Month: November 2025

Exodus 12:21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 

I am a little perplexed by this section of scripture. Verse 24 tells the Israelites to “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for” them and their descendants, yet a quick Google search says that this instance was the only time blood was put on the lintels and doorposts.

Exodus 12:22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 

This confusion, I think, epitomizes that issue when the Bible is reduced to just following the rules. Instead of focusing on the event, the why of what was occurring, the focus becomes How can I follow the letter of the law of this scripture. The focus isn’t God, His actions, His meaning. The focus is on the rules, on ourselves, on how to “do it right,” a distinction a true rule-follower can get behind, but one that totally misses God’s point.

Exodus 12:23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

Precious Savior, I want a heart that chases after You, reading, studying, learning about You, understanding You more and more so that I can live a life that is pleasing to You. Help me not to get caught up in the “how do I do religion right” but instead strive to know Your heart and remake mine accordingly. Amen.

Exodus 12:24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 

Again today I am struggling with the academic remove, the strict rule-following of today’s verses. If anyone (Israelite or Egyptian, saint or sinner) followed these rules/instructions and put the blood on the lintels and doorposts, that house would be spared. So if you were faithful your entire life and for some reason missed this one thing, you were out.

Exodus 12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

That sort of rule-following religion is hard for me. I’m not saying I don’t want to follow the rules. I’ve already admitted to being a rule-follower, but I mess up DAILY. If messing up one time means being out of God’s favor forever, the nature of humanity means Heaven is going to be pretty lonely.

Exodus 12:14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. 

Precious Savior, I struggle with some of the Old Testament, with the anger, and vengefulness, with the absolutes and rules. I struggle because I know that I mess up daily, multiple times a day. I  know that Your grace, Your fierce, deep, complete love are the only things that save me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 12:15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 

As I reread verses 1 and 2 of Exodus 12, I am reminded of Isaiah 43:19’s “Behold, I am doing a new thing….” and I am reminded of the excitement and fear of change. (Full disclosure, change really does cause me some fear. I like to know what to expect, what’s coming. However, I do know that change can be a beautiful and necessary thing. I’m trying to get better at rolling with change.)

Exodus 12:10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 

And verse 11 of today’s reading puts me in mind of all the verses that talk about being ready, being prepared, being watchful and alert, which brings to mind the idea that we have a finite amount of time on this earth to do good, and we don’t know exactly how long that is, so we have to be mindful of the opportunities presented to us to act as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Exodus 12:11a This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. 

Precious Savior, Today’s reflection feels like a bit of a jumble, but my mind feels a bit jumbled, too. Thank You that even when things feel jumbled, I can see You, I can hear Your still small voice whispering to my heart. Help me to draw closer to You always. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 12:11b Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:1-2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.   

There is so much in the Bible that I don’t understand. One of the things that I like about scriptures like today’s is that it is crystal clear. There’s no ambiguity. The Israelites know exactly what is being asked of them, and they can do what is being asked.

Exodus 12:3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.

But as we will see in the Sadducees and Pharisees, this “letter of the law” philosophy, this following everything exactly as it’s written, leads to “Let’s make more laws, more rules, more regulations because they are easy to follow,” which leads to “What’s of utmost importance is following these rules and laws, not the spirit of God’s word.” A slippery slope, indeed.

Exodus 12:4a If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are.

Precious Savior, Thank You for my love of rules. You gave me that trait for a reason, and it served me well in my career. Thank You also that You gave me a deep love for You and a desire to understand Your word beyond just following Your laws. Help me, even when I don’t understand Your word, to draw closer to Your heart. Amen.

Exodus 12:4b You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 11:6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 

My faith allows me to trust that God is working all things for my good and His glory, even if it doesn’t make sense. But I really struggle with the plagues in general and this final plague specifically. I do not believe that God is cruel. I believe that He is loving and compassionate, so the death of so many, especially innocent babies, is really hard for me to comprehend.

Exodus 11:7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 

The only way I can reconcile the wrath of the Old Testament God and the love of the God I believe in is the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son, God made flesh. I’ve always said that it’s hard to hate someone when You try to find common ground, and I think Jesus, God made flesh, opened up a new way for all of us. Thank You, Jesus.

Exodus 11:8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

Precious Savior, There are many parts of the Bible where I struggle because of the wrath, violence, and brutality. Thank You for the love, grace, and compassion of Jesus. Thank You for the trust, the faith, that You are working all things for our good and Your glory–even when I don’t understand, even when I am afraid. Amen.

Exodus 11:9-10 The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 10:26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the Lord our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the Lord.”

Holy Father, Thank you that some mornings I can feel Your presence so clearly, so easily. I know You are with me, I hear Your still, small voice whispering to my heart, I understand what You want me to see in that scripture in that moment. Thank You.

Exodus 10:27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 

Loving God, Thank You that on the days when I have too much swirling through my mind, when my thoughts won’t settle, when my heart can’t hear, You cover me with grace, compassion, and love, not with anger, bitterness, disgust. Thank You.

Exodus 10:28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”

Precious Savior, You know my heart, my worries, bitterness, anxiety, fear. Thank You for loving me, even when I have trouble loving myself, especially then. Thank You that I know my worth in You, even when I struggle. Thank You. Amen.

Exodus 10:29 “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.”

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 10:22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 

Pharaoh likes to be in control, and he is used to being the one in control. Even now, with no light for three days, Pharaoh is trying to remain in control by dictating the conditions for the Israelites’ worship of the Lord.

Exodus 10:23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

If there’s one thing I know about the need to be in control, it is that trying to stay in control can be exhausting, but it feels absolutely necessary. However, at this point in my life, I know that the only thing that is necessary is surrender to God–laying down my pride and need for control and allowing Him to use my life for my good and His glory.

Exodus 10:24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”

Precious Savior, In Matthew 11:28 You promise, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Thank You for the invitation and the promise. Help me to surrender control to Your capable hands and wrap myself in Your peace. Amen.

Exodus 10:25 But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 10:18 Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 

Darkness–physical, spiritual, emotional–is so very hard for me, for many. Just the words “darkness that can be felt” make me shudder. I need light in my life. Like many, this time change, with darkness arriving earlier and earlier, is so hard on my psyche.

Exodus 10:19 And the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. 

And I am reminded how even a flicker of light in the darkness–a candle flame, a pinprick of starlight in the vast night sky–can disrupt the darkness, infusing the hopeless with hope. Again, for me, for many, this is so very crucial.

Exodus 10:20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

Precious Savior, Thank You for being the Light in our darkness–always. Help us to seek You, to see You, to find hope in You, no matter how dark things appear. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 10:21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.”

Have a blessed day.