Today’s Reading:
Read Exodus 14, 16
It’s so exciting to think that after many years of being slaves, the Israelites were free! They began their journey back to Canaan. But, Pharaoh changed his mind. When he realized that the Israelites had actually left, he sent his army after them to bring them back. The Israelites had left Egypt but now they were being chased by the Egyptian army.
As they were traveling, God was leading them in a specific way. It was different than how they would have gone but they chose to follow God’s way instead of their own. But, as the Egyptian army came up behind them, the Israelites realized the Red Sea was in front of them. They were trapped. But God told Moses to put his staff out over the sea and miraculously the Red Sea parted and the Israelites walked across it on dry land. God provided. The Egyptian soldiers actually got caught up in the Red Sea when the waters came back down on them after the Israelites were safely across. What a miracle!
As the Israelites traveled, they stopped to rejoice in the victory. But it did not take long for them to get hungry, and they allowed fear to cause them to stop trusting in God. They complained to Moses about not having any food. God had protected them from the Egyptian army, but they did not have anything to eat. Again, God provided! He sent something called manna, pieces of bread, from heaven. Each morning the Israelites could collect enough manna for the day. Another miracle! God continued to show the Israelites that He was there for them.
Application/Prayer:
Make a list of the ways God provided for the Israelites in this passage. Think of a time when God specifically answered a prayer for you. Thank God that he is always there to provide for us and protect us, just like he did with the Israelites.
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