"Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened" - Exodus 32:14 (NIV).
Initially it appeared Moses was a man of few words, slow to speak. After all when the Lord called him to go and urge Pharaoh to release the Israelites, he objected, pointing “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” (Exodus 6:30). To equip him the Lord aided him, "You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country" (Exodus 7:2). Aaron was supposed to be a more fluent speaker!
Now we all have seen that child whom everyone says is of few words. But there comes a day when he is stepped on his foot or there surfaces a matter so urgent that he can't hold it no more. Suddenly a torrent of words bursts out of the normally quiet child. And no one can believe it is the same person!
Such was the case when once God had in mind to exterminate the Israelites because of their stubborn rebellion (Exodus 32). Suddenly the man of "few words" had a lot to cry out. "But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people" (Exodus 32:11-13). God heard Moses's passionate plea and relented ( vv 14). The man of "few words" had found all to turn the hand of God.
How about you now! May be generally you are a person of "few words"! But you know there is that matter pressing you down that you can't hold it no more. Go to God and pour it all out before the Almighty without holding back. Don't worry about the words, for there are deep down there and the Lord, as was with Moses, hears our cries!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, with all my heart I pour out a pressing need to you Almighty one and may you save the situation bringing it to your glory, as you did for Moses, this I pray in Jesus's name!
Related upcoming events
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18/04/2024 - 19/04/2024 All day“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-7).
Once a certain gentleman saw a small mount of soil rising in one of his sparsely used bed rooms in his country house. He went back to the city unbothered. Upon his return he was shocked to find that what was once a small soil mount had grown into a huge anthill almost blocking the entrance. How did it get this big!” he whistled with disbelief.
Anyone who has leveled anthills knows that you need to dig up one down to the very bottom and seize the queen ant. So, in this case, it meant he had to excavate to the very foundations of the house. It was a costly venture involving destroying much of the original infrastructure.
So, what had begun as a small foothold in his house almost caused the gentleman to lose his entire beautiful country house. After all was done, he regretted why he had not attacked that small mount of soil the day he had spotted it but then ignored. He would have saved himself all this huge cost.
When the Bible cautions us, “and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27), it is not speaking of some big and overwhelming sin that is gripping a believer. Just as with that soil mount a foothold starts as a small poisonous seed dropped into one’s life appearing harmless at the start. But ignored it gradually grows into one huge tree with deep roots that to uproot it a life may go with it altogether.
For Believers there are all kinds of footholds. It could be unwholesome little talk spaced with curses. Sometimes it is occasional dabbling into harmful alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs. There could be that small habit of helping oneself with company funds against policy. There is also that seemingly innocent peep into porn sites, after all, no harm!
Ignored, the once small foothold gradually extends into one huge and terrifying mountain, not that easy to level as it now completely controls its victim. To level it down would come at such a stiff price. For this reason, do not take lightly any temptations that come your way. The moment you give the devil an inch you are in for a long ride!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I pray to guard myself against any foothold the devil might trap me with, to live a victorious life in Christ, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
