Bonus Reading, Exodus

Raising Up Leaders  

Today's reading tells how Moses was a bit "in over his head" as the Hebrews left Egypt.  Jethro, his father-in-law, noticed that Moses seemed be the only one making decisions for all of the people in the wilderness -- an impossible task.  So he encouraged Moses to pick leaders of smaller groups to handle some of the lesser issues.  It was the beginning of the civic order -- another lesson the Israelites needed to learn so that they could truly become a nation.

Read Exodus 18:1-27  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Sermon - "Behold God's Mighty Hand" (Exodus)

Today, Rev. Joshua Patty preached about the general themes of miracles and salvation in the book of Exodus: "Behold God's Mighty Hand."  Drawing primarily from the miraculous parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through, he talked about how the entire story of Exodus is a story of salvation of the Israelites.  Sometimes the miracles are dramatic, such as God speaking to Moses out of a burning bush.  Other times, the miracles take longer and are more subtle, as God patiently works to reform the Israelites' identity as slaves into a free people of faith in God.

This painstaking process was not without set-backs, as when the Israelites made a golden calf to worship.  It also was not quick, lasting for two generations.  Sometimes, we too expect miracles to happen dramatically and "in a flash."  Occasionally, they do, but more often God's salvation takes longer to achieve in our lives too.

You can listen to the sermon here.

You can also listen to the Communion meditation, related to Passover, and the closing benediction.

Exodus, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Exodus you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach tomorrow on Exodus at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Exodus, Day 5 Readings

The Tabernacle and the Ark

Today's first reading describes the beginning of God's instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, the large tent complex where the people will gather to worship God.  In particular, it describes the most important item that will be kept in the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant.

Read Exodus 25:1-16  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
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The second selection tells how the Tabernacle was first erected and how the presence of God, in the form of a cloud, descended upon it.

Read Exodus 40:1-38  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Exodus 33-40 today.

Exodus, Day 4 Readings

The Golden Calf and Moses Glimpses God's Backside

Today's first reading tells the story of the first real rebellion of the Hebrews against God.  While Moses is on Mt. Sinai, the people persuade Aaron to make a golden calf that they can worship in the wilderness.  A furious Moses still pleads with God not to destroy the people, but only punish them, forcing them to move away from God's holy mountain.

Read Exodus 32:1-33:6  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
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The second selection tells how God granted Moses an extraordinary privilege, to physically glimpse God without facing death.  Evidently, this was granted to Moses as a sign of appreciation for Moses' faithfulness and wisdom.

Read Exodus 33:17-34:9  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Exodus 25-32 today.

Exodus, Day 3 Readings

Food and Water in the Wilderness and the Ten Commandments

Today's first reading tells how God provided food and water for the Hebrews while they were in the wilderness, particularly the provision of the mysterious food, manna.

Read Exodus 16:1-8  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
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The second selection is the beginning of God's law, torah, given to the Hebrews.  The most famous of these are known as the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Read Exodus 20:1-21  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Exodus 17-24 today.

Exodus, Day 2 Readings

The Passover and Crossing the Red Sea

Today's first reading tells the last plague that God spreads upon the Egyptians, the death of the eldest male offspring.  It also says how the Hebrews can save the lives of their oldest sons, by placing the blood of unblemished animals on their doorways.  This will lead to the passover of the Lord (and the angel of death), an event still cherished and celebrated by Jews today.

Read Exodus 11:1-12:20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second selection tells how the Hebrews, released from slavery, are suddenly pursued by the Egyptians.  Backed up against the Red Sea, and fearing annihilation, God miraculously parts the water, allowing the Hebrews to walk through the sea on dry land, and then swallows the pursuing Egyptians.

Read Exodus 14:1-31  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Exodus 9-16 today.

Exodus, Day 1 Readings

Moses' Childhood and the Burning Bush

Today's reading provides the basic biography of Moses, the great prophet who will lead the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt and through the wilderness to within sight of the Promised Land.  In it, we learn how a Hebrew male child survived, despite the order of Pharaoh that all Hebrew male babies should be killed, how he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, and how Moses reacted when he learned his true heritage.  The story then continues with the dramatic story of God's calling to Moses, giving him a mission to end the Hebrews' slavery.

Read Exodus 2:1-3:22  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Exodus 1-8 today.

Exodus, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 2 - Exodus

Exodus is the second book of the Torah.  It describes how the Hebrews, the chosen people of God, came to be enslaved by the powerful Egyptian nation.  God causes one Hebrew boy, Moses, to be raised and educated in the Pharaoh's own house, then exiled where he learns of God's plans that he lead the Hebrews out of slavery.

Pharaoh has little interest in simply releasing a large part of his imperial labor force, so God releases ten increasingly destructive plagues on the Egyptians, the last of which causes Pharaoh to beg for the Hebrews to leave.  

Moses guides the Hebrew people into the wilderness, where God protects them, provides nourishment for them, and gives them laws to govern their lives and their worship.  The most famous of these, the Ten Commandments, are still well-remembered today.  The wilderness religious practices, focused on sacrifices at the Tabernacle, are less known.