Reading for today
Old Testament: Exodus 8, 9, 10
New Testament: Matthew 20
Thoughts from today’s reading
Exodus 8:5-13. The magicians of Egypt were able to replicate the first plague of blood in the water and the second plague of frogs on the land, however Pharaoh had to plead with Moses to ask God to take away the frogs.
The magicians could create the problems, but they could not solve them. The devil has no solution that can truly help man.
Exodus 8:16-19. By the third plague, the magicians were unable to replicate what God had done. They acknowledged to Pharaoh that this was definitely an act of God.
We must always remember that the world and the devil will never be able to out do God the eternal creator.
In the next six plagues that we see in chapters 8 to 10, Pharaoh begins to negotiate with Moses on the terms of their deliverance. On each plague he gives a little concession to say they can go and sacrifice to God but in the land, or, they can go but not too far, or, they can go but not with livestock. Each time the deal seemed to get better, but partial deliverance is the same as no deliverance.
When God says I will emancipate you, He means that there will be absolutely no trace or connection to the past that held you down. We must never get into negotiation with our bondage, but keep wholly insisting on the deliverance God promised. That bondage will give way to freedom surely as darkness gives way to light.
Matthew 20:1-16. There is a very interesting fact about the people who were hired at the eleventh hour to go into the filed to work, which meant they would only work for one hour yet receive the same pay as those who worked for 12 hours. That group I would say had the most faith. This is because, land owners would go out in the morning to hire labourers and then they would stay with them on the farm to ensure work was done. In the afternoon, there was no guarantee that you would be hired. In the evening, with one hour to go, the chances of being hired was possibly zero, yet these men stood there not willing to go back home until the day was practically over. Their faith was honoured and they got their wages for the day. This is also a lesson about waiting on the Lord.
Prayers
1. Thank you Father because you are the only God that can do the impossible, you have the answer to every problem we can ever face. We praise you because you will out perform every handiwork of man and you will use us to display your wisdom to all of heaven and the earth.
2. Lord, may I never settle for less than you have promised by negotiating with my captor and settling for partial deliverance. I receive strength so that with faith and patience I will inherit my promises.
3. Lord you promised that they that wait on you will have their strength renewed. I thank you for the patience to wait because you will come through even at the eleventh hour.