Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God… God saw the people of Israel—and God knew (Exodus 2:24-25).
Close your eyes. Count to ten.
*Breathe*
WITH. That’s a pretty important word in the English language. You’re not alone in WITH. There’s understanding in WITH. There’s camaraderie in WITH. There’s hope in WITH.
In the coming weeks we celebrate the Anticipation known as Advent. We await the Incarnation of God in flesh and blood and bone. What does “Incarnation” mean? It’s kinda like God invaded your closet and is now wearing your clothes. Or as The Message puts John 1:14: “The Word… moved into the neighborhood.”
So this season we read the book of Exodus. It is a book about a god who refuses to be god without his people. It is a story about a god who goes so far as to separate the seas to be with his people. It is the first story of God-With-Us.
Read Exodus with me from now until December. That’s one or two chapters a day. Maybe five minutes a day. Read about the God who loves his people, the God who is not satisfied to be somewhere out there, and does not rest until he has dramatically, over-the-top, saved his people and moved right into the neighborhood with them.
So maybe your laptop has been stolen. Maybe your car just got rear-ended. Maybe there’s not enough money to pay for school. Maybe you have more end-of-semester assignments left than days remaining in the semester. Maybe you don’t know what you’re supposed to be when you grow up.
Does it make any difference if God is with you? What do you think God knows when he sees you?
Remember: This same God-WITH-Us of Exodus, became Jesus, and he is coming again. Rescue is coming.