God until they get answers to their prayers. They pray, but as far as holding on, many give up and settle daily reminding Him as they mention it to God in their prayers.

There are so many issues that we care deeply about; yet how many of us cling to prayer until they are blessed by God. As you can see, there are times in a person’s life that they need to wrestle and hold on to God until they receive an answer.

One side note: the fact that day was about to break is significant in the fact that this entity of God was not to be directly seen by Jacob. To this we might add, God follows us and His promise to never leave us or forsake us is as real as you and I; however, we will never see Him face to face in this life.

So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. Genesis 32:27-29(NKJV)

The name Jacob means “heel holder” and was given to him by his mother as he held on to his brother’s heel coming out of the womb. Thus was the life of Jacob; as he grew watching his father favor his brother, he held on. When he was tricked by Laban and was given Leah as a wife, he held on. When he was cheated for wages, he held on. Now facing God in the middle of the night, he held on; but that was going to change.

Now wounded in his hip, life was going to change; yet not all change is for the worst. Yes, his hip had withered and struggling with his infirmity would follow him the rest of his days; however, his new name coincided with the blessing he gained this night.

Israel means “God Prevails” and Jacob would leave this place with the confidence that no matter the situation he faced, God would prevail.

It is easy to forget that we are a single individual and are living according to God’s plan. The world does not revolve around us and that is why the apostles of Christ teach in their gospels that we are to consider ourselves servants of God, for we are only the creation and as Jacob, we have our frailties.

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank. Genesis 32:30-32(NKJV)

This lesson was an important one and one that the Israelites would commemorate in their traditions. Every time they prepared their food the flesh from the hip socket would be discarded. It was a reminder to them that we are mere flesh and when we wrestle with God the way we are blessed might cost us.

For years, I stood outside of the place of my work and prayed “Oh how long do I have to waste my talents on this business that has no gain for the kingdom? As a writer, I could see myself writing full time, publishing Bible studies and encouraging Christians with the words God blesses me with.

Every day and several times a day, I held on to God for an answer and then it came; however, it came in the form of great sickness and a heart attack that almost ended my life. From that day forward, my life has had health complication.

So I received what I asked for; Like Jacob, a part of me was weakened so that I might become the servant that I desired, for it was God’s desire too. Weakness and sickness does not bother me for I know that it is for my own good as I am a servant of God.

Restoring Relationships.

Restoring Relationships. Genesis 33:1-17.

Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Genesis 33:1-3(NKJV)

Here we read about the reunion that made Jacob worry. Though he worried, prayed, and faced his fears, Jacob boldly headed into the inevitable; the future was going to be what it was going to be. Jacob arranged his families into an orderly precession and in front he put his faith in God to protect them.

Worry is one thing that we all do best. How we face worry is what defines us as people. We can be filled with worry, but commit our future to the Lord and still be considered faithful in His sight. It is when we face our fears that our faith is committed to God and without faith it is impossible to please Him.

His brother Esau was still the same man. He had not the experiences of Jacob; he did not have God appear to him and he did not wrestle with the almighty for blessings. Esau had formed a band of people who hunted, fought, and were tough individuals. Now four hundred of these rugged men came backing Esau and ready for anything.

What do you suppose was in Esau’s mind? Could it have been expecting a skirmish? Without God in his life, Esau thought of strategies to defeat his brother and surly was ready if Jacob came on attack. Esau still thought of his brother as a thief who stole his birthright and at one time, Esau wanted to kill Jacob. The only thing that shielding Jacob on this day was twenty years they spent apart and God who protected them.

But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down. Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” Genesis 33:4-9(NKJV)

Truly, the way Jacob approached with reverence and respect, showed no sign of aggressiveness and when Esau looked into his brother’s face, he could tell that Jacob was a different man. There was no fear and no frown; Jacob had a look of peace and so does the person who spends quality time to know God; even his enemies will be at peace with him.

So the dialogue began; Esau was amazed at all the children and wives that Jacob acquired; he had left with nothing and returned rich. Esau could see the result from the blessing his father had given to Jacob and now Esau was also at peace with who he was.

Esau liked to hunt and hang with manly men; it is even possible that Esau had no wife and as he looked at his brother’s brood, he thought to himself, “I could never be tied down with responsibilities as these.” Esau’s focus was on the women and children and he gave little attention to the great herds of animals.

But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it. Genesis 33:10-11(NKJV)

Jacob was sizing his brother up also. Because he saw his brother had need, he generously offers to give him a share of his herds; but is politely rejected. Esau was a hunter, not a herdsman. Esau could not fathom having to care of such animal; yet he took them to satisfy his brother and put closure to their differences.

Jacob also witnessed to his brothers by proclaiming his wonderful testimony. In his evangelism, he looks into Esau’s life to point out the work of God in hopes his brother too would embrace God and seek a relationship with him. Jacob proclaims, “I have seen the face of God and you were pleased with me” which stated that God turned our hearts towards each other, now let us turn our hearts towards Him.

Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.” And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Genesis 33:12-17(NKJV)

Esau’s invitation to protect Jacob on the rest of their journey was a great offer; but what need is there? Jacob had his own life and was able to take care of himself. He had done so for many years and though the brothers were united once again, their differences were going to keep them apart. They could be neighbors, yet Jacob was going to have to take care of himself.

Esau was conveying a message of warning. The land they were entering was not the same land as when Jacob left. There were treacherous people who Jacob would have to face and traveling had its dangers. Let the truth be said now, bad company corrupts good morals. The fear that Jacob would face was not might, but secular infiltration of sin into their camp. Yet one does not always see this ahead of time when they choosing where they shall live.

Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel. Genesis 33:18-20(NKJV)

A new land, a new start, and Jacob declares before his family and friends that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was going to be their focus. El Elohe Israel, “the God of Israel” had brought them back to the land He had promised to them. They would honor God in their families and in their camp with the alter that stood to commutate their elegance to God.

The question we will later answer is, “Is a alter enough to raise a Godly Family?”

Innocence Defiled.

Innocence Defiled. Genesis 34:1-12.

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. Genesis 34:1-2(NKJV)

It was a new land, new people, and it led to new trouble. Jacob had built an alter unto the Lord as an expression of his faith; however, that that did not give reason for his children to accept his convictions about God and his purpose in life.

To Jacob, God was wonderful and continuing in him a work that started with his Grandfather. Jacob knew God personally and through his relationship with God he became a purpose driven man.

In addition, Jacob took his position to be the father of Israel seriously. He settled apart from his brother and separated his people from the others in the land. God had promised him the land of Canaan, yet Jacob did not know how God was going to deliver it to him.

However, his family only watched and listened to the stories of their husband and father. When a family depends on the parents for a relationship with God, the children grow to expect that; but they do not have the knowledge or how to gain that for themselves.

For his daughter Dianna, she wanted to find other girls that she could share her young life with. She knew nothing about the ways of other people and in her ignorance she mingled and walked into trouble. She was raped by the young prince Shechem.

Where was the attention of her parents. How did she get out of their sights? Did they not know the dangers or consider what could happen to a young girl? Had they been so isolated from the world that they did not expect them to act like animals without fear for God?

And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. Genesis 34:3-4(NKJV)

It was a degrading action to succumb to lust and then choose to take her as a wife. It showed no respect towards her parents and it was disrespectful to Diana. She was now a defiled person.

Marriage is to be a sacred commitment and a ceremony that respect parents. In honoring parents the children grow in respect and become respectful individuals; however, this man had no respect and was a selfish person. Only vanity made him think he could be a proper husband. He could not manage his own life; how was he going to manage his children’s or respect Diana as a wife?

And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done. Genesis 34:5-7(NKJV)

Jacob had taught his boys well. They knew of the providence of God; Israel was more than a name given to their father from God, it was name sake to all their people. It was a namesake they were to respect, honor, and defend.

This action not only defiled their sister, but it showed no respect towards them as a people and to become great in this land, respect was important. Yet, Jacob’s sons though respect had to be demanded.

And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. Genesis 34:8-10(NKJV)

If Jacob were to allow his families to mix with the gentile nation, what would become of God’s special people Israel? Hamor had no honor for God and Hamor did not honor his own bloodline. His sense of pride was in possessions and life was about what you can take for yourself. It is no wonder his son took Diana without asking. The whole community was raised to be like this.

Do you hear what I am saying? When you mix into the ways of the community it drags you down; yet when you hold your ground and show the community what is important you change your community. As Christians we are called to be in this world but not of it or taking on their ways. We are aliens and must keep watch over our own. We are building a kingdom of people and our bloodlines must stay pure.

And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. Genesis 34:11-12(NKJV)

Can you be bought off? Do you turn your back on what is right for money? Our integrity is all we have as people. Our actions proclaim our faith in God and the rejections of wealth to maintain our separateness from the world is greater gain.

There are people who love money so much they concentrate only on their work and so tired are they, after have done all in their day to obtain wealth, they have no time for God. This should not be; our relationship with God and purity in our life is to be our highest importance. It is worth more than money, more important than pleasure, and more than what the world can offer.

There is so much we can learn from this one situation of scripture, but if we do not inject it into our lives like a serum that saves us from sickness, there is not much hope that any of the scriptures will affect us.

Are you a mother of father who has children? These children, no matter if they are grand children, are the future of Christianity and they will take over the leadership of our churches, our towns, our companies, and our nation. Therefore, we must invest out time into them, teaching them the ways of God and showing them how they too can have their own relationship with God.

As Christians we are to be ambassadors of God teaching men and women to forsake the ways of the world and focus on the salvation of their souls. Our example to them is all the Bible they may ever read; therefore your life should be a living epistle.

Children Consult your Parents.

Children Consult your Parents. Genesis 34:13-31.

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: Genesis 34:13-15(NKJV)

The tribe of Jacob moved to a new land and Jacob’s daughter, Diana, went out to see if she could meet some other girls. She was the only girl born to her father and hanging out with her brothers left her wondering how other girls lived. So Diana went to explore, to find what life was like in the nearby community that they had just moved into.

As she mingled with the girls, she was met by a young man named Shechem. He was the town pretty boy; who like a normal guy of any town, loved to flirt. Yet his flirting turned into seduction and Shechem took advantage of her and defiled Diana as he would any girl that he met. Their society morals were so low that this was normal for a young man. Yet as he did, he fell in love with her.

We pick up the where Shechem and his father Hamor came to the camp of Israel to ask for her hand in marriage; yet not only marriage, but a free range of intermingling of their people with Israel.

As it happened, Diana’s brothers were first to meet these two and after they had heard the offer, the brothers responded “No; you’re not circumcised and in order for this to work, your people would have to be circumcised.”

But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son. Genesis 34:16-18(NKJV)

Now Jacob had preached to his children that they were a special people and God was doing a special work within them. Much like Christians today, God was building a kingdom of people and Israel was to be a great nation.

They were not to mix with other people and therefore the defilement of their sister was extra horrible to them. They felt taken advantage of and they felt as if their sister was tricked as she lost her virginity to this heathen man.

The brothers realized that this was a terrible Godless people who had no respect for others and they were on the land that God had promised their father; so they transpired against them and took the matter into their own hands.

And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their’s be our’s? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. Genesis 34:18-23(NKJV)

As Diana’s brothers waited for a reply they could sense the greed and the lust in the hearts of these people. The men were so vicious that it took Hamor to reason with them showing them the gain that the Israelites would bring. If he had not done this, eventually these men would have done treacherous acts towards Jacob’s people. There would have been skirmishes; bitterness, envy, all compelled by greed. There would be no peace between the two peoples.

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out. Genesis 34:24-26(NKJV)

Of the twelve brothers, Simon and Levi were the ones who harbored the most bitterness in their hearts and committed this terrible act. Before doing so, they did not talk to their father about their intentions and if they had, it is doubtful Jacob would have consented. It was an extreme move and possibly a twisting of their fathers teaching that God was to give them all the land.

The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. Genesis 34:27-29(NKJV)

The very thing they hated, they became. They hated the pampas attitude, the disregard for respect, and the way they acted towards these people was worse than the way these people would have treated them.

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? Genesis 34:30-31(NKJV)

Jacob had failed in this area of raising his children. Perhaps his family had grown too big for him to guide. Now the large family Jacob desired was in danger while they were in this land and they would have to move on. How terrible is it when our children act unreasonably as these did.

Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and do good to those who persecute us. There could have been a better way to handle this and Jacob would have been a good one to consult before they went off to plunder this people. Yet all this comes through teaching and we must teach our children to come to us before they make decisions in life.

Deliverance from Sorrow and Pain.

Deliverance from Sorrow and Pain. Genesis 35:1-15.

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” Genesis 35:1(NKJV)

Jacob was sorrowful; his family had committed a tragic act. In revenge of their sister’s rape, they killed all of the Shechemite men. Then they pillaged their houses taking with them all their possessions. There was crying in Jacobs camp and now there were angry Shechemite widows who felt like slaves. Jacob looked out over his family with great sorrow.

Our human experience will suffer some major setbacks from situations that drive us deep into sorrow. Every human will know what it is to suffer the death of a loved one, a crime committed in sin, and many have suffered persecution and even enslavement. Life is cruel and in times of despair, God is waiting to help us through it.

“What do I do now?” is the cry too often lifted without direction, to a source that cannot help. We can ask our neighbors, our friends, a doctor, but to find complete rest we must lift our questions to God in faith that He will answers.

God hears our prayers and feels our emotions. The God that knows the future felt our pain and sent His own Son to take the penalty of sin on Himself as He suffered for the sins of all humanity. God took our punishment and therefore, if we trust Him, God can restore joy to our existence.

God saw Jacob’s pain and God reached out to restore. “Go to Bethel and make an alter unto me,” God said. This was an act of a merciful God who would now help Jacob and his family with its tragic sin. This is our God who wants to help us in times of need and will help when we heed His call.

And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” Genesis 35:2-3(NKJV)

Like most tribes in Canaan, the Shechemite people put their trust in idols. Graven images that could not speak, could not hear, and could not help, littered their homes and fables about them flowed from their tongues. People want help, but often do not know where to find it, so they invent spirituality.

All these women, whom had been taken as captives, had all the provocative ways of their culture. They dressed scantily, wore jewelry in their ears, they knew how to attract through lust; now they were going to learn what purity was and how to please a holy God.

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. Genesis 35:4-5(NKJV)

In the pursuit of God it is important to understand that He his holy and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. The truth is they did not need the idols they trusted in, they had no power to help them and it was important to strip away their dependence on them.

We must teach people to leave their old life behind to forage forward into God’s protecting hand and into protection they did go. Shechemite women scanned the hills and countryside expecting to see other tribes coming to attack the tribe of Jacob; for these came into their land and committed an atrocity. However, as they bitterly stared they saw nothing; for God put fear into the Canaanite hearts so that he might deliver Jacob and his people.

So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. Genesis 35:6-7(NKJV)

Jacob was a man who communed with God and now he was asked to return to where his relationship with God began. As if to say, “It is time to start over,” Jacob had come to Bethel to find what he had lost, gain what he had ripped away, and be restored unto God. Surely the Lord was in this place.

When we are down trodden and sorrowful in heart, it is important to return to the place where God has touched our hearts. We can become so engulfed in life that we lose the closeness we once had.

It was Bethel that Jacob stopped for his first night of travel, when he fled from his brother. In his sleep God came to Jacob and said, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

Jacob relived the moment, he remembered the encounter, and there he worshipped God afresh. Jacob was reminded it was not Jacob’s people; it was God’s people who Jacob was leading. Jacob was only a tool in the hand of God who was building a race, a kingdom, a people that would be examples for all of history and draw them to the truth that God is love.

Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth. Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. Genesis 35:8-9(NKJV)

On our mountain tops of clear sight and restoration, we must remember that there will be more pain in our life and while they were there in Bethel, Deborah died. She was laid to rest under an oak tree and they called the place, “The oak of weeping.”

And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. Genesis 35:10-15(NKJV)

The blessings of God were again on Jacob, for Jacob honored God, was obedient to his voice, and was an example unto his people. His faith was a long process and for a second time God tells him that his name is no longer Jacob, but is now Israel.

The name Jacob meant “heel holder” and Jacob stood in his brother’s shadows for years; yet now his name, Israel, means “God prevails.” In saying this, God wanted Jacob to stand up and be a man of God. No longer did he have to hide his head in shame, but he could lift it high for God was on his side. If God forgives us there is no shame and our sins are forgotten; why should we carry them, scolding ourselves over a non issue.

This was his second trip to Bethel and now he was a different man. God wanted Jacob to be confident, fearless, and receive the promise that God was offering.

It is easy to let sin and life to get us down. We can lose faith in God and lose our communion with Him. Yet God wants to restore us to be the men and women that live according to His plan for our lives. We are called by God to be Christians and to this we should honor Him by living according to faith.

My Baby, Whoa Baby!

My Baby, Whoa Baby! Genesis 35:16-27.

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. Genesis 25:16-18(NKJV)

It was Rebekah that began her life with Jacob unable to have children. Her inability to have children was a source of shame and as she watching her sister Leah have many children. It made Rebekah feel less than a woman; for in their society, to have children was a sign of blessings from God and she felt cursed.

However, God opened up her womb and child bearing brought Rachel much joy; however, the very thing she desired would kill her; for the last child she was to give birth to, twist inside her and she would die.

As she died, she expressed her sorrow in the name she gave the child. Ben-Oni, which meant “Son of my Sorrow”, and was Rachel’s way of showing her regret for conceiving this child.

The child would tear her away from the husband she loved; the husband she watched her sister share because of the greediness of their father. She had gained Jacob’s affection and no matter what life brought their way, they were deeply in love.

They met in a field as she tended her father’s sheep. Jacob loved her strength, her wit, and her loveliness. Jacob committed himself to her, even when she could not bear children and he respected his commitment to her, even to the last second.

In sorrow, Jacob would commemorate her life by re-naming the son Benjamin, which means “The son at my right hand.”

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb. Genesis 36:19-20(NKJV)

The tomb of Rachel can still be seen. The Jews declare it one of the third holiest sites in all of Israel. Tradition says that Rachel wept for the children of Israel as they passed the tomb on their way to exile in Babylon.

In 1620 a building was built on the site and capped with a dome by the Ottoman Turks. Due to a deteriorating structure and security situations in Israel, a building was built around it and now it stands as a barrier to separate it from Bethlehem.

Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Genesis 36:20-22(NKJV)

As we now read, the story teller uses the name to which God wanted Jacob to embrace, Israel. The name signified the new man that Jacob had become. No longer would Jacob be the man who carried shame, he would be Israel, the man of God.

When God changes a person’s life, it does not make everyone around them change. Many husbands give their life to God and their wife is slower to follow. It may be their children that do not follow; for people must have their own encounters with God.

This being said, Israel’s son, Ruben, commits an act of sin before him. He brought the sin upon himself and would now have to live with the repercussions of that sin.

Yet the text does not show the emotion of Israel towards this child; but a man of God, who knows the forgiveness of God, would not feel anger, but compassion and sorrow.

Your sin surly will find you out and those things done in secret are seen by God above. Ruben thought he was sneaky, his heart was filled with lust; but Israel found out and the dirty truth and shame would follow Ruben. The fact that there is not much said about Israel emotion shows us that Israel knew God would deal with him in His’ own time.

Jacob had twelve sons: The sons of Leah: Reuben (behold a son) the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon (heard), Levi (joined to), Judah (praised), Issachar (there is recompense) and Zebulun (exaulted). The sons of Rachel: Joseph (Jehovah has added) and Benjamin (son of the right hand). The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah: Dan (a judge) and Naphtali (wresteling). The sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah: Gad (troop) and Asher (happy). These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. Genesis 35:23-26(NKJV)

Jacob was a blessed man, who had sheep, oxen, cattle, camels, people, tents, and many possessions; however, all of this could not replace the value he saw in his children.

God had changed his name to Israel and though it took many years for him to accept God’s providence, Jacob became the godly man named Israel.

His children would go on to be the fathers of the entire Jewish race and when we meet a Jewish man or women today; their lineage goes back to these twelve children.

Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. Genesis 25:27-29(NKJV)

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are the primary chain of fathers that God raised up to be called according to His purpose. What started with faith ended with faith and that faith produced a world changing people that are still being dealt with by God today.

To Abraham, God promised to provide himself a sacrifice and generations later would be born a lion from the tribe of Judah, the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord. As promised all the world would be blessed through the seed of Abraham and you and I have salvation because these trusted God.

Any man can be as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God will speak to your heart, change your direction, and make you into a person of great faith; we need only let Him.

Here ends the story of Jacob; and as we follow his children, Jacob will again be discussed as we look into their lives and see our own lives; for God has a message for us all.

Is your Family Valued?

Is your Family Valued? Genesis 36:1-43.

Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. Genesis 36:1-5(NKJV)

Esau gained the nick name of Edom or “Red”. When we last read about Esau he was making amends with his brother Jacob. Esau had coped with the fact that his father Isaac had blessed Jacob and that God honored that blessing. Therefore, the brothers were again united, but there was one thing that would keep them apart; Esau made his home with the ungodly Canaanite people and his people were different from Jacob’s.

The story teller, inspired by God to write this account, lets us look in look into Esau’s life and the nation he fathered children in, called the Edomites. The Edomites will be mentioned in many other stories occurring later in scripture and therefore, it is important to know who they are.

Esau gathered many women; marrying a Hittite, a Hivite, and a Canaanite women. His sons were name Eliphaz (My God is gold), Reuel (friend of God), Juesh (assembler), Jalem (concealed), Korah (bald). These can be called the Dukes of Edom.

The names are significant for they reflect the spiritual conviction of their father. He was more interested in possession than spirituality and his own accomplishments over what God could accomplish through him. Esau began as a hunter and renowned for his hunting. This wildness inside him could not be tamed.

Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. Genesis 36:6-8(NKJV)

The land they dwelt in was named after Esau. Edom was a mountainous terrain and stretched 100 miles long and 20 miles wide. The northern area began at the Southern end of the Dead Sea and Edom’s Southern area touched a gulf in the Red sea. It was an Arabian nation that bordered Egypt.

Verses Genesis 36:9-29 will be omitted due to its long elaborate presentation of names. Therefore, taking advantage of this passage I will list the names of the grandchildren of Esau, who became chiefs to rule the land of Edom. In this we find that the meaning in their names suggests how the son’s of Esau were raised by their father and how they as parents raised their children.

Chief Teman (South), Chief Omar (Speaker), Chief Zepho (Watch Tower), Chief Kenaz (hunter), Chief Korah (bald), Chief Gatam (a burnt valley), and Chief Amalek(dweller in the valley), Chief Nahath (rest), Chief Zerah (rising), Chief Shammah (astonishment), and Chief Mizzah (fear). Chief Jeush (he hurries to aid), Chief Jaalam (concealed), and Chief Korah (bald). Lotan (covering), Shobal (flowing), Zibeon (colored), Anah (answer), Dishon (thresher), Ezer (treasures), Hori(cave dweller) and Hemam(exterminating), Alvan (tall), Manahath (rest), Ebal (bare mountain), Shepho ( bold), Onam (vigorous), Ajah (falcon), Anah (answer), Hemdan (desire), Eshban (fire of discernment), Ithran (advantage), and Cheran (lyre), Bilhan (their decrepitude), Zaavan (troubled), Akan (sharp sighted), Uz (wooded), Aran (joyous).

Though a name is only a name; the Hebrew protection of every name was an important aspect of life. They believed that it could shape the way a child thought of themselves and that God would respect that name and raise that child to be great. However, this eagerness to please God, Esau had no delight in it.

Esau thought only of necessity. He only considered what he needed and he was building a nation; therefore, many of the names called out positions as these men would become chiefs to carry the nation of the Edomites into the future with strength.

A people are no greater than their kings and the following passage reflects many years of kings that the Edomites would have. There would be wars and skirmishes; yet we must remember that with each generation the knowledge and care for God diminished.

Every parent, every ruler, and every common person, has a responsibility to remember God. They must remember God’s greatness; for without God a people live and die with what they fought for and protected, so it may continue to go forward, but they gain nothing.

Now with Esau were previous generations all originating from Seth, the son of Adam. Therefore, Esau was not the big fish in Edom.

Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela(destruction) the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And when Bela died, Jobab(a desert) the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. When Jobab died, Husham(haste) of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. And when Husham died, Hadad(mighty) the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad died, Samlah(garment) of Masrekah reigned in his place. And when Samlah died, Saul(desire) of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place. When Saul died, Baal-Hanan(baal is gracious) the son of Achbor(mouse) reigned in his place. And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar(honor) reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. Genesis 36:31-39(NKJV)

There were many ruling forces and these people worshiped many gods. There was a deep depression of evil in this society that included worshiping the god Baal. Therefore, Esau was compelled to raise his children to be able to survive in this society by becoming part of it and teaching them to become a part of it. His sons became chiefs and their families worked hard to become leaders.

And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah(restrained), Chief Alvah(evil), Chief Jetheth(a nail), Chief Aholibamah(tent of high places), Chief Elah(an oak), Chief Pinon(darkness), Chief Kenaz(hunter), Chief Teman(south), Chief Mibzar(fortress), Chief Magdiel(prince of God), and Chief Iram(belonging to a city). These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites. Genesis 36:40-43(NKJV)

Of all the names listed in this passage, only Esau will we remember with great understanding. He chose the earthly things of this world and chose to live among those who worshiped idols, not God.

Though he was born into a family under God’s providence, he had no respect for it. What he sought to achieve, he did achieve. He became a great people and dominated a large land; but nowhere in this was God honored and therefore, we see the absence of God’s interaction with them. They became the dust of the earth to be trodden down by future generations.

Let us ask the question, “If they did not honor God, should God honor them?” Around us are all types of people who act the same as Esau’s descendants, should God honor these?

It is easy to look at a Godless society or an idol worshiping society and say they are worthless. Yet God so loved the whole world that he sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have ever lasting life.

He granted to Esau an opportunity to know Him and through the years, God did no irrevocable harm. He left a way of escape and never gave up on Esau and his family; neither should we give up on those of our societies. May God be praised in our response.

I Had A Dream.

I Had A Dream. Genesis 37:1-11.

Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Genesis 37:1(NKJV)

There is no greater story to tell of a man than the measure of his children. Children are a reflection of their parents, an indication of their parent’s spiritual life, and a statement to a person’s outlook on life.

There too, how well a child does in life is not only a measure of their obedience to their parents, but a measure of the parent’s comprehension and attentiveness in raising the child.

This family of Joseph has some interesting tales that were placed in scripture for our learning. Let us be a reflection of our father in heaven as we study the life of Jacob through his children.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Genesis 37:2-4(NKJV)

Jacob grew up to be what he hated. His own father showed favoritism towards his brother Esau. Esau was a manly man, a hunter, and Isaac loved the stories his son told of the pursuit and the kill of wild game. However, Jacob made the same mistake favoring Joseph.

Joseph was the younger brother in the family of twelve boys. Every brother had to watch their father interact with Joseph in a way they wish he would with them. It created sibling rivalry and pitted eleven boys against one.

All Joseph could do was suffer the persecution and take refuge in his father, who would often scold the others. Jacob created this problem.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 38:5-8(NKJV)

It is not a rare occurrence to have others think you are strange, when you tell them of the work God is doing in your life.

As a young Christians there were many great works that God had done in my life. I would tell others innocently, how God spoke this or that to my heart and to them, I became the crazy guy who thinks he talks to God.

I can even remember a day when I sat with the guys on a Saturday morning and as one guy was speaking, I had remembered a dream about that very situation. I blurted out that I had dream about this and they responded. “Oh yeah, well what happens next?”

I then told them that the boss would come in and hand me keys and then get on a plane that plane would crash. Therefore, I became the even crazier guy, because the boss never came in on Saturdays. They taunted me saying, “Hey look here he comes down the driveway.”

They made me look and they laughed at me; but as I looked, he did drive down the driveway and entering the building, handed me the keys, and said, “You’re in charge while I’m gone. I have to go to Seattle,” then he turned and got into his car and drove away.

I stood with my hand out looking at the keys as the room erupted in astonishment. “What are you going to do?” they asked. As I folded my hand around the keys, I turned to them and with a pale face said, “Pray.”

Dreams are that way; God uses them in our life so that we might beware of the future. This was Joseph’s first encounter with God and he did not know what to do with the information and in hind sight, he might have been better off keeping this information to himself.

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:8-11(NKJV)

On this second dream, he tried a different approach; he included his mother and father into the announcement. Yet, it too was met with sharp criticism; but the brothers realized that for Joseph to discuss the dream, the way he did in front of his parents, he had a assertiveness that made them wonder.

His brothers began to envy Joseph for they realized Joseph was having a supernatural experience. Though they hated him for the attention their father gave to Joseph; Joseph was willing to sacrifice that to tell of his dream. Something real was happening; but what could that mean?

Dreams are important to pay attention to. Some are caused by fear, emotional trauma, and psychological needs. However, a person must be ready for God to inhabit their dreams.

Throughout my years as a Christian I have had many dreams that helped me make decisions. I have waked remembering exactly what I dreamed and I understood what it was I was to do.

Gideon had a dream that helped him defeat the Midianite army. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he could not interpret, but so did Daniel and he interpreted the dream for him.

In a dream Solomon was asked what he wanted and he told God he wanted wisdom to lead the people. It pleased God so that he gave him riches, honor, and wisdom.

Joseph and Mary had five dreams that helped them care for the child Jesus. Thus dreams are a key function of God that we must pay attention to.

Yet not all dreams are for us to act on; some may have been caused from the spicy food you ate the night before. Yet, when we remember a dream, we must take that dream to God in prayer and in faith we go forward to act.

Sold for the Love of Money.

Sold for the Love of Money. Genesis 37:12-34.

Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Genesis 37:12-14(NKJV)

Joseph, a seventeen year old boy, made his life difficult by mentioning some of the dreams he was having. He was always his father’s favorite; but to his brothers he was a spoiled, big mouth, who aspired to lead the whole family. On his last dream even his own father and all of his brother’s mothers were bowing down to him. This shocked the family that a young man could openly proclaim such nonsense.

Therefore, he was an outcast by his brothers; and having eleven brothers, peer pressure kept most all the brothers from fraternizing with Joseph. Here we find Joseph left behind as his brothers tended the family flocks.

I see Joseph being a clean kid, without much common sense. His brother’s left him often and he would stay at the camp or take short walks; yet Joseph was not the brightest when it came to the outside world or his brother’s ways.

Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.” And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. Genesis 37:15-17(NKJV)

I like the description of the man who found the boy wandering. He was a “certain man”. The writer could have said a man, but inferred that there was something special about him. The text does not infer that it was God incarnate, but it would be like God to aid us when we are wandering and in need of direction.

Yet God was allowing Joseph to be pointed in harm’s way and as we read about Joseph we will study how God used terrible circumstances to shape his life, so that he might protect God’s people. Joseph was going to the school of hard knocks.

This is why we are told to count our trials as gold; for all things work together for good to them that know God and are called according to God’s purpose.

Into your life trials will come and for many, trials are now here. I counsel you to accept them, embrace them, and look to the sky and praise God for them. For these trails are more valuable than money.

Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” Genesis 37:18-20(NKJV)

The sons of Israel were calloused men. It seems as if the slaughter of the Shechemites desensitized them to the idea of killing and now they would even consider killing their own brother; the son whom their father loved.

But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. Genesis 37:21-22(NKJV)

It is amazing how one soft soul can control an angry crowd. We might often wonder why God has us around such terrible people who imagine evil for others; yet we can be the peacemakers for God, speaking logic to those who oppose themselves.

Though they may be angry and intending to do harm, we can begin to deliver them by showing them a different way. Ruben thought he could deliver Joseph by letting them torture him a while; but the evil in these boys ran deep into their hearts.

So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. Genesis 37:23-28(NKJV)

Sold for the love of money. In their worldly eyes they were being gracious to the boy by letting him live. Yet the young seventeen year old lad had to leer into their eyes as they starred with grins on their face.

Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?” So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Genesis 37:29-36(NKJV)

The secrete was safe; for the treachery of these men was so, that not one of the brothers dare cross the others. Ruben felt more than threatened and now would have to live with the actions of his brothers.

Their father, Jacob, now knew what it was to lose a son. The man, who cheated to steel his father’s blessing, was now cheated himself. His son, presented to him as dead, was gone; little did he know that he was sold into slavery for silver.

However, evil does not cheat God; it does not win. No matter the crime committed towards another, God will revenge all. He will wipe the tears from our face and make all things knew. When He does, evil itself will be shocked for accountability for every action will come screaming down on it with fire.

“Judgment is mine, says the Lord” and in this each of us who had been cheated, defrauded, and robbed will be recompensed. The ill intentions we suffer are in no way comparable to the wondrous treasures of heaven.

Lastly, God provided a certain man to point Joseph into the snares of his brothers. God knew what Joseph was walking into and God was beginning a new work in Joseph’s life. This is the trial that Joseph needed; it would shape his life and make him into the man God wanted.

Killed by God.

Killed by God. Genesis 38:1-11.

It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. Genesis 38:1(NKJV)

When writing the book of Genesis the author included this story to be a warning to the reader. It is a story of degradation and has ugly content. It resides in this account about the sons of Jacob for our benefit; yet it is horrific in detail and sickens me to read.

It was Dianna, who first wandered from the family and mixed with the local people; her rape was a travesty towards their family. A boy asked her hand in marriage after he defiled her and her brothers deceived the Shechemites into circumcising themselves so the marriage might happen.

When the Shechemites were sore from circumcision, having the advantage, Judah’s brothers, Simon and Levi, slaughtered every male. In their minds it was the price to pay for defiling their sister. They were keeping the family honor in tacked and this should have sent a message to all the family that you do not marry unless blessed by their father, Jacob.

Dianna’s incident would not have happened if she had not wandered off; but now here in our story, the teenage Judah would repeat her mistake and wander off.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. Genesis 38:2-5(NKJV)

Though these are a few short sentences leading up to this marriage, there was more to the story. Judah just wanted to get away for a while and as he wandered he met a young Canaanite man named Hirah.

Like most young men who grow up without godly influence, Hirah had many new and interesting traits. He had a type of strength, free from inhibitions.

As in most societies it is easy to associate alcohol, drugs, sex, and foul language use, as a way to build an accepted identity with others.

Now Judah not only joined the group, he had to take for himself the things that made his identity; this included a girl that he had met; so Judah claimed her like his own property.

Having done things unacceptable to his own family, he stayed away from them. It is not too hard to stay away from a family of dysfunction. His father had multiple wives. His brother’s killed the Shechemites. He and his brothers sold their younger brother, Joseph, into slavery. Therefore to get away from them was not a problem.

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. Genesis 38:6-7(NKJV)

Judah continued to raise his children without any parenting skills and with no godly influence. In scripture, you do not find many passages where the Lord kills a person. Yet the evil this young man got into was too much for God to watch. So bad were Er’s evils that God killed him.

And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also. Genesis 38:8-10(NKJV)

It may seem as if God is on a rampage towards Judah’s family. Yet what started from peer acceptance had grown into intolerable acts of sin, a despicable family, and children who are singled out by God to be put to death.

With God there is intolerance for sin. He is Holy and those who come to Him must have humility towards their sin. Just the act of remorse for sin committed, is enough for God to give a person opportunity to come to Him for forgiveness.

Sin is a weight, and those who feel the weight of their sin have a chance to repent which is given by God. They can come to Him anytime in their life; yet with these young men, there was no way that they would ever live life to repent. Their sin was beyond tolerance and God ended it there on the spot.

Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. Genesis 38:11(NKJV)

Judah became a man who produced terrible children. He had a warped sense of what family was about and knew nothing about godliness. His own sin caused him deep pain and he no doubt was so conflicted that each day he contemplated his own death.

You have heard it said, “The love of money is the root of all evil;” however, evil has many roots that grow like weeds into your life, penetrating deep into your soul.

Sin breeds despair, hopelessness, anger, and leads to other wickedness. When we meet people, each has their own depression, their own regrets, and their own habits. When we join ourselves to them we subject ourselves to their dysfunction and if a person is not spiritually strong, dysfunction can become their own dysfunction.

The truly amazing point that we must focus on when reading this chapter is that Jesus Christ was a lion that came out of the tribe of Judah.

This is God’s message to us all that no matter your dysfunction, your pain, your anguish, good can come from your life. Your family can experience forgiveness of sin and cleansing from all that is evil.

Jesus Christ is a free gift to all who will accept Him. He will come into your life and change it. However, like the young men who were killed by God, the punishment for rejecting this salvation is death.

People die every day and though we do not hear that it was the hand of God who killed them; all people die and end up in the hand of God. There, they will be judged by one criterion, “What did you do with the salvation offered to you?”

Burn the Girl!

Burn the Girl! Genesis 38:12-30.

Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Genesis 38:12-15(NKJV)

The story of the upstart of the family of Judah is a dishonorable, sinful, mess. Two of his son’s were killed by the Lord for their wickedness and now his wife dies at a young age. Judah successfully raised an ungodly clan and it was about to get worse.

In worship to God, we are to clean our own messes up; not make them worse. Here Judah goes to see the friend that encouraged him to marry outside of his family. They met as ruckus young lads and together had many tales of sinful pleasures.

Never does Judah turn to the Lord for comfort; in fact he turns to a harlot; so that he might indulge himself at her expense. Judah was looking to feed his fleshly desires; yet fleshly desires do not cure the hurt the separation death brings.

When we seek after sin, sin will oblige; yet it brings with it devastating results. The person seeking drugs fines not only their drugs, but corrupt people who deal in drugs. Association with those who sell and use drugs invites their dysfunction into your own.

The same can be said about alcohol. Alcohol is a lonely partner and will cause a person to seek others who partner up to indulge. What follows is dysfunction, corrupt conversation, and a casting off of morality.

Here Judah was willing to join himself in a spiritual bond; allowing himself to become one with a stranger and accepting of the responsibility that followed. Sex is never free; it cost you a piece of your own soul.

Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Genesis 38:16-18(NKJV)

So many people have been deceived that one time of sexual indulgence is safe. The hope this one date with a stranger will end in bliss. Yet the truth is both walk away degrading themselves, searing their conscious to avoid the thoughts of the affair.

Who said that God approves of extra marital or pre marital affairs? They are all the same in God’s eyes. When you join yourself to a person; you have taken them in marriage. When you walk away, you spit on the very concept of marriage and you do so in the face of God.

In our Christian cultures there are many who have formed the opinion that they can live with another person before getting married. How foolish to think that God will honor that? When has God ever allowed that in scripture and why would He start now? It is sin and invits the consequences of sin and crushes the blessings of God.

Here, Judah becomes the fool. His daughter in law was twisted in her thinking. She suffered the death of her husband at the hand of God and now she is determined to have a piece of her husband, even if it came through the DNA of his father.

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.” And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” Genesis 38:19-24(NKJV)

In their culture a woman caught in harlotry was to be burned. Judah was quick to judge her. His own sin looked worse on his daughter in law and he cast the judgment condemning her. It leads us to ask, “Who is the fool, here?”

It is easy to condemn another and hate their sin; but when we commit those same sins we are ready to forgive ourselves and go our way.

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. Genesis 38:25-30(NKJV)

Judah was willing to admit his sin and still ready to sweep it under the table. He uses the word righteousness which shows knowledge of what is right. The thing he lacked was wisdom; how to do it.

Many people understand what is right. Daily they are confronting situations where they must judge what they will do and daily people fall into sin that changes their life.

People die every day from the mistakes they made; however, those mistakes could have been avoided by choosing righteousness. Yet Judah, his family, and their choices, caused so much pain to their lives and it was pain that could have been avoided.

The bloodline of Judah would continue and the ancestry of Judah would produce one man who would chose to do what is righteous. It was Jesus Christ, a lion from the tribe of Judah, who would make the right choice and be persecuted for it. His death paid the penalty for all sin and all we must do is accept it for ourselves.

Now we who are challenged to live righteously can ask God for wisdom and find it. We can know how to say no to sin and make choice that Judah did not. Judah chose to serve the desires of the flesh; but through Jesus Christ we can avoid those same mistakes.

The integrity of Joseph.

The integrity of Joseph. Genesis 39:1-9.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Genesis 39:1-2(NKJV)

There is one thing for certain, to have God for you can only happen if you are for God. Joseph was a man who called out to God and perhaps because of his terrible treatment he received from his brothers. After they threw him into a pit and argued over killing him, it was there that Joseph had no one else to call out to, but God. Then God acted in his behalf.

Trials are a blessing and are to be embraced; though them we get to know God in a complete different way. Many people kick and complain as they go through trials and they sink into desperation. However, if we embrace trials, realizing that God is going to draw a person closer to Him through them, we can come through the trial a better person.

Are you facing the loneliness of a trial in your life? Today God wants you to know trials only last for a while and through them He will reveal Himself more to you each day.

It is one thing to know of God; but to know Him personally and see Him working in your life is amazing thing. It begins by calling out to Him.

And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Genesis 39:3-4(NKJV)

The Egyptians were monotheists; they believed in many gods. This master saw Joseph prospering and attributed it to the god he worshipped. Therefore, he put Joseph head over all of his affairs and seeing that Joseph was respectful, the master was able to take his mind off of his business and allow Joseph to be in charged.

These attribute of Joseph, to live godly, know God personally, and to do unto others as he would have them do unto him, are to be our focus. We should ask ourselves are we faithful in all of our affairs? Do others value honesty and hard work to where others trust us completely?

The answer many give when asked about Christians are, “No, I do not trust them and I remember times they lacked integrity.” “They treated others poorly or cheated their way through situations.” Though Christians are forgiven by God, people are not so quick to forgive.

So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Genesis 39:5-6(NKJV)

Integrity should be worth sacrificing for. If we seek integrity, we will have to deny our selves when we want to do wrong, treat others better than ourselves, and serve people with the intentions that we are serving God first.

Paul told Timothy to let the same attitude Christ had to be our own. He was a servant that was faithful and obedient to God. He became obedient to the point of death; so that others might have forgiveness of sins.

Though Joseph was a slave, he gladly served the master without fault. He was completely trustworthy and the Lord blessed him in all he did.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:7-9(NKJV)

Even the mention of immorality shocked Joseph. Here was Potiphar’s wife and she was not faithful to her husband. She desired to satisfy her flesh and she lusted after Joseph. He could have easily let his guard down, to partake in a moment of pleasure; for no one would be the wiser; yet he could not, for He knew God sees all.

Why should we sin against God? Many people have candy coated their sin so that they taste the sweetness and act as everything is well. I known of men who went to church, serve as deacons, and committed terrible sins thinking they were unseen. However, they only were fooling themselves; your sin will find you out.

Joseph thought of sinning as an intolerable act. He was shocked by the woman’s disregard for her own self and her husband. She only wanted pleasure and did not consider what it could do to others.

Sin is selfish, self centered; though someone says they made a mistake, their sin was first a thought and then it was a conscious decision. The person committing the sin disregarded what they knew to be right, disregarded the feelings of others, and disrespected God.

Their reward is a moment of pleasure, which will not bring satisfaction; but the damage they due can be eternal.

God is calling people to be holy as He is Holy. He made a way for us to resist sin and to make smart choices that honor Him. What good is saying that you want to go to heaven if you live like you are going to hell?

This story of Joseph is in our Bibles that we might see a man with a heart to please God and to be like him. Do you have the integrity of Joseph?

Fierce Trials Softened by Service.

Fierce Trials Softened by Service. Genesis 39:10-23.

Joseph was enjoying his promotion as the head servant in Potiphar’s house. Having been sold by his brothers as a slave, Joseph was sold by slave traders and found himself working for top officer who was in service to the Pharaoh.

Because of integrity, hard work, and a good attitude, Potiphar began to watch Joseph and found the work Joseph did flourished. To Potiphar it was plain that the God of Joseph was blessing him and Potiphar promoted him to the head of staff.

Now Potiphar did not worship the God of heaven; he trusted in the many gods of Egyptian mythology and integrity did not run deep in his household. In our passage today, the wife of Potiphar decided that Joseph was a handsome man and hopped she could pleasure herself by seducing the young man.

So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. Genesis 39:10-12(NKJV)

Joseph was startled beyond belief. He had never had relations with a woman and grew up to believe this activity was for marriage and worse, this woman was married. He knew his own father would not approve and certainly God would not approve; so Joseph turned his shoulder, slipped out of his house coat, and fled the building.

Panting, Joseph stopped to ponder what happened. Was the wife of Potiphar so sinful that she would treat him so bad. Joseph felt much remorse for his master and he wondered how he was going to work for Potiphar and avoid this lady who obviously had no morals? Joseph was in a great dilemma. Though the text does not say so; however, this would have been a great time to commit the situation to the Lord in prayer.

And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” Genesis 39:13-15(NKJV)

When you can see an integrity flaw in a person, you usually only see the surface; a dirty heart runs deep. From infidelity this woman switched to anger and in anger she lied so that she might hide her infidelity. She picked the one thing different about the Joseph and used it against him. Yet in honesty, she blamed her husband for the incident; her relationship with him was causing her bitterness.

So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.” So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. Genesis 39:16-20(NKJV)

She was not mad at Joseph; Joseph was just a pawn in the bitter marriage that Potiphar had with his wife. If Potiphar would have been listening, he would have heard the accusation, “whom you brought to us,” and took it into consideration. However, he only listened to the accusation against Joseph and to make things right he locked Joseph away.

What a trial for Joseph. He was a prisoner and then rose to be an honored servant in the elegant house of Potiphar. Now he was cast into an Egyptian prison where he would again be treated as a slave.

There are two attitudes a person could have in a trial like this. One would be to be sad, sulking in despair. Then another is to submit to the situation as being God’s will for your life.

I look at life as stages and each trial as a work of God in my life. Each stage has a day that it begins and a day that it ends. Through it all God changes me to be a stronger, more faithful person. Joseph would find the same thing happening to Him.

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. Genesis 39:22-23(NKJV)

As Christians there is one thing that we must learn and that is God places us where we should be and therefore, we are to accept it and make the best of that situation.

When a person puts their faith in God they can do all things as God strengthens them. Yet if a person kicks and screams, moans and complains, it is all a sign that it will take many trials until they will begin to trust in God. A pastor once told me that no matter how big and how hard the nut, God has a bigger nutcracker.

The Lord was with Joseph in his trial and He is with us in ours. God showed mercy to Joseph and in faith, we must believe, He will us. This is where the statement claiming all things work together for good to them that know God and are called according to His purpose comes from.

God caused Joseph to have favor in the jailer’s eyes and God will cause you to have favor in the eyes of those who hold control over your trail.

Another key word in the passage is “committed.” God commits trails to us for a reason. If we graciously accept our trials, we can find a meaning through the confusion and we can find reasons for being there. Joseph found that by helping, he soon was committed the job of watching over the other prisoners and through his situation he brought comfort to many.

Do you analyze and look for the good in your trails or do you kick, scream, and cry through them? God would have us submit to the trials looking for the reason and finding ways to help others who are similarly burdened.

The mind set is of a servant. If you keep your servants heart, through your trial you will find people to serve and in that you will find relief from the anger, frustration, and gloom.

Patently Waiting the Trial Continues.

Patently Waiting the Trial Continues. Genesis 40:1-23.

It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while. Genesis 40:1-4(NKJV)

Though Joseph was in prison, Joseph made the best of a bad situation and submitted to his confinement knowing that God could and would deliver. Such an excellent inmate was he, Joseph became the chief overseer of all the inmates. Two of those inmates were directly put there by the Pharaoh.

Joseph talked with most all the prisoners; every man had his own story and Joseph passed the time listening to why they landed in the jail. The Pharaoh’s butler and baker were two of these who wronged the Pharaoh and were placed in prison and spared their life. Could it have been a conspiracy between the butler and the baker or did the actions of one bring the Pharaoh’s suspicion down on both?

Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” Genesis 40:5-8(NKJV)

Everyone has dreams and never should a dream be neglected. Those we meet are often disturbed by the midnight dream police and as we see here, the two men were deeply threatened by not knowing the interpretation of their dreams.

Here we also see that Joseph was a man who had much faith in God and believed that God could and would bring an interpretation of those dreams. Perhaps Joseph had dreams also and moved by the spirit of God, understood their dreams.

Dreams were nothing new to Joseph. As a child he had many dreams and when he told his family of the dreams it caused his brothers to hate him. Therefore, Joseph was acquainted in the work of God through dreams.

Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.” Genesis 40:9-15(NKJV)

Evidently it was not the butler that committed the crime in the Pharaoh’s court and God was going to allow him to be acquitted, released, and restored to his position. All Joseph asked was for the butler to remember who interpreted the dream, the goodness of God, and pay it forward.

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.” Genesis 40:16-19(NKJV)

What could have the baker done to incite corporal punishment? Did he try to kill the Pharaoh by spiking the food he fed to him? This we will never know; however, as dreams sometimes go, Joseph had to tell the baker of his terrible demise.

Some people that we meet need to have the awful truth told to them. If a person does not repent of their sins, they will one day awake in a place that Jesus told us there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Their eternity will be in total darkness and the place is called hell. We need no interpretation of a dream to share this with those we meet. Yet we must have the boldness of Joseph to do so.

Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Genesis 40:20-23(NKJV)

Joseph watched the men leave the prison; one in terror, dragged to his death. The other cleaned up and put in clothes fit for the service of the Pharaoh. Hopeful that his time in jail was coming to the end, Joseph prayed to God and waited.

Each day, Joseph longed to hear them coming to release him; but that day would not soon come. Joseph’s trial would continue even though God worked in his life to produce a miracle interpretation.

James wrote in his New Testament letter to the church, we are to embrace our trials knowing and they will produce patience in us. This patience Joseph would learn as he starred up to the sky above the prison. That is the lesson for us all and ultimately why Joseph’s story is in our Bibles for our learning. Learn to be patient in your trials and know that God is in control.

Dreams can Save Us.

Dreams can Save Us. Genesis 41:1-36.

Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. Genesis 41:1-4(NKJV)

Though we know that the prophet Joel said that in the end times old men will dream dreams and young men will see visions, God has used dreams throughout history. These dreams come alerting us to a path, a destiny, and future, yet lived.

It is not just Christians that have dreams, all people have dreams and therefore, we all should pay attention when someone says they had a dream.

Psychologists and science will often pass off dreams as coming from the sub conscience and if they relate to our future, it is by chance. However, God wants people to believe in Him and has used dreams to make believers of people.

Martine Luther King had a dream and it changed the world. Here the Pharaoh of Egypt has a dream and it too would be used by God to change the world.

He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Genesis 41:5-7(NKJV)

Dreams do not always make sense. When dreaming much of what we see comes from our subconscious and experiences of the past. However, those memories can be used to create a message that we are to heed.

The prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, struggled to complete a sermon. Sitting at breakfast he told his wife of his dilemma and she filled the gap completing the masterful sermon. “How did you know that?” he asked. She explained, “You preached in your sleep last night; I only listened.”

Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.” Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. Genesis 41:8-14(NKJV)

It must have felt nice to clean up after all that time in slavery and prison. I can feel his eagerness as Joseph knew that he would be in the presence of the Pharaoh. It would have been nice to know if Joseph had dreamed the same dream or if God was going to impart wisdom to Joseph as he stood before the Pharaoh. However, the passage does not say.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Genesis 41:15-16(NKJV)

In Joseph’s answer we see the relationship and respect that he had towards God. He wanted all the credit to be given to God and humbled himself before the Pharaoh.

This is the mark of a true man of God; they know their role. There is nothing good about us and the only good is God. He changes our lives; it is His work that makes us who we are and without Him we are nothing.

Where most of Pharaoh’s people would have grandstanded on their accomplishment, the humble servant of God directs all the glory to God.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” Genesis 41:17-24(NKJV)

Throughout our world you find Christians at the top of their peer groups. They excel in their perspective craft and faithful complete their work for it is not them that produce the accomplishments, it is God who does His work through them and they humble rise to the top.

Joseph was about to rise to the top for God had given to him the interpretation of the dream. He would explain the dream with meticulous preciseness and the message would leave the Pharaoh shocked, worried, and relieved. Pharaoh was receiving a warning from the true God.

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Genesis 41:25-32(NKJV)

Every deed that God enables a Christian to do should shine the spotlight on God. This light does not need to be arrogantly proclaimed, or harshly delivered with threats of hell and separation. Our God would have us do our job and soberly point people to Him.

The Christian should never seem like an eccentric who does not socialize well with others. The Christian can have the respect of his peers and still give all the glory to God. Yet too many Christians never give thought to when is the right time to speak and how they present what they say.

The gospel message of salvation comes with instructions. Much like these instructions for Pharaoh, the presentation of the message must be set out for others to take in for themselves. In this situation, Joseph was not going to be loud, obnoxious, and certainly was not going to be pushy. He would deliver his message and humbly point Pharaoh to know the will of God.

“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.” Genesis 41:33-36(NKJV)

That was it short, sweet, and to the point. It was a great work of God and Joseph’s imprisonment shaped him to be the messenger able to stand before the Pharaoh and proclaim the future. The way to the Pharaoh was paved through Joseph’s trials.

From Jail to the Throne.

From Jail to the Throne. Genesis 41:37-57.

So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Genesis 41:37-38(NKJV)

Joseph not only was able to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh, he did it with style. All the trials he had experience through life made him into a man of poise and gave him confidence. What others meant for his harm, God meant for his good.

As a young boy, he was shunned by his brothers; however, that was good for him because he did not need their influence in his life.

When they sold him into slave traders, he was caged like an animal and had to learn to trust in God for his safety for the very first time in his life.

Then having been bought by Pharaohs captain of the guard, Joseph would have to learn to speak Egyptian and Egyptian educates, along with their manors and customs. He would learn how to serve in a royal fashion; how to dress the part, and how to address the Pharaoh.

When Potiphar’s wife put the moves on him he learned that it is not good to be alone with a woman in the same room. Through Potiphar and his wife, Joseph learned how to have a bad Egyptian marriage, which would prepare him for a good one.

In Jail he learned that if you serve God by serving others, you will be blessed. He also learned what the Egyptian criminal mind was like. What they looked like and what drove them to be their way.

Now standing before the Pharaoh, Joseph was fully equipped to portrait himself with confidence and understanding. All of his trials made him the man right for the job. It was God’s sculpting hand that did the work in Joseph’s life.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:39-40(NKJV)

In Egypt, they knew of a greater God named Yahweh. In a land that had many gods, Yahweh was now in charge and Joseph would be the representative. He was faithful and sincere; deliberate and intelligent. He was fully equipped for the job and the Pharaoh had complete confidence in Joseph.

This is the work that God wants to do in all of our lives. It may not be to this great extent; however, God wants to raise up legislators, congressmen, presidents, and still has desires for teachers, principles, foremen, executives, and professional people. Christians are needed in every part of the world and each of our jobs in life is important. So important that we must have the integrity and attitude of Joseph; he is the perfect example to us.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:41-43(NKJV)

It would have been nice to hear Joseph talk candidly about the relationship of his childhood dreams and his rise to power. He dreamed his family would bow down to him and now he had every Egyptian bowing as his chariot passed.

Inside Joseph was beaming, yet he had to look eye to eye with every man, woman, and child. He had to have a serious eye, showing no emotion. Joseph had to look and act as a Pharaoh.

Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:44-46(NKJV)

His new name meant “Treasury of the glorious rest” and was significant to his role in the Egyptian leadership. Joseph was to be a savior to the Egyptians and protect them from the famine to come.

Given a wife, Joseph was expected to make a dynasty of rulers that would lead Egypt into the new challenging future. Family was an important part of their culture and one sadly neglected in ours.

Children are to inherit our values and strengths. They are future leaders and will run the Church of Jesus Christ long after we are gone. If Christianity is to survive and thrive we must be busy about our business of growing families.

Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. Genesis 41:47-49(NKJV)

It is amazing when you can get to the point you stop counting. Everything we own we measure. We measure the amount, the value, its effectiveness; however, God had blessed them with enough that many other countries would survive on the stores.

There was only seven years of harvest and during those seven years, the harvest was stocked and not spent. It was put away for a coming famine. This was the actions of a purposeful person; one who looked into the future and saw reality.

In today’s societies and with most people, when given supplies of plenty, they trigger a spending spree of plenty. Not looking at the future, they take trips, buy cars, jewelry, and things that perish. But what about what life holds in the future? Is there a day coming when the harvest will be over and you will have a time of famine?

And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Genesis 41:50-52(NKJV)

Joseph was outwardly an Egyptian, but inwardly he was still the son of his father Jacob. Looking at his children, he found joy that he could have a family and carry on his heritage in a great way. The only thing left was uniting his Hebrew family and as always, Joseph trusted in God to do the work.

Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands. Genesis 41:53-57(NKJV)

What is amazing is not only did Joseph store the food, he sold the food. He was building the riches of the Pharaoh’s kingdom and money was coming in faster than the food went out.

When you see the treasures of the Egyptians you can attribute them to this time when Egypt would become the center of the known world; a giant, rich, nation with a great future.

Reaching Rock Bottom.

Reaching Rock Bottom. Genesis 42:1-21.

In our life time, much of the world has insulated itself against famines. However, famines still happen in many countries. Most populated societies are blessed never to know what it is to go hungry; however, where there is plenty many have turned it into decadence and waste much of what they do not eat. It would be nice to balance resources to where all of the people in our world had enough to eat.

Joseph had a dream about the famine that was going to grip the Middle East. God was gracious to show it to him in a dream and set Joseph in a place to do something about it. Joseph became the first in command under the Egyptian Pharaoh.

When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.” And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Genesis 42:1-5(NKJV)

Jacob was Joseph’s father; his brother sold Joseph into slavery and told their father Joseph was killed by a wild animal. As time went on this family was missing a most intricate member, the member that was a visionary; for Joseph was gifted by God to know the future by his dreams.

The famine had taken its toll on the people of the land. It is not said what happened to the herds of Jacob, but what is mentioned is that the eleven boys, many of them now men, sat around staring at each other. It is possible the herds starved having no food to feed them and now there was nothing to do, nowhere to go, they were trapped in the land that once sustained them.

Jacob looked to see his sons reduced to broken men and said, “Why do you look at one another?” It was a statement meant to motivate and Jacob sent them to Egypt. This action would begin a cleansing of their sin and the famine pushed them into a trial brought by the mercy of God.

They needed to be taught a lesson. Because of their sin, their hearts were hard and they needed to be broken. A person who holds onto their sin will one day be driven to repent, for God loves them.

You may be facing great trials now and it is time to ask God, “Why?” What does He want to change your life? For those whom God loves He chastens.

People do not often recognize the hard times of trial as God being merciful. Yet because God loves us, He uses trials to bring us back to repentance after we have wronged Him or others. It is a merciful thing to do; when God could allow you to die in your sins, He opens the door of opportunity.

Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!” Genesis 42:6-9(NKJV)

Joseph looked and dressed as an Egyptian. He was arrayed in royal clothing and wore accenting make up to his eyes and eyebrows; his jewelry shimmered and Joseph was surrounded by the palace guard.

Speaking through a translator, Joseph’s word alerted the guard that spies were in their midst and before the translator could translate and the muscular guards bore ferocious faces as they held their weapons ready to plunge. This spectacle caused the brothers’ to fear and thoughts of imminent death filled their mind.

And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.” But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.” Genesis 42:10-13(NKJV)

I would have liked to know who it was that spoke for the group. It sounds like the words of Ruben who pled with the brothers not to kill Joseph when they had trapped him in a pit before selling him to the slave traders.

The tone was sharp, trembling, and the speaker was grasping for the right words. He called them servants, honest, and covered the sin they committed against their own brother by admitting, “One is no more.” If they only knew that the person they were talking to was not “no more,” but held their fate in his hands, I’m certain the words would have been different. We would have read words as “sinner, deceitful, and jealous.”

But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” So he put them all together in prison three days. Genesis 42:14-17(NKJV)

The brother Joseph requested they bring was Benjamin. Benjamin was the only true blood brother to have been born to Joseph’s mother, Sarah. Joseph longed to see his own brother, who by now was a young man.

These men, who tremor before Joseph, took away years that he would have liked to live as a free man. They threw him away like trash. He lived as a slave, a prisoner, and a servant. They forced this upon Joseph and he was not going to easily let them off the hook.

Joseph knew the truth about them. He knew the slaughter they conducted of the Shechemites; he knew their pride and disrespect of God. Joseph knew these guys well, but in love he needed to change them into trustworthy, faithful, repentant men; for they were his father’s sons.

Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”
And they did so. Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” Genesis 42:18-21(NKJV)

The boys had hit rock bottom. Their sin had found them out. God was holding them accountable, but they did not know God well enough to know what to do. There was no plan they could craft, no lie they could tell that would get them out of this trouble; therefore, to go with the flow was all that was left.

Many people live as if the penalty for sin will never catch up with them. However, the things done in secret God sees. There is nothing that will stay hidden for one day all will stand before the Lord as these men stood before the ruler of Egypt and their knees will buckle.

When faced with bottom, some people still try to lie, cheat, and steel their way out of trouble; however, sin is as quicksand and it will swallow you whole unless you allow God to save you from our sin.

This one life is the only chance you will get to have your sin forgiven. If you should die without truly repenting before God and turning from you sins, you will pay the penalty and be cast into eternal damnation. This is the only chance you have; you better make it a good one.

Double Trouble.

Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?” Genesis 42:25-28(NKJV)

God revealed to Joseph in a dream that his brothers were bowing before him. As a young man Joseph could not understand the meaning of this dream; however, as a young man his brothers grabbed him, threw him into a pit, and then talked about how they would kill him. This happened because he told them of his dream. Now here the brothers stood before Joseph with money in their hands wanting to by grain to take back to their starving land.

Joseph’s journey started with the brothers selling him to slave traders; from there he was sold to the Pharaoh’s captain of the guard. He worked as a servant until the captain’s wife tried to seduce Joseph; but turning her down caused the bitter lady to charge Joseph with rape and he landed in jail.

In jail Joseph trusted in God and was faithful to his duties. He dreamed more dreams and those dreams impressed another who recommended Joseph to the Pharaoh.

Then Joseph helped the Pharaoh interpret a dream and because the Pharaoh believed the interpretation, Joseph was made the number two man under Pharaoh. Now his brother’s stood before the most powerful man in Egypt and they could not recognize him as their brother Joseph.

It was Joseph’s time and he wanted to see his brother, Benjamin. So Joseph gave an order to load their donkeys with grain and asked them to return with the youngest son of their father. However, Joseph knew the deceitfulness in these men’s hearts. He knew they would not return.

Known this, Joseph was playing his brothers like a masterful musician holding an instrument. He was not going to let them leave his presence never to return. So Joseph had all their money put back into their bags so the brothers would not only be accused as spies, they would be guilty of thievery.

Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’” Genesis 42:39-34(NKJV)

Can you imagine being their father and listening to this ridiculous story? First, Jacob knew his sons were not honest men; they had treated others dishonestly and even killed the Shechemite men in a deceptive plot. There was no innocence here.

Second, he knew that his boys were a bit irresponsible and trouble followed them. Now they left behind their brother and they wanted to place another family member in danger? Jacob was beside himself; for the blessings of God seemed to flee them and he felt responsible for the whole mess.

Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.” Genesis 42:35-38(NKJV)

The men were in double trouble. Because of their own deceitful sins everybody was against them. The Pharaoh had one brother and wanted anouther. They knew not what would happen if they returned and their father strongly opposed taking Benjamin with them. What were they to do?

Trials are just this way; the things we did not consider rear up like wild animals to maul our lives. They make us feel like running; however, running would just make things worse?

Of all the trials you face, what can you trace them back to? Is there a decision you made, a thing you did that started the ball rolling?

Many people face extreme financial pressures because they commit themselves before they have money in their hand. Credit cards bring fun, vacations, new clothes, and toys. However, the toys get old, and the clothes wear out, and the vacations are reduced to a few photos you took on the way. You embraced debt and that debt becomes a terrible trial to live with.

Some live hard lives as young adults. They drink, take drugs, and spend their days living for the nightlife. Then one day they realize that their passion to party has dislodged their dreams of what life should be.

Life becomes hum drum; they have to work at lesser jobs because they did not secure the education to do better. Their income does not match their desire and the loves of their life turn into bickering relationships.

Many divorce and some suffer health effects; most never find the answers they need to get them out of their trials. However, there is a group of people who find a way out. These are they that recognize their mistakes and take them to God in prayer.

Even the slight turning of your attitude to God will cause God to reciprocate in ways that are amazing. He can fix any problem, restore any relationship, and even help you gain a new life, a new job, and a new future. God takes the old and makes it new.

It all came at great expense; not your expense, but His’ own expense. God gave His only Son, who died on a cross taking the penalty for your sin upon Himself. Since He died for your sin, He can forgive you of your sin and cleanse you.

However, you have to want it. So while you are deep in your troubles keep in mind that God is a way out. You must only honor him as such.

Jacob and his boys were about to have a religious experience; but first they had to sink deeper into their troubles before they called out to God.

You’re Breaking my Heart.

You’re Breaking my Heart. Genesis 43:1-14.

There are times in our life that we are forced to let go and trust God. Where God desires that we would have soft hearts, freely surrendering to Him, our hard hearts are not so easy to give in.

Such was the case of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. God promised that he would be the father of a great nation. It was a promise made to his grandfather, Abraham and his father, Isaac; now the fulfillment was seen in Israel having twelve sons.

Now all that was being threatened and Israel was being forced to give up and let go of that dream. Israel sat bitterly thinking about the trial they faced.

Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?” Genesis 43:1-6(NKJV)

The bread they ate was bitter bread. To Israel it was obvious that all the sin that followed his children was being punished by God. Not only were they suffering, he was suffering and when it comes to responsibility for the children, the parents are always to blame.

God promised to bless Israel, but the famine indicated that the blessings had left and now he was being driven to release his last bit of control and give up his last son from his beloved wife Sarah.

But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.” Genesis 43:7-10(NKJV)

The time was passing quick, so was the food they ate. Fears of losing the deal with the head of Egypt were fast on their minds and they had to plead with their father to make a decision.

Judah stepped up and said, “Let me take the blame if something happens” but his words must have caused great discomfort to Israel for Judah’s life was riddled with disappointment and shame. God even killed two of Judah’s son because of the wickedness they committed.

However, to Israel nothing made sense anymore. He had come to the breaking point; they were running out of food and the losses kept mounting. There was only one thing to do and that was to completely surrender to the situation and go with the circumstance.

And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” Genesis 43:11-14(NKJV)

There is a song sang in Christian Churches whose chorus says, “I surrender all to Jesus; I surrender all.” This is the attitude that God wants from his people. He wants us to have faith, trust in Him, and surrender all of our problems to Him.

I was told a story that expresses this fact and if it is true, it went like this. On the banks of a great waterfall a tight rope was stretched from one side to the other. A man with a cart was preaching this very message. “You must surrender all to God and step out in faith,” he said as he walked across the tight rope with the cart.

Arriving on the other side the man was applauded for such a great illustration and sermon. “Amen to that” said one brother standing in the front of the crowd.

“Do you believe it?” said the preacher. “I do pastor, I do,” said the man. “Then you get in my cart and we are going back.” Upon that statement the faith of the person was tested.

Weather the man got in the cart I do not know; however, there are many trials that are of such magnitude and they shake our faith. God would have us submit to the trial and trust Him to deliver. But do we?

Here Israel had to reach the breaking point; his sons were right there too. The circumstance was pushing them to the edge and there was no way they could avoid having to trust God for the outcome. Their hearts were hard and God was crushing the rock hard crust to get to the soft middle.

So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. Genesis 43:15-17(NKJV)

The young men, who arrogantly caused so much trouble for others, were now humble, submitting, and walking very softly. They were learning to trust God and also to be honest men.

This is all that God wants. If you notice, all the sins of their past were not being brought up. They did not have to answer for every misguided action. God was calling them to repentance and all they had to do was straighten up and act as good men.

God is that way. He is not waiting to air your dirty laundry, He wants only that you repent of your sins and surrender you life to Him. From that point, He would that you walk softly, humbly, and do your best to sin no more.

Sure we will sin again, but the magnitude of our sin will be less for our hearts will not be turned to our own lust and greed, but towards his will. And if we sin, we have a mediator with God, Jesus Christ. All we must do is confess our sin and He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Today, God may be pulling at your heart stings to let go of your destructive life and come to trust in Him. The person who listens will move through their trials quickly as God softens their heart. However, if you continue to resist, I would brace for some very had days ahead.

Purged of Arrogance and Pride.

Purged of Arrogance and Pride. Genesis 43:18-43.

The son’s of Jacob had nowhere to turn in the trials they faced. They were going to have to face them head on and that was enough to break them, causing them to have to trust in the God of their fathers. Many people are this hard hearted; it takes a major trial to get their attention and even more to change them.

The son’s of Jacob traveled to Egypt to take back money that they may have been accused of stealing. They also had to take their brother, leaving their father at home worried that he might not ever see his last beloved son again.

The man they were to face was the most powerful man of Egypt; he was the Pharaoh’s head of the nation. Yet they did not recognize the man, for he was also their own brother that they mistreated and sold into slavery.

Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” Genesis 43:18-22(NKJV)

For some people it takes great trials to turn them into honest people. It seems the tougher the trial the lighter they tread on the ground they would have before trampled on.

God hates arrogance and pride. The Apostle Paul wrote that neither fornicators, drunkards, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, and sodomites will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Many of these people who commit such sins are nice people; however, they will not see heaven because they are arrogant in what they do. When God says No, He means No! These cast aside His warnings in arrogance and to flaunt it before others is prideful.

The sons of Jacob were both arrogant and prideful; but now, having suffered in these trials, they are humble, obedient, and careful to not bring further trial upon themselves or their family. That is a big change in their life.

But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. Genesis 43:23-26(NKJV)

Their life was filled with sins of murder, betrayal, disobedience to their father, and disregard for others. They sold their brother into slavery and considered him dead. But now, they are forgiven and their lives beginning to be filled with peace. Can you imagine the weight lifted off of these men?

This story is the same every time a person comes to the end of themselves and repents of their sin before God. The God who says, “Vengeance is mine”, puts down His crushing hand to offer peace to those that will accept it.

The men were cleaned up and made ready to be in the presence of royalty. Their old filthy garments exchanged for new; they were clean and dressed in beautiful attire.

A feast was laid out for them and as they gazed at the lavish surroundings, they were pinching themselves for they deserved none of it. Their lives were not special or meaningful; however, they were accepted as being the people they were.

Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Genesis 43:27-28(NKJV)

They bowed when Joseph entered the room and they bowed when they answered this Egyptian man in command. They were humble, and their actions proved that they truly had been taught a lesson.

The Egyptian leader was a pleasant man towards them and very inquisitive and cared about their family. This was truly a privilege to be in the presence of such a great person.

Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” Genesis 43:29-31(NKJV)

Overcome by emotion, Joseph had to leave their presence so that he might let him emotions flow. He had a position to uphold and that was a position of strength. He was a leader who could not show this type of emotion before his troops and before the brothers that still did not know who he was. Besides, he was not finished with them yet.

So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. Genesis 43:32-33(NKJV)

To the brothers it seemed as if this Egyptian official knew everything about them. He kept his distance and the decadent meal was no doubt the best they ever ate and the quietest meal they had every shared.

Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him. Genesis 43:34(NKJV)

As we have followed the brothers through their trial and into the presence of Egyptian royalty, we have had portrayed the very attitude that God wants every person to learn so that one day they might enter into His presence.

No matter your sin God is willing to forgive you; however, you must change your life, allow Him to clean you through the washing of His word, and learn how to approach royalty in reverence.

He does not see the sins you committed; He sees you as who you could be. God is ready to give you a new start; however, He wants to purge arrogance and pride from your life so that it may not hinder you from being in His presence on that day He gathers His people into the kingdom.

The Big Reveal.

The Big Reveal. Genesis 45:1-20.

Have you ever kept a secret so long that it burst from your lips to catch the hearers off guard? This was the case of Joseph. He had hard lined his brothers; they were broken repentant men before God, and now it was time to let them in on his secrete. Their lives were about to drastically change for the better.

Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. Genesis 45:1-3(NKJV)

With a great burst of emotion, Joseph made a noise that caused his brothers to quake. “What was happening; what type of release was this?” “Was it a war cry? Would the great man of Egypt now take them on by himself?” Then came the answer, “I am Joseph!”

The shift in thinking had to have been a mental challenge that would make anyone dizzy. From complete terror they had to gaze past the Egyptian makeup of this man of authority.

It had been so many years, what would the young Joseph look like. What character traits did his face have? “Could this be true?” they thought.

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:4-7(NKJV).

The promise of God is greater than your sin. It was a terrible thing that they brothers did when selling Joseph to the slave traders. Yet God looked past the sin and remembered the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God promised to be their God and make them into a great nation. The promise and plans of God do not end because we sin; God knows we are sinful people.

Joseph recognized this fact and watched the delivering hand of God throughout his horrible journey. He watched God deliver as he rose to prominence. Joseph looked at his life and realized that what was happening to Him was a work of God and he committed himself to it. Now standing before his brothers, he extends the hand of compassion to men who were great with sin.

“God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ” In this statement Joseph was calling the men to repentance in hopes they would see the hand of God and world forgive themselves of the tragedies they have committed.

So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”‘ “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him. Genesis 45:8-15(NKJV).

Oh what a wonderful feeling it is to be let off the hook when you are guilty; this is the work of God. He seeks to draw people to Him and uses the trials they bring on themselves to expose His desire to forgive them.

God waits for the day that he can reveal His plan for them and for the day that people will understand. Yet people have to want forgiveness and here, in our story, these brothers of Jacob wanted all of their trouble with the Egyptian people to go away and it did. They were forgiven, they were free from their past, they had received new life.

Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” Genesis 45:16-20(NKJV).

When God is for you, who can be against you? It is a fact that if a person repents of their sins and seeks to live a life that is God centered, God will began to move in the hearts of those around you.

Yes, He may move you away from you present acquaintances; but God desires you to live a Christian life that is peace filled, joyous, and one that you can worship Him.

God moved on the Pharaoh’s heart and filled it with compassion for the family of Joseph. From here on out they would be supported and taken care of in the land of Egypt and it was not by chance; It was by the providence of God.

God may be pulling at your heart strings for you to let go of your life and come to Him. You may have feared going to church; but God wants you to know that He sees the overall plan for your life and wants you to live in it at peace.

God can forgive all your sin and will if you are willing to be forgiven. You answer lies in the direction you head. Will you head to the place He is drawing you or will you go back to your old life?

Introduction to Exodus.

Introduction to Exodus.

Exodus, the second book of the Bible, is a continuation of the story of God’s plan for a spiritual existence for mankind. In Genesis, we are told of the purpose for God’s creation the heavens and the Earth. He made humankind and watched as they would choose to sin.

Knowing what it takes to make people that can be given great responsibilities, God’s plan included redemption from their sin. However, the process will take the entire life of the earth to complete. We all live in a massive plan that God has set into motion; therefore, we must learn what He is doing and how this affect us.

In the book of Genesis, each generation had their own dealings with God and as families grew, so did social misbehavior. God took much time to show people the error of their ways and continually called them back to His plan for their lives.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were all men through whom God did a great work. Through their lives God began to build a people for Himself. Jacob had twelve children and God used famine to drive them into Egypt where they would stay for over four hundred years.

The children of Jacob would be known by the name God gave to Jacob, Israel. These children would become very blessed and very prolific as God made provisions so they had land, food, commerce, and much livestock.

Egypt held a safety for the children of Israel for they were relatives of a most famous Egyptian leader Joseph. The Pharaoh had placed Joseph to be the caretaker for Egypt. He helped them stockpile food predicting a famine that would grip the land for seven years. Then he oversaw the distribution of the food, the buying of livestock and property, making the Pharaoh one of the richest Pharaohs ever to live.

However, that was only for a time and with changing times God continues his work. Joseph grew old and passed away and the Pharaoh did also. Soon their memories would fade from the Egyptian civilization and the new Pharaoh completely forgot who they were. The pact Joseph made with Pharaoh would seem foolish to the new Pharaoh and jealousy would strain the relationship with the children of Israel.

In this study of the book of Exodus we will experience the departure of The Children Of Israel from Egypt, the hardships of following God, and learn what God desires from us.

Faith, trust, hope, love, and obedience will be themes we often visit as the Children of Israel are taught by the presence of God in their life.

Our current day is far removed from the days of Egypt leadership by a dominate Pharaoh, yet we will find that similar events happen to us all the time. We experience many of the struggles they did and God requires us to have faith in Him also.

Oh how terrible it would be to never study what God wants from His people and miss the mark that He has set for salvation. Yet even in churches, many people refuse to learn, refuse to study, and will not know that their very actions and attitudes displease God.

Without faith it is impossible to please God and pleasing God determines where we will spend our eternity. Faith is the cornerstone that we are to build our life on and His son, Jesus Christ, is the foundation for the kingdom that He builds.

In the children of Israel, God’s plan was for them to be a people separated unto Him. That same plan has been widened to include us; for God is building a kingdom and the kingdom of God will happen; however, the question is, “Will we cross over into the new kingdom? Will we make the exodus from our old life to follow after the life He wants us to lead?” Please join us as we apply the Children of Israel’s experience in Exodus without own life’s journey.

The Christian Worker’s Spiritual Food is a Devotional Bible Study to help you mature as a Christian and grow as God intended.

The Christian Worker’s Spiritual Food devotionals are copy protected and intended for spiritual encouragement for the reader. They are offered free of charge, however the author reserves all the rights for publishing. Re-publishing may be done only by consent of The Christian Worker. Any use, including reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, republication, display, performance, of the content of this devotional is strictly prohibited in accordance with U.S. and international copyright laws. To contact the Author of The Christian Worker by email the address is tcw@christianworker.org

Controlling Population Explosion

Controlling Population Explosion. Exodus 1:8-22.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Exodus 1:8-10(NKJV)

Joseph had died and so had the Pharaoh that Joseph served. The name Pharaoh was a name common to the Kings of Egypt. Therefore, there came a new king who never heard of Joseph and he looked on the Israelites as necessary ants.

Great colonies of Israelites grew in the suburbs of Egypt and became a part of their great economy. The Pharaoh worried they would leave or rise up against him.

Joseph was a master at understanding the human condition; channeling people to work, share, and honor each other. His business ethics were impeccable; for Joseph had a relationship with God and treated others how he would like to be treated.

This Pharaoh had none of these qualities; however, he was right that the Israelites would continue to grow in number and in strength.

When a person has no faith that God will protect, provide, and direct, then they rely only upon themselves. Their innermost fears cause them to act and react, causing them to do unto others, before others could do unto them. So Pharaoh gave a command towards his people to strong arm the Israelites, mistreating them.

The Israelites were happy; they had a way of life that they were comfortable with and in their prosperity there was no aggression towards the Egyptians.

They came into Egypt as lower class citizens and as social interaction happened, they became more acceptable to the Egyptians. They were not disgruntled at all; however, this new Pharaoh had insecurities and feared them.

The Pharaoh was to be a supreme leader and a man of strength; like most people in great authority, he reached his position through cunningness and made some enemies on the way.

The Pharaoh believed you keep your enemies and your slaves confined, restrained, and you make them work hard.

The Israelites were a nation inside of a nation; therefore, there was no divide and concur technique that he could use and forced suppression would be the only way of feeling like he was protecting his country.

Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. Exodus 1:9-12(NKJV)

These great supply cities were a storehouse for the treasures of the Pharaoh and named in honor of the Sun God Ra. Forced a steady diet of Egyptian mythology, the Israelites labored long hours making and transporting brick. Laying brick upon brick the cities grew; however, so did the population of the Israelites.

As the Pharaoh observed his failure to suppress the birth rate of the Israelites, it caused him to burn in anger. Pharaoh, lashing out at his own people, pressed them to make the Israelites work harder and their mistreatment greater. Their work load was increased, their pay was diminished, and life would be miserable for them.

So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. Exodus 1:13-14(NKJV)

As the Egyptians forced the Israelites to hard labor, the tensions could have caused a rebellion. What Pharaoh intended to disrupt their families and lower the populating rate did the opposite; the Israelites grew in number.

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” Exodus 1:15-19(NKJV)

This very issue is argued in our own cultures; like many politicians in our world, Pharaoh wanted babies aborted to control the growth rate.

People see late term abortion as an answer to population growth. This practice is wrong and those who believe such practices will have to answer to God, upon their own death.

Politicians should not worry about slowing growth rates; they should worry about how to make the best of them.

That was the understanding of the midwives; they refused to go through with such a devilish plan. Therefore, they had to lie to survive the babies and they took upon themselves the punishment for refusing an order. Whatever it takes to do justices is worth it.

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” Exodus 1:20-21(NKJV)

Spirituality never goes unrewarded and in the Israelite society, faith in God had almost diminished; however, God was ready to reward faith and because the midwives showed their faith, God provided for them and families continued to grow.

Pharaoh, enraged by the deception again commanded that baby boys be killed. This time he wanted to see the bodies floating down the river drowning and dead. You cannot ignore a river, it either has evidence or it lacks the evidence and is open for all to see.

This task was to be enforced by the Egyptians and the Israelite people. Should the river not show evidence of carnage, Pharaoh would deal harshly with all.

When the Israelites were in times of prosperity, faith diminished. There was no threat, no worries, only prosperity. Now they were being mistreated and told to do wrong things. When times got bad that is when they began to honor God.

Because of the evil that came against them, God became a focus in their lives. As we will see, in later studies, that as evil increases so does faith in God’s people.

Because of this fact, here in our scriptures, we must ask ourselves, “What has to happen to me to make me exercise my faith in God? What trail needs to come my way to wake me up?” Hopefully the answer is that you are already awake and seeking Him daily.

A Hero in Faith.

A Hero in Faith. Exodus 2:1-11.

And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. Exodus 2:1-4(NKJV)

At a time when Pharaoh’s wrath became the ugliest, a child is born who will be the deliverer of God’s people. The Pharaoh had become incensed with the prosperity of the Israelites.

The families of Joseph came to Egypt and after four hundred years became a nation inside of a nation. This worried the Pharaoh and so he brought hardships upon the Israelites and an order for all male babies to be killed.

“Throw them in to the river,” was his command. This was an attempt to control the bursting population of Israelites. Egypt needed their presence to build the nation of Egypt; however, if they became too large they would overtake Egypt.

Parents wept as their babies were dying. The river became a graveyard and all were forced to comply. However, a certain married couple from the family of Levi could not part with their son. He was a pleasant child and the mother hid him from sight.

She could tell that there was something special about this boy; he was happy and had a good nature. She knew to waste this life was not an option. Yet because the child was growing she feared being found and therefore, she had no option but placed her faith in God and let God deliver.

This story fits into the scriptures as a part of an overall message to trust in God. A normal reaction is to fear the worst and God wants to replace fear with faith that He will deliver.

God wants us to trust in Him and be our first thought when time our tough. Thus the Apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28(NKJV)

Can you feel the pain of the mother who had to prepare the baby to live in the river? She made an ark that would hide him amongst the bull rushes. She water proofed it to keep it afloat and yet it began to float down river.

Unable to watch, she had her daughter follow the craft as it bobbed up and down leaving the mother crying, feeling the distance of a growing separation.

Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Exodus 2:5-6(NKJV)

The ark was seen and the baby was discovered. Now the daughter of the Pharaoh had a serious moral issue to deal with. She would have to obey the Pharaoh’s command and have the baby drowned or take the baby in to her own custody.

Immediately she could see the child crying for it’s mother and the story became clear to her that a mother could not easily part with such a beautiful baby either. It ripped at the fabric of her conscious and she was overcome with compassion.

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. Exodus 2:8-9(NKJV)

Thinking quickly the sister, who closely followed the ark containing her brother downstream, stood up in the reeds and offered a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby.

The Pharaoh’s daughter was able to understand the rest of the story about this mystery child and in an act of compassion allowed the baby to go back to his mother. This was more than an act of charity, it was a an act that would require that when the son was older, he would be brought to the Pharaoh’s daughter to be her son.

There are many people who want children, but are unable to raise a baby. Though they could not tend to a baby, they still may be able to raise a child. The world is filled with children of all ages that are ready and waiting for adoption.

We are told in the New Testament that caring for orphans and widows is one of the greatest forms of service a person could perform. Taking an orphan into your home is not only helping the human condition, it is helping God who is responsible for all life.

People pray, “Bless me, Lord” but there comes time to turn back to God and say “Blessed be the name of the Lord” and do your part in helping to build His kingdom. Becoming a nurturing parent to an orphaned child is a great way.

And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:10-11(NKJV)

Moses was not only destined to be the deliverer of God’s people, he too was delivered by the hand of Pharaoh’s daughter. His name fit him well.

I cannot help but think about his mother who had to take him to the Pharaoh’s daughter and turn him over to be raised by Egyptians. Questions must have flooded her mind. “Will he be taught to worship other Gods? Will he be mistreated by the other children? Will he be found and struck down by the Pharaoh?”

Yet, though she had questions, in faith she stepped forward to accept the outcome. If God worked once in her life, He would work again. Little did she know, her actions opened the door for her whole nation to gain its identity. She was a hero in faith.

Secret Sins.

Secret Sins. Exodus 2:11-25.

Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. Exodus 2:11(NKJV)

Moses was raised in the courts of the Pharaoh. He received the finest education. His teachers were the most respected men of Egypt; learning about known physics, science, astrology, mythology, and mathematics.

Amongst his class mates, he was an odd man out; for he looked different than the other kids. His mother and father were not Egyptians, but Israelites.

Moses survived the long years of hearing references to his people as second class citizens and had to ignore the rants of the Pharaoh, who feared that the Israelites were becoming a mighty people.

This day we study was a day that Moses snapped. He knew of the mistreatment of the Israelites, he knew of the killing of their babies, and he knew that he was rescued as a child; however, the sight of his own countryman being beaten caused him to snap.

So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” Exodus 2:12-14(NKJV)

Was it right to force the Israelites into hard slave labor? No. Was it right to whip them and mistreat them? No. What it right for Moses to kill the Egyptian? No. Even though he looked right and left and no one was watching, Moses was wrong in what he did.

For some reason people justify their actions by the fact there was no one to see them. To think it is not wrong, if there is no one to say it is wrong, the fact that no one saw, does not make it right. People of integrity must have integrity even when no one is around; otherwise, they have no integrity.

However, Moses’ sin found him out. “How can you judge us” is the cry of most people towards the message that we are sinners. When telling others that Jesus Christ saved us from our sins, they will rate the message based upon the actions of the person who is telling them they are a sinner.

Quickly, people who do not want to face the truth will turn on you and if they know that you have bent your integrity; they will attack you. That is why Christians must have integrity even when no one is looking.

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Exodus 2:15(NKJV)

This action of Moses fueled the fire that burned inside of the Pharaoh. Pharaoh never liked the idea of his daughter adopting an Israelite. Pharaoh had grown up to believe that they were all scummy shepherds and that you could not trust them.

Now the actions of Moses supported everything Pharaoh believed. His reaction was to issue an Egyptian decree to find this perpetrator who committed a crime against Egypt and he wanted Moses dead.

Moses knew himself to be a special person with a purpose in life. How many Israelites were gifted with living in the palace and attending such fine schools?

Being a smart man, Moses knew that he was growing in the footsteps of Joseph and hoped that one day he could reestablish his own people’s status.

In history classes Moses learned to idolize the great Joseph, who led Egypt becoming the mightiest man in Egypt under a previous Pharaoh. He knew that God had given this opportunity and Moses had respect for it.

Yet, those dreams faded away because he could not withhold his own anger. Now his mind filled with regret; he could have stopped the Egyptian, taken away his whip. Thoughts of “What would Joseph do?” ran through his mind and his head hung low.

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” Exodus 2:16-20(NKJV)

We must remember that Moses, though he was an Israelite, had the appearance of an Egyptian. He wore nice expensive Egyptian clothing. His face was painted to look like a man of importance. He was manicured and clean cut. Moses looked like an important Egyptian leader, which he strove to be.

Inside, Moses regretted his mistake. He went from wanting to help his people to realizing that he did them a disservice. The miserable feeling of sinking to the lowest member of society flooded in on him like a raging torrent.

The act of helping to water the sheep was all he could do. He could not go back; but he could not go forward. Egyptians were hated by Israelites and so Moses did what he could do; he helped to water sheep.

It was fortunate that the father of the girls recognized a man in distress. His actions to invite him to dinner would be the salvation Moses needed. Someone to look past the person he appeared to be and the wrong he did; providing refuge in his time of need.

Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” Exodus 2:21-22(NKJV)

Moses was now in hiding, living like a shepherd. He had gone from the top to the bottom and yet he was content to have a new beginning.

Having married and fathering a child was all he needed to get him through. However, Moses had no idea that God was going to put him through a schooling that was greater than the Egyptians could teach. God was going to make him into the deliverer.

Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them. Exodus 2:23-25(NKJV)

God is faithful to hear us; however, we will find that God has a plan for our delivery and it will happen in His own time.

The Israelites would still spend many years as slaves and Moses would spend many years being prepared to lead. It is just God’s way.

The Right Time.

The Right Time. Exodus 3:1-10.

This miraculous story, of a beautiful baby, born to parents who knew he was special, became even more special when the Pharaoh’s daughter agreed to adopt him as her own son.

In this rescue, Moses escaped being killed by the Pharaoh who was a treacherous man and had ordered all the Israelite male babies to be downed.

Moses was trained to look like and Egyptian, speak like and Egyptian, and for forty years, lived like an Egyptian until he saw an Egyptian man beating an Israelite.

The site of mistreatment was too much for Moses and all the fear of the Pharaoh went away. Moses cast his royal life away and killed the Egyptian. No longer could he return to the palace. No longer would he be free to roam Egypt. Now he would have to flee into the desert; for Moses was now a wanted man.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Exodus 3:1(NKJV)

Having left Egypt, Moses found shepherds watering flocks and joined them in their work. He met the daughter of Jethro and took her to himself as a wife.

Now the man, who was special, wanting to be a deliverer of his people, had nothing to do but herd sheep through the desert. This life would be his for forty years and the dessert would be his home; as God was going to teach him how to be a leader.

Though life seemed ruff, God was still at work in Moses life. No matter the sin committed, God was willing to use Moses for His purpose. Moses led sheep for forty years and now, at 80 years old , Moses was ready to lead God’s people.

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:2-4(NKJV)

The burning bush is often scoffed at by people not willing to accept the Bible as fact. To see a bush that will burn but not be consumed is hard for people to accept. However, as they drown in the questions about the bush, they miss the fact that God speaks to people.

God speaking to people is not strange or uncommon. There are stories upon stories of God communicating with people; for God wants a relationship with us all.

Sometimes God communicates by a small quiet voice to our heats; other times it is through the lips of another. Yet God desires to speak to us all. The scoffer should focus more on the fact that God wants to talk to them and give Him a chance.

Like Moses, a man must answer, “Here I am” and give the wonderful loving God a heaven a chance to forgive sin and restore the relationship sin destroyed.

Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5(NKJV)

Too many people make a big deal about taking their shoes off; it is no holy gesture. Actually the feet, especial the feet of shepherds, was the most dirt spot of the body. Walking through dirt trails and through sheep herds, Moses was asked by God to bring his dirtiest, nastiest part of his body onto the very ground that God called holy.

You see, God wants to know our dirtiest parts of our life. He is able to cleanse us and sanctify us; however, we must be willing not to walk away, but willing to approach God with boldness. God wants you to come just as you are.

Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Exodus 3:6-7(NKJV)

When a person draws close to the Lord, it becomes clear that God is holy. A person will also feel a complete inferiority and uneasiness, knowing that God sees everything they have done. God knew that Moses murdered an Egyptian; however, God had a plan and made a promise to Moses’ ancestors.

Not only does God have a plan, but He is our “Father.” We are all ancestors of Adam and Adam was created by God. Therefore, the promises are for us too.

And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:8-10(NKJV)

While everyone thought that God had abandoned them, God was watching. When everyone thought that God did not hear their prayers, God was listening. God was waiting for the right time and the time had come. It was time for the plan of God to move forward.

God was building a nation of people that He would call His own. God was going to build this nation in the face of the toughest people and facing the toughest odds. It was God’s plan and though His people faced hardship, God was going to use that hardship to make them into the people He wanted; His people.

We can read of the outcome by skimming through Exodus. God wins! Yet, God would have us understand each and everything that occurred so that we might be able to relate it to our own lives.

We live in a time that many believe to be the end of times. Just as God waited and watched, listening to his people; God is waiting and watching and listening today.

When the time is right and the days are accomplished; He is going to stop all time and He will have a kingdom of people that will live for eternity in heaven. Just as God promised them a land, He had promised us a land. So let us get ready for His return.

It’s all About Faith.

It’s all About Faith. Exodus 3:10-22.

Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10

What if you were approached by God to lead a world changing event that included risk, danger, and you to be brave? Could you do it? Moses could not conceive how God’s plan for him was going to happen. Egypt depended on the Israelites and the Pharaoh was not going to let his workforce leave.

The challenge of getting the millions of people to follow him out into the desert was equally difficult. Even if he could get them to follow him, where would they go? In Egypt they had homes, they had food and water; in the desert there was none of that.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:11-12(NKJV)

Moses’ head must have been overloaded to the point where that he could only stare into the fire; so deep in thought, the rest of the world vanished. Only a few of his thoughts were able to make it out of his mouth.

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” Moses was not a king, he had no power, and he had no protection. It was suicide to walk into the palace to make such demands.

“I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” How can I provide for them? How will I get them to follow me? Who am I that they should trust me?

These are much the same thoughts of any person called by God to make great strides before people. People tend to look at themselves, their inabilities, their background, and their education. Yet God wants us to get our eyes off ourselves and on to Him. That is the one reason why God spoke from a burning bush; God wanted Moses’ eyes on Him.

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14(NKJV)

The name of God had no vowels; it is spelled Hvh. It is pronounced in Hebrew as “Hayah.” It means “to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about” The one sending Moses was the God of their fathers, the promised God that would come, the person who was from the beginning, the creator of the earth.

These words, I am who I am, is enough for a person. Some want to have an intellectual understanding of God before they will follow or believe in Him. However, the capacity to understand God or who God is, is not in us.

Even when Jesus came to earth, the explanation He gave, that we could understand, is that we should relate to God as our Heavenly Father. God is, was, and will be forever; this lack of origin is beyond our logic, because we are creatures of time.

Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ Exodus 3:15(NKJV)

This last part they could understand. The person who encouraged Abraham to believe in Him through faith was coming to help them. If Abraham could have faith with good results, so should they.

Since God had proved His intentions towards men through their ancestors, Moses represented an opportunity for them to follow in like faith.

Every Israelite had heard how faith was rewarded and though the concept of God is very hard to understand, every Israelite wanted to have a faith and results from their faith.

You can come to God as a skeptic; however, you are extending your faith when you come. Your faith maybe small, but you are giving God a chance to prove to you that “He is”. In the case of the Israelites, it would mean deliverance and they would see the power of God first hand.

God wants you too to experience His life changing, saving power. Remember, it is not something you can understand and then proceed; you have to come in faith. It is not something you try and if it does not work, you leave. Coming to God takes a commitment, a risk, and once you have extended yourself fully, you will see the power of God.

Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”‘ Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ Exodus 3:16-18(NKJV)

We must remember that Moses also was at a stage in His life that He was beign challenged to exercise his faith.

Moses was being told to walk into a death trap; then tell the Israelites to walk away from the fortified, abusive, Egyptians. Moses must have been trembling at the thought.

The captivity and abusive slavery was allowed by God long enough for them to become sick of their situation. Often times a person must be left to become sick of their situation before they will surrender to God’s will for them.

It is sad, but often true; people’s situation has to get the best of them, before they desire better.

God was offering deliverance and was telling Moses when you talk with the elders of Israel, they will accept what you say.

God promised a land flowing with milk and honey, subsidence with abundance; much like today He is offering Heaven, a place so extraordinary and beautiful. God was saying, people will accept to follow; for this is what they want.

Today, many people want heaven; however, they choose to live like hell. They feel like slaves to the Pharaoh and fear losing the little prosperity they still have.

However, this world shows signs of winding down and they will listen to your appeal, when you offer them a chance to have their sins forgiven, so they may enter a land so sweet.

Christians, this story is to cause you to think beyond yourself. To think big and to not fear danger. Moses had eighty years of preparation and now God was saying. “It’s time.” For some of you, it’s time. Time to offer salvation to others.

Signs Follow the Church

Signs Follow the Church. Exodus 3:19 – Exodus 4:9.

Staring into the burning bush, Moses hears God tell him to walk into the danger of Pharaoh’s court, look him in the face and demand the release of the Israelites who worked building the Pharaoh’s treasure cities.

Moses is overwhelmed with God’s request; for Moses was wanted for murder of an Egyptian and the Pharaoh had ordered his death.

Though Pharaoh knew Moses as an adopted grandchild, the Pharaoh hated the prosperity of the Israelites. However, Pharaoh was benefitting from their hard work.

Moses would be a dead man walking into the court of Pharaoh and then Moses heard God say this.

But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.

And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:19-22(NKJV)

I’m certain that Moses keyed in on the phrase, “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go.” That statement must have caused Moses to open wide his eyes, in spite of the bright light from the bush on fire; however, then Moses heard God strategizing.

Does it sound like a strategy to you? God knows the future; but to move the immovable providence of the Pharaoh, God was going to have to display His power and cause the Pharaoh to change his mind.

Can you see that God wanted Moses to have confidence in Him? God is able to move the unmovable. God is able to change the minds of others.

Revealing this to us through this encounter with the Pharaoh, God would have us all trust in His ability to intervene in our behalves. God wants us to trust in Him.

The one thing we must also recognize is that God wanted his people to leave with compensation for their work.

They were to leave with Gold and silver and the young children who suffered in fear of being killed were to wear the jewelry and carry the riches of those who enslaved their parents.

Does it not cause your heart joy to know that God wants to reward us for our faith and recompense us for the evil that befalls us?

God is fair, just, and will never leave His people or forsake His people. Therefore, if you are part of His people, you are to look up in your situation with faith. Moses was to accept what God asked for and in faith, act upon it.

Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” Exodus 4:1(NKJV)

Moses’ question reveals a very important aspect of who he was; he was just a normal person; he was having trouble catching up to the conversation.

God already said that the Pharaoh would resist even after seeing the mighty hand of God, which means that Pharaoh will listen.

People react much the same today. Jesus instructed the church saying, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18(NKJV)

However, though we are given the direction, like Moses some say, “What if they will not hear me?” Jesus said, decisions will be made; and the church is to get those decisions.

What people today need to understand is, they will be heard; Jesus said so. Therefore, don’t be afraid to share the gospel with others.

So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), “that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Exodus 4:2-5(NKJV)

In the great commission, Jesus gave to the church, this same miracle was referenced. The taking up of snakes is literal in the case of Moses. However, it was not a command to the church to tempt snakes to prove the miraculous power of God.

In the great commission, Jesus was referring to the fact that God takes great care in providing for the messenger. If God has sent you to speak to a people, we are not to fear the bad that could happen to us.

Furthermore the LORD said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh.

“Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.” Exodus 4:6-9 (NKJV)

Many people wish they could do the miracles mention here in these verses. Some try to find miracles and others believe that miracles are a part of their faith. However, these are not to be thought of as miracles, they are to be thought of as signs. Signs follow the church.

We are told by the Apostle Luke in our day, signs are promised. Great earthquakes, famines, pestilence, and fearful sights will join themselves with great signs from heaven. These signs are what we are to point too; for what greater miracle can be than those Christ performed? The great commission does not say to go perform miracles and then people will get saved.

Too many people seek miracles, but signs will have a greater impact. This was recognized by the prophet Daniel, who told us more about end times than any other person in the Bible.

Daniel wrote, How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.

Speaking Up for God.

Speaking Up for God. Exodus 4:10-17.

Are you one who does not share the gospel with others because you feel as if you would not say the right thing or not know what to say? You are not alone; Christians everywhere ignore the great commission to tell others about forgiveness of sin. However, have you ever considered it angers God?

Moses was called to represent God before the Pharaoh. Moses was to speak God’s words and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelite slaves go. However, Moses felt that he could not speak and be taken serious by the Pharaoh.

Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exodus 4:10(NKJV)

Moses claimed to be having poor speech. Yet his problem ran deeper than his speech. Moses grew up as the adopted son of the pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was privileged to see the inside of the king’s palace and privileged to know what went on in there.

To Moses the Pharaoh was larger than life and brutal to the core. Moses had insecurities about facing such a giant of a man and Moses feared for his life.

So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” Exodus 4:11-13(NKJV)

The voice of the Lord became stern and challenging. If God is our creator did he make a mistake by creating us the way we are and then calling on us to speak to others? This is an excellent point and still Moses cowered.

Think about who Moses was facing. He was facing the one and only God. The maker of the Universe, the very one who held life in His hand.

With one spoken word God could wipe the earth clean, avenge any person, and was capable of far more aggression that Pharaoh could ever have. Moses was refusing God instead of trusting in Him.

So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.” Exodus 4:14-17(NKJV)

How gracious was God towards Moses; however, Moses angered God. How gracious has He been towards us and do we anger Him also?

As a young Christian, my friends and I attended a Billy Graham crusade in Anaheim. We sat behind the stage and peered out to the crowd as Billy Graham gave his sermon.

He spoke with such eloquence and had such great command. The crowd, 55,000 strong, listened to every word and Mr. Graham spoke to them as if he was talking to each and every person individually.

“This guy has ice in his veins.” I thought to myself and then I told my self, “I could never speak to this many people.” Then, like getting thumped in my chest, I felt the anger of the Lord towards my statement. “You never, say that!” “Never tell me that you cannot do what I have called you to do.”

This voice of the Lord was not audible, but the conversation with my heart was real. “You will speak to more people than Billy Graham.” God said.

I was dumb founded and felt reproved. The rest of the night I could not concentrate on the message and as my friends and I left the stadium, I walked to the parking lot knowing that I upset God.

Suddenly, a man called out to me. “Hey would you talk with us for a moment?” I turned to the voice to see a man with a camera and a man holding a microphone.

The blinding light above the camera caused me to be startled as the man asked, “What brought you here to this stadium tonight?”

I pondered the question and rifled back my answer, “The Holy Spirit.” “No, no, what about Billy Graham made you come here tonight.” Then I understood what the man wanted to hear so I told Him.

“I came to see a modern day Apostle like Paul. I want to learn how to talk to others, like Billy Graham does, so that I can ask them questions like, do you know if you died tonight you would go to heaven?”

As I said those words I pointed to the man and I saw his face freeze. He was without words and yet the question was so compelling he felt that he needed to answer. He fumbled to gain his composure and then turned to the guy next to me and asked him the same question.

Turning the camera off, the man with the mike just stared at me. He was convicted in his’ heart and that night he was called by God.

Walking to our car, I said to my friend, “What TV station do you think that was?” “I don’t know my friend answered. So I turned back to ask the man and he told me CNN.

When I heard his response, the voice of God spoke to me again saying, “Never say never; tonight you spoke to more people than Billy Graham did.”

I learned my lesson that night and will remember it for the rest of my life. However, I still get scared going before an audience. Be it big or small, I tremble.

Moses was graciously allowed to take Aaron with him. Moses would relay the message of God to Aaron and Aaron would speak while Moses showed the signs.

God is patient with all of us. It is important though to work through our difficulties and continue to speak in behalf of God like He told us.

We are to go to the entire world and preach the gospel; teaching people to know God and to be baptized according to His instructions.

Salvation has come to earth and God wants to make it known. Will you answer His call?

Developing Ones Faith.

Developing Ones Faith. Exodus 4:18-23.

We do not know if the bush flamed out or if Moses walked away. However, it does not make sense that a person who knows God as Moses did, would walk away from Him. However, we will find that miracles and displays of power from God, does not change every person’s heart; many people acknowledge the existence and power of God and choose to walk away.

So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” Exodus 4:18(NKJV)

Moses believed God; and the evidence is, he acted on his faith. Yet, the faith of Moses was weak. Though He would not attribute any wrong to God, His little faith caused Him to worry about things.

He worried that his relatives and those he knew were not alive. In reality, yet indirectly, Moses’ faith was not strong enough to believe God acted in time.

We were told to cast all of our cares on the Lord; to lay all of our burdens down at His feet. However, those who wrote this in the scriptures did so because they learned it through the encounters as this one of Moses.

This story is in our scriptures for our learning. Let it sink deep into your heart so that you may also say to others, “Cast all your cares on the Lord.”

Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand. Exodus 4:19-20(NKJV)

God saw Moses’ weak faith; yet God was not displeased. God does not discard people because they worry. God wants to build our faith. Here He speaks to Moses and assured him that it was now safe to take his family and go to the fertile plains of Midian.

One of the first things Jesus taught his disciples is how to pray. Prayer is a casting of your cares upon the Lord; however, it is also a time where God can speak back to your heart.

In prayer, God can reveal to your heart what you should do. Yet, when praying we must remember God is going to lead us to where we should be and never forget He will also lead us into greater trials to accomplish His work. Therefore, when we pray we should be ready to act.

And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.”‘” Exodus 4:21-23(NKJV)

Is your faith strong enough to deliver a harsh message to a great, fearful king, as the Pharaoh? God’s message was extreme and brutal; however, God also knew that Pharaoh would choose to harden his heart and so God would give Pharaoh what he chose. God would harden his heart for him.

Brutal is God? Was God going to pay the Pharaoh back for all the sins he committed towards God’s people? Does God choose to not love some? The answer to these questions is no. Let me put it this way, NO!

God loves every person; He is their creator and holds His responsibility of creating them with honor. However, every person has been given freedom of choice. You can choose to walk to God or choose to walk away from God.

Yet, many people must face hardships before they will acknowledge God and turn to Him. Miracles will not turn them, your prayers will not turn them; they will have to come to the end of themselves and so God allows their heart to be hardened so they may reach that end.

I know a lady, who I love as a sister. I took her to church with me; yet I could tell she came for me, but her interest was not in God. She only wanted to fulfill her expectation of getting a spiritual supercharge from going. She was disappointed when it did not happen.

She admitted that she believed in spirits, Buddha, karma, astrology, and basically everything. Though she has those beliefs, God still loves her and yet the only way to reach her is to harden her heart so that she will come to the end of herself.

She is in my prayers daily and I see the pain of her family as they watch her sink lower into struggles and trials. She lost her job, chose drugs over food. She relinquished her son to her mother and lost her apartment.

She blames others for her predicaments and though she knows that there is help in God, she refuses to turn to Him. Christianity is truth and it sets a person free; however, she chooses to walk away from it.

Everyone would love to help her, but their help only becomes a crutch supporting her in her choice. Family and friends who pray for her watch and wait for her to turn to the Lord.

Moses was going to have to watch his adoptive Egyptian family that he was raised with go through horrible circumstances.

The people he was raised to be like where going to suffer because of one man whose bitterness scarred their lives.

The message of God’s loves is blurred by the tragedies which befall people. “How can God allow this?” people say. Could he not do a large miracle to dazzle them into faith? As we will see, miracles do not have that effect on people. It takes more than miracle and God loves people so much He is willing to do what it takes.

Obedience V. Disobedience.

Obedience V. Disobedience. Exodus 4:24-31.

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Exodus 4:24(NKJV)

Moses was told by God to go to the Egyptian Pharaoh and demand that the Children of Israel be released from their bondage so they may return to the land that God had given to them.

The famine that caused them to go to Egypt was long over and the families from the twelve sons of Israel had grown to great numbers; so great the Pharaoh looked upon them as a threat and enslaved them to build his treasure cities.

Their life was full of hard labor and the Egyptian task masters were relentless. Even their newborn male children were thrown into the river to stop the Israelite population growth, to keep them manageable; a labor force to serve the Pharaoh.

However, God heard their cries and the time came for their delivery; so God called Moses to lead them.

No sooner did Moses pack up his family and head towards the Egyptian area called Midian, God stood in his way and sought to kill him. The problem was that Moses neglected to keep the covenant with God to circumcise his child.

Circumcision was first requested of Abraham when God wanted a covenant with His people. Each male in Israel was to be circumcised so that they may remember that God requires their obedience. It was a lesson that all would remember; except Moses.

It is doubtful that God desired to kill Moses; however, God would not have a messenger, who would lead His people, to be ignorant of a covenant with God. Neither would God allow his wife to ignore her husband’s priorities.

So we learn from this passage that when God shows us an area of our lives we must keep holy, given to God, let us speedily strive to fix a problem, so we might not displease our God.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:25-26(NKJV)

Evidently, Zipporah was ignorant of the importance of Holiness and Moses was not managing his spiritual life in a way that God approved. Moses was called to lead God’s people and the lessons to make him that leader God was going to enforce.

There is no reason that we should learn by trial and error today. We have God’s word; therefore our lives, our ministries, and all of our paths of righteousness are clearly set out for us in the scriptures.

Every Christian is to read God’s word, allowing God to show them wrongs within their life to change. We must abide by changing them before we displease God and He must meet us in our way.

It is a feasible question to ask, “How long does God have to stand in your way before you will conform your life to His ways?”

People struggle with addictions, inordinate attractions, and they dabble with the obsessions of sinners. Missing the mark of the high calling of God, they try to march forward in their lives only to feel like they have not traveled at all.

People allow themselves to go back to the beginning of their faith to start over, because they failed to take God word into their life for change. When they should be growing strong and eating the meat from the word of God, they are feeding on milk like overgrown babies.

To those who remain spiritually blind and acting as if there is no need to conform to God’s holiness we ask, “Will an angry God meet you in the way?”

And the LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. Exodus 4:27-28(NKJV)

Aaron was obviously a good choice. He was a man who listens to God and was obedient to God’s voice.

Upon the revelation from God that Moses was coming, Aaron went and met him. This is just the beginning of life coming together for the now obedient Moses.

Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 4:29-31(NKJV)

Moses’ ministry was officially started. Because he was obedient to God, Moses had all the support he needed falling into place.

Oh how hard life and ministry can be if we first do not follow God and His directions for our life. Yet, people go to church and never return to God’s word during their week. They try to take one small meal and survive all week on its spiritual nutrients.

Knowing God is Gods daily requirement for all His’ children and to be healthy and able to conduct ourselves on His behalf we must read God’s word daily.

The elders of the families of Jacob heard God’s word through Moses and worshiped God and the best form of worship is to be obedient to God’s word.

God wanted to do great work in their lives; yet to do that work, faithfulness came first.

Obedience V. Disobedience. Exodus 4:24-31.

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Exodus 4:24(NKJV)

Moses was told by God to go to the Egyptian Pharaoh and demand that the Children of Israel be released from their bondage so they may return to the land that God had given to them.

The famine that caused them to go to Egypt was long over and the families from the twelve sons of Israel had grown to great numbers; so great the Pharaoh looked upon them as a threat and enslaved them to build his treasure cities.

Their life was full of hard labor and the Egyptian task masters were relentless. Even their newborn male children were thrown into the river to stop the Israelite population growth, to keep them manageable; a labor force to serve the Pharaoh.

However, God heard their cries and the time came for their delivery; so God called Moses to lead them.

No sooner did Moses pack up his family and head towards the Egyptian area called Midian, God stood in his way and sought to kill him. The problem was that Moses neglected to keep the covenant with God to circumcise his child.

Circumcision was first requested of Abraham when God wanted a covenant with His people. Each male in Israel was to be circumcised so that they may remember that God requires their obedience. It was a lesson that all would remember; except Moses.

It is doubtful that God desired to kill Moses; however, God would not have a messenger, who would lead His people, to be ignorant of a covenant with God. Neither would God allow his wife to ignore her husband’s priorities.

So we learn from this passage that when God shows us an area of our lives we must keep holy, given to God, let us speedily strive to fix a problem, so we might not displease our God.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.  Exodus 4:25-26(NKJV)

Evidently, Zipporah was ignorant of the importance of Holiness and Moses was not managing his spiritual life in a way that God approved. Moses was called to lead God’s people and the lessons to make him that leader God was going to enforce.

There is no reason that we should learn by trial and error today. We have God’s word; therefore our lives, our ministries, and all of our paths of righteousness are clearly set out for us in the scriptures.

Every Christian is to read God’s word, allowing God to show them wrongs within their life to change. We must abide by changing them before we displease God and He must meet us in our way.

It is a feasible question to ask, “How long does God have to stand in your way before you will conform your life to His ways?”

People struggle with addictions, inordinate attractions, and they dabble with the obsessions of sinners. Missing the mark of the high calling of God, they try to march forward in their lives only to feel like they have not traveled at all.

People allow themselves to go back to the beginning of their faith to start over, because they failed to take God word into their life for change. When they should be growing strong and eating the meat from the word of God, they are feeding on milk like overgrown babies.

To those who remain spiritually blind and acting as if there is no need to conform to God’s holiness we ask, “Will an angry God meet you in the way?”

And the LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. Exodus 4:27-28(NKJV)

Aaron was obviously a good choice. He was a man who listens to God and was obedient to God’s voice.

Upon the revelation from God that Moses was coming, Aaron went and met him.  This is just the beginning of life coming together for the now obedient Moses.

Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 4:29-31(NKJV)

Moses’ ministry was officially started. Because he was obedient to God, Moses had all the support he needed falling into place.

Oh how hard life and ministry can be if we first do not follow God and His directions for our life. Yet, people go to church and never return to God’s word during their week. They try to take one small meal and survive all week on its spiritual nutrients.

Knowing God is Gods daily requirement for all His’ children and to be healthy and able to conduct ourselves on His behalf we must read God’s word daily.

The elders of the families of Jacob heard God’s word through Moses and worshiped God and the best form of worship is to be obedient to God’s word.

God wanted to do great work in their lives; yet to do that work, faithfulness came first.

Who is the Lord that I should acknowledge Him?

Who is the Lord
that I should acknowledge Him? Exodus 5:1-21.

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” Exodus 5:1(NKJV)

Through the desert in the hot heat, trying not to be recognized, Moses and Aaron traveled to the palace of the Pharaoh. It had been forty years since the Pharaoh issued the decree to hunt and kill Moses; however, so much time had passed even his pursuers were now dead. Though Pharaoh long forgot about Moses, Moses had returned.

Moses and Aaron came representing the whole population of Israelites. He had talked with the elders and came with their blessings. Everyone was expecting good results; however, God told Moses that he would not be well received.

Moses worried what to say and how would they introduce Pharaoh to a God he had never heard of. So they told Pharaoh “the Lord God” had spoken. The words meant “the existing one” the God who is the judge, rules the world, and is the true God.

There is no need for further explanations of who God is, for every person in the world can see that there is an intelligent design to this vast universe. Every person knows there is a deity greater than our knowledge and He is the reason for our existence.

You may ask, “What about those who call themselves Atheists? A person who has explained away the existence of God did so after they hardened their heart towards the concept of God. A heard heart is tough to break and in the Pharaohs’ case his heart was about to be hardened too.

And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” Exodus 5:2-3(NKJV)

This question on Pharaoh’s lips is on the lips of the scientific community as a whole. “Who is this God who rules the universe?” How come I can’t see Him?” and when the answers do not provide enough evidence, with their heart they say, “I do not know Him.”

Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.” And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!” Exodus 5:4(NKJV)

Pharaoh hardened his heart. It was his choice. He chose to continue the work rather than find the God that has made Himself known. Like with any hard heart, to soften the heart to accept God, would take great trials.

So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” Exodus 5:5-9(NKJV)

Pharaoh had something to prove. He was faced with the possibility that there was another God to worship. Egyptians worshiped many Gods and had beliefs surrounding the afterlife. Therefore, Pharaoh set out to disprove this God that Moses and Aaron talked about.

Pharaoh increased their labor and placed hardships on the Israelite people. It was an angry gesture to discredit Moses and Aaron. Yet inside, Pharaoh set out to prove that there was no God.

And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’” Exodus 5:10-11(NKJV)

The Egyptians worked side by side with the Israelites. They brought in the straw and the Israelites did the work of making the brick to the build the cities. It is feasible to contend that the Israelites educated the Egyptians and possible that their building ability contributed to the building of the great pyramids.

This order by Pharaoh was going to cut into that relationship and create hardships that would even hurt the Egyptian people.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” Exodus 5:12-13(NKJV)

Disorder had come to Egypt. People were forced to scatter out to find materials for the brick. Having to maintain their quota, Israelites worked in fear of their task masters who were willing to execute judgment on those who failed.

There was fear within the Egyptians also. They would have to sacrifice their working relationships with the people and the stories of a great God worried them, knowing this treatment of the Israelites could bring judgment on them. The Egyptian people were caught between two great forces and who to obey was being questioned.

Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?” Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.” Exodus 5:13-16(NKJV)

Violence, hardship, and tears accompanied every person who worked to build the treasure cities. Emotions ran strong in task masters and laborers. It was the worst condition in all ready tough times.

Within the Israelite communities, there was structure; leaders, family advocates, and those who followed them. These leaders had access to the Pharaoh and upon approaching him they flexed their strength in a warning, accusing the Pharaoh of creating the situation by his own leadership.

This was the Pharaoh’s worst nightmare. Should the Israelites turn on the Egyptians, it might cause a war and a possible civil war amongst the Egyptian people.

But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.” Exodus 5:17-19(NKJV)

Often our perceptions of situations are bigger than they really are. The Israelite leaders had no idea that Pharaoh was truly worried and they viewed themselves as to small and weak to do anything about it. They were counting themselves failures and their perceptions of God was too small.

Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. And they said to them, “Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Exodus 5:20-21(NKJV)

Fear is faithlessness; these Israelites leaders needed to learn to trust in God. They complained instead of prayed. The blamed others instead of looking inside their own hearts.

Though they acknowledge the Lord it was in a judging way as they wished judgment onto Moses and Aaron. These people needed to go through the trials they were in, so they would learn how powerful their God truly is.

Evangelism is Speaking for God.

Evangelism is Speaking for God. Exodus 5:22 – 6:13.

So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23(NKJV)

Rejection was a terribly hard thing for Moses to understand; instead of making things better, they became worse. Instead of delivering the people, Moses caused them hardships.

The Apostle James taught Christians to count all your trials as joy; for in trials a person learns patience. Patience on the Lord, patience with others, and patience in troubled times. Do you need patience?

It was a terrible day when Pharaoh told the Israelites they would have to gather their own straw for bricks; it scattered them to gather any stubble they could find. Not only did they have to gather their own straw, they had to keep up their daily quota of bricks.

Each brick was counted and laid brick upon brick as they built the treasure cities of the Pharaoh and they watched as all of his treasures were moved into the cities as each section was finished.

The Pharaoh was rich, now he wanted to punish the people who did the work. The bottom line is that Moses was to blame and the elders spoke harshly to him.

Moses promised their release, but did not deliver. Retreating to God, Moses asked “Why God; why did this happen?” Is that not the question we all ask when trials come our way or things do not go as we planned?

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Exodus 6:1-5(NKJV)

It would be interesting to know if the Lord was stern with Moses unbelief. Did God shout “I am the LORD” to wake Moses up?

When you think about unbelief, it is natural to hold tight to it when we murmur about the trials that come our way.

Jesus told us He would never leave us or forsake us and therefore, our trials are allowed by God for our own good. If we could look at them correctly we would rejoice that God has allowed us to experience the trails and the sting that sin has brought.

With trials we share in the pain of Christ on the cross. In heaven we will be partakers with Christ in the deliverance of others and we will forever respect what sin did to our lives.

The children of Israel knew only prosperity up to the time that Pharaoh enslaved them. Understanding how trials fit into their lives, with a God who cares for them, was all new to them. Israel needed to know their God and God was introducing Himself in their trials.

Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’” Exodus 6:6-9(NKJV)

Moses was going to have to face an angry nation; however, God intended to increase the trials so they may see God, their deliverer. God wanted them to know Him as the only true God and would settle for nothing short of faith with reverence, even in the face of trials.

God promised great miracles, judgments, and deliverance; it was up to the people to accept it or be judged with the Egyptians. God accepts our disbelief; however, God will not tolerate our disrespect.

So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.” And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” Exodus 5:10-12(NKJV)

To Moses it felt like he was a man against both nations. His own relatives hated the hardships he brought upon his people and Pharaoh hated that Moses stirred up the controversial trouble. Moses was an island in a sea of chaos.

“They won’t listen to me.” The key here is that Moses wanted to be heard; however, Moses was just a messenger. Yes, Pharaoh did not want to hear a word from Moses. The people did not want to hear a word from Moses. Yet, God knew that they would listen if Moses became the voice of God.

Often times this is where evangelism turns upside down. Good hearted people set out to tell others about salvation. They ask others to commit their lives to join them in being a Christian; however, people only see and hear the words from the evangelist.

People distrust other people. There have been scams, fraud, lies, hypocrisies, and they have seen others sucked up into cultic gimmicks. Why should they listen to this person telling them they should come to a church and become one with them?

Evangelists need to simplify their role. Don’t worry about how to get the person you speak to, to come to your church. Do not worry about getting them to say a prayer with you. Yet do labor to become the voice of God to them.

Every evangelist should first have their own life in communication with God first. Prayer, bible study, praise, and worship, getting to know God more; will lead to conversations with others about what God says.

Evangelism happens when a person speaks for God. When they speak, the right words will be on their lips and they will penetrate to the innermost needs of the person they speak to without even knowing it. God will have control of the evangelist and the person listening will feel as if they are hearing from God.

Moses and Aaron only needed to become the voice of God; letting God put on their hearts what they should say and do. Then when they do this, the power of God would be with them.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 6:13(NKJV)

God was issuing ultimatums to both the Children of Israel and the Pharaoh. God’s words were to be spoken in behalf of God. Moses was to leave out his own words, feelings, and commentary, only to deliver the sharp spoken ultimatum of God. “Let my people go!”

Genealogical Influence.

Genealogical Influence. Exodus 6:14-27.

The writer of Exodus, Moses, takes the times to let his readers understand the players in this theater of commentary. Understanding who came from who helps us understand their devotion or lack of devotion as instilled in them by their parents, and their community.

From genealogies as these, people can trace their ancestor’s thoughts, where they came from, and often find actions or attitudes that lead to their ruin.

In addition, scriptural genealogies show us an overall story of God’s intervention into the lives of the people who would be the ancestors of the Messiah. In our story Moses was on his way to being a great deliverer of people and knowing his roots is most important.

Today people love to trace their genealogies so that they may understand more about themselves. What shaped their parents attitudes and spiritual life? We can even find out what food helped shape their physical lives and find heretical physical conditions that can affect us and our children.

Even beyond genealogies, in our cells, the human genome is becoming a most important information to understanding how our heritage effects us physically; however, it does not tell us how it effects us spiritually.

Those mentioned in this passage are they that will represent their families as elders. They are decision makers, carrying a voice for their people. As we study through the book of Exodus we will hear of these names and be able to see the attitudes and actions that changed futures. Thus it is important that we understand who they are.

These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. Exodus 6:14(NKJV)

Ruben, whose mother was Leah, once picked birth stimulating mandrakes as a child to bring to his mother. This once cute boy would grew up to commit incest with one of his father’s concubines and receive a harsh benediction from his father before his father’s death.

“Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.” – Jacob

If you were to find your bloodline traced back to Ruben, you should be glad that new beginnings are possible through Jesus Christ who saves us. For the bloodline of Ruben would not excel and become turbulent.

And the sons of Simemon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simemon. Exodus 6:15(NKJV)

Simemon was one of Jacobs’s sons who avenged the Shechemites for the defilement of his sister Leah.

Because Leah’s boy friend took her to bed before asking for her hand in marriage, Simeon helped kill all the Shechemite males and plunder their villages.

So upsetting was their actions, their father prophesied on his death bed denouncing their crimes and saying, “Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.”

If you could find your bloodline traced back to Simemon you would find warriors that fought in battles with heartless compassion. The family dispersed throughout all the tribes of Jacob and many died fighting.

These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven. Exodus 6:16(NKJV)

Levi was the third son of Jacob and the brother who joined with Simemon at the slaughter of Shechem. His involvement disgraced his father and he too, received the cursed prophesy.

We know that his’ ancestors become the priests of the Israelite nation. Therefore, it is reasonable that Levi took his father’s rebuke to heart and raised his children in reverence knowing they were shadowed by the curse for their father’s sin.

Tracing you bloodline back to Levi, you would find a long line of Priests. Those who became involved in the lives of others helping them bury their dead, pass judgment on those who broke the law, and slaughtering animals for sacrifice.

Each person would live in turbulence and their lives would be not be easy. In this bloodline you will find Moses and Aaron and others who wanted the turbulence to stop by having a relationship with God. However, you will also find those who invited troubled times.

The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families. And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hembron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations. Exodus 6:17-19(NKJV)

Here is a prime example of turbulence. From this family tree comes a child whose turbulent times would be mention as significant. Though there was no law of Moses at the time this happened, eventually there would be a law against incest for incest causes genetic flaws to occur in families.

Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven. The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nempheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri.

Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Elemazar, and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.

These are the families of the Korahites. Elemazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Lemvites according to their families. Exodus 6:20-25(NKJV)

Aram took his father’s sister as a wife. This practice would later be written into their law as wrong. Wrong because the taking of a close relative causes changes in the genetic code and leads to defect.

Where the older men lived into their in hundred thirties, the life span shorted after these families. Amram who lived to be one hundred thirty seven was the father of Moses who would only live to see 120 and from this point in history all men started to die younger.

All these mention above were generals, the heads of families very large; so large they were as armies. Yet though they were great in numbers, they needed the Lord to deliver them from their turbulent times and God rose up one man Moses; to be helped by his cousin Aaron, to be their deliverer.

These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron. Exodus 6:26-27(NKJV)

It was very important to record the genealogy leading up to this great leader of the Children of Israel. Moses was from the bloodline of the Israelites; he was not Egyptian. Therefore, he could be counted worthy of his position and this genealogy put an end to any dispute.

Many people seek to find their gemological roots. It is a fun venture and your ancestry will tell the story of why you are the way you are.

The environment your ancestors were were exposed to, the spiritual life they lived, and the food they ate, all make up the genetic code that is you.

Men and women have influence that leaches through generations. Therefore, we must think of ourselves as able to influence future generations.

Kind David wrote, The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalms 90:10(NKJV)

We must focus everyday on living right, seeking God, and training up our children to honor God with their hearts, bodies, and minds. When they do, they will help continue to build the kingdom of God.

Miracles Happen.

Miracles Happen. Exodus 7:8-24.

In a speech of encouragement, God told Moses that the Pharaoh viewed him with great respect. Moses was able to walk into the Pharaohs courts without being seized or put into jail; he was also able to walk away from heated conversation. Moses and Aaron were important because they represented all of the Children of Israel.

This had to make Moses feel more confident; however, Moses did not understand how large the plan of God was going to be for him. He did not know that God was going to work through his out stretched arms, making miracles, as if by magic, like no man had ever seen.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Exodus 7:8-10(NKJV)

The Pharaoh was no stranger to divinations. A person with a wicked heart will reach out for wicked opportunities. Pharaoh’s desire for magic created a section of his servants devoted to sorcery, witchcraft, and the creation of incantations, potions, and astrology.

Knowing that Pharaoh wanted such indulgences caused people to be creative in making illusions and seeking to find ways to manipulate the dark underworld.

There was a constant study to find ways to communicate to the dead and the mythologies created could only be supported by magical illusions, and narcotic delusion.

Pharaoh was regularly entertained by his magicians, sorcerers, and illusionists.

But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. Exodus 7:11-13(NKJV)

To have access to illusions gave to the Pharaoh an heir of power and prestige. It was a force given honor and struck fear in the hearts of people. Yet here, the Pharaoh’s magic was upstaged and the greater illusionist was a Hebrew. To this Pharaoh became inflamed and he hardened his stance against Moses and the claim there was a supernatural God.

It stands to reason that Pharaoh often requested of his magicians the secrets behind their magic. “How did you do it?” is a common response to one watching a performance and with respect to the power of Pharaoh, secrets were divulged regularly.

Pharaoh treated this encounter as just another parlor trick and it hardened him knowing there was such magic that he did not know the answer to. Yet he thought it was a trick, just like the many that he was privileged to understand.

So the LORD said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! Thus says the LORD: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.”‘” Exodus 7:14-18(NKJV)

It was a morning ritual; the Pharaoh would wake to be met my servants that would take care of his every need. He would dawn his clothing and head to the edge of the river, perhaps to bathe.

This time, looking up towards the banks, Pharaohs face turned from a grimace to a scowl as he saw Moses waiting at the riverside for Him. “What does he want now?” ran through Pharaoh’s mind as he heard Moses begin to speak.

With arms stretched out, Moses makes the statement to Pharaoh judging him for not listening and issuing the punishment of a river of blood.

If you think about it, the plague was fitting, for the river held the blood of the slaughtered Hebrew babies. Pharaoh had no respect for the river, the people, or the importance of water in their environment. Therefore, God would strike it and give him a new perspective.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’” And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. Exodus 7:19-21(NKJV)

Many people pass off this as a natural phenomenon. When water is starved of oxygen, microorganisms die and turn the tide to a reddish color; however, our scriptures use the word for actual blood.

Skeptics, Christian and non-Christian, run wide with passing off the scriptures as explainable phenomenon’s; however, this was the same attitude of the Pharaoh and we should not let it be ours.

There is no room for us to doubt the scriptures; they are the word of God and are to be taken literally. The power of God is greater than our own understanding and that honor must be given to God with reverence. To not give God the honor is to harden your heart like Pharaoh.

Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river. Exodus 7:22-24(NKJV)

In our study of the book of Exodus, the miracles are just beginning and the judgments are too. We must believe in God and not try to explain away or dismiss the accounts. For one day, in the future, the world will see acts by God of greater magnitude and those watching need to know to take what the scriptures say as literal so they may soften their hearts and turn to God.

Real versus False gods.

Real versus False gods. Exodus 8:16-23.

The stench of frogs filled the air as the Egyptians spent many days clearing them from their land. The dead frogs destroyed their faith and worship of deities who were believed to come from frogs. As they disposed and burned the frogs, they were defiling their own god’s. Now the faith in frogs was gone.

However, the Egyptians had many superstitions and beliefs. The only way to destroy their faith in other god’s was to defame the people who presented the worship ceremonies. This would be the next action of God because Pharaoh continued to harden his heart.

Pharaoh’s attitude was developing a maniac’s vendetta against Moses and the belief that Moses had a God who worked behind the scene.

The world sees much the same in Christians. Christians claim to have a God that works in their behalf; but He cannot be seen. Many close off themselves to the concept of God because they cannot see Him and they themselves do not want to be deceived.

Deception is the work of the devil. Inspiring false religions, people are lured in and then their faith destroyed leaving them hard hearted towards any concept of God. Even in the world’s largest religions, most who have joined themselves to them, do so for social identity purposes.

Most Buddhists don’t necessarily believe that Buddha can influence their life; people go through Buddhists rituals so that they will fit in and have an identity with in a society of people. When they needed answers to their prayers, it did not come; but they continue to live as a Buddhists.

This is common in all false religions. People are born into them or find acceptance by them and therefore, they take on the affiliation to the religion to have identity within the society.

The gods of Egypt had no significant power and though the hopes of the Egyptians were in the gods; they only had the priests who put on a good show and social peer pressure made everyone conform to their rituals.

In their beliefs they labeled abominations and reverenced those who put on the ceremonies. The Social peer pressure caused them to conform to the priest’s demands and the priests were making them up as they went about their days.

The Egyptian magicians were employed to augment the worship so that it had a mystical type connection to the spiritual world. It dazzled people and the legends born caused people to fear.

Pharaoh was having a tough time believing that Moses’ God was creating the phenomenon they were seeing. In his mind he searched for a tear in the cloak of magic trying to find medaling hands. Pharaoh did not believe in his own god’s so why should he believe in Moses’ God.

So the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’” And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. Exodus 8:16-17(NKJV)

This plague had a focus on the priests who were to keep the people free from vermin and lice were an abomination to the Egyptians.

Now the very people who they followed were under attack. How could they let this happen? Why can’t they control it by communicating to the gods? This plague broke the Egyptians faith in their religious leaders.

Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.Exodus 8:18-19(NKJV)

The first ones to accept a supernatural production of the lice was the magicians. They were the ones who caused others to fear and now the same was happening to them.

Doing magic in the name of the gods was imbedded in their brains. Though they tricked people into believing in other gods; now they themselves were accepting the claims of Moses.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”‘” Exodus 8:20-23 (NKJV)

Moses was now becoming very brave. He had the backing of God and was not fearful any more of the Pharaoh who had the power of the army. Moses knew that God would supply all his needs. Therefore, Moses could stand bravely in the face of danger.

In our Christian communities, many Christians cannot stand bravely in the face of trials. When trials come they worry, are troubled, and complain. Their faith in the Lord is shallow and in a way, they are making the Christian community a way of life without knowing God themselves.

When a person is reading their Bible, worshiping, and committing their life to the Lord, true answers to life’s difficulties happen and strength wells up inside of them.

So let it be noted that a person going to church is not enough. A Christian must submit themselves to the Lord and the Lord will strengthen them. It is a growing process that takes time; however idleness in a person’s faithfulness to know the Lord will invite trouble and fear into their life.

Moses stood on the banks of the river once before and then his confidence was low. Moses worried that Pharaoh was not going to listen to him. He was nervous as he saw the Pharaoh coming to the river; however, this time, Moses stood tall and the Pharaoh now was the nervous one.

Confidence in the Lord is what we all should be striving for. In order to carry out the great commission, Christians are needed to face unbelievers and tell them about a real God who answer our prayers.

Christians need to boast of the intervention of God in their life and God will be faithful to tear down the false gods others worship.

God loves all people of all religions and wants to invite them to the light, the truth, and the way. A Christian must remember the person they face only has rituals and have not a god who will intervene for them. As Christians we are special.

Defying God.

Defying God. Exodus 8:24-32.

The Pharaoh was now seeing Moses as a man who could invoke supernatural powers to cause phenomenons; Moses made frogs appear throughout the land and then, he caused lice to invade every person’s life. Moses had the Pharaoh in fear; however, Pharaoh would not recognize God was making this all happen.

Pharaoh was treating everything as a parlor trick; yet the magnitude of the phenomenon were unearthing. Even the Pharaoh’s magicians could not duplicate the plagues and were calling them the hand of God. Now it was time to drive the message home.

And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.” Exodus 8:24(NKJV)

Fly’s are not uncommon in Egypt. Flies swarm the eroding blooms from palms, called hods. In Egypt, swarms of flies can develop rapidly if proper sanitary precautions are not taken. Therefore, it is not unreasonable with the decaying frogs and the lice, flies were coming to feast; however, we should not pass this off too fast.

Of all the places in Egypt the most sanitary place would be the palace of the king. Eroding carcasses would not be found there and the fragrances of perfumes would be noticeable. So when the swarm of flies came in like a cloud; the impact was extreme; there was no way to not recognize that some great power was bringing on this attack and it was personal, directed at the Pharaoh.

And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us.” Exodus 8:26-27(NKJV)

If you were an Egyptian and close to the land that they Israelites inhabited, you headed there to be out of the fly infested area. Goshen was spared from the infestation and there many Egyptians found refuge.

Moses was right, with the increased Egyptian on lookers; it would have been upsetting to watch the Children of Israel sacrifice to their God. So upsetting that the Egyptians would take up rocks and the Israelites would have to take a defensive posture. War could have broken out.

This passage is here in the scriptures so that we might learn about when to share our faith in public. There are times when it is proper, when at a restaurant, to pray at the dinner table; however, there are times when dining with unbelieving guests that a prayer would impact the situation adversely and they would harden their heart towards you and God.

This same type of logic should be practiced when in large public places where on lookers would not understand our beliefs or Christian observances.

We do not practice our observances to show them we are different; we practice our observances to honor God and there is no honor in upsetting others.

When my family is together, we openly pray in restaurants; however, if joined with unbelievers, we practice our reverence in privacy. Jesus told us that others would know that we are Christians by the love we have one to another, not by standing out in public to pray.

To give example, in America, the issue of prayer in public schools blew apart and got unneeded attention because a few who became standouts. In that battle, they lost.

So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.” Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” Exodus 8:28-29(NKJV)

Covered in flies, the king had lost all dignity. He was spouting angry orders as the flies blocked his vision and aids tried to fan them away. On the walls, the ceiling, and buzzing into their ears, Egyptians were facing a most terrible time.

Moses stood before the Pharaoh and required that the Pharaoh release his grasp on the Israelites for just three days. Relenting, the Pharaoh agreed. “I will let you go, but don’t go too far.”

For Pharaoh, the acknowledging that the Israelite God existed was huge. To let them stop work to go pray and sacrifice was an indication that they were no longer a dominated people, but free to do as they please. They now had status in Egypt.

It was also a very defeating gesture. All Egypt knew of the struggle Moses had with the Pharaoh and now the Pharaoh was acknowledging Moses as their leader by giving into their concessions.

So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go. Exodus 8:30-32(NKJV)

There was no surprise that Pharaoh would again harden his heart. Once the flies had left, there was no release of the people and now there would be reason to judge the Pharaoh and punish him for his actions.

The frogs, the lice, and the flies were all warnings; now Pharaoh’s defiance of God was going to cost him.

In relating to our world, we should not be surprised when they openly defy God and godly precepts. They trod on the gospel, practice immoral observances, and bring upon themselves the problems their actions create.

Those who listen to God escape to a new life. They forsake their old ways and seek after a relationship with a God who loves them. God is willing to forgive them. However, when people walk away from God, their heart becomes a little harder each time.

Pharaoh was becoming a very hard man and he was facing off with a patient God. God had given Pharaoh opportunity and still Pharaoh defied God.

Zits? No, Boils!

Zits? No, Boils! Exodus 9:8-12.

God was serious with the Pharaoh of Egypt and the plagues that came upon all Egyptians were horrendous; however, God was still not reaching Pharaoh and God knew that Pharaoh was going to harden his heart each plague. Dose it strike a nerve in you that God knows not only our thoughts and intentions, but He knows what it will take to make us repent?

People who avoid the subject of God act as if they are shelter from God. They feel that if they close themselves off from God, the reality of God goes away; this could not be further from the truth.

God is continuously posting signs in a person’s life to call them to a relationship with Him. God calls all people to a relationship and for some of them it becomes a bad relationship.

So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” Exodus:8-9(NKJV)

Though God will do whatever it takes to reach a person, not all bad things that happen in our lives are from God.

Because sin is in this world there is now crime, untruthfulness, and disease. The actions of others impact us regardless of the will of God; therefore, let not a person think God created the all bad things that happen.

Yet God is trying to reach out to people and does so in many different ways. For some knowing that they will meet their maker soon, gives them an opportunity they might not experience if life’s events were all good.

God has infinite wisdom and He knows each person internally. He knew that Pharaoh would need these tragedies in his life to make him let God’s people go and not just one, but a series of plagues. Here the Pharaoh is coming to his end, but still reluctant to let God’s people go.

Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses. Exodus 9:10-12 (NKJV)

I have always been curious of how quick it took for the sores to appear. I have had skin irritations that pop up over night; yet, I’m certain the text is telling us while Moses and Aaron stood there, the magicians had to leave because their sores came upon them immediately.

Soon the Pharaoh’s palace was filled with people coming to report the results of the plague. Yet this only made Pharaoh madder.

Have you ever been mad at God? The natural reaction is to say no; however, one day the Lord approached me in a prayer time and revel to my heart, I was mad at Him. Things in my life were not adding up the way I wanted it and I was blaming everyone else.

I was upset with a company I worked for; I was equally upset with my friends, my wife, and at situations that just kept popping up. When the Lord approached me on the subject, He spoke to my heart and said, “You are mad at me.”

It was then that I remembered a lesson I was taught. When you are pointing the finger at someone else, you have three fingers pointing back at yourself. We should consider ourselves as wrong when we blame others.

A pastor once told me that when I find myself upset with my wife, to pray to God and ask Him to change her or change me. Then if I do not like the way she acts, then I have only God to blame. He told me to stick my finger up at the Lord and blame Him.

In reverence to God, I could never do that and this is what my pastor was getting at. When we pray for relief, for others, and for situations to get better, we are committing them to God. If we get mad, in attitude, we are fingers pointing up God; blaming God for what upsets us.

God was right, I did not realize it at first, but by getting upset with the situations, I was getting upset with God; I was mad at God.

In our passage, Pharaoh was mad at God too and yet, before him stood Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron were the ones he could readily blame; they were the ones that he sneered at. Moses and Aaron could have taken this personal; but they had their eyes on God.

Because sin clouds issues in our life, it is very easy to walk around mad; however, we have to realize that God always has our best intentions in mind and no matter what is happening to us; He is allowing it for a reason.

These are words from a now, soft hearted person. I still get upset; however, God corrects me often. Yet a hard hearted person will close themselves off to such an idea and they choose to join the crowd and there they can find the Pharaoh.

Changing the way People Think.

Changing the way People Think. Exodus 9:13-35.

Pharaoh had invited some terrible plagues into the lives of his people. The whole time Pharaoh opened his heart when in these situations and as each one came to an end, Pharaoh returned to his ways.

Pharaoh was not going to stop the work on his treasure cities; in his mind the Israelite slaves were going to live in captivity and forever serve Egypt. The bad thing is that the Israelite people were getting used to it and had accepted the Egyptian domination.

However, God had a different plan and God would show all the people that He is merciful, loving, and strong.

It was with mercy that God gave the Pharaoh time to repent. It was with love God protected His people, and in strength God reigned down plagues giving the Pharaoh time to repent. With all these chance and emotional pleas from God, Pharaoh still turned his back on the truth.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:1-14(NKJV)

Though Pharaoh continued to harden his heart; however, Pharaoh was changing. He had come a long way in accepting the reality of God. At one time Pharaoh did not even know there was a God, but the Pharaoh acknowledged Him now.

At one time, Pharaoh knew no fear, but now he did. Where once Pharaoh lashed out at the slaves, adding to their work, Pharaoh had lost focus and only focused on the face of Moses and Aaron. Where Pharaoh once had no respect for Moses and Aaron, know he did.

Many Christians think that evangelism is a short process; however, it takes a long time to reach most people. First they have to accept you, before they will accept your God. We must have interaction with them and be patient to let them go through the process of changing the way they think about God.

As you live around people, they watch you. They see your reverence to God and measure your life as if it were the only proof that there is a God. Like Pharaoh, it takes a lot for some people to finally put down their reservations.

Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Exodus 9:15-16(NKJV)

This is a valid point that we must communicate when witnessing. If God were merciless, He could stop the world, ending existence for everyone. Or God could see the sin that a person commits and end their life; Yet God reaches out because He wants people to be a part of His plan.

So why does He not act the same way towards people today? Why does He not cast boils on the person that turned you down when you were witnessing to them? Could a commanded zit break out change their minds?

God loves people; He does not like to see them suffer. This story in Exodus is here so people could hear about it without having to experience it. God could do it; but He did it in Egypt so that we might not have to suffer today. His power has been made know throughout the earth and the story is enough; take it, or leave it.

As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.”‘” Exodus 9:17-19(NKJV)

One other thing about our loving God is that He gives warnings. He warned Pharaoh of the plague about to happen; God even instructed them to get their herds inside.

This is one of the best attributes that God has; He warns us. The Bible is filled with warnings and prophesies; this is what makes it such a great tool. The Bible is a book that we should study.

I had a warning from God once. I was about 22 years old and my new bride and I were beginning our marriage going to church together. Though we were going to church and smiling on the outside, at home I carried on youthful sins; I was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in excess.

I wanted to acknowledge God in my life, but carry on the fun of my youth. My friends encouraged me, I had pounds of marijuana given to me for free, and I felt it was a good way of escape to relax.

One Sunday morning, sitting on my couch as my wife was in the bathroom getting ready for church, in my mind I heard an ultimatum that came from nowhere. “It’s either now, or never!”

I fully understood that there was no going forward with my relationship with God; it was either I abandon the sins of my youth or face being abandoned by God. I had my chances, God had been patient, but now it was time to put down those youthful ways.

I stood to my feet and said, “It’s now!” To which my wife said, “What are you talking about?” I told her that I felt God tell me that I needed to get right now or never. The next thing I heard from the bathroom was, “Ute oh.”

The rest of the morning was spent dumping tequila and whiskey bottles, getting all those things out of our house. It was followed by not letting my friends bring those things into my house. That was followed by my friends leaving me friendless; but I had the Lord.

Here the Pharaoh is receiving a great opportunity for the plague to come was going to rock Egypt. It would strike fear in their hearts and God announced it so He may not have to do it.

Is it not Great that God is willing to accept us the way we are and then He stands silently by bringing about change in our lives. His warnings and encouragements are precious and these ways of God should be shared with everyone we meet.

People think many bad things about God, about church, and about religion; that is why God sends this message to you. He wants you to make a difference and explain the chances He gives to people. His mercy, His love, and His patience should be upon our lips to all.

Did you Hear the Warning?

Did you Hear the Warning? Exodus 9:20-23.

Moses starred into the Pharaoh’s eyes as he announced God would rain down hail mixed with fire upon all of Egypt. Eye to eye, Moses told the Pharaoh people and livestock would be killed unless he Pharaoh the Children of Israel go.

Even though many people speak of God of as being crewel and mean, there is this fact; God gives advanced warning, God is not inhumane.

He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field. Exodus 9:20-21(NKJV)

Though people blame God, God does not blame people. Even though God created the judgment to come, God offers people a chance to escape judgment.

Through the plagues, befalling Egypt, people were opening their eyes to the truth that a supreme God exists. These believed the God of the Israelites’ was all powerful and they saw the proof unfold before them.

From children the Egyptians were told mythical stories about deities; yet never did a deity prove itself and now this warning was enough for them to take action, moving their herds and families inside.

Scoffers filled the street watching and mocking, shaking their heads in disapproval of those Egyptians who took the warning serious.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. Exodus 9:22-23(NKJV)

Since history was written from end to beginning, God is able to know of events before they happen. Because humans were given the right to choose who they will serve, God will only warn and never force a person to submit.

Our scriptures are filled with stories of people warned; some listened, yet some closed themselves off to the warnings.

The scriptures also contain warnings for us. We are told that there is coming a deceiving individual that will persuade many to follow a lie. This man of sin will have political control affecting commerce around the world.

This man is anti-Christ and though he will at first tolerate religions, he will create a world order demanding people become joined to his affiliation and receive a mark. These events mark the end of days.

Yet the end of days comes quickly for many. Death comes through violence and disease. Daily people die by accident or at the hand of another. No person knows the day or the hour that they will become accountable before God; however, all have been warned of their accountability for their eternity, their choice to choose, and the gift of salvation offered freely to all.

Just as hail and fire rained out of heaven when Moses stretched out his arms, a peace filled eternity opened for us when Christ reached out his arms and became obedient to death on the cross. God is willing to forgive our sin if we will come to Him.

This comparison to our day and our warning is almost the same. A pending judgment awaits our future and people are urged to get into safety. These are watched by people shaking their heads and scoffing at the thought of judgment.

The plan of God was written in the stars and this day in Egypt, the planets aligned and the needed conditions occurs to rain hail and fire down on Egypt crushing or burning all who did not heed the warning.

Perhaps there was a tail of a comment that struck the earth at the right place and the right time. Yet the fact stands, it was the right day and the right time known in advance by God.

Jesus said that in the end times there will be wars and rumors of wars, with earthquakes in diverse places; pestilence, sickness, and boundless trials will befall that generation. When we see these things we are to look up for our redemption draws nigh.

Even in the face of a terrible future, people can take hope in the salvation of the Lord. Those Egyptians that believed and went in to safety lived to see another day. Is that not a great message? Is that not a great hope?

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. Hebrews 2:3(NKJV)

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; believe in God and also in Jesus Christ for our future is sure.

Who is God? Are you God?

Who is God? Are you God? Exodus 9:24-35.

The skies turn black and had an orange streaking glow as fire shot through the clouds. The heavens were alive, thundering and lightning bolts erupted on top of each other.

Sounds of projectiles streaking through the sky were followed by ground shaking impacts. People scattered like ants and they were squashed like ants also.

So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail. Exodus 9:24-26(NKJV)

It was a terrifying sight the Pharaoh saw out his windows and in his courtyards. The smell of ash gave an air of total destruction. It unnerved Pharaoh and he not feel safe inside.

The Pharaoh’s heart beat with failing pace as he realized he made a real God mad. What could save him? How can he get it to stop was his greatest concern. The answer was Moses, “Where is Moses?” he cried.

It is a terrible thing to face the judgment of God. Because God does not come crashing down on us with terrifying circumstances, most people hardly give thought to God. However, the scriptures warn of a day when people will face the awesome power of God and if it is in the afterlife there will be no salvation.

Today is the day of salvation; which means God has sent us a message and we are to take the message seriously. Up until this time the Pharaoh had refused God’s offer; however, Pharaoh was given another chance.

And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God.” Exodus 9:27-30(NKJV)

It was a daring statement to say to a repenting man, “I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God.” Much like a person facing extreme trials prays for them to be over, Pharaoh wanted the trail to be over; however, he was not sincere towards God.

Just as many forget God after the trial, Pharaoh also would forget the power of God and choose his own desires over Gods.

The Bible is God’s message to us, explaining our past and our future. It tells us that sin has separated us from our God. It tells us to repent of our sins and forsake our ungodly ways.

So important is this message that God sent His only son to become a sacrifice and pay the penalty of death that we deserve. Yet, people ignore the Bible.

Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops. So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses. Exodus 9:31-35(NKJV)

When trials occur in peoples life, some people pray to God and yet inside, they harbor bitterness towards God. Some have even rationalized saying that because God created everything, He created evil and therefore, they feel victimized by God. Once their trial is over, they return to their old ways and their heart becomes harder towards God.

The very fact that God loves us needs to be our focus. Anyone can look at a person or a situation and pick them apart. You can find bad in anything; however, God spared the wheat, which meant they not only had food, they had the stubble to build bricks. The Egyptians could go on with their lifestyle as long as they let the slaves go.

God is not a tyrant that wants to take everything from you. He does not want you to become a monk, or ruin your fun. God only asks that you come to Him for forgiveness and let Him make your hard heart into a soft heart.

Still, people feel that once they go to church their life is over. This could never be further from the truth. Each of us is to be the people we are; however, those things that the scriptures tell us to do and not to do, are for our good.

It is a good thing not to drink in excess to where we hurt our health. It is a good thing to support a church with your monies so they can have children’s groups that are fun and make a way to minister to those with less.

It is a good thing to be to build the kingdom of God so that others can be welcomed to join us. For our eternal rewards far outweigh anything we could gain on earth.

Yet Pharaoh was short sighted and greedy to keep his gain. He feared no being able to have the cities he needed for his treasures.

He was also against Hebrews and carried hatred towards them. Their race was growing at an alarming rate and at one time he had all their male babies thrown into the river and drowned.

Basically, Pharaoh was a crotchety, hard hearted, old man. In reality Pharaoh wanted to be his own god.

Did you know that when people turn down coming to the Lord, they are taking the position of lord in their own life?

This is the same attitude which got Lucifer cast out of heaven. Lucifer wanted to be as God; he wanted to lead angels, without being led by God. Therefore, God cast Lucifer out of heaven for lying, cheating, and plotting against Him.

Life without the leadership of God is blind. The future is uncertain and a person only stabs into darkness trying to find a way though life. The utter shame is when they do die; they wanted to be the Lord of their own life and now they must be their own savior too.

The little light they were able to enjoy on earth belongs to God. After death, they have chosen to be separated from God and outer darkness is all they will have. The creature comforts of earth are gone too; for they too belonged to God.

God has planned goodness for every person who will come to Him. His plan goes past this life and to be a part of it we must embrace Him as our God.

The Pharaoh was given many chances and there were more to come; however, there comes a time when the chances are over.

How to Reach a Hard Hearted Person.

How to Reach a Hard Hearted Person. Exodus 10:1-11.

There was a particular work that God was doing in Egypt and in this work, God was introducing Himself to the Egyptian people and His own chosen people, Israel.

God was showing the struggle of a man with sin. He was showing how the heart can be a cold hard object, controlling a man’s destiny. God was also showing that when a man chooses to not answer the call of God, God will back away and with distance a heart gets harder.

God called His work “hardening a person’s heart.” You see, it is better a person to experience a breaking of their heart, while alive, than when it is too late and they are dead.

Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 10:1-2(NKJV)

Every work of God in our life and the lives around us are to be stories that we relay to others. The great works of God need to be on our lips as well as these accounts recorded in the scriptures.

God has done great things so that people might hear the truth and give their heart to the Lord. Like Moses, we are told to “Go” and tell those who need salvation.

The Apostle Paul told Christians, For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”Romans 10:13-15(NKJV)

So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. And they shall cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’” And he turned and went out from Pharaoh. Exodus 10:3-6(NKJV)

Knowing how to deliver a message to a person is central to reaching that person. Here Moses was told what to say and he did it well. He said his piece and then turned his back on the Pharaoh and left.

For some people that is just what it takes. If you stay and try to persuade them, it gives the person a chance to miss treat you or to throw in some double talk logic. Pharaoh was not going to get the chance.

Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?” Exodus 10:7(NKJV)

The only people Pharaoh could talk with were his servants. They saw the dilemma for what it was. God was not asking Pharaoh to become a holy man dedicated to the service of God. God only wanted Pharaoh to release his grip on the people, willingly.

So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God. Who are the ones that are going?” And Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” Then he said to them, “The LORD had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the LORD, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. Exodus 10:8-10(NKJV)

A hard heart is hard to break. I have met so many Christians with hard hearted people in their lives.

Women whose husbands refuse to come to church with the family. Children placed between parents, one who attends church and the other who does not honor God at all. Yet the Lord continues His work and tries to reach those hard hearted people.

Pharaoh allowed them to go; but he tweaked the plan. The men could go, but the children, the women, and the flocks, were to stay in Egypt. This is an amazing justification of compliance born in the mind of the cold hearted Pharaoh.

What made Pharaoh think that he could give God only an inch? Did he really think that he could appease God by granting this small concession? This shows that the heart directly controls ones intellect and therefore, hard hearted people will continue to make stupid mistakes when holding back from submitting to God.

So it goes for a marriage unequally yoked. One believes in God and the other grants them concessions. Each has their own beliefs and their actions follow. One has given their life to spiritual matters and the other works to bring compromise.

So it goes for the children caught in the struggle between adults who have different beliefs. With one parent their faith is enforced and with the other compromise is taught. The children are caught in a middle of what is right and what is wrong. Yet God watches with great concern.

God was patient with the Pharaoh. God continually answered each of Pharaoh’s decisions with an equal and opposite reaction. He did not concede to the Pharaoh; however, God responded with action to break the Pharaoh.

The same could happen in someone one witnessing to a hard hearted person. The hard hearted person should be told the truth of what their actions will get them, how God watches over His people, and what a person plants in their life will be their harvest also.

At times, this is the side of witnessing we must bring to people. For some, we must let them know that God wants to soften their heart and accept His ways. If they do not open their hearts to God, they choose to battle an unstoppable force; for God will not stop until he reaches a person.

A hard heart gets harder and should they die with a hard heart, they will face an eternity they have chosen for themselves. They can live with God in peace or face an angry God. This is the what witnessing is all about.

When you do not bow before the Lord.

When you do not bow before the Lord. Exodus 10:11-20.

The Pharaoh was trying to cut a deal with God. He told Moses that the men could go to the desert and worship the Lord, but the children and the women had to stay. This attempt to negotiate came from an arrogant, hard, heart.

People continually try to negotiate with God and never stop to consider that it is willful disobedience. When God asks your life to be lived a certain way and we interject our own thoughts into His plan for our life, there can be nothing but trouble ahead.

Trouble comes our way not to hurt us, but that we might stop trying to bargain with God. An example are couples who are physically together before matrimony; they do so by defying the order God has set. “God knows we love each other,” they say and yet so many of these couples never make it to marriage.

Because of a lose attitude towards intimacy, the world has been bent by such practices where men and women freely join themselves to each other for one night. This immorality which started with simple justifications has cause trouble in the world.

Like a plague sweeping the planet, immorality is accepted and we have men with men, women with women, and diseases that hurt many people.

When a person learns that you cannot cut deals with God to make your sin right for a moment, then their live begins to improve; until then, their hearts grows cold, hard, and becomes void of understanding.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land—all that the hail has left.” Exodus 10:11(NKJV)

Pharaoh saw Moses come and bring the plagues that caused Egypt to boil. Every time he left the plagues would stop. It is possible that by agreeing to let all the men go to the dessert to worship, Pharaoh saw an opportunity to divide the Israelites and could easily send his army to kill Moses and thin out the Israelite male population making them less of a threat.

People who justify their actions do so because they inwardly plot how to get their own way. However, God saw through the Pharaoh’s ways and carried out a plague that would be most extreme.

So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt.

They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt. Exodus 10:12-15 (NKJV)

Egypt had seen the common sand storms that would blow dust miles into the air, darkening the skies, and skewing their vision. Yet as this storm came, it rained on them Locusts.

Grasshoppers were everywhere so much so that none could escape from the barrage of the crawly winged predators. Eating everything in their path, the locusts stripped every morsel of food from the land once rich with plenty.

This meant life was going to become extremely difficult. Food would have to be imported. Man power would be stretched thin and the damage to their lives and lifestyles would be great.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that He may take away from me this death only.”

So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. And the LORD turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go. Exodus 10:16-20 (NKJV)

The Pharaoh was astonished by the impacted from the event. The collateral damage from the Locusts would affect Egyptian life for years to come and Pharaoh knew that he had to get this to stop.

The Pharaoh knew the right words to say; “I have sinned against the LORD,” Forgive me my sin,” “Entreat your God.” Pharaoh was brought to his knees. He faced being responsible for this problem. Like a person facing a life threatening situation, Pharaoh now wanted to pray.

As Moses, entreated the Lord and the wind shifted blowing all the locust away, Pharaoh became angry. It may have started with being angry towards himself; yet it turned towards memories of his daughter finding this baby floating in the river.

Memories traveled through time as he watched this Hebrew boy grow up in the palace and ended with the present day situation.

Pharaoh saw himself the problem and regretted not killing Moses when he had a chance. Pharaoh was not going to bow from his throne to another king, God, or Moses. He resented having to beg and felt weak inside.

God sees the heart and Pharaoh’s heart was filled with regret, anger, and hatred. Therefore, God did not meet the Pharaoh at the place of his repentance. God kept His distance and that distance allowed Pharaoh’s heart to become harder.

Sin separates us from God. The further from God a person goes, the harder their heart gets. When a person chooses to have distance, God grants the distance and thus their heart hardens.

In our life, distance can come into our relationship with God if we will not live according to His plan. It should not be our plan for our lives, but His plan for our life.

We should not seek to compromise His plan so that we can live our plan too. God is to be our LORD and we should bow to Him..isHisHIs

Darkness in Life and Death.

Darkness in Life and Death. Exodus 10:21-29.

God and Moses are patiently waiting for the Pharaoh to concede to the authority of God. God had brought signs and wonders in the form of plagues, bringing great trials upon the Egyptians; yet each time Pharaoh’s heart became hardened to the concept of letting the Israelites go.

This is a very extreme story; however, it is a story that is repeated throughout history as people have hardened their hearts towards God. At times they prayed, “Lord forgive my sin,” “Heal my sickness,” and “Keep me from death;” however, after their situation was over, they went back to their old life, closing out God.

The disrespect for God’s authority can be voiced with great emphasis or tantrum; however, it can also be voices quietly by withdrawing from perusing a relationship with Him. In each, the person is choosing their destiny; a certain destiny where it is promised they will live eternity in outer darkness.

This day Pharaoh would experience firsthand what outer darkness is all about.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” Exodus 10:21(NKJV)

It was not only a darkness that clouded out the sun, it was a darkness that could be felt. So thick is this darkness that it envelopes a person and causes even the brightest light to be unseen.

The darkness had substance and where the Israelites’ had light in their homes, the Egyptians had none.

The only thing that the Egyptians had was touch and spoken communication. Yet, those who refuse a relationship with God and die, will not even have that; finding themselves in an outer darkness with no light, no communication and they will be alone with their emotions.

How would you like to die to wake in outer darkness? You would spend your first thoughts to understand what had happened. As you recalled your death, you would realize that you have passed into eternity and began to call out to find someone in the outer darkness; yet there would be no answer.

Questions would ravage your consciousness, fear would envelope your soul, and soon you would realize that God was real and you rejected Him and this outer darkness would be yours for eternity.

Jesus taught that this outer darkness would be a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. All of the emotions that comprise your soul are still in tacked. The desires to have love, be loved, and love others is there. Sadness, worry, and regret never leave; yet all of these cause a anger and bitterness. This hell is a place of dementing torture.

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:22-23(NKJV)

Pharaoh was experiencing this first hand. The mind bending fear that something is approaching and thoughts of vulnerability to attack; these are enough to drive a person insane and are heightened as people come to touch you as they fumble in the darkness.

If you have never experienced complete darkness, you should make an attempt. I once drove to a soy bean field in Mississippi so that I might gaze up into the heavens to see the stars. As I shut the car door behind me, I realized that the darkness was so thick I could not see my hand before my own face.

Fear came over me, yet I tried to stand confident and experience this time. I remembered that in the fields there were deer and I imagined a large antlered buck rearing up to defend his territory that I now stood in.

I passed it off as imagination; yet as I stood there, the unnerving darkness got the best of me. Finding the car door and opening it to see the glaring light come from it was a welcomed sight. Immediately I turned on the headlights to see if the field held my fears and there was nothing. I was standing alone in the dark with my own thoughts and they devastated me.

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” Exodus 10:24-26(NKJV)

Pharaoh had enough fears in the daylight , let alone the dark. He worried that he would lose his workers and the work on the treasure cities would stop. He also worried that once gone, they would not return so he was not willing to give up their livestock

This Pharaoh was not different than many whom out of fear come to church and still they hold back from having a true relationship with God. They compromisingly give up certain habits, thinking they are pleasing God. Yet God wants the whole person.

It comes down to choice. To avoid hell and take hold of salvation, it takes commitment of a person’s whole life. You cannot give only a part of yourself; God wants your all. This Pharaoh was only willing to give part and for him it would mean his death.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!” So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.” Exodus 10:27-29 (NKJV)

“Get away from me! I don’t want to see you know more.” Pharaohs only link to God was being sent away and Moses was going to do as he asked. You cannot force God upon a person and there comes a time where you have to give them what they want; you have to leave them alone to face their future.

This is the same thing a person says when they stop going to church, or they drive away their Christian friends. With actions you can make your voice heard by God. If you want God in your life, He will be there; however, if you don’t want God in your life, your separation can start now!

God versus gods.

God versus gods. Exodus 11:1-10.

Egypt had been hit with plague after plague, leaving permanent marks upon the land and upon the people’s lives. The land was scorched, the trees were eaten, and there were no crops in the field. So severe were these plagues that Egypt would not rebound for decades to come.

Yet through it all, the Pharaoh believed if he weathered the plagues, Moses would grow tired of the rejection and leave.

Bitterness, greed, envy, and pride, caused Pharaoh to be bitter, cold, deceitful, and arrogant. His goal was to build two treasure cities to house his riches; a place to be buried.

The Pharaoh, as did the Egyptian people, believed after death a Pharaoh dwelled in a starry firmament and would be endowed with power and strength. They believed the Pharaoh would co-exist and be equal to the other Gods.

It is logical these plagues were viewed by the Pharaoh as a test and he held hope to one day face this God of the Hebrews where they could battle with equal power. Therefore, to Pharaoh there was gain in dying; however, these treasured cities must be completed before his death.

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Exodus 11:1(NKJV)

God is a force that we all must recon with; He is stronger than our wills, greater than all myth, and able to do the most amazing things in a person’s life. Unlike the god’s of other religions who are born through folklore, our God is real.

The Buddha was believed to carry a consciousness that was supernatural. Many religions claim that this consciousness passes on to new people. Furthering their beliefs, they say Jesus had the consciousness, Mohamed had it, and myth surrounds these doctrines causing people to worship the person as a prophet or great teacher.

In Egypt, they believed in many gods and the real God was smashing their mythology with each plague. At the same time, God was increasing Israel’s understanding of what, who, and how powerful their God is.

Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. Exodus 11:2-3(NKJV)

Moses was only a tool in the hand of God. He was not to be worshiped or treated like God. Moses was more of a pastor, a man God used to speak through to the people and would later use to lead them out of Egypt, to a promised land.

Then Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals.

Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or     beast that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’

And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger. Exodus 11:4-8(NKJV)

If you were to hear Moses would you believe in what he said? By this time, almost all the people knew that Moses had the backing of God and to not back Moses would be to not back God. The Israelites began to pack their belonging and the Egyptians handed over their silver and gold jewelry, goblets, and plates.

The Egyptians wanted to appease the God of the Israelites and so they generously gave the people great riches. However, God cannot be bought; it would take more than the giving of gold and silver to appease God. It would take every person’s obedience and today nothing has changed.

You cannot buy your way out of troubles or into a more comfortable life by giving your money at church. God wants your whole heart and you to be obedient to His’ word.

But the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land. Exodus 11:8-10(NKJV)

The future and last plague, to come against the land of Egypt, was going to be one of the most horrific acts in history. God was going to send the Angel of Death to examine the obedience of the people; including the Israelites.

Do you think it strange that people would tempt God by disbelief and willful disobedience? When God has so much power and authority over our lives, why would a person choose to be willfully disobedience?

If you were to put a person’s choices plainly before them, they would choose the best God has to offer. However, when our sinful nature obscures our vision of whom God is, this is when people make bad mistakes.

It is a mistake to follow a religion that is based on folklore. It is a mistake to think you can make it to eternity without God’s blessing. It is a mistake to think that earthly riches matter after death and therefore, the pursuit of riches should never be a priority.

Other religions have no proof, only myth, and writings. They hope their sacrifices to their god will please it, so they may prosper. They lift their prayers as an empty gesture because there is no other god. They fear superstition and live according to folklore.

They can exalt their prophet, they can hold myth as truth; however, there is no power, no strength, and no answered prayer. Yet the God of the Bible has power and intervenes into our lives daily. We have answered prayer.

Escaping Death.

Escaping Death. Exodus 12:21-28.

The time of servitude in Egypt was over and would be announced by a great feast and a terrible plague.

Each family of the Children of Israel was given instruction on how to prepare their feast, how they were to eat the feast, and how they were to stay safe; for if the instructions were not met with accuracy, the death angel, coming to take every firstborn male, would enter their house.

Egypt would soon be faced with extreme sorrow and crying would be heard throughout the land; for the Pharaoh had refused to let the Israelites worship God and held them captive as slaves.

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. Exodus 12:21-23(NKJV)

It seems extreme to slaughter lambs and spread the blood over the entrance and on the sides of the door post to their houses. One could ask, “Does not God know His own people?” “Does He not know their hearts?”

The answer is, “Yes!” God knows each and every one of His people; however, a lesson was being taught that all people need to understand; especially God’s people.

Adam and Eve both hid from God because they sinned in the garden and God had to cover their nakedness, so they might be able to stand before Him. God had to shed the innocent blood of animals to provide covering for their nakedness.

God asked them, “Why are you hiding from me?” To which they answered, “Because we are naked” for they were both ashamed.

The covings God gave them were skins from innocent animals and though the animals death would not atone for their sin, it gave them ability to cover their, now known, shame.

That was the first sacrifice and the practice of sacrifice would be continued as a reminder to people of their sin.

The Israelites were not sinless people and this sacrifice was going to enable them to stand close to the presence of the Lord as He led them out of Egypt.

Passover was also a type, or example, of the perfect sacrifice that they were to look for. All Jews are raised to look for a perfect sacrifice; a Messiah.

Christians recognize Him as Jesus; for He was the Lamb of God come to earth and innocently killed.

His blood can cove the door posts of our heart and we are to apply it so we may come closer to God and be safe from the destroyer who will one day, again, gather souls.

And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. Exodus 12:24(NKJV)

The covering for our sin is essential to evading the destroyer of souls and for escaping our world of sin.

When you think of their escape from Egypt, our escape from this world and the grasp of sin is all the same. In Jesus we continue this Passover ordinance forever.

It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. Exodus 12:25-28(NKJV)

There was no Messiah at this time; however, it was a sign for something to look forward to. Passover was designed to ready Israel’s hearts for the coming of the Lord Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

All the elements involved, the choosing of an unblemished lamb, the spilling of the blood without breaking the bones, and the worship of God, was all designed to help them recognize their Messiah.

Yet, the religious leaders of that day did not recognize Jesus, nor did they keep the ordinance in the fashion it should be kept.

In our day, sacrifice is not practiced at all. The Jews that reject Christ continue in the ever changing of ordinances to fit their lifestyles. It is displeasing to God and their lives are filthy as well.

People can act holy, but miss the mark of God. Holiness does not come from a great architectural structure or through a ritual. It comes through obedience to God and all should realize the past as pointing to the future.

The penalty for sin is the spilling of innocent blood. Animal’s blood can only cover your sin until you sin again. It is imperfect and cannot help you past the day of judgment, where God will judge your soul.

That is why God had to send His own son to die the death that we deserve. If we accept his death and allow him into the door of our hearts, His blood will be the covering on the door and a sign to the destroyer to pass over your soul.

You can pay the penalty for sin by your own blood and loss of your soul or you can let Christ Jesus pay the penalty for your sin. It’s up to you to select; obedience is your choice.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” – Jesus. Revelation 3:20-22 (NKJV)

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn. Exodus 12:29-34.

Moses and Aaron had delivered God’s message and each time they approached, the Pharaoh refused to obey God. Problem after problem arose in Egypt and they were considered plagues; however, Moses spoke of the plagues as warnings to the Pharaoh.

Many people today and throughout history have seen events that had spiritual relevance and still they refuse to obey God. Most claim to believe in God, yet they will not honor Him as God.

Earthquakes, famines, pestilence, and signs in the heavens have been acknowledged by many as signs of the times. When times are at their worst, people cry out and pray to God for deliverance; yet as the hardships pass, people continue their course of life without acknowledging God.

Pharaoh was this way and the scriptures tells us that his’ heart was hardening at each refusal to obey. As times got worse, Pharaoh acknowledges God; yet as a plague would end, he refused to let the Hebrew slaves go.

Nine plagues have passed and now the final plague was here and death was at the door of every person’s house. It was too late to repent; too late to change and the offers from God had passed.

And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Exodus 12:29-30(NKJV)

He waited too long and ignored the warnings from God. He disrespected Moses and hardened his heart towards the message. Now Egypt cried and the body count was massive. Mothers and fathers held their babies, their children, and even the flocks were afraid for death had come and bodies dropped all around.

The signs were there; the message was clear. God called Pharaoh and all of Egypt to repent of their sins and release the Hebrew slaves. Yet, the warnings were not enough and daily life continued as it had for many years.

Negligence for the message of God is not excusable. God is loving, kind, gentle, and warm; however, God must also be judging, and holding people accountable for their choice.

God sent His only son to be born on earth and in His lips were a message for people to think of God as their own Father; a father in Heaven who is good, just, and fair.

His son became a sacrifice for sin and God’s message through Jesus went out to the entire world that God is willing to forgive our sins if we will humble ourselves to God’s authority.

Like with Pharaoh, this message has been rejected by many and though the signs are plain for all to see, a far more terrible plague is coming.

Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said.  Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” Exodus 12:31-32(NKJV)

Pharaoh was now repentant; “Bless me,” he requests. And Pharaoh released the slaves; yet, all too late.

This is the fate of the world and the fate of every human throughout history. There is a day we all will die and then pass on to judgment.

The offer of salvation is offered before death comes to claim a soul and should a person refuse to take God saving offer, death will escort a person to await final judgment.

And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. Exodus 12:33-34(NKJV)

The Egyptian people now believed and feared for their life; yet, they chose to distance themselves from God and send the people of God away instead of join themselves to them.

It was a logical alternative for as the Children of Israel left, the problems of an angry God would be out of sight and out of mind. However, they still awaited their own deaths where judgment they would face.

So the Israelites gathered their possessions and left. Yet the scriptures focus on the unleavened bread. This becomes a standout opportunity for us to draw upon for our own selves.

We learned that the leaven was a type or reference to sin. A little yeast will raise the whole lump of bread. Yeast is a bacterium and when introduced to dough it causes a chemical reaction to make it rise.

If they had leaven in their dough, it would not only go bad in a short time but be hard to carry. If each person had risen bread to carry they would not be able to hold the silver and gold given to them by the Egyptians. What is more precious, lumps of leavened bread or treasures?

Each family was able to place the dough on their shoulders and carry their rewards with them; which become a promise to God’s people, that if you honor God, your walk through life will give you greater opportunity, rather than weight you down with extra baggage.

There is coming a day that life as we know it will end. Each of us is responsible to listen to the message of God and respond to Him with obedience.

We are to follow Him by obedience to His word and with the blood of the lamb covering the door posts of our hearts we too can walk with Him to the Promised Land with great reward.

Today is the day of salvation; which means that there is no time to waist. If you have yet to accept the offer of forgiveness of sin, the time is at hand. Do not be found dead without Jesus or like the Egyptians, you will pay the price and your life will be lost for all eternity.

You can open the door of your heart to Jesus or the death angel will one day come through the door and send you to await final judgment. What have you done with the message that Jesus saves from sin?

Obedience is the Difference.

Obedience is the Difference. Exodus 12:35-41.

The death angel had come upon the land of Egypt and all who did not obey the message from God had their first born children die. Crying was heard throughout the land and the Pharaoh and most Egyptians wanted the Hebrew slaves gone.

The difference between the grieving and those leaving Egypt was obedience to God. Did you know that obeying God’s word and listening to the still small voice of the Lord can change your future?

Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.  Exodus 12:35-36(NKJV)

Even though they had no advantage in Egypt, the Hebrew slaves left Egypt with great riches. The silver and gold they obtained cut deep into the Egyptian economy; the word used in our text, “plundered,” means to strip away.

The Egyptians were ready to give up anything to have the Children of Israel leave their country. So they gave their most precious possession and sent them on their way.

We also are told that God granted the Hebrews favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. Is it not a wonderful find to see that God can change the intentions of those who oppose us?

At work, you can have the most terrible boss and God can change the bosses mind to grant you favor. Almost every situation that could occur, God can provide help to His own people. In this we should take counsel and build our faith as we watch God work miracles

Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.  Exodus 12:37-39(NKJV)

Traveling from Pharaohs treasure city of Rameses the Israelites were joined by many Egyptians who were fleeing their own country. Some feared staying behind and others believed that the Hebrews worshiped the true God and they wanted God to be their God.

The trail was long and hundreds of thousands of people and animals set out on foot stretching for miles.

Succoth was over 20 miles away and the journey would take them several days. It must have been an amazing picture to see so many traveling out of the city Ramses, over hills, and ascending from the plains of the Nile delta to the city of Succoth.

The Hebrew was a very rugged person all their hard work as slaves readied them for this trip and more. It was easy to walk away, when you are used to carrying heavy bricks and totting heavy loads. Here again, God turned the hardship they faced into opportunity for them.

Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:40-41(NKJV)

Four hundred thirty years to the day; God kept His promise to Abraham. God is faithful and nothing will stop God’s plans from fulfillment. Even the devil himself cannot stop the plan of God for this world.

All God says will happen, will happen. The Children of Israel left on the very day they God intended.

The scriptures are full of time stamps. A studious person will see that God is never late and always caring for His people. The prophet Daniel was given a prophesy of when the Messiah, Jesus, would ride into Jerusalem and Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that very day.

All the scripture prophesies have come true, when they were supposed to. This leaves us to conclude that not a single prophesy will be left unfulfilled. Therefore, let us be faithful to the observance of God’s commands in the scriptures and be those who faithful follow Him out of the bondage of sin.

It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations. Exodus 12:42(NKJV)

This night, that began the journey out of Egypt, was a very special night for God and well it should be for every Jewish person. It is a story of God’s faithfulness and God’s ability to deliver on time, every time.

Yet the key is the reference God uses to explain who He wants to be in our lives. He wants to be our Lord. No longer do we serve the Pharaoh as Lord, but we serve the Lord, our God.

We do what God says to do and live life according to God’s plans, God’s timing, and God’s way. Obedience is the difference that makes us God’s people and as seen here not only Hebrews are God’s people, but those who join themselves to them are too, God’s people. May the Lord be praised forever.

Passover or Communion?

Passover or Communion? 1Exodus 12:43-51.

The road to Succoth was packed with travelers escaping the slavery of Rameses. God told them to go and changed the heart of the Pharaoh to release them.

These people obeyed God and were faithful to their instruction; but they knew nothing about where they were going. They were leaving their birthplace of Egypt and traveling to a new land. They were like teenagers heading out to face the world that they had only heard stories of.

Prior to the first plague their knowledge of God was passed down to them in the stories of their ancestors Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.

If the Children of Israel were to survive they must have faith in God which is belief in the unseen. Generation after generation spoke of the great faith of the patriarchs and they proclaimed God’s deliverance; but many died before seeing the mighty hand of God.

From the time God made the promise to Abraham, that his family would be a great nation, it had been four hundred thirty years. It was this generation that would see the power of God as God would strike that land of Egypt with the terrible plagues leading up to the release of the Children of Israel from slavery.

This generation would learn to know the power of God and learn how to respect God as God. They would enter a new world, a world of great blessing for the faithful and terrible consequences to the unbeliever.

How to live godly lives had to come from instruction and the first instruction was how to prepare the Passover meal. Though they received the instruction once, while in Egypt; now they would receive it again, having escaped Egypt. As we study we must remember only the faithful would benefit from the observance of Passover.

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. Exodus 12:43-47(NKJV)

The Passover was to be an annual event. It was to remember the importance of keeping the ordinances of God; which brought life to those who obeyed and death to those who did not.

Most important to God was that the Passover was not to become a social event that unbelievers were invited to. It was first for the Hebrew people and second it was for those who converted to their belief and dedicated their life to God by being circumcised; a symbol of obedience to God.

This was to be strictly adhered to; even the meat was to stay inside their house so they would not be tempted to share it, for to let an unworthy person eat it would be disrespectful to God.

In addition, the lamb had to be prepared and ate in such a manor not a single bone was to break. This fact draws us to another story in the Bible taught to Christians by Jesus Christ Himself.

John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God; Jesus was unblemished by sin and chosen by God to be a sacrifice for many.

Later we read that Jesus was crucified and our sin placed upon Him by God; He was the sacrificial lamb and His blood spilled for us. We are also told that not a bone on His body was broken.

On the Passover, Jesus met for the last supper with His disciples and instituted a new ordinance which is a completion and perfection of the Passover feast.

Jesus took bread and broke it, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took a challis of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Which caused the disciples to question why is He doing this?

They too were like young adults being introduced to a new world. He also told them that He would not do this again with them until they joined Him in His kingdom.

This ritual was instituted by Jesus to ensure that they church would observe more than one Passover a year; but that it might continue in churches as a regular observance of the significance of His death.

Inviting Jesus into your heart covers the threshold of your heart with His blood, protecting you from the Angel of Death and the bread is symbolic of the unleavened bread for our lives are to be swept clean of sin.

And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Exodus 12:48-49(NKJV)

Like the Passover, to partake of the elements of communion is for only those who have committed their lives to God and have had their hearts circumcised. To take communion unworthily is to eat and drink damnation to your soul.

It began with the Passover in Egypt and was to be kept through all generations so they may recognize the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Now it exists as communion for all who believe.

As with the Children of Israel, Christians are to follow the ordinances of God with accuracy; taking their role in life and the performance of their obligations to God serious.

We need forgiveness, we need a covering for our sin, and we need to respect the God who brought that to us.

Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. Exodus 12:50-51(NKJV)

No longer were they slaves, they became the people of God who would enter into a new land and become not only the people of God, but an army to fight for what is right.

The same continues today if you have made Christ your savior. As Christians we keep ourselves according to God’s instructions. We do those things we are instructed to do and we gladly allow those who would join themselves to us, into our congregations.

We partake of communion in remembrance of what the perfect sacrifice means for our life and we await entering the new land, the land of promise which is heaven; the place where we can dwell with God in perfection for eternity.

How to Teach People about God.

How to Teach People about God. Exodus 13:1-16.

The Lord was very gracious in passing over the homes of the Children of Israel. Not so fortunate were those of the Egyptians; they had lost all of their first born children and their flocks experience death too. However, God delivered His people.

The people knew of God, but how to relate to God was beyond them. They all were like the new family that comes into church for the first time. They know there is a God, but what do you do now?

In a church, the most important responsibility is to teach people how to relate to God. I have been to churches that teach their people only to attend all the functions, pot lucks, outings, and other social events. Therefore, their people, when asked about the scriptures, are lost.

People need to not only learn about God, but learn how to teach others about God. This is the first thing on God’s mind when tending to all these people who had just escaped the bondage of Egypt.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” Exodus 13:1-2(NKJV)

The work consecrate means to sanctify, honor, and dedicate. God wanted the Israelites to know how fortunate they were to have escaped the angel of death and teach them that their obedience made the difference.

Sanctification is what we teach to those who come to church. We teach them that Christ died for our sins and in reverence, we sanctify or dedicate our lives to Him. This is the first lesson taught to a person coming to know about God.

And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Exodus 13:3(NKJV)

For Israel, God saved them all from slavery in Egypt. Yet in our day, the New Testament writers teach that Egypt is a type of the world and the bondage we faced, in this world, is the bondage to sin. Therefore, we also teach people to reflect back to what Christ saved them from; for the life’s we use to lead would have led to spiritual death.

On this subject I must make one interjection. Each of us had been saved from various sins and where it is wonderful to speak about our salvation, the details of our sin should be spared from the ears of your children. We are training them never to sink to that level and live consecrated to the Lord; therefore, our delight for sin should not be a focus.

On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Exodus 13:4-5(NKJV)

Repetition and holding an annual observance was top on God’s agenda for His people. This is why Roman Catholic Priests instituted the Christmas and Easter Observances; for creating traditions surrounding the goodness of God is a top priority to God.

Family traditions fit into this same thinking also. Families that have a stable event roster grow together and be it Easter, Christmas, or one a person made special, as long as the family reverences it, it will stand as a lesson for all generations that God is good to us.

In America our founding father instituted a day we call Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate our thankfulness, to God, for leading people to America and providing for our families. This is a most wonderful holiday.

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. Exodus 13:6-10(NKJV)

Teaching your children how terrible sin can be, is as simple as teaching them about leaven. Leaven or yeast causes a whole lump of dough to rise. It can never go back to its original state again.

If the dough is to come into contact with other dough, that dough will rise also. Therefore, they had to sweep the house clean and get rid of all the leaven. They ate unleavened bread for seven days which is the number of perfection.

In this they can teach their children the principle of what it is to live a consecrated life. God wants his people to live without sinning. Though it is impossible to not sin, we can continue to sweep our lives clean of sin and that is essential to consecrating your life or dedicating one’s self to God.

“And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, that you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:11-16(NKJV)

The allegories in the scriptures are vast and if we understand this, as we read Exodus a person can learn much about our own life with God. Through allegories, each of us can apply scriptures directly to our lives.

Do you fit the allegory of being a stubborn donkey? Pharaoh did; and so have many who resist God when God was speaking to their hearts. Many people refuse to listen and God will not pull a donkey to Him.

The blood of the lamb could sanctify even a dumb donkey, but if that lamb sacrifice does not cover the dumb donkey, its neck will be broken and it will die.

Three things we learn from this passage; first, consecrate your children to the Lord for the salvation of the Lord is precious.

Second, teach others to sweep the sin from their lives by having traditional remembrances of what salvation means.

Third, even a donkey can be spared and many of us were donkeys.

The Bible is a book for our learning and if we simply follow God’s direction for His people we can survive this earth with its dangers. Let us consecrate our lives daily to our God who loves us.

The Hard Roads of Life

The Hard Roads of Life. Exodus 13:17-22.

You might say that our life is a highway and we travel the earth for a short time. The Children of Israel were on the highway out of Egypt and heading towards their freedom. No longer would they be the slaves of Pharaoh, they would be an army of God and take the land that God had given them.

God had given the land to Abraham and in their future they would take it back from others who settled in their land.

The Children of Israel would fight and be victors; however, they did not know how to fight, they only knew how to build. Therefore, God was going to work in their life to toughen them up.

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:17-18(NKJV)

There was two ways to the land promised to Israel; the shortest route was the most dangerous and the longest was rugged. Therefore, God chose to lead them the long way, the tough way, a way that was going to increase their ability and build their character.

Do not feel alone if you question the direction God took you in life. When they gave their life to the Lord, many people thought that everything was going to be wonderful from that time on out. However, they found that life became filled with trials and at times that God seemed distant.

Because God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, He leads us in the way we should go, foreknowing the best direction for us. Yet people are weak, they grow quickly weary, and often do not know what is happening to them; thus, left to our own it is impossible to direct ourselves in the perfect way each and every time.

God sees what we need, what will hurt us, and He allows us at times to go through trials to toughen us up.

The children of Israel were going to face tough times; yet to survive their future, tough times were needed.

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. Exodus 13:19-20(NKJV)

The children of Israel were heading in the right direction. It was the long way; but the safe way. Yet in this way there would be challenges and knowing how the story ends, from having completed the book, this way would help them to know and understand God in a very special way.

If we think of God as our father, most people will be able to understand this concept of putting His children through hardships.

The parent that does not challenge their children will lead them into trouble. Life will hurt them, their surroundings will be their teacher, and they will not know God, only survival.

Many parents have placed their job, business, or their enjoyment ahead of leading their children. Their children grow lacking a godly influence in their life and later these parents proclaim their mistakes in regret. However, that is not God way.

Joseph, their ancestor who helped rule the affairs of Egypt knew that his people needed a challenge. He told them that God would one day visit them and that they were to carry his bones back to the Promised Land to be buried.

As the family grew and multiplied, they had no personal knowledge of God and only had the challenge from Joseph. They did not know how they would be released from slavery and they did not know how to relate to God. They only had a promise and a commission to bury Joseph’s bones.

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. Exodus 13:21-22(NKJV)

We are told by the John that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This is a declaration from God that God continues to lead His people this day.

For the Children of Israel, God led them away from a conflict with the Philistines; because they were not strong or organized enough to fight them.

God then became a pillar of fire to lead them through the darkness and a cloud to shield them from the heat in the day time.

In our time, God wants us to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we might continue to sanctify our selves before Him; that where He is, one day we might be there also.

As a Christian you are guaranteed a highway of life will be filled with challenges, difficulties, and because of sin in the world, sadness. However, if we keep our eyes on Jesus and the prize of salvation, the journey will be worth it. We will enter the promised land of Heaven.

No Rest for the Weary.

No Rest for the Weary. Exodus 14:1-10.

“I’m sorry for the way I have been. I want to give my life to God and go to church. I want my life to change.” Oh do you?

Many who have said these words do not understand what they are saying. I would never encourage people not to give their life to the Lord; however, these words of commitment are going to be tested and when tested, made strong.

The Children of Israel had believed in God, fled Egypt, and were now in the classroom of the Lord. God was teaching them to have commitment, reverence, and devotion.

God had instituted an annual feast to celebrate the goodness of God in passing over their homes when the death angel came upon Egypt. In this celebration they were to teach their children and conduct the feast of Passover faithfully forever.

This was to be the start of many lessons Israel would learn as God would demand their respect with actions of holiness and faith. Yet, to be the people God wanted, it was going to take time; and one lesson at a time, they would face.

That leads us back to our opening about desiring to be a Christian. When committing your life to Christ, you enter into God’s classroom, as did the Israelites.

God knows exactly what it will take to mature you to be a man or woman of God. For Israel, it began with a trip through tough rugged terrain.

For most all people, the hardships of traveling through this wilderness would be all they would choose and after they would expect some reprieve or a time to rest; however, God was about to increase their trials and it was for their own good.

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zemphon; you shall camp before it by the sea.  Exodus 14:1-2(NKJV)

Moses was a go between; he took the message of the Lord and presented it the people. Like a pastor at church, Moses would deliver the message and it was up to the people to accept it and act upon it.

This message seemed agreeable for the place God was sending them was near the sea and being a peninsula, it provided an element of protection. Therefore, the message was easy to accept and they turned to the exact area the Lord led them to.

Life was going to be great; they would rest up, feed their livestock, and relax from their wilderness walk. This was an easy decision and was an ideal situation; so they thought.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.  Exodus 14:3-4(NKJV)

This is the second half of the message and it does not say if Moses delivered the second part; however, the Pharaoh was going to again desire to enslave the Israelites and haul them back to Egypt; so that work would restart on his treasure cities.

Hearing this, I would guess that Mosses’ countenance greatly changed and staring towards the ground, his eyes shifted back and forth, Moses wondered how the people were going to react to the threat of being pursued. In addition, how would he tell them?

Meanwhile, back in Egypt, the streets were quiet and all work on the Pharaoh’s project had stopped. The Pharaoh starred out a window wondering what he was going to do to get the treasure city built.

As Pharaoh pondered his dilemma, aids, confidants, and advisors approached him with ideas and each new idea seemed more ridiculous; so did the idea of letting Israel go free and leave the land of Egypt.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. Exodus 14:5-8(NKJV)

There is no better feeling to have come through a trial and sit on the other side in relaxation. Looking back it is easy to proclaim, “That was not so bad.” Yet, it will never be God’s intention that we should rest too much; for He is readying us to come to eternal rest with Him.

In the scriptures, God is referenced as being a shepherd. Jesus called Himself the good shepherd and as a good shepherd He tends to His flocks with diligence.

One truth, all Shepherds know, is you have to keep the sheep moving or they will eat and rest in the same place they defecate. Fields can produce mites, and bring diseases to the flock; therefore, the Shepherd must keep them on the move.

The same concept applies to those who dedicate their life to God. God will keep them on the move and often time’s one trial will be followed by another. Because the trials help us in knowing God better, each new trial brings us one step closer to being ready to live in eternity with God. That is why the Apostle James told us to welcome trials and consider them precious. Now that is a big shift in thinking; welcome trials into our life?

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zemphon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Exodus 14:9-10(NKJV)

Our focus is on Israel’s response, they “cried out to the Lord.” Their first instinct, which was a new instinct, was to cry out to God. Years before they would not have given the Lord a thought; yet, now they called out to God.

The classroom of the Lord taught them well. When we face adversity, we are to cry out to the Lord and seek refuge in Him.

The Power of God to Save

The Power of God to Save. Exodus 14:19- 23.

Fear had gripped the Israelite camp for the Egyptians were perusing the Children of Israel with over six hundred Chariots. Thoughts of dying in the dessert and the extinction of their race were spilling out of every mouth and accusations were hurled towards Moses.

The elders came to Moses demanding to know if he had set them up; took them out into the dessert so the Egyptians could kill and leave their bodies to rot in the distant sand.

Moses stared into their unbelieving eyes and announced with a loud voice, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Their fear had become a terrible display of their unbelief in God. Where God is love and wants people to come to Him, God wants a person’s complete devotion and trust. He does not want to see His people faint, complain, or murmur, at the sign of trouble.

God wants all people to believe in His saving power and with a dynamic courage stand still and watch God deliver them.

And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Exodus 14:19-20 (NKJV)

When trials come your way, how do you react? Many say they are trusting God, but the words coming out of their lips are more of an incantation in hopes God will hear them and act. Inside they are fearful, complaining, and murmuring as they doubt their delivery. This is not faith.

In our passage, God does not rebuke their unbelief. As a caring parent, God is dismissing their child like fear and delivering them to strengthen their faith. They were in the early stages of a relationship with Him; however, as time goes on, God would grow tired of the way they grasp and hold on to unbelief.

When a Christian has seen the delivering hand of God and seen His goodness; to fear a circumstance becomes a way of disrespecting God.

Would Moses have coward at the accusations of the people, God would have had stern words with Moses. Yet Moses stood strong in faith that God was able to deliver.

God is able to protect His people in every situation they face. What is hard to understand is when God allows a trial to come into our life and become so dominating.

People lose their homes, suffer financial collapse, face physical problems that get the best of them and they often lose loved ones to death.

These problems tear at their very fabric of our beings; yet, God knows what we need in our lives to ready us to enter into His kingdom.

God could have stopped the Pharaoh at the gates of the treasure city. He could have taken their lives with a single word from His lips. However, God allowed Israel to see their pursuers and witness His love for them by His saving hand.

The trials were not over; the Israelites were expected to take great steps in faith. Their lessons were mounting before them; for God was building the character of His people trough trials.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Exodus 14:21-23 (NKJV)

The cloud behind them glowed with great light; they could see the salvation of the Lord. Word spread through the camp that the cloud was protection and then it began to get windy.

Moses had lifted his arms to part the sea and though none understood the effect it would have, the tremendous wind began to blow over their camp and towards the sea.

It would make sense that many took cover and the sands carried in the wind may have blocked their view of the waters parting. It would not be until morning that they would see two great walls of water held back by the power of God.

Then the word came through the camp that they were again moving forward into the sea. God expected each to muster the faith to walk into the paths of danger. Yet, as they entered it became clear that God salvation had come.

Millions of Israelites had entered and were walking across the sea and once they had all entered and developed some distance, God allowed the Egyptians to see them and in arrogance the Egyptians pursued them.

In this we see that trials are often allowed to be very dramatic events. Building the faith in sinful people must be like trying to get the attention of a donkey.

It often takes a great trial to cause people to cry out for God and we have to ask, “What does it take for a person to daily speak to God?”

It is amazing that people can go to church on Sunday and not take their Bible. Some who do, will take it home and set it down, not to open it till the following Sunday.

People pray over their food, thanking God for providing for them; however, they do not pray for their neighbor.

Some see the need of others and walk away. Others are in need and then do nothing about it. Where is faith in God? Where is the need for God? What is God worth?

Trials happen to get our attention and dramatic trials are allowed to get our attention so that God is not forgotten in our lives. Trials remind us that we need God and that is why trials are to be welcomed for they are times God wants us to watch Him at work.

What if a trial takes a close loved one and we are left alone? Could it not be that God wants to fill the void in your life by His own self? He wants us to draw to Him for comfort, love, and protection. God loves us and all things work together for good to them that know God and are called according to His purpose.

Israel was walking on dry ground and would soon be on the other side. Any fear had been unwarranted and rethinking how they approach trials was in order.

Following Darkness into Danger.

Following Darkness into Danger. Exodus 14:24-31.

The children of Israel had been safe because a, low lying, dark cloud kept the Egyptians from seeing them. The thick darkness was blinding to the Egyptians; yet, on the other side, emitted bright light for the Israelites. This forced the Egyptians to slow down and they could not catch, nor see, the Israelites.

A horrendous wind blew towards the Red Sea and the water parted into two columns. The wind dried the ocean floor; it was an amazing sight to see.

Israel was instructed to walk across the ocean floor to the land on the other side and as they did the cloud, which blinded the Egyptians, lifted and they could see the Children of Israel escaping.

Infuriated the Pharaoh drove the Chariots harder. Faster and faster and soon the Egyptian army was also crossing the Red Sea. In anger the Pharaoh ignored the situation and his bitter heart was leading him to his doom.

This is an important aspect of mankind’s attitude towards sin. A person may harbor bitterness or anger towards Christianity and God; however, often then do not realize that their anger becomes a darkening cloud inside their life. As they drive forward their hearts get harder and they become blinded to the danger they are running towards.

Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” Exodus 14:24-25 (NKJV)

The Chariots were going so fast that the axels were grinding away and the wheels had begun to wobble. It was a short coming in the technology; however, fear of the walls of water was upon the Egyptians and getting to the other side became the priority.

Fierce faces turned to desperate gasps. Men held on as Chariots started to come apart and retreat was on most all minds.

Fear had engulfed the heart of the army and in arrogance the Pharaoh continued to drive on, ready to kill anything that got in his way.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. Exodus 14:26-28 (NKJV)

Who is so great that they can face God in arrogance and win? So many people arrogantly turn their backs on the message of God and still God waits for them to repent; yet, the fabric of the universe is decaying in front of them. Like walls of water, it will eventually crash down around them and engulf them; crushing the chance they had to repent.

There are attitudes about Christianity that vary in their aggressiveness. There are those who choose to sin, though they know that those who commit such sins have chose to be separated from a holy God.

I have known those living in adultery, drunkards, drug users, and liars that seem to think, because they once in a while pray, they will be saved from eternal separation. However, the Bible says that those who do such things will not enter heaven. These are blinded from the truth.

Others have let the actions of a Christian they knew, become an excuse why they themselves have not done what is right before God. They keep their distance from God’s influence and blame the person who did them wrong. However, in God’s eyes this excuse is not sufficient to save; the person they knew might have done them wrong, but God has not done them wrong.

Blaming others for committing wrong is not an excuse. Feeling uncomfortable in church is not an excuse. Finding that others are phony in their relationship with God is not an excuse. Each of us is called by God to have our own sin forgiven and seek our own relationship with God.

But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses. Exodus 14:29-31 (NKJV)

Not every heart in the congregation of Israel was perfect. They were not a group of holy people; however, they had made a choice to follow God.

That is a major aspect of Christianity that so many people get wrong. When becoming a Christian, you are not joining yourself to a group of people; you are joining yourself to following God.

In a church, Christian people are at various steps in perusing a relationship with God. People will let you down; they will disappoint you and at times hurt you. Each person has come to give their life to God and all have different needs.

Thus in a church you will find people that have trust issues, anger issues, and various sinful tendencies. They all are there to have their lives changed by God and change takes time.

The Pharaoh and the Egyptian army should have recognized that Israel’s God was mighty force and took steps to join themselves to Him. However, they held on to their jealousies, their preconceptions about other gods, and their loyalty to the Pharaoh.

They let their attitudes build and they found themselves chasing Israel in to a dangerous place which would cost them their lives.

Looking down their chariots was failing and looking up, the walls of water were beginning to erode. They followed their perceptions and notions into the thick of danger, where they realized their pursuit, their prejudices, and their anger, was all for not.

The Egyptians had walked away from God’s grace. They did not listen to the warnings, and now it was too late; this was the day they would die.

There is no time on this earth for walking away from the Lord and blaming situations or other people. Today is the day of salvation for tomorrow you might find your life being crushed to death by a situation. Like a candle, one gust of wind, it goes out; such is life.

A Song to Teach Every Generation.

A Song to Teach Every Generation. Exodus 15:1-19.

The sea churned as the huge walls of water came crashing down on the Egyptian army. The noise alone was great enough to send people running along the sea side to get a glimpse of the aftermath.

Millions of people lined the shores watching waves spreading out from the center of the sea upon which they, themselves, previously walked. The Egyptian army was defeated; drowned in the depth of the sea. God had defeated their enemy.

Shock registered upon the faces of all of Israel. Their enemy they feared was defeated and salvation was theirs. As Moses said, God delivered and they were safe.

So what now? They had witnessed the saving hand of God and joy filled their heart. One person started to sing a song and soon a group of people had comprised a song that was sung by the firesides that night.

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:
“I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name. Exodus 15:1-3(NKJV)

There is no greater instrument than the instrument of the voice when influenced by the heart. When a person is full of delight, their heart is light. When delivered from circumstances, people desire to let it out, they have to tell someone and a song to the Lord is a correct response.

Jehovah is His name; “the existing one.” Israel had learned to respect their God and had found a new reverence towards Him. Yet, He was not just God, He was their God and now they had begun to treat Him as their God.

This is the result of the trial they faced. Though tough and insurmountable, Israel had learned to respect God.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.

“Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.

And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’

You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness,  Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:4-11(NKJV)

At one point in their captivity the Children of Israel were willing to comply with their task master. They had food on their table; they were able to participate in commerce. There was no need for a God; the comforts and safety in Egypt replaced God.

It was only after God hardened the Pharaoh’s heart did they see the world of Egypt for what it was. Egyptians took advantage of God’s people and when the mistreatment began, suddenly the love affair with Egypt was gone; life had become unbearable.

This passage of the song now shows their alliance and allegiance to a different world, the world that belongs to God; a world they would separate themselves to.

You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.

You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.

“The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them;  All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.

Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. Exodus 15:12-16 (NKJV)

Israel had realized they were made for something more than working for a task master. They were God’s people with a promise of a new land. However, before their trial, those promises seemed so distant and imposable to attain.

Now they looked towards the people living in their promised land as no great problem at all; for God would deliver them and those who do not worship God should fear.

The greatest part of Israel’s new found attitude is they were no longer afraid of facing God, facing others, or facing their future. They had become brave overnight and were able to go ahead with their life as God’s people.

You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance,  In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling,  The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

“The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Exodus 15:17-18 (NKJV)

This song of deliverance was more than a time of celebration; It was a song that all were to learn for it was a way to never forget the lessons of those days.

When facing trials people need to remember the power of the Lord and they should let that power be their strength in adversity. These would teach this song to their children and it would be remembered to this day, as it is written in our scriptures.

The victory of this day could spurn victories in the future if people were to commit this song to heart. Such is the importance of worship.

Throughout the world church services begin with songs, music, a hymn, and people hear the music, but often miss the words. Some hear the words, however, they do not contemplate what the song really means.

Worship is a time to allow the music to come out of our beings; yet not only from our vocal chords, but from our heart. Out heart is a two way instrument. From it comes praise and into our lives flow security, bravery, and remembrance of the great works of God.

Falling Down at the First Sign of Trial.

Falling Down at the First Sign of Trial. Exodus 15:20-27.

The Children of Israel were so elated to have the Egyptian army defeated it provoked a joyous celebration. Instruments sounded and song broke out as merriment was in the hearts of the people.

There is no better time to celebrate than when a person has overcome a great trial in their life; the only problem is life is filled with trials.

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” Exodus 15:20-21(NKJV)

Miriam is the sister of Moses. Miriam watched over Moses as he floated down river in the ark made for him as a baby. Miriam approached the Pharaoh’s daughter and talked her into hiring her mother to care for the baby.

Being of the family of Moses held great responsibility, for if Moses were to be wrong about God and God’s will for the children of Israel, the immediate family would too be shunned.

As Moses and Aaron were leaders among the elders, Miriam was also stepping up to take her role leading the women in celebration of their delivery from the enemy. Is it not interesting to see that women’s ministry is mentioned so early in our scriptures?

Miriam was more than a leader; she was gifted with ability to prophesy and though her prophesies are not recorded, their fulfillment coincided with the delivery from the enemy by God. With joy Miriam celebrated and led others to celebrate the same.

Celebration is not to be confused with worship. Celebration comes from great emotion following a victory, an achievement, or a completed task; worship is to be a continual action through good times and bad. God’s people must learn they worship God regardless of the situation faced.

Celebration takes a person to a mountain top of adulation and goes as quickly as it comes; for we must walk through valleys so low.

In those valleys we face trial, difficulty, and fear; however, the worship of God should not stop.

Through worship, God’s people become strong; as God helps them to make it through their situation. Through worship, fears are silenced and darkness is turned to light.

The Children of Israel were going to face many low times and even in the lowest of time God expects faith from His people. This is what a leader must remember; victories are great, but too much celebration is not good for people.

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Exodus 15:22(NKJV)

These people had been on the move and their water supply was dwindling, if not completely gone. Running out of water became a great fear and the dessert ahead was a barren waste land. This is only the first obstacle the children of Israel would face.

Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Exodus 15:23-24(NKJV)

The same people who danced at the victory, given to them at the hand of God, now complained to Moses. They had never been out of Egypt and they had no idea of what to expect.

They saw water in the distance and the two to three million people caravanned over to a great water source. It was a great find; however, they also found the place was called Mara or bitter. This water could not be drunk.

At this point to be a leader of the people was not a joyous position. The leaders Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, were approached by all side with people wanting to know, “What are we going to drink?”

Many of the questions came as accusations and sounded like the accusations expressed when cornered by the Egyptian army at the Red Sea. There they asked, “Did you bring us out here to die?”

We can plainly see it is hard to face trials after experiencing such great joy. It can be measured by the fall for the higher the mountain top, the greater the fall.

To the leadership this must have seemed a terrible contrast of attitudes and loyalty. What about God’s ability to deliver? Where is faith and when will these people trust in God? Being new to leadership, Moses became upset at his people’s response.

So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:25-26(NKJV)

Through this trial, it became clear it would take time for these people to spiritually mature. They went from great faith to no faith; from joy to miserable and for a leader this becomes a measure of his or her effectiveness in their congregations.

Moses too cried out in distress to the Lord. The people did not trust him as a leader. He too went from victory to defeat with a problem that seemed impossible.

Though he had faith in God, the situation caught Moses off guard and he grieved. Yet Moses received a quick word of wisdom from the Lord and in obedience they cast the tree into the water and it not only became drinkable, it became tasty and sweet.

It did not take Moses long to reflect on the power of God over circumstances and Moses knew that God would tolerate no compromise in faith; for without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore, Moses gave the people a sermon, a warning to trust in God.

You must be diligent to heed the voice of the Lord and do what is right in His sight. You must keep God’s rules intact, for your life to continue to be healed. This means following where He leads, trusting in Him to provide, and allowing Him to heal our broken lives.

There is something broken in our lives if we fear. To complain and murmur is the sign of a greater problem, a spiritual problem and our distance from God. Therefore, let us praise and worship God without peaking so that we will have faith in the valleys.

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters. Exodus 15:27(NKJV)

God leads us to rest in Him. He is an abundance supplier and when we trust in Him we find our way.

These people following Moses into the dessert had great trust issues with God and their leadership. If they did not receive the healing their trials would bring, they would not enter into their rest.

Complaining about Others.

Complaining about Others. Exodus 16:1-8.

It had begun to be a common occurrence for the children of Israel to doubt Moses and God when faced with adversity. Any time their safety was in danger, the first thing out of their mouth was an accusation and expression of their fears. This troubled Moses; for Moses wanted a calm, peaceful joining of Israel to their God in faith.

As with any good father, the waiting for his children to mature is part of the process of life. God had been patient with Israel and taught them through their trials to have faith in Him.

Through Moses, God sent a message saying, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

This was a warning that for those who fail to recognize God’s authority. God will do things to command respect from people. As a child, he will spank them on the behind and let them see His authority and His ability to control their fate.

And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Exodus 16:1-3(NKJV)

This word Sin translates to the word “thorn;” and though sin is a thorn, it is not the same word from the Greek that translated to our understanding of sin. However, again we find the people complaining against Moses and Aaron. This is an act of sin for they are missing the mark that God had set for them.

We walk a fine line when complaining about people, places, or things. As we go about our daily business, it is easy to cross over that line and though we might not recognize it, we can be complaining about what God has provided for us.

When a spouse complains about their mate they are complaining about the person God has brought them. Often people do not recognize that they are unhappy with what God has provided because they only see the fault of the other person. God takes it personal; for He would have a person accept the spouse thankfully and take all problems in prayer to God.

I have seen various types of this. A person, who prays for employment, finds it and is overjoyed. However, their love affair soon grows old; complaints about coworkers, working conditions, or pay, becomes grief and instead of taking it to God respectfully in prayer, they complain, and wallow in their misery. What God so graciously provided is now considered a hardship and gratitude is lost.

And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:4(NKJV)

They had learned not to accuse God and they feared angering Him; however, they still have yet to understand that you cannot single out God’s leader without blaming God Himself.

“”You have brought us out into this wilderness!” This is your fault. They had plenty of food in Egypt and now they wondered why Moses did not plan better. Food was dwindling and as if they did not learn a thing from the problem of running out of water, these people were again stirred up.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” Exodus 16:5(NKJV)

God was measuring their commitment to Him by their obedience to the rules He gave them. This is where God draws the dividing line between who are faithful to him and those who are not faithful to Him.

In this challenge each morning they would wake to find a substance they would call bread. Each new morni9ng they were to gather a quota of bread to feed themselves for the day. On the sixth day they were to gather twice the amount so they may be able to have it on their Sabbath day, the day of rest.

In this test, those who trusted God would be thankful and believe in God to provide the next day; or they would fearfully, greedily, gather more than their share and prove their unbelief in God who promised to provide.

Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt. And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?” Exodus 16:6-7(NKJV)

Moses was very bothered at the treatment they received from the people. In this speech Moses declares to them in the evening they were to reflect on the goodness of the Lord who delivered them out of Egypt. Reflecting on their deliverance and God’s faithfulness would make the morning so much more glorious.

This is the missing ingredient to a happy life in all those who find bitterness. Reflecting on the goodness of the lord and all the wonderful works of the Lord should cause us to have faith, hope, and produce love from our life.

When a person understands the Love of God for them; there is no room for fear. Doubt is pushed to the side and faith causes a person to quit striving. God is good and there is none like our Lord.

Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD.” Exodus 16:8(NKJV)

How can you complain when God was not only going to deliver them bread, but God was also going to bring meat to eat for the evening dinners?

Yet Moses was forming his own opinions about these people. Many of them were self centered, selfish, and he knew that they would complain again. Even after God had delivered them, fed them, and gave them water, they would find something else to complain about. So Moses told them the way it would be.

Next time, don’t complain at me, you complain at God for that who you are blaming anyway!

The Children of Israel were no different that we are today; we are all people and we all make mistakes like people. With our mouths we bless God and curse others. We complain, voicing our displeasures to others, and we also blame others.

Yet we must remember that if we are displeased, our words should be taken to God in prayer. We should pray, “Change them or change me;” giving our honor and respect to God.

Listen to yourself, monitor your own faith and when listening to someone else complain, pray for them for it is a hard concept for people to understand and never let your complaining bring others down with you.

As Christians we are teachers with our life. Would it not be a terrible thing to be considered a person who taught others to complain, to cross the line, and miss the mark of God?

Drawing Near to God.

Drawing Near to God. Exodus 16:9-15.

The complaint department is usually full. In our day people have become expert complainers. If it’s not about family, it’s about money. If it’s not about money, then it is about how someone soiled your day. No one is beyond criticism; however, criticism is different than a complaint.

The critic shares a way to make something better in life. However, a complaint is a byproduct of fear and we are instructed by scriptures not to fear for God is in control of every situation. Therefore, many people think they are criticizing; however, they are complaining and this becomes very annoying to God and others.

Moses was very annoyed with the Children of Israel. God had saved them from the Egyptian army. When they needed water God provided. With such great display of God’s ability to save, these complained to Moses about food.

It was not criticism, nor was it constructive; their complaints were destructive as they tried to blame Moses for leading them into starvation.

Moses had had all he could take from the miserable people and turned the message over to Aaron. Moses was going to sit back and watch; probably saving himself from being like them.

Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your complaints.’” Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” Exodus 16:9-12(NKJV)

They keys to their attitudes were the distance of their hearts. To draw near to God is to put aside other things and to focus in prayer where you will receive understanding of whom God is, what significance an event has, and how great is our Lord.

Many people suffer in their situations complaining about how bad things are. The situation causes them grief and grief causes them to focus on the problem. They draw nearer to their problem and compound their grief.

Drawing near to the Lord is a way to see the problem against the Lord God who created the Universe. In this, the size of the problem shrinks and the less burdensome it becomes.

Yet to these fortunate few the size of the Lord was revealed before their eyes. The cloud that hovered over them began to glow and the glow turned in to an increasingly bright light.

The dessert lit up like no sunset could ever do and the gloriousness of God was in plain sight. Though shrouded in a cloud God was making himself know in their presence.

God has done the same in the lives of people throughout time. Those who take their problems, their discomforts, and their sicknesses, to the Lord in prayer, find his presence shinning in their heart.

It starts faint as a small light; but through worship and reading His word, meaning grows and so does God’s presence in their life. People go from dwelling in darkness to living with the presence of the Lord in their heart; where their fears, the threats, and the discomfort flee away.

When people draw close to the Lord, life changes. This when you and others will see the glory of the Lord in the amazing answers to prayer and the astonishing clarity of what good an event has in their life. The Glory of the Lord shines on the face of His people as His dwelling place is in their heart.

So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. Exodus 16:13-15(NKJV)

Their problems were over; the quail were so thick in the camp that grabbing a few to roast was easy. No hunting, no great effort, God had supplied all their needs. That night, Israel was blessed regardless of their bad attitudes and accusing statements.

The next morning was like waking after an evening’s snow; the ground was covered with bread. However, it looked different and they stood staring at the bread in dismay.

“What is it? What do you do with it?” God had given them a resource that they did not understand and that was enough to make Moses break his silence and he comically answered, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.”

I believe that Moses found joy in seeing the people sheepishly looking at the bread in wonderment; for now they were not questioning him, they were questioning God.

In every situation of life there is purpose. Not a single person dies without their being a back story, a purpose for their life, and a meaning in their death. God is at work in every aspect of life.

This being recognized, we can learn and understand his ways if we draw close to Him through worship, prayer, fellowship, and Bible study.

If we look at a situation and complain, we are focusing our attention away from seeing God’s plan, God’s ability, and God’s greatness. This is where many lose their focus on God altogether and too many have passed without knowing God personally.

Remember, it all starts with focusing on discomfort, which grows into complaining. If you let focusing on problems stay in your life it can be a lifestyle that you take to the grave; where you will forever be separate from the glory of the Lord.

Causing Trouble in the Congregation.

Causing Trouble in the Congregation. Exodus 16:16-30.

God had shown His glory, lighting up the clouds and while the congregation of Israelites looked to the sky, flocks of quail flew into the camp. That night the children of Israel dinned on meat and the complaining stopped. Their God had provided them food.

Though Israel’s complaint had worked for them, it also worked against them; they established themselves as complainers. Where the meat and the bread met their need; they had much to learn about their selfish, mistrusting, cold hearts.

This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. Exodus 16:16-18(NKJV)

The unit of measurement, the omer, is equaled to about 3.64 liters which is a good portion of manna; however, the people were not that specific about how much they collected and some gathered more, others gathered less. In this they showed that their own desires were more important than God’s desires.

When God is working with a person’s heart, often a person will think of themselves better than they really are. I have known people to trample through others people’s problems never considering the damage they do.

These have an attitude that they are wise and they apply their wisdom without acknowledging the work of the Lord in the situation. In reality, they are like these people gathering manna; they trample in and then trample out; they take what they want regardless of what God’s word said.

And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted. Exodus 16:19-21(NKJV)

This was the problem; the word of God, expressed through Moses, was of little value. Many did not take instruction serious and did what was right in their own eyes. They greedily took more than they should and tossed out the instructions.

Therefore, the result was a spoiled stinky mess and so it goes with people who do not follow the leadership of God; they end up with a stinky spoiled rotten mess.

People make messes of relationships; they muddy the reputation of others. Thinking themselves to be doing what is right, they make a mess of the situation they are in.

However, some do learn from their mistakes; and this lesson instilled in many to follow the directions that God gave. This was an important lesson; for Israel would have many instructions they needed to remember and follow.

And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’” So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. Exodus 16:22-24(NKJV)

I wonder how many were having a problem with trusting God to keep the manna overnight. That night, I would not doubt many made trips to the manna pots to check for worms. For trusting God to care for them was their main issue.

Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.” Exodus 16:25-26(NKJV)

So focused where they on the bread situation, many did not realize that they were being taught to keep the Sabbath.

If loyalty was a problem in their ranks, it makes sense that they too were breaking the Sabbath. Therefore, God used the manna to help them through several problems of being loyal to God.

In every society, in every church, and throughout the world, there are those who are going to shake their head yes, but really mean no. They act as if they follow the congregation; but they live differently.

Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. And the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day. Exodus 16:27-30(NKJV)

Moses was hearing the word of the Lord and watching people search through the camp, behind bushes, and talking to each other about their hunger.

When they were to be respecting God’s Sabbath, they were busy trying to find enough food for the day.

Many pastors look out at their congregation and know the trouble the people bring to themselves. He sees gossiping, busybody women. He watches men who talk only about their own fun and knows their desire to be elsewhere.

The pastor has to listen to arguing spouses on the brink of divorce and help others with the troubles of broken marriages and families.

The pastor daily recieves, from the Lord, messages to speak to the congregation and delivering them, he sees those who are not paying attention and they become those who are going to do things their own way.

The pastor cleans up the stinky mess when people trample through the congregation with no respect or regard to God.

Christians can be some of the most difficult people on earth as they have caused church splits, marriages to fail, and encouraged children to be disobedient.

Everything that God says not to do, many Christians do and the hardships fall on the pastor.

God said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? See!” This indicates that a congregating is viewed by God as a whole.

A church is no stronger than its weakest member and to this, the pastor and his staff toil to make them understand the importance of reverence to God’s word.

Thanksgiving or Gluttony?

Thanksgiving or Gluttony? Exodus 16:31-36.

Though the Israelites were becoming real bad complainers, God continued to bless them. Yet, through this blessing of food, God was teaching them the importance of a Sabbath day rest. God wanted Israel to respect the Sabbath.

Why keep the Sabbath? We are to keep the Sabbath because humankind is made in the image of God. When God created the world He worked for six day and on the seventh He rested. Taking in the majestic sight of all His work He said, “It is good.”

It is simple to conclude if God rested on the seven the day, then being made in God’s image we too should rest one day of the week.

For six days, busy yourself working, planning, ensuring that your family is taken care of; but on one day a week, a person should let it all go so they may reflect on their work, on their attitude, and their righteousness.

Taking that day off from all cares, including shopping for food, is a good way to keep yourself recharged, satisfied, and it readies you for the week to come. A day of rest brings your family together.

In a world that people suffer from hypertension, attention deficit, and low self esteem you can see the impact that taking one day off would do.

The rest for the weary is not to be neglected; for to do so is to disobey God and go against the design of our own bodies.

Rest is essential; reflection and restoring a relationship with God is essential. Our family’s spiritual health is essential; therefore, the Sabbath rest is essential.

And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 16:31-32(NKJV)

Manna or “What is it?” was a special provision from the Lord and in order to have Manna on the seventh day a person had to gather enough for two days, on the day before the Sabbath.

Any other day, should they gather enough for two days, the manna would spoil; turning into a putrid substance drawing flies and producing worms. Yet, on the Sabbath, the Manna collected was sweet, delightful, and a miracle from the hand of God.

Israel was challenged to forever remember the Manna by keeping a portion of it and show it to future generations so they may see the miracle at the hand of God and remember the Sabbath; a day rest.

Therefore, they gathered Manna, placed in a jar, and carried the jar with them until years later when it would be placed it in the Ark of the Covenant.

The tragedy is, a many years later, the Ark of the Covenant was lost and the keeping of that tradition was lost. Israel failed to keep the Manna Jar in their possession and they can no longer show the miracle to their children.

And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.” As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah. Exodus 16:33-36(NKJV)

The reluctance of Israel to follow God became a deepening scar for Moses. He was not good at public speaking anyways and he continued to withdraw from the people, letting Aaron deliver the messages.

Still the work of the Lord would remain in their hearts and Manna would become a staple part of their diet for forty years.

Throughout history bread was considered the staple of life. Flour was made from grinding grain so that it could be mixed with water and yeast to make the essential part of the diet.

Remembering the Manna, people of spiritual reverence considered bread as being a gift from God. When they planted the seed they prayed over the fields and when harvesting they gave God the glory.

As they would grind the grains and mix the dough, glory to God would be on their lips. Then when partaking in a meal, prayers of thanksgiving would be said before the meal.

So reverenced was God’s gift of food, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

The breaking of bread was to be a sacred occasion and not an indulgence. When a visitor was invited to a meal, it was not only to share in food, it was to share in unity. Though food can be tasty, the bond of faith was to be shared at the table.

Food was not to be wasted; it was a precious commodity and those who experience famine or drought could tell of its importance.

In our society bread is still important; however, many do without eating bread. There are other nutritional items to eat and some forgo the calories that bread gives.

Many members of society have learned to replace bread in the diet while others still eat it and enjoy a great variety to choose from. However, the spiritual significance of bread is being lost in a Westernizing world of plenty.

The garbage can of the world’s cities could wipe out hunger and if everyone in need had bread they could survive. Yet reverence for bread is being lost; just as reverence for God is being discarded.

Jesus told His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:32-35(NKJV)

Jesus is the bread of life. The breaking of bread was to be done in remembrance of Him. He is greater than Manna and also came down from God.

He gave his life to be broken on the cross so that we might have our trespasses forgiven. Therefore, we, like Israel, are to forever remember the goodness of God for providing the essential for life.

Is one day a week to much, to take the time to rest from work and our habitual life? Is one day a week too much to spend with our family teaching them that Jesus is the bread of eternal life?

If we discard our rest, we discard so much more; however, Jesus has invited us to rest in Him. Let us take our families to the table of the Lord in reverence and on one day a week make it a day that is reverent.

Complaining. What good is it?

Complaining. What good is it? Exodus 17:1-7.

You think you may know a person; however, when staying with them for an extended time or traveling with them, unseen personality traits will surface you never would have seen before.

In these times you might find hardships and you might find a person, you though you knew, is a completely different person. Many have come away from these types of experiences closer friends and others not so much.

When faced with adversity, a person often reacts revealing their true righteousness. For instance, take a person who has just injured themselves; the first words out of their mouth will show you much about their true self.

They same applies to all the adverse conditions a person would face. The good times, the bad times, when frustrated, and when tired. All these can bring your true self to the surface before others.

In our passage the children of Israel were on a trip through wilderness with Moses as their leader and following a cloud from God. As each faced trials they responded to them causing Moses to reach his breaking point.

Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?” Exodus 17:1-2(NKJV)

When being faced by adversity, our nature is to react at the person who is in front of us; not necessarily the person who is to blame.

Those in the service industries find that customers blame the person serving them rather than the business who set the terms for the service. Take the case of the waitress who brings food to the restaurant tables.

A food order is served cold or does not taste well; which is out of the control of the server. However, customers lower the tip for the server; who does not make much money to begin with and it affects the family she has at home. This is a reacting to the person in front of you.

Moses was only passing down the instructions from God and leading them in their journey with God. He was not God himself and yet every time something went wrong, Moses was the one they would blame.

God wanted Israel to turn their well being over to Him in faith. This is the human struggle that follows humankind through time. We see the people in front of us and we react to situations; however, we should look to God who has control over all of our lives.

We should ask, “Why is this happening to us” and pray for the answer from God. This is Christian maturity and God is working in our lives so that we might recognize His work in our lives.

If we need more faith, God brings circumstances to increase our faith. If we need a detour around a circumstance, God brings it. God watches out for our safety and everything that happens to us is for our own good; yet, it is up to us to recognize it and learn from the situation.

Do you trust the Lord? When asked, people will say, “Yes.” However, true trust in the Lord is when you see a problem, look to God for the answer, and then seek God on what you should do about it.

And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” Exodus 17:3-4(NKJV)

Complaining is a terrible thing to propagate. When one person begins to complain, it affects others. Soon many people are disgruntled at their situation and their complaining is teaching others to be complainers. God does not want His people misguiding others.

Accused a second time, Moses takes his concern to the Lord. “What am I to do with these people?” This was a great question, to the right person, and placed before the Lord at the right time.

Notice Moses took his concern to the Lord? He did not complain back to the people or lash out saying something back to his accusers. He did not complain to others or those he knew would sympathize with him. Moses, faced with a great accusation, turns to the Lord for answers.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” Exodus 17:5-7(NKJV)

When complaining, it is an indirect statement against the Lord. In this case, their complaints truly stated, “Is the Lord among us or not?” When complaining about life’s circumstances, the blame is ultimately directed at the Lord.

Yet God was merciful and met their need causing water to spring forth from a rock. God was showing Moses that from the hardest substance on earth, life giving water can flow. This included the hard hearts of the children of Israel.

If you find yourself complaining about not having enough, high bills, unable to make it in life, the Lord would have you turn to Him. It is His work in your life and He works to soften you heart to trust in Him.

In the dessert God can bring water from a rock; but God also brings people to the dessert so He can work in their lives to draw them closer to Him.

Facing your Enemy.

Facing your Enemy. Exodus 17:8-15.

God was teaching Israel to trust in Him. Walking through God’s desert classroom they faced problems of needing water and food. In every situation they complained, argued, and accused Moses of bringing them to the desert to die. However, in every situation God graciously provided for their need.

They ate Manna for breakfast, quail for dinner, and there was always a surprise awaiting them like water pouring from a rock, when Moses touched it with a rod. Slowly, they were learning to trust in God.

They also needed to respect Moses and in this passage God was going to allow a situation to make each Israelite see that Moses was a valuable person to them.

Moses was to be their pastor; he was intelligent, raised well, selected by God, and had experience, leading sheep forty years through the wilderness. However, the people did not respect him for being this leader in their life.

This was a problem; for they showed their disrespect with harsh words and accusations when times were bad. Therefore, God was going to repair this situation using bad times to cause them to respect Moses.

Now imagine this, two to three thousand people walking and driving their flocks across the desert. To see them approaching your land what would you do?

To the Amelekites this seemed as a threat; for if you speculate about the vast numbers approaching their land, you might draw much of the same conclusions.

They were coming from the direction of Egypt; which means this were probably the Egyptians coming to battle. What other army could have the provision to cross a wasteland and survive? So the Amelekites readied for battle.

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” Exodus 17:8-9(NKJV)

The Israelites were being attacked. They had an enemy they never considered and they were being forced into fighting for their life. The strong men defended their camps until darkness ended the fighting; yet on the sunrise, the battle would continue.

Moses watched how the people handled this situation and recognized a man named Joshua. Joshua was not only strong, but was skilled in leading people and had a good sense of how to organize their defensives. Now Moses needed to take this man and turn him into a person who could sustain an offence.

As they met over the fire, Moses expressed his faith in God and told them he knew if he held up the rod that God gave him, God would give them the strength to subdue their enemies.

Yet it was going to take more than Moses; it was going to take the bravery and trust of Joshua to fight in the battle field. Therefore the plan was drafted and on the morn, they continued to fight for their safe passing.

This reaction of the Amelekites is pretty typical for all Christian people to face; especial in their places of business. People see the Christian as a fierce opponent and they battle them for company possitions.

The Christian presents a strong front; they are secure in themselves. They work hard, long, and are respectful. This can cause others to attack the Christian and to disrespect them.

People will start arguments trying to draw the Christian into an outburst. Others will build alliances against the Christian and try to discredit the Christian to the boss. There is even the act of sabotage to consider; for most Christians are great workers.

However, Christians are told not to fight with people, but look beyond their threats and see the true enemy, the spiritual enemy. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exodus 17:10-13(NKJV)

Moses completely knew that God was their protection and the battle front was only a place of physical conflict. The truth was the Amelekites were Godless people and evil had gripped their hearts as did when evil gripped the Pharaoh’s heart.

As Moses lifted the rod, he prayed; interceding for the Israelites and in the field Joshua led the battle. Moses knew to use the tool that God gave to Him. He lifted the rod as long as he could and then his congregation sent people to help him when he was tired. Israel was finally seeing Moses as their leader.

In our lives Jesus Christ is our intercessor; when He ascended to heaven, He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. It is from there He looks down on us and we are to look up to His support.

As we battle in the field; our prayers are being hand delivered to God and the enemy is being suppressed, broken, and its strongholds ripped down. In faith we quietly continue knowing that God is protecting us.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:14-15(NKJV)

The Lord is my banner! He is my protector, my strength, and my victory song. Forever Jesus Christ looks down upon us, interceding while we physically walk through battles.

Just as God pledged to fight the Amelekites; God has pledged to fight all enemies of evil and allow us to be victorious in our battles.

This day the Children of Israel learned much about complaining about their leader. They learned to respect him and help him. In like action, we help each other without complaint or fear.

Jew and Gentile Unite!

Jew and Gentile Unite! Exodus 18:1-12.

And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 18:1(NKJV)

When Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster, who had mistreated a Hebrew slave, Moses had to flee Egypt. It was in the wilderness Moses met Jethro and after working for him many years, Moses married Jethro’s daughter.

For forty years Moses led sheep through the wilderness and raised two sons, Gershom and Eliemzer. After the burning bush experience, when God called Moses to go back to face the Pharaoh, he left his family behind in the safety of his father in law, Jethro.

Jethro was not a Hebrew, he was a Midianite. Called by God to be a priest in Midian, Jethro had much respect for God and God’s work through Moses. It was Jethro who shared Moses burden to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt and now Jethro came to share in the glory of God.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) and the name of the other was Eliemzer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Exodus 18:2-5(NKJV)

It is a great occasion when two people from different races can find unity in God. Moses was not a person who segregated himself to only accept Hebrews. In fact, Moses married outside of his race and took Zipporah as his wife.

While he stayed with Jethro, Moses shared his inner feelings over the mistreatment of the Children of Israel and it is reflected in the naming of his sons.

Gershom’s name reflected Moses grief while being raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter and Eliemzer’s name reflected the escape from the bounty placed on the head of Moses by the Pharaoh.

Before returning to Egypt, Jethro listened to Moses and shared his faith in the Lord. The Jethro continued in praying for Moses and encouraging Moses to trust in the Lord who spoke to him through a burning bush. Jethro told him to leave his family in Midian and go back to Egypt.

Now, though Jethro was not a Hebrew and could not cross over to the Promised Land, Jethro came to hear of the wonderful stories of deliverance by the hand of God Almighty. Jethro would take joy knowing he helped God deliver the Hebrews.

Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. Exodus 18:6-7(NKJV)

Bringing his grandsons and his daughter to Moses was a charitable act for Jethro. Jethro knew that a man of God should have the support of his own family at his side and to Jethro that meant saying goodbye to them; as they would be reunited with Moses and leave Midian for the land God promised to Hebrews.

For most grandparents, saying goodbye to family would be a life crushing experience. Yet Jethro, a man of faith, looked at it as an opportunity and a job well done. He had taken care of Moses’ family and now was going to end a chapter in his life with praise.

What a great outlook Jethro had on life. To serve God was first and letting go of family, so that God may do his work, was what made Jethro a faithful man of God. There was no sorrow, only joy of being able to serve God.

And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” Exodus 18:8-11(NKJV)

Our faith is not in vain; and our God has control of every situation known to man. To fight life is to fight a losing battle; but to surrender to the work of God brings joy.

Jethro was hearing a firsthand account of the stories of Moses’ talks with the Pharaoh. The miracles God did through Moses and in all of this Jethro rejoiced in God’s wonderful work.

Through Jethro was not there or even near Egypt; Jethro knew he was serving God by doing his part in Moses’ life. Therefore, Jethro would share in the pleasure of God.

Every person who helps build the kingdom of God will not be forgotten. Every behind the scenes participant will be rewarded. When helping church leaders while they serve the Lord, the person helping is considered as valuable as church leader. It added to Moses confidence knowing his family was safe with Jethro.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Exodus 18:12(NKJV)

Though we may be of different ethnic backgrounds, we can all share in the glory of the Lord. It was promised to Abraham the entire world would be blessed through his offspring and blessing Jethro was just the start.

Though we are not all God’s chosen people, the Jews, we have become partakers in the grace of God through the Messiah Jesus Christ; the lion from the tribe of Judah.

Moses and all the leaders came to break bread in honor of Jethro and in honor to the sacrifice prepared by the Midianite priest. There they sat to break bread to recognize this wonderful work of God in their life.

One day every person who helped build God’s kingdom will come together at the wedding of the church to the Lamb of God, Jesus.

At the wedding supper we will dine together and race will no longer matter for we will all recognize each other as co-workers who helped Christ build the Kingdom of God. Our work will be honored no matter how great or how small; we all participate in the building of God’s kingdom.

When Judeo Christian Law began.

When Judeo Christian Law began. Exodus 18:13-27.

A feast was invoked stemming from the sacrifice of Jethro, the father in-law of Moses. All of the leaders of the tribes met with Moses and Jethro to worshiped God in thanksgiving for the grace Israel found in God’s eyes and for their deliverance from Egypt.

The stories of God’s faithfulness in spite of their complaining, invoked an atmosphere revealing the true darkness in the hearts of the people. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and though we are saved by God’s grace, we still have to be sanctified from our sins.

The sacrifice they made to God brought forgiveness for sin; however, what were they to do with all the problems and internal strife within the people. How were they to become a people of God when conflict surrounded them? These questions burned in Moses’ heart that night.

And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” Exodus 18:13-14(NKJV)

Word was sent to through the elders to all of Israel that conflicts needed to be settled and all the people gathered to have their cases heard by Moses. However, the line stretched throughout the camp and people stood in line for their turn.

Jethro watched Moses getting busy hearing the disputes and as the line slowly progressed, Jethro shook his head knowing that Moses had taken upon himself too much work. This type of governing would surly consume Moses and all the suffering from bearing Israel’s burdens was too much for one man.

Jethro then approached his son in-law with a scolding, rhetorical questioning. “What are you doing to the people? Why do you do this?” As if to say wake up Moses, look at what you are doing to them and yourself, Jethro became a mentor before Moses.

There are times in all of our lives where words of wisdom will come to us with a stinging bite; for they will catch us when we have or are about to fail. It is important that when approached we stop to consider our actions afresh.

And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” Exodus 18:15-16(NKJV)

Moses was very sincere in what he was doing and had a valid concern; yet his reply to Jethro seems to be an action that Moses thought best and nowhere does Moses say, “God told me to.”

Instead, Moses says they come to “me” and “I” “make known the statutes of God.” It was just something Moses did which made sense to him; and yet, Moses was going to fail.

Good intentions are not enough; a person needs God’s direction and God would have us have men as Jethro in our lives to consider their intentions before constructing a plan.

It is called accountability and it was at this time that God would use Jethro to set a standard that would be used universally and exists in our governments today.

So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Exodus 18:15-20(NKJV)

There was nothing new to this portion of Moses plan; in fact it was similar to what he was doing now; however, there needed to be an augment which would make justice into a system, easier and quicker to conduct. Moses selected a good way; yet God was going to show Moses the best way.

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” Exodus 18:21-23(NKJV)

It was a simple plan. Moses was to select the faithful people to bring others into accountability. The smallest group would have an overseer. Then the overseers would have a person to answer to.

As the chain of command narrowed, a smaller group of men would gather with Moses to discuss the welfare of the people. By the time these men met with Moses, real actions would have been implemented and in place and unrest would be quieted with in the camp.

So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land. Exodus 18:24-27(NKJV)

It was a very notable improvement Jethro brought to the children of Israel. A stranger from a foreign land, only known by Moses, brought to them a civilized way to govern their business.

It came from a gentile who loved and served God. A gentile who made it his business to pray to God and hear what Moses did not. Jethro was selected by God to bring Moses into accountability and Moses was faithful to listen when reproved.

Oh that people would faithful seek God so they may step up to help others. Through this one man, Jethro, every Judeo Christian legal system on the planet would be born through faithfulness to seek God.

It is a principal we are to remember and a structure to implement or uphold in our societies, our churches, and our family. Let the people of God act accordingly.

Who needs God?

Who needs God? Exodus 19:1-9.

The journey of the Israelites through the wilderness to the Promised Land was long and arduous taking over 40 years to complete. Though the Promised Land was only a three days journey, God had them wander because they had such problem with being faithful to God.

Our passage begins with this call to faithfulness before the mountain that Moses saw the burning bush. The names for this mountain are Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa, and Jabal Musa meaning “Moses’ Mountain.”

Some may think that wandering forty years, when they could have walked to the Promised Land in three days, was a terrible thing to do to people. However, God was not making a people who only pleased themselves; God was making a people who would serve Him, worship Him, and be faithful to be holy.

God was responsible for their existence. It was God who allowed Sarah to conceive when she was old and it was God who inspired Abraham to have faith. From Abraham, the whole nation had been developed in the caring watchful eye of the Lord; for without God, Israel would not be.

God allowed them to go to Egypt to grow as a nation and it was God who delivered them from the enslaving grip of the Pharaoh. They were saved from inhalation and for this, God demanded them to follow Him in holiness.

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. Exodus 19:1-2(NKJV)

Mount Sinai is not the largest mountain in the area; mount Catherine is the largest peak. However, it was “the mountain” where God first spoke to Moses giving orders to return to Egypt and deliver the people. It was also “the mountain” God would choose to speak to Moses from.

Mount Sinai has a ring of granite composites and the exposed rocks show evidence of being pushed up from different depths. It would be from these rocks that God would inscribe Ten Commandments for the people to follow.

And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:3-6(NKJV)

Moses had the right mindset about God. He did not wait for God to call him; he went up to God. Moses wanted to gain direction for leading the people for without direction, confusion would set in. Moses realized his need for God.

So many people ask each other, “How do I know the Lord’s will for my life.” The answer is you seek God. Initiate the conversation through Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship. Then a person must be ready to go where they are called.

God’s answer to Moses was concise. Paraphrasing God, He said, “I delivered Israel and they saw it. Now they are to obey my voice and keep my covenant. Only after doing this will they be a special treasure.”

This is the structure to having a life that honors God. For Christians that means once saved from sin and accepting Jesus as the sacrifice for sin, they are to turn away from their old life and live a new life.

God was calling Israel to this new life; He wanted them to rethink who they were and act accordingly. He wanted them to be children of God and as children to be leaders in holiness as would a priest or king.

So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. Exodus 19:7-9(NKJV)

The answer of Israel, was the very problem in their relationship with God. They truly did not understand God is without a sinful nature and people were born into a sinful nature, passed to them through Adam and Eve.

When told the objective, they assumed they could be holy with just an answer. God said “Obey my voice and keep my covenant” and they ignorantly answered, “We will do all you say.”

Is holiness that easy? One day you say, “I will be holy’ and that is all there is to it? This answer from Israel was rude at best.

God saved them from Egypt; it would be God that would save them from their enemies. That is the role He wants in a person’s life and to say, “I will be holy” takes God out of the picture and assumes the task upon one’s self.

A person’s faith believes that God is, and God is able to save. He calls us to turn our lives over to Him and He will clean our lives so that we might be holy. Yet to arrogantly think that we can do it on our own is wrong.

Daily we need to seek Him; like Moses we need to listen to God speak to our hearts, through His word, those He has placed around us for support, and through His own still small voice.

In this life we will have tribulations and trials. There is no way a person can live their life holy without God’s help.

Israel’s answer would have been better said, “We can do it with your help and guidance Lord; but apart from you we are nothing.”

This is what made the three day walk into a forty year journey. Israel was to learn how stubborn and stiff necked they could be and their story is here to shorten our walk and struggle through life.

Consecrate Yourself.

Consecrate Yourself. Exodus 19:10-20.

The children of Israel traveled through tough terrain when leaving Egypt. They faced famine, drought, and enemies, to which God provided for and protected them from. Now they had come to the place where Moses first saw the burning bush and had the revelation from God to go to Egypt, challenge the Pharaoh, and set the Hebrew slaves free.

Through Moses, God spoke to the people and He demanded from them commitment to holiness and to their covenant with God.

As soon as Moses approached them with God’s demand; they quickly answered, “We will keep all of the Lords commands.”

This display of confidence was arrogant for people are sinners and Israel would have been better off asking God and Moses to show them how to do this. Yet, they spoke in confidence as fools.

Israel was over confident and God knew that they would fail; however, to provide them opportunity to see what holy is, God was going to come near to them so they may experience His grandeur, His power, and His ominous presence.

God is not a person we want to take lightly or offend. Yet when people go out to live their daily life, often they leave God out of it; selecting business or pleasure before God.

Therefore, they fall into sin quickly and thoughts of facing an angry God are furthest from their mind. Like Israel, people become over confident in their own righteousness.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Exodus 19:10-11(NKJV)

It was a call to pious duty. For three days they would work to clean their tents of sinful things. They would renounce their sinful ways and lastly they would wash themselves and their clothes. For three days Israel would focus on holiness and find out how hard it really is to live holy.

Have you ever walked away from your business or duties to take inventory of your house, your life, and your ways? Have you taken time to consecrate yourself to God?

Most people only go to church service; however, cleaning one’s life out of the junk we horde is true godliness.

Possessions that cause us to sin, attitudes that need exposed, and confessing to those we have wronged takes thought, devotion, prayer, and time.

For Israel it would be a large process for like all people, they heaped to themselves things that would keep them from holiness.

You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” Exodus 19:12-13(NKJV)

Moses had a large challenge to take two to three million people and help them sanctify themselves; therefore God gave Moses a description of the size of the event that was about to happen.

Do not touch the mountain or even the base of the mountain or it will cost you your life. No straying away, each person was to consider their own sin and concentrate on purging it from their life. The curious and the ill mannered beware; you will die if you come close to God.

So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.” Exodus 19:14-15(NKJV)

Moses wanted the people’s full attention to the act of consecrating or making right their life. Even relationships with the wife were to be placed on hold so arguing and fighting would not be an issue. God takes consecration serious and so should we

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Exodus 19:16-17(NKJV)

Science fiction fans have been drawn to this description of God descending upon Mount Sinai with great interest. However, many believe the scriptures describe a spaceship and it could be less than or greater than their imagination.

Yet it was covered by dark clouds and like those who were told to stay away from the mountain, science fiction fans should stop their speculation and accept God as an extraordinary being.

What we do know is that no man can stand in the presence of God because of the separation that sin causes. God’s holiness is a consuming fire, and an unholy person would be incinerated. Therefore, a thick cloud covered the mountain so that no Israelite would look directly at the presence of God.

He came with thundering, lightning, and the sound like a trumpet. God was instilling into the heart of Israel exactly who it was they ignorantly answered to. This event put the fear of God in their hearts and they trembled.

Does a person tremble in fear when they are entertaining thoughts of sin? No, God is out of sight and therefore out of mind. The same applies to every facet of our sin; this is why a daily consecration of our life to God is necessary and the study of the scriptures so that we keep our hearts and minds towards His holiness.

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Exodus 19:17-20(NKJV)

So what made Moses so special? Moses was a man who murdered another man; escaping Egypt with a bounty on his head. Moses was only a sheepherder. How come this man could be called onto the mountain into the presence of God?

The answer lies in consecration. From the time Moses met God in the burning bush, the devoted fire of faithfulness burned within his heart. He gave God control of his life and Moses made sacrifices to cover his sin.

Moses took God serious in all his ways and now the call of God is upon us to do the same. No matter what sins you have committed, it can be placed under the blood of the lamb, the shed blood of Christ.

God readied Moses for this day and so likewise should we let God ready us; for one day we too will stand in God’s presence.

Trust is Over Rated.

Trust is Over Rated.  Exodus 19:20-25.

The Lord was going to make a dramatic entry into the visual lives of Israel; one which would forever be viewed a most dramatic event in history. God came down from heaven so that He might instill fear in the hearts of his people.

Filled with thick dark clouds, lightning bolts lit up the sky while thundering loudly. The ground quaked as fire descended on the mountain causing all the people to shake with fear. The very ground under their feet rumbled and as God came onto the mountain it was obvious that the same God who made the earth could tear it apart with little to no problem.

The God who produced the mighty miracles in Egypt and parted the Red Sea for their safe passing was coming onto the earth.

This was the culmination of three days of consecration where Israel got their affairs in order, renounced their sin, and washed their souls and their clothes.

And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. Exodus 19:20(NKJV)

The Children of Israel were known for complaining about their situation. They feared being succumbed by their environment and it is feasible they complained as they worked to consecrate their life.

Wondering why they had to go through such an exercise, each went through the steps told to them by Moses. However, after seeing God’s power and greatness, if there were those who complained, they would now be grateful they listened to Moses.

This is typical of all people; when God is out of mind, the tendency of most is to think small about God. Yet, let trials come their way, they are praying to God and reverencing His power. A great question to ask is, “Why should God take a person’s prayers serious when they will not take God serious when living their normal life?”

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. Exodus 19:21-25(NKJV)

“Who, my people?” Moses could not understand why anyone would dare come towards the mountain. However, God knows people are ill-mannered and disobey.

You would think, if an action ends in death a person would respect their lives and not tempt God. Yet this happens every day.

People are killed tempting fate. Like a person jumping from an airplane without a parachute, people treat life the same; they jump to their death more frequently than we realize. Inviting sin into their lives, they live as if they will not stand before the judgment seat of God.

The person who attends church then returns home to commit blatant sin is tempting fate. A person who says they are a Christian, but joins in on hedonistic acts, is tempting fate.

We are told by the Apostle Paul there are many acts, if practiced will keep a person from entering the kingdom of God. Paul wrote,
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11(NKJV)

Many have tempted fate and instead of doing what the Lord said to do, they approached an area they were warned not to go. Therefore, God reaffirms to Moses to warn the people again and even tell the priests, they too are to stay away from the mountain.

Now it does not say how many tempted fate and lost; yet those that did lose their life lost their chance to be with God and died in the displeasure of God.

I know many who say they are Christians, yet they live displeasing to God. They are curious about God and want to think themselves as part of God’s people; however, they tempt God by going too close to things God says causes spiritual death.

Jesus warned His disciples saying,
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Luke 12:4-5(NKJV)

One could argue, “If I would have seen what the Israelites saw, I would not do the things I do.” However, all the historic events of the scriptures can clearly be seen if a person will study God’s word.

When studying God’s word, the Holy Spirit bring to life the words on the page and there is no excuse for Christians to succumb to drag me off to hell sin, if they have a daily relationship with God through praise, worship, fellowship, and bible study.

There is a trade off that makes seeing God not an advantage. True the children of Israel saw the greatness of God and it shook their life; however, if they were to disobey their orders they would immediately die. Our advantage, through we have not experienced God coming out of the clouds is, we have time to repent when we have done wrong.

God knows that we are sinners and speaking to Moses God expressed that God does not trust people. Therefore, we too should not trust ourselves and places ourselves in an opportunity to succumb to sin in weakness. It is all about trust and because of sin, trust is overrated.

The Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:1-17.

When telling the Children of Israel to follow His precepts with honor, the people answered in ignorance saying, “We will do all that you say.” This answer was without complete understanding of the human submission to sin.

We, as people, submit to actions, attitudes, and verbal exchanges, which miss the target of perfection; the holiness which God demands.

To be holy is to be perfect and to be in the presence of God one must be sinless. Thus this human condition had placed a division between people and God.

If a person has committed one sin, at any time in their life the chasm separating them from God is so wide, it cannot cross over; thus rendering eternal life impossible for all of mankind.

So oblivious were the Israelites to this concept that God came down onto Mount Sinai to deliver to Moses Ten Commandments.

These Ten Commandments would become a school master to teach all people, for all time, that it is impossible to live in perfection and something more had to come from God to deliver us from our sins.

Yet, they were not ready for the savior; the Israelites must first go through many trials to fully understand humankind is sinful and they need God in their life.

God must save us from our sin and humbling ourselves before Him, we must come to Him for salvation.

In this first classroom experience, ten commandments would be given to Moses and in reverence, Israel was to strive to live according to the precepts.

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exodus 20:1-2 (NKJV)

No matter whom you are and where you become aware of this teaching, it is God that came to you first. He comes intervening into our lives to begin an opportunity for people to understand who they are and that only God can deliver.

He took Israel out of Egypt, out of bondage; and it is He that continues delivering people unto this very day. Without God in our lives, all humanity would be lost; therefore, let us give Him the attention He deserves.

“You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3(NKJV)

Believing that there is one God and no others, is mandatory to the condition of submitting unto God. Though there were many men who walked in a reverent way and spoke wisdom of unity with universe, they do not qualify for the status of deity. Neither does the superstitious mythical gods accepted by cultures throughout the world.

These other gods, worshiped by many, do not qualify unless they come to deliver a person from their sin; for the penalty for even one sin is spiritual and physical death. Though they hope and pray for an afterlife, assurance from any other source than God, misses the mark of God.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:5-6(NKJV)

People can go to great lengths to create a system of worship. Mythical gods who look like animals, fierce men and beautiful women, only are a worship of the creation and not the creator.

The outlandishness and the intricacies of fables are carried from generation to generation. Religious performances are taught and practiced and in many cases beliefs and rituals are mandatory in some countries. Therefore God will give them up to their own delusion for they ignored the message of the truth.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7(NKJV)

Yes, cursing is a form of taking the Lord’s name in vain; however, so is not worshiping or following Him in reverence. It is true that you can refrain from cursing and still violate this command to not take the Lord’s name in vain.

A person can say that they love Him with words from their lips. They can worship and praise Him by lifting their hands; but He has heard it and seen it and we need to mean it. So may our lips and our hand, all that we are, surrender to God in meaning, action, and truth. Never let us pretend to worship while we live in sin.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11(NKJV)

Let nothing else be said; humankind is to take a day for reflection, worship, and examination of their soul. Is our work good; do we please the Lord? This is what we contemplate on the seventh day as we let the cares of our work rest.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12(NKJV)

What if my parent does not honor the Lord; do I still honor and do what they say?

Honor is not always doing everything a parent says. Honor is respecting the views, the life they choose, and the needs of the parent. At times honor is respectfully informing the parent that their request does not supersede God’s desire for our lives.

If a parent has a need for Christ in their life, the way a Christian child honors their parent will reflect of the glory of God in the child’s life. Not all parents accept the Lord; but God and His people will not be the blame if we honor parents with respect.

Parents are to be our reflection, much as the child is a reflection of the parent. If we honor them, even when they are wrong in their ways, the message we have left them with will be a shining offer of God’s love. Accepted or not, that message will shine bright to our own eyes.

“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:13-17(NKJV)

Jesus was approached by a man who claimed to have kept these entire commandments his entire life; yet when told by our Lord to sell all of his possessions and follow with Him, the man turned and walked away sad.

This man had many possessions, servants, and had desire to rule. To sum it all up, he coveted riches and could not give them up for God. When he thought he was righteous, he had broken the spirit of the commandments.

The truth be known, we all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. One of these commandments we all have failed; if then we fail by one, we have failed to keep the law of God.

Therefore, we must look for more. We must look for God to be our deliver and that delivery came in the form of a child.

Jesus, the Messiah, was God in the flesh who came to be born of a virgin. He grew without sinning for the seed descending from Abraham was not in Mary, it was a seed from God.

He resisted sin, kept all the commandments, and was murdered on a cross for the goodness He brought. He suffered that we might not have to.

These Ten Commandments point us to more; they point us to the need to be saved; they point us to Jesus the Christ.

The True Worship of God.

The True Worship of God. Exodus 20:18-26.

Arrogance, defined by Webster, is an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions. Thus people who do not take God seriously do error, not taking the time to understand who God is. They are led by their assumptions and at times God can seem like an imagination; however, if encountered by the presence of God, the reality would be too much to bare.

People fear natural devastation when encountered by an unstoppable force. Hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, and earthquakes, leave a lasting impression on those who are in their siege.

The aftermath of their encounter leaves an impression on all whom see it. Yet because God does not manifest Himself before the world, many ignore His majesty and their attitudes are arrogant in His sight.

The children of Israel had been called to Mount Sinai to see the majesty of the Lord and ascending on to the Mountain God, concealed in a cloche of clouds, God showed them a glimpse of His power and majesty.

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Exodus 20:18(NKJV)

The size of the force that came down on Mount Sinai caused the Children of Israel to back up in astonishment. The superiority of God set in and trembling they stood distant for in their hearts they knew that God was a consuming fire.

Those who had no respect, or lived arrogantly, quickly were converted to humility and humbleness. The glory of the Lord lit up the sky and rumbled the ground beneath their feet. Each knew that they could not survive in God’s presence.

In reality, this is the distance all mankind must have. God’s image cannot be seen; equally we could not live in His presence. That day, God sought to leave an impression on the Israelites and on the world who would read of this account.

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”Exodus 20:19-20(NKJV)

This test was to bring acknowledgment to the world of the presence of God and the power He has over the lives of human beings.

To instill humility in Israel, God displayed a small measure of His power, descending onto the mountain. It is recorded for our benefit for God will not duplicate this event just so others will believe in Him. The longevity of the scriptures is evidence enough and through this account, people are to understand the power of God.

God’s desire is all people, great and small, would recognize His solvency, authority, and His love. This knowledge is reciprocated back to God in respect and through our loyalty to consecration our bodies.

So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. Exodus 20:21-24(NKJV)

Moses had many long years of trusting and obeying God. He had consecrated his own sin; washing his own soul so that he might draw closer to God. God had accepted Moses as a leader for the people and with Moses God would meet.

The interesting aspect of this meeting is Moses never actually saw God. God had to shield Moses for no man can look onto the presence of God and survive. The image of God is not for people to see, unless they have been redeemed from their sin and passed through to Heaven by grace.

In this request to the people, God urges them to denounce the worship of idols or materials which draws one from the worship of God.

The jewelry and the silver riches they received in Egypt are not to become more important than God. Commerce and the selling of possessions is not to become more important than worship of God and when making sales with others, integrity in business is to be first.

In addition, the desire to melt the metals down and make graven images of God to worship is not to be. No statue, effigy, or object is to become the center of worship; only worshiping God in faith knowing that He is will be acceptable.

It was not just a request; it was a demand. God demands those who want to partake in their heavenly calling to stand strong in their faith, resist temptation, and put nothing between God and themselves.

Additionally, to continue following God, a sacrifice must be made for the forgiveness of sin. Though it is impossible to please God through a sacrifice alone, God searches the intent of the heart and combines sacrifice with the sincerity in which it is made.

And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’ Exodus 20:25-26(NKJV)

God was teaching the Israelites to worship in a manner that showed reverence to God; to which we must ask ourselves, “Where is reverence today?”

Today, the sacrifice of livestock is no longer required because God sent His own Son to be a propitiation for sin. If any person will believe in the sacrifice that Jesus made, then they can be saved from the punishment for sin and be ushered into the holiness of the Lord in heaven.

This is where reverence is to be displayed in today’s world. If you believe in God and salvation in Jesus, you react accordingly. Like Moses, you consecrate yourself to the service of God. You seek God in His word and follow God in faith.

You believe that He is holy and told us that we are to live holy too. Our reverence is not defined by a building, an alter or in sacrificing an animal. It is defined by the position of our heart to believe in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and coupled with our desires and willingness to obey.

With great respect we seek a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ our savior and we place ourselves in subjection to God’s word. We live righteously and confess our sins so that we may be holy.

Are you a Savant to Another?

Are you a Savant to Another? Exodus 21:1-11.

They had received Ten Commandments from God; however, God needed to erase much of what they learned from being slaves in Egypt. Therefore, through Moses, God reveals to Israel how He wants them to treat the situations that would occur in their life.

Much like those who come to the Lord for the forgiveness of their sin, there is a new way of life waiting and the old way of life is to become just that, old.

God has delivered a person from sin and God wants them to walk in newness of life. The ways of the world, they acquired growing up, are to fade away through teaching from God’s word; so a person might live righteous before God.

This is not to say that every Christian or groups of Christians have correctly understood how they should live before God.

There are many people who have become separatists and invent rituals. Their actions are intended to make themselves appear religious; however, God wants to change the heart.

As Christians we are to dismantle our lives and rebuild them the way God would have us to live. This is what God was doing with Israel and it starts with how a person is to treat another who owes them debt.

“Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. Exodus 21:1-2(NKJV)

Having been Egyptian slaves, the only way they knew to treat a slave was the Egyptian way. In the Egyptian way, no one goes free. Yet in God’s way, debt can be repaid and finalized.

People become indebt to others in many different ways. A person might be forced to serve because of a crime committed.

Poor parents would offer their children as servants so a master would take them in and give them a home. In return the children would work for the home.

Then there was the working class who would enter in to domestic or non domestic contracts and work for another as their servant.

In this, God wanted an ending point. After six years, the person’s service was over. All servants would be granted freedom from their debt and start their life new.

Not only is this kind, it would shape the Israelite culture to be forgiving. This was a concept unknown in Egypt and would turn the Israelite society into a society of commerce. Heads of houses would look to hire servants and people could find paying jobs.

If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. Exodus 21:3-6(NKJV)

Before this was ever instilled into the society, God knew that it would soften their heart and bring situations where some servants would like to continue working for their master.

The kindness of the master of the house would seep into the heart and life of the servant so they would never want to leave.

Therefore, the servants had to make a public showing that they were willing to stay and serve, proclaiming the goodness of their master.

God is the ultimate example of this principle. He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins. He paid the penalty of death which we deserved. When we were in bondage, serving sin, God paid to have us set free.

In loyalty Christians give their lives over to serve God as willing servants. We reciprocate by making a public acknowledgment that we are willing servants who work God.

“And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money. Exodus 21:7-11(NKJV)

No matter the situation, no matter if your male or female, God willingly takes us to Himself and treats us as His own children. Though we were servants, bought with a price, we are released and considered adopted children.

In this principle, of how to treat servants, God shows us how to be a society that loves. We still must work and pay our debts; yet we are to be willing worker, knowing that one day our debt will be paid and we will have freedom.

Therefore, strive to own no man and let freedom come to your life. When you are free, let your love spill on others as you give them the same respect you would desire to be rendered to yourself.

An Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth.

An Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth. Exodus 20:12-27.

Two to three million people, and growing, creates a social tension unique to the group. How the group was raised, who their social examples were, and where they reside, comingle to promote certain behaviors.

Evidently there was much violence occurring within the camps of the Children of Israel and though they had judges, they needed knowledge of a penalty system to detour anger, rage, and crime.

All of their acquired knowledge of social behavior came from living in Egypt and watching how the Egyptians treated others. Now they were no longer slaves, which caused many to act like Egyptian masters.

So here God sets a standard for judgment; a set of rules and penalties to detour having the thought of acting like an Egyptian. It comes from a holy and just God who would have everyone live peacefully and it is centered in choice. If you choose to commit such an action, you choose to live with the penalty.

“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. Exodus 20:12-13(NKJV)

If you kill a person with the intent to kill, you will face death. Yet if it was not premeditated murder, passage to a safe city would be granted.

When Israel settled in the Promised Land there were many cities of refuge for people who committed such acts.

Some may call it incarceration; however, it is best to think of it as protection. When a person has to fight to overcome another, they will eventually be sought by others as family members wanting to seek revenge.

“But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die. Exodus 20:14(NKJV)

Premeditated murder is inexcusable before God; it takes God’s authority over life away from God and the person doing so assumes the role of God themselves. Therefore, no one will be permitted to take another’s life.

The same concept can apply to taking one’s own life. Taking God’s authority away from God is assuming the role of God and therefore, the person will be rejected by God.

“And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Exodus 20:15-17(NKJV)

All of these situations have similar traits and when breaking down the logic you will see why such a harsh punishment is enforced.

God is a holy God. He had no blemish in His nature, no sin within, and no sinner can stand before Him. He demands His people to live consecrated lives so that He might draw near to them. Therefore, holiness of people and the holiness of God is a consistent desire for both.

God is also the giver of life. Every person is part of God’s plan and the parent’s in that plan are a gift to the child; therefore, to reject your parents with violence is as rejecting God with violence. To curse them is to curse God.

If a person kidnaps another, that person is breaking apart what God has put together. In all of these situations mentioned in our passage, the person acting against God is asserting their own will above God’s will. Thus creating a situation where they think they know more than God, will act greater than God, and try to be as God over the effected persons’ life.

This logic is unacceptable to a holy God and if a person refuses to submit to God’s authority what is left in this life for them. More of the same actions?

“If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed. Exodus 20:18-19(NKJV)

God knows people make mistakes. He knows we do things and say things when angered and in every situation God is willing to forgive. In this situation a person has hurt another person and must make restitution for the crime committed.

The breakdown in logic says there will be times when we overstep our authority and should help to right our wrong. Even though a person has acted against God’s will there is an open door to God for repentance.

“And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property. Exodus 20:20-21(NKJV)

The sick and twisted act of beating a servant is by no means right. If a person kills their servant, the law of murder shall apply. Yet, if the servant lives, the master will not be punished; which still makes it an unjust situation. So we must ask, “Why would God let him go unpunished for beating another human?”

Breaking down the logic, we find that God understands we are broken people. Our past influences how we act in the present. How we were raised, our life’s experiences, and our cultural influences make us who we are.

The children of Israel learned to act out in anger from their up bringing. Though that does not justify a sinful action, God sees the person in a transitional phase and is willing to forgive.

When a person turns to God, God accepts them for who they are and seeks to transform the person to a loving being; stripping away the past influences and providing them with a new life. Yet, this takes time.

This law about beating servants is very forgiving and as God works on their heart, the people will see the results of their actions and eventually change. God willingly lets people recover from mistakes, knowing that inside they can be a wonderful person.

“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Exodus 20:22-25(NKJV)

Here we are introduced into self government. First we covered God’s laws over morality and now we see that God also allows people to cast judgment over moral issues. Though the case of two men fighting over a pregnant woman is an extreme example to us, the logic is not.

If a person does another wrong, people should set the punishment accordingly as long as the punishment does not break God’s laws for life.

Just penalty for the crime committed is what “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth,” means. This is equality given to mankind and from this was our current justice system formed.

“If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth. Exodus 20:26-27(NKJV)

Lastly, God does not expect people to live in harmful situations. This would apply to all working relationships, and even marriage relationships.

If a person is willing to harm another with small abusive, larger abuses may soon follow. God does not expect a person to stay under these conditions. The servant is to be set free and the contract is over.

To many people suffer at the hands of others and in God’s mind it is not right. Therefore, God gave to Israel this logic in governing. From it, we are to look into our culture and set the bounties for ourselves and others.

Neglect is Unholy.

Neglect is Unholy. Exodus 21:28-36.

Though they are cumbersome and may seem as a boring read, these laws issued to Moses are a look into the mind of God. Have you ever wanted to know what God thinks? We all should want to know and desire to know what God thinks about our actions, motives, and decisions. This should drive us to our knees.

Yet, in these passages, where God is defining the Israelites social justice system, there is a frame work for holiness applying to all of life. If we look into the passage we will understand what it is to be Holy and if we live such a way, our lives will be pleasing to God. The reciprocal would be to live life the way we think best and thus become our own rule maker, taking away God’s authority in our life and assuming the role of God over ourselves.

“If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. Exodus 21:28-29(NKJV)

I have never owned an ox in my whole life and I probably never will. Yet the same principles that apply to the keeping of an ox, transcends their civilization and should be applied in many circumstances pertaining to responsibility for possessions.

If you own something which gets out of control and kills another, it should be taken from you, so you can no longer gain from its use. Since it was an accident then the owner should not be charged.

Now if the owner knew there was a possibility for an accident, then an accident occurs killing another person; the neglect for the safety of others is a chargeable offence.

The person knew there was danger, doing nothing to ensure it would not happen; therefore, they are negligent and negligence in God’s mind is an intent all of its own.

Holiness sees a problem and runs to fix it. It does not neglect the situation that may harm others. If a person neglects to protect others and they die, the person is guilty of their death and worthy to lose their own life.

If there is imposed on him a sum of money, then he shall pay to redeem his life, whatever is imposed on him. Whether it has gored a son or gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. Exodus 21: 30-32 (NKJV)

In many cases, it is hard to sentence a person to death for neglect; however, fining them is not. This person, who neglected their own affairs to the harm of others, should become subservient to pay for their crimes. Their own way of life should be taken from them and they become a servant to pay for their crime.

This is a concept of holiness many do not consider God thinking about. It transcends the taking of another’s life and centers on negligence. Because of neglect our prisons are filled with people paying for their crimes; however, walking our streets are people subservient to credit card companies too. A neglectful person will reap what they sow.

If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. “And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his. “If one man’s ox hurts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the money from it; and the dead ox they shall also divide. Or if it was known that the ox tended to thrust in time past, and its owner has not kept it confined, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall be his own. Exodus 21: 33-36 (NKJV)

For a second time male and female are given the same rights. Holiness does not belong to any one gender and neither does respect.

A person who receives injury should be paid by the responsible party for their injury. Their medical expenses and suffering should be reimbursed for the wound will follow them for life.

In our society, the person responsible can buy insurance and the payout is placed on the shoulders of all insurance buyers in the form of higher premium. Yet if handled God’s way, the person responsible would pay and lose their investment in their ox.

Insurance has derailed a good justice system and has made a sociological problem of its own. People use insurance to escape their responsibilities to others.

Holiness to God is a very personal accountability. You are to be accountable for your own actions and if you neglect your responsibilities you should be held accountable to those your actions harmed.

Where many think they evade the responsibility through insurance or legal loop holes, God is still watching and will hold an individual accountable of their actions.

In Job it is written, Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed. Job 4:8-9(NKJV)

The Apostle Paul wrote, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9(NKJV)

In every case this is true. God wants His people to live holy and that means they respect others and take steps to ensure others are not harmed by their actions. Yet if they are, the person should respond to right their wrong, pay their debt, and erase neglect from their lives.

Does Your Conscious Bother You?

Does Your Conscious Bother You? Exodus 22:1-8.

If it were not for the grace of God, all humanity would be lost in sin and terribly separated from God forever. When we die, in accountability, we would stand accused before the Lord. However, God understands the human condition and extends grace because of what sin has done to His once perfect creation.

Yes, we were made perfect; but the introduction sin in the Garden of Eden, changed Adam and Eve and every descendant since. We now struggle daily with cravings to have; we see things and want them and some, who can’t obtain them, find themselves taking whatever has tempted them. Stealing occurs in every civilization known to earth.

Thus people need a way to be forgiven; forgiven by those they hurt and forgiven by the community they live in. People also need to find a way of restoration to help them back to a godly life once the crime has been committed.

The rules we are about to look at focus on oxen and sheep; however, they transcend the realms of livestock and apply to many crimes.

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. Exodus 22:1(NKJV)

This, restoration principle, works if a person has been caught; yet what about the person who does not get caught? How will a person every repay what they have stolen if they have gotten away with the crime?

God has made a very special place within all humans that He can talk to. It is a consciousness which we can hear and it is a place we can speak to our selves. The conscious is a two way connection; but many choose not to recognize God and use it only for themselves.

It is God’s hope to be recognized and when a wrong is committed, if a person will yield to God and seek to make right the wrong, restoration for all involved occurs. Therefore, if we have wronged others, restoring to them much more than was taken has a restoring effect on lives and can help a people settle their conscious and resist future temptations. This is a great principle that we can gain from if we will apply God’s precepts to our life.

If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. Exodus 22:2(NKJV)

Another aspect of our personalities, warped by sin, is that we are naturally fearful. We protect our possessions and if presented with the danger of severe punishment, death stands as a deterrent which is respected.

Therefore, God allowed Israel to defend their properties at night from those who would break in and steal; which is not contrary to godliness. It is the same accountability God will subject Himself to when Lucifer is finally punished from breaking in and steeling God’s people. Jesus told us that the devil is a thief and a liar.

If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. Exodus 22:3(NKJV)

The law of breaking in at night was specific to the darkness. If the person breaking in was held until morning and death was not necessary, in exchange, guilt will be placed on the person and if they had no money to take from them, they would be sold as a slave.

Again, mercy is given so that a sinful person could have time to repent before God and right the wrong. Therefore, we must remember that life is extremely important to God and every sinner has opportunity to repent.

If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. Exodus 22:4(NKJV)

If the thief had broken in undetected and made off with the goods; should the thief be found with the possessions in hand, the thief is to be forced to restore double what he took. This hardship is to become a deterrent to crime in their society and become a lesson to the thief.

“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. Exodus 22:5(NKJV)

From great to small, all forms of gain at the expense of another is not tolerated by God and the freedom to not tolerate it in our societies is given to us; however, restitution is the key factor in every offence.

“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. Exodus 22:6(NKJV)

Negligence is never an excuse. If a person neglected to care for their own or neglected precautions and an accident occurred, the negligence is a punishable offense.

“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods. Exodus 22:8(NKJV)

God has also called people to be detectives of circumstances which could be related to crime. Never does God tell His people to just suffer at the hand of another. Therefore, we are to shape the laws within our communities to the precepts we find in scripture.

Are you one who has wronged another and got away with it? Does your conscious bother you? If you notice, there is a way to fix what is broken without having to involve civil authorities and right the wrong you have caused.

God would have us all go to those people and restore what we have taken. If we have neglectfully caused a person to suffer loss, there is a way and a time of restoration.

Restoration fixes what is broken in our lives and restores a relationship with God. It is the godly response and leads to a godly life. Would you like to live with a good conscious? Pray to God for a way to restore to others for the affects your sin has caused.

Handling Conflict with Wisdom.

Handling Conflict with Wisdom. Exodus 22:9-15.

A godly person will hear the call of God to be honest, sincere, and to be holy. Though sin is a temptress, calling us to conflict, God speaks to our conscious and we know right from wrong. There is however possibilities for a person to see a situation differently from others.

When God’s people disagree there is a way to handle the disagreement and learning how to disagree agreeably is a rich reward to those who find it. This means we should be looking for godly ways to settle disagreement.

When associating with others, have you ever been so right it motivates you to do wrong? When disagreeing, some have pushed their opinion so hard it has strained relationships and broken the unity which the family of God should dwell in.

Disagreements have provoked fighting, wars, and law suits that smear the meaning of holiness and they have become a disheartening view of people who say they are of God.

Therefore, for the Children of Israel, God set a way for them to handle their differences and to do it in a civilized way. However, though the scriptures define the way to handling differences, people have to be willing to submit to them.

The Apostle James asked the question, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” For even in the Christian Church, good people allow situations to cause disputes.

“For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. Exodus 22:9(NKJV)

The Judges were men of discernment selected from within the people of Israel. Each area of their camp had these men who heard the problems of the people and helped them to get along.

They were not judges as per our modern day terms; they were men selected to help the priests to settle conflicts from within the Children of Israel. This position was the idea of Moses’ father in law, Jethro and had become an effective tool in keeping the peace.

Again, the passage uses livestock as the focus; however, the principles extend into all situations people face.

In facing the judges there was always a heavy consequence involved. As if the consequence was an incentive for people to settle conflict without having to take it to the judges.

If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. Exodus 22:10-11(NKJV)

A most honorable trait of people settling differences is to leave suspicion out of the discussion. Thinking that someone did something to cause the loss is not enough evidence to make them pay. By default, the original agreement to take care of the person’s possessions shall be honored.

So many bitter fights could be avoided if people would accept the unexplained circumstances and let God peruse the truth. Should a person be lying, they are lying before God and that will come with greater consequences. Therefore, suspicion should be erased from our discussion.

But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn. Exodus 22:12-13(NKJV)

One prime thing we must all remember, is that accidents happen. Though we may have entrusted possessions to another, if they are accidently lost, broken, or die, it is not always from neglect. The people of God should be willing to forgive their neighbor.

“And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire. Exodus 22:14-15 (NKJV)

When borrowing from another, a simple “godly” precept to remember is, if you borrow it and break it, then you’ve bought it. Whenever, we borrow from another we should return possessions in the same shape or better than when we borrowed it. This is an action of love and builds integrity within a person.

Though these are Old Testament ways of handling conflict there are many New Testament directions also.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian church on the matter of handling disputes saying, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 1 Corinthians 6:1-2(NKJV)

There is also a teach of Jesus telling us exactly how to handle our conflicts. Jesus said, Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. Mathew 18:15-17a(NKJV)

As Christians we should first talk with those we conflict with and try to resolve conflict without bitterness. Disagreeing agreeable should move us in peaceful direction allowing others to help us. Lastly, if needed, getting some help from the elders or pastor at church should put the matter to rest as those conflicting submit to God.

These precepts are presented that we might live in unity with other saints and so our love will be seen by the entire world. To which we must ask the question, “Is there a situation so terrible you would sacrifice the soul of the unsaved so that you might have your possession or be right in a dispute?”

The world is watching us and they should see God’s love alive in our hearts, controlling our attitudes and actions. Therefore, let us handle conflict with wisdom.