Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Feb 19 2019 - Exodus 9:1-35 – Livestock, boils and hail

The catalogue of plagues continues, and again God makes a clear distinction between the Egyptians and his own people. This time many of the farm animals in Egypt are struck dead, while none of the Israelites' animals is harmed. Pharaoh even sent messengers to the land of Goshen where the Israelites were living to see whether their cattle had been harmed. It could not have been more obvious to him that the God of the Israelites was able to protect and save his own; yet still he will not let them go. The smell of death hangs heavy in the air of Egypt as a warning of what is yet to come.

The next is a plague of boils – festering boils broke out on the inhabitants of Egypt and their remaining animals. Pharaoh summoned his sorcerers to see what they could do about it, but they could not come to him; they were suffering too much with their boils.

Before the next plague is visited on Pharaoh and the Egyptians, God sends him a word of warning:

"This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: let my people go, so that they may worship me, or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth" (9:13-16)

There are two important lessons in here. The first is that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is not eager to judge but is incredibly longsuffering. He is almost pleading with Pharaoh that he might release the Israelites from slavery before worse judgments are visited on him and his people. He is more concerned to break Pharaoh's stubborn will than to destroy him. Nevertheless, God is determined to save his people and will use all the power necessary to accomplish his purposes. And when the story of this great act of salvation spreads, the name and might of the Lord will be "proclaimed in all the earth". The story of this battle will be told down the ages and throughout the world, so that all might hear about the saving power of the living God.

And that is what has happened. Few do not know the story of the Exodus and the way in which God saved Israel from the oppressive power of Egypt. It has become the stuff of songs and hymns as well as the hope for many living under oppression. The Lord God is mighty to save.

But Pharaoh will not listen to the Lord's warning and so a terrible hailstorm is sent upon Egypt. But even here God shows mercy, he warns the Egyptians of the impending storm and tells them to bring their livestock as well as themselves into a place of safety before the storm hits them. Those who listened to God's warning ensured that their cattle and slaves were safely under cover. The storm destroyed the flax and barley harvest and caused severe damage to trees. It even brought Pharaoh to the point of recognising that he had sinned against the Lord. But his momentary conviction of sin was not reflected in a genuine and permanent change of heart; when the storm was over he again refused to let the Israelites go.

Mighty God, thank you that you are patient with us even when we are slow to respond to you. You do not treat us as our sins deserve. Give me, I pray, a true and continuous repentance; a heart that is quickly responsive to your word. Touch and transform the hearts of those who are still resisting your grace that your power and glory may be displayed in salvation rather than judgment.

Feb 19 2020 - Acts 2:1-47 – The beginning of a new movement

The coming of the Spirit in Acts 2 marks the dawning of a new age. Having completed all that the Father had sent him to do, the crucified and risen Saviour is now seated at the Father’s right hand. From the Father he has been given the Spirit to pour out upon the world.

The passage begins with the description of the Spirit poured out upon the little group of disciples. But the Spirit is certainly not for them alone. There were people in Jerusalem who had come from all over the Greco-Roman world to attend the feast of Pentecost. Most were probably Jews from the Diaspora but many were God-fearing Gentiles who would have had limited access to the Temple and would have been very aware that they were still, as it were, kept at arm’s length from the God of Israel. But Jesus’ death had broken down that barrier – the curtain in the Temple had been torn from top to bottom. God himself had burst through to touch the lives of these people. In a miraculous reversal of Babel, they all heard the word of God in their own mother tongue. Scattered nations are now being gathered together and reunited by word and Spirit.

And this is Peter’s explanation of what is happening. The prophets had spoken about this day when God would pour out his Spirit on people of every kind – male and female, young and old. This is what is now happening. The Spirit is not just for this little group of disciples but is for everyone who will call on the name of the Lord – Jesus the crucified one whom God raised from the dead. This new and last age of the Spirit will continue until every knee bows to Jesus (2:34-35).

Peter’s sermon identifies some of the hallmarks of this new age that Jesus has inaugurated: It is the age of the Spirit – there are no barriers to where, when and in whom God may work; It is the age of fulfilment – Jesus fulfils the promises of the Old Testament and they are now being realised in the world; It is an age of empowered witness to Jesus; It is an age in which people of all sorts are being drawn to Jesus – an age of kingdom expansion; Baptism plays a significant part in community formation as (with repentance) signifying union with Christ and entrance into the fellowship of his people – an end to the old and the beginning of the new; The reality of the new age is seen in transformed community.

This transformed community is exemplified in 2:44-47. “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.” They were eager to learn more of the Lord Jesus from those who had been with him and had known him. These primary witnesses have left us their testimony in the pages of the New Testament, and particularly in the Gospel accounts, that we might learn of Jesus and grow in faith and in conformity to him (see, for instance, John 20:30-31).

“They devoted themselves ... to the fellowship and the breaking of bread.” They loved to meet together because they were convinced that they shared together in the life of the kingdom – the life of the risen Christ. They treated one another as brothers and sisters. They shared meals together and, in the breaking of bread and drinking of wine, remembered that the life they enjoyed in Christ flowed to them from his broken body and shed blood.

“They devoted themselves ... to prayer.” They were convinced that Jesus was Lord and Christ. He had ascended to the right hand of God and could intercede for them. So they gladly poured out their praise and requests to the Father in Jesus' name. And this happy band saw remarkable answers to their prayer as many miracles were performed by the apostles, they enjoyed favour with all the people and the Lord continued to add to their number as more came to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Lord Jesus, we confess that our Christian lives are often spoilt by division and selfishness which rob us of joy and destroy our witness to your risen power. Fill us afresh with your Spirit that we may learn of you, live shared lives centred in you and daily pour out our praise and petitions to you. May our shared life of celebration bring many to join us in confessing that you are Lord and Saviour.

Peter Misselbrook