Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 18:1-9.

“1 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. 3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.” Exodus 18:1-9.

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Psalm Chapter 78 details God’s faithful guidance and other provisions for His people. It would be reasonable for the sons of Israel to obey God out of gratitude for all that He had done for them and out of servitude for all that He would do for them.

“56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God

And did not keep His testimonies,

57 But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers;

They turned aside like a treacherous bow.

58 For they provoked Him with their high places

And aroused His jealousy with their graven images.

59 When God heard, He was filled with wrath

And greatly abhorred Israel;

60 So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh,

The tent which He had pitched among men,

61 And gave up His strength to captivity

And His glory into the hand of the adversary.

62 He also delivered His people to the sword,

And was filled with wrath at His inheritance.

63 Fire devoured His young men,

And His virgins had no wedding songs.

64 His priests fell by the sword,

And His widows could not weep.” Psalm 78:56-64.

The problem with the conditional covenant (“if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession“) is not it’s unreasonable nature. It is certainly fair.

The problem with the conditional covenant is our sin, our “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;

11 There is none who understands,

There is none who seeks for God;

12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good,

There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-13.

The solution is the unconditional covenant.

“65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,

Like a warrior overcome by wine.

66 He drove His adversaries backward;

He put on them an everlasting reproach.

67 He also rejected the tent of Joseph,

And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But chose the tribe of Judah,

Mount Zion which He loved.

69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,

Like the earth which He has founded forever.

70 He also chose David His servant

And took him from the sheepfolds;

71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him

To shepherd Jacob His people,

And Israel His inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,

And guided them with his skillful hands.” Psalm 78:65-72.

We need a God Who unconditionally chooses us for salvation and Who unconditionally does all that we need to be saved.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30.

“For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 18:13-27.

“It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.” Exodus 18:13-27.

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Elders were important in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We see their role in judging disputes, in exhorting the people in sound doctrine, in refuting those who contradict, and in exercising church discipline.

“Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?  Do you not know that we will judge angels?  How much more matters of this life?  So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?  I say this to your shame.  Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?”  1 Corinthians 6:1-5.

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” Titus 1:5-11.

“… The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin: in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. …” Article 29: Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church. Belgic Confession.

And we, the congregation have a role in relation to the elders.

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 18:1-12.

“1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 The other was named Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. 6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.” Exodus 18:1-12.

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We notice the contrast between the sons of Israel who tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7) and Jethro, this Midian, who “rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.” Verse 9.

Do we rejoice over all the goodness that the LORD has done for us? Or, are we kind of quiet, reserving our joy, measuring our emotions to see what happens next?

Scripture is clear. “The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” Psalm 118:15.

Psalm 32:11

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Psalm 33:3

Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 35:27

Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

Psalm 47:1

O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.

Psalm 66:1

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;

Psalm 71:23

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed.

Psalm 81:1

Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.

Psalm 95:1

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 98:4

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.

Psalm 100:1

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.

Psalm 126:2

Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Psalm 145:7

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Isaiah 12:6

Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 14:7

“The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy.

Isaiah 24:14

They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the Lord.

Isaiah 26:19

Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

Isaiah 35:2

It will blossom profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, The majesty of our God.

Isaiah 35:6

Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.

Isaiah 35:10

And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 42:11

Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

Isaiah 44:23

Shout for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it; For the Lord has redeemed Jacob And in Israel He shows forth His glory.

Isaiah 48:20

Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this, Send it out to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.”

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted.

Isaiah 52:8

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion.

Isaiah 52:9

Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 54:1

“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 55:12

“For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isaiah 61:7

Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs.

Isaiah 65:14

“Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you will wail with a broken spirit.

Zephaniah 3:14

Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

After all, God shouts for joy too!

Psalm 105:43

And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.

Zephaniah 3:17

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 17:8-16.

“Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:8-16.

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A banner is a flag representing a country or person to whom the person or group waving it boasts allegiance. (Bill’s definition).

“5 We will sing for joy over your victory,

And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses,

But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.” Psalm 20:5-7.

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“4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,

That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

5 That Your beloved may be delivered,

Save with Your right hand, and answer us!” Psalm 60:5-6.

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“He has brought me to his banquet hall,

And his banner over me is love.” Song of Solomon 2:4.

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In today’s Scripture, we read: “So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.” Verse 11.

How do we lift up “The Lord is My Banner” and keep “our flag flying”?

Like Moses, our flesh is frail, and we need help. We need a Savior.

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior who declared: “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:31-32.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” John 3:14-15.

“… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Today’s devotion is based on Exodus 17:1-7.

“Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” Exodus 17:1-7.

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Do we test the LORD, or do we trust the LORD? Do we grumble and quarrel, or, do we give thanks and sing for joy?

“8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

9 “When your fathers tested Me,

They tried Me, though they had seen My work.

10 “For forty years I loathed that generation,

And said they are a people who err in their heart,

And they do not know My ways.

11 “Therefore I swore in My anger,

Truly they shall not enter into My rest.” Psalm 95:8-11.

Trust the LORD!

“1 O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,

Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is a great God

And a great King above all gods,

4 In whose hand are the depths of the earth,

The peaks of the mountains are His also.

5 The sea is His, for it was He who made it,

And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

7 For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. …” Psalm 95:1-7.

“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, … Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” Psalm 95:1-2. The following song of trust in God based on Psalm 90 performed by the Psalm Choir seems an appropriate way to do so.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 16:31-36.

“31 The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey. 32 Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Let an omerful of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omerful of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony, to be kept. 35 The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.) Exodus 16:31-36.

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What do we do to remember and to confess to others that the LORD has been faithful to us?

So to speak, the LORD has also fed us in the wilderness and also brought us out of slavery to sin. We should remember God’s faithful care when we become fearful and anxious to calm our hearts and to focus on the LORD. We should also confess God’s faithful care to others to build their faith.

Israel kept an omerful of manna in the their tabernacle. “Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;” Hebrews 9:3-4.

There are various ways that we can remember and confess to others that the LORD has been faithful to us.

We partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Question 75. How are thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s Supper, that thou are a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits?

Answer. Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers, to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, in remembrance of him, adding these promises: first, that his body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and his blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes, the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me; and further, that he feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with his crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ. Heidelberg Catechism.

Holy Baptism also helps us to remember that Christ’s blood washed away all our sins.

Question 69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?

Answer. Thus: That Christ appointed this external washing with water, adding thereto this promise, that I am as certainly washed by his blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, form all my sins, as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away. Heidelberg Catechism.

We can daily read God’s Word to remember that the LORD has been faithful to us.

We can weekly attend worship services to remember that the LORD has been faithful to us.

To remember and confess that the LORD has been faithful to us, we can confess the creeds, including but not limited to: Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dordt, Heidelberg Catechism, and Westminster Larger Confession. Here is a link to an article in my web site on the importance of creeds with links on the right margin to various creeds – https://reformeddoctrine.com/a-plea-for-creeds/

To remember that the LORD has been faithful to us, we can sing songs, particularly songs based on the Psalms.

We can write about our own meditations of Scripture and our own experiences. For example, around 1990, I started to write “Letters to Harry” which I later retitled “Gold Mining”. Here is a link to “Gold Mining” – https://reformeddoctrine.com/covenant-protestant-church-and-quotes-for-the-day/

We can tell our testimony to others.

There are also other ways that we can and do remember and confess to others that the LORD has been faithful to us.

And, we have help to remember and to confess to others that the LORD has been faithful to us.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26.

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 16:22-30.

“Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, then he said to them, “This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? See, the Lord has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.” Exodus 16:22-30.

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“The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures …” Psalm 23:1-2.

Sabbath is a commandment, but it is also a promise and good news. The LORD provides a day of rest in each week for us. The LORD provides enough food for us on the six prior days, so that we do not suffer want on the Sabbath. The LORD promises eternal Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:1-11).

“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” Hebrews 4:1-2.

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 16:8-21.

“8 Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for He has heard your grumblings.’” 10 It came about as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 1 5 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. 19 Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.” Exodus 16:8-21.

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We remember the recent grumblings of the sons of Israel against the LORD. “So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”” Exodus 15:24. “The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3. “Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.” Exodus 16:8.

“11 They forgot His deeds

And His miracles that He had shown them.

12 He wrought wonders before their fathers

In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through,

And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

14 Then He led them with the cloud by day

And all the night with a light of fire.” Exodus 16:11-14.

“17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him,

To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

18 And in their heart they put God to the test

By asking food according to their desire.

19 Then they spoke against God;

They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

20 “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out,

And streams were overflowing;

Can He give bread also?

Will He provide meat for His people?”

21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath;

And a fire was kindled against Jacob

And anger also mounted against Israel,

22 Because they did not believe in God

And did not trust in His salvation.

23 Yet He commanded the clouds above

And opened the doors of heaven;

24 He rained down manna upon them to eat

And gave them food from heaven.

25 Man did eat the bread of angels;

He sent them food in abundance.

26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens

And by His power He directed the south wind.

27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust,

Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp,

Round about their dwellings.

29 So they ate and were well filled,

And their desire He gave to them.

30 Before they had satisfied their desire,

While their food was in their mouths,

31 The anger of God rose against them

And killed some of their stoutest ones,

And subdued the choice men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this they still sinned

And did not believe in His wonderful works.

33 So He brought their days to an end in futility

And their years in sudden terror.” Psalm 78:17-33.

But, there is hope!

“65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,

Like a warrior overcome by wine.

66 He drove His adversaries backward;

He put on them an everlasting reproach.

67 He also rejected the tent of Joseph,

And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But chose the tribe of Judah,

Mount Zion which He loved.

69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,

Like the earth which He has founded forever.

70 He also chose David His servant

And took him from the sheepfolds;

71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him

To shepherd Jacob His people,

And Israel His inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,

And guided them with his skillful hands.” Psalm 78:65-72.

Our hope is in the LORD. “Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O Lord our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has done all these things.” Jeremiah 14:22.

Our hope is not in our gratitude. Despite all that LORD had done for Israel, they continued to grumble and rebel against the LORD.

Our hope is the “Unconditional Election” of the LORD. Free-will sounds great, but the problem is “Total Depravity”. Our only chance of salvation, is that God will unconditionally elect some for salvation and do all that is necessary to obtain and secure their salvation.

“He also rejected the tent of Joseph,

And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

But chose the tribe of Judah,

Mount Zion which He loved.” Psalm 78:67-68.

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,

And guided them with his skillful hands.” Psalm 78:72.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 16:1-7.

“Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and what are we, that you grumble against us?” Exodus 16:1-7.

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Jesus said: “48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:48-51.

“27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:27-40.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 15:22-27.

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.

There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”

Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.” Exodus 15:22-27.

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Israel grumbled. Through God’s grace, we give thanks, not only today on Thanksgiving but on every day.

“1 O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,

Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is a great God

And a great King above all gods,

4 In whose hand are the depths of the earth,

The peaks of the mountains are His also.

5 The sea is His, for it was He who made it,

And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

7 For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

9 “When your fathers tested Me,

They tried Me, though they had seen My work.

10 “For forty years I loathed that generation,

And said they are a people who err in their heart,

And they do not know My ways.

11 “Therefore I swore in My anger,

Truly they shall not enter into My rest.” Psalm Chapter 95.