And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:” not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear Him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36
Moses
Ignorance of Prophecy, Yet Fulfilled
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Acts 3:17-23
Going way back to Moses’s prophecy of a prophet greater than himself and He would be the Messaih who would suffer for the sins of humanity.
Who is this Messiah, also called Christ? He is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus. The only Lord and Savior of the world.
A Psalm of Moses
For a little less than a month now I have been reading through the Bible. This time I am reading the Christian Standard Bible, and it is the DAY BY DAY Chronological Bible published by Holman Bible Publishers, For my reading today, and every day, I have been reading three days reading at a time. That is so I can get through the Book before the end of 2025.
I am sharing this with you to let you know why I am sharing the following Psalm from the book of Psalms. It is because it is most likely the chronological position it should be in the reading of the Book of Numbers 6 through 13; and there was Psalm 90; then I read Numbers 14 through 16; and there was Psalm 95, Psalm 90 is called a Song of Moses; and Psalm 95 is not, but many believe it to have been by Moses as well. I will have no other commentary on Psalm 90 for this post.
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, “Return, ye children of men.” For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? Even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.Psalm 90:1-17
The Goodness, Mercy, and Grace of the LORD
And He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” And He said, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
Exodus 33:19-20
Moses had just asked the LORD, “Show me Your glory, ” and ends by tell us that no man can behold the face of the LORD, and live.
We read in verse 11 that Moses talked with God face to face, as with a friend, and we are told in the last verse of the chapter, “…but My face shall not be seen.” Seems like a contradiction, and I am not sure I can grasp the full meaning of that, but say, when Moses was speaking to God face to face it was in a cloud, a veil or sorts, and when GOD shows Himself (His glory) there is no veil, but only His hand that guards Moses from death, and that Moses saw only the LORD’S back.
This revelation of Moses getting to view the glory of the LORD shows us that God is truly good, merciful, and gracious. It especially shows us that God can be seen.
God was seen by men when Jesus was on earth as a Man; God veiled by human flesh. Jesus Himself said, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).
The LORD God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy; and He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious. I pray He will be merciful and gracious to you so that you will come to Him through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He also told us, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:3).
Will you call on His name today?
“You speak with us”
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said unto the people, “Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:18-21
In order for the people to know and believe that Moses received the word from the LORD, God had instructed Moses to have the people come to the foot of the mountain called Sinai. They would not be allowed to come near the place where God was, but near enough to hear the voice of the LORD.
In the reading of chapter 20 of Exodus the above verses follow the giving of God’s law called the Ten Commandments. They are given in the hearing of the people, and their response is given above.
The people see and feel the quaking, rumbling, and smokey mountain at the presence of the LORD, and are quite afraid. They tell Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear: but do not let God speak with us.” The people of God ought to want to hear the voice of the LORD.
We have people today who say they hear God’s voice, but much of what they say is contrary to the written word of God. God does not contradict Himself. Moses heard, listened, and heeded the word of the LORD. Moses went into the darkness where God was, and talked with Him.
I do not fully understand God being in the darkness, but this is not the only place where it speaks of His darkness. In Genesis 15:12 a “horrible great darkness” fell on Abraham from which God came and spoke to him.
First John 1:5 tells us that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. That may seem like a contradiction, but is more of a paradox that a contradiction. Meaning that darkness and light come along side one another to show the truth.
Because we humans are sinful beings God is unapproachable while we are in sin. God is light for those who come to Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
As Moses went into the darkness “where God was” is because he had already been with God before, and God had cleansed him, and provided his redemption.
One final thought: If you desire to hear the voice of the Lord, open the pages of God’s holy word – the Bible – and read it. Start with the Gospel of John, and there you will meet Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, who is God the Living Son.
The Great Work of the LORD
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and His servant Moses.
Exodus 14:30-31
The LORD who is the Almighty God, Creator of all that is; both seen and unseen is All Powerful. There is nothing too hard for God. With Him nothing shall be impossible.
In the above verses for today we find Israel out of Egypt, and the Egyptian army decimated, drowned in the Red Sea. Some may wonder, “Why would God destroy so many people?” and the answer to that is “That they might know that I am the LORD.”
At least twice that phrase is used in chapters 11 through 16. Do you know that the LORD He is God, and that there is no other? One day you will. Either on this side of eternity or on the other side.
God has made a way for all who will come to Him, to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ who paid the sin debt for all the world. Only those who believe Him can come to Him. Jesus died on Calvary’s cross taking the wrath of God for sin, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), He was buried carrying all our sin, shame, condemnation, and guilt away, then, He arose and came out of the grave alive forever more, interceding for all who have come to Him at the Father’s right hand.
One day soon Jesus will return, and all who have come to Him will go and be with Him forever, and those who have not believed Him will stand before a great white throne and be judged according to their works, will be found guilty, and cast into the Lake of Fire.
Believe Him, and be saved. He has paid the price of your redemption.
That You May Know…
And the LORD said unto Moses, “Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.”
Exodus 10:1-2
The people who descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who had received promise from God that the land of Canaan was theirs have been in Egypt for about four hundred [400] years. Most of that time they have been slaves in the land they had gone to for aid during a very severe famine.
The people were laboring hard for their captors, building great pieces of architecture for them. According to the first chapter of Exodus they became slaves because a new king in Egypt did not know of Joseph, and greatly feared that these people could rise up against the nation, and conquer them.
There is a phrase in the verses above that is quite common through out the Scriptures. That phrase is, “…That you may know that I am the LORD.” The prophet Ezekiel uses the phrase at least sixty six [66] times. Here is Exodus it has been used three times at least referring to Egypt “that they may know that I am the LORD.” That gives me a lot of assurance that God desires the world to know that He is the LORD; and the One and only.
God speaking to and through Moses is assuring Moses and the people that what He is doing with these wonderful signs, judgment on Egypt is so that they too will know that He is the LORD.
God has shown us quite clearly in His word, in His love, mercy, and grace through the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that He is the LORD. Jesus the One who is the God-Man; fully God and fully Man, had no sin, and was completely faithful to God His Father when He became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-4, 14). He was fully qualified to be our propitiation for sin. He bore the wrath of God for us in His death, He was buried, and having paid our sin debt He arose and came out of the grave alive forever more. That we might know that He is the LORD.
Do All Those Wonders
And the LORD said unto Moses, “When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, ‘Thus saith the LORD, ‘Israel is My son, even My firstborn: and I say unto thee, ‘Let my son go, that he may serve me:’ and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.’ ”
Exodus 4:21-23
When GOD sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver them from bondage, He gave him some signs; some wonders; that would get the attention of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and all the Egyptian people.
Today, God equips His people with gifts of service for the saving of souls, delivering His people from the bondage of darkness, death, and sin. Since God calls His people to do His will He also gives us what we need to do the ministry He has given us.
It all comes because His Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose again. When we through faith call on the name of the Lord He hears and will deliver all who call. When we have surrendered to His will for our lives He gives us what we need for serving Him.
The Remaining Glory
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2 Corinthians 3:7-11
From Moses and the Prophets
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,
“All hail.”
And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them,
“Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.”
Matthew 28:9-10
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Acts 28:23-24
Hear Jesus
And He said unto them,
“Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them. And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son: hear Him.”
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of Man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. Mark 9:1-10
Jesus states it many times in the Gospels that if we hear Moses and the prophets we will hear Him. He has also taught that if we hear Him we hear the prophets and Moses.
The Father tells us in the above passage that we are to “Hear Him”, but that does not mean the words of Moses and the prophets are null and void; it does mean all that Jesus says is to hear all that has been spoken of Him.
Hear Jesus today. He is the only way of salvation and eternal life (John 14:6).
The Place Called Hell
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
Then he said, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Abraham saith unto him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” And he said, “Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” And he said unto him, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:19-31
It has been noted by others that “Jesus said more about hell, than He did about heaven” and He did teach much about hell in the above Scripture.
We do not hear much about hell in today’s pulpits. “It offends too many people” some will tell us. If we as pastors and preachers of the gospel fail to warn people of hell; who will?
Hell is the destination; eternal destination; of all who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. Those who refuse to come to Him in repentance and faith believing in His great love, mercy, and grace.
For those who believe there is everlasting life in the presence of the Lord Jesus, the glory of the Father.
Hell is an everlasting eternal fire of torment. Heaven is everlasting glory, and enjoyment of the presence of Holy God, made available to us by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross for all our sins, and carrying them away in His burial, and rising victoriously over death, hell and the grave.
Call on His name. Believe Him and be delivered from your sins.
He Makes The Father Known
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, “This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.” And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. John 1:14-18
The Accuser of the Unbelieving
“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:39-47
Knowing The Doctrine of God
“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, ‘How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?’ Jesus answered them, and said,
‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill Me?’ ” John 7:14-19
Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 091620
“…And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not. Then He said unto them,
‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself…” Luke 24:23-27 (KJB)
Words Of Jesus; Son Of God, God The Son – 072720
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.’
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,
‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.’
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said,
‘Arise, and be not afraid.’
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying,
‘Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead.’
And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?’ And Jesus answered and said unto them,
‘Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them.’
Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist. ” Matthew 17:1-13
God of The Living
“Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.” Luke 20:37-38 (KJB)
When He was asked by the Sadducees about a spurious thought, that was only being used to try and trap Him, the Master of life and death gave them that answer.
The Sadducees were a group who did not believe in anything spiritual – no angels, no spirits, no resurrection of the dead. Someone said, “That is why they are sad you see”.
Jesus uses the quotation from Exodus 3:6…
” ‘…Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” Exodus 3:6
Jesus confirms that there is a resurrection; that when this body of flesh and blood dies and lies in the grave, returns to the dust from which it came, that there is life after death. He clearly states that “God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”, and that would include all the other saints who are with Him.
There are many people who do not believe in the resurrection. They are part of the same group of Sadducees, and desperately in need of a change of heart and mind. Hear the voice of the Master today.
You can believe Him, and live forever. You can reject Him and die forever. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again. He is one day returning to separate the believing from the unbelieving. Where do you fit in?
God is the God of the living.
When Jesus Said, ‘I Am’
“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them,
‘Whom seek ye?’
They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus saith unto them,
‘I am’
And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, ‘I am’, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Then asked He them again,
‘Whom seek ye?’
And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus answered,
‘I have told you that I am…’ John 18:4-8a (KJB)
There are some reading this who may take exception when I have left out the italics words of “He” in the text. I believe that to be the truer reading of the text. Jesus simply said, “I am”.
There are many who want to argue and debate the Deity of Jesus Christ. For my part there is no argument. Many times the Pharisees took His words to mean that He was claiming deity, and they accused Him of blasphemy; and if He were not Deity, then the charge would not be without merit.
I just want to point your attention to a few thoughts in this text:
- When Jesus asked these men “Whom do you seek?” He was thinking of His disciples; which is evident by the rest of verse 8 through verse 9 of this chapter; Jesus getting their clear words as to whom they are after;
- When Jesus answered their question there is clear evidence of His power and authority; these men, evidently even Judas went backward and fell down to the ground;
- There are other “I am” statements in the gospel of John; “I am the Light of the world”(John 8:12), “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35, 48), “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), “I am the Door” (John 10:9); for a few.
- You can argue and debate all you like, but Jesus identified Himself as the One who appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-18), and if Jesus was not this God incarnate, then He lied, and cannot be trusted for anything.
As I prepare this I see quite clearly that Jesus could have stopped these men; He could have stopped the whole Roman army, and all the rulers of Rome from carrying out the crucifixion; but He would not. He must fulfill the Father’s will for the redemption of Adam kind. He is the Son of God, and He is God the Son.
He chose to die for our sins that we might live. Hear Him. Believe Him. Trust Him.
The Fashion of His Countenance
“And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and his raiment white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:’ not knowing what he said.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying,
‘This is My beloved Son: hear Him.’
And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.” Luke 9:28-36 (KJB)
Let us hear from F. B. Meyer, and what he has written on this glorious scene of our blessed Savior…
“From some aspects this was the highest point in our Savior’s earthly career. He was the second Adam and had not sinned. There was no reason, therefore, that He should die. He might in a moment have been changed; that which was mortal might have been swallowed up of life. The door through which Moses and Elijah had come stood open, and by it our Lord might have returned. But He could never, under those circumstances, have been the Savior of mankind. He knew this, so He turned His back on the joy set before Him and set His face toward Calvary.
Moses came as representing the Law; and Elijah, the Prophets. Each of these great departments of divine revelation had anticipated His coming, Luk_24:27; Luk_24:44. As stars fade in the sunrise, so their mission was now merged in Him. They spoke of His decease, literally, His exodus, and it was from this that Peter caught the term which he applied to his own death, 2Pe_1:15. The Apostles never forgot this manifestation of the glory of the Lord, 1Jn_1:1-4; 2Pe_1:17. When you hear that Christ is the Beloved of God, remember Eph_1:6.” THROUGH THE BIBLE DAY BY DAY – F.B. Meyer
I Will Have Mercy On Whom I Will Have Mercy
“What shall we say then? Unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ So then not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, ‘Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.’ Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will, and whom He will He hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, ‘Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?’ Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed, ‘Why hast thou made me thus?’ Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? If God, willing to shew wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Romans 9:14-24 (KJB)
Reference: Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 92:15; 2 Chronicles 20:6; 2 Timothy 2:20; Colossians 1:27
Our Hearts Burn Within Us
“And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?’
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.’ And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread.” Luke 24:31-35 (KJB)
When we are first introduced to these two from Emmaus we are told, “But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him” (v. 16). On the way the resurrected Lord spoke the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets, and taught them of the Christ. It was not until He broke bread with them in their home that their eyes were opened.
Jesus disappears from their sight. They get up from their table, and return to Jerusalem to find the others, and share with them about their personal encounter with Jesus.
As I read this, this morning, it was fresh and new to me like I was reading it for the first time. Though nothing new was revealed to me, but it was like the Lord Jesus was very very near to me, and He always is, but like a refresher filling of the Spirit. He is near. He is always near.
He is risen just as He said. Remember the Scriptures. They tell us of Him. That is when our hearts burn within us. Our hearts burn, yearning, longing, desiring to see our Lord, and to hear Him speak to us. Is your heart burning for Him? The fuel for the fire is the Scriptures.
Deliverance from the Evil, and from the Strange
The notes below are taken from the BELIEVER’S BIBLE COMMENTARY.
Deliverance From the Evil and the Strange – Proverbs 2:10-22
Verses 10 – 11 – “The reason this happens is that wisdom takes control of one’s mind or heart, and the knowledge of what is right becomes pleasant rather than distasteful. To the true believer, God’s commands are not irksome. Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden is light.
2:11 Discretion, or the ability to make wise decisions, saves a person from many a “bad trip.” Sound judgment delivers us from involvement with wicked men. None of us realizes the extent to which we are daily preserved from spiritual, moral, and physical perils. The Christian enjoys a well-guarded life, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” From the Believer’s Bible Commentary – Libronix Digital Library System
Verses 20 – 22 – “Link verse 20 with verse 11. Wisdom preserves not only from evil men and the strange woman, but, on the positive side, it encourages companionship with those who are worthwhile and upright.
2:21, 22 Under the Law of Moses, men of integrity—the upright and the blameless—were rewarded with a secure place in the land of Canaan. When we come over to the NT, these material blessings in earthly places give way to spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. But the fact remains that righteousness and decency are rewarded in this life as well as in the life to come.
It is equally true that the wicked will be cut off from the land of blessing. There is no lasting inheritance there for the treacherous.” Ibid.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Requirements of the Christian Man
What God Requires Of His Men
Exodus 3:1-10
I. CHRISTIAN MEN ARE MEN OF OBSERVATION CONCERNING THINGS OF GOD (vv. 1-4).
A. God does things sometimes to get a man’s attention.
1. The fire of God is burning long before it is seen by man’s eyes.
2. It is God who opens our eyes that we might see His fire.
B. We should be drawen by the fire of God once it is observed.
C. When we get into the presence and fire of God we begin to reckon with our sin and our lives.
II. CHRISTIAN MEN ARE EXPECTED TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD (vv. 5-6).
A. Humble before God we remove the manmade shoes of self-support.
1. Self reformation will not, nor cannot stand before the presence of holy God.
2. Taking off the shoes of “Self-Support” in God’s presence keeps us sensitive in our walk with God.
a. It also makes us cautous in our walk.
b. Being without shoes we watch where we step.
B. This is a form of removing the “Fig leaves” of self-righteousness.
III. CHRISTIAN MEN ENDEAVOR TO KNOW THE HEART OF GOD (vv. 7-8).
A. The heart of God is to deliver His people from their place of affliction.
1. It grieves the heart of God when His people are afflicted by the world.
2. It grieves His heart even more when we are afflicted spiritually, controlled by sin, and separated from fellowship with Him.
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” Isaiah 59:1; “Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” Isaiah 9:17, 21; 10:4 (KJV). “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” Romans 5:6 (KJV).
B. Jesus came knowing the heart of God and His purpose for being.
1. ” The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 (KJV).
2. God’s heart is for the delivering of enslaved people.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:16-18; Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV).
C. God’s heart is set against sin, and so ought the heart of the Christian man reflect the heart of God.
IV. CHRISTIAN MEN ARE CALLED TO A PLACE OF LEADERSHIP (vv. 9-10).
A. Although God is All Powerful [Omnipotent] He uses men to lead people out of slavery and into His blessing.
1. He desires to use those who are willing and He will make us able.
2. He desires to use those who know His heart.
B. What is godly leadership?
1. One who knows God’s call and is committed to be faithful to that call.
2. One who by careful study of God’s Word and diligence knows God’s heart for souls and teaches God’s Word and His way.
3. One who prays and calls his family, and God’s people to repent, and who himself is repentant.
4. One whose heart is to let the Lord be Lord of his life and the church body.
a. If he is a pastor he is not a dictator with his own rules, but trust the Lord’s Word to correct and do its work in individual Christians and in the hearts of the lost.
b. He does not see his position as a place of power, but of servanthood.
5. One who is yielded to God’s tasks at the risk of family, friendships, being misunderstood, and/or life.
a. He is more concerned with God’s commands than with man’s demands.
b. He is obedient to God – repentant when not.
6. One who is burdened for the people.
C. God uses yielded/surrendered men to accomplish great tasks; “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5 (KJV).
1. “God is not looking for extraordinary men to do an ordinary task; He is looking for ordinary men to do an extraordinary task.” UNKNOWN
2. Christian men are sent by God to deliver the people of God who are in bondage and lead them out of Egypt [the world] and slavery to sin and the world.
APPLICATION –
I. GOD CALLS CHRISTIAN MEN TO BE OBSERVANT OF HIS FIERY PRESENCE.
II. GOD CALLS CHRISTIAN MEN TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE HIS PRESENCE.
III. GOD CALLS CHRISTIAN MEN TO KNOW THE HEART OF GOD.
IV. GOD CALLS CHRISTIAN MEN TO THE PLACE OF LEADERSHIP.
-Tim A. Blankenship
A Mother’s Day Sermon
The Faith Of God Gloried
Exodus 2:1-10
Motherhood has almost been cheapened by immoral practices such as pre-marital sex, sodomite practices, and by some cases of invitro-fertilization. How has it been cheapened by these things? In that anybody can have a baby.
No matter what goes on in our world true motherhood is still God’s blessed event, and action. Mothers who know and trust their Creator are a special blessing to the world, whether the world wants to recognize that or not. In this message I want us to look at a mother who saw something special in her son that had been born in troublous times. Times where the boys were thrown into the river and drowned. This mother hid her son, and would not give him up.
I. MOTHERS SEE SPECIAL AND UNIQUE QUALITIES IN THEIR CHILDREN (v. 2).
A. God had a special plan for Moses, and He does for all of us.
1. Moses was born shortly after Pharoah’s decree of death for new born males – ” And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live” Exodus 1:16.
2. Upon his birth his life was in jeopardy of death.
B. Jochebed believed God and followed God’s plan for her own life.
1. She hid Moses and kept him from death at the hand of the evil law of Pharoah.
2. She heard God and obeyed.
a. Of course Amram, Moses’ father had a part, but it seems from the Exodus account that mother instigated the plan and carried it through.
b. The family was all a part – we can tell later, because of Miriam’s part.
II. MOTHERS WHO TRUST THEIR CHILDREN TO GOD’S CARE ARE BLESSED (vv. 3-8).
A. Making plans – laying out a course of action for things to work out right.
1. Preparing an “ark” of safety;
2. On the edge, not in the current where he would have been carried down stream to only God knows where.
a. The reeds or “flags” would have slowed the movement – providing a braking action for the ‘ark’.
b. Miriam standing by keeping watch over her brother.
3. Trusting that God would use the Pharoah’s daughter to save the life of her son.
a. She must have been praying for Pharoah’s daughter to have a loving mother’s heart.
b. Trusting that God had a plan for her child.
B. Can man’s plans and God’s plans work in accord?
1. If man’s heart is aligned with God’s Word, God’s Spirit, His heart and mind, God’s way, then, YES!
2. That is God’s way of working in His people.
III. BY GOD’S GRACE AND PROVISION A CHILD IS BROUGHT BACK (v. 9).
A. Children are being slaughtered every day.
1. Not all children have a godly mother.
2. Many many unborn children lose their lives everyday because of choices of unthinking, uncaring, troubled, women, doctors and slaughterhouses.
a. We ought to be praying for them to have a change of heart and attitude, and close the doors of these houses of murder.
b. They too are people in need of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.
B. There are some used by God who are used by God to be mothers.
1. Nursing, and feeding the child;
2. Caring;
3. Teaching and training.
C. Often, when we give our children to God and his providential care He gives them back.
1. Mothers are blessed;
2. Families are blessed;
3. Nations are blessed;
4. Churches are blessed.
D. The preschood years are the most influential and important years in the child’s life.
1. They are growing through their mother’s care.
2. They are learning through their mother’s teaching example.
IV. GOD IS GLORIED THROUGH THE DEDICATED MOTHER’S FAITH (v. 10).
A. YaHWeH Gloried is the meaning of the name Jochebed.
1. Moses delivered Israel from Egypt by God’s power.
2. Israel brought Jesus into the world through Mary, for the salvation/deliverance of mankind.
B. Jesus is the Savior of the world.
1. Is it any wonder “YaHWeH Gloried”
2. God is gloried by faith.
SUMMARY –
I. WE ALL SHOULD SEE EVERY PERSON AS UNIQUE AND SPECIAL – EVERY PERSON IS MADE IN THE PATTERN OF ADAM AND EVE – IN GOD’S IMAGE.
II. TRUSTING OTHERS – ESPECIALLY OUR OWN CHILDREN – TO GOD’S CARE HAS MANY BLESSINGS.
III. BY GOD’S GRACE AND PROVIDENCE ANYONE CAN BE BROUGHT TO GOD.
IV. WITHOUT FAITH NO ONE CAN PLEASE GOD (Heb. 11:6).
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 