Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our Reading was written by Jennifer Benson

Schultz and it's titled, Flourish Again. Given enough sunlight and water, vibrant wildflowers

areas of California, such as Anelope Valley and

Figueroa Mountain. But what happens when drought strikes? Scientists have discovered that certain

wildflowers stored large quantities of their seeds underground instead of allowing them to push

through the soil and bloom. After the drought, the plants

use the seeds they have saved to begin to flourish again. The ancient Israelites thrived in the

land of Egypt. Despite harsh conditions, slave masters forced them to work in fields and make bricks.

Ruthless overseers required them to build entire

cities for Pharaoh. The king of Egypt even tried to use infanticide to reduce their numbers. However,

Exodus 112 says, because God sustained them, the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied

and spread. Many Bible scholars

estimate that the population of Israelite men, women, and children grew to two million or more

during their time in Egypt. God, who preserved his people then, is upholding us today as well.

He can help us in any environment. We may worry

about enduring through another season, but the Bible assures us in Matthew 6 that God, who cares

so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and are gone tomorrow can provide for our needs.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Exodus chapter 1,

verses 6 through 14. Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died. But the Israelites

were exceedingly fruitful. They multiplied greatly, increased in numbers, and became so numerous

that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power

in Egypt. Look, he whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.

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