Exodus 19-20 Israel had the opportunity to become a nation unlike any other. The Lord chose them to be His own possession, set apart as a "kingdom of priests". The Lord had brought them out of Egypt by His powerful Hand, to bring them to Himself. Three months after their escape, they arrive at Mount Sinai.
God had revealed Himself to them as their Redeemer, with the blood of the lamb allowing the angel of death to pass over their homes. He had revealed Himself as their Provider, bringing water from the rock and manna from heaven. He had revealed Himself as their Banner, giving them victory over the Amalekite army. Now, He is revealing Himself as their King and Sovereign God, giving them the Laws that would establish them as His nation.
The Lord, Himself, comes to the mountain. This is really remarkable! He comes with fire and smoke, thunder and lightning and the sound of trumpets. God, the Creator of the universe stepped down from His throne onto a mountain top in Sinai. This caused the mountain to quake and the people to tremble. He wanted the people to know Him, but, they had to be consecrated, cautious, and obedient. The warning to not touch the mountain... to set boundaries around it, repeating this twice.. gives a clear picture of the tremendous importance and seriousness of this event. Serious is not strong enough of a word for this moment in history!
The Lord begins to tell Moses the Law that will govern this nation that He is making a covenant with. We know these well.. ten commandments that clearly spell out Israel's relationship with God and with each other.
1 They were to have only ONE God.
2 They were not allowed to make any images or idols.
3 They were to hallow His name and never use it "in vain" - for evil; falsely; deceptively; uselessly;
4 They were to remember the Sabbath day - a day set aside for rest; a day of no work; a day that commemorated the 7th day of creation and God's own rest.
These first four commands established the rules for man's relationship with God.. Jesus summed it up with " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind." He summed up the next 6 with, " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
5 They were commanded to honor their parents. Love begins at home.
6 They were commanded to not murder.... life has value!
7 They were commanded to not commit adultery.. marriage is to be valued.
8 They were commanded to not steal... respect for other's property.
9 They were commanded to not lie.. ( bear false witness).. respect for truth.
10 They were commanded to not covet what their neighbor owned... respect for others and contentment with your own belongings.
Coming out of Egypt and a culture of idolatry; wickedness; and violence - these commands were a radical change for the people of Israel. If only they would have kept them!
Father in heaven, Your Kingdom come! We want to live in this way, with love for You and love for others. Thank You for the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ that will bring us fully into Your perfect kingdom. We fall so far short of Your mark.. as individuals and as a nation. Forgive us our trespasses, Lord. Deliver us from evil, Lord. Help us to walk in Your ways every day of our lives. In Christ we pray, amen.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019
Exodus 18 Jethro brings Zipporah, Moses' wife, and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to the Israelite camp. Jethro was known as the "priest of Midian". He was a descendant of Abraham, but not of Isaac. He did have a knowledge of and fear of God. He seems to have a new understanding after the events of Moses and Israel are told to him. He said, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." He took a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. These are the first sacrifices recorded since the Israelites left Egypt.
Jethro was a man of wisdom. He questioned Moses when he observed him spending hour after hour judging small disputes between the people. It was too much! Jethro said, "You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone." Jethro gave wise counsel to Moses and Moses listened and did what he said. It was time to set up an organized system of government for this nation that was just birthed. God would speak through Moses, who would then teach the leaders "the statutes and the laws, and make them known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do."
Moses appointed leaders over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens. Small disputes would be dealt with at the lowest courts and when things were more difficult they would come before Moses. I wonder if the many "sundry laws" and ordinances etc. were answers to some of these disputes.
The Israelites made their way to Mount Sinai. Here God was going to meet them and give them the ten commandments - their constitution... if you will. This covenant between God and Israel would make them uniquely His people.
Father in heaven, we also have a covenant with You through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. We have become Your people, set apart to walk in Your ways and to do the work You give us. May we be faithful servants, knowing that You are our great and Mighty God. Spirit of God come and fill us once again we pray, so that we may be all that You have desired us to be. In the name of Jesus we ask this. Amen.
Jethro was a man of wisdom. He questioned Moses when he observed him spending hour after hour judging small disputes between the people. It was too much! Jethro said, "You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone." Jethro gave wise counsel to Moses and Moses listened and did what he said. It was time to set up an organized system of government for this nation that was just birthed. God would speak through Moses, who would then teach the leaders "the statutes and the laws, and make them known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do."
Moses appointed leaders over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens. Small disputes would be dealt with at the lowest courts and when things were more difficult they would come before Moses. I wonder if the many "sundry laws" and ordinances etc. were answers to some of these disputes.
The Israelites made their way to Mount Sinai. Here God was going to meet them and give them the ten commandments - their constitution... if you will. This covenant between God and Israel would make them uniquely His people.
Father in heaven, we also have a covenant with You through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. We have become Your people, set apart to walk in Your ways and to do the work You give us. May we be faithful servants, knowing that You are our great and Mighty God. Spirit of God come and fill us once again we pray, so that we may be all that You have desired us to be. In the name of Jesus we ask this. Amen.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Exodus 17:8-16 The water was given and the panic settled.. and then the enemy attacked.. this time in the form of the Amalek army. Joshua was put in charge of gathering men for an army. These people had been slaves and builders for all their lives. Now, they were nomads and had to become warriors. Life had changed. But, having just witnessed the power of God to produce abundant water from the rock.. it appears that they were ready to fight and trust in the Lord.
Moses, Aaron, and Hur go up to the top of a hill to watch the battle. Moses lifted the staff of God and the Israelite army prevailed. But, when his arms grew tired... the moment his arms went down, the Amalekite army prevailed. So, Aaron and Hur came along side Moses and held up his arms until the victory was won. Not only was Amalek defeated, but they would be completely blotted out "from under heaven." Many years later, Saul was given the job of finishing off the last of this nation. He actually failed, for he allowed the king, Agag, to live. It was Samuel who completed the work and fulfilled God's promise.
Moses built an altar and named it "The Lord is my Banner." Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord, the self-existent , eternal God who has revealed Himself is the flag we fly; the standard, the sign, the beacon we raise; He is our signal;
Israel was becoming a nation for the first time in its history. This event established them as a nation with an army- serving under the flag of Jehovah.
We live in a country that proudly flies a flag of red, white, and blue. Our military, especially, show great respect for the American flag. It is our banner, a sign that represents this nation. Where this symbol is presented.. we instantly recognize its significance.
Moses was proclaiming to Israel.. and to every other nation that they would come into contact with.. that the Lord, Jehovah.. was their banner. The significance and meaning of this goes beyond any national flag or symbol. The nation of Israel belonged to, chosen by, and uniquely protected by God.
Is the Lord our Banner? Yes! We are called His servants, His people.. His possessions. Let us recognize and proclaim Him in all that we do and say.
Father, be glorified in our lives today. Help us to understand and to grow in the knowledge of our God, for You alone are worthy of our love and devotion. May we do Your will and obey Your word. May we proclaim that You are our Banner. Amen.
Moses, Aaron, and Hur go up to the top of a hill to watch the battle. Moses lifted the staff of God and the Israelite army prevailed. But, when his arms grew tired... the moment his arms went down, the Amalekite army prevailed. So, Aaron and Hur came along side Moses and held up his arms until the victory was won. Not only was Amalek defeated, but they would be completely blotted out "from under heaven." Many years later, Saul was given the job of finishing off the last of this nation. He actually failed, for he allowed the king, Agag, to live. It was Samuel who completed the work and fulfilled God's promise.
Moses built an altar and named it "The Lord is my Banner." Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord, the self-existent , eternal God who has revealed Himself is the flag we fly; the standard, the sign, the beacon we raise; He is our signal;
Israel was becoming a nation for the first time in its history. This event established them as a nation with an army- serving under the flag of Jehovah.
We live in a country that proudly flies a flag of red, white, and blue. Our military, especially, show great respect for the American flag. It is our banner, a sign that represents this nation. Where this symbol is presented.. we instantly recognize its significance.
Moses was proclaiming to Israel.. and to every other nation that they would come into contact with.. that the Lord, Jehovah.. was their banner. The significance and meaning of this goes beyond any national flag or symbol. The nation of Israel belonged to, chosen by, and uniquely protected by God.
Is the Lord our Banner? Yes! We are called His servants, His people.. His possessions. Let us recognize and proclaim Him in all that we do and say.
Father, be glorified in our lives today. Help us to understand and to grow in the knowledge of our God, for You alone are worthy of our love and devotion. May we do Your will and obey Your word. May we proclaim that You are our Banner. Amen.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Exodus 17:1-7 Once again the Israelites are faced with a problem.. They have journeyed to Rephidim and there is no water. Yes, God had provided water at Marah. Yes, He provided manna and quail every day. But, when faced with this problem.. they quarreled with Moses. Moses called them on this.. "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?"
There were two possible responses to this problem.. faith or failure, failure to believe that God would do what He promised. This was a serious problem. The people needed water. Over a million people, plus their animals.. could not live without water. But, they did not stop to pray... to seek God.. to wait on His provision. Instead, they got angry at Moses. They were ready to stone him, Moses says.
The Lord told Moses to go to the rock at Horeb, strike the rock with his staff, and receive the water that would come from it.
How do we react to critical problems? Even to small trials? Do we blame others? Or do we seek the Lord ?
Jesus taught that we should not be anxious for our lives. Matthew 6 gives us the teaching from the Mount... the Father knows what we need. Look at the birds. Look at the lilies of the field. The Lord knows more than we do what we really need. Jesus tells us, don't be anxious .. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." He tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. He reminds us that we have a good Father, Who knows our needs and will supply us with what is good.
Andrew Murray writes this: "Before you pray, bow quietly before God, just to remember and realize who He is, how near He is, how certainly He can and will help. Just be still before Him, and allow His Holy Spirit to waken and stir up in your soul the childlike disposition of absolute dependance and confident expectation. Wait upon God as a living Being, as the living God, who notices you, and is just longing to fill you with His salvation. Wait on God til you know you have met Him; prayer will then become so different."
What if Israel had learned to have faith.. to wait on God before they started picking a fight with Moses? What if we learned to live by this kind of faith.. taking every problem straight to the Lord, trusting in His love and faithfulness?
Father, help us to live in this way.. in complete dependence upon You with confident expectation that You see us, know us, and will never forsake us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
There were two possible responses to this problem.. faith or failure, failure to believe that God would do what He promised. This was a serious problem. The people needed water. Over a million people, plus their animals.. could not live without water. But, they did not stop to pray... to seek God.. to wait on His provision. Instead, they got angry at Moses. They were ready to stone him, Moses says.
The Lord told Moses to go to the rock at Horeb, strike the rock with his staff, and receive the water that would come from it.
How do we react to critical problems? Even to small trials? Do we blame others? Or do we seek the Lord ?
Jesus taught that we should not be anxious for our lives. Matthew 6 gives us the teaching from the Mount... the Father knows what we need. Look at the birds. Look at the lilies of the field. The Lord knows more than we do what we really need. Jesus tells us, don't be anxious .. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." He tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. He reminds us that we have a good Father, Who knows our needs and will supply us with what is good.
Andrew Murray writes this: "Before you pray, bow quietly before God, just to remember and realize who He is, how near He is, how certainly He can and will help. Just be still before Him, and allow His Holy Spirit to waken and stir up in your soul the childlike disposition of absolute dependance and confident expectation. Wait upon God as a living Being, as the living God, who notices you, and is just longing to fill you with His salvation. Wait on God til you know you have met Him; prayer will then become so different."
What if Israel had learned to have faith.. to wait on God before they started picking a fight with Moses? What if we learned to live by this kind of faith.. taking every problem straight to the Lord, trusting in His love and faithfulness?
Father, help us to live in this way.. in complete dependence upon You with confident expectation that You see us, know us, and will never forsake us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Exodus 16 Sometimes I feel like grumbling.. just like the Israelites did. They wanted bread and meat. Their stores from Egypt ran out. They were in the wilderness. It looked pretty bleak. They still didn't understand God.
The instructions were clear. Pick up enough manna for each person in your household. Don't keep any leftovers, except on the day before the Sabbath. Pick up twice as much that day and don't go out on the Sabbath to look for more, for there would not be any. Every morning there was manna. Every evening there was quail. They didn't have to go hunting. They didn't have to work in the fields. God provided everything they needed. And, He didn't like their grumblings!
Still some kept the leftovers.
Some went out on the Sabbath and looked for more manna.
Some still grumbled.
What do I have to grumble about? Nothing!
God has provided my every need and has blessed me abundantly.
Yet, why do I feel, at times, so discontent?
I am no different than those grumbling Israelites...
Maybe it is because I don't understand God either.
I want to.. I try to... but I fall far short...
Lord, help me to learn the way that Paul talked about..." for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Utter dependance on Jesus. Help me learn to press on.. to forget the past and look to what lies ahead. ... " to the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." ( Philippians 3:14; 4:11-13)
Forgive my grumbling and discontent attitude, Lord. I know that You are teaching me something new about Yourself, and I am so thankful that You are patient and kind. Thank You for loving me just as I am, but continually growing me and changing me to be more like Jesus. I am looking to You, my God and my King. amen.
The instructions were clear. Pick up enough manna for each person in your household. Don't keep any leftovers, except on the day before the Sabbath. Pick up twice as much that day and don't go out on the Sabbath to look for more, for there would not be any. Every morning there was manna. Every evening there was quail. They didn't have to go hunting. They didn't have to work in the fields. God provided everything they needed. And, He didn't like their grumblings!
Still some kept the leftovers.
Some went out on the Sabbath and looked for more manna.
Some still grumbled.
What do I have to grumble about? Nothing!
God has provided my every need and has blessed me abundantly.
Yet, why do I feel, at times, so discontent?
I am no different than those grumbling Israelites...
Maybe it is because I don't understand God either.
I want to.. I try to... but I fall far short...
Lord, help me to learn the way that Paul talked about..." for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Utter dependance on Jesus. Help me learn to press on.. to forget the past and look to what lies ahead. ... " to the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." ( Philippians 3:14; 4:11-13)
Forgive my grumbling and discontent attitude, Lord. I know that You are teaching me something new about Yourself, and I am so thankful that You are patient and kind. Thank You for loving me just as I am, but continually growing me and changing me to be more like Jesus. I am looking to You, my God and my King. amen.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Exodus 15 This song of Moses is a new song - a song that exalts the Lord who has revealed Himself to His people. They have come to know Him in a way that they never did before. Moses has been utterly transformed by his new understanding and knowledge of the Lord. In praise and worship, the people sing and dance, rejoicing at the greatness of their God.
v1 - He is "highly exalted" - or gloriously triumphant!
v2 - He is their personal strength, their song, and their salvation. He is their God.
v3- He is a warrior.
v4 - He cast Pharaoh's army into the sea.
v6 - His "right hand" - the Hand of power is majestic.
v7 He is greatly excellent!
v11 - There is no other god like Him. He is " awesome in praises, working wonders."
v13 - In His lovingkindness He redeemed His people and led them out of captivity.
v14-15 - All the nations trembled because of what the Lord did to Egypt.
v16 - He purchased His people by the "greatness of [His] arm."
v17 - He had a plan for His people and He would complete it.
v18- His reign is eternal.
This is the God that Israel began to know and they still had a long way to go. There was so much more that they needed to learn. The Lord began to teach them right away - bringing them out of Egypt and into a wilderness with no water. When they came to Marah and found the water bitter, they started to complain, but God gave Moses a tree.. added to the water, this tree brought healing. The Lord thus revealed to them another truth - "I, the Lord, am your healer." He made a promise to them - if they would obey His voice and keep His commandments then He would keep them from all the diseases that He had put upon the Egyptians. This is an amazing promise!
Father God, You are highly exalted! You are majestic in power and great in lovingkindness. You are the Only God and Your reign is forever and ever. Great and excellent is Your Name. Help us to know You more and exalt You always, Lord. Thank You that You have redeemed us.. purchasing us by the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son. Thank You for being our Healer, our Sanctifier, our Savior, and our King. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your character. Through His Name we come to You and pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
v1 - He is "highly exalted" - or gloriously triumphant!
v2 - He is their personal strength, their song, and their salvation. He is their God.
v3- He is a warrior.
v4 - He cast Pharaoh's army into the sea.
v6 - His "right hand" - the Hand of power is majestic.
v7 He is greatly excellent!
v11 - There is no other god like Him. He is " awesome in praises, working wonders."
v13 - In His lovingkindness He redeemed His people and led them out of captivity.
v14-15 - All the nations trembled because of what the Lord did to Egypt.
v16 - He purchased His people by the "greatness of [His] arm."
v17 - He had a plan for His people and He would complete it.
v18- His reign is eternal.
This is the God that Israel began to know and they still had a long way to go. There was so much more that they needed to learn. The Lord began to teach them right away - bringing them out of Egypt and into a wilderness with no water. When they came to Marah and found the water bitter, they started to complain, but God gave Moses a tree.. added to the water, this tree brought healing. The Lord thus revealed to them another truth - "I, the Lord, am your healer." He made a promise to them - if they would obey His voice and keep His commandments then He would keep them from all the diseases that He had put upon the Egyptians. This is an amazing promise!
Father God, You are highly exalted! You are majestic in power and great in lovingkindness. You are the Only God and Your reign is forever and ever. Great and excellent is Your Name. Help us to know You more and exalt You always, Lord. Thank You that You have redeemed us.. purchasing us by the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son. Thank You for being our Healer, our Sanctifier, our Savior, and our King. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your character. Through His Name we come to You and pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Exodus 13-14 Israel is given two commands that would help them remember that the Lord delivered them with "a powerful hand":
First, they were to go seven days eating only unleavened bread and then celebrate the Passover feast.. every year. They were to make sure to tell their children why this is celebrated. It was an important reminder of God's power and deliverance.
Secondly, they were to "devote the first offspring of every womb" to the Lord. The firstborn sons had to be "redeemed" and the firstborn of the beasts were sacrificed, except for the donkeys, which were redeemed by the offering of a lamb. This was a vivid reminder of the night when every first born in Egypt was killed.
The Lord then led the Israelites into a precarious place at the edge of the Red Sea. The pillar of cloud/fire was given. The angel of the Lord was present, also. But, when the people saw the Egyptian chariots and army, they panicked.
Moses, however, didn't waver: "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."
The Lord did something that no one could have expected! He parted the Red Sea and the people walked across it on dry ground. Then He closed it over the Egyptian army and they were completely wiped out.
I'm reading a wonderful little book by Andrew Murray called Waiting on God. Today I read this:
First, they were to go seven days eating only unleavened bread and then celebrate the Passover feast.. every year. They were to make sure to tell their children why this is celebrated. It was an important reminder of God's power and deliverance.
Secondly, they were to "devote the first offspring of every womb" to the Lord. The firstborn sons had to be "redeemed" and the firstborn of the beasts were sacrificed, except for the donkeys, which were redeemed by the offering of a lamb. This was a vivid reminder of the night when every first born in Egypt was killed.
The Lord then led the Israelites into a precarious place at the edge of the Red Sea. The pillar of cloud/fire was given. The angel of the Lord was present, also. But, when the people saw the Egyptian chariots and army, they panicked.
Moses, however, didn't waver: "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."
The Lord did something that no one could have expected! He parted the Red Sea and the people walked across it on dry ground. Then He closed it over the Egyptian army and they were completely wiped out.
I'm reading a wonderful little book by Andrew Murray called Waiting on God. Today I read this:
Learn to worship God as the God who does wonders,
who wishes to prove in you that He can do
something supernatural and divine.
Bow before Him, wait upon Him,
until your soul realizes that you are in the hands
of a divine and almighty worker.
Consent but to know what and how He will work.
Expect it to be something Godlike,
something to be waited for in deep humility, and received
only by His divine power.
Murray says that we mustn't just wait on the things we think we need.. but to wait on God for that which HE KNOWS we need... What His heart wants for us.. far beyond anything we can ask or think.
Isn't this what happened to Israel. They never thought to ask God to split the waters of the Red Sea. But, God wanted to show them that He was the Lord. He would fight for them. He would be honored and glorified by His work on their behalf. And, they finally believed.. at least for a little while.
Father, may our faith in You not waver! May we know You, the God Who does wonders. The God who is infinite in love and power and wisdom and grace. We wait on You.. not knowing what it is that we are waiting for.. but putting our hope in You. May Your will be done and Your Great Name praised! In the Name of Jesus, our Redeemer, we pray. Amen.
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