Scripture text for Monday, February 1, 2010: Exodus 19:1-20:21

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Uh oh, here we go. This is where the rules start. Sure it’s only ten now, but soon it will expand to six hundred and thirty-two soon. Rules, laws, ordinances, and commands are not comfortable words. For many, they are associated with control, failure, guilt, and shame.

But, just before the commandments are given, God says, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2.

This verse is very interesting to me. Surely, Moses knows who God is! He saw and knew what God had done and how they’d escaped from slavery in Egypt.

Scripture text for Friday, January 29, 2010: Exodus 13:17-14:31

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Talk about an action packed section of the Bible: people being chased, chariots crashing, the amazing parting of the Red Sea, does it get any better than that? Not for people in our culture, we are a culture of action. Just take a look around you: action movies, action sports, your weekend calendar, all filled with activity. But in all that action, what is God calling us to do? We all know the story of the parting of the Red Sea, but how many of us stop on verse 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Ouch! Not so good at that part! Not so good at the being still and waiting, letting God fight the battle, not me. I have my plan of action, I want my plan of action, but God is calling me to “be still” and watch Him put his perfect plan of action into play. Reading on in this section of Exodus, what an amazing plan it is that God has for the Israelites. The dividing of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army was the end result. Ultimately, his plan of action was on a much more personal level, “…the people (Israelites) feared the Lord and put their trust in him…” (Exodus 14:31). So today, I challenge you to find some stillness somewhere in your day. Pray about it, seek out that stillness, and then stay there waiting for God, because who knows what God has planned for you in that perfect stillness!

Devotion prepared by Sarah Clark

Scripture text for Thursday, January 28, 2010: Exodus 12:1-12:42

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In his debut release Crave,  Chris Tomlinson said, "When it comes to doing something for God, people would rather eat chips." Strange idea maybe, but that’s what came to mind when I first skimmed through these passages. Mostly, I noticed the wisdom of verse 14. 

Passover. You know? That was to be the time for all who believe in God to mark the door frames of their homes with lamb’s blood to signify that they indeed believe. It assured them of God’s protection.

Scripture text for Wednesday, January 27, 2010: Exodus 6:28-11:10

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Typically the word “plague” elicits feelings of dread; we equate plagues with evil, calamity, and torment. To express our abhorrence of something we say we “hate it like the plague.” In Exodus 6:28 through 11:10 we find Pharaoh utterly and completely plagued by plagues – ten times over.

Biblically, the number ten often has to do with God’s completeness. Ten Commandments establish God’s law. Ten clauses comprise the Lord’s Prayer. The gospel of Matthew contains ten parables of the kingdom. Jesus refers to Himself with ten “I am” statements in the gospel of John.

Scripture text for Tuesday, January 26, 2010: Exodus 3:1-4:17

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Today’s devotion is on Exodus 3:1 – 4:17 where Moses first encounters God in the burning bush. There is a lot of material worth noting in these two chapters, but every time I read them, my attention goes to 3:14 – 15.

God has just instructed Moses to return to Egypt, where he is a fugitive wanted for murder, and demand that Pharaoh release the Israelites from captivity. Understandably, Moses probably viewed this as a death sentence and wanted to know who, exactly, it was giving him these orders. He asked God, what is your name?