YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Because God’s Word doesn’t pass away with time, every Scripture does tell what happens at this time.

God sent His messenger, Moses to Pharaoh. The message when delivered met with a stiff-necked opposition from the man to whom the message was sent. The message was that he should let the Children of Israel go that they may worship the LORD in the wilderness. Pharaoh’s response to Moses and Aaron was: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” His response was a mixture of ignorance and arrogance and I can say that Moses was taken aback by the response of Pharaoh.

God’s promises will most times (if not all times) not be fulfilled the way you thought it. What would have been on Moses’ mind and even the elders of Israel was that Pharaoh would agree to their request and let them go say in three days. This didn’t happen. What hadn’t flashed in their mind happened. Rather than let Israel go, Pharaoh added to their burdens.

God never promised that there will be no opposition on the field of mission but that through that opposition, His purposes will prevail. It is rather surprising to know that God had told Moses that Pharaoh will not hearken to him (Exodus 4:24). His message to His disciples was that they would have tribulations but that He has overcome the world meaning that though there are tribulations, they cannot hinder what God has purposed to do. At best they can be distractions but once your eyes are focused on God nothing moves you. He also included as part of the package for those who leave all and follow Him tribulations.

No one is ever in support of foolishness, so, you can’t expect the world to accept that which is foolishness to them (1 Corinthians 1:18). The will of God isn’t always wisdom to men. The Gospel message we preach will not be accepted by everyone to whom it is preached. Not that God has ordained that some people won’t be saved but because the message of the cross is foolishness to them, they see it as nothing and do not take it seriously.

When God was commissioning Ezekiel, He told him that he was being sent to a stiff-necked people who will not hearken to His words. What God does is to fortify those He sends. He prepares their hearts. He makes His terms clear, telling you beforehand what to expect. This proves His faithfulness. Beyond his heart prepared, Ezekiel needed his head fortified. God will not send you on a mission if He has not equipped you for that mission with its challenges. If you are unequipped, it is probably because you didn’t wait to be equipped.

The latter part of Acts 12:22 says that we must through much tribulations enter into the kingdom of God – our rest. There will be no need for rest if there hasn’t been stress. And so, when God promises us rest in eternity, it implies that we will go through much stress in time. When we exercise ourselves in Godliness, the world sees it as stress. They tell you to take life easy. You don’t enter the kingdom of God with ease. Jesus said, “strive to enter in at the strait gate for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). He also said, “from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). The reason for violence in entering the Kingdom is the presence of hindrances to our entering the kingdom. We, therefore, must press and go through stress in order to enter the land of rest.

As a side comment, I’d like to say that there are places you go by yourself that you won’t be able to come out of by yourself. Israel wasn’t forced into Egypt but would not be let to go when they wanted to. We do know that it was by God’s ordination that they came to Egypt for He had told Abraham that his seed would be strangers in a foreign land where they will be afflicted for four hundred years. I say this in application of Israel’s experience. Egypt (sin) may give you corn but after the corn, it becomes a thorn. Egypt may offer you bread but after the bread, it afflicts you with a great burden fitly fastened such that you won’t be able to take it off by yourself. By sin, I refer to anything outside of God’s will.

At the first meeting with Egypt for the purpose of getting corn, you will be let to go. It is more like a part-time engagement after which there is a set-up such that you will not be able to leave and then you’re compelled to take permanent residence in Egypt which appears to be for your good. After a period of comfort comes the oppression which lasts longer than the comfort enjoyed. It will only take a Divine intervention and deliverance for such to be let loose because Egypt will never allow you to go.

We all have been in Egypt before God wrought great signs in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus prevailing over sin and death that we might be free. But sadly, many still go back even after they have been delivered. And this applies to all our endeavors with God both in life and Ministry. I pray that God gives you understanding.

God sends us like He sent Moses to go deliver them that are in Egypt. We will definitely be faced with oppositions in the fulfillment of this assignment. We should, therefore, have our hearts and minds prepared. We get ourselves fortified. If Pharaoh is stiff-necked, we shouldn’t be chicken-hearted but sound-minded and even strong-headed. Strong headed? Yes! Ezekiel 3:8 – 9 “Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”

May God fortify us for His mission at this time.

I trust you were blessed by this piece, please share to all you can and also let me know your comments.

God bless you.