Daily Encouragement

January 24, 2010 - The Crossing of the Red Sea

Meditation on Exodus 14

The dividing of the Red Sea for the millions of Israelite to cross through was a manifestation of God's mighty power to open a way for His people to safety. The returning of the water of the Red Sea to drawn the six hundred chariots of the pursuing Egyptians was a demonstration that Jehovah was God. However this record as well as other facts in Exodus has been questioned by some scholars as to its historicity or its location simply because they do not believe in miracle.

But praise God that there is a DVD, the Sinai Connection by Michael Rood which videoed the possible location of the crossing route of the Israelite through the Red Sea as well as the coral encrusted remains of Pharaoh's chariots and army strewn across the floor of the Red Sea. It also shows the center of the split rock that gushed millions of gallons of water into the thirsty camp of the Israelites and many other proofs of the journey to Mt. Sinai on location. I have seen this video and it is convincing. You can order this video through contacting www.ARoodAwakening.tv

Therefore we can have faith in God's word that whatever God did for the Israelites was for our encouragement and teaching so we can be relying on Him and follow His guidance. He can also deliver us from the bondage of sins.

January 25, 2010 - God's Timely Provision.

Meditation on Exodus 16

God's word says that God provided food for the Israelite by a quota for each person in order to test them whether they will live according to His law or not. (v.4) Each person was to collect just enough manna (the heavenly food) from the ground for his own need and no more. If they got more, the manna would be rotten and bred worms in the night. But on the day before Sabbath they could gather enough portions for one day more so that they could rest on that day for assembly of worship. Those people who did not heed the instruction and tried to get more on the Sabbath day did discover that there was no manna rained down on the ground.

This instruction from the Word helps us realize God's provision for His people. As common believers, God will provide our need as each of us labors for it. However, we often find that God would provide just enough for each of us and our family but no more. Yes, God also would provide enough for us for the saving for the days when we take time to worship Him and serve Him. But it may not be the goal for all of us to get very rich and have tremendous storage for the future. If we are blessed with riches, we should think of ways to help others who are in need. (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

Quite often when we have great income, we would not be careful in spending our money and waste it on a lot of unnecessary things. So for many of us, it seems that it is God's will for us to have just enough for our daily need with some saving for the rough time but trust Him for the rest. "Give us this day our daily bread." is the prayer our Lord taught us. (Matthew 6:11 KJV)

January 26, 2010 - God Is Holy

Meditation on Exodus 19

God has delivered His people from Egypt and led them to Mount Sinai so He could establish them to be a holy nation for Himself. Through Moses, God told the Israelite that He took great care of them and would make them a kingdom of priests. He wanted them to hear His voice and witnessed His awful presence on the mountain. But they should first be prepared for such meeting by consecrating themselves for two days ahead and washed their clothes.

When the Lord did descend upon the mountain, there were smoke all over like a furnace, earthquake, thundering, fire, and increasing trumpet sound. The people were forbidden even get close to the mountain. They were terribly afraid at the foot of Mount Sinai. God wanted to reveal Himself to them as absolutely holy and transcendent. The people needed to realize that God was entirely different from man's own concepts of pagan gods. It was in such condition that God revealed the Ten Commandments and others laws to Moses for His people. (Exodus 20) God had impressed His children to obey the constitution of His kingdom and His laws.

While we appreciate the unconditional and wonderful grace of God in the New Covenant, we should constantly be aware that God is Holy and He is a consuming fire as the book of Hebrews reminds us. (Hebrews 11:25-29)

January 27, 2010 - The Holy God Is Also Merciful

Meditation on Exodus 24

After God has revealed to Moses the civil, criminal, and religious laws as well as His covenant with the nation of Israelite, He invited Moses, three religious leaders and seventy of the elders to eat and drink up on Mt. Sinai. God and the leaders of the people went through a ceremonial meal to confirm the covenant between God and men after the people had been sprinkled with the blood as well as making offerings to God.

The Scriptures says that Moses and the leaders "saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel ..." (v. 10-11 NASB) Indeed God was gracious in accommodating Himself to have fellowship with these leaders even though He was absolutely holy. He even cut a covenant with His people in order to show His mercy and faithfulness in the midst of His glory and consuming fire. (v. 17)

All the more, we ought to be so thankful today to accept His great mercy in sprinkling the blood of His son, Jesus upon us because He was the perfect offering for us. We even have a better covenant through Christ than the old one Moses and His people had. Therefore we can all fellowship with Him freely without fear. He is holy and merciful!

January 28, 2010 - God With Men

Meditation on Exodus 25

The revelation of the building of the tabernacle was an expression of God's desire to be with men. Look at verse 8, "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." (NASB) Then in verse 22 following the instruction to build the ark of covenant and mercy seat on the top, God said, "There I will meet with you;..." Then in verse 30, the table of acacia wood was instructed to be "set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me all times." Furthermore, the lampstand of pure gold that was made after the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain was to be lighted perpetually before the Lord. (Exodus 27:21)

So the tabernacle, including the furniture in it, was to be a foreshadow of the coming of our Lord Jesus who dwelt among men full of grace, giving us bread of life and shining as the light of the world. In fact, John 1:14 has used the Greek word, "tabernacle" to express that the Word became flesh, and "dwelt" among us.

Yes, when Jesus was born he was named "Immanuel" which means "God with us." (Matthew 1:23) How we need to thank Him for His presence with us then and now always in the hearts of those who have invited Him to come in. (Revelation 3:20)

January 29, 2010 - A Dialogue About What Christian Wear At Worship

Meditation on Exodus 28

This chapter was devoted to the description of the dresses for the High Priest and priests in the tabernacle. What they wore was described as holy garments. (v. 2) These clothes were for glory and beauty. (v. 40) Certainly, God has designed for Aaron's colorful garments to be special and carried the names of the twelve tribes on his chest. He was to remember to pray for the people whose names he bore. He wore a gold plate on his forehead with the engravings of a seal, "Holy to the LORD" (v. 36 NASB) These dresses were to set them apart as anointed and consecrated for the LORD.

Most Bible students took Aaron as a foreshadow for Jesus, our High Priests. Certainly he is glorious, pure and sitting on the right hand of the Father today still interceding for us. But all believers also belong to the royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9) Since we are priests serving God, shouldn't we also be gloriously, beautifully, and holy in our hearts as well as in our dresses during our worship in God's house if at all possible? The psalmist says, "Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array." (Psalm 29:1-2; cf. Psalm 96:7-9)

Though we should be sensitive to those who are unbelievers yet are seekers coming to our services, should we need to cater to what they wear in order to make them comfortable in our service? Should we dress like a vacationer or imitate the latest cultural style in order to reach them for Christ in our church? I don't believe so.

Indeed our worship should be very welcome and warm to all regardless how anyone dresses. But our clothes and especially the minister's clothes on the platform should be the best we can afford in order to glorify God. We should first please Him rather than people. The seekers in our churches would soon learn from our example to worship the Lord with our best. I don't think that they would be turned off and feeling too embarrass to come to worship.

The entire Russian congregations who worship in our sanctuary always dress their best every Lord's Day.

January 30, 2010 - A Great Shepherd

Meditation on Exodus 32

The congregation of Israelites ran out of patience in waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain. In foolishness, they urged Aaron to make an image of golden calf to represent God and offered sacrifices to it. Afterward they ate, drank, and played.

God of course was angry of these happening and told Moses He would destroy the Israelites but made Moses' children to be a great nation instead. Here it triggered the greatness of Moses as a leader. Moses immediately prayed that God would turn away from His execution with powerful arguments: First, the Israelites were God's own people who were delivered out of Egypt by His own power and might. Second, why should God allow the Egyptians to say that He brought the Israelite out to kill them? Third. He reminded God concerning His covenant with Abraham that He would give him numerous descendants to occupy the Promised Land. As a result, God granted Moses' request.

After Moses and Joshua came down from the mountain, they disciplined the people and execute some severe judgment. On the next day, again Moses begs God to forgive the Israelites. He said that otherwise He rather had his own name to be blotted out from God's book of life. This is close to what Jesus said, "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11 NIV)

What a tremendous lesson for those who are servant leader in the ministry of God!