Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

3 February 2024

Reading From Exodus 13-15

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle…

Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.’ So the Israelites did this.”

–Exodus 13:17-18, 14:3-4

     God led the Israelites to the Promised Land not along the easiest and fastest way, but by the way that would best display His power and bring Him the most glory.[1]  If I have the glory of the Lord first and foremost in my endeavors, then I fulfill the purpose for living and my needs will be met.[2]  What is glory?  Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines glory as, “praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent; something that secures praise or renown; a state of great gratification or exaltation; and great beauty and splendor.” 

  Why would this be the goal of the Almighty?  The answer is in Exodus 14:4.  When God’s power is on display and He is glorified, everyone who witnesses it sees that He is the Lord.  Honoring God brings people to Him.[3]  And when people come to Him, they are saved, healed, empowered and filled with hope.[4]  It’s a good thing for people to see the mighty hand of God at work in our lives because it causes them to want to know more.  If they want to know more, then hopefully they will begin to earnestly seek Him and when they do that, God promises they will be rewarded by finding Him.[5] When we truly seek God and His will from a balanced study of His Word, we will discover healthy identity, community and destiny in His eternal family.

“God, may everything I think, say and do be for Your glory.  I pray that any attention I receive be used to direct people to You, that they might see Jesus!  Use me to bring others into the light of Your truth and the warmth of Your love.  Only You deserve the honor and glory forever.  Amen.”

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

–Ephesians 1:17-21

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[1] Romans 11:36, Psalm 72:19

[2] Colossians 1:27, Philippians 2:11, Matthew 6:33

[3] John 12:27-32,

[4] Hebrews 1:3, John 1:14, I John 2:2, Isaiah 53:4-5, John 1:33, Titus 2:13

[5] Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55:6-13