Text: Exodus 10: 1-10
Memory verse:
”And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”“
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The so-called ‘blessing’ that the devil gives is never perfect. Rather, it always has a negative side. In mathematics, when zero is multiplied with any figure, it becomes zero. That describes the nature of satan’s blessing. He gives you one thing and subtracts another from you.
In contrast, God’s blessings come to add to you. It makes you richer. God gives you life and in abundance ( Prov 10:22; John 10:10). It takes you from one level of glory to the other. This is God’s will for you. ”Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.“ ‭‭(III John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬). You see, God wants you to prosper physically, financially, and spiritually. He wants to give you health and wealth. He wants your spouse and children to also do well just as you are doing well.
According to our text today, Pharaoh unwilling to set the children of Israel free, decided to negotiate their freedom. His first offer was that they may go but not with their wives and children. “The king said, “I swear by the LORD that I will never let you take your women and children! It is clear that you are plotting to revolt” (Exo 10:10 GNT). In other words, go with your wealth, that is, your livestock and businesses, but leave your family behind. Like we saw in our previous devotional, the devil doesn’t mind giving you riches, as long as souls are not saved. That was what the king of Sodom offered to Abram in Genesis 14:21, when he told him to keep the loots but give him the rescued captives. Is this not what the devil is doing today? Many men, instead of being the priests and spiritual heads of their families, are sleeping spiritually and pursuing riches. When watchmen sleep on the towers, the enemies will strike. Like Adam who got so busy and didn’t know when satan came to engage his wife in a discussion, until she ate the forbidden fruit and also caused him to eat it (Gen 3:6). Like the words of the king, ”But I got busy with other things, and the man escaped.” …”“
‭‭(I Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭40‬ ‭GNT). The devil’s priority goal is to keep men busy and pursue money so he can steal the hearts of their spouse and children.
Friends, as Moses and Joshua determined that they and their families must go and serve the Lord, so be likewise determined. Put your priorities right today. May you not lose your family at the expense of getting riches, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please help me never to lose my family at the expense of pursuing riches or other legitimate things in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please revive all our fathers so that they can be more spiritually inclined in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I will not pursue riches at the expense of my family’s well-being.
2. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.