People do not realize how much God loves His children. In Genesis 21 Sarah told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. Eventhough Abraham was displeased, God told him to do it. God said in verse 13 eventhough Hagar was not His ‘child’ Ishmael was Abraham’s seed and God included him as His ‘child’. So when water ran out in the wilderness and Hagar wept to see her son dying. God helped them because God heard the voice of the lad(Ishmael). Not Hagar’s weeping but the voice of the lad (verse 17). God loves you ,my friend. Believe on Him, cry out to Him and He will miraculously provide a well of water. Hallelujah.
Throughout Genesis , God reminded Abraham, Issac and Jacob of their inheritance (Genesis 28:15; Genesus 35:11). God is a promise keeping God. Paul in Romans 4:21 wrote “and being fully convinced (that is Abraham) that what He (God) had promised, He was also able to perform”
In Exodus 4:22-23, the Lord said Israel is His firstborn, His treasure.
We because of Jesus are also a holy people , a special treasure to God. Hallelujah
God’s people were safely delivered from the enemy.
We see, in the bible , the Red Sea that parted to allow God’s people to cross and then flowed over the Egyptians, their chariots and horses; destroying all of them. Yet we would not expect Exodus 9: 18-19
where God told the Egyptians to bring in their livestock and servants from the field before He sent the plague of hailstone on the Egyptians.
The Israelites were in Egypt for 430 yrs. You would think that was enough time for the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites to repent and accept God but we see that is not so.
The Israelites had lived among these people and the Egyptians ; learned their customs and were familiar with their gods. Would the Israelites be faithful and obedient to the Lord God Almighty.
The Israelites lived among the Canaanites and then in Egypt. They were not ready to be God’ treasure. Throughout Exodus and Leviticus( my bible called this God’s guidebook fo His newly redeemed people, showing them how to worship, serve, and obey a holy God)
God taught them thro Moses how to be His people: rules and commandments. Lev 18: 3-4, God said they shall not do what the Egyptians did nor follow the doings of the Canaan land which the Lord abhors.
I wonder if the man from my imagination also did the same with his family and prepared them to possess their possesion. While they were travelling did he speak of the wonderful place they were going to and how they were going to live to the glory of the One who created them.
In Exodus 23:22-33, the Lord tells them why the inhabitants of the promised land must be driven out
Again in Exodus 34:11-16 . He tells them why the inhabitants had to be utterly destroyed. Even in the wilderness, living next to the Moabs, Israel committed sins ( Numbers 25: 1-3). In Numbers 25: 17 God gives the reason to attack Midianites. Israel warred against the Midianites, killed all the men but kept the women, children and beasts
But Moses was angry with them. Numbers 31:15-19, Moses explains and instructs and again in Numbers 33:51-56
(Earlier Balaam tried to curse the Israelites for wealth promised by King Balak. They were unsuccessful. God turned everything coming out of Balaam ‘s mouth into a blessing. No one can curse whom God has blessed. So Balaam advised the King to use their Midianite women to seduce the Israelites and cause them to sin)
What God is saying seems very cruel and has causd many believers to fall away. In Numbers 33:55, God explains what would happen if they were allowed to remain with them. And again in Deuteronomy 7:2-5
What would you do if wickedness finds your children?
In Deuteronomy 1:31 , it says God carried you as a man carries his son in all the way that you went until you came to this place and again in Deuteronomy 2:7,” these 40 yrs the Lord your God has been with you , you have lacked nothing .” Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 13-16
What would I do? If I had children, gave birth to them, brought them home and cared for them. I would say to them from the time they were in my womb that I will bring them up in the way of the Lord. I will never leave them alone and forsaken. I will pray goodness, grace, mercy and the truth upon them. I will consecrate them to the Lord. I will guard them from pain, sickness and troubles. I will love them with an everlasting love and pour blessings upon them. I would speak Jesus to them everyday and rejoice with them. I will teach them God’s word and His way so that they may walk in His way and be obedient. I will chastise and discipline them if they disobey as did God of His people especially in the wilderness. But I will defend them like a bear; like a lioness if trouble stands in their way.
I will if I was the man, whoop them and chase them out of my home. If they attack me or my family, I will be willing to kill.
Jesus came as a sacrifice once and for all (John 3:16 and acts 10:38).
He taught, preached, healed, saved and gave us His Word to live this life on earth and then eternal life. We have a free will and a choice .
Did all the atrocities that happen on this earth happen because of God; do we not see the god of this world whom perishing souls serve ?
Jesus laid aside His divinity and came to thus earth for you and me , suffered and died so we do not have to suffer nor be fearful of death. Is He a God of violence or love?
We do not thank Him when we are well and properous but we are very quick to blame Him when things go wrong in our lives due to our wrong choices and our wrong believing.
Joshua, God said had a different spirit and followed Him fully. Thus Joshua became the new leader after Moses. I pray that God will see me like Joshua. I pray I will follow Him fully and fulfill my calling
Thank you Lord.
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