Chapter 32 - In God’s Image

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 32

In God’s Image

We read in Genesis 1:26, And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (KJV)

Why was man made in God’s Image?

When God created man, He made man in His own likeness and image, in order that he could rule and have authority over all that He had created. Man was the last part of God’s creation, but he was made in God’s likeness and image as a reminder to all other creation that when they beheld man, they would be reminded of God. However, when Satan beheld the image of God in man, it infuriated him and it was his crafty evil scheme, to destroy the flawless image of God in man, which he carried out most cunningly. All other created beings were made differently, but only man was made in God’s image, as men and women are the crown of God’s creation.

We are made in the image of God and should reflect Him in such a way when people look at us they must recognize that there is a God of justice. When a baby is born, have you noticed how parents are overjoyed when we tell either of them that their baby resembles them in some way? So also when God made us, His original intention was that when people considered us, they can behold the image of God in us. The image of God does not please everyone, and sometimes even without a cause people may hate us. The reason for this is because something inside of us reminds them of God, and that probably disturbs them.

Cain hated his brother Abel

Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord, while Abel’s offering was accepted by God, Cain’s got rejected by Him. This filled Cain with hatred and anger toward his brother. We read in

1 John 3:12, Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (KJV)

The fundamental reason Cain hated his brother, was because his brother Abel was righteous, and the image of God was reflected through Abel, which Cain despised.

Joseph is hated by his brothers

Joseph’s brothers also hated him without a cause. As Joseph approached his brothers with food which their father had sent for them, as they beheld him at a distance, they plotted to kill him.

We read in Genesis 37:2, “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.” (KJV)

The reason Joseph’s brothers hated him was because he was a righteous young man, who when he saw the evil deeds of his brothers, brought it to his father’s notice.

John the Baptist was hated by Herod

We read in Mark 6:17-18, “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.” (KJV)

John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness about the Kingdom of God and baptizing those who believed. King Herod resented John the Baptist, for the one reason that John the Baptist rebuked Herod for taking his brother Philip’s wife to be his own.

The Pharisees hated Jesus

We read in Mark 3:6,“And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” (KJV)

Though Jesus did so much of good among the people, the Pharisees and other religious leaders hated him and conspired to kill Him, mainly because Jesus was righteous. He reflected the Father, and this annoyed the Pharisees and the religious leaders in Jesus’ day.

The world hates us without a cause simply because they see the image of God being made evident in us. We should therefore not be perturbed or surprised if we are despised by people of this world. The people of this world wish to forget that there is a just God, and when we reflect the image of God as we should, the reaction we receive is one of antagonism. Instead of being afraid we must sincerely desire that the image of God be reflected through us in a powerful way.

Haman hated Mordecai

In Esther 5:12-13 we read, “Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” (KJV)

In this incident, there was a man named Haman, who was next in command to King Xerxes and he hated Mordecai a Jew, who was seated at the entrance of the royal palace. When Queen Esther invited Haman to a banquet, Haman went home and proudly announced to his wife Zeresh and friends that he was the only honored guest to Esther’s banquet. However, he also told them, that the one thing that infuriated him was the fact that Mordecai, the Jew, sat at the king’s gate. Haman was so filled with hatred for Mordecai, that he shared his bitter thoughts with his wife and his friends. Every time Haman saw Mordecai, he was reminded of the righteous God whose image was reflected in Mordecai. His only goal then, was to destroy Mordecai for in so doing, he thought he could destroy the image of God that was so evident in Mordecai.

Haman plotted to kill Mordecai

We read in Esther 5:14,“Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” (KJV)

When Haman shared his vicious thoughts about Mordecai, his wife and friends advised him to make a gallows almost 75 feet high, to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows, on the day of the banquet. This idea from his wife and friends pleased Haman and he immediately organized for the gallows to be made ready. Haman so despised the image of God in Mordecai that the only spiteful thought on his mind was to have Mordecai killed.

At this particular point Haman was happy, Mordecai was in deep trouble but the best part of it was that God is always on the throne and in full control of every situation in the life of those who are His children.

We are created in the image of God, and the chief plot of the devil is to destroy that image in us. Every time we look at ourselves in the mirror, instead of finding fault with our appearance, we must remind ourselves over and over again that we are made in the image of God, made to reflect Him in our lives. This implies that wherever we are, at home with our family, at work, at church, in society we are created by God to reflect His image in every area of our lives. When the image of God is in us, wherever we go, the Lord will use us to change and transform every situation, and people will acknowledge the fact that the Lord is with us.

We share a lot of information through social media, but it is good to be cautious that what we share is edifying to others and not harmful in any way. Haman shared his hatred with his family and friends, only to end up with an evil scheme.

There are many believers who shy away from any sort of hardship, and wish that their lives would be free from every sort of trials. However, what we fail to realize is that these difficulties are those which makes us strong in our faith, and reveal to others that our God is a living God. It was only when Daniel was thrown in to the lion’s den that the king understood who the God of Daniel really was. Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego had to be thrown into the furnace, for others to discover the God whom they worshipped.

We read in Esther 6:4,“And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.” (KJV)

Though Haman had prepared the gallows for Mordecai, he now had to seek the permission of the king in order to execute his evil plan.

No matter what the enemy’s ploy may be against us, nothing will come nigh us without the Lord’s permission and consent. The word of God assures us that we are safe in the palm of His hands and that the one who touches us touches the apple of His eye, meaning there’s no way any harm can come near us when we are secure in God’s care.

In Esther 6:6, we read, “So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” (KJV)

We read in Esther 6: 7-9, And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ” (NKJV)

As Haman went to obtain permission to get Mordecai to the gallows, the king summoned Haman to enter his presence. The king now asked Haman what he thought should be done to someone whom the king wished to honor. Haman presumptuously thought that the person the king sought to honor was himself, and therefore listed out in great detail all that should be done for such a man.

We read in Esther 6:10, “Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.” (KJV)

Haman was totally shocked when he discovered that the man whom the king wanted to honor was none other than Mordecai. By giving Mordecai the king’s robe, the king’s horse, the royal crest and the king’s most noble princes, Haman procured for Mordecai the very honor that was due to the king himself. The king made sure that every part of the plan that Haman proposed be carried out for Mordecai by Haman himself. God made Mordecai parade through the town with the same honor that the king himself would have received.

The tables turn now, Mordecai is elated, Haman is crushed in spirit and the Lord God is sovereign, seated on the throne and in complete control.

Just as Mordecai represented the king in every way, we too are chosen to reflect the image of the Almighty God in our lives and the word of the Lord is categorical that the Lord will honor those who serve Him. For in John 12:26we read,“….If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”(TLV)

When Jesus was here on earth, the ones who followed Him were called disciples. However, after the resurrection of Jesus, the believers started to walk exactly like Jesus, and reflected Him in every way. They spoke like Jesus Christ, they performed miracles and wonders just like Jesus did, which was why the people started to refer to the followers of Jesus as ‘Christians’. The early church faced persecution and we still do, only because the image of God is evident in all of us who believe in Him, but the glorious assurance is that in the midst of it all, the sovereign Lord reigns and is seated on the throne. In times of joy and sorrow, we must remember that the Lord is in total control.

How do we handle persecution?

We read in Esther 4:16, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (KJV)

The first thing that Esther and the Jews did, when they knew that there was a wicked plot against them was to fast and pray for three days and three nights.

Today when encountered with persecution, people resort to all sorts of worldly methods to confront opposition. The way that the Lord calls us to face these antagonistic forces, is with prayer and fasting.

We read in Acts 12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (KJV)

When Peter was imprisoned and there was a threat to his very life, the church of God got together and prayed without ceasing and that resulted in his miraculous release.

God sent His angel to deliver Peter from prison, but John the Baptist was beheaded and Stephen was stoned to death. The Lord chooses whether or not to deliver His chosen ones from the grip of persecution and the pangs of death. We know that if we live on earth, we will be serving Him and if we die we will live forever and ever with Him in His presence.

We are called to pray and depend on God. The crafty scheme of Satan through all generations, is to destroy the righteous ones and he has miserably failed because the one who is on the throne is the Almighty God. Our deepest longing must be that we reflect the image of God in every area of our lives. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we will reflect the image of the Lord Jesus in our lives.

Like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego we should be able to say in Daniel 3:16 -18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Peter was an unschooled fisherman, but when he preached, thousands were added to the early church. The early church faced tremendous persecution and we should not be surprised when we are challenged with antagonism. We need not fear for our times are in God’s hands and as long as the Lord wants us to live on this earth, no one can harm us in any way. He will deliver us and even if not, we will continue to be faithful to the Lord. Let us yearn to reflect the image of Jesus so vividly, in our words, deeds, thoughts, looks and every aspect of our lives, that those who associate with us will recognize that we belong to the Lord.

We have this promise of God in 1 Samuel 2:30, that, “for those who honor Me I will honor,” and also the assurance from Him that no weapon formed against us will prosper.

Prayer:

Our loving Heavenly Father, thank you so much for creating me in Your image.  I am so happy that I reflect You.  Help me to live just like You in every way.  I know at times that I will be hated because I carry Your image, yet give me the grace and the strength to grow more into Your likeness for You will deliver me out of every danger and affliction.  In the name of Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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Chapter 31 - Our God Who Restores

Freedom from Captivity 

Chapter 31 

Our God Who Restores 

We read in Psalms 77:11, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.”(GNB)

We recall the wonders of God from the past, so as to understand the manifold characteristics of our Almighty God. As we meditate on all that is recorded in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, we perceive in depth the heart of God, and all that He desires of us as His children.

Elisha and the woman of Shunem

We read in 2 Kings 4:8,“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.”(ASV)

As the prophet Elisha passed by the town of Shunem, there was a respectable woman, who invited the prophet to her home, and compelled him to eat bread in her house. The woman recognized Elisha as a man of God, and therefore chose to honor him. We read earlier that Elisha was one who poured water on the hands of the prophet Elijah, and ministered to Elijah. Elisha was so humble, that the Lord honored him with a double portion of the anointing that rested on Elijah. Elisha honored Elijah, and now the woman of Shunem honored Elisha.

In the New Testament we read of Mary, Martha and Lazarus who often invited Jesus to their home and showed Him love and hospitality. They were living in a time when many leaders sought to kill Jesus, and if anyone believed in Jesus they were even cast out of the synagogue. In spite of these oppositions, Mary and Martha determined to be hospitable to Jesus, simply because they knew that He was the Son of God, who was worthy of their honor.

When we honor the Lord’s anointed, the Lord will most assuredly honor us in due time.

1. The woman of Shunem showed hospitality

We read in 2 Kings 4:10, “Let's make a small room on the roof and put a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand there for him. He can stay there whenever he comes to visit us."(GW)

The woman of Shunem then went to her husband and made a request that they build a small room on the roof of their house for the prophet Elisha, furnish it well, so he could stay with them whenever he passed by that town. The woman of Shunem ministered to Elisha with her hospitality, and she did the very best that she could, with what she had. It was also commendable that she offered this kindness and hospitality to Elisha, not expecting anything in return.

We live in a calculative world, where so often people offer something to someone, expecting to get something back in return. But, the Lord reminds us to be like this woman, who served with kindness, without anticipating anything in return.

As Elisha visited the house of the woman of Shunem often, enjoying her heartfelt generosity, he was prompted to look for some way he could bless this woman, who showed such cordiality to him.

We read in 2 Kings 4:13, he said to Gehazi, "Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her." "I have all I need here among my own people," she answered. (GNB)

Elisha was a man of God, who was truly grateful to the woman of Shunem, and wanted to bless her back in any possible way. Elisha called his servant Gehazi, and sent him to the woman to find out if there was anything that he could do, in appreciation for all that she did for him. Elisha was a man of great influence and he wanted to know if he could put in a word for her to the king or the army commander to which the woman replied, ‘I have all I need here among my own people’. Here was a woman who was so filled with contentment and satisfaction, that she desired nothing more from Elisha.

Our God is mindful of all that we do, and when it is done as unto Him, the Lord will never forget it. We read in Hebrews 6:10,“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (NKJV) If the Lord were to ask us if there was anything we wanted to have, I am sure that most of us would have a long list of requests. Like the woman of Shunem, we must decide to be grateful to the Lord for all that He has bestowed upon us, instead of complaining and wanting to have more and more.

We read in 2 Kings 4:14, Elisha conferred with Gehazi: "There's got to be something we can do for her. But what?" Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is an old man." (GNB)

Now Elisha summons his servant Gehazi, to find out if he knew of anything that the woman could be in need of. Gehazi then told the Elisha that the woman had no son, and that her husband was an old man.

Elisha’s outlook was spiritual being focused on serving the Lord, while Gehazi had a worldly perspective of things, and his mind set on worldly possessions. The eyes of a spiritual man see things from God’s viewpoint, whereas a person who is earthly only perceives things from a worldly standpoint. This was also evident in the incident of Naaman the Syrian commander who was healed of leprosy by obeying the word of Elisha. When Naaman came back and offered loads of gifts to Elisha, he refused to accept anything from Naaman. However, Gehazi ran after Naaman and received the gifts that Elisha refused from Naaman, and ended up contracting the leprosy that Naaman had been healed of.

It is good for us to examine ourselves to see if our eyes are focused on the things of God, or on just the earthly things. We must decide to fix our eyes on Jesus alone. The woman of Shunem had a great need, she was childless and probably derided by others, but she had a heart of contentment, for she believed in God, and knew that in His time God could give her a child, if He desired to.

The woman of Shunem was blessed with a son

In 2Kings 4:16-17 we read, and Elisha said to her, "By this time next year you will be holding a son in your arms." But, as Elisha had said, at about that time the following year she gave birth to a son. (GNB)

Elisha called the woman and promised her that God would bless her with a son, and true to His word the Lord helped the woman conceive. The following year, God fulfilled the words of Elisha, and she gave birth to a son.

It all began when the woman of Shunem decided to honor the man of God with her hospitality and generosity, not considering the lack of a child in her own life. She esteemed the Lord’s anointed, and the blessing she received in return was a son from the hands of God.

If we like that woman of Shunem are willing to use whatever little is in our hands to serve and honor God, the Lord will do wonders in our lives that are far beyond our expectations.

We read in Matthew 10:41, “The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward.” (GW)

The woman recognized that Elisha was a holy man, a prophet of God and as she respected him, the Lord gave her the due reward. So also, when we give the honor due to the servants of God, we will most certainly receive the rightful recompense from God Himself.

2. The woman of Shunem had faith and perseverance

A few years later, the son of the Shunnamite woman, took ill and died. This is what the woman did when her son died on her lap.

We read in 2 Kings 4:21,“She took him upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God, left the room, and shut the door behind her.” (GW)

This woman did not place the son on his own cot, but took him to the prophet’s room and laid him on the prophet’s cot closing the door behind him. Here was a woman who did not wail and cry when tragedy struck her son. A woman of fear would have been totally broken considering the next steps for the burial of her son, but here was a woman of faith, who did not even tell her husband that their son had died, but ran to the prophet. She believed that if God gave her a son, He did so to bless her, and that the Lord would not take her son away from her so suddenly. She also ran believing that God had endowed the prophet with the power to raise the boy back from death, to grant him a new lease of life.

In 2 Kings 4:26, we read, “Run to meet her and ask her how she, her husband, and the boy are doing." "Everyone's fine," she answered.” (GW)

As the woman of Shunem came rushing to meet Elisha, the prophet recognized her at a distance and sent Gehazi to enquire if all was well with her, her husband and her son, to which she replied, ‘Everyone’s fine’. This is a strange answer, knowing that she had just laid her dead son on the prophet’s cot back home. She begged Elisha to come to her home, and all through the entire episode she did not once mention to Elisha or Gehazi, that her son was indeed dead. The prophet also declared that the Lord had also hidden this incident from him.

Many of us when we encounter difficulties, we share with others who have no faith and end up being filled with all sorts of fears. Often we speak negative words, and make our situations far worse than what they actually are. When faced with any sort of difficult situations, it is important that we don’t let any negative words proceed from our mouth. We often speak with finality into several circumstances, thereby creating a sense of apprehension. There are others, who when met with some simple symptoms, check them out on google, and often conclude wrongly that they are struck with some untreatable malady. Instead of analyzing the symptoms of our sickness or situations, we should like the woman of Shunem, run to God who can turn everything around in no time.

We read in 2 Kings 4:32, “When Elisha arrived, he went alone into the room and saw the boy lying dead on the bed.” (GNB)

Also in 2 Kings 4:35, “Elisha got up, walked around the room, and then went back and again stretched himself over the boy. The boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes.” (GNB)

It was only when Elisha entered his room, did he realize that the boy was dead. Elisha stretched himself over the boy twice and as he did so, the boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. The woman’s hospitality resulted in her being blessed with a son, her faith and perseverance culminated in her receiving her dead son back to life.

Often in the midst of hardships and challenges, we give up praying, and thereby lose out on our blessings because we do not persevere with faith. When we turn to the presence of the Lord and lay at his feet all our problems and difficulties, the Lord will intervene to do the miraculous, bringing great deliverance. Instead of seeking advice from those around us, most of which may be ungodly, it is far wiser for us to pursue after God and receive His counsel.

3. The woman of Shunem was obedient

We read in 2 Kings 8:1-2, “Now Elisha had told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he had brought back to life, that the LORD was sending a famine on the land, which would last for seven years, and that she should leave with her family and go and live somewhere else. She had followed his instructions, and had gone with her family to live in Philistia for the seven years.” (GNB)

When Elisha foretold the woman of Shunem that there was a famine imminent in the land, which would last for seven years, and instructed her to leave elsewhere, she and her family did so without questioning. She was implicitly obedient to the word of God, through the prophet Elisha. This resulted in the woman and her family being saved from the severe famine that plagued the land of Israel for seven years.

To those who are willing to obey the word of God wholeheartedly, the power of God will be made manifest most certainly in every area of our lives.

God restored everything to the woman of Shunem

We read further in 2 Kings 8:3-4, “At the end of the seven years she returned to Israel and went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her.She found the king talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant; the king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles.”

After the seven years of famine were over, the woman of Shunem decided to go back to her home in Israel to petition the King of Israel to restore all that belonged to her. As she went back she was probably filled with apprehension, if all of her house and possessions would ever be restored back to her. She must have proceeded to her home town with much confusion and turmoil wondering as to what would have become of all that she had left behind.

At that exact time, when the woman of Shunem went to place her petition to the King of Israel, there was Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, elaborating to the king all that the Lord had performed through Elisha the Prophet. As Gehazi narrated the part of the incident of the miracle of the son of the woman of Shunem being raised to life, at that very moment the woman and her son appeared before the king to present her request. Immediately Gehazi introduced her to the king as the woman whose son Elisha had raised from the dead.

In 2 Kings 8:6, “And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.” (ASV)

When the king saw the woman of Shunem, he now desired to hear the incident firsthand from her. As she recounted in detail the wonderful miracles that God executed in her life through Elisha, the king was totally pleased. The king appointed an officer to go out with her and restore back to her all that was hers, all the fruits of the field, since the day she left the land until the time she came back. By her obedience to the word of Elisha, though she had to leave everything behind, the Lord honored her obedience and restored every bit of what was due to her right back to her a hundred fold.

When we go forth in obedience to the word of God, no matter what our hardships are the Lord will intervene to restore everything back to us. We live in a rebellious time where obedience is hard for many, but for those who chose to obey God and His word, His grace will be poured out in abundance. Obedience may seem hard, but when we chose to walk in obedience, the Lord will restore back to us all that we have lost. God is a faithful God and He will restore back to us all that we have missed.

There are four lessons we learn from the woman of Shunem, she was a woman who practiced hospitality, one who had unshakeable faith with unwavering perseverance and was totally obedient to the word of God. The Lord will work wonders and restore to us too, if we use whatever is in our hands for His glory, live a life of faith, choosing to speak only words of faith, persevere in this faith walk and live a life of complete obedience to the word of God.

Prayer:

Our loving Heavenly Father, help us to be hospitable to people, specially the servants of God.  Thank you for the incidents recorded in the Bible about this woman of Shunem.  Help us also to have faith, perseverance and obedience like her.  I believe that O Lord You will restore unto us whatever we have lost.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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Chapter 30 - God can change our impossible situations

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 30

God can change our impossible situations

We read in Psalms 77:1, “I cried to God with my voice...” (ESV) and in Psalms 77:14, “You are the God who works miracles ;”( GNT)

In Psalms 77:11, he says, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.” (GNB)

In the previous message we considered how the Psalmist changed his viewpoint from one of despair in Psalm 77:1 to one of faith in verse 14, only because He took time to stop, remember and recall all the wonderful deeds that God had performed in the past. The sure way for us to grow in our faith and see impossible situations change is when we too can take time to ponder, meditate and personalize all the wonderful deeds of God as recorded in His word.

Three kings encounter an arduous situation

We read in 2 Kings 3:9, “So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom took an indirect route to Moab. After seven days they ran out of water for the army and the animals.” (GNB)

Three kings of Israel, Judah and Edom journeyed with their armies to wage war against the King of Moab. The threesome were sure as they ventured out, that they would be triumphant in their mission and gain victory over the King of Moab. However, after travelling for seven days, they ran out of water and were in dire straits when their armies and animals that accompanied them were almost dying from thirst. The situation that they found themselves in seemed completely hopeless.

In 2 Kings 3:10 we read, “The king of Israel said, "Bad news! GOD has gotten us three kings out here to dump us into the hand of Moab." (MSG)

When confronted with such a despairing situation, the King of Israel, immediately threw the blame on God. The three kings who went to battle against the King of Moab, did not enquire of the Lord before they set out. They went forth in their own physical strength and did not consult with God as to the route they should take. However, when things went bad and there was encountered acute scarcity of water, the King of Israel had no qualms in shifting the blame on God for the predicament they were in. The reason for this attitude was that the problem he confronted seemed so huge that God became insignificant to him.

There are lots of situations that we encounter, where we too may despair and feel forlorn. Sometimes these could be related to our family, children, work, income or health. Often like the king of Israel, we don’t seek God when deciding to do something, but, when things get out of hand we either run to God and or end up blaming God for our misfortune. This kind of attitude is not new but as old as the Garden of Eden. When God confronted Adam about his disobedience, without hesitation he replied, “it was the woman you gave me, who gave me the fruit and I ate it”Genesis 3:12. In the midst of difficulties, it would be wise for us to analyze ourselves to check where we have gone wrong, rather than to quickly shift the blame on God or others.

Oftentimes we too murmur when we are challenged with hard times, simply because we focus on the situation at hand, instead of looking to God who is in control of everything. What happens as a result is that our problems loom large before us, and God becomes small in our eyes. Let us be reminded that our God is far bigger than any difficulty that we may encounter. We must cultivate the habit of seeking God’s guidance in everything no matter how small or big it is. Only then we will hear from God, and can stay secure in the center of God’s will.

The way Job perceived hardships

We read in Job 1:21-22, He said, "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The LORD gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!" In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (GNT)

When Job lost everything he had, he could confidently say ‘The Lord gave and now He has taken away’.Prior to this testing that Job underwent, there was a dialogue in heaven between God and Satan, where God attested to Satan regarding Job as one who was perfect, upright, feared God and shunned evil. Satan immediately responded that Job’s allegiance to God was simply because He had the protection of God fenced around him. Satan’s premise was that Job would stop praising God and would fail, once all the blessings and security of God were removed from him. God allowed the testing, whereby Job lost all of it, but still praised God and affirmed with unshakeable faith, that since God gave, He also had the right to take away.

For most of us the kind of perspective that Job had seems too difficult to comprehend. When we lose anything, could even be a vehicle or a house, we complain because we often feel that these blessings are the result of our hard labor, and hence it is unfair to lose out on any of them. The thing to ponder about is, if the Lord can find in us the qualities that Job had, and can authenticate that we are indeed His chosen ones. In times of testing are we able to hold on to God, no matter what is taken away from us, only because He is of far greater worth than any blessings that we can receive from Him. God is the source of all our blessings and our eyes must be fixed on Him alone, for only then no matter what tumultuous storms we may encounter, nothing can shake our faith in the Lord.

The kings sought counsel from the prophet of God

We read in 2 Kings 3:11, But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

In a helpless situation King Jehoshaphat, suggested that they look out for a prophet of God who could counsel and guide them. On enquiring they found out that there was indeed the Prophet Elisha who was the assistant to the Prophet Elijah. The testimony about Elisha was that he was Elijah’s assistant who poured water on the hands of the Prophet Elijah. This was a sign of humility on the part of Elisha, who willingly and humbly served Elijah. In due course the anointing that remained on Elijah was manifested doubly in Elisha.

In a time when people are so concerned about positions, we need to learn from Elisha as to how we can stay truly humble. It is only when we humble ourselves before the Lord that He can lift us up. The first quality that God is looking for in those whom He can take and use are those who are willing to submit and stay humble under the mighty hand of God. Submission will come only where there is meekness. Humility is when we consider and regard others better than ourselves. God is observing us, our attitudes, thoughts, motives and actions and if they are pleasing to the Lord, He will surely lift us up in due time.

God’s word was with Elisha

In 2 Kings 3:12, “And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.” (ESV)

King Jehoshaphat perceived that this Elisha who was once an assistant to Elijah, had the very words of God with him. Elisha humbled himself before the Lord and Elijah, the result of which was that the word of the Lord abided with him. All three kings decided to go to Elisha and seek his counsel.The ones who went to visit Elisha, were not ordinary men but kings of three nations.

If we desire that the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be manifested in our lives, the one thing that God wishes to see in us is humility. Many have talents but do not have the eligibility to be used by God. Like Elisha if we are humble, the Lord will do amazing things in our lives and lift us up to heights that we cannot even imagine. The world may forget us, but God is watching over us all the time and when we are faithful in every little thing, the Lord will reward us openly. Joseph is a fine example of a man who was true to the Lord all through his life, in all his dealings and the culmination was that he was given the highest position in Egypt next only to Pharaoh. We must like Joseph, not compromise our stand but choose to stay faithful to the God who called us. The word of the Lord is clear, if we are faithful in little, the Lord will make us rulers over much and the converse is also true that is we are unfaithful in small things, we will miss out on the bigger blessings.

Elisha did not fear the kings

We read in 2 Kings 3:13, "Why should I help you?" Elisha said to the king of Israel. "Go and consult those prophets that your father and mother consulted." "No!" Joram replied. "It is the LORD who has put us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab." (GNB)

Elisha was not fearful of the three kings who stood at his doorstep but asked the King of Israel, ‘Why should I help you?’ Elisha recalled that the King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the parents of the King of Israel had defied God, worshipped Baal, encouraged false prophets and mistreated the prophet of God. As Joram, the King of Israel approached Elisha, he had already made up his mind that God had abandoned the three kings to the mercy of the king of Moab.

We read in 2 Kings 3:14, And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.”

Elisha was courageous enough to tell the King of Israel, that he did not wish to even look at his face and the only reason he entertained them was because of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

Sometimes we tend to regard men who are in position more that we honor and respect God. A true man or woman of God will never be afraid of men, and will not hesitate to point out mistakes which are obvious to them.

The power of the Lord came down on Elisha

We read in 2 Kings 3:15, Now get me a musician." As the musician played his harp, the power of the LORD came on Elisha,” (GNB)

Probably when Elisha beheld the face of the King of Israel, he was so disturbed within, as his family had done much atrocities against God and His servants. That is why he called forth for a harp to be played so that the word that proceeded from his mouth should be the words of God and not those based on his emotion which were tumultuous. As the harpist played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.

We should be cautious that no prophesy should be declared based on our own thoughts, but should be the outcome of spending time with God and being assured that they are His words. This also reminds us that even playing of an instrument should be done with anointing, as an act of worship unto the Lord. Our worship should be such that it brings in the very presence of the Lord into our midst.

Elisha speaks the words of God

In 2 Kings 3:16-18,“And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”(NKJV)

The word of the Lord came to Elisha and he commanded the kings to make the valley full of ditches. This seemed such a contradiction as the armies of Israel and the animals were parched and dehydrated from lack of water. However, they immediately obeyed and in spite of their difficult situation, they dug the ditches as the prophet commanded them to. Elisha also told them that there would be no wind or rain, by so saying the prophet affirmed that there would be no visible signs for them to believe, and yet the valley will be filled with water so that they, their cattle and animals could drink and have their thirst quenched.

Elisha reiterated to them that this was a simple matter for the Lord to perform. He further assured them that the Moabites would be delivered into their hands, and they would come forth victorious in that battle. Just as the Lord declared through the prophet, the valley was miraculously filled with water and the three kings won the battle over the king of Moab.

Often the word of God that comes to us may sound contrary to the situation we are in. When the Lord speaks to us, we must like the kings, have a willing heart to receive and obey the word of God without question.

We might recall a widow who came to Elisha and all that she had was a little oil in a jar. Elisha commanded her to collect all the jars she could from her neighbors and start filling them with the little oil she had. As she poured the oil, all the jars were all filled. When she and her sons came to a point where they could get no more vessels, then the oil stopped flowing.

It is also important that when the Lord commands us to do something, instead of sitting idly, we must go out in faith and do all we can to experience the fulfilment of God’s word spoken to us. The Lord expects us to take that first step of faith, and when we do so, He will do His part of the supernatural in our lives.

No matter what our circumstances are, just like the Lord filled the valley with miraculous water, He will intervene to do the unexplainable in our lives. Let us go forth and be prepared to receive all that the Lord has in store for us, though there may be no signs to fall back on. When we trust God in those difficult moments, not only does He solve our problems in astounding ways, but will also take us to that higher level that He has intended for us to be in.

Prayer:

My loving and great Heavenly Father, thank you that You are a God of miracles. Help me to trust You in every plan that I do in my life. I know that You are a God who speaks and counsels. I pray that when I exercise my faith and do according to Your Word, You will fill it with miraculous water, so that I will be blessed along with all those who are with me. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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Chapter 29 - Connected by a red cord

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 29

Connected by a red cord

When we think about being in bondage we must remember that bondages are not only to addictive habits, but there are numerous other areas of our lives we can be held captive to; some of them could be pride, anger, love for money, friendships or certain unhealthy relationships, social media and the list is unending. God’s will and plan for us is that everyone of us be set totally free from every form of enslavement, and live a triumphant life.

We read in Psalms 77:1, “I cried to God with my voice...” (ESV) and in Psalms 77:14, “You are the God who works miracles;”(GNT)

In Psalms 77:11, he says, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.” (GNB)

The Psalmist in Psalms 77:1says that he cried out to the Lord with his voice. Most often we cry out loud only when in a situation of frustration or turmoil. However, in verse 14 his mood changes and he affirms by saying, ‘you are a God who works miracles’ which makes us wonder what happened in this interval, where he started off with discouragement but ended with a proclamation of faith. The answer is found in verse 11, when he took his eyes off his circumstances, and decided to remember and recall the great and mighty wonders that God performed in the past.

Whenever we encounter those difficult challenges and hard situations in our lives, we must learn to do exactly as the Psalmist did; meditate and recall all the wonder that God accomplished in the past. We are indeed believers of the new covenant that Jesus consummated for us by His sacrificial death on the cross, and fulfilled by His burial, resurrection and ascension. But, we have the entire Bible placed in our hands, so that we can read and comprehend all that God has done in the past, thereby strengthening our faith in God to face the present and the future.

Rahab and the crimson (red) cord

We read in Joshua 2:21, She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.” (NRSV)

This is an incident about a woman named Rahab, a citizen of Jericho, whose house was built on the wall that surrounded the city of Jericho. The wall of Jericho was famous for its architecture and fortitude. It is said that the walls were so broad that two chariots could ride on top of it at the same time. However, as the people of Israel advanced towards the Promised Land, the city of Jericho was a hindrance to their progress. The people of Jericho heard all about God’s mighty hand at work and the wonders He performed to deliver the people of Israel from the cruel hand of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. When the news reached them that the Israelites were advancing towards their city, they were filled with fear and dread of the Israelites. Rahab was a harlot and probably someone who was shunned by others, but when she heard this, though she too was fearful she decided to put her faith in the God of the Israelites.

One day two Israelite men who came to spy on Jericho, came knocking on Rahab’s door. Instead of fearing the king, she decided to entertain the two men from Israel because she believed that the God of Israel was greater than any king. Rahab gave shelter to the two men, and made way for them to escape out of Jericho safely. The reward that Rahab received from the Lord for her act of faith was immense.

We read in Joshua 2:12-13, “Now, therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD since I have showed you mercy that ye will also do the same unto my father's house, of which thou shalt give me a true sign, and that ye will save alive my father and my mother and my brethren and my sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death.” (JUB)

As a recompense for taking care of the spies from Israel, Rahab requested the men to be gracious to her and her family, to save them from death and destruction that she knew was impending. Being a woman who led an immoral life, the chances were that she lived all alone and was probably abandoned by everybody including her family. However, when it came to seeking the safety from the imminent destruction from the Israelite armies, she pleaded with the two men that all of her family be saved (her father, mother, brothers and sisters).

We read in Joshua 2:18,“This is what you must do. When we invade your land, tie this red cord to the window you let us down from. Get your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's family together in your house.” (GNT)

When Rahab appealed with the men for a sign for the assurance that she and her family would be kept safe, the men instructed her to tie the red (crimson) cord to the window through which the men were let down to safety. Not only was she to tie the red cord but bring all of her family into her house, so that they could be free from harm. They guaranteed her that if obeyed their instructions, when the Israelites invaded Jericho, she and her family would be safe. Here was a woman, who though a harlot, from an unbelieving city, chose to believe in the true God, put her faith into action by saving the spies, beseeched them for mercy, thereby saving her entire family from death and destruction. The crucial sign of this deliverance was the red cord tied to the window.

Rahab’s story reminds us that God can transform anyone irrespective of who they are, or what their background is. God can take any man or woman and turn their life around completely, because that’s the only reason Jesus came down to the earth. Even if someone were to feel that their sin in unpardonable, we have a God who is willing and ready to forgive, to completely reconstruct our lives into His image and likeness. He is a God who can make beauty from ashes and lift us up from the deepest depths to place us on the heights.

Many live in constant fear of people’s opinions rather than being concerned about what God thinks about them. In order to please people they begin to live a life of compromise. We read in Proverbs 29:25,“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (NLT)

If we fear people we will be caught in a trap but on the other hand if we trust in the Lord we will be safe and secure.

Faith accompanied by works will beget God’s blessings

Our faith must always be combined with works, otherwise our faith is futile. For instance if we pray for rains, the evidence of faith is when we walk out with an umbrella. Many of us decide on what we want, and then go to the Lord in prayer just seeking his attestation to our decisions. However, when we pray we must go with an open mind, and allow God to do what He thinks is best. Our faith in God is evidenced not just by our prayer, but by our willingness to do what God wants us to do.

Abraham was justified because he fully trusted in God and was willing to leave his country and his people to walk out in obedience to God’s command, though he has no idea what was in store for him. David when he visited his brothers and saw Goliath defying the armies of Israel, stepped forth in faith and thereby conquered the giant. The woman who was suffering with an issue of blood for twelve years, took the step of faith to come out into society and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment to receive her miraculous healing. Lazarus died and was buried for four days, but when Jesus asked them to remove the stone, Mary and Martha obeyed. Others round them may have discouraged them from doing so, but by faith they had the stone removed and had their brother brought back to life.We read in James 2:17, “So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it so long as it stands alone.”(WNT)The word is clear that faith if it is not accompanied by obedience and works is dead.

Like Rahab appealed for the safety of all her family, we too are called to have a heart of compassion for all who are lost without the Lord. It is our responsibility to stand in the gap, and plead for the salvation of those who are closest to us, and those whom we are in association with.

The great deliverance for Rahab

We read in Joshua 6:20, “So the priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the people heard it, they gave a loud shout, and the walls collapsed.” (GNB)

Joshua chapter 6 records the amazing victory that God wrought for the people of Israel and the way the walls of Jericho came crumbling down. As the armies of Israel, shouted and the priests blew their trumpets on the seventh day, the entire wall of Jericho collapsed. Rahab and her entire family were in the house on top of the wall, and as the entire wall of Jericho collapsed, the part of the wall that had Rahab’s house on it stood firm. While it sure was a miracle that God destroyed the walls by the praises of His people, it was a far greater miracle that part of the same wall which housed Rahab, was saved from destruction because of her faith which was attested by her works. The sign on her window was a red cord.

We live in uncertain times, there is financial instability, diseases, perils and dangers lurking all around. But, there is nothing to fear for those whose trust is in the Lord, for when God is with us, He is able to save and protect us from all insecurities and instabilities. We are assured in Psalms 91:7,“A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed.” (GNT)

The other end of the red cord

In Matthew 1:1, we read, “This is the list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham.” (GNB)

In Matthew 1:5, “Salmon and Rahab were the father and mother of Boaz. Boaz and Ruth were the father and mother of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse,”(GNB)

If we were to picture the red cord that saved Rahab, if one end of the cord was tied to the window, the other end found its place in the genealogy of Jesus. God is a God of mercy and grace. Rahab became the mother of Boaz, and Boaz the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David. Rahab became an ancestor of King David in whose lineage Jesus descended. In the book of Hebrews in chapter 11 there are only two women who are mentioned in the list of heroes of faith. One is Sarah and the other is Rahab. This Rahab was a sinful woman, a gentile, living in a city of Jericho that was defiled but she had faith to believe and the works to accompany her faith. If we were to compare Sarah and Rahab, they are opposites in every way, but in God’s divine plan both of them are heroines of faith.

Rahab’s life is an encouragement to one and all that our past does not matter to God. God does not care about how bad our past was, because He is prepared to give us a glorious future! Many people are so engrossed with their past, but the Lord wants them to let go of it. That is the reason why Jesus came down to the earth, died on the cross for us, so as to forgive us of all the sins of the past, and restore to us a brand new future.

In His grace and mercy God calls us to live a life of high calling. If we have faith and place our complete trust in Jesus, bring our faith to action and live in obedience to God’s word, God will save us from destruction and take us to the highest place that He has ordained for us. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (KJV). These wonders God has accomplished in us, so that we could become a blessing to those around. If we were to think of the red cord today, Jesus holds one end of the cord, and the question is are we are willing to hold on to the other end of that cord and place our complete trust in Him? If we do so, He will be faithful and true to change all that is old, save us from destruction, cleanse us from all our sins, and seat us in the heavenly realms. May we submit to God and allow Him to fulfill the purpose for which he called and chosen us.

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me to be Your child. I know that You have great plans for me. Help me to respond in faith to Your calling. I am amazed about how You picked up Rahab and placed her in the list of heroines of faith besides Sarah. I am greatly encouraged and submit to Your will for me. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

You can listen to the message in tamil through this link:

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Chapter 28 - The great deliverance

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 28

The great deliverance

We have been meditating in the last couple of messages on this passage from Psalms 77:11-12, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past. I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts.” (GNB)

We have been deliberating on the great deeds of the Lord, recalling the wonders He performed in the past, and considering all of His mighty acts that He has accomplished. The old covenant as described in the Old Testament, is filled with powerful signs and wonders that God performed. It is only in studying these in detail, can one comprehend, the beauty of the fulfilment of the new covenant as revealed in the New Testament.

Firstly we looked at the fact that God is the one who created the world and as one who sustains it. Secondly, we are beckoned to recall all of the wonderful deeds that He did in the past. Today we meditate on some of the mighty acts that God carried out in order to redeem His people out of bondage.

God is close at hand

We will observe in detail one of the potent wonders God executed as recorded in the following scripture passage.

We read in, Exodus 6:5, “Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.” (ESV)

The fact that the Israelites were in slavery to the Egyptians, implied that they were unable to exercise their free will. Also, being in bondage meant that there was no way they could think and live the way they wanted to or desired. As the people of Israel groaned in their enslavement the Lord drew nigh, and heard their moans of distress.

Many people truly long to read the bible more and spend more time in prayer. They might have even taken some serious New Year resolutions, to effectuate these decisions, but as the months go by, often they even forget about these resolves. The reason for this is that the bondages of this world, prevent us from living the life of liberty that God designed for us. There are many who are simply content with carrying the bible to church on Sundays only. If we don’t have time to read and meditate on the word of God, we can be sure that we are trapped in some sort of worldly bondage that prevents us from spending time with God and His word. These bondages could be our work, relationships or unhealthy habits, but one can be sure that when we are in enslavement to any of these, they will assuredly hamper our prayer time and the time spent with reading God’s word.

The Bible says that God heard the groaning of His people. If someone has to hear the groaning of another, they have to be extremely close to the person to do so. The assurance we have is that in the midst of all our struggles is that the Lord is so very close to us, that He can hear our sighs and groaning. The Lord is close at hand not to gloat over our sufferings, but to deliver us from our bondages. However, if God should intervene to deliver us, it will be possible only if we are willing to co-operate with Him. If we are in rebellion and disobedience, the Lord cannot help us in any way.

It is critical that we give as much importance to the word of God, as we give to eating our regular meals. Instead of the bible being near at hand, some have kept it high up and far away in the altars in their homes. It might be a good idea to keep our bibles near our plates on our dining tables, to remind us that as many times as we think it important to eat our physical food, it would be far more beneficial for us to read the word and thereby partake of the spiritual food. It is only when we pray and read the bible, the Spirit of God will open our hearts and minister to us.

All of us who have had or seen babies know the importance of food for their physical growth, and that is why when a baby refuses to eat, we take great efforts to force the food down, so that they remain healthy. As much as physical food is important for the body, the word of God is vital for our souls, and if not fed on the word regularly, our souls will slowly die. If we can make the word of God the focus of our lives, we will certainly experience tremendous transformation. That is why Jesus said, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ There are so many who have strong and healthy bodies but are impoverished in their souls. It is only when we read the word in depth, will we be able to comprehend all that the Lord has done for His people.

God is able to deliver

We read further in Exodus 6:6-8, “Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'" (ESV)

The first thing that Lord reinforces to the people of Israel is that “He is the LORD” and there is no other. He is not one of the gods, but the One and Only LORD. In the above mentioned verses, the LORD reiterated three times that He was indeed the LORD. The introduction ‘I am the LORD’ is stated in verse 6, 7 and 8.

He is the Lord who will redeem His people with an outstretched arm, and this signified the Lord Jesus who stretched out His hands on the cross of Calvary, to redeem mankind from their sins. In verse 7 we read that after He has redeemed us, He will take us to be His own people. I am the LORD is mentioned thrice to signify the Lord Jesus who redeems us, God the Father who accepts us as His own children and the Holy Spirit of God who indwells us, to guide and lead us to the promised land. The three aspects of God are clearly described in the above mentioned verses. He is the LORD who redeems us, the One who accepts us and the Only One who leads us through this life until we reach our eternal abode.

Let us read a parallel scripture in the New Testament

We read in Galatians 4:3-6, ... “ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (ESV)

Here Paul is talking about being in bondage to the elementary principles of this world. There are so many man-made traditions that are still enslaving many. Jesus came to lay down His life and redeem us from the law and every form of bondage. He did this so that we can become adopted to become His sons and daughters, and has poured out the Spirit of His Son in our hearts, whereby we can called God ‘Abba Father’. If we do not understand this reality in all its fullness, we will continue to live in slavery and bondage.

The God of glory who is eternal, came down to the earth in the form of man, gave up the splendor of the heavens, took on flesh and blood, and was tempted and tried in all points just like we are. That is why He is the only one who perfectly understands all that we go through. His feet walked these dusty streets of earth, and therefore He fully understands and sympathizes with all our heartaches and tears. He willingly submitted Himself to the death on a cross, which was considered a curse and shed His own precious blood for our redemption.

To explain this in worldly terms, if someone were to be in a critical medical condition in need of a rare blood group, and someone came forward to donate that blood type, which ultimately saved the person, we can imagine the gratefulness the person will have towards the one whose blood saved them from death. We may have heard people say to someone like that ‘you were like god to me in this critical situation’.

Is it not strange therefore, for one to consider that when God the Father, sent His only begotten Son Jesus, who willingly shed His precious blood for the sins of all mankind, so that man could attain eternal life, there are so many who make light of it and take it for granted?

God redeems the Israelites

We read in Exodus 12:12,"Tonight I will go through Egypt and kill every firstborn man and animal in Egypt. In this way I will judge all the gods of Egypt and show that I am the LORD.” (ERV)

Have you ever wondered why God sent 10 plagues on the Egyptians? The Egyptians considered the river Nile to be their god and the plagues of Egypt were a judgement of God on the so called gods of Egyptians. God wanted to establish the fact that “He was the LORD” and there was no other. The Israelites were in bondage for 400 years and their minds had become complacent to accept their perilous condition.

When Moses approached Pharaoh and sought the deliverance for the Israelites, Pharaoh was so enraged that he made things extremely difficult for the Israelites. Pharaoh decided to withhold the hay that was provided for the manufacture of the bricks, and still demanded that the Israelites deliver the same number of bricks without the means to do so. As they sought deliverance from the cruel hands of Pharaoh, their bonded labor got tougher. The people of Israel were therefore irate with Moses, and from that time on the Lord commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh directly instead of to the Israelites, who were unable to discern God’s mighty ways.

Though there are numerous authorities in this world, all of them are subject to the control and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we can fathom this thought, we will run to the name of the Lord Jesus, knowing that we will find security, blessings, goodness, victory and life only in His name. No matter how long we are in bondage to something, the Lord can break it instantly and set us free.

There are some who have stopped coming to church to hear the word and be in fellowship with other believers, because they wrongly conclude that their drawing closer to the Lord has increased their troubles. The reason for this misconception is that, they seek God only to solve their problems and not for who He really is. However, when we pursue God for who He truly is, even in the midst of trials and difficulties, we will never let go of God, because we will have discovered that the one on whom we have placed our faith in is our unfailing God.

There are also those who are happy to find temporary solutions for all of life’s quandaries, and so are always on the look-out for anything or anyone who can help them out of their bad situations. There’s an amusing story told of a man who visited an exhibition, where the artist had displayed the paintings of various people considered to be saints in heaven. However at the end of his exhibits, he also had a painting of the devil. As the visitor entered the exhibition, he ceremoniously began to kiss the paintings of all the saints, and in the end he also kissed the picture of the devil. The artist was astounded at this and called to enquire of the man as to why he even kissed the picture of the devil, to which the man replied, ‘If I go to heaven I will meet all of them saints, but what if I end up in hell, then I will be at the devil’s mercy’. May sound ludicrous, but if we are not sure as to who our faith is in, we too will wind up with confusion and compromise.

The task of Satan is to heap trouble on those who desire to follow the Lord, and instead of giving up or back sliding if we stand firm in the faith, victory will surely be ours. Have you ever wondered why schools have examinations though it is a tough challenge for many? This is so because only when a student passes the exam, he is considered fit for promotion to the higher class. So also, it is only when we overcome obstacles and hardships can we move on to the next level.

God made a distinction between the Israelites and Egyptians

We read in Exodus 8:22-23, "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. "I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”(ESV)

There were ten plagues the God afflicted the Egyptians with, of which the first three affected the people of Israel as well. The reason for this torment was because they were not willing to accept or believe that God had indeed sent Moses to deliver them from the cruel hands of Pharaoh. When the Israelites underwent the annoyance of the first three plagues, they realized that God had indeed sent Moses to be their deliverer to bring about a great liberation from their harsh bondage.

After the third plague God made a clear distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The first three plagues made the people of Israel realize that God had indeed chosen and sent Moses. It also reinforced the fact that God was most certainly fighting on their behalf to bring about a great deliverance from the hands of the oppressor. It was only when they believed, that God intervened to make a marked difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

If all that we expect from God are words of love and approval with the hope that all should go well with our lives, we have failed to understand that no loving Father would ever do that. We read in Proverbs 13:24“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” (ESV) Discipline is part of the love that a Father shows when he really cares for the welfare of his children, and a father who does not do so, becomes an enemy to his own children. So also God chastises us only because He loves us, and yearns for us to be more like Him in every way.

The Lord who sent ten plagues on Egypt to deliver the people of Israel, also gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments when they came out of their slavery. The very first commandment in Exodus 20:3, was “You must not worship any other gods except me.” (ERV)

This was so because God does not share His place with anyone else. He alone must be enthroned in our hearts. When we do so, and stand firmly rooted in the word of God, the Lord will confirm His word in our lives and no difficulty or hardship that comes our way, will be able to overcome us, for the Lord will stand by to make us triumphant.

God’s redemptive plan

In Exodus 12:3 we read, "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.” (NASB)

In Exodus 12:6 – 8, we read “You should watch over the animal until the 14th day of the month. On that day all the people of the community of Israel must kill these animals just before dark. You must collect the blood from these animals and put it on the top and sides of the doorframe of every house where the people eat this meal. "On this night you must roast the lamb and eat all the meat. You must also eat bitter herbs and bread made without yeast.” (ERV)

When the nine plagues had passed, God wanted to place His seal of protection on His people so that no harm would befall them. For this to happen they were to take a year old lamb without blemish on the tenth day of the month, and sacrifice it on the fourteenth day. They were to take the blood of the sacrifice and smear it on the door posts and lintels. The meat they were to roast over the fire and eat it. Only those who believed did that, and God performed the great deliverance at the Passover, when the angel of death passed over all whose homes were sealed with the blood of the lamb. This mighty act God accomplished to enable the Israelites to comprehend that He was indeed the Lord God. The Passover was a representation of God’s redemptive plan as per the old covenant, and a fore shadow of what was to transpire in the new. They passed over from bondage to freedom by the mighty act of God.

This was a sign that the Lord has redeemed us through the death of Jesus on the cross, put His seal of protection over us, and given us the blessed Holy Spirit, to take us through this life onto the eternal life the Lord has promised for those who believe. It is the blood of Jesus alone that can set us free from our bondages, just like the blood of the lamb was the only way for the people of Israel to be saved and redeemed from their slavery. There is no other way for mankind to be redeemed, other than the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.

When a person receives Jesus Christ as their savior, and go through the waters of baptism, they then participate in the communion which symbolizes the new covenant. The plan of redemption, as executed by God to deliver the people of Israel in the Old Testament was a foreshadow, and every single detail of it was fulfilled in Jesus, when He laid down His life as the sinless Lamb of God for the redemption of all mankind. God the Father offered His only begotten son Jesus as the sinless sacrifice and that is why when Jesus cried out on the cross saying, ‘it is finished’ the veil of the temple was torn in two, to signify that we now have direct access to the very throne of God. After Jesus rose and ascended to the heavens, the Holy Spirit of God descended on us, so that He could abide with us till the very end.

Writing to the Corinthian Church, Paul concludes in 2 Corinthians 13:14, this way “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (ESV)

We have the assurance that the Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are with us till the end of our days. Since the offer of salvation is such a priceless offer, for those who take it lightly there is a word of warning in Hebrew 2:3, “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Let us humbly accept this gift of salvation that is offered so freely, and live our lives free from every form of sin and bondage.

The authority that was bestowed upon Adam at creation which he lost, Jesus restored back to us. It is the same authority that Jesus exercised over nature, sickness, Satan and death which is graciously available to all of us who believe. It is God’s will that we rule and triumph over every obstacle that comes our way. If we as children of God are in bondage, whom can God use to set at liberty those around us who are entangled with all forms of enslavements? May the Lord fill and anoint us with His Holy Spirit, and use us like He did the disciples to be those who will turn our world upside down.

Prayer:

My God, I thank you for giving me the beautiful picture of deliverance from bondage when I read about the Israelites being protected by the blood of the lamb. I am thankful for the precious blood of the Lamb of God, whose blood delivered me from the clutches of the evil one and has given me freedom. Help me to remain in the freedom purchased by You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who resides in me to fulfill Your purposes in my life. In Lord Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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