Bibledoorajar: Occupied With The Future

Jochabed had delivered a boy baby at what seemed like the wrong time. The Hebrew boys were all being taken to the river and killed by Pharoah's decree. Evil had spoken, but so had God. The battle for the future was on. Pharoah had no idea that God had spoken that His people, his fledgling nation now captive to Pharoah, would be delivered. A deliverer would come. Count on it!  For some Hebrews this message was received by faith--they heard the word and believed it. We know that Amram and Jochabed were among those who heard and believed because Stephen includes their acts of faith in his speech to the Sanhedrin (See Acts 7). Everything that happened at home after Moses was born, everything that happened at the river after he was placed there was a result of faith in a God who had said and was saying that His people would have a future. Amram and Jochabed hid Moses at home until he could no longer be hidden there. During that time, they prepared a safe ark for the baby to rest in for they would take to what seemed a place of death. Think of the bravery it took to carry the baby filled ark to the river, the place of death. A nervous bravery to be sure, but nevertheless one so occupied with the future that it compelled them to action. Since the Word assures us that faith comes by hearing, the family (at that time Aaron and Miriam, Moses brother and sister were at home) must have heard and believed that God would provide a Deliverer. Compelled, they placed the baby safe in the ark in the bull rushes near the palace at a place where Pharoah's daughter bathed. Miriam was placed nearby to watch and to provide a critical step in the plan. Think of the faith this young girl had to already be occupied with the future, to realize how important deliverance was.  No dawdling, no "I forgot". just bravely staying at her post.

I remember seeing the Nile river for the first time. It was truly a place of "death". I saw people relieving themselves as others were bathing, washing and brushing their teeth as dead animals floated by. We were warned that the river was full of disease and to be cautious. Only in a safe ark would we go in that river! And then it hit us. We were all at the place of death in our sins, when we were saved and placed in THE ARK. We had all become occupied with the future at the moment of our delivery. Indeed, we (a ministry team) were in Egypt because God had transferred us into His future occupied kingdom and by faith we were to minister life in that place of death when everything about us said home was calling. It was definitely a hard time, but also thrilling to realize how great salvation is and how wonderful it is to spread the good news in places of spiritual death. Look; it's all around us. Are you occupied with the future?

Bibledoorajar: By Faith and Unafraid

                           "Fair and balanced, and unafraid"

                              Brett Baier, Fox Evening News

In the evening I usually listen to Brett give the news. At the end he reports his commitment to continue a certain kind of presentation. He will attempt to be fair and balanced in his reporting and he will be unafraid of any repercussions. It is a noble commitment in these times of political correctness in which we live and I am compelled that unbiased reporting is his goal. Noble goals have a way of catching our attention, don't they?

 In the midst of everything God was having to listen to as Pharoah continued his quest to foil the growth of the budding nation of Israel, we find noble thoughts. After Pharoah's attempt to use the midwives to kill the boy babies failed, he turned to all the people and declared that they must throw every male child into the river as but refuse. But even in this climate of groanings and weariness, people were still looking for love and the comfort of family. And, more importantly, they were looking for love and comfort of family blessed by God. Such a couple were Amram and Jochabed. Amram was from the tribe of Levi which we know from Scripture was the tribe from whom the priests would later come as the nation developed. Amram, being a Levi, also chose a woman who was a Levite--spiritual calling out to spiritual. Into this family unit, God would place children that would be impacted by the priest like behavior of godly parents. Moses parents loved and served God in a time when many of the Jews were turning to serve other gods as life became more difficult. The children of Amram and Jochabed were the great grandchildren of Levi. Remember that at first Levi exhibited anger toward his father, but when Israel blessed him he included Levi being scattered among the brethren channeling their strong nature for their brethren. Thus, began a family line of service to honor God and to lead His people back to their spiritual nature. This is the kind of family into which God placed Moses. His parents had faith that led to action in difficult times and 2)  they were unafraid in difficult times. See Hebrews 11:23. It was by faith in their God and their willingness to see in Moses potential for God that led them to take courageous action. Later in the life of Moses, we will see just how right his parents discernment was that led them to making the sacrifice by faith and without fear.

In Colossians 3:23 Paul encourages the Christians to in every work they do, to do it for God. Our challenge is not just do this when it is easy but to include those tasks that call for faith without fear. Amram and Jochabed shine a light on such noble sacrifice letting us know that faith without fear is within the realm of possibility because God listens to such noble thoughts and extends His help.

Bibledoorajar: Honor

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

For them that honor Me, I will honor.

1 Samuel 2:30

As the children of Israel bowed to their taskmasters' requests they continued to be the people of God. As such he honored them with homes with children. When the Pharoah saw that in spite of being "worked to death" the Israelites continued to have children, he was perplexed. Well over two million and growing. Wow! That Pharoah had no idea of why God was growing such a large nation. He knew nothing about the bounds of iniquity that God had set for the Amorites and that the nation which was the seed of Abraham would swell in number and be used of God to put down that powerful enemy.  So the evil Pharoah hatched another idea. How about killing all the boy babies during the birth process? This would seriously hamper the growth of God's people and help the Pharoah stay in control. But what the Pharoah could not see was that the plan would also hamper God's plans. Such action, if successful, would disrupt the line leading to David whom God intended to honor as the progenitor of the family line of Jesus.

Two Jewish midwives were instructed to not let the baby boys live. However, these two brave midwives honored God more than Pharoah. They knew children were not a mistake in God's eyes. Who knew who in the community might give birth to the promised Messiah? The women feared interrupting the plan of their God (even though all the dynamics may have not been fully understood) more than they feared Pharoah. And what was God's response to such honor and respect? The Word says that He blessed them personally with homes and children. 

Honor. Our military preaches it. A good soldier,  sailor or Marine is one who honors the goals of his branch of service and respects its leadership. He obeys. If he does not, his discharge from service is dishonorable. Children of God, soldiers of Christ, we absolutely cannot be a part of disrespecting God and His purposes. We must trust and obey. Who knows what purpose we were called to either carry out or "birth"? We are not a mistake. Stay true to the One who knows the plans He has for you.

Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.

     
                                                           Frances Havergal  1878

Bibledoorajar: Looking Up

    The Pharoah who had the audacity to say "I know not the Lord" is the epitome of  human desire to be independent from God and forgetting that we exist at His pleasure. This particular Pharoah was referenced as an Assyrian by Stephen in his sermon recorded in Acts. Some scholars state that he was executing a police state in Egypt.  But, be that as it may, Stephen said "it was he who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive." Thus we have two comparative statements about this evil act in the Bible ( Exodus and Acts)  witnessing the reality of evil opposition to God's people and our need to confront it (out of the mouth of two or three witnesses...2 Cor. 13:1).

Yesterday, I was surprised when the Bible class lesson learning goal was: "We are doing this training to equip ourselves with motivation to accomplish and overcome OPPOSITIONAL difficulties so we can fully serve God." The learning objectives were that at the end of the session participants would possess skills to PURGE harmful and OPPRESSIVE difficulties and would once again be eager in their service to God and the church. We were to see ourselves as part of history still fighting opposition!

God  had allowed the children of Jacob to grow exponentially and the Pharaoh began to give reasons why they should be dealt a harsher life. He claimed they were getting too mighty--a formidable body who needed to be kept under control or they would become dangerous to the government. Thus began a long history of leaders coming up with some pretense as to why the Jews were not fit to be trusted or to fit in with current thought.

It is a story for all Christians to note being that it is a great description of how the bondage of sin can entangle us accusing us of "just not fitting in". The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

" Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles."  Heb. 12:1

Like Israel, we are to look to the "clouds" being dependent on the Strength thereof and to resist being as Egypt who looked at their "world" for strength and independence from the true Source of strength.. The "clouds" are full of mercy and help. Why not take a closer look this week as to how the joy of the Lord can be your strength? There He is--right by the Father. See Him?

Bibledoorajar: Differences

We have come to Exodus One and now we see differences between those dwelling in Goshen and the new leadership in the remainder of Egypt. The biggest difference was that the new leader of Egypt had either come from a far part of Egypt where Joseph's deeds were minimally known by his time or he chose to not recognize them because Goshen had swelled in such number. Egypt was a people bereft of God under the new leadership and were different from the Egypt that spoke of God while Joseph lived. The new nation of Israel had swelled to probably two million and lived in Goshen which stood between Egypt and their enemies of Canaan. And the nation of Israel was different from Egypt in that they were shepherds and lived life in a different manner.  Finally, we must acknowledge that this great nation of Israel was about to reap the consequences of what their fathers had sown when they tried to kill Joseph and sent him into bondage. We like to forget that the Bible says the sins of the fathers are visited up to the fourth generation, but...there we go forgetting important differences. Opposition from Egypt is now in the front. How different are these two groups going to be? The new Pharoah does not want to lose the value of the Jews but he sure wants to control them and use them for his good. The Jews just want to live in Goshen and tend their sheep.

Differences have been noted about Jews since they participated in the killing of their Messiah too. Their gifts and abilities are valued but rarely has the world assimilated their differences. Opposition to them has often led to bondage. Even this past week we heard the Prime Minister of Israel encouraging Jews that are being opposed by the world to flee to Israel but many do not want to go because they have become so accustomed to living where they are. Before you say, 'that's just stupid' remember that we often do not flee as a bird to the mountain of God either. We prefer to stay in the place of opposition and be bandied about. Wierd.

In the book of Mark we see Jesus moving quickly (forthwith, straightaway, etc), to give those who would believe a place of safety from the different world that opposed them. But not all accepted. Sad.
Today consider reading Psalm 11:1.

Bibledoorajar: Identity and Threat

"The collar was clearly a sticking point with the professor, who stood before him in the cliche cardigan with elbow patches....'.unless, of course, you're using the bookstore as your pulpit. A clever notion, but I am not charmed.'
'This is who I am. There's nothing to be done about it--I belong to God.'
'While, I, sir, am my own.'
'George McDonald called that notion the guiding principle of hell."
    
Father Tim and Professor McCurdy: a conversation in Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.

Not only had Joseph died, but all of his eleven brothers had gone on. But God had surely kept his promise of being with their descendants. They greatly multiplied and prospered in Egypt. Their numbers swelled until they were in a position to be a possible threat. When the past was past, a new Pharoah came into power who had no awareness of the nature of the contributions made by the foreign group. He became concerned that they could band with another enemy and overthrow Egypt. He would have to find a solution to this situation in order to feel in control.

Today, all over the world, Christians are multiplying and being blessed by the Father. As always, it seems we are becoming a threat. Like Father Tim, we are being asked to shove our identity away and let the "ones who are their own" feel comfortable. How can we possibly give in to what McDonald called a guiding principle of hell?"

       "Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide.
        In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side."
                                                               James R. Lovell

Bibledoorajar: Someone Who Is Unafraid

Jacob has gone but the family continued to prosper under the leadership of Joseph. But now Joseph who has lived to see his great-grandchildren is also about to die. How strong was the mouth to mouth message of God's remembrance that was being passed down from Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and his children? Joseph found it necessary to repeat the message once again: God will remember you; bank on this. He said this was the reason that they did not need to fear come what may: "God will remember you". Keep faith. And to insure that someone would be going into the Promised Land that never doubted, Joseph exacted a covenant from them to carry his bones with them as they went. With every step, carry my coffin. Someone (Joseph)  would go into the land unafraid. Keep carrying my coffin. I am not afraid nor will I ever discount that God will remember. And so they did. And when they feared (which they surely did) faith filled bones went into the Land with them.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, a thief asked that He remember him when He came into His kingdom. Someone who was unafraid was carrying the covenant promise into the heavens and the thief knew it. How marvelous it is to know that no matter how weak we are, no matter how much we fear death, a totally unafraid faith-filled Son has gone before us. No matter how we are consumed by the particulars of death and the grave, Jesus wants us, most of all, to take the time today to remember that Someone who was unafraid is remembering us and going with us when the time comes. Whatever else we may be required to do in life, this is our first calling: God has and always will remember His own. Keep carrying the Cross. Hallelujah.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Oh God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning in Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.
                      Thomas O. Chisholm