From: Kent Hovind
Sent: March 6, 2008
To: God and Moses
Subject: Obeying During Discouraging Times
First read: Exodus 17:1-13:
Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
17:4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
17:5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
17:12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
GOD: Good morning, Son!
kh: Good morning, Lord!
GOD: Still wondering and struggling aren’t you, Son?
kh: I’m sorry, Lord, but yes I am. Why did You let this happen to me, my family, the ministry? When do I go home, Lord? I feel like I’m not doing much for You in here, and I miss my family and freedom badly!
GOD: Come with me, Son. I’ll teach you something today…Do you see that man on the hill?
kh: Yes, Lord. Is that Moses?
GOD: Yes, Son. Go talk with him.
kh: OK, Lord.
KH: Excuse me, Moses. What is going on here? Why are you standing here holding up that stick?
Moses: Hi, Kent. Look down at the bottom of the hill. Do you see the battle going on between the children of Israel and the Amalekites?
KH: Yes. It looks like the guys with the white hats are winning.
Moses: What? They don’t have any hats on.
KH: That’s just an expression from the cowboy movies about the good guys winning.
Moses: The “good guys” are the Israelites and they are winning, but what’s a “cowboy”? Do you mean a bull?
KH: No. That would be a “boy cow” not a “cow boy.” Never mind. I’m sorry I brought it up. Anyway, if the battle is down there, why are you way up here?
Moses: Oh, I would love nothing better than to be down there swinging a sword, but God told me to stand up here and hold up this stick.
KH: Why?
Moses: I don’t know for sure and it makes no sense to me. I just do what He says. So far everything has worked out great as long as we just obey. I guess I don’t need to understand.
I’m sure getting tired of holding this stick up though. Hur and my brother Aaron are rolling that big rock over here for me to sit on. I admit, I feel guilty sitting up here safe and sound holding a stick, while everyone else does all the work fighting the enemy down there.
KH: Hey, you’re eighty years old, Moses. Sit down, relax, take a break, and watch the younger generation fight this time. Just your presence up here seems to be inspiring them to fight harder.
Moses: I see that, but I’d still rather be swinging a sword.
GOD: Let’s go, Son. Now, did you see it? Just by sitting still, Moses inspired thousands to fight the enemy. How many letters have you received in prison from people who have been motivated to start ministries because you are locked up?
kh: Counting the two in last night’s mail—about fifty, Lord.
GOD: Check your file, Son. It’s just over eighty, and that’s just the ones that have written to you. Moses did more good for Me and more damage to the enemy by just sitting on the rock on the hill and holding up that stick than he could have done with a sword, on the battlefield. I know you don’t like this assignment, Son; but you are doing more good for My kingdom and more damage to the enemy by just sitting still and staying faithful. You stick to holding up your pen. Keep writing. It helps encourage others. Plus, you are bearing fruit in there. Look at Kyle and Steve.
kh: Oh, Lord! Thanks for sending them. Kyle has been saved a week now and is growing like crazy in Your Word. He is really a “new creature” (II Corinthians 5:17). You can change a man quickly, Lord!
GOD: That’s what I do best, Son.
kh: And Steve tonight was so ready to be saved! Thanks, Lord. I really needed that boost to my moral. It showed me that I can still bear more fruit while I’m here. Steve’s a new babe in Your family now.
GOD: It’s not just souls saved, Son. Did you hear what the guys said in the prayer circle tonight?
kh: Yes, Lord. They were very excited to hear about the new souls that were saved.
GOD: Oh, it’s a lot more than that, Son. You have been winning souls (Proverbs 11:30; James 5:19-20) for thirty-nine years now, but most of the Christians in there with you have never had the joy of winning one soul yet. You are helping to change their lives as well. I know this is a hard assignment for you, and I know you are tired of being here. You have told Me that thousands of times.
kh: I’m sorry, Lord. I do gripe a lot, don’t I?
GOD: Yes, Son. So did Jonah, Moses, Job, and every other child of Mine in history. Learn to rest on Me. Sit down, Son. I’m the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4-31; I Samuel 2:2; II Samuel 22; Psalm 18:2; 31, 46; 28:1; 71:3; 89:26; I Corinthians 10:13).
You are helping others in and out of prison by just holding up that pen. Ralph, George, and David are really thinking because of that simple analogy I gave you between the physical and the spiritual.
Life really is simple, Son. In the physical, first you are born, because of someone else’s efforts. This only takes a few minutes. Second, you grow. This takes years and requires a lot of your effort. Third, you reproduce. That is fun.
In the spiritual, first, you are born again, because of My effort for you on the cross. As in the physical realm, this too, takes only a few minutes. Second, you grow (I Peter 2:2). This takes years and involves your efforts. Third, you reproduce, or win souls. There is no joy like it (Luke 15:7, 10)!
Your steady testimony is changing lives, Kent.
kh: But Lord, I’m not steady. I get discouraged so easily in here. I really miss my family. I’m a lousy example, Lord. I’m loaded with flaws.
GOD: You and I both know that, Son. You are not Moses, but I put you there because I knew I could trust you for this assignment. Sit down, hold the stick, and quit gripping.
kh: Can I sit sill at home, Lord?
GOD: Soon, Son, soon. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got your back.