The Bible Standard - Discover the Truth. (By Christadelphianvideo.org)

Exodus 13 tells of the instructions for the 7 day long Feast of Unleavened Bread; which was incorporated with the Passover, when Israel entered the Promised Land (see Joshua 5 verses 1-12). Note how this Feast, together with the Passover and circumcision, were together emblematic of God’s covenant with His people Israel. The Feast told of the need to remove leaven from the lives of the faithful. L...

The Psalms captured our particular attention this morning, although all the chapters we read were full of drama – arising from – or anticipating – the actions of the Almighty. In Exodus we read of the night of the Passover with the angel of the Lord destroying all the firstborn in Egypt. An incredible outcry followed – how comparable will that be with the chaos at the return of Christ? The time wi...

Exodus 13 tells of the instructions for the 7 day long Feast of Unleavened Bread; which was incorporated with the Passover, when Israel entered the Promised Land (see Joshua 5 verses 1-12). Note how this Feast, together with the Passover and circumcision, were together emblematic of God’s covenant with His people Israel. The Feast told of the need to remove leaven from the lives of the faithful. L...

xodus 10 records plagues 8 and 9 – the ravenous grasshoppers (plague locusts) and the intense supernatural darkness, which gripped every Egyptian household. Israel has been learning of what Yahweh’s Name meant personally to them. Remember that God has severed His people from the Egyptians from plague 4 onwards. Well might they say what the Psalmist recorded (27 verse 1), “The LORD is my light and...

We thought about this for some time. How do we understand the references in today’s ch. 10 of Exodus to the LORD hardening Pharaoh’s heart.  (v.1,10,27)   Can God blame man for what God does – if that is the way to understand this?  Notice how Moses conveys the message of the LORD (i.e. Yahweh/Jehovah) to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews; how long will you refuse to humble your...

Exodus 10 records plagues 8 and 9 – the ravenous grasshoppers (plague locusts) and the intense supernatural darkness, which gripped every Egyptian household. Israel has been learning of what Yahweh’s Name meant personally to them. Remember that God has severed His people from the Egyptians from plague 4 onwards. Well might they say what the Psalmist recorded (27 verse 1), “The LORD is my light and...

Exodus 9 tells of the 5th plague (a grievous disease which killed the livestock of the Egyptians); the 6th plague (of sore boils on man and beast); and the 7th plague (hail which smote the grain and vegetables of the Egyptians). The economy and food of Egypt was being destroyed by Pharaoh’s stubborn arrogance and defiance of Yahweh. A man whose heart was so hard that he would rather see the destru...

The first part of our reading today, Ch. 13 of Romans, needs to be understood in the context of the whole Bible.  Paul tells his readers, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities … those that exist have been instituted by God.  Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed … for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.”  [v.1-3] This was written becaus...

In Genesis we are reading of Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh and today we saw Moses’ demand “We must go three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us” [Ch.8 v.27] Over the next few days we will read of the drama of the plagues: we pondered the example of Pharaoh’s tactic of first agreeing and then denying Moses’ requests, so Moses says, “let not Pharaoh che...

Exodus 9 tells of the 5th plague (a grievous disease which killed the livestock of the Egyptians); the 6th plague (of sore boils on man and beast); and the 7th plague (hail which smote the grain and vegetables of the Egyptians). The economy and food of Egypt was being destroyed by Pharaoh's stubborn arrogance and defiance of Yahweh. A man whose heart was so hard that he would rather see the de...

Exodus 7 verses1-13 describe Moses' and Aaron's next encounter with Pharaoh, who was the embodiment of supremacy over all Egypt's gods. The Almighty had told his representatives that Pharaoh would mightily resist until God's signs and wonders had been multiplied in Egypt and Yahweh shown to be superior and incomparable in all the earth. The demand for proof of the authority of Yahw...

Exodus 5 tells of Moses and Aaron standing before Pharaoh and issuing their demand and ultimatum. Pharaoh arrogantly responds, “Who is Yahweh?” Proud man you will learn when He abases you. He tells his slaves – no more straw for bricks – it will become worse for Israel should you try to resist me. Back to rigorous work you idle slaves, Pharaoh says. The foremen of the Israelites were beaten when t...

Our readings today – in Exodus and Romans tie in together in their reference to the exaltation of Moses, now ready, in God’s sight, to serve him after 40 years of preparation “in the land of Midian.”  Moses is now a meek and humble man (Numbers 12 v.3) – God can now use him. Paul’s points in our Roman’s chapter (9) are illuminating: first, he states  how God “says to Moses, ‘’I will have mercy on...

Chapter 4 tells of the angel giving Moses 3 powerful supporting signs to convince the resistant Hebrews to believe God and His prophet and representative, Moses. The sign of the staff that would turn into a snake; the sign of the hand that would become leprous before being healed; the sign of waters of the Nile (Egypt’s life blood) becoming blood (itself the symbol of life) turning to blood and br...

Paul’s letter to the Romans contains some of the most meaningful and thought provoking words in the Bible.  It is impossible to read it and take all the points into our minds until we have read it meditatively many times over, making our own notes.   More than any other book in the Bible, it calls for diligent and reflective study and the following up of the cross references and  leads to other Sc...

Romans 7 starts with an analogy comparing the liberty to remarry providing the former spouse had deceased with the believer’s freedom from the law because Christ’s death was the death-knell for the Mosaic law. The chapter showed the law’s purpose in provoking peoples’ covetous lusts demonstrating human incapacity to be righteous on the basis of law keeping. A delight in God’s law within our mind m...

There are some days when all the readings provoke thoughts that are very meaningful and personal.  In Genesis we have the words of Joseph to his brothers after their father died.  The brothers are fearful that Joseph, in his position of great power in the land, will now take vengeance on them for the time they threw him into a pit, ignoring his pleas (Psa. 105 v.17-20 which shows it was also a tes...

cont reading.... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-january-29th-genesis-48-49-50-psalms-51-52-romans-5-6/ Romans 5 Paul enumerated the blessings of justification and the process in life which we go through to bring us to our God. He pointed out that the initiative came from, and also commenced with, our Father. Then he elaborated the problem produced by our Adamic herit...

Psalm 50 is a Psalm of Asaph, who was the recorder (or secretary) at the time of David’s kingship over all Israel. He rejoices in the fact that God Himself is the Judge. See the reverence for the Almighty Asaph has in the use of many titles for his Sovereign in verse 1. The earth is commanded to listen to God, who shines forth from the glory of His future sanctuary in Zion (the blessed Jerusalem o...

Much of Paul’s reasoning as he writes to the Romans is quite profound: it needs careful thought for us to get our minds around some of the points he is making. In chapter 3 he is setting out the parallel principles (and how they converge) for the Jews who observe the law in the right spirit – and are “right” in the eyes of God and what he says of   “ the law of faith ” [v.27] that applies to all b...

In Genesis 44 Joseph sets up yet another test for his brothers. As they journey from the Governor’s house homeward they are overtaken by a group dispatched by Joseph. They are accused of stealing the Governor’s silver cup. Naturally, the accusation is denied and the brothers’ sacks searched. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack and they are escorted back to Joseph’s home. Here he confronts them and...

It has been well said that ‘no one lives in a vacuum’ – we all interact with others and have some influence on each other. Most of us live in a close community of fellow believers at least one day each week, may we see this as essential. This is good – this is wonderful.  The only time it is not so is when there is discord for some reason – and discord can hurt much more among those who are close...

Thoughts on the readings for January 26th (Genesis 42, 43 Psalms 46, 47, 48, Matthew 28) In Genesis 42 we read of Joseph’s 10 brothers being forced by the severe regional famine to go to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph, who was now the Governor in Egypt, spoke roughly to them in order to test them. Joseph did not yet know how events would unfold. The 10 brothers were accused by Joseph of being spies –...

Thoughts on the readings for January 26th (Genesis 42, 43 Psalms 46, 47, 48, Matthew 28) In Genesis 42 we read of Joseph’s 10 brothers being forced by the severe regional famine to go to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph, who was now the Governor in Egypt, spoke roughly to them in order to test them. Joseph did not yet know how events would unfold. The 10 brothers were accused by Joseph of being spies –...

In Genesis 41 we have Joseph’s elevation from prison to be the highest ruler in Egypt after Pharaoh. The butler had been restored to Pharaoh’s service so that he might be there at the time of Pharaoh’s double dream. Joseph, however, had to be patient for 3 more years before God would bring him out of the prison house – just as our Lord spent 3 days in the grave and was dependent on His Father to b...