Heralds Digest

  “So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”” Exodus‬ ‭15:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Prior to the taste disappointment at Marah, the discovery of water after a 3-day search in the wilderness of Shur would have generated a great excitement and another praise worship in the camp of the Israelites. But then, the bitter taste of the waters in Marah suddenly changed their thoughts of praise and worship into tissues of complaints. When hopes and expectations of people in our home, workplaces, society, and institutions are completely dashed, even the seemingly prayers of those who cl...

  “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” Exodus‬ ‭13:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ As it often appears, the weirdness in everyone’s life is not always about the wilderness experiences. Particularly for those who are led in the way by the Lord, weird ways are designed for the manifestation of God’s wonders. For the Israelites, their recommended weird way was wild, long, and filled with scary challenges, including the dangerous pursuit of Pharaoh, his chief of defence staff, and all his ministers (internal and external affairs, finance, economic policies, etc). To them, the pursuit of the Israelites against the Will of God to recover their economic force is the only wise mission. Notwithstanding, God had revealed His wonderful intention over the assault of Pharaoh to Moses ahead...

  “For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” Exodus‬ ‭12:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Just one night, there was a passing through for destruction among the Egyptians and a passing over for salvation among the Israelites. And the only dividing line was drawn by the blood of a lamb, as in “ when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you ”. The use of ‘when’ instead of ‘if’ the Lord sees the blood shows that the blood is a special provision from the Lord; and not about the special preparation by the Israelites. Otherwise, there would have been room for error of omission or commission. Likewise, the New Testament saints are redeemed, not by their service preparation or provisions, but by the blood of the La...

  “Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭10:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ While the contest between Moses and Pharaoh lasted, Pharaoh and his servants saw nothing wrong in their interests in the pride parties. Most times, the magicians were even satisfied with the display of their performances and pride without assessing the impacts of their actions. Likewise in life’s projects and relationships with people in our lives, pride is always satisfied with the servicing of personal egos. Even when Pharaoh’s servants woke up to their senses; and acknowledged that pride had brought too much destruction on their beloved nation, Pharaoh’s ego servicing had gone too far to back out. Whereas, anyone who truly believes in God is always open to a consistent shift in plan in order to serve the revealed interests of God. Whenever we must always struggle to show ...

  “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭9:34-35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Just like the hardening of steel or precious metals, the hardening of the heart of Pharaoh revealed that the challenges of life cannot truly soften anyone without the intervention of the Spirit of grace. At best, the heart is pruned to playing the ‘hide and seek’ game with the changes in economical, health, financial, and social circumstances because it is depraved of the grace and glory of God. Likewise, without earnest prayer, consistent supplication, and honest travailing, the heart of man (our children, friends, and loved ones) will sin yet more and be hardened with psychological changes in human conditions. Unlike the heart of Pharaoh, God needs the hearts of His children to be opened to the i...

  “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Human interactions with difficulties, the challenges of life, and burdens leave more than the undesirable in the heart, like the pain, fear, anxiety, impossible, and hopelessness. For the children of Israel, burdens are synonymous to Pharaoh, Egypt, and their taskmasters. And like in all experiences of life, even the appearance of Moses appears to magnify the possibilities of their burden builders. Notwithstanding, God is always saying to believers in the midst of their burdens in life “ I am the burden breaker”. The knowledge and the possibilities of a believer's faith in God are the significant essence of difficulties, the challenges of life, and burdens in life. Without our burdens that we can see, feel, and experience, it would be almost impossible for anyone of us to experience God - the b...

  “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” Exodus‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The perspective of a strong-willed personality as an asset, and not a liability, was revealed in the commissioning of Moses by God. Moses had come a long way in his struggle, being a stranded stranger for 40 years as a prince, at the palace of Pharaoh; and another 40 years as a fugitive with the priest of Midi-an. It is understandable why 80 years induction as a stranded stranger is more than enough to get him graduated as a strong-willed stranger. But like God accommodated Moses and his strong-willed personality, we should be willing to accommodate our strong-willed students, children, and subordinates in life’s projects for greater accomplishments. Truthfully, it takes absolute confidence in our Sovereign Saviour for believers to truly record breakthroughs in life’s projects, while working...