June 7, 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING

Exodus 2 – Drawn from the Water – God’s Hidden Work

How God prepares, leads, and uses people even in times of suffering

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Bible Text – Exodus 1 (KJV)

¹ And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

² And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

³ And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.

⁴ And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

⁵ And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

⁶ And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

⁷ Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

⁸ And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.

⁹ And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.

¹⁰ And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

¹¹ And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

¹² And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

¹³ And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

¹⁴ And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

¹⁵ Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

¹⁷ And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

¹⁸ And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

¹⁹ And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

²⁰ And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

²¹ And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

²² And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

²³ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

²⁴ And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

²⁵ And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Introduction

The story of Moses doesn’t begin with triumph, but with fear. A child is secretly born, placed in a basket, and hidden among the reeds. And yet, it’s in this moment of uncertainty that God’s great plan of deliverance begins. Exodus 2 clearly shows: Even when God seems invisible, He is active – He sees, hears, prepares, and leads.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Commentary

1. Moses is born – and hidden (verses 1–4)

A child is born under threat of death. The mother acts with courage and faith – she hides her baby because she sees “he was a fine child.” This echoes Hebrews 11:23, which highlights the parents’ faith. God often works through those who faithfully act behind the scenes.
God’s calling often begins in hidden places.

2. Rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter (verses 5–10)

God directs the events: Pharaoh’s daughter finds the baby, feels compassion – and Moses is raised in the house of the oppressor. The irony of divine providence: the future deliverer grows up in the enemy’s palace!
God can even use the “system of Pharaoh” to prepare His plans.

3. Moses takes action – and fails (verses 11–15)

As a young man, Moses tries to help – but does it through anger, his own way, using violence. His murder doesn’t go unnoticed. He becomes a fugitive. God has called him – but hasn’t yet shaped him. He needs the desert, retreat, and patience.
Calling without character often leads to chaos.

4. Moses in Midian – a time of growth (verses 16–22)

In a foreign land, Moses transitions from prince to shepherd. He marries, starts a family – an ordinary life. But this is where God’s preparation begins. Moses learns patience, care, and responsibility – all essential for leading a nation.
God’s training isn’t always dramatic – but it’s deep.

5. God hears – and remembers (verses 23–25)

The people’s suffering grows. They cry out – and God “remembers His covenant.” Not because they were perfect, but because He is faithful. The focus shifts from Moses to God: the true Deliverer acts.
The beginning of deliverance isn’t our strength – but God’s faithfulness.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Summary

Exodus 2 is more than a children’s story. It’s a narrative full of tension, flight, and invisible hope. God is at work, even when He doesn’t speak openly. He saves, prepares, shapes – and acts at the right time. Moses isn’t ready yet, but God is already moving.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Message for Today

You may feel overlooked, late, or insignificant – but God sees you. He hears your sighs, knows your pain. Maybe you’re in a “desert season,” far from your dreams. Yet God uses such times to shape you. And when the time is right, He will call you – not because you’re strong, but because He is faithful.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Key Thought for the Day

God works in the hidden places – and prepares great things, even if you don’t (yet) see them.

~~~~~~~~~~

June 1 – 7, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 8

After the Flood

Read online here

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Introduction

The flood was over. The waters receded, and the ark came to rest. But life after the flood was not simply a continuation—it was a complete new beginning. In Chapter 8 of Patriarchs and Prophets, we read how God not only saves but also leads, protects, and grants new promises. Noah, the faithful preacher of righteousness, stands as a shining example of obedience, gratitude, and trust—even in times of deep uncertainty. The world that awaited him was no longer the same—but God had not changed: faithful, powerful, and full of grace.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Commentary

1. Faith in the Test (The Months in the Ark)

The five months spent in the ark were a hard trial of patience. Without knowing when the waters would recede, Noah remained steadfast. He did not doubt God’s leading. Faith carried him and his family through the darkness.
Lesson: True trust is shown in the silence of waiting. God’s hand guides even when we cannot see it.

2. The Ordered Return (The Birds and Patience)

Noah sent out the raven and the dove in search of a sign. But he did not act impatiently—he left the ark only when God explicitly commanded him.
Lesson: Even when we see signs, our decisions must be guided by God’s word, not by circumstances alone.

3. The First Altar (Gratitude and Sacrifice)

Before he built a home for himself, Noah built an altar for God. He offered clean animals—an expression of his faith in the coming sacrifice of Christ.
Lesson: True gratitude first honors the One who gave everything—even when our own resources are scarce.

4. God’s Response: The New Covenant

God smelled the “pleasing aroma” of the sacrifice and declared a new covenant: there would be no more global flood. The rainbow became the sign of this covenant.
Lesson: God uses visible signs to assure us of His invisible faithfulness. His promises are for all generations.

5. A Changed Earth, A Changed Lifestyle

The earth was completely altered—landscape and ecosystem. God permitted the eating of meat as an adaptation to the new reality.
Lesson: God’s care and instructions adapt to human situations, but His moral will remains unchanged.

6. Hidden Treasures and Judgment

The flood buried not only bodies but also human pride, wealth, and idolatry. From this came coal, oil, and ore—evidence of God’s judgment but also of His mercy.
Lesson: What man abused, God transformed into a testimony of His power and justice.

7. Future Judgments: Fire Instead of Water

As water once cleansed the earth, so fire will purify it at the end. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and disasters are forerunners of Christ’s return.
Lesson: God’s warnings are not meant to frighten but to call us to repentance—His grace protects His people.

8. God’s Protection for His Own

Just as Noah was safe in the ark, God’s people will be protected by His power at the end. Psalm 91 becomes a personal promise amid chaos.
Lesson: The safe place is not geographical, but spiritual—under God’s wings.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Summary

After the flood, Noah stepped into a radically changed world. But in the midst of death and destruction, his heart remained focused on God. His obedience, gratitude, and faith make him a model for all generations. And God responded with grace, promise, and protection. The rainbow stretching across the sky and throne remains the eternal sign: God’s covenant stands. And though future judgments will come, He will preserve those who trust in Him.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

Message for Us Today

In a world again marked by uncertainty, disasters, and moral decay, God calls us to live like Noah: with faith, obedience, and gratitude. When all that we know is shaken, we can rest assured:

God’s hand is still at the helm.
His covenant still stands. The rainbow in the sky is more than a natural phenomenon—it is a testimony of His faithfulness. And just as Noah was preserved in the midst of judgment, so we too can know:

The righteous are safe—not because they are strong, but because they trust in God.

So then, let us build altars of gratitude before we build houses. Let us give before we take. Let us believe before we see.
For the Lord, your Redeemer, says:
“My kindness shall not depart from you.” (Isaiah 54:10)