Exodus – God’s Way Out
We are still in the middle of our government led quarantine. We hear that the virus will get worse before it gets better so we stay home, stay clean to stay safe, and we wait. We long for the day when we can connect with each other face to face. We long for moving about without being bound to our homes. Every day we do not contract the Corona is a good day. We are all a candidate for the disease so we pray that we and our loved ones are “passed over” by this virus.
Because of forced isolation, many are reevaluating their lives, asking for prayer and how to read the Bible more than asking for a sandwich. I am amazed, but not surprised, how God is using this to call all people, lost and disconnected, to come back to Him and BE with him…to be connected to Him intimately and to others who know Him. “Always remember”, says God to Moses, “when I helped you”.
I think this phrase speaks volumes to me today. In the days when we get beyond this terrible virus attack, I pray we will ALWAYS remember when God helped us through it. I pray that we praise Him even now this day as well as the day we are set free from this virus that tried to take over the world, holding us in bondage to our homes. I also pray that our thinking about God, His Son who saved us, will set our minds free right now. For nothing can hold us down or take away our hope, if we truly believe in Jesus and what He did to save us.
We are free from the bondage of sin and the evil that attacks us daily. We are free indeed to love, care, show mercy, walk humbly and extend grace all because of Jesus and in His Name. Amen.
Can I get an amen?!
HOLY PAUSE
What particular freedom of Christ are you grateful for today?
Exodus 13, The Message
1-2 God spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate every firstborn to me— the first one to come from the womb among the Israelites, whether person or animal, is mine.”
3 Moses said to the people, “Always remember this day. This is the day when you came out of Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a powerful hand. Don’t eat any raised bread.4-5 “You are leaving in the spring month of Abib. When God brings you into the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he promised to your fathers to give you, a land lavish with milk and honey, you are to observe this service during this month:
6 “You are to eat unraised bread for seven days; on the seventh day there is a festival celebration to God.
7 “Only unraised bread is to be eaten for seven days. There is not to be a trace of anything fermented—no yeast anywhere.
8 “Tell your child on that day: ‘This is because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt.’9-10 “The day of observance will be like a sign on your hand, a memorial between your eyes, and the teaching of God in your mouth. It was with a powerful hand that God brought you out of Egypt. Follow these instructions at the set time, year after year after year.
11-13 “When God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he promised you and your fathers, and turns it over to you, you are to set aside the first birth out of every womb to God. Every first birth from your livestock belongs to God. You can redeem every first birth of a donkey if you want to by substituting a lamb; if you decide not to redeem it, you must break its neck.
13-16 “Redeem every firstborn child among your sons. When the time comes and your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you tell him, ‘God brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery, with a powerful hand. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, God killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstborn of both humans and animals. That’s why I make a sacrifice for every first male birth from the womb to God and redeem every firstborn son.’ The observance functions like a sign on your hands or a symbol on the middle of your forehead: God brought us out of Egypt with a powerful hand.”
17 It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn’t lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, “If the people encounter war, they’ll change their minds and go back to Egypt.”
18 So God led the people on the wilderness road, looping around to the Red Sea. The Israelites left Egypt in military formation.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do it, saying, “God will surely hold you accountable, so make sure you bring my bones from here with you.”20-22 They moved on from Succoth and then camped at Etham at the edge of the wilderness. God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.
HOLY PAUSE
God is now teaching His people how to stay connected to Him. It is important to God and to us to keep the memory alive of what He did and how He did it! When we remember, I believe it is a form of worship to God!
Do you believe God will powerfully bring us out this present trouble? How is He guiding us today?
What will we tell our children and their children when this is over?
“Tell your child on that day: ‘This is because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ (Or this virus epidemic)
It is good to stop and remember, write it down, as we live to tell what God provided, what God did and how we saw God at work before, during and after this world virus event. If we lose a loved one or dear friend in this event, will we still praise Him? Does this change the fact that we are all in God’s hands? If we are believers, “To live is Christ, to die is gain”, says Paul about himself in the thick of incredibly hard times. (Philippians 1:21)
Hang on, cling, get a grip on the Hope that drives us to God. Journaling our prayers is a good start. This alone time with God each day connects us with the One who loves us most. You will not regret a single moment with God the Father, talking to Him, in Jesus Name, while listening to Him speak to us through His Holy Spirit in us.
Always remember, it is because of Jesus, Lamb of God, who paid for our sin, that enables us to be free to walk right up to God and talk with Him. Don’t forget to be still long enough to listen to Him answer you. THIS is an amazing freedom which knows no bounds.Dear Heavenly Father,
I remember many other times when you rescued us from trouble so deep we didn’t know if we would survive. But we did…all because of your miraculous work in us and all around us. You are GOD, LORD of all and in all. We are not. I worship you this morning as I remember how you work in the lives of all who believe. I see you at work now. I still believe. I watch you daily with expectation and amazement. Oh how, I love you, Lord. May I never forget!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 