April 3 -- "Be Silent!"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 14

"Be Silent!"

Being “silent” and waiting for God to act can be a very difficult thing. When facing a problem or difficult challenge, we humans instinctively want to leap in and solve the problem ourselves. But here, The Lord tells the Israelites “you have only to be silent.” Oh, how often we misunderstand God’s role and our role in the situations of life.

Today’s verse means that the Israelites should remain calm and trust in God's protection, rather than panicking or trying to fight Pharaoh's army themselves. This is a message of reassurance from God to the Israelites. It reminds them that they are not alone in their struggle, and that God is on their side. The phrase "the Lord will fight for you" indicates that God will take action on their behalf to protect them and ensure their freedom. This is His role.

Whether we are facing personal challenges such as illness, financial difficulties, spiritual warfare, relationship problems, or larger issues like social injustice or political unrest, we can take comfort in the fact that God is on our side and will fight for us. This does not mean that we should remain passive in the face of challenges, but rather that we should approach them with a sense of calm and trust in God's promise to do His part.

Our part is to remain “silent” as we watch the power-working God fight for us. We are not alone in our struggles. We can rely on God to fight for us and protect us. By trusting in God's plan and remaining calm in the face of adversity, we can find strength and hope to overcome whatever challenges we may face in life. This is our role.

Our role is to remain peaceful knowing that the power of God is on our side. His role is to fight for us, and in His proper timing He will do exactly that.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

April 2 -- "Commemorating Deliverance"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 13

"Commemorating Deliverance"

Quite often in Scripture, the Lord instructs His people to celebrate. To rejoice in what God had done and what He is doing on behalf of His people. Today's passage is one such instruction. Take some time to pause and remember the deliverance of the Lord and enjoy a feast to commemorate His blessings.  

This is part of the instructions given by God to the Israelites after they had been freed from slavery in Egypt. The context is the celebration of the Passover, which commemorates the night when God spared the Israelites from the last of the ten plagues that he had inflicted upon the Egyptians.

Here, God commands the Israelites to eat unleavened bread for seven days as a reminder of their hasty departure from Egypt. The absence of leaven in the bread represents the haste with which the Israelites had to leave Egypt and the fact that they did not have time to let their bread rise. The seventh day of the feast was to be a special day of celebration and feasting dedicated to the Lord.

In the New Testament, unleavened bread is most notably associated with the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples at the Passover before his crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body broken for you" (Matthew 26:26 ESV).

Just as the unleavened bread eaten during the Passover commemorated the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the unleavened bread used by Jesus during the Last Supper represents his body, which would be broken for the salvation of humanity. By using unleavened bread, Jesus was connecting his sacrifice to the deliverance of the Israelites and to the broader history of God's redemption of his people.

The statement "this is my body, broken for you" is a powerful declaration of Jesus' sacrificial love for humanity and his deep connection with his followers. Knowing this truth makes every day a special day of celebration and feasting dedicated to the Lord.

April 1 -- "He Passed Over"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 12

"He Passed Over"

This verse is part of the instructions given by God to Moses for the first Passover, which commemorated the time when God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The verse instructs the Israelites to declare that the Passover sacrifice is a reminder of how God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites and spared them from the final and most devastating plague, which struck down the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. The people of Israel are instructed to acknowledge God's mercy and grace towards them, and as they do, the begin to spontaneously worship Him in gratitude.

There is no record in the Gospels of Jesus specifically commenting on Exodus 12:27. However, Jesus is often referred to as the Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for the sins of humanity, and the New Testament writers draw connections between the Passover and the death and resurrection of Jesus.

In the Gospel of John, for example, Jesus is described as being crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover (John 19:14). The apostle Paul also refers to Jesus as "our Passover lamb" in 1 Corinthians 5:7, and in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples, which is now known as the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30).

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, which is why Christians no longer need to offer animal sacrifices as the Israelites did in the Old Testament. So while Jesus did not directly comment on Exodus 12:27, his life, teachings, and ultimate sacrifice are closely linked to the Passover and the theme of God's deliverance of his people.

Jesus, as the Passover Lamb, was sacrificed for the sins of humanity. His blood saves those who put their faith in him from eternal death. Jesus fulfilled the Passover through His sacrifice as the Lamb of God, His body as the unleavened bread, His establishment of the New Covenant, and His resurrection as the ultimate deliverance from sin and death.

Just as His judgment passed over the Israelites because of the blood, God can now "pass over" our sins because of the blood sacrifice of our great Passover Lamb. 

March 31 -- "The LORD Hardened Pharaoh's Heart"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 10 & 11

"The LORD Hardened Pharaoh's Heart"

The Bible often speaks about the concept of hardening one's heart. In general, this refers to a spiritual condition in which a person becomes resistant to the prompting of God's Spirit or the leading of his/her conscience. Here are some examples:

Exodus 8:15 describes Pharaoh hardening his heart against God's command to release the Israelites from slavery.

Psalm 95:8-9 warns against hardening one's heart like the Israelites did in the wilderness, which led to their rebellion and disobedience.

Proverbs 28:14 says that a person who hardens their heart will fall into calamity.

Mark 8:17-21 recounts Jesus rebuking his disciples for their lack of faith and understanding, saying, "Do you have a hardened heart?"

In all these examples, hardening one's heart is portrayed as a dangerous spiritual condition that can lead to rebellion, disobedience, calamity, and separation from God. The Bible encourages us to have a soft and receptive heart, open to the prompting of God's Spirit and the leading of our conscience.

In addition to the concept of individuals hardening their own hearts, the Bible also speaks about God hardening people's hearts. It's important to note that the concept of God hardening someone's heart does not mean that God forces a person to become resistant to his love or to the promptings of his Spirit. Rather, it is God allowing a person to experience the consequences of their own choices. In this sense, God is “confirming” the hardness the person has chosen.

The Bible warns about the danger of hardening one's heart so frequently and for so long that there may come a time when there is no longer a remedy or opportunity for repentance.

We must take seriously the condition of our hearts and respond to God's call to repentance while we still have the opportunity to do so, while God's grace and mercy are limitless. There may come a time when our hearts become so hardened that God allows us to experience the consequences of our own resistance.

March 30 -- "Acting Upon God's Word"

Today's Reading:  Exodus 9 

"Acting Upon God's Word"

This verse describes a scene during the time when the God of Israel was bringing plagues upon Egypt in order to secure the release of the Israelites from slavery. In this particular instance, the eighth plague is about to be inflicted upon Egypt, which would be a devastating hailstorm that would kill both people and animals who were outside.

Interestingly, we are told that some of Pharaoh's officials, who had begun to fear the power of the God of Israel, immediately brought their slaves and livestock inside to protect them from the hailstorm. This shows that even some of Pharaoh's own people were beginning to acknowledge the strength of the God of Israel and were taking steps to protect themselves and their property.

When people truly believe that God is about to act, they feel compelled to take action themselves, either to align themselves with God's plan or to prepare for the consequences of God's actions. This speaks to all of us about the necessity of knowing God’s plan, preparing for what is coming, and taking action to align ourselves with Him.

Ultimately, taking action based on God's coming action requires faith and a willingness to trust in God's plan. It involves listening for God's guidance and being open to the possibility that God may be leading us in unexpected directions. By aligning our actions with God's will, we find meaning and purpose in our lives and contribute to His cause in our world.

In light of this truth, what are you doing to prepare for what God is about to do? Are you seeking His truth and guidance? Are you preparing yourself and your loved ones? Are you taking action to be ready for what is coming?

Jesus, in teaching about what to expect just prior to His Second Coming told a parable about ten bridesmaids. Some were prepared for the coming of the Groom, but some were not. The moral of that parable was this, only "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matthew 25:10) Those who were not ready were stranded on the outside of the marriage feast wishing they had taken action.

Jesus is coming soon. He has given you signs and clues that will signal His imminent return. Are you acting upon God’s word and readying yourself? Act upon His word and you will be counted among those who are “ready.”

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.