4. Borne & Brought

 

“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.” Exodus 19:4   

 

 

“I bare you” – “to lift”; let’s compare New Testament “to lift” (Strong’s #142) 

 

An old burden lifted 

Jn. 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  

In order to lift us up, He had to take away our Sin. 

 

A new blessing enjoyed 

Mat. 4:6 “He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”  

                  Now in Christ we enjoy His watchful care and Safety. 

 

A new burden of love 

Mat. 11:29  “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;” – Service 

Mat. 16:24 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Sacrifice 

 

The paralytic man in John 5 was so overjoyed to be able to walk that we have no doubt the new burden of the bed whereon he had lain was as light as a feather to take up (5:8). Thus the cross our Lord gives to us ought to be a joy to bear in the realization of what He has done for us. The paralytic’s habits had totally changed, and they were in stark contrast to the religious system around him. When we go from darkness to light, our lives become new and we become truly different from the religious system of works around us. He has taken out of the way the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (Col. 2:14). 

 

 

“on Eagles’ wings” 

 

Ruth 2:12, Ps. 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7, 91:4, Matt. 23:37 – In their shadow is safety and nearness to Him

Note: Did you know that Boaz, a wonderful picture of Christ, had “wings”? Can you find the second reference to this word in Ruth? (Hint: It is only translated once in Ruth as “wings”. You may need a Strong’s concordance.)

 

 

“and brought you unto Myself” 

 

As the Eagle brings her falling, faltering offspring into the nest, so our Father brought us safely to Himself. 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son… 

 

Not only has the Father brought us into favor and fellowship with Himself, but the Son promises to bring us physically to Himself and the Father. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  

 

He came that we might go, 

He went that we might come. 

He died that He might save, 

He lives to bring us home. 

  

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where Thou hast died 

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord to Thyself now glorified. – Fanny Crosby

 

~NB

3. “Follow Me”

 

What should the Lord’s words mean to the Christian, a follower of Christ?

 

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

It means a new trade.

Not necessarily an employment change, but we have a new purpose in life: to live Christ before others and win them to the Savior.

 

Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

 

It means leaving familiar ties.

Not turning our backs on them, but choosing Christ over natural inclinations that would lead us away from Him.

 

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

 

It means leaving treasure.

Not necessarily giving away all we own, but what we are and have now belongs to Christ. We are stewards of His goods and we should be “willing to distribute.”

 

 

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 

It means a trusting relationship.

Now this is what makes life worth living. A relationship with Christ is everything.

 

Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…

 

It means a tree.

Suffering comes before glory.

 

If we’re following someone, that means we’re doing similar works to those of our Master.

 

The Lord Jesus always did the will of His Father in Heaven.

What did this mean to Him?

 

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 

For Him it wasn’t a mere change of jobs. It meant a trip to planet earth, a whole new world, a life of humiliation and suffering. Because He came He is now able to be our Advocate and Great High Priest, our Helper and Friend.

 

 

Luk 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

 

The Lord Jesus taught the value of heavenly ties over earthly ones. On another line, though we would not say His communion with the Father was ever broken, the cry from the cross to a holy God who forsook the suffering Savior will always impress our hearts.

 

 

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

Who could give more treasure than the Lord Jesus? Who could pay the price that He paid?

We know none other could ever come close to His poverty nor to the riches He brought us.

He left the glories of heaven to rescue a sin-cursed earth. He paid for our forgiveness with His own blood and gave us a way to have a living, loving relationship with His own Father. He bore our weight of shame, suffering and wrath upon a cruel tree.

 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

~NB

2. Cursing to Blessing

“The LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you.”

Deuteronomy 23:5 ESV

 

I am interested in thinking upon various instances where God turned what men thought (or could have thought) to be a curse into a blessing. There are many more like these.

1.   Crying to Crowning: Joseph’s circumstances were terrible, and he could have thought his situation to be a terrible curse. First hated by his brothers, then sold into Egypt, wrongly thrown into prison, and forgotten by those he sought to help, his situation seemed only to be one of defeat after defeat. Yet God had not forgotten him, and had a wondrous future prepared for him. Eventually God brought Joseph to be the head over all the land of Egypt, giving him the privilege of being the instrument to save many people (including his family) from death in a great famine. Through his trials his brethren are brought to repentance and his family is united without the previous hostility. Through Joseph’s experiences we have a wondrous Old Testament picture of the person of Christ.

2.   Hiring to Helping: In Numbers 23 Balaam was hired to curse Israel, but God turned his desired curse into a blessing. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

3.   Division to Distinction: In Genesis 49:7 the tribe of Levi is cursed; “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” God turned this curse into a blessing, for though they were scattered throughout Israel, they became the priestly tribe because they stood for God in a day of departure (Exodus 32:26). As such they were provided for by the other tribes, and received the best Israel had to offer since a portion of certain offerings was theirs. Furthermore, they were chosen to bless others, Deut. 21:5.

4.   Plotting to Protecting: The book of Esther tells of wicked Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, and an edict was proclaimed to destroy them. This potential curse was turned into a great blessing: a second edict was made leading to the destruction of those who hated God’s people, and Haman was hanged upon his own gallows. “Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Sam. 2:30

5.   Suffering to Shining: In Philippians 1:12 we read of Paul’s difficulties and persecutions leading to the furtherance of the gospel. His light affliction which was “but for a moment” prepared for him an eternal weight of glory without comparison.

6.   Crucified to Conquering: Ours was a curse too great for us to bear, but Christ was made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). Because of Calvary, for those who He redeems, death has lost its sting (1Cor. 15:55), sin has lost its dominion (Rom. 6:14), the second death has lost its power (Rev. 20:6), and the wicked one has lost his hold (1John 5:18).

I also enjoyed a recent article in Truth and Tidings which spoke of how a friend of Tyndale was ordered to collect all the Bibles he could get his hands on and send them to be burned, and in return he would receive a sum of money. He carried out the request, but sent the money to help print more Bibles. For every Bible burned, four more were made possible! God makes even His enemies to aid in the fulfillment of His good purpose.

Each of us has experiences where God brought good from what seemed to be a sad turn of events. How good is our God!

~NB

  

Readers’ Additional Thoughts:

1-17-08 This meditation makes me think of the verse, “all things work together for good to them that love God” Rom. 8:28. Jeremiah 18:4 also comes to mind, where the clay was ruined in the hands of the potter. A useful, good vessel was from that clay. “BROKEN TO BENEFICIAL” :)

 

1. Sorrow Before Song

Passages Considered:

Psalm 22, Psalm 69, Isaiah 53, 2 Samuel 22, Song of Solomon

 

The Sorrows of Calvary must needs have come before we could sing Songs of Victory and Songs of Love.

Calvary’s blood is the spring from which the blessing of God may flow to those who stoop to drink.

I trust you will readily see the New Testament applications that may be drawn from these Old Testament Songs.

 

Why must my Saviour sink ‘neath mire?

Why must the floods o’erflow?

Why must He cry, forsaken be,

in agony brought low?

 

It was my sin He had to bear,

there was no other way

for me to be brought nigh to Him,

Be brought from night to day.

 

From death He has the victory,

and I of Him shall sing;

He is my Lover and my Friend:

I will my praises bring.

 

No earthly beauty met their eye,

yet those who find Him see

the Chiefest of ten thousand bore

my load and set me free!

 

 

Our Savior passed through the

Sorrows of Death

 

A “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing

B I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” Psalm 69:2

C “O my God,

D I cry in the daytime… night season

E but thou hearest not;” Psalm 22:2

F “when we shall see him, there is no beauty

G that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2 “…this also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock” Psalm 69:31

H Garden of Languishing: “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly” Luke 22:44

I “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:21

 

J “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30

 

His Sorrows of Death enable us to sing

Songs of Deliverance – 2 Samuel 22

 

A “the LORD was my support” v19 ESV

B “he drew me out of many waters.” v17

C “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;… he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;” v2-3

D “For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.” v29

E “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice” v7

F “thy gentleness hath made me great.” v36

G “he delighted in me.” v20

H Place of Liberty: “He brought me forth also into a large place” v20

I “For thou hast girded me with strength to battle” v40

 

J “Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD… and I will sing praises unto thy name.” v50

 

His Sorrows of Death fill us with

Songs of Delight – Song of Solomon

 

A “…leaning upon her beloved” 8:5

B “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” 8:7

C “My love“, “My beloved“

D “the day of the gladness of his heart.” 3:11

E “The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh…” 2:8,10

F “Behold, you are beautiful, my love” 4:1 ESV

G “in the day of the gladness of his heart.” 3:11

H Garden of Love: “Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.” 4:16

I “Let my beloved… eat his pleasant fruits.” 4:16

 

J “The song of songs” 1:1

 

~NB