Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 30 – 32 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 30

(Second Milers also read – Luke 15 – 16; Proverbs 30; Psalms 146 – 150

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17

Read the “0130 Evening and Morning” devotion for today by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Called, Equipped, and Filled.“

Today’s Scripture Focus: Exodus 32

“And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” – (Exodus 32:11-14)

“And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. … And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” – (Exodus 32:19-20, 25-26)

“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” – (Exodus 32:31-32)

The Golden Calf Incident

Moses was a great leader; a strong leader. He not only had to obey God and implement His laws, but he also had to work with a congregation that often resisted those laws and would often complain about every decision that was made. Moses was often blamed for any problems that Israel faced as they wandered through the wilderness those forty years. Though Moses struggled at times, he never stopped loving and obeying His Lord, and He never quit serving the people that He was called to serve, even when it was very difficult.

In our story, we learn that Moses was up on Mt. Sinai with the Lord receiving the Word of God. Moses was with Lord and away from the congregation for a long time, and because the people thought that he possibly was never coming back, they began to put the pressure on Aaron (Moses’ brother) to lead them in Moses’ absence. The problem was that Aaron was not the strong leader that Moses was, and he gave in to all of the whims and wishes of the people. The people literally “heaped to themselves” a leader that would give them what they wanted rather than what was right. So, in just a few short weeks after Moses left the congregation to meet with God, we see the congregation of Israel abandoning all of the principles that they had learned from God through Moses. The people were now creating their own god – a golden calf.

Moses’ Leadership in the Crisis

When God reveals to Moses what is going on with the people down in the valley, Moses immediately begins to intercede on behalf of the people. He begs God not to destroy the people. It would have been very easy for Moses to irrationally desire that God get rid of the people and start over again, but Moses loved the people that God had entrusted to his care, and he did not want to see any harm come to them. However, when Moses finally gets down to the people, he literally throws a fit of righteous indignation and he takes the hard steps that were necessary to root the evil out of the congregation. Ultimately, 3,000 people were put to death. I am sure that Moses had some friends and maybe even family members among the group that were killed as a result of his order, but he did what he had to do in order to save the entire congregation. That is leadership. Leaders are not always popular, but they are willing to do what is right at the risk of losing some people.

Notice in vv. 31 – 32, after Moses dealt with the people, he is back with God interceding for the people he loved. He even goes as far as to tell God that if He wouldn’t forgive the people then God should blot Moses out of “thy book that thou hast written.”  That is love, and that is leadership. Leaders are not only brave, willing to stand for what they believe, but they are also compassionate and patient.

Joshua faced similar battles and also proved to be a strong leader. He drew a line in the sand and offered his congregation the same choice:

“14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. “15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh 24:14–15)

Our Lord, Jesus, was also a very strong leader. Though He loved people and was full of compassion for them when they fell into sin, He also had to fight against a religious culture that was very resistant to changes in their extra-biblical traditions and extremely intolerant to anyone who dared violate or even question them. 

Application for Today

Unfortunately, there is a serious famine of strong leadership in our culture today. Moses, Joshua, and Jesus risked unpopularity to confront sin and resist the challenges from those who attempted to lead the people away from the will of God. Modern leaders must also sometimes say “no” to cultural pressures, even if it costs them followers or approval. They must also be willing to stand against those who would attempt to promote their own agenda. We need more of this type of strong leadership in our country today. We need it in our churches, and we need it in our families. Too many leaders today are politicians like Aaron that only want to score points with people. They don’t want to risk their popularity by standing on principle.

“God, give us some men and women that will be willing to make the hard decisions that need to be made in order to do what is right. Give us men that will fight evil and will stand on the principles of the Word of God. God, give us some strong leaders.”

  • Have you faced pressure to compromise your faith?

  • Have you been forced to biblically re-examine issues and make unpopular decisions in light of a changing culture?

  • How can you lead with Moses-like courage this week?


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , by with no comments yet.

I’ll Meet You There: God’s Invitation in Exodus 29

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 28 – 29 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 28

Second Milers also read – Luke 13 – 14; Proverbs 29; Psalms 141 – 145

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – 1 Timothy 1:17

Read the “0129 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage – “Interceding on Behalf of God’s People,” and “Serving Together as a Family“

Have you ever felt unworthy to approach God? This morning in Exodus 28–29, I was struck by something astonishing: the holy, perfect God of the universe says, “I will meet you there.”

The Amazing Invitation

“42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.” (Exodus 29:42-43)

“45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:45–46)

Did you notice the phrase, “where I will meet you,” in Exodus 29:42, and then also “there I will meet with the children of Israel,” in v. 43. God had a specific place that He chose to meet with His people. My first thought this morning is that it is amazing that a holy God wants to meet with people like us at all. Why would God desire to commune with creatures like us who are laden with sin? Isn’t it amazing that God can choose to love us and want to be with us at all? I know that there are certain people that I don’t like to be around, but God desires fellowship with each of His children.

The Place God Chose

My second thought concerns the place where God meets with us. During the time of the Wilderness wandering, God carefully designed the place and set the conditions Israel to enter His presence, and it was quite an elaborate process for the people to go through in order for them to commune with God. By the way, we know that God is now and has always been omnipresent, so there is never a time when we are not in His presence, but still God set up special conditions for corporate worship.

A New Way to Meet with God

Today, God has changed some things. The veil that once separated most men (except the High Priest – once per year) from entering into God’s immediate presence has been removed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. That means that all men and women who are saved can enter directly into His presence:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

God encourages us to come into His presence, and to also recognize that there is never a time that He is not with us:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

Still, today there are also special places and times that God wants to meet with us. God wants us to meet with Him as we set aside a specific time and place to read the Bible, where He can feed our souls with nourishment and strength, and give us the wisdom that we need in order for us to serve as His ambassadors. He also invites us to come meet with Him in the prayer closet, where we can confess our sins to Him, petition Him for our needs, and praise and worship Him. Of course, He still has a special place for corporate worship, the local church. This is the place where all believers can enter together into His presence for preaching, prayer, and praise. He promises to be “in the midst” of us when two or more are gathered in His name.

Don’t Miss the Invitation

God wants to meet with you and me. Don’t forsake any of God’s invitations.

“22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:22–25)

Questions for Reflection
  • Where and when will you intentionally meet with God today?
  • Are you regularly accepting His invitation to corporate worship, or have you been “forsaking the assembling”?

Share how God met with you today! I would love to hear your thoughts.

 


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , by with 2 comments.

Pattern What You Preach: Example + Exhortation in Ministry

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 25 – 27 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 25

(Second Milers also read – Luke 11 – 12; Proverbs 28; Psalms 136 – 140

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2

Read the “0128 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. … And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” – (Exodus 25:8-9, 40)
God’s Plan for the Tabernacle

In chapters 25 – 27, God is instructing Moses regarding the construction of the Tabernacle. He first tells him that he must take up an offering from the people, collecting all the materials that would be needed to construct it. This was no small undertaking as the tabernacle with all its curtains and coverings, and with all its gold, silver, and brass; not to mention the wood that would be required, was a masterpiece of magnificent beauty and elaborate detail. Yet, it is interesting to note, as we will learn later in future passages, that Moses had to eventually stop the people from giving because they had given more than enough. We don’t see that very often today, do we? Can you imagine what could be done in our churches today if God’s people were this excited about giving to the work of God?

God’s Pattern for the Tabernacle

God then shows Moses a pattern, a picture of what the tabernacle was to look like. He no doubt also showed him blueprints of each element of the tabernacle, including all the pieces of furniture. Moses had a clear picture in his mind of what it all would look like when he was finished. Then God goes on for several chapters giving Moses detailed instructions outlining precisely how the tabernacle was to be built. So, in review, we see that God showed him an example; and then he gave him clear instructions, or exhortation.

Pattern and Preaching in Ministry Today

The practice of revealing a pattern and then giving instructions is how ministry should also work today. God commands those of us who minister to His people to be good examples (or patterns) of what He expects in a finished product; and then He wants us to give clear instructions of how the people are to go about it. If the picture we are presenting is not consistent with the instructions we are giving, we will not be able to clearly help the people do and be what God expects of them. I know that none of us is perfect, but it is imperative that we keep this thought in mind as we go about our business of serving the Lord. People will sometimes learn more from what they see, than from what we tell them. Both our example and our exhortation must be right, if we are going to effectively be used by God in building the lives of people for His glory.

Pattern and Preaching Christ in Everyday Life

This does not only apply to pastors and teachers. It applies to every believer. Your life (pattern, example) must back up what you are trying to instruct people. Parents, you need to be the right example to your children. They will not listen to your exhortation if your example is not what it should be. And to those of you that are concerned about winning people to Christ, which should be all of us; make sure your life backs up your profession. We have an awesome obligation to show people Christ with our lives as well as telling them with our words. Think about it. Have you given much thought to your example, your pattern? Is it sending the right message to the people around you? Do the things that you do and say point people to the Lord, or do they send a conflicting message?

Applications
  • Pastors/teachers: Your life must match your teaching.
  • Parents: Children watch what you do more than what you say.
  • Every believer: Your example strengthens (or weakens) your witness.


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , by with 5 comments.

Living in Canaan: A Picture of the Spirit-Filled Christian Life

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 22 – 24 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 22

(Second Milers also read – Luke 8 – 9; Proverbs 27; Psalms 126 – 130)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0127 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Following Through.“

“20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. … 25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. 27 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.” (Exodus 23:20–22, 25–27)

God’s Promised Blessing of Protection and Provision in Canaan

In Exodus 23, we see the nation of Israel travelling in the wilderness on their way out of Egypt and into Canaan, the land of promise. The verses cited above are some of those promises that were associated with the land. A careful reading of the chapter will reveal that God promised his people prosperity, which included abundant provision and divine protection if they obeyed Him. God promised that the inhabitants of the land would be driven out, and all of the enemies of Israel would flee from them. Again, these promises were contingent upon the nation’s obedience in wholly following the Lord.

A Picture of the Spirit-Filled Life

In this passage we see a picture of the Christian life today. God has also delivered us spiritually out of Egypt and the power and penalty of sin when He saved us. He wants to bring us into the spiritual land of Canaan, which is the Spirit-filled, Christ-centered life; a life surrendered wholly to God’s will. Canaan in the Old Testament does not picture Heaven. There were still battles to fight there, which will not be the case when we get to Heaven. Canaan is, however, a picture of spiritual victory.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1)

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. … 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:16, 25)

The Problem Hindering Believers Today from Entering Canaan

Unfortunately, as we will find out in future passages, Israel’s entrance into Canaan will be delayed by several decades because the congregation as a whole will allow their fears to rule, causing their faith in God to fail. They will choose to follow their own way instead of believing and wholly surrendering to God (see Numbers 13 – 14). 

Entering Canaan today for the believer is also contingent upon our yieldedness to the Spirit of God and submission to the will of God. Too many believers today are content to wander in the wilderness of their own reasoning and understanding – their flesh is in control. They are still doing their thing instead of God’s thing. What’s worse is that there are also many genuine believers who live with their backs turned from Canaan and their focus still on Egypt (the world).

“5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5–6)

The Solution – Surrender to God

It is my desire to live in Canaan. I want to have the victories that God promises for those who are surrendered to Him. I am tired of wandering in the spiritual barreness of the wilderness. How about you? God has an abundant life prepared for you which also includes provision, protection, power, and a wonderful purpose, but you cannot do it your way. You must surrender your will to the perfect will of God. Let the Holy Spirit of God control you and guide you, and you will also experience the wonderful blessing and abundant life that God desires for you in your spiritual Canaan.

  • Are you experiencing the “wilderness” or “Canaan” in your walk right now?

  • What area of your life needs more surrender to the Holy Spirit?


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , by with 9 comments.

Come As You Are?

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 19 – 21

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 19

Second Milers also read – Luke 7 – 8; Proverbs 26; Psalms 126 – 130

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Matthew 6:33

Read the “0126 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “A Peculiar Treasure.”

“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.” – (Exodus 19:14-17)

Notice in chapter 19 the reverence the people had when they were entering into the presence of God. They washed their clothes, they abstained from physical intimacy, and they trembled. I bet there was not one person from the congregation that was not present. I bet the children were silent, being kept under very close watch by their parents. The people understood that they were meeting with the omnipotent Creator of the universe. He is holy and He was not to be approached by the people of Israel in a flippant and carefree manner. They came with a reverent attitude of worship.

Fast forward now to today. Many of God’s people show up late, if they show up at all. They arrive wearing shorts and ripped tee shirts. The children are running all over the sanctuary while their parents are obliviously engaging in their own conversations about anything and everything except the worship of God. We have certainly come a long way down as far as our  reverence to God is concerned. We sing half-heartedly, talk during prayer and special music; and then sleep when the Word of God is being preached: all the while wondering how long is this going to take. We’ve got more important things, like football, to worry about today. Do I exaggerate or is this an accurate description of the attitudes of many in our churches today? God help us!

Now, I wish to be very clear about this: I do not consider myself to be pharisaical or legalistic at all. I understand completely that salvation comes solely through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, beginning with faith in His shed blood at the cross of Calvary. I know that God is not impressed when we show up at the church with our white shirts and ties, or our long, modest dresses. I get that. I know that God dwelleth not in temples made with men’s hands, and that the believer’s heart is the temple of God. And, I realize that God looks upon the heart; and if a man shows up at church in shorts and a ripped tee shirt because that is all he has or perhaps because he doesn’t know better, I think God is pleased. I know that I am. Believe me, I am thrilled that people just show up, and I am not the least bit concerned about the way they are dressed. I am, however, very concerned about the heart attitude of God’s people today when they come to worship the infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and all-powerful God. It’s not a ball game. We are not gathering together simply to meet with friends, or to hear a man speak. We are corporately entering into the presence of God. We have become way too casual and careless. People give more thought when they are meeting with earthly dignitaries. God help us to remember that worship is a holy undertaking. Let’s give God our very best attention. I want people to come as they are, but I want them also to realize Who it is they are coming to worship, and I also want to see them leave a little more conformed to His image. I think this “seeker sensitive” thing has gotten way out of hand. Should we not be a little more “Saviour sensitive”?

Updated Thoughts Regarding This Topic

The above devotional post was written many years ago and I am still wrestling with this topic. Our church has definitely become a little less rigid in our expectations for people attending the worship services since the time that I originally wrote it. There is a part of me that is very nervous about that. I truly want to please the Lord and lead His people appropriately. I am sincerely trying to wrap my head around what is and is not appropriate for our corporate gatherings for worship. I would appreciate your thoughts as well as we tackle the following questions:

  • Is there a difference between Sunday morning worship and gathering with all or some of the congregation in the middle of the week for a Bible study?

Worship is worship. God can and should be worshiped anywhere and at anytime. However, the Sunday services at our church include more congregational singing and special music. Wednesday evenings (which is when we have our mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study), has an extended prayer time, but is less formal. Many people are coming straight from work. I have no Bible to support this, but in my view (or you could say it is my preference), there is more formality and more of a spirit of worship at the Sunday morning service.

  • Is there a difference between the auditorium (or sanctuary) of a church building and the Sunday school or fellowship areas?

Should we have a higher expectation for quiet and reverence in “the sanctuary” than we do the rest of the building? For many years, our church had one main room (an auditorium), with only one other smaller classroom that was mostly used for a nursery. The auditorium was multi-purpose: it was the sanctuary, but it was also the fellowship hall and the Christian school building. It was hard to think of it exclusively as a place of worship. Now that we have added more fellowship and academy space, we can primarily devote the auditorium mostly for worship services and Bible studies.

  • Was there a difference between the way the Jews approached God at the Temple for their special days (Passover, etc.) and the way they gathered weekly at the synagogue. Was their corporate worship at the synagogue less formal than the larger gatherings at the Temple?

There were no synagogues mentioned in the Old Testament. It appears that they came about sometime after the Babylonian captivity. Temple worship on special days was centralized, sacrificial, and priest-mediated, while weekly synagogue gatherings were local, prayer-based, and community-driven (including lay leadership and participation)—reflecting distinct but complementary roles in ancient Jewish religious life. It would make sense that the weekly gatherings were less formal than the larger, special worship events in Jerusalem.

  • Do other cultures have more reverence in their corporate worship of God than we Americans?

Our church, like many others, is multi-cultural. I have noticed that some Christians who are originally from other areas of the world are much more reverent than the Americans. When they enter the auditorium they sit quietly and prayerfully until the service starts.

  • Do other “Christian” traditions have more reverence in their worship than our church does?

I am on shaky ground here and I do not wish to be offensive or critical, but a few years back my wife and I visited New York and entered Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. I had never been there and was curious as to what it was like inside. It was massive and very ornate. I am not sure how many people it seated, but it seemed that there were hundreds of people there scattered around the sanctuary and this was in the middle of the week and in the middle of the day. We were not there for a worship service. What struck me was the fact that even though there many people there, the place was relatively silent. Most folks were just sitting quietly, praying. Even though I have many areas of disagreement with the Catholic Church, I must confess that I was almost envious of the spirit of worship that was in that place.

  • How does modesty relate to this topic?

The original post really had nothing to do with the topic of modesty; its focus was more on formality, reverence, and appropriateness for corporate worship. However, the modesty issue is also much debated in our circles and is somewhat related. Most within our independent Baptist circles believe that women’s attire should be modest (1 Timothy 2:9 – 10; 1 Pet 3:3 – 4) and feminine (Deut 22:5). Some have interpreted those principles to mean that women should only where dresses or skirts. Some believe that women should never wear pants; others see pants as inappropriate for church services, but acceptable for everyday wear as long as they are feminine and modest. What are your thoughts on this, particularly as it pertains to a worship service?

  • Should there be a specific dress code for people who serve in the ministry, especially for those who serve in a public capacity? And, what should that dress code be? Formal attire (suits and ties for men, dresses for women)? Business casual?

These are just some questions that came to ming as I was reflecting on this topic. I would really like to hear your thoughts on the subject. This is somewhat of a subjective area, and to some degree, it is generational. What do you think? Leave a comment.


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , by with 14 comments.

Avoiding Ministry Burnout: A Lesson from Jethro Regarding Delegation

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 16 – 18

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 16

(Second Milers also read – Luke 5 – 6; Proverbs 25; Psalms 121 – 125

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:1 – 4

Read previous posts from this passage – “Murmuring” and “Remember Sunday.”

Read the “0125 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today by  Charles  Spurgeon.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? … Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. … If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.” – (Exodus 18:13-14, 18, 23-24)

Jethro’s Observation

In our passage today, we see that Moses gets a visit from his father-in-law who is not an Israelite but apparently had placed his faith in the Lord (see Exodus 18:11 – 12). While visiting with Moses, Jethro got a chance to observe the day-to-day ministry of his son-in-law and determined that Moses was doing way more than any man could handle by himself. Moses was judging and advising the large congregation of Israel all by himself from early in the morning until late at night. Moses, like many leaders, apparently felt that he was the only one who could do the job right, so he did it alone. However, Jethro knew that if Moses kept up that pace without getting any help, he would wear down physically and eventually would become less effective at what God had called him to do.

Jethro’s Advice

Jethro advised Moses to allow other godly men within the congregation to share in the burden that Moses was carrying. Moses would still be in charge, and he would handle all the important matters, but others would be assisting him in dealing with the day-to-day decisions within the congregation. This advice given by Jethro helped in several ways:

  1. Moses got the help that he needed, which freed him up to dedicate more time and do a better job in the more important matters.
  2. Moses was probably less stressed and better rested than before.
  3. The congregation was served better. Even though Moses may have been able to do a better job than most of his helpers, he certainly could not get as much accomplished as all of them together. More was getting more done.
  4. Leaders were being developed within the congregation. People need to be given opportunities to serve if they are going to be able to grow.
Application

If our ministries are going to get all the help that they need today to fulfil the will of God, more people than just the pastor are going to have to be involved. The pastor must work at developing leaders and delegating responsibility. This is why discipleship and developing mentoring relationships is critically important. Paul told Timothy:

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:2)

Caution: Always Filter Advice Through God

A secondary thought from this passage is that Moses was willing to listen to advice, even from a guy that was not an Israelite and may not have been a believer very long. Pride will sometimes keep us from listening to sound wisdom. God will often use people to teach us things, even people from different spiritual perspectives. Jethro was “the priest of Midian” (Exodus 3:1 & 18:1), so he was a Gentile who had apparently become a believer in Israel’s God. When listening to people who are either not believers or perhaps are  believers but from a significantly different theological perspective, caution should be taken:

  • We should be ready to listen.
  • We need to make sure their advice is in agreement (or at least not in disagreement) with the principles given by God in His Word.
  • We need to check with God prayerfully to see if the advice given is in fact His will.

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22)

“1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalms 1:1–2)

Questions for Reflection

Who in your life might God be using to offer you wise counsel right now?

Are there areas in your ministry where you’re carrying too much alone?

How can you start identifying and developing leaders in your congregation this week?

Note – This is an expanded and revised version of a post originally published in 2022.

 


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , by with 2 comments.

Stop Murmuring!

Listen to today’s passage – Exodus 13 – 15

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 13

Second Milers also read – Luke 3 – 4; Proverbs 24; Psalms 116 – 120

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0124 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Moving Forward,” and “He Brought Us This Far.”

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” – (Exodus 15:1)

“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” – (Exodus 15:24)

From Praising to Complaining

Exodus 15 is an amazing chapter of Scripture which demonstrates the fickle nature of God’s children. The first 21 verses, which comprises more than three-fourths of the chapter, is the record of God’s people singing, dancing, and praising Him for the great miracle that He had done in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. Specifically, they are praising God and thanking Him for parting the Red Sea so that they could pass through on dry ground. You will recall that the Egyptians tried to follow them and that same sea closed upon them and drowned them. The people of God were thrilled that God took away the water so that they could travel to the other side. Now at the end of the chapter, they are complaining that there is no water. First, they wanted the water to go away, and then they wanted it back again. You just can’t make these Israelites happy, can you? I am kidding, of course; but I do want to point out the tendency that Israel had (and we have today) to forget about all of God’s past blessings by griping about some apparent injustice that they felt to be taking place in the present. Here, they think that God delivered them from Egypt only to kill them with dehydration in the wilderness. Absurd! That big God that they were worshipping in the beginning of the chapter suddenly became smaller when the people got a little thirsty.

God’s Character Does Not Change

God’s people are no different today. We sometimes see God do wonderful things in our lives, and from that mountaintop we offer up to Him praise and worship. But then when God allows a little testing to come our way, our attitude changes completely. Our view of God seems to be based solely upon what He does for us recently. When we are getting popcorn, bubble gum, and ice cream, God is good; but when God says that we should eat a little broccoli because it’s what we need at the time, God becomes some mean ogre. We act like little children in the nursery, don’t we? Let’s grow up! Let’s mature in our faith to the point where we trust God completely. God is good when the circumstances in life are great; but God is also good when things are not going as we would like them to.

Choose Gratitude Over Griping

God is always good. He loves us. He said that He will never leave us and never forsake us. He has our very best interests at heart. Trust Him even when you don’t understand; and whatever you do, don’t gripe. Griping is one of the most frequent triggers of divine judgment in the Old Testament. I am not saying that you should not bring your concerns and burdens to Him. There is a big difference between a prayer request and a complaint. Let’s get to the point in our Christian walk where we can praise Him even in the dark days. Remember, there are others out there that have it worse than you. God is not just good, He is awesome. Learn to wait on Him. He will deliver you if you simply trust Him, obey, and be patient.

Be a Problem Solver

Look, we are all good at spotting problems, but instead of murmuring, why don’t we try becoming part of a solution. We can pray and we can work to make the situation better. Anybody can complain, and they often do; but it takes a person of true character to make a difference.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” – (Philippians 2:14)

Questions for Reflection

We all are guilty at times of viewing life pessimistically through the lens of a half-empty cup, but when your negative spirit brings you to the point of opening your mouth and discouraging others, you are sinning against God.

  • When has God done something amazing in your life, only for you to complain shortly afterward?

  • What’s one situation right now where you could choose praise instead of murmuring?

Today, let’s commit to catching ourselves before we murmur and turning it into praise.


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , by with 1 comment.

The Saturday Morning Post – God’s Right Hand

Listen to today’s passage – Exodus 13 – 15

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 13

Second Milers also read – Luke 3 – 4; Proverbs 24; Psalms 116 – 120

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0124 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Moving Forward,” and “He Brought Us This Far.”

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” (Exodus 14:26 – 15:6)

Good morning. God is all powerful, but in this passage, Israel’s focus was on His right hand. His right hand is become glorious in power and has dashed in pieces their enemy. His triumph caused Israel to sing praises unto the Lord. When I lead the congregational singing, I sometimes noticed the faces of those out in the pews. A few looked unhappy. It is like they were mouthing the words, but did not understand what they meant. They were not singing from the heart: it was like they did not have the victory: they had not seen that their enemy was dashed in pieces. And it’s sad.

The Bible says…

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100)

Are you focusing on the Victor or on the victory? Do you perceive yourself as fighting a never ending battle? We should focus on the Right Hand of Power: the One who has already given us the victory…

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:28-34)

We already have the victory. Christ is triumphant.

Christ is triumphant over sin…

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Christ is triumphant over death…

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” (Matthew 28:1-8)

Christ is triumphant over the devil…

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)

Christ is the Victor, and by Him we receive the victory…

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Corinthians 15:51-58)

So the next time you are singing in church, remember the One you are singing about, what He has done for you, and the victory He has won for you. And smile!

Peace!


Posted in Devotions, Guest Posts, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , by with 2 comments.

You Are Free to GO!

Listen to today’s passage – Exodus 10 – 12

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 12

Second Milers also read – Luke 1 – 2; Proverbs 23; Psalms 111 – 115

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Isaiah 40:31

Read the “0123 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passage in Exodus – “Do I Have Your Attention” and “What Can Wash Away My Sin?“

“And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.” – (Exodus 10:3)

“31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” (Exodus 12:31–32)

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” – (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage…. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:1, 13)

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – (Mark 16:15)

In Exodus 12, true freedom came only through the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. Today, that Lamb is Christ—His blood sets us eternally free from sin’s bondage, and commissions us to go and tell others.

Moses made the demand to Pharaoh that the people of God must be let go, but notice that the reason that God wanted them free was so that they could serve their Lord. Why is it that free people so often neglect the freedom that they have been given by God to use in the service of the King of Kings? We live in America, and here we are free to preach the Bible openly to whoever will listen, but for the most part we keep silent. Peter wrote that we are to use our freedom as the servants of God:

“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Our Constitution in America guarantees the right of religious freedom:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States)

Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of freedom. Patrick Henry is famous for stating:

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” – Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry understood physical and political liberty; how much more should we cherish and use the spiritual liberty Christ has purchased for us with His own blood?”

Take full advantage of the freedom that you have been granted by God and use it to spread the good news of salvation to the people around you. It is my fear that the day is coming soon that this liberty that we enjoy today may be taken away, and then we will want to serve God, but we will be banned from doing so. Spurgeon said:

“Liberty is the birthright of every believer; but it is a birthright which must be guarded, or it will be lost.” – Charles Spurgeon

Jesus said:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

We have been made free by the Lord. Let’s use that freedom to serve the Lord and send His Gospel to the world. 

  • Assemble now with God’s people.
  • Serve the Lord with gladness.
  • Testify of His goodness and glory.
  • Win souls – share the gospel with your family, neighbors and co-workers.
  • Invite someone to church this Sunday.
  • Support a missionary.
  • Street preach if the Lord leads.

Do it now, while you are still free to do so! Whatever your hand finds to do—do it with all your might, for the King’s business requires haste.

 


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , by with 4 comments.

Did Pharaoh Have a Choice?

Listen to today’s passage – Exodus 7 – 9

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 7 

Second Milers also read – Mark 15 – 16; Proverbs 22; Psalms 106 – 110

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Proverbs 27:15

Read the “0122 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Sin Stinks“

The Biblical Tension

“And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.” (Exodus 3:19)

“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.“ (Exodus 7:3)

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.“ (Romans 9:14-18)

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Common Views in the Debate

I have listed a lot of verses above that are important for our discussion this morning regarding whether or not Pharaoh had a choice when he refused to let the children of Israel leave the land of Egypt. There are many more verses that could be used by either side of the argument, but I will use these just to start the discussion. It is my firm belief that Pharaoh acted according to his own free will when his heart was hardened, whether or not the Scripture states that it was hardened by God, or that he himself hardened his heart. Theologians on the other side of this argument would almost have us to believe that Pharaoh’s personal desire was to convert to Judaism (or volunteer to be the Sunday school superintendent), but God forced him against his will to oppose Moses and the Nation of Israel. Please do not misunderstand, I am not saying that God did not work in Pharaoh’s heart in order to achieve His goal of glorifying Himself in the sight of both His people and in the eyes of the Egyptians. However, God had a very willing participant. Pharaoh had already rejected God:

“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)

My Take: Pharaoh’s Initial Rejection + God’s Foreknowledge

I firmly believe that God wants all men to be saved, and he desires all men to serve and glorify Him, but He also has given man the free will to make his own choice about that. God did not create a bunch of robots that do exactly what He wants at all times. It wasn’t God that caused Satan to rebel against Him, and it wasn’t God’s manipulation that forced Adam and Eve’s choice either. Does God know who will be saved? Absolutely! But, He doesn’t make that choice for them. Pharaoh had already made his mind up about God and His people, Israel, and God knew that there was nothing that would change Pharaoh’s will about that. So, God used Pharaoh to help Him achieve His (God’s) goal. God is big enough and sovereign enough to use both the saved and the lost (and the myriad of free-will choices that they make) to achieve His purposes.

God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility Today

God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and He has chosen to have mercy on “whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord.” In my view, this makes God infinitely bigger and more powerful. He runs His creation, and will achieve all of His purposes, even though the people He created are acting according to their own will. He is absolutely awesome!

I’ve counseled people who felt their hearts were too hard for God to reach—yet Scripture shows us that God both hardens and softens hearts, and He invites every person to call on Him today. 

If you have not yet received the forgiveness of your sins through God’s graze and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, do not put it off another day. God wants you to be saved. Check out the “Are You Saved” page at the top of this blog. Reach out to us if you have any questions. We would love to help you meet the Savior who shed His blood for your sins.

What do you think—did Pharaoh ever really have a chance to say yes? How does this affect the way you share the gospel with resistant people?


Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Exodus and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , by with 1 comment.

‹ Older Posts