Hey everyone, you're listening to God's Will story podcast. We know just how hard it is to read God's word and understand it. So we decided to read the Bible chronologically this year and talk about it together. Thanks so much for joining us. Hey guys Scott's whole story this is Chelsea Chris and Amber again today.
Chris Lautsbaugh:Amber Fischer by the way.
Amber Fischer:not another Amber. Only the one.
Chris Lautsbaugh:we've had to do that last couple days. I'm not sure we get our amber straight.
Unknown:Yep, we have two cameras on staff. We have two Heather's on staff. We have lots of multiple loans.
Amber Fischer:There's a bunch of Ryan's
Chelsea Mosher:but there's not two of them. Chelsea?
Chris Lautsbaugh:The Jereboams of Worship Center staff. Ambers are the Jereboams. that's confusing. J Boone wanted your boom Do you don't want to be either Joe? savior Joe? I just feel like neither would be fine. I can be fine with it. Yeah, that sounds good. Wow, that was unplanned. biblical Hebrew.
Chelsea Mosher:What stood out to you guys today in the reading.
Amber Fischer:something stuck out to me was in the last couple days, we've been talking about how we're constantly going back to Egypt, the Israelites constantly going back to Egypt, like thinking about going back to Egypt and thinking well, oh, it must have been so much better there. We need to rely on them. And they make this treaty. And the idea is that everything is going to be great, because Egypt is thriving, and they want to thrive as well. And the protection of Egypt would be wonderful, but it's constantly showing up here in this passage, that going back to Egypt will never work out that it's just not going to do well. Yeah, so that's really interesting to see that Egypt will eventually fall and what that looks like.
Chris Lautsbaugh:Yeah, and we constantly see that. I mean, here's has a Kaia who's rolling at this time. He is good king. But what does he do when the most powerful nation in the world starts to come up on his territory? He's like, Guys, Egypt, yes, we got here probably does what most of us would naturally want to do. We have not turned to God go to what is comfortable, but actually a couple of verses, the way that it said that I thought was so good. In chapter, Isaiah 30, verse 15, says, This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, Only in returning to me and resting in me, will you be saved in quietness and confidence? Confidence is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, No, we will go get our hope from Egypt. They will give us Horses And All and all this kind of thing. And it's just we're like, have we seen this before? I mean, maybe just once or twice, right? Once or twice. So anyway, one of the things we were wondering is like, Okay, so we're not running to like another nation for an alliance in our personal life. But like, what's our Egypt? What is that thing that we run to when we should be running to God, that we run to you in times of trial or discomfort, like, you know, what are what's Egypt? What are those things that we trust in outside of trusting in God?
Chelsea Mosher:Yeah, if it's something that's like, in times of, I'll say, like, discomfort, or like, I look for, like, I look for things that will numb me. And so for me, that is like scrolling, I scroll. And when I like, when I catch myself, the first thing in the morning, what I do is scroll or the last thing I do at night is scroll. I'm like, wait a second prize would be my first response to things. It's like, I want to like, I just want to turn off whatever my mind is thinking about. And that's probably my primary Egypt that I go to.
Amber Fischer:Yeah, and I think too, it's easy to. But yeah, that's such a big thing for our generation, it's just constantly being on there. But the control of like, being able to control your money and things like that, I feel like that's really something that's easy to go back to, oh, if I just have a little bit more, if I just work like a little bit harder, then I'll have my life under control, and everything will fall into place. And I feel like that's such an easy thing to do. When in reality you just got just got
Chris Lautsbaugh:it's the simplest the messages when we know it. We know man when I gotta lean in, I got to trust God, but it's, it's almost like not quite human nature. Like we have to constantly do that remembering right to return.
Chelsea Mosher:And I sometimes wonder like, like, if I had to explain this is somebody who wasn't a Christian, I actually don't know how to explain like, how, like, how would you say like, what it was like to trust God instead of writing to those things. Because like, being responsible with your money is good, right? But like, and social media isn't a bad thing.But I don't know.
Amber Fischer:Well, I mean, that's what I work in on a daily basis. Like I'm constantly making content that people are probably scrolling the same The same thing. So I think it can be used well, and I think, you know, there's advertising things. But you're right. And when that's the reliance Well, that's the thing that like you said, turning now I'm not going, not turning to God, when we know that that is the thing that's going to be the solid.
Chris Lautsbaugh:I think sometimes too, like even if you think about, like in times of change, when it makes us all nervous, or, like, maybe we do see the news headlines, and we're like getting a little nervous about what's going on in the world. We also we want to go back to something familiar, we want to go back to something we knew. And I think that's kind of like what Egypt can represent to is, like that fear of the unknown, even if it wasn't necessarily a good thing, or a perfect thing. Like, we just want to go back and read how many times do we hear like, man, if we could just the world was just the way it used to be? And it's like, well, the world wasn't that great back then. But we kind of forget that. Yeah, you like romanticize it? Yeah. Yeah. And we kind of we go back to those, those kind of things, which is sometimes our Egypt.
Chelsea Mosher:Yeah. And I mean, I guess sometimes too, it could be just habits are sin. Like, if I'm feeling nervous about something like I, I'm, there are definitely some sinful habits that I would go back to naturally, to try and like control the situation. Where in reality, it's like, I, if I, there's anything I'm learning, it's like, I am not in control. I have zero control over anything. As I'm reading the Bible, that God's sovereignty is on full display, and what my responsibility is his holiness and becoming more like Him.
Chris Lautsbaugh:And I think that's a good reminder to us as we're going through this, like how do we see ourselves in Israel? How do we see ourselves in these passages that this isn't just written, it is written hundreds of years ago, but it applies to us they because they were people just like we are people. And as we're, they're tempted to go back to what was comfortable, so are we. So in the midst of judgment in the midst of all these prophecies of Israel's going to be judged, and a series is going to be judged? You know, there's application for us even today.
Chelsea Mosher:Isaiah 30, beginning in verse one, what sorrow awaits my rebellious children, says the Lord, you make plans that are contrary to mine, you make alliances not directed by my spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me you have gone down to Egypt for help you have put your trust in Pharaohs protection. You have tried to hide in his shade, but by trusting Pharaoh you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced. For those power extensive Zohan and his officials have arrived in Haines, all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you instead, he will disgrace you. His message came to me concerning the animals and then again, the caravan moves slowly across a terrible desert to Egypt. donkeys weighed down with riches and cameras loaded with treasure AutoPay for Egypt's protection, they traveled through the wilderness in a place of likenesses and lions, a place where Vipers and poisonous snakes live. All this in Egypt will give you nothing in return. Egypt's promises are worthless, therefore I call her rehab, the harmless dragon. Now go and write down these words, write them in a book that will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord's instructions. They tell the seers, stop seeing visions, they tell the prophets don't tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your Holy One of Israel. This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel, because you despise what I tell you and trust instead, and oppression and lies calamity will come upon us Suddenly, like a bulging wall that burst and falls and instantly will collapse and come crashing down. You'll be smashed, like a piece of pottery shattered so completely, that there won't be a piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace, or a little water from the well. This is what the Sovereign Lord the Holy One of Israel says, Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved in quietness and confidence is your strength but you would have none of it? You said no, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle. But the only swiftness you're going to see is a swiftness of your enemies chasing you. One of them will chase 1000 of you five of them will make all of you flee. You'll be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop. So Lord must wait for you to come to him so you can show you his love and compassion for the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. Oh people of Xi'an who live in Jerusalem you will weep no more you will be gracious if you ask for help, He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. For the Lord gave you adverse adversity for food and suffering for drink. He'll be with you still to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him right behind you. A voice will say this is the way you should go whether to the right or to the left. Then you would destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold Images, you will throw them out like filthy rags saying to them good riddens Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time, there will be a wonderful harvest and plenty of pasture land for your livestock, the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain. It's chaff blown away by the wind. In that day when your enemies are slaughtered than the towers fall, there'll be streams of water flowing down every mountain Hill the moon will be as bright as the sun and the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days in one so it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them. Look, the Lord is coming from faraway, burning with anger surrounded by thick rising smoke. His lips are filled with theory his words consumed like fire, his hot breath pours out like a flood up to the neck of his enemies. He will sift out the proud nations for destruction he'll bridle them and lead them away to ruin. But the people of God will sing a song of joy like the songs of the holy festivals. You'll be filled with joy as one of flutist leads a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem in the mountain of the Lord to the rock of Israel, and the Lord will make his majestic voice heard he will display the strength of his mighty arm. It will descend with devouring flames with cloudburst thunderstorms and huge hailstones. At the Lord's command the Assyrians will be shattered he'll strike them down with his royal scepter. And as the Lord strikes them with his rod of punishment, his people will celebrate with him Marines and harps lifting his mighty arm he will fight the Assyrians Tov, with the place of burning has long been ready for the Assyrian king. This pyre is piled high with wood, the breath of the Lord like fire from a volcano we'll set it ablaze. What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help trusting their horses, chariots and chariot tears and depending on the strength of human armies, instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in his wisdom, the Lord will send great disaster, he will not change his mind he'll rise against the wicked and against their helpers. For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God, their horses, our puny flesh, not mighty spirits, and the Lord raises his fist against them. Those who help will stumble. And those who are being helped will fall they will all fall down and die together. But this is what the Lord has told me when a strong young lion stands growling over a sheep it is killed. It is not frightened by the shouts and noise of a whole crowd of shepherds. In the same way the Lord of Heavens armies will come down and fight on that die on the Lord of Heavens. armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. You will defend and save the city you will pass over it and rescue it. Though you are such a wicked rebels, my people come and return to the Lord. I know the glorious day will come when each of you will throw away the gold idols and silver images your sinful hands have made. The Assyrians will be destroyed but not by the swords of men. The sword of God will strike them and they will panic and flee. The strongest Syrians will be taken cap is taken away as captives. Even the strongest will quick with terror and princes will flee when they see your battle flag says the LORD, whose fire burns in Xi'an, whose flame blazes from Jerusalem.
Chris Lautsbaugh:Look, a righteous King is coming and honest Princess will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm like streams of water in the desert in the shadow of great rocks in a parched land. Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth and everyone whose ears will be able to hear it. Even hotheads will be fourth sense and understanding. There's a stammer will speak out plainly and that day ungodly fools will not be heroes scoundrels will not be respected for full speak foolishness and make evil plans. They practice on godliness and they spread false teachings about the Lord. They deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty. The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil, they plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just, but the generous people plan to do what is generous and they stand firm and their generosity. Listen you women who lie around and ease Listen to me. You who are so smug in a short time just a little more than a year you careless ones will suddenly begin to care for your fruit crops will fail and the harvest will never take place. Tremble you woman, women of ease, throw off your complacency. strip off your pretty clothes and put on burlap to show your grief. beat your breasts and sorrow for your bountiful farms and your fruitful grapevines for your land will be overgrown with thorns and briars, your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone. The palace in the city will be deserted. The busy towns will be empty, while donkeys will frolic and flux will graze in an empty forts and watch towers, until at last a spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field and the fertile fields will yield bountiful crops justice will rule in the wilderness and the righteous in the fruit of righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety quietly at home they will be at rest. Even if the forest should be destroyed in the city torn down the Lord will greatly bless His people. Wherever they plant seeds bountiful crops will spring up their cattle and donkeys will graze freely. What sorrow awaits you as Syrians who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves, you betray others but you have never been betrayed. When you were done destroying you will be destroyed. But when you're when you're done betraying you will be betrayed. But Lord be merciful to us for we have waited for you for our strong arm each day in our salvation and time of trouble. The enemy runs at the sound of your voice when you stand up the nation's flee. Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and violence so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped. Though the Lord is great and lives in heavens He will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness, and that day he will be your sure Foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge the fear of the Lord will be your treasure. But now your brave warriors will weep in public your ambassadors of peace, cry and bitter disappointment. Your roads are deserted no one travels them anymore. The Syrians have broken their peace tree and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone. The land of Israel Wilson morning Lebanon withers with shame. The plane of Sharon is now a wilderness Bastion and Karen will have been plundered. But the Lord says Now I will stand up now I will show my power in might you Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble. Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you. Your people will be burned up completely like thorn bushes cut down and tossed in a fire. Listen to what I've done, you nation's far away. And you you who are near acknowledge my might the sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Cara seizes the godless who can live with this devouring fire they cry who can survive this all consuming fire. This are honest and fair who refused to profit by fraud, who stay away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong. These are the ones who would dwell on high, the rocks of the mountains will be their fortress food will be supplied to them they will have water in abundance. Your eyes will see the king and all the splendor and you will see a land that stretches into the distance. You will think back to this time of terror asking where the Syrian officers who counted our towers were the bookkeepers who recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city, you will no longer see these fierce violent people with their strange unknown language. Instead, you will see Zion as a place of Holi festivals you will see Jerusalem a city quiet and secure. You will it will be like a tent whose ropes are taught whose stakes are firmly fixed, the Lord will be the Mighty One he will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross that no enemy ship can sail upon. For the Lord is our judge or Laurel giver and our king he will care for us and save us. The enemy sales hang loose on broken mass with useless tackle. Their treasures will be divided by the people of God, even the lame will take their share. The people of Israel will no longer say we are sick and help us for the Lord will forgive their sins.
Ryan Zook:Hey guys, this is Ryan and I hope you are getting a lot out of Gospel story. It means a lot to us even as we're reading God's word every single day in the order that it happened. If you want to go ahead and follow us, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook and God's full story podcast. We would love it if you would share this thing with your friends and people that you know or just share what's sticking out to you. You can either send us a DM or you could actually Email us at podcast at worship center.org. You can email us if you have any questions if something stuck out to you if you'd like us to pray for you. And if you want to Bible if you don't have one right now or if you want to copy the one that we're using to go through God's whole story. We'd be happy to send that to you. So go ahead and reach out to us in any way that you'd like. We'd love to hear from you. Have a great day.