Exodus 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Exodus 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/exo/2/1/s_52001

Meditate on verse 23.

Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. 

And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage,

and they cried out;

 and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.

Exodus 2 is an action-packed chapter about the first 40 years of Moses’ life (Acts 7:17-29). He was one of the Hebrew babies saved at birth because of brave midwives like Shiphrah and Puah, who refused to kill baby boys (Exodus 1:15-17). After his birth, Moses’ family hid him from Pharaoh. Miraculously, he was found and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. The remainder of the chapter tells of Moses killing an Egyptian, Pharaoh trying to kill Moses, and Moses running for his life.

As Moses was saved and raised by God for even more adventure, the children of Israel remained in bondage to the Egyptians where they cried to the LORD for help. God heard their cry and noticed them.

Are you and/or someone you love in bondage? Are you a slave to sin? Are you controlled by something instead of Christ? God sees you and those you love. He is waiting for you to cry to Him for help.

Pray Exodus 2:23-25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I am sighing and crying out

because ____________ and I are in bondage.

Let our cry for help rise up to You, God.

God hear our groaning,

and God remember Your covenant with us.

God see us and take notice of us.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The Watchman on the Wall 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Exodus 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Exodus 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/exo/1/1/s_51001

Meditate on verse 17.

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt

 had commanded them, but let the boys live.

Genesis ends with the death of Joseph (Genesis 50:26). Exodus begins by remembering Joseph’s death and fast-forwarding 400 years to the continuation of Israel’s story, one of enslavement to the Egyptians. Despite affliction and abuse, the Israelites multiplied, and the Egyptians dreaded them. In order to stop their population increase, the king of Egypt ordered Hebrew baby boys be put to death as they were being born. These horrific orders were given to two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who feared God more than they feared Pharaoh—they refused to kill the babies.

With whom do you identify from this chapter? Are you like the Egyptians in opposition to God’s work, or are you a Godly and courageous Shiphrah and Puah, willing to defy orders that are contrary to God’s Word?

As you desire to see God establish your family this year in His righteousness and holiness, be willing to obey His Word and walk in His ways.

Pray Exodus 1:17 and 20-21 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help __________ and me to fear only You

and not the commands of men who oppose You.

Help us do things that help others live!
Be good to us, God;

multiply us and make us mighty. Establish our family because we fear You.


In Your name, Jesus~”

The Watchman on the Wall, Volume 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Genesis 50 - Praying God's Word

Please read Genesis 50.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/50/1/s_50001

Meditate on this sentence from verse 17.

Please forgive, I beg you,

the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong. 

And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.

After their father Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers feared retaliation from Joseph. They sent a message to him saying their father asked, before he died, for Joseph to forgive them their sins. The message was delivered; then the brothers themselves asked Joseph to forgive them. Interestingly, Genesis 50:17 is the first time God recorded the brothers actually asking Joseph for forgiveness. The brothers sold Joseph into slavery 39 years before this act of contrition; they had lived with Joseph in Egypt for the past 17 years. Joseph cried when his brothers asked him to forgive them.

Joseph forgave his brothers. He reminded them God had used their evil for good. He told them not to be afraid; he would provide for them and their little ones. “He comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:21).

Today you celebrate the end of a year and the start of something new. Spend this day asking God to forgive you of sins from this past year. Perhaps you even have sins from 39 years ago that you need to confess. Is there somebody you need to call or go see and ask their forgiveness? Is there somebody who needs you to forgive them and who needs you to stop withholding comfort and kindness to them? End this year humbly before your God ready to receive His blessings for the new year.

Pray Genesis 50:17 and 20-21 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God, my Father, please forgive my transgressions.

 Help me to forgive the transgression
and sin of ___________;


even though they did me wrong.


God, use for good what was meant for evil.

 Let them not be afraid of me.


Help me provide for them and their little ones.

 Help me comfort them and speak kindly to them.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Genesis 49 - Praying God's Word

Please read Genesis 49.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/49/1/s_49001

Meditate on verse 28b.

He blessed them,

every one with the blessing appropriate to him.

Before Jacob died, he called his twelve sons to him to give them individual blessings. Five of the brothers’ blessings are noteworthy.

Reuben, the firstborn, should have received the greatest blessings. He forfeited those blessings because of immorality (Genesis 35:22).

Simeon and Levi were cursed rather than blessed because of their violence, self-will, anger, and wrath (Genesis 34:25-30).

Judah was blessed. He was described as a lion, and the scepter would never be taken from his family. Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, is descended from this son of Israel (Revelation 5:5). Despite Judah’s immoral, violent, and self-willed past, he was blessed because he repented and became a man of God (Genesis 37-38; 44).

Joseph was blessed with abundant, surpassing blessings from God Almighty because in the midst of attacks and affliction, he bore the fruit of righteousness. He entrusted himself to the hands of the Mighty One (Genesis 37-48). In the middle of Jacob pronouncing blessing on Joseph, he prophesied Jesus’ coming: “From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)” (Genesis 49:24b).

Which son are you? Have you robbed yourself and your family of God’s blessings because of sin in your life? Is your life marked by immorality, violence, self-will, anger, and wrath? If so, do not let your story end as a Reuben, Simeon, or Levi. Become a Judah! Repent and become a person of God! Act like Joseph! No matter the circumstances, entrust yourself to the hands of the Mighty One. Live a fruitful life for the LORD.

Pray Genesis 49:22 and 24-25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God Almighty, help and bless _________ and me.

Bless us with the blessings of heaven above
and the deep that lies beneath.


Make us a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring;

let our branches run over a wall.


In Your name Shepherd, the Stone of
Israel, Jesus Christ our LORD~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Genesis 48 - Praying God's Word

Please read Genesis 48.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/48/1/s_48001

Meditate on verse 15b.

The God who has been my Shepherd all my life to this day …

Israel (Jacob) was about to die. He called for Joseph to come to his deathbed and bring his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh with him. Joseph, came at his father’s bidding and humbly bowed before him. Israel adopted these two sons of Joseph and gave them an inheritance in the land of Israel, along with Joseph’s brothers; thus, giving Joseph a double portion of Israel’s inheritance (Genesis 48:5, 22).

As Israel blessed Joseph and his sons, he gave his testimony: God Almighty appeared to him and blessed him and had been his Shepherd all of his life (Genesis 48:3, 15).

Recall some of the events of Israel’s life. He fled to another country because his mother was afraid his brother would kill him (Genesis 27:41-45). He worked 20 years for a deceptive uncle (Genesis 29-31). His favorite son, Joseph, was sold into slavery, and for 22 years Israel thought he was dead (Genesis 37). Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel, died in childbirth (Genesis 36:16-20).

Jacob’s faith in God Almighty caused him to be able to say God was the Shepherd of his life in the good times and the bad.

Is that your testimony? Pray Genesis 48:3 and 15 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God Almighty, appear to __________ and me and bless us.

Let us walk with You.

You have been our Shepherd all of our lives to this day.


Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Genesis 47 - Praying God's Word

Please read Genesis 47.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/47/1/s_47001

Meditate on verse 31b.

Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.

Genesis 46 records Israel (Jacob) worshipping God before he journeyed to Egypt to be with Joseph. By the end of Genesis 47, Jacob was seventeen years older and about to die. The chapter ends with Jacob bowed in worship. Jacob described his 130 years of life as unpleasant (v. 9). Yet, despite the unpleasantness, Jacob worshipped God.

Genesis 47 also portrays a respectful son. Joseph was the second most powerful man in the world. His wisdom and management skills saved the people from death during the famine and amassed all the money, livestock, and land in Egypt and Canaan for Pharaoh (vs. 13-20). Yet when an old man called for him, Joseph went to his father and swore to do everything as he said.

God’s command to honor your father and mother does not come with an age clause, but it does come with a promise: “that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you” (Exodus 20:12).

No matter how young or old you are, God commands you to honor your parents. If you have children, they are learning how to treat you by the way they see you treat their grandparents. Learn from God’s Word how to honor your parents.

Pray Genesis 47:29-31 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I deal with our
parents in kindness and faithfulness.


Let us honor their requests, even in respect
to where they will be buried.


May we find favor in Your sight, LORD,


as we bow in worship of You by the way we treat our parents.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Genesis 46 - Praying God's Word

Please read Genesis 46.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/46/1/s_46001

Meditate on verses 1.

So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba,

 and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

Israel (Jacob) had not seen his beloved Joseph for 22 years. Jacob thought he was dead, but miraculously, after 22 years, Jacob was told Joseph was alive. He would see his precious son. As he traveled to be reunited with Joseph, Jacob made a stop. When he came to Beersheba, the place where his grandfather Abraham had called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God, and where Jacob had grown up, he stopped and offered sacrifices to God (Genesis 21:33; 28:10).

Jacob worshipped God first! Following the pattern of his grandfather Abraham, worshipping God took precedence over his son (Genesis 22). God honored Jacob’s sacrifice of time, and He spoke these words to him:

“I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,


for I will make you a great nation there.

I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;

 and Joseph will close your eyes.”

—Genesis 46:3-4

These were words from the Everlasting God to an old man taking a long journey with his family of 66 people to a land that was not theirs. The words of the prophecy made to his grandfather 213 years earlier must have been in the back of his mind:

Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs,


where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.

—Genesis 15:13

Would this journey be the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy? Jacob needed to spend time with his God. God knew his fears; His were the words Jacob needed to hear.

Where are you about to journey? Whether it is to the other side of the world or to your place of work, stop and worship God. Hear the words He wants to whisper into your ears today.

Pray Genesis 46:2 in response to God as you hear Him call your name.

“LORD, I hear you calling me.

 ‘____________, ____________ .’

Here I am, LORD.”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell