He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty. [ Whose power no foe can withstand.] I will say of the Lord, His is my Refuge and my Fortress, My God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust! For (then) He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and the deadly pestilence. (Then) He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand but none shall come near you, only a spectator shall you be, yourself inaccessible in the Secret Place of the Most High as you witness the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels (especial) charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all of your ways [of obedience and service]. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone, You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
Because he has set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands my name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness – trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never]. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
Genesis 45:4-8 “And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they did so. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed and disheartened and angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years more in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a posterity and to continue a remnant on the earth to save your lives by a great escape and save for you many survivors.
So now it was not you who sent me here but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
The Old Testament story of Joseph is a verdant treasury of how to handle adversity. Many know this story well – a young Joseph boasted to his brothers that he saw them in a dream all bowing down to him. This enraged his brothers and they threw Joseph into a well then sold him to slave traders en route to Egypt. Joseph was purchased at a slave market by a man named Potiphar who was a leader in Pharaoh’s court. Joseph performed his job with such excellence for Potiphar that he promoted Joseph to a position of influence.
Genesis 39:4 So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And his master made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge. Joseph definitely knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
The story progresses where once again Joseph is betrayed by Potiphar’s own wife who lies to her husband while asking for Joseph to be put to death. Potiphar, recognizing that Joseph was incapable of what he was being accused, sent him to prison instead. The story ends in a miraculous release when Pharaoh himself asks Joseph to interpret a dream which he did successfully. Pharaoh appointed him Governor over all the land of Egypt.
Many years before – God made a covenant with Abraham and stated that his descendants would number the stars in the sky. He made the same covenant with Abraham’s son, Isaac as well as Isaac’s son, Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was promoted by the hand of God right on time to deliver not only his own family from famine but millions of Egyptians and people from surrounding nations that had no food. Joseph saved the remnant of people that God had promised to his father, grandfather and great grandfather. Joseph knew why he had been spared: Gen. 45:7 “God sent me before you to preserve for you a posterity and to continue a remnant on the earth, to save your lives by a great escape and save for you many survivors.” Joseph was strong in his own identity, and purpose and knew that God had saved him for this very important work despite a life of difficulty and a level of rejection few have experienced.
As God Himself is wisdom, He saw the exact recipe of circumstances that would blend Joseph into the man He required, and because He has all foreknowledge knew the exact moment Joseph needed to be drawn from the oven of prison. Our God sees the end from the beginning.
“Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision. All God’s acts are done in perfect wisdom first for His own glory, and then for the highest good of the greatest number for the longest time. And all His acts are as pure as they are wise, and as good as they are wise and pure. Not only could His acts not be better done, a better way to do them could not be imagined. An infinitely wise God must work in a manner not to be improved upon by finite creatures.Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all. The earth is full of thy riches!” A.W. Tozer Knowledge of the Holy
Joseph spent 13 total years as a slave or imprisoned. He was 30 years old when Pharaoh promoted him to be Governor of Egypt. (Genesis 41:46)
Few, if any, personally know anyone that would embrace the notion that slavery was permissible or acceptable in any society. Slavery is the enslavement of an individual that historically is forced to live and work under mostly inhumane conditions, suffer abusive treatment at the hands of “owners” – and for all of their days live a life of servitude. The slave trade in Africa began in the 15th century not long after traders from other nations like Portugal, England, Spain and Holland landed. The United States took much lower numbers of slaves than many other participating nations. By the time the united colonies became the United States of America, descendants working for landowners had been enslaved between 3 to 5 generations, with most North American slaves coming from western Africa – now modern day Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and the Ivory Coast.
Without question, the day that slavery was abolished was a Red Letter day, ending a destructive and evil culture that harmed an entire race for hundreds of years. But can we consider something new into this equation – the possibility of a new possibility regarding slavery and the perpetuation of this evil? If we understand that God sees life and all circumstances from the beginning to the end, and we believe that God is a good, good Father, is it plausible to assume that He allowed Africans to be brought to the United States, despite the TRAGIC circumstances, knowing that He Himself would produce great good from great evil? That in the United States, Africans could be free to worship, many coming to know God as well as His Son Jesus, saving entire generations of families from eternal destruction. That when delivered to the shores of the United States these Africans and their ancestors could have opportunities and a way of living reaching far beyond what their forefathers in West Africa could ever dream? Like Joseph, they were destined with a purpose that required them to experience hardship, not to break them, but to refine and to re-purpose.
As monuments of Confederate generals are being dismantled and removed as they serve to some as a reminder of slavery, this raises questions. Because Egyptians enslaved the Jews for 400 years (Please Note: the Jews are God’s Chosen People), have the Egyptians destroyed the pyramids and temples that were built as monuments to Phaorahs by the enslaved Jews because it was wrong to use slaves? Have the Italians bulldozed the Colosseum in Rome where Christians were impaled and lit on fire as human torches or fed to lions for sport? Have they destroyed monuments to Roman Emperors? No and No and No. In fact the Colosseum in Rome is a major tourist attraction with tourism a primary source of revenue, but only ISIS and al Qaeda think its cool to kill Christians.
Despite the obvious evil that slavery is – it is pointless to erase historical references, and unnecessary if people understand and believe that their hardship can achieve or has achieved a higher, more prevailing purpose. Through history we learn a better way, with some history left to serve as a reminder that it never bears repeating. When hardship does not result in God-framed and God-inspired revealed purposes, it will result in a demonstration of revealed destruction and bitterness. Perspective is Everything.
Tracy L Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings May 2017
Perspective is Everything: My Response to the Removal of Monuments
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Facebook: @TracyGatewoodWriterTeacher
Author: Doorways of Grace; My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Do you need a bit of Good News today ? If so, I have something for you. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are already blessed with the experience Christians refer to as Eternal Life. Here is something to consider – you don’t have to wait until you have passed onto Glory to experience this gift, you have a gift card to use and redeem right now – your card was activated by Jesus when you became born again. There is no expiration and no black out dates ! You are now walking in Eternal Living!
John 17:3 AMPNow this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.
Eternal life is a reference to Eternal salvation. The word Salvation in the Greek is Sozo and is the same word used for Healing. God uses the same spiritual mechanism to save as He does to heal, and that is the acceptance of His Son and everything that Jesus died to give. When experiencing sickness, disease, or infirmity, make a decision to focus on the cross and the body of Christ and the physical aspects of His sacrifice. Thank Jesus for everything that He did on the cross to purchase your healing from ______ illness. I can tell you from experience that the illness will quickly begin living on borrowed time.
Jesus has paid all sin debt – He was the only one that could. Your authentic acceptance of Jesus as the perfect sacrifice is what saves you from Eternal damnation, scooping you away from the edge of the cliff and placing you back onto firm standing on the rock.
John 3:36AMP “He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Sharing Link: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-16E
FB: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus – available on Amazon.
We come before you with praise and thanksgiving for the many blessings that you have bestowed on us, on our families on our communities and on our great nation. We thank you for placing us in this time and season of history because we know that your divine timing is perfect and You make no mistakes. Your ways are as pure as they are wise and your ways are as good as they are wise and pure and ALL of your actions are done for Your glory.
Today I petition for your help for our nation the United States of America. This beautiful country which was crafted by your hands through men and women placed in a holy crucible, as they were led by your spirit to form this nation. Lord we ask you for your mercy on us as we again come to a crossroad of opinions and agendas. I ask you to blow the smoke away from the nation and set a right order, your order – within every official – coming in or departing. Show them the way – the right and honorable way – to lead during these times. I ask that You please move to restore order to our communities and across this Land with speed.
You are the Almighty – El Elyon – and as those who believe seek you in the Secret Place, we know that we remain stable and fixed under your protection, while covered underneath the shadow of your power. We call out the death spirits of LAWLESSNESS and FEAR and command them by the power of Jesus Name and by our authority in the Blood of Jesus that these spirits be bound and silenced across our communities and this nation. We accept our duty as Holy Warriors of the Kingdom to exercise our abilities to defeat demonic forces through spiritual means by taking our authority in prayer to dismantle their assaults. We also call on angelic forces to surround our communities and bring them to order. We ask that in Jesus Name. I decree a bloodline of protection around my city, my state and our nation from these demonic spiritual attacks.
In these uncommon times Lord, we ask for uncommon levels of GRACE – for you to show yourself as Mighty, calming the hearts of the people and showing them that your hand is on this hour for all people, not just the ones that claim you as Lord. We pray that quivering hearts and minds will turn toward you in this hour and claim your truths afresh rather than defaulting to fear and the fearful tactics of anger, rage and even murder.
We need you Father here in America. We depend on You to navigate our nation through supernatural means to extricate our government away from the precipice of economic destruction due to $20 trillion dollars of debt. We depend on You for wisdom in how to make determinations on people that have moved into this country by illegal means. We depend on Your wisdom Lord to shine the light on all of the major social issues that are consuming the minds of the American people and to assist our leaders in making these profoundly impactful decisions. We cannot move ahead successfully without you, Father. We must have your strength, your power and the wisdom that comes through You from above.
Hope defined is a confident expectation of good in every situation. Please restore HOPE and CONFIDENCE in the people of America, reminding each one of the great things that you have done in past times. Remind them that You are God – and Republicans and Democrats are not nor will ever be. That You alone direct the water courses of Kings and Nations and that work in this Nation will glorify You or change can occur with no notice to insure your will is done. We ask for your Spirit to lead our Nation to a balance of HOPE and RESTORED ORDER beginning now, today. Shut the mouths of the slanderers, mockers and gossipers who are filled with hate and who are stoking the flames of fear among the people. Quench the fire of the Religious and Fan the Flame of anointing in people that are in true authentic relationship with Jesus. Draw people to your Word for Truth and Knowledge, away from political pundits and mere men that cannot properly discern these times and seasons. Give your people 20/ 20 Vision in the Realm of the Spirit to see what you want us to see and to help those that cannot see You in these circumstances and have them help without judgment.
Now to the people listening – I speak to every spirit of Fear and I rebuke you in Jesus Name. Jesus bequeathed peace to everyone that claimed a relationship with Him and I release Peace into your mind. Jesus bore a crown of thorns on His head that drew the blood that Purchased peace in our minds for all of mankind so by the power and authority that I have in the Name of Jesus and By the Blood of Jesus – I bind up Fear and I release Peace, and Calm. I decree that the Tormenter be Silenced in Jesus Name.
Cities are important to God. In the NIV, there are 669 references to the word ‘city’. Cities being built, cities being destroyed, cities being attacked, cities falling under God’s wrath, cities being blessed in fact, for those that believe that God’s Son’s sacrifice paid the debt for all sin – God has prepared for them a ‘city in heaven’ ( Hebrews 11:15).
The writer of Hebrews could have used another word to describe this heavenly place; region, colony, parish (for the Louisiana Christians), state, even Heaven by itself with no other geographical term, leaving what Heaven really is like up to our imagination, but the author of Hebrews uses the word ‘city’. This ‘Holy City’ is described in rich detail in Revelation 21:2-22:19, and in the final chapter of Revelation, refers to the restoration of Eden, the Garden of:
Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
I don’t know about you but this reference to Heaven being a city brings me comfort. Many questions remain but I hope to be greeted by at least some familiar environments in my new ( Holy) City with admittedly a few superficial benefits; free shopping, restaurants serving large and flavorful portions with zero calories, bookstores with aisle after aisle of books, offering NO Harry Potter or any books pertaining to sorcery, vampires, death or blood other than the blood of Jesus. ( I also expect to have no need for any fitness enterprise). The thing I most look forward to is hearing Jesus teach and spending time with Him, maybe even sitting near Him in front row center section during very cool concerts in an outdoor venue in the City of Heaven listening to the Hallelujah Chorus in surround angelic sound.
The Holy City of Heaven is certainly going to be a big step up – jasper walls, gold streets, and of course, pearly gates. There are frequent references in scripture to City Gates. I have noticed that there is something consistently good about things that happen inside the walls of these gates – directly opposite of what can happen outside the gates: stonings (way more deadly than the marijuana kind), crucifixions, visitations from the devil out in the count(r)y, those kinds of things. Scary stuff. Cities are good. Elders and local churches are there, leadership and structure are there, economies, commerce and opportunity for increase are there. Healthcare and medical services are there, too.
In 2011, my city went through a catastrophic EF-4 tornado that vaporized 12% of all structures leaving a 6 mile long, 1 mile wide swath of destruction. I watched as the local church transformed into mini city halls becoming high level distribution centers leveraging its membership rolls, staff, all systems of communication and finances to save and secure lives and property. It was remarkable to witness the local church at its finest hour. A high concentration of strong churches is a highly desirable component of any city any time but particularly when disaster strikes. {Sacred Ramblings, June 2011: Equip the Bride:http://wp.me/p1zoxs-k}
Not only are cities on God’s radar but geography and placement for His People are extremely important to Him – where a person lives can dictate a high degree of favor if it is God’s chosen place to fulfill their destiny and purpose. You should engage in times of prayer to hear from His Spirit when considering any move. God surely moved Abraham, Joseph, Joshua and in due time, establishing them securely in cities that utilized their highest potential. Being in the right city with the right people and a strong foundation can make – or break – your destiny. Being in the right city should be a high priority for every one that knows Jesus Christ as their Chief Shepherd. Listen, listen for His voice.
The Apostle Paul, as did other Apostles, moved strategically from city to city, embracing each to preach the Gospel, igniting flames of the Spirit where ever He taught. He planned his journey from city to city – not from nation to nation. It was by transforming influential cities through relationship and teaching, that fueled the fire of the Gospel message throughout that part of the world which ultimately impacted the nations. God chose Paul, a Roman citizen, to bring the Gentiles to the knowledge of His Son – through the portal of cities. As a man or woman of God, you have an eternal hometown, and forwarding address, a divine destination called the City of Heaven.
Tracy Gatewood
September 2016 Sacred Ramblings
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
You are my Architect and Craftsman – make me suitable in your sight for the work you have set before me to accomplish for your Kingdom. You have known me – even knitting me together in my mother’s womb in the secret place. You chose my parents and assigned them to me because you needed their specific characteristics to design what was necessary to complete your work in a desired and specific season. You designed my personality, my talents and spiritual gifts to your liking.When you completed making me you said, It is good and set me out into the world to become who you desired me to be.When I accepted the sacrifice of your Son as payment for my sin debt, your breath entered my body. My spirit became activated, made alive by Your Spirit.
Allow me Father to not lay any other Foundation other than the foundation of your Son – let not my work be considered for naught because I have not put your Son first. When my work is less profitable and even frustrating, I look to you and remember that you think of me, and that you have plans for me and that your plans are for my welfare and for my peace and not for evil. You will give me hope in my final outcome.
I ask that my final outcome be to have accomplished the purpose, plan and destiny that you have set before me. When I finish the race, as my Chief Architect, you will look at this creation and I will hear you say ‘ Well done, my good and faithful servant. In you I am well pleased.’
Prayers of Grace-
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
FB: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
I am comforted in knowing that you are always with me – going before me, carrying a lantern of hope to light my path. When my soul becomes fearful, I direct my gaze unto Jesus and remind myself that I am your Beloved and that you are the One that can be trusted. Jesus is the embodiment of your love for me.
I hate Fear and understand that protracted fear gives my mind entrance to the enemy. I take my authority over the spirit of fear binding it and commanding it to leave my mind in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus. Fear has no right to any place within my mind, body or my environment and will not be allowed to trespass. I pray for a sprinkling of the holy blood of Jesus over my mind to cleanse it from all fearful and unrighteous thoughts. As an act of my will, I forgive every person that has harmed me (Name them) or is harming me (Name them) and the action of forgiveness will shut the door to tormenting thoughts. Lord, forgive ME of my fear of man – or any unfounded fear that keeps me from your assignment on my life.
When I dwell in your Secret Place I can remain stable and fixed under your Shadow. You are my Rock and my Refuge. You are my Strength and an impenetrable Shield. Whom shall I fear ? I will be a protected spectator kept safely in the Secret Place and will witness the reward of attempts of wickedness towards me.
Father, I pray that you will shine the light on the places that I respond with Fear so that I can learn to turn and trust. Grow my roots of faith to become more firmly planted and established in your Son.
Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Author: Doorways of Grace, Available on Amazon
Periscope: Tracy Gatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Thank you for your mercy and great kindness. Your love endures forever. When I ask, you impart gifts from your Holy Spirit and as needed, the gifts of love, patience, kindness, self-control are brought to me without delay. Through my failures and successes, you have equipped me with sound wisdom, but your correct time and seasons are without fault or error to impart this wisdom. I seek timing, leading and most importantly, even more of your wisdom.
Because I walk in undeserved, unmerited favor, I live expectant that doors of great opportunity unlock on my behalf and in their correct time and season. The favor of the Lord opens doors that no man can shut. The favor of the Lord is upon me, and He confirms and establishes the work of my hands. Because of the New Covenant and the finished work of Jesus, my career is blessed, my family is blessed and my ministry work is blessed. I have been granted the keys to the Kingdom. Because I have dominion on the earth, what I bind on earth will be bound in heaven.
I decree that the favor of the Lord surrounds me like a shield against all enemies. When I call forth the blood of Jesus as protection – I speak into existence an impenetrable fortress. I am always above and I am never beneath. I am always the head and I am never the tail. Jesus has acquired all heavenly wisdom and because I am in Him and He is in me seated in heavenly places at the Father’s right hand – His Spirit counsels and teaches me skillful and Godly wisdom for any circumstance. I have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in me and possess the identical power that raised Him from the dead and back to life. Thank you, God for the gift of your Spirit to me.
In the Name of Jesus I Pray – AMEN (So Be it)
Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
FB: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
I praise you with thanksgiving for this day, and for the many blessings that You have set before me. The work of your Son is complete so as I stand from victory for my prosperity, my safety and protection, my healing and wholeness, I hold on to the truth of Your Word. As I look unto Jesus and in the knowledge of His perfect sacrifice, I will move forward in confidence and boldness that He is partnering with me and mediating on my behalf. I remain fixed and focused on Jesus , relinquishing all self-occupation, fear and condemnation.
I am grateful that I have a good, good Father that loves me with an immutable, infinite caring love. The knowledge of this great love fills me with the light of hope and happiness. Knowing that my Father loves me and that Jesus is partnering with me in all family, career and ministry matters, keeps me grounded and provides a stable foundation for all areas of my life. While my sapphire foundation was established through affliction, You Lord set my gates, walls and foundation with precious stones. Your love and kindness never depart from me and your covenant of peace and completeness will never be removed.
I have been established in righteousness and I am in right standing because I seek to live in conformity to God’s will and His order. I am far from thoughts of oppression or certain destruction because I fully embrace the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ over my life. Righteousness, peace and victory over opposition is my heritage as a servant of my Lord and my God. I gladly receive the reward of peace as vindication for all unrighteous acts done to me.
In the Name of Jesus I Pray – AMEN (So be it)
Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
The book of Exodus details the story of Moses and the instructions given by God via a burning bush telling Moses of his appointment to rescue God’s people out of the hands of Pharaoh.
Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said to him, what is that in your hand? And he said, A rod.”
Moses had approached the burning bush holding a common, yet important tool of his trade; the staff of a sheep herder because Moses was a shepherd. God chose to impart a divine purpose into this one yielded man. His trade tool was a humble piece of equipment that revealed to everyone who he was and how he made his living. But God had bigger plans.
Exodus 4:3 “And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said to Moses, Put forth your hand and take it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. This you shall do, says the Lord that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has indeed appeared to you.”
Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the rod of God (Exodus 4:20) When Moses arrived he and brother Aaron went to the house of Pharaoh and followed the Lord’s instruction, asking Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh refused.
Exodus 7:8“And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron. When Pharaoh says to you, Prove your authority by a miracle, then tell Aaron, throw your rod down before Pharaoh that it may become a serpent.”
And so they did. Moses threw down his rod on the floor of the court and it turned into a serpent. The wizards, and magicians did the same and their rods turned into serpents. A serpent was a symbol of divine power and royalty, even being worn as an adornment on the crown of the Pharaohs however God’s divine serpent overpowered and devoured the serpents of the sorcerers. God’s power is the ultimate authority and the ultimate source of all authority – not man.
Moses and Aaron raised this rod over the Egyptians again and again bringing plagues of blood into rivers, dust, frogs, pestilence (bloodsucking gadflies), destruction of all livestock, breakout of boils and sores, hailstorms and lightning, and finally the killing of all first born Egyptian children ( which is where we get the term Passover as all Israelites were spared or “passed over” during this plague). Then Rameses finally fully understood that Moses was the representative of God and he allowed the Israelites to walk free from slavery.
Moses was a common man used for uncommon means. He was given a rod with divine power, a small inner circle, and an instruction from God. He married these three crucial components to an unwavering faith to what he had been called by God to do and accomplished remarkable things.
Moses ( whose name means ‘drawn out’) was clearly drawn out of his governmental position as a prince to become God’s leader of Israel and the shepherd of His chosen people. Moses was drawn out of the river as a baby to be saved and raised by the daughter of a Pharaoh, only to lose that princely worldly position, but then to become one of God’s chosen Kingdom Princes. Moses was also drawn out to be the author of the Jewish Torah, the Pentateuch which are the first five books of the Old Testament.
But like Moses, each person is assigned, by God’s Holy Spirit, “a rod” that can carry them forth into their God given assignment as support for their true calling. It is a gifting, a talent, a unique ability to move God’s Kingdom forward in such a way that only they can. The Marketplace Army is composed of teachers, writers, artists, speakers, managers, financial minds and medical personnel – all possessing gifts that are to be used as rods for a calling and for God’s purposes. God adds His Super to the Natural (abilities) to draw out His purposes for your life.
Exodus 4:17“And you shall take this rod in your hand with which you shall work the signs (that prove I sent you).”
Moses went on to raise his divinely empowered rod over the Red Sea, parting its waters and allowing God’s people to escape across a dry bed, away from Pharaoh’s army and into a land of safety. He lowered his rod drawing the waters back together, and drowning the warriors intent on destroying God’s people.
Psalm 23:4 “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me, Your rod [Protection] and Your staff [ to guide ] they comfort me.”
The rod is a symbol of protection and even a trade tool of Jesus our Great Shepherd who watches over us, moving harmful things from our path with His rod. Move forward with your rod of unique gifts and abilities for His Kingdom and watch God bless and protect you on your journey.
Twitter: TracyLGatewood
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus – available on Amazon
Listen to Tracy’s interview on A Time to Dream show featured on http://www.wrnoworldwide.com with Donna Skell and Lisa Burkhardt Worley – https://www.dropbox.com/s/qe26zns9arnp9h8/tracy.mp3?dl=0
Most Merciful and Loving Father –
