Exodus 17:8-18:27

Exodus 17:8-18:27

This is the first mention of Joshua in the Bible, and it appears from the start that he is a faithful man. He is trustworthy enough that Moses put him in charge of the Israelite army in their very first battle. Amalek came up against Israel, and I am sure that the Israelites probably felt overwhelmed, wondering why another trial had come upon them. But their leaders, led by God, took charge. God told Moses that as long as he held up his arm, God would give him strength to overcome Amalek. So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded, but he grew weary. This is a perfect example of how some things that we are commanded to do are not easy. It may require a lot of us, and we may grow weary and tired before we accomplish God’s tasks. But we must learn to persevere as Moses did. The good news is that we do not have to do it alone. For one, Moses had God’s strength in accomplishing this task. It was not Moses’ arms that were defeating Amalek, but God’s power through Moses and the Israelites. Secondly, Moses had the strength of his friends. They stood by his side, and when he could not go any further, they helped him. We too need people in our lives that will strengthen us in our faith, that will guide us along the right path. We cannot do it alone. God is our primary source of strength, but He has also given us friends to help us as well.

In Exodus 18 Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, meets up with Moses. Apparently Moses’ wife and two sons had not been with Moses all the time that he had met with Pharaoh. They did not leave Egypt with him along with the Israelites. They had remained outside of Egypt where Moses had fled to at the beginning of Exodus. But now they were finally coming to meet back up with Moses. Moses told Jethro of all that God had done with Egypt, showing Jethro who God is. It became obvious to Jethro that this God (the only God) is greater than any other “god.” God had performed all these signs and wonders in order to show His power to everyone (Israelites, Egyptians, and any other country who saw His power). This is proof that God had made Himself known to all.

Jethro then gives Moses some advice on leading Israel. He sees that Moses is over all the hundreds of thousands to millions of Israelites and realizes that it is an overwhelming task for just one man. He suggests that Moses choose men to help him rule, placing a certain number of men over so many Israelites. This would provide a hierarchy that would help Moses more easily manage the different disputes in Israel. So Moses does this and begins to organize the people of Israel. Now although this is not a direct command from God, this story does show how God can use people in our lives. Certain people are placed in our lives to give us advice that will sometimes make our lives easier or more manageable. It is important that we have godly people in our lives that will not only strengthen us but that will be there for us when we need direction or advice. That is what Aaron, Hur, and Jethro were for Moses.

Matt

Exodus 16:4-17:7

Exodus 16:4-17:7

God once again heard the requests of His children and was ready to provide for them. He was doing this not only to meet their needs, but to also show them His glory and power. He wanted them to know who He was and what He was capable of yet again. Just days or weeks after seeing His power in splitting the Red Sea, it appeared as if the Israelites had forgotten what He had done, forgotten what He could do. So He was ready to once again prove who He is. He met the needs of His people by providing them with meat and manna from Heaven.

Yet as many times is the case, this provision came with a set of commands. God was providing for His children, but He also wanted them to honor Him in the process. So He told them to only gather enough for what they needed each day. Any excess manna would instantly spoil and be of no use the next day. What is amazing however; is that those who gathered more than enough for one day would find that it was plenty, and if someone gathered less than enough to fill them, they were filled anyways. This latter case reminds me of the feeding of the 5,000 when it was obvious that there was too little food for all of them, yet God made it enough to fill everyone. The last command God gave the Israelites was to not gather food on the Sabbath. From Genesis 1-2 it is obvious that God had a purpose for the seventh day of the week. It was to be a day of rest, a day where His children could truly focus on Him. Knowing that the food rotted each day, the Israelites may have wondered if their food would last on that seventh day. That is where they had to once again learn to trust God, that He would take care of them, and He did. On the sixth day of the week, they gathered enough food for two days so that they would not have to work on the seventh.

God lays out instructions for us like this all the time, but we too have trouble fully trusting Him at times. He tells us or shows exactly what He is about to do, and yet we tend to forget His commands or forget how He has provided for us in the past. That is how some of the Israelites reacted near the end of Exodus 16. They went out on the seventh day to gather food after being told there would not be any there. God was rightfully upset, asking Moses how long they would ignore Him and refuse to trust and obey Him. So Moses had to once again remind the Israelites what God’s commands were. God also set up a reminder for them and future generations of His provision by commanding Moses to keep some of the manna in a jar for all to see. This was a testament of God’s provision for the Israelites until they arrived on the edge of the land of Canaan (40 years later). Instances of disobedience such as this one is what kept the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, but God was still there with them, drawing them back to Himself every time they messed up.

After moving on to the next leg of their journey, they arrived in a land with no water. Now if you remember, back in Exodus 15, they encountered this very problem. God provided for them then, provided manna for them, and yet they still thought they would not survive in this new land. I am still amazed at how forgetful these people were. How could they immediately turn from seeing God’s power at work, seeing God in all His glory, and then wonder if He would let them die before they arrived in the land that He promised to give them? It is unimaginable! So Moses once again prayed for help. God had Moses strike a rock which in turn supplied the Israelites with water to drink yet again. Once more, they were satisfied and were more than ready to follow God. But here is one problem I have with this “obedience.” It appears as if many of the people of Israel were only willing to follow God when their physical needs were met. When trials came up in their life, they wanted to turn to God first, asking where He was. Sadly, this is not only an Israelite problem; this problem is around today as well. It is so easy to trust God when life is going well, but the minute a trial enters our lives, we want to blame God, asking if He even loves us anymore. We forget that He is more powerful than our trials and that He can actually use that trial for our benefit. Unlike the Israelites, we need to learn to trust God during these hard times rather than blame Him for them.

Matt

Exodus 15:1-16:3

Exodus 15:1-16:3

After their escape from the Egyptians, the Israelites (led by Moses) praised the Lord. Exodus 15 is a perfect picture of how our response to God should be in life. There are so many times that He provides exactly what we need and we miss it. Of course there are also those times where it is obvious, such as the parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites. But how many times do we praise God for what He has done? Maybe you do, and that is great! However, I know there are times in my life that I have neglected to give Him the praise that He deserves. He loves us and protects us daily. He gives us exactly what we need when we need it. He withholds from us what we do not need and protects us from harm. Sure trials come, and there are times when it seems as if we are going to be overtaken (which the Israelites probably felt prior to crossing the Red Sea), yet God takes care of His children. We must always live in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving before the Lord, for He alone deserves our praise.

The end of Exodus 15 shows another one of these instances of provision. The Israelites had gone for 3 days without water. When they finally found some water, it was bitter and not drinkable. God gave them clear instructions on what to do to make the water sweet. Because of their obedience to God, He not only met their needs in that one instance, but He also led them to a place where they could have plenty of water for however long they stayed, a place with 12 springs of water. Many times we ask God to meet a specific need in our life, but we are surprised to find that He goes above and beyond what we expected. This is because He loves us, and He takes care of His children. We return that love and prove that we love Him when we remain obedient to His commands. How can we disobey and fall away from the One who loves us so much?

At the start of Exodus 16, the Israelites are grumbling once more. This time, they have no food and do not know where they are going to get any. They wish that they were back in Egypt, for they would have rather died in Egypt than the wilderness. Does that sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me? But when I think about this request, it reminds me of how I am sometimes. Have you ever thought, “It looks like those nonbelievers are having so much fun, and this Christian life is just too hard. Why can’t I just do what I feel like doing and not have to worry about all these strict rules?” Now that sounds just as ridiculous as well, but when we feel that way, we are doing exactly what the Israelites did on numerous occasions. We are telling God that we give up, that we do not trust Him anymore, and that we want to do things our way. Yet God continues to provide and show us who He is. How can we forget what He has already done in our lives? How can we think that He will not continue to help us? He tells us that He will never leave us, so when those moments come up in life, we must turn back to Him for help all the more. God was about to help the Israelites as well, they just did not know it yet.

Matt

Exodus 13:17-14:31

Exodus 13:17-14:31

Exodus 13 closes with the Israelites making their way out of Egypt. There a number of things notice in these closing verses. First, God understood their human nature. He knew that if He led them down the short path, through the land of the Philistines, that if war broke out they would turn back and go to Egypt. So God took them the long way in order to continue to show His power and protect them. It is easy to think that when things do not happen on our timing that God is not with us. We think that God should do things quicker. But it may just be that God is protecting us from some situation that we do not know about. He is making us wait so that we do not get in over our heads. We must learn to never question God in His timing. Also, it is obvious that God did not set them out on this great task and leave them alone. They did not know the way back to the Promised Land, for none of them had ever been there. So God led them physically through a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. We may not have this physical manifestation guiding us each day, but we do have His word, and He still leads us, showing us which way to go in life. Finally, Moses shows obedience to not only God but also to his fathers. Joseph had requested that his bones be taken back to the Promised Land. Now 430 years later, the Israelites were keeping his request, taking his bones with them.

Once they arrived at the Red Sea, God commanded Moses to stay put for a time. He was going to allow Pharaoh to pursue them so that He could ultimately show His glory and power to the Egyptians. It is never easy to wait, and I think it would be extremely difficult to allow God to let my worst enemies pursue me right after I had escaped from them. But God had a heart for the Egyptians as well, and this was one way that He could make His name known to the Egyptians. The people of Israel, however, did not understand God’s plan. Why would He allow them to escape for such a short time and then let them die in the wilderness? They have reason to question God and Moses here for they do not know His plan. Moses answers them well, however, telling them that God is about to make His self known to them and to the Egyptians. They are about to see God’s power first hand when He rescues them from the Egyptians. God promised the Israelites and He promises us that He will always be with us, and He will not give us more than we can bear. For the Israelites, this meant that He would allow them to escape by crossing the Red Sea while they saw their enemies destroyed by the power of God. For us, it can mean many different things. But again, I must stress that we have to learn to trust God in all situations: trust His plans, trust His timing, and trust His power.

They Egyptians immediately noticed God’s power when He provided safe passage for His children. They saw it any more as He began to destroy them in order to protect His children. Likewise, the Israelites learned firsthand what God could do. They saw His power and feared Him greatly. We should never forget God’s power, and we should always fear Him. Fearing the Lord is part of a healthy relationship with Him, for it reminds us of who He truly is, the all-powerful God.

Matt

The Long Way Home

I realize that I just posted my review of the first book in this series, The Last Thing I Remember, but I have now finished the second book, The Long Way Home. I am equally impressed with this sequel. Much like the first book, it is filled with action from the opening pages to the closing scene. Like the first book, it cuts off with a resolution to some of Charlie West's problems, but opens the door for a whole new set of complications.

The book is written in the same way as the first as well. The story continues to be told in first person, which clues the reader in on the fact that no matter how bad the situation looks, Charlie will somehow survive. However, with two groups of people on his tail (the Homelanders and the police), we are not promised that he will escape from either of their clutches. The possibility of him being constrained to another room by the Homelanders or thrown back into prison by the police still looms throughout this entire novel.

But the story changes in many ways as well. For instance, readers continue to learn about Charlie's past, even gaining insight into what happened in that year that Charlie lost. Even when Charlie himself cannot remember things that happened within that year, he is told some of the crucial details that he is missing. But how does he find this information out? That is where the setting of this story comes into play. Whereas the first book focused on Charlie always being on the run (from both the Homelanders and the police), this book shows him in more seclusion. He heads home to search for answers, answers about that missing year, and in the process he has the opportunity to reconnect with many of his friends. But that brings on more danger for him and his friends. In the end, Charlie discovers that it is too dangerous for them to be together, and he finds himself on the run yet again.

I am doing my best not to give away too much of the plot in case you do decide to pick up these two books. There are so many details that I have purposefully left out of both posts. But if you like a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing as it throws multiple twists into the story, then this series may be what you are looking for. Remember that these books are written for young adults, and Charlie is only 18. But do not let that deter you from seeing what The Homelanders Series is all about. You have 8 months to read these 2 books, because in November, The Truth of the Matter will be released. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Matt

Exodus 12:29-13:16

Exodus 12:29-13:16

As the tenth plague strikes, chaos goes throughout all of Egypt. Every house in Egypt is affected by the plague, and everyone is mourning the deaths of their family and livestock. The nation of Egypt is crippled in one moment. Pharaoh wakes up in the night to the chaos and instantly knows the source of the chaos. Now remember that he had told Moses to never let him see his face again, so Moses had not gone to warn Pharaoh of this coming destruction. Moses had only told the Israelites what was about to happen to warn them. But Pharaoh knew that God was at it again, and he was finally ready to let the Israelites leave, hoping that the source of his problems would leave with them. But what is interesting is after all that he has seen, he still does not get it. He does not understand that he is the problem, the one who was too stubborn to let them go. Yet as they leave, he asks Moses to bless him. It is just a small phrase thrown into his speech that may be overlooked (I know I have overlooked it because this took me by surprise today). How could Pharaoh possibly ask to be blessed after all he had done?

The Israelites were ready for this moment. After Moses had spoken with them, giving them all of God’s instructions, they had gathered all that they might need for the journey. They had money and food from the Egyptians and some bread. Initially, the Israelites were in full obedience to God. They depended on Him and looked to Him for the next step in their journey. At first, it seemed as if all was going to go well for the nation of Israel. This initial picture of obedience is what our lives should look like. Without question, we should obey God’s commands and be ready for whatever He places in our lives.

On a statistical note, notice that there were now 600,000 men in Israel, which does not count the women in children. There could have possibly been close to 2 million Israelites at this point. Also notice that 430 years have passed since the 70 members of Jacob’s family arrived in Egypt. In just 430 years the nation of Israel had grown exponentially, a fulfillment of God’s initial promise to Abraham, that his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky or the number of grains of sand on the beach.

God once again reminds Israel of the importance of the Passover. He also gives them a few more instructions. I typically thought of the Old Testament as being all about Israel as a kid. I did not notice how God was calling the nations to Himself even then. Here is one instance where it is obvious that God was not just the God of Israel. For one, He was reaching out to the Egyptians, showing them His power. Although he did not allow any foreigner to take the Passover, He also said that if a stranger comes into the nation and is circumcised (the sign of the covenant between Israel and God), then they could partake in the Passover. So in essence, God was not really restricting it to the Israelites, but to His children, which could and would one day include people from all nations.

The beginning of Exodus 13 ties back into the beginning of Exodus 12. Moses once again reminds the Israelites of the importance of keeping and remembering the Passover. He tells them that their children will one day ask what the significance of these customs and ceremonies are, and it is then that they will have to explain what God had done for them in Egypt. As a way to remember the tenth plague, the one that freed them, they were to consecrate their firstborn (man and animal). As seen from the beginning of Exodus 12, it is vital that we do not forget what God has done for us in life. We all have these great moments in life where we were able to see God at work. These are spiritual markers in our life that remind us of God’s faithfulness when we are facing life’s difficulties. Like the Israelites, we should never forget all that God has done and will do in our lives!

Matt

Exodus 10:21-12:28

Exodus 10:21-12:28

The close of Exodus 10 introduces the ninth plague, the plague of darkness. For three days and three nights, Egypt was in utter darkness, and no one could see anyone or where they were going. This was to get the Egyptians attention yet again. Now remember that at this point it appeared as if Pharaoh’s servants recognized God’s power, but Pharaoh was still hardened against the ways of God. He made yet another plea to Moses, promising to let them leave. But this time he put restrictions on that promise. He wanted the Israelites to leave behind all of their livestock. Moses told him that that would be impossible, for they needed the animals in order to sacrifice to the Lord. So Pharaoh broke his promise yet again, and the Israelites were not allowed to leave. Furthermore, Pharaoh told Moses that if he ever saw Moses again, he would kill him.

After nine harsh plagues, the Israelites were still trapped in the land of Egypt, unable to leave. God had promised Jacob and Joseph that their descendants would one day return to the Promised Land. The Israelites knew that God had made this promise, but they had not seen it come to fruition. They had now seen God pour out nine plagues on Egypt in an attempt to help them. They recognized God’s power, as did many of the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s servants, yet they still found themselves trapped. They had to wonder what else it would take, how much longer God would wait, if God would even help them. We are so prone to be impatient with God, thinking that when He makes a promise it should happen immediately. But God does not always work that way. He goes by His time, and not ours. But as for the Israelites, he had given them Moses as a leader, a man that they had all come to respect and depend on. They looked to him for guidance, knowing that God was using him.

So God spoke through Moses, telling Him that the tenth and final plague was about to strike. When it did, there would be no more waiting. Pharaoh would finally break down and let them leave Egypt. He wanted Moses to get the people ready, so that when the time came, they would be ready to leave. Again, they depended on Moses and looked to him for guidance, so Moses told them what God was about to do. This tenth and final plague would kill the firstborn throughout all of Egypt, man and animal. But God promised to once again protect His people, making yet another distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

Exodus 12 goes right along with this plague, for this plague would later become known as the one that rescued the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. God wanted to make sure that future generations would remember what He had done for the Israelites, so He gave them clear instructions on how to celebrate this event, an event that would become known as the Passover. The instructions He gave them that night were to sacrifice their best lamb and put the lamb’s blood on their door as a sign that they were His. Then, the angel of death would pass over their house and not touch their family. As a way to show their continued dependence on God, they would do this each year. What is interesting is that God was giving them instructions for their future and for their children before He had done anything. He was promising the Israelites that they were about to be rescued. But He wanted them to understand the significance of this event before it ever happened. He wanted them to know that He knew what He was doing and that He was in control. So He gave them clear instructions on how to remember this day once they had escaped Egypt.

Again, we tend to fault the Israelites for their lack of faith in God later on in the story. After their rescue, which will come in the next chapter, they fall away from God’s commands. They forget what He did for them and lose their faith in Him. But we do the very thing when we turn to other people or objects for comfort or guidance. When we neglect to pray to God, try to discern His will, or look to Him for guidance, we do the very things the Israelites did. God may not have rescued us out of physical bondage as He had done for the Israelites, but if we are Christians, He has rescued us from the danger of sin. For that reason alone, we must praise Him, give Him all the glory, and continue to remember how He has helped us. How can we not praise God for all that He has done? I pray that I will never forget who God is or what He has done for me.

Matt

The Last Thing I Remember

One mistake that I make far too often is walking into a bookstore, "just to look around." I did this Friday, and this is what I found. I have not had a lot of time to read recently, but I was wanting a new book. So I picked up the first book that caught my eye, read the back to see what it was about, and decided to just see how good it is. For me, that is never a good option, because if it turns out to be good, I will be hooked.

The Last Thing I Remember is written by Andrew Klavan, an author I had never heard of until Friday. As the book began, I wondered if I would really like it or if I had made a mistake in buying a book from a guy I had never heard of. I was glad to find out that I had made a good decision; however, the bad news is I got hooked really fast. I never seem to get things done when I have a good book sitting next to me that I am dying to finish. Thankfully, this book turned out alright.

So you are probably wondering what this book is even about. Well I must say that I was slightly disappointed to find out that this book was about a high school student. It was not in the teen section of the book store, so I had not even considered this possibility. The book began with high school matters at first. Couple that with the fact that it was written in first person, I was really wondering how much I would like it. I typically do not like first person books as well. For one, you know that the person does not die since they are the ones telling the story. However, this book has so many twists and turns that it does not matter now.

Imagine that you are in high school, living an ordinary life (for this part of the story is crucial to understand). Then, one morning you wake up only to find that you are strapped in a chair in a small room, and all you can remember is falling asleep in your bed the night before. That is what happened to Charlie West. He fell asleep one night in his bed at his house and woke up in a strange room, strapped to a chair, hearing voices outside his room that are talking about killing him. The book begins by going back and forth between the present and the last thing Charlie remembers, the previous day at home and school. Through the flashbacks, we learn about Charlie's family, friends, and interests. These details then fill in the gaps of the story later on. For Charlie, he has only one option, escape. If he does not escape, he will die.

But how do you escape when everyone around you wants you dead? How do you escape when everyone you meet are against you as well? How do you survive when the whole world is against you? Furthermore, how do you make it through life when everything you have ever believed in is torn away from you and questioned? These are just some of the problems Charlie faces as he tries to discover where he is, who took him, and why they took him. It is obvious that he survives, but how?

I highly recommend this book. It is fast paced, well written, and intense. If you like good suspenseful books with some twists that will keep you guessing, then you might enjoy The Last Thing I Remember. When I finished the book today, I noticed that there is a sequel to the story, which is obvious by the ending. So I went back to the bookstore today to pick up book 2, The Long Way Home. I will let you know what I think of it when I finish.

Matt

Exodus 9:1-10:20

Exodus 9:1-10:20

As the fifth plague came about, Moses had to not only be frustrated with Pharaoh, but even with God. He knew that God had a plan, and that God had promised that the Israelites would one day leave Egypt. That promise had been around since the time of Joseph. Yet it appeared as if Moses had made no progress at this point. The fifth plague killed off all of the Egyptian livestock, and God once again protected the Israelites from the plague. As much as Moses wanted to remain obedient to God, and he did, I can only imagine that I would begin to get frustrated. If this promise has been made, and I am being obedient to God’s commands, then why am I not seeing any results? Now we do not know whether Moses was thinking this or not, but it is possible that it crossed his mind at some point. But what is amazing is that nothing stopped Moses from following God’s commands.

So when God sent the sixth plague of boils over all of the Egyptians, Moses did not hesitate to obey God. He threw the soot into the air, causing the boils to spread all throughout Egypt. Despite the magicians best attempts, they could not mimic this plague easy, primarily because they were too weak to even try. Pharaoh was watching his kingdom fall apart, and yet he still would not let the Israelites go. The seventh plague comes, and God sends a special message to Pharaoh. He tells Pharaoh that He (God) had raised Pharaoh up into this position for a specific purpose, to see God’s great glory. God could have in one instance wiped Egypt out and set His people free. But instead, God was being patient, not punishing Egyptians for Pharaoh’s mistakes. He was letting His name become known to Egypt and the entire world.

What is interesting about this plague is that God warns them beforehand. He tells them that severe hail will fall on them, but if they seek shelter prior to the storm, they will be saved. Those who decided to listen to God’s word found shelter for themselves and their livestock and were spared. Those who did not listen were killed, just as God had said. This plague almost broke Pharaoh as well. He recognized where he was at fault, and he recognized God’s power. Moses was willing to negotiate with him a third time, but as he left Pharaoh’s presence, he knew that Pharaoh did not truly fear God. Moses was right, and when the hail had stopped, Pharaoh hardened his heart and broke his promise for the third time.

God reveals at the beginning of Exodus 10 that the purpose of these sings against the Egyptians is so that future generations will know that He is Lord. He does not want them to forget how great He actually is. So He is making Himself known to not only the Egyptians, but also the Israelites, so they will know the God they worship. He does the same in our lives; He still makes Himself known today. But like the Israelites, we are so prone to forget what He has done for us, and we turn to our idols in rebellion. It is so easy to condemn the Israelites later on for their disobedience, but we must not forget that we do the same thing today.

Egypt was a wasteland prior to the eighth plague. The hail had destroyed much of the land and even their crops. Now Moses was promising that locusts would come and destroy all that was left. This caused concern among the leaders of Egypt. They knew how bad the situation was and could not imagine it getting any worse. They begged Pharaoh to listen to Moses and let him go just to get rid of him and the trouble he had brought Egypt. This was not really belief in God on their part, but they were sure that if they did not obey God’s commands, only more destruction would come. So Pharaoh asked Moses who all would leave if he agreed to let them go. Moses told him that all the Israelites would go; no one would be left behind in Egypt. The locusts then came and destroyed Egypt, sending Pharaoh into panic. He begged for Moses to pray to God to get rid of the locusts. Moses agreed, and God sent them away, but He only cause Pharaoh to become more stubborn, and the Israelites were still trapped in Egypt.

Matt

Exodus 7:14-8:32

Exodus 7:14-8:32

Since Pharaoh refused to listen to God’s commands, God sent Moses to issue the first of what would become known as the 10 plagues. God needed full obedience from Moses to accomplish this task, and Moses did obey. He went back to Egypt with Aaron and told Pharaoh what the consequences would be for his disobedience to God. Once again, the actions of one man was about to have an effect on the lives of many. God was going to punish not just Pharaoh, but the entire country of Egypt by turning the Nile River into blood. But once more we see that just because we are obedient to God’s commands does not mean that our life is going to work out nicely. Sometimes trials still come to those who are being faithful, but we should still remain obedient to God. This is what happened to Moses after the first plague. Pharaoh duplicated the sign with his magicians and made it appear to the Egyptians that Moses’ God was no better than him.

One week later God sent Moses on a second task, this time to plague the nation with frogs. It played out just as the first plague. Pharaoh refused to listen, Moses and Aaron sent the second plague (from God), and Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated the plague. But after this second plague, Pharaoh began to see that God had some greater power than he did. He asked Moses to have God get rid of the frogs. He also promised Moses that he would let the Israelites go if God got rid of the frogs. But after God showed His power, ridding the country of the frogs, Pharaoh hardened his heart. He had gotten what he wanted and had no reason to get rid of the Israelites. So he broke his promise and made them stay.

God then had Moses and Aaron plague the nation with gnats, similar to the frogs. The difference with this third plague was that Pharaoh’s magicians were unable to mock this sign. They could not figure out how to create gnats in the land, and they realized that there was something special about Moses’ God. They recognized His power, and told Pharaoh who God was. But Pharaoh wanted no part of it, and he once again hardened his heart to all that he was being told. Not only was Pharaoh being introduced to God through Moses, but his own servants and magicians were showing him the truth. Yet Pharaoh was too concerned about himself, and he was not willing to recognize God’s power.

So God prepared for the fourth plague, a swarm of flies. But this plague was different, as it would only affect the Egyptians. God wanted to make a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. So He protected His people from the flies but allowed the flies to destroy the land of Egypt. Once more, Pharaoh began to recognize God’s power, but he reacted out of fear. He just wanted the flies out of Egypt, and he did not have any intention to let the Israelites leave. So once more, he broke the promise he made to Moses. It is easy to be frustrated with Pharaoh, thinking that he would eventually understand the truth about God. Recall the example from the beginning of Exodus 7 about witnessing. We may never see the results, but we must never cease from spreading the Gospel, showing God to the nations. Moses was doing his part, remaining obedient to God and showing Pharaoh God’s power.

Matt

Exodus 7:1-13

Exodus 7:1-13

Once Moses finally decided to follow God’s commands, God gave Moses and Aaron their next set of instructions and promises. He once again promised Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to him, no matter how many signs they performed before him. Although it might seem pointless for Moses to say anything to Pharaoh knowing that it will not do any good, this is a great picture of what obedience should look like. Take witnessing for example. We may spend years witnessing to someone and never feel like we are making progress. It may seem as if they are not listening or want no part in what we are telling them. But that does not mean that we should give up on them. Just because we do not know what the outcome will be or cannot see how any good thing will come of it, does not mean that we give up. We have been commanded to preach the Gospel to all nations for God’s glory, and we may never see the fruit of our actions, but obedience is still required. That is what God expected of Moses in this particular instance, and that is what He expects from us as well. We should be willing to obey His commands no matter what.

One other interesting aspect about Pharaoh’s stubbornness (which is caused by God at this point) is that God is planning on using his stubbornness to show His power to the Egyptians. Since Pharaoh is not going to let the Israelites leave Egypt easily, God is going to have to show His mighty power to get them out. As a result, the Egyptians will learn who God is in the process. This is a prime example that God is not just the God of Israel, but God of the entire world. He does not just have a heart for Israel, but He has a heart for all nations. At times it is easy to think that the Old Testament was just about Israel, but in reality, the Old Testament also shows how God revealed Himself to all the nations.

Moses and Aaron then went to Pharaoh and did all they were commanded. They showed Pharaoh the signs that God had given them, but as God had promised, Pharaoh refused to listen. In fact, he took his own magicians and did the same signs and wonders. But God showed that He was more powerful that any earthly tricks. He had His snake (Moses’ staff) eat the rest of the snakes (the Egyptian’s staffs). Pharaoh thought that he had one up on God, but God proved how great He truly is and that no one can outdo Him.

Matt

Exodus 5-6

Exodus 5-6

After this time of celebration from the Israelites, Moses and Aaron head over to see Pharaoh. They go and tell Pharaoh everything that God had commanded, and just as God had promised, Pharaoh refused to listen. Even though Moses warned Pharaoh of the consequences of not listening to God’s commands, Pharaoh only made life worse for the Israelites. He demanded that they produce the same amount of bricks as before, but they had to work harder to accomplish this task due to a lack of resources. Many times doing the right thing is not easy, and it can also come with severe consequences. But in those times we must remember that the “consequences” we receive from man is nothing in comparison to the glory we will receive one day from the Lord. Think of the consequences if we do not follow God’s commands, and furthermore, think of the rewards of when we do follow God’s commands. We might endure some suffering here on earth, but the eternal reward far outweighs anything we might experience here. This is what the Israelites were struggling in understanding. From their perspective, it appeared as if the Lord had abandoned them, and they blamed Moses and Aaron for their sufferings. They could not see past their suffering in order to see God’s promise.

But what is interesting here is Moses’ lack of faith. After arguing with God for quite some time about going to Egypt, he had finally agreed to obey God’s command. He even knew what would happen as a result. God plainly told him that Pharaoh would not listen to his initial request, which is one reason God had given Moses the signs and miracles to perform. But in this moment of despair (catching flack from the Israelites), Moses forgot about God’s promises. At the beginning of Exodus 6, God answered Moses’ requests, again telling him exactly what would happen. He promised Moses once more that Pharaoh would eventually allow the Israelites to leave, but that time had not yet come. Like Moses, we sometimes think that God has to perform immediately in whatever situation we find ourselves in. We seem to have so much trouble waiting on God, waiting on His timing. We must remember that God does know what He is doing, and although it might not make sense right now, He will reveal His purposes to us within time. We just have to learn to have patience.

God then reminds Moses and the Israelites once more of who He is and what He is about to do. I think it is key here to notice that God told them who He was. In doubting God, we in essence question God. We forget that God is the Almighty, the one who created the universe. We forget how powerful He is. We end up questioning God, thinking that we know better than He does. So many times we have to be reminded that it is the Lord we are speaking to. Yet Moses, as well as the Israelites, also needed to be reminded of what God had already done. He had proven how faithful He is in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew the stories and knew how God had provided for these great men. Now God was promising to take care of them, and yet they doubted His power. This seems absurd, and yet we do the same thing in our lives. We must learn to never question God but always trust His purposes.

Exodus 6 ends with God commanding Moses to once again return to Pharaoh and Moses once again questioning God. It seems as if this cycle is never going to end. But these final verses also make a historical side note. Remember that the promise God made through Abraham was going to continue through Jacob’s son Judah, which would eventually lead to Jesus. But here we find out that Moses and Aaron are descendants of Levi. This will come into play later on when the Law is established, but the Levites would one day become the priests, led by Aaron. This historical side note is embedded in a list of genealogy and is just one more reason why we really should not just skip over the genealogy lists.

Matt

Exodus 4

Exodus 4

At the start of Exodus 4, Moses is still making excuses as to why he cannot accomplish this task that God has given him. We saw in Exodus 3 that God had already promised him that these things would definitely happen, and although Moses heard those words, it does not appear as if he has taken them to heart yet. So God has to grab his attention, and He does so by showing him a series of miracles, which actually scared Moses. I also stated in discussing Exodus 3 that we are like Moses many times, running from God’s will for our lives. God has not changed over the last several thousand years, and He uses some of these same methods today. Now I have never seen him turn a stick into a snake or water into blood, but God does use instances in our lives to grab our attention. When God has a plan, He WILL see it come to fruition.

Once Moses is convinced of God’s presence and God’s power, he comes up with yet another excuse. Now you might question how Moses could possibly be unsure about God’s calling, but think about your own life. I know there have been times when I have been continuously stubborn before God. It is easy to say that we would follow God immediately and trust His plans, but when that reality hits us dead on, our actions do not always back up our words.

One example from Moses’ life is that he believed he was not a good speaker, but to prove that He would be with Moses, God promised that He would speak through him. Moses did not have to worry about it for God would take care of it. Yet Moses still could not trust God enough to follow through. Is this not true of us as well? Even when we know that God will be with us and that He will protect us, we still worry with the minor details. We sometimes trust God with the big problems in life, but many times we struggle with letting go of control over the small details. As for Moses, God sends his brother Aaron to be with him, speaking through both Moses and Aaron.

When Moses finally decides to trust God and head back to Egypt, he sees more of God’s provision. Now the text does not say that Moses feared for his life, for he knew that the Egyptians would be after him for the murder he had committed, but God tells him that that situation has been taken care of. God knew Moses’ heart and knew that he had to be concerned about those who wished to kill him. So God assured Moses that they were already dead and no harm would come to him from them. Again, we see God’s provision, this time, God taking care of situations that we have not even mentioned or thought of.

The remainder of the chapter shows the preparations that Moses and Aaron make for their return to Egypt. This is a picture of obedience. Now it is never alright to wander about and argue with God. We should never question God’s plans or wonder if He will take care of us. But many times, these are the questions we deal with. Our lives should be lived out in full obedience to God without question. Moses finally arrived at that point in his life, and at least for the time being, was dedicated to doing whatever God asked of him. However, there was one more detail he had forgotten. Back in Genesis, God’s covenant with Abraham was sealed through the practice of circumcision. By circumcising their children, God’s people expressed their desire to trust and follow Him and uphold their end of the covenant. Moses had neglected to circumcise his son, and Exodus 4:24 states that this was punishable by death. Moses had made great strides, but partial obedience is still disobedience. Thankfully, his wife took care of that procedure, protecting Moses from a sure death.

Finally, I think it is interesting how this chapter ends. When Moses and Aaron first meet the people of Israel, the Israelites cannot help but praise God. This is such a beautiful picture of what our life should be like. Many times we make requests to God, expecting him to follow through. But if and when He does, we neglect to praise Him. Our prayer life should reflect both praise and requests, but I would say that if we need to make sure that we continue to praise God. How can we not praise God after all He has done for us?

Matt

Exodus 3

Exodus 3

In starting Exodus 3 we quickly see that the text says that Moses was speaking with the angel of the Lord, yet later in the chapter we will discover that he is speaking with the Lord. This distinction raises many questions, questions that I will not deal with here. Check out my paper on “The Angel of the Lord” for some further discussion on this topic. But what I do find applicable right away is Moses’ awareness that something was at work around him. He sees this bush burning, and yet the bush was not being consumed. Now was Moses thinking, “I bet this is God at work?” I would guess that he was not, but we really do not know. The point is that God is always at work around us, and many times we get too busy with our daily routines to see what He is up to. We must learn that our lives are incomplete without God, and we cannot leave Him out. Find God at work today, and join Him. This is a daily challenge for all of us, but it is what the Christian life is all about.

In this particular situation, God calls Moses to a great task, to deliver His people from their oppression. Never think that just because your task does not seem as important or big as Moses’ that it is not important. God uses all of us in different ways, and we are not all meant to be a leader of a great group of people as Moses. Sometimes God just needs us to be the friend of someone who is hurting, showing them God’s love. Any task that God gives us is important, and we cannot compare it with others. But also remember that Moses did not want the task God had given Him. God had this plan to deliver His people after hearing their cries. He knew who He was going to use, but Moses wanted no part in it. So many of us fall into this category: the size of the task is not the issue, but the drive to do it is. I know I have done this in the past, knowing what God had planned for me but neglecting to follow through. God has proven that He is faithful, and we can see time and time again in Scripture that He does not leave His children. If He has called us to a particular task, then He will also see us through. Again, we must not be afraid to find and join God at work.

Many times our reaction to God’s call is a series of excuses, and this was true for Moses as well. He knew that God had called him to a great task, but he had no intention of following through, so he made up several excuses. But no matter what Moses threw God’s way, God always had a counter. He also had a series of promises for Moses. Moses was trying to get out of the task, but God was giving him more reasons to actually follow through with the task. If you read the end of Exodus 3, you will notice that the rest of the story of Exodus is in this chapter. God plainly states that they WILL return to the Promised Land. He tells Moses that he WILL go back to Egypt for this particular task. He even tells Moses that the Egyptians WILL be stubborn and that He will send a series of wonders to make Pharaoh let them leave. He also promises great prosperity as they begin their journey. It is hard to follow God’s plan for our lives. God never promised that it would be an easy road, and He did not promise an easy road for Moses either. But He did promise Moses success. How that success comes may vary, but God’s purposes will always be fulfilled. So we are left with a choice. Are we going to set back and let life pass us by, or are we going to follow God’s commands and join Him at work?

Matt

When Will It Stop Snowing?

So we are going on 3 weeks here in Jackson with snow still on the ground. A day has not gone by yet this semester without some snow on the ground. It got close Sunday, with almost all of the snow gone, but Sunday night another system came in dumping another inch on us. But I guess the good thing about the snow is that it gets us in the mood for the Winter Olympics!

I have been watching the Olympics all that I can for the last few days, and am actually about to see what is on right now. I am not sure why I am always so fascinated with the Olympics other than they are sports. I know that I cannot do any of the events that I see on TV. It is so neat to see our nation go out and win each night. I am glad that there are about 2 more weeks left! The sad thing is that once they are over, we will not get to see an Olympic game for another 2 years.

Other than the Olympics, NASCAR has also started back up. The first race of the season, the biggest race of the season, the Daytona 500 was this past Sunday. Gordon did not do so well in the race, wrecking in the last few laps (which were "overtime"). But history shows that your performance in this race has no bearing on the rest of the season. The race is all about prestige, and everyone takes chances in this race that they would not normally take just to win it. Due to this fact, some of the top drivers wreck out or finish in the back whereas some of the drivers who finish well might eventually fall back in the standings in just the next few weeks. But now that the biggest race of the season is over, drivers will be setting their eyes on the championship. Strategy changes from here on out, and it will be interesting to see who can post the most wins and who can be the most consistent between now and November.

I wish I could tell you that I am in the middle of some really good book for I have not posted a book review in quite some time. But between school and other things I am involved in this semester, the only books I am reading are textbooks. I'll let you in on some of the textbooks that I read later on in the semester. But for now I will do my best to keep you updated with what is going on with me in my last semester at Union, and I hope to continue posting a daily writing on what I am reading from the Bible each day.

Matt

Exodus 2:11-25

Exodus 2:11-25

The first action of Moses’ that is mentioned about his adult life is his murder. One might argue that his motives were in the right place, for he killed a man who was beating one of his countrymen. The Hebrews had already endured so much, and Moses was tired of seeing his people suffer. So Moses took things into his own hands. But notice that he looked to make sure no one was looking. This suggests that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but because of his anger, he did it anyway. However, he found out the next day that he had been found out. What he thought he had done in secret had become known to others. Moses then feared that Pharaoh would find out about it, so he fled from Egypt.

There are times in all of our lives when we think we are getting away with our personal sins. We try to keep them secret from others, so that people will not know who we really are. In essence, we live two different lives. We separate the holy lifestyle that we preach from the sinful life that we live. These two parts of our lives should never be different; instead, they should line up. Moses’ mistake in Exodus 2 is a perfect example of what can and will possibly happen to us when we choose to live in and attempt to cover up our sins.

Moses had to endure the consequences of his sin, and he was forced from the comfortable lifestyle he had enjoyed for so long. He fled to the countryside where he would have to learn to fend for himself. But God was protecting him even then. God had great plans for Moses, and although Moses could not see it at the time, God was preparing him for a major job.

The end of Exodus 2 is a key transition in the book. Here we see the people of Israel crying out to God because of their suffering. Although the Pharaoh who had enslaved them had now died, they were still experiencing the persecutions he had put over them. So they did the only thing that they knew they could do; they cried out to God. They asked for His help, knowing that He could deliver them. God heard their cries, and He also remembered the promise He had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had promised Jacob that they would one day be delivered out of Egypt and taken back to the Promised Land. God, who always keeps His promises, had a plan. He was going to deliver His people.

Matt

Exodus 1:1-2:10

Exodus 1:1-2:10

The book of Exodus picks up right where Genesis left off, reminding readers of Jacob’s family and what had happened to Joseph. The opening verses also explain what happened after Joseph’s death. Although they were not yet the nation of Israel, they were Israel’s children, and yet they were still in the land of Egypt. But remember that both Jacob and Joseph had told their children that God had promised that they would one day leave Egypt and return to the Promised Land. The next generation lived on that promise. They continued to grow as a family, and the initial promise that God made to Abraham was beginning to be fulfilled.

But when enough time had passed that the ruler of Egypt did not know of Joseph and his family, he began to see the Israelites (Hebrews) as a problem. There were too many of them roaming about in the land of Egypt, and he feared that if they ever came together, they might overthrow Egypt. His only option was to make life harder for the Hebrews, or so he thought. Yet the harder he made their lives, the more persistent they became, and the more they grew. Suffering and persecution only made them cling to their cause more, and they continued to multiply just as had been predicted. So the new Pharaoh eventually made them slaves, hoping that slavery would end the problem.

He took one last measure to ensure their demise by commanding his midwives to kill any Hebrew male child that is born. This would cause the Hebrews to cease to grow, and eventually kill them off. But as will be seen all throughout Scripture, God’s people will never be exterminated. He will always come up with a plan to protect His people. In this instance, the midwives feared God enough that they refused to kill the children, and they were rewarded for it. Once more, God’s people were living in obedience, and it was evident to the Egyptian women. They saw something in the Hebrew women that was different, and as a result, they began to learn who God was.

But Pharaoh was still not done. So he restated his initial command and declared that all male Hebrew children should be cast into the Nile. Yet one Hebrew woman would not hear of it, so she hid her child for three months. But when it became too hard to hide him any longer, she sent him down the river where an Egyptian woman (Pharaoh’s daughter) found him. Eventually, the child’s mother was brought in to nurse the child. We all know this as the story of Moses. But what I find interesting is that even in the midst of the worst persecution God’s children had ever seen, God was still at work. Through the faith and determination of one Hebrew woman, He was able to bless that woman and that child, using that child for His purposes. Moses was destined to become the first leader of the children of the Israel. God turned an awful situation, in which His people could have possibly been on the verge of extinction, into a miraculous situation, where He was able to preserve His people. The opening chapters of Exodus continue the theme we saw in Genesis of faith, obedience, and God’s will. If you have ever wondered how to discover God’s will for your life, learn from these men and women. The first step is obedience to God, trusting that He knows what is best in our lives. For it is obvious that He can use any situation for His glory. God was in the process of redeeming a great nation unto Himself, and it all began in the midst of one of Israel’s darkest days.

Matt

Genesis 49:28-50:26

Genesis 49:28-50:26

Jacob’s death concludes Genesis 49 and reminds us of what the book of Genesis was about. Although the first 11 chapters were dedicated to the creation of the world, along with its initial destruction, Genesis 12-50 deal with the beginning of the nation of Israel, before it was Israel. Jacob shows how God had chosen Abraham and Isaac and how the promise He made with them continued through him and now to his 12 sons. His only request on his death bed was to be buried with his people, including Leah. I find it interesting that he requested to be buried with Leah. Earlier in his life it was obvious that he preferred Rachel over Leah, even preferring Rachel’s sons over Leah’s. Indeed God had also used one of Rachel’s sons in great ways, with Joseph in Egypt. But as Jacob alluded to earlier in Genesis 49, Judah was the one who would inherit the covenant God made with Abraham, and Judah was Leah’s son. This is a perfect example of the difference between human wisdom and understanding and God’s. From what was initially a deceitful plan by Laban to give Jacob Leah, God turned into something great, using one of her sons to build His nation, eventually leading to the Messiah. All along, Jacob favored Joseph, possibly thinking of him to be the next in line, and although God did use Joseph in great ways, He ultimately chose Judah. We may not always understand why certain circumstances happen in our lives, but we must always remember that God definitely has a plan.

After Jacob’s death, Joseph and his brothers requested of Pharaoh to bury him in Canaan as he had requested. This shows a great deal of respect and obedience. Although this is a picture of earthly obedience to our earthly father, which is expected of us, it is a great example of how we should treat our heavenly father. Like Jacob, God makes requests of us all the time. Just read His word. We should not hesitate to obey His commands. Now although we do and will mess up in the future, that is not an excuse in God’s eyes. Yes He provides forgiveness, but He also expects us to work daily at being obedient. Obedience is probably the hardest part of the Christian life, but it is also the mark of our Christianity. When we are seen as disobedient by the world, they will question our beliefs. Therefore, obedience is a must.

Upon their return to Egypt, for the first time, Joseph’s brothers feared for their lives. After all they had done to Joseph, they now feared that he would repay them for their actions since Jacob was no longer around. So they come up with a plan saying that Jacob had requested that Joseph forgive them for their actions. Now although Jacob would have probably requested this, nowhere in the text is that stated. But Joseph shows great character in how he responds. He did not need the command of his father to offer forgiveness; he was already ready to forgive. In fact, he had already done so. Genesis 50:20 is the Romans 8:28 of the Old Testament. This is the verse that sums up the book itself. Our ways are not God’s ways, and He can use any situation for His good. I do not think any of us could ever imagine going through something similar to what Joseph went through, but with God on our side, He can get us through anything so long as we trust Him. The book closes with Joseph’s death, and it closes with a promise. Joseph reminds his sons that one day God will take them out of Egypt and back to the land of Canaan.

So as we come to the conclusion of Genesis, remember this: obedience is crucial in the Christian life, but it is also a struggle. From Adam to Noah, from Abraham to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, they all struggled with obedience. But when they came to that point in their lives where they devoted their lives to the Lord, they saw the Lord take care of them in ways that they could have never imagined. Now this is not to say that when we follow God all the trials will leave our lives, for that is not true. Abraham still struggled to have a son, Jacob still had fears of Esau, and Joseph continued to be shifted around in Egypt. But through all of these trials, they learned to trust God more, and depended on Him for help. That is a great picture of how we should live.

Matt

Genesis 48:1-49:27

Genesis 48:1-49:27

On his death bed, Jacob explains to Joseph that his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim will receive his portion of the blessing in the land of Canaan. At first, this might seem unfair to Joseph, as he does not receive part of his father’s blessing. However, if you consider the fact that out of the eventual 12 tribes of Israel, Joseph is the father of 2 of them, you can see where Joseph was blessed in this act. Joseph was always the favorite in Jacob’s eyes, but even more so than that, he was the son who (through God) protected his entire family. Because of Joseph’s presence in Egypt, his family did not have to suffer the devastating effects of the famine. Now, as a result, his two sons will each inherit 1/12 of the blessing of Jacob.

In blessing Manasseh and Ephraim, it appears as if Jacob messes up the blessing, once again blessing the younger child first. Joseph calls him out on this, reminding him that Manasseh had been born first. But Jacob tells Joseph that God had planned for Ephraim to receive the first blessing rather than Manasseh. Remember that in their culture, the first born typically inherited more, but time and time again God has reversed that order. This shows that He is not constrained to the ways of man. If He so chooses, He can reverse man’s ways for His own purposes. That is a promise that we can hold onto as well. Yes, we should abide by the laws that have been placed over us by government officials in our city, state, and country. We should respect the authority of our parents or teachers. However, God also makes it clear that when these other forms of authority go against His laws and His commands, then we must abide by His laws instead. Now although this is not the situation in Genesis 48, it does show how God’s word means so much more than anything man can say. God is above every aspect of our life, and we can always trust His plans. It may not have made clear sense why God was choosing Ephraim over Manasseh at the time, but Jacob and Joseph both had to trust once more that God had a plan.

As Genesis 48 closes, Jacob tells Joseph that God has promised that they would one day return to the land of Canaan. His people would remain in Egypt for a time, but when the time was right, God would deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and send them back to their land. After giving Joseph and his sons their blessing, Jacob calls in the rest of his sons. He tells them what shall happen in the days to come, and sets the stage for what will eventually become known as the 12 tribes of Israel.

At the beginning of Genesis 49 the prophecies seem harsh. Reuben is told that he will not have preeminence or superiority although he is the first born. Once more we see the eldest child not receiving the greatest blessing. Yet this time it is primarily due to his actions, to what he had done in the past. The same went for both Simeon and Levi who let anger and violence run their lives, and as a result they would one day be scattered across the land. It is the 4th child Judah, instead, who is given a great promise. Judah is the line that will one day lead to the kings of Israel and eventually to Jesus. If you look closely at the text, there are some phrases that allude to these future promises: “the scepter shall not depart from Judah,” is one phrase that sticks out to me, showing how God’s promised line from Abraham to the Messiah will run through Judah and his sons. Zebulun does not receive a curse either, for he is told that he will dwell by the sea. Issachar will be a servant of the land. Dan will be a judge of his people but will not survive without the Lord’s help. Gad will be invaded, but in the midst of this tribulation they will learn to fight. Asher will be known for his food and enjoy prosperity in the land while Naphtali will have a large family. Joseph receives the greatest blessing with the promise of a great family, as we saw in Genesis 48 (which seems right considering that his sons possess 1/6 of the blessing of Israel). Finally Benjamin will be a land of fighters, always on the lookout.

Some of these prophecies are harsh, while some are very promising. Yet all are accurate, for they have been promised of God. Although none of Jacob’s sons had any idea what the rest of their life would consist of, and although they themselves would never again see the Promised Land, God told them beforehand what would happen. He has a plan for all of our lives, and there are times when we will never know what the future holds. Things will happen in our lives that we will never understand. That is why we must be careful with the time we are given. Our actions will have an effect on the lives of our children and our grandchildren. This is seen all throughout Scripture, as this is true with all of Jacob’s sons. Following God’s will is not always easy, but it is what He requires of us. God requires obedience, and when we fail to follow His commands, we will face the consequences. You may feel that I have repeated this same point over and over as we have walked through the book of Genesis, but that is one of the book’s main themes. Scripture is clear that God demands obedience, and as His children, our desire should be to follow His commands every day.

Matt

Genesis 46-47

Genesis 46-47

Before packing up and heading down to Egypt, you might expect Jacob to be a little hesitant. He had finally made it back to the Promised Land after living with Laban for so many years. He also knew that he was living in the land that God had promised his children, and he did not want to mess up God’s plans. But God reassured Jacob that this was His plan. In order to protect his family so that they could grow into a great nation, God intended for them to live in Egypt for a time. But in His conversation with Jacob, He also promises him that one day his children will return to the land of Canaan.

The next part of Genesis 46 gives some insight into the fulfillment of some of God’s promises. For instance, part of the covenant that God made with Abraham was that he would be the father of a great family that is as many as the stars in the heaven or the grains of sand on the beach. But when he died, he only knew of his son Isaac and his family, not a great start to a great nation in the eyes of man. Now, 2 generations later, there are 70 men in Jacob’s family traveling down to Egypt, and this does not count all of their wives. In just 2 generations, God increased the family greatly, and Jacob was finally beginning to see the results of the promise God made to Abraham and Isaac.

Upon arriving in Egypt, specifically Goshen, Joseph runs out to meet his family. Once more, it is apparent that Joseph is in charge. He helps his family get settled in Goshen, which was right outside of Egypt. He then tells them that he will announce their arrival to Pharaoh and tell him that his family tends livestock. He knew that being a shepherd was looked down upon by the Egyptians, and for that reason knew it was best that they lived in Goshen rather than Egypt. After Joseph reports this in Genesis 47, Pharaoh grants them permission to live in Goshen. Furthermore, after seeing how trustworthy Joseph had been to him for so many years, Pharaoh gave them permission to look after his livestock as well. Finally, he gave them enough food to live on for a while. Once more Joseph’s hard work and trustworthiness is paying off. It is clear even in their arrival in the land, that God was still using Joseph to preserve his people in ways that they might not have even known at the time.

After they settled in Goshen, the famine only became worse in Egypt and in Canaan, and Joseph had to come up with yet another plan. The people of Egypt had no choice but to spend all of their money just to survive. When all their money was spent, they sold all of their livestock. Then, when all that was gone, they sold themselves and their land. It appeared as if Egypt had hit bottom. Joseph was doing his best to help the people of Egypt, but it appeared as if nothing was working. But God was still at work, and this allowed Pharaoh to gain more power. At this point, he had their money, animals, and land. Although this might strike Americans as an evil dictatorship, that is not how it is presented in the text. The people only praised Joseph and Pharaoh more for their leadership. They knew that Joseph and Pharaoh were only looking out for them, and they fully trusted any decision that they made. And why not? God was still working through Joseph, and he was only making decisions based on God’s leadership. Even in this troubling time in the land of Egypt, it was apparent that God was still at work. In a time when you would think that Egypt would be at rock bottom, they had all come together as one, united under their leaders.

As the chapter closes, 17 years have passed in Egypt, and Jacob is on his deathbed. He knows that his time is near, and he asks Joseph to not allow him to be buried in Egypt. Although he knew that God had blessed him and his family with this land for the time being, he also knew that this was not permanent. He wanted to be buried with his fathers in the land of Canaan.

Matt

Genesis 45

Genesis 45

The big twist of this story occurs in Genesis 45, except the readers already know what is about to happen. This whole time, we have known that Joseph’s brothers have been unknowingly coming to him for help. Joseph has chosen not to reveal who he is to test them and see where they stand now, later in life. But when Judah, at the end of Genesis 44, revealed how heartbroken their father would be if anything happened to Benjamin (due to what he was told happened to Joseph), Joseph cannot hold it in any longer. He has seen a great change in his brothers, and he now wants them to know who he is. They were obviously shocked, and I think that they might have felt some guilt over what they had done to him. But before they can say anything, Joseph assures them that he is not angry for he sees how God used this situation for His good. Joseph realizes that if he had not been sold into slavery, his family would not have made it through the famine. Obviously, God would have chosen different means to protect His people, but Joseph recognizes here that these were those means that God chose to use. God always has a plan, and we have to learn to go along with it by faith.

Joseph then explains all that happened to him in Egypt and that the famine is not yet over. He wants them to go get his father and for them all to come back to live in Egypt. He knows that if they move to Egypt, they will be protected, he can provide for them throughout the rest of the famine. This is God’s way of preserving a great nation. His brothers obeyed and agreed to head back to Canaan to get Jacob. But Pharaoh also heard of Joseph’s plans, and although he could have dismissed Joseph immediately (possibly in fear of Joseph taking over), he too agreed to this plan. Pharaoh gave them supplies to travel home with and promised that when they returned that they would receive the best of the land and the best of supplies.

When his brothers arrived back in Canaan they told their father the good news. But Jacob did not believe them at first, and why should he? He was told, by them, that Joseph had been killed years before. They had never come clean about what they had done to Joseph. Now all of a sudden they were changing their story, telling him that Joseph was ruler over Egypt. Now although the text does not say if they told the truth of what they had done or not, but it does say that they told him all that Joseph had said. Since Joseph mentioned their selling him into slavery in showing how God had used that for His good, they may have explained that part of the story to their father.

Whether they told Jacob or not, we do not know, but we can learn something from this encounter. There may be things that we are hiding from people in our lives whom we have wronged. These people may have no clue that they have been tricked or hurt. Of course the right thing to do is to come clean, but that is not always easy. But remember that secrets and deceit among family or friends will only lead to more problems. On countless occasions in Scripture we see how one sin can lead to so many problems, and we have seen this most recently with Joseph and his brothers. Do not let that one thing in your life separate you from those whom you love, or anybody for that matter. Set things right, and move past it all. You may find that it is easier than you expect.

Matt

Genesis 43-44

Genesis 43-44

Enough time passed that Jacob and his son ran out of the grain that Joseph had sent them, and they still had not returned to Egypt for Simeon. So Jacob reluctantly told his sons to go back and get some more food. However, this meant that Benjamin go with them, which Jacob still did not feel comfortable doing. He was angry at the situation and did not know who to be angry at. Judah assured Jacob that they would keep Benjamin safe, and he began to make his way back to Egypt. The 11 of them took back enough money to cover the new batch of food as well as the money that they had received back during their last visit. Finally, they took food from their land of Canaan as well. Jacob gave in, allowing Benjamin to go with them, and placed his safety in God’s hands. Remember that Jacob has no idea that he is actually dealing with Joseph in this situation, and he has a right to be afraid for his son’s life. But even in this most confusing situation, Jacob turned to God for guidance, and placed all of his trust in God.

Upon arriving back in Egypt, Joseph invites them into his house for a meal. But they do not know why they have been brought into the house. They fear that they are about to be punished for having the money from their first visit. So they quickly explain the situation, showing how they are innocent. But the men in Joseph’s house assured them that they were in no trouble, and that they had received the money already. They then explained that Joseph was on his way to eat with them. When Joseph arrived, they all bowed down to meet him. Does this sound familiar? Again, here is the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams. Joseph was still not ready to reveal himself, so he inquired of their family situation. He learned that his father was still alive and that Benjamin was with them. Afterwards, they ate.

After dinner, they began to pack up for their journey home. Once again, Joseph tricked his brothers. He had all of their money returned once more along with his silver cup (placed in Benjamin’s sack). After his brothers left the next morning, he had his men follow them to accuse them of stealing from Joseph. When the brothers were caught, they quickly pleaded innocence, explaining that they had already returned the money and would never take advantage of the situation by stealing from Joseph. But in the end they were shocked to discover that Benjamin actually had the cup. Now although was truly in the wrong, it appeared as if they were (due to Joseph’s actions, which were pure when you consider the rest of the story). But life is not always this simple. We may find ourselves in situations that we never willingly placed ourselves in. We may be set up by others so that they can see our demise. Is it fair? Of course not! But sadly, that is just how life is sometimes. Like Jacob’s situation in Genesis 42, we may not always understand why things happen in life, but when a crazy set of circumstances get handed to us, we must figure out how we are going to deal with them. We can choose to react in our flesh, seeking revenge, or we can turn to God, depending on Him to rescue us from that situation.

Joseph’s brothers chose the latter option. They knew that they were innocent, but they had no way of proving it to the Egyptians. So they showed humility, rather than being haughty in the situation. They explained their side of the situation truthfully, hoping for a change of heart. But in the end, punishment still came (at least in their eyes), and Benjamin was forced to stay in Egypt as they returned to Jacob. But Judah stepped up offering to take the punishment for Benjamin. This is another clear sign of humility as well as sacrifice. Judah explained all that had happened since their first trip to Egypt, and told Joseph how Jacob would die from grief if Benjamin did not return to him. Thinking of his father’s well-being, Judah offered himself in exchange for Benjamin, hoping that Joseph would understand. What is truly remarkable at this point in the story is the turnaround we see in Judah’s life. Out of the 11 brothers, he was one of the ones who developed the initial plan to sale Joseph as a slave. Now, several years later, he has made a huge change in his life. Instead of thinking of himself and his desires, he is thinking of the well-being of others, such as Jacob and Benjamin. Judah’s life is finally beginning to reflect those of his ancestors, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Matt

Genesis 42

Genesis 42

The story shifts back to Jacob (Israel) and his sons who are suffering from the famine as well. Remember that at the end of Genesis 41 it says that the famine had gone throughout the entire world. Therefore, Jacob, while living in Canaan, also endured the effects of the famine. So he sent 10 of his sons down to Egypt to get some food. Ironically, he was unknowingly sending them to his other son Joseph, whom God had placed in charge of that food.

As they arrive in Egypt, Joseph recognizes them immediately, but they are unable to recognize him. It is then that Joseph remembers the dreams he had when he was still living with them. God had shown him that one day his brothers would bow to him, in need of his help. That day had now come, and it all depended on Joseph as to whether they got food. Now Joseph could have ignored their request, treating them like spies (like he suggests at first). He did not have to give them anything, and after the way they had treated him, that would probably be our first instinct. But over the last several years Joseph had experienced God’s presence like never before. He had seen God at work on multiple occasions, and he knew that this was his opportunity to help his family out despite what they had done to him.

However, he did not let them off the hook quite that easy. For one, his other brother was not with them, and he wanted Benjamin there first. So Joseph decided to keep one in Egypt while he sent the other 9 back with food and an opportunity to bring back Benjamin. This plan might seem a little harsh, but it was working on his brothers. They finally realized their mistake, understanding how much they had wronged Joseph. In their eyes, the famine and their hard times in Egypt were punishment. It even appears as if they might be close to repentance for their actions. Nevertheless, their trials were still not over, and despite wanting any personal revenge against his brothers, Joseph sent them back with plenty of grain to keep them alive for a while longer.

In order to make sure that Benjamin came back, Joseph sent them back with their money. When they noticed that it had been put back in their bags, they were frightened, thinking that they might be in even more trouble with Egyptians, this time for stealing. So they explained the story to Jacob, but Jacob was very reluctant. Benjamin was his last son from Rachel (his favorite wife). After losing Joseph, he knew that he would not be able to bear losing Benjamin. So as Genesis 42 comes to a close, Jacob is refusing to help them, and can you blame him? Life throws trials at us all the time, and it seems as if they all come at once many times. This is where Jacob was at this point in life, and he knew that he could not endure another tragedy. He did not know that this was God’s plan. He had no way of knowing what he should do. So he waited. For me, waiting is hard. Sometimes the path is just not clear. But from personal experiences, that is where prayer comes in. We may not know where we are supposed to go next or how to handle certain situations. But we can always depend on God’s guidance. Just as Joseph depended on God’s protection in Egypt, Jacob was now beginning to learn to depend on God’s guidance in life. These are 2 valuable truths that we can hold onto today as well.

Matt

Genesis 41

Genesis 41

Since the cupbearer neglected to mention Joseph to the Pharaoh, Joseph remained in jail for two more years. It was at that time that Pharaoh dreamed: first about 7 plump cows along with 7 thin cows, and then about 7 good ears of grain along with 7 bad ears of grain. He was disturbed by these two dreams, but he did not know why. So he called all the wise of men Egypt to help him understand the dreams, but none of them were able to do so. It is at this moment that the cupbearer remembered what Joseph had done for him, so he tells Pharaoh. Immediately Pharaoh sends for Joseph, getting him out of the prison cell.

When questioned about his skills at interpreting dreams, Joseph quickly turns the attention to God, not wanting to take any of the credit for himself. He lets him know that he can do none of it without God’s power, and it is up to the Lord as to whether he will receive an interpretation. When Pharaoh retells his dreams, God allows Joseph to understand their meaning. So Joseph tells Pharaoh that there is about to come 7 years of prosperity quickly followed by 7 years of famine (a famine so great that no one will remember the prosperity). But God does not only allow Joseph to understand the meaning of the dreams, He also gives Joseph a solution to the problem. Joseph then tells Pharaoh that one way to survive the famine is to store up a great surplus during the 7 years of prosperity so that they can survive when the famine strikes.

Pharaoh is so impressed by this plan, that he seeks out people to put this plan into action. But in questioning his servants as to who to put in such a position, he turns to Joseph. God’s presence is once again so evident in Joseph’s life (first to Potiphar, then to the prison guard, and now to Pharaoh), that Pharaoh makes Joseph 2nd in command in Egypt. He gives Joseph command over his entire house and all the duties associated with this plan to survive the famine. God had once again protected and blessed Joseph, the same man who had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Now do not think that all who follow Christ will receive such great wealth, for it does not always happen that way. But one thing you can depend on is that God will be with you in the same way that He was with Joseph. There is nothing too big for God, and He can handle any situation. We just have to be obedient to His commands, trust Him no matter what, and make it evident that we are His children. Then whatever life throws our way will be no major problem, for we will have God on our side through it all.

Just as God had revealed to Joseph, the 7 years of prosperity came and went. Joseph remained faithful to God and to his duties, storing up much during those years. Then, when the 7 years of famine came, no one in Egypt went hungry. Joseph opened up all of the storehouses and began rationing out the food to all of the Egyptians. But what is interesting is that the famine did not only affect Egypt, but also the whole world. So people from other regions began flooding into Egypt for help. Because of Joseph’s position (which God had given him), Joseph was becoming to known to people all across the world. As a result, I bet people were discovering who Joseph’s God (the only God) was. God was making Himself to known to the whole world.

Matt

Genesis 39-40

Genesis 39-40

From the time that Joseph enters Egypt it is obvious that the Lord is with him. God promises believers that He will never leave them, and that is true during our best days and our worst trials. Being sold by his brothers and shipped off to Egypt would have been one of Joseph’s worst parts in his life. However, God stayed with him and made sure that Joseph grew from this tough situation. Because of Joseph’s faithfulness to God in these tough times, God blessed Joseph. Joseph’s lifestyle reflected God and all He stood for, and this was not unknown to Potiphar, Joseph’s master. Potiphar recognized Joseph’s commitment and God’s presence, and as a result knew that he could trust Joseph. So he made Joseph the highest of slaves and allowed Joseph to have control over everything in his life, knowing that it would be taken care of. For Joseph’s sake, God also blessed the house of Potiphar during this time.

Even in the face of temptation Joseph did not falter in his commitment to the Lord. After some time, Potiphar’s wife made advances on Joseph, seeking an intimate relationship. Yet Joseph knew that although Potiphar had placed Joseph over his entire household, his wife was off limits. Joseph wanted to respect those boundaries as to not disobey his master or his Lord. He was also not afraid to make his intentions clear to her, standing firmly on his convictions. But despite Joseph’s character, Potiphar’s wife attempted to tear down his reputation. At a time when Joseph fled her presence in order to escape the temptation, she twisted the situation and told Potiphar that he had forced himself upon her. This illustrates that even when we remain faithful to our convictions, others can cause us even more problems. What is important is how we react to the lies, gossip, and blackmail.

Potiphar ended up throwing Joseph in prison, sticking by his wife. Even after all Joseph had done for him and how Joseph had proven what he believed in and stood on, Potiphar questioned his character. Typically our reputation can mean a lot, and people will not fall for these attacks on our good character. But there are times, such as this, when nothing we say will matter. It is at those times that we must decide how we will react. Will we continue to stand by what we believe despite the consequences or deny our beliefs just to get by? For Joseph, denial was not an option. Although he was thrown in prison, he continued to be blessed. He continued to work hard, just as he had done in Potiphar’s house, and he eventually found great favor in his prison master. He was promoted over all the prisoners, and his master never had to worry about those under Joseph. Because of his continued faithfulness, even in the face of adversity, God continued to bless and protect Joseph.

At times it is unclear why things happen in our lives, and for Joseph he had to wonder why he had been sold into slavery and why God had now allowed him to be thrown into prison. But despite his questions he continued to work hard knowing that one day he would understand God’s plans. Genesis 40 begins to reveal why God had allowed Joseph to experience these trials. After Pharaoh threw two of his highest officers into prison, they had two separate dreams that they did not understand. Joseph, being a man of God, was allowed (by God) to interpret these dreams for them. For the cupbearer, Joseph predicted that he would be restored to his position in three days, but as for the chief baker, Joseph predicted that he would be hung in three days. Joseph made it clear that God was the one who allowed him to interpret these dreams, and even asked that the cupbearer remember him when he got out of prison. But after those three days, when the cupbearer returned to his position and the chief baker was hung, the cupbearer did not mention Joseph to the Pharaoh. As a result, Joseph remained in prison.

This could have easily been another time for Joseph to deny his faith and turn away from God. But instead, Joseph continued to serve the Lord, even in prison. After all that Joseph had been through, it is obvious that he had a great faith in God. The question is what would we do in that very situation? We all face tough times in life, for none of us are immune from them. But do we praise God in those tough times and continue to serve Him in the midst of them? Or do we curse God, questioning His ways, and turn away from Him? Although it is never easy, we should do as Joseph did in Egypt. God may allow us to go through some tough situations in life, but just as He promised Joseph, He has promised us that He will never leave us. We can always depend on Him in the midst of life’s storms.

Matt

February 5, 2008

(Written in 2008)
It all started about 30 minutes before the storm. I was prepared to go to the commons to ride out the storm. I went there to ask Joe Ball, my roommate, to see if that was a good idea. He told me to go to the room below ours and ride it out there. So I went back to my room and met another roommate, Kyle Odom there. We went downstairs when the sirens went off. Jason Evans, a friend back at home, kept texting me keeping me updated. At first I thought he was joking because the storm had been moving directly north. I did not see how the storm would turn that sharply. But I could tell that he was serious and we eventually headed to the bathroom. There were 9 of us in the bathroom. Not long after we got the door shut, we heard the tornado, our ears popped, and it was over. I remember asking Kyle, “Everything is gone isn’t it?” He just replied “Yes, I think so.” I called my mom and let her know that I was ok. Then we went into survival mode and tried to find a place of safety.

So we headed out to another building, not really sure where the best place was. We had no idea what buildings were and weren’t damaged. I saw a lot of people heading toward the PAC, so that is where we went. Once we got inside, we saw Kyle’s girlfriend Brooke, and her roommate Abigail. Eventually a bunch of others found us, including Matt Turner, another of my roommates, and Paul Morris. We all banded together and stood by each other’s side through the night. It was a miracle when my Dad called me in the PAC. That building does not allow any cell phone services to have signal. So it was a miracle that we got service. I talked to him for a few minutes, and then our group headed to an interior classroom (the Map Room). We worked together getting desks moved to smaller rooms leaving the bigger rooms for us to take refuge in. We stayed there for quite a while and received word that faculty and staff would take us to their homes. So we headed for the chapel to get picked up.

But the sirens began again and we had to go back to a classroom. We stayed there maybe another hour. I remember that somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00 we were all in the hall, now just seven of us, trying to find somewhere else to go. Our group included Joe Ball, Matt Turner, Kyle Odom, Paul Morris, Michael Grubb, Amanda (she was with Michael), and myself. Joe was trying to find us a place to go but could not get his cell phone to work. We were told to go to the guard station, but when we got there the police did not know we were coming. So we were clueless at that point. They were trying to get buses for us, but had no such luck at the time. Probably 200 students were standing in the grass lot by the guard station with no place to go. Michael began making calls, and he contacted Opie from Calvary Baptist Church. We were still pretty shook up at this point. We had no place to go and it was raining. What really got us was when the wind started blowing really hard again. We knew we could not wait on buses to get campus. Michael said Opie was on his way, so we just started running. We headed to Stein Mart, where Opie was going to meet us.

We ran down Walker Road, in the rain, and met some policemen on the way who led us to a red tent in front of Stein Mart and Petco. We had to check in there for the third time. Then we ran to the bus trying not to fall as we ran through the big puddles. Once we got on the bus, Opie headed back to Union to see if we could get any other students to go with us. No one else was at that grassy lot, so we turned around and went back to Stein Mart. They would not let us take any other students, so we headed to Calvary Baptist.

We arrived at Calvary at about 10:00. We went over each other’s stories and tried to figure out what exactly happened at what time. I called many people and many others called me. Around midnight, all the storms were gone and we could feel the temperatures dropping. We all realized that no more storms were coming and rejoiced because of the cool weather. About 2:30 I may have finally fallen asleep. I woke up shortly after 7:00, and Opie started trying to find us some food. All I had had since 5:00 the previous night was half a coke. But it has been hard to eat since then. We got a little to eat that morning, and then my parents arrived.

12 hours after the tornado hit, I was up and ready to go. So everyone knows the story after this. They would not let us on campus due to FEMA and other reasons. They are helping us take care of our cars and possessions. The important thing is that we are all alive. Out of around 1200 students who were on campus, only 51 were injured. Now only 2 are at the hospitable expecting to make it. And the biggest miracle of all is that no one was killed. God was in control Tuesday night! He watched over us and gave us the peace to get us through the whole thing. Something I have since realized is this: We have always joked about living in the “Union Bubble.” But now, God gave us the REAL Union Bubble. Maybe our possessions were destroyed, but our lives were saved. We were protected by God’s Union Bubble. Praise God!

(Written in 2009)
We were clueless about what would happen next at this point. Remember, I wrote the about 2 days after the storm. But in the weeks that followed, Union began developing an accelerated class schedule that allowed us to finish the semester on time. They also designed new dorms, and began construction. Today, all 15 new dorms are up and in use. The commons, which will complete the new quads, is under construction as well. Union is back. It may look a lot different, but we are back and still serving God.

One more amazing part of this story is the fact that I was in the process of applying for Centrifuge (the support staff here at Union). The tornado cancelled the Union Centrifuge last summer, leaving me out of a job. But I got a call from Mrs. Leatha to work at Christian Wee Learn a few weeks after the storm. If it had not been for the tornado, I may not have had the opportunity to work with those kids last summer. And I would have missed out on a lot.

I do not know why we had to go through the storm. And it is sometimes easy to question things in life. But nothing but positives have come out of this last year. People have come to know Christ, His message has been proclaimed, we have seen His work through our rebuilding, and we have seen His protection of His children. In some ways I wish it had never happened and we could go back to the way life once was. But in so many other ways I would not trade anything for what God has taught me over this last year. Today is a day of celebration for the protection God gave us last year. Tonight we are having times of celebration on and off campus, praising God for all that He has done.

(Written in 2010)
As you can see, I posted this story last year on the anniversary of the EF4 tornado that hit our campus, and I felt that it was appropriate to post it again. Remember, his was written just 2 days after the tornado when I was still exhausted both physically, mentally, and spiritually. It is a neat perspective into what was going through my head at the time, after thinking that I had lost pretty much everything and not knowing if we were going to get to go back to school.

Now, 2 years later, the rebuilding process is officially complete. The new Bowld Commons is open, and we had an amazing worship service in there praising God for making Himself known these past 2 years. We realize that it was never about us, but it was all about God. Through His amazing protection, He showed just how powerful He is. I can never think Him enough for my salvation (spiritually), and now I will never be able to think Him enough for all that He has done for me and taught me these last 2 years. I just read this story again today, having not read it since this time last year, and it caused all the images and sounds to come rushing back into my mind. Praise God for being who He is and protecting His children so that He could make Himself known to the world!

Matt