Moses resists God’s proposal

Exodus 32:7-14

How soon we forget all the bountiful blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us, during times of peace and tranquility. In those seasons when our faith and patience is being pushed to the limit, our dependence on God to deliver us is focused and unphased by all distractions. Ironically, the moment when it seems as if all things are going good, is the ideal time to draw nearer to God, because these are the moments when sin can creep in, and cause us to glory in selfishness, while forgetting that God was responsible for our deliverance, and abundant blessings. Monitor your behavior the next time you’re going through a severe storm in your life, then compare your attitude with how you behave after deliverance has come. Hopefully, you’re identical in the way you represent godliness in both instances, just as Job did during his season of suffering.

God watched as the children of Israel consistently struggled to keep His commandments, from the time He delivered them from Egypt, all the way through their wilderness journey. During this time, God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai concerning establishing order amongst the people, and setting up the tabernacle, with all its holy inclusions,. For 40 days, Moses fasted, while receiving all the revelation about the tabernacle, the priesthood, garments, and other things. While on the mountain, God also gave him “two tables of testimony, tables of stone written with the finger of God” (31:18).

Apparently, the stiffnecked people felt that Moses was taking too long to return from the mountain, so rather than pray, or meditate on the goodness of the Lord, they decided that doing things contrary to godliness was a more desirable course of action. It’s one thing to practice sin without knowing the standard you’re expected to live by, but it’s worse to willingly go against what God commanded you to do. I’ll let you read for yourselves, the wicked acts the children of Israel, including Aaron, took part in. “…the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play” (vs. 1-6). I’m speechless……… after all God had done for these ungrateful people, they “turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them” (in God’s own words). Whether they thought Moses was consumed by the fire, or suffered some other death, why resort to rebellion against the God who saved them? Of all people, Aaron should have spoke out, and stopped the wicked intentions of the unthankful crowd, but he rallied right along with them.

Moses may have been enjoying his time with the Lord so much, until he hadn’t thought much about the people, until God told him to go down and see what they were doing. God could have shared all the juicy details with Moses, but He waited to see how far the people would go before telling him all the goings on. God was ready to wipe out all the people who turned against him during Moses’ absence, but Moses interceded on their behalf (not knowing the full extent of what was taking place), and reminded God of the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of multiplying their seed, and giving them an overabundance of resources in Canaan. The Bible reads that the Lord repented of the evil He was about to do to the people, or He put his pistol back in the holster, because of Moses plea to spare their lives. Interesting, isn’t it? Had Moses known what was really going on in the camp, he probably would have had a different prayer.

Never get upset when people change after you leave their company. We all have to work out our own soul salvation, and many will be drawn away into the pleasures of sin, no matter how much we preach to them. As saints, we must continue in holiness, despite who turns away, because we are responsible for keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, and can’t blame others if we drift away.

Walk in love,

Ell

Reporting mixed reviews

Numbers 13:30-33

Our lesson today is a very interesting one, in that it vividly contrasts faith, with unbelief, and proves the frailty of the hearts of men, when their trust is not in the Lord.

As the spies went out to survey the land God promised to give them, they discovered some interesting findings there. Not only were the structures of the buildings well-built and fortified, and the lands overflowing with vegetation, but there were actual giants living in the land as well. How cool is that, to actually see an entire civilization of giants roaming the land!

After searching the promised land for 40 days, and seeing all the wonders there, the twelve spies couldn’t wait to return to Moses and Aaron, to tell them of their discoveries, but all weren’t prepared to present the same report. God’s promise of innumerable generations, and prosperous lands was first given to Abraham, then confirmed to his son Isaac, and then to Isaac’s son Jacob. So, for generations, the children of Israel anticipated the day when they would inhabit the land of promise God had prepared for them. Unfortunately, when the time finally came to take the land, ten of the twelve spies gave a negative report, saying “The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature” (vs. 32). The men continued to complain that the inhabitants of Canaan were stronger than themselves, and they were as grasshoppers in their sight. Knowing that God promised this land to them, you’d think the people would be more jubilant, and ready to overtake the lands, with God’s leading, but their faith in God was underdeveloped, and shaky, which struck fear in all the people.

Caleb, one of the spies who searched the land as well, spoke out and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (vs. 30). What an interesting development; where ten men said they aren’t able to take on the inhabitants of the land, because there were giants there, and one man believed with all his heart that they were “well able” to take the land. Caleb trusted in the power of God, and held firmly to the miracles that were performed before his eyes, so believing that God could wipe out a land running with giants, was just as easy as providing manna from Heaven, or parting the Red Sea.

God responds based on our faith, and not our fear. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). Faith is believing that God can, and will do what He said, even before it’s manifested. Caleb understood this simple concept, while the other spies were oblivious to it, unfortunately.

Is your faith in the power of God being held hostage by fear of the circumstances you face daily? Do you cringe at the sight of giant tests and trials that confront you, or do you hold fast to your confidence in the power that God revealed to you many times before? Keep your faith strong in the Lord, even when those around you aren’t willing to. Remember, God moves according to our faith, and not our fear.

Walk in love,

Ell

Spying out the land

Numbers 13:17-24

The basic steps involved in the process of purchasing a house include building up a suitable credit score, figuring out what you can afford, connecting to an established real estate agent, gaining favor from a lender, searching for your home of choice, making an offer, inspections, insurance, closing, then picking up your keys. Yaaaaaaay! While each step is essential in the home buying process, it’s of equal importance for those who seek to own a home to spy out the neighborhood, and the surrounding communities during different times of day. This is important in identifying the type of area you’re attempting to settle in. I’ve heard stories of people who purchased their supposed dream homes, but later discovered that where they settled were drug infested, high crime, and unsafe areas. It’s always good to schedule a couple weeks of riding through the neighborhood where you plan to live during the morning, afternoon, evening, and on weekends (especially during football season). While crime can occur almost anywhere, it’s recommended to examine certain areas, to ensure how safe and protected a community is, before planning to settle, and raise a family there.

Our text brings us to the time when the children of Israel were moments away from stepping into the land God had promised to them, but before they were allowed to enter, God commanded Moses to send out men to search the land of Canaan, to “see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether it be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land” (vs. 18-20). God already knew the inhabitants of the land, and what it provided, but He wanted His people to see for themselves the bountiful blessings the land of Canaan offered.

God has a unique way of dealing with those He loves. He promises to give us His best, but tests our faith first, to see how we will respond. Canaan was loaded with all manner of richness, and the spies saw it with their own eyes. The blessings God promised to you will soon be manifested before your very eyes. Continue to walk in faith, as you go through your period of testing, because at the end of your test, there’s a great reward prepared for you to receive.

Walk in love,

Ell

Praise the Lord

Psalm 106:1-12, 48

When you say you love God, what do you really mean. Love is learned and developed through experience, and the natural expressions that follow acts of love include, but are not limited to thanks, praise, gratitude, and appreciation. God’s love is revealed through His actions, and He’s consistent in providing that endless love to all who are obedient to His Word. Just as a good parent anticipates blessing a child who exhibits exemplary behavior on a consistent basis, the eyes of the Lord roam the earth, seeking those who are primed and ready to receive all the good things He has in store for them.

When God manifests answers to our prayers, or simply reveals His love to us, it’s only fitting that we respond in praise and thankfulness. How good does it make you feel when you observe your children living according to the standard you raised them to abide by? I’m certain it makes you all warm and fuzzy on the inside, which motivates you to find ways to do nice things for them. On the other hand, you’re never too quick to extend extra goodies to those children who are determined to walk in disobedience to your words. Oftentimes, disobedient children hardly ever render thanks for all the good things their parents do for them. The same can be said about ungrateful “Christians”, who consistently receive from God, but offer inconsistent praise to Him for His blessings.

When God proved to the children of Israel that His love for them was true, and that He alone was their deliverer, they believed His words and sang praise to His name, but how much better is it when we praise God, and glorify His name before the blessings and deliverance come? Don’t wait to show God how much you love and appreciate Him only after receiving His blessings, instead, take time every day to thank Him for what He’s already done, what He’s currently doing, and what He’s preparing to do in your life.

Walk in love,

Ell

God provides for the people

Exodus 16:1-8,13-15

In times of great need, people change drastically. For example, when someone is diagnosed with a certain illness, that may require extensive treatment, their attitudes shift from murmuring and complaining, to appreciation and gratefulness, because they then realize the seriousness of life, and the frailty of the human body. Others get antsy and careless in times when their funds are low, which cause them to resort to unwise methods of making money. Trusting God to supply our needs won’t always be an easy thing to do, especially when those needs are dire, and essential, but when He finally releases the blessings we prayed for, they more than make up for all the time we spent waiting patiently for them.

Our lessons this week have been centered around the children of Israel, and their wilderness experiences. After being delivered from oppression in Egypt, God allowed Moses to lead the people on a path to a land flowing with “milk and honey”. God watched His people suffer for years, and had a blessing awaiting them so massive, that if they had only been obedient to His word, they would have indulged in a lifetime of wealth, peace, and prosperity (that’s a topic for another lesson).

A few months after their great escape from Egypt, and miraculous journey through the Red sea, the people apparently had been talking amongst themselves about the leading of God’s chosen men, then brought their complaint to Moses and Aaron. The people said, “…Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full: for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (vs. 3). Wait a minute! Why would they prefer bondage where they could eat good, but were still under oppression, as opposed to being free from slavery, and having the Almighty God standing ready to provide? People are some of the most strange, and unpredictable things of God’s creation. Rather than bask in the awe-inspiring miracles they saw and experienced, they were more focused on how good they had things, while being held against their will in Egypt. If I went to the beach tonight, and God divided the waters, then told me to walk on the dry land for a few moments, (after taking millions of pics of the rising walls of water) I would never doubt that He could do anything in my life after that, let alone provide something as simple as food, or even a light bill. Unfortunately, the children of Israel allowed their natural hunger to supercede their spiritual appetite that desired to be fed as well.

God knows what we need, and when we need them, but He doesn’t move because of our tears or complaints. Yes, He provided for the people when they complained, but I’m apt to believe that His plan was to provide manna and flesh for them the whole time. Look at it this way, if God blessed us everytime we complained about something, imagine how different this world would look. We would be out of control, and spoiled rotten to the core. God knows what He’s doing, and has full understanding of what’s required to sustain us. Rather than murmur and complain when times get hard, and we go through seasons of lack, praise God for all the great things He has already done for you, and look at some of the symbols you hold, that signify moments when God came through for you big time!

Walk in love,

Ell

Symbols of remembrance

Exodus 16:31-36

God provided miraculously for the children of Israel, as they traversed through the wilderness 40 long years. Not only did their clothes last the entire journey to the borders of Canaan, but they were blessed with meat and bread every morning and evening as they traveled. They didn’t work for their meal, neither did they have to prepare it, because God served them meals already ready to eat (not sure how they preferred their quail; fried, baked, stewed, or thin sliced). Can you imagine having your meals provided, clothes nearly invincible, and health top-notch for 40 years? That’s insane, and mind-blowing! Telling stories as this one to small children would definitely grab their attention, but showing them proof of such miracles would win them over in a heartbeat. God is amazing, and sometimes showing examples of the great things He does, helps to convince others of how mighty and matchless He truly is.

In our text, God commanded Moses to fill a container with a pint of manna, and store it, so that the generations after him would see, and believe in the miracles of God’s hand. Years after the wilderness experience, the children born after would be able to see the bread God fed their great-grandparents in the wilderness. I wonder if God allowed a few of their garments to be stored away as well (I’d have no issue with wearing the same thing 40 years, as long as it’s clean, and fits).

Symbols help us recall good memories in times passed, and builds our ever-developing faith in the power of God. What symbols do you hold on to, that remind you of some of the many miracles God performed in your life?

Walk in love,

Ell

Observing the Sabbath

Exodus 16:22-30

Why is resting the body and mind important to our overall health? Well, I’m glad you asked. Our society moves at such a fast pace, that many rarely find time to chill, and allow their bodies time to recuperate. We are all privileged to one body, and one mind, and they support us, no matter what we subject them to. However, if we don’t properly monitor the use of our mind and body, we can find ourselves suffering both physically and mentally. Without sufficient sleep, our bodies will suffer a variety of physical and psychological effects, including impaired memory and judgment, poor concentration, lowered stress threshold, reduced sociability and optimism, changes in vital signs and tissue repair, and possible weight gain. Even before doctors and scientists developed the technology to reveal such effects, God knew that rest was important, and commanded His people to observe the Sabbath regularly. While they may not have understood the full reasoning for such an observance, God knew the limits of the human body, and made certain they set aside time for rest. Below, I’ll list a few benefits associated with proper rest, and mental relaxation:

• Restores/refreshes us when tired
• Repairs the body – The activities of the body slow down when we sleep, therefore body building cells carry on their recuperative work. When we sleep, nature builds up and repairs the waste of our organism. Sleep invigorates the tired body, and prepares it for the next day.
• Gives more energy
• Gives better sleep
• Enhances immunity
• Helps increase concentration
• Gives better problem-solving abilities
• Gives greater efficiency
• Ensures smoother emotions — less anger, crying, anxiety, frustration
• Results in less headaches and pain
• Gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate
• Reduces blood pressure
• Slows the rate of breathing, which reduces the need for oxygen
• Increases blood flow to the muscles
• Decreases muscle tension

Not only did God want His children to dedicate time to spend in His presence, and with their families, but He was fully aware of the dangers of overworking, and neglecting the body of rest. While we’re not obligated to observe the sabbath as the children of Israel did in time past, resting our bodies is necessary to maintain a balance in our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Don’t allow the pressures of work, or sacrificing sleep to get bills paid to cause you to become sick or mentally ill. Do the best you can with what God gives you, and trust that He’ll make up the difference. Rest well everyone!

Walk in love,

Ell

Conducting daily family duties

Exodus 16:16-21

When God gave a command to the children of Israel, He expected them to be obedient to His word, so that they could enjoy the full benefits of His promises. As mentioned in the previous lesson, God knows what His people have need of, and has a never-ending supply of resources to distribute to all those who bear His righteous name. Knowing that God cares enough to supply all our “need”, according to His riches in glory, one wouldn’t suspect any child of God to become greedy, and expect more than what they actually need. Well, the children of Israel, in the past, always seemed to push their limits with God, even after receiving miraculous blessings.

As they wandered the wilderness, on their way to the promised land, God told Moses He would provide food for them; “flesh” in the evening, and “bread” in the morning. Every day, God would provide enough food for the people to gather from, to feed everyone person, according to their diet. As every man gathered as they were commanded to, Moses told the people to eat their fill, but leave nothing for the next morning. Once again, Israel deliberately disobeyed a direct command and left some of the manna until morning. To their surprise, what they left over had turned into worms, and was “stank”, as the Bible plainly puts it. Why would the people become greedy, knowing that God would provide their daily bread? Many today are just as naive and greedy as the people were in the days of Moses. God blesses us, so that we can in turn, bless others. We can take nothing with us when we leave this earth, so why not extend our extra to those who also have needs? Being greedy proves that a person has little trust that God will provide for them over, and over again. On the contrary, those who’s faith in God is mature and developed, know that God will always provide enough to fill every man’s need.

Do you become greedy at times, and keep all your blessings to yourself, or are you caring enough to show kindness to others after God has blessed you? Don’t be like Israel of the past, by not trusting that God will provide for you daily. Instead, prove to God that your faith and trust in Him is pure, and don’t be afraid to take Him at His word. “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).

Walk in love,

Ell

The Lord responds to complaints

Exodus 16:9-12

“…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:8). If God knows what we need, then why doesn’t He just give them to us, without having to ask Him for them? God is all-knowing, and well aware of the needs of His people, but the purpose behind us making requests is to first ensure that what we desire is what He wants us to have, and to never get to the point where we feel we can live independently from His wisdom. We pray to God, and make requests because God is the source of our supply. Whether it be a natural need, or spiritual one, God provides for all of us, whether we choose to admit it, or not. Think for moment, if God moved His hand from the earth, and caused everything to cease, except for people, how would we live, without God keeping things in motion? Could we eat, if the plants and animals suddenly disappeared? How could we build and construct things if there were no more trees to cut down for wood? God made everything while considering the future. We can barely see beyond the tip of our nose (without the help of glasses or contacts), yet God knows the end, from the beginning, so it’s always wise to seek first His wisdom, when making requests. Even when we get frustrated, and begin to murmur and complain that God may have forgotten to assist us, these are the moments when He’s stretching our faith, to see whether we’ll trust Him when we seemingly don’t have enough.

In our text, the children of Israel murmured and complained that they would be better off dead in the wilderness, and had life better when they were captives in Egypt. It doesn’t take much to cause people to complain, no matter how much good you do for them. God had performed many miracles for Israel, including delivering them out of Egypt, yet they quickly forgot about the past miracles, and were yearning for new ones. In an effort to appease their requests, God planned to provide daily miracles, so that they would know, He is the Lord their God.

God doesn’t want anyone to suffer, instead to consider Him in all things. This world is getting worse by the second, and our dependence on God’s wisdom is vital to our physical, mental, and spiritual health. There will be moments when we’ll become frustrated, and complain, but as long as we keep our focus on fulfilling God’s will, He will always answer our prayers. Be thankful for what you have, and for all God has done for you thus far in your life. Never get to the point where you become ungrateful, because God daily loads us with benefits. We simply have to stop, and look at all the amazing things He’s already done in our lives.

Walk in love,

Ell

Believers depend on one another

1 Corinthians 12:18-26

If you woke up one morning and realized that your entire body had been reconstructed to where your legs were attached to your shoulders, arms joined to your hips, ears flapping from your elbows, and eyeballs resting on the dresser, gazing in amazement at the unusual construct standing before them, do you think you could function the same as you normally do? I highly doubt you could. God formed the human body very uniquely, and in such a way that all members are significant, and contribute to the body effectively from their purposed position. When God made man and woman, He called them good, and was pleased with the finished products He formed. It matters not what size or location a body part is, but all members of the body are necessary to keep it functioning at optimal levels of performance. The uncomely, or less honorable parts of the body, like the feet, are given more honor because without them, the entire body would have great difficulty moving from place to place. From the eyes and ears, to the hands and feet, all members of the human body are important, and need each other to fulfill its purposes. Even in instances when one body part is bruised or injured, the whole body will feel the effects. Try stomping your toe on something, then watch your face cringe, back bend, arms reach, and hands grab the foot on which the “wee wittle” toe was hurt.

In the same way that the human body is joined in such a way that each member is dependent on each other, the members of the body of Christ were set in place by God, as it pleased Him. In other words, every person born again in God, through Christ Jesus, were made to do a specific job, for the purposes of keeping the body of Christ functioning effectively. While it’s true, God made everyone special, and to fulfill His will, it’s only when you’re engrafted into the family of God, do your gifts began to work effectively.

All members of churches or religious groups who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of the living God, and that God the Father created all things, but will soon make a new heaven and earth (among many other truths), make up the body of Christ. God loves all His children the same, but made us different in a good way. Each member joined into the body of Christ is dependent upon each other to function properly. Just as the feet depend on the eyes, and the hands need the shoulders, everyone striving to build God’s kingdom must work together, so that His purpose can be accomplished through them.

Believers must seek to please God from the position where He places them, and not try to prosper from someone else’s position. If members of Christ’s body would stay in their lane, and do as God leads them, there would be less drama, strife, and confusion in the church today. Make sure to play your role in life well, and never hesitate to lend a helping hand to your fellow members of the body of Christ. We all need each other to survive, but trying to function separate from the body can cause all sorts of problems to occur.

Walk in love,

Ell