One of my favorite Old Testament concepts is "plundering the Egyptians." The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, but God always has the last laugh! Exodus 12:36 says, "The Lord has made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians."
A few months ago I wrote a note in the margin of my Bible next to that passage: 400 years of slavery or 400 years of Egypt saving up for Israel. Don't miss the significance of this passage. The Israelites experienced 400 years of slavery, but God's people always get the upper-hand eventually. The cream always rises to the top! I don't want to minimize the struggles of slavery for 400 years. But think about it. The Israelites were "working for" the Egyptians, but the Egyptians ended up giving everything back to Israel. So who was enslaved to whom? Israel was losing for 400 years. But when the final buzzer sounded they won!
Permission to speak frankly? I believe that God wants us to plunder the Egyptians. He is using people who don't worship Him to store up intellectual and financial wealth for His purposes. I know that might offend some people. But isn't that exactly what happened? I think the knowledge the Israelites gained while helping in Egptian construction projects served them well when it came time to build cities and synagogues! Intellectual plundering. I engage in intellectual plundering all the time when I get ideas from people who don't worship God. I want to redeem the things I learn from physics and neurology and business and use them to serve God's purposes! It's plundering the Egyptians.
And the Israelites didn't leave Egypt empty-handed. Exodus 12:38 says they had "large droves of livestock." God wants to use the wealth of the world to serve His purposes.
A few thoughts.
Exodus 12:36 says that God caused the Egyptians to be "favorably disposed." I pray for "favor" about as much as I pray for anything. It is a theme that runs through Scripture. Nehemiah prayed for "favor." Daniel found "favor." Jesus' inaugural message quoted the prophet Isaiah. Jesus said he came "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
I believe that every good thing that happens in my life can be traced back to the favor of God. I believe that as much as I believe anything. It's the etymology of favor.
The favor of God is the only explanation for the coffeehouse we're building on Capitol Hill. The only explanation! We prayed for favor with the owners of 201 F Street, NE. And we got it. We prayed for favor with the zoning commission and historic preservation. And we got it. Ebenezers is God doing us a favor!
I think the things that are happening in my life right now--the God-ordained opportunities that are presenting themselves right and left--are answers to prayers for favor. What's cool about that is this. The opportunities don't produce pride because you know you had nothing to do with it. In fact, when you recognize that it's the favor of God it has a humbling effect.
It reminds me of David's response to the promises of God in II Samuel 7:18: "Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brough me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant--and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a human being! What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant."
I read something Jim Rohn wrote today that really impacted me: "Success is not something you chase or run after. Success is something you attract."
It reminds me of the Psalm 23. "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." The word "follow" isn't a strong enough translation. It means "to hunt." God is hunting you down so that He can bless you! So that He can do you a favor! Imagine: the God of the universe is hot on your trail tracking you down so He can do you a favor and show you His goodness.
Mind-boggling!
A few months ago I wrote a note in the margin of my Bible next to that passage: 400 years of slavery or 400 years of Egypt saving up for Israel. Don't miss the significance of this passage. The Israelites experienced 400 years of slavery, but God's people always get the upper-hand eventually. The cream always rises to the top! I don't want to minimize the struggles of slavery for 400 years. But think about it. The Israelites were "working for" the Egyptians, but the Egyptians ended up giving everything back to Israel. So who was enslaved to whom? Israel was losing for 400 years. But when the final buzzer sounded they won!
Permission to speak frankly? I believe that God wants us to plunder the Egyptians. He is using people who don't worship Him to store up intellectual and financial wealth for His purposes. I know that might offend some people. But isn't that exactly what happened? I think the knowledge the Israelites gained while helping in Egptian construction projects served them well when it came time to build cities and synagogues! Intellectual plundering. I engage in intellectual plundering all the time when I get ideas from people who don't worship God. I want to redeem the things I learn from physics and neurology and business and use them to serve God's purposes! It's plundering the Egyptians.
And the Israelites didn't leave Egypt empty-handed. Exodus 12:38 says they had "large droves of livestock." God wants to use the wealth of the world to serve His purposes.
A few thoughts.
Exodus 12:36 says that God caused the Egyptians to be "favorably disposed." I pray for "favor" about as much as I pray for anything. It is a theme that runs through Scripture. Nehemiah prayed for "favor." Daniel found "favor." Jesus' inaugural message quoted the prophet Isaiah. Jesus said he came "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
I believe that every good thing that happens in my life can be traced back to the favor of God. I believe that as much as I believe anything. It's the etymology of favor.
The favor of God is the only explanation for the coffeehouse we're building on Capitol Hill. The only explanation! We prayed for favor with the owners of 201 F Street, NE. And we got it. We prayed for favor with the zoning commission and historic preservation. And we got it. Ebenezers is God doing us a favor!
I think the things that are happening in my life right now--the God-ordained opportunities that are presenting themselves right and left--are answers to prayers for favor. What's cool about that is this. The opportunities don't produce pride because you know you had nothing to do with it. In fact, when you recognize that it's the favor of God it has a humbling effect.
It reminds me of David's response to the promises of God in II Samuel 7:18: "Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brough me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant--and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a human being! What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant."
I read something Jim Rohn wrote today that really impacted me: "Success is not something you chase or run after. Success is something you attract."
It reminds me of the Psalm 23. "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." The word "follow" isn't a strong enough translation. It means "to hunt." God is hunting you down so that He can bless you! So that He can do you a favor! Imagine: the God of the universe is hot on your trail tracking you down so He can do you a favor and show you His goodness.
Mind-boggling!
4 Comments:
Great stuff. linking to it.
Question - do you think this area is too transient for permanancy in members of the church? I ask the question because as a married man with one daughter and one son on the way ...
Actually, let me start back at the beginning. I forgot that today was the day that the kids were singing and I therefore forgot to dress my daughter up in an outfit from a foreign country. That notwithstanding, before it was announced that the children were coming in to sing, while we were signing the first song, I had a vision (I guess you'd call it a vision), of two hundred children, sons and daughters of NCC'ers. In a church of 80% young singles, I wonder if it was just a short circuit in my brain - I hope not. I am not advocating that everyone get married and have kids mucho pronto, but I saw something.
Thanks for sharing that encouraging vision :) I believe the day will come!
To Anonymous above, I too see a time where we have a lot of young people at the church. Adapting to the many changes is what makes NCC so great. For what it is worth, whenever I get a chance I always stop by the nursery (both at Union Station and Ballston),look at the young ones, and pray for them (inside of my head). Who knows what mighty men and women of God they may become?!?! :)
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