By Faith Moses, Hebrews 11:23-29

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Disobeyed, refused, forsook, are probably not words we’d use to describe Hall of Faith heroes.

But the Bible does.

By faith, Moses’ parents disobeyed the king’s command—kill your kid.

By faith Moses refused to be called what was politically correct—son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

By faith he forsook the nation he was in for the nation he was of.

Here, they are recognized for their faith, not by working miracles, or speaking, “Thus saith the Lord”, but by standing against tyranny, for obeying, The King, rather than a king.

Walking by faith is a journey to courageous.

By faith Moses kept the Passover.

By faith, they passed over the Red Sea.

Faith grows and flows.

It passed over from parent to child, from child to man, from man to entire nation, from the nation of Israel to the world, passing over 3,476 years and countless miles from around 1451 BC to you and me, here and now.   

Your faith passes over to others, like seeds from a tree.

By faith Moses...

Moses, the third most mentioned in Scripture.

Jesus (1,281 times)

David (971 times)

Moses (803 times)

Moses, lived to 120. A life split in thirds, by forties.

Forty years thinking he was somebody in the palace.

Forty years thinking he was nobody in the desert.

Forty years, God showing how He can make somebody out of nobody.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden...

Why was he hidden?

Because he was born with a target on his back, simply for being a Jew.

Why?

Because it wasn’t like the good old days when the pilgrims of Israel immigrated to Egypt. Back then, Jacob’s son, Joseph, was the big man on campus, second only to Pharaoh.

Why was Joe so well known?

Because God used Joe to show Egypt how to not only survive but thrive through the hardest seven years of famine their world had ever known.

Back then the God of Israel was revered. He directed Joseph, and Joseph, indirectly, directed Pharaoh.

But then, about 400 years passed from when the pilgrims of Israel landed on the Plymouth Rock of Egypt, and a new Pharaoh arose that did not know Joe, or the God of his fathers (Ex. 1:8).

Think of the parallel. Four hundred years. Same length of time since our pilgrims landed on our Plymouth Rock, December 21, 1620.

Back then our leaders revered the God of Israel too.

Now, there’s new Pharaohs in their ivory towers who do not revere, or know, the God of our Founding Fathers.

Okay, back to our Bible story. Within 400 years from Joe to Mo the people of God grow so strong that the new Pharaoh’s frightened.

If they unite with our enemies against us, they’ll defeat us (Ex. 1:9).

Speaking of frightening, did you know the Pharaoh of the Exodus is still around and displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo.

The mummy is identified by many scholars as the very Pharaoh Moses spoke to, Ramesses II.

So, frightened Pharaoh set taskmasters over them and forced them into slave labor.

But the more Egypt afflicted the children of God the more they multiplied, the stronger they grew.

So, Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill all the male Hebrew babies.

Imagine that. Big brave warrior Pharaoh (alleged to be some kind of god), sent women to slaughter babies.

HIStory proves all leaders who slaughter babies to be demonically driven.

It’s not difficult to discern the good guys from the bad.

If the side you stand with promotes abortion—you’re on the wrong side. Period.

So, frightened Pharaoh ordered all baby boys butchered.

That’s why Moses was born with a target on his back.

HIStory also reveals how the enemy acts when God is about to perform a mighty deliverance.

Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of all male Israel babies.

And Moses was born and rose and performed a mighty deliverance of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt.

Herod ordered the slaughter of all male children two years old and under.

And Jesus was born and rose and performed a mighty deliverance of His people from the bondage of sin.

Today, the demons of pharaohs and herods order the biggest slaughter of babies the world has even known. 

And you were born, dear Saint, to rise and declare the day of the last trump when the Lord will perform the Greatest Deliverance of His people the world has ever known.

For yet a little while and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Hebrews 10:37.

Moses’ parents were ordered to kill their son, but they disobeyed, unafraid.

If you keep your eyes on The King, then a king’s commands are not so scary (or news report or doctor’s report or bills or meeting family for the holidays, or the “c” word, cancer, or the “d” word divorce, or more so, death...)

If we simply focus on obeying the commands of The King of kings, we won’t be deceived by a king, into killing our baby, mutilating our children, thinking Johnny is really Suzy, and Tommy is actually a cat.

So, Mo’s folks disobeyed a king to obey The King.

But they couldn’t hide little Moses forever. So, after three months they put him in a basket and floated him in the river where Pharaoh’s daughter was taking a bath. (Exodus 2:2-3).

Perhaps a wise form of: “If you can’ t beat ‘em, join ‘em”.

The little Pharaoh princess found little Mo in the basket as he wept. Perhaps like a child finding a lost puppy, Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Daddy can I keep him?”

Moses’ sister snuck out from the bulrushes, “Do you want me to find someone to nurse the baby?” Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Go”.

So, she brought Mo’s mom and Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Nurse the child for me, and I’ll pay you.”

So, mom got paid to nurse her own son.

God’s plans are mind-blowingly awesome.

But, many times, mind-blowingly hard and painful. Once the child grew and was weaned, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.   

Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:8-10. (Moses means: to draw out).

Little did she know that one day through Moses, God would say, “Let My people go!” and would draw His people out of Egypt.

One day soon God will say, in a way, to this world "Let My people go" and the dead in Christ will rise, then we who are alive and remain shall rise to meet them in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Hallelujah! 1 Thes. 4:15-17.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

Who told Mo his mom wasn’t the pharaoh princess?

His Parents? Pharaoh’s daughter? The Grapevine?

Either way, Moses didn’t have an identity crisis. He knew who he was and refused to identify with who or what the world called him.

Did you know the value of a penny by the copper it’s made of  is worth 4-5 times more than a penny?

Who God’s made you, what He’s put in you, is more, much more than the world gives you credit for.

God calls you a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, the light of the world, salt of the earth, kings and priests, beloved. 1 Peter 2:9, Matt. 5:13-16, 1 John 3:2.

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

Mo chose the people of God as His family.

We’re blessed if our earthly family is also our heavenly family.  

Jesus asked, Who are My brothers and sisters and mother? Then, pointing at His disciples said, “Those that do the will of My Father.” Mark 3:33-35.

We too must choose.

Ø Spirit or flesh

Ø Word or world

Ø God or sin

Ø Eternal Reward or passing pleasure

Moses, as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, had the power and position to do anything he wanted.

Lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Egyptians were so far advanced.

They had already, fairly accurately, calculated the distance to sun.

Already figured the earth was round.

The architecture was astounding.

Their embalming mumification process still baffles us to this day.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. Acts 7:22.

He had access to the very best the world had to offer.

Yet, Moses saw something greater, in a band of slaves.

He chose to endure the brief affliction of this life for greater riches and eternal Reward

Today Moses is happy, overjoyed, with no regrets.

One glimpse of glory makes all the world’s treasures boring.

Mo knew, as we should too, that it’s better to be a janitor in the House of God than a prince in a palace without Him. (Like David said in Psalm 84:10).

²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

He looked beyond reproach to the Reward

Like Christ who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Moses forsook Egypt, his worldly family, his earthly treasure and training and position, to follow the One who is invisible.

Saying “I do” is also saying, “I don’t “ to all others. Forsaking all others.

This is Covenant.  

Seek first (foremost, above all) the Kingdom of God... Matt. 6:33.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30. (Also: Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Matthew 22:37-40, Luke 10:27).

To forsake all the world’s treasures, to not fear all the world’s powers, Moses looked beyond the visible king to the Invisible One.

To Greater Riches, Eternal Reward, to that which is unseen.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

Where are your eyes?

Lift your eyes, as Moses, seeing Him who is invisible.

By faith he forsook.

By faith He endured.

²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith He obeyed and kept the Passover.

By faith, and fear of consequences. "lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them"

If we don’t obey, it’s death to pay.

Consequences are good.

Godly fear is good.

Noah being warned of God, moved with Godly fear and built the boat to the saving of his household. Heb. 11:7. And thereby to the saving of the world.

To disobey God is death.

Romans 6:23, The wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death is not His will. It’s not what He wants.

The thief comes to steal, kill, destroy, I've come to give Life and Life in abundance. John 10:10.

It’s not His will any perish. 2 Peter 3:9.

He takes no pleasure in death of wicked. Ezekiel 33:11.

But it’s according to His Divine Justice System established in the garden after man sinned.

God established the death penalty.

So He could pay it.

In full.

Himself.

With His own blood.

Tetelestai!  

Moses obeyed even if it made no sense to his natural mind at the time.

Obedience brings understanding.

Now, for us, this side of the cross, we understand.

Now, we see Jesus the Lamb of God slain to wash away the sins of those who repent, receive and obey Him.

The blood only saved those who obeyed.

God brought life from death. His specialty.

The obedient, covered by the blood lived. Death passed over.

For those who weren’t, (obedient) it didn’t (pass over).

God made a separation between His family and the world, between the obedient and disobedient.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

After the Passover, they passed through the Red Sea.

Here, God paints the picture clearer.

Before, anybody under the roof with the blood of the lamb on the doorpost was safe from the death angel.

But now, just going through the motions doesn’t offer the same protection.

Israel passed through the Red Sea safe and sound on dry ground.

Likewise, the Egyptians passed through and were drowned.

Going through the motions isn’t enough.

It’s not about motions, it’s about motives.

One was obedient to God.

The other, going through the same motions, but obedient to Pharaoh.

One seeking freedom.

The other seeking slavery

God sees the thoughts and intents of hearts and discerns between good and evil.

One was saved.

The other drowned.

Today, the Lord calls us to come out from among them, to be different from Pharaoh’s army. Separate from Egypt. In the world not of it.

You are the salt of the earth the light of the world, let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:13-16.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, please help our faith in You to grow and flow refreshing and nourishing others. You see the thoughts and intents of our heart, so, will you please prune and root out any thorns or stones or selfish ways, that stunt our growth. Alert us when we’re going through the motions, but our motives are messed up. Help us Lord, to simply, purely, walk with You.

Thank You for the honor of loving You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: By Faith Moses, Hebrews 11:23-29

You Tube: By Faith Moses, Hebrews 11:23-29

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

The Lord’s Resolve, Ezekiel 7

Our outline for this chapter:

1)    Introduction 1-2a

2)    You 2b-4a

3)    Imminent 5-9a

4)    Day of Reckoning 10-12a

5)    No Escape 12b-19

6)    Beauty to Ashes 20-22

7)    Enslaved 23-27a

8)    The Lord's Resolve 4b, 9b, 27b

¹ Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 

Literally: “Word Yahweh came near saying”.

Once again, we hear the often repeated, pleasant reminder, of who our God is.

The God who draws near, “Immanuel: God with us.

And the God who speaks. In the beginning God spoke the worlds into existence. And in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (Gen. 1, John 1).

The Lord came near to Ezekiel saying...     

^2a “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel:

God draws near and speaks to Zeke specific and personal.

 Yet He calls him by the generic phrase, son of man (over 90 times), Ben Adam, meaning, son of mankind, thus looping us into the conversation.

As if saying, “Listen up, I’m speaking to you, too.”

^2b... ‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.
³ Now the end has come upon you,
And I will send My anger against you;
I will judge you according to your ways,
And I will repay you for all your abominations.
⁴ My eye will not spare you,
Nor will I have pity;
But I will repay your ways,
And your abominations will be in your midst;...

You

Straight out of the gate the Lord lets them know, this is on you.

You made your bed. You did it to yourself.

You brought this end which has come upon you.

My judgement against you, is repayment for your abominations.

You have sown to the flesh, now you reap corruption.

You have sown to the wind, now you reap the whirlwind.  

Be  not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Galatians 6:7-9.

Twenty-five times, the Lord, through the prophet, points His finger at Israel in judgement, saying, “You!”

When God repeats a word or phrase it’s not because He can’t think of another, it’s because He’s making a point, highlighting a theme.

When He says something once, it’s important, pay attention.

Twice, scoot to the edge of your seat and really listen.

Thrice, stand up, draw close, take notes, it’s vitally important.

Twenty-five times. My oh my. Taking personal responsibility must be mega, vitally, important.

And that’s not all He repeats.

“End” five times through verse six.

“Has come” ten times through verse twelve. (as in end has come, doom..., time..., it...).

“According to” a half-dozen times, throughout the chapter, always refers to judgement according to their ways, in repayment for their abominations.

“Your abominations” four times through verse eight.

Even a blind man can see His Message crystal clear; the end has come according to your abominations.

Then you shall know that I am the Lord!’

The Lord’s Resolve.

Over 60 times Ezekiel repeats that phrase or something like it, revealing God’s resolve; that all will know that He is the Lord.

Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall take an oath.

Romans 14:11
For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Philippians 2:10-11
At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our Father wants His children to know Him.

It’s as simple as that.

If we refuse Him, reject Him, run from His Presence, His peace, protection and provision, He will let us.

When our bad choices bring disaster after disaster, He won’t stop them.

When we come to the end and only doom awaits us, He won’t change the consequences we created. 

He loves us.

Love allows choice.

Love is not control, but freedom.

Love is not silent.

Love draws near and speaks.

God is Love.

He warns us, again and again, even if it hurts. 

⁵ “Thus says the Lord God:

‘A disaster, a singular disaster;
Behold, it has come!
⁶ An end has come,
The end has come;
It has dawned for you;
Behold, it has come!
⁷ Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land;
The time has come,
A day of trouble is near,
And not of rejoicing in the mountains.
⁸ Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury,
And spend My anger upon you;
I will judge you according to your ways,
And I will repay you for all your abominations.

⁹ ‘My eye will not spare,
Nor will I have pity;
I will repay you according to your ways,
And your abominations will be in your midst.

Imminent

Notice the urgent imminency of His Words. An end has come, has come, has dawned, has come, doom has come, time has come, trouble is near. Now, upon you I will soon pour out My fury.

God’s Words must not be taken lightly or passed off for another day.

Today is the day of Salvation. Today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart. 2 Cor. 6:2, Hebrews 4:7.

His warnings are imminent.

Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.

The Lord’s Resolve, again, this time with action. The Lord who strikes.

Strikes, means what it says, strikes, smites.

“Son, this is going to hurt me, a lot more than it’s going to hurt you” is the way my dad put it as we walked, behind the woodshed.

Proverbs put it like this:

Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹⁰ ‘Behold, the day!
Behold, it has come!
Doom has gone out;
The rod has blossomed,
Pride has budded.
¹¹ Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness;
None of them shall remain,
None of their multitude,
None of them;
Nor shall there be wailing for them.
¹² The time has come,
The day draws near.

Day of Reckoning

No need to be overly distraught over the rising tide of evil.

Behold the Day of Reckoning is coming.

The Judge is coming.

Justice will be served.

God is not dead nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.

Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’

Romans 12:17-19
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Hebrews 10:30-31, 37
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ...³⁷ “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

^12b ‘Let not the buyer rejoice,
Nor the seller mourn,
For wrath is on their whole multitude.
¹³ For the seller shall not return to what has been sold,
Though he may still be alive;
For the vision concerns the whole multitude,
And it shall not turn back;
No one will strengthen himself
Who lives in iniquity.

¹⁴ ‘They have blown the trumpet and made everyone ready,
But no one goes to battle;
For My wrath is on all their multitude.
¹⁵ The sword is outside,
And the pestilence and famine within.
Whoever is in the field
Will die by the sword;
And whoever is in the city,
Famine and pestilence will devour him.

¹⁶ ‘Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains
Like doves of the valleys,
All of them mourning,
Each for his iniquity.
¹⁷ Every hand will be feeble,
And every knee will be as weak as water.
¹⁸ They will also be girded with sackcloth;
Horror will cover them;
Shame will be on every face,
Baldness on all their heads.

¹⁹ ‘They will throw their silver into the streets,
And their gold will be like refuse;
Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them
In the day of the wrath of the Lord;
They will not satisfy their souls,
Nor fill their stomachs,
Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.

No Escape

There is a point of no return. Where we suffer the consequences of our sin, and God will not soften the blow.

Outside they died by the sword. Inside by starvation. If they managed to head for the hills, they wasted away in fear and trembling.

Their wealth was worthless. Their objects of worship were repulsive.

There is no escaping God’s judgement.

²⁰ ‘As for the beauty of his ornaments,
He set it in majesty;
But they made from it
The images of their abominations—
Their detestable things;
Therefore I have made it
Like refuse to them.
²¹ I will give it as plunder
Into the hands of strangers,
And to the wicked of the earth as spoil;
And they shall defile it.
²² I will turn My face from them,
And they will defile My secret place;
For robbers shall enter it and defile it.

Beauty to ashes

They turned God’s blessings into idols.

They worshipped the gift over the Giver.

God turned His face from them, lifted His hand of protection, provision and peace.

Enemies invaded.

The secret place, the Holy of Holies was defiled, the Ark of the Covenant vanished, along with God’s Presence.

Beauty turned to ashes.

²³ ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
²⁴ Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled.
²⁵ Destruction comes;
They will seek peace, but there shall be none.
²⁶ Disaster will come upon disaster,
And rumor will be upon rumor.
Then they will seek a vision from a prophet;
But the law will perish from the priest,
And counsel from the elders.

²⁷ ‘The king will mourn,
The prince will be clothed with desolation,
And the hands of the common people will tremble.
I will do to them according to their way,
And according to what they deserve I will judge them;

Enslaved

Make a chain, foreshadowing the shackles of bondage your sins have brought upon you.

Judicial corruption has covered the land with crimes of blood and violence.

Therefore, the worst of the Gentiles, (criminal aliens), will possess your houses and positions of power. The land of the free the home of the brave, will cease.

You will seek peace but only find destruction and division.

You will seek vision and counsel but only find chaos and deception.

You will be enslaved in the web of sin you have sown.

Then they shall know that I am the Lord!’ ”

The Lord’s Resolve

The chapter ends revealing, once again, the Lord’s Resolve.

Three times we saw the Lord’s Resolve (end of verses: 4,9,27).

That all will know that He is Lord.

Actually, all know Him.

The question is: How?

As Father, or Judge?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, oh how we want to know You, and be known by You. Lord, please search our heart and if there be any wicked way, that would cause You to say, “I never knew You”  please reveal it so we can repent of it, and run far from it. Help us live to hear You say, “Well done, enter in My beloved child.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: The Lord’s Resolve, Ezekiel 7

You Tube: The Lord’s Resolve, Ezekiel 7

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

America's First Thanksgiving Almost Didn’t Happen

 

Thanksgiving 1621

A perfect picture of the American Dream

A beautiful picture. Men, women and children, Indians and Pilgrims, different colors and races, holding hands as one, bowing heads, giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty Creator of them all and Provider of the bounty before them.

United they feast.

But look closer and you’ll see scars, calloused hands and prayer worn knees.

The first feast of the American Dream was almost aborted before it got started.

The feast and freedom they celebrated then, and we celebrate today, began about twenty years prior.

In early 1600s King James declared Christianity the official religion of the kingdom.

It may have sounded good on paper, tyranny always does. It masquerades as an angel of light (free this, free that, diversity, equity, inclusion), while it steals, kills and destroys, like a thief in the night.

Those with eyes closed, followed blindly, doing what told to do, saying what told to say, worshipping who and how they were told to worship, existing, but not living.

Those with eyes open, spoke out. They were hunted down, locked up, banned, canceled, imprisoned, excommunicated… eliminated.

Nevertheless, the courageous few wouldn’t back down—they couldn’t.

The inward, still, small, voice was too powerful, too real, too convincing, that they were endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that could not be dictated away.

They were labeled heretics, haters, dissenters, separatists.

These Separatists decided to separate.

Like Israel fleeing Egyptian slavery, they fled.

They knew, their Promise Land was out there, somewhere. They didn’t care if it was a land flowing with milk and honey, as long as it was, a sweet land of liberty.

They landed in Holland. For about eleven years, they worshipped freely and adapted to their new land, perhaps eating cheese and wearing clogs.

But the tentacles of tyranny tightened, and once again tried to strangle their religious liberty.

The inward, still, small, voice, echoed louder. This time from out there, somewhere, some distant shore where freedom rings.

In the fall of 1620, Providence provided passage on a little ship called the Mayflower.

Thirty crew, one hundred and two passengers. Forty were Pilgrims in search of a land they’d never seen but knew and loved in their heart. Like faith heroes of old who searched for a city whose Builder and Maker is God.

Perhaps they pictured the beautiful land with spacious skies, amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain. But most of all, they were drawn to a land where, God shed his grace on thee.

The voyage was perilous, yet they made it, through the wilderness of water, only to land on a wilderness of rocks and trees.

They were greeted by New England’s bitter November wind. That’s all. No friends, or Inns, no cafés, no taverns, no houses, no churches, no shelter.

The only thing for sure and certain was that it was getting colder.   

William Bradford, a leader of the bunch, kept a detailed journal. It started, full of joy and hope. By winter’s end, it was stained with tears. Half of them died from starvation, sickness or exposure to the elements. One tearstained page tells of the passing of his wife.

But these Pilgrims were not alone. Indians appeared. Although their looks, language, and lifestyle, were different, somehow, they discovered they had the same Creator, which made them brothers.

The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, fish and trap and tan deer and beaver skins. They taught them to survive.

Some folks end the story there. They say, the first Thanksgiving was to say thanks to the Indians. And they all lived happily ever after, amen, the end.

But that’s not how the story goes.  

The Indians, indeed, taught the Pilgrims to survive. They did not, however, teach them to thrive. That’s something that can’t be taught. It must be caught.

That first Thanksgiving they gave thanks to God, for not only helping them to survive, but also, to thrive.

But it almost didn’t happen.

Now, that still, small, voice, grew to a thunderous roar, like waves crashing, from sea to shining sea.

You see, every good story has a bad villain. Even true stories. Especially, this true story.

It took money to charter the Mayflower. Some of the passengers were wealthy entrepreneurs. The Pilgrims weren’t. Their trip was funded by, what appeared to be, a generous gesture from businessmen in London and Holland.

It may have sounded good on paper, tyranny always does. It masquerades as an angel of light; but steals, kills and destroys, like a thief in the night.    

The funders of the Pilgrim’s journey demanded they sign a contract. Thus, the trip to freedom in the new world, was shackled to taskmasters, in the old.

The contract dictated that all profit, all property, all gain, obtained, in the new world, was not their own, but only a share in the collective whole. Everything produced would go into a common store, a single bank.

No one owned anything. All working for the common good. It sounded good on paper. Like the Tower of Babel. And we know how that turned out. Confusion. Collapse.

Even though they had everything they needed to thrive. The Indians educated. God provided. Yet, this well-intentioned socialism utterly failed and caused a shadow to fall over their souls.

Mr. Bradford wrote in his journal that this experience revealed the foolishness of the idea that bringing community “into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men, that were most able and fit for labour and service, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalized in labours and victuals, clothes, etc., with the meaner and younger sort, thought it some indignity and disrespect unto them.”

They had been so focused. Their dream for freedom so clear. They weathered stormy seas and a brutal winter. Yet, when barely into the Promise Land, they became despondent, confused, indifferent.

Bradford sought God and sought counsel. They acknowledged that the corruption in the heart of man could not resist resentment when their labors were spent for naught. He wrote, “seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in His wisdom saw another course fitter for them.”

That Godly wisdom fitter for them was to assign to every family a parcel of land.

Unlike the commune at the Tower of Babel.

Just like when each of the sons of Israel were given a piece of the Promise Land.

This was the birth of the American Dream, one hundred and fifty-five years before America’s birthday as a nation.

Nothing on the outside changed.

It was the same soil. Same weather. Same beaver skins. Same fish in the river. Same deer in the woods…but on the inside everything changed.

Suddenly they were living in the land of opportunity—and the opportunities were endless.

Bradford writes, “This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.”

Suddenly folks were willing to work rather than calling in sick. The shadow over their souls vanished. The tentacles of tyranny, severed.

Prosperity exploded. Crops were planted. Houses and churches and schools and trading posts were established. Debts to the old world were paid and the taskmaster’s shackles were shattered.

Before the next snow fall. Tears fell. Lots of tears. Tears of joy. The Harvest was great, but not nearly as great as their gratitude.

Look at them, standing there, tired, but smiling. See the scars, calloused hands, prayer worn knees, badges of victory.

Thanksgiving 1621.

A perfect picture of the American Dream.

Men, women and children, Indians and Pilgrims, different colors and races, holding hands as one, bowing heads, giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty Creator of them all and Provider of the bounty before them.

United they feast.

Thank You, Father.

Happy Thanksgiving, America. 

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: The First Thanksgiving Almost Didn’t Happen

You Tube: The First Thanksgiving Almost Didn’t Happen

(Like an awesome Thanksgiving dessert the livestream includes the awesome testimony of:  “Genny’s Pennies”).  

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.