Marsh Reeds

Moses was placed in a woven reed basket, pitched 

and placed in the river Nile. 

Exo 2:10  And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. 

And she called his name Moses: and she said, 

Because I drew him out of the water. 

Rom 5:14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

Rom 5:15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 

Where there is water the reeds grow. They become the habitat for birds and animals. 

Job spoke of an animal among the reeds called Behemoth. 

It must have been very large, perhaps a dinosaur. 

The purpose of Job was to show the power of God.

Job 40:21  He lieth under the shady trees, 

in the covert of the reed, and fens. 

Job 40:22  The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. 

Job 40:23  Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up

 Jordan into his mouth. 

Job 40:24  He taketh it with his eyes:

his nose pierceth through snares. 

These reeds are bent like shepherds crooks. 

Sometimes people will turn to idols and false shepherds
because of careless ease.

Israel did this long ago and made God angry. 

1Kings 14:15  For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, 

and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers,

 and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves,  provoking the LORD to anger. 

The LORD loves his people and sent John the Baptist

 to make the way for the Messiah to forgive their sins. 

Many went into the Jordan wilderness to be baptized by him.

Mat 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

Mat 11:9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 

Mat 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

The reeds mature to make rods with seeds called cattails. 
These are older cattails glowing from the back light. Jesus was struck with reeds and given a cattail as a scepter, being mocked as a humiliated king. They were foolish, for
all people will bow before Jesus as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 
Mat 27:30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 
Mat 27:31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

A turn of the head and this reed picture looks like a "Z". I remember the movie the mark of Zorro, 
where a sword was used to carve a Z.  Jesus came to us as a gentle Shepherd and he is the Living Word; the word of God is sharper than a two edged sword.

Mat 12:19  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 
Mat 12:20  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 
Mat 12:21  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Fall back, but not away

In the Fall we fall back an hour to be off of daylight saving time and back to normal. I like the extra hour that we gain this way. Sometimes we need to take time to fall back and to seek the LORD's presence and his direction for our life. We do not fall away and hide from the LORD and our problems, Jesus loves us and we take our problems to him. As I was reading in Amos 9, the chapter was about God's judgement on his own people Israel. They had left him for other gods and he was telling them that they could not hide from him, they would be judged. The story ends with a promise of restoration for a remnant who would return to the land and it would be rebuilt and the land would produce an abundance of good things. This is happening and it refers to a time when they would be ruled by a righteous king. This king is Jesus at his second coming. These things are coming very soon, so fall back and pray and be refreshed, but do not hide from God. The safest place is in Jesus and he is in you.

 

Amos 9:1  I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

 

Luke 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 

Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

It is terrible thing to run from the wrath of God. Where can you go, that he is not there?

 

Jude 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The greatest thing we have is his love and the Holy Spirit, his truth and power with us. Fear God, but not the things that are coming. Pray for his peace and his salvation in our land.

Facing Situations

Jesus as the son of man submitted to the will of God the Father. It was time for his betrayal and crucifixion for our sins. Jesus was in complete control of the situation.

 

John 18:3  Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
John 18:4  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
John 18:5  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
John 18:6  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
John 18:7  Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
John 18:8  Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
John 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
John 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
John 18:11  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

I wish to point out two things among many lessons from this scripture. First, Jesus could have escaped any crowd of angry people, he had done it before. When he read openly from the scriptures that he was the fulfillment of Isa 60:1-3, they sought to kill him then.

 

Luk 4:28  And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Luk 4:29  And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 

Luk 4:30  But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

 

Jesus spoke to the band of men and Judas who came to take him captive, " who seek ye?" Jesus of Nazareth, "I am he".  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Jesus is the great "I AM."  By the power of his name they fell backward to the ground. They could have laid there on the ground all night, but Jesus spoke to them  and they stood again. Jesus is in control, remember that when you are in a bad situation.

 

The second point I wish to mention is that Jesus knew it was the time for his death and resurrection. He submitted to the will of the Father. When Peter tried to defend Jesus again, he told Peter to put up the sword. Peter was always reacting to things in his own mind, before seeking the will of Jesus. Earlier he had said to Jesus that he would not allow him to be taken captive and crucified. This was a man's point of view, but Jesus rebuked him.

 

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
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.

Again, Peter attempted to prevent Jesus from being taken captive and to be killed, he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Being a servant of the high priest he could not hear the truth anyway, but Jesus healed the ear. (Luke 22:51) Many are not able to hear the truth. As a Christian we are to hear the truth of God and to do his will, not our own will or the will of a wicked leader. A human response, often is more the will of satan, than of the Lord. Jesus spoke to Peter, " Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? " Peter again, was not in the will of God. It was that time that Jesus must suffer and die for our sins, so that we might receive his grace and mercy. God is in control, we just need to hear him and submit to him. His way is the best way for each of us. He loves us and gave his only begotten son to die in our place for our sins. Can we not live for him? Our first and best response to any situation is to seek the will of God. Pray, trust and obey and his will be done. May Jesus be glorified in and through us.