This morning I read Exodus 10-12. It contains the final few plagues God strikes Egypt with before Pharaoh finally relents and lets God’s people go. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, where God passes over the Israelites because of the lamb’s blood on their doors, is the origin of the Passover and presages the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sin. That alone is so beautiful. As I read these verses in Exodus 12 I all of a sudden found tears in my eyes:
“The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.”
Exodus 12:40-42
The verses paint this image of God’s people bundled up, families, children, livestock, a multitude without even provisions for themselves. As they are thrust out of Egypt, that very night God is watching over them, it’s “a night of watching by the LORD.” It made me picture the Father caring so personally and kindly for His children, watching over them to make sure they’re safe as they head out not knowing what’s next. He wasn’t a Father waiting up to chastise His kid for breaking curfew, or coming home angry because they’d broken something. He watched over them to keep them safe, He got them out of a bad place, He’d meticulously planned it (430 years to the day, they were leaving). What an incredible God, and what a personal, caring, kind Father.
I don’t have anything profound to say, I just wanted to share that these words struck me this morning. It was as if God was reminding me how much He watches over His children, He is above all the unknowns of day-to-day and year-to-year life, and He is watching with care, working in ways we don’t know to bring His children to Him. The people I love, my family, my friends, He loves more and watches over them. My heart breaks over my children, I want them to find hope and peace and strength in Him as their Father. My friends, so many who know Jesus and who don’t, I yearn for them to experience the personal lovingkindness of God through everything. I believe that this morning God reminded me He is watching over them all day and all night, that He will bring His children (including me and the people I love and worry over) home. I can (and must) trust Him. I’m ultimately powerless but He has all power, He has more love than I can fathom. He chases us down to save us, no matter how much we run from and reject Him. I’d be lost without this Father for whom every night is a night of watching, to bring me out of darkness into His light. I’m praying for myself, the people I love, and whoever read this to experience His love and grace and power in very real ways that cause us to turn to Him in trust and gratitude.
I was thinking the same thing this morning! Not from Exodus but from Ephesians. He loves the people we love and pray for more then we ever could. I just keep praying that they will all know that love someday.
Jackson, your words provoke an awareness that His overshadowing love for us will reach a climax as the fullness of the Gentiles is completed in His timing. Therefore, the all encompassing love will culminate in the Father turning to His Son and prompting the Bridegroom to get His bride—those that died in Christ over centuries and we who are alive and remain in the Rapture. The promise (the deposit and seal of the Holy Spirit) and our inheritance will be finally realized when we are united in Heaven. The best part—and where my eyes tear-up—is the promise that we will never be separated from
Him again!
Soon and very soon; indeed, maybe today. #maranatha
May the Lord be with you and your family,
Scott & Becky
I can relate to this. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago I wasn’t scared or worried even when I was told I would loose my breast. But the morning of the surgery I had to go to the Nuclear medicine lab to have a radioactive implant inserted so they could find my sentinel node with a Geiger counter. As I lay on the table waiting for the physician to come I told my Father I really wasn’t scared or nervous but would he give me some sort of reassurance that He was watching over me and would be with me and the surgeon and all who would be taking care of me. I then had this vision in my mind of two very LARGE men dressed in suits lying on either side of me and then I felt the Father tell me that those were the angels he had watching over me since I cane out of my mother’s womb! I thought I was making it up. So I told it to Patrick and a very good Christian friend and both agreed I had not. I can say that It did, and has, comforted me and empowered me spiritually. I have no doubt that God watches over his kids. Am blessed to be one. This past September I took a very bad fall on the sidewalk at my sister’s house in Stockton and had to go to the hospital for xrays as I was sure I’d broken my hip I could not walk. Not only had I not broken my hip or anything else I didn’t even have a bruise to show off! I told my Father the angels really did their job! I’m going to be 83 this april and take two prescription drugs have only had my knee and cataracs replaced. I thank my Father every day for my health and for the fact that He chose me before the foundations of the earth to be His child! Couldn’t tell you why as I’m no one special. And the world will get along without me and not skip a beat some day. But the Creator of the worlds loves me and cares for me and for all who have put their trust in Him! That’s a miracle! So continue to be Blessed and Be A Blessing, Jackson!