A REFUGE STUDENT DEVO

A REFUGE STUDENT DEVO

BUT THE MORE THEY WERE OPPRESSED, THE MORE THEY MULTIPLIED AND THE MORE THEY SPREAD ABROAD. AND THE EGYPTIANS WERE IN DREAD OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. EXODUS 1:12 (ESV)

TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE 1 - SLAVERY - EXODUS 1 DEVOTIONS FROM EXODUS 1-2 Day 1 (Thursday) Exodus 1:15-22... 02 Day 2 (Saturday) Exodus 2:1-10... 04 Day 3 (Monday) Exodus 2:23-25... 07 MESSAGE 2 - LEADERSHIP - EXODUS 3 DEVOTIONS FROM EXODUS 3-6 Day 1 (Thursday) Exodus 4:1-9... 11 Day 2 (Saturday) Exodus 4:27-31... 13 Day 3 (Monday) Exodus 5:22-6:1... 16

DAY 1 (THURSDAY): GOD S WORK FOR HIS PEOPLE IN-SPITE OF PHARAOH S PLAN In Exodus 1:15-22 God continues to work out His plan of New Life for His people. As Patrick covered on Wednesday in REFUGE the people of Israel made Egypt home, increased in number, and were put into slavery by the Egyptians. But their numbers multiplied, and God protected them (1:12). This created a huge problem for the Pharaoh who wanted to control the population of Israel. So he tells the Hebrew midwives (women who deliver babies) to kill every male child born. This was Pharaoh s plan. But the Hebrew midwives feared God and were faithful to His plan. But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. - Exodus 1:17 (ESV) They feared God and disobeyed the king. Wow! That is a big deal. They disobeyed a direct order from the king because they feared God more. Who do you fear more? Do you fear what people say/think or what God says? Who is more important? It is important to note that a fear of God is a good thing. Like the healthy fear of not touching a hot stove, being safe around power tools, or following your parents rules because you respect their authority, a fear of God is a healthy thing. It keeps us in His plan, and shows the watching world we are faithful in our devotion to God. So, knowing that fear of God is a good thing... #StraightOuttaEgypt

How can you have a healthy fear of God? In your school? In your family? 03 Let s continue the story So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. - Exodus 1:20-21 (ESV) Here we see the theme for our series once again, that God is working a plan of redemption, offering New Life to His people. God is amazing. And the crazy part is that God invites normal people like you and I to be a part of carrying out His plan. The midwives were not super special or uber spiritual. But they were faithful to God, stood up for God s people, and took a risk. And God protected them from the plans of Pharaoh and blessed them for fearing and following Him. Where can you be faithful to God, and stand for Him this week? Are you willing to take a risk for God (like the midwives did) even if it costs you? Finish your time today with a prayer that God would allow you to be faithful to Him and His plan even when it is difficult.

DAY 2 (SATURDAY): THE LEADER FROM WITHIN - GOD S DELIVERER MOSES In Exodus 2:1-10 we see the arrival of Moses the future leader of Israel. (#Spoileralert) But he did not start out as a leader. He was born as a baby like you and me. But God had a plan for Moses and His people. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. - Exodus 2:3-4 (ESV) This verse section informs us that a boy was born and contrary to the orders from Pharaoh for all of the baby boys to be killed. His mom protected her son and saved his life. But it was a very dangerous situation and when she could no longer hide her son, in an act of faith, she placed him in a basket, in the river, and trusted God. Trusting God is tough sometimes. Can you think of a time you had to trust God even though it was hard? How did that turn out? What are you some areas/things you are trusting God for in your life right now? The baby boy was helpless, in the river, and alone in the weeds, but God had a plan. The story continues with the next verse when Pharaoh s daughter finds the baby boy. #StraightOuttaEgypt

That would be quite the find, that would be a shock. But God was at work, and after allowing him to stay with his mother for a time Pharaoh s daughter adopts him as her own Son and gives him a name. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, Because, she said, I drew him out of the water. - Exodus 2:10 (ESV) The name Moses comes from the Hebrew verb, meaning to pull out/draw out [of water]. This is just one of the amazing ways we see God at work in that while Moses was drawn out of the water and becomes a member of Pharaoh s household. God was also drawing Moses out from the Hebrew people and preparing him to be a leader. This really is a story where God drew out a leader from within. That God is working a plan of redemption, and was protecting and preparing Moses to be a part of that plan. How have you seen God use you to lead or serve others? What experiences prepared you to serve in that way? 05 In a major way this story of the birth of Moses shows us that God draws Moses out of slavery and places him on a different path. A path that will lead to God being glorified, and a New Life for Moses and God s people. How has God drawn you out of a difficult situation in your own life and into a deeper relationship with Him?

Like Moses, how have you seen God work in your life to provide for a better future? Have you taken time to thank God for His part in your story? Finish your time today with a prayer of thankfulness to God for his work in your life. Then pray that God would allow you to trust Him more and draw you into a deeper relationship with Him. AND GOD HEARD THEIR GROANING, AND GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, WITH ISAAC, AND WITH JACOB. GOD SAW THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND GOD KNEW. EXODUS 2:25 (ESV) #StraightOuttaEgypt

DAY 3 (MONDAY): THE HOPE OF FREEDOM 07 In Exodus 2:23-25 God shows up. He responds to the cries for Rescue! The reality is as Christ followers we serve the one and only living God who sees, hears, and responds to the cries of His people! During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. - Exodus 2:23 (ESV) Have you ever been in a moment like that? During those many days., it had been such a long time since Israel had heard from God. Such a long time. And now their cries for rescue and deliverance have gone up to God. Waiting on the Lord is hard. And in this moment the people of Israel are tired of waiting. What is something that you are waiting for? And what is something you can do as you wait on the Lord for those certain things in your life? I am sure the last question brought up some amazing and good things. But the reality is that many times we have to wait. That is a part of life. In this moment the Israelites were in bondage to Pharaoh and had to serve Egypt. But we have freedom as Christ followers in America to use our time for the Lord right where we are.

How are you using your time for the Lord right now in your life? And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel and God knew. - Exodus 2:24-25 (ESV) We have a God who sees and hears. That is so cool. But honestly, many times we do not believe that is true. Many times as Christians we get so busy running after the pleasures and pursuits of life that we forget God. Then we say God is distant. God is never distant. He is always there if we will seek Him. The reality is that many times we don t seek Him, or even desire a better relationship with Him. We often treat God like the friend you have from camp you see once a year, or the kid down the street you play with when you are mad with your parents and take a walk. We often only care about God in the moments we need Him, and the rest of our lives we tend to push Him away. That is sad. Has there ever been a time in your life when you thought God was distant? Was He the one who was distant? Or was it actually you? What are some practical ways you can foster a closer relationship with God in your life? #StraightOuttaEgypt

What we discover from this passage in Exodus is that God is motivated by a deep love for His people. That covenantal love drives God to respond to the cries of His people for a New Life. A life no longer lived in slavery. Israel needs a rescue. And the living God, who sees and hears has heard their cry and is preparing to act in a mighty way to save His people, and carry out His plan! Finish your time today with a prayer of crying out to God if you need to, or simply by asking Him to give you a deeper relationship with Him. God desires to be close to you and if you will just take time to ask, He does hear, and will respond to the faithful prayers of His Children. 09

GOD ALSO SAID TO MOSES, SAY THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB, HAS SENT ME TO YOU. THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER, AND THUS I AM TO BE REMEMBERED THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS. EXODUS 3:15 (ESV)

DAY 1 (THURSDAY): GOD EQUIPS THOSE HE CALLS - EXODUS 4:1-9 11 On Wednesday night in REFUGE, we saw from Exodus chapter 3 that God called Moses. And as we start into chapter 4 we see that Moses still has questions for God. And what we will discover is that God Equips Those He Calls. Then Moses answered, But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, The Lord did not appear to you. - Exodus 4:1 (ESV) How many of you have felt like Moses? God has given him and message and he is afraid that people will not believe him. This is a big deal. Moses has real fears and doubts about how people will receive what God has told him. I wonder how many times as Christians we feel like Moses. Afraid of what people will say and think. Can you think of a time you were afraid to speak up? What happened? What is the message God has given you to share with other people? Is that a scary message to share? But God is patient with Moses and equips him with three miraculous signs to show God s people so they will believe. First the Lord turns Moses s walking staff into a snake. Then God makes Moses s hand white with leprosy. And finally He tells Moses that if they still do not believe God will turn a cup of water to blood. Those are all crazy signs from God, I know.

But God is equipping Moses to share the message God gave him. Moses, who was called, was being equipped for the mission God had for him. How has God gifted and equipped you? How might God be equipping you for His mission? The saying around church is that God Equips Those He Calls. This means that you do not have to be perfect to serve God. In many ways it is exactly the opposite. God takes normal, everyday people like you and me, who are committed to Him, and equips them. God does not use perfect people. He equips people who are committed and called by Him. Are you willing to be used by God? Are you committed to God and desire to be used by Him? Finish your time today with a prayer that God would equip you for the calling He has for your life. #StraightOuttaEgypt

DAY 2 (SATURDAY): A MIGHTY PARTNERSHIP 13 In Exodus 4:27-31 Moses gets a teammate. God tells Moses brother Aaron to go join Moses in the wilderness. Moses told Aaron about all that God had done, and showed him the signs God had commanded Moses to show the People of Israel. Moses and Aaron were a team and God was going to use them in His plan to provide New Life for His people. What do you think the partnership of Moses and Aaron tells us about serving God? Is serving God with other people easier or harder? Why is it difficult to serve God with others? Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. - Exodus 4:1 (ESV) Aaron spoke for Moses. We see in the passage that serving God is a team sport. We need each other. We need to encourage and help each other as we serve God together. We also see that the People of God believed the message. They believed the message and worshiped God. God was moving and working through the partnership of Moses and Aaron in a mighty way.

How have you helped or served on a team in the Past? Do you serve with others currently? What do you think God could do if you and your friends served God together? Finish your time today with a prayer thanking God for friendships, your church family, and how He has uniquely put everyone together for his purpose. #StraightOuttaEgypt

DAY 3 (MONDAY): A LEADERSHIP LESSON 15 Have you ever been disappointed? Or asked God why? That is where Moses is in Exodus 5:22-6:1. Moses cries out to God because he does not feel God has come through. Many times we are tempted to do the same thing as Christians. In moments when things are not going our way we feel God is distant and we get frustrated with Him. Have you ever been frustrated with God when things did not go your way? How did being upset or disappointed with God turn out for you? But the Lord said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land. - Exodus 6:1 (ESV) God answers Moses and reminds him of the plan. The reality is that God is always working a plan and we are the ones who forget. We lose faith and trust in God so quickly. But in this verse God tells Moses that he can trust Him. That God is still in control. Have you seen God answer your prayers and cries to Him in the past?

But the Lord said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land. - Exodus 6:1 (ESV) God answers Moses and reminds him of the plan. The reality is that God is always working a plan and we are the ones who forget. We lose faith and trust in God so quickly. But in this verse God tells Moses that he can trust Him. That God is still in control. Have you seen God answer your prayers and cries to Him in the past? How can you keep your trust in God even when it is hard to see Him working? Finish your time today with a prayer asking God to increase you trust in His plan for you and your future. #StraightOuttaEgypt

I WILL TAKE YOU TO BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO HAS BROUGHT YOU OUT FROM UNDER THE BURDENS OF THE EGYPTIANS. I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE LAND THAT I SWORE TO GIVE TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB. I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU FOR A POSSESSION. I AM THE LORD. EXODUS 6:7-8 (ESV)

THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM, TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH. HE FULFILLS THE DESIRE OF THOSE WHO FEAR HIM; HE ALSO HEARS THEIR CRY AND SAVES THEM. PSALM 145:18-19