January 30th One Year Bible 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.

Next up is the plague of darkness.  Some Biblical commentaries 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.  Below is an image of the plague of darkness:

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 we 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' death on the cross?

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 2007?  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!

Bible.org's commentary on the plagues of Exodus titled "The Finger of God" is at this link and commentary on "The Passover and the Plague of the Firstborn" is at this link.

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 may accept God's grace at different points in the "day" of our life.  Though, of course, some never do ultimately accept God's grace and there is grave risk as the day grows longer...  How about you?  What part of the "day" are you in?  Have you accepted God's gift of grace?  Will you do so today?  While it is still "today" for 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"?  Continuing this thought of serving others - below is a painting from 1856 by British painter Ford Maddox Brown of "Christ Washing St. Peter's Feet":

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 Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for you?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 20 titled "Workers in the Vineyard" is at this link.

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 can you learn from the ant today?

Comments from You and Questions 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.  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.  Please post up in the Comments below how you balance work and play and rest in your life?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Stef]

about balance..i find with having a family and a father living with us( being, wife, mother and daughter)my balance is affected by family needs, the only way to manage is we get up very early, i do breakfast and make the days lunches see my husband off to work and then from 6.15 till 7.15am is my private time i can do my Bible reading etc then i wake the kids up and what i call "real life" starts and only stops again at bedtime.i am blessed with a profession( im an artist) that i can fit in inbetween..the balance seems heavy towards caring for my family but every now and again when i feel im not achieving or get frustrated i realise one has different phases in your life and this is the phase that God has given me that family is my job and to treasure it , it wil pass so swiftly.i cant work out a balance of i spend so many hours working for God and so many for home but i try to weave being a Christian into everything i do, seeing friends, working with a Church mums and tots group,being a governor at school,trying to give joy with my paintings and chatting over copious cups of tea( the cure for all ails in the uk).i read a very good saying once..it said you dont lack the discipline to get up early in the morning for a quiet time but you lack the discipline to go to bed early the night before to make the getting up early the next day possible.i fall down horribly here and often burn the candle at both ends trying to cram everything i want to into one set of 24 hours so maybe this wasnt a very useful comment on how i achieve balance but i would sincerely recommend the early mornings to anyone it starts the day off well( thats of course by the time you manage to start focussing and have had your first cup of coffee :-)

[Beth]

With regard to balancing work and rest in my life, I have been thinking about these words from Oswald Chambers:

"Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?"

With me, I think this is key: there are lots of things I like to do and many things that cry out for doing, but only a few are really needful in the eyes of the Lord.

[Anka]

Time is one precious comodity God's given us that we really need to ask Him how to use it.More and more we hear people wish there were more than 24hours in a day,not so sure more hours would be enough.Today the devil uses time against us,sometimes trying to balance work,family and being active in your church can be pretty daunting.I usually try to go to bed early so I can wake up early...then I pray for guidance to manage the time I've been given.Every second is precious because we'll never get it back..
God bless you all

[karan]

I so struggle with this. I am blessed with my own business, I treat it as God's business and work 12-15 hours 6 days a week,sometimes 7.I trust,but sometimes if I don't work the hours I do, the business would definately fail and I struggle with whats my part and whats God's?

[Mae]

Reading Exodus is so powerful! Moses' story is just so wonderful! I can't stop reading it! I's be ready for a journey every day! If God would ask me to leave Den Bosch and move to another city, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I don't have travelling clothes LOL, but I am ready. Every minute of the day. I can leave, just like that.

Matthes 20:28 stood out for me "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." ~ I absolutely believe that Jesus came to give his life for my sins. I believe that I was saved by Jesus' blood. He is my personal Saviour. Accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour gave me my 'ticket to heaven'.

I love Psalm 25:7 "Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord". ~ I trust God that He washed away my sins and I trust and believe that my sins before my rebirth are gone. That's my freedom being a Christian ...

[Laverne]

The Hebrew bible is my favorite. I love reading the history, being able to put myself in the story and trying to feel what my ancestors felt. To get into their mindset and leaving my own hermeneutics at home. I think Moses is a prime example of how our dysfunctions are TRULY not an indicator of where we are going to end up.

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I truly have a high respect for time and try with everything I have to balance and manage time. Everyday is a challenge for me, however I get up early and respect every second, minute, and hour of the day. I work hard and smart, and play soft and often.

[John]

I am always asking myself the same question if I am spending too much time at work vice spending family time and time reading and reflecting on the Bible. I don't want to look back on my life and regret the time I spent at work instead of with my family. But I do have to work to support my family. It is a tough decision to make. I talk and pray about it with my wife often. I always let my family know that I love them. I wish I could stay home all day with them and just enjoy being with them. But we were ment to be social beings and to interact with others in life. I try to bring my Christian faith and attitude to work with me and to try and pass that along to people I meet. I believe it works by the way I treat others and how they in turn treat me. this is one of the things I want to teach my children how to do because this is not a perfect world and trying to balance raising a christian family and living daily like a christian takes a lot of prayer and communication with your family. I remember a quote from a famous mathemitician (althouh I can't remember his name). he said he would rather spend all day reading scripture but since that was not possible he might as well do math. what I took from this was that we would all love to spend all day reading our bible but we have a job or a responsibility that God has called us all for in our daily lives that we must do. also I try to burn the candle at both ends often. I do believe waking early is good. it is a great time to read the bible and then to use the lessons you learned in the day you are about to begin. but I will often stay up late and then my early wake up time for bible reading gets replaced by my snooze alarm. this is an area of my life I need improvement and help with.

[Jenny]

great readings today. i always had a kind-of respect for ants...they never stop working n they work together, its kinda neat how God made them like that...and they all look exactly alike. I've always liked Prov 6:10-11. Its very important we be hard workers, no matter where we work, wat we do, do it unto the Lord and you will find fulfillment. Doesnt matter if you have a high paying, high-skilled job, or a low-skilled min. wage job. Do it unto Him.
Remember, its a good witness! Christians should be the hardest workers! (and our hearts' motive shouldnt be solely for money, but to please God...I pray about this every day before work).

I love Ps 25:14 "The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him". this is sooo true, we have sumthing others cant attain. nonbelievers dont get it. We have His secret, how awesome! i'm keeping this short today ;)

[Bill]

QUESTIONS 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?…”

Well, let me first just say that I would rather be the weightlifting ant at the gym rather than the ant working in the coal mine anyday…lol…but that won’t pay the bills. I was into bodybuilding when I was in my 20s and 30s and I have also done manual labor. Periods of rest and relaxation are crucial if you want to be able to do either well. In my younger days it wasn’t easy working 10 hour days, going to the gym for two hours after work and then coming home and trying to spend time in God’s Word. Later on I finally got my priorities straight and the time with God became more important. It was better to skip the workouts than my devotional time. Trying to cram all of that in a 24 hour day didn’t always leave much time to get much needed sleep. Time management is not something I have always been very good at but I know that is the key to find balance in your life.

EXODUS 10:1-12:13

I love the boldness that Moses showed in speaking the Word of God on religious freedom to Pharaoh: “ Let my people go, that they may serve me “ ( 10:3 ).

Many of the plagues that the Lord put upon Egypt will also be repeated again during the coming Great Tribulation. In the case of the locusts though there will clearly be a difference. In Egypt they hurt every green thing ( 10:10-15 ) but in the Tribulation Period they will hurt men ( Revelation 9-11 ). Ironically, environmentalist extremists and Gaia Mother Earth goddess worshippers would probably be more upset by the plague in Egypt because of the harm done to the environment.

The plague of darkness, “…even darkness which may be felt “ ( 10:21 ) reminds me of the time I visited Onondaga Cave in Missouri one time. After we descended deep into the cave the tour guide turned off the light switch for a few seconds to show us what it would be like in the absolute absence of any light. It was oppressive darkness and you could actually feel it. It was totally unlike any darkness I had ever experienced. I imagine it was like this in Egypt and I also imagine that it will be like that in the “outer darkness” which Jesus spoke of ( Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30 ) for those who end up there. As in the case of the locusts, there will be similar plague of darkness during at the outpouring of the 5th vial judgment in Great Tribulation ( Revelation 16:10 ). That darkness will be felt too because they will gnaw their tongues because of pain. All of these plagues of darkness are a taste of Hell on earth.

MATTHEW 20:1-28

What James and John suffered for the cause of Christ has been the norm for most Christians down through the Church Age. I would recommend that every Christian read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Christians have never had it so good as do so many of us here in the United States do when it comes to wealth , prosperity and religious freedom. Though I am thankful for the blessings of God that we enjoy in this country there are times when I think maybe it is a detriment. It has made us soft. We generally have no inkling of what it means to suffer for the Name of Christ. If persecution were to arise tomorrow because of the faith I don’t know that we are prepared and I am including myself when I say that.

PSALM 25:1-15

Speaking of persecution, David also knew something about that ( v.19 ).

In this passage it is also promised that we will know his will ( v. 12 ), and that we will understand the mysteries and the truth of God if we fear him ( v.14 ).

PROVERBS 6:6-11

The lesson to be learned from the ant in the proverb is that he worked hard while he had the opportunity to do so and put up in store for the day when he could not work. Likewise we as Christians should prepare for the future but live as if Jesus Christ could come back at any moment. It also reminds me of Jesus’ words, “ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” - John 9:4 ( KJV )

[Lillie]

If I hear a secular song that has a beautiful melody, but questionable lyrics, I like to change the words into a praise and worship song. I believe that many of the old hymns were "bar songs" redeemed with Christian lyrics.