Tag Archives: Moses

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – What Matters is Who God Is

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When God announced Moses was to deliver the Israelites, Moses wasn’t convinced! God demonstrated that who Moses was didn’t matter. What mattered was who God was.

“Moses,” spoke the voice from the bush, “throw down your staff” (Exodus 4:3).

God you may not know…well, you don’t go around throwing down your staff. You never know when. . .

“Throw it down.”

When the rod became a snake, Moses began to run.

“Moses! Pick it up by the tail.”

God, out here, well, you don’t pick up snakes too often and never by the tail.

“Moses!”

Yessir!

As Moses touched the squirmy scales, it hardened. Moses lifted up the rod—the same rod he would lift up to divide the water and guide two million people through the desert. If God can do something with stubborn hearts and a stiff-necked people. . .he can do something with the common!

From The Applause of Heaven

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Expect Opposition

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Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” —Exodus 5:22–23

Sometimes we think that when we are in the will of God, it always will be smooth sailing. But I have found that the opposite is usually the case. When I am in the will of God, I brace myself for opposition. I almost see it as a confirmation that I am doing the will of God. In fact, if there is no opposition, I start to wonder what I am doing wrong.

When God sent Moses back to Egypt after 40 years in the desert, Moses probably was hoping that he could walk in, say what he had to say to Pharaoh, and hear him reply, “No problem. Go for it. Everything is good.”

But that isn’t what happened. Rather, Pharaoh answered, “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).

Then Pharaoh made things worse. He told the Israelite foremen that obviously the people had too much time on their hands because they had this guy Moses coming in and asking for their release. He instructed them to no longer give them straw to hold their bricks together. They would have to get their own straw but still make their quota of bricks.

When the leaders of Israel found out, they said to Moses, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” (verse 21). Effectively it was a complete disaster.

Don’t be discouraged if you have tried to serve the Lord or do something for His glory and discovered that people are not supporting you—or are even harassing you. That is exactly what happened to Moses.

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Look at the Tassels

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Read: Numbers 15:37-41

Bible in a Year: Nehemiah 12-13; Acts 4:23-37

Remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them. —Numbers 15:39

Best-selling author Chaim Potok began his novel The Chosen by describing a baseball game between two Jewish teams in New York City.  Reuven Malter, the book’s main character, notices that the opposing players’ uniforms have a unique accessory—four long ropelike tassels that extend below each teammate’s shirt. Reuven recognizes the tassels as a sign of strict obedience to God’s Old Testament laws.

The history of these fringes—known as tzitzit—began with a message from God. Through Moses, God told His people to create tassels containing some strands of blue thread and attach them to the four corners of their top garments (Num. 15:38). God said, “You may look upon [the tassels] and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them” (v. 39).

God’s memory device for the ancient Israelites has a parallel for us today. We can look at Christ who consistently kept the whole law in our place and obeyed His heavenly Father (John 8:29). Having received His work on our behalf, we now “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:14). Keeping our eyes on God’s Son helps us to honor our heavenly Father. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Dear Jesus, thank You for being my spiritual role model. Help me to walk in Your steps so that I can honor and obey God with the Holy Spirit’s help.

If Christ is the center of your life, you’ll always be focused on Him.

INSIGHT: The book of Numbers is part of the opening segment of the Old Testament Scriptures. It is book four of the five-book Pentateuch, referred to in Judaism as the Torah (the Law). These books were written by Moses as a record not only of the beginning of time and life (Genesis), but also the beginning of the nation of Israel (Exodus through Deuteronomy). This book received its name because of Moses’ order to number the population of the tribes. Jewish names for the book of Numbers include “and the Lord spoke” and “in the wilderness” (both names coming from Num. 1:1).

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – “Here I Am, Lord. Send Him.”

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But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” —Exodus 4:13

When God called Moses to return to Egypt, I find it interesting that Moses used the word Lord and then effectively said no: “Lord, please! Send anyone else” (Exodus 4:13).

It reminds me of Peter, when he had that vision on the housetop of Simon (see Acts 10:9–16). In his vision, a great sheet was lowered from Heaven with creatures that Peter was forbidden to eat, according to Mosaic Law. God told him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them” (verse 13).

But Peter said, “No, Lord” (verse 14).

Those words don’t go together. You don’t say, “No, Lord.” Rather, it is, “Yes, Lord.”

Moses was saying to God, “No, Lord, I don’t want to do this. I can’t do this. I am not the right guy. Send someone else.”

This angered God. Moses should have just done what God called him to do.

Here is something to consider. If God is calling you in some way, shape, or form, to not respond actually can be a sin. Yes, God has given you a free will, and I suppose you can live your life as you want to live it for the most part. But if God calls you to do something for Him and you say no, that is disobedience, and that is a sin. To not obey Him is to sin against Him.

“But I am not qualified,” you might say. Well really, who is? In fact, often the ones who think they are qualified are disqualified. They’re so full of themselves that God won’t use them. God likes to use people who don’t think they’re worthy. God likes to use people who don’t think they ever could be used by Him. God likes to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways so that He receives the glory.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Don’t Take In Criticism

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Now Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses [their brother] because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has He not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek (gentle, kind, and humble). Numbers 12:1–3

Sometimes the people who are criticized the most are the ones who try to do something constructive with their lives. It amazes me how people who do nothing want to criticize those who try to do something. After many years of suffering over the criticisms of people and trying to gain their approval, I finally decided that if God is happy with me, that is enough.

Each time someone criticizes you, try making a positive affirmation about yourself to yourself. Don’t just stand by and take in everything anyone wants to dump on you. Establish independence! Have your own attitude about yourself and don’t be defeated by criticism.

During Winston Churchill’s last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. “They say Churchill is getting senile.” “They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men.” When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, “Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!”

Lord, at the end of the day, I want You to be happy with the way I lived, whether others criticize me or not. If You are happy with me, that’s enough! Amen.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – His Way, His Timing

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Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. —Ecclesiastes 3:11

Years ago at our church in Riverside, we had a clean-up day where we were doing some gardening, painting, and other things. Now, I have no handyman skills whatsoever. But I wanted to help out, so I decided to trim a hedge. I plugged in one of those electric trimmers and was trimming along when I somehow went too far and cut the cord. I looked this way and that way, and then I set it down and walked off. Years later, a friend of mine told me that he saw the whole thing. I didn’t think that anyone had seen me.

That is what Moses thought when he tried to cover up his sin:

When Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. (Exodus 2:11–12)

God did not tell Moses to do this. Moses looked in all directions, but it’s too bad that he didn’t look up. If he had, God would have told him not to even think about it.

Sometimes we try to do God’s work in the wrong way. God wants to do His work in His way in His timing. Just as important as the will of God is the timing of God. Sometimes the Lord will give you a sense of what He wants to do in your life, but the time is not quite right. Slow down a little and wait on the Lord, because the Bible says that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Strength in Stillness

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Read: Exodus 14:10-14

Bible in a Year: Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. —Isaiah 30:15

Early in my Christian life the demands of commitment made me wonder if I could make it past a year without returning to my old sinful ways. But this Scripture verse helped me: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exod. 14:14 niv). These are the words Moses spoke to the Israelites when they had just escaped from slavery in Egypt and were being pursued by Pharaoh. They were discouraged and afraid.

As a young believer, with temptations engulfing my world, this call “to be still” encouraged me. Now, some 37 years later, remaining still and calm while trusting Him in the midst of stress-laden situations has been a constant desire for my Christian living.

“Be still, and know that I am God,” the psalmist says (Ps. 46:10). When we remain still, we get to know God, “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). We see our weakness apart from God and recognize our need to surrender to Him. “When I am weak, then I am strong,” says the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:10).

Daily we grind through stress and other frustrating situations. But we can trust that He will be faithful to His promise to care for us. May we learn to be still. —Lawrence Darmani

Sometimes the hectic demands on your day can crowd out your time with God. Find out how you can develop a regular time of Bible reading and prayer. Read In His Presence at http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0718

The Lord may calm your storm, but more often He’ll calm you.

INSIGHT: After Pharaoh set the Jews free from slavery (Ex. 12:28-33), he immediately had a change of heart and summoned his elite army to recapture them (14:5-9). Although God had overwhelmingly demonstrated His great power through the 10 plagues (Ex. 7-11), the Jews chose not to trust in Him. Terrified, they accused Moses of deceiving them and leading them into the wilderness to die (14:11-12). But Moses encouraged them not to be afraid and to be still and trust the Lord (vv. 13-14). God was faithful and saved them from Pharaoh’s army (vv. 21-23), and He continued to provide for them during their 40 years in the wilderness.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Thursday, June 11, 2015

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A Wise Choice

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. —Exodus 2:11–12

Underneath Moses’ robes of royalty beat the heart of an Israelite. He believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses saw how his people were being mistreated as slaves. He could have said, “That is tough for them, but I have it made in the shade right now. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize my position.”

But Moses’ heart went out to the Hebrew people. He wanted to do something for them. What he did was the wrong thing, but I think we could safely say that his heart was in the right place. Hebrews 11 tells us, “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin” (verses 24–25).

Moses thought it was better to suffer than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. This reminds us that God’s worst is better than the world’s best. What are the hardest things about being a Christian? Being persecuted, being harassed for your faith—those are the worst things about being a Christian, I would suppose.

What is the best the world has to offer? I guess it would be success, fame, fortune, or maybe all the pleasures that can be experienced. But the worst the Christian life has to offer is still better than what the world has to offer.

Yes, there is fleeting pleasure in sin. I will tell you to stay away from sin, but I won’t tell you that it is never any fun. There is that rush. There is that excitement. But then there are the repercussions.

Moses decided to take the hardest thing rather than the best of all that Egypt could offer him.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Called to Do Something

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Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. —Romans 12:4–5

When we think of Moses, a lot of things come to mind. We might think of Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses in The Ten Commandments. We may think of Moses as the great lawgiver or as the man whose personal integrity and godliness kept three million-plus people from full-tilt idolatry. But probably the best thing we could say about him is that he was Moses, the man of God.

Yet the life of Moses is a great paradox. He was a human being, which means that he had flaws, just like the rest of us. He had some serious setbacks and made some gross mistakes. As Bible commentator I. M. Haldeman said of Moses, “He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. . . . He was educated in the court, and dwelt in the desert.” One thing we learn from the life of Moses is that God can use anyone.

Have you ever wondered whether God could use someone like you? As believers, we are a part of what the Bible calls the body of Christ. And just as each part of the human body plays an important role, every person in the body of Christ plays an important role as well.

God has called each of us and has gifted us to serve Him. We are told in Romans 12, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. . . . In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (verses 4, 6).

God wants to use you. We are not all called to do the same thing. But we are all called to do something.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Time Will Come

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And the Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. Deuteronomy 34:8

When Moses died, the Israelites mourned deeply over the loss of their leader. They wept for him for thirty days; then the days of mourning were ended.

I am not suggesting that the grieving process should only last thirty days. But I believe the principle behind this verse is important. I think it is letting us know that eventually we have to move on. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you are hurting is to do something. Find a place of new beginnings. Get up, get dressed, and keep moving. Go take a walk and talk to God. Do something for somebody else. As you work through your grief, you may have times when you simply need to get your mind off of what you’re going through because you have done everything you can do about it; there is nothing else you can do except wait for the full healing to come.

It is proper to grieve, but don’t let a spirit of grief control your life. If you have been through a recent tragic loss, you may not be ready to go on yet. Know, though, that the time will come when you do need to get busy again. It may not be easy, but it will be important to your healing. So, don’t rush it, but when it comes, embrace it and trust the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you as you move forward.

Love Yourself Today: Always remember that no matter what you have lost, you still have a lot left, and God has a purpose yet to be fulfilled in your life.

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Go-Between

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Read: Exodus 20:18-26
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 23-25; Mark 14:1-26

 

The people stood afar off, but Moses drew near . . . where God was. —Exodus 20:21

Imagine standing at the bottom of a mountain, elbow-to-elbow with everyone in your community. Thunder and lightning flash; you hear an earsplitting trumpet blast. Amid flames, God descends on the mountaintop. The summit is enveloped in smoke; the entire mountain begins to shake, and so do you (Ex. 19:16-20).

When the Israelites had this terrifying experience near Mount Sinai, they begged Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (20:19). The Israelites were asking Moses to mediate between them and the Almighty. “So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was” (v.21). After meeting with God, Moses brought God’s messages back down the mountain to the people below.

Today, we worship the same God who displayed His staggering greatness on Mount Sinai. Because God is perfectly holy and we are desperately sinful, we cannot relate to Him. Left to ourselves we too would (and should) shake in terror. But Jesus made it possible for us to know God when He took our sins on Himself, died, and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Even now, Jesus is the go-between for us to a holy and perfect God (Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2:5). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Dear Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life so that I could know God. I worship You as the only one who bridges the gap between God and me.

Jesus bridges the gap between God and us.

INSIGHT: On Mount Sinai, God manifested His presence loudly and visibly through thunder, lightning, the sound of a trumpet, and a smoking mountain (v. 18). Moses explained that this display of power and majesty was to demonstrate God’s incomparable holiness. His power and glory were displayed so that the Israelites would revere and worship Him (v. 20).
Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – “I” Problems

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Now Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses [their brother] because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has he not spoken also by us?- Numbers 12:1-2

Moses’ sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron, complained to God about the Ethiopian woman their brother had married during his forty years of exile. But that was not the real issue. The real problem was revealed when they asked, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has he not spoken also by us?”

That’s the big “I” problem, also known as the issue of pride. That’s one way Satan gets into our lives, divides us, confuses us, and causes us to fight among ourselves.

In the incident cited above, the issue wasn’t whether God spoke through them or only through Moses. It was their way of calling attention to themselves and yearning for recognition. But their plan backfired on them. If you read the entire account, you will find that God punished Miriam with leprosy and she had to stay outside the camp for a week.

There’s another interesting note: She held them back from moving forward. So Miriam was shut up without the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought in again (v. 15).

What we need to recognize about pride-one of Satan’s most powerful tools-is that while it may actually attack only one or two of us, it affects everyone. When someone stands up and says, “I am special,” the unspoken message is: “But you…you’re not special like me.” That’s when jealousies and anger erupt, and the devil is the only one who is happy.

Here’s another example. A few months ago, I saw a brief review of a college football game on the evening news. The running back stood just over the goal line, jumping up and down and screaming, “I’m the best! I’m the best!”

I’m sure he was excited because he had won the game. Or had he? What he didn’t seem to grasp was that he had only carried the ball over the line, scoring the winning points. His teammates, however, had thrown him the ball and blocked other players from tackling him. His statement would have been more accurate had he said, “We’re the best!”

This illustrates a dangerous attitude. Much of the time, we are only too eager to take all the credit. Too many people act as if they are solely responsible for their gifts and abilities (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). What they (and all of us) need to realize and focus on is that God alone gives us all of the talents, abilities, and gifts that we need to succeed in life. He is the giver we are just the recipients.

Whenever we excel in any area, it is because God has equipped us with the necessary abilities. God expects us to utilize our gifts and become better at the things we do, but we must never forget that He is the one who gives the talent. If we’re high-minded or think more highly of ourselves than we should, we tend to look down on others. This is the sin of pride, and no one appreciates it. We all back away from proud people because they not only elevate themselves, but they arouse negative feelings in the rest of us, especially if we have any issues of insecurity or inferiority.

To win over the big “I” problem, we must remind ourselves of this simple fact: Everything we are and everything we have comes as a gift from God. If we stay focused on that fact, pride will find no place in our hearts.

Patient and loving God, forgive me when I’ve taken credit for my talents and my abilities. Help me now and every day to thank You for the gifts and abilities that You have so generously placed in me. I ask this in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Facing Life’s Unknowns

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Hebrews 11:23-29

Uncertain circumstances characterized Moses’ entire life. He was born in Egypt at a time when the growing Hebrew population was seen as a threat. The king enslaved the community and ordered that their male infants be killed (Ex. 1:22). To protect Moses, his family let others raise him as an Egyptian (2:1-10).

When he was grown, Moses had to flee and live far away from home (vv. 11-15). Later, in a personal encounter with the Lord, he learned that he was God’s choice to be leader of the Israelite slaves (3:10). Moses felt ill-equipped for his new role, which involved approaching Pharaoh to request his people’s release. And then imagine how he must have questioned his ability to lead more than a million Hebrews while contending with their ingratitude and rebelliousness.

Yet Moses steadfastly carried on. What enabled him to persevere was faith, which God’s Word defines as “the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen” (Heb. 11:1 NLT). Because Moses had learned how to see “Him who is unseen” (v. 27), he was able to grasp the reality of his invisible Lord’s character and promises. After encountering God at the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), he viewed life differently—from then on, his purpose was to rely on the Lord and follow His divine plan.

Though Moses did not live perfectly, the Scriptures commend him for walking by faith. From his example, we can learn how to persevere through the unknowns of life. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, we, too, can become men and women of great faith.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Best Time to Give

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And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. —Numbers 21:8

At one point in Israel’s history, Israelites were dying in large numbers because a plague of snakes came upon them and were biting them as a result of their sin (see Numbers 21:6). What did their leader, Moses, do? He prayed. To solve the problem, Moses turned his attention immediately to God, not to himself or anyone else.

I have found that victorious people in the Bible faced their problems with prayer. They did not worry; they prayed. I ask you today: Do you worry or do you take your needs to God in prayer? Moses sought God about how to handle the snakes. He did not make his own plan and ask God to bless it; he did not try to figure out an answer in his mind, nor did he worry. He prayed, and his action brought a response from God. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, set it on a pole and put it in front of the people. Every snake-bitten person who looked at it would live. The New Testament tells us this action represented the cross and Jesus’ taking our sin upon Himself: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must . . . the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], in order that everyone who believes in Him . . . may not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15).

You and I still sin today, but the message of the bronze serpent still applies: “Look and live.” Look at Jesus and at what He has done, not at yourself and what you have done or can do. Hebrews 12:2 has great advice: “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith . . .” The answer to your problem, whatever it may be, is not worry, but praying and trusting that Jesus is leading you.

Love God Today: Look to Jesus for the answer to every problem that you have! He loves it when you lean on Him.

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Bearing the Reproach of Christ

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Moses considered “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:26-27).

When you suffer for Christ, you bear His reproach.

How could Moses, who lived 1,500 years before Christ, bear His reproach? Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew title Messiah, the Anointed One. Many Old Testament personalities were spoken of as being anointed for special service to the Lord. Some have suggested that Moses was thinking of himself as a type of messiah, for he delivered his people from the Egyptian bondage. They would translate verse 26 as, “Considering the reproach of his own messiahship as God’s deliverer.”

However, it seems best to see this verse as a reference to Jesus Himself, the future great Deliverer. We don’t know how much knowledge Moses had of Jesus, but certainly it was more than Abraham, of whom Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).

The Messiah has always been identified with His people. When they suffer for righteousness’ sake, they suffer in His place. That’s why David said, “The reproaches of those who reproach Thee have fallen on me” (Ps. 69:9). Speaking from a New Testament perspective, Paul made a similar statement: “I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).

There’s also a sense in which Christ suffers with His people. When Jesus confronted Paul, who was heavily persecuting the church, He said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? . . . I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4-5).

Moses chose to turn his back on Pharaoh’s household and identify with God’s people because he knew that suffering for Christ was far better than enjoying the riches of Egypt. At some point in time you too will be persecuted for Christ’s sake (2 Tim. 3:12), so be prepared. When that time comes, follow Moses’ example of faith and courage, knowing that God will be your shield and your reward (cf. Gen. 15:1).

Suggestions for Prayer; Follow the examples of the apostles by thanking God for the privilege of bearing a small portion of the reproach that the world aims at Christ (Acts 5:27-41).

For Further Study; Memorize Psalm 27:1 as a source of encouragement when facing difficulty.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Do You Worship or Worry?

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And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. —Numbers 21:8

In Numbers 21, we see that when the Israelites were out in the wilderness, they were dying in large numbers because of a plague of snakes that had come upon them as a result of their sin. Moses went and fell down before God and worshiped Him. He turned his attention immediately to God, not to himself or anyone else, to solve the problem.

I have discovered that throughout the Bible when people had a problem, they worshiped. At least the ones who were victorious did. They didn’t worry—they worshiped. I would ask you today: Do you worry or worship? Moses sought God about how to handle the snakes. He didn’t make his own plan and ask God to bless it; he didn’t try to reason out an answer, nor did he worry—he worshiped. His action brought a response from God.

We know that the pole with the bronze serpent on it represented the cross and Jesus taking our sin upon Himself on it. The message is still the same today: “Look and live.” Look at Jesus, at what He has done, not at yourself and what you have done or can do.

The answer to your problem, whatever it may be, is to not worry but worship. Begin to worship God because He is good, and His goodness will be released in your life.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – “I” Problems

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Joyce meyer

Now Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses [their brother] because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has he not spoken also by us?—Numbers 12:1-2

Moses’ sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron, complained to God about the Ethiopian woman their brother had married during his forty years of exile. But that was not the real issue. The real problem was revealed when they asked, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has he not spoken also by us?”

That’s the big “I” problem-also known as the issue of pride. That’s one way Satan gets into our lives, divides us, confuses us, and causes us to fight among ourselves. In the incident cited above, the issue wasn’t whether God spoke through them or only through Moses. It was their way of calling attention to themselves and yearning for recognition. But their plan backfired on them. If you read the entire account, you will find that God punished Miriam with leprosy and she had to stay outside the camp for a week.

There’s another interesting note: She held them back from moving forward. “So Miriam was shut up without the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought in again” (v. 15).

What we need to recognize about pride-one of Satan’s most powerful tools-is that while it may actually attack only one or two of us, it affects everyone. When someone stands up and says, “I am special,” the unspoken message is: “But you-you’re not special like me.” That’s when jealousies and anger erupt-and the devil is the only one who is happy.

Here’s another example. A few months ago, I saw a brief review of a college football game on the evening news. The running back stood just over the goal line, jumping up and down and screaming, “I’m the best! I’m the best!”

I’m sure he was excited because he had won the game. Or had he? What he didn’t seem to grasp was that he had only carried the ball over the line, scoring the winning points. His teammates, however, had thrown him the ball and blocked other players from tackling him. His statement would have been more accurate had he said, “We’re the best!”

This illustrates a dangerous attitude. Much of the time, we are only too eager to take all the credit. Too many people act as if they are solely responsible for their gifts and abilities (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). What they-and all of us-need to realize and focus on is that God alone gives us all of the talents, abilities, and gifts that we need to succeed in life. He is the giver we are just the recipients.

Whenever we excel in any area, it is because God has equipped us with the necessary abilities. God expects us to utilize our gifts and become better at the things we do, but we must never forget that He is the one who gives the talent. If we’re high-minded or think more highly of ourselves than we should, we tend to look down on others. This is the sin of pride, and no one appreciates it. We all back away from proud people because they not only elevate themselves, but they arouse negative feelings in the rest of us, especially if we have any issues of insecurity or inferiority.

To win over the big “I” problem, we must remind ourselves of this simple fact: Everything we are and everything we have comes as a gift from God. If we stay focused on that fact, pride will find no place in our hearts.

Patient and loving God, forgive me when I’ve taken credit for my talents and my abilities. Help me now and every day to thank You for the gifts and abilities that You have so generously placed in me. I ask this in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Christ’s Surprising Choice

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Alistair Begg

He had married a Cushite woman.  Numbers 12:1

Moses made a strange choice, but not as surprising as the choice of Him who is a prophet like Moses but greater than him—even our Lord Jesus! It is the wonder of angels that the love of Jesus should be set upon poor, lost, guilty men. Each believer must, when filled with a sense of Jesus’ love, also be overwhelmed with astonishment that such love should be lavished on an object so utterly unworthy of it. Knowing as we do our secret guiltiness, unfaithfulness, and halfheartedness, we are dissolved in grateful admiration for the matchless freeness and sovereignty of grace.

Jesus must have found the cause of His love in His own heart; He could not have found it in us, for it is not there. Even since our conversion we have been poor, though grace has made us rich. Holy Rutherford said of himself what we must each subscribe to: “His relation to me is that I am sick, and He is the Physician of whom I stand in need. Sadly how often I play fast and loose with Christ! He binds, I loose; He builds, I tear down; I quarrel with Christ, and He agrees with me twenty times a day!”

Most tender and faithful Husband of our souls, pursue Your gracious work of conforming us to Your image, until You will present even us in our poverty to Yourself without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Moses met with opposition because of his marriage, and both himself and his spouse were the subjects of disapproval. Can we be surprised if this empty world opposes Jesus and His church, and particularly when notorious sinners are converted? For this is always the basis of the Pharisee’s objection: “This man receives sinners.”1 Of course He does; after all, He did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

1) Luke 15:1

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The family reading plan for October 6, 2014 * Ezekiel 39 * Psalm 90

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Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Armed with Promises

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There are thousands of promises in the Bible. One Southern Gospel song says, “You can’t stand on promises if you don’t know what they are.” Do you know what God promises you as a believer in Christ?

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.”

Exodus 14:13

When Israel was about to cross the Red Sea, the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit and they railed against Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11) They had forgotten God’s promise to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:17).

Today, multiple enemies threaten America. As a whole, this country doesn’t seek the Lord, but add your prayers to the multitudes of citizens who still do. Know and trust in His promises. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” (I Peter 3:12) Pray for U. S. leaders, troops and citizens to get their eyes off human effort and on the Lord, the true deliverer.

Recommended Reading: I Peter 5:6-11

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Humble and Bold

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Joyce meyer

Be strong (confident) and of a good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. —Joshua 1:6–7

Not only is it possible to be humble and bold, it is impossible to be truly bold without humility. Joshua was a man who was both. God told him to finish the job Moses started and take the Israelites into the Promised Land. Immediately after giving Joshua the command, God announced to him, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

Joshua’s confidence rested in the fact that God was with him, and because of that he was able to go forward to do something that he probably felt unqualified to do. Joshua must have felt fear because the Lord repeatedly told him to “fear not,” which means “don’t run!”

God told Joshua that if he would be strong, confident, and full of courage, he would cause the people to inherit the land that God had promised them.

Lord, what an amazing promise this is! I receive it as my own. Help me to know Your Word and to be absolutely faithful to it. Amen.