DAILY READING
REFLECTION
On the Brink
by Mary Alice McGinnis
Have you ever been on the brink of a major change in your life, and you weren’t sure if you would survive the upheaval? During the mortgage crisis in the early 2000’s, I was trying to make my mortgage payments as a single woman. I put my house on the market right as home values were plummeting. For two long years, showing after hopeful showing, there were no bites.
Finally, one day an offer came. The potential buyers requested that the large playhouse in our back yard be removed. Overwhelm kicked in. A friend from church offered to help. He and his 21-year-old son came to my house to begin the demolition. With the first sledgehammer swing against one side of the playhouse, hornets came swarming out. They attacked my friend’s son. As they stung him, he went into anaphylactic shock. They rushed him to the ER where he was injected with epinephrine to save his life.
I remember sinking down on the floor that day sobbing, “Why Lord? Why is this happening?” After two long years of overwhelming waiting, just when it seemed like I was on the brink of rescue, another catastrophe happened.
Exodus tells about the Israelites being on the cusp of freedom from their 400 years of slavery in Egypt. God had brought nine plagues on Egypt, showing His power and glory to both the Egyptians and to His Children – Israel. But each time, Pharaoh at first agrees to let them go, but then hardens his heart and changes his mind. Moses and the Israelites thought they were on the brink of freedom only to find the hopes dashed nine times.
Maybe like me they asked, “Why Lord? Why is this happening? Didn’t you promise to deliver us?”
In today’s reading, God tells Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.”
Did you know that God had predicted this final plague all the way back in Exodus 4? He tells Moses:
Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’ ” Exodus 4:22-23
This was God’s plan from the beginning. Why? The Lord tells Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
Where are you feeling overwhelmed, perhaps on the brink of hopelessness and despair? When you find yourself, asking "WHY?" remember this! When Jesus was handed over to be crucified, his disciples too felt scattered and hopeless. Yet, God’s divine plan was unfolding even as He was mocked, beaten and nailed to the cross.
On the third day, He gloriously arose and claimed victory for us once and for all!
Hold on to this hope.
PRAYER
Use this song as a prayer today, asking God to help you hold on to Him, clinging to our only sure and certain hope.
Hold On by Katy Nichole
Another thought provoking message today. It is always exciting when we prove scripture with scripture, and add to that our own testimony and there is no denying the power and love of our Savior. Thank you Mary Alice.
Excellent devotional. We have all felt despair to some degree, but your story highlighted the absolute power of God. Thanks