Last night, as all the people in the house were asleep, I reread the story about Moses. I don't know if it was the effect of coffee but every Word I read was so alive. I could almost feel the intensity of emotions, undertakings, and truths involved in the Exodus. I do not wish to be overspiritual, but, there were times I read the Bible (especially the Old Testament) and the Words do not make sense to me. However, last night was exceptional. It seems to me that my spirit had a feast. I wish and pray it would be like that every time I read the Bible.
Anyways, I could categorize what I learned (or relearned) into four major categories.
(1) God's friendship with Moses
In the case of Moses, the communication between a Great Almighty God and a common man is two-way. God speaks, Moses listens. Moses speaks, God listens.
Moses from the start that God called him had set before God his real persona - including all his doubts and concerns - no pretensions, no make believe.
(God, I stutter, send someone else. God they won't believe me. God they won't listen to me. )
God honored his honesty with his very presence and his solutions. (I am the one who created you. I send Aaron to help you. I will do this through you. I will do as you say. I will be with you.)
Oh, I love the friendship that developed between God and Moses through their two-way communication. It is something to be coveted 'if and only if coveting is allowed'.
I would like to think that Moses endured Israel's stubborness because of his friendship with God. He caught God's heart for the Israelites because of his closeness to God.
Just a bit of that friendship between God and 'all his people' of today will immediately bring the atmosphere of heaven on earth. Just imagine if all believers have a two-way communication with God every single day of their lives.
I want that kind of friendship with God. Don't you want that kind of friendship?
(2) God raises specific people for specific purposes.
Nobody can get away with that purpose, specially if that purpose involves a group of people.
The one called may run away for awhile, just like Moses did, but God's purposes will always at all times find that person. God chose Moses, God did not raise Aaron in place of Moses when Moses was reluctant. God chose the right man to led Israel out of Egypt. Not even once did Moses take advantage of his power or position. In fact, the rebellious Israelites were Moses' pain in the neck. Yet, in all their rebellions against God, Moses interceded for them and prevented God from wiping their genes completely. What a great leader Moses was!
In contrast, God also raised the Pharaoh to receive God's judgment on behalf of the Egyptians who brought hellish burdens on God's chosen people. Was he not warned so many times and yet he hardened his heart? Careful then if you already received God's warning. If you do not wish to receive God's wrath - make changes on the way you treat God's people.
(3) The Battleground is the Mind
Israel had been Egypt's slave for 430 years. That's nearly half a century. I believe in their years of slavery their minds were polluted with Egypt's detestable religion.
Almost daily the Israelites got acquainted with the detestable gods of Egypt. Not only that Egypt's gods had detestable appearance (half-animals; half-humans), but, they required detestable way of worship - indulging the desires of the flesh and the sacrifices of children or innocent lives. Why they were worshipped? Those who worshipped them thought that they attracted good luck OR they avoided bad luck. They never realized they made themselves so evil. AND their gods had golden images or had images carved everywhere in Egypt and had specific names (Isis, Osiris, etc.).
Now, when Moses introduced YAHWEH to the Israelites, he did not give any description of his image nor his exact name.
Moses introduced God as God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and his name is 'I AM'. God did not show them his image, he did show them his POWER. He totally defeated the half-animal half-human gods of Egypt through the plagues. He even defeated the Pharaoh who thought himself as god-incarnate.
However, without an image and without a specific name the Israelites could not hold in their minds who really is their God. So, everytime they encounter a difficulty they would direct their accusations to Moses. (Hey, you said this and that, why are we experiencing this and that?!?)
Except for a few people, the Israelites had taken with them the wrong mindset of a 'god'. They thought God was like the gods of Egypt. Their minds become the breeding ground of doubts, accusations, and religious perversions - driving them to dishonor the Holiness of God.
They were not killed by their enemies - the people who died in the desert had lost the battle in their minds as they restricted God to the needs of their flesh - and brought upon themselves the wrath of God.
(4) Accountability for Individual Actions
Moses was a great leader. Moses is a man of God. (He is in heaven so he is still a man of God). However, at one instance the Israelites put him in such a foul mood that he strike the rock to give them water instead of just talking to it as God commanded him. Because, God has said 'this' and he did 'that' he brought upon himself the same consequence the rebellious people brought upon themselves. God did not let him step on to the promise land.
I used to wonder why would God be that strict to a man who is his friend and had always followed his commands. It may even look like God had been cruel to Moses. NO! God can never be cruel to his chosen ones.
He is simply God and what he decreed stays decreed. His very Words have life. He honored his Words when he decreed that nobody who had dishonored him in the desert would set foot on the promise land.
God must have forgiven Moses for that one disobedience, however, Moses had to take responsibility for that action. God made it clear to him to speak to the rock. Though, the Israelites put him into such a bad mood, he could have chosen to honor God.
The same way with Moses, the Israelites who died in the desert - those men and women on their adulthood - were old enough to simply forget what God had done for them in Egypt and in the wilderness. Hello! God did mighty things for them, yet, they had the nerve to accuse God for not taking care of them.
[Giants! No water! No bread! No meat! Where's the honey and milk? Common, Moses is nuts, let's go back to Egypt! Better to die a slave yet with a full stomach, than die here in the desert with this manna and quail! ]
They did not realize God take them to such journey in the desert not just to physically change their situation, but, to spiritually change their hearts and torn down all their idols.
God held them accountable for their sins, but, showed faithfulness to their children (along with Joshua and Caleb - the only two people of their generation who won the battle in their minds to trust God as the one and only true God) by bringing them to the promised land. Such a blessed nation is Israel!
- - - - -
If God was that strict to his chosen people, how much more to people who worship other gods?
Just like the Israelites of Moses' generation who did not see the image of God, we nowaday believers also did not see the image of God (or of Jesus Christ). Just like the Israelites of Moses' generation, we are daily acquainted with idol worship in the form of -isms (e.g. materialism, hedonism, whatever ism - not as directly as evil as before but in more subtle ways) that appeal much to the worldly desires of our flesh.
In our minds, those idols war against the truths of God, wanting us to forget who really is God. Today, let's decide to dedicate or rededicate our minds to Jesus Christ alone and in doing so follow the example of Joshua and Caleb.
I am always joyful that Jesus had already finished his purpose on earth. Because we Gentiles, who had accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, had been adopted by God to be his children. AND we no longer rely on our own strength to obey God's commands, but, we rely on the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
- - - - - - -
Dear Heavenly Father, the one and only true God, You alone is worthy of all praise and worship.
I repent of the times I have let my mind entertain ideas that war against who You really are. I renounce my sin and accept the atonement of Jesus for that sin.
I pray for myself and for all my brethen in Christ, let Your Holy anointing be with our minds. Anoint our minds to hold every thoughts captive and make it obedient to Christ. Anoint our minds to reject ungodly thoughts. Anoint our minds to cling to every Word You speak. Anoint our minds to follow the way that Jesus had modelled.
Father, by Your goodness and grace, fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit in measures according to Your purposes for our lives. Let Your children's minds be filled by the very thoughts that filled Jesus' mind. All for the glory and honor of Your Name. This I pray in Jesus name.
Anyways, I could categorize what I learned (or relearned) into four major categories.
(1) God's friendship with Moses
In the case of Moses, the communication between a Great Almighty God and a common man is two-way. God speaks, Moses listens. Moses speaks, God listens.
Moses from the start that God called him had set before God his real persona - including all his doubts and concerns - no pretensions, no make believe.
(God, I stutter, send someone else. God they won't believe me. God they won't listen to me. )
God honored his honesty with his very presence and his solutions. (I am the one who created you. I send Aaron to help you. I will do this through you. I will do as you say. I will be with you.)
Oh, I love the friendship that developed between God and Moses through their two-way communication. It is something to be coveted 'if and only if coveting is allowed'.
I would like to think that Moses endured Israel's stubborness because of his friendship with God. He caught God's heart for the Israelites because of his closeness to God.
Just a bit of that friendship between God and 'all his people' of today will immediately bring the atmosphere of heaven on earth. Just imagine if all believers have a two-way communication with God every single day of their lives.
I want that kind of friendship with God. Don't you want that kind of friendship?
(2) God raises specific people for specific purposes.
Nobody can get away with that purpose, specially if that purpose involves a group of people.
The one called may run away for awhile, just like Moses did, but God's purposes will always at all times find that person. God chose Moses, God did not raise Aaron in place of Moses when Moses was reluctant. God chose the right man to led Israel out of Egypt. Not even once did Moses take advantage of his power or position. In fact, the rebellious Israelites were Moses' pain in the neck. Yet, in all their rebellions against God, Moses interceded for them and prevented God from wiping their genes completely. What a great leader Moses was!
In contrast, God also raised the Pharaoh to receive God's judgment on behalf of the Egyptians who brought hellish burdens on God's chosen people. Was he not warned so many times and yet he hardened his heart? Careful then if you already received God's warning. If you do not wish to receive God's wrath - make changes on the way you treat God's people.
(3) The Battleground is the Mind
Israel had been Egypt's slave for 430 years. That's nearly half a century. I believe in their years of slavery their minds were polluted with Egypt's detestable religion.
Almost daily the Israelites got acquainted with the detestable gods of Egypt. Not only that Egypt's gods had detestable appearance (half-animals; half-humans), but, they required detestable way of worship - indulging the desires of the flesh and the sacrifices of children or innocent lives. Why they were worshipped? Those who worshipped them thought that they attracted good luck OR they avoided bad luck. They never realized they made themselves so evil. AND their gods had golden images or had images carved everywhere in Egypt and had specific names (Isis, Osiris, etc.).
Now, when Moses introduced YAHWEH to the Israelites, he did not give any description of his image nor his exact name.
Moses introduced God as God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and his name is 'I AM'. God did not show them his image, he did show them his POWER. He totally defeated the half-animal half-human gods of Egypt through the plagues. He even defeated the Pharaoh who thought himself as god-incarnate.
However, without an image and without a specific name the Israelites could not hold in their minds who really is their God. So, everytime they encounter a difficulty they would direct their accusations to Moses. (Hey, you said this and that, why are we experiencing this and that?!?)
Except for a few people, the Israelites had taken with them the wrong mindset of a 'god'. They thought God was like the gods of Egypt. Their minds become the breeding ground of doubts, accusations, and religious perversions - driving them to dishonor the Holiness of God.
They were not killed by their enemies - the people who died in the desert had lost the battle in their minds as they restricted God to the needs of their flesh - and brought upon themselves the wrath of God.
(4) Accountability for Individual Actions
Moses was a great leader. Moses is a man of God. (He is in heaven so he is still a man of God). However, at one instance the Israelites put him in such a foul mood that he strike the rock to give them water instead of just talking to it as God commanded him. Because, God has said 'this' and he did 'that' he brought upon himself the same consequence the rebellious people brought upon themselves. God did not let him step on to the promise land.
I used to wonder why would God be that strict to a man who is his friend and had always followed his commands. It may even look like God had been cruel to Moses. NO! God can never be cruel to his chosen ones.
He is simply God and what he decreed stays decreed. His very Words have life. He honored his Words when he decreed that nobody who had dishonored him in the desert would set foot on the promise land.
God must have forgiven Moses for that one disobedience, however, Moses had to take responsibility for that action. God made it clear to him to speak to the rock. Though, the Israelites put him into such a bad mood, he could have chosen to honor God.
The same way with Moses, the Israelites who died in the desert - those men and women on their adulthood - were old enough to simply forget what God had done for them in Egypt and in the wilderness. Hello! God did mighty things for them, yet, they had the nerve to accuse God for not taking care of them.
[Giants! No water! No bread! No meat! Where's the honey and milk? Common, Moses is nuts, let's go back to Egypt! Better to die a slave yet with a full stomach, than die here in the desert with this manna and quail! ]
They did not realize God take them to such journey in the desert not just to physically change their situation, but, to spiritually change their hearts and torn down all their idols.
God held them accountable for their sins, but, showed faithfulness to their children (along with Joshua and Caleb - the only two people of their generation who won the battle in their minds to trust God as the one and only true God) by bringing them to the promised land. Such a blessed nation is Israel!
- - - - -
If God was that strict to his chosen people, how much more to people who worship other gods?
Just like the Israelites of Moses' generation who did not see the image of God, we nowaday believers also did not see the image of God (or of Jesus Christ). Just like the Israelites of Moses' generation, we are daily acquainted with idol worship in the form of -isms (e.g. materialism, hedonism, whatever ism - not as directly as evil as before but in more subtle ways) that appeal much to the worldly desires of our flesh.
In our minds, those idols war against the truths of God, wanting us to forget who really is God. Today, let's decide to dedicate or rededicate our minds to Jesus Christ alone and in doing so follow the example of Joshua and Caleb.
I am always joyful that Jesus had already finished his purpose on earth. Because we Gentiles, who had accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, had been adopted by God to be his children. AND we no longer rely on our own strength to obey God's commands, but, we rely on the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
- - - - - - -
Dear Heavenly Father, the one and only true God, You alone is worthy of all praise and worship.
I repent of the times I have let my mind entertain ideas that war against who You really are. I renounce my sin and accept the atonement of Jesus for that sin.
I pray for myself and for all my brethen in Christ, let Your Holy anointing be with our minds. Anoint our minds to hold every thoughts captive and make it obedient to Christ. Anoint our minds to reject ungodly thoughts. Anoint our minds to cling to every Word You speak. Anoint our minds to follow the way that Jesus had modelled.
Father, by Your goodness and grace, fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit in measures according to Your purposes for our lives. Let Your children's minds be filled by the very thoughts that filled Jesus' mind. All for the glory and honor of Your Name. This I pray in Jesus name.
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