A Time For Praise

These two month’s readings cover Ge. 44 to Ex. 27. They start with Israel and family going into Egypt, their favor at Egypt, and then loss of favor to new rulers forgetting Joseph. Next, Moses is raised up, the use of Moses to warn Pharaoh, and YaHVaH’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Then there was bitter waters “healed,” quails and manna was provided, water from the rock in Horeb, deliverance from the Amalekites, and YaHVaH’s presence on Mt. Sinai. It is at Mt. Sinai that the Ten Commandments are spoken to all the people out loud and more commandments to Moses alone including the building of the ark, the tabernacle, and the altar.

Yes, the Israelites knew of the commandments from YaHVaH’s voice before the stone tablets were made, yet they still faltered and sinned later. Not only were the commandments spoken to them, but His Name was told to all, “And Elohiym spake all these words: saying: I am YaHVaH they Elohiym, who have brought you forth out of the land of Egypt . . . ” Ex. 20:1-2, ROSNV.

Here were the Israelites that YaHVaH had delivered from famine, delivered from bondage, delivered from ill health, delivered from hunger, and thirst, delivered from war, and shone His holy presence along with His spoken Word. Yet, you see impatience, wavering, murmuring, complaining, and later the sin of idolatry (forgetting YaHVaH completely) despite all of His deliverances and Word. For a time they praise YaHVaH when things were good, but they were far from steadfast and let the difficult times sway their faith.

Let’s see how this applies to us now. In the New Testament, Paul writes this to the Colossians, “So as to walk worthily of YaHVaH, unto all pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit, and growing in personal knowledge of YaHVaH. With all power being empowered, according to the grasp of His glory, unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy, Giving thanks unto the Father that hath made you sufficient for your share in the inheritance of the saints in the light, Who hath rescued us out of the authority of the darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love; In whom we have our redemption, the remission of our sins,” Co. 1:10-14, ROSNV. And then in Co. 2:6-7, “As therefore, we have accepted the Anointed [Yahoshua] as our Master, in Him be walking, Rooted and being built up in Him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, surpassing therein with thanksgiving.” ROSNV. Notice as New Covenant believers, Paul expresses the need for us to give thanks, to be rooted and sure in our faith, and to walk worthily. Why? Because YaHVaH has delivered us even more mightily with His Son than He did with the Israelites of old.

So I encourage you, bretheren and sisters, to put away the murmuring, complaining, depression, insecurity, and other things. You may say, “But it’s so cold,” “I’m over debt,” “The times are so bleak,” etc.; however, you would be just like the Israelites of old who failed to be steadfast in their adversity. Instead, stay rooted and give thanks. This is the perfect time to praise YaHVaH and show Him you truly rely on Him and His Son.

First published 1-2004, © 2003, 2017

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