Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 2:15-25.
“When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
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 2:15-25.
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Moses may have been a sojourner in a foreign land, but he ”settled” in the land. Verse 15. Moses did good. “Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.” Verse 17. After Reuel, the priest of Midian who had seven daughters that Moses was willing to help, and Reuel invited him to have something to eat, “Moses was willing to dwell with the man”. Verse 21.
Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21) and we are called to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2), but we are also called to trust in the LORD, do good, and dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Sometimes, this will involve being in a place where our family has lived for generations that we consider permanent. Sometimes, this will involve being in a place that we consider temporary. We may have fled there like Moses. Or, we may have come to it in our wanderings. Like me, we may have gone to college or graduate school there and stayed in the area. Or, we may have moved to an area later in our life as a place of new employment. But, we discern that it is God’s will, even His providence for us, and we trust in the LORD, do good, dwell in the land, and cultivate faithfulness.
“3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4.
We also rest in the LORD and wait patiently.
“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9.
“For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:13-15.
We see the result of Moses’ patience.
“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.” Verses 23-25.
And, there is hope for us too!
“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 