Sat.’s Devo - Called Out to Serve

Read: Exodus 2:11-3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14
Moses grew up in the palace but never forgot his Hebrew roots. One day as he was watching them labor under their taskmasters, he saw an Egyptian abuse a worker. He looked around and when he thought no one was watching, he killed the Egyptian. The next day he went back out among the workers and split up a fight between two Hebrews. When he did they exposed the fact that everyone knew what he had done the day before. He knew he had to flee or he would be killed for conspiracy. He fled to the land of Midian. He ended up at a well where seven daughters of the Midian priest came to water their camels. Moses fought off other shepherds who were guarding the well and watered the women’s camels.
When they returned home, their father, Reuel told them to go back to the well and bring their hero home. They found Moses and brought him home where he was given Zipporah as a wife. They lived there until she had a son named Gershom. Then God called to Moses out of a bush that refused to burn up and told him that he was to go back to Egypt and lead his people out. When Moses asked God his name he said, “I am”, which in Hebrew means I am and I will be what I am. He also said that he was Adonai: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God explained to Moses that he was to gather all the leaders of Israel together with the leaders of Egypt and declare to them that Adonai has commanded them to go three days into the wilderness to sacrifice to him. God told him exactly what would happen. The pharaoh would not want to do this so God would have to strike them with wonders before they allowed them to go. They would leave with the wealth of Egypt on their backs and in their bags.
Yesterday we read that Jesus took Peter, John and James to a mountain and they saw Jesus change to his glorified state with Moses and Elijah standing with him. Peter got very excited and wanted to erect three sukkoths for them. This let us know that it was during the Feast of Tabernacles that this happened. This feast is to remind the Jewish people that their home was not here but in heaven. How appropriate for Jesus to show two people who were in heaven at the time. A cloud came and enveloped them all and God spoke from the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” When the cloud lifted, they were alone with Jesus and he was back in his earth suit. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about this until he had risen.
Seeing Elijah on the mountain prompted them to ask why Elijah had to come first - before the Messiah comes. Jesus explained that he did and they killed him. He was referring to John the Baptist who carried the spirit of Elijah.
The disciples couldn’t cast out epilepsy and were told it was because they lacked faith. Jesus rebuked the demon and he came out.
Peter was asked if their master payed the temple tax and lied and said he did. When they were alone, Jesus answered Peter’s question before he asked it. He answered it with a question. He asked him if the kings of the earth exacted taxes from their own sons or the people. Peter said, the people. Jesus agreed. He was making the point that the sons of God owe this world nothing because we are not of their kingdom but since we are living her we choose to follow their rules. He told Peter to go catch a fish and open its mouth and the temple tax would be there. It would be enough for both of them.
Lord, help us to realize that this is not our home and that we are supernatural people because of who lives inside us. We are called out of bondage to serve you in freedom!