Skip to main content

January 19 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 19

Today's video explains the concept of the Bible's idea of Heaven and Earth.  If you're wondering how this ties into what we're reading in Exodus, just think of one word: Redemption.




DAILY READINGS

Exodus 7-9 & Psalm 19

DAILY NOTES

Exodus 7:1
  • This reminds us of God's call to Moses in Chapter 4.  Aaron is the voice and Moses is as God to Aaron and now to Pharaoh.  That is, the one who is leading.
Exodus 7:3-4
  • The effects of the signs will be multiplied.  
  • God calls them signs here, but Pharaoh will later call them wonders.
  • The signs are also an act of judgement.
Exodus 7:8
  • God knows Pharaoh is going to want to see something as proof of who God is.  Remember when the people asked Jesus for a sign (John 6:30)?  Since Pharaoh has no knowledge of God, he will want/need to see a sign of who/what God is.  This is how Pharaoh's gods work; they have a power/sign.
Exodus 7:11
  • Even though the priests (magicians) are able to replicate the sign of God, God's is able to swallow theirs.  One rod swallows the many.
Exodus 7:22
  • If Moses and Aaron (God) turned all the water into blood, what exactly do the magicians do?  Which water do they turn to change?
  • Their need to replicate what God is doing only brings more judgement.  
Exodus 8:4
  • This sounds like it affects everyone, but later the magicians are specifically mentioned, too.  So, do they not have a part in all this so far?
Exodus 8:8
  • How would you respond to the prayer request of an enemy?
Exodus 8:10-12
  • Why wait until "tomorrow?"  And is it a call to pray tomorrow or to have the frogs leave tomorrow?  Either way, why wait?
  • It doesn't appear that they wait to pray.
Exodus 8:18-19
  • The first plague the magicians cannot replicate.
  • God has already told Moses he will stretch out his mighty hand.  Readers know that is coming.  The magicians recognize that they are only seeing the finger of God right now.  
Exodus 8:22
  • We specifically remember that God promised death would "passover" the Israelites.  But that is not the only plague that passes the people of God.  God makes the distinction throughout the plagues.
Exodus 9:7
  • Pharaoh learns this is only happening to his people.  This should stand as part of the sign against him.
Exodus 9:11
  • Had the magicians not been impacted before?
Exodus 9:19
  • Wasn't all the livestock already given a deadly pestilence?
Exodus 9:20
  • There are some Egyptians who recognize the power of God.
Psalm 19
  • If you want to see the glory of God, go outside.
  • Following God's "law" is a joyous decision we make.  Reread how the psalmist describes the law of the Lord (7-10)
  • Pastors often recite Verse 14 before they preach.  But it's certainly a prayer all of us could stand to repeat daily.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

I've read once that it's better to have no deal than to make a bad deal.

Moses seems to understand that concept.  Pharaoh offers him a chance to offer worship to God, but he doesn't say the people can leave to do so.  Moses catches that drift.  But that's not part of the deal.  Instead of agreeing because it almost sounded like a good plan, Moses remembers what God has told him to ask for.

How often do you think we settle for the good when God has offered us the better?  We settle because we don't pay attention.  We settle because often it's the easiest thing to do.  But God has promised us an abundant life.  Why don't we take God up on that?

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88 Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 4-5 The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom. Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders. The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.   David continues to rise in stature and respect. 2 Samuel 6 After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital. I
Post a Comment
Read more

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to
Post a Comment
Read more

March 3 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 62 One of the things I hear people say when we read, for example, Deuteronomy is, "It's repeating itself."  "Didn't we already read/hear that before?"  The answer, of course, is, "You probably did."   So, let me ask a couple of questions: 1) If it's repeated, doesn't that make it important?  2) If you're already read it before, shouldn't you remember some of it more accurately? Happy reading! DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 28-29 & Psalm 62 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 28:1-14 If the people follow the commands of God, they are told they can expect blessings in return.   These blessings will "overtake" the people. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 If the people do not follow the commands of God, they can expect to be cursed in return.  Notice the imbalance of the amount of blessings verses the amount of curses. The difference between the blessings and the curses is that these curses will pursue and overtake t
Post a Comment
Read more