Day 36 Fear Changes Faces Month 2 Week 6 Day 1

Today’s reading (Bible in 1 year) links to readings at bottom of page


Exodus 1,2

Psalm 32

Isaiah 29:17-24

Matthew 23:13-39


It’s been about 350 years since Jacob (Israel) arrived in Egypt and the cast of characters has changed. Pharaoh had passed on and the kings (Pharaoh’s) who reigned in his place started to fear Israel. God caused Israel’s numbers to grow so that Pharaoh said “The sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.”  They made the people of Israel slaves.  Pharaoh attempted to control their numbers by telling the Hebrew midwives to kill all male Hebrew babies as they were born.  Later on in Exodus, we’ll see the plan fails for Pharaoh.


I was bullied as a child and I’m sure you who are reading this may also have been bullied or been the bully.  Some of us have been both.  I remember 1 bully named Gary constantly chased me around the school yard in grade 2 and I was scared.  I felt so humiliated from being bullied that I needed to bully someone else to feel superior so I picked on Wiley.  Wiley was smaller than me so he was an easy target.  I regretted that and knew it was wrong.  However, it made me feel superior.  Thank goodness, as I got older Gary became a friend and we both grew out of bullying and Wiley and I also became friends.  


Bullying was a response to fear.  It was fear for me, and it was fear for Pharoah.  For Pharaoh, he was “the KING” and a leader must look powerful.  He chose to control what he feared and therefore enslaved the people of Israel.  


Just as Pharaoh tried to control the Israelites, the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, tried to control the Israelites.  Jesus’ response to the religious leaders?   “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”


It’s simple.  We can’t just give money to the church or charity and say we’ve done what we can for the Kingdom.  He wants all of us.  We are Jesus' hands and feet.  We can participate.  That means Jesus wants us to Go and Do.  Feet are made for walking and hands are made for doing.


The task of a Jesus follower is to bring justice, have mercy and be faithful to Jesus and what he’s called us to.


So, Stand in the gap!  Protect those who are being treated unjustly, be merciful, love others and be faithful to Jesus.  It sure sounds like a common theme.


Love your neighbour as yourself. Who is your neighbour? Anyone you meet who is in need of mercy and help.


Have a great day.


Steve


Exodus 1,2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%201%2C2&version=NASB1995

Psalm 32 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 29:17-24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2029%3A17-24&version=NASB1995

Matthew 23:13-39 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023%3A13-39&version=NASB1995


 

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