Sweeter Than Honey: This is Where We Grow

From the Old Testament to the New, the eternality of God's Word is clearly proclaimed: 

Job tells us, “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12). 

Isaiah reminds us that, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). 

And Matthew records Jesus saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

God's Word is like an eternal Love Letter to us!

​Have you ever received a love letter, friend? Did you read it? Did you read it just once, or did you read it over and over again? A Love Letter is a treasure when you love the One who sent it!

How would you like to read through God's Love Letter—His Word, the Bible, with a group of like-minded, Christian girlfriends? We're doing that over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group. Did you know you don't have to start a Bible reading plan on January 1? You can begin today! This simple plan, and an accountability partner, will help you succeed. Who will be your accountability partner? Share this post with them and invite them to the private Facebook group.

JOIN THE PRIVATE SWEETER THAN HONEY FACEBOOK GROUP

Sweeter Than Honey is patterned after this Bible Reading Itinerary. On Tuesdays, here at the blog, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through God's Word and Sweeter Than Honey, together! I would also encourage you to Join us over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group, introduce yourself, meet new friends, and share your thoughts there as well. We're waiting for you!

Exodus 1-3: This is Where We Grow

Genesis ends with: “So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt” (Genesis 50:26). There were almost 300 years between the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus. In Exodus 1:7-8, we read, “But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph…” This is where the oppression of the Israelites began.

The Bible records that the Egyptians dealt shrewdly with the Israelites because the Egyptians feared that if war broke out, the Israelites might join the Egyptians enemies, fight against them, and escape from Egypt. The Egyptians set taskmasters over the Israelites and afflicted them with heavy burdens. “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad” (1:12). The Egyptians feared the people of Israel so much that they ruthlessly made them work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard work the Bible tells us.

This new king of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives if a son was born to a Hebrew woman they were to kill him, but if a daughter was born, she could live. “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live” (1:17). 

Pharaoh again attempts to kill all the male babies of the Hebrew women: “Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live’” (1:22). Honestly, friend, as a mamma I cannot imagine living under more duress than being held captive as a slave by people who hate you (and fear you at the same time) so much that they are willing to kill your sons.

We all live under duress to some extent. We are broken. We are put into situations we don’t want to be in. People deal shrewdly with us. Sin is a taskmasters over us. We have afflictions and burdens. We’re oppressed. We are treated ruthlessly. We are slaves to our own human nature. We may even be bitter at times. But as a mamma, can you imagine someone standing over you while you give birth waiting to see if your child is male or female and then carrying that male child off to kill it. Or, someone knocking on the door of your home looking for your sons with the intent to kill them. I cannot imagine!

And yet, through all of this, the Bible records that the Israelites thrived and grew stronger. Today, can we just think about our lives, and thank God for the duress, the brokenness, the situations we don’t want to be in, the shrewd people, the taskmasters, afflictions, burdens, and oppression. This is where we grow!

How have you seen Spiritual growth in your life through difficult times?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a love letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important—the eternal. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are all tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can!

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in!

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