Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s Scripture comes from Exodus 3:13-22.

“13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. 21 I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:13-22.

——————————

God’s words in today’s Scripture helped Moses, the sons of Israel, and even us today, believe that God can and will help us.

God can help us.

God is the One and Only Almighty “LORD, the God”. “I AM WHO I AM”. “This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

God can do miracles. “I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.

God will help us.

God is our Father, “the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

God cares about us. “I am indeed concerned about you”. “I will bring you up out of the affliction”.

God even gives us plunder and splendor, silver and gold and good land, “you will not go empty-handed”. “I will bring you … to a land flowing with milk and honey.”

The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that when we confess in the Apostle’s Creed that we “believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”, we confess that He is not only Almighty God, but that He is also our Faithful Father Who “will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage”.

Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father. Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 3:10-12.

“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” Exodus 3:10-12.

————-

Generally, we may wonder too: “Who am I, that I should … (do my mission, assignment, or job)?” Specifically, on this Monday morning, we may feel weak and unprepared.

But, as God assured Moses, God assures us today: “Certainly I will be with you … it is I who have sent you”.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“Certainly I will be with you”

Genesis 26:24

The Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

Genesis 28:15

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Isaiah 41:10

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 43:5

“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west.

Jeremiah 1:8

“Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:19

They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 15:20

“Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 42:11

Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand.

Haggai 2:4

But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts.

Matthew 28:20

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 18:10

for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”

“it is I who have sent you”

Genesis 45:7

God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Numbers 16:28

Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing.

Judges 6:14

The Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”

Zechariah 2:11

“Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

Luke 22:35

And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”

John 4:38

I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

John 17:18

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

John 20:21

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 3:1-9.

“1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.” Exodus 3:1-9.

————————-

If we read this Scripture alone, we may think of God as the great reactor. Man acts, then God reacts. Man cries for help, then God helps.

But, in a parallel Scripture which soon follows, we understand that God initiates.  God is sovereign and controls all events.  God specifically established his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before the bondage of Israel to Egypt.  God planned and promised to give them the land of Canaan, and God controlled all events to accomplish His plan and promise.

“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.”

God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord.’” Exodus 6:1-8.

“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,

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‘;

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.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure. Total Perfect Triumph.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 2:11-25 which covers Moses killing an Egyptian whom he saw beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren, and it covers his subsequent escape to the land of Midian (and his sojourn there) after Pharaoh tried to kill him. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=NASB

“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 2:23-25.

————————-

God does not forget His covenant. God does not need to be reminded of His covenant.

“8 He has remembered His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac.” Psalm 105:8-9.

Psalm Chapter 105 then reminds us of the wonderful deeds that God did for Israel.

“1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

3 Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

4 Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face continually.

5 Remember His wonders which He has done,

His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth,

6 O seed of Abraham, His servant,

O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

7 He is the Lord our God;

His judgments are in all the earth.” Psalm 105:1-7.

And, verse 6 above reminds us that His covenant is with “His chosen ones”.

Some may bristle against God’s covenant being with His chosen ones. They may think God’s blessing should be upon the strong self-made ones in wisdom or works or faith, “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. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8.

In today’s Scripture, the sons of Israel brought nothing to the table in terms of their own strength. They cried out. They cried for help. They groaned. But, even those cries did not merit God’s deliverance. God delivered Israel, because “God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Verse 24.

Throughout history, many cry out to God for help, but God does not necessarily save and deliver them.

“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.” Isaiah 1:15.

“Therefore thus says the Lord, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them.” Jeremiah 11:11.

God saves and delivers those within His covenant, His people, His chosen ones.

“42 For He remembered His holy word

With Abraham His servant;

43 And He brought forth His people with joy,

His chosen ones with a joyful shout.” Psalm 105:42-43.

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

“Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:1-10.

———————-

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Hebrews 11:23.

Faith motivates us to take action like faith motivated the parents of Moses to defy the king’s edict and hide Moses.

But, neither the actions by Moses or our actions would be successful if God did not cause those actions to be successful. With the actions of the parents of Moses, we can easily understand that point. Without God’s intervention, Moses could have easily died by drowning or by exposure or by animals or by people who would obey the king’s edict.

God caused Moses to be drawn out of the water. God showed further lovingkindness to Moses’ mother by causing Pharaoh’s daughter to choose Moses’ mother to nurse him and even causing Pharaoh’s daughter to pay for such nursing services.

“Irresistible Grace” draws us from death to life. “Irresistible Grace” draws us to saving faith. “Irresistible Grace” draws us to success in our faith-motivated actions. “Irresistible Grace” is the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” Jeremiah 31:3.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16.

“Now his master saw that the Lord was with him (Joseph) and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.” Genesis 39:3.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.

“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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:5-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus Chapter 1. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” 11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; 16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.” Exodus 1:7-21.

—————————-

There is sharp contrast on how the Egyptians treated the sons of Israel versus how the midwives treated the sons of Israel. We often focus on the Egyptians and how the Egyptians made the lives of the sons of Israel “bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them”. Verse 14. And, we forget or minimize attention on the midwives. Today’s devotion will focus on the midwives.

“But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.” Verse 17. “So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.” Verses 20-21.

“How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19.

But, our natural condition is “Total Depravity”. We are, by natural, more like the Egyptians than like the midwives.

“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 3:10-12.

But, there is hope!

God is at work!

“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.” Jeremiah 32:38-41.

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:10.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 50 which covers the death of Jacob (Israel), the burial of Jacob, and the death of Joseph. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” Genesis 50:24-26.

—————————-

It is understandable that Joseph’s brothers needed such assurance that God would take care of them as they faced both Jacob’s death and later Joseph’s impending death. First, with Jacob’s death, “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” Verse 15. Joseph did assure them: “So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Verse 21. But then, second, later, as Joseph’s brothers faced Joseph’s impending death, they likely feared what would happen after their protector and provider (Joseph) died, and they would be left in a strange land with foreigners. So, Joseph assured them twice: “God will surely take care of you”.

We too tend to get too dependent on others to protect us and provide for us. We need to remember that although God uses others (family and friends) to protect us and provide for us, it is ultimately God Who takes care of us.

The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that when we confess in the Apostle’s Creed that we “believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”, we confess that He is not only Almighty God, but that He is also our Faithful Father Who “will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage”.

Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father. Heidelberg Catechism.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11.

“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 49 which covers Jacob’s summaries of the life of each son and prophecies for each son. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+49&version=NASB

I quote verse the following verse.

“For Your salvation I wait, O Lord.” Genesis 49:18.

————————–

We may want our own salvation based on our own works. We may want our own salvation based on our own alleged “free-will” faith. We may want our own salvation based on our own sons or other saviors.  And, on whatever basis we want our salvation based, we may want our salvation when we want it.

But, Jacob recognized that even though he lived a long life and had many works, many experiences of his own faith, and even many sons, and was even near death, he waited for God’s salvation. He declared in the middle of his summaries of the life of each son and prophecies for each son: “For Your salvation I wait, O Lord.” Verse 18.

God’s salvation is based on God’s “Unconditional Election”, God’s “Limited Atonement”, God’s “Irresistable Grace”, and God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.”  Psalm 25:5.

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.”  Psalm 62:1.

“My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.”  Psalm 119:81.

“And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”  Isaiah 25:9.

“O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their strength every morning, Our salvation also in the time of distress.”  Isaiah 33:2.

“My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.”  Isaiah 51:5.

“It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord.”  Lamentations 3:26.

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”  Micah 7:7.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 48 which covers Jacob’s last days and his blessing upon Ephraim and Manasseh. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+48&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

15 He blessed Joseph, and said,

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil,

Bless the lads;

And may my name live on in them,

And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Genesis 48:15-16.

————————

What is your life testimony?  What do people think of you?

Do people mostly perceive you groaning about your aches or pains?  Or, do people mostly perceive you praising God?

“12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,

He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Planted in the house of the Lord,

They will flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They will still yield fruit in old age;

They shall be full of sap and very green,

15 To declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15.

In today’s Scripture, Jacob gave his life testimony as “The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day”. Verse 15.

To the Egyptians, shepherds were “loathsome”. Genesis 46:34.

But, to Israel:

“1The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm Chapter 23.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 47 which covers Jacob’s family settling in the area of Goshen in Egypt in the seven years of severe famine which occurred in all the land of Canaan and Egypt. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+47&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to their little ones.” Genesis 47:11-12.

“Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.” Genesis 47:27-28.

—————–

We remember Joseph’s words. “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.” Genesis 45:7. God indeed did preserve Jacob’s family. And, today’s Scripture shows that God did more than just prevent Jacob’s family from starving, God “gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land”, and God caused Jacob’s family to acquire property and become “fruitful” and “very numerous”.

“16 Better is the little of the righteous

Than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,

But the Lord sustains the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

And their inheritance will be forever.

19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,

And in the days of famine they will have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;

And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,

They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,

But the righteous is gracious and gives.

22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,

But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,

Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

25 I have been young and now I am old,

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

Or his descendants begging bread.

26 All day long he is gracious and lends,

And his descendants are a blessing.” Psalm 37:16-26.

“1 Praise the Lord!

How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who greatly delights in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

And his righteousness endures forever.

4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright;

He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;

He will maintain his cause in judgment.

6 For he will never be shaken;

The righteous will be remembered forever.

7 He will not fear evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:1-7.