January 23, 2019: SOAP #3338:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”…9  Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

Observation:  Moses had gone to Pharaoh and given him God’s message, but Pharaoh ridiculed Moses and The Lord God.  Then he increased the task of the Israelites who had become his slaves.  To the task of making the bricks, he added the responsibility of obtaining the raw material.  Yet he demanded the same daily quota of bricks.

This was not what Moses expected when he gave Pharaoh God’s message.  Moses was a failure in bringing about God’s plan.  God had given Moses a task that Moses was unable to accomplish.

Surely Moses breathed a great sigh of relief when He heard God say that Pharaoh, who did not respond to Moses, would certainly respond to God’s mighty hand!   God was not depending on Moses!

Application:  There are times when I do my best to faithfully complete the task God has assigned me.  It seems I am just marking time.  I am keeping in step with God’s plan, but I am not making any progress.  I am like Bucklin, Kansas High School band where I learned to mark time—to march in place without moving ahead.  I wait for the time God comes to me like He came to Moses.  I am looking for the time God’s mighty hand moves God’s plan forward to completion.  I must be careful not to allow discouragement to hinder my faith in God’s Word!  (Note Exodus 6:9)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to keep my eyes and ears open to what God is doing.  Help me remember what God has promised!  I make myself available to you to accomplish through me what I could never do on my own.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!