February 3
Ex 17:8-19:15 | PS 27:7-14 | Prov 6:27-35 | Matt 22:34-23:12
Every conversation, every scenario, every situation is unique. The other day I had a conversation with one of my patient's who had recently lost her 24 year-old daughter. She had a rare form of cancer which she suffered with as a child, but nearly 20 years later it recurred with a vengeance and took her life rather quickly. My patient is Jewish and grew up in Russia. As she admits, she was essentially raised secular, Jewish in identity, but devoid of any real faith. After sitting and letting her tell her story without interruption, as tears flowed from her, I began to tell her of the healing touch of our Savior. Whenever hearing of such events, I never make statements like "I know what you are going through", because I don't. I also don't use certain Christian phrases, such as "God will never give you more than you can handle". After sharing a bit of my own story of coming to faith, I introduced her to my Savior, and hers if she is willing to entertain moving forward. Though I can't explain why God allowed her daughter to perish, I explained to her what Abraham was challenged to do with his son Isaac, and how on that exact same mountain (Moriah/Calgary), God allowed His Son, Jesus Christ to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind. I explained that though I may not know what it is to witness my child dying, God does. I then explained to her why Jesus had to suffer and die. I explained the depth of His love of taking our sins upon Himself on the cross. I then described to her how she could get to know Him also, as I explained the importance of a steady diet of God's Word. Oswald Chambers writes on 1 Corinthians 1:17, ("Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..."), "Remember what Paul means by "the gospel", namely the reality of the redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. The one passion of Paul's life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason - these things kept him immovable in his devotion to the gospel of God".
Moses has been gone from his family for close to one year. Though his father-in-law, Jethro, was a priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16), he was more than likely polytheistic, believing in many gods as most pagans did. So when they reunite, we read in Exodus 18:8-11, "And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”" Though he had not seen them for a year, and catching up on things was important, Moses saw the importance of introducing him to the One True God.
Though we don't like trials and tribulations, it is necessary in our walk with God. We read in Exodus 19:4-5, "'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine." Many might not realize what this illustration means. When eaglets learn to fly, the mother stirs the nest, knocking the little eaglets out, and they begin to flap their wings aimlessly tumbling down to the rocks below. Just before they crash and perish, the mother eagle swoops down underneath and bears them up on her wings bringing them back to safety. This goes on day by day, until the eaglet begins to fly, at first a bit awkwardly, until one day they learn how to soar. The truth is we like life in the nest, secure and comfortable, devoid of risk or trials. But it is through these trials that we learn to depend on our Father, God. He is sovereign and in control. He is more than able to bear us up through both the small and the large trials. Through this we learn to depend on Him, and walk the walk of faith.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: