Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 8:20-24.

“Now the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses;  and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell.  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.  Tomorrow this sign will occur.”’”  Then the LORD did so.  And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 8:20-24.

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There is a sharp contrast between on how God treats His people and how God treats the others (in this case, the Egyptians).   

“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, …”  Verse 22.

“I will put a division between My people and your people.  …”  Verse 23.

“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.

“But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The LORD hears when I call to Him.” Psalm 4:3.

“4 The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:4-6.

“The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33.

“No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.” Proverbs 12:21.

“The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.” Proverbs 13:9.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 8:1-15.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs.  The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.  So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.”’”  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”  So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.  The magicians did the same with their secret arts, making frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the LORD that He remove the frogs from me and from my people;  and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”  Moses said to Pharaoh, “The honor is yours to tell me:  when shall I entreat for you and your servants and your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, that they may be left only in the Nile?”

Then he said, “Tomorrow.”  So he said, “May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.  The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your servants and your people;  they will be left only in the Nile.”  Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD concerning the frogs which He had inflicted upon Pharaoh.  The LORD did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, the courts, and the fields.  So they piled them in heaps, and the land became foul.  But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.”  Exodus 8:1-15.

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How should we respond to God when He gives us relief?

“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.”  Verse 15.

We may not be as bad as Pharaoh, but, too often we quickly turn our attention to worldly things and do not thank God as we should.   

The following Scriptures gives us good examples of how we can respond. We can meditate on God’s works and tell others of His works.  We can give thanks to God.  We can sing praises to God.  We can go to church with offerings.  We can pay our vows.  

“2 O LORD my God,
I cried to You for help, and You healed me.
3 O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:2-5.

“11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalm 30:11-12.

“19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.” Psalm 107:19-22.

“12 You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.” Psalm 66:12-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 7:14-25.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn;  he refuses to let the people go.  Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile;  and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.  You shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.  But behold, you have not listened until now.”  Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD:  behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.  The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile.”’”  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, that they may become blood;  and there will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”

So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD had commanded.  And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.  The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile.  And the blood was through all the land of Egypt.  But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts;  and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.  Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house with no concern even for this.  So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the Nile.  Seven days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.”  Exodus 7:14-25.

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God could have compelled Pharaoh to let His people go after one miracle.  After all, God simply summarized His work in Exodus 6:1.  “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh;  for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”  But, God wanted to show off His power by many miracles.  

“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.

“11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.” Psalm 77:11-15.

“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.  

God could have wiped out Pharaoh and his army in the first miracle rather than in the last miracle.  But, God wanted to distinguish the saved (those on whom He shows mercy) from the unsaved (those whom He hardens). 

“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.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 7:8-13.

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’”  So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded;  and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.  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.  Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.”  Exodus 7:8-13.

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It would have been a good enough miracle for God to only change Aaron’s staff into a serpent.  But, God also caused Aaron’s staff to swallow up the staffs of the magicians of Egypt.

So to speak, this double miracle leads us to consider that later God caused the sea to swallow up Pharaoh’s chariots and his army.  “The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them;  not even one of them remained.”  Exodus 14:28.

“3 “The LORD is a warrior;
The LORD is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.” Exodus 15:3-6.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

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

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.  You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land.  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.  The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”  So Moses and Aaron did it;  as the LORD commanded them, thus they did.  Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”  Exodus 7:1-7.

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Many have a god who refuses, or is at least reluctant, to react and interfere with man’s alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine has the God of Scripture Who initiates and intercedes and accomplishes all of His good pleasure.  See Isaiah 46:9-11. 

Twice, in today’s Scripture, God uses vivid personal language, “My hand”, to describe His action. So to speak, God “takes things into His own hands”.   

“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.”

“I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”

“14 Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
15 Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the LORD saw,
And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
16 And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18 According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the LORD drives.
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 59:14-20.

Reformed Doctrine has the God of Scripture Who delights in exercising lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth. 

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 6:1.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh;  for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”  Exodus 6:1.

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Is God, a God of Free-Will or a God of Compulsion?

Today’s Scripture states twice what God will do.  “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh;  for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

Man rebels against against the God of Compulsion.

Man prefers the god of free-will who is at man’s beck-and-call.

It is ironic and laughable in ridiculousness that man thinks it is more unfair for God to be sovereign than it is unfair for Pharaoh to be sovereign and hold Israel under such brutal slavery.

But, does God relent to man and give up His sovereignty?

No!

“Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm chapter 1.

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.