Day 36 Exodus 19-21

In today’s passages, we read about God’s desire to enter into a binding relationship with Israel. If they keep His covenant, they will be blessed (Deut 29:9). The Israelites are instructed to consecrate themselves to prepare for their encounter with God. God meets the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. He gives the 10 Commandments to Moses to share with the people. Then, He begins to go into detail about different laws and ordinances. He starts by explaining the limits on slave owners and their power, and the expectation to respect slaves (those who sell themselves into slavery to pay a debt or survive financial hardship).

Here are some key takeaways for today:

• God wants an exclusive relationship with you. He desires all of you- your whole heart, faithfully. No idols. Throughout Scripture, we see a love story. God created you, but you were born into sin and qualified for eternal separation from Him. He couldn’t stand the thought of it because He just loves you so much. You’re precious to Him, so He devised a plan to bring you back to Him so you could be with Him forever. Enter Jesus. The Sacrifice that was needed to bring you into rightstanding with God. Now, you are His. He wants your love, your time, and attention. He wants to be first. Your top priority. He loves you more than you’ll ever know. It breaks His heart when you allow people and things to steal your affection and bump Him off the throne of your heart. But He gives you a choice. Regardless of what you choose, He won’t stop wooing you. He won’t give up on you. What an amazing Love!

• There’s purpose in obedience. God gives us boundaries and parameters for our benefit. One thing I teach my 4-year-old is that there is safety and protection in obedience. When you are obedient to the “rules” or boundaries set in place, you are protected. Once you decide to do things your own way, you step outside of that protection, and you are susceptible to the consequences and potential dangers that come with disobedience. God knows the best way for us to live because He created life. It’s in our best interest to trust Him and obey. We obey Him because we want to please the One who delivered us from death, hell, and the grave.

• It’s wise to rest. Our culture tells us to stay up late, burn the midnight oil, and hustle. That’s not God’s way! God instructed the Israelites to work only on six days and rest on the Sabbath day which is the seventh day. This means no work is to be done on that day. It is a day to rest and enjoy the fruit of your labor, just as God did when creating the world in Genesis. 

While this is an Old Testament commandment, Jesus affirms it in Mark 2:27. The Sabbath is a gift for rest and rejuvenation. It is not a restrictive, legalistic burden. Enjoy the gift of rest. As a wife, mom, and keeper of your home, embrace the gift of Sabbath rest. Give yourself permission to slow down and allow yourself to be replenished in the presence of God.

This is a grace-filled space—come as you are. If you’d like, comment below to share what stood out to you; your words may bless another sister. You can also connect with us in our GroupMe Bible Study chat (link in your email).

Resources Used:

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (Original, Black): Holy Bible, English Standard Version

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda

The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible

Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/

Crayola Silly Scents Twistables Colored Pencils, 12 count

BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils with Erasers, Thick Point (0.9mm), 24-Count

Mr. Pen- Sticky Index Tabs, 480 Pcs, Colorful Sticky Tabs for Notebooks

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. This supports the ministry!

Note: I'm sharing my personal study notes, which means they may contain doctrinal or technical errors. Extend grace as we learn together, and be sure to study the Word for yourself.

By: LaRissa J

toddlermomdiaries.com