January 29
In a previous study, God was angry with Moses because he kept coming up with excuses and finally just told God to get someone else. In Exodus 7:1, it seems God may be smiling when He tells Moses, "See, I have made you as God to Pharoah, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet". God is very patient with us and remembers we are "dust" (Psalms 103:14). Thankfully, His love covers a multitude of our sins (I Peter 4:8) and weaknesses!
God told Moses up front that He planned to harden Pharoah's heart and multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt so that they would know He is the Lord when He brought Israel out of Egypt. God wants people to know Him and know His power. In His wisdom He chooses how He reveals Himself to us.
The Egyptian magicians were able to replicate some of the signs God did through Moses. They turned water into blood and brought up frogs on the land. (Wasn't that ridiculous--adding to the problems they already had!) Things went exactly according to God's plan; even the magicians realized, "This is the finger of God". It's also worth noting that God did not clean up the mess for them. They had to gather the dead frogs together into heaps out of the houses, courtyards, and fields--and the land stank. Hopefully, when we have to clean up enough of what our sins have wrought, we will begin to get the message. There's a reason God allows us to reap what we sow. (Unfortunately, our culture is now out of control due to not understanding this principle; children at a young age need to be taught that what they do has consequences so that they will make wise choices in their behavior as they grow into adulthood.) David said in Psalms 17:4, "I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer". I have found it amazing how our daily readings sometimes mesh. God's principles never change; they apply in a multitude of scenarios.
In Proverbs 5, Solomon discusses "moral boundaries" with his son. This certainly applies to the reader also, as "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). Again, there is a connection with this scripture in Proverbs and the scriptures in Matthew 19, regarding divorce and adultery. As Dr. Stanley points out in Life Examples--people tend to ask the wrong questions. Many times our motives become obvious by our questions. The Pharisees asked Jesus whether it was lawful to get a divorce for just any reason. He knew, of course, that they were testing Him (v. 3). After Jesus answered the Pharisees, the disciples came to the conclusion that it might be better not to marry. Jesus went on to explain that some are able to remain single, but some are not able to do so. We are created physically equipped for marriage and God said it was not good for man to be alone, however, He allows us to choose whether we marry or remain single.
I found it interesting that when asked "which" commandments, Jesus only addressed the last six commandments with the rich young ruler. The first four of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) addresses our relationship with God, while the last six address our relationships with each other. The young man said he had kept (the last six) from his youth and asked what he lacked doing in order to have eternal life. Jesus told him if he wanted to be perfect to sell all he had, give it to the poor and he would have treasure in heaven, and to come follow Him. However, he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions--he evidently knew this was not an option for him.
As Dr. Stanley brings out, people want to know what they can DO, in order to be saved. We cannot DO anything that will give us salvation. We are born into sin and it is not possible for us to not sin--it is our nature. The rich young ruler needed his sins paid for and he was talking to the God-Man who was destined to die in his place in order to do just this. He went away sorrowful because he had asked the wrong question. If he had asked, "how can my sins be forgiven", he could have left rejoicing. Instead, he left discouraged--this is where we find ourselves when we try to earn salvation. Recognizing our need for a Savior changes our focus as we realize there is nothing WE can do to be saved. We can have many possessions, yet salvation belongs to the Lord and He has made it available to "whosoever believes in Him (John 3:16). The Psalmist said in Psalms 116:13, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord".
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