Exodus – The Way Out of Bondage

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.” ~Exodus 15:11-12 (NRSV).

A postcard-size analysis of Exodus is a difficult task, but one worthy of embarking upon. Let us gather the vast expanse of forty chapters and rediscover the eternal message: the way out of bondage. Our study will explore seven broad situations.

1. The Initial Oppression, The Burning Bush, and Bricks without Straw

The first five chapters paint a moving picture of great change. After centuries under Pharaoh’s oppression the Israelites seek their salvation and a saviour. Moses at the burning bush is our first glimpse of the Divine plan of Israel’s deliverance out of bondage. But God’s chosen nation wasn’t rescued yet; even more immediate suffering was to be endured first.

Our experiences of bondage have been, and perhaps are, bolstered by the revelation of God’s plan to release us. Oftentimes, however, we must still endure some pain and heightened challenge before we find our way out.

2. God’s Promised Deliverance and the Outworking of Plagues

Pressure for change mounts when we know the Lord is behind us. Moses received that assurance. The hardest part for Moses and Aaron was to obey the Lord by defying Pharaoh.

It’s easy to overlook the significance of courage on the part of these two. Not only were they outnumbered and out-powered by the ruling Egyptians, the first resistance by Pharaoh ignites the Israelites’ own wrath against Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:21). The plagues, themselves, are the heaviest testament of the power of God to release the grip of evil.

Similarly, our bondage will resist when it’s threatened. Old habits can seem impossible to break. We need the poise of courage to not back off.

3. The Passover and the Exodus

Note now the symbolism of the initiating event of the Exodus. The Passover had become for the Israelites the coming of a new thing. They would see the faithfulness of the Lord in the provision of protection, even in the midst of the final, most significant plague (Exodus 12:29-32).

The procession of the Exodus is about as majestic as we could imagine. When we talk about ‘biblical proportions’ we speak most particularly about the Exodus.

As we follow the leading of God to provide the way out of bondage we hold out in faith that a significant symbol will come and the event of release will, in fact, occur.

4. The Ten Commandments

The coming of the Law: every established democracy needs a structure to base their society around. The Ten Commandments provide macro law. They provided the re-established nation of Israel with the ‘must comply’ framework with which to base the rest of the Law.

Once our Exodus has taken place, we too need such a construct in order for the release out of bondage to stick. These commandments are life for us because release, at least initially, relies for its success upon some simple rules.

5. The Structuring of the Jewish Faith

As with any typical legislature, a tiered approach to both mini and micro reform—supporting the macro law—is essential for the base law to work. We tend to denigrate the 613 Mosaic laws that were created immediately after the Exodus—yet, this Law was abundantly necessary for Israel as it reformed its national identity. Let’s not forget these laws were inspired of God.

As we pull away from our bondages, and the past that has held us back, we need to be equally fervent in our approach. Perhaps we don’t need myriad rules, but what we do need is attention to the new identity. This is the new ‘us’ and there’s to be no going back.

6. Meeting the Lord

There is a poignant instant in chapter 33 where Moses and the Lord share an intimate moment.

Inevitably, there comes a time when—long after the moment of our Exodus from bondage—we reacquaint with the Lord our God for a definitive purpose. This is intended to strengthen us further. We may ask for confirmation, and even for one of those intimate signs.

7. Commissioning the Vestibules

Upon any building project there are design, construction and commissioning phases. As the Israelites were constructing their system of governance, which came with essential elements—the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the Table for the Bread of the Presence, and the Lampstand—construction was paramount to their burgeoning identity.

We must also, in the establishment of our new lives in and through God, find those things that must be designed, built and commissioned, to formalise the new arrangement.

Such constructions are never usually material things; they are deeply spiritual.

***

Bondage is a tremulous affair. We’ve all tasted it—to many manner of a manifestation. The Lord releases us from this bondage so that we might worship him. That is the message of Exodus. We are released from hell so we can enter heaven.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Looking God in the Eye

“If we say that we have fellowship with God while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true.” ~1 John 1:6 (NRSV).

The true Christian is not so much pious as they are honest before God—guilty as charged, and to most, if not all, the crimes of the morality code. Looking God in the eye is almost certainly impossible if we cannot contemplate and, therefore, own our sin.

The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

The greatest glory for the Christian person is in knowing they will keep on sinning despite their will not to. Without such a hopeless situation there would be no need for a Saviour. We need saving not once, but for a lifetime.

There is freedom in such truth. Suddenly all of the pressure is relieved, not that we lose interest in doing the best we can, but we can live with ourselves in the midst of our mistakes, misjudgements and misdemeanours.

Our imperfections don’t characterise us as much as the perfection of Christ does. Grace has the final say, and with our commitment to truth—to know we all are sinners; the worst kind, even ‘the best’ of people—we underscore what is undeniably near from what should be impossibly far. The Spirit of God is near.

The Integrity of Honesty – God’s Greatest Gift

The alluring state of personal and interpersonal transparency is a blindingly fresh advance on the disposition of virtue. Nothing can touch it for value. We are never a better brother or mother or spouse or companion or work colleague than when integrity grips us.

The prerequisite of knowledge of our sin gets us there. Suddenly, we expect less from people and we are more honest about our capacity for failing.

The greatest gift, however, is not the ability to please other people—blessing them that they can trust us to boot—but it’s the condition of pleasing God that is most in view. We know we can look God in the eye when we are able to look at ourselves, deeply, and not shrink from the shrinkable things that impinge on us.

There is no shame in knowing that we are far from perfect, faulty, even broken human beings.

The Ticket to Salvation – The Cost: Authenticity

No human being can be comfortable in their own skin unless they acknowledge their guilt and, transferring that more personally, their shame. How are we able to look others or ourselves in the eye if we cannot honestly look God in the eye?

The Lord doesn’t want us feeling onerously guilty; the point of grace is to ameliorate how we feel and to facilitate the impossible, which is to settle a score that could never really be settled without God.

Our sin will get in the way if we won’t deal with it. Dealing with it means we’re being honest about it, anticipating and avoiding it if we can, making restitution whenever possible, and knowing God’s abundant forgiveness at all times.

God wants us to be able to look him in the eye. Honesty is the requirement; to know we are guilty as charged, yet pardoned as eternally innocent. There is no shame in being honest.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Psalm 34 – Thanks Be to Our Redeemer

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.” ~Psalm 34:1-2 (NRSV).

A common feature of thankfulness is reflection; the vision of blessing as we look back. Such mindfulness seems almost surreal. Perhaps we were nervous and under pressure; yet, somehow, we came through. Like Footprints, God was with us. Psalm 34 is commonly ascribed as a psalm of thanksgiving. It brims with joy in the Lord.

The Bellow of Praise

The first three verses open up in enthusiastic style. An individual’s praise—David’s—ignites the call for others to join in (verse 3). The individual’s testimony (verse 4) calls others toward the salvation of God (verse 5). Radiance is the promise and shame is to be put away forever.

Confirmation resounds through the psalmist as he vacillates between the testimony of deliverance and the operatic harmonies of benefit.

Wisdom and the ‘Fear of the LORD’

There is a clear imperative given in verse 9: fear the Lord, for in that there is no want. Such a mindset inspires not fear, but reverencing God and focus on the right path.

There are two ways shown in verse 10; we can behave as young lions and God will give us our own way. We’ve lived like this; proud yet hungry. Those in the Lord, however, “lack no good thing.”

It’s in this section that we begin to understand why some categorise this psalm in the wisdom genre. Verse 11 is a giveaway: it feels like it’s straight out of Proverbs 1–9 where a father is heard constantly instructing his child.

Wisdom is a black and white art. It hearkens us to righteousness and beseeches us against evil. The child is implored: “seek peace, and pursue it.” (Verse 14b) As we read further we pinch ourselves; surely this is Proverbs we are reading, no?

So, the majority of this psalm is hauntingly proverbial.

The Lord Hears Our Cries for Help

We return to the emotiveness typical of the psalms as we reach verse 15—the perfect way to end. Most people reach for the Psalms when they’re forlorn; locked away hard and fast from joy in their grief.

Each verse from 15 to 22 builds on the previous, as a crescendo to the Lord’s faithfulness is measured in compassion, true justice and, ultimately, salvation.

The eyes and ears of the Lord are with those who do right; he rescues them and is near them. Not just that, God is fervently against those who do evil.

The Lord is patently aware of the afflictions that the obedient suffer—rescue is his answer, as is physical safety. Those who despise the faithful will suffer their own condemnation, but there will be no condemnation for those in the Lord.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The Unique Strength in Gentleness

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” ~Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV).

One of the reasons I love taking public transport from time to time is the study one can make of human behaviour in public places. One such occasion an earlier bus hadn’t arrived and as a result we patrons boarded what became a very crowded vehicle. It was a trying experience for many; being late, many unseated, and a thirty minute trip of heavy and sudden braking to look forward to.

One man was standing near the tagging-off point, and at one stop had to shuffle about four times just to allow others to get off—some of which were visibly frustrated. As the bus then went on its way he quickly recovered from the fluster of the moment and merely said, with a wry smile, “Bit like a dance, isn’t it?”

This guy had every right to be equally frustrated—even to mutter under his breath as one of the alighting patrons had done. But instead, he epitomised the Apostle Paul’s abovementioned imperative.

He demonstrated the unique strength in gentleness.

Is There Are a More Admirable Trait Than Gentleness?

Human nature is an excellent study, particularly the genders.

When we put gentleness under the microscope there are typical male responses and typical female responses. Let’s consider our gentlemen on the bus who turned a potentially angering situation into humour—the strength of gentleness.

Your typical male will respond to such a person in a number of ways; but hardly ever in aggression. Such assured gentleness quells motives of battle as it lightens the mood.

Many males struggle with anger, as do females, but men have extra challenges in harnessing the combination of psychology, cultural norms, testosterone levels and physical strength. Gentleness doesn’t come natural.

The female response is most interesting. Without letting on, it was the female populace on the bus that day that appreciated this overture of gentleness most, I suspect. Firstly, this guy defused, at humour, quite a tense situation. Secondly, male gentleness is commonly endearing to women. Women appreciate gentleness in men, and often they may not know fully why—they just do.

***

God, as always, turns the tables so far as strength is concerned. Real strength is known by the grace we demonstrate in resisting anger, converting it to humour or humility or a helping hand. Gentleness makes it possible to respond in grace.

Gentleness is power to act as an agent of God in a world that sees sparingly little of the Divine. It is the power to restore joy to otherwise sad faces. Most importantly, it is the power to see God operating through us to our world.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Isaiah 62 – God Rejoices in You

“For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” ~Isaiah 62:5 (NRSV).

Vindication is the name of the hour; and Redemption’s the name of the day.

This chapter is renowned for the names the Prophet is heard describing the covenant nation by. They had been called Forsaken and Desolate beforehand, and then now in the prophecy of redemption, My Delight Is in Her and (your land) Married in verse 4. Finally, Israel is called, The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord, and Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken in verse 12.

What was our name before we met God? (Forsaken; Desolate?) And what is our name now, upon a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus? (Married; Redeemed; Not Forsaken?)

Promises In Abundance

The second half of the chapter focuses on the plea of the faithful to their God; and the process to blessing, where marauders will no longer dominate (verses 8-9), is detailed.

The greatest promise we can know, as we read our Bibles and remain connected with the church and to the Holy Spirit in prayer, is the constant assurance that God is with us.

There is a hint that we are to prepare for such abundance (verse 10), yes, and even anticipate it. This is what we call in our day, expectant faith. Abundance in this way is not the expectation of specific types of blessing, rather the general disposition of mood to know that God seeks to bless those who follow the Divine path.

Abundance, it also needs to be said, is nothing about material abundance—it’s the absolute gift of a fervent, truth-pitched spirituality; one that feeds wisdom, promoting discernment, understanding, and broad-cased virtue.

The Creator Rejoices Over Us

This is something that every believer wants to read about.

We might be more apt to think it the other way around—us in awe of God and rejoicing in the fact of our salvation; that we are known to the Lord. The mindset that suggests God is enamoured with us doesn’t compute for many people. They might think, “Does grace extend that far?”

The truth is it does. Our Father in heaven is never more blessed than in seeing his created beings obeying in the spirit of willing obedience. The repentant heart melts God’s.

The gospel of God tells us that humility upon truth exposes the Lord’s heart in such a way as to procure blessing. We know the way to be blessed. Turn back to God, now and whenever, and we redeem the spiritual salvation known to the saved. Our Lord rejoices each time.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

“Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come. Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father.” ~Genesis 49:1-2 (NRSV).

A nation is born. The Abrahamic line had come to some sense of completion right about this time as Jacob prepares to die. We can just imagine—with all the drama of Joseph and Egypt in the background—Jacob’s sons waiting on his every word.

And so would we at our father’s deathbed. The meandering web of emotions would trickle over and through our psyches.

What God began with Abraham and Sarah, and that which he continued with Isaac and Rebekah, reaches its logical end point for the stage—the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Significance of Paternal Heritage

Familial lines are the classic input to identity. What our ancestors were, to some extent, translates into what the family becomes; though commonly there are great forms of departure where that model is undesired.

We can just imagine the power of prophecy that Jacob (Israel) exemplifies here.

He is speaking into the lives of his sons, the character of each of the tribes, even to his descendants. The power in ‘the last things’, particularly, is significant. These parting words would be a resonating legacy for each son and, therefore, tribe.

Carrying Our Lineage Through

As we exist in such a global world economy there is a threat to the character of family so far as lineage is concerned. Family and community seem a whole lot less relevant than they would have in Jacob’s time.

Popularity is a fine example. We will naturally follow some varying sources of wisdom far and wide, not to mention our appreciation of entertainment. The voices of reason in our day come from all over the world and hit not just our homes, but come to us constantly through mobile media. The voices of father, mother, grandfather or grandmother, or those influential ones in the community, are not the only sagacious voices we hear. And because there are so many different voices, we can pick and choose what seems most right to us.

The threat is we miss out on the God-adorned insights of our lineage that should be carried on through our next generations.

Perhaps these days we underestimate the intrinsic value of learning via interpersonal relationships; indeed, we can avoid learning these ways. These, quite often, are accurate mirrors into the true circumstance of our person as we relate with our worlds.

***

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob illustrate the importance of lineage—that each succeeding generation might propagate more of God’s Sovereign plan as it’s to be known in this world. We have the opportunity to ask, “What is God doing through my family and hence through me, during the future period that is the rest of my life?”

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Psalm 125 – Total Confidence in God

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” ~Psalm 125:1 (NRSV).

This Song of Ascent is a hymn perfumed with the confidence of a fresh revelation of salvation. There is such a strong allegiance here; the disciple(s) with their Lord.

Set possibly at the time of the encampment of Sennacherib of Assyria (701 BCE) against King Hezekiah, this is a remarkable portrayal of Jewish faith as they were surrounded by the enemy. Such was their buoyancy in God the fact they were surrounded merely highlighted, for them, how interminably the Lord surrounds his people (verse 2).

Imagine a confidence that would rise up in the midst of tyranny.

The Permanence of Their Assurance

The very first verse is commanding in its rigid allegiance to the theology of faithfulness to the Lord.

They know that trust is central. Everything of faith remits through the permanence of trust. “Trust and not be moved” is the message. Any time we have employed such confidence—with a degree of permanence—we truly have become unbeatable.

The psalm opens with this cool strength and maintains righteousness as an alliance through to the concluding verse 5 on peace. Here, again, righteousness and peace are linked (see also, for instance, Isaiah 32:17, Psalm 85:10, Hebrews 12:11 and James 3:18).

The Righteous Shall Not Be Tempted

The third verse propounds with power an important faith principle differentiating the righteous from the wicked. The former will not be sucked into wrongdoing, just as the latter shall not find rest in the land (or dominion) that is allotted to the righteous.

Likewise, our dominions are safe when we present as trusting in the Lord. Why should we be threatened by the nasty injustices that encamp around us? Trust is patience to see those bringing the injustices fall.

Verse 4 carries forward a plea: the righteous seek just reward for their diligent obedience. How else are they to know that they are on God’s anointed path? A key part of the faith construct—even now—is, “Will I be blessed as a result of my obedience?”

The righteous shall not be tempted provided blessing comes to them. The true righteous shall not be tempted, period. But who can claim a portion of goodness that pure?

The experience of blessing is important. Firstly, it rewards faith—the trust we may not ordinarily display. Secondly, it is part of our humanity to seek confirmation that we are on a wise path—the rewards (which vary from person to person) are what we perform for.

***

What a beautiful contrast: God’s people saved and safe, never fearing upon attack, always resolute in trust, and the despatching of evildoers that will not go that way. The Lord’s way is blessing; any other way will be distressing.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The Business of Becoming a Child of God

“But while the prodigal son was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.” ~Luke 15:20 (NRSV).

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 18:3 (NRSV).

Jesus naturally talked a lot about faith in the Gospels. We get hundreds or potentially thousands of different glimpses, each custom-designed to the unique mindset of each person, and preferably backed in truth.

It’s just as true that many people complain about never having had a childhood or having it interrupted or abbreviated. Indeed, so many of us have been scolded for not growing up quickly enough—even despising the childhood for the unwanted immaturity that’s associated with such a phase.

Just why do we rush our children through childhood—in the process pushing them headlong into an often-stupid adult world?

Heaven Now

Jesus, as per usual, is turning the tables on our commonsense. In Matthew 18:3, our Lord might be telling us that if can’t approach life as children-at-heart-and-mind we cannot understand the kingdom. A pre-requisite for understanding the kingdom of heaven is a childlike faith. Only as children-at-heart-and-mind can we enjoy the concept of heaven now.

This childlike faith—the ‘toll’ for entry into a viewed kingdom now—is sandwiched between our arrogant and self-powered adult blindness and true salvation. No one can live the saved life unless he or she sees like a child.

It’s most reassuring to recognise that God favours not the smart, the advantaged, or the accepted people in life, but the ones with the humility to see in truth—for one, the frailty of humankind in comparison to God.

The Question of Judgment

Like there are myriad glimpses of faith, there are many different ways of seeing the Prodigal Son story of Luke 15:11-32 (verse 20 profiled above). One theme that is unmistakable, however, is the grace exemplified in the father who is just thrilled at the sight of his approaching once-wayward son.

Just about any well-adjusted mother or father understands this compassion. If Jesus commanded us to call his Father, “our Father,” how different to being a human-type father could God the Father be?

God, our Father, is not limited to any range that the normal father is, however.

Think about judgment. If our earthly father, more often than not, will judge us fairly, how much more fairly will God the Father judge us?

How could God judge us any harsher than we often judge ourselves? Or, for that matter, how could God judge us any harsher than others might judge us from time to time? No, is it probable that God is a fairer and kinder Judge than any of us can imagine?

***

The business of becoming a child—for the fortunate ones, to become a child again—is fundamental so far as a vibrant relationship as God is concerned. When will we allow God to be our Father? When will we willingly be his children?

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Psalm 91 – Our LORD is Blessed Assurance

“Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” ~Psalm 91:9-11 (NRSV).

Blessed assurance, yes, blessed indeed.

At times of castigating fear, more than a fleeting eye upon Psalm 91 will save — Jesus is the eternal Word, in action.

The promises of God in this psalm include:

Those Who Dwell with God Will Find Rest

Gauge the typical Christian by the fruit of their peace; that which they draw from the Lord.

Rest is a Sabbath, though not just a Sunday, concept. In Jesus’ name, we approach rest in our need — quelling the fiery fear. In Jesus’ name, we operate out of rest. Additionally, we rest a day a week, evenings, having our Divine playtime.

Surely He Will Deliver Us

When we need it, God will deliver — momentarily, to be with us, and ultimately.

His Faithfulness Be Our Shield

Ever and forever reliable. Not only a conventional shield, but a buckler too. This is a huge shield-like refuge; protection from not only heinous arrows, but passive nemeses like rain and wind, losses and bankruptcy, too. Such, also, is the faithfulness of the Holy One.

Do Not Fear the Terror of the Night Time or the Arrow Flying By Day

Night and day bring different hazards, worries and cares. God has the answer 24/7.

As God designed day; night, too, was designed.

Tools for protection shall come, right for our intricate need. Hold to this promise.

Thousands May Fall – But We Won’t

We might stumble but we won’t fall, even if it appears that we have, for in the Lord we have redemption beyond any falling or failure.

Failure is not the final word.

He Commands His Angels Concerning Us

Yes, another solemn promise to hold onto. Physical protection beyond ourselves is afforded. Think of the times — even without allegiance to God — when we should’ve been injured or even killed.

How often has the Almighty foiled threat of our imminent demise?

If We Make the Most High Our Dwelling – No Great Harm / No Disaster Will Come There Near Us

Nothing can affect our eternal destiny.

When we consider such a fact, nothing here is so important to lose, besides the warrant to do God’s will.

He Will Tread On the Lion and the Serpent’s Head

These are the evils of our age.

In Jesus’ name, they’ll be thwarted.

When We Will Call – He Will Answer

Like our bellowing in the wilderness seems to go unheard; it never does... no, not ever.

We hold onto such facts by resolve of faith to believe beyond what we see, hear or “know”. We align with the Word of God to overcome (John 16:33) by discerning the hopeful action to be accomplished. This is what we can do.

Long Life Will God Satisfy Us With

This is no promise of chronological years. It is, however, the promise of long life in the years we have, as well as — most pertinently — life in eternity. There’s no better promise of long life than that.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Let the Waters of Freedom Roll

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously quoted: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” ~Amos 5:24 (NRSV).

The day of the Lord will be a dark day for those who call the Lord their God but virulently worship idols; their rituals and “solemn assemblies” (Amos 5:21) are detestable when justice and righteousness are left unconsidered and rendered sterile. In contemporary terms, where we sit comfortable and idle and the Third World—or anyone we can help—starves, we risk judgment. Faith compels action.

This is enough to make any Christian quake in fear, and take action in the spirit of love.

Notwithstanding the truth of grace—that it saves us by faith, beyond any works—we have an obligation to operate compliant with justice and righteousness. Indeed, these will prove our faith.

Justice And Righteousness are Freedom

The picture of a waterfall is so apt. As the waters, little and large, trickle and roar they obey the rules of physical science—the forces of hydraulic pressure and gravity at play. Those waters will keep rolling.

Likewise, justice and righteousness are to trickle and roar with the inevitability of a waterfall. What flows down is freedom; for the very ones who rely on the powerful.

God has a task in mind for anyone with control over the slightest wealth—most Westerners fill this bill. This is both material and spiritual wealth. That task is about redirecting the vestiges of blessing toward areas of need. If we enjoy this wealth—not just money, but time, compassion and knowledge etc., also—we’re positioned to act like a waterfall.

Let freedom roll from us where we are so positioned.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.