Earnestly I'll Seek Your Face

My Saviour, My Redeemer
Earnestly, I’ll seek Your Face
Leaning on Your perfect Grace...

Strong forever,

Failing never;
You’ll lead me to the Promised Land,
Guiding with Your mighty Hand…

Strong Deliverer;

Break the pride of  my power
And make me completely Yours,
Yours forever…

My Shepherd, My Teacher

Tune my heart to ever be
Your ardent seeker…

I want to serve You;

I want to know You;
I want to love You
All the days of my life…

Champion of Heaven,

Light in the darkness;
Earnestly, I’ll seek Your Face,
Your glory never fades...

My Saviour, My Redeemer

Earnestly, I’ll seek Your Face
Leaning on Your perfect Grace

Earnestly, I’ll seek Your Face

Forever...

Exodus-The Question of Pharaoh's Hard Heart

Reading through the book of Exodus, have you ever wondered about God’s role in hardening the heart of Pharaoh?  In Ex 4:21 the LORD, in commissioning Moses, stated that He would harden the heart of Pharaoh so that he would not grant Moses’ request to let the people of Israel leave Egypt. This statement about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart is repeated in Ex 7:3-4 and practically demonstrated in his taking no heed of God’s power evidenced by the first miracles performed through Moses and Aaron i.e. Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent and the Nile turning into blood.

However, by reading Ex 3:19 we get a clearer understanding of this important aspect of Scripture. Ex 3:19 reveals God’s omniscience; He knew beforehand the extent of Pharaoh’s obstinacy.  Pharaoh was the proud monarch of Egypt, the greatest nation in the world - a veritable superpower in its day. Pharaoh was revered by his people as a god. Historical references reveal that the Pharaohs were believed to be the sons of Ra, supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon. He was probably the son of the Pharaoh that had commanded that all Hebrew baby boys be drowned in the Nile! Pharaoh’s heart must already have been hardened for him to continue the brutal slavery of the Israelites. His deeds were evidence of his already hardened heart, devoid of compassion.

Pharaoh also lied to Moses and Aaron that he would let the people go if they prayed for the plague of frogs to be reversed. After the frogs were removed, he reneged on his promise, refusing to let the people go. This could not be God’s doing, for God cannot coerce people into disobedience to His commands; He is not a liar, neither does He advocate men should lie. Pharaoh made his own choice to further harden his heart (Ex 8:1-15).  Ex 8:15 clearly confirms this.

In Ex 8:20-31, Pharaoh again lied to Moses and Aaron that he would relent if they prayed that the next plague, i.e. flies, would cease. However, verse 32 confirms that he once again chose to harden his own heart and break his promise. When God struck Egypt with the plague of hail and thunder Pharaoh again lied, pretending to acknowledge his sin against God and supposedly repenting. However, no sooner had the plague ceased, than he declared his stubborn refusal to let the people go, revealing that his was not a genuine repentance. God, in His great forbearance and patience, let the hail cease so that Pharaoh would know that the earth belonged to Him. Pharaoh, however, did not yet know the LORD or accept His sovereignty (Ex 9:23-34).

The Scriptures reveal a pattern. Pharaoh’s heart was already hard. God knew his heart, as He knows the thoughts and hearts of every man. When Pharaoh hardened his own heart, God let him continue in his obstinacy in order to use what Pharaoh intended for evil, for His own glory. As a result of Pharaoh’s obstinate refusal to let the people go, many Egyptians would come to know the LORD and a “mixed multitude” would leave Egypt when Pharaoh finally let them go. God used Pharaoh’s proud, stubborn, rebellious heart to showcase his glory and might among the nations of the world (Ex 12:38).

God does not take away anyone’s freedom of choice. That is precisely why he gave Adam and Eve a choice in the beginning; they could choose to obey or disobey.  However, their obedience or disobedience didn’t change who God is for in His great mercy, He wrought for all mankind a plan of salvation. The promised Seed of the Woman would crush the head of the serpent and restore humankind to fellowship with God (Gen 3:15-16).

 

 

 

Reverence-what is it, really?

Reverence-we often hear the word in church circles. The youth, often incorrectly, associate it with older people and church tradition. What is reverence, really? This series seeks to explore the concept of reverence for the Lord, putting aside previously established notions of what reverence is , but rather examining it by the light of the Scriptures.

The dictionary defines “reverence” as a “feeling or attitude of deep respect, tinged with awe, the outward manifestation of this feeling, to venerate.’ It can therefore be established that reverence comes from within, and results in an appropriate outward manifestation.

Often though, we put the cart before the horse, seeking to calibrate the outward manifestation so it aligns with our definition of what reverence should entail. Sometimes, as a result, we end up accusing others of “a lack of reverence” resulting in offence, schisms and division in the church. Very often, the subject of reverence becomes the topic of idle Sabbath afternoon gossip, the accusers failing to realize that by engaging in such activity, they are reverencing neither the Lord, nor His Holy Day.

Some walk out of church services, out of the presence of the Lord, because they’re upset about a pastor or fellow brother in Christ who is not wearing a blazer or tie. They deny that their own conduct is an insult to God’s Holy Name and, in itself, a reflection of irreverence. There are those, who during prayer times, when eyes should be closed and knees bowed in reverence are instead roving through the congregation seeking to accuse others of irreverence.

We would do well to consider Jesus reference to the Pharisees in Matt 23:1-8, 27-28. Their dressing was impeccable, the epitome of the image of the religious teachers of that era. Their long robes flowed elegantly about them with the long, blue tassels that were meant to remind them of God’s Royal, Holy Law-the very Law that they themselves were transgressing. The sandals of discipleship graced their feet.  However, Jesus said of them that they sought the praise of men more than they sought God Himself. He referred to them as hypocrites and white-washed sepulchers, beautiful on the outside but rotten on the inside. Their condemnation and constant policing of others, without regard for their own faults, did not sit well with the Master. This was not true reverence, but pride.

Reverence is not just about arriving at church on time, dressed according to the prescribed tradition. It’s so much more than that! True reverence comes from the heart, and proper conduct will inevitably follow. Don’t accuse people of irreverence without first searching your own heart, lest you fall into the trap of hypocrisy and pride, failing to seek forgiveness for your own sins and failing to see your need of the Saviour’s grace. Instead, pray for a changed heart and a renewed spirit, for discernment to know whether true irreverence is present that requires Christian correction in love or whether the arch deceiver is just using you as “an accuser of the brethren.” Proper Christian correction and teaching can only come from a heart that is transformed by God and overflowing with His Love; the result of this will be conversion and not offence-a much more desirable outcome (Ps 51:10-13).

He Came from Glory, Glory Above

The ocean, vast and shimmering blue,

Speaks of the Lord’s great Love for you;

He came from glory, glory above

To show you just how much He loves…      1

He came from glory, glory above!

Oh, wonderful story, story of love!

Story that never, ever will end,

Story of our Saviour… (Refrain)               

The King saw His people in distress,

By sin and sorrow, in slavery pressed;

He came from glory, glory above

To show them just how much He loves…    2

His royal vesture, in splendid array,

He graciously cast them all away!

He came from glory, glory above

To show us just how much He loves…        3

He left the streets of gold behind,

Walked in the dust of humankind;

He came from glory, glory above

To show the poor how much He loves…     4

Creator of all became carpenter’s son,

Veiled in fleshed was the Holy One;

He came from glory, glory above

To show the world how much He loves…   5

He came to Calvary’s lonely Hill

Outside the gates of Jerusalem;

He suffered, died, was crucified;

From sin’s weight, He did not hide…

He came from glory, glory above

The Universe saw His Love…                  6                 

He’s coming again from glory above!

He’ll take us to His Kingdom of Love

Story that never, ever will end;

Story of our Saviour… (end with this )       7                

Jesus Christ: Fountain of Grace

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace

Freely flowing in the desert place;

You have freed me from my sins,

From the walls that shut me in!

I will praise Your Name forever!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace;

How I long to see your glorious face!

You have freed me from my sins,

From the walls that shut me in!

Now my life will blossom like the rose for You

And my deeds will speak of my love for You,

Fountain of Grace!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace

Your streams of Love envelope the world;

You have saved them from their sins,

From the walls that shut them in!

Let the sons of Abraham come together

To drink from the Spring of Living Water

That they may never die, but live forever

Oh, Fountain of Grace!

Let them seek, let them find You

When they search with all their hearts!

Let them know You, let me tell them

Of the Fountain I have found!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace!

You have freed from their sins,

From the walls that shut them in!

All nations are blessed in You oh Lord...

Jesus...

Son of David...

Fountain of Grace...

Everlasting Saviour!

Fountain of Grace, Everlasting Saviour...

Encouragement For Leaders in Exodus 6

Moses, deeply troubled, sought solace in consultation with God. The children of Israel refused to believe  the message that God had seen their distress and planned to deliver them from the tyranny of Pharaoh.  At first excited by the news, they had expected instant deliverance which, when it did not materialise, resulted in utter despair. They began to rationalise and blamed Moses and Aaron for  making their situation worse. They were content to be Pharaoh’s “servants”, yet God declared that they were  His “people” (Ex 5:1, Ex 5:15-16).

God instructed Moses to tell Pharoah to relent from his enslavement of Israel. Moses, discouraged and dejected from his first encounter with the proud monarch of Egypt, replies (paraphrase): “Israel itself won’t listen to me; why should Pharoah listen to me. I can’t even speak properly.”

Sometimes the ministers of God are faced with the same dilemma. The very people to whom they bring glad tidings of freedom in Christ are the ones who reject the message. They have become accustomed to the slavery of sin, or are just in a comfort zone from which they refuse to move.

After years of being told what to do, and how to do it, slaves understandably fear freedom and the opportunity it brings. The open prison door is a step into the unknown for a prisoner who has been held captive for years. It is not unheard of that prisoners sometimes commit petty offences to get back into prison, just to experience the familiarity of the routine it affords them. Sometimes they commit suicide in advance of their impending pardon and release. “Stockholm syndrome”, a term coined after a major bank robbery in Stockholm, is a psychological phenomenon where captives bond with their captors, developing feelings of familiarity and sympathy for them. Elements of this can also be observed in victims of abuse, who sometimes defend their abusers or refuse to move away from them.

Moses was the perfect candidate for God to use to deliver Israel from Egypt. He was educated in Pharaoh’s own house, yet also identified with the people of Israel. When Moses was told to go back to Egypt by God, he was told that the men who sought to kill him were dead. However, there may have been people in Pharaoh’s royal court who did not seek to kill him, but were acquainted with his upbringing as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses may have been to them an item of mockery and ridicule. After all, who in their right mind would relinquish a place in the royal house of Egypt, choosing instead to be the spokesman of an enslaved nation suffering from Stockholm Syndrome? So it is with ministers of Christ who relinquish wealthy lifestyles or worldly living to proclaim the Gospel of freedom. They may be mocked and      ridiculed by those closest to them, yet God approves for them the honour of employment in His service.

It was God’s arm that would pluck the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, yet He would accomplish this through the rod of Moses. By the time Israel left Egypt, that humble rod would be more feared than the scepter of Pharaoh himself. God would refer to Jesus Christ our King, Saviour, Great Prophet and Good Shepherd as “a prophet like Moses”. (Deut 18:18, Ex 7:1-5, Jn 6:14, Acts 3:22-23)

Exodus 6-You will be My people and I will be your God

Moses, deeply troubled, sought solace in consultation with God. The children of Israel refused to believe  the message that God had seen their distress and planned to deliver them from the tyranny of Pharaoh.  At first excited by the news, they had expected instant deliverance, which when it did not materialise, resulted in utter despair. They began to rationalise and blamed Moses and Aaron for  making their situation worse. They were content to be Pharaoh’s “servants”, yet God declared that they were  His “people” (Ex 5:1, Ex 5:15-16).

Neither Moses, nor the children of Israel knew the time-frame of the plan that God had set in motion. He planned not only to deliver Israel from Egypt, but also to answer Pharaoh’s defiance and   arrogance, showcasing His glory to all Egypt. Moses and Aaron had approached Pharaoh in Ex 5:1with a “Thus saith the LORD.”   Pharaoh regarded himself as the supreme authority, for he        responded in Ex 5:10 with a “Thus saith Pharaoh” when denying the Israelites straw to make bricks. His arrogant cry in Exodus 5:2 was as follows: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and, moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

God was about to answer Pharaoh’s arrogance. In Ex 6, He declares  “I am the LORD.” Neither the Israelites, nor the Egyptians knew the significance of His Name. The Patriarchs knew it at face value, but it’s significance they did not appreciate. God had revealed Himself to them as a God of Promise, a God of Covenant. Now, God planned to make it personal. His personal Name, Yahweh (translated LORD) was mentioned in Gen 2:4 for the first time, after the creation was completed; before then He was referred to just as “God”. God was about to reveal Himself to His people as the God of completion, the God of momentum, the God of deliverance, the God who doesn’t just make promises but keeps them! As for Pharaoh,  he would know the supremacy of God when he would personally be forced to let Israel go because of God’s great acts of judgment on Egypt (Ex 6:1-2).

God had a reason for extending his timeline of deliverance. It was in grace to the Egyptians that He did so, so that they would truly also get the opportunity to know Him. God desires that all people would know Him and experience the joy of being His people. He does not turn away anyone who chooses to come to Him. God wants to be your God, and you to be His people. Israel was to be a showcase to the nations, that they would leave behind their idols and follow the true God (Is 49:6).

Today, God through Jesus Christ His Son, is still calling in Matt 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” God wants to show you personally what His Name means. He wants you to be free from the things that enslave you.  He desires to grant you eternal life and a new name. People may have labeled you and written you off, but God wants to claim you as His own. Satan wants to keep you his slave; God wants to make you His son/daughter. It’s your decision.

Will you answer God’s call today? (Rev 21:7, Rev 2:17).