Author: Brian Burdett

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.'” – Exodus 20:18-19

On the one hand, the people should be commended for their profound fear, awe, and respect toward God and His presence. God is truly overwhelming and they were right to be concerned. On the other hand, God specifically invited them to be present and they let their fear keep them from having the full experience of God to which He invited them. They preferred to keep God at a safe distance rather than experience everything He had for them. Unfortunately, this became a recurring pattern throughout history.

Things SHOULD be different for New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ. God, of course, is still God – transcendent, glorious, and overwhelming. However, when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Separation from God is no longer necessary. In fact, in Christ, everyone who believes in Him becomes God’s temple as His Spirit dwells within them. While God is still overwhelming in His awesomeness, He’s also very near in His presence. We don’t have to keep Him at a safe distance. We don’t have to choose comfort over the deep experience and blessing of God’s presence and power.

And yet, we’re often still tempted to do so. We often fear turning our lives over to God’s Spirit and power living within us. We cherish the small comforts of familiar life over embracing the call of God to live boldly in, and for, Him. Refuse to miss out on blessing! Go deep in prayer and worship of God. Don’t say no to whatever He may be whispering to your soul, simply because you’re afraid. Take up your cross and experience all that God has prepared for you! #FollowJesus

“Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.” – Exodus 16:21

Manna, the Bread of Heaven, was God’s daily provision for His people in the desert. But this miraculous provision had a unique characteristic – it couldn’t be stored up for the future. Each person gathered what was needed for that day and no more (except for the day prior to the Sabbath). This wasn’t just God’s rule, it was an absolute necessity because the manna spoiled overnight (except for the Sabbath). The manna was a lesson in daily dependence on the Lord for a people who were, as yet, unfamiliar with His will and ways.

It also established a pattern that remains relevant to every believer alive today… daily bread! It’s no coincidence that Jesus taught us to pray for our “daily bread”. To ask God for manna, that portion of His grace, strength, forgiveness, and provision we need for the day ahead. And not the day after. Every believer is to seek God’s provision every day, knowing that He gladly gives it. There’s no option to load up on God’s grace like we’re shopping at a big warehouse store of grace. We don’t get to pray for all the grace we might need for the next week, month, or year.

We can’t store up all of the grace we need to endure and glorify God through an entire season of difficulty or pain. Instead, we’re invited and commanded to seek the Lord’s presence and provision each day, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. To pray without ceasing. This isn’t God being stingy with His grace. This is God being generous with Himself and teaching us to seek Him and experience Him more deeply and richly than our limited imaginations ever would otherwise. Rejoice in the invitation to ask God each day for your daily bread! #FollowJesus

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.’” – Exodus 14:13

God will not call His people into something and then abandon them partway through. No matter how difficult or hopeless things may appear to be. When God called the people of Israel to leave Egypt, He knew exactly what would happen. Indeed, He intended it for His glory and to build the faith of a spiritually immature people. When the people saw the Egyptian army charging after them from behind while faced with a body of water ahead, they were naturally terrified. But this wasn’t a surprise to God. It wasn’t a failure in His plan. And He certainly didn’t abandon them!

Instead, God showed that He was powerfully present with them and able to do the impossible. God made the way for them, guarding them from behind and opening the water in front of them. They crossed the water on dry land so they would always remember that God makes the way whenever He calls His people into hard places. God makes the way!

The very same God is still in charge today! He still remains faithfully, powerfully present with His people. Jesus emphasized that He is always with His followers, living in us. There’s no time in which you will be abandoned by your Lord! When Jesus calls you into difficult things – making disciples of all nations, loving God and neighbors, obeying His commands – He will be present with you and may even do the impossible. The things Jesus has called you to do for Him are not impossible in His power, even if they seem frightening or impossible in yours. Pray, obey, and pray some more – do not fear. Stand firm in Christ, no matter the situation. #FollowJesus

“For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” – Exodus 12:23

The Exodus is the central event of the Old Testament. It is the revelation of God to His people and His miraculous rescue of them from slavery and suffering in Egypt. The story is reiterated throughout the Old Testament and commanded to be re-told year after year, generation after generation. At the heart of it is the Passover, the 10th plague upon Egypt, the death of every firstborn. Though the Lord surely knew who His people were, He required each household to sacrifice a lamb and cover their doorframe with the blood of that lamb. Only those homes covered by the blood of the lamb would be spared from God’s wrath.

This was a powerful, vivid preparation for the coming work of Jesus, the Son AND Lamb of God. What God did in Egypt long ago illustrated what God was already planning to do for everyone centuries later. At the right time, God sent His eternal Son into our world to be the ultimate, final, perfect Passover sacrifice. Jesus was nailed to a cross to suffer and die at the time when the Passover lambs were sacrificed because it is His blood that protects His people from God’s righteous wrath for our sins. It’s only by placing our faith in Jesus that we are covered by His blood and shielded from the judgment we deserve for our sins.

Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? Have you entrusted your life and salvation to Jesus, the Lamb of God? There’s no amount of personal righteousness, good deeds, generosity, or self-discipline that can provide the covering of perfect holiness required to avert God’s just judgment for what you’ve thought, said, and done in your life. But the righteousness, good deeds, generosity, and self-discipline of Jesus, the sinless Son of God, will freely cover you if you believe.

If you’re already covered by His blood, then who in your life remains uncovered? Who needs your prayers and your words of loving truth in order to get to know the Lamb for themselves? #FollowJesus

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” – Exodus 3:11-12

When God told Moses to lead Israel to freedom from slavery, Moses was right to question his qualifications. To this point, Moses was kind of a nobody. He’d been raised in great privilege but hadn’t used that for any good purpose. His one “great” moment of trying to use his privilege to help others was really just a murder. He’d fled from that life and spent decades in anonymity with his sheep and his family. He was no leader. He was no great man. Nobody would want to follow Moses across the street, much less out of Egypt into a desert.

God cut through that reality with an infinitely more powerful reality. “But I will be with you…”. That’s the difference between Moses the loser and Moses the leader. God’s presence. That was all the qualification Moses needed. That was all the capability Moses needed. That was all the credentials Moses needed.

Now for the application for your life, no matter your status or situation… If Jesus is your Lord, then He promised, “Surely I will be with you…” As you answer His call to make disciples of Jesus Christ, you have the same qualification, capability, and credentials of Moses. The Lord is with you! So, if you don’t think you’re much of leader… if you don’t think you can make much of an impact… if you don’t think you can do much… you’re wrong! You have the very same Person and presence with you that Moses had. Whatever disciple-making work God has called you to do, don’t make excuses and don’t delay. Just do it hand-in-hand with God! #FollowJesus