live in Peace

Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians by giving reminders on how to live together in peace, focusing in on how we treat our leaders, how we treat each other, and how we should treat ourselves.

How can we motivate the idle, encourage the timid, and strengthen the weak while still maintaining our patience? these are the things that make a glorious body.

God bless,
Pastor Wayne

Day of the Lord

The Thessalonians knew the prophesies regarding the Day of the Lord, and they believed that it would soon be upon them. They were being persecuted, and they saw the attitude of the world towards Israel. How can one be at peace and live quietly while all is falling apart around you?

As we watch the Day of the Lord come closer with all of it's dreadful prophesies, how can we be prepared to live? This passage brings comfort to all who are of the day, for we know what will happen.

Whether we live, or whether we die, we are in the presence of our Lord.

Encourage one another with these words.

Pastor Wayne

resurrection hope

In a world where it is difficult to lead a quiet life, one needs to have an assurance that God is in control, and that victory is possible. The parousia passage in I Thess 4 assures us that we can remain confident, even when death comes, because our future is with the Lord. The foundation for this assurance comes in the resurrection of Jesus. Because he was able to conquer death, our resurrection is also assured if we are "in Christ". The Jewish betrothal and marriage tradition are an incredible illustration of our coming marriage to Jesus.

Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

Pastor Wayne

We know about living a holy life, and we know about love, but Paul reminds us that both of these are important, and best presented to the world thru a quiet life.

enjoy I Thess. 4

Pastor Wayne

Missing You

After Paul spends so much time talking about how the Thessalonians knew him, Chapter 3 begins with Paul's declaration of how much he missed them. He then goes on to highlight how they are his crown in heaven, not the deeds, miracles or stories, but they themselves - the people.

As we look to the future, will we have any crowns in heaven - People who will be there with us because of us?

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

Your Motives are showing

In Chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul is responding to some of the accusations that have been made against him as he was driven out of Philippi. While these accusations were false, yet they were used to mitigate against the truth of the Gospel. Paul often says "you know" that my motives were right.
Can we also say with confidence "you know" that we are motivated by true love, and not selfish gain?

Your motives are showing.

Pastor Wayne

Not Simply with Words

Not simply with words. One of Paul's most effective church plants was in Thessalonica, and it was done with power. Yet, there is no reference to works of wonder, or the charismatic gifts. Rather the power of God was revealed thru the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

This passage reveals power and endurance for the normal day.

may you find great encouragement and focus thru this sermon.

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

Thessalonians - the basics of life

We begin a new series on the books of Thessalonians. as with the Thessalonian people, we often need to hear things again in order to be encouraged. As Paul writes this first letter to the churches, he reminds people of what they know, but perhaps have let slip to the background.

Paul begins by giving thanks for the three things that enable us to work, labour and endure.

Be encouraged and keep looking forward.

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

Samuel lived in the same time period as Samson, however, his life turned out radically different.

the contrast between life in opposition to God and a life of dependance is clearly portrayed in these first 7 chapters of I Samuel. Are you content to stay in your miserable comfort, or are you willing to pour it all out so Christ can fill completely?

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

What happens when we use God's gifts for our own glory? Just ask Samson. Many times our thanksgiving ends up being a mask for a sense of entitlement. They are our gifts. We will use them when we will and as we will to bring about our own definition of the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, this often does not end up well for us.

Samson's tragic story is a warning to us all.

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

Sometimes we get impatient when we wait for God, so we try to help God answer our prayers. Jephthah was a man who struggled with trusting God, and thot that a vow would give God a reason to fulfill his promise to Jephthah. God did what he said that he would do, but Jephthah made his own life very miserable in his attempts to help God. Be careful when you try to help God.

God Bless,

Pastor Wayne

The story of Abimelech speaks of how Gideon's weaknesses can create a situation where evil can flourish. Abimelech assumes that Israel is ready for a king, and now that that throne is empty, he is prepared to fill that need. In our churches today, many positions are filled for the wrong reasons. One must remember that it is God who calls the individual, not the family or seniority to fulfill his need for leading the church.

God Bless,

Pastor Wayne

Rosh Hashanah is the new years celebration which places an emphasis on repentance and preparing for the arrival of the judge and king. Gideon experienced the leading of God in many different ways, yet he chose to simplify the process of discovering the will of God, leading to formalism. The aid to a relationship with God became more important than God.

Often we have established ways of repenting and once we have done our checklist, we have accomplished our goal. The challenge of this sermon is to lay aside our tradition of repentance, and daily blow the shafar, letting God reveal where we need to make things right with our neighbour, and with Him. This week should be a week of repentance as we look forward to yom kippur - the day of atonement.

God bless,

Pastor Wayne

The angel of the Lord came to Gideon as he was hiding and proclaimed "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!" While this was not true of Gideon at that time, the Lord saw who Gideon would become, and proclaimed that fact. We may not feel like a mighty warrior, but because the Lord is with us, if we simply obey, that is whom we will become.

The Lord is with you, mighty warrior

Pastor Wayne

uncertainty can keep us from doing what God desires us to do. His will will be done, but our story may continually contain an addendum.

May this sermon give you a greater confidence in following our Lord.

Pastor Wayne

Unfortunately due to technical problems, this sermon is not in audio form.
Prayerfully these notes will challenge you in your counting on God.

Pastor Wayne.



WHAT CAN ONE MAN DO?


The structure of the book of Judges is laid out in a chiastic form focussing in on Gideon and his antithesis - Abimelech. The general ideas of the first two chapters are then filled out with the stories of Othniel , and the remainder of the Judges. Each cycle of apostasy and redemption shows the people going deeper and deeper away from God.

We see the deliverers being less righteous
We see God using unworthy people for his worthy glory

Even tho we see that no person is perfect, we see that all can be used by God.



We begin with Othniel, son of Kenaz.
His story is typical -
A relative of Caleb against Syria
he reflects the same power that Caleb, and his daughter possessed.
This story is lacking in detail, because it is typical
the focus is not on him, but on God raising the deliverer
Following God, and peace for a generation
Till the kids forgot.






The story of Ehud
12 again the Israelites did evil,
the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.
Eglon came and attacked Israel, from Kir Heresheth
they took possession of the City of Palms.
13 with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites,
14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for 18 years.





15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD,
he gave them a deliverer
—Ehud, a left-handed man,
the son of Gera the Benjamite.

The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
16Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long,
which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.
17He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab,
in Kir-Heres(eth), the capital
Eglon was a very fat man.
(Eglon means calf - fat calf - ready for slaughter). The joyful, humorous retelling of this story by the author emphasizes the right timing of God.

18After Ehud had presented the tribute,
he sent on their way the men who had carried it.
19At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back

He probably did not attempt to kill Eglon on his first visit due to the extra security, however after he left, he did not have enough time to go home and get a weapon, so he was considered safe. Also, the Moabites placed great stock in what the gods had to say, so when the people saw Ehud stop at the idols, stand for a while, and then turn around and go back to the king, his reason was believable. He did not receive his message from these gods, as he was already prepared, but by this course of action, he gave the impression of receiving a message from said gods.

"I have a secret message for you, O king."
The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him.

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of
his summer palace
"I have a message from God for you."
the king rose from his seat, This is what one does when the gods speak. One should stand in respect when the gods speak.
It is easy to Picture the fat man pulling himself up out of his comfortable chair. He did not have a chance against Ehud. Ehud moved in while he was in the process of standing (No need to rush).

21 Ehud reached with his left hand,
drew the sword from his right thigh
and plunged it into the king's belly.
22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back.
Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.
Or perhaps, it reads that his innards spilled on the floor.

23 Then Ehud went out to the porch;
he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the room locked.
They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house."
25 They waited to the point of embarrassment,
when he did not open the doors of the room,
they took a key and unlocked them.
There they saw their Lord fallen to the floor, dead.

26 While they waited, Ehud got away.
He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim,
and the Israelites went down with him from the hills,
with him leading them.

28 "Follow me," he ordered,
"for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands."
So they followed him down
taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab,
they allowed no one to cross over in either direction.
29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites,
all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped.

30 Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for 80 years.

This is an Interesting story, but why is it in the Bible?
for the glory of battle?
For the defeat of an enemy?

One man

respected, trusted, in charge of paying off the Moabites
a unique skill/gifted - left-handed
so were a bunch of other benjamites
Perhaps 10 percent of people are left-handed.
Benjamin means “son of my right hand”
Ehud was “impaired in his right hand”
(A humorous way of stating that he was a lefty)

why act now?
The Lord raised him up when the people were ready to turn
perhaps he thot of it for a long while, but only at the right time did he act.

We see the need to act alone without polling the community
Sometimes it is imperative to act alone without broadcasting one’s plans.
An example was the missionaries who hosted a prayer page for their ministry with muslims. Someone other than the supporters read it, and all the details were subsequently published in the local language in the local paper. Their ministry came to an end.

who gave him permission to jeopardize the nation?
It was just a small thing, this attempt at assassination. If he failed? If he was caught with the weapon, he would surely die and he risked the lives of all. It was a foolish act - one man alone, yet that is what God called him to do.

If he had asked, the religious community would probably have told him not to do it. Yet the Holy Spirit directed him, and he was successful.




Ehud finished the job by calling for reinforcements. He did not attempt to win the victory all on his own, but recognized the need for the community to work together to finish the job.

He knew where to apply the pressure. The fords of the Jordan had to be crossed by all of the fleeing Moabites, and any re-inforcements from Moab had to also cross the Jordan.

What changed? Why did the people not rise up before? They lacked the courage because they were not counting on God. When they called out to the Lord, he removed the fear from their hearts, and they were then willing to fight/



Is this the normal way of victory? - the lone hero?
Should we run our church this way?
Should we act this was as a Christian

Perhaps, this might be you
called to do the unusual
asked to act alone.
Will you count on God, even tho your friends say it’s too big?

what if this is your neighbour?
Do you say stop
do you hold them back?
Or are you willing to come and stand beside them when they call?


What can one man do alone?
Start something that changes the world forever
remember that God moves in mysterious ways
he delights in diversity
a spirit filled life is an extreme life

A missionary family story.
He is 65 yrs old.
Her health is a regular struggle, and is a daily testimony to God’s sustaining power.
They have a big mortgage,
They were pastoring/counselling in a church
God has called them to a new ministry
The are again dependant on faith support with some assistance from paid seminars .
Can they survive? Is it worth it? Will it change the world?

The future is a big unknown, but they count on God. He has never failed them. This is where God had called them. They are willing to stand alone.

Are you willing to follow God, even alone.

Above all, count on God

August 23, 2009

We are beginning a new series about the Judges - normal, and sometimes very normal men called upon by God to do incredible things/ The focus will be "counting on God". This first sermon talks about What went wrong" and how we can find ourselves in bondage.

God Bless,

Pastor Wayne

August 16, 2009

This sermon sums up the nature of our God as "differentiation in Unity" and describes how our being created in his image shapes our relationships and church.

God Bless,

Pastor Wayne

Freedom to be

This is the final sermon on the Holy Spirit. It is taken from Galatians 5 and focuses in on the fruit of the Spirit

Pastor Wayne

A DEEP SALVATION


12: 31 During the night Pharaoh Dudimose summoned Moses and Aaron
"Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites!
Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.
32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go.
And also bless me."
Pharaoh was beginning to feel a little pressured by all of those losses, and his gods did not fare so well either. So, bless me, I need a hug.

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country.
They were beginning to get the impression that they would all die. The stupid and stubborn decisions of leadership can have a very negative effect on the general population.

36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favourably disposed to them. They gave them what they asked for. We are not sure when the Israelites asked to borrow things, but it was probably in the middle of night, while the Egyptians were mourning, and afraid that they were going to die, and did not know what was coming next. “Can I have that beautiful dress that I admire so much?

Sure, take it. This grief is too much, I can’t think.

Oh, and can I have the earrings that go with it?

Yeh, whatever.

What about a couple of matching necklaces?

Just take it and leave me alone.

Sure, I was also wondering about that nice china set that you have.

Take whatever you want and leave before we all die.

Should be stay a few more days?

NO! Please take what you want and leave before you kill us.

So the LORD had made the Egyptians favourably disposed to them.

Numbers 33:3,4 states that they marched out boldly in full view of the Egyptians who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them.

Ex. 13: 17 God did not lead them on the road which went through Philistine country, though that was shorter. "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."

They went prepared for war, but were not prepared for war. They carried with them all of the weapons of war, armed for battle, but they had never fought. They were of a mind to escape, not to conquer. It is very different staying at home and watching God decimate your enemies than participating in the killing yourself. God still was not finished with Egypt, even tho the people did not know it yet.

So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. There were about 2 million, including many other non-Israelites as well as large flocks and herds of livestock.

They travelled fast on a well lit path without glaring sun. There was a pillar of cloud to guide them by day, and a nice big night-light so that they could just keep going. Their dough made and ready for baking, so they did not have to stop long for eating.

Things going good. They got away from Dudimose, had easy travel and lots of money. They didn’t need to use their credit cards, as the Egyptians had been so generous in giving them all that backpay for all those years of serving. The wallet was full, the wardrobe was gorgeous, and they were on the way to the promised land. Three weeks of travelling, and no problems. Life with God was good.



A flat tire - Change of plans

In Chapter 14 God said: “let’s wait for Pharaoh”

What?!! you got to be joking! We just got away. Besides Pharaoh already learned his lesson. Didn’t he?

Turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.
3 Pharaoh will think that 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'

Just pharaoh? I think that everyone who knew of the route was also confused.

4God said “I will harden Dude’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Dude and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."

But God, Do we have to do this now? Let’s do it next year.

So they turned South and travelled 29 kms. thru a long deep canyon. I am sure that there was a lot of discussion as they walked along.

Why are we going this way? Isn’t this is a dead end?

A vacation on the beach is nice for the kids. We have had a difficult time, we have walked a long way. We have a much longer way to go yet. We could do with a little beach time. Besides, Pharaoh is not going to mess with us again.

Others would be saying: We are moving - let’s get to our new home. We can do our family vacation later. Besides, we are too close to Egypt yet.

As the people arrived at the beach, they noticed that the cloud was in front of them, but so also the red sea. They quickly realized that they would have to go back thru that canyon, back north, and then around the red sea to get to Mt. Sinai. Well, might as well get in a bit of snorkling.

*****

5 When Pharaoh Dudimose was told that the people had fled, Dude and his officials changed their minds and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"
6 So he took his chariot, his army and six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the older models of chariots in Egypt. He set out in pursuit the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.

9 The Egyptians pursued the Israelites and overtook them As they were camping by the sea near Pi Hahiroth.
all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops
thousands of them. An overwhelming force.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.
They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.
11 They said to Moses,
"Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?
What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'?
It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

The red sea was 11 kms wide and ½ km deep. There was no escape
the wall of mountains blocked their exit and the Egyptians blocked every small path off the beach.
Israel was facing 600 state of the art chariots plus many conventional chariots, plus troops without number. It was certain death with no hope.

Then Moses answered the people,
"Do not be afraid.
Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.
The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
14 The LORD will fight for you;
you need only to be still."

Did Moses believe his own words? Perhaps Moses was thinking “did I really say that?”
We see a bit of Moses’s heart when God says to him: “Why are you crying out to me?”
Instead of acting, Moses is crying inwardly. Moses is quite aware that there is no exit to this situation.

God rebukes him and says “Stop crying” Tell the Israelites to move on. Before Moses has time to ask “where?” God points forward and tells him to divide the water.
16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. The Egyptians will follow you, but that is all in the plan.

Of course, Moses does not have any alternatives, so he obeys. To give Moses a bit more time, the Shekinah cloud moves behind Israel and separates them from the Egyptians. So as Moses stretched out his staff, a strong wind came up and blew all night. It wasn’t a instantaneous miracle, but it must have been fascinating to watch the water recede and the walls build up. Eventually, the floor of the sea was dry, and the Israelites went thru. Perhaps it was like an aquarium and the kids had fun looking at the fish on the other side of the wall. I am sure the parents tho hustled as fast as they could. Glorious as it was, I am sure it did not feel all that safe with the water walls on each side and the Egyptians behind. As they all reached the other side, the Egyptians entered the path.

God told Moses: I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

The Egyptians must have been very upset and set on revenge, because no warrior in his right mind would ever go into such a water trench. But they did. All of Dude's horses, chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. Talk about tunnel vision! Just when the night was at it’s darkest, and the Egyptians almost reached the other side, the LORD threw the Egyptian army into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they haddifficulty driving.

Finally, the Egyptians caught on. "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

Wow - a new thought! And this is news? It is amazing how uncontrolled emotions can completely blind a person to the hand of God. 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

27 at daybreak the sea went back to its place and the Lord drowned all the fleeing Egyptians. Not one of them survived.

God told Moses: I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen." This verse is a bit puzzling, because if they are all dead, how will they know? Perhaps one should insert the phrase “remaining in Egypt” will know that I am the Lord.

30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians,
the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Wow. What a salvation:
We thot God was good when he destroyed or humiliated all of those Egyptian gods, but this is incredible.
To control the sea in this manner.
To blind the Egyptians to their immanent death.
To end once and for all the fear of going back into slavery.
To provide all of those new weapons for future wars,
The deliverance is now complete.

Truly, we have a warrior God.


The response:
20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.

Sing it again and again:
21 "Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea."

Conclusion:

Have you crossed your red sea?
Has God set you free from your bondage to sin and death?
Is he your God, or just the god of your fathers?
Can you sing:
2 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
He is “My God”.

God is in a rush to get to the land of rest. The destination is far less important than the relationship. Eventually we will get to our promised land, but what a trip of discovery. We often wonder at the detours that come our way, at the impossible situations that we find ourselves in with no way out. God desires two things. One is to be glorified by the lives of those who oppose Him, and two, to show us that He is completely trusty, faithful, and able to deliver us.

Is He your God, or just your father’s God

the gods of Egypt

Israel has grown from one man Abraham to 70 people when they entered Egypt, and now they are a nation.

God sent the famine to drive Israel to Egypt so that they would remain a “people”. In Canaan, they were just like all of their neighbors, but in Egypt they were the filthy, shepherd outcasts that no one wanted for friends. The Egyptian gods were not the gods of Canaan. Before long, Israel was enslaved, which ensured that they remained a distinct people group for all their time there/

Now they have become a great nation of several million people.

Ezekiel 16: 1-9
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices 3 and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5 No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.
6 " 'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!" [a] 7 I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. [b] Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare.

8 " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.


Israel knew that the God of their fathers is a monotheistic, and holy God. They knew that to see his face means to die. But they knew very little else. They were ready to learn about their future husband. They were ready for marriage, but they did not know their arranged husband. (God and Abe worked out the deal a few years previously).

It was easy to believe when Moses returned with those signs and all that hope, so Moses approached Pharaoh without the use of signs. Confidence came easy, but left just as quickly. Moses seemed to walk away from Pharaoh without another word, without an answer.

Once Moses started the process, there was no turning back. A tough situation became impossible.

Commitment was made.
Hopes were destroyed.
Rejection, insults and punishment for daring to believe.
Just who is this Lord that our fathers worshipped?

The people were discouraged and refused to believe, and even Moses failed in faith, but God challenged Moses and Aaron to move ahead anyway.

Pharaoh said “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go” (Ex. 5:2)

God replied: That’s true – let me introduce myself. When Pharaoh came to know the Lord, he let the people go. This time of instruction was not for Pharaoh tho, because he learned little and ended up dying. Rather, this was God’s way of introducing himself to His young wife.

Now it is time to get serious. “It was impossible, but doable”



First of all, God demonstrates that he is much greater than each and every one of the Egyptian gods. If He is to be their God, can he compete? They don’t know.

Just watch God roll up his sleeves and get to work: Ex. 6:1 Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh!

This time when Moses came before Pharaoh, he came with more authority and with the signs that God had given him. Gone was the self-confidence and here was the God-confidence.



Pharaoh did snakes well. His hat had the image of Renenutet - the Cobra guardian of the Pharaohs. So when Aaron threw down the rod and it devoured Pharaoh’s snakes, he was a bit surprised.



First Plague: Water Changed To Blood (Ex. 7:14-25)

other waters became red as well, even the water that was drawn for use in houses in stone or wooden jars.

the first of the plagues should be directed against the Nile River itself,

The Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt all trade, commerce, and crops depended upon the Nile,

The Nile was the very lifeline of Egypt and the center of many of its religious ideas and sacred to the Egyptians. Many of their gods were associated either directly or indirectly with this river and its productivity.

anything that came from a divine body and touched the ground was productive."

1. The great Khnum was the guardian of the Nile

2. Hapi (or Hapy) was the "spirit of the Nile" and its "dynamic essence. He was a partner with the great original gods who had created the world, and came to be regarded as the maker and moulder of everything within the universe.

Hapi came to Egypt each year with the flood waters.
He was The "lord of the fishes and birds and marshes

People greeted him with sacrifices, offerings and amulets at sacred places all along the Nile.
No temples were actually dedicated specifically to Hapi, but he was universally revered – at least equal to the sun god Ra

not only did the fish in the river die but the 'river stank,' and the Egyptians were not able to use the water of that river
... imagine the horror and frustration of the people of Egypt
finding dead fish lining the shores and an ugly red characterizing what had before provided life and attraction.

Hapi the crocodile god of the Nile was forced to leave the Nile

the Nile was the very life of the gods - their medium for producing life, but now it brought death.
It would take generations before people would be happy with Hapi again.


Second Plague: Frogs (Ex, 8:1-15)

The frog was considered the theophany of the goddess Heqt (or Hekt, or Heket), the wife of the creator of the world and the goddess of birth. Heqt was always shown with the head and body of a frog.

As frogs would “spontaneously” appear out of the earth, so also Hekt would bring to life.
As such, she was not only a goddess of birth, but of rebirth, because of her life-giving powers.
Amulets with her image and scarabs were worn by women to protect them during childbirth

Even the involuntary slaughter of a frog was often punished with death.

Heqt ironically invaded pharaoh's bedroom and even jumped on his bed (Ex. 8:31.)

So, Pharaoh begged Moses to intercede with YHWH to take away the frogs - take away Heqt, the goddess of fertility from his own chamber.

The frogs died where they were. The Egyptians then had to gather the dead and rotting bodies, putting them in large stinking piles. The people of the land had to gather the decaying bodies of the frogs, and put them into heaps.

Would you want dead frogs around at the birth of your children? The memory would plague all future worship of Heqt.

Third Plague: Lice (Ex. 8:16-19)

The word "lice" is translated as "sand flies" or "fleas" in some translations. The Hebrew word kinnim comes from a root word meaning "to dig"; it is probable that the insect in question would dig under the skin.

This would have been an embarrassment to Geb, the great god of the earth.
Egyptians gave offerings to Geb for the bounty of the soil, yet out of him kept flowing these irritating biting insects.

This plague would have been especially dreadful to the priests of Egypt, they were required to shave all their hair off every day, and wear a single tunic, no lice would be permitted on their bodies. The daily ritual of the priest was not possible because of physical impurity.

Geb, the god of the earth, - established the cosmos - the source of vegetation but now out of him comes lice.

Lots of lice, dirty, biting irritating gnats.
It was as if every grain of sand became a no-see-um.
And people would shudder every time they look at the ground.

IV, Fourth Plague: Swarms (Ex. 8:20-32)

Moses used the word "swarms". The word "flies" was added by the translators. Some scholars believe this was the blood-sucking gadfly which was responsible for a lot of blindness in the land. Possibly the dog-fly, an insect described in detail by Philo.
Dog-flies are more annoying than gnats, and fasten themselves to the human body.
Josephus - pestilent creatures

A more probable understanding would be the dung beetle. Deification of the scarab beetle is still seen in Egypt today. It is often given as a gift to tourists.

Khefere - the self-produced, re-birthed morning sun had the head of a scarab.
Ra, the Sole Creator was visible as the disc of the sun, as the scarab beetle pushes a round ball of dung in front of it, Khefera and Ra (as a scarab) push the sun across the sky."

The plague of swarms of scarabs, with mandibles that could saw through wood, was destructive and worse than termites! They covered the ground, filled the houses, and even climbed on people. One could not walk, or even sit without squashing them
- the image of Khefera under foot and crunchy

This is the first plague in which God made a distinction Israel and the Egyptians (8:22-23).

V, Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased (Ex. 9:1-7)

This plague was against domestic animals in the land ot Egypt.

The god Apis was represented as a bull, the living image of the god Ptah. (Ptah was the creator of the universe and master of destiny). Apis represented fertility and was a protector of the deceased. The Apis bull supposedly had the power of prophecy.

When the Apis bull died the land of Egypt mourned for him as they would for the loss of the monarch himself. When the Apis bull died, priests would travel through every pasture in Egypt looking for his perfect replacement

Hathor was the cow-headed goddess of the desert.

"All Egyptians use bulls and bull-calves for sacrifice but they are forbidden to sacrifice heifers, because they are sacred to Isis. The cow was the living symbol of Isis

Hathor is one of the most ancient Egyptian goddesses.
She is shown with a head-dress resembling a pair of horns with the moon- disk between them."
She was the symbolic mother of Pharaoh,
She was originally a personification of the Milky Way,
the milk that flowed from the udders of a heavenly cow.
known as "Lady of Stars" and "Sovereign of Stars"
known as "the mistress of life" and was seen as the embodiment of joy, love, romance, perfume, dance, music and alcohol.

The strength of the pharaoh and the mistress of a wonderful life were being destroyed by a plague. They were simply falling down and dying in the fields.

this made it more personal - the loss of joy, love, dance, alcohol.


The herds of cattle belonging to the Israelites were not affected (Ex . 9:4). Their pleasure was not diminished.

VI Sixth Plague: Boils (Ex. 9:8-12)

Pharaoh's "magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians" (Ex. 9:11).

An affront to Imhotep, the god of medicine
– Imhotep, physician, architect and chief adviser of King Zoser (ca. 3150 B.C.).
High priest of Ra
He did so much for Egyptian medicine that later generations worshiped him as a god of knowledge.
The Egyptians prided themselves on their medical knowledge, but their knowledge could not save them from the agony.

Also an affront to Thoth, the ibis- headed god of intelligence and medical learning.


VII Seventh Plague: Hail (Ex. 9:13-35)

The plague originated from the sky, the realm of Nut, the sky goddess. She was usually depicted as a woman resting on hands and feet, her body forming an arch, thus representing the sky.

The flax and barley crops were destroyed (Ex. 9:31).
Although this plague caused widespread devastation, a few trees remained for the locusts of the next plague to devour.





VIII. Eighth Plague: Locusts (Ex. 10:1-20)

A. In ancient times locusts could destroy an entire villages food supply in a matter of minutes.
Locusts were described as an army by Joel (Joel 1:6).

B. Again, the gods of Egypt were silent.
1. Where was Nepri (or Neper), the god of grain?
2. Where was Ermutet, the goddess ot childbirth and crops?
3. Seth, the god of crops, was also silent.

C. Destroyed trees and crops left famine and unrest in the land.

IX. Ninth Plague: Darkness (Ex. 10:21-29)

A. "But when Moses said that what he [Pharaoh] desired was unjust, since they were obliged to offer sacrifices to God of those cattle, and the time being prolonged on this account, a thick darkness, without the least light, spread itself over the Egyptians, whereby their sight being obstructed, and the breathing hindered by the thickness of the air, they were under terror lest they be swallowed up by the thick cloud. This darkness, after three days and as many nights was dissipated." (Josephus, Book II, XIV, 5).

The sun god Amon-Ra was considered one of the greatest blessings in all of the land of Egypt. the bright father who fertilized Mother Earth with rays of penetrating heat and light;

Always Ra, or the sun, was the Creator: at his first rising, seeing the earth desert and bare, he had flooded it with his energizing rays, and all living things vegetable, animal and human had sprung pell-mell from his eyes, and been scattered over the world."

Never before had this happened. It was different than an eclipse, total darkness that could be felt for 3 days. The God of Israel stopped Ra from shining.

yet not for Israel. They still had light.

Tenth Plague: Death Of The Firstborn (Ex. 11:1-12:30)

The firstborn was not only an heir of a double portion of his father's inheritance, but represented special qualities of life (cf. Gen. 49:3). Death of the firstborn son would cripple a family legally and emotionally.

This tenth plague was potentially more devastating that all of the other plagues put together.
This plague was also very selective it destroyed only the Egyptians firstborn males, whether human or animal.

This plague was directed against "all of the gods of Egypt"

Where was the god Pharaoh?
Where was Renenutet, the cobra-goddess and guardian of Pharaoh?
Could not Pharaoh the god not protect his own son?
How could he be a god if the God of the slave Hebrews could kill his family?

But no death for the Israelites. The Israelites and the entire male population of the nation were to be exempt from this plague.

This plague was too selective to merely be a childhood epidemic. It had to be the direct hand of God.

Conclusion

In these 10 plagues, we see God decimating every one of the Egyptian gods. Not just beating them in a contest, but in many ways making them a stench in the eyes of their worshippers.

Can YHWH do the same for our gods today? Materialism, the pursuit of self, fame?

Who is YHWH that I should obey Him? How well do I know Him?
Is my trust like that of Moses before the exodus - only sufficient for quick and easy answers?

Do I speak His name boldly, or do I try once and then walk away? When I speak, do I assume that people will not listen?

Just how great is our God?

THE HOLY AND THE WHOLLY OTHER

When one considers all the space used up in the Pentateuch regarding the details of the tabernacle, one wonders what is the point. It seems like there could be a much better use for that space in our already full Bible. Why did God first tell us how they are to make the Tabernacle in Ex. 25-31, then tell us how they made the tabernacle in chapters 35-39, and then again how they set it up in chapter 40?

This is a long passage with a lot of repetition and a lot of detail.
Most people do not consider this one of their favorite passages.
In fact it is very easy to skim thru it to see if there is something of value hidden among all of those details.

Hebrews tells us this is an exact replica of a heavenly reality, but for what purpose.
Why not simply tell us the comparison instead of repeating it in such detail?

The usual approach is to resort to Typology:

- The biblical science of authoritatively seeing the physical and historical and comparing it to the heavenly and eternal (which we have not seen) and do not necessarily understand.

Many people try to seek meaning in detail for the sake of detail.

I would love to compare the Trabant P63 (Trabbi) {a rebuilt one costs 6,000, goes from 0-60 mph. in 21 days, sorry, sec. and has a top speed of 70 mph.}

to the Bugatti Veyron Fbg {costs 1.5 mil., goes
from 0-60 in 2.5sec. and has a top speed of 253mph. It will go thru a set of tires in 15 min. at top speed, but no worries, it will empty it’s 100 ltr. gas tank in 12 min. }

Most of us have no true understanding of either of these vehicles, and so our comparison between them is mostly speculation and abstract facts.

The same is true of comparing the shadow Tabernacle in the OT to the heavenly reality.


An example of extreme figurative can be found
at unlimitedglory.org, however this type of
approach is found in a multitude of places.

“As you stand before the entrance notice that the entire area is enclosed by a curtain and a fabric gate which is held in place by 60 wooden pillars which are themselves standing on bases made of bronze (Ex.27:9-18).
The main curtain, which is made of linen, is a total of 280 cubits long and 5 cubits high (Ex.27:18).
The entrance gate is 20 cubits long and is also made of linen,
but this time it has blue, purple and scarlet yarn interwoven throughout the linen (Ex.27:16).
The whole distance around the Tabernacle is therefore discovered to be 300 cubits.

we must remember that we are dealing with God's pattern for total salvation or redemption of man: spirit, soul & body.
Therefore, we should look beyond what the surface answer to that question provides.
the outer court of the tabernacle, or that portion surrounded by this curtain, symbolized the sacrifice of Jesus as the Passover Lamb.
it is in this area of the Tabernacle that we should find numerous symbols for judgment, sin, Jesus and His suffering on the cross.

Needless to say, the Outer Court is full of just such symbolism.
the curtain itself
- the law which was given to Moses in order to lead us to Christ was given approximately 1,500 years before Jesus died on Calvary.
- The curtain and entrance together totaled 300 cubits long by 5 cubits high (Ex.38:9-15&18). When these two dimensions are multiplied by each other we see that the Outer Court, which symbolizes the age of the law which lasted about 1500 years, was enclosed by 1,500 square cubits of linen!

made of linen - as opposed to some other material.
- The Old Covenant priests wore linen garments,
- our Great High Priest Jesus
- on the mount of transfiguration His linen clothes shown whiter
- Jesus was buried in fine linen cloth.

the Tabernacle curtain itself was 280 cubits in length.
- Jesus was made perfect through suffering.
- 40 symbolizes trails and sufferings
- 7 stands for completeness or perfection
- multiply 40 by 7 (suffering & perfection) we get 280,

the entrance itself. – 20 cubits wide
- Jesus alone is our gate into the Father's presence
- linen was interwoven with purple yarn - a symbol for royalty
- scarlet yarn - a symbol for sacrificial blood
- blue yarn - a symbol for a Godly walk
clearly point to Jesus - His royalty (Rev.19:16; Mk.15:17 & John 19:2),
His blood (Matt.26:28 & John 19:34)
His walk (I John 2:6 & Lk.22:42).
- a rather wide gate,
- Jesus' sacrifice is open to all men (I Tim.2:4 & John 3:16).
the 4 posts which held the entrance curtain in place
4 is used many times in Scripture to signify the whole earth (Rev.4:1 & Isaiah 11:12).


Every element of the physical abode signified a description of Jesus. I do believe that there is a heavenly correspondent to the physical reality, but to allegorize in this way completely hides the truth that God intended for Israel, and in turn, for us.

Philo’ understanding:
the Tabernacle displays the two realms of existence.
The holy of holies signifies the realm of the Divine,
the realm of unchanging and perfect truth,
the intelligible world as he calls it.
The exact makeup signifies various aspects of God.

The other two areas, the holy place and the courtyard,
together represent the corporeal world,
the world of human experience.

First, the holy place, with its lamp, table and altar of incense
represents the heaven of this corporeal world,
and second, the courtyard, with the basin and altar of sacrifices,
represent its earth.


Rabbinic Interpretation

it is a gateway to the heavens,
a mirror image of the human body,
an explanation for the holidays,
An illustration of the creation week.
and a link to the generations of the Bible.

Samaritan Interpretation

the Tent of Meeting is more than a mythic object of reverence; it is a record of the past and a promise for the future.

Hebrews in the New Testament.
the Tabernacle becomes a vehicle for understanding the ministry of Christ.
Jesus is the true high priest, and heaven his true Tabernacle:
The Tabernacle is not spiritualized, or allegorized, but considered a lesser and earthly version of the heavenly reality. Jesus did exactly what the High priest did, however he did it better, and once and for all.


a definition of holiness
there is no room for impurity
God would dwell there
a separation between the holy and the mundane
the holiness of God will consume evil as light consumes darkness, therefore God, in his mercy did not let sinful people enter his presence to be consumed by his holiness.

The purpose of the detail has traditionally been understood to be allegorical.

I believe that the much greater reason for the detail is to portray the perfection and holiness of God.
Close is not good enough.
“Close enough for the girls I go out with” in the presence of the holy would bring total destruction.
The Tab. was God’s definition of pure and beautiful, and he prepared the right people to construct his glorious “dwelling place”. The attention to detail is because God is perfect. The repetition in important because perfection is important.

Take a walk with me thru the Tab. Use your imagination to see the sights, hear the sounds and inhale the smells. The Tabernacle is a visual image of the Glory of God, therefore we must read the description visually.

Imagine walking thru the wilderness, seeing sparse growth and lots of red rocks. Dryness everywhere, nothing, emptiness (Like North Dakota).

As you are walking, you hear in the distance a large crowd of people. Walking into camp, you hear the noise of children yelling and laughing. Women and men are laughing, talking and making all kinds of noises.

Walking further, you come to the center of camp, and there is a big open space with a reddish-brown tent in the center. Things are much quieter there, and you see a few people coming and going.

As you enter the apparently boring tent, you are suddenly struck with incredible light and beauty. Everywhere you look, you see vibrant color and incredible wealth. The walls are made of linen so beautiful that one could easily confuse them with silk. Scarlet, sky-blue and purple threads are woven into the material, along with gold strands forming cherubim and pomegranates. The priests are wearing blue tunics, and the high priest is wearing an ephod made of gold and precious stones. Everything is so incredibly bright and beautiful.

The musicians are playing incredible music in the background, and the implements used for worship are exquisitely fashioned from bronze, gold and silver.

As you walk into the Holy place, you are immediately struck with the smell of fresh bread from the table of shewbread. The incense coming from the gorgeous table ahead of you is beyond belief, and an aroma that you have never smelled before. The glow from the menorah lightens up the whole room, and you can also smell the fresh olive oil used in the candles. The light reflects off of the gold and sliver of the tables, vessels, and even the walls and curtains. Beauty and symmetry as you have never seen before.

If you were to walk into the Holy of Holies, you would
see the glory magnified, as you would feel the presence
of the Lord. In that room, there was only one article there - the ark of the covenant. Beautiful, shining, reflecting and simple.

In all of these sights, smells and sounds, you would be in awe of the glory of the Lord.

But, in the courtyard, there was one thing that did not fit.

- The sacrificing of sheep, and goats, and oxen, and doves.
- The smell of fresh blood, and stale blood.
- The big bloody stain of the ground that was saturated at the side of the altar.
- The sound of animals knowing their fate, and protesting loudly.

- The butchering of animals, and the cutting out of the internal organs and fat
- the acrid smell of burned flesh and burning hair.
A smell that takes weeks for the memory to wash away
- the ashes and blood splattered on the priest’s robe as he handles the horrible mess.

Why is it there?
Why is this incredible tabernacle defiled with the horror of death and destruction?

The contrast is incredible. As you look at the sacrifice, you are horrified and look away. In looking away, you see the beauty of the Lord, which appears much more beautiful. Yet, you are drawn to the ugliness that sits in the center.

One begins to understand the contrast between the beautiful holiness of God, and the ugliness of our sins. The more I focus on the beauty of God, the uglier my sin becomes. In our world we get so used to living in a garbage dump that we forget beauty. Things that we call “not bad” become simply atrocious when we are exposed to the beauty of our Lord and His holiness.

We can focus on the wages of sin, which is death, but that is not the desire of God’s heart.

(What part of “the wages of sin is death” do you not understand?)

God’s desire is that we continually focus on his beauty, and in so doing we will allow His beauty and holiness to drive the ugliness of sin away from us. Moses’s glory faded, but we can be changed from glory into glory (2 Cor. 3)


As we approach Easter we remember the sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world. While we should never forget that the wages of sin is death, we also know what God is willing to do to give us eternal life.