Exodus 18 (résumé): Jethro visits Moses

Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses came to visit Moses together with Moses' wife Zipporah and their 2 sons Gershom and Eliezer. Moses told him all about what God had done delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and Jethro was overjoyed and offered sacrifices to God. The next day Moses worked all day as judge of the people and Jethro observed how hard he worked, so Jethro suggested that he delegate much of this work to good men who could share his work load. Moses accepted the suggestion and appointed judges to take care of the simpler cases, just bringing the more complicated issues to him.   

Sunday Service

I led the main service of the week on Sunday night and Bible College graduate Murilo preached on Matthew 5:1-8. It was an excellent sermon. The praise and worship flowed beautifully too led by Sacha and Fábio, backed by Rogerio, Netinho and Rogaciano. Our youth got back from their conference on the coast in Joao Pessoa just as the service finished.

Professor Flávia Moura of the Federal University is about to start research in termites at Green Pastures. Termites create large mounds on trees and it will be very interesting to learn from the professor and her team. The team of Maranhao biologists continue to research wild cats at Green Pastures.

The 246 young people from our churches, who went to their annual conference in Joao Pessoa, are now back home in their respective towns and villages. All report a real time of blessing for which we praise the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. 

Liz and I watched online Ken Rashleigh's thanksgiving service this morning which was beautiful.

Exodus 17 (résumé): Water from the Rock

Despite God's constant provision for Israel the people's faith was very limited, and when no water was readily visible and available the people began to moan again. So God instructed Moses to go and strike a rock at Horeb from which water flowed out, and he called the place Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarrelling) because the people quarrelled and tested the Lord there. Then the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, so Moses sent Joshua to take some men to fight them whilst Moses stood on top of hill with his staff raised. Whilst he maintained his arms raised Israel prevailed but if he lowered his arms Israel started to lose. So Aaron and Hur held his hands up all day and by sunset the Amalekites had been defeated. Moses built an altar of praise to God and called it the Lord is my banner.

Exodus 16 (résumé): Manna & Quail

A month after leaving Egypt the Israelites left Elim and came to the Desert of Sin between Elim and Sinai. Here they started to moan about the lack of food saying they would have been better off staying in Egypt as now they were liable to starve to death. So God started to send them manna (a type of delicious bread) in the morning and quails in the evening. They were to collect sufficient for each day (not more and not less) but on the 6th day they were to collect sufficient for 2 days so that they didn't work on the sabbath. The collected food would last for the stipulated period of time, but if they collected too much it would become full of maggots and begin to smell. God told the people not to grumble at Moses and Aaron because if they did they would be in fact complaining against Himself. And the Israelites ate manna provided by God for 40 years until they reached the border of Canaan.

Manchester City

In reply to my comments about me perhaps playing for QPR, Pastor Michael Rollo (Found Church, Scotland) has suggested that if that doesn't work out I could try Manchester City as they have lost 4 in a row! Meanwhile Mrs. Joan Heard has agreed that I should play for QPR! 😂

Last night I both led the service at Green Pastures and preached the word. It was the monthly communion service and Nega led the praise and worship. Josué, Paulo Silas, Fred, Dodora and Julio also took part. It was a good service.

Our annual youth conference finishes today. Over 200 young people from around our churches have gathered in Joao Pessoa for fellowship and spiritual renewal around God's word. It has been a time of blessing.

Exodus 15 (résumé): The Song of Moses

Then Moses and the Israelites sang a song of rejoicing and victory unto the Lord, and Aaron's sister and prophetess Miriam danced with tambourines. They praised God for their mighty deliverance hurling the Egyptian troops into the sea. They worshiped God for shattering their enemy by engulfing them in the sea after having delivered themselves on dry ground. They praised God who is incomparable among the gods, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, doing wonders! The Red Sea deliverance strengthened the Israelites' faith and belief regarding the future conquering of the land of Canaan. Then Moses led the people from the Red Sea into the desert and they grumbled about the lack of drinking water because when they arrived at Marah (bitter) the water wasn't drinkable. Moses cried to God who directed him to throwing in some wood which made the water sweet. God then exhorted the people to listen carefully to his voice because he would not punish them with plagues as he was the Lord who heals them. Then they arrived to camp at Elim where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees.

Exodus 14 (résumé): Crossing the Red Sea

God told the Israelites to camp facing the Red Sea but Pharoah changed his mind about letting them go and prepared 600 plus chariots and troops to pursue them. When the Israelites saw them they were terrified and complained to Moses that he had had brought them to the desert to die. However God told them not to be afraid because he would deliver them and liquidate the Egyptians. Then God told Moses to raise his staff over the sea and it opened up a pathway through the sea which was totally dry, and the Israelites were able to escape through this pathway. However when the Egyptians pursued them it was no longer dry and they started to get bogged down in their chariots. After the Israelites had crossed, God collapsed the walls of the Red Sea engulfing the Egyptians, and they were all drowned. Thus the Israelites feared God and trusted him and trusted in Moses as they witnessed this miraculous deliverance.