Monday, November 24, 2014

#153 First Born Exodus 11





And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

9 But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land. Exodus 11:1-10 NKJV


This is the promise that was made from the start, before any of the other signs or plagues. 

Exodus 4:22-24 "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23"So I said to you, 'Let My son go that he may serve Me'; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn."'" 24Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death.…


How dare he! Who is God to take the son of the great and mighty Pharaoh? Are these not Pharaoh's slaves, so why should he relinquish ownership to the One that refers to them as His firstborn? This was the warning from the beginning, and it was for a time avoidable. The promise, oddly enough, reflects the refusal of the life of God's own Son. From the fall He promised a seed that would conquer sin and death. It is the same warning, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God hates sin, and though He provides the way out, we would refuse, unless there is a change of heart. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened. He still believes that he owns this world, his life and the lives of those he would use. God created life, he created free will, but in the fall from glory the will of man has become slave to his lust and arrogance. The name upon  Israel as firstborn, is by the willful mercy of the Lord. They were all dead in their trespasses too, just like the Egyptians, but when all who are born into sin die in their sin, is that not justice? For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. When we receive Jesus as Savior, it is not what we deserved, but rather an extraordinary gift from a God who hates sin, yet chooses to show mercy. 

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.…Matthew 5:17&18



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

#152 Feel the Dark Exodus 10





21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
25 And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither.
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.
28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
29 And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more. Exodus 10: 21-29KJV

The state of their hearts and understanding has become the physical state of their land. They wander in darkness all the time oblivious, but now the only light is in the homes of their slaves. I think if a man were to look deep enough, he could find those places inside himself, where the darkness can be felt, but his only remedy outside of God is to deny it or call it light. Pharaoh agrees again to let the people go, but again he would have his own terms. In the dark, our terms may seem logical, but in the light of Who God is and what belongs to Him, it is without understanding that we bargain with things we don't possess. The plague of darkness could have shed much light, however, when Moses does not agree to Pharaoh's terms, the Pharaoh threatens to kill the messenger. 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.…1 John 1:6-8




Monday, November 17, 2014

#151 Grasshopper Exodus 10



And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.
3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:
6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.
7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go?
9 And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.
10 And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.
11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.
13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14 And the locust went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. Exodus 10: 1-20 KJV

So it is again, a warning of things to come, and hear the counsel of Pharaoh's own servants, they see the direction of his madness. He is one turned over to himself, to the lust of power and so much in love with his own words that he cannot hear the words that would save him. He agrees to let the men go and worship, but will keep the women and children hostage. This is not the design of my Lord, for shouldn't the children also know God and if it be God's intent to bring all his people out, then who is Pharaoh? Who is anyone that can stand before the Lord, not clothed in the humility of their sin and covered by the blood of His provision? The locust come, and Pharaoh pays lip service again. Pray to your God on my behalf that the locust will go away, that this death will leave. Now the food that had previously been untouched has been removed. God, who owns all, and therefore cannot steal from any man causes the wind to change and blows the locust into the sea. Maybe the prayer should not have been about the distress, but rather, "Pray to your God, that He may remove my hardness of heart, and that I may have ears to hear and eyes to see. Forgive me, and help me to mean it, but please, don't let my heart be hardened."

Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.…Psalm 51:9-11




Sunday, November 16, 2014

#150 Go Inside Exodus 9





18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's.
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.
31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32 But the wheat and the rye were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses. Exodus 9: 18-35 KJV

It is far too late to say, "let us see, let's wait and see if it actually happens this time." Moses is batting a perfect game, and there is no denying that His God is in control of the very things the Egyptians worship. This time he even makes the events known  and avoidable before raising his rod towards the heavens. Those that feared the Lord and exercised reason, came inside and survived. Pharaoh proclaims his sin and the wickedness of his people, but Moses is unmoved, knowing that they are words of one with no desire to change, and one that believes enough in his own words and power as king to most likely feel that he has in some way helped stop the hail. He refuses the command of God again. The grain can grow again, cattle can be bought and bred, and so these were all things that can be undone and a storm that can pass or stop.

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know! 5Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.…Proverbs 30:4-6





Tuesday, November 11, 2014

#149 Boiling Exodus 9



8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.”10 So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. 11 The [d]magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians [e]as well as on all the Egyptians.12 And the Lord [f]hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 14 For this time I will send all My plagues [g]on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth. 16 But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to [h]remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. 17 Still you exalt yourself against My people [i]by not letting them go. Exodus 9:8-17 NASB

The people of God have for a long time made bricks for the Egyptians, and Pharaoh has connected the punishment of Israel to this very thing. Now, in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron will take the soot of the kilns and throw it up before the king. What follows are boils, that break out on every man and beast, so that nothing can claim to be clean. We read in Holy Scripture that we are not clean, but I protest the man that says he does not imagine or has never imagined himself without spot. The boils are a small thing though, and if we become angry with God for the physical manifestations of sin, with disease, or the loss brought on by death, then there is a worse plague. There are things much worse than  death. Still you exalt yourself, this is a frightening thing; this is where a man is no longer hardened solely of his own whims. You see, how long can you deny the Creator, when all a man knows is design? How long can you praise the thoughts of your own mind and desires, when you did not make your own mind? It is scary now for Pharaoh, he will be completely turned over to his own lusts, his ideals of power and who he thinks he is. It is the same for Christians or those who claim to be in this day. God is asking us to love and to speak the truth in that manner. If you think you're way is better or that the Bible is not modern enough for your enlightened and powerful mind, then you are Pharaoh. I have the chance today to mend something, and hopefully drop the arrogance I used to make the tear, but at the same time I cannot change the message. 


But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 2 Timothy 3:1-9 NKJV


Sunday, November 9, 2014

#148 Live stock Exodus 9






Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

5 The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” 6 And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 7 Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go. Exodus 9: 1-7

 The plagues escalate, and men always have their hearts and minds set upon those things which were made as greater than He Who made them. It is no small thing when one looks at ancient hieroglyphs, the ox and the camel were great in the eyes of those who not only consumed them but also made idols in their image. We think it belongs to us, because we are here I suppose, but everything belongs to God for their is no ruler with a greater hand. There is no voice among men that can call the world into existence. Pharaoh's are a needy lot, yet most would consider them above need, and now the king looks for a reason to not believe. If he could find just one animal dead among the Hebrews then all is well, or is it? Just like all men, we can choose to believe something else, but we do not have the power to make it true. We can comfort ourselves with those who are of the same mind, and place upon pedestals those who will hero our cause, but in the end, just like Pharaoh's investigation we come up empty and choose the gods of our imagination anyway.




  


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

#147 A Game of Thrones Exodus 8





16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
24 And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us.
28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. Exodus 8:16-32
From the dust they came, and something so small yet loathed by all. A nation covered in lice and this time even the magicians of Pharaoh cannot by way of their own magic duplicate it, so they must advise that this is the hand of God. When those who are for you tell you the thing which you do not want to hear, maybe it is time to listen. Maybe it is time to reconsider. The earth is the Lords and nature obeys the voice of its Creator, and so much so that He can divide out His people from the plague. The land of Goshen is untouched by the flies. Moses and Aaron meet with Pharaoh again, and again the king's word is of little value. It is often that we are told we are free to believe in our God, but you cannot say that you disagree with the religion of others. You cannot refer to the actions of others in a negative way, and you must practice this way in this place. God has told Moses how He will be worshiped and where. Pharaoh's pride and desires would keep the people of God in the land, but the thing made does not have rule over the Maker. God is calling them out in Spirit and in truth, and so they must also worship in like manner. Moses intreats God on behalf of the Pharaoh, and the plague is lifted once again, but how long will the patience of God hold out? Pharaoh refuses to let the people go and like a game of the insane, he has crushed the magnitude and worth of his own words. He has rolled the dice again, saying what needs to be heard, but not doing what needs to be done. 

1 John 2:4-5 (Phi) The man who claims to know God but does not obey his laws is not only a liar but lives in self-delusion. But the more a man obeys God's laws the more truly and fully does he show his love for him. Obedience is the test of whether we live in God or not.

It is easy to say yes Lord, and some would commend themselves on that point, but what has he asked you to do? The only value in Pharaoh's words were that he recognized what was needed, but he acted upon his pride rather than submitting to authority above his own. The sacrifice of the lips is damning evidence when we later weigh out our actions. I pray that my words and my actions become the same, and that they glorify the God Who made me.






#146 Ribbit Exodus 8





Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”

5 [b]Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’” 6 So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land!7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. 14 The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn.[c] He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. Exodus 8: 1-15 

I love frogs, but I suppose you can have too much of a good thing. Frogs jumping into your bed, your food and the shear magnitude of their numbers - everywhere a frog under foot. The noise outside your window is quite lovely at night, but even something so small, as a cricket inside the house, will wake a man. A thousand frogs where they should not be, it was enough for Pharaoh to plead with Moses. He agrees to let the people go, but as soon as their is light at the end of the tunnel, of that which plagues him, he recants. How many times have we cried out to a God we haven't tried to know, except in the times of our crying. I am not invincible it would appear, I am sick, I have been wronged, and now oh God of the downs, please hear me. When I was well and prosperous, I could not have thanked myself enough. Ah, the lowliness I should have felt. The humble adoration I could have shown. I was not the least perplexed, for I felt deserving, and when everything came crashing down I made a grand show of the alter. But things are not looking so bad now, and once again I assure those surrounding me at the water cooler, that it could be nothing short of genius on my part. The frogs are gone, and I am sure there is a logical reason for all of this, so I am no longer inclined to beg for mercy. There is no knowledge here, lest it be given, and no heart lest it be made flesh. 

51 You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. 52 Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God.[a] And now you have turned against him and killed him. 53 Angels gave you God’s Law, but you still don’t obey it. Acts 7:51-53


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

#145 Nice place to visit, but don't drink the water Exodus 7





14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. 17 This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.23 Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river. Exodus 7: 14-24

Moses and Aaron are sent by God to where Pharaoh shall be, and they are here instructed to confront him once again. This time, as the instruments of God, Moses will tell Aaron to stretch his staff over the waters of Egypt, the waters will be turned to blood. The Nile is the life blood of the region, and it is in the hearts of the Egyptians, a deity of its own. It provides drink, which no man can live without, fish, in great sustenance, and a road by which to travel. As mighty as the river is, or how great the Nile Perch and Crocodiles that swim it's length, it did not bring itself to be. I appreciate many things in nature, if not all, and I am at times overwhelmed by what I see. In these moments, with these wonders, I am directed by all of creation to worship the One they glorify. If I cannot see God, then I can most certainly see His finger print, and read the words of His mouth. The Nile belongs to God, and so he made the Egyptians god stink to them. Pharaoh's magicians are able to apparently gain a sample of freshwater, and then duplicate the miracle. Wanting something to be true will not make it so, but it is enough for men to invent a substitute by which they are satisfied. Pharaoh's heart is hardened once again. 

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:25 KJV

Monday, October 27, 2014

#144 Show Me Exodus 7





Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “Pharaoh will demand, ‘Show me a miracle.’ When he does this, say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.[a]’”
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent!11 Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. 12 They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted. Exodus 7:8-13

Pharaoh will demand a miracle. A miracle will be given, but the miracle will also be duplicated. The mind that is already set will seek the answer it is most inclined to hear. When Pharaoh's magicians are able to produce the same effect, his heart becomes strengthened in its resolve. Though Aaron's staff swallowed the serpents of the magicians, the king's heart remained hard. Sometimes the loudest voice of God is His silence, but we seek a sign, and ignore the signs given. If you are part of a "signs and wonders" type ministry, I ask you, would you be willing to seek out God the way He has revealed Himself in His word, or would you be more inclined to follow the magicians?

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-17 KJV




Sunday, October 26, 2014

#143 Everything I told you Exodus 6




28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”

30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”
6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh. Exodus 6:28 - 7:7

Tell him everything I tell you. He does not ask us to be eloquent of speech, nor to make adjustments to the message. It is not our word to take license and omit those things we find unsavory, or worry that it may offend our audience. Do you really love people enough to cause yourself discomfort? It can be a bother at times. Some days you would rather go fishing than be a fisher of men, answering a never ending myriad of questions. Some days these questions will be from those who call you a brother in Christ. And what of those days when He ask us to witness to those that we have the most grievance with? I doubt Pharaoh cared much to hear the message. It did not fit within his world view, nor does the telling fit well with Moses. The Egyptians will know that He is Lord, and so will Moses, though he speaks with "faltering lips." Who am I that anyone should listen to me? It doesn't matter; it is the message that matters. 

  If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 1 Timothy 6: 3-5

If it is about who I am, then it is not about Who He is, and I have probably laid the message to the side somewhere along the way. So what have I been saying? I think I should like to pray more often and not forsake my studies. I would love to be a better speaker, but I think it better to settle for more humility. I pray for the understanding, I beg for grace, and please help me to find the love of my fellow man that is not fettered by my ego or my love of convenience. A lot of people like you, but you don't tell them what He's told you. A lot of people hated Him, but He died for their sins.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

#142 Out Of Exodus 6



13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
14 These were the heads of their families[d]:
The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.
These were the clans of Levi according to their records.
20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.
22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.
23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.
25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.
These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.
26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.” 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron. Exodus 6:13-27

My children ask to read the Bible more now, and the genealogies always prove entertaining, but they were not placed here solely for our amusement, nor should they be considered wasted words. It is here one can see the birth right of Moses, that he was a Hebrew, born of Jochebed. The genealogies will also follow the seed, that will see the Redeemer at its fruition, and so end the dispensation of lineage and the law. It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, "bring the Israelites out of Egypt." 

So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." Matthew 2:15


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

#141 Broken Exodus 6





But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, andI will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 6:1-13 ESV

The mightiest being the Israelite people and Egyptians know is Pharaoh. He does not respect God, but becomes the bar for which God shall reveal the meaning of Jehovah. The patriarchs knew this name only by faith, I am that I am, but the children shall see the earthly revelation of it. Pharaoh will resist God, the Creator of all things, but God will reveal His power over all things, and the futility of human pride. The children shall be let go and see the promise land just as those who believe in Christ shall sojourn here but a little while. 

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.11To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.…1Peter 5:10&11

Moses is the messenger of good tidings, but under the oppression of the king, and for fear of his wrath, they no longer want the association. Since God does not carry out His plans the way we would suspect He should, and since we are creatures of the natural, we are influenced more by those things physical than the message of an all powerful God. His message is rarely met with our approval, and we at first might take some of it, and then some would try to twist and contort it to their liking. If believing translates into wealth rather than humility, then we accept. They are slaves, afraid of their earthly masters, and they just want the beatings to stop. They are also slaves, as Pharaoh and every other man born, to sin. This is the revelation from the fall, that we are born slaves, and wandering in denial. This is the message still that men love darkness rather than light, that Jesus is the light of the world, and that He came to set the captives free. We, no different than our ancestors, remain opposed and in love with our own ideals. It is easier for us to say that we are not captives by declaring that this is not sin, and embracing sin as the ideal. So now it is a sin to say that something is a sin; we are a delusional lot ever laying on more shackles and helping others to do the same. 

"The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37"I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.…John 8:36&37


Monday, October 20, 2014

#140 A Reed Exodus 5





19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. Exodus 5:19-23 KJV

Always blame the messenger. My children respond much the same way, and I remember as a boy once, having a wrist rocket. It is just a modern version of a sling shot, but it provided hours of entertainment. One day I had a friend over from school and he was shooting steel pellets with my sling shot. He shot at a lizard or something on a tree and the pellet ricocheted. There was the sound of breaking glass, but it left only a hole in the window. Two days later, my neighbor was over yelling at my mother, and dramatizing about how someone could have been killed. My mom brought me out and asked if I had done this, and I said no, but I refused to say who did, and that it was my sling shot so it was my responsibility. She thanked me for being honest, but my neighbor was the type to want blood. I mowed lawns for a living back then so I told him I could pay him within a week, but he had a "better plan". He wanted all the leaves raked and the crab grass removed from his lawn. My mom agreed to this, and so I thought I would knock it out fast, but after 6 hours one Saturday afternoon, he looked at my work and said, "this is far from over, I'll see you tomorrow." This went on for several days until I finally told my mother, this is your fault, you taught me to be honest, but this is what it gets you. No one else cares to be honest so you always put me at a disadvantage. He's using me, because he's getting free labor for something he does not want to do. I learned my lesson, next time I will say it was some boys playing in the woods. She ended it with the neighbor, and knowing him she probably gave him the difference in cash that he felt he was due. The officers of the children of Israel were quick to attack Moses, because he was the one who started this. He came to them and they believed him, but now those who were getting free labor just mocked them. They would beat this foolishness out of them. I mean who is this God really? All the people could see was Pharaoh, the result of sin common to all. Moses appeals to God, and that is the only place to find the understanding for persecution. It is the only place to find repentance, forgiveness for the persecutor and justice for the persecuted. 

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Have you ever stopped to pray for President, mayor or other office holder? Have you ever pondered your own person and testimony when looking at your boss? It is easy to see where they fail, but all men are born damned so far as we can see, but we only see so far. I have wanted to kill the messenger so often, especially when my righteousness was based upon the outcome of its exercise. If I am praised for my honesty then all is well, and if I am targeted for it then I think there is a reason to not be later. It is not wrong to question the outcome, but go to God and not to your own devices. Do not let the evil of men be your gauge for when righteousness is sought, and pray for them as you ponder them in the light of your own wickedness. 

Shaken by the wind

Sunday, October 19, 2014

#139 The Bricks Exodus 5









It is difficult in comfort to see the need to leave, and we are fickle in our view of God when it appears that under our own will and guidance things are working well. It is not the case for the Hebrew inhabitants of Egypt. Moses and Aaron approach the new Pharaoh with a request to take the people to worship in the wilderness. They come as messengers, not with their own words, but with the words of God, and it is fair that this should be tested, but Pharaoh answers by way of arrogance. Who is this God? If I don't know Him, then what's He to me? Men often suppose that because they have not seen God, they are not responsible to seek Him. The history of Joseph and how the children of Israel arrived in Egypt was not so long ago, but the proud are easily blinded by power and prosperity. Pharaoh turns away from the wisdom that would seek to understand, and embraces the rule of force. It is the quickest way to show charge, to be feared, they knee jerk and brake the will of those beneath. He demands the same amount of product but sets them up for failure by not providing the resources to achieve it. It is insane, but it ensures that his order will not be met and that he may now hold accountable those whom he wishes to make an example of. He declares them idle, and when the officers are beaten for that which they cannot accomplish, they question it. He declares them also idle, and still demands the bricks. 

  16 A ruler without wisdom will be cruel, but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time. 17 Don't help those who are guilty of murder; let them run until they die. 18 Innocent people will be kept safe, but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined. 19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.20 A truthful person will have many blessings, but those eager to get rich will be punished. 21 It is not good for a judge to take sides, but some will sin for only a piece of bread. 22 Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich and do not realize they soon will be poor. 23 Those who correct others will later be liked more than those who give false praise. 24 Whoever robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is just like someone who destroys things. 25 A greedy person causes trouble, but the one who trusts the Lord will succeed. 26 Those who trust in themselves are foolish, but those who live wisely will be kept safe. Proverbs 28: 16-26