Exodus 20:7

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

⁷ No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.

 

 

 

God's name is special because it carries His personal identity. Using it frivolously or in a curse is so common today that we may fail to realize how serious it is. The way we use God's name conveys how we really feel about Him. We should respect His name and use it appropriately, speaking in praise and worship rather than in curse or jest. We should not take lightly the abuse or dishonor of His name.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew 28:5-7

New International Version (NIV)



 

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”





The angel who announced the good news of the resurrection to the women gave them 4 messages: 1.) Do not be afraid. The reality of the resurrection brings joy, not fear. When you are afraid, remember the empty tomb. 2.) He is not here. Jesus is not dead and is not to be looked for among the dead. He is alive, with His people. 3.) Come and see. The women could check the evidence themselves. The tomb was empty then, and it is empty today. 4.) Go quickly and tell. They were to spread the joy of the resurrection. We too are to spread the great news about Jesus' resurrection.




Joe

Enjoy Easter with your family!












 

Exodus 18:8-11

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

⁸ Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. ⁹ Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
¹⁰ “Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! ¹¹ I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”






Moses told his father-in-law all that God had done, convincing him that the Lord was greater than any other god. Our relatives are often the hardest people to tell about God. Yet we should look for opportunities to tell them what God is doing in our lives because we can have an important influence on them.






Joe





























 

Exodus 17:10-13

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^10-13 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.




Aaron and Hur stood by Moses' side and held up his arms to ensure victory against Amalek. We need to "lift up the hands" of our spiritual leaders as well. Shouldering some responsibility, lending a word of encouragement, or offering a prayer are ways of refreshing spiritual leaders in their work.





Joe

















 

Exodus 14:21-22

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, ²² and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.




There was no apparent way of escape, but the Lord opened up a dry path through the sea. Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a problem and see no way out. Don't panic, God can open up a way.




Joe


















 

Exodus 14:15

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

 

 

 

The Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving! Prayer must have a vital place in our lives, but there is also a place for action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus 14:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”





The people were hostile and despairing, but Moses encouraged them to watch the wonderful way God would rescue them. Moses had a positive attitude! When it looked as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intervene. We may not be chased by an army, but we may still feel trapped. Instead of giving in to despair, we should adopt Moses' attitude to "stand firm and...see the deliverence the Lord will bring."






Joe














 

Exodus 14:10-12

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^10-12 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!
They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”





Trapped against the sea, the Israelites faced the Egyptian army sweeping in for the kill. The Israelites thought they were doomed. After watching God's powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, whining, and despair. Where was their trust in God? Israel had to learn from repeated experience that God was able to provide for them. God has preserved these examples in the Bible so that we can learn to trust Him the first time. By focusing on God's faithfulness in the past we can face crises with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.






Joe

What a great weekend we had visiting old friends and worshipping together at Christ the King Community Church in Lancaster, PA.


















 

Exodus 13:21-22

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^20-22 They moved on from Succoth and then camped at Etham at the edge of the wilderness. God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.




God gave the Hebrews a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire so they would know day and night that God was with them on their journey to the promised land. What has God given us so that we can have the same assurance? The Bible - something the Israelites did not have. Look to God's Word for reassurance of His presence. As the Hebrews looked to the pillars of cloud and fire, we can look to God's Word day and night to know He is with us, helping us on our journey.





Joe















 

Exodus 13:17-18

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

Israel’s Wilderness Detour

¹⁷ When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

 

 

 

 

 

God doesn't always work in the way that seems best to us. instead of guiding the Israelites along the direct route from Egypt to the promised land, He took them by a longer route to avoid fighting with the Philistines. If God does not lead you along the shortest path to your goal, don't complain or resist. Follow Him willingly and trust Him to lead you safely around unseen obstacles. He can see the end of your journeyfrom the beginning, and He knows the safest and best route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus 10:2

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

² I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.”

 

 

 

 

God told Moses that his miraculous experiences with Pharaoh should be retold to his descendants. What stories Moses had to tell! Living out one of the greatest dramas in Biblical history, he witnessed events few people would ever see. It is important to tell our children about God's work in our past and to help them see what He is doing right now. What are the turning points in your life where God intervened? What is God doing for you now? Your stories will form the foundations of your children's belief in God.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus 9:12

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

¹² But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.




God gave Pharaoh many opportunities to heed Moses' warnings. But finally God seemed to say, "All right Pharaoh, have it your way," and Pharaoh's heart became permanently hardened. Did God intentionally harden Pharaoh's heart and overrule his free will? No, He simply confirmed that Pharaoh freely chose a life of resisting God. Similarly, after a lifetime of resisting God, you may find it impossible to turn to Him. Don't wait until just the right time before turning to God. Do it now while you still have the chance. If you continually ignore God's voice, eventually you will be unable to hear it at all.






Joe


















 

Exodus 8:16-19

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

A Plague of Gnats

¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” ¹⁷ So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. ¹⁸ Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

¹⁹ “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.




Some people think, "If only I could see a miracle, I could believe in God." God gave Pharoah such an opportunity. When gnats infested Egypt, even the magicians agreed that this was God's work ("the finger of God") - but still Pharaoh refused to believe. He was stubborn , and stubbornness can blind a person to the truth. When you rid yourself of stubborness, you may be surprised by abundant evidence of God's work in your life.






Joe



















 

Exodus 7:17

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

¹⁷ So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood.

 

 

 

 

 

God dramatically turned the waters of the Nile into blood to show Pharoah who He was. Do you sometimes wish for miraculous signs so you can be sure about God? God has given you the miracle of eternal life through your faith in Him, something Pharoah never obtained. This is a quiet miracle and, though less evident right now, just as extraordinary as water turned to blood. The desire for spectacular signs may cause us to ignore the more subtle miracles God is working every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus 6:6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

 

 

 

⁶ Accordingly, say to the Israelites, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage, and I will rescue you with an outstretched arm [with special and vigorous action] and by mighty acts of judgment.

 

 

 

 

 

Small problems need only small answers. But when we face great problems, God has an opportunity to exercise His great power. As the Hebrews' troubles grew steadily worse, God planned to intervene with His mighty power and perform great miracles to deliver them. How big are your problems? Big problems put you in a perfect position to watch God give big answers.

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exodus 5:2-3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

² “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
³ But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”



Pharoah would not listen to Moses and Aaron because he did not know or respect God. People who do not know God may not listen to His Word or His messengers. Like Moses and Aaron, we need to persist. When others reject you or your faith, don't be surprised or discouraged. Continue to tell them about God.



Joe













 

Exodus 2:23-25

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

²³ Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. ²⁴ God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.




God's rescue doesn't always come the moment we want it. God had promised to bring the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt (see Genesis 15:16 & 46:3-4). The people had waited a long time for that promise to be kept, but God rescued them when He knew the right time had come. God knows the best time to act. When you feel that God has forgotten you in your troubles, remember that God has a time schedule we can't see.





Joe



















 

Exodus 1:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

¹² But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.





The Egyptians tried to wear down the Hebrew people by forcing them into slavery and mistreating them. Instead, the Hebrews multiplied and grew stronger. When we are burdened or mistreated, we may feel defeated. But our burdens can make us stronger and develop qualities in us that will prepare us for the future. We cannot be overcomers without troubles to overcome. Be true to God in the hard times because even the worst situations can make us better people.






Joe














 

Genesis 45:17-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”
¹⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. ²⁰ Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”



Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity. Joseph demonstrated how God forgives us and showers us with goodness even though we have sinned against Him. The same forgiveness and blessings are ours if we ask for them.




Joe










 

Genesis 41:39-40

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^39-40 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you’re in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you.”





Joseph rose quickly to the top, from prison walls to Pharoah's palace. His training for this important position involved being first a slave and then a prisoner. In each situation he learned the importance of serving God and others. Whatever your situation, no matter how undesirable, consider it part of your training program for God.






 
Joe













 

Genesis 40:8

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

⁸ They said, “We dreamed dreams and there’s no one to interpret them.”
Joseph said, “Don’t interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams.”



When the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone's attention on God. Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord. One secret of effective witnessing is to recognize opportunities to relate God to the other person's experience. When the opportunity arises, we must have the courage to speak, as Joseph did.





Joe









 

Genesis 39:21-23

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ²² So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³ The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.



As a prisoner and slave, Joseph could have seen his situation as hopeless. Instead, he did his best with each small task given him. His diligence and positive attitude were soon noticed by the warden, who promoted him to prison administrator. Are you facing a seemingly hopeless predicament? At work, at home, or at school, follow Joseph's example by taking each small task and doing your best. Remember how God turned Joseph's situation around. He can see your efforts and can even reverse overwhelming odds.


Pastor Brad Keller of Journey Church in Vermont taught me a Bible principle a few years back that helped me understand Joseph's life. That principle was "The favor of God results in the favor of man." It was obvious that Joseph had God's favor.



Joe







 

Genesis 39:10-15

New International Version (NIV)


 

¹⁰ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
¹¹ One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. ¹² She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
¹³ When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, ¹⁴ she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. ¹⁵ When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”





Joseph avoided Potiphar's wife as much as possible. He refused her advances and finally RAN from her. Sometimes merely trying to avoid temptation is not enough. We must turn and RUN, especially when temptations seem very strong, as is often the case in sexual temptations.





Joe










 

Genesis 37:29-30

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

²⁹ Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. ³⁰ Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”




Reuben returned to the pit to find Joseph, but his little brother was gone. His first response in effect, was "What is going to happen to me?" rather than "What is going to happen to Joseph?" In a tough situation, are you usually concerned first about yourself? Consider the person most affected by the problem, and you will be more likely to find a solution for it.





Joe











 

Genesis 37:19-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

¹⁹ “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. ²⁰ “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could jealousy ever make you feel like killing someone? Before saying, "of course not," look at what happened in this story. Ten men were willing to kill their younger brother over a robe and a few dreams. Their deep jealousy had grown into ugly rage, completely blinding them to what was right. Jealousy can be difficult to recognize because our reasons for it seem to make sense. But left unchecked, jealousy grows quickly and leads to serious sins. The longer you cultivate jealous feelings, the harder it is to uproot them. The time to deal with jealousy is when you notice yourself keeping score of what others have.

 

 

 

 

Joe (The story of Joseph is my favorite story in the Bible.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 31:1-2

New Living Translation (NLT)

31 But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.” ² And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.

 

Jacob's wealth made Laban's sons jealous. It is sometimes difficult to be happy when others are doing better than we are. To compare our success with that of others is a dangerous way to judge the quality of our lives. By comparing ourselves to others, we may be giving jealousy a foothold. We can avoid jealousy by rejoicing in others' successes.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 21:1-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

The Birth of Isaac

21 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. ² She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. ³ And Abraham named their son Isaac. ⁴ Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. ⁵ Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

⁶ And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. ⁷ Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”




Who could believe that Abraham would have a son at 100 years of age - and live to raise him to adulthood? But doing the impossible is everyday business for God. Our big problems won't seem so impossible if we let God handle them.





Joe