Daily Encouragement

January 17, 2010 - Jacob, the Sojourner

A famous Chinese poet wrote, "Time is a sojourner through the hundred generations." Yes, time is moving fast. But man who is passing through time is going to some destination. Jacob, the father of Joseph answered Pharaoh's question about his age like this, "The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning." (v. 9 NASB) He realized that he and his ancestors are travelers on earth. They are passing through this life heading to some place.

Where are you going after this life? We struggle so hard in this life like Jacob did. Even though we may live a life close to the age of Jacob, it is still short and we are passing through. Have you known the Savior, the son of God who is preparing a place for you in heaven? Or you have no assurance of your destiny in the future? Jacob had encounter God and committed his life to Him. His was able to bless Pharaoh and be blessings to his children in his life. He had prepared his burial to fulfill the missions God had planned for him and his children. (v. 29-31) Have you received Jesus as your own personal Savior who had died for your sins? Will you be traveling to see Him someday? Are you fulfilling God's purpose for you on earth?

January 18, 2010 - Blessings For The Future

Meditation on Genesis 49

On his death bed, Jacob called together all his twelve sons and proclaimed his blessings upon them for the future. As a man of God who followed God's leading and a father who knew his sons, his blessings upon them had a lot to do with the character of his children. Their future vocation, settlement and expansion were predicted by Jacob. For example, Levi and Simeon were predicted to be scattered among other tribes because of their cruelty. (They killed the Shechemites in Genesis 34) Indeed, later on Moses appointed the sons of Levi to be priests who would live among all the tribes in different cities. God was merciful! Most notably, Judah was the son who had the ability to get consensus from his brethren. So he was prophesied to be the ruling tribe of the nation. Indeed King David was from Judah. Furthermore, the Messiah would come from them. He will have the authority to judge the world described by the book of Revelation.

What kind of the character and talents one has may affect the blessings he has for the future. May we be careful to develop a good character today.

January 19, 2010 - Nothing New In Politics

Meditation on Exodus 1

There were two political issues in ancient Egypt during Moses' time that was similar to the problems in the world today. In Exodus 1:1-14, it was recorded that the Hebrew population grew strong rapidly in the land of Egypt. The government of Egypt became fearful and treated the Hebrews with trick and oppression. We find that some governments in the world today are also suspicious of certain race or religious group who are multiplying in their land today. They monitor these groups carefully and apply oppressive control or even persecution. Therefore, many Christians have been suffering all over the world. Let us pray for our fellow believers who have to endure such oppression today that God may protect them and deliver them soon.

The second issue is found in Exodus 1:15-22. The King of Egypt wanted to control the growth of the population of the Hebrew males. He ordered the midwives in his country to kill their male babies who would be born. How sadly, there are countries today whose policies also encourage the eliminating of healthy babies before they are born because of economy, the sex of the babies or the wishes of the mothers. But praise God for the two midwives in Exodus. They feared God more than the policies of the Egyptian King. They preserved new lives. Therefore God blessed them. Let us give thanks and pray also for those ladies who help promote the preservation of babies while they are still in the mothers' wombs.

January 20, 2010 - The Burning Bush

Meditation on Exodus 3

God's call of Moses began with his sighting of a burning bush on the Mt. Horeb. The bush was burning with fire yet it was not consumed. This caught Moses' attention. As he drew near the bush, the Angel of the Lord appeared in the blazing fire of the bush and told him not to come close for he was on holy ground. Then God identified Himself and called Moses to be His instrument to deliver the people of Israel from the bondage in Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land.

I am struck by the fact that God used the common vegetation in the wilderness to reveal Himself. Acts 7:30 tells us that it was a thorn bush that was burning. It was a common bush that no body would pay attention on the mountain. Yet God chose to dwell in it and it burns. When it was used by God, it was not consumed.

I believe that God likes to use something or someone who is just ordinary. We don't need to be great or beautiful or fantastic. When we are used by God we can be burning for Him without fear of being burnt up. Look at the lives of some of the disciples. They were but fishermen. D.L. Moody, the evangelists was but a shoemaker when he was called. Billy Graham was but a simple college student when he decided to serve God. Some single lady who was willing to give her life saving initiated the support of planting of a great church, a young student, who gave a testimony of how God changed his life, sparked the fire of revival of a large language church. The list go on and on about how God used simply incidences and unnoticeable people to begin great work of saving souls for His kingdom.

The Scriptures says, "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ..." (1 Corinthians 1:27 NASB) By the way, when we offer ourselves to God, we will not burn up.

January 21, 2010 - Nine Plagues

Meditation on Exodus 7-10

God punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians with plagues because Pharaoh refused to let God's people go to worship Him. These were terrible plagues with devastating consequences. Each of the plagues was aim to destroy not only the land of Egypt but also the gods of Egypt. The Life Walk devotional magazine published by Life Way Press is the guide that we encourage our readers to follow in their daily Bible reading. In its current issue, it listed the plagues that correspond to the many gods of the Egyptians as follows.

1. The River Nile turned to blood. (Exodus 7:14-25) Nile itself was their god. (Khnum, Hapi, and Osiris)

2. Frogs came upon the land. (Exodus 8:1-15) (Hapi and Heqt - frog god and goddess)

3. Dust and gnats. (Exodus 8:16-19) (Seb- earth god)

4. Swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-32) (Uatchit- fly god)

5. Death of Domestic animals. (Exodus 9:1-7) (Ptah, Hathor, Mnevis, Amon- gods associated with bulls and cows)

6. Boils (Exodus 9:8-12) (Sekhmet- goddess of epidemics; Serapis and Imhotep- gods of healing)

7. Hail (Exodus 9:18-26) (Nut- sky goddess; Isis and Seth- agricultural deities; Shu- atmosphere)

8. Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20) (Serapia- protector from locusts)

9. Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29) (Re, Amon-Re, Aten, Atum, Horus, Harakte- sun gods; Thoth- moon god)

God's specific judgment upon the false gods proved that He was the only true God.

By the way, after Pharaoh hardened his heart so many times, finally the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. (Exodus 10:20) When a person hardens his own heart again and again and again, it may come to the point that there is no repentance possible. May God help us!

January 22, 2010 – Passover

Meditation on Exodus 12

The Passover meal of the Israelite was a symbol of salvation of the Lamb's deliverance of our sins. Notice that the Lamb was perfect and had no blemish. Its blood was to be put on the two door posts as well as the lintel of the house. When the destroyer- angel went by, it will pass over the house that had the blood strike on its lintel. It is a symbol of the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Thus the people of the household must accept Jesus Christ today so the blood of Christ can be applied to their hearts.

Notice also that the lamb had to be roasted in whole and not boiled. It must be eaten right away. This showed us that we must accept Christ in whole and not just a part of Him only. As the Israelite ate the Passover meal they were to be dressed and ready to walk. This would be a lesson for us to be ready to serve the Lord and do His will as we partake the Lord's Supper today.

May we be alert and prepared every time we take the Lord's Supper and remember the body and the blood of Christ which was broken and shed for us. Christ was our sacrificed Lamb. Through Him we are passover from the judgment of God.

January 23, 2010 - The Lord Was Going Before Them

Meditation on Exodus 13

God's leading for His people was precious. He did not lead the Israelite the shorter way to the Promised Land so they may avoid immediate war with the Philistines. But he led them by the way of the Red Sea where they would see God's mighty work to divide the Sea. God also led them with a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to give them light so that they might travel by day and by night. (v. 21)

As Christians, do you recall how God has guided you in your schooling, choosing your major, finding your job, providing your spouse, settling where you are? Can you remember how he has protected you from trouble, led your footsteps in traveling and given you the opportunity to serve Him?

Yes, Jesus has promised us in Matthew 28:20 that "...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NASB)

We therefore should constantly thank God for His presence and leadership in our lives.