Exodus chapter 7 through chapter 11 deal with the various disasters that struck Egypt, disasters brought on by God and communicated to the Egypt king through Moses and Aaron.
Disasters such as creating Nile River of blood, frogs so numerous they're even in the baking pans, gnats and flies, boils, hail, the death of their animals, locusts, and even darkness. Each time, Moses and Aaron went before the king and announced what terrible event was going to happen. To prevent it, all the king had to do was let the Israelites go out three days into the desert and worship God.
Each time the disaster struck, the king would plead to Moses and tell him to pray for him and then he will let them go. But as soon as the disaster disappeared, the king backed down on his word and refused to let God's people go.
So many times, even in our own lives, when tragedy strikes us, we seem to remember God and pray to help us through those times. We make even false promises--like the Egyptian king did here in Exodus--and once the tragedy is averted, we fail to fullfill our promises.
In chapter 11 of Exodus, Moses announced to the king that God will kill each first-born child, from the king's own son on down to the lowly slave girl. Even the first-born livestock will be killed. All the king had to do was let God's people go.
But, once again, the king refused to listen.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Moses and the king
In chapter 4 of Exodus, starting with verse 18, Moses returned to Egypt.
He spoke to his people, telling them all that the Lord had said to him. He then went to the king of Egypt and told the king to let the Israelites go, so they can go out into the desert and worship the Lord. The king refused, and ultimately punished the Israelite slaves even more. The Israelite slave foremen told Moses that the king was pushing them to work harder and harder.
Moses then complained to God--haven't we all done that at one time or another?
The Lord responded by telling Moses that He will do something to the king to force him to let His people go. God tells Moses repeatedly that He wants him to tell both the Israelites and the Egyptian king that they are to leave the land. Moses complained again that he was not a good speaker and that no one will listen to him.
In chapter 7, verse 1, God told Moses to go before the king and that God will give Moses and Aaron the skills to speak well to the king. However, God also told them that He will make the king stubborn and will not listen to them.
Aaron also threw down his walking stick in front of the king, turning it into a snake, and still the king refused, telling him it was all just magic.
Then, they told the king that the Lord will punish the land until His people are freed.
Hence, disaster soon struck Egypt.
He spoke to his people, telling them all that the Lord had said to him. He then went to the king of Egypt and told the king to let the Israelites go, so they can go out into the desert and worship the Lord. The king refused, and ultimately punished the Israelite slaves even more. The Israelite slave foremen told Moses that the king was pushing them to work harder and harder.
Moses then complained to God--haven't we all done that at one time or another?
The Lord responded by telling Moses that He will do something to the king to force him to let His people go. God tells Moses repeatedly that He wants him to tell both the Israelites and the Egyptian king that they are to leave the land. Moses complained again that he was not a good speaker and that no one will listen to him.
In chapter 7, verse 1, God told Moses to go before the king and that God will give Moses and Aaron the skills to speak well to the king. However, God also told them that He will make the king stubborn and will not listen to them.
Aaron also threw down his walking stick in front of the king, turning it into a snake, and still the king refused, telling him it was all just magic.
Then, they told the king that the Lord will punish the land until His people are freed.
Hence, disaster soon struck Egypt.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Dear Lord, thank you for the courage
If you ever find yourself in an impleasant situation, where you may feel like the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, ask God to give you the needed courage.
Last week, I found myself in the midst of two situations (one where I settled an old credit card account with a collector and another where I had to deliver some unpleasant news at a meeting) where I needed courage.
In both situations, I closed my eyes for a few moments and asked God to give me the courage to see my task through.
It worked.
Both of them.
And it'll work for you. All you have to do is ask.
Last week, I found myself in the midst of two situations (one where I settled an old credit card account with a collector and another where I had to deliver some unpleasant news at a meeting) where I needed courage.
In both situations, I closed my eyes for a few moments and asked God to give me the courage to see my task through.
It worked.
Both of them.
And it'll work for you. All you have to do is ask.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Moses: the self-proclaimed nobody who lead his people to freedom
The book of Exodus starts by recapping the final events from the book of Genesis. The Israelites then found themselves under the leadership of a new king who did not think very highly of them, and treated them very cruelly--this was mostly due to their high numbers, and in a time of war they feared the Israelites would turn on them. The entire chapter 1 is devoted to this, how the Egyptians were fearful of the Israelites and pushed them more and more into slavery.
Then, starting in chapter 2, Moses was born.
We all remember from Sunday School how Moses, as an infant, was placed in a basket along the river and hid it--this was due to the king's order that all infant males born of the Israelites were to be killed. Then, the Egypt king's daughter went down to the river and saw Moses. She then adopted him as her own.
Moses grew up knowing he wasn't an Egyptian. He was a Hebrew, one of the Israelites. He saw how badly they were treated.
One day, God calls to Moses--He comes to him in the form of a burning bush. He then tells Moses that He is going to send Moses to the king of Egypt so he can lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In chapter 3, verse 11, Moses tells God that he is a nobody and that nobody would listen to him. God tells him that He will be with him and gives Moses miraculous power to show his people that Moses has been given God's power.
In chapter 4, verse 10, Moses tells God that he is not a good speaker, and he is slow and hesitant. God then tells him to take his brother Aaron to speak for him, as he was a good speaker.
Then, starting in chapter 2, Moses was born.
We all remember from Sunday School how Moses, as an infant, was placed in a basket along the river and hid it--this was due to the king's order that all infant males born of the Israelites were to be killed. Then, the Egypt king's daughter went down to the river and saw Moses. She then adopted him as her own.
Moses grew up knowing he wasn't an Egyptian. He was a Hebrew, one of the Israelites. He saw how badly they were treated.
One day, God calls to Moses--He comes to him in the form of a burning bush. He then tells Moses that He is going to send Moses to the king of Egypt so he can lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In chapter 3, verse 11, Moses tells God that he is a nobody and that nobody would listen to him. God tells him that He will be with him and gives Moses miraculous power to show his people that Moses has been given God's power.
In chapter 4, verse 10, Moses tells God that he is not a good speaker, and he is slow and hesitant. God then tells him to take his brother Aaron to speak for him, as he was a good speaker.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Having problems? Here's a perfect place to put them.
Everyone has problems. Let's face it, if you're human you have problems.
How is the best way to deal with them, especially the problems that seem to be overwhelming and beyond your control?
Easy. Put them in God's hands.
Never tried it? Well, you're in for a treat. I have to keep reminding myself of this because, of course, I'm only human. Whenever I feel so overwhelmed with something, I stop, pray, and place all of the problems and worries in God's hands.
Let me illustrate: imagine all of your problems as a huge ball. Spread your arms, capture all of your problems, worries, and fears, then compact them into the size of a ball (basketball or soccer or volleyball, it really doesn't matter). Then, tell God to take it.
Try it. You'll feel better.
Like many people, we have money problems. We've been through vehicle repossessions and home foreclosures and have even been sued three times (to date) by credit cards we haven't been able to pay over the years--keep in mind, my wife got sick in April of 2011 with acute myeloid leukemia, and is in the first year of a 5-year recovery plan. With all of that, and even going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University which has helped tremendously with managing money, we still need to place those problems in God's hands.
Last week, I had an impending court date with one of those credit cards (Capital One is staying out of my wallet - FOREVER! - after all this). When I went to contact the attorneys representing the credit card, I prayed for God to give me courage and for me to also find someone with a Godly heart on the other end. I talked to a nice lady there, and we have a possible deal worked out--I'm still waiting on that phone call. But the stress I had been feeling before was extinguished when I . . . put those problems in God's hands and asked him to show me what He wanted me to do.
Put your stress and problems in God's hands. You'll be grateful you did.
How is the best way to deal with them, especially the problems that seem to be overwhelming and beyond your control?
Easy. Put them in God's hands.
Never tried it? Well, you're in for a treat. I have to keep reminding myself of this because, of course, I'm only human. Whenever I feel so overwhelmed with something, I stop, pray, and place all of the problems and worries in God's hands.
Let me illustrate: imagine all of your problems as a huge ball. Spread your arms, capture all of your problems, worries, and fears, then compact them into the size of a ball (basketball or soccer or volleyball, it really doesn't matter). Then, tell God to take it.
Try it. You'll feel better.
Like many people, we have money problems. We've been through vehicle repossessions and home foreclosures and have even been sued three times (to date) by credit cards we haven't been able to pay over the years--keep in mind, my wife got sick in April of 2011 with acute myeloid leukemia, and is in the first year of a 5-year recovery plan. With all of that, and even going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University which has helped tremendously with managing money, we still need to place those problems in God's hands.
Last week, I had an impending court date with one of those credit cards (Capital One is staying out of my wallet - FOREVER! - after all this). When I went to contact the attorneys representing the credit card, I prayed for God to give me courage and for me to also find someone with a Godly heart on the other end. I talked to a nice lady there, and we have a possible deal worked out--I'm still waiting on that phone call. But the stress I had been feeling before was extinguished when I . . . put those problems in God's hands and asked him to show me what He wanted me to do.
Put your stress and problems in God's hands. You'll be grateful you did.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Advice for young people
The Book of Proverbs are moral teachings, taught in the form of lines of affirmation or sayings that are easy to remember when the need arises. They can give everyone guidance and teach others how to live intelligently and wisely.
Proverbs chapter 1, verses 7 through 19, is geared in my Bible as Advice for Young Men, but I want to expand it to be advice for all young people.
It starts by saying that in order to have knowledge, "you must first have reverence for the Lord." Above all else, respect the wisdom of the Lord and strive to always be constantly learning.
It next goes on to tell young people to pay attention to what your parents tell you. Parents, by and large, are not stupid and have lived a lifetime of struggles and champions. Learn from those struggles so you do not repeat them.
Temptations are the next form of advice given to young people. Meaning, resist temptations and do not give in. Let me repeat: DO NOT GIVE IN! If you feel you cannot, throw all of your temptations into the Lord's hands to deal with. You'll be amazed at the results. If you are part of a gang (or even a group of boys or girls) and they ask you do something illegal or immoral, resist and walk away. Even if there is little or no chance at getting caught, the Lord knows.
He knows all.
In fact, don't hang around people like that to begin with. That's the first step towards avoiding a life of crime: stay away from those types of people.
Proverbs chapter 1, verses 7 through 19, is geared in my Bible as Advice for Young Men, but I want to expand it to be advice for all young people.
It starts by saying that in order to have knowledge, "you must first have reverence for the Lord." Above all else, respect the wisdom of the Lord and strive to always be constantly learning.
It next goes on to tell young people to pay attention to what your parents tell you. Parents, by and large, are not stupid and have lived a lifetime of struggles and champions. Learn from those struggles so you do not repeat them.
Temptations are the next form of advice given to young people. Meaning, resist temptations and do not give in. Let me repeat: DO NOT GIVE IN! If you feel you cannot, throw all of your temptations into the Lord's hands to deal with. You'll be amazed at the results. If you are part of a gang (or even a group of boys or girls) and they ask you do something illegal or immoral, resist and walk away. Even if there is little or no chance at getting caught, the Lord knows.
He knows all.
In fact, don't hang around people like that to begin with. That's the first step towards avoiding a life of crime: stay away from those types of people.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Final Chapters of Genesis
The final chapters of Genesis, chapters 49 and 50, deals with the last words of Jacob, then his death and Joseph's death long afterwards.
Chapter 49 is largely Jacob's last words to his 12 sons, telling each one what will happen to them in the future--some he describes as animals (Judah a lion, Dan a poisonous snake, or Joseph like a wild donkey) and others he either tells them they'll be rulers of their land or how their life isn't going to amount to much.
After Jacob's passing, Joseph's brothers now wonder that they'll be punished for what they did to Joseph. Joseph reassures them that although they plotted evil against him, God turned the bad into the greatest good that could happen for the people of the land. He helped prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine by stockpiling as much food as possible during the seven fruitful years.
Genesis ends with Joseph telling his family they'll be taken care of by God, and how they'll be led out of this land of Egypt and to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Chapter 49 is largely Jacob's last words to his 12 sons, telling each one what will happen to them in the future--some he describes as animals (Judah a lion, Dan a poisonous snake, or Joseph like a wild donkey) and others he either tells them they'll be rulers of their land or how their life isn't going to amount to much.
After Jacob's passing, Joseph's brothers now wonder that they'll be punished for what they did to Joseph. Joseph reassures them that although they plotted evil against him, God turned the bad into the greatest good that could happen for the people of the land. He helped prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine by stockpiling as much food as possible during the seven fruitful years.
Genesis ends with Joseph telling his family they'll be taken care of by God, and how they'll be led out of this land of Egypt and to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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