Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 3, 2024. It is Day 6 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Moses lived a life of many ups and downs. His life was intriguing to say the least. Summarizing the first 80 years of his life, we find Moses had been saved from being a victim of infanticide, was reared in the royal courts of the most powerful nation of earth at the time, was a significant figure in both military exploits and political strategies of the royal family, murdered an Egyptian to save a fellow Hebrew, escaped Pharaoh‛s justice as a wilderness wanderer, and ended up leading sheep around a desert for forty years.

When Moses finally met God in the burning bush, he was small in his own eyes, “Who am I?” he asked, “that I should go to Pharaoh and deliver Israel?”

Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Interestingly, God did not answer that question directly. Instead of telling Moses about who Moses was, God told Moses Who GOD IS!

Exodus 3:14 God said unto Moses; I AM THAT I AM: and He said; Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

God revealed His divine presence to Moses. Later, He provided His divine presence to all of Israel in the pillar of fire and the cloud by day.

Moses eventually learned that the focus MUST be on Who and What God Is and the plans He is carrying out. Moses got the lesson. However, the ancient Israelites were much slower to get the big picture.

During this Count to Pentecost, let us be sure we get the big picture and focus on the everlasting truths about the great God Who delivered ancient Israel and the One Who has delivered us, His Church, as a prelude to His deliverance of all of mankind! It is through God‛s service to us, His deliverance of us, and His providing for us, that we begin to experience God and to see Him for Who He truly is. We can come to experience the divine presence more fully of the I AM that I AM as we trust Him and walk with Him.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, May 2, 2024. It is Day 5 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

God‛s great wisdom, purpose, and power are manifested in His preparation of Moses to confront Pharaoh, lead Israel out of Egypt, and work with them for forty years during the wilderness journey. There are great lessons for God‛s people in this intriguing story.

The birth of Moses occurred at a time when all Israelite (or Hebrew) newborn boy babies in Egypt were under a death sentence pronounced by Pharaoh. Moses‛ parents, Amram and Jochebed, were both of the tribe of Levi. Moses‛ parents hid him for three months after his birth. When he could no longer be safely hidden, they used pitch to coat a basket made of bulrushes and floated the newborn into an area of reeds that were growing in shallow water near the bank of the Nile river, positioning Moses‛ older sister, Miriam, to carefully watch the events.

God‛s timing is always perfect, as evidenced by Pharaoh‛s daughter going to the Nile to bathe, just in time for her to discover the floating ark with its precious contents inside. So captivated by finding this vulnerable baby and being filled with compassion, she decided to adopt the Hebrew baby as her own. Pulling him from the water, she named him Moses. Then she called for a Hebrew nurse to feed the child temporarily. And, through a continuation of what can only be called a miraculous set of events, God returned Moses into the care of his own birth mother to feed and sustain him for a time.

Historical sources outside of the Bible tell us that Moses grew up in the royal court as an honored prince and eventually led Egypt‛s mighty armies into victories against the Ethiopians. Scripture indicates Moses was also educated in “all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22).

When Moses was forty years old, he attempted to “deliver” one of his Hebrew “brethren” his way, by his own power and human reasoning. But, it was not yet time for Moses to come to such a responsible position. Because of this incident, killing an Egyptian in the process, Moses lost favor with Pharaoh and was forced into exile. More training and preparation was needed to become the leader God was fashioning by circumstances.

Although, by human standards, Moses seemed well able to lead or rule a vast group of people because of his royal experiences, God continued Moses‛ preparation by moving him south into a wilderness area of Midian to humbly tend sheep for forty years, and to wait upon God to deliver Israel by doing things completely His way! Sometime during this training process, Moses became the person God later described as “meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

It was in the wilderness area where Moses met the true God and was finally ready for God‛s work of deliverance. After forty years in the wilderness and meeting God on the mountain, Moses was a changed man. He was finally ready to listen to God‛s voice and to do things His way.

Hebrews 11:23-27 (23) By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king‛s commandment. (24) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh‛s daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

All of the events of Moses‛ preparation for the job God gave him are astounding, miraculous, and extraordinary. They are witnesses of God‛s power to design, to prepare, and to execute His plans perfectly.

As we experience the Holy Day season and continue on in our days of Counting to Pentecost, let us take courage, knowing that God is surely preparing each of us for a very special place in His own, eternal future. God knows what He is doing. By faith we can know that the events of our life are in God‛s capable hands. Let us be sure we trust Him, submit to His will, and cooperate fully and wholeheartedly.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, May 1, 2024. It is Day 4 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

The lessons we learned yesterday from the experiences of Marah are demonstrated in stories throughout the Bible. It is certainly a lesson we can learn from the story of Joseph.

God had arranged before time for the children of Israel to experience living in Egypt.
Interestingly, Joseph was sent into Egypt as a slave. He was placed in Egypt years ahead of time by God‛s design to prepare a place for the rest of Jacob‛s family. Joseph‛s first experiences in Egypt were very bitter indeed.

Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

In Egypt, God had Joseph released from slavery to prepare for what was to come.

Genesis 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph; See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
He gave Joseph great favor and high position in order to store up food to sustain Israel during a famine that was to come upon the entire earth.

Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 1:1-5 (1) Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. (2) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, (3) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, (4) Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (5) And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. Eventually, the Pharaoh who knew and trusted Joseph died, and the Israelites grew so vast in number that the Egyptians began to fear them. Bit by bit the Egyptians ensnared Israel in a severe bondage. In time, of course, Israel cried out for release, as God knew they would. And, of course, God responded.

Exodus 2:23-25 (23) And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. (24) And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. (25) And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Just as God knew Israel would become slaves in Egypt, He also knows that all human beings will eventually become slaves to sin. The bondage Israel endured in Egypt is a symbol of the bondage all humans experience toward sin. We have all sinned and have come to be slaves to sin.

Romans 3:10, 23 (10) As it is written; There is none righteous, no, not one: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

And just as God worked out very precise purposes as He delivered Israel from bondage, revealing Himself as the great God He is, He also works out His purposes as He delivers us from sin and slavery today.

Exodus 6:7 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.

The same is true today in a very real and spiritual sense. God sent ancient Israel a human deliverer the people could see, but it was Almighty God, a Being of covenant and promises, Who truly delivered Israel from Egypt.

Exodus 6:1-8 (1) Then the LORD said unto Moses; Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. (2) And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him; I am the LORD: (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. (4) And I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. (5) And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. (6) Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, 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: (7) 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. (8) 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.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 30, 2024. It is Day 3 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

On day 3 out of Egypt, the children of Israel arrived at Marah, a word that means “bitter.”

Exodus 15:22-23 (22) So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. (23) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

We must remember that they were led there by the cloud and pillar of fire. God knew exactly what He was doing.

At Marah, there was an awesome opportunity for the Israelites to realize that God had just set the scene for another wonderful miracle. God was well prepared to turn the bitter waters of Marah into sweet, satisfying water, but He wanted Israel to be aware of Him, to look to Him, to fully trust Him, and to ask for what they needed. He was their Provider as well as their Deliverer!

As true Believers today, we find ourselves from time to time at bitter waters, and we wonder how we got there. The one thing we must know is that God wants us to trust Him and to call on Him as our Deliverer and Provider. It‛s a powerful lesson of the season.
Let us continue to move forward as God commands and continue to trust God through whatever life experiences we encounter on our journey. God knows the beginning from the end and everything in between!

Let us pray that we will see each of our places of bitter water as opportunities to also experience God‛s miraculous love for us, His limitless power, and His willingness to use it on our behalf.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 29, 2024. It is Day 2 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Today is also the LDUB; Happy Holy Day!

When Abraham was one hundred years old, God gave Abraham the son of promise, Isaac.
Then God gave Isaac two sons, Esau and Jacob. It was through Jacob, later to be named Israel, that twelve sons and their children eventually grew into twelve prolific tribes, called the great nation of Israel.

Ancient Israel found themselves in Egyptian bondage through an important series of events. Joseph, one of Jacob‛s younger sons, was his father‛s favorite. Joseph incurred the wrath of his brothers by sharing a dream God had given to him, a dream that prophesied Joseph‛s supremacy over his brothers, an event that was to transpire in their lifetime.

The brothers were enraged at what they perceived as pride and arrogance. They were also filled with jealousy when Jacob gave Joseph a unique coat of many colors. They nearly murdered him, but finally decided to sell Joseph into slavery into Egypt. Of course, this was all part of the plan God had for the tribes of Israel. In response to a famine, Jacob‛s sons went into Egypt to buy grain. There they met the second man in control of Egypt. They did not recognize him as their brother. In time, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and all of Jacob‛s family settled in Egypt. For some time, they thrived and prospered in Egypt in peace. But, finally the Egyptians grew afraid of the tribes and enslaved them.

When Abraham‛s ancient physical descendants found themselves in Egyptian bondage, they cried out to God for deliverance. Abraham knew this was going to happen because God had told him many years earlier. And, Scripture shows us the events occurred just as God had prophesied. The Bible accurately describes the details and the timing of the slavery/bondage ancient Israel endured and the deliverance God provided in the Exodus.

Genesis 15:13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

Acts 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

Israel‛s Exodus from Egypt is a real and extremely important historical reality that happened to Abraham‛s physical children. God guided what happened to ancient Israel and has recorded specific details about the crucial details as lessons and warnings for His chosen people today.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Utilizing the Word that God spoke and required Moses to record in the Torah, we can more fully understand God‛s marvelous plan for ancient Israel and for God‛s people today. What happened to the ancient physical Israelites during their bondage and deliverance is a foreshadowing of what happens as God works with His chosen people today.

Our God is so marvelous. He has a plan for EVERYONE! He knows exactly what He is doing, and He reveals what He is doing to His servants the prophets as He moves His plan forward.

Amos 3:6 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 28, 2024. This is Day 1 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Today is the day of the Wave Sheaf. This special day always occurs on the first day of the week because it starts from the morrow after the Sabbath during the DUB.

Leviticus 23:11-12, 15 (11) And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. (12) And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord. (15) And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.

Of course, the real Wave Sheaf is Jesus Christ. And, let‛s understand, He was accepted for us!

Leviticus 23:11(A) (NIV) He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf.

Have a wonderful day of the Wave Sheaf as we once again begin our Count to Pentecost!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God

This is the announcement that the COTSG site will have the count to Pentecost 2024. There will be an entry for each day. We are a few days late, but we will start with Day-1.

Enjoy since Ben Faulkner is emailing these each day.