(73) 14 March : Proverbs 11v31 / Exodus 13v17-15v21 / Psalm 19v9-11

BEGIN WITH PRAYER

"Lord open my eyes and my heart."

Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. 

Wisdom to chew on

Proverbs 11:31

Understanding to grow in

Often hardship comes and we don't know what God is doing. But we know enough. We know he can be trusted. That's where Israel fail here. God has proved himself in the plagues. They've seen him lead them out by pillar of cloud and fire. Yet as Pharoah persues them they cry out in complaint. But we know God has orchestrated the show-down at the red sea in order to glorify himself. And so Moses reassures Israel that "the LORD will fight for you, you need only to be still." (14v14). There is a lesson here about trusting God in difficulty knowing all things come from him with purpose. But the primary truth is that salvation is by grace not works, just as God in Christ defeats sin and Satan whilst we can only look on in faith. Our passage ends with the people learning to do just that (14v31). And God is praised for showing his mighty power to the watching nations so that they will be reticent to interfere as he brings his people to their land. As you read note the different qualities or attributes God displays.
Exodus 13:17-15:21

Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:

1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.

2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.

Devotion to offer up

You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.

Psalm 19:9-11

·       For introductions to the various Bible books click here.

·       To consult Matthew Henry’s concise commentary click here.