This is our next reading. I leave for a couples getaway this morning, so feel free to make comments even if I don't get to post anything until I get back.
Exodus 1:12-13 "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly." God blessed the Israelites, which brought persecution from their masters, which resulted in more blessing from God, which brought more persecution. Vicious cycle. Does God's work in your life ever follow this pattern? Where does the church in America get the idea that being a Believer is a piece of cake?
I am so proud of the midwives who were not afraid to obey God rather than men! I have had to make a stand in the workplace before, and frankly, it gave me quite a charge! Try it some time, and you may like it.
I understand why Pharoah wanted all the male children killed, and I realize that males were highly valued and women weren't in the culture. Why didn't he just tell the midwives to kill all the Hebrew babies? Ok, weird question, I know.
Exodus 2 Again, I am proud of Moses' mama for obeying God rather than men. Moses' mama knew that God had a very special purpose for her child. She took a risk and trusted God to protect her son. Do I go out on a limb to make certain God's plans for my children will be accomplished? I'm not talking about manipulating people and circumstances for selfish gain. I'm talking about going the extra mile to make sure my children get the training they need to be a follower of the One True God.
Here we see in the life of Moses that God allowed tragedy so that He could get Moses to follow Him. God took the tragedy and used it to mold Moses into a strong leader for His people. Sometimes God has to make us miserable or uncomfortable to get us to move where He wants us. Sometimes God takes us to the desert so we can have time to get to know Him better. Sometimes God walks us through the stuff so we will have a story to tell that will draw others closer to Him.
Exodus 2:25 "So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them." I hope to smile! I want it to say God was anguished or distraught or stayed up all night worrying and fretting. OK, so I know that is not in God's character, but it's in mine. When I am in dire circumstances, I want assurance that God is thinking of me every moment of every day and that He hasn't forgotten that I've got a problem He needs to take care of pronto.
See you soon,
Dana
Have fun! Will be thinking of you guys and praying for you all!!
ReplyDeleteExodus 12:13 speaks to me that when God sees the blood He passes over them. That would be such a huge thing to miss!!!! Guess you wouldn't want to be the one sleeping in the back pew when that was announced.....In all seriousness do you think that God will speak to us of that importance now? I know God speaks to us through his word...I have such a hard time putting my thoughts out like this......I hope that someone understands me :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my boys cicumcised it doesn't seem to be about anything other then hygiene. Is there anyone that still feels this spiritual about circumcision today?
14:10-14 reminds me of myself..... immedately the Israelites figured they were going to die. God, through Moses, had brought them that far but at the first sign of trouble verse 10 says they were terrified and cried out to the Lord. And it goes on in verse 12 to say that they got mad at Moses, they had told him to leave them alone when Moses first strated to speak to them of Gods plan. They just knew that they were going to die. How quick we forget the power of God. And Moses, even after speaking to God personally, still cries out to the Lord. Verse 15 says God asks why are you crying out? Tell the Issraelites to move. It is interesting to me that how situations today may not include parting a sea to defeat our enemies but us, just like them, are still fighting to defeat our enemy (Satan), and to remain loyal to God! God is constantly reminding me to BE STILL , to leave room for his wrath. God has not changed just times/situations have changed.And when Moses was stretching out his hand over the sea, invision this with me, your praising your God with your hands stretched out and that feeling that you get when you are doing that.... love, warmth, peace, admiration.... do you think that Moses felt that? Can we even imagine that God can use anyone he wants too!I am going to challenge myself with this.....that as I stand with my hands raised to my God I will give him ALL of me, my fears, my hurts, my joy, everything. It is not God I should question but myself....what is my intentions how much do I love and trust God?
Ok I am almost done here I want to share one more thing! :) This is part of a song I heard today as I was typing. It is by Tree63 called Look What You've Done.....
It's not a question of what you can do for me.
It's a question of what I can do for you.
My heart is yours....
Thank you God for your UNCHANGING LOVE in this life you have given me
PRAISE GOD!!
I've always loved the part of this story, where Moses' Mother puts him in a wicker basket, and covers it with pitch. The basket is to resemble the ark, and pitch in the original Hebrew means atonement. Which is the doing away with sin through obedience. As Dana said Moses' Mother knew that God would use him in a mighty way.
ReplyDeleteAnd also the fact that his sister was right there to go get the mom to be the wet-nurse, so until 2-4 yrs old, she still was able to see him grow up, and teach him about the most important person ever--Jesus! Isn't that marvelous how God worked that all out?
God must have given Moses a very compassionate heart, because after all the grumbling he had to listen to, and God was already fed up with it, he would always plead with God on the behalf of the people and they would be saved. A picture of a sort of Christ don't you think? We know that God does not make deals -- but Moses' pleading and praying, changed His Mind a few times. I think that shows how much, and how deeply God really did love these people.
And it shows us that He is a God of Second Chances, when we are genuine in our repentance and turn and go with God.
Blessings to you all,
Karen
As I read this I was taken in by God's continual reassurance to Moses that even though a common person he could deliver his people out of the Egyptians hands through the power of God. Then after all of the coaxing by the Lord in chapter 4 verses 24-26 I was amazed that the Lord was going to kill him (or his son). I looked back in Gensis 17 about the covenant of circumcision. Even though Moses was doing everything else the Lord requested, this one part of the covenant was not met so it meant death.
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord for Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:2 says..."Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Verse 6 continues..."For in Christ Jesus neither circumsion nor uncircumsion has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
If you then go back to the beginning of Gal. 5 It says..."It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Thank you Jesus for my freedom, help me to stand firm in You.
Exodus 1 reminds me of just how quick things can change with new leadership. Once this new king took over it was "Katie bar the door!" for the Israelites! They go from the good life to bad real quick because of one man's insecurity. It is a vicious cycle as Dana mentioned. I guess this passage makes me stop and think about what changes America will have in store for her after the election. Things are getting tough all around us. Everywhere we turn it appears that someone is trying to silence the voice of the Christian, to destroy us bit by bit just like the king with the Israelites. Will we fear God like the midwives feared God? Will we be able to take a stand when called to do so??
ReplyDeleteThe story of Moses is a beautiful story of God's purpose being carried out. Do you think his mother ever thought about Moses growing up in Pharoah's household? Just as God had a plan for Joseph to save his family and his people, so goes that same plan with Moses. Little did they know at the time how important they would become in carrying out God's plan. The circumstances these men grew up in are different but yet the lessons learned are priceless. These men had a lot to go through in order to learn how to trust God and to be the great leader God had called them to be. Our lives have been a journey with lots of twists and turns and challenges, all for a reason. What is God preparing each one of us to do? Where is God at work in our lives? Just as God was concerned for the Israelites, He is concerned for us as well. God has made provision for me many times when I've needed to be pulled out of the pit or dragged out of the desert by bringing a "Moses" into my life. THANK YOU LORD FOR DOING THAT FOR ME! And like Moses, sometimes I have to go back to "Egypt" because there's still some unfinished business that needs to be addressed and when all is said and done, then we will know that we have encountered God. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!! Pharoah didn't have a clue and he didn't see any of this coming at all. Just goes to show the enemy will be overcome and he KNOWS it. I love it now I just need to live like I believe it!!
Love hearing your words of wisdom ladies. Thank you so much for sharing. Dana, I hadn't ever picked up on Pharoah killing all the male babies before instead of just the Hebrew babies.
Thank you, Hilary for saying, "Can we even imagine that God can use anyone he wants too!I am going to challenge myself with this.....that as I stand with my hands raised to my God I will give him ALL of me, my fears, my hurts, my joy, everything."
ReplyDeleteWhy do we question God's calling on our lives as Moses did in Exodus 3? When God calls us to a ministry, He will equip us, and He will provide the words, and He will provide our daily needs just as He allowed the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians. God, give me courage to follow you willingly without questioning your motives and always trusting that you have the details worked out.
Exodus 4:13-14 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well.
ReplyDeleteGod, don't choose someone else to do the job you intended for me. Help me to swallow my pride and to give my fears to You. Help me step up to the plate and be the Christian you need me to be.
Exodus 4:1 Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
ReplyDeleteExodus 4:21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
No fair, LORD! You confirmed that Moses' worst fear would come true. What am I supposed to do with that???
I think I question what my purpose is because I'm not sure if it's God's will or my own selfishness speaking. I think it would've been awesome to have been able to speak directly to God like Moses, and all of them were able to do. But would I have listened to Him any better, I doubt it. I probably would have struggled just like they did.
ReplyDeleteOne of my ? is Ex. 4:24- what did this passage have to do with everything else that was taking place here? And why was the Lord going to kill Moses, but stopped because of his wife's interceeding? What was this all about?
When discerning whether it is God's will or my will, I go back to my life verse. Psalm 34:3 Does this activity glorify God, or does it glorify me? Am I taking on this activity because I want to serve God or because I want to feel good about myself or get applause from people?
ReplyDeleteIn Exodus 4:24 God was angry with Moses because he had not circumcised his son. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant God had made with Abraham and his descendants. I'm not certain why God had not brought this issue to Moses' attention before, except I do know that when God calls us to follow Him, He demands complete obedience. He has a higher expectation for leaders.