​Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ ” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 
 
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. 
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 
 
13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 
David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lordhas broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 
 
22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. 
 
 
Meditation
King Jesus brings His reign of peace by conquering all of His and our enemies (WSC 26). Christians respond to this victory by living in obedience to Jesus, dispelling enemy footholds in our hearts and strongholds in our lives. 
 
David was anointed king of all Israel (finally!) and immediately targeted an enemy stronghold- Jerusalem. The Jebusites had not been dispelled by Joshua’s generation. The enemy still had had a stronghold that David confronted immediately, eventually replacing the enemy stronghold with his throne, making Jerusalem the capital of the land. The former Jebusite stronghold became the king’s seat of strength- the city of David.
 
Christians have been “transferred into the Kingdom of God’s beloved son” (Colossians 1:13) but often allow the enemy to have a foothold in our hearts and strongholds in our lives. King Jesus commands Christians to use His Spirit to kill sinful strongholds (Romans 8:13). Obedience to king Jesus is a right response to redemption and will restore us image of our Creator (Colossians 3:10).
 
On the cross, Jesus triumphed over the enemy and evil authorities through His death so all who trust Him can walk in a newness of life- free from the authority of the enemy (Colossians 2:15). Grace gives us ground to obey king Jesus in every area of our life, His Spirit transforming sin struggles into kingdom strengths. Your permission to give the enemy a stronghold is dangerous in your discipleship. Respond to God’s grace by determining to put the Divine throne in the midst of the stronghold- Jesus is God’s anointed king!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s narrative, especially the intentionality of David to remove the enemy from the land?
 
-Where do you allow the enemy to have a foothold in your life or a stronghold in relationships? How is that going for you?
 
-How does the victory of God in Jesus compel you to kill sinful areas of your heart to replace them with the rule of King Jesus, obeying Him? Take a moment to ask the Lord to help you see and remove an area of rebellion in your heart, replacing it with His throne of grace.
 
Key Verse
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

​And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. 
 
8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’ ” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 
The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” ’ ” 19 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’ ” 
 
20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. 
25 Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile. 
 
 
Meditation
God’s promises empower believers to embrace the process of His providence.
 
God’s patient and personal preparation of Moses moves him from asking questions to obedience to the Lord’s commands (6, 10, 20). God promised the Egyptians would know He is God and that Israel would be let go from slavery, but not until after God would harden Pharaoh’s heart (3, 13, 14, 23) and “not listen to Moses” (3-5). The promise of judgement and deliverance foreshadows the struggles Christians face until the  return of Jesus. God promises evil and enemies will be removed when He comes to make all things new (Revelation 21-22). Until that day, believers persevere the process of God’s providence as we trust in God and His promises.

God’s power was displayed in the miracles of the staff (8-13) and the judgment of the Nile (14-25). God’s prediction came to fruition, but why did God not immediately bring freedom? The process is difficult. The glory is greater.
 
The Pharaoh who said, “I do not know the Lord” (5:2) came to know the Lord’s power (17), but not before there were eight more signs did Pharaoh let God’s people go. God was sovereign over Pharaoh’s hard heart as He is the tough parts of life, all processes of His providence to fulfill all His promises- and He will.  God’s ultimate victory is accomplished through Christ’s triumph on the cross (Colossians 2:15) and until His victory is fully applied, there will be a cost to obedience as Christians navigate His providence.
 
Faith in God and His promises empowers believers to persevere, trusting our Heavenly Father is working towards a greater glory.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the promise of difficult providence for Moses in his obedience?
 
-Do you endure difficult providence or check out? How does knowing God and His character to be faithful to His promises empower you to persevere?
 
-Jesus is the “Yes!” to all God’s promises and His Spirit guarantees the fullness of the promises will one day come. Where (specifically) do you need to endure difficult providence by doubling down trust in God and His promises? Take a moment to pray and meditate on a promise that will empower your perseverance.
 
Key Verse
3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you….5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”

​I will bless the Lord at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2    My soul makes its boast in the Lord; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
3    Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 
and let us exalt his name together! 
4    I sought the Lord, and he answered me 
and delivered me from all my fears. 
5    Those who look to him are radiant, 
and their faces shall never be ashamed. 
6    This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him 
and saved him out of all his troubles. 
7    The angel of the Lord encamps 
around those who fear him, and delivers them. 
8    Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! 
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 
9    Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, 
for those who fear him have no lack! 
10    The young lions suffer want and hunger; 
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 
11    Come, O children, listen to me; 
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 
12    What man is there who desires life 
and loves many days, that he may see good? 
13    Keep your tongue from evil 
and your lips from speaking deceit. 
14    Turn away from evil and do good; 
seek peace and pursue it. 
15    The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous 
and his ears toward their cry. 
16    The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, 
to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 
17    When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears 
and delivers them out of all their troubles. 
18    The Lord is near to the brokenhearted 
and saves the crushed in spirit. 
19    Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 
but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 
20    He keeps all his bones; 
not one of them is broken. 
21    Affliction will slay the wicked, 
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 
22    The Lord redeems the life of his servants; 
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 
 
 
Meditation
God is faithful to save, even when we are fearful of our struggles more than our Savior. Today’s psalm of grateful praise gets our soul in gear for worship as it teaches us to fear the Lord.

This psalm commemorates David’s wilderness run from Saul, growing specifically from an episode of danger and deceit (1 Samuel 21). David’s grateful praise (1-3) for deliverance (4-6) fuels fear of the Lord (7-10) before he offers instruction for the righteous (11-14), promises of future deliverance (15-20), and condemnation of the wicked (20-22). David’s tension between fear and faith in the wilderness gives birth to grateful praise when he sees the Lord’s deliverance. The Lord’s faithfulness fuels fear of Him rather than fear of enemies.
 
Worship is the right response to Divine rescue! Praise for the Lord’s salvation comes out of our mouth (1), from our soul (2), and in gladness with community (3). The overflow of praise pours out invitation for others to taste the goodness of God and His salvation (8). God delivers from trials and troubles (19). God will keep safe (20), defeat enemies (21), and redeem all who take refuge in Him (22). 
 
John sees Jesus as the fulfillment of this Psalm, not one of His bones being broken (John 19:31-33, 19-22). Jesus was delivered to death so all who trust in Him can know we will be forgiven for fearing the wrong things! And delivered from our enemy (the last enemy being death itself- 1 Corinthians 15:24-26). Jesus is faithful to save, and this should fuel grateful praise!


Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s psalm, especially the grateful praise, deliverance of God, and the focus to fear the Lord?
 
-Do you fear the Lord and look to Him in faith for salvation or fear enemies and difficulties in our world, looking horizontally for hope of deliverance?
 
-How does Jesus being delivered to death, defeating death, and offering you salvation both fuel grateful praise and form your heart to hope in Him for deliverance? Where do you need to apply this?
 
Key Verse
4    I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 

​King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 
3    How great are his signs, 
how mighty his wonders! 
       His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 
and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 
 
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” 
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. 
Nebuchadnezzar Restored
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, 
       for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, 
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 
35    all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, 
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven 
and among the inhabitants of the earth; 
       and none can stay his hand 
or say to him, “What have you done?” 
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. 
 
 
Meditation
Wisdom is marked by walking with God in humble gratitude and vibrant worship. Seeing the magnitude of God’s mercy and grace fuels believers to embrace a posture that proclaims, “Jesus must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). 
 
Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony begins celebrating “the signs and wonders the highest God has done” (1) and ends with a shocking truth: God will humble those who walk in pride (37). The substance of his story shows how the king’s accomplishments blinded him to the interpretation of his dream. “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power… for the glory of my majesty?” (30) “Immediately” the dream was fulfilled, Nebuchadnezzar losing his mind and becoming like a beast of the field. 
 
“Pride comes before the fall and humility precedes honor” (Proverbs 16:18).
 
Healing came when the king “lifted (his) eyes to heaven.” Reason returned and the king responded with humble worship. Humility was the first step for the Lord to restore the majesty of his kingdom (34-36).
 
God is merciful to reveal the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and to restore him as king. God is merciful to patiently walk with us in our pride, reminding us “God gives more grace… Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10).
 
Jesus humbled Himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming obedient to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8) so believers can be forgiven for our pride and lift our eyes of faith to Him. God’s rich mercy to His people cultivates humble gratitude overflowing in worship.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the pride of the king and God’s patient mercy to restore him?
 
-Where do you identify with the king, walking in pride and claiming credit for the tiny kingdoms you have built? How is that working for you?
 
-How does seeing the humble work of Jesus on your behalf refocus your heart by exposing your pride? Where do you need to repent, humbling yourself before the Lord to be restored by His sovereign grace? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. 
 

​But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 
2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’ ” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 
 
10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 
The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron
14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans. 
26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 
28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” 
 
Meditation
God’s purposes will be accomplished. God’s plan will be established. God is not bound by our present circumstances, personal comprehension, particular conundrum, or practical capabilities. God is “working all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).
 
Moses was despondent, discouraged by circumstances, and distrusting of God (5:22-23). Moses’ despair made no difference. The Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do…” (1).  God offers hope in difficult circumstances through reminders of His covenant faithfulness.
 
God proves His power through revealing His past, present, and future grace:
 
In the past God had appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3), made a covenant with them (4), and heard the groaning of His people in slavery (5). God has been faithful!
 
In the present God reveals His personal name- YHWH, “The Lord” (4). God is personal! And He wants His people to know and trust Him.
 
In the future God will redeem, purchasing Israel from Egypt. God will lead His people to the promise land (6-8). God is working all things for the good of His people and the glory of His name!
 
In despondency Moses disqualified himself again (9-11) and again (28-30) but it made no difference to God. The cracked clay vessel of Moses carried the message to the king, and the pen of the Holy Spirit carries the message to our hearts.
 
The will of God will be accomplished. The Word of God assures of the sufficiency of God’s sovereign grace. God is faithful and now you will see what He will do!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially Moses personal disqualification and God’s personal assurance.
 
-Where do you struggle to believe that God will do what He promises to do? Why is it easier to be despondent than dependent, trusting the Lord and His promises more than our circumstances or struggles?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus reinforce God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and to accomplish the work He has promised to do? How, specifically, does this reality encourage your heart?
 
Key Verse
1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land…”

​What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 
7    “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 
and whose sins are covered; 
8    blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 
The Promise Realized Through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 
 
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 
 
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace “gets us right” with God through faith, total trust in Jesus that we may be counted righteous through His work.
 
Abraham was “as good as dead” and Sarah was “barren,” yet God promised that through Abraham’s offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Abraham “believed God” and his faith was “counted” as righteousness (Genesis 15). 
 
“Counted” is the key word (logizdomai in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24), literally meaning “to credit or count.” Abraham’s faith credited him God’s righteousness (1-8). God’s grace does not count the sin of David, but covers sin with grace (6-8). Abraham’s faith was before the work of circumcision (9-17) and focused on God’s promises (18-23), specifically Jesus (24-25) who is Abraham’s greatest offspring.
 
The amount of faith does not count. The object of faith is paramount, and God’s irresistible grace compels our faith to focus on the person and promises of God. Jesus is the One who died so Abraham and all his “children by faith” can be made alive. Jesus rose from the grave so Sarah and all her children by faith can move from barrenness to blessing.  Jesus’ perfect life is counted for those whose trust in in Him just as His death covers our sins. Wearing Christ’s righteousness by faith, God sees believers “just as if we have never sinned.”
 
Jesus became sin so Christians can become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). The richness of Christ’s righteousness is counted, or credited, to believers, so we can know the riches of God’s grace.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in the “counting righteous” of God through faith?
 
-Do you struggle to believe your sins are not “counted” against you (6) because you do not trust the righteousness of Jesus has been counted, or credited, to you? How does this affect your trust of God and His love?
 
-How does the reality of God’s finished work in Christ, He taking your sin to give you His righteous record, fuel your trust in His forgiveness and move you to a place of peace?
 
 
Key Verse
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…