Re: Verse reading–Exodus 32:1-19, 30-33; 33:12-17; 34:1-7 (day four) They were an obstinate people. No sooner had they pledged their obedience to God, than they turned to idolatry and sin. Moses was careful to protect God’s reputation. He pleaded with God to forgive them and to hold His anger against them. Holding the tablets with God’s own handwriting on them, Moses was convincing to God not to be angry with the Israelites. God relented of his anger. Then Moses turned to go down to the people. In his hands were still the tablets with God’s writing engraved on them. When Moses came into the camp and saw what was going on, his anger burned. He threw the stone tablets down and shattered them. Had God made the offer again to destroy the people at that time, Moses might have taken Him up on the offer. By the next day though, Moses returned to his position of intercession. Moses was true to his call…God tasked him with leading Israel to the Promised Land and he was faithful to his responsibility. Moses held fast to God’s Word.
Tag: His Word
Glory
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 six)
Exodus 8:9-10
Moses does something extraordinary. During the second plague Pharaoh pleads with him to go back and ask God to relent, in turn Moses says, “Tell me when. When do you want God to lift the plague?” Why would Moses do that? So that Pharaoh would know that there is no one like the God of Jacob.
The plagues were not an effort by God to convince Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free. God didn’t need plagues to do that. God had one purpose, to reveal his glory to the nations; the people of Egypt, the Hebrews, and countless others that would hear of the plagues. Everyone’s greatest need, including the Pharaoh, is to behold the glory of God. We are no different. Beholding the glory of God moves us from self-knowledge to desperation, from love to worship. In Pharaoh’s case, he would learn that there is no God like the God of Jacob; He alone builds and destroys nations.
God gave us his creation and His Word that we too might behold the glory of God. Do we? Do you?
Thanks for Scripture
Re: Verse reading–2 Timothy 4:1-8, 16-18 (day four)
Today is Thanksgiving…the day when every Christian is particularly thankful for the blessings from God. Gratefulness is a daily experience though…the fourth Thursday in November is no different than any other day of the year for giving thanks to God. (That is, unless you count the massive amounts of food that accompany this day’s thanks!) Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of God’s working in the history of America to provide a bountiful harvest for the early settlers. We use it today to remind us of the myriad of gifts bestowed upon us by our creator God. In our passage this week, Paul reminds us of the importance of God’s Word in our lives. Paul says there will come a day when people will not accept the truth of God’s Word and will seek false teachers. (Are we there yet?) In many countries the freedom to even read God’s Word is non-existent. As you are thanking God today for your blessings, make sure His Word is on your list of blessings!
Mercy
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 20:1-32 (day four)
“But who is keeping count?” God is! In this passage, God rehearses for Israel their rebellious history…a history that should have brought about their destruction. Verses 9, 14, and 22 tell us of God’s mercy…”But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations.” God preserved Israel, not because they deserved it, but to protect His name. God is jealous for his reputation and as His children, we should not do anything that would give cause for the world to profane His name. Aren’t we just like Israel? We continually fail to be obedient to God and don’t deserve His mercy. When we yield control of our lives to Him, He has promised to forgive and save our lives. It is not merit, it is His mercy and trustworthiness to keep His Word. What a great God we serve!