Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 99, Exodus 26-28
“Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
Exodus 28:1-2 ESV
I loved reading Exodus 28 about the special garments the Lord commanded for Aaron and his sons to wear as His chosen priests. It reminded me of the special armor that we are charged to wear in Ephesians 6:10-20. And I was reminded of this throne room scene that John described in Revelation 5.
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:1-10 ESV
Heavenly Father, you have made us priests by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with a price, a costly price. I pray that we would serve you all the days of our life, living holy and godly lives, dressed in the righteousness of Your Son, the only One who is worthy. In His Name we Pray, Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 98, Exodus 25
“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.”
Exodus 25:2 ESV
The Lord had provided for the Israelite people by turning the hearts of the Egyptians to give to them. Now the Lord is asking the Israelites to give to Him. They had freely received, and now they are being asked to freely give.
Sometimes (oftentimes) it’s hard to give.
We feel like our lives and our things belong to us, forgetting that everything that we have is a gift from God, our good Father, the giver of every good gift. We forget that we are merely stewards of our time, talents, treasures and testimonies.
I was reminded of a beautiful passage in 2 Corinthians 9 when Paul was taking up a collection for some needy believers. Let’s take these words to heart – not merely listening to the Word, but doing what it says.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ESV
Heavenly Father, You have given to me so abundantly. I have more than I need. I have more food and more clothing and more home than I need. I have more free time than I need. You have blessed me with a husband who loves me and four incredible children as well as a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law and two little granddaughters. Thank you, Lord! I pray that I would be generous with all of these good gifts. Help me also to be generous with sharing my testimony and the truth of the Word that I have stored up as treasure in my heart. You have been so, so generous to me. Give me the strength to be generous toward others as a gift of gratitude to You. Inthe name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 97, Exodus 24
And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Exodus 24:6-8 ESV
I imagine myself as one of those people, standing there in shock as Moses sacrifices those animals, throwing half of their blood onto the altar but saving half of it in a basin.
I imagine myself wondering, “What’s he going to do with all that blood he’s saving in that basin?”
Then, I imagine myself listening to Moses reading a long list of rules of what I should and shouldn’t do – that I must never curse or hit my parents, that I must make restitution to my neighbor if I ever lose or damage something that I borrow from him, that I must be kind to the stranger dwelling in my midst, and so on and so on. So many more rules given by a holy, holy God.
I would hear Moses read all those warnings about the consequences of these sins – many times that consequence being death – and I’d really, really want to obey.
I’m sure that I would’ve shouted with the crowd, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” I would want to obey God. I would.
And then I imagine my shock as Moses puts his hand into that basin full of blood and proceeds to throw it, handful by handful, cup by cup, upon me and the people standing on either side of me, behind me and in front of me.
I imagine the stench. The stickiness. The blood red stain on my garments.
These animals had given their lifeblood that I might enter into a covenant of blood with the holy Almighty God of the universe. And I’d want to obey.
But ultimately just being afraid of punishment, even punishment of death, is never enough to truly stop a person from sinning. It didn’t work on me as a kid and it didn’t work on any of my kids, either. (Well, I guess I never threatened them with death…)
Punishment is definitely a deterrent and without it, an entire society can quickly get out of control. The rampant crime and immorality so prevalent in our culture today certainly bears witness to that, but it’s not failsafe. No threat of punishment, no matter how severe, can ever fully stop a person from sinning.
We think we can hide it. We think no one will find out. We act irrationally and impulsively in a moment, overcome by emotion. And we fall.
Thanks be to the Lord for the Messiah, the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb who was promised before the foundation of the world. The One who was slain in our place, whose blood fully covers the sin of His children.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the blood. Thank You for the Lamb who was slain to take away the sin of the world, my own sin. Thank You for Your holiness that causes me to fear You, that I would not want to sin. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Divine Exchange by Charity Gayle
Ray Comfort Will Never Forget This Amazing Conversation!
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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 96; Exodus 21-23
“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:12 ESV
“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:15 ESV
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:16 ESV
“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:17 ESV
“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.” Exodus 21:28-29 ESV
“Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.” Exodus 22:19 ESV
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.” Exodus 22:21-24 ESV
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 ESV
Death. Death. Death. The wages of sin is death.
We all deserve death.
Jesus, the innocent Lamb, was condemned to die in my place. He paid my fine.
It is finished. Praise God. It is finished.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your holy, innocent, perfect Son to die in my place, to ransom me from my slavery to sin and rescue me out of the death sentence that had justly been charged to my account. All I can say is, Thank You. Thank You for the cross.
I am Barabbas – Josiah Queen
Living Waters Ministry: There’s a Reason this Man was Super Open to the Gospel
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 95, Exodus 20
Have you ever tried to memorize the Ten Commandments but struggled to remember them all? I have, too! I found myself always forgetting at least one until someone taught me this song. I actually learned the hand motions somewhere else, so I put the two of them together.
As you’ll soon find out I’m not the best singer, but that’s never stopped me from singing. 🙂 Hope it blesses you anyway.
Heavenly Father, You are a good Father. You give us rules for our good. Make us holy as You are holy. Show us the way of escape when we feel tempted. Hide us behind the cross where Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Now send us out to share the way of salvation with the lost, making captives of sin into disciples of Christ. By Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.
Ten Commandments Song with Hand Motions
Living Waters, Ray Comfort: “Watch His Hostility Lift with the Gospel”
City Alight – Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
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Read though the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 94, Exodus 18-19
After many days traveling, the Israelites find themselves in the wilderness of Sinai, and they camp at the foot of Mount Sinai where God meets with Moses. The Lord tells Moses to speak to the people of Israel these words,
“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Exodus 19:4-6a
Though I don’t have the blood of Abraham running through my veins, I have the faith of Abraham running through my heart. These verses reminded me of 1 Peter 2, where the Lord extends this beautiful promise to all of His children, both Jew or Gentile.
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:4-10 ESV
Oh, Heavenly Father, Thank You for calling me that I might taste and see that You are indeed good, so very, very good. Though I once rejected that Living Stone, that stone of stumbling and rock of offense, Jesus Christ, Your Son chosen and precious, You intervened and changed the whole course of my life.
Thank You for making each and every one of Your children a vital member of a chosen race, royal priesthood, and holy nation, the family of God. Thank You for giving us mercy, though we deserved Your wrath. We love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 93, Exodus 16-17
“Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Exodus 17:8-16 ESV
There are so many things I can learn from this short passage.
1. God calls different people at different times to different tasks. Joshua and his soldiers were to go down and actively fight in the battle, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur were to go up on top of the mountain and fight in prayer. Each one of us are responsible to do whatever God has called us to do. Beware of looking at the brother or sister next to you and thinking, “Why aren’t you on the front lines of this fight?” Moses obeyed God when he led the Israelites through the Red Sea, and Moses obeyed God when he went on a mountain to pray.
2. Aaron and Hur’s supporting roles were vital to Moses’s success. Just like Jesus sent out his followers two by two (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1), God sent Aaron and Hur to help Moses in the fight – not by standing next to Moses holding up their own arms, but standing next to Moses holding up his arms. If you’ve been called to lead, don’t minimize your need for sisters and brothers to partner with you. But if you’ve been called to provide support, don’t minimize the essential nature of your role! Your leaders need your prayers, your encouragement, and your partnership in the fight! I’m personally so thankful for those faithful sisters who pray for me, who speak encouraging words to me, and who walk next to me in this daily battle.
3. Our battle’s victory is ultimately won (or lost) in the spiritual realm. There are real battles being fought – both in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm – but the victory is in the Lord’s hands.
Some physical battles here on earth will be lost. Your loved one might lose their fight with cancer. Your marriage might end against your will. Your child might fail that class or lose that friendship.
We can trust that the battle belongs to the Lord. No one and no thing can thwart His plans. Sometimes all that we can do is pray and wait with our hands raised and our knees bowed, but that is where the real power lies.
The Israelites didn’t win the war because they had a better army. They won the war because the Lord had ordained the victory. So, whether the physical battle is won or lost, the battle belongs to the Lord.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV
Heavenly Father, the battle belongs to you. The victory belongs to you. It is not by our own might but by your spirit that the battle will be won. Help us to trust You when the earthly battles we are fighting don’t go the way we want them to. You are our banner. You are who goes before us and fights for us. Help us to trust you in all things and to pray to You faithfully. Help us to help each other – lifting one another’s arms, remembering that the fervent prayers of a righteous person are powerful and avail much. In the Powerful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 92, Exodus 14-15
The Israelites are finally fleeing Egypt after watching God repeatedly pouring out His judgment on the Egyptians. He has proven to them again and again that He makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. (Exodus 11:7) And yet, God has led His people right up to the edge of the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s army, including at least six hundred chariots, is on their heels.
“And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.””
Exodus 14:10b-12 ESV
Poor Moses. Doesn’t your heart just break for him? Leading is hard work. When the people following you are happy, that’s great, but what about when the “sheep are restless,” when they’re arguing and complaining and blaming you for everything? But, God. God is growing Moses’s faith, too. Listen to how Moses replies to the Israelites.
“And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.””
Exodus 14:13-14 ESV
And He does…. And He uses Moses to do it. Moses is the Lord’s chosen vessel. Moses is who God has called to lift his arms that the Lord would drive back the sea that the Israelites could walk through on dry land … and to lower his arms that the water covered the chariots and the horsemen and the whole host of Pharaoh’s army. (Exodus 14:21, 26-29)
“Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”
Friends, God had purpose for His servant Moses, and God has purpose for You. The good works He has prepared for you may not look like Moses’s, but God has purpose for you nonetheless. (Ephesians 2:10)
And sometimes doing those very things that God wants you to do is going to result in persecution, ridicule, or disagreement.
Your boss might not like the high standard of honesty and integrity that you are determined to maintain. Keep it anyway.
Your kids might not like what you’re telling them to do. Tell them anyway.
Your parents may not agree with you even when you speak in the most humble, loving. honest way. Be willing to risk it for Him.
God’s ways aren’t always easy. Sometimes being His vessel is incredibly joyous, exciting, and totally awesome, but sometimes being His vessel gets you thrown in a well or a prison. Either way, it’s an honor and a privilege to be a servant of the living God.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, What an honor it is to be love and used by You. It is glorious to be Your workmanship, to know that the God who put the stars in place calls me by name. As You had special purposes for Moses, You have a special purpose for me. Please lead me and guide me. Give me the wisdom and hunger for righteousness that I need to follow You fully. I love You, Lord. I want to follow You on that straight and narrow path all the days of my life. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and my Lord, I pray. Amen.
Turn Your Eyes – The Glorious Christ Live – Sovereign Grace
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 ESV)
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39 ESV)
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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 91, Exodus 13
Over my almost 30 years of motherhood, I’ve had countless opportunities to make decisions that my children don’t understand.
Sweetheart, put on your shoes and socks right now and go collect the chicken eggs.
Honey, grab your backpack and stick it in the car. We’re going to need it later.
Hey, sweetie, hurry and finish up your chores. We have to leave in five minutes.
Maybe I know something that we have planned for later that day which my children are unaware of or maybe I’m looking at a bigger, longer-term goal that my children just aren’t ready to understand. Whatever the reason may be, I want my children to obey “promptly, cheerfully, and completely.” I want them to trust my judgment. I want their first response to be obedience, rather than debate. I want their initial thought to be, “My mom’s pretty good at this mom-stuff, I ought to do what she says,” rather than, “Why is my mom always telling me what to do? Can’t she just leave me alone?”
I was thinking about this as I read about God leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.”
Exodus 13:17-18 ESV
God knows men’s hearts, and God knows the future. In His perfect wisdom, He always knows what is best. He always has purpose in the path that He choses for His children. Sometimes He wants us to walk through the darkest valleys, and sometimes He wants us to joyously dance over the mountains, but either way His purposes are goodand He is worthy of our trust.
Let’s pray.
Oh Lord God, You are good and perfect in all Your ways. Help me to trust You. Help me to follow You promptly, cheerfully, and completely, even when I don’t understand, especially when I don’t understand. May I have unwavering faith because You are an unwavering God. You always keep Your promises. When the way looks dark and scary, help me reach out my hands to You and trust that You are there. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Good Shepherd, we pray, Amen.
All of our Tomorrows – Sovereign Grace
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 90, Exodus 12:29-50
I love the end of Exodus 12 where the Lord explains to Moses that strangers can join in with the congregation of Israel by choosing to be circumcised. It may not be easy, but it can be done. God has always had a heart for the nations, and He always will. Do we?
“If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
(Exodus 12:48-49 ESV)
“You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” – Acts 3:25
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’” – Galatians 3:8
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” – Colossians 3:11
Heavenly Father, I pray for the nations of the world to know You and to worship at Your feet. I pray that You would use each of us to share the gospel with those in our corner of the world … and around the world. Make us heralds and ambassadors of the good news. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
“And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'” – Rev 15:3-4 ESV
Revelation 15:3-4 – All Nations will Come and Worship God! Scripture in a Dozen Languages!
Psalm 90 – The Worship Initiative Shane and Shane
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