ALWAYS WITH US
01st Mar 2017
God revealed himself to Moses as Yahweh - the “I am” - the ever present God. In Exodus 6 he tells Moses that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob only knew Him as the strong God, but now He was revealing Himself as the one who is always with His chosen people. God then tells Moses that He will deliver, redeem, bring them out into the things He has promised.
In the midst of despair, hardship and persecution, He is God with them and will act on their behalf - what amazing truth, and yet because of their suffering and brokenness the Israelites couldn’t hear the message and so could receive no comfort or hope.
Christians today find themselves in situations of extreme danger and persecution, in pain and rejection, not knowing what to do or what the future holds. The promise of God “who is with us” still stands.
An old man alone in a refugee camp in Burundi, with most of his family either lost or killed, said to a friend of mine, “When Jesus is all you have got, your realise that Jesus is all you need.”
Whatever you are facing, take heart, God Himself will never leave you or forsake you. “He will be our guide even to the end.” (Psalm 48:14) He has hope ahead of you, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Paul preaching to the baby Christians as he leaves Ephesus says, “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvellous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.” (Acts 20:32)
Speak hope to each other today. Speak about the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, who is not simply accompanying us, but who is within us.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
