Friday, August 26, 2011

Exodus 5:21–23; 6:1–5

"The foremen said to them, 'May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!'
 
 Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, 'Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!' […]
 
Then the LORD told Moses, 'Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!'
 
   And God said to Moses, 'I am Yahweh—"the LORD." I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—"God Almighty"—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.'"
 
 
Moses did as God told him—and things got worse! God's answer to Moses: "Look at who I am and what I have done, and believe that I will do what I say. I have heard the cries of my people, and I will act—no matter what circumstances look like now." When things look darkest, it's quite possible that God is going to reveal something new about himself. Look for a deeper understanding of exactly who God is when things seem to get worse in your situation.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Exodus 4:12–14, 27–28

"Now the Lord had said to Aaron, 'Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses.'
 
 So Aaron went and met Moses at the mountain of God, and he embraced him. Moses then told Aaron everything the Lord had commanded him to say. And he told him about the miraculous signs the Lord had commanded him to perform."
 
 
Before Moses ever encountered God, God had told Aaron to find Moses. God had prepared the way for Moses. Though he wanted Moses to step up to the plate himself, he planned all along for Aaron to be involved (knowing Moses as well as he did). Always remember that God is working to effect his plans, preparing the way even before we know anything about what he wants us to do. Trust that God is always working.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Exodus 4:12–14, 27–28

"Now the Lord had said to Aaron, 'Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses.' So Aaron went and met Moses at the mountain of God, and he embraced him. Moses then told Aaron everything the Lord had commanded him to say. And he told him about the miraculous signs the Lord had commanded him to perform."
 
 
Before Moses ever encountered God, God had told Aaron to find Moses. God had prepared the way for Moses. Though he wanted Moses to step up to the plate himself, he planned all along for Aaron to be involved (knowing Moses as well as he did). Always remember that God is working to effect his plans, preparing the way even before we know anything about what he wants us to do. Trust that God is always working.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Matthew 18:4

"'So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.'"
 
 
We should become like little children in relation to God. Children trust. They know they are dependent. They do not yet know how to jockey for position (as the disciples were doing when they asked who would be the greatest in God's Kingdom.) Little children are imaginative and open to wonder, to new things, to the "impossible." How childlike are you?

Monday, August 22, 2011

Exodus 4:19–21

"Before Moses left Midian, the Lord said to him, 'Return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you have died.'

 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. In his hand he carried the staff of God.

 And the LORD told Moses, 'When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.'"
 
God kept appearing to Moses as Moses moved in obedience. God reassured Moses and told him what to expect in the future. No doubt Moses needed such reassurance and guidance. God knows how to motivate and reassure us to do the things he wants us to do. Look for such reassurance and guidance as you need it.