Tag: Sunday rest 2024
Sunday rest–Forgiveness and Restoration
Dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings on this day of rest! Reflecting today on the trial of Job, we see that our Lord was and is good and that His plans to restore and bless His people are amazing. Job had lost everything over a period of time that is not defined for us, probably a year or more. He lost his children, in spite of praying and sacrificing for them regularly. He lost his wealth and possessions through theft, even though he was generous and did not worship his wealth or possessions. Then he lost his health and vigor when he should have been in his prime. In all this, Job did not curse God or accuse Him of wrongdoing.
As he experienced this trial, he was abandoned by his wife, who told him to ‘curse God and die.’ His three friends did come to sit with him in silence at first. But as they began to speak, they took up the taunt of our enemy the devil, accuser of the brethren. They accused him of harboring some unknown sin and of pride and arrogance. They told him he was being punished even less than he deserved. Job told them that they were ‘miserable comforters’! The young man, Elihu, also tried to offer wisdom but failed Job in telling him that God was clothed in awesome majesty, but that no one could find Him, especially those wise in their own conceit (like Job)! (Job 3:24)
But God does appear to Job and speaks personally to him out of a whirlwind. He questions Job and probes his lack of true understanding of God and His creation. Job repents of his own doubts and questions for God. God instructed Job to pray for his friends, forgiving them and blessing them. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 This emphasized how important forgiveness is in our relationship with God and others who may wrong us. Job lived another 140 years and had ten more children and many grandchildren to the forth generation! God is Good! In His Love, Pastor John
Sunday rest and reflection
Greetings in Jesus’ Name!
The story of Balaam, a prophet who was hired by Balak, King of the Moabites is my reflection today. Balak was afraid of the Israelites and had heard the reports of how they had completely destroyed Sihon and Og, two other kings that opposed them. God had given them this victory. Balak sent a delegation to hire Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. Balaam, to his credit, sought God as to what he should do. God told him not to go and not to curse Israel. (Numbers 22:12)
A short time later, Balak sent more distinguished men and more money to try and entice Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. Balaam was tempted and, not satisfied with God’s first instructions, he sought a second opinion. Money and men have a way of clouding God’s instructions. This time God told him to go, but do only what He instructed him. This led to the incident where Balaam’s donkey talked to him and warned him about the Angel of the Lord who was waiting on the way to kill him! God’s mercy and justice are evident here in this tension.
Balaam goes to curse the Israelites and as he stands to act, a spirit of true prophesy comes on him. Each time, he blesses God’s people instead. These blessings speak of Jesus Christ and God’s desire to bless his people. Numbers 23:6-10 records the first blessing and verses 18-24 the second blessing. God has blessed his people, who can curse them? (Numbers 23:20,23)
The tragedy of Balaam is what he did later. In spite of God’s desire to bless, he figured out a way to help out Balak. He told them to send in the women and seduce the Israelites and get them into idolatry, bringing a curse on themselves. In Revelation 2:12-14 Jesus Christ used this incident to warn the New Testament church against bringing a curse on themselves. God desires to bless and has blessed His people with everything needed for life and godliness through Jesus Christ! We must be watchful against Satan’s attempt to seduce us.
In His Love, Pastor John
Sunday rest and reflection: Moses and Christ
When we started our journey through the Bible, I began with Luke 24. The resurrected Jesus taught his disciples on the road to Emmaus and again in the room in Jerusalem everything concerning Himself in the Law and the Prophets. (Luke 24:27, 44) The Law refers to these Books of Moses that we have been reading. As we take time to rest today, let’s think about these Books in relation to what they reveal about Jesus Christ.
Moses himself was a picture of Christ. Moses was a prophet, a priest, a servant, a shepherd, a mediator, and a deliverer. We find that Jesus is the final Word from God and holds the office of prophet and priest, as well as king (which Moses was not). Jesus was a servant, (Matthew 12:18) the Good Shepherd, (John 10:11-14) the only mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2:5) , and our deliverer (1Thessalonians 1:10) In his character description, Moses was the meekest of men. (Numbers 12:3) Jesus was humble of heart as well. (Matthew 11:28-30) Moses was faithful and obedient as was Jesus Christ. Like Christ, Moses was powerful in word and deed (Acts 7:22)!
In the account of Moses’ early life, he was a baby in Egypt and had to escape Pharaoh’s murder attempt. Jesus, as a baby, was taken to Egypt to escape Herod’s murder attempt. Both were providentially cared for by God to survive and fulfill their mission of deliverance! Moses was rejected by his brothers and as a result obtained a Gentile bride while on the back side of the desert. Jesus was rejected by His brothers and also has a Gentile bride, the Church! Moses delivered God’s people from the death angel by the blood of a Passover lamb. Jesus delivered God’s people from death by His own blood spilled on the cross! Moses was eventually accepted by his brothers. Jesus will be when He comes again! Moses led the people and fed the people and mediated their concerns. Jesus Christ is our King, Provider and Intercessor!
Take time today to think of some other aspects of our Lord that he has revealed to you as you have read these Books of Moses! May your heart burn with love for Jesus! Have a blessed day! Pastor John