May 29 - Day 5

Today's reading really struck a chord with me for some reason. The words were leaping off of the page and piercing my heart. Overall, I was inspired again by realizing we must first know WHOSE we are before we can understand WHAT we are to accomplish.

This was first impressed upon me as I read about Moses early days. Exodus 2:11 Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and acts in anger to kill the Egyptian. I don't condone the actions that Moses took, but I'm impressed that Moses still felt this much loyalty to the Hebrew people. He was raised as an Egyptian and granted all the benefits of being a kings son. How easily it would have been for him to mentally view himself as an Egyptian. However the small phrase found in verse 11 sticks out to me " . . . one of his own people." He identified with the Hebrews and never lost focus of WHOSE he was first and the privileges he was granted second. This is important to me today as I struggle with what am I supposed to accomplish in this life? Is it what the title on my business card dictates? There is more work there to be done than I can ever accomplish on my own. And if I do accomplish it all, does it even matter? Certainly God has placed me here for a reason but unless I acknowledge that I'm first a Child of God the earthly advantages he's given me mean nothing. I can easily loose my identity in the distractions of this world Lord, help me maintain my focus and my identity in You!

After his calling in the desert through the Burning Bush, Moses returned to Egypt to follow the Lord's calling. Yet here I gain another application of our obedience to the Lord demonstrated through our actions. Moses knew he'd been called to go and he knew it was the Lord who'd called him. Though he'd argued with the Lord about why and what he should say, He still agreed to go. Step one of obedience. However in Exodus 4:24 we see God ready to kill Moses for not having his son's circumcised. What is that all about? I stumbled over this several times. I can't quite understand it, but I think God is revealing that obedience means actions in all areas of his commands. So surely God talked to Moses and told him to Go... but he also talked to all Hebrews through the covenant with Abraham and told them what he expected. Circumcision was the outward sign of their inward attitude. God expects us to obey in all areas of our life. Not just those things that are comfortable for us or convenient for us. Once God saw that Moses was a "bridegroom of blood" the Lord let him alone. I surely feel proud sometimes that I've decided to follow the Lord's calling in my life. However, I also realize that there are times when I've chosen to not obey or not listen to the full commitment God is asking me to make. I've gone with him on the journey outwardly but my inward commitment hasn't resulted in full obedience. Look around us today. How many of us are demonstrating outward obedience without an inward commitment that is piercing to the soul. If we truly were this way, every aspect of our life would be changed and we'd do things not because they were comfortable, but because they were drawing us closer to His Glory.

Exodus 6:9 - God has just reveled his promise to Moses for the Israelites. Moses hastily delivers this to the Israelites himself... but here it states that they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.
I draw two things here for my life...

1. Unless the people around me have the physical needs met, they will be less likely to hear the Spiritual promises that God is revealing to them every day. AND
2. How often do I not hear God's promises because I perceive my needs not to be met? Bringing me back to the definition of a need versus a want. You supply all my needs. Yet it mostly is my "wants" that I choose to let get in the way of receiving your promises. Forgive me, dear Father.

The plagues are one of our children's favorite Bible stories. They like recite the repeated phrase, "let my people go" as it appears in their Children's Bible. When reading these plagues my tendency has been to focus on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart against God. Yet when I read these again today, I started to realize that yes, God did harden Pharaoh's heart but whose benefit was it for? Certainly ultimately it allowed God to reveal his Glory and power. However I started to reflect on the character each successive plague was developing in Moses. Initially upon receiving God's calling in the desert, he tried to explain why he wasn't the right choice. The God took away all of his excuses why he shouldn't go. Then Moses found himself capable but not confident in his ability to represent the Lord. God had to first reveal signs to Moses (a staff turning into a snake, a perfectly healthy hand turning leprous and then being healed.) Moses had to first believe God was all powerful in his own life. Then with each successive plague, God had to help Moses understand that He could not just harden hearts, but also that he was in control of everything. I can almost see Moses' courage and confidence increasing with each successive plague. He was rediscovering God in a whole new light and recognizing what an awesome privilege it is to serve such a powerful God. And God chose Moses personally to accomplish this task. Surely, I may never be called upon to deliver plagues to others. I may never be called upon to deliver slaves from captivity (at least not literally). However, God had chosen me to serve Him and created unique opportunities for me to help set people free from spiritual bondage. These plagues not only strengthened Moses into a fine leader, but they encourage me as well of what an AWESOME and powerful God I serve today.

Finally when Pharaoh did let the people go Exodus 13:18 tells us that the Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. When I first read this, I thought that that meant that as I'm set free from my sins, I should be ready to fight as well because the world will be against me. I'm sure this is part of the application but not all of it. Because, reading on in Exodus 14 I discovered how the Israelites were "trapped" between the red sea and the approaching Egyptians. They began to grumble an realized that the were in dire straits and were ready to serve the Egyptians all over again. (Did they forget that they were "armed for battle?") Then Moses reassured the people not to be afraid. He wouldn't have been able to say this with confidence unless he knew from previous experience that God was in charge of all things. And He encourages them that "the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Ex 14:14) When I read this and contrasted it against Ex 13:18 I realized that we are to be armed for battle but sometimes that means our armor is resting in the Lord's provision for us. As I move into unfamiliar territory following where he is leading me, I must be armed with realizing that my Powerful God is TOTALLY in control of my life. He will protect me... I need only to realize that He is fighting the spiritual battle for my soul all around me as I'm still in Him.

Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to your truths. Now my prayer is that they are coming at me so fast that I'm concerned they'll stay in my head or words on this page rather than being acted out in obedience to you. Help me ingrain these applications into my daily actions so I gain the full benefit of your revelation to me.

May 28 - Day 4

Thank you God for allowing me the privilege of reading your Word today. Though it wasn't all in one sitting I was able to complete the reading and gain new and exciting truths from it. The Living Word is coming new to me as I read these familiar passages in light of my current situations and draw linkages between what you said then and what you are speaking directly to me today.

As I read about these Old Testament saints I realize I am strongly envious of their ability to hear you and sense your guiding. I recognize that not everyone I'm reading about understands who you are and what you are saying, but those Fathers of your chosen people remained humble and obedient. Through that humility you taught them and each successive step of obedience helped them gain the courage to trust you more.

Joseph displayed humility when he was asked by Pharaoh to interpret the dreams. Though he had been in prison for many years for a crime he didn't commit, he chose to help rather than to become bitter for the treatment he'd received. Not only that but he remembered his source of gifting. He replied to Pharaoh, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." This serves as a great warning to me. How often do I usurp God's glory by negating the gifting He's bestowed upon me? Daily I have the opportunity to interact and influence people. I asked for such an opportunity and God delivered. Yet, daily I plunge into my routines with my own strength and try to rely on my gifting rather than the SOURCE of my gifting. God has blessed me with tremendous talents and I use them daily. Yet using them is not enough. Using them for His glory and at His prompting enables me not to become depleted or defeated. Lately, I've been feeling defeat. I've not been enlarged and my territory and responsibility is diminished. Help me be more like Joseph and remember not only my gifts but the SOURCE of my gifts as well - that I may again feel your leading and your prompting.

In Genesis 47 during the famine that struck Egypt and the surrounding area I received a warning about helping people in crisis while helping them realize the source of their blessing. Many people were coming to Joseph to purchase grain from the Egyptian storehouse. When their money ran out they begged for more food. Joseph told them that he would sell the grain to them in exchange for their livestock. When the livestock ran out, Joseph told them he would sell them the grain for their land. Then in exchange for seeds Joseph contracted the people to return 1/5 of their crop to Pharaoh. How easy it would have been for Joseph to give the people exactly what they asked for? They wanted a handout. He could have simply provided them with the grain out of mercy. It seems almost cruel, but Joseph made them pay for the handout despite their dire circumstances. Yet he did it in a way that helped them maintain their dignity AND caused the to continually recognize the source of the blessing. I as God's child must realize the SOURCE of a blessing as well as the blessing itself. If I do not, the blessing becomes an entitlement and soon my pride creeps back in. Look at our world around us today. How many people have forgotten the SOURCE of our blessings. The government provides us with many benefits as citizens. God provides us with many benefits as citizens of Earth. Yet on both accounts we are guilty of usurping the glory intended by these blessings because we fail to acknowledge the source and view them as an entitlement. Who am I that I should be called both a citizen of this great nation as well as a child of God? Help me always acknowledge YOU as the SOURCE of my blessings.

Genesis 50:19 - After the death of Jacob, Joseph's brothers were afraid that he would exact revenge on them for their harmful acts against him. They pleaded for mercy and fell down before him offering to be his slaves. I extracted two learnings from this example. The first is that God's Word always comes true. In Joseph's early life he had a dream that showed him that his brothers would kneel before him. And here it is that the dream has come true. How easily it would have been for Joseph to say "I told you so." And in my humanness, this is probably what I would have said. Instead, I gained a second application... how Joseph chose to respond. Instead of revenge or anger, Joseph recognized His calling and Who had called him. His response was "Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." In challenges or frustrations of this life, I all too often look for how to get even or how to get back at those who've hurt me. I rarely look for the opportunity to bring Glory to God by recognizing WHOSE I am first and WHAT God may have called me to accomplish by allowing me to go through this specific trial or frustration. Lord, Help me apply this to every aspect of my life. . . That I may have eternal eyes to see things in lieu of your plan and not my momentary frustrations.