Exodus is a book about departure and guidance. God's people (the Israelites) have been set free from slave bondage in Egpyt and are making their mass exodus toward the Promised Land. God is guiding the more than 2 million Jews by a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
Let's take a quick look at how God wants to be a part of our LIFE as He Leads, Instructs, Fights for and Encourages us, just as He did the Israelites. We meet them in Exodus 13:17-14:31:
L - leads. We find in v. 17-18, that God did not lead them on the shortest route to the Promised Land. Their enemy, the Philistines, lived along that path and God knew this newly freed group of people were not ready for a battle and in fear, may turn back.
- God may not lead you along the shortest path because He knows you're not ready for the unseen obstacles. Only He can see the end of your journey from the beginning!
I - instructs. In verses 14:3-16, we find that Pharaoh has changed his mind and wants his slaves back. God hardens his heart (v. 4) and Pharaoh sets out, along with over 600 chariots and his army to recapture the Israelites and bring them back to Eygpt. During this time, God is giving Moses clear instructions on what to do with all these people and how to get them safely across the Red Sea. While the Eygptians are fastly approaching, the people are grumbling, complaining and blaming Moses for their situation. Moses patiently gives them instruction to, "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14: 13-14). God then gives HIS instruction to them in verse 15 - "GET MOVING!! I have great things to show you and your enemies, and you are standing around complaining! This is not the time to stop and have a holy huddle. IF you don't get going, you're going to mess up my plan!" (my paraphrase)
- Prayer must have a vital part in our lives, but there is also time for action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If we know what we should do, then get moving!
F - fights for. In 14:23-25, the Egyptians are pursuing the Israelites when God brings great chaos and confusion among them. "...and the Egpytians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt."
- God had a plan and was going to fulfill it whether the Israelites trusted and believed in Him or not. God has a plan for your life and He's not going to give up fighting for you to accomplish the purpose for which He created you.
God stated His plan several times within this passage - " But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." (14:4, 17)
E - encourages us. If you know the rest of the story, you know that God causes the Red Sea to part and allows His people to safely cross over on dry ground. He also causes the waters to kill and destroy the Egyptian army. In verse 30, we see "that day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore."
- Sometimes in order to encourage us, God allows us to see our enemies; our past; destroyed in hopes that it will increase our faith and trust in Him.
Verse 31, "And when the Israelites saw the great work/power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”
What is chasing you from your past? God wants to lead, instruct, fight for and encourage your life today. What kind of miracle is it going to take for you to see the great power of God and to trust Him with your life? Ponder that today! Are you holding on to something that needs to be left behind? Like the Israelites, are you thinking your life would be better off "back there in Egypt"? Don't let a damaging hurt, a distracting habit or a debilitating hang-up keep you from enjoying the freedom that leaving the past behind can bring and allowing God to let you see your enemies destroyed.
Online Class: Make sure you comment on the articles you read this week: Why the Ten Commandments are Un-Amercian and Do the Ten Commandments Cover All the Bases?
11 comments:
The Bill of rights have 10 and the Commandments are 10 and thats as about as close as you get in how alike they are. The ten commandments were made to show not only the character of God, but provide a plumb line to man to see just how sinful he is. The Ten Commandments doesn't have evidence of life given therefore are not capable of salvation. The only way to be able to come close to accomplishing them is through being saved by Christ first.
At first I thought these people were just plain stupid but after a brief conversation with Tonia and some overnight thinking I realized how spiritually ignorant they really are. When God gave the Ten Commandments he knew that we would never be able to obey all of them. The Ten Commandments were provided to show us God's character...the only way we can achieve any of them is through the strength that God provides. My question for these writers is who do they think provided the Bill of Rights? Yes, they were written by man but the thoughts & concepts came from God. The Bill of Rights apply to all US citizens which means that we as Christians have the right to worship/believe and state our opinions & beliefs just as much as the next person. People like these writers want to shut us up but we need to continue to stand up and let our voice be heard.
In a nutshell, their comments are based on the Ten Commandments not fitting America...as if the country has had something to do with falling away from God...it's the people that have left God...it's the people that have slandered the TC; not the country. And no...not one person can live by the TC's 100% of the time...and God knew that...which is why we have His Grace. But do American's live by the Constitution 100% of the time? Sure didn't back in the day when Slavery was an issue...and man is still not "created equal" in the eyes of some southerners. It was VERY obvious the first author has no respect for God to even begin with...and if you do not believe the Bible is infalible it's a moot point to argue with that person...their closed minded and don't want to believe it in the first place. It's b/c of these two people/authors and the thousands like them that America is no longer a God-centered nation. I'm done...
Alex- There is a stark difference between what is American and what is Christian. We can clearly see where the 'Do what feels good unless it is illegal' philosophy has gotten us. I think I'd like to try this 'Palanism' and watch God bless.
Carol-You're right. The Ten Commandments do not cover all. But, the blood of Jesus Christ does!
After reading I felt sad how ignorant these people are. And I think this was a perfect example of were we are in the world today. I'm going to second what Linda what Linda B had to say!
I agree with all the Ladies but won't even try to write something as eloquent as Linda B. did. The important thing is that "we" choose to try and live by the Ten Commandments...even though we ALL fall short. How lucky we are to live in a Country that let's people like these write and even publish their articles. Count your blessings that we choose to know God and try our best to live by His ways.
In response to Alex Wilhelm's article...God made man in His image. Man fell, changed, chose to disobey God. We are no longer in His image, but desperately want and need to get back there. God gave man the 10 commandments and the whole Bible to teach man what He is like and what He wants from us. If the 10 commandments seem Un-American to some, it is clearly because America is un-Godly. God will not be mocked. Unrighteousness will be judged and punished, just not always immediately. Take God's law of gravity for instance. Go ahead America, make an alternative law. The law of gravity still applies! God's laws are THE truth, they are to be obeyed or the consequences suffered, whether those consequences are immediate or in the future.
When I read Mr Wilhelm's article the response which immediately came to me was his misconception that God works within the laws, boundries and ideals of America. In truth God is Supreme over all leaders,nations and people. God is concerned with His Kingdom which is absolute and eternal. Unlike America's leaders, laws and policies which can be felled, overturned and ignored; God reigns with a power and wisdom which cannot be moved or molded to fit our fleshly ambitions, desires and whimsy. To appreciate the importance of the Ten Commandments as a life guide; Mr Wilhelm would need to be striving to live more for God's Kingdom rather than for earthly kingdoms alone. For, in my opinion, if the Ten Commandments seem silly and outdated it is because you are living concerned more with the temporary guidelines of man's laws and man's kingdoms; reather than being concerned with God's laws and God's eternal kingdom.
It was frusterating reading how ignorant some people can be about the Ten Commandments. Linda took the words out of my mouth and I could not agree more! The Ten Commandments was made to show us we cannot do it without God. Oh and I'd like to say to Alex Wilhelm we do not worship our flag we show honor and respect to the flad as a symbol of the freedom we have.
Alex sounds like one who knows no god...Do your own thing, we can do whatever we want, people need no rules, confusion and disorder runs wild, don't pin me down to a rule or command. In Amercia, to Wilhelm, the 10 Commandments are " out of date". Let's pray for Amercia!
Carol Hoenig states she doesn't believe the Bible is inspired, so there is no way she can understand God's purpose for the 10 Commandments.
As I was reading, I just kept thinking that these writers clearly do not understand the reason the ten commandments where written. I also do not think that they understand the true meaning of each commandment. They where meant to make us obedient to God and His ways, so that we could live in his image. The commandments may not cover everything, but Christ's blood did.
Post a Comment