April 27 - The Strength of God's Hand

From the First Lesson for this day, Exodus 13:1-16

When I read today's lesson the first thing I thought was how different the modern mind is from the Biblical mind. Three times God reminded Moses and the Hebrews that their deliverance from Egypt was by "the strength of God's hand."

In their deliverance, they saw God at work in miraculous ways - even things that may have appeared natural otherwise were attributed to the hand of God.

It's easy for people to minimize God's hand in things. Things are attributed to 'natural phenomena' or 'circumstances' or chance. Even when circumstances are given a divine source, we tend to think that God gave us good luck rather than showing us the strength of His Hand.

It seems very appropriate to emphasize God's "direct hand" the days after the Resurrection. The days prior to the Crucifixion and Resurrection were filled with 'circumstances':
- the colt and upper room pre-arranged
- the deal with the Pharisees
- the arrangements to meet Caiaphas and Pilate
- Simon of Cyrene in the right place at the right time
- earthquake, dark sky, unused tomb

All circumstances? Good luck? Not at all. Just as God had delivered the Hebrews from Egpyt, He delivered all mankind by the strength of His Hand.

Thank you God for Your mighty Hand. I am unable to live in my own strength. I rely on Yours. When I don't see Your hand, please give me a reminder that Your hand will deliver me, protect me and guide me. Amen.

Christ is risen! And the blog returns!

Christ is risen from the dead
Overcoming death by His own death
And on those in tombs
Bestowing life!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Like many good things that have a good start, my blog had run its course for a while. When Lent came, I simply needed a break. We have been dealing with Karen's mother's health since January 1 and I've had added responsibilities at home so she could spend time with her mother in NewCastle. In addition, I added a few personal disciplines for Lent that took more time, and left less time for blogging.

In addition to that, the blog "Piety and Devotion" was becoming what I didn't want it to be - a Bible study. I love Bible study, but I want the words of Scripture to speak to me from the Holy Spirit to my heart. I want the blog to be a reflection of that.

So I laid it down (to use an old Quaker term) and I'm ready to pick it up again.

This blog follows the daily readings from the lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer of the Reformed Episcopal Church. This is roughly the lectionary of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, but not exactly, but it works for me :-)

Thanks for following along!