TODAY, TOMORROW OR DAILY IN THE BIBLE

Such designations of times appear hundreds of times in the Bible, usually in a mundane application. But a few such passages, discussed below, are of special interest.

Exodus 8:9-10

I find this to be the most intriguing conversation in the whole section on the plagues of Egypt. Moses lets Pharaoh chose when he would like the frogs to be removed from the land, and Pharaoh replies, “Tomorrow.” As Durham understatedly says, “Why Pharaoh specified 'tomorrow' instead of 'right now' is unclear. It cannot be that Pharaoh was 'hoping' the frogs would leave by themselves within that period (Knight) or that 'tomorrow' was 'the earliest possible time' (Cassuto). Perhaps the specification of such a time is intended to show Pharaoh's skepticism.”

 Since I have run into my share of “pharaohs” in school and at work, I think I have another explanation. At one point in time, our company president was one who had been promoted way past his level of competence. So he compensated for that lack by throwing his weight around and humiliating his employees whenever he had a chance. One time I was giving him a presentation of our lab research and I noted that he began fidgeting and looking at his watch since it was way past lunch time. To give him a break, I suggested that I cut my presentation short. At that suggestion, he suddenly came to life and said in no uncertain terms: “I WANT TO HEAR EVERY BIT OF YOUR TALK.”

Knowing him well from previous unpleasant encounters, I realized that he sensed a weakness in me and was not about to get me off so easily. So I went through the whole talk while he squirmed even more and realized that all he had accomplished was to delay his lunch even more.

I personally think that Pharaoh realized full well that a group of slaves and their god had outmaneuvered and overpowered him. However, he wasn't going to go down without somehow reasserting his power, so when Moses gave him the chance to choose his own timing for the miracle, he was casually replying in essence that there was absolutely no hurry regarding the removal of what was after all only a minor nuisance to him and his people, but how about tomorrow? So Pharaoh condemned himself and his people to one more day of misery just in order to save face.

Exodus 16:19-20

The second interesting example also comes from the book of Exodus, this time in the context of God sending manna every day for the people to gather in and eat. In order to “prove the people,” the manna spoiled if not eaten on the same day, except for the day before Sabbath when it lasted for two days before going bad. “The fact that it bred worms every day except the sabbath was to prove that trust for each day's needs and obedience regarding the sabbath would be rewarded.” (H.R. Jones)

Similarly, Cole says, “'That I may prove them' is presumably either to do with the need for daily dependence on God for food, or with the command not to gather food on the sabbath day.”

Lamentations 3:22-23a

NRSV translates the Hebrew as follows: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” And Dobbs-Allsopp comments: “Steadfast love, mercies, faithfulness, the LORD's covenant loyalties, as in the divine promises to David (2 Sam 7:15; I Kings 8:23; Ps 89:2-4).”

The Living Bible offers this translation: “His lovingkindness begins afresh every day.”

And the Jerusalem Bible commentary on this verse reads, “The favors of Yahweh are not all past; his kindnesses are not exhausted; every morning they are renewed.” Because this is true, there is no need for the believer to worry about tomorrow, as we will see in the New Testament.

Matthew 5:24

In this passage, Jesus counsels his followers to make sure that there is no friction between them and anyone else before laying their gifts on the altar. France says, “It puts in the form of a vivid practical example the principle which Paul lays down in Eph 4:26: 'Do not let the sun go down on your anger.'” There are some actions which must be done at once and not put off until a more convenient time.

Matthew 6:11 // Luke 11:3

These are the familiar words found in the Lord's Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Hendricksen asks, “What did Jesus mean by 'daily'?...As I see it , a good argument can be made in favor of: a. 'Give us this day our bread for (or: belonging to) the current day (the day in being),' and of b. 'Give us this day our needful bread,' that is, 'our bread necessary for existence'...In any case we must make sure that our interpretation does not run counter to the teaching of Jesus in this very chapter (verses 31-34), the warning against worry about food...Whatever is necessary to sustain physical life is meant.”

Matthew 6:34

That brings us up to this conclusion to Jesus' teaching here: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Hill states that “the point is that anxiety about food, drink and clothes is pagan, as well as being an affront to God, who will not overlook the legitimate needs of his people...a man's individual loyalty and obedience to God shows his purposeful desire to make the divine will and reign (already present in Jesus) his real objective. If this is man's dominant concern, then all other necessary requirements will be satisfied in the generosity of God.”

Luke 9:23

“What are our crosses to be borne? Luke alone has the modifier 'daily' (v. 23) which shifts the emphasis from martyrdom to sacrificial living. A way of life that could be called cross bearing would have to be a life one had 'taken up'; that is, it would be voluntarily chosen..., even though...other difficulties are sometimes called 'crosses we have to bear'...A way of life that could be called cross bearing would have to involve denial of self in the service of God...We are not speaking of a death wish here but obedience to the reign of God.” (Craddock)

Acts 17:11

We learn here that the Bereans studied the Scriptures every day to see if Paul's words were true. Stott says, “Luke obviously admires their enthusiasm for Paul's preaching, together with their industry and unprejudiced openness in studying the Scriptures. They combined receptivity with critical questioning...What is impressive is that neither speaker nor hearers used Scripture in a superficial, unintelligent or proof-texting way.”

I attended a church for some time which prided itself on its diligent study of the Bible, but I am afraid that they mainly read it through the prism of a detailed statement of necessary doctrines to which the congregation, or at least the leadership, adhered. Therefore they were always on the lookout for any ideas which might conceivably cast doubts on their prior interpretation. The Bereans appear to have been much more open-minded in their approach, wanting to know the truth of God at all cost rather than just a confirmation of their prior ideas.

Hebrews 3:13

Buchanan: “They should exhort 'every day' to be sure that there was no sin among any of the brothers. This was the same kind of advice offered in Matt 18:15-17. The urgency of the situation was emphasized on the basis of the word 'today' quoted from the Psalm [95:7]. The time was short. They were obliged to act properly while they still had the chance not utilized by their fathers.”

“Let them be vigilant therefore, and encourage one another while might and main lasted to be steadfast in their faith, during the present time of probation. While this time lasts, each succeeding day's a fresh 'To-day' in which they may heed the psalmist's warning to hear the voice of God and render Him heart obedience.” (Bruce)