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2024 Lent Daily Devotions

Bible readings and reflections from the Book of Exodus

PREFACE

Bishop Philip North

PREFACE Has a greater story ever been told? Exodus has all the ingredients. A flawed hero in Moses. An arch-baddie in Pharaoh. The appalling injustice of slavery. The vivid horrors of the plagues. The jeopardy of a last minute escape. The hyper-real psycho-drama of the wilderness. The promise of a glorious freedom. What more could you want? Well there’s much more! As you read through this wonderful book, look out for the following. The Story of God’s Covenant From start to finish, Exodus shows us God’s faithfulness to His people. He is with them in slavery and raises up the leader whose unique mix of qualities and experience He will use to set them free. He sees off mighty Pharaoh and rescues His people in the Sea. He shows them through the Ten Commandments how to live and, when again and again they fail and fall into sin, He does not give up on them. As you read, see yourself in those struggling Israelites. In the twenty first century, it can be hard for us to go on being faithful, faced with the mighty pharaohs of secularism, materialism and greed. We too can easily drift off into sin and mistrust, doubting the presence of God or His work in our lives. But our faithful God never lets us go. Lent is the time to repent and turn back to Him, to be faithful to the covenant God who is always faithful to us. The Gospel Story Anticipated He may not be named, but we can find Jesus on every page of the Book of Exodus. We can find Him in fire. As Moses hears God’s voice in the burning bush, so we see anticipated the fire of the Holy Spirit, the gift of Jesus to His church, who equips and sends for the mission. We can find Him in the lamb. The blood of a slain lamb smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites to free them from the angel of death points us to the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose death on the cross sets us free. We can find Him in water and bread. The water of the Red Sea, through which the Israelites escape Pharaoh’s army, points us to the water of baptism in which we are born anew. The manna in the wilderness points us to Jesus, the living bread, who feeds us in the Eucharist. Above all we can find Him in the big-picture sweep of the narrative. Just as the Israelites are saved by God from slavery, so through the whole saving work of Jesus we are ransomed from our slavery to sin and death and set free for eternity. That’s why Exodus is the Lent book par excellence. It points us to the whole saving work of Christ. Has a greater story ever been told? Yes! The story of Jesus Himself. And as we tell the Exodus story, something more of the wonder of that Gospel story is revealed. The Diocesan Lent Course This book will take you through the story of Exodus bit by bit, helping you to understand it in detail. A great way of exploring in more depth some of the big themes of Exodus is through our Diocesan Lent Course. This course can be followed either in parish groups or individually. Go to the Diocesan Website (http://blackburn.anglican.org) and you will find five short videos that I have recorded in different parts of the City of Lancaster and a written resource. The Rt Revd Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn.

God's amazing rescue plan

February 14, 2024 • Mark Ireland • Exodus 1:1–14

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 1:1-14 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph…’ Exodus 1:8 Some years ago I helped lead a trek through the Sinai desert, following in the footsteps of Moses and sleeping under the stars. I have never been so freezing cold in all my life! Each morning as we huddled around the campfire, drinking strong tea and eating bread baked freshly under the embers of the fire, we read together from the book of Exodus and reflected on the perilous journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom. Often in human history the rise of a new ruler or tyrant has spelt danger for a minority group within a country. The dramatic change from privileged position to persecuted minority is a story that many communities have experienced over the years. Once invited as honoured guests of the Pharaoh, Jacob’s descendants find themselves over time resented and feared (see vv9-10), becoming an easy scapegoat for the ills of society. Joseph’s family had been invited to Egypt after Joseph’s meteoric rise from being a wrongly-convicted prisoner in an Egyptian jail to being prime minister of the whole land at a time of famine and national crisis. With the benefit of hindsight, one could ask whether the way Joseph exercised his authority on behalf of Pharaoh had sown the seeds of future discontent—while his family enjoyed protected status, the Egyptians were forced to become slaves in their own land in order to buy food, as we can read in Genesis 47.20-21. As we begin the Book of Exodus we shall see how God hears the cries of His people as they suffer ill-treatment. We shall be reminded how much human suffering—and plagues in the natural world—come about because of human stubbornness and disregard for the Creator. And we shall see how—not for the first or last time in Scripture—God’s amazing rescue plan begins with the birth of a vulnerable little baby… Let us pray: Lord, we pray for those parts of our world today where fear and mistrust lead to minorities being oppressed. Lord, help us to hear their cries for help, and give us hearts to speak out in Your name. Amen. The Venerable Mark Ireland, Archdeacon of Blackburn

Saying yes to God

February 15, 2024 • Helen Scamman • Exodus 1:15–22

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 1:15-22 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.' Exodus 1:17 Most of us find the suffering of children incredibly hard to accept, whether we see that close at home, or on our screens in countries far away. Here, as so often, it is those who are the very youngest who suffer the most from a harsh and brutal regime. What a terrible task to be given to midwives, whose mission was to protect life at its most fragile and vulnerable. And yet from somewhere, these ordinary women find extraordinary courage to dare to do something different. How is that? It is because buried in this passage, there is a key phrase: ‘The midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them….’ (v.17). What does it mean to fear God? Throughout the Bible we are constantly and wonderfully reminded ‘do not be afraid’. And yet here, it seems that fear is a positive factor. This kind of fear is about revering God above everything… it’s having a greater loyalty, knowing that most important of all is putting God first… saying ‘yes’ to Him, which may mean saying ‘no’ to others. The midwives were given a very clear command by a brutal dictator, and yet they had a greater loyalty. They recognised that whatever others wanted them to do, and however powerful those people might be, they were first of all going to serve their God no matter what. As they did so, their courage and integrity were rewarded. This may seem a million miles away from your situation or mine. However, as we begin the season of Lent, it is worth considering, what it might mean to you to give your greatest loyalty to God. What would that mean for your ambition, your money, your time, and the choices you make in your life? Would saying ‘yes’ to God mean saying ‘no’ to someone or something else? For us, living in the fear of the Lord may mean we make sacrifices and face tricky choices. For other Christians throughout the world, living in the fear of the Lord may involve the threat of persecution or death. Let’s commit to pray for them. Let us pray: Lord God, show us what it means to be faithful to you in all we do and say. Help us to remember in prayer all those whose faith in you puts them in danger. Amen. The Revd Helen Scamman, Start of Ministry Officer

Showing bravery and courage

February 16, 2024 • Fleur Green • Exodus 2:1–10

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 2:1-10 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river.’ Exodus 2:3 What does it mean to be brave or courageous? It may be facing your fear and doing it anyway – but be assured, I will not be adopting a tarantula as a pet any time soon. It may be showing good leadership, particularly in the face of difficulty or challenge. Volodymyr Zelensky could not have predicted the way his presidency of Ukraine would unfold but he has never stepped back from the task of leading his people against the Russian aggression they face. We may also think that those who speak out for the poor and marginalised show bravery in their words and actions. If we think of characters from the Bible who show bravery and courage, the mother of Moses and Pharaoh’s daughter might not be the top of our list. They only play a small part in Moses’ story but without their actions, the events that follow would not be possible. It was Pharaoh himself that decreed that all Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile out of fear of an eventual uprising against him. At just three months old, Moses’ mother places him in a waterproofed basket in the reeds in the river. What a risk she takes not knowing what will happen. Even though his sister watches on, there is no guarantee that the child will be found and kept safe. Then Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe and the basket and baby are found. His sister offers to find a nurse to care for the child and so Moses’ mother is given the opportunity to raise him after all. Bravery shown by a mother to save her child, courage shown by a daughter to defy her father’s decree and protect this innocent boy. This Lent how might we show bravery and courage in living the lives God wants for us? We are given opportunities to be a voice for the voiceless, to help protect and care for God’s people and the world in which we live. We may not be called to lead a nation, but we are called to make a difference in the power of the Holy Spirit and following the example of Jesus. Fleur Green, Vicar of Broughton St John Baptist, St Peter & St Martin's Chapels Fulwood

Moments by a well

February 17, 2024 • Ian Wells • Exodus 2:11–24

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 2:11-24 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). 'But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well.' Exodus 2:15 ‘and sat down by a well’. Sitting by a well has positive echoes, indeed positive intentions, in both the Old and New Testament narratives. Jacob sat by a well when he went to the east to seek a wife (Genesis 29:2ff) He rolled away the stone that sealed the well and allowed Rachel's sheep to be watered–-and so he met Rachel and—much later—married her. Jesus sat by Jacob's well and there met the Samaritan woman (John 4:7ff). But here we have Moses, also in a strange land, and who also watered the sheep of a woman from another background and later married her. Moses fled from Pharaoh. We tend to forget that as a result of the events in yesterday's reading, Moses was a member of Pharaoh's court, brought up as an Egyptian in the innermost circle of the Egyptian rulers. We usually jump from the papyrus basket to the much older Moses, who came back from Midian complete with a wonder-working staff and an official spokesperson. Today we look at how Moses started to mature. He saw and felt the mistreatment of the Hebrews, and rashly killed a precursor of those who later insisted on bricks without straw. Challenged, he fled to Midian, sat by a well, watered a flock, and accepted Zipporah, a Midian woman, as his wife, and had a child with her. But note the repeated echoes of unexpected interaction with those who aren't your immediate kindred: Jacob travelled a long way to sit by a well and find a wife: Moses fled from both his birth-kin and his adopted family status: and Jesus not only talked with a Samaritan woman, but a highly disreputable one. This reading as a whole challenges us: it is entirely outward looking. Where are our moments by a well? How do we travel—spiritually if not literally—out from our comfort zone in our church buildings to meet all those others who—like the Samaritan woman—need to meet Jesus? In verse 24 of our reading God heard ‘their groaning’. Do we? Let us pray: Lord, show us where to sit, who to welcome, and how to listen. Amen. Ian Wells, Lay-member of Holy Trinity, Tarleton

Every step of the way

February 18, 2024 • Iain Parks • Exodus 3:1–12

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 3:1-12 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.’ Exodus 3:6 In the Exodus 3 narrative, the burning bush captivates me, particularly the moment when Moses hides his face from God—a poignant verse underscoring his feelings of inadequacy. Despite being chosen by God, Moses grapples with self-doubt and reluctance, a familiar human response to a divine calling. This underscores God's unique ability to empower and reassure those He calls. How many of you resonate with a sense of imposter syndrome? Have you ever questioned your purpose, asking, "Why am I here?" Personally, this sentiment has accompanied me throughout my career. For those familiar with me, avoiding the limelight has been a deliberate choice—I even kept my wedding intimate with only ten guests. The fear of embarrassment and not fitting in contributes to this pervasive feeling. Yet, when faced with God, can we truly embarrass ourselves? The God who knows us completely, loving us unconditionally, nullifies our need for such concerns. Stepping outside our comfort zones becomes a necessary journey. Echoing Paul's message to the Philippians (4:6), ‘Do not worry about anything,’ we're encouraged to present our requests to God through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Verse 13 in Philippians 4 reinforces this idea: ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’ (NIV). Much like Paul reassures the Philippians, God assures Moses in today's reading that He will be with him, providing a confirming sign. This assurance underscores the divine presence's paramount importance in fulfilling God's purposes. For us, it signifies that God is with us in all our endeavours. As we approach Easter, let's be brave and bold, secure in the knowledge that God accompanies us every step of the way. Let us pray: Lord, as Moses found courage in the burning bush despite his doubts, grant us the strength to overcome imposter syndrome and step boldly into the purpose You've called us to, assured of Your unwavering presence and guidance. Amen. Iain Parks, Diocesan Director of Education

He is the One

February 19, 2024 • Paul Davies • Exodus 3:13–22

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 3:13-22 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’’ Exodus 3:14 In today’s bible reading God tells Moses His name, and in doing so, He’s beginning to tell us what He’s really like. God’s name is YHWH (some people say this name as ‘Jehovah’), but the English translation that we have in our bibles is perfect. God says His name is ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ This name shows us that God does not depend on anything else for His existence. He is all He needs. In this way He is nothing like us because we do need other things to exist. Without food we would cease to exist within a couple of months. Without water, it would take about a week. Without air it would take only a few minutes. And without parents to conceive us, we wouldn’t exist at all. This is not the case for God. He does not need food or water or air or anything else to sustain Him. He does not need parents to conceive Him because He has always been there. Just like the fire in yesterday’s reading, that did not burn up the bush as fuel, God requires nothing to keep Him going. Knowing all this helps us to understand Jesus better. Once, when He was asked by the Pharisees “Who do you think you are?” Jesus replied “I AM.” In saying that, Jesus was clearly announcing to the world that He is the eternal God who does not depend on anything else for His existence. This is really important for our faith as Christians because, if He was only a man, His death on the cross would have only been enough to pay for one person’s sins. However, because He is God, His sacrifice was enough to be able to pay for all the sins of the world. During this season of Lent, as we look towards Easter, we should keep these wonderfully true things in mind. When God sent His only Son into the world, He didn’t do it because He needs anything from us. He did it because He is the One we all need to pay for our sins. Let us pray: Heavenly Lord, thank you for sending your Son into the world, not because you needed anything from us, but because we needed Him. Amen. The Revd Paul Davies, Associate Vicar, St Andrew’s, Leyland

Trusting in God's plan

February 20, 2024 • Matteo Zambon • Exodus 4:1–17

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 4:1-17 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘… I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.’ Exodus 4:15 So often God calls us to something new, unexpected and scary when we least expect it. We can sometimes feel a bit like Moses, who has just remade a life for himself… a new identity in a new community. Moses feels safe in his new found life, and now God has revealed Himself to Moses and commanded him to march straight into Egypt, the den of the lion, in order to rescue God’s people! Moses is rightly scared; he feels inadequate and unprepared. This all seems too much, why does it have to be him? He tries every excuse to back out of God’s call: he does not want it! But how does God respond? With goodness, assurance, and proof of His love and support for Moses. God will provide for Moses. God will equip Moses with the skills to overcome the obstacles before him. When he feels that he is not strong enough to journey alone God will provide Moses’ help in the form of Aaron. Do we feel safe and secure in our faith and life? Do we feel like we have reached a plateau in our spiritual life, or do we feel unwilling to take that step into something new and intimidating in our faith that God might be calling us to? This Lent God is calling you to grow in fantastic new ways that will help His people and allow you to achieve wonders that only God knows He has for you. Do not be afraid to listen to that voice of God calling you to grow in prayer, to step out and try new things for your church and your faith. God will never leave you without help, or call you to something that will not draw you closer to His goodness. He will equip us, provide for us, and give us ‘Aarons’. Let us trust in the Lord and His purpose for us. Let us not be scared to take a step into things that are new, exciting, and even scary! Let us pray: Almighty God, give me the faith to trust in Your plan for me, the will to listen to Your voice, and the trust to know that You will always provide for me as I journey through Your plan for me. Amen. The Revd Matteo Zambon, Assistant Curate, Church of The Ascension, Torrisholme

Consider the small things

February 21, 2024 • Sam Walmsley • Exodus 4:18–31

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 4:18-31 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him.’ Exodus 4:24 Now, have I done everything?! This brief yet popular phrase aims to reassure us that we have done all that is required. However, even after this confirmation, we often still manage to miss something important. Perhaps you can relate to preparing for a holiday and prior to departure ensuring that the house is fully secure, only to realise halfway down the road that you have not locked the door! Although a small and rarely visible feature, a lock is very important and failing to operate it correctly can influence events significantly. In today’s passage we read of Moses finally beginning his journey to Egypt as God had commanded him to do. Having done the courteous thing of seeking permission from his father-in-law, the family depart. However, in verse 24 we learn that the Lord planned to kill Moses. This is a surprising turn as with everything supposedly in order, this is the last thing we expected to happen. What we learn is that whilst Moses had been diligent in seeking permission and making other preparations, he overlooked a very important factor; the circumcision of his son. The circumcision was crucial for honouring the covenant with God and by failing to do so in the past, Moses had now provoked the wrath of the Lord. In the moment, Zipporah removed the foreskin and thus secured the relationship between the Lord and Moses. Crucially, this small act corrected something that Moses had overlooked and enabled the journey to continue as planned meaning Moses could fulfil the Lord’s command. How often do we pay attention to the small details which affect our relationship with God and others? Whether this be a promise we have failed to keep or a small debt we have yet to repay, they all impact our relationships and deserve our attention. As we journey through this season of preparation, take time to consider all those things you ought to have done, the small things which are easily forgotten and give attention to faithful prayer. Perhaps then you can say with a little more confidence: now, have I done everything?! Sam Walmsley, Ordinand

A real game changer

February 22, 2024 • Michelle Delves • Exodus 5:1–9

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 5:1-9 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.’' Exodus 5:1 The point of Exodus chapters 5 and 6 is to reveal God’s name to Moses and to Israel, to God’s own people. To be God’s people they must first know who He is. The same stands true for us, as God’s people today. In Exodus 5:1-9 we see things go from bad to worse for our brothers and sisters. I’m sure we’ve all had the thought ‘things can’t get any worse’ only to see them do just that. That’s why it’s crucial we know who the Lord is both in our good and bad times, in our mountain top and valley/desert places. He is, always has been and always will be our refuge and shelter from the storms of life. Chapter 5 opens with Moses and Aaron saying to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go’’ (v1). In the verse following today’s reading, 5:10, the slave drivers and the overseers tell the people ‘This is what Pharaoh says…’. So God’s word and rule is up against Pharaoh’s word and rule. God commands Israel to rest in Him more (hence the three day break to worship Him). Pharaoh commands Israel to work more. This conflict is not so much Egypt vs Israel but Pharaoh vs The Lord with Israel stuck in the middle. We should not miss the point for us. We were created to be God-pleasers not people-pleasers. Ultimately we need to explore, honestly, who we are trying to please through our work. Whose approval are we seeking to gain or whose disapproval are we seeking to avoid? Is it our employers, our partners, our friends, our parents, our congregations, our colleagues, our own, or is it God’s approval we seek? Take some time to sit prayerfully with these questions. Whose approval am I trying to gain? Whose disapproval makes me feel crushed? These will both be clear pointers to who you truly worship. Then be prepared to shift your focus back to our beautiful creator God by prioritising time with Him in prayer and study. Take heart brothers and sisters, as we journey through Lent, because getting our eyes back on God and His approval is a real game changer. Let us pray: Ever loving, ever living God give us ears to hear You and a heart to please You this Advent. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen The Revd Michelle Delves, Associate Mission Priest, Holy Trinity & St Bartholomew’s, Colne

God is at work

February 23, 2024 • Jordan Bentliff • Exodus 5:10–23

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 5:10-23 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?’’ Exodus 5:22 The demand for God’s justice has seemed to make everything worse. This has been true throughout the ages. God’s reaction to injustice, through His people, has often been such a stark contrast to the rulers of the world that it causes them to become angry. Whether Moses, standing before Pharaoh, Esther before the throne of the king of Persia, Oscar Romero calling out the dictators of San Salvador, or Martin Luther King Jr, declaring his dream. When God’s people call out injustice in their society, it can scare those who profit from injustice so much that they do everything in their power to quiet God’s people. In response to the call for justice Pharaoh has decided to increase the oppression of God’s people. On top of all of their other back-breaking labour, they must now find their own straw without slowing down their work. This task is meant to be impossible. It is meant to cause misery for God’s people so that they will be put off listening to Moses and Aaron and, initially, it seems to work. The Israelite supervisors are angry at Moses for rousing Pharaoh’s anger. Even Moses seems to be giving up hope on God’s plan as he says ‘O my Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?’ (v.22). How often do we give up on justice when things get hard? When we think of Exodus, we often think of the liberation and we forget about the apparent hopelessness at the beginning. Yet just as many of us today struggle and become discouraged as we try to push for a more just society; so too did Moses struggle and become discouraged. If you are in a situation in your life in which you feel that you are suffering whilst trying to do the right thing, remember that God’s people suffered too when Moses proclaimed God’s demands to Pharaoh, as have many other Christians throughout the centuries. Remember that God is at work in the darkest of places, and you are not alone. The Revd Jordan Bentliff, Church Planting Curate, St George’s & All Saints’, Chorley

Set free from sin

February 24, 2024 • David Arnold • Exodus 6:1–9

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 6:1-9 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgement. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.’’ Exodus 6:6b-7a I suspect we have all got to the point with someone of getting to the end of our tether – getting to that point where there is nothing further to be done but to act to make something right. As we continue our journey through the book of Exodus, we see in today’s passage a glimpse of the Lord getting to that point. The Israelites are held in slavery, being forced to perform increasingly impossible workloads. And here the Lord responds by giving reassurance to Moses that the people of Israel will indeed be freed from their bondage – they will be freed through the Lord’s own outstretched arm and with His mighty acts of judgement in such a way that Pharaoh will drive them out of the land of Egypt. In our Christian context as we journey through Lent, of course, this can be seen as a metaphor for the slavery that you and I need to be set free from. It is a slavery not to making bricks in the oppressive heat of Egypt, but a much more profound one – the slavery to sin. Time and again, we fall into the trap of disobedience to God’s will, whether by what we have done or what we have failed to do, and as such we fall short of God’s glory, and find ourselves caught up in sin. But our Lenten journey gives us hope, for we have the promise of freedom. Jesus himself offers us the answer to our slavery to sin. And that answer is through looking to Him and His overcoming of the power of sin and death on the wood of the cross. And the way in which we do that is through repentance; through confession of our sins, and through our acceptance of the reconciliation that Jesus offers to us. This reconciliation comes through love – the love of a God who offers His own Son on the cross, so that we can be truly freed from our bondage to sin, and live the life of freedom He wills for us as the chosen people of God. The Revd Canon David Arnold, Vicar of the United Benefice of Accrington

The forerunner of Christ

February 25, 2024 • Stephen Jones • Exodus 6:10–27

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 6:10-27 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.’ Exodus 6:11 The taskmasters set over the enslaved people of Israel were probably the Egyptian officials in charge of building operations who, in their turn, dealt with them by using the people’s more promising leaders as foremen. These foremen petitioned Pharaoh for a more righteous consideration of their situation. In response, Pharaoh told them that it is the request of Moses and Aaron that has resulted in a deterioration of their working conditions. For the first time, Moses has experienced the wrath of his own people, something that would become commonplace for him in effecting their deliverance. He finds himself inextricably trapped between the divine command and the anger of the people. He pleads with the Lord for help; and again he is assured that the power of the God of Israel will triumph over Pharaoh. He and Aaron are instructed to go to Pharaoh on behalf of the people. In this passage, we are then given the genealogies of Moses and Aaron. Although Moses and his brother are of the Levitical line, Reuben and Simeon are mentioned first because they are Levi’s older brothers. According to this enumeration, Moses is a fourth generation descendent of Jacob. The list does not claim to mention all the generations of Jacob, and the term ‘son’ is referred to quite loosely to refer to anyone in direct line, whether son, grandson or great-grandson. The type of marriage as the one between Amran and his aunt would be forbidden by later legislation. The progeny of Moses go unmentioned; whereas Eleazar and Korah, the descendants of Aaron, are noted; the former for his priestly role and the latter for his connection with temple ritual. The Lord covenants to establish the children of Israel, just as He established their forefathers. He tells them, through Moses, that He will remove their burdens, rescue them, redeem them, and restore their heritage. Moses is gradually revealed as the forerunner of Christ, a type of Messiah and Deliverer. He will deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, free them from the yoke of Pharaoh and lead them into the Promised Land. The Revd Canon Stephen Jones, Vicar of Christchurch, Carnforth

Just as the Lord commanded

February 26, 2024 • Paul Bye • Exodus 6:28—7:13

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 6:28-7:13 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them’ Exodus 7:6 The film ‘Ground Hog Day’ sees the main character live the date February 2nd over and over again. You might be getting that déjà vu feeling here. As when faced with Israel (4:1) now anticipating Pharaoh, Moses raises the same objections. ‘I won’t be listened to’, ‘I’m no good at speaking’ (6:30). As our reading ends, once again rods turn into snakes (4:4, 7:8). Is God’s story caught on repeat? Despite what it might feel like, the Lord is moving His messenger forward. He meets Moses’ hesitations with a reminder of His control over his speech (7:1). He reminds him of His sovereignty over Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh’s rejection does not catch God by surprise. It is in His plan. Those reassurances cause a significant leap forward. Moses and Aaron obey (7:6). For all the doubts and excuses, the new pattern is to do what the Lord says (7:9). As the brothers step out, the Lord does not let them down. Faced with Pharaoh wanting to discredit them (7:9), it is clear whom the Lord is with. Despite the mysterious ability of the magicians, there is no doubt who the winner is (7:12). We can take encouragement and challenge. The Lord is working obedience in His people. He is shaping in each a desire and decision to do what He says. The fact that Moses took a long time to get there is not an excuse to drag our heels. But it is a reminder that it is better to get there in the end than not at all (see Matthew 21:28-32). The reassurance of God’s presence and evidence that His ways are good and purposes unstoppable give us encouragement to throw our lot in with Moses and Aaron. Might there be an area of obedience in your life which you are hanging back from, making excuses over, or struggling with? Seek the Lord’s help to make today the first day in God’s new direction, one where we do ‘just as the Lord commanded.’ Let us pray: Heavenly Father, give me Your strength and help today that I might live just as You have commanded. Amen. The Revd Paul Bye, Vicar of St Paul's, Ansdell and Fairhaven

Nile to blood

February 27, 2024 • Dan Freeman • Exodus 7:14–25

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Exodus 7:14-25 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘By this you shall know that I am the Lord.’ See, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood.’ Exodus 7:17 The other week, I was swimming when the lifeguard reached behind him and lifted down the pool strainer. He repeatedly used it to fish out something and then discard it from the pool. I don’t know what he removed (and I don’t want to) but nothing has made me want to get out of the water more than that! In our reading today we have something worse. The River Nile is turned to blood and you couldn’t just sieve a bit of it out, it was everywhere. In fact, blood was throughout the whole land of Egypt. The fish couldn’t get out of the Nile and they died. The Egyptians worshipped the Nile for the life and vitality it brought, but in one move God turns it into a source of death. All this came about as judgement from God. Just as the Egyptians had thrown the Hebrew baby boys into the Nile (Exodus 1), so in retribution, the Nile becomes a source of death for the Egyptians. Pharaoh wouldn’t acknowledge God, nor let His people go (7:14) and so the plagues force him to have to do business with the real God. Whenever we see judgement in the Bible, we also see salvation. It is as Pharaoh and his gods are judged that the Israelites are saved and brought to live with the LORD. Easter is a wonderful celebration of salvation through judgment. On the cross Jesus faced the just retribution that we deserve for how we have treated God and how we have treated people made in His image. He was judged so that we might be saved. It is as His blood was poured out, that eternal life spreads to all who trust in Him. The old hymn puts it like this: There is a fountain filled with blood. Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. Today what gods will we go to for rescue? We can go to the Nile, a picture of wealth and prosperity, or to Pharaoh a picture of power and status. Or we can go to Jesus crucified in weakness to rescue those who humbly admit they need to be washed clean. The Revd Dan Freeman, Vicar of St James’, Chorley