Tag: Egypt

Remember

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 14:1-4, 10-31; 15:1-2, 20-21 (day five)

Exodus 14:12  Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

The people of God were already showing signs of “memory loss”.  They had quickly forgotten about God’s power and faithfulness to act and protect them as they were being freed from Pharaoh’s captivity.

The Israelites had trusted God for their salvation (Passover) but were having difficulty in trusting God in their circumstances (wilderness).  The cloud and pillar were close and present, but these people became less aware because of the tension, stress, and uncertainty of their circumstances.

The promise of Psalm 46:10-11 becomes our prescription for understanding and security 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  We do well to remember God’s promises and power in the midst of our circumstances.

The “What” and the “Why”

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 12:1-14, 24-27, 13:8-9 (day five)

Exodus 12:26   “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’”

Exodus 13:8  “You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”

It is a great privilege for parents and grandparents to shape the faith of the next generation. Current research continues to affirm what the Lord knew thousands of years ago- that spiritual practices and patterns by parents and grandparents would indeed lead to questions and conversations with kids and teens.  Through these relationships, children will see and sense the urgency and priority of a vibrant and dynamic relationship with God.  So, what do our kids sense and see about our faith?  Does it cause them to ask “What” and “Why”?  Do we have meaningful answers from our own experiences and understanding?  Maybe an honest look at our practices and patterns as they relate to spiritual growth and strength would be helpful today.

A Jealous God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 12:1-14, 24-27, 13:8-9 (day four)  Verse 12 says, “…and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord.”  Egypt had many false gods.  In the midst of delivering His own people from bondage, God was delivering a message to Egypt as well.  Each of the plagues they faced dealt with one of their false gods.  For Israel, they were being introduced to God and learning who He was.  Through the plagues, they learned that God was a jealous God.  Later, in Exodus and Deuteronomy, the Israelites will know God even better.  Exodus 20:5 – “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,”  Deuteronomy 4:24 – “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”  Deuteronomy 5:9 – “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,”  Deuteronomy 6:15 – “for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God,”  It is a characteristic of our holy God…He will not share His glory with a false god.  Guard against the false gods in our culture…Our God is a jealous God!

Asssertive God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day seven)

It is not a picture of God that is familiar or comfortable.  Living on this side of the cross, we know the face of God’s mercy, God’s kindness.  It is a mistake, however, to think that the “God of wrath” is no more.  His patience is real, but the time comes when He becomes assertive in a terrifying way.  The plagues on Egypt in Exodus are that moment!  As we prepare for worship this morning, please read and reflect on these additional words from Scripture.

“The Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. . .YET HE WILL BY NO MEANS LEAVE THE GUILTY UNPUNISHED.”—Exodus 34:7.

“The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel.”—2 Thessalonians 1:7-8.

If we forget His assertiveness, do we really know Him?

Glory

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day six)

Exodus 8:9-10
Moses does something extraordinary. During the second plague Pharaoh pleads with him to go back and ask God to relent, in turn Moses says, “Tell me when. When do you want God to lift the plague?” Why would Moses do that? So that Pharaoh would know that there is no one like the God of Jacob.

The plagues were not an effort by God to convince Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free. God didn’t need plagues to do that. God had one purpose, to reveal his glory to the nations; the people of Egypt, the Hebrews, and countless others that would hear of the plagues. Everyone’s greatest need, including the Pharaoh, is to behold the glory of God. We are no different. Beholding the glory of God moves us from self-knowledge to desperation, from love to worship. In Pharaoh’s case, he would learn that there is no God like the God of Jacob; He alone builds and destroys nations.

God gave us his creation and His Word that we too might behold the glory of God. Do we? Do you?

Thus Says the Lord

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day four)  There was a common element in each of the plagues…each was introduced with “Thus says the Lord!”  God wanted Pharoah to know who he was dealing with.  Moses was a spokesman for the Lord.  God did not have to have Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but He chose to use him.  God is able to accomplish His work by himself, yet He chooses to use us as well.  What is our response to God when He calls?  Do we argue with God like Moses did or do we just ignore what God says, as if we didn’t hear Him?  Pharoah ignored God…he claimed he didn’t know Him so why should he obey Him?  Pharoah learned the hard way.  Moses was slow, but he came to trust God in faith.  (He made the Hall of Faith lineup in Hebrews 11!)  Trust God when He speaks…”Thus says the Lord!”

Walking By Faith

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 3:1-14 (day four)
God had known Moses all of his life.  He had been working in his life, preparing Moses for his assignment.  Now, after 40 years or so, Moses is going to meet God.  He has known of Him, but now Moses will not only be introduced to Him, but also asked to respond in faith.  It was not such an easy task to walk by faith.  Moses had all kinds of questions…excuses why he should not obey God.  Moses was dangerously close to rejecting God completely.  God had a task for him though…Moses was to not only lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he was to introduce them to I AM.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (I AM) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  By walking by faith, Moses gave an example to the children of Israel.  Who is following your example?

Who Am I?

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 3:1-14; 4:1-15  (day two)
“Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” vs. 11-12a

Notice God’s reply to Moses? He doesn’t answer the question that was posed, does he? Perhaps in a nod to how Jesus will counter the seeming unending questions from believers and non-believers alike, God carefully focuses Moses attention on what really mattered. There is a tremendous amount of hope in these two verses. God unequivocally states that who you are makes no difference to him. It’s not about you. Alone, you will not accomplish this task. But…GOD WILL BE WITH YOU! The task he is assigning to you is one that will happen with God’s help. Not of your design, skill, or effort, but by his grace and power through you. Has he called you to action? Rest assured he will not leave you alone to see it through.

Bitter, not bitter

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day seven)
“They made their lives bitter. . . in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.”-v 14.

God comes to people in trouble.  This is the gospel, the good news.  Life is often not fair.  People can be cruel.  Know anyone who is bitter about life?  Only God offers a way out.  The book of Exodus is both history (Israel) and symbol (church) of God’s actions/principles that set people free from slavery and misery.  Reading it, our eyes should see His offer of grace to us.  THEY were slaves in Egypt.  WE were slaves to sin.  He sent THEM Moses.  He sends US Christ.  THEY wiped the blood of a lamb over their doors and were “passed over”.  WE trust the blood of Christ on the cross and we are “passed over” as well.  Make no mistake, this book is not only about Israel.  It is about us and God’s promise to lead us out of bitterness.

Fear God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 1:8-22, 2:1-10 (day four)
Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?  Shiphrah and Puah were in a bad predicament.  Pharoah had ordered them as Hebrew midwives to kill all of the Hebrew boys in birth.  The penalty for disobeying Pharoah would certainly be death, but scripture says in verse 1:17 that “the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them… “  Their plan was to tell Pharoah that because the Hebrew women were vigorous, they delivered before the midwives could get there.  God was good to them.  Verse 21 says, “because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.”  These ladies feared God more than man.  Do we?  How many times have we failed to share a witness with someone because we were afraid of what they might think of us?  We fear the persecution, scorn, or ridicule of man more than we fear God and His command to share the Gospel.  May we overcome our fear and be bold in our witness…I love it when a plan comes together!