DAY 126 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE EXODUS

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.”

Exodus 13: 17

Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Oh, what a day! The people of God are finally released. They were not a people. They had been slaves for 400 years, they had no national identity, no army or system of government.

For 400 years they had been told when to eat, sleep and work by their slave masters. Although they were now free, they did not know how to live free. They needed to learn these things. God knew that He needed to teach them to live in freedom as His people.

God knows what is best for us

There have been many times in my life where, in my enthusiasm for Jesus, I’ve wanted to rush ahead, I’ve been frustrated that I am not further with God. God has had to remind me that He knows me better than I know myself, and He knows what to deal with, and when. There have been times when in dealing with an area of brokenness in me, I have been left feeling vulnerable and tender. That was when I realized that if He did it all at once I probably wouldn’t be able to keep functioning in life.

Today, take time to reflect on God’s patient dealings with you and thank Him that He knows what you can handle.

Prayer

Father, thank You that You are a gracious father and You know me better than I know myself. Thank You that You are forming Christ in me, that I can entrust my life into Your hands.

For the family

Explain

Share some of your testimony with your kids on how you have grown in your relationship with God and how He has graciously led you through difficult times. Encourage them that God is dealing with them in a similar way.