Category: Exodus

Exodus 9:12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.
The wording of Exodus 9:12 is troubling to me. As I was reading commentary, I paid close attention to why God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, what He was hoping to gain. The best answer I could gather was that already six times before, Pharaoh hardens his own heart and that here, God is just reinforcing the path Pharaoh has already chosen. And I think Exodus 9:16 gives us the answer to why that would be a desired course of action for God.
Exodus 9:15 For by now I [the LORD] could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.
Ultimately, God wants us to choose Him. He wants us to recognize His love, mercy, power, sovereignty. He wants us to realize that we are His deeply loved children. He gives us life, and He gives us an invitation to choose Him, to fellowship with Him, to have a deep and abiding relationship with Him. But He will never force us. He lets us choose. 
Exodus 9:16 But I have spared you for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the opportunity to choose You and to shine Your light. Thank You for Your deep love of Your children and for not giving up on us, no matter how stubborn we are. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 9:34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: he and his officials hardened their hearts.
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 8:8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”
As I first read through Exodus 8 this morning, I thought how similar my attitude sometimes is to Pharaoh, bargaining that if whatever is plaguing me would only stop, I would live as God wanted. And while there was certainly some of that in my relationship with my Savior when I was younger, I realized with clarity that that is absolutely no longer the case. At this point in my life, I strive in all things to grow closer to God. I’m not always as successful as I’d like, but that goal is always present.
Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
My church did a series of weekly devotions during November. Many if them urged us to pay attention to certain details of our walk with Christ, not judging, just noticing. I’ve noticed through that experience and through my walk through Genesis and Exodus thus far that I’m still trying to take the reigns, to maintain control. That propensity still leads me to anger, fear, and bitterness. Jesus, Help me.
Exodus 8:19b …But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that I have grown in my walk with you, that I am not the same person I once was. Thank You for seeing my heart, for understanding my motivation—a deep desire to grow closer to You. Help me to give You my propensity for trying to take control. Help me to give up anger, fear, and bitterness, so that I can wrap myself fully in Your peace. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 8:32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 7:6 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.
I am struck in this chapter by Moses’s obedience. After all of his excuses in chapter 6, repeatedly in chapter 7, he and Aaron do as the LORD commanded. 
Exodus 7:7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke with Pharaoh.
Lord, Thank You for the love and mercy You show repeatedly to Your people. I am seeing, again and again, that You can, will, and do use the most unlikely (and sometimes unwilling) characters. I know You, Lord. I love You. Help me to cling to You. Use me in Your kingdom work.
Exodus 7:10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your continued pursuit of Your loved ones, for Your ability to redeem and use even the deeply flawed. I know my flaws, Lord. And I know You are greater. Help me, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 7:20 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded….
Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 6:1a Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh….”
At this point in the semester, I am mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, and that exhaustion weighs heavily. It’s cyclic. I can pretty much count on being tapped out at this point each year. By now it seems like I would be able to lift my eyes from the overwhelming exhaustion and focus them on my precious Savior, but just like Moses, my gaze seems stuck on my stressors and obstacles instead of my mighty God.
Exodus 6:1b “…Because of my mighty hand he will let them go….”
I always try to find the message God has for me in scripture, and I truly think He is calling me yet again to focus on Him, trust Him, keep my eyes on Him. And classic Beth, classic Moses, instead of seeing my error and correcting it (Sorry, God. I’m focusing on my problems instead of You. Thank You for the refocus), I’m still stuck in this cycle of “I can’t. I’m not strong enough. The obstacles are too formidable.” Jesus, Help me break this cycle.
Exodus 6:1c “…because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this refocus. You are bigger than any struggle, stronger than any challenge. You have already won the war for my soul, and I know that because of You, I am more than a conqueror. Forgive me for failing to claim my victorious life in You. Help me to shift my focus from my exhaustion to my precious Savior. You are enough. Your power is sufficient. You’ve got me. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 6:29 …He said to him, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go…’”
It is surprising sometimes how I see myself, my attitudes, reflected through people and stories in the Bible. Today, I feel very much like Moses in Midian. I feel like I am called to struggle (with negative attitudes of others, with decisions that directly affect me over which I have no say or control, with unmanageable workloads, with my own emotional baggage) every single day, and I am tired. I feel like I’m a mixture of the Moses of Exodus 4–Send someone else. I don’t want to—and Exodus 5–Seriously, God, I’m knocking myself out for You and getting nowhere fast. What gives? (Welcome to my pity party.)
Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him and let Israel go?”
I know that what God is calling me to isn’t anything close to what Moses and the Israelites endured. I know that I am just mentally and physically exhausted (‘tis the season). I know that God is in control and that in order for any of us to grow and mature, we have to be uncomfortable. I know that this, too, shall pass. It gives me hope to know that many faithful people have struggled.
Exodus 5:22 Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, LORD, why have You brought trouble on this people?…”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are in control, even when my emotions try to tell me otherwise. Thank You for being big enough that I can be real with You about my emotions and struggles. Thank You for showing me that You can and do use flawed people (just like me) in Your Kingdom work. Thank You for seeing my struggle and for giving me hope. Thank You for loving me enough not to leave me in my comfort zone or my pity party. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 5:23 “Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.”
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 4:1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”
I’ve often joked that God needs to send me signs in flashing neon so I don’t miss His will for my life. The burning bush he used to get Moses’s attention seems to be the ancient equivalent to flashing neon. So it is interesting to me that Moses sees this burning bush, knows it’s God speaking to him, but makes excuses anyway. Would I (Will I? Do I?) react the same way when God calls on me? Jesus, Help me.
Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon Your servant, LORD. I have never been eloquent…. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Moses has some valid concerns: What if they don’t believe me? What about my ineloquent speech? God answers them all. But Moses ultimately just doesn’t want to do it. It is a matter of pride? “I tried this before and failed utterly.”? Is it a matter of time? “It’s been 40 years with just me and the sheep. I don’t think I can.”? God answered every fear. Is it that Moses allowed his fear to overshadow his God? Jesus, Help me.
Exodus 4:13 But Moses said, “Pardon Your servant, LORD. Please send someone else.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that what You call me to do, You will see me through. Fear is a natural part of life, but allowing my fear to be bigger than my trust in You—in Your sovereignty, Your ability, Your grace, mercy, and love—is not ok. Help me to lay my burdens, worries, and fears at Your feet and to trust where You lead me. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 4:14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? ….”
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law….
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Moses, who was raised as Egyptian royalty, who had confidence in his ability to save “his own people,” who wasn’t accepted by his birth culture nor his adoptive culture, has spent the last 40 years tending someone else’s sheep in the dessert. Any cocky, self-assuredness is long gone. And now God calls to him.
Exodus 3:4 …God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
But here is what I’ve noticed about our precious Savior: He has to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we realize we cannot do His will in our own power. We are not strong enough on our own for the tasks He calls us to, but in partnership with Him, we absolutely are. His strength is perfected in our weakness. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 3:10 “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You have called us and equipped us, but You want us to act always through Your strength and not our own. Help us to find that precious middle ground where we recognize that we can’t do it in our own strength, but we can absolutely do it in partnership with You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 2:5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe….She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it.
Most of us are probably familiar with the story of baby Moses being found and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, but that is such a small part of Exodus 2. I’m surprised at the end of it to realize that Exodus 2 is a history of Moses’s life from birth until his 40s, surprised further still to see that Moses was a misfit.
Exodus 2:11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his people were and watched them at their hard labor….
He certainly appears to miss fitting in in many ways. He is born to a Hebrew family, adopted by an Egyptian (Pharaoh’s daughter), raised by his Hebrew parents until he “grew older,” then returned to the palace. He watched “his own people” in their hard labor, killed an Egyptian beating “his own people,” was ridiculed by “his own people” and asked “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” Then he had to run from Pharaoh, his adoptive grandfather, who was trying to kill him. Talk about being a misfit!
Exodus 2:14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that in one way or another, we are all misfits in this world. Thank You for Your sovereignty, Your love, Your adoption of us into Your family. Thank You for taking me from misfit to beloved child. Help me to never forget who I am in You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 2:15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh….
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 1:6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died….
I’m feeling a bit unmoored this morning. I assume it has to do with the time of year, my mental and physical exhaustion, and the fact that my nine week journey through Genesis has come to an end. I imagine the Israelites were feeling a bit unmoored themselves. Joseph and his whole generation had died. The pharaoh who thought so highly of Joseph was no longer in power. The new pharaoh was not kind to the Israelites.
Exodus 1:7 …but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
So what can we learn from this first chapter of Exodus? Perhaps perseverance, the importance of keeping on, of staying focused, even when times are tough. Perhaps about the sovereignty of God, even when circumstances are difficult. Perhaps about the fact that God can, will, and does use those who will stand up to authority and do what is right in God’s eyes.
Exodus 1:8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that You are at work, even if we feel unmoored. Thank You for the reminder of the importance of perseverance and focus, of standing up for what is right, even if it is not popular. Draw us closer. Give us strength. Help us to fix our eyes on You. Amen.
Exodus 1:17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
Have a blessed day.