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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Sunday, January 17, 2021
Today's Passage : Today's Passage:The Ninth Plague: Darkness Bible Verse:Exodus 10:21-29 (NKJV) "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!” So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.” " Message:
To understand what Paul is getting at here, it is helpful to read a passage from Deuteronomy:
For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
(Deut. 30:11-14)
What Paul is saying, in effect, is that if you want to find God, you don't have to travel to a mountaintop in Tibet or a monastery in Greece. You don't need to travel the earth, you don't need someone who The very first words in the Bible are: “In the beginning . . . darkness was over the face of the deep. . . . And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Darkness was not created by God. Darkness is what exists in the absence of God. Which is to say, darkness is non-existence. Because this is the first thing we read in the Bible, it informs everything in the Bible that comes after it. (Biblical hermeneutics calls this the “First Mention Principle.”)
God has turned His face away from the people of Egypt. There is literal darkness over the land and it is not just the light of the sun that is missing; light itself has ceased to exist. The Egyptians cannot burn a candle.
little girl with menorah
The physical light is metaphorical as well as literal. The Egyptians now live outside God’s favor; they have lost His grace and love. But, despite the consuming nature of the darkness, the Hebrews are able to see light by burning candles in their houses. This is a very rich symbol to Jew and Christian alike, the burning of a candle as a demonstration of God’s light, and both religions will burn candles when they turn their minds most fully toward God, i.e. on special occasions and during worship services.
The tenth and final plague, coming next, is what stands out in the minds of most people, but the most important one is the ninth, for it is the act of finality, the act of condemnation. A hanging draws popular notice, but it is only the inevitable consequence of a judge signing a death warrant.
The Pharaoh’s final and most outrageous act of pride — telling Moses that he will see Pharaoh’s face no more, and on the day he sees his face, Moses will die — is wrought with irony. Pharaoh is blind; living in absolute spiritual darkness, he believes that his face has the power of a god and that it is a curse on Moses not to see the face of Pharaoh. But the true God has turned His face upon Moses and the Hebrews, and it is a face of love and salvation.
So when Moses agrees with Pharaoh, he does so with knowledge that Pharaoh lacks. He will no longer “see Pharaoh’s face,” in the sense that he will never again look to Pharaoh as a source of authority or alliance of any kind.will go to heaven or hell, to find out how to become righteous before God and, through grace, be judged fit for God's kingdom. God delivers. Believe in Christ. Speak His name, confess, repent, be baptized. Have the faith of Christ in your heart, and all else will follow.
Meditation : Prayer : Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build up myself, and all Christians, in faith and truth, and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity.......Amen |
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