2007 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67



January 23, 2013

Hello in the morning, dear ones.

With it being a bit warmer, the trees have lost much of their frost glaze. There was some spectacular scenery yesterday with the heavy hoarfrost deposit on all the trees along with bright sunshine. It was surreal-like.

Off to the races…the race against time and energy. Lord—help us to win the race set before us!

Have a blessed day. Love, Dad/Ray.


23 January
Passage: Exodus 17-19
Focus: “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” Exodus 17:11.

Without gleaning from this record the principles that it illustrates, we could end up with some weird cultic ideas that are closer to superstition and magic than balanced Biblical truth. As a guiding standard for getting it essentially right, let’s review some very good New Testament advice—“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Do you perceive any evidence here for the importance of a foundational HEART AFTER GOD?

Let’s agree that Moses’ raised hands represent an attitude of total dependence upon God in facing the trials of life. Let’s agree that this scene underscores the importance of intercessory prayer. Let’s agree that, while we are not in physical battle with Amalekites, we are indeed in spiritual conflict against enemy forces from every side that would attack and enslave ourselves and our family members (Ephesians 6:12). Let’s agree that we are on a sojourn through the foreign wilderness of this world to a promised destination. But it’s a conditional promise (19:5). Let’s understand that seeking Him and His guidance at every point is our only hope for winning—the condition for victory. Let’s understand that if we don’t, we won’t.


“Success is putting your ‘knows’ to the grindstone.”