Effie Darlene Barba

Last week, in our study God freed the Israelite from slavery, much like He frees us from the bondage of sin.  He established the Passover, a reminder to the people of His salvation and a picture of the greatest salvation to come in Jesus Christ.  Then, He parted the Red Sea presenting a spectacular exodus for the people.  Within 45 days they murmured about food and water, both of which God miraculously supplied.  They had many lessons to learn about in the desert—lessons of faith and hope.  As Christians we too often only learn faith and hope lessons when walking through the desert with God.  There are moments we do not understand, much as the Israelite.  Yet, it is amid the sorrows and difficulties we truly come to know who God is in all His wondrous Glory.

Well, as we saw last week, they came face to face with God at Mount Sinai.  He was there on the mountain with thunder and lightning.  He spoke the 10 commandments to the people directly where all could hear.  They then asked, He continue His communication through Moses and promised to do all He commanded.  Moses gave them the next set of commands and once more they covenanted to do all that God would ask. 

In return God promised to guide, protect, and lead them to the promised land.  Still, they needed to learn, God had spoken with truth as to what would be the best for their life when He spoke the 10 commandments.  They thought on their own strength, they would follow all He said.  However, while Moses was gone, the very next thing they did was break them all by building the Golden Calf and worshiping in a pagan manner.   

Lesson #1 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert

Our hearts are evil and come up with evil plans always, unless we keep our eyes on God.  With that we have very short memories from which the slightest distraction can throw us off course.  Therefore, we must be reminded daily of who He Truly IS.

Many died because of their hardened heart; but God forgave all those who truly repented.  A makeshift tabernacle was formed out of a tent where Moses could meet with God. 

everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. ⁸ And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and ^[e]the Lord would speak with Moses. ¹⁰ When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. ¹¹ Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:7-11 (NASB1995)

A Humble Servant Recognizes His Need of God

Moses with total humility asked to know God more.  He asked that God would lead Him and the people.

¹² Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ ¹³ Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” ¹⁴ And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵ Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. (Exodus 33: 12-15). 

Lesson 2 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

We desperately need God to guide us. Which, He always will when we humbly ask.  First, we must recognize our need before we can ask.   God gave Moses the opportunity to be hidden in the cleft of a rock as God shows Him a glimpse of His glory in a way deeper than all the times before.  Then God spoke as He passed by Moses.

⁵ The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. ⁶ Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and ^]truth; ⁷ who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:5-8 (NASB1995).

Moses again interceded for the people as He had all along the way.  God proceeds to once more declare His covenant; but reminds Moses to tell the people of their obligations.  Once more God wrote the 10 commandments on stones with His own hands. 

Then all are given the tasks of building the tabernacle as a place for God to dwell and to go with the people.  Every detail had to be met as every detail symbolized God’s masterful beauty.  After all, He had designed the intricate details of life.   He is a God of masterful, intricate detail.

Lesson 3 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

Every detail in our life is directed by God.  Our very hairs are numbered.  No tear is wasted.  Even our failures He masterfully weaves into the finished product of our lives.  As David sang:

Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.

¹³ For You formed myinward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:12-14

Once all was made, they began the journey.

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; ³⁷ but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. ³⁸ For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. Exodus 40:34-38 NASB

Lesson 4 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

Do not move unless God says move.  That is true of everything we do in life.

⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great….

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸ Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ Look upon my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred.
²⁰ Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

After the tabernacle was ready, God set up a orderly positioning of all the tribes.  An organized system was established so they could move quickly when God said march onward and rest when God said rest.

Lesson 5 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

God does not author confusion in our heads.  We do.  Therefore when things are chaotic:  Stop, take a deep breath, and focus on Him. 

God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. I Corinthians 14:33 (NASB1995)

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Psalms46 (NASB1995)

No sooner did it look like everything was finally organized and the people following all that God said, but chaos broke out again. 

 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. ² The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord and the fire died out. ³ So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.  Numbers 11: 1-3

Lesson 6 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

A little seed of discontent can grow like a consuming fire in our hearts and minds. Therefore take care to pull the weeds before they sprout.

Did you ever do that?  Some little thing grows to a mountain in moments of time and destroys all the good will and kindness you had previously known.  The slightest seed of discontent becomes bitterness, frustration and sorrow.  Joy, hope, and faith are hard to find there. 

Well, the initial discontent grew into a rebellion over wanting meat.

⁴ The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? ⁵ We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, ⁶ but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”  Numbers 11:4-6

Lesson 7 Concerning Faith and Hope in the Desert with God

Be careful what you ask for, God might just give it to you. 

So, the people wanted meat.  They did not trust that God was giving the best.  The Manna provided everything they needed to live and flourish in the desert.  So, God sent them quail.  However, meat is not well suited for desert travelers.  A horrible plague killed the greediest of the people. 

Remember faith is knowing God IS and He rewards those who diligently seek Him.  Therefore, He sends us His best.  We have nothing to complain about.

Final Thoughts:

As we travel through the deserts in life, let us keep our focus on the God.  He knows what is best.  We can either fall prey to all the hazards we face or we can seek to see God’s hand in every twist and turn.  We can learn to trust Him, realizing as Paul wrote:

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:1-5 (KJV)

Next week we will continue our journey through the desert to discover what more lessons we can learn to equip us on our way. 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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[1] New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

The Passover was established.  Salvation promised through the Passover lamb.  Jesus would one day arrive as the perfect Passover lamb, paying the price for all who would believe.    The people were freed from Egyptian slavery.  And all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are freed from the slavery of sin.  No longer does sin have dominion over the spirit and soul of anyone who have been saved.  However, the Israelites were not ready to serve God.  They would have to go through the Desert first.  And just like them we often must go through many trials before our hearts are truly transformed.  Therefore, can we learn to be joyfully trusting God during the desert experiences of life?  And if so, how? 

After all God promised that all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28).  God is good (I Chronicles 16:34) He will accomplish all that He has planned. (Isaiah 46:8-9).  And furthermore, He will accomplish all that concerns me.  (Psalm 138:8).  Whatever desert experience is necessary to transform me into His likeness, I must walk through on my way to the promised land.  The desert is a harsh place to be.  There are moments of fear, hunger, and thirst; but He is there to lead us by day and night.  If only we will keep our eyes on Him.

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.  Exodus 34:6

From Tyranny into Desert Experiences

        What should have been a short, straight journey across the desert to the promised land proved to be an arduous journey for the nation of Israel.  Barely having passed through the Red Sea so miraculously, they were quick to forget all the miracles witnessed in Egypt leading to their freedom.

        Every plaque designed to demonstrate that God is the only true God. Every Egyptian god was fake and failed.  After all the people had been there 400 years. Naturally some of the Egyptian ideas had infiltrated the people’s minds. They needed to see the truth. God established the Passover to save the people. Thereby God set the stage for the Messiah to come one day.  With all that, well there should be no doubt of God’s power and might. No question left unanswered. Then topping it all off with the parting of the red sea and the drowning of the pursuing enemy.  Certainly, God had done everything to prove His might, establish His purpose, and demonstrate His love for His people.  But 45 days later.

Exodus 16 (NET).

When they journeyed from Elim, the entire company of Israelites came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their exodus from the land of Egypt. ² The entire company of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!” 

        How quickly after our own salvation do we also come to the wilderness of sin and feel emotionally and spiritually hungry?  Frightened by our surroundings.  There God provided them with manna and water.  We also need manna.  Every morning to gather from His word all that we need for the day. And we need the Holy Spirit, our water.

Furthermore

        How often do we fail to counsel a new babe in Christ of the need to feed on the word, lest they fall to the desert experiences?

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, ³ if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 2 Peter 2:(NASB1995)[1]

They had tasted of His kindness, but now must actively put aside all slander to long for the pure milk of His word.  This too we must encourage new believers in their journey. Advising them to seek His word and engage with the Holy Spirit through prayer. 

More Trials to Face

Then there was no water.  The people all bitterly complained; but God provided.  Next Amalek came with his army to battle against the people.  Once more God prevailed as long as He was given the honor, proving God is our Banner and fights every war for us, as long as we lift our hands up to Him.  Another important lesson for every believer is to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) every morning to face the battles of life against the enemy who can come at any moment.    

Moses’ Father in law did come and recommend Moses divide up the people and set leaders over the groups so that all was better organized. Lesson for us?  We cannot do it all alone.  We need leaders and we need good counsel to help us along the way. 

Meeting With God in the Desert Experiences

They reach Mt Sinai by the third month. 

³ Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; ⁶ and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”  Exodus 19 (NASB1995)

Much like we, during those mountaintop experiences when we really feel His presence, the Israelite people responded.

⁸ All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!”  Exodus 19 (NASB)

How often do we say the same thing, only to quickly forget.

God instructs Moses to prepare the people to hear from God.  They are to wash their clothes and prepare their hearts.  Furthermore they are told that they must not go up the mountain nor touch its borders; because if they did they would die.    They were to come near and to listen. 

God Is Bigger Than They Ever Imagined

¹⁶ So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. ¹⁹ When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Exodus 19 (NASB1995)

Then God proclaimed the TEN Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods.
   2.  You shall not make idols.
   3.  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord.
   4.  Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy.
   5.  Honor your father and mother.
   6.  You shall not murder.
   7.  You shall not commit adultery.
   8.  You shall not steal.
   9.  You shall not lie.
   10.  You shall not covet.

And with-it God promised to protect, provide and bring them into the promised land. This God Spoke clearly for all the people to hear.

³ Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” ⁴ Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord.  Exodus 24 (NASB1995)

The Covenant Fully Accepted

he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” ⁸ So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24: (NASB1995)

God Presents a Plan of His Glory Dwelling With the People

So, Moses went back up into the mountain with God.  There God was going to write all the rest of the books in his own hands. 

¹⁵ Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. ¹⁶ The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. ¹⁷ And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. ¹⁸ Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.  Exodus 24(NASB1995)

How Quickly People Forget in the Desert Experiences

It did not take long for them to forget their covenant with God. While God is detailing the glorious tabernacle in which He planned to dwell with the people, they were breaking Commandments 1-3 at the same moment.  They proceeded to break the rest in their lude ceremony to the Golden Calf. This after they clearly heard God speak and saw His Power thundering over the mountain.

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him….³ Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” ⁵ Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.””

But what Lord did they want to worship?  They had forsaken God and His Covenant by all that they had done.  Yet, Moses intercedes in prayer on their behalf.  We must learn both to not turn away from God during the moments we think He is silent.  Also, we must be willing to stand in the gap through intercessory prayer while others are struggling.

So, back to the first question?

Is it possible to ever reach a point where we can be Joyfully Trusting God During the Desert Experiences of Life?  Well at this point in their desert experiences, the Israelites haven’t learned the key yet.  However, the key to joyfully trusting God during the desert experiences is knowing the first principle of faith.  Faith is knowing God IS and that He is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6. 

7 Keys to Joyfully Trusting God During the Desert Experiences

1.  Remember God IS Sovereign
2. Never Forget all that He has done for You
3.  Do not lose sight of Calvary
4.  Seek His word and time alone with Him each day
5. Put on the Whole Armor of God
6. Do Not Try to Do it Alone
7.  Remember He loves you so much He sent His son to die for you and He has not given up on you.  He is faithful.

Next week we will continue our journey through the desert experiences.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

How Are Justice, Kindness, Bravery, and One True God shown in Exodus?

Can a Really Good Almighty God Allow Pain in Our Life?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

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[1] New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

God in whom all is, was and will ever be Yahweh (The Great I AM).  There is no other God.  That is the first and foremost idea one must know and cling to before anything else in this world or the gospel message can make sense.  Yahweh is the one true God. That is evident as we now enter the second book of the Torah. 

The Torah includes the first five books of the Bible.  Written by God with Moses His instrument, the Torah is the foundation of God’s revelation of Himself. Everything else in our faith hinges on knowing there is only one True God.  He is the author of our moral compass.  He gave us the ability to reason and to choose. Built within each of us is a desire for justice, even when we do not understand how or why. Science could not create that from mere chemical reactions.  From the beginning of Exodus 1 and  throughout the plagues, one can see Justice, Kindness, bravery, and the infallible truth of One True God shown clearly in every verse. 

The One Desire of the One True God

God, from the beginning, had one desire.  That His Glory, all of it, be known and experienced by His creation.  Yet, repeatedly it was necessary to cleanse the earth from the evil ideologies and to make Himself known to all nations.  But along with reasoning and choice, the human race would always attempt to create a society outside of God.  Oh, they would create many gods to worship; but these gods could never fulfill humanity’s needs.  Broken and desperate, a chasm lay between humanity and God. A chasm that could only be bridged by God Alone. With sin’s presence in the heart of men, some would choose power, money, fame, and earthly pleasures which demanded the worship different gods.  After all, the one true God might demand too much and spoil their fun. They choose to deny the truth that God is the only source of Spiritual life and true joy.

Exodus 1:  Justice, Kindness, Bravery and One True God Shown Forth

 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. ⁶ Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. ⁷ But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.  Exodus 1: 5-7 (ESV)

This was God’s blessings on the people.  They grew strong and multiplied.  Instead of considering that perhaps their God was powerful, hence someone worthy to worship the new King of Egypt chose to fear their power.  So, he ordered that taskmasters be set over them and oppress them.  Yet, the more labor he placed on the people of Israel, the more they flourished. 

 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves ¹⁴ and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.  Exodus 1: 13-14 (ESV). 

But, that wasn’t working.  They still flourished physically and emotionally. Next he decided to tell the Egyptian midwives who cared for the Hebrew women to kill every male born.  A dual plan most likely to weaken the race both by reducing the males and then intermarriages would more likely result in the nation no longer existing as Israel.  The two midwives were named Shiphrah and Puah.  Note that their names are preserved by God, but the king is only known as king.

Justice, Kindness, Bravery rewarded

¹⁷ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” ¹⁹ The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” ²⁰ So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. ²¹ And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

These Egyptian midwives showed great bravery in defying their king because they feared God.  And they were rewarded.  But they were two of several women God used to perform His will. 

Then Pharaoh commanded all the people to cast every Hebrew son into the Nile River to die. 

Yet, Moses’s mother hid him for three months.  Then, she placed him in an ark of bulrushes and placed the basket on the river to float.  Note this was the same river being used to kill the Hebrew boys.  Then, she sent his sister to follow and watch.  Quite brave.

⁵ Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. ⁶ And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Exodus 2: 5-6 (ESV)

Although Egyptian, the daughter of Pharoah obviously had a different idea about the world, justice and kindness.  Therefore, she showed bravery in going against the king’s edict. Either that or just an act of rebellion against her father.

An Internal Compass of Justice, Kindness, Bravery in Moses

We are not told all of how Moses was raised.  He was nursed by his mother and taught for most likely three years.  Then he was raised in Pharaohs court where he learned much about reading, writing, and history.  Yet, remember, his adoptive mother also had acted with presumably a deep sense of justice and kindness by rescuing this Hebrew baby.  After all, enough so to show such bravery in saving him.  At any rate, he also developed a deep sense of justice within him.  We know this by three incidences in his early life.

#1 Egyptian beating a Hebrew

 ¹¹ One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.^{[c] 12} He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2: 11-12

#2 Hebrew beating a Hebrew

 ¹³ When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” ¹⁴ He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” ¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

#3 Philistine Shepherds Harassing Women

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.

God’s Time For the Next Step.

²³ During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. ²⁴ And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ²⁵ God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.  Exodus 2: (ESV)

Now, does anyone believe that God had forgotten and then suddenly remembered?  No, of course not.  He had been preparing the stage all the time; but the people had forgotten.  When the Bible says then God remembered, it is merely pointing out that God is now ready for the next step.  He had predicted their enslavement long before and had said what would happen.  Just now, when they were ready to call on Him, now it is time.  Until then, there was no indication that they even wanted Him to intervene.

The Burning Bush and a Hesitant Prophet

By now Moses was content with his life.  No worries and no fear of the Egyptians coming after him.  Life was comfortable.  Then God showed up in a burning bush.  Never again was life going to be comfortable. 

When God called to him from the bush, Moses responded with “Here I am”.  That was before he knew the task. 

4 Objections to the Plan

1.  Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  Exodus 3: 11

Remember God, Pharoah kind of wants me dead?

•  Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” ¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”  Exodus 3 13-14

And who shall I say sent me?  Remember, I have been gone a long time and I did not leave on good terms. The Israelite people hate me as much as Pharoah hates me.

• Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”² So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”

In other words, remember I grew up in Pharoah’s house.  They won’t believe YOU sent ME.   But then God gives him signs to use so they might believe and signs that would be presented before Pharoah as well.

•  Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

Just Do It

When none of the excuses worked and God pretty much said, “JUST GO AND DO IT”,  Moses conceded.  God did promise to send his brother Aaron to help him. 

Moses did as he was instructed.  On the way though, it was his wife who circumcised their son when she realized Moses had not fulfilled this act in obedience to God which could cost her son’s life. 

Finally, Moses arrives and goes before Pharaoh. Although Pharaoh did not kill Moses, neither does Pharaoh let the people go forth to worship God in the desert as requested by Moses.

Therefore, God sent 10 plagues. Each plague was designed to prove the gods of Egypt were powerless before the One True God. After each plague pharaoh would say he was going to let the people go. However, as soon as God removed the plague, Pharaoh would renege on the agreement, harden his heart, and make the lives of the Israeli people worse than before.

Justice, Kindness, Bravery, and the One True God Made Known

Several times it says, God hardened the heart of pharaoh.  This terminology is best explained as, God allowed the pharaoh to fulfill his own human desire which does harden his heart against God.  God allowed Pharoah without interference to make those choices. Therefore, it was not God who hardened Pharoah’s heart. Merely God did not soften Pharoah’s heart, but allowed Pharoah the right to choose and then be strengthened in his own false convictions.

Each Plague was to Prove God Stronger than any Egyptian God and Justice for all the Hebrew Babies Drowned in the River. There is no other God beside Him. All the Egyptian gods were helpless next to the One True God.

The List of Plagues[1]-Proof of Only One True God

1. The water of the Nile was turned to Blood: Exodus7:14-25. The gods judged: Hapi: the God of annual flooding; Osirus: The Nile River was his bloodstream.
2. Frogs: Exodus 8:1-15. The gods judged: Hapi and Hegt who had the head of a frog and were related to fertility: Hegt was a goddess.
3. Lice: These were tiny, stinging, blood sucking gnats. Exodus 8:16 -18. The God judged: Seb: the earth god.
4. Flies that came in swarms: Exodus 8:20-32. The gods judged: Hathor: the goddess of protection; Vatchi: fly God.
5. Livestock die: Exodus 9:1-7. The God judged: Apis: the bull god.
6. Boils on the body: Exodus 9:8-12. The God judged: Sekhmet: goddess of epidemics.
7. Hail and Fire: Exodus 9:13-15. The gods judged: Nut; the sky goddess; Seth: God of storms; Shu: God of the atmosphere. 
8. Locusts: Exodus 10:1-20. The gods judged: Siris: God of crops; Serapia: protector of crops.
9. Darkness: Exodus 10:21-29. The God judged: Ra: the sun god who was the most worshipped God in Egypt.
10. Death of the First Born: Exodus 11:1-12:36. The God judged: Heget: goddess of birth; Min; the God of reproduction. Deliverance from death was only thru the offering of the Passover lamb. As a result of the plagues both Pharaoh and the Egyptians beg Moses and Israel to leave Egypt. God fulfilled His promise to free Israel.

Final Thoughts

God is Amazing. Every detail of each plague was to prove Himself to be the One True God. This was an act of kindness to witness His power not only to the Israelites; but also to the Egyptians. All who would choose to worship Him as the one True God that He is, could follow Him. Some of the Egyptians even went with the people during the Exodus. (Numbers 11:4 speaks of the mixed multitude).

God has proven Himself over and over to the world.   Yet so often they choose to ignore Him.  We, who know Him must continue to shout of His Glory to all the world.  We are to speak of Justice, Kindness, Bravery and the One True God who sent His Son to pay the price for our sin.  Shout it from the mountaintops, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father, except through Him. Salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. There is no other way.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

Can a Really Good Almighty God Allow Pain in Our Life?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

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[1] Dr. Gary Baker,  God’s Supremacy Over the False Egyptian gods, The Paso Robles Press, https://pasoroblespress.com/commentary/gods-supremacy-over-the-false-gods-of-egypt-displayed-thru-the-10-plagues-by-dr-gary-barker/  accessed 2/4/2023

A question raised by the book of Job.  The same question raised by the atheists and even many of the theists.  It has touched the lives of nearly every person born at some time in this world.  If indeed we worship a Sovereign, Almighty God who can do all things.  And if His nature is really good.  Then how can we justify evil, pain, and suffering in our life? If the rain falls on the just and the unjust, then what is our hope anchored to.? I daresay everyone in this room has asked that question at some time. 

Most of his life, C. S. Lewis had carefully guarded his heart from love.  That is until he met Joy.  Ultimately theirs became a deep friendship and then on her dying bed, he realized he loved her more than he could imagine.  He married her there.  Miraculously she did recover somewhat and lived for 3 years before the cancer overtook her body once more.  In his book, A Grief Observed, he wrote,

Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God.  The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him.[1]

That seems to be the same danger Job was confronted with.  Mine was somewhat different as I believed that God was good and all powerful, but perhaps I was too unworthy to be loved by Him.  All of which beg for an answer not initially found when the pain seems too great to bear and answers are too far from our hearts and minds to comprehend.

But God

As we saw last week.  All the evil that surrounds us, God can use for good and promises just that. 

Romans 8(NET) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. ³¹ What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?

Note this.  He did not spare His own son.  All things work together for good, not that they in and of themselves seem good at the time.  It all works together to transform us into the likeness of the son.  As such, we become a part in His joy as well.  This is what He prayed for before going to the cross, enduring the greatest injustice of all willingly. 

A Really Good Almighty God-John 17

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was… 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are….13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

His joy fulfilled in us.  What kind of joy is His?  Perfect joy as within the Godhead. 

Now is that a frivolous kind of joy?  Afterall, did he not say,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV)

Deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.  For what?  To gain perfect joy, love, and glory?  Yes. 

So, What Does Pain Have to Do with Joy?

Pain is the megaphone awakening us and the world from our slumber.  Only then can we recognize our discontent with frivolous joys.   

Soren Kierkegaard wrote in The Gospel of Suffering:

When worldly wisdom is capable of realizing goodness, faith is not capable of seeing God.  But when worldly wisdom cannot see a hand’s breath before it in the dark night of suffering, Faith sees God.  For faith sees best in darkness.[2]

without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

We come to Him by faith—faith is knowing HE IS (Yahweh) and faith understands HE does reward those who diligently seek Him. 

By Grace are ye saved by faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.    Ephesians 2:8

Even then it is God who gives us that faith.  Albeit it may have to come from a long training in suffering that gives us that kind of faith. 

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.   Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV). 

Am I at any point to think myself less worthy of suffering than my Savior? And from what standpoint?

Really Good Almighty God and Job’s suffering

He (Elihu) saw the superior purpose God had in allowing suffering to come to a child of His who was acknowledged to be a good man.  The three friends had each accused Job of being guilty of gross sin of one kind or another because, according to their viewpoint, no man would suffer as he had suffered unless he had done something very evil.  They thought of suffering as punishment and when Job refused to accept their judgment, they call him a hypocrite. 

Elihu points out that Job’s problem and sin was a wrong attitude toward God and toward God’s judgments.  Job failed to see that even a good man needs refining in God’s school of practical Christian living.  Elihu saw that suffering is not exclusively punitive, it may be corrective.  He saw that God allows suffering not always as a penal matter but for moral ends.  Suffering is not necessarily to requite a man for sin but to bring a man to an even closer fellowship with God.  It may not be for punishment at all, but rather for purification.  (Or) It is not necessarily the Judges rod of punishment, but the Shepherd’s Crook to guide us.   It is designed to push us a little further on in maturing our spiritual lives. [3]

Example of How a Really Good, Almighty God Allows Suffering

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Problem with Pain

My own experience is something like this.  I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity today, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers that threatens us all with destruction, send this whole pack of cards tumbling down.  At first, I am overwhelmed and all my little happinesses look like broken toys.  Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times.  I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ.  And perhaps by God’s grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources.  But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys; I am even anxious, God forgive me, to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the misery of those few days.  Thus, the terrible necessity of tribulation is only too clear.  God has had me for but forty-eight hours and then only by dint of taking everything else away from me.  Let Him but sheathe that sword for a moment and I behave like a puppy when the hated bath is over—I shake myself as dray as I can and race off to reacquire my comfortable dirtiness, if not in the nearest manure heap, at least in the nearest flower bed.  And that is why tribulations cannot cease until God either sees us remade or see that the remaking is now hopeless.[4]

Can a Really Good Almighty God Allow Suffering in Our Life?

I found this beautifully written post by Justin Craft posted in 2021 at https://withallwisdom.org/2021/04/16/the-problem-of-evil/amp/

I do recommend you read it.  So well done.

But he points out:

Man is wholly responsible for his fallen state, and God does not sin nor tempt others to evil (James 1:13). Though, by the fact of His omnipotence, God could have prevented the Fall, in His perfect wisdom He allowed it to happen for a glorious and perfect purpose.God has allowed men and angels to commit evil and pervert His good creation for the purpose of revealing the riches of His glory. He is making aspects of Himself known to His creation through the display of His justice in the destruction of the wicked. His power and wrath, which is being revealed even now in creation and which will be poured out for all eternity on the reprobate (Rom 1:18), has revealed and will continue to reveal for all time God’s glory to creation. And it has revealed things about God that would have remained veiled to creation otherwise….As God is all-wise and all-good, and does all things perfectly, this way, with evil and all must be the best course of action. John Piper coins this as “the best-of-all-possible worlds,” which means that “God governs the course of history so that, in the long run, his glory will be more fully displayed and his people more fully satisfied than would have been the case in any other world.”⁴ It is that satisfaction we see in verse 23. For God has wisely revealed the riches of His glory in the destruction of the wicked, not to merely reveal that glory to creation in general, but also so that He could redeem us. And as Jonathan Edwards says in his great work Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, “The glory of God is the ultimate end of the work of redemption.”⁵ Without evil in the world, without God’s perfect justice being meted out on sin and evil, God’s elect would not have known God’s mercy and glory and love and goodness in redemption. For there would be no redemption if there was nothing to redeem.[5]

A Final Thought

Romans 8 (NET) 18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. 23 Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.

We who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are that hope.  The whole creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God.  We are the light, the love and the comfort to a world drowning in fears, sorrows, and suffering.  We know the truth and that is what sets us free from the bondages of this world.  Our joy, hope and love are found in Him, regardless of the circumstances.  So let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us and let us run the race, looking unto Jesus our Savior, the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12)

And as for my faulty theology.

It was precisely a time of deep pain intermingled with God’s grace giving me the ability to love another human unconditionally that gave me to truth. God loved me unconditionally before I was ever born. That love so overwhelming that I want only to please Him now. I love Him more than life itself, because He first loved me. A lesson learned through years of tragedy and sorrow, but so worth the learning. Jesus is my foundation. He is my joy overflowing, steadfast and unwavering. That, my friend is worth every tear I ever cried–just to know Him as my Lord and Savior.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

Two Important Words That Can Energize Your Life with Joy.  “But God!”

How do Faith and Grace Plus Power Display the Glory of God?

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DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

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[1] Lewis, C.S., A Grief Observed, Harper, San Francisco, CA, ©1961, page 6

[2] Kierkegaard, Soren, Gospel of Suffering, 1847 translated by A.S.Aldworth and W.S.Ferrie, James Clarke & Co, Cambridge, ©1955, p36

[3] Epp, Theodore H., Job, A Man Tried as Gold, ©1967,2014, Grace Gospel Press, Duluth, MN, 111-112

[4] Lewis, C.S., The Problem with Pain, ©1940, Harper, San Francisco, CA, pages 106-107

[5] https://withallwisdom.org/2021/04/16/the-problem-of-evil/amp/  ©2021, accessed 1/28/2023

This one little phrase occurs 47 times in the New King James Bible.  Eight of those in Genesis.  Yet, it can be the most transforming pair of words you will ever know.  Those two words can energize your life with joy overflowing, if only you grasp their depth and meaning.  Even before this phrase was used, it had been somewhat obvious who had presented to Adam and Eve. God provided a way of salvation from the sin Adam plunged the human race into.  Again, God preserved the way for Noah and his family to be saved from the flood.  God called Abraham to create a nation through whom the Savior would come. And He held firmly true to His covenant in spite of mankind’s foolishness at times. 

Abraham was applauded for his faith which was counted to him for righteousness.  Yet, his wasn’t a perfect faith.  Indeed the first two times the words “But God” are used in the Bible are when God had to intervene because of Abraham’s sin stemming from a lack of faith.  The first incident was when Abraham had told Sarah to say she was his sister for the second time.  This time King Abimelech had taken her to his home.  Yet, before anything could happen, we read.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Genesis 20:3

Then, due to his lack of faith once more, Abraham had a child by Hagar.  Then Sarah who had arranged it all became jealous once Isaac was born.  She commanded Abraham to send Ishmael away.  He was very upset because he loved his son Ishmael as well.

But God had a Plan for Ishmael

¹¹ And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. ¹² But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called ¹³ Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” Genesis 21.

You might say, unfair.  But was it?  God did make a great nation out of Ishmael and although, they chose to reject Christ as a nation.  Yet, the fastest growing Christian ministries are in the middle east today.  Operation world reported Iran as having the fastest growing evangelical movement in the world in 1921.[1]

Genesis 21: 14-21

¹⁴ So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and ^[f]a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. ¹⁵ And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. ¹⁶ Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. ²⁰ So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. ²¹ He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Although sometimes everything appeared dark, there was never a moment but God had a plan for good to all who trusted Him.

Jacob’s But God moment

Although, his life was more of an up and down faith; yet, Jacob had moments of great highs.  He saw angels climbing stares into heaven and knew God was in that place.  So, you might say he had many but God moments.  Yet, the Bibles recorded these two with that phrase.  Both were revealing that God’s hand had protected him, even with his sometimes wayward faith. 

First was when he decided to return to his land and leave Laban.  We hear his words.

² And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. ³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

⁴ So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, ⁵ and said to them, “I see your father’s ^[a^]countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ And you know that with all my might I have served your father. ⁷ Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.

God Intervened by Speaking To Laban Though Not A Believer

Jacob left with all he had, his wives and his children.  Laban pursued him.

²² And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. ²³ Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. ²⁴ But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

Laban worshipped idols.  We know this because he accused them of stealing his gods.  (Actually Rachel had, but no one found out at that time). But God spoke to Laban anyway and protected them. 

Jacob’s true faith did not mature until much later when he wrestled with God and then remained lame for the rest of his life.  Humbled, then he bowed before God. 

Meanwhile, Joseph was just a child when all this happened and was most likely watching all of the events, good and bad. 

Each Patriarch Presented Different Kinds of Faith

“Abel, who offered a more excellent sacrifice, represents redemption through faith.  Enoch, who was taken to heaven represented the walk of faith for he “walked with God.” (Gen 5:22).  Noah, who built the ark and sought to persuade others to enter, represents the confession of faith.  Abraham, who trusted God in the face of insurmountable obstacles, represents the obedience of faith.  Isaac submitted to his earthly father and unresistingly yielded to his Heavenly Father, represents the patience of faith.  Jacob who experienced extreme heights and depths in his life, represents the training of faith.

In the life of Joseph there is a twofold emphasis-the testing and the triumph of faith.  In his life we see in action the principle stated in I Peter 1:7: That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”[2]

Then There was Joseph

Joseph lived a very righteous life.  Indeed, no sin was recorded against him, though his life was filled with sorrows, disappointments, temptations, false accusation, and trials.  Despite his mother’s death, his brothers hatred, his sale into slavery, and wrongful jail sentence; Joseph remained faithful to God and did not lose his way.  Are we to think he was sinless?  No for he was human, but much like Daniel God chose not to record anything.

After his rise to Prince in Egypt, he forgave his brothers because he saw the bigger picture of God’s plan for him.  God had even told Abraham a long time ago that the nation would be taken captive, but most likely Joseph did not know that fact.  His life played out as it was supposed to in order to complete God’s plan to grow the nation, to march always forward to the day of Christ’s birth.

Genesis 45:4-8

⁴ And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

⁵ Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

⁶ For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Whatever Happens, But God

Jacob, now named Israel, did come with all his family.  All was well.  Before he died, he said.

 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Genesis 48:21.

God did, in his own time.  Yet, one of the most profound statements of faith that encourages me every day was when Joseph said to his brothers.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:20. 

Another Story Hidden in This Weeks Reading

You may have wondered about the story of Judah and his daughter in law, Tamar.  Why would God have allowed it in the Bible.  Judah had forgotten her after her first two husbands (Judah 1^st and 2^nd sons had died because of their sin).  She pretended to be a prostitute when Judah was mourning his wife, and he slept with her.  She gave birth to a son.  Well, why put the story in? 

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

² Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. ⁴ Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah….

So, there she is in the lineage of Christ, along with Rahab the harlot, and Ruth, and “her who had been the wife of Uriah”.   Christ came to earth to save sinners. 

Ephesians 2: 1-10

 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the ^[a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

But God

Surrounded by evil forces that seem to grow larger each day until life is filled with anxiety.  But God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses. Psalm 68:21 

Sometimes life seems to hard to bear and the sorrow overflows within my heart.  I do not know where or how to respond, feeling as though drowning in the bitterness of my own heart.  My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Illness calls upon us and we are frightened by its call, fearing its effects.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah Psalm 49:15

The nations clamor for war, while proclaiming the need for a one world order. The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.  Isaiah 17:13

When I stand up for the truth of God, all turn against me.  But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

And when temptations come and we think we will never be able to overcome, Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Previously

How do Faith and Grace Plus Power Display the Glory of God?

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DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/meet-the-worlds-fastest-growing-evangelical-movement/ 2/2/2021, visited 1/21/2023.

[2] Theodore H. Epp, Joseph “God planned it for Good”;Back to the Bible Broadcast, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1971 page 7