Podcasts about Midian

TODAY'S TREASURENow Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” Exodus 3:1-3 (ESV)Send us a comment!Support the show

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The guys tunnel down to the underground city of Midian to check in on Clive Barker's Director's Cut of his dark fantasy epic from 1990, Nightbreed, and then follow the usual format of rattling off thoughts on whatever else they've watched, including Ron's take on Tron: Ares and John's spoiler-free look at the debut episode of HBO Max's IT prequel series, Welcome to Derry.

Horror has always mirrored our real-world fears—and important socio-political issues. In this Halloween double feature, host The Pop Mythologist and special guest Sapient, from the blackened death metal band Abomnium, explore NIGHTBREED (1990) and A QUIET PLACE (2018) as dystopian allegories of fascism, oppression, survival, and strategic resistance. From Clive Barker's underground outcasts of Midian to John Krasinski's silent survivors, the two films reveal how horror can expose the machinery of fascism—and the courage and ingenuity it takes to survive and resist it. ⚠️ Spoiler Warning⚠️ *Spoilers for: Nightbreed (1990), A Quiet Place (2018) Lyrics for excerpt of "The Machine Awakens" by Abomnium: Broken Cratered Impact scarred Eon dust layers Hidden Photon cascade Electron displacement Sensors flicker The machine awakens [...] For the rest of the song, go find Abomnium on Bandcamp or the streaming service of your choice! Links: Abomnium on Bandcamp https://ukemrecords.bandcamp.com/album/of-time-and-dying-stars Bridge 11 on Bandcamp https://bridge11.bandcamp.com/ Sapient / Abomnium on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abomnium/      

Not Until God Says You Are Exodus 3:1–4 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. Hidden in this familiar story of Moses and the burning bush is a truth about identity and timing. For years, Moses had lived in obscurity, tending sheep on the backside of the desert. He wasn't leading armies or standing before kings. He wasn't preaching or performing miracles. He was just watching over another man's flock. To most people, Moses was simply a forgotten fugitive from Egypt. Perhaps it appeared that he was a man who had failed to fulfill his purpose. But God was not finished with him yet. Music By: Mike Outland

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Randy Gothrup from Bellaire, MI. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. This one's for you. Our text today is Judges 9:16-21. “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, and you have risen up against my father's house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem, and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and devour Abimelech.” And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. — Judges 9:16-21 Jotham is the only surviving son of Gideon after Abimelech's massacre. While his brothers are slaughtered, Jotham steps up as a lone, bold, and brave voice of truth. From Mount Gerizim—the mountain where Israel once heard blessings and curses—he warns the leaders and people of Shechem. His message is blunt: if choosing Abimelech was good and faithful, enjoy it. But if not, then fire will come from Abimelech to consume Shechem, and fire from Shechem to consume Abimelech. (Spoiler Alert: This is exactly what happens by the end of the chapter) Jotham speaks like a true leader—pointing people back to integrity, truth, and accountability before God. But everyone ignores him. And in time, his warning proves true. Bad leaders will burn you. It may not happen overnight, but their corruption spreads like wildfire. They promise protection but leave you scorched. Jotham reminds us that the leaders we choose—and the voices we follow—shape our future. Good leaders warn, guide, and protect, even when their words sting. Bad leaders manipulate, consume, and destroy, even when they look impressive at first. Are you listening to the Jothams, or following the Abimelechs? Get more Jothams. Remove the Abimelechs. Because the kind of leader you trust will determine whether you blossom or burn. ASK THIS: Where am I tempted to follow flashy leaders instead of faithful ones? Who are the “Jothams” in my life I need to listen to right now? How can I discern if a leader is bearing fruit or just making noise? Where might I be acting like Abimelech instead of leading with integrity? DO THIS: Identify one leader you're following—online, at work, in church. Ask: Do they leave me more faithful or more burned out? Adjust accordingly. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me follow leaders who point me back to You, and keep me from the fire of bad leadership. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Shepherd."

Watch as Pastor Matt preaches through Exodus. You can find out more about South Woods at www.southwoodsbc.org

Winning the battle is one thing — staying faithful after the victory is another. Summary: Gideon's story in Judges 8 shows us a hard truth: success can be more dangerous than struggle. After a miraculous victory over Midian, Gideon let pride, vengeance, and compromise creep in — and it unraveled his leadership and legacy. This chapter warns every man that the fight doesn't end when the enemy falls; it often begins when the applause starts. In this study, Vince Miller challenges us to examine how we lead after the win and how we guard our hearts against the subtle traps that success brings. Reflection & Discussion Questions 1. Why do you think success often exposes more about a person's character than failure? 2. What signs of pride or self-reliance do you see in Gideon after the battle? 3. How did Gideon's pursuit of revenge distort his leadership? 4. What does this chapter teach us about the danger of power without accountability? 5. How might Gideon's refusal to be king sound humble, yet still reveal compromise? 6. In what ways can spiritual success lead to spiritual complacency in our lives? 7. How did Gideon's choices impact the nation after his death? 8. Where are you most tempted to relax spiritually after a “win”? 9. What safeguards can you put in place to stay faithful after seasons of victory? 10. How does Jesus model the opposite of Gideon's leadership in success?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 8:28-32. So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon. Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites. — Judges 8:28-32 At first glance, it appears Gideon finishes well. Midian is crushed. Israel enjoys forty years of rest. He dies at a good old age. On the outside, it's a success story. But beneath the surface, cracks have formed. Gideon has multiple wives. He fathers seventy sons. He keeps a concubine in Shechem. And he names that son Abimelech—“my father is king.” The very thing Gideon swore off in verse 23—kingship—he now lives out through his family. His words said, “God rules.” But his life secretly and subtly proclaims, “I rule.” And those seeds of compromise would grow into one of Israel's darkest chapters, which you will see in the next chapter. Peace and faithfulness are not always synonymous. We have been learning this throughout the Book of Judges. A patriarch can win wars and still lose his family and the next generation for the Lord. Gideon's drift shows us how legacies are shaped—not by big moments, but by the slow accumulation of bad choices. A compromise in marriage. An unchecked desire for status. A child raised in divided loyalties. These seeds eventually sprout into a full-grown rebellion in the next generation. You are planting seeds today. Your habits, your words, your faith—or your lack of it—will shape your children and grandchildren. Gideon left Israel with forty years of rest, but he left his family with a fractured legacy that would be devastating. Your true legacy isn't your success—it's your succession. ASK THIS: Am I planting seeds of faith or seeds of compromise in my home? What hidden patterns in my life might grow into pain for the next generation? Do my words about God's rule match my lifestyle? If my legacy is not my success but my succession, what am I truly handing off? DO THIS: Take one intentional step to plant a seed of faith in your family today—pray with them, open the Word, or speak a word of blessing over them. Remember: your true legacy isn't your success—it's your succession. PRAY THIS: Father, keep me from building a false peace while sowing seeds of compromise. Help me plant a legacy of faith that will outlive me and point my family back to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The Blessing."

Voelt jouw situatie soms te groot om aan te kunnen? Ontdek in deze overdenking uit Psalm 23 dat geen probleem te groot is voor God. Hij is jouw Herder die geneest, beschermt en voorziet – juist wanneer jij denkt dat je het niet redt. Psalm 23 laat ons zien wie God werkelijk is: de Genezer van je gebrokenheid, de Beschermer in je strijd, en de Voorziener in je noden. Hij nodigt je uit om Hem persoonlijk te leren kennen en te ervaren dat Hij dichtbij is. Net zoals David kon zeggen: "De HEERE is míjn Herder, mij ontbreekt niets", zo mag jij dat vandaag ook belijden. Misschien heb je genezing nodig – lichamelijk, emotioneel of geestelijk. Of worstel je met angst, zorgen of een probleem dat te groot lijkt. In deze boodschap moedigt Joyce Meyer je aan om je hoop op God te vestigen, Zijn Woord hardop uit te spreken en je hart volledig op Hem te richten.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 8:22-27. Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.” And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. — Judges 8:22-27 Israel is finally free of the Midianites. Their oppressors are defeated. In their eyes, Gideon is their hero. The people beg him to be king, but Gideon refuses: “The LORD will rule over you.” It sounds noble. But right after this, Gideon gathers their gold and builds an ephod—a type of religious garment that they make into a shrine and marker of the win. What was meant to honor God has become a trap. Israel worshiped it, and Gideon's household fell into idolatry. Gideon leaned on God in weakness but forgot him in strength Failure drives us to God. Success tempts us to drift from Him. That's the real test. Think about it: When your business is struggling, you pray. But when it prospers, do you still pray with the same effort? When your marriage feels shaky, you cry out to God. But when it feels stable, do you keep seeking him? When you're in a season of weakness, you cling to God's Word. But when life feels strong, do you drift into self-reliance? Our battlefield isn't always a Midianite army—it's the comfort and pride that come after the victory. Here's the warning: Success without surrender becomes a snare. Gideon's story reminds us that yesterday's victories don't protect us from today's temptations. Sometimes, they often create them. So don't let success become your snare. ASK THIS: Has success in my life made me more dependent on God—or less? What “victory moments” have tempted me to drift into pride or comfort? How do I keep pointing myself and others to God instead of to the spoils? Am I as prayerful in seasons of strength as I am in seasons of weakness? DO THIS: Today, take one area of success in your life and deliberately turn it into surrender. Write down the blessing—and then write a prayer giving it back to God. PRAY THIS: Lord, guard my heart in victory. Don't let my successes become snares. Keep me humble, grateful, and surrendered in every season. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lord, I Need You."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 8:10-13. Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic. Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. — Judges 8:10-13 The chase is over. Gideon captures Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings. The victory is amazing—what began with 300 men now ends with an army of 120,000 wiped out. But here's the danger. After exhaustion and criticism comes temptation. Power can twist our perspective. Victory can be intoxicating. Leaders who experience wins can quickly lose their way if pride, anger, or vengeance worm into their hearts. Gideon stands at that crossroads. Your greatest temptations often follow your greatest victories. When the adrenaline fades and the applause starts, the enemy whispers, “You did this. You deserve more. Take what's yours.” For Gideon, the temptation is vengeance and pride. For us, it might look like self-congratulation after a big accomplishment, bitterness toward someone who doubted us, or entitlement that makes us think we've earned a pass from obedience. The real test of leadership isn't just whether you can lead the battle—it's whether you can lead your heart humbly when the battle is done. God calls us to victory without arrogance, strength without vengeance, and success without self-worship. So when God gives you a win, don't let temptation rob you of the blessing. Celebrate his power, not yours. Point the spotlight back where it belongs—on Him alone. ASK THIS: When has success tempted me more than failure? Where do I feel the pull toward pride, vengeance, or entitlement? How can I guard my heart in moments of victory? What practices help me point glory back to God? DO THIS: The next time you experience success—big or small—pause and redirect the credit. Thank God openly, and resist the temptation to take the glory for yourself. PRAY THIS: Lord, protect my heart in moments of success. Keep me humble, guard me from pride, and help me see every victory as Yours, not mine. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Not To Us."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 8:4-9. And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower." — Judges 8:4-9 Gideon and his 300 men are worn down. They've already fought a miraculous battle against Midian, but the fight isn't over. They're chasing the kings who escaped, and Scripture paints the raw picture: “exhausted yet pursuing.” Instead of finding support from fellow Israelites, they get rejection. The men of Succoth and Penuel refuse to help, essentially saying: “Prove you've won first.” Imagine the sting—hungry, weary, and now doubted by your own people. Yesterday, Gideon had to handle criticism with humility. Today, he must handle weariness with perseverance. Both require a leader's heart anchored in God. Life rarely slows down when you're beaten up and beaten down. The bills still come. The kids still need you. The conflict at work doesn't wait until you're rested. And sometimes, just when you need encouragement most, people let you down instead. That's where this story hits home hardest. Exhausted yet pursuing sometimes describes the believer's life. Following Jesus will sometimes push you beyond your limits, and you'll face opposition, even from those you thought would help. Perseverance isn't about never getting tired—it's about trusting God enough to keep moving when you are. Gideon kept pressing forward because his confidence wasn't in his strength or people's support—it was in God's promise. If you're worn out and tempted to quit, remember: your exhaustion doesn't mean you're defeated. It might mean you're right on the edge of God's breakthrough. ASK THIS: Where do I feel “exhausted yet pursuing” in my life right now? Do I let people's criticism or lack of support slow me down? How does trusting God help me press on when I feel empty? What might it look like for me to take one more step of faith today, even tired? DO THIS: Identify one place you feel worn out right now. Instead of quitting, take one small act of obedience today—trusting God for the strength to carry you further than you think you can go. PRAY THIS: Lord, I'm exhausted. But I don't want to quit. Strengthen me to keep pursuing Your call, even when I feel weak, even when others let me down. Help me trust You for every step. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Me Faith."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 8:1-3. Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this. — Judges 8:1-3 Right after the victory over Midian, Gideon faces sharp criticism from one of the tribes of Israel. The men of Ephraim are furious that he didn't invite them into the fight from the beginning. Their pride is wounded, and they “accuse him fiercely.” Gideon could have argued, defended himself, or even reminded them who really led the battle. Instead, he humbly affirms their contribution, points to their success, and reminds them it was God who gave the victory (not a tribe or tribes). His calm demeanor and theological precision turn their anger into peace. Every one of us will face criticism. Sometimes it's fair, but usually it's fueled by pride, jealousy, or misunderstanding. The natural instinct is to fight back and defend ourselves. But Gideon shows another way—humility. Handling criticism well doesn't mean you're weak; it means you're strong and wise. Instead of escalating the conflict, you de-escalate it. Instead of defending your ego, you point back to God's work. That's not avoidance—that's leadership. In your life, criticism will come from coworkers, family members, and even fellow believers. You can either let it drive wedges deeper, or you can choose humility that disarms anger and turns conflict into peace. So, the next time someone criticizes you, resist the urge to fire back. Take a big, deep breath, look for what you can affirm or change, and then point the conversation back to God. ASK THIS: How do I usually respond when I'm criticized—defensively or humbly? Have I ever escalated conflict by trying to “win the argument”? What would it look like for me to deflect credit and point to God instead? Who do I need to respond to with humility today? DO THIS: The next time someone criticizes you, resist the urge to fire back. Take a breath, look for what you can affirm, and point the conversation back to God. PRAY THIS: Lord, teach me to handle criticism with humility. Keep me from prideful reactions, and help me point others back to Your work, not my own. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me."

Timeless Leadership Advice Exodus 18  October 12, 2025 Pastor Tony Felich   ----more---- Exodus 18:1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. [2] Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, [3] along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), [4] and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). [5] Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. [6] And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” [7] Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. [8] Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. [9] And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. [10] Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. [11] Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” [12] And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. [13] The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. [14] When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” [15] And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; [16] when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” [17] Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. [18] You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. [19] Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, [20] and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. [21] Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. [22] And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. [23] If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” [24] So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. [25] Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. [26] And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. [27] Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.      Effective spiritual leadership involves delegation and shared responsibility so that the work of God can be sustained and the people can flourish.           I.  A Wise Counselor (1-12)          II.  The Problem (13-18)         III.  The Solution (19-23)         IV.  The Result (24-27)

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 7:23–25. The men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian. Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan. — Judges 7:23-25 The enemy is on the run. The chaos God caused in the Midianite camp has scattered them, but Gideon knows the job isn't done. If they stop now, the Midianites would merely regroup and return with more vengeance. So Gideon calls reinforcements from Israel. Naphtali, Asher, Manasseh, and Ephraim to cut off escape routes and secure the waters by the Jordan. The mission is clear — don't just win; eliminate the threat, what they should have done in the first place. The pursuit ends with the capture and death of two Midianite princes, Oreb and Zeeb, marking a decisive blow against the enemy. In our spiritual battles, the first breakthrough is usually only the beginning. God may win a decisive moment, but he calls us to follow through — to pursue, to cut off any possible retreat, to finish what he started. Don't celebrate too early and let your guard down. It's good to break free from one sin, but if you don't build new habits of holiness, you will let the same enemy back into your camp, too. Make a bold stand for your faith, but do not stop short of complete and total obedience. Finishing well means staying engaged until the enemy has no foothold left. In your life, that might mean following up a spiritual victory with accountability, continued prayer, Scripture intake, or cutting off lingering access points for temptation. God doesn't just want to give you a taste of freedom — He wants you to walk in freedom completely. ASK THIS: Where have you celebrated too early in your spiritual battles? What “enemy footholds” still need to be removed from your life? Who could you invite to help you finish well? How can you make sure today's victory becomes tomorrow's testimony? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've stopped short of full victory. Take one specific action today to close the gap and finish what God started. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for the victories You've already won in my life. Give me the perseverance to finish the work You've called me to and remove every foothold the enemy could use against me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "See a Victory."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to John Hardin from Hemphill, TX. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. I love you, brother. This one's for you and your family. Our text today is Judges 7:12–15. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.” As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.” — Judges 7:12–15. From a distance, the enemy looks unstoppable — countless soldiers, endless camels, the valley packed like a swarm of locusts. This is not a fight 300 men can win. But as Gideon sneaks into the camp with Purah, he overhears a soldier describing a dream: a humble loaf of barley bread crashing into a tent and flattening it. His comrade interprets it: “This is the sword of Gideon… God has given Midian into his hand.” The irony in these verses is thick. Barley bread was poor man's food — not a symbol of military might. But in the dream, it's the weapon God uses to topple Midian's strength. Gideon hears it, and the moment is electric. He falls into worship. Fear gives way to faith, and he races back to rally his men with the words, “Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.” When God gives you a calling, he often follows it with a powerful confirmation. Gideon's confirmation came in the unlikeliest place — through the lips of his enemies. The detail that broke his fear wasn't a vision of a sword or a chariot but a loaf of bread. That's God's style: using the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. In our lives, God's confirmations might not be as dramatic as this battlefield dream. It might be a Scripture that leaps off the page at the exact moment you need it, a conversation that seems divinely timed, or a provision that comes through right before the deadline. These are not random. They are reminders that: “The Great I Am is with you. He has gone ahead of you. The victory is His.” Fear dissolves when you realize God has already gone before you. And worship isn't just a response; it's the fuel for your obedience. Worship turns a hesitant heart into a ready soldier. So look for a godly confirmation in your present fears, and when you get one, turn to worship and let it fuel the fire of your obedience through those fears. ASK THIS: When has God confirmed His call in your life? What unexpected means has He used to reassure you? How has worship fueled your courage in the past? Is there something you need to stop worrying about and start worshiping over today? DO THIS: Take 5 minutes today to stop everything and worship God for a promise He's already confirmed — even if the battle hasn't been fought yet. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for confirming what You've called me to do. Turn my fear into worship and my hesitation into obedience. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Raise a Hallelujah."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Nathan Mitchell from Broken Arrow, OK. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping deliver God's Word with clarity and conviction. This one's for you. Our text today is Judges 7:4–8. And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,' shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,' shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. — Judges 7:4-8 You'd think losing 22,000 soldiers was enough. But God isn't finished. He tells Gideon, “The people are still too many.” This time, there's no speech to the crowd — just a strange test at the water's edge. Soldiers kneel or lap water from their hands. The result? Only 300 make the cut. No explanation about why this method mattered. No insight into the military reasoning. Just God's choice — and His promise: “With the three hundred men… I will save you.” Gideon is now down to less than 1% of his original army. From a human perspective, the odds aren't just bad — they're impossible. And that's exactly how God wants it. When you're down to your “less than 1%,” it's not always a sign that God has abandoned you — sometimes it's proof he's setting the stage for His glory. Gideon's reduction wasn't about military strategy; it was about making sure Israel couldn't take credit. God will sometimes allow your resources, influence, or opportunities to shrink to a fraction of what you think you need. Why? So the only explanation left is him. In everyday life, this might look like a budget cut that forces you to depend on his provision, a smaller team that makes you lean harder on his strength, or fewer open doors so that when the right one opens, you know it's from him. We resist these reductions because they feel like loss. But in God's hands, they're actually preparation. He removes what you think you need so you can discover he's all you truly need. ASK THIS: Where has God been reducing your “army” lately? How could this loss be positioning you for a greater dependence on Him? Are you tempted to measure God's ability by your resources? What would it look like to trust Him with your “less than 1%”? DO THIS: Identify one area in your life where God has reduced your resources. Instead of panicking, thank Him for the opportunity to see His power more clearly. PRAY THIS: Lord, when my strength is reduced and my resources run low, help me remember that You are setting the stage for Your power. Teach me to trust You more than what's in my hands. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Way Maker."

When fear and weakness threaten to overwhelm us, God calls us to courageous obedience. Just as He told Gideon in Judges 6:13-14 to “go in the strength you have,” the Lord invites us to trust His power, not our own. Jennifer Slattery shares how God’s presence transforms impossible situations into testimonies of His strength and victory. Highlights Gideon’s story shows God calls ordinary, fearful people to extraordinary purposes “Go in the strength you have” reminds us our weakness is the stage for God’s strength Personal story of stepping into a difficult calling with limited resources God doesn’t expect perfection—He expects obedience and trust True victory comes from God fighting our battles for us Join the Conversation What’s one area where God is calling you to step out even though you feel weak? Share your reflections and encourage others to trust God’s strength. Tag @LifeAudio and use #CourageousObedience #FaithOverFear #StrengthInChrist to join the discussion.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Art Forester from Hudson, WI. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping deliver God's Word with clarity and conviction. This one's for you. Our text today is Judges 7:1–3. Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.'" Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. — Judges 7:1-3 So the Israelite army wakes up early, camped at the spring of Harod. Just across the valley, Midian's massive force waits. Every soldier counts — at least, that's what Gideon must have thought. But God sees the situation differently than Gideon does. He tells Gideon, "You have too many men." Too many? Against an army so large it can't be counted? Yes. God knows the danger isn't the size of the enemy — it's the pride in Israel's heart. If they win with a big enough army, they'll think they did it themselves. So God orders a cut. Anyone who is afraid can leave. And just like that, 22,000 soldiers pack up and head home. Gideon is left with less than a third of what he started with. The odds just got worse — and exactly how God wanted them. God will sometimes strip away the resources, people, or security you thought you needed — not to punish you, but to purify your faith. When he reduces what you rely on, it's because he wants you to rely on him. It is uncomfortable. It feels unsafe. But if our confidence rests in our numbers, connections, or abilities, then our faith isn't in God — it's in ourselves. So has God been reducing your resources lately? When God reduces our resources, he is often removing our false sense of control that we've been clinging to. Sometimes we don't even know we are clinging to it, so we resist the reduction. But fewer options force deeper faith. Less human advantage means more room for divine intervention. The question is, when God starts reducing your "resources," will you see it as a setback… or as the setup for him to show his power? ASK THIS: Where has God been cutting back your resources or support lately? How could that reduction be preparing you to trust Him more? What false securities might He be removing from your life? Are you willing to face a harder battle if it means God gets the glory? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've been depending on your own strength. Release it to God today and pray for faith to trust him with the outcome. PRAY THIS: Father, when You take away what I think I need, help me see it as Your way of drawing me closer to You. Strip away my pride and replace it with deeper trust in Your power. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Strip It All Away."

Are there limits to your trust? Of course there are! We live with people who are not always trustworthy, and this has taught us to question and guard against trusting things outside of ourselves. This is no different when it comes to our trust of God. Though He has never been untrustworthy, He often seems to lead us into places that feel risky, difficult, and unwanted. Instead of trusting Him, we run. Instead of following Him we try to lead. Instead of submitting to His strength and will, we look at the circumstances and lean on our own understanding. Gideon was just like us. He had grown up in a time where trust with God was broken. Israel was under constant attack from the Midianites, and it seemed as though God had fully abandoned them. So when God showed up to call Gideon to follow Him into battle, it makes sense that Gideon was doubtful. I would have been too! Even in his doubt God was the Good Shepherd who lead him through, and helped him learn how trustworthy The Lord actually is. Gideons faith didn’t start radical, but God did radical things through Gideon’s willingness to trust just a little more with each step. Join us this weekend for a worship service as we dive into what it looks like to be more radical in our faith! - Pastor Ben Key Verse: Judges 7:2 (NIV) - "The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’" For this week's Scripture and notes: https://bible.com/events/49496615

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:25–32. That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father's bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.” So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night. When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar. — Judges 6:25-32 Fresh from building an altar to the LORD, Gideon's first assignment isn't charging Midian's army — it's tearing down his father's altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole beside it. It's risky. This is personal. This is his family's idol and his community's false god. Gideon obeys — but he does it at night, still afraid of the backlash. By morning, the whole town knows. They demand his death, but Gideon's father unexpectedly defends him: “If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself.” That day, Gideon gets a new name: Jerubbaal — “Let Baal contend against him.” Before God sends you to confront the enemy “out there,” He will ask you to confront the compromise “in here.” For Gideon, the victory over Midian had to start with victory over idolatry in his own home. It's the same for us — the battles that matter most often begin in the places closest to us: The habits no one else sees. The values we've tolerated. The cultural idols we've quietly accepted. This is why worship must be followed by obedience. The altar of peace fuels the courage to pull down the altars that compete with God. And sometimes that means tough, awkward, costly steps before you ever face the “big” enemy. If you skip this step, you might fight in public while losing in private. But if you obey here, you'll be ready for whatever comes next. So what do you need to tear down today? Write it in your journal. Share it in the comments. And tear it down, regardless of what others say. ASK THIS: What “altars” — habits, compromises, or idols — has God been asking you to tear down? How has fear kept you from confronting them? Who in your life might be impacted if you took that stand? Are you willing to start your battle where God says, not where you'd prefer? DO THIS: Write down one personal or family “altar” that needs to go — a practice, influence, or mindset that pulls you away from God. Take one concrete step this week to remove it. PRAY THIS: Lord, give me the courage to start the fight where You tell me, even if it's close to home and costs me something. Let my obedience to You be the loudest message I send to the watching world. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Christ Be Magnified."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:13–16. And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” — Judges 6:13-16 Gideon's first response to God's call is a flood of doubts and questions: If God is with us, why has life gone so wrong? Where are the miracles we've heard about? How can I save Israel? I'm the weakest person from the weakest clan. God doesn't argue his résumé. He doesn't explain why Gideon is the perfect choice. He simply says: “Do not I send you?… I will be with you.” Gideon says, “I can't.” God answers, “I can.” We all have moments when God's calling collides with our sense of inadequacy. We see the size of the task and the smallness of our ability. Fear magnifies our weakness until the only thing we can say is, “I can't.” But God isn't asking if you can — he's declaring that He can. His presence is the decisive factor in every calling. When you believe “I can't,” you stay in hiding. When you believe “He can,” you step out in obedience. God chooses people who feel unqualified so that His strength, not theirs, gets the glory. The shift from “I can't” to “He can” doesn't happen when you suddenly feel strong. It happens when you decide his ability matters more than your inadequacy. That's the moment you can walk into something bigger than yourself — because he's already there. ASK THIS: Where in your life are you stuck, saying “I can't”? How might believing “He can” change the way you see that situation? What past moments prove God's strength outweighed your weakness? How can you keep God's presence at the front of your mind this week? DO THIS: Write “I can't… but He can” on a sticky note and put it somewhere you'll see it all day. Let it reframe how you view the challenges in front of you. PRAY THIS: Lord, I admit my weakness, but I trust Your strength. Move me from “I can't” to “He can,” and help me step into what You've called me to with confidence in You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:7–10. When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of the Midianites, the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice.” — Judges 6:7-10 Israel is desperate. Seven years of Midian's oppression has broken them, and they cry out to God for help. But instead of sending an army or a leader, God sends a prophet with a hard word. Before God deals with the enemy outside, he exposes the enemy within. He reminds them of his past faithfulness and their present disobedience. The message is raw, but it's true: because Israel's bigger problem isn't Midian — it's their unfaithfulness. No follower likes this part — the confrontation of God about who we are. We'd rather God just fix the crisis, remove the stress, and make life comfortable again. But God loves us too much to patch up the problems. Like Israel, our circumstances are often symptoms of the problem, not the real problem. The deeper problem is the drift of our hearts — the quiet compromises, misplaced loyalties, and neglected obedience that weaken us from within. And God knows that if he delivers us without dealing with those things, we'll just end up back in the same problematic pit. This is why he sometimes sends a word before providing a way out. It feels like a delay, but it's actually mercy. His goal isn't temporary relief — it's lasting change. That means the painful work of letting him search, confront, and reshape us is not punishment. It's preparation. And if we skip that work, we risk skipping the real victory he wants to give. So ask yourself the hard question: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” ASK THIS: Have you been asking God to fix your situation without letting Him change your heart? What hard truth might God be speaking to you right now? How could this season be preparation, not just punishment? Are you willing to let God do the deeper work before He brings the outward relief? DO THIS: Ask God in prayer: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” Write down whatever He brings to mind, and commit to addressing it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, don't just change what's around me — change what's in me. Even if it's painful, do the deep work that will make the victory last. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Us Clean Hands."

Sermon NotesI. IntroductionJoseph Campbell (not a Christian, but a student of mythology/religion) observed:“What we are looking for is a way of experiencing the world that will open to us the transcendent...”Human beings are incurably spiritual—we seek transcendence.Some through traditional religions (Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam).Others through mindfulness, energy work, nature, etc.Two key points:Affirm the desire for transcendence—it is real and God-given.Learn to discern authentic transcendence from false or self-referential spirituality.II. The Text: Exodus 2:23–3:12Context: Moses in Midian, tending sheep near Horeb.Not seeking a spiritual encounter; God initiates it.Key Question: What can we learn about genuine transcendent encounters?Two themes: Person and Paradox.III. The PERSON Moses EncounteredThe Angel of the LORD (v. 2)More than just an angel → identified with God Himself.Possibly the pre-incarnate Christ (Word/Logos).Authentic TranscendenceEncounter with someone other than himself.Not self-discovery or inner potential—real personhood beyond Moses.God is personal, not impersonal force/energy.The Burning Bush SymbolismFire = light, warmth, purification, judgment.Bush not consumed → God is self-sustaining, absolute reality, source of all existence.Childlike question: “Who created God?” → answer: no one. He is the source.Authentic transcendence = encountering the self-existent God who draws near.IV. The PARADOX of God's PresenceGod Knows Moses by Name (v. 4)God is relational, loving, intimately aware of Moses' story.God's nature = love and relationship.But… God's Holiness Creates Distance (v. 5)“Do not come near; take off your sandals, for this is holy ground.”Holiness = God's otherness + moral purity.Human corruption (sin) incompatible with holiness.Illustration: fresh snow → pure → later becomes dirty slush.Result: God is both near and distant → paradox.Resolution of the ParadoxGod Himself provides the way for humans to approach.In Moses' case: humility (remove sandals).Later: OT sacrificial system.Ultimately: Jesus Christ.His cross removes sin barrier.Makes access to God's holy presence possible.Application: Spirit is HOLY; without Christ we would be consumed, with Christ we receive Him with joy.V. ConclusionWe are spiritual beings with souls that crave transcendence.Not every spirituality satisfies—self-focused versions fall short.At the burning bush, Moses encountered:Absolute reality.A personal God.Holy presence made accessible by God's provision.Our souls find satisfaction only in the Triune God—Father, Son, Spirit.Call: Don't settle for less than the real.Discussion Questions:How would you define transcendence? Have you had any experiences in your life that you would describe as transcendent?If, as the sermon suggests, genuine spirituality is not self-referential (simply connecting with more of yourself), is deeper self-knowledge still important? If so, where is it found? Is there a connection between encountering the real God and discovering the real self? How so?Read Exodus 3:3-4. Do you believe it is significant that God did not call to Moses until he turned aside to see the strange sight? Do you think God would have still spoken to Moses if he had not turned aside? How might this speak to the lack of encounters with God that many experience today? As you reflect on that, consider Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem:Earth's crammed with heaven,And every common bush afire with God,But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,And daub their natural faces unaware.Read Exodus 3:7-12.  What was the ultimate purpose of Moses' encounter with God at the Burning Bush? What was God's purpose for revealing himself to Moses? Is there a link today between our personal encounters with God and a greater purpose like mission?Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:1–6. The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD. — Judges 6:1-6 The story of Gideon, in chapter 6, begins with a tragic pattern: sin, oppression, despair. This time, it's the Midianites who overrun Israel. They don't just raid; they ruin. They strip the land bare like locusts, leaving nothing behind. Year after year, the Israelites hide in caves and watch their harvest vanish. This is a defeat on two levels: Outside: The enemy takes what sustains life. Inside: Fear drains the will to fight. When God's people abandon Him, the enemy doesn't just win battles — he slowly erodes courage, hope, and identity until they're shadows of who they once were. That's how the enemy works today. He targets more than your circumstances — he aims at your spirit. First, he gets you to compromise, breaking down your guard. Then he keeps showing up, relentlessly, until you're hiding instead of fighting. He is relentless. For some of us, the “Midianites” are obvious sins. For others, it's a slow creep of fear, bitterness, shame, or distraction that saps spiritual strength. Either way, the result is the same: the land of your life is stripped bare. Because the "Midianites" are relentless then and today. The only way to fight a relentless enemy is with a relentless return to God. Israel didn't find victory in a stronger hiding place — they found it when they cried out. You can't outlast the enemy by retreating deeper into fear; you defeat him by trusting in God and running with complete abandon to God. Is it time to run relentlessly to God? So what compromise in your life has led to your retreat? Identify it and then run relentlessly back to God. ASK THIS: What “Midianite” is stripping away your spiritual strength right now? Have you been hiding from the problem instead of facing it with God's help? Where do you see signs of inside-out destruction in your life? What's one step toward God you can take today to push the enemy back? DO THIS: Name one area where fear or compromise has made you retreat. Instead of hiding from it today, bring it to God in prayer and take one practical step to address it in His strength. PRAY THIS: Lord, expose the enemy's work in my life. Keep me from hiding in fear. Teach me to run toward You, not away from the fight, and restore what's been stripped away. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Defender."

Exodus 18:1-121 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”; 4 and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them.9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

Study Passage: Exodus 4:18-3118 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” 24 At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.27 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Minggu, 21 September 2025Bacaan: "Segala perkara dapat kutanggung di dalam Dia yang memberi kekuatan kepadaku." (Filipi 4:13)Renungan: Sejak Musa membunuh orang Mesir yang menganiaya seorang laki-laki sebangsanya, ia melarikan diri ke Midian. Impiannya untuk membela dan membebaskan bangsanya dari perbudakan orang Mesir terkubur sudah. Tetapi meskipun harapan untuk membebaskan bangsanya sudah terkubur, ternyata Tuhan masih mempunyai urusan dengan Musa. Tuhan mau memakai Musa untuk membawa bangsanya keluar dari Mesir. Pertolongan Tuhan membuat Musa yang merasa tidak mampu, menjadi orang hebat yang dapat mengerjakan perkara yang besar. Kerinduan untuk menyelamatkan bangsanya menjadi kenyataan. Sebuah kata-kata bijak mengatakan, "Jangan membubuhkan tanda titik, di mana Tuhan masih membutuhkan tanda koma." Sejarah hidup Musa mengajarkan kepada kita agar jangan pernah menyerah dan berhenti pada satu titik di mana kita merasa tidak mampu berbuat sesuatu. Ketika kita mempercayakan hidup ini kepada Tuhan, maka Ia yang akan merendanya menjadi karya yang indah di pemandangan mata-Nya. Kemustahilan akan terhalau jika tangan Tuhan yang bekerja. Jika keadaan kita saat ini seolah tidak bersahabat dan kita seolah tergilas, jangan menyerah dulu. Mungkin saja Tuhan belum selesai bekerja dan Ia masih membutuhkan tanda koma dalam hidup kita. Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa:Tuhan Yesus, aku percaya bahwa rencana-Mu indah bagi hidupku. Bekerjalah secara bebas dalam hidupku dan bentuklah aku seturut kehendak Mu. Aku percaya bahwa kehendak-Mu adalah yang terbaik bagi hidupku. Engkau yang telah memulai kehidupanku, maka kuserahkan penyelesaiannya ke dalam rencana dan karya-Mu. Kuatkanlah dan yakinkanlah aku bahwa bersama Engkau aku dapat menjalani kehidupan ini dengan penuh pengharapan. Amin. (Dod).

Come As You Are: GideonJudges 6:12-16 “The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.”  Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.”I really like this story because it is one that most of us can relate to.  Well, not the first verse probably.  I doubt too many of us have been visited by an angel.  The verse starts off by telling us that an angel appeared to Gideon and told him the Lord was with him, and then called him a mighty warrior.  I find it interesting how Gideon answered the angel.  I feel that I would be in shock and probably speechless if the angel of God were to speak to me.  If he told me that God was with me, I think I would say thank you or be in awe.  Gideon is not speechless, and it doesn't sound like he is in awe.  He questions the angel.  He says, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.”  Those are some pretty gutsy things to say to an angel.  The angel said The Lord is with you and Gideon basically said, “Oh yeah, how?  We don't see it. What has He done for us lately?” With this being written text, we don't know the tone or volume this was said with.  I picture Gideon being angry and almost yelling it at the angel.  However, I could be wrong; he could have matter-of-factly stated it to him.  Either way, Gideon did not believe what the angel said, and he wanted an explanation, or some sort of proof that God was for them.Next the angel says, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” The angel does not answer his question as to where God has been.  The angel looks at Gideon and then tells him to go and lead the fight with Midian to deliver his people.  Gideon's response is a response that I think most of us have when God commissions us for a task.  We question it, we tell Him we aren't ready, we aren't good enough, we don't know how, we aren't strong enough.  We question God as if He, the one who created us, did not know all these things about us when he commissioned us for that task.   When Gideon was told that he was commissioned to defeat  Midian, he said, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”Gideon was counting himself out before he even got started.  He looked at his family and his place in that family and judged his abilities on that.  He felt God must have made a mistake.  How could he be a mighty warrior when his family was the weakest and he was the least in his family?  Does this sound familiar?  Do you ever count yourself out of things because of your family or your history with your family?  I can understand a bit of what Gideon was feeling.  I am from a large family, and we didn't have a lot of money growing up.  When I was in school, if there was a big field trip, I immediately counted myself out.  There was no way my parents could afford the cost of the trip when they could barely afford their bills.  In seventh grade, my French class was taking a trip to Quebec for a few days.  I think the cost was $450 or something like that.  I knew I wouldn't be able to go.  I am not even sure if I asked my parents or if I just counted myself out.  One day after school, the French teacher talked with me and asked if I wanted to go on the trip.  I explained I did, but my parents couldn't afford it.  She said there was a scholarship, and so if my parents could afford some of it, the school could pay the rest.  Somehow, my parents were able to pay whatever part they had to pay, and I was able to go.  Another way I can relate to Gideon is when he said he was the least of his family.  I don't think I was the least of my family, and yet, having a large family, you are bound to be compared to your siblings. Others are bound to compare you as well.  I remember one Christmas Eve party at my aunt's house, one of my uncles saw me and was trying to figure out which child I was.  My mom is one of 10 children, and I am one of 11, so you can imagine how many kids were at this Christmas Eve party.  He said Oh, you are the smart one who is going to Yale, right?  Nope, that is Virginia.  Oh, you are the one who just got that cheerleading award, nope, that is Elizabeth.  Got it, you are the one that is having open heart surgery, nope, that is Theresa,  Oh, who are you then? He said.  I wasn't really sure how to respond to that one.  I didn't know which distinguishing characteristic might have been used to describe me.  We can all get stuck thinking we are who our family says we are.  We can get stuck thinking we can't do certain things because of our history.  We know God is calling us to something, and yet we don't answer that call because we don't think we can do it.  Instead of giving God our whole-hearted yes, we give Him a list of reasons why we are not the right person for the job.  In the very beginning of this verse, the angel of God addresses Gideon as a mighty warrior, and yet he questions that.  What name is God calling you that you are dismissing?  Is it son/daughter of the one true King?  Is it Beloved?  Is it Mighty Warrior?  Is it Gifted Healer? Is it Disciple?  Is it Preacher/Teacher?  Is it Worthy or Enough? What name do you hear God calling you, and yet you struggle to accept?  God does not make mistakes.  He is the Lord God Almighty.  If He calls you something, it is because that is your name to Him.  That is who you are in His eyes!What task is God commissioning you for that you are resisting?  Is there something you feel called to do, and instead of telling God yes, you are giving him a whole host of reasons why you cannot do it?  Is he asking you to do something, and you are explaining to him why anyone else would be better for the job?  I get it, I do the same, and yet God is telling us here in this story of Gideon that we need to believe what the Lord says about it and just go out and do it.  Stop trying to tell God who you are; He knows who you are better than you do.  Stop trying to find all these excuses why you can't do the thing God is telling you to do.  Start trying to figure out how to do the thing God is leading you to do.  Stop and ask God, What would you like me to do today?  If you don't know how to do what He is calling you to do, then ask Him how He would like you to do it.  Our God is a wonderful God, and He will answer us when we ask.  Answer the call God is placing on your life today with a resounding Yes!  Trust that if He gave it to you, He will help you fulfill it!Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode.  Lord, we are so grateful that you know us better than we know ourselves.  Thank you for loving us so much and being the best dad out there.  Thank you for calling us by our true identity, even when we struggle to see it.  Lord, help us to see ourselves and the world through your eyes.  Father, thank you for commissioning us to certain tasks.  We are sorry we don't always say yes.  It is not because we don't want to, it is because we are afraid.  Please replace that fear with courage and strength.  Make us bold so we can say yes to whatever you ask.  We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I am starting a new series for the next 31 days. It is called “Come As You Are” and we will take a look at 31 different characters in the Bible who did not look like anything special to the rest of the world, and yet the Lord used them powerfully. I keep telling you, at the end of almost every episode, that Jesus loves you, just as you are. Yet, if you are like me, it can still be hard to believe that at times. Often we feel we have to change first before Jesus loves us. I am hoping that after this series, you will be able to believe me more when I say that each day. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in May 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My word, Jesus, is my power, a power of grace, of goodness, of forgiveness, of mercy, and of great peace. Call upon my power in the name of my son Jesus.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Elon in honor of her steadfast chevruta, Rhondda Ma Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Elon in honor of her steadfast chevruta, Rhondda May, "May G-d grant us many more years of great learning together. " Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Alexander Levy in memory of Jack Schuster, father of my chevruta, Rabbi Jordi Schuster. May his memory be for a blessing. Today's daf is sponsored by Adam Dicker in honor of Carolyn Hochstadter Dicker on her birthday. There is a debate between Rav and Shmuel regarding the kashering process known as niguv. In one version of the debate, Rav requires that ashes be used once during the process, while Shmuel requires them to be used twice. In another version, there is no actual disagreement—Rav simply omits the final step of rinsing with water, since its sole purpose is to remove the ashes. Shmuel, however, includes it as part of the process. How are wicker nets in a winepress kashered? Rabbi Avahu derives from the laws of purifying wicker nets that they require niguv. If the nets are made of reeds, which are more absorbent, they must be left unused for twelve months—or, according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, until the next wine-making season. What is the practical difference between these two opinions? Rabbi Yossi offers an alternative to waiting a year: pouring boiling water over them. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel cites Rabbi Yossi, suggesting instead that the nets be placed under running water for an onah. What is an onah? Some define it as either a day or a night, while others say it means twelve hours. Rav Shmuel bar Yitzchak explains that both interpretations ultimately mean the same thing. How? The strainer and baskets used in the winepress are kashered differently depending on the material they are made from, since the level of absorption varies. If grape clusters are placed in the winepress and surrounded by the juice from the grapes, are they considered a single unit for the purposes of impurity? This has practical implications: if an am haaretz—someone who may not be trusted regarding purity laws—touches one cluster, does that render all the surrounding clusters impure? If one purchases utensils from a non-Jew, how are they to be kashered? The method depends on how the utensil was used: if used with cold food, rinse with water; if used with hot water, perform hagala (boiling); and if exposed to direct fire, apply libun (burning with fire). A knife must be polished. All these utensils also require tevila—immersion in a mikveh. Two different phrases in Bamidbar 31:23, following the battle with Midian, are cited to derive the requirement for tevila. Why are both phrases needed? Rav Nachman explains that even new utensils purchased from a non-Jew require tevila, since kashered old utensils are considered equivalent to new ones. Borrowed utensils from a non-Jew do not require tevila, but a question arises regarding utensils given to a Jew as collateral. Metal and glass utensils require tevila, but earthenware does not. If an earthenware vessel is coated with a lead glaze, should it be treated as earthenware or as metal? If utensils were used without being kashered, is food prepared in them forbidden? The answer depends on when the vessel was last used and whether one holds that a substance imparting a bad flavor is permitted or prohibited.   y, "May G-d grant us many more years of great learning together. " Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Alexander Levy in memory of Jack Schuster, father of my chevruta, Rabbi Jordi Schuster. May his memory be for a blessing. Today's daf is sponsored by Adam Dicker in honor of Carolyn Hochstadter Dicker on her birthday. There is a debate between Rav and Shmuel regarding the kashering process known as niguv. In one version of the debate, Rav requires that ashes be used once during the process, while Shmuel requires them to be used twice. In another version, there is no actual disagreement—Rav simply omits the final step of rinsing with water, since its sole purpose is to remove the ashes. Shmuel, however, includes it as part of the process. How are wicker nets in a winepress kashered? Rabbi Avahu derives from the laws of purifying wicker nets that they require niguv. If the nets are made of reeds, which are more absorbent, they must be left unused for twelve months—or, according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, until the next wine-making season. What is the practical difference between these two opinions? Rabbi Yossi offers an alternative to waiting a year: pouring boiling water over them. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel cites Rabbi Yossi, suggesting instead that the nets be placed under running water for an onah. What is an onah? Some define it as either a day or a night, while others say it means twelve hours. Rav Shmuel bar Yitzchak explains that both interpretations ultimately mean the same thing. How? The strainer and baskets used in the winepress are kashered differently depending on the material they are made from, since the level of absorption varies. If grape clusters are placed in the winepress and surrounded by the juice from the grapes, are they considered a single unit for the purposes of impurity? This has practical implications: if an am haaretz—someone who may not be trusted regarding purity laws—touches one cluster, does that render all the surrounding clusters impure? If one purchases utensils from a non-Jew, how are they to be kashered? The method depends on how the utensil was used: if used with cold food, rinse with water; if used with hot water, perform hagala (boiling); and if exposed to direct fire, apply libun (burning with fire). A knife must be polished. All these utensils also require tevila—immersion in a mikveh. Two different phrases in Bamidbar 31:23, following the battle with Midian, are cited to derive the requirement for tevila. Why are both phrases needed? Rav Nachman explains that even new utensils purchased from a non-Jew require tevila, since kashered old utensils are considered equivalent to new ones. Borrowed utensils from a non-Jew do not require tevila, but a question arises regarding utensils given to a Jew as collateral. Metal and glass utensils require tevila, but earthenware does not. If an earthenware vessel is coated with a lead glaze, should it be treated as earthenware or as metal? If utensils were used without being kashered, is food prepared in them forbidden? The answer depends on when the vessel was last used and whether one holds that a substance imparting a bad flavor is permitted or prohibited.

Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Elon in honor of her steadfast chevruta, Rhondda Ma Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Elon in honor of her steadfast chevruta, Rhondda May, "May G-d grant us many more years of great learning together. " Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Alexander Levy in memory of Jack Schuster, father of my chevruta, Rabbi Jordi Schuster. May his memory be for a blessing. Today's daf is sponsored by Adam Dicker in honor of Carolyn Hochstadter Dicker on her birthday. There is a debate between Rav and Shmuel regarding the kashering process known as niguv. In one version of the debate, Rav requires that ashes be used once during the process, while Shmuel requires them to be used twice. In another version, there is no actual disagreement—Rav simply omits the final step of rinsing with water, since its sole purpose is to remove the ashes. Shmuel, however, includes it as part of the process. How are wicker nets in a winepress kashered? Rabbi Avahu derives from the laws of purifying wicker nets that they require niguv. If the nets are made of reeds, which are more absorbent, they must be left unused for twelve months—or, according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, until the next wine-making season. What is the practical difference between these two opinions? Rabbi Yossi offers an alternative to waiting a year: pouring boiling water over them. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel cites Rabbi Yossi, suggesting instead that the nets be placed under running water for an onah. What is an onah? Some define it as either a day or a night, while others say it means twelve hours. Rav Shmuel bar Yitzchak explains that both interpretations ultimately mean the same thing. How? The strainer and baskets used in the winepress are kashered differently depending on the material they are made from, since the level of absorption varies. If grape clusters are placed in the winepress and surrounded by the juice from the grapes, are they considered a single unit for the purposes of impurity? This has practical implications: if an am haaretz—someone who may not be trusted regarding purity laws—touches one cluster, does that render all the surrounding clusters impure? If one purchases utensils from a non-Jew, how are they to be kashered? The method depends on how the utensil was used: if used with cold food, rinse with water; if used with hot water, perform hagala (boiling); and if exposed to direct fire, apply libun (burning with fire). A knife must be polished. All these utensils also require tevila—immersion in a mikveh. Two different phrases in Bamidbar 31:23, following the battle with Midian, are cited to derive the requirement for tevila. Why are both phrases needed? Rav Nachman explains that even new utensils purchased from a non-Jew require tevila, since kashered old utensils are considered equivalent to new ones. Borrowed utensils from a non-Jew do not require tevila, but a question arises regarding utensils given to a Jew as collateral. Metal and glass utensils require tevila, but earthenware does not. If an earthenware vessel is coated with a lead glaze, should it be treated as earthenware or as metal? If utensils were used without being kashered, is food prepared in them forbidden? The answer depends on when the vessel was last used and whether one holds that a substance imparting a bad flavor is permitted or prohibited.   y, "May G-d grant us many more years of great learning together. " Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Alexander Levy in memory of Jack Schuster, father of my chevruta, Rabbi Jordi Schuster. May his memory be for a blessing. Today's daf is sponsored by Adam Dicker in honor of Carolyn Hochstadter Dicker on her birthday. There is a debate between Rav and Shmuel regarding the kashering process known as niguv. In one version of the debate, Rav requires that ashes be used once during the process, while Shmuel requires them to be used twice. In another version, there is no actual disagreement—Rav simply omits the final step of rinsing with water, since its sole purpose is to remove the ashes. Shmuel, however, includes it as part of the process. How are wicker nets in a winepress kashered? Rabbi Avahu derives from the laws of purifying wicker nets that they require niguv. If the nets are made of reeds, which are more absorbent, they must be left unused for twelve months—or, according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, until the next wine-making season. What is the practical difference between these two opinions? Rabbi Yossi offers an alternative to waiting a year: pouring boiling water over them. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel cites Rabbi Yossi, suggesting instead that the nets be placed under running water for an onah. What is an onah? Some define it as either a day or a night, while others say it means twelve hours. Rav Shmuel bar Yitzchak explains that both interpretations ultimately mean the same thing. How? The strainer and baskets used in the winepress are kashered differently depending on the material they are made from, since the level of absorption varies. If grape clusters are placed in the winepress and surrounded by the juice from the grapes, are they considered a single unit for the purposes of impurity? This has practical implications: if an am haaretz—someone who may not be trusted regarding purity laws—touches one cluster, does that render all the surrounding clusters impure? If one purchases utensils from a non-Jew, how are they to be kashered? The method depends on how the utensil was used: if used with cold food, rinse with water; if used with hot water, perform hagala (boiling); and if exposed to direct fire, apply libun (burning with fire). A knife must be polished. All these utensils also require tevila—immersion in a mikveh. Two different phrases in Bamidbar 31:23, following the battle with Midian, are cited to derive the requirement for tevila. Why are both phrases needed? Rav Nachman explains that even new utensils purchased from a non-Jew require tevila, since kashered old utensils are considered equivalent to new ones. Borrowed utensils from a non-Jew do not require tevila, but a question arises regarding utensils given to a Jew as collateral. Metal and glass utensils require tevila, but earthenware does not. If an earthenware vessel is coated with a lead glaze, should it be treated as earthenware or as metal? If utensils were used without being kashered, is food prepared in them forbidden? The answer depends on when the vessel was last used and whether one holds that a substance imparting a bad flavor is permitted or prohibited.

Study Passage: Exodus 3:1-9Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

The Way Out - From Murder to Midian

Study Passage: Exodus 2:11-25One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

On the principle of a forbidden item convey taste, and with it "forbiddenness," as manifest in hot split beans and vinegar vs. cold split beans and vinegar. Also, on adding a flavor that is to the detriment of the food - and whether that is then prohibited is a machloket. Plus, the biblical source, going back to Midian. Plus, the time-frame for food to go bad... or for a change in taste to automatically be enhanced.

Judges 6:14 - And the Lord turned to him [Gideon] and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”

Today, we're going to look at the moment of truth in Gideon's life:Judges 6:12-16 NLTThe angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you! “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you.”Gideon had the opposite mindset of David, our Bible story from yesterday. But while two different men had two different perspectives of what they could accomplish, one factor was same: God had called them.Gideon even named himself the least man, in the weakest clan, of all the people. In today's language, he would say: “Lord, I'm the last guy you want to pick for this job.” But the Lord said, “I will be with you.” That truth is exactly what gave David and Gideon the courage and the confidence they needed to face their enemies.Do you feel like David today, ready for your big moment, or more like Gideon, “I'm the last person you want to pick, God.”Listen again to what the Lord said to Gideon this time from the Message Bible: ““God is with you, O mighty warrior!” … “God faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?” … God said to him, “I'll be with you. Believe me, you'll defeat Midian as one man.” (Judges 6:12, 14, 16 ).What if God appeared to you right now and called you a hero? How do you know He isn't? Maybe he looks upon you and what you are pushing through right now in your life and sees your courage? Regardless of how you may feel or see your life, this much is true: He is telling you to go at your life with the strength you have because He is with you. And He is most definitely saying today: “I will be with you.”Declare this after me: “Lord, I know You are with me.”Let's pray: “Dear Lord, thank You for examples like David but also those like Gideon, so we can see that the Source of our courage and victories are You. Help me live today knowing, believing, that You are with me. As above, so below.”

Gideon's 300 overcome many thousands of Midian.

The Lord, through Deborah, Barak... and Jael... are able to defeat the King of Canaan. Their song of victory. The oppression of Midian is next...

Jesus Delivers Us (10) (audio) David Eells -8/13/25 Saints, I'm going to continue our teaching how Jesus delivers us and our authority over the demons. I'm going to go over the last dream by SG I shared with you and give more of the interpretation. Let me make a point first. I was warned in a dream about a plot of the factious enemy. When the Lord told us that we would be able to cast it down, He made sure I found the dream that we shared last time, called “Getting Ready for the Storm.” It was given to me months prior on a piece of paper. I had shoved it in my Bible, and I became so busy that I forgot about it until the right time, when the Lord reminded me of it. He led me directly to it. You see, I had taken my Bible out of its holder, and I was fixing the loose binder. I had glued it and I was waiting for it to dry. I had many papers stuffed inside my Bible, not helping the binding, and I wanted to study because I had some things on my mind. I wanted to see what the Lord would say about them, but instead the Lord told me, “No, go through those papers and get them out of your Bible. Get the ones you don't need out.” As I was doing that, I ran across this revelation. It would have been lost forever if the Lord hadn't stopped me at just the right time to look at it. As soon as I started reading, I realized what I had. Let's examine it line by line to understand what God is revealing to us.   Getting Ready for the Storm by SG (David's notes in red) A few of us were outside a big house that was more than one-story high. (This represents God's house.) We were trying to get a platform or something apart before the storm was to come. (Before I found this dream, the Lord had given me a dream or vision in the middle of the night concerning my children, symbolizing UBM, who were with me. In this warning from the Lord, the wind started picking up. I looked around to see where the wind was coming from and noticed a great big tornado coming towards us. I told all the children to get in my car. This represents a place of safety, or the Man-child's way of rest and peace. With cars, you just start them up, push on the pedal, and they go. You don't have to pedal them. It's not man's works. So, all of them got in the car, except for one person. That person took off running towards the tornado. I realized that this represented the faction movement. This person was behaving like Judas did when he ran to the faction of the Sanhedrin to turn Jesus over to them. This revelation given to S.G. months before mine was all about getting ready for the storm. Also, the Lord showed S.G. that this rebellion was happening outside of the house. As I read her dream, Adonijah's faction rebellion to usurp David's throne came to me (1 Kings Chapters 1-2). This is where Adonijah was seeking a platform that was outside the house of God, and according to her dream, it needed to be taken down. This step comes before the storm of my dream arrives; otherwise, there will be trouble.) We needed to unscrew some bolts or something like that. (This represents taking down their strength through spiritual warfare. Bolts are the strength of holding things together.) We started to see wolves and dogs (symbolizing demons) trying to come against us. It was dark outside. There was thunder, lightning and blowing wind. All these represent the spiritual storm. We went inside the house. (Inside the house is a place of provision and safety, and it represents abiding in Jesus Christ, abiding in the temple of God, abiding in the house of the Lord. This usurpation was taking place outside the house of the Lord. The Church is going to go through a crucifixion at the hands of factious people. Factious people all believe that they are in the house of the Lord, but they're not, because they are in hatred, criticism, and rebellion.) We went inside the house. Many others from local UBM were in different rooms praying. Some were kneeling down, while some were standing and commanding the wolves and the dogs to go! It was all happening so fast. It was as if we were in the midst of a storm on a ship out to sea. Things were coming from all directions. We were just commanding those things to cease and go. (In this, we see that God is preparing us for tribulation. The Church will learn to do spiritual warfare. Isn't it wonderful that you can go through so much and yet be at peace? This is because you know from experience that you have authority over all the power of the enemy, and so the enemy has to obey your command. When Jesus sent out His disciples, they came back rejoicing because they had received the revelation that the demons were subject to them (Luke 10:17-20). Jesus said that He beheld Satan fallen from heaven (Luke 10:18). We see “Satan fallen from heaven” is a revelation that will be given to the “woman,” the Church, in the wilderness (Revelation 12:9), although this revelation is being given to the Bride and the Man-child now.) Things were coming from all directions. We were just commanding those things to cease and go. (This represents spiritual warfare training for the coming Passover and tribulation. We have a Passover coming, but we must not be in unforgiveness, criticism, anger, or judgment when that Passover comes. There's no sacrifice for willful disobedience (Hebrews 10:26) and you are going to reap what you sow if that happens (Galatians 6:7). During the Passover in Egypt, the Lord was in full control of the Destroyer. (Exo.12:23) For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. The Passover was performed for those who had eaten all of the lamb. (Exo.12:10) And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. God's people were delivered, even while Egypt was not. The world went under the curse, and the worldly do go under the curse, but God's people who had the blood on their doorposts were delivered.) At one point, it settled down a little. But then I was going outside and touching a gate that was open. It seemed like it shocked me. Then I couldn't speak, as if the enemy were trying to silence me. (Any open “door” will let the enemy in to hinder and sabotage God's work. If the saints are silenced, the enemy will win. We have to take authority over the enemy by the spoken word.) I was able to say, “No! In the Name of Jesus!” I said this as loudly as I could, and started to fight in the spirit. It started to get windy and rough again. (This is training and conditioning. We have to be conditioned like the military does with its people. We have to be conditioned to face the enemy fearlessly, having confidence that (Gal.2:20) … it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me… and being practiced in using our weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-17).) I saw David and Michael, and other brothers and sisters praying and taking care of the little ones. (These “little ones” are those who are not yet practiced in spiritual warfare. They are not confident in their weapons. Even David didn't want to put on Saul's armor (1 Samuel 17:39). He said that he hadn't proven or tested it. He wasn't used to Saul's armor, but he was used to his sling, and it was all he needed to take out Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49).) It was so chaotic and noisy! But everyone was doing their part in the warfare. A few of us would go up and down stairs, helping each other to fight. (This represents helping people at different levels of maturity.) We were strong and didn't give up. No one was frightened. (That's how you get when you enter into the rest. You just know that God has heard your prayers, that you have authority over the enemy, and so on.) But we were more determined when we saw the enemy come against us. As far as I could tell, there were no casualties. (That's important because when there is faction, somebody is taken out. In my dream, it was the guy who was running towards the tornado. So we sought the Lord because we didn't want anybody to be taken out, and we also asked the Lord to have mercy and to spare anybody whom the devil planned to use in this regard. Father heard our prayers. He showed us that we had authority to cast down this faction attack, yet I didn't know this confirmation of not losing anyone to faction, “no casualties,” had been hidden in my Bible all along. Glory be to God!) And before I woke up, I heard myself say two or three times, “I have to wake up and write this down.” (And then I woke up. God has a sense of humor, doesn't He?) S.G.'s Notes: I sensed we had the victory, even though I had left the whole scene (without seeing the end) when I woke up. I felt good about the dream, sensing that we were all working together. Even though the enemy was trying to bring chaos, the fight was done with order. We all knew what we were to do, and we did it. (This expertise in warfare has come through years of practice in dealing with the factious. The Lord's Man-child and Bride are being put through this training in order to go forth and bring wisdom to God's people, just as when Jesus and His Bride were first anointed. You, who are hearing and reading this now, are also gaining this knowledge and wisdom.) I asked the Lord for a Word to correspond to this dream. My finger went down on “our captain.” (2Ch.13:12KJV) And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper. This is the story of Jeroboam's faction against Israel. What were the chances of randomly landing on a faction verse? Jeroboam led Israel away in a faction from the house of David (2Ch.11:15) and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the hegoats, and for the calves which he had made. He set up the false “Jesus” of the golden calves and, following the failed ambush he set up against Judah, he ultimately lost his kingdom and life to Abijah, the son of David. These misled people were all trusting in their golden calves, making priests who were not ordained of God, and following a leader who was a wicked, factious person, yet here they came to attack a people who still serve and sacrifice to the real, true God. The factious group attack a people who have the temple of God in their midst like Jerusalem and who are serving God. What is the chance of them winning? Zero! (2Ch.13:13) But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. (The factious army was before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.) (14) And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. (15) Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah (He was a son of David.) and Judah (was the house of David) (16) And the children of Israel (the faction) fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand. (17) And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. (In our literal war with the factious they are spiritually dead and many are physically dead.)(18) Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord, the God of their fathers. (19) And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam (the factious leadership), and took cities from him, Beth-el (“house of God.”) with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephron with the towns thereof. (20) Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah (The faction was over.): and the Lord smote him, and he died. S.G.'s Notes: Then, the Lord gave me the word “tumult” from H1993 “Strong's Concordance” which means “to make a loud sound, to be in great commotion, roar, be in an uproar, to rage, war, clamor.” I looked up a few verses with the word “tumult” in them. One of the Scriptures, Psalm 83:2, I received twice in twenty-four hours: (Psa.83:2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. (What were the chances of her randomly landing on a paragraph the next morning containing the word “tumult”? Praise God for His divine direction! Amazingly, Psalm 83 details the total victory God's people experienced when all their enemies came together to ambush Judah. This event is like the Sennacherib scenario (2 Kings 19) or the northern army that was conquered by the visitation of the Lord when He brought revival and the latter rain (Joel 2). How wonderfully God puts things together!) Psalm 83 is about a faction against God's people. It is called “A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.” Let's read it in its entirety. (Psa.83:1) O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. (2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. (3) They take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones. (4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (5) For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant (All the enemy came against them to take them out. Has that ever happened to natural Israel? Yes, and natural Israel is a parable for the Church.): (6) The tents of Edom (They were the sons of Abraham but they made themselves enemies to the chosen people of Israel. The Edomites persecuted their own brothers.) and the Ishmaelites (They did the same thing.); Moab, and the Hagarenes; (7) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: (8) Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. (All these people fought against Israel. They made themselves the enemy of Israel, and all of them paid for it because they were all conquered.) Selah. (9) Do thou unto them as unto Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon (Give these enemies total defeat, including the loss of their head.); (10) Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth. (11) Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna; (12) Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God. (There was no chance of this happening; their failed plan to usurp the House of God was completely cast down.) (13) O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind. (14) As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire, (15) So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm. (16) Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek thy name, O Lord. (17) Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever… This is what the Lord is doing with the factious. They are meeting with failure because of their evil schemes, and they don't even know that they've been taken by the devil. They don't know they are a captive of his will. If they get the revelation of what they have done, as people do who are delivered from demons, they are going to be shamed. This is good because it will make them very strong, as it did the Apostle Paul. He was shamed and wanted to make up for his attacks against his chosen brethren in every way possible (Acts 8:3,9:21; Galatians 1:13,23). He was the strongest of all the apostles. (Psa.83:17) Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish; (18) That they may know that thou alone, whose name is the Lord, Art the Most High over all the earth. God is so good! He has a plan, and He can certainly tell you what it is. He is an awesome Savior in all things. Praise be to God! If we're going to make war against demonic entities, we cannot be deceived as to the enemy's identity and how to conquer him. We cannot be “ignorant of his devices”, although there are some laughable things in this next dream I'm going to share with you. It's all about the devil's devices, and it fits together very well. God is so amazing when His gifts, such as dreams, come together through His people to edify them, and God has many of these gifts in reserve that He can release at any time. Well, for quite a while we've been calling these things that take over God's people in the faction “stupid” demons. Sometimes we just look at each other when we hear things the factious say. We shake our heads, thinking, “How is it possible that anybody could believe such a thing?” Factious demons make people so stupid that they don't even realize what they're doing. Factious people don't recognize how idiotic their excuses are for disobeying God's Word, and it's a shameful thing, but they will understand more and more as they come out from under their demon-induced stupor. We praise God for their elects coming release! We've been praying for it. These are our friends whom we love. We know that God will give us all the victory through our warfare. Now let's look at the dream and the interpretation so that we can better understand the warfare that's needed.)   The Invasion of the “Stupid” Demons – Part 1 by S.S. (David's notes in red) I am in a meadow praying for all of UBM. In this dream, I am only praying for what the Lord gives or leads me to pray for them. And I am weeping for them while praying. Then I am standing in a hall with four doorways. As I look at the first doorway, a man comes out and says in carnival talk, “Let me tell you something lady! If you really want to know how to pray and get all the distractions out of your life, this is how you do it.” (“Carnival talk” is “make-believe.” It's talk to satisfy the lusts of the speaker, who wants to get something over on you. They are known for being slick salesmen and luring in the gullible public to their sideshows. Deceiving spirits keep people from knowing the real power of prayer by substituting their silly notions, and by doing that, they also keep God's people from knowing or discovering the demon's power.) In the doorway was a chin-up bar. He begins to hang upside down from it, and he starts swinging by his legs. He says, “You see, this is how you get rid of the demons! They can't hang around because you are upside down.” I reply, “What? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.” (That's exactly what we're talking about with these “stupid” demons. This is deception. The demons try to foist their power, what they're able to do, upon the people of God. Some people are made useless because they listen to the devil, instead of God, about spiritual warfare.) And then, I look closely at him. He is a cartoon walrus. (This may sound silly on the surface, but a walrus represents one who is full of flesh. Walruses get up to four to five thousand pounds; they're just monstrous. Also, it's interesting that their tusks are enlarged canines, which they use to pull their body, their flesh out of the water. In other words, they use their mouth and their teeth to separate themselves from God's Word, the “water,” for the sake of their flesh. That's like this deceptive demon represented by the carnival barker. A carnival is a place where they take advantage of you and make money off of you.) Then I look at the second doorway. There I see one large rat, three medium rats, and one baby rat. (Rats are unclean beasts and bearers of disease. People generally like to get rid of them.) And the biggest one is saying, “Don't be a rat! Don't be a rat!” To “rat” is to tell on somebody, to betray them by revealing incriminating information. The three medium ones are saying, “Don't tell! Don't tell!” And the baby rat is sniffling and trying to hold up his pants at the waist, saying with a very small voice, “Don't tell the truth! Don't tell the truth!” (Jesus promised in (Joh.8:32) and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. You will not be in bondage with the truth. Truth and prayer reveal the works and the power of the enemy; they give you wisdom so that you can destroy the enemy even before he makes his attack. It will be like the Sennacherib scenario, where the enemy is destroyed before they are able to shoot a single arrow into Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:33-36). The enemy is prevented from shooting into the Bride because God is defending her.) In the third doorway, I could see a classroom holding small grade-school desks, the type with a place for books under the seat. And the teacher is showing them how to pray a mantra. There was one little girl who couldn't do it. She could not remember the prayer. (Much of immature Christianity prays like this, trying to call up the power of God without heart and without faith. The only thing that answers mantras is demons. The Lord Jesus told us, (Mat.6:7) And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. This reminds me of when the nuns taught us to pray the Rosary for whatever we needed from God. We were told that if we did enough of these prayers, the “Hail Mary's” and “Our Father's,” we might get an answer, but it was all just praying a repetitive prayer, a mantra. The Lord doesn't want prayers like that; He wants prayers from your heart. He wants to have personal communication with you. (Jas.5:16) … The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. We know and understand what He wants, but some people do not, and their rote prayers are not the kind that God hears. Going on with the dream.) With his fingers, the teacher is thumping the girl's head saying, “You're not trying hard enough! You are not trying hard enough.” (Salvation in all of its forms is not by works of man or works of law, but through repentance and faith in God. (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory. People who tell you that you are not trying hard enough and who don't direct you into faith towards God are just going to frustrate you. When this happens, you will never arrive at your “destination.” So, of course, demons try to get people caught up in this kind of legalism because the demons know their human victims are not going to get any answers that way. They know the people will end up in frustration, losing their faith, and falling away. The demons have been doing this for thousands of years.) Continuing, I had been looking at the girl from the side, but she suddenly turns and looks my way with a sideways, downcast glance as if to say, “Did I show you my true colors?” (Yes, those oppressed under the law are not justified; therefore, their prayers are hindered.) And then she turns into a cartoon wolf. All the rest of the class are wolves, also. (Anybody who is under the law like that will never come to maturity. The law cannot perfect (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 7:19; etc.) Those who seek God only for “fire insurance” haven't been changed in heart, and they will be dangerous to the body when their true colors are ultimately seen. They are just tares amongst the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30) and therefore, the true Church is being sanctified from them. There is an ongoing separation of the tares from the wheat. The Lord Jesus said, (Mat.13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. We all may have gone through a time of legalism, but then we learned what was wrong with it, and we didn't stay there. If somebody stays there until the end, they are not justified before God. They are not accounted righteous before God, and they will lose out. It makes no difference if they call themselves a “Christian.” It's dangerous to stay in legalism after we've been redeemed from it. (Gal.4:4) But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Demons try to get people caught up in situations where they won't get answers from God. Demons fear our prayers of faith and justification, so they use every trick they have to get us off track one way or another. They're not stupid; they just make people act stupid. All of this is to hinder us from doing spiritual warfare.) Continuing: And I say, “Oh Lord! This dream is dumb! I don't even like cartoons!” Cartoons are not real. (In this case, they're deceptions, figments of imagination that are not from God.) Next, I'm looking at the fourth doorway where a group of people are getting ready to pray. Someone announces loudly, “We're getting ready to pray now. We're getting ready to pray now.” (We are not supposed to cease from praying. The Lord says we are to (1Th.5:17) Pray without ceasing. This even includes prayers coming from our thought life.) The next word spoken is, “Let everyone pray in tongues for a little bit.” And all the people change into cartoon characters. (There's nothing wrong with speaking in tongues; it's very good, but the way some people speak in tongues is not so good. Some are putting on a cartoon show. Also, If a person has not repented and is not walking by faith, what would the Holy Spirit pray through them? Well, since He's praying for their good, He may be speaking judgment to turn them around or turn them from their sins, but many times that's not the thought of some when they're praying. They're thinking that this is the way to peace and prosperity when, instead, the Holy Spirit says, (Isa.26:9) With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. It's true that sometimes people don't get honest with God until they go through judgments. A sister, who had suffered for many years under these tormenting spirits of rejection, would get in bad shape, and each time we would pray for her. The Lord was faithful to heal her, but then she would get in bad shape all over again. My thoughts were, “Okay, something's wrong. There's a foundation that we're not discovering.” Many times I brought up the subject of unforgiveness to her, and many times she would tell me, “Oh no, David! I don't have any unforgiveness toward anybody,” but I knew what she really meant was, “No, I don't want to kill them right now!” It was obvious that she was holding on to unforgiveness. Anyway, her husband and I would pray for her and she would keep going through this cycle, until ultimately, she had a stroke and was sagging on one side. I don't know how near death she came, but it was during this time that she was forced into being very honest with God. And sure enough, she discovered that she had unforgiveness towards her ex-husband and some other people. The Lord had turned her over to these tormentors, just as He said He would do in His Word. When she repented of this unforgiveness, her husband and I got her up out of bed and started marching her down the hall, walking by faith, but one side was not cooperating. We marched her around the kitchen island a few times, when, lo and behold, the power of the Lord hit her! He straightened her right up from the effects of the stroke. She was healed, and this breakthrough happened because she finally came to the place of being honest. The Holy Spirit is saying, “Sometimes people won't repent without this trouble.” (Isa.26:10) Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. (11) Lord, thy hand is lifted up, yet they see not (The Lord is making war against their enemies, their flesh and the demons therein.): but they shall see [thy] zeal for the people, and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries. If you really want everything that God has that will make you better, you're willing to go to your cross, and you may even be praying in the Spirit for yourself to go to your cross. A lot of prosperity-minded people think that praying in the Spirit is the fix-all. They think that praying in the Spirit is going to bring peace and prosperity, with their enemies conquered, and so on. Ultimately, this is very true, but only if they have repented and are walking towards the Lord, but many people are like this sister. They don't know what's been holding them back all this time, but the Lord can show them, just as the Holy Spirit did for this sister. And since the Holy Spirit knows that some people need chastening, it's a delusion to think that praying in the Spirit, real or supposed, will always bring peace and prosperity, but demons like to delude. Repentance and faith are the foundation for prayer. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the Will of God, not our carnal will. We know His goodwill comes to those who love Him, and we know to love Him is to keep His commandments (John 14:15). Remember, the Bible says, (Rom.8:26) And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity (We have problems sometimes. We don't see the things we need to see. We don't know ourselves as well as we think.): for we know not how to pray as we ought… It is so true! God gives us the gift of speaking in tongues because we don't know what we should pray, but the Spirit does know what to pray. (Rom.8:26) … but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for [us] with groanings which cannot be uttered; (27) and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. So once again, we gain wisdom concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in us in how to defeat the enemy, which sometimes entails bringing us through chastening. (Rom.8:28) And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good… What about those who don't prove their love for God by their obedience? What if it's more important to them to seek the world, cater to their flesh, and keep the old man alive? In such a case, what comes to them for good would be chastening. (Rom.8:28) … all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose. At the beginning of this revelation, S.S. said, “I am only praying for what the Lord gives me to pray, and the way the Lord leads me to pray for them.” That's good! That's very important! Going on with the dream. People began putting their thumbs on their temples and waving their hands like wings, making exaggerated thumb movements. Have you ever heard of people doing such things? (Mat.23:5) But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders [of their garments], (6) and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (7) and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.) Continuing: And their tongues were about twelve inches long, and their eyes were as big as saucers. (There are religious spirits that make God's people do silly things to impress the people around them, all the time thinking that they are being spiritual. People can become pretty stupid when they have those spirits.) I said, “Enough is enough! When are people going to behave themselves?” (The prayers some people pray are simply in vain. They're useless because the people haven't repented, yet they think they're going to receive. That's no better than repeating a monotonous mantra. The Holy Spirit, through Paul and Jude, called letting the Holy Spirit pray through us “praying in the Spirit.” (Eph.6:18) With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Good things come from praying in the Spirit. (Jud.1:20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God… Have you prayed to build yourself up in the faith? Praise be to God! It's the act of being a vessel through whom the Spirit of God will pray for God's Will. It's not a blank check for your will. It's necessary for those who are repentant and not afraid for the Will of God to be manifested. (1Co.14:14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth (Notice that the Holy Spirit prays through our spirit.), but my understanding is unfruitful. (Your understanding is “unfruitful” because you don't know what you're saying.) (15) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also… Are you that determined that you should pray in these ways? I hope so; it's very important, but it's also important to do it right and not care about what other people think. It's important to be at rest with the Spirit of God, allowing Him to speak through you. (15) … and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. I do that and love it. I feel edified when I sing in the spirit. Paul told believers to be (Eph.6:18) With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit… He also said, (1Co.14:18) I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all. Praise God! Now, let me say that if we are addressing the assembly in the Spirit, that is, addressing the assembly in tongues, there should also be interpretation. If we're not standing up to address the assembly, it's permitted to speak in tongues in the assembly, and interpretation is not required. Paul said for us to be “With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit,” but that we should be praying with the understanding, too. If we are simply addressing God in tongues, our understanding is not required; however, if we are speaking to a group, they need to understand it. It will do no good to speak to them in tongues unless there's an interpretation. Speaking in tongues is not necessarily the same as the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues and its companion gift of interpretation are for the purpose of standing up to address the assembly. These gifts are for the Body, and they're on an equal footing with prophecy. Any person who is baptized in the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues, and it's very good to speak in tongues because (1Co.14:4) He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself (He “builds” himself up. Some people think that's a negative statement, but it's positive because you're building yourself up in the Holy Spirit.); but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  

Sefer Bamidbar | Matot - Masei | 5785 | War of Midian, War of Vengeance, by Rav Ezra Bick What is the difference between the vengeance of Israel and the vengeance of God? What does it actually mean to avenge the Midianites? Why did the people go out to do this in the name of Moses?

The war of Midian highlights a debate between the people and Moshe, and a most important trait in leadership.

This week's reading of the two Torah portions of Mattot and Masei bring the Book of Numbers to a close, as Moshe prepares the people for battle with Midian, even as he knows his departure from this world will follow. But what does it really mean for an immortal soul to leave this world? Why does Torah describe death as 'to be gathered?' Join Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman in this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast for a fascinating study of words and boundaries....including the permeable boundary between this world and the next, as discussed in Dutch cardiologist Dr. Pim van Lommel's groundbreaking study of the Near Death Experience, 'Consciousness Beyond Life.' _________Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, Inc., a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:PayPal: infojerusalemlights@gmail.com or: https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...In the USA: Jerusalem Lights Inc. Post Office Box 16886Lubbock Texas 79490In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395 Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem IsraelSubscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel:    / jerusalemlightsrabbichaimrichman  Follow us on Facebook:   / rabbichaimrichman    / 282440396475839  

This year, the Book of Numbers ends with a double parsha – Mattos and Masei. We learn about the laws of vows and oaths; the miraculous war with Midian; the unusual request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben; the Torah delineates the 42 different places that the Nation encamped for their 40 year sojourn; […]

Maybe today you feel alone. Perhaps due to your mistakes and failures you have isolated yourself from others. Maybe you are struggling and you wonder where God is. Possibly, you feel as if you are on the far side of the wilderness. Stand on this truth from God's Word: He will never leave you or forsake you.Main Points:1. This morning as I was reading my Bible, I found myself in Exodus chapter three. It's the story where Moses meets God at the burning bush. Six words leaped off the page as I read the familiar story. It says Moses was on “the far side of the wilderness.” Moses wasn't just in the wilderness, he was on the far side of the wilderness. What is the wilderness? The dictionary defines it as “an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.” In other words, Moses was as isolated as a person could get.2. Yet, on the far side of the wilderness, with not another person in sight, Moses was not alone. It's here Moses has a life-changing encounter with God. He is reminded he is not alone, he is not forgotten, and God's purpose for his life has not changed.3. Moses never forgot about the day he encountered God at the burning bush. It was a revelation of God's continued purpose and plan for his life, but the greater lesson for Moses was the necessity of God's presence. Today's Scripture Verses:Exodus 3:1 - "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness..."Psalm 139:7-10 - “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”Exodus 33:15-16 - “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

(6:16) Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Paul didn’t want money, he wanted souls. Matthew 5:43-48 What does it mean that we should pray for those who persecute us? (22:33) Break 1 (23:31) Letters: Father answers some difficult questions during this letter segment. Send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (34:23) Break 2 (36:44) Word of the Day Tunic and your cloak (40:36) Phones: Kelly - my husband is investigating Catholic Church and compares it to Eastern Orthodox. why do they not use wine with Eucharist? Dan - In Isaiah. it mentions the day of Midian. what does this phrase mean? Therese - indulgences. once you know you have received indulgence, how do you ask the Lord to be able to use that indulgence?

Fr. Mike breaks down the battle against Midian and explains why God would allow destruction and warfare that can seem brutal. He also highlights how we can learn from Israel's weakness by destroying the things in our lives that lead us away from God. Today's readings are Numbers 31, Deuteronomy 30, and Psalm 116. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.