Exodus unfinished
Day 492, Tuesday, Dec. 16
Acts 7:17-43
If the message of Jesus is a continuation of the work God began with Abraham, it is also a continuation of the release from slavery begun in the Exodus from Egypt.
When God saw his people groaning in captivity, he sent Moses to speak his word. “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.”
In Acts, God will again provide people who are powerful in speech and action.
This isn’t so much repeating what happened in the Exodus as it is continuing it. Stephen reminds his hearers that people in the day of Moses failed to receive the message. “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.”
As we continue in the New Testament, and particularly in the letters of Paul, the theme of humans resisting God’s freedom and longing to return to the false security of slavery will come up again and again.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Tuesday meditation

Psalms 44:1-8
We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

Prayer focus
Lead us to choose freedom, not slavery.