No Such Thing as Ordinary

Readings for today: Exodus 35-40, Psalm 29

When I graduated from college, I had one mission. To become a pastor. I wanted to go to seminary. I wanted to get ordained. I wanted to serve a church. God had other plans. My grades from college were terrible. I flunked out after my sophomore year due to excessive drinking. When I became a Christian, my life turned around and I re-applied and got back in under probation. Though I did pretty well my last two years, the hole I dug for myself was deep so I graduated by the skin of my teeth. The chances of me getting into grad school were slim at best. Two weeks after graduation, I got married to the love of my life and our mentors advised us to wait at least a year before going off to school. Looking back, it was great advice but it didn’t feel good in the moment. It felt like yet another barrier to me doing what I felt called to do. So I got a job. I went to work for Boulder Community Hospital. I hired on as an admissions clerk, making $7.75/hr. My wife and I rented an old, run-down apartment and did our best to make ends meet. Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

When we read the Bible, it’s tempting to focus on the main characters. Guys like Moses. Women like Miriam. But what about the lesser known characters? Those entrusted with the more mundane aspects of Israel’s life together? What can we learn from guys like Bezalel and Oholiab? They didn’t see a burning bush. They didn’t hear the voice of God. They didn’t go up on the mountain with Moses. They were not warriors. They were not leaders. They were not among the seventy elders Moses called. They simply were two people with God-given talent and a passion for craftsmanship. Prior to building the Tabernacle, I imagine they spent most of their days in obscurity. Building carts. Repairing tents. Making clothes. The everyday, ordinary, mundane work required to sustain God’s people on their journey to the Promised Land. Amazingly, their work caught the eye of God. “Moses then said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.” (Exodus‬ ‭35‬:‭30‬-‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Because these men had been faithful in the small things, God entrusted them with the most sacred work imaginable…building a home for God!

When I started at Boulder Community Hospital, I was per diem. I would only be called in when people were out sick or on vacation. Within a few weeks, several people in my department quit so I was asked to go full-time. Within another few weeks, the lead in my department quit and I was asked to take her position. Within six months, my manager resigned and I was asked to step into her shoes. Within a relatively short period of time, I was managing four departments and about 50 employees and I was all of 24 years old. I have no way to explain how this happened. I had no previous healthcare experience. I had never managed people before. My resume certainly didn’t fit the responsibility I had been given. The only way I can explain it is God. God filled me with His Spirit. He gave me ability and intelligence. He instilled in me, through my parents, a strong work ethic. He gave me a knack for working with people. And as I proved faithful in the small things, like checking in patients day after day, He entrusted me with greater things like managing all of “Patient Access” services. 

Bezalel and Oholiab are great reminders that all of us have been gifted by God in some way and all of us are called to use our gifts for His glory. It’s not just pastors or missionaries who are the heroes or heroines. It is the people of God exercising the gifts God has given each of them for the upbuilding of the Body of Christ and the glory of God’s Kingdom. When we fail to exercise our gifts or diminish our gifts in any way, we lose out on at least part of what God has planned for us. And those around us lose out as well. Think about how impoverished we would be if there had never been a Bezalel or Oholiab? Think about the impact on the worshipping life of Israel if there were no craftsmen around to make all God had planned? Now think about our life together. Think about our worship together. What gifts do you bring? Is it the gift of music? The gift of prayer? The gift of friendship? The gift of production? The gift of preaching? The gift of teaching? The gift of serving? If you are a Christian, you have the same Spirit of God filling you that filled Bezalel! This same Spirit imparts all the gifts and talents we need to worship and serve God as He demands. So how are you exercising your gift? How are you seeking to use your gift to build up others in your home, your neighborhood, church, and community?

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 1-4, Psalm 30

Worship

Readings for today: Exodus 30-31, Psalm 27

“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.” (Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This is the heart of every believer. We long to be in God’s presence. We long to hear His voice. We long to experience the power of His Spirit. This has been true throughout the centuries going all the way back to ancient Israel. The cultural forms of worship have obviously changed since those days. We no longer need to engage in elaborate rituals in order to approach the throne room of grace. Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, has opened the way. His blood has washed us clean. Made us pure. Sanctified us so we can enter God’s presence without fear.

The Israelites didn’t have the benefit of Christ’s saving death but everything they engaged in prefigures what He does for us. The sights and smells and sounds of Old Testament worship is but a foreshadowing of Christ’s saving work on our behalf. Just as Aaron burned fragrant incense morning and night throughout the generations, so Christ Himself becomes the fragrant incense for us. Just as Aaron and his sons had to engage in ritual washing so they presented themselves clean before the Lord, so Christ washes us clean by His blood. Christ embodies and fulfills every single part of Old Testament worship and this is an important truth to keep in mind as we read. It helps bridge the cultural distance between us and ancient Israel and makes the readings more relevant to our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 32-34, Psalm 28 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Intercession

Readings for today: Exodus 28-29, Psalm 26

I remember my ordination service. It was nothing like what we read about today thankfully! ;-) No sacrifices. No special anointing oils. No incense. No elaborate dress. I was 29 at the time. I stood before my colleagues in the Presbytery of South Alabama and took vows to serve the Lord and God’s people with all my heart and all my strength. When I read these verses about the ordination of Aaron and his sons, it feels strange. The cultural distance between our time and ancient Israel is vast. I struggle to connect or even picture all the rituals and sacrifices. However, there is one thing I do understand. Every time Aaron entered into the presence of the Lord, he carried the names of Israel with him. His job was to keep their names ever present before God. He interceded for them. He understood their needs, wants, and desires and brought those to God. His job was to represent the people to God and God to the people. “Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the Lord as a reminder…Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord.” (Exodus‬ ‭28‬:‭12‬, ‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I feel very much the same way. I don’t have gold breastpieces or gemstones or anything else to carry with me when I enter God’s presence but I do take the time and make the time to intercede for God’s people. I meet with lots of folks on a regular basis so I can understand their needs, wants, and desires and bring those before the Lord. I represent the people I am called to serve to God and God to the people. However, this calling is not just for pastors. It’s for every believer. We are a royal priesthood according to 1 Peter. Each of us is called to act in a priestly fashion and intercede for our families, friends, churches, communities, nation, world. We are called to bring the names of those we love and even those we hate before the Lord to ask for His grace and mercy on their behalf. We are to bring their needs, wants, and desires and submit them to God. We are to represent them to God and represent God to the people.

It’s a sacred responsibility and a precious one. To think that God knows each of us by name. He wants to hear about our lives. He wants to know all we think, say, or do. Not to curse us but to bless us. Not so much to judge us - though there is some of that - but to love us. Not to tear us down but to raise us up. Not to ruin us but to restore us. This is God’s will for us and why He calls each of us to a ministry of intercession.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 30-31, Psalm 27

God’s Dwelling

Readings for today: Exodus 25-27, Psalm 25

God’s desire from the beginning was to dwell with the creatures He made in His own image. He will stop at nothing to have a relationship with us. He will allow nothing to get in the way. No matter how far we run or how often we hide or how many times we sin and turn away; God refuses to let us go. Yes, He exiled us from Eden but it was for our own good. He refused to let us eat of the Tree of Life and live forever in our sinful, broken condition. His plan has always been to restore us and the world to its original condition. This is why He instructs His people to build a Tabernacle. A sanctuary where God will dwell. A place for them to talk with Him and meet with Him. “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8 CSB)

It’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of passages like the one we read for today. All the instructions for all the liturgical furniture. The Ark of the Covenant. The Table of Presence. The Tabernacle itself. It’s hard for us to see or understand why this is important. But take a step back for a moment. Look at the big picture. God wants to dwell with His people! God wants to walk with us just like He did in the Garden of Eden! God wants to meet with us and speak with us and have a relationship with us! It’s amazing. Especially so in light of what the New Testament says about the new tabernacle. “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬) By faith, God makes each of us a Tabernacle. Ever since Pentecost the Spirit of God no longer dwells in a building but in each and every believer’s heart. God walking with us and talking with us as we move throughout our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 28-29, Psalm 26

God’s Invitation

Readings for today: Exodus 22-24, Psalm 24

I love the invitation God extends to the leaders of Israel. He invites them to cross from earth to heaven. From the dimension of this world to the dimension of the world to come. It’s a great reminder to us all that heaven is not “up there” somewhere in outer space but a reality that exists all around us all the time. It’s the dimension where God dwells and it’s the place God is actually preparing for us as His people. The leaders of Israel get a taste of this reality when they ascend Mt. Sinai with Moses. “Go up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, and bow in worship at a distance. Moses alone is to approach the Lord, but the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him….Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, and they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. God did not harm the Israelite nobles; they saw him, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Can you imagine the moment when you cross from rocky ground to pavement made of gemstones and sit down at a table to eat with God? It must have been incredible and it makes the choices some of these men make a little later in the narrative even more heartbreaking.

God’s invitation is still there for us. It’s not just for special people or holy people or people who went to seminary and became pastors. Jesus Himself says He goes to heaven to prepare a place for us so we can live with Him for all eternity. The visions recorded throughout the Bible of the heavenly realm describe it as a place of breathtaking beauty and splendor. And the reality is we can experience a taste of it even in this life. How you ask? Listen to the Psalmist. “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who inquire of him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” (Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God promises that all those who seek Him will find Him if they will seek Him with all their hearts. The key is not perfection but an honest and authentic desire to truly dwell in God’s presence and walk in His ways.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 25-27, Psalm 25

Relationship before Laws

Readings for today: Exodus 19-21, Psalm 23

“Christianity is not about rules, it’s about a relationship.” I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard this or said this myself over the years. It’s true of course. But too often people make the mistake of thinking this is a New Testament idea when in fact its roots go much farther back. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ, reveals Himself to His people at Mt. Sinai as a God of relationship. A God who brought them out of Egypt on eagle’s wings. A God who delivered them from bondage and slavery. A God who refuses to abandon His people but remains faithful to the covenant He first made with Abraham and Sarah,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.” (Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This is where the Ten Commandments begin. Not with a rule but with a relationship. Not with law but with love. “I am the Lord your God…” God has laid claim to this particular people. He has set them apart as a nation of priests in order to bring blessing to the world. They will serve as an example to the nations of what it means to live by faith. To walk in holiness and purity before the Lord. And to help them understand their new identity as God’s chosen people, God gives them a set of laws to govern their lives in an ancient near east context. Some of these laws - like the Ten Commandments - are transcultural, meaning they remain in force in every time and place. Some of these laws will be ceremonial, meaning they govern the worshipping life of ancient Israel and no longer apply in our context. Some of these laws are civil in nature, meaning they apply to the nation of Israel, a theocratic state that no longer exists. Don’t get lost in the details. The main point is to stay focused on what God has done to save and set apart His people.

The Apostle Peter will pick up some of these same ideas in the New Testament. He will call the people of God a “a chosen people” and “a nation of priests” and a “people set apart for God’s own possession.” You and I are grafted into the covenant. Through Jesus Christ, we enter into a relationship with God whereby He delivers and saves us from our sin. Jesus is the greater Moses. He accomplishes eternally what Moses can only do temporally. He secures for us a place in God’s eternal Kingdom and when that great day comes, we too will be lifted up on eagle’s wings to dwell with the Lord forever.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 22-24, Psalm 24

Sabbath

Readings for today: Exodus 16-18, Psalm 22

I was talking with a colleague recently about keeping a Sabbath. One day out of every seven to rest and recharge. We discussed how he spent his Sabbath. The kinds of things he did in order to renew his soul. He intentionally spent time with the Lord in worship. He went on hikes in the mountains. He played with his grandchildren. He read. He worked out. All great practices for a Sabbath day. We then started talking about how he spends his time on the other six days. And though his approach to the Sabbath is deeply biblical, his approach to the other six days is much different. He started talking about his need to guard his time. His need to set boundaries around work. His unwillingness to work past certain hours or respond to emails, texts, and phone calls unless it worked for him. He talked about his right to have a certain number of days off each week and each year. He talked about his right to take a sabbatical (three months off) every five to seven years. I asked him if he felt his approach to his work was as biblical as his approach to his Sabbath. After taking a few moments to reflect, he was honest, “probably not.”

Six days shall you work and the seventh day you shall rest. This is the divine rhythm set up by God for human beings to flourish. Six days we shall go out to gather. Six days we shall work on some level. It could be at our jobs. It could be around our homes. It could be with our families. God has provided six days to take care of our responsibilities. Six days to be fruitful and multiply. Six days to labor and exercise dominion over all He has entrusted into our hands. And then on the seventh day, we are to rest. We are to honor God by reminding ourselves we live “not by might, not by power, but by God’s Spirit.” We are to remind ourselves that everything we have is a gift. It’s divine provision. Our time. Our talent. Our treasure. All of it comes from the Lord. God instilled this way of life into his people in the wilderness. Six days they were to go out and gather manna from heaven. Six days they were to harvest from the land. However, on the seventh day, they were to rest. They were to honor God by trusting His ways over their ways.

Following the Sabbath principle in our lives is a test. It tests us because many of us are want to work seven days a week. We labor and labor and never take the time to rest. We push ourselves so hard with all the activities we build into our schedules and our lives. We set a pace that is unsustainable and it eventually causes us to crash and burn. But it also tests us on the flip side as it relates to our work. Many of us are just working for the weekend. We do the minimal amount necessary to get by. We punch the clock either literally or mentally and refuse to do anything more. We believe we have a right to an American weekend. We believe we have a right to work forty hours or less. We believe we have a right to several weeks of vacation. In certain professions, we believe we have a right to sabbaticals which become extended periods of time off. According to Scripture, work is not a necessary evil. Sabbath rest is not laziness. God has created us to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. We are created for rest in Christ. We are created for this divine rhythm God has set for eternity and we find our deepest fulfillment as we align our lives with Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 19-21, Psalm 23

Preparation

Readings for today: Exodus 10-12, Psalm 20

Several years ago, I read a book about the leadership principles of the Jesuit Order. If you don’t know the history, the Jesuits have been around for over four hundred years. They have established themselves across the globe in many different cultures. They are adaptable, flexible, and highly successful at accomplishing their mission. The current pope is a Jesuit by training. They mainly focus on education but are highly engaged in their local communities as most Roman Catholic orders tend to be. One of the four principles they base their way of life on is to always live “with one foot raised.” In others words, they are always open to what’s next. They are willing to go wherever God calls them to go. Do what He calls them to do. They are prepared to leave at a moment’s notice when His call comes.

I find this way of living inspiring and it reminds me of how the Israelites prepared for Passover. Of all the instructions given, the one that intrigues me the most is the one about how they should dress. “You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the Lord’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:11 CSB) God was getting ready to do a mighty work in their lives. He was preparing a miracle just for them. The meal they ate was a sign of the deliverance that was to come and they were to dress in such a way that they could take advantage of the kairos moment when it arrived. Imagine the kind of faith it must have taken for these beaten down, broken people to trust Moses when he said God’s deliverance was on it’s way. They had been slaves for four hundred years. They had lived for generations under the merciless lash of the Pharaohs. But now things had changed. God remembered them. God saw them. God heard their cries. And the time had come for them to be set free.

What about you? Do you live with one foot raised? Do you live in anticipation of what God can do in your life? Do you trust God? Despite your past, despite your circumstances, despite your fears and failures? Do you believe God is at work even now to bring you greater freedom? Greater joy? Greater peace? Greater love? Greater blessing? Are you willing to dress for that future? Prepare for God’s future? Step into it when it arrives?

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 13-15, Psalm 21 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Hardness of Heart

Readings for today: Exodus 7-9, Psalm 19

I used to have little sympathy for Pharaoh. I would read through this section of Exodus and shake my head at the number of times he hardened his heart against the will of God. I considered him evil and therefore not really worthy of my attention. He was the enemy of God’s chosen people who oppressed them in all sorts of terrible ways and therefore didn’t deserve any mercy or grace at all. Furthermore, God seems to feel the same way about Pharaoh. After all, He tells Moses He will harden Pharaoh’s heart in order to demonstrate His greatness over the nations of the earth. He will display His glory for all the earth to see as He humbles the greatest ruler of the greatest empire on earth at the time.

However, as a pastor, I have sat across the counseling table with far too many people and have watched them harden their own hearts against the will of God. It is heartbreaking to witness. People I love dearly who are experiencing all kinds of crisis and still they resist God. Often they will take steps to follow God initially when things are at their darkest, just like Pharaoh does throughout our reading today. At times it seems he is on the verge of letting God’s people go only to recant once a particular plague has passed. The same is often true of the people I work with. As soon as the worst of the crisis passes, they return back to their old ways.

The mystery of who hardens Pharaoh’s heart is a challenging one to grapple with. Does God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Does Pharaoh have a choice in the matter? Does Pharaoh harden his own heart? Does God simply reinforce the choices Pharaoh is already making? I honestly do not know. Neither does the Apostle Paul who grapples with this very question in Romans 9. There he essentially asks, “What if God raised Pharaoh up so that He might display His power in him and proclaim His name in the whole earth?” Does this make God unjust? Not so, says Paul. For God is God and He is fully within His rights to show mercy on whom He will show mercy and harden whom He wants to harden.

At the end of the day, none of us can answer this question for anyone but ourselves. Are we hardening our hearts towards God? Are we thinking and acting in ways that reinforce sinful patterns in our lives? Have we truly humbled ourselves and surrendered to God? The Scriptures say God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. They say God so loved the world that He gave His only Son and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish - shall not have their heart hardened - but shall receive everlasting life. Do not harden your heart today. Respond to the call of the gospel. Give your life to Jesus Christ and He will give you a new heart, one that can never be hardened again.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 10-12, Psalm 20

Second-Guessing

Readings for today: Exodus 4-6, Psalm 18

We all second-guess ourselves. We all question ourselves at times. Especially when we are about to make significant decisions or take great risks. I remember when I was thinking about asking my wife to marry me. Although I was pretty sure she would say “yes” after a year or so of dating, there were no guarantees. So I second-guessed myself. I wasn’t worthy of her love. I wasn’t the man she needed me to be. I didn’t have great job prospects after college. I wouldn’t be able to provide for her like I felt she deserved. I remember when I was getting ordained. Although I was pretty sure God had called me, I didn’t feel worthy to serve Him in this way. I know my sin. I know my struggles. I know my fears. I know my doubts. I wondered if these things disqualified me. I’ve served three churches since graduating from seminary. The risks in each situation were great. Things could have gone very wrong and in one case did. There were no guarantees that I would be successful in leading those churches. I was anxious at times. Struggled with self-confidence. Wondered at certain moments if I should go and do something else. But through it all, God was faithful. He kept encouraging me and working with me and challenging me to surrender more and more of my life to Him.

The same is true for everyone we encounter in Scripture, including great leaders like Moses. Today’s reading includes one of my favorite stories. I love how vulnerable Moses is before God. He expresses his fears and doubts. He wonders if he’s the right man for the job. He struggles to accept God’s call on his life. And how does God respond? He is patient. He works with Moses. Encourages Moses. Even gets stern and challenges Moses. As a result, Moses goes back to Egypt. Back to the place where he was wanted for murder. Back to the place where he grew up. He goes back to face his fears and failures. And he takes nothing with him except a staff and a promise from God. It’s a powerful example of how God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes.

Perhaps you know how Moses feels? Perhaps you’ve second-guessed yourself a time or two? Perhaps you have fears and questions and doubts? We all do. And the great news is God invites us to share those things with Him. He invites us to be vulnerable before Him. And He encourages us to remember it is not by our might or our power or our wisdom that we make our way in this world. It is by God’s Spirit. Read and re-read Psalm 18 today. Let those words fill your heart with the confidence that can only come from God. No matter what challenges you may be facing in your life, know that God is with you! “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.” (Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 7-9, Psalm 19

Progressive Revelation

Readings for today: Exodus 1-3, Psalm 17

It’s hard for us to imagine what it must have been like for the ancient Israelites. We live two thousand years post-resurrection. We have the full counsel of God revealed in a complete Bible. We have generations of church history to look back on where we can see the hand of God at work. Most importantly, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit inside us, keeping us in constant contact with our Heavenly Father. The ancient Israelites had none of these things. Four hundred years had passed since they last heard from God. All they had were a few family stories to go on of this God who occasionally spoke to their ancestors. They had no Scripture. No worship. No Law. Nothing to go on. They didn’t even know God’s name.

One of the things we have to remember as we read through the Bible is the nature of progressive revelation. God reveals Himself in different ways to different people in different situations over time. He speaks to them in a language they can understand, taking into account their particular time and place and culture and worldview. This can result in misunderstandings about God. When we see Him reveal Himself in different ways, we might be tempted to think He is contradicting Himself. But nothing could be further from the truth. God’s character and nature are eternal and unchanging and everything He does has a purpose. It is geared to bring about His great salvation plan.

Consider the plight of Israel. They have lived for hundreds of years in exile from the Promised Land. The king of Egypt no longer remembers the contributions their forefather Joseph made to the nation. As the Israelites grow in number, they represent a potential threat. After all, no empire wants a powerful people group living on their border. So Pharaoh acts decisively to enslave them and decimate their population by killing all the male children. It’s brutal. It’s violent. It’s terrifying. Such was life in the ancient world. One wonders why God didn’t intervene? Why did He not reach down and strike Pharaoh down? Why did He not pluck His people up and bring them back to the Promised Land? Why did God allow such evil and suffering? Once again, we come face to face with God’s unchanging nature and character. He absolutely refuses to change His eternal plan. In the beginning, He gave humanity dominion over all He had made and He has never taken that gift back. So if salvation is to come to the world, it must come in and through the creatures who bear His image. The creatures He set up to reign and rule over all He has made.

I love the end of chapter two. “After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, they cried out, and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the Israelites, and God knew.” (Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God heard. God remembered. God saw. God knew. God never abandoned His people. He was always there though they could not see Him or hear Him or perceive Him. God was always faithful and at the right moment - after the king of Egypt had died - God raised up a deliverer to save His people.

Now think about your own life. Think about the many ways you groan due to difficult labor or cry out due to struggle and heartbreak. Sometimes it may seem like God is silent. It may seem like God isn’t responding to your prayers. But God is faithful, friends! And at the right time, He will act. He will send deliverance - usually through another person - to bring you comfort and peace.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 4-6, Psalm 18

Shekinah Glory

Readings for today: Exodus 37-40

I will never forget when my first daughter was born. We named her Chloe Shekinah because she represented the glory of God for us. We had lost our first child. Caleb was only 22 weeks when he died and the delivery process was traumatic. He had massive and fatal birth defects which included a complete lack of lung development. He literally was unable to take a breath. Going through that experience as a young couple broke us. The grief was deep and profound. The fear and anxiety over whether we would ever be able to have children was real. When we got pregnant with Chloe, we had a couple scares where we thought we might miscarry. It was a hard pregnancy on my wife. She was in excruciating pain quite often. Throughout the process, we cried out to God. We cried out to God when we received Caleb’s diagnosis. Cried out to God when Kristi’s life was in danger from the pregnancy. Cried out to God when we held his broken body in our arms. Cried out to God when Kristi got pregnant again. Cried out to God in those moments where we thought we might lose Chloe. Cried out to God when Kristi was doubled over in pain. And we cried out to God on January 28, 1999 when our beautiful daughter entered the world. We praised Him for His faithfulness. For His goodness. For His grace to us. His presence with us in the delivery room was palpable. Almost like a cloud of glory had settled over us in that place. So we named our daughter “Shekinah” which literally refers to the glory cloud that filled the Tabernacle after it was built.

Imagine being Israel and seeing the cloud of glory descend. Imagine watching the cloud of glory fill the Holy of Holies where the ark of the covenant was placed. Imagine stepping out of your tent at night and seeing the cloud light up like a fire as God continually assures you of His abiding presence. Imagine watching the glory cloud lift when it was time to continue the journey or stay put when it was time to rest. It must have felt so comforting. Listen again to how the Bible describes it…

“The Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Moses couldn’t enter the Tent of Meeting because the Cloud was upon it, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on their travels, but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn’t set out until it did lift. The Cloud of God was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels.” (Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭34‬-‭38‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

“Visible to all the Israelites in all their travels.” I love that line. I love it because I know Jesus is with me in all my travels as well. Jesus is Emmanuel which literally means “God with us.” He is the glory of God who comes to be with us. His Spirit is the glory of God who comes to dwell inside us. As a result, we are never alone. He leads and guides us just as He did ancient Israel. He guards and protects us just as He did His people. He comforts us in our struggles and strengthens us in our suffering and heals us from our hurts and gives us peace to calm our anxious hearts. This is who God has revealed Himself to be in Christ Jesus. Take some time to sit in the Presence of God today. Let your awareness of His nearness, His closeness bring you comfort and peace. Thank Him for always being with you. Ask Him to lead and guide you in all your travels today.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 1-4

The Name of the Lord

Readings for today: Exodus 33-36

The importance of these readings from the Book of Exodus cannot be overstated. God is renewing His commitment to Israel. Despite their sin and rebellious ways, God has determined to be their God. He has determined to do something miraculous in and through them that will stun the nations of the earth. He will drive out their enemies. He will secure for them a homeland. He will do for them what has not been done for any other people. They are His chosen ones. 

The conversation between Moses and God which begins at the end of chapter 33 and finishes in chapter 34 is of particular importance. God begins chapter 33 by telling Moses He will not be going with them. His holiness would consume them along the way for the people are stiff-necked and stubborn in their sin. Instead, He will send an angel to accomplish the mission He’s started. This isn’t enough for Moses. Jump down to 33:12 and Moses again intercedes on behalf of the people. He asks God to remain faithful. To be present among them. To teach them His ways and show them the right paths to walk. God responds favorably to Moses’ prayer. But then Moses gets even more bold. He asks to personally witness the glory of God. Perhaps he needs assurance from God? Perhaps he needs to be affirmed by God? The text doesn’t tell us. But God indeed passes before Moses and in one of the most important passages in all of Scripture reveals His divine name… 

“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” (Ex. ‭34:5-8‬)

From this point forward, whenever Israel is in trouble or has fallen into sin or is suffering or is being oppressed or find themselves in need, they call on the “name of the Lord” and are saved. They call on the “name of the Lord” knowing with full assurance that the Lord’s name is mercy. Grace. Steadfast love. Faithfulness. They call on Him knowing He is slow to anger and keeps his steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love Him in return. They call on Him knowing He is just and will by no means give the guilty a pass. They call on Him trusting Him to be true to Himself. True to how He revealed Himself to Moses. True to what He has declared about Himself. Over and over again, we will see these verses referenced throughout the Old Testament. Every time the people of God call on the “name of the Lord,” they are looking back to this particular meeting where God showed Himself to Moses.  

Fast forward several centuries to the New Testament. The Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Rome. A church that is struggling. A church that is suffering. A church that is being persecuted. Torn apart by division from within over the Jew/Gentile question. In the midst of his letter to them, Paul writes these words, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He’s quoting from the Old Testament prophet Joel who himself is looking back to this encounter between God and Moses in the Exodus. The difference, of course, is Paul is referring to Jesus. “The radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature...” according to Hebrews 1:3. In Jesus, we have seen God’s glory in all its fullness! In Jesus, God has revealed Himself truly to be merciful and gracious and steadfast in love and faithfulness! In Jesus, God has promised to be with us even to the end of the age! Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 37-40

Soaked in Holiness

Readings for today: Exodus 29-32

As many of you who read this blog know, I’ve been reading through the Bible in a Year for about thirty years now. It’s one of the very first spiritual disciplines I engaged in after becoming a Christian. However, one of the dangers I have to battle is routine. I become so familiar with the language and the words that I have a tendency to rush through the readings. One way I combat this is by reading the Bible in different versions. This year I’ve chosen to read it in a paraphrased version called The Message. Written by Eugene Peterson, it attempts to capture the meaning of the text by placing it in modern idiom. It is not a word for word translation and can’t be treated as such but it does offer some interesting insights. Take today’s reading for example. This is definitely a section where I would be tempted to gloss over what I’m reading because it feels so foreign to me. However, about halfway through chapter 29, Peterson uses this phrase that caught my attention - “soaked in holiness.”

What an image! Aaron and his sons undergo this elaborate ritual that essentially involves soaking them in oil, blood, and water. They are washed and purified. Oil is poured onto their heads. Blood is thrown against their vestments. Sacrifices are made and burned. Blood poured over the altar. And the whole thing takes seven days at the end of which Aaron and his sons will be fit to serve as priests of God. The point of it all is to prepare Aaron and his sons to enter into the presence of the Most Holy God. The God whose presence sanctifies all He touches. It is God who will make the Tent of Meeting a holy place. It is God who will make the altar where the sacrifices are offered a holy vessel. It is God who will make Aaron and his sons holy and fit to serve. It is God who will make Israel holy as He moves among them and makes this journey with them.

Now fast forward several thousand years. As prophesied by the prophet Joel, the Holy Spirit has been poured out on those who believe in Jesus Christ. He has come to make His dwelling place inside us. And He makes holy all He touches…including you. Including me. We are not made holy by our own effort. Notice how little Aaron and his sons actually “do” in the story. The same is true for us. Jesus has accomplished all we need to become holy. He is the perfect sacrifice made on our behalf. He is the whole burnt offering which turns away God’s righteous wrath and judgment. He purifies us with His blood. He atones for our sins by His death. And He exchanges His holiness for our unholiness. Not only that but He sends His Holy Spirit into our hearts as a regenerative, sanctifying Presence so that, over time, we become who He created and called and redeemed us to be.

Friends, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are “soaked in His holiness.” Let that truth sink into your bones today and, as you pray, thank the Holy Spirit for His work in your life and ask Him how you might open yourself up more and more to what He wants to do in and through you.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 33-36

A Home for God

Readings for today: Exodus 25-28

Imagine you receive a phone call one day from the White House letting you know the President of the United States would like to visit. How would you respond? You would immediately set to work making sure your home was in the most immaculate condition. You would set out the finest china. You would make sure the meal served was prepared by the best chefs. You would spare no expense in making sure everything was ready and worthy of the guest you were about to receive. You would inquire as to the President’s tastes. You would want to know what they liked or disliked. You would want to know how to best set up your home in terms of furniture and layout. You would do all you could to make sure your guest was as comfortable as possible.

Now imagine you are Israel and the guest you are asked to prepare a home for is God Himself. There is no dwelling here on earth that will do. Certainly not the tents you are living in as you wander through the wilderness! So you set out to make a dwelling that is worthy of the God of the universe. You find the most precious of metals and stones. You use only the finest linens and threads. You hire craftsmen to make all new utensils as you prepare for your honored guest. Not only that but you seek His will regarding how to prepare His home. You want to know His taste in furnishings. You want to know how He likes His room. You want to set things up according to His taste. You want the place to be as comfortable as possible for Him. Furthermore, you would spare no expense. You would sacrifice anything in order to make this miracle happen.

Listen to how the Book of Exodus describes it, “God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give. These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats’ hair; tanned rams’ skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece. Let them construct a Sanctuary for me so that I can live among them. You are to construct it following the plans I’ve given you, the design for The Dwelling and the design for all its furnishings.” (Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Can you imagine? God wants to live among His people. God wants to be with them and near them and among them. He wants to journey with them as they make their way to the Promised Land. He wants to go before them to give them victory over their enemies. He wants to be their rearguard to protect them from those who might pursue them. He wants to provide for them along the way. Feed them with manna and quail. Lead them beside still waters in the desert. Make sure their clothing doesn’t wear out along the way. These are the promises God makes even as He calls them to build Him a home. A sanctuary. A sacred tent where they will meet with Him morning and evening. It’s a beautiful picture of the relationship God desires to have with us.

Here’s the thing. We don’t have to imagine it. As the Apostle John once wrote, “From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” (1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Friends, Jesus Christ is God with us! He is the Word of God who took on flesh and blood and made His dwelling place among us! He is the Word of Life who appeared right before our eyes. We saw it. We heard it. We touched it with our own two hands. Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh and raised from the dead in glory! This is the good news we continue to proclaim! This is the source of all joy in our lives! We have communion with the Father and with the Son through the Holy Spirit. Pray and thank God today that He has made His dwelling place with you.

Readings for tomorrow: None

God With Us

Readings for today: Exodus 22-24

It’s both comforting and convicting to know God is with us. It is encouraging and sobering to know God is eternally faithful to walk by our side. He never leaves us nor forsakes us not even for a single moment. If we listen to Him and walk in obedience, He will bless us. If we ignore Him and walk in rebellion, He will discipline us. God is eternally consistent. There is no shadow or turning in Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So the words He speaks to Israel are just as appropriate for us today as they were for them back then. The ways He reveals Himself to His people back then are just as true for us today as they were for them.

“Now get yourselves ready. I’m sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I’ve prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don’t go against him. He won’t put up with your rebellions because he’s acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I’ll be an enemy to your enemies, I’ll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I’ll clear the country of them. So don’t worship or serve their gods; don’t do anything they do because I’m going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.” (Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭20‬-‭24‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Can you imagine how comforting it must have been to Israel to know God would be “an enemy to their enemies” and would “fight those who fought them?” Especially after watching what God did to Pharaoh and Egypt? They must have felt invincible. Despite the many different tribes occupying the Promised Land and the challenge they would face driving them out, Israel must have felt such confidence knowing God would be on their side.

“I’ll send my Terror on ahead of you and throw those peoples you’re approaching into a panic. All you’ll see of your enemies is the backs of their necks. And I’ll send Despair on ahead of you. It will push the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites out of your way. I won’t get rid of them all at once lest the land grow up in weeds and the wild animals take over. Little by little I’ll get them out of there while you have a chance to get your crops going and make the land your own. I will make your borders stretch from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Wilderness to the Euphrates River. I’m turning everyone living in that land over to you; go ahead and drive them out.” (Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭MSG) At the same time, God is faithful to not give Israel a quick or easy victory. “Little by little” God would drive them out. He knows Israel isn’t ready to exercise dominion over the land He’s giving them so He will give them an opportunities to practice along the way. It’s the principles of “to whom much is given, much is expected” and “to the one who is faithful with little, God will entrust them with much” that Jesus talks about in His parable of the talents. God knows our tendency to take things for granted. He knows how easy it is for us to become complacent so He will continue to challenge us and test us to refine our faith. This is what it means to have God with us.

God has always been and always will be “God with us.” He has been Emmanuel from eternity. His great desire is for all of us to be saved and fulfill the mandate He gave us at creation to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all He has made.” God created us in His image to serve as His vice-regents over all creation. He has never wavered from this commitment and is at work even now in your life and in my life to bring it to pass. Spend some time praying today and ask the Holy Spirit to make you more aware of God’s abiding presence in your life and then ask Him how you might respond in greater faithfulness to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 25-28

Immeasurable Distance

Readings for today: Exodus 19-21

I remember visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time. I stood on the south rim. I looked out over the vast expanse. My heart was struck by the sheer immensity of it all. I felt so small. So insignificant. The depth and breadth of the canyon was simply beyond my ability to comprehend. The beauty and splendor of it all was overwhelming. The forces involved in the shaping of this natural wonder over millions of years were simply awe-inspiring. Now imagine you are standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Imagine the summit of the mountain bursting forth into flame as God descends. Smoke like a furnace pours forth. Lightning flashes. Thunder shakes the very ground. Is it any wonder the people drew back in fear?

“All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid - they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we’ll listen, but don’t have God speak to us or we’ll die.” Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won’t sin.” The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick clouds where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21 MSG)

We simply do not appreciate the enormous gulf that exists between God and us. He is wholly other. He is transcendent. He exists on a plane that is inaccessible to us. He is immortal, invisible, and eternal. He is as far from us as the East is from the West. He is above us and beyond us as the heavens are above and beyond the reach of earth. His purity cannot stand even the least amount of corruption. His holiness will not tolerate even the slightest of sins. He is light in whom there is no darkness at all. Not even the briefest of shadows. The only way we can meet this God is by undergoing an intense purification ritual. It’s why the people of Israel had to spend days washing their clothes and preparing their hearts to meet with Him. It’s why they had to protect themselves by posting boundaries around the mountain, lest someone accidentally stumble into God’s presence and be consumed. The threat of death was actually for their own protection, to communicate the seriousness of what was about to take place. Meeting with God is not for the faint of heart!

Now fast forward several thousand years. Listen to the words of the writer of Hebrews as he unpacks what Christ has done for us. “Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words—“If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead”—they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified. No, that’s not your experience at all. You’ve come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace…Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!” (Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭18‬-‭24‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Friends, Jesus has done what we could not do. He has bridged the gulf. He has spanned the gap. He has crossed the divide. When He hung on the cross, He held the heavens in one hand and the earth in His other. He laid hold of the East and joined it together with the West. He exchanged His righteousness and purity and holiness for our unrighteousness, impurity, and unholiness. He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. And it was this beautiful and glorious exchange that opened the way for us to enter into God’s presence unafraid.

As you gaze upon the cross of Christ, do you find your heart brimming over with thankfulness? Do you find yourself falling to your knees in worship? Do you find your soul responding in awe and wonder at all God has done? If this is not your experience, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart to the mystery of grace God offers you in the gospel of His Son.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 22-24

Saving Faith

Readings for today: Exodus 14-18

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.” (Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

I’ve often wondered what it must have been like for Moses to come to the shores of the Red Sea. You’ve faced down the most powerful man on the planet. You’ve plundered the most powerful empire in the world. You’ve led God’s people out of Egypt with the promise of a better life. A life of freedom under God in the Promised Land. But in following God, you realize He’s led you essentially into a trap. He’s led you to a place from which there is no escape. The Red Sea in front of you. The desert behind you. The ground shaking beneath your feet at the approach of the chariots of the Egyptian army. The people following you aren’t happy. In fact, they are terrified. They believe all hope is lost and lash out in anger against Moses. They question his leadership. “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”(Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭MSG‬‬) The pressure must have been enormous and yet Moses doesn’t miss a beat…

“Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again. God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!” (Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬) At this point in his life, Moses has learned to trust God. He no longer questions Him. No longer doubts Him. He’s come a long way since the burning bush where he argued with God. He has seen God’s wonders. He had seen God’s miracles. He had seen God’s power on display and he knows in his bones that God will deliver. God will save. So he tells the people stand firm and watch God do what only God can do.

Not only does Moses point people to God, he takes an even greater step of faith. He turns his back on the Egyptians, trusting God to be his “rearguard.” He faces the vastness of the Red Sea and stretches out his hand. And as he raises his staff, God sends a violent wind to drive back the sea. Now can you imagine the hurricane forces God would have to unleash to create a path in the middle of the Red Sea? It had to be unbelievable! The roaring of the wind drowning out the rumble of the chariots. The power on display dwarfing anything the Egyptians could bring to bear. The people standing there in awe. All because Moses believed God. All because Moses trusted God. All because Moses was fully confident that God was able to do what He had promised. This, friends, is the essence of saving faith.

So what about you? What steps of faith have you taken in your life? What steps of faith is God calling you to take right now? What’s holding you back? Metaphorically speaking, over what obstacle do you need to raise your staff, trusting God to deliver? Trusting God to save? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need walk by faith and not by sight.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 19-21

God’s Sovereignty

Readings for today: Exodus 10-13

Today we have to grapple with one the deepest mysteries in all of Scripture…God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. Before we even get started, let’s acknowledge the obvious. We hate this truth. It runs counter to everything we’ve been raised to believe about free will, everyone getting a choice, God loving everyone, etc. It calls into question God’s justice. God’s righteousness. How could a righteous God harden someone’s heart to the point where they are kept from saving faith? And yet, if we are courageous enough to take the text at face value, we are left with no other conclusion. 

“God said to Moses: “Go to Pharaoh. I’ve made him stubborn, him and his servants…”(Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭MSG)‬‬

“But God made Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He still didn’t release the Israelites.” (Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭20‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

“But God kept Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He wouldn’t agree to release them.” (Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

“Moses and Aaron had performed all these signs in Pharaoh’s presence, but God turned Pharaoh more stubborn than ever—yet again he refused to release the Israelites from his land.” (Exodus‬ ‭11‬:‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

God is relentless with this man. He will not let him repent. He will not let him escape judgment. He will not let him give in until his nation lies in ruins. God will not let up until there is no doubt who is God and who is not. Now this is hard for us. This is a different side to God that we aren’t used to. A God who reigns over the affairs of humanity. A God who rules over the universe with a firm hand. A God who is to be feared as much as loved. So again, the question is pressed...how could a righteous God harden someone’s heart to the point where they are kept from saving faith? 

The key is how we define righteousness. Do we define it from a human perspective or a Biblical one? According to Scripture, God’s highest aim is NOT the salvation of His people. As important as this is, it is merely the means God chooses to achieve a higher end. What is that “higher end?” The full display of God’s power and glory and majesty and sovereignty over all creation. God’s greatest aim is to fill the earth with His glory. His grand design calls for all creation to honor His great name. This is the purpose for which we were created and it is clearly revealed in the Exodus narrative. 

“God said to Moses: “Go to Pharaoh. I’ve made him stubborn, him and his servants, so that I can force him to look at these signs and so you’ll be able to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians, like a cat with a mouse; you’ll tell them the stories of the signs that I brought down on them, so that you’ll all know that I am God.” (Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

“God said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s not going to listen to a thing you say so that the signs of my presence and work are going to multiply in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

And the Apostle Paul affirms God’s purposes when he looked back on the Exodus story. “The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” (Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭17 ‭MSG‬‬‬)

The point is clear. God will make His name known. And He chooses to make His name known through “vessels of mercy” (His people) and “vessels of wrath” (not His people). And lest we think this somehow compromises God’s justice or righteousness or goodness or it just isn’t fair; we have to remember our condition before God. All of us are dead in our trespasses. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. All of us deserve death. We are in no position - broken, sinful, and rebellious as we are - to pass judgment on God. God is free to choose to use whom He wills in whatever way He wills and this in no way compromises His integrity. 

So what does this mean for us? Does it mean we should be scared of God? Does it mean we are at the mercy of a God who is arbitrary and capricious? Not at all. In Jesus Christ, God has provided the perfect Passover Lamb! He Himself has become the sacrifice that saves! His blood delivers us from the angel of death! And because we have no idea whom God has chosen, we should go forth and gladly, even boldly, share this good news with the world! 

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 14-18

Who is God?

Readings for today: Exodus 5-9

John Calvin once said our hearts are idol factories, constantly churning out false gods. It seems human beings will worship anything and everything except for the one true and living God. In ancient Egypt, the people worshipped Pharaoh. They sacrificed for him. They served him. They gave him everything and, in return, he maintained order. Through the elaborate rituals he performed, the sun rose and set each day. The Nile flooded each year. The seasons changed and the ground produced. From birth, the Egyptians were taught to believe this about their god-king. And it wasn’t just the Egyptians who believed these things about Pharaoh. For four hundred years, the people of Israel were also conditioned into this belief. They were conditioned to believe they were his slaves. They were conditioned to believe there was no hope for freedom because of the power Pharaoh held over their lives. This is why they wouldn’t listen to Moses when he delivered God’s message. “But when Moses delivered this message to the Israelites, they didn’t even hear him - they were that beaten down in spirit by the harsh slave conditions.” (Exodus 6:9 MSG)

The Exodus story is more than a story of deliverance. It is about the introduction of God to the world. It is about the humbling of the greatest empire on the face of the earth and the utter destruction of her most powerful king. It is about teaching humanity - not just Israel - who God is and what He’s all about. The goal of this whole enterprise is not just to save Israel from slavery but to teach the pagan world all about God. Listen to what God says to Moses, “Look at Me. I’ll make you as a god to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron will tell it to Pharaoh. Then he will release the Israelites from his land. At the same time I am going to put Pharaoh’s back up and follow it up by filling Egypt with signs and wonders. Pharaoh is not going to listen to you, but I will have my way against Egypt and bring out my soldiers, my people the Israelites, from Egypt by mighty acts of judgment. The Egyptians will realize that I am God when I step in and take the Israelites out of their country.” (Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Why is God so passionate for His own glory? Why is He so zealous for His own Name? Because He knows the false gods of this world can’t deliver on what they promise. He knows the false gods of this world are weak and empty. He knows the false gods of this world don’t even exist. And because He loves humanity so much, He hates to see us fall for the lie. He hates to see us place our trust in something false and untrue. He hates to see us give our lives in service to something that will ultimately never satisfy. But we are stubborn. We don’t give up our idols easily. We don’t let go of false beliefs very quickly. So God has to subject us to judgment, often in the form of pain and suffering. Listen again to what He says to Pharaoh, “For one reason only I’ve kept you on your feet: To make you recognize my power so that my reputation spreads in all the earth. You are still building yourself up at my people’s expense. You are not letting them go.” (Exodus 9:16-17 MSG) If we are honest, we are all like Pharaoh. Hardening our hearts against the will of God. Only the Holy Spirit living inside us can soften our hearts. Only the Holy Spirit doing His sanctifying work inside us can loosen our grip on the idols we’ve created. Only the Holy Spirit can do the work of regeneration we all so desperately need. Pray today for the Holy Spirit to reveal the idols you worship and ask Him to give you the strength to cast them down.

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 10-13