Mon.’s Devo - Starting Out on their Journey

Read: Ex. 17:8-19:15, Matt. 22:34-23:12, Ps. 27:7-14, Pr. 6:27-35 The Israelites had their first battle against the Amalikites, a nomadic tribe of people that didn’t want the children of Israel passing through their land. The Israelites won the battle by keeping Moses’ hands raised to heaven. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro heard of what God was doing through Moses, and brought Zipporah and their two children to meet Moses in the wilderness. Their first born was Gershom, which means “a stranger there” and their second son was called Eliazer which means “God of help”. They were a stranger in the land and God was there to help them. When Jethro saw the hours Moses stood and judged the people, he gave him a better plan: to appoint godly men to judge over small groups and leave the big problems to Moses. In the third month, Sivan and fourteenth day they reached the mountain of Sinai. They were to cleanse themselves because on the third day, God was going to come down from heaven and meet with them. They were not to touch the mountain or come near until they heard the ram’s horn blast. While Moses is about to go and get the 10 Commandments, Matthew is giving us the two most important. The Sadduceses, and Pharisees collaborated, which I’m sure was not a normal thing, and tried to trick Jesus. They asked him what he thought was the greatest commandment in the law hoping to trick him. Jesus told them that to love God with all your heart was the first and the second was like it: to love your neighbor as yourself. Every time they tried to level Him, they were made the fool. They finally wised up and quit. Then Jesus let them have it. He didn’t mince any feelings but exposed the hypocrisy of the Sadducees and Pharasees and told the people that there was one teacher, the Christ. Lord, teach us your way and help us to be strong in You.