April 8 -- "God is Numbah One"

 Today's Reading: Exodus 20

"God is Numbah One"

The Ten Commandments are comprised of ten concise and powerful statements which cover a range of topics, including the worship of God, the sanctity of life, and the importance of respecting others. The Commandments are an expression of God's will for His people and serve as a guide for how we should live our lives in relationship with God and with one another. They are considered to be the foundation of the moral code in Judaism and Christianity.

The first of these Commandments, “you shall have no other gods before me,” sets the foundation for the entire set of Commandments. It is a call for the Israelites to worship and serve only one God, and to not place any other gods or idols before Him. In Hawaiian pidgin, this verse is translated, “God is Numbah One.” This emphasizes the preeminence of God as the number ("numbah") one pursuit over all other things, persons, or pursuits.

This commandment applies to us today, as it reminds us of the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. In today's world, there are many things that can compete for our attention and devotion, such as material possessions, career success, or relationships. However, this Commandment reminds us that nothing should take the place of God in our lives.

To apply this commandment to our lives, we should seek to make God the center of our lives and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. This means devoting time to prayer, studying the Bible, and seeking His will for our lives. We should also be aware of anything in our lives that might be competing for our devotion to God and work to remove those distractions.

In Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV), Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment."

Jesus is essentially emphasizing the same message as the first Commandment, but He expands upon it by adding the importance of loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. This means that we should not only avoid placing any other gods before Him, but we should also love and worship Him wholeheartedly. This statement emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God above all other things.

April 7 -- "God’s Awesome Power on Display"

 Today's Reading: Exodus 19

"God’s Awesome Power on Display"

Exodus 19:18 describes the awesome spectacle that occurred when the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from God. The verse says, "Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly."

This event was a profound and awe-inspiring display of God's power and glory. The smoke that enveloped the mountain symbolized the presence of God, who had descended upon the mountain in fire. The smoke was so thick that it was reminiscent of the smoke that would come from a kiln, which would have been an intense and intimidating sight for the Israelites.

The trembling of the mountain added to the spectacle, demonstrating the immense power of God. The very ground beneath their feet was shaking, emphasizing that the event was not just a simple occurrence, but rather a monumental moment in the history of the Israelites.

All of these elements combined to create a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience for the Israelites. The spectacle was meant to impress upon them the majesty and power of God, and to remind them of His authority over all things. It was a moment that they would never forget, and it served as a powerful reminder of the covenant that they were about to enter into with God.

The spectacle of Mount Sinai can serve as a reminder for us today of the power and majesty of God. It can be easy to get caught up in the stresses and distractions of everyday life and forget the magnitude of the God we serve. The same God who created the universe and displayed His power at Mount Sinai is still with us today. The Israelites recognized the power and majesty of God and were humbled by His presence. In the same way, we should approach God with a heart of humility and recognize His greatness and authority.

April 6 -- "Take Some Advice: Share the Load"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 18

"Take Some Advice: Share the Load"

It is not wise to try to do everything by ourselves. This is the message from Jethro to Moses in Exodus 18.

Moses was serving as the sole judge for the Israelites, listening to hundreds of their disputes and settling them. Jethro, Moses father-in-law, advised Moses to delegate some of his responsibilities to others who were trustworthy and capable, so that he would not wear himself out and be able to focus on the most important matters.

In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul compares the church to a human body. Each part of the body has a unique function, and all the parts work together to make the body function properly. Similarly, in the Body of Christ, each member has a unique gift or ability, and all members are meant to work together for the common good.

Applying this to the lesson of Exodus 18:17-18, it means that we should not try to do everything ourselves, but rather recognize that we are part of a larger community with different gifts and abilities. We can delegate tasks and ask for help from other members of the Body of Christ who are gifted in areas where we may not be. By doing so, we can work more effectively and efficiently, and the Body of Christ as a whole can function better.

Therefore, both Exodus 18:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 12 teach us the importance of recognizing our limitations and working together with others to achieve our goals. We are not meant to work alone, but rather as part of a larger community where each member plays a vital role.

So if you are attempting to accomplish things on your own, it’s probably time you took some advice from Jethro, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone.” (The Message)

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.