January 2022 – Sonshine's Journal

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022

Spiritual Healing for Spiritual Leprosy

Lev 13, Matt 8 “Unclean and Clean”

Over the last year and a half, we have experienced the stigma of being “unclean” regarding the pandemic. There has been a public outcry to be vaccinated and how to handle this to protect others. In some way, this scenario is much like what Hansen’s disease or leprosy was to the Israelite community. When leprosy broke out, those who had contracted it were separated from the rest lest it infects the community. The “in house DR.” or the high priest was to determine what the infection was, but the only treatment was isolation. Just as physical leprosy separates the people, spiritual leprosy isolates us from a holy God.

Perhaps that is why we see the full impact in the leper’s story, who was bold and yet fearful as he approached Jesus. He came with one question: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” [Matt 8:2] God has provided Jesus as our “in house Dr.” He is willing to reach out, touch us and cleanse us of our sin.

There are two questions before us: (1) Are we still walking around with our spiritual leprosy, and (2) Are we willing to approach Jesus and seek His cleansing? Where are you today?

January 30, 2022January 30, 2022

Comfort the Grieving

Lev. 10 After all that Moses had instructed Aaron and his sons, why did Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire? We will never know because they are not here to explain, for God took them. He didn’t take them like Enoch, but He took them, and Aaron’s nephews had to bury them. In the midst of this, Moses charges Aaron and his sons of not eating the sin offering. Why was Moses so callous? John MacArthur says Aaron clearly was wrong, but the shame and grief were so heavy on Aaron, Ithamar, and Eleazar that they could not…not they would not but could not. Sometimes our words bring not comfort but reveal a callous heart. Maybe that is why Paul wrote these words: “who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” [2Cor 1:3]

Today lest we be callous, may we have a tender heart towards those who are on their grief journey whether the loved one was in sin or not. They are hurting, and we should hurt along with them. Today be tender towards those who are hurting.

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022

God Blesses…

Exodus 38-40 It has been two whole years for the work of the Tabernacle to be completed. In that time, the Israelites have left Egypt, seen the waters of the Red Sea roll back, grumbled, received the Ten Commandments, and were given quail and manna to eat. Yes, God is a provider for every need. In addition, He has given them work to do as they sat at the foot of the mountain. He blessed them with two men to lead the building project with excellence. They did ALL that the Lord commanded.

Now with the work completed, “Moses inspected all the work and they had done it just as the Lord had commanded—they had done it exactly—and Moses blessed them.”[Ex 39:43] God honored their work with the cloud of the Lord on the Tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.[Ex 40:38] Those were visible evidence of His blessing. Later, David would write “Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” [Ps. 119:105] so that we do not mistake which direction to take.

Are we doing all that the Lord commanded? Is He blessing our work? Is His Word our lamp and our light?

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

Behind the Scenes

Exodus 35-37 God Calls, Gifts, and Anoints

In the tale of the Wizard of Oz, the wizard was orchestrating “behind the scenes” to get the Emerald City just the way he wanted it. God works behind the scenes and we often don’t know who or what is happening. Yet, He is in the business of calling, anointing, and using people for the work of the ministry. Perhaps Bezalel learned how to fashion raw materials back in Egypt as they worked to make beautiful things for Pharaoh. Perhaps they were part of the workforce or one of the Israelite foremen. [Ex. 5]

We may not know who those workers may be just as Moses didn’t know, but then God revealed Bezalel and Aholiab to him. God had been moving in their hearts that they might be prepared. We don’t know about their former lives, but perhaps they were trained in Egypt to prepare beautiful things for Pharaoh. Now God will use those skills and anoint them by the Spirit of God to be artisans, designers, and workers of precious metals for the work of the Tabernacle. God is the one who gifts each person. He gifted the artisans to build the Tabernacle.

Just as God uses His Word to teach, reprove, correct and train us in righteousness [2Tim. 3:16] He also has orchestrated events in our lives so we are being prepared to be useful workers in His kingdom work. You may not see yourself as a Bezalel or Aholiab yet God has been preparing you. Take a moment and ponder what God has been doing in your life and thank Him for the skills you have been given for His work.

January 24, 2022January 24, 2022

“The Bezalel’s and Oholiab’s”

Exodus 28-31 No matter where we are or what we are called to do, we need those extra hands to assist us. Some are gifted to pray, others to do manual work, others to be those silent and humble assistants behind the scenes. God had set aside Aaron in eternity past to be his priest along with his sons. Three times God says that Aaron and his sons are to minister to Him as His priests. [Ex 28:1;29:1;30:30].

As our wise God, He also chose assistants for Aaron and his sons; Bezalel and Oholiab. He anointed them with the Spirit of God in understanding in knowledge, all kinds of craftsmanship. He placed in their hearts and in their minds the instructions for making the holy garments as well as the instructions for making the holy Tabernacle. Together these two would lead in the building of the Tabernacle and making the holy woven garments for Aaron and his sons.

Just as then, so today, God has prepared the Bezalel’s and the Oholiab’s to assist each of us in some way. Will you stop and praise God for them and pray specifically that they are a Joseph, a man of purity, and a Daniel, who resolved not to defile himself? Would you pray a blessing over them?

January 23, 2022January 23, 2022

God is a God of Order

Exodus 25-27 The Architect and Designer

One of the most-watched series on TV is HGTV. Many designers choose to renovate existing homes and bring them “back to life.” But, God is not like that! He is an architect and a perfect designer and starts from scratch using the materials that the children of Israel had collected as they were departing their slavery. God gave them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. [Ex. 11:2] It didn’t just happen; God Almighty planned and orchestrated it that they might know God cares and protects His own.

Now, as the perfect architect, God helped Moses visualize and see His design for the Tabernacle. Why does He do that? Because of two principles; (1), He is a God of order, not confusion. [1Cor. 14:33] and (2) His work is based on precept upon precept, line upon line, [Is. 28:11KJV]

Over and over in these chapters, God tells Moses, “you must make it exactly so” [Ex. 25:9] and reminds him, “Now be sure to make them according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.” [Ex. 25:40].

Where has God shown you what to do and are you doing it just exactly so?

January 22, 2022January 22, 2022

Joshua…Moses’ assistant

Exodus 24: There is a saying that goes like this: be ready, willing, and able. Joshua was all three. So Moses set out with Joshua, his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. [Ex. 24:13] Just as God prepared a Jethro for Moses to guide him in his leadership responsibilities, so God prepared an assistant or attendant for him for his day-to-day duties. That man was Joshua, meaning “God is salvation.” He was Moses’ attendant or servant and in Hebrew, it is “sharath,” and means just what it says; to minister.

Continuing on in the story we read: Moses added a note to the elders: “Wait for us in this place until we return to you.” [Ex. 24:14] Notice Moses said “we,” not “I.” Moses and Joshua became a team, and Joshua ministered to him as the need arose. The scripture shows us that he was a man later commissioned, ordained, and charged with the responsibilities of Moses’ office. Joshua also was divinely inspired: “The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” [Num. 27:18] Like Daniel and Joseph, throughout his life he remained faithful and stood for righteousness in a time when evil was seeking to reign supreme.

How about us?

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022

Lessons from Jethro

Exodus 18 In the course of time after Moses has been guiding the children of the Exodus, his father-in-law arrives. He observed and “rejoiced because of all the good that the Lord had done for Israel” [Ex 18:9] In addition, he said; “now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods.” [Ex 18:11] Would others who come to us recognize and say the same. As Jethro observes Moses’ daily routine, he asks: What are you doing? You will surely wear yourself out by being judge and jury for all these people. After listening, Moses heeds his counsel to choose wise men to assist him. Our judicial system is based on this example that we use even today.

You can glean much from studying, but sometimes it is the older generation that can offer wise counsel that we had not considered and Jethro has experiential wisdom to guide Moses. Scripture tells us, “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.” [Job 12:12] They are able to give wise counsel from their experiences to help those who are younger make wise decisions and judgments. And again: “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5:14]

Who is your Jethro? Who are you being a Jethro to?

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022

Standing Still or Running Scared?

Ex. 14-17 If there is one story that evokes the villain/victor story it is this one. First, we have the villains, They are the guys in the black hats; a.k.a. the Egyptians standing around looking at each other and saying; “What have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!” [Ex 14:5] So they hop on their horses (ok, chariots). On the other side are the guys in the white hats, but they don’t know they are the guys in the white hats…yet.

As I read this I am reminded of the hymn: Count your blessings, name them one by one and see what the Lord has done. I wonder if the hymn writer thought of this story when he penned those words? The Israelites had seen ten plagues and defeated enemies, yet they murmur because they are thirsty! Like them, we quickly forget that if God destroyed the firstborn and you were saved, guess what? He can do it again! So, “Moses reminds them to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,” [Ex 14:13] because even victors in the white hats have to learn this principle: The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in God is exalted. [Prov 29:25]

We have short memories; we quickly forget God’s power and presence. Maybe that is why that hymn is such a good reminder. so we can recall what God has done.

Are we standing still recalling what God has done or running scared?

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022

Passover is Instituted…

Exodus 11-13 “Christ is Our Passover”

The weak magicians had said to Pharaoh, “It is the finger of God,” yet Pharaoh continued in his stubbornness so God used plagues to awaken the Egyptian court. “Release the people so they may serve the LORD their God.” Pharaoh thinks he is God but this last plague will challenge his belief system and his words will haunt him later: “Who is the LORD that I should obey him….” God will show Pharaoh that He is the LORD and that He alone is God. Pharaoh sought to kill the male children, and now God will take his firstborn. Pharaoh’s gods cannot save him or his people because they are only idols.

In preparation, the Lord gives the Israelites, the plan for the Passover. The shed blood of the unblemished lamb sprinkled upon the doorposts and top frame pictured the cross to come. It covered and separated the “believers” (Israelites) from the “nonbelievers” (Egyptians). Christ, as our Passover, separates us and sanctifies us that we too may be holy to the Lord. The lamb was slain just as Christ was slain for us. When the Destroyer came, the blood protected. Christ’s shed blood protects each believer, for, “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.” [Heb 9:22] Chapter 12 closes with these words: “So all the Israelites did precisely as the LORD commanded…”

Month: January 2022