You must nor mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Application
Reading sets of laws which seem to relate to an alien culture is not immediately edifying.
In the rules in this chapter we see how the Lord wanted the Israelites to protect the rights of people to own property, and to protect the dignity of vulnerable people such as widows, orphans and foreigners.
The principle of the property laws is that everyone should be confident that their property is being protected from unscrupulous people. So the rights of everyone, but especially the poor, are being protected.
The Israelites were also required to care for the vulnerable people such as widows and foreigners. Even slaves were protected to some extent.
These laws show that God cares about everyone, both the rich and the powerful, and the poor and powerless.
As christians, we need to make sure that we do not support Government policies which disenfranchise the poor or lead to their oppression. We also need to look out for the “invisible people” ourselves and do what we can to help them survive and thrive.
Prayer
Lord, please show me the groups of people and the individuals you are calling me to help. Amen.
And the people said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen. But don’t let God speak to us directly or we will die.”
Observation
The Lord gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments: do not worship other gods; do not make idols; do not misuse the Lord’s name; remember the sabbath; honour your father and mother; do not murder, commit adultery, steal, testify falsely, or covet other people’s things.
When the people hear the voice of the Lord and thunder, and they see the smoke and lightning, they are afraid. They ask Moses to speak to them from God.
Application
The biggest mistake a person or a group of people can make is to say, “Don’t let the Lord speak directly to us.”
God wants us to have friendship with Him. He loves us and longs to dialogue directly with us.
Most of His words are more ”still small voice” than thunder and trumpet blasts. But some people remain afraid of hearing God for themselves.
The demand that a pastor or prophet does all the communing with God places too heavy a burden for the minister, and absolves other christians from their own responsibility.
It can lead to error, arrogance or manipulation.
God wants each of us to hear His Holy Spirit for ourselves. He wants each of us to read the Scriptures for ourselves. He wants each of us to pray to Him for ourselves.
God is a relational God. He loves people and He wants us to talk to Him and listen to Him.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you want me to listen to you as well as to speak to you. Please help me to be open to your Spirit all the time. Amen.
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 3:20. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 3:20
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us…”
This verse is the first half of a doxology or blessing address to God. It is also full of power words – “ is able to” is literally “ has power to”, “ power at work in us,” even the word work is the source of our word energy .
God is powerful and energetic. He is working constantly right through creation to achieve his purposes. We should understand this, but sometimes we forget. The God who spoke the universe into being where is a word, who sustains and holds together all things, as power in the creation – limitless or infinite power.
God has power to do immeasurably more because his power is inexhaustible. He has he measurable power, limitless ability, infinite energy.
God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. This is an invitation to bold prayer.
God is able to heal any human ailment. He can stop a coronavirus dead in its tracks. He can send a fish for a recalcitrant prophet, still a storm, expel demons.
Whatever impossible situations we can imagine, God has the answer for it.
God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. It is not just our asking that limits our prayer, but our imagining.
When we are ill, it is easy to focus on the problem, centre on the diagnosis and on medical advice. God calls us instead to focus on Him and on his solution. Can we imagine an alternative reality in which God’s power flows and restores us? Even that is a slight fraction of God’s power to intervene for us.
If we are in a mental, emotional, relational, even a physical, prison with no means of escape, we must understand that God is able. He freed Peter, Paul and Silas. He is the God who provides the way.
It is good to use imagination to shape our vision and shape our prayers. God can do much more than we can imagine or ask for.
All of this is according to the power that is working in us. That power is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to pray, how to speak, and to act.
It is important that we understand that our prayers need to be in accordance with the Holy Spirit. Our prayers need to be led by the Spirit, prayed through the Spirit.
Selfish prayers, sometimes called soulish prayers, originate from our desires and our perception of what God should be doing. These prayers are not in that category of “more than we can ask or imagine,” because it is our asking and our imagination, and God wants to go beyond that.
We must let the Holy Spirit direct our prayers. We need to engage in listening prayer, that is, stopping to discover what God’s will is before we pray. Having done that’s, we can step out in bold and confident faith, knowing that the Lord will prevail.
The dynamics of the “power that is at work in us” are at many levels. In prayer we listen and pray in power. The Spirit of God works His power in our spirit to trigger faith and confidence to see God’s will released into a situation.
In another way, this power is working energetically everyday transforming us from being independent to being dependent on God. Our character is moulded to be that of Christ. Our ability to discern the spirit realm grows so we can see what is happening in the heavenly places. Our faith grows to claim the big promises of God and apply them to our own situation.
All of this happens to bring us up to the fullness of the stature of Christ. All of this makes us bold warriors in the spiritual warfare we are called to participate in.
Of course as we see in the next verse, the purpose is to glorify God.
Key points in this verse:
God’s power is limitless
God can do more than we can ask or imagine
God is working in us to grow faithful bold prayers and bold action
God is raising us to be strong warriors in the spiritual warfare, that is, the clash between God and satan.
“If you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on the earth. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.”
Observation
The Israelites arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses climbs the mountain to meet with the Lord.
The Lord announces that Israel is His special treasure, His royal priesthood.
Then the Lord announces that He will descend on Mount Sinai the following day, and the people need to prepare themselves. They must not touch the holy mountain.
The Lord comes down, covering the mountain with smoke and sounding loud trumpet blasts. The Lord calls Moses up to the mountain.
Application
The Lord tells the Israelites that if they obey Him, they will be His treasure, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
God sees each of us as His treasure- precious, beautiful, lovely. Often we feel unworthy of such a value. We may be plagued by guilt or shame, or just feel that we are unlovable.
Yet God is determined to love us. He places a high value on every single one of us. We are His treasure.
We are a kingdom of priests. The church together is that kingdom. It is hard to comprehend that God wants us to be in His presence, worshipping Him and interceding for other people.
We are God’s holy nation. The word “holy” means “set apart for God’s purpose.” I am not my own. I was bought at a price. I therefore cannot do any old thing that I want to do. I cannot wilfully follow the dictates of my old sinful nature. I have been set apart by God for a holy purpose.
God is building up His kingdom, claiming us as His treasure, His royal priesthood.
Prayer
Father, you call me your treasure, your holy priest. This is too marvellous to understand. Please help me to live totally surrendered to you, to do only what you call me to do. Amen.
“Teach them God’s decrees, and give them instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. Select from all the people capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty and ten.”
Observation
Moses father- in- law, Jethro the priest of Midian, comes to visit Moses. He had heard that the Lord rescued His people from Egypt.
Jethro confesses that the Lord is greater than all the other gods because He rescued the Israelites from Egypt. He then offers sacrifices to God.
The next day, Moses hears people’s disputes all day long. Jethro tells Moses that he needs to delegate this role to others who can lead groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, or ten. This leaves Moses to teach people and show them how to live to honour the Lord.
Application
The Jethro Principle enables church leaders to be effective without being burnt out by the demands on them. This is one of the principles under-girding cell churches. We place people into small groups whose leaders are coached and mentored by experienced leaders of leaders, who themselves are mentored by others.
The same principle can be described as the Spirit of Sonship. Every person needs to have a spiritual father (or mother), with every member of a congregation also submitted to the “father of the house” that is the Senior Pastor.
Moses was being overwhelmed by the demands of the people in little matters. Many pastors face the same issue of having to be consulted over every church member’s personal life.
When people are being pastored by “under- shepherds” who are themselves being pastored, with everyone only directly responsible for a few people, the burden of care is shared. The pastor is then freed to teach, preach and set the direction of the church.
How awesome it is when the Body of Christ functions in the wisdom and grace of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the wisdom in your word. Help me as a pastor to not take on too many burdens that are not mine to carry. Amen.
Moses built an altar there and named it “Yahweh- nissi” (which means “the Lord is my banner”).
Observation
Following the Lord, the people of Israel come to Rephidim, but there is no water for them. They start to grumble and complain.
Moses goes to the Lord, who commands him to strike the rock with his staff. Moses does so, and water comes gushing out.
The Amalekite warriors come to fight Israel. Moses stands at the top of a hill. As long as he holds his staff up, the Israelites prevail. But when he lowers the staff, the Amalekites start to win. Aaron and Hur stand beside Moses and support his arms. As a result, Joshua’s army overwhelm the Amalekites.
Application
Just as the Amalekites warred against Israel for generations, so too christians are in a constant and unrelenting battle against satan.
In this warfare, the Lord has promised that He is our banner.
The banner, standard or flag, served many functions in ancient warfare.
1. It identified the armies and which king they belonged to. The Lord is the head of our army, and we should always look to Him.
2. They were a rallying point for the soldiers because they identified where the general was. When you feel disoriented or confused in the battle, turn to the Lord and refocus on Him.
3. They provided a point of cohesion and unity for the army. You are not fighting the battle alone- you have a church, local and global, with you.
4. They reminded the troops that there was a cause they were fighting for. We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and principalities that have already been defeated by the blood of Christ.
Prayer
Yahweh- nissi, you are my banner. Please help me to remember this when the battle rages around me. Amen.
So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only gathered a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.
Observation
In the wilderness the Lord provided the food that was needed.
In the mornings, a flaky substance called “manna” appeared with the dew. Each evening, quails flew into the camp.
Regardless of how much manna people collected, there was always enough. Those who tried to hoard the manna for the next day found that it went putrid.
On the day before the Sabbath, they were told to collect twice as much. They could keep the extra for the next day, because on the Sabbath no manna appeared.
Application
The Lord always provides for His people. Not too much, not too little, and always at the right time.
The provision of manna was a miracle that cannot be explained by natural means. It came each and every day, except for the Sabbath. It lasted only a day, except on the Sabbath.
When we put our trust in God rather than in our career, our income and our bank balance, we find that in God there is always enough.
He takes us close to the line at times, sometimes right to zero, but He provides all that we need as long as we are trusting Him.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the knowledge that in you there is always enough. Help me to trust you for that next bill to be paid, and to thrive in your gracious provision. Amen.
“If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, doing what is right in his sight and obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not send any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians for I am the Lord who heals you.”
Observation
The Lord leads the people away from the Red Sea and into the desert. After three days without water, they come to an oasis. The water is bitter, and the people start complaining. The Lord shows Moses a piece of wood to be thrown into the water, and the water becomes fit to drink.
While they are camped there, the Lord tells them that if they are faithful to Him and keep His commandments, He will keep them free from disease, for He is the Lord who heals.
Application
One of the seven covenant names which the Lord reveals to Israel is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.
The Lord is a healer because of His nature, not just because He chooses to do so. God is love and He is life, so naturally He will heal His beloved people.
Note the condition though. We need to walk in fellowship and obedience to God. While it is true that God does heal people who do not know Him, we need to remember that our health is dependent on our walk with God. Generally speaking, you cannot deliberately and wilfully sin against God and then expect Him to make you better.
I once heard a testimony of God healing a heavy smoker from lung cancer. He was told at the time that he needed to give up the cigarettes to maintain his healing. He did not heed the warning, and the cancer returned.
We need to develop a sense of thankfulness to the Lord for our good health, for answered prayers and for the amazing skill and knowledge of medical practitioners.
All of these things are a gift from Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the amazing promise of healing and health for those who obey you. I ask now for wholeness in my body, my mind and my spirit. Amen.
The people of Israel sing a song of praise to the Lord, celebrating their deliverance from slavery and the supernatural parting of the waters.
The Lord shows unfailing love to His people, but he crushes His enemies. He has promised a land to His people, a sanctuary for His dwelling place.
Application
What a deliverance that was for the people of God! The Lord did amazing miracles – plagues, provision of gold, silver and clothing, the crossing of the Red Sea, and finally the destruction of Pharaoh’s army.
The Lord s powerful and He smashes His enemies.
We need to recall that our fight is real, but we do not fight against flesh and blood. Our warfare is in the heavenly realms.
When Jesus died on the cross, He destroyed the power of satan. Yes, the devil can still oppose us and annoy us, even keep us in bondage. But Jesus has won the victory. Any power that satan holds over believers comes because they consent to it.
As a believer in Christ, I can claim victory over all the threats and annoyances of the enemy. God’s right hand has won the victory.
Prayer
Hallelujah! Thank you Lord for the power of your right hand. In Christ you have won the victory over sin, death and satan. I claim this victory now in my own life. I command all evil spirits to flee in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Observation
The Israelites camp at the sea. The Lord hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and he sends an army after them
As Pharaoh approaches, the Israelites are filled with fear. But Moses tells them to stay calm because the Lord will fight for them.
At the Lord’s command, Moses raises his staff over the sea, and the water opens up, producing a dry path in the seabed for the people to cross on. When they have all passed through, the Lord again orders Moses to raise his staff over the sea, and the waters collapse, drowning the Egyptian army.
As a result of this, the people are filled with awe, and they put their trust in the Lord and in Moses.
Application
The plight of the Israelites is more desperate than most of us can imagine. They are hemmed in by desert on either side, a sea in front and the army of the world’s super power pursuing them. It does not get more stressful than this.
Moses’ advice to the Israelites was to not fear, but to wait and see the Lord’s rescue plan unfold.
The Lord gives us His peace when we are walking in His path. It doesn’t matter how impossible the situation appears, the Lord is with us.
Whether it is family problems, financial issues, job insecurity, the advice is the same. “Just stay calm.” When we put our trust in the Lord, it is amazing what He can do.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for parting the waters for the people of Israel. Help me to trust you when I can’t see the way forward. Amen.
