Regularly scheduled evening service for Wednesday, July 17 is canceled in support of funeral services for Mrs. Joyce Futrell, grandmother of Tonia Watkins. Our prayerful condolences are with the Futrell family.
Arrangements include visitation Wednesday, July 17 from 7 - 9 PM and funeral service Thursday, July 18 at 11 AM at Johnson Funeral Home in Jacksonville, NC.
“As the crow flies,” there was a straighter, quicker route from Egypt to Canaan, the land of Promise. But in Exodus 13, we read that God intentionally led the people along a much longer, circuitous route.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.” So he led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation (Exodus 13:18-19).
In leading them away from the Philistines, God leads Israel into a militarily unsustainable position. He backs them into a corner in the wilderness, because He knows that at the first sign of trouble, they will return to Egyptian bondage, if they are able. To keep His flock from being scattered, God hems them in.
God also knows that Pharaoh still has his eyes on Israel. God knows the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart and He knows that Pharaoh will pursue. Just as He did throughout the duration of ten plagues, God promised to reveal Himself through His works to the Egyptians who “will know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 14:4).
As wild as it sounds, Israel’s entrapment was for their good and for God’s glory. Israel’s vulnerability and weakness was to become a means of grace by which Israel and Egypt alike could know the LORD as God.
I wonder if we’re willing to follow God into weakness, into wilderness places that make absolutely no sense, trusting that He has a redeeming work in mind? In a day when so many are grasping for worldly power and position, are we willing to live our lives yielded to the One who numbers our days and orders our steps (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23)? If the calling is placed upon us, do we have enough faith to simply stand still and see the LORD’s salvation?
Sunday School for all ages begins weekly at 9:45 AM. All are warmly welcome.
“Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).
Join us at 6:00 PM as we celebrate Holy Communion.
Sing a new song to the LORD,
for he has performed wonders;
his right hand and holy arm
have won him victory.
2 The LORD has made his victory known;
he has revealed his righteousness
in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth
have seen our God’s victory.
4 Let the whole earth shout to the LORD;
be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.
5 Sing to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious song.
6 With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn
shout triumphantly
in the presence of the LORD, our King.
7 Let the sea and all that fills it,
the world and those who live in it, resound.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the mountains shout together for joy
9 before the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world righteously
and the peoples fairly.
Psalms 98:1-9 (CSB)
The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coasts and islands be glad.
2 Clouds and total darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the Lord —
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
all the peoples see his glory.
7 All who serve carved images,
those who boast in worthless idols, will be put to shame.
All the gods must worship him.
8 Zion hears and is glad,
Judah’s villages rejoice
because of your judgments, Lord.
9 For you, Lord,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful ones;
he rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
Psalms 97:1-12 (CSB)
Sing a new song to the LORD;
let the whole earth sing to the LORD.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
proclaim his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wondrous works among all peoples.
4 For the LORD is great and is highly praised;
he is feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;
bring an offering and enter his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
let the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.
The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.
He judges the peoples fairly.”
11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and all that fills it resound.
12 Let the fields and everything in them celebrate.
Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy
13 before the LORD, for he is coming —
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with his faithfulness.
Psalms 96:1-13 (CSB)
Come, let’s shout joyfully to the LORD,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving;
let’s shout triumphantly to him in song.
3 For the LORD is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
4 The depths of the earth are in his hand,
and the mountain peaks are his.
5 The sea is his; he made it.
His hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let’s worship and bow down;
let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
the sheep under his care.
Today, if you hear his voice:
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
9 where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years I was disgusted with that generation;
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray;
they do not know my ways.”
11 So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest.”
Psalms 95:1-11 (CSB)
