January 30th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 10:1-12:13 ~ Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15 ~ Proverbs 6:6-11

Old Testament - In Exodus chapter 10 today we read about the Plague of Locusts.  In ancient times locust plagues were greatly feared and were often considered to be a sign of divine judgment in those days.

Next comes the plague of darkness.  Some Biblical commentators have found Pharaoh's statement to Moses to be quite appropriate and ironic that he said this during the plague of darkness in 10:28 - "The day you see my face you will die."  Apparently Moses couldn't quite fully see Pharaoh's face during the plague of darkness?  Makes sense to me.  Commentaries have also suggested that this verse was a death threat to Moses, and that this death threat was responded to with the coming plague on the firstborns of Egypt, including Pharaoh's son.

In Exodus chapter 11 we read in verses 4 & 5 - "So Moses announced to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says: About midnight I will pass through Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest slave. Even the firstborn of the animals will die."  And an appropriate image for this announcement might be this - (except for the fact that they were in the midst of the plague of darkness... so this image should have the lights turned off.  Oh well... :)

Today read in Exodus chapter 12 about God giving Moses and Aaron instructions on the First Passover.  Verse 2 stands out - "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you."  Here we see that God is actually instituting a new religious calendar for the Hebrews with the month that Passover is in being the first month of the calendar year.  This month is in the March-April spring timeframe and is called Abib or Nisan in Hebrew.  The feasts that were and are celebrated in this 1st month were - Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits.  Here is a very interesting note on the Jewish calendar from Zondervan's NIV Study Bible - "In the ancient Near East, new year festivals normally coincided with the new season of life in nature.  The designation of this month as Israel's religious New Year reminded Israel that its life as the people of God was grounded in God's redemptive act in the Exodus... Israel's agricultural calendar began in the fall, and during the monarchy it dominated the nation's civil calendar.  Both calendars (civil and religious) existed side by side until after the exile.  Judaism today uses only the calendar that begins in the fall."   Below is an image of the Jewish religious calendar -

The significance of Passover was that God was introducing the concept of a sacrifice or a substitute for a life.  The lamb was sacrificed as a substitute for the Hebrews first-born sons.  The blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts as a sign that the household had sacrificed an innocent life - the lamb.  By the blood of the unblemished/perfect lamb, the household was protected from death.  This is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus is the sacrificial lamb for us.  He was a substitute for us and our sins.  He was an innocent unblemished/perfect lamb - sinless.  By Jesus' blood, we are protected from eternal death.  Do you see the parallels between Passover and Jesus?

Exodus chapter 12 verse 11 is of note - "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover."  By wearing their traveling clothes, the Hebrews were faithfully acknowledging God's Word that they would very soon be freed from slavery and bondage in Egypt.  The Exodus would soon begin! And the traveling clothes signified that the Hebrews were ready for the journey!  How about us today?  Do you think that God may still call us on journeys today?  Do you think that God might be calling you on a journey here in 2006?  If so, will you be ready for the call?  Will you wear your "traveling clothes", so that when the "Exodus" comes, you are ready for it?  Below is a beautiful piece of contemporary Jewish art showing the Israelites wearing their traveling clothes for the Exodus!

New Testament - Matthew chapter 20's parable of the vineyard workers is one that I have at times had challenges with.  I, like the workers who labored all day, would think - "that's not fair!"   Well.... but then I came to realize that I believe this story is a parable of Grace.  God's grace.  And you know what - God's grace is not "fair."  And thank God for this being so!  God's grace is so powerful and all-encompassing and life-giving and healing and saving.  And God's grace is offered to me.  And to you.  And to our neighbors.  And to everyone.  God's grace is offered to people that have sinned against God.  Me.  You.  Our Neighbors.  Everyone.  God's grace is offered to people who become Christians early in their lives and live wonderfully giving lives.  And God's grace is offered to people who become Christians on their deathbed after living destructive lives, but who finally repent and surrender to God.  God's grace is given freely.  Like these workers in this story, we all accept God's grace at different points in the "day" of our life.  How about you?  What part of the "day" are you in?  Have you accepted God's gift of grace?  Will you?  Below is an oil painting by Rembrandt from 1637 of "The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard" -

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 20 verse 16 has always been convicting to me - "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then." I see the wisdom in this verse... but yet, I still think that I try to be "first" in many ways in my life.  I don't like being "last".  I like being honored.  I like being the star.  I don't like being the servant.  I don't like to be the guy supporting the star.  And yet, Jesus is calling us to be last.  To serve others.  To let others go first.  How about you?  Are you trying to be "first" in your life?  Or do you see the eternal wisdom in being "last"?

As this chapter proceeds we read about Jesus prophesying his own death and resurrection.  And then, we see Jesus prophesy about the end of James & John's life when their mother and they ask to sit at Jesus' right & left in heaven.  Check out verses 22 & 23 - ""You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" "You will indeed drink from it," he told them."  You will indeed drink from it...  James ended his life being martyred for his faith in Jesus.  And John ended his life in exile on the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation.  And I wonder again about us today...  sometimes we hear about the "health, wealth and prosperity gospel", and think that's what we've signed up for as Christians.  But... do you think that it might be possible that at some point in your life that you might be called to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow that Jesus drank from?  If you are called to drink from that bitter cup, will you indeed drink from it?  Below is a painting by Flemish artist Pieter van Mol from the early 17th century of "Jesus with the cup" -

The last 10 words of Verse 28 remind me of the Passover Lamb / Jesus parallels discussed above in this post - "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."  Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many.  Do you believe that he came to give his life as a ransom for you?

Psalms - Psalm 25 has some amazing verses today!  I think I could write some reflections and questions on each of the verses today...  Maybe a good thing for each of us to do is to re-read this Psalm today and really reflect on what the verses are saying to our hearts.  David wrote this Psalm as a prayer for God's mercies when he was suffering affliction for his sins and when enemies were seizing this occasion to attack him.  It's a very penitential Psalm.  One that we might need to pray to God from time to time as David did. I do like verse 5 a lot and I believe it will speak to each of you going through the One Year Bible this year - "Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."  Do you believe that reading God's Word each day is allowing you to be led by God's truth?  Are you being taught each day?  Then - that last sentence in verse 5 is amazing.  I cannot honestly say that all day long I put my hope in God.  I pray that I do... but I think sometimes I drift away from putting my hope in God and I put my hope in myself - or maybe even sometimes I lose hope!  I get discouraged about a situation.  I get stressed.  I worry. If we put our hope all day long in God, do you think we would get discouraged, stressed, or worried?  I don't think we would...

Psalm 25 verse 15 really stood out to me today - "My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help, for he alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies."  I have come to realize more and more lately that the Enemy is indeed constantly setting traps for us.  I don't mean to scare anyone here - but I think this is something very important for us to realize.  It has been said that the greatest trick the Devil can play on us is to make us think that he does not exist.  If we don't think the Devil exists, then we logically won't think that he's setting any traps for us.  Let me assure you - this is clearly Biblical - the Devil exists.  Evil exists in this world.  Temptation exists.  And evil does not rest.  However - the good news - God is so much bigger and stronger and brighter (and this list can go on) than the Devil - the Enemy.  David says in this Psalm that his eyes are ALWAYS looking to the Lord for help.  Why?  Because God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit alone can rescue us from the traps of the Enemy.  Again, the traps are out there for us in this modern world.  The temptations and dark alleys and wrong turns call to us unceasingly.  But - again, great news here - we can be saved from all of that nonsense; all of that darkness; indeed all of that death, through a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus saves.  Jesus saves us from ourselves.  From our sin.  And from the Enemy that sets traps for us.  Like David in this Psalm, are your eyes always looking to the Lord for help?  Please don't ever take your eyes off God and His mercies, power, and strength.

Proverbs - Okay, Proverbs chapter 6 verses 9 through 11 make me smile.  I do absolutely see the wisdom in these verses... but reading the word lazybones makes me smile.  Is this a New Living Translation thing??  I honestly wondered for a split second if I was getting The Message translation on this Proverb somehow today!  :)  These are powerful words of wisdom I think for each of us to consider - "But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."  It is pretty amazing to consider that this Proverb also tells us to take a lesson from the ant!  The seemingly lowly ant!  We're told to emulate.  I love that... and it's so true.  The ant works hard for its keep!  What lesson will you learn from the ant today?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - Based on the lesson from the ant in today's Proverbs, how do you balance working hard in your life with getting proper rest and relaxation?  How do you find the balance?  I think balance in our life is a challenging thing to find in almost all areas of our life.  We have to be vigilant about balance in all things, or else we'll lose our balance.  One thing I do for balance in my life is make sure I get 8 hours of sleep a night.  This can be tough to do with this blog.  :)  Reading, studying, posting, responding to emails could keep me up late every night if I let it.  I obviously work hard at this blog, but I also realize there is a balance.  And so I set a time each night to shut off the computer no matter what and get to bed to get 8 hours of sleep.  I know there is the modern day adage of "Work Hard and Play Hard."   But I'm not so sure about this adage...  seems to me like you could end up being a selfish workaholic weekend warrior who spends money and time only on your own gratification with this adage.  I hope that wasn't too harsh?... :)  I do agree that we need to work and play - but I'm just not sure about playing hard.  I'm thinking the adage should maybe be "Work Well and Play Well" or "Work Smart and Play Smart." Or something along those lines.  Let us know in the Comments below how you balance work and play and rest and God and family etc.? Thanks!  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[anka]

I was abit amused at the details that went in to prepare Israel for the exodus in chapter 12.The lamb lamb portion was to be decided according to how much a person could eat,cloak tucked in to the belt(so they wouldn't trip I guess)...it sounds a bit like a mother fussing over her kids getting them ready for a trip.Just like the part in genesis before God drove Adam and Eve out,he actually made clothes for them,he could have just thrown down some animal skin for them to figure out what to do with them...but he made them coats!
As I read about the hardness of Pharoh's heart and God's part in it,I began to ponder a bit about our will...God's will.He says I put before you life and death..chose life...he put the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil,told the couple which to touch but ultimately the choice was theirs.God is knows it all,knew us before we were born,the choices we'd make so i think he knew what pharoh was like already...the idea of killing the first born wasn't put into pharoh by God...pharoh was just evil.The first 6times i read in genesis about pharoh's heart upto the plague of boils..it's doesn't say God hardened pharoh's heart..Moses shows us there are times God hardens pharoh's heart..there are times pharoh does that himself..or he would have just said all the time that the Lord hardened pharoh's heart I guess.I think God already knew the choices pharoh was going to make so he placed him to live in a time that would suit God's purpose.
In this days of us demanding our rights,demanding justice it seems we forget we are God's...he loves us but if he chose not to it wouldn't make him less God..or good(since he created it anyway).God chooses whom he has mercy on.Who are we to judge his actions.He made the distinction between right and wrong not us...even if he slays us...we should pray that our heart is steadfast.Personally I've been praying for a good dose of the fear of the Lord in my life so I don't ever presume to question him...
God bless you all

[anka]

PS..my views about certain issues may be wrong..I'm open to any corrections.
God bless you all

[Micah Girl]

Starting my day this year faithfully and consistently with the OYB has been tremendous for helping me achieve balance. Right after I work out spiritually, I work out physically, and then I face the challenges of my day. I'm a bit of a free spirit when it comes to schedules, and so starting my day off right means that the rest of my day is more structured and focused and flows much better. I'm even blogging more consistently.

[Ramona]

Exodus 10:1-12:13

Some quick thoughts on today’s Old Testament reading.

And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was exceedingly great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and of the people.
(Exodus 11:3 AMP)

Leadership can get you in trouble by the choices they make. Moses had favor in Egypt with the Egyptians but not the Pharaoh. Can the words in the above verse be made in your corporate organization, country, city, town, village, church and household about the effect and affect you are having on those submitted to you? Just change the name Moses, Egypt and Egyptians and then fill in the blanks. Those of us on this site who are in leadership positions should stop and ask themselves the question: How am I leading? What am I leading the people under me into? Am I being stubborn refusing to lead by way of the Master causing destruction and suffering by my decisions, or am I closely listening to the voice of God and truly serving my customers, citizens, and employees? Is there a Moses in your organization proclaiming warnings that the people respect but you are ignoring? Just something to think about. Hard hearts are not a phenomenon to Ancient Egypt.

And you shall eat it thus: [as fully prepared for a journey] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment [proving their helplessness]. I am the Lord.
(Exodus 12:11-12 AMP)

Hearing the voice of God and obeying immediately. Being prepared to escape from our captivity should be something we must always strive to maintain. There was a window of opportunity that was getting ready to open up and Israel had to be ready. I have known that voice of immediacy, sometimes followed it, and sometimes I didn’t. For the times I did not heed, I really do not know where that path to freedom would have led me. The text doesn’t say if any were left behind, but what left out of Egypt, as we will read, was a “mixed multitude (12:38).” Not only did those who the message was directed to taste that freedom, but the people who observed those given the message, those in the “mix” got in on the deal. So not only are we to listen to that “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), but if we fail to do so we need to keep an eye out for those who do.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

P.S. Could it be that getting into the Word, "Seeking First The Kingdom ..." is the key to staying in Balance? Hmmm

[Jan]

Today is my 53rd. birthday...just keep seeing Jan. 30th every where!!! I am very blessed for my age...God has preserved me well; I think living for him keeps us young & vibrant & His Word is living inside of us if we read it daily...it keeps us healthy, wealthy & wise for eternity!!!

Ms. Jano

Regarding Mike's question: "But... do you think that it might be possible that at some point in your life that you might be called to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow that Jesus drank from? If you are called to drink from that bitter cup, will you indeed drink from it?"

In my life, there have been circumstances that I didn't have a choice whether I wanted to suffer or not & I think that is the way it is with most of our lives in Christ. If we are truly in Him and/or sons or daughters...we will suffer with the sufferings of Christ...there is no getting out of it...that is why we are taught to count it all joy for the trying of our faith.

[Jan]

I'm sorry, I thought I signed off with my name on the post above, but I didn't.

Jan

[john]

discipline and balance...

keys to life

jb

[Andrew B]

Happy Birthday Jan!

[Andrew B]

Verses which stood out for me today were:

The Proverbs passage - I felt 'ouch' - probably because I do not have my 'balance' right!

The Psalm - in my mind's ear I could hear Third Day singing the first part.

Matthew 20:25-28 made we wonder again about ways we organize church and leadership in church. Sometimes ...

[John]

Dwayne

Matt 20
"The wage the day-laborer received was usually very low. But they had to work for it because they were desperate just to have work. A Roman soldier was paid a denarius a day, and that was a respectable wage. Servants who were well- respected by their employers were often paid a denarius a day. But a day-laborer was usually hired for much less because he wasn't in any position to negotiate" - John MaCarthur

The owner wasn't unfair with the first group; it was just that he was generous with the rest. The issue here is not the fairness of the owner, but the jealousy of those who worked the longest.

God's grace has the same effect on us all - no matter the time of conversion. I know some people who are really angry that Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer might be in heaven. The truth is (and they don't like to hear this) without grace and Christ's blood - we are much closer to Dahmer and Bundy than we are to God.

[John]

Mike
"And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."

My view of this passage is that some who have had discipleship for a long time may not have done as well serving God as some that had it for a short time. Thus the shorter time disciples may have higher rewards (in heaven). Thus the "last" becoming "first".

Both groups are equal in salvation, but differ in rewards.

Not that I don't like to hear your statement, John, your last line. That's too damning, it makes me cringe!!!

[John]

Anonymous,

"Both groups are equal in salvation, but differ in rewards."

This makes you cringe?

Ok, Ok I know - it is the Bundy/Dahmer comment. On a measurable line of sin, we are some finite distance from Bundy/Dahmer. We may be far from them on the line - say a million miles. Without Christ we are an infinite distance from God. There is no way to get to God without Jesus' sacrifice.

A million is less than infinite, so therefore we are closer to Dahmer/Bundy. Again this is without Jesus' sacrifice for us.

The point is not how close we are to the deviants, but how far we are from God when not covered by the blood of Christ.