Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Fresh Miracles
Pastor Scott
Monday, March 15, 2004
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"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."
(Exodus 14:16)
Moses took a little too much upon himself. The people provoked him, continuing to rebel and doubt God. Moses had known the anointing and power of God. It's an amazing thing when you've known the presence of God. You have to guard at times against thinking that your thoughts are God's thoughts. You can hear from God so much that you can begin to think that you're one and the same with Him. That's a dangerous place to be. You need to hear from Him specifically every time, every incident. You need another fresh visitation of God. You need to hear from the Lord. You need to realize that you are absolutely dependent, unable to make these decisions in your own strength. There's too much in you that is defiled, corrupt, and natural! You've got to hear fresh from God! Tragically Moses made that mistake.
Moses was a man supernaturally preserved for the moment of delivering God's people. He had learned that it wasn't in himself to be the deliverer, as in his own strength he murdered the Egyptian and had to flee for his life. Not until God encountered him in the burning bush was he reinvigorated and set back on course. He looked at his own abilities and said, "There's nothing in me. I can't deliver these people. God, I tried; it is not possible." God said He'd give Aaron his brother as a mouthpiece, but Aaron never got to say a word. It's amazing when you obey how God brings the sufficiency. What was lacking in Moses? Humility--and God brought the sufficiency. Moses truly saw his need of dependence upon God. Adding Aaron was a very real need in Moses' life at that time, until he learned dependence and humility; then he saw the sufficiency of God.
God said, "What do you have in your hand?"
Moses answered, "I don't have anything but a rod."
"That's enough. Will you be obedient? I'll make a rod sufficient to deliver My people."
What do you have in your hand today? Take whatever you have and combine that with the spirit of obedience and humility--it's enough; it's sufficient. Will you be obedient to offer everything you have to God? He'll make up the difference. Moses learned that dependence. God confirmed His word with signs following and the miracles evidenced to the point where Pharaoh was overcome. Moses stood and said, "Let my people go." Many of us are held in just as great a bondage to the world system, to our own lusts, to our own flesh, as that nation was. It'll take the same total obedience and dependence upon God if you ever want to be free. You won't be free in your own strength.
As the people were being delivered, Pharaoh's heart was puffed up again. As Moses stands at the Red Sea with Pharaoh at his back and the sea before him, having experienced all of the power of God, they needed a fresh miracle. You can't live on your past experiences. You may think, "If I could have enough visitations in my life, then I will never doubt again." "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). You need a fresh "rhema" (a fresh word) spoken to you in this situation. God speaks to him anew, and he extends the rod. The Shekinah glory holds the armies of Pharaoh at bay. The Red Sea divides and the people go across on dry land. The spirit of worship and praise breaks forth in the heart of Miriam and they declare the horse and rider fallen into the sea. Momentary dependence is needed in every situation.