Heralds Digest

  ““He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” Exodus‬ ‭22:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The first of the Ten Commandments “ You shall have no other gods before Me ” is here exemplified in the Old Testament with a clear statement of retribution. But for the New Testament saints, we know that strange sacrifices embrace all forms of worship or petition to someone or something for their favour of attention, before or at the expense of seeking divine favour or the intervention of the Lord. Freaky, isn’t it? The sincere question should be ‘How can someone be completely free from making strange sacrifices in our world of utmost oppression, outright obsession, and unlawful possession ’? When these gods decide to unleash their uninvited positions, unlawful powers, and unrighteous privileges, believers are often forced to pay ransom, homage, or make strange sacrifices. But in response, those who truly believe in the supremacy of the power of the Creator of heaven a...

  “And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”” Exodus‬ ‭19:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Familiarity, the people say, breeds contempt; but with God, it simply demands consecration. And the lack of sincere consecration to God has always been the major cause of hindrance to a sweet fellowship between God and man. For the fellowship at Mount Sinai, the Lord God had to say to Moses “ Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish ”. It implies that familiarity with God without consecration to Him actually breeds destruction; and not just contempt. Likewise today, the Holy Hill of the Lord is always open to those who can ascend with holy hands and a pure heart. Therefore, God wants not just familiarity with His vessels, but their familiar fellowship with the fulln...

  “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...