INTO & OUT OF DARKNESS: Lessons from the 9th Plague

Blogging Exodus 10:20 – 11:8

²¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”

²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

²³ They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

^{. . . 27} But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

There are 3 morals to this story, but we begin in darkness.  Terrible darkness.

Maybe it was the Khamsin, the "wind of the desert," a massive seasonal dust storm that blocks out light for days. 

GIANT DUST CLOUD FROM KHAMSIN STORM DESCENDS ON CITY

 Maybe it was a cloud of volcanic ash from a far eruption, possibly in the Sinai mountain range.

VOLCANIC CLOUD MOVING ACROSS ICELAND PLUNGES COUNTRYSIDE INTO DARKNESS

Maybe both, combined with an eclipse.  Maybe God just said, “Let there not be light.”   Probably all of the above and more. 

The ancient Egyptians didn’t understand the mechanisms either.  But when they woke at what should have been dawn, there was darkness, terrible darkness; and  it didn’t dissipate with the hours of the day.  The darkness was so absolute that it seemed tangible, weighty, an absence of light that pressed down on the senses and the soul so completely that the mind told the body to shrink, to slump under the pressure of shadow. 

Inside the darkness, swirling particles extinguished fires or resisted the flames’ attempts to cast illumination against the shadow.  Even those with burning lamps had to feel their way, to  grope for the wall like the blind,  to grope as if we had no eyes; to stumble at noonday as at twilight; to be as dead men in desolate places (Isaiah 59:10). 

They couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces.  They couldn’t see their husbands, wives, or children squatting on the dirt floor of the same hut or slumping on the sofa across the fine room of the great house.  They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days . . . (Exodus 10: 23).

They had no food, their crops and stores consumed by locusts and the preceding plagues.  Even if they’d had light there would have been no bread in the markets nor even grass to tend in a field.  All day, and the next day, and the next, they sat and did nothing.  For 3 silent, hungry days every person in Egypt could do nothing but sit, in the dark, and think. 

They thought about Moses, and Aaron, and the Hebrews, and their God.  Yahweh had done this.  There was no other explanation.  Someone had heard Moses proclaim it after leaving Pharaoh’s palace in anger.  The Hebrew God had done what Apophis (Apep), their religion’s world serpent could not.  Yahweh had defeated Ra and killed the sun, and now they were all going to die.

Darkness is terrible when you’re on the wrong side of God’s judgment.  In the midnight hours when the power’s out and the screens are off,  and it’s just you inside your own head, all the myths you told yourself die, and you’re left unable to ignore the realness of that still, small voice. 

But if you’re on the right side of God’s judgment, darkness isn’t scary.

 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,       nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. . . Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. . . No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling  (Psalm 91:1 – 10).

When you’re in a spiritual place where God’s presence is welcome, the darkness isn’t frightful.  It’s just another place where you can meet and hear from your Father. 

When I remember You on my bed,  I meditate on You in the night watches.

Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

My soul follows close behind You;  Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:6 – 8).

If you're a child of God abiding in His mercy and grace of God,  dark hours are an opportunity to fully focus on that still, small voice. For the people of God, darkness is illuminating.

My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word (Psalm 119:148.)

Somewhere in those days of darkness, somebody checked Goshen.  Pharaoh sent dispatched one of the precious few remaining horses imported for the military stables, and the scout forced his thin, frightened mount through the darkness, finding its footing by instinct, until they emerged from the clouds into light, into Goshen.  Somebody reported that the shadow skirted the boundaries of the slave quarters. 

But all the children of Israel had light in their dwelling s(Exodus 10: 23).

The powerful were in darkness, but the oppressed saw the light. 

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” (Exodus 10: 24).

It was Pharaoh’s greatest concession, but it wasn’t enough. 

But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” (Exodus 10: 25 – 26).

Sometime around this exchange the weighted darkness lifted off the geography of Egypt, but it remained heavy on the heart of her king. In desperate anger, he ended negotiations and pronounced a death sentence on the prophet if he tried to restart talks.

Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!” (Exodus 10: 28)

But Pharaoh had missed his opportunity to intimidate Moses.  Moses had seen the light, and the former fugitive with the speech impediment who’d been too afraid to speak defied the monarch of the most powerful empire in their world and gave an unauthorized closing speech.

Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.

But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’

And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.”  Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger (Exodus 11:4 – 8).

An up-jumped slave threatened the life of Pharaoh’s heir and then just dropped the mic and walked out, and nobody did a doggone thing to stop him.

That’s FAVOR. And favor isn’t a simple thing.  Consider that to place Moses in a situation where he was powerful enough to say what he said and keep his head, God had decimated A NATION.  When Moses prophesied the death of the first-born, the Egyptians were reeling from the psychological effects of 72 hours of absolute darkness (which, by the way, the Egyptians hadn’t know would last 3 days and not forever) and still trying to process the complete destruction of everything of value that except stone, sand, and metal. All they knew was that every time they opposed Moses, they suffered.  Thus, God made Moses mightier than Pharaoh. 

And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people (Exodus 11:3).

And so we come to the morals of the story: 

1.  Sometimes favor seems to come out of nowhere because sometimes favor comes out of darkness you weren’t a part of.   

2.  When you find yourself sitting in darkness, don’t despair; seek the light by seeking the still, small voice of God.

3.  When God tells you what He wants from you, do it because you’re going to do it, even if God has to direct you into His will by taking you into a dark place.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Bailey Tabernacle CME Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He writes the popular blog: A Word to the Wise at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com

Email: BaileyTabernacleChurch@comcast.net

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

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Bailey Tabernacle CME Church

1117 23rd Avenue
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

FAVOR IS UNFAIR (Genesis 21:22-34)

 ²² And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.

²³ Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”

²⁴ And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

²⁵ Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized.

. . .

³¹ Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

³² Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.

 ³³ Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

³⁴ And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.  (Genesis 21: 22 - 34)

And it came to pass at that time. . .

The timing is important.  From Genesis 20 we know that Abraham and his people had been camping in Philistine territory since before Isaac was born.  From Genesis 21:8, we know that Isaac is 2 or 3 years old.  Understanding the timing tells us that  Abraham and his people had been living in peace with Abimelech and the Philistines for at least 3 years.

For more than 3 years,  the Philistines had watched Abraham and heard the stories about him.  This Abraham was an old man and a foreigner with no country and no extended family, but he prospered under impossible circumstances.   This guy had  beaten 4 armies at once with only 318 men (Genesis 14), witnessed the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah  (Genesis 19:27, 28), and  conned the kings of Egypt and  Philistia without being executed or even fined.  In fact, this Abraham guy had been given honors by the kings AFTER they found him guilty of tricking them (Genesis 12; 20). 

And then, at that time,  word got around that 100 year old Abraham and his 90 year old wife Sarah had conceived, successfully birthed, and the son had survived into toddlerhood (which wasn’t a given in those times).  Abraham must have a secret: some supernatural edge that gave him a ridiculously unfair advantage over every one and everything that ran up on him.

Abimelech understood that the secret of Abraham’s success was his God.

And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.

Notice that the Philistine commanders-in-chief went to Abraham.  Abraham didn’t go to them. And they begged Abraham for assurances that he wouldn’t attack. 

 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you,

 you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” (Genesis 21:23)

And Abraham said, “I will swear.” (Genesis 21: 24)

When Abraham complained about a disputed well, the king of the Philistines became defensive and apologetic.   

 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” (Genesis 21: 25-26)

They let Abraham impose an amendment to their treaty under which the nation of Philistia surrendered the disputed water rights to Abraham (Genesis 21: 27 - 31).

Clearly, Abraham had the superior negotiating position.  But that doesn’t make sense.  I mean, Abraham was a rich sheik with a small personal army, but he was sheik of a small nomadic clan camping on borrowed land surrounded by Philistine cities and armies.  Yet, Abraham so consistently came out on top in every encounter that King Abimelech made the strategic decision to sign a treaty lopsided in Abraham’s favor.

Why?

Because God was with Abraham in all that he did (Genesis 21:22).  Because messing with Abraham meant messing with Abraham’s God.  Because, what’s the word we use?   Oh yeah.

Because FAVOR.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

In the church we talk a lot about favor in the first person. 

“The favor of God is upon ME.” 

“I’M blessed and highly favored.”

Abimelech recognized God’s favor on Abraham’s life.  Do you acknowledge God’s favor when it’s not about you?  Are you happy for your brothers and sisters when they get good that they don’t deserve?  I don’t mean jump on the bandwagon with financially profitable sin.  I mean ask the question “Why did God bless them?” but not rhetorically.  Ask and listen, observe, learn the actual answer.   

Abraham wasn’t perfect.  In some scenarios he was a genuine jerk, but he was the jerk God had chosen to fulfill an important role in the divine plan. God’s favor nudged Abraham back on the path when he strayed.  God’s favor protected him when danger threatened his role in God’s plan.  God’s favor provided what Abraham needed to pass to the descendants who would carry out the next phase of God’s plan.  And the favor on Abraham rewarded righteous people, like Hagar and Ishmael, who got caught in the orbit of God’s main plan for Abraham.

Favor didn’t put Ishmael in the messianic line despite Abraham’s request.   In the book of Jonah, favor sent a storm and a giant fish to “help” Jonah find his way to Nineveh.  Favor blinded Saul on the Damascus road so he could become the missionary and prolific author of Scripture God intended.  None of those blessed and highly favored men asked for the path God imposed upon them. 

But favor isn’t fair.  Not even to the favored. 

The favor of God isn’t about the person; it’s really about the plan:  God’s plan.

So you don’t need to jump on anybody’s bandwagon or kiss anybody’s butt to benefit from the favor of God in THEIR life.  You just have to understand their role in God’s plan and then find your place in or around that plan. 

Favor isn’t about the person; it’s about the plan:  God’s plan.

When you experience favor, remember what it’s for and remember Whom it’s from.

You’re good, but you’re not THAT good.  God did it.  You’re smart but --- be honest --- you weren’t smart enough to see that coming.  God revealed it to you.  People like you, but seriously, not THAT much.  Your opportunities, your second and third plus chances aren’t your doing. 

God is the secret to your success. 

After the phenomenally successful meeting with the Philistines,  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33).  Abraham gave praise to God and planted a reminder that his favored position in Philistine territory was because of God.

When that meeting goes waaaay better than it should have, don’t forget to have a praise party when everyone else has left ---- maybe even before.  When you’re in that new office, new home, new position, better situation, plant something there: a plant, a plaque, a screensaver, a symbol that you pass every day to remind you that life isn’t fair; but God has made it unfair in your FAVOR.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

WHO TOLD YOU THAT WAS A GOOD EXCUSE?

            

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” (Genesis 3: 9-11)

In Genesis chapter 3, God came down for His usual evening meeting in the cool of the day with Adam, but Adam wasn’t there.

The Lord called, “Adam, where are you?”

God didn’t ask because He couldn’t find Adam.  We wish that was why God asked.  We wish that we could hide from God when we sin, but that’s not the case.

God was really asking, “Adam, why aren’t you where you were supposed to be?  Why aren’t you in the place where I told you to meet Me?”

When the Lord shows up in worship, at your church, on Sunday morning----- Where are YOU?

Since the very first time, mankind’s sin has caused us to miss worship, to skip his time of fellowship with God, and then to make excuses.

“Lord,” said Adam, “I just couldn’t make it.  See, I’m naked, Lord.   I didn’t have a thing to wear.  And I couldn’t show up like that.”

And God said, “Who told you you were naked?”

Again, it’s not that God didn’t know.  God wasn’t requesting information.  God was saying, “Who told you that you were naked because I never brought up the fact that you were naked?”

You say you can’t serve because you’re not educated.  Well, who told you that you weren’t educated?  Who brought it up? Because God never brought up the fact that you don’t have a degree.

You say you can’t give because you’re not out of debt.  Who told you that you’re not out of debt?  God didn’t bring that up when He invited you to test Him with tithes and offerings and see won’t He open up the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing that you don’t have room enough to receive. (Malachi 3: 10)

You say you can’t lead or help in ministry because you’re not comfortable with the responsibility.

Well, who told you that you’re not comfortable enough?  God didn’t bring up comfort when He called Moses to go back to Egypt and lead Israel out of bondage.

God never brought up comfort when He called a prophet, or a king, or an apostle, or a poor Jewish girl from Nazareth to go and walk out a great calling before His people.

 Adam wanted his lack of clothing to excuse him from showing up where God called him to be to do what God had called him to do.    What excuse are you using?  And who told you that that’s a good excuse? 

Cause God didn’t.

And by the way, when Adam said that he’d skipped the meeting with God because he was naked----- Adam wasn’t naked anymore.

Before God showed up in the Garden, Genesis 3: 7 says Then the eyes of both of [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.  

YOU, like Adam, need to stop bringing up old stuff as an excuse for not walking in your calling now.

O.K., you messed up a marriage.  Where are you supposed to meet and serve God now?

O.K., you used to be an addict.  Where are you supposed to meet and serve God now?

O.K., you were a fool in college.  Where are you supposed to meet and serve God now?

O.K., you have been shirking and shaking your responsibilities in the church for a long time.  We get that.  Come back.  Meet God where He placed you and serve Him NOW!

But I have to warn you:  When you come back and face God, He is going to skip right past your excuses and force you to deal with the REAL PROBLEM.

Naked wasn’t Adam’s problem.  He had been naked and serving God just fine for the first 2 chapters of Genesis.

Naked wasn’t the problem.  Naked was a circumstance.  SIN was the problem.

So God called on Adam to deal with the real problem. 

“Ain’t nobody worried about you and naked,” God said.  “But tell me this Adam: Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” (Genesis 3: 11)

(This is where God cocks His lip, fold his arms, and taps His foot)

See, all that other stuff---about how you grew up, and how folks mistreated you, and what you didn’t used to have----- that’s all just circumstantial.

Stop putting the blame on your parents, or your boss, or White people, or immigrants, or the media, or your ex, or the woman whom You gave to be with me, Lord (Genesis 3: 12).

What did YOU eat that you weren’t supposed to?

What is YOUR SIN?   

What is YOUR role in your failures?

What did God tell YOU to do that you ain’t doing?

What (or whom) did God tell you to leave alone that you’re still messing with?

Adam never dealt with that.  And so, God stopped asking.   God stopped asking Adam to meet Him and serve in His garden.  But, Adam’s PURPOSE in the garden was to serve. So, since He couldn’t fulfill his purpose, he had to go.

Oh, wait.  You might be thinking that Adam’s purpose in the garden was to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion.    I see where you’re coming from.

That’s was Adam’s purpose in the larger world, but to fulfill that purpose in a state of perfection and favor, Adam had to fulfill His purpose in the place where He was to meet God and serve.

When Adam lost Eden, he lost God’s favor.  Adam and Eve still went out to multiply and pursue dominion, but now they had to pursue it on cursed ground, through thorns and thistles, by sweat of his brow, with the ever-present oppressive possibility and inevitability of death dogging his every move.

Only grace kept Adam and Eve alive.  But grace doesn’t stop bad from happening.  Grace makes it possible for you to carry on despite the bad that happens.

Grace gave Adam and Eve a 3^rd son named Seth.  But Grace did not stop the curse from manifesting in Cain and making him the murderer of his own brother.

Our lives are a constant cycle of frustrations and failures.  We survive.  We persevere.  We find happiness because of grace.

But if we would meet God where He wants to meet us, deal with our own sin, and submit to His plan and calling, then we would experience something even better than grace.

We would experience FAVOR.

Now don’t get too crazy over terminology.  Grace and Favor are overlapping and sometimes indistinguishable concepts.  The point is that things can be better.

We can do better than just kinda, sorta, barely survive.

We can live and live life more abundantly.  We can.  You can.

But you have to stop making excuses.  You have to get up and show up where God called you to meet Him, experience His presence, and walk out the holiest, most spiritually intimate part of the God’s great calling on your life.

See you, Sunday.

  

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To listen to sermons and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can help support this ministry by clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to

Hall Memorial CME Church

541 Seibles Road

Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 29: 26 "DO I KNOW YOU?"

Proverbs 29: 26     Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.

They say, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know?”  

Buford Graves said, “There’s always one person who can tell you, ‘Yes,’ when everyone else has said, ‘No’ and can tell you, ‘No’” when everyone else has said, ‘Yes.’ Meet that person, and when you have a problem, that’s the person you talk to.”

Pay attention now.  The key thing in Pops’s advice is meeting that key person BEFORE you have a problem.  

My father gave me this advice on my first day as a freshman at Alabama State University.  Then he dropped off my bags in front of C.J. Dunnn Arena, gave me some money, and drove back to Mississippi. I didn’t have  schedule or a dorm room.  And this was before cell phones. 

Alone, on a college campus, I followed Pops’s advice.  I walked from office to office meeting every administrative vice president, director, and dean even remotely related to my majors.  

“No, sir. No, ma’am. I don’t need anything. I’m Anderson Graves, Thurgood Marshall scholar from Mississippi, and I just wanted to introduce myself to you.”

And do you know what every one of those ph.d.’s and power-brokers said to me before I left his/her office?  They said, “If you have any problems, you come directly to me.”

Now, some of my friends had hook-ups in the front of these offices.  They knew the work-study student who worked in filing, or the secretary who worked reception, or the clerk at one of the desks.  I was respectful and polite to all those people, but when I needed something, I walked past their desks.  I entered the big door in the back and talked to the one person who could say yes when everyone else had said no and no when everyone else had said yes.

They shared advice,  explained how the system really worked,  solved problems for me, and offered me new opportunities, but not because I knew who they were. Anybody with a campus directory or a school yearbook knew who they were.  I could get resolution while others were bound up in red tape because I had established a relationship with the bosses.  I had access to the bosses because THEY KNEW ME. 

It’s not just what you know.  It’s not just whom you know.  There’s also, critically a matter of WHO KNOWS YOU?

Does the Boss know you?

You need guidance and blessing that only God can provide.  Do you already have a personal one-to-one covenant relationship with Jesus?  Does He already know you?

Or, do you keep trying to get in good with God because of what you need at the moment.

You may begin to say, “Come on, Lord.  It’s us.  Don’t you remember us?   We went to your house on Sundays sometimes.  We had dinner in your fellowship halls.  We did the communion thing.  You had a preacher in and out of our neighborhood.” (Luke 13: 25, 26) 

But God will say, “Hey, Jack!  I said I don’t know you like that.  This blessing isn’t for people who are outside of My will and My favor.  So all of ya’ll can kick rocks!” (Luke 13: 27)
You may know of Jesus, but if He doesn’t know you, then ultimately it ain’t gonna work out well. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13: 28)

It’s not just what you know, or whom you know.  The crucial question is DOES HE KNOW YOU? 

You may find yourself at the door/ gate of opportunity having little to open the door.

If you have and are living according to a real personal relationship in Jesus Christ, then He knows you.

He’ll see you at the door and say, “Hey.  I know you.  You’re one of Mine.  I know your work.  I’ve seen what you’re trying to do for My kingdom, in line with my will.  Come on around here, son.   Forget all these fools crowding here trying to get into a closed opportunity.  Come down to an entrance just for you.” 

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelations 3: 8)

Pops was right.  What you know matters.  Whom you know matters. But the most important thing is WHO KNOWS YOU.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.

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Mail all contributions to :
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541 Seibles Road
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Proverbs 29: 26 "DO I KNOW YOU

Proverbs 29: 26     Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.

They say, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know?”  

Buford Graves said, “There’s always one person who can tell you, ‘Yes,’ when everyone else has said, ‘No’ and can tell you, ‘No’” when everyone else has said, ‘Yes.’ Meet that person, and when you have a problem, that’s the person you talk to.”

Pay attention now.  The key thing in Pops’s advice is meeting that key person BEFORE you have a problem.  

My father gave me this advice on my first day as a freshman at Alabama State University.  Then he dropped off my bags in front of C.J. Dunnn Arena, gave me some money, and drove back to Mississippi. I didn’t have  schedule or a dorm room.  And this was before cell phones. 

Alone, on a college campus, I followed Pops’s advice.  I walked from office to office meeting every administrative vice president, director, and dean even remotely related to my majors.  

“No, sir. No, ma’am. I don’t need anything. I’m Anderson Graves, Thurgood Marshall scholar from Mississippi, and I just wanted to introduce myself to you.”

And do you know what every one of those ph.d.’s and power-brokers said to me before I left his/her office?  They said, “If you have any problems, you come directly to me.”

Now, some of my friends had hook-ups in the front of these offices.  They knew the work-study student who worked in filing, or the secretary who worked reception, or the clerk at one of the desks.  I was respectful and polite to all those people, but when I needed something, I walked past their desks.  I entered the big door in the back and talked to the one person who could say yes when everyone else had said no and no when everyone else had said yes.

They shared advice,  explained how the system really worked,  solved problems for me, and offered me new opportunities, but not because I knew who they were. Anybody with a campus directory or a school yearbook knew who they were.  I could get resolution while others were bound up in red tape because I had established a relationship with the bosses.  I had access to the bosses because THEY KNEW ME. 

It’s not just what you know.  It’s not just whom you know.  There’s also, critically a matter of WHO KNOWS YOU?

Does the Boss know you?

You need guidance and blessing that only God can provide.  Do you already have a personal one-to-one covenant relationship with Jesus?  Does He already know you?

Or, do you keep trying to get in good with God because of what you need at the moment.

You may begin to say, “Come on, Lord.  It’s us.  Don’t you remember us?   We went to your house on Sundays sometimes.  We had dinner in your fellowship halls.  We did the communion thing.  You had a preacher in and out of our neighborhood.” (Luke 13: 25, 26) 

But God will say, “Hey, Jack!  I said I don’t know you like that.  This blessing isn’t for people who are outside of My will and My favor.  So all of ya’ll can kick rocks!” (Luke 13: 27)
You may know of Jesus, but if He doesn’t know you, then ultimately it ain’t gonna work out well. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13: 28)

It’s not just what you know, or whom you know.  The crucial question is DOES HE KNOW YOU? 

You may find yourself at the door/ gate of opportunity having little to open the door.

If you have and are living according to a real personal relationship in Jesus Christ, then He knows you.

He’ll see you at the door and say, “Hey.  I know you.  You’re one of Mine.  I know your work.  I’ve seen what you’re trying to do for My kingdom, in line with my will.  Come on around here, son.   Forget all these fools crowding here trying to get into a closed opportunity.  Come down to an entrance just for you.” 

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelations 3: 8)

Pops was right.  What you know matters.  Whom you know matters. But the most important thing is WHO KNOWS YOU.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
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To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.

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