Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 5:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+5&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.  

“And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”  But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?  I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”  Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us.  Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”  But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work?  Get back to your labors!”  Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”  So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously;  let them go and gather straw for themselves.  But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them;  you are not to reduce any of it.  Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’  Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”  Exodus 5:1-9.

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Everyone claims to be speaking the truth. But, consider that it was Pharaoh, not Moses, who was speaking all these false words.

The world bombards us with false words through TV, internet, and all other types of media.  In addition, the world surrounds us by people that we meet in person with false words through employment, schools, and social contacts.

In the sharpest contrast to the false words that we hear all around us, there is the truth of God’s Word.

We can use Pharaoh’s words highlighted in bold italic above to teach a lesson. Christians should “work at it (studying and teaching God’s Word) so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.  …”  2 Timothy 2:15-17.   

Furthermore, in today’s Scripture, Pharaoh commanded: “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously”. But, so to speak, we do not need straw. We have God’s Word!

“… What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?” Jeremiah 23:28-29.

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;  Avoid such men as these. … always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  …

…  You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 7 and 14-17.