I NEVER GRADUATED FROM 8TH GRADE

Maybe I am forgetting, but I don't remember graduating from 8th grade. I remember being in 8th grade, and passing 8th grade, and going to high school the next year; but I don't remember any kind of special graduation ceremony. I remember a pre-school graduation and high school and college graduation, but not 8th grade. I feel cheated.


Today, our eldest 2, Isabella and Alex, are graduating from 8th grade at Westside Christian Academy in Westlake, Ohio. At this school, they go Kindergarten through 8th grade, so they have a Kindergarten and 8th grade graduation. It is a nice, extra special touch they put on their last year in this school. They dress up and have a ceremony with all the regular stuff you do at these things. There is also a brunch for the families afterward. And later, the graduates are going to party in their own way for the rest of the day and night.


It is also special, today, because their grandparents (my parents) flew into town so that they could attend this special celebration. They had sacrificed quite a bit to put their 3 children (including me) through Christian school, so it is pretty neat for them to have some opportunities to be here for their grandchildren's school benchmarks.

Alex and Isabella,
Congratualations on graduating today, from 8th grade! We love you both very much and are proud of you. You have been blessed by God to have this environment for your education these past 3 years. We hope you are as grateful as we are. You have been learning and growing, before our very eyes. We are thankful that this is not high school graduation already; otherwise, I think we might be crying. What is the emotional protocol for an 8th grade graduation? I guess we will make one up as we go.

Our prayer for you as you graduate today: That your heart and mind would be focused on your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That as you move into a new stage of your life and education, that your main desire would be to honor God with your life, thanking Him for who He is and what He has done for you. We pray that you will enjoy high school, new friendships, new opportuninites; and most of all, that you would walk humbly with your God.

We love you.
Enjoy your special day!
Mom and Dad

OUR SONG

This message was preached at Grace Baptist Church in Westlake, OH on May 24, 2009. Where you see, in the message, that there were testimonies, I encourage you to consider going to our website (www.gbcwestlake.org), and listening to the message so you can hear these incredible testimonies of praise to God. I would not be able to do them justice. You have to hear them for yourself. It just seemed right, on Memorial Day Weekend, as we were in Exodus 15 in our journey through Exodus (Redeemed For Relationship series) that we would have a message filled with praise to God. So, I preached the text of Exodus 15 in 3 sections, and in each section we sang 2 praise songs to God and heard 2 testimonies, to immediately apply this teaching to our lives. We have so much to praise God for; and the entire service was a great encouragement to me. I hope it will to you as well.

OUR SONG
Exodus 15:1-21

Please open your Bible to the 2nd book of the Bible, the book of Exodus and find chapter 15…Exodus 15.

Do you like history? Whether you like it or not, it is there: history of the world, history of the United States, history of this church, history of your life and family, etc. Someone has said: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Someone else noted: “You either learn from history or you ignore it.” The older I get, the more I appreciate history. A few years ago, my family looked back into our genealogy and tried to trace our family roots. It was very interesting to hear about. I like reading books and watching movies that are based on real life, historical events, rather than fantasy and myth.

When it comes to our spiritual growth, history is vitally important. In fact, the Bible tells us that if are not willing to learn from biblical history, then we are not going to be able to grow as God has intended. We must pay attention. And travelling through the book of Exodus together, we must remember how important this history is, for our present day application.

Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

I Corinthians 10:1 – “For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all the passed through the sea…”

The Apostle Paul was writing basically to Gentiles, and yet he connects all believers with the experiences of Israel, God’s people. He begins this chapter with talking to them about the experiences that Israel had, as they left bondage in Egypt and passed through the Red Sea, and then he talks about their wilderness experiences. But, I want you to notice what he says in:

I Corinthians 10:6 – “Now these things took place as examples for us…”

I Corinthians 10:11 – “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction…”

In our travels through Exodus, we read many interesting, historical facts about God, about Moses, about Israel, and about their enemies. We probably are learning things, I know I am, that we didn’t know before. But, we have to keep in mind what God says here in the New Testament. And that is…that a major reason these stories in Exodus are recorded are so that we can learn and change the way that we live. And so, as we come into Exodus 15 today, let’s learn from their example, and let’s apply it, right now, to our lives in our worship to God.

Exodus 15 is a song, written in response to what happened in Exodus 14 and the preceding chapters. And just in case you haven’t been here recently, let me brief you quickly: Israel was in bondage to Egypt for 430 years. God called an 80 year old shepherd named Moses to go and lead His people out of bondage. In order to do so, God sent 10 terrible plagues on the land and people of Egypt, as the king of Egypt (Pharaoh) continued to harden His heart, as God said that he would. The purpose of all of that was clearly explained by God Himself:

Exodus 3:7, 8, 20 – “Then the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…”

Exodus 10:1,2 – “Then the LORD said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Exodus 14:4 – “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD…”

God wanted everyone to know who He was: the LORD (Jehovah), the promise keeping God who wanted a special relationship with His people. He was going to redeem His people, and bring them out of bondage, based on this relationship.

After the 10th plague, which was the death of the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh let God’s people go. They had not been gone long, when God led them to a “dead end” of sorts. And then, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his entire army after the Israelites to bring them back and make them slaves once again. The people of Israel were trapped, it seemed, between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, with no way of escape. They became afraid, and started to blame their leader. But their leader, Moses, re-assured them:

Exodus 14:13,14 – “And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

And that is exactly what happened. God opened up the Red Sea, allowed His people, all 2,000,000 of them to pass through on dry land; and then when the Egyptian army pursued them into the sea, He brought the waters down on them, killing them all. Let’s take a look at chapter 15:

Exodus 15:1 – “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

In our world, when something great happens, people write songs about it. Songs are written based on great love relationships, heroes of war, and victors in athletics. Songs are written to praise a product in a commercial, for a president, and for the worship of God. This practice began all the way back, when the people of Israel were saved by God, out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. They sang to Him a song of praise, recognizing who He was: Jehovah God (LORD). This mighty God overthrew the Egyptian army by His mighty hand. That is certainly a good reason to sing, isn’t it? Let’s continue:

Exodus 15:2 – “The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

They make it personal. Yes, this was their forefathers God: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was the same God who gave those promises back then that was bringing the fulfillment of those promises to these people. Not only that, they could personally say: He is my God. And because of that, they would exalt Him (lift Him up). We need to do the same thing!

Exodus 15:3 – “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.”
Moses, back in the days that he was growing up in Egypt, was known as a man of war. Pharaoh, King of mighty Egypt, was known as a man of war. But now, this song puts in His rightful place, the real warrior of power, the real man of war: the LORD is his name.

Exodus 15:4,5 – “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.”

What a powerful word picture of what they saw: the mighty Egyptian army sinking in the Sea that they had just crossed on dry ground. Remember what they just experienced?

Exodus 14:30,31 – “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD…”

When they saw what God had done for them, they erupted in praise.
SO WHAT? Praise God for who He is

These verses mention what, specifically, God has done, but I think the key here, is the recognition of who God is. Remember: that is what God was after in the first place: that everyone would know His name. And not only that, the people were making it personal; which we must also apply:
· Make your praise personal

Let’s do that right now. Let’s apply this example from the nation of Israel, responding in praise to God. Several people have volunteered to give praise to God this morning, through brief testimonies. I have asked some of them to expand on their testimony a bit, in order to give you a fuller picture of what God has done for them.

· Sam Gray
· Alice Wills

This is not just about Israel’s God, or the God of our founding fathers, or the God of your parents or grandparents. This is about you and your God.
Pray remembering that you are actually talking to your God
Sing, keeping in mind that you are singing this to your God
Don’t talk about how Jesus just saved others; but praise Him for how He saved you

Would you stand with me please? (worship team up)
Notice that Moses and the people of Israel sang to God to praise Him for what He did for them, and to acknowledge who He was. It is the same for us today. You may not personally like the hymn we are about to sing; or some of the praise songs. Sing them anyway, because of your love for God and in order to express the gratefulness of your heart to Him.You may not even like to sing; or don’t have a very good voice. Don’t worry: Your’re not trying to win American idol here. We are corporately giving our praise to God through song, because we love Him; and He deserves our praise. This is not about the music that you like. This is about the God who deserves our praise, expressed in song! So, let me encourage you, as we sing throughout the message this morning, to sing out as you can, even if you are unfamiliar with the songs. Let’s praise Him, first, by singing about His saving us, becoming our redeemer. Let’s sing.

Songs of Praise:
· I will sing of My redeemer
· Mighty to Save

Thank you. You may be seated. The song continues:

Exodus 15:6-8 – “Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.”

The song talks about what God had done. The reference to God’s right hand goes back to how God Himself gave this picture of taking on human qualities and using His own hand to bring this about:

Exodus 7:4,5 – “Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”

Exodus 15:9– “The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.”

This is a little insight into what was going on behind the scenes, in the palace of the King of Egypt. They were confident that they could simply use their military might, come after the Israelites and subdue them into bondage once again. Or, if necessary, they would wipe them out! For Pharaoh, this was about exerting his might and getting glory for he and Egypt. But, it didn’t quite work out that way. Listen to their song, in talking about God:

Exodus 15:10 – “You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.”

You see: it was God who would get the glory. In fact, that is exactly what God said, when He was explaining to Moses why Pharaoh would change his mind and come after them. It was so that God would take the glory from Pharaoh, for good. Remember:

Exodus 14:4 – “…And I will get glory over Pharaoh…and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD…”

Exodus 15:11,12 – “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.”

There’s a rhetorical question! Who is like you, O LORD? NOBODY! But, that was one of the issues all the way through the plagues. I mean, when Moses first went to Pharaoh, to tell him that the LORD (Jehovah) wanted him to let His people go, this is Pharaoh responded with:

Exodus 5:2 – “But Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

But, through all of this, God made Himself known. And although Egypt worshipped many false, dead gods, those gods were not able to save them from the plagues; and the LORD was shown to be the one and only true God. In each plague, what God did to Egypt was in direct judgment against particular gods that Egypt worshipped, and which should have been able to protect them. But, of course, they didn’t. And before the 10th and final plague, God said this:

Exodus 12:12 – “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night…and I will execute judgments on all the gods of Egypt…”

The song continues:
Exodus 15:13 – “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”

This reminds us of what I believe to be the major theme of Exodus. Of course, it is about God’s people getting out of bondage, leaving Egypt, and beginning toward the promised land. But, the main theme is about God’s redemption of His people. The title of our message series is: Redeemed for relationship. God redeemed them, brought them out of bondage with His mighty hand, and then led them to where He would dwell – in His presence. Soon, we are going to see in Exodus, how God is going to lay down rules for walking with Him – commandments so that His people would be in the right relationship with Him.

This is no different for us today. Atleast, the main theme is still present. God has redeemed us for relationship. He died on the cross for our sins so that we might have a relationship with Him. And everyone who places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation has a personal relationship with God, through Jesus, and has the assured hope of eternal life in Heaven. That is something to praise God for! And once we have that relationship, we then desire to grow in that relationship through humbly obeying His commands, found in His Word.

SO WHAT? Praise God for what He has done.
It is important to spell out what God has done for you. It is good to praise Him for His character qualities and the specific things He has accomplished in your life. Certainly, that begins with your salvation, but also includes the many other blessings and incredible miracles He has performed on your behalf.

· Make your praise specific

Let’s apply this right now, and continue to praise Him in testimony:
· Dena Pincombe
· Kristen Smith (written testimony) [worship team up]

God makes Himself known in so many ways in our lives. He uses circumstances and He uses other people to show His incredible power and His uniqueness as the one and only true God. It’s your turn to respond in praise. Would you stand with us please? Let’s sing about our redeemer, Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who came to save us from our sins. And then our song for this month: God Almighty; as we exalt the Almighty God who did incredible things for Israel, yes; but who does incredible things for us as well!

Songs:
· Jesus Messiah
· God Almighty

Thank you. You may be seated. The final part of this song seems to look ahead, past the incident at the Red Sea, to how that even was going to affect their future; and point to God’s control at all times. Keep in mind that God was not bringing them out of Egypt to just keep them wandering in the wilderness. There was a destination, a goal, a place they were headed. And as they headed to the Promised land of Canaan, they would be meeting and defeating nations and armies along the way. The song continues:

Exodus 15:14-16 – “The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.”

As they moved through the wilderness and toward the Promised land, the other nations would already have heard about the incredible things God had done, in Egypt and at the Red Sea. The people of Israel were praising God for how His name and fame would be spread to all peoples, based on what He has done. If you have read through the Old Testament, you know that many times Israel doesn’t even have to fight, as God brings victory all on His own. And when Israel does fight, it is evident that it is the power of God. This song speaks of it in such a way that the other nations just stand in awe, as they see the power of God and watch the nation of Israel pass by.
When you get to the book of Joshua, with the people ready to cross the Jordan and take over Jericho, listen to what one of the residents of Jericho said to the spies from Israel:

Joshua 2:9,10 – “…I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt…”

God was spreading His own name throughout the world with His redemption of His people. Did you catch that last phrase of verse 16: “the people…whom you have purchased.” Here we have another word that is related to the idea of redemption. God purchased His people’s freedom by His mighty works. Jesus Christ purchased our redemption through His death (blood), burial and resurrection. Just as the people of Israel received their gift by walking through the Red Sea, so we receive our free gift of eternal life by placing all of our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The song continues:

Exodus 15:17 – “You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.”

God would keep His promise, lead them to their own land, and set up His own presence in Jerusalem. This was to be God’s dwelling, brought about by His power; and would serve as a visible presence of His holiness and glory. We will see a temporary tabernacle built that had the presence of God for their trip through the wilderness. But, eventually, they would set up a place in Jerusalem, where God would be worshipped.

Exodus 15:18 – “The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, but would not rule and reign like God would. The LORD would rule over Israel forever, they sang. He was the one they were to worship and look to for guidance. Eventually, Israel would have their own human kings, but even then, they were to lead the people to follow God’s rule and obey Him.

And this even points us ahead to our future as well. Not only is God to be the King of our lives right now; but one day, when Jesus Christ returns, the reign of earthly kings will be over; and all will acknowledge that God is truly in control and they will worship Jesus Christ as their King. And He will rule forever. The final book of the Bible looks ahead to this time:

Revelation 21:3-5 – “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face…and night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

And then, the song here in Exodus 15 comes back to the place the song began: praising God because He had great victory over the Egyptians, bringing His people safely through the Red Sea:

Exodus 15:19 – “For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea.”

This is the reason God will be worshipped, and why He will reign forever and ever. Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, gathers the women, and leads them in singing the first verse again:

Exodus 15:20,21 – “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Later, in the book of Micah the prophet, God revealed just how important Miriam was, along with Moses and Aaron:

Micah 6:4 – “For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

This was the testimony of the people of Israel, concerning what God had done for them. What is your testimony of what God has done for you?

SO WHAT? Praise God for His future promises
Just like Israel who could sing about the future that God had promised for them; so we can sing about our future. It includes a home in Heaven, and forever enjoying the presence of God, face to face. There is nothing better than that! So:
· Make your praise continual

Don’t let this be a Sunday thing. Don’t let it be a singing thing. From now until you see Jesus Christ again, you have a reason, let alone the command by God, to praise Him. Let’s apply that right now with a couple more testimonies:

· Scott Tyson
· Shannon Dawson

Would you stand with us please? [worship team up]
Because of who God is and what He has done, it motivates us, it draws us, it compels us, to worship Him. Yes, worship is more than just Sunday mornings and singing. It is a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week living our lives in humble obedience to Him. But, when we gather together, one of the ways we are asked to worship God is to sing out with loud voices, young voices, old voices, good voices and those not so good…making a joyful noise to the LORD! There is no better way for us to end our message and service today, than to sing a couple more songs about our Great God.

Songs:
· How Great is Our God

We sing How Great is our God, as we consider what He has done; and we close by singing the hymn: Jesus Paid it All, to remember that the only reason we can have a personal relationship with God and be with Him forever, is because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. Here is the reality for us today, who have trusted in Christ:

I Peter 1:18 – “Knowing that you were [redeemed]…not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Let’s praise Him for that!

· Jesus paid it all

AT THE DEAD END OF LIFE

This message was preached at Grace Baptist Church in WEstlake, Ohio (www.gbcwestlake.org) on May 17, 2009. The study of the people of Israel and their journey to the Promised Land is a very insteresting and instructive one. I am learning alot but also realizing that this story is about me as well. There are a ton of things that I need to apply to my own heart and life. There are times in life when we seem to be at a dead end. What we do in those times says alot about who we are trusting in to make it through life: ourselves or God. This is a continual challenge to me. I trust, as you read this message, that you will be challenged as well.
Greg

AT THE DEAD END OF LIFE
Exodus 14:1-31

Please turn in your Bible to Exodus, the 2nd book of the Bible, and chapter 14…Exodus 14.

Let me bring you quickly up to date. God called an 80 year old Shepherd, named Moses, to lead His people Israel, out of bondage in Egypt. In order to do so, God would send 10 terrible plagues on the land and people of Egypt, so that they would know who He was and would then let His people go. Finally, after the 10th plague, the King of Egypt, Pharaoh, was willing to obey God and let His people go. Let’s look at what happened. On the screen is a summary, beginning in:

Exodus 12:31-41 – “Then he [Pharaoh] summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said…The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, We shall all be dead…The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children…The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Think about it…this is all the people of Israel had known. Their fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers had been slaves in Egypt, and now…they were free! There were about 2,000,000 Israelites who walked out of Egypt, and were on their way to the land God had promised them. What an incredible thing! They had seen God perform miracles and bring them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Now, they just needed to follow His lead. He could certainly be trusted! Come back, for a moment, to the end of chapter 13; and look at:

Exodus 13:21,22 – “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

So, to review (in your notes):
God gave Himself to His people through a cloud and fire, to lead them.
This would be easy right? They didn’t need to think very long about God’s will. All they needed to do was follow Him. He appeared as a cloud in the day, and all they needed to do was follow that cloud. They could do that! And then when night fell, He would lead them by fire that lit up the night sky. Just follow the cloud, and just follow the fire. No problem.

Don’t you wish we had that? Don’t you wish that God would lead that clearly in your life? Don’t be so sure that He doesn’t. As we noted last week, God had given us His guidebook for our lives. There are hundreds of things we know to be the will of God. We just have to do them.

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God’s Word, the Bible, is our cloud and fire, to lead and guide us. I know it may not give you the particular answers you are looking for, but nevertheless, it guides us to do God’s will. You see, because of God’s Word, there are things that we never have to wonder about, whether it is God’s will or not. Is it God’s will to tell the truth in all circumstances? The Bible tells us: yes. So, if you are wondering, in your own situation, whether or not God wants you to tell the truth, the answer is clear. The answer is also clear for the following questions:
· Should I have sex outside of marriage? No

The Bible is clear that God created sex for marriage only; and we can see the destruction is causes when people decide to do it their way and not God’s.

But, we might ask:
· Why did God give me such a strong sex drive if he didn’t want me to use it?
· God didn’t expect me just to stop, when the temptation was so great, did He?
· But my spouse wasn’t faithful to me- why should I be faithful to Him?
· But no one will marry me, and I have these needs. Won’t God understand?

We try to justify our sinful actions, as though we don’t know God’s will, when He has made it crystal clear. Here is another one:

· Should I give sacrificially, joyfully and voluntarily to God? Yes.

The Bible is clear about that. But, we ask the questions anyway:
· I don’t have to give when the whole country is in a recession do I?
· God doesn’t expect me to give unless I have extra money right?
· Doesn’t God understand that I need this money for myself?
· Since God is concerned with the heart, isn’t it o.k. if I just give 3% instead of 10% or greater? It won’t fit my budget.

Money is one of those things that we struggle with the most; and yet God has clearly told us what our priorities are to be and how to please Him in our giving.
One more question that shouldn’t be a question:

· Should I forgive that person? Yes

God is crystal clear about this issue of forgiveness; and yet we question it:
· God doesn’t expect me to really forgive that person, does He?
· How can I forgive Him when He hasn’t asked for forgiveness?
· Am I supposed to forgive that person, even though they hurt me, over and over and over again?
· But they don’t deserve forgiveness – how can you expect me to do it?

In each of these questions, God uses His Word as a cloud and fire to say: this is what my will is. The only real question is this: Will you obey me? So, yes, it seems easy, to just follow the cloud and the fire, to follow God’s revealed Word. But, in reality, because of our selfish and sinful natures, it is not that easy…is it?

What should our response be?
· Find out what the Word of God says and just do it.

I know that is harder than it sounds; but at the basic level, that is what each of us is asked by God to do. So, in trying to figure out what God wants for your life, begin there. Read, study and apply the Word of God to your life…daily.

Israel had God leading them by a cloud and by fire. They just had to follow. But, they were about to find out that we don’t always like where God leads us; and it doesn’t always make sense to us. In fact, it seems like we are at a dead end in life, and have no way out. So, we come up with our own solutions rather than trust in God for deliverance and help.

They were married for 21 years, but once their children were grown and out of the house, the reality set in…they didn’t know each other, they didn’t really like each other…fact is, that they stayed together for the children. But now, with the children gone, they felt they were at a dead end. And the only logical conclusion they could come up with seemed obvious…and so they got the divorce.

She was a young, vivacious woman with a ton of potential and hopes for the future. But, she was sexually abused by a family friend, was threatened into keeping it a secret and didn’t tell anyone. She found some safety in giving of her body to interested boys, but never found true security or satisfaction. In fact, she became the butt of jokes and target of humiliation at school. In her mind, she had reached, even at an early age, the dead end of life. And to her, there was only one way to solve the problem. So, while her parents were gone for the weekend, she overdosed on pills; and took her own life by suicide.

He seemed to have it all. He had a young wife, 3 beautiful children, and a well paying job. Life couldn’t get any better. It got tougher when one of his children became ill, but at least the insurance through his company covered the costs for the best health care money could buy. He and his wife had their differences, but as long as he provided her with the nicest clothes, home and vacations, she seemed to be satisfied. Why should he complain? But, on the day he unexpectedly lost his job, everything changed. He no longer had the insurance to care for his son’s medical needs. He could no longer give his wife everything she wanted. And the jobs he could get didn’t come close to what he had before.

He was at a dead end and didn’t know what to do. Divorce and suicide never entered his mind; but he would do anything, and I mean, anything, to get out of his circumstances. That is when a friend of his introduced him to the world of gambling…and when he won some money with his very first bet, he thought he had stumbled on to the way recovering his dream and having all the money he wanted. But, he eventually started losing, and yet he didn’t stop gambling. In fact, he didn’t feel he could. He secretly gambled away their life savings and went quickly into major debt. He was now addicted to gambling…his response to his dead road.

How do these happen? When you come to a seeming dead end in life, how are you tempted to resolve your problems? Let’s find out this morning the different responses of people to a dead end situation that came into being for the people of God, the children of Israel. And also, let’s consider what we should do when we face similar circumstances in life.

Exodus 14:1-4 – “Then the LORD said to Moses, Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. In front of Baal-zephon, you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory
over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. And they did so.”

General Washington was approaching one of the fiercest battles of his campaign.He and his troops had crossed over a bridge as they were nearing the battle when one of his officers came to him and asked whether or not to burn the bridge behind them.(It was customary to burn the bridges as they crossed over them to prevent the enemy from slipping up on them from behind & to prevent soldiers from running away from the battle when it became to hot to handle.)The great General Washington looked toward the battle and then looked back to where they had come from and then back toward the battle and then gave his answer.“Burn the bridge, it is either victory or death.” God had led the people of Israel into a place where they had no choice but to be desperate for His help.

This was a little strange, wasn’t it? Basically, God asked Moses to take the 2,000,000 people and backtrack to a place that seemed more like a place to rest than a route to get where they needed to go. According to pastor and commentator Charles Swindoll:

“The trouble was, Baal-zephon formed a perfect geographical cul-de-sac. A dead-end street. Just to the north stood some formidable Egyptian fortresses – massive stone structures. No way they could get through there. To the south lay the vast Egyptian desert called Mizraim. No protection there. To the west lay Raamses and Goshen. That’s where they’d just been; They couldn’t return to Egypt. To the east lay the Red Sea, today called the Gulf of Suez. The northernmost section of that gulf was the Reed Sea, or the Sea of Reeds, most often translated the Red Sea.”

But, as God told Moses where to go, He also told Him what would happen. Here was His plan: Go to this dead end…and, Pharaoh will hear about where you are, and realize that you are trapped. I will then harden Pharaoh’s heart and He will decide to pursue you with all He has. And I will have victory over them. And the reasons I am doing this, is so that I will have the glory and not Pharaoh, and the Egyptians will know I am the LORD, Jehovah, the promise keeping God who is all about having a special relationship with His people. Now, Moses could have questioned that; but he led the people exactly where God said. And exactly what God said took place:

Exodus 14:5-9 – “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.”

Here are the circumstances, in which Israel found itself:
· The Egyptian army was pursuing them, to take them back to slavery
· Israel was at a dead end, with no way of escape

Just as with the stories I told you earlier, there are several options for responses when we get to a dead end in life. I want you to see how different people in this story responded to this circumstance; and then consider how you should respond to yours. The first response was this:

· The Egyptian army trapped the people of Israel and thought they were in control.

Pharaoh had finally obeyed God, but now he was questioning whether he should have done that or not. The effect of the plagues somehow wore off, and all he could think about was that he had lost all of his slaves! Now, he and his people were going to have to do the work. And, he received word that Israel had put themselves in a dead end of sorts, and the opportunity to regain all of his servants arose. So, he hardened his heart, which God was in control of (God hardened it), and took his military force and went after the people of Israel. He was probably thinking that he had Israel trapped, there was nothing they could do, and he would have easy victory. Apparently, they had not learned enough about God from the 10 plagues, and they were willing to test Him again.

It was true: someone was trapped; but it wasn’t the Israelites. God had the Egyptian armies right where He wanted them, in order to teach them about Himself; and to bring judgment on them once again for their disbelief.
An article appeared in the USA Today this week, about an airplane crash last week in the Buffalo area: “In the minutes before their commuter plane gyrated out of control near Buffalo, the pilots of a Continental Connection flight joked and talked about work conditions – distractions that were forbidden under federal law. The cockpit recording released by the National Transportation Safety Board Tuesday offers some of the first clues that could help explain why the pilots allowed the place to get too slow and then apparently tugged the plane into a sudden, fatal climb. It shows that the pilots were perhaps inattentive during a critical phase of the flight as they prepared to land. Other evidence released by the safety board suggests they may also have suffered from lack of sleep, poor training and inattentive oversight by federal regulators…Neither pilot realized that they had reduced the power to a dangerously low setting, according the recording and other data released by the safety board…instead of adding power and lowering the plane’s nose as pilots are taught, Renslow pulled the plane into a climb that slowed it even further.”

These pilots became too comfortable with their own ability to handle anything that might come. They thought they were in control; but because of their negligence, lives were lost. The king of Egypt thought he was in control…still! He had the people of Israel where he wanted them, and all he needed to do was show his military might and take the people back under his control. But, he failed to recognize what he was up against. He failed to follow God’s rules; and because of that, all his army would be lost.

So, that was the perception of this by the King and his army. But, what was the first impression and perception of this by the people of Israel? They had seen God’s power in deliverance. They were being led to the Promised Land by God, who was guiding them by a cloud and by fire. But, unfortunately, they allowed their present circumstances to control their response:

Exodus 14:10-12 – “When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Here is the next response to the same circumstance:
· The people of Israel blamed Moses, and thought God had lost control.

This is humanly understandable, isn’t it? This is not what they signed up for. This was not according to their plan! The location was not bad, because they did not expect what was about to happen. Can you imagine the thunderous noise and looking up to see what the commotion is all about; and to see the Egyptian army, in all its strength in pursuit…And to realize the obvious…we are trapped; and then to assume…we are all going to die!

So, they cried out to the LORD, which I assume, was for deliverance. That was not a bad move. However, the next thing they did revealed what was going on in their hearts, and really, their lack of trust in God. They did what most of us do when we don’t like the circumstances God has put us in…we try to blame someone else. And if you are in any position of authority, then you have experienced what I have experienced, what Moses experienced… when people feel trapped and are under stress, they tend to blame the leader…in this case, Moses.

We cannot forget, that as we travel through this Old Testament book, it is not just for us to learn facts of thousands of years ago; but to grow in our knowledge of the truth, and to apply that truth to real life today:

Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
So, what should your response be to similar situations of a seeming dead end?

· When you feel trapped, remember that God is in complete control and has His own purposes in mind.

If they would have remembered what God had done and His promises, and applied them to their circumstances, they could have trusted. God made it clear that it was no mistake that they were in that spot. In fact, HE had led them there:

Exodus 13:17,18 – “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea…”

And in the first few verses of chapter 14, God told Moses where to take them and told him exactly what would happen. God was in control of this; and it is no different today. When Israel blamed Moses and complained against Him, you could tell that their perspective was warped:
· They assumed they were going to die: “what- no graves in Egypt, so you brought us out here?
· They were ungrateful - They saw it as something Moses did terribly to them, rather than praising God and thanking Moses for delivering them from 400 plus years of slavery!
· They deceived themselves - They acted as though slavery was better: didn’t we tell you we wanted to stay in Egypt – it is better to be slaves in Egypt than to come out here and be killed!

Now… it is easy for us to listen to their complaints, and respond: Are you crazy? Don’t you realize what God has done for you? Don’t you remember the plagues? You trusted Him to get you out of Egypt; and you can’t trust Him to get you out of Pharaoh’s hands now? Are you insane, thinking that slavery is better than freedom? We have a lot of things we would like to tell the Israelites. But, not so quickly. Because, believe it or not, the same things the people of Israel struggled with here, are the things we struggle with as well. Like what, you might ask? Here are some of the deceptive thoughts we can easily buy into:

· Once I become a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and am free from my bondage to sin and spiritual death, life will be easy. Now, we might not say that, but it is what many Christians believe. They are not prepared for the hardships that come with Christianity. Here is another deceptive thought:
· God would never lead me to a dead end. You think if you are in a trapped situation, that someone else is to blame; when, in reality, God led you or allowed you to be there, to fulfill His own purposes. We might also think:
· God’s will is that I would be happy, healthy and wealthy. Garbage. God’s will is that you would glorify Him by growing spiritually; and usually that involves some discomfort, which might includes times of sadness, ill health and financial problems. God is more concerned about your holiness than He is your happiness. Now, ultimately, when you are in Heaven, you will have eternity to be happy, healthy and wealthy. But, for now, it might not be.

Every day, we are tempted to think these types of deceptive thoughts, especially when we find ourselves in less than admirable circumstances. But, it is in those very types of situations, that our faith is tested, and we find out where our hope truly lies. We are tempted to think deceptive thoughts; but instead, this is to be:

II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walking by faith means that we can trust even when the circumstances seem dim.
How is Moses going to respond to this circumstance and to the criticisms and blame of the people? Will he punish them? Will he attack them verbally as well? Will he pass the blame to someone else? Let’s find out what this leader does:

Exodus 14:13,14 – “And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Moses’ response:
· Moses, Israel’s leader, pointed them to God and to trust in Him

That is what a good leader does. Regardless of the circumstances, he reminds people that God is in control and knows what He is doing. The leader encourages them to believe and to see what God will do. Instead of taking matters into their own hands, the good leader challenges them to believe in God’s promises and let God do what only He can do.

He told them: stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD. They were not going to be able to do anything to save themselves. They were going to just have to watch God do His thing. The Bible encourages us, in everyday life, to:

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

“Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School that day. ‘Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind the enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge, and all the people walked across safely. He used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters and call in an air strike. They sent in bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.’ ‘Now, Joey, is that REALLY what your teacher taught you?’ his mother asked. ‘Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!’”
Exodus 14:15-18 – “The LORD said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

God’s response:
· I will judge the Egyptians, and let them know who I am (the LORD)

This would be an incredible miracle. Had put everything in place so that he could perform this particular miracle to make it clear that He was the only God, to be trusted by Israel and feared by Egypt. God put His people in a situation in which they could not escape so that their only confidence could be in Him.

Chester Puller was a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps officer. While in command over a large number of men in combat, he inadvertently moved into an area that was crawling with the enemy. Suddenly he realized he and his men were surrounded. To the north lay a platoon of the enemy, as well as on both his flanks. To the rear, another company; all escape routes were closed off. What did Puller do? He just tightened his fist and said, That’s outstanding. They’ll never get away this time!”

This was God’s response to the dead end circumstances of Israel. God had always been in control. And His moves were meant to bring glory back to Himself. He wanted everyone, including His enemies, to know that He was Jehovah, the God who keeps His promises and desires a special relationship with His people…and that Egypt had rejected Him; but instead worship a variety of dead gods.

Exodus 14:19,20 – “Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.”

The pillar moved between the Israelites and the Egyptians, indicating that God had become a wall of protection between His people and their enemies. The pillar gave light to Israel but darkness to the enemy, for the faithless people of Egypt couldn’t understand the ways of God.

The Egyptian army was there, but God did not allow them to attack yet. Humanly speaking, they should have been able to overtake them and capture them. But, when God is involved in human events, no one can do anything without God allowing them. He was setting up the circumstances for His purposes; and no one was going to disrupt His plan. The Bible declares:

Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”

God took the circumstances that seemed like a dead end for His people and turned them into new circumstances, that brought hope, life and faith. The new circumstance was this: God was delivering His people

Exodus 14:21,22 – “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”

The people of Israel did not respond well, but God kept His promises anyway and continued demonstrating His faithful love toward His people.

· Psalm 106:7,8 – “Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them from his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.”

How did Moses respond to the fact that God was going to do this miracle?
· Moses obeyed God by doing everything He said to do

He communicated the truth to the people; and he followed God’s instructions throughout this process.

Exodus 14:23-25 – “The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch, the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

What was the enemies’ response:
· The Egyptians pursued Israel, recognized God’s presence, and then tried to retreat.

Warren Wiersbe writes: When Moses stretched out his hand, the Lord sent a powerful wind that drove the sea waters back and opened the way for the Jews to cross. Psalm 77:16-20 indicates that a severe rainstorm accompanied the high winds, and after Israel had crossed, the rain turned Israel’s dry pathway into a muddy road. When the Egyptian soldiers tried to follow, the mud disabled their chariots and impeded their progress and when the waters returned, all the Egyptian soldiers were drowned. It was indeed a night to be remembered.”

Exodus 14:26-28 – “Then the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.”

God’s response:
· God parted the Red Sea for His people to pass through; and then brought the waters back on the Egyptians, killing them all.

He performed the miracle of parting the waters; and now the miracle of bringing it down at His command. And did you notice how complete God’s work of judgment was: “not one of them remained.”

Exodus 14:29-31 – “But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”

Response:
· God’s people placed their trust in God and His leader Moses.

The people saw the incredible miracle God performed in protecting them and in bringing judgment on the Egyptians. That caused them to fear the LORD.

To fear God means that you respect who He is by humbly obeying Him. It is not as much about being afraid of Him as it is an understanding of His character and works that leads us to follow His commands with a humble spirit. Pharaoh and Egypt did just the opposite.

Your response:
· Respond to what God has done by trusting and humbly obeying.

“Gladys Alward, missionary to China more than fifty years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng. But she could not leave her work behind. With only one assistant, she led more than a hundred orphans over the mountains toward Free China. In their book "The Hidden Price of Greatness," Ray Besson and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker tell what happened: "During Gladys’s harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng ... she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A 13-year-old girl in the group reminded her of their much-loved story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. "But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation. "Of course you aren’t," the girl said, "but Jehovah is still God." When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can trust in him. When the situation seems impossible, just remember to have a personal confidence in God, practice obedience to God, and understand that God has a purpose in all the experiences we have with Him.”

Take some time to meditate and pray about what you have just heard from God’s Word. And then, listen to the song as you are encouraged to remember God.

2 FUNERALS, A BABY DEDICATION AND A WEDDING

One of the privileges of being a pastor is that I get to be with families during the major events and stages of life. I am there when the emotions are the strongest and true feelings, regardless of what they are, come out. I get to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who weep. I get to see babies when they are first born, and hold the hands of people as they pass from his life. I am involved in the reality of people's lives, not just the external front most people get to see. I woudln't want to be doing anything else!

In the past few weeks, I have officiated at 2 funerals, a parent/child dedication, and today, I get to pronounce a young couple in love: husband and wife! I admit that funerals are the most difficult. Because emotions are so raw, I never know exactly what I am going to experience. It wasn't long ago, that I arrived early to meet with the family, just before the official viewing began for a parent who had died. Not 2 minutes after I walked in the room, family members were yelling at one another, verbally fighting, crying, making accusations, and dredging up the ugliness of past family life. I had to sit them all down, calm them all down, and try to bring some focus before the crowds arrived! Although funerals are tough, which also includes: being with families before the person actually dies; often being in the room when they die; being with family after the death; and then being a part of the viewing and officiating the funeral service...it is also the time when people need the greatest care, and just need someone to sit with them, listen to them, pray with them. I can do that. Every time I participate in a funeral, I am reminded of how short life really is; and what will be most important to leave behind once I am gone. This draws me closer to God...every time.

That is, of course, the end of life experiences. One of the greatest joys of mine is at the opposite end of the spectrum, when a new baby is born. I often get the opportunity to be one of the first ones to see a new baby in the hospital. I get to see the joy and extreme sleep deprivation on the new parent's faces! I get to hear the stories of how everything took place and how God brought this new life into the world. I get to hold this incredible creation of God, so small, so fragile. It is awesome! And then, within the first year or two, those same parents bring their child to be dedicated to God in our worship service. Our parent/child dedication, normally held on Mother's Day, is the time when parents publicly dedicate themselves to God and their children as well. The emphasis is on the ones who can make choices at this time, the parents, to commit themselves to bringing up their children in God's ways. The prayer is that the children, once they grow, will make a decision, on their own, to be followers of Jesus Christ. We just had a dedication, and it was great to see and hear they young children, making noises, moving around, and being present as their parents made this very important decision. You have to love babies!

And then, somewhere before the middle of life, usually, comes this special celebration, in which I get to participate today: a wedding! Many times, I get to be a part of the process, as I give pre-marital counseling in the months leading up to the special day. Today, I get to officiate as a young couple make lifetime vows to one another. I get to challenge them to look to the only one who can truly satisfy (Jesus Christ) and actually help them keep their vows. They will always remember this day, a new beginning...a new stage of life...the day when two separate individuals became one flesh! In a day, when half of the marriages end in divorce, today is a day of hope. And that hope is based on the power of Jesus Christ that can help us keep our commitments, regardless of what this life will bring. Congratulation to the bride and groom!

Thanks, God, for the privilege of being a part of people's lives, as we walk this life's journey together.

FREE AT LAST

This message was preached at Grace Baptist Church in Westlake, OH on May 10, 2009.
I am not very good at preaching messages for special days. I do Christmas messages each year, but not normally messages for memorial Day, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. Other guys do great at that...I don't. So, on this Mother's Day (last Sunday), we were still in Exodus, and this is the message that was preached. It as also fitting, for he message, that we observed The Lord's Table together as well. Don't worry:we did celebrate Mother's Day, by reading some articles, praying for them, giving them flowers and candy; and having a parent/child dedication. It was a good way to honor all mothers, I think. Now for the message:

FREE AT LAST
Exodus 12:33-13:22

Please turn in your Bible to the 2nd book of the Bible, the book of Exodus, and find chapter 12…Exodus 12.

John Bartlett relates an historical event connected to our topic for today: Back in our earliest days as a nation, a determined 39 year old, radical-thinking attorney addressed the Virginia Convention. It was on March 23, 1775, a time of great patriotic passion, and his patriotism refused to be silenced any longer. Sounding more like a prophet of God than a patriot for his country, he announced:

“If we wish to be free we must fight!..I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms, and to the God of hosts, is all that is left in us. It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. The gentlemen may cry ‘Peace, peace!’ but there is no peace. The war has actually begun!..Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we her idle?..Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

What a soul-stirring speech! We applaud the courageous passion of Patrick Henry to this day. Because of it he remains in our minds one of our national heroes. Not quite ninety years later we were fighting one another in our country’s worst bloodbath. And again I remind you, it was for the cause of liberty. The issue was slavery versus freedom. The black people of our nation were not free. It was the conviction of the United States government that they should be free, and if necessary, we would take up arms against those who opposed their liberation from slavery.

Charles Sumner did a masterful job of summing up the issue of the Civil War in a speech made on November 5, 1864: “Where Slavery is, there Liberty cannot be; and where Liberty is, there Slavery cannot be.”

The idea of freedom goes all the way back to the days when the people of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Eventually, through a mighty display of power, God fought for and bought the redemption of His people. We are going to see the result of that this morning, as the people of Israel are freed, and because of their freedom, they are asked by God to remember Him through ceremonies and celebrations, as well as by how they live each day. We are also going to be reminded, today, that even as Christians who live in the 21st Century, we have freedom to celebrate. But, the freedom I am referring to is not the freedom here in the United States. It is the spiritual freedom, the eternal freedom, that comes to every person who has placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. And because of this freedom, we also are asked to remember, to celebrate, and to live our lives for God.

After the 10 plagues of Egypt, the king, Pharaoh, told Moses and the people of Israel to go immediately. The people of Egypt got involved as well:

Exodus 12:33-36 – “The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, We shall all be dead. So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”

There is fulfillment of prophecy in these verses. God had told Abraham, when He first gave him the promises of a new nation, that his descendants would be in bondage but would come out with great possessions:

Genesis 15:14 – “But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”

And then, when God was laying out his plan to Moses, he included this:
Exodus 3:22 –“But each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and god jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughter. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

All of this came to pass, just as God said it would. The slaves asked their owners, so to speak, for their gold and silver jewelry; and they gave it to them. And we are told why: because God gave His people favor in the sight of His enemies, the Egyptians.

SO WHAT? does this have to do with us, today? The principle is throughout God’s Word:
· God will use, even, His enemies, to accomplish His will and be a blessing in your life.

Don’t be surprised if God uses non-believers to bring blessings or direction to your life. Even with people who do not claim to believe in God or follow Jesus Christ, God is in control and knows how to give you favor in their eyes, causing them to be a blessing in your life; and providing the resources you need to accomplish God’s will.

Exodus 12:37-39 – “And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.”

When the people of Israel first arrived in Egypt, they had 70 people:
Exodus 1:5 – “All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons…”
And now, there were 600,000 men, and on top of that number, the women and the children.Scholars estimate, that with the women and children, there could have been up to 2,000,000 people of Israel who left for the Promised land. And they marched out of Egypt, in clear sight of the people:

Numbers 33:3,4 – “They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them…”

Now, verse 38 says a mixed multitude went up with them out of Egypt. In Numbers 11:4, this same phrase is translated: “rabble”, referring to those who were complaining. According to Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on this section: “This suggests that the “mixed multitude” originated with most of the complaining in the camp that created so many problems for Moses. Some of this crowd may have been Egyptians who had married Jews, contrary to God’s law; others were probably Egyptians who were frightened, impressed with Jehovah’s power (Ex. 9:20), and wanted to benefit from being with God’s chosen people. Perhaps they thought more judgments might fall on the land and they wanted to escape them.”

Did you notice, in verse 33, how the Egyptian people said: they must leave, or we might all be dead soon. They had suffered the death of the firstborn, and all the other 9 plagues; and they wondered if they would be next. Some of the Egyptians decided to go with the people of Israel, and take their chances.
Exodus 12:40-42 – “The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.”

Israel is referred to here as the “hosts of the LORD”. It is a military term, used here of Israel. Back in the beginning of Exodus, we met the King of Egypt (Pharaoh) at that time that did not take into account how Joseph, one of Israel’s sons, had protected Egypt in the past; and that Pharaoh became so afraid of the Israelites staging a coup, that they put Israel into hard bondage so that they would not be able to have the strength to overtake Egypt. Isn’t it interesting that it is the LORD Himself who takes of the fight for Israel and counts them as His “hosts” even though they didn’t have to do any fighting yet…they just needed to obey.

Don’t miss this: the fact that there were about 2,000,000 people who left Egypt is a fulfilled promise that God would make a great nation out of Abraham and would protect and deliver His people. Don’t miss what this also means for us:

SO WHAT?
· God keeps all of His promises to you
If there is a promise in God’s Word, that is meant for you, you can be 100% sure that that promise, in God’s timing, will come to pass. Be encouraged by that!

Exodus 12:43-49 – “And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, This is the statue of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired servant may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

This was a special celebration for God’s people and for those who chose to identify with God’s people through the physical act of circumcision. Back then, that was an identifying mark of those families that were the followers of the one and only true God. Today, the Bible would say that the mark of a true follower of God is one who has been spiritually circumcised: made clean by the forgiveness of sins and given a new, clean heart. The specific laws for the Israelites and for the foreigners who would reside with them will be spelled out later in Exodus and the rest of the Law of Moses.

Do you think it is just a coincidence that the command was not to break any of the lamb’s bones during the Passover celebration (v.45)? Now that we have all the Bible, we know that it was no accident, but a sign for things to come. In the Psalms, there are many statements looking ahead to the future King, Jesus Christ, who would come to redeem His people. This is what it predicted, that is connected to the Passover lamb:

Psalm 34:20 – “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
And then, when Jesus Christ died on the cross, and they did not break any of his bones, as they normally did, the Bible says:

John 19:36 – “For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken.”

God used this story of the Exodus and the celebration of the Passover to look ahead to a time when He would send His own Son, Jesus, to be the Passover Lamb.

Exodus 12:50, 51 – “All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.”

Exodus 13:1,2 – “The LORD said to Moses, Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

This goes beyond the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrations. This is something they were to continually celebrate, even when it wasn’t a certain time of year. Sometimes translated “sanctify”, consecrate means: “To make holy by giving to God.” We will see more of this in a moment.

Exodus 13:3-7 – “Then Moses said to the people, Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory.”

We have already read and discussed last week, some of the details of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. You can go to our website or at the welcome center table, sign up for the message: GOD ALMIGHTY, to be better informed on these celebrations. Verses 2-26 focus on the time when God would bring His people to the Promised land, where the Canannites lived and would give them victory over many groups of people.

This repeated statement (vs.3) that God brought his people out by “a strong hand” (vs.9,14,16) gives the framework for the instructions in this section and gives the foundation for why Israel is to faithfully keep the Feast of Unleavened bread (vs.3,9) and to consecrate the firstborn (vs14,16). It is also to remind Israel of God’s power and encourage them to fear the LORD but not to fear those who they will have to battle for the promised land (vs.5,11)

Exodus 13:8-10 – “You shall tell your son on that day, It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt. And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statue at its appointed time from year to year.”

Again, they are told not only to keep the commands of God as it relates to the celebrations, but also to pass them along to future generations (12:26; 13:14).
Later, Jews took this literally and wrote these passages of Scripture on separate strips of paper and put them in two small leather boxes. A man bound these boxes (called phylacteries in Matthew 23:5) on his forehead and left arm before beginning his morning prayers.

But God was not saying that they were to make containers of the laws and put them on their bodies, but they were to live in such a way, as a regular part of life in obeying God, that it would be as though they had actual marks on their hands and between their eyes (vs.16). They would know the law and live it to the extent that it abides in their mouth, as they speak the truths of God. They would be constantly talking about it and teaching it to their children:

Deuteronomy 6:7 – “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

SO WHAT? are we supposed to do with all this information on the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrations. Let me suggest that this is our application today:

· Celebrate the Lord’s Table, remembering that Jesus Christ redeemed you by dying for your sins.

We will celebrate this together in just a little while. But, for us today, who are not Jewish, we go back, not to the Exodus, but 2,000 years to when Jesus told us to remember what He was about to do: to give His body and blood, as a sacrificial substitute for us.

Exodus 13:11-13 – “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’S. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sins you shall redeem.”

In the 10th plague, God had spared the firstborn livestock and children from destruction; and therefore, into the future, they were to be dedicated to Him. They would either be sacrificed, some of the animals; or redeemed, with an animal’s blood being shed to take the place of a certain animal and the place of every firstborn child. The donkey, which was unclean (and could not count as a sacrifice) had to be redeemed with another animal or killed. All the firstborn children had to be redeemed, with the blood of a lamb being sacrificed in their place.

Redeem means: “To attain ownership or release of something or someone by paying a price.” This would be a continual reminder of what God did the night He brought the 10th plague and that they belonged to God. They needed to understand the importance of dedicating themselves, and their firstborns to God.

Because God had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt, He was now becoming their rightful owners. And in demonstrating that truth, they were to dedicate their firstborns to Him. We see this played out spiritually, in the New Testament as well:

Please read out loud with me the words that are highlighted:

Romans 6:17,18, 22 – “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and , having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness…But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”

Romans 12:1 – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

I Corinthians 6:20 – “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Just as the firstborn of Israel belonged to God, so all of us who are Christians are redeemed by Him and are therefore His.

SO WHAT? are we to do with the consecration ceremonies they had for the firstborn? Well, we should apply it, keeping in mind what Jesus Christ did for us; and do this:
· Commit yourselves, your children, and your resources to the service and glory of God.

I believe that is an appropriate application…not just the firstborn; but everything you have. Wouldn’t you say that is what the Bible has just told us to do? Like the parents did this morning, because we belong to God, we dedicate ourselves, our families and everything we have to God. We want to be used by Him and we want to bring glory to Him. And just like with the Passover and Feast of unleavened Bread, the parents were to teach their children about why they were following this command:

[Alex come forward when I begin to read this passage]
Exodus 13:14-16 – “And when in time to come your son asks you, What does this mean? You shall say to him, By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animal. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

As we have already seen, these special celebrations and times of remembrance would bring questions from children; and it would be the parent’s responsibility to explain why they were doing the things they were doing. When they celebrated the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and even the consecration of the Firstborn, it would provided opportunities to talk about who God was and what He had done for them in the past. The redeeming of the children was to be such a significant teaching and sacrifice that they would embody the teaching, as though it was an actually marked on their bodies. The way they lived was to point to Jehovah God, who brought them out of bondage with great power.

Let’s bring that ahead to today, for those of us who are not a part of Israel, but are children of God, if we have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. What do we celebrate today that parallels Passover and points us to how God has delivered us through the shed blood of a lamb? It is the Lord’s Table, sometimes referred to as the Lord’s supper or Communion. And it is an opportunity for us to consider what God has done and how it should affect our lives today. And it just so happens that my eldest son has some questions for me, just like they did back then.

Alex: What is the Lord’s Table, and why do we celebrate it?

Great question Alex…glad you asked! Jesus established the Lord’s Table, just after celebrating the Passover with His disciples, the night he was betrayed, which led into his trials and crucifixion the next day. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Passover lamb, who died for the sins of the world. He told His followers that He wanted them to celebrate this, remembering Him, until He returned. Since He has not yet returned, we continue to remember Him through this celebration, even today. Every time we have the Lord’s Table, we remember that He died for our sins; and it motivates us to be dedicated to humbly live for and obey Him.

Alex: Is this just a Baptist thing?

This has nothing to do with being a Baptist, or being a member of this church. It has to do with a person’s personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If anyone here has placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, they should partake of the elements...even if they are not a part of this church. If they have not done so, we encourage them to refrain from partaking, but to take the time to pray during the passing of the elements, in order to ask God to help them to know whether or not this is truth.

Alex: So, why do we use crackers? They are not very tasty you know.

Great question! We use crackers because it is like the unleavened bread: no yeast. They used unleavened bread to remember how quickly they had to leave Egypt; but the Bible talks about leaven as a symbol for sin. So, when we celebrate the Lord’s Table with this unleavened cracker, we are celebrating that Jesus’ body was given for us; and He had absolutely no sin: He was the unblemished Lamb of God.

Alex: And what’s with the grape juice?

They used wine to represent the blood of Jesus Christ. We use grape juice, but the actual contents are not the important part. The Bible talks about the cup representing the blood of Jesus Christ. We drink of the cup, using grape juice, as a reminder that Jesus Christ shed His blood to save us from our sins.

Alex: Anything else dad?

Yes, one more thing son. As you remember this celebration, don’t forget that this is to make an impact, not just on your emotions at this moment; but on how you live your life. It is to be as though you had markings on your body and the commands of God on your forehead. You are to live out, humbly, the teachings of God, each day of your life. That is the best way to remember what Jesus Christ has done for you! Thanks, son, you can have a seat.

We are now going to celebrate this together, as a present day application of what we have just read. Would you bow your heads with me for prayer please? Take a moment and thank God for giving of His Son and for how He gave His body as a sacrifice. Then, once the music starts, please remain seated as the element of the bread is passed out; and sing along with us, as we honor the King of our lives. Please hand on to the bread until I give you instruction to eat of it. Please pray now on your own and then sing with us.
[silent prayer; worship team gets set]

You Are My King

Jesus said:
Matthew 26:26 - “…Take and eat – this is my body” [eat the bread]

I Peter 1:18,19 – “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Jesus Christ was that lamb, and the cup we are about to partake of represents His blood. This is to remind us of what He did, as our substitute. We deserved to die, but He died in our place. And just as when the firstborn children were redeemed with the blood of the lambs, so we were redeemed with the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Would you please take a minute, once again, to pray silently, and talk to God about the blood of His Son that was shed for your sins. Perhaps, for the first time, you need to accept the free gift of eternal life, that is offered through His blood. Or, you might need to thank Him, again, for what He did for you on the cross. Or, perhaps, you need to re-commit yourself to living for Him, based on what He has done for you. Take some time to pray, and then join us as we sing about God’s Amazing Grace. Let’s pray.

[silent prayer; worship team gets set]

Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone

Jesus said:
Matthew 26:27,28 – “…this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins…drink of it, all of you.”

[worship team down]
It was by the body and blood of Jesus Christ that we have the opportunity for true freedom. The people of Israel had physical freedom out of Egypt. We can have true, spiritual and eternal freedom, out of the bondage of sin, because of His sacrifice, as the perfect, spotless, Lamb!
President Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke these words in his first inaugural address, January 20, 1953: “History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” As the man who helped lead the Allies to victory in World War II, General Eisenhower knew a great deal about the high cost of victory as well as the heavy burden of freedom that always follows.

British novelist Charles Kingsley rightly said, There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; and the true, where a man is free to do what he ought.” The people of Israel were now going to learn of the responsibilities that come with true freedom. God was going to teach them to make Him first in their lives, Kings of their lives. He was the Almighty God that redeemed them; but He did it so that they would have a special relationship with Him, which included God giving the commands and direction; and the people following with humble obedience. The same is true today.

Exodus 13:17,18 – “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.”

God did not lead them the short route, because he knew they were not ready for the wars they would have to fight. But, instead he led them the long way, where very soon, they would need the LORD to deliver them once again. There were Egyptian military posts along the shorter route; and God knew they were not ready to face the Philistine armies…not yet. As God said, they would be tempted to turn back to bondage in Egypt after just being freed from it by the Almighty God. That is hard to understand, but nevertheless true. And God had something else He wanted to teach them, which we will see next week. They came out of Egypt ready to fight, as far as they were concerned; but it is God who would be doing the fighting for them, according to His plan. Let me pause, here, to apply this to our spiritual journey today, as it relates to our freedom:

SO WHAT?
· After trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, we might be tempted to see how difficult the Christian life is, and turn back to our bondage to sin.

Believe it or not, people have done this. They trust in Christ, realize quickly that the Christian life is not easy; and they go back to their old, comfortable, destructive life styles. Just as insane as the Israelites wanting to go back to Egypt, so it is for us to desire the old way of living. And yet, because this is what can happen, God will many times bring other circumstances or people in to our lives to remind us of truth and to keep us from going back to what can destroy us.

· God knows what we need, and leads us to the people and places that will best strengthen our faith

Exodus 13:19,20 – “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”

Joseph was the guy God used to bring Israel into Egypt in the first place, as a refuge from the famine at that time; and to give them a place to live and grow. As long as Joseph was alive, things were good for the people of Israel. When Joseph died, he knew there would be a day when God would fulfill His promises and lead the people out of Egypt:

Joseph’s last wishes are recorded in:
Genesis 50:24,25 – “And Joseph said to his brothers, I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

This was a connection to the promises that God had made over centuries before; as they were released from bondage. In the New Testament, the fact that Joseph desired to be buried in the Promised Land was evidence of his great faith:

Hebrews 11:22 – “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”

This is like the faith we must have today, as we believe in God’s promises for our future.

Exodus 13:21,22 – “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

The cloud and fire demonstrated the presence of God throughout this book of Exodus:
· 3:2 – the burning bush
· 16:10 – giving the people manna
· 19:18 – on Mount Sinai
· 40:38 – in the tabernacle

Today, God doesn’t necessarily give us a cloud and fire to guide us; but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t guide us. He has given us His Holy Spirit to convict us; and He has given us His Holy Word, to be our guide. David rightly said:

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
You have the full revelation of God, that He wants you to have. You only have to read it, study it; and of course, apply it to everyday life. The people of Israel had the cloud and the fire, to show the presence of God. We have Him living within us, if we are His children; and we have His Word to guide us through life.

SO WHAT? does that mean for us? We must do what the Israelites needed to do…what Moses chose to do…
· By faith, we must trust that God will guide us through the journey of this life.

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT...RUNNING

I hate running. The only time I can remember "almost" liking it was 20 years ago, when I was running to train and hope to make a college soccer team. I was in the best shape of my life. It felt good; but after running 7 miles a day all summer, I gave running, unless I as running with a ball in my hand or on my foot or a raquet (you know...a real sport).

Every once in a while, if there was nothing else to do for excercise, I would run; but I didn't have to like it. So, why I am running right now? It's my family's fault! Teresa signed up for a 5K race at the end of May and encouraged my son Alex to run and me as well (something about doing this "together"). I don't know what I was thinking, but I agreed. Then, all of a sudden, it turned into a competition between my teenage son and I; and I all of a sudden had all this pressure (leave it up to guys to make everything a competition) to outrun this boy 30 years younger than me!

So, at the end of March, I began running 2 or 3 times a week, and still trying to play basketball or soccer with my family as well. The end is in sight, as the race is at the end of May, just over 3 weeks away. This seems, as good a time as any, to list the:

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT RUNNING

1. If I'm running, it means I'm not eating chocolate cake
2. It's mentally exhausting (since the whole time I'm running, I'm thinking "when is this going to be over"?)
3. My shins hurt when I run
4. There is no winner (except for race day- why run if no one wins?)
5. I have to stretch alot before I run (I hate strecthing)
6. I don't think running goes with my preferred diet
7. I had to buy new shoes (I don't like buying new shoes)
8. It makes my feet hurt the next day
9. The way to keep in shape is to keep doing it
10. It's not basketball, soccer or tennis