harvest field 

Day 1: The Only One
 
"I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of Egypt,
out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before Me."
(Exodus 20:2-3)
 
The Israelites were chosen by God out of all the peoples of the earth to be His covenant people (Genesis 12:2-3).  Through them His glory would be revealed to all nations.  They would bear witness to the One True and Living God, inviting others to believe and trust in Him.  But this would be dependent upon their own obedience and trust in God (reference Exodus 19:5-6).  "You shall have no other gods besides Me" (v.3)
 
When the Lord delivered Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt, He delivered them into a special relationship with Him (reference Exodus 6:6-8).  From the moment they began their exodus the Lord began to reveal His presence, protection, and power.  Each day they would be guided by His cloud, and each night they would follow His fire; when they were hungry He would send food from the sky, and when they were thirsty He would deliver water from a rock (reference Exodus 13:21-22; 16; 17:6).  Every step of their journey - out of bondage, into freedom - was a constant illustration of the loving and caring relationship the Lord desired to have with His beloved people (reference Exodus 34:6-7).
 
At Mount Sinai the Lord prepared His marriage covenant and the people joyfully accepted His offer, "Everything the LORD has said we will do" (Exodus 24:3b).  There intentions were admirable, but their commitment was short-lived.  The stones were barely hot off the presses when the people revolted.  "They have been quick to turn away from what I have commanded them and have made themselves an idol..." (Exodus 32:8a).  Their rebellious actions were just the first of what would become a long history of disobedience and unfaithfulness to the Lord.
 
Israel enjoyed the blessings of God, but rejected the very One Who gave them those blessings.  The Lord declared the greatest commandment to be "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37:38).  Each day the Jewish people make the confession of faith:  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). Today, on the doorposts of Jewish homes a Mezuzah hangs, containing a small scroll with the Shema Yisrael written on it (see picture and Scripture to the right).  Just as their obedience to place the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorframes of their homes resulted in their being delivered from the death angel in Egypt, likewise their obedience to the Lord's commands would deliver them into a life of blessings, peace, and rest (reference Exodus 12:7; Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
 
Today, our prayer and meditation comes from Psalm 115.  There is only One God: the Holy One of Israel.  The blessings of His covenant are available to those who submit to His commands, but result in curses to those who choose to be disobedient (reference Deuteronomy 27-28).  The Israelites took for granted their position as God's chosen nation and experienced discipline at the hands of the enemy for their lack of reverence to the Lord's commands (reference Jeremiah 1:16).  By choosing to worship other gods they declared war on the One True God, Who, being Jealous for their affections (reference Exodus 34:14), have allowed them to remain at war for hundreds of years.  Even so, the Lord has given them amazing victories and accomplished miraculous feats all while continuing to reveal Himself to His chosen nation.
 
Heavenly Father, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."  Truly you have not deserted your people Israel, but you have given them over to the hardening of their hearts until the appointed time when you will write your word on their hearts.  Lord, remove the veil from their eyes so they may see you, their Messiah, and experience the grace they need to live by your commands. Help them to see Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  May they recognize their strength does not come from their military might, but from their Mighty God who fights the battle on their behalf.  Trust in the Lord, Israel, He is your help and shield. May they inquire of you as they plan their strategies, and in victory may they give you all the glory, honor, and praise you deserve.  We pray for their protection as you continue to fulfill your kingdom plans through them.  Wake up your church to pray in this critical hour; may we not desert your people in the hour of their greatest need.  May our nation, and the nations of the world, recognize that taking a position in opposition towards Israel is taking a stand against Holy God and we will not succeed, nor will we continue to receive your blessings we have enjoyed. We have already begun to see the disastrous results of our own rejection of your commandments and our neglect of your Word.  We ask for your mercy and pray for repentance among your people that we might find the restoration we so desperately need in this land - not for our comfort, but for your glory so that your work can continue and many might come to your salvation.  Our greatest desire is to know you and to share you with the world.  "It is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.  Praise the Lord."  Praise your holy and wonderful name.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.
 
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Prayer Scripture references:  2 Chronicles 13:12; 15:15; 16:8b; 20:29-30;  Psalm 44:6; 115:1, 9; 18; 122:6;  Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 14:6; Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:14.
 
 
 
 
 
harvest field
 
 
"Hear, O Israel: 
The LORD our God,
the LORD is one.
Love the LORD your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your strength.
These commandments
that I give you today are
to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your
children.  Talk about them
when you sit at home and
when you walk along
the road, when you lie down
and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on
your hands and bind them
on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes
of your houses and
on your gates"
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
 
 
 
*Mezuzah from Mezuzahshop.com

 

2009 the Year of the Harvest

Journey to the Holy Land
a 10-day devotional pilgrimage journey to Israel
click on the Holy Land button on the ministry home page
to begin your online devotional journey
 
HARVEST the Kingdom of God
a 40-day prayer and fasting devotional journey
Walk with Jesus from His Resurrection to His Ascension
as He taught His disciples about the Kingdom of God
Visit the Harvest home page to register to take this
free online journey or to download a free copy of the devotional guide.
 
For more information visit www.trumpetandtorch.org
 
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