Sometimes it takes a lifetime, or much of it anyhow, for the Lord to get us where we need to be, but it doesn't have to be that way. Actually, any place, any time, any old bush will do. Be the bush.

We've all seen what happens. Pond scum, not a pretty sight.  Today we're looking at Moses' experience in the wilderness when needing to provide water for the newly freed Israelites. The story supplies some great images and a most necessary application.

We are continuing our discussion from last week in Isaiah in our effort to understand the full impact of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

Many of us remember the exact incident when we "gave our life to the Lord".  We now had our guaranteed security, on our way to heaven for sure and certain.  It's a scary proposition.  I've heard so many say, "It doesn't matter what I do, what sin or sins I commit.  From now on I'm guaranteed my salvation".  That kind of attitude frightens me beyond description.  A one time "prayer of confession" is the beginning of a lifetime commitment of love and obedience. It's the beginning of a journey, not an end in and of itself.  We've been guaranteed that Jesus paid the price on the cross. He did the work of bringing peace between sinful man and Himself, and Jesus continues to do the work, every day, every moment.  We yield and He gives us the continued ability.  Yes, we may fail from time to time, but He stands ready to wash us clean, every moment, every day.

I know lot of people who truly do know quite a bit about God.  But knowing God really is a different deal.  I know a lot about (pick a famous person and insert) but don't know him/her, never had a conversation, and certainly Famous Person doesn't know I even exist, let alone care.  But in the case of THE Famous Person, do you truly truly really really want to know Him, and know Him in a very personal way.  That means having real conversation, challenging Him with what really counts inside you and then having Him actually respond.  And not only responding but then DOING something in you.  Beginning to make changes in you that you know didn't come or couldn't come from within yourself, mainly because you really know yourself and realize those changes couldn't have come from within you.  A power and ability that somehow you truly know you didn't have.

This all begins when you realize that Elohim-Adoni-Yahweh-Jehovah Jireh (and a few more names we haven't yet discussed) made promises regarding you.  Promises that He intends to keep.  But promises you have very possibly not yet "called Him out on" as the expression goes.

​Go ahead.  Call Him out on those promises He's made regarding you.  Let's keep listenting.

There's an old adage 'You can live about 40 days without food, 6 days without water, but you can't live 1 second without hope'.  We're looking into Isaiah today, examining seven good reasons for hope.  Today more than ever we as individuals as well as nations as a whole need to understand these realities that are coming our way, probably in the very near future.

Let's see.  How do the expressions go?
"I'm a truth teller", "I'll always let you know what I think", "I'm just being honest", and on and on it goes.  Hmm... where does kindness fit into that equation?

There's an old acronym TNK before you speak.
Is it True?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?

It's the "kind" part that usually gets missed, and without it we're simply extolling our opinion or venting.  Usually not a good outcome following that approach.  We learn more from Joseph.  A lot more.

There are so many great events in scripture right from the very start.  But in this series we're going to begin with Joseph.  Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that it is the greatest story ever told and in a sense that's exactly right.  It is the inflection point where Israel truly begins its growth as the nation which brings us our Savior, the redeemer of all mankind.  Today we're beginning that journey over the next several weeks.