Response to Livestock Diseased – Hard Heart

Response to Livestock Diseased – Hard Heart

Exodus 9: ⁷ Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

 

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GOD killed all of the Egyptian livestock as HE promised. Pharaoh checked to see if it was only the Egyptian livestock that was affected or did it include the children of Israel. “Indeed” it was only the Egyptian livestock that was killed. Pharaoh’s reaction, a hard heart.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh faced his worst catastrophe and allowed pride of his position to not relent to GOD’s power.
• Pharaoh was not acting out of fear, rather he may have been trying to prove he was still in power.
• Pharaoh seemed to need to be in control at other people’s expense.

 

With the transportation, food and farm animals all being dead, Pharaoh had to make his own people suffer more by checking on the Israelites by foot. When the report came back that the Israelite livestock was not affected, Pharaoh believed he was a god even more. He probably said, “I can fix this.”

 

I believe Pharaoh devised a plan to take some of the Israelite animals by force. The Bible does not say this, but the next couple of plagues imply that the Egyptians obtained more animals. Since GOD is telling Moses what to write, HE omits the story about Pharaoh’s misuse of power and keeps the focus on how HE was dismantling the mindset that a human can be a god.

 

Pharaoh may have convinced himself that there was a power behind his title. Meanwhile, the people around him had to suffer. The more he dug into his belief, the more people around him suffered. The heart of Pharaoh was hurting his own. GOD remained in control and Pharaoh’s illusion of control was fading.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the death of all Egyptian livestock?
• Have you made decisions that adversely affected people around you, yet you continued anyway?
• Can you surrender your decisions that ultimately affect people by seeking GOD for wisdom and changing your mindset?

Puffed or Built

Puffed or Built

1 Corinthians 8: Now, concerning what you wrote about food offered to idols.

It is true, of course, that “all of us have knowledge,” as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up. ² Those who think they know something really don't know as they ought to know. ³ But the person who loves God is known by him.

 

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“Why are you carrying all those files?” a leader questioned me. “I want to be prepared with the answer” I replied. I had been caught off guard by someone who was trying to trip me up and this was not going to happen again. He said, “Having the answers sometimes does not show leadership.”

 

• There have been times when I felt insecure.
• There have been times when I thought having the answers would make me look intelligent.
• There have been times when I believed the smarter I looked the more accepted I would be.

 

Paul was about to address a concern regarding food offered to idols, but he starts with a strange beginning. He begins with self-pride. The root of the pride is the dependence on human knowledge. He then offers the solution to the self-pride, simply to relax and be known by GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to rejoice that HE saved me.
• GOD wants me to be excited about my relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to be alright with not having the answers because HE is the answer.

 

Being puffed up or built up is a choice. I mean, when I seek validation from humans, I may look to be intelligent in front of groups of people and ask the crowd to “like” what I said. I guess that is why social media is so popular. This causes me to be “puffed up.” BUT GOD wants my validation to come from HIM. HE builds me up with HIS love.

 

Just knowing that I am known by HIM should make me excited. HE did everything to have a solid relationship with me, even when I was not seeking HIM. HE saw my sins before I was born, yet created me anyway. HE died for my sins and was raised from the dead. HE gave me the COMFORTER when I believed in HIM. And HE guides me daily with love. I am grateful HE knows me.

 

• Are you seeking approval from humans?
• Do you feel insecure so you think knowledge is your route to being affirmed?
• Will you rejoice in the fact that the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful GOD, knows and loves you and is willing to guide you if you surrender your life to HIM today?

Recommendations

Recommendations

Acts 16: Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

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“Mind if I introduce someone to you?” a person from another department asked. “Please” was my reply, not knowing why I was meeting the person. I had a lot of work to do, and meeting someone was the last thing on my mind that day. “You have been recommended to lead a division” the person said. Wow! I didn’t expect that!

• I have been blessed to receive recommendations.
• I have been shocked that someone noticed what I was doing.
• I have been excited to work with those who believed in the abilities given to me.

Many believers approached Paul, recommending Timothy. After a while, Paul could not resist wanting Timothy to join him on the journey to teach the simplified message of obedience to new believers of JESUS. This recommendation paid off. Paul and Timothy spoke, many believed and the church was getting stronger.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM.
• GOD wants me to simply use the gifts HE has given me.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIM and HE will deliver me to the people HE needs me to speak to.

There are two ways to work. One way is to work to seek recommendations or “thank you” from people. While this brings moderate success, my rewards are only the “thank you.” BUT GOD wants me to seek eternal rewards which are given by HIM. This is not achieved by bragging and self-promoting.

GOD wants to be centerstage. My work for HIM should point to HIM. People may notice or they may not. BUT GOD always sees when I work for HIM with sincerity. I am grateful for HIS eternal rewards.

• Are you seeking to be known?
• Do you want to create a huge following for yourself, and not for GOD?
• Will you point people to GOD and allow HIM to change your approach so you become highly recommended without needing to boast?

Owning Protection

Owning Protection

John 18: ²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

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“They did it” was the automated response to blaming my siblings. I mean who wanted to get in trouble for throwing pillows and breaking stuff on accident. I sang like a bird as I told on them. I got in trouble anyway.

What lengths have I gone to in order to protect myself?

What lies have I told in order to protect myself from facing consequence?

What stories have I made up in my mind in order to convince myself, I do not deserve punishment?

Peter did what most people would have done. He lied about his relationship with JESUS to save himself. He slipped into the courtyard with the help of the bold disciple. When he was recognized, he denied any relationship with JESUS. This was predicted by JESUS.

When I am in public, JESUS wants me to share my relationship with HIM.

When I am faced with consequence, JESUS wants me to remember HE is with me.

When I am persecuted by those who are supposed to be on my side, JESUS wants me to know I am blessed.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake” are the words that should remain when I think I should protect myself. Instead of getting out of trouble, I should face the situation with truth.

GOD wants me to join HIM in truth and accept all responsibilities for my actions. HE also wants me to face ridicule from those who have slandered me to get their way. HE has a greater reward for those who stand with HIM during times of persecution. I am grateful I can face my problems with GOD.

Are you trying to protect yourself by blaming someone else?

Have you made up stories so you can protect your image?

Will you seek GOD’s kingdom in spite of the possibility of being ridiculed, insulted or persecuted?

Will you allow GOD to own your protection today?

Trying too Hard

Zechariah 4: ⁶ So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

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After looking at the clock when I got home, I noticed thirty six hours had passed from the time I had last got out of bed. We were trying to land an account and I stayed overnight to work on the proposal.

• There were times I worked extremely hard to make things work.
• There were times I worked to exhaustion only to find dead ends.
• There were times I worked my fingers to the bone in order to get what “I” wanted.

Avoiding disappointment was the reason behind all the effort. I figured that since the others were not “strong” enough to complete the work, I would push us over the top with “my might.” We did not get the account. Wait, I worked hard! Why didn’t we get the account?

• GOD said to me “Not by your might.”
• GOD said to me “Not by your power.”
• GOD said to me “Only by MY SPIRIT.”

Success is defined by GOD alone. HE is the one who deems what will be successful and what will fail miserably. GOD places perfect barriers on my path that I cannot go over, under around or through. HE stops me dead in my tracks until I acknowledge I need HIM and HIM alone.

I have to take my faulty thinking that the source of success is from me and turn it towards the truth, namely GOD.  HE is the way the truth and the life!

• Are you depending on yourself for your success?
• Do you think you can get yourself out of your mess?
• Will you stop trying to depend on yourself and place your trust in GOD who will guide you?

In memory of Daryl Matthews

Pardon My Arrogance

Zephaniah 3: ⁹ “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
    that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
    and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush
    my worshipers, my scattered people,
    will bring me offerings.
¹¹ On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
    for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
    your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
    on my holy hill.

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“You sound like one of us” is what a senior leader said to me. I now had the title, responsibility and the “strut” down-packed.  I could not be bothered with the trivial and sped up conversations because I was “busy.” I had made “it.”

• There were times when I was arrogant.
• There were times when I was boastful.
• There were times when I was the “one who would save.

Reeling with confidence, I laid “my” plans out to the masses without permission. Every step was a battle and each moment was a fight to keep the group under me strong. BUT GOD wanted something different.

• GOD wanted me to have a humble heart, not a haughty one.
• GOD wanted me to recognize my boasting that I called “managing upward.”
• GOD wanted me to see my arrogance that I placed false confidence in my abilities.

Confidence in capabilities is only good when I acknowledge where these gifts and talents come from, namely GOD. In business, people told me I spoke like a wimp when I did not say “I did this or I did that” so I did and people praised me for it. BUT GOD was not pleased.

HE wants me to point to HIM, not to me. HE should get ALL the glory for even the tiniest step I make. GOD is my guide and my refuge. In HIM I brag and boast.  

• Are you trying to get a promotion?
• Do you feel you need to “manage upward” in order to get ahead?
• Can you stop your arrogant tone and start asking GOD for humility?
• Will you seek GOD today?