Scripture: Joshua 24 v 15 - 17: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:"
Joshua son of Nun led the Hebrews on the last stage of their exodus from Egypt into Canaan which had taken forty years. By the end of this epic trek only the children of the original people that escaped slavery were still alive. Rebellion, idolatry, disobedience and arguments had tried God's patience to the limit. He had no intention of bringing them into the Promised Land.
The Lord God Almighty had done many miracles to ensure that the Jews could leave Egypt. Ten plagues on Pharoah and his Egyptians had broken the Ruler's stubborn refusal to let them go. Two of those plagues showed how angry God was with Pharoah.
The first was turning the Nile and any other water in Egypt into blood. When it was time for Moses to be born Satan knew that a great deliverer was soon to come. He caused Pharoah to kill all male babies under the age of two years.
Satan was not bright enough to know exactly which baby was going to be a challenge in the years ahead so all had to die. They were drowned in the Nile and God's anger was in full fury to avenge that evil. He mocked Pharoah by not only ensuring that Moses survived, but had him floated in a reed basket down the Nile for Pharoah's daughter to find and cherish. God's chosen deliverer was raised under Pharoah's roof and was a companion to his son.
The second emphatic plague response was the one that broke Pharoah's heart. This was a new young Pharoah but by this time Moses was 80 years old. The final plague was when the Hebrews were commanded to paint a cross on the lintels over their front doors using the blood of a lamb. When the Angel of Death passed over those homes they were safe. Any door without a red cross suffered the death of their first born son. This completed God's revenge. It also initiated the Passover Feast still celebrated every year.
If we do not obey the will of God things go awry, sometimes in very tragic ways. The Egyptians realised this now and gave the fleeing Hebrews expensive gifts and jewellery to hopefully obtain mercy from their angry God.
When they were settled in the Promised Land God gave the above verses to Joshua to expound to the young Jews now living there. He said choose which God you will now serve, like the evil gods before Noah's flood that got everyone but his family drowned. Or you can serve the true Lord and live. It's your will, your right to choose.
The world today is facing the same choice. The Antichrist is rising, has been since the resurrection of Jesus almost 2000 years ago. He has refined his strategy of deception like the usual narcissist does... turn the blame on God and make himself the victim. It shows up against Israel all the time now. They are blamed for everything and the God of this world wants them annihilated.
He managed to get some of the world's leaders to turn against Israel and grant the terrorists responsible for 7 October massacre a Palestinian state with borders one mile from cities and towns. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is furious and has responded to Britain, France, Canada, Australia and some others with two words..... Game Over!
These leaders acted without consulting the people who pay their fat salaries. Because Bibi is not playing. He refuses to give Palestine an inch more of Israeli land. Their portion is tiny enough and would fit into the state of New Jersey. What these pompous toads of leaders have brought on their own heads is that their eyes and ears into terrorist activities in their home countries has been closed down. No more early warnings of impending attacks. They are on their own. It's their will against God's will for His chosen people.
Every nation since Egypt that has allowed Israel to be harmed has been grievously savaged. The nations are repositioning into what they deem to be very economically advantageous alliances. Those who know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and who are citizens of those nations must be praying up a storm. They should be praying for divine protection and mercy.
The Antichrist thinks he is way ahead of his game. He has two objectives. Remove Christians and Jews off the face of the Earth. Persecute them to death. This is the time when Christians will unite. We are seeing it happening all over the world. Stadiums full of ecstasy of joy and worship of Jesus Christ.
The Antichrist thinks he is shortly going to rule the universe. He has the world's worst militants manipulating spineless leaders. Time is running out for the citizens of every land to defy their pagan leaders and pledge allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us wave His banner everywhere to rally the believers and bring about global revival.
I was blessed to hear Bibi speaking about Jesus and Christians in a warm way after the hostages were safe. His gratitude to President Trump for His part in making Jerusalem the capital of Israel as the 45th President plus bringing peace and safe return of the hostages on Monday was full on.
America will be blessed for these miracles. I doubt that the nations aiding and abetting terror against Israel. will be favoured by God. America is doing God's will and blessings from God are going to fall on them. The Democrats blocking funds to run the government are going to wish they hadn't. Our God knows who is righteous and who is evil. It seems the evil side have not heeded any previous lessons.
After Pharoah let the Hebrews go from Egypt he realised how stupid he had been. He and his army rode after them to bring them back in shackles. Moses and his Jews were between a rock and a sea. They were sitting ducks. Moses stretched out his rod over the Red Sea and God made a dry path to the other side. They got through it in time to look back and see Pharoah and his army gallop into the dry bed. When all the Egyptians were committed the Lord released the walls of water which closed over them all forever.
Our God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. When it comes to His beloved Israel He will do whatever it takes to protect her. No matter how much she has hurt Him, He will never let go of her hand. Very soon now her eyes are going to open and her memories will be restored.
She will look upon Him whom she pierced and weep. She will turn away from the Antichrist serpent that beguiled her in Eden and throughout all her trials till now. She will say at last, Come Lord Jesus! What a day of rejoicing that will be.
We are part of it all. If we choose to serve the Lord with truth and righteousness by shunning the false teachers and strange doctrines that abound today, we will be Raptured and joined to the Lord forever when His Body becomes one with Jesus the head of the Church. The Bridegroom is ready to rescue His Bride from the armies of the world on the plains of Megiddo.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we delight to do Your will. You gave us free will to choose our own destiny. You do not want anything fake or false in Heaven. We aim to worship You in Spirit and in truth. Those who miss out with no oil in their lamps are those who reject the gifts of the Holy Spirit whom You promised to send after Jesus ascended. What an amazing blessing He has been. Help us Lord to understand who we really are and honour You. In Jesus' name. Amen.