43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, – Matthew 5:43-44
I am behind in this reading plan and just read this section yesterday. But the part about pharaoh purposefully oppressing the Israelites really stood out to me. I pray we feel the anger that Moses felt when he saw the Egyptian beating his fellow Hebrew and after looking out and seeing his people be oppressed in slavery. But I pray we don’t react in the way that Moses did. ❤️
I just read these passages from Exodus this week for a Bible study I am doing, yet reading again this morning I noticed new/different things. That is why it is so important to read, read and read again the same passages at different times. This is not a one and done book! This is a relational endeavor.
The word perfect used here is ‘teleios’ in Greek which is more widely used to refer to maturity and wholeness. So God is not asking us to be flawless, as he knows that’s a standard that only Jesus could reach. He is instead asking us to be mature in faith. Hope that helps x
My interpretation is That we all must strive unto perfection… the goal is perfection, however, God understands that we are flesh and that is why we can find mercy when we fall short of His glory.
Day 44 :
How much awesome stuff would happen if we could trust God when he says, “ I AM who I AM?” I need to learn to focus on trusting God in my life more… if we trust in who he says he is there is no need to be afraid or anxious about anything. Moses is one of my favorites I love the old movie the Ten Commandments! I love in Matthew how God says love thy neighbor and hate their enemy but instead of hate thy neighbor pray for them and the neighbor.
The same time last year, I was also reading these particular verses of Exodus. But this time, the story hits me differently. I love how the Word of God really speaks to us in each different season of our lives. Last year, my heart was invested in the strong promises of God to the Israelites as He promised to never leave their side in their journey out of Egypt. Now, the book Exodus spoke to me about the compassion and mercy of God to His people. These verses struck me the most, “Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.” (Exodus 2:23-25, NLT) These very words, especially the last line, hit straight to my heart. He knows and He acts.
God hears the cries of His people. God feels the pain of His people. And from His throne, He looks at us, full of compassion and mercy, remembering His promises, and in His perfect timing, He knows it is time to act. He will never abandon His people. He will do everything in His power to save us. Our God never sleeps. Our God never lets our cries and prayers go unheard. And as we wait on Him, as we cry out to Him, as we seek Him with all heart––trust and be still––because in His perfect timing, He will do something. Yahweh, our Sovereign God, knows when it is time to act.
How much awesome stuff would happen if we could trust God when he says, “I AM who I AM”? This week i want to focus on trusting God in my life… if we trust in who he says he is there is no need to be afraid or anxious about anything
I recently listened to a sermon that put it as. The burning bush was a picture of us, when the Holy spirit appeared as cloven tongue of fire above them we became the burning bushes. Us men and women like moses are like the bush, insignificant and wondering who am I, but “Only when we are chosen by God to manifest His glory do we become something special”.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
God tells Moses not to be afraid for He will be with him. How much more so should we not be afraid to do the work of the Lord when we have the very Spirit indwelling in us with Christ’s promise to be with us to the very end of the age!
Praying for those who persecute is can be difficult, but it is so important. I pray to forgive 70×7, love my enemies, and pray for those who have hurt me.
The passage where the Lord speaks to Moses reminds me of this: He is on our side! If he is in on our side, how can the enemy touch us? For the Lord has given us authority of this world and he has made us his heir! He wants us to trust in him. Have courage, for he freely gives it to us. He wants the best for us so we should not lean on our own understanding, but in his purely.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
So that you may be sons ….. We need to love and pray for those who persecute us because that’s what God does with mankind…. So we can be like our Father. It’s not just a command that’s a good idea. It’s to imitate God!
I’m just notice how Moses’s story beginning parallels with Joseph.
Joseph came into the Egyptian palace as second in command to the pharaoh
Moses came into the Egyptian palace as son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
With Moses, God is beginning a second rescue of the Israelites in Egypt; first he used Joseph to rescue them from famine, and now he is going to use Moses to rescue them from slavery.
Me too!! “And God knew” implies so much. That He allowed them to be prosperous under Joseph, to endure suffering during the time of Moses, and to experience future shalom through Christ! So neat.
I’m so thankful for these passages, and all the thought// revelation they prompt!
What stuck out to me the most today was in Matthew, where Jesus talks about plucking your own eye out if it causes you to sin, or to cut off your hand if it’s leading you astray. It puts the body in such a humble perspective…so often we get caught up in our physical realm. What we should eat, how often we exercise, sickness, beauty, blemish, what have you…and I just love how He puts the body in it’s place. It’s not of our first priority.
May our Spirit always be strong regardless of our physical state (like Job). And may we honor Him by honoring our bodies and treating them well to praise His name!!
As I am training to be a midwife, it speaks strongly to be that the midwives feared God. I am in a small class but I know many of the student midwives are pro choice and this saddens me. I pray that I can take a stand like the midwives in today’s passage and do well in God’s eyes.
Also, so cool that wet nurses were found back in Moses’ time! Breastfeeding is such an intimate thing and how blessed was Moses mom for still being able to breastfeed him.
Girls that are unwanted today are tossed aside, killed, neglected, used, abused. It’s no different here. Pharaoh makes the ignorant mistake of assuming the Hebrew woman could do his empire no harm, and so he ignores them, saying “let them live.” Surely he thought, “what ever could these little girls do to me?” And so his only focus was to tragically eliminate the boys.
But in this same passage you see women overthrowing his rule, the midwives doing their work diligently as to God, and in the next passage, Miriam bravely approaching the princess about the care of her brother Moses, making her a vital link in the success of God’s good plan for Israel’s release. Indeed God uses Pharaoh’s own daughter the raise the boy that would one day bring him to ruin. Mighty woman. God has never ignored them or failed to include them in his plans. He knows our worth. He doesn’t discredit us but equips us. How kind he is!
I love the boldness of the women in Exodus 1&2! What an inspiration! First the midwives refusing orders from Pharaoh, then Moses’ sister’s bravery, and Pharaoh’s own daughter’s compassion. These will always be two of my favorite chapters :-)
I definitely struggle with loving my enemies. Especially when I see terrorists on the news killing Christians because of their belief. I pray that God will help me with my hatred and change the hearts of those people.
I was struck this morning with how many times in Sunday School growing up that the story of Moses’ birth was told, and as children not knowing much else, we/I just accepted the circumstances casually. But I was brought to tears this morning by it — I cannot imagine birthing a child and knowing I could not keep him. These were horrible circumstances, and I can’t believe how casually and passively I’ve always thought of this story. God truly did an amazing work through this situation.
24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. –> I love this, just a groan will reach His throne!
You birth a baby boy and he must die. What an evil leader. Divine Providence says the found baby boy’s momma can breastfeed the one saved boy. Can you imagine. And He directs Pharaoh’s daughter to adopt him. Divine Providence is always working.
“Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”… I love the strength & boldness of Moses sister. She spoke directly, without fear, or hesitation. A child used to fulfill a man’s destiny… How profound!
How ironic that Moses’ mother was paid to feed and raise her own son! And paid from the royal coffers of the man that ordered all male Israelite children to be killed!
I just started reading “Martyrs Mirror” by Thieman J. Van Braght, today. It is a very thick book filled with translated memoirs and letters about persecution from the time of Christ to A.D. 1660. Being a Hutterite, (and if you know Hutterites, our history is all about persecution) this is a very hard book for me to read. I am awed by the fact that today’s reading is all about persecution and loving those who persecute you. It means so much more than we can imagine because these stories are heartbreaking. I am so blessed to be able to read about their incredible lives!
I’m always challenged by Christs words – they go so far beyond the law to the heart of the matter. Your motives and intentions. And those things are hidden from other people’s sights. To often we judge others based on the outward but God looks at the mans heart. We will never know someone else’s heart – all we have to do is make sure our own heart is pure and right before the Lord. God help me not to judge others but focus on my own heart to bring you glory and love righteously in you.
Does anyone understand what Jesus meant by Matthew 5:32″but I say that everyone who divorces his wife except on the ground of sexual immorality makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery”. I struggle with this verse immensely having seen domestic violence in marriages. Please help me out! Is Jesus being literal ?
Meaghan, from what I understand…God never meant for marriages to turn into divorce but He allowed it through Moses. however, back then when Jesus spoke of the aforementioned, some of the men were abusing the practice of divorce and using it as a means to leave their wives for a new model. So Jesus stated what your question is asking. I hope I didn’t confuse you & it helps, I was trying to be brief! :)
Meaghan I forgot about if an unbelieving spouse leaves is grounds for divorce as well:
“But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.” (I Corinthians 7:15 NKJV)
I was at a conference one time and heard the best historical explanation of “turn the other cheek.” So many times we read that and think of it as submission. (I’ll try to do this justice, but I would encourage anyone to look this up for more details.) if you are facing someone, the only way to hit them on the right cheek is to backhand them. When you turn the other cheek, if you were to backhand them, it would be with your left hand, and using the left hand was more of a disgrace to the person doing the hitting. So Christ wasn’t saying that we should just offer ourselves for more abuse, but he was saying that you can offer a non violent protest that can speak louder than responding physically. I wish I could explain this more eloquently, but it’s quite a profound thought.
I looked up the meaning of love used in the verse “love thine enemies”. The meaning of this type of love is a deliberate choice type. Sometimes, yes, love is a choice and we are called to make the choice to love those who don’t deserve it and are hurting us.
I’m also reading Beth Moore’s study, Children of the Day, and she has pointed out the word “affliction” versus troubles. It’s so neat to see the word affliction used in Ex. 1:11 when it says the taskmasters were set over them to afflict them. That words carries such weight. It’s “troublesome” to do daily chores..unload the dishwasher, wash clothes, clean the toilets; however, it’s AFFLICTION when you’re a slave and your taskmasters job is to afflict you and make you work as quickly as possible. It’s AFFLICTION when you have to choose to rebel against the Pharaoh and save babies. It’s AFFLICTION when you have to hide your newborn baby in a river for fear of it’s life and allow someone else to raise him (I couldn’t help but cry as I read this). May I never confuse my troubles with affliction. Lord help me to see your ways in ALL things and praise you for the joy in my heart because that is where You dwell.
Libby this is really wonderful insight for me today. Thank you for sharing and I am praying that the Lord would show me where I confuse my meager troubled for true affliction.
God dealt well with the midwives …If God deals well with those who save babies, how will He deal with those who murder babies!? So sad we live in a world where this is not only practiced, but accepted :(
I love the verse in Exodus 1:17 – “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the long of Egypt has told them to do; they let the boys live.” Father help me to fear you above all else like these women of the Bible did!
What a great reminder we find in Matthew: that even evil people love those who love them. As Christians, our real feat is to love those who hate and persecute us.
Elsie this stood out to me too today. And s reminder to pray for our enemies! It’s easy to pray and desire things for the people we love but MUCH harder for those we don’t! What a humbling reminder of what we are called to do.
Today I was reminded of how God uses even the worst of sinners to accomplish great things for His glory. Moses was a murderer that fled and God used him to lead an entire people group to a promised land. God may not be calling me to that level of greatness, but I know that even despite my horrible sins, God is still using me to bring Himself glory.
I feel so hopeless today. Everything has gone wrong in a very First World Problems kind of way, and I lost my temper spectacularly with the children, and after yesterday’s reading, I feel so horribly guilty and ashamed of myself. I don’t feel the effects of grace at all today. I just feel awful and frustrated.
You know dear sister that He sees your struggle and He has great compassion and sympathy. We all have those incredibly *off* days. But His grace remains the same. He loves you, delights in you, and cherishes you JUST as much today, as a day when you feel you have done better. Praying for you that you hear is loving voice rather than the lies of the devil ❤️
Praying for you Lauren. I’m feeling fairly down in the dumps myself BUT wow I’m sure thankful for this community. I’m thankful to pray for you today and praying that the Lord gives you even just a moment of peace and joy in the midst of His presence.
Lauren, condemnation & shame are not from God. We are human. We make mistakes. You are not alone. Talk to God about it. talk to your kids about it. Show them you are human & make mistakes. Praying for peace & blessing over your day today…
When Moses saw the burning bush it reminded me to take notice of the ordinary as well as the extraordinary in our lives. Sometimes God can use either for His glory and purpose. Lord I pray that I never become too accustomed that I take things for granted and miss what you are trying to tell me whether that be through the ordinary or extraordinary
Thank you, Caitlin.
I share in this prayer of remembering to be thankful for it all rather than only the extraordinary. Just now as I sit here and sip my hot green tea I choose to be thankful for the hands that prepared it, the warmth and comfort it gives my body on such a crisp and cold morning, and of course the fact that I am able to enjoy such a warm treat.
My prayer is that all of SRT ladies look on this day with fresh and wide open eyes to see the beauty and the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Much love.
-Reneé
After Job, it is always a beautiful thing to read a book that gives us a friendly reminder that, THE LORD DOES NOT IGNORE THE SUFFERING ONES! The Lord heard the cry of an enslaved Israel & was concerned. In hindsight, I would assume that he heard & saw the cries of Job as well.
In the midst of this saga, we become brilliantly acquainted with another facet of the character of God: The Lord uses unlikely heroes. As Moses is called out as the earthly rescuer of the enslaved Jews, a conflict of identity in his heart rises up:
Left by his Jewish mother in a river, raised by an Egyptian princess, nursed by his Jewish mother, in the ruling family of Egypt, yet disowned by the only father-figure he knew, without a true community, murderer of one from the only community that he knew, driven from his home by his own choice, married into the family of Keturah (Abraham’s concubine whose family may or may not have worshiped idols due to their Midianite decent), turned-shepherd who sees a talking burning bush. “Who am I…?”
In this moment, as a low-rank sentry being sent out by his commander, Moses’s cry of “Who am I?” is met with a total revelation of WHOSE he is.
“I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
This changes everything. His entire life of identity conflict was met by words of total redemption.
“This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Sisters, the Lord doesn’t always call the qualified ones. In this case, he called the unlikeliest of heroes; he calls the ones who will say “I am sent by I am.”
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.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
And my heart sang for joy because after reading Job, I know that verse 21 was no longer ONLY contingent on their righteous act of saving the babies! Of course the Lord honors them here for that act, but we must remember that beyond Job, the Lord was not one to only orchestrate His deeds based on humanity’s sin or righteousness.
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Our God is perfect, nothing lacking or needing to be added. I confess, I try to add things to him. Praise be to Him who forgives and loves us completely. Let us a for the perfection he has modelled.
25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…
The whole Old Testament just speaks the story of Christ in so many ways. Is your God concerned about you? Mine is! And because he is concerned, he rescued me! Amazing.
Yes! This is what struck me as well when I read this passage. “I have indeed seen….I have heard….I am concerned about their suffering….I have come down….the cry of the Israelites has reached me….I will be with you” It reminded me of Gen 16 and one of my favorite names of God: El Roi-the God who sees. I am praising God this morning because He never changes and He sees and hears us!
This passage in Matthew makes me think of a chat we were having in Bible study the other night. So often as Christians, we’re still just asking where the line is. Ever heard of questions like, “how far can I go with my girlfriend?” Or how man f words is too much in a movie? Is their harm in a little white lie? etc. I think this is what we as humans often do with the law. We want to see how *close* we can get to the line and still be ok. But Jesus blew that standard out of the park. He made it clear that it’s not about outward actions, but heart motives. It’s quite a different thing to ask, is this honouring to the Lord? How can I serve my brothers and sisters the most? It is a totally chance in perspective. Oh Lord change my heart I pray.
Who are we to judge, as we are not perfect like our heavenly father! Amen!
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, – Matthew 5:43-44
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3
i love the story of Moses!
The power of God is on display in the story of Moses! It is incredible to see God use broken people to further his kingdom!
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I am behind in this reading plan and just read this section yesterday. But the part about pharaoh purposefully oppressing the Israelites really stood out to me. I pray we feel the anger that Moses felt when he saw the Egyptian beating his fellow Hebrew and after looking out and seeing his people be oppressed in slavery. But I pray we don’t react in the way that Moses did. ❤️
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God is concerned about our hearts as much as the actions we makes
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I just read these passages from Exodus this week for a Bible study I am doing, yet reading again this morning I noticed new/different things. That is why it is so important to read, read and read again the same passages at different times. This is not a one and done book! This is a relational endeavor.
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The word perfect used here is ‘teleios’ in Greek which is more widely used to refer to maturity and wholeness. So God is not asking us to be flawless, as he knows that’s a standard that only Jesus could reach. He is instead asking us to be mature in faith. Hope that helps x
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My interpretation is That we all must strive unto perfection… the goal is perfection, however, God understands that we are flesh and that is why we can find mercy when we fall short of His glory.
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Day 44 :
How much awesome stuff would happen if we could trust God when he says, “ I AM who I AM?” I need to learn to focus on trusting God in my life more… if we trust in who he says he is there is no need to be afraid or anxious about anything. Moses is one of my favorites I love the old movie the Ten Commandments! I love in Matthew how God says love thy neighbor and hate their enemy but instead of hate thy neighbor pray for them and the neighbor.
The same time last year, I was also reading these particular verses of Exodus. But this time, the story hits me differently. I love how the Word of God really speaks to us in each different season of our lives. Last year, my heart was invested in the strong promises of God to the Israelites as He promised to never leave their side in their journey out of Egypt. Now, the book Exodus spoke to me about the compassion and mercy of God to His people. These verses struck me the most, “Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.” (Exodus 2:23-25, NLT) These very words, especially the last line, hit straight to my heart. He knows and He acts.
God hears the cries of His people. God feels the pain of His people. And from His throne, He looks at us, full of compassion and mercy, remembering His promises, and in His perfect timing, He knows it is time to act. He will never abandon His people. He will do everything in His power to save us. Our God never sleeps. Our God never lets our cries and prayers go unheard. And as we wait on Him, as we cry out to Him, as we seek Him with all heart––trust and be still––because in His perfect timing, He will do something. Yahweh, our Sovereign God, knows when it is time to act.
How much awesome stuff would happen if we could trust God when he says, “I AM who I AM”? This week i want to focus on trusting God in my life… if we trust in who he says he is there is no need to be afraid or anxious about anything
I recently listened to a sermon that put it as. The burning bush was a picture of us, when the Holy spirit appeared as cloven tongue of fire above them we became the burning bushes. Us men and women like moses are like the bush, insignificant and wondering who am I, but “Only when we are chosen by God to manifest His glory do we become something special”.
Thank you Lord for biblical instruction.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
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25God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
-ellie
God tells Moses not to be afraid for He will be with him. How much more so should we not be afraid to do the work of the Lord when we have the very Spirit indwelling in us with Christ’s promise to be with us to the very end of the age!
Praying for those who persecute is can be difficult, but it is so important. I pray to forgive 70×7, love my enemies, and pray for those who have hurt me.
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The passage where the Lord speaks to Moses reminds me of this: He is on our side! If he is in on our side, how can the enemy touch us? For the Lord has given us authority of this world and he has made us his heir! He wants us to trust in him. Have courage, for he freely gives it to us. He wants the best for us so we should not lean on our own understanding, but in his purely.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
So that you may be sons ….. We need to love and pray for those who persecute us because that’s what God does with mankind…. So we can be like our Father. It’s not just a command that’s a good idea. It’s to imitate God!
I’m just notice how Moses’s story beginning parallels with Joseph.
Joseph came into the Egyptian palace as second in command to the pharaoh
Moses came into the Egyptian palace as son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
With Moses, God is beginning a second rescue of the Israelites in Egypt; first he used Joseph to rescue them from famine, and now he is going to use Moses to rescue them from slavery.
So much wisdom in the Bible I love it!!!! I pray that God will help me to applie His wisdom to my life
This verse really stuck out to me, I love it! 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Me too!! “And God knew” implies so much. That He allowed them to be prosperous under Joseph, to endure suffering during the time of Moses, and to experience future shalom through Christ! So neat.
I’m so thankful for these passages, and all the thought// revelation they prompt!
What stuck out to me the most today was in Matthew, where Jesus talks about plucking your own eye out if it causes you to sin, or to cut off your hand if it’s leading you astray. It puts the body in such a humble perspective…so often we get caught up in our physical realm. What we should eat, how often we exercise, sickness, beauty, blemish, what have you…and I just love how He puts the body in it’s place. It’s not of our first priority.
May our Spirit always be strong regardless of our physical state (like Job). And may we honor Him by honoring our bodies and treating them well to praise His name!!
As I am training to be a midwife, it speaks strongly to be that the midwives feared God. I am in a small class but I know many of the student midwives are pro choice and this saddens me. I pray that I can take a stand like the midwives in today’s passage and do well in God’s eyes.
Also, so cool that wet nurses were found back in Moses’ time! Breastfeeding is such an intimate thing and how blessed was Moses mom for still being able to breastfeed him.
Girls that are unwanted today are tossed aside, killed, neglected, used, abused. It’s no different here. Pharaoh makes the ignorant mistake of assuming the Hebrew woman could do his empire no harm, and so he ignores them, saying “let them live.” Surely he thought, “what ever could these little girls do to me?” And so his only focus was to tragically eliminate the boys.
But in this same passage you see women overthrowing his rule, the midwives doing their work diligently as to God, and in the next passage, Miriam bravely approaching the princess about the care of her brother Moses, making her a vital link in the success of God’s good plan for Israel’s release. Indeed God uses Pharaoh’s own daughter the raise the boy that would one day bring him to ruin. Mighty woman. God has never ignored them or failed to include them in his plans. He knows our worth. He doesn’t discredit us but equips us. How kind he is!
I LOVE THIS!! Women have ALWAYS been used in God’s plan — makes me want to zero in and recognize how we’re being used today.
I love the boldness of the women in Exodus 1&2! What an inspiration! First the midwives refusing orders from Pharaoh, then Moses’ sister’s bravery, and Pharaoh’s own daughter’s compassion. These will always be two of my favorite chapters :-)
I definitely struggle with loving my enemies. Especially when I see terrorists on the news killing Christians because of their belief. I pray that God will help me with my hatred and change the hearts of those people.
I was struck this morning with how many times in Sunday School growing up that the story of Moses’ birth was told, and as children not knowing much else, we/I just accepted the circumstances casually. But I was brought to tears this morning by it — I cannot imagine birthing a child and knowing I could not keep him. These were horrible circumstances, and I can’t believe how casually and passively I’ve always thought of this story. God truly did an amazing work through this situation.
I seriously did not think about it in that way …. Thank you for sharing!!!
24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. –> I love this, just a groan will reach His throne!
You birth a baby boy and he must die. What an evil leader. Divine Providence says the found baby boy’s momma can breastfeed the one saved boy. Can you imagine. And He directs Pharaoh’s daughter to adopt him. Divine Providence is always working.
“Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”… I love the strength & boldness of Moses sister. She spoke directly, without fear, or hesitation. A child used to fulfill a man’s destiny… How profound!
How ironic that Moses’ mother was paid to feed and raise her own son! And paid from the royal coffers of the man that ordered all male Israelite children to be killed!
I just started reading “Martyrs Mirror” by Thieman J. Van Braght, today. It is a very thick book filled with translated memoirs and letters about persecution from the time of Christ to A.D. 1660. Being a Hutterite, (and if you know Hutterites, our history is all about persecution) this is a very hard book for me to read. I am awed by the fact that today’s reading is all about persecution and loving those who persecute you. It means so much more than we can imagine because these stories are heartbreaking. I am so blessed to be able to read about their incredible lives!
I’m always challenged by Christs words – they go so far beyond the law to the heart of the matter. Your motives and intentions. And those things are hidden from other people’s sights. To often we judge others based on the outward but God looks at the mans heart. We will never know someone else’s heart – all we have to do is make sure our own heart is pure and right before the Lord. God help me not to judge others but focus on my own heart to bring you glory and love righteously in you.
Does anyone understand what Jesus meant by Matthew 5:32″but I say that everyone who divorces his wife except on the ground of sexual immorality makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery”. I struggle with this verse immensely having seen domestic violence in marriages. Please help me out! Is Jesus being literal ?
Meaghan, from what I understand…God never meant for marriages to turn into divorce but He allowed it through Moses. however, back then when Jesus spoke of the aforementioned, some of the men were abusing the practice of divorce and using it as a means to leave their wives for a new model. So Jesus stated what your question is asking. I hope I didn’t confuse you & it helps, I was trying to be brief! :)
Meaghan I forgot about if an unbelieving spouse leaves is grounds for divorce as well:
“But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.” (I Corinthians 7:15 NKJV)
I was at a conference one time and heard the best historical explanation of “turn the other cheek.” So many times we read that and think of it as submission. (I’ll try to do this justice, but I would encourage anyone to look this up for more details.) if you are facing someone, the only way to hit them on the right cheek is to backhand them. When you turn the other cheek, if you were to backhand them, it would be with your left hand, and using the left hand was more of a disgrace to the person doing the hitting. So Christ wasn’t saying that we should just offer ourselves for more abuse, but he was saying that you can offer a non violent protest that can speak louder than responding physically. I wish I could explain this more eloquently, but it’s quite a profound thought.
I looked up the meaning of love used in the verse “love thine enemies”. The meaning of this type of love is a deliberate choice type. Sometimes, yes, love is a choice and we are called to make the choice to love those who don’t deserve it and are hurting us.
I’m also reading Beth Moore’s study, Children of the Day, and she has pointed out the word “affliction” versus troubles. It’s so neat to see the word affliction used in Ex. 1:11 when it says the taskmasters were set over them to afflict them. That words carries such weight. It’s “troublesome” to do daily chores..unload the dishwasher, wash clothes, clean the toilets; however, it’s AFFLICTION when you’re a slave and your taskmasters job is to afflict you and make you work as quickly as possible. It’s AFFLICTION when you have to choose to rebel against the Pharaoh and save babies. It’s AFFLICTION when you have to hide your newborn baby in a river for fear of it’s life and allow someone else to raise him (I couldn’t help but cry as I read this). May I never confuse my troubles with affliction. Lord help me to see your ways in ALL things and praise you for the joy in my heart because that is where You dwell.
Libby this is really wonderful insight for me today. Thank you for sharing and I am praying that the Lord would show me where I confuse my meager troubled for true affliction.
Amen Libby!
God dealt well with the midwives …If God deals well with those who save babies, how will He deal with those who murder babies!? So sad we live in a world where this is not only practiced, but accepted :(
Profounf thought!!
I love the verse in Exodus 1:17 – “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the long of Egypt has told them to do; they let the boys live.” Father help me to fear you above all else like these women of the Bible did!
*King* not long, and *had* not has. Sorry for the poor autocorrects.
What a great reminder we find in Matthew: that even evil people love those who love them. As Christians, our real feat is to love those who hate and persecute us.
Elsie this stood out to me too today. And s reminder to pray for our enemies! It’s easy to pray and desire things for the people we love but MUCH harder for those we don’t! What a humbling reminder of what we are called to do.
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look…
Moses had to go
And look
What a reminder to me. I can’t just sit here and wait for God to send me, I must keep going TO Him and look!
I’ve never looked at it that way before, but it’s so true! Thank you for sharing that insight!
Great reminder, thank you!
Today I was reminded of how God uses even the worst of sinners to accomplish great things for His glory. Moses was a murderer that fled and God used him to lead an entire people group to a promised land. God may not be calling me to that level of greatness, but I know that even despite my horrible sins, God is still using me to bring Himself glory.
I noticed that too Sara! Joseph’s story points to what Jesus did for us on the cross. God literally gave him a new life! (:
I feel so hopeless today. Everything has gone wrong in a very First World Problems kind of way, and I lost my temper spectacularly with the children, and after yesterday’s reading, I feel so horribly guilty and ashamed of myself. I don’t feel the effects of grace at all today. I just feel awful and frustrated.
You know dear sister that He sees your struggle and He has great compassion and sympathy. We all have those incredibly *off* days. But His grace remains the same. He loves you, delights in you, and cherishes you JUST as much today, as a day when you feel you have done better. Praying for you that you hear is loving voice rather than the lies of the devil ❤️
Praying for you Lauren. I’m feeling fairly down in the dumps myself BUT wow I’m sure thankful for this community. I’m thankful to pray for you today and praying that the Lord gives you even just a moment of peace and joy in the midst of His presence.
Lauren, condemnation & shame are not from God. We are human. We make mistakes. You are not alone. Talk to God about it. talk to your kids about it. Show them you are human & make mistakes. Praying for peace & blessing over your day today…
When Moses saw the burning bush it reminded me to take notice of the ordinary as well as the extraordinary in our lives. Sometimes God can use either for His glory and purpose. Lord I pray that I never become too accustomed that I take things for granted and miss what you are trying to tell me whether that be through the ordinary or extraordinary
Thank you, Caitlin.
I share in this prayer of remembering to be thankful for it all rather than only the extraordinary. Just now as I sit here and sip my hot green tea I choose to be thankful for the hands that prepared it, the warmth and comfort it gives my body on such a crisp and cold morning, and of course the fact that I am able to enjoy such a warm treat.
My prayer is that all of SRT ladies look on this day with fresh and wide open eyes to see the beauty and the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Much love.
-Reneé
Thanks, and I will look for beauty today!
After Job, it is always a beautiful thing to read a book that gives us a friendly reminder that, THE LORD DOES NOT IGNORE THE SUFFERING ONES! The Lord heard the cry of an enslaved Israel & was concerned. In hindsight, I would assume that he heard & saw the cries of Job as well.
In the midst of this saga, we become brilliantly acquainted with another facet of the character of God: The Lord uses unlikely heroes. As Moses is called out as the earthly rescuer of the enslaved Jews, a conflict of identity in his heart rises up:
Left by his Jewish mother in a river, raised by an Egyptian princess, nursed by his Jewish mother, in the ruling family of Egypt, yet disowned by the only father-figure he knew, without a true community, murderer of one from the only community that he knew, driven from his home by his own choice, married into the family of Keturah (Abraham’s concubine whose family may or may not have worshiped idols due to their Midianite decent), turned-shepherd who sees a talking burning bush. “Who am I…?”
In this moment, as a low-rank sentry being sent out by his commander, Moses’s cry of “Who am I?” is met with a total revelation of WHOSE he is.
“I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
This changes everything. His entire life of identity conflict was met by words of total redemption.
“This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Sisters, the Lord doesn’t always call the qualified ones. In this case, he called the unlikeliest of heroes; he calls the ones who will say “I am sent by I am.”
He changes everything.
Oh sister this was so powerfully and beautifully written. Thank you for sharing. It’s not about who I am, but *whose* I am!
Amen!!
Thank you for this!
Lydia this is so beautiful. Thank you for your insight.
My pastor always said that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I love that!
Yes…me too Kristen! It’s so true.
I love this portion of the first chapter:
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.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
And my heart sang for joy because after reading Job, I know that verse 21 was no longer ONLY contingent on their righteous act of saving the babies! Of course the Lord honors them here for that act, but we must remember that beyond Job, the Lord was not one to only orchestrate His deeds based on humanity’s sin or righteousness.
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Our God is perfect, nothing lacking or needing to be added. I confess, I try to add things to him. Praise be to Him who forgives and loves us completely. Let us a for the perfection he has modelled.
25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…
The whole Old Testament just speaks the story of Christ in so many ways. Is your God concerned about you? Mine is! And because he is concerned, he rescued me! Amazing.
Yes! This is what struck me as well when I read this passage. “I have indeed seen….I have heard….I am concerned about their suffering….I have come down….the cry of the Israelites has reached me….I will be with you” It reminded me of Gen 16 and one of my favorite names of God: El Roi-the God who sees. I am praising God this morning because He never changes and He sees and hears us!
This passage in Matthew makes me think of a chat we were having in Bible study the other night. So often as Christians, we’re still just asking where the line is. Ever heard of questions like, “how far can I go with my girlfriend?” Or how man f words is too much in a movie? Is their harm in a little white lie? etc. I think this is what we as humans often do with the law. We want to see how *close* we can get to the line and still be ok. But Jesus blew that standard out of the park. He made it clear that it’s not about outward actions, but heart motives. It’s quite a different thing to ask, is this honouring to the Lord? How can I serve my brothers and sisters the most? It is a totally chance in perspective. Oh Lord change my heart I pray.
*total change* that is
Super powerful observations..thanks Jess!
wow,what a great way to look at it!