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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 30 December 2024:
Exodus 2:1 – Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.
God calls his people to continue to grow, to be fruitful, and to multiply even (perhaps particularly) during hard times. Despite living in bondage, the Israelites continued to have children and continued to remain strong as a people. In fact, it was their population growth and unity as a people which caused the Egyptians to fear the Israelites. How we respond to life’s continual challenges matters. Remain positively faithful and hopeful through all things, and continue to grow in Christ everyday no matter what is happening in your life.
Moses was a Levite, the descendant of Levi, along with Moses’ brother Aaron who became the first high priest of Israel. The Levites were set apart by God for a priestly role, but if you recall, the tribe of Levi began in violence when Levi and his brother Simeon murdered an entire town’s males to avenge Dinah, their sister who was defiled by and then married to Shechem. Remember, when Jacob gives his final blessings to his sons, he curses Levi for his anger (Genesis 49:5-7). Yet as we read on, we will see how God in His grace and mercy transforms the hearts of broken people for His noble purposes. How is God working in your life to equip you for your priestly role?
- 1 Peter 2:9-12 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Exodus 2:9-10: — And 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. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
No one could possibly understand that God’s plan was to ensure that Moses would get the best of Hebrew and Egyptian upbringing with special access to both communities for a great future mission. Only Moses would be able to speak to the Egyptian leadership as an insider while leading the Jews as a Jew.
Exodus 2:12 – He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Here Moses acts like a Levite, known for their violent treachery. You cannot fight for justice unjustly. Doing the wrong things in the wrong way for the right reasons is still wrong. As a Christian, you will be tempted to respond to people and situations the way you did before God made you a New Creation. Don’t do it! Do not be led by your old passions and desires; be led by the Spirit.
A lack of faith leads you to believe sin is sometimes required. On the other hand, faith gives us the courage and confidence to remain faithful and obedient when faithfulness appears costly if not catastrophic — For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36) Don’t be deceived, sin always robs you of God’s best for you, regardless how expedient it might appear. As someone once said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay.” More importantly, sin always dishonors the LORD.
Exodus 2:13, 14 – When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.”
People observe your behavior more than you think they do. If you have damaged your credibility due to your actions, you have damaged your influence for Christ. Moses murdered and then tried to “preach” to others against unjust violence. When Christians don’t do what they say, they dishonor God and discredit the Gospel before men. Christians who don’t walk the talk are viewed as judgmental by others.
Exodus 2:12-15 – When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian.
God’s plan included using a wanted criminal, a murderer, for His purposes. You never know what God is doing in the lives of others. Don’t presume to know, just proclaim Christ to all and demonstrate the love of Christ to all.
Exodus 2:19 – They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
God gave Moses a heart for justice and the heart of a deliverer, but He needed to learn humility, and He needed to know God personally. God IS Justice. Justice comes from God and cannot be understood apart from God. God IS Love also. Likewise, you cannot really love apart from God, the source of love.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 30 December 2024: Pray that God will help you see how He has used, and continues to use, the experiences of your life, good and bad, to build your character and prepare you for increased faithful service to Him and others. Pray that He will also reveal to you places within your character where you still need to submit to His will. In the meantime, trust and obey today, and avoid even the perception of sin in your attitudes, words, and actions.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 