Archives for 2020

Good morning,

Meditate upon HELL

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(William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”)

Meditate often on these four last things:
   Death, which is most certain.
   Judgment, which is most strict.
Hell, which is most doleful.
   Heaven, which is most delightful.

Meditate upon HELL, which is most doleful.

Heaven is a place where all is joyful;
and Hell is a place where all is doleful.

In Heaven–there is nothing but happiness;
but in Hell–there is nothing but heaviness.

“The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17
Mark, sirs–the wicked shall be turned into Hell.

Oh, dreadful place–where the devil is the jailer.
Hell is the prison,
damnation is the punishment,
eternity is the duration,
brimstone is the fire, and
men and devils are the fuel.

To endure this will be intolerable;
and to avoid it will be impossible.

This is the day of God’s long-suffering;
that will be the day of man’s long-suffering.
There they will suffer:
  pain without ease,
  torment without end,
  sorrow without support,
  and misery without mercy.

Sirs, meditate upon Hell.

Oh, what hells are there in Hell! Hell is:
  the loss of God,
  the loss of Christ,
  the loss of all good.

Endless, ceaseless, and remediless torments must be their eternal portion!

Oh, that you would often think of Hell.

If once you drop into Hell–then after a thousand years:
  you will be as far from coming out of Hell,
  as you were at your first entrance into Hell.

There is only one way to KEEP a man out of Hell
–but there is no way to GET a man out of Hell.

In this world, the wheat and the chaff both grow together, but they shall not always both lie together.

In Hell, there shall not be a saint among those who are terrified.
In Heaven, there shall not be a sinner among those who are glorified.

The sea of damnation–shall never be sweetened with a drop of compassion!

Will you pity a person who is going to the gallows–and
will you not pity a person who is going to the bottomless pit?

What a dreadful visitation is that, where . . .
  the black horse of death goes before, and
  the red horse of wrath follows after!

Oh, that must needs be sad, when one death comes upon the back of another; when the second death comes upon the back of the first death.

A man’s condition in this life may be honorable,
and yet his state in eternity may be damnable. Poor Lazarus goes to Heaven–
when rich Dives goes to Hell.

It is far better to go to Heaven poorly
–than it is to go to Hell richly.

Oh sirs, let us go to Hell by contemplation, that
we may never go to Hell by condemnation.

Oh sirs, meditate upon Hell!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.

The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.

This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.

Israel redeemed by the blood of a lamb — Passover. (12:1-13:16) Christ is our sacrifice Hebrews 10:4-10 (READ)

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.⁵ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;⁹ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

1. Beginning of the year is changed (12:1-2) (READ)

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,² This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

2. Passover instituted (12:3-20) (READ)

“Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:⁴ And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:⁶ And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.⁷ And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.⁸ And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.⁹ Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.¹⁰ And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.¹¹ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover.¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.¹⁴ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.¹⁵ Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.¹⁶ And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.¹⁷ And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.¹⁸ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.¹⁹ Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.²⁰ Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.”

3. Procedure for Passover ceremony (12:21-30) (READ)

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.²² And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.²³ For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.²⁴ And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.²⁵ And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.²⁶ And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?²⁷ That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.²⁸ And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.²⁹ And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.³⁰ And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.”

4. Unleavened bread (12:31-39) Also called the feast of matzah-7 days
5. Death of the firstborn (12:40-42) 
6. Passover to be observed annually (12:43-50) 

 CONCLUSION:

• And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!  (John 1:36)
• Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19)
• Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:             (1 Corinthians 5:7)
• FOUNDATION STONE: The blood.  It covered but did not take away the sin of Israel.  Jesus blood takes away the sin of those who repent and come to Him.

The blood covered the houses of the children of Israel. When God saw the blood, He passed over that house, and the first born did not die. The children of Israel were obedient to the instructions God gave them through Moses.

A lamb was slain. The blood was applied to the lintel and doorposts.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth to be the sacrificial lamb for the sin of all mankind. He allowed Himself to go to the cross, to take the sins of all mankind on Himself, to pay our sin debt.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Salvation is for all men and women, boys and girls. Please call or write to me about how you might get saved.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Meditate upon JUDGMENT

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(William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”)

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Meditate often on these four last things:
   Death, which is most certain.
   Judgment, which is most strict.
   Hell, which is most doleful.
   Heaven, which is most delightful.

Meditate upon JUDGMENT, which is most strict.

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Those who will not come before His mercy-seat,
shall be forced to come before His judgment-seat.

Those who will not hear His Word, shall feel His Sword.

Those who are graceless in this day, will be speechless in that day.

At the world’s end, such will be at their wits’ end, to see:
  the earth flaming,
  the heavens melting,
  the stars falling,
  the graves opening,
  the judgment hastening,
  the sun and moon mourning,
  Christ and His angels coming.

He who comes to raise the dead,
will also come to judge the dead.

Oh sirs, the great day to great sinners will be a dreadful day, when they shall see Christ coming in the clouds:
  with great power and glory,
  crowned with dignity,
  enraged with anger, and
  attended with His angel reapers.
He will bring all kings and nobles, high and low, rich and poor, to His judgment bar. And there He will judge them, not by the whiteness of their faces, but by the blackness of their hearts. “He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:9

You who make no account of His coming,
how can you give an account at His coming?

Sirs, meditation on judgment, may make you judgment proof.

Those who now judge themselves in their own private sessions,
shall not be judged by Christ at His great white throne judgment.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Meditate upon DEATH

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(William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”)

Meditate often on these four last things:
Death, which is most certain.
Judgment, which is most strict.
   Hell, which is most doleful.
   Heaven, which is most delightful.

Meditate upon DEATH, which is most certain.
“It is appointed unto men once to die.” Hebrews 9:27

Out of the dust was man formed;
into the dust shall man be turned.

To think of death, is a death to some men.

Oh sirs, meditate upon death.

Meditation on death, will put sin to death.

Death to the wicked, is the end of all comfort, and the beginning of all misery.
Death to the godly, is the outlet to sin and sorrow, and the inlet to peace and happiness.

The saints’ enjoyment shall be incomparable,
when the sinners’ torments shall be intolerable.

When a believer’s soul goes out of his own bosom, it goes into Abraham’s bosom.

When a saint dies, he leaves all his bad behind him, and carries his good with him.
When a sinner dies, he carries his bad with him, and leaves his good behind him.

The godly man goes from evil, to all good.
The wicked man goes from good, to all evil.

When a saint leaves the world, his soul returns to happiness and rest.
When a sinner leaves this world, his body goes to worms to be consumed, and his soul goes to flames to be tormented.

The saint goes to Abraham’s bosom;
the sinner goes to Beelzebub’s bosom.

The wheat goes to the barn;
the chaff goes to the fire.

Oh sirs, meditate upon death!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Supremely precious

(John Fawcett, “Christ Precious“)

“Yes, He is very precious to you who believe.” 1 Peter 2:7

If Christ is truly precious to us, we shall prefer Him above every other object; He will have the chief place in our affections. The love which a Christian has to his Savior penetrates and possesses his heart. This distinguishes it from the pretended love of hypocrites, which is only in word, or in some external actions, while their hearts are full of sinful self-love; so that it may be said of them, “This people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”

We may possibly delight in some objects of an inferior nature, as they contribute to our health, our ease, or our comfort. Our homes, our food, and our other temporal enjoyments are dear to us, because they minister to our comfort and convenience in the present life. But true love for Christ does not allow any other object to hold the chief place in the heart. This chief place is for Jesus, whom we ought to love with supreme ardor. The choicest affections of our souls ought to be supremely fixed upon Him.

As it is impossible for any man to love an unknown object–so it cannot be expected that Christ should be supremely precious unto us, unless we know Him to be excellent and desirable, beyond whatever may be compared with Him. We shall not esteem Him above all things, if we have not elevated views of His transcendent worth. Our esteem of Him rises in proportion to the knowledge we have of Him. Godly men therefore ardently desire to increase in the knowledge of Him, that their affections may be more intensely fixed upon Him.

That love, which has but created things for its object, is degrading to the soul. It is a cleaving to that which can neither give happiness to our souls, nor repose to our minds. For to love any object ardently, is to seek our felicity in it and to expect that it will answer our desires. It is to call upon it to fill that deep void which we feel in ourselves, and to imagine that it is capable of giving us the satisfaction we seek. It is to regard it as . . .
  the resource of all our needs,
  the remedy of all the troubles which oppress us,
  and the source of all our happiness.
Now, as it is God alone in whom we can find all these advantages–it is a debasing of the soul, it is idolatry to seek them in created objects! “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!” Philippians 3:8

If Christ is truly precious to us–we shall be induced to devote our souls and our bodies, our talents, our abilities and our faculties–as a living sacrifice to Him. To contemplate His adorable perfections will be our highest joy. We shall be ready to obey Him, in opposition to all the threats and the solicitations of men. We shall rely upon Him, though all outward appearances seem to be against us. We shall rejoice in Him, though we have nothing else to comfort us. If we enjoy health and plenty, friends and reputation–the Lord is still the object of our earnest desires and our supreme delight.

“Whom have I in Heaven but You? There is none upon earth that I desire besides You! As the deer pants for the water-brooks, so longs my soul after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!”

  ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001, chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.

The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.

This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.

The Israelites delivered from Egyptian bondage (5:1-15:21) 

1. Moses demands the release of the Israelites (5:1-4) (READ)

“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.² And Pharaoh said, 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.³ And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. ⁴ And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.”

 “Let my people go…” used 8 times

2. Pharaoh’s answer: Hebrews denied straw with which to make bricks (5:5-23) 

3. Moses demand certified by miracle (5:23-7:12) (READ7:1-9)

“And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.² Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.³ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. ⁴ But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.⁵ And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.⁶ And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.⁷ And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.⁸ And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,⁹ When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.”
4. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened (7:13-14) 
5. First plague: Blood (7:14-25)

6. Second plague: Frogs (8:1-15)
7. Third plague: Lice (8:16-19) 
8. Fourth plague: Flies (8:20-32) 
9. Fifth plague: Disease on Livestock (9:1-7) 
10. Sixth plague: Boils (9:8-12) 
11. Seventh plague: Hail (9:13-35 
12. Eighth plague: Locusts (10:1-20) 
13. Ninth plague: Darkness (10:21-29) 
14. Death announced (11:1-10) (READ)

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.² Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.³ And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.⁴ And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:⁵ And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.⁶ And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.⁷ But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.⁸ And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.⁹ And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

Moses demands that Pharaoh let the children of Israel to go and worship. Pharaoh says no. He then requires the children of Israel to gather their own straw for the making of bricks.

Moses now proclaims ten plagues on the Egyptians. The last is the death of the first born of all the families of Egypt. Starting with Pharaoh’s son.

It is never wise to oppose God. Believers in Christ have the Holy Spirit of God residing in them. The Holy Spirit will convict believers of their opposition to God. When believers refuse to obey, God brings chastisement or judgment into their lives. Similar to what we see happening to Pharaoh and Egypt.

If believers go too far, God may take them home early. Similar to the death of the first born.

Pharaoh could have avoided this judgment by repenting and obeying God. He did not and he and the nation of Egypt suffered the consequences.

Jesus Christ paid the sin debt for all mankind. Those who have trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior, are to obey what God has given us in the Bible. When we fail to obey, we must repent of our sin, start obeying God’s word, and continue to serve our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Will we choose to be rebellious like Pharaoh or obedient like Moses?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 

Good morning,

The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.

The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.

This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.

PASSOVER

EXODUS 1-12

INTRO:  The Hebrews in Egypt (1:1-12:36) 

A. Progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves (1:1-22) 

1. The tribes of Israel identified (1:1-7) 
2. Pharaoh (King of Egypt) who knew not Joseph (1:8) (READ)
3. Growth of Hebrew population (1:9-10) (READ)
4. Harsh treatment of Hebrew slaves in Egypt (1:11-14) (READ)
5. Plan to destroy the Hebrews (1:15-22) (READ)

B. Preparation for deliverance of Hebrew slaves (2:1-4:31)

1. Moses born and saved from destruction (2:1-10)  (READ)
2. Moses kills an Egyptian and forsakes Egypt (2:11-14) 
3. Moses in the land of Midian (2:15-22) 
4. God takes knowledge of Israel’s sad plight (2:23-25) 
5. God calls Moses at a burning bush (3:1-4:17) (READ 3:1-10, 4:18)
6. Moses agrees to go back to Egypt (4:18-26) 
7. The Hebrews believe Moses and accept his leadership (4:27-31) 

C. The Israelites delivered from Egyptian bondage (5:1-15:21) 

1. Moses demands the release of the Israelites (5:1-4) (READ)

“Let my people go…” used 8 times

2. Pharaoh’s answer: Hebrews denied straw with which to make bricks (5:5-23) 
3. Moses demand certified by miracle (5:23-7:12) (READ7:1-9)
4. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened (7:13-14) 
5. First plague: Blood (7:14-25) 
6. Second plague: Frogs (8:1-15) 
7. Third plague: Lice (8:16-19) 
8. Fourth plague: Flies (8:20-32) 
9. Fifth plague: Disease on Livestock (9:1-7) 
10. Sixth plague: Boils (9:8-12) 
11. Seventh plague: Hail (9:13-35 
12. Eighth plague: Locusts (10:1-20) 
13. Ninth plague: Darkness (10:21-29) 
14. Death announced (11:1-10) (READ)

D. Israel redeemed by the blood of a lamb — Passover. (12:1-13:16) Christ is our sacrifice Hebrews 10:4-10 (READ)

1. Beginning of the year is changed (12:1-2) (READ)
2. Passover instituted (12:3-20) (READ)
3. Procedure for Passover ceremony (12:21-30) (READ)
4. Unleavened bread (12:31-39) Also called the feast of matzah-7 days
5. Death of the firstborn (12:40-42) 
6. Passover to be observed annually (12:43-50) 

 CONCLUSION:

• And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!  (John 1:36)
• Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19)
• Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:             (1 Corinthians 5:7)
• FOUNDATION STONE: The blood.  It covered but did not take away the sin of Israel.  Jesus blood takes away the sin of those who repent and come to Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.

The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.

This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.

B. Preparation for deliverance of Hebrew slaves (2:1-4:31)

1. Moses born and saved from destruction (2:1-10) (READ)

“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.² And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.³ And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.⁴ And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.⁵ And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.⁶ And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.⁷ Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?⁸ And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.⁹ And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.¹⁰ And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.”

2. Moses kills an Egyptian and forsakes Egypt (2:11-14)

“And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.¹² And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.¹³ And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?¹⁴ And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.”

3. Moses in the land of Midian (2:15-22) 

“Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.¹⁷ And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.¹⁸ And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?¹⁹ And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.²⁰ And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.²¹ And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.²² And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

4. God takes knowledge of Israel’s sad plight (2:23-25) 

“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.²⁴ And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.²⁵ And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”

5. God calls Moses at a burning bush (3:1-4:17) (READ3:1-10)

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.² And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.³ And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.⁴ And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.⁵ And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.⁶ Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.⁷ And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;⁸ And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.⁹ Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.¹⁰ Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

6. Moses agrees to go back to Egypt (4:18-26) 

“And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.¹⁹ And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.²⁰ And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.²¹ And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.²² And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:²³ And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.²⁴ And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.²⁵ Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.²⁶ So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.”

7. The Hebrews believe Moses and accept his leadership (4:27-31) 

“And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.²⁸ And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.²⁹ And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:³⁰ And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.³¹ And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

God’s plan was Moses.

When he was born, he should have been killed. God spared him. His mother puts him in an ark and allows it to float past Pharaoh’s daughter. She retrieves the ark, sees it one of the Hebrew children, has compassion on him, and raises him as her own child.

Then Moses realizes his true heritage and tries to help his brethren. He kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian. He was forty years old. He spends the next forty years as a sheep herder on the back side of the desert. One day he sees a burning bush and goes to investigate. There he meets with God who sends him back to Egypt to be His spokesman. Moses fights with God, but eventually he relents and goes. He goes back and after some convincing, the people believe him.

Who would ever think up a plan like this?

Only God! God was in charge of every aspect of the plan. Moses executed the plan in accordance with God’s desire.

Will Pharaoh let the children of Israel go? No!

God has a plan for each of our lives. Whether we follow God’s plan is up to us. We have been given a free will to obey God’s word or reject it. Obedience leads us to the plan God has for us. Disobedience leads us away from God’s plan.

Choose wisely.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.

The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.

This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.

A. Progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves (1:1-22) 

1. The tribes of Israel identified (1:1-7) 

“Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,⁴ Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.⁵ And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.⁶ And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.⁷ And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”

2. Pharaoh (King of Egypt) who knew not Joseph (1:8) (READ)

“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”

3. Growth of Hebrew population (1:9-10) (READ)

“And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:¹⁰ Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.”

4. Harsh treatment of Hebrew slaves in Egypt (1:11-14) (READ)

“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.¹³ And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:¹⁴ And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.”

5. Plan to destroy the Hebrews (1:15-22) (READ)

“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:¹⁶ And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.¹⁸ And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?¹⁹ And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.²⁰ Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.²¹ And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.²² And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”

Joseph has died. Israel is growing in numbers and in strength. A new king comes to power who did not know Joseph or his legacy. The Egyptians were afraid of Israel. The new king commanded that the midwives kill all the males at birth. That did not work.

The new king makes them his slaves. Forced labor. He will work them to death. They just become stronger.

Man’s plan never overrides the plan of God. God’s plan was to judge Egypt for their cruelty to Israel. In the eyes of the Israelites of that time, it seemed God had forgotten them. He had not.

This happens to us. We expect instant results from God. We are looking for our concept of what God’s plan for our lives should be. Not His plan. This causes us to think God has forgotten us. He has not forgotten us. He sees everything, knows everything, and is powerful enough to change anything He desires.

He sees the big picture.

The question is, Will we trust Him? Think about that question this week?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study the character of Joseph. There is nothing negative said about Joseph. In every circumstance of Joseph’s life, the Lord was with him. Joseph led a life of highs and lows, but never complained. He was betrayed by his brothers, lied about by Potiphar’s wife, languished in prison, and ultimately ruled in the nation of Egypt.

Joseph was a dreamer. When Joseph dreamed a dream, it became reality. Through God’s help, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams. His brothers despise him, his parents are annoyed, the butler rejoiced, and the baker ended up dead. Pharaoh requested his help in interpreting his dream. Joseph’s interpretation averted the death of many people. Pharaoh promotes him from prisoner to prince.

Let’s review the life of Joseph, and be reminded of the wonderful character displayed by this man of God.

III. JOSEPH AS A PRINCE IN EGYPT

Please read chapters 41-50

   A. WISE IN HIS SERVICE TO PHARAOH…

      1. At the age of thirty, Joseph is exalted to rule over Egypt (41:38-46)

           READ: 41:39-40

      2. His wisdom manifested in his administration

         a. Showing foresight during the years of plenty – (41:47-49)

         b. Showing shrewdness during the years of famine – Gen 41:53-57; 47:13-26

      3. Mindful of God’s blessings – (41:50-52)

   B. MERCIFUL IN HIS TREATMENT OF HIS BRETHREN…

      1. Finally reunited with his brothers and father – (42:1-45:15)  READ: 42:1-2, 7-8, 34, 36,38, 43:1, 8-13, 44:32-34 (Judah surety: sold Joseph)

      2. Arranged for them to live in Goshen –(46:16-20, 28-34,  47:1-12)

      3. Reassured his brothers that he has forgiven them

         a. When he first revealed himself to them – (45:4-8)

         b. When their father Jacob died – (50:15-21)

   C. BELIEVING IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD…

      1. That God could make good things come out of evil intentions (50:20)

      2. That God would keep His promises made to His people – Gen 50:24-25

CONCLUSION

1. In the life and story of Joseph, we see the value of a character…

   a. Centered in faith and trust in God

   b. Devoted to serving God and man with honor and dependability

   c. Unwilling to be deterred by the hatred, betrayal, and forgetfulness of others

   d. Willing to forgive the wrongs committed by others

   e. Able to see the big picture, God’s wonderful workings in the affairs of men

2. This noble character can be useful in all the seasons of life…

   a. As a youth, tempted and tried with no help from family or friend

   b. As a mature individual, charged with important responsibilities

   c. As an aged person, knowing that death is imminent

May “The Character of Joseph” serve to inspire us to develop our character as well, that in some small way we too can be…

   “..an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Certainly this is the case with the patriarch Joseph!

FOUNDATION STONES:

1) CHARACTER

2) JOSEPH A TYPE OF CHRIST

    A) He was loved by his father             Jesus was loved by God His father

     B) Rejected by his brothers                Jesus was rejected by the world

    C) Unjustly tried                                Jesus was unjustly tried

    D)  Suffered                                      Jesus suffered on the cross-man’s sin

    E)  Married a gentile (Egyptian) bride  Jesus marries gentile bride

    F)   Delivered his people from death            Jesus delivered sinful man from death

3)  Obedience saved two nations

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:⁴⁰ Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.⁴¹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:39-41)

Pharaoh has placed Joseph in charge of managing Egypt. He carries out God’s plan to store food during the seven years of plenty and to distribute the food during the seven years of famine.

Joseph must deal with his brothers coming to buy food. His brothers did not know that Joseph was their brother.  Joseph treated them harshly and yet showed compassion by giving them their money back. Eventually, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. He treats them with respect and kindness. He has them bring their father to come and live in Egypt. He provides for them.

Do you remember the dream Joseph had where his brothers and parents would bow down to him? It came true. God intervened to save Israel and Egypt.

The key verses are Genesis 50:20-21.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.²¹ Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”

What have we learned from our study of Joseph? I hope each of us have learned lessons that will change our lives and those of others.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001