The Tenth Plague

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon.  Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.  Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt.  There was not a single house where someone had not died.  Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night.  “Get out!” he ordered.  “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you!  Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.  Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.”  All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, “We will all die!”  Exodus 12:29-33

Over the course of time from Moses’ first meeting with Pharaoh to deliver God’s message to let my people go, the Egyptian monarch moved from dismissive stubbornness to defeated sadness.  He was Pharaoh over the most powerful dynasty in the world, and he conceded defeat to the slaves he owned.  Considering the events of the 10 plagues, who could remain fixed in his own glory?  Pharaoh was pushed into the most uncomfortable tenuous corner.  There was no command he could issue with his own firstborn on the mortician’s table.

Most of the plagues are not uncommon, even in our day.  Pestilences and plagues are something every human faces in every era; we’ve just come through Covid-19, and what other age hasn’t dealt with similar challenges.  Famine caused by pests and weather are common also.  But the first and last of the plagues are the most pointed; the first should have been enough, and the last, too much.

Of the ten plagues (Blood, Frogs, Lice, Flies, Pestilence, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Killing of the firstborn), the first plague of blood in the Nile, struck at Egypt’s religious beliefs.  The Nile river was Egypt’s source of food.  Turning it into blood was a horrifying demonstration of how vulnerable they were to having life crumble before them.  Pharaoh thought he was a god, but God was demonstrating how little divinity flowed through Pharaoh’s human veins. 

The next eight plagues were nuisances to Pharaoh, because they only affected Egypt’s people and resources.  But with each step closer to the tenth plague, Pharaoh’s stubbornness brought his people closer to the kind of unspeakable judgment which no Egyptian citizen could even imagine.  And then it happened!

The tenth plague, the death of firstborns in each Egyptian household, was connected to the first plague in the sense that there was blood.  Life is in the blood[1] according to Scripture, and blood in the Nile was a threat to the lives of Egyptian food sources, and the emptiness of their religious superstitions.  But it was a foretaste of the tenth plague, the lifeblood of their heritage.  As attested by the pyramids, the afterlife, and continued heritage of Pharaohic divine rule was as important to those people as their next breath.  In the instant Pharaoh refused God’s 10^th invitation to let His people go, the Egyptian king became the murderer of Egypt’s firstborn population – including his own household!

For You Today 

God’s recorded Word is there to help us understand how to live in His Kingdom, and how to understand His ways:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  2 Timothy 3:16

So, do what Pharaoh refused; when God speaks…listen…and obey!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO

There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road library. 

Title Images:  Wikimedia.org   Images without citation are in public domain. Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©  

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[1] The life of every creature is in its blood.  Leviticus 17:14

Cradle to Grave - Part 2

 

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  

2 Timothy 3:16

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through him and for him.  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.  Colossians 1:15-17

I’m aware, with the next few sentences, I will offend some people, as well as get a few ”amens”.  However, like Martin Luther, when asked to recant his condemnation of a church gone dark into selfishness and spiritual death:  I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.  So, here goes:  Abortion is a wrong choice.  ---  Click!  ---  Half of those who heard that just tuned-out.  For those with an open mind still reading/listening, I did not make a sexist/mysogynistic statement.  I didn’t even mention sex or gender.  Abortion is a medical procedure assaulting a living being inside a woman’s body with the intent to cause death. 

My reason for writing this is to address the faulty reasoning for making the decision to abort a living being.  The primary case that has been made for abortion as an acceptable choice has always appealed to women’s rights.  Certainly that presupposes only the rights of the woman carrying the unborn child, and not the rights of the child within the womb.  My argument is not against women, or rights, however, rather a contention with unsound logic.

In yesterday’s devotion I held up two principles – Scripture is authoritive in matters of my life, and Jesus is the only arbiter of my actions, because He is the center of Scripture’s content and purpose of Almighty God.  With that as my marching orders, the only honest and objective conclusion about abortion is that it violates every tenet of Scripture’s profile of life.

The point is, if God thought enough to create us in the first place, and clearly stated that every life is valuable – even the sparrows – as much as even the hairs on your head, arbitrarily snuffing-out a life for the sake of convenience is wrong.

The hermeneutical principles of interpreting Scripture demand that no Scripture contradicts another Scripture.  There may be contrasts, such as describing one side of an elephant, then turning to the trunk or tail with a differing description, but the elephant is one cohesive being.  And the elephant of Scripture is God’s cohesive treatise on life.  All else, save protecting life, fails…eternally!  Note the contrast in Jesus’ own words, from the passage where He describes himself as the Good Shepherd, and what God’s purpose was for sending Him:

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  John 10:10

If life is the supreme good which God was engifting to all humanity, the enemy’s purpose…in this discussion, abortion, is a declaration of war.

For You Today  

I’ve stated the position I hold…or rather I see that God holds, and I cannot do less than affirm.  Tomorrow we will consider the sexist issue.  Stay tuned.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

       Small Package - Big Message   and   Eyes that do Not See; Ears that do Not Hear

Images: Title image Pixabay.com Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

Cradle to Grave - Part 1

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  

2 Timothy 3:16

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through him and for him.  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.  Colossians 1:15-17

These two passages are the ruler by which I measure all my thoughts and deeds.  Paul’s admonition to Timothy reminded the young Pastor that Scripture would keep a person on the right track, an informed, humble allegiance to God.  Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers outlines the primacy and supremacy of Jesus Christ, the One who created, sustains, and has prior claim, on everything.

Scripture is entirely focused on God’s Messiah, Jesus the Christ, from Genesis through Revelation.  That is His clearly-stated declaration in Revelation:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”  Revelation 1:8

It doesn’t get clearer than that.  And with that clarity, we are left with two choices, we can believe, or not.  Because we are given free will, Heaven hangs in the balance of the choice to serve Him; rejecting makes Hell the alternative.

At the risk of being redundant, I want to point out that God has given each of us free will to choose, and with that responsibility we are also blessed (or cursed) by the choices we make.  Isn’t that ever the way?  If you decide to put your hand in the fire, there are scorching consequences.  If you decide to feed a hungry child, nothing that ever happens can take away the inner peace that you did the right thing.  Choose poorly and you can’t forget it; choose wisely and you sleep well.

As a young person I chose to serve God by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for my sin.  Although there have been some very difficult times in my life, I have never regretted that decision.  I have made some poor choices at times, and the consequences have been correctional in nature, with God getting my attention, showing me my errors, and how to get back on track.  (Sometimes, depending upon my stubbornness factored-in, it took a little longer than necessary).  However, the two principles I chose to follow, God’s Scripture is true, profitable, and without error, and…Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Scripture, and I will honor him with all my words and deeds...these principles have never failed to bless, comfort, strengthen, and enlighten me for more than the past 60 years. 

So, this is my introduction to what I would like to say about choosing life over death from cradle to grave.  My hope is that you’ll stay with me the next two or three days as we comb-out a few bed-head-hairs of misconception about choice.

For You Today  

If you are ready to choose to believe Scripture, and honor Christ in all you do, here is what God’s Word says about making that decision:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.  Romans 10:9-10

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

       Life Off-Track   and   Choosing; and being able to live with the Choices

Images: Title image Pixabay.com Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

 

Old Words That Are New

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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.  I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another.  This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.  Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.  2 John 4-6

Of the truths I’ve learned in the last 4 decades preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one central reality that sounds oxymoronic;

in proclaiming God’s message nothing you will say will be new

in proclaiming God’s message, everything you say is new.

While that sounds contradictory everything is in the details; they are both true statements and complement each other.

Nothing you say will be new

The Gospel of Jesus is decidedly simple to grasp, as it is the story of the good news that humanity was in bondage to our slavish addiction to sin.  Jesus came to be with us in Bethlehem, lived a sinless life to die in our place, atoning for everyone’s sins. 

But death could not hold Jesus in the grave as Easter morning attests.  He ascended to heaven to be reunited with His Father and is coming again to judge the living and the dead.  This is the Gospel, He came, He loved, He died, He is Risen and coming again!

It is the old, old story, and when you proclaim it, no matter how eloquently, or differently than your peers or the previous generation, or the next generation, it will still be that same story.  Methods and modes may change; the Gospel is immutable.

Everything you say will be new

This second statement is a little more intricate.  With each occurrence of the spoken word there is a new experience of that which is spoken for both the speaker and hearer.  A wise teacher I had once told me the Word of God is thrice-inspired; it was inspired by God when written,[2] as well as a personal inspiration for the speaker, and a soul-searching, inspiration for those who hear.

We might add a fourth to say that God’s Holy Spirit is active in the work accomplished with the Word:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Hebrews 4:12

In a simple analogy we say you can never step in the same stream twice.  As the water moves, it is always a new place in which you walk.  In the same way, God’s Word is always “cutting edge” and never “old news”.  When God’s Word is brought to bear on the oldest of problems, or that which seems to be new, things happen.

For You Today

Whether a preacher in context of a worship service, or simply a friend sharing the Good News with another friend, strap on your seatbelt, put your tray tables in the upward position, and get ready for the ride.  His old words are new every day!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com      Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

[2] 2 Timothy 3:16

The Making of a Good Servant

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.  This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.  They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.  But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription:  “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”  In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay.  The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use.  Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.            2 Timothy 2:15-21

Although I have many “favorite” passages of Scripture, all of God’s Word interests, instructs, and corrects me[2].  But if there is one verse that could be my life verse, or the theme of what my passion is about, it would be what Paul wrote about being God’s approved workman, correctly explaining the Word of Truth.  Paul said to the Philippian[3] believers:  I don’t claim to have achieved perfection in every doctrine or complete knowledge, but I am pressing-on in that direction.  If there is one thing I am passionate about it is sharing God’s Word accurately, with an aim to help anyone know God better.

This passage is Paul’s instructions for his young protégé, Timothy, on issues related to his ordination vows.  Paul had laid hands on Timothy and charged him with being pastor to a flock of God’s people.  Timothy may have felt a little awkward, because he was probably younger than 90% of the church members.  It’s hard to be authoritative and “fatherly” to a group who were adults when you were still having your diapers changed.

Nevertheless, Paul instructed the young servant of God about what would make him a fit and holy vessel (or tool) in God’s workshop.  Chief among the required activities for any pastor is meditating on the Word.  Without careful, prayerful consideration of what God says, it matters little what the preacher says or does.  Any private that rushes into battle without heeding the commands of the general is like a heat seeking missile launched without coordinates for the target…you may stay busy, but you’ll cause a lot of damage in the doing!

Along with taking-in God’s Word, there is plenty of admonition from Paul the Elder to Timothy the Rookie to taking-out the things of the world, including idle discussions that only bear the fruit of contention, and any other kind of impure behavior.  If there is to be holy ministry in the name of our Lord, there must be holy living.

And now here is the sticky point about all this – we’re ALL servants of the Most High; we’re all ordained (set aside) to be servants of the Kingdom.  These instructions to Timothy apply to every believer, whether preacher, teacher, steelworker, homemaker, student, dentist, lawyer or retired senior.  Able-bodied or bed-ridden, male or female, new Christian, or walking with Christ for 70 years, if we have breath we must serve!

For You Today

On his way to the cross on Friday, Thursday night Jesus was girded with a towel in the upper room washing dirty feet.  That is the model of the One we long to have others see in us.  So, are you still breathing?  Serve!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

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[1] Title Image:  By Błażej Benisz via WikimediaCommons     Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] 2 Timothy 3:16

[3] Philippians 3:15

A Little More Light - Part 3

[i][ii]

Friday, March 22, 2019

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  2 Timothy 3:16

Although a “quadrilateral” has four parts, today’s Part 3 finishes this series. 

In thinking about Experience (the assurance of salvation) and Reason (God’s gift to us mortals of being self-aware and drawing intelligent, ethical, and moral conclusions), the remaining two are Tradition (of the church, or doctrine) and Scripture, God’s Word.  For me, these last two are so intertwined I find it impossible to separate them.  The reasoning here is that God’s Word (not exclusively the 66 books we call the Bible), but literally, God’s Words to humanity throughout the course of time are that from which the doctrines of the church (traditions, if you will) were born.  Everything the church does, from worship, benevolence, proclaiming God’s love, mercy, peace, and righteousness, to baptizing and discipling, are extensions of Holy Writ.  We do that to which Scripture calls and empowers believers.

Paul’s admonition to Timothy is not only defining, concerning Scripture, it is also the chief example of how doctrine/tradition and Scripture are hand-in-glove tools of God’s Spirit, the light and power of God’s will here on earth.  Scripture tells us what is wrong and right, and compels us to the right, instead of the wrong.  Such is the nature of the Scripture’s impact, driving church tradition, the doctrines that guide, inform and, by the power of God’s Spirit, transform human life into new life.  This is the essence of church tradition (not traditional acts, such as observing a festival, or hanging hats in the foyer), but direction…moving towards the light.

By nature, I have always had an ambivalent, tenuous relationship with God’s Word.  There is this love affair with my Creator within me which aspires to be obedient to God…a hungering-after His righteousness and thirsting for His will to be fully in control of Russell.  And in the opposing corner lurks that human nature inherited from Adam…always willing to have a break from my responsibility to respond to the Director of this symphony called life.  When that lurking Adam-nature wins out I become a wanderer more than a Pilgrim.

Scripture and the Tradition of God’s people, from the time of Job’s troubles until this very day, are the evidence I can see of God’s pull on my soul towards Him.  It draws me to a scary life…a life walking without sight, but rather in faith.

It is this life that requires more light in the soul than on the physical path.  That light comes best when Scripture, Reason, Experience, and Tradition move in concert within me, assuring, encouraging, directing, and correcting my ways:

·      Experience, or the assurance of salvation is what rekindles the courage inside me to put one foot in front of the other and keep-on. 

·      Reason is God’s gift that helps me mindfully-reject dark enemies in favor of Godly joys.  This is my weapon in the hand against straying into the temptations that abound. 

·      Tradition, the way our faith family has lived in the experience of salvation and carried the sword of reason, is the well-beaten path, blazed by that great cloud of witnesses, the God-following community. 

·      Scripture is like the shepherd of God’s supreme authority of a love letter to whosoever will join Him on the great adventure of marching to Zion, journeying-on to that place of still water which restores my soul.

For You Today

It’s a dark world out there…and God has provided all the tools you need to keep moving towards the light and sharing that light with others along your way. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

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[i] Title Image:   Pixabay.com

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©