The Golden Calf

Read Exodus 32:1-6 and consider this question...

Question: In the minds of the Israelites (v. 1) and in the mind of Aaron (v. 4-5), what did the golden calf represent?

Answer: Verse 1 (Elohim), Verse 4 (Elohim), Verse 5 (Jehovah)

Jason Cicero

Ear, Hand and Foot

"Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar." (Exodus 29:20; NKJV)

1. Ear - to hear the word of Jehovah

2. Hand - to do the work of Jehovah

3. Foot - to walk in Jehovah's way

As Christians, we are to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."(Colossians 3:2; NKJV)

Jehovah's Covenant With Israel

3 And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:

6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him.

Exodus 19:3-7; ASV

At Sinai, Jehovah offered the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a bilateral, conditional covenant, contingent on their obedience.

In Christ, Jehovah offers us the same:

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

18 'I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1; NKJV

Jason Cicero

Three Days Later

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:22-24; NKJV)

Three days after the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob experienced the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground, the overthrowing of the Egyptian armies, and the Song of Moses, they "complained."

Complaining does not glorify Jehovah. "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

On to Canaan or Back to Egypt

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah. And they said unto Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14:10-12; ASV).

What the children of Israel had "begun in the Spirit," they were now attempting to be "made perfect in the flesh" (Galatians 3:3; NKJV). They were faced with the dilemma of going back to Egypt in the flesh, or going forth to Canaan in the Spirit. Moses commanded them to do three things.

And Moses said unto the people, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:13-14; ASV).

Fear not. Stand still. See the salvation of Jehovah. Seeing Jehovah fight for us will give us peace and keeping us going forward to the promised land.

Jason Cicero

The Passover and Christ

"Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:13; NKJV)

The Passover is a "type," a historical fact that illustrates a spiritual truth (The Open Bible, p. 2). It is a "figure, representation, or symbol of something to come" (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary). As you read the rest of GOD'S word watch His eternal purpose unfold and find its fulfillment in the person and the work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Jehovah.

"For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." (1 Corinthians 5:7; NKJV)

Jason Cicero

The Three-Fold Purpose of the Plagues

13 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

14 For I will this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

15 For now I had put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth:

16 but in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Exodus 9:13-16; ASV

Why did Jehovah plague the Egyptians?

1. To communicate to them that He is incomparable.

2. To communicate to them that He is omnipotent.

3. To make His name known in all the Earth.

Jason Cicero

Who is Jehovah?

And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh, "Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness." And Pharaoh said, "Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:1-2; ASV)

Question: Who is Jehovah?

Answer: "But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation" (Jeremiah 10:10; ASV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."(Colossians 3:2; NKJV)

God Meant it for Good

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50:20; NKJV)

Question? Why was Joseph in Egypt?

Answer: Because his brothers "meant evil against" Him (see Genesis 37).

Question? Why was Joseph in Egypt?

Answer: Because God meant to do "good" through the person and work of Joseph (see Genesis 39-50).

Consider why Jesus is at Calvary in light of Joseph (see Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jason Cicero

Fear God

Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am." So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes." (Genesis 46:1-4; NKJV)

When Elohim is with us, we have nothing to fear.

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." (Ecclesiastes 12:13; NASBU)

Jason Cicero

Judah Intercedes for Benjamin

Read Genesis 44:18-34 and consider these three points:

1. Leah's son (Judah) offers to protect Rachel's son (Benjamin) - Leah's descendant will offer to protect all people...

2. Judah unites the hearts of the 12 brothers - Judah's descendant will unite the hearts of all people...

3. Judah offers to sacrifice himself for Benjamin - Judah's descendant offers Himself as a sacrifice, not for one, but for all...

Jason Cicero

Joseph Did Not Heed Her

"So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her" (Genesis 39:10; NKJV).

Joseph resisted the temptation presented to him by Potiphar's wife for two reasons:

1. Respect for His Master - But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife." (Genesis 39;8-9; NKJV).

2. Holiness before God - "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9; NKJV)

If we will respect others and practice holiness before God, we too can overcome the temptations in our lives.

Jason Cicero

The Three Coats of Joseph

Joseph will wear three coats in his life. Look for them as you read Genesis 37-50. Consider how they foreshadow another special son.

1. The Beloved Son - "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors" (Genesis 37:3; NKJV).

2. The Suffering Servant - "...that she caught him by his garment, saying, 'Lie with me.' But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside..." (Genesis 39:12; NKJV).

3. The Exalted Savior - "Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck" (Genesis 42:41; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

The Edomites

Today's reading is from Genesis 36. This is the final mention of Esau in the book of beginnings. A struggle that began in the womb between twin brothers, Esau and Jacob, eventuates in a struggle between their respective descendants, the Edomites and the Israelites.

For the Edomites’ stubborn refusal to aid Israel, first during the time of wilderness wandering (Numbers 20:14-21) and later during a time of invasion (2 Chronicles 21), they are roundly condemned by the prophet Obadiah.

Obadiah describes their crimes, tries their case, and pronounces their judgment: total destruction. Consider Obadiah and see Jehovah pronounce judgment on Edom because of their indifference to and defiance of God, their cowardice and pride, and their treachery toward their brothers in Judah.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."(Colossians 3:2; NKJV)

Wrestling With God

Jacob has been separated from Esau for twenty years. He is fearful that those years might have fueled his grudge into full-blown hatred. The night before he sees Esau "a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day" (Genesis 32:24; NKJV).

Our enemies are not those of whom we should be afraid. God is the one with whom we must contend. If we succeed with God, we will overcome the world, by simply relying upon God.

Like Jacob, if we struggle with God and prevail, we will be changed: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Jacob's Choice, God's Choice

Jacob loved Rachel. He loved Rachel more than Leah. When Jehovah "saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb" and she gave birth to Judah (Genesis 29:31-35; NKJV).

While Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, Jehovah chose for the Christ to be a direct descendant of Leah, not Rachel.

If you are unloved by those closest to you, take heart. He loves you like He loved Leah. He want you to be a part of His family too.

Jason Cicero

Stairway To Heaven

Jacob "dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven,; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it" (Genesis 28:12; NKJV). To the ancients this kind of stairway symbolized access into God's presence. Jesus said to Nathanael in John 1:51 that he would "see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (NKJV). Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, is our avenue of access to God!

Like Esau

Genesis 25:29-34 records the account of Esau despising his birthright. The Holy Spirit describes Esau as a "profane person" in Hebrews 12:14-17. A "profane person" is one that does not have proper regard for things important.

Don't be "like Esau." Pursue holiness. Inherit the blessing.

Jason Cicero

Before He Had Finished Speaking

Eliezer of Damascus was probably the servant sent by Abraham in Genesis 24 to find a wife for Isaac (see Genesis 15:2). Once he arrived in Nahor he prayed: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day..." (Genesis 24:12; NKJV). The Spirit tells us in verse 15 that "before he had finished speaking," Jehovah had not only heard his prayer, He had responded to it.

When we pray and "ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14; NKJV). "Hears" has to do with attending to. He not only hears our prayers, he responds to them!

Pray. Know He hears. Trust that he will respond if you ask according to His will. Experience what Eliezar experienced!

Jason Cicero

Jehovah-Jireh

"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided" (Genesis 22:14; ASV).

Abraham was willing to offer His son as a burnt offering. He passed his test of faith because he feared Jehovah. As a result, Jehovah provided a ram to be offered up as a burnt offering instead of Isaac.

Abraham called the name of the place "Jehovah-jireh." "Jireh" means "to see after, to provide." Abraham uses the verb when he says, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8; NKJV). "Instead of his son," Jehovah provided for Abraham a ram for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:13). Jehovah has provided a sacrifice for us too: "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."(Colossians 3:2; NKJV)

He Will Do Right

There are a lot of things we may never know about God this side of Heaven. Whatever questions you have, remember what Abraham knew about Him. He will always do "right."

"Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25; NKJV)

When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart.

Jason Cicero

El Shaddai

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be thou perfect (Genesis 17:1; ASV).

"El" is the most basic Hebrew word for deity. It can refer to the true and living God or to any false god. "Shaddai" has to do with might, and power. Jehovah reveals Himself to Abram in Genesis 17 as El Shaddai, "God Almighty."

Like Abram, let us walk before El Shaddai and be "blameless" (NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Genesis 12:1-3

The rest of the Bible records the fulfillment of Jehovah's promises to Abram.

Now Jehovah said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great. And be thou a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse. And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3; ASV).

1. Land - watch Jehovah give the descendants of Abram the good land of Canaan (see Joshua 21:43-45)

2. Nation - watch Jehovah make the descendants of Abram a great nation (see Exodus 1-24).

3. Seed - watch Jehovah bless all the families of the earth through the seed of Abram (see Matthew 1:1-25)

Jason Cicero

Babel or Jesus

And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:4; NKJV)

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11; NKJV).

In your life you will make a fundamental choice. You will choose to go about the business of making a name for yourself. Or, you will choose to go about the business of making the name of Jesus known. Don't be confused. Don't confuse others. Know Him. Make Him known.

Jason Cicero

Our Ark is Christ

Noah's Ark

Noah's ark had a door (Genesis 6:16). Noah and his family went into the ark for deliverance from the flood (Genesis 7:16). God told Noah and his family to "Go" forth from the ark (Genesis 8:16).

Our Ark is Christ

He is "the door" (John 10:-9). He delivers us from the consequences of sin (Galatians 1:4). God tells us to "Go" forth with Christ proclaiming the good news (Matthew 28:19).

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism - (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:18-22; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

By Faith Abel

"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks" (Hebrews 11:4; NKJV).

Hebrews 11:4 explains Genesis 4:3-5. For Abel to offer his sacrifice "by faith," God must have spoken to them concerning their offering to Him. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17; NKJV).

Faith comes by hearing. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. When God speaks and we hear and obey, we act by faith. Follow the example of Abel. Hear the word of God and obey.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2; NKJV)