Bible Society seasonal reflections

Today we’re thinking about Sabbath laws, learning how they applied to the Israelite community then, and how we can remind ourselves to stop, pause and rest. Today’s reading is from Exodus 23 and our reflection has been written and read by Michael Pfundner.

God’s law was groundbreaking for its time, in the way it instructed his people to look after the vulnerable. Discover more of God’s heart behind the law and lots of parallels with the 21st century in today’s reflection. Today’s reading is from Exodus 22 and our reflection has been written and read by Michael Pfundner.

All these old laws are irrelevant, so we can just ignore them, right? Today we’re reading about some of the finer points of the Mosaic law and reflecting on the timeless principles that are still meaningful today. Today’s reading is from Exodus 21 and our reflection has been written and read by Michael Pfundner.

Welcome to the third week of the Lent Encounter. This week we’re looking at the Mosaic law, given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai. We begin with the Ten Commandments and what the first commandment in particular tells us about the kind of relationship God wants with his people. Today’s reading is from Exodus 20 and our reflection has been written and read by Michael Pfundner.

This Saturday, our New Testament passage of the week is from Luke 4, where we read about Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism. In the same way as the Israelites were tested and tempted, Jesus is also tested and tempted, overcoming Satan’s lies with the word of God. Today’s reading is from Luke 4 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

Having journeyed through the wilderness, in chapter 19 we find the Israelites arriving at the foot of Mount Sinai. Here, God begins to unveil some of the plans he has for the kind of people they will become. Today’s reading is from Exodus 19 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

How good are you at taking advice from others? Today we’re looking at an interesting passage in Exodus where Moses is having a tricky time managing his workload as a leader. Enter father-in-law Jethro, with some sage advice which stands the test of time. Today’s reading is from Exodus 18 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

Today, as the Israelites are faced with another water shortage, we’re thinking about God’s timing in our lives. Today’s reading is from Exodus 17 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

Having solved the water shortage, the Israelites now run out of food and are faced with starvation in the wilderness. God has a plan, of course, but it will lead his people into newer depths of trust and obedience. Today’s reading is from Exodus 16 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

The Israelites’ journey into the wilderness begins with joy and victory. After witnessing God’s miraculous power at the Red Sea, they're worshipping and singing praise to God. But just three days later, their jubilation turns into grumbling when they run out of water to drink. Today’s reading is from Exodus 15 and our reflection has been written and read by Ursula Lai. 

Today’s devotional looks back to the first ever Passover and forward to Easter, when we remember Jesus’s death, the ultimate sacrifice, and the new covenant he made with his own blood. Today’s reading is from Luke 22 and our reflection has been written and read by Larissa Morava. 

Today we’re reading and thinking about one of the most extraordinary miracles in the Bible – the parting of the Red Sea. Today’s reading is from Exodus 14 and our reflection has been written and read by Larissa Morava.

Why did God lead the Israelites into the wilderness rather than by the most direct route to the promised land? Today we look at Exodus 13 and reflect on how God's plans can sometimes look different from ours. Today’s reading is from Exodus 13 and our reflection has been written and read by Larissa Morava. 

In this, the first of our Lent Encounter devotionals, we look at the first ever Passover, eaten just before the people of Israel left Egypt, and the significance of the Passover lamb. Today’s reading is from Exodus 12 and our reflection has been written and read by Larissa Morava.    Here are some other Bible passages that mention the lamb of God for further reading:  Isaiah 53.7   John 1.29   Joh...