Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
by Loren Seibold | 12 June 2025 | Recently we read a rumor that a new book about Ellen White, published by Pacific Press, had been withdrawn from the market. A far-right Adventist website was the first to say that Reclaiming the Prophet had been pulled from both the shelves and the presses. Last week […] Source: https://atoday.org/has-reclaiming-the-prophet-a-new-book-on-ellen-white-been-deep-sixed/
June 13, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING
Exodus 8 – The Plagues in Egypt – Frogs, Gnats, and Insects
When God’s Voice Calls Through Judgments══════════════════════════════════════════════
Bible Text – Exodus 8 (KJV)1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.
9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.
11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
24 And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us.
28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
IntroductionChapter 8 of the Book of Exodus continues the confrontation between the God of Israel and Pharaoh. After the transformation of the Nile into blood failed to lead to the people’s release, God intensifies His judgment through successive plagues: frogs, gnats, and swarming insects. Each plague reveals God’s power over creation and false gods, yet Pharaoh’s heart grows harder. This chapter teaches us how God’s patience and wrath interact—and how we should respond to His invitation to turn back to Him.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Commentary1.The Plague of Frogs (Verses 1–11)
God’s Command: Aaron is told to stretch out his staff over the waters (v. 1).
Execution: Frogs flood Egypt—even the magicians replicate the plague (vv. 2–3).
Pharaoh’s Request: He asks for prayer and promises to let the people go (v. 4).
God’s Timing: Moses lets Pharaoh choose the time to demonstrate God’s uniqueness (vv. 5–7).
Removal and Hardening: The frogs die, are gathered into stinking heaps—but Pharaoh hardens his heart again (vv. 8–11).
2.The Plague of Gnats (Verses 12–15)
Command to Aaron: Strike the dust with the staff (v. 12).
Effect: Dust turns into gnats tormenting people and animals (v. 13).
Magicians’ Reaction: They acknowledge “the finger of God” but can’t replicate it (v. 14).
Pharaoh’s Stubbornness: Despite the clear sign, his heart remains closed (v. 15).
3.The Plague of Swarming Insects (Verses 16–28)
Warning: Moses is to meet Pharaoh early and deliver another warning (v. 16).
Threat: Insects will infest homes and fields throughout Egypt (v. 17).
Exception for Goshen: God’s people are spared to show His sovereignty (vv. 18–19).
Fulfillment: Massive swarms spread across Egypt, devastating the land (v. 20).
Pharaoh’s Offer: He allows sacrifices—but only within Egypt (v. 21).
Moses’ Refusal: Israel must worship away from Egyptian idolatry (vv. 22–23).
Temporary Agreement: Pharaoh agrees under pressure, asks for prayer—but once again breaks his word (vv. 24–28).
══════════════════════════════════════════════
SummaryChapter 8 intensifies the divine judgments to lead Pharaoh toward recognition: first frogs, then gnats, then swarming insects. Despite repeated displays of God’s power, Pharaoh hardens his heart and breaks his promises. Yet God’s strategy remains consistent: to show His authority over nature and idols, to deliver His people, and to invite all to repentance.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Message for TodayWe, too, encounter trials and challenges that are meant to remind us of God’s greatness and our dependence on Him. His discipline does not aim to destroy but to refine and draw us to bold faith. The real question is: Do we, like Pharaoh, seek only temporary relief without real change—or are we willing to humble ourselves and truly follow God’s way?
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Reflection QuestionsWhat “plague” are you facing today? Are there recurring issues in your life that you only address on the surface—then go back to old patterns?
Heart change vs. symptom control: What deeper steps might help—repentance, reorientation, real decisions to follow God?
Seeking God’s place of refuge: How can you practically dwell in your own “Goshen”—a place of protection and communion with God, where the “insects” of life can’t reach you?
~~~~~
June 8 – 14, 2025 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 10 The Tower of Babel Read online here
══════════════════════════════════════════════
IntroductionAfter the Flood, Noah’s family was to repopulate the cleansed earth. But soon Shem, Ham, and Japheth revealed distinct character traits that persisted in their descendants. At the center stands the sinful building project on the plain of Shinar: a city with a tower meant to reach the heavens. God’s intervention by confusing their language halted construction and simultaneously fulfilled His plan to scatter humanity across the earth.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Commentary1.1 The Three Sons and Their Lines
Noah’s blessing on Shem and Japheth versus his curse on Canaan.
Inherited traits: godliness in Shem’s descendants; corruption in Ham’s line.
1.2 Consequences for Their Descendants
Shem: God’s chosen people and heirs of the covenant.
Japheth: Participants in the blessings of the Gospel.
Canaan: Degeneration into pagan idol worship and eventual slavery.
2.1 Reasons for Unity and Building
Desire for security and unity after a shared history.
Fertile land and a false sense of independence from divine threat.
2.2 Architecture as a Symbol of Power and Religion
The city as the center of a future world empire.
The tower as a monument to human wisdom, security, and idol worship.
2.3 Motives and Misbelief
Doubt in God’s promise: “No further Flood will come.”
Quest for scientific “understanding” of the Flood’s causes.
3.1 Confusion of Languages
The relay system of communication collapses.
Complete dispersion through incomprehensible speech.
3.2 Destruction of the Structure and Scattering
A lightning strike as a sign of divine displeasure.
Fulfillment of God’s original plan: distribution of nations and languages.
4. Theological Significance
A warning against human arrogance and estrangement from God.
Demonstration of God’s patience, mercy, and righteous judgment through history.
A foreshadowing of later “Babel” phenomena: unity apart from God’s Word leads to chaos.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
SummaryThe Tower of Babel illustrates how human pride and the attempt to unite independently of God lead to confusion, dispersion, and divine judgment. God’s intervention preserved His original design to fill the earth with diverse nations and languages.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Message for Us Today“Babel” projects still exist: ideologies that challenge God’s authority and promise unity apart from biblical truth. We are reminded to align our plans with God’s Word and to approach His sovereignty with humility.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Reflection QuestionWhat “towers” are we building today—in technology, culture, or religion—that draw us away from God? How can we foster genuine unity through obedience to truth?
~~~~~
June 8 – 14, 2025 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 11 The Tower of Babel Read online here
══════════════════════════════════════════════
IntroductionAfter the Babel dispersion and worldwide idolatry, God chose Abraham from Shem’s line to preserve His law and promises for future generations. Born into a family surrounded by pagan superstitions, Abraham faithfully responded to God’s call and thus became the father of the nation from which the Savior of the world would come.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Commentary1.1 The World after Babel
Idolatry spreads and people turn away from God.
God allows the unrepentant to follow their own paths.
1.2 Shem’s Line and the Preservation of Faith
A continuous transmission of divine revelations from Adam through Noah and Shem.
Abraham as heir of this sacred heritage.
2.1 Promises and Conditions
Many descendants and a great name.
Through him, all nations on earth will be blessed.
2.2 Testing through Obedience
The command to leave his homeland and relations.
Faith described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
3. Abraham’s Responses and Experiences
3.1 Departure for Haran and Canaan
Obediently sets out into the unknown, accompanied by relatives and Lot.
Key stops: Haran as a temporary home, then Shechem and Bethel—each marked by an altar.
3.2 Life and Trials in Canaan
A fertile land occupied by pagans with their altars.
Abraham builds altars to signify God’s presence.
3.3 Famine and Flight to Egypt
A test of humility, patience, and faith.
Abraham’s lapse of faith: presenting Sarah as his sister.
3.4 God’s Protection and Lessons Learned
Pharaoh is afflicted by plagues, then honors Abraham.
Lessons about God’s safeguarding and the consequences of human distrust.
4. Theological Insights
True faith requires leaving behind familiar securities.
Trials serve to purify character and prepare for God’s work.
God’s promises remain steadfast despite human shortcomings.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
SummaryGod called Abraham to leave a pagan environment and follow Him in faith. Abraham obeyed, faced tests in Canaan and Egypt, yet remained faithful despite his mistakes. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the chosen people and revealed God’s protection and patience.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Message for Us TodayWe too are invited to trust God’s promises and may be called to leave our comfort zones. Trials expose our weaknesses, but they also shape our character and demonstrate God’s faithfulness even in our failures.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
Reflection QuestionWhat “callings” from God in your life might require stepping into uncertainty and making sacrifices? How can you express your faith through obedience and trust in your daily life?
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/13-06-2025-exodus-chapter-8-believe-his-prophets/
13.06.2025 | Truth in the Hidden Places | HEART ANCHOR
How God’s Wisdom Transforms Our Inner Being
Psalm 51:6⸻
Bible Text“Surely you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
— Psalm 51:6
⸻
IntroductionIn our digitalized world we live constantly “on the surface”: optimizing photos, posting status updates, chasing likes. But who still peers into the depths? God doesn’t crave a show; He longs for our true selves. Psalm 51:6 brings us to the core: the Creator of our soul delights in “truth in the inward being” and imparts wisdom in the secret heart. This devotion invites you to venture there—into your own heart—to discover God’s healing presence.
⸻
DevotionalGod delights in our innermost being. Unlike people who often judge only by appearances, He loves what is real. He doesn’t long for a perfectly staged facade but for our wounded, searching hearts. When we find the courage to remove our masks, His Holy Spirit begins to work: He brings clarity, exposes hidden patterns, and brings insight and healing exactly where we most need it.
This wisdom of God does not arrive with fanfare but as a quiet whisper in the silence. It penetrates deeply into our thought life, shows us who we really are beneath all the outer layers, and guides us in taking the first crucial steps of true transformation. For genuine repentance doesn’t spring from superficial professions but from the depths of our heart.
David knew this well. He composed Psalm 51 from the purity of his soul once he recognized his own failure. He shows us that repentance is more than a hurried checklist—it is heart work. When we honestly confess our guilt before God and allow His transforming work, this inward turning soon manifests in new fruits in our lives.
⸻
Story – “Letters in Hiding”Felix, 16, had long sensed that something was off in his life: he laughed when he wanted to cry; he spoke when he longed for silence. While helping rearrange furniture in his youth group’s basement, he discovered an abandoned wooden box. A note on top read: “For Seekers.” Curious, he opened it and found old journal entries of a girl named Hanna who had served there years before.
Her first entry began:
“I’ve stopped praising God only when skies are clear. Today I lay my deepest questions before Him.”
Later, Felix read how Hanna heard God’s gentle voice in the stillness:
“Sometimes my heart is like this basement—dusty and dark. But when I let in the light, God reveals the depths.”
Felix sat there and wept over his own hidden wounds for the first time. He realized God doesn’t desire perfection but wants to heal His broken children. He took a few blank pages from Hanna’s box and began to write—about his fear of failure, his longing for true love, his struggle for identity. And on that night when he allowed truth into his innermost being, he experienced a freedom no number of worldly “likes” could ever replace.
⸻
ThoughtsCourage to Be Vulnerable: Openness inwardly doesn’t mean celebrating our weaknesses, but bringing them honestly before a God who does not condemn but heals.
Truth as the Key: Self-deception keeps us captive. Only by bringing the hidden into light can real change begin.
Wisdom from the Depths: God’s solutions for our lives seldom arrive instantly. But when we become still inwardly, He finds His way in.
⸻
What Does This Mean for You?Which longing or question have you kept “hidden”?
What old guilt or disappointment are you still carrying?
How can you intentionally seek a moment of silence today to sense God’s gentle guidance?
⸻
Impulses for TodaySilence Ritual: Turn off your phone for 10 minutes. Go to a quiet place, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Ask God, “Reveal to me what is hidden within.”
Write Hidden Thoughts: Take paper and pen. Jot down three questions or fears you share with no one else. Then read Psalm 51:6 and ask God for His perspective.
Real Conversation: Tonight, talk with someone you trust and share one of the thoughts you wrote. Experience how truth spoken aloud begins freedom’s work.
⸻
PrayerDear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You know my innermost being—even those places I scarcely dare to enter myself. Help me to be honest—with myself and with You. Grant me the wisdom of Your Spirit to see and heal what lies hidden. May Your truth shape my heart so that my life is renewed from the inside out. Amen.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/13-06-2025-truth-in-the-hidden-places-heart-anchor-youth-devotional/
In Brixton, England, a church faced what seemed like an impossible task—sharing invitations for evangelistic meetings. But God had other plans. During a street party for the coronation of King Charles, the Holy Spirit inspired them to mingle with the crowd and plant seeds for His kingdom. This story of creative outreach shows how God uses even the most unlikely opportunities to further His work. Be inspired to trust in His leading, and don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more uplifting testimonies. #AWR360 #ChristForEurope Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X4xFpXnd8W4
The Cross Was Meant for Barabbas — And What That Means for Us. The cross wasn’t built for Jesus… it was meant for Barabbas. 😲 And in a way… for us too. 💔 Watch this and feel the weight of grace. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZhnWTIhR_8
12 June 2025 | According to a recent news report, on Friday, June 6, a member of the Burlington (New Jersey) Seventh-day Adventist Church was accused of 26 charges of sexual abuse and violence against a minor. One news outlet states: Shawn Tracey, 44, of Mount Holly, was taken into custody Tuesday following allegations of […] Source: https://atoday.org/active-member-in-new-jersey-seventh-day-adventist-church-arrested-for-sexual-crimes-against-a-minor/
12 June 2025 | News from Jamaica St John’s Primary School is establishing a scholarship in memory of one of their former students, Kelsey Ferrigon. The nine-year-old girl was murdered in her bed on May 9, shattering the community. Spanish Town Seventh-day Adventist Church held a service announcing the scholarship as well as dedication to […] Source: https://atoday.org/news-from-jamaica-ohio-southern-adventist-university-hope-studios/
Inside Story for Friday 13th of June 2025
By Diana Fish
Diana and Loren Fish had their dream jobs. She was working in development at the Seventh-day Adventist hospital in Orlando, Florida, and he had a successful counseling practice. But something was missing. They prayed.
On a whim, Diana attended a North American Division Women’s Ministries conference. In the exhibition hall, she stopped at the Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School booth to admire student-made pottery. When a woman at the booth learned that Diana worked in development, she excitedly said that the school was looking for a development director. Diana dismissed the idea that God might be calling her to work at the school in Arizona.
Six months later, Loren decided at the last minute to attend the 2015 General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas. In the exhibition hall, he found himself at the Holbrook booth. When a woman at the booth learned he was a licensed clinical social worker, she excitedly said, “We need one of those!” She asked about his wife’s job, and he responded that she worked in development. “We need one of those, too!” the woman said, waving at her husband, who happened to be Holbrook’s principal.
Weeks later, the couple visited Holbrook after a vacation to see family in Colorado. They spent nine hours talking with staff about the school’s mission to provide a safe place for American Indian children to learn and grow. They learned that the staff dreamed of having Christian counseling available around the clock for students dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Diana tossed and turned that night in the school guestroom. In the morning, she noticed two identical books on a bookshelf. They looked familiar. Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out the same book, which Loren had gotten at the General Conference Session. It was titled, Follow: Anytime, Anywhere, at Any Cost, by Don MacLafferty. Immediately, Diana knew God was calling them to Holbrook. She prayed, “You’ll have to put the same impression on Loren’s heart.”
Several days later, back in Florida, Loren told Diana that he had been praying and sensed God calling them to Holbrook. That evening, they submitted their résumés and began packing. Two weeks later, they were offered the positions. They have worked at the school for the past 10 years. “God is so amazing,” Diana said. “He has shown me every step of the way that He is working in my life. Before I knew Him, He knew me and had a plan.”
This mission story shows how God miraculously worked in the life of Diana Fish, development director of the US-based Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School, which received the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in 2021. Thank you for supporting the spread of the gospel with this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on June 28. Read more about the school next week.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25b-11-inside-story-part-7-we-need-one-of-those/
Daily Lesson for Friday 13th of June 2025
Further Thought: “The First King of Israel,” Pages 605, 606, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“Satan will arouse indignation against the minority who refuse to accept popular customs and traditions. Men of position and reputation will join with the lawless and the vile to take counsel against the people of God. Wealth, genius, education, will combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts, threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith. By false representations and angry appeals, men will stir up the passions of the people. Not having a ‘Thus saith the Scriptures’ to bring against the advocates of the Bible Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply the lack. To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the demand for Sunday laws. But those who fear God, cannot accept an institution that violates a precept of the Decalogue. On this battlefield will be fought the last great conflict in the controversy between truth and error. And we are not left in doubt as to the issue. Today, as in the days of Esther and Mordecai, the Lord will vindicate His truth and His people.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, Pages 605, 606.
Discussion Questions
|
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25b-11-further-thought-ruth-and-esther/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1Na5IzDCc
Ari had grown up in a Christian home in Uganda. But as a young man, he drifted into a life of addiction to drugs and alcohol and spent long hours on the internet. One night, he was out drinking when lightning streaked the sky and a sudden storm descended on the town. Ari decided to hurry home, but in his drunken state, he stumbled along on the darkened street. Soon he was drenched by the downpour, and to make matters worse, he tripped, falling hard on the muddy ground. His hand landed on something soft, but he managed to get up and continued home. The next morning, Ari woke up to pounding on his door. Hung over and confused, he found the police standing outside. They arrested him on the spot, and he didn’t know why. What he didn’t realize was that he was covered in blood and had just been arrested for murder. Watch the riveting story in the video below and discover how Ari found freedom not only from the murder charges, but freedom in Jesus—all thanks to a little radio he found inside his prison cell. I love stories of redemption, and I especially love it when God uses Adventist World Radio to lead others to Jesus. Yours in the Blessed Hope, Duane McKey
President MB01JWII1MQDOC8 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1Na5IzDCc
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
