Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell

12 - A Place of Refuge

As our nation and the world move toward what the Bible refers to as the “last days” we see disturbing trends around us which leave us feeling confused and alienated. Why are people so committed to tearing down God’s moral standards? Why such hostility toward Jesus Christ? Who in their right mind could be so hateful as to bomb innocent people and then celebrate as if they had done something heroic? Where is all this headed? The forces behind these trends seem relentless. But at the same time we see people coming to Christ all over the world in great numbers. We see the Holy Spirit moving as powerfully today as in the pages of the Book of Acts. We see churches growing in size and influence beyond anything ever seen in history. So it seems the world is polarizing. Spiritual darkness is getting darker and God’s light is getting brighter. And that, of course, is exactly what the Bible says will happen in the “last days.” But this knowledge alone doesn’t prevent us from growing frightened by the swelling spiritual conflict we see everywhere we turn. In fact, if we don’t learn to walk in God’s promises, we’ll find ourselves wanting to withdraw from life and hide. That’s why the Book of Exodus is so good for us to read. It shows us how God can protect His people even when we’re surrounded by dangerous forces. It reminds us that He is our “place of refuge.” Even in the darkest of times we do not need to fear. We can live boldly under His protection and full of hope as we wait for His deliverance.

11 - The Reward of Obedience

Every time we deliberately say “no” to God we harden our own hearts, and every time we say “yes” to Him we become softer. By making us in His own image, God has given us the power to choose and that ability means we are responsible for the choices we make. This passage in Exodus concludes with the statement, “But when Pharaoh saw there was relief he hardened his own heart and did not listen to them as the Lord had said” (v 15). In order to understand what was taking place in Pharaoh we will first listen to a remarkable explanation about human choices Jesus gave in Matthew 13:10–17. Next we will distinguish between ignorance, defiance and obedience. And finally we’ll discover that by obedience God draws us closer and closer to Himself. An obedient heart leads to a relationship of great intimacy and understanding as “friends of God.”

10 - Hardening Pharoh’s Heart

This passage raises a subject which has been debated for centuries. Does the statement that God “hardened” Pharaoh’s heart mean He actually prevents some people from repenting and being saved. Throughout the next five chapters there are repeated references to hardening Pharaoh’s heart along with statements to the effect that Pharaoh then refused to submit to God’s demand to release the Hebrew slaves. Taken from one perspective, God appears to be playing a cruel game with Pharaoh. While ordering him to release the Israelites and performing stunning miracles powerful enough to convince any normal person that God was real and meant what He said, at the same time God miraculously prevented Pharaoh from changing his mind. This view makes Pharaoh a tragic figure in a great cosmic play. He’s being given commands and then prevented from obeying them with the result that his entire nation is forced to endure a series of devastating plagues. Those who assume this is what is taking place recognize it puts God’s character in a bad light: it makes Him look cruel and arbitrary. His demands to Pharaoh are insincere because the man is not permitted to say “yes.” But they justify this understanding by turning to Paul’s statement in Romans 9 which again seem to support them, and there the question is asked, “…Who are you O man, who answers back to God?” Paul goes on to argue that since God is the one who makes humans, He can use them anyway He wants to (Ro 9:19–23). Some feel this should silence any complaints about fairness. After all, He’s God and can do what He wants to. Today we’ll take a fresh look at the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart because the very character of God is at stake. Is God loving and just, desiring to save every person He can? Or are there some, like Pharaoh, whose hearts He hardens?

9 - Drawing Closer

There are different levels at which people tend to relate to God:

• There are those who call on God only when they need help.
• There are those who recognize their sinfulness and call on God for forgiveness (confess and repent; trust and submit)
• There are those who regularly meet God personally and fall in love with Him (worship and pray)
• There are those who let God’s presence transform them until they are filled with His love for others (serve and witness)

8 - A Deliverers Family

One of the key ingredients for true discipleship is learning how to be part of a family—whether that be our natural family or the family of God. Learning to live in a committed way with people is a tremendous challenge for all of us. Nothing confronts our character so much as living with other people. Our weaknesses are exposed, our selfishness confronted and our love is tested. But as ironic as it may sound, these are some of the things that cause us to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. Proverbs (27:17) captures this idea when it says, “iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It’s the friction that takes place between people that fits us for service. At least it does in people who submit to the Lord and seek His help. These learn to forgive, repent, pray, wait, love, serve, submit and lead. Those who run away from this process tend to remain immature and never realize their full potential for ministry.

 

Today we’re going to learn some valuable lessons about family by observing a very painful moment in the marriage of Moses and Zipporah. Yet, it teaches lessons that both and women need to hear because some of God’s attitudes about family are clearly revealed here. And after all, “family is God’s idea (Eph 3:14, 15). He’s the One who calls us into family.

7 - Standing Firm

If we’re going to be free and inherit our promises we’re going to have to learn to fight. Just because something is God’s will for us doesn’t mean it will come easily or without opposition. In fact, there are always forces which oppose the advancement of God’s kingdom. Whenever God’s power is breaking into darkness with salvation, healing, restoration, deliverance, love, guidance or provision, we can expect a counterattack from the enemy. So we have to learn to fight, but the battle we experience primarily takes place in our own minds. When the devil’s backlash comes we tend to become discouraged, allowing negative thoughts to quench our hope.

 

This chapter of Exodus vividly exposes the heart of the devil. Working through Pharaoh we see a cruel personality which wants to keep people in bondage and oppose the work of God. We learn that the devil will not stand back passively and release people even when God commands it. Instead of giving up and slinking away quietly he reacts using his own arsenal of weapons. But Exodus brings us good news. It shows us God’s power far outweighs the devil’s, so we can be confident He will deliver us if we only learn to stand firm.

6 - From God’s Perspective

Definition of Thanks: 1) Sees the good; 2) Sees the grace: acknowledges the reception of something undeserved; I don’t need to thank someone for what I deserve or pay for; 3) Sees the source: this is generated by someone other than me; I was given this, I didn’t produce this; 4) Sees the need to speak: I need to communicate to the person who provided it

 

Life always seems to offer us a mixture of good and bad

• We keep waiting for the moment when the circumstances of life will be all good and no bad, but that’s an elusive mirage; we never seem to get there

5 - Calling a Deliverer

Last week we learned: God uses people to deliver people; a “deliverer” is someone who: sets free from restraint, rescues from evil or unburdens the oppressed; God uses suffering, failure and frustration to prepare deliverers. This week we’ll learn that God calls those who are His deliverers: In chapters three and four we’ll see God call Moses to his role in delivering Israel from Egypt.

 

There are numerous examples in the Bible of God calling people to a specific assignment in ministry: Abraham (Ge 12:1–3); Samuel (1Sa 3:1–10); Isaiah (Isa 6:1–13); Jeremiah (Jer 1:4–10); Ezekiel (Ezk 2:1–7); Jesus (Jn 1:29–34); Peter, James & John (Lk 5:1–11); Paul (Ac 9:1–18). Today we want to look more closely at how God calls deliverers.

4 - Preparing A Deliverer

What does it mean to “deliver” someone? set free from restraint; rescue from evil; lift off a burden.

3 - Divine Discontent - b

God knew Israel would not leave Egypt just because He asked them to. They would have to undergo a deep attitude-change before He could give them the promised land. After all, they had lived in Egypt for 400 years. It had become home to many generations and they had prospered there. Their families grew large, their livestock flourished and they built fine houses to live in. Yet, God did not want them to comfortably melt into the surrounding culture, gradually becoming Egyptians over the centuries. He had an important role for them to play in helping lost people find eternal life and they couldn’t fulfill that role where they were. They needed to move to the land he promised their ancestors. But since God will not changes a person’s will against their will, and He knew they wouldn’t obey Him if their situation remained as it was, He was forced to use circumstances to pressure them until their will aligned with His. This is the process we’re calling “divine discontent.” Last week we observed how the Holy Spirit brings “divine discontent” to unbelievers in order to draw them to Jesus Christ. This week we’ll discuss how God uses “divine discontent” in the lives of believers.