Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 10:3-11.

“Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?  Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.  They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land.  They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what is left to you from the hail—and they will eat every tree which sprouts for you out of the field.  Then your houses shall be filled and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.’”  And he turned and went out from Pharaoh.  Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us?  Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God.  Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”  So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God!  Who are the ones that are going?”  Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old;  with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”  Then he said to them, “Thus may the LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go!  Take heed, for evil is in your mind.  Not so!  Go now, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you desire.”  So they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.”  Exodus 10:3-11.

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Moses requested from Pharaoh that everyone be allowed to go to the feast to the LORD.  “Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old;  with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”  Verse 9.

But, Pharaoh only gave permission to allow the men to go, and Moses and Aaron were driven out of his presence. 

Today’s Scripture reminds us that God commands all, both old and young, to worship him.

“12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
Praise for all His godly ones;
Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
Praise the LORD!” Psalm 148:12-14.

“And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.”  Deuteronomy 12:12.

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them;  but the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me;  do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.”  Mark 10:13-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 10:1-2.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”  Exodus 10:1-2.

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“23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” 1 Chronicles 16:23-31.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-9.

“15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them.
16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?” Psalm 71:15-19.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 9:22-26.

“Now the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”  Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth.  And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.  So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.  The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast;  the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.”  Exodus 9:22-26.

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Through the plagues sent by the LORD, we continue to see the sharp distinction that the LORD made between His people and the Egyptians.  “The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast;  the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.”  Verses 25-26.

As additional examples of the sharp distinction that the LORD made between His people and the Egyptians, consider also the following verses.

“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.  I will put a division between My people and your people.  …”  Exodus 8:22-23. 

“But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’”  Exodus 9:4.

“But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’”  Exodus 11:7.

More generally, these and other Scriptures give us hope of God’s special protection for His people.

“5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.” Psalm 91:5-10.

“5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121:5-8.

“20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 9:18-21.

“Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety.  Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’”  The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses;  but he who paid no regard to the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.    Exodus 9:18-21.

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“… “But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2.

Like “The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD” and “made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses”, and whom we can presume saved himself, his family, his servants, and his livestock according to the word of the LORD, even though many may consider them outside the the circle of God’s people, they can fear the word of the LORD and take action in trust of it.

“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11.

They can also pray.  They can also attend church.  They can also seek and use whatever other means of grace are available to them.   

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination. 

Article 16.  Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.  Much less cause have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, though they seriously desire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that measure of holiness and faith to which they aspire;  since a merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.  …  

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he (Christ) send forth judgment unto victory.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.”  Matthew 12:20-21.  King James Version.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 9:13-17.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.  For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth.  But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.  Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.”  Exodus 9:13-17.

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“But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”  Verse 16. 

“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.  When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments.”  Exodus 7:3-4. 

“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Romans 9:17-18.

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:4.

“Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”  Exodus 14:30-31.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” Romans 9:22-24.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 9:8-12.

“Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.  It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.”  So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh;  and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.  The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.  And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.”  Exodus 9:8-12.

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It is interesting that today’s Scripture expressly and specifically points out:  “The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.”  Verse 11.  I presumed that all the plagues fell upon the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.

In any event, it does lead us to consider that although the magicians were allowed by God to copy some of the miracles/plagues to some extent, and the magicians were generally considered wise men, they were humbled by God.  As another example, we do remember the first miracle.  “Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.  For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents.  But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.”  Exodus 7:11-12.   

Today’s Scripture leads us to recognize that God is opposed to the pride and pomp of man. We should be humble and not lean on our own understanding. We should fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7.

“10 For he sees that even wise men die;
The stupid and the senseless alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have called their lands after their own names.
12 But man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.” Psalm 49:10-12.

“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  James 4:6.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  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.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-29.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 9:1-7.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,  behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.  But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’”  The LORD set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”  So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died;  but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.  Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead.  But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.”   Exodus 9:1-7.

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Through all of Scripture, particularly through these miracles a/k/a plagues, we continue to see this very important theme of the LORD making a distinction (a setting apart) between God’s people and the others (in this case, the Egyptians).  Today, we read “But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”  Verse 4.

It was as big of a miracle that “of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died” as it was that “all the livestock of Egypt died”.

There are “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”, and there are “vessels of mercy”.  

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

Consider how growing in the grace and knowledge of this distinction will cause us to be strong and courageous.

Consider how growing in the grace and knowledge of this distinction will cause us to be peaceful and joyful.

Consider how growing in the grace and knowledge of this distinction will cause us to be thankful and praise God.   

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.