Bibledoorajar: Where's the Water and Food?

     I have just gotten in from Dallas where over 5,000 of us gathered in the Hilton Annatole to observe children from the 3rd to the 12th grades compete in various areas of Bible knowledge and means of sharing that knowledge. It was an amazing process to see how congregation after congregation met the needs of their kids and those accompanying them. No one hungered for water or food. But then, on the other hand, we were only there for 3 days and the 5,000 were split into many groups with their own supervision caring for them.
    For Moses, caring for multitudes went on day after day. And when they arrived at Marah and there was bitter water, those cries went up. And later, when food was hard to find, the cries and questionings grew even louder. Moses went to the One who had authorized him to lead. Lack of water and thirst are serious, so the Loving God of Heaven revealed a tree that if thrown into the water would sweeten it. And on they marched out of the Wilderness of Sin. But then, no food. Could God provide a banquet in the middle of a wilderness? That was the question put before Moses. Some question, huh? Again a loving God rained down bread from Heaven. It was called Manna. And, it was nourishing food.
     How are you doing on reading about the Bread of Heaven that God provided for you and me. Need to dust that Bible off? Spiritual food is a necessity in this world of sin. Dig in.

Bibledoorajar: It's Catching

      Joy in the powerful redemption and deliverance of the Israelites was at an all time high. So magnificent were the works of God on behalf of them, that Miriam picked up a tambourine and started singing again about how great  God was. The word says the women followed after her and joined her in the song of praise. Once again, the poem's words had to do with how powerfully their God had thrown the enemy into the Sea. The message was communicated for a second time: God ransomed His people and God powerfully delivered them.

     It is a message that each of us should never forget. As we approach Easter, we will be reflecting on that same theme. God sent His only son as a ransom for His people. We will focus on the Lamb on the Cross and rightly so. But our songs must also reflect the Lion who has the great power to completely deliver us. Over the years, the Holy Spirit has led many a heart to sing about these two great themes: ransom and deliverance. It is after all the crux of the matter is it not? It's catching. Hallelujah! Here's a chorus that is good for this time of year:

  "It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in glowing.
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love;
Once you've experienced it, you want to sing
"It's fresh like spring"; you want to pass it on.I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on."
                                 It Only Takes a Spark by Kaiser

  Happy Spring. He is Risen! 

Bibledoorajar: He Gave Them a Song

     When the children of Israel had passed through the Sea unharmed and had arrived safely to the other side they must have stood there in great awe. But then as the attributes of their God really sank in, Moses led them in a song of praise. What did Moses want to sing about this God who wanted to be their God? If He was as powerful as they had seen, then He must be all powerful. If He possessed that much knowledge of their enemy, He must possess all knowledge. If He was faithful to do what He said He would do through Moses, then He must never be unfaithful. Wow, they were beginning to see that they served a God who was unchanging. Each thought of an unchanging attribute brought forth awareness of another in their minds.  No outside force compelled Him. He was the Almighty God and He was their God. So what did their song of praise say anyway? Why it said what people have been singing about for centuries. It spoke of the greatness of the God who had brought them out of bondage into freedom. So great was He that early on in the song they declared that they would exalt Him above all else. Over and over they referred to Him as Lord. It was all about Him and His mercy. Not once did they sing of themselves or anything they may have done. Not once did they say, "we ran like...." It was He who triumphed gloriously. It was He who threw the horse and rider  into the Sea.
     When I was a younger Christian I was taught a song based on Israel's song's theme:

             "I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously.

               The horse and rider thrown into the Sea.

               The Lord, my God, my strength and shield has now become MY victory.

                The Lord is God and I will praise Him, The Lord is God and I WILL EXALT HIM."

                                                                                              Unknown

There is great peace in knowing that God threw the horse and rider into the sea when Christians accepted His beloved Son. The promises of the Cross are unchanging. And if they are unchanging then God knows all and if God knows all, He is surely faithful to His promises to get us Home. He deserved all of our exaltation. While we humans may not know the time or the hour or the how all will be completed on our behalf, we can rest assured that there is One who does. Exalt Him. He will do what He said He would do through Jesus Christ.  Lord, Lord, Lord, He, He, He. You, You You. Thank you Father for Your triumphs in our lives.

"He gave me a song, a wonderful song"

Alton Howard

Bibledoorajar: Change in Perspective

     In the last blog, we watched as the Israelite's perspective about their situation changed. Fearful and trapped, they were told by Moses to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Their perspective changed from fear to faith as documented by the writer of Hebrews who states that they crossed the Red Sea in faith. It is always hard for humans to grasp the transcendence of God. That He is spirit and abides in eternity does not command our rapt attention as much as the natural fears of what is around us. But that is indeed what the Spirit of God is instructing is it not? He teaches that we must grab hold of these traits about our God that we find so mind boggling. Only then can fear become faith. Only then can we see the salvation of the Lord. It is He that gives worth to what He provides and how He is providing it. In deed, it is He, Himself, that is worthy. His means get the applause.
     When Jesus, God's ultimate provision for the fearful and trapped, came to earth it was the traits of the Father with which He fascinated His listeners. It was the acts of God which He did in their presence. No matter how much else He did, He never failed to show how awesome the Father is and how our insufficiency is only made complete when we grasp by faith the wonderful plan He has for us.
     Let it be remembered that each Israeli had to respond to Moses directive with faith and each Israeli had to take the steps through the walls of sea. Each Israeli saw the Father as transcendent above all. He was able, and though they were not, they took the steps because of Him. At that point their perspective changed and they were committed to Him and Him alone. At that point they moved in mass.
     One of the hardest things which Christians have to deal with in the church is maintaining the correct perspective of God's transcendence. Their confession about His transcendence seems to be more of a history report than that of a present and living God who is more than able. Lest we forget, the Household of God must constantly share His transcendence and His might, that are a part of His love for us. Let us encourage each other to maintain this perspective at all times.

"Tis the grandest theme thro' the ages rung

Tis the grandest theme for the mortal tongue

Tis the grandest theme that was ere' sung

Our God is able to deliver thee." 

                               William Ogden      

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," (Eph. 3:20) we give praise.
                    

    

Bibledoorajar: No Wishing For Elsewhere

     When the Israelites faced the wilderness, the Sea and Pharoah and his chariots, many of them wished to be elsewhere. Specifically, they wanted to return to what they knew: Egypt. This was further complicated by the fact that a mixed multitude had left Egypt with them. They were a problem then and we will see that they were a problem for Israel later. It was really hard to look at that Sea and, one) believe God could somehow get them through it and, two) that what was on the other side was really going to be better. But after Moses told them to be still and see the miracle that God could work they really got a Wow! can you believe that! moment. No God person would want to be elsewhere and miss that. God caused a strong wind to come from the East and the waters were divided. Within was dry land with a wall of water on the left and right. The armies of Pharoah pursued. You have to admire the courage all around. But Pharoah underestimated God. In the last watch of the night (early morning), God looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud and threw the armies into confusion. The wheels of the chariots came off and the driving capabilities of the armies ceased. They declared that God was fighting for the Israelites and they had better get away. But about that time God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. And well, we all know the Sunday School story. The last Egyptian stronghold ceased in the Red Sea.
     The time will come when God will tell Jesus to return to bring his children home. The last strongholds will cease and we will no longer have thoughts of elsewhere being better for us. 

"We read of place that's called heaven, It's made for the pure and the free;

How beautiful heaven must be."

Mrs. A.S. Bridgewater

     Heaven is on the other side. Stay free. When the last strongholds cease we will be safely at home.

"Eternal Father strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep It own appointed time to keep."

William Whiting

     When Christians were wanting to be somewhere other than oppressive Jerusalem, Paul encouraged them to focus on the eternal. They were not redeemed with silver and gold but by the Eternal. Neither are we.

Bibledoorajar: Ear to Hear

Don't let them win
(Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now
Don't let them win
(They come, they come)
Don't let them win
(Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)

 Lyrics from Don't Stop the Dream by Finn

When the children of God heard Pharoah and all his chariots and soldiers coming they became very afraid. But their leader, Moses, had assurances from God that Pharoah would not win. The last exodus miracle would be to stop the armies of Pharoah in their tracks literally. Moses encouraged the people to quieten down and watch their God do a miracle on behalf of their salvation. In preparation for the parting of the sea, the Cloud moved from in the front to behind the children in order that they be fully protected until the miracle was completed. The Egyptians were still there in their might but they were in total darkness and rendered helpless.

It is interesting to me that one of the hardest things for we Christians to grasp and fully live is that the Spirit is not only in front leading us but He also has our back. We spend hours trying to figure things out, when God has only said to trust Him. He has the front and the back of His own. It is His intent to make Israel his peculiar treasure as will be seen later in Exodus 19. The apostle Peter says to the Church that God has the same intent for us. We are a people totally removed from darkness and a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Don't let Satan and his minions convince you that you are still alone in darkness. Be quiet and let your Father complete His exodus miracle for you.

Bibledoorajar: Short Memories

     When Pharoah heard that the children were camped in the wilderness with the Red Sea in front of them, He forgot the ten plagues and made ready his armies to pursue the slaves. But readying his armies brought to the front the last strength of Pharaoh with which the Father intended to deal.  His armies would not succeed. Meanwhile the children of Israel became afraid and, they too,  forgot all that the Almighty God of Israel had done for them as He freed them from bondage. Trapped, they became fearful and they cried out to God. They accused Moses of removing them from the steady peace of bondage in Egypt and of bringing them to a hemmed in place to die. They had lost their sense of victory and all peace with God was gone. We see this loss of peace with God played out over and over in the history of Israel and it reminds we Christians of how often we have to be reminded of the peace we have with God no matter our life circumstances. This short memory problem is one of the main reasons that Christians were counseled to not forsake the assembling of themselves together.
We must be together and be reminded of what our faith in Jesus gives us each and every day no matter what our circumstances. The apostle Paul spoke of this spiritual peace. He wrote to the Roman church:

"Therefore since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God."

     It is a true spiritual peace that comes from trusting in God. Without it we do just as the prophet of old said, "we sow the wind and reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7) But seemingly we humans are prone to forget. We forget all the benefits that go along with our faith: salvation, love, grace and mercy.  We may not have temporal peace but we can always have spiritual peace with God. How? Because of the work of Christ on the cross. He made us righteous in Him. He justified us. And therefore, peace can be shed abroad in our hearts. One of my favorite Psalms says it like this:

"Righteousness and peace have kissed." (85:10)

     Think today of how righteousness flourished for you in Christ. Realize that spiritual peace abounds for you. You do not have to fear you are lost. He knows just where you are and what you need. Be sure to keep the thoughts in order. First embrace righteousness and your justification and then your spiritual peace. Living daily in the Spirit carries one right through any troubles into eternity and safely home.  In our text, we will find that the Egyptians in all their arrogance and strength of armies will not have peace. Don't be envious of their prosperity and temporal peace they feel. It will garner them nothing. Think instead on the One who has obtained for righteousness and peace for you with Almighty God. Praise Him today.

"Precious Memories, How They Linger

How they ever feel the Soul"

                                J. Wright