Moses and the Israelite people have had a series of miracles in their lives and Exodus 14-15 are very interesting additions to the list. God routes Moses back by the Red Sea and again hardens Pharaoh's heart to pursue the people to bring them back as slaves. The Red Sea is in front and the army of Egypt is behind and no where to run!

Mark 14 contains many interesting things in Jesus life the last few days before the Cross.  Jesus was eating in the home of Simon the Leper, a man that Jesus had healed. Meals among friends can be very intimate times and they were in Jesus' time as well.

Our reading for today is Isaiah 62-64.  God is now ready to change His plan of judgment for Zion (Jerusalem) as we see in chapter 62:4.  "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate, But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah."   Hephzibah means "my delight is in her.

Jesus, in Mark 11, is fulfilling Bible Prophecy as He enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The Prophet Zachariah (9:9) prophesied several hundred years earlier that The Messiah would come into Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey. This was to let them know that He was the Messiah but the people thought that it meant that He was going to set up His kingdom now as their earthly king.

We have been observing the Jewish Nations of Israel and Judah in Babylon as slaves because of their sin of worshiping many idols rather that Jehovah God alone, as He required. Isaiah 44 gives us a glimpse of God's mercy and grace for His chosen people. "I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessings on your descendants." v.3.

The Pharisees are at it again in Mark 7: they are trying to trap Jesus and force their traditions on His followers. The disciples were eating without going through the tradition of ceremonially washing their hands before eating. Jesus' reply was a quote from Isaiah 29:13.