Evil threatens to overcome the world.  Evil has always been present, sometimes violently so such as in the days when Adolf Hitler was in power.  Massive force was used to overcome the evil he created. But Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” [Romans 12 v.21].  How do you overcome evil with good?

Paul’s message is about our personal response to evil, especially evil individuals.  If we respond to anger with anger you know what can happen!  In the book of Proverbs Solomon has given powerful advice. “A soft answer turns away wrath” [15 v.1] and “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found … the wise lay up knowledge” [10 v.12-14]

Some of Christ’s parables were developed from sayings in the Proverbs. Truly, God’s word is the real source of knowing how to be good and wise in overcoming evil. The message of Christ and his followers is for individuals; it was never for nations; there never has been a ‘christian’ nation.  Paul wrote, “as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all … never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” [v.19]  

Australia with all its blessings of prosperity has been called the “lucky country”, but it has become more and more godless.  Is it just coincidence that a few years ago we had massive forest fires that destroyed entire towns and many people were burnt to death?  Now, in the last 2 months we have had huge floods covering much of the country, and still effect far North Queensland, the affects of which are still continuing, huge areas were covered, a great number of crops and livestock destroyed.  

And now!!! As we type this one of those massive storms is about to hit the north of the country! It has winds of a most violent nature. The Psalms tell us, “frost and hail, snow and mist, stormy winds fulfilling his word” [148 v.8]. Other countries in the world are suffering very extreme weather conditions.  We are reading in Exodus of the LORD’s control over the elements of nature that confounded the Egyptians.  The real God of the Hebrews confounded the Gods of Egyptian imagination.   And today?  Man is learning the hard way – that it is perilous to ignore God.  Let us not learn the hard way! 

Paul’s reasoning in his letter to the Romans in chapter 11 today seemed to us highly significant in its reference to God’s eventual mercy toward the Jews. Paul explains that a principle effect of the Jew’s failure to recognize their Messiah was that God’s message went out to non-Jews, that is, the Gentiles.  Paul describes the Jews as God’s Olive Tree (v.17-20) and writes, “some of the branches were broken off because of their unbelief” [v.20].  To replace them branches were “cut from a wild Olive Tree” [v.24] and grafted in.  Then Paul makes the vital point – Gentile believers, the replacement branches,  must “stand fast through faith.  So do not become proud, but stand in awe.  For it God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” [v.21,22]

Will God graft the natural branches, the Jews, back in again? Well, Paul says, “God has power to graft them in again” [v.23].  How could that happen? Well, first we noted that Paul warns the Gentiles not to “be wise in your own conceits … a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” [v.25].  

We also noted v.30-31 as being very significant, “Just as you (Gentiles) were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their (the Jews) disobedience, so they (the Gentiles) too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.”

The point is, the Gentiles had done nothing to deserve the mercy in having the message of the Gospel offered to them.  By the same principle, God can and will stir the hearts of the Jews in our days with the wonder of the return of Christ; for God’s words through Zechariah will be fulfilled, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn …” [Ch.12 v.10]

What about us? Well, we have the wonder of the Bible to stir our hearts, but so many are distracted by fleshly pursuits.   What are we really doing in our lives to show that we are a living part of God’s Olive Tree?

 We have now moved on to read about the dramatic life of Moses.  Exodus Ch. 3 is about his special encounter with God at the burning bush. For 40 years he had been living as a shepherd in Midian after fleeing from Pharaoh after his killing of an Egyptian became known.    Now ‘the angel of God appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” [v.2]   We notice this is “the” specific angel that represents the Almighty; the rest of the chapter is written as if God himself is speaking.  “Then the LORD (Yahweh) said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt … Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.” [v.7,10] 

What intrigued us is the question Moses puts to God. “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you and they ask me ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”   Now why would Moses expect the people to ask the name of the God of their fathers?     Well the word ‘name’ in certain contexts means reputation – such as when David ‘made himself a name’ (2 Samuel 8 v.13) and in some contexts in modern versions is translated it as ‘became famous’ and similar. Moses anticipates his generation of Israelites, will know little about the God of their forefathers and will want to know about his reputation.  All their lives they had been surrounded by the religious attitudes of the Egyptians and the legends about their Gods, Osiris, Mont, etc. 

God answers Moses by saying, “I AM who I AM”.   How is that an answer?  We note the footnote in the ESV and RSV versions give the alternative of “I will be what I will be”   This is better, it directly relates to YAHWEH, which as the ESV footnote, states ‘is here connected with the verb hayah “to be”.    So God is saying, he is a God who becomes, he will establish his reputation by what he is going to do, not by legends of the past.  

We will see, as we read the Old Testament that this point is made quite frequently, for example, Isaiah 63 v.14 “so you led your people (through Moses) to make for yourself a glorious name”  Those who follow the God of the Bible are expected to make for themselves a name, that is, a reputation that is pleasing to God – and in the climax of the ages, when his kingdom rules throughout the earth, God will give them a “new name” [Rev. 3 v.12]

What does Paul mean? We are all made of flesh!  Yes, but he is writing in a spiritual sense, he says “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit” [Romans 8 v.5].  The word “spirit” in this context is not difficult to understand, it is the opposite to “flesh.”  We live in a world where more people than ever set their minds, their desires, mainly or entirely in living for the pleasures of fleshly enjoyments.

The opposite, is to see ourselves as being adopted by God, through Christ.  We use the word ‘adopted’ because Paul writes, “you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry ‘Abba, Father” [v.15].  Abba, is the Aramaic word for ‘father.’ Jesus taught us to  pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” [Matt.7 v.9] By saying this we acknowledge we have been adopted out of the world and now have a heavenly father and are now “children of God.”  How many speak these words ignorant of the this meaning! Paul then says that God’s Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [v.16]. Note also verse 17 and 21. We pray to our Father having no doubt he hears our prayers because of this relationship.    

This spiritual relationship is a special source of strength; Paul says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” [v.13].  That must mean, live eternally. We recall that Jesus said to his disciples, “The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit and life” [John 6 v.63]. This gives us a foundation for our spiritual relationship with the Father and our Saviour and each other.  So, seeing we, in a sense, receive the spirit as we read God’s word we must ask, how do we read it?  This is a key question because the religious leaders surrounding Jesus read God’s word; but Jesus said to some of them, as we read a few days ago, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”[Matt.22 v.29]   It is obvious they read the Scriptures with closed minds.  Let us follow Paul’s advice to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” [2 Tim.2 v.15]. 

Today’s Chapters 5 & 6 of Romans contain a great abundance of food for thought.  We could not fail to pick up the continuing message of the wonder of God’s grace, God’s readiness to be merciful – and that the gift of grace was continually there.  Believers cannot earn salvation – as the Jewish Priests thought they were doing, and were blind to the sin of pride in the process. 

But then arises the most important question – we know we are justified by grace, and as a result accepted as in a right position before God because of our faith, so does it really matter if we keep on sinning? Sadly, some who claim to follow Christ claim it does not matter, ‘Once saved, always saved’ is their slogan – but that is not what the Scripture says.

Paul answers the question we have used in our heading today (which is from the first verse of Ch. 6) by stating, “By no means!  How can we who have died to sin still live in it?” [v.2]. He writes, we “walk in newness of life” after we have been “buried with him by baptism” [v.4]. In this “newness of life” there will be times when we stumble and we will see in chapter 7 that Paul at times wrestled unsuccessfully with his human weaknesses (v.18-25).  This causes him to declare, “wretched man that I am” [v.24] but note the marvellous climax to his thoughts he develops in Chapter 8, it is a mistake to read one chapter without the other.

There is a fascinating parallel to our thoughts in our Psalms reading (51) which is David’s incredible Psalm of contrition after his sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. This shows that genuine contrition from the heart will be recognised by God, and the prophet told David “The LORD also has put away your sin” [2 Sam. 12 v.13].  But that does not mean that there are no consequences to be suffered: this was certainly so in David’s case.  But there was a good consequence too!  David came closer to God, and the words that he wrote (and this is not the only Psalm treating this matter) have been an encouragement to countless God-fearing men and women in the 2,900 years since then.   However, note the blunt warning in Hebrews 10 about the consequences “if we go on sinning deliberately” (v.26) after coming to know God and accepting his salvation. A return to a godless way of life means we have “outraged the spirit of grace” [v.29]

 Is it hard to understand what Paul means when he uses the word “grace”?  And what about the word “justified”?  His letter to the Romans explains this to us.  Although this is a primarily a simple concept, it is also very profound.  Paul was brought up as a Pharisee and as a leading exponent of Jewish Law was among those who thought that in keeping the Law, with the interpretations and qualifications they put on the Law that had come through Moses, one was approved by God and had ‘earned’ the right for salvation.  A major theme of his letter to the Romans which we are now reading is to make the point that this way of thinking was all wrong.  Believers are “justified” – that is seen in God’s eyes to be in a right position before him – because of their faith – in him, a faith which is then shown by how they live their lives in loving appreciative service to him and, as a result, toward one another.  Paul writes, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” [Ch. 3 v.21-22]   Whether you are a Jew or not, and most Romans weren’t, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … to be received by faith.” [v.23-25]

Read those words of Paul again, they mean that, for us, it is vital that we believe the sacrifice of Jesus really happened – and as a result the keeping of the Law came to an end, being fulfilled by the death of Jesus. But we must not view this as a sort of mechanical process, but we must really feel greatly humbled by this event which God brought about. Grace means a forgiveness we have done nothing to deserve.   If we do not really believe in faith from our hearts, then this gift of grace will not be seen by God as being truly accepted by us.

The above words are in the opening verse of today’s Psalm 49. This is a little surprising, seeing this is the Hymn Book of Israel, so it was a message, in those days, and today, for all people. It is a powerful message!  It is a blunt message!  It contains some very pointed questions, especially for today. 

“Why should I fear in times of trouble” [v.5], but as times of trouble multiply with destructive floods, fearsome fires, terrible earthquakes, etc, those with no relationship with God do fear!! It includes “rich and poor together” [v.2].   There are also “those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches” and “cheat” others [v.5,6].

Now note what the Psalmist observes next! “Truly no man can … give to God the price of his life … that he should live forever … even the wise die … and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever.” [v.7,9,11]  This blunt but true view of human life is summed up in v.12 & 13 “Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.  This is the path of those who have foolish confidence.”  But the Psalmist has true confidence arising from his faith in God, But God “will ransom my soul from the power of sheol (the grave) for he will receive me” [v.15].  This is in contrast to the last verse of the Psalm, “Man in his pomp, yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”   We are in no better situation than the animals if we do not establish a true relationship with God.  The Psalmist’s hope, in this case David, was well expressed in Psalm 17 we read earlier this month. “As for me” he says to God “I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” [v,15] 

We read the same thing today in Paul’s message to the Romans, he preached the same hope, a time for awaking from death when God “will render to each one according to his works” to these “he will give eternal life” [Ch. 2.v.6,7] It will be when “God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” [v.16]  May all those who know Christ remember the words in Hebrews 4 v.16 that “no creature is hidden from his (God’s) sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account”  May we all have the spirit and hope of David as quoted above from Psalm 17. 

 ‘Fear’ and ‘Joy’ do not usually mix together, but they did for that group of women who came to the tomb in which Jesus had been laid “after the Sabbath” was over – as we read in today’s final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. It is desirable to put together the testimonies of all four gospels to get a full picture of events on that incredible morning of the resurrection.  Matthew tells us “toward dawn … Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb” [v.1].  Mark’s Gospel tells us the same thing, adding that Salome was with them (16 v.1), who is indicated in Matt.27 v.56 as “the mother of the sons of Zebedee” – but it seems only the two Mary’s witnessed the burial (v.61).  Mark says they “bought spices so that they might go and anoint him” and “it was very early”[16 v.1,2]. 

Luke’s record is similar, that it was “early dawn” and that previously “the women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how the body was laid.  Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.” [Ch.23 v.55,56; 24 v.1]  John only mentions Mary Magdalene in his Gospel coming “early while it is still dark” [20 v.1] and she then runs to tell Peter and himself that the stone has been taken away from the tomb.  These slight variations help to convince us that these are independent testimonies. 

This is the greatest event in their lives and they give considerable detail, which is very understandable.  Imagine being there yourself.  Sense the emotion of “fear and great joy” that unfolded.  We usually understand the Bible use of the word fear in this context as a sense of overwhelming awe – rather than being terrified. 

Matthew told us in yesterday’s reading that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite the tomb” [27 v.61] as Joseph of Arimathea “took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb” [v.59,60]  John adds the information that Nicodemus helped him (Ch.19 v.39,40) The women waited with no doubt great impatience until the Sabbath(s?) were over so they could embalm his precious body, touching it, so they thought, for one last time. The events that followed the next morning (and did they sleep at all that night?) makes us think that the words “with fear and great joy” after the angel told them “he has risen as he said” [Matt.27 v.6-8] – and they saw the tomb empty – are inadequate to describe their emotions!  And what is adequate to describe our emotion when he returns?  

Our Psalms reading today is at first puzzling in its reference to God.  What is highly interesting is that this (the quote above) is taken up and quoted in the letter to the Hebrews (Ch,1 v.9) concerning the relationship of Jesus Christ and God. It is possible, but potentially misleading and confusing to refer to Jesus as God; this is one of only two passages that do so.  Again and again we are told he is “the son of God” and that the time will ultimately come when “he delivers the kingdom to God … that God may be all in all.” [1 Cor. 15 v.24,28]

What Psalms and Hebrews do show is that the Almighty is called the God of Jesus.  We recall Jesus himself said the same thing after he rose from the dead, telling Mary Magdalene, “I am ascending to my Father and your father, to my God and your God” [John 20 v.17] John completes this chapter by saying, “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) the son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” [v.31]

Note the phrase – “that by believing”  This sort of belief is not something you accept in a casual fashion. If you believe your house is on fire you immediately do all you can about it!  Similarly, if we really see the need to have real “life” – that is, “life in his name” the name of Christ, by belonging to him in the way he has appointed, we take action.

The Psalm (45) tells us that because “you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions, your robes are all fragrant with myrrh …” [v.7,8]. There follows a poetic picture of the kingdom and those blessed to be there, “with joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.”[v.15]

Those who truly believe in Jesus will one day also be “anointed with the oil of gladness”. In a sense, this happened to Joseph as we read today in Genesis (Ch, 41); the end result of his faithfulness to God in living by God’s principles.  But our Psalm today concludes by stating that those who “have loved righteousness” that “I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”

 There is a lot of ‘food for thought’ in today’s account in Genesis of the experience of young Joseph after he was sold as a slave into Egypt by his jealous brothers. We need to take careful note of the several references to the LORD’s involvement in his life.  Verse 2 (of Ch. 39) tells us “The LORD was with Joseph and he became a successful man.”   Then the next verse; “the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.”

Now we do not think he realized this at the time, but looking back on the events he sensed this must have been so.  Can we similarly look back and see how, in some circumstances, in a remarkable way, “all things work together for good” [Romans 8 v.28] in the unfolding of some, if not many, circumstances and events in our lives?  

Joseph “was handsome in form and appearance” [v.6] and today people in the world would see this as a great blessing!  However, it can result in a real testing time for those who are committed to serving God and putting him ‘first’ in their lives: it may not be blessing at all!  Now note Joseph’s words to the woman, his Master’s wife, who is trying to seduce him. “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God.” [v.9]  The greater sin in giving in to her attempts at seduction would have been against God, in breaking the laws of behaviour he had laid down.  As we live in a world where so few have this consciousness we may well encounter more and more situations that challenge our conscience, so how great is the need to have an active conscience! See Paul’s comment in Acts 24 v.16

Finally, we noticed the outcome after Joseph was unjustly thrown into prison after the false accusations of this woman. “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” [v.21]  The lesson?  All things continue to work together for our ultimate good, through all circumstances, however difficult, when we commit ourselves to put the LORD first in all the paths we tread.