BIAY Day 25 - Blaze of Glory
Exodus 1-4, Psalm 21
Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
Today, we shift gears back to the Old Testament. Personally, I have appreciated moving between testaments in order to keep a foot in both stories. It helps me keep the connection fresher that they are One Story, and it helps me make connections where the NT is quoting or alluding to the OT in cool ways that I might otherwise skip over.
Here are some thoughts from the readings today.
Don’t mess with the midwives (1:15-22) - This is a delightful story of courage on the part of people who have less worldly status and power (the Hebrew midwives) against the person with the most worldly status and power (Pharaoh). The secret? “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.” This is what I call the fear-faith connection. Who/what we fear is what we have faith holds the power. The midwives fear of God over the Pharaoh (he no doubt thought they should fear him—tyrants and bullies expect this) because their faith in God is greater than their faith in Pharaoh! And God blesses them for it (v21).
With you (3:11-12) - One of the most significant words in the whole Bible is the little word “with.” We see it again in these verses. Moses has experienced an awesome encounter with God, speaking to him from the unconsumed bush ablaze with His presence. He hears God’s concern for His people and God’s plan to rescue them by sending him to Pharaoh. Moses’ first objection (and he will have many) is not surprising. We might use it too: Who I am to be sent on this mission??? God’s response is critical. It’s a great example of God (Jesus will do this over and over) not answering the question that was asked, but the one that should have been asked. God’s answer? “I will be with you.” It’s an answer that affirms Moses’ recognition that this task is too big for him by himself, but resolves the problem by assuring him that God Himself will go with him. It’s not just an assignment, it’s a partnership.
Testing God’s patience (4:1-17) - The Lord is patient, but Moses seems determined to test His limits. Excuse after excuse, reason after reason why he can’t go. Finally, I just love the pathetic yet honest words from Moses here: “But Moses said, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.’” (4:13) Anybody else been there? ;)
Questions:
What fears of yours seem more fearsome/powerful than the Lord sometimes?
When has having company or a partner helped you do something that was hard and nerve-wracking?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: “Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.” Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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