Church Minute

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
Lola Richey with Church Minute
God blessings and peace to you
Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior of the World
New Year with new beginnings
 
Prophets predictions
Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7
Great light
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace
Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10; Matthew 28:20; John 1:1-3, 14
Immanuel - God with us not only at Christmas but throughout the year
Matthew 1:1, 6, 16, 21, 23; Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:31-35; Luke 2:10-11; John 1:45, 49; John 4:42; 1 John 4:14 
Messiah (Christ, Anointed One of God) predicted by the Old Testament prophets
Promised King of the World promised to King David
Lord of All
Savior of the World
Luke 4:18-19; John 1:12-13, 16-17; John 3:15-18, 36; John 10:10; John 14:27; John 16:33; John 17:11, 21-26; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:14, 17-18; Ephesians 3:12; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2; Lamentations 3:22-23
Gives everyone adoption as sons and daughters into God’s Kingdom family forever
Freely gives grace upon grace and blessings upon blessings
Abundant life now and for eternity
Fresh start and a new heart and we are declared righteous 
New heart
Peace with God
Joy - lasting joy
Salvation (healing and forgiveness) 
Holy Spirit of God
One with God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Freely receive God’s glory - gift of glory from heaven
John 1:29, 36; 1 Corinthians 5:7
Save us and release us from Satan’s sin and bondage
Passover Lamb of God
Turn from 
Repentance and Obedience
Matthew 3:2, 8; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 7:15-20; Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 3:3, 8-14; Galatians 5:22-23; cf. Ezekiel 18:30-32
Blessings of Jesus
Repentance 
Calling everyone turn Satan’s sinful, wicked, and dark living so we can walk and live in the glorious light and goodness of God 
obedience to Christ Jesus and His teaching that comes from His Holy Father - the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth
Loving Christ Jesus’s Holy and Righteous Father - the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth
Loving and also liking one another 
walking with humility and forgiveness towards others
Holy of Spirit produces in us good fruit of righteousness
Matthew 7:12; Luke 8:20-21; Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; John 1:41, 45; John 4:25-26, 29, 42; John 13:34-35; John 14:1, 15-17, 21, 23-24, 31; John 13:10; John 15:1-17; Romans 1:16-17
Blessings of Jesus requires
Loving His Holy Father
Loving and forgiving one another
Treating others like you would want to be treated
Staying close and loving Christ Jesus with faith and obeying His and His Holy Father’s teaching with our whole hearts
Messiah and Righteous Servant of the Old Testament prophecies and the Son of the living God who came to earth to save us and deliver us from our sins
Summary of the all the Law, Psalms, and Prophets - Old Testament
Conclusion
Joy
Peace
Divine life
Oneness with God
Loving Christ Jesus by faith and trust and obeying His teachings
Merry Christmas - Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior of the world

Great Sin of the Golden Idol

The great sin of the golden idol is taught throughout the Holy Bible because this great sin violated the heart of the eternal covenant. The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth (the “LORD”, also known as Yahweh, Jehovah, and God Almighty) gave Moses and the Israelites the eternal covenant atop of Mount Sinai (Horeb) to live by and obey. Then Moses alone met with the living Sovereign LORD God atop Mount Sinai, where Moses entered God’s Glory Cloud resting on the mountain, while Moses’ assistant Joshua stayed on Mount Sinai. Moses stayed on Mount Sinai with the LORD for forty days and forty nights (approximately six weeks), where he received the LORD God’s holy instructions for building the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) and also where the living LORD spoke and then wrote with His finger the eternal covenant on stone tablets for everyone to love and obey. Some biblical scholars refer to the LORD’s eternal covenant as the Mosaic covenant. In fact, the living Sovereign LORD God wrote and spoke this great eternal covenant - the Book of the Covenant, and then later He wrote His eternal covenant on our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit through faithful obedience to His Son, Christ Jesus, as Lord and Savior. 
 
While Moses was with the LORD for many days, the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai panicked with fear and impatience, and they believed that Moses had abandoned them or possibly died. So, the Israelites’ hearts turned from the living LORD, and they went to Aaron and requested that Aaron make gods to go before and lead them, instead of the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. The Israelites had seen and heard the living LORD, who spoke the eternal covenant from Mount Sinai, and they agreed to obey and follow the LORD; yet they became unfaithful and turned their hearts from the LORD. Aaron instructed the Israelites to take off the golden earrings they had plundered while leaving Egyptian slavery, and he fashioned the gods of gold with engraving tools into a golden calf (bull). After molding their idol, the Israelites announced the golden calf was the god who brought them out of Egyptian slavery, instead of the living and gracious God Almighty - El Shaddai. Then, Aaron built an altar to the golden calf and declared a feast to the LORD. However, the people did utter wickedness and idolatry by worshipping and dancing before the golden calf with various offerings, drunkenness, and sexual immorality. 
 
Many biblical scholars believe the Israelites fashioned the golden calf after the Egyptian bull-god Apis; thereby combining the gods of the nations with the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth, who is the only true God. Sadly, years later, the Israelites in the Northern Kingdom, led by King Jeroboam, erected two golden calves to worship in Dan and Bethel as an alternative to worshipping the true and living God in Jerusalem after Israel split into two nations (Israel in the north and Judah in the south) following King Solomon’s death.
 
The living Sovereign LORD God saw and heard the Israelites’ idolatry and apostasy by worshiping and dancing before the golden calf. The LORD became angry at the people for acting corruptly and abandoning Him as their only God after providing and delivering the people by His grace from Egyptian slavery. Significantly, the LORD wanted to destroy and blot out Israel under heaven and make Moses into a great and mighty nation, because He no longer considered Israel His people since they broke His eternal covenant by worshiping other gods. The living Sovereign LORD God saw the Israelites' great sin of idolatry, and He called them rebellious, stubborn, and stiff-necked people. 
 
From atop Mount Sinai, Moses pleaded with the living LORD through intercessory prayer, as a mediator, not to be angry and abandon Aaron and the Israelites, whom He brought out of Egyptian slavery with His great power and mighty hand. Moses reminded the living LORD God of His eternal promises He gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), as recorded in the book of Genesis, to bless and multiply Israel as the stars of heaven and to give the Israelites His Promised Land of Israel-Palestine (Canaan). So, the gracious LORD God relented from His harm to destroy the Israelites because of Moses’ intercessory prayer and His eternal promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses came down Mount Sinai (Horeb) with the two stone tablets of the eternal covenant law (Testimony) in His hands that were written and inscribed by the finger of the living Sovereign LORD God. 
 
Then Moses came to the camp and saw the great sin of the golden calf, with the people dancing, drinking, and worshiping the idol through sacrifices. Joshua, who accompanied Moses as his faithful assistant, heard the singing and idolatry that sounded like the noise of war in the camp. When seeing such great sin and wickedness, Moses became angry and he threw the stone tablets with the LORD’s eternal covenant to the ground, symbolizing Israel’s breaking of the LORD’s covenant and spiritual adultery. In his anger, Moses burned and destroyed Israel’s sinful golden calf, grinding the golden calf into powder, throwing it into water, and then he made the people drink their idol. 
 
Then, Moses questioned his brother Aaron about this great sin of idolatry, which is spiritual adultery and rebellion towards the living LORD. Aaron, in desperation, blamed the Israelites’ evildoing instead of accepting and admitting his sinfulness against the living LORD. Then Aaron explained that the people felt Moses had abandoned them on Mount Sinai, so they created a golden calf to worship and lead them. Moses saw that the people were unrestrained and lawless because of Aaron’s unfaithfulness and weakness in leading the people away from the living LORD God into idolatry and unfaithfulness toward the living LORD. 
 
Moses stood in the camp, and the tribe of Levi gathered with Moses, being faithful and loyal in allegiance to the LORD. Then, the living LORD with the hands of the Levitical tribe destroyed three thousand men who turned their hearts from Him with idolatry, unfaithfulness, and spiritual adultery. Afterwards, Moses ordained and consecrated (set apart as holy) the tribe of Levi to the LORD, and the LORD bestowed a blessing upon the Levites. The tribe of Levi became caretakers of the Tabernacle and aides to the priests, and the LORD called the Levites “Mine” so they could serve Him.
 
The next day Moses interceded and prayed for the people as covenant mediator, and Moses made atonement before the LORD for Israel’s forgiveness because of their great sin of idolatry and spiritual adultery by making gods of gold. Notably, Moses offered to sacrifice himself and asked the LORD to remove his name from His Book of Life so Israel’s sins could be forgiven. Moses’ self-sacrifice for the good and salvation of others foreshadowed the Great Mediator, Christ Jesus our Lord, who offered and gave His precious life to save and atone for the sins of the world. But the living LORD assured Moses that whoever sinned against Him would be blotted out of His Book of Life because the person who sins is responsible for their own sin. The gracious and holy LORD punished His people by sending a plague because of their great sin of idolatry in worshiping the gods of gold - the golden calf.
 
Then, the living Sovereign LORD God commanded Moses to continue leading the Israelites to the Promised Land of Israel-Palestine (Canaan) that He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the book of Genesis - a good land flowing with milk and honey. The LORD pledged to Moses once again that He would send His mighty Angel of God to lead and go before the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land of God to give the land to the Israelites. However, the LORD stated to Moses that His Holy Presence would no longer go before the Israelites because the Israelites were stiff-necked and rebellious people against Him and broke His eternal covenant. So, the Israelites heard the bad news and mourned with sorrow and repentance by removing their ornaments at Mount Horeb (Sinai). By His abundant grace, the LORD forgave and renewed His covenant with Israel.
 
The great sin of the golden idol is taught throughout the Holy Bible because this great sin violated the heart of the eternal covenant. The Holy Bible condemns the great sin of idolatry because an idol is nothing. The first and foremost rule of the Holy Bible is that EVERYONE must wholeheartedly love and honor the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth with worship, fear, and faithful obedience, and worship no other gods or idols. Idolatry means anything that comes before the living Sovereign LORD God in our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls, such as money (greed), sex, or power. Sadly, idolatry was Israel and her sister Judah’s greatest and most persistent sin that eventually led to the Great Exile and banishment from the Promised Land of God. Notably, the Apostle Paul in the New Testament warned believers in Christ Jesus also to flee idolatry and not worship other gods, because such utter wickedness leads to God’s wrath and punishment.
 
Aaron and the Israelites acted in an evil and corrupt manner by making carved gold gods, which provoked and angered the living Sovereign LORD God. Significantly, Aaron and the Israelites broke the first two commandments of the eternal covenant law by worshiping the golden calf as their god. Many biblical scholars refer to the great sin of the golden calf at Mount Sinai (Horeb) as Israel’s first syncretism by combining and mixing faith with the one true living God and pagan traditions, thereby exchanging God’s glory for an ox. The living Sovereign LORD God with grace was visibly present with them by His fiery and mighty Glory Cloud, providing, delivering, and caring for them with great signs and wonders. The sight of God’s Glory Cloud atop Mount Sinai was like a mighty consuming fire with power and thunder. 
 
The living Sovereign LORD God is the God of gods and the LORD of lords, and He is the great and everlasting God and King, who is mighty and awesome. The LORD instructed the people in His Book of the Covenant that He was a consuming fire and a jealous God, and commanded them to have no other gods before Him and never make a carved image to worship. The living Sovereign LORD God is Spirit, and He is enthroned above in heaven. Notably, the living Sovereign LORD God’s nature and form cannot be represented by any inanimate objects or anything else in all creation nor manipulated by magic or any other rituals. The blessings and goodness of God come to those who repent by turning from Satan’s wickedness and humbly surrendering themselves to the living LORD with dependent faith and obedience. 
 
While on earth, Christ Jesus our Savior also taught that EVERYONE is only to worship His Holy Father - the living Sovereign LORD God and to love and serve Him with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In fact, Christ Jesus affirmed the eternal covenant, and He commanded the people to love and worship with faithful obedience His Holy Father - the living Sovereign LORD God, who is the only true God and Creator of heaven and earth. The living Sovereign LORD God, as One with His Son and the Holy Spirit of God, is the only true and living God. Christ Jesus revealed His Holy Father, the living Sovereign LORD, to the world. Significantly, Christ Jesus has commanded everyone to seek His Holy Father - the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth with wholehearted love, worship, and faithful obedience to Him, and all God’s abundant grace and blessings will be given from His heavenly Kingdom. The living Sovereign LORD God, who is holy and righteous, saved and delivered the Israelites and now believers in Christ Jesus so He could live and dwell with them so His faithful and obedient people can be a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.

Glory of Christmas

The Christmas season is filled with joy, laughter, and, even more importantly, God’s glory! Christmas celebrates Christ Jesus, who is the glorious God and King of the Universe, coming to earth as a Baby in a manger and living a fully human life filled with God’s abundant grace and truth. To celebrate Christ Jesus’s arrival, the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth placed a bright morning star in the skies, as predicted by Old Testament prophecies, so the world would know that a King had been born. Then, the living Sovereign LORD God brought a wonderful gospel choir - the armies of heaven - to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus. The heavenly choir sang of God’s glory and peace found in the newborn Baby - Christ Jesus, because the Savior and long-awaited Messiah (Christ, Anointed One) promised from the Old Testament prophecies had arrived. Christ Jesus was Immanuel - God with us, predicted by the Old Testament. The glory of God shone all around in the city of David at Christ Jesus’s birth.
 
God’s glory was originally seen in the Old Testament book of Exodus inside the Tabernacle. The second half of the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapters 25 through 40, focused on instructions for building and assembling the Tabernacle (also known as the Tent of Meeting or Sanctuary) so the living Sovereign LORD God could come and dwell with His people. The Tabernacle was literally the Tent of Meeting where the King of the Universe met and dwelt with His people. The Tabernacle and its furnishings were holy and made of beautiful offerings of gold, silver, and bronze, along with the finest blue, purple, and scarlet linen thread to reflect the pattern of the heavenly Tabernacle. The Tabernacle and all its furnishings were to be patterned and constructed like the pattern the LORD gave to Moses and the Israelites. Moses was faithful, and he built the Tabernacle as instructed and commanded by the divine King of the Universe so His Holy Presence could teach them and dwell with His people. Also, the living Sovereign LORD God empowered and equipped the workers and artisans with skill, wisdom, and knowledge by His Holy Spirit to construct and assemble the Tabernacle and all its furnishings. 
 
The Tabernacle and later the Temple included the sacred chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the stone tablets of the eternal covenant law (also known as the Book of the Covenant, or the Testimony of God) that were written by God’s finger. The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth came and spoke to the people about His instructions and commandments above the mercy seat between the two winged cherubim on top of the Ark of the Covenant, and also provided atonement for the sins of the people. The Ark of the Covenant was the only item in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
 
After Moses and the Israelites completed the Tabernacle, the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth and His glory moved into the Tabernacle, and His fiery Glory Cloud filled the Tabernacle and later the Temple with His Holy Presence. The presence of God’s glory signaled the Holy Presence of God. The Glory of God that led the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, parted the Red Sea, miraculously provided manna and quail from heaven, and appeared on Mount Sinai with the giving of the eternal Law of God was now inside the Tabernacle. The LORD came to live with His people! Wherever the Israelites marched or camped, the Tabernacle with the Glory Cloud went ahead of the people, with the Ark of the Covenant leading the way. 
 
The Tabernacle was like a portable cathedral and became the focal point of worship until King Solomon built the Temple of God. Unlike a church or synagogue, the Tabernacle was not a gathering place for public meetings and worship but rather served as the residence or palace for the King of the Universe! Worshippers entered a large, open courtyard area to present their offerings and sacrifices. After receiving the offerings, the priests approached the Holy Place, which contained some sacred furniture. Only the high priest could go further, into the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant stayed, and he did so only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The priests dressed in glorious and beautiful garments, and the LORD set the priests apart as holy to the LORD. The high priest’s role was to bring the people to the LORD God and to teach them God’s holy Word. Notably, a massive, thick curtain (veil) in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) separated and shielded the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the King of the Universe resided in His throne room above the Ark of the Covenant. The Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) was a perfect cube, with its length, width, and height all being equal - 15 feet on each side. 
 
The description of the Tabernacle and the offering system took up much of the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Yet, the New Testament book of Hebrews devotes only ten (10) verses to the Tabernacle. The New Testament book of Hebrews uses the words copy and shadow to describe the images and ceremonial rituals of the Old Testament: Passover feasts, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and other sacrifices and priestly duties, because Christ Jesus has now come and made these ceremonies and rituals obsolete. According to the book of Hebrews, the Tabernacle built by Moses and the Israelites, as well as the rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices, were only a copy and shadow of the true Tabernacle in heaven and obsolete with the final sacrifices of Passover Lamb found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nevertheless, the King of the Universe gave the Old Testament teachings about the Tabernacle and the offering system to provide wisdom for understanding Christ Jesus, so we can receive salvation, righteousness, and forgiveness by faith, trusting in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, which leads to godly living. Christ Jesus wanted everyone to live righteous lives. Importantly, Christ Jesus taught that the moral laws and commandments of God are eternal and NOT obsolete, but remain forever for godly living. 
 
The living Sovereign LORD God has always wanted to walk and dwell among His people with His divine Presence, as in the Garden of Eden. Sadly, Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin against the Sovereign LORD God by following and obeying Satan incarnate as the deceiving serpent in the Garden of Eden, and they broke that holy fellowship and union with God. The Holy God’s ultimate goal in delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and building the Tabernacle and later the Temple was so that He could come to live and share His Glory and Presence with His people. The purpose of the Tabernacle, the priesthood, and the sacrificial system was to enable human fellowship and union with the Holy God of the Universe, so that He could dwell with His people, and they could receive His abundant grace and mercy.
 
Here is the Good News: Christ Jesus is our perfect Tabernacle and also the Temple of God where the Glory of God came to dwell with humanity. The living Sovereign LORD God is also Spirit and Glory. God’s glory is God and symbolic of God’s Holy Presence and Power. Christ Jesus is our Immanuel, meaning “God with us,” because the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit and Glory came and dwelt in Christ Jesus so that He could share God’s love for the world. 
 
The living Sovereign LORD God has always wanted to live among and fellowship with His creation, and one day He will when His Son Christ Jesus returns creating the new heaven and new earth. One day in the new heaven and new earth, the LORD and His Son will dwell with His faithful people forever and ever. Christ Jesus promised that He will always be with His faithful disciples through His Spirit - the Spirit of Christ. The Apostle Paul has called faithful and obedient believers in Jesus the “temple” where the living God and His Son, Christ Jesus, now live through the Holy Spirit of God. Believers of Christ Jesus are declared holy and righteous through faithful obedience to Christ Jesus and His teaching that comes from His Holy Father.
 
The massive thick curtain (veil) in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) that separated and shielded the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the LORD resided, was torn at Christ Jesus’s sacrificial death at Calvary’s Cross. Christ Jesus’s sacrificial death at Calvary’s Cross symbolized that Christ Jesus broke down and took away the separation between God and humanity, and He reconciled His Holy Father to humanity as the true High Priest of Heaven. Now everyone can come to the living Sovereign LORD God’s throne of mercy and grace through Christ Jesus, not just the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement! Christ Jesus is our faithful Great High Priest who brings people to His Holy Father, and He gives EVERYONE access to His Holy Father’s blessings, peace, mercy, and grace. Christ Jesus is the Holy One of God and the perfect Mediator who teaches God’s Word and brings everyone to His Holy Father, so that He and His Holy Father can live in our hearts and reproduce in us God’s holy character and likeness by His Holy Spirit. 
 
The Old Testament prophets, particularly the prophet Isaiah, predicted the coming of Christ Jesus’s glory, and Isaiah saw King Jesus’s glory and His glorious Light dawning, coming to earth to redeem God’s people with care and comfort. The prophet Isaiah saw the coming Christ Jesus as the Suffering Servant who would die to bring liberty, new life, and salvation (healing) as our Deliverer and Redeemer. The living Sovereign LORD God’s glory and power raised His Son Christ Jesus from the dead. One day in the new heaven and new earth, God’s glory will shine as a bright light throughout the holy city - the New Jerusalem and the Tabernacle of God will be with His holy people, where God will once again walk and live amongst His holy people as Christ Jesus the Lamb lights the holy city. Truly, salvation, honor, and glory belong to the Lord our God. The heavens and the whole earth is filled with God’s glory. The glory of the redeeming God was seen in His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ Jesus is the hope of glory and is filled with God’s glory. Significantly, Christ Jesus our Lord has called His holy disciples to reflect His glorious light and good fruit in the world as salt and light. 
 
The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth so loved the world that He gave His perfect and sinless Son, Christ Jesus, His life and precious blood as the final sacrificial offering to save and take away the sins of the world. In the New Testament, the precious blood of Christ Jesus, shed once for all time, provided atonement for all our sins - past, present, and future through repentance with faithful obedience to Him. Christ Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God and Savior of the world that brings God’s forgiveness, grace, and salvation by taking away our sins and shame through our repentance with faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior. As the Passover Lamb of God, Christ Jesus suffered, died, but rose from the grave to proclaim God’s glorious light and life to the world as the Light of the world. Christ Jesus is the perfect and final sacrifice as the Lamb of God - meeting God’s righteous standard once for all and removing the need for ongoing animal sacrifices. The Sovereign LORD God, with love in mind, gave His Son Christ Jesus as His gracious gift for the sins of the world so that everyone can receive salvation (healing) and divine life through faithful obedience to Christ Jesus. 
 
The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth sent His Son Christ Jesus to save and redeem everyone by His grace through repentance and faithful obedience to Christ Jesus from slavery to Satan’s power and darkness. Christ Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God and Prince of Peace who came from heaven and became a human being to bring abundant life and salvation to ALL as God’s gift who believe in Him by repentance (turning from evildoing) and faithful obedience to Him. Christ Jesus is the divine Son of God who reveals and brings everyone to His Holy Father so that everyone can believe in Him. 
 
Significantly, Christ Jesus revealed God’s glory by coming and dwelling in the Tabernacle on earth. Christ Jesus revealed God’s glory through His many miraculous signs and wonders, but most importantly through His miraculous death and resurrection for the sins of the world. Even more important, Christ Jesus became the Tabernacle and the Temple of God, opening the pathway and bridge so we can approach and become reconciled to His Good and Holy Father, and find forgiveness, a new heart, and peace with God. One of Christ Jesus’s goals in coming to earth was to unite everyone and bring us to His Holy Father so that we can be reconciled to God as One. Christ Jesus freely shares God’s glory with believers in Him so they can reflect God’s goodness and light in the world.
 
In the past, the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth spoke to Israel and the world through His holy prophets, and these holy prophets of God spoke of Christ Jesus and His coming. Now, the Sovereign LORD God has spoken to the world through His Son, Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. Christ Jesus is the Word of God and Mediator of the new covenant who speaks and teaches God’s commandments and writes God’s Law on our hearts, creating within us a new life by the Holy Spirit of God. Through repentance with faithful obedience to Christ Jesus, the living Sovereign LORD God graciously gives us as a gift His Holy Spirit to live inside our hearts.
 
Christ Jesus unites and connects us to the source of all God’s grace and blessings when we obey Him by faith, so we can live a righteous and authentic life by loving and serving God and serving others with goodness and kindness. Even more, Christ Jesus brings victory, salvation, and righteousness to all people through repentance and faithful obedience to Him, releasing us from Satan’s evil power so we can have new lives and new hearts by the Holy Spirit of God. Through repentance with faithful obedience to Christ Jesus, we are adopted and united into God’s Kingdom family and also receive the abundant blessings promised to Father Abraham.
 
So let everyone REPENT and experience God’s glory and peace found only in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is such a wonderful Savior, and what a wonderful Child!
 
The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw His glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father—and He was full of grace and truth. John 1:14 New Century Version

Only Worship God

The first and most important rule of the Law of God explained the eternal commandment to exclusive worship and honor with wholehearted love and faithful obedience to the living Sovereign LORD God (Yahweh, also known as Jehovah). Also, the living LORD is our everlasting Covenant God and Savior, and He reigns forever as our only faithful King and Good Shepherd. The LORD’s Name must be eternally honored and respected as holy forever and never used with lies, falsehood, magic, disrespect, or vulgar profanity. The eternal Law of God commanded the people never to make, bow down to, or worship any gods or idols, whether gods of silver or gods of gold, because these idols are worthless and cannot bring salvation like the LORD Almighty. Worshiping other gods is idolatry and leads to God’s wrath. Only the LORD is our praise, and we must worship, honor, and call upon Him with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In fact, the Law of God commanded the people never to worship nor call on the name of any other gods, and not to even speak of their names. The LORD is a jealous God and a consuming fire, and He will not tolerate anyone worshiping, honoring, or serving any other gods, heroes, or idols. Cursed is anyone who carves or worships an idol or god, which is idolatry and covetousness. The LORD deserves FIRST PLACE in our hearts, minds, souls, and desires, and He condemns covetousness (greed, materialism). As the one and true living God of heaven and earth, the LORD (Yahweh) must be worshiped alone because He will not tolerate the worship or dependence upon any other gods, humans, governments, or idols. Only the living Sovereign LORD God has all power over every aspect of creation because the whole earth belongs to Him. The LORD is transcendent, which means the Creator and King of the Universe is distinct from His creation, and the Holy Bible teaches everyone to worship the LORD and not the things of creation. The eternal Law of God declared that the LORD Almighty, who is the Covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the only true and living God and Creator of heaven and earth.
Even more important, the Holy Bible explains that Christ Jesus is also God and Lord (Yahweh), and that He is One with His Holy Father—the living Sovereign LORD God. The living Sovereign LORD God with His Son Christ Jesus as One is to receive our exclusive worship as God. The living Sovereign LORD God honors and loves those who love and obey His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ Jesus graciously gave His life and shed His blood so that everyone who believes and obeys Him as Lord and Savior receives salvation, redemption, divine peace, righteousness, and new spiritual life from heaven. Jesus is Lord!
 

Names of God

The Holy Bible includes many names for the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. God is known as Elohim, which means He is the transcendent (supreme) Creator and true King, with His Son, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of all that exists, both visible and invisible. Also, the living Sovereign LORD God is the Most High God (El-Elyon), and He is above all other gods, rulers, kings, and nations from everlasting to everlasting. Moses received the covenant Name of the Most High God at the burning bush as LORD, which translates as “Yahweh,” “Jehovah”, or “I AM,” that Name is eternal. In addition, the LORD is the God of the Hebrews—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Furthermore, the living Sovereign LORD God is known as Adoni because He is the owner and master of all creation. Even more, the living Sovereign LORD God is God Almighty - El Shaddai because He is all-powerful (omnipotent) and nothing is too hard for God. The LORD is called El-Olam because He reigns from everlasting, and He gives us strength and salvation. Also, the living Sovereign LORD God is El-Roeh because He is omniscient, seeing the needs of His people and caring to respond with help, deliverance, and compassion. Moreover, the God of Israel is Jehovah Jireh or Yahweh-Yireh because He always provides for His people who look to Him in faith and dependence. Even further, the living Sovereign LORD God is the LORD of Hosts—Yahweh Sabaoth —who leads the angelic armies of heaven and fights for and protects His people. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus our Savior, embodied in God (Yahweh) in human flesh and He is also the Great I AM who is One with His Holy Father—the living Sovereign LORD God. Christ Jesus our Savior is God with us—Immanuel, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus is the LORD—worship Him!
 
Then the Lord came down in the Glory Cloud and stood there with Moses and proclaimed His Name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; ….” Exodus 34:5-7  

Holy Living - The Ten Commandments

Moses and the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai (the mountain of God, Mount Horeb) in the desert wilderness in the third month after leaving Egyptian slavery. Moses and the Israelites encamped in the desert at Mount Sinai for almost one year with the LORD (Yahweh, also known as Jehovah) instructing and teaching them (giving of the Torah or the Law of God) through His servant Moses for the rest of the book of Exodus, all of the book of Leviticus, and up to Numbers chapter 10. Moses first met the LORD at the flaming fiery bush at Mount Sinai (Horeb) while living in Midian with his father-in-law, Jethro. The LORD promised Moses that he would return to Mount Sinai with the Israelites after He delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery. 
 
From Mount Sinai, the living Sovereign LORD God, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, came and descended on top of Mount Sinai to speak His Ten Commandments and proclaim the Sinaitic covenant through His servant Moses from His Glory Cloud. The Ten Commandments are also known as “two tablets of the covenant law,” “tablets of stone,” “ark of the covenant law,” “the ten words,” and “Decalogue,” and they are the heart of the LORD’s moral Law written by the LORD’s finger for all generations to obey. This great covenant was renewed at Exodus chapter 34, the entire book of Deuteronomy, Joshua chapter 24, and became the new covenant implanted inside our hearts by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus. The essence of the Mount Sinai covenant commanded our wholehearted love with allegiance, faithfulness, and obedience to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as our only true God and King and also commanded love and mercy with kindness towards one another. The entire earth belongs to the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. 
 
Notably, the Mount Sinai covenant was not about salvation because the LORD had already saved and redeemed Israel by His grace from evil Egyptian slavery according to His previous covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Mount Sinai covenant was the LORD’s instructions for holy living and living a wise life pleasing to Him. The LORD commanded Israel, as His firstborn son, how to humbly live and also to instruct the world about His commandments as a holy nation and kingdom of priests. The Ten Commandments are the most important obligations of the LORD’s eternal covenant because they express the LORD’s core spiritual and ethical principles.
 
In the Mount Sinai desert, the living Sovereign LORD God called Moses to come to Him, and He instructed Moses to declare to the Israelites (the house of Jacob) that He had providentially cared for and carried the Israelites on eagles’ wings by His grace and brought them to Himself after defeating evil Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Then, the LORD declared to Moses and the Israelites that if they obeyed His voice and kept His eternal covenant, then they would be “a special treasure” to Him above all the people of the earth, and they would become to Him “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” to the world. The living Sovereign LORD God is holy, and He commanded Israel and the nations to faithfully obey Him and follow His holy and honest ways, which lead to His blessings and a holy life. Amazingly, the living Sovereign LORD God through His Son Christ Jesus has now commanded the new Israel (the church with Jews and Gentiles united) to continue His message by living holy lives and also proclaiming His moral message as His holy priests to the world. Christ Jesus is the Ruler of the world, who loved us and washed us clean from our sins by His precious blood, making believers in Him (the church) also kings and priests to His Holy Father, to obey and proclaim God’s holy message to the world.
 
So, Moses called the people of Israel and the Israelite elders together and presented them with words commanded from the LORD, and the people agreed to obey the LORD’s words. The LORD told Moses that He would come and speak to him face to face from His Glory Cloud, so the people would hear Him speak to Moses and trust in Moses’ teaching as a covenant mediator. Next, the LORD commanded Moses to instruct the people and the priests to consecrate (sanctify) themselves and wash their clothes because He would be appearing at Mount Sinai on the third day. Ultimately, the living Sovereign LORD God is the One who sanctifies us and makes us holy. Also, the LORD instructed Moses to place boundaries around Mount Sinai and warn the people not to touch or come up the mountain because He would be appearing from His Glory Cloud. On the third day, the living Sovereign LORD God Almighty visibly appeared in His Glory Cloud above Mount Sinai with roars of great thunder, lightning flashes, fiery black smoke, and loud trumpet blasts. In the Holy Bible, flames of fire symbolize the presence of God and His glorious power. 
 
From Mount Sinai, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke to the people and then wrote His eternal Ten Commandments (covenant, ten words, Decalogue) on two tablets so the people would behave and live holy lives. The living Sovereign LORD God did not want His people following the evil and deceptive world philosophies and human legalism that lead to death, bondage, and God’s wrath. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and His disciples affirmed and taught the same commandments of God for holy and righteous living that pleases the LORD and brings His divine blessings. Loving and honoring the living Sovereign LORD God and keeping His commandments means living a blameless life and also reveals our divine wisdom and understanding that brings God’s long life. Sadly, Satan and his lawless workers of evil attack those who obey the commandments of God, but everyone who remains wholeheartedly faithful with obedience to the LORD and His commandments will be saved and enter God’s Kingdom. 
 
First, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke in the midst of His Glory Cloud from Mount Sinai (Horeb) to Moses and the Israelites, saying that He is the LORD their God who, by His grace, redeemed and saved them from the evil bondage and slavery of Egypt. The LORD commanded the people to have no other gods before Him. The living Sovereign LORD God forbids idolatry or worshipping other gods in the Old and New Testaments. The LORD’s first commandment demands exclusive worship and loyalty to Him as the only true God and King. The living Sovereign LORD God must be forever praised and worshipped as LORD.
 
Second, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded the people never to make an idol or other images to bow down and worship. The LORD (Yahweh, also known as Jehovah) is a jealous God and a consuming fire, and only He must be served and worshipped as the only eternal God and King from generation to generation with wholehearted faithfulness, obedience, and allegiance. Anyone who worships or bows down to another god will be punished and cursed by the LORD. The living Sovereign LORD God Almighty reigns with His Son Christ Jesus the Lamb as One as the eternal King of kings and LORD of lords of the universe. Also, the living Sovereign LORD God demands our first love and devotion to Him, and He pictures His relationship with the people as a Husband with a marriage covenant of faithfulness.  
 
Third, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded that no one misuse or profane His Name. The LORD God will not hold anyone innocent or guiltless who disrespects and dishonors His Name in vain with lies, cursing, profanity, and swearing. Christ Jesus also taught that dishonoring the living Sovereign LORD God means swearing falsely and lying under oath. The living Sovereign LORD God is Truth without lies, and He commands everyone to keep His Name with the highest honor, respect, and honesty. Any misuse and disrespect of the LORD’s Name brings God’s wrath and punishment into their lives.
 
Fourth, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded everyone to remember and honor the Sabbath day by keeping the Sabbath day holy with reverence, rest, and worship to Him as LORD. The living Sovereign LORD God also rested on the Sabbath or seventh day after creating the heavens and earth, and He commanded the people to follow His example by resting on the Sabbath. The Sabbath day was made for the world’s good and well-being so humans, their families, servants, and animals’ bodies, souls, and minds could rest, recover, and heal after six days of working and labor. Besides, the LORD has given everyone six days in a week but requires one day as a sacrifice to honor and worship Him. Here is more Good News: Christ Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, providing everyone with Sabbath rest, spiritual recovery, nourishment, and salvation (healing) for those who look to Him with faithful trust and obedience as Lord and Savior. In addition, believers of Christ Jesus worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, as the Lord’s day or Sabbath, to rejoice and celebrate Christ Jesus’s resurrection and the rest He gives to everyone who looks to Him in faithful obedience every week. 
 
Fifth, the living Sovereign LORD God commanded the people always to respect and honor their mother and father. The living Sovereign LORD God promised long life and wellness to those who honor, obey, and respect Him as our Heavenly Father and their father and mother with love and care. However, the LORD declared that cursing, disobeying, or attacking one’s parents with harm and anger leads to His wrath and an early death. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers reaffirmed the fifth commandment and taught everyone that they must also honor and respect their father and mother. In addition, parents are commanded to train and instruct their children in the ways and commands of the LORD. However, parents must never abuse, mistreat, or provoke their children with wrath and anger, as this will lead to discouragement. 
 
Sixth, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded the people not to murder or kill another human with deliberate intent to harm and anger. The living Sovereign LORD God first gave this command against anger and murder to Cain and Noah in the Old Testament, and Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers reaffirmed the sixth commandment against anger and murder. Murder starts from the heart and includes Satan’s evil thoughts and dark fruit of anger, malice, hatred, prejudice, division, rage, unforgiveness, and vengeance. The Holy Bible states that anyone who intentionally kills and murders experiences God’s wrath and punishment.
 
Seventh, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded the people not to commit adultery with sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony between a man and woman. Adultery is a sin against God and your spouse. Marriage is a spiritual covenant between a man and a woman, with the LORD joining them together as one holy body as husband and wife. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers reaffirmed the seventh commandment because sexual sins, lust, and fornication harm you and your physical and spiritual body. Adultery includes Satan’s dark deeds and evil fruit such as affairs, flirtation, lewdness, unfaithfulness, infidelity, and fornication. The Holy Bible states that anyone who commits adultery and sexual sins experiences God’s wrath and death.
 
Eight, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded the people not to steal, rob, or cheat others of their possessions and belongings. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers affirmed the eighth commandment and taught everyone not to harm others through stealing and robbing but rather to work hard and care for one’s family and those in need. Stealing includes such Satan’s evil fruits and dark deeds as shoplifting, embezzlement, kidnapping, human trafficking, burglary, robbery, theft, fraud, larceny, mugging, Ponzi schemes, and scams. 
 
Ninth, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke and commanded the people not to tell lies and bear false witness against their neighbor. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers reaffirmed the ninth commandment and taught everyone to pursue truth and turn away from Satan’s deceit, false testimony, and falsehood. Lying includes such evil deeds of Satan as dishonesty, deceit, deception, falsehood, and trickery because Satan and his false prophets are liars, murderers, and deceivers. Those who walk in Satan’s falsehood and lies will not enter God’s Kingdom. 
 
Tenth, the living Sovereign LORD God commanded the people not to covet, envy, or desire another’s house, spouse, employees, or other possessions that belong to their neighbor. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus and the New Testament writers affirmed the tenth commandment and taught everyone not to covet, envy, or crave possessions, money, and greed, particularly as He instructed the rich young ruler not to be greedy. In fact, Christ Jesus taught about money, materialism, and greed during His public ministry because He knew that money and possessions can easily become one’s god or idol. Also, envy and covetousness encompass inward heart desires and dark deeds, including jealousy, resentment, greed, selfishness, discontentment, spite, and bitterness. The living Sovereign LORD God has called everyone to live a thankful, joyful, and grateful heart with contentment, knowing that He is our faithful Good Shepherd who always provides for our needs and is with us as we humbly seek Him and His Kingdom with dependent faith and continual prayers.
 
After speaking His eternal commandments, the people witnessed the great thunder, lightning flashes, and trumpet blasts, along with fiery dark smoke from Mount Sinai, where the living Sovereign LORD God came and spoke to them within His Glory Cloud. The people trembled with fear at Mount Sinai after hearing and seeing the LORD’s Presence, and they requested a mediator so Moses could speak to them. Moses encouraged the people not to be afraid but to always fear and trust the living Sovereign LORD God and His commandments so they can turn away from sinful living. In fact, the Holy Bible teaches that the essence of biblical wisdom is to fear and love the living Sovereign LORD God and obey His commandments. 
 
Next, the living Sovereign LORD God wrote His Ten Commandments (Decalogue) with His finger on two stone tablets, and He gave them to Moses for all generations to love and wholeheartedly obey Him, His commandments, and to love one another with mercy. The living Sovereign LORD God is faithful, and promised His eternal love and mercy with His continual Holy Spirit’s Presence of Him and His Son Christ Jesus to a thousand generations to those who wholeheartedly love and worship Him and obey His commandments. Here is the Good News: the living Sovereign LORD God promises that Satan and his lawless workers of evil will not enter into heaven to hurt, harm, and deceive God’s people. Satan is a deceiving liar and murderer filled with falsehood and lies, and following Satan’s angry and murderous ways leads to destruction and death. 
 
In the New Testament, Christ Jesus is the Mediator and Intercessor of the new covenant, as predicted by the Old Testament prophets. He sends the Holy Spirit through faith in Him to write the Law of God (commandments) on our hearts and minds, by the Holy Spirit, instead of stone tablets. Christ Jesus our Savior summarized the Law of God in the New Testament by commanding all people to first love the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, and second to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. According to Christ Jesus, loving the LORD our God and our neighbor with mercy and goodness is more important than all the burnt offerings, religious rituals, and ceremonies, and these two commandments summarize all the Old Testament Law and the Prophets. Christ Jesus proclaimed that His Holy Father is the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and everyone must love Him and His Holy Father with faithful obedience, which leads to eternal life and salvation inside God’s Kingdom. From generation to generation, the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has called all people to live godly and holy lives that love and honor Him and love one another with mercy, goodness, and kindness. 
 
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him (Jesus) with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40.
 
Jesus now consecrates and sanctifies us by His Holy Spirit through faith and obedience to Him and His teaching so we can be declared holy and righteous before His Holy Father - the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. Everyone is called to turn from Satan’s sinful and dark living and set their hearts and minds to heaven above, where the living Sovereign LORD God lives with His Son Christ Jesus at His right hand interceding and praying for His faithful disciples to His Holy Father.
 
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:8-14 (NIV)

Needing Help

The living Sovereign LORD God’s deliverance and salvation of Israel over evil Pharaoh and the powerful Egyptians was world news amongst the nations. Even Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, who was a priest from Midian and also known as Reuel, heard that the LORD (Yahweh) had saved and redeemed Israel from the evil Egyptian slavery by His mighty hand and strong power, with great signs and wonders. After Israel’s great victory from the LORD, Jethro took Moses’ wife Zipporah and Moses’ two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, into the desert wilderness to meet Moses and the Israelites, who were encamped at Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was also known as the mountain of God or Mount Horeb, where the Israelites received the commandments of God. Moses had requested that his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons stay with his father-in-law, Jethro, during the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt.
 
In the desert wilderness, Moses told his father-in-law Jethro about all the great deeds and mighty miracles that the LORD had done to deliver the Israelites from the evil Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and also the LORD’s blessings in the desert wilderness. Jethro rejoiced with great happiness when Moses informed him about all the great and awesome things the LORD had done for Israel over the Egyptians, and Jethro declared that the LORD is greater than and above all other gods. Then, Jethro offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to the LORD in worship, and Jethro was joined by Moses’ brother Aaron and the elders of Israel to break bread together in unity before the LORD. 
 
On the next day, Moses sat resolving and settling the people’s disputes and conflicts as a legal judge and mediator/arbiter according to the living Sovereign LORD God’s statutes and laws from morning until evening. Moses revealed to the people God’s will through His laws and rules. The living Sovereign LORD God had disclosed His will through His eternal decrees and instructions to Moses, even before the Mount Sinai covenant, so that the people would live blameless lives before Him. Jethro saw all that Moses was doing alone from sunup to sundown, judging the people’s disputes and conflicts, and Jethro warned Moses that such laborious work was overwhelming and he would wear himself down. 
 
So, Jethro gave Moses good administrative advice on delegating and sharing his duties from the LORD to ease Moses’ burdens as the people’s leader. Jethro wisely instructed Moses to be the people’s representative before the LORD, to bring the people’s problems to Him, and also to teach and instruct the people in the LORD’s statutes and laws, so they would know how to walk and live before the LORD according to His will and prosper. Moreover, Jethro instructed Moses to select from the people wise leaders who are god-fearing, fair-minded, trustworthy, and honest and place these spirit-filled leaders over the people to be rulers and leaders to help him judge and manage the people’s disputes and problems with fairness and justice. However, Moses would continue to handle more complex, difficult, and challenging disputes of law among the people. Moses listened and obeyed the good voice of his father-in-law Jethro, and he chose god-fearing, good, dependable, and fair-minded leaders not filled with greed, covetousness, bribery, and dishonesty to help manage the people’s problems and disputes, so justice and goodness would flow like a river. Then, Jethro returned to Midian after giving Moses wise advice, revealing God’s continued providence and care of Israel. 
 
Amazingly, the qualities that Moses and Jethro described as those of great leaders and judges are also those of Christ Jesus, our Savior, whom everyone must follow and imitate. Like Christ Jesus our Savior, everyone, especially leaders, must produce good fruits of wisdom, fairness, mercy, understanding, courage, knowledge, and most importantly, live god-fearing and god-honoring lives that obey and love the LORD.    

God's Protection

The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth defeated all the gods of Egypt by His great power with signs and wonders, and He brought His people Israel as a mighty army with boldness from Egyptian slavery, with Moses leading the way. As Israel was leaving Egypt, the living Sovereign LORD God by His grace covered, guided, and protected Israel underneath His wings in a pillar of cloud by day, and during the night, He went ahead of Israel in a pillar of fire. This amazing pillar of cloud and pillar of fire was the Glory Cloud, and the Glory Cloud of God is seen throughout the Holy Bible, including at Mount Sinai, as the living God’s Presence - a Theophany. 
 
As Israel was leaving Egypt, the living Sovereign LORD God led the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea. However, the evil Pharaoh once again became stubborn and hardhearted, refusing to submit with repentance to the LORD (Yahweh), and he and his fellow Egyptians pursued the Israelites so Israel could return to slavery and bondage. So, the evil Pharaoh and the Egyptians took their elite military men with fighting chariots and pursued the Israelites so they could return them to Egyptian slavery. However, the living Sovereign LORD God was controlling the evil Pharaoh by hardening his heart, so He could display and reveal His power and glory to the evil Pharaoh and the Egyptians, making Himself known as the only true God and King of heaven and earth. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus also noted that His Holy Father allowed certain events, such as the blind man receiving his sight and Lazarus rising from the dead, for God’s glory and honor. Moreover, the LORD knew the evil Pharaoh would be hardhearted and stubborn because the evil Pharaoh believed he was mightier and stronger than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the Great I AM (Yahweh). 
 
As the evil Pharaoh and his army drew near, the Israelites panicked and became afraid as they cried out to the LORD. Also, the Israelites became discouraged, succumbing to fear and not faith in the living LORD, as well as becoming angry with Moses, wanting to return to Egyptian slavery. Moses declared his confidence and faith in the living LORD and assured the people not to be afraid nor discouraged because the LORD (Yahweh) was with them as a Divine Warrior, and He would fight and protect them against the Egyptians. In one of the greatest statements of faith in the Holy Bible, Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid…. stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today…. The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” The story of the Red Sea is a reminder that although Israel was “ready for battle” and marching out of Egypt boldly, the victory would be won by the LORD alone. Significantly, the living Sovereign LORD God revealed His great almighty power to save and shield His people who call upon Him and His Holy Name by faith. The great Name of the LORD - Yahweh has wonder-working power to save and protect when you believe and trust in Him by faith.
 
Then, the living Sovereign LORD God commanded Moses to put his faith into action by raising his staff (rod) over the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross the Red Sea on dry ground. Then, the mighty Angel of God and the Glory Cloud, who traveled and went before Israel, came between God’s people to shield and protect them from Pharaoh’s army. The living Sovereign LORD God protected and shielded His people with His Glory Cloud. Moses obeyed the living Sovereign LORD God’s command, and he raised his staff over the Red Sea. Then, the Sovereign LORD God sent His mighty wind from His nostrils to divide and push back the sea to create a safe path for His people to safely cross on dry land, protected in the midst of the sea. Moses and the Israelites followed the dry path through the Red Sea to the other side. Israel’s baptism and escape through the Red Sea was one of the greatest climactic rescues in human history. 
 
Then, the living Sovereign LORD God looked upon the Egyptian army from His Glory Cloud with grace, and He began fighting for Israel by bringing trouble and confusion to the Egyptian army and even jamming the wheels of the Egyptian military chariots. The Egyptians realized the living Sovereign LORD God was fighting for the Israelites as Israel’s Divine Warrior. After the Israelites safely crossed the Red Sea on dry land, the living Sovereign LORD God commanded Moses to stretch out his staff (rod) over the Red Sea so the waters would return to flow back over evil Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. Pharaoh’s army pursued the Israelites through the Red Sea, but the living Sovereign LORD God continued fighting for Israel by blowing the winds from His nostrils to return the sea waters to punish and overthrow the Egyptians in the midst of the Red Sea and completely drown the Egyptians' elite military men and fighting chariots. At the Red Sea, the living Sovereign LORD God revealed His awesome glory and mighty power by destroying the Egyptians as promised and saving Israel with His mighty hand and strong power. Then, the Israelites feared and honored the living Sovereign LORD God and placed their trust in Him and in Moses, who was God’s servant.
 
Moses and all of Israel celebrated their “exodus” from Egypt and honored the living Sovereign LORD God for their deliverance and salvation with singing, dancing, and laughter to the LORD. Israel was free - Independence Day! The living Sovereign LORD God saved and gave Israel victory over the great Egyptian army as He promised Father Abraham in the book of Genesis. Moses and the Israelites declared that the LORD (Yahweh) is a mighty Warrior and Defender who fights and protects His people from their enemies and harm with His incredible power and authority. Then, Miriam the prophetess, who was the sister of Moses and Aaron, led the women of Israel with singing, dancing, and praises to the living Sovereign LORD God for His triumphant deliverance over Egypt and salvation of Israel. Amazingly, the Holy Bible celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian slavery and salvation at the Red Sea as a way of describing the living Sovereign LORD God’s mighty power and hand as the Great I AM who brought Israel out of Egypt.  
 
The living Sovereign LORD God revealed to the Egyptians and all the world that the God of the Hebrews is the only true God of heaven and earth with all authoritative power, glory, and superiority as the mighty LORD and great King of the Universe. Israel’s deliverance and salvation from Egypt displayed the living Sovereign LORD God’s supernatural control and miraculous power over the forces of nature, including winds and the sea, as well as Egypt’s human forces and military weapons to protect and fight for His people. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is forever good and holy, and He is the eternal and reigning God of gods and Lord of lords over all creation, and there is no other god like Him. The LORD reigns and lives forever and ever over all nations as King, and He is our wonderful Savior. 

All Powerful God

In the book of Exodus, the LORD (Yahweh) displayed His awesome power and almighty hand through signs and wonders, so that the evil Pharaoh would know that the God of the Hebrews is the only true King and God of heaven and earth. Moses and Aaron repeatedly went to the wicked Pharaoh, who was the king of Egypt, to demand that Pharaoh release and free the Israelites (Hebrews) from slavery, or Pharaoh would experience God’s wrath and punishment. The evil Pharaoh became more and more defiant against the living Sovereign LORD God and his servants Moses and Aaron, and refused to release the Israelites from their brutal slavery. Even more, the evil Pharaoh increased the Israelites’ labor and made them work even harder. The evil Pharaoh and his taskmasters and overseers continued to beat and demand that the Hebrews continue their heavy labor building Pithom and Raamses for Egypt, while also accusing the Israelites of being weak and lazy, who did not want to work. 
 
Therefore, the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth demonstrated His mighty power to the evil Pharaoh and the Egyptians through signs and wonders, as He sent ten plagues. These divine plagues were unprecedented in the history of Egypt. The plagues of Egypt are often called “signs,” just as Christ Jesus’s miracles in the New Testament were called “signs” as Christ Jesus’ ministry was filled with divine signs and mighty deeds. The Holy Bible warns that Satan and his evil workers, who are filled with lies, darkness, and greed, can also perform signs and wonders to lead people away from wholehearted faithfulness and allegiance to the living Sovereign LORD God. In the book of Exodus, the evil Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers performed similar signs and wonders as Moses and his brother Aaron, but God’s power defeated and overpowered these evil demons' signs and wonders. The evil Pharaoh’s magicians realized they had no true power, and the plagues were the “finger of God.” 
 
In the first plague, the living Sovereign LORD God, through His servant Moses, turned all the waters into blood, including the canals, ponds, and rivers of Egypt, as well as the Egyptian Nile. Then, the living Sovereign LORD God released frogs throughout the whole land of Egypt. However, the evil Pharaoh refused to submit and obey the LORD (Yahweh). So, the living Sovereign LORD God sent more plagues throughout Egypt including pesky gnats and swarming flies, turning all the animals and livestock of Egypt sick, giving the Egyptians and the animals festering skin boils with painful sores, bringing destroying hailstorms with thunder and lightning flashes, and then He sent swarms of locusts (grasshoppers) throughout Egypt that ate all the Egyptians crops leaving Egypt in devastation and ruins. 
 
With the divine plagues, the evil Pharaoh begged Moses to intercede and pray to the living Sovereign LORD God to take God’s punishment and wrath away from Egypt, and then he would release Israel from slavery. So, the living Sovereign LORD God listened to Moses’ prayers and removed the plagues from the land of Egypt. Moses was learning the role of intercessor that would become an important part of his life in his service to the living God. Despite Moses’ intercessory prayers, the evil Pharaoh continued his stubbornness and refused to release Israel from slavery so they could worship the living Sovereign LORD God. Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, and he was respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people.
 
Despite the numerous plagues, the evil Pharaoh lied and continued sinning against the living Sovereign LORD God by refusing to obey Him. The evil Pharaoh’s heart, who the living Sovereign LORD God controlled, remained stubborn, obstinate, and hardened, and he refused to release the Israelites from slavery so they could worship the LORD (Yahweh). However, the living Sovereign LORD God protected and shielded His people with His abiding peace from the harmful plagues, including the firstborn’s death, by passing over the Israelites’ homes. The Sovereign LORD God’s purpose of the Exodus was to reveal the God of the Hebrews, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as the only true God of heaven and earth with all power, glory, and superiority over everything, and to lead everyone to worship and honor Him as LORD and King. 
 
Sometime later, the living Sovereign LORD God sent the ninth plague of darkness, bringing complete darkness over all of Egypt so that the evil Pharaoh would release Israel from slavery. After feeling the darkness, the evil Pharaoh agreed to release the Israelites from slavery, but once again, the wicked Pharaoh lied and refused to submit to the LORD (Yahweh) by releasing Israel from slavery. Then, the living Sovereign LORD God sent His tenth plague and final angry blow upon Egypt by destroying and killing all the Egyptians' firstborn sons living in every family, including Pharaoh’s firstborn son, and killing the firstborn of all the Egyptian male animals and livestock. The living Sovereign LORD God’s tenth and final plague was to strike and execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt so the Egyptians would know the LORD (Yahweh) is the only true God of heaven and earth. However, the living Sovereign LORD God announced to the evil Pharaoh that there would be peace and safety over God’s people. 
 
Finally, the evil Pharaoh released the Israelites from slavery after experiencing the strong wrath and mighty power of the living Sovereign LORD God, so Israel could worship the LORD (Yahweh). The evil Pharaoh released the Israelites from slavery, and Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt as a strong and great army, with the living Sovereign LORD God as Israel’s Commander-in-Chief leading the way through His Glory Cloud—a fiery cloud that provided protection and guidance to Israel. The Israelites endured 430 years of brutal slavery and oppression as the living Sovereign LORD God warned Abraham in Genesis 15, so Israel would receive the Promised Land of God - Israel-Palestine, which flows with milk and honey, that He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even more, the living Sovereign LORD God gave His people favor amongst the Egyptians, and Israel plundered and stripped the Egyptians of their wealth as they were leaving slavery.
 
From the events of Exodus, the living Sovereign LORD God established the beginning of the New Year (Abib, later called by the Babylonians Nisan), the LORD’s Passover celebration meal of the spotless Passover animal (lamb or goat), and the Festival of Unleavened Bread (celebration of seven days eating bread without yeast). The living Sovereign LORD God commanded the Israelites to take some of the Passover animal’s blood and smear it over their home’s doorframe, and then He would pass over their home during His final plague of death. Thus, the Passover meal and the Festival of Unleavened Bread are annual spring festivals that celebrate God’s eternal laws, marking the living Sovereign LORD God’s redemption and deliverance of His people, Israel, from the evil of Egyptian slavery and death. 
 
The New Testament states that Christ Jesus celebrated the annual Jewish Passover during His public ministry on earth. Notably, Christ Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection are closely linked in the New Testament to the Passover season. Christ Jesus’ last supper with His disciples on Thursday evening before His sacrificial death at Calvary on Friday was the Passover meal celebration (Seder meal). Christ Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb of God, who gave His spotless life as a ransom Passover Lamb, to redeem and free everyone through faithful obedience to Him from Satan’s evil bondage and bring us into God’s Kingdom family and new life. In fact, the Apostle Paul in the New Testament draws a comparison between the Passover of the Exodus and the sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord, to be celebrated with sincerity and truth. In essence, Christ Jesus’s sacrificial death transformed the traditional annual Passover with reference to His own sacrificial death as the Passover Lamb of God.
 
The living Sovereign LORD God controls all the world by His mighty hand as the only true God and King of the nations. There is NO ONE like the LORD (also known as Yahweh or the Great I AM) in all the heavens and earth, as all the earth belongs to the LORD. Nothing is too hard for the God of the Hebrews - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The living Sovereign LORD God as King of the Universe controls light and darkness, life and death, and all the forces of the heavens. The teachings of Exodus reveal why EVERYONE must humbly obey, submit, fear, and importantly wholeheartedly love the living Sovereign LORD God with their whole hearts, souls, and minds because He is God Almighty (El Shaddai) and He cares for His people. The God of the Hebrews is the Creator of everything, and He is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies (Sabaoth or the LORD of Hosts) as the Commander of all heavenly forces and powers. Although the living Sovereign LORD God is Almighty, He is also the God of mercy and grace, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love, truth, and faithfulness.
 
Here is more Good News. The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth has sent His Son Christ Jesus as the Redeemer and Liberator who sets all humanity free from Satan and his dark living through our faithful obedience to Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is our Lord and Savior who delivers us from Satan’s bondage to sin and evildoing. Jesus is the LORD!

God's Power and Name

Moses and his brother Aaron returned to Egypt as commanded by the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth to rescue and deliver His people Israel from slavery and bondage, and lead the Israelites to the Promised Land of God - Israel-Palestine.  The people of Israel bowed down with hopeful expectation and worship to the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with thanksgiving after hearing Moses and Aaron’s message of deliverance, knowing that the living God had seen and listened to their bitter cries of slavery. 
 
Once in Egypt, Moses and Aaron commanded the evil Pharaoh to let the Israelites go from slavery and bondage so they could worship the God of the Hebrews with a feast and festival. However, the evil Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses and Aaron and even asked, “Who is the LORD?” that he would obey Him. Moses and Aaron continued their message to the evil Pharaoh that the God of the Hebrews had commanded the Israelites’ release so they could worship Him, or they would not receive God’s divine wrath and punishment. Then, the evil Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron liars and said that the people of Israel were many but lazy and weak, and the people must not be removed from their labor of building supply cities, Pithom and Raamses, for Egypt. So, the evil Pharaoh commanded his taskmasters to make Israel’s labor even harder and rigorous by taking away the Israelites’ straw for making bricks, but he continued to maintain Israel’s brick quota for building for Egypt. The Israelites gathered stubble instead of straw to make bricks. At the same time, the evil Pharaoh and his taskmasters and overseers continued to beat and demand that the Hebrews continue their heavy labor building Pithom and Raamses for Egypt, while also accusing the Israelites of being weak and lazy, who did not want to work. 
 
Then, the Israelite overseers met Moses and Aaron with anger, doubt, and frustration because the evil Pharaoh had increased their physical labor and made the Israelites’ slavery even harder, brutal, and bitter with much sorrow. So, Moses cried out to the living Sovereign LORD God, saying that the evil Pharaoh not only did not listen to him to release the Israelites from slavery, but the evil Pharaoh became defiant and made the Israelites’ slave labor even harsher, crueler, and troublesome. Then, the living Sovereign LORD God encouraged Moses and renewed His promises to him that the evil Pharaoh would feel and see His strong power and mighty hand when He would redeem and rescue the Israelites from the cruel Egyptian slavery and bondage.
 
Then, the living Sovereign LORD God declared to Moses that He is the LORD (translated as “Yahweh” or “I AM”) that appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty (El-Shaddai, Adonai), but they did not know His eternal covenant Name as the LORD, who is the strong and miracle-working Most High God of heaven and earth. In addition, the living Sovereign LORD God proclaimed to Moses that He had established His eternal covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give the Israelites the land of Canaan (Israel-Palestine), which is God’s land forever. Even more, the living Sovereign LORD God, who is forever faithful and present with this people, declared once again to Moses that He had heard and seen Israel’s bitter groaning, sorrows, and bitterness, and that He had remembered His eternal covenant promises with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The living Sovereign LORD God declared that He had come down from heaven to redeem and free Israel from their oppressive slavery with His mighty arm and great judgments to claim (adopt) Israel as His people and give Israel the good land flowing with milk and honey He promised their fathers - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a heritage. Then, the living Sovereign LORD God declared that the evil Pharaoh would know that the God of the Hebrews is the Redeemer God and the only true King and LORD of heaven and earth. 
 
Once again, the people of Israel heard Moses’ message of their deliverance and freedom by the living Sovereign LORD God from evil slavery but their hearts and spirits were filled with anguish and misery caused by the brutality of their slavery. So, the living Sovereign LORD God spoke to Moses and Aaron to command the evil Pharaoh king of Egypt to let His people Israel go from the land of Egypt. Moses questioned the living Sovereign LORD God if the people would listen to him, and once again, he argued as he did at Mount Sinai (Horeb) that he had weak speech (uncircumcised lips). However, the living Sovereign LORD God assured Moses that He would make Moses appear as God to evil Pharaoh and his brother Aaron as a prophet to speak all that He had commanded Moses to tell evil Pharaoh to let His people Israel go from Egypt so they could worship Him. 
 
Moses and Aaron were among the families of Israel (Hebrews) as descendants of Jacob’s son, the tribe of Levi, and they took the steps of faith and obeyed the living Sovereign LORD God’s command to lead Israel, knowing that God’s powerful hand, great judgment, and mighty strength were with them. Moses was eighty (80) years old, and his brother Aaron was eighty-one (81) years old when they obeyed the living Sovereign LORD God’s command to lead Israel out of evil Egyptian slavery.