Moses | Paula Wiseman

STT: Exodus

Exodus, the epic story of God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage makes a great study. In fact I'm working my way slowly through Exodus right now. Often the detail and repetition discourage folks from reading and studying the book. For others, any study of Old Testament law seems irrelevant. However, here are a few things to watch that might help.

1. God speaks – Watch God's revelation of Himself through His words. I also love His conversations with Moses. After Moses' death, these words are recorded "But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." That's a relationship worth studying!

2. God acts – Take note of how God intervenes on behalf of His people, both in Egypt and in the desert. Some of my favorite passages are God's display of power at the Red Sea and His holiness at Sinai.

3. Leadership lessons – Moses makes a tremendous character study. Key traits are his humility, his compassion and his intercession. His humanity shows through many times, too.

4. Object lessons – Everything about the Passover and the tabernacle point to the coming work of Christ.

What have you learned from your studies of Exodus?

Out of, then Into

By Paula

I'm reading Exodus and many times Moses or the Lord Himself mentions how He brought Israel out of Egypt. Paired with that, is the assurance that He will bring them into the promised land.

For every "out of", there is an "into".

God doesn't deliver us, save us, rescue us and then leave us hanging.

He finishes the job by leading us into His fulfilled promises.

We just have to keep following.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Exodus, faith, Moses

God at Work

By Paula

Exodus 6:9 "When Moses told this to the Israelites, they were too discouraged and mistreated to believe him." (CEV)

Moses told them God had heard. He was marshaling His mighty power on their behalf, fulfilling His promises, pouring out His grace.

And they couldn't see it.

All they knew was their situation and how it left them.

Discouraged. Despondent. Beaten down. Broken.

They couldn't see His hand in their circumstances, and yet, He was doing far more than they asked.

Is He working on my behalf in ways I can't see?

Is He working on your behalf in ways you can't see?

Yes.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Exodus, faith, Moses

STT: Study Like a King

By Paula

Scroll Hebrew text After checking Ezra's and Daniel's Bible study examples, this week we'll look at the model for kings.

In Deuteronomy, in some of Moses' final teachings to Israel, he gives the standard for future kings of Israel.

Also it shall be, when [the king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Did you catch those details?
1. Write out a copy – longhand.
2. Keep it close.
3. Read it every single day

Moses then lists several reasons and benefits for the king if he follows this program.
1. He'll learn to fear God
2. He'll be careful to obey it God's laws. If he knows the law by heart, he won't deviate from it.
3. He won't think he's better than his subjects.
4. His reign will be extended, and his children will succeed him.

Sadly, the Old Testament history books show that few of the kings took Moses' advice.

Do you think the model is still valid?