Author Archives: cazehner

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About cazehner

I'm a woman who loves God's Word, the Bible. And I love sharing what it is God reveals to me through his Word. I pray that everything I write is consistent with Scripture, and that everyone who reads this blog will be drawn closer to the Savior. I am praying for you.

February 4

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Exodus 7:14-9:35

I’ve often wondered how the magicians could perform some of the same miracles Moses and Aaron did. How were their rods turned to snakes and back? How could they turn water into blood or make frogs come up on the land? I vaguely remember someone explaining it once but I forget.

Sitting here this morning I am reminded that Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. He wants to look like God so he can fool us into believing him.

Satan can enter a person and prompt him or her to do good things, say things that sound like Scripture, lead churches or charities or nations and so look like a Christian that even Christians are fooled. The angel of light “enlightens”  his followers who begin to question Scripture’s authenticity on so called scientific findings or intellectual reasoning:

“God didn’t really complete creation in six twenty-four hour days”. “Scripture was compiled by men so we can’t believe it is infallible”. “Jesus wasn’t really born of a virgin nor was he really God. He was a good man, a prophet”. “A loving God wouldn’t send someone to hell”. “We all worship the same God, don’t we?”

I could go on. But God is saying to me to beware of the angel of light. He can look like the truth if I don’t know what the Truth really is. He might be able to fool Pharaoh by turning water into blood. But he’s still the enemy whose only goal is to take me to hell with him.

Lord, give us discernment. Help us to recognize the angel of light and reject him on the basis of Your Truth. Keep us grounded in Your Word. And help us to stand firm.

February 3

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Exodus 4:18-7:13, I Chronicles 6:1-4

When you read this Scripture today were you bothered by the fact that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart? The way it reads sounds like God might have a “harden heart” button He can push at will. Is that what happened here?

Here’s what I think I know about God. He loves you. He loved Pharaoh and would like to have had a different story recorded here. If things had been different we might read about a king who recognized the One True God and willingly allowed the Israelites to go home. But since God knew the end from the beginning He told Moses that Pharaoh would reject all the signs and each time he did, his heart would grow a little harder toward God.

So did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Of course He did. Scripture says so. But it wasn’t against Pharaoh’s will. It WAS Pharaoh’s will… his choice to reject God.

God didn’t make Pharaoh reject Him. That would not be consistent with the God who so loved the world. But as created beings with the ability to choose, God created pliable hearts. The lesson we can learn from Pharaoh is this: If we respond to God our hearts remain pliable. We are convicted of sin and we repent. Our pliable hearts can nearly burst with joy just by praising the One who forgives. God can tug at our pliable hearts and we obey.

But if we reject God, if we ignore guilt over sin, our pliable hearts become hardened. That’s just the way we were created. And with each denial of God’s Truth our hearts grow harder still.

We, like Pharaoh, run the danger of allowing our hearts to become so hard we no longer fear God.

I hope you are going to go to church today where the gospel is preached, where Christians gather to worship, and where you can re-charge to continue God’s work this week. As we gather, let’s do so with pliable hearts. And if there is some hardening going on, I pray that we will allow God to do some heart surgery right there in the pew!

February 2

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Exodus 1-4:17

Oh Moses.  History has remembered you as a great leader, a faithful saint. But you were a coward, weren’t you? You tried to talk God out of His plan five different ways, even pleading with God to please send someone else to do it!

But in the end Moses was obedient and we know the nation of Israel gained their freedom through him. God took an insecure, hot-headed, flawed man and because he was obedient, brought his people to the promised land.

Have you ever argued with God? Have I? It probably didn’t sound exactly like the conversation between Moses and God. It probably was more like God laid a person on your heart. You had the thought of reaching out to that person but you pushed the thought aside, thinking you wouldn’t know what to say. Maybe it’s a change of address or career change. Maybe it’s teaching Sunday School or writing a blog. And each time God plants that idea in our heads, instead of praying about it and obeying we, like Moses say… please send someone else. Who am I to lead? What have I to say? What about my past sins? People would think I’m a hypocrite.

God is saying to us… I will help you speak and teach you what to say. He said that to Moses. He says that to me. And I’m thinking He’s saying that to you, too.

Father in Heaven, help us to recognize your prompting and give us the courage to obey. You promised to help us speak and teach us what to say. We are going to hold you to that. Go with us as we listen to your voice and go where you want us to go, do what you want us to do.

February 1

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Genesis 47:13-50:26

Every time I read this passage I am struck by what occurred between the brothers after their father Israel died. They had lived for years in Egypt with Joseph. Their brother protected them and cared for them. But somewhere in their hearts they still felt guilty for mistreating Joseph in the past and were afraid his kindness to them was merely for their father’s sake.

What Joseph says to them after they bury Israel is something I am reminded of during tough times. They had meant to harm Joseph but God had another plan. God took Joseph’s captivity, used Joseph’s obedience, and provided salvation for Joseph’s family.

God didn’t make the brothers sin that day they threw Joseph in the well. That is not consistent with his holiness. But because the brothers sinned and because Joseph remained faithful, God was able to use the situation to bring about good.

We make choices every day. Sometimes we choose to sin. Sometimes we choose obedience. And even if I am going through a difficulty not of my choosing, I want to remain faithful like Joseph did.

It is then, and only then God can accomplish something good out of the pain.

God, my heart is hurting. May you find me faithful and allow you to use these painful circumstances to reach someone for Jesus’ sake.

January 31

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I Chronicles 4:1-23, 7:1-5, 12-13, 30-40    Genesis 46:13-47:12

I am sometimes tempted to skip over the long list of difficult-to-pronounce names in the genealogies. I know they must be important or they would not be included in Scripture. Why did God inspire men to carefully record the descendants of his people? And why include that list more than once?

As I sit here this morning and reflect on these verses I am struck with the thought about my own genealogy. I’m not talking about biological relatives. I am talking about my spiritual lineage.

Listed there are my dear Mother, two spinster sisters we called Aunt Minnie and Aunt Rose who taught our pre-school Sunday School class and who prayed with me. My grandparents are there. As are those who introduced them to the Savior. Aunts and Uncles who loved the Lord, pastors whose messages encouraged and convicted me. A missionary named Alice who spoke at our church when I was twelve. The list goes on.

I thank God for these saints whose lives have touched mine and helped to mold me into the Christian woman I am today.

But will the genealogy end with me? Will there be people in heaven who are there because of me? Will I be listed among the names of those whose lives have drawn them to a saving knowledge of Jesus?

Lord, I thank you for reminding me today that I have a job to do. Help me to influence someone today  in a way that will draw them to You. I want to be a part of someone’s spiritual genealogy. Thank you for the people who are a part of mine.

January 30

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Genesis 45, 46:1-12    I Chronicles 5:1-6, 2:18-55

I love reading about the reunion between Joseph and his brothers. Their hearts must have been so full. And now Joseph was making sense of his life. It was for these ten men who stood before him that God had allowed Joseph to endure captivity and even prison.

Suddenly all the years away from his family was worth it. He had the means to save his family from starvation.

Joseph told his brothers not to beat themselves up for the past. His parting words to them were… don’t fight about this. It didn’t matter any more who was to blame.

Sometimes we can look back on life and say, like Joseph, so this is why I went through that difficulty. Sometimes God allows us a glimpse at the way He works in our lives.

But sometimes it’s not so evident, especially in the middle of a difficult situation. Sometimes all we can do is trust Him like Joseph did while he was in prison.

Lord, Thank You for the times when we are able to look back and see how you used the events of life to bless us and make us blessings to others. Help us to trust You during those times when Your purpose is not so evident. And I pray that we will take Joseph’s advice and not beat ourselves up for our own past mistakes. Help us to know how you can use our life experiences to reach out to others. Maybe we can save someone from starving today.

January 29

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Genesis 42-44

It seems Joseph was playing games with his brothers. His dreams had come true. they were bowing down to him, coming to him because they needed him. So why didn’t he tell them who he was the minute he recognized them? Why did he make them go back to Canaan for Benjamin? Why did he plant his silver cup in Benjamin’s belongings?

I think Joseph wanted to know if they had changed from the cold-hearted men who sold him into slavery. What he saw were ten men who loved and honored their father, who were honest enough to return the silver, and who would accept Benjamin’s punishment on themselves.

And you know what? I think those ten brothers learned some things about themselves, too

Maybe we need to be a little more like Joseph. I don’t mean the game-playing. But Joseph watched his brothers’ actions in order to read their hearts.

The word ‘Christian’ is almost meaningless these days. To some, you are a Christian if you aren’t a Buddhist.

Jesus said we would know his disciples by their love. Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit include things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control.

The Bible also tells us not everyone who claims to know God really does. And it’s important that we are careful to follow truth. Not every religion is true. Not every preacher is preaching the truth.

Let’s be discerning and hold each other up to a high standard. Let’s show our world that we are changed because of our encounter with Jesus.

God give us the ability to recognize Your Truth and reject everything else. And help us to encourage each other to live according to that Truth so that people can recognize your Truth in us.

January 28

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Genesis 40-41

I know there are so many parallels in Joseph’s and Jesus’ stories. Both were only 30 when they began their ministries. They both taught about planning for the future. And I think the storehouses in Joseph’s story are very  much like the gospel in Jesus’.

In the Old Testament people came from all over the world to receive what Joseph had. They came with great hunger, needing to be fed. They recognized their need of food and knew where to turn.

There are hungry people in our world, too. People who recognize an emptiness, a hunger that only God can satisfy. Do they know where to turn? And are we ready to share what we have with them?

Lord, may your Church, those people who know you as Savior, be ready and eager to share the good news of Jesus Christ. I pray for hungry and hurting people today. May they recognize that it’s You they need. And may they be drawn to us. Prepare us to feed a multitude today.

January 27

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Genesis 36-39

I find it interesting that Joseph’s brothers sat down to dinner after they threw their brother into the cistern. They had allowed their jealousy to grow to the point of hate. Did they hear Joseph calling to them? Were they aware of his tears? How could they just sit there and pretend nothing was wrong? Were their hearts so hard?

Did they watch Joseph struggle as he was being dragged into captivity? Not one of the ten brothers came to Joseph’s rescue.

Once again God has allowed us to see what hate can do when left to fester. In this case, hating Joseph made it seemingly easy to get rid of him and plan an elaborate lie to cover their tracks. Life went on as normal as they ate their meal.

But I wonder how often they were awakened at night by the sounds of their brother crying out to them. I wonder if the grief in their dad’s eyes meant anything to them.

Lord, help me recognize those feelings in me that could become destructive. And may I refuse to allow those feelings to take root. Give me a sensitive heart and may I be quick to come to you at the first sign of trouble.

January 26

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Genesis 33-35

Jacob thought Esau would want to kill him. The closer he got to home, the more frightful Jacob must have felt. As the firstborn son Esau should have received their father’s blessing. Esau had a birthright. But Jacob had stolen what should have been Esau’s.

Now he was coming home. We don’t know what happened to Esau during the years Jacob was away. But one thing is certain. Esau didn’t allow anger and jealousy to destroy him.

Somewhere along the line Esau had forgiven Jacob without Jacob even knowing. Did Jacob deserve Esau’s forgiveness? Jacob never apologized or tried to make it up to Esau. So, no. I guess Jacob didn’t deserve forgiveness.

But Esau deserved to forgive.

Someone once said forgiveness is a gift to yourself. And I believe that. I used to tell my students I was too lazy to carry a grudge. It takes a lot of effort. And instead of feeding the hurt I’d rather let it die of starvation. I’ve found the more I think about the wrong someone has done to me, the more I entertain hard feelings, the bigger the grudge becomes and the heavier the burden of carrying it.

Anger and hate are like cancer. They eat at you until they destroy you. And whether or not the person at whom your anger is directed deserves your forgiveness, you deserve the freedom that comes from forgiving them.

And remember… while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Father, it’s not easy to forgive when we know we have been wronged. And sometimes we need to walk away from the person who has mistreated us. Help us to be aware of the destruction anger and hate does to us. Then help us to let those feelings go. Teach us to forgive as we are forgiven.