Bibledoorajar: "Now Wait Just a Minute"

     Things were not going too well with gaining freedom from Pharoah. God had told Moses that He was going to harden Pharoah's heart, but even Moses seemed to have wondered how long God would continue to let His people suffer at the hands of Pharoah. The foremen of the work crews were having a hard time making bricks without straw. The situation was really bad. The foreman accused Moses and Aaron of causing their people to be offensive to Pharoah and subjecting them to death.  Moses and Aaron were leaders with a bad situation on their hands. Finally, Moses went to God and said in a nutshell, "How long are you going to do evil toward your people?" Here are his comments from the Living Bible Version:

    " Then Moses went back to the Lord. 'Lord, he protested, how can you mistreat your own people like this? Why did you ever send me, if you were going to do this to them? Ever since I gave Pharoah your message, he has only been more and more brutal to them, and you have not delivered them at all!"  Exodus 5: 22ff.

     When I read this, my imagination hears God saying, "now just a minute, who do you think you are young man?" But there is nothing in the scripture about God calling Moses to task. Instead, He patiently reminded Moses that Pharoah would have to be forced to let the people go, but in the end Pharoah would gladly drive them out of his land. And then God reminded Moses of who He was: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were not made privy of His name Jehovah, but Moses did know Him as Jehovah----Sacred---Covenant Keeping. Just a minute, Moses, steady on, don't lose sight of who I am.

     In the face of evil today, God has said to overcome it with good. A good like Jesus exemplified over and over. We must pray for deliverance from evil, but we can also get to doing good always remembering the Sacred.
     "Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen." Let's just wait a minute and ponder that.

Bibledoorajar: Hope and Monkey Wrenchs

     Moses and Aaron met with the leaders in Israel and told them that it was God's intent to deliver the people. Word spread among the people and hope rested upon them and they began to relax a little. But soon their hope was dashed because Pharoah made things harder for them. They would not be given straw, but instead had to make just as many bricks by scouring the grounds for stubble. This raised the question, was Moses wrong? Pharoah was forcing them to focus on the material rather than the Eternal.
     This is ever the case. When Jesus comes calling to deliver God's people, Satan has a way of holding on. The material becomes so much more important than the spiritual. It's hard for the new believer to stay focused on the Eternal and trust His time frame to win the battles. They hear He is able to deliver, but like the Children of Israel they do not immediately see it. Soon they are loosing focus. But it was a trustworthy statement that God had sent Moses to deliver the children of God. It was worthy to be talked about--over and over--so that all would be encouraged even as Pharoah redoubled his efforts to keep them enslaved.
     Paul told Timothy that this was a trustworthy statement that could be talked about over and over to encourage believers away from enslavement:

       "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Tim. 1:15ff

Today might just be a day when you need to hear this trustworthy statement that deserves full acceptance or maybe it is a day when someone you know needs you to to encourage them to focus on the spiritual and the deliverance that God promises through the blood of Jesus. To the question--was Jesus wrong?---let us boldly believe and share "never"!!!!

Bibledoorajar: Good Vs. Evil And Two Old Men

    The Word says that Moses and Aaron were older when they went before Pharoah the first time. How did they do? They did tell Pharoah that God wanted him to let His people go. But they went a little political too. God had not told them to make an appeal to Pharoah. But they did. They said, "pray thee" let the people go. This brings up questions. Does evil have a "better part" that can be appealed to? Does evil have to be handled just as God says? Just how powerful is Satan and his dominions? And, if God is hardening the hearts of evil men for His own purposes, how are we supposed to respond?
     When God spoke to Moses after the first encounter with Pharoah, He said two things: 1) I have made you gods before Pharoah and 2) do ALL that I command you to do.  First of all, God had Himself established within Moses and Aaron His power that would sustain them before the evil one. Secondly, there could be no ""pray thee" with evil---no negotiating. It had to be handled as God commanded. His wording became very important in this great battle.
     Yesterday in Bible class, we were discussing Paul's words to Timothy as to how to speak in the presence of evil. There was a trustworthy statement that Timothy should not veer from:
     
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen"  1 Tim. 1:15-17

This trustworthy saying is one that can be used over and over. It is the basis of our testimony to others to bring them to Christ and the thing well said that will overcome evil in our hearts. We do not understand all the ways that God is involved with the battle of evil. But it is clear that He is aware and is in charge. It is ours to use the trustworthy statement over and over giving praise to Him for His mercy and grace toward all who believe. Take that Devil!
    

Bibledoorajar: On My Terms

     Moses and Aaron have laid out the terms. Pharoah had assumed that the Hebrew people were his, but God made it clear. The Hebrew people are His. They are to be let go and to be allowed to go to a place three days away to worship Him. Pharoah: "I will not, they are mine"; God: "Yes you will, they are Mine." And in establishing the parameters of this "battle", God revealed the true nature of Egypt's heart--a people willing to subject another. But was God content to see His people as beasts of burden for another? No, and the people doing it would be judged. In time, all of their evil motives would be exposed and then judgement could come.

     History is replete with examples of similar scenes. Even now God's people are being persecuted in places around the world. People are not being allowed to go "three days hence" to worship the Living God in the place of His choosing. History has shown that judgement has fallen on nations who have attempted to burden God's people and this will continue to be the case. Many scholars say a time will come which will be even more worrisome for the Jews particularly when the Man of Sin is revealed. But even then, Jesus will return and impose final judgments.

     The Lord has always assured His people that the battle is His. We can lift up songs of praise knowing that He is near. He will not forsake us. The apostle Paul wrote these words in order that the believers could be assured.

 "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, rather give place to wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is Mine says the Lord, I will repay".
                                         Romans 12:19

We take courage and sing glory and honor to Him for the battle is His. Be strong. Your redemption is at hand. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.