Daily Devotions for May
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THEME - "Some of the Miracles of Moses"
It is our desire to make these devotionals readily available to anyone
who can use them. We pray that as you daily read and meditate on God's
Word, you will be able to use these to help you spiritually grow in
your daily walk with the Lord
These devotionals are written by the following
men:
- DW - Senior Pastor, Dan Wilkenson
- JDL - Youth Pastor, John Lockhart
- KDD - Retired Pastor, Dr. Ken Dobson
- RJS - Retired Pastor, Dr. Bob Shifflett
- DM - Assistant Administrator Liberty
Christian Academy
Pastor, Dave Most
May God richly bless you this day!
Moses calls the Tribal leaders for a Pow-Wow
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Moses knew forty years earlier that he
had been called to lead the people from their slavery into the Promised
Land, (Exodus 2:11-15). However, it was not in God ’s time and Moses
had to flee from Pharaoh and learn some very important lessons in the
desert. When we run ahead of God, we always get into trouble.
Exodus 4:29-31 And Moses and Aaron went
and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30 And
Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did
the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and
when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and
that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads
and worshipped. Yes, Moses and Aaron rehearsed the signs that God had
given in the desert. (1) The burning bush and the revelation of God as
the “I AM that I AM,” the everlasting God. (2) The rod was
thrown down and became a serpent and picking it up by the tail returned
back to a rod. (3) and Moses ’ leprous hand and the healed hand.
God always has a way of getting our attention. These leaders were seeking
a sign. 1 Corinthians 1:22a For the Jews require a sign. All through the
Old Testament different Jewish leaders sought a sign and Gideon is the
classic example (Judges 6:36-40).
The Lord Jesus, on several occasions, referred
to the Jews seeking a sign. Luke 11:29-30 And when the people were thickly
gathered together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek
a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the
prophet. 30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also
the Son of man be to this generation. It would be good for all of us to
read from (Luke 11: 31-36 and John 4:26-53)
Sometimes we are guilty of not trusting
God by faith and we also seek a sign. Just remember, signs were for the
Jews and not for Christians. Yes, I know there are some churches that
depend on signs, and they fail to understand that we live by faith, we
are saved and kept by faith. Remember the Just shall live by faith Romans
1:17. RJS
The Leprous Hand of Moses
Exodus 4:1-9
It ’s interesting to see how the
children of Israel complained to God and doubted Him in the wilderness.
Did you realize that their leader, Moses, faced the same problems? Notice
the response of Moses when God told him that He wanted to use him to deliver
His children from the bondage of Egypt. In Ex. 3:13, Moses goes into a
discussion with God and says, Behold, when I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me
unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say
unto them? In Ex 4:1 he seems to be showing some signs of doubt when he
says to God, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my
voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And then
in Ex. 4:10 Moses offers one last complaint when he says to God, O my
Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken
unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
God revealed Himself and His ability in
several different ways to Moses that day. After God appeared and spoke
to Moses through the burning bush, and turned Moses ’ staff into
a snake and then back into a staff again, God decided to show Moses one
more sign in Exodus 4:6-7. God said to Moses Put now thine hand into thy
bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold,
his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom
again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of
his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
After Moses had experienced the miracles
of God, his faith increased and he learned to just simply obey God. The
children of Israel never seemed to learn this lesson of obedience. Even
after they witnessed miracle after miracle, they continued to complain
and doubt God ’s ability. How often has God revealed Himself to
us through the leading of the Holy Spirit and yet we, as Christians, continue
to doubt and complain. Let us be challenged today, as God reveals Himself
by the leading of the Holy Spirit, to simply walk in faith and obey God
and to not complain or doubt His ability. JDL
The Rod Becomes a Serpent
Exodus 4:1-5
We read in the New Testament that spiritually,
Jews respond to signs, while Greeks seek wisdom. Both signs and wisdom
come from God. We read in the book of Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of wisdom.... A sign comes to us from without, but wisdom
is something within our hearts and minds. Signs are incomprehensible according
to nature, but wisdom makes good sense.
God gave Moses the sign of the rod becoming
a serpent in order that His people might believe that God sent Moses to
deliver them from Egyptian bondage. We know from the Old Testament that
false prophets were a problem for God 's people. False prophets claimed
to be sent by God, in reality they were moved by the forces of darkness.
Because of this problem, Moses feared the people would not accept him.
Faith is essential to receive both signs
and wisdom. The wisdom of the natural man is nothing but foolishness.
Signs are not faith but the confirmation of faith. Moses was already clear
about what God wanted him to do. This miracle was the confirmation of
God 's work. Therefore, apart from faith, the sign could do nothing. The
signs and wonders that Jesus performed, though clear to many of the religious
leaders in Israel, did not bring them to faith and salvation. God does
not use signs as a substitute for faith. He uses them for the confirmation
of faith. Therefore, the greatest signs apart from faith are ineffective.
The rod is a symbol of authority, which
speaks of protection and guidance. On the other hand, the snake is a symbol
of power and life to the Egyptians. Pharaoh wore this symbol on his crown.
The picture here is that God entrusted Moses with authority over all Egypt.
Our Lord said the same thing in the Great Commission. He said, all power
is given unto me, Go ye therefore … Christian, we have been sent
even as Christ and Moses were sent, not to hold the fort, but to challenge
the very gates of hell. DW
Miracle of the Flies
Exodus 8:20-32
This is the fourth in a series of ten plagues
brought upon the land of Egypt by God through the man, Moses, in judgment
against the nation. God was preparing the Israelites for their deliverance
from the bondage they had endured for over 400 years. God had heard their
cries and sent Moses to be their deliverer. Three plagues had already
taken place: the plague of water turning to blood; the frogs covering
the land; and the dust turning to lice. Ex. 4-8 In each case, Pharaoh
refused to let the people go.
It is possible that “the swarms of
flies were aggravated by the effects from the dead, and decaying frogs,
but the language used in the record of the plague clearly implies the
creation of God of new swarms of flies, ‘I will send ’ 8:21.
Such a miracle consisted not only in the flies overwhelming and destroying
the land, but in their appearance at the moment of command and disappearing
just as rapidly 8:30,31.”(Lockyer) The plague resulted in the land
being corrupted. The people of Egypt suffered, his servants suffered,
and Pharaoh’s household suffered. However, God separated the land
of Goshen where the Israelites dwelt and there were no flies there to
the end that thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
And I will put a division between My people and thy people. 8:22,23 Pharaoh,
after the flies were removed by Moses’ intercession, hardened his
heart again.
“The world around would prescribe
limits to the service we should pay God, but no matter what opposition
may face us, ours must be the courage and determination to serve Him to
the limit of His requirements.”(Lockyer) KDD
Thought: “Some Christians, like wheelbarrows,
need to be pushed.(The Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Turning
Dust into Lice
Exodus 8:16-19
This is the Third of 10 miracles that Almighty
God used against the Pharaoh of Egypt. Of course, we realize that these
miracles, delivered through Moses, are from the one and only True God,
the God of the Bible, The Creator, The God of the Universe.
Even though Christians know that God is
merciful, He is also just and must punish sin and the day of judgment
will arrive. This miracle of turning dust into lice or gnats, was another
indictment against the false gods of Egypt (Leb, the god of the earth)
and against its false teachers and leaders. This particular miracle also
gives unequivocal proof that God ’s finger controls all things,
even to the very dust of His creation.
Can we take this example before us today
and learn some important lessons in our own lives? First, we see that
God ’s judgment will fall on this earth and on those that have not
followed His righteous plan for them. The day of judgment is imminent,
but no one knows when. Only the Father knows, in Matthew 24:34-35. God
is gracious and merciful, but He is also just and must punish sin and
when that judgment day comes, many will not be ready, because they have
hardened their hearts and have not heeded God ’s warnings to turn
from sin and self.
Secondly, we realize that there are many
deceivers and false teachers and they will not be able to stop the judgment
of Almighty God, nor will they be able to deliver people from the judgment
of God. Sadly, there are many apostate churches, self proclaimed leaders,
and even people amongst the flock who are not following God and are instead
following their own ideas and vain philosophies for their own personal
gain. Unfortunately as well, there are many innocent people that are greatly
influenced to the contrary because of them. God allowed this judgment
on Egypt to arouse the people to obedience and to stir them to acknowledge
that the finger of God controls all things. That He also has the power
to redeem and save mankind, from the smallest of details and events, even
to the, often, overwhelming circumstances in our lives.
Dear God of Creation, Thank You for Your
great Salvation. Help us to obediently walk before You, worthy of the
calling You have given us. DM
The 5th Plague Touches
the Livelihood of Egypt
Exodus 9:1-7
The three preceding plagues of frogs, lice
and flies did not touch the financial life of the Egyptians. This fifth
plague destroys their sacred cattle, the mighty horses used to pull the
chariots of war into battle, the beasts of burden, the camels, sheep for
their wool and goats for their tents, all the above were under the term
“cattle.” These were now suffering and dying from a plague
for which there was no medical help. If they had veterinarians in those
days, they were at a loss to help or heal the beasts of the field. It
is interesting to note that the cattle of the Hebrews were not killed,
but rather were fat and flourishing.
There are two beasts we want to see in
this Bible study. The sacred bull, “Apis,” and the sacred
calf, “Mnevis.” If you are familiar with The National Geographic
and their many stories of ancient Egypt, you know that the tombs of the
kings were decorated with bulls and calves.
Bulls were worshipped in Babylon and other
ancient countries of the eastern world. The gates of Ur, the capital of
the Chaldees, were guarded by huge, stone bulls. In the ancient city of
Babylon, excavated in the late 19th century, huge, stone bulls were found
and shipped to England for preservation in the British museums.
Now we come to the man who caused all this
suffering, Pharaoh! Moses had been warned that Pharaoh would harden his
heart against letting the Hebrews go. Pharaoh would only acknowledge the
pluralistic gods that the Egyptians worshipped.
At Mount Sinai, Aaron, who should have
known better, calls the people and gathers their golden trinkets, then
fashioned a golden calf and had the audacity to tell the Jews that this
calf led them out of Egypt.
Do you have any sacred bulls in your life
that you worship more than you worship the God of Creation and your salvation?
Do you worship the things of this world? Do you have any other gods before
the God of the universe? These are fair questions and we all need to prayerfully
answer them now! Ask God to reveal them to you and put them away, right
now. RJS
The First Plague of Egypt
Exodus 7:14-25
Back in Exodus chapter four, God revealed
His power to Moses with two miracles; turning his rod into a serpent,
and turning his hand leprous. Then God told Moses to duplicate these miracles
in the sight of Pharaoh. In verse 8 and 9, God says, if they will not
believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they
will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass,
if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy
voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon
the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become
blood upon the dry land.
As we all know, Pharaoh did not hearken
unto God, and this set off a chain of events that would eventually lead
to his destruction. Exodus 7:14 tells us that the LORD said unto Moses,
Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. As
a result of Pharaoh ’s unwilling heart, the first of what would
be ten plagues was about to happen. Remember, you can choose your sin,
but you cannot choose your consequence. The consequences of Pharaoh ’s
refusal to let God ’s people go happened at a time in which he was
not expecting it to. It was a time in which he was relaxing and enjoying
the waters of Egypt that God turned his refreshing water into a horrible
sight of blood.
Unfortunately, many, many people, Christians
even, are in danger of allowing their hearts to become just like Pharaoh
’s heart. God has given to us opportunity after opportunity to obey
and follow Him. We make a huge mistake when we continue to say to God
“not yet”, “I’m not ready”, or just flat
out “no”. God gave Pharaoh the opportunity to submit and obey
Him, but he hardened his heart and took one more step toward his destruction.
JDL.
Galatians 6:10, As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household
of faith.
The Serpents of the Magicians
Exodus 7:8-13
It is interesting to note here, that Egyptian
magicians duplicated the miracle that God gave Moses. Satan is the great
counterfeiter. His great desire was to be like God. Therefore, we read
in 2 Corinthians 11:14 … Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness… The greatest evil always takes
on the cloak of righteousness. It is important to consider what is going
on here. These men, at the bidding of Pharaoh, are trying to discredit
Moses. We read in 2 Timothy 3:8 … as Jannes and Jambres withstood
Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate
concerning the faith.
An important part of the work of evil is
to confuse people as to the truth. Yet, in this account we see that God
makes the truth clear to Pharaoh and his magicians. For we read that (Exodus
7:12) … they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents:
but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. The works of light are
always greater than the works of darkness. It is interesting to note that
while God had Moses and Aaron, the devil also chose to work primarily
through two individuals. We might ask ourselves, why does God allow evil
to work in such powerful and similar ways? Does this not confuse people?
We need to remember that salvation is tied to faith, and faith needs to
have the right foundation. The apostates who opposed Moses and Aaron had
faith, but their faith was tied to darkness rather than light. God blinds
the eyes of all those who turn from the light. Therefore, if we allow
our hearts to look for good reasons to reject the truth, we will never
want for any.
Sadly, there are those who seem to think
that if God does not work in a way that they can accept, it would be unjust
for Him to condemn them. This is not true. As soon as a heart allows itself
to turn from God, it will be filled with all kinds of good reasons to
reject the truth. God hardens the hearts and blinds the minds of all that
turn from Him. It is a dangerous thing to turn from the light. DW
Miracle of the Locusts
Exodus 10:1-20
“This eighth plague offers another
striking evidence of the fact that in the use God makes of miracles, He
guides, quickens, and intensifies the powers of nature, rather than working
contrary to them. In the threatening mighty swarm of locusts, so numerous
that the face of the ground could not be seen, God was about to show how
He could command even locusts to carry out His purpose. Pressure upon
Egypt to tremble under God ’s mighty hand would be heavier than
before, and either the haughty spirit of Pharaoh would be broken or he
must perish in judgment.”(Lockyer) In this plague, as in plagues
3 and 4, God used insects to chastise His enemies. Following the desolation
caused by the hailstones, the locusts completed the ruin of all crops.
A plague of locusts was terrible at any time. They appeared in vast clouds,
usually brought in by an east wind and carried away on a west wind, eating
every green thing wherever they landed. (Lockyer)
This was no ordinary plague. “While
Egypt had been plagued by locusts before, this plague was without precedence.
God had the locusts in reserve for this invasion. He fixed the time of
their arrival and controlled the winds guiding their movements. By lifting
his wonder-working rod, Moses gave the signal for the locusts to begin
their destructive mission. Thus the plague attacked what Egypt prized
so much, namely, their land. The god, Serajia, was reckoned to be the
protector of the land from locusts. How the religious belief of the people
must have been shattered as they saw how helpless their deity was against
God ’s invading host.”(Lockyer) Pharaoh ’s heart was
more hardened. He refused to let Israel go. We see the omnipotence of
God; all powerful. KDD
Thought: “If you keep in step with
God, you’ll be out of step with the world.”(The Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Hail
and Fire
Exodus 9:13-35
This is the seventh plague, brought upon
the Pharaoh of Egypt. Six times now, God had told Moses to go and proclaim
His Word to Pharaoh and six times Pharaoh had refused to heed God ’s
Word. We see that Pharaoh had offered confession but it was insincere.
Interestingly, not everyone who confesses and repents of sin is sincere,
and even in moments of crisis, is genuine. When we confess and repent
of our sin, we must be genuine and sincere and follow through with what
we have promised God. Note specifically how long-suffering our great God
is. God ’s will is for people to live and serve Him in true joy
and freedom. Any person, leader, church, or nation that rejects God and
leads others astray is doomed to suffer the judgment of God. Ephesians
5:6 says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of
these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
The whole purpose of the plagues was to
refute the false gods of the land and to show that the One True God is
merciful, even in the midst of judgment. This plague refuted the false
water god Iris, and the lightning god, Siris, and the atmosphere god,
Shu. Almighty God, the Lord God Jehovah, showed that no god created by
the minds or hands of man controls anything. No false gods then, nor man-made
gods now, can do anything. The Lord and the Lord alone is sovereign over
the earth. The earth is the Lord ’s and it is under His control
alone.
Let ’s stop and consider this. Even
in the midst of judgment, there is deliverance. As an obedient leader,
Moses went out and got alone with God and prayed, literally crying out
to God, interceding for the lost people. God heard his cry and stopped
the judgment. There are many people around us, daily, that are lost and
dying without knowing God. There is a great need for intercessors. Our
pastors and leaders labor in prayer for us, they intercede for their flocks,
and we too, as believers need to intercede for each other and for those
that we know aren’t saved.
Dear Lord God of all Creation, Thank You
for Your tender mercy, even in the midst of judgment. Help us to not set
any other gods before You, and help us to have a burden for lost people,
that we might tell them of Your saving grace. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
DM
The 6th Plague –
Boils Upon Mankind
Exodus 9:8-12
Six is mankind ’s number and this
sixth plague brings suffering to all the Egyptians from the king ’s
palace to the paupers shack. It seems that the word “ashes ”
here is better translated “soot.” Ashes fall to the ground,
but soot floats in the air. There was no warning. Moses took a hand full
of soot and tossed into the air. It settled on everyone and they were
unable to stand against the boils that covered their bodies. They were
forced to leave the royal presence and seek help, but there was no help
afforded anyone in Egypt. Again this plague did not afflict the Hebrews
in Goshen. This soot may have come from the bread ovens, or from the smelters
that were used to purify the iron and gold. The plague spread over the
land of Egypt as smog spreads over the great cities of the world, but
not in Goshen.
Talk about pain and suffering, nothing
is worse than boils all over the body, Just ask Job! Job 2:7 So went Satan
forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from
the sole of his foot unto his crown. Just imagine boils on the bottom
of your feet and all over your body to the top of your head. What agony
Job must have gone through, but not once did he complain.
Now back to our story: Every person, child,
old folk and all ages in between, suffering from this infestation or running
sores and scraping the matter from their bodies with broken piece of pottery.
You would think they would have rebelled against Pharaoh and gladly sent
the Jews on their way. But Pharaoh had the final word and said no to Moses
and the great “I AM.” “What fools these mortals be.”
Let us make a personal application, do
we know what is right and do the opposite? Remember we are in a spiritual
battle even as the Apostle Paul refers to in Romans 7:19-22 For the good
that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now
if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth
in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present
with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: This
battle rages on in our hearts and only by trusting in the Lord by faith
do we have the victory. RJS
Instructions for the Passover
Exodus 12:1-20
After being in bondage for so many years,
the children of Israel were on the verge of being set free. God comes
to Moses and Aaron to give them the instructions for the Passover. In
Exodus 12:7-10 we find these instructions. God said to take the blood
of a male lamb and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost
of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh
in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter
herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water,
but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which
remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
If the children of Israel would obey God
instructions, He promised in Exodus 7:13, that when I see the blood I
will pass over you. So when the death angel came to Egypt, each doorpost
that had the blood applied on it, he passed by, but every doorpost that
did not have the blood applied, they witnessed the death of their first-born
son. What an awesome picture of what Christ has done for us. In 1 Corinthians
5:7, the Bible says that Christ is our Passover and He is the sacrificed
lamb for us. Notice 1 Peter 1:19, But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Without the blood of Christ
applied to the doorposts of our heart, we have no hope of redemption.
Today, let us be thankful for the love that God has shown to us”…in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” JDL
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus
coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world.
The Frogs
Exodus 8:1-7
Because of Pharaoh 's disobedience to God,
He sent ten plagues on the nation Egypt. In this plague, there is a terrible
infestation of frogs. They have frogs in the kitchen and frogs in the
bedroom. The Egyptians regarded frogs as having divine power. In the Egyptian
pantheon the goddess Heqet had the form of a woman with a frog’s
head. From her nostrils, it was believed, came the breath of life that
animated the bodies of those created by her husband, the great god Khnum,
from the dust of the earth. Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible
Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications,
Inc.) 1983, 1985.
In this instance, Pharaoh 's sorcerers
also produce frogs, but they are powerless to get rid of the frogs, which
is what Pharaoh wants and needs. Pharaoh calls for Moses in order to get
relief for himself and the people. We are not told why, but Moses asks
Pharaoh when he should pray. He gives Pharaoh the power to choose the
time of his relief from this plague. It may be that Pharaoh 's heart hardened
somewhat from the time he calls for Moses till the time he sees him, and
does not seem as concerned about immediate relief. At any rate, he says
tomorrow.
Why does he say tomorrow? It is not because
he likes the frogs. I believe it is likely that he hopes the frogs will
go away before the next day. In that way, he will not be obliged to keep
his promise. In other words, he delays because his heart is still opposed
to God 's will. Moses says specifically, that relief will come on the
next day so that he would know the truth. Pharaoh needed to understand
that God was in control, even though he ruled Egypt. Thus the god that
was supposed to be the friend of Egypt turned against the Egyptians. They
were to understand that these idols were no gods and Israel 's God is
God. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people to so love their sin, that they
will cling to foolishness and endure a good deal of difficulty in order
to hang on to it. Many sinful habits are like that. God, help us not to
be as foolish in our sin as Pharaoh. DW
God’s Provision;
Quails
Exodus 16:6-13; Num, 11:30-35
The children of Israel were notorious for
their murmuring against God and against Moses and Aaron. Soon after the
crossing of the Red Sea, we read: And the whole congregation of the children
of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the
children of Israel said unto them, 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. Ex. 16:2,3 The response of the
Lord was: At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled
with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. Ex. 16:11,12
And it came to pass, that even the quails came up, and covered the camp:
and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp. 16:13-15 When the
dew was gone there was the manna.
“The glory of the Lord was manifested
in such a gift of food which was a transient gift, not as in the case
of the manna which continued throughout the wilderness journey. The quails
did not continue to fall as the manna but were twice miraculously supplied
16:13; Numbers 11:31,32.”(Lockyer) Take the time to read the story
in Numbers. “The miracle of the quails consisted in their vast quantity
at the needed time. The Bible says that there went forth a wind (east
wind) from the Lord and brought the quails from the sea and let them fall
by the camp. Num. 11:31; Psalm 78:26,27 They came at His bidding and landed
in the place where He directed.”(Lockyer) “One solemn lesson
to be learned from this incident is that God gave the people their request,
but sent leanness into the soul. Ps. 78:29; 106:15. (Lockyer) Phil. 4:19
KDD
Thought: “If God gave to us as we
give to Him what would we have?”(The Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Darkness
Exodus 10:21-29
This is the ninth plague brought upon the
Pharaoh of Egypt. The day of judgment again came suddenly without notice,
even though Pharaoh knew something was going to take place. This plague
refuted the false sun god, Ra. This was a terrifying and terrible darkness,
a frightening and fearsome darkness, a darkness that was so thick it could
be felt, to the point that no one was even able to move. This can be compared
to the spiritual darkness that man has chosen to live in. Darkness so
thick that few people ever see the truth; a willful darkness, a deliberate
decision by man to live there and consequently, the judgment of God is
coming. And when God launches His judgment, there will be no escape. Those
that have chosen to go their own way will be held for eternity by the
chains of eternal darkness and punishment, totally separated from everything
and everyone, including God, for ever and ever.
There will be an attempt by some to compromise
with God, just as Pharaoh tried. But just as Moses did not compromise
with Pharaoh, Born-again Believers are not to compromise with the world
and it ’s ways. God cannot compromise with man. To lower His standards
would make God less than perfect, less than God. Ecclesiastes 3:14 says,
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing
can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that
men should fear before Him.”
Sadly, just as Pharaoh hardened his heart
against God, the Bible also tells us that many will harden their hearts
against God and His ways. Proverbs 1:24-28 says, “Because I have
called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a
whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they
call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they
shall not find me.”
Oh Gracious and Merciful God, Forgive us
of our sins and lead us in the way of Everlasting light! In Christ’s
name we pray, Amen. DM
Wrath Awakened and Wrath
Appeased
Numbers 11:1-15
When people complain against God ’s
chosen leadership, they are com-plaining against God. This type of sin
is found over and over again in the Old Testament and surprise of surprises,
we are still doing it in the church today. As we come to the end of the
church age it is raising its ugly head almost daily in fundamental churches.
The people had just finished their first year from slavery in Egypt. In
chapter nine they had celebrated the Passover. Numbers 9:1-3 And the LORD
spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the
second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Let
the children of Israel also keep the Passover at his appointed season.
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his
appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all
the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
Now the root of apostasy was again in their
hearts. Complaining about their hardships and the Lord heard it. Complaining
seems to have been a sin unto death on many occasions in the Old Testament.
It is a good thing God does not deal with the Christians as He did in
times past. 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is
not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that
sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death. The old fleshly nature
is still in us and we must fight the war of all wars in our own hearts.
If we lose it, we will self-destruct. The sin unto death can be one thing
for one person and another thing for another person.
Fire came into the camp and many were consumed,
but Moses interceded for them and the fire was restrained. This fire may
have been from lightening or have come forth from the Tabernacle. It would
seem that they would have learned their lesson then and there, but the
smoke had no more than cleared, and again, they were complaining about
the food. Note that Moses came close to falling into the same trap, vv.
11-16
Are we so naïve as to think we can
get away with fault finding and God will not take notice? God protected
the leadership in the Old Testament and He will also protect it now! RJS
The Tenth and Final Plague
Exodus 11
Often times when a person is running from
God, God has to hit them over the head with a spiritual two by four. To
get Jonah to do what God wanted him to do, he had to send along a storm
and when he was cast over board, God sent a huge fish to swallow him whole.
Only after three days and three nights in the belly of the fish was he
ready to do what God wanted him to do.
Pharaoh was a little more hardened than
Jonah. Nine times God came to Pharaoh and told him to “let my people
go”, and nine times Pharaoh said, “no”. No doubt Pharaoh
was stubborn in heart. How can a man not be stubborn after having to deal
with nine plagues because of his refusal to obey God? Many of us would
say, “If I were Pharaoh I would have given God what he wanted after
the first couple plagues”. But the fact is, none of us are Pharaoh
and none of us will ever have all that Pharaoh had. It is amazing to watch
people fight for the things they want. Stubborn people will fight over
the pettiest of things.
The tragedy of fighting with God is God
never loses. Jonah eventually did what God wanted and so did Pharaoh.
As a result of Pharaoh ’s tenth “no”, there was a tenth
plague. This plague hit Pharaoh hard enough that he finally let God ’s
people go. This fight with God cost Pharaoh his son ’s life. When
a person is fighting or running from God, it often seems like God has
to do something tragic to get that person ’s attention. Let us be
challenged today to stop fighting and running from God and start running
to God. Let us yield to His first calling and not wait to see how far
we can get before God really gets our attention. JDL
Matthew 19:24 It is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom of God.
Strange Fire
Leviticus 10:1-7
Here is a tragic story. Aaron 's two sons
are not careful to follow God 's directions. God started the fire on the
brazen altar Himself. This fire was to burn continually. It was from this
fire that the priests were to take coals and burn incense before the veil
of the temple. The picture is that our worship is purified, directed and
empowered by God.
When these sons of Aaron offered strange
fire, they did not take the fire from the altar, as God said, but kindled
their own fire. This destroyed the proper picture of worship. Rather than
God purifying and empowering worship, they did. No where do we find that
what they did was forbidden. It was just not according to the pattern
that God gave them. In this text, we might think of the fire in terms
of love and zeal. There is a love and zeal in worship that is born of
God and there is a love and zeal in worship that is born of the flesh.
It is important that our love and zeal in worship be born of the Spirit
of God.
In order to emphasize the importance of
the right kind of worship, the fire of God destroyed these two sons of
Aaron. Their action regardless of intent showed great disrespect for God.
Some believe that anything people do in order to demonstrate their love
and worship to God is good. That is not what we see here. In other words,
in our worship, we need to obey and please God. In order to do that, our
doctrine needs to be right. Sadly, today people tend to ignore doctrine
in worship and seek things that are pleasing to them. People seem to think
if they desire to seek God in worship, but do it in a way that pleases
them, this is honoring to God. They know all are lost in sin so this will
not be true. We find this problem from the worship of Cain in the book
of Genesis to the efforts put forth by many today who seek entertainment
for themselves rather than to honor God. We need to develop worship after
a pattern that pleases God and not after a pattern that is convenient
or pleasing to us. If we try to please ourselves, we will dishonor and
offend God rather than honor Him. DW
Victory Over Amalek
Exodus 17:8-16
Who were the Amalekites? “Amalek,
grandson of Esau Genesis 36:12, who was born after the flesh Galatians
4:22-29, was the progenitor of the Amalekites, Israel ’s persistent
enemy.” (Lockyer) “Amalek was the first to attack Israel in
the wilderness journey from Egypt to Palestine. Later, the Amalekites
attacked again at Kadesh, an attack for which Moses ordered their extinction
Numbers 31:1-3. But they recovered and later oppressed Israel.”(Lockyer)
The reason for the attack on Israel at
Rephidim was because of Israel ’s entrance into their territory.
“Naturally, they wished to preserve themselves against invaders
into their region.” (Lockyer) God had miraculously provided water
for Israel. “The signs and wonders on Israel’s behalf had
shown them to be God ’s people. Thus, when Amalek attacked Israel,
the battle was not against Israel, but against God. Another motive behind
the attack…was the lack of any fear of God Ex. 17:16; Deut. 25:17-19.”(Lockyer)
God promised to have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Amalek
came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 17:8
Joshua assembled an army and fought with
Amalek. Aaron and Hur went up on the hill overlooking the battlefield.
When Moses held up his hand with the rod of God in it, Israel was victorious,
but when he let down his hand Amalek won. Because Moses ’ hands
were heavy he sat on a stone and Aaron and Hur held up his hands and his
hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 17:11,12 As a result
Israel was victorious. “In this miraculous victory, the power of
intercession is symbolized.”(Lockyer) KDD
Thought: “If you don’t believe
in cooperation – just observe what happens to a vehicle when one
wheel comes off.” (The Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Water
from the Rock #1
Exodus 17:1-7
As the Israelites started into the wilderness,
after actually witnessing so many miracles and also deliverance from the
ten plagues, they are tested by this fourth crisis, sent from God regarding
no water, and if they would respond obediently. Physical thirst, craving
for water, is one of the strongest drives that a person has, and today
we want to look at the spiritual comparison of physical thirst compared
to spiritual thirst.
We realize from God ’s Word, that
the spiritual thirst of the human heart can only be quenched by God, and
God alone. The Israelites had left the desert of Sin and went to Rephidim
expecting to find water but every source there was dry. This was a matter
of life and death and yet, they did not turn to God for their help. Instead,
they complained against Him and against God ’s chosen leader, Moses.
Sadly, haven ’t we seen this in our own lives too? When things don
’t go like we want or expect, how do we respond? Do we turn to the
Lord in prayer, or instead, do we complain? Many times our problems are
caused by our own mistakes, but sometimes God allows problems, to try
us and test us to see if we will turn to Him and ask Him for guidance
and deliverance. God also uses trials to glorify and praise Himself when
we will obediently turn to Him and ask Him to help us in our time of need.
He also uses trials to reveal that He is the God of salvation and deliverance
so that people know that He is the Lord God, the only True and Living
God.
God ’s faithful servant Moses, went
to prayer and cried out to God on behalf of the people, that God would
provide water for them, even though the people were to the point of threatening
his life. And God gave him specific directions to follow, so that life-giving
water could be delivered from God to the people. Isn’t God gracious!
Those folks deserved absolutely nothing. And yet isn ’t that a picture
too, of where we are spiritually? We don ’t deserve God ’s
mercy and salvation and yet, “God commendeth His love toward us
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Oh Gracious
and Merciful God, Have mercy on us and forgive us when we don ’t
follow You and don ’t trust You. Help us to be faithful servants
and obedient people that will bring the gospel message to others, bringing
glory to You. Amen. DM
The Jealousy of Miriam
and Aaron
Numbers 12:1-6
Jealous, Jealousies and Jealousy are mentioned
52 times in the Scripture. Let ’s look at the seven deadly sins.
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that
shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (schemes),
feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh
lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Jealousy has destroyed
more homes, churches and political ambitions than any other sin. Many
is the split family or church because of a jealous heart. And I would
suspect that most of this is unfounded. There is one time when the Apostle
Paul speaks of jealous in a good sense. 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous
over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Now returning to our text, Miriam was jealous
because of the Cushite wife Moses had married while in the 40 years of
preparation for his ministry. Miriam was unhappy because Moses was getting
all the glory. Did she not change his diapers, watch over him as he was
rocked to sleep among the bulrushes beside the Nile? Envy is the seed
of jealously and selfish desires. A neighboring pastor once asked me,
“What did you do to deserve this church.” I responded “I
don’t deserve anything but hell but God chose me for this church.”
When I resigned the church, that same man wanted me to recommend him to
the church, I refused.
God heard the faultfinding and immediately
took over. Miriam became leprous, and an outcast from the camp. But Moses,
being the man of meekness that he was, made intercession before the Lord.
Miriam was healed, but had to stay outside the camp for another seven
days. David said “I will not touch the Lord’s anointed,”
(1 Samuel 16:11). We should be careful how we treat our pastor. Paul said
the Pastor is a gift to the church. Eph. 4:11c-12a And he gave .…
pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints. God will punish
the person or the church that mistreats their pastor, just as he protected
Moses in ages past. RJS
The Closing of the Red
Sea
Exodus 14:13-31
The crossing of the Red Sea is probably
one of the most well known miracles of God in the Old Testament. In fact,
many people refer to that event as the opening of the Red Sea. But do
you realize that the closing of the Red Sea is just as important as the
opening of it? Think about it for a second. The opening provided a way
of escape, the closing provided freedom from Egypt forever.
What a beautiful illustration of salvation
that can be seen with the crossing of the Red Sea! Picture in your mind
the state of the children of Israel. Egypt being a type of sin, the Bible
tells us, that they were trapped by the Egyptians. There is no way to
escape, but God, in His love and kindness, provides a way to escape through
the Red Sea. As Moses lifts up the rod of God, and places himself and
the nation under the rod, God causes a wind to come and part the Sea and
dry the land. Now faith comes in crossing the Sea. As we take our first
step into the Sea, it doesn’t require much faith because if the
water closed up we could always step back out. But as we get deeper and
deeper into the sea, the walls of water are 30 feet and higher, now we
start to walk by faith. As the children of Israel exit the Red Sea, the
Egyptians (the world and sin) are pursuing them. This is the exciting
part. God opened the Sea for escape and He closed the Sea for freedom.
As God closed the Red Sea, the Bible tells us in Exodus 14:28, that 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. Just as God freed the Israelites from the Egyptians,
He frees us from sin. Think about it. The Red Sea covered the Egyptians
and they saw them no more. Can you think of something else that is red
and has covered our sins and removed them as far as the east is from the
west? …The blood of Christ? How exciting! God has provided the
way of escape, and He is ready to close the door on sin. Have you placed
your faith and trust in Christ? If so, are you excited about what he has
done for you? JDL
Fiery Serpents
Numbers 21:4-9
It is interesting to note in our text,
that God sent this plague against the people, because they spoke against
Him. Because of the lack of water, the manna and the hardship of the desert,
they criticized God. The heart of sin, is a rejection of God and His righteous
ways and a turning to self. The serpent of sin has bitten all of humanity.
When we look at our world and see all the hate and destruction, we need
to remember it is because of the bite of the Serpent. Romans 6:23 …
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord. All of us have been bitten and all of us will perish
apart from faith in God.
In John 3:14-16 14 we read, … as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. In other words, this miracle is an important
picture when it comes to faith and salvation.
I like the picture here. Some try to make
faith a very complex thing. It is not. It is very simple. We don 't find
Moses giving a deep theological lecture here. We find him giving the people
hope through the symbol of a brazen serpent. Sadly, some today don 't
want to talk about sin. They feel offended that God would bring judgment
to pass on their sin as He did with the people here. They think you can
just look to the positive and not worry about sin and repentance from
sin. That is not the message here. We have to understand that without
the hope that is ours in Christ we will suffer damnation. We will suffer
eternal death. We will live forever. The only question is, will we live
with eternal life or eternal death. Thank God He is not willing that any
should perish. All we need do is look to the cross of Christ in faith
and hope. Have you come to really understand your sin and it 's consequences?
Have you ever taken hold of the hope that is in Christ? If not, why not
trust Him now? DW
God ’s Revenge on
Rebels
Numbers 16:23-33
The miracle, which we are considering in
the devotional for today, has to do with the sin of rebellion against
one of God ’s chosen servants, Moses. The rebellion was led by Korah,
of the tribe of Levi, Dathan and Abiram, along with other children of
Israel 250 princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of
renown. 16:1,2 “The rebels argued that since the whole congregation
was holy, there had been a usurping of authority on the part of Moses
and Aaron. They lost sight of the fact that Moses and Aaron were God ’s
appointed representatives and had the precedence in drawing right to Him
and of ministering in holy things.”(Lockyer) 16:3
Moses response was to fall on his face
before God And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even
tomorrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy and who He has
chosen to approach God. 16:4,5 “Then came the test of the censors
16:6, the use of which was the peculiar prerogative and the holiest function
of the priesthood, and consequent vindication of Moses and Aaron and the
punishment of the rebels.. Korah, the ringleader of the rebellion, perished
in the divine fire along with the 250 princes who offered incense with
him. 16:27,35 Dathan and Abiram and their families and households were
swallowed up in the opened earth and died a terrible death….They
perished under the stroke of God ’s judgment.” (Lockyer) God
did something not known before – God formed the chasm. “All
God ’s miracles are displays of creative power.” (Lockyer)
The apostle Jude warns Christians against such rebellion. V.11 KDD
Thought: “The goal of criticism should
be to leave the person with the feeling he or she has been helped.”
(The Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Path
through the Red Sea
Exodus 14:1-22
Life is often very cruel and any hopes
that may have risen are many times sunk by disappointments. People everywhere
are facing sickness, suffering, broken relationships, accidents, loss
of jobs, diseases, and even death. And many ask, “Where is God when
we really need Him?” Interestingly, the Israelites were in this
very situation and yet the problem was not Pharaoh and his over-bearing
military, it was not that the Red Sea hemmed in the Israelites. The problem
was the hearts and thoughts of the people saying, “God, why are
you allowing this to happen, why me? This isn ’t fair. If only we
had stayed in Egypt, (slavery and bondage) life would have been simpler.”
Imagine the mothers clutching their children for what seemed like the
last time; some even thinking of swimming the Red Sea; others determined
to go down fighting. The scripture tells us that the people bitterly accused
Moses and God of being cruel and leading them to their deaths. Total chaos
and confusion. And yet, God had a purpose and a plan for them.
God, in His infinite wisdom, loves all
of mankind and He would that none should perish but that all should come
to repentance. Pharaoh had hardened his heart and would not obey God.
The Israelites were being disobedient and were murmuring and were not
willingly following God’s chosen leader, Moses. And yet God chose
to do the humanly impossible and lead the people through the Red Sea and
then bring final judgment on Pharaoh and his army. Would to God, we would
learn from these examples and trust God with all our hearts and that we
would lean not on our own understanding. That in all our ways, we would
acknowledge Him and He would direct our paths. God provided for the people
a dry path to walk on through the Red Sea and He delivered them miraculously.
Question is: Are we prepared to obediently follow God and His chosen leaders?
Or instead, are we murmuring and questioning God ’s purposes and
plans for our lives? Seems like pretty dangerous ground to stand on. If
we truly are His children, may we begin to acknowledge His leading in
our lives and serve Him faithfully.
Dear Lord God Jehovah, Thank You for Your
plan and Your deliverance in our lives. Help us to walk faithfully and
obediently. Amen. DM
Moses Intercedes and Stops
the Plague
Numbers 16:41-50
This is the ninth of ten plagues that came
upon Israel in the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Murmuring
and complaining seems to be a natural sin of the flesh. Saved or unsaved,
we all do it! If we really put into practice what Paul says in (Romans
12:1-2) we would be able to overcome this sin that our Lord hates with
a passion. We can overcome with a “renewed mind.”
Moses commanded Aaron to take some incense
from the altar that is before the veil that divides the holy place from
the most holy place where the Mercy Seat and the Ark of the Covenant were
placed. Aaron was to go out to the people and stand between the dead and
the living. Aaron was to make Atonement for them. Have you ever thought
on this? We are to stand between the spiritually dead and the spiritually
alive by our witnessing and living the Christ-like life. Does our language
at work betray us like it did Peter the night before the crucifixion?
Do our children see a spiritually indifferent person for six days and
then a sanctimonious person on Sunday?
This chapter has two catastrophic events,
the death of Korah and his followers, and the plague of fire which we
are looking at today. Aaron obeyed Moses and displayed his authority as
a priest. There was no time for a sacrifice and burnt offering, something
must be done, now! He took the censer and stood between the dead and the
living. Remember ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter
2:9
Moses was able to go before the Lord at
any time because he was living a victorious life before God and man. He
had the same old nature we have, and most of the time he was able to control
it. I think, if I had been in his sandals I would have lost my cool many
times. Are you living a victorious life? Are we letting the Holy Spirit
control our lives as we are commanded many times by the Apostle Paul?
If not, it is not too late to turn your emotions and temperaments over
to the Spirit. RJS
Monday, May 27th
The children of Israel had a problem with
focusing on their circumstances instead of keeping their eyes on God.
Shortly after the crossing of the Red Sea, they found themselves looking
at their situation and not their Savior. They were thirsty, so they began
to complain. God met their needs and provided water. Later they were hungry,
and again, they began to gripe. And again, God met their need. He provided
manna. The wonderful thing about this provision is that God provided manna
daily. He gave them what they needed for that day only, no more, no less.
Every day they must come out to receive another blessing from God. The
Israelites never lacked in food, nor could they save food for the next
day. Whether they knew it or not, they were totally dependent on God ’s
provision.
Walking by faith requires one step at a
time, or in the Israelites ’ case, one day at a time. Hebrews 11:1
says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. Though the Israelites could not see the food for the
next day, they knew that it would be there. God promises to meet our needs
the same way. When we cannot see how He is going to meet the need, God
says, “Have faith.”
What a great God we serve! When the Children
of Israel were delivered from their bondage, God did not just leave them
to themselves. He continued to provide for their needs. In fact He continued
to walk with them through the wilderness. God will not just leave us to
ourselves. He continues to walk with us as well. JDL
Philippians 4:19, But my God shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The Healing of the Waters
Exodus 15:22-27
Here, we see a very serious situation.
The people were three days without water. That is serious. This terrible
situation was made even worse when they found water, but it was undrinkable.
Sometimes in the center of God 's will, we will find the greatest trials.
This is a clear example of this truth. There are those that believe that
if we are in the center of God 's will, we will never come to the brink
of disaster. This is wrong. The people here are being lead by the cloud
or fiery pillar, and they are on the brink of disaster.
Why did God lead His people in this way?
First, God wants us to learn to depend upon Him. Moses does. So while
the people complain about him and God, he prays. Note also, it is not
just a few but the whole assembly that complain. It is interesting to
note that God does not heal just through the prayer here. He shows Moses
a tree and has him put the tree in the bitter water. Some try to make
a case here for a natural solution to their problem. I don 't think so.
I think what Moses did looked foolish to many of the people. I can 't
imagine such a stubborn and rebellious crowd to all of the sudden take
hold of hope. God is testing the people. This act would give them an opportunity
to attribute this miracle to the knowledge and wisdom of Moses rather
than the power of God. I have no doubt that the worst did.
What they should have understood was that
God is able and willing to take care of them. Just as He healed the waters,
He can heal all their diseases. Note the new revelation about Himself
in verse 26, (Exodus 15:26) … If thou wilt diligently hearken to
the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right …,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon
the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (Jehovah–rapha)
God wanted the people to understand that physical health was an important
benefit of obedience to the covenant. Sadly, today some would take away
all the temporal benefits of faith. This is wrong. The truth is that,
in this life, God will bless in many very practical and temporal ways
those who love and trust Him. DW
The Miracle of Aaron ’s
Rod
Numbers 17:1-11
In Numbers 16, the leadership of Moses
and Aaron had been challenged. They were accused of taking too much authority
upon themselves and lifting up themselves above the rest of the congregation.
It would seem that the problem should have been solved following the judgment
of God, but murmuring against Moses and Aaron continued and they were
accused of killing the people of the Lord. Had it not been for the intercession
by Moses and Aaron, God would have destroyed the entire nation. As it
was, a plague from the Lord began and another 14,700 died. Num. 16:41-50
Aaron made atonement for the nation and the plague ended.
Evidently, competition with Aaron continued
because God told Moses to have representatives from the 12 tribes present
rods with the name of a prince from each tribe on a rod. Aaron ’s
name was written upon the rod for the tribe of Levi. They were placed
in the Tabernacle before the Ark. And it shall come to pass, that the
man ’s rod, whom I (that is God) shall choose, shall blossom: and
I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel,
whereby they murmur against you. 17:5,6 The next day when Moses went into
the Tabernacle, he found that the rod of Aaron had budded, bloomed blossoms,
and yielded almonds. V.8 He brought the rods out and each man took his
rod. Aaron ’s rod was taken to be kept for a token against the rebels
and kept in the Tabernacle. As far as God was concerned, the matter was
settled.
The budding of the rod pictures Christ
in resurrection. Christ is declared by God, a High Priest. Heb. 4:14;
5:4-10 KDD
Thought: “Two things are bad for
the heart – running up stairs, and running people down.” (The
Lifeline)
Miracles of Moses: Water
from the Rock #2
Numbers 20:1-13
We see here, an example of grumbling, anger,
and disobedience. The people had not learned through all the miraculous
things that God had provided for them and were still allowing their hard
and sinful hearts to control them and sadly too, we see that it even affected
God ’s servant Moses. There was ongoing rebellion against God and
His appointed minister from Miriam, Moses own sister and then also from
the people over no food and no water. This is a clear picture of how children
usually follow in their parent ’s footsteps. They had allowed a
seed of unbelief, stubbornness, resistance, and hardness of heart to take
root against God and this is what kept the first generation, the parents,
out of the Promised Land and doomed them to die in the wilderness. Now
the same threat is facing the children too. They had gathered together
in opposition to Moses and Aaron and to blame God for their troubles.
When folks grumble against God and His servants, it is a terrible sin
and it reveals a heart of unbelief and distrust of God ’s provision.
Next we see a tragic failure of sin on
Moses part. In his anger and total frustration with these stubborn people,
he disobeys Gods clear and specific direction and takes matters into his
own hands. He doesn ’t give God full credit and honor, and he then
struck the rock instead of speaking to it. God had no choice. His dear
servant had to be chastised and he would not be allowed to enter into
the Promised Land. The name of that place was Meribah, meaning strife,
arguing, and grumbling.
Question: Where do we stand? Are we grumblers
and complainers? Are we leading our children in God ’s ways, or
our own? As parents, we have an all-important task to train our children
up in the way that they should go, by showing them from our own life examples.
Even more importantly, as God ’s chosen leaders for the flock, there
must be a holy fear of God to follow in complete humbleness and utter
obedience to the purposes of God ’s call, no matter what the cost.
Dear Lord God, Thank You for Your Mercy
and Grace. Please forgive us when we go astray and guide us back to the
way of life and joy! Help us to walk obediently and humbly before You
and help us to trust Your guiding hand in our families for Your Glory.
In Jesus name, Amen. DM
Heavenly Fire – The
Glory of the LORD
Leviticus 9:15-24
Leviticus 9:23-24 …. and the glory
of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out
from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and
the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their
faces. Moses earlier asked God to show him His glory, Exodus 33:18 Moses
said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. Now Moses, Aaron and all the
people see the glory of God. All the preparations were complete. The Tabernacle
was finished, the offerings have been prepared, the people are gathered
before the Tabernacle and Moses and Aaron came out before the people.
God sends fire to consume the offering and by so doing, the people know
that God is satisfied with their sacrifice and the Tabernacle.
We can compare this with the brilliant
illumination of the cloud that hovered over the Tabernacle. Remember the
clouds are God ’s chariots. (Psalms 104:3) The Lord Jesus ascended
in a cloud on Ascension Day and will return for His church in the clouds
on the day of the Rapture.
2 Kings 2:11-12 And it came to pass, as
they still went on, …. there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses
of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind
into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the
chariot of Israel.
Heavenly fire was present at the dedication
of the Temple by Solomon. 2 Chron. 7:1-3 Now when Solomon had made an
end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt
offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because
the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. 3 And when all
the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the
LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground
upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD. It is God ’s
desire that His people would seek Him today as in days of old! Israel
lived from revival to revival. However, there were times between the revivals
that they were apostate. Let us not be like them! RJS