Week 8 Wednesday
Today Moses' doubts meet God's patient provision, David contrasts the ways of the wicked with the ways of God, and a tax collector up a tree discovers what true transformation looks like.
Exodus 4
📖 What are we reading?: Moses still doubts his calling, so God gives him signs and eventually agrees that Aaron will speak alongside him. On the way back to Egypt, God nearly takes Moses' life over his uncircumcised son.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He is patient with our doubts and hesitations, meeting us with signs and help - but He also takes His covenant, and obedience to it, with the utmost seriousness.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? Moses is the prophet, and Aaron represents the priests - both roles vital throughout the rest of the Old Testament. And let's remember that the New Testament speaks of circumcision of the heart as the new standard, since Jesus has fulfilled the ceremonial law.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Exodus, meaning "departure", was written by Moses around 1400 BC. It tells the thrilling story of Israel's miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt - the great rescue that Israel would look back on again and again as proof of God's love, and a picture of Christ setting us free from the prison of sin.
Psalm 36
📖 What are we reading?: Like Psalm 1, this psalm contrasts the godless life with the godly - David describes the sinner's wickedness before turning to describe the greatness of God.
✞ What does this passage say about God? David's descriptions of Him here are worth holding onto - His love reaches to the heavens, and His righteousness is like the mighty mountains.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? Let this psalm sharpen the contrast in your own heart today - are you walking in the way of sinners, or the ways of God?
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
📝 A devotional series from this Psalm on the way of sinners.
📝 A devotional series from this same Psalm on the ways of God.
Luke 19:1-27
📖 What are we reading?: A wealthy, despised tax collector called Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus - and is transformed by an encounter with Him. Jesus then tells the parable of the ten minas.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He seeks out and saves the lost, no matter how despised they are by others. And He expects those He has saved to be faithful with what He has entrusted to them.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? In Zacchaeus we see a beautiful transformation which only Jesus can bring. And the parable of the ten minas motivates us to ask ourselves: am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me?
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's Gospel was written by Luke, a Greek physician and companion of Paul, around AD 60-62. It is the most detailed account of Jesus' life, and is especially attentive to the poor, to women, and to outcasts.
📝 Luke preaches on how Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life.
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You for Your patience with our doubts, and for the sobering reminder to take Your covenant seriously. May we walk in Your ways and not the ways of sinners, and may we be as faithful with what You've entrusted to us as we are transformed by meeting You. Amen.
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