January 27
Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-20
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21
We return to Moses talking to God. Yesterday he had 2 questions (3:11, 3:13), today he has 3 excuses (Exodus 4:1, 4:10, 4:13).
Exodus 5:3 is a bit odd at first glance – wasn’t Moses supposed to be asking for emancipation, not just a vacation? Is Moses backpedaling on God’s instruction? Looking at the context from yesterday and today we see that God gave them the words to say (3:15, 4:28, 30). Was God demonstrating that Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened that he wouldn’t sign off on a brief vacation to protect his workforce (5:3 – lest he fall upon us with pestilence)? Benson’s Commentary on Exodus 5:3 shares this perspective.
Matthew 18:6 If you work in children’s ministry – Sunday School, Christian Day School, Parenting, etc – it’s not ‘filling in’ because the pastor couldn’t find anyone else. This is serious business. You are dealing with the model citizens of heaven (18:4) and the equivalency of a death penalty (18:6). Take heed to your ministry (Colossians 4:17)! Also, if Matthew 18 becomes a verb in your vocabulary (“I Matthew 18’d him but he still didn’t repent”) – make sure you have the right attitude – 18:15-17 was not to justify you in your disputes but to emphasize how important Christian unity is – keep making the effort to reconcile (Psalm 133).
Psalm 22:27 – Even though our Exodus reading introduces Pharaoh to the LORD as the God of the Hebrews, our Psalm reading reminds us that his kingdom will have no end (Isaiah 9:7), and all nations shall worship before Him!
Proverbs 5:21 – Here we see another “anthropomorphism” – the “eyes of the Lord.” While it’s difficult to comprehend omnipresence, Solomon reminds us God sees us. As Joseph told us earlier this year – when we sin, it’s not just against a fellow human, it is against God because it is in His sight.
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