Saturday, March 21, 2009

Today’s Passage: Exodus 12-13

The Old Testament is filled with many defining points in Israelite history. Today’s passage covers the happenings of the Lord’s provisioning of His people to escape the imprisonment of Pharaoh in Egypt. For those of us who grew up in Sunday school, you may recall this miraculous story. But, may I draw your attention to God’s imperative that the people REMEMBER their Lord’s “strong hand,” as He brought them out of Egypt. This phrase is repeated through the text.

Whenever I hear the word remember as a main point, I always think of the movie, “Remember the Titans.” Near the end of the movie, the coach emphatically tells the huddled team to make sure everyone REMEMBERS the Titans. That is what God is doing here in this major occurrence. A casual reading may have this story come off as a merely another “story of the Bible.” However, this was a defining point in Israelite history. They had been imprisoned for some 430 years. Then, after 9 previous plagues, God issues this final one. Today, Passover is still remembered by many people.

Since we are made in God’s image and have His Word, we can get to know and know God. In this historic event, God shows His sovereign hand and that He is not messing around (for lack of a better phrase). Chapter 12, verse 12 just got to me when reading this: “I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” The next chapter (13) is commanding Moses and the people to institute a time for remembering what the LORD has done for them. They are to never forget the STRONG HAND of their LORD.

I am humbled and convicted when reading this today. The many times I struggle with remembering the Lord’s strong hand. Chapter 13, verse 21, says the LORD went before them. God does not come behind us or alongside us; He goes before us leading us along the way. Are you remembering the LORD’s strong hand?