“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

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” – Genesis 50:20

Here, in a verse, is the beautiful mystery of God’s awesome, sovereign will. Even what sinful people intend for wicked purposes can be used by God to redeem and restore creation. Joseph, wise Joseph, could see the beauty of God’s sovereign will, even after suffering so long from the wicked schemes of sinful people. Thrown in a pit. Sold into slavery. Falsely accused. Unjustly imprisoned. Ungratefully forgotten. All so that through Joseph, God could save countless people across countless generations. And not just any people – the family from which Jesus Messiah would be born centuries later.

Joseph’s brothers absolutely meant it when they debated killing him vs. selling him into slavery. They desperately wanted to be rid of their annoying brother and his annoying dreams. However, those dreams that infuriated his family and led them to betray him also made Joseph comfortable providing interpretations of dreams to a king. Interpretations that would save so many. Interpretations that would ultimately save the world!

Remember that God is always working. He is always willing. He is all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful, and all-good. For those who love God, all things really do work together for good, for those called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). What an incredible comfort and assurance in seasons of tribulation! What a strong hope when you’ve been badly mistreated! Hold firmly to confidence in God’s sovereignty when things don’t seem to be going your way. Because even when people mean evil, God can, and will, use it for good! #FollowJesus

“Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” – Genesis 46:29

What an incredibly powerful moment of reunion. Joseph had been forcibly separated from his father years earlier as a young man. Sold into slavery in a foreign land, he never could have imagined seeing his father again. Even after rising to power in Egypt, the thought of seeing his father again would have seemed impossible. Words are inadequate to capture all the thoughts and feelings that must have been racing through Joseph’s mind and heart when he was once again with the father he loved. Joy… sorrow for lost time… regret for what should have been… thankfulness to God…

Realize that the joy Joseph felt that day was but a tiny portion of the joy you will one day experience when you see your perfect Father in Heaven! You see, we were each made to enjoy close fellowship with God the Father. That’s how it was in the Garden of Eden. That’s how life was meant to be. Unfortunately, we were forcibly separated by the Father by sin – Adam’s and our own. Because of sin, it’s impossible to imagine seeing the Father face-to-face. And yet, God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to make a future reunion possible.

Because Jesus dealt with our sin on the cross, everyone who entrusts their life to Him in faith will experience a glorious reunion with the Father in Heaven. Because we have been reconciled to God through faith in Christ… because we’ve been adopted as His children… we will one day have a reunion with the Father in which we will, at long last, experience the personal presence and relationship we were made to enjoy. That which is missing from our hearts and lives will be restored and enjoyed forever. That’s a reunion infinitely more wonderful than the one Joseph experienced so long ago.

Imagine the moment you first see God the Father! Delight in idea of seeing Jesus face-to-face! Enjoy every moment of your blessed relationship with God now through Jesus Christ. But look eagerly toward the day when your faith will become your sight! #FollowJesus

“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.” – Genesis 44:33

People really can change! Judah certainly did. Years earlier, it had been his idea to sell his brother, Joseph, into slavery. He’d led the charge to get rid of their father’s favorite and make a little coin in the process. Then, Judah changed. It wasn’t overnight. But it happened. Along the way, he learned a humiliating lesson in righteousness from his daughter-in-law. He learned to love his family more than himself. He changed to the point that, in this verse, he offered to trade his freedom in order to save his youngest brother’s freedom and their father’s heart.

Joseph had carefully arranged a test to see if his brothers were changed men and Judah passed the test spectacularly! He’d learned to value others over himself. He’d learned to take seriously his responsibilities. He’d begun functioning like the oldest brother, even though he wasn’t. He’d changed completely.

Remember this and be encouraged by it. Remember that in the Lord, people can change. Maybe you. Maybe someone who used to be part of your life. If you’re frustrated by a lack of change in your own life, remember that if Jesus is your Lord, you’ve changed to become new creation and you have the Holy Spirit’s power in you to become more and more like Jesus. Likewise, if there’s someone in your life that you’ve written off as hopeless, remember that in Christ, change is always possible. Pray for them for as many years as it takes. Should they begin to demonstrate that they really have changed, keep your eyes open to see the possibility. Not everyone will change. But everyone can. There’s always hope in Jesus Christ! #FollowJesus