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.

QT 3/6/2026 Exo 12:43–51, The true Passover lamb is Jesus

Exodus 12:43–51 (ESV) —

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

 

NOTE: The restriction on not breaking the bones stands out as unusual. There is no explanation. Later in Roman times, during crucifixion, the bones of the individual were broken to quicken death, since one could push up with their legs to get a breath. Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross. He died without his bones being broken, because he was the Passover lamb for us. To make sure he was dead, the Romans used a technique where they would push a spear under the rib cage all the way to the heart. Accumulated water from the body, and the blood in the heart would come out, indicating that the person was dead. So, the prohibition against breaking the bones of the lamb is a very early reference to the ultimate Passover lamb.

 

PONDER:

1. Have you put your faith in God's provision of a Passover lamb?
2. You don't have to be Jewish or circumcised to receive God's Passover (Gal 5:6 makes that clear).

 

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) — For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for dying in my place for my sins.  Thank you for choosing to express your love. Thank you that you loved me first, when I was unworthy of your love. Thank you.

QT 3/5/2026 Exo 12:31–42, Don't wait, repent and believe

Exodus 12:31–42 (ESV) —

31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

 

NOTE: Things can certainly change quickly. When you have spent your whole life in one place, no matter how bad it might have been, to leave overnight is a huge change. Later, Israel will complain about the food and wanting to be slaves again in Egypt. We can be ridiculous with our sin, and we are never satisfied, and oh yeah, the grass is always greener on the other side. Still, in fairness to the complainers, big moves like this are psychologically difficult. Some people are pretty resilient, but others not so much. This day changed history, even though most people have forgotten it. Soon, we will restudy it, as plagues rain down on earth. But it doesn't have to be. Jesus promises to save us from the wrath to come, if we will just believe upon his work on the cross. But we must believe. We are not children of God because we are alive. We can only be adopted into the family of by faith in Jesus. Now is the time, now is the day of salvation, don't wait until it is too late.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I surrendered to Jesus, or am I only playing religion?
2. Don't wait for the end, turn now while there is time. Repent and believe.

 

PRAYER: Father, we don't realize your tremendous power. Egypt learned the hard way. I pray we will wake up before your judgment comes upon the earth.

QT 3/4/2026 Exo 12:26-30, The story behind the Easter story

Exodus 12:26–30 (ESV) —

26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’ ” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.

 

NOTE: It is interesting that this whole passage (chapter 12) is a command to include the teaching of the children. The Jews add the child's question into the ceremony. No Jewish child should ever not know the story of the Passover. Additionally, the feast of unleavened bread continue all week, with a solemn ceremony in the beginning and at the end. Every family in Egypt had a death from the throne to the dungeon, and even from the remaining animals. Now Egypt would understand the pain of killing babies. In a broader sense, we are all guilty before God of sin, and our judgment is also death. There is no escape.

 

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) — And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

 

But we do have a Passover lamb who saves us eternally.

 

Romans 6:23 (ESV) — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 1:29 (ESV) — The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) — Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

 

Someday, this instruction of Passover will open the mind of the children of Israel and they will turn en masse to their savior.

 

PONDER:

1. Have you put your faith in our Passover lamb, Jesus, who was sacrificed in our place?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a familiar story and it is the underlying story of Easter. I pray this Easter for people to come to know the savior and to begin a lifelong relationship with God.

QT 3/3/2026 Exo 12:1–11, A real hope and a real peace

Exodus 12:1–11 (ESV) —

1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

 

NOTE: Everything about this meal is done fast. There is no waiting for water to boil or bread to rise. It is a reminder of a very specific day in the history of the world where God took Israel from Egypt. I tear up every time I hear the song "When you believe" from the Prince of Egypt. Hearing the children singing in Hebrew as they march out of Egypt is incredibly powerful. But even more importantly, Passover points to Jesus, our Passover lamb, who suffered and died for our sins so that we could be delivered from our slavery to sin. We are free of the devil's hold. We don't need to rage at the world because the world is no longer our concern. We have a future kingdom that is our inheritance. Our concern is for the lost, who need the peace that only Jesus offers.

 

PONDER:

1. Do events in the world lead you to worry and rage?
2. Give yourself completely to Jesus, and he will calm your soul.

 

PRAYER: Father, I have a future and a hope because of my savior, Jesus. I pray to be bold and courageous to share my hope with the world. I pray I would not shrink back. I pray for your grace and mercy to infuse all of my life.

QT 3/2/2026 Exo 11:1–10, True stories

Exodus 11:1–10 (ESV) —

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

4 So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. 7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

 

NOTE: Exo  11:8 is an extension of the last interaction with Pharaoh at 10:28-29. Before Moses leaves, after he is threated, he pronounces the tenth and last plague. None of this is sudden, it was all predicted at the beginning, to include the plundering of the Egyptians by the Jews, and the death of the first born children. Also, Pharaoh is hardened by God in judgment against Egypt who had killed many of the boys of Israel in the Nile, all of Egypt will now experience the same death upon their families.

 

The problem with miracles is that they are often forgotten or written off in times. People call these stories myths because they do not agree with their world view. But this is a true story, observed by 4 million Jews and an even greater number of Egyptians. It is a story that is remember by the nations in the area during the time of wilderness, and it is recorded for posterity. It is not made up. It is true. If you are deluding yourself by thinking that God could not or would never do this, you are badly and foolishly mistaken. And you need to know that much of the Exodus will be repeated during the judgment that is coming upon the earth in the tribulation.

 

The last plague occurred exactly 430 years after the time that Israel settled in Egypt. I don't know God's timing, but I do know we are approaching within 7 years of the 2000 year anniversary of the resurrection, and we are within 47 years of the 2000 year anniversary of the destruction of the temple. What does that mean? Nothing, but God does seem to keep track of years (see Exo 12:40-42).

 

PONDER:

1. The bible is true and historical, don't fall for Satan's trap that it is myth.

 

PRAYER: Father, protect us from foolishness. May we turn to you in full repentance of our sins and full commitment of our lives.

 

QT 2/27/2026 Exo 10:21–29, We need God's light, his word

Exodus 10:21–29 (ESV) —

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

 

NOTE: As mentioned yesterday, we have reached the point where it is not Pharaoh whose heart is hardened by his own evil desires, but God now is hardening his heart to judge Egypt for their treatment of the people and the killing of the young baby boys.

 

This particular plague would have been very difficult in ancient times. Today we suffer from light pollution. We don't know what true darkness is light, or the need for the moon and stars to help us see at night. But this darkness was absolute. It would have been incredibly frightful to have lived during this time. I suppose a person trapped in a cave with no light would understand this fear. Tremendous fear would have gripped the nation. A sense of doom and a light-deprived depression would have enveloped all people.

 

There is a saying that nothing good happens after midnight. It is a fearful thing to hear the phone ring at 2am. Imagine the night lasting three days, and being almost blind. As a metaphor, light is good. And Jesus is the light for all mankind. In scripture, Satan represents the darkness. We need to turn to the light and live in the light, because darkness leads to judgment.

 

PONDER:

1. God's word is a light to our feet -- do I regularly read God's word?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is critical for a Christian to spend daily time in the word of God, but so few actually do. Renew us and help us to see our great need for your word.

QT 2/26/2026 Exo 1:1-20, Judgment is that sick feeling when life comes back to haunt

Exodus 10:1–20 (ESV) —

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5 and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, 6 and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’ ” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?” 9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” 10 But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. 11 No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15 They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

 

NOTE: We have reached a point of judgment. God is specifically hardening Pharaoh's heart as he promised he would. And even when Pharaoh repents, God hardens his heart. This is judgment, it is too late to turn back. The slavery inflicted on Israel, the killing of the babies, and the treatment has come back upon Israel. There is no going back. There is no "I'm sorry." As the advisors recount, "Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?" Yes, Egypt is ruined and will be ruined more. This has long ceased to be an issue of letting Israel go, but rather a judgment against the nation for their sin.

 

We have finished the eighth plague, there are only two left. At this point, the country is in near total ruin. And there does not appear to be an out. Earlier decisions have put Egypt where they are at this point in the story. The next two plagues will be terrifying to a nation of ancient times.

 

When God is trying to get our attention, it is best to listen before the volume gets too high. And don't think that you can get away with something because God will always forgive in the end.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we sold out to Jesus or just playing church?
2. What is God telling us to do that we are ignoring?

 

PRAYER: Father, all I can do is plead your mercy for my past failings. I know Jesus has forgiven every sin, but I do know that there can be consequences. I know that in your mercy you can even remove the consequences. Give me grace and mercy to live in a manner pleasing to you. Thank you that as an adopted son, I am completely loved, no matter what I have done or do.

QT 2/25/2026 Exo 9:13-35, Stupid responses to God

Exodus 9:13–35 (ESV) —

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.” ’ ” 20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” 23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” 31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.) 33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

 

NOTE: Many of the plagues that befall Egypt are similar to the plagues that befall the world in the tribulation period. One in particular is hail and fire. Except in Revelation, hail falls twice, once during the trumpet judgements, and then again during the bowl judgements. In the latter case, the  hail was 100 pounds each, enough to bring down buildings and homes.

 

God says to Pharaoh, that "you are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go." If Pharaoh though he held the ace card of the deck, he was badly mistaken. More likely, he held a two of clubs and God held the rest of the deck.

 

There are so many people like this. They think that if God exists, in death, they will have the perfect question which to put God in his place. They are beyond foolish. When they behold his majesty, all their stupid questions will disappear. They will fall down in great fear wondering how they could have been such imbeciles.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you banking on some incredible question that God can't answer to save your life? You are an imbecile then.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for people to wake up out of their stupor and turn to you in repentance and humility. We are so far beneath you in every possible way.