We Are Light And Salt

Exodus 12:37-39 -   Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.   And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

It happened exactly as God had said…and they traveled in a caravan of walkers…some on horseback and camel. Others may have ridden in carts pulled by ox or donkey. The Bible lists the number at 600,000 men…but that would only be the men 20 or older that were healthy enough to fight if they needed to go to war. Never before and never again would there be recorded such a trip in history.

Theologians have theorized about a full number of this…mixed multitude of exiles that included children…women….and elderly not able to care for themselves.  The ‘mixed’ reference helps us understand that many actual Egyptians may have left Egypt with them.  God had convinced many of them that they needed to forget all the other Gods in their life and worship him alone.  Perhaps the full number was in the millions. God had blessed these people…under the duress of captivity from a mere 70…to more than 2 million people.

I have meditated more than the usual hour in the morning on this one.  I had time to write this morning…but felt after picking my scripture ….I needed…no God needed me to chew on this one a bit more.  The lesson in Sunday school was from Matthew 5… how we are the salt of the earth…and how we need to let our light shine. These Hebrews sure knew how to do that.  They lived a life so trusting in God that even in the worst of conditions they flourished and multiplied. They were examples for the people around them and convinced many of them to change the religion they had used all their life.

That’s what is about folks.  We have to figure out how God can use us to season the part of the world we live in with his love. We have to find the best venue to show the world we live in God’s light of truth and love.  Combine that with the second of two walking miracles that attended Sunday school for the first time since cancer stole their energy….and you see the double whammy that faith plus a few signs and wonders can accomplish in convincing any non-believer to reconsider their belief in God.  

Father…thank you for the reminder that if I allow you to keep my faith strong….and let you use me to model your love….you can use me to speak truth in those that still do not believe in you.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the turmoil around me weaken my faith and let others see things that are not of you.  Help me to always keep my mind focused on you so you can whisper to me the best way to shine the light that you put inside me when you saved me. Amen. 

Grace Calls Us To Be Ready To Move In Faith

Exodus 12:11 -  And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

God had given Moses the instructions to the people for the very first Passover feast. It was a way for the people to show their faith in God’s promise to bring them out of bondage…and worship him for keeping his promises. They were to worship and celebrate in haste….eating bread that was prepared without leaven…wearing the very clothes they needed to travel out of Egypt in. 

Grace had brought them to this point…and their faith would see them through to the morning light that would finally bring an end to their captivity in Egypt. The grace of God gave them the chance to follow in faith…so that God could begin the mission he had sent Moses to do for him.  Only by their faith and action of what Moses told them God said to do would allow the angel of death to pass by their home.

I love the visual of eating with their belt…sandals…and staff in hand…ready to leave… ready to follow God out of a season of life that had worn them down physically and spiritually.  It was a new beginning for them…of a new season…that had the promise of freedom … growth… and success.

It is a reminder to me that we always need to be prepared to go and do what God has called us to do. We just don’t know how much time is left before he returns to complete his final promise to his people. We can’t rest in the knowledge that we are safe and ready to go. We are to be spreading his gospel to others so that the maximum number of people can share in the glory of that final time.

Father…thank you for the reminder to always have my belt….sandals…and staff in hand…ready to leave for my next assignment at a moments notice.  Forgive me for the times that I take my salvation for granted and rest too much in the knowledge that I am safe from any judgement.  Help me to identify the sin in my life daily …so that you can use me to help others know who you are.  Amen.

Plant Seeds Of Favor

Exodus 11:2-3- Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.”  And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. 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.

Moses had spent about a month…according to most commentaries…pleading to Pharaoh for the release of the Hebrews. Each of the first 9 plagues had given the people of God quite the reputation in the eyes of the Egyptians.  Pharaoh wasn’t quite ready to give up…but the Egyptian people were ready…even to the point of showering them with gold and silver things from their own collections.

The Hebrews were beginning to get the method to what they thought at first was wasted time.  Each time God allowed and stopped a new plague…many more Egyptians believed in the power of God. They willingly and cheerfully gave these articles of gold and silver to any Hebrew that asked.

I understand completely how you can find the favor of God’s people within the saved community.  I have experienced that all my life.  From the blessing of the parents God chose for me…the family of sisters that he allowed me to share with the world…the many friends and people I don’t even know that encourage my writing of this blog each day.  I feel the favor of God from many Christians around the world each day.

But these Hebrews were experiencing the Favor of non-Christians.  Quite the oddity given the fact that the God of the people they were favoring…had caused such harsh conditions for them in the last month. I bet some of them were ready to convert to Judaism and leave with them.

It is a reminder to me that even in this world of atheists and agnostics and other beliefs…God can show just enough signs and wonders to change their minds too. We should never think that just because they profess something other than the truth that they are bound to be that way forever. Our prayer should be that God place in their pathway just enough of his love and light to show them the truth.

Father…thank you for the reminder that there are those that need to see your love and light in a mighty way. Forgive me for the times that I take for granted that someone else will speak your truth to those that don’t know you.  Place in my heart a reminder to pray continually for those around me that haven’t placed their trust in you.  Show me how to be one that shows your mighty love and power …and plant seeds of favor in their heart. Amen.

God's Merciful Covering

Exodus 10:21-23 -  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”  So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

God continues to send Moses to Pharaoh to tell him to let his people go. He even let Moses know in advance that this was not the end of the plagues that he would send to show his power to Pharaoh and the Israelites. Each time…whether it be flies….or frogs…or locusts….or lice…or darkness…none of the Israelites were affected. They enjoyed the covering of God upon their homes and family and flocks.

With all they had been through…the harshness of their captivity…this protection from the madness of the many plagues around them must have been a great comfort and sign of God’s love for them. God built their courage and faith as he delivered his judgement to the people who had held them captive.  Each time they saw the people of Egypt suffer…and realized that God had spared them…their hearts grew a bit stronger and deeper in love with God.

Moses and the Israelites were experiencing the covering of God in a real and tangible way. They saw and felt the protection of God on them each time a new plague was sent to soften Pharaoh’s heart. There have been several times in my own life that I have seen and experienced God’s covering too. He continually takes care of every need I have ever had.

I can’t help but think of the high cost of that covering over my life. Romans 4:7 says … “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.”  My sins…as well as the sins of every man were covered by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as he gave his life on that cross so many years ago.  I am covered because of the mercy of God to send his only son to save my life.

Father…thank you for the love you have for me.  Thank you for showing me mercy and allowing your only son to cover my sin with his precious perfect life.  Forgive for the times that I take that covering for granted.  Help me to keep my heart in a continual state of thankfulness for each blessing I receive because of your grace and covering of my sins. Amen.

Let Go...And Let God

Exodus 9:29-30 -  So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.”

Pharaoh kept changing his mind and God kept sending Moses back to tell him to let his people go.  Each time there was a new consequence if Pharaoh refused. The 7^th time God sent hail mixed with fire so bad that the early crops of flax and barley were destroyed. It broke Pharaoh just enough to admit that he was a sinner…he even seemed to have changed his mind and was going to let them go…but as soon as the sun came out his heart forgot all about the conviction it felt moments before.

There is a huge lesson on stubborn pride embedded in this story…but my spirit caught on the words of Moses.  Moses had begun to understand the pattern of God’s plan. He was okay with asking God to stop this plague…because he knew God was not through using the Egyptian people and this stubborn man to show his people just how far he would go to save and rescue them.

What a great reminder that when we let go of our own ideas and let God start using us to do his will a peace that gives us confidence to continue takes front seat in our heart.  Moses was not impatient and calling out to God for help any more…he was confidently waiting for his next instructions. His heart had begun to sync with God’s heart…he was beginning to understand God’s ways were better that his own.

I admit that I am still learning how to be more like Moses…and let go of all of my own ideas.  It is so very hard to tell the difference sometimes…especially if you have not spent the bulk of your time praying…. meditating… and searching for answers in his word. Letting go and letting God is not always easy…but it pays off in the end.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to constantly check my own ideas at the door to my heart…so that there is room for your will to begin to enter.  Forgive me for the times that I have stubbornly held on to things that you needed gone.  Help me learn how to let go and let you fill me up with a daily dose of your will…so I can create in my heart a confidence that makes me courageous and bold.  Amen. 

Intercessory Prayer...An Honor And A Privilege

Exodus 8:9-11 -   And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”  So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.  And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

God had brought a plague of frogs upon the land of Egypt…and all the people that were under the rule of Pharaoh.  They were everywhere…in their houses…beds…dishes….even the ovens they cooked in.  Pharaoh called to Moses when he had dealt with them as long as he could bear and entreated Moses to intercede for him to God to take them away.

It was the beginning of one of Moses greatest jobs for the next 40 years.  He wasn’t just training to lead the Israelites…he was learning how to pray for someone who had a stubborn heart. Moses would intercede for Pharaoh 9 more times…and many more than that for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness.

There is no greater honor than to be asked to intercede for someone else in prayer. Moses knew in his heart that Pharaoh wasn’t going to keep his promise…but he interceded for him anyway. Moses prayed from the heart…a simple conversation between him and God….and God answered his prayers every time.

It reminds me this morning that the prayers we lift for others are precious to God. God wants to show his power and glory so that all will know that there is no other power in this world that is greater. It had nothing to do with whether Pharaoh deserved it or not. It had everything to do with faith. Luke 22:32 records the words of Jesus to his disciples. He said… “but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Father…thank you for the reminder that every time I pray for another I strength my faith and theirs too. Forgive me for the times that have passed by an opportunity to pray for others.  Help me to grasp every chance you give me to lift another up to you…so that you can show your glory and power in this world full of hate and evil. Amen.

God's Power Overcomes ALL Things

Exodus 7:11-13 - But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.  And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

Moses had been given a great gift.  He could channel the power of God. God prepared a miraculous sign for him to show God’s power and he did them as he was told. The only problem was Pharaohs hard heart.  Pharaoh had tapped into the power of satan.  He could imitate many of the things God told Moses to do.

There was one difference in Pharaoh’s magician’s and Moses.  Moses power was stronger than satan’s. The rod of God swallowed up the serpents that satan powered with magic. God’s power is stronger than anything else.  Phillippians 4:13 doesn’t say we can do some things with God’s power that strengthens us…it says …ALL things.

It is a reminder to me that I give up way to quick sometimes.  I let satan trick me into an early defeat because I don’t call on God to help me persevere.  Moses is only at the beginning of this battle. He will call on God’s power 10 more times before this battle is ended….11 if you count the parting of the red sea in their final escape.

Father….thank you for the reminder to persevere by using your great power that is greater than anything or anyone else.  Forgive me for the times that I give up too easily because I fail to call on you to strengthen me so I can trust you in all things.  Help me to use my daily visits and talks with you to gain the power I need to overcome the challenges satan asks you to place before me as tests. Amen.