God hardened Pharaoh's heart

Quite often we take issue with this line as if to say that it was not Pharaoh's fault for going against the Israelites because it was God who hardened his heart - he was just a tool of God. When we think about it, we usually will come to conclude correctly that Pharaoh did act out of his own volition. He couldn't blame God for it.
But think about what this says about God. Even when pharaoh tries to act out of his own will - it works perfectly according to God's plan. How can a person fight against God and expect to win? God hardening Pharaoh's heart should mainly remind us that even your enemy's actions are permitted by all all knowing, ever loving, unchanging God. People's hearts may be against you but God still calls their shots. Rest in that assurance and let that peace enable you to love your enemies.

hidden Bible books - something fun

There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the book in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new sales record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, the books are all right there in plain view hidden from sight. Those able to find all of them will hear lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind that punctuation and spacers in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in the paragraph waiting to be found.

the walk continues

The daily walk continues and I'm currently on a rest day. Yesterday I finished Chapter 10 of Exodus which means I am a quarter of the way through Exodus!

Bible in a Year has been great so far. I was reminded of how much I loved the story of Joseph, the lessons I learnt from Genesis all those years ago in the DHW Bible study series, and am looking forward to continuing the story of Moses tomorrow.

BUT

What keeps looming over me is the inevitable cloud of falling behind or stopping my reading. In some ways it encourages me to keep trying to defy that cloud of failure - but then I am faced with a second cloud of obligation where I dutifully complete my reading  because I am supposed to and not because I want to spend time with God in His Word. The temptation of one is to submit to the other - I try to overcome the failure cloud by making sure I read every day, then I think 'am I doing this out of duty and not devotion?' and then I am tempted to not do it because it becomes seemingly contrived.

SO

What has helped me to find the right heart in doing the reading has been John Piper's IOUS.

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness (Psalm 119:36)

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Psalm 119:18)

Unite my heart to fear thy name (Psalm 86:11b)

Satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14)

The times when I have remembered to take time to get my heart right before reading, I am encouraged by what I read. Just makes me wonder, will this work when it comes to Leviticus?

Only time will tell. :)

 

RC

What's with Jacob wrestling with the Lord?

Genesis 32:24-30 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Found this quite useful from Calvin's Verse Commentaries about the passage where Jacob wrestles the angel said to be the Lord.


There wrestled a man with him ¹ Although this vision was particularly useful to Jacob himself, to teach him beforehand that many conflicts awaited him, and that he might certainly conclude that he should be the conqueror in them all; there is yet not the least doubt that the Lord exhibited, in his person, a specimen of the temptations — common to all his people — which await them, and must be constantly submitted to, in this transitory life. Wherefore it is right to keep in view this designs of the vision, which is to represent all the servants of God in this world as wrestlers; because the Lord exercises them with various kinds of conflicts. Moreover, it is not said that Satan, or any mortal man, wrestled with Jacob, but God himself: to teach us that our faith is tried by him; and whenever we are tempted, our business is truly with him, not only because we fight under his auspices, but because he, as an antagonist, descends into the arena to try our strength. This, though at first sight it seems absurd, experience and reason teaches us to be true. For as all prosperity flows from his goodness, so adversity is either the rod with which he corrects our sins, or the test of our faith and patience. And since there is no kind of temptations by which God does not try his faithful people, the similitude is very suitable, which represents him as coming, hand to hand, to combat with them. Therefore, what was once exhibited under a visible form to our father Jacob, is daily fulfilled in the individual members of the Church; namely, that, in their temptations, it is necessary for them to wrestle with God. He is said, indeed, to tempt us in a different manner from Satan; but because he alone is the Author of our crosses and afflictions, and he alone creates light and darkness, (as is declared in Isaiah,) he is said to tempt us when he makes a trial of our faith.

The Lord said

I found it quite interesting through the readings in Genesis the many
times the Lord said something. It showed how personal God is and if
you see the times that he speaks to someone, many times they were
facing a hard decision such as Abraham in dealing with Hagar, Hagar in
the middle of the desert, Abraham in handling conflict with Lot,
Rebekah when the children struggled within her, Abraham in the famine,
Isaac in dealing with the herdmen at the well, Jacob when Laban
started getting jealous... Etc

Makes me wonder whether we seek the Lord when we face decisions or
problem people in ou lives.. We could save ourselves a lot of
difficulty when we seek God first. What if God said and you missed it
cos you werent interested in listening?

You're not alone!

Hey guys, 9 days have passed, how has your reading been? Would encourage you to come for the Wednesday class on OT history as we're still at around Gen 24, which is quite in line with what the daily reading schedule is at. Hoping to finish Isaac and Jacob this Wed, and then Joseph next week, the last class I'd have before I go back to Singapore. Would be wonderful if we could come together to share and discuss what we've learnt.

Think its also really interesting to note that our camp speaker for this year, Rev Koshy has also embarked on a similar endeavor to read through the Bible in a year. He's been blogging about it at his blog. Can see the entries till date here: http://pastorkoshy.info/?cat=15

I'm sure this is not just a coincidence but is again the wonderful mysterious workings of God's plan. May his sharings encourage you in your walk as well, and if you want you could leave a comment on his blog. From what I see he replies quite promptly.

God bless!

Kang

God's sovereignty is so comforting

From today's reading in Genesis 12 about Abraham, I was reminded of the confidence Abraham could go forth into an unknown future and leave all his familiar people, customs and things simply because he knew God was powerful enough to take care of him. He did not flinch in obeying God and God's promise was that his obedience will not only benefit him but in verse 2, God said that he will be a blessing to other people.

Also those people who bless Abraham will be blessed and those that curse Abraham will be cursed. If we follow God, who can be against us? Even when Abraham and Lot's herdsmen argued, Abraham had the confidence in God that Abraham would not "lose out" if he gave Lot first preference as to which land to take. It was very comforting to see God, immediately after Lot chose the "better" land, reassuring Abraham:


Genesis 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:


Genesis 13:15-17 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Abraham believed in God's ability to provide for him so much that he didn't even want to receive from King Melchizedek because he wanted to represent God's ability to provide more than enough.

It was a great encouragement to be reminded that God's people do not need to fight for His blessings and even when people try to take our blessings from us, God is still able to bless us greatly. I hope I can obey God with such faith and see through circumstances to God's sovereignty. -AC

Reading schedule corrected

OK the reading schedule is corrected now. I have only done corrections to March but if someone would like to type out the rest, please feel free to send it in and I will add it to the reading schedule :)

Your Daily Walk for 2011

Morning All!

Hope you've all had a good start to 2011, and have been following the readings thus far.

Really thank God that so many of you have enthusiastically taken up the challenge of reading through the Bible in the year. Myself and a few other youths at Calvary Pandan had started this in 2010 and it was certainly a great blessing to have brethren in it together, encouraging each other along the way. 

Just a short sharing on a few things I've learnt:

1. It is not going to be easy and there are times where you might fall behind so much you just want to give up. But just keep pressing on because no matter what it is always going to be a blessing to read God's Word, even if you are a few chapters or even a few books behind schedule. Be encouraged and not discouraged by the progress of the others around you. 

2. There will be tougher parts and easier parts. You might be able to breeze through Genesis and Exodus as they're familiar and easy to read. But then when we come to portions like Leviticus or the first half of Numbers or maybe the sections on dividing the land in Joshua, your enthusiasm might begin to wane and your interest fades. There may be other portions that you find you just can not understand most of what you are reading, like perhaps some of the prophetic books. But just take it by faith, that all scripture is profitable... and man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. The Bible promises that if we meditate on God's Word day and night, it will certainly be profitable to us. Even if you feel like the day's reading is dry or you can't understand it, just carry on through and pray for the Spirit's illumination. It is an act of faith and obedience that we are undertaking in reading God's Word, and if it is done right, God will surely bless! 

3. There will be huge blessings awaiting us if we really do diligently read through each of the passages, as we will discover new lessons from old familiar passages, and new verses, passages and thoughts that you have never encountered before. It is highly recommended to go through the Bible with highlighters, coloured pens etc, and have your own system of marking out verses and writing little notes here and there. Your aim is to make the Bible as dirty as possible! Few suggestions, you might have your own system: Use different coloured highlighters to highlight verses that speak to you, i.e. promises of God, commands of God, warnings from God, etc. Use pens to underline/circle/box/double underline/curly underline verses or phrases that stand out, maybe repetitions, important conjunctions, words with similar meanings etc. There are really so many different ways to delve into God's Word that is really so amazingly rich and powerful.

4. Every's journey through the daily walk Bible will be different, as God through the Holy Spirit can use His Word to teach us different things, even though we are reading the same passages. Would be great if you could maybe use this mailing list or update the blog to encourage each other on the spiritual lessons we have gleaned through the passages that we are reading. Do not be shy to share from maybe Exodus when you should be perhaps already be in Ruth. Every lesson learnt is important!

5. Do not allow the readings to become routine and obligatory. The moment you feel that way, take a step back, really pray and ask the Lord to renew your interest and love for His Word. This is a prayer that God would certainly want to answer. 

6. The length of the passages for some days might become rather intimidating, or it is so long that you have to just rush through it with the limited time that you have. Do not feel obliged to finish it just because it is scheduled as such and you want to keep up with it. It might be good to sometimes break up a day's reading to 2 or 3 sittings and slowly chew and meditate on the Word. Remember, its quality over quantity!

7. Ok not really a lesson learnt, but just found it really cool that it is called 'daily walk Bible', in line with our chuch's theme of 'walking with God'. Didn't notice it till Edward sent out the email last night. This is really a practical way which we can go about fulfilling the theme and desire that we have to walk with God in the year 2011! 

Thats all I can think of for now. Will share more as I think of them.

Ok go, read! And encourage others to read too!

"2011, I know there is something special about you! =D" - Truc Pham, Facebook 

God bless,

Kang