Remember
Exodus 13
Following God should be an easy choice. But as we shall see time and time again in Exodus, it wasn’t for the Jewish people. We shouldn’t be surprised. God says that we are sheep, prone to wander. Each of us are tempted to follow our own plans instead of Gods. Sometimes because of our selfish and stubborn hearts and sometimes out of fear.
In Exodus 13, God chooses to take the people on a longer route because He knew they would be in fear of the Philistines. In future chapters we will see their selfishness and stubbornness on full display. And, by the way, Moses’ as well. I personally am glad that we don’t have a sanitized retelling of the Exodus. Why? Because I can identify with their doubts and sinful struggles, can’t you?
In today’s reading, we are reminded to follow God even when we’re tempted to follow our own desires. There are three things I want you to remember today. #1 Remember God’s faithfulness in the past. #2 Remember God’s presence with us now. #3 Remember God’s promise of glory in the future.
Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past. God established the Feast of Unleavened Bread so that the people would take time yearly to remember that God was faithful in His promise to Abraham to grow a nation and lead them to the promised land. When it seemed God’s promise was just a pipe dream, He showed up in power and lead the people out of bondage.
Did you know God’s still in the bondage-breaking business? Take some time this week and look back on your life. Recount the many times God displayed His marvelous grace in your life. In Isaiah 63:7, the prophet writes, “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”
Remembering God’s presence with us now. It’s easy to look at today’s passage and think it would be so much easier if God’s presence went with us like He did with the Jews, by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But we actually have something better. God living inside of us! Paul says in Romans 8:9, that if you are a Christian, “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Yield to the Spirit and you’ll have no need to fear or doubt.
Remembering God’s promise of glory in the future. I won’t take the time now, but there are a number of examples in Exodus where the story of the Jews’ journey to the promised land is a foreshadowing of our journey toward heaven. Heaven is our future Promise Land. As we journey through this book, remember to give thanks that God is leading us to our true home as well.
The hope of heaven is one of the things that can sustain us as we journey through this sin-soaked world. The curse this side of heaven will one day be removed and glory will be our forever home.
Exodus 13
Following God should be an easy choice. But as we shall see time and time again in Exodus, it wasn’t for the Jewish people. We shouldn’t be surprised. God says that we are sheep, prone to wander. Each of us are tempted to follow our own plans instead of Gods. Sometimes because of our selfish and stubborn hearts and sometimes out of fear.
In Exodus 13, God chooses to take the people on a longer route because He knew they would be in fear of the Philistines. In future chapters we will see their selfishness and stubbornness on full display. And, by the way, Moses’ as well. I personally am glad that we don’t have a sanitized retelling of the Exodus. Why? Because I can identify with their doubts and sinful struggles, can’t you?
In today’s reading, we are reminded to follow God even when we’re tempted to follow our own desires. There are three things I want you to remember today. #1 Remember God’s faithfulness in the past. #2 Remember God’s presence with us now. #3 Remember God’s promise of glory in the future.
Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past. God established the Feast of Unleavened Bread so that the people would take time yearly to remember that God was faithful in His promise to Abraham to grow a nation and lead them to the promised land. When it seemed God’s promise was just a pipe dream, He showed up in power and lead the people out of bondage.
Did you know God’s still in the bondage-breaking business? Take some time this week and look back on your life. Recount the many times God displayed His marvelous grace in your life. In Isaiah 63:7, the prophet writes, “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”
Remembering God’s presence with us now. It’s easy to look at today’s passage and think it would be so much easier if God’s presence went with us like He did with the Jews, by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But we actually have something better. God living inside of us! Paul says in Romans 8:9, that if you are a Christian, “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Yield to the Spirit and you’ll have no need to fear or doubt.
Remembering God’s promise of glory in the future. I won’t take the time now, but there are a number of examples in Exodus where the story of the Jews’ journey to the promised land is a foreshadowing of our journey toward heaven. Heaven is our future Promise Land. As we journey through this book, remember to give thanks that God is leading us to our true home as well.
The hope of heaven is one of the things that can sustain us as we journey through this sin-soaked world. The curse this side of heaven will one day be removed and glory will be our forever home.
Posted in Journey of Hope