#896 - AN ANCIENT TEST

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and 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." Exodus 16:4

For the nation of Israel, God’s provision had a duel purpose.

Food and formation.
Sustenance and sanctification.
Hunger assistance and holiness assessment!

What was the goal of the test?

Come to me…daily.
Rely on me…daily.
Obey me…daily.

TRUST. ME. DAILY.

Maybe, this is also one of the purposes of God’s provision in our lives today. Maybe, God is not finished using provision as a test. Maybe, this is why Jesus teaches his disciples to pray…

“Give us this day our daily bread...” Matthew 6:11

“More” isn’t bad—it just doesn’t teach us to trust God like “exactly enough” does.

#895 - AN UNDERESTIMATED SIGN OF STRENGTH

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13

I know you want to fight back.
I know you want to speak up.
I know you want to lash out.

You can’t see yourself “surviving” if you don’t.
You can’t see justice “prevailing” if you don’t.
You can’t see the Church “overcoming” if you don’t.

But, maybe the word of the Lord to you in this current season is…

BE SILENT.

In the life of a citizen of the Kingdom of God, sometimes “taking a stand” means “shutting your mouth.”

There is more than one occasion in the Scriptures where radical silence preceded supernatural victory…

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

#894 - NEED DELIVERANCE?

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 from this place. Exodus 13:3

For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9

By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Exodus 13:14

…for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt. Exodus 13:16

The phrase is repeated because the truth needs to be remembered.

Nothing can keep you STUCK IN what God's strong hands have determined to bring you OUT OF!

God is a Deliverer.

REMEMBER.

#893 - WOULD YOU GIVE THANKS FOR THIS?!?

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Exodus 7:3

Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. Exodus 11:9

God's "delays" derive from His desire to more demonstratively display His dominion.

Give thanks, today, for what seems like a prolonging of God's plan. A perfect, pre-determined presentation of His power is the point!

HOLD. ON.

#892 - FOUR FACETS OF THE COMPASSION OF GOD

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Exodus 2:23-25

1. God heard their prayers.

   • Every cry. Every groan. Every care. Every prayer you pray…God hears them all.

   • “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1 John 5:14

2. God remembered His promise.

   • Every covenant. Every promise. Every commitment. Every guarantee that God has ever made…God remembers them all.

   • “He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations…” Psalm 105:8

3. God saw His people.

   • God isn’t blind. God isn’t ignorant. God isn’t unaware. Every person, in every place, during every time…God sees them all.

   • So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:13

4. God knew His plan.

   • Every detail. Every twist. Every turn. Every way God’s perfect will is going to be fulfilled…God knows them all.

   • “For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20

God hears. God remembers. God sees. God knows.

TRUST.