The Holy Spirit is Moving in Syria

The Holy Spirit is always at work in the world, shaping history to align with God’s eternal plan. Right now, His hand is moving powerfully in Syria, particularly with the dramatic shift in its leadership this week. Could this event be connected to the Bible’s prophecies about the end times? Absolutely.

God’s Word gives us a roadmap for the future, and what’s happening in Syria, especially in Damascus, fits right into His plan. As Daniel 2:20-21 declares, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings.”

Why Syria Matters in Prophecy

Syria, and its ancient capital Damascus, is a key player in Bible prophecy. As one of the oldest cities in the world, Damascus is mentioned repeatedly in the Scriptures, often as a focus of God’s judgment and a stage for major historical and spiritual battles.

The Bible foretells Damascus’ eventual destruction in detail:

• Isaiah 17:1-3 calls Damascus a “ruinous heap,” indicating its complete downfall.

• Amos 1:3-5 highlights God’s judgment on the rulers of Damascus for their cruelty, including their actions under King Hazael.

Hazael, a brutal king who ruled Damascus in ancient times, is described in 2Kings 8 as a powerful enemy of Israel. His reign was marked by relentless violence, fulfilling prophecies about the suffering he would inflict. Hazael’s actions were so horrific that they foreshadow the deeds of the Antichrist during the future Tribulation period.

How Today’s Events Align with Prophecy

The political shifts in Syria remind us of the prophetic warnings in Scripture. Like Hazael, who rose to power through betrayal and brought destruction, the Bible teaches that future leaders will align themselves with the Antichrist, opposing God’s people and His plans.

But here’s the good news: these events are not random. They are stepping stones toward the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ. When we see nations like Syria in turmoil, it’s a signal that God’s prophetic clock is ticking. Each development brings us closer to the fulfillment of His promises.

What Should Believers Do?

The Bible calls us to watch and prepare as we see God’s plan unfolding. Here’s how you can respond:

1. Recognize the Times

These events remind us that we are living in a crucial period of history. As the signs of the times become clearer, it’s essential to understand what they mean for the future. Jesus Himself told us to watch and be ready (Matthew 24:42).

1. Seek God’s Word

If you’re new to the Bible, start exploring passages about end times like Isaiah 17, Matthew 24, and Revelation 6-19. These chapters provide insights into what’s to come and how God’s plan is unfolding.

1. Talk About Prophecy

Use this opportunity to share with friends and family what you’re learning. End-times prophecy is a natural conversation starter, especially when it’s tied to current events. Explain how God’s plan offers hope in a world that often feels chaotic.

1. Pray for Syria and the World

Pray for the people affected by these events, that they might find hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. Pray also for wisdom to navigate these times with faith and discernment.

1. Prepare for What’s Ahead

These events remind us that Jesus is coming back soon. Live each day with eternity in mind. If you haven’t placed your trust in Him, now is the time to do so.

A Hopeful Reminder

What’s happening in Syria is a part of God’s unchanging plan. The Bible assures us that even in times of upheaval, God is in control. While the world may be shaken, His promises stand firm. These are not events to fear, but to view with hope, as they point to Christ’s ultimate victory and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

As you watch the news unfold, let it deepen your faith and ignite your passion for sharing the gospel. The day is approaching when our faith will become sight, and every knee will bow before the Lord. Let’s be ready.

Note:

For a deeper understanding of Hazael and Damascus in the end times, click here.

Richmond Shee

Abraham's Big Blunder Didn't Stop God's Plan for His Life

As we move through human history in Genesis, we come to God’s course-altering promise to Abraham in chapter 12. Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (Gen. 12:1-2).

What a grand way to start the chapter. But in the 18 verses that follow, we go from A) God’s amazing call and promise to Abraham to B) Abraham ending up in the promised land and building alters to God to (C) Abraham moving away from the promised land into Egypt because of a famine to D) Abraham assuming Pharoah will “want” his wife, and to spare his own skin, he makes a plan to allow Pharoah to peacefully take her from him. “So long, sweetie.”

How quickly he spirals into absurdity!

But my purpose here is not to drag Abraham through the mud. I want to point out a few things:

While Abraham was in charge of directing the affairs of their married life as the man of the household through whom God directs, Sarah was in charge of her responses. God doesn’t share her response or attitude here in Genesis. We like to imagine what our response would be. But we DO get her attitude in 1 Pet 3:1-6. She handled it like a champ, becoming one of our great role models.

But here’s the “rest of the story” from Gen. 12. It doesn’t end with Sarah becoming part of Pharoah’s haram. It ends with a “but God” moment. Read Gen. 12:17-20. God plagued Pharoah’s household because he took Sarah. Pharoah got to the bottom of it and discovered that Sarah was actually Abraham’s wife. The situation knocked some sense into Pharoah and he gave her back unharmed and sent them away after rebuking Abraham for allowing this situation to happen in the first place.

Here are the things I see from this chapter:

• No matter what the situation, God is in control. He can change bad circumstances around.
• When the husband makes seriously stupid choices, the wife’s correct response is to repeat these 2 verses: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Ps. 118:6&8) And then, actually trust the Lord! It takes practice, but there’s victory to be had.
• God had a plan for Abraham and Sarah’s life. He already stated it earlier in the chapter. God will see to it that His plans and purposes are fulfilled. Nothing can stop it. Not even the forks in the road where we take the “wrong” turn.
• God can use unsaved people to help steer our lives into God’s paths. They don’t realize they are tools in God’s hands.

You probably already know all this, but look at it from a different perspective in the poem below.

Jody

The Rising Son

The sun/Son is the light of the world, yes? (Joh 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. God communicates His Son’s light-bearing quality by likening Him to the actual sun. There’s one thing the sun does that we want to focus on. It rises in the morning.

Inspiration

We are so blessed that every morning, Jesus rises with us ready to demonstrate fresh mercies. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23)

After a troublesome day, we can awaken with fresh hope, greeting the morning with praise to God.  But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. (Ps. 59:16)

Because Jesus rises in the morning, we begin each day from a position of strength when we grasp on to His mercies. Start each day meditating on His loving kindness, and end the day with praise for His faithfulness in showing those loving kindnesses (Ps. 92:1-2). (For more on grasping His loving kindness, read my book Ditch Depression Devotional.)

Doctrinal

God pictures Jesus as the rising sun throughout the Bible. Jesus rose again in the morning, for starters. But there’s even more richness from the sun’s/Son’s “rising” angle when you trace it through scriptures.

• Prophetically, before Jesus was even born, the Bible says And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isa. 60:3)
• In the Psalms, God paints Jesus as the rising sun on the canvas of His creation. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Ps. 19:4-6)
• There’s the prophesy in Mal. 4:2—also before Christ’s birth—that stumps Bible scholars. Read this: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. It’s not a mistake. Here, the Son is the Sun.

Definition

Perhaps we should have started here. But we will end here. What exactly is that big bright ball in the sky we’ve been talking about? It’s a star! In star terms, Jesus is called the morning star and the day star.

Let’s leap to the end of the Bible. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16b). When you read through the Bible, you see Jesus in many lights.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2 Pet 1:19)

Now look at this. Please pay attention.

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! (Isa 14:12, New International Version)

It appears that Jesus fell from heaven in this version. But now read the King James Version of the same verse.  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Isa 14:12)

The NIV is pretty blasphemous here, replacing the fallen “Lucifer” (the devil) with the “morning star” whom we have learned is Jesus. Satan did say in Isa. 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. He got his wish in a backward way in the NIV Bible—taking Jesus down with him. (By the way, other newer translations say what the NIV says).

Some choose to read the NIV and the like because they think these are more readable. I’m thinking accuracy is the more important benchmark. Read here for more on why we choose the KJV.

Jesus is the light of the world, the morning star and the day star. He rose, and He is coming again. Learn more about Him from studying His word, taking a faith-based approach. If you’re reading the wrong Bible, you can’t believe everything you read.

Tell me what you think.

Jody

Help! The World is on Fire!

I used to look at what’s going on in our country and think that surely Jesus is about to return. How could He stand what’s going on one more minute?

And then came 2020. That’s when the whole planet went rogue. Usually, I’m oblivious to what’s going on in other countries, but the news I read these days reveals the roiling of the whole globe in a cauldron of wickedness.

Some say that it’s the believer’s duty to fight all this off with everything in us. In certain cases, yes. What’s going on in the public schools, for example, is something parents just can’t turn a blind eye to. Protect your kids. But there are other things going on we can’t do much about… the rise of wicked leaders in so many countries; wars; the push to reduce the global population; open borders allowing in criminals, terrorists, drugs and child trafficking; defunding of police departments… and on and on.

How are we to view this and not just become militant? Don’t forget God. He has a plan and a purpose.

Let me start with this: The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov 16:4)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Pet. 2:9)

There was a dress rehearsal for how this is all going to end up in Ex. 9:13-16 when God gave Moses a message to deliver to that wicked slave master Pharoah. God said that He was going to bring plagues on Pharoah and his people. God already knew Pharoah wouldn’t repent, and things would continue to get worse. Why? For this cause have I raised thee (Pharoah) up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. (Ex 9:16).

That right there was and is God’s design. Never forget that God created each and every one of us, including all these evil beasts.

In the context of His sovereign plan for the ages, He calls us all vessels. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Rom 9:21-22)

Isn’t this what God did with Pharoah? He endured with longsuffering all of Pharoah’s rejection and the worsening of circumstances for his subjects.

Let’s carry this “vessel” theme a little further. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (2 Tim 2:20) Pharoah was a vessel to dishonor. So was Judas. So are the faceless puppet masters who are really running this global horror show, human and spiritual.

Today God is enduring with longsuffering these people and their wicked schemes. He knows their end. Just like Pharoah. He made them and they are being vessels that will accomplish God’s grand plan, which involves His glory. Wickedness looks exceedingly wicked to us right now. That is to show the coming brightness of God’s pure glory in contrast, and the justness of God’s wrath when He metes it on their head. They are going to fall into the pit that they have dug for others.

Let’s go to our earlier verses and draw some comfort:

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov 16:4)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Pet. 2:9)

We don’t have to fight these people. It’s not our job. Let God do it in His perfect time and way. Meanwhile, here is our hope…That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Eph. 1:10)

Jody

Absalom’s Rejection Makes Perfect Sense

In exactly one day, upon hearing one sentence, David went from reigning king to fugitive. That one sentence was a punch in the gut. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. (2 Sam 15:13)

David knew what that meant. How? Remember after his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan delivered God’s message of punishment to David, which David did not forget these years later: Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. (2 Sam 12:10-11a)

Here it came. His son Absalom was on the march with his sword to overthrow him. Absalom had deceived the people and stolen their hearts. David immediately ran away with 600 of his men.

The Bible is a hologram. Pictures of Christ weave in and out. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you will get that. The Bible is about God and where He’s been and where He’s going. It’s about His kingdom. He made the Bible a picture book. A pattern. What happened in Bible history repeats itself. It points to either Christ’s first coming, second coming, Jews in the tribulation or all three. 

Back to our story. David, a type of Christ, is rejected by his own in 2 Sam 15. Absalom wants to replace him—by killing him if necessary. It was foretold by Nathan the prophet.

With this hint of Christ in the front of your mind now, you can’t read this next verse taken from David’s flight from Absalom without having a lightbulb moment.

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, (same as Mount of Olives) and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Sam 15:30)

Compare this with Jesus.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him…And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:39, 44)

Hopefully you see it. And having seen the similarity… the hologram… the picture… let’s go back to the prophet Nathan’s prophesy to David that we looked at earlier:

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; … Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. (2 Sam 12:10a-11a)

The sword never departed from David’s house. Jesus was the ultimate seed that came from David’s household, and in the Luke passage, Judas was on the march to meet Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives to betray Him.

This seems a grievous experience. But look. God was in control! Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. This rejection in David’s life was from the hand of God for a purpose that mirrored the rejection in Christ’s life from the hand of God for a purpose. What was that, you ask? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

By the way, the sword still never departs from David’s house. There’s still the tribulation to come where the sword comes against the Jews. This prophesy from the mouth of Nathan doesn’t end until Christ returns. The whole plan of God is still playing out!

Jody

What Does it Mean That God is Sovereign?

I’ve asked myself many times throughout my life what it means that God is sovereign. I mean, I’ve gathered that it means He is in control, but how is that demonstrated in life? I see a super example in the life of David beginning with three intriguing verses.

As Israel’s king, David came up with the noble desire to build a house (a temple) for the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant had been moved hither and yon and was housed in the tent of the tabernacle. It occurred to David that he had a better dwelling place than did the ark that represented God. That just seemed wrong to David. God deserved better than that. Let’s read this.

David didn’t even have to finish his thought before the prophet Nathan started tracking with him. He assured David that his idea was great and honorable to God. “Yes,” was Nathan’s no-brainer response to David’s desire.

If you get curious and read on in verses 4-17, you will learn that this plan of David’s to build God a house was not approved by God. Here’s where I see the sovereignty of God. Let’s approach it with these verses:

(Isa 55:8-9) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

• David’s high thoughts: “I have a house. But God doesn’t have a house. I will build Him one.”
• God’s higher thoughts: “I’ve never had a house and never asked for one, and I don’t need one now.”

God chose this occasion and this conversation to actually lay out His grand plan that David did not know, nor could he have known had the sovereign one who reigns over all not chosen to reveal the bigger picture right then and there. God announced the establishment of an eternal kingdom from David’s seed. In the near term, that was Solomon who was assigned the task of building the temple and beginning this promised kingdom. And because we see Jesus in every page of the Bible, we note that Solomon was a proxy for Jesus who would be of David’s seed on down the road, and His kingdom would and will last forever.

Life is a tapestry, and we live on the underside unable to see the pattern and beauty that’s visible from above. The master weaver has a grand plan that He is threading together.

God’s sovereignty is not simply His foreknowledge. He knows what will happen, yes, but He’s also in control of it. He brings about events for His purposes and His glory.

What do we learn about God from David’s story?

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. (Prov 19:21)

The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: (Isa. 14:24)

David was allowed to hear God’s ultimate plan in response to his own little plan. In our age, we are allowed to hear God’s decisive plan too… from reading His word:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Eph. 1:9)

By the way, the top of that tapestry is more complete now than it was in David’s day. It’s still the same one. God described His final design and purpose in the next verses.

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. (Eph 1:10-11)

Jody

A Fresh Look at the Tower of Babel

There’s one place and one miracle in the Bible about which I’ve never heard an in-depth “what does that mean prophetically” discussion. It’s the tower of Babel. God scattered all the peeps and gave them different languages, which ended the dispensation of human government. It happened in Gen 11:1-9, and here’s the general thinking of the time: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Gen. 11:4)

Remember, after the flood, God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth (Gen 9:1). Like, spread out. Now, later, they decide they want to create and unite within a super city with a super tower reaching heaven. They focused on making a name for themselves.

Well, they kind of did. Hello Babylon. God’s goal was not a one-world government at this time in this way. How do we know that? Because He tells us. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech (Gen 11:6-7).

I’m pushing pause. Do you see that miracle? In a matter of seconds, God put all kinds of different languages in their mouths and moved them into language-centered people groups, each developing its own culture. We could say that in that instant, God ended a dispensation and began a new one. And we know why. They aimed to build a global empire. In Babylon. 

Only that split-second miracle prevented the prominence of Babylon in that era. I’m cutting to the chase. Here’s a truth to wrap your mind around. All of Biblical history serves as a pattern for the future.

In the case of the tower of Babel and the city of Babylon, that was a stab at a one-world government. But we know the whole book, and a one-world government isn’t in God’s plan under any other leader than Jesus Christ at the right time and from the right place. (Remember, the government shall be upon His shoulder Isa. 9:6.)

In the end, Babylon is mentioned 6 times in the book of Revelation… and none of the references are flattering. They are all about the city falling and being thrown down. Kind of like at the tower of Babel.

If you’re reading the alternative news (because the mainstream news isn’t showing the whole picture), you see that another global one-world everything is in the making. Will it succeed? Did the tower of Babel? It was the pattern for what’s going to happen. God hated this concept back then, and He’s got His eye on it again this time.

What’s going to prevent it this time? Another phenomenal miracle that will happen in a moment. Back then, it was a confusion of languages in a single moment. This time, us believers will be taken up in the rapture, and the tribulation will commence. All this one-world stuff you see shaping up will continue to shape up while we’re in heaven getting geared up to return with Jesus at the end of the tribulation to finish off the devil’s schemes that he’s been working on since before the days of Adam and Eve.

Let the story of the Tower of Babel encourage you that the one-world governance you see developing now is under the watchful eye of God, and He will end it. And you will be part of His solution. We read the back of the book, and He wins!

Tell me what you think!

Jody

What’s the Difference Between a Bible Study and a Life Group?

I don’t think anyone would argue that we’ve clearly entered the last days. Besides the downward spiral of government(s), schools, the media/news, the family and basic morals, the church is also suffering. And I’m not talking about “woke” churches. I’m talking about churches that still look to the Bible for insight—but barely. There’s been a subtle change regarding how churches approach the Bible. That is, today it’s a resource to add to your feelings and discussions.

I speak this from the perspective of a couple (us) who both have the spiritual gift of teaching. Unfortunately, we find that folks today don’t have the gift of listening, but rather of discussing, sharing and opening up.

So, let’s talk about home groups (also known as life groups, cell groups, fellowship groups), which have replaced midweek-service Bible studies in a lot of churches. In today’s care groups, it’s not essential that the group leader be a teacher. Just a discussion facilitator able to coax opinions out of people. It’s also not necessary that the study material be the Bible. A “how to” book written by a popular influencer will do.

I speak of nothing new. This has been going on for a few decades. Back in the 1990s, one of the home groups in the church I attended wanted to study the Bible, but the pastor would not allow it. He said only a pastor could lead an actual study of the Bible. Instead, the group had a choice of 3 or 4 topical books to read and discuss. When some friends, who had escaped that home group/church heard that I was going to that church, they prayed me out. God answered.

That was nearly 30 years ago. Today, home/care groups of fundamental churches are fundamentally more focused on thoughts, opinions, feelings and deep emotional sharing. Only Christ’s return is going to stop this. Churches overall are blindly too far afield.

Just for clear contrast, here’s the difference between a midweek Bible study and a home or life group.

Bible Study	Life Group
The topic is the Bible	The topic is… a topic and/or current events
The source is the Bible	The source is a book, video, article, handout, etc. with the Bible as a secondary source
The role of the leader is to teach	The role of the leader is to facilitate discussion
The aim is to learn what God says. (Thus saith the Lord)	The aim is soul care: for everyone to feel loved, heard and valued
Central focus: God and His word	Central focus: Us
Bottom line: The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Ps. 119:130)	Bottom line: A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. (Prov 18:2)

The reason why churches will not revert back to Bible studies is that they sound too dry compared to the feelings- and self-focused nature of life groups. To get the most attendees, they must focus on the attendees.

But let me change gears here. When believers face Christ at the judgment seat, they will be judged for their works, whether they be good or bad and of what sort they are (gold, silver and precious stones or wood, hay and stubble 1 Cor 3:12). Remember that truth that God gave gifts to men, and those are for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph 4:12)? Doesn’t it make sense that our best works will be those in which we use the talents He gave us for Him and His purposes, like He expects us to do?

That whole concept is top of mind to me. So, here’s how the conversation could go when someone like me faces Christ at the judgement seat.

Christ: I gave you the gift of teaching. How did you use that?

Me: Well, lately, I haven’t had anyone to teach.

Christ: Couldn’t you find someone to teach?

Me: I would have loved to have taught a Bible study, but my church doesn’t encourage that. They want us to study “The Purpose Driven Life” in life groups.

Christ: Why didn’t you leave that church and go to one that would receive you and use you with your gift? As it is, you buried your talent!

I don’t want to face the Lord and have a conversation like that. How about you?

If you’re reading this and you totally get it as a layman, start praying that God will guide you to another church more in line with His focus, which is building His kingdom.

If you’re a pastor, and perchance you “get it,” start a Bible study in which you pick a book of the Bible, outline one chapter at a time, giving an outline copy to each group member. Over time, encourage them to come up with their own outline for the next chapter and come prepared next time to teach it. That’s exactly how the pastor/teacher of a Bible study I went to at another church did it. Through that process, I found I loved outlining chapters and sharing what I got from studying. It was confirmed, I have the gift of teaching.

Pastors, disciple your Bible study students in studying and teaching the Bible and see who God raises up as a teacher.

Churches, use your teachers—and not only as childrens’ workers. Teaching is a primary gift in helping saints to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).

R&J Shee

Whose Son was David

I love the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. I’ll bet there’s not a children’s Bible story book that doesn’t include this amazing true snippet from David’s life. But has anyone besides me ever puzzled over the last four verses of this chapter? It’s the part where Saul becomes obsessed to find out whose son David is. He asks three times in four verses whose son David is. This wouldn’t be so odd, except if you read the end of the previous chapter, Saul was totally aware of whose son David was. Here, look.

After looking at these two passages next to each other, I can conclude one of two things. A) Saul had advanced dementia, or B) God thinks it’s really important that we all grasp whose son David is. If you can think of another reason, please share.

Jesse is the obvious answer to whose son David is. But was Jesse a remarkable character in the Bible? Look him up. His first claim to fame was that his son was David. Jesse is mentioned 47 times in the Bible, and 17 of those times puts David and Jesse in the same verse. Without being too wordy, I’m going to point out a few verses that add weight to whose son David is. All the while, let’s remember that David is a type of Christ (mentioned in my last 2 blogs).

• The prophet Isaiah said in Isa 11:1: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Jesse is the stem. David was a proxy for Jesus (Capital “B: Branch). This is Christ’s first coming.
• The prophet Isaiah continued in Isa 11:10: And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. This is Christ’s second coming. We know because of the reference to “that day,” which always refers to Christ’s second coming plus the reference to “his rest,” which refers to the Millennial rest. At Christ’s second coming He sets up the Millennial kingdom/rest.

If you can call a father’s children his branches, we will call Jesse the root stock, and king David is a branch from him. But so is king Jesus. Just a few years removed.

When Saul asked three times in four verses whose son this valiant David was, his curious thoughts and words were recorded to help us pay attention to this very detail. Later in Biblical time, we can all connect the dots.

Oh, by the way. Does it matter to us Gentiles that David (as a type of Jesus) was king of the Jews? Is this all for naught to us today living in a different dispensation and not part of Israel? This one is for us courtesy of the Apostle Paul: (Rom 15:12) And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Ah. The Branch from Jesse wasn’t just for the Jews.

Jesus is King in our lives spiritually, and one day He will be our literal King. With Him reigning, our vexed souls will be at rest. Right now, we may feel that life as we’ve always known it is swirling down the drain. But when He finally appears, His righteous, just, pure, steady hand of control will be that much more glorious. And that’s by design.

As a proxy for Jesus Christ, David slayed that dastardly Goliath. Can we say that the spirit of Goliath lives today, and we are staring him in the face? It will take our real King to slay him. And let all the world ask… whose son is that?

Tell me what you think.

Jody

There's More to David and Goliath

Who doesn’t love the story of David and Goliath? When you read it, it’s like watching a movie in your mind. The underdog kid takes a stone in his slingshot and conks the nasty giant on the head and he falls over dead. Applause!

This movie reel that we are watching in our mind that happens in 1 Sam 17… I want to pause it on one frame. Before that frame, I want to highlight what has led up to this spot in the story. … Young David has already been anointed to be the next king by Samuel, unbeknownst to God-rejected current king Saul (1 Sam 16:1-2). David has become Saul’s music therapist by others’ persuasion (1 Sam. 16:14-23). David’s father Jesse has commissioned David to go feed bread to his brothers on the battle line (1 Sam 17:17). In this process, David hears Goliath’s challenge of 40 days for someone of Israel to step up and fight him like a man (1 Sam 17:16, 23). David’s brothers have rejected him being there (1 Sam 17:28-29). Perhaps because of his music-therapist connection with Saul, David gets an audience with Saul where this young whipper snapper presents himself as the one to take on Goliath (1 Sam 17:31-32).

Before I push “play” on our movie reel, I must stall briefly to lift our eyes out of the historical account to what’s going on prophetically. If you read my last post, you see that David was a type of Christ—seen from the verse where God tells us he has “provided me a king among his (Jesse’s) sons.” (1 Sam 16:1 confirmed in Isa. 11:1)

Okay. Back to our movie. Take a handful of popcorn. Here we go.

These two verses  begin the identity of David not only as a conquering king after God’s own heart (before he was installed as king), but also as a prophet. Here are some points to ponder:

• When you read the continuing story of David killing Goliath, don’t miss the fact that he acted kingly in this famous moment before he was king, just as Jesus accomplished his greatest salvation feats before being installed as king (which is yet to happen!)
• Notice also that the testimony David was driving at in the verses above was that “there is a God in Israel.” This story prophetically is about a king in Israel. This will be the case in the Millennium after Jesus has returned as King.
• But the biggest point I want you to see is how that David launched his identity as a prophet in these verses. BTW, was he actually a prophet as well as king? Yeppers. See Acts 2:30 and additionally, consider the “Messianic Psalms.” All those are prophetic and written by David. So yes, he was also a prophet.

Now let’s read the verses again, and this time, ask yourself, “how did David know that? Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. (1 Sam 17:45-46)

He knew how this story was going to end because the Spirit of the Lord was with him. He was future king, yes, but he was also a prophet. You read those two verses a third time and you get a glimpse into how God worked with prophets to record the scriptures. What the prophets recorded in the Bible didn’t come from their imagination or their gifted writing abilities. They were dropped in their pens/head/mouths just as the words David said in our verses were dropped into his mouth (2 Pet 1:20-21). What he told Goliath in that prophetic moment was God-breathed into David’s mouth. And then it was lived out. He took off Goliath’s head “this day.”

Just as a closing thought. That “feeding dead bodies to the fowls of the air.” In our story, Goliath had just told David he was going to kill him and give his flesh to the fowls of the air. Um. It didn’t happen like that. Instead, David turned that on Goliath and told him. No, he was going to give the carcases of the host of the Philistines to the fowls of the air. This also points to the future, Look at Rev. 19:17-18. Those fowls of the air will be the clean-up crew after the Battle of Armageddon. For David historically, it happened “this day.” Prophetically, it will happen “that day,” and that’s a whole different study!

There is certainly more to this whole story than the fascinating historical event that it was! It speaks of the future.

Tell me what you think.

Jody

I Wonder Why...

Some of my best Bible studies, especially when reading the Old Testament, start with the question, “I wonder why…”

Going through 1 Samuel, I’m in chapter 16 where Samuel and God are communing about God’s rejection of king Saul. But before even getting past verse 1, I just find it intriguing that the first king the Israelites got (Saul) was not up to snuff. He wasn’t good enough. Another king was needed. I wonder why? Did God make a mistake in having Samuel anoint Saul as king in 1 Sam 10:1? I’ve learned that there is always a bigger picture in play in the telling of historical events. And, in the telling of history, there are glimpses of Jesus. I watch how things are worded. And I found something today I’ve never seen before. I hope you will see it with me.

1 Sam 16:1: And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

What’s going on historically is plain. No need to repeat. But what’s happening prophetically? It’s in the words. Compare the verses in the graphic and tell me if you see it.

I’ve long heard Bible teachers talk about how you can see Jesus in the Genesis story of Abraham offering Isaac. Partly you see that in the phrase “God will provide himself a lamb,” meaning He would be the lamb (in Jesus) prophetically. Well, that same thing applies to our passage. Through a prophetic lens, God was saying just what He said. “I have provided me a king…”

Go with me into God’s plan for the yet future. If you think what’s happening in the world today is mind boggling, just consider the tribulation when there will be a wicked king (the antichrist) the likes of whom no one has seen. He will start out exemplary, just like Saul did. To the Jews, the antichrist will be a welcome sight with his promise of peace for Israel. Saul was a welcome sight to the Israelites. They just wanted a king. Unfortunately, their king did not know the Lord. How do I know that? After Saul had sinned by not obeying God’s command to destroy everything of the enemy Amalekites, Samuel confronted Saul with his sin. He made excuses for his sin, revealing his disobedient lackadaisical heart. The prophet Samuel told Saul that God was done with him as king. Saul’s response was… ponderous. Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. (1 Sam 15:30)

Have you heard the term “saving face?” That’s what’s going on in this verse. Saul admits to messenger prophet Samuel that he sinned. But he doesn’t want his honor as king stripped away. He asks Samuel to honor him in front of the people. Honestly. That’s what’s going on in this verse. Read it again. His face-saving request is to “worship the Lord thy God” in front of the people. He wants to keep up appearances. Hmm. And looking at every word, do you notice that Saul requests to worship “the Lord thy God?” I guess he figures he isn’t fooling Samuel anymore, so he doesn’t find it necessary to confess the Lord as his own God. It’s “thy God” he asks to “worship.”

And so we see the bigger picture in type. Saul, the antichrist—not the true saving king. The next king, Jesus, whom David pictures, will be right after the antichrist to wrap up the tribulation and return as King.

Let’s end with the turning of the page to 1 Samuel 16:1 again—and now read it with fresh eyes:

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

(Isa 11:1) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Learn to read the Old Testament through the lens of the future. You'll notice that God is the author of the concept "history repeats itself."

Tell me what you think.

Jody

There's Got to be More to the Bible

I wonder how many believers feel like I did the first half of my Christian life. I dutifully went to church (Bible and Baptist churches) and knew the verses that linked success to knowing and meditating on the Bible. I had daily devotions and sat through regular services. Two decades in and I became disheartened. Never in a sermon did I hear anything I couldn’t have gotten from reading the Bible myself. In fact, I was reading my Bible and had already gotten it. There was nothing new.  I cried out to God. There had to be more.

God heard my prayer, and He knew exactly what I needed. It required getting me out of my bland church and into one I never would have picked had God not drawn me by compelling circumstances. It was at this church I learned of deep, soul-satisfying treasures in the Bible. I had only ever read and heard of two dimensions of the Bible—historic and devotional. That is, you take the events that happened in the Bible and figure out how you can apply those lessons to your daily life. At this new-to-me church, I learned of a third dimension that makes the Bible come alive with God’s plan and His working through the ages to make that plan happen. The third dimension is the doctrinal/prophetic angle.

Exactly what am I talking about? Well, today I am releasing a fiction book called “Treasures in Plain Sight.” It’s a short allegory novel (62 pages) taking the reader though the main character’s experience regarding Bible understanding. It shows how she came to learn of the deep treasures from God and how that helped her to get to know the Lord better. And isn’t that the ultimate goal of our Bible reading? You can read the first six chapters for free if you click on “Book: Treasures in Plain Sight” on the right side of this page. If you like it, it’s available pretty cheap on Amazon ($4.95). Even cheaper on Kindle ($2.99).

Without that third dimension of doctrine and God’s ultimate purpose, my spiritual life was flat. But once I was conditioned and trained to see the hidden treasures, my life has never been the same. Further, it was at this church with this view of the Bible I met my husband Richmond who came to know the Lord and grow right out of the gate with that expanded outlook. We are on the same page and started this blog 14 years ago in order to share some of the truths we know and live by!

Jody

Assumptions and Deception are First Cousins

Both friends and foes of the Lord naturally operate on assumptions and end up deceived. Unpleasant consequences follow, like in 1 Samuel 3. The Israelites were just defeated by the enemy Philistines. The Israelites then assumed in chapter 4 that if they had the ark of the covenant with them, they would win the next battle. After all, hadn’t they won the battle against their enemy Egyptian slave masters when the ark went before them into the Red Sea?

Their assumption that the ark was the key to that victory was a deception. The truth was that God was not with them in this battle, for He was angry with them. The result of their assumption that they would have victory in the ark ended in disaster. Not only were they still defeated, the ark of the covenant was stolen by the enemy Philistines. It’s what 1 Samuel chapter 4 is all about.

In 1 Samuel 5, the enemy Philistines assumed that the ark of the covenant was a god who was on their side, allowing them victory against the Israelites. So, they stored the ark in the house of their god Dagon. Not only did their god Dagon mysteriously fall over twice in front of the ark (with its head and hands cut off the second time it happened), but the men in the cities were destroyed wherever the ark was. The enemy Philistines moved the ark to 3 of its cities to stave off destruction, and each of the three cities was destroyed: Ashdod (5:1-7); Gath (5:8-9); Ekron (5:10-12). Their assumption of victory turned out to be a deceived way of thinking.

Now, all that is history, isn’t it? But, be warned, deception is not over. In the context of the last days, which we are in, notice what Paul says to Timothy:  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). Little wonder, because Satan knows his days are numbered. Here’s what he has to look forward to: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).

Going forward, deception will reign in this world. How is one to live in this reality? The same way you’ve been taught: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we lean on our own understanding, we are leaning on our assumptions.

In these last days of deception in government, education, media and non-Bible believing/teaching churches, we can’t afford to believe everything we hear, assuming it to be true. There are only two sources of truth and certainty: God and His word. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever (Psalm 119:160). Consider not only reading it, but studying it. And not only that, memorize it so His word and not your assumptions fill your mind.

Jody

Different Operating Systems

I confess, when talking to Christians who believe we should keep the Sabbath, I have misused Col 2:16. (Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:) My point with that verse was to say, “if you want to keep the Sabbath day, you are perfectly free to do that. I can’t judge you on that. Just don’t tell every Christian they need to keep the Sabbath.”

Like most of us, I have been guilty of taking a single verse and making a case with it. Restating my previous case: “I won’t judge someone who wants to keep the Sabbath day. I know Christians aren’t called to observe it, but anyone who wants to is free to, and who am I to judge them?”

But rule No. 1 of Bible study is context. What is God saying to whom? How does the verse fit in the larger context of what the writer is saying?

I discovered my lack of understanding when studying through Col. 2, just using the Bible, not a commentary, devotional book, fill-in-the-blank workbook or any outside source. In Col. 2, Paul is commending the Colossians for their faith in “the faith” and encourages them to keep it up. (Col. 2:4-7) Then Paul warns them of folks who try to spoil them through philosophy, vain deceit, the tradition of men and the principles of the world, and not after Christ. (Col. 2:8).

I think the key point of chapter 2 is verses 9-10 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” This was HUGE for this time as folks were still morphing out of the OT law into NT grace. He was saying they were complete in Christ (and not complete by keeping the law).

To illustrate, the Old Testament law with its ordinances, feasts and sacrifices is like a computer operating system. Let’s say Microsoft on a personal computer. All those elements (dietary requirements, holy observances, sabbath days, etc.) were what God required of the Jews in the Old Testament. That was their operating system. One of the 10 commandments was to keep the Sabbath. And I will argue, it was one of the most important of the 10 commandments, punishable by death if they didn’t keep it. (Ex. 31:15 and 35:2)

Then came Christ as the divine human sacrifice for sins by which we could and should be saved by grace through faith in Christ’s shed blood for our sins. That, my friends, is the New Testament operating system. I’ll call it Apple’s Mac. It’s totally different from Microsoft. But you see, every religious person was used to “Microsoft.” Couldn’t/Shouldn’t NT believers keep that as part of their operating system?

Paul’s point to the Colossians, who were inundated with folks promoting the old operating system, was that the new system was all about faith in Christ. Only instead of calling it Apple’s Mac system, he called it “the faith.” (Col. 2:7)

OK, now let’s look at Col. 2:16-17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Paul’s readers were being judged by those insisting on the old operating system. These young believers were being told they had to observe the dietary laws and keep the holydays and sabbath days. Paul was telling them not to let anyone judge them for NOT keeping them. Look at verse 17. Those laws “are a shadow of things to come.” What God instituted in the OT pictured things yet future. “but the body is of Christ.” The body, the church, is the current operating system. The two systems just don’t operate the same. God invented both. Right now in the church age, those OT laws are set aside. For this age, don’t let anyone judge you for not keeping these laws, including the Sabbath.

In closing, I will say that God is not done with the old operating system. It isn’t the way we operate in the church age, but those OT laws and observances were a shadow of things to come. That means they were a picture or type. I’ll argue that some of this will come back in the Millennium, which is the 7,000^th year –a Millennium of rest, and the Sabbath (7^th day of rest) is a shadow of the 7,000^th year Millennium of rest. To some degree, in the Millennium, the world might go back to some of the old operating system. But not right now. So, the point is, don’t let anyone judge ME or YOU for not keeping the Sabbath. We live by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. This is the church age (at least it still was on Oct. 9, 2021!).

Jody

Moses at God's Service

I continue to find amazing ways in which Moses pictures Christ. I started this journey of correlating the two after reading this verse: And the LORD said unto me (Moses), They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deut. 18:17) This opened my mind to the possibility that much of what went on with Moses pictures Christ’s work at His first coming, and later at His second coming.

As we see things today, I have to first point out that not everything in Moses’s life pictures Christ. Moses was literally his own meek self. Oh wait, wasn’t Jesus also meek? The Bible only ascribes meekness to Moses (Num. 12:3) and Jesus (Matt 11:29).

At any rate, after God finishes explaining to Moses how He plans to use him to deliver Israel (Oh wait, doesn’t God use Jesus to deliver Israel at His Second Coming), Moses pushes back in chapter 4. And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. (Exo. 4:1) In my almost 50 years of reading the Bible and listening to sermons, the takeaway from this verse has always been that Moses, like us, had a lot of self-doubt and lack of trust that what God promises, He’s able to perform. But with my new lens, I see that what Moses does in this verse is NOT to question God. Do you see a question mark? He didn’t ask, “What if they don’t believe me?” He made a statement. “But, behold, they will not believe me.”  Do you see some Prophet Moses/Jesus here? He stated the fact, the people would not believe him. The “they” that wouldn’t believe him goes back to chapter 3 when God talked about the Egyptians. Egypt is a type of the world. Those in the world would not believe Moses—or Jesus. It was a prophetic statement.

From here, God introduces the rod in Moses’s hand. I won’t discuss that much here because I did a six-blog series on how the rod pictures Christ in 2012-13. (Check those out by clicking on the years to the left). But I’ll point out God’s command to Moses in Ex. 4:17: And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Something fascinating happens next from a prophetic standpoint, and I only saw it when I meditated on the fact that God commissioned Moses with the rod (representing Christ in object form). But wasn’t it Aaron’s rod that budded that ended up going into the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies? I went back through the plagues and discovered that the catalyst for the miracle plagues was often Aaron and his rod. But didn’t we just read that Moses was to take his rod and do the signs? What happened? Here’s the main new thought for today. Moses was a type of Christ as prophet. Remember Jesus was Prophet, Priest and King—in that order. In fact, Jesus as king is still to come. In Exodus chapters 3 and 4, we have Moses positioned as prophet. He was first. In chapter 4, we are introduced to Aaron. He was not an afterthought, as it might appear. Aaron is a type of Christ as priest. You know, Moses and Aaron were brothers—both from the priestly line of Levi. Interesting that Moses was not a priest. Aaron was. Moses was prophet. They both picture Christ in their different roles. But now it makes sense that the rod (picturing Christ, in object form) was interchangeable between Moses and Aaron. They both picture Christ in different roles.

I’ll close with this. In the end, when it was time to cross the Red Sea, it was Moses’s “rod job.” The Lord said to Moses, But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (Exo. 14:16) After the miracle, Moses sang a praise song in chapter 15. Look what he said:

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. (Exo. 15:11-12) Does anyone else see what I see? Moses was the one who lifted up his hand with the rod in it, and he says God stretched out HIS right hand and did the miracle. I will leave you to meditate on that!

Meditation is observing, asking questions, praying, thinking, comparing Scripture with Scripture and being AMAZED at what you see.

Tell me what you think.

Jody

What's in a Name?

This is Part 2 (of many parts) in which we look at how Moses pictures Jesus and vice versa. I’ve embarked upon this quest, and I’m taking you with me, because I read this verse: And the LORD said unto me (Moses), They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deut. 18:17) God makes it super plain here for even those who aren’t keen on “types” that Moses is a type of Jesus. It’s that capital “P” Prophet that made me want to read through Exodus with the lens of “How does Moses picture Jesus?”

Right from the beginning of Moses’s life, God starts His “typing” process. In Exodus 2, we read of the birth of Moses during a time when all the baby boys were killed. You remember how his mother placed him in a basket in the Nile river rather than have him killed. Passing by, Pharaoh’s daughter heard him crying and rescued him. After Moses was weened by Moses’s natural mother, Pharaoh’s daughter got him back and named him Moses. That name might appear happenstance, but not so if he was going to picture the Prophet. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. (Ex. 2:10) That there tells you what his name means: drawn out of the water. I suppose from Moses’s standpoint, we could say that he was saved from sure death by being drawn up out of the water.

Now let’s compare scripture with scripture. Was Jesus drawn out of the water? In His death and resurrection, you could say so. Look at this Messianic Psalm: He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. (Ps. 18:16-17) God drew Jesus up out of death-- “out of many waters.”

Can you picture this? I’ll help you. Consider baptism. You’ve probably never looked at it this way, but meditate on this with me. Jesus aimed to keep this picture alive by including it in the Great Commission: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost… (Matt 28:19) What is baptism? It’s a picture of our identity with Christ. We go down in the water to picture His death and burial. We come back up out of the water to picture being raised in newness of life. Like Christ was raised out of the water of death, we are raised out of the water to picture newness of life. Now with all that in mind, let’s go back to the verse I started with: And the LORD said unto me (Moses), They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses)…(Deut. 18:17a)

I didn’t find any of this in a commentary. I haven’t even read a commentary on Moses or Exodus. I got here simply with curiosity and my Bible. If you’d like to keep going with me on this, decide to be curious with me, and in order to compare verses, get a Bible app with the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) on it, like the Blue Letter Bible phone app or any number of computer apps. The TSK, in book form, is a massive book of cross references that go way beyond what you’ll find in the center margin of your Bible.

And I’ll close with this thought I meditated on. Moses was unique in that He represented the Hebrews/Jews—the chosen people of God. After all, he was born in the priestly tribe of Levi. But Moses also uniquely represented the world. He was raised/adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh, the Monarch of ancient Egypt. Egypt is a type of the world. Jesus, you know, was the Son of God/High Priest, but He grew up in the world as the Son of Man. He was fully both, and Moses uniquely pictures that.

Oh, and one more closing meditation. Isn’t it unique that when Moses was born, all the baby boys were being killed (Ex. 1:16)? And when Jesus was born, he was sought out to be killed (per Matt. 2:13).

And because Herold sought to kill baby Jesus, guess where God had Joseph and Mary hide: When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matt 2:14-15) Hmm. Moses was called out of Egypt too.

Well, if you followed all that, yay! Stay with me and let’s see more in Exodus of how Moses pictures Christ and vice versa.

Tell me what you think!

Jody

The New Prophet

THIS caught my eye: And the LORD said unto me (Moses), They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deut. 18:17-17)

God said He would raise up another capital-P Prophet like Moses, and put His (God’s) words in his mouth, and he would speak all that God would tell him to speak. The capital-P Prophet is obviously a reference to Jesus. And if you read the verse carefully, it says He (Jesus) would be raised up like Moses. That’s enough to make me want to re-read Exodus, which heavily features Moses, and see in what ways he pictures Jesus.

But for today, I’ll just take these Deuteronomy verses to look for clues of how Moses and Jesus are alike. Let’s look at part two of the verse again. “and will put my words in his (the coming Prophet, Jesus) mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Moses was like that. He only spoke to the people what God told him to speak. That’s what prophets did. Was Jesus like that? Did He only speak what God commanded Him to speak?  

Absolutely. It’s one thing I’ve noticed that sets the gospel of John apart from the other three gospels. I’ll show you:

• For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. (John 12:49)
• I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. (John 8:26)
• Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)
• Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15)
• For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. (John 17:8)

John was so careful to highlight that Jesus’s words weren’t His, but His Father’s. He was also just as quick to point out that Jesus only did the things God told him to do. With all this understanding, let’s re-read our Deuteronomy verses again: And the LORD said unto me (Moses), They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deut. 18:17-17)

I’m about to take a journey through Moses's life in Exodus to see pictures of Christ I might not have seen before, because God clearly alerts us that there’s something to see there.

You know, after awhile, you’ve read through any number of books of the Bible multiple times, and the thought of reading some of them again can seem … dull. I’ll confess, years ago when I’d feel like I’d already covered the Bible well enough, I’d go out and buy a new Bible version to liven things up. That “livening method” is over. I eventually settled on the King James Bible, simply because it’s been proven to me that it’s the most accurate*, and that matters more than any other factor. But what makes the Bible come alive to me these days is the different lenses I “choose to wear” when I read through a book that I’ve already read plenty of times. For instance, the reason I know that Jesus was keen on only saying and doing what God told Him to say and do is because I noticed it once and decided that the next time I read through John, I’d focus on how Jesus only said or did what God instructed Him to. That understanding came back to me when reading these Deuteronomy verses.

Now I’m going to read through Exodus focusing on ways I see Jesus in Moses and vice versa. I’ll take you on the journey with me. I hope you’re as excited as I am!

Jody

*Just one point regarding accuracy in our Deuteronomy verses for the day. Newer translations don't capitalize the "p" in Prophet, which will make you lose A) the understanding that it's referring to Jesus B) confidence that you can have any idea what the Bible really says in English.

Mercy is Blue

If you could give God’s mercy a color, it would be blue. Well, first it would be red, because Jesus shed his blood so that we might receive forgiveness of sins leading to a right relationship with God and an eventual home in heaven. But now He is in heaven, distributing mercy as a high priest who can identify with our mortality, and mercy is blue.

I mean blue as in calm blue skies and a quiet blue ocean. I take those for granted here in Hawaii. But it’s March, and we’ve had more than a week of angry skies—flooding and landslides, really. When God’s mercy smiles down on us, it shows up as a calm blue sky unmixed with atmospheric drama.

Just think about some Biblical times when God’s mercy was absent, like in Noah’s day when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. There were no blue skies or blue ocean then. Only eight people lived through that.

Think of Sodom and Gomorrah—cities that were oblivious to God’s character expectations until the day the Lord opened the skies and rained fire and brimstone down on them (Gen. 19:24). They would have wished for blue skies.

Both of those examples demonstrate God’s wrath and judgment turned evident in the skies. Can we say that when it’s calm and “normal” out there, God is merciful, encouraging us to live in His gentle ways and to enjoy Him and all He created for us?

Now let’s go a little more metaphoric. What about the dark night when we don’t personally see blue skies/God’s mercy? Sometimes His mercy is hidden by darkness. But just know—it’s all blue to Him. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee (Ps. 139:10-12).

And then, what about the times we live in right now, when the world seems dark, and God’s blue skies of innocence and mercy are fading. This evil that is overspreading the skies is a sign of the end times. But it’s not time to shrink in dread and terror. It’s time to be alert, watchful and keep living right. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Rom 13:11-12).

We’ve seen nothing like the darkness that will be the tribulation. But that’s not the end of it all. Watch: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (Mal 4:1-2). In context, this is a promise to Israel, but it shows God’s character. He comes to the rescue of all believers who trust in Him and who call upon Him. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds (Ps. 57:10).

With God, mercy lives on.

Jody

How to View Conspiracy Theories

While we navigate through these challenging times, I’ve become fascinated with the polarizing topic of conspiracy theories. Those who believe in them are tuned in to subversive plots to overthrow people and governments. Those who don’t believe in conspiracy theories bristle at the mention of them, citing lack of factual proof. (That pretty much summarizes the electoral college vote confirmation debacle on Jan. 5, 2021.)

What does the Bible say about conspiracy theories? Plenty. From the following example regarding the Apostle Paul, I learn that when there’s an actual conspiracy, there’s a plot, secrecy and deception. See if you notice: And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. (Acts 23:12-15)

Who, on the outside of this story, would have known there was a plan to kill Paul? Had there been a hearing on this, the one side would have been up in arms over the conspiracy to kill Paul, and the other side would have said, “There’s no proof. You’re crazy.”

Another example. Jesus. In hindsight, we know that the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. He, knowing this, tried to prepare His disciples for the plot that was about to unfold.  

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me. (Matthew 16:21-23a)

Look at that conflict and learn. Yes, there was a conspiracy to kill Jesus. It was not an overtly visible plot to the disciples. Jesus pointed out the conspiracy. Peter saw no proof, so he rebuked Jesus for thinking and saying there was a plot. And who was behind it all? You got it.

Here’s the ultimate lesson. Satan is a murderer (John 8:44), a deceiver (Rev. 12:9) and a liar (John 8:44). We know from the Bible Satan’s ultimate endgame: a one world government and the worship of all. And he (Satan) had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Rev. 13:15)

To get there, governments are going down. That’s all the proof we need of a subversive plot to overthrow people and governments. It’s headed to a world near you. The only question left is when will this plot to take down governments and require antichrist worship get under way? I don’t know for sure, but I’m watching the signs of the times, and I’m not surprised by anything I see happening. The warning, though, is not to allow an overactive imagination (2 Cor. 10:5). Pray for discernment and wisdom, especially regarding what to say, to whom, and when—and when to say nothing. Don’t go crazy with the truth you know and the details you don’t.

Jody

Should Christians Judge Others?

The question of whether Christians should judge others is an evergreen, multi-generational debate that stems from Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Those whose acts or lifestyles are being judged are quick to quote this verse to fend off their self-righteous accusers.

Those who judge claim that the Bible teaches them to “judge righteously” and that the Apostle Paul himself also judged the Corinthians. They cite Deuteronomy 1:16, Proverbs 31:9, and 1Corinthians 5:3.

Which camp is right?

Let’s take a step back and get the context of Matthew 7:1. It is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount teachings, which begin in Matthew 5. Jesus’ sayings and teachings were very different than the traditional teachings of the Pharisees that the common Jews received in those days. In fact, Jesus’ teachings were radical in comparison. For example:

• Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
• Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
• Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
• Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
• Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Jesus’ teachings not only went beyond the Pharisees’ morals, the messages were crafted against them. Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees were members of a powerful Jewish religious party, distinguished by strict observance of tradition and the written law. Together with the Scribes, they corrupted God’s word and common people and were staunch opponents of Jesus. Recalling the movie entitled “The Devil Wears Prada,” the Scribes and Pharisees were devils in robes and phylacteries. In Matthew 23, Jesus called them out for their hypocrisies. Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (Also read Matthew 23:23-33)

The Pharisees were the classic “do as I say, and not as I do” (Matthew 23:1-7) spiritual police who patrolled synagogues, marketplaces, and towns looking for faults in people. They had authority to put offenders out of the synagogue (John 9:22) and to send officers to arrest them (John 7:32).

Therefore, when Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” we must keep the Pharisees context in mind. The Pharisees loved to judge others’ faults with magisterial judgments, but justified themselves in doing the same things or worse (John 7:22-23 and the list in Matthew 23). It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. They got away with it because they had power and influence.

What can we learn from Jesus’ teaching about judging others in Matthew 7?

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

We are urged not to judge others, because how we judge can backfire. This refers to judging in the sense of censuring and condemning others for their doings, insisting that we are right and they are wrong and that their actions are worthy of punishment. Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

We are not spiritual police. God is the JUDGE. We should rather judge ourselves regarding how we are living out God’s words.

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Another reason why we shouldn’t judge others is because most of us are unqualified to do so for two reasons. One, we look at others’ faults without considering our own faults. Two, we are unable to see clearly through our self-righteousness. The things that we condemn are motes (twigs) compared to our self-righteousness (the size of a beam).

Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.  

If we desire to be the judge of others, we must not be self-righteous hypocrites. Until then, we should love our neighbors.

Jesus gave us a great example for not judging others in John 8. It is a story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus to be judged. They informed Jesus that the law of Moses would stone such a sinner to death. Find out how Jesus handled the issue. John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

No one is perfect. We don’t need to like or agree with the sins of others. But we need to view sinners through Jesus’ heart and with love and compassion, sharing how they can receive forgiveness of sin.

Are you able to in a loving manner share the gospel with lost people?   

Richmond