Doyle Smith Daily

Exodus 34:10 (ESV) Originally published 04/27/2015 This is God's plan for the church. "And he said, 'Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you'" Exodus 34:10 (ESV). God's plan is to take ordinary people joined together in following him and do things among them and through them that will amaze the world around them. The church is the medium through which God wants to show his greatness. Lord, help me to be submissive and obedient so that I will not hinder the awesome things that you want to do through your church.

Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV) Originally published 04/24/2015 Moses went up the mountain and the LORD revealed himself to Moses. "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, 'If now I have found favor in your sight, O lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for your inheritance'" Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV). Moses realized who God was, and he worshiped with no music or sermon. He worshiped by acknowledging the greatness of God, by asking for forgiveness for ...

Exodus 34:1 (ESV) Originally published 04/23/2015 Moses smashed the first copy of the 10 commandments because of his anger at the people of Israel who were worshiping the golden calf. "The LORD said to Moses, 'Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke'" Exodus 34:1 (ESV). God didn't need Moses to make the stone tablets because God could have provided them with the commands already on them. Often when God wants to do something, he demands us to participate, or he will not do it. We have the 10 commandments because Moses worked hard to prepare the tablets. Lord, remind me that I have a part in what you want to do in this world. You have told me that you want to speak to someone through me. I will try to do this today.

Exodus 33:15-17 (ESV) Originally published 04/22/2015 God had told Moses to take the people of Israel to the land he had promised, but he was so upset with them that he would not be among them. "And he (Moses) said to him, (God) 'If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people?' Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people from every other people on the face of the earth?' And the LORD said to Moses, 'this very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name'" Exodus 33:15-17 (ESV).  God changed his mind as the result of Moses' prayer because he knew Moses' name, which means he knew Moses' motive and integrity. Lord, I cannot fool you. You know me better than I know myself. Reveal my real character, motives, and flaws that I might know how to pray. Do not let me ...

Exodus 33:9-11 (ESV) Originally published 04/21/2015 God did not communicate directly to the people of Israel, but he did with Moses when he went into the "tent of meeting." When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" Exodus 33:9-11 (ESV).  Lord, what a wonderful gift your Holy Spirit is to be with your children every minute of the day. You have blessed us beyond what you did for Moses. Remind me to have a running conversation with you from the time I wake up until I go to sleep. I want to discuss every event of my life today with you and experience your wisdom and guidance

Exodus 33:1-3 (ESV) Originally published 04/20/2015 This is a different picture of God than we normally see. "The LORD said to Moses, 'Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring I will give it.' I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people'" Exodus 33:1-3 (ESV). God still was going to do for Israel what he promised, even though he had lost his patience with them. Lord, it is comforting to know that you keep your promises, even when you are frustrated with your people. I get frustrated with myself, and I imagine that you also get frustrated with me. Help me not to be stubborn and resista...

Exodus 32:30-33 (ESV) Originally published 04/18/2015 The people of Israel gave credit to a piece of metal for their deliverance from slavery, instead of recognizing what God did for them. Three thousand were killed as a result. "The next day Moses said to the people, 'You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. ' So Moses returned to the LORD and said, 'Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin---but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.’   But the LORD said to Moses, 'Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book'" Exodus 32:30-33 (ESV). Moses could not confess the sins of the people; each of us has to confess our own sin. God alone determines who is in his book. Lord, you alone can forgive sin. The moment I think, say or do something that is contrary to what you want, shout ...

Exodus 32:26-28a (ESV) Originally published 04/17/2015 The people of Israel gave credit for what God did to a piece of metal. We know God to be patient, just, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. At the same time, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished, whatever the cost. "...then Moses stood on the gate of the camp and said, 'Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. And he said to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.' And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses..." Exodus 32:26-28a (ESV). A deadly spiritual plague had to be eliminated before it destroyed the people of Israel. God will do whatever it takes to save us from sin, even to die on the cross. Lord, remind me constantly how deadly rebellion against you really is, and gi...