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Apr 17, 2023 06:00am

The Bible Recap: Days 29-35

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(The following are reflections from the writer’s personal journey through The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble – a Bible reading plan to read the Bible chronologically in one year. To learn more about The Bible Recap, visit thebiblerecap.com.)

Day 29: Read Genesis Chapters 48-50

My Takeaways:

If you want a quick snapshot of the story of Joseph, it is this verse:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20)

God can take any lie, deception, anger, jealously, imprisonment, scheme, bitterness against us and work good from it.

The key?

We have to turn to Him with those hurts. We have to trust Him with those people and that situation. You see, He does a work on our hearts first, then He works on our situation. He worked on Joseph’s heart over the 13 years he was away from home to the point Joseph could see his brothers and forgive them.

Friends, we are called to forgive.

Forgiveness is balm to our hearts. We don’t forgive others because they deserve it. We do it in order to be set free from the shackles bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness offer. They hold us back in life and with God.

God took me on such a journey years ago, and it was so hard. I had been hurt deeply by people in my life and held onto that resentment for a long, long time. I was waiting for an apology that never came. Then, one morning, I was reading a devotional that called me to forgive others. I was shocked! Me apologize? I didn’t do anything! God affirmed it that day…and I did the hardest thing of all: I asked for forgiveness in that situation. That moment changed everything from that day forward—my shackles dropped, and I had been set free. Truly, it was the best feeling. I had such peace in my heart that I had not had the previous year. And in the days and months that followed, the situation was completely restored.

But, I had to humble myself to experience that. (And clearly, there was something to apologize for that I had not seen because I was so bitter over it all!)

Joseph’s script was flipped by God because he was humbled, too, through his journey, and his heart was ready to forgive his betrayers.

And the family was restored. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t without wounds. But, God bandaged those wounds, and they had a happy ending to a hard beginning.

Day 30: Read Exodus Chapters 1-3

My Takeaways:

You guys, we finished one of the two longest books in the Bible—congrats!

That is two books in the Bible under our belt so far this month! And now, we are going on a journey in Exodus!

I love this book and this reading! Today, we have a man who’s a little lost in life.

He was a foreigner in his own house under Pharaoh. (I wonder what Pharaoh had to say about Moses being adopted into the family?)
He wasn’t accepted by his people either, the Hebrews.
He committed murder and ran.
And, he has been living in a remote place tending sheep.

And yet.

God chooses him to be the leader and rescuer of His enslaved people, a man who doesn’t even know who He is.

Don’t you just love how God picks the most unlikely people to work through?!

Through the burning bush, God tells Moses the whole “game plan” for rescuing His people. And Moses asks two questions:

Who am I?

Who is God?

And friends, this is the journey Moses is about to take to discover the answers. You see, Moses doesn’t know it, but he will be one of the most powerful leaders, teachers, and speakers of a million people in history.

And, he has no idea. But, that is exactly what God does with His people. He chooses us, He grows us, and He uses us to display His power and glory. That is Moses’ story we are about to read.

You know what…it’s not just Moses. He picks you, as well. He speaks life into you, too, through His Word. He urges you to get out of your comfort zone and grows you, too. Like Moses, we have a choice. We can stay obscure, tending sheep…or we can take one step outside our comfort zones and see how God can use that. It may just lead to your purpose in life.

It’s a step that makes all the difference, friends.

Day 31: Read Exodus Chapters 4-6

My Takeaways:

Oh friends, if you have ever not felt enough, you are in good company—Moses didn’t either!

Today, he gives some reasons why he’s not up to the job of rescuing God’s people:

What if they don’t believe me?
I can’t speak!
Send someone else…
If the Israelites won’t listen to me, how will Pharaoh?

Maybe you understand Moses. Maybe you have been out in a tough position? Maybe you don’t feel up to the job? Maybe you don’t feel qualified?

What Moses didn’t know is that God specializes in picking the unlikely and unqualified people and life and working through them and their obedience in such a way, it changes them!

We know that through Abraham and Jacob and Joseph. And if He did it for them, He will do it for Moses, too. And, He will do it for us, too! He has a knack for growing us, one yes at a time!

And we will see our insecure Moses be willing to take steps outside his comfort zone, trusting God, and grow into a mighty leader. But, it doesn’t happen overnight.

What I loved about this reading was this: every time Moses had an excuse, God reminded him of who He is and what He can do. He reminded Moses of His character! That is what this study is pushing us to do, friends! Every time we falter in life, we must stand upon God’s character in those moments of doubt, insecurity, and fear. And take that next step of faith, leaning upon God.

Like Moses’ journey, God doesn’t promise us it will be easy. But, I have found the best things in life are often the things we work hardest at.

Day 32: Read Exodus Chapters 7-9

My Takeaways:

Today’s reading was all about the plagues 1-7:

Nile River to blood
Frogs
Gnats
Flies
Death of Livestock
Hail

Now, we would struggle with all of these, but which one would push you over the edge?! (I wondered if the Egyptians were ready to kick the Pharaoh out of town after these 7.)

And I wonder….do you know anyone like Pharaoh? Anyone who recognized God but refused to yield to Him? Or, have you had Pharaoh-like times in your life?

I grew up with a Pharaoh—my dad. He was angry and bitter most of his life (much at God), and yet, God didn’t give up on him. In the latter years of my dad’s life, after his angry life had robbed him of his family, he started submitting to God. He started coming to church with me every Sunday—he became my church buddy. Over the course of growing closer to God, a medical procedure gone wrong took his voice. His once angry, mean voice was replaced with a whisper, a gentle whisper. He grew still in these years. Layers of hardness were being peeled away through church and Jesus. And though his body was weak, his heart was stronger spiritually than it ever had been. He was a better father the last 10 years of his life than he was my whole life. When God took him, it was fast. It was grace for a man who had suffered much his whole life.

I am so glad God was patient with my dad. Because when he closed his eyes on earth, he opened them in heaven.

What about you….have you experienced the patience in a way it changed you? It’s almost scandalous, isn’t it?

Or, is God calling you to pray for your own Pharaoh?

Day 33: Read Exodus Chapters 10-12

My Takeaways:

Today, the exodus happened, and it was huge! Our reading included all the action…

Millions of locusts eating all the vegetation.
A thick darkness, one that the people could actually feel, for 3 days.
The death of the firstborn of the Egyptians (including livestock—animals are still alive at this point?! LOL, where are all these animals coming from?)
The instructions for the Passover are given to the Israelites
The Israelites plundered the Egyptians.
And, God’s people, prepared and ready, left Egypt in the middle of the night.

What was your God Shot in all this drama?!

Here’s mine: when we perceive God is not reacting fast enough, He is doing things we can’t see. These plagues prepared the Egyptians to give away their valuables to the Israelites. These plagues attacked each one of the Egyptians’ gods…and these people saw their gods fail them. The plagues probably also served as a witness to God’s people (who lived with idolatry around them their whole lives) and reminded them of God’s power. (They will need the reminder of this revelation very soon after leaving Egypt!)

Maybe it took 10 plagues to ready everyone’s hearts in some way?

Another God Shot: when God acts, it is fast. He’s patient in His timing, until He’s not.

Day 34: Read Exodus Chapters 13-15

My Takeaways:

One of the most famous stories in the Bible was in our reading today—the epic parting of the Red Sea!

Let’s recap the action:

God gives instructions for Passover. Why? Because people need reminders to pause and reflect on God’s goodness in their lives. It was a way for that generational faith to be passed down—those stories of God’s deliverance! I love all the feasts and festivals God will command His people throughout the year—it was all family, faith, and fun! We need reminders today to pause and reflect, too (Hello Thanksgiving!) because it’s easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of life. That is what the Passover was—a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
We saw how the parting of the Red Sea went down!
We see the first praise and worship song after God’s deliverance! (Don’t you love how Miriam, Moses’ sister, just happened to have her tambourines?! I am guessing she knew she would need them! That’s faith, friends!)
We see God’s provision through the water in the desert.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible was in today’s reading: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The enemy you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

That is my fight song, friends! I love it!!

My God Shot today was this: Sometimes, God takes us the long way around a problem, in order to build our faith up, to strengthen us, like what He did with the Israelites. He didn’t take them the shorter way in which they would have to face the Philistines—they weren’t ready yet.

He’s always about growing our relationship and growing our faith so that we can face those battles knowing He is with us and will help us.

He’s a good, good Father, you guys.

Day 35: Read Exodus Chapters 16-18

My Takeaways:

Instead of giving a recap of today, I want to ask some question that go back to the heart of our reading:

How quick are we tempted to complain or get frustrated when things don’t go our way? (This is regarding the Israelites being hungry and thirsty.)
How difficult is it for you to rest and not live in TCOB mode? (Going back to the Israelites’ struggle to rest and not work.)
Have you ever experienced God as your Provider?! (Going back to the manna and water God provided for our Israelite friends!)
Have you ever experienced a “The Lord is My Banner” moment for you or your family? (Like what God did for the Israelites when the Amalekites came up against them.)
Has someone come into your life and given you such godly wisdom and insight, you knew it came from God? What is the best godly advice you have ever received? (I am talking about you, Jethro!)

While I can speak to all of these situations, the one God is teaching me now is this: Be still and know that I am God. He has been teaching me to rest.

For the past couple of months, I have been recovering from major surgery, a surgery that requires complete pelvic rest. It has been long, hard, painful, and humbling (and full of tearful, “Where are you, God?” moments). I can’t do what I used to do. But, God has met me there, in my stillness. He has been resetting my mentality to TCOB. He has been speaking to me, encouraging me, and healing me. I have had to learn to rely upon my family to do what I used to do. That, my friends, is hard because no one does it like mama. But, I have learned in this season, it is okay. I have had to let go and surrender (Something I struggle with. A lot.). I am learning to be still and listen more.