God follows up the Ten Commandments with more specifics to His laws in Exodus 21-24. He covers rules for Hebrew servants, personal injuries, stealing, social responsibilities, justice and mercy, Sabbath, and three annual festivals to remember. He wants us to thrive within the abundance of His love. God also reminds Moses of His plan to lead His people back to the Promised Land. And at the end of today's reading, Moses goes up on Mount Sinai to be alone with God for forty days and forty nights, a number that we will see again and again in the Bible.
God's promises and purposes for us are overwhelmingly good and big and true. Think about His complex, detailed plan for the Israelites that is full of blessing and prosperity. It's the same for you and me. When we follow God, we may not know what lies ahead, but God does.
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared for you."
When we willingly follow Him, we have His awesome protection. I find a lot of comfort in the fact that even though I get scared of the uncertainty, God is going before me and working circumstances for His purpose.
Many times when I read the Bible, specific words will jump off the page at me and scream for my attention. That happened to me today with this verse,
"Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land."
Lately, I have been catching myself in my own impatience. I know some areas of my life in which I am sure God is using me, leading me, even transforming me. He puts directions in my heart. I do my best to follow them, but in between the BIG, obvious signs of His hands working things out, I start to question what I am doing day in and day out. I wonder if I am still doing what He wants me to do.
And then I came to these words today, “little by little… until” God makes His promises happen.
That’s just the reminder I needed to hear. Even in my times of waiting, when it seems nothing much is happening, God is working on things at the rate at which He knows I can handle them. Sometimes that means tackling bits at a time until I am ready for the fullness of the bigger picture He has in mind.
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
I thank You going ahead of me and preparing my way. Thank you for knowing me and loving me so much that You reveal Your plans and purposes to me at just the right times in my life. Forgive my impatience and doubts. Help me to remember that You are working things out even when I feel as though nothing much is happening. Open heart to Your voice of encouragement, especially in the little moments of my days.
I pray for ________ today who really needs Your loving encouragement, Lord.
In the name of Jesus I pray,
Amen
Grace and peace of Christ,
*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.
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