We Will Embrace Your Move
Galatians 3:11-12 (MSG) says, “The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for Him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you."
Exodus is a book of the people of God embracing and walking out God initiated promises and plans.
In Exodus 3:7, God lit a bush on fire to grab Moses’ attention and then told Moses, “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 suffering, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of the 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…Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-8,10)
God warned Moses that the Pharaoh would not let the people of God go unless he was compelled by a mighty hand so He promised Moses, “I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go” (Ex 3:19-20).
God had heard the cries of His people and responded. It was not Moses initiating or feeling sorry for the Hebrews and going into Pharaoh because it was the right thing to do. Moses did not come up with the idea and then ask God to bless it. It was by God’s initiative and His power that Moses went to Pharaoh demanding the release of God’s people.
“Mighty is our King” sings in the background. God does what God wants to do and He has the power to complete all that He decides to initiate. In Luke 14:28 Jesus asks, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
When Moses first went into Pharaoh and demanded that he let the people of God go, Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go.” And he proceeded to severely oppress the people of God, making them produce bricks without straw. The people of God turned against Moses and God. Moses even doubted God at this point as he turned to God and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?” (Exodus 5:22).
However, God proved to be faithful to His promises. He outstretched his arm against Pharaoh and Egypt, sending plagues that opposed every one of the idols of Egypt and then led His people out of the land, going before them as a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:22).
“I will celebrate, sing onto the Lord, I will sing onto Him a new song…. I will praise Him for He has triumphed victoriously!” sings in the background.
If that was not enough, God led the people of God out of the land by splitting the Red Sea and leading His people through it. Even after this, the people of God mumbled and complained about water and food, doubting God’s provision and saying, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full…” (Exodus 16:3). God rained down manna from heaven for them to eat, turned bitter water sweet and provided them water from the Rock.
He then brought His people to His holy mountain to make a covenant of love with them telling them, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all the peoples, for the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6).
God provided the people with the Ten Commandments, laws to follow and a promise that they would be blessed and overtake their enemies in the land of Canaan. The people all promised that they would follow God’s commands and laws. God then gave Moses instructions for building a sanctuary so He could dwell among His people. As Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people became tired of waiting and made for themselves a golden calf to worship in place of the Lord. After calling the people to repentance, Moses interceded for the people and the covenant was renewed between God and His people. The people then built the Tabernacle as instructed by God.
A few things I take away from this are:
1. In His great love, God has and agenda with the people of God. He has wonderful plans. And what God has planned, He will carry it out to completion. It is not dependant on everyone getting everything right. If God wants something done, He has already counted the cost and will follow through on it.
I sometimes think that if I blow it and don’t live up to God’s expectations, He will not follow through on His promises. I put myself under tremendous pressure to be perfect because I view His promises as conditional.
I need to relax and realize that if God initiates and plans something, He will see it through. He is more than capable of seeing His own plans through. If I blow it, it is not the end of the world… I come from a long history of stiff necked people. If I fail to do my part, I am the one who misses out on the joy of partnering with Him.
2. Over and over and over again, the people of God have failed to embrace the purposes and plans of God. As soon as things became difficult, rather than standing in faith on the promises of God, His people have turned to their own ways. They have complained and have wanted to turn back. They did not trust in the goodness and love of God when circumstances became difficult.
As a result, they have made things difficult on themselves and slowed down their own progress towards the purposes God has for them. The Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years is a perfect example of this. None of them except Caleb and Joshua entered into the Promised Land because of their willfulness.
God merely asked for the people to embrace what He was doing with a trusting heart. No matter the circumstances around them, they could count on God to provide for them and to fulfill His plans for them (and still can today). They only need to embrace what He puts in front of them.
I say this like it is so easy to do… huh! I went to work this morning with a note card tucked in my pocket that had Galatians 3:11-12 written on it. My job for the day was to merely embrace what God had for me and trust Him. All morning, I wanted to rebel against the purposes of God in my life and be willful. I complained in my heart. My problem was that I did not like my circumstances and did not see how they were for my benefit. Like the stiff necked Israelites, I thought I knew better what was good for me and was certain it didn’t involve so much death to myself.
"My life is in You Lord, My strength is in You Lord, My hope is You Lord!"
Lord, forgive me where I resist Your will and don't embrace your purposes. Help me to trust you and embrace all you have for me without complaining in my heart, knowing that what You have planned is best.
Even today, You still bear us up on eagle's wings. Thank you that your people never escape your sight and that Your plans for us today are good just as they were back then. Your love is amazing!
We Will Embrace Your Move, by Darrell Evans
Behold our God is gracious, He’s moving among the nations,
preparing the bride for Jesus, and proving He reigns,
His Spirit is tearing down walls, built on the pride of men,
to those who’ve rejected Him, He’s reaching His hand out again,
CHO:
We will embrace, we will embrace Your move,
We will embrace, we will embrace Your love
We will embrace, we will embrace Your move,
We will embrace, we will embrace Your love
BRIDGE:
Oh God be our God, and we’ll be Your people of praise,
we’ll dance and we’ll sing for our God is the Ancient of Days,
Oh, God be our God, and we’ll be Your people of praise,
we’ll dance and we’ll sing for our God is the Ancient of Days,
Yes, our God is preparing a feast, the Spirit of brides say come,
Calling out to the least, and filling our lampstands with oil,
and He is restoring His people, by rains of sweet renewal,
and the music of Heaven, will soon over take the earth.
SHOUT:
Sing, Hey Lord, (Hey Lord).....We embrace Your move (We embrace your move)
Hey Lord, (Hey Lord).....We embrace Your love, (We embrace Your love)
Exodus is a book of the people of God embracing and walking out God initiated promises and plans.
In Exodus 3:7, God lit a bush on fire to grab Moses’ attention and then told Moses, “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 suffering, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of the 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…Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-8,10)
God warned Moses that the Pharaoh would not let the people of God go unless he was compelled by a mighty hand so He promised Moses, “I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go” (Ex 3:19-20).
God had heard the cries of His people and responded. It was not Moses initiating or feeling sorry for the Hebrews and going into Pharaoh because it was the right thing to do. Moses did not come up with the idea and then ask God to bless it. It was by God’s initiative and His power that Moses went to Pharaoh demanding the release of God’s people.
“Mighty is our King” sings in the background. God does what God wants to do and He has the power to complete all that He decides to initiate. In Luke 14:28 Jesus asks, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
When Moses first went into Pharaoh and demanded that he let the people of God go, Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go.” And he proceeded to severely oppress the people of God, making them produce bricks without straw. The people of God turned against Moses and God. Moses even doubted God at this point as he turned to God and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?” (Exodus 5:22).
However, God proved to be faithful to His promises. He outstretched his arm against Pharaoh and Egypt, sending plagues that opposed every one of the idols of Egypt and then led His people out of the land, going before them as a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:22).
“I will celebrate, sing onto the Lord, I will sing onto Him a new song…. I will praise Him for He has triumphed victoriously!” sings in the background.
If that was not enough, God led the people of God out of the land by splitting the Red Sea and leading His people through it. Even after this, the people of God mumbled and complained about water and food, doubting God’s provision and saying, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full…” (Exodus 16:3). God rained down manna from heaven for them to eat, turned bitter water sweet and provided them water from the Rock.
He then brought His people to His holy mountain to make a covenant of love with them telling them, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all the peoples, for the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6).
God provided the people with the Ten Commandments, laws to follow and a promise that they would be blessed and overtake their enemies in the land of Canaan. The people all promised that they would follow God’s commands and laws. God then gave Moses instructions for building a sanctuary so He could dwell among His people. As Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people became tired of waiting and made for themselves a golden calf to worship in place of the Lord. After calling the people to repentance, Moses interceded for the people and the covenant was renewed between God and His people. The people then built the Tabernacle as instructed by God.
A few things I take away from this are:
1. In His great love, God has and agenda with the people of God. He has wonderful plans. And what God has planned, He will carry it out to completion. It is not dependant on everyone getting everything right. If God wants something done, He has already counted the cost and will follow through on it.
I sometimes think that if I blow it and don’t live up to God’s expectations, He will not follow through on His promises. I put myself under tremendous pressure to be perfect because I view His promises as conditional.
I need to relax and realize that if God initiates and plans something, He will see it through. He is more than capable of seeing His own plans through. If I blow it, it is not the end of the world… I come from a long history of stiff necked people. If I fail to do my part, I am the one who misses out on the joy of partnering with Him.
2. Over and over and over again, the people of God have failed to embrace the purposes and plans of God. As soon as things became difficult, rather than standing in faith on the promises of God, His people have turned to their own ways. They have complained and have wanted to turn back. They did not trust in the goodness and love of God when circumstances became difficult.
As a result, they have made things difficult on themselves and slowed down their own progress towards the purposes God has for them. The Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years is a perfect example of this. None of them except Caleb and Joshua entered into the Promised Land because of their willfulness.
God merely asked for the people to embrace what He was doing with a trusting heart. No matter the circumstances around them, they could count on God to provide for them and to fulfill His plans for them (and still can today). They only need to embrace what He puts in front of them.
I say this like it is so easy to do… huh! I went to work this morning with a note card tucked in my pocket that had Galatians 3:11-12 written on it. My job for the day was to merely embrace what God had for me and trust Him. All morning, I wanted to rebel against the purposes of God in my life and be willful. I complained in my heart. My problem was that I did not like my circumstances and did not see how they were for my benefit. Like the stiff necked Israelites, I thought I knew better what was good for me and was certain it didn’t involve so much death to myself.
"My life is in You Lord, My strength is in You Lord, My hope is You Lord!"
Lord, forgive me where I resist Your will and don't embrace your purposes. Help me to trust you and embrace all you have for me without complaining in my heart, knowing that what You have planned is best.
Even today, You still bear us up on eagle's wings. Thank you that your people never escape your sight and that Your plans for us today are good just as they were back then. Your love is amazing!
We Will Embrace Your Move, by Darrell Evans
Behold our God is gracious, He’s moving among the nations,
preparing the bride for Jesus, and proving He reigns,
His Spirit is tearing down walls, built on the pride of men,
to those who’ve rejected Him, He’s reaching His hand out again,
CHO:
We will embrace, we will embrace Your move,
We will embrace, we will embrace Your love
We will embrace, we will embrace Your move,
We will embrace, we will embrace Your love
BRIDGE:
Oh God be our God, and we’ll be Your people of praise,
we’ll dance and we’ll sing for our God is the Ancient of Days,
Oh, God be our God, and we’ll be Your people of praise,
we’ll dance and we’ll sing for our God is the Ancient of Days,
Yes, our God is preparing a feast, the Spirit of brides say come,
Calling out to the least, and filling our lampstands with oil,
and He is restoring His people, by rains of sweet renewal,
and the music of Heaven, will soon over take the earth.
SHOUT:
Sing, Hey Lord, (Hey Lord).....We embrace Your move (We embrace your move)
Hey Lord, (Hey Lord).....We embrace Your love, (We embrace Your love)
Comments