Exodus 6:1 YHWH said to Moshe [Moses], “Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. With a mighty hand he will send them off; with force he will drive them from the land!” All through Exodus 5, the people of Israel feel the backlash of Moshe’s request to Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh, instead of agreeing or simply saying “no”, makes the already difficult task of making bricks for building projects even more difficult by requiring the Israelites to find their own straw. Instead of a rescue, Moshe the man sent by God has caused a huge setback and an even worse situation. So Moshe turns to God and asks Him why he was sent. God tells him to watch and see what He will do to Pharaoh. God needs to make a point with Pharaoh, utterly crushing the so-called power of the Egyptian “gods’, down to the god-man, Pharaoh himself. How often is this like our lives? God promises something incredible, but instead of getting better, things seem to get worse. For me, it’s scary and often faith-shaking as I wonder what on earth God is doing. But, one thing that the Torah and the apostles all agree on is God’s faithfulness. In the story of Moshe, the darkness before the dawn of hope makes Pharaoh cocky. When God systematically destroys the “power” of each of the Pharaoh’s gods, He shows the Israelite people (and the Egyptians) that there is only one God, who has power over everything. Ultimately, when the Israelites are sent from Egypt, they go with all the gold and silver and jewels of the Egyptians, richer than they ever would have been if they’d have left on their own. In our lives, the darkness before the dawn is a time when God deals with some of the ugliness in us so that when it is time to step out, we can step out richer and stronger and more confident in our God’s power. That tough time is a good time to work on strengthening our warfare strategies and our prayer muscles. It’s a time to keep an eye out for the ways that God is destroying the “gods” we’ve raised up in our lives. And it’s a time to wait with anticipation for the moment when God finally says, “GO!”
For his grace has overcome us, and ADONIAI’S truth continues forever. Halleluyah! Psalm 117:2 I didn’t understand what it meant that God’s grace overcomes us, so I looked at the words in Hebrew to get a better idea of what that actually means. The word for grace is chesed. It means goodness, kindness, and faithfulness. But it also means, in Gesenius’s lexicon, zeal towards someone, desire. That’s pretty neat. God’s zeal towards me, His desire for me, His faithfulness and kindness overcomes me. The word for overcome is gabar. Gabar means to prevail, to strengthen, to bind up (especially something broken – from Gesenius’s lexicon). Wow! So, here’s my amplified version of this verse: For God’s zeal towards me and desire for me, His faithfulness and kindness, prevails over me, binds up the places where I am broken, and strengthens me, and ADONAI’S truth, instruction, and reliability continues forever.
As I’ve learned more and journeyed farther this summer, not only have I gotten freer, but I’ve started paying attention to the things I say. Over and over, it seems I don’t speak in a way that is uplifting and positive. So, I’ve starting actually thinking a little bit more before I speak. Okay, so this doesn’t work all the time. There are lots of times when I think back and wish I could have said things differently, or more often, not said anything at all. But I’ve tried to stop saying, “I can’t….” and I’ve tried to speak things into my own life, and into my children’s lives, that are positive and that claim the promises given to us in the Bible. I’m reading a book called, What You Say is What You Get by Don Gossett. And no, it’s not a “pray for a fast car or lots of money and get it” kind of book. It’s about the words we say and the impact that they have on our life. Do I speak words of life? Or do I speak death? Do my words line up with God’s truth? I find that often my words lack faith. I know that when I speak in the name of Yeshua I carry the weight and authority of Yeshua to enforce His rule and reign, but I struggle to really believe that I have that authority. And the one who doubts is like a leaf blown and tossed by the wind. How do I finally believe what I know to be true? I desire a revelation of understanding that penetrates deep into my heart and doesn’t just sit on the surface. Oh, for childlike faith where nothing is impossible and everything brings delight and wonder.
As we’ve dug deeper into prayer, I’ve begun to notice God working more and more… I went in to speak with my Principal about some tech questions, and ended up talking about ways to work with teachers to improve technology use and about leading the 9th grade English team! Definitely not expected! But pretty awesome! Today I went in to speak with my Principal about the tech job I had applied for and then withdrawn my application from. I wanted her to know so she didn’t hear through the grapevine and wonder why I hadn’t told her. I was nervous that she’d be upset that I had even considered it, but when I told her and explained why I didn’t end up applying, she was so kind and appreciative and encouraging! It was awesome! I finally feel like I’m moving forward a little. So much of my teaching career feels like I’ve stood still and never stood out (in a good way). And, it’s pretty awesome to see some of the amazing things God is doing! Yay! So, I realized I used “awesome” about a million times. Why are there so few words in the English language that express that kind of exuberance?
I was reading yesterday and today, and both days I noticed something interesting (and profound, for me). In Number 1:5, YHWH tells Moshe (Moses) “These are the men to take with you: …” He then proceeds to name specifically each of the men that He wants. What’s the big deal? He knows them by name! For some reason this hit a little deeper today. There are hundreds of thousands of Israelites, and YHWH knew exactly which ones He wanted to go with Moshe! He didn’t say vaguely, “Take with you the leaders of the clans.” No, He called them out by name. The people of Israel weren’t just nameless masses to Him. And we aren’t either. There may be billions of people on this planet, but Yeshua and YHHW know me by name and He doesn’t just call out for that woman in that state who does… He calls me Amanda. And that is amazing! The second part of that is in Numbers 4:32. YHWH told Moshe to assign each specific person (each person by name) a load. YHWH knows our names, and He has specific tasks or loads for us to carry out. I think that is awesome! It’s so easy to think of YHWH as so big that He can’t possibly know all the little details. Those things He must surely delegate to others. But, no! Even the details like giving us a task by name are His choices and His desires for us! Hallelujah!
Just a couple of thoughts from the church service today that I wanted to record before I forgot: Believe the truth – I may know the truth, but I don’t always believe it or live it. My challenge is to believe the truth even if it’s difficult, because if I believe the lie then I let the enemy win. This includes believing that YHWH loves me completely and passionately. Enforce the victory – YWHW has already won the battle. When I struggle with demonic influences and strongholds and curses, I’m not trying to win a victory. I am enforcing a victory that has already been won. Seek God first and above all – The Bible says that if I seek YHWH first, then all these other things will fall in line. While He does ask me to ask Him for things, my focus shouldn’t be on those things, it should be on Him.
There have been a lot of things that have seemed really jumbled for me in the past year and I couldn’t understand how they all fit together… until today! Surrender and Slavery I was listening to Dutch Sheets speak about Intercessory prayer, and something he said suddenly just clicked! God created man (Adam) to be an image (a shadow, an illusion, a re-presentation) of Him and His glory here on earth. Adam looked like YHWH and was given His authority to re-present the will of YHWH on earth. Unfortunately, Adam surrendered that authority and gave it to Hasatan, our Adversary, and in doing so, turned over YHWH’s kingdom to the enemy. Now Adam was stripped on that authority and a slave or captive. But YHWH promised the enemy who had gained authority that a time was coming when his rule would be crushed. Reclaiming the Kingdom Four thousand-ish years later, Yeshua came. A man surrendered authority and a man had to take it back. To do this, Yeshua had to overthrow the rule of the enemy, death. When Yeshua rose again, defeating death, He took back the kingdom authority for YHWH on earth. Once again, the true King rules and reign. Redemption So what does that have to do with people? What does it mean to “trust in Yeshua”? When I trust in Yeshua, when I surrender my will to His, when I choose to believe and accept that He is the One, true King, I choose to become part of His kingdom. Kind of like a naturalized citizen in a country. I swear my allegiance and submission to the rule and reign of YHWH. I turn my back on my former citizenship and slavery, and I choose to submit to His rules and His ways. Reigning As a citizen of YHWH’s retaken kingdom, I choose to submit to His laws, the Torah. As His embassador to this earth, it is my role to live a life that demonstrates what it means to be a part of His kingdom. And since His kingdom is totally different from the enemy’s, my life should reflect that difference. Just like Roman ambassadors were charged with making conquered citizens more Roman, I am charged with showing the newly freed and those who still live in bondage what it means to be a part of YHWH’s rule and reign. Reconciling the Torah One confusing bit was how the Torah fit in. I believe in its relevance, but how does it work with what Yeshua did? Here’s my thoughts: I can live by the Torah and never enter into and submit to YHWH’s kingdom authority by believing that Yeshua, His Son has reclaimed the keys to the kingdom (so the Torah can’t bring me true life, but my inability to follow it does show me that I need Yeshua, someone to save me from slavery.). But, if I do believe that Yeshua crushed the rule of the enemy and now rules this earth, and if I submit myself to His rule, then I also choose to obey His rules (Torah). Do people break rules? Yeah. Sometimes on purpose, and sometimes in ignorance. Are there consequences for breaking rules? Yeah. Some are more obvious than others, though. If I choose to eat pork, the consequence may be a build up of fat and being unhealthy. It may not kill me, but I won’t be all that I could be. On the other hand, there are some laws that, if broken, carry more obvious consequences. Like murder. I can live in YHWH’s kingdom and not follow Torah. But life will be richer, and I will be a better light and re-presentation of YHWH’s kingdom if I do.