Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Monday January 19, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Exodus.

Today's Message: On God's Side.
Once you accept Jesus as your Savior you are on God's side. It is important to study God's Word so that you are able to handle the burdens that will follow as the devil tries to doubt your faith.

Today's Bible Reading: Exodus Chapters 5-7
You can read the chapters here online by clicking on the link above, if it does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: http./www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%205-7&version=9

Moses and Aaron went before the Pharoh as God commanded and told him to let the people of Isreal go. "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness." (Exodus 5:1). Instead of the Israelites being freed from slavery, their pain and suffering were increased. "And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God." (5:5-8). Pharaoh persisted in keeping the Israelites under his cruel authority. However, as had been foretold, the judgment of God was poured forth on each false Egyptian deity, on every household of the Egyptians, on Pharaoh's son, and eventually on Pharaoh himself and his armies.

Moses and Aaron not only experienced ridicule and resistance from Pharaoh, but they were also criticized by the Isrealites. "And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all." (5:20-23). Moses' immediate reaction was to blame God, he even questioned Him.

When Moses cried out, Why, Lord?, God merely reminded him of who He was. "Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD." (6:1-8). What is important for us to know is that God is the unchangeable, loving, Almighty God of truth.

How often in life do our questions far out number our answers. God has never once failed to keep His Word; but, seldom are His promises fulfilled as soon as we expect, and almost never in the way we think. Whenever God is ready to do something through us for others there is often much opposition and suffering. This is not done to punish us, it's done to get us closer to Him. The Israelites had an outward need to be freed from slavery, but they had an inward need to exercise their faith in the Word of God. We too when burdened need to exercise our faith in the Word of God, everything that we have gone through and will face has happened in the Bible. It is our guide that leads us to victory through any suffering that we are faced with.

Once God begins to move in our lives to free us from sin or to use us to witness to others, Satan attempts to frustrate God's purposes and discourage the child of faith from fulfilling the will of God. Don't become discouraged about the Word of God or when you are ignored by those who are preoccupied with earthly matters. Do not be surprised when Satan comes up against you. He didn't have to fight you when you were on his side, but now that you are no longer under his control he will not stop fighting until he gets you back. The great thing is that God is on your side and no matter what happens He will protect you.

Jesus Christ is Revealed: As the Redeemer from the bondage of sin.
"I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm," Exodus 6:6b. Jesus Christ is our redeemer who saved us from the bondage of sin.

Today's Psalm: 34:22
"The LORDredeemeth thesoul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

Today's Prayer: Psalm 31:1-5
Dear God,
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. In Jesus' name............Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and week.
God Bless You,
Christina

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