62 GOD DOES NOT CHANGE F O O T ================================

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READING

62 GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

PRAY Give me a receptive heart and mind as I study the Scriptures today, heavenly Father. —————————————————————- READ Exodus 14:1-31. —————————————————————- THINK Pick out from this passage examples of God’s love and judgement in action. —————————————————————- FOCUS GOD’S POWER. Who ever could have believed that the Israelites would get safely out of this dangerous situation? The had been guided by God – no doubt of that. But they found themselves trapped. But God’s power still has no limits. GOD’S LOVE. He did all this to save his people (22,29,30). He had promised to do so, and God keeps his promises. In Romans 8:38-39 Paul combines these two thoughts of God’s power and God’s love. Since God’s power is so great,no force can separate God’s people from God’s saving love. The exodus event is one of the three rescue highpoints of the Scriptures. The second is the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon (see Reading 42). The third is the focal point of the whole Bible: the victory of the Cross. This is the clearest demonstration of God’s saving love. The promises in verses 16-18 were given to the Israelites just when they needed them. In the Bible God has given many promises. If we get to know them they can help us through difficult times. GOD’S JUDGEMENT. Many people today do not like to think that God really judges sin. But just as a coin has two sides, so God’s anger against sin is only the ‘other side’ of his love of goodness. The Egyptians had ignored all that God had said through Moses. Now they faced the consequences (23-28). God’s judgement is still a reality today. When people reject his laws they are making trouble for themselves.

PRAY Pray that in difficult situations you may have the courage to

stand firm and have the faith to trust God.