Monday 25 March 2013

The Burning Bush with pictures of the Red Sea Crossing


Scriptures: Exodus 3; 1 Corinthians 10 v 1- 5.


When Moses was born Satan knew that a powerful person was due to arrive on the scene because God always responded when His chosen people cried out to Him. Satan was not sure exactly when or even who would come so he had all the newborn sons of the Israelites killed under Pharoah's command. To save Moses' life his mother floated him down the river in a reed basket and he was discovered by Pharoah's daughter who adopted him.  This ensured that Pharoah could not touch him.

When he became a man he knew he was a Jew and in trying to reunite with them killed an Egyptian and fled into Midian where he hid for many years. Then came the day when the angel (or spirit) of the Lord appeared to him in a bush that burned with fire yet was not consumed by it.

God called to him out of the bush and told him to take off his shoes because he stood on holy ground. He told Moses He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He was appointing Moses to deliver the oppressed Jews from the hard bondage of Egypt and Pharoah.

Moses asked God by what name He should be called. And God said tell them I AM has sent you. Tell the elders of Israel that you are sent to deliver them out of the hand of Pharoah into the Promised Land of Israel. He will oppose you but I will do judgments upon him and all Israel will see My power and have faith to trust Me.

In our lives we may not have a Burning Bush experience but we have had our fair share of hard times from Pharoah-like people who oppressed us. We have tried many ways to get out from under by our own strength and found we have only exchanged one taskmaster for a worse one. If we eventually cry out to God He sends the One who appeared to Moses in the Bush to show us the way of salvation. Jesus the Son of God is our Deliverer.

He first removes the burden of sin that keeps us indebted to Satan and this world system. When your burden of debt is mounting sin lies at the door. When you truly repent of your sins Jesus will show you the way out of debt because the root cause, SIN, will be wiped out by His Blood.

The sin of the world and its governments is increasing and so is world debt. They have had umpteen crisis meetings over financial bailouts these past 5 years with Cyprus the current fiasco. The one thing they need to do and will not do is submit to God our Saviour in true repentance and ask forgiveness for the laws they have made which contradict His Word. He will abundantly pardon and show the escape clause and those nations will prosper and be secure from harm. But any nation that tries to undo pacts governments have made with Satan will be crushed. And the security of the world population grows more hazardous by the day.

Individually we can find the strait (meaning disciplined and under self-control) and narrow (meaning truly moral and righteous) way that leads to life. That means following in the footprints of Jesus. The same Jesus who appeared in the Burning Bush and led millions of Israelites through a wilderness by opening the Red Sea for them and closing it over Pharoah and the Egyptians who were pursuing them.

I went through a personal financial and life crash in the late 90's. I lost my business, my marriage, my car was stolen, insurance found a loophole, I lost my home, and everything that would give worldly security and stability. I kept my hand in the hand of Jesus and He pulled me through.

I live in another world now where there is no reliance on the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God and He blesses me daily to enable me to minister for Him in whatever way He requires. He pays for everything every day. Those who have been used by Him to bless me have been abundantly blessed in return. You know who you are! So I have proved the truth of His Word.

The narrow way is a bit difficult at first as you learn to walk with humility, patience and self-control. But as you get deeper in your faith grows as you find you have no burdens at all to carry. Your hands are free to do what needs doing for Jesus, the I AM, the Burning Bush, in your life.

The attached pictures are of the only pathway through Goshen where the Israelites were fleeing; the place of the crossing of the Red Sea; the golden wheel of Pharoah's chariot found in the sea where they crossed.


Prayer: Father God my joy is to make the knowledge of You spread far and wide so others may know You and be filled with wonder. That they would turn their lives to follow Jesus the great I AM to the Promised Land of Heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen.