The Equal Rights Act

"Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh....

And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!

And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 

And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them." (Num. 20:1-13).

"Just before the Hebrew host reached Kadesh, the living stream ceased that for so many years had gushed out beside their encampment. It was the Lord's purpose again to test His people. He would prove whether they would trust His providence or imitate the unbelief of their fathers. 

They were now in sight of the hills of Canaan. A few days’ march would bring them to the borders of the Promised Land. They were but a little distance from Edom, which belonged to the descendants of Esau, and through which lay the appointed route to Canaan. The direction had been given to Moses, 'Turn you northward. And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you.... Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.' Deuteronomy 2:3-6. These directions should have been sufficient to explain why their supply of water had been cut off; they were about to pass through a well-watered, fertile country, in a direct course to the land of Canaan. God had promised them an unmolested passage through Edom, and an opportunity to purchase food, and also water sufficient to supply the host." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 413.

"The cessation of the miraculous flow of water should therefore have been a cause of rejoicing, a token that the wilderness wandering was ended. Had they not been blinded by their unbelief, they would have understood this. But that which should have been an evidence of the fulfillment of God's promise was made the occasion of doubt and murmuring. The people seemed to have given up all hope that God would bring them into possession of Canaan, and they clamored for the blessings of the wilderness." Ibid.

What does the Equal Rights Act really mean for the church? 

All of our godly rights and Christian culture are going away, permanently. Does this mean we should dispose of the Spirit of Prophecy counsel to have nothing to do with political questions? Is it time to join hands with the Ecumenical movement and get up in arms legislatively? Is it time to weaponize the Bible?

From the Heritage Foundation:

"Where the original Civil Rights Act of 1964 furthered equality by ensuring that African-Americans had equal access to public accommodations and material goods, the Equality Act would further inequality by penalizing everyday Americans for their beliefs about marriage and biological sex. Similar sexual orientation and gender identity laws at the state and local level have already been used in this way.

Here are 5 groups who would be harmed if the Equality Act becomes law:"

Then the website lists the five groups and explains the issues.

1) Employers and Workers

2) Medical Professionals 

3) Parents and Children

4) Women

5) Non-Profits and Volunteers

To read the details of the five issues, the website is

https://www.heritage.org/gender/heritage-explains/the-equality-act

No, it's not time to unleash a rage of "righteous indignation". Shouldn't we view this latest attack that portends the disintegration of the U.S. Constitution as the end of a long awaited end of this world of sin? Aren't we very soon to go up to our heavenly Canaan? Won't we have to fight for it? Yes, we sure will! But only with words! And love!

Let's not do like ancient Israel and chide with our heavenly High Priest. Let's not tempt our faithful men of God to legislatively fetch us an extended period of life in our sinful bodies, if Providence is showing us the wrapping up of our earthly sojourn. And, let no Christian hands be stained with sinners' blood, for whom Christ died.

Let's lose our connection with heaven at the increasing corrupting of our people, and the transformation of our society and citizens of all ages to a nation wretched, polarized and divided, and at each other's throats.

Let's remain separate from the wrath of man and running with the militarized religionists. "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary" (Isa. 8:12-14).

And if we get swept up in the populist foray, then the Lord has a word for us,

"But [the Lord shall be] for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." (Isa. 8:14-16).

Yet, for His called and chosen and faithful, His continued provisions and salvation will be theirs.

"And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given Me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion." (Isa. 8:17,18).