Community Devotions

Missionary God

Scripture

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. Exodus 12:37

Observation

How many times do I quickly breeze through the bible and gloss over passages like these? Pharaoh finally relents to God’s command through Moses to “let my people go”. As the people journeyed from Rameses to Succoth (a “block, shut off, stop the approach) before the Exodus, we notice the six hundred thousand men on foot not including women and children. "A mixed multitude also went up with them…” Did you catch that? NIV states that “many other people went up with them.” NLT says it was “a rabble of non-Israelites went with them.” God saved some pagan Egyptians, sojourners and other foreigners to bring them to the Promised Land. Yahweh even commanded Moses and Aaron to make provisions in the instruction of the Passover to include foreigners (12:48-49). 

Application

The fallacy of an unloving and angry God in the Old Testament killing babies, destroying pagans and judging nations still runs strong. Yet here in the second book of the bible as the people of God are on the precipice of a mass exodus to freedom and prosperity to the Promised Land, our Heavenly Father is a missionary God. He sends the people of God to be His missionary to save many non-Israelites. Point of obedience: 

 - Praise and worship my unchanging, eternally-loving, compassionate God. He does not change. His love and inclusivity of sojourners and foreigners don’t change.

 - Deeply consider the political ramifications of following and obeying my missionary God: Let biblical convictions shape my political beliefs, not the other way around.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for your unconditional love. Thank you that you would leave the 99 sheep in the fold to seek and save that one lost sheep. May your love change me to be more like you. If there is any area of prejudice and exclusivity, I confess and repent. Make me be more like you. In Jesus name. Amen!

A Shield About Me

SCRIPTURE

“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.” - Psalm 3:3-4

OBSERVATION

Context gives meaning to everything. The context of Psalm 3 is found in the subtitle, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” Imagine literally running for your life and the person who wants to kill you is your own son. When David pens that he has many enemies and they are rising against him it was a real credible threat on his life. Yet he declares that God himself (Yahweh) is a shield about him. God will take the hits intended to injure him. The Lord protects from assault meaning to hurt him. David’s glory was not found in his accomplishment and accolades but his glory is God himself. God is his strength and encouragement because God is the lifter of his head. God heard when David cried out to him.

APPLICATION

Let God fight my battles. When there are arrows of accusation and strikes of slander—God is my shield. He will take the hits. God will absorb the assaults. I don’t need to be defensive and let it penetrate my heart. But I need to be honest and come before him in prayer so that he can be my glory and the lifter of my head. I also need to find my encouragement in God. When my head is down and I am discouraged, He alone is the lifter of my head. Remember that when I cry out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy hill.

PRAYER

 Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being a shield about me. You have protected me millions of times and I may have only been aware of ten of them. Thank you for answering my prayers when I cry out to you.