Day 39 - Exodus 15: 1-21 and Psalm 39

 Julie

Today's reading is singing God's praises and thanking him for saving them and taking them out of Egypt. The words of this song should be a reminder  or something that we should consider singing/using to pray to thank God for the things that he does for us in our lives. We should SING HIS PRAISES!

Psalm 39 is interesting because it covers a lot of different things. Asking for help for control in complicated situations or with people that can really cause us to react in ways that we probably shouldn't. Asking for forgiveness for our sins and reminding us that life is short, this kind of sums it all up in that we should remember this and live the best version of ourselves that can. God is giving us that chance and it's how we choose to use that time that means something.

 

Michelle

Agreed.  This appears to be a passage of praise.  Explaining what happened and praising the Lord.

The psalm is interesting.  I was most moved by the beginning and then when it says What do I look for, my hope is in you.  Reminder to always keep hope and faith in the Lord no matter the situation. 

Day 37 & 38 - Exodus 12:1-20 & Psalm 37, Exodus 12:31-14 & Psalm 38

 Julie

Catching up for a couple of days. My OCD doesn't allow me to wait until the catch-up days. I have to be ready for tomorrow and I haven't spent time the word for a couple of days. In any case...the story of Moses parting the Red Sea is an important one and very convicting in that he was able to do that in order to save the Israelites. Is there a reason that the unleavened bread is so important? I ask because it is repeated so often between chapters 12-14. I know that the bread is unleavened because they are driven out before it can be leavened, but I don't understand why it was necessary to repeat it as often it was. I bring this up because if you are looking for words that are repeated...that is one. 

The first half of Psalm 37 is so telling and convicting as it reminds us of how we should be for God. It does return to the suppression by evil doers, but we are reminded here of who we need to be. 

 

Michelle

So I realized yesterday that we didn't even discuss this over the weekend.  And I didn't read either.  I was also confused as to why the leaven was so important, so I did a search and read a few things about it.  Most of which it is about having to leave in a hurry so they didn't have time to allow the bread to rise, or that it's a symbol of their leaving in haste anyway, as in the beginning of this chapter it seems there actually is time so it may just be that's a symbol.  As the article went on it talked of other areas of the bible where it's used as a metaphor for being puffed up with pride and how the unleavened are humbled, simple and pure.   

The parting of the Red Sea appears to be for both parties.  For the Israelites, it leads them to trust God and Moses, as they are now lead out of their slavery.  For the Egyptians, it appears it is meant to also show them the power of God vs the multiple gods they believe in, so as to make them see the one true God.  I am not sure how it worked after that as Pharaohs army was taken into the sea but maybe those remaining in Egypt would have been the ones that it was meant for.  

The psalms, so in reading these today, I am feeling these in my current situation.  In 37, I felt the call not to repay evil with evil, and in 38 I felt vs 17-22 very deeply.  "For I am about to fall and my pain is ever with me, I confess my iniquity...Many have become my enemies without cause...Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good...Lord, do not forsake me...Come quickly to help me...". This is my prayer. 

Day 36 - Exodus 10 - 11 & Psalm 36

 Julie

Today is really a continuation of what I talked about yesterday. The plagues are God's way of showing that He is the I Am  and giving the Israelites something to share with those that come after them. 

Psalm 36 this is another lament about the wicked and a prayer for God to protect. This seems to be a common theme in the Psalms. 

I kind of feel like I didn't put a lot of try hard into today, but it also seems that everything that I said yesterday really does apply to today and I don't know that it is necessary to repeat it. There really hasn't been a whole lot that stands out within the Psalms, but it seems that you could choose the one that speaks to you the most when dealing with those who are wicked and asking for protection.

 

Michelle

This does appear a continuation of yesterday's passage.  I'm not sure why this stands out but there's a part that say "Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh."  He has already known ahead what will happen as the Lord has told him yet he still angers at the reactions of Pharaoh.  

The psalm almost sounds like he his praying for the unbelieving and wicked people and their actions.  This is very hard to do.  Usually I think we pray for ourselves to get out of situations with these kind of people when we should actually be praying for them in some way.  I never know how to do that.  But continue to try.  

Day 35 - Exodus 6:28 - 9 and Psalm 35

 Julie

This begins that plagues that God brings down on the Egyptians. There are a couple of things that stand-out apart from the individual plagues themselves. The first is that at the beginning of chapter 7 God tell Moses that he is make him like God and Aaron will be his profit so that they can perform these acts that will bring upon the plague. I had read, I believe in the explanation of the book of Exodus within the version of the Bible that I am using, that Moses is basically the Jesus of the OT. The difference is that God gives Moses his "power" at a time of his choosing instead of bearing him as "son". Moses job is to help bring about the salvation of the Israelites and Jesus' is to bring out the salvation of us all. Looking at it from this prospective and how a lot of what is happening now gets repeated again in the NT, it goes to show that we tend to repeat or transgressions over time. 

The second thing that stands out is when God says He will harden Pharaoh's heart. I think that this is a very significant statement, and can be placed in the context of the world at any given time. Our current situation in the world would be an example of this. While it does get mentioned (I believe in the NT) that God places those in charge that he deems necessary at the time and they are not always godly people, this statement shows us that some of the hardships that we go through at the hands of those that govern us are brought upon us by God. I know that sometimes people look at the hardships that we have to endure as punishment for doing something wrong, but that is not always God's motive and if we really examine that here it shows. There is no where is what God is doing in hardening Pharaoh's heart where he has said that he is doing it because the Israelites have done wrong. However, it does show their faith in God that they endure with the hope that something better will be coming out the other side. They are trusting in his promise and covenant that he made. I think it's important to remember that while we may be experiencing hardship at the time that there is always a purpose and a plan that we may not understand and that we have to trust that joy will emerge.

Today's Psalm could really correlate with today's Exodus reading as it could be the type of prayer that one might pray to God if they were experiencing what the Israelites were experiencing at this time. Asking God to save them from the atrocities brought upon them by those in charge. This could be a good Psalm to assist in prayer with our current situation. 

 

Michelle

The devotional that pertains to this passage in my bible has a very powerful thought.  And I can see how this could be the situation of today and the time of the bible.  It may have been the same situation over time and it's not something I have thought about before.  It states, "Yes, God wanted to free the Israelites from years of cruel bondage.  But he wanted EVERYONE - Egyptians and Israelites - to experience his power as the one true God."  In this devotional it discusses how he used the plagues to challenge the belief of the Egyptians in their pagan gods.  Today God still wants everyone to know that he is the only true God and shows his power thru the events and circumstances of our lives.  This is very thought provoking to me.  But I can see how this makes sense.  When you are in the moment we are only looking to how we are being affected by whatever is going on, but it may be that God is trying to show others, non believers, who he is and where their loyalty and faith should lie.  

The psalm starts off sounding as if he is asking for his persecutors to be harmed.  Then it goes on to ask God for help in his situation and praising him for what he does and will do.   

Day 34 - Exodus 5 - 6:27 & Psalm 34

 Julie

Today talks about how Moses and Aaron go and ask the Pharaoh to let the people go out and worship God for a short time. Pharaoh refuses and gets and angry and makes things more difficult for the Israelites. This makes the Israelites angry at Moses for bringing this upon them. So Moses prays to God asking why he is causing them more suffering instead of helping them. If we put this story in the context of now then this is an example of God saying that he will do what he has promised, but never said how he would do it and in some cases there is some type of suffering that must be endured as part of the walk that God is putting one through. He reminds Moses to have faith and trust in him and to continue to fight for his people and for God and that all will be revealed in time. He also continuously reminds him of the "I Am" by stating multiple times "I am God". 

Psalm 34 is a prayer of thankfulness for all that God has done and it specifically points out ways in which God has taken care of David through this ordeal.

 

Michelle

That is a very good point Julie.  I didn't think of it in that way.  But you are right in that God never says how he will do things and many times suffering is the way it's done.  More times than not we expect God to just hand us what we want instead of knowing that we will have to work for it in some way.  This act is just one of the ways we are made stronger, in our faith and in ourselves.  I do also see that this is yet another example of us always arguing with God.  This is a recurring theme for humans.  We argue, why are you doing this to me/us, expecting it to come easy.  I guess it's just one more way we are meant to see that we must turn to God in all things and at all times.  

The psalm sounds like he is speaking to someone and telling them about God, saying that he will seek the Lord always and these are the reasons why everyone should.  It also prefaced this stating it was when David pretended to be insane to Abimelek, who drove him away and he left.  I'm not sure of that story but assume we will learn it eventually. 

Day 33 - Exodus 3-4 and Psalm 33

 Julie

"I Am". This is repeated a few times in todays passage. I know that this is talked about frequently and that there are probably many thoughts on this, but could this be that God is letting Moses know that he shouldn't have to or be questioning God and his power. While they seem so menial the words are so powerful. God uses this moment to give Moses the strength and power and that he needs to bring about the salvation of the people of Israel. Something I read (and I can't remember where) likened this time with Moses to what Jesus does in the NT. The only thing that struck me as odd and out of place was the circumcision of Moses' son. With where it was placed in the chapter I had to read it a few times and still wasn't quite sure of what was happening. I get that he hadn't circumcised his son yet, but there seems to be some indication that this made him an unlikely choice for the job at hand because of it, but wouldn't God have know that? 

Psalm 33 reminds us of the steadfast love of God. That no matter who we are and we what do he loves us unconditionally and that love should inspire us to want to be better people for God.

 

Michelle

So my feeling were up and down in this passage.  In the beginning he is arguing with God about being the right person for the job at hand, and God gets angry but then appeases Moses by having his brother assist him in communicating with the people.  He also prepares him with the knowledge that he will harden the heart of the Pharaoh against him.  Not sure why this happens, why would he do that intentionally?  And also he tells Moses to plunder the Egyptians.  This seems all wrong to me for some reason.  He is asking him to do something, that in my mind is not a good thing.  I was also confused about the circumcision as right before it states that the Lord met Moses on the way and was about to kill him when the wife performed the circumcision to save Moses.  I don't understand this at all.  If God was sending Moses there why was he about to kill him?  

I am starting to feel like the psalms are all the same.  Just giving praise to God and reminding us of his greatness and that we should give praise for all he does.

 

Day 32 - Exodus 1-2 & Psalm 32

 Julie

As we enter in this new book, it is said that we need to focus on the covenant God has made with Israel and his family. As we see in these first two chapters, we are reminded in words that God has continued to fulfill that covenant, as well as the Israelites (Hebrews) show their fear of God. Although they have been brought into slavery and the midwives are being told to kill the boys that are born (because Pharoah fears the Hebrews), their fear of God keeps them from doing as Pharaoh says. We are also getting into the beginning of Moses part of the story and we will watch unfold how God protects him.

Psalm 32 is called a "thanksgiving hymn" which makes sense it is thanking God for forgiving sins. It's a beautiful reminder that God forgives us and as such we should be just as forgiving. He loves us in spite of the things we do and accepts us as who we are, and we should remember to treat others in kind.

Jackie

Another book, a new beginning, as I read today's reading it reminded me that God is always with us.  Sometimes we are asked to do things because others say but we have to remember that if it does not go with what God says then we have to believe and trust that he is in control and will take care of us if we go against what others are saying.  

The Psalm reminds me that God forgive us of our sins, and sin of avoidance, running, hiding or just being just plain lazy in our faith.  He still loves us and will accept us even when we fault, and he will bring us back to his loving kindness continue to grow us.  

Michelle

So upon reading this passage, I came away with more questions.  The preface says it’s been 4 centuries and that the Israelites are laboring as slaves.  When we ended Genesis they had become slaves after the famine and selling themselves to the Pharaoh and Joseph for food. Now we start to find them oppressed.  I get that over time things have changed and the promises have faded from memory.  And now they are many and the newest Pharaoh isn’t a believer so he asks for terrible things to happen.  But when they cry out for help from God he is there.  

The psalm  is another that says call out to the lord and he will be there for you.  

So I read this passage again this morning and had a realization.  God seems to use sinners more than others to do his work.  As at the end of 2 it says Moses killed an Egyptian and hid him.  I guess that’s a reminder that God uses all kinds of people and that we are not perfect.