Saturday, 1/24/2015

“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

EXODUS 7, 8

Moses approaches Pharaoh and begins to perform miraculous signs.  In the case of the the staff, the frogs, the rivers turning to blood...Pharaohs magicians perform the same signs and therefore his heart is hardened to letting them go.  Then Moses causes Gnats to swarm the land, except for the area of Goshen, where the Hebrews are. Pharaoh agrees to let them go as long as Moses prays and has God remove them. But then as soon as the gnats are gone Pharaoh goes back on his promise.

MATTHEW 17

Jesus goes up on the mountain but this time he takes Peter, James and John with him. There he is transfigured 

His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. (3)

Peter asks if he should put up a shelter for the three of them.

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,”he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (7,8)

Coming down from the mountain Jesus is approached by a man whose son is suffering from seizures. He tells them that the disciples where unable to heal him.

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  (18-20)

The disciples are then confronted by the tax collectors and question whether or not Jesus pays his taxes.

 When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (25-27)

JOURNAL

Lack of faith.  It is easy for me to think how foolish it is for Pharaoh to not release the Israelites. However, first and foremost God said from the beginning that he was going to harden Pharaohs heart.  Secondly, I know how often I have prayed for God to intervene and for relief.  Yet as soon as I have it, I can feel my heart shift and I easily forget my desperation and God's redemption.

Throughout the entire Bible this plays out and to be honest, it has played out throughout my life.  My lack of faith and gratitude are constant companions.  It obviously is why Jesus says that if we will have faith as small as a mustard seed..."Nothing will be impossible for you".   Faith is not something that comes naturally, in fact, it's opposite...doubt, fear and worry are what usually show up.

These verses are a reminder that I can never depend on my own strength. It will only lead me to paths of rebellion and destruction.  I can trust in God and God alone...and it is a daily, moment by moment exercise in living. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)