relationships (Exodus 3:1-22) Trusting and Respecting a Personal God

(Exodus 3:1-22) Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

10 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. 21 I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

In this chapter, the Lord demonstrates just how personal He wants to be with us, as He lets Moses know about his ancestors: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  But He also wants us to realize His holiness.  Along with familiarity and closeness should be a very awesome respect for the One who saves and looks out for us.  Just as the Lord told the Israelites what He was going to do for them, and then did what He promised; we can have complete confidence in the Lord that He does everything He promises, and everything He says to us is true.

The angel of the Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ pre-incarnate - part of the Trinity - God, Himself - the Great I Am!  He hears our cries and He cares.  He came down in flesh to accomplish His work on the cross so that anyone who chooses to believe in Him will be delivered.  And in salvation, we become children of God and receive eternal life.  Our promised land is heaven, where we will blessed and rewarded!  It is a promise from God, so nothing can undo what He has said or done!  

While we are still on earth:

- the Lord meets with us in His word (the Bible) and in Spirit (the Holy Spirit)

- the Lord calls and sends His children to do various ministries

- the Lord is always with us to help us in whatever He calls us to do

- and we will experience the Lord's blessings of spiritual peace, joy, comfort, strength, confidence... without guilt, fear or worry!

relationships (Exodus 2:1-25) Purposeful Preparations

(Exodus 2:1-25) Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

11 Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14 But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”

15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. 18 When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” 19 So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” 21 Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. 22 Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

23 Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. 24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I can only imagine how difficult it would have been for Moses who would have grown up in the most luxurious lonely prison ever.  Except for those first few years of life, he would have been estranged from his family and people.  Then, note that Moses wasn't married while in Egypt.  How angry would the Pharaoh have been at his daughter, and how much would he have hated Moses!  So Pharaoh jumped at the "justified" chance of killing him, but God had other plans for Moses.

Moses was literally "born" to do the job that was about to be given him.  While still an Israelite, he knew the ways of the Egyptians having lived with them for about 40 years.  And coming up, God was going to allow him to tend ornery sheep for 40 years in preparation of leading the grumbling Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years!  How apropos!

We need to understand very clearly, it is never God's will that others sin against us, or that we ourselves sin and create bad situations.  Because God is sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful as well as loving, He created all of us with a free will.  Mankind chose sin which separated everyone from God (bringing in death and spiritual death).  So we live in a fallen world where we all sin.  God is well aware of all of this, and does allow some bad and evil things to happen.  Not His doing, but He allows some things to happen.  

We can choose to be angry at God and continue living in a sinful state, even though God isn't the one who caused or committed the sin, or we can choose to go to God for His salvation and His help in moving forward in His will!  In this, being sovereign, the Lord is completely able.. As we strive to live in His will, in His strength, wisdom and love, we can not only have victory over all bad experiences, but we can in some way use what we learn for good.  Consider all tests and trials as a chance to grow in our faith and learn something valuable.  God just might be preparing us for a very particular purpose or ministry!

(Romans 8:28)  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

relationships (Exodus 1:1-27) Respect and Obedience

(Exodus 1:1-27)  Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” 11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; 16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As Christians, we are aliens on this planet until we are brought home to glory.  So our life here on earth is only temporary.  Our purpose is to love God and others and point them to a life with the Lord which leads to heaven.  Therefore, this chapter is about our relationship with God as well as one's relationships with whichever government is in place.  

We are to respect whoever is in power, but God should come first.  Our faith should not be placed in our president or prime minister or king... but in the Lord Jesus who is the King of kings.  So if a government wants us to do anything that goes against God and His word, we need to have faith that God will reward us for our obedience to Him.  We do not have to be afraid!  Even if it means death.  

(Philippians 1:21-26) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.

relationships (Genesis 50:15-26) Don't Hold Grudges

(Genesis 50:15-26)  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION: 

Interesting that the brothers were worried over all those years that Joseph might still be holding a grudge.  Yet the first time Joseph spoke to them about this, he said that he wasn't holding any grudge against them.  If we don't forgive people, we will become angry, fearful and bitter.  And if that is the case, our focus on God will be clouded.  I guess if we ourselves don't forgive others, we would expect that all other people do the very same thing.  As well, if we ourselves struggle to forgive, it might make it more difficult for us to believe that God is forgiving!

As Christians, one thing we need to remember and practice is the love and forgiveness of God.  God's love is unconditional.  And once God forgives us of our sins in that moment of becoming a Christian, He chooses to remember them no more.  In other words, He will not hold any of those things against us.  We have eternal life and eternal security in our salvation because of God's grace.  

Our forgiveness may help the other person as well as the reconciliation process, but it most certainly helps us to remain free of grudge-lists and helps our focus remain on God.  And in the same way, when we do sin, being quick to confess and apologize will always bring us back closer with God and others.

relationships (Genesis 50:1-14) Earning Respect

(Genesis 50:1-14)  Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

4 When the days of mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” 6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. 9 There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days mourning for his father. 11 Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore it was named Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

12 Thus his sons did for him as he had charged them; 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field for a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Note how all the people mourned the loss of Jacob!  He might not have worked, but he would have contributed to the community at large in some way, and touched the lives of those around him.  And note that Joseph, who was second only to Pharaoh, did the responsible thing and asked for permission to take "time off".  Even though Joseph and Jacob had gained a great reputation in Egypt and were loved and highly revered, they didn't assume privileges or a high position.  

Especially at work, people can forget that they are being paid to do a job.  It's not like we are doing the owners or managers any favors by showing up and doing our jobs as we should.  It is expected.  And respect is something one earns.  But more than doing things so that we will be respected, and/or get paid, we should live in such a way that people can appreciate us and see the reflection of God.  What an easy and practical way to live out the gospel message!