Exodus 13 - 6.26.26

Scripture: Exodus 13: 3-10

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4 Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. 5 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. 7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8 On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

Observation: 

God brought the Israelites out of Egypt after bringing 10 plagues on the Egyptians while keeping Israel safe. He commands the Israelites to remember yearly how they were brought out of slavery.  His mighty hand rescued them to bring them into promised land flowing with milk and honey.  I looked up the significance of milk and honey.  From the Bible Odyssey, “Milk symbolizes sustenance, everyday nourishment, and livestock fertility. Because cows and goats require lush pastures and clean water to produce milk, it signifies a healthy, supportive environment.  Honey (often derived from dates, figs, or bees) requires vast expanses of blooming flora. It represents luxury, sweetness, and the rich delights of life. Together, they represent total provision, showing that both the necessities and joys of life are available in excess.” Wow, God was bringing them out of slavery into total provision!  He instructed them to remember yearly with a ceremony that begins on the exact day they left from Egypt and lasts for 7 days. They are not to have any yeast to eat or even in their houses.  Yeast brings about change when added to food.  It is often referred to in the Bible and can be good or bad.  Many times yeast or leaven refers to sin. What great symbolism, to empty your house of “sin” before you enter into a celebration of remembering what God has brought you out of.

They were commanded to celebrate before they entered the promised land.  We need to have faith and realize as God brings us out of bondage we may not immediately enter into all He has promised.  It is a journey.

This tradition is to be explained to future generations to remember and always keep the law of the Lord on their lips. 

Application: 

God is in the business of breaking bondages and releasing slaves. The most important thing He frees us from is sin.  Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples.  God set in place times of remembering all He has done. This is important for us to remember today.  While we may not all celebrate Passover, Christmas and Easter have become important times of year to commemorate all God has done to redeem us.

We are still in the world and there are times “things” can put us in bondage.  I need to seek His release from areas I feel stuck realizing He has a land flowing with “Milk and Honey,” total provision for me.  Getting to the promise land is a journey.  There will be obstacles. I need to rely on God and trust him as I walk through dry places.  I need to seek Him first and recognize His hand.  As I delight in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart, Psalm 37:4.

God wants me to remember and honor His law not forgetting that it is He who brought me out and provided for me.  It is not my own doing.  I need to share His goodness and provision with generations to follow.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you that you bring us out from the things that bind us.  We have an enemy who is real and fights against us to keep us from waking in the truth and your plan for our lives.  Please help me remember daily your provision for me and seek your plan.  Forgive me for times I get distracted and worry about what’s next or just shut down. Help me fix my eyes on you, knowing You and your love are enough. You provided a cloud and pillar of fire for the children of Israel.  Today you have given us the Holy Spirit.  Thank you that we can walk in the lens of hope and not dismay.  You have good things ahead. Keep me walking on the right path as I journey to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.  When I get there keep me focused on who you are and realize the journey is not done.  There are many people, including myself, to show the way and new ways to become more like you.  Thank you for walking with me each step of the way. Amen

- Cindy Howard

Exodus 12 - 06.25.26

SCRIPTURE

““This is a day you are to remember;

for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

REMEMBER

The actual Hebrew word is zakar

a memorial, remembrance, or record—any tangible means by which an event, person, or covenant is kept before the mind of God or His people.

Passover was a zakar—a tangible reminder of God’s saving grace and deliverance, given by—GOD—who made ‘the Impossible—Possible.’

When we step back and look at the Passover—we begin to see that there was specific purpose in every detail. It was never just ritual, never just instruction, never just history. It was God HIMSELF carving a memory into His people SO they would recognize Him—when He came again in flesh and blood.

The lamb chosen four days in advance… the perfection without blemish… the exact timing of the sacrifice… the unbroken bones… the saving blood applied as a sign—none of it was accidental.

Every instruction was a divine echo, pointing forward to the day when Jesus would fulfill it ALL with breathtaking precision.

Passover was not only a memorial of what God had done—it was a prophetic picture of what God would do.

APPLICATION

What Relevance does the Israelite Passover have for Believers TODAY?

Believer’s know History is—HIS Story.

• Chosen in Advance — The Passover lamb was selected four days before the sacrifice. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the 10th of Nissan—four days before His crucifixion on the eve of Passover.

• Without Blemish — The sacrificial lamb had to be perfect, without defect. Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God, lived a spotless, sinless life as the true “sacrificial lamb”.

• Timing of the Sacrifice — The lamb was slain in the afternoon, the very hour Jesus died on the cross.

• Protection Through Blood — The lamb’s blood on the doorposts was the sign that caused the destroyer to pass over. Jesus’ shed blood is the sign that marks believers saving them from spiritual death.

The God who rescued Israel—

is The SAME God who rescues us.
The God who passed over their homes by the blood—

is The SAME God who covers us with the blood of Christ.
The God who controlled every detail of that night in Egypt-

is The SAME God who orchestrated every detail of the cross.

And so zakar becomes More than memory. It becomes worship.It becomes identity.

It becomes the steadying truth that the God who saves, delivers, protects, and redeems has never changed—and never will.

“Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT)

One last parallel I note in my reading.

Both the Israelites and Jesus’ disciples reached a moment where everything they knew seemed to collapse. The Israelites stood trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, and the disciples stood stunned by the crucifixion.

Both moments were unexpected, overwhelming, and humanly impossible.

““I AM the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah‬ ‭32‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Both required Faith to SEE what God was about to do.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Help me to zakar what You have done for me. Help me to remember when troubles come and seem to stay. Help me to remember at just the right time Your Strong arm of deliverance Comes. Help me to Remember during any setback—No matter how things look—Nothing—is Impossible for—YOU.

Thank You for saving me. Thank You that Your gift of salvation is available to everyone. Your goodness is overwhelming. In Jesus Name. Amen.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Tina L Kudelka

Revelation 16 - 6.24.26

Scripture

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev 16:15)

Observation

Jesus is going to come again. This time, He will be coming as the King of Kings and will gather all of his servants who are faithfully waiting for Him. 

The Bible uses the imagery of a thief several times referring to the second coming of Christ. In this verse (Rev 16:15), Jesus reminds us once again that he is going to come like a thief when nobody expects Him to come. We need to be alert and live our lives carefully expecting Him to return any moment. We need to remain “clothed”. Our clothing is Jesus Christ. The Bible exhorts us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Rom 13:14). Those who are not ready for Him will be shamefully exposed. 

Paul writes that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord. (2 Thess 1:7-9)

Jesus reminded us to be on our guard always, as we don't know when the Lord will come. If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. We need to be ready allways as we don’t know when Jesus is going to come (Matt 24:42-44). It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing His will when he returns (Luke 12:43).

Application

It is easy to set our eyes onto the busyness of everyday life, and lose sight of what is most important. Let us be eternity-minded. He has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). 

Let us be intentional about obeying God and living a life that pleases Him. Let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our true and proper worship (Rom 12:1). Let us not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2).  Let us set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2).

Let us live our lives everyday and every moment, intentionally fixing our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). 

We don’t know when Jesus will come. But He will surely come. Since we do not know when He will come, let us be ready all the time.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus to us. Help me to be ready for you Jesus, when you return. Teach me what it means to be clothed by you all the time. Help me to be living my life faithfully, in obedience while I wait for your return. If you would return during my lifetime, let me be prepared to join you. Make my life a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you. (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen

Asha Chacko George