August 24, 2023

Israel packed up and moved to the foot of Mt. Sinai; it was now the third month. God called to Moses, and he went to God on the mountain, and God made them a covenant offer:

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Exodus 19:5-6

They agreed to the covenant. This is the same as accepting Jesus as our Savior; we must agree to be blessed. God approached them, not the other way around. He must call you out of the multitude of people on earth, offer to be your God, you accept it and then obey his voice. God's Holy Spirit is the one who called to us while we were still in our sin.

God gave Israel three days' notice that they must clean up before coming to him, leave their worldly cares behind, and be ready to receive him on the third day, which happen to be 50 days after leaving Egypt: Pentecost. God came down, and everyone saw the thundering cloud full of lightning and heard an extremely loud trumpet; I'm sure they were overwhelmed with excitement and fear. 

The point is that God comes to us and makes us a covenant offer. If we accept it, we must then obey his voice. God offered himself to Israel, and Jesus has offered himself to us. It's up to us to accept his offer and obey his voice. When you accepted Jesus, you entered into a covenant with him, and that's a big deal! You have the Holy Spirit; listen to him and allow him to be your guide.

August 23, 2023

When Moses was helping God deliver Israel out of Egypt, his wife and two sons stayed with Jethro, his father-in-law. Things had calmed down, so Jethro brought them to be with Moses. Moses told him all that God had done, and they rejoiced together. Jethro was not an Israelite, but he was the priest of Midian from the lineage of Abraham, and he appreciated everything God had done for Israel. Jethro still plays a part in current society because of his layout of the legal system. He helped Moses break down his duties as a judge and divide it out to relieve some of the pressure from him by giving responsibilities to others who were also capable of judging the issues of the people fairly. 

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Exodus 18:21

Before God gave Moses the law, He used Jethro’s wisdom to begin laying out the design and format for how the law would work. 

God is so good! He works out the details in advance, orders our steps, has a plan, and when he speaks to us and shows us the way, we are ready to receive it because he has prepared us. Don’t neglect to recognize the minor details you learn as you traverse the pathway of life. God’s plan is very detailed, and little things work to impact the greater good of your life.

August 22, 2023

Amalek, the family of Esau, came against Israel to fight them. Remember, Jacob’s brother Esau, hated him. Doesn’t it help to know who these characters are? It helps me have a clearer picture of why. Moses appointed Joshua to gather men to go and fight. So the next day, they went out to fight, and Moses took the rod of God and went up to the top of a hill to watch with Aaron and Hur. When Moses lifted the rod, Israel would prevail, but Israel would be defeated when he lowered his arms. Moses's arms became tired; remember, he’s an old man now, so Aaron and Hur sat him down on a rock, situated his arms, and helped him hold them up until evening. They defeated the Amalekites with the sword. A lot is going on in this story. 

1. It’s the first time Joshua is mentioned, and we can see he’s a warrior.
2. When the fighters saw Moses holding up the rod, they knew God was with them. 
3. They had to fight this time; God didn’t tell them to be still. That means we must listen carefully to the Holy Spirit to know whether to be still or fight.
4. Sometimes the enemy is family.
5. Moses couldn’t do it alone; he needed the help of Aaron and Hur. Your preacher shouldn’t be left in the pulpit alone, meaning you must help hold up his arms. That may mean prayer, offerings, or getting involved. In this situation, they got involved.

Sometimes we have to be still, and sometimes we have to fight. Now is not the time to be still when the freedom of our country is at stake. Fight or go to war with your prayer, but don’t remain complacent; get involved. 

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exodus 17:13

August 21, 2023

God provided The Israelites with plenty of food each day. However, they had no water supply and began to chide Moses and question whether God was still with them. Remember, they still had a cloud by day and fire by night; how could they question whether God was with them? Here is the simple answer, they didn’t have the Holy Spirit, so it was easy for them to forget the goodness of God. By this, we can see that a visual is not necessarily better than the spiritual. We don’t have the cloud and fire, yet we still believe in Jesus and the power of God. With all the miracles they saw and still didn’t believe God was with them, it causes me to judge them harshly; however, we must remember they were incomplete without the Holy Spirit. 

Moses cried out to God because they were so angry over their thirst that they were about to stone him. So God told him to take some of the elders of Israel and the rod and stand before the people, hit the rock, and water would flow out. He followed God’s instructions, and the water came out of the rock just as he said. 

It’s important to remember that we have the Holy Spirit, that precious gift given to us by Jesus, but the people we are trying to bear witness to, do not have him, nor do most people we are surrounded by; they don’t even have the visual as Israel had. We must be patient and pray that they become thirsty for the water of life; maybe you will be their Moses and smite their rock so the Holy Spirit flows and they drink and are satisfied. 

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6

August 20, 2024

The Israelites had been in the wilderness for about a month and were now traveling in the wilderness of Sin. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the place is called Sin. The provisions they brought out of Egypt were gone, and they were getting hungry; they had no meat or bread. There is one thing I don’t understand; they brought all their flocks, herds, and cattle with them; why were they hungry? How were they feeding them? Whatever the case, God heard them complaining and accusing Moses and Aaron of bringing them out of Egypt to die, which also accused God because their release was at his hand. Out of the kindness of his heart, he provided manna with the early morning dew and flocks of quail for the evening meal; he provided their food for the entire 40 years of wandering, and all they needed to do was ask. As a side note: they still had to cook the bread and clean the quail; though God provided the food, they had to do their part. However, they were to gather for six days and rest on the Sabbath. So they gathered and cooked on the sixth day to prepare for the seventh day. Remember, this portion of scripture was before God gave them the law. Just as God rested on the seventh day, he also wants us to take time to rest. 

Jesus set us free from our sins, but we still have challenges to face that come with trusting him. We often feel that it would be easier to return to sin or, as the Israelites, return to Egypt rather than contending with the devil and his minions, but our lives are short, and eternity is long. Instead of complaining, we must seek God’s help and await his deliverance. Stay the course, and know that you are facing challenges because you are doing the right thing, and the devil hates it. 

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. Exodus 16:12

And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. Exodus 16:23

August 19, 2023

After being elated watching God work in their favor, the Israelites traveled three days into the desert. They came upon some water; they were thirsty, but it wasn’t drinkable. They began to complain, and once again, Moses reached out to God for help. God instructed Moses to put a limb from a certain kind of tree in the water, and instantly the water became potable. Even though the tree cleared the water, it seemed like a miracle; in reality, God’s instructions were the remedy for this situation. Afterward, God led them to a place with abundant water and trees for shade. The bitter water was all a part of their training to be self-sufficient. 

“God showed him the tree. God is to be acknowledged, not only in the creating of things useful for man, but in discovering their usefulness.” The Matthew Henry Commentary

As a modern society, we have become too used to running to the store or the doctor to get the things we need and have long left the teachings of wholesome living behind. God has instructed many of us to begin researching remedies for our ailments from the plants growing around us. I was fascinated to learn that many of the weeds growing in my yard, and even some of the trees I’ve planted, have medicinal purposes. It may be beneficial to learn about their uses in case the medical industry is demolished because of some of the things they’ve done recently. We may not always have the internet as a source and should brush up on the things of old.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2

And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, Exodus 15:25

August 18, 2023

When God gives you victory over your enemy, or you endure a hard time just as Israel experienced through their slavery in Egypt, raise your voice, sing, and dance before the Lord. Glorify him and show your appreciation because you wouldn’t have made it without him. The Israelites had a party on the shore after the waters of the Red Sea swept away the Egyptians; they knew where their help came from. 

Don’t just pray and forget what you asked God for. If you can’t remember your requests, write them down; start a prayer journal, so when you get your answer or receive a victory, you can praise God for his faithfulness. Don’t forget to do this! It’s an essential part of our relationship with him. Imagine if someone did something good for you and you forgot to thank them; do you think they will help you again? Maybe, but it’s unlikely. God expects praise just as people do. Sing a song, dance, and shout; it’s biblical!

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:20

August 17, 2023

We've all been there, in a position that looked impossible, a dead end where turning back would lead to certain destruction. You followed God's lead, but the enemy was closing in, and it seemed all hope was lost. Imagine being the children of Israel following Moses, and instead of taking the shortcut around the Red Sea, God sent them right to its edge. What now? When they left Egypt, God gave them a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, so they knew they were going in the right direction. Pharaoh changed his mind, hardened his heart again, and pursued them. The Israelites freaked out because they could see them coming in the distance. When all hope is lost, and death is sure, God steps in and tells you to relax. Am I to sit there and wait? These people are going to kill me! This is the moment that popular but extraordinary verse comes into play. 

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

Mind you, it's dark, and God used the pillar of cloud to make it even darker to keep them from seeing one another. God told Moses to tell them to keep going and to lift his rod and stretch out his hand, and they would cross on dry land. Don't forget; it's dark! So scary, but they did it, and the Egyptians followed them in, and God released the water, and Israel saw their dead bodies washed up on the shore. Justice served! 

Whatever you are going through, don't stop going; face forward and walk through your Red Sea and watch as God destroys your enemies! Though this story works for the individual, it's much bigger than our personal issues; it fits more easily into an entire country's situation. The United States is up against a wall where lawlessness abounds, the enemy is in hot pursuit, and it looks like he's winning, but we are still a Christian country. Even though we are full of deniers, just as Israel was, I expect that he will come to our rescue where it can only be attributed to him so everyone will see and know it was God. Fear not; stand still!

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Exodus 14:13

August 16, 2023

As I start reading the Bible, I always come up with questions early on, which is good because I get to watch God show me the answers as I continue to read. Why does the firstborn belong to God? And what is a matrix? Why does an unclean animal require a lamb as redemption? Why should its neck be broken? I now get why Jesus taught in parables because God speaks through life. Jesus taught using parables to confound the unbelievers, and now I see that it’s also essential in understanding the Old Testament. 

Here are the answers I came up with. Before God released Israel from captivity, he killed the firstborn of everything in Egypt, and he expected that they should be thankful that their children were not killed and that they should consecrate them to him. The matrix is the womb, and when they left Egypt, they were now being forced out, like being pushed out at birth. They broke the seal and are now released from captivity. So, the unclean animals are like us and require a redeemer, who happens to be Jesus; otherwise, we are as good as dead in the eyes of God. 

Look at how he laid out the story of the Exodus from Egypt and see how it fits perfectly with the story of Jesus. Only God could create a parallel that works so perfectly. Learn to understand the parables of your life. What lessons is God trying to teach you through your story, and what can you learn about him through them? Israel had no idea they were living out the story of Jesus; we now see the reflection clearly. Recognize Jesus in your own story. 

That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. Exodus 13:12-13

August 15, 2023

The first nine plagues in Egypt were instituted by God through Moses. However, the tenth plague came directly from God with no earthly natural occurrence, meaning Egypt could not explain it away and, therefore, could have only come as retribution from God. Though God brought on the other plagues, this one, in particular, impacted everyone from Pharaoh to the lowly prisoner. Everyone was wailing and mourning and fearful of what was next. Out of fear, they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for, thus plundering Egypt and making them pay the wages they had kept from them and, as a consequence, for treating the Israelites poorly. God will take his portion and give it to the just as if the wealth of sinners is collected for that purpose. Seeing what God was doing for his people, Egypt was keenly aware of their sin and capitulated to their demands.

We are not unaware of what is going on in the governments of the United States and other countries; you would have to be completely blind not to see it. Justice is withheld from the innocent and given to the guilty. We must pray collectively to God for retaliation against this injustice. If we all pray, he will hear us as he heard Israel, and we will watch as he brings down the entire system and repays us for what we’ve lost. Pray that your unsaved friends and family come to know Jesus before this happens, or they, too, will be caught up in the devastation.

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Exodus 12:30-31

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. Exodus 12:36

August 14, 2023

After studying Exodus 12, I realized that the symbolism of the Passover is much more detailed than I thought. It makes me quite sad for the Jewish because the story of Jesus is written throughout this chapter. How can they observe the Passover without comparing it to the life and death of Jesus? I have always wondered why Christ-followers were never taught to celebrate Passover. Those that were not Israelites by birth yet lived among them were also required to follow the ordinances. Here are some examples:

1. Pick a perfect lamb on the 10th of the month, then sacrifice it on the 14th day. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb.
2. Put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel using hyssops—Jesus's blood protects us from the destroying angel.
3. Roast it with all its insides and eat it with bitter herbs, not breaking any bones. When we accept Jesus, we are eating his body. None of Jesus's bones were broken, and bitter herbs were eaten to recognize the bitterness of our sin.
4. Eat it with unleavened bread - clean all the leaven out of the house (sin.)
5. Leave none of the meat until morning. Burn the leftovers in the fire. Jesus took our sins and burned them in the fire. 
6. The men must be circumcised to take part. In the New Testament, circumcision means you are clean and sin-free.

These ordinances seem like a lot, but if you are brought up in this culture and do it ritually every year, it becomes second nature. As Christ-followers, we are adopted into the family of God; I wish Christians were taught this in the church because the symbolism points to Jesus, and I believe we should observe the Passover just as the Jewish believers do. 

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Exodus 12:14

August 13, 2023

Tribulation is not for us! Throughout the New and Old Testaments, the unbelievers were the people who were subjected to God's wrath. Look at how God showed himself to Pharaoh time and time again, yet he didn't relent in treating the Israelites with contempt and forcing hardships. They were living through problems brought on by man, not wrath. I can't help but notice that through the acts of our ungodly government, many people are now living through hardships brought on by them and their lack of care for the people's lives. Wait for it! Justice is coming, and those who love Jesus will benefit from faith in Him. 

Before the final plague, Moses warned Pharaoh and then left him in anger. Moses probably didn't want to see any more harm to Egypt's people because the final plague would devastate them. God gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they gave them anything they asked for, and so plundered them before God released them from their captivity. Those plagues didn't even prick Pharaoh's heart, which caused him to suffer with his people when God unleashed the final plague. It makes you wonder what will happen when God has had enough of the tyranny happening throughout the world and the United States. Sit back, watch in awe and amusement, and pray for those you love to escape unharmed because things are rapidly deteriorating for the ungodly. Justice is coming! 

And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. Exodus 11:6-7

August 12, 2023

We can compare ourselves to the Israelites living in Egypt to those living in a country where evil rules. Thank goodness God knows the difference and can see our hearts. In all these plagues, Israel was protected and set apart as an example to Pharaoh so he could see how differently they were treated compared to the Egyptians. 

The eighth and ninth plagues brought about darkness. 

The eighth was the locusts God brought to devastate whatever green was left after the hail. There were so many it darkened the sky. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray for God to take them away. I find it funny that his so-called gods couldn't help him. I'll bet they tried to get their help with no avail because how can something that only exists through magic do them any good?

The ninth plague was total darkness for three days, with no light of any kind. God darkened the sky and put out all their fires so no light could be seen. They didn't get up to move. It was the kind of darkness that will be seen and felt by those who reject Jesus and end up in hell. However, the Israelites had light within their homes and only watched the devastation. 

Throughout the Bible, there is a significant distinction between those who trust God and those who don't. God's protection over his people is incredible. We may go through rough times, but God uses them to train us to trust him, but after all is said and done, we will end up in his presence, full of light.

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:22-23

August 11, 2023

The plagues God thrust upon the Egyptians were significant in that they had meaning beyond the destruction of people, animals, and property. The Egyptians worshipped the river, animals, and other things, so when God destroyed them, the power of their so-called gods showed they were void of control and revealed to them that God was the most powerful. 

In the fifth plague, God killed all their horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep. They worshipped gods representing the ox, cow, and ram. He struck them in their idolatry. 

In the sixth plague, God had Moses throw ashes in the air. This particular act focuses their attention on their human sacrifices, which during certain times of the year, they would burn people alive and then throw their ashes in the air as a blessing. However, when Moses threw the ashes in the air, God caused boils on the Egyptian's skin. The burning feeling they received was significant to their heinous act of sacrificing humans!

The seventh plague hit them particularly hard because it was something that they had never experienced since they became a nation; rain, hail, and lightning. Their water supply came from the dew and the overflow of the Nile. God destroyed all of their crops and burned their cattle with lightning. This plague affected them mentally. 

For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. Exodus 9:14

While destroying the Egyptians, God protected Israel. The main point of today's devotional is that God protects his people. God will soon bring his vengeance upon the people of the earth for their worship of other gods and their heinous sacrifices; however, his children will not experience his wrath; that is for the unbelievers. 

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. Exodus 9:26

August 10, 2023

How quickly we forget how consuming our troubles were when after praying, God removes them. As a freshly washed pig returns to the muddy wallow, we often return to our sins. 

In a show of force, God sent frogs, gnats, and flies to overwhelm Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and each time, Pharaoh promised to let Israel’s children go to make sacrifices to God. Once Moses prayed and God killed the plagues, he went back on his word and wouldn’t let them go. He was relieved each time and quickly forgot his promise. In the Plagues of the Gnats and the Flies, scripture points out the distinction between Israel and the Egyptians; Israel wasn’t bothered by these nuisances; still, Pharaoh didn’t relent. 

I don’t know how they could stand it! Imagine slimy frogs in your food. I’m not fond of a gnat; their constant buzzing around my face is intolerable. Flies are disgusting. Out of sight, out of mind. Each time, Moses asked God to relieve them of the nuisance, and each time Pharaoh went back on his word. God will not be mocked. He has forgiven us so much; don’t disappoint him by sinning again. Walk away from sin, turn around, and look toward God so you don’t have to deal with the consequences of your behavior. 

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD. Exodus 8:29

August 9, 2023

When the enemy performs their counterfeit miracles, it hardens the hearts of those we try to convince to accept Jesus as Savior. The comforts of this world are too cozy, and sin seems more attractive. Their only hope beyond this world when someone dies is the saying, "They are in a better place." Death is not a better place for those without Jesus. They are dead until they accept Jesus and are given a new life in him. Jesus saw them that way, too; in Luke 9:60, "Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." Jesus wants people to choose him over everything else, and when they don't, he considers them dead.

Moses and Aaron tried to convince Pharaoh to let the children of Israel leave Egypt. God gave them the power of miracles to show that they had heard from God and that their ability was from him. Aaron threw down the rod, and it became a snake. However, the enemy duplicated that power through the magicians and sorcerers. God caused Aaron's snake to eat all the others in a show of superiority. God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Then on a different occasion, God turned all the water into blood at the hand of Moses and Aaron, but the magicians and sorcerers performed the same miracle, so it didn't pierce Pharaoh's heart to let the people go. Remember, when trying to help people come to know Jesus, we face the same enemy that Moses and Aaron faced when trying to free the children of Israel. They didn't give up. Keep praying. God will eventually open a door when the timing is right.

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. Exodus 7:22

August 8, 2023

We can rest from striving; God has given us good news, but because we are so wrapped up in our troubles, we fail to hear it. The US corporation is bankrupt; we are a republic again. Biden is president of the bankrupt corporation. We are no longer at the mercy of the British monarchy and are a sovereign nation. All our gold has been returned; it took 650 airplanes to get it back. President Trump confirmed that it is true. I heard this news Sunday night and have been on cloud nine ever since. There are essential things that the national media are not telling the American people. The truth slips out occasionally, but we are so caught up in the lies that we can't hear it. This story should be in the national headlines to give us hope, yet it was obscured on local television in England. God has told us that he has released us from our captivity, but we are so pressed down that we can't hear him or see his actions.

We are no different than the Israelites; they were so burdened by the oppressors that they didn't believe Moses and Aaron when they told them what God was doing. Even Moses, who heard God's voice telling him the truth, had difficulty moving forward with what he told him because of fear. 

My point today is to get on with your life and stop believing the lies of the national media. Our country was founded on Christian values, and we believe in the same God as Israel, the one and only God Almighty. He has rescued us from our oppressors; we just don't know it yet. 

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? Exodus 6:29-30

August 7, 2023

The road to freedom can be rough. God hears our cries for help, but sometimes things get worse when we move toward Jesus. Then, because we don't see immediate progress, we often give up in frustration, quitting before the real work begins and pointing our finger at God for not helping when it was the devil causing the resistance. The enemy comes on strong when we try to turn our life around. He is especially hard on new believers. 

The leaders of the Israelites agreed that the Lord had spoken to Moses and sent him and Aaron to ask Pharaoh to let them go into the wilderness to worship God. Pharoah didn't believe them and clarified that he didn't know their God and had no reason to release them to worship him. What made things worse is he stopped providing the straw for making bricks and made them gather it themselves without decreasing their quota. Though it seemed God had left them to handle the situation alone, he needed to see that they were willing to participate in their release. They needed to make the first move. It's comparable to accepting Jesus as our Savior. We make our move toward Jesus, receive his gift of salvation, and he gives us the Holy Spirit and frees us from the penalty of sin. Then he teaches us how to live in that freedom. 

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? Exodus 5:21-22

August 6, 2023

God commissions Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let his people go to the mountain of God and worship him, but even though he is standing before the burning bush, he came up with objections. How many of us argue with God? God overcame his objections with truth and signs and wonders. He didn’t think they would believe that God sent him, so God gave him signs to convince them. He was a thinker and didn’t believe he could speak quickly enough, so God gave him Aaron as a spokesperson.

Moses’s excuses irritated God, but even though he finally did as God told him, he nearly lost his son’s life to His wrath on the way back to Egypt because he had ignored the command to Israel to circumcise his son by the eighth day. Thankfully, Moses’s wife, Zipporah, quickly cut off the foreskin before God unleashed his wrath. 

Moses and Aaron convinced the children of Israel that God saw their affliction, and they were grateful and bowed their heads and worshipped Him. Moses and Aaron were a powerhouse! Moses knew the Egyptian culture, and Aaron understood the culture of the Israelites. God used a partnership to bring about change and further his plan. It was a pairing similar to what Jesus did with the disciples by sending them out two by two. What one lacks, the other can overcome. God shows us that there is power in a three-stranded cord, with one being him!

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 4:30-31

August 5, 2023

Moses saw the burning bush, and because it didn’t crumble from the fire, he drew closer to it. That’s when God spoke to him and identified himself as the great “I AM.” And God told him to show his reverence. Did you notice that Moses approached him first? He knew something was different about that fire and got closer to see what was happening. Take the time to reach out to God; he will speak to you just as he did Moses. However, notice that God expected Moses to revere him and humble himself before him. As you come to know God, if you don’t become respectful of him and understand how mighty he is, then you don’t know him well enough. Yes, he is loving, but he is also the most powerful!

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Exodus 3:5

God has heard our cries as with the children of Israel and knows the burden the taskmasters have laid upon our backs. Though we may not all be processing bricks, we are working and laboring for a master who steals our money through taxes and gives to causes we don’t believe in. I believe he has sent a type of “Moses” to bring justice to his people, but he is not recognized as such. We should rejoice that the world is falling apart because we are not of this world; salvation is for the children of God, not the people of the world. As God sets our nation free, we will plunder the oppressors. Freedom and justice are just around the corner; God will deliver us!

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; Exodus 3:7