Closer To Heaven
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Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Jiří Moskala, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-through-the-red-sea-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of Through the Red Sea in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-through-the-red-sea-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 5th of August 2025
Following God’s instructions to Moses, the Israelites left Egypt as a well-organized army. The Hebrew terms tsaba’ and makhaneh testify to that description, namely, “army,” “division,” “camp,” and “hosts” (Exodus 6:26; Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17,41,51; Exodus 14:19-20; compare with Exodus 13:18). They were divided into units and marched like an army. Later Balaam saw from Moab’s hills that Israel was “encamped tribe by tribe” (Numbers 24:2, NIV).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Meanwhile, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19, NIV). This is a very important detail in the text, and it reveals the fulfillment of Joseph’s faith in God’s promises. Joseph never lost sight of the Promised Land, even though he lived in the splendor and privileges of Egypt. He requested that his bones be taken to the land of Canaan (Genesis 50:24-25). He believed that the Lord would surely visit Israel in Egypt and bring them to the land, as He had sworn (Hebrews 11:22). On Israel’s arrival in Canaan, Joseph’s bones were “buried at Shechem” (Joshua 24:32, NKJV).
The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were the visible signs of God’s presence among His people. The Lord dwelt there and spoke also from the cloud (Exodus 14:24; Numbers 12:5-6).
Meanwhile, Pharaoh reveals the true motives of his heart. He is not converted, and he never truly repented. His asking God to bless him was a farce, perhaps a deception in his own heart. He gathered his army, and they went after their escaped slaves. How totally blinded by sin this man really was.
When the people saw Pharaoh’s army coming, they spoke words and expressed sentiments that would be echoed by them more than once: “ ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?’ ” (Exodus 14:11, NKJV).
That is, having already seen such dramatic manifestations of God’s power, which included the sparing of their own firstborn sons, the people still displayed a stunning lack of faith.
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Think of the last time you faced a terrible situation. What was your first reaction: faith in God or a lack of faith? What lessons should you have learned from that situation that could help you the next time another comes (and come it will)? |
(0)Daily Lesson for Monday 4th of August 2025
The promised time of redemption, of deliverance, was about to arrive. The people needed to be prepared. They needed not just to believe but to act on those beliefs. God had told them what they needed to do; by faith, they now needed to do it. Though in a totally different context from what James was writing about, the principle fits very well: “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20, NKJV).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
God mercifully guarded the Israelite families who were under the blood because, by faith, they had marked their doorframes. These new directions came from the Lord through Moses: “ ‘Consecrate to me every firstborn male’ ” (Exodus 13:2, NIV). This legislation was valid for humans as well as for animals.
One principle behind this injunction is that everything belongs to Him because He is our Creator and the Owner of everything: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalms 24:1, NIV). “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8, ESV). The Israelites’ firstborn sons were the firstfruits of God’s blessings, which He had bestowed upon them; they were also a sign of their total consecration to Him and of their understanding that all they possessed came only from Him.
Also, we see the idea of redemption, of salvation, here. The firstborn sons were spared death because they were covered by the blood. They were redeemed from death, as are all who are under the blood of Jesus. As Paul writes about Jesus: “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14, NKJV).
Meanwhile, regulations were given about how this dedication should be offered, a celebration of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. They were to sacrifice the animals, but their sons were to be redeemed (Exodus 13:12-13,15).
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Exodus 13:16 tells about what they were to put on their hands and between their eyes. How does this symbolize the important spiritual truth that, regardless of how much faith we have, we must act upon that faith? |
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-06-consecration-of-the-firstborn/
Exodus points us to a wonderful conclusion with the Israelites being bound for the Promised Land, hence our theme hymn for the quarter being
We Are Bound For The Promised Land – Hymn 620.
What a wonderful lesson to learn from this week. There are
The Wonders Of Redeeming Love – Hymn 179 and that
God Is My Strong Salvation – Hymn 339, “the cross of Christ and what Christ did there for us all”:
Hymn 163 – At The Cross and
Hymn 162 – Wondrous Love.
Sunday shows a Pharoah who isn’t repentant but still tells the Israelites to go:
O Worship The Lord – Hymn 6.
The Israelites were redeemed from the bondage of the Egyptians, and this points us to remember that we are 
By Christ Redeemed – Hymn 402 and
Redeemed – Hymn 337/338.
It is with great sadness that we see the people “displayed a stunning lack of faith” (Tuesday). May we be different and sing, asking God
O For a Faith that will not shrink – Hymn 533.
The four points made on Wednesday encourage us to go
Anywhere With Jesus – Hymn 508,
Stand Like the Brave – Hymn 610, ask for deliverance in verse 2
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah – Hymn 538 and have God fight for us in verse 3 of
Christ, The Lord Is Risen Today – Hymn 166.
The wonderful song of Moses and the song of the Lamb on Thursday, teaches us to praise God as we can in
Hymn 1 – Praise To The Lord.
Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
(2)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-through-the-red-sea-singing-with-inspiration/
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