Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN TO GOD

Posted on April 12, 2020 by randscallawayffm

All believers are now welcome!

Exodus – God’s Way Out!

This song is always in the background of my mind as we celebrate Resurrection Day…

Was it a morning like this?

When the Son still hid from Jerusalem

And Mary rose from her bed

To tend to the Lord she thought was dead

Was it a morning like this?

When Mary walked down from Jerusalem

And two angels stood at the tomb

Bearers of news she would hear soon

Did the grass sing?

Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground

Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”

Over and over in a never-ending round

“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Was it a morning like this?

When Peter and John ran from Jerusalem

And as they raced towards the tomb

Beneath their feet was there a tune?

Did the grass sing?

Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground

Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”

Over and over in a never-ending round

“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Over and over like a trumpet underground

Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”

Over and over in a never-ending round

“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Was it a morning like this?

When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem

He is risen

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Hallelujah!

HOLY PAUSE…

Jesus is God’s Way Out of the bondage of sin and it’s hold on us. Jesus, son of God, replaced the old system of animal sacrifice that placed all sin on a lamb or young goat to be offered on a blood stained altar by priests. Jesus became the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sin once and for all time.

Jesus left the glory of heaven, became part human and still part of God, for a time to walk this earth with healing power for the people on His created earth. Jesus had the determined, fully focused mission to seek and to save lost people who had forgotten God or never knew Him.

Jesus came to tell the world who God really is and what He has done, is doing and will do. Jesus came to teach us how to love and be loved. Jesus, showed the full extent of His love as he knelt down to wash dirty feet as a servant. Jesus loved us beyond any human on earth and showed that love, mercy and grace by willingly laying down on a cross, allowing Himself to be nailed to it, then put to death in this Roman fashion, as a sacrifice for our sins then and now. All sins. For all time.

Jesus is our Way Out! God is leading us to this Truth as we trudge through the wilderness with His people, learning lessons right along with those who are listening and obeying.

AND the best part of all? Jesus, our Sacrifice, rose to life and is alive today and forever. No other lamb or goat sacrifice did that! Jesus, with power to lay down His life and pick it back up again, is ALIVE!

Was it a morning like this?

When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem

He is risen

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Hallelujah!

Exodus 24, The Message

1-2 He said to Moses, “Climb the mountain to God, you and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. They will worship from a distance; only Moses will approach God. The rest are not to come close. And the people are not to climb the mountain at all.”

3 So Moses went to the people and told them everything God had said—all the rules and regulations. They all answered in unison: “Everything God said, we’ll do.”

4-6 Then Moses wrote it all down, everything God had said. He got up early the next morning and built an Altar at the foot of the mountain using twelve pillar-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed young Israelite men to offer Whole-Burnt-Offerings and sacrifice Peace-Offerings of bulls. Moses took half the blood and put it in bowls; the other half he threw against the Altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it as the people listened. They said, “Everything God said, we’ll do. Yes, we’ll obey.”

8 Moses took the rest of the blood and threw it out over the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has made with you out of all these words I have spoken.”

9-11 Then they climbed the mountain—Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel—and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires—pure, clear sky-blue. He didn’t hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.

12-13 God said to Moses, “Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I’ll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I’ve written to instruct them.” So Moses got up, accompanied by Joshua his aide. And Moses climbed up the mountain of God.

14 He told the elders of Israel, “Wait for us here until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; if there are any problems, go to them.”

15-17 Then Moses climbed the mountain. The Cloud covered the mountain. The Glory of God settled over Mount Sinai. The Cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called out of the Cloud to Moses. In the view of the Israelites below, the Glory of God looked like a raging fire at the top of the mountain.

18 Moses entered the middle of the Cloud and climbed the mountain. Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Forty day and forty nights. Mm….How long until the quarantine is over?

BETTER QUESTION….

How long has it been since you talked with Jesus and told him everything that was on your mind?

Let’s go the mountain of God. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can freely go to God if we believe that Jesus died and rose again for us.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Let’s talk to the One who loves us so much that He died for us so we can have life forever with Him.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.” Matthew 6:8

Believe, trust and obey God. You no longer need a sacrifice. Jesus took care of that by being our sacrifice for our sins once and for all.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

“And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Dear Heavenly Father…Thank you.

Thank you for saving my soul for eternity. Help me to love mercy, to love sacrificially and to extend grace like you dear Jesus so I can, with confidence, walk humbly with you, God our Father.

In Jesus Name, and By Your Power, Yes and Amen

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OUR GOOD FOR GOD’S GLORY

Posted on April 11, 2020 by randscallawayffm

OUR GOOD FOR GOD’S GLORY

Part Two

Exodus – God’s Way Out

God knows us. He knows how we tick from the inside out and outside in. He created us. He knows what was behind us, what is front of us and what we will face tomorrow. He was, is and always will be with us. Because He knows all and delights in the details of our lives, He provides where He guides. He lets us in on what will make us stubble and fall with words of warning. Like any loving Father, who wants the best for His children, He is there with wisdom for the journey, guidance along the path with provisions when we need it most.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…” Jeremiah 29:11-14

I know we feel we are held “captive” by this virus but staying in place is our best offense for it’s defeat. This illness was NOT sent by God, but God will see us through it, just like He always has and always will. He knows the plans for us beyond this present circumstance so He is preparing us with lessons we will never forget. Listen to Him. Do what He says. Look for His glory to be seen in all of this for it happens daily to those who seek Him. He will be found. I found Him!

Exodus 23, The Message

1-3 “Don’t pass on malicious gossip.

“Don’t link up with a wicked person and give corrupt testimony. Don’t go along with the crowd in doing evil and don’t fudge your testimony in a case just to please the crowd. And just because someone is poor, don’t show favoritism in a dispute.

4-5 “If you find your enemy’s ox or donkey loose, take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, don’t walk off and leave it. Help it up.

6 “When there is a dispute concerning your poor, don’t tamper with the justice due them.

7 “Stay clear of false accusations. Don’t contribute to the death of innocent and good people. I don’t let the wicked off the hook.

8 “Don’t take bribes. Bribes blind perfectly good eyes and twist the speech of good people.

9 “Don’t take advantage of a stranger. You know what it’s like to be a stranger; you were strangers in Egypt.

10-11 “Sow your land for six years and gather in its crops, but in the seventh year leave it alone and give it a rest so that your poor may eat from it. What they leave, let the wildlife have. Do the same with your vineyards and olive groves.

12 “Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.

13 “Listen carefully to everything I tell you. Don’t pay attention to other gods—don’t so much as mention their names.

14 “Three times a year you are to hold a festival for me.

15 “Hold the spring Festival of Unraised Bread when you eat unraised bread for seven days at the time set for the month of Abib, as I commanded you. That was the month you came out of Egypt. No one should show up before me empty-handed.

16 “Hold the summer Festival of Harvest when you bring in the firstfruits of all your work in the fields.

“Hold the autumn Festival of Ingathering at the end of the season when you bring in the year’s crops.

17 “Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Master, God.

18 “Don’t offer the blood of a sacrifice to me with anything that has yeast in it.

“Don’t leave the fat from my festival offering out overnight.

19 “Bring the choice first produce of the year to the house of your God.

“Don’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk.

20-24 “Now get yourselves ready. I’m sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I’ve prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don’t go against him. He won’t put up with your rebellions because he’s acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I’ll be an enemy to your enemies, I’ll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I’ll clear the country of them. So don’t worship or serve their gods; don’t do anything they do because I’m going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.

25-26 “But you—you serve your God and he’ll bless your food and your water. I’ll get rid of the sickness among you; there won’t be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I’ll make sure you live full and complete lives.

27 “I’ll send my Terror on ahead of you and throw those peoples you’re approaching into a panic. All you’ll see of your enemies is the backs of their necks.

28-31 “And I’ll send Despair on ahead of you. It will push the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites out of your way. I won’t get rid of them all at once lest the land grow up in weeds and the wild animals take over. Little by little I’ll get them out of there while you have a chance to get your crops going and make the land your own. I will make your borders stretch from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Wilderness to the Euphrates River. I’m turning everyone living in that land over to you; go ahead and drive them out.

32-33 “Don’t make any deals with them or their gods. They are not to stay in the same country with you lest they get you to sin by worshiping their gods. Beware. That’s a huge danger.”

GOING DEEPER…

Most of these laws are self explanatory. But note that the first three verses of this passage provide three pointed examples of what it means not to bear false witness either for or against another. The next six verses prohibit taking advantage of another’s misfortune, not even an enemy’s.

The final group of stipulations has to do with religious observances. The sabbath principle extended to the land (23:10-11). Not only does this have social value for the poor, but it also allows the land to recover some of its fertility.

Furthermore, it provides relief for the workers, both human and animal. At the heart of all the Hebrew worship was the recognition of God alone. Practically speaking, other gods did not exist for the Hebrews.

The last laws form a preliminary introduction to the three annual pilgrimage feasts held in April, June, and September. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:15) was a week-long festival celebrated during the seven days immediately after Passover about April 1 (see Ex 12:17-20). The Israelites were to remember God’s gracious acts in history on their behalf.

The Feast of Harvest was held seven weeks after the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was about the first of June at the end of the wheat harvest. This was a feast of thanksgiving to God and a dedication of the tithe to him. The Feast of Ingathering came at the end of the grape harvest, the final harvest of the year, about September 25. It is also called the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths.

Yeast was symbolic of sin (23:18). There is some reason to believe cooking a goat kid in its mother’s milk was a Canaanite magic ritual supposed to ensure the mother’s continued fertility.

This passage closes with God’s commitment to His people. In response to their continued covenant obedience, he would wipe out their enemies and give them long, abundant lives, establishing them within spacious borders.

The only obstacles to this promise of blessing would be rebellion against God and the worship of the gods of their defeated enemies. Biblical religion is not compatible with any religion that sees the divine as part of this world. One of the reasons for worshiping the pagan gods was their supposed ability to provide these blessings. But God is the only one who can truly provide them.

Now we have the reasons for God’s laws of protection and His teachings of how to treat each other with love and dignity. Obedience to the Law is a response to God’s grace shown through his past deliverance and his future promises.

Finally, the Angel is Jesus Christ, (according to Warren Weirsbe, commentator). Compared to who Jesus is to us now, it makes sense. “Only Jesus can pardon transgressions and only in Him is the wonderful name of the Lord. God had prepared a place for His people just as Jesus is preparing a place for us who believe in Him. (John 14:1-6). If they followed the Lord, He would take care of their needs and would defeat all their enemies”. (Weirsbe)

God is still doing that today! Trust Him. Obey what He says to your heart through His Word. Allow His Holy Spirit to guide you into Truth, live the Truth and tell the Truth.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” –Jesus

Jesus, God’s Way Out for us!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the plans you have had for me in the past, not to harm me but to teach me. Thank you for how you work in our lives now. I praise you for always being with us. I thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul. I thank you for Your Holy Spirit that comforts, confronts, challenges and teaches me to stay close to You, obeying you, for it is for my good and for Your glory to be seen in our lives! Yes, I believe.

In Jesus Name, Yes and Amen!

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GOD’S RULES – FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY

Posted on April 10, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

I’m hearing and reading about the weariness many are now feeling from staying isolated. Easter will not be the same without the family gatherings. I’m pretty sure that is at the top of our depression list. But maybe our celebrations needed to be examined by our hearts.

I hear, “our leaders are giving us all these rules just to annoy us and have control over us”. WAIT, WHAT!? NO, our leaders are trying to keep us safe!! We can be so childish, can’t we? WE have new rules to follow to keep us safe. We may not like them but in order to stay safe we follow them, or at least most of us are.

God is trying to do the same for His people. Consider what many generations of His people have experienced in Egypt. They watched and probably participated in all kinds of idol worship that include despicable behavior in doing so. There were sacrifices of children, the building of idols along with the worship of many gods, eating foods not good for their bodies, not to mention nudity and sexual deviations of all kinds to satisfy their self sin nature. As slaves to the Egyptians, they were included.

Now, that I have your attention…Let’s get to why God is giving his people a new set of very specific rules to live by as they learn to follow Him. This wilderness time is a teaching time for God to erase the memories of their previous way of life in Egypt to get ready for His way of life in the Promised Land. Always remember this as we trudge through these mandates.

Exodus 22, The Message

1-3 “If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt.

3-4 “A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.

5 “If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else’s field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner’s field or vineyard.

6 “If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages.

7-8 “If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to determine whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor’s goods.

9 “In all cases of stolen goods, whether oxen, donkeys, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, ‘That’s mine,’ both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other.

10-13 “If someone gives a donkey or ox or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness, an oath before God must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands on the property of the other. The owner must accept this and no damages are assessed. But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated. If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid.

14-15 “If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it. But if the owner was with it, he doesn’t have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss.

16-17 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the marriage price and marry her. If her father absolutely refuses to give her away, the man must still pay the marriage price for virgins.

18 “Don’t let a sorceress live.

19 “Anyone who has sex with an animal gets the death penalty.

20 “Anyone who sacrifices to a god other than God alone must be put to death.

21 “Don’t abuse or take advantage of strangers; you, remember, were once strangers in Egypt.

22-24 “Don’t mistreat widows or orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I’ll take them most seriously; I’ll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.

25 “If you lend money to my people, to any of the down-and-out among you, don’t come down hard on them and gouge them with interest.

26-27 “If you take your neighbor’s coat as security, give it back before nightfall; it may be your neighbor’s only covering—what else does the person have to sleep in? And if I hear the neighbor crying out from the cold, I’ll step in—I’m compassionate.

“Don’t curse God; and don’t damn your leaders.

29-30 “Don’t be stingy as your wine vats fill up.

“Dedicate your firstborn sons to me. The same with your cattle and sheep—they are to stay for seven days with their mother, then give them to me.

31 “Be holy for my sake.

“Don’t eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs.”

GOING DEEPER…

What we see rising to the top of these rules are the words restitution–being sorry with wanting to make it right; compensation–payment for wrong doing while in your hands); redemption–paying the purchase price, making it yours.

We are taught by Jesus who came to fulfill The Law that we must love God and love others like He loves us. We are to admit and be truly repentant–sorry for our sins and willing to make things right. We must pay back what we owe in whatever form that is to show that we are serious for wanting to make things right as we strive to live God’s way. We accept and believe in the redemption of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who paid the price for our sins, making us now His.

Do you see the connection? God works for our good and for His glory so we will never forget Who He is and what He can do in and through us. Love God. Love Others. These are what all the others laws are based upon. –Jesus

Our good. His glory. May we never forget.

David said it best as he worships God…(Psalm 103)

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15 The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

God is unchanging, forever faithful and relentless in His love and care for us. Our good. His glory. Yes, and Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are in still in the wilderness days of isolation and we are growing weary without the community we long to be with so help us through it. Encourage us. Help us to see what you are teaching us. May we see your glory for our good in it. May we think higher thoughts that bring you praise this day. May we reflect on this day called “Good Friday” all you did to redeem us, to purchase our souls back from sin and evil at a very high price. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you are words to small, so listen to my heart.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, Criticism, Depression, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Moses, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

THE LAW EXPLAINED

Posted on April 9, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out!

As God’s people form community with each other, God sees the need to explain how people need to get along. He gets very specific. If you read slowly and carefully, even though our traditions and customs are different today, we see the groundwork laid for our present laws concerning property rights and responsibilities to each other.

If freedom doesn’t lead to maturity, then we end up imprisoned in a bondage worse than what we had before, a bondage from within and not from without. It’s bad enough to be enslaved by an Egyptian taskmaster, but it’s even worse to enslave yourself and become your own taskmaster.

Remember, Moses went up to meet God on the mountain, and what God told him, he came down and shared with the people. The image of maturity that God used was that of the eagle, bearing it’s young on its wings and teaching them the glorious freedom of flight. Moses used the same image in the song he taught Israel at the close of his life.

God’s concern for the helpless follows immediately upon his concern for proper worship (21:1-11). Slavery is not forbidden, as that would leave the destitute with no means of survival. But the institution is strictly regulated, with clear provisions against the creation of a permanent underclass.

Servitude for life was possible only through the servant’s own choice. A woman born into poverty had almost no chance of a normal marriage. As un-ideal as concubinage was, it was preferable to the alternative: prostitution. Given these realities, the laws seek to ensure that the concubine will be treated as a person of worth, not as an expendable sex device (21:7-11).

All persons are recipients of God’s grace. No one has a right to take advantage of another’s misfortune. Keep them in mind as we read…

Exodus 21, The Message

“These are the laws that you are to place before them:

2-6 “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve six years. The seventh year he goes free, for nothing. If he came in single he leaves single. If he came in married he leaves with his wife. If the master gives him a wife and she gave him sons and daughters, the wife and children stay with the master and he leaves by himself. But suppose the slave should say, ‘I love my master and my wife and children—I don’t want my freedom,’ then his master is to bring him before God and to a door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl, a sign that he is a slave for life.

7-11 “When a man sells his daughter to be a handmaid, she doesn’t go free after six years like the men. If she doesn’t please her master, her family must buy her back; her master doesn’t have the right to sell her to foreigners since he broke his word to her. If he turns her over to his son, he has to treat her like a daughter. If he marries another woman, she retains all her full rights to meals, clothing, and marital relations. If he won’t do any of these three things for her, she goes free, for nothing.

12-14 “If someone hits another and death results, the penalty is death. But if there was no intent to kill—if it was an accident, an ‘act of God’—I’ll set aside a place to which the killer can flee for refuge. But if the murder was premeditated, cunningly plotted, then drag the killer away, even if it’s from my Altar, to be put to death.

15 “If someone hits father or mother, the penalty is death.

16 “If someone kidnaps a person, the penalty is death, regardless of whether the person has been sold or is still held in possession.

17 “If someone curses father or mother, the penalty is death.

18-19 “If a quarrel breaks out and one hits the other with a rock or a fist and the injured one doesn’t die but is confined to bed and then later gets better and can get about on a crutch, the one who hit him is in the clear, except to pay for the loss of time and make sure of complete recovery.

20-21 “If a slave owner hits a slave, male or female, with a stick and the slave dies on the spot, the slave must be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he’s not to be avenged—the slave is the owner’s property.

22-25 “When there’s a fight and in the fight a pregnant woman is hit so that she miscarries but is not otherwise hurt, the one responsible has to pay whatever the husband demands in compensation. But if there is further damage, then you must give life for life—eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26-27 “If a slave owner hits the eye of a slave or handmaid and ruins it, the owner must let the slave go free because of the eye. If the owner knocks out the tooth of the male or female slave, the slave must be released and go free because of the tooth.

28-32 “If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned. The meat cannot be eaten but the owner of the ox is in the clear. But if the ox has a history of goring and the owner knew it and did nothing to guard against it, then if the ox kills a man or a woman, the ox is to be stoned and the owner given the death penalty. If a ransom is agreed upon instead of death, he must pay it in full as a redemption for his life. If a son or daughter is gored, the same judgment holds. If it is a slave or a handmaid the ox gores, thirty shekels of silver is to be paid to the owner and the ox stoned.

33-34 “If someone uncovers a cistern or digs a pit and leaves it open and an ox or donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit must pay whatever the animal is worth to its owner but can keep the dead animal.

35-36 “If someone’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox and the ox dies, they must sell the live ox and split the price; they must also split the dead animal. But if the ox had a history of goring and the owner knew it and did nothing to guard against it, the owner must pay an ox for an ox but can keep the dead animal.”

GOING DEEPER…

The privilege of freedom brings with it the responsibility to use that freedom wisely for the glory of God and the good of others. However, the Ten Commandments were much more than laws for governing the life of the nation of Israel. they are a part of the covenant God made with Israel when He took them to Himself to be His special people.

God gave the Jews the title deed to the Promised Land, but Israel’s possession and enjoyment of that land depended on their obedience to the Mosaic covenant. The tragedy is that the nation disobeyed the law, defiled their land, and grieved their Lord, so they had to be chastened…but we are getting ahead of ourselves…

The law was never given as a way of salvation for either Jews or Gentiles, because “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). The law is a mirror that reveals where we are dirty, but we don’t wash our face in the mirror (James 1:22). Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from sin.

HOLY PAUSE

Why did God choose to give the Israelites the Ten Commandments?

In what ways was obedience to these commandments a response to God’s grace?

Why might some of the Jews have come to believe that “salvation” was a product of following the rules?

If not because of the law, why does God give His Holy Spirit to us? (Galatians 3 and 4)

LAW REVIEW

Choose three or four of these laws and think about the purpose each of these laws served. What concerns did each law address?

How do these laws reflect timeless principles of justice?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Israel was God’s chosen people. What are some ways you are set apart because of your faith in Christ?

How does that play out in practical ways?

How do you find balance to be both set apart and also very much a part of the world in which you live?

What are both important to a life of faith?

What is one of the idols you struggle with?

How does it steal from your relationship with God?

What are some practical ways to overcome the temptations of this idol?

LAST THOUGHT

Why are you following the order of the state to stay inside?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Even though laws are meant to protect us, we grumble. Help me to consider why laws are important for our well being. Help me to remember, too that it is not the law that saves me but the sacrifice of your Body that redeemed me. Your law convicts us. Your grace saves us. Hallelujah! May I never forget that all you are and all you do is for our best. Amazing love, wow.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE THIRD DAY – GET READY!

Posted on April 8, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out!

Are we ready to meet God today?

Are we ready to hear Him speak to us?

God told Moses to tell the people to ceremoniously and physically clean up themselves so they could be at their best, ready to hear what God has to say to them. God wanted their full attention. He tells Moses to ask the people for complete commitment to Him. Their response?

“Everything God says, we will do.”

On the third day, God came down to His people.

Tomb empty with shroud and crucifixion, 3d rendering

Sound familiar? On the third day, Jesus Christ rose from the grave, alive, scarred by the battle of the payment for our sins, but alive…FULLY ALIVE. Jesus presented Himself to those who loved Him to show believers the power and glory of God before ascending back to God, the Father. Mission complete.

Are we ready to talk about all that Jesus did as we celebrate the THIRD DAY Christ arose from death to life?

Because of our relationship with God through Jesus, are we ready to point others to Jesus, ready to tell them how they, too, can be saved from all sins that tie them down and hold them from being all God created them to be?

Are we ready within ourselves? Have we repented to Jesus, made holy by Jesus so our relationship with God is intimate and forever?

Are we ready to meet God and listen to what He has to say? on His terms?

Are we ready to commit like the Israelites and say, “Everything God says we will do”?

Be ready. Say, I’m sorry for my sins to Jesus. He is ready for you with complete forgiveness. No regrets!

Be ready to meet God on His terms. He wants only His best for us.

On the third day…just be with Him who loves you beyond your wildest imagination. Set apart this day in communion with Him who loves you most.

On every level God was seeking to bring the people to the place where they would commit themselves to him without hesitation.

Chapters 19 and 20 must be presented together to understand God’s full message.

Exodus 19, The Message

1-2 Three months after leaving Egypt the Israelites entered the Wilderness of Sinai. They followed the route from Rephidim, arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai, and set up camp. Israel camped there facing the mountain.

3-6 As Moses went up to meet God, God called down to him from the mountain: “Speak to the House of Jacob, tell the People of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to me. If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from, but you’re special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’

“This is what I want you to tell the People of Israel.”

7 Moses came back and called the elders of Israel together and set before them all these words which God had commanded him.

8 The people were unanimous in their response: “Everything God says, we will do.” Moses took the people’s answer back to God.

9 God said to Moses, “Get ready. I’m about to come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can listen in and trust you completely when I speak with you.” Again Moses reported the people’s answer to God.

10-13 God said to Moses, “Go to the people. For the next two days get these people ready to meet the Holy God. Have them scrub their clothes so that on the third day they’ll be fully prepared, because on the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make his presence known to all the people. Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them, ‘Warning! Don’t climb the mountain. Don’t even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies—a certain death. And no one is to touch that person, he’s to be stoned. That’s right—stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death. Animal or man, whichever—put to death.’

“A long blast from the horn will signal that it’s safe to climb the mountain.”

14-15 Moses went down the mountain to the people and prepared them for the holy meeting. They gave their clothes a good scrubbing. Then he addressed the people: “Be ready in three days. Don’t sleep with a woman.”

16 On the third day at daybreak, there were loud claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and an ear-piercing trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp shuddered in fear.

17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at attention at the base of the mountain.

18-20 Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered in huge spasms. The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder. God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up.

21-22 God said to Moses, “Go down. Warn the people not to break through the barricades to get a look at God lest many of them die. And the priests also, warn them to prepare themselves for the holy meeting, lest God break out against them.”

23 Moses said to God, “But the people can’t climb Mount Sinai. You’ve already warned us well telling us: ‘Post boundaries around the mountain. Respect the holy mountain.’”

24 God told him, “Go down and then bring Aaron back up with you. But make sure that the priests and the people don’t break through and come up to God, lest he break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people. He said to them:

Chapter 20

1-2 God spoke all these words:

I am God, your God,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

out of a life of slavery.

3 No other gods, only me.

4-6 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.

7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.

8-11 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.

12 Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

13 No murder.

14 No adultery.

15 No stealing.

16 No lies about your neighbor.

17 No lusting after your neighbor’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s.

18-19 All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we’ll listen, but don’t have God speak to us or we’ll die.”

20 Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won’t sin.”

21 The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

22-26 God said to Moses, “Give this Message to the People of Israel: ‘You’ve experienced firsthand how I spoke with you from Heaven. Don’t make gods of silver and gods of gold and then set them alongside me. Make me an earthen Altar. Sacrifice your Whole-Burnt-Offerings, your Peace-Offerings, your sheep, and your cattle on it. Every place where I cause my name to be honored in your worship, I’ll be there myself and bless you. If you use stones to make my Altar, don’t use dressed stones. If you use a chisel on the stones you’ll profane the Altar. Don’t use steps to climb to my Altar because that will expose your nakedness.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

God commands our full attention. He is jealous, not like human jealousy, but far beyond our thinking. He loves us so much that when sin threatens our relationship with Him, He burns with passion for us. This is the love of God.

God reminds the people of their experience of the consequences of disobedience (“what I did to Egypt”) and obedience (“how I carried you”), and offers them a special relationship to himself in which they will function as his specially chosen priests.

Those who make a verbal commitment need to confirm that commitment with some form of action (vv.10-15). Three kinds of activity are enjoined here: washing (v.10), establishing of limits (vv.12-13), and sexual abstinence (v.15). All are associated with ritual purification. These actions conveyed the sense that an extraordinarily solemn moment was upon them. They also expressed a preliminary kind of obedience. Having obeyed in these matters, they would be more likely to obey in others later.

Preparations for the covenant were capped with a series of visual and auditory effects (vv.16-19). These combined to produce a sense of awe and wonder in the people. Whatever else they might think about the covenant that God was about to offer them, they were not likely to dismiss it as something trivial and ordinary. Later Moses would remind the people that no one else had ever heard the audible voice of God (Dt 4:33, 36). This covenant was unique.

God’s final preparation was to underline to Moses his deadly nature for any humans who are not especially prepared to meet him. Not even the ordinary priests could survive. Casual familiarity with the Most High is a dangerous thing (see 2 Samuel 6:6-7). God knows our hearts!

CHAPTER 20 – “THE LAW”

The presentation of the covenant has four parts:

(1) the prologue (20:1-2);

God, who had become their God by virtue of what he had done for them in Egypt, offers it. Covenant-keeping is not a means of entering a relationship with God. Rather, it is the way an already existing relationship, one created solely by God’s gracious intervention in their history, and is lived out.

(2) a summary of the requirements for the people (20:3-17);

This summarizes in ten absolute commands what God expects of his people. God’s people have lived in a land where there are many gods. He is teaching them there is only One God. “You are My people and I will be your God” we will hear often in the Old Testament writings. Where only one God exists, his will is absolute.

The importance of these commands can hardly be overstated. If indeed their Author is the Author of all existence, as the Bible maintains, then this cursory expression of his expectations for his covenant people is also an expression of the norms of human life. They express what we cannot do and still cherish life.

(3) expanded requirements for the people (20:22-23:19);

The final commandment (20:17) brings the whole series around full circle. It is the human lust for acquisitions, especially acquisition at the expense of another, that is at the heart of idolatrous religion (Isa 57:17; Col 3:5). God is reduced to gods—a device for getting what we want. Our parents, our spouse, and our neighbor become merely aids or hindrances to that lust to possess. To all of this the Creator pronounces a thunderous “No!”

(4) God’s commitment (23:20-33).

Parts 2 and 3 encompass what we know as “the law.” Here we see the law in its correct context. Obedience to it is a response to God’s grace shown through his past deliverance and his future promises.

The stipulations section of the covenant closes with God’s commitment to his people. In response to their continued covenant obedience, he would wipe out their enemies, and give them long, abundant lives, establishing them within spacious borders.

The only obstacles to this promise of blessing would be rebellion against God and the worship of the gods of their defeated enemies.

One of the reasons for worshiping the pagan gods was their supposed ability to provide these blessings. But God is the only one who can truly provide them.

Who do we worship? (Seriously) Do we REALLY believe that what we believe is really real?

Do we have any gods that stand in the way of worshiping the One and Only God?

As we celebrate THE THIRD DAY, the resurrection of Jesus, in our homes, may we pause to remember who God is, why He sent His Son to save us, and ponder the depth of His love.

“Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” —John 10:10, The Message

Lord,

I believe. I really believe that what you say is The Way to Truth that leads to Life eternal. You are God, the One and Only and we are not.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, encouragement, Exodus, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Moses, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, The Ten Commandments, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

LEADERSHIP 101 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JOURNEY

Posted on April 7, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

Going into the fourth week of quarantine, I think of songs like…

“Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something

I think you’ll understand

When I’ll say that something

I wanna hold your hand…”

As I read this next chapter in Exodus, another song pops into mind (this happens to me a lot)

“All by myself

Don’t wanna be

All by myself

Anymore….”

Then there’s the Sinatra classic…(my mind is a musical soundtrack)

“For what is a man, what has he got

If not himself then he has not

To say all the things he truly feels

And not the words of one who kneels

The record shows, I took the blows

But I did it my way…”

The last two songs remind us of the loneliness of leadership UNLESS you are doing it GOD’S WAY!

Jethro not only brings Moses’ protected wife and sons back to him in the wilderness journey but delivers advice that will help a worn out, almost burned out, weary leader of God’s people. I believe God sent Jethro with God’s wisdom that ALL leaders in God’s church should listen to and apply to their lives. (Yes, I used the Name of God three times in one sentence for emphasis!)

We were not meant to do the work God invites us to do alone as leaders called by Him. Do not let the song “all by myself” be your method of operation!

Pastors, Associate Pastors, Worship Pastors, Children and Youth Pastors, Executive Pastors, Social Media, Connections, and even those who pass out cookies and coffee, etc, read carefully and slowly.

Great leaders already know this principle. Effective, empowering leaders APPLY it live it out loud in their lives. God-led leaders teach it to others in their care like Paul did for Timothy (See also 2 Timothy 2:2). When there are leaders who lead leaders to lead like this, there will never be a shortage of leadership.

True leaders train leaders who train leaders…Obviously this is God’s Way…Read and heed.

Exodus 18, The Message

1-4 Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law to Moses, heard the report of all that God had done for Moses and Israel his people, the news that God had delivered Israel from Egypt. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses’ wife who had been sent back home, and her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (Sojourner) for he had said, “I’m a sojourner in a foreign land”; the name of the other was Eliezer (God’s-Help) because “The God of my father is my help and saved me from death by Pharaoh.”

5-6 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses his sons and his wife there in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. He had sent a message ahead to Moses: “I, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and two sons.”

7-8 Moses went out to welcome his father-in-law. He bowed to him and kissed him. Each asked the other how things had been with him. Then they went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that God had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how God had delivered them.

9-11 Jethro was delighted in all the good that God had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression. Jethro said, “Blessed be God who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt. Now I know that God is greater than all gods because he’s done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly.”

12 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron, along with all the elders of Israel, came and ate the meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13-14 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?”

15-16 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.”

17-23 Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.”

24-27 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

God sends mentors to us, those we trust and relate to with respect. This is the relationship Moses has with Jethro.

HOLY PAUSE

Who is that person (or persons) for you? Who is YOUR Jethro?

Who do you trust as a mentor who loves you and wants God’s best for you?

If you don’t have a mentor, ask God. God will answer this prayer in ways that will amaze you! He will send more than one. In each stage of life, I have had outstanding mentors who guided me with God’s wisdom from a place of love for me in all areas of my life. I am grateful to God for these people.

WHOA…

Who do you mentor? Who needs your encouragement and advice from years of learning God’s way?

Moses trusts Jethro and listens to his mentor. “Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you,” Jethro begins his talk.

Leadership 101 is taught after watching Moses’ method of operation. What a good mentor to watch first and then respond with constructive help for Moses.

1. You cannot and should not do this alone. You will burn out. Then what good are to to the people you lead?

2. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God.

3. God is our ultimate answer. Always.

4. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.

5. Always keep a sharp eye out for good leaders.

6. Empower other leaders to do what you have been doing: “…competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.” (And women)

7. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people.

8. The competent chosen will know their limits and bring the “hard cases” to you.

9. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you.

10. The results of effective, empowering leadership: If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.

You’re welcome!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Jesus

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Right in the middle of our routine lives, in the middle of our own wilderness (quarantine) journeys, you teach us helpful, unforgettable lessons that lighten our loads. You say “come to Me…and we do. You say, “I will give you rest”…and you do. You say, “take my yoke (God’s will and way)…and we do. You encourage us with a lighter load because you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. For this I am eternally grateful. Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life still.

In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, Criticism, Depression, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, God, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, Help, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, Leadership, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, meditation, Ministry, Moses, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Promises, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, The Cross, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Value, Virtues, Waiting, Whining, work, Worship | Leave a comment

“IS GOD HERE WITH US, OR NOT?”

Posted on April 6, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

It’s hard to be a Godly leader in the middle of the battle, in the middle of change and transition caused by a virus, or in the middle of getting from one place to another on life’s journey. When our normal routine is interrupted we get grumpy and accusing. We turn inward, placing blame on everyone around us. When the blame game wears out, we humans have a tendency to then look up and shake our fist at Almighty God and ask, like the Israelites, “Is God here with us, or not?”

In the middle of a this pandemic, I hear some people asking the same question, “Is God here with us, or not?” Some wonder if God knows what is going on and if He will intervene.

Exodus 17, The Message

1-2 Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn’t a drop of water for the people to drink. The people took Moses to task: “Give us water to drink.” But Moses said, “Why pester me? Why are you testing God?”

3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, “Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?”

4 Moses cried out in prayer to God, “What can I do with these people? Any minute now they’ll kill me!”

5-6 God said to Moses, “Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. I’m going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink.”

6-7 Moses did what he said, with the elders of Israel right there watching. He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, “Is God here with us, or not?”

8-9 Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. Moses ordered Joshua: “Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God’s staff.”

10-13 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.

14 God said to Moses, “Write this up as a reminder to Joshua, to keep it before him, because I will most certainly wipe the very memory of Amalek off the face of the Earth.”

15-16 Moses built an altar and named it “God My Banner.” He said,

Salute God’s rule!

God at war with Amalek

Always and forever!

WHAT WE LEARN…

Again the people do not trust God to provide water when it is not immediately available. (How quickly they forgot the manna He is providing daily!) To test God in this way, “Is God here with us, or not?”, is to act out of unbelief, demanding that he prove himself true. This is not the first time or the last that God’s people put Him to the test!

God’s people will be reminded of this very time of unbelief when commanded by God in Deuteronomy 6;16, “Do not test the Lord, Your God like you did in Massah. God Presence is forgotten when we falter in our faith, looking only at the problem and not to the Solution. On the other hand, God invites those whose faith is small to put him to the test (Mal 3:10) and let him prove his trustworthiness. God is God and we are not. May we never forget HIS faithfulness, goodness, and relentless love for us. What He is doing, is working for our good always.

When we accept and truly believe that He knows what He is doing and will indeed provide a way out of our present circumstance, providing for us all along the journey, we will grow in our faith and claim victory on the other side of our troubles.

God’s people are very dramatic (but we aren’t, are we?) and jump to “we’re all going to die, Moses” without thinking about how the problem of no water will be solved. Maybe it’s because, as slaves, they have always been told what to do, when to do it, conditioned not to think for themselves for generations in Egypt. They don’t know God and how He works. They’ve seen Him work in miraculous ways but God has not become a part of them from the inside out.

God is bringing them out of their past to teach them a new way of life with HIM. He will be teaching them about how to love and worship Him in holy communion with Him. He will demonstrate His love for them over and over until they “get it”.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…!

Notice how the battle was won as long as Moses obeyed by holding up the staff of God. When Moses’ arms got tired, others ran to hold his arms in place. The battle is hard, friends, it’s time to hold up our leaders’ arms! We can do that in prayer, obedience, and encouragement. If called upon, it might take some physical labor, too.

AFTER the battle came worship. Moses’ first thought was giving God praise and honor for the victory. He built an altar to remember WHO did all the heavy lifting to defeat the enemy. Moses “raised a hallelujah”, like we sing today, to remind God’s people of His love and provision. His banner over us is love. May we never forget.

HOLY PAUSE

Instead of complaining and wondering “Is God here with us or not”, the people of Israel need to just love Him back they way He loves them. They need to believe, trust and have faith in the One who Created all, is in all and in control of all. These will be hard lessons in the wilderness, but necessary for their faith.

How about us? Are we in this virus wilderness of isolation asking the same question, “Is God with us, or not?”

It depends on the depths of our faith, doesn’t it? Do we believe in God or not?

Is He testing our faith?

What is the “banner” over your thinking today?

God was preparing a people through whom the Savior of the world could come. Amalekite attempts to destroy Israel put them in a deadly position. The dependence of victory on the raised staff showed that God, not Israel, was the source of Israel’s military victories.

And YES! God IS with us! God is and always will be, the Source of our victory.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us to continually overcome our doubts and fears in this troubling time and lean completely on you and your provisions for us. You know the way out and we must follow. Help us to obey your will and direction. Show us your truth continually. Help us to know our enemy, too, so we will readily recognize the lies He spreads like a virus to destroy our faith and belief in You. Fight out battles for us for we believe in You.

In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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WHO ARE WE IN ALL OF THIS?

Posted on April 5, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

When we were first told about this new virus strand that could be dangerous, the media told us to step up our personal hygiene and wash our hands more often. The elderly and people already with health issues could be affected more than others, so be more careful around them. But we still went to work, went out to eat, socialized as if it could not happen to us. We’ve had the flu before, we will get over it even if we get it.

WHO ARE WE IN ALL OF THIS?

We humans began to poke fun at the situation. Some of us laughed because it actually made us nervous and some of us because they thought it wouldn’t happen to them.

Then the news of the virus got more serious. We were ordered by government leaders to change our normal way of life, stay home for a couple of weeks with only our family. We were told to avoid contact with the elderly and those with low autoimmune systems so the spread of this virus could be more manageable.

WHO ARE WE IN ALL OF THIS?

We flocked to the grocery stores as if we would never see a loaf of bread again in our life times! We bought way more than we needed. We messed up the whole system of supply and demand, making the service industry work ten times harder to keep supplies on the shelves. We hoarded goods so no one else could get the items their family needed.

When the order came that we would need to work from home if at all possible, we did. It was challenging and new at first, but now we have been inside with those we love longer than expected.

WHO ARE WE IN ALL OF THIS?

We are complaining loudly. We do not like being told what to do. We blame the President of the United States (as if he invented the virus!). We blame our state and local leaders. We blame God. We wonder why would God allow this as if God sent the virus upon us as a punishment. Some think the end of the world is coming. Fear and anxiety has set in. Many are becoming emotionally unstable. We are forgetting to pray, asking God to help us.

As weeks of staying home become months of isolation with our family, our complaints are getting louder. Will this be our new way of life? Schedules are almost non existent bringing unwanted disorder to our regular routine. It is the “snow day” that never ends. We are stuck in the movie Groundhog Day set on a repeating loop.

Parents are now their kids’ teachers. Schools are closed. Our favorite restaurants are closed. Only take-out food is available but we wonder if that is safe. We now have to cook food from our overstocked pantries all by ourselves! What?! We live in pajamas most of the time UNLESS we are the dedicated people in the medical field who are giving all they’ve got to helping those affected by this virus while risking their own lives.

WHO ARE WE IN ALL OF THIS?

As believers we pray for the end of this “walking through the wilderness” journey before anymore deaths occur. We pray it will not be 40 years! We pray more seriously for our lost loved ones with passion, like Jesus prayed for us. We pray for those who are sick with greater concern for their families as well. As believers, we do not hoard but share what we have on hand with others.

We are called to care in more ways than ever before. We are stepping up. There is no longer a routine in anything we do. And we accept that. We are creating new ways to continually spread the Hope of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, using the innovative technology available to us. We are continually learning and growing as we ask God, “What are you teaching us in all of this?” “What are you molding and shaping in me?”

Yes, as believers our faith is actually growing. Our love for God and each other is spreading! We know, without doubt, “that to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) so we are ready for whatever life throws at us. Jesus is King and Lord of our lives. Jesus is peace in troubled, scary circumstances. He is still the answer to our questions. He is the Waymaker through these troubled waters.

God, our Father, is in control and will use this present trouble for the good of those who love and believe and cling to Him. God will use this to strengthen our faith and resolve. God will use this so that His glory will be seen daily. Watch for Him!

In our passage today, we read that God’s people got hangry (hunger plus anger) for their past routine, regular foods and past lifestyle as slaves! Moses asked, “who are we in all of this”?

We are taught more than one important lesson that we cannot miss in this passage. When we complain, we are complaining against God, our Father. God provides daily.

Exodus 16, The Message

1-3 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt, the whole company of Israel moved on from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. The Israelites said, “Why didn’t God let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You’ve brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!”

4-5 God said to Moses, “I’m going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day’s ration. I’m going to test them to see if they’ll live according to my Teaching or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as their daily ration.”

6-7 Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, “This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he’s listened to your complaints against him. You haven’t been complaining against us, you know, but against God.”

8 Moses said, “Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it’s God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven’t been complaining to us—you’ve been complaining to God!”

9 Moses instructed Aaron: “Tell the whole company of Israel: ‘Come near to God. He’s heard your complaints.’”

10 When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.

11-12 God spoke to Moses, “I’ve listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: ‘At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you’ll eat your fill of bread; and you’ll realize that I am God, your God.’”

13-15 That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp. When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was.

15-16 So Moses told them, “It’s the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God’s instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’”

17-18 The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren’t short—each person had gathered as much as was needed.

19 Moses said to them, “Don’t leave any of it until morning.”

20 But they didn’t listen to Moses. A few of the men kept back some of it until morning. It got wormy and smelled bad. And Moses lost his temper with them.

21-22 They gathered it every morning, each person according to need. Then the sun heated up and it melted. On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, about four quarts per person.

Then the leaders of the company came to Moses and reported.

23-24 Moses said, “This is what God was talking about: Tomorrow is a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to God. Whatever you plan to bake, bake today; and whatever you plan to boil, boil today. Then set aside the leftovers until morning.” They set aside what was left until morning, as Moses had commanded. It didn’t smell bad and there were no worms in it.

25-26 Moses said, “Now eat it; this is the day, a Sabbath for God. You won’t find any of it on the ground today. Gather it every day for six days, but the seventh day is Sabbath; there won’t be any of it on the ground.”

27 On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather anyway but they didn’t find anything.

28-29 God said to Moses, “How long are you going to disobey my commands and not follow my instructions? Don’t you see that God has given you the Sabbath? So on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. So, each of you, stay home. Don’t leave home on the seventh day.”

30 So the people quit working on the seventh day.

31 The Israelites named it manna (What is it?). It looked like coriander seed, whitish. And it tasted like a cracker with honey.

32 Moses said, “This is God’s command: ‘Keep a two-quart jar of it, an omer, for future generations so they can see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness after I brought you out of Egypt.’”

33 Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Place it before God, keeping it safe for future generations.”

34 Aaron did what God commanded Moses. He set it aside before The Testimony to preserve it.

35 The Israelites ate the manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle down. They ate manna until they reached the border into Canaan.

36 According to ancient measurements, an omer is one-tenth of an ephah.

WHY DAILY MANNA? Why “Daily Manna with Your Mug”?

Personally I need to come to God when I first wake up with each new day. I cannot lean only on what I learned yesterday for today. Today is new. God only knows what I will face today. God knows what I will need for today. God wants us to talk, commune with Him daily. Commune is part of the word communicate which means I pray, He talks, I listen and respond. I have learned this lesson well. But there is still more to learn…each day.

Years earlier in my life, I fell on my knees before God and asked for the passion of Paul when he declared, “I want to know Christ…” (Philippians 4:10). I wanted to be better in my behavior. I wanted to grow in my faith and in my walk. I wanted to develop the characteristics of Christ, God’s Son. I wanted to be a better wife, mother, daughter, grandmother. I wanted to be a better follower of Christ. I desired to be more like Christ and less like my natural sin self. I learned this takes daily doses of God’s food, the manna of His blessings.

I am drawn to God each morning because of my passionate request to know Him more. I need my fill of Him with each new day. I cannot and do not write this blog, Daily Manna with Your Mug, ahead of time and store in a “cloud” to be used later. I need to get my marching orders daily. I need to hear from Him daily, I cannot write yesterday what He has for me today.

It is too easy to go about our regular routines, leaning on our own self sufficiency and forget God. We start to veer from the path and wind up in a wilderness of doubt, anxiety, fear and dismay. Then we complain. All our complaining goes to God. We begin to do ungodly things.

We must gather up the manna (whatever that will be) that He has for us daily. For today is another day to praise Him, thank Him and learn from Him. He is God and we are not.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons long ago and for the lessons of today, this very day. I need you every day. I need you every hour.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Philippians, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged Anger, anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Comfort, Conversation, Criticism, Depression, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Money, Moses, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Waiting, Whining, work | Leave a comment

WE WILL GET TO THE OTHER SIDE!

Posted on April 4, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

We are still right in the middle of a world crisis. You might be in the middle of a crisis in your home because of the affects of the virus. We all wonder WHEN will we get passed this stay at home to be safe order and way of life. We wonder when will the virus stop spreading. Will God provide a way out?

Consider this…Can we stop for a moment and think about the glorious time when we will get to the other side of these overwhelming waters? As we think about what we will do, can we praise God now, right in the middle of the virus sea? Can we look away at the wall of waters of who will get it next, who will survive and who will die on each side of us and look up to God?

I’m sure the Israelites questioned the decision to walk right through the sea, until they felt the dry ground under their feet to hold them up. Many question whether it is necessary to stay home in quarantine to be delivered from this virus!

HOLY PAUSE

What or Who is holding you up right now? Who is guiding you and your thoughts? What happens when we take our eyes of the One in control and look at the virus all around us?

As believers in Jesus, even if we succumb to the virus and pass from this life to life eternal with God, we have won! If we live through it here and avoid the virus affects, we win! We WILL get to the others side of this present trouble. How will we react?

What will we live to tell?

Like the Isralites who made it to the other side, will we immediately break out in praise and song to the One who got us through it all and delivered us from death?

Will the world just go back to way things were with no thought to God and what he brought us through?

Jesus died and rose again so that we can live forever with Him in glory. This is what we celebrate. Jesus is our hope. This is our story and this is our song! May our lives reflect what we believe. May this be our life song to God.

Who will write a song of deliverance from Corona virus? Mm.

Exodus 15, The Message

1-8 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together,

I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!

He pitched horse and rider into the sea.

God is my strength, God is my song,

and, yes! God is my salvation.

This is the kind of God I have

and I’m telling the world!

This is the God of my father—

I’m spreading the news far and wide!

God is a fighter,

pure God, through and through.

Pharaoh’s chariots and army

he dumped in the sea,

The elite of his officers

he drowned in the Red Sea.

Wild ocean waters poured over them;

they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.

Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;

your strong right hand shatters the enemy.

In your mighty majesty

you smash your upstart enemies,

You let loose your hot anger

and burn them to a crisp.

At a blast from your nostrils

the waters piled up;

Tumbling streams dammed up,

wild oceans curdled into a swamp.

9 The enemy spoke,

“I’ll pursue, I’ll hunt them down,

I’ll divide up the plunder,

I’ll glut myself on them;

I’ll pull out my sword,

my fist will send them reeling.”

10-11 You blew with all your might

and the sea covered them.

They sank like a lead weight

in the majestic waters.

Who compares with you

among gods, O God?

Who compares with you in power,

in holy majesty,

In awesome praises,

wonder-working God?

12-13 You stretched out your right hand

and the Earth swallowed them up.

But the people you redeemed,

you led in merciful love;

You guided them under your protection

to your holy pasture.

14-18 When people heard, they were scared;

Philistines writhed and trembled;

Yes, even the head men in Edom were shaken,

and the big bosses in Moab.

Everybody in Canaan

panicked and fell faint.

Dread and terror

sent them reeling.

Before your brandished right arm

they were struck dumb like a stone,

Until your people crossed over and entered, O God,

until the people you made crossed over and entered.

You brought them and planted them

on the mountain of your heritage,

The place where you live,

the place you made,

Your sanctuary, Master,

that you established with your own hands.

Let God rule

forever, for eternity!

19 Yes, Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and riders went into the sea and God turned the waters back on them; but the Israelites walked on dry land right through the middle of the sea.

20-21 Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine, and all the women followed her with tambourines, dancing. Miriam led them in singing,

Sing to God—

what a victory!

He pitched horse and rider

into the sea!

Traveling Through the Wilderness

22-24 Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn’t drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That’s why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, “So what are we supposed to drink?”

25 So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet.

26 That’s the place where God set up rules and procedures; that’s where he started testing them.

God said, “If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won’t strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer.”

27 They came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They set up camp there by the water.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

An experience of the delivering power of God is frequently cause for song. The high emotions of joy and gratitude find particular expression in poetry and melody. The great burden of the first three verses is personal. God, who has been abstract and impersonal, has acted personally for them. The Maker of the universe is indeed their personal God.

The second stanza of the song (15:4-10) emphasizes the contrast between the might of the Egyptians and the might of God. God is the dominant reality. As he promised, they now know him to be Lord. The boast of earth’s mighty is nothing in contrast with the mere breath of God!

The third stanza contrasts God and the gods. As God’s unique character has been shown through delivering his people, so it will be seen in his triumph over the nations as he leads the Israelites into their inheritance.

God’s unfailing love and other words of His character like mercy, grace, kindness, and loving-kindness are used here and in other translations. The basic thought is the undeserved, passionate loyalty of a superior to an inferior. Moses is confident that God will continue the unmerited favor he has already shown. And He does!

THE WILDERNESS

The story of the wilderness wanderings is one of the people’s continued inability to trust and of God’s continued providence. This theme appears here immediately after the great song of praise.

The words grumbled and complained will occur again and again throughout the remainder of the Pentateuch. It is the opposite of faith, trust, and acceptance. Nevertheless, God leads them to the antidote to the bitter waters and mildly encourages them to believe.

Concerning “the diseases” (v.26), some believe that the function of the ceremonial and dietary laws was to preserve health. Thus if the Hebrews followed the law, they would be more healthy. But it is also possible that the plagues are referred to here. In that case the sense is merely that obedience to God’s commands will mean the Hebrews need not fear the kind of destruction visited upon the Egyptians.

The Israelites seemed unable to transfer knowledge gained in one area to another. That God had provided water is quickly forgotten when food becomes a problem.

Ah, but that is tomorrow’s passage!

Whew, so much to learn and think about as we go through the waters of our own troubles in this world.

HOLY PAUSE

Be still and know God.

Be still and know

Be still

In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long…

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GOD’S GLORY ON DISPLAY!

Posted on April 3, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Exodus – God’s Way Out

“Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today”.

Personally, I am believing and leaning into these words as we are “chased” by the threat of succumbing to this virus. We look to the right and to the left at friends being tested for it. We watch our friends in the medical field bravely go to work and do their best to avoid it while helping others through it.

Schools are now closed for the rest of the year to avoid it. Yes, we are on the run in our own wilderness of not knowing what will happen next. Fear is growing like another out of control virus among those who do not know God.

Our national, state and local government is doing all they can to protect us. Our lifestyle is new, challenging and changes from day to day. People are growing anxious in this desert of the unknown.

The church, the Body of Christ, is doing all they can to help people find and follow Jesus while daily praying for those who are fearful. We pray for those who are full of anxiety while they wait the results of medical tests. Fear sets in as financial debt is mounting. These and other challenges concern most people who have been laid off in the service industry. Fear of not making it through the crisis is now settling in like dark cloud. This is lasting longer than anticipated. People are crying out, “When will it be over”? followed by, “How will I survive”?

We realize, as we read the story of God in Moses, that fear is a liar. Fear takes over and the people panic. Fear has caused the Hebrews, once beaten down slaves, to rethink the decision to leave, right in the middle of the chase. Fear caused the attention of Israelites to turn inward at themselves while looking backward at the enemy behind them.

We know the end of the story. Silly Hebrews, do you not see God at work? Don’t you know He is going to help you? Stop grumbling and blaming your leader in your fear and anxiety, just keep moving forward! We see clearly in the story that God knows what He is doing. God’s angel who was leading them through the wilderness now got behind them.

God’s angel stood between His people and the enemy.

HOLY PAUSE!

STOP and camp on that thought for a moment. Do you believe that God stands between the enemy (satan’s fear who is a liar) and us?! (YES! A million times YES!)

What will history say about OUR reaction to our present situation? Will they say, silly people of God, did you not see God at work? We don’t know the end of our story…yet…but we know the Author.

Don’t we?

“Believe and be saved”, I hear God’s Spirit shouting. Salvation with the promise of life is yours for eternity! Just come to Me and I will give you all you need to live without fear and anxiety. I will be with you. I will help you through the troubled waters. I will give you a peace that the world cannot give. These are all words of Jesus, our Savior and Lord to those who believe. What is more important than thinking about whether we will contract the virus, is asking ourselves do we really believe what we say we believe about God? Is our relationship with God through Jesus real and alive and well?

More than the thought of possibly dying from a virus is knowing, without doubt, where I stand with God. Amen?

Exodus 14, The Message

The Story and Song of Salvation

1-2 God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to turn around and make camp at Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Camp on the shore of the sea opposite Baal Zephon.

3-4 “Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are lost; they’re confused. The wilderness has closed in on them.’ Then I’ll make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn again and he’ll chase after them. And I’ll use Pharaoh and his army to put my Glory on display. Then the Egyptians will realize that I am God.”

And that’s what happened.

5-7 When the king of Egypt was told that the people were gone, he and his servants changed their minds. They said, “What have we done, letting Israel, our slave labor, go free?” So he had his chariots harnessed up and got his army together. He took six hundred of his best chariots, with the rest of the Egyptian chariots and their drivers coming along.

8-9 God made Pharaoh king of Egypt stubborn, determined to chase the Israelites as they walked out on him without even looking back. The Egyptians gave chase and caught up with them where they had made camp by the sea—all Pharaoh’s horse-drawn chariots and their riders, all his foot soldiers there at Pi Hahiroth opposite Baal Zephon.

10-12 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!

They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”

13 Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.

14 God will fight the battle for you.

And you? You keep your mouths shut!”

15-16 God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.

17-18 “Meanwhile I’ll make sure the Egyptians keep up their stubborn chase—I’ll use Pharaoh and his entire army, his chariots and horsemen, to put my Glory on display so that the Egyptians will realize that I am God.”

19-20 The angel of God that had been leading the camp of Israel now shifted and got behind them. And the Pillar of Cloud that had been in front also shifted to the rear. The Cloud was now between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. The Cloud enshrouded one camp in darkness and flooded the other with light. The two camps didn’t come near each other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.

22-25 The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left. The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea. It was now the morning watch. God looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud.

The Egyptians said, “Run from Israel! God is fighting on their side and against Egypt!”

26 God said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, over their horsemen.”

27-28 Moses stretched his hand out over the sea: As the day broke and the Egyptians were running, the sea returned to its place as before. God dumped the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. The waters returned, drowning the chariots and riders of Pharaoh’s army that had chased after Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29-31 But the Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall to the right and to the left. God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians. And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

God’s purpose, in this Red Sea miracle, was to enter into a vital relationship with His people. For that purpose they needed to know and trust him. For that to take place the long way through the wilderness with all its attendant hazards was necessary before they faced the wars of conquest in the Promised Land. God wastes no growing experience in our journey with Him. God will use this to help them in the next challenge of taking over the land promised to them. Wait and see.

Stand firm. Stop complaining. Stay connected to God in Holy communion with Him each morning. Focus on God! Watch how He works. Be wise. Obey your leaders. Do what we are told to do. Pray for each other. Stay connected to God’s family. When God invites us to His work, get up at once and go!

Watch God intervene on our behalves. Watch expectantly for God’s glory to be displayed all over the world that He created. God was, is and always will be in control. God will be with us through it all no matter what will happen next and last. When we see God display His power, tell the world! We have the tools of technology to do this!

And never forget. Always remember what God has done, is doing and will do and be humbly grateful. Give God the glory. Always. Trust in God drives out fear.

Faith and fear do not occupy the same space in our minds. Choose what you will think about today. Choose well.

“Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

There are so many lessons and thoughts about you and your power in your story of Deliverance and Redemption of your people! Thank you for the thoughts that drove my own fear away this morning. Thank you for your overwhelming love. I hear you, Lord. There is no place in my heart, mind and soul for fear. Thank you for your special peace that permeates all hearts who believe that you, dear Jesus, faced our biggest fear, death, and won the victory by rising from death to prove you are King of kings and LORD of lords! You are my Savior. To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

In Jesus Name, and by His power, I will tell your story all day long.

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