Exodus: You Need Help

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2016
Chapters: Exodus 16-18
Message: Exodus: You Need Help

Hello My Friend,

I have always been a very independent person, and am a natural born leader, people have always come to me for help, and still do. So, when I became faced with a point in my life where I had to learn to not only depend on God, but others for help it did not go over too well with me. I still have a hard time looking to others for help, but know if I do not I will wear myself out and not be good to anyone. You know, God is quite capable of providing us with everything we need without lifting a finger, but He knows we will not learn to be dependent upon Him if He did. To get our attention He makes us work for things (except our salvation), and He will give us the strength to do the work He calls us to do, but also knows we need help to get it done. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:19,20.

So, I know it sounds like a contradiction to ask God for things and work for them at the same time, but it really is not. God wants our trust and to instill that trust He is going to prove us, if we are willing to do the work He calls us to do by faith, and without complaint, He will not only bless us with everything we need, we will get more than that. It had been about a month since the Israelite's miraculously crossed the dry ground of the parted Red Sea, they were not being very grateful for their freedom, every obstacle left them complaining to Moses and Aaron, you can imagine their reaction when the food supply began to diminish, but God did it all to prove them.

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” - Exodus 16:2-5,31.

“and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them,” Prove, To try; to ascertain some unknown quality or truth by an experiment. Oh my goodness, can I relate to what the Israelite's were going through here. However, I do not recall murmuring to anyone except God. Being in a state where you must rely on God to provide for you every day your daily bread truly does try your faith. Most people get steady paychecks checks, but when you do not have those and are left looking to God for your provisions, it can be discouraging on our faith. When God proves us, that is when we just need to trust He and do what we are supposed to be doing. Are we going to fail? Yep, we will fail sometimes, I fail a lot, but God is so rich in mercy and grace that He does not hold it against us. What do we do? We seek forgiveness, praise God, get up and move forward. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” - Psalms 51:10-12.

As much as we whine and complain about the things that we do not have, God still supplies us with everything we need. We might not be blessed to live in mansions, and have steak every night, but God always supplies His people with what they need to survive. Now, after some time had passed the Amalekites started a war with the Israelites, Moses instructs Joshua, one of his faithful followers, to put an army together.

“And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” - Exodus 17:9-14.

“But Moses' hands were heavy;” In this interesting illustration, whenever Moses held up his hands and the rod, they were wining the battle, but if he lowered his arms, the Amalekites were winning. It was not until he had help that he was able to keep his hands up until they were able to win the battle. It was not the rod or his hands in the air that gave them the victory, it was looking to God that gave them the victory. Whenever Moses held up the rod he was looking to God, but when he became tired and lowered his arms, they were failing. This proves that we cannot physically do everything by ourselves, no matter how strong we think we are, we all get tired, which is why we fail, and we need help. Jesus is our strength when we are weak, He is always with us, and will give us the strength to fight and win our battles, but we must also realize that He will send others to help us when we are not able to stand on our own. “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.” - Psalms 118:5-7.

I use to think that if I wanted something done right I needed to do it myself or that I could get it done faster if anyone wasn't getting in the way. I come to realize two things over the years, 1) Many hands make light work, and 2). I am not invincible. We when get to heaven we are not going to tire out our bodies, but while we live in the flesh we just cannot do everything by ourselves all the time. Do you know the reason why so many people are unhealthy, overweight, or depressed? Too much responsibility. We take on way too much thinking we can handle it all by ourselves and when we cannot we fall. The Israelite's camped out for a bit, Moses' father-in-law met up with him to bring his wife and children. He was pleased to see all that God had done, but disturbed to see Moses taking so many burdens by himself.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. hou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:” - Exodus 18:13-19.

“and God shall be with thee:” God is always with us, and believe it or not He will send people our way to help us deal with all our burdens. Stop stressing out trying to figure out what to do or how to do it, start accepting the help that God is giving you. Keep in mind that the people God sends you way will at least be saved and living a decent life with Christ, God will never put someone in our lives who is going to take us away from Him. Also, you know that you may be the person God uses to help someone else who is burdened. When we trust God and do the things He calls us to do, He will direct our paths and bless us greatly. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:5,6.

Today's Prayer: God, I know that you are always with me and will give me the strength I do the things You call me to do, but I also know that I cannot do everything myself. I realize now that I need family, friends, and those You send my way to help me through every single battle I face, without many hands I will get weary and fall. Lord, give me Your power and strength to endure every battle, and let me not be too proud to seek the help of others. Give me wisdom, guidance, and protection along the way, and keep me looking to You so I can see victory in You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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