Scripture reading for January 27th: Exodus 21-24

Is there any such thing as a “harmless sin”?  We sometimes laugh when our young children defiantly disobey.  When our adopted daughters were first released from the orphanage to come with us, they were so cute!  Both my wife and I and the girls had a short time of mutual admiration.  But on one of our first outings, we were waiting to cross the street and cars were speeding by.  One of them (name withheld to protect the innocent!) stuck her foot out towards the street and looked up mischievously  to see what we might do!  Mary and I had a good laugh but realized that we had a job ahead of us and a late start!

Sin entered mankind through Eve’s deception and through the disobedience of Adam.  Sin had consequences.  We can choose to sin, but we get the consequences for free!  The law that God gave Moses on the mountain included Exodus 21-24.  These were practical explanations of the ten commands that helped God’s people understand how these laws would play out in the community of Israel.  A holy God lived in their midst who demanded that they be holy too. (1st Peter 1:15-16)

Some of the laws and their consequences remind us of the “deadliness” of sin!  In Exodus 21:15 and 17, the penalty for attacking father or mother or cursing them was death.  If a man owned a bull that was known to gore others and he did not restrain this animal and a person was killed, the bull and the owner would die! (Exodus 21:28-29)  A sorceress must be put to death!  (Exodus 22:18)  Anyone having sexual relations with an animal must die!  (Exodus 22:19)  One who took advantage of an orphan or a widow would die if that orphan or widow cried out to the Lord!  God gets angry when we mess with those who are hurting!  (Exodus 22:26-27)

God is compassionate and loves us enough to confront sin.  We need to be serious when it comes to sin.  As parents, we need to love our children enough to discipline them and teach them that sin is nothing to mess with.  May the Lord continue to love us enough to discipline us so that sin is not our downfall!

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good that we might share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10

Scripture reading for January 26: Exodus 19-20

God carried the whole nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a display of His power in the plagues.  The Israelites were protected and experienced God’s deliverance as they walked out of Egypt, laden down with silver and gold and other valuables.  God’s presence guided them in the pillar of fire and in the cloud.  God provided miraculously for them again and again in sending the manna and quail and then providing water from the rock.  These children understood the mercy of God, but did not fear Him!  This holy fear is a foundation for wisdom.  (Proverbs 1:7)

God led the children of Israel to Mt. Sinai where He gave instructions through Moses to the people.  They were to refrain from sexual relations, wash their clothes, and consecrate themselves to prepare to hear God’s voice speaking to them.  (Exodus 19:10-16)  On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, and a loud trumpet blast.  When the trumpet sounded, everyone in the camp trembled with fear!  (Exodus 20:18-19)  The people begged Moses to speak to them, but did not want God to speak for they feared they might die!  Why would God bring these special people out of slavery to do this to them?

God’s stated purpose was to instill in them the “fear of God to keep them from sinning.” (Exodus 20:20)   The ten commandments that Moses received revealed sin in the heart of man.  They are the mirror for our soul showing our guilt of breaking His law.  They cannot save us from the penalty but drive us to God for mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As you read Exodus 20:1-17 today, ask the Lord to reveal his holiness to you and open your eyes to your need for holy fear.  Look at each commandment and see how these commands help us to love God and love our neighbor.  If you are breaking any of them, take time and confess with repentance.  Thank God that Jesus Christ fully kept God’s law and that His righteousness is now ours by faith!

“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.  God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Exodus 20:20

Scripture reading for January 24: Exodus 16-18

For some reason, I’ve been in leadership positions all my life!  I’ve always felt inadequate.   As I’ve worked leading in various secular and church positions, I’ve become acutely aware of my inability to please everyone.  Moses soon learned this same truth!

In the passages of the last few days, God’s redeemed people were delivered from Egypt by a mighty act of power by the Lord, and then from Pharaoh’s pursuing army!  Led by Miriam, Moses’ sister, they danced in joy and sang a song of deliverance!  People sometimes expect everything to be handed to them and they will live happily ever after.  This picture is soon readjusted as troubles cause us to face reality.

A few days after the victory celebration, the Israelites faced hunger and began to grumble, blaming their leader Moses. (Exodus 16:3)  In spite of this, God met their need!  Next, they ran out of water and began to grumble again.  Their hearts were angry and hard and in blaming their leader,  they actually blaming God! (Exodus 16:8)

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came for a visit to bring back Moses’ wife and two sons.  Jethro was thrilled to hear the stories of God’s deliverance through his son-in-law.  He observed Moses sitting in judgment with all the people coming to him with their complaints.  His advice to Moses was to raise up some helpers.  Moses should just handle the ‘hard’ cases and let the others do the rest!

Lessons for today are plain.  First, pray and obey before you complain!  When you grumble about your leader,  you are grumbling about God!  Listen to your leadership and support them by prayer and encouragement!  Don’t test or blame God; He is never at fault!  (He makes no mistakes)  If you are a leader, raise up those who can help you with the work.    Leadership can be a joy when you listen to advice.  The main one to please in all of this is God.

” For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”

Scripture Reading for January 24:  Exodus 13-15

Have you ever followed the Lord’s direction and got more than you bargained for?  Moses had obeyed the Lord and witnessed the 10 plagues that humbled Pharaoh and judged the people of Egypt and their gods.  He and Israel had experienced God’s protection and blessing throughout this time, even though they were slaves and had cruel taskmasters.  The final plague had convinced Pharaoh to send the Israelites away.  The Egyptians had given them many items of silver and gold and they went away rich!  God healed their bodies and there was not one feeble or sick person in the company of over one million people!  The lamb that they had eaten and the blood over their doors had brought them amazing deliverance and blessing!  They left Egypt following the cloud of God’s presence by day and a pillar of fire by night!  But, trouble was lurking not far behind them and would soon put them between the proverbial “rock and hard place”!

The Egyptians came to their senses and Pharaoh decided to bring them back.  He ordered all his army into mobilization and hot pursuit! The Israelites, under the direction of God’s cloud and fire, were camped in the desert by the Red Sea.  They looked up and saw the army of Egypt bearing down on them and “cried out to the Lord”.  (Exodus 14:10-13)  They then began blaming  Moses, saying that they should have stayed in Egypt.  They blamed God for bringing them out in the desert to die!

But if God is for you, who can be against you?  (Romans 8:31)  The God of cloud and fire can do anything!  When you are following His instructions, the journey may get wild and even scary at times, but you will enjoy the ending!   Moses held out his staff over the waters.  The waters were parted and the Israelites walked over on dry ground.  As soon as the Egyptians were between the walls of water, their wheels started to come off and the Lord fought against them.  Moses held out his staff again and the Egyptians were all drowned in the surging sea!

The lessons for us are plain!  Follow God closely and trust Him no matter what obstacles you face.  When you find yourself between a “rock and a hard place”, trust God to direct your way!  ” Stand still and see the salvation of God! ” (Exodus 14:13)

Scripture reading for January 22nd: Exodus10-12

My wife and I adopted two girls from Russia in 1999.  They were 8 and 9 years of age and spoke no English when they came to America in August.  We were eager to share our faith in Jesus with them and took them to church each week.    For Easter of 2000, I did an illustrated sermon with a live lamb, a basin of red paint, and a door frame and a big knife.  I explained the story of the Passover lamb that was killed for the Israelites from Exodus 12.  That day, one of our girls prayed to receive the Lord as her Savior!

The plagues were sent, one by one, to attack the deities and idols of Egypt.  Egyptians worshiped many gods and Pharaoh, himself, was considered like a god.  Scripture states that  Pharaoh hardened his heart through the first few plagues. (Exodus 8:15, 32)  After the plague of death on Pharaoh’s animals, it states that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”  (Exodus 9:12)  This hardening of a heart is what happens when truth is denied and a person or nation refuses to hear God’s voice.  When you pass a certain point, God then turns you over and hardens your heart!

The final plague was the death of  the firstborn who were not in a home marked by blood.   A spotless lamb was to be brought into the house on the tenth day of the month,  keeping it until the fourteenth day.  The elder in the home was kill the lamb and take blood, sprinkling it on the doorpost and over the lentil.  The lamb was to be roasted in the fire and eaten.  At midnight, the death angel would visit each household.  When he saw the blood on the door post of a house, he would pass over that home.  Every home that wasn’t covered with the blood would find the firstborn suddenly dead!

The lamb that was slain for our sins was Jesus Christ!  He was examined in the temple from the 10th day until the 14th.  He was crucified early in the morning and died at three o’clock  in the afternoon.  Everything necessary for our deliverance from the death angel has been accomplished by the death of God’s firstborn Son!

“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are, for Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1st Corinthians 5:7

Scripture reading for Sunday, January 22nd: Matthew 5:1-16, 11:28-30

Meekness is not weakness, but power under control!  God’s Son Jesus was meek and humble and yet was the most powerful man who ever lived.  He had tremendous self-control and focus on God’s will.  Jesus calls us as His disciples  to learn from Him how to wield the power He has given us.  May God work in us what is pleasing in His sight!  In His Love, Pastor John

Scripture reading for January 21st: Exodus 7-10

When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night that was lit by a full moon.  It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy.  The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds.  The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter.  They were easy picking!  After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest.  It was great food and a good time!

In our reading today we have another story about frogs.  Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God.  Frogs filled the land.  They were in the fields, houses, marketplace, Pharaoh’s palace, and even in the bedrooms!  Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask him to pray to God to get rid of those frogs.  Moses, trying to be polite, allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone.  Pharaoh’s answer was, “tomorrow”.  Why tomorrow?  Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting too?  Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs?  Maybe one of his magicians had turned one of his kids into a frog?  These are some silly questions to ponder about this story! There are more serious ones.

It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything, (John 14:13) we often answer just like Pharaoh: “tomorrow”.  Do we want one more night with our addiction?  Do we want to be sick one more night?  Do we want one more night to be angry and bitter?  Tomorrow never really comes.  When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God.  We want one more night with the frogs!

Ask the Lord to help you break the bondage of procrastination.  Sit down with him today and get it taken care of!  Frogs may be tasty animals, but you don’t need another night with them!

“Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7

Scripture reading for January 20: Exodus 3-6

One of my brothers is a law professor.  He went to over nine years of college and  post-graduate study for his degree.  My other brother is a surgeon and he needed eleven more years of study for his degree.   God’s ‘graduate school’ sometimes takes 40 years to get the degree!

Moses was picked by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.   First, the Hebrew midwives spared his life; they feared God and hid him.  Then God showed his parents a plan to save Moses’ life.  He was placed in a basket and released in the Nile river.  Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing just downstream.  She “found” Moses, named him and paid his own mother and sister to raise him.

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s household but at 40 years of age, he tried to protect his  Israelite brothers by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating them.  By running away,  he went from a prince in Pharaoh’s household to a fugitive wanted for murder in a story as bizarre as Joseph’s in Genesis.  Sometimes we think we know God’s plan and we end up in the back side of the desert.   “Where is God now?” we ask. We get involved in life again where we find ourselves, but wonder what went wrong.

God’s delays and detours are for His purposes and our preparation.  When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush in the desert 40 years later, Moses was called to take off his shoes and then go and deliver God’s people from slavery in Egypt.  Moses wisely took off his shoes but made excuses about  going.  God met Moses and answered each excuse  and he agreed to go.   You might say that Moses graduated with his BSDD!  (Back side of the desert degree!)

Are you in the ‘School of the Desert’?  Are you open to learn humility and brokenness?  What area of your life needs the most help right now?  Submit it to the Lord and wait patiently on Him.  He will help you pass the course!  He’s preparing you for your assignment too.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1st Peter 5:5-7

Scripture reading for January 19th: Exodus 1-2

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2

Is it ever right to disobey government authority?  Do they always speak for God  if they want you to do something that actually breaks God’s Law?  In today’s reading, civil disobedience is rewarded!

Shiphrah and Puah were mid-wives and helped deliver babies.  They would go to the homes of pregnant Israelite women and sit with them during labor and delivery, washing off the baby and attending to the mother and child.  Pharaoh gave orders to these god-fearing women to kill all the male babies.  It was a form of late-term abortion being practiced in Egypt of that time.

Satan comes only to kill, steal, and destroy but God is a life-giver and life-saver!  These Hebrew women knew God and feared Him more than they feared Pharaoh.  The chose a path of civil disobedience that is a good model for us today.  They simply ignored Pharaoh’s order and did what was right in God’s eyes.  When confronted, they spoke from their heart and continued to do what was right before God.  They knew that abortion was murder of God’s children.  God was kind to them and protected them (Exodus 1:19-20).  He rewarded them with families of their own.

One  area God has given us influence through is voting in our democracy.  Are you voting for those who will authorize abortion?   Are you giving approval to those who would perform abortions and kill off human beings made in God’s image?  Do you call the politicians that are trying to enact more laws to abort children?  Are you like Shiphrah and Puah, staying strong for God and protecting life whenever and wherever you can?

If you have had an abortion or voted for politicians that are pro-abortion, repent and ask God’s forgiveness.  He is merciful and will forgive your sin!  We for sure don’t want to be found to be an accomplice of “Pharaoh” (Satan).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

Scripture reading for January 18th:  Genesis 48-50

Have you ever been at the bedside of a loved one who was soon to enter eternity?  If they are alert and able to talk, we listen for every word and thought. In our time,  drugs for pain control often limit the dying person’s ability to communicate.  In today’s reading, Jacob gave a special blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  He then spoke a word over the other sons.  (Genesis 49:9-20)

The blessing of Joseph’s sons effectively made Joseph the first-born.  Israel blessed Joseph and adopted the boys. In this way, Joseph would get the double portion. ( The first-born was to get a double portion of the inheritance.)  The other brothers had tried to kill Joseph and cut him out, but God re-established his place and doubled the inheritance!  Israel also chose Ephraim over Manasseh.  The younger over the older.  All blessing and God’s reward comes not from birth order but Divine order!  God alone knows the hearts and the end from the beginning!

One other blessing is worth noting.  Judah also received a word in Genesis 49:8-12.  Judah was told that his brothers would praise him. (His name means “praise”.)  His hand would be on the neck of his enemies and his father’s sons would bow down to him.  He was called a “lion’s cub”.  Jesus was the offspring of Judah in the genealogy of Matthew 1:3.  He is known as the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5)  He triumphed over all God’s enemies!  (Colossians 3:15) He is King of Kings and rules over nations!   (Revelation 15:3-4) Through some of the “last words” of Israel, written almost 4000 years ago, we have a prophecy of Jesus Christ!

What would you say if you just had a very short time left here on earth?  What words would you leave with those closest to you?  Would your faith be evident in you life and statements?

“You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son.  Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him?  The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Genesis 49:9-10.

“When Jacob had finished  giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 49:33