Pastor's Blog

Good Morning, Dear Family!

This morning I would like to share some encouraging words with you. This was our lesson at VBS yesterday, one which I pray brings encouragement and instruction to us.

Exodus 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The children of Israel, who were finally allowed to leave Egypt after 430 years of bondage, came to the Red Sea with mountains on both sides of them and the Pharoah's army pursuing them from their backside. As is described above, they quickly forgot how bad it was in Egypt because of the fear for their lives and they began to accuse God through their leader Moses. Moses, being a faithful and courageous leader, told them not to fear, but to stand still so that they can see the way in which the Lord is going to save them from this predicament, a predicament arranged by God so that His Name would honored by the Pharoah and all host among the Egyptians. (Exodus 14:2-4) Moses went on to tell them that the battle is the Lord's and that they should be quiet. Now as I think on what Moses must have been praying/saying to God at that time, I cannot blame him for keeping the rod by his side through which He had done miracles previous to this, since to this time he had not raised the rod without the Lord's direction, but also that all the previous miracles done with the rod had been for destruction in Egypt in order to convince the Pharoah to let the Israelites go. Therefore, when God told Moses to tell the people to go forward before he was instructed to raise the rod (a picture of Jesus) over the sea, it required Moses to Fully Rely On God in his obedience to the commands of God. Our human reasoning would wish to see the way opened before us as well as to know the means it will be opened by before we go forward. But that is not the case with faith as it is illustrated here in this familiar and awesome happening. The teaching of Jesus is so true yet today:

KJV Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; (Jesus) and all these things shall be added unto you.

As well as the teaching of the Psalmist:

KJV Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

May we be encouraged and instructed in our lives individually as well as corporately by this account today from the 14th chapter of Exodus.

In Christ,

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

Good Morning, Family.

KJV Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

KJV Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

How is it going out there? A couple of verses that will help us to be reminded that we must keep our heart with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life. In the challenges and topsy-turviness of life, we have a solid Word of assurance, direction and hope that we are able to trust in at all times. May we reject our emotions and needs which our own flesh, the world and the devil want us to fulfill in their immediate, but temporary ways. Amen to that??

Yesterday at VBS we shared with the youngsters concerning the theme, FROG=Fully Rely On God. We illustrated this yesterday in the life of Joshua and how he and his people FullyReliedOnGod in the conquest of Jericho. They were told to circle the city one time each day for six days, but on the seventh day to circle it seven times, and to shout when Joshua told them to shout. This they did and the walls of Jericho fell down.
Obedience to God's Word resulted in victory for the children of God in that day, even as it does today. I am not sure how long it took to march around the walled city each time, but it must have been somewhat of a distance. If they believed what God had said, they marched with the knowledge that only after the 13th lap, would they shout in victory. Not after 5 laps, or 7 laps or 11 laps, but after 13 laps. They believed God and were rewarded with the victory that He provided.

The account is recorded in the 6th chapter of Joshua. May the Lord bless you this day!

Til next time, remember that the good hand of the Lord is upon you!

Pastor Orval Wirkkala