Exodus 24 “Moses Called Up”

Then He said to Moses, 'Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord…” (vv.1-2)

Out of the millions of people from the children of Israel, the Lord here calls 73 men to come and worship with Moses but only Moses was allowed to approach God. 

Why Moses? Why not somebody else? We saw the choices he made that led to his exile and then forty years later we saw his reluctance in accepting the call of God. So again one may ask, why Moses?

The reality is that Moses had an honest faith in the Lord (Hebrews 11:27) and God can get extraordinary things done with ordinary people who have faith. The application here is to act in faith when called by God. He will give you the strength and the gifts needed to do His will. 

Moses followed God's call did what the Lord revealed to him must be done. We are at our best when we faithfully follow the Lord, as Moses had learned to do.

The Truth: “He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants - God’s own people, Israel.” (Psalm 78:70-71)

Exodus 23 "Do Not Give A False Report"

"You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.” (vv.1-3)

Simply put, we are to tell the truth, in court and in all of life. We are to follow God; not follow, join, conspire or buy into "the crowd" in doing evil. We are not to repeat, spread or even listen with interest (as people often do) to a false report, but instead we should discourage and reprove the reporter of it. (Proverbs 25:23) Finally, the Lord tells us that if you are ‘partial to a poor man’ in a dispute and thus bear false witness, that this is wrong as well.

While we sometimes cannot avoid hearing a false report, we must not receive it, nor hear it with pleasure, or easily give credit to it, for there are consequences for joining yourself to evil. So often false or misleading information is picked up and spread by others on social media today without a second thought. It is then spread throughout the network, passed off as truth, at the expense of truth to further an agenda that is anything but truth. Thus, giving a false report.    

Though God's laws for Israel were tailor-made for her 3,500 years ago, many continue to apply to you and I today. So much evil could be avoided in this world if man would simply be truthful.   

The Truth: “Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.” (Numbers 14:36-38) 

Exodus 22 "The Responsibility of Restitution"

 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood on his account. But if the sun has risen on him, there will be blood on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double." (vv.1-4)

Here in chapter 22 we continue with the "Civil" laws given to Moses by God and the judgments or restitutions which go along with them. The first 4 verses deal with theft and the restitution required in cases of theft. The command against theft was already stated in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15). Here we see more specific principles given to judges, so they could apply that principle in the daily life and administration of justice among the people of Israel.

The Mosaic Law did not send a person to jail because of theft. Instead, the thief was required to restore what he stole, plus an additional penalty. In this passage, the penalty could be anywhere from 500% (he shall restore five oxen for an ox) to 200% (he shall restore double). The reason for the fivefold penalty in the case of stealing an ox is probably because one man stole the means of another man’s livelihood. This principle would extend to taking any of the man’s plowing or cultivating implements.

As we can see from our text, if the thief was unable to pay back what he stole, the thief was sold as an indentured laborer, with the money from the sale going to the victim (v.4).

God respects private property. It is part of man's dignity to own. Stealing, therefore, is more than taking what belongs to another, it is an insult to the image of God in man. God takes such insults very seriously. Stealing was not considered to be just an act of taking someone else's property, the thief became guilty before the Lord and had to atone for his sin by bringing a guilt offering.

F.B. Meyer comments, “This chapter is full of restitution, of which there is far too little in ordinary Christian life. We try to make amends for injury done to another by an extraordinary amount of civility; but we are reluctant in so many words to frankly confess that we have done wrong, and make proper reparation for the act or speech.” 

As far as life on earth is concerned, in the event that the thief is caught, God wants him to make restitution above and beyond that which he stole. This is what Zacchaeus did when he was visited by the Lord Jesus and understood that his sins were being forgiven (Luke 19). 

How far we have drifted away from God’s Law today when so many feel it’s ok to steal from another. What’s yours is mine because I deem it necessary, and with no responsibility toward restitution. Sad. 

The Truth: Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:6-9)

Exodus 21 "Civil Laws"

"Now these are the ordinances (Laws) you shall set before them:" (v.1)

Back in chapter 20 we looked at The Ten Commandments, the "Moral" portion of the Laws of Moses. Today here in chapter 21 we will see the "Civil" portion of the Laws of Moses, and the regulations that involve the just punishment and procedure to follow for crimes committed. These civil laws were instituted and directly communicated by the Lord to Moses, and reveal to us the fairness, goodness, and justice of God. 

Psalm 19 tells us about the quality of God’s law, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (vv.7-10)

I find it interesting that the first of the Civil Laws of Moses recorded here in chapter 21 deals with slavery and seeing that slaves are treated fairly. Slavery has been around from the beginning and was common among warring nations, but it is also one of the most horrendous institutions in the history of mankind. Certainly the period in the history of our country that allowed slavery was one of our darkest. Our nation once battled amongst ourselves over the cause of slavery. 

The Bible, though acknowledged the slave’s status as the property of the master (Exod. 21:32; Lev. 25:46), it restricted the master’s power over the slave. The master was punished for excessive use of authorized force leading to the immediate death or permanent maiming of the slave (Exod. 21:20, 25-26). The slave was part of the master’s household (Lev. 22:11) and was required to rest on the Sabbath (Exod. 20:10; Deut. 5:14) and to participate in religious observances (Gen. 17:13; Exod. 12:44; Lev. 22:11; Deut. 12:12, 18; 16:11, 14).   

In contrast to ancient Near Eastern treaties providing for the mutual extradition of fugitive slaves, biblical law prohibited such extradition and granted them asylum (Deut. 23:16-17; but cf. 1 Kings 2:39-40). The servitude of a Hebrew debt-slave was limited to six years (Exod. 21:2; Deut. 15:12; Jer. 34:14). Upon manumission, slaves were to receive gifts (Deut. 15:14) to enable them economically to maintain their new freedom. Voluntary servitude ended with the onset of the Jubilee Year and their return to their property/inheritance (Lev. 25:13, 40).

The "Civil" Law of Moses stated the a slave was to be set free after serving six years, and if he had a wife she would be freed with him at the same time. But, if at the end of six years of service when a slave could be set free, he instead honored his master, he could choose to become a slave for life to his master. The ceremony then to enact this was for the slave to have his master pierce his ear with an awl to make a permanent mark upon his showing his mater’s ownership.

The Christian life is to be the life of a “bond-slave” of God, for the Christian has chosen of his own free will to submit himself to serve the Lord as His Master for his entire life.  The Lord is the benevolent master who deserves our love and service for life. The apostle Paul wrote of himself as being the Lord’s “bond-slave” (Rom. 1:1), and for him he bore the marks of being a bond-slave in his body, for he had received those as a result of following Christ. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ was such a servant. In His incarnation he willingly submitted Himself to be the Lord’s “bond-servant” and performed everything that was commanded Him from His father, and He forever bears in His body the marks from His master, for he was a “bond-servant” as well: Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27)

May we all be in servitude to our Master, our LORD, our Savior!

The Truth: "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." (Psalm 84:10)

 

Exodus 20 "The Ten Commandments"

Then God spoke these words, “I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (vv.1-3)

In the ancient world (including Egypt), men worshipped many gods. Here Yahweh (the LORD), the covenant God of Israel, set Himself apart from any of the other supposed deities. In these first few words, "I Am The LORD, your God," God both reminded and taught Israel essential facts or principles about who He is, and about His nature. Before God commanded anything of Israel, He reminded them what He had done for them. This was a clear foundation: because of who God is, and what He had done, He has the right to tell them (and us) what to do – and they (and we) have the obligation to obey Him.

The first commandment then, "You shall have no other gods before Me," logically flows from understanding who God was and what He had done for Israel. Because of that, nothing was to come before God and He was the only God they (and we) were to worship and serve. This does not imply that it is permissible to have other gods, as long as they line up behind the true God. Instead the idea is that there are to be no other gods before the sight of the true God in our life. This means God demands to be more than added to our lives. We don’t just add Jesus to the life we already have. We must give Him all our life.

The remainder of the ten commandments are given here in chapter 20. In reading and thinking through these commandments, it should be always remembered that Israel first heard these commands spoken by God from heaven in an audible voice, which made a very strong and authoritative impression upon the people. He spoke to all Israel as they assembled together at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:19). These commandments were expressed in strong simple terms, understandable to all, and dealt with the temptations of the common man, not of the theologian. 

Then, when the people saw the thunder and lightning which accompanied God's voice and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled in fear and kept their distance from the mountain. Then said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we shall die" (vv.18-19).  After this, Moses went back up the mountain to receive more revelation from God for the people (Exodus 20:21).

These laws were not invented at Mount Sinai. A few aspects of the Mosaic Law show new revelation, but for the most part it simply clearly and definitely lays out God’s law as it was written in the heart of man since the time of Adam. F.B. Meyer puts it this way,  “It is wrong to steal, or murder, or covet, not primarily because these sins are forbidden by the Ten Commandments. They are forbidden by the Ten Commandments, because they were previously forbidden by conscience; and they are forbidden by conscience because they are forbidden by the nature of things; and the nature of things is God.” In his book "The Abolition of Man," C.S. Lewis explained how there certainly is a universal morality among men. He gave concrete examples of how all cultures in the past were able to agree on the basics of morality because these principles are implanted in the heart and mind of mankind.

However, we need God to morally instruct and guide us. Though these principles resonate with the human conscience (both individually and collectively), they are certainly not the only influence upon our thinking and behavior. We need to know that there is a God in heaven who expects certain moral behavior and that there are consequences from obeying or disobeying these commands.

These Ten Commandments were never given with the thought that one might earn heaven by obeying them all perfectly or adequately. The covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai was much bigger than the law, though that was its first and perhaps most dramatic aspect. Another aspect of the covenant was sacrifice, which was given because both God and Israel knew that it was impossible for them to keep this law perfectly, and they must depend on the sacrifice of an innocent victim as a substitute for the guilty law-breaker. In this sense, the Ten Commandments were like a mirror that showed Israel their need for sacrifice.

More importantly, we know that Jesus Himself was the only one to ever keep the law perfectly – either in the ten or the two. He never needed to sacrifice for His own sin, so could be the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Wonderfully, His obedience is credited to those who put their love and trust in Him. Romans 8:2-3 puts it this way: For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. This is God’s amazing promise to those who repent and believe on Jesus.

The Truth: Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

Exodus 19 "The LORD Came Down And Moses Went Up"

"And the LORD came down on mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.” (v.20)

Three months after going out of the land of Egypt, the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai, where the Lord calls Moses up to the mountain so that He might give to Moses and the children of Israel His law. But first, the Lord called to Moses to tell the sons of Israel to consider what they had seen, what the Lord had done to the Egyptians, and that if they obeyed His voice and kept His covenant then they would be His possession among all the peoples, and a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (vv.1-6).

Moses then came down from the mountain and told the elders the words which the Lord had commanded him, and all of the people answered and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoke we will do!' Then Moses brought back this word to the Lord (vv.7-8). The Lord then tells Moses that He is going to come down to them and speak with them on the third day, and the people are to consecrate themselves and wash their garments, then when He comes down and talks with them they shall not come up on the mountain or touch on the border of it, or they shall be put to death by stoning or shot through, and Moses is supposed to set bounds for the people all around the mountain to keep the people from going up to the Lord (vv.9-15). 

Finally, the Lord tells Moses that when the trumpet blasts for a long time that the people are supposed to come up to the mountain. Not to go up the mountain or touch it, but to come to it and remain outside the boundary.  Then, on the third day, there was thunder and lightning flashes, a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet, and the people trembled; Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and there before it they saw it all in smoke and quaking violently, and finally God called Moses up to the top of the mountain and then after he came up told him to go down and warn the people and even the priests about not breaking through to the Lord because they would perish in the process; so Moses went down and told the people what the Lord had told him (vv.16-25). 

Some interesting symbolism here, for just as God came down and Moses went up, so Jesus will come down and the church will go up to meet Him in the air.    

The Truth: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Matthew 26 "The Natural Will vs The Spiritual Will"

In the garden before His hour had come, Jesus had a struggle of wills. The natural will (if it is possible, let this cup pass from me), and the spiritual will (Not My will but Your will be done). Jesus was truly struggling, looking for another way if possible. 

Scripture tells us He was in such conflict during prayer, that His sweet became great drops of blood, and that angels were sent from heaven to strengthen His failing human body (Luke 22:43). And while He was struggling and in such great conflict of soul, His disciples slept. Yet He was obedient through it all unto death, even the death of the cross. 

There are times in our lives where we all have faced this same type of struggle, our Nature vs our Spirit (or for some, conscious). We know what we should do, yet we look for another way, a less painful route to accomplish our task, or even a way out all together. And often times in our experience, like Jesus, when we are in the depths of our struggle, those closest to us seem unaware, and we are left to our own will. 

Jesus knew exactly what He was facing (the pain and agony of the cross) and in His human body He looked to His heavenly Father for another way to accomplish the goal of salvation for mankind. Yet forgiveness of sin demanded a blood sacrifice, one without blemish or spot. So, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" to accomplish that end. And Jesus, though struggling in His human flesh, obediently performed the will of His Father and made a way for all mankind to choose salvation, though He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him.

This speaks to me on so many levels, not the least of which is pouring out my heart to God, even if I am struggling with what I know I must do. Knowing He will meet me there, strengthen me, and carry me through to accomplish His divine will for my life. For He will not leave us nor forsake us, and has made a way for all through the valley of the shadow of death.

The Truth: "Even though I walk through the valley of death, You are with me." (Psalm 23)

Exodus 18 “Jethro’s Advice”

"So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said." (v.24)

Moses recognized good advice when he heard it, but much more, he knew this was from the Lord. It was time for the aging Moses to delegate authority and trust others to help him govern the people.

So Moses, listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens (v.25). So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged the small cases themselves (v.26). In this way Morse did not have to stand before the people day and night.

No one is perfect, though we tend to think sometimes that we are the only person who can handle a situation. Then something we hear from someone else, seems to comes to us from the Lord. At that point we should lay down our pride and act on what He reveals.

It is hard to share authority. Often our livelihood, our income and our status in the community seems to depend on our knowing more than the people around us. However, by listening to his farther-in-law the aging Moses now had men to help him judge the people. 

By respecting others opinions and talents, a great weight was lifted off this man, his burden was eased and all would be blessed.

The Truth: “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” (Proverbs 19:20)

Exodus 17 “ Victory Through Prayer”

So Moses cried out to God, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” (v.4)

Here in Chapter 17 Moses battles both his own people and the Amalekites. What a difficult job it must have been for Moses to pastor his people. Every time there’s a problem, they were ready to kill him. And now, the Amalekites sought to wipe out the children of Israel. 

What was Moses solution to these problems? He cried out to the LORD in prayer saying, “What shall I do?” (v.4) Going to God first is something Moses had learned the hard way, as we all probably have. But now we see him prayerfully seeking God’s divine guidance before taking action with both his own people and the Amalekites. The result was victory on both accounts. 

Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray and not faint” (Luke 18:1). And as long as Moses was doing just that, there was victory. May we all learn to do the same.

The Truth: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15)

Exodus 16 “The LORD Is Faithful”

“So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, 'At evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against Him; and what are we, that you grumble against us?'" (vv.6-7)

The Lord is fully aware of our needs, and just like Israel, He will provide for us. God knows the "grumblings" in our hearts and on our lips and yet, He still loves us enough to provide for each and every one of us. 

Just as Moses and Aaron were the targets of the grumbling and complaining (the ones God had chosen to be the examples to the people of FAITH), so we as Christians are also targets at times, yet still need to be examples to others around us of FAITH as well.

As we walk through different seasons in life, may we be that example of faith to all. Thank you LORD for your daily provision in our lives. Help us to always walk in faith. Amen.

The Truth: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

Exodus 15 "The Waters of Marah (Bitterness)"

“So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; thus it was named Marah (Bitterness). So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, what shall we drink?” (vv.22-24)

It must have seemed like a cruel joke – after three days without water, they finally came upon it – but found the water undrinkable. This led to bitter thinking by God's people, but not so with Moses. It has been said of this experience, that God was not only interested in getting the children of Israel out of Egypt, but He also wanted to get Egypt out of the children of Israel – both physically and spiritually. And so this test of their faith.

While the people spoke angry words, grumbled and complained – Moses prayed, and through that faithful prayer (in the presents of unbelief by the people), God showed Moses a tree (v.24). When Moses cast the tree into the waters, the waters were made sweet (v.25). And so another a miracle was manifested once again before their unbelieving eyes. 

This should speak volumes to us, that whenever bitterness enters our lives we should not complain but pray, and believe that God will hear and answer our prayers. 

The Truth: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14) 

Exodus 14 "Hold Your Peace"

 “The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (v.14)

Here in Chapter 14 the children of Israel are trapped, the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army approaching them from behind. The people seeing no (humanly) possible way out of trouble began to murmur and quarrel with Moses saying, “There were not enough graves in Egypt, so you have taken us away to die in the wilderness. Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians.” (v.11-12) 

So typical of how limited our vision can be and how we cannot wait for God’s appointed timing. Moses on the other hand gets above the fear and says, “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” In other words, compose yourself, remember who is in control and have confidence in Him. If God brings his people into trouble, you can be sure He will find a way to bring them out.

The Truth: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

Exodus 13 "Israel's Journey Out Of Egypt"

"So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people." (vv.20-22)

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them by the coastal route, although it was the shortest and most common way to go from Egypt to Canaan. Yet it was also the road where Egypt’s military outposts were. God knew the people of Israel were not ready to face this yet, "lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt, so God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea." (vv.17-18) 

It would have been easy for the Israelites to think that the Via Maris road was the way to go; it had good, easy roads, the shortest distance, it was a trade route so food and water could be bought. But the dangers of that way were too great. Therefore God led them by another route, by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea where they would have to rely on Him.

In the same way, God will never allow us to face more than we are able to bear; He knows what we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). And Just as the Lord led the children of Israel through the desert and did not remove that guidance (the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night), so He leads us by His spirit through the deserts in our lives and is always with us. 

The Truth: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Psalm 23:4-6)

Exodus 12 "The Passover Lamb"

"The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (v.13)

Chapter 12 is full of instruction from the LORD to Moses concerning what the people should do in order to escape the angle of death who will come over the nation of Egypt and kill the first born of every household because Pharaoh refused to let God's people go.

The chapter begins with Lord telling Moses that he is to communicate to all of the Israelites that on the tenth of this month each household is to take a one year old male lamb that is unblemished from the sheep or from the goats, and keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then this "Passover Lamb" is to be killed at twilight. Then after catching the blood in a basin, they were then to dip a hyssop branch in the blood and sprinkle some of it on the two doorposts and the overhead beam of their houses, forming a cross. Then, they were to eat the flesh of the lamb on the same night (after it is roasted with fire), and not leave any of it over until morning (vv.1-11).  

The blood of a lamb would be a "sign." This sign, placed on the door in the shape of a cross, would save all inside from the "destroyer," God's angel sent to carry out His final plaque. The Angel, seeing the "sign" would then “Passover” the house, doing no harm to the occupants. This day has become a memorial to them and is celebrated throughout their generations as a permanent ordinance. And, in preparation for this day, each year the children of Israel are to (for the week before it) remove all leaven from their houses and not eat any leavened bread.  

This “Passover," is a graphic picture of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross to save you and I from our sins. The result of God's Passover was that millions were delivered from slavery in Egypt. And the outcome of the cross of Christ continues to be that millions have been and are currently being saved from the slavery of sin. Hallelujah! 

The Truth: “…and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Exodus 11 "Moses Doesn't Give Up"

"Moses and Aaron (had) performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land." (v.10)

If nine plagues had come from the hand of God into your life, one might expect that the warning about a tenth plague (the death of the firstborn) would be believed; but Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, so God strengthened Pharaoh in his hardness of heart. Evidenced by the fact that here for the fourth time we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12, 10:20, 10:27, and 11:10). 

God never hardens our hearts until we first harden it against Him. And even then, just like Pharaoh, God gives us plenty of opportunities to change. Yet, there comes a time when God will no longer strive with man but instead, gives him over to his own folly. In this case, the loss of the firstborn of all Egypt. Moses delivered God's final request to Pharaoh to let His people go or this plaque would surly take place. Sadly he did not.

Many people have loved ones who have hardened their hearts toward God. They have knowledge of God but they do not recognized Him as their LORD and Savior. To you I say, take comfort in the fact that God will continue to pursue them, give them every chance to change. And like Moses, we must not give up, but continue to deliver God's message, even when it seems that NOTHING could persuade them, and trust in God to break through - no matter what it takes. 

Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy in our lives. Help us all to trust that all things are working together for your greater good. Amen.

The Truth: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah (Psalm 62:8) 

Exodus 10 "The Men May Go"

“…Go now you that are men, and serve the LORD; for that you did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.” (v.11)

Here in chapter 10, Pharaoh cunningly tries to get Moses to compromise and leave the women and children behind. But the demand given to Moses by God was, “let my people go” (Exodus 5:1). This demand was not the men only, but the women and children also, and all that were concerned in the service of God, and in keeping a feast to him: including their cattle.

This deception is an attempt to, not only break up the families but to gain leverage against Moses as well. Pharaoh would have most likely taken the women and children as hostages and held them captive awaiting his return. Because Moses did not take the bait, he was driven out of Pharaoh’s presence; by some of his officers, according to his orders.

Men, do not be deceived. Protect your families and your beliefs against all those who would seek to compromise them. Stand firm. 

The Truth: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness..” (Ephesians 6:14)

Exodus 9 “Lip Service”

“And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.” (v.27)

Pharaoh said, I have sinned; the Lord is righteous; I am wicked — These professions however were only produced by his fears: his heart was still untouched. His head recognized the power of God, but his heart was still hardened and unbelieving. 

The wicked confess their sins to their condemnation, but they cannot believe to obtain remission, sad. 

The Truth: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

Exodus 8 "Entreat The LORD For Me"

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice to the LORD.” (v.8)

This is the man who not long ago proudly said, "Who is the Lord? Who is Jehovah?" Now when he begins to know something of Jehovah’s power and justice, he is glad to procure Moses and Aaron to become intercessors to Jehovah for him. 

The word "entreat" in our text means intercede. This request by Pharaoh of Moses is the first sign of Pharaoh's willingness to concede. In doing so he acknowledged the power of Jehovah, “Intreat the Lord, that He may take away…”’). He acknowledged the power of righteous men’s prayers by calling on Moses to "intercede" for him to God. And, Pharaoh makes an absolute unreserved promise to “let the people go.”

So, when Moses prayed, God answered – and all the frogs died. But like many people who while suffering the consequences of their sin and turn to God in the moment, afterwards they forget the promise, so did Pharaoh. Once Pharaoh saw that he was clear of the frogs, he hardened his heart again, and did not let the people go (v.15). This becomes a familiar pattern with Pharaoh: so when he did not keep his word the first time, no doubt it became easier and easier to do the same thing again and again.

Better not to make a promise (vow) to God than to break one. Charles H. Spurgeon writes of this folly, “Pharaoh increased his guilt. His vows heaped up his transgressions. He forgot his promises; but God did not. They were laid in store against him.” As we continue through the next few chapters Spurgeon's words will become very evident.

The Truth: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4)

Exodus 7 "Pharaoh's Hardened Heart"

 "Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them (Moses and Aaron), as the Lord had said." (v.13)

In our passage, the Pharaoh's heart was too hard for the signs (rod/snake v.12 and river of blood v.20) to make much of an impression on it. He did not see that Moses had done much more than his own magicians could do and ignored the request of God.

This self-willed, obstinate man who persistently hardened himself against God, and resisted His all warnings (the ten plaques) would eventually choose to loose his first born son before giving into God’s request, to let His people go. 

Even today there are those who would rather harden their hearts and deny God, than admit He exists. For then they would have to admit their sin, and turn from their wicked ways, and that is just too much of a price for some to pay. They would rather choose darkness instead of light, evil over good, wrong over right, because it fits their own version of truth. If there is no higher authority than ourselves, then we accountable to no one and all things are acceptable. 

However, like the Pharaoh of Egypt who continue to deny God and did what was right in his own eyes, all men who do the same will eventually come to the end of God's grace in their life and experience His judgment. Better to call upon Him now while He is still waiting for you to repent, than to continue to harden you heart against His Spirit and go your own way.      

The Truth: “Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” (Proverbs 28:14)

Exodus 6 "God's Promises Through Moses To Israel"

 “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’” (vv.6-8)

Here in verses 6-8, this promise was given by God through Moses to the children of Israel. In the previous 5 verses God speaks only to Moses, as Moses was in need of encouragement himself. God now goes the extra mile to confirm this covenant with the children of Israel with His seven I will promises. In these seven separate I will promises, God basically said, “I’m going to bring you out of Egypt. You can count on Me to deliver you.” 

These promises were glorious to the nation, and are equally so in their spiritual application to us as believers today. At the end God concluded the promises to the nation by reminding them of His covenant making and covenant-keeping name, "I Am the LORD."

The response of the children of Israel was completely in line with their current circumstances, they did not heed the message given by Moses (v.9). Their centuries of slavery made them think like slaves instead of people of the covenant. Pharaoh was bigger in their eyes than God was. So sad.  

Today, many Christians find themselves in the same place. They find it hard to trust God and believe that He is for them. This is why Paul says we must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2). The children of Israel needed their minds renewed, and we do as well when we lose our focus. 

The Truth: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)