“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from pursuing worldly things that distract from your plan for me. Help me to learn how to keep you holy in all my thoughts and actions. Keep fear from having an impact on proper decisions that will bring honor to you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? 29They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. 

So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.

“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”

 So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 

He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles.

“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 

Lord God my Father,

Soften my heart to follow your desires above my own. Help me to live by your design more that by my decisions. Keep me from judging the world with my understanding and allow your plan to play out as you desire. Help me to accept your help and not be proud.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” 

We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

The Lord will reign forever and ever!”

Lord God my Father,

Your plan is perfect even when I don’t see it. Help me to know you enough to represent you well in confusing times. Keep me from being enslaved by fear and trust your Peace as my guide. Your way leads to a delightful life.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them.

Pharaoh’s officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. “How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the Lord their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!” 29“Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”

The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. 

On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation.

Lord God my Father,

Soften my heart so your will is stronger than mine, help me to plea for your way alone. Keep me steadfast in your desire and not in mine. Help me to trust in your plan even when I don’t understand it.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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

And the Lord did just as he had said. 

So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the Lord to remove all the flies. 31And the Lord did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people.

Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the Lord had predicted through Moses.

Lord God my Father,

Stay close and keep my heart fixed on you. Allow obedience to become a strength and help me keep gratitude first in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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’?”

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

14Then 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. 15Talk 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.

“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.”

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!”

When 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?”

Lord God my Father,

I am grateful for my faith, help me with my doubt. Keep me close to your delight and protect me from distractions. I want to serve and honor you but part of me is struggling to go all in with your power. Keep me from believing in what I understand and to move forward in faith. Keep me from focusing on the struggle and keep my faith in your delivery.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

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

21Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. 2

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

12God answered, “I will be with you.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to trust you and not be stuck in my own hurts and fears. You are with me and that is enough for me to be restored to wholeness. You love me when I argue with you so allow your Truth to be enough for me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Dan will govern his people, like any other tribe in Israel. 17Dan will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path that bites the horse’s hooves so its rider is thrown off. 18I trust in you for salvation, O Lord!

Lord God my Father,

Keep me close in my time of struggles and help me find a way back to your Peace and delight. Lord I am struggling and need your Truth to rest well, help me to surrender it all to your care.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. 

So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed humbly at the head of his bed.

Lord God my Father,

Your plan brings great joy and restoration, help me to only see the reward to come, not the struggles to get there. Help me to honor you by honoring my family.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

“Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks.

 “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.

Lord God my Father,

Your mercy is beyond my comprehension, your plan, beyond my understanding, but you are perfect. Lord God, help me to relax my thoughts so your will rest well with me. The struggles I thought were to crush me, only reveals your glory when I trust you. Give me a peace that allows your plan to rest well and reveal your outcome.

In Jesus name I pray.

Amen