Monday Morning Bible Study - Week 5

Good morning ladies!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Here is this week’s study on the “Faithfulness of God” Bible Study I wrote for last years retreats.

But… before we begin I want to share with you some VERY exciting news! I have a HUGE announcement and Giveaway today for one of our retreats next year!

You can check it out here. (You’ll want to, I promise!)

Ok, back to our study…

Today, we’re going to look at the life of Moses, because his life was full of amazing testimonies of God’s faithfulness.  But, we can also look at the life of Moses and see a guy who struggled with sin and doubts (like we do) and yet God was faithful still.

I’m sure you’ve heard the following verse a lot over the years, and wondered how this applies to your life today? I have too…

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.””  Exodus 14:14 

A couple years ago I was sitting on the shores of Lake Como and I read Exodus 14 and for over an hour I just sat there, listened to the water and wrote in my journal. 

We see at this point in the story of Moses (where the Israelites are being brought out of captivity in Egypt) that God has brought them out, provided food and protection as they left, and now they’re at the Red Sea.  God has been telling Moses what to do all along, and what He will do, even to the point of hardening Pharaoh's heart.  Take a look:   “And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.” (vs. 4) 

But the people still feared.  

So what was God trying to work out in Moses’s life and the people of Israel?  The Israealites were very afraid when Pharaoh’s men came after them.  Can we say “rightly so?” or should they have trusted that God got them this far and He wasn’t going to leave them to die by the side of the sea?  They cried out to God, (but in fear and doubt) instead of trust. And then Moses spoke.  “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lordwill fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (vs 13&14)

Moses didn’t know at this point exactly how God would help them, but He knew that He would.  He had faith that God would get them out of such a frightening situation, and he told the people to stand still, stop, be silent and let God show you what He can do!  They all speak to the need to let go of their fear, their plans, their own ideas on how to escape… and to simply stand still as God reveals His plans.  

Isn’t it amazing to see the miracles of God lived out in the Bible, especially the story of the parting of the Red Sea?! What an incredible testimony of the faithfulness of God to His children.  Look at how God's sovereignty played out in ways we don’t usually think about.  God hardened Pharaoh's heart! Isn’t that crazy?  Look at how God’s plan to save the Israelites included showing Pharoah and his men that He is God. That He is mighty, and what He plans and purposes will stand. Look at this verse in Isaiah 14:24

“The Lord of hosts has sworn:

“As I have planned,

    so shall it be,

and as I have purposed,

    so shall it stand” 

Nothing is random or comes by chance, as we see throughout scripture.  But do we find comfort in that for today? 

Does it give us great peace to know that God is faithful and He keeps His promises? 

Now I would bet that Moses didn’t know it was going to happen exactly like it went down…  but like Moses, we can know that the Lord will fight for his people, even today!  Even when we don’t see how it’s possible, and even when we have no clue what to do next. He is working all things out for His purposes and our good. (Romans 8:28) 

May we have the faith of Moses to trust in God

~ Know that He is in control
~ Let His power be shown in our stillness
~ and go forward praising Him in all things!

Let’s take one last look at how Moses and the people of Israel praised God for parting the Red Sea as they passed through to the other side:

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

    the horse and his rider  he has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father's God, and I will exalt him.”
Exodus 15:1-2

Daily Prompt:

Take 10 minutes to journal one of the verses we looked at above. What are ways in which you have seen the faithfulness of God in your life? Write it down in your journal and look back on it often. Write down when you see how He is working in your life, so that you can share it with others and remind your own heart of all the He is doing!

Art Application:

Journal in your Bible or paint/sketch in an art journal Isaiah 14:24. God has gone before you, He knows every moment of your life. How does this give you comfort in times of uncertainty? Create from this place in your heart that knows with certainty that God is in control, He loves you and He cares about you.

Let us posture our hearts towards praising God and His faithfulness today.

Have a GREAT Monday everyone!

Hugs to all,

Laura McCollough