Moses

Delegating is a Sign of Strength, Not Weakness: Devotional for February 7, 2022

/ Matthew R. Perry / Leave a comment
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Today’s Bible reading from the Five Day Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 16-18, Galatians 5

Too many leaders, especially leaders in the church, put so much pressure on themselves to get it all done that (1) they wear themselves out, and (2) risk failing to give others an opportunity to help and use their giftings to the glory of God.

Moses and the people of Israel were not long into their escape from the shackles of Egypt when they began to complain. They were hungry! So, Moses cried out to God and He provided manna and quail! They were thirsty, so Moses cried out to God and He provided water from the rock. The Amalekites came to fight and God delivered them and He was celebrated as Jehovah Nissi: “The LORD is My Banner.”

Yet, as God led Moses in these miraculous deliverances, Moses dealt with a day-to-day matter that threatened to undercut everything: He alone handled all the inquiries. His father-in-law rightly noted, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves our, for the thin is too heavy for you. You are not able to do this alone” (Exodus 18:17-18). Taking Jethro’s advice, Moses took able men to judge the less-hefty cases, leaving the hard cases for Moses.

Leaders must delegate. God brings along people with great character and able gifting to get the mission done. In reflecting on Hebrews 13:20-21, God gives us everything we need to do everything He commands. And that includes people. Delegating is not a sign of weakness but of strength. It shows that you do not believe everything relies on you but that you trust that everything relies of Christ.

He is our banner–remember?

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Are You an Excuse-Making Factory? Devotional for February 1, 2022

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Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Today’s Bible reading from the Five Day Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 4-6; Galatians 6

Several years ago, a group called The Kingsmen sang a catchy song that I remember it coming on the radio when I was a child in the 1970s. Here’s the chorus of the song:

Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day.
And the Devil he’ll supply them, if the church you stay away.
When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses
So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

Songwriters: Jim Kimberley / William Topley
Excuses lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

This activity is as old as time. As you read through Exodus 3-4, you see that Moses comes up with five types of excuses:

  • Who am I? (Exodus 3:11)
  • Who are you? (Exodus 3:13)
  • What if they don’t believe me? (Exodus 4:1)
  • Lord, I can’t talk. (Exodus 4:10)
  • Lord, send someone else (Exodus 4:13).

God answered the first three questions, provided for the fourth by sending his brother Aaron to help. The last one “kindled” the anger of the Lord (4:14). Now, it didn’t go well at first. When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh demanding that Pharaoh let God’s people go, Pharaoh did not acknowledge the Lord and made the work harder for God’s people. Moses struggled with God’s work and way, but God would make it clear that He was in the midst of Moses’ work to free His people.

When God calls you to something, do any of those excuses sound familiar? Surrender willingly and gladly! God is at work!

By the way, here’s the song I referred to at the beginning:

Good Morning Devo for 9.6.2021: “A Sustenance That Truly Sustains”

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September 06 (JPG)

Good morning! The Gospel of John presents seven “I AM” statements describing Jesus’ nature and work. Here, Jesus connects the bread that came down from heaven to sustain God’s people as they sojourned in the wilderness (manna), but that only sustained them for the day. The manna was a shadow of the reality to come.

In the previous paragraph, Jesus had this encounter with the Jewish leaders:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:25-29

When the leaders noted that Moses provided a sign in the wilderness (manna), they asked for a sign from Jesus, who then told them about a bread that comes down from heaven that will give life to the world. A promising prospect to the Jewish leaders!

The Son of Man would give them this bread–He Himself was that bread. Christ gave of Himself to provide the spiritual sustenance needed both here and in the hereafter. Christ is our everlasting manna!

No material item can bring any sort of sustaining satisfaction. Jesus is enough to bring that sustaining sustenance! Look to the cross and the empty tomb for that promise!