I WILL EXALT THE LORD!

Ex. 15:2  The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory.  He is my God, and I will praise him, he is my father's God, and I will exalt him!

Moses and the Israelites had just crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptian soldiers had drowned in it.  Moses led the Israelites in an anthem of praise for God had kept His word to them and led them safely out of harm's way.  It is a great reminder to us to praise the Lord when He works wondrously in our lives and leads us through our difficulties.

The Lord is my strength.  It is through Him alone that we are able to overcome what we face in life.  He gives us the stamina to persevere no matter how overwhelmed we may become by life's circumstances.

The Lord is my song.  He gives us a song to sing as we let Him have His way with us.  To Him alone belong our praise and adoration.  There should always be a song in our hearts unto the Lord.  If you have no song to sing, you need to get your eyes back on the Lord and not your circumstances.  He is our victory.  Praise the Lord!

The Lord, He is our God!  Let us never cease to praise Him.  Let us always sing for joy unto the Lord.  Lift Him up from the inner depths of your soul.  Give Him the glory that He alone deserves.  Mighty is the Lord our God.   He is our strength and shield.  He watches over us and takes care of us.  To God be the glory!

TIME TO GO

Ex. 14:15  Then LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the people to get moving!"

There is a time to pray and ask the Lord to help you and there is a time to put feet to your prayers and move.  The Israelites were praying, but they weren't going.  They were waiting around wondering what they were going to do, wondering if God would do anything to help them.

Prayer without feet is usually a waste of time.  God wants us to pray, but He also wants us to do our part.  The Israelites were going nowhere until they obeyed God and stepped forward.  The moment that the feet of the priests touched the water, the sea parted.  Soon dry ground was available for them to walk on and they began their journey.  What a sight it must have been!  A million and a half people walking between sea waves piled high on each side of them.  Impossible?  No, because God heard and answered their prayers.

Pray much, but also put feet to your prayers and do something to bring about what you are praying for.  Granted, there are many things we pray about that we cannot do anything to achieve the desired results, but many of our prayers require us to do what we can do to help ourselves and others.  Pray and then get moving!

NOTHING TO FEAR

Ex. 14:13-14  But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid.  Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you.  The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again.  The LORD himself will fight for you.  You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!"

What caused the Israelites to be afraid?  They looked behind them and saw the Egyptians coming.  They were not seasoned warriors and Pharaoh and his troops were an imposing force.  They looked around them and there was nowhere to go.  The Red Sea loomed ahead of them and the Egyptians were closing in.  They cried out in desperation, wishing that Moses had not gotten involved and led them out of Egypt.

Is there anything behind you (your past) that is making you afraid?  If you fix your eyes on the Lord and trust Him, there is nothing to fear.  He forgives us of all our past when we ask Him to and breaks its hold on us.  With the Lord's help, you can move on victoriously from whatever it is that may make you afraid.

Does what is before you make you afraid?  Do you see no way through what looms ahead?  Are you overwhelmed by the seemingly impossibility of going through what is ahead?  Fear not; put your trust in the Lord and He will lead you through.  There is nothing you may be facing that is too difficult or large for the Lord to handle.  He will make a way for you if you will but call on Him and let Him lead the way.

The Lord himself will take your hand and lead you forward to the Promised Land.  Watch and see what He will do for you.  Our God is a mighty God and He will get you where you need to go.  Let Him lead the way, keep your eyes focused on Him, and you will never again be afraid of what is behind you or before you. 

UNDER THE BLOOD

UNDER THE BLOOD

Ex. 12:23 For the LORD will pass through the land and strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the LORD will pass over your home. He will not permit the Destroyer to enter and strike down your firstborn.

It was now crunch time. God had dealt with Pharaoh through many miraculous signs and Pharaoh had still not mellowed. He refused to let the Israelites to leave his country. But God had one more sign to give, and then Pharaoh would quit resisting and let the people go. God was going to strike dead the firstborn in every household in Egypt, including Pharaoh's.

God told the Israelites what they had to do to not be struck by the Destroyer sent by God. They had to kill a lamb and put blood on their door mantles and sides. When the Destroyer came by, He passed over the houses of those who had the blood applied. If they failed to obey the Lord in this, they, too, would suffer the loss of their firstborn child. They had to stay under the protection of the blood of the sacrificial lamb.

If we are going to stay safe and not be destroyed by Satan and his demonic forces, we, too, must stay under the blood of the Lamb. We will not fall prey to sin is we are living under the blood. We will not face God's wrath if we are under the blood. On the other hand, there is no hope or help for those who are not under the blood. Certain death awaits those who insist on life apart from Christ. Are you living under the blood today?

NEVER TOO OLD

Ex. 7:6-7 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eigthty-three at the time they made their demands to Pharaoh.
These verses blesses me. As we grow older we are led to believe that our usefulness goes away. The world would have us to believe that there is nothing more that we can do to be productive members of society. We are pitied by those who are younger and more active. We become outcasts just waiting to die. But, it need not be that way.

Moses and Aaron were both at least eighty years old when the Lord sent them to Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. Think about it. Here were men eighty years old who were willing to become national leaders and put their lives on the line to do so. At an age when most would look for rocking chairs to sit in and whittle their lives away, Moses and Aaron were just getting started. They would go on to lead the nation of Israel through the wilderness for another forty years!

No matter how old you may be or feel like you are, there are still many things you can do for the Lord. Your role may change from what it was in your younger years and you may have to adapt physically, but there are things yet for you to do. There are ministries in and outside of the church that are waiting for you. Ask the Lord today what it is that you should be doing for Him and then with Him as your strength and helper, get busy and do it. You can make a huge difference for the Lord, no matter how old you may be.

FREE FROM BONDAGE

Ex. 6:6-7 "Therefore say to the Israelites, "I am the LORD, and I will free you from your slavery in Egyt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment. I will make you my own special people, and I will be your God. And you will know that I am the LORD your God who has rescued you from your slavery in Egypt."

Are you in bondage today? Is there some sin that you just cannot shake? Do you have a past that you cannot shake free from? Are you being oppresssed by others? Are you beaten down and to the point where you just are tired of it all? If so, hear what God told the Israelites many years ago.

The Lord will help you. He is all powerful. He is able to set you free from whatever it is that has you in bondage. His promise is that He will redeem you with His mighty power. He will become engaged in your struggles and help you overcome them. You do not have to remain in bondage any longer. He can, and will, set you free if you will call on Him and let Him have His way with you.

The Lord wants you to be free. He wants you to be His own. He wants you to be able to enjoy being in fellowship with Him. He wants you to know that He is the one who rescues and redeems. He wants you to know life at its very best. He wants to set you free. Will you let Him have His way with you today?

I DON'T KNOW THE LORD

I DON'T KNOW THE LORD

Ex. 5:2 "Is that so?" retorted Pharaoh. "And who is the LORD that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."

Pharaoh was a stubborn, proud, arrogant, and defiant man. He was on the top of the world and had all he could ever want, except a heart at peace with God. Pharaoh had at his disposal the Israelites. They were forced labor and were not treated very well at all. They cried out to the Lord and he raised up Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh and demand that he release the Israelites so they could go and worhip and serve the Lord.

Pharaoh did not acknowledge the Lord at all. He essentially told Moses and Aaron that he did not care about the Lord or what He demanded. His response is typical of the world today. Most people do not know the Lord and don't care to know Him. They defy His authority over them and do what they want to do. Some are so defiant that they try to rid all discussions of God from the public arena. As a result, believers find it increasingly difficult to live in the world.

We need to be smart and take care of our souls so that we don't fall prey to those who would try to silence us or destroy our witness. We must always strive to stay close to the Lord so that we don't cave in to the pressures around us. We must be well armed with the Word of God so we don't get led astray by those who preach and teach a different message. Satan is on the prowl in the world and will do all he can do to stop the Gospel from being believed and preached. Stay on your toes, keep your eyes focused on the Lord, and let your light shine brightly for the world to see.

BE NOT AFRAID

Ex. 5:1 After this presentation to Israel's leaders, Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They told him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says. 'Let my people go, for they must go out into the wilderness to hold a religious festival in my honor.' "

Moses and Aaron were on a mission from the Lord. They were told to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. God had told Moses ahead of times that it wouldn't be easy, but in time there mission would be successful.

Moses was raised in the courts of Egypt. He knew the ins and outs of how Pharaoh ruled his people. He knew about Pharaoh's power and arrogance. He knew that Pharoah would not take kindly to him since he had fled from his presence 40 years earlier after killing an Egyptian. Moses was at the time a marked man. Yet, Moses did not let his fears of Pharaoh keep him from obeying the Lord's command.

I wonder how often we let our fears hinder us from obeying the Lord. Are there people you know about, or know personally, that intimidate you to the point where you do not talk to them about the Lord? Perhaps you work where there are very few believers around and you find it much more comfortable to be quiet and not face the wrath or ridicule of the non-believers. Perhaps you have a low self-esteem and it's crippling you to the point where you are too afraid to let your faith be known.

Jesus was not afraid of those who threatened Him daily. He was not afraid to face God's wrath for your sins. He was not afraid to stand up to Satan and totally disarm him so that he could no longer hold you in bondage for your sins. Shouldn't we at least be willing to face those we fear to tell them of God's love for them? How can we claim to love Him if we live in fear of man instead of God? Jesus, God's perfect love fleshed out, casts out all of our fears if we will but let Him. Will you let Him today?

GOD'S APPOINTMENTS

Ex. 4:27-28 Now the LORD had said to Aaron, "Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses." So Aaron traveled to the mountain of God, where he found Moses and greeted him warmly. Moses then told Aaron everything the LORD had commanded them to do and say. And he told him about the miraculous signs they were to perform.

God hand-picked Aaron to be the spokesman for Moses when Moses did not step out boldly and do what God had called him to do. Moses was not sure whether or not he was up to the task and tried to convince the Lord to pick someone else. Moses was God's chosen voice to go before the leaders of Israel and Pharaoh, but He chose Aaron to speak for Him instead so that Moses would willingly obey Him. I wonder how many times the Lord has to choose someone else to do what He has given us to do because we are afraid or unwilling to do it.

Aaron did not know what was about to happen when the Lord told him to go and meet up with Moses, but he went right away. He did not know where to find Moses, but God led him to him. The wilderness was a big place and if God had not directed him, he could have wandered around for a long time to find Moses. But, because Aaron let the Lord lead him, he went right to where Moses was.

Do not minimize God's appointments. God arranged the meeting between Aaron and Moses. They would work together to set the Israelites free from their bondage. God had wondrous miracles to perform and they would be His vessels to do them. God sometimes brings people together to work together to do great things for Him and bring Him honor and glory. Who is it in your life that you should be working with to serve the Lord?

STAY IN THE LIGHT

Ex. 14:19-20 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them. The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians and they couldn’t find the Israelites.

What a difference there is in being in Christ’s protective care and not being in Christ! When we live in Christ, he is there to show us the way to Him. When we are not in Christ, we live in darkness and cannot see our way to God. God does not leave His children in the dark. What may appear to be darkness to the world is indeed light to God’s children.

Also, what may appear to be darkness to us who are in Christ is really no darkness at all. It is an opportunity to see what the Lord can do and what we can do in Him. It is good for us to go through times of darkness so that we can grow in our confidence in God’s love and ability to help us.

We live in a world surrounded by darkness. Those who are a part of the world are groping around trying to find their way. They have no idea where they are going. They are clueless as to why they are here or even who they are. They are grasping for something that makes sense of the life they live. They are troubled by us who are not like them. They cannot see what we see. They don’t understand what we understand about life and eternity. They reject us and rebel against us because misery loves company and we do not keep them company. Those in the darkness don’t come into the light because they don’t want their deeds to be exposed. Deep down they understand that God is and they fall short of the glory of God. They know that He is holy and they are not. They are driven to justify themselves and thus they reject God.

Stay in the Light and you will never have to wonder where you are at or where you are going. He is the Way and He will show you the way. He is the Truth and He will make it known to you. He is the Life and as long as you stay in Him you shall live. Christ is our pillar of cloud and fire and no one will ever find their way to God apart from Him.

WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD

Ex. 12:13 "Then the blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. The plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt."

"When I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you." Growing up as a kid, we used to sing that song a lot. It still ministers to me. God in his mercy and love for His people provided a way out of certain death. God had had enough of the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart. He had had enough of the suffering of His people at the hand of the Egyptians. The day of judgment had come. All of the first born sons in Egypt would die. Only those who were covered by the blood would be spared.

It is the shedding of blood that saves us. God instilled life in the blood of all living creatures. It was in the shedding of Christ’s blood that eternal life could be given. His life was not tainted by sin so His death was accepted by God as sufficient for our salvation. Only those whose souls are washed in the blood of Christ can be saved. When God looks upon our souls, He looks no deeper than the righteousness and holiness of Christ. Jesus is our shield from God’s wrath. For our protection, we must never step out from behind our Shield. If we do, our sins are exposed and we become objects of His wrath.

Notice that in order for the blood to protect the Israelites from certain death it had to be applied in God’s prescribed way. In order for the blood of Christ to save us, it must be applied to our hearts in the way God prescribed. We must confess our sins, seek Christ’s forgiveness, give Him permission to change us any way we need to be changed and then live for Him.

"Thank you, Lord, for your life-giving blood. Thank You for giving up your life on earth on the cross that we might be saved. Thank you, for shielding us from God’s wrath with your righteousness and holiness. And, thank You for never stopping to be our Protector and Savior."

IS GOD ANGRY AT YOU?

Ex. 4:14a Then the LORD became angry with Moses.

This short statement causes me to pause and think. God became angry with Moses. Why? Moses kept making excuses as to why he couldn’t obey God’s call on his life. God had prepared Moses for this moment of service. He had 80 years of life under his belt. He was ready to step up to the plate and lead the Israelites out of Egypt because God had made him ready. But, Moses tried to convince God that he was not the man. Instead of trusting God, he let his fears control him. I wonder if we too make God angry when we try to find excuses for not obeying him.

What do we do to make God angry? God makes it clear that He gets angry over sin. Do we make Him angry when we chose to delve into sin? Do we make Him angry when we take Him for granted? Does He get angry when we show Him so little respect? Is He angry over our futile attempts to "worship" Him? Does He get angry when we so freely toss His name around, like He was one of us? Does He get angry over our lack of interest in pursuing holy lives? Does He get angry when we let the allurements of sin captivate us instead of Him? I wonder to what extent we make God angry.

Living in relationship with God requires much from us. We have to work hard to keep ourselves properly connected to Him. God is with us, but He is not one of us. We must never forget that. God is holy, Jesus is holiness personified, and the Spirit is holiness empowered. We must fight the tendency to lose respect for God. We must fight the tendency to not revere Him. We must fight the urge to sin against Him. We must fight the fears that would cause us to not obey and serve Him. Let us resolve to give the Lord the best of our hearts and lives. Don’t give God just cause to be angry with you.

WHO, ME?

Ex. 3:11 "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses asked God. "How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?"

I can identify with Moses. I have often wondered about my ability to do what God has given me to do. I have looked in the mirror of my life and knowing what I know about me has caused me to question my ability to do God’s bidding. And therein lies our problem. We look at ourselves and see our limitations instead of looking at God and seeing His abilities. I have never lacked the ability to do God’s bidding when I step out in faith and trust the Lord to help me. If I had not trusted the Lord to help me, I probably would never had ended up in the ministry, even though I knew that it was what God wanted me to do. He enabled me to do it. There were others who said I would never make it. Over 40 years later I am still doing it. With God, all things are possible.

Don’t question what God has given you to do. He knows you better than you do. He knows what you are capable of with Him as your strength and power source. He can see in you what you cannot see. He is in your future as well as your present. Who are you to do what seems like the impossible? You are God’s child called to serve Him. You are chosen by God to do great things for Him. You are gifted by God to do His bidding, whether you can see it or not. You have an important role to play in God’s kingdom.

It’s not a matter of ability; you can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength, power, and ability to do them. It’s a matter of the will. Will you trust the Lord today and obey Him? Will you set out to do what He has given you to do? Obey the Lord and watch how He will bless many others through you.

It is Satan who casts doubt in us. He does not want us to trust in what God can do. He doesn’t want what God wants for us. He will use every means possible to keep us from being the servants God wants us to be. You have a choice to make. Are you going to trust God and do what He has given you to do, or are you going to listen to Satan and find excuses for not doing it?

The Lord has great plans for you. He knows what you are capable of. Trust Him. He will not let you down. You can do anything He gives you to do through Christ who strengthens us and the Spirit who enables us.

PAY ATTENTION

Ex. 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied.

The Lord caught Moses’ attention. I wonder how often the Lord has to catch our attention. We often have a tendency to get distracted and wonder away from God. When we do, He has to do something to get us back on track and focused on Him. Maybe you can think of ways that has happened for you. We are far more likely to pay attention and hear from God during our times of need. When our needs are exposed and we realize that we can't do anything to satisfy them, we think about God and cry out to Him. When tough times come our way and we see no way out, we turn our eyes heavenward. When sickness comes that threaten to turn our lives upside down, we turn to God. When we sin against God and feel the shame and guilt of it, we turn to God. When we get too comfortable with God and no longer revere or respect Him like we should, God has to get our attention. God will work in a multitude of ways to help us refocus our hearts on Him.

We need to recognize what is going on when God is trying to get our attention. Why is it necessary for God to have to get our attention? What do we need to change in order for us to be more in tune with God in our lives? Are we taking the needed time in His Word to hear what God has to say? Do we pray enough so that we can hear and recognize His voice when He speaks?

Sometimes we let our circumstances dictate how we feel about ourselves, life, or God. Instead, we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus and look in His wonderful face. We need to pause in His presence and renew our love and commitment to Him. We need to pause and listen to what He desires to say to us. We need to be like Moses and respond to God when He calls us.

It’s interesting that God called Moses by name. God knows us by name! Think about it. You are known personally by God. He does not mistake you for someone else. He knows exactly who you are and where you are at all times. You are a somebody to God!

Don’t get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that you no longer can hear the voice of God calling you. Don’t get so wrapped up into yourself that you can’t hear Him. Don’t get so wrapped up by life’s circumstances that you can’t hear Him.

God is calling your name today and he has something important for you to hear. Will you pause and listen?

GOD'S CHOSEN VESSEL

Gen. 50:19-21 But Joseph told them, "Don't be afraid of me. Am I God to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of my people. No, don't be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families." And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.

Jacob had died and now Joseph's brothers became afraid. Joseph had the power and authority to make life miserable for them. In most people's eyes they were justified in their fears. The natural thing to do would be to get even with them for what they had done. But, Joseph was not like most people; he was a child and servant of God.

God has a knack for turning the evil intentions of man into good. God had a job for Joseph to do and He worked things out in such a way that Joseph ended up in the right place at the right time to do the right thing to enable God's promise to His children to be fulfilled. God's greater plan was to create a nation of people who He could call His own. He included Joseph in His plan. Joseph was placed in Egypt to become the go-to person for people to survive the severe draught and establish a safe place for Jacob's family to live and prosper instead of dying because of the draught. God used Joseph to preserve His people. Joseph understood his role and humbly used his role to take care of his brothers and their families.

Blessed is he who understands that who and what they are in life are a part of God's plan to redeem souls. You are in a unique position to influence people for Christ that no one else can. God has made you the way you are with the gifts you have to make a difference for Him in the world. Blessed is he who humbly serves the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul in a lost and dying world.

GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

Gen. 45:4-5 "Come over here," he said. So they came closer. And he said again, "I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."

Joseph had ascended to the highest ranking position in Egypt next to Pharaoh himself. He was in charge of food distribution and had been dealing with his brothers. They had not recognized him, but he had recognized them. He had treated them harshly, but not in a mean-spirited sort of way. His brothers had come back a second time to buy grain to live on. They had brought with them their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them. It was the only way they would be able to purchase grain from Joseph.

Joseph had removed himself from their presence a couple of times because he had been overcome with emotions. He was now at a point where he felt he could be reunited with his brothers and so he told them who he was. Now, it would have been easy for him to have taken advantage of the situation and gotten even with them for what they had done to him years before. But, Joseph did not hold a grudge against them. He saw it as part of God's plan for his life. He understood that God had orchestrated his life and that everything that had happened to him was a part of God's plan of fulfilling His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We might say that he was an optimist rather than a pessimist.

God does have a plan for each of our lives. We may not think that our life experiences are a part of His plan, but they are. Everything we go through in life works together for our good and fit into His plan for us. He works things out for our good. God knows where He wants us to be in our faith walk and works to get us there. There are important lessons for us to learn in all of our experiences, both good and bad, that help us to become the best we can be in Christ. Blessed is he who sees his living as good and beneficial for him as he strives to fulfill God's plan for his life.

TRY TO DO SOMETHING

Gen. 42:1 When Jacob heard that there was grain available in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why are you standing around looking at one another?"

Jacob and his sons were caught up in the middle of a severe draught that had settled in on their part of the world at that time. It was a draught that God had revealed to Pharaoh in his dreams. Joseph was able to understand and interpret the dreams for Pharaoh. As a result, Joseph was elevated to a position in Egypt second only to Pharaoh to oversee the grain surplus and impending draught.

Word soon reached Jacob that there was grain in Egypt and so he had a family pow-wow. He chided them for not doing something about their situation. Their food supply was rapidly being depleted and yet they were still hanging around home. Jacob asked them why they were standing around looking at each other instead of taking the initiative and going to Egypt to buy some food.

How do you respond when there is an obvious solution to problems you may be having? Do you stand around looking lost, or do you assume responsibility and seek to resolve the problem? You will never solve problems or overcome troublesome times by doing nothing to help yourself. You need to get busy and address the issuse and try to find a solution for it. You may, or may not be, successful in your efforts, but at least you will have the satisfaction of trying, which in my opinion, is a success all by itself. It is far better to try and fail than it is to fail to try.

GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

Gen. 41:14-16 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was brought hastily from the dungeon. After a quick shave and change of clothes, he went in and stood in Pharoah's presence. "I had a dream last night," Pharoah told him, "and none of these men can tell me what it means. But I have heard that you can interpret dreams, and that is why I have called you. "It is beyond my power to do this," Joseph replied. "But God will tell you what it means and will set you at ease."

Pharaoh was ruler over Egypt. He was the most powerful, rich, and influential person in Egypt. He lived a life of luxery. Yet, he was a troubled man. Pharaoh had two dreams and no one could explain them to him. He was surrounded by learned men who served as his counselors and catered to his needs. His cupbearer had spent time in prison with Joseph and had a dream two years earlier that God gave Joseph the meaning of. He remembered what Joseph had done and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh quickly called for Joseph to be brought to him out of the prison.

It was a day that Joseph had been longing for. He did not like being locked up and had asked the cupbearer to remember him, but he had been forgotten. What is important for us to know is that Joseph did not moan and groan about his situation. He continued to do postive things and helped whomever he could.

Joseph had a chance to draw attention to himself. Many in his situation would have done just that. After all, didn't he deserve a break? But, Joseph did not see it that way. He saw it an opportunity to again bring God honor and glory. He directed the attention to the Lord and gave Him the credit for what was he able to do.

Let us always do the right thing and give the Lord the honor and glory. It is not about us. Anything that we can do we can do because of what God has done in us, gifted us to do, and given us opportunity to do for Him. May our passion always be to draw attention to our Lord and not us.

USE YOUR GIFTEDNESS

Gen. 40:8 And they replied, "We both had dreams last night, but there is no one here to tell us what they mean." "Interpreting dreams is God's business," Joseph replied. "Tell me what you saw."

The cup-bearer and chief baker had gotten on Pharaoh's bad side. They were cast into the prison where Joseph was being kept. They had been in prison for quite some time and one night they both had dreams that they did not understand. They were troubled and it showed. Joseph noticed the way they looked and asked them what was wrong. Although he was in prison for something he did not do, Joseph did not wallow around in self-pity. He reached out in compassion to the cup-bearer and chief baker.

Joseph did not take credit for something that he had no control over. God had given him a gift of interpreting dreams and he gave the credit where the credit is due. He acknowledged that it was from God, not him. No one deserves or can take credit for the gifts God gives them. God disperses gifts for His purposes and will. We are just caretakers and managers of them.

Joseph had an opportunity to do good and he seized it. He could have not gotten involved and simply let his fellow prisoners rot in the prison with him, but he didn't. He preferred to be part of the solution than the problem; he used his gift for the good. We, too, need to use our gifts for the good and give the glory to God. We need to not sit idly by and let others suffer due to our lack of involvement. God uses those who are willing to be used. Let the Lord have His way with you and make a difference for Him in the world you live in.

SHINE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

Gen. 39:19-21 After hearing his wife's story, Potiphar was furious! He took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the kings' prisoners were held.. But the Lord was with Joseph there, too, and he granted Joseph favor with the chief jailer.

Potiphar reacted like most men would when confronted with the fact that someone had tried to take advantage of his wife. He listened to his wife's story and believed her. He did not hesitate to check out the facts; instead he immediately went into a rage and had Joseph put into prison. He didn't stop to think about how outstanding Joseph had proven to be or how trustworthy he had proven himself to be. He didn't even think about whether or not he was innocent or guilty. He was guilty simply because his wife said he was.

Maybe you have been on the bad end of things through no fault of your own. Perhaps you have been accused of things you have not done and been found guilty of them. Perhaps no one even bothered to listen to your side of the story. It is an awful situation to be in. It hurts deeply that you had been wrongly accused and not give a chance to explain your side of the story.

How did Joseph handle the situation? He did not linger in self-pity. He did not give up. He continued doing what he had been doing all along; he served the Lord where he was planted. He did not choose to be thrust into a prison. If he had a choice in the matter, I am quite sure he would not have gone there. In fact, it wasn't all that long ago that he had been thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold to a group of travelers passing through on their way to Egypt. He did not let his circumstances stop him from doing what was right before God. He discovered God was with him where he was at. He made the most of the situation and served the Lord where he was at. And soon, he shined brightly in his new surroundings.

No matter what your circumstances may be, do what is right before God. Let your light shine where you are and you, too, will find favor with the Lord.

FLEEING TEMPTATION

Gen. 39: 11-12 One day, however, no one else was around when he was doing his work inside the house. She came and grabbed him by his shirt, demanding, "Sleep with me!" Joseph tore himself away, but as he did, his shirt came off. She was left holding it as he ran from the house.

Potiphar's wife had been lusting after Joseph for awhile. He was a handsome young man and she imagined what it would be like to sleep with him. She had a sinful heart and was not satisfed with the life she shared with Potiphar. She tried several times to seduce him, but to no avail. Then the day came when she had her chance to be alone with Joseph and she put on the pressure.

Most young, single men, would have a hard time resisting the temptation. No one else was in the house, no one would ever know. In the face of such aggression, I am sure Joseph's hormones would have been raging. Yet, Joseph was not like most young men. He did not see his situation as an opportunity to enjoy sin's pleasures; he saw it as an opportunity to sin against God. He loved the Lord and daily sought to please Him and Joseph knew that such an act would not please God at all. In fact, being with Potiphar's wife would bring him much guilt and shame before God. For Joseph, the price was way too steep. He would rather do what is right before God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.

Joseph did not stay around to discuss the issue or reason things out. He knew he had to flee his temptation and do it now. He ran from Potiphar's wife, leaving his shirt behind him. She did not take this rejection lightly and immediately spread lies about Joseph, claiming he had tried to seduce her and ran when she screamed for help.

The time to determine to do what is right before God is before we are tempted, not when we are being tempted. We need to resolve in our hearts and minds that we are not going to sin against God and mean it. Understanding that sin's momentary pleasures sets us at odds with God ought to cause us to want to not to sin. Determine in your heart today that you will not sin against God and flee from that which tempts you. You will be blessed by God and glad you did.

GETTING NOTICED

Gen. 39:2-3 The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.

Who doesn't like to be noticed? Most people want others to acknowledge their existence and will do things to make sure that others know they exist. Most of the things that get people noticed are bad. Bad things make the headlines. Bad characters stand out from the crowd. We feast on the bad things people do. Who doesn't read the local paper or listen to news without an interest in what someone has done wrong or said? The more popular a person is, the more their bad side makes the news. It is those who entertain on the edge or sinfully that are most popular.

Most of the time when a person does good things, it goes unnoticed. Good deeds are taken for granted and seldom get recognized or acknowledged. When a person never seems to get noticed, they tend to do something that will get them noticed.

Joseph was a young man blessed by God. He always tried to do the right thing. He was successful in the carrying out of his duties. He stood out, not for his bad side, but for his good side. Potiphar, his master, even noticed the hand of God on him. Even though he was not a believer, Potiphar was impressed by Joseph's goodness. It makes me wonder about our goodness.

Is being noticed a big deal for you? What do people notice about you, your goodness or your bad side? Are you striving to please the Lord in all you do? It should be enough for the Lord to notice you. Nothing you do escapes His notice. He blesses those who strive to do and be good in all they do.

SHARE THE WORD

Gen. 37:5,9 One night Joseph had a dream and promptly reported the details to his brothers, causing them to hate him even more.....Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers about it.....

God had revealed to Joseph what was going to happen in his life. He let Joseph know that he would rise up to a position of prominence and power and would rule over his family. It was not uncommon for God to speak to certain people before Jesus came in dreams, visions, through angels, and sometimes verbally. God spoke to those who would fill a specific role in helping the nation of Israel be a people of God. He raised up prophets, judges, kings, etc. from all walks of life to serve Him in influential positions from amongst His people.

Joseph shared with his brothers, and then his father, what he had dreamed. They did not dismiss his dreams. Instead, they took them to be what they were, predictions of what was to come. This did not set well with his brothers; they were already jealous of the way Jacob treated him and their emotions toward him turned to hatred.

There will always be those who won't like it when we share with them what God is doing and will do in the future. It is not unusual for some people to downright hate us because we speak the truth. People take offense at the Gospel because no one wants to hear that they are not good enough for heaven. No one wants to be told they are heading for hell. The Gospel message is offensive to the world; it always has been and always will be.

Yet, we should never not share the Gospel just because some do not accept it. We should never allow those who oppose the Gospel to quiet us. We are mandated by God to share the Gospel with the world. If we don't, we are disobeying God and will answer to Him for it. We can't help how people will receive the Word of God; that is between them and God. Tell whoever you can, whenever you can, the Good News. God has promised that it will not return to Him void. It will always do good, whether we see the good or not. There are some people who will only hear and respond to the Gospel if you tell them because of your connection to them or your particular personality. Don't let anyone go to hell because you did not do your part.

THE NEW YOU

Gen. 35:9-10 God appeared to Jacob once again when he arrived at Bethel after traveling from Paddam-aram. God blessed him and said, "Your name is no longer Jacob; you will now be called Israel."

Something had happened to Jacob, something life-changing. Jacob was a successful man. He had accumulated much wealth, had a large family, much lifestock, and was relatively at peace with God. Yet, God knew that Jacob was not where he should be with God so He spoke to him upon several occasions. God had reminded him of His promise to bless Abraham's seed and that it would now be through him. God was constantly at work in Jacob's life to make him into a servant who would love and honor Him. Jacob finally arrived and God blessed him with a new name, a name that depicted his new character and life.

What has the Lord been doing in your life to change you? Are you the same person you have always been, or is there marked improvements in your character and living? God does not give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. He knows who we can be and persistently works to help us become that person. As long as we don't resist Him, God will make us into servants who will honor Him and love Him in all we do.

God promises to make us new creations in Him, but He won't do it without our cooperation. If you are not the person you know you should, or could be, then you need to pause and admit to the Lord your resistance, ask Him to forgive you for being so stubborn, and give Him all your heart, mind, and soul. If you do, you will soon see the new you begin to happen and you will be very pleased, as will God who wants nothing but the best for you.

LISTEN TO GOD

Gen. 35:1 God said to Jacob, "Now move on to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to worship me--the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau."

When God speaks, do you listen? Has God laid on your heart things to do and you are dragging your feet? What is keeping you from obeying the Lord? What is keeping you from trusting Him?

God has a plan for you. He knows where you need to be in order to fulfill that plan. He knows that until you cooperate and obey Him, things won't go as well for you as they could and should. He knows you will be happiest when you obey Him. He knows what a difference you will make in the world when you obey Him. So, He is calling to you,

"Trust and obey, me. Just do what I am telling you to do. I will be there with you and for you. Don't delay; just do it. And when you get off your duff and obey Me, be sure to first pause to worship Me."

Worship draws us closer to God. It draws our attention to Him. It helps us to have a purpose and meaning for what we do. It's all about the Lord. Whatever we do in life, if we do it for the Lord's honor and glory, He will bless it. Listen to God and obey Him. You will be glad you did.

STRUGGLING AGAINST GOD

Gen.32:28 "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won."

Jacob was all alone in the camp on his way to see Esau, his brother. He had sent his wives, children, and concubines across the Jabbok River. He wanted to do all he could do to protect them from Esau, in case Esau was looking for revenge on him. He knew that things could get ugly for him and he needed to be alone, with God. He was visited by someone from heaven in the form of a man. We are not told who this man was, but I suspect he might have been the preincarnate Christ. Whoever he was, Jacob wrestled with him all night long. He would not let go unless this man of God blessed him.

Faith in God is not always easy. In fact, if it ever becomes easy for you, you need to find out what is wrong with you. We struggle to remain true to the Lord. We struggle to always trust what God says. We struggle to act when it makes no sense at all to act. We struggle getting out of our comfort zones. We struggle with letting go of those things we don't understand and trusting God with them. We struggle, and many throw in the towel when things don't go there way. Many do not follow Jacob's example; he would not let go of the man until he was victorious.

The key to victory is always perseverance. He who gives up too soon never comes out on top. A well-fought struggle with God reaps great rewards. God changes us into the people He knows we can, and should be. We may fight for all we are worth against His changes, but God's ways are always the best ways. Let the Lord have His way with you. Don't keep struggling against Him. Let go and let Him have His way. When you do, you will discover just how great life in Christ can really be.

RETURNING HOME

Gen. 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you."

Jacob had been away from his homeland for twenty years. God had promised him that the land would be the possession of his descendants. Jacob had gotten comfortable in the land where he lived. He had married the daughters of Laban, fathered many children, and had acquired great wealth. He had a good life working for Laban and he was by this time getting along in years. Yet, he was not where God wanted him to be. It was time for him to uproot his family and move back home, to the land God had promised Abraham that it would be his descendants. God worked things out so that Jacob and his wives were all in agreement and he instilled a spirit of disfavor in the hearts of Labon and his sons towards Jacob.

Some people seem to be on the move all the time. Others settle in to a location and lifestyle and never move. It's not easy to pick up and move, especially when your roots are deep in a community. Moving affects your family, friends and security. It is usually an adventure into the unknown and is often done with many questions on one's mind.

Yet, when a move is ordained by God, He helps us to take the leap of faith and do it. He knows what lies ahead of us in the unknown. He knows what He has for us to do. He knows the difference we will be making in the lives of others. He never leads us to move out of our comfort zone without having some better good in store for us.

Jacob's future was going to be filled with many unexpected events right up until his death. He would eventually end up in Egypt and die there. Jacob had learned very valuable lessons in his life by listening to God and moving back home. The Lord always knows best and when we follow His leading, He blesses and works things out for our good and His glory. Don't be afraid to obey the Lord and do what He bids you to do. He has what is best for you, your family and others in mind. God can always be trusted to do what is best for you.

JACOB'S VOW TO GOD

Gen. 28:20-21 Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the Lord my God."

Jacob was on a mission. He had left home and was on a journey to find a wife from amongst his cousins in Paddan-aram. Isaac had sent him on his way after Rebekah had persuaded Isaac to not let Jacob marry a local girl. She was concerned for Jacob's safety since Esau had vowed that he would take revenge on Jacob and kill him for robbing him of his birthright and blessings.

While on his way he stopped to spend the night at Bethel where an angel visited with him in a dream. Jacob must have been afraid and had a lot of questions go through his mind. He was on the run for his life, he was visited by an angel who told him that God was going to fulfill His promise to Abraham and Isaac through him, and he did not know what lied before him. What kind of a girl would he find? Would he love her and would she love him? Would he ever return home? Would Esau chase after him? What if his mission was a failure? Would God really keep His promise to him?

Jacob then made a vow that if things worked out and God did make his journey successful, that he would make Him his God and Lord. Up until this time Jacob had not fully committed himself to the Lord. He knew that God was, but He was not yet his. He still believed that God was his because Isaac and Rebekah had faith in Him.

It's not good enough to believe that God is, we must personally embrace Him. We must make a life commitment to Him. We must develop a personal relationship with Him by giving Him all of our heart, mind and soul. We must give Jesus full access to our heart. We must confess all of our sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness. We must then determine in our heart that we will no longer travel down the pathway of sin. We then must strive to live humbly and obediently to Him in holiness of heart. It is then, and only then, that we can honestly declare that God is ours and we are His.