Sixth Week Slump
This has a been a tough week. There are many forces pulling on the Simbaris right now. Domestic fights, village courts, getting ready to harvest pandanus nuts, business-economic issues, and last but not least the conviction of sin. We started out on Monday without the familiar face our friend who chose to go out to town on minor personal business instead of staying for the teaching. Then we had a court that had lots of people walking away from the teaching instead of towards it. Then a fight between a husband and wife that was making such a racket that we had to move our teaching location. Even then many looky-loo’s didn’t want to miss the fight. There is more too. We share this because we want you to know that just because we are finally teaching God’s Word to the Simbari’s that the time for prayers is NOT over. Please keep praying for the Simbari people to come to the teaching. They can’t believe if they haven’t first heard the message.
The Burden Of Sin
It may sound like we are all discouraged by this but we realize this is God’s work and our eyes our on Him and not on the changing circumstances around us. However we are concerned for the Simbari’s. The teaching builds lesson upon lesson and so the further we get in the course the more those listening can’t avoid facing that they are sinners. There are a few that we think have quit coming because of conviction of sin. Simbaris don’t believe they are sinners. They think only the bad shamans are sinners. The teaching of God’s Word has made it very clear that all of us who descend from Adam are sinners like he was. And that God always punishes sin. Just because he waits doesn’t mean he is ignoring it. In the upcoming lessons on the ten commandments the guilt of sin will be even stronger as they realize how impossible it is for them to live up to God’s law. (which some of them think is the way to impress God) The concept that “all have sinned” (Rom.3:23) comes across pretty strong in the Simbari language because they NEVER use the term for “sin” about themselves. They only use it to describe the behavior of others. So to hear over and over that we are ALL sinners is pretty hard for them. BUT, we also are teaching that God always saves those who put their faith in Him and who come to Him according to His Word. And that God’s Way can be found in His Word-so keep listening to God’s Word so you can hear the way to be saved.
Literacy – Picking Up The Pace
This week we have picked up the pace of the literacy class. Most of the students are doing really well and we have been keeping at a slower pace for the sake of the few slower ones in the class. We finally had to pick up the pace or risk losing our faster students to boredom. It is hard because we want so much for the slower ones to get it too but they have had lot’s of time and if that is still not enough to get it then they can always take the class again. In a couple days they will finish primer 1 and we will give them their first “reader” book. Then they will move on to primer 2. So this weekend we need to finish up the printing of the next bunch of readers and primers.
In Him,
David and Shari Ogg
(Esther, Simon, Rachel and Jason)
Praise and Prayer:
- Pray for good attendance at the teaching- IMPORTANT!
- Praise for the good understanding of those who are coming regularly.
- Pray for the people to not be pulled away from the teaching or literacy by various distractions.
- Pray that all would see clearly their sin and need for being saved from God’s punishment of sin.
- Pray for wisdom for David and his translation helper. So far we have been able to keep ahead of the teaching in our translation but the gap is closing. Pray that we will make it until the Christmas break without running out of translation for teaching.(then we will have the chance to get ahead again in the translation)
- Pray that the hand-crank cassette players that we have ordered would get here quickly.
This Week’s Teaching Highlights:
- God already knew that Pharaoh would release the Israelites after the last plague. He gives instructions on how to be saved from the plague of death of the firstborn.
- They needed to pick a perfect lamb.
- They needed to kill it as a reminder of the punishment of sin being death.
- They needed to put blood on the door frame of their house, of which they needed to go into and stay safely inside.
- They could not break the bones of the sacrificial lamb.
- They HAD to follow God’s way or their firstborn children would not have been saved from death.
- God promises to pass-over the homes covered in the blood of lambs.
- Israel believes and does what God says but the Egyptians who don’t believe in God lose all their firstborn to the plague of death. Pharaoh drives them out of Egypt. Just like God said he would.
- God leads Israel to a place of no escape, except by His miraculous power.(Boxed in by the Red Sea, mountains and their enemies) We too are trapped with no hope of escaping the punishment of sin, except through God’s saving power.
- God opens the Red Sea making a way of escape. Without the path God made for them they would have died.
- Hungry Israel should have trusted in God but instead complains against God’s appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron.
- God gives them daily food. Again, when thirsty, they don’t trust God and grumble.
- God gives them water from the rock (enough for 2 million and livestock too).
- God brings them to Mount Sainai and makes promise to Israel. Israel promises to obey. They still don’t see their own sin and think they are able to please God with their good works. (God’s blessing of Israel was because of HIS love not because of their works)
- God forbids Israel from setting foot on the mountain in His presence. Sinners cannot live in the presence of a holy God.
- God’s anger for sin is illustrated by fire, thunder and lightning on the mountain. The Israelites fear God. God instructs the people to prepare to receive His Law.