THE GREAT DELIVERER

 

 

There is something very interesting about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. The Lord knew from the beginning that this mammoth undertaking was going to have incredible difficulties from the start and I believe He used it to His advantage to impress upon the children of Israel that He was the great deliverer who gathers His own and that Moses was only an instrument in His hands.

 

Thus He instructed Moses to tell them this:  "I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. (Exodus 6:6-8)

 

And He didn’t stop at this. He went on to say: “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 7:5). His efforts to help humanity know that He is the fountain of all salvation is incredibly prominent in the scriptures. Once I counted His oft repeated declaration of “ye shall know that I am the Lord” in the book of Ezekiel alone which came to 32 times and 25 times of the same statement in reference to other nations than the House of Israel. I kept a list of all the scriptural references. I find His inexhaustible efforts to impress this upon us amazing. But I digress….

 

The first time that Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh didn’t go so well. The Pharaoh increased the Hebrews’ burdens and in one fell swoop destroyed their initial hope of deliverance which immediately made them accuse Moses and Aaron of wanting to kill them (Exodus 4:31; 5:20,21).

 

This lack of faith snowballed to Moses who went back to the Lord to complain and ask where the deliverance was that was promised (5:22,23). He then pointed out to the Lord again, as he did in Midian, that he was of ‘slow speech’ so how can Pharaoh believe and obey him? (Exodus 6:12,30) This, after he was apprised of the difficulty of the mission before he left Midian, all the assurances he was given of its eventual success and despite having a spokesman and the heads of the tribes accompany him to the Egyptian court (6:14-27).

 

Sometimes I don’t know who I feel more sorry for….us and our backsliding faith or the Lord and His continual necessity to carry us in our frustrating humanity. His mercy, tolerance and patience in impressing upon us that with Him nothing is impossible astounds me.

 

As the sun bursts through the morning light

It reveals You in the depths of my heart.

Gratitude overwhelms me

For Thy enduring patience

Of my inconsistent delight;

My erratic trust,

My feeble faith in Thy might.

I marvel You wait

In the shadow of my stubborn heart

And reach out to me in mercy to fulfil Thy part.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: With God Nothing is Impossible by Greg Collins)

TO BECOME

 

When Moses was issued his calling as the deliverer of Israel his feeling of inadequacy reared its head. This was no calling to serve on the Bishopric or to be an Elders Quorum President. This calling was beyond huge. Some historians have estimated that the population of the Hebrews in Egypt could have numbered in the excess of 2 million people. Moses tried three times to convince God that calling him to do it was not a good idea.

When an Egyptian prince Moses had “few equals as a general of the armies” (Josephus, “The Complete Works of Josephus”, p 119). Since that time he had been a Hebrew slave and a shepherd of Midian for 40 years. Somehow one can understand his reply to God: “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). This was the first attempt.

Jehovah assured Moses that He will be with him and then proceeded to prove it. He foretold the success of this task and that because of it  Moses would serve Him on Mt Sinai after the exodus; he told him how to convince the Hebrews that He, Jehovah, indeed sent him by revealing His name; that Pharaoh will not let the people go and that He will smite Egypt with His wonders and that when they finally leave, they will take the spoils of Egypt with them (Exodus 3:11-22)

Then came the second attempt. All of the Saviour’s foreknowledge still was not enough for Moses and he tried to ‘assure’ God that Egyptians will not believe him that God sent him (Exodus 4:1). Next came the visual proofs as the way of evidence: the leprous hand, the rod that turns into a snake and the water of the river that turns into blood (vs 2-9)

Finally the third…..”I am not eloquent but am slow of speech” (4:10). Whether Moses had lost confidence in himself over the years or not, the fact remained that he was once “an extremely well-educated prince and a mighty warrior in the cause of the Egyptians (Josephus, “Antiquities” book 2, 9:7, 10:1-2). Stephen affirmed that Moses was ‘learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds (Acts 7:22).

The Lord assured Moses again that He will be with him and with ‘his mouth and will teach him what he should say’ but even this was not good enough and Moses asked for a spokesman and angered the Lord who relented and gave him Aaron as his spokesman (Exodus 4:10-14). Looking for help in ‘arm of the flesh’  was not a good idea, it was a gross offence.

This is the reality of the matter. Jehovah didn’t try to build-up Moses by recounting all his successes. He didn’t pamper to his inadequacies with sympathy and pity. He got angry….and He got angry not because Moses didn’t believe in himself but because he didn’t believe in HIM!

I think He was so astounded by Moses’ lack of faith that he chided him with the reminder of who He was: “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?” (v 11). I hope Moses was shaking in his boots by then.

Another reality…..the Saviour doesn’t really need any of us. He can do His own work and accomplish things through His mighty miracles and the power of His priesthood…..but where would that leave us mere mortals? Dumb, blind, and inexperienced…..

We are in training here and as Joseph said, “on the pathway to eternal fame, and immortal glory”….and there is only one person who can help us rise to such a lofty ideal. He can make of us what we came here to become…..we should never forget that. In other words, ‘I know you cannot do this on your own but with me you can do anything!’

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Rock of Our Salvation by Jay Bryant Ward)

LIFE

 

“’Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’ (Matt 5:48). Now, that is an attainable goal. We will not be exalted, we shall not reach our destination, unless we are perfect, and now is the best time in the world to start toward that perfection. I have little patience with people who say, ‘Oh, nobody is perfect’, the implication being: ‘so why try? Of course no one is wholly perfect, but we find some who are a long way up the ladder.”

-          President Spencer W. Kimball, “Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball” p 165

I have been very introspective on this the last leg of my earthly journey. I think illness has a great way of forcing us to confront our mortality. Recognizing that life is a sum of one’s choices, I have been re-hashing my life to discover if there is something I should have done better: did I follow all the teachings of the Gospel as I should, did I rely on God enough to follow my life’s plan, did I allow my fears to control me, did  my decisions make my life better or worse, did I suffer more than I should have, did I try hard enough to be Christ-like?

So much of what comes upon us is self-inflicted. Even Job admitted that what he feared had come upon him (Job 3:25).  I discovered a person can easily run the risk of spending their entire old age beating themselves up over the past. Seeing clearly you are not perfect can be a terrible blow to the ego….

I have looked back on the lessons I have learnt during my life and have reasoned they are wasted if they are not acted upon but some things cannot be re-visited. Somehow I think nothing gained here was ever meant to be wasted. There is another life to be lived….a better life….the real life….the never ending life…..because the spirit of man lives on and ‘becoming’ is a process.

One day we will see the beauty in all our earthly experiences and all our learning as we kneel before the King of Kings and acknowledge His priceless part in our eternal journey. One day I know, when I am sanctified, He will consecrate ‘the sum of me’.

The lessons of my life flowed like a river

Winding through days, months and years;

I rescued a few but missed so many

From the currents as I saw them passing;

They drowned in a daze of my ignorance,

Unwanted and ignored but yet abiding.

I fish them now from the pool of my memory

And give them life everlasting.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Jesus Prince of Peace by Danny Hahlbohm)

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY

 

At the beginning of the year I wrote a post in which I mentioned my history professor tell us that we should be careful how we judge history because it is written by men from men’s perspective. That was a few years ago but I have never forgotten it. I try to think of that even when I am reading the scriptures.

The perspective of the author is not the only thing that matters but also cultural differences of the time, manner of speaking, changes in language and what Joseph Smith claimed were ‘certain errors that had crept into the Bible through arrogant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests’ (Joseph Smith Teachings, p 327)

The Old Testament is particularly susceptible to incorrect text because it has been translated many times. We are fortunate to have modern day revelation that makes a lot of doctrines simpler to understand through corrections that are needed for further clarification. I am particularly grateful for the JST and I always refer to it. Sometimes it’s just a missing word that makes a whole verse make more sense.

Already this year I have come across three important examples of what I am trying to say here:

1.      Exodus 6:3: “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”  I ask, why would the forefathers not know His name??? Well they did….JST says: “….and unto Jacob, I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord JEHOVAH. And was not my name known unto them?”

2.      Exodus 2:11-15: these verses say that Moses saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew and he ‘slew’ him. In King James English, the words ‘smote’ and ‘slew’ are both translated from Hebrew word NAKHAH, meaning to ‘beat down’. Different ancient writings and commentaries claim different things regarding this incident but the Church OT student manual quotes Elder Mark E. Petersen as saying that there must have been a good reason for Moses’ act as “most assuredly the Lord would not have called a murderer to the high office of prophet and liberator for his people Israel.” (Petersen, “Moses” p 42, Student Manual 1 p 105).  

3.      Exodus 4, 7, 9, 11: In His instructions to Moses regarding the plagues of Egypt, the Old Testament records the Lord saying He will harden the Pharaoh’s heart so he will not let the Israelites go. The JST says in every instance that Pharaoh will harden his heart which makes so much more sense. Why would the Lord try to stop His own work to the point where He had to do something so dire as extinguishing the lives of Egypt’s first born?

With the amount of study material available to us in the Church today, there really is no excuse for not understanding anything. But most important of all, make an important friend…..him who administers to all sincere seekers of truth……”and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5)

And now this promise: “I the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me and delight to honour those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end….and to them will I reveal all mysteries of my kingdom…for by my Spirit will I enlighten them…..(D&C 76:5-10)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Receiving the Spirit by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE GREAT I AM

 

When Moses was 40 years old he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and he left the Egyptian court. He joined his people Israel preferring God to the riches of Egypt and believing God would by his hand deliver his people but they ‘understood not’ (Hebrews 11:24-27; Acts 7:25).

In short, Moses went from the privilege of his Egyptian upbringing to slavery, to being a shepherd in the land of Midian where he married and received the priesthood from Jethro, his father-in-law (D&C 84:6). After another forty years of pastoral life, Moses finally had confirmation that he would lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He was by then 80 years old.

When God spoke to Moses on Mt Sinai out of the burning bush, He identified himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” and commanded him to deliver the children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:6-10).

But Moses was not content to go to Israel telling them ‘the God of your fathers sent me’ so he asked God to identify himself by His name which he would take to the Israelites (v 13). God answered: “I am that I Am. Tell them I AM sent me” (v 14).

I AM is the name that identifies Jehovah. It is the equivalent of “Yahveh” or “Jahveh” now rendered “Jehovah” and signifies “The Self-existent One”, “The Eternal”, “The First and the Last”. So sacred was the name regarded by the Jews that their traditionalism forbade the utterance of it. (see James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p 412)

Hence the Lord was not saying “I AM THAT I AM” but rather, “I am ‘that’ I AM”. I am Jehovah.

During His earthly ministry, the Saviour identified himself as seven main I AM’s as contained in the Gospel of John:

-          I am the bread of life (6:31,51)

-          I am the light of the world (8:12)

-          I am the door of the sheep (10:7,9)

-          I am the good shepherd (10:11,14)

-          I am the resurrection and life (11:25)

-          I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6)

-          I am the true vine (15:1,5)

As I look at these seven proclamations I could summarise them in this one scripture: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As we approach this Easter season and yet again acknowledge the Saviour’s Atonement, may we reflect on who He really is and more importantly, who He is to each of us individually. We should know that.

My favourite name for the Saviour is “The Great I Am” (D&C 39:1) and surely He is. There is no greater. Hallowed be His name…..forever and ever.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Chris Brazelton)

 

 

 

AN ENSIGN TO THE WORLD

 

“Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is….

“It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us. As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts; if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.”

-          President David O. McKay, “Man May Know For Himself” p 108

I believe we are the greatest missionary tool the Church has. I know we are told it is the Book of Mormon but I see it in a deeper context. We should be living examples of what that book is.

I had a friend some years ago who was very intent on giving out the Book of Mormon to all and sundry. She carried copies of it everywhere she went, even to the movies. She would give the book out to the ushers. I knew those books would end up in trash because a lot of people are not interested in religious books.

The greatest and the most successful way to share the Book of Mormon is when people know us and who we are. When those who know us become so impressed with the value of our character, they want to know how we got to be so. That’s when we can hand out the Book of Mormon. We will get the people of the world to read it when we become the product of its’ teachings.

Now consider the responsibility we have been charged with:  “You are one of those angelic messengers called from before the foundation of the world to wave the ensign of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An Ensign to the Nations” April 2011 GC)

Our calling as the disciples of Jesus Christ is more important in the world today than it has ever been. Never before have we been as divided as we are today. There is a major religion today that seeks to extinguish Christianity. This can never happen and it will NOT happen.

Who we are needs to stand out in stark contrast to who THEY are. Whereas they seek the destruction of the believers, we have the duty to teach life everlasting through Him who has told us not to destroy but to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us and pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

We cannot just call ourselves Christians. We need to BE Christians. It’s a state of being rather than a religion. We need to know ourselves and most importantly, we need to know HIM…….

Who is the Lord and there is none else,

Who is God and there is no God beside Him,

Who has made the earth, and created man upon it,

 He is the Lord, and there is none else.

A just God and a Saviour, there is none beside Him.

Look unto Him, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: 

for He is God, and there is none else.

Unto Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess,

He is the Lord and there is none beside Him.

-         Isaiah 45

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Hallowed Be Thy Name by Jay Bryant Ward)

FAITH

 

“There are two kinds of faith. One of them functions ordinarily in the life of every soul. It is the kind of faith born by experience; it gives us certainty that a new day will dawn, that spring will come, that growth will take place. It is the kind of faith that relates us with confidence to that which is scheduled to happen.

“There is another kind of faith, rare indeed. This is the kind of faith that causes things to happen. It is the kind of faith that is worthy and prepared and unyielding, and it calls forth things that otherwise would not be. It is the kind of faith that moves people.

“It is the kind of faith that sometimes moves things….It comes by gradual growth. It is a marvelous, even a transcendent power, a power as real and as invisible as electricity. Direct and channeled, it has great effect….”

-          Boyd K. Packer, “What is Faith” in FAITH [1983] p 42-3

 

For now I walk unsteady steps

On this earthly soil beneath my feet

But one day I will run to You

With perfect faith in waves of deep.

 

And when in distance Your glory beckons,

When You come to take me home,

I will run into Your arms

And forever be Your own. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Focus On Me, Not the Storm by Brent Borup)