Tag: Exodus

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Chivalry

Daily Reading

Joshua 1-4

Daily Thought

From the day I met Debbie, I began opening the car door for her. When we are leaving…

“We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt.  As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”  ~Joshua 2:10-11

And when we arrive…

As soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water, the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away.  And the people passed over opposite Jericho.  ~Joshua 3:15-16

It is more than a gesture. It is an announcement. I want the world to know she is my girl, my one-and-only, and I’d do anything for her.

And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'” ~Joshua 4;21-22

Daily Prayer

Lord God, not only do You go before me, but You set the path in front of me, and light the path for me with Your Word. Father, You came to bring me life and life abundantly. Almighty God, you hold the door open for me. And I hesitate? You announced that Your Kingdom is here, right in front of me. God, I choose to follow You, the King of heaven and earth.

King of kings, I pray for your guidance and protection. I pray that I would reflect Your way of life. That I would embrace goodness and godliness. Thank You for not only instructing me as to what is good, but showing me the good by sending Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

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Not an Issue

Daily Reading

Exodus 13-15

Daily Thought

God remembered his covenant with the Hebrew people (Exodus 2:24), and delivering ten monumental blows, leveled the Egyptians and freed Israel. In turn, he commanded they “remember this day in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place” (Exodus 13:3).  

Not long after, the Israelites were trapped between the sea and a terrifying army of Egyptians.  “What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?” they complained. “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

They had already forgotten.  

Moses responded, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD!” The story of God in Scripture is a continual reminder that God is on our side. He provides all we need to stand firm. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Love is not an issue. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Power is not an issue. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1John 4:4).

Confidence is not an issue. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Significance is not an issue. “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

Freedom is not an issue. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Life is not an issue. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 15:56-57).

Eternity is not an issue. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

I have nothing to add. I have all I need. I can stand firm. I can be still and know that He is God.

Moses answered, “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14). And remember.

Daily Prayer

God, You are my refuge and strength, always with me in times of trouble. I will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains quake. Whatever comes before me, You, the Lord Almighty, are with me. Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world.

I will be still, and rest in the knowledge that You are God. You will be exalted among the nations, You will be exalted on the earth. The Lord Almighty is with me; You are my fortress. On this I take my stand and still my heart.

Amen

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Simon Says

Daily Reading

Exodus 1-3

Daily Thought

Children play a wonderful game called, “Simon says.” One kid is up front, and he thinks he is in charge. He commanded us to stand on one foot, but no one did. He told us to jump up and down. No one jumped. Finally, he said, “Simon says,” and we all did it. Apparently, it was really Simon who was in charge. We didn’t do anything unless Simon said it.

The people of Israel flourished in Egypt and grew in number, a number that brought fear to the king of Egypt. “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them” (Exodus 1:9-10), so the king instructed the Hebrew midwives, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him” (Exodus 1:15-16). The king of Egypt thought he was in charge. “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them” (Exodus 1:17). And the children of Israel continued to multiply, just as God had promised Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you can. So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5).

God is in charge and that is better than any alternative, whether king or culture or even (especially) me. So, what God says, obey. Everything else take under advisement.

Daily Prayer

My God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Hebrews, the God of this world, the one and only God. May I know You, love You, and listen to You. May I know Your voice, and when I hear it, follow it.

God, You are good. Everything that is good comes from You. When I pursue righteousness, when I love my neighbor, when I serve the least of these, I live according to Your kingdom. I display Your kingdom on earth. Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Amen