God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to show His power through the plagues. Obviously, the death angel visit had a profound effect on Pharaoh and all the Egyptians. God knew how to accomplish His purpose.

Valuable prayer insight is gained through this story. When praying about those who seemingly are crusty toward the Gospel, addressing the issue of hardness of heart is to be considered.

I have several hard hearts I’m praying about.

PRAYER: Father, melt down the hearts of those who really need to be set free from their sin and loneliness. Open their hearts to embrace You through faith.

READ: Ex. 10-12

God showed Pharaoh His power though the plagues sent upon Egypt, yet his heart was continually hardened. Not until the angel of death visited the firstborn children and animals did he message finally sink in.

The ritual of placing the blood of a lamb upon the doorpost speaks to us of Christ’s death and blood sacrifice. It contained the ultimate method of convincing Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to be set free.

The Gospel is God’s power unto salvation. Only Christ’s blood can set us free. There is power in the blood.

PRAYER: Father, we trust You to bring freedom to the captives as we proclaim Your Gospel. As we minister to the spiritually needy, grace us to center our message upon the atoning blood of Christ and His power to bring salvation to men.

READ: Ex. 7-9

When God was telling Moses how He was going to use him, Moses wanted to know “How?”

God’s response … “What is in your hand, Moses?”

“A rod (walking stick)”

God can use you and whatever you have. He knows what you already have, and He can use it. Have faith.

PRAYER: Lord, take my life today and use it. My lack is Your instrument of opportunity.

READ: Ex. 4-6

Of all the ways God could raise up a deliverer for the children of Israel while in Egypt’s bondage, he chose to work through Pharaoh’s daughter. God knew her heart … the way she would open it to have compassion upon a crying child concealed in a floating basket where she bathed in the river.

God knows all the people in your life and the tendency of their heart. He can “get to” you in an unsuspecting way. He often uses children.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, crack the hearts of the hard-hearted. Work Your marvelous plan to deliver us from our sin, our bondage, our separation from You.

READ: Ex. 1-3

The last two chapters of Genesis record the passing of both Jacob and Joseph. Both men had significant things to say in parting this life.

Jacob brought in his sons just before his death and cast insight into their destinies. Joseph exposed the significance of his life when he told his brother, “What you meant for evil, God turned out for good.”

Only God’s influence and impact upon life’s sour events can bring hope and redemption. All may appear lost to us, but God can even turn death into life.

PRAYER: Father, we bring to you our broken, sin-stained lives, and ask that Your marvelous grace be applied to turn our failures into testimonies that bring glory to You.

READ: Gen. 48-50

Jacob told Pharaoh that the years of his life had been difficult. Without dispute, we look upon his life and sense the pain, hard work, disappointment, and tragedy, yet his legacy would characterize the shape of a nation. He produced the twelve tribes of Israel.

God was faithful to fulfill his promises to Jacob in spite of the suffering he experienced on his pilgrimage.

The journey of our lives likewise is sometimes filled with challenges and pain, yet God will be faithful to fulfill His promises to us. We will look back and see His providential hand of blessing.

PRAYER: Lord, even though life gets tough sometimes, we will trust and hope in You. We are grateful for the many miracles You have already granted to us. Lead on, O King Eternal.

READ: Gen. 46, 47

Joseph’s ordeal of suffering all played a vital part in God’s plan to preserve both Egypt and Jacob’s family. Little did he know that his plight would turn out to be life-saving.

Life’s challenges can either make or break us. Taking courage from Joseph’s story, we must put trust in God that whatever impedes our journey can be used by God to miraculously solve our problems.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for complaining. Sustain our faith and trust as we read Your Word daily and rest in Your plan for our lives. 

READ: Gen. 42-45

God had given to Pharaoh dreams which clarified future events, but He gave to Joseph the interpretation of the dreams. God was trying to prepare all for the challenges the future would bring.

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”  [Amos 3:7]

PRAYER: Father, You know the beginning from the end. We are so limited in what we see. We trust that You will give us what we need to know about the future.

READ: Gen. 40, 41

Joseph refused to be morally impure with Potiphar’s wife. Judah, his brother, thought he was visiting a prostitute when in fact, his own daughter-in-law seduced him.

The Bible tells the story of men and their faults allowing us to clearly see the fruit of integrity or sin. Lest we get too puffed up, we must acknowledge, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” [Rom. 3:23]

Apart from the atoning blood of Jesus, only one sin could separate us from God. But, through his sacrifice, we have been made righteous and have fellowship with God.

PRAYER: Lord, keep us from judging others. We glory in what YOU have done, not in what we have done.

READ: Gen. 37-39

God instructed Jacob to live in Bethel, where He had met him and wrestled during the night. God remembered that place of communion by declaring, “I am the God of Bethel.”

To Jacob was given the land that God had promised to Abraham and Isaac.

Early in my life of ministry, I sensed the Lord telling me, “If you give me a place to live (in your heart and life), I will give you a place to live.” Patty and I are in our 47th year of marriage, and God has always provided a comfortable home for us to dwell in.  God has been extremely faithful.

PRAYER: Father, You are our dwelling place. We live in You and You live in us.

READ: Gen. 34-36