Rise up, O Lord, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts. (Psalm 21:13)

Read: Genesis 50:1-26, Exodus 1:1-2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 5:1-6

React: Jacob dies. Joseph dies. A new Pharaoh comes to power who isn’t a big fan of the Hebrew people. Slavery ensues. Four hundred years of oppression follows. Things aren’t looking very good for God’s chosen people.

I’ve had this chest cold for the past couple days. When I get sick, I’m miserable. The whole world seems like a more dark, dreary place. Everyone is against me. I just know it. Woe is me. Today when I woke up, it felt even worse. It’s cold and windy outside. I hate the cold. I’m doing my best to stick to this fast, but I’m hungry and I want some real food. Top it all off, I feel like Jet Li kicked me in the throat. My problems might seem so small compared to the plight of Israel. They seem so small compared to the injustice and plight of so many in our world today. But these problems are my problems right here and right now and I could sure use a ray of sunshine in my life.

React: Jonathan Kozol became famous for his book Amazing Grace. It was a book that stepped into the bleak world of extreme poverty right here in America. He also wrote others like Death at an Early Age, Savage Inequalities and such. His works were very important, but also very depressing. Then he wrote Ordinary Resurrections. It takes place in the same area as Amazing Grace. It even looks into the lives of some of the same people. The difference is that Ordinary Resurrections reveals how the children, and others through their children, can continue live in hope even through the bleakest situations.

Moses was born. In a time of darkness and suffering, God brought the means of deliverance to His people through a special little baby. Some day later there will be bigger miracles. Egypt will get their plagues. Israel will pass through the Red Sea. Freedom is coming. Today we see the ordinary resurrection of a baby drawn out of the water. God is coming back. I will see my Savior face to face. There are great days coming. In the waiting, I need to remember that even today is chuck full of ordinary resurrections if I will only open my eyes. There are plenty of small things that can bring me hope in spite of my circumstances. Will I be able to stop and notice them? Will you?

Respond: 

God, help me to recognize the potential in today. Help me to see You today in those little things. It is so easy to get caught up in my own pain. In my own troubles. Help me to find and relish in those small blessings you have sprinkled all around me throughout me day. Thank You for those ordinary resurrections.