Author: tanahmerah

God Answers & Blesses His People

Moses urges obeying God’s laws
which bring blessings and warns
disobedience bringing misfortune.
The 10 Commandments and all of
God’s laws point out to us where
we fall short and show us How
we should Live as God’s people.
To ensure orderly mgt of God’s
holy people in the Holy Land,
God provides societal regulations
and Genesis 25 & 26 focuses
on holiness in human relations.

Lord, we’re thankful for Your Grace:
The Egyptians mistreated us…
and laid hard bondage in us.
Then we cried out to Lord God
and the Lord heard our voice
and looked on our affliction…
So the Lord brought us out
of Egypt with a mighty hand…
So you shall rejoice in every good
the Lord has given you (Dt 26:6-11)
I have obeyed the voice of the Lord
my God & have done according to
all that You have commanded me.
Look down from… heaven
and bless Your people (v14-15).
You have declared… the Lord is
your God. And you have promised
to walk in His ways, and to obey
His commands… Also the Lord has
proclaimed you to be His special
people, just as He promised you,
that You should keep all
His commandments (v17-18).

Father, thank You for Moses’
Second Address which gives us
the principles for godly living.
Help us not operate out of fear
but remember Your mighty acts.
Help us to be always thankful
for all that You’ve done for us.
Help us not be rebellious but
instead Obey Your Commands.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we have transgressed Your
commandments & forgotten them,
and have not obeyed your voice.
Forgive our sins, and bring about
a spiritual awakening among us
that we may walk in Your ways,
keep Your commandments
and obey Your voice with all
our heart and all our soul. Amen.

Lord, thanks for lavishing Your love
& bringing me out of slavery to sin.
I declare You are the Lord my God;
& I have no other gods before You.
Help me obey Your commands
relating to frustrating areas of
brokenness and shortcomings.
Grant me enough love, obedience,
reverence and faithfulness to
fulfill Your mission for me. Amen.

Trust The Faithful God

Moses’ second sermon begins in
chapter 5 and extends thru chap 26.
He opens with a reputation of the
Ten Commandments (hence the
name Deuteronomy – second law)
and exhorts the people to obey
the Lord from a heart of love,
to teach their children obedience
and to be careful not to forget
the Lord in times of prosperity.
Victory over pagan occupants of
Canaan is assured as long as the
people obey God’s commands.
They will prevail, not because
of their strength, but because of
their Faithful all-conquering God.

All Praise be to El Emunah:
The Lord your God has chosen
you to be a people for Himself…
The Lord did not… choose you
because you were more in number
than any other people, for you
were the least of all peoples…
It was because the Lord loved you
and kept the oath He swore to
your forefathers that He brought
you out with a mighty hand and
redeemed you from the land of
slavery, from the power of Pharaoh
king of Egypt. Know therefore
that the Lord your God is God;
He is the faithful God El Emunah
who keeps covenant (Deut 7:6-9)

Lord El Emunah, we adore You
for the faithfulness You show to us
even when we are unfaithful to You.
We praise You for Your covenant
of loving kindness and faithfulness.
We thank You Lord for recording
Your Word for us so that through
endurance, the encouragement
of scriptures and of Your Spirit,
we might have hope. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, Your faithfulness reminds me
that I’m not always faithful to You.
Although I have a heart to be faithful
to You, situations arise that evoke
fears and doubt, tempting me to
make choices of self-preservation
and selfishness. And so I confess
that I’m not fully faithful to You
Lord and to those around me.
Help me Lord to do better. Amen.

Lord, remind us again and again
of Your faithfulness so that we
will grow to be more like You.
Strengthen our resolve to believe
You are indeed El Emunah for You’re
faithful; for You can’t make promises
that You can’t keep for You can’t lie.
So we will wait patiently upon Your
word for delay is not denial. And
we trust Your promises will come to
pass at the appointed time. Amen.

Trust God for His Provision

In the first of 3 sermons to the
nation, Moses begins with review
of the past, including His Provision.
God had promised His people
a new homeland, but Israel failed
to possess it because of unbelief.
For 40 years they had wandered
and died. Now with the passing
of that unbelieving generation,
God has led the nation in victories
over Sihon & Og, bringing them to
the threshold of the land again.

Lord, we ask for Your Provision:
The LORD your God has blessed
you in all that you have done;
He has known your wanderings
through this great wilderness.
These forty years the LORD your
God has been with you; you have
not lacked a thing (Deut 2:7) Amen

Lord, You will provide for our needs
just as You provided for the needs
of Your people Israel in their
journey to the promised land.
For we look up to You Father God
with open hands as Your children,
and ask that You will supply all
our needs according to Your riches
in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19)
Thanks for taking care of us. Amen

Lord, You are the All-Sufficient One
You are Johovah Jireh the Provider
who will provide all that we need.
You are my source of Wisdom.
If I lack wisdom, I can ask God,
who gives generously to me.
You are my Guide when I’m
unsure of what to do, You will
instruct me in the way I should go .
You are my Healer for You are the
one who heals all my diseases.
And You are my Strength and
power when I am weak. Amen.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for
the gift of Provision of needs
that carries us through 2022.
As we start the first full week of
the new lunar year, we approach 
with some concerns, and we lift
up our hands to You & surrender
them into Your Hands, trusting
in Your Goodness, Power and
Faithfulness to Your people. Amen

God Cares for the Weary

The time has come for the final
journey to Canaan. After a special
celebration of the Passover, the
people watch as the pillar of cloud
begins to move. It’s time to march!
But the thrill of expectation soon
gives way to tedium of travel. And
Moses is faced with numerous
problems: complaints about travel
conditions and food, longings for
the good old days in Egypt, greedy
hoarding of the quail God supplies
and jealousy by Miriam and Aaron
toward his position of leadership.
In spite of the difficulties, the
people finally arrive at Kadesh-
Barnea, on the doorstep of Canaan!

Lord, we need Your Encouragement:
The foreigners who were travelling
with the Israelites began to crave
the good things of Egypt. And the
Israelites also began to complain:
Oh for some meat! We remember
the fish we used to eat in Egypt. And
we had all the cucumbers, melons,
leeks, onions and garlic we wanted.
But now our appetites are gone.
All we… see is manna(Num 11:4-9).
Moses heard the people weeping…
So Moses said to the Lord: Why
have You afflicted Your servant?
And why have… You have laid the
burden of all these people on me?
I’m not able to bear all these people
alone because the burden is too
heavy for me. If You treat me like
this, plse kill me here & now (v10-15)
So the Lord said: Gather 70 elders…
They will help you carry the burden
of the people so that you will not
have to carry it alone (v16-17).

Father God, help us not to grumble
by directing our attention on the
right things. Help us to be careful
not to let dissatisfaction reigns
when our attention shifts fr what
we have to what we don’t have.
We purpose to Be Thankful for
what God has given us & not allow
our unfulfilled desires to cause
us to forget Your gifts. Amen.

Father, like Moses our feelings
can give way, when unreasonable
murmuring get the better of us.
Like Moses we can be burdened
and glad that You God knew it
and graciously provided relief.
Relieved that though Moses prayed
amiss, You gracefully responded to
the prayer of a discouraged heart.
Help us Father learn how to rest in
the Lord; who is our All in all. Amen.

Father, I lift to You the areas of
my life that are overwhelming.
I’ve not come to You to complain,
but rather to seek Your help.
Where I have tried to handle
everything in my own strength
instead of depending on You,
I sincerely ask Your forgiveness.
I pray You Lord to enable me to
rise above the challenges. Amen.

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of Leviticus is to
serve as a guidebook of holy living;
while for Numbers is to tell the story
of how Israel prepared to enter
the promised land, how they failed,
and how they prepared to try again.
On Monday, we learn from Lev 16
that the Lord Atones & Cleanses Us.
On Tuesday, we learn from Lev 18
that the Holy God Changes Us.
On Wednesday, we learn from
Num 6 that the Lord Blesses Us.
On Thursday, we learn from Num 11
that the Lord Cares for the Weary.
On Friday, we learn from Num 14
that the Lord Abounds In Mercy.
On Sat, we learn from Num 20-23
to Trust God who Keep Promises.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who purpose
to trust and obey our loving God
who atones, cleanses & changes us,
who cares and blesses us, for He
is merciful & keep promises. Amen.

Trust the Lord who Keeps Promises

As the Israelites march to Canaan,
they defeat three enemies: the
Canaanites, Amorites & Bashanites.
But on the heels of victory they
suffer defeat at the hands of a
persistent foe: constant grumbling.
And God sends fiery serpents
to chasten His rebellious nation.
The threat of Israel’s advance
prompts neighbouring pagan nations
to hire Balaam to bring a curse upon
God’s people. But instead of curse,
Balaam delivers a sweeping witness
to the glorious future of Israel.

Lord, we will Respect & Obey You:
Speak to the rock before their eyes
and it will yield its water. So Moses
took the rod from the Lord…and he
said to them: You Rebels! Must we
bring water for you out of this rock?
Then Moses…struck the rock twice
with his rod and water came out…
The Lord spoke to Moses:
Because you did not…hallow Me…
(so) you shall Not bring this
assembly into the land which
I have given them (Num 20:8-12).
The people came to Moses & said:
We sinned when we spoke against
the Lord and against you. Pray that
the Lord will take the snakes away…
So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said: Make a snake & put
it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten
can look at it & live (Num 21:7-9).
Arise Balak and listen; hear me…
God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should
change his mind. Does he speak
and then not act? Does he promise
and not fulfill? (Num 23:18-19).

Holy Spirit, help me be gracious &
Careful with my words when under
pressure or when I am frustrated.
Help me not to trust and rely on
past experience of doing things.
Help me instead to listen carefully
to what God said and respond in
faith by obeying His instructions.
Help me Honor Father as holy God
in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, I look to You as Saviour
and to what You accomplished
on the cross as guarantee of
my salvation. Thank You Lord for
paying the ultimate price for my sin.
Forgive me Lord if I have spoken
against You in any way, or have
been motivated by fear and doubt.
I come to You in Faith, believing
that You’ll hear & answer my prayer.
Help me to always Obey You. Amen.

Abba, when Israelites complained
against You God and rebelled
against Moses, that led to disaster.
Help us to Be Careful when under
difficult and confusing situations.
Help us to Beware Grumbling and
Bitterness but focus on blessings.
Help us to Respect U & be careful
with words when under pressure.
Help us respond in faith, trusting
You & Obeying Your Instructions;
for You are a good and faithful God.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Cares for the Weary (Jan 19)

The time has come for the final
journey to Canaan. After a special
celebration of the Passover, the
people watch as the pillar of cloud
begins to move. It’s time to march!
But the thrill of expectation soon
gives way to tedium of travel. And
Moses is faced with numerous
problems: complaints about travel
conditions and food, longings for
the good old days in Egypt, greedy
hoarding of the quail God supplies
and jealousy by Miriam and Aaron
toward his position of leadership.
In spite of the difficulties, the
people finally arrive at Kadesh-
Barnea, on the doorstep of Canaan!

Lord, we need Your Encouragement:
The foreigners who were travelling
with the Israelites began to crave
the good things of Egypt. And the
Israelites also began to complain:
Oh for some meat! We remember
the fish we used to eat in Egypt. And
we had all the cucumbers, melons,
leeks, onions and garlic we wanted.
But now our appetites are gone.
All we… see is manna(Num 11:4-9).
Moses heard the people weeping…
So Moses said to the Lord: Why
have You afflicted Your servant?
And why have… You have laid the
burden of all these people on me?
I’m not able to bear all these people
alone because the burden is too
heavy for me. If You treat me like
this, plse kill me here & now (v10-15)
So the Lord said: Gather 70 elders…
They will help you carry the burden
of the people so that you will not
have to carry it alone (v16-17).

Father God, help us not to grumble
by directing our attention on the
right things. Help us to be careful
not to let dissatisfaction reigns
when our attention shifts fr what
we have to what we don’t have.
We purpose to Be Thankful for
what God has given us & not allow
our unfulfilled desires to cause
us to forget Your gifts. Amen.

Father, like Moses our feelings
can give way, when unreasonable
murmuring get the better of us.
Like Moses we can be burdened
and glad that You God knew it
and graciously provided relief.
Relieved that though Moses prayed
amiss, You gracefully responded to
the prayer of a discouraged heart.
Help us Father learn how to rest in
the Lord; who is our All in all. Amen.

Father, I lift to You the areas of
my life that are overwhelming.
I’ve not come to You to complain,
but rather to seek Your help.
Where I have tried to handle
everything in my own strength
instead of depending on You,
I sincerely ask Your forgiveness.
I pray You Lord to enable me to
rise above the challenges. Amen.

The Lord Bless You (Jan 18)

At Mount Sinai, Israelites received
specific directions for their life-
style in the new land God would
give to them. A census was taken
& the 2nd Passover was celebrated,
marking one year of freedom
from slavery in Egypt. Three weeks
before the people leave Sinai
for the last leg of journey to Canaan,
Moses received commands from
God to cleanse the people & prepare
them to enter the Promised Land.
They must be free from immorality
and jealousy; they must understand
the binding nature of vows made
to God; the Levites must realize the sacred nature of their calling.

Lord, we’ll Consecrate to You
and Purpose to Bless Others:
Then the Lord spoke to Moses
saying… When a man or woman
consecrates… to take a vow of
a Nazirite, to separate himself
to the Lord, he shall separate
himself from wine… He shall not
make himself unclean… All the
days of his separation he shall
be holy to the Lord (Num 6:1-8).
Speak to Aaron and his sons saying:
This is the way you shall bless
the children of Israel. Say to them:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine
upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord (show you His favour)
and give you peace (Num 6:22-26)

Lord, my few experiences drinking
liquor as a youth convinced me
it did not taste nice and had a
negative effect on my emotions.
Biblical warnings on strong drink
also provide inspiration to avoid it.
But there are other areas Lord
that need Your help in moulding.
Whatever is preventing me from
consecrating fully to You Lord
and seeing only You, provide me the
strength I need to set it aside. Amen.

Lord, what a really good God
You are to bless us, smile on us,
extend grace to us, show us Your
favour and give us Your peace.
We know that we stand under
the stream of Your abundant
blessing only because Jesus
plunged Himself under Your wrath.
We rejoice Lord in Your unfailing
love and mercy, and we ask that
You increase our love for You. Amen.

Lord, I realize a blessing can create
a pathway into someone’s life
for fullness, completeness,
abundance and well-being.
May my tongue Lord be an
instrument of Your shalom.
May I impart Your goodness
to others through my words.
May Your Spirit inhabit those
words in mighty power. Amen.

Holy God Changes Us

God provides Israel with laws
governing personal conduct and
purity in relation to the family, the
community and society in general.
As obedience is His main concern,
He requires vialators be disciplined.
God’s strict guidelines for living
reflect His desire that His people
be holy for I the Lord am holy.
Privilege often carries with it
responsibility; and in the case of
Israel’s priests, the responsibilities
of serving a holy God become
quite demanding. The priests
must avoid defilement which
others might ordinarily experience.

Lord, we’ll Not Defile but Be Holy:
According to the doings of the
land of Canaan, you shall not do;
nor shall u walk in their ordinances..
So you shall keep My ordinance,
so that you do not commit any of
these abominable customs; and
that you do Not Defile yourselves; I
am the Lord your God (Lev18:3-30)
Speak to all the congregation of
the children of Israel & say to them
You Shall Be Holy, for I the Lord
your God am holy… You shall not
take revenge Not Bear any Grudge
but you shall love your neighbour
as yourself: I’m the Lord (L19:2,18).

Father God, You forbid us to do
certain things for You want to keep
us from self-destruction. And You
command us to do other acts for
You know what we need to flourish.
Help us when drawn to forbidden
activity to remember that it may lead
to suffering & separation from God.
Help us when a good act seems
inconvenient to remember that You
God has the best plan for us. Amen.

Lord, I acknowledge that there
are hurts caused to me by people.
But I do not want to hold on to
these or seek revenge. So I release
those who have hurt me to You.
I purpose not to seek repayment
through my coldness, or through
my words or through actions.
Rather I will seek to redeem this
relationship with wisdom and
with Your empowerment. Amen.

Father, I worship Your greatness &
goodness and praise Your holiness.
Even as I worship You Lord,
may Your holiness rub off on me.
Help me take on the beauty of Your
holiness as I spend time with You.
Enable me to become a bit more
like You so that Your holiness
will make me truly whole. Amen.