SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features

a. CHURCH
Surely David, this is foundational to the church, as a matter of course!

Unfortunately, no! Like the Jews, we listen for a while – then go our own way! The reason the wider church is so divided today is that people who have once heard from God, let pride set in and their minds become closed to new revelation. The Lord then has to find another person or group to give His further progressive revelation to.

For example, Martin Luther was given the truth of salvation by faith, rather than works (often a financial contribution to the church!) and so the Lutheran Church was born. The Lutherans quickly believed they had the ultimate revelation. But the Lord wanted to reveal the truth about baptism. The Lutherans wouldn’t listen. So he had to find a new group, the Anna Baptists. Then the Anna aptists……. And now the first two denominations were formed. And grew and grew in number until today we have thousands! Many based on revelations from God.

It is commonly understood that those at the forefront of the previous move of God are the greatest opponents of the next! For pride quickly rears its ugly head. Satan laughs loudly!

Looking at the church today, it would seem that we must have a multiplicity of God’s, each with his (or her!) own doctrine! In fact though, we have but one eternal, unchanging God.

And we only have the one Holy Spirit who guides each and every one of us! And we are to be united in Him.

Jesus is returning for but one bride!

b. BELIEVERS
Our first big individual challenge is to ‘hear from God’. For the huge temptation, too often encouraged by leadership, is to go back to Old Testament ways by placing an intermediary between God and us – to let someone else do the hearing for us. Yet this is completely contrary to the way of Jesus. Jesus in the only mediator we need.

We don’t know how to pray? Then the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

We are to pray directly to the Father

For we are all now ‘priests’

And will be guided into the truth through what Jesus has done for us.

Hearing directly from the Lord is an essential step on our path to spiritual maturity.

a. CHURCH
One major cause of division is that each denomination or grouping has favorite scriptures they base their theology on, while ignoring others that might upset their beliefs, maybe even from drawing them closer to God. Jesus continually condemned the Pharisees for this.

I wonder what He would say to us, if He were here today? Timothy faced this problem and confirmed.

We must read all Scripture regularly and with an open mind, understanding that ours is likely not the only valid interpretation. Allowing the Holy Spirit to quicken to us new understanding and revelation that expand our horizons. We must see whether our churches dearly held doctrines are biblically based (It’s surprising how many aren’t, instead being man based tradition.) or only built upon parts of Scripture and not others. To be tolerant of others, as well as being open to changing our beliefs.

To encompass all Scripture is the second challenge the church faces today. For Jesus will not return until we are!

b. BELIEVERS
We each have the responsibility to seek the truth for ourselves.

We also have the responsibility to check those who teach us before accepting his word. Me included!

The Word needs to be taught through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

To obey the Word is an essential step on our path to spiritual maturity.

a. CHURCH
Once again, we have one God, with one will, worked out in different ways. Contrary to God’s will, churches often tend to see each other as the opposition rather than players on the same team. Maybe playing in different positions, fulfilling different roles, but all vital to the team’s success.

We are to love each other and live in peace (harmony) with one another.

To be obedient to God’s will is the third challenge the church faces today. For Jesus will not return until we are!

b. BELIEVERS
Each one is to obey God’s will as a slave obeys their master. Of course the difference is that we, in our humanity, have a choice, but in true godliness we surrender our free will back to the Father.

Our first responsibility is to obey God ‘before’ (double meaning!) men.

We learn what God’s will for us is through the Holy Spirit living within.

In so doing we will come into spiritual fulfillment.

Fulfilling God’s will for our life leads us on our path to spiritual maturity.

Continuing our look at these 3 key occasions when the waters were divided, each signaled a new stage in the progress of the Jewish inheritance. From them, we can see parallels in the challenges facing the church and believers today, as we move on to a new stage in God, prior to the return of Jesus.

In essence, we all need to hear directly from God for ourselves, obey His Word and submit to His will for us as individuals. Sounds simple, but in reality, requires everything of us. Which we don't want to give, in our persistent old human nature!

DEATH OF HEROD

Death of Herod
Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 69. Remember in the Bible where it talks about how Joseph stayed in Egypt until the death of Herod to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt l have called my son." Matt 2:15? The historian, Josephus, describes the death of Herod at great length. I will summarize the event:

When Herod's health began to fail him rapidly, he was moved to his winter capital in Jericho. From there he was carried by stretcher to the hot springs on the shores of the Dead Sea. The springs did no good; Herod returned home. Racked by despondency, Herod attempted suicide. Rumors of the attempt caused loud wailing throughout the palace. Herod's son, imprisoned by his paranoid father, mistook the cries to mean his father was dead. Immediately, he tried to bribe his jailers, who reported the bribery attempt to Herod. The sick king ordered his son executed on the spot. Now Herod plunged deeper into depression. He was only days away from his own death- and he knew it. What pained him most was the knowledge that his death would be met with joy in Judea. To forestall this, he devised an incredible plan.

"Having assembled the most distinguished men from every village from one end of Judea to the other, he ordered them to be locked in the hippodrome at Jericho."

- Jewish Wars FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS

Herod then gave the order to execute them at the very moment he, himself, died. His sick mind reasoned that their death would dispel any joy in Judea over his own death. The order was never carried out. After Herod's death, his body was carried in procession from Jericho to the Herodium outside Bethlehem for burial. Herod's body was adorned in purple, a crown of gold rested on his head, and a scepter of gold was placed in his hand. The bier bearing his body was made of gold and studded with jewels that sparkled as it was carried along under the desert sun. Following the bier was Herod's household and hundreds of slaves, swinging censers. Slowly, the procession inched its way up the mountainside to the Herodium, where it was laid to rest.