Category: Exodus

Exodus 14:9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

I’m not saying the Israelites responded appropriately toward Moses here; however, I get it. They are afraid, terrified. And I think we can all agree that anger is a much easier emotion to handle than fear. So if we can find the one responsible for our fear, we can focus all our anger on that person.

Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 

The problem is that that never helps. Focusing anger to cover fear doesn’t make anything better. However, as my therapist says, “We have to feel our feelings.” So be angry. Be scared. But also, don’t forget verse 10 here. Don’t forget to cry out to the Lord–in your fear, your terror, your anger, your hopelessness. Whatever the emotions, cry out to the Lord.

Exodus 14:11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 

Precious Savior, Thank You that You are with us. Always. That You will never leave us nor forsake us. Thank You that You hear us when we cry out, whatever the emotion. Thank You that if we lay our burdens at Your feet, You will blanket us with Your peace, yet You are with us always, even if we can’t manage to lay those burdens down. Thank You. Amen.

Exodus 14:12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Have a blessed day.

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.