Treasure

Exodus 12-20

Exodus 13:22 ”Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” Exodus 19:5 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.”

These chapters of the Israelites’ escape are full of heart stopping drama, wonders and miracles. Magic, plagues, death, parting of the sea, water from rock, bread and quail from the sky. There are so many, what will they recall when it all come to pass?

For me, amidst it all, the most moving and most treasured is that God was always by the side of the Israelites – he was in front of them, guiding them, leading them, protecting them, feeding them, teaching them. They are His treasure.

Like the Israelites, we grumble and complain and always look for things, blessings, miracles and wonders from the hand of God. The physical, the emotional, our needs and wants, they overwhelmed us. We forget and overlook that through it all, God is always by our side. This is most precious and is more than enough. May we learn to treasure His presence with us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that your presence is always with us. Forgive us when we overlook your presence and place more importance on things. May we learn to treasure it above all. In Jesus name, amen.

Hard of hearing

Exodus 7-11

Exo 8:19 “The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.”

God listens when we cry out to Him. What about us? Do we hear when God speaks?

Pharaoh has a huge hearing problem. He would not listen at first because those he disliked and distrust spoke to him. Evidences piled up and he continued to dismiss them. Ah, but when those he trusted, the magicians, spoke to him and yet he would not listen, there is a real issue. It’s just a recipe for disaster when a leader would not listen to anyone and is totally out of touch with the ground. His people are suffering, the land is in ruin, yet he is still holding on to his pride and sin and would not relent.

It’s a vicious cycle. Each time pharaoh refuses to listen, his sins and pride increase, his heart hardened, and he finds it harder to listen. Sins and pride harden our heart, make us hard of hearing. It is dangerous not to listen, especially to God. He usually sends us warnings against our sins. It slowly builds up. We may say ok one moment and go back sinning next, just like pharaoh. Each time we do this, it become more difficult to let go. Until God sometimes has to send a painful lesson to wake us up. You see, our sins hurt not only us but those around us as well. Only then will we learn to let go.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that you hear us. Help us to hear and listen to you and your discipline early. Make us soft of hearing. In Jesus name, amen.

God cares

Exodus 1-6
Exo 3:7 “The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.”

Ours is a caring God. Our God is compassionate and kind. When the Israelites cried out to Him, He saw their misery, He heard them and He is concerned about their suffering. So concerned that He said He will personally come down and rescue them. Amazing, God is the Almighty King and yet He is concerned and cares about each one of His people.

Then we have the other mighty kings – the slave drivers. When the Israelites became numerous, pharaoh said "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." (Exodus 1:10).

And when the Israelites cried out and asked to take leave to worship their God, pharaoh said "But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." (Exodus 5:8)

There will be times when we are put in charge of people, whether at home, at the workplace or ministry. Are we like God who call these His people and put them first - see, hear, are concerned and will personally help them? Or are we like pharaohs – we are concerned about ourselves, the assignment/task at hand and people become a means to us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that you see, hear, are concerned and will help when we cry out to you. Forgive us that many times we are more concerned about ourselves and our task at hand and we forgot about the people you have put under our charge. I pray we will learn to take time to observe them, listen to them, care for them as you have cared for us. In Jesus name, amen.

Redemption (2)

Gen 43-50

Gen:45:5,8 ” And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”

Joseph has been redeemed, made good. He now meets his past and is much, much better than them. He is with abundance, they are starving. They come knocking, begging him. What should he do? He can simply turn them away. Surely they deserve their suffering, he deserve his revenge. This will stop his hurts.

Then realisation struck Joseph. This was never about him and him alone. Yes, he has suffered, but he has a lot now. And his redemption, blessings are all from God. It’s not because he deserve them, it was part of God’s plans to save lives through him, all along. And so Joseph let go of his hurts, forgave his brothers and submitted to God’s will. Therein, an entire race was saved. The redemption, blessings that God blessed Joseph with overflowed and multiplied.

Similarly, we may have many misgivings about life. But God has given us his best – Jesus. Our lives are never about us alone, God’s plan has always been to save lives through us. May our lives overflow and multiply into others.

Prayer: Dear Lord, our suffering and pains are real. But you are with us and have given us your Son. We are immensely blessed. Help us to let go, look beyond ourselves and realise that we are part of your bigger plan. May we share the best you’ve given to us and let it overflow and multiply into others’ lives. In Jesus’ name.

Redemption

Gen 41-42

Gen:41:51-52 ”Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh] and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."

At last, all the suffering, all the trouble, all the painful past is gone and forgotten! Joseph is out of prison. He is now rich, famous, powerful, and successful. He even has a wonderful wife and children. He is totally redeemed, he has made good at last! Or has he?

Why is there still a lingering pain from the past? Why is the soul and the heart still not whole?

Look at all the famous, rich, powerful people in the world today. Quite a few had such painful pasts. They’re happy now aren’t they? They’ve everything a man can ask for, no?

Has Joseph really gone out of his prison? Only God knows what is happening deep inside him.

What do you do when you have all you ever dreamed off and then you meet your dark, painful past?

Do you pretend not to recognise them? Gen 42:7 “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked."From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food."”

Do you turn away from them and weep? Gen 42:24 “He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.”

For all the riches, power, fame, success in this world, God knows what is truly deep in our hearts. In his mercy, he presented Joseph with a chance to face his past again. It’s a huge struggle for Joseph. He has made good now, what would he do when he face his past hurts? What should he do? What would you do?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we look alright on the outside, but only you can search us and know us deeply. May we take time to let you search our hearts, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Wait!

Gen 16-18
Genesis 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

Why did you take so long Lord? What happened to your promise? I prayed Lord, but it did not happened. Did you not promise, Lord? Sarah and Abraham waited and waited until they were old. Was the promise of God real? Whilst they waited, they tried to make it real, but it turned it to be a mess. Oh well, give up! But God kept sending His promise. Oh Lord, its tough to wait. Our hope diminishes as we wait. Our bodies and strength waste away. Job’s wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9)

But wait! "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8). God is never too late, not even a second. Only we do not understand. “Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died”. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." (John 11:16,23).

When God fulfills His promise, it will be at a perfect time. We will witness His amazing resurrection power - the dead will rise again with a new birth. Job, Lazarus and Sarah understood.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that your promise is real and your timing is perfect. Help us to hold on to you and your promise as we wait. We want to witness your amazing resurrection power, in Jesus name, amen.

Be Perfect

Gen 13-15, Matt 5



Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”



Lot’s people quarreled with Abraham’s over the land. Abraham let Lot chose the best spot. When the spot and Lot got into trouble, Abraham fought off Lot’s enemies for him. Jesus said “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:39, 44). I searched my heart and know I fall short. Why? I do not trust God enough. My walk has been one to defend and protect myself. But God loves me. And God loves others. Let me slowly let go to Him.


Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that you love us and want the best for us. I pray that you will help us let go and trust you to walk in your perfect ways, in Jesus name, amen.

Highly Favoured

Gen 10-12, Matt 4



Genesis 12:1-3 "1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you." "



As I read about Abraham, I thought what great favour he has with the Lord. God will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him and all peoples on earth will be blessed through him. How does one get into God's favour like Noah, Abraham and Jesus? And indeed generations have been blessed through them. Maybe they stand out in the crowd - obediently walking in God's ways, not compromising and heeding God's call no matter. The relationship and trust they have with God is deep.

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us this deep trust and relationship with you. Help us take time to cultivate this. Let your favour fall upon us. I pray we will be a blessing and the people will be blessed through us. In Jesus name I pray, amen.