Deuteronomy 1-5 Part 2

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1-5 Part 2

Deuteronomy 4:15-19
¹⁵ You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, ¹⁶ so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, ^17 18 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. ^{19 Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.}And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars —all the heavenly array —do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the

What do you think of when you hear the word America…?  Most people would probably say, “The American Dream…”  The roots of the American Dream steam from freedom to worship God without government interference…

This is quite different from the American Dream we know of today…  Acquire more at all cost seems to be the way we operate today.  We operate on a system of debt so we can live above our means, while we go deeper and deeper into debt.  Why do so many Americans live this way?  One word will sum it up! IDOLATRY

Watch for yourselves so that you do not make any idols for yourselves…  What is our idol?  It’s not an image we worship, not even a statue made of gold.  It’s a lifestyle.  The pursuit of a culture of possessions consumes our hearts.  In essence the new American Dream…

I think Christians today have exchanged God’s dream for their lives for the American Dream…  Instead of pursuing our creator we pursue the created.  We can’t afford to be generous, which is the very nature of God, whom we are created in HIS image.  Instead of what can I give, we say what I can get…   Instead of how I can serve, we ask who will serve me…   

The public schools and the government are not the answer to how we change this.  No amount of taxes or regulations will fix this.  Only a changed heart can fix this.  Only God can change a heart and the Church is God’s plan to tell the world about the life changing power of Christ!  There is no plan B!  We are it!  Let’s get to work!  There is so much to do!

Deuteronomy 1-5

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1-5

Deuteronomy 4:9
⁹ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

This year I became a father for the first time.  I cannot wait till she is old enough for me to tell her the things I have seen God do in my church.  God’s truth is a sacred trust that we must pass on to our children.  I take it a step further and tell my daughter God is going to do greater things in and through you than He did through me!  I’m praying that over her life now and she is only 4 months old…

Think about all the things the Israelites saw God do?  The plagues that made the Egyptians let them go free.  Parting the Red Sea and watching the sea envelop their enemies as their feet touched the dry land.  The manna fell from the sky each morning to feed them.  God defeated their enemies literally right before their eyes. 

You may not think you have seen God do anything note-worthy to tell your children.  Although the fact that you are a new creation and you are not the man you once were and God has shielded you from His wrath because you are His child is pretty note-worthy.   

·         When God reveals truth to you through His word, He wants you to pass that onto your children…

·         When God shows you His vision for your family, He wants you to pass that onto your children…

·         When God heals, humbles, or helps you, He wants you to pass that onto your children…

·         When God helped you overcome, open doors, or you have an overflow of blessing come into your life, He wants you to pass that on to your children…

Take every opportunity
Share it as often as you can
Never take it for granted
God’s legacy of your life is worth telling your kids about!

Numbers 27-34

Numbers

Numbers 27-34

Numbers 34:1-2
The Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries

The Israelites are about to enter the land God promised to them almost 40 years earlier… I find it very interesting that before they set foot into the promise land.  God explains to them the boundaries of the land… 

All throughout the scriptures, God gives us boundaries not to restrict us, but to protect us…  One area that we tend not to follow God’s boundaries is in our relationships.  There are several areas of relationships I could cover but since marriage and family life are my passion, I’m going to focus on dating and marriage.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

If you are already married to an unbeliever this verse does not apply to you.  You have already stepped out of God’s designed boundaries.  Getting a divorce would only put you further outside of God’s boundaries

However, if you are a Christian and still dating or considering marriage, this verse definitely does apply to you.  So many times God’s people were led away to worship idols because they were willing to compromise on who they were dating and marrying. 

Case in point: The Midianite women
Numbers 31:16
¹⁶ “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.

In other words you and the person you are to wed better be on the same page; that includes faith, parenting, and a desire to do marriage God’s way!

If you have already married an unbeliever or someone you are not equally yoked with there are boundaries for you too…

1 Corinthians 7:12 – 14
¹² To the rest I say that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. ¹³ If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
1 Peter 3:1
¹ Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

These boundaries are to protect your marriage.  God’s design for marriage is holiness, not happiness!  Too many marriages end when couples become unhappy with each other…  If they follow the boundaries for married couples in Ephesians chapter 5:22-33

Which can be summed up as husbands love your wives as yourself and wives respect your husbands…

Numbers 20-26

Numbers

Numbers 20-26

Numbers 23:8
How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?  How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?
Anyone who has ever been a part of a move of God will tell you that you will run into people that will denounce what God is doing at your church!  You may see exponential growth, hundreds of people making decisions for Christ, marriages restored, and prodigal children come home; however an idiot will speak out publically that you are just a show or a cult and God is not a part of that…

In the number Balaam seeks a man named Balak to curse the nation of Isreal.  His response was not to curse but to bless Israel 3 separate times.  This made Balaam furious!  Balak simply responded how can I curse what God has blessed?  Balak realized God was with them because the Israelites had conquered and destroyed the Canaanite army, the Moabites, and the Amorites…  He could not and would not deny God was with them and He would not denounce them…

People will come around regardless of what others say.  A God movement cannot be stopped by disgruntled Christians with an us four and no more mentality… 

Numbers 10-19

Numbers

Numbers 10-19

Numbers 13:30

³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

The way we think about ourselves usually has to do with the way others see us…

If they see us as weak, we think we are weak…
If people see us as cool, we think we are cool…

Proverbs 18:21 says our tongue has the power of life or death…
The problem with this is that we are not who others say we are.  We are who God says we are!  We are His image, His workmanship, His child…

I believe in self fulfilling prophecies.  Words are so powerful.  Caleb was not about to let negatively spoken words turn him away from the land God had promised him.  He knew God was with them and that nothing could stop God.  He had see God part the Red Sea, send the plagues on the Egyptians, provide manna from heaven…  What were a few giants to keep them from a land flowing with milk and honey! 

I can remember another story about a giant.  In 1^st Samuel 17:45-46, “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. day the ThisLord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in IsraelDavid’s words were positive when He faced a giant in his life.  Just like Caleb, David was not going to listen to negativity from his critics.  They both spoke positive bold words because they knew God was on their side…


Not only do we need to guard our hearts from toxic words that are spoken to us by our critics, we must also bridal our tongues to make sure we are not the source of toxin for someone else.

Numbers 1-9

Numbers

Numbers 1-9

Numbers 6:24-27

²⁴ God bless you and keep you,
²⁵ God smile on you and gift you,
²⁶ God look you full in the face
      and make you prosper.
²⁷ In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel—
   I will confirm it by blessing them."

It’s very easy for us to look at other churches as competition…  In a sense we are competing, but not against each other. We are competing with each other, NOT against!  Ultimately competing with each other means we are the same team.  Denominational differences aside, we can accomplish more if we quit bashing the efforts of our fellow Christians of other churches and look for ways to partner with our different ministries to make a greater impact for the Kingdom! 

Instead we let pride, envy, and jealousy invade and divide the body of Christ to the point that we stand in our pulpits and denounce what others are doing for God.  Which takes me back to when I was a child momma always told me, “if you did not have anything nice to say, don’t say anything!”
Part of knowing God is being able to see where He is working and join Him.  It's not your ministry!  It’s HIS ministry…  It’s not your church it’s HIS church…  So why do we act like we are above working alongside another believer if they have a worship band and you sing hymns…? 

Here is a bold statement!  Let’s stop discrediting what God is doing in other churches and start blessing what they are doing if it is helping grow the kingdom of God…   Here is a bolder statement…  SHUT UP and GET INVOLVED if you see God working!  Do more partnering and less pioneering!  Above all let’s speak blessings instead of curses.  Why? It shows a unified body and by doing this we are making His name great among non believers!  Isn’t that what our goal should be to do in the first place!  Let’s not try to throw water on what God is doing unless it’s in the baptismal!

Leviticus 21-30

Leviticus

Leviticus 21-30

Leviticus 26:3-13

I love logic…  It makes sense to me!  If (a) is true, then (b) must also be true…  Postulates, theorems, are if/then statements are all conditional…

Why do I love logic?  It’s predictable!!!  There is no guess work involved.  I don’t have to recalculate or double check it to make sure- It’s a done deal!

Our God is a very logical and practical God.  I’m not saying God is not mysterious or you can figure Him out.  What I am saying is that God sometimes works through If/Then statements…

Checkout Leviticus 26:3-13
"If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments…  THEN…….."
     * You’ll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land
     * I will make your country safe
     * Eliminate war
     * I’ll give you my full attention
     * I’ll make you prosper and grow in numbers
     * I will live amongst you
     * You will never be slaves

Those kind of statements are scattered all over God’s word!  I’m not a prosperity gospel preacher, but I do trust God will do what he says He will do…

So what happens if I choose not live by His decrees and be obedient and keep the commandments?  I’m glad you asked because just like If/Then statements they work both ways…

Checkout Leviticus 26:
14-17 "But if you refuse to obey me and won't observe my commandments, despising my decrees and holding my laws in contempt by your disobedience, making a shambles of my covenant     *I will let your enemies rule over you
     *I will make your labor fruitless
     *You will eat but not be satisfied
     *I will turn your cities to ruins
     *I will scatter your people

The great thing about God is HE knew we would not be able to keep all His decrees, so included verses 40-42.

But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors —their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Leviticus 11-20

Leviticus

Leviticus 11-20

Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Throughout the Old Testament cannon it was the law that brought people closer to God.  If you did not follow the law there was a sacrifice that had to be made to bring you back into fellowship with God.

In the New Testament Jesus came to fulfill the law by being the ultimate sacrifice for our sin…  Throughout His life, very few times did Jesus refer to the Mosaic Law…  When Jesus referred to the 2 greatest commandments in Mathew 22:37-39, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus was referring to the Mosaic Laws of the Old Testament. 

Of all the 610 laws of the Old Testament Jesus was able to sum them up with just 2 laws!  I think its obvious Jesus believed in simplicity.  The church should operate under that same umbrella! 

Businesses, classrooms, and churches could learn a lot from the simplicity of Jesus.  At my church my pastor operates under 2 simple rules…  (1) Listen to God (2) Do what He says… 

Next time you feel bogged down by religion just remember this: Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light

leviticus 1-10

Leviticus 1-10

Leviticus 10:1-2

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

When it comes to HIS church which is HIS people, God does not play around…  So when people try to add or subtract from what HE has established the consequences are high!

This is a fair warning to us!  Too many churches are filled with:
Man-made traditions instead of life change.
Bi laws instead of big vision

Are we adding to what God intended for HIS church?  Are we picking and choosing what we are going to follow.  Are our traditions, bi laws, and comfort more important than seeing lost people come to know Christ?  If they are the church is endanger of losing its influence on the world.  God will not allow that to happen.  He is raising up a remnant of believers who are willing to do whatever it takes to be the church Christ intend us to be…  A church whose is passionate about what HE was passionate about… 
(1) Bringing Glory to God 
(2) People

Exodus 34-40

Exodus 34-40

Exodus 35:10

¹⁰ “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded

We know that whomever God calls, God will also equips…  I had a meeting with 2 of my accountability partners this past Tuesday at Starbucks.  I knew the meeting was over concerns these two men had for the calling God had on my life…  Knowing that these men wanted me to be successful with my marriage and with my ministry I was eager to hear what they had to say!

These men challenged me to better equip myself to serve where God had called me…  We came up with a goal and practical ways to help me reach that goal…  I know these men will hold me accountable in reaching this goal and my ministry and marriage will be better because they cared enough to say something to me!

The reason I say this is because God gives us skills and a purpose.  In the last chapters of Exodus, God calls on those people to use the skills to build the Ark of the Covenant. 

Many good athletes playing sports were born with some athletic ability… That ability will set them apart from other average athletes.  What separates the good athletes from the best athletes?  The great athletes pursued excellence in their sport while the average athletes rely souly on their God –given ability…

In my meeting, I learned that God did have a calling on my life and he did give me the ability to carry out His purpose for my life, but He expects me to pursue excellence in my calling and in my marriage so that I can do everything He has commanded!

Exodus 30-31

Day 40

Exodus 30-31

Exodus 31:1-3
Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills

Isn't it cool that God chooses us, then He fills us with what we need to carry out His vision for our lives...

•I can't do that, I'm not qualified
•I can't do that, I don't have a seminar degree...

Yes you are qualified because God will give you everything you need because He has called you and He will give you the tool and, he will put the people in your life that you need to accomplish it!  His purposes are good and holy and He will finish the work He began in you!  (Philippians 1:6)

Exodus 32-33

Day 41

Genesis 32-33

Exodus 33:12-16
Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

Are you are struggling with doing something God has asked you to do?

•Maybe He is calling you to start a ministry
•Maybe He is calling you to step out in faith and leave behind the comfortable for the unknown
•Maybe He is calling you lead...

Whatever it is...  Ask God to go with you!  Moses said God if you don't go with us, don't let this even start this journey... If God is for us, who can be against us?  Who can stop His mighty hand?  If He goes with you and His favor rests on you, success is inevitable and victory is guaranteed...!

Exodus 25-29

Day 39

Exodus 25-29

Exodus 25:1-9  
God spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give. These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair; tanned rams' skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece. Let them construct a Sanctuary for me so that I can live among them. You are to construct it following the plans I've given you, the design for The Dwelling and the design for all its furnishings.

OKAY the Israelites are building God’s dwelling place…  The materials are elaborate and the instructions are precise!  I found many parallels here.  I thought about how grateful I am that His dwelling place now is inside of me and I no longer have to go through the process of becoming holy, because Jesus took care of that on the cross.  Praise God!

The second thought I had is Disney World….  Huh…!  Did I hear that right?  Did you say Disney world?  Yep!  Sure did…

Do you think Robert Iger the CEO of Disney World spares any expense to make his Magic Kindom Resort a place where you would want to take your entire family?  Heck to the no!  They spend billions of dollars to ensure that you and your family enjoy your stay and spend your vacation money… 

I hate that church leaders get upset and criticize other church leaders for spending money on things like: LCD stage lights, sound equipment, LCD projectors, speakers, computer equipment, the list goes on and on!  We are trying to reach a generation that has grown up thinking a mouse is cooler than our GOD!  Yet the very same people who criticize church leaders for doing that… can I ask you a question?  How much did your stained glass windows cost?  What about your steeple?  Oh don’t forget about the organ and the pipes… 

Have you ever heard someone say yeah man we go to that church because they have the prettiest stained glass windows…?  No!  The Israelites spared no expense when build God’s dwelling place…  King Solomon did not either!  If your motives are to build His kingdom and you are trying to reach those who are far from God spare no expense…      

Exodus 21-24

Day 38

Exodus 21-24

Exodus 22:22-24

 ^22-24 "Don't mistreat widows or orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously; I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.

Here it is church leaders…!  I can think of 100 things Christian churches over the last century have divided themselves over.  Speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit, Predestination and the elect, Pre and Post millennialism…  The list goes on and on and on…

These may enable YOU to worship under the same roof with other believers – BUT it does not prevent YOU from uniting or partnering with other believers to eradicate something we all agree with! 

Hey do you believe we should take care or widows who can’t take care of themselves? – ME TOO…

Hey do you believe we should look after the orphans and the fatherless? – ME TOO…

The government is not the answer for what can change the condition of our nation.  THE CHURCH is the oldest and most powerful organization on this planet; but the more we divide, the more we disagree, the more we make THE CHURCH about us, the more sedentary we become.  Then programs like the government have to pick up our slack!  

IMAGINE… imagine if all the churches just in your city worked together to help the widows, fatherless, and the orphans!  WHAT WE COULD GET DONE WOULD BE FAR MORE THAN ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD- BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE…  JESUS!!!

That is just with the churches in your city…  What could we do TOGETHER as a county, state, or country if our churches partnered together.  Not with equal gifts, but equal sacrifice!

Exodus 19-20

Day 37

Exodus 19-20

Exodus 19:8
⁸ The people were unanimous in their response: "Everything God says, we will do." Moses took the people's answer back to God.

What would happen if all of God’s people here in this city had this kind of heart for God?
What would happen if all of God’s people in this state had the same mindset?
What would happen if all of God’s people in this country did the same?

What would happen if YOU decided I am going to LISTEN to GOD and DO
what HE says!

It’s hard to imagine what GREATNESS of what God would do if we would listen to HIM and do what he says…  We could see things in our lifetime that would be just as powerful as they did back in the early church.  Same GOD same POWER...

God still speaks today – Through His word and through His Holy Spirit…  Just like back then I believe the main reason people don’t want to listen to God is they are afraid…

Afraid God will tell them something they don’t want to hear…  We are fearful because we are comfortable where we are!  Listen to how God’s chosen people reacted to Him in verse 18…

^18-19 All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't have God speak to us or we'll die." ²⁰ Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin." ²¹ The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

Moses had already let go of his comfort…  Through God; Moses overcame his sin of murder, his weakness as a public speaker, and his fear of confronting Pharaoh…  The Israelites on the other hand were comfortable knowing God from a distance.
 
I want to be in the middle of what God is doing.  I want to see and touch the mountain…
I want to let go of the American dream to pursue a much greater one!  One where all of God’s people listen to HIM and DO what HE says!

Exodus 17-18

Day 36
 
Exodus 18-20
 
Exodus 18:13-18
13 The next day Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night.14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one to solve disagreements? All the people are standing around you from morning until night!" 15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God's help in solving their disagreements. 16 When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God's laws and teachings." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "You are not doing this right.18 You and the people who come to you will get too tired. This is too much work for you; you can't do it by yourself.
 
LEADERS - ATTENTION PLEASE!!!  God did not intend for you to do it all by yourself...
 
The previous statement means the following:
1) You must TRAIN UP people and delegate them to help you so you don't BURNOUT!
 
2) Once you delegate it you cannot stress over it and MICRO-MANAGE it, or you will RUN GOOD HELP OFF!!!
 
3) Know your weaknesses!!!  Surround yourself with people who are strong where you are not!
 
4) Don't feel like you always have to know more and be more talented than the people you lead!  YOU ARE NOT MAKING CLONES OF YOURSELF...!  
[If that is what you are doing, YOU ARE the weakest link GOOD-BYE...]
 
(VERSE 19-20) Now listen to me, and I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you. You must speak to God for the people and tell him about their disagreements. 20 Warn them about the laws and teachings, and teach them the right way to live and what they should do.
 
7) Listen to advice only from people who want God's best for you!  Don't waste your time with every critic...  There will always be critics!
Don't look for "YES" people all the time too...  
 
6) Don't expect the people God's given you to KNOW what you have NOT taught them!
 
(VERSE 21-23)  But choose some capable men from among the people—men who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money. Make these men officers over the people, to rule over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let these officers solve the disagreements among the people all the time. They can bring the hard cases to you, but they can decide the simple cases themselves. That will make it easier for you, because they will share the work with you. 23 If you do this as God commands you, then you will be able to do your job, and all the people will go home with their disagreements solved.

*** God wants the ministry He has called you to run successfully... He called you to it, and He will help you do it! Let His design take you to the next level!

Exodus 16-17

Day 35

Exodus 16-7

Exodus 16:3-4

 They said to them, "It would have been better if the Lord had killed us in the land of Egypt. There we had meat to eat and all the food we wanted. But you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death."  ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will cause food to fall like rain from the sky for all of you. Every day the people must go out and gather what they need for that day. I want to see if the people will do what I teach them.

Do we act like the Israelites when we get in an uncomfortable situation?  Do we blame others, or wish for the good ole days?  Or… do we look for what God may be trying to teach us through the situation? 

-Are you broke?  Is He trying to show you He is your provider…?

-Are you sick?    Is He trying to show you He is your healer…?

-Are you overwhelmed?  Is He trying to show you He will bare your burden…?

-Are you lonely? Is He trying to show you He is all you need…?

-Are you addicted?  Is He trying to show you He is your hope…?

-Are you grieving the loss of a child?  Is He trying to show you He is your comforter?

Exodus 13-15

Day 34

Exodus 13-15

Exodus 15:22-25

²² Moses led the Israelites away from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur. They traveled for three days in the desert but found no water.²³ Then they came to Marah, where there was water, but they could not drink it because it was too bitter. That is why the place was named Marah.

Whenever one finds oneself inclined to bitterness, it is a sign of emotional failure.
-Bertrand Russell

Why do we get bitter? What causes bitterness?

Jealousy causes bitterness…

*She can have children, but I cannot… (Example: Rachel and Leah)

Suffering causes bitterness…

*The Israelites suffered harshly under the rule of Pharaoh and the Egyptians and after Moses led them out of slavery on several occasions they wished they were slaves again…

Pride causes bitterness…  

*Pharisees and the Sadducees let their knowledge of God surpass their obedience to God…  If this is you – you probably rejoice when something negative happens to other leaders in different ministries because you are jealous of their ministry…  Dude you should celebrate – you’re on the same team!  Don’t hate – celebrate!

Greed causes bitterness…

*Acts 8:20-23 and Judas complained about the perfume poured over Jesus feet was worth a year’s salary…  He really was more interested in money than people.  If this is you, you’re on very dangerous ground.  People are the only eternal things on this Earth!!!  Look what happened to Judas…

Jesus is the answer to bitterness…  Give your bitterness to Him.  You can entrust Him with it!  He won’t always make it better, but He will never leave you bitter!  Look what HE did for the Israelites in verse 24-25!

. ²⁴ The people grumbled to Moses and asked, "What will we drink?" ²⁵ So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw the tree into the water, the water became good to drink.

Exodus 7-12

 Day 33

Exodus 7-12

Exodus 10:3

³ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?

Have you ever felt like nothing is going right for you?  Does it ever seem like you see others being blessed, but you feel like you are being cursed?  You probably know exactly how the king of Egypt felt!

It’s very simple.  When we refuse to listen to God’s commands we open ourselves up to get what’s coming to us.  In other words, we open ourselves up to getting what we deserve!

We can’t blame God when those bad things occur…  If your parent tells you not to play in traffic and what might happen to you if you play in traffic and you do it anyway.  Is it your parents fault if you get ran over?  It’s the same way with God.  His word tells us what His boundaries are and if we stay within those boundaries of His word we are safe. Once we get outside of those boundaries; you get the picture…

So the question is…  WHAT IS YOUR BREAKING POINT?  How many times does God have to tell you to do something before you give in to His wishes…?  Each time he has to tell you he is going to do a little bit more to get your attention!    

*It could be just a sign from God – Exodus 7:10

¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials and it became a snake.

*It might be God taking away your comfort – Exodus 7:20-21
²⁰ Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. ²¹ The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

*It could be God is going to make your efforts fruitless – Exodus 8:24

²⁴ And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.

*It could be that God will make it cost you something – Exodus 9:3

³ the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats.

*It could be that God will take away your health – Exodus 9:10

¹⁰ So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and animals.

*It could be God will send a natural disaster – Exodus Chapter 10

God sent hail and locusts

*It could be God will send death – Exodus Chapter 11:4-5

⁴ So Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. ⁵ Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.

Personally I wound not want to be the stubborn guy when it comes to listening to God!  God does not change!  We must keep this in mind when He asks us to be obedient… 

Exodus 4-6

Day 32

Exodus 4-6

Exodus 6:9
⁹ But when Moses delivered this message to the Israelites, they didn't even hear him—they were that beaten down in spirit by the harsh slave conditions.

We cannot teach people the apologetics of our faith if they are so beaten down by the world that:
*They no longer have a home
*They lost their job
*They have lost someone close to death
*They can’t get their basic needs of their family meet…  (Clothes, medical, food)

Andy Stanley said most adults who become a Christian do so because of a tragedy in their lives…  If this is true and I believe it is, then we have to reach out to these people. 

-Not with criticism…
-Not with condemnation…
-Not with apologetics…

But offer them in this order:
(1) Get them HELP…  (Shelter, food, medical attention, clothes)
(2) Get them HOPE… Jesus is the hope of the world and we are His instruments to show his love to those without hope.
(3) Get them HEALING… (Counseling or consoling… or both if necessary)

1 John 3:17-18
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

We cannot drop the ball on this and expect God to be pleased with us!