A Muddy Basket

O.T. #124  "A Muddy Basket"
Sept. 10, 2013
Exodus 2-Part 3


LET IT GLOW

Oh the things we do. Did you ever make mud pies as a little girl? I did and had such fun. Often times there would be grass or twigs in them from the mud hole. Maybe it wasn't such a yucky thing, looking back. And then, there was the summer that I taught at children's camp how to make a basket. We soaked the reeds in water overnight to soften them so they were bendable. Today's Bible story is about a mother who made a basket of tar and pitch. What a craft mom!

Moses was a Hebrew born into a Levite family, priestly tribe, with a three year old brother Aaron and a sister Miriam, age 7-12. The family lived in Egypt for 400 years and were slaves to the Egyptians. yet they continued to believe in God. There were hard times and harsh treatments for believers in God. These were dark days.
The Hebrews grew in numbers and strength. Pharaoh was afraid they would unite with his enemies and overthrow his kingdom. He tried to get the midwives to kill all Hebrew baby boys, but they refused. He made a law that all Hebrew baby boys would be killed.
Moses was hid three months and then...

• Mother Jochebed devised a plan.
• She put Moses into a basket made of papyrus and tar and pitch, made watertight.
• It was the time and place that the Pharaoh's daughter took a bath, that Moses in the basket was put in the river.
• He was put in the Nile River in the shallow part, where the bulrushes(cattails) grew.
• Sister Miriam closely watched  Moses, keeping an eye on him.
• After a while, the baby cried. The Princess had him drawn out of the water. She saw that Moses was a Hebrew baby.
• Miriam offered to get a  Hebrew woman to nurse him. She agreed.
• As it turned out, Jochebed was hired by the Princess to take care of Moses, her own child. She was reunited with her son and paid wages to raise him. (Can it get any better?)

The story of baby Moses is one we heard in Sunday School growing up. Did you see the hand of God over the circumstances? Is that how it is with your life? Is he directing the details and timing?


LET IT GROW

I want you to put yourself in his mother's shoes today.

1. If your son is heard crying, and found out, he could be immediately taken from you and thrown into the Nile River to die. What a horrible way to live! Is it a joyful time to have a baby boy,  living in fear for the life of your precious son?
2. Devising a well thought out plan to save this sweet baby must have been inspired by God. Have you ever heard of such a thing since then?
3. Convincing Moses' father to go along with the plan would have been a challenge.
4. Mother let go of her plans for the child and let God direct him.
5. Continuing to exercise great faith and inner courage to hide and set the baby in the Nile while doubt could wash him away any second surrounded her.
6. Putting her trust in God involved thinking, planning, and applying on her part.
7. Jochebed got going with God. Her's was an active faith, not a passive one. It incorporated foresight and wisdom in its application, not simply hindsight and wishful thinking.

We knew how the story would turn out before reading it. Just think, this mother was living it and didn't have that privileged information.

Do I ask God to help me devise a plan for my life or am I on my own?
Am I willing to give up something that is so precious to me, giving it to God?
(He own everything anyway.)
Can I trust God to work things out for my good and His glory?

LET IT GO

of that precious thing God wants; that we may be loving more than Him.

Give and it shall be given unto us.

Keep praying.

A Cutie Pie

O.T. #123  "A Cutie Pie"
Sept. 9, 2013
Exodus 2-Part 2
...and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.  Exodus 2:2

LET IT GLOW


This morning I watched a short video of our youngest grandchild. He is only 3 months old. So what's the big deal? I have yet to hold the sweet baby and smother him with grandma kisses. Although he looks like his brothers did at that age, I can see a peek of his individualism. I saw this cutie pie cooing, laughing, fussing, you name it. How could anyone resist not picking him up? He looks like a goodly child, as Moses did, I must say.

I missed something. Verse 2 says that Moses was a goodly child, which can refer to men or women. The Hebrew word is towb, which can mean beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair,etc.

Moses' appearance from birth as a goodly child indicates a healthy, vigorous condition which his parents took as a sign of his future importance. (Falwell)

He was comely to God, or divinely beautiful. this very circumstance was wisely ordained by the kind providence of God to be one means or his preservation. In all likelihood the Egyptian princess would not have saved him had he been only an ordinary child. (Matthew Henry)

When people look at us, do they see a child of the King that is goodly?

LET IT GROW

Moses was beautiful in the sight of God. His parents gave him to God by faith. Parents never know what God sees in each child that is born, and it is important that parents raise their children in the fear of God. It took real faith to put the child in the river, the very place where young boys were being destroyed. (Wiersbe)

Have we given our children and grandchildren into the hands of God?
What about us, have we given our lives into the Potter's Hands to shape and mold and use for His glory?

LET IT GO

See children as goodly in the sight of God. Oh, how He loves you and me.

Surrender to our Heavenly Father.

Be divinely beautiful.

Friends, I am sorry for not posting, but I have been sick. I expect to be back Monday. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Have a good weekend, God bless.

Linda

Quiet Children

O.T. #122  "Quiet Children"
Sept. 5, 2013
Exodus 2-Part 1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.  Exodus 2:1

LET IT GLOW

Last Sunday in church three girls sat in front of me. They were quiet as a church mouse, not a word came from their mouths. How that happened, I still can't figure it out. However, they were not still. They wiggled, squirmed, braided hair, switched places, got up and went to the restroom. Their quietness did not mean they were not active at the moment. So it is with our heavenly Father. He may be quiet in our lives, but He is actively working.
Have you been experiencing the silence of God in your life lately? Does it seem as though God is doing nothing?
Maybe you are doing His will and there are no instructions needed for you at the moment. Could be that it isn't time yet for His moving. Is it a test of your faith? Those could be possible answers to your question of "Why?"

Yes, I have asked that question. Friend, just remember, God is still in control, working His plan in your life. He hears our prayers and continues to love us with an everlasting love. His timing is always perfect. Continue to pray and cry out to God. That is what the children of Israel did (Ex.2:23-24). Four hundred years passed while they were in bondage, slaves in Egypt. Several generations have passed.
Actually, there were 10 complete generations between Jacob and Joshua, which are listed in   1 Chronicles 7:22-27. (Falwell)
There was a new king, a new Pharaoh in Egypt that didn't know Joseph (a Hebrew second in command).

LET IT GROW

Moses' parents were both of the house of Levi. This was the tribe who was later chosen to be the priests. Amram and Jochebed were both godly parents. Later, from this religious couple came the high priest, Aaron, and the law giver, Moses. Let's not forget their older sister Miriam, who played an important role in saving her baby brother from death. Children are important to the Lord. Are we loving them as His children?
Do we take every opportunity to teach our children and grandchildren about Jesus?

 LET IT GO

Wait on the Lord.

Trust His silence to reveal His working.

Be the parent and grandparent that honors God.

A New Pharaoh

O.T. #120  "A New Pharaoh"
Sept. 3, 2013
Exodus 1-Part 2
Now there arose up a new king, over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.  Exodus 1:8

LET IT GLOW

When you have a new boss take over at work, changes are usually made. Some people adjust to them and others don't. There was a new Pharaoh, king in Egypt at this time. Thus, changes came; unpleasant changes.

Here's a little history that I didn't know: Jacob and his family entered Egypt under the Twelfth dynasty. The Egyptian government grew weaker and more unstable and was ruled by foreigners called the Hyksos, from about 1725-1546 B.C. When they were expelled, there was a strong reaction against foreigners, including the rapidly growing Israelites. Moses was born about 20 years after this changeover, and in the midst of the new "get-tough-with-the-slave" policy.
Liberty Bible Commentary

The presence of so many Jews was a threat to any king's rule. The new king was an outsider. the luxury of living in the best of the land later was turned into a trial and suffering. Did you notice that this new king did not know about Joseph? This was a new generation.
What will happen to our churches when we are gone and the next generation takes over? Will they be led by the Holy Spirit? Will they know how to live by faith and not by sight? Will God's Word be the text book?

How like the path of the lost sinner today; sin promises pleasure and freedom, but it brings sorrow and bondage. (Wiersbe)

LET IT GROW

Between verses 12 and 13, a major change in Egyptian history took place-the Hyksos were driven out. (MacArthur)

So the new king was concerned about the children of Israel being more in number and mightier in strength than they were. He feared that the Israelites might side with their invaders in war and he would loose his country.
Here's what happened:

• Pharaoh set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. Israel was under forced labor.
• They built store cities for the king. (I wonder if the Pyramids were built by them.)
• The more the Israelites were afflicted, oppressed, the more they multiplied and grew or spread out.
• They were made to sere with rigour, which means to break apart; fracture; severity, cruelty.
• Israel was ruthlessly oppressed with a bitter and hard bondage. God was preparing them to look to Him, because they had no other choice. (Falwell)
• Their lives were bitter with hard labor with brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields.

Have you heard the saying, "Hard work ain't never killed nobody." (Excuse my improper English.)
Well, God saw to it that the Israelites didn't die, but were strengthened for the journey that lay ahead of them.

I have been fortunate in that my type of work did not require physical, hard labor. Only a few times, mostly by choice, did I work in the hot field picking tomatoes, walk the dirty chicken houses gathering eggs, cleaning house, for money. Before our industrial age spread to the farm, work was not done by machinery as it is now. People did back-breaking work in the hot summer sun. My husband picked cotton, beans, and apples when he grew up.

LET IT GO

Accept changes.

Work for Jesus.

Don't complain about work; do it joyfully.

Obey God or Man?

O.T. #121  "Obey God or Man?"
Sept. 4, 2013
Exodus 1-Part 3
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. Exodus 1:21

LET IT GLOW

The children of Israel were growing in numbers. the king of Egypt feared they would try to take over his kingdom. He was desperate. The king spoke to the Hebrew midwives, telling them to kill all male newborns. They chose to disobey the king by letting the baby boys live. they even lied to the king, saying the Hebrew women were fast at delivering before they got there.
The midwives were blessed for not killing the Hebrews' male babies born. (Hebrews were another name for the Israelites.)

God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. and because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own. NIV verses 20-21)

Infanticide, the killing of infants, is not a new practice. Shiphrah and Puah, probably Jewish ladies in charge of a host of other midwives, were commanded to kill all male babies of the Hebrews; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. Males were a threat as possible warriors, but women would make acceptable slaves.  (Falwell)

What would we have done when faced with that choice? Are we trying to prevent abortions today?
I am glad that we have no such law in our country because I have 4 grandsons. Is America like the Pharaoh back then? Why are we killing babies? Is it because the mothers do not want to take responsibility for their actions nor be responsible for a child to raise? Each child is precious in God's sight. Why aren't they precious in people's sight?

LET IT GROW

Well, the king was still upset and fearful. He commanded his people to kill all male babies of the Hebrews (verse 22). God's providence prevented this from being universally carried out. He promised to bless them that blessed Israel and curse anyone who cursed Israel (Gen. 12:3).

The king's strategy was born of Satan, the murderer. This was but another attempt on Satan's part to destroy the Jews and keep the Messiah from being born.  (Wiersbe)

Do you recall another king who tried to slay the baby Jesus? It was King Herod. Were the women right in defying the orders of the king? Yes. In Acts 5:29, Peter and the apostles said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Who do we obey, God or man? Obeying God's instructions overrides man's laws when there is a conflict.

LET IT GO

Obey God.

Introduction to Exodus

O.T. #119  "Introduction to Exodus"
September 2, 2013
Exodus 1-Part 1
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:7

LET IT GLOW


Due to the famine, Joseph brought all of his father's family, including his 11 brothers and their families to live in a section of Egypt called the land of Goshen. There they spent the next 400 years, during which time these Hebrew speaking ones of Israel, became slaves to the Egyptians. Jacob and his 12 sons were long gone by this time frame. It would be like comparing our nation and families of the 1600's to our present-day family.

BACKGROUND:

When Greek-speaking Jews translated this book form Hebrew into Greek, they titled it Exodus, meaning literally a way out. this describes the primary movement of chapters 1-14, which culminate in Israel crossing the Red Sea and thus escaping Egyptian bondage. the common designation since that time has been Exodus in Latin and later in English as well. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

In God's timing, the Exodus marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants and constituted the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only reside in the Promised Land, but would also multiply and become a great nation (Gen.12:1-3, 7).  The MacArthur Bible Commentary

Who wrote the book of Exodus? Moses was led by the Holy Spirit to write the Pentateuch, first five books of the Bible. In the New Testament our Lord clearly stated that Moses wrote Exodus. (John 5:46-47; Mark 7:10, 12:26)

It remains to be concluded that Exodus was written by Moses during the wilderness wanderings between the Exodus from Egypt itself and the conquest of Canaan forty years later. Solomon began to construct the temple 480 years after Israel had exited Egypt (1 Kings 6:1). Liberty Bible Commentary

What is the theme of this book? I found a variety of ideas concerning the theme: to record God's dealings with His people Israel (Falwell), to establish the theocratic nation in their Promised Land (MacArthur), redemption (Wiersbe).

LET IT GROW

Our book starts out identifying the sons of Jacob, renamed Israel by God. How many were in his family when they went into Egypt? There were 70, with Joseph's family already there. Keep in mind that Jacob, Joseph and his brothers had died by this time.

What does Moses tell us about the new generation of the children of Israel in verse 7?

• They were fruitful,
• they increased abundantly,
• they multiplied,
• they waxed exceeding mighty,
• and the land was filled with them.

By this verse, we can see God's providential blessing upon Israel's increase. (Falwell)

The seed of Abraham was no longer an extended family, but a nation. The growth of the nation was phenomenal. It grew from 70 men to 603,550 males, 20 years and older, thus allowing for a total population of about 2 million departing from Egypt. (Num. 1:46) (MacArthur)

Am I spiritually fruitful? Does the Holy Spirit have fruit of the Spirit produced in me?
Is my faith increasing abundantly?
Is my witness multiplying?
How strong am I standing for my faith?
Can I say that the land is filled with converts due to my witnessing?

LET IT GO

Encourage Christians to increase in faith in the Lord Jesus.

Walk by faith and not by sight.

Surrender to the Holy Spirit's producing fruit in me.