Today’s Reading: Exodus 15-18
Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I WILL BRING YOU OUT from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I WILL FREE YOU from being slaves to them, and I WILL REDEEM YOU with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I WILL TAKE YOU as my own people, and I WILL BE YOUR GOD. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I WILL BRING YOU to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I WILL GIVE it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.” – Exodus 6:6-8
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION?
He wants to be Lord; He wants to show us that He is in charge! Just as He allowed the Israelites to suffer at the hands of the Egyptians, He allows us to walk an unknown path. Just as God showed His power to all the Israelites through the plagues, God wants to show us that His mighty hand is at work. By the things going on in your life right now, He wants you to know that He is the Lord.
If Pharaoh had listened to Moses and Aaron after their first few encounters, it is possible that the Israelites would have seen Moses and Aaron as their rescuers. If Pharaoh had treated them kindly and let them go, the Israelites would have bowed to Pharaoh. Instead they saw that God was at work. They saw that El Shaddai, God Almighty, was in control (6:3).
God is saying – Stop looking to food to satisfy you. Let me satisfy you.
God is saying – Stop looking to people to give you want you want. Let me provide for you.
God is saying – Stop looking to caffeine to energize you. Let me strengthen you.
God is saying – Stop focusing on what you want, what will make you feel better. Let me be Lord.
I am the Lord your God. I will be on time.
“Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.” – Exodus 12:40-41
I am the Lord your God. I know what is best for you and I will choose the path.
“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.’” – Exodus 13:17
I am the Lord your God. I will guide you.
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar by night left its place in front of the people.” – Exodus 13:21-22
I am the Lord your God. Be still.
“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” – Exodus 14:13-14
I am the Lord your God. I will heal you.
He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26
I am the Lord your God. I have heard you and I will provide.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”…When they measured it out, everyone had just enough…Each family had just what it needed. – Exodus 16:11-18
I am the Lord your God. I will use your story to help others believe that I am God.
Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharoah and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel… “Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians…I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.” – Exodus 17:8-11
Almighty God, help us to recognize your mighty hand on our lives. Lord we submit to your Lordship – to your will, your way, in your time. Remind us again today that you are Lord – that you know what is best and will guide us, heal us and provide for us. Forgive us for our complaining and help us to rest in your provisions. Forgive us for the times we have been too discouraged, too consumed and too stubborn to trust you. Use the story of your great power displayed in our lives. Bring those who do not believe to a saving knowledge of who YOU are through your glory reflected in us. Amen.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…
For I am the Lord your God who takes your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:10,13 (NIV)