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Who Has Called You?

Thu, 20/01/2011
Exodus Chapters 4 to 6

EXODUS 4

Signs for Moses

Commentary

‘What is in your hand?’ God asks Moses a pertinent question and the answer appears simple – a staff.  But this is not just any old staff, it’s ‘the staff of God’ [v 20].  Moses is about to discover that what is in his hand will play a very important role in the days to come.  The staff has a major role when it is pitted against the court magicians and will be instrumental in demonstrating God’s majestic power.  I can’t go into any further detail just yet as it would be almost like a plot spoiler.  I once heard a thought-provoking sermon preached by Pastor Sam Adeyemi on the power of what is in our hands – things we often take for granted or count as being of little significance, which can have a dramatic impact on our lives if only we would use what we have been given.  What do you have in your hands that can be used for God’s glory?  Moses had a staff; an essential piece of kit for a shepherd, and this same staff was going to be used to guide the ‘sheep’ of Israel.  Those years of tending sheep were the training ground for what was to come – the sheep of Israel were much more difficult to guide I’m sure!

Even after he has seen what God can do, Moses is still reticent.  Making excuses about his lack of eloquence.  One who was raised in the royal courts, who according to Acts 7:22 was, “Educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.”  Could it be that years of conversing with sheep had dulled his speech?  I think not!  However 40 years is a long time to spend mulling over your ‘failure’ and was enough perhaps to convince Moses that he was not the man for the job.  God’s response [v 11-12] is a challenge, and I expect to see some interesting comments on this on the website in the days to come.  God reaches the limits of his patience when Moses stops giving excuses and just asks Him to send someone else.  Is He angry because Moses is able to go but not willing?  What does this mean for us when God asks us to do something and we exhibit a similar response?

Moses heads out to Egypt only to have a near death experience.  The first time I read this I thought - what on earth? The guy has finally agreed to go and now you want to wipe him out?  But when you read the Amplified Version you get a sense of Moses’ misdemeanour.  The non-circumcision of his son was not just a physical issue it was complete disregard for the conditions that had been given to Abraham to indicate the consecration of his descendants to God.   Had his non-Israelite wife refused or did Moses just not bother to do the right thing?  Had he conformed to the environment he was in?  The fact that Zipporah had to ‘do the deed’ makes me wonder whether she was the opposing party. 

Moses gets to Egypt and all is as God says it would be.  Pharaoh announces that he does not know God and will not let the people go, and so the ‘hardening’ of his heart mentioned in Chapter 4 begins.  Many years ago I found the concept that God would do this a challenge, and it worried me until I was part of a Bible study group looking at Romans.  Romans 1:18-28 talks about men who deny the existence of God even though the truth about His existence was plainly evident.  The consequence of such behaviour is that they are “abandoned to their evil minds.”  God already knew the state of Pharaoh’s mind, and he knew what the eventual outcome would be. 

God responds to Moses’ challenge and complaint patiently by showing a new side of Himself and comforting Moses.  [As an aside do you think God said, “Now you know how it feels!” to Moses when the Israelites later complain and ask Moses why he brought them out of Egypt?].  He reminds Moses that he is Jehovah; I AM THAT I AM.  Delving into the original Hebrew produces so much insight into the nature of God.  The name, which is rendered as ‘The Lord’ in English, was so revered in ancient times that it was often referred to as ‘The Unutterable Name’ it derives from a verb meaning  ‘I will be‘. God is the source of all being and has being integrated into Him.  In traditional Jewish texts, this is the name that reflects the mercy and condescension of God- it shows how He comes down from the lofty heavens to draw close to his created man.  The name by which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew God was God Almighty, [El Shaddai or, the All-Sufficient God].  Now God tells Moses that not only is he the God who made the covenant, He will also be known as the God who fulfils the covenant, [an experience that the patriarchs never had].  He reiterates the promise that He will bring them out of bondage and take them to the land that was promised to them.

When I consider the relationship that Moses went on to have with God, he truly did know God in a way that his ancestors never did.  Did he have any sense of what was to come in the future when he [grudgingly] answered God’s call?  Probably not.  But isn’t it the same for us?  God calls us to do something and we sometimes grudgingly respond, forgetting that partnership and relationship with Him is a door to many wonderful [and sometimes scary] things that result in our growth as well as glory going to God.  We would do well to remember just who is calling us – Jehovah, the God who IS, who WAS, and who forever will BE.  Wow.  Doesn’t that just blow you away?

Morenike Olubode

GALATIANS 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

ijeoma

yemi_o

God Does Not Forget His Covenant

Wed, 19/01/2011
Exodus Chapters 1 to 3

EXODUS 1

The Israelites Oppressed

Commentary

Chapter 1

Exodus is one of the most exciting books in the bible. If ever man wanted a ready-made script for a Hollywood blockbuster, Exodus has all the ingredients.   As Christians who believe the written word of God, we receive more than entertainment from this book.  In fact we discover truth about the lengths God will go to demonstrate his limitless power, and we are left with an assurance that it is better to be on Lord’s side during our allotted time on earth. 

Exodus starts by reminding us how Israel came to Egypt, every man and his household came with Jacob. The twelve tribes came from Jacobs’s loins and then Joseph died and all his brothers and all that generation. The generation of Israel that followed were fruitful, had increased abundantly, multiplied and waxed exceeding mighty (hale, and strong, of good constitutions).  To the Egyptians, the children of Israel looked like they were on steroids and there were no chemist that stocked the anointing of covenant to sell to them. The Egyptians in their own land had become the poor relation.

The new king in Egypt did not know Joseph but was astute enough to note that Israel had more in number and physical attributes. The plot was hatched to keep Israel in bondage.  Pharaoh wanted to suck the strength and self-belief out of Israel to make them forget the source of their previous successes.

In 2011 this would be for us to forget who we are in Christ, “that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) And with God all things are possible Matthew 19 vs. 26. The more the Egyptians afflicted Israel the more they multiplied and grew. This unleashed Pharaoh’s most dastardly act to date, to kill all the firstborn males. He enlisted unsuccessfully the help of the midwives who did not carry out his instructions because they feared God.  Remember at this time God did not harden this Pharaoh’s heart, so the sins of the forefather visited the next generation.


Chapter 2

Moses mother a Levite, saw he was a goodly child and kept him hidden. When she could no longer hide him she placed him in an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and pitch and laid it by the rivers brink. Ironically the very place Pharaoh had commanded that the male children were to be destroyed was where his mother chose to hide him.

When Pharaoh’s daughter saw the child she disregarded her fathers command. We are reminded of the effect Jesus has on some households where brother turns against brother Matthew 10 vs. 33-36.   Unknowing to her, she was instrumental in the future Pharaoh’s downfall. 

Moses’ sister was watching the events unfold. She approached Pharaoh’s daughter “saying shall I call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee.”  In retail sales this is called the assumptive close, where the seller has already decided that the deal is done “shall we wrap this up for you sir”, a phrase we hear often.  One of the most enjoyable verses in the Old Testament is Exodus 2 vs. 9 when Pharaoh’s daughter pays Moses’ mother wages to nurse the child of her womb….bliss indeed. How wonderful it is to have God’s attention equalling favour. 

Now Moses grew not forgetting his roots and while amongst his brethren, he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, making sure the coast was clear he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. With his new found confidence as self appointed defender of Israel, he decides to break up a quarrel between two Israelites asking them why they were fighting. They rebuked his interfering and at that point, Moses realised that without the anointing or God’s authority / word, efforts are futile.

Moses went on the run hiding in Midian where he met the 7 daughters of the priest of Midian who watered their fathers flock. Shepherds came and drove them away and Moses became their knight in shining armour standing up for them and then he took over watering the flock.

We note that when they came home Reul questioned their early return, and they explained that Moses had drawn water for them and defended them against the shepherds. Reul was no fool he gave Moses one of his daughters who bore him a son who he named Gershom, (meaning I have been a stranger in a strange land). Moses knew that where he dwelt was not home. This account shows that the drawing of water was no longer a problem whilst Moses dwelt with them. When God dwells with us, our natural abilities become supernatural and burdens become light. 

Chapter 2 ends with God remembering his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) and God heard Israel’s cries. Through God remembering us, he sent his son to die for us and the finished work of his son on the cross enables us to have our petitions heard. God is a God who does not forget his covenant.
 
Chapter 3

Moses’ was a shepherd in Midian, one day he led the flock to the mountain of God in Horeb.  On this day, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame out of the midst of a bush.  Moses’ attention was drawn to the bush that was not consumed by the fire. When God saw that he had Moses’ attention, God called his name twice and he answered "here am I."  God said “come no closer, put off the shoes from thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground”. 

In the days of Moses, ordinary people could not approach the presence of God anyhow but because Jesus died for us, we are now able to approach God at anytime and the holy of holies is open to us all.

God introduces himself and Moses becomes afraid to look upon God. The knowledge of whose presence he was in educated him quickly. Then God said a wonderful thing that he had seen the affliction of His people and he knew their sorrows. Hebrews 2vs 14 -18 reminds us that Jesus, God in the flesh suffered being tempted so he can identify with our sorrows. Like Jesus, who came down to deliver us out of the hand of sin, God states that he has come down, to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.  God went on to say that he was going to bring them (Israelites) out of that land (Egypt), in to a good land, flowing with milk and Honey.  Sounds like heaven to me.  John 14:2 - 3 tells us that Jesus has prepared a place for us.

Now imagine this: Moses achieves for some what is a life long dream, a burning bush encounter and the first thing God tells him after introducing himself is that he has to go back to Egypt and face his fear. (Pharaoh).  Moses remembering there was a warrant for his arrest and what happened the last time he addressed his brethren says “who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

God reassures Moses saying “certainly I will be with thee and this will be a sign for you when you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will serve me upon this mountain.  Can you imagine if God told us exactly where we should set up church just to worship him.  Well, he has told us. In our hearts is where God chooses to reside and where he made it clear that he demands worship. When we leave bondage there is a purpose, to worship him in spirit and truth. John 4 vs. 20-23

Moses decides that he wants to know what to say when asked who sent him and he is told by God to say that,  “I AM THAT I AM hath sent me to you.”  God told him to say, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you.

Typical of God, He then tells Moses the end from the beginning (verse 17 – 22) that a mighty hand is needed, he will smite Egypt with wonders, then they will be freed from bondage, they will receive favour, shall not leave empty handed and they will spoil the Egyptians.

This is one of the interesting things about the Bible ...  We are presented with history and prophecy written in advance!

"For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure." Psalm 135 vs. 4

Pastor Philip Noel

PHILIPPIANS 3:10

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

jane

The End of The Begining

Tue, 18/01/2011
Genesis Chapters 48 to 50

GENESIS 48

Manasseh and Ephraim

Commentary

The time came for Jacob to depart the world.  As he lay on his sick bed, Joseph brought his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to visit.  During the visit, Jacob does some really strange things.  Firstly, he adopts Manasseh and Ephraim as his own children giving them the same rights as Reuben and his other sons and secondly, he blesses Ephraim and Manasseh putting Ephraim before Manasseh.  Was this a mistake or was it another divine substitution as with Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau?

In his displeasure, Joseph tried to change it but it became clear that Jacob knew what he was doing and he intended it to be so.  In later years Jacob’s words would come to pass, as Ephraim became the most prominent tribe in the northern kingdom of Israel.

Once Jacob had finished blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, he said to his sons “gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come”.  The sons of Jacob gathered together expecting to be blessed as it was the tradition of those days, however, what they heard would have surprised them all.

It became clear to them who was favoured and for what.  Judah emerged as the lawgiver and the tribe from which the Messiah will descend.  Jacob’s prophesy concerning Judah was held in high regard by the rabbis so much so that in 7AD when a roman, Caponius was appointed procurator over Judah, the rabbis went around mourning that the sceptre had departed from Judah and the Messiah had not yet come.  They did not realise that years before, our Lord Jesus Christ had been born.

On the other hand, Reuben who should have received the blessing of the firstborn was told he would not excel.  The rights of the firstborn were taken from him and given to Joseph; his right to rule was given to Judah and his priestly privileges to Levi.  Overtime, we will discover that Reuben truly did not excel among the tribes of Israel.

I am sobered to think that the consequences of my actions can have far reaching implications for generations but also I am encouraged that though Levi was scattered through the land because of his role at Shechem (Genesis 34), they were chosen as the priests because they demonstrated intrinsic zeal in their stance with Moses against idolatry (Exodus 32:26 - 28; Deuteronomy 33:9 - 10).   It is interesting to note that even Moses a descendant of Levi did not escape the words of Jacob when he came down the mountain to observe the golden calf (Exodus 32:19 – 20).

As parents we must be careful to do right in order to preserve our generations and leave a good heritage for our children’s children.


The End of The Patriarchs

Jacob had changed in his old age.  He was careful to bless them all giving each person the appropriate blessing and then he quietly slipped away. 

It is so heart warming to see how much the Egyptians loved Joseph that all the servants and elders went with him to Canaan to bury Jacob.  The procession that followed Joseph would have rivalled anything we can observe today perhaps on the scale of princess Diana.  I can just imagine the chariots, the horsemen, the number of people, if Jacob could see it, he would probably have been amazed thinking “all this for me?”

No sooner had Jacob died, the brothers once again reveal the true content of their hearts.  They had been dwelling in fear of revenge for the evil they committed against him.  If only they lived under the dispensation of grace as we do and knew the scripture in Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” perhaps they would not have lived in fear.

Joseph, the last of the Patriarchs lived 80 years in prosperity as a prince of Egypt and died ending the book of beginnings.

Bunmi Olubode

PSALM 119:18


18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

shadeoguns

Olaolopade

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