Psalm 32:9 (NIV)“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle, or they will not come to you.” In this verse, King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, uses the metaphor of a horse or mule to warn against stubbornness and lack of understanding. A bridle is used to control and guide the horse, which illustrates the need for discipline in our lives. Just as a rider uses a bridle to direct the horse, God desires to guide us with wisdom, but we must willingly allow Him to lead. This call to humility and submission emphasizes our need to be receptive to God’s correction and guidance. Bridle and Bit The bridle includes various elements, such as the headgear and reins, which help steer the horse. This device represents the importance of being guided and controlled, much like how we are called to allow God to control our actions through the Holy Spirit.In theological terms, the bit is a small yet powerful tool. When placed in the horse’s mouth, it controls the animal’s movements. Similarly, the tongue is small but can influence the direction of our lives. The bit represents our need for self-discipline and submission to God’s will. James 3:3-6 (NIV) “Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example: Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” In James 3:3-6, James uses the example of a bridle and bit to emphasize the power of the tongue. Just as a small bit controls a powerful horse, our words have the potential to steer the course of our lives. James goes even further to describe the tongue as a fire—capable of great destruction. This vivid metaphor teaches us that, while small in size, the tongue can create great havoc if not controlled. It is essential to remember that as Christians, we are called to tame our tongues through the power of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 39:1(ESV), “I said, ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.'” In Psalm 39:1, David speaks of guarding his speech, particularly in the presence of the wicked. This reinforces the need for self-control, particularly in the face of temptation or negative influences. Just as a bridle controls the movement of a horse, we must learn to control our speech, especially in situations that could lead to sin. Our words should reflect Christ’s love and truth, rather than the destructive power of the tongue. Theological Significance: Control and Discipline The bit and bridle symbolize more than just control—they represent the discipline necessary to follow God faithfully. The Bible often stresses the importance of discipline, which is a mark of spiritual maturity. In Proverbs 12:1, we are told:“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”(NIV)Discipline is not about restriction for its own sake, but about guiding us toward God’s will. This aligns with the teaching in Hebrews 12:11:“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”(NIV)Thus, the bridle and bit not only represent control but also the training and growth that come through following God’s guidance. The Final Judgment and Revelation In the book of Revelation, the imagery of destruction intensifies as we approach the final judgment. The Bible describes the wrath of God as a terrifying event, where the bloodshed is so massive it reaches the height of a horse’s bridle. This is a sobering picture of what awaits those who reject Christ and live in rebellion to God. Revelation 14:19-20 (NIV)“The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia (about 200 miles).” The imagery here is horrifying—symbolizing God’s final judgment on sin. The scale of the destruction is unimaginable, and the 200-mile span of bloodshed speaks to the vastness of God’s judgment. This is a warning to all who live in sin, urging them to turn to Christ before it’s too late. Theologically, this underscores the severity of God’s holiness and the consequences of rejecting His grace. Theological Implication: The Need for Salvation The image of blood rising to the height of a horse’s bridle in Revelation serves as a stark reminder of the wrath that awaits those who reject salvation through Jesus Christ. In light of this, Romans 5:9 (NIV) reassures believers: “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” For Christians, the blood of Christ—shed for our sins—offers salvation and protection from God’s righteous wrath. This highlights the urgency of being in right relationship with God, especially as we see the prophetic signs of the end times unfolding. Conclusion: The Need for Discernment and Preparation As believers, we must continually examine our hearts and lives. Are we allowing God to control our speech, guiding us through the discipline of His Word? Are we prepared for the return of Christ, living with the expectation that His judgment is near? The imagery of the bridle and bit should encourage us to control our tongues, practice discipline, and live in holiness. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul urges: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”The end times are near, and we must be ready. Now is the time to ensure we are living in the salvation God offers through Christ. If we are not, the warning is clear: we must turn to Him before it’s too late. Maranatha (The Lord is coming)
Question: Why did God tell the Israelites not to keep food until the morning when they were leaving Egypt? Answer: To “keep food” means saving it to eat later or the next day, usually when someone has eaten enough and doesn’t want to waste what’s left. They might save it for later if they’re too full at the moment. On the night the Israelites were leaving Egypt, God gave them specific instructions. They were to slaughter a lamb, put its blood on the doorposts, and eat the lamb that night. This command was for every family. Each family slaughtered a lamb, applied the blood on the door, and ate it. God also gave instructions on how to cook it: they weren’t to boil it but to roast it over fire, eat it with bitter herbs, and do so in a hurry so they wouldn’t end up eating into the morning, which would have been a sin. Along with all these instructions, God gave another important command: each family was not to leave any lamb meat until the morning. They were to finish it all, or if anything was left, they had to burn it by dawn. The key was that nothing should be left by morning. If any family ignored this, it would be considered a sin. This command was given to the Israelites to reinforce their dependence on God, teaching them to obey His instructions fully, without altering or adding anything according to their own plans. You can find these instructions clearly in Exodus 12:1-13. Exodus 12:10: “Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.” This command emphasized obedience to God’s detailed instructions and served as a test of their faith. God wanted them to trust His provision fully, not to rely on their own provision for the future. Why Did God Give These Instructions? The reason was to teach the Israelites to trust God completely. They shouldn’t worry about tomorrow—what they would eat or wear—but instead, focus on God. If God hadn’t given these instructions, people might have eaten a little that night, saved some for breakfast, and worried about their next meal, rather than trusting God to provide for them. God’s intention was to teach them daily dependence. In the same way that He provided manna in the wilderness, He wanted them to understand that He would provide daily, and they didn’t need to hoard resources or place their trust in material possessions. Exodus 16:4-5:“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’” Even the manna (bread from heaven) God provided each day was meant to be gathered daily. God told the Israelites not to store it up for the next day. They were to gather food just for that day, and if they kept any for tomorrow, it would spoil. This was to teach them not to worry about tomorrow, because God would provide again the next day. Exodus 16:19-20:Moses said to them, ‘Let no one keep any of it until morning.’ But some of them did not listen to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, and it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.’” This serves as a reminder that we must not try to control or manipulate God’s provision based on our own desires and security. We are to live each day in obedience to His commands, trusting that He will provide. Matthew 6:31-34:“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Jesus teaches that God knows our needs and that we should trust in His provision, placing our focus on His kingdom and righteousness. This is also a lesson for us: once we are saved, we shouldn’t worry too much about our lives, what we will eat or wear, even if we don’t see a way to get through tomorrow. We need to trust that God will provide. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, “ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” God will provide for us, and our task is to trust Him fully. How Should We Save According to God’s Will? Let’s look back at the example of manna. If you continue reading, you’ll see what kind of savings God approved. Let’s read: Exodus 16:21-25:“Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.‘Eat it today,’ Moses said, ‘because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today.’” Notice that when they saved food for the Sabbath, they weren’t saving for their own comfort or luxury, but for the purpose of resting and focusing on God. They saved it so they could honor God, not just to avoid work. That’s why their savings didn’t spoil. Exodus 16:23: “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.” This shows that God’s instructions for saving were connected to His command for His people to rest and honor Him. Saving with the intention of focusing on God’s purposes is what pleases Him. However, when they saved food simply to accumulate wealth for their own future pleasures, it became spoiled. Luke 12:16-21 illustrates this point: Luke 12:16-21:“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” This passage highlights the futility of storing up wealth without regard to God’s purposes. The man in the parable thought he could secure his future through his own resources, but his life was demanded that very night. The lesson is clear: if our savings are for selfish gain and not for God’s glory, they are ultimately meaningless. In conclusion, God’s commands to the Israelites about not saving food until the morning were meant to teach them to trust in Him, not worry about tomorrow, and honor Him with their lives. Similarly, when we save, we must do so with God’s kingdom and purposes in mind, not for selfish gain.