Doyle Smith Daily

 Exodus 13:21-22 (ESV) Originally published 03/05/2015  The people of Israel had no plans and no idea how they were to get to Canaan. "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from them before the people" Exodus 13:21-22 (ESV). Our God knows where he wants us to go and what he wants us to do. He goes ahead of us and never leaves his people. Sometimes I think it would be good to have something as visible as a cloud or fire to guide me, but a cloud or fire cannot communicate with me. Lord, I praise and thank you for your spiritual presence in me to show me how I need to change and what I need to do. Lord, I praise you that you know where you are leading me.  Help me to be sensitive to you and obedient to whatever you tell me

 Exodus 13:17 (ESV) Originally published 03/04/2015  God has reasons for the way he leads us. "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'" Exodus 13:17 (ESV). Sometimes I get impatient when God does not get things done as fast as I think he should. But this Scripture shows us that God is not always so interested in how fast we reach the destination as he is in developing our character. Lord, this past two weeks things have not worked out as I planned, and it has discouraged me. Help me to be more concerned about obedience and submission to you than what I am able to accomplish.

 Exodus 13:14-15 (ESV) Originally published 03/03/2015 God's plan for passing on our faith … "And when in time to come your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the first born in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the wombs, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem'" Exodus 13:14-15 (ESV). As our children see us as parents and grandparents read the Bible, worship, pray, turn the other cheek, give money to God, return good for evil, we are to explain why we do these things so they see why we submit our lives to God. It is not the task of the church or government to pass our faith on to our children. Lord, as a father and grandfather guide me to live a life of submission to you and alert...

 Exodus 13:11-13 (ESV) Originally published 03/02/2015 Because God saved Israel from slavery, he wanted them to know they belonged to him. He said: "When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD's. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem" Exodus 13:11--13 (ESV). They had to buy back their first sons from God to remind them that they belonged to God. Lord, I remind myself that I have been bought by your blood shed on the cross and you "own" me.

 Exodus 13:3 (ESV) Originally published 02/28/2015 It was not enough that God delivered his people from slavery: "Then Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day in which you came out from 'Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place" Exodus 13:3 (ESV). Lord, I remember that my "Exodus" started before I was born. It started when you died on the cross to provide forgiveness of my sin and to deliver me from the power of Satan. From the time I was a boy I committed my life to you, and you have guided me to save me from the Devil's temptations and power. You have guided me and empowered me to make choices that have given me a life far above what I ever imagined. Today, I remember my "Exodus" and how you have set me free to live. All honor and praise to you my savior!

 Exodus 12:29 (ESV) Originally published 02/26/2015  God told Pharaoh that if he did not let the Israelites leave, the first born of all the people and animals would die, but Pharaoh did not believe it. "At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of all livestock" Exodus 12:29 (ESV). We look at Pharaoh and think that he was stupid. But almost everybody knows about Hell and judgment, but they don't think that God will send them there, even though he has made it clear that everyone who does not submit to live under his authority will be sent to Hell. Lord, give me a passion to tell people the truth about what is coming. Guide me to those you want to warn and give me boldness to speak to them.

 Exodus 12:27-8 (ESV) Originally published 02/25/2015 Moses told the people of Israel that the LORD was going to pass through Egypt and destroy all of the first-born of people and animals. If they would kill a lamb and put the blood on doorposts and lintels of their houses their homes would not be struck. "And all the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did” Exodus 12:27-8 (ESV). It is amazing that everyone did this. They bowed their heads and worshiped God, which means they acknowledged his authority over them. Lord, it is not that I don't always know what to do. Sometimes I put it off and never get it done, and sometimes it just doesn't seem that urgent. Today, help me worship you by obeying you as if my life depended on obedience, which it does.

 Exodus 10:1-3(ESV) Originally published 02/19/2015 God had brought seven plagues on Egypt, but still Pharaoh would not do what God asked of him. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.' So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews', 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go that they may serve me'" Exodus 10:1-3 (ESV). God wanted to get his people out of Egypt, but the greater issue was that he wanted the Israelites and Egyptians to be convinced that he alone was the ruler of the universe and to have them all submit to his authority. Most of our problems are the direc...

 Exodus 8:25-26,28,30-32(ESV) Originally published 02/18/2015 The plague of flies was so troublesome that Pharaoh wanted it to stop, but he didn't want to do what God demanded. "Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, 'Go, sacrifice to your God within the land. But Moses said, 'It would not be right to do so,... ' So Pharaoh said, 'I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.' ... So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go" Exodus 8:25-26,28,30-32 (ESV). Negotiating with God is a person's effort to control God. Lord, give me the trust in you that whatever you ask, no matter how hard it seems, I will obey you.

Exodus 8:21-22 (ESV) Originally published 02/17/2015 God wants to show his power by the difference between how he treats his people and those who do not belong to him. He was sending a plague of flies on Egypt: "I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth” Exodus 8:21-22 (ESV). Lord, may all who know me see your hand on my life, and never let me take credit for what you have done in me or through me so that through my life people would know that you are the LORD

 Exodus 8:8,15 (ESV) Originally published 02/16/2015 God sent a plague of frogs on the Egyptians to show them that he was the ruler of the universe and to get Pharaoh to honor him. "Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, 'Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.'...But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said'" Exodus 8:8,15(ESV). Sometimes people turn to God when they are in trouble and make promises to obey God, but when the trouble is over, they forget the promises. Lord, reveal to me my motives. Do I do what I do because I acknowledge you as Lord of my life or to get your blessings?

 Exodus 7:21-23 (ESV) Originally published 02/14/2015 God wanted Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt to go to Canaan, but he refused. God turned all the water in Egypt to blood. "There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart" Exodus 7:21-23 (ESV). I think that this would have gotten my attention. When you are praying for someone to trust Christ with their life and terrible things happen to them, you think they will obey Christ for help, but often they don't. Lord, help me to be patient and not to give up on people who do not respond to you as I think they should.

 Exodus 7:10-12(ESV) Originally published 02/13/2015 To demonstrate his power and authority God told Aaron to throw his staff on the ground. "Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs" Exodus 7:10-12 (ESV). Satan has great power, but whatever evil or trouble he brings on the followers of Christ, we have to believe that God will give us the victory.  Lord, I live in the middle of this great battle between Satan and you, and sometimes the wickedness of Satan is overwhelming. Help me to live with the confidence and peace that comes from trust in your mighty power.

 Exodus 7:1-5 (ESV) Originally published 02/12/2015  This is how God does his work in our world: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them'" Exodus 7:1-5 (ESV). When we are witnesses to what God has done or tell someone what we know God wants us to tell them, we may seem like God to them, but it is God who gives us the words and who brings the results. Lord, it ...

 Exodus 6:10-12 (ESV) Originally published 02/11/2015  Moses delivered God's message to Pharaoh and the Israelites, but both ignored him. "So the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in, tell Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to let the people of Israel go out of his land.' But Moses said to the LORD, 'Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?'" Exodus 6:10-12 (ESV) Moses was still focused on his ability and results that he expected, instead of obedience. He was trusting himself and his ability, not the power and wisdom of God. The more he obeyed God and saw the power of God at work, the more faith he had so that later in life he never acted this way, looking at his own abilities or lack. Lord, help me to grow in knowing what you want me to say and do and to judge my life by obedience, not by my ability or what results I expect.

 Exodus 6:6-9 (ESV) Originally published 02/12/2015  The Israelites were in harsh slavery, and God wanted to encourage them. He told Moses: "Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.' Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery" Exodus 6:6-9 (ESV). As followers of Christ we get discouraged and depressed because we live looking at the present instead of the promises God has made. Lor...

 Exodus 5:22-23 (ESV) Originally published 02/09/2015  Sometimes, when we obey God, things get worse instead of better. When Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, he made their lives worse. "Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, 'O lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all'" Exodus 5:22-23(ESV). Serving God requires that we focus on obedience, not results. Lord, help me to know for certain what you want me to say and do. Then I will never have to worry about the outcome or think of what could go wrong. Give me the courage to trust you more.

 Exodus 4:14-15 (ESV) Originally published 02/07/2015 God told Moses to deliver his message to Pharaoh, but Moses asked God to send someone else. "Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, 'Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well...You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do' “ Exodus 4:14-15 (ESV). God shows us two things about himself: he gets angry when we do not trust him enough to obey, and he may not change his plans, but he does sometimes change his methods when we refuse to obey him. Lord, give me the faith and courage to obey you that I would not make you angry or stand in the way of your plans.

 Exodus 4:12-13 (ESV) Originally published 02/06/2015 Moses said he did not want to obey God because he wasn't skilled at speaking, but the real reason became clear: God told Moses to tell Pharaoh his message. '"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.' But he said, 'Oh, my Lord, please send someone else'" Exodus 4:12-13 (ESV). God never asks us to do something that he has not provided everything that we need to get it done. When I don't do what God puts in my mind to do because of lack of skill, time, or money, I am really telling God I don't trust him. Lord, when you put it in my mind to do something that will help your Kingdom or people, remind me that it is a test as to whether or not I have faith in you. Help me to obey immediately

 Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV) Originally published 02/05/2015  God told Moses to take his message to Pharaoh: "But Moses said to the LORD, 'Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue,' Then the LORD said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak'" Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV). God didn't tell Moses that he was wrong about his abilities, but that Moses was ignoring God's power. If we know God wants us to do something, we have to ignore our real fears and trust his wisdom and power. Lord, forgive me for disobedience because of my fear of failure. When something comes to my mind to do for you or others, I immediately think of what could go wrong. Give me to courage to trust you more.

 Exodus 4:9 (ESV) Originally published 01/31/2015 God told Moses not to give up telling the message he had given him to say. God said he would show them his power by turning a stick into a snake and then back into a stick. He would give Moses leprosy and heal it. God said: "If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to our voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground" Exodus 4:9 (ESV). It is God's job to convince people that what we tell them is true, and we keep on telling them what God tells us to say. Lord, help me to focus on doing what you tell me to do and say and not on the results. Don't let me give up on anyone that you are trying to save.

 Exodus 4:1-4 (ESV) Originally published 01/30/2015 God told Moses to tell the king of Egypt to release his Hebrew slaves. "Then Moses answered, 'But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.' The LORD said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' He said, 'A staff.’ And he said, 'Throw it on the ground.' So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the LORD said to Moses, 'Put out your hand and catch it by the tail'----so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand" Exodus 4:1-4 (ESV) Moses was right when he saw only his human abilities, but he failed to account for the power of God. Lord, when I prepare to speak, or you tell me to talk to someone, I immediately think that what I have to say will not make a difference. Remind me that when I obey you, your unlimited power will make the words life- changing.

 Exodus 3:21-22 (ESV) Originally published 01/29/2015  Sometimes the promises of God seem impossible. God told Moses not only would Pharaoh let the Israelite slaves go free, but: "And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians" Exodus 3:21-22 (ESV). I am sure it was hard enough for the Israelite to believe that they would be set free from slavery, let alone that those who beat them would give them silver, gold, and clothes; but it happened just as God said it would! Lord, it is hard for me to believe some of the promises that you make can happen to me, so when I read them and doubt, remind me of this story where you do things too good to be true.

 Exodus 3:18-20 (ESV) Originally published 01/28/2015  "...and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go" Exodus 3:18-20 (ESV). What appeared to be a failed mission was instead God’s loving effort to help Egypt avoid the disaster of the plagues. Lord, help me not to judge my success by the immediate result of what you ask me to do, but by my complete obedience to you. 

 Exodus 3:13-14 (ESV) Originally published 01/27/2015  Moses needed to know what authority he had to do what God asked of him. "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?' 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 " Exodus 3:13-14 (ESV).  Egypt had many gods, but this was the one God that made all that exists. Lord, thank you for reminding me who you are. With one word you could make the whole universe disappear as if it never existed. How can I ever worry about anything when I am obeying you?

 Exodus 3:9-10 (ESV) Originally published 01/26/2015 God said to Moses: "'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. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.' But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?' 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'" Exodus 3:9-12 (ESV.) Everything that God asks us to do is impossible for us unless God is with us. But he never asks us to do anything without him. Lord, remind me of your promise to be with me in everything you ask of me, even though I might not see the sign that you were with me immediately.