June 9, 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING

Exodus 4 – Moses and the Burning Commission

From Doubt to Authority – God Equips for Service

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Bible Text – Exodus 4 (KJV)

¹ And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

² And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

³ And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

⁴ And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

⁵ That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

⁶ And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

⁷ And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

⁸ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

⁹ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

¹⁰ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

¹³ And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

¹⁴ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

¹⁵ And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

¹⁶ And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

¹⁷ And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

¹⁸ And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

¹⁹ And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

²⁰ And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

²¹ And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

²² And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

²³ And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

²⁴ And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

²⁵ Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

²⁶ So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

²⁷ And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

²⁸ And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

²⁹ And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

³⁰ And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

³¹ And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

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Introduction

In Exodus 4, Moses encounters God in the wilderness and receives miraculous signs to validate his calling. Despite his initial fears and reluctance, God transforms Moses’s weaknesses into powerful testimonies. This chapter teaches us how the Lord takes our doubts and insecurities and makes them stages for His glory.

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Commentary

1. God’s Questions and Moses’s Doubts

• Fear of Rejection: Moses worries the Israelites won’t believe him or hear God’s voice.

• Sign of the Staff: The turning-staff-to-serpent and back demonstrates divine authority.

• Healing Sign: A leprous hand and its restoration symbolize God’s power over disease and His promise of restoration.

• Public Miracle: Water from the Nile turning to blood offers a third, unmistakable sign.

2. Overcoming Inadequacy with Aaron’s Help

• Moses’s Excuse: He protests his lack of eloquence.

• Divine Assurance: God reminds Moses He made the human mouth and will guide his speech.

• Aaron’s Commission: When Moses hesitates, God appoints Aaron to speak on his behalf, forging a partnership in ministry.

• The Staff Remains: Moses’s staff continues as the instrument through which signs are performed.

3. Return to Egypt and God’s Warning

• Farewell from Jethro: Moses departs in peace to rejoin his people.

• Divine Summons: God reassures Moses that those who sought his life are dead.

• Stark Warning: Perform the wonders before Pharaoh, yet his heart will harden until the final judgment on Egypt’s firstborn.

4. Crisis at the Lodging and Zipporah’s Intervention

• Life Threatened: On the journey, God confronts Moses—an unexpected divine showdown.

• Circumcision as Deliverance: Zipporah’s quick action saves Moses, reminding us of the covenant’s life-preserving power.

5. Reunion with Aaron and the First Gathering

• Brothers United: Aaron meets Moses on the mountain, embracing him warmly.

• Public Confirmation: Together they present God’s words and the miraculous signs to Israel’s elders.

• Faith Illustrated: The people believe, bow, and worship upon hearing of God’s concern for their suffering.

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Summary

God meets Moses in his insecurity, equips him with astonishing signs, and pairs him with Aaron for support. Even Moses’s speech impediment and fear become avenues for demonstrating God’s strength. United, Moses and Aaron lead Israel to its first act of repentance and worship.

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Message for Today

God doesn’t call the perfect, but the obedient. He knows our weaknesses and equips us precisely there. When we hesitate, He provides a “third” or “fourth” way until we grasp: He is the one with the commission, not our own abilities. In partnership with fellow believers—our “Aaron”—we can guide others into the experience of His deliverance.

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Thought Impulse

• Where do you feel your own “speech impediment” or reluctance to obey God’s call?

• Who is your “Aaron” encouraging and supporting you in your faith journey?

• What “sign” of God’s presence have you experienced that assures you of His help today?

Pause now, reflect on your doubts, and ask God to strengthen you with His power and companionship as you step forward.

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June 8 – 14, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 10

The Tower of Babel

Read online here

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Introduction

After the Flood, Noah’s family was to repopulate the cleansed earth. But soon Shem, Ham, and Japheth revealed distinct character traits that persisted in their descendants. At the center stands the sinful building project on the plain of Shinar: a city with a tower meant to reach the heavens. God’s intervention by confusing their language halted construction and simultaneously fulfilled His plan to scatter humanity across the earth.

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Commentary

1. Background and Noah’s Prophecy

1.1 The Three Sons and Their Lines

• • Noah’s blessing on Shem and Japheth versus his curse on Canaan.

  • Inherited traits: godliness in Shem’s descendants; corruption in Ham’s line.

1.2 Consequences for Their Descendants

• • Shem: God’s chosen people and heirs of the covenant.

  • Japheth: Participants in the blessings of the Gospel.

  • Canaan: Degeneration into pagan idol worship and eventual slavery.

2. Settlement in Shinar and the Tower Construction

2.1 Reasons for Unity and Building

• • Desire for security and unity after a shared history.

  • Fertile land and a false sense of independence from divine threat.

2.2 Architecture as a Symbol of Power and Religion

• • The city as the center of a future world empire.

  • The tower as a monument to human wisdom, security, and idol worship.

2.3 Motives and Misbelief

• • Doubt in God’s promise: “No further Flood will come.”

  • Quest for scientific “understanding” of the Flood’s causes.

3. God’s Intervention and Judgment

3.1 Confusion of Languages

• • The relay system of communication collapses.

  • Complete dispersion through incomprehensible speech.

3.2 Destruction of the Structure and Scattering

• • A lightning strike as a sign of divine displeasure.

  • Fulfillment of God’s original plan: distribution of nations and languages.

4. Theological Significance

• A warning against human arrogance and estrangement from God.

• Demonstration of God’s patience, mercy, and righteous judgment through history.

• A foreshadowing of later “Babel” phenomena: unity apart from God’s Word leads to chaos.

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Summary

The Tower of Babel illustrates how human pride and the attempt to unite independently of God lead to confusion, dispersion, and divine judgment. God’s intervention preserved His original design to fill the earth with diverse nations and languages.

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Message for Us Today

“Babel” projects still exist: ideologies that challenge God’s authority and promise unity apart from biblical truth. We are reminded to align our plans with God’s Word and to approach His sovereignty with humility.

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Reflection Question

What “towers” are we building today—in technology, culture, or religion—that draw us away from God? How can we foster genuine unity through obedience to truth?

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June 8 – 14, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 11

The Tower of Babel

Read online here

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Introduction

After the Babel dispersion and worldwide idolatry, God chose Abraham from Shem’s line to preserve His law and promises for future generations. Born into a family surrounded by pagan superstitions, Abraham faithfully responded to God’s call and thus became the father of the nation from which the Savior of the world would come.

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Commentary

1. Historical and Theological Background

1.1 The World after Babel

• • Idolatry spreads and people turn away from God.

  • God allows the unrepentant to follow their own paths.

1.2 Shem’s Line and the Preservation of Faith

• • A continuous transmission of divine revelations from Adam through Noah and Shem.

  • Abraham as heir of this sacred heritage.

2. God’s Promise to Abraham

2.1 Promises and Conditions

• • Many descendants and a great name.

  • Through him, all nations on earth will be blessed.

2.2 Testing through Obedience

• • The command to leave his homeland and relations.

  • Faith described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

3. Abraham’s Responses and Experiences

3.1 Departure for Haran and Canaan

• • Obediently sets out into the unknown, accompanied by relatives and Lot.

  • Key stops: Haran as a temporary home, then Shechem and Bethel—each marked by an altar.

3.2 Life and Trials in Canaan

• • A fertile land occupied by pagans with their altars.

  • Abraham builds altars to signify God’s presence.

3.3 Famine and Flight to Egypt

• • A test of humility, patience, and faith.

  • Abraham’s lapse of faith: presenting Sarah as his sister.

3.4 God’s Protection and Lessons Learned

• • Pharaoh is afflicted by plagues, then honors Abraham.

  • Lessons about God’s safeguarding and the consequences of human distrust.

4. Theological Insights

• True faith requires leaving behind familiar securities.

• Trials serve to purify character and prepare for God’s work.

• God’s promises remain steadfast despite human shortcomings.

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Summary

God called Abraham to leave a pagan environment and follow Him in faith. Abraham obeyed, faced tests in Canaan and Egypt, yet remained faithful despite his mistakes. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the chosen people and revealed God’s protection and patience.

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Message for Us Today

We too are invited to trust God’s promises and may be called to leave our comfort zones. Trials expose our weaknesses, but they also shape our character and demonstrate God’s faithfulness even in our failures.

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Reflection Question

What “callings” from God in your life might require stepping into uncertainty and making sacrifices? How can you express your faith through obedience and trust in your daily life?

9.6.2025 | With God’s Word in Your Heart on the Right Path | HEART ANCHOR
Psalm 37:31 as a Compass for Your Life
 Psalm 37:31

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Bible Text

“The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”
– Psalm 37:31

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 Devotional

“The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”
This verse isn’t merely a pious formula but a living reality: God’s Word isn’t some foreign object we check off externally, but becomes an inseparable part of our inner being. When school pressures, conflicts with friends, or the temptation to take shortcuts surround us, God’s Word can grant us inner clarity.

• Deeply Rooted: Just as a plant with deep roots stands firm in storms, the Word we read and cherish gives us steadiness in our choices.

• Shaping Thoughts: Our thoughts shape our actions. Reading a psalm each morning changes how you view others, conflicts, and goals. Psalm 37:31 reminds you to let God’s standards flow into your thinking.

• Daily Orientation: Instead of reacting impulsively to likes, peer pressure, or rumors, pause and ask, “What would God be saying to me through this verse today?”

• Joy and Peace: Those who understand God’s commands not as a burden but as a love message experience freedom: the peace of walking in harmony with the Creator rather than being driven by fears.

When God’s law dwells in our hearts, it guides us not by external coercion but by inner inclination—we want to do what pleases God because He first loved us.

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Story – Autumn in the Community Garden: Lea’s Step into a New Beginning

Lea is 16 and about to start at a new high school. In her old class, she was part of a clique that loved parties and gossip. Yet her newfound trust in God shows in her morning Bible reading via an app. One day, a classmate invites her to a big party by a secluded lake—everyone is excited, planning to post photos online afterward. Lea immediately senses: this doesn’t align with what she’s read in God’s Word (e.g., Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”).

Courageously, she declines and suggests they instead cook together in the evening and talk about God. The others are surprised, but some join her. By the end of the year, the clique fondly recalls that cozy cooking night rather than a wild party. God’s Word in Lea’s heart kept her from going astray.

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Thoughts on the Devotional – What Does Psalm 37:31 Mean for You?

• Heart Posture: Having God’s Word in your heart means not just knowing it, but loving and practicing it.

• Daily Compass: Before every decision—whether about friends, online trends, or helping others—ask, “Is this in line with what I’ve learned in Psalm 37?”

• Steadfastness: Temptations have less power when we remember who we’ve become through God’s Word: children of the King.

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Impulses for Today

• Heart Bible Reading: Choose a short verse (e.g., Psalm 119:105) and set it as your phone’s wallpaper.

• Decision Checklist: Before you say “yes” to anything today, pause and ask, “Does this contradict what I’ve absorbed from God’s Word?”

• Invite a Friend: Ask someone to share a Bible verse with you and discuss how it can be put into practice in your daily lives.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Your Word is precious. Write it deep in my heart so that in every situation I do not stray from Your path. Grant me the courage to remain faithful in small and big decisions, even when it’s hard. Help me to hear Your voice amid the multitude of voices in this world and to follow it. Amen.