Category: Isaiah

Exodus 19:1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 

When reading today’s verses, I am reminded of a local hiking spot. When the trail begins, you are walking through the woods. Trees are all you see. Looming. Everywhere. But as you begin the ascent, you begin to see above the trees, beyond the trees. Those looming trees that just moments before blocked out everything are put in their rightful perspective. 

Exodus 19:2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

I always think metaphorically when I complete this hike. Life feels so big, so looming, when we are in the middle of it. We can’t see beyond what’s right in front of us. But with perspective, we can see beyond those looming things to the vastness of God’s majesty. Truly, it’s breathtaking. 

Exodus 19:3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 

Precious Savior, When we are slogging through the wilderness, it is hard to see past the things looming in our path. Thank You for the gift of perspective. Thank You that You see all. Thank You that You are always making a way in the wilderness of life. (Is 43:19). Help us to cling to You. Always. Especially when we can’t see beyond the next step. Amen.

Exodus 19:4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 16:11-12 The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

Commentary says of this section of scripture, “God provided for them, but they did not recognize it,” which brings to mind Isaiah 55:8. I am particularly fond of the NLT translation–”“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”–because of the idea that God’s ways are beyond our imagining. I think that is 100% true.

Exodus 16:13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

This thought leads me to Isaiah 43:19–”See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”–Where I see nothing but wilderness and wasteland, God in His infinite wisdom sees a way beyond my imagining. Thank You, Jesus.

Exodus 16:14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that Your ways are beyond my ability to imagine. Thank You that where I see wilderness and wasteland, You see a way, You are making a way. Forgive me when I grumble in my fear. Help me to trust You. Always. Amen.

Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 16:1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 

It seems the Israelites have already forgotten how God made a way in their wilderness, and they are grumbling again. Commentary says of this time that “…starvation was more anticipated than experienced,” meaning the Israelites are catastrophizing, which Google defines as “a cognitive distortion where you expect the worst possible outcome, blowing a negative situation out of proportion and magnifying its potential impact, leading to heightened anxiety, fear, and despair.”

Exodus 16:2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 

And as much as I want to stand in judgement of the Israelites and their attitudes, I absolutely get it. I have spent way too much of my life pondering worst case scenarios and trying to do everything within my power to avoid them. At this point in my life, I’m exhausted and frustrated at myself that this is still a cycle I get stuck in way too often.

Exodus 16:3a The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, 

Precious Savior, Just as You don’t want me to waste my time and energy catastrophizing, You also don’t want me to waste my time and energy beating myself up when I miss the mark yet again. Help me to break both habits so that I can spend my time and energy shining Your light and being Your hands and feet in this weary world. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 16:3b …but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 15:25a Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

Lord, I am reminded again today of Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness….”

Exodus 15:25b There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 

Father, The Israelites felt trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptians, and You made a way. They were so thirsty without safe water, and You made a way at Marah. You even provided them with rest at Elim.

Exodus 15:26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Precious Savior, Again and again You make a way in the wildernesses of our lives, a way we cannot even perceive and You are already on the other side of it. Forgive us our grumbling. Help us to trust. Thank You for Your fierce love and unwavering faithfulness. Amen.

Exodus 15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 14:28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

The first thought that comes to mind after reading today’s scripture is, once again, Isaiah 43:19  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” In today’s scripture, God has literally made a way where there was no way, straight through the Red Sea. That gives me hope for those times when I cannot fathom how He will make a way through what feels impenetrable.

Exodus 14:29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The second thought that comes to mind is how fickle are the Israelites. They see this miracle and then, suddenly, “the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” Yet I know that in a few short chapters, their doubt and fear will come slinking back. And I know that I am just as guilty of sliding back into fear and doubt again and again, even though I have seen the Lord show up and make a way repeatedly. Jesus, Help me.

Exodus 14:30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that You are making a way in the wildernesses of our lives, even if we cannot fathom the way forward. Thank You also for the reminder that, just like the Israelites, we will most likely doubt and fear again, yet You will remain with us because You promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Forgive us and strengthen us. Amen.

Exodus 14:31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 14:21a Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. 

Once again, I am reminded of Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Interestingly, commentary references a 1992 LA Times article demonstrating that natural phenomena shows such a parting is possible. Commentary then seems to cast shade on those who need such a non-miraculous explanation.

Exodus 14:21b-22 The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Like many stories in the Bible, I’m left wondering if it is literal or symbolic and whether it really matters. The parting of the Red Sea, to me, indicates once again the truth of Isaiah 43:19, that God can make/will make/is making a way in our wilderness, even if we cannot yet perceive it, and, like Isaiah 55:8, His ways are “far beyond anything [we] could imagine”.

Exodus 14:23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.

Precious Savior, You know I love a good explanation. Thank You that I can also accept that Your ways are mysterious and that I don’t have to understand them or be able to explain them. Help me to trust You, especially when I cannot fathom a way in the wilderness that I face. Help me to trust that You ARE making a way, even if I cannot yet perceive it. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 14:24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.far beyond anything you could imagine

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 14:17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 

Of verses 19-20, commentary says, “God protected Israel from the Egyptian attack until a way was made through the Red Sea.” That brings to mind for me Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Exodus 14:18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

Isaiah 43:10 is a verse I cling to often, especially when I cannot see a way in the wilderness I am facing. Even with my back against the proverbial wall, I know that God has got me, He’s with me, He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me, He IS making a way in my wilderness, even if I cannot yet perceive it, even if it looks like nothing I had hoped or imaged (Isaiah 55:8). 

Exodus 14:19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 

Precious Savior, It can feel terrifying to be caught between the Egyptians/Pharaoh and the Red Sea, between a rock and a hard place, between two incredibly difficult choices. Thank You that You are with us even then, that You are protecting us, that You ARE making a way, even if we cannot yet perceive it. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 14:20 …coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 7:6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 

Commentary pointed out that Moses was the younger brother, a fact that was plainly stated but that slipped my notice. Jacob and Esau were another pair that inverted the typical power dynamic.

Exodus 7:7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

I wonder if these were the seeds of what would come later, Jesus and His ultimate death on the cross, a complete power inversion, something the Israelites never expected in a Messiah.

Exodus 7:8-9 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”

Precious Savior, You tell us plainly in Isaiah 55:8 that Your thoughts are nothing like ours and Your ways are beyond anything we can imagine. Forgive us when we still can’t wrap our heads around that truth. Help us to trust You. Always. Amen.

Exodus 7:10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.

Have a blessed day.