“Breaking the Manna Mentality”

(Part 1)

“On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land; unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.”

                                                                                                Joshua 5:10-12

 

For 40 years God provided Israel with bread every day! Israel had never seen anything like it. The people called it manna, which translated literally means “What is it?” According to Exodus 16:13-14:

 “That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.”

 Exodus 16:31 describes it as being white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. They were to gather just what they needed for each day and twice as much on the day before the Sabbath. This bread from heaven was a perfect symbol of God’s grace. For throughout Israel’s journey whether they were grumbling against God, rebelling against Moses, worshipping idols or in willful disobedience…the manna was always there! God brought plagues, opened the earth in judgment, consumed the disobedient with fire, but never did He withhold the manna!

However there did come a day when the manna stopped! The day after they ate food from the land of Canaan the manna ceased. I wonder how many people went out looking for it the next day. I wonder how many days they went out to see if it would be there. There came a point in Israel’s journey that they had to start engaging kingdom principles. For 40 years, Israel woke up to heaps of manna around the camp. This means that an entire generation grew up who did not engage in sowing and reaping.

It is true that the desert was dry and barren. It would have been difficult, if not impossible, to grow crops there, but let’s remember that they were there by choice. They could have entered Canaan much sooner. Instead they willfully chose to disregard God and His promises and refused to enter the Promised Land. Still, by His grace, God provided manna to Israel.

Later, under Joshua’s command, when they did finally enter the land flowing with milk and honey, God expected them to re-employ kingdom principles. To live according to His Word! God was still going to provide for them, but it was no longer going to be heaps of food laid out at their doorsteps! God had to break them of their manna mentality!

Pastor Scott Burr

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

 

"Stretch Forth Your Hands"

(Part 2 of 2)

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses help up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up-one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”

                                                                                                            Exodus 17:10-13

Joshua went to the battlefield. Moses went to the mountain. Moses, with his staff in hand, stood in intercession on the hill as Joshua, with his sword in hand, battled the Amalekites in the valley below.

Countless sermons have been preached on this passage. Songs have been written, books published and paintings have been drawn of Moses’ arms being held up by Aaron and Hur as Joshua battled in the valley below.

However, this story is not about Moses, Aaron, Hur or Joshua! It is about the worn out, weary, and hurting people that needed someone to realize they were under attack and come to help them. Too often we romanticize passages of scripture, focusing on the main characters, but forgetting the context. Moses, arms lifted, with Aaron and Hur supporting him makes for a great portrait, but in reality it was designed by God to teach us a lesson.

Moses couldn’t do it alone! Aaron and Hur recognized Moses’ humanity and realized that he could not save these people alone. They had to stop and help. Imagine if there had been no one else on the hill that day. How would the day have ended?

Joshua didn’t go into battle alone either. He chose the strongest men to go with him. Imagine if no one had gone to the battlefield with him. It took all these men, doing their part, to “utterly destroy” the enemy.

Ask yourself this…Who is missing? Who is lagging behind in our church family? Who are the worn out; weary and vulnerable? Some people are missing out of rebellion. They have no interest in following God any longer or are dissatisfied with the leadership God put over them. So they have chosen to leave. Others, however, desperately want to be connected but have lost hope and direction. They have been beat down by the weight of this world and are just worn out. 

Was Moses to blame for this? No! Was he to blame for them getting picked off? No! There was no way for Moses to know who was “lagging behind.” He was out in front leading. He needed everyone to keep watch, to encourage, strengthen, and stretch forth a hand to the worn out and weary.  He needed Aaron and Hur on the mountain and Joshua in the field.

If we are going to be effective as a Body of Believers, we too, have to break the herd mentality. We need people in our churches praying and interceding for each other. We need people reaching out in practical ways- taking meals to the sick, visiting the lonely, encouraging the distraught, helping those in need. When we take time to turn back and fight for the worn out and weary we will see great victory in our communities.

Pastor Scott Burr

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

"Stretch Forth Your Hands"

(Part 1)

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.”

                                                                                    Exodus 17:8

Israel, in its thousands of years of history, is no stranger to being under attack from a foreign enemy. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau. During the time of Israel’s 400 years of captivity in Egypt, Amalek grew into a great nation. When word of Israel’s exodus reached Canaan, they began to feel threatened. They refused Israel passage through their land and attacked Israel at a place called Rephidim.

No real details are given here in Exodus about Amalek’s strategy for defeating Israel, but Deuteronomy 25:17-18 spells out for us what happened:

“Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind, they had no fear of God.”

What was Amalek’s strategy? Pick off the stragglers! It was like something straight off of the Discovery channel or a National Geographic special. You know the scenes I am talking about where a pack of lions or tigers is chasing down a herd. Their primary targets? The stragglers!

When those who were worn out, tired, upset, or in poor health broke off from the pack and began to lag behind, the Amalekite raiders would sweep in and destroy them. The Israelites were being picked off! As I read this the Lord stirred my Spirit. This is how the enemy is still destroying God’s people today.

In large part, there are very few frontal attacks against the church, however every day the church is being compromised as “worn out, weary people” are being picked off. One family here! One family there!

What I have discovered is that this type of defeat can be more physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining than a full on attack. Why? Not everyone is immediately affected. In fact, it is possible that their loss could even go unnoticed. Only when it hits closer to home does it become an issue.

We wander into dangerous territory when we begin to develop a “herd mentality”. In the wild when the attack comes, the herd runs off together, never looking back to see who got left behind. It is every animal for themselves.

 Moses, however, was not driven by a “herd mentality”. He didn’t turn a blind eye to those who were missing. He didn’t encourage the group to just “stay closer together next time.” Instead Exodus 17:9 states:

“Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

Moses recognized the danger and responded to it. He went to war for the worn out, weary and hurting people those who were lagging behind that were vulnerable to attack and defeat.

 Pastor Scott Burr

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

“Speak To That Rock”

(Part 2 of 2)

“Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

                                                                                                            Numbers 20:5

Forty years later, Israel, once again, is faced with the prospect of having no water. What captured my attention, when I read this passage, was that their complaint was identical to the one they made 40 years earlier. In fact, reading their response, you would not know that it had been 40 years since they left Egypt. Even with 40 years behind them, they were still in bondage, in their hearts and minds.

In Numbers 20:6-8, Moses approaches God again regarding their dilemma:

“Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to the rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

Although Moses carried with him the tool by which God used to bring forth water out of the rock the first time, and although the situation was the same, God’s expectation for them, 40 years later was that they “walk by faith” and “not by sight!”

Verses 9-10 tell us that Moses took the staff out of the Lord’s presence, took Aaron, and gathered the people; but when it came time to bring forth water:

“Moses said to them, “Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”

Instead of speaking to the rock, as he was commanded, Moses chose to rebuke the people! And in his frustration, took the staff, as he had done before, and struck the rock. Not once! But twice! How many of you have been guilty of operating in disobedience, because you were frustrated?

That single moment of disobedience cost Moses greatly:

“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

How much of God’s blessings do we forfeit by assuming what God wants instead of doing what He says? How God moved in your life 20 years ago, in a situation, may not be the way he moves today in that same situation. Why? Because He expects us to grow spiritually! God had Moses use the staff the first time because they were young in their faith. They had just begun their journey with God. However, forty years later, after experiencing God’s tremendous provision and protection…He expected them to have grown to trust His Word! God wanted to display His power and authority to them by having Moses, simply “speak to the rock” and the water come forth. Instead he reverted to what he knew and dishonored God in the process.

Where will you be 40 years from now? Will you still be striking the rock looking for water, because that’s how God did it back then? Or will you have grown to trust the living Word of God?

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

"Speak To That Rock"

(Part 1)

“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped in Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.”

                                                                                                                                    Exodus 17:1

Shortly after their Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in the Desert of Sin near Mt. Sinai. The place was called Rephidim, which means resting place. However, there was no water there for them to drink, so the people began to complain:

“But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst.”

                                                                                                                                    Exodus 17:3

Moses cried out to the Lord for direction and God gave Moses an instruction. God told Moses to take his staff and go to the rock at Horeb, strike the rock and water will come out for the people to drink. Moses did as God commanded and water poured from the rock. This was a significant teaching moment for the nation of Israel, pointing them towards God as their all sufficient source. In fact, time and again God demonstrated His faithfulness towards Israel in an effort to move them toward greater spiritual maturity.

Fast forward thirty nine years:

“In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Now there was no water for the community, and the community gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.”

                                                                                                                        Numbers 20:1-2

This begins Israel’s 40^th year in the desert. And after nearly 40 years, the Israelites, when faced with the exact same situation react the exact same way!

“They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, or grapevines or pomegranates. An there is no water to drink!”

                                                                                                                        Numbers 20:3-5

As I read this in my devotions, I thought to myself, “Where am I at spiritually?  Because, unlike Israel, I do not want to still be here 40 years from now”!

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

"Calf Crafting" -part 3 of 3

(Last in series)

“When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.”

                                                                                                            Exodus 32:19-20

Why did Moses break the tablets? Because you cannot live according to God’s Word if you are still worshipping a golden calf! Remember a “golden calf” is an image of God you have created in your mind in order to satisfy your flesh. You have to break it up, burn it, and ground it into powder! You created it, you must dismantle it!

“He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”                                                                                        Exodus 32:21-24

Aaron’s answer sounds preposterous! He threw the gold into the fire and out came a calf. In fact, we know from early passages that it didn’t happen by accident, but rather it was finely crafted to look exactly how they wanted. The image that many people have of God, today, did not happen by accident either. It was finely crafted to look exactly as their flesh wants it to look. They didn’t like what God had to say about keeping their marriage bed pure…so they crafted a “god” who would understand why they cheated on their spouse. They didn’t like what God said about honoring Him on the Sabbath, so they created a “god” that would allow them to use all of their time for themselves and not have to give him any. You get the picture. If we do not accept His Word about who He is, what He expects, and how we should live… we will create a “golden calf” to fit our liking. 

I am concerned, within our own churches, whether we are worshipping the same God! Because of the inconsistencies between believers, the church has become a laughing stock:

“Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.”

                                                                                                            Exodus 32:25-26

In a very bold move Moses called out the true worshippers of God- those willing to follow Jehovah God and live according to His Word. Then he does something that may disturb some of you. He commanded those who rallied to him to go through the camp and cut down those who refused to worship God. Although, today, God does not instruct us to take such drastic measures, He does require the same boldness. We must have boldness to cut off every relationship that is bent on keeping us from following the One True God of Scripture.

Are you worshipping the One True God of the Bible? Or are you worshipping a golden calf? Does the God you serve line up with the One we read about in God’s Holy Word? Or have you created a “god” that soothes your conscience and caters to your flesh?

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

“Calf Crafting” part 2

(Part 2 in series)

“He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

                                                                                                            Exodus 32:4

There is a lot of calf crafting still going on in the house of God still today. Men and women trying to craft God into their image! It is most commonly heard in what I like to call the “I think” statements:

“I think God would want me to be happy! (Even though what you want is contrary to His Word.)”

“I think God would understand if I don’t tithe this month.”

“I think God is more concerned about a woman’s right to choose than He is the life of a baby in the womb.”

“I think God created me this way and won’t condemn me for participating in the homosexual lifestyle.”

“I don’t think God would send good people to hell.”

All of this is nothing more than calf crafting! It is a vain attempt to mold God into an image that soothes our conscience and supports our desire to indulge our flesh. How long will we understand that it isn’t “What I think” that matters, but what God commands us that counts?

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, who you brought out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

                                                                                                            Exodus 32:7-8

How did God’s chosen people find themselves worshipping a lifeless idol?  Exodus 32:7 tells us that it started when they turned from God’s command. Once they rejected His Word they began to bow down to the image they created. When we began to defend our positions, although we cannot back them up Biblically, we have bowed to it. Ultimately they moved beyond bowing down to sacrificing to the image. When you are willing to give up your “faith” to follow your own fleshly desires you have sacrificed!

When Moses came down off the mountain and saw what was happening he threw the tablets to the ground breaking them:

“When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.”

                                                                                                                        Exodus 32:19

Why break the tablets? Because you can’t live according to His Word if you are worshipping a golden calf!