Our God Gives Clear & Specific Directions to Live By!
Reading: Exodus 20 - 23
My Verse: "Behold I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him" (23:20, 21).
LORD God, here is where You give the Israelites their marching orders so to speak. You start off with the basic ten commandments that cover all of ones life, then follow with very specific detailed directions as to how to deal with various issues. It is really an amazing guide for living. All law makers and leaders should study and know these three chapters of the Bible!
The wonderful thing is that You do not expect Your people to be totally on their own. After giving these very specific directions You tell Your people that You will send an angel to "guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared." That is so like You LORD God. You are so loving, so compassionate.
This angel seems to have appeared visibly several times. Joshua 5:13-15 gives a beautiful visual of this angel. "a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand." This "Man" said he was "Prince of the LORD's host." He is also referred to in Exodus 33:2. It is so beautiful when angels are spoken of in the Bible. It is so reassuring to know that they really are there to guard and guide us.
I like how this verse speaks to our part in our walk with You LORD God. We are admonished to "pay careful attention to him." Yes, You provide us with very clear directions in the Bible as to how we are to live. You also provide angels to help us along the way. Today we even have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us. And yet we do have to respond to this guidance. We must do our part to pay attention. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:17. "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the LORD is."
We must be obedient, "obey his voice." Throughout Your Word, LORD God You admonish us to obey Your Holy Word. "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20). Revelation 1:3 tells us. "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."
You really do provide us with all that we need and yet many of us live bankrupt lives because we do not follow through. We do not "pay attention to him and obey his voice." Thank You, LORD God for this lesson. Thank You for Your sufficiency!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Exodus 20 - 23
My Verse: "Behold I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him" (23:20, 21).
LORD God, here is where You give the Israelites their marching orders so to speak. You start off with the basic ten commandments that cover all of ones life, then follow with very specific detailed directions as to how to deal with various issues. It is really an amazing guide for living. All law makers and leaders should study and know these three chapters of the Bible!
The wonderful thing is that You do not expect Your people to be totally on their own. After giving these very specific directions You tell Your people that You will send an angel to "guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared." That is so like You LORD God. You are so loving, so compassionate.
This angel seems to have appeared visibly several times. Joshua 5:13-15 gives a beautiful visual of this angel. "a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand." This "Man" said he was "Prince of the LORD's host." He is also referred to in Exodus 33:2. It is so beautiful when angels are spoken of in the Bible. It is so reassuring to know that they really are there to guard and guide us.
I like how this verse speaks to our part in our walk with You LORD God. We are admonished to "pay careful attention to him." Yes, You provide us with very clear directions in the Bible as to how we are to live. You also provide angels to help us along the way. Today we even have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us. And yet we do have to respond to this guidance. We must do our part to pay attention. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:17. "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the LORD is."
We must be obedient, "obey his voice." Throughout Your Word, LORD God You admonish us to obey Your Holy Word. "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20). Revelation 1:3 tells us. "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."
You really do provide us with all that we need and yet many of us live bankrupt lives because we do not follow through. We do not "pay attention to him and obey his voice." Thank You, LORD God for this lesson. Thank You for Your sufficiency!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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