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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Exodus, the Book of Redemption.

Exodus, the Book of Redemption. Exodus 1:1-7.

Where the book of Genesis was about the beginnings for the relationship between man and God, Exodus is about God’s redemption of man. In Genesis we saw the creation of man, the fall of man, and the final story contains a man in a coffin. Through Genesis men started to spread out and still God wanted a people for Himself, so He concentrated them through circumstance in Egypt and provided for them so they would grow in number; but much of their relationship with God was lost.

Over four hundred years the Israelites stories of God’s intervention into their father’s lives were not enough to teach them that they too needed a relationship with God. They had knowledge that there was a God and knew they should respect God, but how to live a life that honored and know God was mostly lost.

Though God had provided everything His people needed, they would not personally know the power of God and the credit for their existence would be directed toward Joseph the great Egyptian leader who cared for them.

Several generations of Israelites passed away. Joseph too, would die after making a promise to Israel that God would visit them and he requested they would take his body and bury it in the family plot. Yet, generations of people came and went and though the message passed on, it was also being lost and treated as folklore.

The four hundred years was the same amount of time that is spaced between end of the Old Testament and the New Testament. During this time the same spiritual decline occurred in Israel.

When God is silent, emphasis on godliness diminishes; therefore, as modern Christians, living in a world that does not honor God, we need to continue studying His word; pursuing a relationship with God. We also should teach this to our children; calling on the name of the Lord for His divine intervention into our lives.

When Jesus came to Israel, after four hundred years of silence, His encounters with the religious Jews showed they replaced a relationship with God for rules surrounding the law given to Moses. Their concept of God’s hand to intervene into their daily lives was lost and appeasing a vengeful God was all they knew.

Inside their religious circles, the general population did what they felt would keep them in good standing with the religious leaders. The people were told to love God, but they felt burdened by the society of religious pressure and religious rules spilled over into their commerce.

The people participated in ceremonies and yet the love for God and the loving father side of God was lost. God as a loving father became the main message of Jesus and to get their attention God allowed the miraculous to be displayed before them as Jesus taught the value of relationship.

The world we live in is doing much the same. They are pushing God out of the schools and children are told that there is a God, but are also told everyone calls God by a different name. Religious circles form and religious acts replace having a personal relationship with God.

“Who is God?” and what does He want from us is diminishing from thought. People continue accepting traditions and rules as their forms for godliness; but they lose the concept of keeping a relationship with God.

As we pick up in chapter one of Exodus, we are reintroduced to the players, the families of the children of Jacob. While in Egypt they had grew into a multitude of people.

Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: Reuben, Simemon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:1-7(NKJV)

In this book, written by Moses, we will see that God’s plan continues. Here God is creating a people who will honor Him. They would be an example to the entire world that God is building a kingdom and wants to honor people. However, the criteria remains that they would honor Him as God.

God’s People.

God’s People. Genesis 49:29 – 50:9.

The father of twelve boys was dying before their eyes. He spoke to each words of prophesy and truth. Some of his boys had been bad brothers, bad fathers, and bad to others; they needed to change. Jacob held nothing back as he addressed his boys for the last time.

Some of Jacob’s sons received words of prophetic blessings as God would continue to use them in great ways. Yet the one word that was clearly distributed among his boys was God is building a nation of people that will be called Israel.

Then he charged them and said to them: “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah. The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth.” And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 49:29-33(NJKV)

Not only was God building the nation called Israel, God had given them a land. It belonged to Israelites, though they could not live there because of the famine. Even though they were temporarily displaced in Egypt, Jacob wanted his body taken back to that land to be buried with his ancestors.

Even in his death, Jacob was completing his life’s mission from God. He directed his children and then by asking to be buried with his family, it communicated a sense of identity to his sons.

Jacob’s actions was telling them they are Israelites; not Egyptians. They are a chosen people of God, called to a mission of building a nation on a promised land. Then as if to accent his last words, as he lifted his own feet into the bed, he passed instantly before them.

The story is more than a man dying before his sons. This is a reminder to us all of how serious we are to take God’s calling upon our life. We are to have influence that spreads the good news that God forgives sin and is continuing to build a kingdom of people.

Speaking to his’ sons, Jacob did not gloss over their sin, but clearly communicated that no matter the sin they committed, they were considered by God to be Israelites.

Now in our time, with the greater call of grace upon the whole world, let us be as Jacob and preach the message unto our dying day. May we leave people behind that have experienced the life changing influence that God had upon ourselves and may we build their hope in a promised land called Heaven.

Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Genesis 50:1-2(NKJV)

Of all Jacob’s offspring, Joseph showed the most emotion at the loss of his father. The natural progression of life claims everyone and to that we must remain strong; however, the separation of death is never pleasant.

Egyptians believed in a life after death. Their myths caused them to honor their dead with vast ceremonies, embalming of the body, and precessions of reverence. So Joseph being a leader in Egypt honored his father the Egyptian way.

Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’” And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.” Genesis 50:3-6(NKJV)

It is most interesting to see the work of God through this death. The son’s of Jacob came closer to the Egyptian people and the Egyptian people came closer to them. They had much interaction and for forty days they shared a common goal. Even the Pharaoh had compassion on the project and his heart went out to Joseph and his family.

So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering. Genesis 50:7-9(NKJV)

These Israelites people were just living their lives and conforming to the hardships that life brought them. Yet the work of God was taking place as the Israelites were being accepted by the Egyptians and Egypt would become their home for many years to come.

Left to themselves the sons of Jacob spread out through the land of Canaan and took destructive paths, spreading their blood with the tribes that lived around them. Left alone the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, could have vanished; therefore, God used a famine to drive them into Egypt.

God even set up a way for them to be accepted into Egypt and to be marked by the Egyptians to be a separate race of people. Egyptians were not to intermarry with them; however, God made a way for the Egyptians to socialize with them. Through the death of Jacob, the two nations became able to work together to accomplish goals.

It was the plan of God to place them in Egypt and make a way that they would stay to themselves; preserving and building a bloodline that God would call his people. Little did they know they would be there for over four hundred years.

What do you say to your children.

What do you say to your children. Genesis 49:1-26.

And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father. Genesis 49:1-2(NKJV)

Jacob was the father of twelve boys and through these sons God promised to build a people that would profoundly impact the world. God wanted to make a people for Himself and that desire, with promise, was first announce to Abraham and passed to his son Isaac.

Having been passed such a large, incredible, challenge could not have been taken serious by Isaac; however, God spoke His desire personally to Him. This passing on of the will of God occurred again with Isaac’s son, Jacob and now it was being passed to the twelve sons of Jacob.

God was building a people for Himself and the nation of Israel exists today as proof that what God desires to happen, will happen. With the hand of God on their lives these men produced a mighty nation that would remain separate from the rest of the world.

In Egypt they would be separate from the Egyptians and that separateness would have to continue to be guarded throughout their existence. This people, this history, this desire of God, were to be taken serious; however, their sin would hold them back or pigeon hole their participation. This was what Jacob would tell his boys.

If you are serious with a task, you will be treated serious; however your actions affect who you are and these men had allowed themselves to commit sins that shaped their future.

Jacob also had prophetic knowledge about these boys and though they were different; he wanted them to remain as one people. He wanted them to continue with the God of their fathers, but also he wanted them to be unique.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it- He went up to my couch. Genesis 49:3-4(NKJV)

Being the first born, the family birthright should have fallen on his head. This was to be his moment before his brothers; however, his sin had left a lasting shadow on the family’s reputation.

Jacob viewed Ruben as unstable as water and those unstable are so because they do not take the actions to correct their faults. Therefore, Ruben would lose his opportunity for the blessing of the firstborn.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel. Genesis 49:5-7(NKJV)

These were the two who avenged the defilement of the sister. They became so revengeful they killed the Shechemite men, making it a horrible atrocity. For this Jacob saw that they needed to be divided so they may never collaborate on wickedness again.

Jacob curses their anger together; but he does not curse them as individuals. As individuals, Jacob wanted them to go on to improve the way they lived life and led their off spring. This was their parting call to righteousness from their father.

“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;  Your father’s children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion;  And as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes;  And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine,  And his teeth whiter than milk. Genesis 49:8-12(NKJV)

Judah, whose name means “praise,” was Jacobs’s most intriguing son. Jacob knew that this young man was going to produce an off spring that would claim their territory, without vexing those around them. They would be of strong royalty and of dignity. Which shows the dramatic insight Jacob was given; for a descendant of Judah would be Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon. Genesis 49:13(NKJV)

Jacob saw the desire within Zebulun and when praying for his son, a prophesy of the Lord showed him the future. To Zebulun it must have been a relief and a lifting of a burden as he listen to his father speak of such a great future. Zebulun would be a shelter in the storm, a place of refuge, and his commerce would be great.

“Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens; He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves. Genesis 49:14-15(NKJV)

Jacob knew his sons well and this one was destined to be in debt to others. His birth came after his mother purchased mandrakes in order to enhance fertility. This was a significant event and even his mother helped to predestine the child by giving a name that meant “man of hire.”

Often, how we raise a child is how they will continue in life and for Jacob, the facts surrounding their upbringing coupled with the prophesy of God, gave him the words of destiny. Issachar would continue to raise his family to be workers in the land.

“Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD! Genesis 49:16-18(NKJV)

I find that one of the heaviest prophesies of this passage is about Dan. It seems to have no great impact on the nation of Israel. Jacob knew that Dan would become a leader of his own family; however, trouble would beset Dan and God would deliver him with salvation from his troublers.

“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.”Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties. Genesis 49:19-20(NKJV)

Each of our children will have different courses in life and the contrast of Gad and Asher were completely different; yet mentioned together, it may be that Jacob knew that the actions of one would provide safety for the other.

Jacob reveals to Gad that he should prepare his people to fight; and the promise in this prophesy was Gad would win the battle in the end.

For Asher, his future would pivot on his culinary skills. He would provide pastries and bread for royalty. His family would join him and is efforts would benefit others. Perhaps even Gad who would fight and be victorious was fed by Asher.

“Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words. Genesis 49:21(NKJV)

Jacobs’s son, Naphtali, was beautiful in his sight. He stood tall, with his head up. He could negotiate and speak words that could defuse situations. This talent would go forward to help Israel to be a proud people. With these words of encouragement to continue, Naphtali would raise children to be like minded.

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob  (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you. With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. Genesis 49:22-26(NKJV)

Lastly Jacob addresses his two most beloved sons. They were Jacob’s pride and joy. In these sons Jacob had much hope and the revelation from God was intense concerning them.

Joseph was the only son of the twelve who God personally directed. Much like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Joseph would continue in God’s grace because Joseph honored God. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Joseph had branched out without the help of his family. He made his way from the bottom to the top. He took adversity and turned it to prosperity. In Joseph the promise that the whole world would be blessed had made a way for the development of the nation of Israel and the way for the coming Messiah. Joseph was already blessed by God and Jacob was proud to be a part of his life.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.” All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing. Genesis 49:27-28(NKJV)

Though Jacob loved Benjamin too, Jacob could not hold back from speaking the prophesy given to him. Benjamin, the youngest of all the boys and the direct brother of Joseph was going to have to fend for himself.

Benjamin would not be happy with following after Joseph and he would have to forge a life of his own. He would have to be strong and crafty; his survival would depend on his ability to out think, out run, and to be stronger than those around him. Benjamin would have to take advantage of situations and increase from that.

The words of their father were direct and held no flowery statements to sooth the hearer. He spoke them with attitude knowing the grief and the joy they had brought to him. Most of all they were spoken as God revealed prophesies of their future.

On his death bed Jacob peered out of his body like a shell for his life was slipping away quickly. Jacob would go to his grave in faith that God will continue his work and in hopes that these boys might listen to the words spoken to the whole. He hopped they would seek for them to be united in desire and for some, calm their ways to be like the admirable.

As parents, it would be a shame to wait until your dying days to speak words of direction to your children. The scriptures have examples of people who never spoke to their children. They never asked them “What are you doing?” and they never reproved them.

Children began to develop and though we cannot change who they are, we can guild them into who they will be. We can be there before they make decisions to act. We can warn them about the pitfalls of life and we can influence them to know that God is real and wants to have a relationship with them.

As parents we hold a crucial role in our families and here we have been given insight to the family of Jacob; a family that would grow to become the nation of Israel.

The Family Legacy.

The Family Legacy. Genesis 47:26-31.

So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. Genesis 47:26-27(NKJV)

Promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph, the nation of people were thriving. What started with Jacob’s twelve sons and began to scatter abroad was concentrated by God into this one area of Egypt. God wanted them to grow together and not apart.

The only way to build this nation was for the family to stay together; this is a concept that people have long started to neglect in our world and continues to be set in the shadows.

The family unit is becoming diced and chopped up in our modern societies. I spoke with a family counselor about this very issue and the concept of a families influence on future generations was a very interesting topic.

Often in today’s societies, children grow up without parental influence, let alone family influences. These children seek to build their own identities and reach for the commercial influence of society to model to. However, when children have good models for parents, this search for identity is reduced.

It becomes drastically reduced when children are not only raised within a parented household, but a household that is a unit of a larger family. Uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, and those they bring close to themselves, all interact to bring identity to each individual.

In many of America’s East Coast cities, families that emigrated from Europe still live in the sections of their city their families called home. As families, they influence each other and have regular interaction. This builds identity and comes with responsibilities for each family member to make the family proud.

This same concept was begun in the first church when Jesus told his disciples to dwell together and wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. When Gods spirit rushed in on them, the first church became as a family and we are told throughout the scriptures to dwell in unity as believers; therefore, the people of our churches can become our family.

This concept of family has to survive for our world to be a better place or unharmonious selfishness will overtake the hearts of the masses.

So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” Genesis 47:28-30(NKJV)

Jacob was a father of twelve boys and grandparent to many children. It was getting close to the end of his life and he wanted his influence to continue even after his death. In this request of Jacob, we can see that even a family burial plot brings identity to the family.

So what is so important about being buried in the same burial plot as your family? It sets a tone of connection and pride. If you are of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, one day your destiny would have you to lay alongside them in the family grave plot in hopes that those who you leave behind will remember you as well as it remembers them.

The stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still being told today and every Jewish boy and girl is taught about their forefathers and identity passes along to each. The Jewish race is one of the largest and oldest in the entire world. When meeting another Jew, each has a tie back to their origin and with that a responsibility to make them proud. This is what family building is all about.

Along with this commitment of family origin is passed along the commitment to their own local families. Grandfathers influence fathers, who influence sons, who will influence their children. It passes along to each and so should the pictures, and stories, and the legacy of each. This builds family.

Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed. Genesis 47:31(NKJV)

Jacob, who God changed his name to Israel, bowed himself on the head of the bed; as the son who he committed this to swore to him that this would be carried out upon his death. This ritual should be the goal of every father who is reaching the age of passing.

Parents must think of their lives as able to influence future generations. Their wishes need to be passed on, to their family. For myself, I have taken one of my sons and spoken to him about what my desires are for my grandchildren.

After I pass, I want to ensure that all of the work I have committed into preaching God’s word be passed to them so they may hear the words of their Grandfather. I also desire that they continue to pass it from generation to generation, so that my influence might transcend this present day.

Every parent has things they must do to influence their families to do good. It is these that we are to be busy doing. It is the way to make the world a better place and build the kingdom of God.

Israel was not yet going to die, but he made pre arrangements for that time. Though he waited until he was old in years to do this, there is no reason why you have to wait.

Make those plans, speak to your families about unity, and help them to see their position in the family as a legacy to be remembered. Encourage them to work towards it and build your family unit.

The last thing the family counselor and I talked about was the importance of removing dysfunctionality suffered from their grandchildren’s knowledge. There is no reason parents need to repeat the sins of the past and those stories should be forever lost as secrets. “We need to pass on the good things we did, not the bad.” These were great words from a great man.

Do not Discriminate.

Do not Discriminate. Genesis 46:28-34.

Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Genesis 46:28-29(NKJV)

The land of Goshen was located just beyond the border of Canaan. It was important for Joseph to head off his family in order to pave the way for their acceptance by the Pharaoh. The Egyptians culture was not accepting of shepherds; the idea of shepherds was an abomination to them.

Have you ever been looked down on due to race, occupation, and other discriminatory profiling? It is a terrible thing to face. However, Joseph was about to proudly accept his family for who they were and make a way for them to dwell in the land peaceably.

It had been many years since Joseph had seen his father and the sight of him caused Joseph to break down in tears and fold into his father’s out stretched arms. Joseph had to live like he had no father and suppress the longing for his father; however, now that separation came to an end.

No matter if a person is dead or alive, parting is sorrowful. That is the way God intended it to be. God desires us to dwell in love and unity; however, the sting of sin and death has ravaged our lives.

And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.” Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” Genesis 46:30-34

Israel, whose name was first Jacob, felt that seeing his “supposed dead” son was more than what life could hold for him and now he could pass to the grave happy. Not all people get this opportunity; death has a cold parting swallow and the grave has a never ending hold on mortality.

Thank God that He forgives sin and provided His own son as a sacrifice for our sin. In this there is hope beyond the grave and the sting of death is only a moment of separation; however, parting is never sweet sorrow.

Joseph was ready to face the truth of his existence; He was the son of a shepherd and his family tended flocks. This would make for a tense situation; for the Pharaoh had trusted Joseph to manage his countries affairs; and soon all of Egypt would know Joseph was a shepherd’s son. Most leaders will not take an unpopular stance before their people; however, Joseph was willing to risk all in honor of truth.

Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.” And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.” And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”Genesis 47:1-6(NKJV)

We must understand that we are not to be afraid of who we are or how people will judge us. If we be righteous before the Lord, even our enemies will be at peace with us.

Because people are self righteous, they will judge you greater than they will judge themselves. Trying to trap Jesus, one day the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Him. They accused her of her sin and through it was true, Jesus turned to them and told them to stone her if they, themselves, had no sin.

With that understood, let us be as the Pharaoh and make a way to include others who need our help. Let discrimination be stricken from our hearts and our acceptance presented with boldness.

The Pharaoh was not intimidated by what other thought. He was only commanded by his ability to do good to this faithful servant and the family. Pharaoh did not let discrimination rule his life; he let goodness flow.

Pharaoh not only did he allow their passage, he gave them the best part of the land, which honored Joseph and Jacob.

Do you realize that God one day will allow people to dwell in the fullness of His kingdom? Like Pharaoh, He will accept people for who they are and not hold their position in life or race against them.

God will take the lowliest of men and raise them to a position of greatness. No matter the sin committed, God will forgive those who have humbled themselves before Him and believed in His wonderful savior.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for all; therefore, we are to respect others and no matter their sin, accept them for who they are and support them.