“’They told Aaron, “Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt – we don’t know what has happened to him!”’” Acts 7:40.
Moses had been up on Mt. Sinai with God for over 3 weeks, on his way to 40 days, when influential people within the Hebrew people approached Aaron with another idea. They knew that Moses had been communicating with God, and they had seen God do some amazing miracles. Yet, because they were not sure what had happened to Moses, they thought that it might be a good idea to show some “spirituality” and make their own gods, possibly returning to some old gods. After all, Moses was not a young man, and here he was climbing up into that craggy, storm-laden mountain by himself. They were anxious about going any further without some “godly” direction, so they instructed Aaron to make some gods for them.
At first, I didn’t see how I related to this verse, but after some thought, I see things a bit differently. When it seems that I haven’t “heard” anything new or fresh from God, I am tempted to manufacture ideas. I start feeling the necessity to come up with something. After all, the people around me want to know that I am hearing from God. We all want “gods who will go before us.” And the truth of the matter is, our God is a God who goes before us. Yet He goes at His own bidding and in His own perfect timing; not because it meets our whims or peculiar needs. He bids for me to “come and follow” and this may involve waiting for long periods of time, as well as moving out as He shows the way.
Questions to consider: How do I respond/react when I sense that God is not around or directing me? How long does it take me to return to following my old “gods” – such as myself, sports, or whatever that may be? What do those “gods” look like? What do I need to do to stay focused on the one true God?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see You and patience to follow You whether or not I see You or sense Your presence. Amen.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October 23, 2008 - Acts 7:39
“But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.” Acts 7:39.
Stephen guides his listening audience of Hebrew leaders back to remember the people’s response to Moses. God had spoken through Moses to the people, and they “refused to obey him.” The forty year journey in the wilderness is the result of their disobedience. Even more problematic, they “turned back to Egypt” in their hearts. They desired to submit themselves to the harsh enslavement of Pharaoh rather than submit to God, through Moses.
Can you imagine?!? Choosing enslavement over the potential of freedom. As absurd as it sounds, that is what they wanted, and that is just the type of thing that I do, on occasion, on a personal level. I choose the “comfort” of what I know, even though it is painful, dysfunctional, destructive, or disconnected from anything life-giving, over what may have potential. A personal example of this is the choice that I make in my diet. While I eat much healthier, thanks to my lovely wife, and make better life-giving choices, in my heart, it looks much more different; much darker. In my heart, I “naturally” go toward food that will kill me much quicker. It is absurd, irrational, and insane, but that is where I go. (Fortunately, I am changing my ways!)
On a spiritual level, we make choices regularly. Most of the time, we choose the known, more “comfortable” way….which leads back to spiritual “Egypt”, rather than the potential freedom that will be experienced fully in the Promise Land. We are, all of us, still in the Wilderness – this present world – and we experience glimpses of God’s coming Kingdom, yet it is still a potential and not fully realized. God gives us the opportunity to choose. As Joshua, Moses’ predecessor, says, “Choose you this day who you will serve…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Questions to consider: Have you ever chosen enslavement over freedom? What did that look like? Today, what do you choose to do? What would it look like to choose freedom today?
Prayer: Father, I desire to choose life; to choose freedom; to choose You. Please give me the insight and wisdom to see the choices that I need to make and the courage to make the right one in my heart. Amen.
Stephen guides his listening audience of Hebrew leaders back to remember the people’s response to Moses. God had spoken through Moses to the people, and they “refused to obey him.” The forty year journey in the wilderness is the result of their disobedience. Even more problematic, they “turned back to Egypt” in their hearts. They desired to submit themselves to the harsh enslavement of Pharaoh rather than submit to God, through Moses.
Can you imagine?!? Choosing enslavement over the potential of freedom. As absurd as it sounds, that is what they wanted, and that is just the type of thing that I do, on occasion, on a personal level. I choose the “comfort” of what I know, even though it is painful, dysfunctional, destructive, or disconnected from anything life-giving, over what may have potential. A personal example of this is the choice that I make in my diet. While I eat much healthier, thanks to my lovely wife, and make better life-giving choices, in my heart, it looks much more different; much darker. In my heart, I “naturally” go toward food that will kill me much quicker. It is absurd, irrational, and insane, but that is where I go. (Fortunately, I am changing my ways!)
On a spiritual level, we make choices regularly. Most of the time, we choose the known, more “comfortable” way….which leads back to spiritual “Egypt”, rather than the potential freedom that will be experienced fully in the Promise Land. We are, all of us, still in the Wilderness – this present world – and we experience glimpses of God’s coming Kingdom, yet it is still a potential and not fully realized. God gives us the opportunity to choose. As Joshua, Moses’ predecessor, says, “Choose you this day who you will serve…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Questions to consider: Have you ever chosen enslavement over freedom? What did that look like? Today, what do you choose to do? What would it look like to choose freedom today?
Prayer: Father, I desire to choose life; to choose freedom; to choose You. Please give me the insight and wisdom to see the choices that I need to make and the courage to make the right one in my heart. Amen.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
October 16, 2008 - Acts 7:37
“’This is that Moses who told the Israelites, “God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.”’” Acts 7:37.
Moses, overcoming his early weaknesses, was revered as the prophet of God who was sent to deliver the Hebrew people and to make them into a nation. Stephen recounts to his audience that Moses clearly informed the Israelites that another prophet would rise up who would be “like” Moses. In other words, there may be many prophets who will come along in Israel’s history, but there will only be one other who should be revered at least as much as, if not more, than Moses. Stephen’s Hebrew audience certainly knew that this reference to Moses’ quotation was a reference to the coming Messiah, the Chosen One of God. In speaking to this Hebrew leadership audience, Stephen was pointing to the hope that they were to still look for and could now find.
Interestingly enough, that same hope is alive for us, as well, today! But instead of us having to wait for this Chosen One to appear, many of us believe that He has already come in flesh and blood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. And He is the one that continues to give us hope today through the person of the Holy Spirit, who is present within every follower of Jesus and who provides comfort in the middle of all of the storms that we face.
Questions to consider: In the midst of all of the economic storms and uncertainties, where is your hope? Are you allowing God to “come along side” – to come into your life – to give you the hope that you need in these times? Do you believe that the “prophet” that Moses spoke of so long ago has come and that He desires for you to know His peace and hope in these uncertain times?
Prayer: Father, I believe that You have sent the Prophet – Jesus, and I receive Him, as my Lord, fresh today. I need the hope that only He provides to face the uncertainties of our world. Please fill me fresh with Your Spirit that I may follow You, whether in good times or bad. Amen.
Moses, overcoming his early weaknesses, was revered as the prophet of God who was sent to deliver the Hebrew people and to make them into a nation. Stephen recounts to his audience that Moses clearly informed the Israelites that another prophet would rise up who would be “like” Moses. In other words, there may be many prophets who will come along in Israel’s history, but there will only be one other who should be revered at least as much as, if not more, than Moses. Stephen’s Hebrew audience certainly knew that this reference to Moses’ quotation was a reference to the coming Messiah, the Chosen One of God. In speaking to this Hebrew leadership audience, Stephen was pointing to the hope that they were to still look for and could now find.
Interestingly enough, that same hope is alive for us, as well, today! But instead of us having to wait for this Chosen One to appear, many of us believe that He has already come in flesh and blood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. And He is the one that continues to give us hope today through the person of the Holy Spirit, who is present within every follower of Jesus and who provides comfort in the middle of all of the storms that we face.
Questions to consider: In the midst of all of the economic storms and uncertainties, where is your hope? Are you allowing God to “come along side” – to come into your life – to give you the hope that you need in these times? Do you believe that the “prophet” that Moses spoke of so long ago has come and that He desires for you to know His peace and hope in these uncertain times?
Prayer: Father, I believe that You have sent the Prophet – Jesus, and I receive Him, as my Lord, fresh today. I need the hope that only He provides to face the uncertainties of our world. Please fill me fresh with Your Spirit that I may follow You, whether in good times or bad. Amen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
October 9, 2008 - Acts 7:36a
“’He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs…’” Acts 7:36a.
Moses, called by God to go to Egypt, led the Hebrew people out of slavery and into the wilderness. By “wonders and miraculous signs,” God, through Moses, provided for all of the needs of all the people for 40 years in the wilderness. This is the same Moses who killed an Egyptian guard and fled to the desert to avoid his punishment at the hands of Pharaoh. This is, also, the same Moses who came up with several different excuses for not going back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. And yet, God used this man, Moses, in an incredible display of what only He can do through one person. This one person, with the help of God, set over 2 million of his people free and brought them out to a place where they were to become a nation.
It is extraordinary what God was able to do through Moses, flaws and everything. Granted, this is an isolated situation, yet God continues to do extraordinary things through rather ordinary people. Mother Theresa is just one of a myriad of examples of this. I am certain that each of us could list many such people who have done amazing things for God and by His grace.
When I consider my own life, I have trouble breaking out of my own “ordinary-ness.” And yet, I understand that God desires to do extraordinary things through ordinary people like me…..and you.
Questions to consider: Can you think of others, whether in the Bible or not, who have done extraordinary things for God? What marked them as different? What marked Moses as different? What marks you as different?
Prayer: Father, while I know that I am an ordinary person, I also know that I bear Your image. You have marked me, as only You can, and You have filled me with Your Spirit. Please use me as only You can. Amen.
Moses, called by God to go to Egypt, led the Hebrew people out of slavery and into the wilderness. By “wonders and miraculous signs,” God, through Moses, provided for all of the needs of all the people for 40 years in the wilderness. This is the same Moses who killed an Egyptian guard and fled to the desert to avoid his punishment at the hands of Pharaoh. This is, also, the same Moses who came up with several different excuses for not going back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. And yet, God used this man, Moses, in an incredible display of what only He can do through one person. This one person, with the help of God, set over 2 million of his people free and brought them out to a place where they were to become a nation.
It is extraordinary what God was able to do through Moses, flaws and everything. Granted, this is an isolated situation, yet God continues to do extraordinary things through rather ordinary people. Mother Theresa is just one of a myriad of examples of this. I am certain that each of us could list many such people who have done amazing things for God and by His grace.
When I consider my own life, I have trouble breaking out of my own “ordinary-ness.” And yet, I understand that God desires to do extraordinary things through ordinary people like me…..and you.
Questions to consider: Can you think of others, whether in the Bible or not, who have done extraordinary things for God? What marked them as different? What marked Moses as different? What marks you as different?
Prayer: Father, while I know that I am an ordinary person, I also know that I bear Your image. You have marked me, as only You can, and You have filled me with Your Spirit. Please use me as only You can. Amen.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 2, 2008 - Acts 7:35a
“’This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, “Who made you ruler and judge?”’” Acts 7:35a.
God, upon hearing the cries of the enslaved Hebrews, called Moses to return to Egypt in order to lead his people out of slavery into freedom. Stephen retells this story to the Hebrew leadership who is fully aware of the significance of Moses in their history. Yet Stephen is making a point with his listeners. Here is a Hebrew who had been rejected as leader by his people and who God had now sent to lead them into freedom. It is ironic that this “rejected one” – Moses – was now to be the most important and central figure to this moment and movement in their history.
From Moses’ perspective, he had originally gotten out in front of God’s calling yet was now operating within God’s perfect plan for setting the Hebrew people free. From the Hebrews’ viewpoint, it must have taken a little while for them to “recognize” Moses as the leader that God had called him to be. Yet, in time, they did, and Moses now had his second opportunity to lead, this time doing so within God’s timing. God worked out this “second chance” in Moses’ life for all involved….except, of course, for Pharaoh.
Questions to consider: How do “second chances” work out in your life? When you have gotten out there in front of God’s will, how has God dealt with you? How has He given you second chances? How are you at extending second chances to others? Is there anyone that you need to consider extending one to today?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You are the God of Second Chances (and more!). Thank You that You wipe our slate clean – forgiving us and helping us to move forward in Your plan for us. Help us to extend similar grace to others around us when we need to. Amen.
God, upon hearing the cries of the enslaved Hebrews, called Moses to return to Egypt in order to lead his people out of slavery into freedom. Stephen retells this story to the Hebrew leadership who is fully aware of the significance of Moses in their history. Yet Stephen is making a point with his listeners. Here is a Hebrew who had been rejected as leader by his people and who God had now sent to lead them into freedom. It is ironic that this “rejected one” – Moses – was now to be the most important and central figure to this moment and movement in their history.
From Moses’ perspective, he had originally gotten out in front of God’s calling yet was now operating within God’s perfect plan for setting the Hebrew people free. From the Hebrews’ viewpoint, it must have taken a little while for them to “recognize” Moses as the leader that God had called him to be. Yet, in time, they did, and Moses now had his second opportunity to lead, this time doing so within God’s timing. God worked out this “second chance” in Moses’ life for all involved….except, of course, for Pharaoh.
Questions to consider: How do “second chances” work out in your life? When you have gotten out there in front of God’s will, how has God dealt with you? How has He given you second chances? How are you at extending second chances to others? Is there anyone that you need to consider extending one to today?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You are the God of Second Chances (and more!). Thank You that You wipe our slate clean – forgiving us and helping us to move forward in Your plan for us. Help us to extend similar grace to others around us when we need to. Amen.
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