Today’s Reading:
Read Numbers 10:11-13; Numbers 11:1; Numbers 11:23
The Israelites were finally moving past Mt. Sinai and taking their first steps towards the Promised Land of Canaan that had been promised to them through Abraham. They had been waiting a long time for this. “They set out for the first time according to the Lord’s command through Moses.” (v. 13) Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to finally be going where God had promised they would go? Use the “The Route of the Exodus” map in the back of your Chronological Bible to track the route that the Israelites traveled.
As soon as they began to face challenges, the Israelites began to complain. When things did not happen the way they thought they should, when they faced enemies they did not expect, or when they didn’t have food, they forgot all that God had done for them in the past and began to complain about what he was not doing for them in that moment. They doubted that He was there, and they questioned why He had not just left them in Egypt. Remember how bad Egypt was for them? Take a moment and list out some reasons that living in Egypt might have been challenging for the Israelites. They were definitely forgetting things, weren’t they?
The Lord responded, “Is the Lord’s arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you?” (v. 23) And just as He promised, in His timing, He provided for the Israelites.
Application/Prayer:
Make a list of ways that God has provided for you and your family. Ask God to help you remember that He always provides.
February Memory Verse:
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
February memory verse coloring sheet