A stiff-necked people

 

Exodus 32:9-14

 

October 29, 2024

 

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

In Deuteronomy 9:26-29, we are given this account: “And I prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.  Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness, or their sin,  lest the land from which you brought us say, “Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.”  For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.”

We are living in a day where meekness is thought of as weakness, but it is real strength, under control.  Characterized by humility, gentleness, and patience, especially in the face of provocation.

The "meek" are not weak, but rather possess strength under control, trusting God to handle injustice and submitting to God's will instead of asserting their own power aggressively. (Taken from the Internet)

But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 

 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.  Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord repented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.”

One must understand, this was a test for Moses, in that God does not change His mind. Before there was a Moses, God was all-knowing, knew that His chosen were a rebellious people, and He also knew that Moses would plead for the Lord to recall His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.

One of the fruits of the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22-23, is self-control. Or you might say strength under control.  This is a need in my life, and I would welcome your prayers for me in this area.  My flesh does not enjoy being meek, but when I walk in the Spirit, I have victory over my flesh.  How are you doing in this area of obedience?

From our Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Golden Calf

                                                              Exodus 32:1-8

 

October 28, 2024

 

The Golden Calf

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”  So, all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.  He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.”  So, the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward, they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.  They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

 

As you read this account, I’m willing to bet the farm, I do not own, that you were thinking, no one would be that dumb.  Let me ask you a few questions: have you ever allowed a pastor or priest who had a very close walk with the Lord, and die or leave, and another man came in their place who seemed not to have that same leadership, and you quit going to that Church building?  Many of you just quit and have found someone else to follow.  Are you any different from them?  They believed in Moses God till he was no longer in their presence.  Was it God they were following, or the God that Moses followed?  Following a man will get you to leave God, who loves you.

 

I must keep asking questions of you. Have you gone looking for a god who you can see, one that you have made yourself?  The Scripture is very clear that anything we put ahead of God has taken his place, and that is a very dangerous place to put yourself or your family.

 

What happens to people who chase after the world’s gods? They worship before them and go out with only one thing in mind, to do as they please, in that the gods of this world do not have the Holy Spirit to guide you into all Truth, so you buy into whatever the world is selling. 

What is the solution to your problem? First, examine who you are following; it might even be yourself.  In 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”  Let me share with you a part of the test: when I am rude, unloving, and unkind to my wife or anyone, the Spirit of God that lives in me, not only brings that to my attention but requires me to ask for forgiveness.  I first must acknowledge I’ve sinned, and that is agreeing with God and asking His forgiveness and the person my actions have hurt.

If you can do as you please, then the Spirit of God is not in you; you have failed the test.  In my life I’ve met some People who go by the title of Christian, who attend bible study, and are active at the building, but are some of the most mean-spirited people I’ve ever met,  They act as if their Citizenship is earth, and it may be, but many of them will break fellowship with people if they do not agree with them.  Jesus does not tell us to be that kind of person.  They have made a golden calf, and it is them.

From ​our Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Sabbath

 

 

Exodus 31:12-18

 

October 26, 2024

 

The Sabbath

“And the Lord said to Moses, 'You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all, you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore, the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.  It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.”

 

Shall we begin with the word “Sanctify?” You will find words like consecrate, purity, and dedicate. All of those have the same meaning: a person set apart for the service of worship. God, our Creator, desires our worship and gets angry when we worship anyone or anything but Him.

 

It was only a few years ago that I was convinced that my testimony was being damaged by my actions.  Not by attending worship services, but by coming home and mowing the yard.  Many neighbors knew that Jan and I were followers of Christ, but after Church service, we were just like them; Sunday was just a day off.  So, I no longer do that. Sunday is a day to remember and give thanks for all the blessings of our God and Father.

 

Now this is my conviction, and yet if your testimony is of value to you, you might want to pray about it, for a day of solemn rest is holy to the Lord.  Could you use a day of rest and being refreshed?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Oholiab and Bezalel

 

Exodus 31:1-11

 

October 25, 2024

 

Oholiab and Bezalel

The Lord said to Moses,  “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.  And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense,  and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand,  and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests,  and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

 

My prayer and hope is that you understand God has called you and me for a purpose and has given us His Holy Spirit, with the ability, intelligence, and knowledge to do what He has called us for.

 

Many of us who call ourselves Christians begin to allow pride and the praise of others to make us believe we did this and that it was not a gift from God. Clearly, Bezalel was picked by God and given these gifts to do all of these things, but God also appointed Oholiab to work with Bezalel in that two are better than one.

 

No matter what someone tells you, you are not a never-was in God’s sight; you are very special with a calling.  Each of us has a different calling, so use those gifts and bless others with them.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

How are you, Loving?

 

How are you, Loving?

 

·      Love is patient and kind

When we are not patient and kind, what is the problem?

·      Love does not envy or boast

When I have envy or begin to brag on myself, what is    

            happening?

·      Love is not arrogant

When I am arrogant, what is taking place in my spirit?

·      Love is not rude

When I am rude, what is going on in your fellowship with             

            Christ?                              

·      Love does not insist on its own way

When I do not care what others want, what is happening in       

            my spirit?

·      Love is not irritable or resentful

When I am irritable or resentful, how is my fellowship with 

            those God has sent me to love?

·      Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing

What happens to the love of God in me when I rejoice at         

            wrongdoing?

·      Love rejoices with the truth

What should I do if I find myself not rejoicing in the 

            truth?

·      Love bears all things

Love never gives up on you.

·      Love believes all things

Love looks past your failures and sees your potential 

·      Love hope all things

Love can see past your circumstances.

·      Love endures all things

Feelings often throw in the towel, God’s love remains.

The Anointing Oil and Incense

 

Exodus 30:22-38

 

October 24, 2024

 

The Anointing Oil and Incense

The Lord said to Moses,  “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane,  and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.  And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil.  With it, you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony,  and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense,  and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand.  You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy.  You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.  And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.  It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you.  Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’”

The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part),  and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.  You shall beat some of it very small and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you.  And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord.  Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

 

In Exodus, the anointing oil was a sacred blend of spices and olive oil that was used to consecrate objects and people associated with the Tabernacle. The oil was a physical representation of God's presence and blessing.  

In the Old Testament, anointing with oil represented the coming of the Holy Spirit upon a person. For example, in 1 Samuel 16:13, the prophet Samuel anointed David as king of Israel with oil, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David.1 Samuel 16:13, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”  

So how does the Holy Spirit anoint a person today?  “In Christianity, the Holy Spirit "anoints" a person today by residing within them, empowering them with spiritual gifts and abilities to discern truth, understand scripture, and live a life according to God's will, essentially providing an inner presence that guides and strengthens their faith; this "anointing" is considered a permanent gift given to all believers upon accepting Jesus Christ, and is not necessarily dependent on outward practices like applying oil, but rather a spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit's work within them.” 

When Jesus left Planet Earth to return to His Father and ours, His followers were sad, but then the Holy Spirit came on them with spiritual gifts and all kinds of abilities, and one that I treasure is discerning truth.  When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He shared the following: in Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”  The Spirit that was on Jesus would come to guide direct and lead us to the Father.  Jesus talks with His disciples, in John 16:7-11, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ​ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

 

We have Paul talking to the Church at Corinth, in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, ^“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,  and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Bronze Basin

 

 

Exodus 30:17-21

 

October 23, 2024

 

The Bronze Basin

 The Lord said to Moses,  “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it,  with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet.  When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die.  They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”

 

What is this all about? Is the Lord teaching them hygiene? No, it is about God wanting His people to understand the importance of purity.   Purity to serve as God's minister to the people of Israel.   It was more than symbolic for them to have clean hands and feet; they were the leaders of the people before God.

 

What about those of us who have entered into a personal relationship with God the Father by believing in the finished work of the cross?  Hebrews 1:3 gives a clear picture of who has given us access to our Father in heaven.  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that covers our sins; Jesus is our purification before the Father.  But it is a purification of our spirits, not our flesh.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice