Sunday, November 13, 2005

 

Synopsis of the Armenian Message

Exodus 5:15 - 6:3

“I AM the LORD”

 

 

A pastor put the following sign near the apples on the coffee time table:  “Take only one; God is watching.”  A little girl who loved chocolate chip cookies read the sign and put another sign near the cookies:  “Take as many as you want; God is watching the apples.”

 

It is interesting that we try to put God within boundaries.  We cannot put Him in a box. He is God, He is everywhere.  We can never limit Him.

 

The Church Bazaar is over.  I thank God for it.  We anticipated it; looked forward to it, worked for it and now it’s over.  It was wonderful but it is over.  We suddenly realize that it is achieved and it is over.  It creates a vacuum.  We often face similar situations after significant events in our lives. 

 

Moses returned with his brother Aaron to his people to tell them what God had told him on Mount Horeb.  We read this in Exodus 4 & 5.  The people were excited about leaving Egypt. However, they were disappointed when they were faced by a very stubborn Pharaoh.  The people complained to Moses.   Moses retuned to Lord and said:  “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon these people?  Is this why you sent me?” (Ex. 5:22).

 

God has a direct and clear answer for his question:  “I am the Lord.” (6:2)

 

1.  Continue living and believing because of who I AM

 

In verse 2 and 3 God says:  “I am the Lord [YHWH, Adonei].  I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.”

 

a.   God talks to us today.  God talked to Moses directly.  We do not know whether it was sound, but we know it was direct communication.  God “said” to Moses and he took the message clearly.  He spoke through prophets in the OT.  He continued speaking to us through His Son Jesus Christ in the NT.  Today God continues talking to us.  He speaks to us through scripture.  He talks to us through our prayer times, quiet times, Bible studies, sermons, worship services…

 

b.   God reveals Himself to us.  We read in Gen. 17:1 that God revealed himself to Abraham by the name of El-Shaddai, meaning God Almighty. God revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and later to Moses.  In each situation He revealed Himself in different names.  God likes to reveal Himself differently in various situations and circumstances.  For Abraham and Isaac, He was God of protection.  For Moses and the Israelites, He is the God of the Covenant.

           

What a wonderful God! He is transcendent, yet he likes to come and be with us in each situation.  God IS.  He said:  “I AM the Lord”

 

To be continued in English.