Sunday, January 25, 2015

#173 Sabbath




8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 NIV


There has been much written about the Sabbath, and much contention over the day. I am still learning about it, and praying that in every instance my opinion and practice will be shaped by what God's word is saying about it, in my understanding of both the Spirit and the Letter. First, I would like to look at the physical element of it. After six days of creation, it says God rested on the seventh day. He set it apart as holy, but also included in its observance that not only Israel, but Israel's servants and visitors as well, shall not work. The Bible tells us: how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?" 27Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Matthew 2: 26-28. Men could conduct business and all that needed done in the six days leading up to the Sabbath, but the seventh day was to be set apart for the rest of man. Not only Israel, but those bonded to them in service were to receive this rest. You could not therefore gain a day of business on the back of your servant or hire a visitor to do your work. Israel has just been set free of the burdens of Egypt, but they are men and men quickly forget who they are and where they come from. It is easy, for the love of money, for a man to think himself entitled to the fruits of the backs of others. Governments have to make provisions against the abuse of labor, and yet it continues still, and it is against creatures made in the image of God. A man could say that he is born to this entitlement as a part of Israel, or that he is religious and therefore deserves this rest, but not according to this; it is extended to all. In its moral essence, it protects all, even from those who are outwardly religious, yet inwardly corrupt. However, any moral implication here would not appear to be about the day itself.



"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." What was remembered about this day and on this day? God is the creator of all things, God is holy, God is just, God is merciful, He delivered them from Egypt and established His moral law here on the mount. They remember the Passover through a feast, and all these things that would foreshadow Christ. 


13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Colossians 2:13-19. Man is not merely physical though, and there is a part of him that needs, not just rest from labor, but the time set apart to those things eternal. It becomes clear in the gospel message and in Paul's letters that this part was set aside by those preferring the appearance of holiness and adding to the law.12 “Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12


The pharisees attacked those coming to be healed on the Sabbath and would attempt to charge our Lord upon the letter of their ignorance of the Sabbath. 

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!



14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”


15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did. Luke 13:10-17

It is only in Christ we are new creatures; it is only in Christ that we have offerings fit for a Holy God. The observance of the Sabbath was not to the merit of Israel, nor to those, who would argue over a day, in this time. 

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:1-13

 Well, I will not be defending or arguing a day in particular. The Sabbath of the Old covenant, the law, stood upon the seventh day, and shall stay standing there in my memory. I shall remember and speak of the God, who in six days created the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day rested. He instituted this law for men to remember Him, and made it holy. There is still a higher, spiritual implication here that rests upon things eternal. What happens when we forget God?  20Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass. 21They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, 22Wonders in the land of Ham And awesome things by the Red Sea.…Psalm 106:20-22

 I was approached by a gentleman while fishing the other night, and he wanted to hand me a track. I declined and tried to appear busy, but he asked if I was a Christian, to which I answered yes. He then tried to give me the track again, and so I asked him what organization he was with. He would not answer so I was admittedly rude and tried once again to walk away. He asked me what brand of Theology did I subscribe to, and so I told him, the Bible and I am a reformed Christian. I asked him why he was too embarrassed to cut the chase and tell me what religion he belonged to, and he answered that he believed the Bible too. He said he would most likely differ with me upon the Sabbath, and told me he was a Seventh Day Adventist. I thought as much, but nonetheless a touch of guilt would lead me to apologize, for I was very rude. Now, I don't think it is ever in me to change a persons mind. Most people in these instances are very much set upon what they believe, and are never much inclined to listen, both sides mostly thinking about what they will say next. I have been told to have an answer for the hope that is in me, to study and rightly divide the Word of truth, and so I spent the next 30 minutes discussing the Sabbath, and he stated, "so you think it is Sunday?" Well when we see the early church first meet, it is on Sunday and this is the day that our Lord was resurrected, fulfilling the law and completing the work that would allow us to enter His rest, and so many Christians meet on that day. But, to answer your question, no, I don't believe Sunday is the Sabbath. The Bible says that God must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, and  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;…1 Corinthians 10:30-32. So in the end to me it is no longer the seventh day, but rather seven days, and we are to meet with other believers as commanded, to brake bread and remember. In the remembering we are to tell others of their position in sin and point them to Christ, not a day, for He is Lord of that day. And to my new friend, I apologize, while we may differ, I was rude and for that I am sorry.










Monday, January 19, 2015

#172 What's in a Name


7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7 NIV

This is well put, and so I am dropping a cut and paste from Ligoniers. I went to St. Andrews chapel last night for the first time, and it was a wonderful service. RC Sproul is an excellent teacher and author, and I would encourage anyone to attend there or read his books. The gentleman who preached last night gave an excellent sermon, and both myself and Lily enjoyed the message.


The Third Commandment


“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (v. 7). - Exodus 20:7

Now that we have considered the three uses of the Law and have briefly considered the comprehensiveness of the Ten Commandments, we will examine two of these statutes and their applications today. The first commandment we will study is probably the most widely broken law in the society at large and perhaps in the church as well. We are speaking of the third commandment, which forbids us from taking the name of the Lord in vain (Ex. 20:7).

The term vain is a synonym for futile; thus, the third commandment is warning us not to use God’s name in a futile or trivial manner. This is something our Creator takes very seriously, for the commandment adds a special note that He “will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” in order to make us pause before we use the Lord’s name flippantly. If the commandments enjoin the opposite of what they forbid, this law mandates that we set apart the name of God as holy. Jesus Himself indicates this is the case when He tells us the very first thing we should pray for is that the Lord’s name be hallowed (Luke 11:2).

Outright blasphemy is an obvious transgression of this commandment, but it can be violated in other ways as well. A common violation of this law occurs in the swearing of oaths. When we ask the Almighty to bear witness to a vow, we testify that He is omniscient and able to see every point at which we break or keep an oath. Moreover, we witness to His omnipotence, confessing that He can and will deal with us even if no one else disciplines us for breaking a promise. To swear an oath by anything besides the Lord attributes these qualities wrongly to something created and makes us guilty of idolatry. For example, we might casually swear on our mother’s grave to affirm the truth of our words, but what can our mother’s grave do to us if we do not keep our promise?

Christians can misuse God’s name in saying things like “the Lord moved me to tell you…” when we feel that a friend needs to hear a special word. Yet this intuition does not necessarily find its origin in God’s prompting, and we should not attribute words to the Lord unless they are found in Scripture. Otherwise we might put false words in His mouth and inadvertently make Him a liar.

Coram Deo

It is often said that the way we talk about God in everyday conversation is more revealing of what we think about Him than anything else. Take some time today to consider how you use the Lord’s name. Do you take the oaths made before Him seriously and fear the consequences if you break them? Is your speech about our Father reverent, or do you refer to His name in a flippant manner? Be mindful to hallow His name in everything that you say.
From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul. All rights reserved. Website: www.ligonier.org | Phone: 1-800-435-4343

Sunday, January 18, 2015

#171 Exodus 20 Insanity






And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20: 1-6 NIV

This the beginning of the ten commandments; it is no new law, but the law that was written in the hearts of men from the beginning. It has not changed with sin, but must be restated because of sin's skew upon the mind and the conscience. "You shall have no other gods before me": this would seem a simple matter, since all other gods are of our own invention. The Creator has revealed Himself to this people, and demonstrated His sovereignty in nature, so that there is no natural thing, outside of superstition, that a man can worship. There has never been a time in my life where I have not worshiped at the altar of some god. As soon as I denied God, it was in that denial that I crafted my own god, whether money, the intellect of others whose minds I esteemed above His, or the altar of sinful preference. Yes, even those who would claim there is no God, worship many gods. Figurines adorn nooks, but in the heart of every man rest an idol; it is often cast in the image of himself, and borrowing from those attributes he esteems most. He will kiss up to approach the god of success. He will lie and cheat others for the god of money. His identity is attached to the god of conquest, and he must sacrifice often at the altar of his lust. In order to be this god he must reduce others, and we must all stand convinced that our identities lie herein, talent, sexual preference or prowess, monetary gain,  popularity, youth, vanity. It is all in vane.










Wednesday, January 14, 2015

#170 Caution





10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day,because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[c]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them. Exodus 19: 10-25

 There is some insight here to the character of God and His position in relation to sin. It all appears trite and unnecessary to us, but there is not a part of our person, logic or perception that is not infected by sin, and so we reason from this position that there is no need to be clean. A million voices will say that the mountain is approachable, that a man may stand as good upon his own two feet. This love they would like to focus upon is most certainly extended, but not by an unbalanced, blind or  unjust God. Yes, God is love, and His love is infinite as He is, but God is infinitely just in this as well. His opposition to sin is eternal and never changing, and so He warns Moses, tell the people not to force their way up. Like us, Moses seems slow to understand, he feels that these things are already understood. It is not the limits set by men that keep us from approaching God; it is that we are slaves to sin, unclean and cloaked in this we would be marching to our deaths. I should like to remove my opinion from this though, for I have tried to approach the mountain with a back pack and standing on my own feet, telling myself I was clean enough to stand before an infinitely holy God. Yes, God is Just, and that shall never change, but here again we see His love extended in mercy and patience. He is making a way where there was only void, He is not accepting sin, but He is revealing to men the state in which they are in. He is warning of the imminent, and demonstrating what is needed to approach Him. We are sinners, and as proven by ourselves, unable to rectify this condition. God will have no part in sin, and so if He shall have us, then there is no way to justify any, except by the sacrifice of the infinite. So while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. It is by this grace, received through faith, both given as a gift by Him, that we are able to approach the mountain, cleansed by the blood of His sacrifice.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19&20

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

#169 Dove shaped Cloud





On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim,they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Exodus 19:1-9 NIV

Moses goes to the mountain to talk to the Lord, and God gives him the words of a covenant to bring back to Israel. It is the testimony of God's ability and that He is able to do His part, now what shall be the part of the descendants of Jacob? Shall it be heritage, genetic, a call by name only? He ask their obedience, and they respond in unison, "we will do everything the Lord has said." How hard was that? So easily the words roll off the tongue, much like today, "in sickness and in health, for better or worse, forsaking all others." It's a beautiful thing to say until you get sick, the money fails, another person feeds your ego, or you just don't feel it anymore. We know from history what will happen with Israel, what men will continue to do, and that words are the easy part. God  comes to Moses in a way that designates him as His prophet. This will become a costly matter for Moses later, for the person that says they come in the name of the Lord should take great care in what they do or say as regards the name of Whom there is no higher. 

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Luke 3: 21&22


Monday, January 5, 2015

#168 Exodus 18 Dishonest gain






The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trust worthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. Exodus 18:13-27

Moses has taken seriously the role of leader, and has thrown himself deep into the responsibility of a budding nation. He is without help though and the people come to him with every dispute or problem that may arise. They are no longer slaves to another kingdom, so what rule that may be must be established. Moses' father in law is concerned for his health and well being, and the one talks to God on behalf of the people is yet willing to listen. He is not tyrant, monarch or politician. Moses sees the advice is good and follows it, but great care must be taken in who he appoints. The men must fear God, for if they do not then they shall most certainly not hate dishonest gain. Politicians create a system that feeds upon it's people, and makes possible those lobbyist whose interest are not for the people. All men are tempted, by varying degree, when offered power and position, but Moses is quick to relinquish and disperse it. He is a very earthly picture of Christ as mediator, and a man given the patience to deal with a grumbling nation, but also the wisdom to seek guidance and ask for help. Responsibility is not a bad thing, but we can assume too much, and in the end be irresponsible. 

Sunday, January 4, 2015

#167 Exodus 18 In Laws






Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons, of whom [a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a [b]sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 [c]The other was named [d]Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses[e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. 6 He [f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, [g]in delivering[h]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; [i]indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against [j]the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [k]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro reunites Moses with his wife and children, and like the name of his son, Gershom, the presence of family must be a blessing to the man without a country. It comes with the blessing and fellowship of his father in law, a gentile, who will partake of the bread from heaven. He comes with the attitude of humility, and reacts with praise to the God who has delivered Israel. He acknowledges God for who He is, greater than all the gods. He was not there, but his reaction to the story leads him to an offering. Many of those who witnessed the miracles did not respond this way. 

"I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father."39They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40"But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.…John 8:38-40


Sunday, December 28, 2014

#166 Banner Exodus 17





8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:8-16 NIV

Israel must have seemed an easy target to Amalek, like refugees or border people. Joshua assembles an army to meet the threat, and Moses moves to a place high above the battle. He will hold up his staff to heaven, in view of the army. I often hear of the troubles of people, and I look through my arsenal, and find it insufficient to help. If only I could explain the truths of God better, then they would see. If only I had more money, then I could relieve the pressure of their financial situation. If only. When it is in my power to help, I should, but it is always within my grasp to pray, and yet that is where I have been the least diligent. I use to think God should fix all these problems, disease, poverty and every other physical defect, then I could believe in Him. It is a short sighted approach, and tied to my flesh, and as I now approach Him to pray, I ask His will be done and that He be glorified in this. You see, there is One who prays on my behalf and makes intercession for me. His perspective of these matters is eternal, and while I may look at my situation as a battle for which I am not fit or prepared, He has already been there, and He will not leave me. It is with up stretched hands that we start to see things differently, and trust the One who is Sovereign in all. The Amalekites made an enemy of the living God, and when Moses' hands were down, for a time they thought they might just win the battle, but the battle belongs to God. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 23rd Psalm



One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2He said to them, “When you pray, say:


“ ‘Father,a

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.b

3Give us each day our daily bread.

4Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.c

And lead us not into temptation.d ’ ”

5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacitye he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks forf a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

#165 Rock Exodus 17





The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:1-7 NIV

Massah, because they tempted God, and Meribah because they quarreled. Who is more patient than God? Has He not demonstrated both His desire and ability to help them? I use to say that God was not for me, because of pain, suffering, and all the injustices I saw in this world. So much I tried His patience, it was almost to my own demise. There was justice here, but I refused to call it such. The word tells us that the whole world is under this judgement, that justice is being served most naturally as sin's wages. We do not logically make that connection to sin, and choose rather to go after God for being just. If we feel that God is not listening or responding, at the speed or in the way that we would like, then we say He does not exist, and then we seek to take out our anger on the messenger. It is good news he brings to a dying world, but we would rather cling to the very cause of what we complain about. There is a Rock, in the midst of all of this though, and the water that issues forth can quench the deepest of thirsts. It can cleanse a man's soul and open his eyes. 

For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said, "I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.…Psalm 18:1&2

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

#164 Rest Exodus 16





19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[b] for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you[c]refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[d] It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’”

33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

36 (An omer is one-tenth of an ephah.) Exodus 16:19-36

 The manna must be eaten, it must be gathered early in the day. There comes a point where it can no longer be gathered, and it cannot be saved against that day of hunger. It has expired, but on that sixth day there is preparation enough for the miracle of the seventh. Many went out looking on the seventh day, and as He said, there was none of the bread to be found. It was the day of the Lord, the day of rest for man, the contemplation of food spiritual, rather than material. Resources are a funny thing with men, worthy of greed, violence, and disobedience to the voice of God. What is truly my own? My house was never, it carried a property tax with it as long as I was there. I love my wife, but I have no desire to claim ownership, she is her own person, and a part of me by choice. Though a practitioner of procreation, I merely played a part in a process I did not design. My children are in my care, and they are truly a blessing from the Lord, but they belong to Him. I am very guilty of acknowledging the things I don't have, but very slowly I am becoming grateful for the least thing. It is not even my life, and so I thank God for the breath and mostly that He has seen fit to change my heart, to speak to me through His word.

how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?" 27Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2:26-28

But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." 16And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.…Luke 12:14-16


Sunday, December 21, 2014

#163 Food Exodus 16





The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Exodus 16: 1-18 NIV


They murmur, how horrible their lives have become. The provisions of the trip have run out and no one wants to admit dependence upon God. It would have been better to have died in Egypt. They remind me of myself as a teenager, everything was so unfair, and later as an adult, new, different problems, yet still so unfair. As I watch the bass from the shore, breaking on schools of bait, I miss my kayak, and I am tempted to think, how unfair. It is not even useful at this point, to compare my life to another. This is the life I was granted, with every opportunity to seek and know God. The word of God is my manna, or "what is this?" Everything becomes dependent upon the word of God whether by judgement of the plagues, or sustenance of the quail and bread. I could store this up for myself and find, in the morning, an inside full of decay, corrupted by worms. The most basic of needs, resources, shall often keep a man from helping his neighbor. He sees the man hungry, but he has stored up for himself provisions through the week. I will need those, and so, as if they belong to me, I will watch you starve. If I am a child of God, and it is in my care, but I am also in ear shot of my neighbor's empty belly, then I should take them some of the Lord's provision. 


On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10: 25-37


And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" 5Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,…Matthew 4:3-5


Monday, December 15, 2014

#162 And not a drop to drink Exodus 15





So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. Exodus 15: 22-27 KJV

I would like to laugh at these people who have witnessed the parting of great waters, but I fear it would be vane on my part. My stomach is full and I am at rest today. I have already drank a glass of water to start my morning, and there is a cup of coffee beside me as a write. When the canteen is full, the urgency to find a spring is not there, and at that point, a man's thirst will remind him that he cannot live without the water. The waters of Marah are bitter and undrinkable in their present state, yet there is life there, but it will require an act of God. They cannot take of the life giving water until the tree is thrown in. We are often tempted to complain, and we are ruled by our bellies and our thirst. When my comforts are removed for a time, and I am stuck in the Ramen noodle wilderness, or I have gone a period without casting a line, it easy to become disgruntled. No one has promised me steak and lobster tails, but my mind has become so fixed upon the thought of them, that I cannot eat what is before me. I cannot laugh at these people, the water was undrinkable, but if God were to give us everything we want, would we ever learn what it is that we need?

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.…1 Cor. 6:12-14

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." 15The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw."…John 4:13-15


Sunday, December 14, 2014

#161 Freedom's Song Exodus 15





Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

6 Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.

18 The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15: 1-21 KJV


It is said, that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. All glory belongs to Him from whom all creation originates. There is a certain peaceful logic in this too, our eyes would fall quickly upon material possessions, chariots, horses and the faith of our own might. Even the best and mightiest of men falls to entropy. They had just been saved by the unlikeliest of means, and did not lift a hand to fight for themselves. God controlled the wind, stood between them and their enemy, and brought them to the other side. They had whined, and would complain more, but the victory belongs to God. I think this is the first time I have seen a song recorded since I started this Bible study. It would be interesting to know what it sounded like then; it is difficult to hum along to in the English language. Their enemy sought to take them back, because without them they were not so magnificent, and it would appear as defiance to all other lands. It was more valuable to them than their own lives, for their comes a time when the patience of God is done, and the righteousness of God must be met. In this song they recognize this as God's mercy to them. All men deserve the same in regards to sin, so I will beg for mercy, and not just my own, but for that all those who do not yet believe. I praise you God, you are much greater than my understanding, more Holy than my mind can conceive, and that you would extend your love to me, in pain and humiliation no less, more gracious to me every day. 


11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

#160 Closing Water Exodus 14





Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.”27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. Exodus 14:13-31 NIV

There is much going on here that would apply to both Israel, at the birth of the faith of those enclosed by the sea, and the body of believers, who have by faith in Christ been grafted in. "Do not be afraid, stand....and see." After the wonders they have seen in Egypt, they have much reason to listen, but there is a man, coming with his army, and he has seen all these things as well. In his mind, he is a god, his way is better, and so he defies all logic and reason, and now the pillar of cloud and the angel of the Lord move between Pharaoh's army and Israel. Surely a man will repent at this point, but no, I fear not so, for I have heard too many times the battle cry of those that hate the word of God, that love their slavery. The emotional arguments, the shouldering of those heroes of contradiction and delusion, and they would call good evil and evil good. There are those Christians in other places that suffer for what they believe, but where I live you are just deemed politically incorrect. It is a small cross to bear, barely a prick on the finger, but many succumb to it. We would choose to run away, to fit in, to deny the words of God, instead of standing firm upon them. Which God do you believe in, the one approaching with his army, or the One that says stand and see My deliverance? This is the Creator, the God of the Bible, the One who also claims that there is only one way. He is a stumbling block to my social life, a wall at times to my career, and the more I know of Him, the less good I see in myself. The Lord tells Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, and for a whole night the wind blows against the sea, and for a whole night the Egyptians may still ponder the sanity of this. Israel passes through the sea on dry ground, and the armies of the god of Egypt pursue. 

2 Peter 3:1-18:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen

The sea floor is not a place for men, horses or chariots, and there is only one way to enter and pass through. Some tried to follow, but the angel of the Lord could not be found among them. Instead they entered the sea with an Antichrist, the god of their choosing. Maybe today, with what we "know" and all our technology, we could make a stand, united as men, against the God of creation. Maybe we will get to that place, where our knowledge so increases, that we can explain away this God, find our own answer to this problem of evil, possibly legislate it away. Maybe we can evolve, become gods ourselves, the thing made and playing with the ingredients that were already here, right? I don't think I shall join your army, I shall just stand here and wait.