Scripture

And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Observation

Generations pass by and the Israelites prosper in the land of Egypt. The king becomes afraid of them, fearing they are a threat to national security. He brings in a regime of forced labour for the Israelites and treats them harshly. Still they prosper in adversity.

The midwives are commanded to kill any newborn baby boy, but they refuse to carry out this order. When questioned about this, the midwives say that the mothers give birth too quickly. So the king orders all Egyptians to throw any Hebrew baby boy into the Nile.

One of the Hebrew women gives birth to a son and manages to hide him for three months. She gets a wicker basket, makes it water proof and floats the boy in the water. Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe as the baby’s sister looks on. She discovers the baby, and the sister offers to get a woman to nurse the baby for her. So the baby’s mother is paid by Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse her own baby, now named Moses.

Application

Recently we have seen many scenes of violence and oppression in the world. People might ask “Where is God?” This story shows that God is working even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations.

God blesses those who remain faithful in impossible situations. The women of Israel were determined to bring life and not death, despite the opposition of the king. And God blessed them, even giving the midwives families of their own as they refused the evil demands of a despot.

Whatever our situation, we need to be asking ourselves every day, “What is God wanting me to do here and now?” “How can I bring life rather than death?”

Prayer

Lord please help me to be light in the darkness today, life in a culture of death, a faithful follower of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Observation
Jesus tells the crowd that holiness is not about what we eat but more about the words we speak. The disciples don’t understand him so he explains further. The food we eat passes through the body and doesn’t stay in us so it cannot defile us. The words we speak show the sin in our heart and that is what makes us unclean.
A Gentile woman comes to Jesus pleading for deliverance for her daughter. Jesus first ignores her then fobs her off. She persists and Jesus tells her that her great faith has healed her daughter.

Application
What is more important- acting in certain ways to seem good or having our heart transformed by God’s goodness?
Most religious behaviour aims to win God’s approval through doing something good. God doesn’t judge by visible actions but the motives that drive us.
It is faith that connects us to God- the desperate, unshakable faith that holds on to God even when He seems to not care. Persistence is the key to breakthrough.

Prayer
I am desperate for you Lord- desperate enough to know that faking goodness won’t impress you. Help me to hang on to you. Amen.

Scripture

Those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God”

Observation
Jesus sends the disciples across the lake while He goes up a mountain to pray.
Early in the morning as a storm rises on the lake, Jesus walks across the water towards the boat. The disciples think it’s a ghost, but He reassures them.
Peter calls out, “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you.” Jesus commands him, and he gets out of the boat. When Peter sees the waves, he starts to sink, but Jesus pulls him up.
As they get into the boat, the wind drops and the disciples worship Jesus.

Application
What a man of deep faith Peter was. He risked his life to be close to the Lord, to experience the power of God.
Some preachers point out that Peter failed when he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. This misses the greater point: Peter walked on water.
When we determine in our heart to believe the promises of God and to obey Him no matter what, there is no limit to what He can do in us and through us.

Prayer
Use me today Lord to show the world your power and your glory. Amen.

Scripture

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Observation
Paul’s great longing is to see the people of Israel, his own people, saved. They are zealous for God, but it is misdirected. They cling to their own ways, thinking that obeying the Law will save them.
God has revealed a different path of salvation- faith in Christ, If we believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead and confess with our mouths that He is Lord, then we will be saved.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But for this to happen, we need to go and tell people about the Good News.

Application
The christian life is all about grace. We are saved by trusting in God’s grace shown to us in Christ. It it all God’s free gift.
Some people think that after salvation it is all about works, that we stay in God’s good books by doing stuff for Him.
There is nothing we can do to impress God either before or after we are saved. He loves us unconditionally regardless of our actions.
Yes, we will want to obey Him- that’s what it means to confess that Jesus is Lord. Even this is grace because the Holy Spirit cleans out our self-centred, sinful heart to make us want to obey.
The gospel is grace from beginning to end.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for this truly amazing grace that sets me free from sin, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture

When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here Elijah?”

Observation
After the big prophetic showdown on Mount Carmel which led to Israel pledging to follow the Lord, Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah. Full of fear, Elijah flees to the wilderness.
Elijah comes to a solitary tree and prays for God to take his life. An angel comes twice with food and water for him. Strengthened, Elijah travels to Mount Carmel, the mountain of the Lord.
On the mountain, a great wind comes, then an earthquake, then fire and, finally, a sheer silence. In the silence, the Lord speaks to Elijah, telling him to anoint kings over Aram and Israel, and Elisha as prophet.

Application
These days, Elijah would be diagnosed as suffering depression or burn out and sent off for stress leave. This is what the Lord does to Elijah- he sends him on a long pilgrimage back the the holy mountain.
Sometimes we can become weary in doing the Lord’s work. If this is not attended to, long term mental illness can result.
The cure is to take time off and reconnect with the Lord, allowing Him to refresh and renew us.

Prayer
Lord, you know how we are made, and you know the cure for our ailments. Holy Spirit please refresh me and renew my trust in you. Amen.

Scripture

When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion on them and cured their sick.

Observation
Jesus hears about the death of John the Baptist and travels across the lake to a deserted place. The crowds follow Him on foot and assemble at the place Jesus disembarks. Jesus has great compassion on the crowd and heals all the sick people.
Faced with a hungry crowd, the disciples urge Jesus to send the people away. Jesus tells the disciples that they must feed the crowd.
The disciples bring Jesus five loaves and two fish. He gives thanks and hands them back to the disciples to distribute. Miraculously, they feed five thousand men plus women and children, and have much more left over than they started with.

Application
God’s ability to provide what we need is only limited by our ability to yield to Him whatever resources we already have.
One of the big problems in our culture is that we want to fix things ourselves. We think we are so rich and so skilful that we can solve any problem. In doing this, we often leave God out of the solution.
Jesus took what was offered and lifted it up to God, and then the miracle happened.
We must do the same.

Prayer
Father I thank you for the many talents, gifts and resources that I have from you. Help me to offer them back to you for your purposes and for your empowering. Amen.

Scripture

My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed- cut off from Christ- if that would save them.

Observation
Paul is filled with grief and sorrow for his people, his Jewish brothers and sisters who are unsaved. If it would save them, he would be willing to be cursed and cut off forever from Christ for their sake.
The Jews are the people of Israel, chosen by God. God gave them the privilege of worshipping Him. Christ was an Israelite at least as far as His human nature is concerned.

Application
Paul is passionate to see his people, the Jews, saved. This teaches us two things:

1. There is no place for anti-Semitism in the church. God loves the Jews and wants them to be reconciled to Him through the gospel.
2. We too should be passionate about our own people being saved. The people in my city, the people in my nation, the people in my planet all need the gospel.

Prayer
Father, you are passionate about seeing people come into reconciliation with you. Show me who you want me to share the gospel with today. Amen.

Help me Lord

I’m in trouble again!
I do what is right
But in this world
That wins no friends.

They surround me
These unrighteous ones
They move in for the kill
Rescue me O God!