Exodus 5-6 - The Life of Moses

Last week we learned that when God calls you, He will equip you and He will be with you through it all.  Moses considered himself unworthy, not an eloquent speaker, he said no one will listen to him, and for God to send someone else.  Do those excuses sound familiar to you?  They sure do to me.  I've used them all at one time or another.  God told Moses He would teach him what to say, He would be with him, and He would sent his brother Aaron to go with Moses and speak for him.  Moses and Aaron obeyed God and followed His instructions.

Exodus 5:1-23 - Moses Meets With Pharaoh

Moses and Aaron had their first meeting with the Pharaoh and said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.'" - Ex. 5:1.  God's words carry with them His power to effect what they are saying.  The Bible is God's Word and is the highest authority.

Moses wanted the people to go into the desert to worship God.  Why in the desert?  Probably because since the Egyptians worship various animals, the Israelites didn't want to sacrifice their animals in front of the them.  This request was reasonable, because it showed respect to the Egyptians by going out into the desert.  And if the Egyptians saw these sacrifices, they might kill the Israelites.  Also the Israelites didn't want to offend them by throwing these sacrifices in their face.

This meeting with the Pharaoh was a disaster!  He didn't want to let them go.  He didn't know God.  He was full of himself and thought of himself as a god.  Instead of letting them go, the Pharaoh worked them even harder and even refused to supply them with the straw used to make the bricks.  They had to gather their own straw and still meet their quotas.  Of course they couldn't do it and the Israelite foremen were beaten. 

The slave drivers were Egyptians, but the foremen were Israelites.  The foremen had some belief.  They saw the signs and even worshiped God, but they went to Pharaoh and complained about the harsh treatment.  They lost focus and turned to Pharaoh instead of prayer to God.  Pharaoh didn't listen.  This showed courage on their part.  Pharaoh could have beat them, killed them, and done the same to the slaves. 

When have you turned to others in your circumstances instead of to God?

The foreman then went back to Moses and Aaron and blamed them for it all.  Moses and Aaron lost their credibility and were rejected by the people.  Again Moses questioned his qualifications.  Moses cried out to God, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people?  Is this why you sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." - Ex. 5:22-23.

Moses was disappointed and doubted God or maybe himself that he wasn't doing his job right.  Maybe he felt guilty that he was making things worse.  He probably was embarrassed and humiliated, even fearful.

When has your obedience to God seemed to make things worse?

What did you do about it?
What situation will you allow God to transform your disappointment?
 
Principle:  Following God's call often results in difficult circumstances, requiring reliance on Him.

Exodus 6:1-27 - Moses Meets With God

Moses cried out to God.  He brought his real feelings to God.  There is power whenever we come to God.  Prayers not only is to ask God for things, but it also includes thanksgiving, and worship.  God never told Moses it would be easy.

God reassured Moses by saying "I am the Lord" and repeated this 4 times.  This showed that God is not nameless, that He desires to be known, that Pharaoh is not God, and that God would eventually free them.  He reminded Moses of the Covenant made with Abraham.

God used "I will" 7 times.  "I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians,  I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.  Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.  I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord'". - Ex. 6:6-8.

Now Moses was ready to get back to work.  God told Moses to repeat this message to the people, which he did.  They did not listen.  They were discouraged.  Their spirit was broken, because of they were beaten down by their hard labor.  It's hard to keep the faith when your body is hurting.  You can't see the end in sight.  We don't always know the outcome of a situation.  We just have to trust that God will make all things right.

Principles: 

Crying out to God leads us to his presence, His perspective, and His peace.
Discouragement comes when we focus on our circumstances instead of God.

When have you been discouraged and what did you learn from it?

Just because Pharaoh would not let the people go doesn't mean he would not eventually let them go.  God would see to it.  "Because of my mighty hand he will let them go." - Ex. 6:1.  We will see in the next chapters how God's plan for the Egyptians would eventually free His people.

What do we learn about God in these chapters?  We learn that He is a promise keeper and a protector.  His is patient, compassionate, and sovereign.  His plan may not be obvious, but He does have one.  It may be hard until His plan comes to completion.

 

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Exodus 3-4 - The Life of Moses

Exodus 3:1-10 - God Calls Moses

Moses is now a shepherd in service of his father-in-law, Jethro.  Moses led his flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of Horeb (Sanai).  There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from a burning bush. 

 

Mt. Horeb or Sanai was a special place where Moses went to be with God.  Do you have a special meeting place you go to be with God?  If not, find a place.  It might be your office, a corner of your bedroom, or just a chair somewhere in your house.  You will find as you make a habit of going to the same place each time, it will become easier to get in the right frame of mind to worship and hear from God.

Moses was intrigued by the burning bush and went over to get a closer look.  "God called out to Moses within the bush, Moses!  Moses! And Moses said Here I am.  Do not come any closer, God said.  Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." - Ex. 3:4-5.  God called Moses by name. This shows that God knows us personally by our names and that He loves us dearly.  

Moses sandals were dirty and removing them was a symbol for putting off all personal contamination and approaching God reverently showing respect for who God is.  Holiness is a characteristic of God that sets Him apart from sinful humanity.  He is righteous and sovereign.  God's holiness is used often throughout the Bible to describe God.  "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." - Is. 6:3.

The angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses is Jesus Christ Himself (Gen. 16:7-13; Jud. 6:11-17).  Fire is a symbol for God.  The burning bush symbolizes God's presence at all time and in all things.  The bush was in fire, but was not burning up.  This represents Israel's judgment, but God will not let them be consumed or destroyed.  It shows God is powerful.  He is the Creator of nature and only He can break the laws of nature.

God had a message for Moses.  To put it simply, He wanted him to go to Egypt and rescue His people.  God had not forgotten His people, just the opposite.  He was concerned for them and His plan was for Moses to set them free.  God had promised Abraham in Gen 15 that He would make them a great nation and now it was time. 

Principle:  God personally reveals Himself to those He calls.

Do you know God is real?  To find out, step out and serve Him.  We all have excuses, but if God is in your calling you will know it.  He will reveal Himself to you.  Let Him break through your excuses.

How does He reveal Himself to you?

What has God asked you to do to help His people?

Exodus 3:11-4:17 - God Answers Moses

Moses had several excuses as to why he didn't want to go.  Sound like us, doesn't it?

He said "'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' and God said, 'I will be with you.  And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you.'" - Ex. 3:11-12.  "Moses said to God, ' Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you and they ask me, What is his name?  Then what shall I tell them?'  God Said to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites; I Am has sent me to you.'" - Ex. 3:13-14.

"I Am Who I am" indicates that God is self-existent.  He has no origins and is answerable to no one.  He is eternal and unchangeable.  In John 8:58 Jesus revealed Himself as God. "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!"  Jesus is God!  He is the same God that created the universe, made a covenant with Abraham, and rescues His people.

God continues to tell Moses he was to go to the elders and promised they would listen.  They would go with him and the people would come out of Egypt with the Egyptians' blessing.  Now Moses has more excuses.  He said, what if they do not believe him.  God answered by giving Moses 3 signs: His rod became a snake and then changed back to a rod; God gave him power to heal leprosy; God gave him the ability to turn water to blood. - Ex. 4:1-9.

Moses still had another excuse.  He said he was not an eloquent speaker and was slow in speech and tongue.  God said He would help him speak and will teach him what to say. - Ex. 4:10-12.

Moses last objection was direct.  He said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it.  Then to Lord's anger burned against Moses." - Ex. 4:13-14.  God would solved that problem, too.  He would send his brother, Aaron to help him and God would tell him what to say.  Moses probably realized that he had run out of excuses and he better do what God said.

Principle:  God blesses our trusted obedience, not our excuses.

Our problems are not the problems of God.  The real problem is our lack of trust.  Saying "yes" to God is always worth the cost.

How have you objected to what God had told you to do?

How did God deal with your objections?

Exodus 4:18-31  God Sends Moses

Moses prepared to leave for Egypt by seeking permission from his father-in-law.  God told Moses that the men who wanted to kill him were now dead.  So Moses took his wife and sons and started back to Egypt.  He also took the staff of God in his hand. - Ex. 4:18-20.  The staff is a symbol of God's power.  We have a symbol today.  It's 2 boards nailed together, the Cross of Christ.  It is a sign of God's love and how He went to great lengths to save us.

Moses failed to circumcise one of his sons.  Ex. 4:24 says the Lord was about to kill him.  His wife, Zipporah saved him by doing it herself.  Why would God want to kill Moses?  Circumcision is the sign of the covenant.  It signifies purification and identification with God and the people of God.  Moses could not proceed on his course until he was right with God.

Moses and Aaron met in the desert and obey the Lord's instructions.  They brought the Israelite elders together, performed signs, gold them what God had said.  The result was that the Israelites believed God was concerned for them and they bowed down and worshiped.

Principle:  Following God's call will result in His worship.

When we worship, there is no room for pride.  Worship is our highest calling.  Serving God is our purpose.

How are you serving Him?

What are your excuses?
What steps will you take to worship and serve the great "I Am"?

Moses was 80 years old when God called him.  It's all about God's timing.

Will you trust God in His timing?

Where are you being overly impatient?
Do you believe that God is always with you?
Where will you dare to serve Him?

 

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Exodus 2:11-25 - The Life of Moses

When Moses was 40 years old, he visited his own people, the Israelites (Hebrews).  He saw their hard labor.  Then he saw an Egyptian mistreating one of them.  He went to his defense and avenged the Hebrew by killing the Egyptian.  Moses couldn't stand injustice.  He always looked out for the weaker person.  He became known as a great emancipator. Moses looked around to see if anyone saw what he was about to do, because he knew killing was not right.  He saw the cruelty and was compelled to take action. (Ex. 2:11-13).  He looked this way and that way, but failed to look up at God.

What Moses did was wrong.  He had no authority to pronounce a death sentence on anyone.   As Christian we are tempted to use the world's method to achieve results, but we should remember that we are to use God's weapons of the truth - the Bible and prayer.  Moses' heart was right, but his actions were wrong.

Principle:  God's work must be done in God's way and in God's time.

Moses had some bad character traits.  He was filled with hate, anger, vengeance, arrogance, and was short-tempered.  Yet he also had good traits.  He was concerned for the weak, compassionate, brave, bold, and self-confident.

What character traits, good or bad, do others see in you?

Moses thought his own people would see him as their deliverer.  After all Moses had status and surely they would see how important he was.  (Acts 7:25).  His people did not see him that way.  They rejected his leadership.  In Heb. 11:24-36 Moses chose a hard life with God's people and refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  By making this choice it cost Moses his status, power and wealth.  "He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." - Heb. 11:26.

When the Pharaoh heard about what Moses had done, he tried to kill him.  Moses knew he could not survive in Egypt and had to flee the country.  He fled to Midian.  Midian was a desert land.  Today is Saudi Arabia.  While there, Moses sat down to rest by a well.  The priest of Midian had 7 daughters and they came to draw water at the well to water their flock.  Some shepherds drove them away, but Moses came to their rescue and helped them water their flock. (Ex. 2:15-17).  Moses was repaid with kindness and was invited to stay with Reuel (Jethro), the priest.  Since Pharaoh wanted him dead, Moses had nowhere else to go so he took him up on his offer.  Moses was then given his daughter, Zipporah as his wife.  Zipporah gave birth to a son.  Moses named him Gersham saying, "I have become a alien in a foreign land." - Ex. 2:22.  Moses felt like a foreigner.  He was home sick for Egypt.

The Israelites remained in Egypt in slavery.  "The Israelites continue to be in slavery and cried out to God.  God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.  So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them." - Ex. 2:24-25.  This doesn't mean God had forgotten about the Israelites, because it is impossible for God to forget his people.  In Deut. 4:31 He tells us, "For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."  Maybe they thought He had forgotten them.  God knew their pain and their situation and was preparing them for the rescue to come.  He was preparing their deliverer, Moses.  God was about to do something great to set them free!

Principle:  God listens, remembers, understands, and keeps His promises.

What do you do when you face difficulties?

Do you turn to God?
 
Moses spent the next 40 years alone with his thoughts as a shepherd in Midian.  During those years he learned humility.  He learned to be patient and his over-zealous temper was smoothed. In Midian God was preparing Moses to deliver His people.  God didn't forsake Moses just because he did wrong in Egypt.  God continued to love him and use him to do His work just as He loves us and uses us no matter what we have done in the past.  Mistakes do not disqualify us for God's service.

What is God teaching you?

Are you depending on Him instead of yourself?
Have you been set in a solitary place?  Take that solitude as God's gift to you and learn to know Him in your quiet times through Bible study and prayer.

God is able to work in us to overcome our failures and then work in spite of them.  He is actively involved in our lives.  He hears our cries, he remembers us, and He watches over us.  God remembers our faith, in spite of our failures.  Moses is praised for his faith 3 times in Heb. 11 and not once is his sin of murdering the Egyptian mentioned.  God says, "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." -  Heb. 8:12.

Principle:  Go remembers our faith, in spite of our failures.

God took care of Moses and the Israelites.  How has God cared for you this week?

Moses wrote the book of Exodus.  He didn't tell all about his accomplishments.  He told about his sins and failures.  Moses' parents must have planted seeds in his heart to glorify God for him to choose his people over wealth and status.  He must have been sensitive to the Holy Spirit in his life and he made a choice to surrender to God.

What do you value in life? 

Do you value worldly possession or glorifying God?
Have you ever moved away from your comfort to serve God?

Principle:  God calls us to surrender our worldly desires to His heavenly plans.

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The Life of Moses - Exodus 1 - 2:1-10

Background of Egypt

Egypt was a fertile country and has been described as "the gift of the Nile".  It was extremely prosperous, wealthy, and sophisticated.  It excelled in art and music.  It had remarkable mathematical and engineering skills.  It was a pagan land and depicted its gods as animals like bulls, cows, birds, etc. 

Exodus 1 - The Plan of Persecution

This first chapter of Exodus describes how the Israelites became slaves to Egypt.  If you remember in our Genesis study, Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham and listened to God's voice.  Because of his wisdom and administration he was lifted to a high and honored office in Egypt.  There was a famine in all the land, but through Joseph's planning and God guidance Egypt prospered.  Joseph saved Egypt and the world.  He brought his family to Egypt where they prospered and lived peacefully as they increased in number.  God had promised Abraham that He would give them the Promised Land and that his descendants would increase and they would become a great nation.  That promise was coming true in Egypt. 

Now Joseph and all of his generation had died and the Israelites continued to be fruitful and multiply greatly.  They were now living under a new Pharaoh.  The Israelites had become so numerous that the new Pharaoh was afraid they would start to fight against him.  He did not know the history of Abraham and Joseph.  All he knew was "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.  Come we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." - Ex. 1:9-10.  Pharaoh feared man, not God.  He was insecure and his ego took over.

Principle: Where fear of the Lord is absent, sin spirals.

What is fear of God?  Fear is to recognize God as Creator and Father.  We are His children and have a healthy respect for Him.  If you fear God, you fear nothing else.

What do you fear?

Who do you fear?
Do you fear consequences more than truth?
Do you fear God more than the cost of serving Him?

Satan hates the Jews because God promised to send the messiah through them.  That's why he stirred up Pharaoh against the Israelites to destroy the line of Christ.  He uses our fear, too.  We need to talk to God when we are afraid.  Name your fear to God.  Nervousness is fear.  Concern is fear.  Satan wants to destroy our relationship with Christ.  He wants to weaken our confidence so we will pass it on to the next generation. 

The Pharaoh came up with a plan of slave labor to control them.  He decided to make slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.  But still they multiplied.  The Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly.  They made their lives bitter with hard labor, but the Israelites multiplied even more. - Ex. 1:11-14.

Since the Pharaoh's plan didn't work, he came up with a second plan.  He wanted to kill every new boy baby born to the Israelites.  He told two Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) when they helped the women in childbirth and in their delivery, if the baby is a boy they were to kill it.  They were to let the baby girls live.  This didn't work either, because the midwives feared God and bravely obeyed God rather than Pharaoh and let the boys live. - Ex. 1:15-19.  "So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.  And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own." - Ex. 1:20-21.  Usually midwives were chosen because they could not have children, but God blessed them with children, because of their obedience to Him.

Shiphrah and Puah means beauty and splendor.  They risked persecution and even death, but they had faith and trusted in God.  The world exalts the great and despises the lowly, but God's way is different.  It is the exalted who are brought lowly and the lowly who are exalted, if they do the right thing out of reverence for God.  These midwives take their place beside other honored Gentiles like Rahab.  It is significant that God preserved their names, but not the name of the Pharaoh.

Are you humble and willing to be among the weak and despised of this world so God can work through you?

Do you glorify God in all you do?
 
Pharaoh had a third plan, since the first two didn't work.  He ordered every boy that was born to be thrown into the Nile. - Ex. 1:22.  Of course that didn't work either.  God had a plan and when He has a plan no one can stop Him.

How do you respond to your suffering?

Do you trust God that everything will turn out alright?

Principles: 

Where fear of God is present, there is wisdom and protection.
God is sovereign and in control.
God rewards those who obey and worship Him.
Healthy fear in God is revealed by trusting God.
 
Where are you trying to cling to safety?  Trust His protection.  The safest thing is to be obedient to God even if you have to take risks.

God has preserved the Jews throughout history.  The Nazis killed 6 million Jews thinking they had the final solution to the Jewish problem, but today more Jews are alive than ever before.  God has continued to protect them as a nation just as He promised Abraham.

Exodus 2:1-10 - Birth of Moses

Amram and Jochabed had two children, Aaron and Miriam.  This family was a believing family.  Even their names had spiritually meaningful names.  Then they had a baby boy named Moses.  Moses was a beautiful child and perhaps his mother thought he was  special baby.  "... they saw he was no ordinary child..." - Heb. 11:23.  They wanted to protect him and as any parent would, so they did what they could.  They hid him for three months, then they devised a plan to save him from being thrown into the Nile.  They trusted God more than they feared Pharaoh.  They made a basket and placed him in it and put him afloat in the Nile among the plants where it would not float away.  The place they chose was a place where to Pharaoh's daughter might find him. 

Moses' mother waited with true faith to see how God would save Moses.  Miriam watched at a distance until the he was found.  God is a God of every circumstance.  He guided the princess to the exact spot where Moses was.  She found him and instead of throwing him into the Nile as her father had instructed, she saw him crying and felt sorry for him.  He melted her heart.  She recognized him as a Hebrew baby and wondered how she would raise him.  Miriam ask if she could get one of the Hebrew women to nurse him for her.  That seemed like a good solution so Miriam quickly returned with Moses' mother.  Jochabed received her son again and was even paid to take care of him.  She had him until he was older and could be adopted by the princess.  The princess gave him the name of Moses meaning, "I drew him out of the water".

How can you exercise faith in God?

What situation do you face which you plan to trust God for the outcome?
How has God kept you safe and provided for you?

Nowhere in this story is God's name mentioned.  Yet we know He was there.  We don't always know or understand how God works in the world, but it is obvious that God is somehow at work in this story.  I love how God orchestrated the whole thing.  He was in charge of it all and brought His plan to be.

Principles: 

God protects and prepares His people to accomplish His plan.
God is a God of providence.
The root for salvation is fear of the Lord.
 
God protected Moses and had a plan.  He has a plan for our lives as well.  Do you believe this for your life?

A baby was born to a slave couple in dangerous circumstances, but turned out to be the greatest human emancipator and lawgiver the world has ever known.  His story was the story of the founding of a nation.  Moses is a type of Christ born of poor parents in a remote area then became the world's Savior.  In both Moses and Jesus, God brings deliverance and salvation.  There will be many miracles in the life of Moses and of God working through him to deliver the people.  There are more miracles in connection with Moses than with any other Bible character, except Jesus.  God is at work in your life even if you never recognize a miracle or answer to prayers.

Will you recognize His work and thank Him?

Will you trust God in all things, good or bad?
 
Follow my weekly posts as we continue the study of the Life of Moses.

Introduction to the Life of Moses

Why should we study the Bible?  It is the most valuable book in the world and of all time.  It's God's gift to us.  He has protected it down through the ages.  It is truth and its author is God.  "All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  - 2 Tim. 3:16.  In other words it is the speaking of God.  God uses the Bible to reveal Himself to us.  The thread of how to be saved is in every single book.  God spoke through several men as they wrote different books of the Bible.  "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." - 2 Peter 1:21.

Its purpose is to lead us to belief in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is all through the Bible not just in the New Testament.  As we read and study the Bible, we need to apply it to our lives.  The Holy Spirit helps us to understand it.  We can't do it by ourselves.  Stop and ask God to give you the Holy Spirit to help you understand and hear God speak to you.

Are you willing to let the Bible influence your life?

Do you base decisions on what others tell you or do you seek God for answers?

Principles: 

God's Word reveals His character, His purposes, and His plans.
God's Word reveals His promises and His path to our redemption.
God's Word reveals His power in those who put their faith in Him alone.

Moses is a very important person in the OT.  His name is used 804 times in both the OT and the NT.  He was a humble, courageous, and a great leader.  God used Moses to lead Israel, establish the Hebrew people into a nation, and to lead them to the Promise Land.  Moses wrote the first 5 books.  The books of Exodus - Deuteronomy show the life of Moses.  Exodus means "to go out" or "exit".  God helped the Israelites to go out from Egypt. 

Moses was raised in the court of Egypt. He had the best of privileges and prestige and was exposed to the best educations and to the arts. This was all on the outside, but God knew his heart.  God put compassion in his heart for his people and used him to fulfill His plan in Egypt.  He had a heart full of faith.  Moses obeyed God though he did not know it all.  True faith recognizes its helplessness and has complete assurance of God's power.  God has something to teach you in the life of Moses.

Do you have a past you are ashamed of?  Moses had murder in his past.  God used Moses and He can use you, too.

Outline of Exodus - Deuteronomy

I.  Exodus - the first part of Moses' life; the Israelites trouble in Egypt; the events     and the plagues that led to the Israelites to leave Egypt; how God gave the Law to   Moses (the Ten Commandments); how the Israelites built the special holy   tabernacle; rules of worship.
II. Leviticus - laws and instructions for offerings, rules for holy living, the Sabbath, feast and seasons; conditions for God's blessings.
III. Numbers - Israel's year while camped at the foot of Mount Sinai; the journey from       Israel from Mount Sinai to the east side of the Dead Sea; the preparations for           entering and conquering Canaan (the Promise Land).
IV.  Deuteronomy - Israel about to enter the Promise Land, Moses reminded them of    their history of being God's chosen people; Moses reminded them of God's laws        including the Ten Commandments; Moses reminded them of the covenant with       God.

Principles:

Exodus - God is redeemer of His people.  He dwells in our mists.
Leviticus - God is the Holy One and sets the standards for worship and how to live.
Numbers - God organizes and guides His people.
Deuteronomy - God is the Faithful Keeper.  He is Lord and is to be obeyed.

We will begin with the study of Exodus.  The book of Exodus emphasizes that God is holy and that He looks after His people.  God is Lord.  His Hebrew name is Yahweh.  His name means "the Person who lives for all time".  He called Himself "I Am" in Exodus 3:1-4.  We cannot understand His nature completely, but He shows Himself by His acts and commandments.  He loves and He forgives and He also punishes sin.  We gain more knowledge of Him through the His Word and through His Son, Jesus.

Follow my weekly posts for insights on the study of the Life of Moses.  We will begin with the book Exodus next week. 

Note:  Most of my posts will be a result of my studies through Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). 

How should I pray for my adult children?

We as parents love our children and want what is best for them.  We want them to have a relationship with God.  We want them to be successful and financially stable adults.  Do you pray for your adult children, but never seem to see any results?  Are you wasting your time?  Are you praying for the wrong things?  How and what should you pray for? 

Recently my small group Bible study  has been reading and studying the book "The Power of Praying For Your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian.  And what great insights she has on praying for our adult children.  We begin praying for our kids when they are young, but as they get older we really don't know how or what to pray for.  She tells us just what we need to know.  This post is taken from her book with some of my thoughts added.  I hope you will enjoy this and get some ideas of how you should be praying.  - And I highly recommend you get the book.

Seven things every parent needs to know:

1. Being a parent never stops, if you really care about your child's well-being.  When they become adults, they make decisions and choices on their own.  We as parents want to express our concerns and give advice, but may not have an opening to do so or our advice is not wanted or accepted.  We can go to God with our concerns and ask Him to do something on behalf of our adult children.  If we trust that God hears and answers our prayers,  it can change their lives.

2. We need to know that we can't fix our adult children.  Only God can make changes in them.  Our job is to release them into God's hands and keep praying for them.

3. We need to know that God can change everything.  It's hard to know what to do and what not to do for them.  Only God can give you wisdom about these things.  Prayer is not telling God what to do, but it's partnering with Him for His will to be done.  We must believe that God loves you and your adult children and He will hear your prayers.  Believe He can deliver you from fears and give you and your adult children what you need when you ask for it.  No matter how big your adult children's problems are, God is greater.  Believe that your prayers have power.

4. We need to know we must stop blaming ourselves.  Don't feel guilty of how good or not so good you have raised them.  We are not perfect.  God is the perfect parent and looked what happened to His children.  We need to walk with God daily and ask Him for wisdom about everything.  You can ask Him to free you from any guilt.  Don't be discouraged.  Discouragement is a sign you need to spend more time with God so He can encourage you.

5. We need to know we have to forgive.  Forgiveness has to flow in us before the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us when we pray.  "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." - Psalm 66:18.  So forgive your adult children for anything they may have done to hurt or disappoint you.

6.  We need to know there is only one perfect parent.  That is God Himself.  There are no perfect parents on earth.  "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6.  If you didn't know the Lord when your children were young and didn't train them in His ways, it's not too late.  You can still go to God and confess and ask for forgiveness for your mistakes.  Ask Him to now show you how to pray for your adult children.

7. We need to know you can say "For this adult child I prayed".  These words were spoken by Hannah in 1 Sam. 1:27.  Her prayer is one of the greatest examples of a parents prayer.  If you have not dedicated your child to the Lord, do it now and release him to God's hands.

Start now praying for your adult children.

Lord,

I pray you would teach me how to pray for my children.  Set me free from all worry and concern and give me peace.  I now release them to you.  Thank you for loving me and my children.  Help me not to feel guilty for things I have done or not done in their lives.  Help me to forgive myself and anyone who has hurt my children.  Thank you for hearing my prayers.  Give me faith to believe and patience to wait for the answers.  I give you all the praise and the glory.  In Jesus' name I pray. 

Amen.

Now that you have released and dedicated or rededicated your adult children into the hands of God, here are a few things you can pray for:

Pray that they will welcome an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that they will be influenced by the Holy Spirit of truth.

Pray for their hearts will be turned toward the Lord and open to receive Him.

Pray that they have a desire to know God better and become more like Him.

Pray that their heart will be closed to the lies of the enemy and open to God's truth.

Pray that they have the desire to have a repentant heart and know what God has done..

Pray that God will give them wisdom, discernment and revelation.

Pray that they have freedom in Christ, deliverance and restoration.

Pray that they understand God's purpose for their lives.

Pray that they work successfully and have financial stability.

Pray that they have a sound mind and the right attitude.

Pray that they resist evil influences and destructive behavior.

Pray that they avoid all sexual pollution and temptation.

Pray that they experience good health and God's healing.

Pray that they enjoy a successful marriage and raise godly children.

Pray that they maintain strong and fulfilling relationships.

Pray that they walk into the future God has for them.

 Her book goes in more detail giving examples of prayers on each of the above suggestions on things to pray.  She lists many, many Scriptures concerning how, what, and why we should pray for our children.  Never give up praying for them.  God wants them to come to Him and be happy more than we do.  If you don't see results, don't be discouraged.  We must remain faithful and trust God.  We must wait on His timing.

 

Is TV Helping or Hurting Our Lives?

When I was a child, there was not much TV to watch.  Only a few cartoons and kids shows like Howdy Doody and Mickey Mouse Club.  I would have rather played outside with my friends or played with toys and games.  Even my parents only watched things like the news or a variety show like Ed Sullivan.  My parents didn't have to worry about TV dulling my brain or my creativity.  The movies I went to see where wholesome and uplifting.

Today is very different.  There are a lot of enticing programs and movies to get us and our children's attention.  There is so much offensive material such as bad language and immorality being displayed as normal behavior.  Sitcoms are the worst.  Our kids don't have a chance.  Our senses become immune to what is right and wrong.   "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." - Is. 5:20.

Promiscuity is all over TV and movies.  Every show has some kind of sexual content or language.  Homosexuality is portrayed as a normal life style.  That is not what God intended.  "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie." - Rom. 1:4-25.  "God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." - Rom. 1:26-27.

Our children are led to believe that being a virgin is a bad thing and sex before marriage is the norm.  Adults are also led to that belief.  Every show that has a man and a woman going on a "date" shows the next scene of them jumping in bed together as if that were the normal progression instead of waiting for marriage.  The one night stands seem to be popular these days - or living together before marriage.  I don't think that is what God had in mind. 

 

Even TV commercials are suggestive and pollute our minds.  Not only are TV and movies to blame, but so are video games, magazines, billboards, and song lyrics.  Watching such sexually polluting images will stay in our minds.  It will always be there.  Sexual pollution is powerful.  The enemy will keep those images flashing back which gives him a stronghold in our lives if we let him. 

Be selective as to what you and your children watch.  Do whatever is necessary to avoid anything that is a temptation.  We can ask God to keep us strong and to not give into the desires these images can produce.  Ask God to help you and your children not be drawn into sexual pollution, but to turn away.  You can change the channel, walk out of the theater, throw those magazines away, turn off the radio, turn off the Internet site, and don't buy that CD or video game.  Find a good book to read.  Better yet, how about opening your Bible and read God's Word.

"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished." - Prov. 27:12.

"For everything in the world - the craving of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16.

Watching TV steals time from our children for activities that actually develop their brains.  They need to interact with other people and playing.  It takes time away that they need to develop important skills like language and social skills.  It takes time away from reading and improving reading skills.  Experts say kids who watch entertainment TV are less likely to read books.  It causes them to have trouble paying attention and have shorter attention spans.  Experts also say the kids who watch 3 hours of TV, videos, or DVDs a day had a higher chance of conduct problems and relationship problems by age 7 than those who did not.  It can cause them to become insensitive to violence and cause aggressive and violent behavior.

TV exposes kids to negative influences and promotes negative behavior.  It shows violence, alcohol, drug use and sex in a positive light.  It teaches them that violence is a way to solve conflict.  When kids watch too much TV, they tend to snack on junk food and are influenced by commercial to eat unhealthy food.  Watching TV affects our kids health and athletic ability.  They can become obese and less fit since they aren't running, jumping and doing activities that burn calories and increase metabolism.

TV is not all bad.  There are good educational programs that educate, inform and inspire.  Studies show that kids who watch educational and non-violent shows do better on reading and math tests than those who do not watch these programs. 

So instead of letting your child watch TV, get him in a reading habit by reading to him.  You can invite a friend over for a play date.  Do a puzzle with your child. If you need some more suggestion for activities to do instead of watching TV?  Check out this website for 100 Things to Do Instead of Watching TV - http://slapdashmom.com/100-things-to-do-instead-of-watching-tv/

Set an example for your children.  Turn off the TV and get a hobby, do landscaping, workout, or play a sport.  Here is a website with some more suggestions: http://voices.yahoo.com/addiction-television-25-things-instead-of-282377.html?cat=9