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FEBRUARY 4
Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that
You are true, and teach the way of God in
truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You
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do not regard the person of men. Tell us, 22:16 Herodians. A party of the Jews who
therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to supported the Roman-backed Herodian
pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” dynasty. The Herodians were not a religious
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and party, like the Pharisees, but a political party,
said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? probably consisting largely of Sadducees
19 Show Me the tax money.” (including the rulers of the temple). By con-
So they brought Him a denarius. trast, the Pharisees hated Roman rule and the
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and Herodian influence.The fact that these groups
inscription is this?” would conspire together to entrap Jesus
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” reveals how seriously both groups viewed Him
And He said to them, “Render therefore to as a threat. Herod himself wanted Jesus dead
Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to (Luke 13:31), and the Pharisees were already
plotting to kill Him,as well (John 11:53).So they
God the things that are God’s.” When they joined efforts to seek their common goal.
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had heard these words, they marveled, and left
Him and went their way.
DAY 3:Why was Moses’rod so important as Joshua went into battle? Did it have magic powers?

Joshua,the name of Moses’aide-de-camp,or personal minister (24:13;33:11;Josh.1:1),appears
for the first time in Exodus 17:9. His assignment to muster a task force was part of his being
groomed for military leadership in Israel. Actually, at this stage his name was still Hoshea, which
later changed to Joshua at Kadesh just before the reconnaissance mission in Canaan (Num. 13:16).
At this stage,Israel could not be described as a seasoned army and was not even militarily well pre-
pared and trained.
The staff, or “the rod of God,” that Moses held up in his hands was no magic wand. Rather, it
had been previously used to initiate, via God’s chosen leader, the miracles that God did and about
which He had informed Moses in advance. It became, therefore, the symbol of God’s personal and
powerful involvement, with Moses’outstretched arms perhaps signifying an appeal to God.
The ebb and flow of battle in correlation with Moses’ uplifted or drooping arms imparted
more than psychological encouragement as the soldiers looked up to their leader on the hilltop,
and more than Moses’ interceding for them. It demonstrated and acknowledged their having to
depend upon God for victory in battle and not upon their own strength and zeal.It also confirmed
the position of Moses both in relation to God and the nation’s well-being and safety. They had
angrily chided him for their problems (Ex. 17:2), but God confirmed His appointment as leader.

February 4 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My

voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be
a special treasure to Me above all people; for
Exodus 19:1–20:26
In the third month after the children of
19 Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt,
on the same day, they came to the Wilderness 19:4 bore you on eagles’wings. With a most
2
of Sinai. For they had departed from appropriate metaphor, God described the
Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Si- Exodus and the journey to Sinai. Eagles were
nai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel known to have carried their young out of the
camped there before the mountain. nests on their wings and taught them to fly,
3
And Moses went up to God, and the LORD catching them when necessary on their out-
called to him from the mountain, saying, spread wings. Moses, in his final song,
“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and employed this metaphor of God’s care for
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tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what Israel and especially noted that there was only
I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on one Lord who did this (Deut. 32:11–12).
eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

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