大光讀經日程1/24/2013 西乃山之旅

Chinese

1/24/2013

English

西乃山之旅

經文:

出埃及記16－18章

中心思想:

出埃及記16：1－17：7

提要

        就在以色列人戲劇性的在紅海獲救的第三天，他們就開始嘟嚷抱怨了──這個壞習慣是整個曠野之旅中最典型的特徵。當水的供應減少的時候，百姓忘了上帝是一切供應的來源，因而怨聲載道。上帝奇蹟式的豐富供應了嗎哪、鵪鶉和水，足足給全族人上了信心的一課。
        後來任勞任怨的摩西從他岳父那裏學到寶貴的行政理念，就是挑選一些能幹的人協助他治理百姓。

第16章	第17章	第18章
清晨的嗎哪	曠野中的水	岳父智慧的建言
以色列人的抱怨		摩西的治理

每日與主同行

        你有過這樣的經驗嗎？清晨，你從床上跳起來，信心十足的認為今天一切都會很好，可是盥洗的時候，發現香皂用完了，乾淨的衣服一件也沒有；吃早餐前，又被一張放錯位置的椅子絆倒了！驚嚇之餘，吐司麵包烤焦了，荷包蛋掉在鞋子上，報紙竟沒送來；擁塞的交通使你上班遲到，現在你那重要的「今日工作」清單已經不管用了，你只想爬回床上，希望這天重新開始。
        以色列人也有苦日子！他們很快就發現；在沙漠裏流浪極其困苦，而且危機重重！過紅海的榮耀從記憶中一褪色消失，就立刻饑腸轆轆了，他們指控摩西帶領他們進入曠野，簡直就是要謀害他們（17：3）。
        你是否在逆境中，失去了對上帝旨意的盼望？把今天讀經所發現的困難處境都列下來，然後問自己：「上帝想讓祂的子民在逆境中學到什麼？那是在順境中絕對學不到的！還有，祂想教導我什麼？」

默想

永不忘懷的「嗎哪」
        百姓第一次在地上看到嗎哪的時候（16：15），他們面面相覷互問道：「這是什麼？」（希伯來文發音為：嗎哪？）從此這個名字沿用下來，往後的四十年間，每天清晨百姓出去撿嗎哪，作為日常的食物（除了安息日之外）！

金言

不順使有些人崩潰，卻使另一些人出類拔萃。

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English

Journey to Mount Sinai

Scriptures:

Exodus 16-18

Heart of the Passage:

Exodus 16:1-17:7

Overview

        Only three days after their dramatic deliverance at the Red Sea, the people begin to complain. As the water supply dwindles, the grumbling increases as the people forget that God is the Source of their supply. God miraculously provides manna, quail, and water in abundance to teach the nation a lesson in faith. Then an overworked Moses learns a valuable lesson in administration from his father-in-law as he selects capable men to assist him in governing the people.

Chapter 16	Chapter 17	Chapter 18
Manna in the Morning	Water in the Wilderness	Wise Words from a Father-in-law
Israel's Grumbling		Moses' Governing

Your Daily Walk

        Have you ever had a morning like this? You bound out of bed, confident that today will be a great day. But there's no soap in the shower, and you've run out of clean clothes. On the way to breakfast you trip over a misplaced chair. The toast burns, and the newspaper doesn't arrive. A traffic jam makes you late for an appointment, and you lose your important "things to do" list. Before your day has even begun, you feel like crawling back in bed and starting over again!
        The Israelites had their share of bad days too. They quickly discovered that desert travel can be difficult.. . even dangerous. The glory of the Red Sea crossing faded as soon as their stomachs began to rumble from hunger. They actually accused Moses of leading them into the wilderness to kill them (17:3)!
        Have you lost sight of God's purpose for bringing along bad days as well as good ones? Make a list of all the difficult situations found in today's reading and ask yourself these questions: "What was God trying to teach His people through adversity that they never would have learned through prosperity ? And what is He trying to teach me?"

Insight

I'll Never Forget Old What's-Its-Name
        When the people first saw manna on the ground (16:15), they asked one another, "What is it?" (Hebrew, man Aw?). The name stuck, and for 40 years the people went out each morning (except on the Sabbath) to collect "what's-its-name" (manna) as their daily bread!

Adage

Adversity causes some people to break down, and to break others records.

大光讀經日程 1/23/2013過紅海與摩西凱歌

1/23/2013

English

過紅海與摩西凱歌

經文:

出埃及記13－15章

中心思想:

出埃及記13；14：21－31

提要

        離開埃及只是一連串神蹟的起頭，上帝開始帶領祂的選民去應許之地迦南，白天有雲柱、夜晚有火柱引導他們。當摩西帶領百姓來到紅海邊緣──一個無法跨越的紅海，看來只有死路一條了！想不到上帝竟在海中開了一條路，解救祂的百姓，卻使埃及大軍沉溺於毫無希望的追殺之中；這樁神蹟使得以色列高唱歡欣讚美的凱歌，而取代叛逆、絕望的抱怨之聲！

第13章	第14章	第15章
獻長子	過紅海	歌頌上帝的偉大
記念	獲救	歡呼

每日與主同行

        有多少經文你可以憑記憶「唱」出來呢？在你聳聳肩準備放棄之前，可以給你幾節經文作為開始：
        「耶和華是我的牧者……」（詩23：1－2）
        「你們要讚美耶和華……」（詩148：1－3）
        「我們在天上的父……」（太6：9－13）
        「撒該身量矮小……」（如果你不記得這段經文，不妨問問主日學的孩子。路19：1－5）
        為一段經文譜上樂曲，就會令人永難忘懷，也許背誦經文對你相當困難，不過最近你是否學過一首新的曲調或福音詩歌呢？把要背的經文帶入，就成了另一首新歌了！摩西深知，若要把上帝的真理種植在人心中，吟唱是最愉快的方法（出15：1－18）！
        今天就去離你家最近的基督教書房逛逛，選一本最適合你唱的詩歌本，千萬別讓唱詩在你的基督徒生活中只有禮拜天才佔一席之地！

默想

對法老王的預測：濃霧與挫敗
        根據出埃及記十四章十九至二十節的記載，當以色列人前進的時候，雲柱就在前面引導他們，有時則「在埃及營和以色列營中間有雲柱，一邊黑暗，一邊發光。」（14：20）如此成就了兩件大事：（一）雲柱如濃霧，使埃及人無法窺伺以色列人的動靜，以致阻擋了他們的攻擊行動；（二）由於一邊發光，就供給以色列人光亮。對埃及全地而言，濃霧是一種不可知的現象，如此一來，勢必讓埃及人大惑不解，甚至於灰心挫折。

金言

對那些願意調準頻道的人而言，一定可以享受從天而來的音樂！

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English

Red Sea Crossing and Song of Moses

Scriptures:

Exodus 13-15

Heart of the Passage:

Exodus 13; 14:21-31

Overview

        The Exodus from Egypt is only the first in a series of miracles God performs to bring His chosen people to the Promised Land of Canaan. Guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, Moses leads the people to the edge of the Red Sea—a seemingly impassable dead end. Cries of mutiny and despair give way to songs of jubilation and praise as God opens a path through the waters, saves His people, and drowns the Egyptian army in its hopeless pursuit.

Chapter 13	Chapter 14	Chapter15
Consecrating the Firstborn	Crossing the Red Sea	Caroling God's Greatness
"Remember!"	"Relax!"	"Rejoice!"

Your Daily Walk

        How many passages of Scripture can you "sing" from memory? Here are a three to get you started:
        "Savior, like a Shepherd lead us..." (Psalm 23:1-2).
        "Praise God from whom all blessings flow ..." (Psalm 148:1-3).
        "Our Father which art in heaven ..." (Matthew 6:9-13).
        There is something about a verse put to melody that makes it particularly memorable. Perhaps you have great difficulty memorizing Scripture passages. But have you learned a new hymn or gospel song lately? Moses knew that singing was a painless way to plant God's truth in the hearts of people (Exodus 15:1-18).
        Drop by a Christian bookstore and pick up one of the many excellent hymnbooks available today. Don't allow hymn singing to be just a Sunday part of your Christian experience!

Insight

Forecast for Pharaoh: Dense Fog and Defeat
        According to Exodus 14:19-20, the pillar of cloud which had formerly led the Israelites as they marched now "came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them." This accomplished two things: (1) It stopped the Egyptians by settling down on them like a fog so that they could not see; (2) It provided light for the Israelites. Fog is an almost unknown phenomenon in the land of Egypt, a fact which must have contributed to the Egyptians' bewilderment and frustration.

Adage

There is plenty of heavenly music for those who are tuned in.

大光讀經日程1/22/2013死別與生離

1/22/2013

English

死別與生離

經文:

出埃及記11－12章

中心思想:

出埃及記12：29－42

提要

        這九種災害代表對埃及各類偶像的攻擊（包括尼羅河、太陽、青蛙、蒼蠅等等），現在上帝要攻擊法老自己了，祂的方法是：警告每一家埃及人的長子都將暴斃（包括法老之子），除非以色列百姓獲釋。為了逃避這個可怕的審判，逾越節時，每一家以色列人都殺羔羊為長子代死，恐怖的死亡之夜後，法老下令希伯來人離境，愈遠愈好，長期盼望的「出埃及」就此開始。從此逾越節成為一年一度的救贖紀念日，紀念上帝的子民脫離埃及為奴之地。

第11章	第12章
最後一次 災害的預警	逾越節的預備 1                   28	災害的執行 29              36	離開埃及 37              51
第十災臨近		第十災發生

每日與主同行

        「以前我對記人名是最沒辦法的了！」一個人跟他的朋友說，「但是自從我上了卡內基記憶法之後，一切就改觀了！」
        記憶，就是它會告訴一個人，他妻子的生日其實是昨天！上帝知道祂的子民很快就會忘記他們歷史中的重要時刻──諸如逾越節和出埃及──除非有人提醒他們，使他們記憶猶新，所以祂命令全國百姓的日曆上圈出這個重要的日子，年年謹守，好讓以色列人對上帝偉大的拯救永誌不忘，同時也提醒他們，上帝的拯救意義何其重大。
        在過去的一年當中，在你與上帝來往的生命裏面，有沒有一個值得每年都紀念的日子？如果沒有，在你的日曆上圈出一個值得慶祝的日子（你的生日就是一個最好的日子），邀請全家人來回顧，慶祝上帝在你身上的作為以及現在正在動工的部份。

默想

想像你加入以色列人中過逾越節
        當滅命的天使經過埃及全地時，給每個家庭帶來了惡耗──長子之死，卻越過了門框塗血的以色列人，所以以色列人還很活躍，然而他們十分清醒、儆醒和順服，吃逾越節的羔羊、隨時穿著鞋、拿著隨身携帶的東西，準備一聽到上帝的命令就離開！

金言

如果上帝想到我們的時間和我們想到祂的時間一樣少，你想會怎樣？

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English

Moses' Call and Conflict with Pharaoh

Scriptures:

Exodus 11-12

Heart of the Passage:

Exodus 12:29-42

Overview

        Each of the preceding nine plagues has represented an attack on an object of worship in Egypt (the Nile, sun, frogs, flies, etc.). But now God attacks Pharaoh himself by warning that the firstborn of each Egyptian household (including Pharaoh's) will die unless the people are released. To escape the terrible judgment, each Israelite household observes the Passover by substituting the death of a lamb for the death of their firstborn. After a night of horror and death, Pharaoh commands the Hebrews to leave, and the long-awaited Exodus begins. Passover henceforth becomes an annual memorial of the redemption of God's people from their Egyptian bondage.

Chapter 11	Chapter 12
Announcing a Plague	Preparing 1 the Passover28	Administering 29 a Plague 36	Exiting 37 Egypt 51
Tenth Plague is Near		Tenth Plague is Here

Your Daily Walk

        "I used to have a terrible time remembering people's names," admitted one friend to another, "but no longer! Not since I took that Sam Carnegie memory course ..."
        Memory. It's what tells a man his wife's birthday was yesterday. God knew that His people would quickly forget great moments in their history unless their memories were refreshed. So He commanded the nation to circle the important date of the Passover on their calendars and observe it yearly in order to keep the memory of God's great deliverance fresh and vital to them.
        Do you have an annual date on which you review all of God's dealings in your life over the past 12 months? If not, circle a day (your birthday is an excellent time). Make it a time of reflecting, remembering, and rejoicing for what God has done, and is doing, in your life day by day.

Insight

Pictures in the Passover . . . for Israel and for You
        As the Lord passed through Egypt, bringing death to the firstborn in every family that did not have the bloodstained doorposts, the Israelites were also active. Rather than sleeping, they were awake, alert, and obedient, feeding on the Passover Lamb—with their shoes on their feet and their staffs in their hands—ready to move at God's command.

Adage

What would happen if God remembered us only as often as we remembered Him?

大光讀經日程1/21/2013 九災降埃及

Chinese 1/21/2013 English 九災降埃及 經文: 出埃及記7－10章 中心思想: 出埃及記7章 提要         由於上帝藉著僕人摩西傳講祂的話語，卻在法老剛硬如石的心中毫無作用，現在，摩西要開始執行上帝的工作了！──九個殃及全國的災害，包括蟲害、疾病及天然的改變，這些災害漸漸轉為更強烈、更具選擇性，以致難以忽視！法老王雖屢次答應，結果總是反悔，頑梗的拒絕釋放百姓，而陷自己及全國百姓於第十災之中。 第7章 第8章 第9章 第10章 「容我百性去」的九種理由 血災 蛙災 1  15 蝨災 16   19 蠅災 20   32 瘟疫 1    7 瘡災 8   12 雹災 13   35 蝗災 1   20 黑暗 21   29 每日與主同行         血管硬化是一種嚴重的疾病，能夠影響成千上萬的人，但和另一種影響人類的疾病比較的時候，結果是輕微的，那一種疾病就是心硬！         法老深知上帝要他做什麼，「容我百姓去」的命令下達了起碼六次之多。         法老深知上帝要他怎麼做，讓百姓往曠野走三天的路程，帶走所有的東西(8：26，27，10：8-11)         法老深知他不順服的結果，每一次降災之前，摩西都將後果再三的警告過他。         法老的問題不在於缺乏資訊，而在動力不夠。上帝的旨意非常清楚；相對的，法老的心十分剛硬，最後使他兵敗子喪──簡直就像下地獄一樣。         法老這種卑下的例子似乎不曾受到其他舊約作者的重視。請參閱申命記六章二十至二十二節，撒母耳記上六章六節，尼希米記九章七至十節，任選一段經文，擬定一個主題，在今晚的餐桌上討論一番。繞道比重蹈覆轍好，法老的心硬才是問題。 默想 自然或超自然？         有人相信所有災害（除了長子之災），都可以自然現象來解釋而非神蹟。即使這些災害可能或許不能破壞上帝的自然律，但它們發生的時機和摩西事前的預告，可以說明它們確是神蹟。 金言 心硬比血管硬化使人更加速老化。 上一篇      下一篇 English Nine Plagues on Egypt Scriptures: Exodus 7-10 Heart of the Passage: Exodus 7 Overview         Since the words of God delivered through His servant Moses have had no effect on Pharaoh's stony heart, Moses now begins to demonstrate the works of God—nine national calamities involving insects, disease, and changes in nature. The plagues gradually become more intense, selective, and difficult to ignore! In spite of his frequent promises, Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to release the people, setting the stage for the tenth and climactic plague. Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Nine Good Reasons to “ Let My People Go” Blood 1           15 Frogs 16          19 Lice 20      32 Flies 1         7 Murrain 8            12 Boils 13         35 Hail 1         20 Locusts 21         29 Darkiness The gods of Egypt vs the God of Israel Your Daily Walk         Hardening of the arteries is a serious disease that affects thousands. But its consequences are mild when compared to the eternal consequences of another malady that affects mankind: hardening of the heart.         Pharaoh knew what God wanted him to do. The command "let my people go" was repeated no fewer than six times.         Pharaoh knew how God wanted him to do it. The people were to go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, and nothing was to be left behind in the land of Egypt (8:26-27; 10:8-11).         Pharaoh knew the consequences if he did not obey. He was warned of each plague in advance.         Pharaoh's problem was not information, but motivation. God's will was clear; Pharaoh's heart was hard. And in the end he would lose his army and his firstborn son—as well as his captives!         Pharaoh's sordid example was not overlooked by authors of other Old Testament writings. Look up Deuteronomy 6:20-22; 1 Samuel 6:b"; Nehemiah 9:7-10. Pick one passage and make it the topic of discussion around the dinner table tonight. It's a good way to detour around, rather than duplicate, Pharaoh's heart problem! Insight Natural or Supernatural?         Some people believe that since all of the plagues (except the dead) of the Firstborn) could be explained naturally they weren't miracles. Although the plagues may or may not have broken God's natural laws, the timing and Moses' foretelling make them miraculous. Adage Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly than hardening of the arteries.

大光讀經日程1/19/2013 摩西的蒙召與法老王的衝突

1/19/2013

English

摩西的蒙召與法老王的衝突

經文:

出埃及記3－6章

中心思想:

出埃及記3，6：1－13

提要

        現在，上帝準備差派摩西負起拯救百姓脫離桎梏的任務，但是摩西不願意接受，面對在燃燒荊棘裏的上帝，摩西以四個藉口拒絕上帝的差遣，然而不論是摩西的軟弱，或法老的冥頑，都無法攔阻上帝要拯救祂百姓的至高計劃，摩西終於順服，面對法老的時候，他不斷的宣告：「容我百姓去！」（5：1）。

第3章	第4章	第5章	第6章
摩西蒙召	摩西的憐憫	摩西的對質	摩西的安慰
勉強的救贖者		敵對的法老王

每日與主同行

        假設你是摩西，正在一片安靜的山坡上牧羊，突然，一叢荊棘燃燒起來──卻未燒燬！出於好奇，你走近這個奇異的景象，一探究竟，沒想到和以色列的上帝面對面談了起來，祂宣布：「我要打發你去見法老。」（3：10）而你會怎樣回答？也許你和摩西完全一樣：自覺不配！不配以現有的自己去代表上帝，不配以自己笨拙的口才去宣揚上帝的話語，但你知道你這樣做是對的！上帝早已洞悉你的不足，這就是為什麼祂會揀選你──好讓祂的能力透過你的軟弱彰顯出來，使你的生命綻放出祂的榮耀。
        列舉三個你今天不服事上帝的藉口（或許早已存在了），然後放在你的禱告中：「上帝，祢知道我的狀況，請在我的軟弱上彰顯祢的能力，使用我有限的智慧，好讓別人看祢就是這位獨一無二的真神。」

默想

上帝是一位偉大的「自有永有的上帝」
        摩西問應該用什麼名字來稱呼這位差遣他去執行任務的上帝（3：13），上帝回答說：「我是自有永有的，又說，你要對以色列人這樣說，那自有的打發我到你們這裏來。」（3：14）除了上帝，聖經中還有誰敢用這個名字？（參閱約8：58）現在你了解為什麼主耶穌告訴猶太人「沒有亞伯拉罕，就有我」時，會得到這樣的回饋了嗎？（約8：59）

金言

傑出的畫家有時用最小的畫筆就能完成最大的傑作。

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English

Moses' Call and Conflict with Pharaoh

Scriptures:

Exodus 3-6

Heart of the Passage:

Exodus 3; 6:1-13

Overview

        At last, God is ready to commission Moses for the task of delivering His people from bondage. But Moses is reluctant to accept the commission! Confronted by God in a burning bush, Moses responds with four excuses which focus on his inadequacy for the assignment. But neither Moses' weakness nor Pharaoh's stubbornness can stand in the way of God's sovereign plan to release His people. Finally convinced of God's strength, Moses confronts Pharaoh with the ringing declaration, "Let my people go" (5:1).

Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Moses' Call	Moses' Companion	Moses' Confrontation	Moses' Consolation
A Reluctant Redeemer		A Resistant Pharaoh

Your Daily Walk

        Pretend for a moment that you are Moses. You are tending your sheep on a quiet mountainside when suddenly a bush bursts into flame—but it is not consumed! Naturally curious, you move closer to study this remarkable sight and come face to face with the God of Israel who declares, "I will send thee unto Pharaoh" (Exodus 3:10). How would you respond? Probably you'd do exactly what Moses did: feel inadequate! Inadequate to represent God before the mightiest ruler of your day. Inadequate to deliver God's words through your faltering lips. And you know, you'd be right! God already knows you're inadequate. Thai's why He selected you— so that His strength might shine through your weakness.
        Make a list of three excuses you could give God (and perhaps already have) for not serving Him today. Then turn each into a prayer project: "God, you know my physical condition. Show your strength through my weakness. Use my meager I.Q. to demonstrate to others that you are the incomparable 'I AM.' "

Insight

The God Who Is the Great "I Am"
        Moses asked what name he should use for the God who had sent him on his strategic mission (3:13). God replied, "I AM THAT I AM ... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (3:14). What other person in the pages of Scripture dared to use that same name? (Hint: Check John 8:58.) Now do you understand why He received the response He did (John 8:59)?

Adage

A master artist sometimes uses the smallest brush to achieve the best effect.

大光讀經日程1/18/2013以色列人在埃及為奴

1/18/2013

English

以色列人在埃及為奴

經文:

出埃及記1—2章

中心思想:

出埃及記l：8－2：10

提要

        在創世記接近尾聲的那些年日裏，猶太人的人口在埃及全地迅速的膨脹，眼看著成長中的人口成為一種威脅，這個毫無憐憫心腸的埃及國王就苦待他們，強迫他們「作苦工」（1：13），上帝子民呼求拯救的哀嚎終於得到回音了，這個人就是摩西！當摩西還是個稚弱的小嬰兒時，上帝從天而降的眷顧就與他同在，可見摩西的命運是早己決定了！但在四十歲那年，摩西因為試圖以一個錯誤的方式（謀殺）來完成一件使命（拯救同胞）而流亡在外，以致在第二個四十年裏，他得在米甸曠野裏牧羊，上帝也藉此預備他，讓他將來在埃及曠野中牧養更多的羊！

第1章	第2章
以色列人 在埃及痛苦哀嚎	摩西在 1   埃及出生  15	摩西在 16    米甸結婚    25
壓迫者法老王	拯救者摩西

每日與主同行

        如果你曾忘記過重要的約會、結婚週年紀念或對別人的承諾，你就知道事後的感覺有多難過、難堪，但其程度還遠不及被遺忘的人難過與難堪！
        上帝的子民在埃及人手下做奴工，受盡欺凌約四百年，似乎上帝已忘記了祂對以色列祖先們的應許──應許他們會擁有一片廣大的土地，他們也要成為一個大族，應許在埃及這個沙漠監獄的上空迴響著，因為「上帝記念祂與亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的約」（2：24），雖然他們不知道，正當他們在熾熱的沙漠驕陽下做磚頭時，上帝卻已為他們預備了拯救。
        上帝永遠不會忘記祂的應許，問題是你是否常忘記這件事實？現在就在手指繫上一根細線（即使引起別人好奇詢問也無妨），好提醒你這個溫馨的真理。

默想

創世記與出埃及記的對照
創世記提到：
        人類的努力與失敗
        預備一個民族
        流浪到埃及
        一個有七十人的家族
        洪水的審判（挪亞）

出埃及記提到：
        上帝的能力與勝利
        拯救一個民族
        流亡到埃及
        一個有百萬人的民族
        靠血拯救（逾越節）

金言

上帝的應許是肯定的，但不會在三個月之內就成熟實現。

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English

Israel's Bondage in Egypt

Scriptures:

Exodus 1-2

Heart of the Passage:

Exodus 1:8-2:10

Overview

        In the years since the close of Genesis, the Jews have multiplied rapidly in the land of Egypt. Viewed as a growing threat by an unsympathetic Egyptian king, they are bitterly oppressed and forced to "serve with rigor [hardship]" (1:13). The cries of God's people for a deliverer are finally answered in the person of Moses. Even from his earliest days Moses' destiny is clear, as seen in God's providential care for the infant. But at the age of 40, Moses attempts to do the right thing (deliverance) in the wrong-way (murder), and as a result he flees for his life. For the next 40 years he will tend flocks in the deserts of Midian ... as God prepares him to tend a much bigger flock in the deserts of Egypt!

Chapter 1	Chapter 2
Israel's Groaning in Egypt	Moses' Birth 1 in Egypt 15		Moses' Marriage 16 in Midian 25
Pharaoh the Oppressor	Moses the Deliverer

Your Daily Walk

        If you've ever forgotten an important appointment, anniversary, or promise you've made, you know how miserable you can feel. But that's not as miserable as the one who's been forgotten feels!
        For 400 years the people of God had suffered abuse at the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters. Surely God had forgotten His promises to their forefathers—promises which rang hollow in the sandy prisons of Egypt. And yet, "God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob" (2:24). Unknown to them, God was preparing for their deliverance even as they made bricks in the hot desert sun!
        God never forgets His promises, but how often do you forget that fact? Tie a string around your finger to remind yourself (and others who might be curious enough to ask) of that wonderful truth.

Insight

Genesis and Exodus—
        a Study in Contrasts
Genesis speaks of:
        • human effort and failure
        • preparing a people
        • travel to Egypt
        • a family of 70
        •judgment by water (Noah)
Exodus speaks of:
        • divine power and triumph
        • redeeming a people
        • travel from Egypt
        • a nation of millions
        • salvation by blood (Passover)

Adage

The promises of God are certain, but they don't all mature in 90 days.