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.