Scripture:

Exodus 28:3-4

3 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.

"The Work of Our Hands" 

I love this portion as it reminds us of two very important things: First is that our Giftings come from the LORD, the things we are "gifted" at, come from Him.  The second is that what the LORD has put us to task with is for His Glory, it is good, here in Exodus, we are reminded that it is Holy to the Lord.   I think we miss that our work that is given over to the Lord, not only does He give us the ability, the skill, the giftedness in that area, but He consecrates it, because it is in His service, it is Holy to Him.   

Our application here is that we would recognize the giftings in our life come from Him and that this would produce gratitude, that all that we have He has provided, this should cause us to pause and be grateful.  The second is the things that He has sent us to do for Him, these are Holy to Him, it is set apart work, not like our job, and it should be treated with more respect than anything we do, even though we are instructed to do all work as unto Him, I believe the things we do for God, we must do them with reverence, that they are set apart.

Father, I thank you today for the giftings in my life, that when there is a need, a skill, you can give it to me.   I thank for the things you have entrusted me with, the Kingdom work that you have sent me to do, thank you for the reminder that this is "set apart" for you, that it is special, holy and it should be treated that way, in Jesus name, Amen!

Scripture:

Exodus 25:1-3

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze;

When you read chapters 25-27, you get construction details for the tabernacle that the Lord told the people to build. There are two major things about that, the first being that it says that He gave each of the craftsmen their skill, and the second is that He provided the material they gave. You might miss that if you didn't remember it if you didn't remember Exodus 12:25-25.

So, that being said, when God was asking them to give as their heart prompted them, cheerful giving, willing givers, people who give out of their love for God, not out of obligation.   The amazing bit, is something that you miss probably daily is that God is "Jireh" our provider, so it is He who provided your skill, in this case God provided the plunder that He instructed Moses to ask the people who were willing to give for some of it, to do what?  To build a place in which He could "DWELL" among them.

So, today our application here is to recognize that all that we have, all the is provided is from Him, He is our source, when we give we are only giving back what He already provided.  Second thing is that we should give out of our love for Him, not out of our obligation, He is the provider, He doesn't want our money, but rather our hearts.

Lord, I pray that we would consider today where we are in our giving, what is our heart position, that we would consider all that you have provided and give according to that, that we would be generous because we love you, because you deserve our devotion, our hearts, may we consider all that you do, the wonder of who you are and may our serving, our giving, our doing for you increase, in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Scripture:

Exodus 17:11-12,15

11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord Our Banner)

I love this portion of Exodus because it reminds us that we need others, that there is a victory ahead, but we need others to rally with us, to hold up our hands when we get weary from the battle.   As long as Moses held his hands up, the armies of Israel held the victory.  This highlights the need for intercessors in our lives, people who recognize that the victories we will have together will be the ones that we fight together.    People who stand in the gap, hold our arms up, lifting up the Holy Name of God over us, over our situation, plead the blood of Jesus over us, and cover us in prayer.  It is the Lord (Jehovah Nissi) that brings the victory, but this portion demonstrates that God wants us to unite in prayer, unite in speech, unite in vision, and then we will see the victory.

When you get to the other side of your battle, you too will declare that the LORD is Johovah Nissi, your VICTORY BANNER.

The application here is that we need a prayer life; we need to support those who are in the battle, who have become weary, or have a heavy load.   We need arm lifters (Intersessors) who recognize that our strength comes from the Lord, and they draw upon that truth and pray over the situation, pray for the LORDS provision, His power, His presence, His purpose and His VICTORY.   

Lord, I pray for those who are struggling in the battle and have become weary, that you would strengthen them, that you would cause strength to come into the situation, that they would have endurance to see the victory that you will bring, break off the attack of the enemy, Lord be their Jehova Nissi, let us declare that today, the LORD, our BANNER, you are the victory in our lives, we thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Scripture:

Exodus 14:13-14

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

"What Makes You Great"

When I read this passage, I am reminded that the Exodus was about displaying His great power to deliver His people from bondage, to declare that He is LORD to Egypt.    Something you might miss in each of the plagues correlated with the gods that they worshipped (see below).   

The LORD was telling Egypt, I AM THE LORD, and there is no other... So, to answer the question, what makes us great is that we have the LORD on our side, and when we face things too big for us, He is able to deliver us from them, He is able to hold back disaster, and most importantly, He is able to lead us to the place we belong.   

Maybe you are facing something too big for you, the Lord says to you this day, "Don't be afraid, stand firm, be still, and you will see the deliverance of the Lord, He WILL fight for you."

Plagues and the Egyptian gods:

• Hapi (god of the Nile) Plague of water turned blood
• Heket (goddess of fertility, had frog head) Plague Frogs
• Geb (god of dust of the earth) Plague Lice
• Khepri (god of creation, had the head of a fly) Plague Flies
• Hathor (goddess of love and protection, had the head of a cow) Plague Live Stock
• Isis (goddess of medicine and peace) Plague Boils
• Nut (goddess of sky) Plague of Hail
• Seth (god of sky storms) Plague Locust sent from the sky
• Ra (god of the sun) Plague 3 days of darkness
• Pharaoh (god of Egypt) Plague of death of first born

The application here is that in the midst of our trouble, our circumstances, it is easy to focus on the wrong things. When facing a giant, we often focus on how big he is in comparison to us and the situation, and we feel like the 10 spies, like grasshoppers, but what we should focus on the bigness of our God and how He is able to "Hold the Waters Back," how He is able to "Silence the Enemy," and to bring peace and resolution to our impossible situations.  Today I would say don't lose hope, be still and know that He is God and is able to still slay giants, hold back the waters, keep you from the hand of the enemy.

Lord, I pray for those who are in the midst of a struggle that seems way to big for them, who are facing a giant and feel crushed by the weight of the situation, who feel that it is too much, that they would stand still today and watch as you hold back the deep waters, hold back the enemy, as you bring peace into the storm, into the circumstance, as you show your self strong on their behalves, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Exodus 12:13

The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

"Whosoever"

Passover, I think many of us miss that this was a symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus would make for you and me, life for life. He would lay down His life, the "Lamb of God," for the sins of the world that whosoever would believe in Him would not "perish" but have everlasting life.   The passover represents the shed blood of the lamb covering those who were inside the house, that when death passed through Egypt, it passed over their houses, and "anyone" who was inside would "live," their lives covered by the blood of the lamb, life for life.  

This is what Jesus did for you and I, He gave His life to spare our lives, and it doesn't matter what you have done in your past, if you come under the covering of His sacrifice you too will be saved, you will find life, if you believe in Him, you will step into eternity, you too will be forgiven and given new life. 

The application here is to remember the sacrifice, to not allow its power to become dull in our minds or our lives, to tell of the greatness of our God, to proclaim His wonders to as many as will hear it, how Christ saved us, how death passed over our lives and how we can live because He sacrificed everything for us.

Lord, thank you for your sacrifice, your forgiveness, thank you that you gave it all, that I might have everything, that I might have life and life more abundant, that I might know the length and the depth of your love for me, I pray that we would proclaim your goodness from the mountaintops, in the streets and everywhere we go, that others may enter in and be saved, in Jesus' name, Amen!