October 8 | Exodus 6:1-12

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DAILY READING

Exodus 6:1-12

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REFLECTION

God's Mighty Hand

by Pam Mann

 “Because of My mighty hand,” God assures Moses, “Pharaoh will let My people go.” Then God goes on to remind Moses of how faithful He was to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God remembers His covenant with these ancestors. God is calling Moses to trust in His mighty hand for their future freedom.

So… Moses dutifully reports this good news to the Israelites. Do they rejoice? No! They do not even listen to poor Moses, who’s just the messenger here. After all, their work situation has only worsened since Moses got involved!

No wonder Moses asks God how the mighty Pharaoh will listen to him when the Israelites themselves are not interested. Clearly, speaking what God says is not work for the faint of heart, is it? But Moses met God at the burning bush in Exodus 3. He has witnessed the very real presence of the Lord God Himself. He has had a glimpse of God’s mighty hand. Moses knows that, when God is on the move, people need to look out.

At this point in the biblical account, both God’s people and Pharaoh’s people are expecting life to go on as it always has. They expect business as usual. Little do they know about the dramatic lengths to which God will go to set His people free.

God knows, and Moses is learning, that this emancipation will take time and effort. Moses will face frustration and disappointment. Powerful people will push back against him. But, while the way is still rough going, Moses is putting his trust in God’s mighty hand to deliver.

So, what does this ancient encounter with God mean for us today? Is this same mighty hand of God also at work among us? Are we not also God’s children, whom He desires to set free from slavery? Are we not also meant to renounce the forces that would enslave us? What would happen if we would face each new day, trusting like Moses, that God’s mighty hand is present to move us toward freedom? What if the obstacles that hinder us only remind us that God will have yet greater glory when our freedom comes at last? What if we proclaim to our own hearts and souls that God’s mighty hand will set us free?

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, that Your hand is mighty and moving still today to set captives free. Give us backbones like Moses to stand against what would enslave us. Give us peers like Aaron to stand with us. Give us boldness to pray against evil that would like to hinder Your kingdom’s coming. As we face each new day, looking for Your mighty hand, give us feet to go where You send us. Amen.

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October 7 | Exodus 3:16-22

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DAILY READING

Exodus 3:16-22

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REFLECTION

Believing the Promise

by Pr. Dave Mann

Continuing from yesterday, we read the sequel to the story of Moses’ encounter with the Lord in the burning bush. Moses is called to speak to Pharoah in Egypt to free the Israelites to go to the land God promised to them. The promise of a land for the Israelites was first given to Abraham in Genesis 12. And now in Exodus 3:17, God repeats the promise of land for the Israelites via Moses: And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey. 

God’s promises are faithful, but sometimes the fulfillment comes in time, in God’s season. The day of Abraham, when God first promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites, was around 1900 B.C. The day of Moses, when God spoke specifically about leading the people of Israel to the promised land, was around 1450 or 1200 B.C. (There are two dominant viewpoints on the dating of the Exodus.) That’s between 450 and 700 years from the day of the first promise to Abraham until the day of fulfillment in the Exodus and following. This promise of land was passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation – no internet, no recordings, no written documentation. And the people persisted in their belief that what God promised he would do!

• Abraham believed in the promise of the land. (See Genesis 12:1-3; 15:6; Romans 4:3 & 18; Galatians 3:6; and James 2:23.)

• Isaac believed the promise. (See Genesis 26:2-6.)

• Jacob believed the promise. (See Genesis 28:13-16.)

• Joseph and his brothers believed. (See Genesis 49 & 50:20.)

• And now Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel believed. (See Exodus 4:29-31.)

They believed the promise without seeing – for hundreds of years! How long are we willing to wait for the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives?

Believing the promises of God, even without seeing, is a message repeated through the Scriptures. Perhaps the most famous words concerning believing without seeing are uttered by the disciple Thomas and our Lord. Thomas’ infamous words were: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Jesus’ words to him were: Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29).

PRAYER

O God of promise, faithful and true, grant us two things: 1) to listen to you in your Word to know what you have indeed promised. Save us from projecting our self-centered preferences into your mouth. And 2) to believe that you will fulfill what you have promised, whether that be sooner or later. May our confidence be rooted firmly in your character, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

October 6 | Exodus 3:1-15

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DAILY READING

Exodus 3:1-15

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REFLECTION

Who is in Charge?

by Elaine Pierce

Did you notice the difference between how Moses answered God's call and how Abram did?

Abram:

"So Abram left, as God had told him...Abram was 75 years old when he set out." (Genesis 12:4).

Moses:

"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). [According to most scholars, Moses was about 80 years old when he met God at the burning bush - similar in age to Abram.]

Yes, God uses unlikely people - people like you and me - to accomplish his purposes. Abram was willing, but we know that he also took matters into his own hands when he didn't think God would do what he had promised. Moses came up with all kinds of excuses (I'm nobody....I am not a good speaker...send someone else), but God used him in spite of his failings.

How is God using you? How is God using me? Sometimes I find myself in awe of saints like Mother Teresa. She gave up everything to live in the Calcutta slums and work with the poorest of the poor - society's castoffs. She revealed that she struggled with doubt - 'the dark night of the soul.'

In Mark 9:25, Jesus challenges a father to believe that if he believes and has faith, his son will be healed. His response is one we can all relate to, even Abram, Moses, and Mother Teresa:

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

When we doubt what God has called us to, remember that he has given us a community right here at UALC, and he has given us his Word. Spend time with other Christians, and time in Scripture, and thank God for the opportunities he has given you to serve him and others. He will equip you if only you ask him. It may not be easy, but there is not greater joy than serving him.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to remember that it is not my strength, my might, my intelligence that will win the day. I am a sinner, saved by grace for good works in your name. You will lead, you will guide, you will solve problems if only I will believe and trust in you. It is not up to me - it is all up to you. Forgive me when I try to run the show, and help me to follow you and only you. Amen.

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