Who is to Blame?

O.T. #144 "Who is to Blame?"
Oct. 10, 2013
Exodus 5-Part 4, 6-Part 1
And they said, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."  Exodus 5:21

LET IT GLOW

Blame. Who is to blame? Does it really matter who's fault it is? Love doesn't hurt others. When she made fun of me, to the max, I was stunned, speechless. I considered her a friend. Words can stab you in the heart, even cut it out. Later, I thought of a come back, but glad I didn't think of it at the moment nor say it. It would have brought me down to her level. Love is kind. She was low on love and kindness that day. So I pray for her. It is God who can change hearts. I want to be an over comer, as the song goes. I want to love in spite of the ugly way others treat me.

How did Moses handle it when he and Aaron were blamed for the Hebrews added burden?
Moses went to the Lord for answers. Why did You send me? How will Pharaoh listen to me when the people won't? The Lord didn't leave Moses in the pit of despair.

Charles Swindoll, in his Bible study guide, Moses, God's Man For a Crisis, shares ways that God consoled and counseled Moses with these truths:

• "I Am." It was 5 times that God reminded Moses "I am the Lord (YHWH)." (verses 2, 6, 7, 8, 29) Moses needed to stay focused on Him. When times turn from bad to worse for us, we need to focus our attention on the Lord (Heb. 12:1-3). Dwell on His sovereignty, goodness, power, justice, compassion, love, and wisdom. Because of who God is, we can be confident that He is in control of our circumstances.
• "I will." It was 7 times that the Lord addressed Moses' need by zeroing in on how He would intervene in his situation. 
• God promised Moses that He would: 

           -bring him out from under the burdens of the Egyptians;
           -from their bondage; redeem him with an outstretched arm and with great judgments;
           -take them for His people; be their God; bring them to the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac,  
            Jacob;
           -give it for them to possess. 

Swindoll summarizes God's message to Moses: "Because I am who I am, I will always do what is best for you."
God expected Moses to accept this truth and get back to his appointed mission (verse 10-11).

Isn't there always enough blame to go around? Who is to blame? Bring it on down to home-am I to blame? Or am I suffering for the cause of Christ, doing His will?

The Israelites looked to Pharaoh for help rather than to the Lord who had promised to deliver them (5:15-19). Believers who are out of fellowship with God bring grief to their leaders instead of help.
(Wiersbe)

                 
LET IT GROW

So what do we do when life gets us down? Don't retreat into a pit of self-pity. Stand fast on God's nature and His promises. Look to Him for strength and victory. Tough times are designed by God for our good, not for our detriment.

Swindoll gives us some principles:

• Circumstances that turn against us force dependence.
• Circumstances that force dependence teach us patience.
• Circumstances that teach us patience make us wise.

Are our struggles building character in our life? What lesson is God trying to teach me through this problem?

Matthew 5:11-12 says, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The word revile means defame, rail at, taunt in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance; abuse in speech or writing in Webster's Dictionary.

Is there anyone who is abusing you with words, making fun of you, or defaming you?

In I Peter 2:22-23, Peter is referring to Jesus: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.

I Peter 3:17 tells us It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Sometimes comments don't deserve an answer or defending, just prayer.

I hope you are encouraged, friend. I know I needed it.
Jesus loves you.

LET IT GO

Trust in the God who can do all things.

Bring my troubles to the foot of the cross and leave them there.

Let God take revenge for the wrong done me.

Work on self control, keeping my mouth shut.