Author: William Douthwaite

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Tap water

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Swanky Fella on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 15.

“I fill my cup with tap water.”

To me, that seemed like a benign comment. However, I’ll bet I offended those in the car with me. Everyone had brought along their favorite bottled water. One passenger suggested we stop to buy a six-pack of water with added electrolytes. There was a moment of silence when I threw out, “I filled up my cup with tap water.”

It’s not quiet when the grandchildren get thirsty. They demand, “Where’s my drink?” And if we do not provide water at the right temperature in the right container, they turn up the volume, “Where’s my drink?”

I never did that. It’s a generational thing. If I had said that to my parents, in our non-air-conditioned, AM radio, crank down the windows by hand, bump-in-the-middle-seat station wagon, my parents would have threatened corporal punishment.

I chuckle when I read about the nation of Israel’s thirst in the wilderness. It’s been three days since God parted the Red Sea for them so they could escape the Egyptian armies. But it’s been three days since they’ve found any drinkable water. “What are we going to drink, Moses?” (Exodus 15:24)

I’m thinking, “Oh, boy. You’re going to get it now.” But God provides drinkable water. He’s a lot more patient and slow to anger than I am.

I take my water for granted. Too many people in this world do not have drinkable water. When I Googled this, I learned that twenty-five percent of people on planet Earth do not have access to clean water. I don’t even think about it, so I rarely thank God for the gift of water.

But I should be grateful every morning when I get up and drink a glass of water, start up the coffee maker, wash my face, and flush the toilet. It’s all a gift of God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

We’re number one!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 15.

I got my first taste of marching band in seventh grade. Most of us had two years of instrument lessons and elementary band experience when we took the field for the fall football season. The first thing we learned was how to march “eight to five” (eight steps for every five yards). Second, we learned the school fight song, which I later learned was the Notre Dame fight song. Pretty much every junior high marching band adopted that fight song for their own. Those who didn’t used “On Wisconsin.”

The first song in the bible is a fight song (Exodus 15:1-18), sung by Moses and the people of Israel after God routs the Egyptians in the Red Sea (Exodus 14). As I read it, I hear shouts of victory and proclamations of “We’re number one!”

While fans exhibit religious devotion for a favorite sports team, few worshipers want church to sound like a football game. Having said that, churches do sing about our powerful God and victory over the opposition. The crowds celebrated Saul’s and David’s military victories with songs (1 Samuel 18:7). I always imagine that scene to be like a stadium full of soccer fans, chanting and waving huge flags. Later, David sings about offering up sacrifices with shouts of joy (Psalm 27). Even God, a victorious warrior, rejoices over his people with shouts of joy (Zephaniah 3:17).

We’ve toned it down for most of our worship services. But no one can turn down the volume when every creature in heaven and on earth praises the Lord (Revelation 5:11-14)!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What about today?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by marieke koenders on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 14.

Mindful. Present. Situational awareness. In the moment.

No matter how you express it, it’s a challenge to live in the right now. Maybe you’re reflecting on the past with satisfaction or regret. Or your view of the future is filled with anticipation or dread.

But what about now? What’s going on right now? What does your today look like?

The nation of Israel had seen so much. The plagues decimated Egypt. God’s power was clearly displayed for all to see. And yet, when they get to the bank of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian armies in pursuit, they lament, “We’re all going to die!”

Moses reigns in their fears and announces, “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today” (14:13).

I know that Jesus saved me in the past. I’ve got the cross. I know he’ll save me in the future. There will be a resurrection for me on the last day when he returns. He proved and promised that the grave cannot hold God’s people.

But what about today? Doesn’t the bible say, “Now is a day of salvation”? How does God save me today?

  • I’m probably not aware of all the ways he protects me with his angels. They are with me so that the evil foe has no power over me. Who knows how many close calls they’ve nudged me from?
  • God saves me from a life of futility. In other words, my life has meaning, purpose, and significance. I’m not just taking up space. I’m here for a reason. I make a difference. I’m his workmanship, created to do good things.
  • And I am forgiven. He doesn’t count my sins against me. That applies to today or any day.

I’ve decided that my dogs are the best teachers in this area. They never dwell on the past. It’s irrelevant to them. They never worry about the future. I’ll fill their bowls with food tomorrow. They live in this moment, filled with chew toys, food under the table, tummy scratches, walks in the rain, and snoozes in the recliner. They live in today.

And so should I.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

It’s on your calendar

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 13.

I have my AC company come out and tune up my system twice a year. I called them up to schedule the service and wrote it on my calendar. As soon as I ended the call, I got a text message confirming the appointment. I also got an email.

The day before they were scheduled to arrive, I got another text message, an email, and a voicemail, reminding me of the service call.

The morning of the schedule service, I got a text and a voicemail reminding me they were coming. I then got a text when the tech was on his way and then another when he was in my neighborhood.

The final text message informed me that he had arrived at my house.

Clearly, someone wants me to remember this very important appointment!

I get similar attention from my dentist, doctors, and the veterinarian. It must be a sign of the times. Patients and clients don’t remember, don’t put it on their calendar, and don’t show up for an appointment.

This is not a new phenomenon. A long time ago, so that the people wouldn’t forget what God did for them, he instructed them to put it on their calendar. “Remember this day in which you departed from Egypt…you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year” (Exodus 13:3,10).

Now maybe you’re thinking, “How could God’s people ever forget how he got them out of Egypt with displays of his power?” And yet, you’re doubts, fears, guilt, and shame make you forget the salvation won for you by Christ on the cross.

So God puts it on your calendar. A birthday to remind you of your creator. A Sunday to remind you of your Savior (He is not here; he is risen!) A doctor’s appointment to remind you of God’s healing power. Lunch with a friend to remind us we weren’t created to be alone. A funeral to remind you there’s so much life yet to come.

Any and all of these can get lost in the busyness and distractions of life. So God sneaks all these days into your calendar!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Yes, he will do it!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by NASA on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 12.

It’s only been in my lifetime that satellite images, doppler radar, and computer models have equipped meteorologists to warn us of approaching hurricanes a week before they arrive. I am certain that a century ago, those who dared live in a pre-air conditioned Florida looked felt the wind, saw the surf kick up, and concluded, “Yep, looks like a big storm’s coming.” Today, living in Florida, the hint of a tropical wave drifting off the coast of the African continent generates a week’s worth of excitement for those who love to predict the path of a coming storm.

I am thankful for the extra time to prepare for severe weather. I have spend the night listening to the wind and rain of a category four hurricane, wondering which tree will come through my roof and when our power will be restored.

I’ve prepared for storms that never materialized, too. I’ve cancelled appointments, stocked up on supplies, brought every loose item in from the back yard, and bought extra gas for the generator. But the rain never came. It was a breezy day, but I still saw blue in the sky. I hate to admit it, but if it happens enough, one tends to pay minimal attention to those dire predictions.

As God prepares his people to leave Egypt, he instructs them to paint the door posts and lintels of their homes with the blood of a lamb they will roast and eat that night. Moses passes along these instructions:

“Now you shall eat it in this way: with your garment belted around your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in a hurry—it is the Lord’s Passover” (Exodus 12:11).

In other words, follow these instructions with confidence and certainty. God is going to do this. You are going to leave Egypt tomorrow!

So what if we lived as if God were going to do exactly what he says? Like the person who prayed for rain and left the house carrying an umbrella. Or the people in a wilderness who only gathered up what they needed for one day, confident of God’s daily provision (Exodus 16:4). Some household budgets include a tithe, because God promises to give even more (Malachi 3:10).

If you know God at all, you know he’s faithful. Become familiar with his promises. And then live with the confidence that he will do it!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He just won’t give up

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nikhil Manan on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 7-10.

How stubborn are you? When do you finally give in? What does it take for you to admit you’re wrong, to say, “I’m sorry,” or admit, “It was my fault”?

It’s hard to find someone more stubborn than the Pharaoh of Egypt in Exodus. Imagine what life was like. The water is bloody, the smell of dead frogs is everywhere, you’re crops are decimated, the itching never stops, and you can’t escape the swarms of bugs. But Pharaoh still won’t let the people of Israel go.

But guess who is more stubborn? God. He won’t give up. He keeps forgiving, healing, and giving his people another chance. They don’t follow his instructions. They don’t like the way he does things. They really don’t trust him. Yet God still loves them, provides for them, leads them, and stays with them.

It’s good to personalize this truth. I’m not obedient. I question God’s ways. I give into my fears rather than trusting him. And yet his love, his provision, his protection, and his presence are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Talk about stubborn.

I once had a friend ask me, “Did you tell someone I was stubborn?”

I answered, “Yes. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means you hold on to your convictions. Few people are like that.”

You’ll never outlast God. His love endures forever. You might as well give in.

Posted in Devotions, prayer

Keep the conversation going

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 8.

You know how it goes. Once you start feeling better, you stop taking the medicine, right? Yeah, that’s not now it’s supposed to go. You’re supposed to take all the antibiotics the doctor prescribed. You have to keep taking blood pressure medication daily for the rest of your life. It’s hardly ever a one and done.

Once we get into the plagues God sends to show his power to both Israel and Egypt, we get into that same kind of pattern. The plague hits, Pharaoh says you can go, the plague stops, and “when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said” (Exodus 8:15). It happens again and again and again.

Of course we are good pray-ers when it’s hard or when it hurts or when we’re scared. Not so much when we feel better or the storm has passed or we’ve arrived safely at our destination. Yeah, that’s not how it’s supposed to go. My good day prayers are just as important as my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day prayers.

Over time, God’s people developed prayers for the beginnings, endings, and in-betweens of every day. These prayers kept a divine conversation going throughout the day, rather than only kneeling for a need or in a crisis. In a world teeming with distraction, they pull us back into the relationship that matters the most, the one we have with our Creator, Savior, and Helper.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Anyone can do that

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 7.

We can do so much.

Doctors, surgeons, hospitals and medicine can cure diseases. Infertile couples conceive in vitro. We grow meat in labs, view atoms in microscopes, travel in space, light up dark rooms, and fly through the skies. I can have anything I want delivered to my home by tomorrow.

So what do we need God for?

Pharaoh’s sorcerers and soothsayer priests can do all the tricks Moses can. They can turn a staff into a serpent, make a hand leprous, and turn water into blood (Exodus 7:11,22). So Pharaoh isn’t concerned about Moses’s God at all (Exodus 7:23).

I think it’s interesting that so many pursue power, knowledge, influence, and adoration. In other words, we try to be gods. We try to be what we think a god ought to be.

The truth is, other than doing a few tricks, we don’t know much about being gods. What’s God like? The only way to find out is to get to know Jesus. In Jesus, God became like us so that we wouldn’t settle for cheap imitations, but the real thing.

What kind of a god is Jesus? Merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Instead of a few science fair projects, try being like that.

That’s right, no one comes close.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Did you hear that?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 6.

A long time ago, I discovered that most people aren’t listening. Young or old, I learned that it’s best to say their name and get their attention before you ask or tell them something.

If I say, “What do you want for supper, John?” I’ll probably get the response, “Huh?”

But if I ask, “John, what do you want for supper?” I’ll hear, “Pizza!” (Or whatever they’re hungry for.)

So why aren’t you listening?

There are plenty of reasons you’re not listening. You’re on your phones, scrolling through whatever. You’re working on something else that demands your attention. You’re distracted by another voice or some noise.

Moses had some good news. He passed along God’s promises to bring the people out of slavery in Egypt and bring them back to the land he promised to Abraham. But “they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery” (Exodus 6:9).

I think they heard what Moses said. It just didn’t sink in. The people were despondent. They were exhausted. They had no hope. So Moses’ words were just noise.

Don’t let God’s promises be little more than noise in your life. When you come across one, insert your name at the beginning, and listen.