June 24

EXODUS 19

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. ¹⁹ And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. ²⁰ The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. – Exodus 19:16-20

EXODUS 19 GOD’S PRESENCE FELT IN MOUNT SINAI

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Moses instructed them to cleanse from their impurities in three days

On the morning of the third day, the mountain was covered by a thick cloud

Then a very loud trumpet blast was heard and they were all trembling

Then Moses presented them to God and they stood at the foot of the mountain

The Lord descended on the mountain on fire and smoke enveloped them

God’s presence was felt and his voice in thunder was heard by his people.

This is a very powerful meeting between God and his people. They didn’t literally see God but the Lord surely made his powerful and glorious presence felt. No one else could have that power to come down in fire and be covered with smoke. God’s love for his people was clearly manifested in this smoke because they would have all died if they directly saw him. Imagine wildfires in the mountains. You could barely see anything because of all the smoke produced by these fires. I am sure you will be totally scared and trembling in fear.  The power of this burning heat that turns into smoke is overwhelming. I remember as a child experiencing a market on fire just beside our house. I could hear the crackling of the fire burning the building and saw the smoke that it produced. It was an unforgettable experience. I can imagine why the Israelites were all trembling. God showed his Almighty Power and Majesty through his Shekeniah (presence of God in the world). His glorious power should remind us how he hates sin and evil and his desire for our holiness as well.

REFLECTION

• How is fear of the Lord very different from the world’s concept of “fear?”

June 11

EXODUS 15

²² Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.²⁴ And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” ²⁵ And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, ²⁶ saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water. – Exodus 15:22-27

EXODUS 15 BITTER WATER MADE SWEET

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

It did not take long for the Israelites to grumble after God’s miracles

It was when they went into the wilderness of Shur and found no water

They came and saw Marah but couldn’t drink of its bitter water

So, the Lord asked Moses to change it to something they can drink

The Lord offered them a promise that if they keep his laws

They will never have any of the diseases that the Egyptians had.

It is human nature to whine and grumble when circumstances become hard. In this case, it was the case of the bitter water for the Israelites. At the beginning, they were very resistant to come and follow Moses. They didn’t want to leave their comfort zones despite their slavery from the Egyptians. So, at the first instance of hardship, they easily complained to Moses.

Despite their groanings, the Lord provided them with sweet water from that bitter water at Marah. The Lord also required them to follow his laws and in turn, they wouldn’t ever have the diseases that the Egyptians were plagued with.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think men automatically complain when things are hard?

May 23

EXODUS 11

⁶ There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. ⁷ But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ ⁸ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”¹⁰ Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land. – Exodus 11:6-10

EXODUS 11 DISTINCTION BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Pharaoh was warned about the death of the firstborn

The Lord tells Moses what will happen to the Egyptians

There will be wailing and mourning for the deaths in each household

But there will be no deaths for firstborns in all the Israelites

The distinction between Egypt and Israel was very clearly made by God

This was done to let the Egyptians know that he is the only true God.

It is so clear how God separates his people from the rest of the ungodly nations. You think that by now, Pharaoh would have changed his mind and let the Israelites go to worship the only One true God, but even his heart is controlled by God himself. He was helpless to save himself from all the plagues, but was shown that through Moses, his request could be made.  This is God’s sovereignty over all things.

When we believe in the One true God, he makes sure that we are separate from the world. Sometimes the world would ridicule us because they do not know the power of the Lord God Almighty. They do not know the truth that sets them free, but his people know.

REFLECTION

• How has God made clear in your life that you are separate from the world?

EXODUS 3

⁹ And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰ Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” ¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” ¹² He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” ¹³ Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” ¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.  – Exodus 3:9-15

EXODUS 3 MOSES’ COMMISION

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Moses saw the burning bush at Mount Horeb

God revealed himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM”

He instructed Moses to go to Pharaoh to release his people

But Moses didn’t think that he is capable to do so.

In this account, we hear God revealing himself to Moses and how he wanted his people and Pharaoh to know who he is, the “I AM WHO I AM.” It is interesting how Moses doubted himself and thought that he cannot do the task of talking to Pharaoh. Sometimes we humans have limiting thoughts that we are unable to do something we have never done before. We forget that if God is asking us to do something, then he would equip us to accomplish the task at hand. We do not have enough understanding that when God asks us something, he already knows that it will be done.

According to some commentaries, Moses was eighty years old when this commission was announced to him. His first forty years were spent in Egypt, the next forty in Midian. The third forty is his time to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt.

REFLECTION

• What commission from God have you been given that you feel uncertain about?

April 18

GENESIS 50

⁷ So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸ as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. ⁹ And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. ¹⁰ When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. ¹² Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, ¹³ for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

                                                                   – Genesis 50:7-14

GENESIS 50 THE BURIAL OF JACOB IN CANAAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Joseph’s body was embalmed by the Egyptian physicians

And they have grieved and mourned for seventy days,

Joseph and all Pharaoh’s servants, his brothers and his household

They all went to bury Jacob as he requested in the field of Macphelah

Because the Canaanites witnessed the grievous mourning of the Egyptians

They called the burial place Abel-mizraim which was beyond the Jordan.

In Genesis 23:9-17 we can recall how Abraham purchased the field of Macphelah to bury Sarah. He was a sojourner, so this was the only place Abraham owned as he followed God’s directive when he needed to move from one place to another until Canaan became their own land as God promised. It was here that Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were also buried (Genesis 49:31). So, it was understandable that Jacob requested that he be buried there as well. The Canaanites witnessed the honorable burial that Jacob was given.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think this burial of Jacob was so honorable?

April 17

GENESIS 50

Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. ² And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. ³ Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.⁴ And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ⁵ ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” ⁶ And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” – Genesis 50:1-6

GENESIS 50 JACOB’S DEATH AND EGYPTIAN BURIAL RITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Jacob blessed all his twelve children, he died

Joseph wept over his beloved father and kissed him

Then he commanded the physicians to embalm his father

It took forty days to embalm the dead in their tradition

They wept seventy days in accordance to their burial rites

Then after that, Joseph asked Pharaoh to bury him in Canaan.

According to ibible.com, in Egypt, during the time of Joseph burial was more than just an event that happened after a person’s death. Egyptians prepare for burial by building their own tombs, designing special jars and undergoing a lengthy embalming process. Egypt’s burial rites held deep cultural significance. No wonder we read from these verses that it took the physicians forty days to embalm Jacob and a total of seventy days to lament over Jacob’s death.

We can see here that Jacob, although not Egyptian, was given an Egyptian burial because of his son Joseph who was an Egyptian ruler. The interesting thing here is how Pharaoh approved that Jacob’s body be buried in Canaan. The Egyptians value the afterlife so much that they wouldn’t ignore the request of the dying.

REFLECTION

• How can we see the fulfillment of God’s promise in this time of Jacob’s death?

March 11

GENESIS 40

Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, ³ and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. ⁴ The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.⁵ And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” ⁸ They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” – Genesis 40:1-8

GENESIS 40 ON INTERPRETING DREAMS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

While Joseph was placed in charge of the other prisoners

The butler and baker were also imprisoned by Pharaoh

Joseph was appointed to be with these other prisoners

Then one day, they both have dreams that they were interpreting

And both the butler and baker wanted their dreams decoded

Joseph reminded them that it is only God who can interpret dreams.

In this account, we see that Joseph was concerned with these two officials of Pharaoh who were also imprisoned like him. But since Joseph had been asked to be in charge of the prisoners, he took the responsibility to be concerned with their well-being. Not many people would actually implement or go over what their roles call for, but we witness Joseph’s genuine concern for others here.

Joseph also brought truth to these two officials by reminding them that it is only God who can truly interpret dreams. So, he had a gentle way of presenting the truth with no judgments or criticisms.

REFLECTION

• How can interpreting dreams by humans be a dangerous thing?

March 8

GENESIS 39

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. ⁷ And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” ⁸ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. ⁹ He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” ¹⁰ And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

                                                                   – Genesis 39:6-10

GENESIS 39 JOSEPH’S INTEGRITY

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As God prospered Joseph in Potiphar’s household

His master’s wife had her eye on his handsome features

She wanted to lay with him but Joseph knew his boundaries

He didn’t want to betray his master’s trust for he had integrity

He knew that it would be displeasing to God and it is wicked

But Potiphar’s wife was relentless to get Joseph with her in bed.

This account is a clear manifestation of God’s presence in Joseph. He was walking with God’s Spirit so he is able to discern what is true and what is right. Without our faithful obedience and loyalty to the Lord, we will always be operating in our sinful nature, but if we are steadfast in our love to God, he will equip us with the strength to resist temptations.

Joseph showed integrity in this relentless pursuit of Potiphar’s wife to have a sexual relation with him. Joseph never forgot how God has blessed him with all the successes and bountiful comfortable life he was given when Potiphar trusted all he had with him.

We also witness the evil spirit living in Potiphar’s wife who wanted to be unfaithful to her husband and take a taste of Joseph. Because she didn’t know God, she lived in lust and a slave to her cravings.

REFLECTION

• Can an ungodly person have integrity? Why or why not?

March 7

GENESIS 39

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. ⁵ From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. ⁶ So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.

                                                                   – Genesis 39:1-6

GENESIS 39 GOD’S AMAZING GRACE ON JOSEPH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the attempted murder by his brothers and being sold into slavery

The Lord God continued to be with Joseph and he served Potiphar

His Egyptian master saw that Joseph was blessed by the Lord

So, he made him overseer of his house and placed him in charge

Because God was with Joseph, everything that he did was blessed

Since Joseph managed his household, Potiphar prospered.

Joseph was envied by his own brothers and was minimized, belittled and mocked by them. Joseph’s story is a perfect example of God’s amazing grace and provision. His life was full of suffering and traumas yet, he never took it personally as a punishment from God. He always knew that it was part of God’s plan. How many of us can think that way? We have a tendency to whine and complain when we get in situations where we are uncomfortable, rejected or minimized. We get angry and retaliate like his brothers did. They plotted to kill and get rid of him because they were uneasy to watch their father’s favorite be given more favor than them. All those hardships and suffering didn’t give Joseph reason to complain. Instead, he acknowledged God’s hand in all that he is going through. Thus, the blessings of the Lord were bountifully poured on him.

REFLECTION

• How did Joseph have that very optimistic viewpoint despite all those abuses?