Devotional Thoughts

Exodus 8:16-19    "And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said." There is a wonderful consistency in the things the LORD does. We sometimes read it without it impacting us as it should. With every action that Moses undertook in the name of the LORD it began with “And the LORD said (or spake) unto Moses.” Although Moses was responsible for doing as the LORD commanded him, Mos

Exodus 8:12-15    "And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said."   Moses demonstrated great trust in God when he told Pharaoh to choose the time when the frogs would be destroyed (Exodus 8:9-10). Moses also showed great compassion when he agreed to pray to the LORD on Pharaoh’s and Egypt’s behalf. His attitude could just as easily have been “Why should I pray for you to be delivered when you have enslaved my brothers and sisters?” Finally, he showed great faithfulness in going out from Pharaoh and praying for him as he promised. Moses did not wait for the appointed hour to begin to

Isaiah 9:2    "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." It is difficult, to say the least, to walk in a straight line while in total darkness.  My sixth grade elementary class went to Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend, Tn. I remember them taking us into this large opening and then turning the lights out. I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. I remember being afraid to even move while in that darkness.  I certainly was glad when they turned the lights back on. I am at the age now that I dread having to get up in the middle of the night and try to find my way in the darkness. There are a couple of "points of light" that I fix my eyes upon and then I can stumble my way back to bed.  One such point is a little blue light that shows a vacuum cleaner is charging. But in the darkness, that tiny blue light gives enough direction and hope that I can aim my

Exodus 8:5-11    "And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee,

Isaiah 8:17-20    "And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.  (18)  Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.  (19)  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?  (20)  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." As a reminder, so far in the past couple chapters, we have seen the Lord made a promise and instructed the people to believe Him. Even though they would not ask, God gave them a sign which would come to pass 700 years later. As they were waiting, they were instructed not to make an alliance with the world. And now they are making a commitment: "I will wait upon the Lord ... and I wil