Deuteronomy 24:9 “‘Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.’”

DON’T REPEAT PAST MISTAKES

 Do you remember the story about Miriam?  She and Aaron had complained about Moses’ Cushite wife, so Miriam was stricken with leprosy.  God did heal her, but the ceremonial cleansing held up the entire nation from traveling any further.  One woman’s sin affected millions.  Moses is reminding the people to not repeat such an offense.

Our sins do affect others.  We may think it is only between us and God, but others may be forced to endure consequences brought about by our disobedience.  How unfair is that?  How dare we think we can live isolated and alone!

TEACHING MOMENT

 Your children may face this when one of your children does something to thwart a family outing.  Their actions can affect the whole family.  It is so important that you talk to all your children when or if this happens. They need to see their actions are not just about them.  It affects everyone.

I can hear the kids screaming now, “That’s not fair!”  And it’s not, but it’s life.  God does not want us living alone.  We need each other, through the thick and thin of it.  We need to hang together through the trials as well as the good times. And we need to be held accountable by others.

Will you be accountable today?  Will you allow others’ behavior to dictate how you react?  Don’t let it.  No matter what they do, you do what you know is right according to God’s Word.  Maybe then you will be the source of progress and not holding up the group, like Miriam.

Lord, forgive my selfish attitude at times. Forgive me when I purposely choose to follow my desires rather than what is best for all.

Deuteronomy 17:18 “‘Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.’” 

IF ONLY

If you read verses 14-17 of Deuteronomy 17, you will see that God knew the people would ask for a king one day.  Later on, we see that happen when Saul is anointed as king.  And lo and behold, everything he says in those verses comes true. The kings imported horses galore, married multiple wives and got rich.

But if they had only done what He said to do in verse 18, they could have avoided all the heartache.  Verses 19-20 continues,  “‘19 It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.’”  What a difference that would make?

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to learn to keep God’s Word close to their heart.  They don’t have to write a copy of it, but they should memorize and learn to meditate on it.  Keeping God’s Word close can prevent a whole world of hurt.  It keeps us focused on pleasing Him and doing what He expects.

Ask your children what they think would happen in their country if the President or national leaders kept God’s Word close to them.  I bet they will have some great examples.  Bottom line – God’s Word is preventative medicine.  God’s Word directs our paths.  God’s Word gives us focus.  Why wouldn’t you want your children to keep it close.

Are you keeping it close?  Do you start each day or end each day with a reading of the Word?  Allow it today to point you in the direction God would have you go.  Ask the Lord to use His Word to teach you to make those everyday decisions.

Lord, Your Word is full and rich.  Help me to depend on it even further.  Let it direct me this day.

Deuteronomy 15:4 “‘However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,’”

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

 Read that verse again.  Can you imagine no poverty?  Can you imagine a society where everyone has enough to eat?  How about clothes to wear or shelter over their heads?  I drive down the streets of Chattanooga, TN where I live every day.  And every day I see people out begging for food.  I see homeless people living under bridges or in the woods behind a shopping center.  Why?

I truly believe it is because we do not honor our God.  If we all worshipped the one true God, and I mean everyone, then there would be no one in need.  I know that sounds like a pipe dream.  But why would the Lord tell Moses to say this to the people as they were entering the Promised Land?  Do you think God was lying to them?  Of course not.  But they had to do their part and obey Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

 The next time you are out with your children and you see those on the street asking for a handout, bring up this verse.  Because we live in a fallen world, sin has consequences.  Some sins lead to poverty.  Talk to your children how they can follow the Lord’s leading in regards to helping those less fortunate.  No one is promised wealth and prosperity.  But all who turn to Him are promised to have their needs (not wants) met.

You may be saying, “Now wait, Carl, that sounds like pie in the sky promises.  God doesn’t promise that.”  Really?  Didn’t Jesus say the Father knows the number of hairs on your head?  Doesn’t He clothe you better than the lilies?  God knows our needs and will meet those according to His perfect plan.

Are you stressing out over finances right now?  Have you turned that over to Him?  Let Him have your debit card (I would have said check book but no one has those anymore, lol.).  Ask the Lord to meet that need you have and then thank Him for meeting it.  Finally, as you are able, help meet that need of someone else.  That may be just the way God is meeting that need they are praying for.

Lord, thank You for being the God of all, not just the rich and well off.  You care for the lowest of the low.  Show me how to help meet the needs of others.

Deuteronomy 9:6 “‘Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.’”

STUBBORN

Moses is preparing the people to enter the Promised Land after 40 long years in the wilderness.  He knew these people.  He had seen the stubbornness all those years.  He had begged God to not destroy them.  He wanted to make sure they understood one thing – this blessing they were about to receive had nothing to do with their righteousness.

Have you ever thought YOU deserved something?  Maybe at work you felt you deserved that promotion over someone else. Maybe at school you knew you were better than anyone else because you had the highest GPA.  We fall into the same trap of stubbornness and vanity. People haven’t changed.

TEACHING

 That is why we must teach our children humility.  There is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but we must never allow our children to become boastful and arrogant of them. Everything we receive is a gift from God.  It is a blessing we don’t deserve.  For in fact, all we deserve is hell.

That sounds harsh, I know.  You can’t imagine your children suffering in an eternal damnation.  But only the blood of Christ frees us from that certain destination.  Make sure your children are aware of that gift and receive it early.  Remind them over and over that only His righteousness, not theirs, will get them into heaven.

Are you banking on your goodness?  Do you think if you are good enough or busy enough you will slide into your eternal reward? It’s not about you.  It’s all about Him.  He is the one we look to for our redemption.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul.  Thank You, Lord, for making me whole.  Thank You, Lord, for giving to me life more abundant, rich and free.

Exodus 39:42-43 “42 So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the Lord had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.”

JOB WELL DONE

 Have you ever attempted to put something together without looking at the instructions? What happens?  Well, if you have never done this before, you usually revert back to the instructions.  Instructions are written for a reason.  They make the assembly easier (at least most of the time).  Following directions is easier than trying to wing it.

The craftsmen had followed all the Lord’s commandments as given by Moses.  They were diligent to get it right.  They knew they were working on something holy and sacred. They knew everything they did was a reflection of their love for their God.

TEACHING MOMENT

 How many times have you had to send your children back to their rooms to “reclean” it? This is exactly what I am talking about. We must teach our children that every task they do is a reflection of them and our Lord.  We must do our very best at everything we do since we are known by others as believers in Christ.

I had a boss once that said, “Holy shoddy is still shoddy.”  So true.  Excellence is expected.  Pride in our work is expected.  Show little Elrod how to do it right the first time.  Teach little Gertrude how excellence looks.  Then praise them for their work.  Moses blessed the workers when they had finished because they had followed directions and performed with excellence.  We should too.

Are you guilty of “half-way” doing your job?  Do you drag into work and drag along all day?  Refocus your attention to pleasing the Lord in your work.  By pleasing Him you will please your boss. Do your best at every task and see how He blesses.

Father, show me how to please You in every task. Show me how to honor You in my everyday tasks.

Exodus 35:30-33 “30 Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, ‘See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.’”

SPECIFIC TO YOU

 Most people think that when someone is “called” by God that means they are going into the ministry.  God only calls people to be preachers or missionaries, right?  Wrong!  Look at today’s passage.  Bezalel was called to be the artist for the tabernacle.  God gave him specific gifts and abilities to be used for His glory. He even said, “He has filled him with the Spirit of God.”  Wow!  A Spirit filled artist.  That’s just cool.

Can you imagine how Bezalel felt when he heard Moses saying God had called him to serve Him in this way.  He was probably thinking, “How can I be used of God in the desert?”  There’s not much need for an artist in the wilderness.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children will be given gifts by God through the Holy Spirit at salvation. I truly believe that.  I am not talking about talents or abilities. I am talking about spiritual gifts that can be manifested through talents and abilities.  As parents, it is our job to nurture those gifts and give them opportunities to develop them.

I bet Bezalel’s parents encouraged his artistic talents as a child, not knowing that God would one day take those and through His Spirit use them to help build the tabernacle.  Only God knows how He will use your child to honor Him.

I pray you are using your gifts to honor your Father in heaven.  It is sad to see someone neglect the gifts God has given them. And I know it saddens the heart of God for Him to see His children not use what He has given them to further His kingdom.  Be obedient with your gifts.

Father, thank You for the gifts You have given me. My heart longs to use them for Your glory!

Exodus 26:1-2 “‘1 Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and Or violet blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have the same measurements.’”

DETAILS

Do you know how long 28 cubits is?  It’s 42 feet. So, each curtain was 42 feet long and 6 feet wide.  That’s a lot of fabric.  Where did all this fabric come from?  They are in the wilderness?  There wasn’t a neighborhood Walmart to run to.  There wasn’t a Hancock’s Fabrics to order from.  All this material came from the people who had brought it with them from their Egyptian masters.  Remember they had “plundered” Egypt when they left.

My point is this – God had a plan for the tabernacle long before the people left Egypt.  The people had no idea why they were carrying all the material with them except maybe to have clothes along the way.  God had a bigger plan.  He was going to have them build His temporary “home” among them with these items.

TEACHING MOMENT

 A lot of the time your children do not understand why they have to do the things you ask them to do.  They don’t see the big picture.  They only see the “now.”  Teaching them manners now will benefit them later.  Teaching them how to dress properly will be good to know when they get older.  Teaching your sons to respect their sisters will show them how to treat other women in their lives.  The list goes on and on.

Details matter.  Read a portion of this chapter and ask them what they think about all these numbers and measurements.  They will probably say, “I don’t know.  I hate math.” But once you explain the whole story to them they may just begin to understand that God had a plan long before they started building this tabernacle in the desert.  He has a similar plan for their lives.

What is God trying to build in your life?  Are you confused by the “materials” He is using?  Maybe He is using hard times.  Maybe He is using a new boss.  Perhaps He is using your past experiences.  God only uses what is absolutely necessary to “build” us into the shape He wants us.  Enjoy the process.

You are the Master Builder, God.  I know that.  I know You have the blueprint of my life written.  Help me trust You in the process.

Exodus 22:28 “‘You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.’”

BLESS, DON’T CURSE

 Few things get people more upset and argumentative than a bad leader or ruler.  You begin to talk bad about them and eventually even curse or threaten them. I’ve heard that from people I never thought would utter a bad word.  I’ve heard that from people who I agree with for the most part on most things.  But Scripture is plain.  We must pray for our leaders and not curse them.

God is giving Moses instructions for His people here in Exodus 22.  This is God talking, not man.  He tells us pretty directly how to treat our rulers.  So, if you have a problem with it, take it up with God, not me.  I have not always agreed with the policies of leaders in my life, but I must respect them.  To do otherwise is disobedience to God, which is sin.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to learn this early.  They must respect you, first of all.  But then you must teach them to respect the leaders in their lives.  This topic seems to come up a lot in Scripture.  It must be important, you think?  Teaching our children to bless and not curse their leaders is a gift.  By learning and doing this they are pleasing their Heavenly Father which always is a good thing.

But suppose you have a little Johnny who is just rude to everyone.  You had better hold him accountable.  You had better discipline him when you see or hear of this attitude.  Why?  You are preparing him for life and for following his supreme leader, Jesus Christ. Anything short of that is sin.

How are you doing with this?  Do you struggle with submission?  I do.  I have days when I just want my way.  I may disagree with my leaders, but I must obey and bless them.  I want to please my Father in heaven much more than a boss or supervisor.  But I have found when I do that, normally I will be a blessing rather than a curse to those I answer to.

Lord, thank You for allowing me the humility to be the wrong one when I know I am right.  Help me to submit to those who You have placed over me.

Exodus 21:6 “‘then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.’”

A WILLING SERVANT

 Read verses 1-6 and then come back to this devotion……get the picture.  This man has chosen to NOT leave his master.  He has chosen to serve him.  And, as a result, he is marked with a piercing through his ear.  Everyone who saw that piercing would know that he had chosen his master over freedom.

I have heard a lot of messages on being a bondservant.  I have heard a lot of sermons on this exact passage, or at least it being used as a reference.  But I don’t think I have ever heard focus on the piercing as a visible sign to everyone around them.  We have the same mark on us as followers of Christ.  No, not a piercing.  But we have been stamped with His seal on our hearts.  Everyone should know we have chosen the Master.

TEACHING MOMENT

 So, go out to your garage and get an awl.  Take your child to the door post and pierce…   I am just kidding. DON’T do that.  But you do need to talk to your children about standing out in the crowd as a follower of Christ.  They may not have a physical mark on their body that they are a Christian, but people should know.

Ask little Gertrude how people can know she loves Jesus.  I bet you get answers like this – loving others, doing good things, obeying you, etc.  These are all great ways.  But what is the most important way others can know?  By doing His will ALL THE TIME!  That’s what Jesus did and so should we.

Are you a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you pierced through with surrender to His will?  Forsaking all others, follow Him.  He will keep you and defend you, like any good master.  He is the only true Master worth serving.

Master, I will follow.  I will do as You desire at all times.  Keep me close to Your side so I may observe You and serve You.

Exodus 10:16-17 “16 Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. 17 Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and make supplication to the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.’”

 PLEASE FORGIVE ME

 Pharaoh wasn’t remorseful.  He wasn’t sorry for what he had done.  He just wanted the locust gone.  He didn’t have any intention of truly repenting. Notice the words he uses.  He said, “the Lord your God.”  If you really repent, you cry out, “O Lord MY God.”  He had not recognized Jehovah as the only true God.

How many times have you said to God, “God, if will just get me out of this bind I am in right now, I promise to…”? We’ve all done that.  Is that repentance?  Is that true confession?  No!  We just want the pain to stop.  We just want relief.  My former brother-in-law used to famously say, “If you want relief, take a Rolaids. If you want help, come to Jesus.” That’s so true.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children are famous for false confessions.  Isn’t that true?  Your little Johnny hauls off and hits Susie.  You hear the scream and come running.  What do you make Johnny do?  You make him say he’s sorry for hitting his little sister.  Of course, most of the time he does that, but only to avoid a spanking or punishment himself.  He’s not sorry.  He just got caught.

What a great time to teach true repentance.  Take the time to explain to both of them how God forgives those who truly are sorry for their sins.  Unlike you, God knows their heart and their real motives.  They can never fool God.  So, there is no reason to try.  True repentance leads to a clean heart and joyful spirit.

What do you need to repent of today? What in your life has come between you and an open relationship with the Lord?  Unconfessed sin begins to build a barrier and before long you stop talking to Him.  Confess it now.  Let it out. Tell Him how sorry you are and beg Him to forgive you.  Listen – as a believer, that sin is already under the blood.  But you need to confess it and make things right with your God.

Lord, thank You for forgiveness and mercy.  I ask You to forgive me today for all those sins against You and others.  Cleanse me so I can enjoy the renewed fellowship with You.