Exodus 14

• 1. Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses:
• 2. "Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon.
• 3. Then Pharaoh will think, `Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!'
• 4. And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told.
• 5. When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. "What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked.
• 6. So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot.
• 7. He took with him six hundred of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with a commander.
• 8. The LORD continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantly.
• 9. All the forces in Pharaoh's army--all his horses, chariots, and charioteers--were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
• 10. As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help.
• 11. Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave?
• 12. Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"
• 13. But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again.
• 14. The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!"
• 15. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
• 16. Use your shepherd's staff--hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground.
• 17. Yet I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow the Israelites into the sea. Then I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies, chariots, and charioteers.
• 18. When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the LORD!"
• 19. Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them.
• 20. The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites.
• 21. Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.
• 22. So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
• 23. Then the Egyptians--all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers--followed them across the bottom of the sea.
• 24. But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion.
• 25. Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. "Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. "The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!"
• 26. When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers."
• 27. So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents.
• 28. The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers--the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
• 29. The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.
• 30. This was how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites could see the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore.
• 31. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.

Luke 18

• 1. One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.
• 2. "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone.
• 3. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her.
• 4. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself,
• 5. 'but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
• 6. Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge.
• 7. Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
• 8. I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"
• 9. Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else:
• 10. "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector.
• 11. The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery,
• 12. I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
• 13. "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'
• 14. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."
• 15. One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him.
• 16. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
• 17. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God."
• 18. Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"
• 19. "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.
• 20. But as for your question, you know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'"
• 21. The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child."
• 22. "There is still one thing you lack," Jesus said. "Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
• 23. But when the man heard this, he became sad because he was very rich.
• 24. Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!
• 25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
• 26. Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"
• 27. He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
• 28. Peter said, "We have left our homes and followed you."
• 29. "Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
• 30. will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come."
• 31. Gathering the twelve disciples around him, Jesus told them, "As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.
• 32. He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.
• 33. They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."
• 34. But they didn't understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
• 35. As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.
• 36. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.
• 37. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by.
• 38. So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
• 39. The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
• 40. When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him.
• 41. Then Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!"
• 42. And Jesus said, "All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you."
• 43. Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

Job 33

• 1. "Listen, Job, to what I have to say.
• 2. Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.
• 3. I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.
• 4. For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
• 5. Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.
• 6. "Look, you and I are the same before God. I, too, was formed from clay.
• 7. So you don't need to be afraid of me. I am not some great person to make you nervous and afraid.
• 8. "You have said it in my hearing. I have heard your very words.
• 9. You said, `I am pure; I am innocent; I have not sinned.
• 10. God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me to be his enemy.
• 11. He puts my feet in the stocks and watches every move I make.'
• 12. "In this you are not right, and I will show you why. As you yourself have said, `God is greater than any person.'
• 13. So why are you bringing a charge against him? You say, `He does not respond to people's complaints.'
• 14. But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.
• 15. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed.
• 16. He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with his warning.
• 17. He causes them to change their minds; he keeps them from pride.
• 18. He keeps them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.
• 19. Or God disciplines people with sickness and pain, with ceaseless aching in their bones.
• 20. They lose their appetite and do not care for even the most delicious food.
• 21. They waste away to skin and bones.
• 22. They are at death's door; the angels of death wait for them.
• 23. "But if a special messenger from heaven is there to intercede for a person, to declare that he is upright,
• 24. God will be gracious and say, `Set him free. Do not make him die, for I have found a ransom for his life.'
• 25. Then his body will become as healthy as a child's, firm and youthful again.
• 26. When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.
• 27. He will declare to his friends, `I sinned, but it was not worth it.
• 28. God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.'
• 29. "Yes, God often does these things for people.
• 30. He rescues them from the grave so they may live in the light of the living.
• 31. Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, and let me say more.
• 32. But if you have anything to say, go ahead. I want to hear it, for I am anxious to see you justified.
• 33. But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!"

New Living Translation: 63 of 365 days.