PAULA WISEMAN

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Posts that reference the book of Exodus

When I Cry Out to God

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White flagWhen Israel cried out to God in Exodus 2, begging for deliverance from their oppression and bondage, verses 24-25 tell how God responds.
 
So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.

 
He heard. Not half-heartedly. Not with His attention somewhere else. 
 
He remembered His covenant promises– promises to give them a home, and to make them a great nation.
 
He acknowledged them as His. Because they were His, He took action on their behalf.
 
When I cry to God…
 
He hears. 
 
He remembers His promises to me– promises to never leave me nor forsake me. 
 
He claims me as His own and acts on my behalf.
 

Study Tip: Six Questions (part 1)

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As you read a passage of Scripture, it's helpful to stop and ask a few questions to make sure you have the gist of things. The old news reporter formula – Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? – is a great way to interrogate your text and get the details you need. Once you have the details, it's much easier to interpret the passage correctly. This week we'll look at the first two- who and what.
 
 
Who/To Whom/For Whom
  • Who is speaking?
  • Who is this about?
  • Who else is involved?
  • To whom is this written or spoken?
  • For whom are the instructions or warnings given?

What

  • What happened?
  • What is the subject?
  • What facts or instructions are given?

Try questioning this passage from Exodus 14 (one of my favorites) or try it on your own study text this week. Let me know what insights you gain.

(v.13) And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. (v.14) The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (v.15) And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

 

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Turning Aside

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flames"So when the Lord saw that [Moses] turned aside to look, God called to him…" Exodus 3:4

This is at the burning bush.

When God saw that He had Moses' attention, then He called to him.

Not until.

God won't compete for my attention.

And He won't speak until He has it.

What burning bush, what miracle, is God working right in front of me? Is He trying to get my attention?

What message, what calling, might be waiting for me to turn aside and look?

 

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Study Tip: Warnings

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Caution tapeQuick review- On our Bible menu so far we've sampled:
Promises – God's "I will" statements
Facts – A framework that grounds God's word in time and place
Commands – Instructions containing active verbs
Guidance – Principles and examples without a direct command to follow

Today we'll take a look at Warnings.
These are the cautions and consequences. Often, these are easily identified with words such as "beware", "take heed", "watch" and the easiest one to spot– "don't".

Warnings appear early in Scripture with God issuing one almost as soon as He created man in Genesis 2. "Of every tree of the garden, you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die." See the caution and consequence pattern?

At the base of Mount Sinai, God warns the people not to ascend the mountain or even touch it, under penalty of death. (Ex. 19:12-13) Caution, consequence and the "take heed" marker.

The early chapters of Proverbs are full of a father's warnings to his son, including the cautions about immoral women. "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways … Her house is the way to hell." (7:24,27)

The prophets made their living warning God's people, and you'll find plenty of examples as you read them. One example is from Jeremiah 18. After the object lesson of the potter forming a clay vessel, then reforming it, God issues a warning. "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way and make your ways and your doings good." Here the pattern is reversed- consequences then the caution.

Jesus also issued warnings like this one in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven."

He carries His warnings through to the end, delivering them to the churches in Revelation. Nearly every church receives a warning to change or repent and the consequences that will follow otherwise.

What warnings have you seen as you studied? Did they follow the marker-caution-consequence pattern?

Before the Sea Parts

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Walking in the SandA couple of weeks ago, my Sunday school boys and I got to look at one of my all-time favorite stories– the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14. Let me share some of my observations.

Anxiety

Verse 8 says Israel went out of Egypt "with boldness". However, at the first sign of difficulty, that confidence evaporated. In Exodus 14, God was working His purpose for the nation of Israel and He was accomplishing a separate purpose for Egypt. (see v. 18) Those two intersected at the Red Sea.

I often head down the path God lays out for me, but when trouble arises, I question the path, the purpose, my faith and God Himself. However, it may all be part of another plan for another situation. I need to hang in there.

Panic

Faced with an elite army bearing down on them, Israel panicked. They lost it. They turned on Moses. They longed for slavery. They forgot they had over 600,000 fighting men of their own (according to Numbers 1). They couldn't remember the miracles God had just performed on their behalf through the plagues. All they could focus on was the enemy and their vision of certain defeat and slaughter. Moses says, "Stand still (or as I like to paraphrase it- shut up!) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today."

I lose focus. I panic. I forget. I need to stop running in circles, waving my arms like the kid in Home Alone. He may not resolve the entire situation today, but He will show up on my behalf. God will deliver.

Hesitation

In spite of that awesome guarantee, God had to nudge Israel. Verse 15 He says, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward." God gave the direction, He promised protection, and yet it wasn't enough. Crossing the Red Sea had never been done before. Slavery was miserable and oppressive, but at least they knew what to expect. God says, "Move forward."

With boldness. See the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. Move forward.

 

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Study Tip: Do This!

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Success or Failure- Which Way?We've been looking at the different "types" of statements for in Scripture. So far we've considered God's promises, looking for those "I will" statements that He makes. Last week, we discussed the long (boring) sections of straight factual information and what encouragement those might have for us. Today, let's consider the commands.

One of the complaints folks often give about the Bible is that it's just a collection of "thou shalt nots". In fact, there are far more positive commands in God's word. Generally, they are easy to find.

Look for verbs. After God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them, then He issued His first command. "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…" (Genesis 1:28) See all those verbs? Be… multiply… fill… subdue… If you remember back to English class, that was the imperative form of the verb. The speaker expects the listener to take action.

Now, there's a caution- not every command is for us. I'm not trying to weasel out of certain commands. However, context is critical to our understanding of any passage. So when you look for those imperative verbs…

Look for application. When God called Moses, He gave him some incredible signs to perform to validate his message. "Cast [your rod] on the ground," God said, and the rod became a snake. Then God said, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." When Moses did, the snake became his rod once again. (Exodus 4:3-4). Does that mean we should throw down sticks, expecting them to transform? Or can we grab snakes by the tail? Of course not. God's instructions were exclusively for Moses in that situation.
On the other hand, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Did that just apply to the group listening that particular day? That one is an open invitation to all hearers and readers.

How do you tell the difference? I haven't reviewed EVERY command, but some guidelines that may help are…

  • If the instruction is about an attitude or a response to God, it applies. (Like, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.")
  • If the commands is about how to treat others, it still applies. (Love your enemies, for example.)
  • If the speaker or writer is addressing a crowd, the commands usually still apply, like Paul's letters, or the Sermon on the Mount
  • In the Old Testament, commands involving offerings, feasts, sacrifices and the Law, no longer apply. Jesus fulfilled all those so we are freed.
  • Depend on the Holy Spirit's guidance if you're unsure.

"Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken to a wise man who builds his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)