Pharaoh resisted the call of the Lord’s prophet to let the Israelite’s leave Egypt. Signs were given as evidence of the Lord’s willingness to do whatever was necessary to free His people. The consequences of not following the prophet were very real.
“Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt” Read More »
We have already read several references to Jesus Christ’s atonement and resurrection in the Old Testament: the Flood that cleansed the world of wickedness, Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, and Joseph saving his family from the famine, just to name a few. These stories help us understand that the world has been readying for the Savior’s mortal ministry thousands of years before He would be born. It all leads to Him.
“He will swallow up death in victory” Read More »
Moses grew from a helpless Hebrew infant to Egyptian royalty. Yet that wasn’t where God needed him. As a refugee, Moses was called to be the most significant prophet of the Old Testament. Through Moses, the Lord redeemed His people, established His covenant, and reminded the world that God will not forget those who follow Him.
“I Have Remembered My Covenant” Read More »
Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers did not come after they had paid restitution or offered an apology. He forgave them the moment he realized they had changed from their jealous ways when they offered themselves in place of Benjamin for punishment. How overwhelming it must have been for Joseph to see such love amongst his brothers. His forgiveness came with no strings attached: “be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves” (Genesis 45:5).
“God Meant It unto Good” Read More »
In every moment of Joseph’s story, God was with him. From his brothers’ betrayal and serving Potiphar, to a friend of Pharaoh and the savior of his family, at no time was Joseph forgotten by God. Through the good and the bad, he trusted that God knew who he was and had faith that everything would be all right.
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Abraham’s posterity was promised many blessings of eternal significance, but that didn’t mean everything would be perfect. His grandsons, Jacob and Esau, fought over who should inherit their father’s birthright. Relatives lied to and tricked each other. The prophet’s very own family was dysfunctional, yet that didn’t stop those who were righteous from striving to follow Jesus Christ.
Abraham and Sarah had a lot to worry about. From infertility and famine to war and the safety of their family, it could have been easy to forget their covenants while focusing on their daily concerns. Yet they showed faith by putting the Lord first each day. As a result of keeping their covenants, they knew the Lord would help them throughout their lives. As Abraham told his son, Isaac, “God will provide” (Genesis 22:8). We should follow Abraham’s example of faith and always put the Lord first.
“Is Any Thing Too Hard for the Lord?” Read More »
Abraham lived a life of violence and peace, of trauma and healing, and of promises and faith. Through every trial, Abraham trusted in the Lord and chose to follow Him even when his world was at its darkest. He was rewarded with a covenant that encompasses all of God’s children and will last into the eternities. This covenant and its blessings are extended to our families today.
“To Be a Greater Follower of Righteousness” Read More »
The phrase, “found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Moses 8:27), has at least two meanings that can bless our families. One is that Noah lived in a way that allowed the Lord to strengthen him and his family during difficult circumstances. A second meaning is that Noah discovered the peace that comes from looking at life through God’s eyes. By looking at life with an eternal perspective, Noah “walked with God, as did also his three sons” (Moses 8:27) even in a world filled with wickedness.
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In less than one generation, the world God created was filled with wickedness. One exception was Enoch, a prophet who taught his people how to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Enoch talked with God, he was amazed to see that the Divine Creator would cry at the fall of His children: “How is it thou canst weep?” (Moses 7:31). God responded, “They are the workmanship of mine own hands” (Moses 7:32). He was sad because each child of God is precious to Him. He grieves for each one of us when our choices take us away from Him.
“The Lord Called His People Zion” Read More »