2014 - Day 24

Exo_14:31  And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

First usage in the OT is:

Gen_15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

And is the same Hebrew word.

H539 - A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand.

This is the same word used 22 times and verses in the OT.

Exodus 14:31 had a cross referenced to John 2:11 and 11:45 in my Bible.

Joh 2:11  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Joh 11:45  Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

A few other verses from the OT regarding believing – which I’m finding convicting, especially after having read through Exodus 13-16.

Psa_27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

It’s easy to scoff at the Israelites, weak, recently released slaves, we don’t really think of ourselves as slaves, do we?  Having, by the grace of God, been released from the bondage of the enemy.

Here they’ve been set free, went out with a ‘high hand’ – wealth poured onto them in gold, silver, goods, they’ve watched the plagues happen.  They were exempt from many of the last plagues.

Watched, collected and eaten of the quails and manna – manna from heaven which rained down on them daily (eventually for 40 years).  Saw the cloud or fire pillar, leading them.  Saw, felt, experienced His deliverance from the Egyptians.

Yet, they, like us, continue to bemoan their situations and circumstances.  When adversity hits, or pain/suffering, or things just aren’t going the way ‘I’ want, how easily do I fall into the same moan/groan/complain mode?

Why isn’t my focus more heavenly versus inward or at the wind and waves buffeting and soaking?

Lord, help me to learn the lesson and example You’ve provided.  Help me Father to focus on You versus the situations, circumstances (and sometimes people).  Help me to fully throw off the chains of bondage and fear, disbelief and doubt.  Lord help me to walk victorious, not for myself, rather to give You glory and honor as a King and Master worth serving.