Matthew 6:25-34

“.. do not be anxious for your life..”.   This is one of the most difficult things for most of us, to not be anxious.. to not worry.. to not take thought of.. the essentials of life: food, clothing, shelter.. or anything else. 

But, Jesus tells us that our “Father knows”.. our Father cares.. our Father provides.  Our faith is so small sometimes.. so we let anxiety in… 

Jesus says that anxiety can’t feed us.  It can’t cloth us.  It can’t change our height or weight or the hair on our head. It only has power over us when we let it win over faith. 

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” (V33)  Seek- continually.. seek in order to find.. seek until the kingdom is foremost in your thoughts and desires.  Seek the Kingdom where Jesus reigns and rules.. where He provides every need.. where His plans and purposes fulfill every Word that He has spoken.  Seek that intimate relationship that is possible because He came.. He died.. and He rose again. 

Father in heaven,  in You alone to we find life.  You give us hope and peace and love.  You give us faith. Help us to have faith that trusts even when things don’t go as we want. Faith that Your plans are better. Thank You for providing all that we need today.  Thank You that tomorrow is in Your hands too.  May Christ be exalted as we seek Him with all our hearts today. In His name we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew6:1-24  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men..."

Jesus says we must choose.. to serve God or to serve "mammon"... riches or wealth or any other master.  As God's children, followers of Jesus Christ, we have made that choice.  We are looking at life from a different point of view.. from God's perspective instead of man's.  Our character is being reformed and transformed by the Holy Spirit and even our "righteous" actions will be different than before. 

Jesus gives some examples of ways our religious practices must change to conform to the Father's will. 

The giving of alms is an important part of many religions.  Jesus taught that the right way to give is privately.. .in secret.  It is not something to flaunt before others to be notices and honored.  It is not something to do in order to receive a reward of any kind from others.  We give "alms".. gifts of mercy and compassion and charity.. with a heart of love.. even as our Father in heaven has given to us in our spiritual poverty. 

Prayer is without a doubt a vital part of religious life. But, it is not meant to be a show.  It is not something to do in a proud or pious way.  Jesus teaches us to come humbly before our Father.. in secret. It is a time of sweet communion with the God of peace and comfort, Who has seen our great need and desires to fill our hunger and thirst for  righteousness with His Presence. 

Prayer is not supposed to be just words.. it is meant to be meaningful.  It is a conversation and a connection with Almighty God.. our Father, who is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.  It is seeking Him and finding Him. It is remembering that He is the Life-giver and all things are in His hands and that He knows what we need.. It is about confession and repentance.. forgiveness and intercession. It is a Father and His child sitting together in a time of intimate fellowship. 

Fasting is another aspect of many religions. And once again we see how it has been and continues to be misused.  Jesus taught that we should fast secretly. No one else needs to be in on this.. it is between us and God . 

In verses 19-24 Jesus speaks about storing up treasures. We don't really consider this a religious  practice, but there are many who think that their blessings.. their wealth.. comes because of their "righteousness".  Jesus says that earthly treasures are corruptible... only treasures in heaven are lasting.  And, even more importantly.. "where your treasure is there will your heart be also." 

So, again we are confronted by the statement He makes in verse 24.. are we serving God.. in our giving, praying, fasting, and storing up of treasures?  Or are we serving ourselves?

Father in heaven, may Your Name be kept holy, may Your kingdom come, and may Your will be done! You are our provider.. of all that we need today. Have compassion on us once again we pray.  We praise and worship You. Amen. 

 Matthew 5:21-   Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law.. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished."  Jesus Himself will do what we cannot do.. He will perfectly finish or fulfill the Law. It will take a righteousness that " surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees"... it will take a righteousness that only comes by faith in Christ the Lord. 

Jesus illustrates His point with these examples that miss the mark of God's perfect Law. 

The Law forbids murder, of course, but God's perfect will looks at hatred and anger and spite.. and unforgiveness as just as much a sin.  

The Law condemns adultery but God in His holy will desires that no marriage be marred with infidelity of any kind. 

The Law calls for "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth.."  but what God desires for HIs children is a humble attitude that turns the cheek.. that forgives the persecuted.. that prays for the enemy. 

God's desire for His children is that we are so filled with His Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord that we think and act and talk.. like Him. He wants us to love like He does. He wants us to be "perfect" as He is. 

Only Jesus can bring us into this perfection. Only His Spirit in us can bring us out of the law of sin and death and into the eternal life that Christ died to make possible.  

Father, once again we confess our poverty of spirit.. our lack of righteousness of our own and our great and desperate need for Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Fill us Spirit of God.. transform not just our minds and wills but our character.. that we  might truly be salt and light to this sin-filled world. We ask for Your power to live in the perfection of our Lord Jesus to the glory of Your holy Name.  amen. 

 Matthew 5: 13-20 As a disciple of Jesus.. a citizen of God's kingdom .. we are meant to  reflect His character more and more as His Spirit changes us from the inside.. out. 

  Jesus teaches us two specific ways we will do this:

"You are the salt of the earth.. "  We have a good purpose as the Lord's salt.. to flavor and preserve this world with His truth.  If we aren't "salty".. if we aren't exhibiting His truth in our lives and with our words.. then we are "tasteless" and "good for nothing" Jesus says. 

"You are the light of the world", Jesus says.  As light we have a purpose and function.. "to shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  We are light that must not be hidden in order to complete its purpose. 

As Jesus came to fulfill or satisfy the Law and the Prophets.. we are called to shine our lights on the Truth of His Word.. to add the seasoning of God's grace and goodness to our own callings as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven.  To do this, Jesus says we need surpassing righteousness.  We need His righteousness that we receive from Him by faith.. faith that has recognized our spiritual poverty and found blessedness in Christ Jesus our Redeemer.  Faith that has mourned our sin sickness and found comfort in our gracious Savior.  Faith in the One who humbled Himself.. and who has shown us the way to true humility and meekness.  Faith in our Lord who satisfies our hunger and thirst for His righteousness. 

Father in heaven, make my faith complete in Christ Jesus who is the author and the finisher of all faith. Make me salt that seasons my world with grace and truth by the power of Jesus who abides in me.  Let the light of Your salvation shine through my life.. my words and actions.. so that You are glorified!  I ask this in the Name of Jesus, my Lord and King. Amen.

 Matthew 5:8-12 

I see a progression through these pronouncements that Jesus is making.. as He comes to abide in us in our poverty and through our mourning and humbling of ourselves.. as we develop a hunger for Him and His righteousness and experience His mercy.. we become more like Him!  And we are indeed "blessed"!

In verse 8 Jesus tells us that there is a blessedness found in having a pure heart.  The only way we can have such a heart is to have Jesus abiding therein.  When He abides in us to such a degree that our hearts are made clean.. then.. He says... we shall "see God".  There is a wonder.. an awesomeness.. to this new reality. We cannot imagine any other way that this would be possible.. but Jesus blesses us with this privilege.  

Jesus then calls us blessed.. to be peacemakers.. to be called God's children and to reflect His character .. for He is the God of peace.  Jesus came as the "Prince of peace".. He came to make peace between sinful mankind and the Holy One.  He wants us to show others the way of this peace.. the way to Himself. (v9)

Verse 10-12.... Jesus teaches that even persecution "for the sake of righteousness" or because of Him... we find a blessedness. "Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets before you." 

Father in heaven, You have given to us a perfect Savior who has come to make us new.. to do in us what we can never do on our own. Fill us with all the fullness of the Lord Jesus we ask.. rejoicing with thankful hearts that You are willing and able to perfect in us Your good purpose. Amen. 

 Matthew 5:6-7-   We begin to know Jesus more and more as we take in His words... as the Spirit opens our eyes and hearts to these truths.  Our "blessedness" begins when we confess our poverty of spirit and receive the gift of God's kingdom through Jesus Christ.  We have mourned and we have been humbled as we come into His holy presence and fall on our faces before Him. He begins to transform us as He abides in us and we in Him.. .

In verse 6 Jesus tells us that there is blessedness found in our "hunger and thirst for righteousness".  He has met us in our poverty and sorrow.. He has come into our lives to produce His desires in us..  He gives us an all consuming desire to be righteous before Him.. to please the Father.. to glorify the name that is above all names. It is Christ, Himself, who produces this hunger and who satisfies us with Himself.  He is our righteousness.  Only Jesus can satisfy that daily need.. and He does so with abundance! Praise His name!

Verse 7.. Jesus tells us that there is a blessedness in being merciful.  It is a quality that He has shown over and over again.. indeed His mercies are new every morning!  As He abides in us and we grow in the grace and the knowledge of our merciful Savior.. we reflect this precious characteristic. We receive mercy and we practice mercy.  James 2:12-13 "So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement."  Yes, there is a blessedness that can be seen and felt when we have shown mercy as well as when we receive it. 

Father in heaven, let Your name be exalted in all the earth! May Your will be done and Your kingdom come. Father, conform us to the image of Your Beloved Son.. in righteousness and in mercy.  My desire today is to be all that You want me to be.. Have Your own way in me today. Abide in me Jesus as I desire with all my heart to abide in You.  Amen. 

 Matthew 5 This is the sermon that Jesus preached.. probably more than once, I would think.  It is the culmination of every message.. full and complete.. exposing the Truth of what it takes to be God's child. Remembering that Jesus spoke these words to the multitudes and to His disciples.. to "teach" them what they had not learned from the religious leaders of that day..  that I want to hear what He wants to teach me this time.. as I once again mediate on this passage. 

What does it mean to be "blessed"?  Isn't it more than just being happy or satisfied?  Once commentary suggests that it speaks of a "quality of God".. of being indwelt by God with God's nature within...

Therefore we are blessed to be  "poor in spirit".. to know that we are utterly helpless.. and to be completely humbled at our inability to have any spiritual life except for the life of Christ that dwells within us.  That is a blessed state, for then and only then does He give us His kingdom.

We are blessed to be mourners. We have felt the grief of sin, or sorrow, and of death. That grief has led us to the One who comforts us with His Presence. He takes our sin and our sorrows.. our burdens.. our grief...and He bears them Himself.. It is in this precious abiding .. Christ abiding in us and we abiding in Him.. that we experience blessedness as He, Himself, is our Comfort. 

We are blessed to be "meek" or "gentle".. or "humble".  We have come to know the One who is greater, who humbled Himself on a cruel cross, who "although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)  What a blessedness to be conformed to His likeness!  Jesus says that we will "inherit the earth" as a result of this deep abiding with Him.  As we learn in Romans 8:17 we are "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.." 

Father in heaven,  every spiritual blessing has come from You, our God and Father.  You have chosen us "before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before" You.  In love You have called us, adopted us, bestowed Your grace on us, redeemed us, and have made known the mysteries of Christ and Your eternal kingdom. We confess our poverty, we mourn our sin and failures, and we yield to Your Spirit that we might be gentle and meek as our Lord Jesus was and is.  Oh abide in us sweet Spirit of Christ we pray.. Amen. 

 Matthew 4  Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to a wilderness that was isolated and sparse.. " to be tempted by the devil."  .  There He fasted for 40 days and nights.  When he became hungry "the tempter came.." saying, " If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 

Satan knew that Jesus was the Son of God.. didn't he?  Yet, he still tried to manipulate Him.  Do we doubt that he also tries to manipulate us?  He made Eve doubt in the garden.. but he could not make Jesus doubt in the wilderness! "Is is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 

Jesus had no need to obey Satan's instructions.. He is the Bread of Life!  He is the Word that became flesh! He would not question His Father's provision. 

Satan tried to get Jesus to test His Father's promises to have the angels protect Him from falling off of the pinnacle of the temple.. but Jesus would not do that either..  Nor would He ever worship any one or any thing besides the Lord God.. especially not the lying devil... even for "all the kingdoms of the world". 

The angels did come to Jesus after the devil failed and left Him.  They ministered to Him there as He prepared to enter into the ministry that He had been born to do.. " and Jesus was going about in all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people." (v23) 

 Jesus came to fulfill prophecy.. to bring salvation.. to rescue us from the deceiver.. and to bring us true life.  He didn't turn stones into bread.. but He became the broken bread.. the true Bread of Heaven.. that provides Life to all who will believe in Him.  Jesus did not throw Himself down from the temple to see if the Father would send the angels to rescue Him.. but He laid down His life on a wooden cross so that He could rescue us from the dominion of darkness!  Jesus did not take from Satan the kingdoms of this world in exchange for worship.. But, God will give Him the nations because they are His.. not Satan's to give.  Jesus is "the appointed heir of all things"! 

Father in heaven, may Your Spirit of wisdom and understanding.. of knowledge and strength.. fill us with the Truth of Who Jesus is.. "the radiance of [Your] glory and the exact representation of [Your nature.]." He upholds all things. He made purification of sins possible. He sits at the right hand of the throne on high. May we behold His majesty and splendor.. may we know His power and grace. Be exalted O God! We praise You, Lord Jesus!  Open our ears, Lord, so that we might hear Your voice and walk in the truth of Your Word. In the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 3  John the Baptist "came preaching"... His message was pointed.. " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

John was called to a specific ministry unlike any other... he preached, he baptized those who confessed their sins, and he made "ready the way of the Lord.. "  John dressed differently than others too.. "Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair; and a leather belt about his waist; and his food was locusts and honey." 

Yet, people came from all over to hear him and to be baptized in the Jordan river.  Even the Pharisees and Sadducees came to John, but he saw through their facades. He told them about the coming of the Messiah.. that He would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.. " That He would gather the wheat and burn up the chaff.. 

When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John humbled himself, wanting to be baptized by Christ instead. But, in obedience to the Father, Jesus asked John to allow it and he did.  "And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold a voice out  of the heavens saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'". 

The first public act that Jesus did.. was to submit Himself to the baptism of water by John's hands. Submission that pleased the Father and resulted in the coming  of the Holy Spirit upon Him..   Before ministry.. before miracles.. before the temptations.. Jesus came to John and was baptized.  He told John, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  Notice the "us" in that statement.  John and Jesus together were fulfilling the Father's commands. The Spirit's presence confirmed that this was God's will.  John 1:31-34 tells us that John the Baptist testified that he saw the Spirit descend and that he knew that this is the Son of God.. the One who would "baptize in the Holy Spirit." 

Father, help us to follow Jesus by submitting ourselves to Your will in all things.  Help us to be overwhelmed.. baptized by Your Spirit.. led by Your Spirit.. and obedient to Your Word.. the sword of the Spirit.  Keep us in harmony with our fellow believers that in spiritual unity we my accomplish Your good and perfect will to the glory of Your Name. amen.

 Matthew 2 Several things strike me about this passage.. 

First... The chief priests and scribes knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.. they knew that the Magi had come to search for Him.. but they did not bother going to see for themselves. The foreigners wanted to worship this "king of the Jews".. but the Jewish religious leaders didn't even care.  Herod had ulterior motives, but he at least asked about the child. 

Second thing that strikes me is the prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus while He was a child, as noted by Matthew: 

Verse 6 " And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you will come forth a ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel."  This prophecy comes from Micah 5:2 which goes on to say "His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."  

Verse 15 "Out of Egypt did I call My Son". This is a quote from Hosea 11:1b.  The interesting part is that the verse begins with "When Israel was a youth I loved him.. and out of Egypt I called My son."  Matthew is connecting the exodus of Israel with the coming of the Messiah. While Israel refused the love and blessings that the Father desired to pour out on them.. instead being rebellious and disobedient;  Jesus perfectly obeyed His Father's voice. 

Verse 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more."  This quote comes from Jeremiah 31:15.  The vision that Jeremiah is having is about the redemption of Israel..a prophecy of Israel restored.. where mourning is turned into rejoicing.. as God promises a new work.. and a new covenant. Matthew was speaking of the wicked acts of Herod who killed innocent children in an effort to kill the Messiah.  Jeremiah was speaking about how God would restore His people by His goodness and love.. which is exactly what He did through Jesus Christ. 

Verse 23 "He shall be called a Nazarene." This statement is not a direct quote from any Old Testament prophet. The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests it may be associated with  Isaiah 11:1 "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit."  The Hebrew word for branch is "neser" or "netser". The Bible Dictionary states that Nazareth means "Branch". 

Everything about Jesus should have been recognized by those who knew the Word of God.. but their eyes were blinded.  Yet.. the Magi saw the star and knew a King had been born and that He was much more than just an ordinary baby!

Father in heaven,  give us eyes to see the wonder and the majesty of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who came to deliver all people from sin.. if we will call upon His Name.  Thank You for loving us so much that You would send Your only Begotten Son into this wicked world so that we might have salvation through His atoning sacrifice.  We worship Jesus.. our King as well as the King of the Jews.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.. forever and ever Amen! May all glory and honor and praise be to You, the Lover of our  souls, our Father and our God.  Amen. 

 Matthew 1 Old testament or New.. it's all about Jesus! As I move from the book of Exodus to the book of Matthew, from  the completion of the first tabernacle in Exodus.. to the birth of "Immanuel.. God with us".  I rejoice in what an amazing God we serve!  He has always desired to dwell with us.. His people.. His children.. and He always makes a way. 

In Matthew 1 we are given the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of Mary.  It is always precious to me that Matthew includes "Rahab" who married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess who married Boaz and gave birth to Obed,  nor does he forget Solomon's mother, "who had been the wife of Uriah".  It is a powerful reminder that God looks at the heart.. always.  

There are some on this list that we would like to leave off... like Rehoboam, the son of Soloman.. for he was not a good man or a good king..but, they are included none-the-less.  Just as we may look back at our own genealogies and wonder how God brought us to become the people we are.. and the grace that He has poured out on us that we should be His. 

Matthew gives us the brief version of Mary and Joseph's story. They were betrothed. She was "found to be with child by the Holy Spirit".  Joseph was kind and would have "put her away secretly"; but he was given a dream that changed his life.. " Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit". 

The Son  would be called "Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." The begotten Son of God, "Immanuel" is God, the Word made flesh who came to dwell among us.. with us.. in us.. so that we could behold His glory "the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth". (John 1:14)

Father, as You once filled the tabernacle in the wilderness.. You sent Your Spirit to fill all who will believe in Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son.  How thankful we are for Your compassion and grace.. Your abundant lovingkindness.. that You would make a way for us to have forgiveness for our sins and righteousness through our Savior.  May our hearts stay yielded to Your Spirit and our eyes stay fixed on Jesus. Amen. 

 Exodus 38-40  "Now it came about in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was erected." (40:17)

Everything was completed, exactly as the Lord commanded.  It took most of the year to do it as the people stayed in Sinai while the work was done. When it was all set up and Aaron and his sons prepared and anointed, the Lord filled the tabernacle with His glory.  The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night ... now inhabited the tabernacle.  When the cloud lifted they would move.. when it stayed, they stayed. 

God dwelled with His people in the wilderness and gave them a place to come to Him.. to worship Him.. to begin to know Him. The splendor and majesty of the Lord Most High came to earth to make Israel a holy and sacred nation, set apart as His people.. to bless them and to make them a blessing to all the nations.  Yet.. sadly, they were still obstinate and rebellious people with hearts of unbelief and selfishness.. .

In the New Testament we see the Lord do a brand new work, sending Jesus Christ, the Son of God to dwell among us.. " and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." ( John 1:14)  

The Lord had filled the tabernacle.. and later Solomon's temple.. but He had also departed from it because of the sins of Israel.  But, He sent His Son, who came in the flesh, to die on a cruel cross, shedding His blood as the ultimate sacrifice. When Jesus ascended into heaven He left a promise.. He would send the Spirit who would fill.. not a tabernacle or temple made with human hands.. but Who would fill us who believe in and belong to Jesus Christ the Lord.. who have become children of the Most High God. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Our God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth! Exalt His Name. Glory in His majesty and splendor! Give thanks with a most grateful heart.. 

Father, we do praise and worship You for You have come to dwell in us by Your Spirit.. How can we ever thank You enough?  We exalt You and give You all our praise. Amen. 

 Exodus 35-37  Moses brought everyone together for a congregational meeting.  The first thing that he spoke about was the keeping of the Sabbath day. A reminder of the covenant that they had made with the Lord.

  Then he spoke about taking up the contributions for the tabernacle.. ."Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, and blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat's hair, and ram's skin dyed red, and porpoise skins, and acacia wood, and oil for lighting, and spices for anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.. " 

Again, I think about the fact that these people had been slaves in Egypt... with nothing to offer.. but God  had provided them with abundance as they left with gifts from the Egyptians.  As we read in chapter 36 they gave willingly.. so much that they had to be commanded to stop giving!

The Lord also appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to the work giving them "skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary.. "  He also called for "every skillful and among you come, and make all that the Lord has commanded." 

"And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord's contribution for the work of the tent of meeting."....  men came, women came, the leaders came.. hearts were stirred; spirits were moved and the construction was accomplished just as God commanded.

What the Lord commanded, He also provided.  He provided the materials, He provided the skill and understanding... and He also provided the Spirit that moved hearts and accomplished His purposes.  God's desire was to dwell among His people, so everything needed to be done exactly as He commanded.  Yet, He did not leave it to the "obstinate" people of Israel to do on their own.. He filled them with His Spirit so that it could be done as He had revealed that it should be done. 

What does that say to us today..  God's purpose for us is just as holy as the tabernacle was meant to be. We can trust Him to faithfully provide all that is needed to accomplish His good and perfect will in us.  Romans 8:28 reminds us ".. and we know the God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.. "  And what is His purpose?  ".. to become conformed to the image of His Son.. " 

The Greek word for purpose used here is "prothesis"  It means a setting forth or a proposal; an intention; specifically.. it is related to the showbread in the Temple.. as exposed before God.  The showbread represented the 12 tribes of Israel in the presence of the Lord. It was replaced with a fresh batch every week. It was the Bread of the Presence and would be eaten by the priests after being in the tabernacle for a week. As they ate it together it would be a reminder of God's Presence and His provision.  Are we called to be like that Showbread.. a reminder in this world that God is near.. that He provides.. that He will accomplish His desire in all who love Him.. including us?

Father, have Your own way in me.. in us... today. Amen. 

 Exodus 34  Moses was once again summoned to the mountaintop to meet with the Lord. He had to cut out two stone tablets to replace the ones he had shattered. But, this meeting was about more than the stone tablets.. "the Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord." 

 Once again, the Lord came to Moses.. and as He "passed by" He revealed something more to Moses.. " The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers' on the children and on there grandchildren to the third and fourth generations. " (v6-7)

Moses fell on his face to worship the Lord and make his petition, " O Lord I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate; and do Thou pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Thine own possession." 

Moses found favor with the Lord... Who renewed the covenant and promised to do great miracles in order to bring the people into the land of promise.  Moses was so filled with the glory of the Lord that his face began to shine. It shone so brightly that he had to use a veil when he spoke to the people. Only when he went into the tent to meet with God would he take the veil off. 

I love verse 6 of this chapter.  I love that God describes Himself in these terms.. compassionate.. gracious.. slow to anger.. abounding in lovingkindness.. forgiving and yet just. This description is something that King David clung to.. it is found in several of His psalms.. 86:15, 103:8 and 145:8 to name a few..It is also found in Nehemiah 9:17 and Joel 2:13.  This is a passage that fills our hearts with truth about the God we serve and love!  May we cling to these truths as we also come before Him in worship and in our petitions. 

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name for You are our God who has made Your compassion and grace known to us through Jesus Christ the Lord as You sent Him into the world to become our Savior... The Lamb of God who was slain so that we could be forgiven of all our transgressions, iniquities and sins. Cover us with Your abounding lovingkindness, O God, so that we might walk in ways that find favor with You.  May our lives be led by Your Spirit and bring glory to Your name. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen. 

 Exodus 33 The Lord was prepared to send Moses and the people of Israel up into the promised land.. without going with them.  Moses couldn't  even fathom this possibility. He had grown accustomed to being in God's presence continually.  He knew God just about as much as any man could..  besides Christ Himself .... "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend."  Moses did not want to lose this intimacy with the Lord. 

Moses pleaded with God ...  "I pray to Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight.. " Even though he had an intimate relationship with God.. he longed for more. "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!"  God answered that prayer. 

The Lord had Moses stand on a rock.. then He covered him with His own hand and passed by Him, took His hand away and allowed Moses to see His back.  Moses found favor with the Lord and their relationship was even more precious.... and different than any other throughout history. 

The Lord said, ".. I have known you by name."  He listened to Moses' prayers and answered in HIs grace and compassion. He did go with Israel.. knowing that they were obstinate.. and knowing that a time would come when He would judge many of them. But, He went because Moses asked Him to. 

Father, may we also find favor in Your sight.  You do know us.. intimately. You know us each by name. We seek to know You more.. to see Your glory.. to hear Your voice.  We plead for Your Presence among us.. in our homes.. in our churches.. in our nation.  May it be said of us that we are Your people.  May Your grace and kindness flow over us, for we cannot do anything without You.  Jesus, You are the vine and we are the branches and we can do nothing without You . Abide in us and we in You we pray, in Your precious name. Amen. 

 Exodus 32  This  is such a terrible thing.. how the Israelites.. still camped at the mountain of God.. where He had spoken to them.. where the smoke and the thunder were seen and heard.. .demanded an idol to worship.  They had made a covenant with the Lord.. they agreed to the commandments.. to not make a graven image.. to have no other god.. But, here they were ready to worship  a piece of sculpture just a short time after making their vows!

What was Aaron thinking?  Not only did he make the idol, but he built an altar for it.  Then he lied about it! How could he become the High priest of the Lord?  No wonder the Lord was so angry with them all and ready to destroy the whole nation. 

If not for Moses.. they would have been annihilated.  But, Moses interceded for his people.  He "entreated the Lord his God, and said, ' O Lord why doth Thine anger burn against Thy people whom Thou hast brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?'"  Moses reminded the Lord that the Egyptians would say that  God brought the Israelites out of Egypt just to destroy them.  He reminded the Lord about the covenant the He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Israel.  And "So the Lord changed HIs mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people." (v14)

The sad thing is that when Moses went down from the mountain he carried the tablets that God had given him.. " And the tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing, engraved on the tablets." and Moses, in his anger, threw them down and shattered them. 

Moses destroyed the golden calf.  He burned it, ground it to powder, spread it over the water and made the people drink it! On top of that he called for any that would stand with him and the Levites gathered on his side. Then he gave the order for them to go through the camp and kill those who were still rebellious.. and 3000 men died that day. 

Moses went back up the mountain to try to make atonement for the people.  He asked the Lord to forgive them.. "But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin and if not; please blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written!"   But, God would not agree to Moses offer to pay for the peoples' sins. "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My  book. " The punishment would be paid by the ones who deserved it. 

Only One man could make atonement for sin that God would agree to.. and that man was not Moses.. it is Jesus! What terrible and sad things have we done.. like Aaron and the Israelites?  Who will intercede for us?  As Paul wrote in Romans 7: 25  "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"  Because of Him, we find forgiveness and "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, to atone for our sins and to redeem us for Yourself. Thank You for not blotting us out of Your book!  Have Your way in us, Lord Jesus.  Keep us from evil. Keep us from unfaithfulness. Keep us from our own destructive ways. We ask this in the name of our only Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Exodus 31  The Lord "called by name Bezalel... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftmanship.."  Every thing that the Lord had described to Moses on the mountain would be made by men that the Lord equipped to do the work.  "and behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab.. and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you." (v2,6)

This is truly an amazing thing.. not only would they build the tabernacle with all its curtains and framework, but they would make the furnishings.. with wood and gold and silver and bronze. Also they would make the incense and the anointing oil.. and make the garments for the priests.  So much intricate and precise work only could be accomplished by the Spirit of God working in willing people. 

The second half of this chapter focuses on the Sabbath.  "You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you."  He calls it a celebration and a sign.  It is a holy day and a day of rest but more than that it is a gift that brings God and His people into a continual refreshing of their relationship. 

This is the same reason that we take the time to observe a day each week to worship the Lord. It is His day where we enter His house to worship Him. It helps us to deepen and refresh our relationship with our Father as well as with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are exhorted by the Scriptures to not forsake this gathering together.  And we are reminded in the psalms of David that coming to the Lord's house is to be a joyful gathering of praise and thanksgiving. "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall  seek; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." ( Psalm 27:4)

Psalm 63:2 "Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, To see Thy power and Thy glory."  When David sought the Lord.. when he thirsted for Him like a man thirsts for water in a dry and weary land.. he found Him and was satisfied.  Oh that we might hunger and thirst for our God and run to His house so that we might encounter His power and glory! 

Father, draw us into Your holy Presence.. may we experience Your power and glory every time we meet in the Lord's house. May we keep this time holy and precious.. when we gather together every Sunday to praise You, to be refreshed by Your Presence.. to see Your beauty.  Thank You for this great gift. Thank You for the men and women that You have equipped for the work of making a church worthy of Your Name.  Anoint and consecrate Your servants.. our pastors.. for the ministry for the body of believers. Thank You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 30 gives the directions for the altar of incense and the laver for the priests to wash.  It also gives the directions for how to make the incense and the anointing oil.  All of these things were to be exclusively used for worship in the tabernacle.. " It is most holy to the Lord".  Everything that was consecrated by the anointing oil was considered holy and anything that touched the holy things would then be considered holy. 

The altar of incense was placed outside of the holy of holies..in front of the veil where the ark of the covenant would stand. The incense was to be burned both in the morning and at twilight.. when the lamps were lit and when they were trimmed in the evening.  

In Revelation 8 we read about another altar where incense is burned.. before the throne of God. ."and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand."   The pure and holy incense that God required for His people touches the prayers of those who love Him.  Just as the Holy Spirit, as Ephesians 8:26 tells us, " helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." 

Father in heaven, holy and lifted up, let Your Name be honored in all of the earth.  Let Your Kingdom come in its fulness and power as Jesus reigns forever and ever.  Let Your will be done.. in me.. in Your people.. in all of the earth, as it is in heaven.  Let our prayers be mixed with the smoke of incense that comes before Your throne of grace.  Hear our prayers and the intercession made by Your Spirit who lives in us. We are full of weakness and do not know how to pray as we should, so pray for us Spirit of God, for You search our hearts and intercede for us according to the will of God.  Thank You for covering us with the lavish grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that we might be made holy. We our in Your hands. amen. 

 Exodus 29  This chapter describes the instructions that the Lord gave for the consecration and ordination of Aaron and his sons for the job of priests to the Lord.  This was a brand new way for people to come to God.  God intended to meet His people at the doorway to His tabernacle.  He intended for them to know Him as He dwelt among them.  "And they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt; that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God." (v46)

Yet, before they could meet with the Lord, the priests had to be prepared.  To come any other way would  bring death.. 

God set aside Aaron and his sons for this task. They had to be washed, clothed in the special garments, anointed with oil and sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifices.  There was  a bull offered as a sin offering. There were 2 rams offered.. one as a burnt offering and one as a wave and heave offering.  The Lord called the burnt offering a "soothing aroma".  He proclaimed that a portion of the heave offerings would be used as a portion for the priests. 

This specific time of consecration and ordination lasted for 7 days.  Each day a bull was offered as a sin offering. Each day a lamb would be offered in the morning and one at twilight.  A grain offering and a libation were offered with the lambs. This would become a continuous offering from this time forward. 

When the atonement was completed the altar would be considered "holy" to the Lord and nothing unholy should ever touch it. 

We no longer have to bring blood sacrifices into a tent or temple.. we don't have to come before a priest from Aaron's line.  We come to know the Lord our God through the Lamb of God,  Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the final offering fulfilling every requirement that the Lord commanded. 

Father in heaven, we thank You for the salvation that comes through Jesus.  He washes us clean. He anoints us with holy oil.  He paid the sin offering and has made us holy before You by His blood.  Keep us from all unrighteousness that we might come before You morning and evening.. blameless to stand in Your holy presence and to know You as the Lord our God.  In His name we come . Amen.

 Exodus 28 Great detail was given to Moses for the garments for the High Priest ( Aaron) and for his sons.   Verse 2 " and you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty." 

God gave workmen skill and wisdom to create the garments that He required.  There would be nothing like it among the people of Israel or anywhere else. Every part of the garment was made precisely according to God's plan. Everything had significance, for example:

There were onyx stones, engraved with the names of the 12 sons of Jacob mounted on the shoulders of the high priests garment.. " And you shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial." (v12)  Besides this, there was a breastplate attached that would be over Aaron's heart.. with 12 precious stones.. each engraved with the 12 names of the "children of Israel"..  also for a "memorial before the Lord continually".  This breastplate was called the "breastplate of judgement".  Added into this breastplate were the "Urim and Thummin".. two stones that were used by the High Priest in certain situations.  According to Strong's concordance the meanings of these two words may be Urim=lights; Thummin= truth. "And they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgement of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually." 

One more significant piece of the High Priest's garment is his turban which was attached to a gold plate, which was engraved with the words "Holy to the Lord".  "And it shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead; that they may be accepted before the Lord." (v38)

This makes me think of our Lord.. the true High Priest.. who wore a crown of thorns as He carried our sins.. to take away our iniquity before the throne of grace.  He carried our names with Him.. He carried our judgements with Him.. He carries us.. over His heart "continually".  Oh, how wonderful is our Savior, our Great High Priest.. because of Him we are "accepted before the Lord"! 

Father in heaven, thank You for such a Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, Your one and only Son.  Thank You that He has brought us before You and continually prays for us, never forgetting or forsaking us. Help us to be filled with the Truth and the Light of Your Word by Your Spirit of wisdom and understanding.  Let the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ fill us and cover us.. as we stand on Him, our solid Rock and firm foundation.. to the praise of Your Holy Name. Amen.

 Exodus 26-27  These chapters give the exact details for the building of the tabernacle and the tent surrounding it. Everything needed to be made exactly as the pattern that Moses was shown on the mountain. 

I'm not a builder or architect, so it is hard for me to envision this tabernacle just from reading these directions. But..  I am so impressed with it all!  It must have been so beautiful with all the gold and the curtains and the furnishings.. Yet it was also so practical.. the coverings to keep it warm and dry in rainy weather or cool and shady in the heat.  It was made to take apart and be carried as they traveled. It would have been become fairly easy to move it and put it back up again at the next stopping place. 

What is also interesting is that every resource was provided as God gave this assignment to Moses and the people.. including the workmen to do it.  The men of Israel had been making bricks and building Egyptian buildings for years.. they had a great deal of knowledge about building, but this would take a whole different set of skills.. carpentry.. metal work.. weaving.. etc. And God gave them the abilities to do what He required. 

This "tent of meeting" was going to be vital to Israel because this would be where they would draw close to their God. The priests  would go into the tabernacle every single day and night. The people would bring their gifts and offerings here on a regular basis.  It had to be functional. It had to be moveable.. and it had to be kept holy.  And, beyond that.. God made it beautiful so He could fill it with Himself . 

This makes me think about what the Word says about us .. our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit. God has a plan that is perfect.. in beauty and in purpose.. for each of His children.  He provides the resources to  build us into the Image that is above.. the Image of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has used things in our lives to shape us and then He chooses to use us to draw others closer to Himself. 

Father, fill us with Your holy presence!  Come O come and fill us now. Amen

 Exodus 25  The first three things that Moses receives instructions to build are the ark of the covenant; the table of showbread, and the golden lamp stand.  They are all important but the foremost would be the ark of the covenant. It wasn't just that it held the tablets, the manna, and Aaron's rod.. but that it was covered by the Mercy Seat.. It was from here that God met with the High Priest.. This was the symbol of God's Presence and covenant with Israel. The Ark was placed into the Holy of holies.  No one could go in there except the High Priest and only once a year. 

The table of showbread and the lampstand were placed into the Holy place, outside of the veil that hid the ark, but still kept from the public view.  The priests had to go into the holy place every day to keep the oil in the lamp filled, to burn the incense, and once a week they would change out the bread on the table. 

These items were holy.. they were more valuable than just the gold that was used to make them.. because they spoke of God's Presence with His people.  He would meet with the people's representative to give him His commandments.. He would be their Light and their life.. symbolized by the lamp stand and the bread. 

These items were made according to the pattern given to Moses on the mountain.. and lived out by Jesus when He came to earth.  Jesus was and is God... present with His people.  He is the Light of the world and the Bread of life. The glory of God would fill the tabernacle that Moses would make.. but it wouldn't stay there when the people broke their covenant with Him.  The glory of God filled Jesus as He fulfilled all that the tabernacle symbolized.  By His grace He comes and fills us.. when we become the temple of the Holy Spirit. To His glory there will be no end!

Father in heaven,  You have made us Your own through Jesus Christ, our Lord.. You have given us the Light of the world to illuminate our spirits, our minds, and our hearts.  You have given us the Bread of life so that we might have eternal life.  You have given us Your Presence.. Your Holy Spirit who speaks Your Words to us so that we can do Your will.  We partake of the bread and drink from the cup.. and remember that You have done it all by Your amazing grace so that we can be Your people.  Thank You!  Praise to the Lord our Holy God who has done wonderful works and who was and is and shall ever be! Amen. 

 Exodus 25  The Lord met with Moses in the smoke and fire at the top of the mountain for 40 days and nights.  He spoke directly to Moses, giving complete directions for building the tabernacles, and all its furniture, and all the garments for the priests.  He shows Moses what he would pattern each piece after.. "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." (v40)

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him, you shall raise a contribution ."  The Lord took a people that had been bound in slavery.. making bricks for Eygpt's buildings.. brought them into the wilderness.. provided food and water for them.. made a covenant with them.. claimed them as His people.. and then asked for them to give from their hearts what He had given them.  It's an incredible list:

"Gold; silver; and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen,  goat hair, rams' skin dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for anointing ail and for fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones, for the ephod and for the breastpiece..." 

Porpoise skins?   Can you even imagine how they got that?  As they left Egypt and they were given gifts from the people of Egypt.. someone handed them "porpoise skins"!  And gems and material.. and spices and everything that God would require for this tabernacle!  God provided perfectly.. yet He only took what each person would give from their heart. 

Father in heaven,  You have given us everything that we need so that we can give to You from our hearts..even those things that are far beyond our ability to give.   There is a lesson here that we must learn.. teach us by Your Spirit so that we might understand.. that we might surrender all to You and  so that You will be glorified.  "All I have needed Thy hand has provided"..  Provide for us that which You desire for us to give to You in worship today.. Move in our hearts we ask..  In Jesus' name we pray.. Amen. 

 Exodus 24  When Moses received the laws and ordinances from the Lord he "recounted to the people all the words.."  then he wrote them all down.   After this he "sent young men of the sons of Israel" and they offered sacrifices.  Moses took the blood of the offerings and sprinkled it on the altar and then after reading the words of the covenant one more time.. and the people agreeing to this covenant.. he sprinkled them with the blood too. 

After this God called Moses, Aaron and his sons, and 70 elders up on the mountain.  From where they stopped "they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky itself." 

From there the Lord called Moses to come up even further on the mountain to receive the stone tablets that God Himself wrote. So, Moses went up and the mountain was covered by the "glory of the Lord."  It looked like a cloud and a fire.  Moses stayed with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights. The next 7 chapters will explain everything that God revealed to Moses during those 40 days. Everything to do with the tabernacle and the priests.. and how the people of God would worship Him as he came to dwell among them. 

Imagine being that close.. close enough to see God with mortal eyes.. and still being alive.. and yet.. soon crumbling under the pressure of people who wanted an idol they could see.  How could they be so faithless?

How can we?  What temptations make us crumble? What takes our eyes off of Jesus? Oh may we want to go up on the mountain and not forget! 

Father in heaven, we do want to see Your glory and never forget that You are with us, dwelling among us.. dwelling in us by Your Spirit. Draw us closer, Lord. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! Thank You for Your grace that covers us and Your mercy that is new every morning. We need You, Lord. Come and fill us once again with the living water.. from the well that will never run dry! We praise You and worship You alone. Hallelujah. Amen!

 Exodus 21-23   Many of these laws or ordinances are specific judgements for specific circumstances.  Perhaps these were the actual disputes that came before Moses and his appointed judges.  The Lord provided the consequences that were appropriate to each situation.  The ordinances address such things as personal injuries; actions towards others; property rights; etc.  They tell when and what kinds of restitution should be made in specific situations. 

There are also several reminders included in these laws about worshipping or even naming any false god. "He who sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed." (22:20)  And, "Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth." (23:13)

There are several situations where the Lord says that He, Himself will take the necessary action.. 22:22-24 "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and my anger will be kindled and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless."  The second situation involves taking a neighbor's cloak as a pledge but not returning it so he can have cover as he sleeps.. " And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious." ( 22:26-27)

In chapter 23:10 there is a change in focus, from specific judgements to laws regarding the sabbath and the land.  Then beginning in verse 14 the Lord gives His directions for the national feasts:  The feast of Unleavened Bread; The feast of the Harvest; and the Feast of the Ingathering.  Three times a year all the men would be required to travel to the place of the Lord's choosing to celebrate these important feasts. 

The final section of this chapter deals with the promise of the Lord's direction, protection, and provision as they journeyed  to the promised land. The Lord promised an angel to "guard you along the way and to bring you into the place I have prepared." (v20).  He promised that if they obeyed that  "then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries" (v22).  And He promised, that if they would serve Him.. "He will bless your bread and your water and I will remove sickness from your midst." (v25)  God shared His plan for taking the promised land.. He would drive out the wicked nations; He would fix their boundaries;  He would drive out the inhabitants "little by little" so that the land would not be desolate or overtaken by wild animals. 

Father, I am thankful that You understand every situation that we find ourselves in.. and You have promised to be with us and to hear us when we cry out to You.  We thank You for the promises that we have in Christ Jesus.. as Peter wrote, " For.. He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.. " ( II Peter 1:4) We ask that You would guide us by Your Holy Spirit,  surround us with Your love and truth, and bless us with Your Presence...   Let the grace and peace found in the knowledge of  God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be multiplied in us today... we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Exodus 20:12-26  The last 6 commandments given to Moses deal with relationships between people.. families, neighbors, communities... nations.  

"Honor your father and your mother..."   Don't murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet what doesn't belong to you.  

All of these things are good and reasonable.. bringing peace and harmony in society.  The Lord starts His focus on the relationships within the family.. the foundation for the rest.  A family where children honor and respect their parents.. where husbands and wives respect and honor their marriage covenants.. this is a family where God is honored and it pleases Him. 

A community that respects and honors others is a place where murder and theft and fraudulent testimonies will not be accepted.  A place where people are grateful for what they have and don't lust after what others have.. is a place of peace and security and rest. 

But.. we know that such ideal places don't exist in our world.. because sin has taken hold of every heart. Oh that the world would receive the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ the Lord.  

The people of Israel listened as the thunder pealed out, the lightning flashed and the fire from heaven caused them to tremble. They didn't want to hear any more.. but the Lord wanted them to hear what He had to say..so that they would have His blessing as they learned to walk in His ways. They needed to have a healthy reverent fear of the Lord. But, they also need to worship Him and Him alone. So do we.. 

Father in heaven, Your commandments are perfect in every way... if only we would keep them all! Thank You that You have given us a Savior that has made a way for us.. to walk in the Spirit and to do all Your good and perfect will in Him.  We are helpless without Your grace, Lord God.  Cause Your name to be found in us.. cover us with Your banner.. fill us with Your Truth and love.  We have died in Christ.. died to sin and died to the law.. but we live in Him alone to do Your good will.  Have Your way in us today we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 20:1-11   God spoke "all these words"..  These words would be the foundation of  God's covenant with Israel.  Because He is : "the  Lord your God".. the One who delivered the people out of Egypt.. out of slavery.. because He was revealing Himself to them by coming down out of heaven with thunder and lightning and smoke and fire.. these words were vital for them.. as a people of God.. as a nation, set apart as God's own possession. 

The first 4 of these commandments established Israel's relationship with the Lord.  This is what He desired for them and from them.. 

To have no other gods. 

 To have no idols. To have no images.  To never worship anyone or anything other than Him. 

They were to hallow His name. They were never to use His name in any other way but in reverence and worship. 

They were to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."  The seventh day was to always be observed as a day of rest.. to remember the One who made the "heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.. They were given this gift of the sabbath.. and they were to "keep" it sacred.. set apart.. "holy". 

Jesus, when asked which commandment was the greatest, said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.. " ( Matthew 22:37)  To do this is to keep these first 4 commandments presented to the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai.. the mountain of God. F

Father in heaven, fill our hearts with this great love.. let our souls and our minds.. be completely overwhelmed with love for You.  May we never want anyone or anything more than we want You.. to love You and keep Your commandments.  Thank You for Jesus Christ, who is in us and who leads us into the depths of Your love. It is in His holy name we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 19  It took 3 months of traveling and living in the wilderness before the people of Israel reached Sinai. This is where they camped.. right in front of the mountain of God.  This is where Moses met God and would receive the Law. This is where the people of Israel would come before God as they never had before. 

It is the Lord who calls Moses up to the mountain.  It is here that He makes His covenant with Israel.  "Now, then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. "  The people responded.. " All that the Lord has spoken we will do!"  With this agreement, the Lord instructs Moses to prepare the people for Him to come down from heaven onto the mountain. 

They have 3 days to prepare themselves.. to wash their clothes.. to abstain from marital relations.. to consecrate themselves.. They have 3 days to prepare for something that they couldn't even begin to imagine. Three times the Lord tells Moses to warn the people not to touch the mountain.  The magnitude of this event is far beyond anything that they had experienced.. far beyond anything we have experienced either.. 

The first thing that happens on the third day is that "thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud.." accompanied by a "very loud trumpet".. descends on the mountain.   The people are trembling as Moses leads them out of the camp to the foot of the mountain. 

The mountain was covered with smoke and fire and "the whole mountain quaked violently".  The trumpet got even louder.. and then God spoke..  Moses is called up onto the mountain and the warning is repeated.. no one else can even touch the mountain.. " lest the Lord break out against them."  Then Moses was sent down the mountain again.. this time to bring Aaron up with him... and the people are warned again. 

How do we prepare to meet with God?  Do we wash our clothes? Do we consecrate ourselves in any way? Or do we just walk into church on a Sunday morning with nothing more on our minds then what's for lunch?  Yes, things are different for us now.. on this side of the cross.. but.. should we not be more mindful of the awesomeness of God's Presence?  There is not fire and smoke; no quaking mountains; no loud trumpets.. but God is just as much Present, isn't He?

Father, teach us.. reveal to us.. what we need to learn about coming into Your presence.. on a Sunday morning.. or on any day when we wake up and prepare for the day ahead.  Thank You for being patient with us.  Help us to learn the reverence that we should always have for You.. and may we never take for granted the privilege that we have to come into Your presence... as Your children.  Call us to yourself, Lord,  that we might stand on the holy ground instead of being banished from Your presence. Thank You for Jesus Christ, who has made the way for us to come freely to You.  You have shed Your grace on us.. and we praise and worship You. Amen. 

 Exodus 18  Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came out to the wilderness, bringing Mose's wife and children back to him.  Apparently Moses had sent them back home rather than take them to Egypt with him.  Jethro was a big help to Moses. After all that had happened and with all the moaning and complaining from the Israelites.. it must have been such an encouragement to have someone who rejoiced over what God had done!  

Jethro also helped Moses by giving him some good advice.. Instead of trying to hear every complaint and grievance between the people.. Jethro suggested that Moses set up others to hear and judge based on the laws and statutes that God would teach him... so that..  ".. they will bear the burden with you.." 

The thing about Moses at this point.. is that he listened to others.. trusted others.. and taught others. It shows his humility and his trust in God's leading.  Those 40 years working for Jethro as a shepherd changed him from being a "prince" in Egypt.  The next 40 years would bring more immense changes as he becomes God's leader for this new nation being birthed in the wilderness.  Only God can do this!

Father, whatever changes You want to do in me.. in us, Your people, have Your way.  Take us through the days and weeks and years of our lives.. molding us into the image of Your beloved Son, that we might, like Jesus, please You and bring praise to Your holy Name.  Help us to humbly listen.. learn.. teach.. and even share our burdens under Your direction.  Come and fill us Spirit of God with wisdom and understanding; counsel and strength; knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  In Jesus' name we pray.Amen. 

 Exodus 17:8-16   The Israelites didn't do very well on their "tests" from the Lord.. they complained and grumbled about food... they complained and grumbled about water.. but the Lord provided abundantly for both of these needs.  

And then... a greater challenge came to them.. the Amalekites. 

War.. in the wilderness where they had just experienced a great miracle of water coming from the Rock... were they ready for such a challenge? 

Moses sent Joshua to choose men for an army.  They went out to fight.. but not on their own.  Moses went up on a hill with the staff of God and as long as his arms were raised, the Israelites prevailed. But.. when his arms grew heavy and he lowered them.. the Israelites lost ground.  So, Aaron and Hur took Moses and sat him on a rock and held up his arms until the sun set and Joshua and the army won the battle. 

It took them working together to accomplish what the Lord desired. Sometimes we forget this important truth.. we are not alone in our battles.  The Lord is our Banner too!  Jehovah-Nissi..  The One True God who exists eternally.. is my banner, my flag, my signal.. He is lifted up as a standard over me. 

In our Roman's bible study we were talking about 6:15.. about no longer being "under sin" but being "under grace".  It made me think about being under an umbrella.. covered.. kept safe.. kept under the banner of God's free gift.. His amazing grace.  Isaiah 25:4 gives us another picture.. "For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat." 

Moses and the army of Israel knew the Lord as their defense that day.  But, also the Lord used Aaron and Hur to come alongside Moses to help him hold up his arms.  They were just as vital to the victory as Joshua and the soldiers with him. I'm reminded that there are times when we are the ones in the battle.. and sometimes we are the ones on the hillside.. holding up the weary.  Sometimes we are the weary ones.. who need to be held up!

Whatever we are facing today.. may we know the One who is our Banner.. the One who is our Shelter in the storm.. our refuge from the fierce heat.. our Rock who never fails. 

Father in heaven, keep us in Your perfect peace for we trust in You.  Keep us faithful.. Keep us steadfast.  Keep us in Your righteousness and cover us with Your grace.  In Jesus' name we ask these things. Amen. 

 Exodus 17:1-7  The Lord moved the people of Israel to a place called "Rephidim".  He stopped them there.. in the desert.. where there was no water.   But, instead of believing and trusting the Lord to provide.. they grumble and complained and threatened Moses... like he could do anything about it!

What they did not do.. was ask the Lord.. who was giving them bread to eat.. to also give them water to drink.  Moses was the only one who "cried out to the Lord."  So, Moses was told to go ahead of the people and take his staff and some elders to the rock at Horeb. He was told to "strike the rock" and that the Lord would bring water out of that rock. And... so he did. 

Now, we know that the people really did need that water. God knew it too.  We know that normally water would not come from a rock.  We know there was no way for Moses to know that it would work either.  But, he trusted and obeyed.  Water came.. abundantly poured out for all the people and all their animals.  That's how God works... even when we don't deserve it.  His grace flows out through the Rock.. through the life of our Savior, Christ Jesus.

It's easy to forget the blessings that God has already given to us.. we begin to take them for granted and are no longer thankful.. because a new problem has risen up to take our attention.  O.. may we not forget!  May we learn to trust and obey like Moses did! 

Father in heaven, forgive my worry.. my grumbling and complaining.. for I truly am thankful for the grace that You have shown to me through all of my life!  I have had the privilege of growing up in a family that went to church.. with people who prayed for me and led me to Jesus.  Thank You.  You have made a way for me through many situations where I could not have found a way out.. except by Your loving Hand. Thank You.  You have a plan for my life.. even now.. that I can rest in.. knowing that You will accomplish Your good and perfect will. Thank You! My hope is in the Rock that is Jesus Christ.. from whom all blessings flow.. like water in the desert! Thank You. I love You, Lord. Be glorified in all the earth this day I pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 16  Again the people of Israel began to grumble.. and the Lord heard their grumbling.. 

I have done my share of grumbling.. haven't you?  We are born wanting what we want.. and when we don't get it.. we grumble.  We are not so different from the Israelites. 

This time the people were grumbling about food. They were thinking about the bread they had back in Egypt.. and the meat they cooked for supper. They forgot about the hours of slave labor.. about beatings and back-breaking loads they had to carry every day..  They just wanted to know how they were going to find food in the wilderness? 

The Lord already had a plan for this.  He would provide quail for their meat.. and he would provide "bread from heaven".. manna for each day. But... there were rules...  First off, they had to go out in the morning and gather the right amount for their families.. for just that day.  Secondly, they were NOT to keep extra except on the day before the Sabbath.  Then, they would not go out on the Sabbath, for God was giving them a day of rest every 7th day. 

So, what did they do?  They tried to keep extra.. they tried to find some on the 7th day.. But, they finally figured it out and were able to trust the Lord each day for their "daily bread". 

This manna was provided for the people of Israel for 40 years... until they finally entered the promised land. 

Jesus taught His disciples to ask for daily bread.  He also taught them that He, Himself, is the true Bread from heaven.  Our Father knows what we need and He has promised to provide.. but He wants us to trust Him.  "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness"  Jesus tells us.. and the Father, who knows us completely.. will provide all that we need.  So thankful, that our God hears us.. even though we grumble.. and He is so gracious to  provide for us anyway.  

Father, turn our hearts from grumbling to gratitude!  Give us today, the daily bread that we need.. and the gracious gift of rest.. of peace.. of faith, hope, and love.  We are thankful for all You have done and continue to do for us. .moment by moment and day by day! Forgive us for grumbling and complaining.. for being impatient or prideful or greedy. May we hear Your voice and obey Your commands to us today. In Jesus ' name we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 15  Moses and all of Israel broke out in a new song.. "I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea." 

They praised and exalted the Lord for His strength and for His salvation. They proclaimed Him to be a "warrior".. "The Lord is His name."!  They had learned so much about the Lord through this amazing miracle...they learned of His majesty.. of His excellent greatness.. of His majestic holiness.. and of His lovingkindness towards them. 

They learned what it meant to be the people of God.. redeemed.. purchased.. and eventually planted "in the mountain of Thine inheritance." 

Yet.. three days later.. there was no water and they grumbled. 

The Lord "tested them"... He gave them a "statute and a regulation.. "  And,  He told them, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians, for I, the Lord, am your healer." (v26)  This is His promise. 

Father in heaven, we are giving heed to Your voice.. desiring to do what is right in Your sight... listening to Your commands and trusting in You.  Be our help and be our healer too.  Help us to know You in deeper and greater ways.. and to exalt and honor Your Name in all we do. We ask this in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

 Exodus 14  If you have never read Robert Morgan's book, Red Sea Rules,  I highly recommend it!  His look at the lessons from this chapter in Exodus are so encouraging and insightful...  Even now as I think on this great event in the redemption of the nation of Israel.. I can't help but remember Morgan's first rule, "Realize that God means for you to be where you are." 

God directed Moses and the people of Israel to a specific place "before Pihahiroth, between Migdo and the sea, over against Baalzephon."  Couldn't get more direct than that!  They were in a place with no way out. The Egyptians were coming after them.. the Red Sea was before them.. BUT..  they were in the exact place that God wanted them to be. 

The Lord hardened Pharoah's heart. The people of Israel were scared and angry at Moses for leading them out of Egypt, thinking that they would be better off to die there.  Moses.. on the other hand.. was learning how to trust and obey.  "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." (v13-14) 

Then Moses lifted up the staff and the waters of the Red Sea divided so that there was water standing "like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." The people walked through the sea on dry ground! When the Egyptians began to follow.. the Lord caused them to get "confused".. the wheels on their chariots began to swerve.. and before they could turn around and run the Lord ordered Moses to stretch out his hand and the water came back down.. washing away the whole army of Egyptians. 

Finally, the Israelites "saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians.. "  Finally, they "feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses." 

Would they have believed if God had not led them to where He did?  They should have believed already.. but, they seemed to forget all that God had already done!  Don't we have that same problem?  God brings us through our struggles and trials.. and we are so thankful.. for a while.  But, when another problem arises.. we begin to worry and fret.. afraid that God won't help us this time.  We need to remember that our God can make a way.. or as Robert J. Morgan writes, "The same God who leads us in will lead you out." We serve a mighty God who cares about us!

Father in heaven,  we never know what another day might hold.. but we are so thankful that You do... and that You lead us right where You want us to be.  We trust Your perfect plans.. even when we are in impossible places.. for You are the God who splits the Sea and moves mountains.. and brings about good for those You call to Yourself.  Help us to remember and believe.. to obey and to keep trusting You.  Teach us Your ways and let Your will be done. We ask this in the name of our gracious Lord,  Your beloved son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Exodus 13 As the people of Israel leave Egypt the Lord gave them some instructions.. for the present and for the future.  The first thing that He commands them to do is to "Remember".. 

They were to set apart or "sanctify" every first born son and the first born of their animals.  This would remind them of the fact that God had spared their children and resources from the judgement that He poured out on Egypt.  They were to honor the Lord, remembering His "powerful Hand" that brought them out of slavery and suffering.  

When they arrived into the promised land and established their nation there, the Israelites were to "devote" every first born to the Lord.  He set up a way to "redeem" their first-born sons with a sacrifice offered before Him. 

The Lord also provided a physical sign of His presence with the people of Israel. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was given to them as they traveled out of Egypt. 

When they left Egypt and followed the pillar.. we are told that "God did not lead them by way of the land of Philistines, even though it was near; "   He didn't want them to "see war" and change their minds and return to slavery in Egypt.  Instead, the Lord led them to the Red Sea.  

In many ways the children of Israel were just that.. "children".. Their faith was weak.. their knowledge of God scant.. their faithfulness untested.  The Lord had done amazing and powerful works in their sight.. showing them, for the first time, Who He is.  He wanted them to remember this! He established His covenant with them, so that they would see themselves as set apart.. "sanctified" as His people.  He gave them these first few instructions.. to help them see themselves in a whole new way.. no longer slaves, but the people.. the nation.. of the Lord's choosing. 

Father in heaven, You have called us Your children.  You have chosen us to belong to Your family.. redeeming us by the blood of the Lamb.  You lead us in Your paths.. which sometimes are not the fastest ways.. but the best ways.. the ways that reveal to us Who You are.  You desire for us to remember and to obey... and to trust You.  We may not see the pillar of cloud or fire.. but, we know that You are with us every day and every night and we are so thankful.  Have Your way in us today, Lord. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture.. and we give You praise. You are amazing, God!  Amen. 

 Exodus 5-12   God's message to Moses and Aaron was clear.. He was going to work in such a way that everyone.. even Pharaoh... would know the He is the Lord. God's message to Pharaoh was "Let My  people go... " 

At first things didn't go well for the people of Israel.. they actually got worse!  But, day after day, they began to see the Lord's power displayed.. 

Water turned into blood.

Frogs that covered the land.

Gnats that rose up out of the dust.

Livestock dying in the fields.

Boils breaking out on their bodies.

Hail raining down and destroying the crops... but, not on those belonging to the Hebrews.

Locusts that invaded and stripped every green thing in all the land of Egypt, with the exception of the Hebrew's land. 

Darkness that fell over the land for 3 days.. except for the Hebrew's homes. 

Then.. the final plague.  Death to the first born of every Egyptian "from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits on the throne, even to the first-born of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the first-born of the cattle as well." (11:5)

The Lord commanded the people of Israel to prepare for this last show of His power and wonders. They were to prepare for that night. They had to set aside a perfect lamb. They had to prepare the lamb.. taking his shed blood and putting it on the doorposts and lintels of their homes.  The lamb had to be roasted.. the bread had to be unleavened.. they had to stay indoors.. they needed to remember this night forever. 

The day came. Israel obeyed all the Lord commanded them.  The Lord did everything He said He would do. And Israel walked out of Egypt 430 years after they had come in.  Over 600,000 men plus women and children, flocks and herds.. and gifts of silver, gold and clothing from their Egyptian neighbors. 

Father, You are the Lord. Sovereign King and Creator.  Every nation is subject to Your command.  Yet, some still harden their hearts, just like Pharaoh.  May we remember what You did those many years ago.. and acknowledge that You are and always will be  the Lord!  Let Your will be done in our nation today, Lord!  Let our hearts be yielded and ready to obey Your Word. Bring repentance and humble us before Your throne. Change hard hearts, Lord God..  May we know the greatness and wonder of our God.. in new ways.. Shine Your light on us today we pray. In Jesus' name . amen. 

 Exodus 4  God had called Moses to a great mission.. to deliver the people of Israel out of the dominion of Egypt into the promised land.  But, there were a few obstacles... 

First, Moses was concerned that the people of Israel would not believe him or listen to God's message.  To that the Lord gave him some signs that would convince them if they didn't believe at first.  The staff could be thrown down and turn into a serpent and then restored back into a staff.  Moses' hand became leprous and then was brought back to normal. The water of the Nile would be turned into blood. "And it shall come about that if they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign." 

Secondly, Moses was concerned with his lack of eloquent speech.  The Lord rebuked him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"  God promised to  teach Moses what to say.. yet he still hesitated.  So the Lord gave Moses a helper.. his own brother Aaron. 

Moses took leave of his father-in-law, Jethro, and took his wife and sons towards Egypt.  But, there was one more obstacle.. "Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.." (v24)  This seems like the kind of obstacle that would make you turn back..  to think that maybe you heard it all wrong ... But, this time it was Zipporah, Moses'  wife that acted.. circumcising her two sons right then and there. This seemed to bring things back into alignment with God's plan. 

After all of this, Moses went on and met Aaron "at the mountain of God".  They went together to meet with the elders of Israel.  Aaron did the speaking and Moses did the signs.. and the people believed! Together they all bowed and worshiped God, rejoicing that He saw their affliction and was ready to deliver them. 

Obstacles.. whether they come from our own fears and insecurities.. or from others.. or from the Lord Himself... are part of our journey too.  It is encouraging to know that God's plans contain the obstacles and the solutions too!  God had a plan to give Moses the evidence he would need to succeed in convincing the people to trust Him.  God had a plan to help Moses speak the words that He wanted him to speak.  And God had a plan to keep Moses walking in the Truth.. to fear God and to be obedient to all of His ways. 

Whatever obstacles we are facing today.. may we trust God to overcome them! He has a plan for us too. 

Father in heaven, You are so good to us. Even when we are facing things that we have no strength to deal with.. You are with us and will bring us through. Thank You for the truth of Your word that gives us courage in the midst of our struggles.. You are our Provider, our Strength.. our Shelter in the time of storms!  You are the Rock on which we stand. We give You praise and worship You. amen. 

 Exodus 3 Imagine.. being in the wilderness, just as always, leading the flock of sheep near a mountain that was called "Horeb, the mountain of God."  And, then, seeing a bush burning, but not being burnt up! And, as if that weren't enough the "angel of the Lord" appears. 

Moses knew of God. He had been with Jethro, the priest of Midian, for 40 years at this point. He was 80 years old.... (I wonder why he was out with the sheep and not his sons? ) But, God chose this time to reveal Himself to Moses.,. in a burning bush.  Moses turned aside from his path, from his task, from his sheep.. to see this "marvelous sight".  It is only then that he comes near to God. 

Are we willing to "turn aside" from our business.. from our busyness.. to come near to God?  We may not have a burning bush to see.. but the same God who met Moses in the wilderness.. is ready to reveal Himself to us when we take the time to seek Him.

God had a mission for Moses. He called Moses to be part of His plan to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.  He could have done it a different way.. but He chose to use Moses for this assignment. It was a big job! Moses had no way to accomplish this on his own. God was going to use Moses to reveal Himself to His people in a way that they could never found on their own.  They would come to know Him as "I AM".. the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.. the God who Is and Was.. and forever will be.  It was God's plan to use Moses in the deliverance of His people from Egypt into the promised land.  It would happen according to His plan and by His power.  Moses just needed to cooperate with God. 

Father in heaven, help us to seek You and find You .. every day, so that we can be immersed in Your presence and so that we can be part of Your plan for the people around us.. that they might also meet You and find the deliverance that only You can provide.  Have Your way in us, Lord God.  Be exalted among the nations and to the ends of the earth!  amen. 

 Exodus 2   Moses quickly tells his story...  he was born of a Hebrew woman in the times when all baby boys were supposed to be killed.  He was kept by his mother, hidden, for 3 months and then placed into a woven basket.  He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and rescued from the Nile.  He was nursed by his own mother and then turned over to the princess.  

Moses confesses that he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Then, he ran away when Pharaoh tried to kill him.  He ended up in Midian and married Zipporah, the daughter of the priest of Midian.  They have a son and name him Gershom. 

During this time, things got worse in Egypt. The king, Pharaoh, died and the Israelites were treated even worse than before by the next ruler.  It is then that they finally begin to "cry for help".. calling upon Elohiym.. their God. 

"So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them." 

Notice God's response to the prayers of the Israelites.. He heard.. He remembered.. He saw.. and He took notice.  We know that God always hears.. He never forgets.. He sees everything.. and He knows everything.  So, why does this feel like He is just now turning back to what He had started so many years before?   Could it be that through all these years of captivity that the people had not called on God?  Why is it that they never cried out to Him before? 

Father, sometimes we too forget that You do hear us.. You do see us.. You never forget us or forsake us.. Thank You for loving us anyway!  Are You simply waiting for us to call upon You for the burdens we are carrying?  May we come before You humbly.. in every circumstance.. and believe that You have a plan.. a good plan for us.. if we will call upon Your Name! You are so good.. so gracious and kind.. Hear our prayers today.. for family, for friends, and for the lost who remain in bitter slavery when they can turn to You and find deliverance.  Spirit of God, move in us. Fill us with Your love and grace we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 1 70 members of Jacob's household came to Egypt because of the severe famine in the region.  Think of the magnitude of this famine.. all of Egypt was affected, plus all of Israel, and perhaps further to the north and east.  If not for Joseph, things would have been even worse.  We are told, Israel thrived in Egypt. They multiplied greatly. And, that made them become a threat all those years later.. long after Joseph and all of his brothers had passed away. 

But, a new regime in Egypt was threatened by the  number of Israelites. It doesn't appear that they were causing any problems.. but their vast number and their physical strength was concerning to the new king. So, he decided to take things into his own hands and declared the Israelites his slaves. 

This new status for the people of Israel was loathsome. They were afflicted by the taskmasters. They were forced to do hard labor and it "made their lives bitter".  And still, that was not enough... for then Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill every baby boy born to the Israelite women. This was something that the midwives refused to do because they "feared God".  But.. then Pharaoh commanded all of his people to take part in this abominable practice of killing baby boys. 

It is into this tragic period of time that Moses is born... an ordinary baby.. but an extraordinary life to come .. God was at work. 

In this passage today, what stands out to me is the courage and faith of the two midwives.. Shiphrah and Puah. They obeyed God and not Pharaoh because they revered and feared God more.  We don't know the spiritual conditions of the rest of the Israelites.. but at least these two women had a right relationship with God. "So God was good to the midwives and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. And it came about because the midwives feared God, that He established households for them."

Father in heaven,  we live in a society that does not fear God more than they fear mankind.  We see the devastating effects of this disobedience to Your will and word.. as babies are killed, lives are ruined, cities are full of violence and crime.. and people are left without hope.  But, we believe that You are at work still.. preparing Your people for the work that You want them to do.. in obedience to Your Word and to the glory of Your Son.  You are our Redeemer and King.. lead us, Jesus, out of darkness and into Your Light.. every day, so that more of Your children will be saved. Help us to have the faith and courage of those two midwives in Israel, that we might stand firm in Your Sprit and Truth.  In Your name, Jesus,  we pray. Amen.