Through my years of studying YHVH's Word, I have always come to find it as "living"--with applicable meaning to current personal events at the time of its reading. Even so, doubts always seemed to rear their ugly heads when the reading and study of His Word yielded no food for current events--ceased to be living in my mind, and according to the way I personally saw things.
It is human nature to have doubts and fears, even to nurse them for a time. We all do it. We serve Father in the capacity to which He has called us. Then, when things don't go just the way we expect, we naturally tend to wonder what went wrong. Did we leave something undone? Or, did God just fail to show up?
Such thinking is a very dangerous process. It's borne on a lack of faith, and understanding of the totality of His pure Word. Such thinking is what continually got the children of Israel in deep trouble with Adonai. It is written that they were a complaining and stiff-necked people. Such "stinkin' thinkin'" ultimately precluded their entry into the promised land.
The children went into their tents, gathered with families and friends, and spewed their dismay with Mosheh and Father. While their antics earned preclusion from the promised land, the expression of doubt and fear from Mosheh was clearly accepted and even encouraged by YHVH.
There is a right way and a wrong way to complain, if you will. The children continually tested Mosheh and Father from the very beginning. They paid a terrible price for complaining the wrong way--belly-aching and moaning. With no exclusions or specific items included, Paul tells us how we can rightly "complain"--humbly on one's knees as did Mosheh.
"Do not worry at all, but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim."
Philippians 4: 6
Herein lies the difference between Mosheh and the children. While they complained, moaned, and belly-ached between themselves, Mosheh was on his knees before Father making his current set of doubts and fears known unto YHVH. The result was the difference between death and a loving response from Father.
As long as we are bound to the confines of flesh, we should never even pretend to be without doubts and fears. Rather, it is for us to do as Mosheh and bend our knees before the Elohim of Israel. Then, we will hear His comforting voice, soothing all doubt and fear.
It is written, "the fervent and effectual prayers of a righteous man avails much". With all the sorrow and frustration that goes with it, let us consider this humble prayer of Mosheh and, maybe, gather insight into our seeming unfruitfulness in carrying out Father's work through our lives--why we might ask, "Where are You, God?".
"And Mosheh returned to יהוה and said, 'יהוה, why have You done evil to this people? Why did You send me? For, ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people. And You have not delivered Your people at all.'"
Exodus 5: 22-23
Imagine the frustration of Mosheh. He had done exactly what Father told him to do. He went back to Egypt, a place where common sense said death could well have been his lot. He went to his people and told them what Father had said. Yet, they didn't believe him. He risked his life to stand before Pharaoh and demand, "Let my people go!".
Rather than kill him, Pharaoh likely laughed at him, and then increased the burdens upon the people by making them scrounge for their own straw to make the same amount of bricks. To make matters worse, the Hebrew overseers cornered Mosheh as he left the palace and expressed abject anger toward him.
Because of frustration, sorrow, doubt, and fear within the heart of this "man of God", he was driven to bow his knee and fall before the Mighty God of Israel. Truly, he was alone, with Father the only One to Whom he could turn.
Herein lies a problem of current importance. When things didn't work out for Mosheh exactly as he thought or wished, he bowed low and took it before Elohim. When things didn't go as desired, the Hebrew children complained among themselves, thus elevating themselves above and departing from the Almighty.
At varying points beyond things not going according to our conceived plans or ideas regarding faith in Adonai, we tend to do just what the Hebrew children did--complain and belly-ache. Many have taken this negative action to the point of giving up and walking away from their faith, thus placing their very souls in dire jeopardy.
Rather than complain, the righteous will admit their lack of understanding in the matter and take it before Elohim as did Mosheh. Rest assured, everyone of us will be faced with the same tests as did the children of Mosheh. As it was for them and every generation since, it will be especially true for us.
We are on the very threshhold of the darkest days man has ever seen or will ever see again. The tests will most certainly come--some subtle and some that shake us to the very core of our being and varying degrees in between. What will be our response? Will we pass the test or be counted among those of the "great falling away" prophesied in Scripture concerning the last generation?
We are on the very threshhold of the darkest days man has ever seen or will ever see again. The tests will most certainly come--some subtle and some that shake us to the very core of our being and varying degrees in between. What will be our response? Will we pass the test or be counted among those of the "great falling away" prophesied in Scripture concerning the last generation?
It is very obvious Mosheh had very similar expectations that many of us harbor when we attempt to fulfill our calling of Messiah in this world. We expect fireworks to go off and the hand of YHVH to immediately do His "God" thing and give us victory. It's very clear in Mosheh's prayer, as we might say. "I did what you asked of me. Where were You, God?"
As it was for Mosheh, it is for us. YHVH isn't known as "The Great I Am" for nothing. In this, He is really saying, "I am What I am, I am Who I am, and I will be What and Who I am!" He is saying, in our lingo, "Get with the program and don't mess with it! We're gonna do things My way, whether you understand or not!" It is written in Scripture;
In actuality, Mosheh's first meeting with Pharaoh was little more than a "get acquainted" session. Before any negotiations can take place, it is customary to get to know the "parties of fact". Of course, Mosheh and Pharaoh were well known to each other. However, the third party to this negotiation, YHVH, was known only to Mosheh. As the Scripture says;
With a long list of gods at his disposal, I like to think Pharaoh took a quick look at this list and said/thought something like this. "Adonai of Israel? I don't see Him on this list. I don't know Adonai of Israel; therefore, I won't let the people go." Then, I hear Father say, "Ohhh? You don't know Me? Let Me introduce Myself to you."
With proper introductions made between Mosheh and Pharaoh, and the latter's rejection of the "Third Party", it's time for Father's personal introduction to Pharaoh according to HIS terms of negotiation. Father's comforting response to Mosheh's heart-felt prayer will be the subject of my next article. However, let me now put the finishing touches on the message at hand.
Although it is pleasant and desirable when it is found, we have not been promised lives of ease. Blessings, according to His promises, do come to those that love YHVH and faithfully observe His commandments (Torah). Yeshua is recorded as saying;
It matters not what station in life we hold, the house we live in, or the car we drive. It really doesn't matter if our cupboard is a little bare or clothes tattered. Relish and enjoy these blessings when they come. Yet, don't focus on the blessing. If we love YHVH with all our heart, mind, soul, and our neighbor as ourselves, the blessings will pursue and overtake us. It is, rather, for us to do as the Scripture says;
In these dark days of tribulation now knocking at our doors, the prayer of Mosheh has deep, foreboding implications. We have been commanded to go and preach His Gospel and teach that which He commanded us (Torah). Some of us are called to affect this charge with friends and strangers. Many of us are struggling just to testify of Him to our families.
We tell them of our Messiah and the things that are almost upon us only to hear their varied forms of rejection. Mosheh went to his people and received rejection. He then went to Pharaoh and received rejection. He could have just "thrown in the towel" at that point but took the rejection to YHVH. We should not so easily quit either. Some will be harvested to righteousness while others will continue in their folly. Consider what the Prophet says.
As we progress even further into these dark times, our faithful outreach ministry to families and neighbors, even just our personal walk, will become even more perilous. As Mosheh risked his very life by daring to approach Pharaoh and present demands, we will do the same. Remember, His Word will not return to Him void. It will either return as a righteous harvest or unto eternal judgment. Yet, it will most certainly return to Him.
Yeshua has personally said we will be "hated" and "delivered up to be killed", all because we live our lives according to His example. Some of us will survive while some won't. Even so, it is for us to live our lives according to the calling He has placed upon us. It is for us to affect that calling according to and within the boundaries of His Torah. In either case, we will be as the Prophet says.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares יהוה. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8-9
In actuality, Mosheh's first meeting with Pharaoh was little more than a "get acquainted" session. Before any negotiations can take place, it is customary to get to know the "parties of fact". Of course, Mosheh and Pharaoh were well known to each other. However, the third party to this negotiation, YHVH, was known only to Mosheh. As the Scripture says;
"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." Exodus 5: 2
With a long list of gods at his disposal, I like to think Pharaoh took a quick look at this list and said/thought something like this. "Adonai of Israel? I don't see Him on this list. I don't know Adonai of Israel; therefore, I won't let the people go." Then, I hear Father say, "Ohhh? You don't know Me? Let Me introduce Myself to you."
With proper introductions made between Mosheh and Pharaoh, and the latter's rejection of the "Third Party", it's time for Father's personal introduction to Pharaoh according to HIS terms of negotiation. Father's comforting response to Mosheh's heart-felt prayer will be the subject of my next article. However, let me now put the finishing touches on the message at hand.
Although it is pleasant and desirable when it is found, we have not been promised lives of ease. Blessings, according to His promises, do come to those that love YHVH and faithfully observe His commandments (Torah). Yeshua is recorded as saying;
"...He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous."
Matthew 5: 45
It matters not what station in life we hold, the house we live in, or the car we drive. It really doesn't matter if our cupboard is a little bare or clothes tattered. Relish and enjoy these blessings when they come. Yet, don't focus on the blessing. If we love YHVH with all our heart, mind, soul, and our neighbor as ourselves, the blessings will pursue and overtake us. It is, rather, for us to do as the Scripture says;
"Seek יהוה while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near.
Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to יהוה, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much."
Isaiah 55: 6-7
In these dark days of tribulation now knocking at our doors, the prayer of Mosheh has deep, foreboding implications. We have been commanded to go and preach His Gospel and teach that which He commanded us (Torah). Some of us are called to affect this charge with friends and strangers. Many of us are struggling just to testify of Him to our families.
We tell them of our Messiah and the things that are almost upon us only to hear their varied forms of rejection. Mosheh went to his people and received rejection. He then went to Pharaoh and received rejection. He could have just "thrown in the towel" at that point but took the rejection to YHVH. We should not so easily quit either. Some will be harvested to righteousness while others will continue in their folly. Consider what the Prophet says.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth--it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for." Isaiah 55: 10-11
As we progress even further into these dark times, our faithful outreach ministry to families and neighbors, even just our personal walk, will become even more perilous. As Mosheh risked his very life by daring to approach Pharaoh and present demands, we will do the same. Remember, His Word will not return to Him void. It will either return as a righteous harvest or unto eternal judgment. Yet, it will most certainly return to Him.
Yeshua has personally said we will be "hated" and "delivered up to be killed", all because we live our lives according to His example. Some of us will survive while some won't. Even so, it is for us to live our lives according to the calling He has placed upon us. It is for us to affect that calling according to and within the boundaries of His Torah. In either case, we will be as the Prophet says.
“For with joy you go out, and with peace you are brought in--the mountains and the hills break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field clap the hands. Instead of the thorn the cypress comes up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle comes up. And it shall be to יהוה for a name, for an everlasting sign which is not cut off.” Isaiah 55: 12-13
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