Category: Exodus

Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 

The NLT translation of verse 5 includes this gem: “…you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth…” How beautiful is the thought that, out of all the people on the earth, *I* am God’s own special treasure. And I am. And so are you. We are His beloved creations, and I love that.

Exodus 19:6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

But here’s what always trips me up. That person who is plucking my last nerve, that person who is doing everything that to me seems wrong in this world, that person who seems to have targeted me or those I love or those I believe in most….those people are God’s own special treasures, too. They may not be currently living as such, but God loves them just as fiercely, just as completely. He wants a close, loving relationship with them, too.

Exodus 19:7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the joy that comes from knowing that I am Your own special treasure. Help me when I balk that the same is true for those folks whom I don’t like, don’t care for, don’t understand. They are Yours just as surely as I am. Help me to know what to do with that. Helped me to love like You do. Always. Amen.

Exodus 19:8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 

I wonder if Moses was a Type A. As a Type A myself, I know it can be quite easy to get so caught up in the doing, in executing “The Plan,” that it is hard to step back and see the big picture, to see if there is a better way that more effectively uses available resources. 

Exodus 18:25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 

I think part of being a good steward on this earth is ensuring that available resources are utilized wisely. I do not have to do everything. Honestly, I have skills that make certain things better for me to focus on. You have different skills, focusing on different areas. Being able to see and utilize people where they are most effective is part of the gig, I think.

Exodus 18:26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Precious Savior, Thank You for this reminder that we are all different, that we all have certain assets and skills, that we each have a role to play in this life, and the secret is finding where we fit and where others fit so we can each be as effective as possible. Help us to work together for our good and Your glory. Amen.

Exodus 18:27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 18:20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 

Today’s verses speak to both control and empowerment, and the content sent me back to the classroom. As a teacher, I would hand out printed instructions to each pod of students, go over them with the class as a whole, and then circulate to answer questions. My hope was that many folks could get started from the print and verbal instructions and would ask each other if they had questions. The goal was student empowerment. 

Exodus 18:21 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. 

Sometimes that worked well and little questions were answered by podmates, but for those folks who weren’t inclined to do the work, they would just converse with others as they waited for me to come to them. Some had no interest in being self-motivated. Some were just really confused and wanted my input. For them, my attempt at empowerment seemed to reinforce learned helplessness, which was absolutely not the goal. 

Exodus 18:22 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. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that this life is not about our control. You are in control. You empower us to empower others so that we can shine Your light as we encourage others. Help me, Jesus. Help me. Amen.

Exodus 18:23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 18:17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 

Personally, it feels like a beautiful gift for Jethro to truly see Moses and care about him to the point that he says what he does in verses 17 and 18. “This isn’t good. This is too much. You shouldn’t be taking all this on alone” shows care and concern for both Moses and the people. To be seen so clearly and cared about so much is a gift.

Exodus 18:18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 

I have learned that I want to feel seen, to feel known and cared for. Somewhere along the way, though, that got twisted up into “Keep your head down and work your butt off. It’s too much, but don’t complain. If someone cares enough to notice and help–Great! But if not, you’ve still got to do the work.” I’m learning, so incredibly slowly, to speak up for what I need, instead of just hoping someone notices. 

Exodus 18:19a Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. 

Precious Savior, Help us to notice others and their toil, to help, and to give them wise counsel. But also help us to learn to advocate for ourselves. Help us to work together so that none of us wear ourselves out and we all shine for You. Amen.

Exodus 18:19b You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 

If I had to guess, I would say that Moses is probably exhausted, both mentally and physically. “From morning till evening,” he sits as judge for the people. Case after case after case, he listens to the facts, he discerns God’s will based on what he knows of God. Honestly, it sounds both exhausting and lonely. 

Exodus 18:14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

I wonder if Moses even realizes the toll this role takes on him. I know that for me, when my boys were young, being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a friend could absolutely lead me to exhaustion and sometimes felt rather isolating. I wonder if this realization is God calling us to community or God calling us to rest in Him? I’d say both are appropriate responses.

Exodus 18:15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 

Precious Savior, It is so easy to take on the weight of the world, to feel like we are the only thing keeping life running smoothly, but that way leads to exhaustion and burn out, which isn’t good for anyone. Help us, no matter what our lot in this life, to remember that with You, we are never alone. Help us to rest in You and to lean on the community You have called us to. Amen.

Exodus 18:16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 18:9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 

When I think of shining God’s light, I usually think of that light in terms of fire. It might be small like a birthday candle, or raging like a bonfire, but His light is a fire that we shine or reflect for others. Usually that metaphor serves me well. But when all I can see is darkness, the metaphor becomes problematic. If God’s light is fire and I can’t see it, how can I reflect it?

Exodus 18:10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 

I read a devo this morning that talked about God’s light as phosphorescence, “light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible heat” (Google). The idea is that we soak in God’s light, almost as though through our pores, so that when we need it, it is WITHIN us, faintly glowing, always. I love this idea, and it is one I definitely want to think on further.

Exodus 18:11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the timely devo reflection I read this morning and for this new way to think about Your light, what it is, how I experience it, how I interact with it. Thank You for the ability to discover new things about You, even now. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Exodus 18:12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 17:13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

I coordinate a daily devo reflection for my church, and our theme for next week is “When we mess up, just begin again.” I’m not usually one to do that. I typically beat myself up with the “coulda, woulda, shoulda”s, armchair quarterbacking until I just feel like giving up. I expect I’m not alone in this tendency.

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

But here’s the thing. We are all human. We all mess up. Even the folks in today’s victory tale: Joshua, Moses, Aaron. They are riding high here, but they have or will mess up (or mess up again) in the course of the Bible. Armchair quarterbacking to the point of giving up isn’t useful–to us or to God.

Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that beating ourselves up for our shortcomings and failures will never help us to glorify You. When we mess up, as we inevitably will, help us to learn the lesson, dust ourselves off, and begin again in You. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 17:16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Have a blessed day.