The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday January 31, 2018 (NIV)

Exodus 12:14-13:16

14 “This day shall be (A)for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a (B)statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 (C)Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, (D)that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a (E)holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for (F)on this very day I brought your (G)hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 (H)In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 (I)For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, (J)that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, (K)whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves (L)according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of (M)hyssop and (N)dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch (O)the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. (P)None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 (Q)For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on (R)the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and (S)will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, (T)as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And (U)when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, (V)‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people (W)bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

29 (X)At midnight the (Y)Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, (Z)from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was (AA)a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, (AB)both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 (AC)Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

The Exodus

33 (AD)The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had (AE)asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 (AF)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that (AG)they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the (AH)people of Israel journeyed from (AI)Rameses to Succoth, (AJ)about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A (AK)mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because (AL)they were thrust out of Egypt and (AM)could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of (AN)430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a (AO)night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

Institution of the Passover

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave[a] that is (AP)bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 (AQ)No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and (AR)you shall not break any of its bones. 47 (AS)All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 (AT)If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he (AU)shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be (AV)one law for the native and for the (AW)stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the (AX)Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their (AY)hosts.

Consecration of the Firstborn

13 The Lord said to Moses, (AZ)“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Then Moses said to the people, (BA)“Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, (BB)for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. (BC)No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of (BD)Abib, you are going out. And when the Lord brings you into (BE)the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which (BF)he swore to your fathers to give you, a land (BG)flowing with milk and honey, (BH)you shall keep this service in this month. (BI)Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. (BJ)You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall (BK)be to you as a sign on your hand and as (BL)a memorial (BM)between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 (BN)You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, (BO)as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 (BP)you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. 13 (BQ)Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every (BR)firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 (BS)And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, (BT)‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of (BU)slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the (BV)Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but (BW)all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 (BX)It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for (BY)by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 12:44 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles (see Preface)

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 12:14 : ch. 13:9
  2. Exodus 12:14 : ver. 17, 24, 43; ch. 13:10; 2 Kgs. 23:21
  3. Exodus 12:15 : ch. 13:6, 7; 23:15; 34:18, 25; Lev. 23:6; Num. 28:17; Deut. 16:3, 8; [1 Cor. 5:7, 8]
  4. Exodus 12:15 : [Gen. 17:14; Num. 9:13]
  5. Exodus 12:16 : Lev. 23:7, 8; Num. 28:18, 25
  6. Exodus 12:17 : ch. 13:3
  7. Exodus 12:17 : ver. 51; ch. 7:4
  8. Exodus 12:18 : Lev. 23:5; Num. 28:16
  9. Exodus 12:19 : ver. 15
  10. Exodus 12:19 : ver. 15
  11. Exodus 12:19 : ver. 48, 49
  12. Exodus 12:21 : ver. 3
  13. Exodus 12:22 : Lev. 14:6; Num. 19:18; Ps. 51:7; Heb. 9:19
  14. Exodus 12:22 : Heb. 11:28
  15. Exodus 12:22 : ver. 7
  16. Exodus 12:22 : [Isa. 26:20]
  17. Exodus 12:23 : ver. 12, 13
  18. Exodus 12:23 : [See ver. 22 above]; ver. 7
  19. Exodus 12:23 : Heb. 11:28; [Ezek. 9:6; Rev. 7:3; 9:4]
  20. Exodus 12:25 : ch. 3:8, 17
  21. Exodus 12:26 : ch. 13:8, 14; Deut. 6:20; 32:7; Josh. 4:6, 21; Ps. 78:3-6
  22. Exodus 12:27 : ver. 11, 21
  23. Exodus 12:27 : ch. 4:31
  24. Exodus 12:29 : ch. 11:4
  25. Exodus 12:29 : Num. 8:17; 33:4; Ps. 78:51; 105:36; 135:8; 136:10
  26. Exodus 12:29 : ch. 4:23; 11:5
  27. Exodus 12:30 : ch. 11:6; [Amos 5:16, 17]
  28. Exodus 12:31 : [ch. 10:9-11]
  29. Exodus 12:32 : [ch. 10:24-26]
  30. Exodus 12:33 : ch. 6:1; 11:1, 8; Ps. 105:38
  31. Exodus 12:35 : ch. 3:22; 11:2
  32. Exodus 12:36 : ch. 3:21; 11:3
  33. Exodus 12:36 : Gen. 15:14; Ps. 105:37
  34. Exodus 12:37 : Num. 33:3, 5
  35. Exodus 12:37 : Gen. 47:11; [ch. 1:11]
  36. Exodus 12:37 : [ch. 38:26; Num. 1:46; 2:32; 11:21; 26:51]
  37. Exodus 12:38 : Lev. 24:10, 11; Num. 11:4; [Neh. 13:3]
  38. Exodus 12:39 : [See ver. 33 above]; ch. 6:1; 11:1, 8; Ps. 105:38
  39. Exodus 12:39 : [Deut. 16:3]
  40. Exodus 12:41 : Gal. 3:17; [Gen. 15:13; Acts 7:6]
  41. Exodus 12:42 : See Deut. 16:1-6
  42. Exodus 12:44 : [Gen. 17:12, 13]
  43. Exodus 12:45 : Lev. 22:10
  44. Exodus 12:46 : Num. 9:12; Cited John 19:36
  45. Exodus 12:47 : ver. 6
  46. Exodus 12:48 : Num. 9:14
  47. Exodus 12:48 : ver. 19
  48. Exodus 12:49 : Num. 9:14; 15:15, 16
  49. Exodus 12:49 : [See ver. 48 above]; Num. 9:14
  50. Exodus 12:51 : ver. 41; Acts 13:17
  51. Exodus 12:51 : ver. 17
  52. Exodus 13:2 : ver. 12, 13, 15; ch. 22:29, 30; 34:19; Lev. 27:26; Num. 3:13; 8:16, 17; 18:15; Deut. 15:19; Cited Luke 2:23
  53. Exodus 13:3 : ch. 12:42; Deut. 16:3
  54. Exodus 13:3 : ch. 3:19; 6:1
  55. Exodus 13:3 : See ch. 12:8
  56. Exodus 13:4 : ch. 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1
  57. Exodus 13:5 : ch. 3:8; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11; Josh. 12:8; 24:11
  58. Exodus 13:5 : ch. 6:8
  59. Exodus 13:5 : See ch. 3:8
  60. Exodus 13:5 : ch. 12:25, 26
  61. Exodus 13:6 : ch. 12:15, 16
  62. Exodus 13:8 : See ch. 12:26
  63. Exodus 13:9 : Deut. 6:8; 11:18; [Num. 15:39; Matt. 23:5]
  64. Exodus 13:9 : ch. 12:14, 24
  65. Exodus 13:9 : Deut. 6:8; 11:18; [Num. 15:39; Matt. 23:5]
  66. Exodus 13:10 : [ch. 12:14, 17, 24, 43]
  67. Exodus 13:11 : ver. 5
  68. Exodus 13:12 : ver. 2
  69. Exodus 13:13 : ch. 34:20
  70. Exodus 13:13 : Num. 3:46, 47; 18:15, 16
  71. Exodus 13:14 : See ch. 12:26
  72. Exodus 13:14 : ver. 3, 16
  73. Exodus 13:14 : ver. 3
  74. Exodus 13:15 : ch. 12:29
  75. Exodus 13:15 : ver. 13
  76. Exodus 13:16 : ver. 9
  77. Exodus 13:16 : ver. 14
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Matthew 20:29-21:22

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

29 (A)And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,[a] have mercy on us, (B)Son of David!” 31 The crowd (C)rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

The Triumphal Entry

21 (D)Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to (E)the Mount of Olives, then Jesus (F)sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place (G)to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

(H)“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
(I)humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt,[b] the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd (J)spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, (K)“Hosanna to (L)the Son of David! (M)Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna (N)in the highest!” 10 And (O)when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is (P)the prophet Jesus, (Q)from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 (R)And Jesus entered the temple[c] and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of (S)the money-changers and the seats of those who sold (T)pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, (U)‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but (V)you make it a den of robbers.”

14 (W)And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 (X)But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, (Y)“Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; (Z)have you never read,

(AA)“‘Out of the mouth of (AB)infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”

17 And (AC)leaving them, he (AD)went out of the city to (AE)Bethany and lodged there.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

18 (AF)In the morning, as he was returning to the city, (AG)he became hungry. 19 (AH)And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, (AI)“Truly, I say to you, (AJ)if you have faith and (AK)do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, (AL)‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And (AM)whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, (AN)if you have faith.”

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 20:30 Some manuscripts omit Lord
  2. Matthew 21:5 Or donkey, and on a colt
  3. Matthew 21:12 Some manuscripts add of God

Cross references:

  1. Matthew 20:29 : For ver. 29-34, see Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43; [ch. 9:27-31]
  2. Matthew 20:30 : ch. 21:9; 22:42; See ch. 1:1
  3. Matthew 20:31 : ch. 19:13
  4. Matthew 21:1 : For ver. 1-9, see Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-15
  5. Matthew 21:1 : ch. 24:3; 26:30; Zech. 14:4; [John 8:1]; [Acts 1:12]
  6. Matthew 21:1 : [Mark 14:13]
  7. Matthew 21:4 : See ch. 1:22
  8. Matthew 21:5 : Cited from Zech. 9:9; [Isa. 62:11]
  9. Matthew 21:5 : ch. 11:29
  10. Matthew 21:8 : 2 Kgs. 9:13
  11. Matthew 21:9 : [Rev. 7:10]; See Ps. 118:25 (Heb.)
  12. Matthew 21:9 : ch. 20:30
  13. Matthew 21:9 : ch. 23:39; Cited from Ps. 118:26
  14. Matthew 21:9 : Luke 2:14; [Ps. 148:1]
  15. Matthew 21:10 : Mark 11:11
  16. Matthew 21:11 : ver. 46; Luke 7:16; 13:33; 24:19; John 4:19; 6:14; 7:40; 9:17; [Mark 6:15; Luke 9:8, 19; John 1:21]
  17. Matthew 21:11 : See ch. 2:23
  18. Matthew 21:12 : For ver. 12-16, see Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-47; [John 2:14-16]
  19. Matthew 21:12 : [Ex. 30:13]
  20. Matthew 21:12 : Lev. 1:14; 5:7; 12:8; Luke 2:24
  21. Matthew 21:13 : Cited from Isa. 56:7
  22. Matthew 21:13 : Jer. 7:11
  23. Matthew 21:14 : ch. 11:5; 15:31
  24. Matthew 21:15 : [Luke 19:39, 40]
  25. Matthew 21:15 : [See ver. 9 above]; [Rev. 7:10]; See Ps. 118:25 (Heb.)
  26. Matthew 21:16 : ver. 42; ch. 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31
  27. Matthew 21:16 : Cited from Ps. 8:2 (Gk.)
  28. Matthew 21:16 : ch. 11:25
  29. Matthew 21:17 : ch. 16:4
  30. Matthew 21:17 : Mark 11:19; [Luke 21:37]
  31. Matthew 21:17 : Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29; 24:50; John 11:18
  32. Matthew 21:18 : For ver. 18-22, see Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
  33. Matthew 21:18 : ch. 4:2
  34. Matthew 21:19 : [Luke 13:6-9]
  35. Matthew 21:21 : ch. 17:20
  36. Matthew 21:21 : [John 14:12]
  37. Matthew 21:21 : Acts 10:20; Rom. 4:20; 14:23; James 1:6
  38. Matthew 21:21 : [Ps. 46:2; 1 Cor. 13:2; Rev. 8:8]
  39. Matthew 21:22 : [See ver. 21 above]; [John 14:12]
  40. Matthew 21:22 : See ch. 7:7
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 25:12-22

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him (A)will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall (B)abide in well-being,
and his (C)offspring (D)shall inherit the land.
14 (E)The friendship[a] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My (F)eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will (G)pluck my feet out of the net.

16 (H)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 (I)Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
(J)Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

22 (K)Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 6:12-15

12 (A)A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with (B)crooked speech,
13 (C)winks with his eyes, signals[a] with his feet,
points with his finger,
14 with (D)perverted heart (E)devises evil,
continually (F)sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
(G)in a moment he will be broken (H)beyond healing.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 6:13 Hebrew scrapes
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

01/30/2018 DAB Transcript

Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalms 25:1-11, Proverbs 6:6-11

Today is the 30th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. How are you today? I hope all is well, but no matter how things are, this is the time that we just shut those things down, out them in their proper perspective, and just allow God’s word to begin to wash over us and speak life to us. So, we’re reading from the English Standard Version this week. And we’ll go into the book of Exodus, where Egypt is experiencing the hand of God and Pharaoh, who thinks he is a God, is discovering maybe not so much. Exodus chapter 10 verse 1 through 12:13 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. And we see in the book of Exodus the lengths You are willing to go to set Your people free. And then we look at the cross and we see that You will withhold nothing to set Your people free. And so, we pray along with the psalmist, David, today. Make me to know Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. For You I wait all the day long. Come, Holy Spirit. We ask in Jesus’ name. Set us free. We trust in You and we collaborate in our own freedom. Come Jesus. We pray in Your name. We ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

So, looking at the calendar, one week from tomorrow, which would be the 7th of February, it’s a Wednesday, a Wednesday evening, I’ll be speaking in Bakersfield California at New life Church. So, looking forward to that. If you’re in the region…excuse me…swallowing some coffee…if you are in…I shouldn’t do that…I do that all the time…I usually get away with it though…it’s like…but once in a while I get caught. Anyway, if you are in the region of Bakersfield, come out and say hello. Love to meet you and shake your hand and just be out among the community.

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And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

My dear, sweet, 11-year-old Jaden L. from New York, your call touched us. And we pray that God will bless you, that God will direct your steps, and keep His protection over you. We’re praying for you Jaden. And thank you so much for calling in. We’re praying for your mother and your stepfather and we are praying a special prayer over your grandmother. Thank you so much for calling in. You are in our prayers and we hope you will call back and keep us up-to-date. In Jesus’ name, I pray for you. Amen.

Hello fellow DABbers. This is Greg from Amish country Pennsylvania. I had two people have the on my mind recently and I will not be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to encourage you. Viola, my sister in the Lord from Maryland, you are a powerful prayer warrior for the kingdom and I want to encourage you to keep on. I appreciate your prayers and I hope to hear you more often here on DAB. Pelham, I want to encourage you also. I’ve recently been through a scary time financially also and the main thing I learned is to hit my knees often. The busier and more stressful life gets, the more time we must spend in prayer. And don’t forget to spend the big chunk of that time in praise to our good Father. Philippians 4:19 says, and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus. My last bit of advice is that when you’re living in daily communion with the Creator of the universe, you can function with confidence. He’s got your back. Don’t live in fear. In fact, I want to encourage you to be bold and that may mean having a conversation with your employer. Pray about it Pelham and we are all praying for you also. And lastly, the mother who called requesting prayer for a whole year for her wayward daughter Zoe, I’m on it, I’m doing my best to cover her and prayer daily. Thank you.

Hi Daily Audio Bible family this is Lisa and Capistrano Beach California. Today is January 24th and I just paused the prayers as Jenna, 11 years old from New York called in and she’s asking for prayer. Jenna I’m praying for you. I’m praying for your neighbor, your family, all of them, and for you, dear heart. You have such wisdom and courage to call out and ask us for your help. The Lord here’s your cry and plea for help. So, I just want you to know and I want everybody that calls in to know that I’m praying with you. As you’re asking for prayer, I’m immediately praying. I don’t write down all the names but I pray God knows who you are. And I just ask that the Lord will bless you, give you a sense of calm and peace, and that you all would be in His will. I love each and every one of you. And that’s hard to believe sometimes, but we do have a love one another here in this community. And I just pray that you all give it forward and support this ministry because it makes a difference in your life. I’m on 13 years now. I love each and every one of you and I’m thankful for this ministry. Thank you everybody. God bless your day. Bye-bye.

Hey, good day DABbers. This is January 24th. This is Brandon down here in South Carolina. Hey, I’m calling in response to the little DABber, I believe it was Jaden in New York. I just heard your prayer request on the January 24th podcast. And I just wanted to reach out to you. Young believer, you are strong one, I can hear it in your voice. And I’m just so proud of you. I’m praying for you. I’m lifting you up. I’m lifting up your mom. I’m lifting up your stepdad. I’m lifting up your grandmother, who introduced you to the DAB. And I’m proud of her for doing that. And I just wanted to let you know, I’m praying with you, I’m praying for you. And you know there’s a scene in the Bible where Jesus, the young believers are gathering around them, and the older adults are trying to say, no, no, no, stand back, Jesus is got work to do. And you know what Jesus said. Jesus said hey, let these little guys come to me because, unless you are like one of them, you will not be able to enter the kingdom. And so, I just want you to be encouraged and know that unless we are all strong and believing just like you, that none of us will make it. So, I love you, I’m praying for you, I’m praying for all the DABbers, and I love this podcast. Thank you for what you do guys. Stay strong.

Hello there DAB family. This is __ from Edmonton Alberta Canada. I am a first-time caller, but I’ve been listening around seven or eight years. The only problem I have is I never actually went over the full year. And I’m praying that this year going to be different. I want 2018 to be a different year with my walk with God. So, I am asking you guys to pray for me. I want to be really really committed to God this year. I’ve always made commitment and then fall through, like, never follow through actually. I always stop in the middle sometimes. So, I just want you guys to pray for me. And may 2018 be a different year for me. I thank you guys. Bye-bye.

Hello from beautiful Cincinnati Ohio. This is Daniel J. Junior. Brian and Jill, God bless you all and your family. Thank you for everybody who works behind the scenes to bring the Daily Audio Bible into fruition. Like so many of us, we are praying for God to continue to bless this ministry. Today is Thursday, January the 25th, 2018. It’s amazing to think that we are 25 days into this new year. It seems like it’s going by so fast, but then also, time being elastic, it’s not quite so much. I’m just struck by, you know, as we finish…we entered the book of Exodus today, thinking back to when the promise was given to Abraham. And just was thinking back to how old these people were, and how many years had gone by until like, here we are, arriving at Moses. And then thinking from Moses to Joshua’s entering the conquest of the promised land. I mean, we’re talking close to a thousand years like, maybe, from the time that Abraham first got the promise that God would give them his descendants this land. He probably thought that never would’ve happened…and I’m sure we could even think about that even further…but it reminds me of the book of Hebrews, where it says, these people did this by faith. They went out, they moved away from their country to these areas. And I’m just thinking, man, I don’t know if I can wait that long before I could see God’s promise happen. And, you know, these people waited so long. So, it’s just something that I’m thinking about. God bless everybody. Daniel J. Junior from beautiful Cincinnati Ohio. Make it a great day.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday January 30, 2018 (NIV)

Exodus 10:1-12:13

The Eighth Plague: Locusts

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and (A)that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, (B)that you may know that I am the Lord.”

So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to (C)humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring (D)locusts into your country, and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall (E)eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, and they shall fill (F)your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, (G)“Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?” Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for (H)we must hold a feast to the Lord.” 10 But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your (I)little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind.[a] 11 No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, (J)“Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and (K)eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 (L)The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, (M)such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15 They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and (N)they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, (O)“I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and (P)plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So (Q)he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them (R)into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the Lord (S)hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, (T)“Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be (U)darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but (V)all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, (W)“Go, serve the Lord; (X)your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” 27 But the Lord (Y)hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! (Z)I will not see your face again.”

A Final Plague Threatened

11 The Lord said to Moses, “Yet (AA)one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. (AB)When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that (AC)they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” (AD)And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.

So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: (AE)‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is (AF)behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. (AG)There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. But not a dog shall growl (AH)against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord (AI)makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ And (AJ)all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the Lord said to Moses, (AK)“Pharaoh will not listen to you, that (AL)my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord (AM)hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

The Passover

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, (AN)“This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb (AO)according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be (AP)without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the (AQ)fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.[b]

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the (AR)two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with (AS)unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but (AT)roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And (AU)you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with (AV)your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. (AW)It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For (AX)I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on (AY)all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: (AZ)I am the Lord. 13 (BA)The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 10:10 Hebrew before your face
  2. Exodus 12:6 Hebrew between the two evenings

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 10:2 : [ch. 13:8, 14; Deut. 4:9; 6:20-22; Ps. 78:5-7; Joel 1:3]
  2. Exodus 10:2 : ch. 7:17
  3. Exodus 10:3 : 1 Kgs. 21:29
  4. Exodus 10:4 : Lev. 11:22; Prov. 30:27; Joel 1:4; 2:25; Rev. 9:3
  5. Exodus 10:5 : ch. 9:32
  6. Exodus 10:6 : [ch. 8:3, 21; Joel 2:9]
  7. Exodus 10:8 : ver. 24
  8. Exodus 10:9 : ch. 5:1; [ch. 3:18]
  9. Exodus 10:10 : ver. 24
  10. Exodus 10:12 : See ch. 7:19
  11. Exodus 10:12 : ver. 4, 5
  12. Exodus 10:14 : Ps. 78:46; 105:34
  13. Exodus 10:14 : Joel 2:2
  14. Exodus 10:15 : Ps. 105:35
  15. Exodus 10:16 : ch. 9:27
  16. Exodus 10:17 : See ch. 8:8
  17. Exodus 10:18 : ch. 8:30; 9:33
  18. Exodus 10:19 : [Joel 2:20]
  19. Exodus 10:20 : See ch. 4:21
  20. Exodus 10:21 : ver. 12
  21. Exodus 10:21 : Ps. 105:28
  22. Exodus 10:23 : [ch. 8:22; 9:4, 6]
  23. Exodus 10:24 : ver. 8
  24. Exodus 10:24 : ver. 10
  25. Exodus 10:27 : ver. 20
  26. Exodus 10:29 : [Heb. 11:27]
  27. Exodus 11:1 : [ch. 4:23]
  28. Exodus 11:1 : ch. 12:31, 33, 39
  29. Exodus 11:2 : ch. 3:22; 12:35
  30. Exodus 11:3 : ch. 3:21; 12:36
  31. Exodus 11:4 : ch. 12:29; [Job 34:20; Amos 4:10]
  32. Exodus 11:5 : Matt. 24:41; Luke 17:35
  33. Exodus 11:6 : ch. 12:30; [Amos 5:16, 17]
  34. Exodus 11:7 : [ch. 8:22; 9:4]
  35. Exodus 11:7 : ch. 9:4
  36. Exodus 11:8 : ch. 12:33
  37. Exodus 11:9 : ch. 3:19; 7:4; 10:1
  38. Exodus 11:9 : ch. 7:3
  39. Exodus 11:10 : See ch. 4:21
  40. Exodus 12:2 : ch. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1
  41. Exodus 12:3 : ver. 21
  42. Exodus 12:5 : Lev. 22:19-21; Deut. 17:1; Mal. 1:8, 14; Heb. 9:14
  43. Exodus 12:6 : ver. 18; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:3; 28:16; Josh. 5:10; Ezra 6:19
  44. Exodus 12:7 : ver. 22
  45. Exodus 12:8 : ch. 23:18; 34:25; Num. 9:11; Deut. 16:3; 1 Cor. 5:8
  46. Exodus 12:9 : Deut. 16:7; 2 Chr. 35:13
  47. Exodus 12:10 : ch. 23:18; 29:34; 34:25; Deut. 16:4; [Lev. 7:15]
  48. Exodus 12:11 : [Luke 12:35; Eph. 6:14; 1 Pet. 1:13]
  49. Exodus 12:11 : ver. 27; Lev. 23:5; Deut. 16:5; [1 Cor. 5:7]
  50. Exodus 12:12 : ver. 23; ch. 11:4, 5
  51. Exodus 12:12 : Num. 33:4
  52. Exodus 12:12 : ch. 6:2; Isa. 43:11
  53. Exodus 12:13 : [Heb. 11:28]
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Matthew 20:1-28

Laborers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius[a] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And (A)about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And (B)when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his (C)foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and (D)the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, (E)‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take (F)what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 (G)Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or (H)do you begrudge my generosity?’[b] 16 So (I)the last will be first, and the first last.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

17 (J)And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, (K)we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will (L)condemn him to death 19 and (M)deliver him over to the Gentiles (N)to be mocked and flogged and (O)crucified, and he will be raised on (P)the third day.”

A Mother's Request

20 (Q)Then (R)the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and (S)kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine (T)are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, (U)in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, (V)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able (W)to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, (X)“You will drink (Y)my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, (Z)but it is for those for whom it has been (AA)prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, (AB)“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles (AC)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 (AD)It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[c] 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,[d] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but (AE)to serve, and (AF)to give his life as a ransom for (AG)many.”

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 20:2 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  2. Matthew 20:15 Or is your eye bad because I am good?
  3. Matthew 20:26 Greek diakonos
  4. Matthew 20:27 Or bondservant, or servant (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)

Cross references:

  1. Matthew 20:6 : [1 Cor. 15:8]
  2. Matthew 20:8 : Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15
  3. Matthew 20:8 : Luke 8:3; [ch. 24:45]
  4. Matthew 20:12 : Luke 12:55; James 1:11 (Gk.)
  5. Matthew 20:13 : ch. 22:12; 26:50
  6. Matthew 20:14 : ch. 25:25
  7. Matthew 20:15 : [Rom. 9:15-24]
  8. Matthew 20:15 : ch. 6:23; Deut. 15:9; Prov. 23:6
  9. Matthew 20:16 : See ch. 19:30
  10. Matthew 20:17 : For ver. 17-19, see Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-33; [ch. 16:21-28; 17:12, 22, 23]
  11. Matthew 20:18 : See ch. 16:21
  12. Matthew 20:18 : ch. 26:66; John 19:7
  13. Matthew 20:19 : ch. 27:2; John 18:30, 31; Acts 3:13; [Acts 2:23; 4:27; 21:11]
  14. Matthew 20:19 : ch. 27:26-31
  15. Matthew 20:19 : ch. 26:2; Luke 24:7; John 12:32, 33; 18:32
  16. Matthew 20:19 : ch. 16:21; 27:63
  17. Matthew 20:20 : For ver. 20-28, see Mark 10:35-45
  18. Matthew 20:20 : ch. 4:21; 27:56
  19. Matthew 20:20 : See ch. 8:2
  20. Matthew 20:21 : [ch. 19:28]
  21. Matthew 20:21 : ch. 16:28; 25:31, 34; Luke 23:42
  22. Matthew 20:22 : [Luke 9:33; 23:34]
  23. Matthew 20:22 : ch. 26:29, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11; [Isa. 51:22]
  24. Matthew 20:23 : [Rom. 8:17; Phil. 3:10]
  25. Matthew 20:23 : Acts 12:2; Rev. 1:9
  26. Matthew 20:23 : [ch. 19:11]
  27. Matthew 20:23 : ch. 25:34
  28. Matthew 20:25 : For ver. 25-28, [ch. 18:1-4; Luke 22:25-27]
  29. Matthew 20:25 : 1 Pet. 5:3
  30. Matthew 20:26 : ch. 23:11; [Luke 9:48]
  31. Matthew 20:28 : John 13:4, 13-15; Phil. 2:7; [2 Cor. 8:9]
  32. Matthew 20:28 : Isa. 53:10; Dan. 9:26; John 10:15; 11:51, 52; Rom. 4:25; Gal. 1:4; 2:20; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
  33. Matthew 20:28 : ch. 26:28; Isa. 53:11, 12; Heb. 2:10; 9:28; [Rom. 5:15; Rev. 5:9]
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 25:1-11

Teach Me Your Paths

[a] Of David.

25 To you, O Lord, I (A)lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I (B)trust;
(C)let me not be put to shame;
(D)let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, (E)none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are (F)wantonly (G)treacherous.

(H)Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your (I)truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your (J)mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
(K)for they have been from of old.
Remember not (L)the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your (M)steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

(N)Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he (O)instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are (P)steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your (Q)name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is (R)great.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 6:6-11

(A)Go to (B)the ant, O (C)sluggard;
consider her ways, and (D)be wise.
(E)Without having any chief,
(F)officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread (G)in summer
and (H)gathers her food in harvest.
(I)How long will you lie there, (J)O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 (K)A little sleep, a little slumber,
(L)a little (M)folding of the hands to rest,
11 (N)and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

01/29/2018 DAB Transcript

Exodus 7:25-9:35, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalms 24:1-10 Proverbs 6:1-5

Today is the 29th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you today as we move into our work week and as we approach the end of the month. So, let’s take the next step forward as we move through the Scriptures this year. And we are in the book of Exodus and things are about to get quite uncomfortable for the Egyptians. Exodus chapter 7 verse 25 through 9:35 today.

Commentary:

Okay, so let’s go into the Psalms today. And I want to show you something that, if we can come clear on this one thing, it can absolutely change our lives. And I almost feel like I’ve understated that. This one thing is a key thing to understanding the battle for our hearts that we are in. If we can expose this one thing in our lives, it can change everything. So, the Psalm poses a question, a couple of them: who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? right? So, the question is who can go to where God is and stand in His presence? And isn’t that ultimately what we’re trying to do? Isn’t union with God and living life within His presence what we’re really after? Isn’t that, ultimately, the deepest soul craving that we have? So, the psalmist asks, who gets to do that? And the answer is given. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. So, if we boil that all down what are we saying? We’re saying that the person who wants to go into God’s presence and remain there is the person who is true. So, if we were to look at Jesus in the Gospels as we’re working our way through, one of the things that we should be able to see crystal clear about Jesus is that He is true. There is nothing false within Him. He doesn’t speak out of both sides of His mouth. He doesn’t speak situationally, where His answer might be one thing to one person, but different, nuanced, and manipulative to another. He’s simply living true inside and outside and it comes spilling out in His words and actions. He is true that is very, very important to recognize. Because the one living in deception isn’t the one that can go into God’s presence and dwell there. It’s the one who is true. So, let’s expose the thief here and talk about the one thing that if the thief, the evil one, is able to be successful in your life can take you down. I mean, you may be going through a hard patch right now and say words like, I’m being attacked right now, or the warfare has been severe against me these days. Those kinds of things. At the core of all of that is one thing and that one thing is deception. The primary thing that the evil one is attempting to do in your life and in all of humanity is to deceive. This is the primary weapon, to deceive you with something that is false and get you to believe that it’s true. Once you believe that what is false is true you will live as if it were true. And once that’s happened enough times, there is sufficient deception to alter the course of your very life. If you carry that out in your life far enough, then you’ll become a deceiver, too. Now, lest you think that I’m just sitting here making stuff up or like these are truths that I’ve just come to, that these are just my personal convictions as a Bible teacher. That is not what’s going on here. That is not the case. This is borne out throughout the entire Bible. We’ve already encountered it. We will encounter it all the way until the end of the Bible.

So, let’s just go back a couple weeks to Genesis chapter 3. Right? The fall of man. How did that happen in the first place? Everything was perfect. What was the one thing that got through that perfection and actually upended everything? Deception. I mean, we can just stop there and say, okay the thing that destroyed shalom was deception and call it good. But it’s all throughout the Bible. Jesus is baptized. He goes into the wilderness for 40 days, he’s tempted by the devil. What tactic is the devil using? Deception. The evil one offers a picture of a different reality to Adam and Eve. The evil one offers the picture of a different reality to Jesus, a quick fix. If you do this, then that will be yours. Nobody has to get hurt. You can be your own God. You can be in complete control.

In Jesus’ life we see all kinds of antagonism toward Him from the religious leaders because Jesus is flying in the face of some of their core traditions and reinterpreting them and He’s on the hot seat and they’re plotting against Him. But what is Jesus trying to do? He’s trying to remove deception. He’s is trying to show them what they made of God’s law, that they’ve been deceived for so long that now the deception has become true to them and they’re living as if it were true to the point that they’re so discombobulated that they are plotting against the God who wrote the law in the first place. That’s how twisted deception can get. That’s how twisted we can get.

And we can go on and on and on but if we skip all the way to the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation what we will find is that the primary thing going on in the world that causes such turmoil and catastrophe and such trying and difficult times for those who are staying true is deception. So, if you’ll watch as we move through the stories of the Bible and we encounter all of the decisions and choices, all of the forks in the road that we reach, and then we watch decisions being made and paths being followed, we will see clearly where the road of deception leads and where the path that is true leads. And one way to look at how much maybe deception has been a part of our lives and affected the course of our lives is to simply look at how deceptive we are willing to be. And I’m not necessarily talking about the blackest of lies, like the boldfaced out-right lies. How much deception are we sowing in alongside the truth when we say things? Because that is exactly…that is the primary tool of the evil one, to sow deception in along with something true and make it plausible and let it grow. When we replicate that, we are perpetuating the problem. And we most certainly are not imitating Jesus, who is modeling for us, in the Gospels, what our lives can and must and should look like.

So, imagine yourself having a cup of coffee with Jesus at a nice café somewhere in, I don’t know, Tel Aviv, and He’s counseling you on your life. Do you think you’d have to sit there and go, what part of this is for His own gain? What part of…like…what is the story behind the story here? How am I being manipulated here? How is this suggestion cloaked so that Jesus can get something out of me? How is He manipulating me? Can you imagine having a conversation like that with Jesus? Probably not, because you do not believe Jesus would do that to you. Well then why would you try to do that to Jesus? Why would you try to do that to anyone? Why would we try to do anything to anyone that Jesus wouldn’t? If Jesus is a picture of what humanity can be, even in a fallen world, and if that’s what we truly, truly want for our lives, why would we behave differently then, except for the presence of deception?

Okay, this is a pretty big deal. In fact, this is one of the biggest deals. This is such a big deal that if we actually will begin to allow ourselves to consider the ways in which we’ve lived in deception as a deceiver, or as the deceived, we will begin following winding trails back into our own history and we will invariably end up at tremendous difficulties and wounds in our lives, things that were tremendously painful, things that changed us. And we will find messages in those wounds, things said about us, things that we thought about ourselves and agreed with, things like, I deserved that, it was all my fault, I’m really not worth anything, I will never achieve that, I will never become this and on and on we could go. But a lot of times we realize we began to believe that about ourselves and then we lived as if it were true. So, not only are we knocked off the course of our destiny, we live into that deceit and then perpetuate it.

So, this is like one of those things that I could pray right here and, you know, and say whatever announcements that we have going on in the community and just kind of move out. And, so, by the time that the prayer calls are over, we could’ve forgotten all of this and just moved into our day. But this is big, exposing the thief in our lives, the one who has deceived us, the accuser of the brethren, as the Scriptures say, is hard work, and it can be painful. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s very similar to us trying to get our bodies healthy. Right? So, many of you have still kept up with your New Year’s resolution. Right? And, so, you’re working on your spirituality, you’re in the Bible every day, you’re hitting the gym, and you’re eating right. And, so, by now, if you stuck to that regimen you’re feeling better than you were a few weeks ago. Maybe your head is a little bit clearer. You’ve dropped a few pounds, you’re feeling better in your body. It works the same inside the Spirit. This is a day by day process of, first, slowing down enough to ask ourselves, am I being true? Am I being present and true in my life toward everyone around me and toward myself? Am I inviting and opening myself to God in all things? Because when we can say nope, I’m not, we have a trailhead to start wandering back down to find out where this deception came from and we have the Holy Spirit to guide.

The Scriptures promise us that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. And Jesus told us pretty clearly that there is a narrow path that leads to life, and few find it, but it’s there. That narrow path that leads to life leads away from deception and toward shalom. So, this is all available, but it will require a vigilance and commitment to nothing less. And every day that we intentionally fight to be true, it won’t be easy, but we will be gaining endurance and a strength that is beyond us because we will be inviting the strength of our Father within us.

Prayer:

Father, who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand in Your holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. Make this us, God. Make this us. We’re turning toward You. We won’t be able to uncover everything. Things are flying at us so fast we can’t even comprehend them. All we can do is slow the world down and hold onto Your Holy Spirit for dear life, literally. This is not going to be easy, but we are inviting You to take us back into our lives, we are inviting You to show us the places that we’ve been deceived about ourselves, the lies that we’ve believed about ourselves, and the lies that we’ve been perpetuating into the world in big and small ways, the ways that we’ve participated in deception. And Father, we are weak and You are strong, and we invite Your Holy Spirit to come war against the evil one in the deception that has been planted in our lives, that we might rise up and be true, and war against the deception in this world that is destroying us. Holy Spirit, come. Show us the narrow path that leads to life. Lead us into all truth, where nothing false exists, where deception is not a part of the story, and give us the strength, willingness and vigilance…and we acknowledge that we have to participate in that…that you’re not just going to come and rewire things and all of the sudden we want to be free. We have to want it bad enough that nothing else matters and we want to be free and we want to be true. We want to look like a You, Jesus. So, come, Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that this isn’t easy. We also acknowledge that this is impossible for us to do on our own. So, we are inviting You to indwell us, fill us to overflowing. Make us strong, God, strong enough to face the deceiver and be victorious. We ask this in the mighty and beautiful name of Jesus. Amen.

Song:

Easier

Manic Drive


Every single step

The further I get doesn’t seem to get easier

It doesn’t seem to get easier

I’m running out of breath

But You wouldn’t give me strength if it’s meant to get easier

If it’s meant to get easier

So help me I’m asking please

There’s gotta be another remedy

I’m running out of my options

I’m running out of my options so

So show me how to get

How to get

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

No it doesn’t get easier

So show me how to get

How to get

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to take it easier

Not until You make me stronger

Makeshift happiness

Mistaken for being blessed with artificial exteriors

Fabricated with smoke and mirrors

We can never reach new heights

Without obstacles to climb

No, getting there isn’t effortless

I’m gonna need a hand with this

So help me I’m asking please

There’s gotta be another remedy

I’m running out of my options

I’m running out of my options so

So show me how to get

How to get

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

No it doesn’t get easier

So show me how to get

How to get

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

I’m gonna break through even if it hurts

Don’t want no medication it just makes it worse

Cause if I’m numb to the freedom

I’ll never come through if I’m comfortable

No I’ll never leave this room

I’m gonna break through even if it hurts

Don’t want no medication it just makes it worse

Cause if I’m numb to the freedom

I’ll never come through if I’m comfortable

No I’ll never leave this room

No it doesn’t get easier

No it doesn’t get easier

So show me how to get

How to get

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

Stronger

Stronger

Don’t expect it to get easier

Not until You make me stronger

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday January 29, 2018 (NIV)

Exodus 7:25-9:35

25 Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.

The Second Plague: Frogs

[a] Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that (A)they may serve me. But if you (B)refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with (C)frogs. The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into (D)your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people,[b] and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” [c] And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, (E)‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and (F)the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But (G)the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, (H)“Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and (I)I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when (J)I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so (K)that you may know that (L)there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh.[d] 13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a (M)respite, he (N)hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

The Third Plague: Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, (O)‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and (P)there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The (Q)magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is (R)the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, (S)“Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, (T)“Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day (U)I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, (V)that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.[e] 23 Thus I will put a division[f] between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the Lord did so. (W)There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an (X)abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings (Y)abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go (Z)three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God (AA)as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. (AB)Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh (AC)cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 31 And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh (AD)hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

The Fifth Plague: Egyptian Livestock Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, (AE)“Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says (AF)the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, (AG)the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. (AH)But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”’” And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” And the next day the Lord did this thing. (AI)All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But (AJ)the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become (AK)boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. 11 And (AL)the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 (AM)But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as (AN)the Lord had spoken to Moses.

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, (AO)“Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself,[g] and on your servants and your people, so (AP)that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 (AQ)But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so (AR)that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 (AS)You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Now therefore send, (AT)get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’” 20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be (AU)hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” 23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the (AV)Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail (AW)struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 (AX)Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time (AY)I have sinned; the (AZ)Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 (BA)Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, (BB)I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that (BC)the earth is the Lord's. 30 But as for you and your servants, (BD)I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” 31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the emmer[h] were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.) 33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and (BE)stretched out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and (BF)hardened his heart, (BG)he and his servants. 35 So (BH)the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 8:1 Ch 7:26 in Hebrew
  2. Exodus 8:3 Or among your people
  3. Exodus 8:5 Ch 8:1 in Hebrew
  4. Exodus 8:12 Or which he had brought upon Pharaoh
  5. Exodus 8:22 Or that I the Lord am in the land
  6. Exodus 8:23 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew set redemption
  7. Exodus 9:14 Hebrew on your heart
  8. Exodus 9:32 A type of wheat

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 8:1 : ver. 20; ch. 3:12, 18
  2. Exodus 8:2 : ch. 7:14; 9:2
  3. Exodus 8:2 : [Rev. 16:13]
  4. Exodus 8:3 : Ps. 105:30
  5. Exodus 8:5 : See ch. 7:19
  6. Exodus 8:6 : Ps. 78:45; 105:30
  7. Exodus 8:7 : See ch. 7:11
  8. Exodus 8:8 : ver. 28, 30; ch. 9:28; 10:17, 18; [Num. 21:7; 1 Kgs. 13:6; Acts 8:24]
  9. Exodus 8:8 : ver. 25-28; ch. 10:8, 24; 12:31, 32
  10. Exodus 8:9 : [See ver. 8 above]; ver. 28, 30; ch. 9:28; 10:17, 18; [Num. 21:7; 1 Kgs. 13:6; Acts 8:24]
  11. Exodus 8:10 : ver. 22; ch. 7:17
  12. Exodus 8:10 : ch. 9:14; Deut. 33:26; 2 Sam. 7:22; 1 Chr. 17:20; Ps. 86:8; Isa. 46:9; Jer. 10:6, 7
  13. Exodus 8:15 : [Eccles. 8:11]
  14. Exodus 8:15 : ver. 32; ch. 7:14; 9:7, 34; 10:1
  15. Exodus 8:16 : See ch. 7:19
  16. Exodus 8:17 : Ps. 105:31
  17. Exodus 8:18 : See ch. 7:11
  18. Exodus 8:19 : ch. 31:18; Ps. 8:3; Luke 11:20
  19. Exodus 8:20 : ch. 7:15; 9:13
  20. Exodus 8:20 : ver. 1
  21. Exodus 8:22 : ch. 9:4; 11:7; [Mal. 3:18]
  22. Exodus 8:22 : ver. 10; ch. 7:17
  23. Exodus 8:24 : Ps. 78:45; 105:31; [Isa. 7:18]
  24. Exodus 8:26 : [Gen. 43:32; 46:34]
  25. Exodus 8:26 : [Gen. 43:32; 46:34]
  26. Exodus 8:27 : ch. 3:18
  27. Exodus 8:27 : ch. 3:12
  28. Exodus 8:28 : See ver. 8
  29. Exodus 8:29 : ver. 15; [Jer. 42:20, 21]
  30. Exodus 8:32 : ver. 15
  31. Exodus 9:1 : ch. 8:1, 2
  32. Exodus 9:1 : See ch. 7:16
  33. Exodus 9:3 : ch. 7:4
  34. Exodus 9:4 : ch. 8:22; 11:7
  35. Exodus 9:6 : [ver. 19]
  36. Exodus 9:7 : ch. 7:14
  37. Exodus 9:9 : Lev. 13:18; Deut. 28:27; 2 Kgs. 20:7; Job 2:7; Isa. 38:21; Rev. 16:2
  38. Exodus 9:11 : See ch. 7:11; 2 Tim. 3:9
  39. Exodus 9:12 : See ch. 4:21
  40. Exodus 9:12 : ch. 4:21
  41. Exodus 9:13 : ch. 7:15; 8:20
  42. Exodus 9:14 : ch. 8:10
  43. Exodus 9:16 : Cited Rom. 9:17; [ch. 10:1, 2; 11:9; 14:17; Prov. 16:4]
  44. Exodus 9:16 : [Ps. 83:18]; Isa. 63:12
  45. Exodus 9:17 : [Neh. 9:10]
  46. Exodus 9:19 : [ver. 4]
  47. Exodus 9:22 : Rev. 16:21
  48. Exodus 9:23 : Ps. 78:47, 48; 105:32; [Josh. 10:11; 1 Sam. 12:17; Ps. 18:13; 148:8; Isa. 30:30; Ezek. 38:22; Rev. 8:7]
  49. Exodus 9:25 : Ps. 78:47; 105:33
  50. Exodus 9:26 : ver. 4, 6; ch. 8:22; 10:23; 11:7; 12:13; [Isa. 32:18]
  51. Exodus 9:27 : ch. 10:16
  52. Exodus 9:27 : 2 Chr. 12:6; Ps. 129:4; 145:17; Lam. 1:18; Dan. 9:14
  53. Exodus 9:28 : See ch. 8:8
  54. Exodus 9:29 : 1 Kgs. 8:22, 38; Ps. 143:6; Isa. 1:15
  55. Exodus 9:29 : Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26; [Deut. 10:14]
  56. Exodus 9:30 : Isa. 26:10
  57. Exodus 9:33 : [See ver. 29 above]; 1 Kgs. 8:22, 38; Ps. 143:6; Isa. 1:15
  58. Exodus 9:34 : See ch. 7:14
  59. Exodus 9:34 : 1 Sam. 6:6
  60. Exodus 9:35 : See ch. 4:21
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Matthew 19:13-30

Let the Children Come to Me

13 (A)Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples (B)rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, (C)“Let the little children (D)come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

The Rich Young Man

16 (E)And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to (F)have (G)eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. (H)If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, (I)“You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, (J)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, (K)“All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be (L)perfect, go, (M)sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have (N)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 (O)When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, (P)only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 (Q)Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter (R)the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus (S)looked at them and said, (T)“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, (U)we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] (V)when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me (W)will also sit on twelve thrones, (X)judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 (Y)And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold[b] and will (Z)inherit eternal life. 30 But (AA)many who are (AB)first will be last, and the last first.

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 19:28 Greek in the regeneration
  2. Matthew 19:29 Some manuscripts manifold
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David.

24 (A)The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,[a]
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has (B)founded it upon (C)the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

(D)Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his (E)holy place?
(F)He who has (G)clean hands and (H)a pure heart,
who does not (I)lift up his soul to (J)what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive (K)blessing from the Lord
and (L)righteousness from (M)the God of his salvation.
Such is (N)the generation of those who seek him,
who (O)seek the face of the God of Jacob.[b] Selah

(P)Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that (Q)the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, (R)mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
(S)The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 24:1 Or and all that fills it
  2. Psalm 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 6:1-5

Practical Warnings

My son, if you have put up (A)security for your neighbor,
have (B)given your pledge for a stranger,
if you are (C)snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten,[a] and (D)plead urgently with your neighbor.
(E)Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,[b]
(F)like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 6:3 Or humble yourself
  2. Proverbs 6:5 Hebrew lacks of the hunter
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

01/28/2018 DAB Transcript

Exodus 5:22-7:24, Matthew 18:23-19:12, Psalms 23:1-6, Proverbs 5:22-23

Today is the 28th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is great to be here with you on the threshold of a shiny, new week. But, before we reach the end of this week, we will find ourselves through the first month of the year and into the second. So, good job. We are well on our way. This week we will read from the English Standard Version. Moses has gone back to Egypt and things have only got dramatically worse. He’s had a meeting with Pharaoh and asked for the people to be let go so that they could go worship God. And Pharaoh, instead, has said no, I won’t let you go and has made their work significantly harder. So, things have only gotten worse. Exodus chapter 5 verse 22 through 7:24 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. And as we enter this new week, we invite You fully. Nothing is off limits to You now. You are speaking to us. We can feel transformation happening inside of us. We open ourselves to You fully. We thank You for the words of comfort found in the Psalm today. They give us a picture of what it might look like to live with childlike faith in Your kingdom. And yet we also acknowledge from the book of Exodus that walking with You, resting in You, being comforted and cared for by You doesn’t necessarily mean that things on the exterior are going to get easier. Sometimes they get harder before they get easier. It is just that when we lose ourselves in You, knowing that You are fathering us, knowing that You know who we are and are watching over us and that we are in fellowship and intimacy with You, changes the way everything looks. We are in Your care, no matter what we are walking through. And whatever we are walking through, we are most certainly not alone. Come, Holy Spirit, plant these truths in our lives today. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

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And, yea so just a few days from now by midweek we will be heading into a new month and that’s like I was saying at the beginning just how fast a month can go. So we’re kinda clipping along. And I’m glad. I’m glad we’re in this together. I’m glad we’re on this journey together.

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That’s it for today. I’m Brian. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you right here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Father God, thank you for this new day and the opportunities You have set before us and what You have in store for us today. Father God, I want to lift up the churches in Germany to You today and Your people in Germany, especially folks in city of Frankfurt. We pray for Oliver, especially, as he’s in that city. We pray that You surround him, that by Your influence that You’d be guiding him back to You and that he be able to see You for who You are and see Your work and see You glorified there and You’d be in his heart and just help out Lord. Dear Lord, thank You so much for Frankfurt and Your people there. I pray Your blessing on that city. And may Your people be shining light in that place, be blessing Your churches Lord, be inspiring them to show Your love in the city of Frankfurt. Father God, I also want to lift up close relationships today, be they with good, close friends or with family or whatever Lord. I just pray especially for our spouses, our husbands and our wives Lord. Father God, please be blessing our close relationships. Please be blessing our marriages. Help us to be a shining light in those as well Lord. Help us to be loving, help us to be understanding. Father God, thank You for our spouse, be that a husband or wife. Thank you for that partnership that has been built for however long. And I can’t say enough Lord, please be blessing them Lord because it is difficult, and there are hard times, and I pray Lord that You’d be supporting them in the hard times, that you’d help each other look to the other and help each other. In Jesus name. Amen. This is Beloved by Him in Gloucester in the UK and it is Wednesday this week. Bye.

Hey DAB family. This is Matthew E. In Springfield Missouri. It’s been like a year since I called and I thought I’d call in and confess why. I have, for as long as I can remember, had a heavy spirit of pleasing and self-judgment and I just want to confess that and call that out because it’s just driven me away from this amazing family because, with the spirit of self-judgment you compare yourselves with others and you never good enough. And I’ve seen myself so often as, how can I possibly call myself a part of the DAB family? I’m not an amazing prayer warrior, I don’t give big gifts to the family, I don’t buy every book or purchase coffee and that kind of thing, and I don’t get through the DAB every week and every day. So, how can I call myself part of the family? And I just want to call that out is a lie of Satan. And I want to tell anybody else who feels that way the call it out as a lie. It’s just the spirit of self-judgment of pleasing-ness judgment and you don’t need it and I don’t need it and it’s destroying my relationship with so many around me. So, I want to rename myself to Judged Only by Jesus. Just like what Paul said when he says, ‘it matters very little if I’m judged by you or anybody else. I don’t even judge myself. It is the Lord who judges me.’ And I just want to claim that and I want to live out of that because of think that’s where I need to be in order to function out of love of Jesus, instead of out of pleasing and self-judgment. So, I just hope that helps someone. God bless you all. I love this family so much. Bye.

Hey Daily Audio Bible family. My name is Jason from Southern California. First-time caller. I guess I’ve been listening all and all for the last couple years, but this year of them praying for discipline in my life, that I’d be more committed to reading God’s word and prayer and just reaching out to others in evangelism and just all these different things. And, so, yeah, I’ve been listening every day so far this year and I’m really excited about what God’s showing me through the Daily Audio Bible and the new app. I guess the reason why I called, I just wanted to say that the new app is just fantastic. I updated it today and it’s just so much smoother now, it’s not crashing anymore, and I’m just grateful for that because I was really sad would it was messing up and I couldn’t really listen very well and I had to keep restarting it and all these things. But, anyway, I guess my prayer request today is, I finished seminary not to long ago with my Masters and I’m just praying for direction, that God would open a door and ministry if that’s something that He wants me to do right now, or the possibility of planting a church in Southern California has come up and I have a meeting today about that, and just trying to discern God’s will and what my next step is in life. So, yeah, excited about what God has in store and grateful and thankful for your prayers. And just have a great day.

Hi fellow DABbers. This is Dennis in Arizona. I’m a first-time caller and I just had a chance to listen to Jaden L. from New York, an 11-year-old who just really kind of blew me away with his faith in the fact that he’s been listening to this for a couple of years now. And I just want to pray for Jaden and his family, his mom, his stepdad, his grandma, and I want to pray for him. I want to encourage him to continue to stay focused. This is my third time going through this with a break of about a year to two years in between and that year to two years just wasn’t the same. So, Jaden, if you hear this I just want to ask you Lord to please intervene in this person’s life Lord. Please help in all the situations that are going on and I thank you so much for all the knowledge and the faith that this kid is showing. Please be with his grandma. Thank you for his grandmother encouraging him to do this with her. I pray for the stepdad in the situation, whatever that might be, that Your will will permeate, take over. I pray for the mom and for everything that she’s going through Lord. Just please, please I want to lift them up. Thank You so much for this community. Thank You for providing this and I pray Lord that this will continue to go on. In Jesus’ name.

Good morning DAB family. This is Jim from Southern New Hampshire. I just want to call and with a prayer request. Yesterday, my wife and I were invited by God to embark on a new journey that will definitely grow our faith. My wife was diagnosed with cancer yesterday, but God is good. Immediately, He laid on my heart the hymn, ‘Tis so Sweet to Follow Jesus.’ And I now claim that as my cancer hymn during this time. I ask you to pray for my wife, her name is Kim, and pray for us as we start this journey. I pray that You give us wisdom, give doctors wisdom, and that at the end of the day her cancer will be completely eradicated, her body healed, and we can just glorify God with those good results, but no matter what that we glorify God with what we do, what we say, witnessing to new people that we are going to meet in the days ahead. I thank you so much family. I’ve been involved with DAB for probably six months now and just seeing it firsthand, hearing it firsthand, with people calling in with prayer requests and the faithful responses of the family just touches my heart almost every single day. I love you all. Have a great and blessed day. Bye-bye.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday January 28, 2018 (NIV)

Exodus 5:22-7:24

22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

God Promises Deliverance

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)a strong hand he will (B)drive them out of his land.”

God spoke to Moses and said to him, (C)“I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as (D)God Almighty,[a] but by my name the (E)Lord I did not make myself known to them. (F)I also established my covenant with them (G)to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, (H)I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, (I)‘I am the Lord, and (J)I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and (K)I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I (L)will take you to be my people, and (M)I will be your God, and you shall know that (N)I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out (O)from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into (P)the land that I (Q)swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. (R)I am the Lord.’” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they (S)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 (T)not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for (U)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 (V)sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The (W)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 (X)sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The (Y)sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The (Z)sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The (AA)sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 (AB)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 (AC)The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The (AD)sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of (AE)Amminadab and the sister of (AF)Nahshon, and she bore him (AG)Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The (AH)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 (AI)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 (AJ)to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt (AK)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, (AL)“I am the Lord; (AM)tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, (AN)I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh

And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like (AO)God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your (AP)prophet. (AQ)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. But (AR)I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I (AS)multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 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. The Egyptians (AT)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.” Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. Now Moses was (AU)eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, (AV)‘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 (AW)magicians of Egypt, also (AX)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 (AY)Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, (AZ)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 (BA)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 (BB)the staff that turned into a (BC)serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The (BD)Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, (BE)that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this (BF)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 (BG)it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will (BH)grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’” 19 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and (BI)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 (BJ)lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the (BK)water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians (BL)could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But (BM)the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So (BN)Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as (BO)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.

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 6:3 Hebrew El Shaddai

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 6:1 : ch. 3:19; 13:3
  2. Exodus 6:1 : ch. 11:1; 12:33, 39
  3. Exodus 6:2 : [Isa. 42:8; Mal. 3:6]
  4. Exodus 6:3 : Gen. 17:1
  5. Exodus 6:3 : Ps. 68:4; 83:18; [John 8:58; Rev. 1:4, 8]
  6. Exodus 6:4 : Gen. 15:18; 17:4, 7
  7. Exodus 6:4 : Gen. 17:8; 28:4
  8. Exodus 6:5 : ch. 2:24
  9. Exodus 6:6 : [Isa. 42:8; Mal. 3:6]
  10. Exodus 6:6 : ch. 7:4; Deut. 26:8; Ps. 136:11, 12; [ch. 3:17]
  11. Exodus 6:6 : ch. 15:13; Deut. 7:8; 2 Kgs. 17:36; 1 Chr. 17:21; Neh. 1:10
  12. Exodus 6:7 : Deut. 4:20; 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; 2 Sam. 7:24; [1 Pet. 2:9]
  13. Exodus 6:7 : ch. 29:45, 46; Gen. 17:8; Lev. 22:33; Deut. 29:13; [Rev. 21:7]
  14. Exodus 6:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; [Isa. 42:8; Mal. 3:6]
  15. Exodus 6:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; ch. 7:4; Deut. 26:8; Ps. 136:11, 12; [ch. 3:17]
  16. Exodus 6:8 : ch. 32:13; Gen. 15:18; 26:3; 28:13; 35:12; Ezek. 20:6, 42
  17. Exodus 6:8 : [Gen. 14:22; Deut. 32:40; Ezek. 20:5, 6; 47:14]
  18. Exodus 6:8 : [See ver. 6 above]; [Isa. 42:8; Mal. 3:6]
  19. Exodus 6:9 : ch. 5:21; [Acts 7:25]
  20. Exodus 6:12 : [See ver. 9 above]; ch. 5:21; [Acts 7:25]
  21. Exodus 6:12 : ver. 30; ch. 4:10; Jer. 1:6; [Jer. 6:10; Ezek. 44:7]
  22. Exodus 6:14 : Gen. 46:9; 1 Chr. 5:3
  23. Exodus 6:15 : Gen. 46:10; 1 Chr. 4:24
  24. Exodus 6:16 : Gen. 46:11; Num. 3:17; 1 Chr. 6:1, 16
  25. Exodus 6:17 : Num. 3:18; 1 Chr. 6:17; 23:7
  26. Exodus 6:18 : Num. 3:19; 26:57; 1 Chr. 6:2, 18
  27. Exodus 6:19 : Num. 3:20; 1 Chr. 6:19; 23:21
  28. Exodus 6:20 : See ch. 2:1
  29. Exodus 6:21 : Num. 16:1; 1 Chr. 6:37, 38
  30. Exodus 6:22 : Lev. 10:4; Num. 3:30
  31. Exodus 6:23 : Ruth 4:19, 20; 1 Chr. 2:10; Matt. 1:4; Luke 3:33
  32. Exodus 6:23 : Num. 1:7; 2:3; 7:12, 17; 10:14; Matt. 1:4; Luke 3:32
  33. Exodus 6:23 : Lev. 10:1; Num. 3:2; 26:60; 1 Chr. 6:3; 24:1
  34. Exodus 6:24 : 1 Chr. 6:22, 23, 37
  35. Exodus 6:25 : Num. 25:7, 11; Josh. 24:33; Ps. 106:30
  36. Exodus 6:26 : ver. 13
  37. Exodus 6:26 : ch. 7:4; 12:17, 51; Num. 33:1
  38. Exodus 6:29 : See ver. 2
  39. Exodus 6:29 : ver. 11; [ch. 7:2]
  40. Exodus 6:30 : [Isa. 6:5]; See ver. 12
  41. Exodus 7:1 : ch. 4:16
  42. Exodus 7:1 : Gen. 20:7; [1 Sam. 9:9]
  43. Exodus 7:2 : [ch. 4:15; 6:29]
  44. Exodus 7:3 : See ch. 4:21
  45. Exodus 7:3 : ch. 11:9; Ps. 135:9; See Ps. 78:43-51; 105:26-36
  46. Exodus 7:5 : ver. 17; ch. 8:10, 22; 14:4, 18
  47. Exodus 7:7 : [Deut. 29:5; 31:2; 34:7; Acts 7:23, 30]
  48. Exodus 7:9 : [Isa. 7:11; John 2:18; 4:48; 6:30]
  49. Exodus 7:11 : Gen. 41:8
  50. Exodus 7:11 : ver. 12, 22; ch. 8:7, 18; 9:11; 2 Tim. 3:8
  51. Exodus 7:13 : [See ver. 3 above]; See ch. 4:21
  52. Exodus 7:13 : [See ver. 3 above]; See ch. 4:21
  53. Exodus 7:15 : ch. 8:20; 9:13
  54. Exodus 7:15 : ch. 4:2, 17; 17:5
  55. Exodus 7:15 : ch. 4:3
  56. Exodus 7:16 : ch. 3:18; 5:3; 9:1, 13
  57. Exodus 7:16 : ch. 3:12, 18; 5:1, 3
  58. Exodus 7:17 : ver. 5
  59. Exodus 7:17 : ch. 4:9; [Rev. 16:4]
  60. Exodus 7:18 : ver. 21, 24
  61. Exodus 7:19 : ch. 8:5, 6, 16, 17; 9:22; 10:12, 21; 14:16, 21, 26
  62. Exodus 7:20 : ch. 17:9
  63. Exodus 7:20 : Ps. 78:44; 105:29
  64. Exodus 7:21 : ver. 18, 24
  65. Exodus 7:22 : ver. 11
  66. Exodus 7:22 : ver. 13
  67. Exodus 7:22 : ver. 3, 4
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Matthew 18:21-19:12

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often (A)will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? (B)As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished (C)to settle accounts with his servants.[a] 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him (D)ten thousand (E)talents.[b] 25 (F)And since he could not pay, his master ordered him (G)to be sold, with his wife and (H)children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant[c] (I)fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and (J)forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred (K)denarii,[d] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 (L)And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 (M)And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[e] (N)until he should pay all his debt. 35 (O)So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother (P)from your heart.”

Teaching About Divorce

19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from (Q)Galilee and (R)entered (S)the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And (T)large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

And Pharisees came up to him and (U)tested him by asking, (V)“Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, (W)“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, (X)‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and (Y)the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. (Z)What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, (AA)“Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your (AB)hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (AC)And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”[f]

10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, (AD)“Not everyone can receive this saying, but only (AE)those to (AF)whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs (AG)for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 18:23 Or bondservants; also verses 28, 31
  2. Matthew 18:24 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
  3. Matthew 18:26 Or bondservant; also verses 27, 28, 29, 32, 33
  4. Matthew 18:28 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  5. Matthew 18:34 Greek torturers
  6. Matthew 19:9 Some manuscripts add and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery; other manuscripts except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
for his (G)name's sake.

Even though I (H)walk through the valley of (I)the shadow of death,[c]
I will (J)fear no evil,
for (K)you are with me;
your (L)rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You (M)prepare a table before me
in (N)the presence of my enemies;
you (O)anoint my head with oil;
my (P)cup overflows.
Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall (Q)dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
(R)forever.[g]

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
  2. Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
  3. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
  4. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
  5. Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
  6. Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
  7. Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 5:22-23

22 The (A)iniquities of the wicked (B)ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 (C)He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is (D)led astray.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

01/27/2018 DAB Transcript

Exodus 4:1-5:21, Matthew 18:1-22, Psalms 22:19-31, Proverbs 5:15-21

Today is the 27th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today. And here we are at the close of another week. Man, it won’t be but a couple days and we will have completed the first month of the year. That’s how fast this all moves. So, let’s dive in for the next step. We’re just getting to know Moses. Moses is going to  be a part of our story for a long time. And then once his life is over the impact of his life will be felt throughout the rest of the Bible. But right now, before all of that, he’s having a conversation with a burning bush. Exodus chapter 4 verse 1 through  5:21.

Commentary:

Okay, in the book of Exodus, Moses is talking to God through this burning bush and all of the signs that he was given and the command to go back to his people. And Moses is just backpedaling the whole way. He has a lot of questions and a lot of excuses until he finally says some words that are pretty sad words in the Bible, please just send somebody else. And we could just linger there, we could just stop there because it invites us to consider the ways that we find and have found ourselves in the same position, where we’re being called into a season of transition that is going to be a bunch of hard work, where we’re being invited into something risky and new, when we’re being invited to mend old fences, any number of things. And we find ourselves working through it, feeling God pulling us in certain directions, and we’re thinking it over and we have every excuse. Until we, finally, with our lives or with our words, simply say the same thing. Can’t you just get somebody else to do this?

Of course, this contrasts starkly with Jesus discussing the kingdom and who is the greatest in the kingdom. When he pulls a child upon His lap and says unless you have the faith of a child, you can’t even get into the kingdom. Every time I read that passage I think of my own children. And we can easily think of our own children. I mean, my children of varying in their ages, but I have a little guy who is  five years old and the world of wonder that he lives in, where really nothing is impossible and he knows that his mother and father love him and are caring for him and will continue to care for him. So, that that’s not a concern on his radar, that’s not a part of his life. Just the wonder of it all is what he experiences each and every day, new, each and every day. It’s what Jesus is talking about. That’s the invitation here. Right? Because Jesus has been telling us all you have to do is look around. Just look at the natural world. Look at how beautiful it is and look at how the seasons change it, so how beautiful flowers fade and go away. If your heavenly Father can care about those and cultivate those He can certainly take care of you. That’s the invitation. That’s how we can live. Like, what would fall off of us? Like, what would begin lifting? What clouds would blow away in our lives if we actually exhaled into that and thought, okay the faith of the child is wonder and trust, faith and an endless reservoir of hope, discovery, and adventure, and an assurance that we’re being cared for. This is what we’re invited into. But it’s more than just an invitation. According to Jesus, that’s how the kingdom works. You can’t be in the kingdom unless you can trust your heavenly Father as your children would trust you. That’s a pretty big invitation and it’s a pretty big deal because that’s not just a picture of how we could live, it’s a picture of how were supposed to live.

So, we can see that that's different than Moses’ response. Moses is still going through identity crisis. Right? He was born a slave, he was then rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as royalty. Then he killed an Egyptian and went on the run and was an immigrant and homeless. Now he’s married and has a couple of kids and God is calling him to go back to Egypt and be a part of setting his children free. And Moses just wants God to send somebody else. In the end, of course, God sends Aaron, Moses' brother to meet up with them and they will be a pair for a long, long time in the leadership of Israel. And the family sets out. They’re not going to accompany Moses all the way back to Egypt. Only Moses and Aaron will be making that trip, but the family starts out and we encounter this really, really strange paragraph in the middle of everything that’s just odd. So, God tells Moses that when he does get back to Egypt and he does ask Pharaoh to let his people go that Pharaoh’s not going to do that. So, Moses is instructed to tell Pharaoh, ‘this is what the Lord says Israel is my oldest son. I said to you, let my son go so he could worship me, but you refused to let them go. As a result, now I’m going to kill your oldest son.’ Okay, so that’s the context that leads us into the strange paragraph. And the strange paragraph reads, ‘during their journey, as they camped overnight, the Lord met Moses and tried to kill him. But Zipporah took a sharp-edged flint stone and cut off her son’s foreskin. Then she touched Moses’ genitals with it and she said you are my bridegroom because of bloodshed. So, the Lord let him alone. At that time, she announced, a bridegroom because of bloodshed by circumcision.’ Okay, so what does that even mean? So, there have been several interpretations of this over millennia, but I’ll tell you what I think is the most congruent explanation. So, the first verse in that paragraph during their journey as they camped overnight, ‘the Lord met Moses and tried to kill him’ is probably a mistranslation. The earliest Hebrew manuscripts that exist today - so, the most ancient versions of this passage of Scripture that we have on earth - do not say that the Lord met Moses and tried to kill him. They say the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Now unless we think this is just something in the translation that were reading this week, that wouldn’t be the case. Many translations have this as Moses and many others have it as him. But why would this be a big deal? Because it changes who we’re talking about. It’s easy enough to assume Moses, as many scholars have thought over the years, but if the word is him and circumcision is the issue and Moses’ wife Zipporah is involved in circumcising her son because of this issue, then the him is probably Gershom, Moses firstborn son, because remember the context? God had just told Moses what to tell Pharaoh and it was a conversation, not a good one, but a conversation about firstborn sons. We already know that Moses doesn’t want to do this. We already know that Moses has asked God to send someone else to do this job. And, so, when he sets out, we can’t imagine that he’s ecstatically excited to get back to Egypt. He doesn’t want to go there. And yet circumcision is a sign of the covenant with God. And so, if Moses hasn’t circumcised his son as he heads back into Egypt where this massive confrontation with Pharaoh is awaiting, then we can see that Moses is very halfhearted in all of this. And God is confronting that because this is in no way a halfhearted mission. So, here’s a little bit of a back story. Circumcision - and I know you didn’t wake up this morning or you haven’t laid your head down tonight thinking that you’d tune in and listen to some of the Bible and then we would have a discussion about penises. But the Bible isn’t a candy-coated book. So, here we go. The Israelites were not the only people in the world to invent circumcision. And the people that Moses fled to, to live among as a person who was homeless, after he fled Egypt, they practiced circumcision too. Just differently. Apparently, not quite as comprehensively. So, it could have been that Gershom, Moses' firstborn son, had been circumcised in the Midianite way, but this was a little bit different. And Moses not taking the time to make sure everything in his household was right before God as he walks back in to demand the freedom of all of the slave labor of the Egyptian country. Right? He’s asking for something that would completely affect the country economically and God had already told Moses that Pharaoh wasn’t going to have anything to do with it. So, for Moses not to get everything in order as he moves into this conflict is likely why we see this short paragraph, this little scene in the Bible. And Zipporah, Moses’ wife, being raised as the daughter of a priest steps forward and circumcises her son. So, her taking the foreskin and then touching Moses feet or his genitals or touching Gershom’s genitals - however that’s being done - is probably the right. Right? The ceremony as she understands it. And then she says to Moses you are my bridegroom because of bloodshed, which sounds ominous and maybe even angry. But, put into a vernacular that we can understand, she is saying, you are my blood relative, which is not an ominous thing. So, whether she’s saying that to Gershom, her son, or whether she’s saying it to Moses about their son it makes a lot more sense. And, so, there you go. The point would be Moses’ posture of heart and preparedness for what he’s stepping into and how he doesn’t want to step into it and how he’s going in halfhearted. And, believe me, there’s going to be many times that we see Moses exasperated at what he’s being called to do. But, I’ve got to tell you, the Bible would be quite, I mean drastically different, if Moses hadn’t done what he was called to do, which forces us to consider our own lives again, because our own family story can be drastically different on down the line in future generations if we don’t step up, full hearted, and walk with God. So, the Scriptures have given us plenty to consider today in our lives.

Prayer:

Father, we invite Your Holy Spirit into that as we do every day. All of the things that You bring up in Your word, we choose to take them to heart, which choose to hold them dear, and we ask Your Holy Spirit to plant them in our lives. We ask that Your word seeps down to the roots of who we are, down to the level of our identity, transforming us. Give us the faith of a child. Show us how to live that free and with that sense of wonder. Show us how to do this with a whole heart and not halfheartedly. Show us the things in our lives that are making us halfhearted. Help us God. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi brothers and sisters. It’s January the 23rd. I’m calling because I live Minnesota and we recently had a very __ snowstorm yesterday. This morning I just feel like I need to confess something. I was on my way to work and my work had notified me it was okay to be up to two hours late because of the snowstorm, very generous of them. I left early to make sure I got to work on time and I arrived in plenty of time. And then, on my way to work this morning, there were people stuck in the middle of the road in my residential area and I felt annoyed with them. They were in my way, preventing me from getting to work, which I had plenty of time to do and I’m sure they could have used my help. And instead of getting out of my car and helping them I just found all these excuses in my head as to why I couldn’t stop. And, so, I’d just like to pray for us all, that we remember that God will give us what we need if we just stop and listen to Him. And that’s what we need to do, is to stop sometimes and listen. And, so, I pray we can all find the strength to do that, that God will give us the strength to do that. And He does it because He loves us, and He loves everyone around us, and He wants us to be a witness to them. Thank you. Goodbye.

Hey DAB this is Luke and Colorado. I just wanted to lift up Jordan, the teacher in Michigan, I believe, in prayer, and just encourage you brother that, you know, you just make it through this time, you know. And God has got you in the palm of His hand and He is holding you, He is your Father, He is your Abba, and, you know, I just need you to be strong and courageous in this time. You know, we at the DAB, are backing you in prayer, but more importantly the Holy Spirit is with you every step of the way. You cannot do this, but God can do this. And God can do this through you. So, believe and just lean on Him with all that you are and fall on Him. I just…love you so much Jordan and we are with you brother and we are standing with you in faith and in love, most of all, in love. Father God, I thank You so much for Jordan. And God, thank You for his courage to call in and just speak what he needs to speak God, that he need you near him and God that he needs his family near him as well, the DAB, and the whole of Your family, Lord Jesus. Just come around him and just stand over him God. Let him be in the shadow of Your wings. Lord, protect him and guide him. And God we just pray for the school system God, that You would lift these insidious evils away from the school. We bind those up in the name and in the blood of the Lamb, in Jesus’ name. God, we just loosen the teachers that are Christian men and women, wholesome, that are infiltrating, if you would, the school system in the United States in changing it and bringing it back to the values that you have put forth in Your word Father God.

Hi Daily Audio Bible this is Tess in California. I was wearing today for James, the teacher in LA. James it’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve been listening for, I think, 10 years, and I have been following you and your family praying for you. I’m praying that you would be engaged in the kingdom. That’s also something the Lord’s put on my heart. And I have a piece of paper on my desk at home that says __, so I know what you’re talking about, to be present with Christ. It’s really important, and it’s a great reminder for me that you called in. I also wanted to encourage anyone that has begun the Daily Audio Bible this year to remember, when you miss days and you feel like I failed, I can’t do this, remember that the Lord would never tell you not to listen to the Daily Audio Bible because you missed a day. That would probably be the enemy. So, in the last 10 years there’s been times where I have missed days for whatever reason. And sometimes I just start on the day I’m on. And it is such an epic story that I often will want to know, wait a minute what I miss, and so I will go back and complete as of days as well, but it’s not a checklist. It’s a relationship. So, be blessed and encouraged. It’s not a heavy weight, it’s just an invitation. Bless you all, love you all. Bye-bye.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is Linda from Alberta calling. I usually try and touch base about every six months and it’s that time again. Things are going relatively well. I’m leaning on the Lord every single day and, you know, a life happens but with God we have hope and that’s a really, really good thing. I was prompted to call in today because I heard Pelham call and I think it was yesterday’s podcast, the 22nd. And Pelham, I just want to know that I am praying for you and I know you sounded kind of hopeless. I remember your journey and I remember when you called in and you and Molly had just got married. And, so, I just really think and believe that God has something for you and He is in control of everything and He knows exactly what’s happening in your life right now. And I hope that will mean something to you and I am praying for you. Also, it was Mary the physician, thank you very much for calling and explaining the difference between a loss, when we say someone takes their life or they died by suicide. I think that was a really good explanation you did, where you compared fault and blaming to a disease. And I, myself, have taken a lot of mental health training and I thought you did such an awesome job as a reminder. So, thank you so much for that. Will from Bozeman it was really, really good to hear you today. I often wonder where you are but I thought, oh, it was nice to hear from Will. So, I’m praying for you also. And everybody, when I listen, I pray along. Sometimes I have to stop and just really get into a really intense prayer, and then carry on the listen to your requests. So, everybody know that you’re covered by so many people. Okay, well, I think my time is up. So, God bless everybody and we’ll talk to you again. Bye-bye.

Hi friends. It’s Lisa the Encourager. Bee, my beautiful Bee from Canada. Oh, my goodness, for thinking of me and praying for me, you just filled up my juices, and I just thank you so much for that. I can not tell you how much your prayer was so spot on with every little detail of everything you said about just needing some real R&R and that we just need to trust God and stay focused and praying for my encouragement, and I can’t even tell you how much it meant to me. I love you so much for your prayer and it was just a beautiful, beautiful gift that I needed to refill my tank. Som I thank you so much. I also wanted to pray for Billy from Montgomery in regards to his new second job at Home Depot and I’m praying that that all worked out. I know you probably already either have the job, or working the job, or are looking for something else, but I’m going to be praying for you. And also, Shannon from Texas would like us to pray for her and her healing of celiac disease. So, I will pray and again, thank you Bee, I love you so much. Dear Lord, I thank You God, so much, for the beautiful prayers in this community and all the wonderful people that share in so many lovely ways God. I pray for Billy in Montgomery that is going through looking to secure a second job at Home Depot God. I pray that worked out for him and that he is able to land that job and get the extra money that he needs to support his family. And I pray that it’s a smooth transition and he doesn’t have any issues with lack of rest or lack of time with his family. And I pray God for Shannon from Texas God as she is suffering from celiac disease. I know God that You know exactly…

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday January 27, 2018 (NIV)

Exodus 4:1-5:21

Signs of power

Then Moses replied, “But what if they don’t believe me or pay attention to me? They might say to me, ‘The Lord didn’t appear to you!’”

The Lord said to him, “What’s that in your hand?”

Moses replied, “A shepherd’s rod.”

The Lord said, “Throw it down on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Moses jumped back from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by the tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a rod in his hand. “Do this so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God has in fact appeared to you.”

Again, the Lord said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took his hand out, his hand had a skin disease flaky like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand back inside his coat. When he took it back out again, the skin of his hand had returned to normal. “If they won’t believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they won’t believe even these two signs or pay attention to you, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on dry ground. The water that you take from the Nile will turn into blood on the dry ground.”

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “My Lord, I’ve never been able to speak well, not yesterday, not the day before, and certainly not now since you’ve been talking to your servant. I have a slow mouth and a thick tongue.”

11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives people the ability to speak? Who’s responsible for making them unable to speak or hard of hearing, sighted or blind? Isn’t it I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I’ll help you speak, and I’ll teach you what you should say.”

13 But Moses said, “Please, my Lord, just send someone else.”

14 Then the Lord got angry at Moses and said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak very well. He’s on his way out to meet you now, and he’s looking forward to seeing you. 15 Speak to him and tell him what he’s supposed to say. I’ll help both of you speak, and I’ll teach both of you what to do. 16 Aaron will speak for you to the people. He’ll be a spokesperson for you, and you will be like God for him. 17 Take this shepherd’s rod with you too so that you can do the signs.”

Moses goes back to Egypt

18 Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me go back to my family in Egypt and see whether or not they are still living.”

Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt because everyone there who wanted to kill you has died.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his children, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. Moses also carried the shepherd’s rod from God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure that you appear before Pharaoh and do all the amazing acts that I’ve given you the power to do. But I’ll make him stubborn so that he won’t let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my oldest son. 23 I said to you, “Let my son go so he could worship me.” But you refused to let him go. As a result, now I’m going to kill your oldest son.’”

24 During their journey, as they camped overnight, the Lord met Moses[a] and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a sharp-edged flint stone and cut off her son’s foreskin. Then she touched Moses’ genitals[b] with it, and she said, “You are my bridegroom because of bloodshed.” 26 So the Lord let him alone. At that time, she announced, “A bridegroom because of bloodshed by circumcision.”

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the desert to meet Moses.” So he went, and Aaron met him at God’s mountain and greeted him with a kiss. 28 Moses told Aaron what the Lord had said about his mission and all the signs that the Lord had told him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron called together all the Israelite elders. 30 Aaron told them everything that the Lord had told to Moses, and he performed the signs in front of the people. 31 The people believed. When they heard that the Lord had paid attention to the Israelites and had seen their oppression, they bowed down and worshipped.

First meeting with Pharaoh

Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, Israel’s God, says: ‘Let my people go so that they can hold a festival for me in the desert.’”

But Pharaoh said, “Who is this Lord whom I’m supposed to obey by letting Israel go? I don’t know this Lord, and I certainly won’t let Israel go.”

Then they said, “The Hebrews’ God has appeared to us. Let us go on a three-day journey into the desert so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. Otherwise, the Lord will give us a deadly disease or violence.”

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you making the people slack off from their work? Do the hard work yourselves!” Pharaoh continued, “The land’s people are now numerous. Yet you want them to stop their hard work?”

On the very same day Pharaoh commanded the people’s slave masters and supervisors, “Don’t supply the people with the straw they need to make bricks like you did before. Let them go out and gather the straw for themselves. But still make sure that they produce the same number of bricks as they made before. Don’t reduce the number! They are weak and lazy, and that’s why they cry, ‘Let’s go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ Make the men’s work so hard that it’s all they can do, and they can’t focus on these empty lies.”

10 So the people’s slave masters and supervisors came out and spoke to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says, ‘I’m not giving you straw anymore. 11 Go and get the straw on your own, wherever you can find it. But your work won’t be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people spread out all through the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The slave masters drove them hard and said, “Make sure you make the same daily quota as when you had the straw.” 14 The Israelite supervisors, whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them, were also beaten and asked, “Why didn’t you produce the same number of bricks yesterday and today as you did before?”

15 Then the Israelite supervisors came and pleaded to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is supplied to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look at how your servants are being beaten! Your own people are to blame!”

17 Pharaoh replied, “You are lazy bums, nothing but lazy bums. That’s why you say, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 18 Go and get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you still need to make the same number of bricks.”

19 The Israelite supervisors saw how impossible their situation was when they were commanded, “Don’t reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them. 21 The supervisors said to them, “Let the Lord see and judge what you’ve done! You’ve made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants. You’ve given them a reason to kill us.”

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 4:24 Or him
  2. Exodus 4:25 Or his feet
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Exodus 4:1-5:21

Signs of power

Then Moses replied, “But what if they don’t believe me or pay attention to me? They might say to me, ‘The Lord didn’t appear to you!’”

The Lord said to him, “What’s that in your hand?”

Moses replied, “A shepherd’s rod.”

The Lord said, “Throw it down on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Moses jumped back from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by the tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a rod in his hand. “Do this so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God has in fact appeared to you.”

Again, the Lord said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took his hand out, his hand had a skin disease flaky like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand back inside his coat. When he took it back out again, the skin of his hand had returned to normal. “If they won’t believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they won’t believe even these two signs or pay attention to you, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on dry ground. The water that you take from the Nile will turn into blood on the dry ground.”

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “My Lord, I’ve never been able to speak well, not yesterday, not the day before, and certainly not now since you’ve been talking to your servant. I have a slow mouth and a thick tongue.”

11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives people the ability to speak? Who’s responsible for making them unable to speak or hard of hearing, sighted or blind? Isn’t it I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I’ll help you speak, and I’ll teach you what you should say.”

13 But Moses said, “Please, my Lord, just send someone else.”

14 Then the Lord got angry at Moses and said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak very well. He’s on his way out to meet you now, and he’s looking forward to seeing you. 15 Speak to him and tell him what he’s supposed to say. I’ll help both of you speak, and I’ll teach both of you what to do. 16 Aaron will speak for you to the people. He’ll be a spokesperson for you, and you will be like God for him. 17 Take this shepherd’s rod with you too so that you can do the signs.”

Moses goes back to Egypt

18 Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me go back to my family in Egypt and see whether or not they are still living.”

Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt because everyone there who wanted to kill you has died.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his children, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. Moses also carried the shepherd’s rod from God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure that you appear before Pharaoh and do all the amazing acts that I’ve given you the power to do. But I’ll make him stubborn so that he won’t let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my oldest son. 23 I said to you, “Let my son go so he could worship me.” But you refused to let him go. As a result, now I’m going to kill your oldest son.’”

24 During their journey, as they camped overnight, the Lord met Moses[a] and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a sharp-edged flint stone and cut off her son’s foreskin. Then she touched Moses’ genitals[b] with it, and she said, “You are my bridegroom because of bloodshed.” 26 So the Lord let him alone. At that time, she announced, “A bridegroom because of bloodshed by circumcision.”

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the desert to meet Moses.” So he went, and Aaron met him at God’s mountain and greeted him with a kiss. 28 Moses told Aaron what the Lord had said about his mission and all the signs that the Lord had told him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron called together all the Israelite elders. 30 Aaron told them everything that the Lord had told to Moses, and he performed the signs in front of the people. 31 The people believed. When they heard that the Lord had paid attention to the Israelites and had seen their oppression, they bowed down and worshipped.

First meeting with Pharaoh

Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, Israel’s God, says: ‘Let my people go so that they can hold a festival for me in the desert.’”

But Pharaoh said, “Who is this Lord whom I’m supposed to obey by letting Israel go? I don’t know this Lord, and I certainly won’t let Israel go.”

Then they said, “The Hebrews’ God has appeared to us. Let us go on a three-day journey into the desert so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. Otherwise, the Lord will give us a deadly disease or violence.”

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you making the people slack off from their work? Do the hard work yourselves!” Pharaoh continued, “The land’s people are now numerous. Yet you want them to stop their hard work?”

On the very same day Pharaoh commanded the people’s slave masters and supervisors, “Don’t supply the people with the straw they need to make bricks like you did before. Let them go out and gather the straw for themselves. But still make sure that they produce the same number of bricks as they made before. Don’t reduce the number! They are weak and lazy, and that’s why they cry, ‘Let’s go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ Make the men’s work so hard that it’s all they can do, and they can’t focus on these empty lies.”

10 So the people’s slave masters and supervisors came out and spoke to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says, ‘I’m not giving you straw anymore. 11 Go and get the straw on your own, wherever you can find it. But your work won’t be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people spread out all through the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The slave masters drove them hard and said, “Make sure you make the same daily quota as when you had the straw.” 14 The Israelite supervisors, whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them, were also beaten and asked, “Why didn’t you produce the same number of bricks yesterday and today as you did before?”

15 Then the Israelite supervisors came and pleaded to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is supplied to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look at how your servants are being beaten! Your own people are to blame!”

17 Pharaoh replied, “You are lazy bums, nothing but lazy bums. That’s why you say, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 18 Go and get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you still need to make the same number of bricks.”

19 The Israelite supervisors saw how impossible their situation was when they were commanded, “Don’t reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them. 21 The supervisors said to them, “Let the Lord see and judge what you’ve done! You’ve made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants. You’ve given them a reason to kill us.”

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 4:24 Or him
  2. Exodus 4:25 Or his feet
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 22:19-31

19 But you, Lord! Don’t be far away!
You are my strength!
Come quick and help me!
20 Deliver me[a] from the sword.
Deliver my life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion.
From the horns of the wild oxen
you have answered me!

22 I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
I will praise you in the very center of the congregation!
23 All of you who revere the Lord—praise him!
All of you who are Jacob’s descendants—honor him!
All of you who are all Israel’s offspring—
stand in awe of him!
24 Because he didn’t despise or detest
the suffering of the one who suffered—
he didn’t hide his face from me.
No, he listened when I cried out to him for help.

25 I offer praise in the great congregation
because of you;
I will fulfill my promises
in the presence of those who honor God.
26 Let all those who are suffering eat and be full!
Let all who seek the Lord praise him!
I pray your hearts live forever!
27 Every part of the earth
will remember and come back to the Lord;
every family among all the nations will worship you.
28 Because the right to rule belongs to the Lord,
he rules all nations.
29 Indeed, all the earth’s powerful
will worship him;[b]
all who are descending to the dust
will kneel before him;
my being also lives for him.[c]
30 Future descendants will serve him;
generations to come will be told about my Lord.
31 They will proclaim God’s righteousness
to those not yet born,
telling them what God has done.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 22:20 Or my soul; also in 22:29
  2. Psalm 22:29 Correction; MT All the earth’s powerful have eaten and will worship.
  3. Psalm 22:29 Correction with LXX; Heb uncertain
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 5:15-21

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
gushing water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains flood outside,
streams of water in the public squares?
17 They are yours alone,
not for you as well as strangers.
18 May your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts intoxicate you all the time;
always be drunk on her love.

20 Why, my son, should you lose your senses with a mysterious woman
and embrace the breasts of a foreign female?

21 The Lord’s eyes watch over every person’s path,
observing all their ways.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

01/26/2018 DAB Transcript

Exodus 2:11-3:22, Matthew 17:10-27, Psalms 22:1-18, Proverbs 5:7-14

Today is the 26th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is wonderful to be here with you today as we take steps forward every day through the Scriptures. And we’ll take the next one right here as we move forward in our journey. We’re reading from the Common English Bible this week and we’re just getting to meet Moses, someone who we will be traveling with for a long time. Exodus chapter 2 verse 11 through 3 verse 22.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we met Moses as a little baby. Right? Put into a wicker basket and then put into the Nile River because Pharaoh had ordered that the baby boys be thrown into the Nile River. He’s trying some population control in a very, very grievous manner because he’s afraid of the Hebrews. We should see that, kind of, right out of the gate. Pharaoh is very powerful and of very stiff necked and stubborn and arrogant, but Pharaoh also has been indoctrinated to believe that he is basically a God. So, he’s trying to behave like that, even though he’s behaving nothing like God. But he does have a fear of the Hebrews and the way that they’re expanding and the way that their numbers are rising and how populous they have become. And, so, he’s trying to put the smack down on them, make life harder, get them in and under control. So, Moses gets put in this wicker basket and Pharaoh’s daughter finds him and then Moses is able to be raised by his mother, but then when he’s old enough he goes into the house of Pharaoh and is educated like a royal. So, Moses would have a bit of an identity crisis in his life. So, he was born into one ethnicity and one people, who lived a certain way and they were enslaved, and then he’s whisked away and becomes like royalty. And, so, he has divided allegiances, which ultimately has them on the run for killing an Egyptian, which we saw in our reading. So, Moses is on the run, and he has to go far, far away where no one will know him. So, now he’s not just a person with an identity crisis, he’s a person with no home, he’s an immigrant. All of these things -  identity, immigrant, homeland - all of these things are woven all throughout the tapestry of the story that we are headed into, because Moses is one of many, over a million people, with essentially the same problem. But as Moses is out shepherding one day he encounters this burning bush. And when he comes to the burning bush, he hears a voice coming out of the burning bush, which would be startling to say the least, but his name is called, Moses. And Moses response is something we need to pay attention to. “Here I am”. That is how Moses responds to God and that is how so many of the heroes of faith respond to God and that is how we should be responding when God calls. So, Moses has a conversation with the Lord in which God is telling Moses that He is hearing what’s going on in Egypt and He is sending Moses back to go before Pharaoh. So, He is essentially inviting Moses to go back and face his greatest fear in his life, because the last time he was in any proximity to a Pharaoh, the Pharaoh wanted to kill him. So, Moses is backpedaling a little bit in the conversation, but he eventually says, if I do go back and tell all this stuff to the people, who am I supposed to say sent me? And that’s when God says, probably the best description that we have of God, the most comprehensive description, and yet, one that shows how language fails when you’re trying to describe the Almighty. God says, “I Am who I Am”. And we should remember that too, because we’re often walking around through life with an identity crisis of our own. We find ourselves with divided allegiances and motives and ambitions. Sometimes we find ourselves on the run, away from things or people. And sometimes God calls and invites us to go back and face our greatest fears, knowing that He is who He is. So, when the great I Am calls, our response must be, here I am, no matter where we’ve run to, because this is the only way we will live fearless. This is the only way we will live without an identity crisis. We were made for God and we are made to be in intimate relationship with Him. And we were made to answer when he calls, not just the other way around, because so often that’s all were doing is living the other way around. We call. God answers. Like He’s our great sugar daddy in the sky. But do we answer when he calls? Because that’s how relationships work.

Prayer:

Father, we invite You into that. It causes us to consider how we’ve been living and the ways in which we’ve been living with an identity crisis, the ways we’ve been back and forth from doubt to faith, to doubt to faith, the ways that we’ve been on the run, in fear. And even as we’re on the run, in fear, with an identity crisis we may think that we’re trying to hold on to You because we keep calling out to You to do something for us, to make this go away, when we may not be listening to You at all. You may be calling us and we are not answering because we are running. And, so, we take this time to slow down, because usually this isn’t intentional. Usually we have gotten ourselves distracted again and we’re flailing around. So, we slow ourselves down, center ourselves in You, declare You are our only, only hope. So, we are listening for Your voice instead of filling the world with our own words. Come, Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

Looking at the calendar, we’re looking forward to Wednesday, the 7th of February. I’ll be speaking in Bakersfield California at New Life Church and I’m looking for that and the days just fly by, so, it’ll be here before you know it. If you’re in the area, you can get the details dailyaudiobible.com in the Events section. So, we’ll see you soon in California.

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And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi DAB family. This is Lisa calling from Washington DC, the nation’s capital. I wanted to call in today, this morning, it’s about 10 minutes after 6 and I wanted to call in for Pelham because I really heard the stress of his voice and the request for prayer. And I understand what it’s like to be in a very difficult situation, where you don’t know what’s going to happen. You’re in a good situation but it’s not. And then the readings today, the Old Testament readings about Joseph and his child. And, so, in listening to the readings and then hearing Pelham’s request, I was really motivated call in and just to let you know, Pelham, that I am praying for you. I am definitely praying for you. I understand what it is you’re going through and I know how difficult it can be. But I want to let you know to hang onto God’s unchanging hand. He’s there for you. He’s there with you. So, please, have faith, be prayerful, and remember that you’re not alone. This is Lisa calling from Washington DC. Bye-bye.

Hi Daily Audio Bible. This is Julie Mills in North Louisiana and I’m calling for Pelham. I wanted to encourage you, Pelham, and just to say that I feel like I have known you…I heard your call today…it’s January 22…and I feel like I have known you for the last four years. I started listening to the DAB four years ago and you were single back then. And then I remember when you called in and told that you and Molly were getting married and then you called in on your wedding day and the two of you, we rejoiced with you, I celebrated with you then, and then walked with you through when you had your first baby, and when you moved to Birmingham, and I just wanted to say today when I heard your call and to say how are you are struggling and that you said that everything was falling apart…just…Pelham…everything is not falling apart. It may feel like it, but, you know, today was the day that we read about Peter asking Jesus to call them out of the water. And when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves is when things shook him up. And, so, don’t be shaken Pelham. Keep your eyes on Jesus and even when Peter said, help me, I’m thinking. Jesus said, I’m right here. So, he’s got you. And also, today, we read about the story of Joseph, you know, the last few days Joseph and his brothers. And, you know, Joseph, all that he went through, in the end he said, I’m here, I was supposed to be here. All that I went through was for a reason. And, so, you know, God has his hand on you Pelham and Molly…and the main thing…and your baby…and the main thing is to keep your eyes on Him and that the two of you have each other and you have a community of people who are standing with you, praying with you. And, so, Lord, I just pray Father, that you would let…

Hello, this is Sharon in Connecticut, Building My Faith, and I am calling with a praise report. First of all, when I called asking for prayers, specifically about my anxiety about testifying on behalf of the patient, and also for a good outcome in court for the patient, I noticed in the next few days I started to feel calm. And I can only attribute that to all of you praying and that’s the Holy Spirit moving among you. So, I was going to call just for that praise report and then I just got word that at the very last minute, after jury selection, right before the first witness was to be called, the case settled. And it’s such a blessing. It’s a just and fair settlement and it spares my patient from the trauma of having to relive everything through his testimony. It’s just wonderful all around. So, that’s my praise and I wanted everyone to be able to share in that because I know how important it is for us to hear how our prayers are answered. And thank you, every single one of you. Bye-bye.

Hi. My name is Robert. I’m a first-time caller from Indiana. I would like to say that for everyone suffering with pain of depression or suicide, God is a God who lies down with you and your suffering. When the righteous cry out for help the Lord hears and delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out from all of them. I would also like prayers for God to deliver me from my past relationship and to help me understand my purpose that He has planned out for my life. Thank you guys, so much. Don’t stop loving and praise God. Thank you.

Hi family it’s Shannon from Texas. And I’ve called before but I’m calling again. I’m desperate for your prayers for my friend. His name is Jadrian. Like Adrian with a J, Jadrian….I’m trying to control myself. He is my one and only. He is my one and only…oh God…I’m losing it. I’m just realizing how bad it is. And that he is a horrible drug addiction and I’ve never in my life time seen someone so angry and so full of hatred and I’m realizing that no one wants to say that someone has a mental illness, but this kid is, oh my God, he’s just left and cursed me out and his life is just falling apart and I just…I don’t know what to do…I know there’s nothing I really can do…but honestly I am afraid of him. He kicked my car and I’m just afraid he’s about to lose it all again and the things that he said to my mother the other day, a person does not say to someone that they care about. It’s just the cruelest, most hurtful things. I mean, he’s said them to me before, but he’s never said those things to my mother. And I’m just…I’m just overwhelmed. I just need you to pray for him because…so…this kid is on a warpath for destruction. And honestly, I’m afraid of him and I’ve been living like this for too long and I want…I just honestly want for him to get away from me. So please, just help me pray for him because I know I know that is not too much for God…