Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 22
Wednesday


BRICKS
WITHOUT
STRAW

READ:
Exodus 6:1-13
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I will rescue you.....
and I will redeem you
with an outstretched
arm. __Exodus 6:6
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Many of us face the challenge of working with limited resources. Equipped with less money, less time, dwindling energy, and fewer helpers, our workload may remain the same. Sometimes, it even increases. There's a saying that sums up this predicament: "More bricks, less straw."

This phrase refers to the Israelites' hardship as slaves in Egypt. Pharaoah decided to stop supplying them with straw, yet he required them to make the same number of bricks each day. They scoured the land to find supplies, while Pharaoh's overseers beat them and pressured them to work harder (Ex. 5:13). The Israelites became so discouraged that they didn't listen when God said through Moses, "I will rescue you..., and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm" (6:6).

Although the Israelites refused to hear God's message, God was still guiding and directing Moses, preparing him to speak to Pharoah. God remained firmly on Israel's side__at work behind the scenes. Like the Israelites, we can become so downhearted that we ignore encouragement. In dark times, it's comforting to remember that God is our deliverer (Ps. 40:17). He is always at work on our behalf, even if we can't see what He is doing. __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

````````````````Lord, please help me to trust You despite my`````````````````
````````````````discouragement,. I invite You to fill me with`````````````````
````````````````hope through the power of your Holy Spirit.``````````````````
````````````````````Let my life testify of Your faithfulness.``````````````````
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Times of trouble are times for trust.

************************Today's Bible Reading __ Exodus 6:1-13****************************

1 Then the LORD said to
Moses, "Now you shall see
what I will do to Pharaoh.
For with a strong hand he
will let them go, and with a
strong hand he will drive
them out of his land."...

6 "Therefore say to the
children of Israel: 'I am the
LORD; I will bring you out
from under the burdens of
the Egyptians, I will rescue
you from their bondage, and
I will redeem you with an
outstretched arm and with
great judgments. 7 I will take
you as My people, and I will
be your God. Then you shall
know that I am the LORD
your God who brings you
out from under the burdens
of the Egyptians. 8 And I
will bring you into the land
which I swore to give to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
and I will give it to you as a
heritage: I am the LORD.' "

9 So Moses spoke thus to the
children of Israel; but they
did not heed Moses, because
of anguish of spirit and cruel
bondage.

10 And the LORD spoke to
Moses, saying, 11 "Go in, tell
Pharaoh king of Egypt to let
the children of Israel go out
of his land."

12 And Moses spoke before
the LORD, saying, "The
children of Israel have not
heeded me. How then shall
Pharaoh heed me, for I am
of uncircumcised lips?"

13 Then the LORD spoke to
Moses and Aaron, and gave
them a command for the
children of Israel and for
Pharaoh king of Egypt, to
bring the children of Israel
out of the land of Egypt.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's reading anticipates that Pharaoh will pit himself against
the living God. Inevitably, when a human heart stubbornly rebels
against the sovereign God, conflict ensues,. Fallen human beings still
continue their rebellion against Him. Yet there is hope through the
offer of redemption to all who repent and believe (John 1:12).