There are many events in scripture that on first glance, just do not make any sense. We can read an account that mystifies us and so tend to gloss over it and not pay much attention to what God is really saying.
I once skimmed over them as fast as  I could so that I could get to the “interesting parts” or in other words to the parts I wanted to concentrate on. We all do it. We can mark our bibles and color them according to our preferences—our doctrinal beliefs and assumptions. I marked my bible in different ways to highlight the paassages I liked and followed excellent bible reading programs that many sources provide. They give you a list of passages to read each day and it is a good idea.
I learned speed reading so that I could read the entire bible in six months!
One day, the Lord gently rebuked me about that telling me that all I was doing was scanning the print—but not seeing truth.

We can read words, but it does not necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit illuminates them. What if He wishes to say something to you from the page?
My problem was that I was not letting the Holy Spirit breathe life into the words as He wants to. We can read one word many times and “get something different” somehow each time when He does that. It’s the same word of course, especially when we ask Him to open it up to us.

He is able to convert that word from mere black ink on a page, to something that seems to have life in it. There have been many times when He tells us to read a certain portion, or whilst we are reading something, it is as if He points his finger at  a certain  part and it leaps out of the page at us. We can have read it many times before, but it is as if we never saw it there before. He is trying to talk to us.

Our core text is one of those “mysterious” parts to many as it was to me, until I started to look more closely into the original texts, and, yes, I am “at it again” about reading Gods word correctly. I have learned that my studies up to doctorate level, despite their relative merit have not fully equipped me for the ministry. Conversely, the “school of the Holy Spirit”, the anointing, the call of God on anyone and the commissioning by the Lord advocate general of The Church, the Lord Jesus Christ is what makes the difference.

This is evident in Luke’s gospel when Jesus took the initiative and caught up with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus who were having a heated debate about spiritual matters. Does that sound familiar? They had spent three years with Him but did not recognize Him until He ate a meal with them and said:
“Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke! Didn’t the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?” Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27

There are many events in scripture that on first glance, just do not make any sense. We can read an account that mystifies us and so tend to gloss over it and not pay much attention to what God is really saying.
I once skimmed over them as fast as  I could so that I could get to the “interesting parts” or in other words to the parts I wanted to concentrate on. We all do it. We can mark our bibles and color them according to our preferences—our doctrinal beliefs and assumptions. I marked my bible in different ways to highlight the paassages I liked and followed excellent bible reading programs that many sources provide. They give you a list of passages to read each day and it is a good idea.
I learned speed reading so that I could read the entire bible in six months!
One day, the Lord gently rebuked me about that telling me that all I was doing was scanning the print—but not seeing truth.

We can read words, but it does not necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit illuminates them. What if He wishes to say something to you from the page?
My problem was that I was not letting the Holy Spirit breathe life into the words as He wants to. We can read one word many times and “get something different” somehow each time when He does that. It’s the same word of course, especially when we ask Him to open it up to us.

He is able to convert that word from mere black ink on a page, to something that seems to have life in it. There have been many times when He tells us to read a certain portion, or whilst we are reading something, it is as if He points his finger at  a certain  part and it leaps out of the page at us. We can have read it many times before, but it is as if we never saw it there before. He is trying to talk to us.

Our core text is one of those “mysterious” parts to many as it was to me, until I started to look more closely into the original texts, and, yes, I am “at it again” about reading Gods word correctly. I have learned that my studies up to doctorate level, despite their relative merit have not fully equipped me for the ministry. Conversely, the “school of the Holy Spirit”, the anointing, the call of God on anyone and the commissioning by the Lord advocate general of The Church, the Lord Jesus Christ is what makes the difference.

This is evident in Luke’s gospel when Jesus took the initiative and caught up with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus who were having a heated debate about spiritual matters. Does that sound familiar? They had spent three years with Him but did not recognize Him until He ate a meal with them and said:
“Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke! Didn’t the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?” Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27

Please look at what God said next.

And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus said ��������, “Yisra’ěl is My son, My first-born, so I say to you, let My son go to serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

God called Israel His first-born son, but Israel had died hundreds of years ago. God had made a everlasting covenant with Abraham, stating that the land he saw would be his inheritance forever.
God renewed that covenant when He commanded Abraham to offer his own son, Isaac on the altar.
Jacob, whose name became Israel also received that promise.

The war in the Middle East is not about property—it is a direct assault against God’s people and attempting to negate those covenant promises. Genesis fourteen is a prime example.

Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought out bread and wine. He was cohen of El ‘Elyon [God Most High], so he blessed him with these words:
“Blessed be Avram by El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven of earth. and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of S’dom said to Avram, “Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself.”
Genesis 14:18-21

Abraham had just rescued Lot and won a war. Melchizedek greeted him with bread and wine that symbolizes a covenant and we partake of bread and wine today to remind ourseves of our covenant. The enemy immediately challenged what was done by wanting compromize! He was not interested in the goods, or the property. He wanted the hearts and minds of the people.

This evil Palestininan/Iranian, terrorist issue has nothing to do with the land at all. It is a direct attack against God’s covenant people and thus against God.

Look again at the second half of that scripture. God said,

if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

This is more serious than we may think. It infers that anyone who touches Israel, will, not might, incur His wrath.

The words I am killing suggest a non-stop continual process, or that He was already doing it. History has already revealed that nations who dared do that were appropriately judged. Pharoah’s first-born son did die. The Exodus did happen, but even before Moses strode into the court, something very unusual happened.

Please look at what God said next.

And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus said ��������, “Yisra’ěl is My son, My first-born, so I say to you, let My son go to serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

God called Israel His first-born son, but Israel had died hundreds of years ago. God had made a everlasting covenant with Abraham, stating that the land he saw would be his inheritance forever.
God renewed that covenant when He commanded Abraham to offer his own son, Isaac on the altar.
Jacob, whose name became Israel also received that promise.

The war in the Middle East is not about property—it is a direct assault against God’s people and attempting to negate those covenant promises. Genesis fourteen is a prime example.

Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought out bread and wine. He was cohen of El ‘Elyon [God Most High], so he blessed him with these words:
“Blessed be Avram by El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven of earth. and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of S’dom said to Avram, “Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself.”
Genesis 14:18-21

Abraham had just rescued Lot and won a war. Melchizedek greeted him with bread and wine that symbolizes a covenant and we partake of bread and wine today to remind ourseves of our covenant. The enemy immediately challenged what was done by wanting compromize! He was not interested in the goods, or the property. He wanted the hearts and minds of the people.

This evil Palestininan/Iranian, terrorist issue has nothing to do with the land at all. It is a direct attack against God’s covenant people and thus against God.

Look again at the second half of that scripture. God said,

if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

This is more serious than we may think. It infers that anyone who touches Israel, will, not might, incur His wrath.

The words I am killing suggest a non-stop continual process, or that He was already doing it. History has already revealed that nations who dared do that were appropriately judged. Pharoah’s first-born son did die. The Exodus did happen, but even before Moses strode into the court, something very unusual happened.

Please look at what God said next.

And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus said ��������, “Yisra’ěl is My son, My first-born, so I say to you, let My son go to serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

God called Israel His first-born son, but Israel had died hundreds of years ago. God had made a everlasting covenant with Abraham, stating that the land he saw would be his inheritance forever.
God renewed that covenant when He commanded Abraham to offer his own son, Isaac on the altar.
Jacob, whose name became Israel also received that promise.

The war in the Middle East is not about property—it is a direct assault against God’s people and attempting to negate those covenant promises. Genesis fourteen is a prime example.

Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought out bread and wine. He was cohen of El ‘Elyon [God Most High], so he blessed him with these words:
“Blessed be Avram by El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven of earth. and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of S’dom said to Avram, “Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself.”
Genesis 14:18-21

Abraham had just rescued Lot and won a war. Melchizedek greeted him with bread and wine that symbolizes a covenant and we partake of bread and wine today to remind ourseves of our covenant. The enemy immediately challenged what was done by wanting compromize! He was not interested in the goods, or the property. He wanted the hearts and minds of the people.

This evil Palestininan/Iranian, terrorist issue has nothing to do with the land at all. It is a direct attack against God’s covenant people and thus against God.

Look again at the second half of that scripture. God said,

if you refuse to let him go, see, I am killing your son, your first-born. Exodus 4:22-23

This is more serious than we may think. It infers that anyone who touches Israel, will, not might, incur His wrath.

The words I am killing suggest a non-stop continual process, or that He was already doing it. History has already revealed that nations who dared do that were appropriately judged. Pharoah’s first-born son did die. The Exodus did happen, but even before Moses strode into the court, something very unusual happened.

It does not matter who that person may be. It could be the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the President of a denominiaton, or the pastor of a mega church. Unless that person is born again, called, anointed—and commissionsed  by the Lord, they should not be there. There are far too many like that. Please take note of the bolded part of the above scripture relating to the signs and wonders.

They are an integral part of the Great Commission, but most of the church is ignoring them today. Despite the foolishness and excesses that entered in, the very things people need today as tools—that get their attention and draw them to God are being cast aside. We have to return from “Sesame street and the funny characters to Asuza street”. I’m serious. People can go to hell without the touch of God. The day of miracles is not over.

In Matthew 9, Jesus proved that the miracle of salvation—the forgiveness of sin and a miracle of healing are intertwined.

Moses had been called by God, but something was amiss with his relationship with God at that point in time.

An everlasting covenent relationship made by the shedding of blood between God and Abraham existed—but it had been broken.

The man of God broke it! This is why people in miinistry offices who should not be there is a serious matter.

His wife intervend to save him. God’s wrath was turned away by a cutting off and the shedding of blood—by the blood of the son.

This also indicates that marrying the “right person”—God’s choice is of vital importance. Being unequally yoked is not just a religious phrase. I suggest you read Hebrews chapters seven to nine slowly and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you about Jesus.

Her reference to the bridegroom was a sign to a bride. The sign of circumcision indicated that the man she married was a worshiper of the most high God. She could tell that his worship was not mere words alone, but dedication and commitment and by the severance of the old Adamic nature.

Perhaps it is like that old saying that words are cheap.

The proof of relationship is what we do, how we conduct ourselves or how we are “marked” for the Lord. Jesus spoke of taking up our own cross to follow Him and it seems to me that it is not necessarily a life of hardship, privation, poverty and suffering, although some people say that, but a life at whatever level the individual may be, when his or her old Adamic nature has been cut away and put to death.

That is an ongoing process.  We are saved. We are being saved and we shall be saved. I no longer believe that”Once saved, always saved” doctrine. We can say the words when repeating “the sinner’s prayer” but not mean them.

A man who was properly or fully circumcised was a “bridegroom of blood”.

The obscure meaning of what she did may now make a little sense if we consider if from the Middle Eastern viewoint.

I must speak plainly on this. The reference to casting the severed foreskin at his feet often means that she placed it against the male organ. It symbolically satisfied God’s demands for such a sign to be made to ratify the covenant.

Moses had been called by God for a special assignment and was committed to it—but he was not yet “qualified” to fulfil that assignment.

If the meaning is literal, that she did cast it at his feet, there is also a symbolic meaning. It describes our relationship with God, or our  “walk” with Him. Genesis 5 states that Enoch walked with God. Many years ago my wife and I spent some time on the Gold Coast in Australia. On many mornings we woke at 4AM and strolled on the beach and on one such morning, I sensed the presence of the Lord. It was particularly powerful. I thought of Enoch and invited Him to walk with me. We can practice the presence of the Lord and I am convinced that He responds. As I was walking alone with Him, I heard the sound of someone‘s feet touching the sand. That produces a unique sound. There are times when we can sense someone’s approach from behind. You’ve had that I suppose. The hair on the back of your neck “stands up” and that happened. I started to turn and noticed a set of footprints in the sand next to mine—but saw no one. After a while the experience started to dissipate. I do not know the reason, but it has impacted my life. Do not think this is strange, because  Hebrews 13, says that we can entertain angels unaware.

This brings my presentation to a close and I have no more to share. What I am trying to say to everyone is that after 56 years with the Lord, I am discovering how little I really know.

Most people think of living for three score and ten years and some live longer. What we forget or find hard to comprehend is that what we call time was created by God to help us understand things, because time for Him does not exist. One year to God is like1000 of our years, so our “70 years” could equate to much more. Our life here is a mere few seconds by comparison if we shall eventually live forever, this is mind boggling.

Until that day arrives when we shall meet the Lord, there is soooo much more to learn. I encourage you to do that. I am also mindful that we need to be ready for that day. I believe it won’t be long now.

Robert