RTW February 8
God’s Merciful Delay
But I will not drive them out in a single year…
Exodus 23:29a
My Takeaways
Something Old
The LORD sometimes is merciful in rescuing us from ourselves. He takes time to rescue us so we can:
- Witness His mighty hand at work
- Learn to depend on Him
- Get used to the changes He will make in us
Something New
The people agreed to do all the LORD commanded. How do I respond to God after I obey Him?
Something to Do
Be grateful for God’s delay and marvel in His mighty work.
My Takeaways:
I found today’s reading a little on the boring side.
Something Old: God’s principals put into action. Making our wrongs rights.
Something New:
Exodus 22:29 ” You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. You must give me your firstborn sons.” It’s important to give to God first. The Israelite were to remember this and not hold back anything. After all God didn’t hold back on them. He got them safely out of Egypt – now it was time for them to give back to him.
Something To Do:
Do I remember to give to God first. Does God really have first priority in my life? Remember that everything I own and have belongs to God. How easy it is to forget. Matthew 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Do I treasure God and the things that he has provided for me to give back to him first; making sure it’s my best. I must always trust that he will provide for my needs and keep Him first in my life – regardless of how the world may think. Does my life demonstrate that obeying God takes priority over conforming to the world’s way of life? God’s word should always dictate how I should live.
Something Old
Exodus 23:12. “Work for six days and rest on the seventh. ……to be refreshed.”
This is God’s provision for us and for our overall well being. There are always good reasons for God’s laws. I lament the fact that we live in a too-busy culture where there is no day that does not see wide open malls and restaurants and entertainment.
Something New
Exodus 24:9. “Then Moses, Aaron, Nada, Abihu and seventy of the leaders of Israel went up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel.” This was interesting, for if we read it as written, we get the idea that these men actually saw God in His glory and were allowed to live. But once again, there are other places in scripture where it is clearly stated that no man may see God’s face and live. (Exodus 33:20). We are to gather then that this was a partial viewing and one which was obscure enough to keep them safe. Still…..what an amazing moment. God extended this opportunity and it accentuates the solemnity and sacredness of the covenant. Wouldn’t we think this would be enough for each of these men (and those they had influence over) to obey in every possible way?
Something To Do
Exodus 23:3. “Do not slant you testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.” Contrast this with James2:2. “…suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, you can stand over there, or else sit on the floor….well, doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?”
Clearly God condemns prejudice in all it’s forms. And humans are guilty of both. My To Do is to be mindful of either wrong and to not treat anyone differently due to their financial or social status or lack thereof.