Getting Ahead of God

Getting Ahead of God

Between the Waters: Part 5
October 12, 2025

Exodus 33:1-23

The Lord said to Moses, “Go and leave this place, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’  I’ll send a messenger before you. I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  Go to this land full of milk and honey. But I won’t go up with you because I would end up destroying you along the way since you are a stubborn people.”

 ~ Exodus 33:1-3 (CEB

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God is everywhere.  God is with us.

These are truths we so often take for granted, even if we don’t always feel them.  But what if that weren’t so?  What if God stepped away and left us entirely to our own devices?

That’s the situation the Israelites faced, and at the worst possible time.  God had led them out of slavery in Egypt, brought them to Mt. Sinai, given them the law, and made a covenant with them to be their God in the promised land of Canaan. 

Yet no matter how much God provided for them in the wilderness, they kept turning back.  The voices of the “Back to Egypt” committee were often louder than the voices calling them forward in faith.  So loud, in fact, that they made idols in the form of other gods, golden calves, and credited them for their salvation.  Why?  Because unlike Yahweh, these were gods that they could see and control. 

By bowing to the gods of their own making, they broke covenant with Yahweh before the journey had even begun.  God was angry.  So angry, in fact, that God told Moses, “I will not go with you.” 

Even then, God still promises to prepare the land for them.  The blessings would remain, even if God’s presence did not.  To some, that might sound like a dream come true.    We get all the blessings with none of the responsibility.  We can make all the idols we want and still have the land that was promised.  We can do whatever is right in our own eyes.

But this is not how the people respond.

They panic.  How will they survive in this unknown land without the God who carried them this far?  Perhaps they are starting to realize that God is their blessing, not just the land.

They are quick to repent, at least for now.  Moses pleads with God on their behalf and eventually God relents and goes with them.  God’s goodness prevails.

Sadly, this will not be the last time they turn away, despite God’s mercy. Again and again, the people will do what is right in their own eyes.  Eventually their descendants will lose the land that was promised because of their stubborn rebellion.  People just don’t seem to change much.

But here’s the good news: even when we are unfaithful, God remains faithful.  It is not an excuse or a license to go our own way.  There are always consequences to our choices.  But we are reminded that in the end, God will not leave or forsake us.  The real question is, will we leave or forsake our God?

When have you been tempted to settle for the “benefits” of faith without the presence of God?

Out of the Melting Pot

Out of the Melting Pot

Between the Waters: Part 4
October 5, 2025

Exodus 32:1-10

The people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain. They gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come on! Make us gods who can lead us. As for this man Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t have a clue what has happened to him.”

Aaron said to them, “All right, take out the gold rings from the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So, all the people took out the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He collected them and tied them up in a cloth. Then he made a metal image of a bull calf, and the people declared, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

 ~ Exodus 32:1-4 (CEB)

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What are we willing to give up for a sense of security?

Moses had been on the mountain for quite some time, amid the fire and smoke, and the people panicked.

If Moses didn’t return, or if this God who led them through the Red Sea changed his mind, they were in trouble.  So, they cried out, “Make us gods who can lead us.”  They couldn’t turn back to the gods of Egypt, and they barely knew this new God who only goes by “I AM.”  They wanted protection and security on their terms.

We like to think we only have one God, but the truth is that we have as many, if not more, gods today than they did in the Ancient Near East.  They don’t have names like Baal, El, or Astarte, but we still make tremendous sacrifices upon their altars.  We bow to the gods of money, technology, sports, entertainment, fame, political power, image & appearance, relationships, national security, guns, comfort, news media, and the list goes on. 

Howard Snyder offers a few questions to help us examen what might be serving as an idol in our own lives:

1. How much time, devotion & unquestioned loyalty do I give this “diversion”?

2. Am I willing to question or evaluate my loyalty?

3. What public symbols or displays show my devotion (social media, clothing, flags etc.)?

4. How does the time, money and energy I spend compare to the intensity of attention to God?

5. How does it affect my values, attitudes and behavior toward others?

The people of Israel poured all their gold into the melting pot, and as Aaron said, “out came this bull calf,” as if by magic (Exodus 32:24).  That’s the thing about idols: they consume everything we have.  They shift our priorities and our core values.  They capture our constant attention.  They keep us fixated on them above all else. 

We are out of control, and we are literally killing ourselves and each other at the whims of our idols.  These idols are merely tools of the rich and powerful, keeping us enslaved. 

They cannot save us. They do not bring freedom; they blind us to what is good and true.

Lord, have mercy. Set us free.

What is one idol in my life that keeps me from God’s freedom?

When Hearts Become Stone

When Hearts Become Stone

Between the Waters: Part 3
September 28, 2025

Exodus 20:1-2

I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You must have no other gods before me.

~ Exodus 20:2-3 (CEB)

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This week we’re looking at the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites in the wilderness.  They are often used as weapons against a more secularized world, but we too easily forget that these were commands given specifically to God’s people.  They were not for Egypt, or Assyria, or even the Cannanites. 

In fact, the first few commands would not even make sense to those who are not already followers of God.  How can “Have no other gods before me,” for example, have the same meaning to an athiest, a Buddhist, a Hindu, or anyone else who does not already identify as a follower of this God?

God begins by reminding the people that He has rescued them from slavery in Egypt and He is making them into a new nation, a different kind of people who live by a different set of values than any other nation then or now.  

As God’s people, this is the way we are called to live, but too often I think we get distracted by trying to enforce the rules on everyone else that we completely miss the point of first setting people free from whatever holds them in bondage so that they can live fully in the love and mercy of the God who saves.

excerpt from The Lost Message of Jesus, Steve Chalke

A few years ago I was taking part in a live debate on the BBC’s Radio Five Live, Drive Time show. One of the stories the program was covering was on the issue of adultery. As we chatted the presenter chipped in, “Why is God so miserable? Why has he got such a downer on everything we do?” And then, building into a real anti-God kind of rant, she added, “Don’t do this and don’t do that. Don’t commit adultery. It’s pathetic.”

I interrupted her with a question. “Does the Bible really say, ‘Don’t commit adultery?’”

 “Yes, it does,” came her rapier reply.

 “Well, I’ve never read that bit,” I said.

“You know very well it’s in there,” she retorted. “In fact, it’s in there twice. It’s one of the Ten Commandments.”

“Oh, now I know what you are talking about,” I exclaimed. “It’s just that I didn’t recognize it at first because of the tone of voice you were using.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You’re absolutely right,” I continued. “God does say that we shouldn’t commit adultery, but not in the way you’ve read it. You see, before he gives any of the Ten Commandments he introduce himself as the God who loves Israel. He lets them know that his is for them not against them. He wants the best for them. God didn’t sit in heaven making a list of all the things he knows human beings like to do and then outlaw them all to spoil our fun. Rather he knows the pain and heartache that we will cause others and ourselves if we pursue agendas that are contrary to the way he made us to be. The Ten Commandments is a loving God saying, ‘Look, I am the God who loves you. I’m on your side. I got you out of slavery. I’m the best deal you’ve got going for you. Trust me. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Don’t abandon me. Don’t commit adultery because if you do it will unleash destructive powers that will slowly overshadow you, destroying you, your families and your society. Trust me. Don’t be stupid.’”

The presenter looked at me in astonishment. Quietly she said, “No-one has ever explained it to me in that way. That makes so much sense.” Within minutes the phones were ringing with dozens of people all saying the same thing: “Why hasn’t anyone ever told us this before? I’ve been going to church all my life and no-one has ever explained it to me like that.”

• How does this story resonate with your own experience of the Ten Commandments?

Enough

Enough

Between the Waters: Part 2
September 21, 2025

Exodus 16:1-30, Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 23

The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert.  The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.”

~ Exodus 16:2-3 (CEB)

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As we reflect on this week’s scripture about God’s provision in the wilderness, I invite you to take a moment to read through the lyrics of Sara Groves' song Painting Pictures of Egypt. This song delves into the tension between the comfort of the familiar and the uncertainty of the unknown. Groves draws inspiration from the Israelites' journey in Exodus 16, capturing the struggle of moving forward when the past still calls. As you read, consider how these themes resonate with your own experiences of change and longing.

You can also listen to the full song here:

Painting Pictures of Egypt – by Sara Groves

I don't want to leave here, I don't want to stay
It feels like pinching to me, either way
And the places I long for the most
Are the places where I've been
They are calling out to me like a long-lost friend

It's not about losing faith.  It's not about trust.
It's all about comfortable, when you move so much
And the place I was wasn't perfect
But I had found a way to live
And it wasn't milk or honey, but then neither is this

 I've been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacks
The future feels so hard, and I want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I've learned
Those roads were closed off to me
While my back was turned

 The past is so tangible, I know it by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom, but now I hesitate to go
I am caught between the Promise and the things I know

If it comes too quick, I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time in sand?
And if it comes to quick, I may not recognize it
Is that the reason behind all this time in sand?

No matter how good a new season may be, we humans have a way of thinking the grass is always greener on the other side, even if that other side is the place we left behind for good reasons.  No place or time is perfect.  There will always be struggles.  Yet, like Israel, we are often quick to diminish the struggles of our past and exaggerate the difficulties of our present or the challenges we imagine in the future.    

God’s provision of manna calls us to a different rhythm of life.  Like the prayer Jesus taught us, we are invited to rely on our daily bread.  So long as we pine for past nostalgia or agonize over a future we cannot know or control, we are not truly living.  Israel’s life in slavery was marked by striving and production, much like our modern lives.  God invites us to a life of trust, of presence, and of rest.

For Further Reflection:

• When you find yourself longing for “Egypt”, what parts of your past are you holding onto, and what might you be overlooking?

• What would it look like for you to receive God’s daily provision with gratitude and trust?

Out of Egypt & Back Again

Out of Egypt & Back Again

Between the Waters: Part 1
September 14, 2025

Exodus 14:1-31, Romans 6:1-14

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.” So, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea.  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained.

 ~ Exodus 14:26-28 (CEB)

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There are so many angles we could take with this familiar story of God bringing salvation to the Israelites through the Red Sea.  But this last part, the drowning of Pharaoh’s army, is the part I usually skim past.  I don’t believe God directly causes tragedy and violence the way some parts of Scripture appear to describe.

A second look, however, shows that what happened here is not a random act of a wrathful God, but the inevitable result of human arrogance and oppression.  If we only see it as “God’s action,” it’s too easy to claim that God is on our side, and will destroy our enemies for us, or at least bless us when we destroy them ourselves.  That kind of thinking is still alive today, fueling cycles of nationalism, violence, and oppression in God’s name.

But what if the real tragedy of the Red Sea is not a violent God avenging God’s people, but two nations who never really got the point?  Let me explain:

On Egypt’s side, the ending is a simple case study in pride and power.  In Exodus 12:31-32, Pharoah finally relents and sends Israel away to worship. But he can’t live with defeat.  His arrogance leads him to a reckless pursuit into waters he cannot control, all to prop up his own power and keep Israel enslaved.  His pride destroys him and his army. 

Israel’s reaction is more complicated.  Their joy is understandable, after centuries of slavery.  But in celebrating the downfall of their enemies, they may have missed a deeper point.  God did not free them so they could become another nation like Egypt, but so they model a different way and extend God’s blessing to the world.  But over time, they built their kingdom on the same foundations of wealth, military might, and idolatry.  Under Solomon, they even returned to Egypt to acquire horses and chariots.  And like their former enslavers, their own arrogance led to destruction, first at the hands of Assyria, then Babylon.

The point was never that Israel was so special God would always slaughter their enemies.  The point is the same truth Jesus teaches many centuries later: the first will be last and the last will be first; the powerful will be brought low and the weak and poor will be lifted up.  God is always on the side of the oppressed.  And the oppressors will always bring disaster upon themselves, even if the oppressors are God’s own people.

For Further Reflection: 

• How do we guard against celebrating political or cultural “victories” that come at the expense of justice, compassion, or the dignity of others?

• Where are we aligning ourselves with God on the side of the oppressed and marginalized, and where are we complicit with the oppressors?

More With Less

More With Less

Now What? - Part 3

Sunday, August 27, 2023
Exodus 5:6-20, Luke 9:1-6, Philippians 4:19 

Pharaoh replied, “You are lazy bums, nothing but lazy bums. That’s why you say, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’  Go and get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you still need to make the same number of bricks.”                                                                         -                                                 

Exodus 5:17-18

Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses.  He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick.  He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt.  Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place.  Wherever they don’t welcome you, as you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.”

Luke 9:1-5

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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Most of us have heard Pharaoh’s words echoing through various seasons of our lives and certainly in our culture.  Work harder!  Produce more with less!  And of course we know all that is produced goes back up to pad the pockets of those at the top.  Meanwhile, the laborers pay double and triple the rent on salaries that are lower than they were 20 years ago.  When they struggle to make ends meet, we all become Pharaoh’s declaring - “You are lazy… get back to work!”

Sadly this same mentality seeps into the church world.  When our churches struggle to pay the bills or attract new members, we feel like we are not “producing” what we should.  And there are countless “church growth gurus” selling overpriced quick fix programs that make us feel like we are lazy and good for nothing if we don’t have all the same programs as the mega church down the road.  Pharaoh’s voice is prolific and his words haunt us everywhere we turn.  We think of ourselves as hard workers, but in the end, we find ourselves like the slaves in Egypt, working ourselves into the grave in every area of life with very little to show for our efforts while Pharaoh continues to make us feel like we haven’t done enough.

Then we turn to the gospels and find Jesus, our kind our loving master.  Finally, we’ve gotten Pharaoh off our backs and we can live under the gift of mercy and grace.  But wait… Jesus tells us to go out with nothing as well.  Like Pharaoh, it appears at first glance that he expects the disciples to make bricks with no straw, to heal the sick and cast out demons without even so much as a guaranteed place to sleep at night.  Is Jesus just another hardened task master making impossible demands on our lives?

If we look a bit closer we find that Jesus does give them one thing Pharaoh did not, and it’s the thing that makes all the difference.  Luke 9:1 tells us that Jesus gave them all the power and authority needed to do the work he called them to do.  Matthew’s gospel ends with a reminder that Jesus will go with them, that he will be present with them even to the end of the age.  In Philippians 4:19, Paul tells us based on his own experience that God will provide for our every need. 

What if we took Jesus’ command to take nothing with us seriously? 

What would happen if we trusted in his power, his authority, and his presence more than we trusted in our own limited resources? 

What if the greatest power of all comes from the humility of dependence rather than independence? 

What if we stopped working for Jesus and started letting Jesus work through us?

A Mother's Heart

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A Mother’s Heart
Let the Children Come - Part 2
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Exodus 1:8-2:10

“When you are helping the Hebrew women give birth and you see the baby being born, if it’s a boy, kill him. But if it’s a girl, you can let her live.” Now the two midwives respected God so they didn’t obey the Egyptian king’s order. Instead, they let the baby boys live.

 Exodus 1:16-17 (CEB)

Listen to this week’s sermon here:

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For the Jew, the Exodus out of slavery in Egypt is the single most defining event in their historic identity as God’s people.  We typically associate the Exodus story with images of God’s power and strength.  We see Moses in the face of Charlton Heston standing over the Red Sea with his staff raised as the waters rise into great protective walls at his command. 

In all the demonstrations of God’s mighty power throughout the Exodus story, I wonder if we miss something very important about the way it all began. 

Just as God’s redemption of the world through Christ did not begin with the power of the resurrection, but with Jesus taking on the weakness of humanity and surrendering himself to death, even death on a cross, so in the same way the Exodus story of deliverance does not begin with Moses’ strength over Pharoah, but with the revolutionary compassion of four unsuspecting women, two Hebrew midwives, a Hebrew mother, and an Egyptian princess with a mother’s heart.

Without Moses, there is no Exodus and without these four women, there is no Moses.  Isn’t it just like God to begin the work of salvation not in a show of power and glory, but in the quiet faithfulness and love of a mother’s heart, not only for her own children, but for every child, no matter the cost.

Shiphrah and Puah knew all to well the cost for defying Pharoah.  If caught saving the lives of male Hebrew babies against Pharoah’s orders, they certainly would have been killed.  But their compassion for the children was greater than their fear of death.

Moses’ mother knew the consequences for allowing a baby boy to live, and yet she not only gave her son a chance at life by floating him down the river, she boldly followed and manipulated the circumstances so that she would not only get to raise her beloved Moses, but that he would also have the full protection and privilege of a member of the royal household.

And Pharoah’s daughter knew full well her father’s hatred of the Hebrew slaves, and yet her compassion for this child floating in the river was greater than the murderous racism of her extremely powerful family.  The daughter of Pharoah came to love this foreign child as her own.

It is not the power of an eternal king or authoritarian judge or even an overprotective father that saves, but the mother heart of a God who loves her children no matter the cost.