Exodus 14:10-14
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord (Exodus 14:10).
And they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt (Exodus 14:11)?
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:12).
And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today, ye shall see them again no more for ever (Exodus 14:13).
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:14).
Exodus 14:10-14 Lesson Learned
Today's commentary is on the early exodus, of the children of Israel; however, it is more than an exodus from bondage, but more importantly, it was an early test of the relationship between God and God's people. Will the children of Israel go forward in the power and faith of their God, which they had seen before Pharoah decided to let them go, or will they continue with actions that demonstrates a lack of belief in their God's power? The children of Israel became afraid, when Pharoah's army decided to follow after them, and to shut them in, at the edge of the Red Sea. They took the wrong approach in faith; it was not faith, but unbelief; it didn't matter, that their God was the same God that fought for them in bondage, and would still fight for them in freedom. Instead of being faithful, they began to cry out to Moses, in anger, and fear; and to proclaim that they had a better life in Egypt. Our faith, in the midst of everyday challenges, will require each of us, to choose whether to show our faith, in steadfastness to the God we serve, or to fall away, and contend that life would be better without God. The proof, however, is not what say, but in our action at end of the day. In the words of God, it your decision, and you must, choose ye today which God you will serve!
I Kings 17:8-14
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, (I Kings 17:8)
Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. (I Kings 17:9)
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of the sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. (I Kings 17:10)
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. (I Kings 17:11)
And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. (I Kings 17:12)
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. (I Kings 17:13)
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, util the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. (I Kings 17:14)
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. (I Kings 17:15)
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. (I Kings 17:16)
Lesson Learned
Men of God need some encouragement, it is not easy to remain steadfast and unmovable, while doing the will and work of God; the first two parts of this message, Can't Lose Faith Can't Go Hungry, would likely fit with an anniversary for a pastor or just for an aid in overcoming the general doubt in the life of a Godly leaders. The third part of this message, it is helpful to all believers in their effort to do God's will. It is hard for us to see it, but God has work for all of us, and his work, don't require all of us to be preachers; however, seemly it is getting to point where people won't work to do God's will, unless they preach. Many called, but a few chosen. God gave many talents and he intended for us to be productive with each, and that means that the preacher, and non-preacher, all need faith and trust in God. God had a rather demanding work, for the widow woman in the lessons text, and it would require that she have a deep faith in God and in Elijah, the prophet. The woman was a widow woman, and she had no man to care for her and on top of that, she had a son that was in poor health. I am sure that God could have chosen others ways to feed Elijah, but this was his choice and on top of that, it gave the woman an opportunity to share in God's plan to feed the man of God. It had to be difficult, with almost no food for her self, her son, and for the prophet, and a man she didn't know. Out of the goodness of her own heart, she feed him. It was only human, on her part, she stated her position, and made it clear, she thought about her self and her son, first. This is a good lesson for us to see how real life can impact our faith necessary decisions. She overlooked and overcame the possible impact on her life and the life of the son, and she did God's will and followed his command in faith. She used her last bit of food, and God gave her more, and more, and she, and her son didn't go hungry, and she received the added blessing; it was the healing, and restoration of her sons life.
I Kings 17:17-24
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. (I Kings 17:17)
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? (I kings 17:18)
And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loth, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. (I Kings 17:19)
And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my god, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? (I Kings 17:20)
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. (I Kings 17:21)
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. (I Kings 17:22)
And Elijah tool the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. (I Kings 17:23)
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. (I Kings 17:24)
Mark 4:1-20
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. (Mark 4:1)
And he taught them many thinges by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine (Mark 4:2),
Hearken; behold, there went out a sower to sow (Mark 4:3):
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up (Mark 4:4).
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth: and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth (Mark 4:5):
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Mark 4:6)
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit (Mark 4:7).
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred (Mark 4:8).
And he said unto them, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Mark 4:9).
And when he was alone, they that were about him the twelve asked of him the parable. (Mark 4:10)
And he said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables (Mark 4:11):
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. (Mark 4:12)
And he said unto them, know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables (Mark 4:13)?
The sower soweth the word (Mark 4:14).
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts (Mark 4:15).
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness (Mark 4:16);
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. (Mark 4:17)
And these are they which are sown among thorns, such as hear the word (Mark 4:18),
And the cares of this world, and the decietfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful (Mark 4:19).
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20)
Mark 4:1-20 Lesson Learned
In the message text, it clearly brings to light, evidence, that is supportive of the lesson learned from, and by Paul, and expressed so many times by Jesus; every time one try to do good, evil is always present. Paul, was no exception, and even Jesus, seem to be no exception, to inflex of evil behavior, by those around him, as the fruitful Jesus went about his work to do good unto others.
Jesus was the Son of God, made in the flesh, and sent down from God, but still there were attempts, by people of an evil nature, and some that continued to hold on to, and live by the law, to hinder the good works of our Lord and savior, as brought to light, in the parable of the sower, as the sower went forth to sow, the seed of the word. As can be seen, the seed fell on different ground and there were different results, and due to different types of influences, and interferences; yet, the sower, soweth on, and quite naturally, the sower soweth, but it is God that will give the increase.
Numbers 14:1-9
Numbers 14
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night (Numbers 14:1).
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness (Numbers 14:2)!
And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that ourwives and our children should be pray? Were it better for us to return into Egypt (Numbers 14:3)?
And they said one to another, let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt (Numbers 14:4)?
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel (Numbers 14:5).
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes (Numbers 14:6):
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, the Land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land (Numbers 14:7).
If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey (Numbers 14:8).
Only rebel not ye against the lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not (Numbers 14:9).
Numbers 14:1-9 Lesson Learned
The children of Isreal cried and complained, in the midst of what should have been one of the most blessed and an happy exodus, in the chosen people's lives. This people, the children of Israel, is not unlike God's people of today; God's people fear, with fear that is unjustified, God's people fear the enemy, when God is the one that should be feared. God's people will sometimes reject God out of fear for those that has no power, since all power is in the hands of the one and only and all powerful God of us all. God's people have seen his power, felt his spirit, and experienced his love and shared in his grace, but yet in the midst of trouble, God's people will soon forget, and fall back into the old ways of serving, the unserveable. The only answer is to go down on ones knees, and pray, and fast, and plead for God's forgiveness, and perhaps, if it is God's will, he will forgive us and through him, we can reach the land of promise, and the land that does flow with milk and honey; as for the believer in Christ, Heaven is the promise land, streets made of gold, sunshine every day, and an opportunity to see God's face, and much more; as for me, heaven is my goal, and through God's grace, and love, and mercy, Heaven is my home.
Joshua 3:1-17
And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over (Joshua 3:1).
And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host (Joshua 3:2);
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it (Joshua 3:3)
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore (Joshua 3:4).
And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (Joshua 3:5).
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people (Joshua 3:6).
And the Lord said said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee (Joshua 3:7).
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan (Joshua 3:8).
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God (Joshua 3:9).
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites (Joshua 3:10).
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you unto Jordan (Joshua 3:11).
Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man (JOshua 3:12).
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap (Joshua 3:13).
And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people (Joshua 3:14);
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all the banks all the time of harvest,) Joshua 3:15)
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho (Joshua 3:16).
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Joshua 3:17).
Joshua 3:1-17 lesson learned
God has always moved in his own time and in his own way, but he will surely move, can God's people wait on him and truly trust that God will deliver? He did deliver for the children of Israel, and I can be a witness, he will deliver for his people today. God allowed Joshua to shine before the people, of his own tribe, and the people of the whole house of Isreal would overcome by his leadership, but it is very important, to remember, it was God's power, working within the leadership he set before them. The main point, is, in God's time and with Godly power, they crossed over to the other side of the Jordan river, and did it through the overcoming of many hard battles, and many enemies to conquer, Only by individual assessment, can each of God's people answer such question, can I overcome?