Exodus 18

“Moses' father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good’” (v17). Moses’ limitations were obvious in the battle against Amalek, when he needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms (ch 17). Yet, he was still overestimating his strength, serving as the only judge/counselor/spiritual advisor for thousands of people. Jethro told him bluntly that this was “too heavy” a task and it would wear him out (v18). Jethro directed him to delegate authority to trustworthy men who could lead others well.

“If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure ...” (v23). Our culture values self-reliance, but God uses our limitations to reveal our need for others. No task is “too heavy” when we are not alone.

Exodus 17

“Why do you test the Lord?” (v2). The Israelites were understandably worried when they camped at Rephidim and found no water nearby. However, their natural thirst and concern quickly turned into grumbling, quarreling, and demanding water from Moses. They had forgotten the power of the God who had sent terrible plagues to make Pharaoh release them and had parted the Red Sea for them to cross. They panicked and attacked Moses: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” (v3).

“Is the Lord among us or not?” (v7). God had not abandoned the Israelites, though they were camped at a difficult place. He had delivered them in the past and remained their Savior.

Matthew 19:16-30

“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (v21). The young man with “great possessions” was willing to live an upright life and seemed eager to do even more to gain eternal life (v16). Yet he “went away sorrowful” when Jesus asked him to give up his wealth. The rich man wanted to keep his self- security (his wealth) and do good things, but Jesus asked him to surrender his whole life for the sake of “treasure in heaven”.

“Come, follow me” (v21). King Jesus calls us to leave behind the world’s false promises of safety and fulfillment for the true security of life with him (v28).

Matthew 19:1-15

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (v4-5). The Pharisees came to Jesus with a tricky question about the legalities of divorce. But Jesus directed them to “the beginning” – God’s purpose for men and women before sin entered the world. Rather than focus on what was ‘permitted’, Jesus wanted them to remember what God desired.

The complications of life and “hard hearts” are part of reality, but Jesus teaches us to lift our eyes to “the kingdom of heaven” (v8,12,14). Remembering God’s good purposes re-orients us in his direction.

Psalm 13

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (v1). Like many people, the psalmist’s experience of suffering made him feel as if the Lord had forgotten him, or as if the Lord had turned his attention away. Even so, his faith causedhim to cry out to the Lord and ask “how long” his difficult times would last. His desire was for victory; he wanted the Lord to show up and bring life, rather than the death and despair of the enemy (v3-4).

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love ... he has dealt bountifully with me” (v5-6). We cry out in our dark times because we trust in God’s steadfast love. He is the faithful one, and he will not fail us.

Exodus 15-16

“The people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not” (16:4). After the miraculous escape through the sea, the Israelites found themselves without resources and panicked again. The text mentions their “grumblings” eight times! God’s answer was to provide manna from heaven, but they could not store it up; they had to gather it daily. The Lord wanted them to grow in trust and faith, not just be satisfied with bread.

“Morning by morning they gathered it” (16:21). Our lives are about more than food, shelter, and sufficient resources. The Lord invites us to trust him as Father, surrender control, and enter a life of faith and adventure.

Exodus 14

“For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (v12). When the last terrible plague convinced Pharaoh to release the Israelites, they marched out into freedom in the wilderness. But when they realized the sea blocked their path and the army was pursuing them, they panicked, thinking that their previous slavery was better than death. However, Moses told the people to “go forward” (v15), because “the Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (v14).

“Fear not, stand firm” (v13). Sometimes when we step out in faith, we are confronted by immediate obstacles and even threats. The Lord calls us to remain steady, on course, confident in God’s strength, not our own.

Exodus 13

“Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out” (13:3). The rescue from Egypt was Israel’s formative event, and they remembered it by a week-long festival as well as how they treated first-borns. These actions reminded subsequent generations that they owed their freedom to the Lord’s saving power. Later, they were given the Law and a home in Canaan, but it all started with God’s gracious rescue.

“It is because of what the Lord did for me” (13:8). Just like Israel, we remember and recount what God did for us. We can live as his beloved children because, while we were helpless, he rescued us.

Exodus 11-12

“At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt” (41:12). After four centuries in Egypt, the Israelites were accustomed to being the minority slaves; they knew little about the Lord (3:13). But the God of Abraham, source of life and death (12:33), interrupted history to save them. By faith, those who put the blood of a slain lamb on their doorposts, even “a mixed multitude”, were set free from the bondage of Egypt (12:38).

“The blood shall be a sign for you” (12:13). Years of bondage, terrible darkness, hopelessness and despair – nothing we face is stronger than the rescuing love and power of the Lord, our Passover Lamb.

Matthew 18

“Pay what you owe” (v28). The disciples asked Jesus “how often” they should forgive others, and Jesus answered with a parable. In it, even though an employer had forgiven his servant a large sum, the servant went on to violently demand what was owed him by someone else (v28-30). The servant refused to step out of the cycle of debt/blame/anger, even though he had been given mercy, Jesus warned his followers about thinking they could “get” forgiveness without repentance. Receiving the King’s mercy includes being changed by it (v35).

“Unless you turn and become like children ...” (v2). Our human nature wants to hang on to our grievances, rights, and power. Through Jesus, the Father invites us into a better life of forgiveness and mercy.

Matthew 17

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (v5). Peter, James, and John saw Jesus “transfigured”, bright as light; Elijah and Moses appeared and talked to him, and God the Father spoke from heaven. They struggled to understand how this glorious Messiah, beloved Son, was destined to “certainly suffer” at the hands of men (v12, 22). The disciples were “greatly distressed” (v23) at the thought of their Master – who had power over demons (v18) – being humiliated by his enemies.

“The sons are free” (v26). As beloved children of God through Christ, we are “free” and share Jesus’ secure fellowship with the Father. And like him, we are called to freely offer ourselves for the sake of the world God loves.

Psalm 12

“Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man” (v1). The psalmist was weary of the sinful ways promoted by his world: people lying to and manipulating one another, boasting about their own power, and declaring that no one was “master” over them (v2- 4). This prideful, winner-take-all world caused the needy to “groan”, and the Lord responded: “I will now arise” to rescue them (v5).

“The words of the Lord are pure words” (v6). The Lord is unchanging, totally trustworthy, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He opposes the proud, values the humble, and cares about the needy and suffering. Even when our cultur

Exodus 10

“That you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson ... I am the LORD” (v2). God told Moses to demand the release of the Israelite slaves, not just for their own sakes, but for the sake of future generations. Pharaoh himself understood that the Israelites wanted a different future for their families – thus he refused to release their “little ones” (v10). But Moses repeated that the Lord wanted them to leave, adults, children, and even livestock for offerings (v26),

New generations, our “sons and daughters” (v9), need to know the story of God’s mighty acts of deliverance. The God that rescued the Israelite slaves from Egypt is more powerful than every threat, danger, and spiritual enemy we face today.

Exodus 9

“So that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth” (9:14). As long as Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, the Egyptians experienced ever-increasing plagues. More than just punishment for Pharaoh’s hard heart, the plagues demonstrated that God was mightier than even the Egyptian empire. Some heeded the message, like those who hid their livestock when Moses said hail was coming (9:21). But Pharaoh kept “exalting” himself above God and God’s people (9:16).

“So that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (9:16). In a fallen world where the strong oppress the weak, proclaiming God’s name means announcing His just, kind, righteous rule. We long for His name and His ways to fill the earth.

Exodus 7-8

“There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts” (8:21). At first, the powers of Egypt seemed to match whatever was done by Moses and Aaron in their confrontation with Pharaoh. The magicians made their staffs turn into serpents (7:10), and they also imitated the plagues of blood and frogs (7:22; 8:7). Eventually the magicians admitted God’s power was greater (8:19), but Pharaoh refused to relent. His biggest concern was maintaining his own god-like authority.

“Let my people go, that they may serve me” (8:20). The most powerful idol that must be toppled is human pride. God will allow “no other gods” – not even self- worship

Exodus 6

“I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them” (v6). Moses and Aaron were chosen to deliver the Lord’s amazing promises to the enslaved Israelites, but the people “did not listen” because of their “broken spirit and harsh slavery” (v9). Generations of mistreatment as a minority people had crushed their hopes, and they could not imagine a different future. Nonetheless, God was already working for their deliverance.

“I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God” (v7). Even when we are discouraged and hopeless, God is at work for our redemption. His plan to make us His beloved children through Christ surpasses all our hopes.

Matthew 16:21-28

“For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (v23). Peter “rebuked” Jesus because of his talk about suffering and dying (v22). Peter preferred a powerful leader who would win, not suffer the humiliation of the cross. But Jesus said that according to the “things of God”, God’s design, it was necessary for him to give up his life to save us. His disciples were called to follow the same path (v24).

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (v25). Jesus defeated sin and death by willingly giving up his life. He invites us to surrender ourselves, confident that although we may miss out on some worldly goods, we will discover true, abundant life.

Matthew 16:1-20

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v11). While the disciples were distracted by concerns about daily needs (v5), Jesus said that they were facing bigger threats than skipping a meal. Jesus cared about their physical needs (he multiplied bread twice, v9) but he was even more concerned about their hearts. He did not want them to fall into the hypocrisy or pride of the religious leaders, who demanded “a sign from heaven” (v1), as if Jesus needed their approval.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v16). Having “faith” in Jesus as God’s Son, the Messiah King, means leaving behind our pride and self-idolatry to fully embrace his ways, his pattern, and his authority.

Psalm 11

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v3). With the foundations of society collapsing, the psalmist heard the call to escape: “Flee like a bird to your mountain” (v1). Although the darkness was full of danger (v2), the psalmist refused to panic. Instead, he said, “in the Lord I take refuge” (v1). Amid turmoil, the psalmist stood firmly on the rock of God’s unshakeable reign: “the Lord is in his holy temple” (v4). God sees clearly and judges right and wrong, even in confusing circumstances (v4-6).

“For the Lord is righteous ... the upright shall behold his face” (v7). When the world around us is shaking, we can look at our Lord, see His goodness, and take courage. His kingdom will prevail.

Exodus 4-5

“Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens” (5:4). Moses and Aaron gathered Israel’s elders and told them all that God promised to do (4:29-30). The people “believed” the message, were thankful, and “bowed their heads and worshipped” (4:31). But after Moses confronted Pharaoh, the Egyptians placed heavier burdens on the Israelites. They blamed Moses (5:21), and Moses cried out to God, “Why did you ever send me?” Things were getting worse, and “you have not delivered your people at all” (5:22-23).

“I have come down to deliver them” (3:8). God’s deliverance of Israel was not immediate, yet in the end it was deeper and better than they had dreamed. Our Deliverer keeps his promises.