Musing – What were the real reasons for the ten plagues in Egypt?

Hebraic Musing – What were the real reasons for the ten plagues in Egypt?

The story in Exodus of the ten plagues endured by Egypt is so awe-inspiring and spectacular that it foreshadows the more important message.  Many analyses have equated the plagues to defeat of various Egyptian gods.  Let’s look at two very personal results.

God needed to remind His people that He was still an Almighty God.  His people had been in captivity for 400 years and now were in slavery. Can you imagine how important that would be to His people in captivity for so many generations?  He demonstrated His power with a series of plagues – Water into blood, Frogs, Lice or Gnats, Flies, Livestock diseases; Boils, Thunderstorms, Locusts, Darkness; and finally, Death of the FirstBorn. Can you imagine the impression that made on the beleaguered Israelites, and their faith in God?

Now let’s look at the impact on Pharaoh and the Pharaoh’s personal relationship with God.  Remember, God loves everyone.

Pharaoh was first introduced to God by Moses who said, “This is what . . . the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go’” Exod. 5:1-2.  And Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him . . . I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go”.  Pharaoh did not recognize the God of the Israelites. He could not conceive that there might be a power greater than he; so God decided to start making Himself known.  Pharaoh had to learn exactly who God is in progressive stages. Up until then, Pharaoh was taking public credit for being god, creator and controller of everything.

When the Nile was turned to blood, Pharaoh’s magicians were able to repeat the trick.  Pharaoh concluded that the God of Israel may be powerful, but not more powerful than he.

So with the plague of gnats, Pharaoh was confronted with a different conclusion. His magicians couldn’t replicate the plague; they were defeated by the God of Israel, so they told the Pharaoh: “This is the finger of God” Exod. 8:19. Pharaoh and his advisers recognized that the God of the Israelites was stronger than they, but only by a little bit – just a “finger of God” — just slightly more powerful.

Finally, when Egypt was pounded by fire and hail and Pharaoh stood in his decimated country where only Goshen was miraculously spared, the land belonging to the Israelites.  Only then did Pharaoh come to know the God he had been denying.  Pharaoh finally realized that he offended God who was all powerful and worthy of adoration.  “Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he said to them. ‘The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.’” Exod. 9:27-28

We now see that the Israelites were shown their God as Almighty and caring; and Pharaoh, an individual, came to know an Almighty God.  Many people go through life thinking that they are in control, and the universe centers around them.  They make themselves to be “God.”  Pharaoh had to learn his lesson the hard way. We do not call the shots, and we are not in control.

If you read Exodus 5 to 12 with this in mind, you might enjoy this fresh perspective?

Points to ponder

Do we really know how powerful the God of Israel really is?

Do we worship Him accordingly?

♫ What a mighty God we serve! ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 26, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein “Introducing the God of Israel   ” January 7, 2016

Musing – Is there a message for our times in the book of Daniel?

Hebraic Musing – Is there a message for our times in the book of Daniel?

Do we need to look and plan ahead in light of the recent prophetic “end-times” messages and the growing threats to our Christian churches as we know them?  What if we no longer have churches to go to in order to “keep the faith”?  What if we are told not to profess our Christian faith?  Here are related perspectives we might garner from the book of Daniel.

First, if we don’t have our traditional churches to attend we will not have others to lead us in praise, giving thanks, repenting, study, or praying.  When Daniel was taken away into captivity, he did have Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah with him for a while.  He had a semblance of fellowship during the initial training. After telling the meaning of the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, we note that Daniel was not mentioned when the three were put in the fiery furnace for failure to bow to the statue.  Nor were they with Daniel when he was caught praying the Shema three times a day resulting in the lion's den miracle.  It seems Daniel may have been isolated from fellow Israelite friends at those times.  We Christians have been trained and taught to rely upon a pastor to lead us in worship, prayer and teaching in traditional church services.  Daniel found himself cut off from the priests, the temple and the fellowship of Israelites as he served in the king’s court.  Are we prepared to walk a Christian walk in the kind of isolation Daniel experienced?  Has our relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach been tested to that degree?   Maybe we should be better prepared to rely less on others by focusing on our direct relationship with God Almighty?

Second, Daniel and his friends were taken into a culture laden with false and strange gods.  We don't have to go far today to find strange but popular gods of idolatry, violence, glorification of evil, sexual freedom, universalism, intolerance, materialism, self-centeredness, etc. with whom we find ourselves at odds.  Daniel found himself in a country of strange gods.  Yet, in exchange for his refusal to taint himself with food from the king’s table, God gave “…these four young men … knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Dan.1:17    Thus Daniel was able to step out in faith by telling the king he could explain both the dream and its interpretation, but he continued to give God all the glory when he prayed -- see Daniel 2:20-23.  Remember what Daniel said to the king before he explained what the dream was and it’s meaning? "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” Dan 2:27-28   Daniel boldly and confidently gave glory and honor to the source of the truth.  Would we be so bold while living in isolation?  The result - King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel – the result of being bold and proclaiming faith in God Almighty.

Third, let’s consider the faith of his three friends. There will always be those who want to “throw us under the bus” like the Astrologers did by ratting on the three Hebrews.  I like their response. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Dan 3:16-18 NIV   Would we have sufficient faith to say that without our Church friends around us?   And the best part -- In the end, Nebuchadnezzar confessed his faith in YHVH. 

BTW - Daniel was not the only God-fearer to have to muster up his own faith while living in isolation.  Consider POW’s, Christian prisoners in hostile countries, missionaries working in foreign lands, etc.

Points to ponder

Are we prepared to not have anybody else to rely on, except God Almighty? 

Will we be as faithful as Daniel and his friends when the time comes?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 19, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Johanna Hocker, “What can we learn from Daniel When the going gets tough?” 1/11/16

Musing – What might these recent “Prophetic” events mean?

Hebraic Musing – What might these recent “Prophetic” events mean?

For the implications of these trends, be sure to read the attached pages contain frightening information from Israeli news about current events in Europe, not found in our local media. To paint the big picture for these 2015 events, I will assume Bible references and current news implications are already known. 

Israel’s worsening isolation – no explanation needed if you follow the news. Israel only has support from some evangelical Christians spread around the world. She has no superpower backing.

The "days of Noah" are back. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man”  Matt 24:37   And  “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 17:6  Does this sound like today’s ungodly lawlessness, glorification of evil and lack of a moral compass?

The rise of strong delusions – “…every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.” 2 Thess. 2:10.  A list of delusions per Jan Markell – “Islam is good and peaceful; guns are evil; climate change is more dangerous than jihadists; Israel is the bad guy and the Palestinians are the new heroes in the church today; ISIS isn't Islam; Muslim refugees are peaceful and will help the Western world. This is an "Alice-in-Wonderland" world. Christians don't fit. The Mad Hatter rules.”  Do you agree?

Decline of America – America is weakening, is not in the Bible and is blending into global government.

The Gog-Magog nations in the news – Iran, Russia, Turkey & Libya aligning around/against Israel.

Israel & ISIS bombing Damascus – Damascus becoming a ruinous heap. (Isa. 35:1)

Technology marginalizing truth and Christianity – Warped knowledge, censorship, privacy, de-personalization, etc. being promoted by YouTube, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Windows 10, etc.

Push for Globalized religion – Liberal denominations, Pope Francis’ statements, socialistic politicians, leaders, environmentalists, etc. view religions as interchangeable – “we all worship the same god”!

Israel’s Temple Mount – A focal point of turmoil this year – the most contested 35 acres on earth!

Liberal, Godless Europe is imploding – Acceptance of terrorists as “Refugees” has accelerated the process of persecution of Christians and implementation of Sharia law in Europe where Christianity originally had its deepest historical roots.  (SIGNIFICANT - Be sure to read the attached news clips)

Evangelicals are buying lies – This was the year, 2015, when evangelical Christians began accepting the gay agenda and many are asserting that Allah and Jehovah are one and the same. Jan Markell concluded by saying “Finding a solid church became a believer's biggest challenge in 2015.”  This is VERY TRUE!  Irene and I had to leave a church suddenly in mid-year 2015 because those lies were preached from the pulpit!!!

There are many more “Prophetic” signs/events, but I limit these musings to only one page.

Points to ponder

Does the frog jump out of the frying pan when he is lukewarm?

What did Jesus want us to do about --
“Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”

I never said all ‘musings’ would be ‘amusing’.   Shalom y’all.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 12, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by “Top Bible Prophecy Stories of 2015”  Jan Markell; Dec. 28, 2015  www.olivetreeviews.org   Additional headlines in Jan Markell’s article include – Disillusionment with today's politicians; America is being given over to paganism; Israel is being prepared for the Antichrist; Christians are mocked as never before and Jews are fleeing to Israel; Globalism went on overdrive; The push to make cash illegal intensified in 2015.

Musing - If we are not tested, what would happen to us?

He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. Deut.8:15-16  NIV

In 1924, a group of mountain climbers set out to conquer Mount Everest, whose summit had yet to be reached. Two climbers made it farther than the rest but then mysteriously disappeared. Somewhere close to the top, they were overcome by the elements and died. After the failed attempt to reach the summit, the rest of the party returned to London where they gave a briefing about the ill-fated adventure.
One of the climbers gave a review and then turned to a huge photograph of Everest that was mounted on the wall behind him. He said, “Everest, we tried to conquer you once, but you overpowered us. We tried to conquer you a second time, but again you were too much for us. But, Everest, I want you to know that we are going to conquer you, for you can’t grow any bigger, and we can!”

And so it is with many of the challenges in our own lives – they aren’t getting any smaller, but they aren’t getting any larger either. On the other hand, we can grow and change in order to overcome them.

One of our favorite books is “Good Grief” by B. E. Westberg. It deals with a 10 step grieving process we go through after suffering a loss; like the loss of a loved one, a job, a house, etc.  How can suffering a loss be “Good”?  The author points out how dealing with the losses that are inevitable in life actually can cause us to grow and mature.  We grow as we learn to keep losses in perspective.

In this week’s reading, as Moses continued his instructive review of the last 40 years, he recalled how God “ . . . led you through the vast and dreadful desert, …, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.”

In short, Moses reviewed the arduous trials and tests and obedience training that His Israelite children had to pass through; but through it all, they grew as a people and became worthy and capable of entering the Promised Land where others before them had failed.  People groups have typically survived for only a few hundred years at best.  The Jews, a Hebrew nation, have been here for about 4,000 years beginning with the call of Abraham. God’s test had a tremendous impact!

To me, the most instructive segment of these verses is the last part: “ . . . to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” This is where Moses pointed out that the purpose of all the tests in life (both for the Israelites and for us) is so that things will be good for us in the end.

Every test is an opportunity for positive growth. Every trial is a chance to shine. Every challenge brings out potential we never knew we possessed.

Points to ponder

Should children be allowed to endure trials and tests?

What major losses have you encountered in life? 
       What have you learned from the experience?

With God’s help, may you come through all trials and tests stronger and better than ever.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 5, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein “Passing Through Our Tests” August 5, 2015