God doesn't judge.

God doesn't judge.

EXODUS 12

No, seriously. The Judge doesn't judge.

Okay, at least get one paragraph in before you write me off just based on the title of this post. What do I mean by God doesn’t judge? Check out these verses from Exodus 12: "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (vs 12-13)

God is slow to wrath.

God is slow to wrath.

EXODUS 11

Let’s face it. This chapter is problematic for God. On the surface, it doesn’t make Him look very good, does it? What can you say about a God that goes around killing children? (Oh, I wish I had a little more time to write about death today, but I’m sure it will come in time. It’s a large Bible... )

In the past, I have hea

God cannot be manipulated.

God cannot be manipulated.

EXODUS 10

I know I’ve read the stories of the plagues in detail at least a dozen times in my adult life. But as I write these daily blogs, I am once again struck by Pharaoh’s audacity. Once again, in chapter 10, it’s his officials who are trying to talk some sense into him: "Pharaoh’s officials said to him, 'How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?'" (vs 7)

Promise {gn9:17}

Photo © Unsplash/Abigail Keenan

Photo © Unsplash/Abigail Keenan

a rainbow always appears
where the storm
meets the sun

a defiant reminder
that

pain can be beautiful
heartache can shine
suffering can glisten
sorrow can be radiant
grief can be stunning


after all
there'd be no rainbow
if there was no storm

and in this world there's never a storm without one

that's how we know
we're never alone
when we face
the howling winds

for

a rainbow always appears
where the storm
meets the Son

 

God is exceedingly flexible.

God is exceedingly flexible.

EXODUS 4

I could have titled this post: God kicks butt at Twister.

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." That funny little proverb could describe God in this chapter of Exodus. He has come on a mission to enlist Moses — the man who became His great friend — to go down to Egypt and bring the Israelites out of slavery. However, it appears that Moses isn’t going to go without a fight.

God never forgets.

God never forgets.

EXODUS 1

I was so intrigued by this statement in the first chapter of Exodus: "Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt." (vs 8)  This astonished me! Certainly, some time had passed in Egypt, but a new king came to power who did not know about Joseph? This was the man who had single-handedly come up with the plan to rescue Egypt (and all the surrounding nations) from famine. How could anyone forget about Joseph?!

God roots for the underdog.

God roots for the underdog.

GENESIS 48

So, we come to the story of Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim. And as he goes to bless the grandkids, Joseph gets upset because his right hand (apparently the hand of "greatest blessings") is on the wrong boy’s head. He is getting ready to give Ephraim (the younger and, consequently, the lesser) the better blessing.

God is not greedy.

God is not greedy.

GENESIS 47

So, what do we do when confronted with the reality that we are "not our own"? We were created by a God who rules over the entire universe. Everything came from Him, and everything belongs to Him... even our very lives. Every breath we take is a gracious gift from His hand. Without Him, nothing would be. That can be a somewhat daunting reality, huh?

God is like no other.

God is like no other.

GENESIS 46

Perhaps a short one, but a good one, for today. There is no other god like God. Of course, the further you read the Scripture, the more declarations you find to that effect. But this is something we can learn about God without reading the declarations. Genesis 46 is a good example. First, God calls to Jacob in the night, telling him not to be afraid to go down to Egypt. God renews His promise to make Jacob (Israel) into a great nation there.

God transforms suffering.

God transforms suffering.

GENESIS 45

What a remarkable chapter! Joseph finally has a reunion with his long-lost brothers. He reveals to them that he is Joseph, and it’s pretty apparent that he doesn’t harbor any grudges against them for what they have done. He embraces and kisses each one of them, eagerly telling them how wonderful everything will be for them when they move to Egypt.