Exodus – Page 10 – The Everyday Prayer

Pray/Pause

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day five)

Today marks the beginning of Freedom Weekend. Over a hundred teens from across the city will gather in homes for a weekend designed to gather them around God’s Word in study and community.

The theme/emphasis is “Pause”. Research shows that with the flood of information, images, and messages that daily cross their eyes, ears, and minds, this younger generation has a tougher time focusing and attaining significant depth in their thinking and processing. They are masters at multi-tasking.

The scripture prescribes a different kind of attention needed for spiritual thinking and growth. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Will you Pray for these teenagers this weekend? Will you ask the Holy Spirit to give them a hunger to know God and to carve out moments where they set aside activity and distraction to learn and listen to the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures?

If it’s true for teens, it’s true for adults. Will YOU Pause each day to listen, to learn, to know God ?

Fear God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day four)
Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Shiphrah and Puah were in a bad predicament. Pharoah had ordered them as Hebrew midwives to kill all of the Hebrew boys in birth. The penalty for disobeying Pharoah would certainly be death, but scripture says in verse 1:17 that “the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them… “ Their plan was to tell Pharoah that because the Hebrew women were vigorous, they delivered before the midwives could get there. God was good to them. Verse 21 says, “because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.” These ladies feared God more than man. Do we? How many times have we failed to share a witness with someone because we were afraid of what they might think of us? We fear the persecution, scorn, or ridicule of man more than we fear God and His command to share the Gospel. May we overcome our fear and be bold in our witness…I love it when a plan comes together!

Big

Re: Verse reading—Exodus 1:8-2:10 (day three)
“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.”

The saving of the lives of babies in the midst of a campaign of genocide was dangerous work in the face of the absolute power of the Pharaoh. But these women came to the task with courage and not a little savvy. Did they make it up as they went? They might have felt like it at times. Here’s what we can know: Given the existence of two powers—God and Pharaoh—one of the powers had to give, and the midwives understood that it wouldn’t be God. With that large thought firmly in mind, they proceeded to work out what that would mean for how they lived from day to day. We would do well to think as big.

Growing

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day two) But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread…1:12

Some of us do our best work when we face a deadline or some kind of pressure to finish. There is some kind of inborn fire that ignites when our back is to the wall and we must either succeed or fail. It is interesting that we don’t always use the same zeal when it comes to our faith. Consider the Israelites, brought from starvation to plenty through Joseph’s position and the Lord’s provision, they were now a large people group that caused Egyptian leadership to worry. As a result they were forced into slavery, forced labor. From plenty to hardship within a few generation. But rather than fade into obscurity, the people of Israel thrived and grew. Oppression brought courage, faith, and growth. They were a still a long way from the promised land, and had much to endure before their journey’s end, but they did not allow hardship to overcome them. May the same be said of us.

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.