QT 4/1/2026 Exo 22:1-15, True justice and true fairness

Exodus 22:2–4 (ESV) —

2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

 

NOTE: This would be a variation of our castle doctrine, that a man has a right to defend his home even to the point of killing the intruder. There is a difference though whether the crime occurs during the evening or the daytime. A person can still defend himself during the day, but if he kills the person, he is guilty of bloodguilt. In this case, family members do have a right to avenge or ask for compensation. But that case would have to be decided before God by a judge.

 

While much of the law sounds like Hammurabi's' Code of Laws, there are significant differences such as making restitution from the best of a person's field or vineyard. In God's law, certain infractions required payment, not necessarily death. Also borrowing something where the animal died or equipment was damaged required the borrower to be responsible. The previous code did not specify liability.

 

What does this mean to us today? There is justice and fairness required in our interactions with others. We have tendency to abuse this, seeing it only from our perspective, and not also from the perspective of the other party. In that sense, we are incredibly selfish. If we break something, we need to own our actions, and fix the situation. But our society has broken down so much, that we blame everything on the other party, and it is never our fault.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I respond when someone is injured to me or vice-a-versa? Do I see only myself or do I see the hurt to the other party?

 

PRAYER: Father, sin has made us so selfish, and it is only getting worse. We have an over-fascination with freedom, that is freedom that lets me do whatever I want irrespective of the hurt it brings others. We feel we can viciously attack police or ICE officers but they cannot touch us. How sick we are!

QT 3/31/2026 Exo 21:12-36, We need to stand up for truth with gentleness and respect to the hearer

Exodus 21:16 (ESV) —

16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

 

NOTE: The passage is actually quite long. Our church publishes QT passages so that we can discuss them among ourselves. I chose only verse 16 because it fits well with my QT from yesterday (3/30/2026) on the value of people. Slavery, where people are bought and sold as commodities is clearly labeled as wrong, with the penalty of death to the slave trader.

 

Men and women are created in the image of God and that does not change based on an aspect of them. They are deserving of dignity and respect. That does not excuse behavior or mean their conduct is okay, but they deserve our compassion and love. So whether they are homosexuals or trans-people or same-sex married or drunkards or liars or gossips or children who do not obey their parents (Rom 1:24-32), they (and we) are all sinners. Only Jesus can rescue us from sin. A person who is born again will try to not sin. And will be successful at times. But just like Paul, at other times, we do the things we do not want to do.

 

But anyone who encourages sinful behavior, I have to wonder if the Holy Spirit resides in them. You can love the sinner without sacrificing gentleness, dignity, and respect for the person. The media seeks to portray Christian behavior as judgmental and unloving -- that is not a true Christianity. Yes, sin is sin, there is no excuse, but we need Jesus, whatever our sins are.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that despite a person's sins, he or she deserves dignity?
2. When asked about the cultural issues of the day, do we say the truth or do we shrink back? We can still communicate truth in gentleness

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to be honest and communicate the word of God to people. I want to treat all people with dignity and respect, even for those whose sin I hate (such as same-sex couples raising an opposite sex child). I can still love them.

QT 3/30/2026 Exo 21:1-11, Treating people within the context of social contracts

Exodus 21:1–11 (ESV) —

1 “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

 

NOTE: While the passage discusses slavery, the concept is much closer to a contractual employee with additional rights and responsibilities of the employer. The contracted employee (the slave) has the freedom to leave the agreement after a set number of years. He does not have to take a wife from the employer, but instead pursue that on his own. The assumption is that the women is probably also on a contract. He can't take her out without her fulfilling her contract, which could be a considerable cost for a man without a job. He could wait it out.

 

In the second case, a man sells his daughter (they arranged marriages) to another person either as a wife, or as a wife for the man's son. If sold as a wife, she had to had to be treated as a wife (same as if he already had a wife), and if she was sold to be the man's son's wife, she had to be treated as a daughter. The passage describes the procedures, it does not address the issue of what the daughter wanted. She was bound, as any women, to the marriage, if it occurred. But it doesn't say that she was without say in the agreement. These were days of arranged marriages, and so it is hard to put our head around the situation and the environment. Women needed a husband to survive, and for some women, this would have been a very good outcome.

 

What do we learn? God never supported slavery or the idea of people as commodities. There would laws in place to protect people. We are made in the image of God; we are not cattle that is bought and sold. The scripture is very much against slavery as practiced by all the nations of earth throughout history. Twice in Amos, he specifically calls out the practice

 

9 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Tyre,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,

and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

 

Both Tyre and Gaza are judged for selling a people group as slaves to other nations. They forgot that we are all brothers, even if not related by family or tribe, we are all made in the image of God.

 

PONDER:

1. How do we treat people?
2. Do we see ourselves better that other people groups?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that I would treat all groups with the same kindness and love I might treat a famous individual. People are people; and people are deserving of respect.

QT 3/27/2026 Exo 20:18-26, Be careful out there

Exodus 20:18–26 (ESV) —

18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’

 

NOTE: I think the key theme in this passage is fear. And the fear is not just respect for God, but a very healthy respect for his power and his holiness. When I say Holiness, I have in my mind, his hatred / anger at sin, his absolute purity, and his justice. God will not let sin go unpunished. Now, Jesus has taken the punishment for sin upon himself. But God's discipline as a Father to his sons is not to be so easily dismissed. We need to be very careful how we walk.

 

Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV) — 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Psalm 119:9 (ESV) — How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

Romans 13:13 (ESV) — Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

 

We carry God's name on our person. It is much like our surname. What we do affects others. Sometimes the world attacks our good name with lies and accusations. Sometimes, those accusations are true. We need to pray daily that we do not fall into Satan's trap.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I walking wisely or am I skirting corners?
2. Do I fear the damage I might to do to the name of God for certain sins?

 

PRAYER: Father, protect me from the devil's evil schemes. Protect me. Keep me from his grasp. He is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I need your grace and your mercy and your protection.

QT 3/26/2026 Exo 20:1–17, The missing commandment

Exodus 20:1–17 (ESV) —

1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

 

NOTE: These are the ten commandments. This is the first time God gives them and he speaks them in the hearing of all the people. The people's response to hearing God's commands is to let Moses do all the hearing from God lest they die (Exo 20:19). Jesus also reiterates all the ten commandments during his ministry but one, the Sabbath. In fact, the three instances where the Sabbath (which is Fri sunset to Sat sunset) comes up, Jesus scolds the people for how they implement it, and he never commands the Sabbath to his disciples.

So is the Sabbath required for believers? A lot of people will point to pre-law as an argument for the Sabbath, such as God resting on the seventh day. But pre-law does not make the Sabbath part of the law of Christ. There is law in the NT, but it is the things that Jesus commands.

 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Having said all that, I think the Sabbath is a good thing, especially in a day and age where stress probably causes more health problems than at any time in human history. Surprisingly, life is easier and safer, but our "screens" and pace of life has made life more stressful. We need rest, and the idea of a Sabbath or a day of rest can be a good thing -- BUT, it is not a law -- which is where the Pharisees got it wrong.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I take regular rests to recharge my batteries?
2. Do I live by rules or be the spirit of the New Covenant law?

Romans 13:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

PRAYER: Lord, we are to love people, not follow rules without any heart. Forgive us for dogmatic lifestyles that do not present the love of Christ to others. Help us to live in a spirit of true love, not fake or showy love.

QT 3/25/2026 Exo 19:1-25, Not everyone is a child of God

Exodus 19:5–6 (ESV) —

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

 

NOTE: When God says that all the earth is mine, he rules out all other gods. There is one God, there are no others. He offers to Israel to become his children. Being born does not make a person a child of God. We are not all children of God. We are made in the image of God, but we are not part of his family. He does own us because he made us, but we have no right to God for life, or for that matter justice or fairness on earth. We are made by God, he can do as he pleases with us. But for some, he allows them to become a part of his family. He offers that promise to Israel here, and he offers that today to those who will believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus -- we are then adopted into his family. A lot of people think they are children of God but they will be sorely disappointed upon death.

 

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

 

The will of the Father in heaven is to believe on the name of Jesus.

 

John 6:29 (ESV) — Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:40 (ESV) — For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

PONDER:

1. Do I really know Jesus or am I just playing a game called church?
2. Have I experienced a new birth that comes with believing upon Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, there are many out there who call themselves Christians, but it is only a ritual or a tradition, they do not know you. I pray that you would open their blinded eyes and they would repent and turn to you.

QT 3/24/2026 Exo 18:13-27, The answer lies in God's rule

Exodus 18:13–27 (ESV) —

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

 

NOTE: I believe Jethro's advice was very good for a couple of reasons. One reason is what Jethro said, you will be worn out. A court system where easier cases are decide at a lower level is wise. Choosing godly men is wise (our system does not choose godly men). The second reason is that power, in time, goes to the head. A person becomes puffed up with too much power. I am not saying that would have happened to Moses, but it was a danger. In the least case, he would have become a workaholic with no time for his family.

 

Another question is why does this advice come from Jethro and not from God? God gives a list of commands and instructions but God does not prescribe government, that I am aware. God assumes a theocracy in his commands but he also gives commands for a monarchy, not prescribing a monarchy but rather, if and when, this is what a king needs to do. So, Jethro's opinion is really a government function and idea.

 

There is no perfect government until God rules upon the earth. Democracy is not good. Our version which is not democracy but a constitutional republic with representative institutions is failing. The only good government will be when God rules completely.

 

PONDER:

1. So I see politics as the answer to our world problems or do I see God's rule?
2. Where do I place my hope? In institutions, political parties, or changed hearts?

 

PRAYER: Father, I so look forward to your rule on earth. This world is falling apart, and it must break your heart. I pray for a good witness so that people would see Jesus in me.

QT 3/23/2026 Exo 18:1-9, Family responsibilities

Exodus 18:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

 

NOTE: I believe that Moses prudently chose to keep his wife and sons back during the upcoming conflict with Pharaoh. I think that they could have been used as a weapon against him during the period of the plagues, and so he wisely leaves them with his father-in-law. I don’t believe that they were separated, and nothing in the greeting would suggest otherwise. Once again, prudence and trust are integrated. It does not have to be one or the other. Someone might argue that Moses should trust God to protect his family, but I disagree. There would have been a lot of pressure placed on her by the people because of the pushback to the plagues early on. Also, her Midianite status may have been used against her. The simplest solution was to keep Zipporah back to protect her emotionally and physically from both the Egyptians and the discontented Jews. Similarly I would argue that the boys could have been also affected, but mostly, I think it was done for Zipporah's sake.

 

PONDER:

1. Protecting your family is an important responsibility for parents, and especially for the the husband. It is not a lack of trust. Does my family see me as a protector?

 

PRAYER: Father, today, life is both easier and in a way harder. The dangers of physical attack, at least in most places is low, but the danger of stress (just as deadly in the long term) is much higher. Give us ideas and wisdom on how to reduce the stress in the family. Teach us how to rest. Teach us how to protect our children (not enable, but protect).

QT 3/20/2026 Ex 17:8-16, Facing battles

Exodus 17:8–16 (ESV) —

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

 

NOTE: I have often wondered why Moses did not take overwhelming force into the battle. Technically, it does not say one way or the other, and since none of these men had ever fought in war, it probably would not have changed much. The choosing may have been more dependent on finding men who could fight. Also, if the whole force went out, they would not be depending on God but on numbers and large untrained forces can be spooked by the smallest thing. Still another reason might have been so that the Amalekites actually engage rather than withdraw. I'm not sure the reason. Nor am I sure what they did for weapons. The passage uses the word "sword" but except for the dead Egyptians who washed up on the opposite shore from Egypt, there would not have been many swords. Spears are easy to make and some farming equipment can be repurposed, but it would have been a ragtag group. In the end, the only thing that appeared to matter was Moses praying for them with his hands held up in the air. The battle hinged on nothing but prayer. For a first battle, that is probably the best outcome.

 

PONDER:

1. How often is prayer involved in my battles?
2. Do I pursue my battles in my strength and knowledge or do I trust God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am facing a few battles. I really need your wisdom and direction so that I don't make a stupid decision. I'm not as wise as I think I am. You want me to be prudent and you want me to trust. Help me as I try to do both.

QT 3/19/2026 Exo 17:1-7, True faith

Exodus 17:1–7 (ESV) —

1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

 

NOTE: This particular story is used in Psalm 95:7-11 and later in Hebrews 3:7-19. The question, "is the Lord among us or not?" is an accusation against God. They could see the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, and yet they questioned his presence. In my mind, the question is really, "does God care or not, he is obvious here (fire and cloud), but does he take a personal interest in me?" And that is the heart of what real faith is all about. Can I believe that God cares for me, even when the circumstances would suggest otherwise. Faith is not about believing that God has power or about moving a mountain, but it is believing he knows you completely and cares for what (you) his child is going through. Now, we are not all his children, only those who have believed in Jesus. But once we believe, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and the promise of Rom 8:28 is then applicable for us.

 

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

Until we believe that he is a rewarder (that he cares for us individually), we will always struggle with faith.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I believed in Jesus? Only then am I a child of God
2. Do I believe, despite the circumstances, that God cares and is a REWARDER to me?

 

PRAYER: Father, I had to learn this lesson the hard way the first time, but it seems I am continually learning it. My eyes too often focus on the seen and not the unseen. Give my grace to trust you and believe you when things do no go the way I desire.

QT 3/18/2026 Exo 16:16-36, We scheme instead of obey

Exodus 16:25–31 (ESV) —

25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

 

NOTE: Why do we do this? I think it is greed. Yes, we have enough (of something), but we want more. God was clear in the instructions, but at first He does not say "not to go out" but rather "on the seventh day there will be none" and "tomorrow is a day of solemn rest." Together it is clear, they are not to go out on the Sabbath, but they do. Afterwards, God says "remain … in (your) place; let no one go out …."

 

There is a fundamental problem with instructions to people. They interpret the rules how they want the rules to sound. In a sense, we still want to be our own gods, even after hearing the one true God's instructions. The literal meaning is clear, but we reply "you didn't say …." What game are we trying to play? God gave us a mind to think, not to scheme out of truth.

 

Periodically, I watch videos of people getting pulled over for a traffic violation. Over and over and over again, the same stupid statements are being repeated. "What did I do? What is my crime? Why are you doing this? You can't do this! You have no right! …," even after being answered many multiple of times by the officers. What does it mean? We are SINNERS, enemies of God, and in danger of eternity in Hell unless we come to faith in Jesus Christ. Our big mouths will not save us, they just condemn us. Stop, repent, listen to God's word, and obey!

 

PONDER:

1. Do I obey God's commands?
2. Do I scheme out of truth, thinking I am so smart?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our ugly sin. How can you stand to see the amount of sin going on in the world every minute? How great is your mercy! Open our eyes to our foolishness.

QT 3/17/2026 Exo 16:1-12, Support Leaders, don't tear them down

Exodus 16:1–12 (ESV) —

1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’ ” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

 

NOTE: Children throw tantrums when they don't get their own way. Adults are a little more subtle: they grumble, which is also a form of gossip. I find it interesting that some people will grumble to a friend out loud, not just in a normal speaking voice, but a little bit above normal, so that others will hear.

 

As a leader, grumbling is very disheartening. I suppose that is the intent of the person. And if that is true, it is very selfish. Leadership is not as glamorous as others make it out to be, especially when you care for your employees or the flock. There is a psalm that comes to mind when I hear grumbling …

 

Psalm 62:3–4 (ESV) —

3 How long will all of you attack a man

to batter him,

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse. Selah

 

The lesson is clear: don't grumble. Support your leaders. They carry a huge burden.

 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a supporter of leadership or a grumbler?
2. Do I care more about my way and what I get, or can I let go of selfish needs?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is our sin nature which leads us to hurt others through constant grumbling. I have a non-Christian friend who is characterized by the phrase "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." Help me to never be that person.

QT 3/16/2026 Exo 15:22-27, God truly cares

Exodus 15:22–27 (ESV) —

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

 

NOTE: I'm convinced, in combination with the passages in Hebrews 3, that Israel's problem was not faith, at least not faith in the power of God. Yes, I know, many suggest that the immediate needs blind us to past victories, but this was like, yesterday when they saw the Egyptian Army destroyed. I don't think the people did not believe in the power of God, I think they fundamentally were not sure of the love of God. Yes, God had huge power and can move and destroy nations, but the real question, did he care for an individual or a family, especially when there is no water and my little ones or animals are going to die in a few days. Does God care? In the gospel, while Jesus is sleeping, a storm comes upon the boat. The disciples wake Jesus, and he immediately calms the storm. In one of the gospels, it is recorded that someone said to Jesus, "don't you care" and Jesus responded with, "where is your faith?" I think we get faith wrong -- it is not believing that God has the power, but rather that God cares about us personally. The worst thing you can say to God is that you don't believe he cares for you as an individual. He deeply cares for you and deeply loves you.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe God knows me and truly loves me?
2. If I do, then when bad things happen, do I believe God is working to bring good out of these things for me personally as well as his glory?

 

PRAYER: Father, I get what the father in the wilderness saw. Yes, he saw you as a big God, but he wasn't sure your bigness extended down to a little guy like him and his family. The message of the gospel is that you do really care for us, not just the big picture things. Help us to trust in your care.

QT 3/13/2026 Exo 15:1-21, Allowing yourself to rejoice

Exodus 15:1–21 (ESV) —

1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

. . .

19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

 

NOTE: This has been a great victory, secured by God for the people. I left out 17 verses, each of which tells other parts of the story. And yet, after this unbelievable sight and amazing period of time, Israel will begin to complain and grumble, and accuse God of bringing them into the desert to die.

 

I'm pretty familiar with spiritual mountaintops and spiritual valleys in life. At one point in my life, I avoided getting excited by good news or answered prayers (spiritual mountaintops) because I was afraid of the "other shoe falling" (an American idiom for the bad news following good news). So my strategy was to keep my emotions flat to avoid being hurt, because I hated disappointment so much. At some point, I realized that is not how God intended us to live life. God gave us emotions, they are not bad. So, I forced myself to rejoice and hope in good news, and to mourn if bad news followed. I decided I was not going to stop living (experiencing emotion) just to avoid some of the pain.

 

I'm glad Israel rejoiced so much in their new found freedom. But, I wish that they could have trusted God more when things were not as good, just like I needed to trust God more.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God only when things are going the way I expect it?
2. Do I even think about God when life is good?
3. Do I only cry out to God when my plans are upset with circumstances beyond my control?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a complex thing -- trusting you in the everyday of life. I don't do a good job. Help me to keep my eyes open to how you are working in my life, especially in the unexpected and unusual, as well as the normal.

QT 3/12/2026 Exo 14:15-31, Refusing to bend the knee

Exodus 14:15–31 (ESV) —

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

 

NOTE: This is an incredible miracle. Because of the amazing things that happen, many would like to dismiss it or call it the Reed sea with two inches of water. Of course, that would make it even more amazing for God to drown the Egyptian Army in two inches of water. I think the movies get it right. They may have an awful young Charleton Heston or an equally too young Yul Brunner (supposed brothers by Moses adoption) which is not supported by the text, but they do get the graphics of what a wall of water looks like. They do represent well the Chariots getting stuck, the fear, the panic, and then the deluge that falls upon the Egyptians. Personally, I think the Egyptian historical timeline is mis-dated, because Egypt chose to forget, not to record, the events of the Exodus. It is an embarrassing side story of the most powerful nation of the world at the time and also for a good part of ancient history. The passage says that Israel saw the dead on the seashore. My guess is that they could not see the other seashore, but they saw enough of the dead that floated to the shore where they departed the sea. The lesson is don't even think of trying to play games with God. You are not wise. You are stupid. You have no rights. You were created. You are not independent, you are owned by God whether you choose to recognize the fact or not. If you don't like that, then you are graciously given the choice to spend eternity in hell (that is the only option for those who choose to continue the rebellion against God).

 

PONDER:

1. Why do we consider ourselves, at times, on par with God, in the sense that we might argue and win our case?
2. Believe or not, but there is no arguing.

 

PRAYER: Father, I'm not much different from the atheist in terms of my own stupidity. But thankfully, you saved me. I responded to your gracious gift of eternity in your kingdom. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, give me the words and wisdom to challenge those who refuse to bend the knee to you.

QT 3/11/2026 Exo 14:1-4, Trusting God in tough times

Exodus 14:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

 

NOTE: Pharaoh considered himself a god, but he was defeated and outwitted at every turn. Pharaoh ran on emotion, God knows all and sees all. This is the last part of the judgment against Egypt and the humiliation of Egypt, the destruction of their army. God hardens Pharoah's heart because his judgment is not finished.

 

This is the third day since the Israelites stopped making bricks. The country is in turmoil; work projects have come to a halt, and the former slaves (Israel) seem to be in confusion and going in the wrong direction. Maybe Pharaoh thought this was his opportunity. In modern day warfare this type of ruse is classic and brilliant, it forces the enemy to engage his forces on your time and on your grounds. Although, I would not have chosen that ground, God knew what he was planning to do. In the end, he destroyed a large portion of the Egyptian army without a single Israelite engaging the enemy.

 

Of note, is the continual complaining of the people with their sarcastic comments, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?" We do this too! What we need to do is to trust God, but what we really do is complain and worry. When will we every learn?

 

PONDER:

1. How do I respond when things are out of my control, and don't seem to be going in the right direction?

 

PRAYER: Father, I admit it is hard to trust. For three years, my wife and I suffered wondering if our baby would ever have a normal life free of pain. But I have known other parents whose suffering for their children went on for decades. So, I understand. But I also know that these are just excuses. We need to trust your hand. We need to voice our complaints, but not to others, to you directly. We need to listen to your word and your spirit speak. We need to watch you work.

QT 3/10/2026 Exo 13:17-22, Giving up the reins

Exodus 13:17–22 (ESV) —

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” 20 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

 

NOTE: God is clearly leading his people, a pillar of  cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night. And yet, the route is not as one would expect. Instead of getting out of Egypt as quickly as possible, God turns right and leads them along a wilderness region.

 

I think this is applicable to us. For some, God's leading in our life does not seem right, and maybe haphazard. Most likely, we are actually leading and God is course-correcting, and so the whole thing is this contest, whether we admit it or not. But, we could be yielded and it still does not seem right or what we might desire, maybe like Israel, as it will appear that they are lost in the next story. If we are truly yielded to God, and not pretending (while all the time secretly introducing our own will), God's way can seem discouraging and futile. Looking back, there were things that did not happen as I wished at the time, but in retrospect, I have no regrets -- God's way was better. The only thing that got bruised was my pride.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we fighting God or following God?
2. How can I tell who is really in charge of my direction in life?

 

PRAYER: Lord, sometimes it is hard to tell what is happening based on the circumstances. But I know if I ask you to search my heart, you will reveal to me who has the reins. Lord, I want you to have the reins because no matter how touch life will be, it will be better in your will and not in my will.