23 AugustExodus 23

Aligning ourselves with God

Exodus 23:25 (NIV) Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you

God is giving a command and a promise to the people of Israel. If they worship Him and avoid idolatry and the sins of the surrounding nations, they will be blessed. God will protect them from hunger, drought, and illness. He blessed Israel when they obeyed Him because they were chosen to show His love, power, justice, and mercy to the world and encourage others to come to Him.

The phrase “Worship the LORD your God” emphasises the importance of worship as an act of devotion and obedience. In this context, worship is about rituals and a lifestyle of honouring God. Therefore, the account of Israel’s history in Exodus reminds people today of God’s power, love, and faithfulness. If they obeyed, they would be blessed. If they disobeyed, they would be cursed. The principle remains that God provides for those who prioritise Him.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. This leads to Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ”.

Aligning ourselves with God’s will opens the door to His blessings. It is not a transactional promise but a relational one. 1 John 5:12 (ESV) “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. Thus when we are obedient, God can hear our prayers and guide us, as confirmed in Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Psalm 1:1-3 (AMP) Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favoured by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

The key is to know that God is with us and does not want us to give up or give in; He goes before us to guard us and lead us on the way.