In my last blog (http://christianchat.com/blogs/jeremy1981/409-incarnation-getting-our-
hands-dirty.html), I wrote about the idea of the Church taking the example of Christ and becoming 'Incarnational', and dwelling among the people, in order to change society. Today, I want to look at the idea of 'Turning aside' in order to see the heart of God.
In the book of Exodus, we read that the Israelites had been in captivity in Egypt, after the new Pharaoh had forgotten the deeds of Joseph, its former Prime Minister. In Exodus 2 we read that:
"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.
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:23-25 KJV)
However, during this time, a former Prince of Egypt, the Hebrew Moses, was serving time as a Shepherd in the Land of Midian. It was here at the Mountain of Horeb that we read how the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush; perhaps a miracle that God needed to grab his attention. In Exodus 3:3 it says that:
"And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
What happens next determines not only Moses' destiny, but the destiny of the Israelite nation, and ultimately the world. The LORD speaks to Moses about his heart for the oppressed nation of Israel, and how the cry of the people has reached Him. Not only this, but He is now prepared to act on their behalf, and bring them into freedom to be His people. Not only that, He invites Moses into the journey, to see people set free, and He wants the same for us as the Church.
In the daily struggles of live, or even in our prosperity, it is sometimes difficult to prioritise the things that appear to be on God's heart. However, when we come face to face with the Risen Christ, we are confronted by His heart to set people free from suffering. It was our slavery that sent Jesus to the cross, and the same heart that calls us to share the good news of Jesus.
In both the Old and New Testaments, we receive dire warnings about neglecting the poor and oppressed; victims of injustice. In Psalm 82, God says:
"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
This scripture is basically saying, that as God's people, the elite, the holy and chosen, we must not flaunt our standing with God, but use it as a platform for justice, and for bringing people into a greater understanding of the love of God. The Lord is damning of those who do so, as we read in Matthew 23, where condemns the Pharisees (who He declared as righteous according to the law) for not using their understanding to help those who need it. And also in the New Testament, Jesus' ultimately rejects the Goats, those who refuse to administer love to the people. If we indeed are 'gods', in that we are Children of the Most High, then our Father's heart must be passed through our spiritual DNA. To practise true religion is not to sing or shout, to read the bible, or to go to church, but to do all these things and live our lives with these people at our very centre (James 1:27). Let us turn aside, and put aside our agendas to help them.
hands-dirty.html), I wrote about the idea of the Church taking the example of Christ and becoming 'Incarnational', and dwelling among the people, in order to change society. Today, I want to look at the idea of 'Turning aside' in order to see the heart of God.
In the book of Exodus, we read that the Israelites had been in captivity in Egypt, after the new Pharaoh had forgotten the deeds of Joseph, its former Prime Minister. In Exodus 2 we read that:
"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.
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:23-25 KJV)
However, during this time, a former Prince of Egypt, the Hebrew Moses, was serving time as a Shepherd in the Land of Midian. It was here at the Mountain of Horeb that we read how the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush; perhaps a miracle that God needed to grab his attention. In Exodus 3:3 it says that:
"And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
What happens next determines not only Moses' destiny, but the destiny of the Israelite nation, and ultimately the world. The LORD speaks to Moses about his heart for the oppressed nation of Israel, and how the cry of the people has reached Him. Not only this, but He is now prepared to act on their behalf, and bring them into freedom to be His people. Not only that, He invites Moses into the journey, to see people set free, and He wants the same for us as the Church.
In the daily struggles of live, or even in our prosperity, it is sometimes difficult to prioritise the things that appear to be on God's heart. However, when we come face to face with the Risen Christ, we are confronted by His heart to set people free from suffering. It was our slavery that sent Jesus to the cross, and the same heart that calls us to share the good news of Jesus.
In both the Old and New Testaments, we receive dire warnings about neglecting the poor and oppressed; victims of injustice. In Psalm 82, God says:
"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
This scripture is basically saying, that as God's people, the elite, the holy and chosen, we must not flaunt our standing with God, but use it as a platform for justice, and for bringing people into a greater understanding of the love of God. The Lord is damning of those who do so, as we read in Matthew 23, where condemns the Pharisees (who He declared as righteous according to the law) for not using their understanding to help those who need it. And also in the New Testament, Jesus' ultimately rejects the Goats, those who refuse to administer love to the people. If we indeed are 'gods', in that we are Children of the Most High, then our Father's heart must be passed through our spiritual DNA. To practise true religion is not to sing or shout, to read the bible, or to go to church, but to do all these things and live our lives with these people at our very centre (James 1:27). Let us turn aside, and put aside our agendas to help them.