Isaiah 63:7-10 – See the note below.
7 I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses [2617- “steadfast love, grace, mercy, faithfulness, devotion”] of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has granted them according to His compassion and according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses [2617].
8 For He said, "Surely, they are My people, sons who will not deal falsely [8266- “to cheat, i.e. be untrue; to deal falsely”]." So He became their Savior [see Jude 5].
9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved [6087- “to hurt, to pain, to displease”] His Holy Spirit [see the Bible study The Seal Of The Holy Spirit]; therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.
NASU
Isaiah calls to mind “the lovingkindnesses of the Lord” toward His people, in their past. He says that after the Lord “became their Savior,” and “redeemed them,” that He then became their enemy, and “fought against them.” The reason; “they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.” It was because of their continued rebellion that God turned and became their enemy. He spoke to them often, telling them to repent, but they refused to listen.
He then declares something that not many are listening to in the church today. Because of the deception of our enemy that has become well entrenched in our midst (see Psalm 74:3-4 below), many New Testament, Gentile Christians assume this could no longer happen to us today, as it did with the children of Israel. Paul says it can. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he writes to the Gentile believers of God’s rejection, or “casting away” of the Israelites (i.e. “cut off”) because of their unbelief. He warns them, and us, to not act in the same manner and, thereby, experience the same consequence;
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief [570- “unfaithfulness, faithlessness, lack of faith, unbelief”], but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches [i.e. Israelites], He will not spare you [i.e. Gentiles], either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God [as written in Isaiah 63:7-10]; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if [a conditional statement] you continue [1961- “to stay at or with, still to abide, to continue, remain”] in His kindness [5544- “usefulness, moral goodness, integrity”]; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue [1961] in their unbelief [570], will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.”
(Romans 11:17-23/NASU)
Paul warns us to not be conceited, “but fear,” understanding that we, like the children of Israel can also be “cut off” from the Lord. By not continuing (abiding, remaining) in God’s kindness (His grace) toward us who have received Him as our Lord and Savior, we too will be “broken off” for our unbelief.
Unbelief is defined as “unfaithfulness, faithlessness.” It’s someone who has believed in God, but then turns away from Him, allowing something else in the world to become first in their hearts. They have become unfaithful in their relationship with Him. It’s comparable to an engaged woman who, while waiting for her marriage, has an affair with another man. If unrepented of, their “faithlessness” will cause their engagement to be cut off. God’s mercy is now extended towards His unfaithful children, but the door of opportunity to return will soon be shut (Matthew 25:10).
James, another New Testament writer, warns of the same things as Paul;
“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble [see Luke 14:11].’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you [another conditional statement]. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up [5312- “to elevate, to lift up on high, exalt”].”
(James 4:4-10/NIV)
Jame’s rebuke was directed at Christians who had become “a friend of the world.” Like Isaiah, he says that when we do this, we actually become an “enemy of God.” He then encourages us to humble ourselves before Him so that we may experience His grace, or “lovingkindness” in our lives.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words gives the following explanation for “adulterous”;
“In Israel the breach of their relationship with God through their idolatry, was described as ‘adultery’ or ‘harlotry’ (e. g., Ezekiel 16:15, etc.; 23:43), so believers who cultivate friendship with the world, thus breaking their spiritual union with Christ, are spiritual ‘adulteresses,’ having been spiritually united to Him as wife to husband (Romans 7:4). It is used adjectivally to describe the Jewish people in transferring their affections from God (Matthew 12:39, 16:4; Mark 8:38).”
In Thayer's Greek Lexicon, they define it as;
“The intimate alliance of God with the people of Israel was likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot (Ezekiel 16:15); hence, faithless to God, unclean, apostate.”
Through this we can understand that when the Bible refers to His people walking in unbelief, it doesn’t mean that they don’t believe in God, or that there is a God. They knew who He was. But in their relationship, they broke union with Him, “hence, faithless to God, unclean, apostate.” Biblically, unbelief is described as faithlessness. This is the heart that now dominates the church in America.
We shouldn’t be surprised, though. Paul warned us of this great apostasy in his letter to the Thessalonian Christians. He said that right before the return of Jesus Christ, there would be a great falling away among His people from Himself (2 Thessalonians 2:1-15). Their unfaithful, adulterous hearts would cause them to become an enemy of God, resulting in their loss of protection during the outpouring of His wrath. Faith in the truth is not just a mental assent, but obedience to the truth that has been revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. Lack of obedience by a Christian is what grieves the Holy Spirit, tampering with His seal over us (for much more on this, see the Bible study The Seal Of The Holy Spirit).
James explains what an adulterous Christian should do in order to be raised up, as pictured in type by the 40-man combat patrol led up Mount Suribachi, to the safe place in Christ. He states that, first, we must humble ourselves, submitting to God which will cause the devil to flee. It’s through a repentant heart that we draw near to God, resulting in His drawing near us. Remember, the “sinners” James refers to next are adulterous Christians. He says to them, “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” This is very similar to what David declares in Psalm 24:3-4.
By definition of the Greek, to be “double-minded” is to be “two-spirited, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose); wavering, divided in interest (between God and the world).” Earlier in James writing, he spoke of the dangers for those who possess this divided-heart attitude;
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable [182- “restless, inconstant (frequently changing, fickle, variable; of a person or their behavior: not faithful and dependable)”] in all he does.”
(James 1:5-8/NIV)
James states that the person who asks for wisdom and then doubts is easily “tossed by the wind.” This means that they are not steadfastly walking with, and depending upon the Lord to guide and direct their lives. They can be easily swayed by popular opinion that produces ever-changing “winds of doctrine,” rather than the unchangeable word of God’s wisdom.
Paul referred to these inconstant winds in his letter to the Christians in Ephesus;
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
(Ephesians 4:11-14/NIV)
Tossed about by the latest winds of man’s wisdom is proof of the lack of maturity in the Body of Christ. An immature believer is neither steadfast or immovable in their devotion to Christ. They have an unstable, restless spirit, one that has not entered into the rest of God (Hebrews 3:12-4:11). Their doubt comes from a lack of trust, and faithfulness. The Holy Spirit will develop this crucial character trait through situations that will require us to look to the Lord by faith rather than what we see before us (2 Corinthians 5:7).
(See Hebrews 10:26-31 which refers to the dangers of a Christian sinning willfully after turning to God.)
The Flood Of God’s Judgment Against His Enemies
Isaiah 30:25-33 – See the note below.
25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers [4026- “a tower, a strong place, a watchtower, an elevated stage, a pulpit, a raised bed”] fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.
26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted.
27 See, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger [1197- def. in verse 33] and dense clouds of smoke; His lips are full of wrath, and His tongue is a consuming fire.
28 His breath [7307- “a wind, breath, a mind, spirit”] is like a rushing [7857- “to wash, to rinse, overflow, engulf, to be swept away”] torrent [5158- “a torrent-valley, a wadi (as dry stream-bed), a shaft (of a mine)”], rising up to the neck. He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction; He places in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray. [See the Bible study Bit And Bridle Training Of The Lord.]
29 And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.
30 The Lord will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail. [See Joshua 10:11; Psalm 18:12; Ezekiel 13:11-13, 38:22; and Revelation 16:21.]
31 The voice of the Lord will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down.
32 Every stroke the Lord lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.
33 Topheth [“a place of fire/burning/cremation”] has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath [5397- “the breath, the spirit”] of the Lord, like a stream [5158] of burning sulfur [1614- “brimstone, sulphur, used of judgment”], sets it ablaze [1197- “to burn, to consume, to kindle; to be stupid, brutish, dull-hearted”]. [See Isaiah 59:19 at the beginning of this study.]
NIV
In this passage, Isaiah speaks of the judgment of God against Assyria, the enemy of Israel. They were used to chastise His people because of their rebellion against Him. Within this I also see a prophecy of the last day events. He calls this time of judgment “the day of great slaughter,” a day when “streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.” Water flows down, from above, to a lower elevation. I believe this is the living waters that flow out from the throne of God to those bound in the death grip of darkness. It is the “higher” place of God, in Himself, that has been established within the hearts of His people (John 7:37-39) for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2, Ezekiel 47:1-12).
Isaiah also says that it will be a time when “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted.” The Lord wounded His people for their wayward hearts, but then healed them afterwards. This discipline of the Lord is meant to produce the fear of the Lord so as to keep them, and us, in check. I fully understand this. (See the Bible study Witchcraft In The House Of God.)
Hosea is said to have been a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah and Micah. He also spoke of God’s judgment against Israel for their spiritual harlotry. The Lord said, “I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction [6862- “narrow, tight, straits, distress, enemy”] they will earnestly seek Me.” (Hosea 5:15/NASU) The Lord uses these wounds on His children to get our attention, to turn us back from our destructive behavior.
Hosea then responds in chapter six, saying;
“Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day [as Jesus was; see 1 Corinthians 15:4], that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.”
(Hosea 6:1-3/NASU)
The final wounding for the final healing of His people, so that we may live before Him, has begun (see my book The Final Healing).
To walk in agreement with our enemy as a Christian is to participate in his sins while at the same time crying out against them. The Bible declares that it will result in our partaking of his judgment. (See Romans 2:1-3; verse 4 speaks of God’s kindness which is in Isaiah 63:7 above, and Revelation 18:4-5.)
Ezekiel 13:7-16 – See the note below.
7 "Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, 'The Lord declares,' but it is not I who have spoken?"'"
8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you," declares the Lord God.
9 "So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God.
10 "It is definitely because they have misled [2937- “to seduce, to err, to wander, to cause to go astray”] My people by saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash [8602- “foolish, insipid (“lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge: dull, flat, uninspiring), tasteless, unseasoned”];
11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding [7857- “to gush, to inundate, to engulf, to overflow, to wash, to be swept away”] rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out.
12 "Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, 'Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?'"
13 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding [7857] rain and hailstones to consume it in wrath.
14 "So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be consumed in its midst. And you will know that I am the Lord.
15 "Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, 'The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone,
16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' declares the Lord God.
NASU
In this passage, the Lord is declaring His judgment against the false prophets in the land. They had become His enemies because they were prophesying with their own words, according to their own desires. They were misleading the people, making them think they had peace with God when they did not. The devil’s lies in the church, when adhered to, seduce God’s people, causing them to wander from Him with a false sense of security.
If you say that people whitewash something, you are accusing them of “hiding the unpleasant facts or truth about it in order to make it acceptable.” An example in a sentence would be; “The administration is whitewashing the regime's actions.” Some synonyms are; “cover up, conceal, suppress, and camouflage.” It’s also defined as; “anything, as deceptive words or actions, used to cover up or gloss over faults, errors, or wrongdoings, or absolve a wrongdoer from blame.” This now happens regularly in our government. But even worse, it’s been happening in the church as well.
When the “flooding rain” of the Lord comes, combined with “hailstones” and a “violent wind,” the whitewash foundation of the false prophets will be exposed for all to see. Not only will it be laid bare, but “you [false prophets] will be consumed in its midst. And you will know that I am the Lord.” Not only will the false wall of security be gone, but so will those who plastered it.
And so, thus says the Lord;
“‘Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.’ This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’”
(Isaiah 30:12-15/NIV)
Ezekiel prophecies of the future invasion of Israel by enemies referred to as “Gog of the land of Magog” while they are at peace, living, seemingly, “securely” (Ezekiel 38:8, 11, 14). The Lord will step in on their behalf and execute His judgment on them, and all the nations that have joined them. Burning sulphur is mentioned as part of His wrath;
“In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
(Ezekiel 38:19-23/NIV)
Ezekiel goes on to say that it will take seven months to bury the dead (Ezekiel 39:11-12). May we seek the face of the Lord while He may be found, and do as David exhorted us in his psalm;
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
(Psalm 32:5-7/NASU)
Luke 6:46-49 – See the note below. Also see the parallel passage in Matthew 7:24-27.
46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do [4160- “to make or do”] what I say?
47 "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts [4160] on them [i.e. “does them”], I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house [3614- “a residence, a house, a dwelling”], who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst [4366- “to break upon; the violent action of a flood”] against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built [3618- “to be a house builder, i.e. construct, (figuratively) confirm”].
49 "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
NASU
In this passage, Jesus talks about the extreme importance of the foundation when building a house, representing the building of His dwelling in each of His children. The flood of judgment at the end of this age, in particular, will reveal how each of us has built.
In part of His response to the question asked by the disciples, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3), Jesus said to them;
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
(Matthew 24:37-39/NIV)
So, we can see that many will be living their lives, totally unaware and unconcerned of the horrors that lie right in front of them. Unfortunately, this applies to the hearts of many in the church in America. They’re either not concerned at all, not “dressed in readiness” (Luke 12:35-36), or they live with a false sense of security that they will be protected from God’s judgment while walking in rebellion, not doing what He said.
According to Jesus, doing what He says is what causes His dwelling within us to be “well built.” Once it is established, it will withstand the great shaking that is coming to the entire earth. Not acting accordingly to what the Spirit is saying to the church in the final moments of this age will result in an immediate collapse, bringing total destruction to the dwelling of God, His temple within us (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
Solomon said, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established [3559- “to be firm, to be stable, to be fixed, to be ready, to be prepared”].” (Proverbs 24:3/NIV) He also declared, “Forsake your folly [6612- “silly (i.e. seducible); simple, foolish, open-minded”] and live [2421- “to live, to remain alive, to be quickened, to be restored to life or health, to preserve alive, to revive”], and proceed [833- “to go straight, to advance, to make progress”] in the way [1870- “a road, a journey, a course of life or mode of action”] of understanding [998- “discernment, the act of understanding”].” (Proverbs 9:6/NASU) To build correctly, so as to be made ready to withstand the impending flood of judgment coming upon the earth, and not have the Lord’s dwelling collapse through an apostate heart, we must build with His wisdom which He gives to all who ask (James 1:5-8).
Forsaking foolishness, which is a characteristic of a foolish virgin (Matthew 25:1-3), is our way of life in Christ. We maintain His place in us by proceeding in “the way of understanding.” This way is what Jesus referred to as the straight and narrow way that few will find (Matthew 7:13-14). As with any structure, negligence will eventually result in a weakened state. This is why we are commanded by the Lord to “proceed” in a certain way, or “course of life,” per what He says, lest His dwelling within us is unable to withstand the final torrent on earth that will prove our faith. It is a restrictive way for the flesh that not many of His own children will choose to continue walking faithfully on. Instead, as the Lord revealed to my wife in a three-part dream, many, in the great falling away from Him right before His return will choose the broad way of temporal ease that leads to destruction.
Going Straight Ahead
As we have just seen, the Hebrew definition for “proceed” in Proverbs 9:6 is “to go straight, to advance, to make progress.” This is the way of advancing upward in Christ that I began to see pictured in the 40-man combat patrol led by Lieutenant Schrier up Mount Suribachi. This patrol was a very small portion of the American fighting force on the island of Iwo Jima at that time. I see them as the few chosen ones of the Lord who, because of obedience to their Commanding Officer, were safely led to a place of protection in Him high above, so to speak, the death and suffering below (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
One day, while speaking to a group of Jews that had believed Him, Jesus said;
“…if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.”
(John 8:36-37/NASU)
The Greek for “no place” is choreo (kho-reh'-o). It’s defined as “to leave a space; to go forward, advance, proceed; to have space or room for receiving or holding something.” Jesus was saying to these Jewish believers that, even though they had believed in Him, there was no room for His words within them. Because of this, they were not able to proceed, or go forward in Him. They had believed in Him but, like the rebellious children of Israel in the wilderness journey, would not continue from there in obedience as to arrive to their destiny in the Promised land of their inheritance. They were trying to hang on to the old way of religion they had known (i.e. Judaism), and were being asked to leave by faith which is the only way to go forward, but they were unwilling. Proverbs 14:11-12 says, “The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Following Jesus Christ’ words by doing what He says is the only way that leads to life.
In the very beginning of the children of Israel’s journey out of their bondage from Egypt, the Lord immediately led them into a seemingly hopeless situation. After letting them go because of the harsh judgments of God upon them in their land, Pharaoh and his servants soon had a change of mind and wanted to re-enslave the Israelites. This, by the way, is a picture of what the devil attempts with every person that turns to Christ and is set free in Him. He wants to repossess, through enticements, his rule over us. This is our first lesson in the school of Christ that we will be immersed in. We must learn, and remember in future conflicts, that when we submit to the Lord and resist the devil, he WILL flee from you (James 4:7).
Interestingly enough, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, the Greek for “submit” in James 4:7 is defined as “primarily a military term meaning ‘to rank under.’” As with any soldier, we are to come under the command of our Commanding Officer, understanding that He has promised to always lead us in His triumph over our enemies (2 Corinthians 2:14). It will be for our experiential knowledge, understanding that He is faithful to His word.
Seeing the sea in front of them, and Pharaoh’s army closing in behind them, their seemed to be no way out. What the newly exonerated Israelites were about to learn was that God, through His great power, could be trusted to lead them where He promised, if they would but trust Him. This will be our lesson as well, through experiential knowledge (i.e. understanding).
After blaming him for leading them to a place of death, Moses said to the people;
“Do not fear! Stand by [3320- “to place (anything so as to stay), to stand with someone, to continue”] and see the salvation [3444- “something saved, deliverance, victory”] of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent [NIV: “be still,” KJV/NKJV: “hold your peace”]. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward [5265- “pull up (tent peg), i.e. start on a journey; to depart, to march”].’”
(Exodus 14:13-15/NASU)
Moses understood what it meant to obey by faith from what he had learned at the beginning of his journey. The Lord had told him when he was called, “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say… and I will teach you what you are to do.” (Exodus 4:12, 15/NASU) It was in the going, as commanded, that trust in what the Lord said would be developed. He had learned that to trust and obey was the only way to see God’s purpose accomplished.
Like the children of Israel, the Holy Spirit will purposefully lead us to this place of seemingly no way out to increase our faith and trust in Him to lead us, delivering us from evil (Matthew 6:13). I believe that it is only as we hear what to do, and then do it by going forward by faith, that the way of promised victory will open wide for us. (Also see Phil. 1:12, 25; 1 Timothy 4:15, and 2 Timothy 3:9.)
Proverbs 4:20-27 – The words of the Lord are literal health and life to those who “find them,” and then obey them. They are able to heal and deliver/save us from evil (see the Bible study Deliverance Ministry). This is moving “straight ahead” in Christ.
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find [4672- “to attain to, to acquire, to get, to come upon”] them and health [4832- “health, healing, cure, deliverance”] to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful [6143- “perversity, distortion, crookedness”] mouth and put devious [3891- “deviation, perversity, crookedness”] speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight [3474- “to be straight, right, pleasing, upright”] in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established [3559- “to be firm, stable, established, secure, prepared”]. [This is another confirmation of the way to be established so that we may enter into the ark of God’s deliverance, as did Noah (Genesis 6:18).]
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
NASU
Proverbs 9:13-18 – The foolish woman cries out with the intent of her master, the devil, to turn away from the Lord “those who are making their paths straight,” which means they are conducting themselves in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. “Stolen water” represents that which is unlawful, or forbidden. It has been polluted by sin. “Bread [food] eaten in secret” is that which is hidden, or covered. Solomon is saying that partaking of these things from the foolish woman will lead us off the right path while following after Christ, into hell.
13 The woman of folly [3687- “silliness, foolishness, stupidity”] is boisterous [1993- “to make a noise, be tumultuous, to cry aloud, roar, groan, bark, sound, moan.”], she is naive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places [4791- “higher plane, height, elevation, high social position; can signify self-exaltation”] of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths [734- “way, path, course, conduct, manner”] straight [3474- def. in Proverbs 4:25 above]:
16 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," and to him who lacks understanding she says,
17 "Stolen water is sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
NASU
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