Today’s Podcast
Today’s Devotional
Today’s background scripture comes from Exodus 23. And God says:
From the very first, My plan was to give the lands I promised Abraham to his descendants through Jacob’s line. I also knew the new nation must grow large enough to inhabit the land and care for it and it would take time to conquer it completely. I knew this delay would test the faith of the new nation, collectively and individually. I gave them directions to help them in the early days of their new faith. Get rid of every idol. Destroy them. Pulverize every pillar. Obliterate every sign of every other deity.
I knew humankind’s tendency to marvel at things they could put their hands on and touch. The shiny gold and silver idols would attract their attention. They would ask the inhabitants what they meant and some would fall prey to the incitement these pieces of metal brought. The stories of their gods would intrigue the faithless and they would fall away. Then they would teach their children about these false gods and whole generations would turn away from me.
My commands to annihilate the inhabitants of the promised land didn’t come because I hated them. It came about because I knew they would entice My people to fall away from Me. Just like Adam and Eve, centuries before, they would listen to the lies they could see instead of the truth of the Eternal. I made the gold. A person made the idol. How could they think that lump of metal do what only I can do? But man can create incredible fables from his imagination at times.
It still happens today. It even happens with lumps of gold and silver. More often, men bow to jobs, numbers in bank accounts, titles and position, power. They forget all of the things they want I created in the first place and can take away in a moment. It takes focus and constant vigilance to avoid the traps the world puts in place to entice you away from Me. The shiny baubles the world offers is nothing, though, compared to the riches I have in store for you. Just hang on. Trust Me. Know that I will see you through.
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Exodus 23:20-33
Set – Exodus 23; Psalms 14
Go! – Exodus 23-24; Psalms 14; Acts 5
Exodus 23:20-33
20 Look! I am going to send a heavenly messenger before you to protect you during your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. 21 Pay attention to all he shows you and obey whatever he tells you. Do not cause him any trouble. He will not forgive you if you rebel against him for he carries My name in him.22 If you are obedient to his voice and follow all of My instructions, then I will be an enemy to all of those who are against you, and I will oppose all those who oppose you. 23 When My messenger moves ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites—I will annihilate them. 24 Do not bow down to their gods, worship, or serve them in any way. Do not engage in any of their wicked practices. Instead, you must destroy every idol you find and shatter their sacred pillars into tiny pieces.
25 Worship and serve only the Eternal your God, and I will bless you with an ample supply of wholesome food and clean water. I will take away all sickness from you, 26 prevent miscarriages and barrenness, and give you long, productive lives. 27 My fear and My dread will move ahead of you, and wherever you go people will greet you with panic and confusion. I will see to it that all of your enemies turn and run from you. 28 I will unleash hornets ahead of you; and they will drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites from the land before you. 29 Now I will not do all this in a single year, because the land would become a wasteland, overpopulated with wild animals that would roam unchecked. 30 Rather, I will drive them out a little at a time—a few here, a few there—until your numbers grow and you are strong enough to take over the land and its care. 31 I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea west of where the Philistines live and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give to you all those who inhabit the land, and you will drive them all out. 32 But do not make a covenant-treaty with them or agree to serve their gods. 33 They must not be allowed to live in your land; otherwise they will cause you to sin against Me, the only True God. If you serve their gods, you will be trapped and be drawn into sin.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.