Onward to Cross the Red Sea (Feb 6)

We start today with a command from the Lord to Moses, given before the crossing of the Red Sea: "Consecrate to me every firstborn male.  The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal." Exodus 13:2 NIV  The Lord goes on to explain a substitutionary redemption of a donkey by a lamb and if that redemption did not occur, the donkey was to have its neck broken.

The word consecrate has many meanings, some from my dictionary are as follow:
    Verb
       Render holy by means of religious rites,
       Dedicate to a diety by a vow,
       Appoint to a clerical post eg. ordained
       Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause 
    Adjective
       Solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose.

If we, today, followed this command; our concerns about our being the last generation of the church would cease.

The Lord instructed Moses clearly as to his direction leading the enormous band of Isralites through Philistine territory.  In addition, the Lord appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  Can you imagine the feelings in the group when Moses was told "Didn't we say to you in Egypt," Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?"  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians then to die in the desert!"
                                Exodus 13:12 NIV

Imagine these people, having seen, literally yesterday, the mighty hand of God in the plagues, making up a story of what they said to Moses back in Egypt.  I recollect an account of an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and bricks without straw.  Public opinion today is very changeable, not much different than public opinion during the departure from Egypt.

God's work, Moses' participation, Israelite following, allowed the crossing of the Red Sea and lead us to a song in praise of the Lord.  Because of the great power God displayed, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Moses.  Yet three days later, when bitter water was found, they grumbled.  Moses cried to the Lord, who revealed a piece of wood to be thrown into the water to make it sweet.

Hmmmm...where else do we know of; God working, a substitutionary redemption, on wood, where there was "wandering" for 3 days, and then water was sweet?

Thoughts

What do you carry to the Lord in prayer?  What do you consecrate to the Lord;  time, work, this day, your family, relationships, children?

Where do you look for the truth?  Do you "sharpen the saw daily" (Steven Covey)?  Do you just trust your memory? One might see how memory can fail one by the above.

Where do you look for reference, to tomorrow or yesterday?

"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain O Israel. My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?  Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."  Isaiah 40:27-28 NIV

Pray for church leadership as they discern building projects, technology updates, capital campaign issues, worship processes.


In Christ


David P