“HE LED HIS FLOCK!”

 Exodus 3:1                                        (ESV)

“Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and “HE LED HIS FLOCK” to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of GOD.”

There are times that GOD speaks to me as I am headed to another Scripture and I am LED to discover what it is that HE is saying to me.  As I opened the Bible application this morning going it was on Exodus 3:1 and I was seemingly transfixed on the verse and GOD began leading my thoughts like Moses was leading the sheep to Mount Horeb, the mountain of GOD.

According to the Protestant reformer John Calvin, Mount Sinai and Mount Horeb were the same mountain, with the eastern side of the mountain being called Sinai and the western side being called Horeb.  Moses, being a shepherd, was constantly on the lookout for grass for his flock to graze on.  “HE LED HIS FLOCK” to Horeb, which is also known as the mountain of GOD.  Scripture doesn’t indicate that grass was plentiful near and around Horeb, but GOD HAS A PLAN and Moses was about to be where GOD could have his attention to hear from HIM.  

It is not a “coincidence” that Moses found himself on Mount Horeb.  Horeb is thought to mean glowing/heat, which seems to be a reference to the Sun, while Sinai may have derived from the name of Sin, the Sumerian deity of the Moon, and thus Sinai and Horeb would be the mountains of the moon and sun, respectively.  GOD has to lead me to a spot where HE can have my undivided attention, a place where the distractions from “this world” will not interfere with HIS MESSAGE, and I am able to focus on HIM!

Moses was “tasked” with leading the Children of GOD from captivity to the Promised Land, not because he was a leader in the Temple, but because ALMIGHTY GOD CHOSE him.  GOD CHOSE Moses because “HE LED HIS FLOCK” to the appointed place to meet with GOD.  My prayer is that I will be submissive to THE LORD enough that “HE LED HIS FLOCK” can be said of me one day!!!

“STUDY!”

 2 Timothy 2:15                       (KJV)

“”STUDY” to shew thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of TRUTH.”

For most of my life I have been someone who has had the mentality of “speed reading” my way through everything I attempted, especially when it comes to the art of “STUDYING”!  When we “STUDY” the WORD OF GOD it benefits us little if we are not slowing down long enough for it to absorb into our lives and change us to more reflect CHRIST in our actions.  

It takes more than a cursory glimpse of Scripture to sharpen the MIND.  A dictionary defines “STUDY” as “application of the MIND to the acquisition of knowledge, as by READING, INVESTIGATION, or REFLECTION”.  Wanting and wishing to KNOW something is commendable, but taking the time to “STUDY” the intricacies of a matter is something that most commonly requires time and REFLECTION.  

In Genesis 3 Moses was spoken to by ALMIGHTY GOD through a burning bush at Mt. Horeb.  Moses was alone keeping the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro.  Although the heart of Moses could have been changed immediately by ALMIGHTY GOD, HE chose to allow Moses to “STUDY” the task at hand for a period of time.  Moses didn’t immediately do what he was instructed to do.  After a period of time for REFLECTION, Moses (and his brother Aaron) were in Egypt, trying to convince Pharaoh to allow the Children of Israel to be set free!

Moses had to “STUDY” on what GOD spoke to him before the exact PLAN OF GOD began to be revealed to his MIND.  His mission was to OBEY GOD, but he had to walk by FAITH and keep listening to GOD for directions.  Would it surprise us if GOD has a PLAN for our lives, just as HE did for the life of Moses?  Scripture instructs us to “STUDY” to show ourselves APPROVED!  GOD wants us to OBEY HIM, but HE also wants us to “STUDY” HIS precepts!!!

“ALL THINGS!”

Philippians 4:10-13                              (ESV)

[10] I rejoiced in the LORD greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. [11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in WHATEVER situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be BROUGHT LOW, and I know how to ABOUND. In any and EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do “ALL THINGS” through HIM WHO strengthens me.

The Bible application that I use on my chosen electronic device has captions on most paragraphs of Scripture.  This particular paragraph is entitled “God’s Provision”.  Recognizing GOD’s PROVIDENCE throughout my lifetime is quite a humbling experience.  Recently I was testifying how GOD “provided” for my family in the twenty four months following the Brain Hemorrhage almost fourteen years ago.  My income went from a comfortable salary to no salary within a few weeks, but in “ALL THINGS” GOD provided as we were FORCED to live by FAITH!

GOD has a way of leading us down a path to grow our FAITH IN HIM!  The Apostle Paul wrote that he knew “how to be BROUGHT LOW, and I know how to ABOUND”.  He found that in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE GOD provided for his needs in the measure that would grow his Belief that he wasn’t in control, but GOD was!  When we realize that even the air we breathe (Isaiah 42:5) is provided without us even requesting, until one day HE determines HE is ready for us to come to Heaven.  Until GOD is ready, our journey on earth(breathing included!) will continue.

Being BROUGHT LOW or ABOUNDING doesn’t identify who we are IN CHRIST.  HE is the ONE leading and guiding us, so we should rejoice that we have another day to celebrate LIFE in HIM.  Acknowledging that we ARE NOT the LORD of our lives is a humbling experience, but an experience that we ALL need to go through.  It is not just “through the valley of the shadow of death”, but with every breath we breathe and every situation we MUST TRUST GOD in “ALL THINGS”!!!

“MY POWER!”

 Romans 9:14-18                  (ESV)

“[14] What shall we say then? Is there injustice on GOD’s part? By no means! [15] For HE says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [16] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on GOD, who has mercy. [17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show “MY POWER” in you, and that MY name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” [18] So then HE has mercy on whomever HE wills, and HE hardens whomever HE wills.”

Do not mistake any success you are allowed to witness as being indicative of your worthiness.  GODS WORD tells us “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion”, therefore it is always “MY POWER” that is revealed in our actions!  Sometimes we don’t even realize that GOD is using us to accomplish HIS PLAN, just like Pharaoh in Exodus 9 when GOD told him “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show “MY POWER” in you, and that MY name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

We ALL are assigned a life to live (1 Corinthians 7:17) so we need to realize that any good we do is only because of “MY POWER”!  GOD can also use “MY POWER” for HIS GLORY when we don’t KNOW HIM, as in Exodus 9:16!  So whether we are elevated or debased by HIS PLAN, we must recognize that manifesting “MY POWER” to a lost world is what is important!

“GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM!”

 Romans 1:18-25                             (ESV)

“[18] For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, who by their unrighteousness SUPPRESS THE TRUTH. [19] For what can be known about GOD IS PLAIN TO THEM, because “GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM”. [20] For HIS invisible attributes, namely, HIS eternal power and divine nature, have been CLEARLY PERCEIVED, ever SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, in the things that have been made. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. [21] For although THEY KNEW GOD, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in THEIR THINKING, and THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED. [22] Claiming to be wise, THEY BECAME FOOLS, [23] and exchanged the GLORY of the IMMORTAL GOD for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore GOD GAVE THEM UP IN THE LUSTS OF THEIR HEARTS to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH about GOD FOR A LIE (John 8:44) and worshiped and served the creature RATHER THAN THE CREATOR, WHO is blessed forever! Amen.”

As I was reading the Scriptures this morning the verses above began SPEAKING to my heart.  The fact that some people are not exposed to THE TRUTH the same as others doesn’t make them any less/more guilty than others about their decisions to NOT HONOR GOD with their lives.  CLAIMING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS, and exchanged the GLORY of the IMMORTAL GOD and the earthly treasures “this world” has to offer!

We BELIEVERS are CHOSEN BY THE LORD, not because we are worthy, but because of HIS GRACE (2 Timothy 1:9) to fulfill HIS PLAN!  We WILL SUFFER while fulfilling HIS PLAN, but allowing HIM to word in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26) is a good sign that we are being used in HIS PLAN!  Worldly success that focuses on anything other than YAHWEH is rubbish that will be burned in the JUDGMENT!  

Our CREATOR is capable of things that our finite minds cannot fathom.  Just like we cannot understand how HE would use unworthy vessels like us, there are some who HE has CHOSEN not to use for HIS GLORY.  Romans 9:13 plainly states “As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.””  This same Jacob was known BY SOME as a deceiver!  One commentary says “Yes, Jacob was a deceiver. But deception is not always sinful. In this case, Jacob was the righteous deceiver. Along with the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob deceived his father in order to uphold the covenant.”  

Now I am not saying that you should deceive others, but GOD uses our imperfections to GLORIFY HIS NAME!  When GOD is being GLORIFIED, HE uses what HE wills, and WHEN HE wishes!  GOD held the Red Sea back just long enough for HIS CHOSEN to cross, but then HE enveloped the Egyptians at the bottom of the sea!  One had better be cognizant to GOD’S PRESENCE while HE IS SPEAKING TO HIM, because “GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM”!  Has HE SHOWN IT TO YOU???

“FOLLOW ME!”

 Luke 9:57-62

“[57] As they were going along the road, someone said to HIM, “I will follow YOU wherever YOU go.” [58] And JESUS said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the SON of Man has nowhere to lay HIS head.” [59] To another HE said, “FOLLOW ME.” But he said, “LORD, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And JESUS said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of GOD.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow YOU, LORD, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] JESUS said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of GOD.””

What are my “excuses” for NOT following JESUS today???

“The enemy” shows no preference when it comes to interfering with the WORK OF THE LORD. JESUS tells us that we need to be obedient to HIS LORDSHIP and follow HIS COMMANDS. Where HE leads us might cause us to make some uncomfortable decisions, but HIS PATH is not for “this world” to understand.  

“FOLLOW ME” when HE is headed to the cross isn’t something that most would volunteer for! But JESUS says in Matthew 16:24-25 “If anyone would come after ME, LET DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow ME. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it.”

Our LOVE for JESUS should transcend the feelings we have for anything else. Where does my LOVE for JESUS rank in my life? Am I willing to “suffer” (Philippians 1:29-30) for HIM, or do I prefer a comfortable life with everything handed to me on a silver platter? My preference is to SUFFER FOR A SHORT TIME (1 Peter 1:6-10) and to “FOLLOW ME” wherever HE leads me!!!

“PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM!”

 Romans 8:14-17                                 (ESV)

“[14] For ALL who are led by the SPIRIT of GOD are sons of GOD. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to FALL BACK INTO FEAR, but you have received the SPIRIT of adoption as sons, by WHOM we cry, “Abba! FATHER!” [16] The SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of GOD and FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST, “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” in order that we may also be glorified with HIM.”

As far back as I can remember, I have always been “healthy”!  That is to say that I have never been skinny.  In my latter years I have experienced some challenges with my health, but GOD had brought me through each challenge, usually with little effort on my part.  Although I have observed others with health struggles, my identity as a “healthy” person has been EVIDENT to most.  

EVIDENCE that a person is a CHILD OF GOD, a FELLOW HEIR WITH CHRIST, can be a bit more challenging.  “This world” seemingly attaches financial gain or a long lifetime as the EVIDENCE that GOD is BLESSING someone.  But THE WORD OF GOD is what we MUST judge our opinion on, and JESUS’ lifetime was the exact opposite of the aforementioned criteria.  HE had no place to lay HIS head (Matthew 8:20) and HE was crucified in HIS early thirties.  Yet, HE ascended to HEAVEN to sit in HEAVEN next to HIS FATHER, AFTER HIS SUFFERING!!!

How is my witness, my testimony, that I am an HEIR WITH CHRIST?  My mind has DREAMS that I have a desire to SEE fulfilled, but HIS PLANS are what I most desire for my life.  EVIDENCE that I AM A CHILD OF GOD and FELLOW HEIRS WITH JESUS might not be plain to notice by “this world”, but being LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD wherever HE chooses is the evidence I want to exhibit for HIS GLORY!  Walking with JESUS may expose us to hardships, but “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” we will spend eternity with HIM IN GLORY!!!