Category Archives: Obeying God

Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Revelation

Faithful to God’s Commandments and to Yeshua (Revelation 14:8–13)

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What distinguishes God’s people in a world that continually calls us to compromise?

Key Verse:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” —Revelation 14:12 NASB

Background Context

After proclaiming the eternal gospel and calling the world to worship the Creator, Revelation 14 announces the coming judgment upon Babylon and warns against worshiping the beast or receiving his mark. These warnings remind us that every person must ultimately choose whom they will worship and where they will place their allegiance.

In the midst of these sobering announcements, John pauses to encourage believers. Rather than focusing solely on judgment, he reminds us what God’s faithful people look like. In just one verse, John gives one of the clearest descriptions of those who belong to the Lord.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 14:8–13

  8And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”


Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

      9Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

      13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Reflection on Revelation 14:8–13

Throughout Revelation, humanity is consistently presented with two paths. We are called either to worship the Creator or to worship the beast, to follow the Lamb or to follow the world. As the warnings of judgment become increasingly severe, John reminds believers that God knows those who belong to Him and that faithfulness remains possible, even in the most difficult circumstances.

At the heart of this passage is Revelation 14:12:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

This description should immediately remind us of an earlier passage. In Revelation 12:17, John described those against whom the dragon wages war as “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Now, only two chapters later, he repeats essentially the same description. This is not an isolated statement. John intentionally emphasizes these two characteristics because together they identify God’s faithful people.

Notice that John does not present obedience and faith as opposing ideas. He does not tell us to choose between keeping God’s commandments or trusting in Yeshua. Instead, he presents both as complementary marks of genuine discipleship. God’s people trust completely in Messiah for their salvation, and because they belong to Him, they desire to walk in obedience to their Father’s instruction.

This theme is consistent throughout the New Testament. Yeshua said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Likewise, James writes,

“Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:17)

Neither passage teaches that obedience earns our salvation. Scripture is clear that we are saved by God’s grace through faith. Rather, obedience is the natural fruit of a heart that has been transformed by that grace. We obey because we love the One who first loved us.

John also highlights the perseverance of the saints. Revelation was written to believers facing pressure, persecution, and the temptation to compromise. Their perseverance was not based on their own strength but on their confidence that God is faithful to fulfill every promise He has made. They remained steadfast because their hope rested in the Lord, not in their circumstances.

That same encouragement applies to us today. While our challenges may differ, every generation faces pressure to compromise God’s truth in favor of the world’s values. Revelation reminds us that faithful discipleship requires both steadfast faith in Yeshua and a willingness to live according to God’s ways, even when doing so is unpopular or costly.

This passage also serves as a beautiful reminder that God’s commandments and faith in Yeshua are not competing messages. Yeshua Himself summarized God’s Law by teaching us to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, explaining that “on these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40). Faith in Christ does not replace God’s instruction; it enables us to live it from transformed hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As followers of the Lamb, may our lives reflect both unwavering faith and joyful obedience. These two qualities have always characterized God’s faithful people, and they continue to do so until the day our Lord returns.

Application
  • Trust fully in Yeshua as your Savior and Lord.
  • Let your love for Christ be demonstrated through joyful obedience to God’s commandments.
  • Persevere faithfully when the world encourages compromise.
  • Encourage fellow believers to remain steadfast in both faith and obedience.
  • Thank God that His grace not only saves us but also transforms us to walk in His ways.
Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for saving me through Your grace and for calling me to faithfully follow Yeshua. Strengthen my faith and give me a heart that delights in keeping Your commandments. Help me to persevere when I face trials or pressure to compromise, remembering that my hope rests securely in You. May my life be marked by steadfast faith, joyful obedience, and a deep love for You until the day I stand in Your presence. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Holy / Set Apart, Obeying God, Revelation, Worldliness

Follow the Lamb Wherever He Goes (Revelation 14:1-5)

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When the world offers countless voices to follow, who are we truly following?

Key Verse:
“These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” —Revelation 14:4b NASB

Background Context:
After revealing the rise of the beast, the false prophet, and the deception that leads many to worship them, John is given a new vision. He sees the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 who bear His Father’s name on their foreheads. This scene provides a beautiful contrast to the previous chapter. While many receive the mark of the beast and follow him, these believers are identified by their unwavering allegiance to the Lamb.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 14:1-5

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion

      1Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

Reflection:

One of the beautiful patterns throughout Revelation is that whenever darkness seems overwhelming, God reminds His people that He is still at work.

After the frightening scenes of Revelation 13, John immediately sees the Lamb.

The beast is not the final word.

The Lamb is.

Standing with Him are 144,000 who have His Father’s name written on their foreheads. In the previous chapter, those who followed the beast received his mark. Here, God’s people are identified not by the beast but by the name of their Father. Once again, Revelation presents humanity as belonging to one of two kingdoms. Every person ultimately identifies with either the Lamb or the beast.

The emphasis of this passage is not on the number itself but on the identity and character of those who belong to God. They are marked as His own, set apart for His purposes, and secure in His presence.

John hears a new song that no one else can learn. Throughout Scripture, a “new song” often celebrates God’s mighty acts of redemption and deliverance (Psalm 40:3; Psalm 96:1). Those who have experienced God’s saving work have a testimony that cannot be manufactured. Their worship flows from lives transformed by His grace.

Perhaps the most striking description comes in verse 4:

“These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”

This is the defining characteristic of God’s people.

They follow.

They do not simply admire the Lamb.

They do not merely acknowledge who He is.

They follow Him.

Following the Lamb means trusting Him when the path is easy and when it is difficult. It means remaining faithful when the world pressures us to compromise. It means obeying His Word even when His ways differ from the values of our culture.

Yeshua gave this same invitation during His earthly ministry:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

He also said:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Following Christ has never been merely a statement of belief. It is a daily decision to walk in His footsteps.

John also describes these believers as those “in whose mouth no lie was found.” Their lives reflect integrity because they belong to the One who is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). In a world increasingly characterized by deception—as Revelation 13 vividly demonstrated—God’s people are called to be people of truth.

The contrast between Revelation 13 and Revelation 14 could not be greater.

One group follows the beast.

The other follows the Lamb.

One bears the beast’s mark.

The other bears the Father’s name.

One is deceived by the world.

The other remains faithful to God.

Every day we are faced with the same choice. While the final fulfillment of Revelation still lies ahead, the call to discipleship is present today. We are continually deciding whose voice we will listen to and whose example we will follow.

May we be known as those who follow the Lamb wherever He leads.

Application:

  • Examine whether your daily decisions reflect a life that follows the Lamb.
  • Find your identity in belonging to God rather than in the values of the world.
  • Choose truth and integrity, even when deception is popular.
  • Worship God with gratitude for His redeeming work in your life.
  • Remain faithful to Christ, trusting Him wherever He leads.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for calling me to belong to You through the Lamb, Yeshua. Help me to follow Him faithfully wherever He leads, trusting Your wisdom above my own. Guard my heart from the deception of the world and strengthen me to live with integrity and truth. May my life continually reflect that I bear Your name and belong to Your kingdom. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Obeying God, Submitted / Servant

Jabez Was More Honorable Than His Brothers (1 Chronicles4:9-10)

Do we seek God’s blessings more than we seek a relationship with the God who gives them?

Key Verse:
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers…” —1 Chronicles 4:9a NASB

Background Context:
Almost hidden within a long genealogy in 1 Chronicles is a brief account of a man named Jabez. In only two verses, Scripture tells us that he prayed to the God of Israel and that God granted his request. It is easy to read past these verses while moving through the family lineage, yet they contain an important lesson about prayer, character, and our relationship with God.

Some years ago, a book about “The Prayer of Jabez” became extremely popular. While it encouraged many people to pray boldly, some began treating Jabez’s prayer as though repeating those words would somehow guarantee God’s blessing. Scripture, however, points us to something much deeper.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 Chronicles4:9-10

9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” 10Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.

Reflection:

The first thing Scripture tells us about Jabez is not the words of his prayer.

It tells us about his character.

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.”

That statement provides the context for everything that follows. Before we ever read what Jabez asked of God, we learn that he lived honorably before Him. His prayer flowed out of a relationship with God rather than an attempt to manipulate God.

Jabez prayed:

“Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!”

There is nothing selfish or inappropriate about asking God to bless us, guide us, or protect us. Throughout Scripture we find God’s people bringing their requests before Him. We are invited to pray confidently because our Father knows what we need.

The danger comes when we begin treating prayer as a formula instead of a relationship.

Jesus warned against this very attitude in Matthew 6:7–8:

“When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do… for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

God is not persuaded by repeated words or special phrases. We cannot control Him by reciting a particular prayer. Prayer is not a formula that unlocks God’s blessings. It is a conversation with our heavenly Father.

Notice something else about Jabez’s prayer.

In the middle of his requests, he asks, “that Your hand might be with me.”

This may be the most important part of the entire prayer.

Jabez desired more than God’s blessings.

He desired God’s presence.

He understood that the greatest blessing was not larger borders or freedom from hardship. The greatest blessing was walking with God.

Jesus later expressed a similar truth in John 15:7:

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

The promise is rooted in abiding. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, our desires become increasingly aligned with His will. Our prayers begin to reflect His priorities rather than merely our own.

James also reminds us that our motives matter:

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives…” (James 4:3)

God is not simply concerned with what we ask.

He is concerned with why we ask.

When our hearts delight in the Lord, our prayers naturally become shaped by His purposes. Psalm 37:4–5 encourages us:

“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

As we delight ourselves in Him, He transforms our desires to reflect His own heart.

Perhaps that is the greatest lesson from Jabez.

The treasure was not merely that God answered his prayer.

The treasure was that Jabez knew the God to whom he prayed.

It is good to ask God for His blessing.

It is good to ask for His protection.

It is good to ask Him to guide our lives.

But above all, let us ask that His hand would be with us. When we know Him, trust Him, and walk closely with Him, we discover that His presence is the greatest blessing He can give.

Application:

  • Focus first on building your relationship with God rather than simply seeking His blessings.
  • Bring your requests to God with humility and trust.
  • Examine your motives as you pray.
  • Ask God not only to bless your life but to make His presence evident in it.
  • Remember that the greatest treasure is not what God gives us—it is knowing Him.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You that You invite us to come before You in prayer. Help me never to treat prayer as a formula or a means of trying to control You. Instead, teach me to seek Your presence above all else. Shape my heart so that my desires become aligned with Yours, and let my prayers reflect a growing relationship with You. May Your hand be with me each day as I seek to honor You in all I do. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Psalms

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 3 of 4)

This post is the third in a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God.

Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God, and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? Or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:89-136

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Lamedh.

89Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.

      90Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.

      91They stand this day according to Your ordinances,
For all things are Your servants.

      92If Your law had not been my delight,
Then I would have perished in my affliction.

      93I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have revived me.

      94I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.

      95The wicked wait for me to destroy me;
I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.

      96I have seen a limit to all perfection;
Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem.

      97O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

      98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.

      99I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.

      100I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.

      101I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.

      102I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.

      103How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

      104From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Nun.

     105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

      106I have sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

      107I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.

      108O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
And teach me Your ordinances.

      109My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.

      110The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.

      111I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.

      112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.

Samekh.

     113I hate those who are double-minded,
But I love Your law.

      114You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.

      115Depart from me, evildoers,
That I may observe the commandments of my God.

      116Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

      117Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

      118You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.

      119You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.

      120My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.

Ayin.

     121I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.

      122Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.

      123My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation
And for Your righteous word.

      124Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness
And teach me Your statutes.

      125I am Your servant; give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.

      126It is time for the LORD to act,
For they have broken Your law.

      127Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold.

      128Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything,
I hate every false way.

Pe.

     129Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul observes them.

      130The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

      131I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.

      132Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.

      133Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

      134Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.

      135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.

      136My eyes shed streams of water,
Because they do not keep Your law.

Reflecting on a few things God’s word says about the law in today’s scripture: forever you word is settled in heaven, I would have perished if Your law had not been my delight, You have revived me by Your precepts, oh how I love Your law!, Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, Your words are sweeter than honey, Your word is a lamp unto my feet, teach me Your statutes, give me understanding, I love Your commandments above gold, I esteem all Your precepts, the unfolding of Your word brings light and gives understanding to the simple, I longed for Your commandments

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and with regard to how they still apply to my life today.

Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously, to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g., ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified, while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Psalms, Submitted / Servant

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 2 of 4)

This post is the second in a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God.

Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:41-88

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Vav.

     41May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation according to Your word;

      42So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.

      43And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I wait for Your ordinances.

      44So I will keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.

      45And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.

      46I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
And shall not be ashamed.

      47I shall delight in Your commandments,
Which I love.

      48And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I love;
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Zayin.

49Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.

      50This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.

      51The arrogant utterly deride me,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

      52I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD,
And comfort myself.

      53Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who forsake Your law.

      54Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.

      55O LORD, I remember Your name in the night,
And keep Your law.

      56This has become mine,
That I observe Your precepts.

Heth.

57The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.

      58I sought Your favor with all my heart;
Be gracious to me according to Your word.

      59I considered my ways
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

      60I hastened and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.

      61The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.

      62At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

      63I am a companion of all those who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.

      64The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

Teth.

65You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.

      66Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.

      67Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

      68You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.

      69The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.

      70Their heart is covered with fat,
But I delight in Your law.

      71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

      72The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh.

     73Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

      74May those who fear You see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Your word.

      75I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

      76O may Your lovingkindness comfort me,
According to Your word to Your servant.

      77May Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.

      78May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie;
But I shall meditate on Your precepts.

      79May those who fear You turn to me,
Even those who know Your testimonies.

      80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
So that I will not be ashamed.

Kaph.

     81My soul languishes for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.

      82My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, “When will You comfort me?”

      83Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.

      84How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

      85The arrogant have dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Your law.

      86All Your commandments are faithful;
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

      87They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

      88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Just to reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law: I trust in Your word, I will keep Your law continually forever and ever, I will walk at liberty because I seek Your precepts, I shall delight in Your commandments which I love, I will lift up my hands to Your commandments which I love, I have remembered Your ordinances and comfort myself, Your statutes are my songs, I shall give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances,  the earth if full of Your lovingkindness teach me Your statutes, I delight in Your law, and better than gold and silver.

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and with regards to how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g. ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Revelation, Satan

Holding to God’s Truth and Messiah (Revelation 12:13-17)

What kind of people does Satan most fiercely oppose?

Key Verse:
“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” —Revelation 12:17 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 12, John is shown a dramatic picture of the spiritual battle that has unfolded throughout history. A woman gives birth to a male child, a great dragon seeks to destroy them, and God repeatedly intervenes to protect and preserve His purposes.

The woman is commonly understood to represent Israel. The imagery of the sun, moon, and twelve stars points back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37 and the covenant people through whom God would bring His promises into the world.

The dragon is explicitly identified as Satan.

The male child is Messiah, Yeshua, the One who is destined to rule the nations.

After repeatedly failing to destroy God’s plans, Satan turns his attention to another group described in Revelation 12:17.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 12:13-17

      13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Reflection on Revelation 12:13–17:
One of the most encouraging truths in Revelation 12 is that Satan never succeeds in accomplishing his ultimate goal.

He seeks to destroy Messiah.

He fails.

He persecutes the woman.

God protects her.

He attempts to overwhelm her.

God intervenes.

Throughout the chapter, the dragon is active, but God remains sovereign.

This is an important reminder for believers today. Satan is real, and spiritual warfare is real, but neither occurs outside the authority and control of God.

After failing in his attacks against the woman, the dragon becomes enraged and turns his attention toward “the rest of her children.”

John then gives a very specific description of who these people are.

They are those:

  • who keep the commandments of God
  • and hold to the testimony of Jesus

Notice carefully what Scripture says.

It does not say:

  • those who keep the commandments of God or
  • those who hold to the testimony of Jesus

It says:

  • those who keep the commandments of God and
  • those who hold to the testimony of Jesus

Throughout history, people have often attempted to separate these two ideas.

Some focus heavily on God’s commandments and instruction while rejecting Messiah.

Others focus on faith in Messiah while treating God’s commandments and instruction as largely irrelevant.

Yet Revelation presents a different picture.

God’s faithful people embrace both.

The phrase “commandments of God” is much broader than simply the Ten Commandments.

Throughout Scripture, God’s instruction reveals His character, His wisdom, and His desire for how His people should live.

When Yeshua was asked about the greatest commandment, He replied:

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

And:

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Then He added:

“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40)

The entire Law and the Prophets point toward these foundational truths.

God’s instruction is not merely a collection of rules.

It teaches us how to love God and how to love others according to His design.

Many people associate this emphasis on God’s commandments, instruction, and covenant faithfulness with Judaism.

Likewise, many people associate the testimony of Jesus with Christianity and faith in Messiah.

Yet Revelation 12:17 does not separate these themes.

Instead, it joins them together.

God’s faithful people are characterized by both.

They embrace God’s instruction.

They embrace God’s Messiah.

They seek to obey God and follow Yeshua.

This same description appears again later in Revelation:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

The repetition should catch our attention.

God is not looking for half of the picture.

He desires a people who trust Him, obey Him, love Him, and follow His Messiah.

Perhaps this also helps explain why the dragon is enraged.

Satan is not threatened by fragments of truth.

He opposes the complete witness of God.

The enemy seeks division, compromise, and separation.

God calls His people toward unity in His truth.

Revelation 12 reminds us that faithful believers may face opposition, but they do so under the protection and sovereignty of God.

The dragon may make war against God’s people, but he cannot overthrow God’s plans.

He cannot stop God’s kingdom.

He cannot nullify God’s promises.

And he cannot separate God’s people from the God they serve.

The faithful remnant described in Revelation is not defined by perfect performance.

They are defined by a sincere commitment to both God’s truth and God’s Messiah.

That is the complete witness Satan opposes.

And that is the witness God calls us to embrace.

Application:

  • Pursue both faithful obedience to God and faith in Yeshua.
  • Study God’s instruction to better understand His character and His ways.
  • Resist attempts to separate God’s commandments from God’s Messiah.
  • Remember that genuine faith should produce a desire to obey God.
  • Stand firm when opposition comes, trusting that God remains sovereign.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word and through Messiah. Help me to love You with all my heart and to love others according to Your instruction. Strengthen my faith in Yeshua and deepen my desire to walk in Your ways. Guard me from compromise and help me remain faithful to both Your truth and Your Messiah. Thank You that no attack of the enemy can overcome Your purposes. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God

Walking with God Through the Storm (Genesis 6-9)

What kind of person does God use when the world around them is moving in the wrong direction?

Key Verse:
“Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” —Genesis 6:22 NASB

Background Context:
Genesis 6–9 records one of the most well-known accounts in Scripture: Noah, the ark, the flood, and God’s covenant. Because many of us learned this story as children, it can be easy to focus on the animals and the ark while overlooking the profound spiritual lessons contained within these chapters.

These chapters reveal God’s response to human wickedness, His faithfulness to preserve a righteous remnant, the obedience of Noah, and His covenant promises for future generations.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 6-9

Reflection on Genesis 6–9:
The story begins with a sobering picture.

God looks upon humanity and sees that wickedness has become widespread.

Genesis 6:5 tells us that every intent of man’s heart was continually bent toward evil. The corruption and rebellion of mankind grieved God deeply.

Scripture says:

“It broke His heart.”

This reminds us that sin is not merely the breaking of rules.

Sin grieves the heart of God.

Yet even in the midst of widespread wickedness, God saw something different in Noah.

Genesis 6:8 says:

“But Noah found favor with the LORD.”

While the world around him rejected God, Noah chose a different path.

This theme appears repeatedly throughout Scripture. God often works through a faithful remnant rather than the majority.

Noah was not perfect, but he walked with God.

And because he walked closely with God, he heard God’s voice and responded with obedience.

God revealed His plan to Noah and gave detailed instructions for building the ark.

Imagine how unusual this must have seemed.

Noah had likely never seen anything like the coming flood.

The project would take years.

Many undoubtedly mocked him.

Many probably questioned him.

Yet Noah’s response was simple:

“According to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”

Noah did not debate with God.

He did not negotiate for easier instructions.

He did not obey partially.

He obeyed completely.

This lesson becomes even more powerful when the flood begins.

God tells Noah to enter the ark.

Again Scripture records:

“So Noah did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him.”

Obedience was not a one-time event.

It became a pattern of life.

This is often where faith is tested.

Many people are willing to obey God once.

But Noah obeyed God consistently.

He trusted God through:

  • the construction of the ark
  • entering the ark
  • the flood itself
  • the long waiting period afterward

The flood lasted forty days, but Noah and his family remained on the ark for more than a year before finally stepping onto dry ground.

This was not a short trial.

It required patience, endurance, and trust.

Noah could not see the full timeline.

He simply continued trusting the God who had spoken.

This connects closely to other faithful servants throughout Scripture.

Like Abraham, Noah obeyed before seeing the outcome.

Like Moses, Noah trusted God through uncertainty.

Like the disciples, Noah followed God’s instructions without fully knowing how every detail would unfold.

Then comes one of the most beautiful moments in the account.

After finally leaving the ark, Noah does not immediately focus on himself.

He does not first build a house.
He does not first establish a farm.
He does not first pursue comfort.

He builds an altar.

His first response is worship.

This reveals a heart that understands where deliverance came from.

Noah recognized that his preservation was not ultimately the result of his own effort.

It was the result of God’s grace and faithfulness.

God responds by establishing a covenant with Noah and his descendants.

The rainbow becomes a sign of that covenant—a reminder of God’s promise that He would never again destroy the earth through a worldwide flood.

Today, whenever we see a rainbow, we should remember God’s faithfulness.

The rainbow is not primarily a symbol of mankind.

It is first a symbol of God’s covenant.

It reminds us that God keeps His promises.

Genesis 6–9 ultimately teaches us two powerful truths.

First, God remains faithful even when the world grows increasingly corrupt.

Second, righteous people respond to God through trust and obedience.

Noah’s life demonstrates that faith is not merely believing God exists.

Faith is trusting Him enough to obey.

Even when others mock.
Even when the path is difficult.
Even when the journey takes longer than expected.

The story of Noah is not simply about an ark.

It is about a man who walked closely with God and trusted Him through one of the greatest trials recorded in Scripture.

Application:

  • Choose to follow God even when those around you choose a different path.
  • Make obedience a consistent pattern rather than an occasional event.
  • Trust God’s instructions even when you do not fully understand His plans.
  • Remain faithful during long seasons of waiting and uncertainty.
  • Respond to God’s faithfulness with worship, gratitude, and obedience.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the example of Noah and his faithful obedience. Help me to walk closely with You and to trust Your guidance even when I cannot see the full picture. Strengthen me to obey consistently, remain faithful during seasons of waiting, and keep my focus on You rather than the opinions of others. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for always keeping Your promises. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Revelation, Submitted / Servant

Faithfulness Is Never Wasted (Revelation 11:1-14)

What if being faithful to God brings rejection, opposition, or even apparent failure?

Key Verse:
“And when they have finished their testimony…” —Revelation 11:7 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 10, John receives the little scroll and is reminded that God’s plan is still unfolding according to His timing. Though some things remain hidden, God’s people are called to continue proclaiming His message faithfully.

Now in Revelation 11:1–14, John sees the measuring of the temple and the ministry of the two witnesses. This passage highlights faithful testimony in the face of opposition and reminds believers that God ultimately vindicates those who remain faithful to Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 11:1-14

The Two Witnesses

      1Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2“Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. 3“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

      7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

      11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

      14The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Reflection on Revelation 11:1–14:
One of the strongest themes in this passage is that God knows those who belong to Him.

John is told to measure the temple and those who worship there. Throughout Scripture, measuring often signifies ownership, protection, and God’s intimate knowledge of what is His.

This serves as an important reminder.

Even in times of turmoil and opposition, God has not lost sight of His people.

He knows them.
He sees them.
He remains sovereign over their circumstances.

The focus then shifts to the two witnesses.

Much discussion has centered on their exact identity, but the primary lesson of the passage is not who they are—it is how they serve.

They are faithful witnesses.

They proclaim God’s truth boldly during a hostile time. Their ministry is marked by courage, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to God’s message.

This is significant because the world does not welcome their testimony.

The witnesses confront a culture that resists God.

And throughout Scripture, faithful proclamation of truth often produces opposition rather than applause.

We see this with:

  • the prophets
  • John the Baptist
  • the apostles
  • and ultimately Yeshua Himself

Faithfulness has never been measured by popularity.

The witnesses continue their ministry until God determines that their work is complete.

Notice the wording:

“When they have finished their testimony…”

This is a powerful statement.

The enemy could not stop them early.
The world could not silence them before God’s appointed time.

Their ministry ended only when God allowed it.

This reminds us that our lives and service remain in God’s hands.

The witnesses are eventually killed, and from a human perspective, it appears that evil has won.

The world celebrates.
People rejoice.
Their enemies seem victorious.

If the story ended there, it would look like faithfulness accomplished nothing.

But the story does not end there.

After three and a half days, God raises the witnesses and calls them into His presence.

The same world that celebrated their death witnesses their vindication.

This reveals a profound truth:

Faithfulness is never wasted.

There are times when obedience to God may appear unsuccessful.
Truth may seem rejected.
Righteousness may seem defeated.

But God’s perspective is different from ours.

Scripture repeatedly teaches that we are called to faithfulness, not merely visible results.

The witnesses were successful because they completed the task God gave them.

Their apparent defeat was not their final chapter.

This passage also reminds us that God ultimately vindicates His servants.

The world may misunderstand, mock, reject, or oppose God’s people, but God’s judgment is the only judgment that ultimately matters.

This does not mean believers seek persecution or enjoy conflict.

Rather, it means we remain faithful regardless of how others respond.

The example of the two witnesses encourages us to focus on obedience rather than outcomes.

Our responsibility is to:

  • speak truth
  • live faithfully
  • honor God
  • and leave the results in His hands

Because faithfulness is never wasted when it is offered to God.

Application:

  • Remain faithful to God’s truth even when it is unpopular.
  • Remember that success in God’s eyes is measured by faithfulness, not popularity.
  • Trust that God knows, sees, and values your obedience.
  • Focus on completing the work God has given you rather than controlling the results.
  • Take comfort that God ultimately vindicates those who belong to Him.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to remain faithful regardless of the response of others. Strengthen me to stand for truth with humility, courage, and perseverance. Remind me that my responsibility is obedience, while the results belong to You. Thank You for seeing every act of faithfulness and for promising ultimate victory to those who trust You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Obeying God, Submitted / Servant

God Knows the Best Way Forward (Exodus 13:17–22)

What do you do when God leads you in a direction that does not seem logical or easy?

Key Verse:
“The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day… and in a pillar of fire by night…” —Exodus 13:21 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 13:1–16, God commands Israel to remember His deliverance from Egypt and to teach future generations about His faithfulness.

Now in Exodus 13:17–22, the journey begins. But instead of leading Israel along the shortest and most direct route, God leads them another way—revealing important truths about His guidance, wisdom, and presence.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 13:17-22

God Leads the People

      17Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Reflection on Exodus 13:17–22:
As Israel leaves Egypt, God makes a surprising decision.

He does not lead them by the shortest route.

Scripture specifically tells us that although the way through the land of the Philistines was nearer, God chose another path because the people might become discouraged when faced with war and return to Egypt.

This is important.

The shortest path is not always the best path.

From a human perspective, the direct route would seem logical and efficient. But God saw something His people could not yet see.

He understood:

  • their fears
  • their weaknesses
  • their spiritual condition
  • and what they were truly prepared for

So He led them differently.

This reminds us that God’s guidance is not based merely on speed or convenience—it is based on wisdom.

There are times when we pray for God to move quickly, open the easiest door, or take us directly to the destination we desire. But sometimes God leads us through a longer process because He knows what is necessary to prepare us.

The Israelites had been delivered from Egypt physically, but they still had much to learn spiritually.

God was not only bringing them somewhere.

He was transforming them along the way.

The passage also mentions that Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, fulfilling a request made generations earlier.

This small detail carries deep meaning.

Joseph trusted that God would eventually bring His people out of Egypt, even long before it happened. Carrying his bones was a testimony that God had now fulfilled that promise.

Again we see:

  • God remembers.
  • God fulfills His word.
  • God’s promises extend across generations.

Then comes one of the most powerful images in Exodus:

“The LORD was going before them…”

By day, a pillar of cloud.
By night, a pillar of fire.

God’s presence was visible.

He was not distant from His people as they journeyed—He was actively leading them.

And importantly:
“The pillar… did not depart…”

God remained with them continually.

This would become crucial because the journey ahead would include:

  • uncertainty
  • fear
  • hardship
  • waiting
  • testing

But before those challenges come, God establishes something foundational:

His presence goes with them.

This passage speaks deeply into our own lives.

Sometimes God’s path feels confusing.
Sometimes the journey feels longer than expected.
Sometimes we wonder why God is not taking the “easier” route.

But God sees what we cannot.

What feels like delay may actually be protection.
What feels indirect may actually be preparation.

And through it all, God does not abandon His people.

He leads them step by step.

The question is not whether we fully understand the path.

The question is whether we trust the One leading us.

Application:

  • Trust God even when His direction does not make immediate sense.
  • Remember that God’s delays may actually be protection or preparation.
  • Focus on following God faithfully rather than demanding the easiest path.
  • Take comfort in God’s continual presence with His people.
  • Trust that God sees the full picture, even when you cannot.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You when the path ahead feels uncertain or confusing. Remind me that Your wisdom is greater than my understanding and that You lead with purpose and care. Thank You for never abandoning Your people and for guiding us step by step. Help me to follow You faithfully, even when I do not fully understand the journey. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Fear / Reverence for God, His Timing Not Ours, Miracles, Miracles, Obeying God

Trusting God’s Timing (12:29–42)

Have you ever wondered if God has forgotten His promises while you are still waiting?

Key Verse:
“And at the end of four hundred and thirty years… all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.” —Exodus 12:41 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 12:1–28, God gives instructions for the Passover, and His people respond in obedience—trusting in what He has provided for their protection.

Now in Exodus 12:29–42, what God had promised is fulfilled. Judgment falls on Egypt, and at the same time, deliverance begins for Israel—exactly as God said it would.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 12:29-42

     29Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said. 32“Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.”

Exodus of Israel

      33The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

      35Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

      37Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. 38A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 39They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

      40Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Ordinance of the Passover

      42It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

Reflection on Exodus 12:29–42:
At midnight, everything changes.

What God had declared now takes place exactly as He said. Every firstborn in the land of Egypt dies—from the house of Pharaoh to the lowest servant.

There is no delay.
There is no variation.

God’s word is fulfilled completely.

And at the same time, Israel is protected.

Not because of their strength.
Not because of their righteousness.

Because of the blood.

Where the blood was present, judgment passed over. God provided a way of deliverance, and those who trusted Him and obeyed were spared.

Pharaoh responds immediately.

The one who had resisted, delayed, and tried to compromise now urges the people to leave. What could not be accomplished through negotiation is accomplished in a moment when God acts.

And then, after generations of waiting, the people leave.

“At the end of four hundred and thirty years…”

This is not just a detail.

This is a declaration of God’s faithfulness.

For generations, God’s people had lived in bondage. Many likely wondered when—or if—God would act.

But this moment is not just the fulfillment of what God told Moses—it reaches back even further. Long before this, God had spoken to Abraham and declared that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land, that they would be oppressed, and that He would judge that nation and bring them out with many possessions (Genesis 15:12–14).

What is happening now is the unfolding of a promise made hundreds of years earlier.

What may have seemed delayed was never forgotten.

God was not absent.
God was not inactive.
God was not late.

He was working according to His perfect timing.

And when that time came, everything changed.

Israel does not leave empty-handed. Just as God had said, they receive silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians. Even in the moment of departure, God provides.

The chapter closes by declaring this a night to be remembered—a night to be observed by future generations.

This is not just history.

It is a testimony.

A testimony that God keeps His promises.
A testimony that God acts at the right time.
A testimony that God delivers completely.

For us, this passage speaks directly into the seasons of waiting we experience.

We may not see what God is doing.
We may not understand the timing.
We may feel like nothing is changing.

But just as with Israel, God is still working.

His timing is not rushed.
His timing is not delayed.

It is perfect.

The same God who fulfilled His promise after generations is the God who is at work in our lives today.

The question is:

Will we trust Him while we wait?

Application:

  • Trust that God’s timing is perfect, even when you do not understand it.
  • Remember that God’s promises may take time, but they are never forgotten.
  • Look back on how God has been faithful in the past to strengthen your faith today.
  • Remain obedient and faithful in the waiting seasons.
  • Place your confidence in God’s plan rather than your own timeline.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You in seasons of waiting. When I do not understand Your timing, remind me that You are faithful and that You keep every promise. Strengthen my faith to remain obedient and patient, knowing that You are always at work. Thank You for Your perfect timing and Your unfailing love. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

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