Scripture:
Exodus 23:25-27 ESV
[25] You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. [26] None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. [27] I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
Observation:
Moses is speaking to GOD’s people telling them what GOD has spoken to him. It’s a promise to them, that if they serve HIM and HIM alone, their nation will be blessed. The bread and water will be blessed. Their health and wellness will be protected, and the womb will be opened and protected as well. The word says non shall be barren. The next promise is interesting to me. It says “I will fulfill the number of your days”. What does that mean? Let’s continue with the observation. GOD is sending HIS terror before them, to drive out their enemy. Throwing into confusion all that would come against them. Fear would take over and they would run.
Application:
Serving GOD has major benefits. I mean think about it. How would it feel to know that sickness will not be a part of your life, or that your enemy will run from you in fear? Maybe this one will catch your attention when you want to have a baby you will, and what does it mean HE will fulfill the number of our days. Man serving GOD has some great promises attached to it. I would love to see all this come to pass. I have to speak the truth. As a nation how are we doing with it? Are we wholeheartedly serving GOD? I think if we look at the context we can see GOD is speaking to a group of people. Not just one. If we are a student of the bible. We can look back and see that when all this started people were living between 500 and 600 years. Then shortly after this. The number of days is shortened to 120. What happened? Now it’s even better. How many people do you know that live 120 years? Long life is a promise of serving our Father in heaven. How many of us have done that from birth? I believe it’s safe to say not many if any. The effects of sin have taken a toll on the world. The number of our days seems to have been shortened to somewhere around 85 or so. I want to bring a little hope this morning. Because I want to go through my day knowing that my GOD will send fear into the enemy, and he will run. I want all those to know that it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters. In NASCAR they put the worst drivers in the front of the pack. It’s to give them a better chance. However, that means the best drivers get the raw deal. Or is it because they know the best drivers will overcome the odds and lead the pack to victory? My point is you don’t have to stay where you’re at. You can decide to serve GOD right now and change the rest of your life. Will the decisions you made in the past still affect the length of your life? Sin brings death to our flesh… But our soul lives forever. Our bodies will eventually give out. However, to be absent of the body is to be present with Christ. We can start right here. You can make a decision right now. The Bible says today is the day of salvation. You don’t have to wait to get right… HE will make you right. Just say yes to HIS voice as it whispers in your ear. If GOD is calling you it starts right here. Feel free to text or call me and we can get that journey started today.
Prayer:
Father, thank you. You are so amazing, and your mercy and grace are all-sufficient. It’s always enough. You have called my name and I heard you. I thank you for that. I don’t know how life would be without you at this point but I don’t want to find out either. I love you. Father, you had me give an invitation for a reason. Right now I ask that whoever needed to hear that respond to that invitation. Now whether that be with me or someone else….. I don’t care. I just want to see the captive set free, and your word tells me that will happen for those who believe Father, and I believe. I believe that you are GOD, and you sent your son to pay for my sins, and I just get the overwhelming feeling that someone who reads this needs to hear that there is hope. That they can finish well. That they can make a choice right now and change the course of their life. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.