road2answers

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Impossible Situations

“Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.” (Exodus 14:28)[i]

A few short hours before, the Israelites said:

“Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” (Exodus 14:11-12)

The Israelites were in a panic. God had led them into an impossible situation. In a minute, we will look more at the situation they were in.

We all face situations in life that cause us to panic. Have you ever had questions like the Israelites asked? Why did you lead me here? Have you deserted me? Why is this happening to me?

Why does God lead us through these situations?

First, we need to understand that we can never answer this question completely. Faith is required in our relationship with God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

We know that God loves us. He demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. However, it is not given to us to know everything. Isaiah 55:9 explains:

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

However, God does reveal to us what we need to know and teaches us as we walk with Him. In answer to the question, “Why did you bring us here,” we will see that one of God’s purposes is to strengthen, grow and encourage us.

This is a lesson taught throughout the Bible. James 1:2 even goes so far as to say, “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

Having laid this important groundwork, let’s now consider the events of that day in the wilderness at the side of the Red Sea, recorded for us in Exodus 13 and 14.

First, we see that God did not lead them along the most direct route. Exodus 13:17 says:

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)

God was obviously leading. Exodus 13:21-22 says:

The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

These people, following the Lord’s leading and knowing they were where he led them, now found themselves in an impossible situation.

How could Israel survive an attack by the world’s mightiest military? They were unarmed. The day before they had been slaves, trained in such skills as brick making, farming, ditch digging, cleaning and cooking. They could now see the mightiest military on earth coming after them. They were like sheep waiting to be slaughtered, defenseless. Therefore their question to Moses, “Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt?”

God had purposely led His people to this point. The Israelites were asking, “What have you done to us?” (Exodus 14:11)

But the Lord had said, “I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army.” (Exodus 14:4)

This reminds me of a time when the disciples were in a boat with Jesus. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat and a storm came up and threatened to swamp the boat. The disciples cried out, “Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?” (Mark 4:38) Jesus rebuked them. He said, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

The Psalmist teaches us, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) The Psalmist had this confidence through experience. The Lord leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.

God led His people into an impossible situation in order to show His glory and so that the world would know that there is no other God. Through this process, their faith was strengthened.

In Deuteronomy 8:5 Moses is reviewing the Israelites’ 40 years in the wilderness and says, “Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.”

This same concept is taught in the New Testament. Hebrews 12:6-8 says:

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

If you love the Lord, this is very good news. How much confidence can we have in facing impossible situations? This is why James 1:2 says to consider it an opportunity for great joy. However, this was not good news for the Egyptians. They had set themselves in opposition to God.

Although everything looked like the Israelites were facing annihilation, it was the Egyptians who were running headlong into a truly impossible situation. Whenever anyone sets his or her self in opposition to God, that person is running headlong into an impossible situation. If you are fighting against God in your life, the impossible situation you are facing is an opportunity to repent. Call out to God for forgiveness before it is too late.

Exodus 14:9 says, “The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.” There was nowhere for the Israelites to go. They were pinched between the sea and Pharaoh’s army.

God set the whole thing up. He was in control. The Israelites could see their death in the glint of the armor and the roar of the chariot wheels. Just think how their faith was strengthened and their hearts encouraged at what happened next.

Exodus 14:19-20 says:

Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.

The Egyptians were in darkness. They could not see to attack. At the same time, the Israelites had light. They could see to avoid the Egyptians. God used darkness to shield the Israelites from the Egyptian army, and light to give added safety and comfort.

While the Egyptians wandered in darkness, the Lord was making a way for the Israelites. Exodus 14:21-22 says:

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

The Lord made a way where there was no way.

He does the same thing for us when we face impossible situations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (ESV)[ii] Notice especially the words “he will also provide the way of escape.” He always makes a way

He did the same thing at the cross. There was no way to cover or pay for our sins. Humanity was lost without hope, and God made a way where there was no way. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

When God made a way for the Israelites, the Egyptians saw it and used it as well. They followed the Israelites into the heart of the sea. Exodus 14:23 says, “Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea.”

The Israelites were not out of danger. The army with horses, chariots and trained fighting men could move much faster than the Israelites. However, the Israelites had God on their side. God fought for the Israelites. He made the wheels come off the chariots and threw the Egyptian army into confusion. By the time the Egyptians realized what was happening, it was too late.

Exodus 14:27-29 says:

The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.

The very thing that proved to be a way for the Israelites was the destruction of the Egyptians.

At the cross, what the devil intended to be the defeat of Jesus, proved to be a great victory for Jesus. In our lives, it is the same. The things that our enemy intends for our destruction, God turns into our greatest victories.

Darkness appears to be winning the battle in the world around us. 2 Timothy 3:13 tells us, “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (ESV) We can have confidence that God will work and use these things to His glory and our victory through faith.

One reason God leads us through impossible situations is to teach us the truth of Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Passover

Deliverance can happen in a moment. It is very costly, and it comes to anyone without distinction or discrimination.

God’s deliverance of His chosen people from the land of Egypt illustrates these three points.

First, who are these Chosen People? The descendants of Israel are known as the Chosen People.

Israel is another name for the man Jacob. Jacob was the second son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham.

After the flood, the descendants of Noah all settled in a plain called Shinar. They began to build a tower there in order to keep from spreading out over the whole earth. This was an act of rebellion against God, and God confused their language so the tower was never built. In the generations before the flood, humanity quickly strayed far away from God in heart, philosophy and practice. After the flood, humanity made it clear that no lesson had been learned. In just a few short generations, humankind was far from God in heart, philosophy and practice.

God chose a man, Abraham, and set him apart. God made a promise to Abraham. The promise is:

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.[i] (Genesis 12:2-3)

Later on in Abraham’s life, God added information about His promise to Abraham. He told Abraham:

I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God. (Genesis 17:7-8)

Years later, when Jacob was an old man and had a large family, God confirmed the covenant He had made with Abraham and told Jacob:

“I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.” (Genesis 46:3-4)

That was the beginning of Jacob’s family’s time in Egypt. During that time, they grew from 70 people to a couple million. They also became Egypt’s slaves.

Egypt was prosperous and full of the worship of idols. If not for their enslavement and forced segregation, Jacob’s family would have become one with Egypt. God’s promise set them apart. God preserved them. They were not chosen because they were unique. They were unique because they were chosen. They were God’s chosen people.

The main point of being God’s chosen people was that God was to be their God and they were to be God’s people. This was at the center, heart or core of the promise God made to Abraham. This is what was to set them apart. God’s promise was also to bless the whole world through Abraham and his descendants. They were to be God’s firstborn, i.e. the first of many to be delivered.

Besides considering who these chosen people are, we have a question of “what does it mean to be delivered?”

God’s promise to Abraham and then to Jacob included giving them the land of Canaan. This to them became known as the Promised Land or the land of promise. After centuries of bitter toil and slavery, it was a promise of hope and rest, a land of their own where they would be free.

However, first, they had to be delivered from their slavery, and Egypt was not willing to give up her slaves. The book of Exodus gives the account of how God showed His power by sending plagues that stripped the land of its wealth and humiliated its supposed gods. God showed by His mighty power that there is no god but One. However, Egypt’s king, Pharaoh, still would not let God’s people go.

Deliverance then was not just the ending of slavery. It was the demonstration of God’s power so that the people’s faith and confidence was in God. It was ending of oppression, cruelty and control. It was the giving of hope, rest and a home. It was the instilling of a new identity, strength and solidarity. It was getting Egypt out of a people who were chosen to be different.

God’s delivery of the children of Israel from Egypt was the delivery of His firstborn and looked forward to the eternal, great delivery that took place at Calvary. God delivered His people in one night, at great cost with no distinction made between Egyptian and Jew.

First, we said that delivery can happen in a moment. We see this in the Passover. It happened in one night.

That one night God sent an angel throughout the land of Egypt. That angel killed the firstborn of every family. He even killed the firstborn of the animals. Before the night was over, Pharaoh drove God’s chosen people out of Egypt.

Consider with me what had led up to this moment. If we go back in history, God told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt. God had been preparing Moses to lead this deliverance for the past 80 years. God had just spent time taking Egypt through 9 plagues urging them to let His people go.

The plagues, preparation, suffering and deliverance all served a purpose. They taught God’s chosen people that He is God. If you are asking God for deliverance, do not give up hope and do not stop asking. Realize, that deliverance can and will happen in a moment. But, it will not happen until the time is right.

From the time of Adam, all humanity has been in slavery to sin. Sin is not willing to give up its slaves. However, from before time began, God was preparing a deliverer. In 3 days and 3 nights, God worked a wonderful deliverance. In the moment that Jesus rose from the grave, death and sin were defeated once for all and forever. It happened in a moment, but the world had been waiting for it for thousands of years.

Delivery happened in a moment, and it was very costly.

Egypt was obstinate. Pharaoh would not let Israel go. God patiently kept asking and then demonstrating that if they did not let Israel go, there would be a price to pay. Israel was God’s firstborn. They must be set free. Plague after plague, Egypt was stripped of her wealth. The livestock were all dead. The crops were all destroyed. The trees and grass were all gone.

This is what God said through Moses:

‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son. I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’ (Exodus 4:22-23)

If you are asking the Lord for deliverance, you must realize that you must die. There is no other way. We will all die physically and then we shall be completely free from sin. However, even now in our present bodies we can die to sin through Jesus Christ. We cannot do this for ourselves. He must do it in us. The Bible teaches in several places what Galatians 2:20 says concisely, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (ESV)[ii]

You cannot cut a deal with sin. It grabs you by the throat and will not let go. The price for getting free from sin is death. God gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay that price. Deliverance is costly. It will cost you nothing because Jesus paid the price. At the same time, it will cost you everything. To be gained is freedom, hope, identity, family, home, rest and eternity, but you have to leave Egypt. You have to leave what you know. You have to pack up and move out in the middle of the night. You must leave what you love in order to gain what He promises.

Deliverance can happen in a moment, it is costly and there is no distinction.

The first couple of plagues came on the whole land of Egypt without distinguishing between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. Then God started making a distinction. The Hebrews’ cattle were spared. The Hebrews’ crops were spared. The Passover was different. It was the only plague where to be spared, an act of faith was required. It did not matter if one was Hebrew or Egyptian. Without the blood of a yearling lamb on the doorposts, the firstborn of that household would die. There were no exceptions, a lamb had to be killed in place of the firstborn of every family.

There were Egyptians that left Egypt with Israel. I assume that they observed the Passover, but the Scriptures do not say. However, Scripture does say quite clearly, “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” (Exodus 12:23) The Passover gets its name from this verse. The house that was marked by blood was passed over. If anyone believed what God was saying through Moses, they would have been sure to have the blood on their doorposts that night. That is why it is an act of faith.

God works this way. Deliverance is there for the asking. There is no distinction. Romans 3:20-24 says:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Is there something that you need deliverance from?

Ask God, and trust in His timing and purpose.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Who is the Lord?

The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

This world sets itself up in opposition to God.

The Bible tells us, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.”[i] (1 John 2:16) These things oppose God in our lives. They come from within and are reflected in our attitude toward the world around us. These three things enslave us, and will not let us go.

Our slavery to sin and God’s deliverance is pictured in the story of the Exodus. The Scriptures tell us of Moses:

He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. (Hebrews 11:25-26)

Reviewing the Exodus, we will learn how God works.

Much of how God works is a mystery. He tells us that as the heavens are high above the earth so are His ways higher than ours. We must be humble when we approach understanding how God works. A common mistake is to think we understand and then judge that God is not good or just. Isaiah 45:9 says:

"What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you're doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, 'How clumsy can you be?'

As we begin looking at the plagues that God sent on Egypt, I want to begin by speaking about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. The question that comes to mind when God says he will harden Pharaoh’s heart is, “Then why does God still judge?”

Romans 9 makes a statement that may help us understand. Verse 22 says, “God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls.”

Why does it say, “He is very patient?”

Hebrews 6:7&8 makes this comparison:

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

In this illustration, the mercy and patience of God are like rain. This mercy and patience gives chance to repent, but if it is resisted it serves only to harden the soil. Pharaoh is a good example of this. By the very act of showing mercy, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

In Exodus 9:15 God is trying to reason with Pharaoh and he says, “By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth.” God could easily have freed His people with one mighty miracle. Instead, He gave Pharaoh 10 chances to repent.

In another place, God tries reasoning with people who were sinning greatly and says:

Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages. Your country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see. (Isaiah 1:5-7)

God reasons with people. He tries to warn them against the consequences of sin. We see this in the story of the plagues.

When God confronted Pharaoh He first performed a sign to show that it was God speaking. He is trying to reason with Pharaoh. This first sign was the staff that turned into a snake. When Aaron threw down his staff and it turned into a snake the Egyptian magicians duplicated this action, but Aaron’s snake swallowed all of their snakes.

When showing a sign did not work, God then showed his judgments. Pharaoh had said, “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2) This same question is behind the sin issue in the heart of man. The judgments that fell on Pharaoh answer the question, “Who is the Lord.” These judgments are nothing more than the consequences of the national sins of the Egyptians. Even so, these plagues could have been avoided at any point had Pharaoh been willing to turn. Here is a brief list of those Judgements:

1 Blood:

Turning the Nile into blood was significant because the Nile was their idol. Also, Matthew Henry points out, “They had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrews' children, and now God made that river all blood.” The next judgment did not have to come if Pharaoh would have recognized, “Who is the Lord.”

2 Frogs:

One of their deities, Heka, was a frog-headed goddess, and they seem to have regarded the frog as a sacred emblem of creative power. The great multiplication of frogs, whereby they became an annoyance and a curse, was a trial and strain to the entire Egyptian religious system. The Egyptians might not kill them, yet they destroyed all their comfort and all their happiness. Their animal-worship was thus proved absurd and ridiculous. (Pulpit Commentary) The next judgment did not have to come if Pharaoh would have recognized, “Who is the Lord.”

3 Gnats or lice:

The third plague, gnats, was a judgment on Set, the god of the desert.

It is interesting to notice that the judgments are divided into three groups. The first two in each group come with a warning, and the third without. The gnats came without warning being the third in the first group. The next judgment did not have to come if Pharaoh would have recognized, “Who is the Lord.”

4 Flies:

The fourth plague, flies, was a judgment on Uatchit, the fly god. In this plague, God clearly distinguished between the Israelites and the Egyptians, as no swarms of flies bothered the areas where the Israelites lived. The next judgment did not have to come if Pharaoh would have recognized, “Who is the Lord.”

5 Livestock:

The cattle died. The death of livestock was a judgment on the goddess Hathor and the god Apis, who were both depicted as cattle. As with the previous plague, God protected His people from the plague, while the cattle of the Egyptians died. God was steadily destroying the economy of Egypt, while showing His ability to protect and provide for those who obeyed Him. We see that God would remove false gods. Pharaoh was learning that there is one true God.

6 Boils:

This time God sent a plague that afflicted their own bodies. Also, God used the ashes from the brick furnaces, using the suffering that the Egyptians had inflicted on the Hebrews in judgment against them. Boils were a judgment against several gods over health and disease (Sekhmet, Sunu, and Isis).

Before God sent the last three plagues, Pharaoh was given a special message from God. These plagues would be more severe than the others, and they were designed to convince Pharaoh and all the people “that there is none like me in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14).

7 Hail:

The seventh plague, hail, attacked Nut, the sky goddess; Osiris, the crop fertility god; and Set, the storm god. This hail was unlike any that had been seen before. A fire that ran along the ground accompanied it, and everything left out in the open was devastated by the hail and fire. Again, the children of Israel were miraculously protected, and no hail damaged anything in their lands.

8 Locusts:

The eighth plague, locusts, again focused on Nut, Osiris and Set. The later crops, wheat and rye, which had survived the hail, were now devoured by the swarms of locusts. There would be no harvest in Egypt that year.

9 Darkness:

The ninth plague, darkness, was aimed at the sun god, Re, who was symbolized by Pharaoh himself. For three days, the land of Egypt was smothered with an unearthly darkness, but the homes of the Israelites had light.[ii]

10 the death of the first born

These plagues were judgments as well as signs.

As the judgments became more severe, the greatness of God became clearer.

God used their false gods to show the foolishness of worshipping any besides Him. Romans 1:21-23 says:

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

The first commandment is that we should have no other gods.

Many mistake the patience of God for weakness, or even argue that He does not exist. Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:3) Not only did he not know God. He opposed God. Before sending the eighth plague, the Lord asks Pharaoh, “How long will you refuse to submit to me?” (Exodus 10:3)

Something similar will happen when Jesus returns. The period of time known as a tribulation will again see signs and judgments. These signs and judgments will be aimed at all of the things that men have made into idols. The whole point of that period of time is to give everyone a chance to repent.

We all must be aware of the idols that we set up in our hearts. The things that we let take the place that only God deserves in our lives.

2 Peter 3:3-9 describes the day that we live in.

I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

[ii] Information about the plagues and their representative gods was in large part quoted directly from the website http://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Deliverance

Read Exodus 5

For many years, the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt.

Israel and his family moved to Egypt because of a widespread famine. God used Israel’s son Joseph to preserve the family from the devastating effects of the famine.

While Joseph was alive, the children of Israel lived in favor in Egypt. However, a pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph. He saw the rapidly growing population of Hebrews and made plans to both dominate and reduce the Israelite population.

Those plans included slavery, oppression and killing the male babies. The labor demands, slavery and oppression became so harsh that the people of Israel cried out to God for help.

God responded and appeared to a man named Moses. Moses was tending sheep in the wilderness at the time. He saw a bush engulfed in flames, but the fire did not consume the bush. When Moses went to investigate, God spoke to him from the bush. God told Moses to go and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. God said, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7)

God does not call them the children of Israel; He calls them “My People.”

Moses objected that he was not capable, and that the people would not accept him as their leader. God gave Moses powerful signs to present to the leaders of the people as proof that God sent him.

Reluctantly, Moses went to Egypt and met with the leaders of the children of Israel. He performed the signs for them and convinced them that God heard their cries for help and was acting on their behalf. The people of Israel were overjoyed. Exodus 4:30 says, “When they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh with a request to take a 3 day’s journey into the wilderness to worship God.

Pharaoh responded that he did not know God, had no reason to listen to God and he would not let the Israelites go to worship their God.

Moses and Aaron asked a second time, very humbly, saying they were afraid of God’s anger if they did not go and worship.

Pharaoh replied that Moses and Aaron were distracting the people from their work. He said the people were lazy and gave orders that in addition to their normal brick quotas, they were now required to gather their own straw. What had been brutal labor now was elevated to the point that the workers feared for their lives.

Exodus 5:22-6:1 says:

Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”

Then the LORD told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

The Lord said, “Now you will see.”

There are times when we need to see the hand of the Lord.

We may not be in slavery in Egypt, but there are difficulties, challenges and obstacles that block our path. Marriage problems, problems with children, family problems, financial problems, disease, addictions and an unlimited variety of issues surround us.

Like the Israelites, we get to the point that we call out to God. We need to see. We need to see what God will do to Pharaoh.

There is a progression of events here in the story of God’s dealings with Moses and Israel that, if we understand them, will help us be patient and not lose hope when waiting for God’s deliverance.

First, we see the confrontation.

Moses approached Pharaoh with a request, and Pharaoh did not want to talk about it.

When we come to God for deliverance, there has to be this confrontation. The problem or issue has to be brought to the surface. It has to be faced.

With Pharaoh, it was his pride. Literally, he said, “Who is God?” We can almost hear the contempt and derision in his voice. He set himself up in opposition to God.

Many things set themselves up in opposition to God in our lives. The first and greatest of these is pride. It might manifest itself in the form of a problem with anger, an addiction or a habit, but at the root, it is still pride.

Many cries for deliverance fail here, because we fail to recognize or confront the real issue. The monster, giant or Pharaoh controlling our lives must be confronted. It will not work to try to control a behavior without addressing the pride, unforgiveness or attitude behind it.

Another issue is why we confront the issue. Moses and Aaron requested permission to go and serve the Lord. If they had sought permission to go to the beach for a few days, it might have been understandable but not a reason for God to intervene. Often we ask for deliverance so that we can be normal, so that we can be free to do more with what we perceive to be ours. In this case, our plea for deliverance has nothing to do with the Lord or His purpose for our lives. In other words, James 4:3 has an explanation. It says, “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.”

It took a lot of courage to do what Moses and Aaron did. However, they mustered their courage and approached Pharaoh. That is the confrontation. We must have the courage to face the real issue.

After the confrontation comes the response.

Pharaoh’s response was to defend his turf. “Who is the Lord?” he said with contempt. Then he increased the people’s workload beyond reason. He brought all the weight of his nation to bear on the problem. All the machinery of slavery went into action. Slave drivers, whips and supervisors all had a part to play. Slavery had a long history in Egypt and the institution was designed to keep the Hebrews oppressed. Therefore, everything got a lot worse. The response to the confrontation was devastating.

This is a pattern in life. Once we confront our slave master, things get worse. The enemy of our souls is not Pharaoh. He is the devil, the ancient serpent from the Garden of Eden. The hang-ups and habits he uses to get control are called strongholds. As this name implies, these habits and hang-ups are resilient. They do not go away easily. Like the institution of slavery, they have all the machinery in place to keep us held captive.

When God starts the process of removing us from these traps, we start to realize just how much they are a part of us. The fight will feel like a fight for one’s life, because it is. The serpent’s intent is to destroy us. God’s intent is that we might live.

At this point, we, like the people of Israel and Moses, are prone to cry out, “God what are You doing?”

When the time is right God says, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.”

This is the answer.

We have progressed from the confrontation through the response to the answer.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (ESV)

When everything gets worse and we see the strength of the stronghold in our lives, we are tempted to give up. We must wait for the Lord. We must hope in the Lord. Notice that God did not say, “Don’t worry, I will give you strength to deal with Pharaoh.” He said, “Now you will see what I will do.”

In our own strength, defeating a stronghold is beyond us. This is why we need to see the mighty hand of God at work.

Many years after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, there was a king in Judah named Ahaz. Two nations conspired against the kingdom of Judah and Ahaz and his people were afraid. At that point, God said something that applies to us. God said, “Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.” (Isaiah 7:9)

This is the lesson of Isaiah 40:31. Those who wait upon the Lord renew their strength.

Consider Luke 18:1 where it says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”

Did you know that Jesus taught that you should never give up?

Never give up hope in the Lord. Call upon Him for help. Do not be surprised when things get worse; expect it. Be confident that God, who began the work in you, will bring it to completion.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Just Call

Exodus chapter 1 through chapter 2 verse 10 gives the details of how God prepared a deliverer for His people in spite of all of Pharaoh’s efforts to keep it from happening. Pharaoh tried enslaving the Hebrews and killing all their male babies as means of controlling the Hebrew population. God planned otherwise.

God used Pharaoh’s daughter to raise Moses.

Exodus 2:10 says, “The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”[i]

Her reason for naming him Moses was she lifted him out of the water. A clever play on words for her, and unknown to her an even more clever play on words for God.

God was about to lift a nation out of slavery!

God was about to “lift out” over 2 million slaves.

Every generation since that time has retold the story of the great deliverance God worked through Moses.

We see in Exodus 2 God’s preparation of the deliverer.

First, we see his early training.

Moses was nursed by his Hebrew mother. When he was weaned, he was adopted into the daughter of Pharaoh’s house. Acts 7:22 tells us, “Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.” Egypt had the best training and knowledge of the day. Moses was well educated. Not only well educated but he was powerful in both speech and action. Exodus 2:11 says, “Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work.”

I want to talk about this word “grown up” in Exodus 2:11. We know from Acts 7 verse 23 that Moses was 40 years old. This is what is meant by “many years later” in Exodus 2:11. Since we realize this, it is natural to translate the Hebrew word of Exodus 2:11 as “grown up.” However, there is a more basic or fundamental meaning of the word. The word for word literal translation would be to “become great.” Follow me now, taking Exodus 2:11 and Acts 7:23 together it is safe to say by the age of 40 Moses had “become great.” He was powerful in both speech and action.

We can now look at verses 11 through 13 of Exodus 2 in a new light. Exodus 2:11-13 say:

¹¹Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. ¹²After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.

¹³The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight.

Acts 7:25 explains Moses’ behavior by saying, “Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them.”

Moses identified with his Hebrew heritage, and was great in the Egyptian world. He knew his calling and purpose.

Everything blew up in his face. The Hebrews rejected him saying, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge?” In addition, the Egyptians turned and tried to kill him because of his actions in support of the Hebrews. The murder was just the excuse for executing Moses. The real issue was what we are told in Hebrews 11:24&25. Moses “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.”

Rejected by his people and pursued by the Egyptians, Moses spent the next 40 years in the wilderness. Just how much he felt his failure is shown in his words after 40 years. He says, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) Could this be the same powerful, confident man who at the age of 40 was ready to do the job?

Moses spent 40 years tending sheep in the wilderness. These 40 years were just as important as the education and training Moses had received. God used both to prepare his servant.

God was working a great deliverance. It was not the work of a man. It was the work of God. Many years later the prophet Zechariah expressed it this way, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)[ii] We see this in God’s preparation of the leader of the deliverance.

At the same time God was preparing the deliverer, He was also preparing the people to be delivered.

Acts 7 gives the example of the people’s rejection of Moses and says, “God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’” (Acts 7:35) Then this scathing rebuke is leveled against the Hebrew people, “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 7:51)

They rejected Moses, but 40 years later God says numerous times, “I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers.” (Exodus 3:7) By the end of chapter 2 it is clear that the people’s suffering had become unbearable and they were crying out to God.

Both the deliverer and the “deliveries” were now ready. God enters in and introduces Himself for the first time as “I AM.”

This above all the other names of God is His personal name. He is the Almighty, the Savior, the Provider and we need to know these things. However, at the greatest moment of need and vulnerability we need the “I am.”

God is still working great deliverances every day, and they still follow the same pattern. God prepares his deliverers. Those who would be used by God need to be trained, and they have to learn, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.”

Those who would be delivered must learn to call upon the Lord to be delivered. As long as we think we can do it ourselves we will not turn to God for deliverance.

Here is a truth from Scripture. Jesus is the only way for any of us to be delivered. We are all slaves, but Jesus sets us free. Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

There are two mistakes we make. One is having been set free we get to thinking that we can set others free by our skill and knowledge. The second is we think we can set ourselves free.

Friends there is a great truth of Scripture that is so simple it is astounding, but it is hard to accept. The Scripture say it in numerous places and in numerous ways. I will quote it from Romans 10:13. It says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

It is that simple. The miracle of the burning bush, the plagues on Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground and the crossing of the wilderness all happened because the people called on God. These things did not happen because Moses was brilliantly trained. These things did not happen because the people were brave and courageous. These things happened because the people called on the great “I AM” for deliverance.

If you need a miracle today, call on Him, just call.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.