January 26, 2006 - Exodus 14-15 and Matthew 17
Can you use your sanctified imagination to experience what the Israelites must have felt during the crossing of the Red Sea? Can you feel the strong wind blowing all night? Can you see the water standing up in two high walls to reveal dry ground on which to walk across the sea? Can you imagine 2 million people plus their flocks moving through the water to the safety of the other side? Can you feel a little of the awe and exhilaration of seeing God work in such a tremendous miracle? If you can imagine any of this, you can get a glimpse of this event, which has been called the national salvation experience of Israel. They were gloriously delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, as we are gloriously delivered from the bondage of sin. They were amazed at the powerful provision of God, so they feared the Lord and believed Him. (14:31) God is able to show Himself to each of us as individuals and to groups of us as He did here. The purpose is to lead us to believe Him. God wanted the Egyptians and the Israelites to trust Him. (14:4,25) He wants all of us to trust Him and to praise Him as the Hebrews did in chapter 15. However, even after such an awesome salvation experience the Hebrews returned to their complaining so quickly. (14:11,12; 15:24) The problem is that we must not only trust God to deliver us from sin for eternal salvation, but we must trust Him for the provisions for every day, because He is Lord. I urge all of us to turn in our complaining hearts and praise Him in holy trust.
Look at Matthew 17 with the same eyes of your soul? Can you imagine being on the Mount of Transfiguration, seeing Moses and Elijah with Jesus as well as hearing the voice of the Father? Can you see Jesus healing the demon possessed son? Can you laugh as Peter pulls out a fish with just the right amount of tax for the Temple in its mouth? Can you feel the wonder? Does it inspire you to believe, or are they just stories? If you don't believe the Word of God, you would not have believed if you had been there to see it for yourself. Belief has to do with your heart. That is why the disciples could not cast out the demon. Jesus was trying to get them to the point of trusting Him in that way, and He is trying to get us to the same point today. Are we listening to Him and watching for His works? Let's do! Let's not complain. Let's not miss His point. Let's believe Him completely for He is Lord of all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 16-18 and Matthew 18:1-20.
Look at Matthew 17 with the same eyes of your soul? Can you imagine being on the Mount of Transfiguration, seeing Moses and Elijah with Jesus as well as hearing the voice of the Father? Can you see Jesus healing the demon possessed son? Can you laugh as Peter pulls out a fish with just the right amount of tax for the Temple in its mouth? Can you feel the wonder? Does it inspire you to believe, or are they just stories? If you don't believe the Word of God, you would not have believed if you had been there to see it for yourself. Belief has to do with your heart. That is why the disciples could not cast out the demon. Jesus was trying to get them to the point of trusting Him in that way, and He is trying to get us to the same point today. Are we listening to Him and watching for His works? Let's do! Let's not complain. Let's not miss His point. Let's believe Him completely for He is Lord of all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 16-18 and Matthew 18:1-20.