Read: Exodus 13-15
Focus Verse: “So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’ Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” (Exodus 15:24-26).
Devotion: A rough piece together translation of Exodus 15:26 by me is that God is saying: ‘If Israel diligently pays attention to the LORD and does what is HIS right, not what is their right, then God won’t have to get their attention with plagues and diseases like he did in Egypt.’ שמרע תשמע diligently heed; that’s a phrase to look into. What does it mean to diligently heed? Looking at opposite examples we come to the conclusion—in light of Exodus 9:15-16 as one of a few possible examples— that the plagues were largely due to Egypt (mainly Pharaoh’s) lack of noticing and paying attention to God. This stresses the point to follow after God. With God in your life things are better than without. Life is life, it won’t be perfect or without hardships for any of us. To say it’s better with God than without doesn’t mean to say it’s a perfect life. But God had to fight to get Egypt’s attention, if Israel will diligently heed God then God won’t have to fight to keep Israel’s attention. If we pay attention too, at least we avoid God having to get our attention. We need to follow and pay close attention to God.
Pray: Lord help me realize the peace and joy that I’m blessed with when I use my life to follow closely after You, and help me to do that. Amen!
Additional scripture: “Blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28)