In Exodus 18 we read of Jethro, Moses's father in law, coming to visit his son in law. Moses has the opportunity to tell him all the good things God has been doing through him, and Jethro was 'deligthed to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. He said "Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and Pharso...Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly". Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God' (Ex 18:9-12).
Here we see how the testimony of God's goodness in our lives can bring people to God. When God does something amazing for us, we shouldn't be afraid to share it.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Monday, 2 August 2010
Exodus 16: Day by Day
Carrying on from where they left off in chapter 15, 'The whole community grumbled' (Ex 16:2). Now, Joyce Meyer does a lovely bit about how this journey into the Promised Land was only a ten or eleven day hike away but took 40 years to get there: why? Because the people had a negative attitude to their situation. It's food for thought that our attitude affects our outcomes.
In verse 12 God tells Moses "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God'. Basically the people are moaning about not having food, and God turns around and responds to their moaning; what grace! God could have fireballed them all to death for moaning, yet actually treated their groaning like a prayer request and sorted it for them.
God then provides food for everyone, with one stipulation: "No-one is to keep any of it until morning" (Ex 16:19). What stands out here is the importance of a day by day relationship with God - he will give you everything you need for today, so stop worrying about tomorrow, stop regretting yesterday, and focus on today.
Just a small point, but the Manna God gave the people was a honey tasting pancake. I think there's something in that: God wants us to enjoy life, and the fact that he gave them something sweet rather than savoury suggests he is a God of joy.
Finally, Moses tells the people to "Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come" (Ex 16:32). In this verse we see yet another example of the altar building principle; when God does something big for you, buy or make a physical symbol of it to remind you of his goodness.
In verse 12 God tells Moses "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God'. Basically the people are moaning about not having food, and God turns around and responds to their moaning; what grace! God could have fireballed them all to death for moaning, yet actually treated their groaning like a prayer request and sorted it for them.
God then provides food for everyone, with one stipulation: "No-one is to keep any of it until morning" (Ex 16:19). What stands out here is the importance of a day by day relationship with God - he will give you everything you need for today, so stop worrying about tomorrow, stop regretting yesterday, and focus on today.
Just a small point, but the Manna God gave the people was a honey tasting pancake. I think there's something in that: God wants us to enjoy life, and the fact that he gave them something sweet rather than savoury suggests he is a God of joy.
Finally, Moses tells the people to "Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come" (Ex 16:32). In this verse we see yet another example of the altar building principle; when God does something big for you, buy or make a physical symbol of it to remind you of his goodness.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Exodus 15: Let God take the lead
Well I’m back! A two month hiatus from the blog, but rest assured I’ve been reading my daily chapter throughout that whole time (just one day missed I think), and simply got a bit bogged down at work and didn’t put the time in on the net. However, it’s the summer holidays now, so there’s no excuse not to kick start the blog again.
Exodus 15 gives us a very simple message in the song of Moses and Miriam:
“In your unfailing love you will lead
The people you have redeemed,
In your strength you will guide them
To your holy dwelling” (Ex 15:13-14)
God will lead us! We don’t need to stress about which way to go, just follow his leading! How wonderful to know that God has a plan, a road laid out for us.
The next verse is not so positive, yet a very accurate portrayal of human nature. Fresh from being set free from the Egyptians, Moses is leading the Israelites through the desert and they are struggling to find water. We then read in Ex 15:24 ‘So the people grumbled’. What a joke! God has just miraculously freed his people and now their attitude has turned negative and they’re moaning. Sadly, I can relate all too well to that, and it brings me back to the message of building an altar – we need to remember our past victories with God, to encourage us for our current situation.
Exodus 15 gives us a very simple message in the song of Moses and Miriam:
“In your unfailing love you will lead
The people you have redeemed,
In your strength you will guide them
To your holy dwelling” (Ex 15:13-14)
God will lead us! We don’t need to stress about which way to go, just follow his leading! How wonderful to know that God has a plan, a road laid out for us.
The next verse is not so positive, yet a very accurate portrayal of human nature. Fresh from being set free from the Egyptians, Moses is leading the Israelites through the desert and they are struggling to find water. We then read in Ex 15:24 ‘So the people grumbled’. What a joke! God has just miraculously freed his people and now their attitude has turned negative and they’re moaning. Sadly, I can relate all too well to that, and it brings me back to the message of building an altar – we need to remember our past victories with God, to encourage us for our current situation.
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