LISTEN AND PERSEVERE!

LISTEN AND PERSEVERE!

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” —Matthew 17:5

            Our Father spoke, bearing testimony to His Son and the disciples heard. The disciples were told to “listen to Him.”   So also it is with us. We are to listen to Him. Are we? If so, what is He saying?

            In Egypt Moses listened to the Lord to bring plagues on the land of Egypt.   Each time Pharaoh would not let the people go because of his hard heart. Nine times Pharaoh would not let the people go. Even so, Moses obeyed and did what our Lord wanted him to do each of those nine times… without the result of letting the people go. No, Pharaoh still would not let the people go. Then there were results after the tenth judgment, the death of the first-born in all the land of Egypt in the households that did not apply the blood of the Passover Lamb to the door frames. All the first-born in the homes without the applied blood died. Pharaoh’s own son died. He that was thought to be a god could not even save his own son. Then Pharaoh let the Israelites go.

            Moses listened to what the Lord said nine times without the resulted promise of Pharaoh letting the Israelites go.   During that time the Israelites got angry with Moses because their workload got heavier because of Moses being obedient to the Lord and upsetting Pharaoh. But Moses continued to listen to the Lord, even with his doubt— “So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way” (Exodus 5:22-23). The Lord reassured Moses that He would indeed bring the people out from Egypt. “Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him” (Exodus 6:9). Moses stayed committed to the Lord and persevered.

            Moses had heard the Lord, but things were not going as he expected they would.   God’s plans and purposes through this all were beyond what Moses knew. But Moses continued to obey and did nine times what the Lord told him to do.   He did so even when the people got angry with him. He did so even when the people would no longer listen to him. He continued to listen to the Lord and then saw the expected results after the tenth judgment. Moses was not a perfect man, but he typically listened to our Lord and obeyed. Yes, he had times of failure and there were consequences for them, but his life showed he was a faithful servant of our Lord.

            How about you and me? Are we listening? Are we committed to listen over the long haul? Will we be faithful in service, keep listening until He answers according to what He has said?  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12”1-2).

Dear Father please help me to have a stick to what You say attitude. Even when things do not make sense to me may I be committed to what You have told me.   May I serve You as You desire me to now and then tomorrow, the day after and for the rest of my life. Oh, that I would listen by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. May it be so!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLX83HbefrI

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