This week’s readings: Exodus 7:14-Exodus 27
Synopsis: Moses pleads with an unyielding Pharaoh to let God’s people go…God sends 10 plagues…The first Passover…Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to go worship God in the desert…Moses carries Joseph’s bones to their final resting place…Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues the Israelites…God appears to His people in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night…God parts the Red Sea to rescue his people…those pursuing God’s people do not escape the Red Sea…Moses and Miriam sing songs of praise and deliverance…God’s people grumble and blame…God hears and sends manna…He also sends quail…the people quarrel with Moses because of their thirst…God causes Moses to bring forth water from a rock…Joshua leads the battle against the Amalekites…Moses builds an altar called The Lord Is My Banner…Moses’ father-in-law Jethro visits him…Moses shares with Jethro and he believes in God…Jethro dispatches advice to Moses about handling the disputes of the people and receiving help…Moses does everything Jethro advises…the people consecrate themselves as they prepare to meet with God…God descends…Moses ascends…Moses returns with 10 commandments…other laws are given…Moses meets with God within the cloud for 40 days and 40 nights…God gives instructions in building the tabernacle where God will dwell among His people.
These are the words, questions, verses and thoughts that lingered with me this week:
“Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let my people go.” (7: 14)-What area(s) in my life is/are unyielding? What area does the enemy not want me to yield? Do I have a pharaoh in my life that I feel is stronger than God in me…that just won’t let me go?
“Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert.” (7: 16)-Once again…what do I need to let go of so that I can fully worship God…especially when I am in the desert place?
“And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river.” (7: 24) Due to Pharaoh’s disobedience, the the first plague of the water turning to blood occurred…disobedience causes more work than would ordinarily be necessary…for the person and those around them.
“Tomorrow” (8: 10) Pharaoh’s response to Moses says he will pray for the removal of all the frogs. Do I say tomorrow to God when I am living in the midst of piles of stench…of death? God tells us to choose this day who we will serve…not to choose tomorrow who we will serve.
“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron.” (8: 14)-What is my response when I see my own consequences subsiding…do my convictions let up as well?
“How long will you refuse to humble yourself?” (10: 3)-How long indeed!
“Now forgive my sin once more…” (10: 17)-Do I ever get cavalier about my own sin or in asking for forgiveness? Do I have a problem with besetting sins?
“God will surely come to your aid,” (13: 19)-These were Joseph’s words to the sons of Israel…words of faith and reliance on God’s word and promises…our words and life of faith can impact future generations…speak words of hope and trust in the Lord.
“Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (13: 22)-Today we may not have a physical manifestation of the Lord but we have His indwelling Holy Spirit that is always with us…we have our Ever-Present Help… He will never leave us.
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (14: 13,14)-Today…don’t be afraid…stand firm…and you WILL see the deliverance of the Lord. Don’t you love how Moses says that they will never see the Egyptians (again) that they see at that moment…what enemy would you like to never see again? Rest assured that the Lord will fight for you…just be still.
The Desert of Sin-(16: 1)-sometimes our own times of desert can be a result of sin.
“If only…” “But you…”(16: 3)-Am I quick to point the finger when I am uncomfortable? Do I forget deliverance once I am hungry? Do I think my old life of bondage is more desirable than the freedom God is taking me into?
“I will rain down bread from heaven” (16: 4)-Oh, the provision of the Lord.
“They looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.” (16: 10)-In the desert…God’s glory will meet you.
“…some gathered much, and some little…he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.” (16: 16, 17)-God’s provision and grace is available each day for us…there are days where we seem to need more and other days where we need just a touch…whatever our need…be it huge or small…it is there for us…we just have to go out and gather it.
“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” (17: 12)-Do you have an Aaron and a Hur in your life? We all need people in our lives that will help us in fulfilling our calling in the Lord especially when we grown tired.
“The Lord is my Banner” (17: 15)-Is He your Banner? Is He the standard that goes before you each day?
“Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods…” (18: 11)-Moses’ father-in-law Jethro believes in God through witnessing the power and glory of God in Moses’ life.
“Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.” (18: 24)-I love this picture of honor and listening on the part of Moses to his elder.
“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared…since my Name is in him.” (23: 20,21)
This very morning, our pastor spoke in church about angels and believing that God dispatches His angels on our behalf and that we each have at least one angel that is always with us…believe this today that you have an angel that’s Name is in him…that is bringing you to the place where the Lord has prepared.
“but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near.”
(24: 1)-Only Moses could meet with God…the others at a distance. Today we can all draw near to God…let’s not stand at a distance.
“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”(25: 8,9)-It was always God’s desire to dwell with us…from the beginning…in the garden…God’s Word to us is completely about His endless desire to dwell with us and us with Him…He will show us how…
What a full week! If you want to read more comments or to join us, click here. Remember the current reading schedule is located in The Library…
Have a blessed week!
Helen
