Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.

Exodus 20

Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning. v20

In Exodus 19, God appeared to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai:

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. Exodus 19:16-19

In Exodus 20:18, the Israelites told Moses of their fear and Moses responded in v20.  We should fear God - He is in control, He knows everything, and He is all powerful.  At the same time, He loves us, is full of compassion, and patience, etc.; He knows what is good for us and He has a great plan for us.

These are just a few of the attributes of God - that He is with us and He is perfect.  He is with us because He loves us and He wants us to enjoy His blessings - and He knows that for us to enjoy His blessings we must abstain from sin and be holy (because He is holy).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  And You are with me - always - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Exodus 18

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” v21-23

Ever since creation (see Genesis 2:18), God designed it that we are to live here on earth together - with and for others.

We are to serve others, confess our sins to one another, and encourage one another.

See also:
- Acts 2:42-47 (early formation of church)
- Serve
- Encourage

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  James 5:13-16

Key also to this passage of scripture is how Moses received wise counsel and how we are to do the same - to both seek and receive.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and patience for me...thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving.  I allow my own comfort and selfishness to prevent me from seeking You. Please forgive me - help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa from her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.

Exodus 17

Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. v15

In life, we don't know what lies ahead - only God knows.  There may be good times, there may be bad times - regardless of whether the times are good or bad, God is with us (Matthew 28:20).  God knows all the days of our lives (Psalm 139) and he makes a number of promises to us (and God ALWAYS keeps His promises), including that He has a good and perfect plan for our life (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28), and that He is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:2).

The Lord is MY Banner - he leads me and I can trust in Him.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23

My Prayer: Lord You are a GREAT God, who is always with me, who is perfect and good and who goes before me always and has a place for me in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?

Exodus 16

How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? v28

  
As the grumbling and complaining continued, the Lord became impatient.  The Israelites were rescued from Egypt and God had been providing for their needs, yet the Israelites lacked faith - they would not follow His instructions because they did not believe or trust Him fully (which is the most important commandment - see Matthew 22:37).  God is indeed a patient God but His patience is not unlimited. 

See the story of Ananias and Sapphira - both held onto their money tightly, and God desires us to be a cheerful giver.

As well, we don't know when Jesus will return and we need to be ready.  In Revelations, God is angry with the church at Laodicea - that they are luke warm in their faith and clearly not "ready". 

Jesus, help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and run the race with endurance - being ready and not dropping my focus on You - on good days and bad.  I know You are with me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God!  Thank You for loving me and adopting my mom and for saving a place for her in Heaven where she is not enjoying everlasting life and peace.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I fail to be more bold in sharing You with others.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be more bold.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.

Exodus 15

If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you. v26

It did not take more than 3 days of wandering (see v22) without water after God demonstrated his might and protection by parting the Red Sea - after these three days, the Israelites began to grumble once again.

We should of course not complain or grumble about our circumstances - see posts here.  We must live a life of gratitude, and draw near to God - see also post yesterday.

Lord, Your hand is mighty, and You protect me, You provide for me, and You love me - this I know.

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - creator of all things and able to do anything.  Thank You for how You bless me.  I am undeserving.  I speak harsh things about others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Exodus 14

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. v31

No doubt, an important verse from this chapter is verse 13-14 when Moses responded to the Israelites' fear of being recaptured or killed by the Egyptians who had pursued them into the desert:

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” v13-14

Yet what is important as well is how the Israelites recognize what God has done.  What is unfortunate about the Israelites is how short their memory was - they recognized being spared from all of the plagues brought by God upon Pharaoh and Egypt, yet failed to live a life of gratitude and in awe of God.

We need to be in awe of God DAILY.  

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

 

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

My Prayer: Jesus - You are an awesome God who has done mighty things in my life and in the world - far too many for me to mention - incredible and I stand in awe of You.  I am grateful that You are my God and I am Your child.  I love You.  I am not worth the love You have for me.  I continue to be harsh with my words and I am selfish.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Exodus 13

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. v21-22

As the Israelites escaped Egypt, led by Moses and Aaron, God was with them and He led them.  The people always had a sign of how God was with them and that He was directing their steps.

All of God's children should know that He is with us and leading us - we should however, stay near to Him so that we can recognize His presence and His guidance.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:8

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

    a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Help me appreciate daily how God is with me and directing my steps.

My Prayer:  Lord, You are an awesome God and I know You are always with me and always leading me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy and selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.