Yawheh, Day 42

 

Day 42 Yahweh ... Proclaiming ... His Name to Man's Spiritual Fear and Doubting ... #12

As we close out these particular 12 lessons from God's Name revealed on the mount we find this parting warning...

Exodus 34:14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
"You are to never bow down to another god because the Lord, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God."

Many of our other translations substitute the word "name" where the Holman chooses the word "nature." The Hebrew more literally states here that God's "Name in Jealous." This is worth a moment’s reflection.

When humans think of "jealousy" it is usually in a negative connotation ... conjuring up ideas of emotional control, abuse, and anger. Humanity's understanding is of course from a fallen perspective ... our jealousy is not identical to God's jealousy.

Yahweh knows that humanity has an inherit nature to doubt the promises made by God ... therefore the tendency to join hands with other power objects ... whether people, organizations, or gods ... out of insecurity and fainthearted faith that doubts Yahweh will do as He says He will do .... and Yahweh knows that every object that we place our trust in other than Himself ... will fail ... to our detriment.

Yahweh's Jealousy is based on His revealed nature as described back in verse 6: "Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth ..."

Humanity's jealousy is not based on compassion, grace, tamed anger, faithful love, nor truth. 
Perhaps the greatest challenge for a maturing disciple of Yahweh is to actually learn to trust Him ... even when the night is darkest.

What of the night friend ... can you yet praise the Holy One in the lightening flashes and rumbling thunders of shadow ... or look you to another god?

The test is for your faith ... for faith untested is ... not faith.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  Help us to see that when we question You and Your faithfulness … it is an insult to Your character.  When we place our trust in any other god it is an insult to You and Your faithfulness.  For the honor of Your Name … help us to see.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

     Thursday, February 27th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

If the Christian wants to receive any benefit as he looks in the mirror of the Word of God, he must approach it with humility. A man can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility. One soon detects mock humility.

The writer of Proverbs 22:4 gives us this advice about humility: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” 

God, thank You for letting us serve You Amen
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 41

 

Day 41 Yahweh... Proclaiming... His Name to Man's Spiritual Dullness... #11

Yahweh has just appeared to Moses ... declared His intention and character to Moses ... Moses rightly bows down in wonder and awe ... then asks God if God will accept Moses and Israel ... even in light of the fact that Yahweh has just declared that that was in fact His intention!

Can we dare imagine how frustrated God must become with humanity?

Exodus 34:8-10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
8 Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped.
9 Then he said, "My Lord, if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoing and sin, and accept us as Your own possession."
10 And the Lord responded: "Look, I am making a covenant. I will perform wonders in the presence of all your people that have never been done in all the earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord's work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring..."

One can almost hear exasperation in Yahweh's opening in verse 10: "Look, I am making a covenant!" (exclamation mark my addition for emphasis!)  Would that we could learn to take Yahweh at His Word ... the first time ... and never doubt in the tumult what He has revealed in the heart.

Some would object that Yahweh seldom if ever speaks to them.  No ... Yahweh is always speaking to the heart of humanity ... to you ... we must learn to listen ... and be willing to hear ... and believe ... what He says.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  We are so weak!  We often question that which You have spoken and revealed to us!  You have given to us Your Word.  You have given to us Your Son.  You have given to us Your Spirit.  You have given to us Your gifts.  Yet we doubt.  Oh God!  Forgive!  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

    Monday, February 10th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together” (Vesta M. Kelly).

After seeing the beauty of all the snow we have received in the past week, and at the same time the damage that it has caused to the pine trees, just think how much good we can accomplish if we stick together. The writer of Proverbs 18:24 gives this advice: “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

God, help us bond together in unity to bring honor to You. Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 40

 

Day 40 Yahweh... Proclaiming... His Name... Character and Consequences... #10

Humanity desires to relegate people into the category of "victim" as stated yesterday ... yet not Yahweh.  We see this today in a very complicated and confusing ending to verse seven in Exodus 34. I will place in quotations the confusing ending ... then following I will give what I believe is the corrected interpretation and meaning of the verse as a whole.

God .... have mercy.

Exodus 34: 6-7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave [the guilty] unpunished, “bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation...."

Now for my paraphrase ... for the profit of all ... and the reputation of Yahweh's Name...

"...Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. Also, He will not punish the innocent by bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation...."

This verified in Ezekiel 18 and summarized in verse 20, "The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won't suffer punishment for the father's iniquity, and a father won't suffer punishment for the son's iniquity."

Yahweh ... is a just God ... of great character.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  We have been so quick to relegate guilt and blame onto the decedents of those passed on, and in so doing we have kept many under condemnation that were not responsible for the sins of their forefathers.  For Your Name’s sake and for Your reputation I pray in Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

   Sunday, February 9th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Christian action should be defined as an action of God mediated through a person” (Archbishop Anthony Bloom, 1914–2003 ).

While we are here on earth, we are to be living for Jesus in all that we do. That is a rearrangement of a line from one of the old hymns by T.O. Chisholm, "Living For Jesus."  Many times throughout the year, this song comes to my mind, reminding me that we are His hands, feet, and other body parts that are to be alive for Him. In Philippians 1:21, the apostle Paul states it this way: “For to me to live is Christ.”

 Let us live daily in such a way as to define by our lives what Christ would do if He were physically here.

God, You are my very life. Let me live for You.  Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 39

 

Day 39 Yahweh ... Proclaiming ... His Name ... Character and Consequences ... #9

Humanity always desires to create a god in man's image and in man's likeness ... that because humanity has an innate desire to ... Justify ... man's weaknesses and shortcomings.  Therefore, if one has a god much like one's self ... then appeasement with one's conscience is much simpler.

It also lends itself to great leniency with faults in others ... with great creativity given to finding fault with every influence on the individual rather than on the individual committing the error.  Humanity loves to find itself a victim of any and every possible offender to escape personal responsibility for one's actions ... Yet ... Yahweh will have nothing to do with that.

"...Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave [the guilty] unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation...."
Exodus 34: 6-7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Strong personal character is required to enforce accountability.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  In our desire to develop Your character may we learn to begin with accepting full and complete responsibility for our actions.  For Your Name’s sake.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Yahweh, Day 38

 

Day 38 Yahweh ... Proclaiming His Name ... by His Character ... #8

Yahweh knows that Moses will desire to know all that he can about God ... so we have this revealing by Yahweh ... and what is it that Yahweh chooses to reveal?

His Character.

Exodus 34:5-7
The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed [His] name Yahweh. Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave [the guilty] unpunished... (HCSB)

Moses wants to "see" Yahweh ... but that is not allowed ... a physical visual image. Man always desires to "see" God ... and it is still never allowed ... other than to "see" God's Character.  This is what Yahweh reveals to Moses ... compassion, graciousness, long suffering, faithfulness, truth, endurance, and forgiveness ... God reveals aspects of His character.

Jesus/YahShua came revealing the same ... "I am humble and gentle."

To know and understand these character qualities ... is to understand Yahweh.  To know and understand these character qualities ... is to correctly understand "theology."

A picture would never do.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh God!  Help us to learn to see You the way You intended, through Your Character.  And then, let others see You in our lives as we learn to be like You in character.  This I ask for the honor of Your Name.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

    Saturday, February 8th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

"When the mouse laughs at the cat there’s a hole nearby" (Nigerian proverb).

That statement reminds me of the promise we have from God’s word in 1Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

It becomes easy to stand tall in the face of adversity when we know God has our back and provides a way of escape. Kind of puts a spring in our step to face tomorrow, huh?

God, thank You for providing a way of escape. Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 37

 

Day 37 Yahweh... Proclaiming... The Name... #7

In Exodus 34:5-6 we have a signature passage of revelatory import.

Notice how the One True God not only declares His Name ... but here declares His Name THREE TIMES in succession ... to the one man, Moses.

Exodus 34:5-6
The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed [His] name Yahweh. Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth...
 (HCSB)

... and through the hand of this one man ... reveals His Triune existence ... Three in One ... to all of humanity.

Yahweh ... Yahweh ... Yahweh.

Hallelujah!

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  You have revealed Yourself to us, for Your glory.  Give us ears to hear, and wisdom to grasp Your indescribable Majesty.  This I pray for the honor of Your Name.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

   Thursday, February 6th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“We increase whatever we praise. The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad” (Charles Fillmore).

As we praise God, we increase our adoration for Him. He is worthy of praise. The more ways we find to praise Him the easier the praise flows, and the deeper our reverence and appreciation for Him grows.

These words from John 3:30 remind us what our response must be: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

God, help us daily to find reasons to increase our praise for You and to learn more about You. Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 36

 

Day 36 Yahweh... Proclaiming... The Name... #6

In Exodus 33:19, Yahweh said that He would proclaim His name "before" Moses ... then in Exodus 34:5 ... He does exactly that which He said He would do ... He comes down in a cloud ... stands with Moses ... and declares … The Name.

Here, God is demonstrating His position as owner, protector, and provider over Moses. To declare The Name "before" Moses, as in: "I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. (Exodus 33:19 HCSB) is a positional statement by Yahweh ... a statement of positional protection and ownership.

As the Psalmist understood in Psalm 3:3, "But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head."

If one would do harm in any way to Moses one would have to go through Yahweh to get to Moses. Declaring The Name is representative of God's shielding and protecting.  As one washed in The Blood ... you've the same.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  We can barely begin to comprehend this glorious reality.  You have declared Your Name over us.  You have given Your Son as a sacrifice for us.  You have filled us with Your Spirit.  You have accepted us as sons and daughters.  We are Yours!  We bless Your Holy Name!  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

    Wednesday, February 5th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans” (Allen Saunders).

We should never miss all the beauty of the sunsets, our children's hugs, our spouses’ kisses, or the wags of our dogs' tails, worrying about something that will play itself out anyway.  Jesus in Matthew 6:33-34 reminds us with these words of how we are to put God first: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

God, let us keep the important things in focus.  Amen.

Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 35

 

Day 35 Yahweh... Proclaiming... The Name... #5

Now ... having spanned from eternity to time ... the Divine One stands with the profane ... and resolutely proclaims ... The Name ... Yahweh.  Why?

Moses already knows ... so this is not for Moses' sake.  Other mortals could not understand ... so this is not for mortals sake.  No... this time ... the declaration is for ... Yahweh's own sake.

Much like when entering the grand ballroom with the attendant announcing the honored guest’s arrival loudly and clearly by name ... now ... the "host" is the god of this world (2Corintrhians 4:4)... and here our visitor arrives and announces his own arrival ... by name ... for no one else is worthy ... and the god of this world hears ... and shudders.

“The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh.”
 Exodus 34:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Intercessory Prayer: Oh Father!  There is no power that can stand before Your presence and majesty!  Give us eyes to see … and ears to hear … so that we might proclaim Your Name with resolute steadfastness.  For Your honor.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

    Tuesday, February 4th, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought” (Mildred Norman Ryder).

Not only do our thoughts effect our actions, but also they cause those around us to be either motivated or affected in a negative manner. You may have noticed how being around some people can just suck the joy and life right out of you after only a short while. On the other hand, others elevate your attitude just by being near them.

The apostle Paul gives us this advice in Philippians 4:8 (NIV): “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

God, help us to keep our eyes and thoughts on You. Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 34

 

Day 34 Yahweh ... Proclaiming ... The Name ... #4
The perspective of position...

The position is now of utmost significance as verse 5 says  “The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh.”
Exodus 34:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Yahweh … the First Mover/the Initiator … always.

The Holy/SEPARATE One … spans the great chasm that separates the DIVINE from the profane … and stands … with … man.  This has not happened since the garden … since The Fall.  This … a threat to Holiness …

Wonder in awe with me … What dread felt the One?  The die has been cast.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  Our sin brought Your Son to our dusty, painful streets.  Yet, we know, it was Your Great Love that motivated You to come … and die … and rise … so that we could live … and breath … love … and be loved.  Thank You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

    Monday, February 3rd, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“That awkward moment of not knowing what to say or how to say it when a person is so proud in their own ignorance...” (Anonymous).

People sometimes make statements that you know are wrong because of their lack of knowledge. The trouble comes when the world’s information is used in an effort to make spiritual decisions.  God puts the effort into perspective with these words in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God, forgive us when we think things have changed and our way trumps Your way. Thank You for being the constant in our lives when we let You. Thank You for being the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.
Amen.

Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 33

Day 33 Yahweh … Proclaiming the Name #3
Man … is no god.

Moses … by the sweat of his brow … chisels the slab tablets … climbs the mountain holding up these two rock tablets … in obedience indeed … yet the great contrast … A mortal man holding the labor of his hands … then …

 “The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh.”
Exodus 34:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

There is a great contrast/distinction that Moses understands at this moment … man . is . no . god.

This is a difficult truth for humans to grasp.

“For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you…”
Hosea 11:9 (HCSB)

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh God!  Grant us the understanding that those things done without Your grace and Your Spirit … are sin.  This I ask for the sake of the honor of Your Name.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

     Sunday, February 2nd, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

"If you don’t want anyone to know it, don’t do it" (Chinese proverb).

A friend told me of a time his dad wanted him to finish planting a field. This friend had things he wanted to do, so when he grew tired of planting, he just buried the last of the seed at the end of the row. All too soon the field was bare, but the end of the row had the tell-tale signs of the seeds he had sown.

We are reminded of the apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 6:7-10: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.   As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

God, forgive me for the times when the seeds I sowed were either sparse or the wrong kind.  Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!

Yahweh, Day 32

 

Day 32 Yahweh… Proclaiming The Name #2
Humanity attempting to do what The One has done.

“Moses cut the two stone tablets like the first ones.”
Exodus 34:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

A counter-position is being presented by our Master.

First, Yahweh cut … man shattered.

Next, Yahweh commands the man to cut and Moses cuts two tablets “like” the first … and make no mistake … there is an eternal difference between the original and those “like” the original … for the labor of man’s hands can never compare to that breathed by The One … so … Yahweh comes on a cloud … to proclaim … His sovereign Name.

Intercessory Prayer:  Oh Father!  We have erred!  We have far too often assumed that we can manufacture that which only can be accomplished by Your Grace and by Your Empowering.  Help us to realize that only through Your Spirit can we do that which is pleasing and profitable for Your Kingdom work.  This I ask for the honor of Your Name, for the purpose of Your Kingdom, and that Your Will might be done here as it is in Heaven.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Daily Nugget

  Saturday, February 1st, 2014, Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Nothing in this world is without meaning” (A. W. Tozer, 1897–1963).

What a sad existence to live in this world and not know we were created for a purpose; however, that is the way many people spend their days. The apostle Paul shares these words with us: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” ( 2 Timothy 2:9).

I don’t know about you, but I praise God that He is in control and has a purpose and plan for each of us.

God, thank You for the plan You have for me. Amen.
Bro. Bill

In GOD We Trust!