Don Guthrie – Page 33 – The Everyday Prayer

Substitute

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 12:1-14, 24-27, 13:8-9 (day one)
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”–12:13.

As The Great Artist, God drew this event into Israel’s history. It pointed to Christ. His death. The first participants, however, did not understand the future meaning. What they knew, that night as they sat huddled in their homes and heard the cries of a thousand Egyptian families mourning the death of a son in every house, was that THEY were safe. Not by their own merit, but by the death of an innocent substitute, a lamb. It was an unforgettable lesson! A debt paid. A death suffered. For them. By an innocent. Years later Israel would understand. John the Baptist would declare of Christ, “The LAMB OF GOD who takes away (both as to guilt and as to power) the sin of the world”–John 1:29. All that we have with God we owe to Christ, our substitute. We are “redeemed. . .with precious blood”–1 Peter 11:18-19

Asssertive God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day seven)

It is not a picture of God that is familiar or comfortable. Living on this side of the cross, we know the face of God’s mercy, God’s kindness. It is a mistake, however, to think that the “God of wrath” is no more. His patience is real, but the time comes when He becomes assertive in a terrifying way. The plagues on Egypt in Exodus are that moment! As we prepare for worship this morning, please read and reflect on these additional words from Scripture.

“The Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. . .YET HE WILL BY NO MEANS LEAVE THE GUILTY UNPUNISHED.”—Exodus 34:7.

“The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel.”—2 Thessalonians 1:7-8.

If we forget His assertiveness, do we really know Him?

Small/huge step

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day one)

“Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, . . . ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.’ “–5:1.

It was a HUGE mistake that surely seemed small to Pharaoh. Just a SMALL matter compared to his normal pressures. But, it had a huge impact. At first, Moses asked only permission for the Jews to go out in the desert to hold a religious festival. Just a beginning. No great loss for Egypt. Had Pharaoh, at this point, recognized their right to religious freedom, had he bent just slightly the Jews would still have left eventually, but without such cost to himself and his people. Still true. No step of obedience is small. It will lead to more. More obedience, more blessing. No resistance to God’s will is small, either. It hardens the heart and leads to judgment. Obedience may seem small, but it never is.

Does God get angry?

RE Verse reading–Exodus 3:1-14, 4:1-15 (day seven)
“Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses”--v 4:14. Does the Lord get angry? With us, I mean. Are we in danger of this happening to us? “Do not put the Lord to the test” is the way Moses verbalized this life-lesson years later. ( Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7) Yes, the Lord gets angry! Like a parent with a child who resists His will, asking one question too many, resisting obedience one moment too long. That moment when further hesitation becomes defiance. Peter felt Christ’s anger. “Get Thee behind me, Satan”—Matthew 16:23. The Pharisees too. “He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart“–Mark 3:5. (Did they even notice? Not sure) Be careful! The Lord is patient with His people, but eventually anger rises toward hard, unwilling, hearts. Explains where some are, even today. “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”—James 4:17. Does God get angry?

Still looking

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 3:1-14; 4:1-15 (day one)
“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from the [burning] bush.”–v 4.

It is a common and crushing condition of the human heart. We get so defeated, we stop looking for God, for answers. We grow cynical, negative. Past disappointments seem larger than future hope. We aren’t even curious anymore. In Exodus 3, Moses is man who has experienced significant disappointment. Some of it self-inflicted. Even so, he retains a hope that God is alive and active in the world. When he sees a burning-but-not-consumed bush, he goes to investigate. God honors this resilient hope, this curiosity and speaks to him. What about you, friend? Are you still looking for answers for yourself and your family and your nation? Or, has your heart grown calloused and unbelieving? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for”—Hebrews 11:1. Did you wake today with hope? Are you still looking for God?

Bitter, not bitter

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day seven)
“They made their lives bitter. . . in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.”-v 14.

God comes to people in trouble. This is the gospel, the good news. Life is often not fair. People can be cruel. Know anyone who is bitter about life? Only God offers a way out. The book of Exodus is both history (Israel) and symbol (church) of God’s actions/principles that set people free from slavery and misery. Reading it, our eyes should see His offer of grace to us. THEY were slaves in Egypt. WE were slaves to sin. He sent THEM Moses. He sends US Christ. THEY wiped the blood of a lamb over their doors and were “passed over”. WE trust the blood of Christ on the cross and we are “passed over” as well. Make no mistake, this book is not only about Israel. It is about us and God’s promise to lead us out of bitterness.

In Season and Out

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day one)
“Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.”—1:8.

When Jacob’s family came to Egypt, they were in an advantageous position. Joseph (son/brother/uncle to the clan) was in a place of power. They enjoyed protection and favor. 200 years later, the situation rapidly changed. With the rise of a new dynasty in Egypt, the Israelites fell from favor. American Christians may feel a similar shift in play. A few years ago, our faith was appreciated/protected, even by those who disagreed. Today the winds of suspicion and criticism have blown in with chilling effect. But God is not hindered. Despite Egyptian opposition, He patiently and powerfully accomplishes His purposes. Protects His people, plans the way forward, asks for their trust. “Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season.”–2 Timothy 4:2. Times change. God doesn’t. When it is popular, and when it isn’t, He calls us to trust and obey Him.

Morning has broken

Re: Verse reading–John 21:1-25 (day seven)
“When the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”–v 4. (NASV)

Today will be our last day in the book of John. At least for a while. Once again, we note John’s use of symbolic language. The day was “just dawning” as the disciples encountered the risen Christ for the 7th time. (There are 10 resurrection appearances in the Bible). John’s words are beautifully true. A new day was breaking! New realities and possibilities! In this new day, the church will form, failures will be reconciled, and individual assignments will be embraced. Are you living in this new day? Are you aware and expectant for the possibilities of life in partnership with the Living Lord? “Morning has broken like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken like the first bird, Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.”

The Fish We Catch

Re: Verse reading–John 21:1-25 (day six)
“Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ “–v 10.

It is a small detail. Easy to miss in the larger story. Jesus used the fish his disciples caught to meet the needs of the morning. Only speculation can tell us how the “first fish” got there. Miracle? Preplanning? Whatever we conclude about the Lord’s provision, He didn’t do so much that the efforts of his disciples were extraneous. The fish they caught were necessary, useful, valued. None should think that God “needs” our efforts. I do believe, however, that His love for us includes us in the work of His kingdom. We are not passive observers. We are “God’s fellow workers“–1 Corinthians 3:9. We are servants of Christ and fishers of men. Inspiring to consider. Tomorrow at worship, the Lord may say to us, “bring some of the fish you have caught. I will use your efforts to meet needs.”

Not prisoners

Re: Verse reading–John 21:1-25 (day one)
“We are all products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”–Rick Warren.

“A sunrise is God’s way of saying, ‘Let’s start again.’ “–Todd Stocker.

The Bible is a book about God. His character, nature and promises. It is also a book about people as they encounter God. People who trust and follow. People who (sometimes) make really foolish, really public mistakes. People who find unexpected mercy. Like Peter. Please read John 21 this week. Please watch with wonder the stubborn love that Jesus has for his friend, the divine determination that pursues and prods until Peter can process his failure and find forgiveness. And when you see Christ-with-Peter will you think Christ-with-yourself?

“My SIN, O the bliss of this glorious thought, MY sin, not in part, but the WHOLE, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”–Horatio Spafford.