The Word for Today with Ray: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

By Faith the Walls of Jericho Fell Hebrews 11:30

The writer of Hebrews shared how Moses and the children of Israel, “passed through the Red sea as by dry land”, however, “the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned”. In chapter eleven and verse thirty of Hebrews the writer shares how “by faith” “the walls of Jericho fell down” where we read:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

The verse begins, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,...”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “the walls” or “the town walls or walls around the city” “of Jericho” which means “place of fragrance” and was “a noted city abounding in balsam, honey, cyprus, myrobalanus, roses and other fragrant products. It was near the north shore of the Dead Sea in the tribe of Benjamin and between Jerusalem and the Jordan River” “fell down” or “descended from an upright to a prostrate position”. Jericho's walls “fell down” because Joshua and the people of God had “faith” in Him.

The verse goes on to say, “...after they were compassed about seven days.”. The writer continued with the words, “after they were compassed” which means “came, lead, surrounded, encircled or stood around” “about seven days” or “upon, by, over and against it seven natural intervals between sunrise and sunset as distinguished from and contrasted with the night”. The children of Israel were to walk around the “walls of Jericho” for seven days, and as they obeyed this directive from God, the walls “fell down”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how “faith” was the key component to those who encircled the city of Jericho. (See Joshua 6). The children of Israel who were allowed into the “promise land” were told to circle the city of Jericho for six days one time per day. After those six days, they were to encircle the city seven times on the seventh day without knowing what would happen next. As they obeyed in “faith”, “the walls of Jericho” “fell down”. Even so Jesus Christ asks people to “believe in Him”, and He promises they shall obtain “everlasting life”. Though they cannot see the final result of their obedience, just as sure as God had a plan for the “walls of Jericho”, He has an “eternal” plan for those who put their “faith” and trust in Jesus.

Next time the writer shares how ”by faith” “the harlot Rahab perished not”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Passing through the Red Sea by Faith Hebrews 11:29

Moses “kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood”, according to the writer of Hebrews, and “lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them”, Moses passed on these directives to the people of Israel. In chapter eleven and verse twenty-nine of Hebrews the writer shares how Moses led the children of Israel “by faith” “through the Red Sea” where we read:

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:

which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

The verse begins, “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “they passed through” which refers to “the Israelites and Moses crossed” “the Red Sea” or “the Indian Ocean washing the shores of Arabia and Persia, with its two gulfs, of which the one on the east is called the Persian Gulf, the other on the opposite side the Arabian” “as by dry land” which refers to “in the same manner as they would have crossed withered and arid land”. “Through faith” Moses and the children of Israel “crossed” the “Red Sea” on “dry ground”.

The verse goes on to say, “which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.”. The writer continued with the words, “which the Egyptians” or “the inhabitants of Egypt” “assaying to do” which means “trying and attempting to manage” “were drowned” or “were devoured, swallowed up and destroyed”. Though Moses and the Israelites were able to “pass through” the “Red Sea”, the Egyptians were drowned within it.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we see another example where people employed “faith”. Moses and the Israelites were trapped, and the Egyptians were upon them. Moses held out his rod in obedience to the Lord's command, God divided the waters and they walked on dry ground through the “Red Sea”. This took tremendous “faith” because none of them had ever seen or done this before. God intervened, and they were saved. The Egyptians, however, were not saved because as they began to cross the “Red Sea” the waters receded and the Egyptians were drowned within them. (See Exodus 14). In the same manner, Jesus desires that we have “faith” in Him and His sacrifice for our sins. When we do, we shall be “saved” like Moses and the Israelites, but if we do not, the fate of the Egyptians may be ours as well.

Next time the writer shares how “by faith the walls of Jericho fell down”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Moses Kept the Passover Hebrews 11:28

According to the writer of Hebrews, Moses “by faith” “forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king” because “he endured, as seeing him who is invisible”. In chapter eleven and verse twenty-seven of Hebrews, the writer shares how Moses “kept the passover”“by faith” where we read:

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,

lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The verse begins, “Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,”. The writer began with the words, “Through faith” which means “by the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “he kept” or “Moses made ready, prepared and produced” “the passover” which refers to “the paschal lamb, i.e. the lamb the Israelites were accustomed to slay and eat on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (the first month of their year) in memory of the day on which their fathers, preparing to depart from Egypt, were bidden by God to slay and eat a lamb, and to sprinkle their door posts with its blood, that the destroying angel, seeing the blood, might pass over their dwellings;” “and the sprinkling” or “the pouring out or effusion” “of blood” which means “by means of bloodshed”. Moses, “by faith”, prepared the “passover” and spreading of “blood” before the children of Israel left Egypt.

The verse continues, “lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”. The writer added the word, “lest” or “in order or so” “he that destroyed” which means “the one who would kill, spoil or slay” “the firstborn” or “the first-begotten” “should touch them” which means “would touch, handle, do violence to and injure the firstborn”. Moses prepared the “passover” and “blood sprinkling” to keep the “destroying angel” from killing the “firstborn” of Israel. (See Exodus 12)

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we understand that it was an act of “faith” by Moses to prepare the “passover” meal and to “sprinkle blood” upon the doorposts and the lintels of the people of Israel which would save their firstborns from the death angel. Moses believed God's word concerning this final plague upon Egypt, and he instructed the Israelites to prepare the “passover” meal and strike their doors. All who did were saved, and all who did not, were not saved. The same is true for belief and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Even as the blood had to be “sprinkled” upon the doorposts and lintels of the Israelites' homes, so must the “blood” of Jesus be “sprinkled” upon us to save us from “eternal death”. God desires to keep us, preserve us and allow us to live with Him eternally, and those who apply the blood of Christ “by faith” shall be saved, and those who do not, shall not be saved. Let all who read understand and believe.

Next time the writer shares how “by faith” Moses “passed through the Red Sea”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Moses Forsook Egypt by Faith Hebrews 11:27

As the writer of Hebrews continued to share concerning the “faith” of Moses, he referred to how Moses “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-seven of Hebrews the writer shared how Moses “by faith” “forsook Egypt” where we read:

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:

for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

The verse begins, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “he forsook” or “Moses left behind, departed from and abandoned” “Egypt” which means “double straits” and was “a country occupying the northeast angle of Africa”, “not fearing” or “not being afraid of or struck with fear and seized with alarm” “the wrath” which refers to “the passion, heat and anger boiling up and soon subsiding again” “of the king” or “the leader of the people, commander and lord of the land”. Moses “left behind” Egypt without “being afraid of the anger” the king would display against him.

The verse goes on to say, “for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”. The writer continued with the words, “for he endured” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore Moses stayed strong and steadfast”, “as seeing” which means “beholding, perceiving and heeding” “him who is invisible” or “the one who is unseen and can't be seen”. Moses “stayed strong and steadfast” because he was able to keep the “invisible” God within his mind.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how Moses “by faith” was able to look beyond his present situation and look toward the “invisible” God even though there was a strong possibility that the Pharaoh would find and kill him. Moses left Egypt because “by faith” he knew God had chosen him to be the deliverer of Israel. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins as a result of the “faith” of Moses because Israel eventually was preserved by God through Moses, and Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah within Israel. God desires for us to believe that He, though “invisible”, has an “everlasting” plan for our lives, and when we humble ourselves before His Son Jesus, ask Him to forgive our sins and believe that He will do so, we can “endure” like Moses because we have “seen him who is invisible”.

Next time the writer shares how Moses “through faith” “kept the passover”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Esteeming the Reproach of Christ Hebrews 11:26

According to the writer of Hebrews, Moses chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”. In chapter eleven and verse twenty-six of Hebrews, the writer shares how Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:” where we read:

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:

for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The verse begins, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:”. The writer began with the words, “Esteeming” which means “considering, deeming, accounting and thinking” “the reproach” or “the cause of God from enemies” “of Christ” which refers to “the anointed Messiah and Son of God” “greater riches” or “larger and stronger wealth, abundance, fulness and plentitude” “than the treasures” which refers to “compared to the coffers, receptacles, treasury, storehouse and magazine where collected valuables are stored” “in Egypt” which means “double straits” and was “a country occupying the northeast angle of Africa where Moses grew up”. Moses considered the “cause of God from enemies” of greater value than all the riches available to him in Egypt.

The verse goes on to say, “ for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”. The writer continued with the words, “for he had respect” or “because and on account that Moses turned his eyes from other things and fixed them on some on thing” “unto the recompense of the reward” which means “toward the payment of wages due and requital”. Moses looked beyond the “riches of Egypt” and saw greater value in the “cause of God from enemies” who were “against Christ”.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we see how Moses used “eternal value” verses the “temporary worth” to make his decision. The “treasures in Egypt” would only last him a lifetime, but the “eternal” “greater riches” of “the reproach of Christ” would last forever. Thus it is in our lives. We have opportunities to enjoy the “wealth of this world” that is temporary, but we also may choose to invest ourselves in “eternal and everlasting” things. Jesus came to reveal to us there is an “everlasting life”, and He provided Himself as a sacrifice for our sins that we may obtain it. Let us determine to have the “faith” of Moses, who forsook the “temporary” riches for those that are “everlasting”, and should we “suffer reproach” for doing so, we shall identify more fully with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time the writer shares how Moses “by faith” “forsook Egypt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Moses Choosing to Suffer Affliction Hebrews 11:25

As the writer of Hebrews shared concerning the “faith” of Moses, he wrote “when” Moses” “was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-five of Hebrews the writer shares how Moses chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God” where we read:

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,

than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

The verse begins, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,...”. The writer began with the words, “Choosing” which means “to taking for oneself, preferring, voting or electing” “rather” or “by far, sooner and to a greater degree” “to suffer affliction” which refers to “to be treated ill, share persecutions or endure afflictions” “with the people” or “alongside the group, tribe, nation, stock and language” “of God” which refers to the “Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Instead of “preferring” the luxuries of Egypt, Moses chose to “share and endure afflictions” with God's people.

The verse continues, “than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”. The writer added the words, “than to enjoy the pleasures” or “instead of holding, owning and possessing the enjoyment” “of sin” or “missing the mark, error and mistake” “for a season” which means “temporarily, for a time and enduring for a while”. Moses could have “enjoyed the pleasures of sin” for a little time, but this would have been a “temporary” situation.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we understand how Moses could have enjoyed the benefits that would have been associated with being the son of Pharaoh's daughter. People who have an advantaged position like Moses did usually do not forsake their places to “suffer affliction”. Rather than “enjoying the pleasures” of “missing” God's “mark”, Moses chose to align himself with God's people. Those who choose to believe in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord may have to give up advantageous positions or situations, but it is best to remember, those positions and situations are at best “temporary”, and aligning with Jesus includes the promise of living “everlasting” with God.

Next time the writer shares how Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Moses Refused Pharaoh's Daughter Call Hebrews 11:24

The writer of Hebrews shared how “by faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents”, and this was because “he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment”. In chapter eleven and verse twenty-four of Hebrews the writer shared how Moses “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter” where we read:

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

The verse begins, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years,...”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “Moses” whose name means “drawing out” and was “the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “when he was come” or “at the time Moses came into existence, began to be, received being and happened” “to years” which means “to the external form or sensible appearance of things”. The writer referred to the time when Moses came to full age or maturity and independence.

The verse goes on to say, “,,,refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;”. The writer continued with the words, “refused” or “denied or disregarded his own interest or to prove false to himself” “to be called” which means “to be spoken of, mentioned or named” “the son” or “the offspring or descendant” “of Pharaoh's daughter” which refers to “the female offspring of the native king of Egypt”. Moses denied the opportunity to continue being “named as” the “son” of the “daughter of Pharaoh”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how Moses could have been in a great position of prominence and advantage. He would have been known as the “son of” the “daughter of Pharaoh”, and all the blessings and benefits of Egypt would have been available to him. “By faith” Moses did not accept that title, and he suffered positionally and physically from it. When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ by believing in Him and His sacrificial offering for their sins, they may have to reject or deny a favorable position in this world. Even as Moses suffered, they may suffer as well. The difference is directed toward things that are “eternal” and things that are “temporary”. Moses was able “by faith” to look beyond his temporary advantage to see the “eternal” one that was set before him. May all who read these words understand and believe in the “eternal” advantage of forsaking this world and knowing Jesus Christ.

Next time the writer shares how Moses could have had the “pleasures of sin for a season” but rather chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

By Faith Moses was Hidden for Three Months Hebrews 11:23

According to the writer of Hebrews, “Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-three of Hebrews, the writer shares how “by faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months” where we read:

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

The verse begins, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,...”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “Moses” whose name means “drawing out” and was “the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “when he was born” which means “at the time Moses was engendered, cause to arise and begotten”, “was hid” or “concealed” “three months” which means “for the space of three months time period” “of his parents” or “by his natural mother and father”. Moses' parents “concealed” him for “three months” when the Pharaoh decreed that all male babies were to be killed when they were born.

The verse goes on to say, “...because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.”. The writer continued with the word, “because” or “on account that, inasmuch and since” “they saw” which means “Moses' parents perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered” “he was a proper child” which means “Moses was elegant, comely, fair and with polished manners”; “and they were not afraid” which refers to “Moses' parents were not put to flight, afraid, struck with fear or seized with alarm” “of the king's” which means “the leader's, prince's, commander's or lord of a land's” “commandment” or “injunction, mandate or edict”. When Moses' parents noticed that Moses was “elegant and fair”, they “hid” him and were not “afraid” of what Pharaoh “mandated”.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we admire the “faith” within the parents of Moses. They knew Moses should have been killed when he was born, and they lived with the threat of Moses being found out for three months. Moses' parents saw something special about him, and they “believed” that Moses being alive was worth the risk. Believing in “everlasting life” which is offered by Jesus Christ requires like “faith” in God. Though we cannot see the “eternal life” offered by Jesus, we trust that it shall indeed come to be. May we, like Moses' parents, have “faith” and believe that God has a plan, and He will work it out.

Next time the writer shares how “By faith Moses” “refused to be call the son of Pharoah's daughter”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Joseph By Faith Departing Egypt Hebrews 11:22

The writer of Hebrews shared how Jacob “by faith, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph” and afterwards “worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-two of Hebrews, the writer shares how Joseph “when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel” where we read:

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;

and gave commandment concerning his bones.

The verse begins, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “Joseph” whose name means “let him add” and was “the patriarch, the eleventh son of Jacob”, “when he died” or “when Joseph expired, finished, closed and came to the end of his life”, “made mention” which means “was mindful of, remembered, called to mind, recollected and rehearsed” “of the departing” or “about the exit” “of the children” which means “the offspring and descendants” “of Israel” which means “he shall be a prince of God” and was “the name given to the patriarch Jacob”. When “Joseph” was dying, “through faith”, he remembered the promise that Israel would not stay in Egypt forever. (See Genesis 50)

The verse continues, “and gave commandment concerning his bones.”. The writer added the words, “and gave commandment” which means “charged, enjoined and ordered” “concerning” or “about, on account of, because of, around and near” “his bones” which refers to “the skeletal parts of Joseph's body”. “Joseph” instructed those around him not to leave “his bones” in Egypt but to “carry his bones” with them when they left there.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see how “Joseph” exercised “faith” to believe that Israel would eventually leave Egypt and as they did, they would carry “his bones” with them. “Joseph” never saw Israel leave Egypt with his physical eyes because he died before they left, but as they made their exodus, they obeyed his desire to carry “his bones” with them. (See Exodus 13:19) Jesus Christ promised “everlasting life” for those who have “faith” in His sacrifice for their sins, and even though they cannot see their destination currently, they still have “faith” that it shall be. Let us allow Joseph's “faith” to be an inspiration to us who although we “have not seen”, “we still believe”.

Next time the writer shares how “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Jacob Blessed His Sons Hebrews 11:21

One by one the writer of Hebrews has given his readers examples of people who “by faith” acted upon things they could not or did not see. His latest example was that of “Isaac” who “blessed Jacob and Esau”, his sons, “concerning things to come”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-one of Hebrews, the writer shares how Jacob “blessed both the sons of Joseph” where we read:

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;

and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

The verse begins, “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “through the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “Jacob” whose name means “heel-catcher or supplanter” and was “the second son of Isaac”, “when he was a dying” or “as he was perishing from life”, “blessed” which means “invoked solemn prayers and consecration to prosper, make happy and bestow favor upon” “both the sons” or “each of the male descendants and children” “of Joseph” which means “let him add” and was “the patriarch and eleventh son of Jacob”. As did Abraham and Isaac before him, Jacob, who was their son and grandson, “by faith” “blessed” each of “Joseph's sons”, “Ephraim and Manasseh, when he was about to die. (See Genesis 48)

The verse goes on to say, “and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”. The writer continued with the words, “and worshiped” which means “to kiss the hand to one in token of reverence” or “give homage, adore, reverence and prostrate oneself before”, “leaning upon” which means “in a position on, by, over or against” “the top” or “the uppermost, highest and extreme part” “of his staff” which refers to “of Jacob's walking stick, rod or branch”. By pronouncing in “faith” the “blessings” upon Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob gave reverence and homage to God Almighty while “leaning...on his staff”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how “faith” played a role in “Jacob's” “blessing” of his grandchildren “Ephraim and Manasseh”. Jacob was not able to see the fulfillment of the words he put upon his grandsons, but through “belief” that God would do as He promised, he “blessed” them. “Faith” has been the key component in all of the examples given by the writer of Hebrews, and “faith” is the necessary attribute to “believe” in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sins. Those who “believe in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life”, and people who examine instances like Jacob “blessing” his grandsons have a wonderful example of how to believe without seeing the results.

Next time the writer shares what happened “by faith” to “Joseph, when he died”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.