33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU AS WELL. Matthew 6

33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU AS WELL.  34 THEREFORE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6

We saw last week that Rebecca had sought the Lord about the two babies jostling in her womb and God showed her what was going on;

23 The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Genesis 25

Israel then spoke a similar blessing over Ephraim when he reversed the cultural norm and put him ahead of his older brother Manasseh. This was confirmed again when Moses blessed the tribes;

Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
such are the thousands of Manasseh.” Deuteronomy 33:17

God had blessings spoken over the individual tribes by both Israel and Moses, speaking His will into and over their futures.

Israel/Jacob blessed his twelve sons in Genesis 49 after speaking to Ephraim and Manasseh alone with their father. The words he spoke over Joseph, (who had no recorded sin) were longer and more favourable than most of his brothers. (Judah (Praise) had a similarly powerful word, pointing to the Messiah)

22 “Josephis a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.

Joseph is pictured as a vine (Jesus said, ‘I am the true vine’ in John 15) with a good water supply and a wall to climb upon, support. But he’d been attacked (as would Jesus be attacked) and prevailed.

because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you Genesis 49 

The reason he’d prevailed was BECAUSE (X4) of ‘the Mighty One of Jacob‘; ‘the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel’; ‘your father’s God, who helps you’; ‘because of the Almighty, who blesses you’. God kept Joseph (and later Christ) in the midst of  their enemies.

25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
    because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
    blessings of the deep springs below,
    blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
    than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
    than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
    on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

This was a mighty blessing spoken over Joseph’s life, ending with the word, ‘let all these REST ON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH’. Joseph didn’t have to strive or show himself worthy, all the blessings were given him. Again, the second youngest was proclaimed the Prince among his brothers, God’s Choice.

God’s Blessing doesn’t come by striving, but by resting in His good choices for our lives.

22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
    without painful toil for it, or He adds no trouble to it. Proverbs 10

Both Israel and Moses spoke over all the tribes and we as God’s Children should also expect our Father’s Favour and Blessing today. Amen

 

 

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but DID NOT ENQUIRE OF THE LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. Joshua 9

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but DID NOT ENQUIRE OF THE LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. Joshua 9

BEWARE THE GIBEONITES, modern day deceivers or scammers.

People and things are not always as they seem and the account of the Gibeonites has been recorded for us as A CAUTION AGAINST ENTERING WRONG ALLIANCES!

Israel had crossed the Jordan and taken the city of Jericho and eventually Ai as well, after the hidden sin had been removed. It was another crucial time, THEY WERE ABOUT TO TAKE MUCH OF THEIR GOD GIVEN INHERITANCE in Canaan, after an entire generation had been found unworthy to enter it.

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. Joshua 9

Their primary opposition was obvious, a large army and many kings coming together to wage war on them. But there were another group of people who decided not to face God’s people head on, but resorted to Subterfuge (an action to hide something from somebody).

However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Joshua 9

Everything appeared to agree with the ‘story’ of the Gibeonites, but it was all a facade, concocted (literally cooked up) to fool God’s people. God didn’t intervene to stop Israel from entering into the treaty with them, they made the decision alone.

The treaty brought real trouble to Israel in the future, when king Saul put many of them to death, which resulted in a time of famine on the land. 2 Samuel 21:1-11. Even slaves have rights when they have been promised protection and then its taken from them.

I believe many believers have been waiting for their inheritance and we’re almost at a time when we’re going to receive it. If our enemy can send someone(s) alongside us who are not part of God’s plan at this time, they will eventually be a thorn in the flesh, an irritant.

Don’t be hasty to welcome unknown people into our lives, Always seek counsel from God, quietly waiting for His confirmation and direction. The old adage, ‘Look before you leap is still good advice’.

God bless and keep you today.

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Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I MAY BLESS THEM.” Genesis 48

When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

“They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I MAY BLESS THEM.” Genesis 48

Israel didn’t know or recognise Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, but he still knew that he carried a blessing to speak into their young lives.

Israel said, ‘Bring them to me’, sometimes we have to be IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE TO GET THE BLESSING OF GOD FROM THEIR LIVES. Elisha had to be with Elijah right to the end to receive his double portion. Lester Sumrall visited the home of Smith Wigglesworth and spent time with him and eventually received his blessing.

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and HIS FATHER KISSED AND EMBRACED THEM. (Jewish men still kiss and embrace today, again I speak from personal experience.)

Israel showed love to his grandsons before he spoke a word to them. God is LOVE AND HE MAY WANT REAL AFFECTION BEFORE HE SPEAKS TO US!

Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and THERE HE BLESSED ME and said to me, ‘I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU FRUITFUL AND INCREASE YOUR NUMBERS. I WILL MAKE YOU A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLES, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’

Jacob recounted God’s blessings to him as he came to adopt and bless Joseph’s sons born in Egypt.

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers

    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,

the God who has been my shepherd

    all my life to this day, (BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF GOD’S CARE)

16 

the Angel who has delivered me from all harm (AND GOD’S PROTECTION)

    — MAY HE BLESS THESE BOYS.

May they be called by my name

    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,

AND MAY THEY INCREASE GREATLY

    ON THE EARTH.” (FRUITFULNESS TO NEXT GENERATION)

Jacob, the great patriarch, carried the blessing of Almighty God on his life and he passed that same blessing to Ephraim and Manasseh. ‘His blessing and his prophecy’ were imparted to these two boys.

Rebecca had sought the Lord about the two babies jostling in her womb and God showed her what was going on;

23 The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

    and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

    and the older will serve the younger (Jacob was the younger) .” Genesis 25

When Israel came to lay hands on the two boys, he countermanded Joseph’s preparations, he laid his right hand on the younger and put him ahead of his brother. God knows all of us from the womb and the path set for each one.

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day and said,

“In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:

    ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48

Jacob had known God as his shepherd and protector, we can also know these blessings for our own lives and our children.

God bless and keep you today.

48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Genesis 48

48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Genesis 48

SOME THINGS WON’T WAIT AND WE MUST MAKE TIME FOR THEM OR LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY!

After Jacob had lived for seventeen years in Egypt, now aged 147, his time had come ‘to be gathered to his people’. Genesis 47:28 His original name ‘Jacob, means Deceiver’, but in chapters 48 and 49 at the end of Genesis his last actions are ones of blessing his sons. God had changed him and renamed him Israel after he ‘wrestled with God’ at the brook of Jabbok.

Joseph was the God appointed ruler of Egypt, but he knew he had to seize the opportunity and visit his father to receive his blessing and he took his two sons, Ephraim (younger, stated first) and Manasseh with him. Joseph knew the importance of that blessing for the next generation, even though they may not have understood much at the time.

When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. Genesis 48

Jacob summoned his strength for the meeting with Joseph and his sons. Athletes always gather their strength at the end of a race to sprint across the line. It seems like we always have something extra in reserve to call upon.

Jacob recounted God’s blessings upon his own life and repeated the Covenant Promises Almighty God, El Shaddai, had spoken to him when he fled from Canaan.

Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I WILL GIVE THIS LAND AS AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION TO YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU.’ (How greatly this has been opposed by God’s enemy and those sold out to him today)

God has kept and will keep all His promises concerning Jacob and their land.

Jacob established the inheritance of Joseph’s two children born to him in Egypt as his own. They would be blessed and brought into God’s Covenant with all Jacob’s own sons, never to be considered Egyptian, always part of the people of God.

As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

Jacob talked of his sorrow at the death of Rachel, Joseph’s own mother and Jacob’s favourite wife. Only Jacob could have told these things to Joseph and perhaps all the years they’d been separated had robbed him of this knowledge.

Take the time to seek your blessing, whether from older family members or from the Lord Himself, you’ll be glad you did. A blessing ordained by God is of great value to us all, a precious inheritance.

The Priestly Blessing

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 toward you

    and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I WILL BLESS THEM.” Numbers 6

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. Genesis 46

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. Genesis 46

The name Judah means Praise. Praise and Thanksgiving go together.

Enter his gates with THANKSGIVING

    and his courts with PRAISE;

    GIVE THANKS TO HIM AND PRAISE HIS NAME. Psalm 100

I had been thinking about Praise recently and I listened to a short prophecy by Tomi Arayomi (YouTube) on the verse above from Genesis 46. He feels God has said that His people need TO OFFER PRAISE DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER to get instruction for entering our Goshen in the coming year 2023. Praise will open or reveal the way to the place God has prepared for us in the coming year. Jacob sent Judah (Praise) ahead to learn how to get to Goshen.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16

Paul and Silas were thrown into prison after Paul delivered a woman, who followed them, from a divining spirit. Their worship of God in the midnight hour led to a supernatural earthquake that opened prison doors and loosed the prisoners’ chains. Prayer and Singing changed their situation and brought God’s Presence on the scene.

Derek Prince talks about the Sacrifice of Praise, times when it costs us to Praise God and when we least feel like it. (Jonah praised God in the belly of the great fish Jonah 2:9, 10)

164 

SEVEN TIMES A DAY I PRAISE YOU

    for your righteous judgements.

165 

Great peace have those who love your law,

    and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119

The psalmist (perhaps David, but we aren’t told) set himself to praise God Seven Times a day. He was serious about Praising God and David was a worshipper of God. Tomi Arayomi left this as a challenge at the end of his word, perhaps we could set our alarms to praise God in December and into the coming year.

23Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,

and PREPARE THE WAY so that I may show them My salvation.” Psalm 50

Thanksgiving and Praise ‘prepare/open the way’ for God’s salvation.

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the coming of Christ to earth and this December may be an especially good time for us to Praise our God.

God bless and keep you today.

A prophet on a mission, GO where God sends us.

A prophet on a mission, GO where God sends us.

We saw yesterday that the word ‘GO’ was used five times during the breaking of the famine in Israel. 1 Kings 18

God picked a fight through Elijah with the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah and when it was over, the power encounter, Elijah had them all put to death.

The rain had come, ‘GO, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a HEAVY or ABUNDANT RAIN.’ But the conflict wasn’t over just yet.

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. 1 Kings 19

Jezebel was furious, or the demons were furious and she threatened Elijah’s life even after God’s power had been demonstrated to all Israel.

Elijah fled to Beersheba and then the desert. While he was sitting by a broom tree, exhausted and deflated an angel appeared twice and strengthened him. God helps us when we most need it!

Elijah made a forty day journey to Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:8

God was going to meet with Elijah on the mountain and recommission him for the next phase of the conflict. We need to trust God to take us through to total victory in every struggle, He knows the end as well as the beginning;

I DECLARE THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ Isaiah 46:10

11 The Lord said, “GO out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” 1 Kings 19

So Elijah met with God, not in a further power encounter, but in the, ‘Still, small voice’.

15 The Lord said to him, “GO back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 1 Kings 19

The second time Elijah was commanded to ‘GO’ was instruction from God.

The third and final time was when he threw his cloak over Elisha, who would succeed him as prophet in Israel.

Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“GO BACK,” Elijah replied. “WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?”

Elisha didn’t have to leave his family and his work, it was his choice whether to accept the calling and it’s our choice also. It’s one thing coming to God, quite another to accept His calling for our lives.

Many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14

Elisha accepted his calling and followed Elijah; made his decision to step out and ‘GO’.

May God bless and keep you today.

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38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6

THE LORD IS NO ONE’S DEBTOR, HALLELUJAH.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink (Celebrate), FOR THERE IS THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN.” 1 Kings 18

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink (Celebrate), FOR THERE IS THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN.” 1 Kings 18

The short Word ‘Go’ occurs five times in 1 Kings 18, always in connection with what God is doing and how the people should respond.

18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “GO and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 1 Kings 18

The first GO is God’s command to the prophet to present himself to Ahab, the rebellious king of Israel. God was picking a fight with the wicked, one man standing against 850 prophets of false gods.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a HEAVY rain.”

Immediately after the slaying of the wicked prophets, God told Ahab and the people to CELEBRATE, I believe we will see such Celebrations in our day.

WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS THRIVE, THE PEOPLE REJOICE;

    when the wicked rule, the people groan (China/Iran). Proverbs 29:2

The word HEAVY (Rain) in Strong’s Concordance also has the connotation of WEALTH. We have heard of the GREAT WEALTH TRANSFER FOR THE END TIME HARVEST. Personally I am longing for it.

42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

The prophet is often out of step with those around them, while the King and people were celebrating Elijah was on his knees before God, interceding for the nation.

43 “GO and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 1 Kings 18

Elijah sent the servant to look towards the sea, not the land where the people were living. He didn’t break off praying, just kept telling the servant to Go back and look for a sign the drought was breaking.

Seven times Elijah said, “GO BACK.” 1 Kings 18

Then the sign appeared, a tiny cloud RISING! There are sins today that God is moving on behalf of His children, even if we have to go back seven times to see them appear.

44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “GO AND TELL AHAB, ‘Hitch up your chariot and GO DOWN BEFORE THE RAIN STOPS YOU.’”

Once again God spoke to the leader of the people and warned Ahab to leave the mountain because the outpouring was going to be so HEAVY. God is the God of the miraculous, including a prophet outrunning a chariot and horses, supernaturally strengthened for the blessing that lay ahead.

May God bless and keep you today.

THERE IS THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN.” 1 Kings 18

The short Word ‘Go’ occurs five times in 1 Kings 18, always in connection with what God is doing and how the people should respond.

18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “GO and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 1 Kings 18

The first GO is God’s command to the prophet to present himself to Ahab, the rebellious king of Israel. God was picking a fight with the wicked, one man standing against 850 prophets of false gods.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a HEAVY rain.”

Immediately after the slaying of the wicked prophets, God told Ahab and the people to CELEBRATE, I believe we will see such Celebrations in our day.

WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS THRIVE, THE PEOPLE REJOICE;

    when the wicked rule, the people groan (China/Iran). Proverbs 29:2

The word HEAVY (Rain) in Strong’s Concordance also has the connotation of WEALTH. We have heard of the GREAT WEALTH TRANSFER FOR THE END TIME HARVEST. Personally I am longing for it.

42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

The prophet is often out of step with those around them, while the King and people were celebrating Elijah was on his knees before God, interceding for the nation.

43 “GO and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 1 Kings 18

Elijah sent the servant to look towards the sea, not the land where the people were living. He didn’t break off praying, just kept telling the servant to Go back and look for a sign the drought was breaking.

Seven times Elijah said, “GO BACK.” 1 Kings 18

Then the sign appeared, a tiny cloud RISING! There are sins today that God is moving on behalf of His children, even if we have to go back seven times to see them appear.

44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “GO AND TELL AHAB, ‘Hitch up your chariot and GO DOWN BEFORE THE RAIN STOPS YOU.’”

Once again God spoke to the leader of the people and warned Ahab to leave the mountain because the outpouring was going to be so HEAVY. God is the God of the miraculous, including a prophet outrunning a chariot and horses, supernaturally strengthened for the blessing that lay ahead.

May God bless and keep you today.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink (Celebrate), FOR THERE IS THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN.” 1 Kings 18

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink (Celebrate), FOR THERE IS THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN.” 1 Kings 18

As we said yesterday, God initiated the confrontation with the prophets of Baal and Asherah or to put it another way, Almighty God picked a fight with those demon gods!

56 

A destroyer will come against Babylon;

    her warriors will be captured,

    and their bows will be broken.

FOR THE LORD IS A GOD OF RETRIBUTION;

    HE WILL REPAY IN FULL. Jeremiah 51

16 

On that day

    they will say to Jerusalem,

“DO NOT FEAR, ZION;

    DO NOT LET YOUR HNDS HANG LIMP.

17 

THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU,

    THE MIGHTY WARRIOR WHO SAVES.

He will take great delight in you;

    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

    but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3

God is a Mighty Warrior who pays back/retribution the enemies of His people in full. He is Mighty to save, Hallelujah and Rejoices over His people.

Elijah (one single prophet of God), whose name means, ‘My God is Yahweh’, stepped out of seclusion and issued a public challenge before all Israel;

19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18

The Bible lists the full numbers of the false prophets and the source of their support, Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab. The supporters of the false gods had infiltrated to the highest level in the land, just like this present day.

The false prophets were powerless in the coming battle, their god didn’t turn up and the God of Israel showed up in great power.

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND ISRAEL, let it be known TODAY that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, AND THAT YOU ARE TURNING THEIR HEARTS BACK AGAIN.” 1 Kings 18

God is turning people’s hearts back to Him in these days, in the midst of a power encounter with the forces of evil.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

The Fire of God fell and the sacrifice was completely burned up, nothing was left of it.

40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. DON’T LET ANYONE GET AWAY!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

Nor were any of the prophets of the false gods left, they were all killed at once. What the enemy had sought to do to all the prophets of God was now fulfilled on their own followers, full retribution in a single day. God moved with power and finality against those who opposed Him and the people saw it.

May God bless and keep you today.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink, FOR THERE IS A SOUND OF HEAVY RAIN (Something we’re familiar with in N.Ireland).” 1 Kings 18

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “GO, eat and drink, FOR THERE IS A SOUND OF HEAVY RAIN (Something we’re familiar with in N.Ireland).” 1 Kings 18

In the account of Joseph in Genesis we learned that the prolonged seven year drought, reduced all Egypt to serfdom. There were only two groups of people who escaped falling into slavery and both had spiritual connections.

22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.

27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Genesis 47

Everyone else throughout Egypt became slaves to Pharaoh; they had no protection from the famine.

In the time of Elijah there was another famine initiated by the word of God’s prophet to the nation of Israel.

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17

Elijah rebuked King Ahab and through him Jezebel, who had murdered the prophets of the Lord and established Baal worship in Israel.

18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “GO and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. 1 Kings 18

The resolution of the famine and the idol worship among God’s people began with a ‘command to Elijah to GO’. God had sent Elijah into hiding for three years and protected him from the idol worshippers. Now God told him to leave the ‘Safe Place and Go’. Often God calls us to GO and He is with us as we GO, but we must be willing to step out and trust Him.

19 THEREFORE ‘GO’ and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28

The last words of Jesus to the newly birthed Church in Matthew’s Gospel were a ‘command to GO’.

God confronted Israel of idol worship through a command to the prophet to GO. That confrontation was to turn the whole nation back to God.

God has been confronting the powers responsible for the sickness in 2019 until today, three years of suffering for people across the world. Things are changing and God will see it through, “Go, eat and drink (Celebrate), for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

God bless and keep you today.

26 So Joseph established it as a LAW concerning land in Egypt; Genesis 47

26 So Joseph established it as a LAW concerning land in Egypt; Genesis 47

MAN’S LAW, GOOD AND BAD, IS USED TO GOVERN SOCIETY!

The people of Egypt (a type of this world) had been brought to complete ruin.

14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.

All the people’s money, in Egypt and Canaan was spent buying grain to stay alive. So if Jacob’s family hadn’t gone to Egypt they would have lost everything.

16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.”Genesis 47

There was no let-up, the people were next pressed into giving up all their livestock to stay alive.

18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR OUR LORD EXCEPT OUR BODIES AND OUR LAND. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? BUY US AND OUR LAND in exchange for food, AND WE WITH OUR LAND WILL BE IN BONDAGE TO PHARAOH. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” Genesis 47

23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, GIVE A FIFTH OF IT TO PHARAOH. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.”

25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” Genesis 47

So Joseph made it a Law that all the land and all the people of Egypt from henceforth belonged to Pharaoh. They were all in bondage to the ruler, everything was his.

There were only two groups of people to whom this didn’t apply and both were spiritual groups!

22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.

Those who led the worship of the demonic gods of Egypt were not enslaved financially, but no doubt were in a much greater spiritual bondage!

26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.

The other group were the Israelites, God’s people, ACQUIRED PROPERTY AND INCREASED GREATLY. God can make His people to prosper and increase GREATLY at the time when the rest of the world is sinking ever deeper into poverty under present world rulers. God has a rescue plan for His people today just as surely as He did for Israel, don’t give up He’s Faithful.

God bless and keep you today.