The continuation of the second commandment gives us the reason why we should not be working on Sundays! It was the plan that God had from the beginning of time. He only worked on His production of the earth for six days, and we should be making Him our example!
It is interesting that God added the last phrase in this command. Not just believers, and members of the Israelite families were not to work, but neither were their animals or servants who might be foreigners! There were to be no excuses, and there was no way round this commandment.
I wonder today how many people, even believers, disobey this commandment. Too much of our everyday language comes from the media, films, TV and facebook! Most people do not know the commandments and have no idea that some of the language they use is an abomination to our Father God.
God does not enjoy seeing anyone suffer. He does not want our children to be ill, deformed, or struggle in any way. He loves them and Jesus died for them long before they were born! This God, who never changes, does not want to punish our children for our sins.
This must be one of the most controversial passages in all the Bible. It is good to remind ourselves that it was written by God. He knew that we would be tempted to forget Him and that demons would constantly try to deter us from our relationship with Jesus.
This first commandment out of the ten that God gave to Moses as rules for the Israelites, sounds as though God is wanting to give them a warning that other gods are not a good idea. That is a warning that is just as important today!
As we look this month at the commandments of God and remind ourselves of the instructions He has given us, we start with this clear command from Jesus in His farewell speech to His followers. This command is repeated just 5 verses later. So it must be important for us!
The Lord is speaking in this closing verse, of an event very much in the future, when Jesus would be born. And people would discover that he, Zerubbabel, was in the lineage of the Saviour of the world. What a privilege! The signet ring was a sign of high authority.
Many of us have been in meetings when a prophetic word is given to a specific person. Sometimes those people are embarrassed, often because of their own reactions. But also because of the message the prophet delivers. It takes discernment for people who give prophetic words to do so correctly!
Many in our world today are praying for a turning in the world situation. Many prophets are declaring that we are on the edge of something big when many people in high positions who have deceived the public will be brought to account. There are conflicting news stories out there.
EN
FR