“HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK AT GOD!”

 Exodus 3:1-6                             (ESV)

The Burning Bush

“[1] 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. [2] And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. [3] And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, WHY THE BUSH IS NOT BURNED.” [4] When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, GOD called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” [5] Then HE said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” [6] And HE said, “I am the GOD of your father, the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, “FOR HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK AT GOD”.”

This morning is kind of special for me.  It is the 92nd anniversary of the birth of my mother.  It also is the 15th anniversary of being brought out of a coma!  Emotions aren’t as deep as I thought they would be.  As a matter of fact, I almost seem “disconnected” as I write these words???

Moses might have been in a similar situation at Mount Horeb in the Scriptures above?  He was about to have an encounter with THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES and he was a murderer who fled from Egypt many years prior to avoid the consequences of his actions.  He must have been ashamed of himself knowing that ALMIGHTY GOD knows ALL, including his past actions of slaying an Egyptian so many years ago.  

GOD used Moses to deliver HIS people from Egyptian captivity, not because he was blameless, but because he was CHOSEN!  Moses even tried letting GOD know of his “imperfections”, but GOD used him anyway!  This demonstrates to me that even though I am Brain Damaged and the worst among sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), GOD IS ABLE to use me to GLORIFY HIS NAME to a lost and dying world!

Could it be that I am “ashamed” of who I am and what I have YET to become when I SEE who I am, even though I am the beneficiary of SO MUCH of GOD’S GRACE???  One might imagine that I would acknowledge that GOD IS SUPREME from the path I have been assigned?  Although like Paul I am the worst of sinners, it is my aim to never be one that is labeled “FOR HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK AT GOD”!!!  HE hasn’t abandoned me, and I MUST remember that!!!

“FAN INTO FLAME!”

 2 Timothy 1:6-7                       (ESV)

“[6] For this reason I remind you to “FAN INTO FLAME” the GIFT OF GOD, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for GOD gave us a SPIRIT NOT OF FEAR but of POWER and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL.”

One year ago I shared 2 Timothy 1:7, “for GOD gave us a SPIRIT NOT OF FEAR but of POWER and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL.”  Just as the Apostle Paul found it necessary to remind Timothy that fear is from “the enemy” and from GOD, I have TRUTH constantly infused into my life!  The cares of “this world” has the affects of diluting our FAITH in GOD ALMIGHTY to a position where we are consumed with them rather than Philippians 4:8 and “think on these things”!

Have you ever attempted to begin a fire during a driving rainstorm?  Commencing a fire is usually done with dry materials and no wind involved?  But when ALMIGHTY GOD is behind the ignition of a fire, HE isn’t restrained by the cares of “this world”, rather HE works IN SPITE OF them!  When GOD ALMIGHTY acts as ONLY HE can, there is NO DOUBT that the results are from HIM!  

“FAN INTO FLAME” gives the impression that whomever is FANNING is beginning the FLAME?  But the next few words (the GIFT OF GOD) set the story straight!  Our Salvation is so INCREDIBLY DIVINE that we could NEVER accept any credit for what has transpired. “FAN INTO FLAME” will NEVER happen unless there is the GIFT OF GOD there to begin with!  

A man by the name of Kurt Kaiser wrote a song entitled “PASS IT ON”.  The chorus goes “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with GOD's love once you've experienced it; you spread his love to everyone; you want to pass it on.”  My prayer is that I will “FAN INTO FLAME” the spark that GOD has begun and NOT try to start my own fire!!!

“RUTH AND BOAZ!”

 Ruth 4:13-17                        (ESV)

Ruth and Boaz Marry

“[13] So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. [14] Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! [15] He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” [16] Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. [17] And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

From my PRAYER LIST::

Sunday May 08, 2022 at 9:49 in Sunday School Ruth going from destitution to marrying Boaz!!!  BECAUSE OF GOD’S PLAN 

Some rather interesting tidbits about Ruth and Boaz!  

Ruth was INITIALLY married to Naomi’s son who died, along with her father-in-law and brother-in-law.  

Ruth remained with Naomi, assisting in her (gleaning) dilemma of being destitute, poor and hungry.  

Boaz took note of Ruth providing for Naomi, his relative, with no apparent benefit to herself. 

Boaz then married Ruth

Boaz and Ruth are in the lineage of CHRIST (Matthew 1:5 “and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,)

To understand that Boaz is definitely of Jewish lineage is not disputed.  Ruth, on the other hand, was of Moabite descent.  Yet Boaz married Ruth after he witnessed the way she cared for Naomi, the mother of her deceased husband.  She was in the fields “gleaning” BEHIND the harvesters, but her humble actions were not ignored by Boaz, and more importantly by GOD ALMIGHTY!  

We need to have our EYES OPENED to SEE that what we do isn’t ignored by some, but MOST IMPORTANTLY our CREATOR!  Through the humility of a Moabite woman, and the obedience of a Jewish man, the lineage of CHRIST was fulfilled!  The seemingly insignificant things we are CALLED to do might be used to GLORIFY HIM!!!

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD!”

 Jeremiah 17:7-8                     (ESV)

    “[7] “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD”,

        whose trust is the LORD. 

    [8] He is like a tree planted by water,

        that sends out its roots by the stream,

    and does not fear when heat comes,

        for its leaves remain green,

    and is not anxious in the year of drought,

        for it does not cease to bear fruit.””

As I have recovered from the Brain Hemorrhage fifteen years ago I have found the need to write a lot more things down, because I realize that my memory isn’t as good as it was when I was younger.  During a devotional time one day I wrote the text below onto my prayer list:

GOD desires to be TRUSTED!  Do you TRUST HIM?  STRENGTHENING OUR HEARTS USUALLY TAKES MORE TIME THAN WE ARE COMFORTABLE IN GIVING!!!

Typically I have always been a “hurried” person, wanting everything to be completed already!  Fifteen years ago this Friday I was brought out of a SEVENTEEN DAY COMA, something that was completely unexpected and unplanned in my life.  The Brain Hemorrhage I experienced came very close to taking my life, especially on July 24 as my blood pressure was “out of control”!  Early in the morning of July 25 my blood pressure plummeted and nurses were trying to fight to keep me from dropping too low!  

DO I TRUST GOD is a question that I still have to answer, even after HE brought me through a near death experience!  GOD “gives breath to the people on” earth, “and Spirit to those who walk in it” (Isaiah 42:5), but most of us act as though HE is “subservient” to our wishes?  We MUST have our EYES OPENED to SEE that we are the “servants”, and HE is our LORD and MASTER!

There will UNDOUBTEDLY be another post or two about the FIFTEEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my DELIVERANCE from the “valley of the shadow of death”, as I STILL get misty-eyed when I remember where HE brought me from!  A SEVENTEEN DAY COMA is not something I wish on anyone, or especially their families!  One thing that I must say though is “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD”, even when the path we are assigned looks rather bleak!!!

“SIT HERE!”

 Matthew 26:36                        (ESV)

“Then JESUS went with them (HIS disciples) to a place called Gethsemane, and HE said to HIS disciples, “SIT HERE”, while I go over there and pray.””

Probably the most agonizing punishment ever dispersed on this servant was when I was told to “SIT HERE” when I wanted to have an answer to what I felt I needed to know!  Knowing that JESUS KNOWS what is going to happen doesn’t indicate that HE is going to let me KNOW so I can be at ease!  That could eliminate the need for FAITH in our daily walk with HIM.  JESUS KNEW that Peter would deny knowing HIM three times, but Scripture says in Matthew 26:35 “And ALL THE DISCIPLES DID THE SAME”, which was PROMISE that they would die with JESUS!  

“SIT HERE” doesn’t say that we are free to do anything for our families, our friends, or even the Kingdom of Heaven!  “SIT HERE” probably indicated that the disciples were to be in prayer, because that is precisely what JESUS told them HE was going to be doing at the end of verse 36.  Scripture records that the disciples evidently weren’t as committed as they said they would be because they ALL went to sleep while JESUS conversed with HIS FATHER about HIS upcoming difficulties.  

JESUS IS THE WORD (John 1:1), so HE was very aware of the price HE was going to pay for the redemption of HIS CHOSEN!  MANY times HE went ALONE to pray, which HE needed to do for HIS upcoming journey!  The gruesome acts that HE experienced was said to be excruciatingly morbid, yet HE accepted HIS fate out of LOVE for us, AND LOVE FOR HIS FATHER!  HE paid a price that ONLY HE could pay, because HE was the ONLY spotless LAMB to redeem my wretched soul!

Although the ALL SAID they were committed, the disciples couldn’t even stay awake for the time JESUS was praying.  But I can’t follow JESUS in my actions for an entire day either!  When I am told to “SIT HERE” and let GOD be in control, I want to give my advice on what HE needs to do to benefit the Kingdom?!?  Why can’t I just “SIT HERE” and allow JESUS to be my Redeemer and be thankful that HE HAS CHOSEN me???

Psalm 37:23-25

 Psalm 37:23-25                        (ESV)

    “[23] The steps of a man are established by the LORD,

        when he delights in his way; 

    [24] though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,

        for the LORD upholds his hand.

    [25] I have been young, and now am old,

        yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

        or his children begging for bread.”

“FOLLOW ME!”

 John 10:22-28                          (ESV)

I and the FATHER Are ONE

“[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and JESUS was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around HIM and said to HIM, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the CHRIST, tell us plainly.” [25] JESUS answered them, “I told you, and YOU DO NOT BELIEVE. The works that I do in my FATHER’S name bear witness about ME, [26] but YOU DO NOT BELIEVE because YOU ARE NOT among MY sheep. [27] MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they “FOLLOW ME”. [28] I GIVE them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of MY hand.”

The CREATOR had of everything (Colossians 1:16), including our languages, wasn’t caught off guard during HIS earthly ministry giving answers that weren’t “thought out”!  The same people that are credited with HIS crucifixion were trying to use words to trap JESUS into saying incriminatory statements, but the WORD HE presented them in response to their scheme was “FOLLOW ME”!  HE didn’t need to give them a long list of “commandments” like HE did in the book of Exodus, HE only said “FOLLOW ME”!!

Why do we want to convolute what THE ONE WHO spoke these worlds into existence instructed while walking among humanity?  Could it be because YOU DO NOT BELIEVE?  We “say” we believe, but our worry about the cares of life and trying to figure out which way to go, and we are supposed to have JESUS living inside of us??  

As I gaze upon photos of my grandchildren on a digital screen, one picture shows a grandchild sleeping in my chair.  Shouldn’t I rest in the arms of JESUS like my grandchildren rest in my arms?  The TRUST that they will be taken care of in the care of their grandparents!  Why don’t I have the same TRUST in my SAVIOR?

The Jews did not TRUST JESUS because they were unable to SEE WHO HE was!  Can we SEE HIM??  Will we TRUST HIM with our lives?  HE CREATED us all.  HE CHOSE a few for HIS GLORY!  The LEAST I should do is to “FOLLOW ME”!!!