Exodus 11 Wait

Vs. 3 “……Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.”

Here was an unknown, obscure, eighty one year old man who, practically overnight, became known and great throughout the entire nation.  As a baby he was taken from his family and later was forced to run away and live an obscure life for some forty years.  But one day God picked him to become the future leader of the chosen and beloved people, the huge and great nation of Israel. 

 

Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

 

Moses was suddenly soaring as an eagle in a position he never dreamed God would put him.  He waited a lifetime and in that waiting He remained faithful.

 

We may feel useless, unusable (Moses had a speech problem); we may be older in years; we may be in a “desert” place; we may be an unknown; we may have an unusual past.  No matter how old we are, what we are or where we are in life, God can use us if we but remain faithful to Him.  In the waiting He renews our strength, gives us “wings as eagles” to mount up and soar to heights we have never known.  His strength will allow us to walk, run and not be weary or faint. 

 

Our chosen times for those special assigned tasks from God may come very unexpectedly.  It may even seem such a very little job to us.  Yet God can use our  surrender and obedience to change lives for  all eternity: that husband who desperately needs to know that you deeply love and respect him, that child or grandchild who needs to daily see Christ alive in us, that neighbor who is waiting to hear of the hope of the Savior, or that co-worker who needs a word of encouragement to survive.   

 

Just like Moses in his new position who had to face incredible hardships, turmoil and rejection, we too will perhaps find the new place “impossible”.  But oh the reminder of the “eagle” verse:  renewal of our strength each day comes from waiting on Him.

Exodus 10 All to Jesus I Surrender

 

Vs. 1- 2   Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

 We may be puzzled as to why God kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart.  Verse two gives us the answer: to reveal His power.  There will be times in our lives that we will not understand the reasons and circumstances around us.  But if we are walking in His will, He will eventually be glorified.  Though things may seem unfair, unbearable, illogical, we must go on, believe and trust God. 

 

Vs. 7 Then Pharoah’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? ….Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

What will it take in our lives for God to get our attention?  So much damage can be done when we resist His will.  Even in the life of a Christian, our lives can be destroyed when we ignore truth and refuse to obey.  We may end up with nothing to tell our children or grandchildren of His working in our lives for His glory.   Early this morning my precious granddaughter, Clarissa Joy Moorhead was born.  Oh how I long for her to know His power  and for it to be clearly  seen in her parents and grandparents.   As I have watched my daughter and son-in law raise their son I  have seen their diligence and obedience to God and know that Clarissa along with Joseph will see that glory and mighty power of God.  I pray that we too, as grandparents will also reflect His glory to these dear children. 

Vs. 11 Pharaoh said, “Go now, you who are men….”

Pharaoh’s obedience was conditional, limited.  All were to leave, along with the animals (Vs. 9). 

Let us come to God with unconditional obedience.  Let us not bargain or hold back that one thing that we hold most dear or feel is just much too hard or impossible to give up.  Our stubbornness will force the hand of God to continue to deal with us.

 

Let us pray the words of that wonderful song: “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.”

 Exodus 9  For This Purpose I Have Raised You Up

Vs. 16  “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

These were the words God instructed Moses to say to Pharaoh.  Sadly, we see here a man who tried to make himself a god and as a result of that, God brought to him and his people extreme devastation.  Our sin doesn’t just affect us alone.  Others too suffer.  Pharaoh was raised up for the sole purpose of allowing God to show His mighty power.  He is not known or remembered for being godly but instead his name goes down in history for being an evil man.

 

What are we known for?  Long after we are gone, how will our grandchildren describe us?  For what purpose have we been put on this earth?  Let it be the entire opposite of Pharaoh who was used in a negative way.  Many will be affected either for good or evil, according to how we live.  We can to choose to allow God to raise us up in a positive way for the purpose of showing His power in us. 

 

It may be that He will use your greatest weakness or your hardest battle to reveal His glory and power: your battle with weight; a besetting sin, perhaps only known by you and God; a relationship with someone close that seems impossible; a sickness that you must bear; some burden or grief that consumes you; the death of a loved one that carries an unbelievable weight on your heart.  Whatever it is, there is no time to lose.  Choose today to fall before Him in sweet and full surrender and allow Him to use you, every single day to reveal His glory.  Give up that grief or guilt and revel in knowing that He has a wonderful purpose for you life.  He will show His glory in You.  He can and will use your deepest and sometimes most painful life message when we are in full surrender to Him. 

 

I think of Crystal who surrendered her weight problem, lost one-hundred and forty pounds and now has a dynamic ministry in teaching others. I was personally affected and convicted in that same area by her and now by the grace of God, I am privileged to teach a class at our church. I think of a dear saint, Sadie Tibbetts, now in Heaven, who fervantly prayed many long years for an alcoholic husband and saw him come gloriously to serve the Savior. I see my sweet friend Janice, in the death of her husband, reaching out to others in a grief class to help others come to healing. 

 

Isaiah 64:4 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.”

 

I love this quote, framed and given to us about thirty years ago, when we were serving with the revival ministry, Life Action. We daily watched the director of that ministry, Del Fehsenfeld, Jr. live out these words.   It is still displayed in our home today. “Resolved, never hence forward till I die to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.”  Jonathan Edwards  

 

Dear one, God wants to use you to bring glory to Him.

Exodus 8 Continuous Retreat

 

 

 

 

Vs. 15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.”

It seems that in distress we are often more apt to retreat to God. Then when things settle down, we are less motivated to need Him.  After the 9/11 disaster churches were full.  During dire times, we feel so needy.   But often it doesn’t seem to last.  Once the crisis calms we tend to go back to our old ways of little dependence on Him.  We, just as Pharaoh did, recognize from where our help comes. Vs. 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from the people….” He did not run to his magicians for help.  He knew the real power was in God.

 

Oh that God would find in us hearts that continuously retreat to Him, hearts that long for Him in the calm, as well as the desperate days, hearts that desire to please Him even when we don’t desperately need something.  May the world recognize that the God we serve is magnificent and powerful.  Might it be that the lost around us could see His glory reflected in us and seek out His help because they see our utter and complete dependence upon Him?  Do you think those around you see His power in your life?  Do your neighbors or co-workers even know that you are a Christian?  Do they come to you for guidance, advice or prayer? It seems that we as Christians in America are becoming not so easily recognized.  We tend to let the cares and things of this world rob us of the goal, mission and joy of His calling for our lives, that high calling of glorifying Him.  Our goals can so easily become our own: glorifying ourselves and others, making idols of sports, movie stars, possession and leisure.  We find relief and pleasure in these things but it doesn’t last.  A continuous retreat to God is the only thing that will bring us that deep, pure and lasting joy and one that will carry us through everything we must face in life.

Exodus 7 Reminders

 

 

Vs. 5  “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites go brought the first plague, the waters of the river were turned to blood. He had been told, he had seen the wonders (in chap. 6 with the rod) yet Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. 

 

You and I have seen many wonders and answers to prayers in our lifetime, in our own lives and in the lives of others. Yet we so often harden our hearts to do His will.   As a result we lose our joy, peace, and God’s power upon our lives.  Then we get irritated and feel so unfulfilled.

 

God wants to work powerfully in our lives to show the world His power.  Let us be willing instruments in His hands.  Let us be patient as we see before our eyes the “plagues” that are around us in this world.  We must not lose heart.  God is alive and well.  He has a plan for His people.  Vs. 6 “Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did.”  Let us not doubt or hesitate to obey.  Let us heed His Word and obey.

 

Today God has nudged me about my marriage, that I am slipping in my commitment in being a godly wife.  I am so thankful that God faithfully works in our hearts and never gives up on us.  He so wants the best for us.  He so wants the world to see that He is alive in us.

 

Thank you God for this reminder today.  We recognize our sin and hardened hearts. We ask for Your forgiveness. We surrender to You.  Soften our hearts so that they become pliable in Your hands.  Bring back the joy.

Exodus 26 Listen

 

To Moses’ complaint to God’s lack of deliverance of the people, He answered: “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh…..I am the Lord.”  (Vs. 1-2)

Moses gave the message from God to the people:  “ I have remembered My covenant….; I will bring you out….; I will rescue you…..; I will redeem you…; I will take you…; I will give you….; I will be your God.” (Vs. 5-8)

With these incredible promises, how did the Israelite respond?  Vs. 9 “But they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.”

 

Dear one, do we find ourselves at times so distraught that we don’t focus on His clear promises?  We can save ourselves so much wasted anguish if we would but run to Him and His Word so that we too can be “brought out, rescued, redeemed, taken, be given to.” Perhaps the Israelites had become somewhat immersed in the Egyptian life that they had begun to lean less and less on Him.  Perhaps long before that they had stopped true and absolute worship and dependence on God. 

 

I have never forgotten a story that I have repeated many, many times because of the power of the message: for parents to be very in tune with God and for children to be taught complete obedience.  I have often traveled to different places to do children’s ministry.  One such place was Oklahoma City where I heard a very godly man, Pastor Tom Ellif, tell this story.  His daughter had gone to the football game with friends and afterwards they decided to go get something to eat.  The family rule was that if you are going to another destination that they must call to ask the parent.  So from a phone at the school she called home.  Pastor Ellif said that as she was asking, he felt, what he called, a check in his spirit from God.  He proceeded to tell her to stay at the school and he would come and pick her up right away.  She was upset with not being able to go as she so often had in the past but had long ago learned to obey her father.  After being home for a while, the driver of the car she would have been in, called from the hospital and said, “Pastor Ellif, it’s a good thing you didn’t let your daughter come with us because someone randomly shot into the car and the bullet went into the place where she would have been sitting. Right now they are picking glass from the windshield out of my face here are the hospital.”   As the Pastor relayed the story to his daughter, she ran into his arms and said, “Daddy, I will never doubt you again.”

 

Are we in a place that we have learned to be conditioned to hearing that “still small voice” or have we grown cold like the Israelites who ignored Him?  Would we recognize or hear His voice if He were to give us a warning for ourselves or our children? Just as God told Moses, He also wants to show us what He can and will do in our lives.  He is God. (Vs. 1-2)

Exodus 5 The Storm Before the Calm

 

 

 

 

Moses and Aaron came boldly before Pharaoh and proclaimed by instruction from God,  that he was to let the people go.  Of course he refused just as God told Moses he would (Vs. 4:21).  Instead Pharaoh begins to mistreat them.  The Israelites became very angry with Moses and Aaron and blamed all their troubles on them.  Moses spoke to God and questioned why He had not yet delivered the people (Vs. 23).  He had already forgotten what God had told him.  He wanted it to go his way, the easy and quick way.  He had let the people upset him. 

 

In this situation there would be a “storm before the calm”.  Things had to get worse before they got better.  We may at times have to face very deep valleys before we reach a mountain top in our Christian walk.  But too often all we want is just the mountain tops, when everything is going so well.  We want everything to be as Psalm 23 says, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”  There will not always be rest in green pastures and still waters.  We forget that it also says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” There will be very deep dark valleys.  Yet, we can take heart, for in those valleys, we can say as David, “I will fear no evil; For thou art with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”

 

Sometimes there is no “quick fix”.  We just must wait. Too often, as Moses, we forget God’s plan.   We can release our fear to Him for He is with us.  He will comfort us if we are willing to surrender to that comfort. The rod and staff were used by the shepherd to lead the sheep and keep them safe. 

 

Sometimes the only way we can fully and deeply know Him, is by fellowshipping in His suffering.  Philippians 3:10 “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being make conformable unto His death.”  Are we willing to be conformed or is God just sadly watching us kicking and screaming through these potentially life changing valleys?

July 24, 2009    Exodus 4   Excuses

 

Moses kept coming up with excuses to God as He was telling him that he was chosen to lead the people out of Egypt.  The first two are in chapter three and three are in this chapter:

Vs. 3:11 “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  He didn’t think he was important enough to do the task.

3: 13  Moses was worried that perhaps the people would not believe that God Himself really sent him to lead.

4:1 “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice?”

4:10  “I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.

4:13  “Please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” He tried to get God to choose another.

 

We may feel inadequate for the tasks God puts before us: making our marriage work; raising godly children; starting that new job; taking up a ministry you know God is asking you to do; starting that diet or exercise program and being diligent about it. Or you simply just may be saying “Soon, soon I will get started.”  You may feel that you are just too weak.  You can give God all the excuses in the world but He knows exactly of what you are capable. 

 

Verse 2  “What is in your hand?”  We have in our “hand” the rod of the mighty power of God.  He goes with us to show to the world His greatness.  Today is the day, no more excuses.  Run, run with His rod.  Show the world that He is alive.

 

I remember a day when I was busy with “my” schedule.  God kept nudging me to visit a neighbor.  I had befriended her but never had the opportunity to witness to her.  I tried putting off His “still small voice”, and just continuing my own agenda, plus I was worried that she wouldn’t want to hear what I had to say.  Finally I gave in.  Her response seemed as if she wanted to say, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”  She received Christ as her Savior that afternoon. 

 

Let’s give up all our excuses.

Exodus 3 He Comes, He Cares When We Cry

Vs. 7  God heard the cry of the Israelites.  He saw their oppression.  He begins their rescue by revealing Himself to Moses through the burning bush.  God’s plan was given to Moses.

God hears when we cry and are oppressed.  We need to call out to Him and He will come and minister to us in a way that no human can. He cares and will reveal Himself to us in a very special way if we remain on that “holy ground”, with heart and ears open to listen and to accept His will.  Too often we cry out alone, to ourselves or to people.  Yes, we should share our pain with others at times but we must realize that He is our greatest counselor and comforter. 

 

I am reminded of a sweet hymn we used to sing.   I had to look it up in one of my very old hymn books because it isn’t in the new ones. 

 

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold, and you have to get along with meager fare, just remember in His word, how He feeds the little bird.  Take you burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 

Chorus: Leave it there, leave it there. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.  If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.  Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 

If your body suffers pain, and your health you can’t regain and your soul is almost sinking in despair, Jesus knows the pain you feel.  He will save and He can heal.  Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail, don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer.  He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.  Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on and your body bends beneath the weight of care, He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end.  Take you burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 

Take it  now, dear one, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Exodus 2 The Ark of Deliverance

 

 

 

 

The little ark (basket) of bulrushes was the means of delivering baby Moses to safety.  The ark that Noah built delivered his family and the animals to safety.  Noah and Moses were the arks in human form that were used as instrument of God to deliver His people.  The arks of safety were all around Moses, those instruments God put in place to protect him and prepare him for the future:  his mother, Jochebed, wisely hid him in the ark; his sister watched over him in the water; Pharaoh’s daughter raised and had him highly educated; Jethro, his father-in-law took him in when Moses had no place to go.  God was protecting and preparing Moses for the rescue of a lifetime.  He would become the ark God would use to rescue His people. 

 

God has done the same for you.  You can probably make a list of “arks” like this of the people and circumstances God has used to bring you now to a place where you can be the “ark” for others.  Don’t let the opportunities of rescue pass you by.  Keep your heart close to His so you will be able to recognize the call.  It will be all around you everyday: your husband in need of your encouragement and reverence; your child who in being formed by watching your Christ likeness; that employee/employer who you will affect by perhaps being the only “Bible” they will ever read; your neighbor who watches you for years and knows you better than most; the discouraged saint in your church body that needs to be rescued with your words of encouragement and love; the poor in your midst that needs to see Christ alive by your giving heart; the widow that needs a physical hug. It can sometimes be a seemingly simple thing and other times it may require your all.  I was “arked” by my sweet friend, Sheri, with a short and simple e-mail yesterday.  Her encouragement reached down into my heart and touched a chord that is still sounding.  Let’s take the time.  It can make a world of difference in the heart of someone. Don’t wait my friend, respond to God’s nudge.  We are His “arks”.