And so Pharoah, having confidence in his wise men's abilities, allowed the plagues to begin. The fact that he had this confidence belies the fact that he really had no fear of the God of the Universe. This would prove to be a fact that he would live to regret. God told Moses to have Aaron "take his rod and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood." (Ex. 7) And, just as Pharoah expected, his magicians were able to dig water and do the same with their enchantments.
If Pharoah had taken the warning of the water into blood seriously, he would have seen it as a serious warning from God about the wages of sin being death. Doom awaited. But Pharoah was not shaken. His people dug for water and his magicians did a trick. It was all cool. Today, there are many people who do not take death seriously. It is the wage for sin and judgement comes with it. There is only one thing that can turn this death away from judgement to "life unto life" (2 Cor. 2:16) and that is rejoicing in the provisions made by the Man who turned the water into wine. Confidence placed in Him is confidence well placed; confidence not placed in Him belies the fact that many do not fear the God of the Universe. Like Pharoah this is a decision that they will later regret.
In the final judgement God will once again give the earth a symbol of blood and the wages of sin being death. The book of Revelation says the moon will "become as blood" (Rev. 6). Let us pray that many will accept the pure water of the Word which brings grace and mercy and so avoid so great a judgement.
"Hey, Hey, if you trust me, I'll take you where the peaceful waters flow..."
As Sung by Gladys Knight
Monday, August 31, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Bibledoorajar: The Value of Covenants
"Covenants presupposed a king, a domain, a way of life, people, and often mediating servants. The covenant was an important administrative means within a kingdom."
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
I remember visiting with some friends once who were very upset that someone in their neighborhood had not lived up to the covenant established as how the neighborhood would look in some respects. A bond had been broken; a mediator was needed to correct the problem. Peaceful relations were in peril within the community. It is difficult when covenants are broken, is it not? Ways of life disappear unless mediation is successful.
When God heard the groaning of His people in Egypt perhaps they were being sorely stretched to believe God's covenant with them was still in tact . Even the mediator God had selected to assure the people that the bond with them was in tact had his doubts at times. But the value of a biblical covenant is that God never doubts. His people may not see the bond clearly, especially in times of stress, but He always does. When God moved with the plagues, He made Himself displayed in Pharoah's domain. What great value was this! It was more than wonderful for the Jews to have a God who had a plan that He Himself would ensure even though He would have to endure the sorcerers of Egypt and their conflict against His kingdom.
In 2 Timothy 3 we read of two of the sorcerers who resisted the bond God had with his people. Called by name they were Jannes and Jambres, men of corrupt minds. Paul says these are the types that arise in times of peril deluding God's people that the covenants of God will not stand. Why even they can do some of that supernatural stuff! We are challenged to keep our eyes open for this false opposition, but rather totally trust the covenant the Father made with His Son. He would come to earth and ensure the bond would not be broken even though He would have to endure many hardships and conflicts against His kingdom ending with His death on the cross. In Hebrews it is worded this way.
" And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
The new testament, the new covenant, was brought about by means of death and it will endure through eternity. Take that you modern Jannes and Jambres! You will never best the value of our covenant no matter the perils of life!
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
I remember visiting with some friends once who were very upset that someone in their neighborhood had not lived up to the covenant established as how the neighborhood would look in some respects. A bond had been broken; a mediator was needed to correct the problem. Peaceful relations were in peril within the community. It is difficult when covenants are broken, is it not? Ways of life disappear unless mediation is successful.
When God heard the groaning of His people in Egypt perhaps they were being sorely stretched to believe God's covenant with them was still in tact . Even the mediator God had selected to assure the people that the bond with them was in tact had his doubts at times. But the value of a biblical covenant is that God never doubts. His people may not see the bond clearly, especially in times of stress, but He always does. When God moved with the plagues, He made Himself displayed in Pharoah's domain. What great value was this! It was more than wonderful for the Jews to have a God who had a plan that He Himself would ensure even though He would have to endure the sorcerers of Egypt and their conflict against His kingdom.
In 2 Timothy 3 we read of two of the sorcerers who resisted the bond God had with his people. Called by name they were Jannes and Jambres, men of corrupt minds. Paul says these are the types that arise in times of peril deluding God's people that the covenants of God will not stand. Why even they can do some of that supernatural stuff! We are challenged to keep our eyes open for this false opposition, but rather totally trust the covenant the Father made with His Son. He would come to earth and ensure the bond would not be broken even though He would have to endure many hardships and conflicts against His kingdom ending with His death on the cross. In Hebrews it is worded this way.
" And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
The new testament, the new covenant, was brought about by means of death and it will endure through eternity. Take that you modern Jannes and Jambres! You will never best the value of our covenant no matter the perils of life!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Bibledoorajar: Not Forever
"He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; He is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever."
Psalm 103: 8-9
Not forever. When in the mix of difficult situations in which the enemy seems to be winning, it is a good thing to remember that God will not stay angry forever. He will, in His own time, take steps to route the enemy. In this story, the abuse of God's people had been going on at least 80 years. But the time was coming when the efforts of God against the enemy would pay off for His people. This would happen at a time when things could not look worse. But not forever. Judgement does come to the land of Pharoah. It will come against a hardened heart and it will come in the form of plagues--ten of them. Each plague would show forth the deep realities of the God of the Universe. No matter the talk among the Egyptians of this god and that god, of this Pharoah and that Pharoah, this unit of plagues, bitter though they be, would free the Israelites. The Hand of God would bring finality to slavery in progressively more difficult ways. Watch the enemy bend and sway. Will he ultimately fall?
Of course, this all makes us think of God's final judgement on the world and its' god. When the hand of God declares that time shall be no longer the Book tells us that seals--seven of them, will be broken upon the earth, each progressively more difficult. The enemy will bend and sway, but UL-
TIMATELY Jesus Christ will return and finish the final solution.
Take heart today. No matter how the enemy is assaulting you, you can place him on a timeline of judgement and speak to him as Moses spoke. This is what Martin Luther said to him one time when he was being assaulted: "Oh, it just you, you old fart." Minimize him; exalt the Christ. Seek freedom.
Psalm 103: 8-9
Not forever. When in the mix of difficult situations in which the enemy seems to be winning, it is a good thing to remember that God will not stay angry forever. He will, in His own time, take steps to route the enemy. In this story, the abuse of God's people had been going on at least 80 years. But the time was coming when the efforts of God against the enemy would pay off for His people. This would happen at a time when things could not look worse. But not forever. Judgement does come to the land of Pharoah. It will come against a hardened heart and it will come in the form of plagues--ten of them. Each plague would show forth the deep realities of the God of the Universe. No matter the talk among the Egyptians of this god and that god, of this Pharoah and that Pharoah, this unit of plagues, bitter though they be, would free the Israelites. The Hand of God would bring finality to slavery in progressively more difficult ways. Watch the enemy bend and sway. Will he ultimately fall?
Of course, this all makes us think of God's final judgement on the world and its' god. When the hand of God declares that time shall be no longer the Book tells us that seals--seven of them, will be broken upon the earth, each progressively more difficult. The enemy will bend and sway, but UL-
TIMATELY Jesus Christ will return and finish the final solution.
Take heart today. No matter how the enemy is assaulting you, you can place him on a timeline of judgement and speak to him as Moses spoke. This is what Martin Luther said to him one time when he was being assaulted: "Oh, it just you, you old fart." Minimize him; exalt the Christ. Seek freedom.
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