Tragic, Transformative, and Tumultuous

The same incident takes on very different meanings depending on where you are sitting!  Americans celebrate the Revolution that brought the birth of our nation. The crown of England sees a defeat and the loss of her colonies!  Washington is our hero, England’s traitor. Each of us chooses to remember and celebrate some years and work at forgetting others, don’t we?  1987 was a disastrous year for me when it was happening, but today the misery of that time takes on a kind of glow, for God used choices that disrupted my life to radically change my heart!

Are you, like me, going through a time in life that is hard, that appears to have no purpose, that is one sorrow after another?
Before you conclude that all is lost, that your experiences are without meaning, I want to encourage you to pause.  Pray for the grace and faith to walk steadily through this season.  And, someday – if not in this life – perhaps even in Heaven, you will see what God was doing, why He allowed things, or even how He changed your failures into His opportunities! God sees His work, our choices, and works towards purposes that we cannot see as it’s happening. How differently our history reads in Heaven!

Exodus tells the story of a year that was tragic for the Egyptians and transformative for the Israelites, and tumultuous overall! Moses, once Egypt[s prince, then a fugitive, by the commission of the LORD, returned to the land and challenged the status quo. Boldly, by God’s authority, he told Pharaoh that God said, “Let my people go!”   Pharoah knew that the loss of his slaves would be an economic disaster, so the answer was a resounding, “No!”  Exodus tells of an escalating battle that appears to be a match of wills between Moses and Pharaoh.  Plague after plague befalls Egypt, bringing suffering and destruction to the country and her people. What is happening from God’s point of view is the birth of a distinct people that would be His own. 

In the final plague God challenged the Egyptians and asked the Israelites to act in faith. Moses announced that a Death Angel would move through the land and that the firstborn in each household would die.  Only one thing would save him - a sacrifice of a lamb, done by faith!  The Bible tells the story -  "Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down." (Exodus 12:22-23, NLT) 

The Israelites faced a moment of decision. Would they respond with faith and become participants in the plan of God? Or, would they reject the call with disdain and suffer with the Egyptians? 

Those who did as He told them to do, found safety and preservation. The Passover became the signature celebration, a moment of identity for the covenant people of the LORD.

Christian, where are you today? Does your path seem senseless or difficult?

Here is certain Truth!  God can use today – victory or defeat, pain or pleasure, sunshine or rain – all for His glory and ultimately for our good.  "He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:27-29, NIV) Furthermore, you are not alone. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

How will you view history – as a disastrous experience of God’s judgment or as a delightful journey from slavery to freedom?
Obedience is paramount! Receiving His grace, walking in faith, and letting His purpose emerge- that is the call He places on our lives.

Years after the events of Exodus what happened made sense and the summary of it all is written thus: "So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Deuteronomy 26:8-9, NIV) 

My prayer is that God will find each of us faithful so that we, too, will be able to celebrate history as the unfolding of His gracious purposes. Will you trust and obey? Here’s a word from the Word. May the truth of it fill your mind and heart with peace today.  "The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." (Isaiah 14:24, NIV)

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Oh, all Your promises

Are Yes and Amen,  Jesus.

Your promises are true.

All Your promises

Are Yes and Amen, Lord Jesus,

We'll keep running after You!

All Your Promises © 1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing,  Andrew Smith

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