Finger on Faith

"The magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God... I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.  And I will put a division between My people and thy people" (Exodus 8:19-23).  "Praise God... for His mighty acts" (Psalm 150:1,2).  "A faithful messenger... refresheth the soul... as cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news" (Proverbs 25:13,25).  "I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). 

Magicians gave a true report

To Pharaoh in their fearful hour:

The facts that they could not distort

Displayed the finger of God's power. 

God's finger points now to the facts

That show the truth of saving grace,

Exhibiting His mighty acts

With evidence we can embrace. 

The finger of our faith must point

To God and to His saving favor.

The messengers He will anoint

Declare the Gospel of our Savior. 

Lord, as Your finger points above

To where You're seated on Your throne,

Our faith beholds Your wounds of love

Which You display to all Your own.   

 

Beauty and the Battle

"The LORD said unto Moses... Thou shalt speak all that I command thee... that I may... bring forth Mine armies" (Exodus 7:1-4).  "The LORD... will beautify the meek with salvation... Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand" (Psalm 149:4-6).  "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war" (Proverbs 24:6).  "It pleased God... to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen...  and they glorified God in me" (Galatians 1:15-24). 

The Lord has called us to the duty

Of speaking all that He commands,

That we may manifest His beauty

And be His mouth, His feet, and hands. 

The beauty of so great salvation 

Has clothed the people of the Lord

Who, with His Gospel's proclamation,

Are marching with His Spirit's sword.  

There is no triumph in this war

Except through counsel God imparts

To guide, to guard, and to restore

The Lord's dominion in our hearts. 

Lord, in the beauty and the battle,

Be glorified in all Your own,

And let Your Word replace the prattle

Of words that You do not condone.  

 

Savior Exalted, Self Examined

"Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do" (Exodus 6:1).  "Praise ye the LORD... the praise of all His saints... a people near unto Him. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 148:1,14).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).  "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

The Lord told Moses he would see

That God would do as He had said.

This confidence shall also be

In every heart that's Spirit led. 

We praise the Lord who brought us near,

Exalting Him who paid the price. 

We worship Him with holy fear

And thank Him for His sacrifice. 

The Lord has drawn our hearts with praise

For all He's done and yet will do

As we  observe His perfect ways

And give our hearts to Him anew. 

O Savior, in Your exaltation,

We taste the fellowship above,

And in our self-examination,

We find ourselves constrained by love!  

Answer of the Almighty

"Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?" (Exodus 5:2).  "He healeth the broken in heart... Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:3-5).  "Have not I written to thee excellent things...  that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:20,21).  "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

There was a class that was in session

Which Pharaoh surely would attend

To learn the answer of his question

That God would help him comprehend. 

"Who is the Lord?" we hear him say. 

The time had come to go to school.

It is the wise who will obey;

Rebellion will expose the fool. 

The Lord has given us His Word

So we may answer those so moved

To ask for truth and be assured

With counsel that the Lord has proved. 

Almighty God, Your Word is clear

By which Your answer is imparted. 

To those who seek You, You are near

With grace to heal the brokenhearted.  

 

Simplicity of Submission

"Moses said... I am not eloquent... And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth?... Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:10-12).  "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help... which made heaven and earth" (Ps 146:5).  "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" (Proverbs 21:2).  "But I fear, lest... your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). 

Though Moses had no eloquence,

That wasn't what the Lord had sought. 

What mattered was obedience;

A heart submissive could be taught. 

How simple is this one condition

(Though we invent a complication):   

To give our heart in full submission

To God, the Lord of all creation.  

 

Excuses may seem justified

(At least they do in our own eyes),

But they are only masking pride

Which, in God's sight, is never wise. 

O Lord, we find simplicity

In our submission now to You. 

Let all our vain excuses flee

Which complicate what we should do.