July 31, 2008 6:19 AM
Sam wrote:
I find it interesting that the people of Egypt, as well as Pharaoh's officials were 'favorably disposed' toward Moses. I guess they were intelligent enough to know that the problems (plagues) they were experiences were not because of Moses, but because of the stubbornness of Pharoah. Like dogs and children, these people could discern who was the good guy, and who was being the jerk. Take your own children...do you think you can get anything by them? Do you think they don't notice your sins? Of course you can't. Of course they do. A dog will, reportedly, befriend a man who is a stranger, yet is a kind man. A dog knows, generally, who is good and who is not. So with our children. They know when we are putting on an 'air of Christianity' and hiding behind our sins. By the TV we watch. By the movies we see. By the jokes we tell. By the people we hang out with. By the amount of money we put in the Sunday plate. By the amount of time we spend (or don't) in prayer; in studying our Bible; in sharing the Word of Christ (and our lives) with other non-Christians. You're darn right our kids are discerning like the Egyptians were. Do you want your children (and coworkers and friends and acquaintenances) to become good followers of Christ? Of course you do. Well, best keep in mind how observant people really are. Reply to this
July 31, 2008 6:56 AM
rik wrote:
I am in awe on how our comments mirror each other eventhough they came from two different areas (mine from last night and yours from this mornings reading) Our God is truely an awesome God! Reply to this
July 31, 2008 11:47 AM
Rich wrote:
Same as I said to Rik below. Your words here hit home. My children are very observant. Even in a difficult situation, I need to be a spiritual leader. I need to use the situation I am in to teach them how Jesus would reply. I am too often defensive and protective of my own feelings and reputation. Praise God for forgiveness and for HOPE to be different. I want to be a better father, husband, man of God. You guys are helping me and I am grateful to God (and to you) for that. Reply to this
July 31, 2008 6:52 AM
rik wrote:
Moses was Hot with anger. I wonder why? God told him he would be hard hearted. God told what was going to happen. I think Moses wanted pharaoh to let them go right then, not because he wanted the Israelites released a day or two early, Moses knew they were going to get released so that would not be important. I think he did not want to see all the death that was coming. I bet he knew some of those first born.
last night was outstanding! the North River Church has got me excited again, sobered on how important my job of raising my children is and the importance of having other brothers and sisters in our lives is(AKA descipling). An elder in the Boston church was in town and spoke on raising our children up to become Christians, and he made me really think about my priorities in life. He challenged us to memorize a scripture (and to start memorizing more scriptures in general) Phil ch4 vs 8-9. finally brothers, what ever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. whatever you have learned or received or heard from me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you . what do I spend most my time thinking about? what do I put into practice? Jack (elder from Boston) mentioned two truths 1. children are very forgiving, so if you have screwed up a sincere apology goes a long way and 2. children will not tolerate hypocrisy. If they see the parents preaching one thing and living another they will disappear into the world's ways. Reply to this
July 31, 2008 11:43 AM
Rich wrote:
Great lessons and insights. I know that children do not tolerate hypocrisy and yet I constantly sin by saying one thing and doing another. Rik, your sharing this lesson really hit me today. Thanks. Reply to this
July 31, 2008 12:01 PM
Rich wrote:
My guess is that "highly regarded" is another word for "highly feared." People who are feared (especially because they seem to control the power of God) are usually also highly regarded. These people feared Moses, they were in awe of him and of the power of God that was displayed through him. Wouldn't you be if you had lived through all of these plagues and if you had seen (or heard about) Moses calling each plague off? I know that I would be.
Also, I would be so glad to see these people finally go away that I too would give them whatever I had. Can you just imagine this scene. Assume you decide to move. You go ask your neighbor for his valuables before you go (and your neighbor gladly gives them to you)!!! Your neighbor is so glad to see you go that he gives you gifts when you leave. But not because he likes you. Because he is so relieved and happy to see you go. Wow!!!
Great insight Rik that Moses probably knew some of the children who were going to die. Also, why not just kill the children of Pharaoh and officials who support him? Why kill all children, even those of the slaves? God really wanted to make a point to his people. He wanted them to remember what they saw forever. But how easily they forgot and how easily we forget displays of God's power in our lives. I seem to be able to hang on to displays of God's power when all is going well for me, but when things get tough, I seem to slip into the same old patterns again and again. God has done some amazing things in my life. I want to learn how to recall these during the tough times and to hold onto these knowing that God is on my side and he is working for my good. Though destroying all the children of Egypt was harsh and extreme, it did the job and it should have put a forever impression on the Israelites. We can learn from their mistake in this one and work to be different. Reply to this
I find it interesting that the people of Egypt, as well as Pharaoh's officials were 'favorably disposed' toward Moses. I guess they were intelligent enough to know that the problems (plagues) they were experiences were not because of Moses, but because of the stubbornness of Pharoah. Like dogs and children, these people could discern who was the good guy, and who was being the jerk. Take your own children...do you think you can get anything by them? Do you think they don't notice your sins? Of course you can't. Of course they do. A dog will, reportedly, befriend a man who is a stranger, yet is a kind man. A dog knows, generally, who is good and who is not. So with our children. They know when we are putting on an 'air of Christianity' and hiding behind our sins. By the TV we watch. By the movies we see. By the jokes we tell. By the people we hang out with. By the amount of money we put in the Sunday plate. By the amount of time we spend (or don't) in prayer; in studying our Bible; in sharing the Word of Christ (and our lives) with other non-Christians. You're darn right our kids are discerning like the Egyptians were. Do you want your children (and coworkers and friends and acquaintenances) to become good followers of Christ? Of course you do. Well, best keep in mind how observant people really are.
Reply to this
I am in awe on how our comments mirror each other eventhough they came from two different areas (mine from last night and yours from this mornings reading) Our God is truely an awesome God!
Reply to this
Same as I said to Rik below. Your words here hit home. My children are very observant. Even in a difficult situation, I need to be a spiritual leader. I need to use the situation I am in to teach them how Jesus would reply. I am too often defensive and protective of my own feelings and reputation. Praise God for forgiveness and for HOPE to be different. I want to be a better father, husband, man of God. You guys are helping me and I am grateful to God (and to you) for that.
Reply to this
Moses was Hot with anger. I wonder why? God told him he would be hard hearted. God told what was going to happen. I think Moses wanted pharaoh to let them go right then, not because he wanted the Israelites released a day or two early, Moses knew they were going to get released so that would not be important. I think he did not want to see all the death that was coming. I bet he knew some of those first born.
last night was outstanding! the North River Church has got me excited again, sobered on how important my job of raising my children is and the importance of having other brothers and sisters in our lives is(AKA descipling). An elder in the Boston church was in town and spoke on raising our children up to become Christians, and he made me really think about my priorities in life. He challenged us to memorize a scripture (and to start memorizing more scriptures in general) Phil ch4 vs 8-9. finally brothers, what ever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. whatever you have learned or received or heard from me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you . what do I spend most my time thinking about? what do I put into practice? Jack (elder from Boston) mentioned two truths 1. children are very forgiving, so if you have screwed up a sincere apology goes a long way and 2. children will not tolerate hypocrisy. If they see the parents preaching one thing and living another they will disappear into the world's ways.
Reply to this
Great lessons and insights. I know that children do not tolerate hypocrisy and yet I constantly sin by saying one thing and doing another. Rik, your sharing this lesson really hit me today. Thanks.
Reply to this
My guess is that "highly regarded" is another word for "highly feared." People who are feared (especially because they seem to control the power of God) are usually also highly regarded. These people feared Moses, they were in awe of him and of the power of God that was displayed through him. Wouldn't you be if you had lived through all of these plagues and if you had seen (or heard about) Moses calling each plague off? I know that I would be.
Also, I would be so glad to see these people finally go away that I too would give them whatever I had. Can you just imagine this scene. Assume you decide to move. You go ask your neighbor for his valuables before you go (and your neighbor gladly gives them to you)!!! Your neighbor is so glad to see you go that he gives you gifts when you leave. But not because he likes you. Because he is so relieved and happy to see you go. Wow!!!
Great insight Rik that Moses probably knew some of the children who were going to die. Also, why not just kill the children of Pharaoh and officials who support him? Why kill all children, even those of the slaves? God really wanted to make a point to his people. He wanted them to remember what they saw forever. But how easily they forgot and how easily we forget displays of God's power in our lives. I seem to be able to hang on to displays of God's power when all is going well for me, but when things get tough, I seem to slip into the same old patterns again and again. God has done some amazing things in my life. I want to learn how to recall these during the tough times and to hold onto these knowing that God is on my side and he is working for my good. Though destroying all the children of Egypt was harsh and extreme, it did the job and it should have put a forever impression on the Israelites. We can learn from their mistake in this one and work to be different.
Reply to this