March 29 -- "A Hardened Heart"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 8

"A Hardened Heart"

Today’s verse comes after the second plague, in which God turns the Nile River into blood. After this plague, Pharaoh appears to soften his stance and agrees to release the Israelites. However, when the plague is lifted, Pharaoh changes his mind – i.e. hardens his heart - and refuses to release them.

The application of this verse teaches us about the dangers of a hardened heart. Pharaoh was unwilling to listen to reason and change his behavior, even after witnessing the power of God through the plagues. Similarly, we can become so set in our ways and beliefs that we are unwilling to listen to God and others or consider different perspectives. This can lead to conflict, division, defeat, and other consequences.

There are several ways in which one can harden their heart, which means becoming stubborn or resistant to God's will or the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few examples: 

Refusing to listen to God's Word - One way to harden your heart is to neglect the reading and study of God's Word, the Bible. By failing to listen to God's Word, you can become insensitive to His voice and less likely to obey His commands.

Persisting in sin - Continuously indulging in sinful behavior can lead to a hardened heart. The more you sin, the easier it becomes to ignore your conscience and resist God's call to repentance.

Bitterness and unforgiveness - Holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness towards others can also harden your heart. By nursing grudges and refusing to forgive, you can become bitter and resentful, making it difficult to receive God's love and grace.

Pride and self-reliance - Pride can lead to a hardened heart by making you resistant to God's guidance and unwilling to submit to His will. By relying solely on your own strength and wisdom, you can become blind to God's leading and resistant to His correction.

Indifference and apathy - Being indifferent to spiritual matters and failing to seek God can also lead to a hardened heart. By neglecting your relationship with God and failing to cultivate a spirit of humility and openness, you can become indifferent to His voice and resistant to His call.

In summary, there are several ways in which one can harden their heart. It is so important to remain vigilant and guard against these tendencies by seeking God's guidance, repenting of sin, forgiving others, cultivating humility, and remaining open to His leading.

March 28 -- "God Answers Pharaoh's Question"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 7

"God Answers Pharaoh's Question"

In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh asked, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go?” For the most part, Pharaoh and the Egyptians had never heard of  (nor encountered) any such deity named “Yahweh” (LORD). Pharoah is not impressed by Moses’ demands to release the Israelites from their slavery, and the mention of Yahweh did nothing to persuade him to yield to Moses’ demands. He simply had no respect for the God of Israel.

In today’s verse, the LORD Himself answers Pharaoh’s questions when He basically says, “The Egyptians will realize that I am the only true and living God when I step in and take the Israelites out of their country.” They may not know who I AM now, but they will!

God, here, tells Moses that He will show His power over Egypt by stretching out His hand and performing miraculous signs and wonders. These acts will not only demonstrate God's power to Pharaoh, but also to the Egyptian people, who will come to know that the God of the Israelites is the true God.

The miracles that God will perform through Moses include turning the Nile River into blood, sending frogs, lice, and other plagues upon the land, and eventually parting the Red Sea so that the Israelites can escape from Pharaoh's army. These events are not just displays of power, but also serve to show the Israelites that God is with them and will protect them as they journey to the Promised Land.

In the Bible, there are several passages that encourage believers not to be fearful of people who do not know God. One such passage is found in the New Testament book of Matthew, where Jesus tells his disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

While it is natural to feel fear or anxiety when facing opposition or persecution, believers are called to put their trust in God and not be intimidated by those who do not know Him. One day, He will show Himself strong on your behalf and those who oppose you will KNOW that He is indeed the true and living God.

March 27 -- "His Outstretched Arm"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 6

"His Outstretched Arm"

Moses was hesitant to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. Here, God is reassuring Moses and the Israelites that He is the Lord, and He will bring them out of Egypt and free them from slavery.

God is making a promise to the Israelites that he will rescue them from slavery and oppression in Egypt. The first part of the verse, "I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians," indicates that God will physically remove the Israelites from their situation of bondage, thereby responding to Moses’ tentativeness.

The phrase, "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment," indicates that God's rescue will be a display of his power and might. He will not only liberate the Israelites but also demonstrate his sovereignty and authority over the Egyptians. When all is said and done, Pharaoh will no longer be asking “Who is the Lord?”

The promise of God to bring the Israelites out of slavery can be a reminder to us that God is powerful and able to use His mighty outstretched arm to rescue us from our own struggles and challenges. Just as God rescued the Israelites from their oppression, He can bring us out of difficult situations and provide us with the strength and resources we need to overcome our problems.

There are several other verses in the Bible that mention God's outstretched arm. Here are a few examples: 

Deuteronomy 4:34: "Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?"

Isaiah 52:10: "The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God."

Psalm 136:12: "With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, his love endures forever."

In each of these verses, God's outstretched arm is a symbol of His power and might, as well as His willingness to act on behalf of His people. It is a reminder to all of us that God is not distant or uninvolved, but rather, He is actively working in the world to bring about His purposes and bring salvation to His people.

March 26 -- "Who is the LORD?"

  Today's Reading:  Exodus 5

"Who is the LORD?"

Pharaoh's questioning of God's authority can be understood in the context of the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Egypt. The Egyptian religion had a complex system of gods and goddesses, with each deity having a specific role and function in the universe. The Pharaoh himself was considered a “god-king,” the son of the sun god Ra and the living embodiment of the god Horus on earth.

When Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Israelites, they presented themselves as representatives of Yahweh, a God that Pharaoh did not recognize or worship. This likely made Pharaoh skeptical of their claims and authority, and he questioned the legitimacy of this God and his power over the Egyptian gods. You can actually sense Pharaoh’s dismissive attitude when he says, “Who is the Lord?”

Pharaoh's skepticism and refusal to acknowledge the God of Israel will result in a series of plagues that demonstrate Yahweh's power and sovereignty over all creation. These plagues were meant to convince Pharaoh and the Egyptians of the true power and authority of God. Each plague was a direct challenge to the Egyptian gods, demonstrating that they were not truly powerful and that the God of Israel was the one true God.

The Bible is full of instances where people initially questioned God’s power and sovereignty over creation, but ultimately discovered the truth of His authority over all the universe. Job questioned God's justice and wisdom. Gideon questioned God's power and asks for multiple signs to validate God’s calling. Sarah laughed at the idea of becoming pregnant, doubting God's power to fulfill such a promise. The disciple Thomas famously doubted Jesus' resurrection. Jonah questioned God's mercy and compassion for the people of Nineveh. Zechariah questioned the angel's message about Elizabeth giving birth to a son. Martha doubted Jesus' power to raise Lazarus from the dead.

These stories demonstrate that questioning God and His power is a natural part of our faith journey, and that God is patient and understanding with those who doubt. However, these stories also show that God is faithful to His promises and ultimately works all things for the good of those who love Him. In Jeremiah 32:17, the prophet declares, "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." This statement acknowledges God's power as the Creator of all things, and affirms that there is nothing beyond His ability to accomplish.

March 25 -- "Spontaneous Worship"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 4

"Spontaneous Worship"

Spontaneous worship is the truest form of worship.

Today’s verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Moses had just performed several miraculous signs as evidence of his divine appointment. When the Israelites saw these signs and heard Moses' message that God had seen their suffering and was going to deliver them, they believed.

Their belief was accompanied by an act of worship, as they bowed their heads in reverence and gratitude for God's intervention on their behalf. This verse highlights the power of faith and the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

This was an act of spontaneous worship. It was natural, unplanned, and unrehearsed. Their hearts were so moved by the evidence of God’s intervention that they impulsively bowed their heads and worshipped. This is the truest form of worship – that which springs from the heart as a result of God’s presence being revealed.

The Bible contains several instances of spontaneous worship, where individuals or groups of people worship God in the moment without prior planning or preparation. This was not a scheduled “church service.” Note that there is no mention of music, a worship leader, a band, choir, liturgy, a temple, a building, or preaching. Our verse says they simply “bowed their heads.”  Bowing of the head is a physical posture that can be used as an act of worship to express humility, reverence, and submission to God. This spontaneous outpouring of worship was evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence and work among them and is the truest expression of worship as it comes from the depth of one’s soul.

God’s word encourages spontaneous worship as a way to express our love and gratitude to Him in a moment of special blessing from above. Take a moment now to bow your head, turn your heart and thoughts Heavenward, and worship your loving and gracious Creator.

March 24 -- "I Am!"

Today's Reading:  Exodus 3 

"I Am!"

Exodus 3:14 is a powerful declaration of God's nature and character, and it reminds us of His eternal and unchanging presence in our lives. God's self-existence and eternality are essential to understanding who He is and how we should relate to Him.

The Hebrew phrase used for "I AM WHO I AM" is "ehyeh asher ehyeh," which can also be translated as "I will be what I will be" or "I am what I am."

This name of God reveals His eternal, self-existent nature. God is the one who always was, always is, and always will be. He is not bound by time or space but exists beyond it. He is the source of all existence and the sustainer of all life.

In the context of the Exodus story, God reveals His name to Moses as a way of assuring him that He will be with him as he goes to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites from slavery. God is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but He is also the God of Moses and the God of the Israelites. By revealing His name, God establishes a personal relationship with Moses and His people, a relationship based on trust and faithfulness.

In John 8:58, Jesus declares that He is this one and the same “I AM” when He is engaged in a heated debate with the Pharisees, who are questioning His authority. When Jesus declares, "Before Abraham was, I am," He is invoking the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14 and claiming to be God. The language and concepts of Exodus 3:14 were woven into the theology of the early Christian church. They reveal how Jesus Christ was understood to be the embodiment of the God who revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush.

“I AM” is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. He promises that He will be what He will be; that is, He will be the eternally constant God.

March 23 -- "Their Cry Came Up To God"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 2

"Their Cry Came Up To God"

Today’s verse marks a turning point in the story of the Israelites' occupation of Egypt. Prior to this, the Israelites had been living in Egypt for generations, first as honored guests during the time of Joseph, and later as slaves under a new pharaoh who did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8). The Israelites had been increasingly oppressed and forced to work as slaves, and their situation had grown increasingly desperate.

The phrase "their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God" is particularly significant because it suggests that God is aware of the Israelites' suffering and is moved to action on their behalf. This idea of God hearing the cry of the oppressed is a recurring theme in the Bible, and it underscores the importance of justice and compassion for those who are marginalized or oppressed. Their voices were heard by the Living God who loves them and chose them for His special purposes, just as He chose you for a special purpose.

This sets the stage for the story of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It shows that the Israelites are not passive victims of their circumstances, but are actively seeking God's help and intervention. It also emphasizes the importance of trusting in God even in the midst of difficult and uncertain times, knowing that God hears the cries of the oppressed and is moved to action on their behalf.

The Bible contains many references to God hearing the cries of his people, particularly those who are oppressed, suffering, or in need of help. Examples include: Psalm 34:15 - "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” And Psalm 72:12-14 - "For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight."

Jesus reminds us of this same truth in Luke 18:7-8 - "And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.” Send your groans and cries up to Him today.