Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 2:11-25 which covers Moses killing an Egyptian whom he saw beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren, and it covers his subsequent escape to the land of Midian (and his sojourn there) after Pharaoh tried to kill him. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=NASB
“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.” Exodus 2:23-25.
————————-
God does not forget His covenant. God does not need to be reminded of His covenant.
“8 He has remembered His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.” Psalm 105:8-9.
Psalm Chapter 105 then reminds us of the wonderful deeds that God did for Israel.
“1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
4 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
5 Remember His wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham, His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
7 He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.” Psalm 105:1-7.
And, verse 6 above reminds us that His covenant is with “His chosen ones”.
Some may bristle against God’s covenant being with His chosen ones. They may think God’s blessing should be upon the strong self-made ones in wisdom or works or faith, “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.
“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8.
In today’s Scripture, the sons of Israel brought nothing to the table in terms of their own strength. They cried out. They cried for help. They groaned. But, even those cries did not merit God’s deliverance. God delivered Israel, because “God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Verse 24.
Throughout history, many cry out to God for help, but God does not necessarily save and deliver them.
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.” Isaiah 1:15.
“Therefore thus says the Lord, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them.” Jeremiah 11:11.
God saves and delivers those within His covenant, His people, His chosen ones.
“42 For He remembered His holy word
With Abraham His servant;
43 And He brought forth His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful shout.” Psalm 105:42-43.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 