Author: Beth Duncan

Exodus 14:5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 

Change can be incredibly difficult. What jumps out at me about today’s scripture is in verse 5, the question, “What have we done?”  I know that feeling of doubt and regret, that feeling of “What was I thinking? Why did I change what I know?” In today’s scripture, Pharaoh is feeling it, but in tomorrow’s scripture, it’s the Israelites who are doubting.

Exodus 14:6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 

I also know that once you push through the new and uncomfortable and different, once you work out the kinks of the changed situation, the change can be beautiful, especially if you are where God has led you (though, trust me, I know enough by now to know that God can use us–and use us well and for our good and His glory–where ever we land if we let him!)

Exodus 14:7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 

Precious Savior, Change is hard. Thank You that You are with us even in the midst of it. Thank You that You are with us in the changes that You lead and inspire and in the changes that we boldly (or rashly) charge into on our own. Thank You that You can use us to shine Your light and be Your hands and feet always. Amen.

Exodus 14:8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 14:1-2 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 

Part of becoming an adult, I think, is figuring out where your strengths lie and leaning into them. Today’s verses are about strategy as the Israelites leave Egypt, about leaving in a manner that looks confused because God knows that Pharaoh will come after them even now and He wants to glorify His name and defeat Pharaoh so that the Israelites do not have to worry about his pursuit again. 

Exodus 14:3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 

Honestly, at this point, I do know many of my own strengths, and I’ve tried to lean into those areas as I go through life. I know for a fact that strategy is not one of those strengths. That’s another reason that I think God made us to live in community. I have strengths that complement weak areas in others. They have strengths that complement weak areas of mine.

Exodus 14:4a And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. 

Precious Savior, It is so easy to see our weaknesses as negative, but I am learning in life that our weaknesses allow us to partner with others–You, fellow travelers–as we walk each other through this life. Help me to be on the look out for folks who need my strengths and for folks whose strengths complement my weaknesses. Thank You that those people are everywhere. Amen.

Exodus 14:4b But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ 

Of verses 17-18, commentary posits, “In the same way, God will never allow us to face more than we are able to bear; He knows what we can handle.” Based on the context and what comes after this statement, they are discussing temptations, but my mind went immediately to trials, and I disagree profusely with them on that point.

Exodus 13:16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Sometimes God does give us more than we can handle because He knows that the only way to crack through our defenses is to bring us to the end of ourselves, the end of our strength, so that our only option is to TRUST HIM. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Is it painless? Again, no. But is there peace in that surrender, in laying it all at His feet, in admitting that all that we have are His strength, His grace, His presence and that that is, truly, all we need? Absolutely. Thank You, Jesus.

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 

Precious Savior, I don’t begin to try to understand Your ways, but I am slowly, slowly learning to trust You. I know the pain of coming to the end of myself, with no answers and no explanations. I also know the balm of hearing Your still small voice whisper to my heart, “I am with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I am all you need,” and to know with certainty that You ARE all I need. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 13:10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

I believe that community and conversation are important aspects of our faith. After all, God created us to need community, and he communicated with His disciples through stories and parables. As an English teacher by trade, I know the importance of talking with others to add layers of meaning and understanding through shared discussion of a text.

Exodus 13:11-12 “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 

How many times in a class discussion on a text I’d taught many times did a student say something I’d never thought about before? To dig down into that new idea is exciting. Often we all come away with a richer understanding of the text. I truly feel like scripture should be no different. That exploration is how we draw closer to Him.

Exodus 13:13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

Precious Savior, Thank You for calling us to community with others. Thank You that when we come together and discuss scripture, we allow others new insights, and, collectively, we draw closer to You. Help us to seek You. Always. Amen.

Exodus 13:14 “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 13:6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. 

Again today I am thinking about traditions, celebrations, and God Stories. These verses in Exodus show that, to honor our Father and our faith, we need all three. Traditions connect the new with the old, reminding us of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come.

Exodus 13:7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 

Celebrations are a reminder that, even though this world is not our home, we can still find joy here, we can celebrate God with us in so many ways. God Stories tie everything together. They remind us that He is with us, all around us, in ways both big and small. We need to stay alert and share the stories of His presence with others.

Exodus 13:8 On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 

Precious Savior, Thank You that even though this world is not our home, we can still see You so readily and find so much to celebrate and rejoice over if we are mindful. This world is far from perfect, yet we can be Your hands and feet every day to make it a little bit better. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 13:9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 13:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”

Essentially, what we are seeing here is the birth of Jewish faith traditions. And since we are already in the season of Advent as I type this, I find the timing quite fitting. It’s got me thinking about the traditions that I hold dear in this season, the traditions that we as a family observe, the traditions of our faith at this time of year.

Exodus 13:3 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 

I’ve never really thought about the fact that these traditions tie together our past, our present, and our future. It is a way we honor those who have come before while also incorporating those who are now a part of our lives. It also leaves open the ability to continue to enfold others–family, friends, etc, into our circle of traditions, all while celebrating You.

Exodus 13:4 Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the faith traditions of this season. Thank You that we can honor You as well as honor our past, our present, and our future. Help us to be mindful of this gift as we celebrate traditions that honor You and the family and friends You’ve blessed us with. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 13:5 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month:

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. 

Commentary compares the liberation of Israel to pregnancy and the birth of a baby. I find the analogy interesting. The 430 years was the gestation, the growing of cells into a human who can survive outside the womb. The plagues are compared to labor pains. The exodus of the Israelites to the actual birth, in this case of a new nation.

Exodus 12:49 The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.”

The Israelites in Egypt had lived through 430 years of what happens when you aren’t obedient to God. I wonder if that trauma contained the seeds that would become the Pharisees and Sadducees with their stringent rules and laws and observations. Honestly, I think I could understand if it did.

Exodus 12:50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that You do not want our hearts tied to You through fear and rule following. You want us, heart and soul. You want us to seek to know You more and better every single day. You want us to love like You love, which can be messy and painful and frustrating but is always the right thing to do. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 12:51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:44 Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him, 

Today’s scripture has me thinking about faith traditions. Some faiths have a closed communion table. The only ones allowed to partake are those who have gone through the rites and rituals to be allowed to partake. Some faiths have an open communion table, where all are welcome to come and seek to know Him more.

Exodus 12:45 but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it.

My pastor always says before communion, “You don’t even have to be sure you believe” in order to partake at our communion table. I am at a place in my life where that open table is important. I question and doubt and seek and explore on a daily basis. I’m thankful for a Savior who not only can handle my questions but encourages me to know Him more.

Exodus 12:46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your love and inclusivity. Thank You for the encouragement to love You and love others and encourage each other, lifting each other up. Help us, even when it’s hard, even when we are grumpy, to love like You do. Amen.

Exodus 12:47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 12:40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 

I listened to a podcast on this scripture the other day, and at the end of the short recording, the host addressed the 430 years the Israelites spent in Egypt (as opposed to the 400 years promised/prophesied). She was quick to provide a plausible explanation. Interestingly, the commentary I read each morning didn’t address the discrepancy at all. They took the “Ignore it and it doesn’t exist” approach.

Exodus 12:41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 

I grew up thinking that I could not and should not ask questions about God’s word, that a good Christian trusted the Bible as the unerring word of God. Period. But as I’ve grown and matured and learned more about Christ, I truly don’t believe that is what He wants of us. Christ upset the status quo. He asked difficult questions that didn’t have easy answers. He encouraged people  to think more deeply. I truly believe He still wants us to do the same with His word because that’s the only true way to know His heart.

Exodus 12:42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

Precious Savior, Thank You that You are sovereign and good and can handle my questions without threat to Your sovereignty. I don’t have to be afraid to ask. Thank You that You want me to question, to ponder, that You aren’t a fan of the status quo. Help me to seek You through my questions. Help me to draw closer with every breath. Amen.

Exodus 12:43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it.

Have a blessed day.