Author: Wade McRoberts

I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. I graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976 and served in the Air Force for 29 years. I flew the A-7D, the A-10A, the F-117A, and the F-16C. After retirement in 2005, I worked as a defense contractor. I was diagnosed with ALS in April, 2018. I received my tracheostomy in December, 2019, and have been breathing with the aid of a ventilator since. I have lost total use of my limbs, and write using a tablet with eye-gaze technology. I want to share my journey with you and share the hope that I have in the Lord Jesus!
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God Provides

Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments. Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord. Every man, who had in his possession blue and purple and scarlet material and fine linen and goats’ hair and rams’ skins dyed red and porpoise skins, brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the Lord’s contribution; and every man who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought it.  (Exodus 35:21-24, NASB)

Prior to the time of the Bible passage above, Moses had been given detailed instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, a portable version of what was later to be the Temple in Jerusalem.  The details included the dimensions and the materials.  Moses then solicited the materials from the Israelites.  This passage tells what happens next. 

The people had escaped from Egypt.  As the text says, they donated items of gold and silver; blue, purple, and scarlet fabric; fine linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins dyed red; porpoise skins; items of bronze; and acacia wood.  Wait.  These people were in the middle of the Sinai Desert, the “wilderness.”  Where did they get this stuff?  Porpoise skins?  The short answer is, “God provides!”  A more correct answer is, they plundered from the Egyptians! 

Exodus 35:21
Exodus 35:21 image.  Found at Feel the Words, https://www.feelthewords.com/scriptures/ot/ex/35/21.

Before the night of the Passover, God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors to give them articles of clothing and jewelry.  They would need them for their journey.  Miraculously, the Egyptians handed over what their neighbors asked for!  Thus the Israelites plundered Egypt! 

God doesn’t give us assignments without giving us the means to accomplish them.  When Moses solicited the materials to build the Tabernacle, God knew the people had what was needed.  He does the same thing with us.  We just need to pay attention!  For Jesus-followers, we can rely on the Holy Spirit, our Helper!  He doesn’t leave us or forsake us.  God provides! 

Worship: “Gadol Elohai” (“How Great Is Our God”), by Joshua Aaron
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God’s Attributes

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD , the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations . . . you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God . . . ”  (Exodus 34:6-7, 14, NASB)

On Mount Sinai, God appeared to Moses, per Moses’ request, but God wouldn’t let Moses see His face, for no man can see God’s face and live!  As He was passing by, Moses hid in the cleft of the rock, and God put His hand over Moses’ eyes.  At the same time, per the passage above, God tells Moses a little about Himself, also at Moses’ request. 

God proclaims Himself to be compassionate; gracious (“gracious” means filled with grace; grace is the unmerited favor of God, meaning we can do nothing to earn His favor); He’s “slow to anger”; He’s also “abounding in lovingkindness and truth” (in fact, He “keeps lovingkindness for thousands”; He’s the only One capable of Truth); He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin” to those who ask Him; but He punishes those transgressors who don’t seek His forgiveness; and God is jealous for our affection (in fact, one of His names is “Jealous”; He always tells the Israelites, “you shall not worship any other god”).  

Psalm 103:8 The Lord Is Compassionate And Gracious (gold)
Psalm 103:8 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/103/8. 

King David repeats God’s attributes in Psalm 103: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” (v. 8)  I praise God for His compassion, grace, love, and forgiveness!

Worship:  “Your Grace Still Amazes Me,” by Phillips, Craig & Dean
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The Vulnerable Among Us

“You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”  (Exodus 22:21-24, NASB)

The Bible portion above is part of the Mosaic Law, that which God gave to Moses.  In this passage, God reflects a portion of His perfect justice.  He wants Israel, and us, to protect, and not to oppress, the most vulnerable among us:  The stranger, the widow, and the orphan.  

The stranger:  Why should we protect him?  “For you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  God calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  We were once strangers to the Kingdom of God, but usually someone took the time to love on us and tell us about Jesus.  We should do the same, to show love to the stranger and the alien. 

James 1:26 image.  Found at Called to Prayer Ministries, https://www.calledtopeace.org/the-blessing-of-blessing-others-gods-heart-for-widows-orphans/.

The widow and the orphan:  These are among the most vulnerable among us.  In fact, God promises His retribution for those who afflict them:  “If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”

Not to mention the babies. 

God is the perfect Arbiter.  He metes out perfect justice.  Unfortunately, we’ll not see God’s justice until we get to heaven.  Too many people in the way.  God promises retribution to those who take advantage of the vulnerable.  He is just.  He is great! 

Worship:  “How Great Is Our God,” by Chris Tomlin
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God’s People

Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”  (Exodus 19:3-6, NASB)  

At Mount Sinai (aka Mount Horeb, aka the Mountain of God),  in the third month since Israel left Egypt, Moses received a word from God.  In the passage above, God reminds the people of the miracles He performed to get them out of Egypt.  There were plagues, killings, and weather phenomenon.  The firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, of both man and beast, and the Israelites were exempt.  Finally, when leaving Egypt, God parted the Red Sea.  The Israelites went through as if on dry land, and the pursuing Egyptian army were swallowed and drowned.  God here is reminding them. 

Next, God implores the people to “obey My voice and keep My covenant.”  God uses an if . . . then statement here.  The result of the Israelites’ obedience?  ” . . . then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”  I think this is the first warning from God to Israel that they should obey His laws and precepts.  They were warned time and again by God’s prophets over the years.  But Israel and eventually the kingdom of Judah, didn’t listen, and they were utterly defeated and driven into exile.  

No photo description available.
Exodus 19:5-6 image.  Found at Spirit TV on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/spiritvuganda/photos/a.2405745873017360/2884382721820337/?type=3. 

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re called to be the same thing: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9)  In both Old and New Testaments, God’s people are called to be priests, and a nation set apart from all others.  The reason, as Peter says, is to praise God, to shine our lights, and to call the unsaved out from their darkness. 

Worship:  “I Am Not Alone,” by Kari Jobe
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Hardened Hearts

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.  (Exodus 11:9-10, NASB)

I’m interested in how God uses people to further His plan.  Some people He uses for good, and some for bad.  Yet we’re told that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)  In the story of Moses, God uses the Egyptian king for His purposes.  God hardened Pharaoh’s heart many times, “so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

In the passage above, God had one more miracle left to perform before Pharaoh would let the Israelites depart from Egypt:  He would do the Passover miracle, killing the first born of all the Egyptians, both man and beast.  Up until now, Moses and his brother Aaron had shown Pharaoh Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent; the Nile River and other waters turning into blood; a plague of frogs over all the land; a plague of insects; all the cattle killed; a plague of boils on the Egyptians; hail that killed and destroyed crops; a plague of locusts; and darkness over all the land.  God performed all these miracles through Moses and Aaron to show there is no doubt that He is God! 

Exodus 11:9 WEB - Yahweh said to Moses,
Exodus 11:9 image.  Found at Scripture Images, https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/exodus-11-9-web.php. 

Why does God harden people’s hearts?  I’ve often wondered this.  The Bible tells us that God desires all men to be saved.  I think that to further His plan, God chooses people who, through their pride, have demonstrated they don’t want to be saved.  Or maybe God uses the situation as one more chance to save them.  God is a God of second, third, fourth, . . . chances! 

Worship:  “Everything,” by Lauren Daigle
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God Restores Job

Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know  ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”  . . . The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold . . . And Job died, an old man and full of days.  (Job 42:1-6,10,17, NASB)

To recap the story of Job:  Job had been messed up by Satan.  “Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.”  (Job 2:7-8)  This was after Satan killed all Job’s livestock, his children, and almost all of his servants.  He must have been a sight, covered with boils from head to toe.  Mrs. Job even wanted him to “curse God and die.”  (Job 2:9)  Then Job’s friends showed up.  They acted like friends for a week, sitting in the ashes, mourning with him.  When Job started cursing the day he was born, and wondering how God could let this happen to him, they began to tell him how wicked he was.  “With friends like these, . . . ” 
The story continues with Job wondering how God could let this happen to him, and his friends going back-and-forth, telling him that he must be a sinner.  Finally, God speaks to Job, and reminds Job just Who He is!  We pick up with the passage above. 

“Job Restored to Prosperity,” by Laurent de La Hyre, 1648.  Found at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_(biblical_figure). 

The bottom line to the story of Job is that Job repents; God restores Job’s fortune “twofold”; God blessed Job with more children; “And Job died an old man and full of days.”  Job contended with God.  God set him straight.  Job repented, and God restored his family and fortune.  God wants us to repent.  For those of us who do, there’s no guarantee that everything will be roses while we’re here on this earth.  But whoever calls on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, “shall not perish, but have eternal life!”  (John 3:16)  

Worship:  
“Our Great God,” by Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell 
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Job’s Redeemer Lives!

O that a man might plead with God a6s a man with his neighbor!  (Job 16:21, NASB)

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!  (Job 19:25-27, NASB)

Job had been messed up by Satan.  “Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.”  (Job 2:7-8)  This was after Satan killed all Job’s livestock, his children, and almost all of his servants.  He must have been a sight, covered with boils from head to toe.  Mrs. Job even wanted him to “curse God and die.”  (Job 2:9)

Then Job’s friends showed up.  They acted like friends for a week, sitting in the ashes, mourning with him.  When Job started cursing the day he was born, and wondering how God could let this happen to him, they began to tell him how wicked he was.  “With friends like these, . . . ”  Job’s discourses include both of the passages above. 

No photo description available.

Job 19:25 image.  Found at Facebook, New Living Translation, https://www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation/photos/a.180737063978/10158812566333979/?type=3 

In the first verse above, Job pleads “that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!”  Today, Jesus-believers have an Advocate with God the Father in Jesus Christ Himself!  Job, of course, did not know of Jesus, but as we see later in the story, God was listening, and came to remind Job of just Who He is, and to put Job’s “friends” in their place.  God is ALWAYS listening! 

In the second passage, Job professes to know that “[his] Redeemer lives.”  Indeed He does!  Job was prescient to believe that he would see God in the end.  Job had faith, even though he had lost everything, and he was painfully sick.  

Job’s “friends” fell into the trap of believing that if something bad happens, it’s because a person did something bad, or he’s just a bad person.  This is bad theology.  Bad things happen to good people.  Jesus said we would have troubles in this world.  Jesus also said that troubles would reveal the glory of God!  Job had hope that he would someday see his Redeemer.  That’s MY hope too! 

Worship: “My Redeemer Lives,” by Nicole C. Mullen
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Job Worshiped

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.  (Job 1:20-22, NASB)

Why did “Job [arise] and [tear] his robe and [shave] his head”, all signs of mourning?  The LORD allowed Satan to test Job.  He did so by destroying all Job’s oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels; killing almost all of his servants; and killing all of Job’s sons and daughters.  Job was a very prosperous man, with a wonderful family.  He was wiped out all at once.  But it’s important to see what he did immediately following these catastrophic events:  “He fell to the ground and worshiped.”

Most of us would fall apart, or maybe even choose to curse God.  But even after these events, although in mourning, Job chose to worship God!  What an example!  Job explains:  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  Job realized that God is in control.  He had just lost everything, yet he chose to worship his God.  We’re told, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”

job-1-20-22
Job 1:20-22 image.  Found at Paul’s Sermon in Depth, https://paulssermonindepth.wordpress.com/category/christian/page/4/. 

What would we do following such disaster?  Job is the example to follow.  God is in control!

Worship:  “Blessed Be The Name,” by Kim Hill
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Job Prays for His Children

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.  (Job 1:5, NASB)

Several years ago I did a Bible study on the book of Job.  I thought that after my diagnosis for ALS, I could learn from Job how to deal with adversity.  There were some things that surprised me.  Looking at the verse above, the authors stressed that Job prayed every morning for his children.  This was before all of his calamity happened.  But I took a lesson from this and doubled down on my efforts to make sure I pray for my children EVERY day. 

Job had seven sons and three daughters.  His children used to take turns hosting feasts for each other.  The verse says, “Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all.”  In other words, Job prayed for his children, and prayed for each one.  “This Job did continually.”

Job 1:5 image.  Found at Bible Hub, http://bibleencyclopedia.com/slides/job/1-5.htm.

Using Job as an example, I make sure to pray for our three wonderful children, their spouses, and our 12 precious grandchildren each morning.  I praise God for putting them into my life; ask God’s blessings on each one; ask God to bless their marriages and their families; to bless their homes and keep peace within them; and for salvation for those who need it.  

Sue and I consider these 18 people to be the most precious earthly gifts with which God has blessed us.  Job certainly had his priorities straight! 

Worship:  “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, by Keith and Kristyn Getty
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Joseph, Son of Israel, Part 2

But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.  (Genesis 50:19-21, NASB)

In this passage, Israel (Jacob) had died.  Joseph’s brothers were afraid that Joseph would take revenge against them for selling him into slavery.  Joseph seeks to reassure them:  “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid.”

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream.  He told Pharaoh there would be a great famine in the world, preceded by seven years of plenty.  He convinced Pharaoh to stock up on food during the good years so Egypt would have food during the lean years.  Pharaoh made Joseph his number two, and put him in charge of the food situation.  Not bad–a Hebrew running Egypt!  

When the famine hit the land of Canaan, Israel sent Joseph’s brothers down to Egypt to buy food, and they eventually discovered that their brother Joseph was alive, and in charge of Egypt.  Pharaoh told Joseph to move the family to Egypt, where they would survive and thrive.  When Israel died, the brothers became concerned about Joseph’s revenge.  

you meant it for evil God meant it for good, Bible quote, 1 50:20
Genesis 50:20 image.  Found at QuotesCosmos, 
https://www.quotescosmos.com/bible/bible-quotes/you-meant-it-for-evil-God-meant-it-for-good-Genesis-50-20.html. 

What I find interesting is the thought of Satan’s participation in the story.  Did the devil convince the brothers to sell Joseph into slavery?  Was Satan trying to interrupt the ancestral line of the Savior of the world?  Joseph’s actions prevented Israel’s family from starving.  Israel’s son Judah, and his grandson Perez, are ancestors of Jesus.  Did Satan try to snuff them out? 

God often uses evil for good.  In the case of Israel’s family, God took the situation of Joseph’s plight, and used it to sustain the family.  God not only kept the future tribes of Israel alive, but He sustained the ancestral line of Jesus Christ! 

Worship:  “Enough,” by Passion

We learned on Thursday morning that my Mom passed away.  I’m comforted knowing that she’s in Heaven, and she was welcomed by the loving arms of Jesus!

Worship:  “It is Well With My Soul,” by Sandi Patty