Hey everyone, I was busy with church service and family yesterday and didn't have a chance to blog, but I wanted to blog today on yesterday's reading since God spoke some powerful things to me that I'd like to share. I also wanted to mention that when I list the reading for the day I'm referring to the assigned reading from the Life Journal plan, and generally I will just choose one passage from the daily reading to write about. So, hopefully it's not confusing that I don't pull scripture from all of the chapters and instead focus on one main verse(s).
Reading: Exodus 23-24, Psalm 14, Acts 5
Acts 5:12-14 "The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number."
The early church was a crazy thing. They were a dynamic group of on-fire, sold-out, never-look-back followers of the example of Jesus Christ. There was an excitement and urgency in their presence that was impossible to ignore. Everywhere they went people noticed them, wanted to hear what they had to say, and their numbers increased rapidly. They performed miracles, healed people, and were highly regarded by the people in Jerusalem. Everyone knew who they were. They had a reputation. People could see just by looking at them and they authority they carried themselves with that there was something different about them. Christians were popular among people who desired a changed life. They wanted to see them, they wanted to know what it was that made them different, how they could do such amazing things.
The disciples of the early church were powerful people through the Holy Spirit and were able to perform great works. In fact, it even says that "people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed (Acts 5:15-16)."
That's some Jesus-like stuff...healing sick people just by being passed over with a shadow? But let me tell you, that's faith. Faith that the power of God will accomplish what He has said. Peter wasn't a super hero. He was discipled personally by Jesus so sometimes it seems like some of that Jesus power just rubbed off on him so that's why he was able to do the things that he did. I mean, it's true that Peter was the guy who walked on water with Jesus, so I mean, he must have some supernatural power, right? Well...yeah, he did have supernatural power...the power of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus while he was alive, that was gifted to the believers at Pentecost, is the very same Holy Spirit that abides in all of us the moment we are saved. We have that same power and authority if we would only have the faith to walk it out and use it. It wasn't Peter's shadow that was magical, it was the power of the faith he and the sick who were healed had that God would deliver on what he had promised.
And people took notice. Including the leaders of the traditional Jewish faith. There was power in the early Christian church and it was growing, which made the leaders jealous and feel threatened. They worried that if too many people believed in Jesus and were actually changed that the Sanhedrin (the elders of Israel) would been seen as guilty for the death of Christ, and also that they would lose authority as religious leaders.
So they arrested the apostles and put them in prison. But guess what happened? The apostles miraculously escaped from prison in the night without the guards even knowing. An angel came to them, opened the doors, and said, "Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the full message of this new life (Acts 5:20)". Their faith was so powerful that a jail could not hold them, literally.
When the Sanhedrin finally figured out what had happened, they found them in the courtyard preaching the gospel as usual. They brought them in for questioning, saying "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood (Acts 5:28)".
I can just see the apostles laughing under their breath in this situation, because their reply shows how confident they were in the truth...
"Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men! (Acts 5:29)"
Come jail, persecution, hell or high water, they answer to God, not men.
Right about now Christianity might seem pretty unpopular, right? I mean...how many people are going to jump up and volunteer for a life calling that's going to get them arrested and thrown in prison?
Why were the people of Jerusalem so captivated by the Christians? Why were they held in high regard?
Because there was EVIDENCE of something different in their lives that you couldn't find anywhere else. They had already proven that they could not be contained in a jail, and went on their way to continue proclaiming the name of Jesus and walking out the example of what a changed life really looks like. They had a genuine community of people who cared for each other instead of just expecting donations in the sanctuary and ritualistic requirements. They took notice of peoples' needs and did something about it. You can talk about Jesus all you want, but until there is something tangible to show that you are different because of Him, then it is just a story, a philosophical idea, or a religious obligation you have adopted.
Ultimately the Sanhedrin weren't threatened by the Christians talking about Jesus, they were threatened because it was changing peoples' lives in a radical way that they could not control.
Why doesn't the church today look like that? Why don't people line the streets in hopes that we will just pass by them...why don't OUR shadows heal people? The apostles were just normal people. They were just average guys who had no extraordinary talents, and they certainly didn't have the resources we have today to reach out, connect, and communicate with people (hello...I bet they would have given their left leg to have a blog like this one). All they had was an amazing, earth-shaking, mountain-moving kind of faith.
Why can't the church look like that today? If people could see the great work of God through the lives of Christians...if we didn't just look and act like everybody else...maybe people would be compelled to come and check the Jesus thing out, just see what the deal is, what it is that causes a Christian to be someone who is different, why Christians love crazy and care crazy and reach out crazy and actually do stuff that makes things change around them.
Maybe, just maybe, if we followed the example of Jesus himself, just like the early Christians did...something radical would happen...and it would begin to spread...until the whole world was changed.
Father...please show me how to be a living example of your goodness and grace. To teach about your love, even (and especially) when it is unpopular...so that maybe through my life you would be glorified and people would see that their lives can truly be transformed. And maybe, one by one, day by day, your name would become popular. And that we as a church would stand up and proclaim your name, even in the face of social consequences, because we answer to you, not to men.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
True Community
Reading: Exodus 21-22, Psalm 12, Acts 4
Acts 4:32-34a "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them."
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say some hard stuff. I'm going to disclaimer this by saying that I'm not trying to take a political stance, sell any propaganda, take a swipe at anyone's political views or standings, or even say that I know the answers to all of our socioeconomic problems. And I'm not denouncing tithing (which I will probably end up talking about in a later post...but if you have questions about my standings and why I tithe please just ask me). I'm just going to say what this particular passage means to me.
Often times Christians are pigeon-holed as "conservatives" (whether they are or not), which in many cases translates into a perceived financial stinginess, or at least the common conception that are against "sharing the wealth". When you draw the lines of political wings, Christians tend to be lumped on the republican end, and republicans are decidedly less "liberal" (pun intended) with the way they choose (or want) to spread around their finances. But when you look at what the Bible says, being a "conservative" coincides with being overly generous, particularly by sharing resources throughout the community.
Now, I'm not trying to say that imposed socialism is going to solve the world economy, but if you look at the model of the early church, all of their resources were shared for the purpose of furthering the gospel, AND there were no needy persons among them. We're not talking about a church funded charity (or "ministry") to help the poor, we're talking about a true verb-driven, real life COMMUNITY, powered by the grace of God working through all of them.
Man, that's some craziness. We're talking about people selling their own land and possessions for the sake of the well-being of their neighbors. That's like someone saying, "Here, let me sell my car to cover the cost of your past due mortgage." How often does that happen, among Christians especially! That's a tough thing. We have such a "look out for yourself or no one else will" kind of mentality in our society that it really is a stretch of faith to do something of that magnitude for someone else, because we are so afraid that we will fall into a situation where we are in need and there won't be anyone willing to help us out. It's a scary thing to give something up that you weren't already going to throw out to help support someone else who is not necessarily tied to you. That's challenging to me!
A pastor of mine spoke about this one time and when faced with the question of whether it could possibly work to have that type of genuine community in the church today, his only retort was, "Why not?"
It may seem like as long as we tithe or make offerings to our church congregation that puts the responsibility of the "church" to do the "ministry" and "help people", but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE THE CHURCH. You and me. I think it's time that we take a good look at what the word says and not only just read it, but actually DO it. Because it doesn't mean anything until you actually start doing something that changes your life and the lives of those around you. And I'm not trying to give some extremist model saying that if you don't sell everything you have and give it to the church then you're not doing it right. But just maybe we can take a start, and be the church by giving something of ourselves, of our own, that can benefit someone (A REAL PERSON) and just give it.
It's a crazy thing to think about, but since you and I are both "The Church"...if you give something to someone who needs it, then you ARE giving to The Church. I think if we started to think of our giving as actual gifts that mean something and have a tangible effect (instead of just percentages of income), maybe we might be able to more clearly see the heart of God for the community of His people.
Why not? Even just as an experiment. Even just for one time (at least to try) to see what it feels like, and what happens. Why not?
Father, please help me to learn to be more generous through your love and grace working in me. Please provide me with opportunities to invest in true community with my time and my resources. Thank you for all that you have blessed me with, so that I can bless others.
Acts 4:32-34a "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them."
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say some hard stuff. I'm going to disclaimer this by saying that I'm not trying to take a political stance, sell any propaganda, take a swipe at anyone's political views or standings, or even say that I know the answers to all of our socioeconomic problems. And I'm not denouncing tithing (which I will probably end up talking about in a later post...but if you have questions about my standings and why I tithe please just ask me). I'm just going to say what this particular passage means to me.
Often times Christians are pigeon-holed as "conservatives" (whether they are or not), which in many cases translates into a perceived financial stinginess, or at least the common conception that are against "sharing the wealth". When you draw the lines of political wings, Christians tend to be lumped on the republican end, and republicans are decidedly less "liberal" (pun intended) with the way they choose (or want) to spread around their finances. But when you look at what the Bible says, being a "conservative" coincides with being overly generous, particularly by sharing resources throughout the community.
Now, I'm not trying to say that imposed socialism is going to solve the world economy, but if you look at the model of the early church, all of their resources were shared for the purpose of furthering the gospel, AND there were no needy persons among them. We're not talking about a church funded charity (or "ministry") to help the poor, we're talking about a true verb-driven, real life COMMUNITY, powered by the grace of God working through all of them.
Man, that's some craziness. We're talking about people selling their own land and possessions for the sake of the well-being of their neighbors. That's like someone saying, "Here, let me sell my car to cover the cost of your past due mortgage." How often does that happen, among Christians especially! That's a tough thing. We have such a "look out for yourself or no one else will" kind of mentality in our society that it really is a stretch of faith to do something of that magnitude for someone else, because we are so afraid that we will fall into a situation where we are in need and there won't be anyone willing to help us out. It's a scary thing to give something up that you weren't already going to throw out to help support someone else who is not necessarily tied to you. That's challenging to me!
A pastor of mine spoke about this one time and when faced with the question of whether it could possibly work to have that type of genuine community in the church today, his only retort was, "Why not?"
It may seem like as long as we tithe or make offerings to our church congregation that puts the responsibility of the "church" to do the "ministry" and "help people", but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE THE CHURCH. You and me. I think it's time that we take a good look at what the word says and not only just read it, but actually DO it. Because it doesn't mean anything until you actually start doing something that changes your life and the lives of those around you. And I'm not trying to give some extremist model saying that if you don't sell everything you have and give it to the church then you're not doing it right. But just maybe we can take a start, and be the church by giving something of ourselves, of our own, that can benefit someone (A REAL PERSON) and just give it.
It's a crazy thing to think about, but since you and I are both "The Church"...if you give something to someone who needs it, then you ARE giving to The Church. I think if we started to think of our giving as actual gifts that mean something and have a tangible effect (instead of just percentages of income), maybe we might be able to more clearly see the heart of God for the community of His people.
Why not? Even just as an experiment. Even just for one time (at least to try) to see what it feels like, and what happens. Why not?
Father, please help me to learn to be more generous through your love and grace working in me. Please provide me with opportunities to invest in true community with my time and my resources. Thank you for all that you have blessed me with, so that I can bless others.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
No Man is an Island
In case you were wondering, I do my daily reading from the Life Journal reading plan with the SOAP devotional model (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). It's a great plan that takes you through the Old Testament once and New Testament twice per year. The journals are relatively inexpensive, or you can find the reading plan online. I use YouVersion's Bible app on my iPhone (and I believe it is also available for BB or Android) that includes this particular reading plan, as well as many others, and allows you to switch translations conveniently. As I stated in a previous post, my trusty bible that I have been using for about 12 years is The Student Bible NIV published by Zondervan.
Reading: Exodus 17-20, Acts 3
Ex. 17:11-12 "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady until sunset."
So, in this story we find the Israelites in a battle against the Amalekites after being attacked for simply being who they were. God had promised the Israelites that the Amalekites' land was part of the territory they would inherit as the promised land. Either the Amalekites caught wind of this little bit of info, or they just didn't like the Israelites hanging out near their land, so they attacked them. Now, since God was with the Israelites on this thing (because they were following what He had said to do), God told Moses that they would win this battle. The only catch was that Moses had to stand up on a hill over where the fighting was going on, and hold up the staff he had used to part the Red Sea.
What? Not only does that not make any sense, it seems rather silly. How could Moses holding a big stick over his head possibly make the difference in a full on battle? I mean, were the Amalekites supposed to be intimidated by the stick? But, sure enough, whenever Moses held up the stick, the Israelites were winning, and whenever he put his arms down (how would you like to hold a stick up all day?) the Israelites started to lose the battle. Around this point, everyone started to get the idea that, silly or not, holding the stick up was the thing to do if they didn't want to see all their people get killed.
To me, it really seems like God sometimes asks us to do silly or ridiculous things in order to test our faith. Do we believe that He is who He says He is, so that something so absurd as holding up a stick could actually mean the difference between success and failure on the battlefield? To us it seems crazy and useless, but God just likes to show off like that sometimes. It was painfully clear that it was God's hand and not the strength of the Israelites that was winning the battle. How else would something so insignificant as a guy holding big stick on a hill make a true impact on the outcome?
So, Moses, being the (mostly) obedient guy that he was, resolves himself to hold the staff up above his head for the rest of the day while the battle is raging on. He's following God's calling for him in that situation. But...it starts to get tough...I mean, I guess most guys were pretty buff back then having to do lots of manual labor, but even still, holding that stick up all day long was a hard task. But God told Moses to do it, it's not like God said anyone could hold the staff up, God had told Moses that he had to do it. So, he's standing there, and his arms are probably shaking like crazy, and he's trying so hard to do what God says, but his body is beginning to give out on him...
That's when his brother Aaron and his friend Hur step in. They gave him a rock to sit on (I guess it's better than nothing, can't be too picky out in the desert), and then each of them got on either side and helped him hold his arms up. (If any of you have ever read or seen the last scene of Lord of the Rings when Sam is carrying Frodo up the mountain to destroy the ring...this is the kind of scene that comes to mind...)
The funny thing is, it doesn't say that Moses asked them for help, it just says that they did it. I kind of see Moses as a one man show, at least in his own mind. He is the one who God speaks to, so he kind of takes it on himself to do everything, unless God tells him specifically to give the task to someone else. That kind of burden has got to be heavier than anything I could imagine. And you can see in Ex. 18 when his father-in-law Jethro comes to visit that it wasn't just these epically dramatic scenes he was taking all upon himself, it was the entire governing of the Israelite people...singlehandedly. I really think that Moses got so caught up in trying to do exactly what God said, that he completely blinded himself to the support and community that God had built up around him.
We weren't meant to do this alone. We were not made to be solitary beings. God knows that we cannot always be strong, that there will be times (usually at the really important times) that we will begin to falter and need support from people we trust. That's why building and maintaining relationships are so important. It's tough, because it really creates opportunity for hurt and betrayal, but it's necessary. We cannot love others the way that God loves us without becoming vulnerable. It's all in the package deal, community was created for us to experience communion with one another and to build each other up. And through our interactions with each other we can get a glimpse of the heart that God has toward us. God has amazing things planned for all of us, but just because we have a specific calling does not mean that we have to accomplish it solo. Even those leaders at the top (like Moses) need bros like Aaron and Hur to come along side them and help hold their arms up while the battle is raging on. In the end, it didn't matter that Moses had help, the Israelites won the battle and all the glory went to God (where it was deserved).
So...what does this mean for me?
Has God asked me to do something that seems ridiculous out of faith?
Am I so caught up in one aspect of my task that it's preventing me from seeing the big picture?
When in my life do I need to ask for help?
Where am I receiving discipleship and counsel from?
Am I afraid of letting people help me because I am afraid of letting them see my weakness?
Is it pride or ignorance that make me think that I have to do it all on my own?
Is there anyone around me I could offer some help to? It could be physical help, or it could just be a listening ear or the blessing of quiet company...
Dear father, please reveal to me the people you have put in place in my life to support me in my calling and make it clear to me when it is time to ask for help (or give help to others).
Reading: Exodus 17-20, Acts 3
Ex. 17:11-12 "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady until sunset."
So, in this story we find the Israelites in a battle against the Amalekites after being attacked for simply being who they were. God had promised the Israelites that the Amalekites' land was part of the territory they would inherit as the promised land. Either the Amalekites caught wind of this little bit of info, or they just didn't like the Israelites hanging out near their land, so they attacked them. Now, since God was with the Israelites on this thing (because they were following what He had said to do), God told Moses that they would win this battle. The only catch was that Moses had to stand up on a hill over where the fighting was going on, and hold up the staff he had used to part the Red Sea.
What? Not only does that not make any sense, it seems rather silly. How could Moses holding a big stick over his head possibly make the difference in a full on battle? I mean, were the Amalekites supposed to be intimidated by the stick? But, sure enough, whenever Moses held up the stick, the Israelites were winning, and whenever he put his arms down (how would you like to hold a stick up all day?) the Israelites started to lose the battle. Around this point, everyone started to get the idea that, silly or not, holding the stick up was the thing to do if they didn't want to see all their people get killed.
To me, it really seems like God sometimes asks us to do silly or ridiculous things in order to test our faith. Do we believe that He is who He says He is, so that something so absurd as holding up a stick could actually mean the difference between success and failure on the battlefield? To us it seems crazy and useless, but God just likes to show off like that sometimes. It was painfully clear that it was God's hand and not the strength of the Israelites that was winning the battle. How else would something so insignificant as a guy holding big stick on a hill make a true impact on the outcome?
So, Moses, being the (mostly) obedient guy that he was, resolves himself to hold the staff up above his head for the rest of the day while the battle is raging on. He's following God's calling for him in that situation. But...it starts to get tough...I mean, I guess most guys were pretty buff back then having to do lots of manual labor, but even still, holding that stick up all day long was a hard task. But God told Moses to do it, it's not like God said anyone could hold the staff up, God had told Moses that he had to do it. So, he's standing there, and his arms are probably shaking like crazy, and he's trying so hard to do what God says, but his body is beginning to give out on him...
That's when his brother Aaron and his friend Hur step in. They gave him a rock to sit on (I guess it's better than nothing, can't be too picky out in the desert), and then each of them got on either side and helped him hold his arms up. (If any of you have ever read or seen the last scene of Lord of the Rings when Sam is carrying Frodo up the mountain to destroy the ring...this is the kind of scene that comes to mind...)
The funny thing is, it doesn't say that Moses asked them for help, it just says that they did it. I kind of see Moses as a one man show, at least in his own mind. He is the one who God speaks to, so he kind of takes it on himself to do everything, unless God tells him specifically to give the task to someone else. That kind of burden has got to be heavier than anything I could imagine. And you can see in Ex. 18 when his father-in-law Jethro comes to visit that it wasn't just these epically dramatic scenes he was taking all upon himself, it was the entire governing of the Israelite people...singlehandedly. I really think that Moses got so caught up in trying to do exactly what God said, that he completely blinded himself to the support and community that God had built up around him.
We weren't meant to do this alone. We were not made to be solitary beings. God knows that we cannot always be strong, that there will be times (usually at the really important times) that we will begin to falter and need support from people we trust. That's why building and maintaining relationships are so important. It's tough, because it really creates opportunity for hurt and betrayal, but it's necessary. We cannot love others the way that God loves us without becoming vulnerable. It's all in the package deal, community was created for us to experience communion with one another and to build each other up. And through our interactions with each other we can get a glimpse of the heart that God has toward us. God has amazing things planned for all of us, but just because we have a specific calling does not mean that we have to accomplish it solo. Even those leaders at the top (like Moses) need bros like Aaron and Hur to come along side them and help hold their arms up while the battle is raging on. In the end, it didn't matter that Moses had help, the Israelites won the battle and all the glory went to God (where it was deserved).
So...what does this mean for me?
Has God asked me to do something that seems ridiculous out of faith?
Am I so caught up in one aspect of my task that it's preventing me from seeing the big picture?
When in my life do I need to ask for help?
Where am I receiving discipleship and counsel from?
Am I afraid of letting people help me because I am afraid of letting them see my weakness?
Is it pride or ignorance that make me think that I have to do it all on my own?
Is there anyone around me I could offer some help to? It could be physical help, or it could just be a listening ear or the blessing of quiet company...
Dear father, please reveal to me the people you have put in place in my life to support me in my calling and make it clear to me when it is time to ask for help (or give help to others).
Tear Down the Walls
I've been terribly sick this week and haven't been up to blogging, but I wanted to post a song that has been on my heart and mind. I hope you enjoy it and it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.
Some of the most poignant words that God has spoken to me have been through music (Christian as well as secular). Song is a powerful medium with a limitless reach. Somewhat like God himself.
Some of the most poignant words that God has spoken to me have been through music (Christian as well as secular). Song is a powerful medium with a limitless reach. Somewhat like God himself.
Monday, January 24, 2011
A Hardened Heart
Reading: Exodus 9-11, Luke 24
Ex11:10 "Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharoah, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country."
Pharaoh was one stubborn guy! 10 horrible plagues, all targeted at the Egyptian people, miraculously passed over the Israelites and left them untouched. You would think he would get a clue that he was dealing with a supernatural force and just give in, right? This last verse before we hear the story of the Passover gives a clue as to why Pharaoh acted in the way that he did. It tells us that THE LORD hardened his heart, so that he would not let them go. Wait, what? Why would he do that? Wasn't the whole point of Moses and Aaron speaking with Pharaoh in the first place to get him to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt? It seems pretty counterproductive for God to harden the heart of the guy they're trying to convince to let them go...BUT, if there's anything I've learned, it's that God always has a plan. And even though it may seem counter-intuitive or crazy, He always has a greater reason and purpose regardless if we have the capacity to understand it in the moment or not.
Now, we know that God is all-powerful, and could have wiped out Egypt completely or paralyzed them until the Israelites had escaped, so it would only make sense that God was using this situation to make a point. I'm reading out of "The Student Bible", and there is a note in chapter 10 explaining that many theologians believe that the 10 plagues on Egypt were meant to attack the many false gods that the Egyptians worshiped (and looking ahead to chapter 12:12 God confirms this). When the plagues would hit them, the Egyptians would pray to the false god or seek the shaman associated with the plague and find that it was useless. Only when Moses would pray to the true God of Israel would the plagues be lifted.
Plague Significance:
1. Nile river turned to blood - Attacks the river god Hapi
2. Plague of frogs - Attacks Hekt the fertility god, who was represented as a frog
3. Plague of gnats/lice - Debunked the power of the Egyptian magicians who could not stop them
4. Plague of flies/beetles - Attack on Khepera the sacred scarab
5. Plague on livestock - Attack on Apis the sacred bull god and Hathor the sacred cow
6. Plague of boils - Attack on Im-hotep the god of healing and Sekhmet the goddess of healing
7. Plague of hail - Attack on the sky goddess Nut
8. Plague of locusts - Attack on the locust-headed god Senehem
9. Plague of darkness - Attacks the sun god Ra
10. Plague on the firstborn - Attack against Pharaoh himself, who was considered a god as well as his descendants; God also required all firstborn males (of women and animals) to be dedicated to Him
So, now it's starting to make more sense why God would "harden" Pharaoh's heart over and over again to provide an opportunity to debunk the power of all of Egypt's false gods.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, "This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go."'" (Ex 9:13-17)
Ok...we get it. God is powerful. But isn't it kind of overkill for him to just show off over and over again at the expense of the Egyptians? Seems like that really isn't fair, since Pharaoh seemed to be willing to let the Israelites leave on several different occasions between the plagues...I mean, Pharoah probably would have let them go a lot sooner if God didn't step in and force him to refuse, right?
Well, first of all, Pharaoh's problem was pride. Even after many plagues he would still seek his magicians and pray to his gods first before asking Moses to pray for the plague to stop. His "repentance" (eg Ex 9:27-28) was false, and only motivated out of desperation and fear. Because once the current plague would stop he and his officials would change their minds right back and pick up their pride again (eg Ex 9:34-35). In fact, in this example it even says that they hardened their own hearts, proving that God didn't have to do much encouraging to be able to extend the plagues. Even after Pharaoh's own son dies in the plague of the firstborn (which will be read about in chapter 12), Pharaoh sends his army in pursuit of the Israelites trying to bring them back into slavery. So, we really can see that Pharaoh's "fear" of God is a selfish fear, and that once the immediate discomfort has passed he immediately goes back to his own ways. His pride and greed were so prominent that he couldn't stand the idea of losing the entire nation worth of slave labor he used to build things to glorify himself. It didn't matter how many times his heart was hardened...the end result would have ultimately been the same.
Ok...so Pharaoh is a crazy guy, a real piece of work. He doesn't get it. But what about all of the other Egyptian citizens who were suffering of these plagues based on the decisions of Pharaoh? That doesn't really seem fair, either. I mean, why did they get sucked into it, too?
The answer to that question is basically the same as that of Pharaoh. The Egyptian people worshiped the false gods as well. When the plagues would hit they would surely be praying to their gods in the shrines and visiting the shamans instead of calling out to the true God. I'd imagine that there were some Egyptians who realized that the Israelites had divine protection, that there was something different about them, and moved over to Goshen (where the Israelites were staying) to join with them and find relief from the plagues. Evidence of this can be seen in the specific provision for "aliens" (or foreigners) among the Israelite people for the Passover (Ex 12:48-49), and the guidelines set forth in the book of the law that was written immediately after the Exodus from Egypt. Not only that, you can see in the plague of hail (Ex 9:19-21) that Moses warned the people and those who feared the Lord and brought their livestock and slaves inside were spared. It really shows us that God doesn't care about our race or political affiliation, he cares about where our hearts are and whether we respect him as Lord, or not.
But, there is also another key component to this story. God was not only displaying his power to the Egyptians, he was also displaying his power, love, and provision to the Israelites. If you will look back to Exodus 5:22-6:11, the Israelites believed that God had forgotten the covenant he had made with them and that he had forgotten them completely. 400 years of slavery could do that to you, right? The Israelites needed to see how they were set apart from those plagues and the power of God over the false gods of Egypt (that they had been immersed in since birth) just as much as the Egyptians did. They needed an amazing display of power and deliverance to renew their own faith, to know that God could indeed deliver them from the harsh slavery they had been subject to their entire lives.
"...Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord." (Ex 10:1-2)
Ok...what does this mean for me?
Are there any plagues in my life?
When these plagues arise, is it God who is trying to show me something?
Do I seek other means for resolution before crying out to God?
Is my heart hardened against the power of God and his plan for me and my life?
Am I rejecting God's plan because it isn't convenient for me?
Have I lost faith in what God has promised me?
Do I need to recognize God's power to deliver me from bondage?
Is God allowing me to experience things so that I may better understand his great love and protection over me?
Thank you, father for your almighty power, protection, deliverance, and love! Please break down the walls and the misconceptions I may have of who you are, and the desire to seek flawed wisdom from other sources before you. Your word is amazing and I learn new things about you and your love for me every day!
Ex11:10 "Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharoah, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country."
Pharaoh was one stubborn guy! 10 horrible plagues, all targeted at the Egyptian people, miraculously passed over the Israelites and left them untouched. You would think he would get a clue that he was dealing with a supernatural force and just give in, right? This last verse before we hear the story of the Passover gives a clue as to why Pharaoh acted in the way that he did. It tells us that THE LORD hardened his heart, so that he would not let them go. Wait, what? Why would he do that? Wasn't the whole point of Moses and Aaron speaking with Pharaoh in the first place to get him to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt? It seems pretty counterproductive for God to harden the heart of the guy they're trying to convince to let them go...BUT, if there's anything I've learned, it's that God always has a plan. And even though it may seem counter-intuitive or crazy, He always has a greater reason and purpose regardless if we have the capacity to understand it in the moment or not.
Now, we know that God is all-powerful, and could have wiped out Egypt completely or paralyzed them until the Israelites had escaped, so it would only make sense that God was using this situation to make a point. I'm reading out of "The Student Bible", and there is a note in chapter 10 explaining that many theologians believe that the 10 plagues on Egypt were meant to attack the many false gods that the Egyptians worshiped (and looking ahead to chapter 12:12 God confirms this). When the plagues would hit them, the Egyptians would pray to the false god or seek the shaman associated with the plague and find that it was useless. Only when Moses would pray to the true God of Israel would the plagues be lifted.
Plague Significance:
1. Nile river turned to blood - Attacks the river god Hapi
2. Plague of frogs - Attacks Hekt the fertility god, who was represented as a frog
3. Plague of gnats/lice - Debunked the power of the Egyptian magicians who could not stop them
4. Plague of flies/beetles - Attack on Khepera the sacred scarab
5. Plague on livestock - Attack on Apis the sacred bull god and Hathor the sacred cow
6. Plague of boils - Attack on Im-hotep the god of healing and Sekhmet the goddess of healing
7. Plague of hail - Attack on the sky goddess Nut
8. Plague of locusts - Attack on the locust-headed god Senehem
9. Plague of darkness - Attacks the sun god Ra
10. Plague on the firstborn - Attack against Pharaoh himself, who was considered a god as well as his descendants; God also required all firstborn males (of women and animals) to be dedicated to Him
So, now it's starting to make more sense why God would "harden" Pharaoh's heart over and over again to provide an opportunity to debunk the power of all of Egypt's false gods.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, "This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go."'" (Ex 9:13-17)
Ok...we get it. God is powerful. But isn't it kind of overkill for him to just show off over and over again at the expense of the Egyptians? Seems like that really isn't fair, since Pharaoh seemed to be willing to let the Israelites leave on several different occasions between the plagues...I mean, Pharoah probably would have let them go a lot sooner if God didn't step in and force him to refuse, right?
Well, first of all, Pharaoh's problem was pride. Even after many plagues he would still seek his magicians and pray to his gods first before asking Moses to pray for the plague to stop. His "repentance" (eg Ex 9:27-28) was false, and only motivated out of desperation and fear. Because once the current plague would stop he and his officials would change their minds right back and pick up their pride again (eg Ex 9:34-35). In fact, in this example it even says that they hardened their own hearts, proving that God didn't have to do much encouraging to be able to extend the plagues. Even after Pharaoh's own son dies in the plague of the firstborn (which will be read about in chapter 12), Pharaoh sends his army in pursuit of the Israelites trying to bring them back into slavery. So, we really can see that Pharaoh's "fear" of God is a selfish fear, and that once the immediate discomfort has passed he immediately goes back to his own ways. His pride and greed were so prominent that he couldn't stand the idea of losing the entire nation worth of slave labor he used to build things to glorify himself. It didn't matter how many times his heart was hardened...the end result would have ultimately been the same.
Ok...so Pharaoh is a crazy guy, a real piece of work. He doesn't get it. But what about all of the other Egyptian citizens who were suffering of these plagues based on the decisions of Pharaoh? That doesn't really seem fair, either. I mean, why did they get sucked into it, too?
The answer to that question is basically the same as that of Pharaoh. The Egyptian people worshiped the false gods as well. When the plagues would hit they would surely be praying to their gods in the shrines and visiting the shamans instead of calling out to the true God. I'd imagine that there were some Egyptians who realized that the Israelites had divine protection, that there was something different about them, and moved over to Goshen (where the Israelites were staying) to join with them and find relief from the plagues. Evidence of this can be seen in the specific provision for "aliens" (or foreigners) among the Israelite people for the Passover (Ex 12:48-49), and the guidelines set forth in the book of the law that was written immediately after the Exodus from Egypt. Not only that, you can see in the plague of hail (Ex 9:19-21) that Moses warned the people and those who feared the Lord and brought their livestock and slaves inside were spared. It really shows us that God doesn't care about our race or political affiliation, he cares about where our hearts are and whether we respect him as Lord, or not.
But, there is also another key component to this story. God was not only displaying his power to the Egyptians, he was also displaying his power, love, and provision to the Israelites. If you will look back to Exodus 5:22-6:11, the Israelites believed that God had forgotten the covenant he had made with them and that he had forgotten them completely. 400 years of slavery could do that to you, right? The Israelites needed to see how they were set apart from those plagues and the power of God over the false gods of Egypt (that they had been immersed in since birth) just as much as the Egyptians did. They needed an amazing display of power and deliverance to renew their own faith, to know that God could indeed deliver them from the harsh slavery they had been subject to their entire lives.
"...Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord." (Ex 10:1-2)
Ok...what does this mean for me?
Are there any plagues in my life?
When these plagues arise, is it God who is trying to show me something?
Do I seek other means for resolution before crying out to God?
Is my heart hardened against the power of God and his plan for me and my life?
Am I rejecting God's plan because it isn't convenient for me?
Have I lost faith in what God has promised me?
Do I need to recognize God's power to deliver me from bondage?
Is God allowing me to experience things so that I may better understand his great love and protection over me?
Thank you, father for your almighty power, protection, deliverance, and love! Please break down the walls and the misconceptions I may have of who you are, and the desire to seek flawed wisdom from other sources before you. Your word is amazing and I learn new things about you and your love for me every day!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
the beginning of a blog...
Hey everyone, it's me, Alicia. This blog is a part of a new project that I am starting. It's partly for me to keep accountable to writing, and partly for you to read and perhaps provide me with feedback or discussion.
The main focus of this blog, at least as a start, is a public account of my daily encounters with reading the word of God. It was suggested by a friend of mine, and I think it's a good way to keep me accountable and honest. I don't claim to be a scholar or theologian, all I'm writing here are my perspectives on what God has said to me, day by day.
Please feel free to comment. Encouraging and constructive comments are welcomed, but please remain respectful and I promise to do the same.
There are a few things I'd like to get out there, in case there is any doubt:
I am a child of the most high God, and a follower of Christ...
Christianity is not my religion, it is my lifestyle as a testimony and example of the great things God has and is doing in my life...
In all things, I strive to place my motivation for every interaction in LOVE...
I am not perfect...God is gracious...and he isn't done with me yet...
The main focus of this blog, at least as a start, is a public account of my daily encounters with reading the word of God. It was suggested by a friend of mine, and I think it's a good way to keep me accountable and honest. I don't claim to be a scholar or theologian, all I'm writing here are my perspectives on what God has said to me, day by day.
Please feel free to comment. Encouraging and constructive comments are welcomed, but please remain respectful and I promise to do the same.
There are a few things I'd like to get out there, in case there is any doubt:
I am a child of the most high God, and a follower of Christ...
Christianity is not my religion, it is my lifestyle as a testimony and example of the great things God has and is doing in my life...
In all things, I strive to place my motivation for every interaction in LOVE...
I am not perfect...God is gracious...and he isn't done with me yet...
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