Day 16 of My 5th Bible Study Journey

Day 16 , 16 Jan 2025

1) Genesis 12,13,14,15

The Call of Abram
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country, 
your family, and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make of you a great nation;
I will bless you
and make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless them who bless you
and curse him who curses you,
and in you all families of the earth
will be blessed."
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken to him, 
and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old
 when he departed from Harran. 
5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions
 that they had accumulated, and the people that they had acquired in Harran,
 and they set out for the land of Canaan. They came to the land of Canaan.
6 Then Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem,
to the oak of Moreh. 
The Canaanites were in the land at that time. 
7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said,a
"To your descendants I will give this land." 
So he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he continued on to a mountain to the east of Bethel
and pitched his tent,
 having Bethel on the west and Ai on the easta
 . There he built an altar to the Lord
 and called on the name of the Lord. 
9 Then Abram continued his journey toward the Negev.
Abram in Egypt
(Ge 20:1 - 18; 26:1 - 11)
10 Now there was a famine in the land, 
so Abram went down to Egypt to live there,
 for the famine was severe in the land.
11 When he was getting near to Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, 
"I know you are a beautiful woman. 12 Therefore, when the Egyptians see you, 
they will say, 'This is his wife.' They will then kill me, 
but they will let you live. 
13 Say you are my sister so that I may be treated well for your sake.
 Then my life will be spared because of you."
14 So when Abram entered Egypt, 
the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful. 
15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, 
and she was taken into Pharaoh's house. 
16 He treated Abram well for her sake and he had sheep and livestock,
 male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues 
because of Abram's wife, Sarai. 
18 So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What have you done to me?
 Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 
19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? 
I might have taken her as my wife. 
Now here is your wife; take her and leave." 
20 Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, 
and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

Genesis 12
[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make
thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
[4] So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with
him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
[5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their
substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in
Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land
of Canaan they came.
[6] And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the
plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give
this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto
him.
[8] And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and
pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there
he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
[9] And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
[10] And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to
sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
[11] And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he
said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to
look upon:
[12] Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,
that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will
save thee alive.
[13] Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for
thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
[14] And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the
Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
[15] The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh:
and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
[16] And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen,
and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
[17] And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because
of Sarai Abram's wife.
[18] And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done
unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
[19] Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to
wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
[20] And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away,
and his wife, and all that he had.

GENESIS 13
Abram and Lot
1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev,
he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him. 
2 Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver and in gold.
3 He continued on his journey from the Negev and came to Bethel, 
to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 
4 to the place where he first made an altar. 
There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 But the land was not able to support them both dwelling together 
because their possessions were so great. 
7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of 
Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock.
 The Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelled in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I ask you,
 between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen,
 for we are close relatives. 
9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me.
 If you will go to the left, then I will go to the right, 
or if you take the right, then I will go to the left."
10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and looked at all the valley of the Jordan,
 that it was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, 
like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 
This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 
11 Then Lot chose for himself the entire valley of the Jordan 
and journeyed east, and the two of them separated from each other. 
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, 
and Lot dwelled in the cities of the valley 
and pitched his tent as far as Sodom. 
13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the Lord.
14 After Lot had departed from him, the Lord said to Abram, 
"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,
 northward and southward and eastward and westward.
15 All the land that you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever.
16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth,
 so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, 
then your descendants could also be numbered. 
17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across 
its length and its width, for I will give it to you."
18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, 
 which are in Hebron, and built an altar to the Lord there.

Genesis 13
[1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had,
and Lot with him, into the south.
[2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
[3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the
place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
[4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and
there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
[5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
[6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:
for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
[7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the
herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in
the land.
[8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me
and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
[9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from
me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou
depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
[10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it
was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah,
even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto
Zoar.
[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and
they separated themselves the one from the other.
[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of
the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD
exceedingly.
[14] And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward,
and southward, and eastward, and westward:
[15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy
seed for ever.
[16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can
number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
[17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of
it; for I will give it unto thee.
[18] Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre,
which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

GENESIS 14

Abram Rescues Lot

1 In the days that Amraphel was king of Shinar,
 Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam,
 and Tidal king of Goyim, 
2 they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah,
 Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,
 and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 
3 All these were joined together in 
the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).
4 For twelve years they had served Kedorlaomer, 
 but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings
 who were with him came and defeated the Rephaites 
in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, 
and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 
6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, 
as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 
7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat 
(that is, Kadesh) and conquered all the country 
of the Amalekites and also the Amorites 
who lived in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah,
 the king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out,
 and they joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 
9 against Kedorlaomer, the king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, 
Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar - four 
kings against five. 
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, 
and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, 
some fell in them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 
11 Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah,
 and all their provisions, and departed. 
12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son,
 who lived in Sodom, and his possessions, 
and went their way.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew,
 who was living near the oaks of Mamre the Amorite,
 brother of Eshkol and Aner,
 and these were allies with Abram. 
14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive,
 he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants
 born in his own house, and pursued them as far as Dan. 
15 During the night he divided his men to attack them
 and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah,
 which is north of Damascus.
16 He brought back all the possessions, 
along with his relative Lot and his possessions,
 and also the women and the people.

[1] And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king
of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
[2] That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of
Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king
of Bela, which is Zoar.
[3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt
sea.
[4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they
rebelled.
[5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were
with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in
Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
[6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the
wilderness.
[7] And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote
all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in
Hazezon-tamar.
[8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the
king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is
Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
[9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and
Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
[10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom
and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the
mountain.
[11] And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their
victuals, and went their way.
[12] And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his
goods, and departed.
[13] And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he
dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of
Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
[14] And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his
trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and
pursued them unto Dan.
[15] And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and
smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of
Damascus.
[16] And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother
Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17 After his return from the defeat of Kedorlaomer 
and the kings who had joined with him, 
the king of Sodom went out to meet him 
in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. 
He was the priest of God Most High. 
19 And he blessed him and said,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, 
"Give me the people and take the goods for yourself."
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 
"I have lifted up my hand to the Lord, God Most High, 
the Possessor of heaven and earth, 
23 that I will take nothing that is yours, not a thread or a sandal strap;
 lest you say, 'I have made Abram rich.'
24 I will accept only that which my men have eaten 
and the portion that belongs to the men who went 
with me, Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."

[17] And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the
slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the
valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was
the priest of the most high God.
[19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,
possessor of heaven and earth:
[20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies
into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take
the goods to thyself.
[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the
LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
[23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I
will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made
Abram rich:
[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the
men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their
portion.

GENESIS 15

The Abrahamic Covenant

1 After this the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Do not fear, Abram.
I am your shield,
your exceedingly great reward."
2 But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me,
 seeing I am childless and 
the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 
3 Abram said, "Since You have not given me any children, 
my heir is a servant born in my house."
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 
"This man will not be your heir, 
but a son that is from your own body will be your heir." 
5 He brought him outside and said, 
"Look up toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." 
And He said to him, "So will your descendants be."
6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.
7 He also said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out of 
Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess it."
8 But Abram said, "Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?"
9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, 
a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, 
a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
10 Then Abram brought all of these to Him and cut them
 in two and laid each piece opposite the other, 
but he did not cut the birds in half. 
11 When the birds of prey came down on the carcasses,
 Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, 
and terror and a great darkness fell on him. 
13 Then He said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants 
will live as strangers in a land that is not theirs,
and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.
14 But I will judge the nation that they serve, 
and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 
15 As for you, you will go to your fathers in peace 
and you will be buried at a good old age. 
16 In the fourth generation, your descendants will return here,
 for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."
17 When the sun went down and it was dark, 
a smoking fire pot with a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 
18 On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 
"To your descendants I have given this land, 
from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River - 
19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 
20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites, 
21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, 
the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Genesis 15
[1] After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision,
saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless,
and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born
in my house is mine heir.
[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not
be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be
thine heir.
[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and
tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So
shall thy seed be.
[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
[7] And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the
Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
[8] And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
[9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she
goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and
a young pigeon.
[10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid
each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
[11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
[12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo,
an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
[13] And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a
stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall
afflict them four hundred years;
[14] And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and
afterward shall they come out with great substance.
[15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a
good old age.
[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the
iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
[17] And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark,
behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those
pieces.
[18] In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy
seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river,
the river Euphrates:
[19] The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
[20] And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
[21] And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the
Jebusites.

Believe the Lord will bless you and seek his will for success.
Never doubt The Lord!

2) Our Daily Bread for 16 January 2025 titled 
<a href="https://odb.org/2025/01/16/easy-and-hard">Easy and Hard </a>

Exodus 14:5-14,

5 (Ps 105:25) When it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled, 
the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, 
and they said, "Why have we done this, 
that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 
6 So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 
7 (Ex 15:4) And he took six hundred select chariots, 
and all the chariots of Egypt, and officers over every one of them. 
8 (Nu 33:3; Ac 13:17) The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, 
and he pursued after the children of Israel. However, the children of Israel 
went out with confidence. 
9 (Ex 15:9; Jos 24:6) But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses 
and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, a
nd overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
10 (Jos 24:7; Ne 9:9) When Pharaoh drew near, 
the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and indeed, 
the Egyptians were marching after them, 
and they were extremely terrified, 
so the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 
11 (Ps 106:7-8) Then they said to Moses, 
"Is it because there were no graves in Egypt
 that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? 
Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 
12 (Ex 5:21) Is not this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt,
 saying, 'Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians'? 
For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians
 than to die in the wilderness."
(Oh how courage can melt away in the greatness of aversity)
13 (Ex 14:30; 2Ch 20:17; 20:15) But Moses said to the people, 
"Fear not! Stand firm! And see the salvation of the Lord, 
which He will show you today. For the Egyptians
 whom you have seen today, you shall never see again. 
14 (Ex 14:25; Dt 1:30) The Lord shall fight for you, 
while you hold your peace."
(The Lord is always on our side fighting for us)

[5] And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of
Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said,
Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
[6] And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
[7] And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt,
and captains over every one of them.
[8] And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued
after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an
high hand.
[9] But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of
Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the
sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
[10] And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their
eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore
afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
[11] And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast
thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus
with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
[12] Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us
alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to
serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
[13] And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the
salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians
whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
[14] The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Exodus 13:17

17 (Nu 14:1-4; Ex 14:11-12) Now when Pharaoh had let the people go,
God did not lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, 
although it was nearby. For God said, "Lest the people change their 
minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt." 

[17] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led
them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was
near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war,
and they return to Egypt:

Mark was a promising young pastor. Then one morning his son, Owen, collapsed 
and died while kicking a ball with him. Mark was devastated and still grieves 
the loss. But through his pain he's become a more compassionate pastor. I've 
mourned with Mark and wondered if his trial illustrates an insight A. W. Tozer
noted: "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt 
him deeply." I fear that's true.

Then again, perhaps it's not that simple. We learn about the complexity of 
God's ways by observing the exodus of Israel. God led the young nation out of 
Egypt on an easy road, saying of Israel, "If they face war, they might change 
their minds and return to Egypt" (Exodus 13:17). Yet a few verses later, God 
told Moses to double back so Pharaoh would rally his army 
and come out to fight (14:1-4). Pharaoh took the bait. The Israelites "were 
terrified and cried out to the Lord" (v. 10). Moses chided them, 
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (v. 14).

God uses both easy and hard paths to grow His people and bring Him glory. He
promised, "I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and 
the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord" (v. 4). So did Israel. So can we. 
God is building our faith through every test, whether easy or hard. When life 
is easy, rest in Him. When life is hard, let Him carry you.

By:  Mike Wittmer

Reflect & Pray

How has pain contributed to your growth? 
Why do you think God uses both easy and hard tests?

Dear Jesus, You're enough for every test.
 
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation

Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools

Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 5 When you pray

Mark 11:25

25 And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

"My prayer don't seem to be very effective," a man told his pastor." I try
to make contact with God, but my prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce
back."
The pastor thought for a moment, then gently suggested,
"Is there someone in your life you haven't forgiven?"
"What do you mean?" The man's face flushed; the pastor has obviuosly struck
a nerve. "Well, I guess I've had some struggles with my mother ... and then,
my wife, and I ... ." The hidden truth came to light: the man was bound in
unforgiving relationships with five of the closest people to him.
Forgiveness is an essential element in prayer. For a very good reason,
worship services in liturgical churches place the confession of sin and the
absolution near the beginning of the service, before the reading of God's
Word, prayer, and the sermon. Forgiveness - both the Lord's forgiveness
of us and our forgiveness of others - clears the way for unhindered
communication between God and his people.
When we carry anger and bitterness, or even deeply buried, well-subliminated
unforgiveness, into the presence of God, our prayers will be affected. We can,
however, free the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and the lives of others
through forgiveness. We can choose to forgive in light of God's forgiveness
of us. And when we do, the channels are re-established;
we can pray in power and open ourselves to an awareness of his activity
in our lives.

Application

a) Have my prayers ever been affected by unforgiveness in my life?

b) Is there someone in my life whom I need to forgive,
whether or not I can work toward? 

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

3 John 2

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be
in good health, even as your soul is well.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

God's Inexhaustible Strength

Is 40:27-31

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my justice escapes the notice of my God"?
28 (Ps 147:5; Ge 21:33; Isa 57:15) Have you not known?
Have you not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not faint, nor is He weary?
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 (Isa 41:10) He gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 (Isa 9:17) Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 (2Co 4:16; Ps 103:5; Ex 19:4) but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid
from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God,
the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not,
neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might
he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall
utterly fall:
31 but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)

2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493

British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver 
and surrounding areas.  There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000  and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.

Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant 
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc. 
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice.  Let us agree in that

- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020 

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid  celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that 
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you 
know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 :  17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; 
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants 
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. 
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: 
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.  20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]

Footnotes
	Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15  : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under 
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the 
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

16th Day of the Month

a) Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false 
   idea that all moral choices are equal and
without consequences
( John 16:7-8

7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away. 
For if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you. 
But if I go, I will send Him to you. 
8 When He comes, He will convict the world of sin 
and of righteousness and of judgment"

)


b) Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly
   of denying God's supremacy

(

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, 
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through Me."


Rom 3:19-20

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, 
it says to those who are under the law, 
so that every mouth may be silenced, 
and all the world may become accountable to God. 
20 Therefore by the works of the law 
no flesh will be justified in His sight, 
 for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

2 COr 5:10

 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 
that each one may receive his recompense in the body, 
according to what he has done, 
whether it was good or bad.

2 Cor 10:5

5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
 that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, 
bringing every thought into 
captivity to the obedience of Christ,

)

Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord to seek Him with all your heart and all your mind.

Pray to the Lord and Believe the Lord will bless you 
and seek his will for success. Never doubt The Lord!

Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, You're enough for every test."

Pray to the Lord and pray to be a forgiving person so the Lord
will not hold any unforgiveness against you. 

Pray to the Lord and pray for the prosperity of the soul.

Pray to the Lord and pray to renew your strength on the Lord.

Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false 
idea that all moral choices are equal and
without consequences

Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly
of denying God's supremacy

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
Birthdate - 29 January 1969 Redhill, Surrey, England, Uk