Exodus 14; Luke 17
Daily Catechism
QUESTION 39: WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION?
Answer: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace by which we are renewed in the whole person after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:23, 24; Romans 6:11.
Exodus 14
Ready:
In the previous chapters Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness and they were led by a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire at night that was the Lord’s presence. They consecrated the firstborn boys and explained the pattern of redeeming the firstborn children and sacrificing the firstborn animals of Israel in remembrance of the passover in Egypt. The Lord led them toward the Red Sea and avoided the Philistines apparently to keep them from having to fight yet in favor of more display of him doing their fighting by use of the Sea. Interesting detail that he knew they would be disheartened by facing a battle and would return to Egypt.
Seeing what’s there:
In this chapter God directs Moses to have the people stall in an area and he seems to bring Pharaoh purposefully against them. Pharaoh comes against Israel with his chariots (pulled by horses that were not “in the field” during the 5th or 7th plague but were most likely protected in stables). God determined that he would receive glory by accomplishing another miraculous feat in defeating the Egyptian Pharaoh and it would be by Israel crossing the Red Sea on dry ground and then drowning Pharaoh’s army.
Key Verses:
Exodus 14:1, 4, 8-9, 11-12, 13-14, 18, 21-22, 28, 31
Theme:
Despite the failing faith of the Israelites, the Lord was determined to accomplish their delivery in a manner that would glorify his name and strengthen their faith in him and in Moses.
Thinking about the message:
v1-9. Interesting here that God specifically chose to draw Pharaoh out against Israel instead of just leading them through the Red Sea without him in chase. God had a purpose of his name being declared in all the earth and this was how he intended to do it. He knew the people would turn back if he had led them into the area where the Philistines were. Contrasting his efforts to work around the failing will of the Israelites with his hardening of Pharaoh in order to bring him out in chase may indicate that his guiding of hearts at this point is being limited to releasing them to wickedness and not empowering them to godliness, other than the remnant perhaps (Rom 11:4-7).
v10-14. Here is the crazy failure of Israel to keep their hope in God. They blame Moses for their impending death and tell him that they had already asked him to just leave them alone to serve the Egyptians. Crazy that after all that God has done to get them to this point and they seem to have hearts that are as hard as Pharaoh’s. Strikingly, Moses tells them to sit back and shut their mouths (Ex 14:14). It seems clear that God is going to do a work here for his name and for his purposes and not in any response to the faith of Israel. God is making a point (Rom 9:16-18). Read Joshua 2:8-11 and see the impact this event had upon other nations who would consider resisting or confronting Israel in the future.
v15-29. Here Moses follows the Lord’s instructions and as God guards the rear of the camp by a cloud of darkness, Moses uses his staff the sees the Sea parted with walls of water on each side. Israel crosses and then God returns the waters and drowns all of Pharaoh’s army.
v30-31. The final verse establishes the result of this deliverance upon the people of Israel. They went from fearing Egypt and wishing they were back serving them to fearing God and believing in his promises and trusting their leader Moses. This state of faith may not last too terribly long but there was indeed a great work accomplished in the hearts of the people this day that would fuel centuries of tradition and religious devotion.
Meaning, Implications, and Significance
I hear a message that God has large plans at work that involve more than I can know. The impaction is that the circumstances he allows or orchestrates may not always make sense but I can know that he works on a very large scale and my shortsightedness limits my understanding, especially in the middle of a situation. It was not until Israel reached the other side of the Sea they were then able to consider what the Lord had brought them through and they understood that he had delivered them by a mighty hand and they trusted him. The significance for my life is that I should not lose heart in the midst of trials or hardship but I should look ahead in hope trusting that the Lord’s arm is not too short to deliver me and I should trust that he is indeed working for my good in all that happens (Rom 8:28-29; Jer 32:40-41; Eph 1:19; Lam 3:37-38).
Valuing the message:
This message is valuable because it is easy to lose heart and think I made a wrong turn somewhere because the results do not seem to be good. Sometimes “bad” things happen even though I might be “trusting God”. Probably my vision is too narrow and I need to hang in there and look to him to provide sustaining grace to get me through until I can see his purposes better.
Reflecting on the message:
I need to consider if my trust is only one circumstance away from failing and I need to prayerfully wrestle with God over giving me a better view of my life and of my circumstances and I need to ask him to give me a broader view of life that considers more than myself.
Questions to ask:
- Is there something I am going through that causes me to think it would have been better to have done it my own way?
- Does this event give me reason to hang in there and trust the Lord, regardless of the outcomes I see?
- Has God promised me a particular outcome in this life as he had certainly done for the nation of Israel (Exodus 3:16-17)? There is one promised outcome for me. Read Rom 8:29, 1 Peter 1:9, 1 Thess 5:23-24. Temporal prosperity here on earth is not guaranteed and should not be a goal anyways if my eyes are set upon Christ (Col 3:1-4; Matt 6:20).
Responding to God & Reacting to His Lesson:
Tell God about your observations and your thoughts and your struggles with the chapter and determine how it will change or impact your thinking and your decisions. Be sure to react in some way to the truth rather than remain silent.
Proclaiming the Truth to Others:
Decide who you can share what you have learned with and ask for God’s help in reaching out to love others.
Luke 17
Ready:The previous chapter taught about justification by faith alone in place of self-justification by works.
Seeing what’s there:
In this chapter I see Jesus teaching first on not being a source of temptation to others. Then teaching that mercy is not owed to us by God and thus should be treasured when it is received. Yet mercy from one person to another is expected because we are all recipients of God’s mercy and it is not a mighty deed that demonstrates great faith when we forgive. We are expected to forgive as a servant is expected to serve. Then Jesus goes on to teach on a coming judgement that will take some and leave others like the waters came for the unrighteous in Noah’s days and the fire came to Sodom in Lot’s day.
Key Verses:
Luke 17:1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 15-17, 21, 29-30, 33
Theme:
Not being a source of temptations and forgiving others are examples of simple expectations and not great feats of faith. God calls his people to trust him and recognize that he is the one who places expectations upon us and not us upon him. He does not owe mercy and we should be very grateful for it…because the alternative is judgement.
Thinking about the message:
v1-4. Here are two simple expectations that God puts upon his people and these do not represent something praiseworthy…but are merely the right thing. Do not be a source of temptation…pay attention to yourself. This one is hard for me of course…JK. But really, women need to listen to this and think about how they present themselves for sure. The next is forgiveness. Jesus is shocked by the questioning on forgiveness and he makes the clear point that it is expected (Eph 4:32). Note here that the first response to being sinned against is rebuke…followed by forgiveness if the brother repents, to be repeated endlessly it seems.
v5-6. Here Jesus reacts to the apostles request for more faith in a telling manner. He reads their plea to be a feeling that to act in the way he is saying is a great act of faith and that they will need much empowerment to do such a thing. Jesus comes against that thought and tells them it does not take great faith, merely correct faith. He explains further in the discussion that he is talking about simple expectations and not great feats.
v7-19. Jesus makes the point here that our obedience is not something praiseworthy but it is expected. In contrast, his mercy should not be expected and indeed is praiseworthy. We tend to get his upside down and we feel entitled to mercy when we fail and praise when we don’t. Jesus is working to untwist the sinful lies that we are convinced of.
v20-37. Still looking out for our selfish gain and misplaced hopes we too look for a kingdom sometimes that is made of mortar and brick instead of a kingdom that has been in our midst since Jesus walked with us. The Kingdom of God is now and not merely later in heaven. I am to pray for the continual coming of his kingdom purposes and I am to live now for his kingdom purposes. There will be a day when the kingdom is consummated but it will be a day of judgement and dread for many. This second coming will be no secret event but will capture the attention of the world and those who have sought after preserving their life instead of risking it for the gospel will face judgement.
Meaning, Implications, and Significance
I hear a message that it is not a praiseworthy thing to refrain from sin. I hear that I need to take my eyes off of myself and place them on my righteousness…which is Christ alone. He is to be praised and not me. I can offer God only my gratitude and praise in response to his mercy that has freed me and made me whole. The implication is that I should not only think of others and avoid causing them to sin but I should think of the ways that God keeps me and delivers me and I should be giving him thanks and praise because it is only due to his grace that I am anything but a wicked God-hater (1 Cor 15:10; Rom 5:10; Rom 8:7). When he frees me from sin I should not expect some thank you card in the mail from him…I should get on my knees and praise his holy name. Do I think it was in my strength and by my initiative that this was accomplished? I am probably one of the lepers cruising down the road still heading to show the priest how wonderful I am. The significance for my life is that sin may be my big problem in life, but its absence is not the big answer. Remember the empty house? I need Jesus. I need God filling me with his Spirit and making me his own. I need to be ruled and animated by God that I may live a life that is hidden in him (Col 3:1-3). Jesus is my righteousness, not my repenting or my lack of this or that sin…that is expected. Not being wicked is merely that. Righteousness is something that can only be received by indwelling and by transformation. Righteousness is bigger than me and bigger than I can imagine. The righteousness of God is Jesus and he alone if mighty enough to carry that weight of glory. I need to seek righteousness as my top priority (Matt 6:33) but let me not get the idea that his is a lack of sin…nope. Way past that and it is only achieved by Jesus through his Spirit and I get is by falling on him and by seeking him and by relying on him and by crying out for mercy…not by looking in the mirror or asking him to recognize what I am doing. Ask Job how that went for him…and I bet he was “more righteous” than me or you by a little bit (Job 38:1-3ff).
Valuing the message:
This message is valuable to me because it helps me to see plainly why I need to not be looking in the mirror when I should be on my face in worship and thanks.
Reflecting on the message:
Let me consider each day what my view of myself is and whether I have pride where humility should be. Let me consider if I am mindful of my influence on others and where I can be leading others to sin by my own actions. Let me be mindful of what God is accomplishing in me and let me give him thanks.
Questions to ask:
- Is a lack of certain sins the goal?
- Does righteousness consist of the absence of sin?
- Where is God at work in me that I am not praising him adequately for?
- Am I looking for some jackpot ahead or am I making his name known and living in the kingdom now?
Responding to God & Reacting to His Lesson:
Tell God about your observations and your thoughts and your struggles with the chapter and determine how it will change or impact your thinking and your decisions. Be sure to react in some way to the truth rather than remain silent.
Proclaiming the Truth to Others:
Decide who you can share what you have learned with and ask for God’s help in reaching out to love others.
Soli Deo Gloria!
