Right Down the Road
Genesis 24:48- and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
As Abraham was dying, he sent a servant on an errand—find a wife for my son Isaac from my people so he does not marry a “heathen” woman from the surrounding area. The servant went out not knowing how it would all play out. As you read the story, he “just so happens” to go to the right well, “just so happens” to encounter the daughter of a relative of Abraham, “just so happens” to hear the response he asked God to hear to confirm who to choose, etc. When he sits down and considers all of the events that unfolded he is in awe of God’s providence over the course of events. He realizes that God is in charge, has a plan, and if we are just faithful to stay on the right road, follow His path, we will find our way, even when we do not foresee how it could possibly work out. Paul later writers in Romans 8 that “all things work together for good for those who love God and pursue His purposes.”—God got a plan, we just need to stay the course and continue on His path. God shows us the “right road” to go in our life, we just need to trust and go even before we see. We trust our GPS to take us somewhere we never been to before , so why is it so hard to trust in an all-knowing, all powerful, all present God who already knows the beginning from the end? Stay the course and continue down the right road and God will bring you to the place of fulfillment!
Lying Legends
Genesis 34:13 Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor.
This story( Read all of Chapter 34)—is a cumulation of many generations of this family and resorting to lying to get to an end result—Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister because he thought he was protecting his family ( 2 different times) , his son Isaac learned from this and did the same thing when he feared for safety, then his son Jacob deceived him by pretending to be the other son Esau, then Jacob’s uncle Laban deceived Jacob over Rachael , giving him Leah instead, then Jacob and Laban played a game of trying to one up and deceive each other over animals , the Jacob sneaks away with his family. All of this deception and lying had its affects because it brings us to this story where Jacobs sons now deceived another leader and goes on to wipe out the town. The point of this blog being—our actions leave a lasting impact and influence on those close to us. We need to stop and consider how our decisions, thoughts, actions, and life impacts those around us. What kind of influence are we leaving with those we encounter. Do our actions lead those in our sphere of influence closer to God or away from God. Do our actions honor God or dishonor God? How are our decisions influencing those around us?
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Pay it forward
Genesis 43:23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
If you go back in the story, Josephs brothers came to Egypt some time earlier to buy grain, not knowing that who they dealt with was their brother Joseph , who they sold into slavery years earlier. They were forced to leave a brother behind and go home and bring the youngest brother back the next time as a test. When they left, after buying grain, they found the money they paid put back in their sacks. So, this return trip, they brought the money back to repay and money to buy more food. If you read this text carefully, what do you read? “I received your silver”—so if the money was found in their sacks, how did the money show as applied to the brothers account? Think about it—Joseph, the one they wronged, the one they rejected, the one they sinned against—must have paid the bill on their account. The money was placed in the treasury from someone—I believe it was Joseph paying their price for their life( without the food they would have starved). Joseph serves as a “type” of Christ, meaning he serves as an individual that will illustrate what Christ comes to earth to do—he literally is used to save those who come to him for food , he saves those who choose to come to him for their “bread of life”—here we see he pays the price for his brothers lives , even after they rejected him , even though they sinned against him. Jesus we see in Romans 5:8—“while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”—so as you go through your day—remember Jesus , stepped in and paid the cost for our life and salvation. We just need to come to Him!
REPRESENT!
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Colossians 3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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The key idea of this message is to represent Christ! See verse 17 as the summary of the whole thought. Whatever we do, whenever we do it, however we are feeling, whatever we are facing, etc. we are to REPRESENT Christ in our attitude, actions, in all aspects of life—Paul tells us how to REPRESENT Christ effectively in the discourse leading into vs. 17. – we need to live a life that is heaven set—we are to set our purpose to strive toward the goal of heaven—we REPRESENT by having heaven set: sight-vs. 1, thoughts -vs. 2, showing off Jesus- vs. 4, rejecting sin- vs. 5-9, renewing self in Christ-vs. 10,11, clothing self in caring- vs. 12-14, hearts of peace- vs. 15, and speech- vs. 16, 17. Prayerfully consider if we are truly REPRESENTING Christ in all areas of our life-both public and private!
EXEMPLIFY!
1 Thessalonians 1: 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia
Vs. 7 – the key thought here—are we an EXEMPLIFYING Christ to others? Are we models of who Jesus calls us to be—are we “Christ-like” in our walk, our words, our work? Are we an EXAMPLE ( “ a type, a pattern, a model”) of how we are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we living a life that pleases our Savior? How do we evaluate if our EXAMPLE measures up? Look at verse 3—is our Work (task, employment; a deed, action) EXEMPLIFYING faithfulness to God’s Word, is our labor (toil, labor, laborious toil, involving weariness and fatigue.) EXEMPLIFYING itself through a love for Christ—no matter what we face, what we are dealing with, how much we are going through- we do it in love!
Is our endurance (steadfastness, patient waiting for) EXEMPLIFYING the hope that we have in Christ? Do we live in such a way that no matter what we know that “this to will pass” and we are on our way to heaven! That this life is but a blip, a vapor on the radar screen of eternity! Live in such a way , everyday , that EXEMPLIFIES Christ in us!
DEMONSTRATE!
Ecclesiastes 12: 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[a] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
We are to DEMONSTRATE who Christ is in us and what He did in us! Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, writes in Ecclesiastes that after all his life, searching for happiness, searching for fulfillment, having all the riches, all the knowledge, all the pleasures of life, etc. settles on one the one and only thing that matters---FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS! Why? Because everything we do will be judged—the good, bad, and ugly of our life—even the parts of life we keep “secret” will be exposed before God—so how we DEMONSTRATE what God has put in matters in the end—It is God who works in us ( He provides a way to salvation in Christ, He provides the Holy Spirit to empower us to live this life, He gives us His Word to direct our life, etc.) but we choose how we DEMONSTRATE all He gives us. We are exhorted by Paul in 2 Thessalonians to DEMONSTRATE the life we are given in a worthy way—worthy of being called His children—not on our own, but through His power working through us to bring our faithful deeds into fruition! We are encouraged to glorify Christ in living out our life. We are exhorted to stand firm and hold fast to what He has given us, worked in us, and provided for us—stay in His Word, stay connected in Worship and Prayer, join others in worship and fellowship to encourage, challenge, and grow in your faith as a community of believers. DEMONSTRATE Christ in our life, our purpose, our Worship, our faithfulness, our choices, and our connections.
“ALTAR”ATION
Ezra 3
3 "When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices."
Instead of alterations that we make in life, alterations we make in our clothes, alterations we make in our home and yard-we need to get back to the real “altar”ation we need to make—our heart! Reading the passage above, we see the place that we need to come back to is the altar! Before Israel did anything else after their return from exile, before they built their homes, rebuilt the temple, opened their businesses, planted crops, etc. they met together as one and rebuilt the ALTAR! They knew the land and their lives needed an “ALTAR”ation and focus back on God and His ways. They knew they need God’s presence and touch in their lives. They put it as a first priority to seek God, come to the ALTAR ( a place of sacrifice, a place of surrender, a place of laying down our life before God) -- Before we can really do anything of real substance in life, meaningful purpose, or Spiritual growth we need an “ALTAR”ation—we need to come before God and lay our goals, ambitions, desires, purposes, and plans at His feet , at His ALTAR and surrender our will to His. We need to pray as Jesus Himself prayed—Lord, not my will but yours be done! Sadly, in many lives and churches today, the call to come to the “ALTAR” goes unheeded. We sit in our seats, cross our arms, and wait to be dismissed! Let me challenge you to respond to the ALTAR , to come to the ALTAR, to rebuild the ALTAR in your life—to make it a priority, whether at home, about your day, or even in church to spend time at the ALTAR ( place of surrender before God) and allow Him to make the “ALTAR”ations He needs to make so we can grow to be more like Christ!
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REFLECT!
Titus 2:7-12
New Living Translation
"7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God"
Our life is our loudest testimony-- verse 7 -"let everything you do "REFLECT" the integrity and seriousness of your teaching" When we REFLECT what we read in Scripture, REFLECT the life of Christ, REFLECT His image to the world-- there can not be any accusation of our life that we are "hypocrites"-- so we need to take time each day to consider who and what am I REFLECTING with my life-- does my testimony ( words) match my life (REFLECTION)-- does my life look more like Jesus everyday?
"2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image."
James 1:22" But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."
Our life needs to REFLECT Christ in all we do, so our words match our life-- because our life story REFLECTS a bigger impact on others than our verbal story.
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LEFTOVERS OR BESTEVERS?
Malachi 1: “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty.10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty. “When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.
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As you read this passage consider what we offer God in our lives. Do we give God our BESTEVERS or our LEFTOVERS? What do I mean? Well consider your average day. When you wake up and go through the day how does God fit into your plans? Do you rise and spend time in His Word and prayer or do you go about the day and “might” remember to offer a pray over dinner? Do you go through the day considering God and His Word in your choices and plans or do you just do what you want to do, when you want to do it and “hope” God is okay with what you are doing? Do we come to church, sit in the chair, leave as soon as it is over and maybe give a couple dollars in the offering; or do we come to church ready to serve God with your gifts and talents, and give God your best offering? Do we prioritize God and His church or do you prioritize your own agenda and fit God in when you have the time? These are all questions to consider that our text is addressing. We are not to give God our “LEFTOVER” time, gifts, talents, focus, offerings, etc. We are commanded to give Him our “BESTEVERS” , our primary focus, our primary agenda, our daily purpose, etc. Are we living our life with God on the front of our mind and thinking? Are we seeking first the kingdom of God ( i.e.- His way of doing things), are we giving Him our “firstfruits”—our very best or are we only offering what we have left?
Let me challenge you to give God your “BESTEVERS” and not just “LEFTOVERS”! But that is not just my challenge to you—it is the very Word of God!
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TWO WAY INTERACTION
Psalm 37: Believe in the Eternal, and do what is good—
live in the land He provides; roam, and rest in God’s faithfulness.
4 Take great joy in the Eternal!
His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires!
5 Commit your path to the Eternal; let Him direct you.
Put your confidence in Him, and He will follow through with you.
6 He will spread out righteousness for you
as a sunrise spreads radiance over the land;
He will deliver justice for you into the light of the high sun.
7 Be still. Be patient. Expect the Eternal to arrive and set things right.
Don’t get upset when you see the worldly ones rising up the ladder.
Don’t be bothered by those who are anchored in wicked ways.
This Psalm shows us a “two way” interaction /transaction with God—we are given a “to do” list of God’s expectations of us—not to earn His love and salvation , because we can not earn our salvation – it is God’s Grace and Mercy that saves us –“we are saved by faith , not of works”—but to procure His abundant blessings. An, “if, then” type scenario—Our interaction with God is to: 1) Believe in Him ( faith) 2) do Good, 3) live and rest in His provision ( be content with His provision for us), 4) Enjoy His blessings, 5) Commit to follow Him, 6) Take Confidence in Him, 7) and be Still and Patiently expect His deliverance
--Doing these 7 things will bring a return on our interaction with God—HE WILL then 1) Provide abundantly for us, 2) He will direct our steps, 3) He will follow through on ALL of His promises, 4) He will cover us with His righteousness ( accepting us in His presence), 5) deliver us, and 6) set things right for us!
We need to take time to interact with Him –not just when we need something but everyday—pursue Him, seek Him, draw near to Him---the more time we spend with Him the more our relationship develops and our trust deepens--- ( not unlike any relationship—as we spend time with someone we get to know them—difference between a casual acquaintance and a close personal friend is our interaction with them-)—Don’t let God be a casual acquaintance , when He wants to be a close personal companion!
God’s Way
Psalm 77:13-15
O God, Your way is so different, so distinct, so divine.
No other god compares with our God.
14 You, God, and Your works evoke wonder.
You have proved Your strength to the nations.
15 You used Your great power to release Your people:
with a strong arm, You freed Jacob’s children, and Joseph’s.
God’ way is 1) Different—His ways are higher and greater than our ability to even understand because He is already in our tomorrow!
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
He does things that are far beyond our ability to grasp, imagine or understand! ( Eph. 3:20) We need to trust Him because He knows us better than we know ourselves since He created us!
2) Distinct-there is no one like Him, no one that can fathom Him, no other God but Him—when He acts there is no question that He is the source of the victory—He stands out above all other principalities, powers, and systems! ( Philippians 2:10,11: 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.) His way is distinct in power, authority, and results!
3)- Divine—our life is empowered by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead—we can deal with life issues knowing that our victory is not by our might or power but by the Spirit of God! When God acts no one can undo His action—He is divine, He is over all creation, He is the source of all life! Let Him empower us and live through us as we walk into every life situation, knowing that even in the storms of life He is in charge!
4) Dynamic ( vs. 14)—when He acts it stuns the world! He is LARGE and in CHARGE—mankind may have its plans but God’s ultimate purpose will play out despite man’s best effort to do it “our way”—God is dynamic in all He does and one day there will be a dynamic end to this earth as He establishes His New Heaven and New Earth! We are to trust Him and let Him be God, even when we can not see clearly what He is doing or when He is doing it—just trust Him and know that when He acts on our behalf -at just the right time—it will be DYNAMIC!
Because God’s ways will bring our DELIVERANCE! ( vs. 15)—He will bring our deliverance, calm our storm, intervene on our behalf, provide for our needs and cover us with His love! Nothing will separate us from Him and His hand on our life -as long as we stay on His path and seek Him! ( Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)
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DREAM ON!
When God gives us a “dream” for our life, how do we respond? What do we do with it? Matthew 1,2 reveals 4 different DREAMS that Joseph has and the DREAM of the Magi.
Joseph's Dreams:
Matthew 1:20: An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take Mary as his wife and name their son Jesus, because he will save his people.
Matthew 2:13: After the magi depart, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to protect them from Herod.
Matthew 2:19-20: Joseph receives a dream that reveals Herod is seeking to kill Jesus and instructs him to go to Egypt.
Matthew 2:20: An angel tells Joseph in a dream that he should return to Israel after Herod's death, but not to Judea, and to establish residence in Galilee.
The Magi's Dream:
Matthew 2:12: The magi have a dream warning them not to return to Herod, so they depart for their own country by another route
So, we see 5 DREAMS to direct the course of lives. They each responded in obedience, regardless of logical “consequences”, upheaval, change in their original life direction, etc.
--Joseph obeyed 4 times and the Magi obeyed the DREAM they had. Will we obey the “DREAM” He lays on our heart , even if it doesn’t coincide with the DREAMS we have had for our life? What do we do with what God reveals to us? We all have DREAMS for our life—but do we stop and first consider God’s DREAM for your life since we are HIS masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus, to do the things He prepared in advance for us to do—we are all created on purpose for a purpose—are we seeking FIRST Gods DREAM for us before we act on our DREAM? Do we make sure they coincide before we pursue?
OUR FRUIT IS DETERMINED BY OUR ROOT
Matthew 7:16-23
New International Version
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
What kind of “FRUIT” is our life producing? Our life’s FRUIT is determined by our inner ROOTS. What we put into our heart , what we allow to take over our thoughts, what we allow access to influence our choices, what we “ingest” into our spirit will determine the health of our root and foundation. If we allow the “garbage” of life infest our spirit it is like allowing weeds to overrun our flowerbed. We will eventually not produce any flowers because the weeds will have choked out the good flowers and fruit in our garden. If we allow the seeds of the weeds to infest the soil of our heart we will not be able to produce the “fruit of repentance”, the “fruit of the Spirit”, and the “fruits” of Christ-likeness. To allow our roots to become corrupted by the world will lead to bad fruit and eventual removal from the “Garden” of Eden ( Paradise) of eternity in Gods presence and promised land!
Just saying we love God means nothing if our doing doesn’t match our words! The FRUIT of obedience is evidence if our ROOTS are healthy! Strive to keep your spiritual roots and soil healthy through immersing yourself in the Word of God, regular times of prayer, personal times of worship, and staying connected to a body of believers to encourage, uplift, challenge us to grow deeper in our faith , and accountability!
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Steps in Faith
Exodus 14: 13 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.
This story brings us a very important revelation about God and His work in our lives. Moses, from his point of view, saw the Egyptians on ones side ready to attack and the Red Sea on the other side trapping the Israelites between the 2 sides, no escape! So, like many of us, he tells the Israelites to basically trust God to work a miracle while they sit back and watch. This is a trap we often find ourself in, we pray for God to provide a job and we sit and wait for the job to “find us”, we pray for God to fix a relationship and wait for the other person to be moved by God to act, we are praying for a miracle in our health, but take no steps to take care of ourself the best we can in the meantime, we pray for God to raise up people in church to serve in ministries but do not step in to take on a ministry, or pray that God will meet a financial need yet not be faithful in our tithes/offerings. Here we see the error in this mindset. What does God say to Moses about “Moses plan?” -- Why are you crying out to me—get up and get moving toward the sea—get involved in the process and take the steps of faith—step into your “doubt” , into your fear, into your obstacle and watch what I will do as you take the steps of faith and obedience. We have to learn that God is able to do ALL things, but He involves us in the process. He doesn’t want us to just sit and watch, but to stand and move in faith. Apply for a job, go to the person, take care of your body, get involved in an area in the church, get in the Word daily, spend time in prayer daily, give to God faithfully and then watch Him do His miracle! What makes the Supernatural display of God’s glory? We do what we do in the “natural” and trust God to add the “Super” and then we see the “Supernatural”!
Just Down the Road
Exodus 15: 22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[f]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Here we see the Israelites acting like we often do. We come to a place in life that seems to offer us nothing but bitterness, we think we are doing okay and suddenly we come to a “Marah”—bitter place, and begin grumbling, complaining, and griping about our life, circumstances, issues we are dealing with and blaming others, blaming God, stressed out, panicked, and looking for answers. What is the lesson in all of this? The Israelites were upset over the water being undrinkable and immediately blame Moses and in turn God—but we see that this was just a test, would they trust God in hard times, will they keep faithful when life gives us “salt water” instead of fresh water, will we stand true to God and His Word and remain faithful when life does not go as we planned? Here we see the Israelites were failing the test, so God had to correct their mindset. He challenges them and us to listen carefully, pay attention to His commands and Words, that God Himself would be faithful to take care of them. What is ironic is, just after they hit the “bitterness” in life, just around the bend was the “Elim” , an oasis were God had more than abundance for them – twelve sprints and seventy palm trees! We need to remember, in or times of “bitterness” , all is not lost, because just around the bend is God’s Elim( oasis) that is waiting on us , if we remain faithful through the “bitter times” !
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Role Playing
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Numbers 8:22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.
As you wade through the minutia of Numbers , if you dare, you find something interesting that translates to the church age we live in today. As God gave Moses the instructions on setting up the tabernacle ( meeting place with God), each clan in the Levite Tribe (the tribe set apart as the priestly line-the ones that carried out the sacrifices, handled the tent of meeting, set up and took care of the items in the tabernacle(ark, the basins, the altar, etc.) , we see that God assigned each clan a work/ministry to be responsible for in the preparation, administration, and follow up in setting up the tent of meeting, carrying out the worship experience, and for moving the tabernacle. Everyone had a job to do, a purpose to fulfill , and an item to carry out in order to maintain the house of God and provide for effective ministry.
Numbers 4: 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.
You may ask, what does that have to do with me today? We don’t have a meeting tent in the wilderness, we don’t offer animal sacrifices, we are not “paid ministers”. Well, I beg to differ! Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Did you catch that? We, as Christians, followers of Christ are ALL a chosen, royal, holy people who are called by God to carry out His purpose. We are all part of the Gods Tabernacle ( His dwelling place), we all have the Spirit of Christ in us , thus making our lives a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, the place that God meets with us. We are all in turn part of a bigger meeting place—we call the church—and just like the Levites( the royal priesthood), we all have an assignment to fulfill to build up Gods house. We are all to step up and step in to do what we were made to do. We do not get to sit on the sidelines and let someone else do it! We are made on purpose for a purpose and the whole body suffers loss when we do not each do our part to build His house! Not only that, we as individuals miss out on Gods blessing and fulfillment in our lives when we are not living in the purpose God designed us to carry out in our lives. Play your role and let God use you the way He designed you!
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Lead the Way
Numbers 9:21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.
When the Israelites were in the desert on the way to the promised land—how did they know where to go? We see here that God led the way—He directed their steps. Sometimes in a rapid manner—daily they packed and moved, sometimes keeping them at a place for a longer season in life. When God’s cloud/fire stopped they stayed and carried out their lives faithfully where they were until the cloud/fire lifted and moved—then they dropped what they were doing and followed where He led! They didn’t try to figure out when and where God was going to lead them, they just kept eyes on Him ( cloud/fire) , kept focus on Him, so they knew when it was time to act, move, take the next step. When it was time—as you read Chapter 9 we see that the Ark of Covenant—the symbol of Gods presence--- led the way—showing the Israelites that God was going before them on their journey. That the presence of God was already heading to where they were going and would lead them step by step. We need to examine our lives to see if we are in step with God. Do we wait on God before trying to go our way? Do we seek Him and His way of doing things before we act? Do we have the “patience” if we are in a “holding pattern” as we wait for what God would lead us to do in a situation? Do we let God lead the way or do we try to go our way on our own time? Let us emulate the Israelites. When we are in the wilderness of life, instead of going were we want, when we want, how we want—lets stop and look to the Lord, trust in Him, not leaning on our own logic, acknowledge Him in all our ways and then HE WILL DIRECT OUR PATHS! ( Proverbs 3:5-6) We may not have a visible fire or cloud to show us when and where to go—but we do have the Holy Spirit in our heart, we have the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16 and Philippians 2:5) and we have the Word of God that instructs us and teaches us the way we should go! (Psalm 32:8)