Hi how has the last few days been? Are your still trying to navigate what your new normal looks like? At times like these, we need encouragement to keep going and the best place to find it is in the Bible. The story that resonated with me is the Israelites just before God removed them dramatically from Egypt. I want to have a quick look at that story. It is found starting in Exodus 1.
Under Jospeh as second in charge, the Israelites had a great life and prospered. However, the next Pharaoh that came up treated them harshly, made them slaves and killed their baby boys. The Israelites lived this way for many years. But one day a deliverer came – Moses.
In the last part of Exodus 4, Moses came to tell the Israelites that God had not forgotten them. In hard times, it is easy to forget God or to put our hardship and pain above God. They take pre-eminence in our lives. But in those times more than ever, we need to trust God. This is the first thing we must establish in our hearts in these uncertain times. No matter what – trust God.
In Exodus 5, Pharaoh made the Israelites lives even harder. He made them collect their own straw to make bricks and didn’t lessen the quota of bricks made each day. In these times, the restrictions around our lives seem to be getting harder. Some of us have lost jobs and our short term future looks very bleak. So what should we do? I love what Exodus 6:1 says. It states that God spoke and said “Now you will see what I will do….This is Who I am and this is My promise to you”.
When times get harder, we think God doesn’t care or we must have done something completely wrong. But it is in those times when we have come to the end of ourselves, that God speaks to us and says now look what I am about to do. My promises to you are still true and I am still the same God. I will not crush you but will strengthen you through this. The second thing we need to do is keep in the Word of God. We need to remind ourselves of Who God is and what promises He has given us.
Then after that, the plagues started. The Israelites and the Egyptians suffered with the first three plagues – all the water turned to blood, the plague of frogs and a plague of gnats. The Israelites must have been thinking that they were being punished too. But there came a day when God made a distinction. The next plagues only affected the Egyptians.
In Exodus 8:22, God stated this time I will spare my people. The time has come for me to make a distinction. This distinction will be made because I am the Lord and I am present even in the heart of the land.
God wants His people different in times of hardship. We need to have a different attitude, a different spirit, a different outlook from the world. Why? Because it is only in the distinction that people around us can see the heart of God and the presence of God.
So as you are walking through this time remember to walk in these three things:
- Trust God
- Be found in the Word of God
- Live your life differently
God will see us through. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and will be glorified. The greatest move of God in the earth is still to come and we get to be a part of it. It is an exciting time to live in.
Bless you heaps and keep living the life God intended for you
Karen
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