Month: March 2021

Released from Captivity and walking in our Capability – the Lord is able, walk it out with Him. Exodus 13

OR The Lord releases us from Captivity and walks with us into our Destiny.

Israel finally left Egypt, the land of slavery, 430 YEARS TO THE DAY after after their forefathers had gone down there. We too were born into slavery in this world (slaves to the prince of this world, the devil) because of our ancestors and Adam. Jesus, the Messiah, born through Mary, but not of Adam’s line, rescued us from our Captivity, just as surely as God rescued Israel(we don’t think of ourselves as slaves in Egypt, but that’s exactly what.we were until God rescued us!) God had a time and place for each of us to come to earth and A TIME to reveal Himself to us and ‘Release/Redeem us’ from Captivity.

I’ve spoken before of a friend who had been wrestling with God about his salvation for some time. He remembered clearly being out for a walk with one of his children in a buggy and stopped at a particular place. He said God spoke to him and said ‘if you don’t come now, it’ll be a long time before you have another opportunity’. He wisely gave his life to the Lord right then. As with Israel, God has specific times when there is grace for us to turn to Him and be rescued from things too strong for us. We can’t come on our own, we can only come when the Spirit draws us. It’s all by God’s Grace.

Some people today acknowledge that there may have been a God who might have created mankind and the Universe, but He’s no longer involved or interested today. Wrong!! God didn’t just deliver His people Israel(they’re still His people and He’s working out their destiny along with the Church), He continued to guide them out of Egypt and away from their past into His destiny for them;

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ 18 So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. Exodus 13

God knew Israel had been enslaved and could easily turn back at the first sign of trouble, so He took them the long way round and kept them safe. He led them by the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire, according to their Capability or Capacity.

Paul used this very picture to remind the Church that God wouldn’t allow us to be tempted beyond our Capability;

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God who faithfully led His people away from Egypt by the Pillars(guiding them day and night) is the same God who leads us today. There may be enemies at our heels and around us but God will bring us safely to our destination. He was with Israel and is with us every step of the journey. Hallelujah

God bless and keep you today.

Would we have listened if it had been today?

Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘GO AT ONCE and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the door-frame. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the door-frame and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Exodus 12:21-23

We saw last week how Pharaoh ‘hardened his heart and wouldn’t listen’, bringing increasingly severe judgements from the Lord. As I was reading these verses I wondered how the people of God today might have reacted to such a command? The Western mindset is very individualistic and people today don’t like being told what to do. It seems everyone has an opinion and wants it to be heard. God doesn’t make suggestions, He has His own timetable for events and we need to realise that in our day. This wasn’t a random event!

Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the VERY DAY, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. Exodus 12:40, 41

God had made a Covenant with Abraham and He was fulfilling His word about the people He’d raised up in Egypt. Sometimes (particularly with God) there are no options and no discussions to be had, we just have to follow the plan, His plan. The danger is that if we’re too busy talking and voicing our opinions, we may not hear His Instructions, (which  He was speaking through Moses, His leader). I feel as I’m writing this now that some of us need to stop talking (may even be internal chatter – remember the scripture, ‘the fool says IN HIS HEART’ Psalm 53:1) and start walking out the path before us. It may not be easy, but the most important thing is that God is with us (Immanuel), wherever we go. We must lay down our opinions, which may just be distractions and follow His leading and His timing.

There’s a wonderful promise in Proverbs 1:33, right at the end of the chapter;

…’but whoever(it’s for everyone) LISTENS TO ME will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.’

May God give us ‘ears to hear’ this day and hearts to obey what He’s speaking to us.

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I WILL BLESS THEM.’  Amen, Yes Lord.