Symbols for the Bible

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 19:9-10; 119:25, 105, 118, 130).

This command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life (Proverbs 6:23).

As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11).

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 15:16; 20:9; 23:29)?

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there while everyone stood on the shore. Then Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still, other seeds fell on good soil, producing a crop—a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:1-23).

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Therefore, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 5:25-27; 6:17).

For the word of God is alive and active. So sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In fact, though you ought to be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 4:12; 5:12-14).

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:18, 23-27).

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Instead, like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter 1:23; 2:1-2).

$22 million worth of God's goodness

The Nazarene Fund has raised $22 million in two days to rescue thousands of trapped Christians in Afghanistan and relocate them to safety in countries outside the United States since the U.S. is not currently welcoming them. We are only seven months into a four-year term for this President, and he is already one of the worst we have ever had. I literally shudder to think what this place and the world will look like by 2024 if his administration has its way. Of course, that's not to say we shouldn't have gotten out of Afghanistan. That decision was also long overdue, but leave it to Joe Biden--or whoever is thinking for him this week--to make a mess out of what could have been the only good thing his team has done since assuming power in January. But while the Biden Administration and everyone else on Team Great Reset are busy remaking the world in their own warped image, it has fallen on the everyday, not-so-average "Joe" (pun intended) in what is left of the real America to try to clean up the mess. And boy, did real America show off this week.

On Wednesday morning's show, Glenn Beck was joined by Rudy Atlallah, Chief Operating Officer of the Nazarene Fund, who detailed a dangerous mission his team is about to attempt to save the lives of thousands of Christians hiding and trapped in Afghanistan [1]. It was revealed that The Nazarene Fund would need $20 million in two days to accomplish everything their goal of rescuing approximately 5,000 Christians from the closest thing to Hell on Earth at the hands of the Taliban that has recently retaken control of Afghanistan. It seemed like a near-impossible task, even as Glenn pleaded with his audience to "give until it hurts." He and his wife backed up his words by donating $200,000 of their own money to the cause. But the best part of what has happened the last two days was not large, single-donor donations, but the countless smaller contributions that have made up the $22 million currently raised by The Nazarene Fund. From $10-20 to some people donating $1 because it's all they could afford, over the last two days, The Nazarene Fund has already gone over the fundraising goal.

On his show this morning, Glenn spoke directly to his audience again, saying, "I will tell you I have felt like George Bailey all week [2]. Everybody makes fun of Frank Capra. 'Oh, that America doesn't exist.' It does exist because I've just played the role of George Bailey! All I did was say, 'These people are in trouble,' and you went out and gathered money. You didn't even ask questions. You just went and gathered the money. Do you know how unbelievable it is? When people do fundraisers, they usually pad them. 'We got a big check for $50,000. We know that's coming.' We had nothing on Wednesday. Nothing. And you just went out and said, 'The people in Afghanistan are in trouble,' and look at what you've done. To Hell with those people who say Frank Capra and It's A Wonderful Life isn't a realistic look at America. Yes, it is, but it's a mindset. You have to choose to live that. And I want you to know you're going to be so blessed by this. You already are. If you're feeling like I am, you already are. I was at the end of my rope. ... Last Sunday, I said, 'I've really kinda given up hope. I don't see a way out.' ... But I thought more people were just past it. The worst thing that could happen to us, this is what will seal our fate, is if our hearts grow cold. When man's love for man waxes cold, we're done. When we lose our Judeo-Christian value on life and decency, there's nothing that can be saved, and we wouldn't deserve it. We will make Nazi Germany look like rookies if that grows cold in us. And for me to come to you, and you already knew, and say, 'The Afghan people are in trouble, and we gotta try to do something.' And I told you at the time, 'I don't know how this is gonna work.' Yesterday I told you, and I'm telling you this again now, but with much more optimism, there's no way this happens unless God is present. If this happens, it is because God has opened up doors because there are no doors. Yesterday, we were told that the airport is gonna be closed for 48 hours. I didn't even know if that was going to be opened up. I can't give you any of the details right now, but the first flight of Christians just took off. We have other planes going in very soon, and if all goes well, it will be a steady landing and taking off of airplanes. We could have thousands out by this time Monday, but boy, we need prayers. But I so want you to focus on the people because when we're focused on others, our problems don't seem so big. And I want you to focus on [the fact that] you are not helpless. Tell me any problem in our country that is bigger than what's happening in Afghanistan. Tell me that we can't accomplish anything we set our mind to. ... Everyone would tell us, 'It can't be done.' It can be done. And if we serve others, if we keep our eyes and our hearts open to the suffering of others and get out of our suffering, we will solve problems that people will say can't be solved. You will see miracles in your lifetime ... You will witness Moses-style miracles. And I'm telling you if we get [even] 3,000 of these people out, it's a Moses-style miracle. You don't know the briefings that I have had in the last two days. It will be a Moses-style miracle, and it happened because of you. Don't you dare give up hope. You know what's going on. Of all the principles we have, the one that makes [Americans] so noble is that we never leave people behind. ... Your heart is more open than I thought, and your heart is more open than mine. Thank you for giving me my hope in the future back" [3].

Glenn Beck on his radio show this morning

There are a couple of lessons to learn from all of this. God is light, and he shines brightest at the darkest times. But Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven [4]. I'm not saying everyone involved in this truly belongs to Christ. Only God knows that for sure one way or the other. But I am willing to go out on a limb and say that most of what has been accomplished here and what will be accomplished going forward is a direct result of the obedience of Christ-followers as the Holy Spirit prompted. May the whole world see what has been done here. May we believe for those Moses-sized miracles. And may the world as a whole see it and glorify our Father in Heaven in Jesus' name.

Here are all the ways you can donate:

Online: https://thenazarenefund.org

Phone: 972.499.4747

Check: PO Box 140489 Irving, TX 75014

SOURCES

1. Give to Afghanistan Until It HURTS: '30 Minutes That’ll Change Your Life’ Part 3 on the Glenn Beck website, August 18, 2021.
2. It's A Wonderful Life by Liberty Films (1947)
3. The Glenn Beck Program: Miracles happen, thanks to God, and you aired on August 20, 2021
4. Matthew 5:14-16

What keeps me up when I'm trying to sleep

This doesn't happen to me as often. That's not to say I never have times where bad memories keep me up at night. Sometimes they do, and boy, do I have some doozies do dwell on when it does happen. Don't we all? However, what keeps me up more often is not bad memories but "what ifs" about the future. That wasn't always the case. I can remember when absolutely no money came in for months, and I didn't worry one time because I trusted that the Lord would work it out some way. When I had the H1N1 (swine) flu and my temperature was hovering around 103, not only was I not worried, I was trying to bring calmness and assurance that I would be okay. And yet, there have been ridiculous times in the past and present where I have allowed worry to grip me and tear me apart. An earwax buildup on a Friday night worried me to the point that I thought I had some kind of sudden permanent deafness. Then I went to the doctor that Monday morning and all they had to do was flush my ear out. I was constipated for not even a full day and scared myself into thinking I had a kidney stone. More recently, I found out I was going to have to have some oral surgery. I went from feeling relieved by the time I left the dentist's office to make the one cardinal mistake you never do when facing a medical procedure: I started Googling. So I went from, "Whoo, dodged a bullet there" to thinking my life was over, I was going to have to voluntarily wear a mask for the rest of my life, not because of some stupid virus with a ridiculously high survival rate, but because I thought I would be too ugly to take it off. Or I thought that I was going to look 62 by the time I was 42 because my face was going to sink in. To be honest, because this surgery is still pending, I still struggle with these thoughts, though not nearly as much as I was the first weekend after I got this news. The other worst times are when I first wake up in the morning for some reason. That brings me to another side note I will mention before continuing on here. Don't just be careful about looking up information for yourself and diagnosing worst-case scenarios, but also be cautious about who you talk to about certain things. Even if you have terrific friends who aren't trying to add to your distress or discourage you, sometimes well-meaning people can do more harm than good.

And that brings me to the points I want to make with this post. Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. So if that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:25-34). Worry is the real pandemic, and it's been a global problem much longer than March 2020 and after. Depths of worry, fear, panic, or whatever you want to call it may have been exposed by the COVID-19 response, but it didn't create it. These things have been in people's hearts since the fall of mankind (not Mick Foley, but humanity) in Genesis 3.

Not the fall of Mankind I was talking about (Photo courtesy of WWE King of the Ring 1998)

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid" (Genesis 3:8-10). Before the fall of mankind (okay, at this point, I just keep repeatedly using that phrase because of my AWESOME WWE pun), Adam and Eve walked in perfect, unbroken fellowship with God. There were no barriers in their relationship between them and God or between each other. After the fall, fear entered the picture. "I was afraid, so I hid." Before they even heard God, they covered up their nakedness and hid it from each other, and they were married! They had only ever seen each other naked from the very beginning, and they felt no shame (Genesis 2:25). But now, because of sin, they were worried. Their sin separated them from God, and their fear kept them from seeking reconciliation with him. It's interesting to think of the fact that sin caused fear because submitting to fear of anything except God is also a sin. Talk about a vicious cycle from the very start. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation 21:8). That's quite the list of people who will end up in eternal Hell, but did you notice who was mentioned first in this list? It is cowardly and unbelieving people. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36). Fear and unbelief are not the same things, but they are at least cousins. Not all fear is wrong, but all unbelief toward God can lead people to paralyzing fear, especially in times of crisis if the unbelief persists. What is the correct response when fear comes knocking at your door? There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). So the proper response to fear is perfect love, and that only comes from God, which means you have to depend on him for it to flow through you.

Times of testing reveal what is really inside of us. So, dear brothers and sisters, consider it an opportunity for great joy when troubles of any kind come your way. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:2-4). Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test (2 Corinthians 13:5)? Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Of course, you don't earn salvation by having courage and not giving in to feelings of anxiety. But trials and times of testing are a way of showing us what is on inside of us. They are some of our best self-assessment tools. When you are squeezed, what comes out of you? When I am squeezed, what comes out of me?

I asked myself that question after my dental appointment a couple of weeks ago, followed by a total of four hours of sleep over the next two days. I didn't like the answer to that question. I thought to myself, "If I am reacting this way to news of oral surgery, how would I have acted had I been told I only had a limited time to live? What does this reveal about what is in me?" We need to be careful with such thoughts because there is a thin line between self-examination and condemnation. Self-examination and conviction says, "You are coming up short here. Take this to God and deal with it." Condemnation says, "You call yourself a Christian? Look how scared you are! You can't even sleep! You talk about faith and encourage others to have it, but look at you up all night worrying yourself to no end. You might as well give up. If you need any further treatment that isn't covered, you'll never afford it, and your life will be as good as over." God isn't all fluffy warm fuzzies, but even his chastizement is intended to bring correction, not hopelessness.

So whether you are like Kermit in this meme and your brain is keeping you up with your 10 worst memories or whether you have some concerns about your future, may I encourage you to do what I have been doing since that first weekend passed? Always answer fear with faith. But what if I don't have any faith? I'm glad you asked that because the Bible has the answer for that, too, as it does for everything since it comes from God himself. So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). So if your faith is weak, go to the God-breathed Old and New Testaments he has provided for you and stay in it so that your faith will be strengthened. Then you will be ready to pass your tests with flying colors.

Will the real Mount Sinai please stand up?

Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, who was also the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the back of the desert, coming to Horeb, the mountain of God, also known as Sinai (Exodus 3:1). Controversy has long surrounded the actual location of Horeb or Sinai. Midian, where Moses fled after killing the Egyptian 40 years later, was located entirely in modern-day Saudi Arabia. This was ideal for Moses because it was outside of the control and influence of Egypt. However, Moses' decision to hide in Midian may have been influenced by the presence of the Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula. Pharaoh's soldiers were supervising the construction and operation of copper and turquoise mines throughout southern Sinai. Inscriptions on their walls and the surrounding ruins of ancient temples still provide visual evidence of Egypt's presence there during the years of Moses' exile. It is doubtful that, as a fugitive, Moses would have lived or traveled anywhere in the south Sinai with an army committed to his capture close at hand. The prospects of sanctuary in Midian, however, were far more significant (The Exodus Revealed).

Map of Moses moving to Midian--Headwaters Christian Resources

After 40 years, Moses wandered to the base of Mount Sinai. There, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame from a burning bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush was burning with fire even though it did not consume it. So, naturally, Moses did what anyone would do, right? He said (paraphrasing), "Gee, there's a bush burning over there, but nothing is happening to it. That doesn't happen every day. Let me go get a closer look and check that out." When God saw that Moses was looking, he called to him. The first thing he had Moses do was take off his sandals because the ground he was standing on was holy. Then God informed Moses that, even though it had been hundreds of years, God heard the cries and sorrows of the Israelites because of their taskmasters. So he was finally going to deliver them from Egyptian bondage and bring them to the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis. Furthermore, God let Moses know that he had been selected to go to Pharaoh to demand their release and lead them out (Exodus 3:2-10).

"Moses and the burning bush" by vlastas on Video Hive

At this point, we should probably identify who this Angel of the Lord is in verse 2. The Hebrew word translated as "Angel" is "Malak," which means "messenger." Therefore, this particular messenger is not just an angel but the "Angel of the Lord." The messenger of the Lord—or in Hebrew, "Malak" Lord—is the only messenger who bears the name of the Lord. Later, God makes an interesting statement when he says of the Angel of the Lord, "My name is in him" (Exodus 23:21). If you continue to explore the Bible, you see that sometimes the Angel of the Lord speaks as if he is a messenger of the Lord. Other times, he seems to indicate that he actually is the Lord.

The story of Hagar illustrates the complex way that the Angel of the Lord is portrayed in Scripture. In Genesis 16, we encounter a slave woman who has become pregnant by her master. Then she is abused by her master's wife until she ends up fleeing to the desert to meet her likely death. The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness. (Genesis 16:7). The Angel of the Lord speaks to her, but then something strange happens. The Angel of the Lord says to her, "I will give you and your family many children. There will be more of them than anyone can count. You are now pregnant and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael because the Lord has heard about your suffering. He will be like a wild donkey because he will use his power against everyone. Everyone will also be against him. He will not get along with any of his family. She gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her. She called him, "You are the God who sees me." That's because she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." That's why the well was named Beer Lahai Roi (The well of him that lives) (Genesis 16:10-14). The Lord is the one who typically issues this kind of blessing.

Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness

So the Bible portrays the Angel of the Lord as both God and yet distinct from God. Is this sounding familiar yet? Can you think of anyone else in the Bible described as separate from God and yet as God himself? Jesus said, "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). This ancient and creative way of portraying the Lord as a complex unity helps readers understand that he is a diverse yet unified community of love. This is foundational for understanding that perfect community of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—that we have come to call the Trinity. The Lord interacts personally with humans while also maintaining his identity as God above all, yet entirely other. This God takes on an embodied form to relate with humanity, ultimately taking on human flesh to restore humanity to the right relationship as partners with him. This complex portrait of the Angel of the Lord uniquely communicates truths about the character and identity of Yahweh—that he is a complex unity, one who is both unified and diverse, near, and above all. What we see in the Angel of the Lord is brought to a culmination in the person of Jesus. Jesus draws near to humanity to draw us near God ("Who is the Angel of the Lord?").

"Jesus" from season 1 of "The Chosen"

Given the biblical record, some believe that Mount Sinai must be in Midian. Several Jewish documents, some written hundreds of years before Christian traditions, locate the mountain of God in the Midianite territory. In 250 BC, a council of 70 scholars translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek for the first time. This Greek translation is called the Septuagint. Their translation of the Exodus account presupposed that Mount Sinai stood in the Arabian Peninsula. Three centuries later, the Jewish philosopher Philo placed the mountain east of the Sinai Peninsula and south of Israel. At the same time, the Apostle Paul also located Mount Sinai in Arabia (Galatians 4:25). Perhaps the most specific description of Sinai's location can be traced to the first century AD historian Josephus. He wrote that Mount Sinai was the highest of mountains near the city of Madian. Shortly after this account, Madian was identified in the Arabian Peninsula by the Greek geographer Ptolemy. The ruins of Madian lay just outside the modern-day town of Alba, near Saudi Arabia's northwest coast. Thus, the best modern-day candidate for this mountain is called Jabal al-Lawz (Mountain of Almonds).

Jabal al-Lawz (possible location of the biblical Mount Sinai

There is a tradition among the locals there that Jabal-al-Lawz ["Mountain of Moses"]. Specific features of the mountain resemble the biblical description. Most prominent is a jagged peak more than 8,000 feet in elevation and blackened as if scorched by fire. Exodus 19:18 says smoke covered Mount Sinai because the Lord came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook.

Possible evidence of God descending on the mountain in a fire

At its base, an enormous pile of boulders at least 15 feet high and 60 feet across from where Aaron built an altar in front of the golden calf (Exodus 32:5). The flattened top of this structure has the appearance of being manmade.

Etched into its rock faces were petroglyphs of bovine creatures: cattle and bulls. The distinctive horns in some of the inscriptions resemble those found on pictures of sacred Egyptian Apis bulls.

Satellite photos of the area have revealed another geographical feature that parallels the biblical account. There is a sprawling plain of more than 10,000 acres. Flat, surrounded by mountains, and adjacent to the dried bed of an ancient river, it could have provided an ideal place for the Israelite encampment. After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain (Exodus 19:2). Just west of the mountain stands another possible link to the Exodus account. A towering rock 60 feet high is split from top to bottom. Evidence of water erosion is etched into its base (The Exodus Revealed). The Lord broke open a rock, and streams of water poured out. They flowed like a river in the desert (Psalm 105:41).

Open rock from which water gushed out (Psalm 105:41)

As interesting as all this information is because it provides geographical evidence for the accuracy of the Bible, let's not lose sight of what is going on with the Israelites because God didn't. The Israelites groaned and cried out for help because they were slaves. God heard their groans, which took him back to the covenant he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites with concern for them (Exodus 2:23-24). Reflect on their situation and try to imagine what it would be like to live under those conditions. The whip of the cruel taskmaster was a daily reminder of their slavery. Maybe people are enslaved today by invisible taskmasters not seen by the naked eye, but that is just as real as the Egyptian taskmasters (Precept Upon Precept: Exodus). Perhaps your taskmaster is alcoholism, drugs, pornography, pride, people-pleasing, hatred, bitterness, anger, self-pity, or any number of things too numerous to list. The worst slavemaster of all are not these things, though, but the one who uses them to enslave people. Satan, the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), is the real enemy that seeks to use whatever he can to keep you in bondage all the way to Hell.

Israelite bondage

On one occasion, Jesus was speaking to some Jews who had believed in him. He told them they were only really his disciples if they obeyed his teaching. The Jews, quite bafflingly, bragged that they were children of Abraham and had never been slaves of anyone. As such, they didn't see what they needed to be set free from. How could they make such a statement given the number of times in the past they had been captives in a foreign land? How could they say that when they were facing Roman occupation at the very time they said they were slaves to no one? Jesus replied that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave has no lasting place in the family, but a son belongs to the family forever. Only when Jesus sets you free from sin are you really free (John 8:31-36).

"Gospel of John" movie

Maybe, like those Jews, you believe there is a God. Perhaps you acknowledge Jesus Christ, but are you really his disciple, learner, and follower? Are you enslaved in bondage, afflicted by persistent unrelenting sin, or have you been set free? Think about what Jesus taught in John 8:31-36 and parallel it with the picture of the Egyptians. Do you need to call out to God because of your bondage and torment? If so, don't wait. Do it now (Precept Upon Precept: Exodus).

Images of stones described in ancient Hebrew from Daily Star

The earliest known inscription of a Menorah from Daily Star

Keep it simple

I needed this reminder. I was just telling someone how I had been sitting and pondering how to increase the reach of my blog. How can I increase my influence? How can I make a more significant mark? How could I learn to market this so well and produce things that people will be interested in enough to make the most of my gifts and talents? But then, from an unexpected place, came the suggestion of a book that I had never heard of before, from an author I had never heard of before. In fact, this wasn't even a suggestion as much as a mention of a book that was part of a larger personal story that the person was telling. So, out of curiosity, I just decided to check out the introduction to the book to see what it was like. That small couple of minutes helped me get my mind out of excessive reasoning and what I should do next and put my focus back where it should be: on God himself. 

The author tells a story about a young college student who says he wanted to live a radical life for God. But the student's understanding and expectations of what it means to live a radical life from God all had to do with his external accomplishments. The student had likely unintentionally conflated his impact on the world and how significant he appeared in it. The author points out that Jesus lived the most radical life of anyone of all time. Yet, he did this while spending most of his life in obscurity. I would add that Jesus didn't travel very far from his home throughout his entire life. Yet the whole world has known who he is ever since, with many of those people believing that Jesus is not just the most important person to ever live, but the incarnation of God himself. The most significant line that impacted me in the introduction is when the author said that we need to redirect where we find our value, away from an external impact upon the world and toward an inner communion with God. 

That solved my dilemma. I was sitting here trying to excessively reason my way to more significant influence, bigger numbers, and more engagement. But God never asks or expects us to worry about focusing on how to provide for ourselves better. Jesus doesn't spend a good portion of his ministry teaching people how to increase their influence or maximize their cultural footprint. Instead, he calls us to make our lives what they are really supposed to be all about: Him. It's by Jesus that all things were created, whether that be heavenly things or earthly things, whether they be visible things or invisible things. Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, anything and everything was created by Jesus and for Jesus. That includes you and me because we are his creations. So when we get the focus off of him and onto whatever agenda we happen to be thinking about at the time, even if it's for the intended purpose of being about him, we can veer off into a land of confusion and set ourselves up for frustration, possibly failure. 

It's incredible how God uses so many different types of people and things to provide the answers we are looking for. Even if the problems we have or the questions we ask don't seem that significant to us in the big scheme of things, we have to remember that everything is essential to God. Even things that we might be tempted to think are too small for him to focus on are of the utmost importance to him because YOU are of the utmost importance to him. So this unexpected interruption in plans ended up helping me. Thank you, God, for using a friend and the introduction of a book from an author I have never heard of to speak to me in such a way that it got my mind refocused on where it should always be.

SOURCES

1. What if Jesus Was Serious ... About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong by Skye Jethani
2. Matthew 6:25-34
3. Colossians 1:16

An unexpected letter from an unexpected place

High school students Josh and Zack were best friends. They played soccer together, had classes together, and pretty much did everything together. But then, one fateful night, after a few too many beers and tragic drive home, there was a crash, killing Josh.

Then came the unexpected, though no one was quite sure how. Zack got a letter from Josh. In the letter, Zack lets Josh know that he is writing it after his death. But the afterlife was not at all what Josh expected. Josh always thought that death would bring him to a world that is foggy and hazy. But this world is crystal clear. In fact, it was even more real than Josh's life on Earth. It was a place where he could talk, think, and feel. Then, right after the wreck, Josh could feel his spirit leaving his body. It was the weirdest feeling.

The next thing Josh knew, he was standing in a long line. To him, it seemed like some kind of a registration queue. He was asked for his name, which was searched for in the Book of Life. Unfortunately for Josh, they couldn't find it. Then the angel standing next to Josh grabbed him and dragged him away. He was terrified, having no idea what was going on. Josh asked where the angel was taking him, but the angel didn't respond. So Josh kept asking until the angel finally answered. The angel told Josh only those whose names were written in the Book of Life would enter Heaven. The rest, including Josh, would be condemned to Hell forever.

Josh was so scared when the angel threw him into a holding cell. Josh had a lot of time to sit and think, but what he thought about the most was his friend Zack. Josh knew that Zack was a Christian because Zack told him. In fact, the subject had been brought on the day of Josh's death. Their friend brought it up, and Zack laughed it off. Finally, their coach brought it up, and Zack changed the subject. This all happened right before the wreck, which left Josh wondering why Zack hadn't told him how to become a Christian. Zack said he was Josh's friend, but if he really was, he would have made sure Josh knew how to accept Jesus and avoid the terrible place he was now headed for.

Josh's heart was pounding in his chest. The angels whose job it was to cast people into Hell were coming down the hallway. Josh could hear their footsteps. He had heard of Hell before. Someone called it the Lake of Fire, but no one told him how to keep from going there. He was so terrified he couldn't stand it as the angels got to the door. They came in, grabbed him, and carried him out of the room. He could already smell the fire and brimstone. He could see the edge of the cliff where Hell burns. So this was it, and Josh was without hope as he got closer and closer. His heart burst with fear as he was held over the flames because he knew he would be damned forever. All that followed was fire, pain, and Hell forever.

Josh's letter to Zack ended this way: "Why Zack? Why didn't you tell me about Jesus?

Your friend,
Josh

P.S. Wish you were here."

This letter is fictional, a made-up story. However, Hell is not fictitious or made-up. It is very, very real. God doesn't force anyone to go there because it is each individual's choice. Then he warns you where you will go if you reject Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, refusing to repent of your sins. That's why Jesus said your words will either declare you justified or condemned. If you say you don't believe Jesus is the only way to Heaven, then your own words condemn you. All people are automatically on the road to Hell. We're all born in sin and therefore already condemned. We're already on that road to 

Hell because we are sinners. Jesus came to get us off that road.

Governments aren't mean for constructing prisons because no one has to go there. When the first leaders came to the United States, they didn't have prisons in mind. They had in mind the great opportunities that were ahead. It's the same way with God. When God created Earth, he saw how beautiful it was and was happy to give it to us. He didn't have Hell in mind for us because he prepared Hell for the devil and his demons. But if you reject the only way to Heaven, Jesus Christ, there is nowhere else for you to go. You are an eternal being because you are made in God's image.

Sin must be punished because God is a just God, but he took out that punishment on Jesus on the cross. But if you reject the pardon for your sins that Jesus purchased for you, then you must take the penalty. That's not God's fault because it would be your choice, and you would condemn yourself to Hell by your own words. God is just and deems Hell a justifiable place for someone who rejects the provision he made through his sacrifice for your sins. You may not believe the Bible, but God says the unbelieving will have their part in the lake, which burns with fire and brimstone. Anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. You have been warned in advance. So you have no excuse if Jesus says to you, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." You will be without excuse because your own words will condemn you. You will either obey God and trust in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins, or you will abide by the father of lies (Satan) and dwell in the place made for him. It is your choice.

SOURCES

1. Letter from Hell
2. Why would a loving God send people to Hell? by Bill Wiese
3. John 3:36
4. John 14:6
5. Acts 4:12
6. Luke 13:3
7. Revelation 21:8
8. Matthew 12:37
9. Psalm 51:5
10. Psalm 143:2
11. Romans 3:10, 12, 20, 23; 5:12
12. John 12:47
13. Matthew 7:13-14
14. John 6:40
15. Matthew 25:41
16. Genesis 1:26
17. Romans 6:23
18. Deuteronomy 32:4
19. Psalm 96:13
20. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
21. Galatians 1:4
22. Deuteronomy 30:19
23. Psalm 86:5
24. Psalm 145:8-9
25. John 3:16
26. Romans 5:8, 18
27. 2 Corinthians 5:21
28. Psalm 9:17
29. Proverbs 11:19, 21; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:13-15