EXODUS FROM SUNRIVER, OR

I'm in Sunriver, OR with five seniors from our high school and Mrs. Vicky.  It is pouring down rain yesterday and today which is not normal for this desert area.  But, we are enjoying ourselves.  I did not get to blog yesterday, so I wanted to write down something about two chapters. Chapter 10 and chapter 30, of Exodus.  Here goes: 1) RESTRICTIONS- Pharaoh did agree to let Moses go and worship the LORD, but with restrictions.  God wants no restrictions when it comes to our serving the one true God!  We are to serve Him whole heartedly and keeping nothing back.  In Ex. 10:11, Pharaoh said only the men could go worship.  That was not agreeable with Moses.  In verse 24, he said the people could go, but leave their flocks and herds behind.  Moses said God may want what we have so we must have it with us in order to give to God if He asks for it.  We need to keep that same spirit.  Our "stuff" belongs to God and He can have it if He wants it! 2) HOW LONG?  In Exodus 10:3, God asks Pharaoh a question:  "How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?"  We need to work on keeping a humble heart before God... we are nothing, and He is everything!  May we never forget this great truth! 3) FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT- Yes, even in the Old Testament, God filled men and women with His Holy Spirit.  But this passage is not talking about Moses, or Aaron, or other priest... it is talking about labourers.  Bezaleel and Aholiab are two that are mentioned by name, and they were filled with the Spirit to do the work of the tabernacle.  They were given wisdom and knowledge to work with gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood.  Wow!  There were true artist, but the key is that they got this from God!  We TOO can get wisdom from God for our everyday, mundane tasks in life!  Don't figure it out yourselves, get God in on it!  "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."  4) SABBATH A SIGN- God in Exodus 31 says several times that the Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel.  It was to signify that they were His people!  We worship on Sunday, because God gave us a sign... the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave!  What a tremendous sign that purchased our Salvation.  Hope you have a blessed day as I will from Sunriver, OR.  (a resort area in central Oregon.  We have rented a four bedroom home and it is nicely furnished.  Pastor Mike Mutchler