We’ve decided to use another Alistair Begg devo today from the “Truth for Dark Days” devotional.

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God Hears Our Cries

The promise of food had encouraged Jacob and his family to leave their famine-stricken land and relocate to Egypt with Joseph. For a time, everything was terrific, but their experience took a turn for the worse when a new king came into power. He didn’t like the idea of Israel’s people growing in stature and number, so he put them to work, ruthlessly enslaving them. Their lives were filled with tears and bitterness.

The people of God still had His promises, but those promises seemed empty. It was easier to trust God when they were receiving the benefit of food than when they were enslaved. In the long years of oppression, some must have said to themselves, “I think God’s forgotten His promise. I wonder if He’s really going to do what He said.” Despite their doubt, they called out to God, desperately seeking rescue.

God had not forgotten, and His answer came. God heard their cry, He heard their groaning, and in response, He introduced a rescue operation. God would not leave them in their misery. He was going to fulfill His purposes for His people and set them free from slavery.

This is what God’s people needed to be reminded of then, just as we do now: God hears our groaning, God knows our circumstances, and He will act. Indeed, when we are at a loss for words in our distress, we discover that the Holy Spirit even intercedes for us through our prayerful groanings (see Romans 8:26–27). That’s the level of God’s concern for each of us.

When our souls’ cries seem to go unheard, when we begin to wonder if anyone truly cares, may our minds recall these heartening words:

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely

And long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

We should not neglect crying out to God but instead, make our requests known to Him. He hears, He cares, and He works on our behalf. Let us take our concerns to Him today.

Today’s Updates:

At the time of writing this, Zach is going down to the operating room to get his right hand amputated. Ed, Alice, Megan, and Megan’s sister Melannie were able to pray around Zach before he went down. Please pray for guidance for the surgeons and the surgical team during the amputation.

Zach received another blood transfusion today. His hemoglobin levels are not too terrible, but they wanted to give him some extra blood prior to the surgery today.

Another infection was discovered in the dead space of Zach’s right lung. It is a resilient form of bacteria, but providentially Zach is already being treated for this infection by one of the new antibiotics started earlier this week. Praise the Lord for granting direction and foresight to the medical team!

Zach had a quiet day, his heart rate is finally in a good range. He is running the same medications as yesterday to keep him sedated, pain-free and vitally stable. His ventilator settings remained similar to yesterday.

Please pray for Zach as he goes for surgery, grant that this surgery may be beneficial to his recovery. We know that God is in control of everything and he hears us when we call to him.

”During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.“ ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭25‬)

”Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.“ (Psalm‬ ‭32‬:‭6‬-‭7‬)