Scripture Reading — Psalm 22:1-31My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from . . . my cries of anguish?— Psalm 22:1Let’s be honest. Life can be hard. There are times when the only sounds we can make are silent cries and laments. And we may wonder, “Where is the faithful God who
Scripture Reading — Numbers 21:4-9Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.— Numbers 21:9Israel had a lot to learn about being the people of the holy and faithful God. In our story today the people grew impat
Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:1-14The LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.— Exodus 32:14While Moses met with God and received the law for the people, he was away for a long time—40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18). The people of Israel grew tired of waiting and
Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:1-21“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”— Exodus 20:2When we think about the faithfulness of God, the Ten Commandments are probably not among the first things that come to mind. After all, one of the main uses of God’s law
Scripture Reading — Exodus 12:31-42The LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt. . . .— Exodus 12:42It was not easy to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to release the people of God from slavery. Finally, after a series of ten plagues that brought suffering, destruction, and even death to c
Scripture Reading — Exodus 3:1-15"Now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."— Exodus 3:10While tending sheep in the wilderness, Moses saw a burning bush that did not burn up. As he went closer to try to see what was happening, a voice called out from the bu
Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:11-25God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham. . . .— Exodus 2:24Life in the palace was a privilege. Moses had a privileged position, and he could go out to see whatever he wanted to. Then he could return to enjoy the comforts of palace living
Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:1-10When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son.— Exodus 2:10A time of persecution for God’s people in Egypt led to a unique plan. God would raise up a leader for his people and eventually deliver them from slavery.A baby boy was b
Scripture Reading — Exodus 1:1-22Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.— Exodus 1:21In our story today, at the beginning of the book of Exodus, we learn that many years have passed since Jacob and his family went to live in Egypt. Joseph, who had ruled at the king’s rig
Scripture Reading — Genesis 50:15-21“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”— Genesis 50:20Joseph brought his father and all his brothers and their families to live in Egypt so that they would have plenty during the years
Scripture Reading — Genesis 45:1-20“God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”— Genesis 45:7Joseph had tested his brothers and had learned that they wanted to protect Benjamin, his younger brother, and to spare their father from an
Scripture Reading — Genesis 42:1-17“I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us. . . .”— Genesis 42:2Like many others during the seven years of famine, Jacob’s family and flocks were running out of food. So Jacob sent his sons to go and buy food in Egypt, where they
