Cause and Affect

DEVOTION

EXODUS

CAUSE AND AFFECT

Ex 6:9-25

9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage. 10 Then the LORD said to Moses, 11 "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country." 12 But Moses said to the LORD, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?" 13 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 14 These were the heads of their families:

The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon. 16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.These were the clans of Levi according to their records. 20 Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zicri. 22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri. 23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans. 25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.

These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.

NIV

There are times when it seems this record the Lord has had recorded for us which includes lists of names upon names would have no purpose for us, or practical application for our lives. The one thing we can learn from these lists of names, this genealogy is the simple fact God is not just concerned about a group of people, but he shows us, that he knows them by name. Each individual is a part of the whole and God knows them all. We are told that he knows the number of hairs on our head, so then he is simply showing us he knows them just the same. Although we always seem to refer to them as either the children of Israel, or the Israelites, God refers to them by name. Although that is a lesson in and of itself, it is not our lesson today which we can apply to our lives. We note that when Moses and Aaron reported all the LORD had said to them about redeeming them and bringing them to the land of milk and honey they did not listen to them. At first they did and hope was stirred in their hearts. But now that because of Moses, Aaron and the elders speaking to Pharaoh and the worsening of their conditions in labor, their hope was smashed. They became discouraged, hopeless because of their cruel bondage. They had taken their eyes off of the prize, their hope was gone, and all they could see was their present situation. They had the promise of God, but that was not enough for them to lift up their eyes and see their redemption. Sometimes the situations of life just bring us down so we lose sight of the prize. Even their discouragement and refusal to listen to Moses seemed to drag him down to the place of hopelessness. He told God, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?" Our hopelessness can affect the state of mind of others. Similarly our faith in God, our hope can also affect the state of mind of others. It might be true that, at times, we enter some rough patches in this life. We might have a hardship or two to endure for a time. But we should not be like the Israelites and lose hope, becoming discouraged. Number one, we have a responsibility to God to remain faithful in our trusting him. Secondly we have a responsibility to those who we live with, to be that beacon of hope and trust in God so to affect their spiritual state of mind in the same way. We should remember there is a certain woe to those who cause another to sin. Disbelief is sin. Mistrust in God is sin. To a certain point discouragement and lose of hope is disbelief or mistrust. We cannot be the cause for others to fall into that condition. We are admonished to build each other up until we reach the unity in the faith.

Phil 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure , whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

NIV

This is how we are to live among each other, not with discouragement, but with rejoicing. Let us always be ready with a good word for each other. Let us always be ready to live our faith, our hope with rejoicing, with joy, out loud so to affect, infect those who live among us.