Compelled

As we enter into a new year I have been mulling over a couple of verses in Exodus these past few days.  I originally posted the short version of this on Facebook but wanted to expand some thoughts on these verses that I had. In meditating over these verses I realized that they have a message of optimism for those who are disciples of a loving and wonderful God.  About a week ago I began reading and studying in Exodus, specifically the life of Moses, during my quiet time.  The last few verses of chapter 3 really captured my attention and I feel God showed me something new, that I had to share.  I believe this is a word not only for me, but for many of you as you walk through your daily lives.

Here are the verses:

But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians."
Exodus 3:19‭-‬22 NASB 

I have been going through a life changing year and a half and have questioned many things that have occurred over that last one to two years, and these verses really spoke to me.   As I read these verses the words "under compulsion" caught my attention.  Websters defines the root word compel as: "to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly; to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure".

God "compelled" the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, to free the Israelites from slavery and the Egyptians, while hating the Jews, were "compelled" to show "favor" to them providing silver, gold and "fine clothing" (NLT translation) to replace their slave's rags that did not wear out for 40+ years. God pulled them out of the enemy's grasp and on to a path of redemption to a promised land. God, in essence, forced the enemy/slave driving Egyptians to "show favor" to the nation of Israel and as a result provided for them as they began their journey to the Promised land. He plundered Egypt.

Then it kind of hit me....Pharaoh, and to a lesser degree the Egyptian nation, is a picture of Satan, our enemy, and through the majesty and power of Yahweh Jehovah, he is "under compulsion" to "show favor" to us as we are God's adopted children! Satan, is and will be required to show favor to Jesus Christ, and to us as God's children, providing "silver, gold and fine clothing" for our journey to the Promised Land.

Because of who God is and who we are in Jesus Christ, the enemy is bound, by God's power to show us favor.  This is a very difficult concept for us a Christians to comprehend, especially for me.  When Satan attacks us, and we allow him to place us into "slavery", it often seems there is no way out.  Just like the Jews facing slavery, we cry out and ask for deliverance.  God steps in and "compels" the world around us, the enemy's realm, to "show us favor".  At this point, please do not confuse this word as a prosperity ideology message that is so prevalent in our world today.  It's not.  Does this mean we will not see trials and problems?  No, it won't. Just look at what happened after Israel left Egypt.  Pharaoh and his army pursued the Jews with the intention of destroying them, but God intervened here also. When we discover our purpose and role in God's plans, there will be provision for that role (and yes, I'm talking to myself here). We, and I include myself first and foremost in this process, need to realize that God will "under compulsion" force Satan to not only free us, but to show us "favor".  

God has "plundered" Egypt!  Will He not do the same fore us?

Choices

Over the last month or so I have seen, through Facebook and other media outlets a great deal of political rhetoric related to the upcoming Presidential election.  It breaks my heart to see the divisiveness that is occurring  because someone doesn't like one candidate or another due to their personality.  Some of these post and articles reek of hatred.  Even within my circle of friends and extended family, I see several views being put forth in support of the candidate/party they support.

As a historian, I know that while any particular candidate has a certain amount of influence over their personal agenda, the reality is, that they ascribe to and are ultimately driven by the party they represent.  That party in turn is controlled by many powerful factions that may include those with vast sums of money, unions, big business, lobbies (both private and government) and most importantly ideology.  As a Christian I know that this boils down into two view points, one that is God inspired the other is from Satan. While there are, depending on what source you see, between 10 and 20 issues that separate the candidates and their parties, it boils down into 3-4 main issues for me.

This last week while having my quiet time I was reading in I Kings 18 where the ministry of Elijah is given to us.  While reading verse 21 really hit me.  I encourage you to go and read chapters 17 and 18 in I Kings.  Verse 21 in right in the middle of Elijah's encounter with the 450 prophets of Baal at Mt Carmel.  With King Ahab, the prophets of Baal and the nation of Israel there, Elijah asked them in verse 21:  "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.".  I do not believe Elijah was asking them if they know who God or Baal was, but which one are you going to follow?

At this time in Israel's history worship of Baal was widespread.  This worship actually involved several false gods all being given the name Baal (which means lord in many of the language groups that surrounded Israel).  Worship of Baal included child sacrifice (we have abortion), deviant sexual behavior including temple prostitution of all forms (we have fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and promiscuity) and was promoted by several kings in Israel to the point that many Prophets and Priest of Yahweh were persecuted and killed unless they denied God and ascribed to the teachings of Baal (we face loss of religious freedom, persecution of the Church, appointment of 2-3 supreme court justices that will define our judicial viewpoint as being liberal socialism or conservative).

So as Evangelical Christians who should we vote for?  That I will not and can not tell, you, but I implore you to pray, pray, pray and seek God's guidance as you decide.  As you pray and contemplate, do not look just at the candidate and their personality but what issues they believe in and stand for.  While I also have considered a third party that closer resembles my conservative views, I also know that at this time in our history a third party will only split the vote allowing the liberal left agenda to be installed in the White House and more importantly our government.

As I stated earlier, this election cycle concerns 3-4 major make or break issues for me,  which are abortion, religious freedom and how the U.S. Constitution will be viewed.  The Democratic party and their candidate clearly support unlimited abortion, curtailment of personal and religious (actually just Christian) freedoms and limits to, if not elimination of several Constitutional amendments.  The Republicans are for the most part the total opposite on these issue along with the many more I have not included in this post.

As you finish this post and consider your choice in this very important time in our countries history, I now pose the question to you....."How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.".

Names

What is in a name?  While I was sitting and watching some TV this afternoon I ran across the movie "Gladiator".  While most of the movie had already been shown I stopped and watched it for a couple of minutes.  For those who may not have seen this movie, it is about a Roman general who is betrayed and his family murdered by the Emperor's corrupt son, and his journey back to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.  The scene I watched took place in the Great Colosseum of Rome, in an area where the gladiators were housed.  General Maximus Desimus Meridius' whose identity has been discovered by the new Emperor and all of Rome (Maximus was supposed to have been killed) is wildly popular not only because of his name but by his actions as a Roman general and a gladiator.   As the general and his fellow gladiators are eating in the scene I watched, there is concern that the general's food may be poisoned, but one of the other gladiators make a statement the caught my ear as I was about to change the channel.  He said, "You have a great name.  He (the Emperor) must kill your name before he kills you."

This really hit me and I realized that this is what the enemy does to us.  Even when we do not know what our names mean, Satan does, and often even when we are young he will attack us at this point.  He must “kill your name before he kills you”.  Throughout the Bible great emphasis is placed on naming an infant and the future ramifications that name holds on that person.  Most names have positive connotation but some do not.  Look a couple of OT figures.  Abraham means “father of a multitude” and was the beginning of the nation of Israel.  On the other hand, there is Jacob which means “heal holder or supplanter”, one who lies or connives. While Jacob lived up to his names meaning, God did change it later to Israel which is “God prevails”. In the NT Jesus name means “Jehovah is Salvation” that pretty much says it all, God’s own son sent to save us and His name means just that.

Your names have meanings also, and those meaning are tied in with your personality, passions, talents and gifts making you who God intended you to be.  I have observed over the years that individuals often live up to their names meaning, whether good or bad.  My wife, Sandra is much better at digging up and looking at the meaning behind names than I am, but I am convinced that our given names are as much a part of who we are as anything else, and the enemy does the same to us as the Emperor had to do to Maximus.  He must destroy our names before he can try to destroy us, keeping us from realizing who and what we are in relationship to God.  This is accomplished through the destruction our reputations, smearing our names and making us feel unworthy as we are entangled in sin.  The enemy, in his warped viewpoint must first destroy your name or convince you that you are not who you are supposed to be, as he tries to destroy you.

Because of this it is so important that we know who we are in God's kingdom and what our names denote.  What is in a name?  Find out, know who you are and who you were meant to be and represent.  If you have been redeemed by Christ, you already have a new name/title!  You are a Prince or Princess, a child of the Most High King!! That is a very powerful name to have.  Claim it!!