April 5 -- "Jehovah Nissi"

 Today's Reading: Exodus 16-17

"Jehovah Nissi"

After the battle with the Amalekites, Moses built an altar to commemorate the victory and named it "The LORD Is My Banner" to acknowledge that God had been their banner or standard in the battle, the one who had given them the victory.

In historical military contexts, banners were used as a means of identifying troops on the battlefield. They were often emblazoned with the emblem or coat of arms of a particular noble or royal family and were carried into battle by the soldiers who fought under that banner. In this sense, the banner served as a symbol of loyalty and allegiance to a particular leader or cause.

The phrase “The LORD is my banner” in today’s verse is a combination of two Hebrew words: "Yahweh" or "Jehovah," which is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Scriptures, and "Nissi," which means "my banner" or "my refuge." Thus, one of the many names or titles of God is “Jehovah-Nissi” – The LORD my banner.

There are several other "Jehovah" names in the Hebrew Bible that refer to different attributes or characteristics of God. Here are some examples:

Jehovah Jireh: "The LORD will provide" (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Rapha: "The LORD who heals" (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah Shalom: "The LORD is peace" (Judges 6:24)
Jehovah Sabaoth: "The LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 1:3)
Jehovah Rohi: "The LORD is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1)
Jehovah Tsidkenu: "The LORD our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6)

Each of these names reveals a different aspect of God's character or nature, and they can help us to better understand and appreciate who God is and what He has done for us.

This name "The LORD Is My Banner" reflects the Israelites' recognition of God's rulership and power. They acknowledged that their success in battle came from relying on God and following His lead, and not from their own strength or prowess. It should serve as a reminder to us that we are God's chosen people, that we fight under His Name, and that He will always be with us to protect and guide us through our battles in life.

April 4 -- "The Million Person Choir"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 15

"The Million Person Choir"

The Song of Moses, found in Exodus 15, is a powerful and poetic hymn of praise and thanksgiving that the Israelites sang to the Lord after crossing the Red Sea and witnessing the defeat of the Egyptian army. The song is traditionally attributed to Moses, who is believed to have composed it with the help of his sister Miriam.

The song is notable for its vivid imagery and powerful language, which celebrates God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery and his triumph over their enemies. It describes the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Red Sea splitting in two and the Israelites walking across on dry land, while the pursuing Egyptian chariots are swallowed up by the waters. It also celebrates God's sovereignty and his faithfulness to his covenant with the Israelites.

Verse 2 declares that the Lord is their strength and their song, meaning that He is the source of their power and joy. The phrase "He has become my salvation" emphasizes that the people have transitioned from seeing God merely as the God of their ancestors into a people who now have a personal and powerful relationship with Him themselves. The Lord has given them a new life and a new identity as his people. Oh, what joy it brings when we enter into such a relationship.

It also affirms their personal relationship with God, calling him "my God" and "my father's God." This emphasizes a sense of personal ownership and responsibility for their faith, as well as a connection to their ancestral traditions and the promises of God to their forefathers. He is not merely a far-away God who has little interest in m life, but He is “MY” God and delights in working in my day-to-day life bringing freedom, salvation, and joy.

Exodus 12 mentions that 600,000 men, in addition to women and children, left Egypt with Moses. This would mean that the total number of Israelites singing this song was well above a million. Imagine for a moment the resounding chorus of these voices declaring the praises of Yahweh. 

Now, take a moment and let your voice raise in praise to Him for becoming your salvation and your God.

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.”