pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: fighting


by Leave a comment

God IS There

Reading: Exodus 14:22-31

Exodus 14:31 – “The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

The exodus story continues! The Israelites walk through where the sea had been. The dry ground under their feet and the walls of water to the left and right must’ve been amazing. Many must have walked through eyes wide open and jaws hanging down. Meanwhile, the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit. They probably didn’t even notice the amazing things that God was doing. If so, maybe they’d have stayed on their side of the sea.

God drew the army in and then threw them into a panic. The slow movement allowed Israel to finish crossing the sea. At this point, the Egyptians realize that God was fighting for Israel. It was too late. Moses stretched out his hand and the sea returned to its normal place. The whole army drowned. God rescued Israel. It happened right there before their eyes. The outcome? “The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

In the possible God moments, are you more like the Israelites or more like the Egyptians? Do you notice when God shows up to rescue? Or to redeem or to reconcile or to renew? When we are open to or even seeking God, we see that God is there. I’ve noticed encounters with God in a church balcony, in an ER room, in a prayer room at an event, and in a hospital room more than once. But I’m sure I’ve missed others. Yet in the moments when we need God to be present, God is there. Always. Be open to it. Seek the Lord. God is there.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for making a way for Israel. And thank you for showing up in amazing ways during our times of need. Help us to notice, to see, and even to seek you. Open our eyes to see the times that you part the sea, and the times when your touch is gentle and small. In all things, may we encounter you, O God. Amen.


by Leave a comment

One Priority

Reading: Acts 5:17-7:60 (8:1a)

Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than humans!”

Jealousy and anger drive one side of the tensions found in today’s reading. The Holy Spirit drives the other side. One side is fully in alignment with God’s will and ways. One side focuses on worldly things.

Jealousy leads the Jewish leaders to arrest the apostles. An angel comes and frees them in the night, instructing them to keep teaching in Jesus’ name. Found and brought before the Jerusalem Council, Peter and the other apostles state, “We must obey God rather than humans!” A wise council member suggests patience. Gamaliel suggests that if this new movement is of human origins, ultimately it will fail. But if it is of God, then they will actually find themselves fighting God. The apostles are beaten and released, warned again not to teach in Jesus’ name. After rejoicing because they were counted worthy of suffering for Jesus’ name, they resume preaching and teaching.

After reading about the apostles working through an administrative issue with an administrative solution, we read the story of Stephen. He stood out among the believers because of the way that God’s grace and power was with him. Again jealousy stirs up tension and then false accusations. Stephen’s response is a history lesson that focuses in on Israel’s rejection of Moses, the Law, and all of the prophets, including Jesus. The council members are enraged. As he’s condemned Stephen has a vision of Jesus standing at God’s right side in heaven.

Furious, the council members drag Stephen out of the city and stone him as Saul oversees and approves. As he is being stoned, Stephen asks God to accept his life and he asks for God to forgive his attackers. These statements parallel Jesus’ words from the cross in Luke’s Gospel. Here we again see steadfast faith built upon love, grace, and mercy. May our lives also exhibit all of these, bringing glory to God in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Lord God, filled with the Holy Spirit the early apostles lived out their faith boldly, unafraid, and with passion. All that the world could do to them was counted as trivial, unimportant. All that mattered was faith in Jesus’ name. Proclaiming their faith to the world was their one priority in life. May it be so for us too, O Lord. Make it so. Amen.