Stand Firm and You Will See

Today's Reading: Exodus 14:5-28

How often are you tempted to give up? You think that life or work or family or whatever just shouldn't be this hard, so you decide to quit. Let someone else handle it. Or not.

This is where we find the Israelites. They have lived through the plagues and all the back and forth with Pharaoh. God has shown His faithfulness to them and protected them during the worst plague of all. Pharaoh has told them to leave and off they go, carting a bunch of Egyptian loot with them too.

And then Pharaoh changes his mind again.

He races after the Israelites and as soon as they see him coming, the whining and complaining begins. Moses has only brought us out here to the desert to die. We'd have been better off to stay in Egypt. And on and on.

They have joyfully set off on their journey and at the first sign of trouble, they are ready to quit. Just turn around and go "home." Until Moses tells them in verse 13, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." 

You know, sometimes when we are tempted to quit, we just need to stand firm. We just need to hang on a little longer. We just need to wait on the Lord's deliverance. 

How do we know whether to turn back or stand firm? What was the last direction God gave you? Was it to march forward? Then march. Moses is telling the Israelites that unless God changes their direction, they need to keep on marching, regardless of what is bringing up the rear. The principle holds true for us too...don't stop just short of the Lord's deliverance. 

Rather, stand firm and you will see.

- Holly Barrett

Don't Mess with God's Children

Today's Reading: Exodus 12:21-30

Living alone can sometimes be a scary proposition. Things really do go bump in the night and sometimes that kinda freaks me out. Most of the time however, I'm not afraid of living alone. I feel confident in the neighborhood where I live, the locks on my doors, the security lights around the perimeter of my house, and the good-heartedness of most people. More importantly, there is the protection of God that fills me with peace as I lock the doors each night, turn out the lights, and crawl under the covers.

In Exodus 12, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorways with the blood of their Passover lamb. The final plague was about to be enacted on the Egyptians who would lose all their firstborn children. The blood was a physical identification with the Lord so that as He swept through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He would "pass over" the Hebrews homes and their children would be spared. There must have been great peace for them knowing that God had given them a way to identify with Him and thus protect their families from the calamity that was to come.

I often think about this story when I open my front door. I have the sign to the right hanging on my door. It's not at all the same thing as the Passover blood the Hebrews used...and there is nothing mystical or magical about this plaque. But I pray that God's spirit pervades my home and that it is a place of peace and acceptance for all who step through the door.

And I do like to think that it may give Satan pause to consider before he thinks about wreaking havoc on my home. If it doesn't, then I guess he is taking his well-being into his own hands. I'm pretty certain my Father doesn't like for His children to be messed with!

- Holly Barrett

Do You Have the Shoe Gene?

Today's Reading: Exodus 3:1-10

I love shoes. All you have to do is look at my closet to see that. I love boots in the winter, strappy sandals in the summer, flip flops when I'm all casual, and pretty princess shoes when it is time to dress up. Frankly, I've rarely met a shoe I couldn't figure out a way to love.

When I was a little girl and got new shoes, I always slept with them. Yep, right there, on the bed, next to my pillow. That should have been a sign of the trouble ahead! I've even been known to buy a pair of shoes that I fell in love with and then had to go buy an outfit to wear with them.

Seriously...I love shoes.

When my daughter was a teenager and received any monetary gift, she would always ask me, "Can I go buy a pair of shoes?" Always.

And don't get either one of us started on the shoes they make for tiny tots these days! We've bought so many cute ones that my grandson is pretty enamored with shoes too. Evidently this shoe gene can be passed down to your offspring.

Photo Courtesy of Hannah Kallenbach

Moses had an interesting occurrence with shoes one day. In our reading today he comes across the burning bush and God tells him to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. Thinking that was an odd request, I began to ponder why God asked Moses to remove those shoes. It occurred to me that Moses' shoes represented three things in his life.

First they represented the sin of the world. Unless you only wear your shoes inside, they get pretty dirty. We get pretty dirty living out here in the world sometimes too. Moses had sinned, just like we do. So he needed to get rid of sin to be able to step into the presence of God.

Moses' shoes also represented the tools of his trade. His shoes protected his feet in the hot desert. He had other tools that he used as a shepherd too. But when God called him into His service, Moses was going to need tools that he had never seen before. So he had to lay aside the tools he was used to using and allow God to supply all that he would need.

Finally, Moses' shoes represented his own ability and self-reliance. Moses had been a shepherd for a number of years. He knew his job and did it well. Now God was calling him to go places and do things that he would not be able to do in his own power. So he had to move out of his comfort zone and allow God to work through him.

This is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament, and not just because of the tie-in to shoes! It just really challenges me to examine my life for unconfessed sin, my reliance on God, and my acceptance of God's empowerment. Thankfully Moses didn't have the shoe gene. He readily took those shoes off and went where God told him to go.

And despite my strong shoe gene, I pray I will do the same thing.

- Holly Barrett

50:20 Vision

Today's Reading: Genesis 15:20-21

I have very poor vision. Went into glasses at the age of eight. Contacts at 15. Added reading glasses at the age of, er, um, well, just sometime after that! Without the contacts, things come into focus just a few inches from my face. Reading glasses will extend that vision for another foot or so...depending on the type size.

Suffice it to say that I don't have 20/20 vision. Not even close.

Joseph's brothers were afflicted with a similar problem. At the end of Genesis we find that Joseph's brothers have had to come to Egypt to get food. Joseph recognizes them but they have can't see what is standing right in front of them - their brother. Once Joseph reveals himself they are worried that he will want to exact his revenge for all that they had done to him a lifetime ago.

Thankfully Joseph is more farsighted than that and he told them,

“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

This is what I've often heard referred to as 50:20 vision. Joseph took the long view of his life and recognized how God had cared for him, provided for him, and used him in the land of Egypt...even placing him in the exact spot he would need to be in order to help his brothers and their families. No need to hold a grudge when you are looking through God's eyes.

Let's all pray today that regardless of how we can see with our eyes (with or without help!), we are able to develop 50:20 vision...that we will be able to see past the end of our own noses. That we will look for ways that God is going ahead of us and preparing to use us. And that we will rejoice in seeing all that He has done in our lives.

- Holly Barrett

A Change of Perspective

Today's Reading: Genesis 41:14-40

As we begin today's reading, Joseph's life has changed a bit from our last glimpse of him. He's been sold into slavery, landed in Egypt, risen to a place of prominence in Potiphar's household, accused of something he didn't do, thrown in jail, and forgotten by some folks he helped who promised to return the favor.

Pharaoh then had a couple of dreams that no one could explain to him. At which point, Joseph comes back into the picture as he is brought to Pharaoh to interpret the dreams. Remember, Joseph is pretty good at the dream thing...he had a couple of dreams himself that helped land him in a predicament that took years to unwind.

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." And Joseph replied, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

What an interesting change of perspective for Joseph. As a young man in his father's house, he had two dreams of his own that he was quick to tell his brothers about, almost boasting in the implication that he knew their interpretation which was great for him and not so much for them. But now he tells Pharaoh that only God can interpret dreams. Sounds like he has learned his lesson.

This story goes on to show us how God used Joseph to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and how Pharaoh rewarded Joseph for his foresight in planning to save Egypt from the coming famine. You might say that  once Joseph changed his perspective on dreams, God was able to use him to make those dreams come true. 

That's all it takes for us too...just a change in perspective. Sometimes it is a slight change and sometimes it is a big shift. But changing our perspective on who we are compared to who God is will alter our reality in ways we can't even imagine.

- Holly Barrett

Oh, grow up!

Today's Reading: Genesis 37:1-11

My Bible study this week reminded me that sometimes I am not as mature as I would like to think. Something doesn't go my way. Or someone hurt my feelings. Or I'm just plain mad about a certain situation. And I want to sit down and pitch a little baby fit.

Other times I get to thinkin' a little too highly of myself and the ugly side of my competitive self can make an appearance. That's a different kind of fit...and it's not too pretty either.

Sometimes I think God might just be a tad concerned about my maturity!

As we start into the narrative of Joseph in The Story this week, we see Joseph as the youngest of 11 boys at that time. He is the son of his father's favorite wife (and if that don't set up some dysfunction, I don't know what does!). And right off the bat, Joseph starts trouble by bringing his father a bad report about his brothers (verse 2). Doesn't that sound like a favored youngest brother?

Jacob, who is now called Israel, doesn't help matters. He encourages Joseph's sense of entitlement and superiority with the beautiful coat that he made for Joseph. I wonder how he expected the brothers to feel once they saw the coat? Regardless of what Jacob expected, the gift engendered hatred in the hearts of the older brothers and they did not speak very kindly to Joseph.

Joseph goes on to make it worse by boasting of his dreams, where sheaves of grain and heavenly bodies were bowing down to him. And so his brothers became jealous.

This is a scenario just ripe for some family drama to unfold. Frankly I think someone needed  needed to tell Joseph and his brothers to grow up! Probably should have been Jacob. It is so interesting to see all the adults in this family just adding fuel to the fire of a young boy's immaturity.

And it is convicting to me to think about the times I may have acted out of the same well of immaturity. Maybe we all need to look at ourselves and take a long cool drink of objectivity. We might even need to ask someone to help refresh us with a cold splash of reality. It's a hard thing to do...but I think it is infinitely better to do it before God has to tell us, "Oh, grow up!"

- Holly Barrett

Today Let's Just Laugh

Today's Reading: Genesis 21:1-7

When I graduated from college as an adult in 2001, the church I was attending had a graduation celebration for all high school and college graduates. They asked us for baby pictures for a slide show and as the slides were presented, we all had fun guessing who was who. Of course, mine were pretty easy to guess as they were the only baby pictures in black and white!!

Do you remember when your children were born? That's a silly question, isn't it? We all remember the day our kids were born as one of the most important days in our lives. Today's reading recounts the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. A child born into their old age. A child born of a miracle. The child God promised as Abraham's heir. And Sarah said that with the birth of her child, God had brought her laughter.

I think that's true for all our kids. If your family is like mine, you have great stories of funny things your kids or grandkids have done. They bring us much joy and much laughter.

Some days don't seem to have a lot of laughter, do they? Life is hard. The kids took the day off from being cute and are driving you crazy. Stuff breaks. The phone rings with not-so-great news. You didn't sleep well last night and tonight ain't looking so great either! There is always something that can block our laughter, if we let it.

But today, let's revel in the laughter of our children. Take some time to remember the funny things. Look at their sweet faces and remember how much laughter you shared on the day they were born. There will be plenty of time to think about all the world's problems later.

Today let's just laugh.

- Holly Barrett