May 5 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 19–20; Luke 23:1–25

Grace and Change

Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” Exodus 2:14

READ Exodus 2:11–15

The crime was shocking, and the man who committed it was sentenced to life in prison. In the years that followed, the man—in solitary confinement—began a process of mental and spiritual healing. It led to repentance and a restored relationship with Jesus. These days he’s been allowed limited interactions with other inmates. And, by God’s grace, through his witness some fellow prisoners have received Christ as Saviour—finding forgiveness in Him.

Moses, though now recognised as a great man of faith, also committed a shocking crime. After he witnessed “an Egyptian beating a Hebrew,” he looked “this way and that” and “killed the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:11–12). Despite this sin, God in His grace wasn’t done with His imperfect servant. Later, He chose Moses to free His people from their oppression (3:10). In Romans 5:14 , we read, “Death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command.” But in the following verses Paul states that “God’s grace” makes it possible for us, regardless of our past sins, to be changed and made right with Him (vv. 15–16).

We might think that what we’ve done disqualifies us from knowing God’s forgiveness and being used for His honour. But because of His grace, in Jesus we can be changed and set free to help others be changed for eternity.

By Tom Felten

How has God and His grace changed you? What are the changes He’s calling you to make these days?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your life-changing grace.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Moses, the son of Amram and Jochebed (Numbers 26:59), was born towards the end of the four-hundred-year captivity of the Israelites in Egypt. In Exodus 1, we read of the plight of Moses’ people under the cruel oppression of a “new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing” (v. 8). This Pharaoh saw how fruitful the Israelites were and out of fear increased the labour of the people and ordered the midwives to kill the baby boys they delivered (vv. 8–19 ). In our text, we read of Moses’ impulsive act of killing an Egyptian and his desperate flight into Midian, where he worked for forty years as a shepherd. In chapter 3, Moses received his call from God: “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (v. 10). Moses balked. Yet despite his flaws and reluctance, God used him to lead the Israelites to the doorstep of the promised land.