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/3-rough-start-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of Rough Start 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.
(1)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-rough-start-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 16th of July 2025
The Lord had indeed given Moses some powerful promises about what He was going to do. Though that encounter must have encouraged Moses, his encouragement was probably short-lived, given the response that he received from his people.
Image © Jeff Preston at Goodsalt.com
The Hebrews are so disheartened by their grief, suffering, and hard labor that they do not listen to Moses’ words of reassurance that God will act to fulfill what He promised. They have waited so long for it, and their expectations have not been met. Why should it be different now? They were losing heart and hope, which must have been even more bitter because, perhaps for the first in all their lifetimes, they saw real hope of deliverance.
And yet, who hasn’t been in a similar place? Who hasn’t at some point felt depressed, disappointed, dissatisfied—even abandoned by God?
Remember the story of Job? What about Asaph, a psalmist who struggled with his questions regarding the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous? Yet, regardless of his struggles, Asaph has one of the most beautiful confessions of faith: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:23-26, NIV).
Through sacred history, God has assured His people that He is with them (Isaiah 41:13, Matthew 28:20). He gives them His peace, His comfort, and He strengthens them to make it through life’s challenges (John 14:27; John 16:33; Philippians 4:6-7).
The covenant formula, “ ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God’ ” (Exodus 6:7, NKJV), expresses the intimate relationship that the Lord wanted to have with His people.
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Think through the phrase “ ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God’ ” (Exodus 6:7, NKJV). Though the context was corporate, how does this apply to each one of us individually, and how should this relationship be manifested in our daily lives? (See also 2 Corinthians 6:16.) |
(0)Often in our conversations with others, we try to avoid conflict and complaining. We certainly don’t want to seem disrespectful. However, this should not keep us from having crucial conversations. In this week’s Sabbath School Lesson, Moses has a crucial conversation with God, where Moses makes some crucial accusations that some mortals may be afraid to make.
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23 NKJV
This same Moses, who was told earlier to take off his sandals and not come too close to the burning bush because he was standing on holy ground, does not seem to have any problem here calling God out on the carpet, even accusing Him of doing nothing at all to save His people.
First, let’s address the fact that while things seemed to be getting worse and Moses could not see God working, God was working on behalf of His children. Sometimes things must get worse before they can get better. God is often working behind our backs on our behalf.
Years ago, I was a local hire Bible Worker in the Texas Conference, where I was paid by the local church rather than the conference. While I was getting several baptisms, it seemed to me that I was left out of things with the conference, and they did not seem to care. That should not have bothered me, as I was working for God, not for men, and I was a local church employee, not a conference employee. Still, it bothered me that they didn’t seem to care. Then one day, I received a letter from the conference office telling me they appreciated my work and were praying for me when they prayed for the pastors during their prayer time at the conference office. Later, as a gift, they sent a check out to all the pastors, telling them to take their wives out for dinner and a lovely evening out. Although I was not a conference employee, they sent me the same check and offer. Knowing I was single, they suggested I bring a lady friend, which I did. Just when I thought the Texas conference didn’t care, it turned out they did. They were praying for me behind my back without me even knowing about it till after the fact.
Many times, when it does not look like God is doing anything for us, He is working quite hard on our behalf, behind our backs. He has our back!
Likewise, God was working hard behind Moses’ back, even though it sure did not look like it at first. Sometimes things getting worse is a sign that something extraordinary is about to happen. You have heard the saying, “Sometimes things seem to be falling apart when they are falling into place.” That was sure true for Jacob when he had to send Benjamin to Egypt with his brothers after already losing Joseph. Poor Jacob thought everything was falling apart when, in fact, it was falling into place.
Now let’s consider Moses’ brash accusations towards God. Notice that Moses did not get struck by lightning. God understands we are only human. He expects us to have crucial conversations with us. He expects us to be real with Him. Some suggest all our prayers should be nothing but praise and thanksgiving, but keep in mind that at least a third of the Psalms are lamentations, and then there is an entire book of lamentations. I think it’s called Lamentations. In Will Baron’s book, Deceived by the New Age, there is a part where Baron is deceived into thinking God wants him to give a considerable sum of money he cannot afford. Baron began cursing God and calling Him some obscene things that I will not repeat. Did God strike Baron down with lightning? No. He showed him His mercy and delivered him from the deceptions he was under.
God does not get angry with us when we are mad at Him. Being mad at Him can be a good sign because it means we at least believe He exists! And that is the difference between lamenting and just being cynical. When we lament to God, we are grieving with faith and hope. I have to believe that Moses had already seen enough of God’s goodness that even when he accused God of doing nothing at all to save them, he was meaning, “Here is your opportunity to prove me wrong, God. Go ahead and show me your glory again.”
God does not avoid crucial conversations. He invites us to have crucial conversations with Him. Is there a crucial conversation you need to have with God now? He is waiting to hear from you.
(1)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/crucial-conversations-with-god/
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 15th of July 2025
Poor Moses! He first gets berated by Pharaoh, and now his own people all but curse him.
Thus, Moses brings his complaint to God. In his bitterness and disappointment with the worsening of Israel’s conditions, he asks: “ ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all’ ” (Exodus 5:22-23, NIV). Moses’ discontent with the Lord is obvious and, considering the situation, understandable.
God’s response, though, is powerful. He will act, and very decisively, as well. “ ‘Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh’ ” (Exodus 6:1, NIV).
Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
God will no longer only speak; He will now mightily intervene in favor of His people. He reminds Moses of a few pertinent facts: (1) “I am the Lord”; (2) I appeared to the patriarchs; (3) I established My covenant with them; (4) I have promised to give them the land of Canaan; (5) I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel; and (6) I have remembered My covenant to give you the Promised Land.
Notice the repetition of the divine “I.” I, “the Lord your God,” I have done such and such, and so you can trust that I will do for you what I have promised.
The Lord now solemnly proclaims that He will do four great things for Israel because He is their living Lord: (1) “ ‘I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians;’ ” (2) “ ‘I will free you from being slaves to them;’ ” (3) “ ‘I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment;’ ” and (4) “ ‘I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God’ ” (Exodus 6:6-7, NIV).
These four divine actions secure and reestablish His relationship with His people. God is the subject of all these activities, and the Israelites are the recipients of all these benefits and grace. God offers these gifts for free, out of love; He did it then, to them, and He does it now, for us, as well.
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What other Bible characters have cried out in complaint before God—and with good reasons? Why is it OK, at times, to pour out your soul to God and even complain about your situation? Why, though, must you always do it in faith and in trust? |
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