Exodus 9, Luke 12, Job 27, 1 Corinthians 13

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@February 26, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Exodus 9

Exodus 9:20–21, 26 (ESV) 20 Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field. … 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

A couple things seems worth noting in this passage surrounding the plague of hail. First is that there were some among Pharaoh’s servants who feared the LORD. While I am not sure this fear and devotion was exclusive to Yahweh, it denotes at least a certain level of faith. Another point is that the servants who did fear the Lord put their livestock into the houses for protection. It does not say specifically that their livestock was spared—only that that there was no hail in Goshen—but it does demonstrate their active obedience to God’s decree.

Luke 12

Luke 12:48 (ESV) 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Directly following His discourse on readiness and the servant who proceeded in sin during his master’s absence, Jesus speaks of the differing degrees of reward and punishment. The Believer’s Bible Commentary has a helpful note on this:

The principle is that the greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility. For believers, it means that there will be degrees of reward in heaven. For unbelievers, it means that there will be degrees of punishment in hell. Those who have come to know God’s will as it is revealed in the Scriptures are under great responsibility to obey it. Much has been given to them; much will be required of them. Those who have not been so highly privileged will also be punished for their misdeeds, but their punishment will be less severe.

Job 27

Job 27:6 (ESV) 6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

Job’s determination to not let go of his righteousness is absolutely amazing. He acknowledged its all-surpassing worth even in the worst of circumstances. Let this be for us to grip tightly to the righteousness we have in Christ, held to our chest with fist clenched around it, unwilling to let it go for any reason.

1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV) 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

This is my chapter, right now, in this moment of my life. I cannot begin to tell you how hard this hit me today. Being shown the hurt I have caused, this passage crashes over me in a way I cannot express. What good is all that I know if I am not the love of Christ to others? If I only parrot sound teaching but have not love? Lord, wash from me all this coldness, renew my heart, make it like Yours, give me your compassion, your kindness, your gentleness, let your beautiful light shine through me.

Carson on Luke 12

You busily plan your retirement; after all, you tell yourself, you have “plenty of good things laid up for many years” (12:19). Because everyone is telling you how well you are doing, you do not hear the voice of God: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (12:20).

Carson’s note on planning for retirement is cutting as I continue to struggle with financial stewardship. Being now in a place of financial stability that I never have been before, it is difficult to look on a sizable bank account without assigning to it a sense of security. What I need to see is the idolatrous root of such thinking and that this prosperity is God’s enablement for generosity.

Justin Houtz