Israelites Archives - Sherry Stahl

Israelites

Am I Worth Following?
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“Many other people went up with them.”
~Exodus 12:38 NIV
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When you think about ‘following people’ these days doesn’t your mind go right to social media?

Well, mine goes further back than that. My brain goes right back to childhood memories when someone would follow me around…in that annoying, copy-cat kind of way, when a kid just wouldn’t give up and mimicked my every move. It used to drive me crazy! I mean…was I really worth following?

My church is in the middle of a series on Moses. Each week I’m hearing new perspectives on Moses’ life and the story about the Israelites leaving Egypt. When I was reading the story in my Bible, I re-read something I had made a note on years ago and I think it’s a part of the Exodus story details you might have missed?

I’m guessing you know God brought the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt through the Red Sea since Charleton Heston or Steven Spielberg’s, The Prince of Egypt taught you that much! Reading your Bible explains how eventually, the people got it together and entered The Promised Land but…

[tweetthis]Did you know it wasn’t just the Israelites that left Egypt under Moses’ leadership? [/tweetthis]

The Bible tells us that

“many other people went up with them”.

The original wording makes is clear that there were people of different nationalities who followed Moses and the Israelites, out of Egypt and into the desert. Scripture doesn’t give us a reason why these people followed the Israelites out of town, but I don’t think it takes rocket-science to figure it out why they were worth following.

The people would have seen God at work in the miraculous signs and wonders He performed through Moses, all to deliver the people He loved. They would have seen God provide for His people. Who wouldn’t want to join that group? Because of Moses’ and the other Israelites boldness, people were willing to take a stand and follow God’s leading for themselves.

When I was young I didn’t like people following right behind me; but as I read Moses’ story with fresh eyes, I’m filled with the desire to live a life worth following and I hope you are too!

Prayer

Father…Thank you for loving me. I ask that my life would be marked with signs and wonders of Your hand at work so, others will be drawn in and find my life worth following. Help me to lead a clear, straight path right to Your heart. In Jesus Name…Amen

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
1. Exodus 12:38
2. Exodus 12:19
3. John 12:32
4. 1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 Corinthians 4:16
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland ,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie ,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth , Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms , Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead , Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy , Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

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Could God Be Making Your Life Difficult?

And the LORD multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the LORD’s servants.
Psalm 105:24-25 NLT

I think you need to ask yourself this question when things are starting to go haywire…

Could God Be Making Your Life Difficult?

Many people struggle with verses in the Bible like these.

People are comfortable when God does neat, explainable things, but not stuff like this. It almost seems out of character for Him.

Unless you come at scripture with the foundational belief that God is good and He is working for the good of those who love Him; portions of scripture like this and seasons in your life will be misunderstood.

If God didn’t turn up the heat and cause the Egyptians to go fully against the Israelites they never would have left. The truth is, the Egyptians had been against the Israelites for centuries.

Living as slaves in a foreign land had become so “normal” for the Israelites they stayed there for 400 years but it wasn’t where God wanted them.¹ Sure they had to do all the tough back-breaking work of making bricks…sure they were second rate citizens…sure Pharaoh had executed a genocide of their male children, but they had food, homes and clothes.

The Israelites had been lulled into a complacency mindset of
“It’s OK, we’re getting by”
and forgot the promises of God.²

God wanted more for their lives and He wants more for your life.

[tweetthis]God wanted more for their lives and He wants more for your life.[/tweetthis]

Because of God’s good plans for your life, He [tweetthis remove_url=”true” remove_hidden_hashtags=”true” remove_hidden_urls=”true”]God sometimes has to cause situations in your life 2 fall apart so U wake up and recognize you’re living below God’s best[/tweetthis]

Have you been feeling a little uncomfortable lately? Things not going right? Could you be living with a “getting by” mindset? Ask yourself:

[tweetthis]Could God Be Making Your Life Difficult? [/tweetthis]

Prayer

Father…I know you’re good. I know you love me and have good plans for my life. Let me wake up and discern the root of my problems to know if it’s You or the enemy at work. May I not get stuck in complacency, accepting second best but to live in Your promises — Your best for my life! In Jesus Name…Amen

#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
1. Genesis 50:24-25
2. Genesis 7:6, 35:11
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis ,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie ,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth , Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms , Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead , Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy , Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

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Restore our Fortunes

“Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.”
Psalm 126:4 NIV

Have you ever had your home broken into…or had something taken from you? My home was broken into once. The robber took some really personal items that would have been hard to find. It leaves you feeling violated and in fear of them coming back, afraid they’ll be able to take from you again.

Israel is a nation that knows what it’s like to have things taken from them. They had their country taken away. It’s unfathomable to me how they remained a people group without their land, but on May 14, 1948 God restored them as a nation, again. Some calculate it to be 1878 years from the time they lost ownership of their land until the day it was returned to them¹. This doesn’t make sense; and wouldn’t be possible; if it weren’t for the promises of God to restore their fortunes, in the same way He restores streams in the Negev, the Israeli desert.

So if you’ve had something taken from you, don’t lose hope. Reject fear. Call out to God and trust Him to restore your fortunes…because He has proved Himself faithful before…you can!

Prayer:

Father…I thank-you for the refreshing and restoring water of your Word! You don’t provide just a trickle. You bless by opening the floodgates to flow with streams in my desert that give abundant water! I trust You to restore my fortunes! In Jesus Name…Amen.

1 https://www.examiner.com/article/after-1-878-years-israel-becomes-a-nation-again-may-14-1948

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Whose Authority?

“Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure.”
Ezra 5:3 (NIV)

The Israelites had started rebuilding the temple and then stopped for 16 years. As soon as they started rebuilding again the Governor of their area halted operations and questioned their authority to do the job. I love the Israelites answer to the Governor’s question. “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple”. They go on to explain how they were working under the authority of King Cyrus’ decree. They knew who they were and whose authority they were working under!
Too many Christians don’t know who they are and the authority that has been given to them. If you don’t know this you need to familiarize yourself with scriptures that teach on it. The enemy will always use people to make you question if you are a real Christian and if you are called by God to do what you’re doing.
Matthew 28:18 says: “Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” In Luke 10:19 Jesus says: “I have given you authority”. Romans 8:11 says “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you…”. You have been given authority through Christ to accomplish all that He’s called you to do. So, when people question, make sure you know the answer!

Prayer

Father…I thank-you for adopting me into your family and making me a child of The King! Help me to grow in understanding of my position and authority as your child. May I walk in the confidence, boldness and authority of a King’s Kid! In Jesus Name…Amen.

So glad we’re not under the authority of a king like this!
We are under the authority of the King of Kings and He Has Delegated His Authority to us!

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The RESET Button

“Now then, governor, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let (them) rebuild this house of God. The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury…Whatever is needed—must be given them daily without fail.”
Ezra 6:6-9 (NIV)
A little while ago we bought new electronic door locks. We could not get the code to work and tried everything in the troubleshooting section of the instructions. There was only one option left and that was to press the reset button. I held that button down and heard the mechanism reset. I was then able to start over and set the code properly.

God allowed the Israelites to hit the reset button in life. At the end of their 70 year Babylonian captivity, God called them to rebuild the Temple that was destroyed. God had Cyrus the King of Babylon decree them to rebuild the Temple and committed the government of Babylon to paying for it! With excitement they began and laid down the foundation. Then they got sidetracked on their stuff and set aside completing what God called them to do. Almost 20 years passed and God reminded them of this call to rebuild the Temple through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The people repented and began to rebuild the Temple with their own money. The local governor saw what they were doing and stopped them. The Governor sent a letter telling the new King, Darius about their work hoping to have them blocked from ever rebuilding again. Instead, King Darius sent a letter reinstating the decree King Cyrus had issued commissioning them to rebuild the Temple and committing to pay for the work from government funds! God gave them a second chance to do what He had called them to do. This time, they completed it!
A few years ago I went back to my former Bible College for a reunion. It was great to reconnect with people that I hadn’t seen for decades. Previously, leadership moved the school out of the campus where I had attended and this was the first year that they were back in the old buildings. A former classmate, Craig Burton was speaking at the reunion. In his sermon he talked about how he felt that God had hit the reset button for the Bible College. He said that he felt the Lord saying He was hitting the reset button on the lives of some of the people attending. I knew the Lord was speaking to me. God has hit the reset button on my life. This time, I will complete it!
Prayer
Father…Thank-you for second chances. Please forgive me for the decisions I made in the past that veered from your plan. Help me to complete all that You’ve called me to do! In Jesus Name…Amen.

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It Ain't Always Easy!

“Choose 12 men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight…to serve as a sign among you…These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:2-3,6,7
A counselor I saw one time said “If God asks you to cross the road, you can bet there’ll be a parade on the street”. God’s plan is often simple, but it ain’t always easy!
The Israelites didn’t know easy!
This request from God was to me the most difficult in the desert exodus to the Promise Land. At first all they had to do was dip their toes in the Jordan River and then God parted the waters for them to walk across on dry ground with a strong wind. Scripture tells us that the river was at flood stage. A rushing river and strong winds would make for a scary crossing over! I would think the Priests first thought would be to get to the other side and away from the danger, but twelve men had to go back into the middle of the parted river and pick out twelve stones. Research suggests that where they crossed the river would have been about 360 feet at that time. To give you perspective, that’s the distance of an NFL Football field with raging water heaped up on either side of you! Gulp. Take a deep breath, and go back in there boys! Imagine the faith they had to muster up to fulfill the task God called them to? They probably were thinking, “This is stupid. It doesn’t make sense. What difference is it going to make if I get a stone and we pile them up? Why is God making me do this?”
They had no way of knowing how many sermons and books would be written about their heroic task. No idea that their seemingly unimportant step of faith would motivate others for centuries! Take a step of faith, no matter how difficult and follow God today! You’ll never know how many people’s lives you will inspire!
Prayer
Father…I thank-you for all the examples you give in your Word that let me see real people, living out real faith. Help me to go beyond the easy and press forward to what you’ve called me to do. Let me not shrink back when things get difficult but accomplish what you’ve called me to do so that others will be inspired. In Jesus name…Amen.

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