An In-depth Study of the Empowered Hand
by Dr Joseph D’Allende
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the glory of The Triune Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose abundant grace and power has made this book possible.
To my dear wife, and confidant, Dolores, whose faithfulness and dedication to The Lord has enriched my walk with God. Her labour of love, being the chief provider for our family had made it possible that I could have been in full time ministry.
To my three beautiful daughters, Yolanda Penelope Choromanski, Evelyn Maud D’Allende Covington and Michelle Anne Flinn,
To my two grandsons Marc and Sean Choromanski and my two granddaughters Kate and Anna Flinn.
Foreword
It has been my privilege to work with Dr Joseph D’ Allende over many years, both while he pastored churches in South Africa and more recently conducting Schools of Ministry in New Zealand. He has been my mentor over the years and now this book forms a summary of the central message of his teaching and the values which he holds dear. I am honoured to be asked to provide a Foreword.
Dr Joseph develops his teaching around the image of the hand. Each finger has spiritual significance as do the gestures made with hand and fingers. For example, bringing the hands together becomes a symbol of worship and this leads to teaching on the nature and importance of worship. Much is made of the Exodus stories and the role of Moses’ hands in the parting of the Red Sea. The story of Jesus and the feeding of the five thousand involves the hands of Jesus raised in blessing and the hands of the little boy in his act of generosity. Dr Joseph discerns much more that the hands can tell us about our relationship with God and our fellow human beings.
Generosity is one of the values that is emphasised in the teaching. Others include humility, the importance of prayer in the Pastor’s life and ministry, a sense of vocation and the importance of sticking with the ministry despite the negatives that this sometimes brings. Our hands can be our guide in all this.
I commend this book to all who seek to live the Christian life, and especially to Dr Joseph’s colleagues in Christian ministry.
Jacob Isaac
March 2014
Pastor and Co-founder – Calvary Ministries, Durban, South Africa
Advisor to Calvary Apostolic Ministries
Pastor Jacob Isaac and Dr Joseph D’Allende
INTRODUCTION
As a student of The Word of God, I was very fortunate and blessed to be taught and mentored by outstanding men and women of God. They all had a common flair in their respective ministries. They all used the teaching principle of The Law of Apperception. From the very onset of their teaching sessions, they had the uniqueness of involving their students in their teaching and as the teaching progressed, the students felt a definite part of the entire teaching session. My teachers were seasoned craftsmen; they grabbed your attention from the very beginning of their discourses by taking the student from the known to the unknown. Jesus, our Lord and Saviour also used this teaching principle. A classic example of this is when Jesus taught of the importance of Spiritual Bread: “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:4).” Jesus captured the attention of his large audience by taking them from the known to the unknown. He wisely quoted from The Old Testament and then brought to their attention that natural bread was necessary for the sustenance of their physical bodies; however, that man in order to live spiritually had to feast on The Bread of Life — The Word of God.
I adopted this unique teaching method. Not only have my students comprehended the teachings, they have also implemented the teachings into their respective ministries and that with great spiritual rewards.
I have always been fascinated in the spiritual applications of the human hand in The Word of God and to fully comprehend the imperative role and various spiritual expressions it has in Holy Scripture, it is essential that we remind ourselves of the unique functions of the human hand in its natural setting and thereafter see the correlation between the natural role of the human hand to that of the spiritual role of the human hand.
It is the aims of this brief exposition on The Power of the Hand to bring God’s people to:
• A fresh awakening of the prominent role of the human hand in authentic scriptural worship of The Triune Godhead.
• Know that God considers what is in our hands when He calls us to the ministry?
• Comprehend the dynamic and the important role the human hand plays in the ordination of God’s ministers.
• Know and understand The Old Testament typologies of the human hand and The New Testament interpretations thereof.
• Know and understand the significance of the human hand in intercession.
• Understand and appreciate the role of the human hand in The Baptism into The Holy Spirit.
• Know just who May lay hands on those seeking The Baptism Into The Holy Spirit?
• Believe that by the laying on of hands The Gifts of The Holy Spirit are imparted.
• Know just who may lay hands for the impartation of The Gifts of The Holy Spirit?
• Know that by the laying on of hands the sick are healed.
• Know and understand what is in the hand of Almighty God?
Chapter 1
From the Known to the Unknown
The Five Senses
God has wonderfully endowed humankind with five senses. It is through these five senses that man makes contact with his fellowman and his surroundings. The five senses are:
• Hearing
• Sight
• Touch
• Smelling
• Taste
Man hears with his ears, strategically placed on either side of his face. His eyes through which he sees is placed close to his forehead. The ability to touch and feel is within the two hands and that being the right and left hand. The nose has two nostrils that enable man to smell. The mouth with its jaw, teeth and tongue gives man the ability to chew food and make the necessary distinctions of taste between the various foods he eats.
These senses are vital to the well-being of man and when these senses fail or cease to operate man is considered as handicapped and impaired.
The Precise Position of the Five Senses
Four of the Five Senses are situated on the face, close to the brain, and that being; hearing, sight, smell and taste. The touch sense is approximately 80 -100 centimetres from the eyes. It is all by itself and yet they all work perfectly in harmony. They are uniquely correlated by the brain, which transmits directives as the other four senses feed information to the brain. It is the touch sense that acts as the servant of the other four senses. Perhaps considering the following acronym will help us to see the correlation between the hands and the brain.
H – Hands
A – Activate
N – Neurological
D – Directives
The Hand – the Touch and Feeling Sense
There is a marked distinction between touching and feeling. When touching we encounter an object and oft times we are unable to distinguish immediately what has been touched, however when we feel we able to detect what has been touched. It is usually with the fingers of the hand that we are able to recognise what has been touched.
The hand has five fingers and each with a special ability. It is because of these special abilities that the fingers are named accordingly:
• The Thumb
• The Index Finger
• The Middle Finger
• The Ring Finger
• The Baby Finger
The Thumb
The Thumbs are situated on the extreme left of the right hand and the extreme right of the left hand. When our hands are folded together, the two thumbs meet. It is the smallest of all the fingers and yet surprisingly enough it often speaks of the seal of a person. Those unfortunate people who cannot write are encouraged to use their thumbprint as a mark of authentication. Strange and yet so true every person has a different thumbprint, (in fact all the fingers) and therefore it has the uniqueness of authorising legal documents. Because of this uniqueness, the thumb is often referred as The Authority of a Person or the Seal of a Person.
The Index Finger
The Index Finger is the closest to the thumb of authority. The Index Finger is used for pointing and therefore is often referred to as the pointing finger – the finger of direction. The proximity of the pointing finger to the thumb of authority is for a special reason. When authority and direction join, they take on an ability that is similar to that of the tongue. The tongue through speech communicates. The thumb of authority and the finger of direction also communicate. When a pen or a pencil is placed between the two communication also takes place. The tongue speaks to the ears of men with audible sound, whereas the thumb of authority and the finger of direction speak to the eyes and that not with sound. Like the thumb, the index fingers join when the right and left hands are folded together.
One of the common uses of the index finger is the calling of people; however, in certain cultures this is very offensive.
The Middle Finger
The Middle Finger is the longest of all the fingers and when the hand is touching, it reaches out the furthest on the object being touched. Like the thumb and the index finger when the hands are joined together, the middle fingers touch and unite.
Sadly, in many cultures the middle finger is used as a sign of obscenity and insult. All the other fingers are closed down onto the palm of the hand whilst the middle finger is stretched out thus signifying obscenity and insult.
The Ring Finger
The Ring Finger is the second longest finger. It is called the Ring Finger for on it in most cultures the wedding ring is worn. The wedding ring is usually worn on the left hand. I once heard it is the finger that has a vein linked directly to the heart.
After research, I have discovered that this was not the case. There was a belief in ancient times that a vein ran from the fourth finger (that is counting from the thumb) directly to the heart. No wonder this vein was nicknamed “vena amoral” which means “the vein of love.” It was this view in mind that married couples wore their wedding rings on the ring finger depicting their love for each other as a hand and heart connection.
When the two hands are clasped together, the second two longest fingers come together as a unit.
The Little Finger
The Little Finger is also known as the pinkie finger, which means small. Counting from the thumb it is the last finger of the hand. This little finger is usually used to scratch in the ear. Like all the other fingers when the hands join, they denote union.
The Symbolism of the Hand
There is so much that we can glean from the symbolism of the hand, that we can adopt in order to improve our personal life and how we treat others with honour and respect. Before we mention and briefly explain these wonderful symbols of the hand, it is essential that we remind ourselves that there is a constant correlation between the brain and the hand. The hand receives directives from the brain and acts accordingly.
There are two kinds of actions that the hands express and that being voluntary and involuntary actions. Voluntary actions are undertaken by one’s free will. Classic examples of this are what we decide to eat, whether or not we do daily exercises to strengthen our bodies. Involuntary actions are those certain actions over which we have no control. Several good examples are sleeping, breathing and yawning (I find it quite strange that when I see someone yawning, I start yawning almost immediately). The best example of involuntary actions comes from my Primary school days. Our teacher gave us a classic example of how when touching a hot plate or hot pot we do not decide whether to remove our hand. Without premeditation and thought, we remove our hands instantly.
Symbol 1 POWER
As small, as the hand is in comparison to the rest of the body (the chest, the legs, the head etc) it is rather remarkable how that POWER is associated with the hand. Considering a clenched hand, we note it enables a person to knock down another person. On the other hand, when the hand is open and outstretched to another hand it has the ability to pick a person up.
From this simple thought The Lord has spoken to me and I have shared this with many of God’s wonderful children: “POWER IN THE WRONG HANDS CAN BE VERY DESTRUCTIVE; HOWEVER POWER IN THE RIGHT HANDS CAN BE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE.
Usually an open hand is a hand that blesses others. Usually a clenched hand (a fist) is a hand that destroys others.
There are those certain few (people like Hitler, Mussolini and Bonaparte) who believe that hands are meant for war. It is not surprising to note that almost all weapons of destruction are placed in the hand – the sword, the bow and arrow, the pistol, the machine gun, the knife etc.
Remarkably, as much as there are violent people in this world, there are those gentle people as well, whose life’s are motivated to do good. These people’s hands are forever open and outstretched to the less fortunate and downtrodden, willing to pick them up from the muck and mire of an unpleasant life and clasping their weak and feeble hand of the discarded in their strong hand and leading them to a better life.
There are so many good types of hands in the world:
• Hands of Mercy
• Hands of Grace
• Hands of Trust
• Hands of Peace
• Hands of Power
Sadly, in this world there are also those hands that love to fight – the hands of war.
Symbol 2 Covenant/Agreement
My parents although they could not provide the best and sundry for us, yet gave my siblings and myself that which money could never ever buy. They gave us honour and dignity. My father was a man of a few words and yet a man of great action. He lived by his word and his word was his bond. He was as good as his word and whenever he gave his word to another person as his bond, he joyously yet solemnly said: “Let’s shake on that.” My humble father extended his hand in a handshake, thus signifying the confirmation of his promised word.
How sad are the present days, the words of men cannot be trusted. Every agreement must be in writing, signed by the parties entering into covenant agreement, further witnessed by at least two witnesses and signed on the document of agreement. Times have sure changed humankind. It was not so long ago that the only requirement was a simple handshake.
Symbol 3 Greeting
My dear Pastor, Apostle Edwin Gray, surely knew how to break down the divide between people. He convinced me and many others of the power of the wave of the hand accompanied by a pleasing smile. I have seen the most miserable and unloved people succumb to a hand wave of greeting and a pleasing smile.
Gestures carry definite messages and no doubt, a hand wave greeting gesture sure invites people to want to know you. They probably ask themselves why this man is so friendly.
One of the first things that mothers love teaching their little babies is the farewell wave. With great joy and pride, we hear them encourage the little baby: “Say bye bye.” To our wonderful surprise the sweet and adorable little baby eagerly begins waving their hands and smile gleefully. No doubt, the little child did not say goodbye, but they convincingly spoke with their hands.
In several cultures hugging and kissing is discouraged and at best, left to the women. To refrain from definite embarrassment men prefer to firmly shake hands. It is most assuredly a sign of friendship as well. Handshakes in most cultures are signs of welcoming and fare welling.
Symbol 4 Anger
An angry person is a dangerous person. They can do great harm to people. They are best avoided. Often angry people unknowingly give a gesture that forewarns us of evil intent. They raise a clenched hand (a fist) toward people.
It has been said that many angry people lose their rationality. It is as another person takes over.
Symbol 5 Respect
The enlisted troops salute their superiors (officers) of an army. No matter where they meet, the enlisted soldier will salute his senior. This is not just a sign of greeting; it is more a sign of respect acknowledging seniority. The hand raised to the side of the head as the soldier brings his feet together with a ceremonious stomp.
Symbol 6 Prayer
The hand portrays two symbols of prayer and that being trust and contrition. When our hands are placed together and all our fingers face upward it is a sign that we are more than just communicating with God in prayer, we are trusting and believing God will answer our prayer.
When our two hands are clasped together, all our fingers face downward except our two thumbs, which face upward, this is very significant. The eight fingers downward is a sign of contrition. We acknowledge our sins, holding our clenched hands on our chest close to our heart as a sign of contrition and repentance. The two thumbs point upward (heavenward) and note carefully though they point heavenward they are crisscrossed. This speaks of the Cross, where our sins were dealt a deathblow, or, should it should remind one of The Cross.
When our hands are open and raised above our stature it is in most cases a different type of prayer altogether. This symbolism of prayer does not deal with trust and contrition; it deals matters that concern others. It is prayer of fervent intercession. It is a time that we take on the burdens of others and plead with Almighty God on their behalf.
Symbol 7 Approval and Disapproval
Though most people are blessed with the ability to speak, we often use gestures to communicate and often used metaphorically. One of the most common metaphorical gestures is the thumbs up or thumbs down. The index, middle, ring and small finger are closed in a tight fist action with the thumb extended either upwards or downward. The upward extended thumb conveys the unspoken metaphor of approval, whereas the down-extended thumb denotes disapproval. Often when asked probing questions like “how was the game?” Thumbs up sign will indicate the game was good. The thumbs down sign would indicate the game was bad.
The Versatility of the Hand
The hand is the most versatile member with the unique ability to act on behalf of the impaired senses. It has the unique ability to act on behalf of the impaired senses. The unique hand aids those people who are unable to hear. The creative hand aids those who are unable to speak. The illustrious hand aids those unable to read.
The hand manipulates sign language and those who are deaf are able to hear and communicate as they focus on the manipulations of the hand. Those who are unable to speak are able to communicate and that effectively as they too use the art of sign language.
The hand is extremely sensitive. The sense of touch and feeling in all of the fingers give the hand the ability to read. The blind and the visually impaired are able to read through the touch and feel gate of their hands. Braille (named after the Frenchman that invented Braille) is written on embossed paper, which enables the letters of the alphabet to stand out from the paper. Each letter has its distinct code and touch thus enabling the blind to read.
Blindness not only robs people of sight and the ability to read, it also robs the blind of mobility. Once again, it is the hand of power that comes to the rescue of the blind who are often prisoners in their own homes. By simply placing a marked cane, usually white, in their hand, they are able to go to most places where all normal people go. There is also the remarkable aid of the trained dog who leads the blind. Once again, the hand plays a prominent part. The lead is placed over the neck of the dog and extends to the hand of the blind person. The dog avoids all the dangerous hazards in the path of the intended journey. It might sound laughable that the lead is not placed around the ankle, the leg, or the neck of the blind. The lead is strategically placed in the hand of the blind. It is the hand of the blind that has the strength and the ability to heed (pay attention to, listen to, take note of, observe, notice and regard) the guidance of the dog. Can we imagine the lead around the ankle, the leg or the neck? The blind person will must definitely be hobbling along or being slowly choked to death. It is the all-powerful hand or should I further say the remarkable hand that becomes the hearing aid, the mouthpiece and the spectacles of the physically impaired.
Chapter 2
The Prominent Role of the Human Hand in Authentic Scriptural Worship of God
It is quite alarming that many Christians do not fully comprehend what true Worship entails. To most of us, it is singing praises to God in a liturgical setting and reciting prescribed prayers from a prayer journal. On the other hand, there are those that follow the order of Worship through a Worship Leader, who leads the congregation with choruses accompanied by a large band of musicians and backup singers. Yet there are those certain few that adamantly believe that Worship is a private matter between the individual and God.
Though all of the above do have a ring of truth in it, are these forms of Corporate Worship and Private Worship really what God expects from the redeemed. Before we answer the pertinent question perhaps, it would be wise to consider just what our common English Dictionaries say of Worship.
THE FREE ON LINE DICTIONARY
• The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
• The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
• Ardent devotion; adoration.
• Often Worship Chiefly British Used as a form of address for magistrates, mayors, and certain other dignitaries: “Your Worship”
• To honor and love as a deity.
• To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
• To participate in religious rites of worship.
• To perform an act of worship.
THE OXFORD DICTIONARY
• The religious rites or ceremonies, constituting a formal expression of reverence for a deity: the church was opened for public worship.
• Great admiration or devotion shown towards a person or principle: the worship of celebrity and wealth.
• Archaic honour given to someone in recognition of their merit. (His/Your Worship) chiefly British used in addressing or referring to an important or high-ranking person, especially a magistrate or mayor: we were soon joined by His Worship the Mayor.
The above definitions though sound do not really concur with The Scriptures. There are vast differences between the secular interpretation and scriptural interpretation of Worship. To fully comprehend a scriptural interpretation of Worship an intense study must be undertaken from both The Old and New Testaments.
There are 62 verses and 40 verses in The Old Testament and The New Testament that deal with Worship. A grand total of 102 verses and therefore we can most definitely conclude that Worship is an integral part of The Holy Bible.
Time and space does not permit us to deal with all of those 102 verses, however The First Mention Principle of Hermeneutics (The Science of Biblical Interpretation) will help us to cite a Biblical perspective of Worship.
The First Mention Principle
This principle teaches that the first time a specific topic (subject, theme) is mentioned, it sets the tone of how the topic should be interpreted thereafter. As a servant of The Lord I adamantly adhere to this principle, however as I declare my personal interpretation of Worship, as a student of The Word it is your prerogative to agree or disagree (perhaps the thumbs up or thumbs down symbol can come into effect).
Let us now therefore consider (and at length) the first mention of Worship. This is recorded in Genesis 22:1-18:
After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and WORSHIP and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice (ESVUK).
We, The Born Again of The Spirit are well aware that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the Patriarchs of the Jewish nation. However, on close examination of Genesis perhaps we need to reconsider just who is the true Patriarch of The Jewish Nation. On close examination of the so-called three Patriarchs and their respective wives, it is evident that all of their wives were barren.
Now Sarai was barren, she had no child (Genesis 11:30 ESVUK).
And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived (Genesis 25:21 ESVUK).
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren (Genesis 29:31 ESVUK).
In reality if God had not performed a miracle in each family there would not have been a Jewish nation. God, who performed the miracle of conception in each family, is THE TRUE PATRIARCH OF THE JEWISH NATION.
Abraham had a special relationship with Almighty God. They were in a covenant relationship. God had made significant promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-20; 17:1-8). Covenant promises of posterity, greatness, a blessing to the nations and the father of many nations and an everlasting land covenant. Abraham knew that God would never violate His promises and when commanded by Almighty God to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering, Abraham was confused and perplexed. Though Abraham could not comprehend what God asked him to perform there were in the command of God that gave Abraham a glimmer of hope that somehow or the other God will keep His covenant promises.
God’s special mention of Isaac spurned Abraham on to carry out the strange command. Six times in Chapter 22 God mentions “son”, four times before the intended sacrifice of the knife and twice after the intended sacrifice (I have underlined these six times in the above passage of Scripture).
Take your son,
your only son, whom you love,
your son, your only son,
your son, your only son.
God is very precise in His word to Abraham. God was well aware of Abraham’s other son- Ishmael and yet on three definite and distinct times He categorically emphasizes “your only son.” Was God ignoring the fact and truth that Abraham had fathered Ishmael with Sarai’s maidservant- Hagar? Candidly, the answer is a most definite no. Ishmael was already blessed of Almighty God: “And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring (Genesis 21:13 ESVUK).” However, the unique covenant relationship of fathering The Jewish nation and the Everlasting land Promise was to continue with the son of THE COVENANT PROMISE and that being- Isaac:
And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year (Genesis 17:15-21ESVUK).
Whom You Love Isaac was dearest to the heart of Abraham. God Himself speaks this to Abraham. He was to sacrifice the son he loved. No doubt, Abraham wrestled with this command from God; nevertheless, he was obedient and prepared for his journey of heartbreak. The wood for the fire was gathered, the knife to slay the sacrifice was packed away and the donkey was saddled up for the tedious journey of three long days.
The Threefold Cord of True Worship
Within the context of the extraordinary ordeal, that Abraham had to endure was a threefold cord of spiritual truth that possibly calmed his anxious spirit (Ecclesiastes 4:8-12). His profound love for his God was the first cord:
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments (1John 5:2 KJV).
Love will always lead to the journey of obedience, which is the second cord of spiritual truth. The third cord that helped Abraham keep his sanity (his good judgement) was his profound (insightful) words of faith: On two occasions, the distraught Abraham pushed his feelings aside and spoke words of intense faith:
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you (Genesis 22:5 ESVUK).”
And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together (Genesis 22:7-8 ESVUK).
The words come again to you and God will provide the lamb for a burnt offering were not just ordinary words, they were words that were energized, produced and birthed by obedience. Abraham spoke those unique words of faith because of his sincere love he had for his God, a love that was evident through his act of obedience. Whenever love and obedience unite the inevitable will always follow and that being faith. It is no wonder that Abraham is declared The Father of Faith (Romans 3:27-4:11; Hebrews 11:17-19; James 2:18-23).
Love, obedience and faith are the spiritual ingredients that ultimately produce genuine Worship. Abraham’s words: “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and WORSHIP and come again to you;” are uniquely profound for it is the first time that Worship is mentioned in The Holy Scripture.
Just how did Abraham Worship? Did Abraham raise his hands in Worship? Did Abraham prostrate himself and Isaac before The Lord in Worship? Did Abraham and Isaac sing songs of Worship and praises unto God? The answers are most definitely no. Abraham did what is seen by Almighty God as true Worship. He was willing to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved to Almighty God.
Abraham after building the altar bound Isaac to the altar. Isaac, his only son, whom he loved, was firmly laid on the wood to be SACRIFICED AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP TO ALMIGHTY GOD. This is the Worship that Abraham spoke of to his two servants. That which was the dearest to his heart was to be offered up to God as an act of Worship. Abraham raised the knife high above his head and as he began the death plunge The God of mercy and grace intervened. God’s voice echoed above the heartbroken cry of Abraham as the plunging knife came down to the heart of Isaac:
“Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Considering Abraham’s act of Worship, does God require less from you and I? I do believe that our God loves our singing, our praises, our hands lifted up high in adoration and yet He wants so much more from us. He wants us and no wonder The Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to pen these remarkable words:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-3 ESVUK).
The above Scripture is blatantly (deliberately) clear that which will please The Lord is the sacrifice of ourselves. This is true Worship. No wonder the Apostle said this of himself:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galations 2:20 ESVA).
Abraham raised the knife in his hands to sacrifice his only son whom he loved as Worship as unto The Lord. Is God asking too much of you and I? Is it beyond us? God who is omniscient knows it is way beyond us and therefore He comes to our aid. God endeavours to convince us:
“that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)).”
Let us build our altar of Sacrifice, raising the knife to plunge down upon our hearts with all the force we can muster and Worship our God in spirit and in truth. Let me assure you as God stopped Abraham’s powerful downward thrust of the knife, so will God, who loves you, cry out:
“Do not lay your hand upon yourself, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld yourself from Me.”
In the days, months and years that lie ahead let us rejoice in Worship as we raise our hands unto God knowing full well that Jesus, our Sacrificed Lamb took our place at The Cross of Calvary, the very altar that God, The Father of Jesus Christ had prepared for His only begotten Son.
Spiritual Application
• God told Abraham to offer up his only son, that which was dearest to his heart. We are not called to offer up our children to God. It is our Christian duty to dedicate our children to God. God wants us to offer up ourselves. We have to come to the understanding that we are in this wicked, perverse world, but in no way are we to be a part of it. God has called us out of this world. It is to this evil world that we have to die unto. We are to reckon ourselves alive unto God and dead to this perverse world. Jesus, our Lord and Master has encouraged each one of us to pick up our cross daily and follow after Him (Matthew 16:24). Controlling this world are evil spiritual powers that once controlled us. Now that we are Born Again, we have to come to the realization that we need not be controlled anymore by these evil forces. Our old nature of sin and self are dead through the Efficacious Death and Resurrection of Jesus. We have been made alive unto God and the life we now live is not meant to be controlled by the flesh anymore and the evil insinuations of the powers of darkness that rules this world. We live a life empowered by The Spirit of God. This is the Sacrifice of Worship that God expects of all of us and no wonder the Apostle Paul had said: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 KJV).” Our Sacrifice of Worship is in The Finished Work of The Cross. It is an acknowledgement of what Jesus had accomplished on The Cross. It is this in mind that when, tempted by the powers of darkness, we reject their evil insinuations and in so doing we keep our sins and self nailed to The Cross. This is clearly evident when we consider Romans 6:1-4: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (ESVUK).
Rejecting sin and refusing to align ourselves with the standards of this world is our daily Sacrifice of Worship.
• The Word of God is very specific in its commands: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV).” The sincere Love we have for God will ignite Obedience, which in turn will promote Faith that leads to a Sacrifice of Worship. The above Scripture has to be placed in its context for a clear understanding. King Saul was commanded by God to annihilate The Amalekites and all their possessions. King Saul spared the king and the prized livestock was offered to The Lord as a sacrifice. The sacrifice was not accepted as a Sacrifice of Worship for the simple fact it was a violation of God’s command. It was nothing less than an act of disobedience. As God’s people there are those certain occasions that the promptings of The Holy Spirit will encourage us to make certain sacrifices. It has been my personal experience that I have been prompted to forego some of my pleasures. Like most men I love sport, more so, boxing and rugby. Even whilst watching these sports or even before watching at times I have been prompted By The Holy Spirit to pray and seek The Face of the Lord. By the grace of God I have heeded the promptings most times and to my sheer delight I have had wonderful times of Worship. When we sacrifice our pleasure to be alone with God, we will always be rewarded with a deluge of His Presence. Rest assured LOVE FOR GOD AND OBEDIENCE WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO FAITH AND WORSHIP.
Chapter 3
What Is In Your Hand?
Preamble
Many of God’s people disregard themselves. They see themselves as nobodies and because of this innate (inborn, intrinsic, natural) perception of themselves, they sadly fail to achieve in life. Sadly, many fail both intellectually and secularly.
Born Again, Spirit filled children of God must deal with this horrible inferior complex. So many of us are in desperate need of a God infused biblical understanding of just who we are in Christ. Reflecting over our past, many of us are strewn with failure, rejection, poverty and illiteracy. We wring our hands in despair, placing ourselves on the shelves of God’s intended blessings, resigned never to be a blessing to God and His Church.
It is true that our environment moulds and shapes us for our future, and often because God was not in the centre of our past, we feel we are ear marked for failure. Our mindsets have to change because there is absolutely nothing that God cannot undo and change for the better. Maybe our upbringing has stripped us of our dignity and self worth, but let us assure ourselves this is exactly the type of persons that our Lord Jesus Christ uses for His glory.
God in His mercy delights to use the discarded, the marginalized and the downtrodden, How true is the scripture:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV).
Early in my ministry The Good Lord spoke into my spirit these uplifting words: GOD WILL TAKE A NOBODY FROM NOWHERE, AND GOD WILL MAKE HIM A SOMEBODY, AND AFTER GOD HAS MADE THIS NOBODY A SOMEBODY, GOD WILL PLACE HIM SOMEWHERE, AND AFTER GOD HAS TAKEN THIS NOBODY AND MADE HIM A SOMEBODY AND PLACED HIM SOMEWHERE, GOD WILL THEN SEND HIM EVERYWHERE.
Many of us have been marginalized in our own family circles and sadly, we have brought this rejected spirit into our walk with God and The Church. Many of us feel there is no room for us in The Church. We feel that we are overlooked by The Leadership of our Local Churches and because of this unfounded misconception of ourselves, we become recluses and we suffer the horrible consequences of self-imposed alienation, which robs us of God’s good intentions for our life and ministries.
No doubt our Church Leadership have disregarded us, however, let me assure all who suffer an acute inferior complex, that The Holy Spirit is not like man. He does not LOOK FOR PERFECTION IN MAN; RATHER HE LOOKS TO THE POTENTIAL IN MAN THAT LEADS TO PERFECTION. The gentle Holy Spirit considers our faithfulness and humility; He is not moved with our talents and abilities. No matter our rejection, poverty, illiteracy and incompetence, He is more than able to perform wonders in our life and ministries.
Let us by the help of The Holy Spirit and the forever-effective Word of God resolve to follow after faithfulness and humility. Let us cry out to God to remove this inferior complex, that He may fill us with His Person and Power and that we may become mighty SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS OF CALVARY.
Throughout The Bible, there are mighty men of God who once saw themselves as INSIGNIFICANT. Men whose dignity was at low ebb. They saw nothing good in themselves, but this was not how God saw them. He saw in them HIS POWER and GLORY. Out from their nothingness He moulded GREATNESS AND INFLUENCE THAT EFFECTED THEIR GENERATIONS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. GOD CAN DO THE VERY SAME FOR YOU AND I. WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND TODAY? GIVE IT TO GOD AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW YOU WILL BE USED OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
Moses
One of the remarkable revelations of the unadulterated Word of God is just how God presents His servants to us. All of the servants of God are disclosed. Their good and bad are as an open book to us all. Nothing is hidden from us. No doubt, it is for a definite purpose. God knows how we love to imitate and mimic others and therefore He purposely displays all of His servant’s character, strengths and weaknesses of ministry that we may be more Godly in character and more effective in ministry. We are well aware that we learn so much from other people’s mistakes.
Moses was one of the greatest Prophets of Jehovah God and yet on scrutiny of his life and ministry we discover so many flaws. Like you and I Moses was not perfect, however he served a Perfect God. As we study the life and ministry of Moses, chew the spiritual meat, and discard the physical bones, we too can become mighty men and women of God, doing exploits for God that will bring honour to His name and deliverance and blessing to the people of God.
The Meaning of the Name Moses
I have often asked family, my close friends and myself: “What is in a name? The answer I believe came from The Lord (you judge). Names may often carry certain traits of personalities and even certain characteristics of ministries. One common name is Andrew, which actually means a warrior. Oft time’s parents wonder why their son Andrew is at times very violent; well he is just living up to his name. Elijah was a famous Prophet of the Old Testament, whose name depicts Jehovah, is God. When we consider all the miracles he performed, the one that stands out is when he proved to Israel who was the true God of Israel. He said the God who answers with fire is God. The name of Moses is very significant as it means drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued (see Strong’s Hebrew Concordance no. 04872). Moses lived up to his name. He rescued God’s people from the Egyptians. For over 400 years, they were slaves and this man rescued from the River Nile became their emancipator. With great signs and wonders, he crushed the power of the Egyptians, rendering their gods powerless against the might and power of The God of Hebrews.
His Early Life (Ex 2:1-19)
His parents were Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). Their names are very meaningful and when interpreted we may see the definite role they played in the early years of Moses’ life. Amram means high people (Strong’s Hebrew Concordance numbers 06019, 5971, and 7311). To fully comprehend the meaning of Jochebed we have to consider all three Hebrew words that make up the name. Looking at The Strong’s Hebrew Concordance numbers 03115, 03068 and 03513 we note the following:
03115. dbkwy Yowkebed, yo-keh’-bed Search for 03115 in KJV
from 3068 contracted and 3513; Jehovah-gloried; Jokebed, the mother of Moses:–Jochebed.
03068. hwhy Y@hovah, yeh-ho-vaw’
Search for 03068 in KJV
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:–Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
See Hebrew 01961 (hayah)
See Hebrew 03050 (Yahh)
See Hebrew 03069 (Y@hovih)
03513. dbk kabad, kaw-bad’
Search for 03513 in KJV
or kabed {kaw-bade’}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honourable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses):–abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
Assimilating all of the above, we can conclude there are two meanings of the name Jochebed. Firstly, Jehovah is heavily burdened and afflicted. Secondly, Jehovah is gloriously rich in honour. Moses mother’s unique name was a vivid glowing picture of just how Jehovah felt about His Covenant people’s enduring suffering at the hands of the Egyptians. Their pain became God’s pain. Some may say this is a gross exaggeration, however when we allow Scripture to interpret Scripture we see that God, though Almighty is more than able to feel our pain:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15 KJV).
This High Priest is none other than Jesus Christ, The Son of God, whom God The Father addresses as God (Heb 1:8). The Strong’s Greek Concordance sheds much light on infirmities:
769. asyeneia astheneia, as-then’-i-ah
Search for 769 in KJV
from 772; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:–disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
See Greek 772 (asthenes)
Jochebed had a grave responsibility: she had to transfer the burdensome affliction that God felt for His elected people to her son Moses. Once again, some may say this is going too far, however when we consider the very words of God many of God’s people will understand that God can and will transfer His heart to His people, and that those who will lay down their life that others may be set free from sin’s bondage:
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites (Exodus 3:7-8 KJV).”
Just how was God to come down? Was The Word of God to become flesh that the Israelites be set free from their horrendous years of enduring bondage? No, not at that point in time. God came down and empowered Moses as the chosen emancipator of God’s chosen people. Jochebed in her unique way was to lay a strong spiritual call on her little son-Moses.
Amram’s significant name most certainly depicts just who Moses was to deliver and that none other than Jehovah’s high people. These high people were extraordinary in that they were the only nation with whom Jehovah God was in a covenant relationship with. Moses, the rescued became the rescuer of God’s high covenant people.
Moses was born during a catastrophic time in the history of the Jewish nation. Fearful of the rapid multiplication of the Jews and the possibility of them joining the enemies of Egypt, waging war against Egypt, and fleeing from Egypt, the king laid heavy burdens upon God’s elect. Taskmasters were put over them afflicting them with extreme burdens. They were physically forced to build store cities at Pithom and Raamses. God’s chosen covenant people became Egypt’s slaves. They became the work force of the Egyptians. However the greater the burden, the greater the multiplication of the chosen covenant people of God. The king could not understand that even with all the harshness of forced labour, he could not stem the escalation of the Hebrews and therefore he devised one more evil that would surely stem the phenomenal growth of the immigrants. All newborn males were to be killed at birth by the midwives.
It was at this crisis time that Moses was born and after hiding him away for three months, Jochebed prepared a special basket and sent it down the Nile River with baby Moses in it. This was an act of great faith, in her heart she knew that her son was destined for great things for God. Jochebed exercised faith but she knew that her faith had to be accompanied by wisdom and therefore she sent Miriam, the sister of Moses to see what would happen to Moses. The Word of God gives a vivid and an emotional description how that baby Moses was rescued from The Nile River:
When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water (Exodus 2:3-10 ESVUK).”
Rest assured Jochebed was the nurse Miriam called. The Word of God does not declare for how long Jochebed nursed Moses. I am personally of the opinion between 2-3 years, however what is of paramount importance is in that short time she not only deposited the call of God to Moses, she also imparted the very pain that God had for His suffering, enslaved covenant people. The modern day Church lays stringent teachings on the transfer of evil spirits, however very little is said of the transfer of God’s Holy Spirit to God’s elect. We are so quick to promote the negative and so slow to promote the positive, or even worse, we do not believe that the positive is more than possible. On close examination, there is a positive example of the transfer of spirits in the Old Testament narrative of Elijah and Elisha. The young aspiring prodigy Elijah knew that in order to fill the spiritual void that Elijah was leaving after his departure, he had to have the very anointing that rested on his spiritual mentor to continue the unfinished work of his mentor and no wonder he asked very specifically for a double portion of the Elijah’s spirit:
Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so (2 Kings 2:8-10 ESVUK).
There are those certain scholars and may I add renowned men of God who stipulate that in order for a biblical truth to be accepted it has to be mentioned at least twice. Thank God concerning the spiritual transfer of Elijah’s power there is a confirmation that there was a definite transfer from Elijah to Elisha:
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him (2 Kings 2:15 ESVUK).
Using the experience of the two above mentioned prophets I am of the persuasion that there was a definite transfer of Jehovah’s empathy that rested heavily upon Jochebed. After weaning Moses, she had no more dealings with Moses. He was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Though Jochebed was separated from her son, that which was deposited in the spirit of Moses lived on. No wonder there came that time when no longer Moses saw himself as an Egyptian:
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Hebrews 11:24 ESVUK).
The above verse emphatically states that Moses by faith began to see himself as an Israelite. He was more than willing to identify with his own people, rather than enjoying the fleeting pleasures of living as an Egyptian prince. Within the inner man of Moses, there was a spiritual awakening and a stirring that he could not fully comprehend. The Spirit of God activated that which Jochebed had instilled in him in that very short space of time. How was this possible, he lived within an environment that was void of Jehovah God? There was no way that faith could come alive, there was no Word of God resounding in Pharaoh’s palace. As Born Again, Spirit filled Christians we are well aware that it is The Word of God that produces faith (Romans 10:17). The Spirit of God quickened the very Word that Jochebed spoke over Moses, as he was being breast-fed. As Spirit filled Christians we know that God’s unadulterated Word will never ever return null and void, it will forever accomplish its Divine purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
Unable to fully comprehend the inner dealings of The Spirit of God Moses took matters into his own hands and murdered and Egyptian who was mercilessly beating an Israelite. Moses fled in fear of his life for Pharaoh had heard of Moses evil action. Rest assured, often when God’s people have to flee from impending danger, they rush into the safe arms of their loving God and there in the sanctity of God’s holy presence, a new and a better chapter of their lifes begins.
The Three Specific Periods of Moses’ life
Several scholars wisely sub divide Moses life into three specific periods and that being:
• 40 years in Egypt,
• 40 years in the wilderness and
• 40 years in the service of God.
As a young minster of the glorious Gospel, I always pondered on this and very graciously, I believe The Holy Spirit in His unique way revealed to me the various reasons (no doubt this is subject to judgement). The first 40 years was a definite period of grandeur in Egypt, raised as an Egyptian. The second period was 40 years in the wilderness for three exact purposes. First and foremost to take Egypt out of Moses. Secondly to take Moses out of Moses, and finally to place God in Moses. Remember God had said: “I have come down to deliver my people.”
We, the modern day servants of God are no different to Moses and no wonder Romans 12:1-2 speaks volumes to us:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (ESVUK).
God is well aware for us to be effective with lasting results in the ministry that we have to empty ourselves of self. What is done in the flesh will only be for a time and a moment. AS WE LAY OURSELVES ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE, GOD WHO IS A CONSUMING FIRE WILL RECEIVE THE SACRIFICE. AS WE YIELD OURSELVES TO GOD, WE WILL EMPTY OURSELVES OF SELF AND GOD WILL FILL US WITH HIMSELF. God’s servants have to realize that God’s work can only be done with God’s power and to have God’s power expressed through our life and ministry we must be filled with God to the sense of overflowing. No wonder John the Apostle speaks of living waters flowing from us:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7: 37-39 KJV)
The Call of Moses (Ex 3:1 -4:17)
It is my personal understanding that God will always reveal Himself in some peculiar way to those whom He calls to the ministry and furthermore every call is uniquely different. We cannot confine God’s call to one servant of God’s peculiar experience. Not all of us will have a Moses experience or a Saul experience. What is of paramount importance is that we will hear within our inner man the call of God, whether in a still small voice or the thunderous sound of the resounding voice of God.
Moses call was unique to him. He saw a burning bush that was not consumed. On approaching the burning bush, he hears the voice of The Almighty calling his name twice. He answers and is told to take off his sandals as he is standing on holy ground.
God introduces Himself as The God of the Jewish Patriarchs, Abraham , Isaac and Jacob and that being the COVENANT KEEPING GOD (Genesis 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-18; 15:1-18; 17:4; 22:15-18; 26:1-5; 28:1-4, 10-15).
God conveys the sufferings of His covenant people and commissions Moses to deliver God’s chosen people. Moses is reluctant for the simple fact he considers himself and not who God is. He makes another excuse that the chosen people of God will not believe him as God had not yet revealed His name unto His covenant people and furthermore the people will not believe that God had appeared unto him.
God knowing the frailty of Moses gives Moses definite and convincing signs that He is most definitely with Moses and that it will be God’s power and not Moses’ ability nor lack of ability that will wrestle the chosen people out of the evil grip of Pharaoh.
The first sign is preceded by a question: “What is in your hand?” Moses held in his hand a ROD, however this was no ordinary rod. Fenis Jennings Dake, the composer of the Dakes Bible states that it was a shepherd’s crook. For forty long years, Moses served his father in law as a shepherd, minding and caring for the sheep. Moses was instructed to cast the rod to the ground and even as he obeyed, the rod became a serpent. On picking it up by the tail, it becomes a shepherd’s rod once again.
The second sign was Moses hand onto his bosom and on taking it away from his bosom the hand became leprous an on re-enacting the process again the hand was restored back to normal.
The third sign was the taking water out from the Nile River and pouring it out on the ground and thus turning the water into blood.
What Moses held in his hand was but a shepherd’s crook however, on close examination of The Infallible Word of God there are two occasions that this simple rod is referred to as THE ROD OF GOD:
And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand (Exodus 4:20 KJV).
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand (Exodus 17:19 KJV).
God in the above Scriptures is most definitely conveying spiritual truth. Whenever man takes that which is in his hand, no matter how minute or insignificant and gives it to God, there are great transformations. The natural will become the supernatural. The mundane (ordinary) will become the extraordinary. The insignificant will become the significant.
After all the above convincing signs, Moses was still reluctant to heed the call of God. His final excuse was his inability to speak fluently and eloquently. God once more endeavours to convince him that with God all things are possible with God, for it was God who created man.
The Symbolism of the Rod of Moses (The Rod of God)
The Rod of Moses is also referred unto as The Rod of Aaron, the elder brother of Moses (Numbers 17:6, 8) and The Rod of God (Ex 4:20; Ex 17:9). It was a simple shepherd’s rod to guide the herd of sheep and to be a means of support for the tired shepherd. It had no special powers; however, whenever raised heavenward, waved and struck the power of God would come upon it to perform mighty signs and wonders. It was symbolic of The Mighty Hand of God.
Fenis Jennings Dakes in his Dakes Annotated Reference Bible cites 42 miracles (see page 109) that Moses performed.
1. Moses’ Rod turned into a serpent (Exodus 4:2-3),
2. The serpent turned back into The Rod of Moses (Exodus 4:4),
3. Moses’ hand turned leprous (Exodus 4:6),
4. Moses hand healed of leprosy (Exodus 4:7),
5. The Rod turned into a serpent before the elders of the people of Israel (Exodus 4:30),
6. The serpent turned back into The Rod before the elders of Israel (Exodus 4:30),
7. Moses hand becoming leprous before the elders of the people of Israel (Exodus 4:30),
8. The leprous hand of Moses healed before the elders of the people of Israel (Exodus 4:30)
9. The Rod of Aaron becoming a serpent before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:9-10),
10. The Rod swallowed the rods of the Egyptian magicians (Exodus 7:12),
11. Moses changes the waters of Nile River into blood (the first plague) by striking it with his Rod (Exodus 7:14-25),
12. Aaron stretched his hand with The Rod in his hand which caused the plague of frogs (the second plague Exodus 8:1-7),
13. The cessation of the plague of frogs (Exodus 8:8-15),
14. Aaron stretching out his Rod over the dust of the earth (the third plague), and thus turning the dust into gnats (Ex 8:16-19),
15. The fourth plague, the plague of flies (Exodus 8:20-24),
16. Goshen, where the Israelites lived was not affected by the plague of flies (Exodus 8:22),
17. The cessation of the plague of flies (Exodus 8:29-32),
18. The fifth plague of murrain (cattle disease) upon the livestock of Egypt (Exodus 9:1-7),
19. The livestock of Israel immune to the plague of murrain (Exodus 9:4-7),
20. The sixth plague of boils upon the Egyptians and their animals (Exodus (:8 12),Moses stretching out his Rod toward heaven causing thunder, hail and fire to come upon the land where the Egyptians dwelt (the seventh plague Exodus 9:13-35),
21. Moses stretching out his Rod toward heaven causing thunder, hail and fire to come down upon the land where the Egyptians dwelt (the seventh plague).
22. Goshen, where The Israelites lived was exempt from the seventh plague (Exodus 9:26),
23. The cessation of the seventh plague (Exodus 9:28-35),
24. The stretching of the Rod over the land of Egypt bringing forth locusts to destroy the plant life of Egypt (the eight plague Exodus 10:1-15),
25. The cessation of the plague of locusts (Exodus 10:16-20),
26. The stretching forth of the hand of Moses toward heaven thus incurring darkness to come over Egypt ( the ninth plague Exodus 10:21-29),
27. Goshen, where the Israelites lived was exempt from the plague of darkness (Exodus 10:23),
28. The death of all the first born of Egypt, both mankind and animals (the tenth plague Exodus 11:1-51),
29. All the first born of The Israelites were exempt from the final plague of death (Exodus 11:7-10),
30. Moses stretching his Rod over the Red Sea and dividing it to the left and to the right, thus causing a pathway through the sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:21-22),
31. Moses stretching his hand over the sea (no doubt with the Rod in his hand), causing it to come together again and thus drowning the Egyptians that were pursuing God’s covenant people.
32. Moses cast a tree into the bitter waters of Marah, which sweetened the water (Exodus 15:23-26).
33. The raining of bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4-35; Numbers 11),
34. The eating of flesh (Exodus 16:8-13),
35. Moses smiting the rock with his Rod thus causing drinking water to gush forth from the rock (Ex 17:1-7),
36. The raising of the hands of Moses with The Rod of God firmly gripped in his hands, thus conquering the Amalekites (Exodus 127:8-16),
37. The quenching of the fire of death (Numbers 11:1-2),
38. The healing of Moses sister- Miriam (Numbers 12:1-16),
39. The earth swallowing up the 250 rebels (Numbers 16:1-35),
40. The cessation of the plague of death (Numbers 41-50).
41. Moses striking the rock, causing drinking water to gush forth (Numbers 20:2- 13) and
42. The healing of the Israelites (Numbers 20:4-9).
Moses after making his final excuse of not being eloquent and asking God to send someone else to deliver God’s chosen people, angers God, however God graciously informs Moses that Aaron, his brother will be his assistant. Aaron was a good speaker and Moses was told that Aaron would speak on his behalf. Aaron was to speak for Moses as the mouth of Moses and Moses being as God to Aaron. Moses’ anxiety lifted knowing that he was not alone in the great task of emancipating God’s elect.
Of the 42 miracles, it is very interesting to note the various miracles that were enacted by either Moses or Aaron using The Rod of God; however, what is important is that only Aaron used The Rod of God when instructed by Moses to do so.
When Moses finally yielded to the commission, he was told categorically to take the Rod of God with him:
“And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs (Exodus 4:17 KJV).”
Moses obeyed God and on taking the Rod, the great miracle of transformation took place. From being the Rod of man, it became The Rod of God. We cannot deny the fact that throughout the narrative of the deliverance of The Israelites the Rod is mentioned several times as The Rod of Moses and The Rod of Aaron and only twice as The Rod of God:
And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand (Exodus 4:20 KJV).
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to- morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand (Exodus 17:9 KJV).
The Hand of God
In the Introduction of this book, I emphasised that the hand speaks of power and authority. We work and create with our hands. The hand plays a dominant role. In like manner, the hand of God also plays a dominant role in the life and deliverance of His people. The hand portrays God’s power and authority. The Rod of Moses and The Rod of Aaron became The Rod of God for it expressed the power and authority of God. In essence, The Rod depicted The All Powerful Hand of God. The deliverance of God’s chosen people was a spiritual contest of power and authority between God and the powers of darkness. It was God coming up against Satan. God’s plan was to express His power and authority through a man who had in his hand a simple Rod; however, when that simple shepherd’s Rod was handed over to Almighty God, the power and authority of God was invested in it. Therein was the power to crush the false gods of Egypt. Though Pharaoh was the prominent person that Moses and Aaron continually came up against, it was God coming up against Satan.
The Ten Plagues on Egypt
I have always wondered why there were ten plagues poured out upon Egypt. It was always my opinion that just one act of God’s supernatural power would suffice for the immediate deliverance of His chosen people. God with His infinite wisdom used The Ten Plagues for definite reasons:
1. Pharaoh would know that The God of the Hebrews was truly God. When Moses and Aaron spoke to Pharaoh the first time of letting God’s people go, he was blatantly disrespectful and even denied the existence of The God of The Hebrews: “And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go (Ex 5:2).”
2. Convince the Egyptians that their gods were but idols and had no power to resist the might of The God of The Hebrews. David Padfield in his article Against All the Gods of Egypt states that they worshipped over 80 gods.
3. God honoured His promise of deliverance He made to Abraham concerning the seed of Abraham: “As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete (Genesis 15:12-16 ESVA).”
4. To show forth God as The Father and Saviour of all God’s people who put their trust and confidence in him. Not only were the Hebrews saved from The Tenth Plague and that being The Plague of Death, all those Egyptians that sought sanctuary in the homes of God’s chosen people where The Blood of The Lamb was painted on the lintels and two posts of the door were saved. This is a classic picture of Jew and Gentile becoming one through the grace and mercy of Almighty God: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14 KJV).”
Vengeance belongs to God (Exodus 12:1-32)
Moses and Aaron played no part in the final Plague – The Plague of Death. All Moses and Aaron had to do was but instruct God’s elect to prepare a lamb for each of their households. The lamb was to be killed and the blood thereof was to be painted on the lintel of the door and on the two side posts of the door. The blood was a sign to The Lord to pass over those households that had applied the blood of the lamb.
Moses was born during the time that Pharaoh declared an edict that all the male children of the Hebrews had to be killed at birth. God’s people were shattered and rest assured they cried out for vengeance for the death of their innocent children. Eighty years later God himself poured out His vengeance on The Egyptians for shedding innocent blood. Herein was a lesson for Moses and for all of God’s servants to this present day:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (Romans 12:19 KJV).”
Spiritual Application
• Moses raised as an Egyptian and yet graciously influenced by the caring and loving Spirit of God that rested upon his mother Jochebed, and that for at least three years, became the deliverer of God’s chosen people. Initially he took matters into his own hands and murdered an Egyptian. Even as fled in fear of his life, he unknowingly ran into his God ordained future with God. There in the wilderness God prepared him for divine service. All that what God wanted of Moses was that which was in his hand and in his heart.
Are there perhaps any similarities between Moses and us? We too were raised in an environment void of God, a world that has often turned its back against God. Like Moses we too had sinned (perhaps not murderers) coming short of the glory of God. There is always that special day in all of our life’s that God will make Himself known to us through the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and all we have to do is present to Him, (in our desire for active service in His Kingdom), is what is in our hands. As defiled as they are, God will cleanse our defiled hands the very way he cleansed the vile lips of Isaiah with the tongs from off the altar (Isaiah 6:1-9). Whatever is in your hands, no matter how minute, how large, how insignificant and even significant, simply lay it down before His throne of Grace and you will be amazed of how God through you will deliver all those who are enslaved by sin and demonic powers. The Rod of Moses has been replaced with The Word of God, hold it in your hand as a two edged sword, whirl it in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and the gods of this world will flee.
• Let us not lose heart as we consider our status. Many of us come from backgrounds of poverty and ignorance. It is true that men, and even some in ministerial leadership, first consider the level of education and influential status of those desiring to enter the ministry. Many are lost to the ministry because they fall short of the expectations of others. I have always maintained that God considers THE POTENTIAL OF A MAN AND NOT THE PERFECTION OF MAN. I have further said, IT IS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT IS WHO YOU KNOW, AND I MIGHT NOT KNOW IT ALL BUT I KNOW HIM WHO KNOWS IT ALL. Let me assure you that God has His eye upon you. Who knows, you might be like David. Obscure, for the simple fact, you are not in the eye of the public. You are surrounded by remoteness. However, in your obscurity, hidden from man, you like David have attached yourself to God, and it is not man that will propel you to the fore, it is God that will open the door to His perfect will for your life. I am of the persuasion that many a good man is kept down, but no man can keep God’s man down. It is so exciting to know that God delights to use the discarded, the marginalized, and the so called ignorant for the simple reason to shut those up, who are egotistical and who constantly look down upon others. Like Moses, David also had a shepherd’s rod. No doubt, you do not have a shepherd’s rod; probably you may have a saw and a hammer. A simple man without a shepherds’ rod, but praise be to God, you do have a SHEPHERD’S HEART and that meets God’s standard for the ministry.
• Never ever consider your abilities, nor the lack thereof. It is not what you do for God that counts; rather it is what God does through you.
• The naming of our children and even our ministries are very important. Often names and even titles carry characteristics that are not synonymous with godliness. Moses was named by an Egyptian princess (some Hebrew scholars advocate Jochebed). The name has great significance, in some circles it seen as saviour. The common meaning of the name is drawn from the water.
• Our ministries should never be moulded on God’s Bible characters. Whenever we mimic, we not only incorporate their strengths but their weaknesses as well. Our model for our life and ministry should only and always be Jesus, for He alone is perfect.
• Moses had a simple shepherd’s rod that God used in great signs and wonders. We have The Word of God. Many servants of God wonder why the signs and wonders of God are so far and between in our day. The answer is so simple. God confirms His Word with signs following (Mark 16:20). Be it that The Church is not actively engaged in Evangelism and Missions then sadly there is no need for God to confirm His Word.
• Moses was born during a major crisis. Pharaoh had passed a decree that all the new born Hebrew male children be killed at birth. Like Moses, we too are born in a crisis time. The book of Esther presents a great challenge to God’s people today: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:13-14 ESVUK)?”
• Just as Moses’ life was divided into three spans, so is our life. Moses had a Past (that was not good) in Egypt. Moses had The Wilderness experience that prepared him for his ministry. Thereafter Moses served God and The Israelites forty years. We too have a Past that was dictated by sin and self. Thereafter, although Born Again, we were spiritually pruned through the process of sanctification. As we matured God placed us into the ministry He had purposely designed for each one of us. All of God’s people have a Past, a Present and a Future. What is of vital importance is that we always bear in mind that no matter how bad the past was God is more than able to change his people around and that for the better. My father always told me that people are never too bad to become good. God’s grace is able to mould people for the better. Our Past when forsaken can never mould our future. It is our Present State that moulds our Future. Therefore it is extremely essential that we live lives dedicated (in the now) unto God that our Future be blessed of The Lord.
• It is inevitable that the very people we minster unto, will come up against us. It is so easy for us to cut them off. At times we might even want to recompense them. As ministers of The Gospel we must never recompense evil with evil (Ro 12:17). We at all times must pray for our persecutors and for those who despitefully use us (Mt 5:44). As minsters of The Gospel we must always bear in mind that we are serving people who are in the process of being perfected. At all times, though it breaks our spirit, we must be gracious, always ready to forgive and reconcile. As ministers we are preaching The Gospel of Forgiveness, and be it that we ourselves cannot not forgive, then sad to say we are making a mockery of this gracious Gospel of unending forgiveness. Furthermore we must never ascend to higher positions at the demise of others. We should never use people’s setbacks. Our spiritual responsibility is to restore those who have fallen and not to take advantage of their demise (Ga 6:1-5).
• The Lone Ranger mentality
Moses saw himself as inadequate as Israel’s deliverer. The task was way beyond him and therefore God gave Aaron as his ministry companion. In The New Testament we see similarities. Paul had Barnabas as his Moses saw himself as inadequate, and therefore God gave Aaron to be his assistant. In our modern day, there are too many of us who are over confident. We consider our status, our theological diplomas and degrees and deem ourselves more than capable to do the work of The Lord. Jesus, the master mentor gives us an excellent example of how we ought to operate in the ministry: “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits (Mark. 6:7).” Later we see Barnabas and Saul sent forth by the Antioch Church (Acts 13:1-3). In Acts 15:40 we note that Paul chose Silas as his ministry companion. Too many of God’s modern ministers are all on their own and no wonder they burn out. They carry the heavy load all by themselves and the work of God becomes insipid. We all need other men of God to come alongside of us to help us to be effective in the ministry.
THE TEN PLAGUES OFJEHOVAH GOD AGAINST THE GODS OF EGYPT
CHAPTER 4
The Hand That Parted The Red Sea
Preamble
I have often asked myself do we as Spirit filled Christians play a role in the supernatural workings of Almighty God. Reflecting over the life and ministry of Moses, I have come to a definite and precise conclusion that we do play a definite and a vital role in the supernatural workings of God. Yet there are those certain times when God acts entirely on His own. He does not need us to display His awesome power and yet He purposely blesses us to the extent that we often share in His amazing wonder working miracles.
Throughout The Old and New Testaments there are those certain times when God does act on His own and those certain occasions that man acts out the miraculous. When we consider Moses in The Old Testament and the role the Apostles played in The New Testament our faith is ignited toward the supernatural workings of God. This chapter deals with Moses acting out the wondrous miracle of parting the Red Sea. However it is essential that we also see the Apostles acting out the wonder works of God that we may know that it is God’s will that, we too play an active role in the supernatural workings of Almighty God.
All four Gospels record the feeding of the five thousand with the five loaves and two fish (Mt 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17). Not all record the bread was given by the lad except John’s Gospel. However, what stands out is that after Jesus prayed, He broke the bread and gave it to the disciples who in turn distributed the bread and the fish. It took an act of faith on the part of the disciples to act out the miracle. They most definitely shared in the wondrous miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.
Another outstanding wonder work is recorded in John chapter 11:1-44 – the raising of Lazarus from the dead. In this wondrous miracle, Jesus also prayed and gave three implicit instructions: “roll away the stone, unbind him and let him go (ESVUK).” Who rolled away the stone? Who unbound Lazarus and set him free? Surely, it was the Apostles. Once again, it is evident that the Apostles played a vital and meaningful role in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. What God done through the Apostles, Moses and so many other mighty men of God surely stirs our faith to share in the wondrous wonderworks of God?
God’s Prophetic Word
God’s chosen people were in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 13:40). A new king ascended the throne of Egypt after the death of Joseph who in fear of the rapid growth of the Hebrew populace placed harsh taskmasters over them afflicting them with burdens of hard labour. For just on 400 years, God’s chosen people were enslaved, building cities for the Pharaohs.
From sunrise to sunset they laboured and that without remuneration. Cheated out of almost 400 years of their wages, but praise be to God what a man sows that is what he reaps:
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap (Galatians 6:7 ESVUK).
God’s people left Egypt extremely wealthy. They received their wages and may I add even with an amazing bonus for work well done. This back pay that they received was prophesied by God when God commissioned Moses at the burning bush:
“And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbour, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewellery, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians (Exodus 3:21-22 ESVUK).”
Almighty God made sure that His hard working chosen people would receive their just reward:
The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewellery and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians (Ex 12:35-36 ESVA).
It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for plundered is recover (Strong’s Hebrew Concordance no.05337).
What is still more interesting is that God when ratifying the Abrahamic Land Covenant had also prophesied to Abraham of the suffering of his posterity for four hundred long years and thereafter they would leave the land of bondage with great possessions:
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great possessions (Ge 15:12-14 ESVUK).”
God is a good God, He watches over His word. He keeps His promises, heaven and earth will pass away but never The Word of The Lord (Is 55:11; Mt 24:35).
The Hardness of Pharaoh’s Heart (Exodus 14:5-31)
On hearing, that The Hebrews had fled Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he vehemently resolved to bring them back to their slave pits. He mustered up his army and pursued the people of The Most High God. On seeing the Egyptian army, drawing near God’s chosen people panicked and murmured against Moses. The servant of The Lord endeavoured to allay their fear; he spoke encouraging words of faith: Moses said to the people:
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:13-14 KJV).”
Moses, by faith spoke those words prior to God commanding him to divide the Red Sea.
God honoured the words of faith that Moses spoke. His words of faith pleased God (Hebrews 11:6) and therefore God told Moses to lift up his Rod and stretch out his hand over the sea and divide it. The command from God was outstanding in that Moses was to divide the sea. Moses was to act in the very way he had spoken- by faith. The servant of God was to play a strategic part in the miracle that followed. Moses part in the miracle was to raise The Rod to divide the sea, God’s part in the miracle was deal with The Egyptian army that were rapidly approaching the fearful nation of Israel. Distraught and gripped with fear they anxiously awaited the impossible – the parting of The Red Sea.
The nation of Israel was led by God out of Egypt. The Angel of God and The Pillar of The Cloud went before them leading them into the unknown. God was their Leader. God went before them preparing the way. God, himself had set before them an open path. God had one more major task to perform with Pharaoh and The Egyptians and that to annihilate them. It was payback time for the terrible years that Israel had endured as slaves of the tyrannical Egyptians. They were to receive their just rewards in The Red Sea.
The Angel of God and The Pillar of The Cloud strategically placed themselves behind The Israelites and thus between The Israelites and The Egyptian army. God protected His chosen people. A horror of darkness came over the area where The Egyptians were, whilst in the camp of God’s chosen people the light shone brightly. The Egyptians were unable to move forward they were severely handicapped by the horrendous darkness. No doubt, this surely brought a sense of calm upon God’s people, for though they were in the light they could not see The Egyptian army for they were blacked out by the ghastly darkness.
Concerning The Angel of God and The Pillar of The Cloud that led God’s chosen people there are several interpretations from various renowned theologians that are very interesting:
ADAM CLARK’S COMMENTS ON EXODUS 14:19
The angel of God] It has been thought by some that the angel, i.e., messenger, of the Lord, and the pillar of cloud, mean here the same thing. An angel might assume the appearance of a cloud; and even a material cloud thus particularly appointed might be called an angel or messenger of the Lord, for such is the literal import of the word Kalm malach, an angel. It is however most probable that the Angel of the covenant, the Lord Jesus, appeared on this occasion in behalf of the people; for as this deliverance was to be an illustrious type of the deliverance of man from the power and guilt of sin by his incarnation and death, it might have been deemed necessary, in the judgment of Divine wisdom, that he should appear chief agent in this most important and momentous crisis.
JOHN WESLEY’S COMMENTS ON EXODUS 14:19
The angel of God-Whose ministry was made use of in the pillar of cloud and fire, went from before the camp of Israel, where they did not now need a guide; there was no danger of missing their way through the sea, and came behind them, where now they needed a guard, the Egyptians being just ready to seize the hindmost of them. There it was of use to the Israelites, not only to protect them, but to light them through the sea; and at the same time it confounded the Egyptians, so that they lost sight of their prey, just when they were ready to lay hands on it. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side towards sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side towards those that are Israelites indeed.
MATHEW HENRY’S COMMENTS OF EXODUS 14:19-20
A guard set upon Israel’s camp where it now lay most exposed, which was in the rear, Exodus 14:19-20. The angel of God, whose ministry was made use of in the pillar of cloud and fire, went from before the camp of Israel, where they did not now need a guide (there was no danger of missing their way through the sea, nor needed they any other word of command than to go forward), and it came behind them, where now they needed a guard (the Egyptians being just ready to seize the hindmost of them), and so was a wall of partition between them. There it was of use to the Israelites, not only to protect them, but to light them through the sea, and, at the same time, it confounded the Egyptians, so that they lost sight of their prey just when they were ready to lay hands on it. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side towards sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side towards those that are Israelites indeed. That which is a savour of life unto life to some is a savour of death unto death to others. This was not the first time that he who in the beginning divided between light and darkness (Ge 1:4), and still forms both (Isaiah 45:7), had, at the same time, allotted darkness to the Egyptians and light to the Israelites, a specimen of the endless distinction which will be made between the inheritance of the saints in light and that utter darkness which forever will be the portion of hypocrites. God will separate between the precious and the vile.
Considering these wise words of these mighty men of God, they all agree that The Angel of God was within The Pillar of The Cloud. My dear friend Rev Keith Walsh says that The Pillar of cloud speaks of the Shekinah glory of God, in which The Angel of God manifested Himself. Adam Clark suggests that The Angel of God was possibly The Lord Jesus.
My personal interpretation of The Angel of God and The Pillar of The Cloud differs, (however, my interpretation is subject to judgement). I am of the persuasion that The Angel of God is The Lord Jesus Christ, whereas The Pillar of The Cloud is The Spirit of God. I have come to this conclusion based on the fact that The Lord Jesus and His redemptive work is clearly typified in the application of the blood of the slain lamb on the two posts and the lintel of the homes of Israelites. The Pillar of The Cloud clearly typifies the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15). However a personal word of caution doctrine is not formulated, neither based on Typology, this is a personal interpretation and is subject to your scrutiny.
After God had settled the people, Moses began his part of the miracle. He stretched out his Rod over the Red Sea. Moses was a man of great faith; he had seen the power of his God repeatedly through the plagues on Egypt. However, this time his faith was surely to be tested to the hilt (maximum). The miracle he was about to initiate through the raising of his Rod was not just an act of faith; it was also an act of obedience. He obeyed the command of God to raise his Rod over the sea, thus exercising faith in God to perform the impossible. As he initially raised The Rod, he immediately heard the howling of a great ferocious wind blowing over and through The Red Sea causing it part to the left and the right forming a dry thoroughfare. The Word of God is very specific how it describes this ferocious wind. The wind is expressed as a strong east wind.
Some may say that God parting The Red Sea used a natural phenomenon. He used the wind to divide the sea. What you about to read you need not concur (agree) with as it is my personal interpretation. I did not hear from God, my inner man did not leap within as I penned my personal thoughts. I am of the personal persuasion that the east wind was a type of The Spirit of God that moved over and through the sea. Better still, it was The Spirit of God. How did I come to this conclusion?
The Word of God is quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). God reveals Himself, His actions and purposes through the unadulterated Word of God. Genesis chapter 1 clearly shows forth The Triune Godhead in the creation narrative of the heaven and the earth. The Spirit of God’s part in the creation was His very moving over the waters. On doing a word study The Strong’s Hebrew Concordance number 07307 sheds explicit (open, clear) illumination (light) on just how The Spirit of God moved over the waters:
07307. xwr ruwach, roo’-akh
Search for 07307 in KJV
from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):–air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).
See Hebrew 07306 (ruwach)
With the above outstanding information, we can conclude that it was the ruwach that breathed life over the creation of The Triune Godhead. It was the same Spirit of God that moved through and over the Red Sea that moved and breathed over the creation.
It is extremely imperative (crucial, important) that we briefly reiterate (say again) what has been written concerning The Spirit of God: I have said that The Pillar of The Cloud is none other than The Spirit of God. I have also said that The Spirit of God that went before God’s people removed Himself from going before and went behind God’s chosen people to stop the advancing Egyptian army. This personal assessment might pose a problem to some and no doubt I can understand why as we consider the following: Recently I heard a mighty man of God give an account of his personal experience in heaven, the very immediate presence of God. He saw God The Father and God The Son. He did not see The Spirit of God and therefore he asked the stupid question (he personally said the question was stupid): “Where is The Spirit of God?” The reply he got was that The Spirit of God was on earth. Immediately I realized that there was something drastically wrong with his unique experience.
All three persons in The Godhead are Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. This renowned man of God made the gross mistake of saying (though not in specific words) that The Spirit of God could not be in two places simultaneously (at the same time). The Spirit of God could not be in Heaven for He was on earth reaping the harvest of souls. I have purposely used this so-called out of body experience to deal with certain sceptics for they may just say that The Holy Spirit in the miracle of the parting of The Red Sea was between The Israelites and The Egyptian army and therefore could not be performing the wondrous miracle of dividing The Red Sea at the same time. I have to concur with the sceptics that He was there and yet at the same time because He is Omnipresent He also was moving over and through The Red Sea, dividing it to the left and the right causing a safe passage for the people of God to cross over safely. There is another great lesson that we can learn from this renowned man’s theological error. Paul, the Apostle gives The Church a wonderful teaching of how we all ought to deal with our personal experience in relation to disclosing our personal experiences and revelations to The Body of Christ:
“I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man, I will boast, but on my own behalf, I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited (2 Corinthians 12:1-7 ESVUK).”
Whilst the ruwach (there are no capitals in The Hebrew language) was moving over and through the waters, Moses was holding up his Rod. There was collaboration (teamwork, cooperation, alliance) between The Spirit of God and Moses. They were working together. Moses by extending his Rod was invoking the power of the ruwach over and through The Red Sea. How marvellous God working with man to do the impossible?
God’s people crossed over safely whilst God held back the Egyptian army. Once over the other side God spoke to Moses to stretch his hand over the sea that it may come back on the Egyptians. All the Egyptians were drowned as the ruwach heeded the signal of Moses to bring the waters as one again.
Spiritual Application
There is so much that can be read into the narrative (story) of the deliverance of The Israelites:
• They had a human deliverer who used a simple shepherd’s Rod that was empowered by Almighty God to part the Red Sea thus enabling God’s chosen people to cross through on dry land to the other side.
As Born Again, Spirit Filled children and servants of God we are the modern day deliverers. We are called by God to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Many of us disregard ourselves. We feel so inadequate. We consider our status, our abilities and because they are not of high standing, we make the same excuse as Moses: “Who am I should go to the nations”? So many of us fail to realize that the only hope for the unsaved is with us. God has given us the answers to all the perplexities of life. We have the way out of the dilemmas (predicaments) of life. We have The Word of God that is more than able to set men free from sin and its horrible addictions and consequences. The very Word that we are holding back from those imprisoned in sin was The Very Word that saved us. If God could do it for us, He that is no respecter of persons will surely do it for them.
Let us not reiterate (repeat) the same mistake of Moses. Let us stop looking to ourselves. God’s Word is infallible. God says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
Even as the pertinent (relevant, related, important) question resounds: “What is in your hand”? Whatever is in your hand give it to God and He will make something of it. Perhaps you may say there is absolutely nothing in your hand, it is empty and void. Fret not God can still use you, for the simple fact He created everything out of nothing. One of my proverbial (well-known) sayings is God spoke to nowhere and from nowhere came everywhere. Many of us do not realize that the mere fact that we are Born Again and Spirit filled that God has chosen us.
Let me share this profound truth with you: It is one thing to have faith in God but it is another thing for God to have faith in you. As much as you believe in God, so does God believe in you with one great distinction– He believes more in you than what you believe in Him and yourself. God had said to Satan of His servant Job: “Have you considered my servant Job? Let me assure you the devil knows what potential is within you and no wonder he brings fear and despair upon you. God has called you; you have come to the kingdom of God for a time such as this. Lift your head heavenward, grab the two edged Sword of God and march forward into the enemy’s camp and declare to all those bound and shackled that you have brought deliverance to them via The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Other than the unsaved, God’s Born Again Children face many spiritual and physical obstacles that they themselves have no power and control over. Their dilemmas and perplexities rob them of their Faith; they wring their hands in despair wondering where God is. Many feel forsaken and it is at times as these that men of God wrestle with God for their deliverance. Like Moses, Men and Women of God stand before the insurmountable problems of their congregational members praying words of deliverance. Men and Women who have the heart of God for God’s people soon discover The Power of the Spoken Word over the afflictions, dilemmas and perplexities of those whom God has entrusted into their care.
• God, through Moses delivered a people with whom He had a Covenant Relationship. God had promised their Patriarch Abraham (Genesis 15:13-16) that he would bring them back to the land he had given Abraham.
Ministers of the glorious Gospel must always bear in mind that God is true to His Word. God at all times watches over His Word to perform it (Isaiah 55:11). God’s chosen people were enslaved, in captivity for 400 long years before God answered their heart cries for deliverance. God never ever forgets His Words of Covenant and nor does He forget the people with whom He has entered into Covenant with. We, The Born Again are also God’s Covenant people and we can rest assured weeping may endure for a season but joy will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). The Men and Women of God must at all times quote the many promises of God recorded in The Holy Scriptures concerning deliverance to their congregations and more so when those in the congregation have insurmountable problems perplexing them
• God brought judgement on the Egyptians who had enslaved God’s people for 400 years (Gen 15:14). Vengeance belongs to God.
My dear wife, Dolores, has always been a great encouragement in my ministry. Though she always spoke encouragingly, she also spoke firmly. With great love, she often told me of my ministerial weaknesses: I hurt too easily and take too much personally. Over the years I have taken her wise counsel and I am excited to say that these days the many attacks that I face from within The Church and from without The Church are like water on a ducks back. I have learnt, like so many other men and women of God; that no weapon formed against his servants and handmaidens can prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
My eldest daughter, Yolanda, when still very young (probably about eight years old) spoke a precise (accurate) Word of Wisdom that has been a tremendous blessing to me throughout the 35 years of my ministry. I remember very vividly we were at our supper table and I very unwisely revealed to my wife and three beautiful daughters that I had enough of the verbal abuse, unwarranted rebukes, insults and gossip and was seriously considering giving up on the ministry. Yolanda looked at me with a smile on her face that stretched across the entire table. Her smile was that radiant. Her words echoed throughout the supper room, vibrating in my spirit as she spoke with love and inspiration: “Daddy, you must understand that people only really talk about you when you are important.” I literally choked up and fought back my tears for I realized that I was witnessing Scripture being fulfilled before the family and I: “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 8:2KJV).”
That night I cried myself to sleep, not only just because of conviction, but also because of Parental Pride. To this day, my daughter’s words often ring loudly in my spirit when facing ridicule. Over the years, I have seen God’s vindication of my ministry. Some of those people who slandered my ministry, were themselves removed from the ministry. Others over the years have come and apologised. I must admit at first I relished that God had dealt with them; however I soon realized that I was stooping to their level and the best thing that I could do for my persecutors was but pray for them.S
God after 400 long years poured out His judgement on the Egyptians for touching the anointed of The Lord. Vengeance belongs to God and God alone. Let us not take up arms against those who come up against our ministries. Let us hand them over to God and let Him deal with them. He is a merciful God and He will always deal with them in a spirit of Love, and forgiveness if they repent, though He will chastise them. There are four more important spiritual truths that I learnt from my inflicted sufferings: Firstly never take delight in the demise of others who have come up against you and the ministry that God has entrusted to you. Secondly, the wheels of God grind and they grind slowly, but they do grind and though God might take what seems at times an eternity to deal with your persecutors, God in His good time will recompense. Thirdly, at all times we must have a positive attitude toward suffering or should I rather say a scriptural attitude toward suffering. The Book of Hebrews records a remarkable Scripture of the importance of Suffering: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).” Jesus, The Son of God, our Redeemer, was taught obedience through suffering. The question that follows: Are we exempt from suffering? Our answer is we are not exempt. Finally yet importantly, Suffering always moulds The Character of God. Whenever our responses toward our persecutors are noble and we do not recompense evil with evil God will make us a blessing to others. Many servants and handmaidens of God minister from a level of knowledge acquired, however the most effective ministry flows from experience: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESVUK).” God comforts us in the ministry as we face trials and persecution that we in turn out of a comforted spirit may comfort our fellow ministers who are passing through similar horrendous attacks from within The Church and from without The Church.
• Though mighty miracles were wrought by The Rod of Moses, The Rod of God and The Rod of Aaron ultimate deliverance came via The Passover Lamb.
Nine stupendous plagues were invoked upon The Egyptians as The Rod of Moses, The Rod of God and The Rod of Aaron was raised heavenward. The gods of Egypt were belittled (demeaned). They were exposed as fakes and yet the Israelites were still held captive. Only when the lamb was slain and the blood applied to the doorposts and the lintel were God’s people set free. Herein lies a great lesson for us modern day servants of God. Our ministries must be enriched with supernatural acts of Almighty God; however, our main emphasis must always be The Sacrificial Death of Christ, the shedding of his forever efficacious Blood and His Triumphant Resurrection over sin and death. Miracles are there to destroy the powers of darkness; The Blood is there to set the captive free. Let us never forget that without the shedding of The Blood of Jesus there can be no remission of sin (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22).
• God will not allow His chosen people to be robbed of what is rightfully theirs (Genesis 15:14; Exodus 12:35-36). He ensures that what is rightfully theirs through their labour will finally come to them.
In our modern day Church society The Ascended Gift of The Prophet and The Gift of Prophecy are very prominent. However most prophecies that I have personally heard regarding many others and myself deal exclusively with blessings and we thank God for that. However, on close examination of The Word of God, there are Prophecies within the canon of Scripture that also deal with great suffering. One of the classical examples of this is the suffering of The Jewish nation. God prophesied to Abraham, The Father of the Jewish nation, that his seed would be strangers in a foreign land for four hundred years. There they would suffer great affliction and after their suffering God would punish their taskmasters and deliver them and they would come out with great substance (Genesis 15:13-14).
It is true God is no man’s debtor. As a family, we have seen financial miracles. One time we almost lost our home, however God spoke to certain people to pay off the backlog on our house. It is one thing when the world with holds what is rightfully due to us, but it is a disgrace when God’s people with holds from His servants what is rightfully theirs because of their labour: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward (1Timothy 5:17-18).”
Let us learn from the experience that God’s chosen people had in Egypt. They stripped the Egyptians bare of their wealth. Let us not muzzle the ox that treads the corn (Deutoronomy 25:4; 1Corinthians 9:9; 1Timothy 5:18). Let us bless and always honour God’s servants. On the other hand, there are those certain few men of God who bleed their Local Churches of their financial resources, taking exorbitant salaries. Though God’s workman are worthy of their hire and more so those who Pastor and Teach deserve double honour (1Timothy 5:17), it is always wise that we Church Leaders receive salaries that though good will not cause the unsaved to slander The Church and thus bring The work of the Lord into disrepute.
• The depth of our spiritual intimacy determines the depth of our spiritual power.
God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). What God had done through Moses, God most assuredly can do through you and I. However, we must realize that there is a price to pay (though many of the modern day ministers believe that Christ has paid for it all), we must shut ourselves off from the world, our pleasures, at times from our families and even at times from Church activities, TO BE SHUT IN ALONE WITH GOD. Oft we are so busy for God that we lose out on our spiritual intimacy with God. It is God who sheds abroad in our hearts His love and the power of The Holy Spirit as we spend time alone with Him (Romans 5:5). The power of God to perform the supernatural acts of God in our ministries hinges on our relationship with God. Time spent with God develops a relationship with God that empties us of self and fills us with God. Busyness depletes our spiritual power. We have to bear in mind and spirit it is not what I do for God that counts rather it is WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH US THAT COUNTS AND THEREFORE WE MUST SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD IN WORSHIP, PRAYER AND INTERCESSION.
• Obedience produces faith.
As ministers of the glorious and forever effective Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to constantly stir up our faith. We are well aware that faith comes from reading, studying and applying God’s unadulterated Word (Rmanso 10:17; Ja 1:23). Other than The Word of God, praying in the Spirit also builds up our faith: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20 ESVUK).” As ministers of The Gospel there are many men of God who are in step with God through reading, studying and applying The Word of God, but oh how sad it is that so many are out of step with The Holy Spirit for they do not accept speaking in tongues for our day. Some have gone as far as saying that speaking in tongues is of the devil. Well, I really wonder what demon controls me when I pray in The Spirit. HOWEVER A WORD OF CAUTION LET US NOT DERIDE (RIDICULE, SCOFF, PUT DOWN) THOSE WHO SNEER US, WE WHO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THEY ARE OUR BRETHREN. WE ARE NEVER TO ATTACK OUR BRETHREN. IT IS TRUE THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH, BUT SADLY BECAUSE OF OUR IGNORANCE AND DOCTRINAL INDIFFERENCES WE ATTACK EACH OTHER WITH MALICIOUS WORDS AND IN SO DOING, WE THE CHURCH PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH, OF WHOM EVEN OUR CRITICS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF.
Whenever God instructed Moses to raise The Rod, it took an act of simple childlike Faith on his part. He simply obeyed God and acted in Faith. Once again, I have to mention the important link between Obedience and Faith. Rest assured that Faith is born out of Obedience. As God’s ministers for this hour, we have to delight ourselves in God. Like Jesus, we must delight ourselves in obeying the directives we receive from God: “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7 KJV).”
Just as Obedience produces Faith, in like manner Faith produces Trust and Hope. The following acronym that the Holy Spirit impressed me with illustrates this clearly.
F …. FAITH
A …. ACTIVATES
I …. INSPIRED
T …. TRUST (and)
H …. HOPE
Though often times we may obey God with blind Faith, it is Faith that inspires (stimulates, provokes, encourages, arouses) Trust and Hope. No matter how grave the problem we may face Faith will always inspire us to Trust and Hope on God’s Word: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 ESVUK).”
H …. HOPE
O …. ON
P …. PROMISES
E …. ETERNAL
As God’s servants and handmaidens let us always realize that there is only one way that we can truly please our Lord and Saviour: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6 ESVUK).”
Let us, the ministers of the glorious Gospel of power and deliverance purpose in our hearts that we will stir up our Faith that we like Moses may become emancipators of God’s people.
• God’s abiding presence
How often have we heard God’s people joyfully exclaim that the battle belongs to God and the victory ours? The crossing of The Red Sea is a typical example of this. God went behind the Israelites to keep at bay the advancing Egyptian army. The Spirit of God went before them as a strong east wind dividing The Red Sea. God was behind them and God was before them. The Presence of God protected their back. The Presence of God went before them clearing a path for them. Their experience though outstanding does not in any way surpass the experience that you and I have. Like the experience of the Israelites God will always protect our back. Like the experience of the Israelites God will always go before us. However, there is one experience that we have that the Israelites did not experience. God went behind them and before them but was never WITHIN THEM. God has and always will go behind us (The Church) to protect us against the wiles of the enemy. God will always go before as a lamp and a light (Ps 119:105), and more than that God will always BE IN US. We, every member of The Body of Christ (The Church) are The Temple of God and The Habitation of The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
• The just shall live by faith
Moses exercised great Faith. He took God at His Spoken Word. At all times Moses simply obeyed God’s commands. As ministers of The Gospel of Jesus Christ we must be very careful of where we place our Faith. Many modern day ministers have taken Faith to a level that is beyond what The Word of God teaches. Having Faith in God’s Word is a necessity for the working of the supernatural. However, having Faith in Faith is not of God. Let me cite an example of this. Jesus was tempted of Satan in the wilderness. In fact after His Water Baptism and His inauguration of Prophet, Priest and King at The Jordan River, Jesus was led by The Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. One of the several temptations was that Jesus hurl Himself down from the pinnacle of The Temple:
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you’, and “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time (Luke 4:9-13).”
Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12. Although Satan quoted God’s Word Jesus did not hurl Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Hypothetically if Jesus had hurled himself it would have been A PRESUMPTIOUS ACT ON, HIS PART. Jesus did not act on The Word of God quoted by Satan for the simple reason it was not God speaking. Anyone may quote The Written Word (The Logos), but not anyone can speak a Rhema Word, which is The Spoken Word of God spoken by The Holy Spirit through God’s people. In most cases it is A Word of Direction. Jesus did not heed The Written Word for the simple reason The Holy Spirit was not speaking through Satan. This is a classic example of Presumptuous Faith, exercising Faith in Faith. As God’s people we are well aware without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). However, we also know that our Faith has to be directed into the threefold cord of expression and that being: Faith in The Word of God, Faith in The Blood of Jesus and Faith in the work of The Holy Spirit.
Chapter 5
The Hands of Intercession
Prologue
Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines and therefore we have to fully comprehend (understand) it. Prayer has several facets (aspects, parts) and when practiced within the various facets Prayer takes on its true purpose. Each type of Prayer is earmarked for a specific purpose:
• Prayer of Agreement: One of the classic examples of this facet of Prayer is found in Acts 1:14: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers (ESVUK). Jesus instructed The Apostles and His disciples to wait for the outpouring of The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Their prayers were directed toward the promise of Jesus. They knew within themselves they were unable to fulfil The Great Commission. However, through what Jesus had promised them, they were of the persuasion that they would become effective witnesses of Jesus Christ.
• Prayer of Binding and Loosing: Jesus had convinced His Apostles that the gates of hell would not prevail against The Church (Matthew 16:18). He gave them his authority to do exactly what He had done in His ministry before them. The name of Jesus was their Power of Attorney, whatever they loosed in His name would be loosed, and whatever they bound in His name would be bound. It was the name of Jesus that acted as the key to lock and to open (loose). The modern day Church has the exact same power.
• The Prayer of Consecration: The Lord Jesus sets forth a wonderful example of this type of Prayer in The Garden of Gethsemane: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will (Matthew 26:39 ESVUK).”
• The Prayer of Faith: “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (James 5:15 ESVUK).”
• The Prayer of Intercession: This chapter deals with this type of Prayer
• The Prayer of Judgement: In The Old Testament prayers of judgement, we prayed on the enemies of Israel. The New Testament our Lord Jesus teaches us to pray for our enemies and all those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44-48).
• The Prayer of Thanksgiving: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name (Psalm 100:4 ESVUK).”
• The Prayer of Supplication: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people (1Timothy 2:1 ESVUK).”
• Praying in The Spirit: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26- 27).” “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20 ESVUK).
• Prayer of Worship: “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2 ESVUK).”
The Heart of the Pastor
Many Born Again Christians fail to realize that their destinies are held in the praying hands of their Pastors. The ministry of a Pastor is unique in that it is a caring ministry. Congregation are more readably blessed when their man of God is an intercessor. In our modern day Church, we have ministers who excel in preaching. Many are uniquely articulate. Words flow and come easy in their profound preaching. Though this is an important aspect of the pastoral ministry, it is in no way the hallmark of the pastoral ministry. I have always maintained that any Tom, Dick and Harry could be an articulate preacher; however, it takes a man of great love for God’s people to care for God’s flock.
Sadly, many Pastors love the crowds and the accolades of their congregations. No doubt the call of the man of God is to be with the people of God, and yet the strength of his ministry and more so the strength of the people whom he pastors is not just dependent on what he says to them through the preached Word of God. It is also crucially dependent on what he says to God on their behalf in his private chamber of prayer. I will never forget these words of wisdom (sadly I cannot recall who said it and I am paraphrasing) that the test of a man of God’s soul is not how much time he spends preaching to God’s people, but rather how much time he spends alone with God in prayer for God’s people.
Moses is recognised as The Prophet of God of The Old Testament and yet when we make an in depth study of his ministry most of us will agree that he most definitely had the caring heart of a Priest. No wonder it was Moses that ordained Aaron as the first High Priest of The Jewish Nation. The simple fact is that you cannot impart to others that you yourself do not possess. Why do I stress these ministerial facts of Moses? I do so for the simple reason that as a Prophet of God, he declared to the people of God the very mind of God and as man of God with the caring heart of a Priest (who offers up sacrifice and that of himself, time, energy, family, pleasure etc) he exhibited the loving heart of God. There is a simple spiritual truth and may I add no man has taught me this: (years of heartache, self-denial and the empowerment of The Holy Spirit): You cannot make known the mind of God to His people unless you have the heart of God. God has taught me over the years that it is the fundamental duties of men and women of God to echo the voice of God to God’s elect and in turn echo to God the innermost hurts, groanings, sorrows and sufferings of God’s people to God. The servant of God must always bear in mind that he is not only a servant of God but also the servant of man. He, the man of God is God’s representative to man and man’s representative to God. The man of God is God’s mouthpiece to God’s people and in turn the people’s mouthpiece to God. If ever there was a man of God that fits the above descriptions of a true man of God, it is Moses. This mighty Prophet of God loved God’s people more than he loved himself. One of my personal favourite sayings has become the earnest desire of my ministry and I know that I can excel in the ministry if I make every effort to live up to it: Before you preach to people, pray for the people.
Moses, the People’s Intercessor
I really wonder whether Jesus had Moses in mind when he spoke the parable of the lost sheep. Remember Jesus spoke of leaving the 99 and going to look for the one lost sheep (Mt 18:10-14). Moses had an experience that truly showed forth his caring heart for the people of God. They murmured against Moses for there was no drinking water. The murmurings against the servant of God were that ghastly that it almost led to the disastrous action of Moses being stoned (Exodus 17:1- 7). Moses cried to The Lord and was instructed to strike The Rock. Fresh water gushed forth from The Rock, thus quenching the dire thirst of the people.
The Scripture teaches that in no way are God’s servants to be ridiculed, threatened and attacked: “And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD (1Samuel 24:6 KJV).” God is the defender of His servants. He has and will always recompense (repay) those for coming up against His servants. God punished His people severely for coming up against His servant Moses. The Amalekites killed many of the people:
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword (Exodus 17:8-13 ESVUK).
Both Mathew Henry and Jennings Dakes state that the Amalekites killed off the stragglers (those at the rear). This was a cowardly attack. Moses, the good shepherd that he was of God’s flock acts out what Jesus says in Mathew 18:10-14. Like Jesus, he cared for the sheep entrusted into his care. He stops the entire nation from moving forward and goes to the rear of the camp and instructs Joshua to choose out an army to come up against the enemy whilst he goes to the overlooking hill with The Rod of God. (Note carefully how The Rod is described, it is now neither The Rod of Moses nor The Rod of Aaron, it is now, when the people are in dire danger that it becomes The Rod of God).
Moses stood on the hill viewing the battle intently (attentively) and raised The Rod of God heavenward. As long as The Rod of God was raised, the battle went for Joshua’s army. However, whenever The Rod of God went down to his side the battle went against the army of Joshua. This is a classic picture of what I had mentioned in the sub heading The Heart of the Pastor: He holds their destiny in his hands. Be it that he is a praying man, a man of God that intercedes for the flock that God has entrusted him with, they, the flock will always know the delivering power of Lord Most High. Be it that the man of God loves The Pulpit and does not spend time in intercession for those in the Pew (church seats), then sad to say Satan and his demonic horde will run roughshod (brutal) over God’s people.
Helping Hands of Intercession
The Scriptures are not clear whether Aaron and Hur accompanied Moses initially when he ascended the hill. However, they had noticed as long as The Rod of God was raised heavenward the battle went for them and when it drooped to his side, the battle went against them. These were wise men of God. They did not rush to raise the hands of the man of God. They surveyed (reviewed) the situation and then acted accordingly. They did something that so many of God’s people fail to do concerning their Pastors. They made the man of God comfortable. Standing there on the hill all alone, hands constantly outstretched, and the people upon his heart was way too much for this loving Prophet of God, who had a heart of a Priest. They saw him sink to his knees, unable to continue, the burden of his people was too heavy for him, for he was but a mere man. They wisely sought for a small boulder (stone, small rock) on which they made him sit, thus making him comfortable. Thereafter they stood alongside him, one on the left and on the right, placing their hands on his weakened arms and raising his hands high with The Rod of God secure in his hands. These men of God who knew that the future of their beloved nation rested with this mighty man of God. They acted without speaking. They knew that words would not solve the critical situation. They acted instantly and yet with great wisdom. They made sure that Moses was no more in physical discomfort, although the spiritual burden weighed heavily upon his spirit. There on the hilltop was a threefold cord of intercession that could not be broken: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastics 4:9-12 ESVUK).” On the hill, the actions displayed by Aaron and Hur were most definitely prophetical toward the modern day Church: “1Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it (KJV).” We are our brother’s keeper and believe it or not, we like Moses, Aaron and Hur hold the destinies of others in our hands.
A great victory was won for Israel against their enemy, not because of Joshua and his army. The battle was won because of Moses who held the destiny of The Israelites in his hands of intercession and two mighty men of God who said so little but did so much.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
• For our ministries to be effective as minsters of The Gospel of Jesus Christ we have to know and understand every facet of Prayer for the simple fact we have to Pray the right type of Prayer at given times and in certain situations.
• As Pastors, we must always be aware that we hold the people of our congregations in the palm of our hands. Through Our Prayers of Intercession on their behalf, we determine their future, their deliverance and their blessings.
• Though Preaching is an integral facet of our ministry, it is not the highlight of our ministry. The highlight of our ministry is the time that we spend alone with God. It is through ardent (passionate, fervent, devoted) communication with God that God rubs off on us. When we shut ourselves off from the mundane (common, routine) of life and shut ourselves in with God, He pours His person into us, that when we stand before our congregations they will not only hear the Word of God we preach unto them, but they will see The God of The Word. What we preach God Himself will act out. Be it that we preach on healing, then God will heal. Be it that we preach on forgiveness then God will forgive. Be it that we speak on the supernatural then God will show up and perform the supernatural. God will confirm His Word with signs following when His servants spend time with Him alone.
• As important as Preaching is we should always bear in mind that before we Preach to People, we must Pray for people. My dear colleague and friend Dr Ronnie Naidoo shared in his teaching class how that he before every service would be early at Church that he might pray for all those dear people who will be attending the Church service. He went from empty pew to empty and laying hands asking God to bless the people that would sit in the specific pews and that The Word of God he would be preaching to them would convict and bless them. A true story is told of a very renowned Pastor whilst flying to minster in another country had a large stack of photographs with writing on each photograph and as he held each one in his hand he spoke the name of the person’s photograph he was holding in his hand. This went on for some time and finally the passenger seated next to him could no longer wonder what this Pastor was up to and asked him very politely what he was doing. He replied that he was simply memorizing the names of his congregation members that after The Church service, he when shaking their hands would mention their names. He also shared with the passenger that he had photographs of all his congregational members in his prayer room and on alternate days he would pray for certain members. This man was well loved and appreciated by his flock. Let us forever bear in mind that a Praying Pastor is a loved Pastor.
• To have a well-balanced effective ministry we must always seek The Mind of God and The Heart of God. We must never forget it is one thing to know everything but it is another thing to Love everyone.
• As Ascended Gifted Ministers, we must never ever forget that our vertical relationship will always determine our horizontal relationship. When right with God, we will always be right with man.
• Hands clasped in fervent prayer on behalf of others are a simple but meaningful revelation of God’s Love flowing from a man or woman of God that has the heart of God.
Aaron and Hur are a prophetical picture of the ministry of Jesus our Lord and The Holy Spirit, who come alongside God’s people in the hour of dire need. Scripture teaches Aaron was the first High Priest of the Israelites. The Easton’s Bible Dictionary sheds much light about Hur. He was the husband of Miriam, the sister of Moses (Ex 17:10-12). He was the son of Caleb and the grandfather of Bezaleel, one of the major artisans who built the Tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 31:2; 35:30; 1Chronicles 2:19). Aaron is a type of our forever-effective High Priest-Jesus Christ (He 3:1; 4:14) and how Aaron assisted Moses is seen in one of the many acronyms God has given me over the years of my ministry:
P … PRAYING
R … RIGHTEOUS
I … INTERCESSORY
E … EFFECTUAL
S … SUPPLICATIONS
T … TOWARD
S … SALVATION
In our moments of despair when we struggle to pray, let me assure you, my fellow minsters, Jesus comes alongside of us just as Aaron had done. Jesus places His hand of Grace on our weak and feeble arm and lifts up our hand heavenward. The hand of Jesus is a hand of Grace and does not the Bible encourage us that the GRACE of our Lord Jesus is more than enough: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2C0 12:9).” Pastor James Seekola, a very renowned minister of The Full Gospel Church in Durban gives an acronym that truly expresses the unmerited favour that we receive from a loving and caring God:
G … GOD’S
R … RICHES
A … AT
C … CHRIST’S
E … EXPENSE (author unknown)
The Holy Spirit of whom Hur is a type of comes alongside us just as Hur came alongside Moses and raised his weak feeble hand. It is said that when The Holy Spirit comes He will enthuse us with His power: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you (Acts 1:8 KJV).” I pastored a Church in Havenside Chatsworth, which sadly was not growing numerically, and may I add was struggling to support me financially. I encouraged the Church to pray with me Wednesday mornings at 5 am. I lived about a half an hour car drive away from the Church and no doubt it was a sacrifice on my part. When I arrived for our first early Wednesday morning Prayer Meeting, I was devastated and dismayed. Only five people attended, including me. I went through the motions of prayer, but I must admit, I was so disappointed that my heart was not in it. However, even in my spiritual heartache God encouraged me. Within my inner man and in my mind the word POWER was echoing repeatedly. I yielded to The Lord and I will never ever forget what words flooded my spirit and mind: “THESE ARE THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT WILL BRING MY POWER TO THIS CHURCH.” The Church grew numerically and the congregants began tithing faithfully, thus solving my financial problem. These five people became the pillars of our Church. At that first meeting, God spoke to me in the peculiar way He does speak to me by giving me another acronym and that for Power:
P …. POWER
O … OVER
W … WICKED
E …. EVIL
R …. RIVALRY
Perhaps there are those of us when facing personal crisis and also interceding for those in desperate need, discover that no one comes alongside of us. We are in this spiritual battle all by ourselves. I have been there. I know what it is to face life’s challenges and the problems of The Church all by myself. There are no Aarons and Hurs around. What do we do at these crucial times, knowing full well that we are holding the destiny of the members of congregation in our Hands of Prayer. Let me assure there are two that will come alongside when you are all alone.
Whenever we pray according to The Word of God and in The Spirit, it is Jesus who comes alongside of us (Jn 1:1-4) and The Holy Spirit that comes alongside of us (Romans 8:26-27). I believe that the best threefold cord of prayer is You, The Word and The Holy Spirit. Thank God for our fellow brethren that do stand alongside of us but when alone fret not for that is the time when two persons of The Eternal Godhead comes alongside of you. Who would you rather have alongside you? Brother Jack and Sister Jill or The Word of God and The Holy Spirit. Yes, like you I would rather prefer The Word and The Holy Spirit.
Prayer is the lifeblood of all Christians, Born of the Spirit and Filled with The Spirit (John 3:5; Ephesians 5:18). Prayer is like water to the human body, stop drinking water and we will dry up. Stop praying and we will dry up spiritually. Let me close this exciting chapter with one more acronym that the Good Lord gave me:
P … PRAYER
R … REVEALS
A … ALMIGHTY’S
Y … YAHWEH’S or YESHUA’S (HEBREW FOR GOD AND JESUS)
E … ETERNAL
R … RIGHTEOUSNESS
One mighty man of God said that Righteousness is simply God’s Holiness in action. Whatever God does is RIGHT. What He does is always in line with His Holy Character. Rest assured when God answers our Prayers, Almighty God answers in RIGHTEOUS ACTION.
Chapter 6
Is God in your Heart and Hand?
Foreword
As a young boy, I always daydreamed of my name being in lights. I saw myself as a famous movie star. Thank God, it did not materialise. Most of us when young imagine ourselves becoming important people having some effect on our world. It is good that we do have dreams. Joseph, the dreamer, saw himself as the head of his family and by the grace of God regardless of all his trials and tribulations his dream was realized.
There are great lessons that we can glean from Joseph. First and foremost, he never allowed his afflictions to rob him of his dream. Many people allow themselves to be stripped of their dream. The sad fact is they often are the very persons that rob themselves of their dreams. How is this possible? Joseph gives us a good example of how to keep our dreams alive. Joseph maintained his integrity. He did not succumb to infidelity. He was faithful to God and to his master Potiphar. When interpreting the dreams of others he always gave God the glory. People lose out on their dreams for the simple reasons they forego their integrity, become self centred and disregard others. Pastor Tyron Pretorius had a saying that just thrilled me, in fact, I have used it several times, in my preaching, though making sure I would quote him: “Many reach for the stars but in the process they trample underfoot the daisies.” Not only have I used this outstanding truth in my preaching, I also made sure that as I endeavoured to fulfill my calling that in the process I would not injure God’s people that were in my path.
I am still working (since immigrating to New Zealand in 2003 and I am trusting God for a miracle to go back into Full Time Ministry), and it amazes me how that so many workers reach for the high positions and totally disregard their fellow workers. In fact, many delight in character assassinations of their fellow workers that they more readily climb the ladder of success and achievement. Sadly, this spirit is also in The Church. Often when men of God are going through a dark patch in their life and ministry, there are those who clamour for position and power. Too often, it is done in a subtle way. Instead of reaching down to the man of God, who through pressure and family problems is not performing to the best of his anointing, they purposely highlight his inadequacies. It is so heartbreaking when many a good man of God is robbed of his dream and calling by the very ones who should stand alongside him in his hour of need.
What was Moses dream? Being raised in the palace of Pharaoh was it perhaps to become Pharaoh one day. He was raised as an Egyptian prince and yet he rather chose to be identified with the Israelites:
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them (Hebrews 11:23-28 ESVUK).”
Moses turned his back on Egypt, refusing the throne. Imagine being the Pharaoh of Egypt, then the might of the then known world.
He murdered an Egyptian when he was forty years old. He did not fully comprehend that God’s hand was upon him when he took matters into his own hands. He was willing to suffer with the people of God. Moses gave up so much. In the desert, God called Moses and there he received his true life’s dream at the age of eighty
There are two occasions that God offers Moses greatness that defies description. He is offered by God to become The Patriarch of a New Nation that God would birth through him. This was even greater than becoming Pharaoh. Moses declined and this is what this chapter deals with, just why Moses refused this glorious offer to become even greater than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What is so vitally important is just why Moses refused this outstanding offer? Was he in his right mind? Surely, the pressure of leading the people out of Egypt weighed heavily upon him and therefore he could not think wisely to accept the offer.
Moses rejected the offer. Imagine God’s servant saying no to God. He had good reasons to accept and yet he wisely refused. Much has been written about holding the destiny of the Israelites in his hand. The fact was emphasized that he held their destiny in the palm of his hand for the simple reason he had them in his heart. Moses loved the people of God, but more than that, he loved The God of the people. Moses, the man of God, the servant and Prophet of God and the people, held more than the destiny of God’s chosen people in his hand; he also held the testimony of God who delivered the chosen people out of the evil clutches of the Egyptians.
The Disrespect Toward Moses
One of my pet hates is disrespect. In fact, it is a spiritual weakness that I have constantly to work on. I tend to cut off disrespectful people. Thank God, Moses was in no way like me. If ever there was a man of God that people had, much to thank for it was Moses and yet they at certain occasions literally despised him. On two occasions, they wanted to stone him:
All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarrelled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me (Exodus 17:1-4 ESVUK).”
Then the entire congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then the entire congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel (Numbers 14:1-10 ESVUK).
It was one thing to disrespect Moses but another thing to disrespect God. Throughout the wilderness experience, the chosen people of God constantly murmured against God. They were a complaining people, never ever satisfied, no matter what good God bestowed upon them. There is so much a servant of God can take from murmuring and complaining people, however, Moses did not give up on the people that God had entrusted in his care.
God’s First Offer of Greatness to Moses
I wonder when I consider The Israelites whether the proverb “absence makes the heart grow fonder” is true. When we reflect on Moses’ absence from the people while he was on Mount Sinai receiving The Ten Commandments, their heart toward God and His servant waxed cold. They influenced Aaron to build a golden calf, which they worshipped exclaiming that the idol Aaron made were the gods that brought them out of Egypt.
“And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people gathered themselves to Aaron. And they said to him, Up! Make us gods who shall go before us. For this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me. And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he took them from their hand, and fashioned it with an engraving tool. And he made it a molten calf. And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to Jehovah. And they rose up early on the next day and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play (Ex 32:1-6 MKJV).”
God, in His just anger conveyed to Moses what had taken place. God says in no uncertain terms that He had enough of them and He will begin a new nation with Moses:
“And the LORD said to Moses, Go! Get down, for your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, are corrupted. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made them a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, These are your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And the LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. And now leave Me alone, so that My wrath may become hot against them and so that I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation (Ex 32:7-10 MKJV).”
Did Moses consider this great offer? Did he ponder on it? No sooner had God offered Moses this stupendous (awesome) that Moses declined:
“And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people (Exodus 32:11-14 KJV).”
Moses, a mere mortal, reasoned with God. His words were well chosen, yet were not articulate. These words of wisdom were heart wrenching. He wisely spoke of the awesome power of God that delivered The Israelites, yet inferring if God does annihilate the delivered people, then God’s mighty act of power in delivering had been futile. He was simply saying to God that it served no purpose. Furthermore, what would the enemy of God’s people say? God only delivered them to destroy them. These words were spoken with great humility, yet with great authority. Moses, as I have previously stated loved the people of God and more so The God of the people. He loved God with all his heart, all his soul, all his mind and all his strength (Mt 22:37). This great Prophet of God had power with God, simply because of his outstanding love for God. It was not unusual for certain servants of God to have power with God. Jacob, like Moses also had power with God: “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed (Ge 32:38 KJV).” However, there was a marked distinction between Jacob’s power with God and Moses’ power with God. Jacob’s prevailing power with God allowed God to change his name from Jacob, a deceiver, to that of Israel, a Prince with God. Moses power with God caused God to repent of His impending judgement on His chosen people. I am of the personal persuasion that Moses was very convincing, however it was the final persuasion (point of view, argument, urging) that changed the heart of God toward His people.
Deep down in his inner man Moses was aware that God honoured His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2) and watches over His word to perform it (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Moses with unique spiritual insight reminds God of His covenant promises to The Jewish Patriarchs. He speaks of their Posterity (future generations) and their land inheritance. It was Moses who penned The Word: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it (Numbers 23:19 ESVUK).”
The last appeal melts the heart of Almighty God and He repents of His intended Judgement. God repents; He simply has a change of mind. The intended act of God’s judgement was justified because of the sin of idolatry, however, God was bound by His Covenant Promises, He had given to The Patriarchs.
Moses missed a great opportunity of becoming The Father of The New Nation of Israel. Can we imagine for one moment these profound words being removed from our beloved Bible, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and replaced with The God of Moses? Moses was surely a loving and caring man. He stopped the hand of God from obliterating His chosen nation. Moses loved God to the extent that he protected the good name of God. There was no way that he would stand by and allow The Egyptians to speak ill of His God
Moses not only held the destiny of God’s people in his hands, he also held in his hands the good testimony of his God.
God’s Second Offer of Greatness to Moses
There has been a common problem between The Israelites and The Church of God. This common problem had caused havoc within The Nation of Israel and to this present day is still causing havoc in The Church. The Israelites unwisely allowed themselves to be influenced by the principles of democracy. The voice of man was more important than the voice of God. In many Local and Denominational Churches, we have the self same attitude. I must concur that there is wisdom and safety in the multitude of counsellors (Proverbs 11:14), however, it is distinct from democracy. Having the right to vote on a matter and giving counsel on a matter are poles apart. Not all people give sound advice, yet all people have the right to vote.
Moses had sent out twelve spies to check out The Promised Land and to his dismay, they came back with conflicting reports, which caused undue tension and rebellion:
“And they left and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh. And they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him and said, We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey. And this is the fruit of it. However, the people that dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are walled, very great. And also we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it. For we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the sons of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up those who live in it. And all the people whom we saw in it were men of stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, of the giants. And we were in our own sight like grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13:26-33 MKJV).”
Ten of the twelve spies gave a bad report. Caleb (and later in Nu 14:6 Joshua) gave a good report. The ten spies lacked faith and were afraid of the giants that dwelt in the land. Sadly, the chosen people sided with the ten spies. The ten who gave a bad report outvoted the two that gave a good report. God punished them severely. Forty years they wandered in the wilderness, a year for each day the spies were in The Promised Land. If ever there was a time that democracy failed dismally, it was that time.
The nation was badly influenced by the evil report and decided to appoint a new leader to rake them back to Egypt:
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried. And the people wept that night. And all the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. And the whole congregation said to them, Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or, Oh that we had died in the wilderness! And why has the LORD brought us into this land to fall by the sword, so that our wives and our sons should be a prey? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? And they said to one another, Let us make a leader, and let us return to Egypt. And Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those that searched the land, tore their clothes.
And they spoke to all the company of the sons of Israel saying, The land which we passed through to search is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, neither fear the people of the land. For they are bread for us. Their protection has moved from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them. But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the sons of Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, How long will this people provoke Me? And how long will it be before they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shown among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and will disinherit them, and will make of you a greater nation and mightier than they. And Moses said to the LORD, Then the Egyptians will hear, for You have brought up this people in Your might from among them. And they will say to the inhabitant of this land. They have heard that You, LORD, are among this people, who is seen eye to eye. You are the LORD, and Your cloud stands over them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. And will you kill this people as one man? Then the nations who have heard Your fame will speak, saying, Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which He swore to them, therefore He has slain them in the wilderness. And now, I beseech You, let the power of my Lord be great, according as You have spoken, saying, The LORD is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation. I beseech You, pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your mercy, and as You have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to your word (Numbers 14:1-20 MKJV).”
The situation became that bad to the extent that they threatened to stone Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua. Before they could act out their evil intent The Glory of The Lord appeared in The Tabernacle. God intervened and from The Tabernacle The LORD (JEHOVAH) spoke and once again, he offered Moses the grand opportunity of beginning a new nation with him. Moses takes a different approach in changing God’s action. He does mention the Egyptians again with one addition and that being they would inform other nations how that God was unable to bring them to the land He had promised them. Moses was once again simply saying with all what the chosen people had experienced was futile, for ultimately He could not take them into the Promise Land.
This time Moses does not appeal to God concerning The Covenant promises He had made to The Patriarchs. He pleads to God based on God’s unending mercy, steadfast love and forgiveness. One again God relents and pardons His chosen people.
Once again, Moses refuses greatness. Did Moses do the right thing; does not promotion come from The LORD? I am of the persuasion he done the right thing. Our status in life is never to be the greatest amongst the least, we are called to serve. What is ultimate for our life is loving God and serving His people. Other than that, we should not climb the ladder of success and recognition at the demise of others. We are to care for each other and not to use other people’s idiosyncrasies (unconventional behaviour) to gain popularity and position.
I said earlier in this chapter that it is one thing to hold in one’s hands the destiny of God’s people and another thing to hold God’s good testimony in one’s hand as well. Moses had powerful hands because he had a loving heart towards His God and the people of God.
Spiritual Application
As servants of the Most High God, we must endeavor by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to live out our dream. Our dream as minsters of The Gospel is to live out the purpose why God has apprehended us. First and foremost our calling is to become like Jesus (Romans 8:29). Our priorities must be in chronological order. Character must always precede ministry. Secondly, as servants of The Lord we must endeavour to excel in our ministry for the simple fact we hold the destinies of God’s people in our hearts and hands. Moses had a phenomenal ministry, however the strength and hallmark of his life was his servant’s heart toward God and God’s chosen people.
• Moses though often ridiculed, murmured against and even threatened with death via stoning did not retaliate. He sought God and God faithfully delivered him from his persecutors.
• Though we must spend much time in intercession on behalf of our congregation, articulation is not paramount. Intercession is not always words; it is more the spirit of man communicating with The Spirit of God. IT IS SPIRIT TO SPIRIT COMMUNICATION. God is not moved by eloquent words, He is moved by our love and care that we express in our intercession for His people. Prayer and more so intercession often is expressed through tears, sighs and groanings. Sometimes the pain that we feel for others can never be expressed in words (Romans 8:26).
• In ministry, there is rank. The Bible is clear on this, however we must never ever forget that the greatest in the kingdom of God are the servants (Matthew 20:24-28).
• Position does not always bring power; in most cases, it brings added responsibility. There are those positions that do bring power and control over others, however we must always maintain a servant’s heart-how can I serve my fellow brethren in this newfound position of authority.
• We must never attain positions through our fellow brethrens demise. It is our Christian duty to restore our fallen brethren (Galatians 6:1).
• Churches are not governed by democracy. Churches are governed by The Word of God. Jesus is the Head of The Church, He is the Word made flesh, and therefore all governmental principles are to be Word based.
• As much as we, the ministers of The Gospel hold the destinies of God’s people in our hands of intercession, let also always bear in mind that like Moses we hold God’s good testimony in our hand as well.
Finally let me once again end this chapter with a God given acronym of DREAM. Never ever, my fellow minster and brethren in The Lord give up on your DREAM.
D … DREAMS
R … REVEAL
E … ETERNAL
A … ASPIRATIONS (GOALS, AIMS, AMBITIONS)
M … MIRACULOUSLY
As servants of The Lord let us glean from Joseph, the great dreamer. Regardless of what he had been through; sold as a slave by his siblings, falsely accused and imprisoned, yet he fulfilled his God given dream. It has been said that you cannot keep a good man down, he may be knocked down several times in the fight of life, but praise be to our God never knocked out. Joseph’s journey to the fulfilling of his dream was from the pit to the prison and finally the palace. As God’s anointed and appointed servants let us never give up on our dream for the very important fact that like Joseph we too hold the destiny of God’s people and the unsaved in our hands. Let me assure that you dream is not the impossible dream. Your dream is God given and God centred and therefore it will come to pass.
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