QT 2/23/2026 Exo 8:20–32, Negotiating with God, really?

Exodus 8:20–32 (ESV) —

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.” ’ ” 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 31 And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

 

NOTE: At this point, Pharaoh is trying to negotiate on terms favorable to him. First, he wants them to stay in the land. Second, when that is rejected, he says to stay nearby. Moses replies that they need to travel three days but it is never determined if that fits in the definition of "nearby." When God says we are to do something or God commands us to do something, why do we try to negotiate with the God of the universe? Do we have any right to suggest another course of action? Certainly, Moses tried to do similarly (at the burning bush), so it is not just Pharaoh who is trying to sway God. It seems more obvious as Pharaoh tries to dictate to God the terms of the agreement. Why do we do it? In Pharaoh's case he is trying to control the situation. He wants to retrieve his slaves -- as if God is unaware of his hidden motives. I suppose, there is no contract between Israel and Egypt. They have no legal requirement to return, although feeding 4 million in the middle of the desert would be extremely difficult for any length of time.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I try to negotiate obedience with God?
2. Or do I listen and obey God's voice?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to hear, help me to obey. May I be a doer of your word and not just a hearer.

QT 2/20/2026 Exo 8:16-19, A world running from the truth

Exodus 8:16–19 (ESV) —

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

 

NOTE: This is the first time that the magicians (priests or wise ones) could not reproduce a miracle. This is third plague. These magicians are forced to admit that this is the finger of God, although not necessarily the God of Israel. Once again, Pharaoh heart is hardened, not by God but by himself. It won't be until the sixth plague that the Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart.

 

The gnats were especially irritating. They were small and would bit humans causing a painful itch. So, for the religious leaders, this was particularly vexing, both the being bit by the gnat and having to admit that this was God.

 

I saw a few videos of young men and women (who thought they were smart -- they were not) challenging various Christian spokesmen about the bible and life. I was so disappointed by the absurdity of the questioning. None of the arguments against the bible or God were good. On the surface, they sounded good, but a just a little study and common sense would have exposed the foolishness of the argument. I was depressed and disappoint, not because any of the arguments even had a hint of reasonableness, but that there were so many young men and women deceived by satanic arguments, that probably learned from their satanic instructors in college. How incredibly sad. They are the supposed "wisemen" being exposed to real truth. Personally, I don't have the patience for these fallacious reasonings, ad hominens, and false dilemmas, especially when I know that they are only smoke screens and excuses for not wanting to truly confront Jesus and believe in God.

 

PONDER:

1. The days are short, the most effective apologetic is the word of God. Do you have memorized verses (beyond John 3.16) that you can use to share the gospel with others?

 

PRAYER: Father, my heart aches for so many lost people who have an appearance of religion in their arguments but no true love for Jesus. Come Lord Jesus, come. Help us to be bold in sharing the gospel of Jesus to a truly lost and dying world.

QT 2/18/2026 Exo 7:14–24, Blinded by our own jaded vision

Exodus 7:14–24 (ESV) —

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water, and stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” ’ ” 19 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’ ”

20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

 

NOTE: There are a number of ironies. Moses was cast into the Nile to die as many male babies of his time were. Now the Nile, the life blood of Egypt, is turned into blood and casts dead fish to Egypt. I am surprised by Pharaoh's lack of alarm. While it was apparently possible to dig along the Nile for fresh water, this would not have been good for the fishing industry, probably a major source of food. On the other hand, the blood was probably great for the irrigation industry and agriculture. Although, that would be a short reprieve. The turning of the Nile into blood is the first plague. The Nile was considered sacred and life-giving. It may not have affected Pharaoh (at least on the surface) but it would have caused near panic among the people.

 

How does this apply to us? Sometimes we are not even phased by the miraculous because our eyes are blinded by our own sin. Pharaoh could not see what should have been obvious, because he saw things with worldly eyes, opposed to God.

 

PONDER:

Do I miss the minor miracles of life because I am so jaded by life itself?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see your hand in even the small things. I give you praise for the answer to so many prayers. I know you are working for my good and the good of other believers.

QT 2/17/2026 Exo 7:8–13, Major decisions need to go through God

Exodus 7:8–13 (ESV) —

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’ ” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

 

NOTE: This is the second time that Pharaoh is required to respond to God's command (although the full conversation is not given). At this point, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, not by God, but by himself. It is Pharaoh who would not listen.

 

I believe that God's sovereignty and Man's free will coexist in God's universe in a way that I can't understand (because the bible refers to both as true). Pharaoh does have a choice, but God has a purpose. At some point, Pharaoh is judged, and is no longer given a choice. Technically, Egypt deserved no choice when it decided to kill the Jewish male babies. The blood of those babies was on Egypt's hands and it deserved whatever judgment God decided. I suppose my country is not much different. For years we have allowed abortion to reign in our lands. It was not forced, it was a choice of parents, but the blood of 60 million babies is still on our hands. God will judge our nation for our disregard of life. There may be cases where it was justified, but when that decision was made for material reasons, it was wrong.

 

PONDER:

Do I seek God's will in the major decisions of life, or do I do what is most economically beneficial to myself regardless of ethical considerations?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know these are difficult subjects, but they are things that we must wrestle with deeply. I don't pretend to have answers where things are really not as black and white as they sound, but I do pray that we, that I would seek in the major decisions of life.

QT 2/16/2026 Exo 6:28-7:7, The results are God's

Exodus 6:28–7:7 (ESV) —

28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

 

NOTE: It is a big task for two 80-year old men, proving that God can use us at any age to perform his will. We are never too old to serve. Moses spent his first 40 years thinking he as a somebody, and the next 40 years realizing he was a nobody. His next 40 years is proof that God can use somebodies who find out they are nobodies (D.L. Moody). God's answer to Moses fear, is that it is not Moses respect that is on the line. God himself is speaking to Egypt and the people of Israel. They will know he is God. In other words, God will make it work. God uses these two men, but he could use any two men, because his glory was at stake. This is not a project that had any chance of failure. God will intervene when needed. I would argue that is why at later stages, God hardens Pharaoh's heart, because he was not finished with what he planned.

 

When God give us a task to do, we need to trust him to bring the results and not our insignificant efforts.

 

PONDER:

1. What has God called me to do?
2. What do I fear to undertake?

 

PRAYER: Father, give me courage and strength to continue in the things you have called me to. The work is not dependent upon my efforts. It is for your glory and not mine. Give me grace to be faithful to your calling.

QT 2/13/2026 Exo 6:22-27, Learning to grow in your gifts

Exodus 6:22–27 (ESV) —

22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans.

26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.

 

NOTE: At this point in the story, only God knows that he will choose Levi to be ministers in the temple, and the line of Aaron to be the priests. They weren't trained to be priests. They were brick layers like almost everyone else. Not surprisingly, he sons will make mistakes. They do not realize the seriousness of the role that God will give them. I don't know if anyone is ready for the role God gives them. But if God has placed you in a situation, you must believe that he knows what is best and is using it for good in your life and in others. Our job is to be faithful, to improve in the job we are given. I believe I have a ministry of teaching. I also, have a gift of teaching. But I can still improve my teaching abilities.

 

PONDER:

1. Do you try to improve how you exercise your spiritual gifts?
2. Or do you already think you are perfect? I hope not.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the lessons I am learning. Continue to teach me how to teach others and how to encourage them to apply your word.

QT 2/12/2026 Exo 5:22-6:12, There can be hard parts to obedience

Exodus 5:22–6:13 (ESV) —

22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’ ” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

 

NOTE: Moses is distraught. His effort for the people has ended in disaster. Not only is Pharaoh against him, but so are his own people. It is very lonely to be a leader that no one wants to listen to. God ignores Moses' complaint, instead telling him what is going to happen. He reiterates what he said before. It has a different response from the people. Before they were encouraged but now they don't want to listen. Moses is ostracized by the people out of fear that worst things may happen if they support Moses. When Moses relates all this, God's response is to give them a charge. This is what you are  called to do. In essence, there is a point where God is telling Moses to stop whining about the results, trust God and do the job.

 

That is a hard message to hear, and clearly it is what Moses needed to hear. I guess I would have like to hear something about this going exactly as planned. Which incidentally, God did say that Pharaoh would resist all the way up to the point of the death of his firstborn son. But we tend to forget the parts that seem harsh and focus on only the good things.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God asking me to do that seems too hard?
2. What am I forgetting about what has already revealed to me?

 

PRAYER: Father, lead and guide me in the days ahead. There are some great opportunities, but I don't want promises to blind me to your will in my life. Thank you for opportunities. May I trust you in all things.

QT 2/11/2026 Exo 5:15-21, Reacting with empathy, not distrust

Exodus 5:15–21 (ESV) —

15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

 

NOTE: The Israelites believe the Egyptians are at fault. The Pharaoh tells them that they are not working hard enough if they have time to discuss "going to a sacrifice." Obviously, it is not the best way to treat your workers, whatever the reason. What was Pharaoh's big time crunch that he could not have let the go for three days? Of course, he did have a fear that they would not return. He could have sent troops with them. I believe he was the only great power at the time, there were no threats. And God has not even hardened his heart yet. He makes a classic mistake of poor and young leadership, "turn the screws harder." Rehoboam will makes the same mistake 500 years later and split the country into two entities. Part of the problem is that we tend to NOT "think the  best" but assume the worst. If Pharaoh had dealt with it in a more empathetic way, maybe things could have been different.

 

Which leads us to the other difficult question -- was the request to worship deceptive since it was intended to get the people out of the country? While the excuse held through all the negotiations, it was Pharaoh who came after the people with his army to destroy them and was destroyed himself. So any obligations were lost when Pharaoh decides to attack. If this wasn't the worse of all the Pharaohs, things could have turned differently, but God knew how he would react, and in the process, God later hardened Pharaoh's heart (in response to Pharaoh's repeated hardening). Pharaoh and Egypt were judged for what they did to Israel. God knew what he was doing. And the story becomes an important part of the gospel, since Jesus is the Passover lamb for all of mankind.

 

PONDER:

True leadership cares for the employee. Are those who work for me a means to the end, or the end itself? Most employers never figure that one out.

 

PRAYER: Father, I am retired now, but fortunately I learned this lesson early on from good bosses. Even though I was fortunate, I don't see very many people who understand the importance of taking care of their employees. I pray for opportunities to teach and display these principles even in my retirement.

QT 2/10/2026 Exo 4:27-31, Trying to see our circumstances from God's perspective

Exodus 4:27–31 (ESV) —

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

 

NOTE: Many times a project will start out well, but early on it collapses because of unforeseen obstacles. God warned in the preceding verses that Pharaoh will refuse to let the people go, and that God himself will be a part of that by hardening his heart. But at this point, Moses does not share that part with Aaron (at least that we know) and Aaron does not share that with the people. What they are doing will not be easy, and I don't think they are ready for the response of Pharaoh. They want the promised easy life -- deliverance from slavery -- not knowing that it will include an even harsher form of slavery. We tend to view things from a short term perspective. We miss out on what God is doing because we don't look at the long term gain. Some people "play" the long game, but most of us are too impatient.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I ever stopped and looked at my circumstances and wondered at what the long term results might be?
2. Am I trying to learn from my circumstances or just get out of them?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is not easy to  be in the midst of something you don't like. It is hard. The short term is all you see. Actually, you end up living day to day. Help us to step back and see your grand picture, to see what you are doing and what you are going to do with our life.

QT 2/9/2026 Exo 4:1-17, We need to stop trying to fix God's word to make it more "palatable"

Exodus 4:10–17 (ESV) —

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

 

NOTE: I don't know, but these last two objections are answered by God as the same subject. Moses continues to share his fears and objections, and God was patient with him, until he says, "send someone else." Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. God can takes our fears, our questions, our worries, and even our anger. But refusal to obey is where the line is drawn. God gives him Aaron to speak and to go with him (support). As the events progress, Moses ends up doing most of the talking anyway, so in reality, he did not need Aaron. I'm sure it helped his courage. Later on, Aaron would mistakenly lead the people into a grave sin. In some way, Moses' fears led to the exultation of Aaron, and potentially led to the golden calf.

 

We are always trying to improve upon God's word and God's plan. I wonder what would happen if we just take God at his word and ignore the outside voices that try to tell us to compromise just a little. I think it is true in sex, sexual relationships, sexual roles, leadership, and a whole host of other commands that the world does not accept.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I twisted God's word in a way to make myself comfortable?
2. Do I believe God's way is really the best way?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for trying to make your world palatable in a culture that does not accept it. Your word is truth and your word brings life. When I "adjust" it, I take away what makes is special, it is TRUTH that brings healing to our souls.

QT 2/6/2026 Exo 3:16-22, Making bad choices

Exodus 3:16–22 (ESV) —

16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

 

NOTE: There is an interesting dynamic in these verses. God says that Pharaoh won't let the people go unless compelled by a mighty hand. As we see later in the book, God foretells that he will harden Pharaoh's heart, but before he does, Pharaoh hardens his own heart, multiple times. At some point, God then hardens his heart. So Pharaoh had a choice, and God knew his heart. He knew that he would need to be compelled. It is not to the end that he literally screams "go!" But by then, Egypt is almost destroyed. Pharaoh will destroy the Army last in his rage.

 

PONDER:

• God knows our heart better than we do. He is in control but he does give us free will. Are there areas in my life where I am hardening my heart to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see when I am hardening my heart to your commands. Be gracious and merciful to me. And to my children, speak to their heart and be merciful.

QT 2/5/2026 Exo 3:11-15, We must obey

Exodus 3:11–15 (ESV) —

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

 

NOTE: I find in this passage that God is very patient with Moses and his excuses. It is only when Moses says no (Exo 4:13,14) that the "anger of the Lord was kindled with Moses." Prior to Moses's disobedience, God was gracious. God explained to Moses that he will be with him. God revealed his name to Moses. God gave him tools to do miracles. God explains that he created the tongue and he can give him words. God gives him Aaron his brother to help him. God was extremely patient up until that point of saying no.

 

What is it that I am refusing to do, maybe not verbally like Moses, but in my heart I am refusing to obey? What is it and what do I need to change in my life? I do find that I am slow to follow through on certain tasks related to ministry -- why is that? Would I do that or did I do that prior to retirement? Very seldom did I ever procrastinate on a task unless it was something that felt unenjoyable.

 

PONDER:

1. What are the tasks that God has called me to do?
2. Am I not listening to God on some issue?
3. Am I procrastinating?

 

PRAYER: Father, in my new daycare job with my grandchildren, help me to organize my time well to still accomplish the tasks that you have set before me.

 

QT 2/4/2026 Exo 3:7-10, Life included eternity

Exodus 3:7–10 (ESV) —

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

 

NOTE: We know from an earlier chapter in Genesis that there was a limited time for the Canaanite nations to repent of their sins. Apparently, that time has passed. We don't have the record of how God may have been working in other nations. We do see a glimpse with Melchizedek and even Barak (who probably was not born yet), but nothing to suggest that God had prophets who spoke to other nations. He did send Jonah, but that story is much later, and Jonah was a Jew. It does make you wonder how much the Canaanites were warned.

 

In any case, it is now 400 years later. God's timing is very different from ours. From a personal perspective, it does seem as if we are forgotten. And certainly, there were generations of Hebrews who never saw a life outside of slavery. But if you believe that life is more than the seen, and that we are to live for eternity, a lifetime (or even 400 years) is a blip in the timeline of eternity.

 

In Corinthians, God's view of our troubles is "light and momentary." Why? Because God sees all of life, not just this existence here.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have an eternal perspective on life?
2. Do I think I deserve a reward here on earth? 2a) Why? 2b) Christians are promised a reward but it is in eternity.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know that I need to trust in your timing and control. Sometimes it is hard. I pray for patience. I pray to encourage others to trust you and to wait on you.

QT 2/3/2026 Exo 3:1-6, Not all people are children of God

Exodus 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

 

NOTE: There is certainly a theme of holiness that occurs often in Exodus. God is protecting his people by creating a separation and by sacrifices of blood to cover them before they enter his presence. Unfortunately, the people often do the opposite resulting in many deaths. In this first instance to Moses, God tells him to remove his shoes because the ground is holy. How much ground is holy? It pretty much should extend infinitely if God is there, but God's purpose is to begin to show Moses the need for holiness in his presence. Why the shoes? There are a lot of reasons, besides the obvious inference of trails and animal droppings. Shoes were hand-made. A man stood on the shoes he had made to protect his feet from the ground and to make life a little easier to walk. In God's presence, we need to let go of our accomplishments, our wisdom, our insight, all of the things that we rely on for life. When we enter into God's holy presence, the believer does it on the basis of Christ's finished work on the cross and in humility. God is not impressed with us, but God loves his adopted sons beyond measure. And that is also the tension believers straddle, God's holiness and God's adoption of his children. We enter his presence boldly (Heb 4:16), but also with fear and trembling. All humanity is created by God, but not all humanity are children of God.

 

Romans 8:15–16 (ESV) — For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

 

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I recognize the incredible holiness of God?
2. Do I recognize that I am an adopted child of God, fully loved because of Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is a mistaken belief in my society that all people are children of God. But they are not. The only children of God are those who have put their faith in Jesus as their savior and received the promised holy spirit upon belief. I pray for people that they would recognize the falsity of that belief and instead turn toward Jesus so that they can truly become children of God. Help me to be bold in sharing that truth.

QT 2/2/2026 Exo 2:11-21, God is not looking for heroes

Exodus 2:11–21 (ESV) —

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.

 

NOTE: In his younger days, Moses fashioned himself as the hero type. But he wasn't well received by his fellow Hebrews. He had killed an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew, and the response was to despise him for making himself prince and judge over the Hebrews. And when the word got out to Pharaoh, he ended the hero notion by seeking to kill him. Moses in his flight finds himself in Midian and he rescues seven daughters from the shepherds -- He is still trying to be the hero.

 

God doesn’t need heroes, well, God doesn't need anything, but he wants humble servants, men who believe that by God's power they can change the world. Moses started out believing he could change the world. God needed to humble him first. So, he brings him to Midian and turns the prince of Egypt into a humble servant who shepherds flocks for forty years.

 

I think all men want to be heroes. But God needs obedience and humility in his leaders. Heroes try to do things in their own power. God's servants do things in God's power.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I try to be a hero too often?
2. Do I feel I have to rescue the situation through clever words and stratagems?
3. Or do I rely upon God to do things only he can really do for good?

 

PRAYER: Father, sometimes I carry ministry loads on my shoulders which are not mine to carry and problems that are not mine to solve. I can't be what every person wants. I can only do what you give me the strength to do. And I need to rest in that. If I can't solve a problem that I have been praying about, I need to let it go -- give it completely to you. And believe that you are fully aware and are doing what you choose to do in the situation.

QT 1/30/2026 Exo 2:1-10, Wisdom and discernment on tough issues

Exodus 2:1–10 (ESV) —

1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

 

NOTE: Some of the differences in the sexes shows up in these verses. The man (Pharaoh) had ordered the death of all Hebrew boy babies. That is an incredibly cruel command. I wonder how long it stood because its cruelty must have come back on Pharaoh to some degree. Within his own family, his daughter, a woman, sees the baby and rescues him, in defiance of her own father. He did not care and she did care. He was heartless and she was compassionate. Not all men are heartless or all woman compassionate. But as a general rule, there is some truth in their behavior.

 

The current immigration sweep can seem heartless, but there are a number of factors for Christians to consider. The immigrants being sought are child molesters, human traffickers, drug dealers, murderers, and gang members. They are not here legally. The government is not killing them but rather sending them back to their countries. Are there mistakes in the process? I am sure there are, but a process with this many illegal immigrants will make mistakes. It does not help that those finding and capturing the illegal immigrants are being interfered with -- that causes the federal agents to act more hastily. I think without the interference, there would be less mistakes and certainly no injuries. Most of the anti-forces are female. I appreciate their care for the downtrodden, but their protection for the criminal is very misguided. We are to take care of prisoners but that does not mean we keep them out of jail.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I thought through my response to the present immigration crisis?
2. Do I think illegal immigration is the same as legal immigration in God's eyes?
3. Do I believe that we are to obey the governing authorities except where it clearly violates one of God's commands (kill, lie, or steal for example)?

 

PRAYER: Father, the issue my country faces is complicated. The people are very emotional about their views. I don't see many true believers supporting the left. The people who support homosexuality, abortion, and transgenderism seem to be the same people supporting illegal immigration. Give us all wisdom to seek your will and to do what is right according to your word.

QT 1/29/2026 Exo:1:15-22, God blesses obedience

Exodus 1:15–22 (ESV) —

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

 

NOTE: The bible tells us to obey our governing authorities unless they oppose God's laws. Life, not taking it, is clearly a law of God. The midwives, at the risk to their lives, chose to obey God, and disobey the  King. Technically, they also lie to the King, but God blesses them with families. My personal conviction (that I would not teach) is that lying to protect another (show love) is permissible. The spies at Jericho and the woman (Rahab) that hid them seem to argue that love is an overriding factor when it comes to letter of the law versus spirit of the law. One could argue that Jesus said the same when he boiled the letter of the law down to two spirit of the law principles, love God and love people (your neighbor).

 

PONDER:

1. Do I spend time making issues about the letter of the law when my life is violating the spirit of the law?
2. Am I more likely to call a person on sin, then to reassure / support a struggling brother?
3. Are people drawn to my life and faith, or turned off by it?

 

PRAYER: Father, I've known some very godly men who have disagreed with me on this concept. So, it is not something I teach or even discuss often. I am interested though every time I find another passage on the topic. I was surprised to note that the midwives are another case. A counter example is Daniel who prayed quite openly even though the king had ordered otherwise. Daniel did not lie to protect him or his friends. He was honest, he was punished, and he was rescued by God. So, I am left with this area of conviction. For me, I will not lie unless I am protecting another person. You, will judge me in the end.

QT 1/28/2026 Gen 50:22–26, How are we living in light of Jesus' return

Genesis 50:22–26 (ESV) —

22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

NOTE: The promise and hope of Joseph, "God will surely visit you," was fulfilled almost 400 years later. We also live with a similar process, and a longer time frame. The second to last verse in the NT is similar to the second to last verse in Genesis. It says,

 

Revelation 22:20 (ESV) — He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

We are coming close to five times 400 years since Jesus' death. That is a long time. But the power of God in raising Jesus from the dead before hundreds of people who went to martyr deaths rather than deny, is proof of the story of Jesus. When we look at Jesus, and study Jesus, we know his promise is true. Science has not disproved anything of the gospel. It is interesting to note that a larger percentage of "hard science" (physics, chemistry, math) people believe in God than "soft science" (sociology, psychology, human behavior) people.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I live as if Jesus' return is near?
2. What does it mean or how might it change my life, if for instance we knew Jesus would return this year? I'm not advocating this year, but I would not be surprised by 7-10 years.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray it would not matter how we live if we knew you were coming this year. By that I mean, we are doing exactly what we should be doing if your return was this year, this decade, or next century. If we have to change, then we are not being obedient to our calling.

QT 1/27/2026 Gen 50:15–21, Dealing with Guilt

Genesis 50:15–21 (ESV) —

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

 

NOTE: The thing about sin is that it doesn't let go. Yes, I would be ashamed to have been a part of the selling (almost killing) of Joseph, even if it was just lying to the father. I feel like this was probably initiated by Simeon and Levi, more than any of the others. Sin is painful. It is hard to let go of the guilt. But one of the promises of the cross is that the blood of Jesus can even wash away guilt. All of us have garbage in our life that we would like to forget and let go. The gospel gives us that promise. We need to take our garbage of a life and give it God, and believe the gospel, that we are completely forgiven of our sin. I don't need to remember it any more. Jesus has washed me clean.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there a sin that I struggle with guilt? Jesus can give you freedom
2. Do I need to ask forgiveness?

 

PRAYER: Father, the blood of the Jesus cleanses us.

Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) — 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

May we experience the joy of a cleansed body.

QT 1/26/2026 Gen 50:1-14, The reward of a life well-lived

Genesis 50:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’ ” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

 

NOTE: Jacob is 147 when he dies (Gen 47:28). He lived in Egypt 17 years. Since the family relocated to Egypt in the second year of the famine, Jacob lived in Egypt for the last 5 years of the famine, and another 12 years after that. At this point in time, Joseph is probably still second in command (since he literally bought all of Egypt for Pharaoh during the famine). At worse, Joseph is still remembered. By the start of Exodus, around 300 years later, Exo 1:8 says that the new Pharaoh did not know Joseph. Anyway, Pharaoh not only agrees to let Joseph leave and bury his father, his own servants, chariots, and horsemen accompany Jacobs' family. Due to the size of the entourage and the number of Egyptians, the people of the land see it as an Egyptian event of great mourning.

 

In Proverbs, it says:

 

Proverbs 22:29 (ESV) —

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.

 

God blessed Joseph, but Joseph was also a godly man who lived a life of obedience. He was blessed by God, but he also lived the life as he could and should. Why doesn't God bless us similarly? I'm not saying that a good life leads to material blessing, but I am saying that we need to evaluate our life. Do I live according to the bible? Am I a hard worker? Do I live in integrity? These are not promises for blessings, but they are certainly reasons for failure.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my witness something that honors and exalts God?
2. Am I embarrass to identify with Christ because I fail to live like a Christian?
3. Believers will fail and fall, but what do I do to seek God? Or am I only seeking my pleasure in life?

 

PRAYER: Father, as a book title reads, "there is no magic formula." But one can do the right thing. One can seek you. One can spend time in the word. We need to take some of the weight of failure upon ourselves for our own laziness. Open our eyes to our sin and failures. Bring us back to you.