Isaiah 63:9 looks back.
Isaiah 63:9 looks forward.
In all their affliction, He was afflicted. And the angel of His Presence saved them. Saved me. This day. You, too. So, what's the point here for me this day?
URGENT! The Egyptians messaged the Israelites: Leave in haste or you will be "dead men." Plague #9 had already left all with no rest. 3 days of darkness. Would have freaked me out! There is s.o.m.e.t.h.i.n.g. about the darkness that scares the fire out of me. But Plague #10 proves to be a far greater horror. The death of every first born delivered by a Destroying Angel to all houses unmarked with blood. The universal sound of weeping and screaming and writhing and moaning all together, all at once. The earth mourns. How do you even bury that many children? What kind of God is this? A dead serious one. The Powerful Defender. And Pharaoh relents, reluctantly, surreptitious, stumbling: "Bless me Also!" Temporary submission.
So, Moses leads over one million thrust out "in haste." Exodus 12:33. Leave your unleavened dough and dirty dishes. No time to pack. No provisions for travel. Take only the plunderings. Move with purpose. Scores of livestock. 600,000 men on foot. Hundreds of thousands of women trembling and children toddling behind. Let's roll. I can't get a class of high schoolers to move with urgency during a fake fire drill. How did Moses maneuver t.h.i.s. God did.
So, what's the point for me, for you, as we read today's passage? I may be knee-deep in my own troubles...and there is something happening in my world while I am unaware. It was the end of 430 years, on that very day, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from Egypt. "It was a night of watching by the LORD to bring them out... ." And wait! What's in this for me? "So this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all of the people throughout their generations." Exodus 33:42
COME BOLDY: Timeless Prayers
Isaiah 63:9 for this day. This verse looks back on the affliction. Our Good God looks forward to this day on our affliction. And in every possible way we suffer: He suffers; He saves. To the uttermost! Come, LORD Jesus, and save us in all our afflictions this day.
PHOTO: It's the view outside my window in Washington. I look back to Isa 63:9 but Isa 63:9 looks to me this day. There is a God Who keeps a night of watching. I am a kept person in this mess of mine.
There were Egyptians who went with the Hebrew nation when they left Egypt. They had come to believe in the Lord God when they saw all of the plagues and then got relief from them. They were convinced that He was God! I think the Hebrews were convinced too.....for when Moses and Aaron told them to get ready to pick up and run and gave such explicit details on what to do and how to do it. The scripture says they believed and obeyed and did just as Moses and Aaron said. At that point in time the really trusted and believed. I think right then they were more than convinced that God was God! THEN in a short while, they forgot.......oh,how guilty of that am I. I truly desire to be far more conscious of Him and trust Him that He will come through for me in the things that I feel the most urgent need of.
ReplyDeleteI will take the time and place to praise Him. My daughter rose up this week and blessed me and I am still floating on air for it and thanking Him! I had felt that she had looked down on us when they chose to leave the church I raised her in and chose another church that is not what I thought was totally God honoring and another choice that they had made was in direct opposition to what I had done for her as she was growing up. In a text, I told her that I prayed she was being blessed by her study in BSF. She wrote me back and said she was so grateful for all of the truth that had been poured into her all of her life and thanked me for raising her in a church that taught the Truth. My mouth still falls open when I think of what she said. I give ALL the praise to Him, for it was His leading that we did what we did and stayed at a church that has always taught the Word, it's entire life of over 175 years. All seven pastors, which our Pastor is now the 7th one....have stood for the Truth and taught it from the pulpit. God is so good to give that to me.
I love your church and I've never been, Mary Lou! Can't imagine sitting under Adrian Rogers' teachings!
DeleteYour daughter never knew different until she left and learned how much of a gift that was!
And you continue to give God all glory!
Our Pastor now is just as awesome as Dr. Rogers was....totally different style of course, but still just as faithful to take a stand for Jesus and lift Him up every week. He is also a man of strong prayer. When we first went to church at Bellevue, I felt like I had truly been to church. And then when Bro Steve came and preached, felt like I had been to church again. I have been a blessed woman the last thirty three years. Tara sat under Dr. Rogers from age 9 till she was in late thirties. It did take the move for her to realize what she had been given and to give her voice to tell me. It had hurt so terribly when they left and went to this other church. I do not think my grandchildren were hearing the Word like she did at their age. Broke my heart...think they will get it in the new church in Dallas. We are so close to the end that we all need to be so much in the Word so that we can NOT be deceived, even those of us who have followed Him for so long. He led us to the church and He has kept us there...it is all Him and nothing of us.To God be the glory. Am still learning so much of Him.
DeleteThank You Lord God for delivering Israel from Egypt and thank You for the gift of our Savior the Passover Lamb.
ReplyDelete