“Moses and Aaron did so just as the Lord commanded”. Wooof what a wild ride! These two by their obedience got to see so many miracles, so much of God’s power full on display for His people. This passage shows God goes through great lengths to redeem us and ultimately sending His son for us to redeem us once and for all. So grateful for a God who never forgets us, never leaves us, never abandons us.
in exodus i remember reading about the staff turning into a snake and the water being turned into blood. i’m sure i heard about the frogs, gnats and flies but it’s not something that i remembered until now after reading. the reading for today really just reminds us that God loves us and will take care of us.
God really takes care of us. Look at the Israelites, they were all about their daily business in Goshen while God was bringing different pestilence on Egypt. How we worry about our situations when God is fight our unseen battles.
It amuses me that the magicians could mimic a few acts of God, but only God could UNDO what he had caused to come about. I love that God’s snake eats the magicians’ snakes. I love that they can’t make the blood turn back to water or make the frogs go away.
So, why should I be anxious anything? My God is the same yesterday, today, and eternally.
What is significant in the word choice between the Lord hardening Pharaohs heart and the pharaoh hardened his own heart? The lord can harden our hearts, but then we can also harden our own hearts? Where does the dichotomy lie, in light of the new covenant?
25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
A welcome challenge in a world filled with consumerism and temptation.
many non-believers say “if God is real then tell him to do something cool or do some type of sign” even when God allowed many people throughout the Bible to perform great signs through him, there was still people who did not believe. Pharaoh so many signs from Moses and Aaron, yet he hardened his heart. God loves everyone of us and he wants us all to live a beautiful life with him in heaven, but sadly not everyone will be in heaven.
“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,” Exodus 7:3
God so clearly lays out His plan before Moses and Aaron! He does the same for us now that He did back then, we just need to seek Him in order to hear what He is saying to us. God reveals to Moses that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart because He is going to make His signs and wonders KNOWN to the people of Egypt. How amazing is our God?!? He always has a plan, and may we all have the strength to put our trust wholeheartedly in God, who loves and protects us beyond measure.
Do not worry. We have so many worries in our lives – worries born of a lack of trust and faith. God I repent of my worries, they reflect the areas in which I need to grow my faith in you.
““So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:34 reminds me that I need to worry about today because tomorrow has its own worries and the things I’m struggling with today is enough just for today
26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
i love this verse !! always trust in Him -ellie
God who is sovereign over all creation for his purposes (plagues) cares for us more than the birds of the air. May we marvel at such power that is dispensed for us.
What a great passage to read in Matthew 6! I need to remind myself daily of this verse, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? “ – Matthew 6:27
34“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Love the passage in Matthew 6. Had most of it memorized at some point as anxiety is something I have to battle quite a bit. My ESV study Bible mentioned Romans 8:32 and Phil 4:6-7 in the commentary with Matt 6. These passages are some I want to recommit to memory this year. Hope they can encourage others who struggle with anxiety. Happy Saturday, sisters!
Thinking about what I am going through right now I think that God was working on Moses and Aaron’s faith. They were obedient to God and just trusting that one day Pharaoh’s heart will be softened. But it was God’s business and not theirs. Sometimes I feel I am obeying and still I don’t get what I am supposed to and God is just teaching me to trust in Him only no matter how long it takes and how wrong it seems.
Do not worry, do not worry, do not worry…it’s all over today’s readings (here and in the Song of Songs study)!! I needed to hear this today. Our God is faithful and will care for our every need and desire.
Matthew 6- what a great reminder that everything will be ok. As long as we trust in God, He we provide what we actually NEED while we are on earth so that we can focus on preparing ourselves to enter into His kingdom.
I read this over and over. I’m a worrier, and have always heard this verse. But this time I just remembered who is saying it and how true it is today and forever. It has encouraged me to make some changes.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own .
I needed to read/ hear that.
Thank you Lor
I think we all have “frogs” in our lives that make us want to scream. What I think most of us do is forget to lean on God and ask him for help. He can solve our problems in a flash but for some reason we think we can do it our way without him just like the magicians could double the amount of snakes, frogs and blood their way but could not remove them like God could. We think we can do it all on our own but we really just end up doubling the problem and then finding we can’t take it away. That’s when we lean on Him when we should have asked Him for help in the very beginning. :)
Today I saw myself in Pharaoh, asking others to pray to God on my behalf to get rid of unfavourable things in my life and upon getting my way going back to doing things my way. Today my prayer is that I become less like Pharaoh and more like Moses. That I may be more confident in my relationship with God to speak directly to him about the serious issues in my life. That, like Moses, I may open myself up God using me for his good despite feeling unqualified.
Morgan, I’ve never thought about Christians acting like Pharaoh. What a great insight into this passage! And I was struck with the following verse: 15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” I sometimes (or most times) let my relationship with God depend on circumstances. I cry out to God when life is hard, and promptly forget Him when life gets easy again. I want to be more like Moses than Pharaoh too, Morgan!
Did anyone notice that the magicians could duplicate the blood and the frogs, but they couldn’t make them go away. They had to rely on the God of Israel to deliver them. How often do we get ourselves into a situation that we can not get out of alone? We cry to God for help and He saves us only to watch us make the same mistakes again and once more beg for his help. How frustrating that must be! But being the loving Father He is, He guides us through each and every situation we encounter.
I was just yesterday trying to decide what to wear for Easter! Something I already have or something new? Forgive me Lord. Clothe me in your
Righteousness that I may serve you with my whole heart!
Encouraged reading again of the plagues, seeing there was a greater purpose being fulfilled through the hardening of Pharoah’s heart…that each new plague brought it only new believers but also a wider audience of the unbelievable story and bringing more glory to the One True God…God hardened Pharoah’s heart and God allowed/caused much suffering and affliction but not without good purpose…means a lot to me right now!
God chose the Hebrews to be His People to show and tell about Him. They were to be a special group to be examples to the world about the one true God and to share Him with the world. It was after Jesus came and the Hebrews completely rejected Him and their mission that every person that believes on him becomes His. Christ had to die on the cross to buy us back from satan so that we could again be legitimate children and heirs to the promise.
Hope that helps and didn’t make it more confusing!
Believe it or not, I started my morning on Pinterest and almost considered skipping my bible reading this morning because I wanted to find something to wear for later today. It sounds so ridiculous. I was convicted just at that last part of the Matthew portion where it says not to worry about what we will wear but to seek FIRST His kingdom and righteousness. Sometimes you need a good old fashioned kick in the butt. In plain sight.
That is actually kinda awesome. I love it when that happens. Not the kick in the butt part so much but that it applied so perfectly. That just happened to me with the last week to with another SRT passage
Wow this reading, Mark 6:19-34 , felt like he was speaking directly to me. We should not worry. We should have faith that he will give us all that we need. Not all that we want. Our priority should be living lives more like God.
Love the connection between the two passages. In Exodus, we’re seeing all of these gross creatures absolutely overtake the land, and Matthew warns us not to put stock in treasures on earth “where moths and vermin destroy.”
I’m curious in exodus 8:22 God says I will distinguish my people from your people. Is that figurative for the moment or was there a point in the history when God opened that term to mean all of the world’s groups? Sorry if I’m looking too deep into this lol
I think he was making a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, marking His people for deliverance and the others for judgment. That’s how my commentary explains it! Hope that helps!
Later my Bible commentary explains it that the Hebrews only saw the distinction only in terms of free or slaves. Later in the wilderness they would see that their disciplines, values, and laws would make them a distinct people
Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 ‘But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
This really stuck out to me… We live in a day and age where media is all around us and so many shows and movies full of things that dishonor the Lord and are being portrayed as acceptable. When we allow our eyes to take in such things it effects the way we see things.. It is the lamp which illuminates those things for us. Just was a reminder to me to keep my eyes and my heart in check with those things I allow in which mold my mind and my heart… May I be seeking those things which being honor and glory to my King!!
Katie! Max Lucado retweeted a graphic today that totally lines up with yours! It said ” why worry about the video game in your sons eye, but not the laptop in yours?” Change laptop to iphone and son to friend and yup. I totally get it now!
Wow! That is a good thing to consider! My brother on one side and sister in law on the other play video games ALL the time, which drives me nuts, but how much time do I spend on my laptop or phone? Good reminder!
I love that the Egyptian magicians DUPLICATED the miracles. They didn’t make the snake disappear, they made MORE snakes. They didn’t turn blood to water. They made MORE blood. I mean, really?? Shouldn’t they have been trying to FIX the problem if they were that good???
It’s interesting how “tomorrow” was used in both passages. First, Pharoah putting off dealing with the frogs until tomorrow, then Jesus telling us not to worry about tomorrow. This convicted me to deal with today’s problems TODAY. Not to blow off my sin and struggles until tomorrow. But then not to worry about tomorrow’s problems. Deal with today’s stuff today and tomorrow’s stuff tomorrow.
Great emphasis in dealing with “today’s stuff, today”… May we learn to do this daily! And instead of letting the past hunt us today, to focus on starting fresh everyday…
Kristin I was thinking the same thing. At first God sent plagues that mostly only affected Pharaoh’s people and kingdom rather than Pharaoh himself. God tried to get his attention day in day out, yet Pharaoh demanded another miracle, another day, and still his heart was stubborn. Not until the plagues started to affect him and his household did he start to believe this was God’s hand. Yet even then he decided to turn away. How many times have I done this? Demanded God to do a miracle and then not be paying attention or turn my back on Him? Or not notice God’s hands and voice until it is too late or until it is seriously right in my face….sometimes in those moments I still turn my back. I love how God can teach us something new from stories you thought you knew everything about!!! I pray that God opens our hearts, minds, ears, eyes, and mouths so that we can know, hear, see and speak all that He is doing in our lives, around us, and through us!
Sometimes God has to take us and allow through “plagues” in life to make himself more fully known to us by his power. I pray Lord that unlike Pharaoh that I am obedient to you in my “plagues”. That you make me fully aware of who you are. Thank you Lord for your power and strength, your love and mercy.
“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God. (Exodus 8:10 NLT)
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective I realized I, too, have “frogs” in my life that I should’ve asked God to get rid of TODAY but yet, like Pharoah, we wait until tomorrow. Ive never related this to Pharoah so it was such a great lesson.
(I tried to reply to just Sheri’s post at the very top but it wouldnt let me)
It’s hard for me to understand when God “chooses” to harden someone’s heart. Isn’t it his will that none should perish but all should come to everlasting life? I know His plan is always good and right but this always makes me sad.
I’ve heard it said the that “the same God who melts wax also hardens clay”; in other words, it’s about the person’s reaction and heart, not that God was manipulating their feelings or attitude; he is unchanging and just. So I see it not as God forcing Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened, but rather that God knew that when all those events happened Pharaoh would choose to have a hard heart and be rebellious.
I like how the NLT translates Exodus 8:15– “But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn” (my notes say ‘Hebrew: made his heart heavy’) “He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD has predicted.” –> the Lord predicted it; he knew Pharaoh would harden his own heart, and He used that to showcase his power and glory.
Thanks so much :) the Old Testament is always a struggle for me! I like fair and it doesn’t come across as fair most of the time. I love the quote about the sun melting wax and hardening clay! Thanks for the response :)
Great explanation of what can be a really hard concept to grasp. There is definitely a tension that exists btw God hardening Pharoahs heart and Pharoah hardening his own heart. We want an order per se, but how crazy would it be if we, as finite beings, were able to totally grasp and understand an infinite God whose knowledge and wisdom is beyond and above our own? Isa 55, Rom 11, Ps 147. Thankful that God has shown us His character in His Word. He is LOVE, kind, good, patient, trustworthy, etc… Praising Him today for all that He shows us of Himself.
Thanks, Renee. I struggle with the same concern about how a loving God could deliberately prolong the Egyptians’ suffering by hardening Pharoah’s heart. Ashley, your explanation really resonates with me. I so appreciate your analogy to the sun and this view of God as all-knowing rather than actively intervening with Pharoah for the opportunity to show his power through the plagues.
The Pharaoh had reasons to believe God…but his heart was hardened. Moses; however, suffered the same problem. How many times did God remind him “I am the Lord” and yet he still had Aaron intercede for him because he felt inadequate!? How many times does God have to remind us that he STILL is Lord!? I look at the pharaoh and Moses and think how silly they are in their unbelief and hesitancy, but aren’t I the same!? Moses is a great example of an imperfect person that God can use to accomplish His work! Thank you God for choosing to use me in your kingdoms work…may I be ever present and seize all the opportunities you give!
“Tomorrow” got me too! Unbelievable, how our sin entangles us w/ love affairs of world as Jess said. Matt 6:33—Living for Another Kingdom, this is not our home. What do I need to let go of this day that I may seek His Kingdom 1st. Ambition.. Pride. Even good things like family & ministry that I put before my God. Do I want His Kingdom more? Like those 21 men yesterday.
As I was journaling Matthew 6 this morning, I’ll be honest- I kind of got bored because I thought “I’ve read this a thousand times, do I really need this?” Ouch!! Thank God that the Spirit convicted me on my pride immediately and I humbly asked to see this passage with new eyes. Oh hallelujah, what a Savior we have!
“Seek first the kingdom of God AND His righteousness..”- Matt 6:33. Oh how I wish we could bold text in this app, because this one sentence pierced my heart. What am I seeking in my day to day life? Is it God’s glory to be exalted in my mundane, or is it more likes on Instagram, Facebook, or more boards on Pinterest? Am I seeing my entire life as a mission field? Seeing my daughters as little people who need the Gospel, or just as little burdens like the world is seeing them? Am I remembering my persecuted brothers and sisters in prayer? Am I praying for the nations, as part of going for the Great Commission?
I hit send too soon, whoops! Anyways, I ask these questions because sometimes I think we, as women, think we can’t do anything in seeking the Kingdom, or spreading the Gospel, especially if we are mamas. But we can. We can pray, and disciple. We can encourage and exhort, and give our time. I read in “Mom Enough” (on Desiring God.org) that motherhood (or anything, our lives) is a sacrifice/ offering to God. It’s a sweet aroma pleasing to Him. To live is to die, to die is to gain. We get Christ, but not only do we get Him- He dwells in us, to GROW us in holiness and righteousness. We can seek the Kingdom because HE is growing us and helping us to seek the Kingdom.
Praise Him, hallelujah!! All we have to do, is surrender. And that, I believe is the hardest part of being a Christian.
The Lord has been resonating Matthew 5 in my spirit for the past couple of weeks. It was so fun to wake up to read the very passage that He has been singing over me. I have found myself easily caught up in these very stumbling blocks during this season. And yet, when my heart is steadfast, and my eyes are fixed, my ears are able to hear His sweet reminder, “All these things shall be added…”
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
(Matt 6: 19-24) Where is my heart??? Where do my affections lie? If my happiness, worth, and contentment is dependent on what happens in this world, then I’m in big trouble. Storms attack me from all around. Nothing lasts. Everything and everyone is dying. Evil and wickedness prevails and righteousness is unpopular at best.
Jesus knew that this was so. He told us to put our treasure in heaven. To find our worth and contentment through the incorruptible joys set before us. To seek and work towards a joy and treasure that lasts. I think it was Piper that said that people will really *know* that we are his disciples when we embrace trouble bravely, loudly proclaiming that Jesus is better than anything we lose. This is the only way to live.
I can dabble around with two masters. Notice that Satan never minds if you have a little ‘religion’ on the side of your love-affair with the world? That brand of religion is unthreatening to Him. Satan loves apathetic, double-minded people like this. They think they can have the best of both worlds, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Our God is a jealous God and He claims our whole heart. He will not share our affections. It’s all or nothing
Exactly, Jess…”a little religion on the side of our love-affair with the world”. I’m so very guilty of getting caught up in worldly pleasures when my focus should always be on Heavenly treasures!
I find it amazing that God chose to “harden Pharaoh’s heart.” He has power over the thoughts and heart of Kings and politicians…. Wow!!!
He could have rescued the people of Israel with a snap of His fingers but He didn’t. He revealed His glory slowly through all the plagues that were sent. I wonder if part of the reason was to show all the surrounding nations that Israel served a powerful and awesome God? I don’t really understand why, but I marvel at the wisdom and power of God.
As I was reading today, I was envisioning the plagues unfold. It is hard to imagine everything…frogs everywhere …blood all around…no clean water…gnats all around. Then there is Pharaoh summoning his magicians and they do the same to one point. Like there wasn’t enough frogs already! Finally the magicians say “this is the finger of God”, yet Pharaoh heart is still harden. I wondered how he could go to sleep at night and just not care?! I wonder too, how we do the same. Ignoring issues until they get bigger and bigger. I haven’t seen frogs filling my house yet (thank God!), yet I have opened the doors to the supernatural world allowing unclean things to lurk around. Sure as a Christian, I have God’s protection, but I can certainly open a part of me, giving the devil a foot hold, whose purpose is to “kill & destroy”… While we are not perfect, may God give us wisdom to not open certain doors, and rebuke the devil in His name, which is desperately trying to take that “foot hold”!
This is so true! And such a good word! The bible calls us to be sober-minded and to be alert at all times. Submit to God therefore, resist the devil and he will flee from you. We are in a spiritual battle daily and satan wants us to believe that we aren’t and become dull to our surroundings. May we persevere and put on the full armor of God
I saw that also, and marveled how to Spirit of God reveals things to us similarly at times…maybe to boost our faith even more, seeing how alive and active His word really is. Love it!!
I am sorry Jess, I attached my other comment to yours, where it was meant to be standalone. Your point is dead on reflecting the magnitude of God! I look at it as a period of great revival. Maybe a preacher wasn’t sending a message from the pulpit, but as the magicians realized that only “the finger of God” can do such things, I wonder than, at the revival and awakening of other Egyptian hearts…
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that when Moses asks the Pharaoh when he should have the frogs removed that he says “tomorrow.” Why not RIGHT NOW?! This part drives me crazy.
Yeah, though can’t we all be like that with our sin and disobedience even in the face of awful circumstances..? ‘I’ll deal with that tomorrow.’ My heart can be so unyielding to God even to my own detriment.
That’s so true! I don’t understand why the Pharaoh would choose to go another day with frogs…but then again, why do we? What are the “frogs” in our life that we so shamelessly put off another day to be rid of? Today’s Matthew reading spoke of one of mine, worry! I tell myself I won’t worry once I’m past this “week”, this “paycheck”, this “event”….however, I should have given God my worry YESTERDAY! It’s just as silly living with worry as it is frogs!
Sheri, I thought the same. Relating it to things in life, it kind of makes sense. Usually their is a process and things don’t end immediately…its course must take place. And while we are ready to be done with a situation, God’s plan can differ. Although my preference would be immediate rather than delayed.
Yes, but Pharaoh was given the option and chose to prolong it. He got to choose! God didn’t say tomorrow, Moses said tell me when and it will be done…. That was my thinking.
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective, I also have “frogs” in my life that I shouldve asked God to take care of when I put them off until tomorrow. This was such a great lesson to read about. Ive never related this with Pharoah before today.
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective I realized I, too, have “frogs” in my life that I should’ve asked God to get rid of TODAY but yet, like Pharoah, we wait until tomorrow. Ive never related this to Pharoah so it was such a great lesson.
YES! Okay, that’s awesome! Libby said the same thing above and that makes the most sense. Thank you for talking it out with me! It’s bothered me since I read exodus a few months ago. Crazy Pharaoh. ;)
Sheri, I think it was because God has hardened Pharaoh’s heart & it’s a typology to show us ourselves so we can learn from this people in the Bible & apply righteousness instead of disobedience, which is sin that opens the door for satan to deceive us-lead us to destruction-the devil wants/mission is to steal, kill & destroy us. (Hebrews 3, Hebrews, 10:36, Hebrews 12:12-13, Psalms 95, John 10:10)
Yes- He hardened the Pharaohs heart in letting the people go. But when he begged for the plague to stop and Moses said just tell me when, Pharaoh said tomorrow! It’s just a little ridiculous. But like it was said in one of the other comments- we all do this in different ways. Which I know- just never made the connection before.
I was wondering the exact same thing. Not that we could possibly have the answers but I wondered if Pharaoh was too proud to admit it bothered him “that” much. Idk but I definitely would’ve wanted relief right away as well.
“Moses and Aaron did so just as the Lord commanded”. Wooof what a wild ride! These two by their obedience got to see so many miracles, so much of God’s power full on display for His people. This passage shows God goes through great lengths to redeem us and ultimately sending His son for us to redeem us once and for all. So grateful for a God who never forgets us, never leaves us, never abandons us.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33
What an awesome GOD we have! ❤️
in exodus i remember reading about the staff turning into a snake and the water being turned into blood. i’m sure i heard about the frogs, gnats and flies but it’s not something that i remembered until now after reading. the reading for today really just reminds us that God loves us and will take care of us.
God really takes care of us. Look at the Israelites, they were all about their daily business in Goshen while God was bringing different pestilence on Egypt. How we worry about our situations when God is fight our unseen battles.
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? – Matthew 6:27
❤️
It amuses me that the magicians could mimic a few acts of God, but only God could UNDO what he had caused to come about. I love that God’s snake eats the magicians’ snakes. I love that they can’t make the blood turn back to water or make the frogs go away.
So, why should I be anxious anything? My God is the same yesterday, today, and eternally.
❤️
✅
Love these Matthew versus ❤️
What is significant in the word choice between the Lord hardening Pharaohs heart and the pharaoh hardened his own heart? The lord can harden our hearts, but then we can also harden our own hearts? Where does the dichotomy lie, in light of the new covenant?
Do not worry, but trust in him ❤️
Lord thank you for the reminder that you are sovereign, just, and merciful,
25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
A welcome challenge in a world filled with consumerism and temptation.
many non-believers say “if God is real then tell him to do something cool or do some type of sign” even when God allowed many people throughout the Bible to perform great signs through him, there was still people who did not believe. Pharaoh so many signs from Moses and Aaron, yet he hardened his heart. God loves everyone of us and he wants us all to live a beautiful life with him in heaven, but sadly not everyone will be in heaven.
God is so good! Have a good day ladies
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
♡
Love this reminder from Matthew—these words are always reassuring.
34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
❤️
✔️
✅
✅
✅
“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,” Exodus 7:3
God so clearly lays out His plan before Moses and Aaron! He does the same for us now that He did back then, we just need to seek Him in order to hear what He is saying to us. God reveals to Moses that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart because He is going to make His signs and wonders KNOWN to the people of Egypt. How amazing is our God?!? He always has a plan, and may we all have the strength to put our trust wholeheartedly in God, who loves and protects us beyond measure.
Day 47
God who is sovereign over all creation for his purposes (plagues) cares for us more than The birds
A good reminder to seek God’s kingdom instead of worrying.
Do not worry. We have so many worries in our lives – worries born of a lack of trust and faith. God I repent of my worries, they reflect the areas in which I need to grow my faith in you.
❤️
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ❤️
The verses in Matthew are some of the most comforting and convicting in the Bible
Whew I struggle with worrying about today, I’m always worried about what’s to come and what I need to do tomorrow etc. but
““So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:34 reminds me that I need to worry about today because tomorrow has its own worries and the things I’m struggling with today is enough just for today
Thanks for sharing great insight
As a person who struggles with anxiety this passage is always an important reminder to me.
Done❤️
26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
i love this verse !! always trust in Him -ellie
God who is sovereign over all creation for his purposes (plagues) cares for us more than the birds of the air. May we marvel at such power that is dispensed for us.
What a great passage to read in Matthew 6! I need to remind myself daily of this verse, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? “ – Matthew 6:27
34“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Love the passage in Matthew 6. Had most of it memorized at some point as anxiety is something I have to battle quite a bit. My ESV study Bible mentioned Romans 8:32 and Phil 4:6-7 in the commentary with Matt 6. These passages are some I want to recommit to memory this year. Hope they can encourage others who struggle with anxiety. Happy Saturday, sisters!
Great verses to commit to memory. I struggle with anxiety, too — thanks for sharing these other verses from your commentary!
Gladly, Allison! ❤️
God is good and we have nothing to worry about!
❤️
You ought to take part in a tournament first of the highest quality blogs on-line. I will suggest this website!
http://www.edsheeran.co.uk
Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? That is the question lingering for me..
Thinking about what I am going through right now I think that God was working on Moses and Aaron’s faith. They were obedient to God and just trusting that one day Pharaoh’s heart will be softened. But it was God’s business and not theirs. Sometimes I feel I am obeying and still I don’t get what I am supposed to and God is just teaching me to trust in Him only no matter how long it takes and how wrong it seems.
There’s some really good comments to this question up at the top of the comments from 2 years ago… not sure if everyone can see those or not?
Do not worry, do not worry, do not worry…it’s all over today’s readings (here and in the Song of Songs study)!! I needed to hear this today. Our God is faithful and will care for our every need and desire.
Careless in the care of God. :)
I’m doing both as well! So encouraging!
Matthew 6- what a great reminder that everything will be ok. As long as we trust in God, He we provide what we actually NEED while we are on earth so that we can focus on preparing ourselves to enter into His kingdom.
I have major anxiety issues and Matthew 6:34 is a reminder to not worry and to not be anxious because God’s got it!
I read this over and over. I’m a worrier, and have always heard this verse. But this time I just remembered who is saying it and how true it is today and forever. It has encouraged me to make some changes.
Always loved this passage in Matthew and love being reminded of it as I start my journey to college. The Lord is good!!
Wow this passage really spoke to me!
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble, I meant.
Amen! Live daily to that verse, do be anxious for tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for it self. seSufficitrouble
Lord!!
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own .
I needed to read/ hear that.
Thank you Lor
I think we all have “frogs” in our lives that make us want to scream. What I think most of us do is forget to lean on God and ask him for help. He can solve our problems in a flash but for some reason we think we can do it our way without him just like the magicians could double the amount of snakes, frogs and blood their way but could not remove them like God could. We think we can do it all on our own but we really just end up doubling the problem and then finding we can’t take it away. That’s when we lean on Him when we should have asked Him for help in the very beginning. :)
Wow I never thought of this passage in that way!
Wow this is so true! Never thought of that. Thank you for your perspective :)
Today I saw myself in Pharaoh, asking others to pray to God on my behalf to get rid of unfavourable things in my life and upon getting my way going back to doing things my way. Today my prayer is that I become less like Pharaoh and more like Moses. That I may be more confident in my relationship with God to speak directly to him about the serious issues in my life. That, like Moses, I may open myself up God using me for his good despite feeling unqualified.
Morgan, I’ve never thought about Christians acting like Pharaoh. What a great insight into this passage! And I was struck with the following verse: 15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” I sometimes (or most times) let my relationship with God depend on circumstances. I cry out to God when life is hard, and promptly forget Him when life gets easy again. I want to be more like Moses than Pharaoh too, Morgan!
This was definitely a timelgGod! His promises never cease to amaze me!
A timely word from*
Did anyone notice that the magicians could duplicate the blood and the frogs, but they couldn’t make them go away. They had to rely on the God of Israel to deliver them. How often do we get ourselves into a situation that we can not get out of alone? We cry to God for help and He saves us only to watch us make the same mistakes again and once more beg for his help. How frustrating that must be! But being the loving Father He is, He guides us through each and every situation we encounter.
I was just yesterday trying to decide what to wear for Easter! Something I already have or something new? Forgive me Lord. Clothe me in your
Righteousness that I may serve you with my whole heart!
Encouraged reading again of the plagues, seeing there was a greater purpose being fulfilled through the hardening of Pharoah’s heart…that each new plague brought it only new believers but also a wider audience of the unbelievable story and bringing more glory to the One True God…God hardened Pharoah’s heart and God allowed/caused much suffering and affliction but not without good purpose…means a lot to me right now!
God chose the Hebrews to be His People to show and tell about Him. They were to be a special group to be examples to the world about the one true God and to share Him with the world. It was after Jesus came and the Hebrews completely rejected Him and their mission that every person that believes on him becomes His. Christ had to die on the cross to buy us back from satan so that we could again be legitimate children and heirs to the promise.
Hope that helps and didn’t make it more confusing!
Believe it or not, I started my morning on Pinterest and almost considered skipping my bible reading this morning because I wanted to find something to wear for later today. It sounds so ridiculous. I was convicted just at that last part of the Matthew portion where it says not to worry about what we will wear but to seek FIRST His kingdom and righteousness. Sometimes you need a good old fashioned kick in the butt. In plain sight.
That is actually kinda awesome. I love it when that happens. Not the kick in the butt part so much but that it applied so perfectly. That just happened to me with the last week to with another SRT passage
Exodus 25:30 His Presence is our daily bread. Not the law, not all the good things we do, not an easy life – just Him.
Wow this reading, Mark 6:19-34 , felt like he was speaking directly to me. We should not worry. We should have faith that he will give us all that we need. Not all that we want. Our priority should be living lives more like God.
It struck me that both Moses and Jesus saw the need to build a team around them rather than try to be a one man show.
Love the connection between the two passages. In Exodus, we’re seeing all of these gross creatures absolutely overtake the land, and Matthew warns us not to put stock in treasures on earth “where moths and vermin destroy.”
I’m curious in exodus 8:22 God says I will distinguish my people from your people. Is that figurative for the moment or was there a point in the history when God opened that term to mean all of the world’s groups? Sorry if I’m looking too deep into this lol
I think he was making a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, marking His people for deliverance and the others for judgment. That’s how my commentary explains it! Hope that helps!
Later my Bible commentary explains it that the Hebrews only saw the distinction only in terms of free or slaves. Later in the wilderness they would see that their disciplines, values, and laws would make them a distinct people
That was to Katie’s comment :).
Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 ‘But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
This really stuck out to me… We live in a day and age where media is all around us and so many shows and movies full of things that dishonor the Lord and are being portrayed as acceptable. When we allow our eyes to take in such things it effects the way we see things.. It is the lamp which illuminates those things for us. Just was a reminder to me to keep my eyes and my heart in check with those things I allow in which mold my mind and my heart… May I be seeking those things which being honor and glory to my King!!
Yes, yes yes!!
Katie! Max Lucado retweeted a graphic today that totally lines up with yours! It said ” why worry about the video game in your sons eye, but not the laptop in yours?” Change laptop to iphone and son to friend and yup. I totally get it now!
Wow! That is a good thing to consider! My brother on one side and sister in law on the other play video games ALL the time, which drives me nuts, but how much time do I spend on my laptop or phone? Good reminder!
I love that the Egyptian magicians DUPLICATED the miracles. They didn’t make the snake disappear, they made MORE snakes. They didn’t turn blood to water. They made MORE blood. I mean, really?? Shouldn’t they have been trying to FIX the problem if they were that good???
I know! I thought that was so interesting. I love how Aaron’s staff serpent swallowed up Pharaoh’s sorcerers serpents! Shows god’s power!
It’s interesting how “tomorrow” was used in both passages. First, Pharoah putting off dealing with the frogs until tomorrow, then Jesus telling us not to worry about tomorrow. This convicted me to deal with today’s problems TODAY. Not to blow off my sin and struggles until tomorrow. But then not to worry about tomorrow’s problems. Deal with today’s stuff today and tomorrow’s stuff tomorrow.
Great emphasis in dealing with “today’s stuff, today”… May we learn to do this daily! And instead of letting the past hunt us today, to focus on starting fresh everyday…
Wow! What an interesting connection! And so applicable.
Wow.. Thanks for sharing!! Such great truth!
Kristin I was thinking the same thing. At first God sent plagues that mostly only affected Pharaoh’s people and kingdom rather than Pharaoh himself. God tried to get his attention day in day out, yet Pharaoh demanded another miracle, another day, and still his heart was stubborn. Not until the plagues started to affect him and his household did he start to believe this was God’s hand. Yet even then he decided to turn away. How many times have I done this? Demanded God to do a miracle and then not be paying attention or turn my back on Him? Or not notice God’s hands and voice until it is too late or until it is seriously right in my face….sometimes in those moments I still turn my back. I love how God can teach us something new from stories you thought you knew everything about!!! I pray that God opens our hearts, minds, ears, eyes, and mouths so that we can know, hear, see and speak all that He is doing in our lives, around us, and through us!
Amen!
Sometimes God has to take us and allow through “plagues” in life to make himself more fully known to us by his power. I pray Lord that unlike Pharaoh that I am obedient to you in my “plagues”. That you make me fully aware of who you are. Thank you Lord for your power and strength, your love and mercy.
“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God. (Exodus 8:10 NLT)
**take us through and allow plagues in life ;)
I completely agree Kristin. Well said!
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective I realized I, too, have “frogs” in my life that I should’ve asked God to get rid of TODAY but yet, like Pharoah, we wait until tomorrow. Ive never related this to Pharoah so it was such a great lesson.
(I tried to reply to just Sheri’s post at the very top but it wouldnt let me)
It’s hard for me to understand when God “chooses” to harden someone’s heart. Isn’t it his will that none should perish but all should come to everlasting life? I know His plan is always good and right but this always makes me sad.
I’ve heard it said the that “the same God who melts wax also hardens clay”; in other words, it’s about the person’s reaction and heart, not that God was manipulating their feelings or attitude; he is unchanging and just. So I see it not as God forcing Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened, but rather that God knew that when all those events happened Pharaoh would choose to have a hard heart and be rebellious.
I like how the NLT translates Exodus 8:15– “But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn” (my notes say ‘Hebrew: made his heart heavy’) “He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD has predicted.” –> the Lord predicted it; he knew Pharaoh would harden his own heart, and He used that to showcase his power and glory.
Oops, I meant the same sun that melts wax also hardens clay, but that’s an analogy about God. :)
Thanks so much :) the Old Testament is always a struggle for me! I like fair and it doesn’t come across as fair most of the time. I love the quote about the sun melting wax and hardening clay! Thanks for the response :)
Thanks for asking the same question I had and For your answer!!!:)
Well said :)
Great explanation of what can be a really hard concept to grasp. There is definitely a tension that exists btw God hardening Pharoahs heart and Pharoah hardening his own heart. We want an order per se, but how crazy would it be if we, as finite beings, were able to totally grasp and understand an infinite God whose knowledge and wisdom is beyond and above our own? Isa 55, Rom 11, Ps 147. Thankful that God has shown us His character in His Word. He is LOVE, kind, good, patient, trustworthy, etc… Praising Him today for all that He shows us of Himself.
Thanks, Renee. I struggle with the same concern about how a loving God could deliberately prolong the Egyptians’ suffering by hardening Pharoah’s heart. Ashley, your explanation really resonates with me. I so appreciate your analogy to the sun and this view of God as all-knowing rather than actively intervening with Pharoah for the opportunity to show his power through the plagues.
The Pharaoh had reasons to believe God…but his heart was hardened. Moses; however, suffered the same problem. How many times did God remind him “I am the Lord” and yet he still had Aaron intercede for him because he felt inadequate!? How many times does God have to remind us that he STILL is Lord!? I look at the pharaoh and Moses and think how silly they are in their unbelief and hesitancy, but aren’t I the same!? Moses is a great example of an imperfect person that God can use to accomplish His work! Thank you God for choosing to use me in your kingdoms work…may I be ever present and seize all the opportunities you give!
Amen Libby! “may I be ever present and seize all the opportunities you give!” This is my prayer today!
“Tomorrow” got me too! Unbelievable, how our sin entangles us w/ love affairs of world as Jess said. Matt 6:33—Living for Another Kingdom, this is not our home. What do I need to let go of this day that I may seek His Kingdom 1st. Ambition.. Pride. Even good things like family & ministry that I put before my God. Do I want His Kingdom more? Like those 21 men yesterday.
That rhetoric and wisdom comment is for Jess.
Your rhetoric is gorgeous. Your wisdom is from Above.
Anne-Marie, what stirs in you is a Beautiful Thing.
As I was journaling Matthew 6 this morning, I’ll be honest- I kind of got bored because I thought “I’ve read this a thousand times, do I really need this?” Ouch!! Thank God that the Spirit convicted me on my pride immediately and I humbly asked to see this passage with new eyes. Oh hallelujah, what a Savior we have!
“Seek first the kingdom of God AND His righteousness..”- Matt 6:33. Oh how I wish we could bold text in this app, because this one sentence pierced my heart. What am I seeking in my day to day life? Is it God’s glory to be exalted in my mundane, or is it more likes on Instagram, Facebook, or more boards on Pinterest? Am I seeing my entire life as a mission field? Seeing my daughters as little people who need the Gospel, or just as little burdens like the world is seeing them? Am I remembering my persecuted brothers and sisters in prayer? Am I praying for the nations, as part of going for the Great Commission?
I hit send too soon, whoops! Anyways, I ask these questions because sometimes I think we, as women, think we can’t do anything in seeking the Kingdom, or spreading the Gospel, especially if we are mamas. But we can. We can pray, and disciple. We can encourage and exhort, and give our time. I read in “Mom Enough” (on Desiring God.org) that motherhood (or anything, our lives) is a sacrifice/ offering to God. It’s a sweet aroma pleasing to Him. To live is to die, to die is to gain. We get Christ, but not only do we get Him- He dwells in us, to GROW us in holiness and righteousness. We can seek the Kingdom because HE is growing us and helping us to seek the Kingdom.
Praise Him, hallelujah!! All we have to do, is surrender. And that, I believe is the hardest part of being a Christian.
Yet, to die is to gain. To gain Christ!!
Loved this!! Couldn’t agree more.
Amen!!
The Lord has been resonating Matthew 5 in my spirit for the past couple of weeks. It was so fun to wake up to read the very passage that He has been singing over me. I have found myself easily caught up in these very stumbling blocks during this season. And yet, when my heart is steadfast, and my eyes are fixed, my ears are able to hear His sweet reminder, “All these things shall be added…”
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I love Matthew 6:25 reminding me not to worry! Thank you Lord!
(Matt 6: 19-24) Where is my heart??? Where do my affections lie? If my happiness, worth, and contentment is dependent on what happens in this world, then I’m in big trouble. Storms attack me from all around. Nothing lasts. Everything and everyone is dying. Evil and wickedness prevails and righteousness is unpopular at best.
Jesus knew that this was so. He told us to put our treasure in heaven. To find our worth and contentment through the incorruptible joys set before us. To seek and work towards a joy and treasure that lasts. I think it was Piper that said that people will really *know* that we are his disciples when we embrace trouble bravely, loudly proclaiming that Jesus is better than anything we lose. This is the only way to live.
I can dabble around with two masters. Notice that Satan never minds if you have a little ‘religion’ on the side of your love-affair with the world? That brand of religion is unthreatening to Him. Satan loves apathetic, double-minded people like this. They think they can have the best of both worlds, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Our God is a jealous God and He claims our whole heart. He will not share our affections. It’s all or nothing
Exactly, Jess…”a little religion on the side of our love-affair with the world”. I’m so very guilty of getting caught up in worldly pleasures when my focus should always be on Heavenly treasures!
Amen Steph, me too! It’s a daily struggle isn’t it?
Your rhetoric is gorgeous. Your wisdom is from Above.
I find it amazing that God chose to “harden Pharaoh’s heart.” He has power over the thoughts and heart of Kings and politicians…. Wow!!!
He could have rescued the people of Israel with a snap of His fingers but He didn’t. He revealed His glory slowly through all the plagues that were sent. I wonder if part of the reason was to show all the surrounding nations that Israel served a powerful and awesome God? I don’t really understand why, but I marvel at the wisdom and power of God.
That’s definitely it. Plus each of the 10 plagues basically defeats an Egyptian god. It’s actually really cool when you dig into it
Oh that is so cool! I had no idea about that!
As I was reading today, I was envisioning the plagues unfold. It is hard to imagine everything…frogs everywhere …blood all around…no clean water…gnats all around. Then there is Pharaoh summoning his magicians and they do the same to one point. Like there wasn’t enough frogs already! Finally the magicians say “this is the finger of God”, yet Pharaoh heart is still harden. I wondered how he could go to sleep at night and just not care?! I wonder too, how we do the same. Ignoring issues until they get bigger and bigger. I haven’t seen frogs filling my house yet (thank God!), yet I have opened the doors to the supernatural world allowing unclean things to lurk around. Sure as a Christian, I have God’s protection, but I can certainly open a part of me, giving the devil a foot hold, whose purpose is to “kill & destroy”… While we are not perfect, may God give us wisdom to not open certain doors, and rebuke the devil in His name, which is desperately trying to take that “foot hold”!
This is so true! And such a good word! The bible calls us to be sober-minded and to be alert at all times. Submit to God therefore, resist the devil and he will flee from you. We are in a spiritual battle daily and satan wants us to believe that we aren’t and become dull to our surroundings. May we persevere and put on the full armor of God
Moni, Came back & noticed we wrote similar posts :) Praise God!
I saw that also, and marveled how to Spirit of God reveals things to us similarly at times…maybe to boost our faith even more, seeing how alive and active His word really is. Love it!!
moni, your comment really spoke to me! Thank you for it!
I am sorry Jess, I attached my other comment to yours, where it was meant to be standalone. Your point is dead on reflecting the magnitude of God! I look at it as a period of great revival. Maybe a preacher wasn’t sending a message from the pulpit, but as the magicians realized that only “the finger of God” can do such things, I wonder than, at the revival and awakening of other Egyptian hearts…
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that when Moses asks the Pharaoh when he should have the frogs removed that he says “tomorrow.” Why not RIGHT NOW?! This part drives me crazy.
Yeah, though can’t we all be like that with our sin and disobedience even in the face of awful circumstances..? ‘I’ll deal with that tomorrow.’ My heart can be so unyielding to God even to my own detriment.
That’s so true! I don’t understand why the Pharaoh would choose to go another day with frogs…but then again, why do we? What are the “frogs” in our life that we so shamelessly put off another day to be rid of? Today’s Matthew reading spoke of one of mine, worry! I tell myself I won’t worry once I’m past this “week”, this “paycheck”, this “event”….however, I should have given God my worry YESTERDAY! It’s just as silly living with worry as it is frogs!
GREAT ANALOGY! Thanks Libby!
Sheri, I thought the same. Relating it to things in life, it kind of makes sense. Usually their is a process and things don’t end immediately…its course must take place. And while we are ready to be done with a situation, God’s plan can differ. Although my preference would be immediate rather than delayed.
Yes, but Pharaoh was given the option and chose to prolong it. He got to choose! God didn’t say tomorrow, Moses said tell me when and it will be done…. That was my thinking.
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective, I also have “frogs” in my life that I shouldve asked God to take care of when I put them off until tomorrow. This was such a great lesson to read about. Ive never related this with Pharoah before today.
Sheri, I felt the same way! But when I put it in perspective I realized I, too, have “frogs” in my life that I should’ve asked God to get rid of TODAY but yet, like Pharoah, we wait until tomorrow. Ive never related this to Pharoah so it was such a great lesson.
YES! Okay, that’s awesome! Libby said the same thing above and that makes the most sense. Thank you for talking it out with me! It’s bothered me since I read exodus a few months ago. Crazy Pharaoh. ;)
Sheri, I think it was because God has hardened Pharaoh’s heart & it’s a typology to show us ourselves so we can learn from this people in the Bible & apply righteousness instead of disobedience, which is sin that opens the door for satan to deceive us-lead us to destruction-the devil wants/mission is to steal, kill & destroy us. (Hebrews 3, Hebrews, 10:36, Hebrews 12:12-13, Psalms 95, John 10:10)
Yes- He hardened the Pharaohs heart in letting the people go. But when he begged for the plague to stop and Moses said just tell me when, Pharaoh said tomorrow! It’s just a little ridiculous. But like it was said in one of the other comments- we all do this in different ways. Which I know- just never made the connection before.
I was wondering the exact same thing. Not that we could possibly have the answers but I wondered if Pharaoh was too proud to admit it bothered him “that” much. Idk but I definitely would’ve wanted relief right away as well.