The Daily Dose

God is greater than any opposition

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. ~ Exodus 8:1

 When I read this passage, I am reminded that no matter how stubborn Pharaoh was, God’s word stood firm. Pharaoh’s magicians could copy some signs, but they could never match God’s power. Each time Pharaoh resisted, God proved again and again that His authority cannot be challenged. The purpose was not only to free His people but also to show the world that He alone is the Lord.

In my own life, I have encountered many situations where it seemed like every kind of obstacle stood in the way. Many times I have felt powerless to change anything. Yet, as I continued to pray and trust God, I watched Him move circumstances that were far beyond my control. People I never expected stepped in to help, and doors opened that I could not have opened myself. In those moments I realized that even when opposition looks overwhelming, God’s hand is stronger.

For you today, Exodus 8 speaks to the moments when you face resistance, whether from circumstances, people, or even the enemy trying to discourage you. Like Pharaoh, opposition may try to keep you stuck, but God’s power is greater. He fights for you, and He will prove Himself faithful in your life. What He begins, He will finish, no matter how many times resistance shows up.

Here are some ways to get started:

• Spend time in God’s Word daily, reminding yourself of His promises.
• Pray specifically over the areas of resistance in your life and ask God to show His supernatural power and wisdom there.
• Write down times God has already delivered you or answered prayer to strengthen your faith for today.
• Share your testimony with someone else who is feeling stuck or discouraged.
• Praise God in advance, trusting Him to work even when you cannot yet see the outcome.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that God’s power will always be greater than the opposition you face. What seems unmovable to you is not impossible for Him. Just as He proved Himself stronger than Pharaoh and his magicians, He will show Himself mighty in your life too. Stand firm, trust Him fully, and expect Him to move in ways that reveal His glory.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 8

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 

2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 

3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 

4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”

5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’” 

6 So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! 

7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 

11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh. 

13 And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. 

14 The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. 

15 But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” 

17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. 

18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

20 Then the Lord told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 

21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 

22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 

23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

24 And the Lord did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies.

25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the Lord our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us. 

27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, just as he has commanded us.”

28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the Lord to remove all the flies. 

31 And the Lord did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained. 

32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.

Journal:

• Where do you see opposition in your life right now?
• How has God shown His strength in your past when you faced resistance?
• What is one area today where you can trust Him to demonstrate His power again?

God’s power through ordinary people

“See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the  Israelites go out of his country.” ~ Exodus 7:1-2

As God’s people, we have the unique and awesome honor to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today. When I read this passage, I am reminded that God does not wait until we feel fully ready before He calls us. Moses did not think he was qualified to stand before Pharaoh, yet God gave him the exact words and strength needed, and He placed Aaron beside him for support. God’s power was not limited by Moses’ weakness but displayed through his obedience.

In my own life, I have had times when I felt completely unqualified to do what God asked of me. One memory that stands out is when I first began leading a small group. I questioned whether I had the right words to help and encourage others, the right skills to organize and facilitate, or enough wisdom to lead. But as I stepped forward, I saw God move. People were encouraged, not because of what I had, but because of what God did through me. Through that time, I realized that His calling is always bigger than my own ability.

For you today, this passage can speak to situations where you feel unprepared, overwhelmed, or too small to make a difference. God wants you to know that He chooses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans. He provides the courage, the resources, and the right people to walk beside you. Just like Moses had Aaron, God will place others in your life to strengthen you.

Here are some ways to get started today:

• Spend time in prayer each day asking God to guide your words and actions.
• Be willing to step into opportunities that stretch you even if you feel unqualified.
• Invite someone to pray with you or walk with you as Aaron did with Moses.
• Write down specific ways God has shown His power in your past and keep them as reminders when you doubt.
• Encourage someone else who feels inadequate by sharing this story of Moses.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God has chosen you for a reason. He does not see your weaknesses as disqualifications but as places where His strength will shine. If He called Moses, who doubted his own voice, then He can call you to do what seems impossible. Step out in faith, speak what He puts in your heart, and believe that His power is working through you.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 7

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 

2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 

3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 

4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 

5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. 

7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 

9 “Pharaoh will demand, ‘Show me a miracle.’ When he does this, say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’”

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent! 

11 Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. 

12 They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 

13 Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted.

A Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. 

15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. 

16 Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him. 

17 So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. 

18 The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”

19 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! 

21 The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 

22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. 

23 Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind. 

24 Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile.

25 Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.

Journal:

• What is one area of your life right now where you feel unqualified?
• How can you invite God’s strength into that situation?
• Who has God placed in your life to support you like Aaron supported Moses?

God’s covenant promise

 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. ~ Exodus 6:6-7

This chapter is one of the most powerful reminders of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites had just faced increased suffering under Pharaoh, and they were weary, discouraged, and doubting God’s promises. But God spoke clearly through Moses, repeating His covenant promise: He would deliver, redeem, and make them His people. Even in the middle of hardship, God reminded them of His power and His plan.

There have been times in my own life when discouragement almost made me give up on what God had promised. There were moments when it looked like doors had closed or life grew more difficult that I questioned whether I had misunderstood God’s plan. But in those moments, He reminded me of His promises in His Word. Just like the Israelites, I needed to hear His voice say, “I will bring you out, I will redeem you, I will be your God.” His promises didn’t change, even when my circumstances did.

This applies to all of us today because there will always be situations that we face that feel overwhelming. Problems like financial pressure, health struggles, or family conflict. It can feel like God has forgotten or that the waiting will never end. But today’s reading reminds us that God’s covenant is unshakable. His “I will” statements are still true today. He will bring you out, He will redeem you, He will be your God and He will breakthrough every barrier.

Here are some things you can do when you feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures:

• Write down the promises of God from scripture and read them out loud when discouragement comes.
• Pray specifically for the areas where you need deliverance and remind yourself that God is faithful.
• Share your testimony of God’s faithfulness with someone who needs encouragement.
• Practice gratitude daily by naming ways God has already redeemed or provided for you.
• Choose one area of your life where you feel bound, and surrender it to God in prayer, trusting Him to bring freedom.

Today I want to encourage you to hold tightly to God’s covenant promises. Even if life feels heavy and your heart feels weary, God is still faithful. His Word is true, and His promises are certain. You are His child, and He has not forgotten you. Let His “I will” be louder in your life than the “I can’t” that comes from discouragement. Trust Him to bring you out, redeem your story, and show you His power.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 6

1Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

2And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. 4And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. 5You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.

6“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”

9So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

10Then the Lord said to Moses, 11“Go back to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the people of Israel leave his country.”

12“But Lord!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!”

13But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.

The Ancestors of Moses and Aaron

14These are the ancestors of some of the clans of Israel:

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Their descendants became the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.) Their descendants became the clans of Simeon.

16These are the descendants of Levi, as listed in their family records: The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Levi lived to be 137 years old.)

17The descendants of Gershon included Libni and Shimei, each of whom became the ancestor of a clan.

18The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. (Kohath lived to be 133 years old.)

19The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites, as listed in their family records.

20Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to his sons, Aaron and Moses. (Amram lived to be 137 years old.)

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zicri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.

25Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to his son, Phinehas.

These are the ancestors of the Levite families, listed according to their clans.

26The Aaron and Moses named in this list are the same ones to whom the Lord said, “Lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.” 27It was Moses and Aaron who spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, about leading the people of Israel out of Egypt.

28When the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29he said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” 30But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?”

 Journal:

• What promise from God’s Word do I need to hold on to right now?
• Where do I need to trust God to bring me out of bondage or struggle?
• How has God shown His faithfulness to me in the past, and how can I use that memory to strengthen my faith today?

When obedience brings opposition

Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? ~ Exodus 5:22

When we read Exodus 5, it can be both inspiring and sobering. Moses and Aaron obeyed God by going to Pharaoh with the message to let His people go. But instead of deliverance, things got worse. Pharaoh increased the Israelites’ workload, making life unbearable. Obedience brought opposition.

I remember a time in my own life when I knew I was obeying God, yet the situation seemed to grow more difficult instead of easier. I thought if I followed the Lord’s leading, doors would open smoothly, and problems would disappear. But just like the Israelites, I found that sometimes obedience first stirs up resistance. In those seasons, I had to learn that God had not abandoned me but was positioning me to trust Him at a deeper level.

This passage speaks to our lives today. You may be doing your best to follow God, yet your circumstances feel like they are only getting harder. Maybe your obedience has led to criticism, loss, or unexpected struggles. The truth is, the enemy resists the work of God, and sometimes the hardest battles come right before the breakthrough. Just like the Israelites, you are not forgotten. God hears, God sees, and God is working even when the opposition increases.

Here are some things you can do when you sense opposition instead of breakthrough:

• Remember that your obedience to God is a step of faith  and not measured by immediate results but by faithfulness while you wait.
• Pray daily for strength to persevere when challenges rise.
• Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and remind you of God’s promises.
• Keep your eyes on the bigger picture, knowing that God’s deliverance may take time.
• Journal your prayers and struggles, and look back later to see how God was faithful in ways you could not see at first.

Today I want to encourage you to keep moving forward even when obedience feels costly. Just because the struggle has intensified does not mean God has left you. He is preparing you for greater freedom and greater faith. Stand firm in His Word, hold on to His promises, and trust that your labor is not in vain. Deliverance is coming, and God is faithful to finish what He has started in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 5

1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”

2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”

3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”

4 Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! 

5 Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

6 That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: 

7 “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! 

8 But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ 

9 Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

10 So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you. 

11 Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!” 

12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.

13 Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded. 

14 Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

15 So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged. 

16 “We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”

17 But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 

18 Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”

19 The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” 

20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 

21 The foremen said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”

22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? 

23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”

 Journal:

• When have I obeyed God and faced greater opposition as a result?
• How can I remind myself that God is working even when things seem harder?
• Who can I encourage today that may be struggling in their obedience?

Can you relate?

A Jewish man by the name of Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was recognized as an educated and cultured man. He was powerful in the Scriptures.~  Acts 18:24

 I’ve always been a laborer my whole life where I worked in service and manual work. I didn’t go to college. Oh, I had some continuing education along the way when I spent time in management, but as far as formal education is concerned, I have been very limited. Even in the Scriptures, I grew up in a pastor’s home, so faith and God’s Word were always the number one priority. However, the only instruction and guidance since then has been through books, sermons, and the Holy Spirit.

This reality could be a restricting fact when it comes to encouraging and ministering to others. Because I write now, I sometimes find myself thinking about my lack of education and even considering that I am not qualified to write at all. I know this isn’t true, but it has been a barrier in the past that I have had to overcome more than once. I am always amazed at God’s goodness when I find myself in situations where I get to pray with and encourage others. My experiences, although many were through bad choices on my part, have given me wisdom to press into God in this season and to follow the leading of His Spirit. That is where I find peace and also where I know that no matter how limited my education is, He qualifies me for every good work and ministry He has planned for me.

In today’s reading, we meet Apollos. He was an educated man and full of culture. He was also trained in Scripture, which made him a very charismatic and convincing teacher. However, when Aquila and Priscilla met him, they took him aside and taught him about being filled with the Holy Spirit. As educated and intelligent as Apollos was, he still had more to learn, and he was wise enough to receive it with humility. He did not let the pride of his schooling stop him from learning from those who were tentmakers/laborers by trade.

Likewise, Aquila and Priscilla were gracious and loving as they helped Apollos understand what he was missing. They did not let his superior training intimidate them, and they did not let their own simple position hold them back from sharing the truth. They used their work and daily life as a tool to reach others, no matter their status. They understood that God’s love and salvation is the equal ground that everyone needs.

Chances are you can relate to someone in this passage. Maybe it is Apollos, the educated and gifted man, or perhaps it is Aquila and Priscilla, the ordinary laborers. Either way, the message is clear: we all have something to give, and we all have something to learn. The key is humility and grace.

Practical ways to apply this passage and get started:

• Ask the Lord to show you who in your life can teach you something new, even if they seem less qualified by the world’s standards
• Be willing to listen with humility when God places people in your path who speak truth into your life
• Use the opportunities in your daily work and relationships as a platform to encourage others with God’s Word
• Remember that your past, no matter how difficult, can be a bridge to minister to someone else who is struggling today
• Commit to being both a learner and a teacher, receiving from others and also giving freely what God has poured into you

Today I want to encourage you to see yourself in this passage and take courage that no matter your background or education, God has called and qualified you. Just as Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla each had a role in building the Kingdom, so do you. Do not let intimidation or comparison hold you back. God’s grace is enough to equip you, and He will use your story as a powerful testimony in the lives of others.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 18:24-28

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 

26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 

27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 

28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

 Journal:

• Who do I see myself most like in this passage: Apollos, Aquila, or Priscilla?
• What voices has God brought into my life that I need to listen to with humility?
• How can I use my own background and experiences to encourage someone God has placed in my path?

Where ever you go

_{After spending some time there, Paul continued on through the region of Galatia and Phyrgia in central Turkey. And wherever he went he encouraged and strengthened the believers. ~ Acts 18:23}

How do people feel when they see you walking toward them? When family, friends, and co-workers are around, do they rejoice in visiting with you or do they try to avoid you? Many people justify their lack of popularity by blaming something they were born with or into. Others say it is because of things they have suffered in their past. Maybe they come from a poverty background or from a different country. The truth is that most people enjoy or dislike being around you based on how they feel when the conversation is finished. If they leave your presence feeling uplifted and encouraged, then chances are they will want to see you again. If they cannot wait to get away because you unload your “problems” or always need something from them every time you are around, then they will likely walk the other way the next time they see you coming.

In today’s reading, the apostle Paul traveled through many regions, stopping to visit believers along the way. The passage says that wherever he went, he encouraged and strengthened the believers. God’s people were always glad to see Paul because they knew the time he spent with them would strengthen their faith and relationship with the Lord. On the other hand, there were people in almost every city who despised him and tried to silence his message. It was not because of where he came from or something in his past. It was simply because of the words he spoke and the encouragement he brought with him wherever he went.

If you find yourself today feeling neglected or left out, consider the words you are speaking when you are around others. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in your relationships and guide you in being a blessing to all those you meet. Pay attention to what others are saying and notice the needs you can help with. Become the type of person who leaves others feeling encouraged and inspired, and you will no longer need to worry about people avoiding you.

Here are some steps you can take to get started today:

• Begin your day with prayer, asking God to use your words to strengthen and encourage others
• Be intentional to listen more than you speak, showing people that you value what they share
• Speak words of hope and life instead of focusing on problems or negativity
• Look for opportunities to help meet small needs, such as offering prayer, support, or acts of kindness
• End each conversation with encouragement so the other person feels uplifted

Today I want to encourage you to follow the example of the apostle Paul by encouraging and strengthening people wherever you go. Be the kind of person that others love to be around because they leave your presence feeling energized and inspired to live for the Lord. Avoid wasting your words on gossip, world crises, or arguments that do not bring life. Instead, use your words to help others focus on what is good and productive. Make the change today to be an encouragement to those around you, and soon you will help others do the same wherever you go.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 18:18-23

18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 

19 And he came to Ephesus and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 

20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 

21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. 

23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

Journal:

• Who in my life is God calling me to encourage today?
• What kinds of words do people hear from me most often, and how can I improve them?
• How can I become more intentional about strengthening others in their faith?

Equipped by God

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” ~ Genesis 4:11-12

 In Exodus 4, Moses struggled with insecurity when God called him to speak to Pharaoh. He worried about his ability and questioned whether he was the right person for the job. God’s response was clear. He reminded Moses that He is the Creator, the One who equips and empowers His people to do what He asks of them. God did not choose Moses because he was perfect, He chose him because His power would be revealed through Moses’ obedience.

Insecurity was a big part of my life for many years. Most times I felt completely inadequate for what God was asking me to do. One example was when I was asked to take a position as the hub director for the womens small groups at my church.  The position required me to speak in front of a group of people, which was way out of my comfort zone. As fear tried to take hold of me, I told God all the reasons why I was not the right person. But as I began to take steps of faith in those moments, I discovered that God was not asking me to rely on myself, He was asking me to trust Him. Each time I stepped forward, He gave me words I did not know I had and strength I did not feel on my own.  It wasn’t very long until I gained confidence in His presence with me.  I knew that each time I got up to speak, it may not be perfect, but being a mouthpiece for my Father in that position gave Him a vessel to move through to speak into the lives of others.

This chapter speaks to anyone who feels unqualified or uncertain. Perhaps you are facing a new opportunity, a big decision, or a calling that feels beyond your skill or experience. God is reminding you today that He is the One who equips you. He will give you what you need in the exact moment you need it. Your weakness is not a disqualification, it is the place where His strength will shine through.

Her are some ways you can apply this truth in your life:

• Acknowledge your fears honestly before God in prayer.
• Write down the areas where you feel weak and ask God to show His strength there.
• Take one small step of obedience in the area you feel God is calling you.
• Surround yourself with people who will encourage and pray for you.
• Memorize scriptures that remind you of God’s strength and His promises.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God has already given you everything you need to do what He has called you to do. You do not need to have all the answers, you only need to take the next step in obedience. God’s power is greater than your weakness, and His presence will go with you wherever you are called. Step forward with confidence, knowing that He will teach you, strengthen you, and speak through you as you trust Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 4

1 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”

2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.

3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.

5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease. 

7 “Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body.

8 The Lord said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign. 

9 And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.”

10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 

12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”

14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 

15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 

16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 

17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 So Moses went back home to Jethro, his father-in-law. “Please let me return to my relatives in Egypt,” Moses said. “I don’t even know if they are still alive.”

“Go in peace,” Jethro replied.

19 Before Moses left Midian, the Lord said to him, “Return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you have died.”

20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. In his hand he carried the staff of God.

21 And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go. 

22 Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. 

23 I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”

24 On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. 

25 But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 

26 (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the Lord left him alone.

27 Now the Lord had said to Aaron, “Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So Aaron went and met Moses at the mountain of God, and he embraced him. 

28 Moses then told Aaron everything the Lord had commanded him to say. And he told him about the miraculous signs the Lord had commanded him to perform.

29 Then Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called all the elders of Israel together. 

30 Aaron told them everything the Lord had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. 

31 Then the people of Israel were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Journal:

• What task or calling feels too big for me right now?
• How have I seen God show His strength in my weakness before?
• What is one small step I can take today to move forward in obedience to God’s call?

Called by name

When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. ~ Exodus 3:4

In Exodus 3, Moses encountered God in a powerful way at the burning bush. God called him by name and gave him a purpose that was far greater than anything Moses imagined for himself. Moses may have felt unworthy or unqualified, but God saw who he truly was and what He could do through him. This moment reminds us that God knows our name, He sees where we are, and He has a purpose for our lives too.

In my own life, I remember a time when I felt hidden and unnoticed. I was simply doing what I had to do each day, not thinking God wanted me to step up in a significant way. Yet in the middle of ordinary moments, God reminded me of His call on my life. Just like He did with Moses, He spoke to my heart and gave me courage to take the next step forward. It was not about my ability, it was about His grace and power working through me.

This passage can speak into your current circumstances as well. You may feel like you are in the wilderness of life, doing your best to survive and unsure if your life holds meaning. The truth is, God knows your name. He has seen every step you have taken, and He has not forgotten you. Just as He called Moses, He is calling you to trust Him, to take off your shoes before His holiness, and to step into the purpose He has for you.

Here are some things you can do to get His direction for your life:

• Spend quiet time with God and listen for His voice in prayer and scripture.
• Acknowledge that you are standing on holy ground whenever you come into God’s presence.
• Write down moments where you have sensed God calling you, even in small ways.
• Take one step of obedience today, no matter how small, and trust that God will meet you in it.
• Remind yourself daily that God knows your name and has chosen you to walk with Him.

Today I want to encourage you to know that God sees you, He knows your name, and He has a calling on your life. No matter how unqualified or hidden you may feel, He is calling you just as He called Moses. Your part is to listen, to respond, and to trust that God will equip you for what He has for you to do. Stand before Him in humility, let Him lead you, and walk forward with courage knowing He is with you.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 3

1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 

2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 

3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 

6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 

8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 

9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” 

15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

16 “Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. 

17 I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’

18 “The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord, our God.’

19 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. 

20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. 

21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. 

22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”

Journal:

• What area of my life feels like a wilderness right now, and how can I invite God into it?
• When have I sensed God calling me to something greater, and how did I respond?
• What step of faith is God asking me to take today?

God sees and breaks through

Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act. ~ Exodus 2:23-25

 There are times in life when it feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and our struggles go unnoticed. Exodus 2 reminds us that even in the silence, God hears, God sees, and God remembers His promises. The Israelites had been suffering under cruel slavery for years, yet God had already been working in the background to bring about their deliverance through the birth and preservation of Moses.

I remember a season in my life when I was overwhelmed and desperate for God to intervene. I had been praying for a breakthrough in a situation that seemed impossible. Day after day I wondered if God heard me, if He even cared about the heaviness I was carrying. What I did not realize at the time was that He was already putting pieces into place that would eventually bring me freedom. When the breakthrough came, I saw clearly how God had been orchestrating the answer all along.

This chapter speaks to us today. No matter how hard life feels or how long you have been waiting, God sees you and hears your cries. He has not forgotten you. Just as He remembered His covenant with Israel, He remembers His promises to you. Even when you cannot see what He is doing, He is working behind the scenes to bring you into the place of freedom and blessing He has prepared for you.

Here are some things you can do when you are waiting for your breakthrough:

• Keep crying out to God. Your prayers are not wasted, He hears every word.
• Stand on God’s promises in Scripture. His Word is your anchor when you cannot see the answer yet.
• Watch for small ways God may already be moving. Sometimes His work begins quietly before it becomes visible.
• Share your burdens with trusted believers who will pray with you and remind you of God’s faithfulness.
• Stay faithful where you are, trusting that God is preparing you for what is ahead.

Today I want to encourage you that God has not forgotten you. He sees your pain, He hears your cries, and He remembers His promises over your life. Trust that He is working even now to bring about His plan. Do not give up in the waiting. Keep pressing into Him and expect Him to move on your behalf.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 2

1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 

2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 

3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 

4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 

6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.

7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.

8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother.

9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.

10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

Moses Escapes to Midian

11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 

12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.

13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight.

14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”

Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.” 

15 And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian.

When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. 

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks. 

17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.

18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?”

19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.”

20 “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”

21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. 

22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 

24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.

Journal:

• What situation in your life feels overlooked by God right now?
• How does knowing that God sees, hears, and remembers encourage you today?
• Write a prayer asking God to strengthen your faith while you wait for His timing.

God’s People Cannot Be Stopped

“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.” – Exodus 1:12

Exodus 1 opens with a powerful picture of God’s faithfulness to His people. Even in a land where they were enslaved, mistreated, and pressed down, the Israelites grew and flourished. What Pharaoh tried to use to crush them became the very thing that propelled them forward. As we read through the book of Exodus, let it be an example that no force on earth can stop what God has promised or what He has blessed.

I have seen this truth in my own life. There have been times when I felt the weight of pressure and opposition pressing down on me. Places in life where it seemed like nothing was working the way I hoped, and the challenges were piling higher than the victories. Yet it was in those very moments that God was working, growing something deeper in me. What looked like setbacks became preparation. What felt like oppression became the soil for God to bring increase in ways I could not see at the time.

This same truth applies to you today. You may feel pressed down by circumstances, opposition, or even the heaviness of life. You may wonder if anything good can come out of your situation. Exodus 1 reminds us that oppression is not the end. God has the power to cause you to flourish even in the most difficult seasons. The pressure you are under may actually be the very place God is multiplying strength, wisdom, and grace in your life.

Here are some ways to apply this message:

1. Identify one area of your life where you feel pressure or opposition and write it down.
2. Pray, “Lord, help me to trust You in this area and to see how You are still at work.”
3. Begin to thank God daily for how He is multiplying strength in you, even when you cannot see it yet.
4. Speak God’s promises over yourself by declaring, “What the enemy means for harm, God will turn for good.”
5. Surround yourself with people who will remind you of God’s faithfulness when life feels heavy.

Today I want to encourage you that the same God who caused His people to multiply in Egypt is working in your life right now. No amount of pressure, hardship, or opposition can cancel God’s plan for you. What feels like the enemy pressing down may actually be God setting you up for greater growth and blessing. Hold on to the truth that He is faithful and unstoppable, and because you belong to Him, so are you.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with their father, each with his family: 

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 

3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 

4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 

5 In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.

6 In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation. 

7 But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.

8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 

9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 

10 We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.”

11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 

12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became. 

13 So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. 

14 They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.

15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 

16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” 

17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.

18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. “Why have you done this?” he demanded. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”

19 “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 

21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”

Journal:

• Write down an area of your life where you feel pressed down.
• Write how you believe God can use that situation to grow you and bring about His purpose.