Over the past several days, I’ve been bombarded with numerous tasks and mounting work that has prevented me from posting here. There have been a couple days where I have fallen behind on my reading as well. Needless to say, I am certain I am not alone in the struggle of maintaining my commitment of reading each days passages.

Over the past couple days, however, I’ve caught back up to where I am supposed to be on the daily reading plan and though we’ve completed Exodus 23, I will only cover Exodus 1 through Exodus 19 in this post. These chapters depict the 400 years of Israel in Egypt and their struggles through the Exodus (or exit) from Egypt.

If you recall the great promises that God made to Abraham (and passed down through his descendants) in Genesis, you’ll see that in Genesis 15:13-14 God said to Abraham: “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” I point this out to remind us of the great promises God had made to the nation of Israel but more importantly to remind us how diligent and reliable God is in keeping His word. For as God had stated, the nation of Israel was in Egypt (as foreigners) for approximately 430 years before the Exodus which eventually occurs in Chapter 12.

We open up the book of Exodus being approximately 300 years after the close of Genesis and we see immediately that the nation of Israel had been blessed according to the promises of God. In verse 7 we read that “… the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.” It is no wonder the Pharaoh of Egypt sought to oppress the people of Israel as they are truly a numerous nation and can be quite a threat to the stability of Egypt’s power structure. Through the oppression of Israel, we see that Pharaoh would go to any lengths, even the cold murder of the children upon birth. Through fear of the Lord, it is shown that the midwives allowed births to continue without committing murder as Pharaoh had ordered. This leads us straight to Moses who was born and hid in the weeds out of fear for his survival when Pharaoh’s daughter (and servant’s) finds him and claims him. Ordering a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, Pharaoh’s daughter unknowingly pays wages to Moses’ mother to raise him. In turn, Moses eventually goes to live with Pharaoh’s daughter in the palace. Moses, however, is not swayed from the principles he is taught through his mother’s raising him. Moses was a Levite coming from the tribe of Levi and his life is covered throughout the book of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Over the next few chapters we see that Moses is chosen by God to perform God’s work in bringing God’s promises into reality.l

In Chapter 2 we see that Moses murders an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. Though Moses didn’t see anyone around when he committed this act and the Egyptian was buried, some how other Hebrew’s had known of the incident and eventually Pharaoh had learned of the same. With Pharaoh seeking to kill Moses, Moses fled to the land of Midian. Though not expressly written in the scripture, Midian was certainly a change in Moses’ lifestyle. Coming from a life in the Palace of Egypt to a desert land of shepherds, Moses was exposed to a necessary training for his use by God. It was during these years in the desert that Moses gained invaluable personal experience that he would have never seen in the palace of Egypt. We also see that Moses married a Midianite – Zipporah who was daughter of a priest named Jethro. Having a son, Moses name him Gershom. It was also during this time that the nation of Israel found themselves under increased oppression until their eventual cry out for help as Chapter 2 concludes.

It is here in Chapter 3, verse 10 that we see God call Moses to do His work by saying: “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Of course, as many of us deal with the same issue today, Moses was uncertain and lacked confidence in obeying the Lord. Moses made all sorts of excuses as to why he couldn’t or wouldn’t succeed in performing God’s work – forgetting that it is God who strengthens us and guides us to success. Eventually (Chapter 3 & 4), Moses is given the assurance of God’s divine power and assistance as well as being given the gift of working miracles and agrees to answer God’s call and return to Egypt. I think it is prudent to point out here that God re-commits to His promise that we reviewed earlier. Genesis 15:14 says: “But I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” In Exodus 3: 21-22 God clearly states to Moses that God “… will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

At one point we see clearly God’s continued command to serve Him. In Exodus 4:24 we read that “At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him [Moses] and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!’ So he let him alone.” This is a moment that we identify God’s relentless call for our service to Him and His commandments. As we identified in Genesis, circumcision was to be performed on all males who were part of the nation of Israel on the 8th day of their life. Why this was not done in the case of Moses’ son Gershom we do not know but what we do know is that Moses was being held responsible for his lack of faith and commitment to God’s commandment. As a result, Moses’ wife was forced to perform the action and thus God left Moses to live. As a side note, just this past Wednesday, we had a service at Clear Creek Community Church by Yancey Arrington that encompassed the Lord’s Supper and a very good overview of the Old Testament requirement of circumcision and how that has been replaced with baptism in the New Testament.

As Moses returns to Egypt, he is instructed by God that God will harden Pharaoh’s heart and that Pharaoh will thus not let the people go. In this instance, we see that it is God’s will for Pharaoh not to release the nation of Israel. Though ultimately God’s promise of relief for the Israelites will be seen, the overarching theme here is that God wants the nation of Egypt to know who is Lord over all the world for they do not know Him. Simultaneously, the nation of Israel is reminded of God’s power, mercy, and everlasting Love. Of course, initially the results of Moses and his brother Aaron approaching Pharaoh yielded unfavorable results for the Israelites. Thus the people of Israel looked unfavorably upon Moses who quickly blamed him for the increase in oppression they were subjected to. Moses turns to the Lord and shows his faith and dependance on God as Chapter 5 concludes. God replies with a reiteration of His covenant with the people of Israel and assures Moses that He will deliver the people to Himself.

Thus, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh continuously as the Lord commands them and the Lord continuously hardens Pharaoh’s heart. The Lord brings the ten plagues upon the land of Egypt. The first being the turning of the water of the Nile into blood. The water was turned to undrinkable water and the fish of the water died. Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated the miracle through magic and though the Nile was a lifeline to the Egyptians, Pharaoh remained of hard heart and the Bible indicates that the Nile remained that way for seven days. Interestingly enough, the Egyptians worshiped gods associated with the ten plagues. The Nile was associated with three specifically who were Khnum – guardian of the Nile, Hopi – the spirit of the Nile, and Osiris – the giver of life.

The second, third and fourth plagues occur in Chapter 8 with frogs being associated with the Egyptian god of Heqt – the god of resurrection and childbirth. Through the second plague, Pharaoh’s magicians could imitate this miracle through their own methods but Pharaoh still promised to let Israel go. Changing his mind, the third plague was brought upon Egypt. The dust of the earth turned to gnats or mosquitos and when the magicians could not imitate this miracle, they believed in the Lord. The magicians urged Pharaoh to stop opposing Moses and give in. The fourth plague consisted of flies that filled the houses and lands of Egypt. The flies covered men and beasts but did not cover the Israelites separating them from the Egyptians as God’s favored people.

Chapter 9 contains the fifth, sixth, and seventh plagues of livestock deaths, boils, and hail respectively. The plague on cattle impacted Egyptian’s gods of Hathor – the mother goddess, Apis – bull god, Ptah – creator god and symbol of fertility. The Egyptian’s livestock died in enormous numbers while none of the Israelites livestock dies. Another indication that Israel is separated from the Egyptians as God’s chosen people. Through the plague of boils, we see that there was vast impact to the Egyptians as even the magicians were affected. We do see though, that before the seventh plague of hail, God issues a warning to those who fear Him and allow them to protect their livestock should they believe in the Lord. Of course, no hail fell on the Israelites or anywhere in the land in which they lived (Goshen).

It is in Chapter 10, verse 7 that we see the people of Egypt have been convinced. They raise their voices up to Pharaoh and indicate that Egypt has been ruined. So Pharaoh indicates that he will let Moses and Aaron go worship their Lord and request to know which of the people will go. Moses indicates that all of Israel will go. Young, old, sons, daughters, flocks, and herds will all go serve the Lord. Pharaoh was not allowing this though and indicated that only the men should go, casting Moses and Aaron out of his presence. So the Lord brought forth the plague of locusts. The locusts ate every green leaf that existed in the land of Egypt. Finally, in verse 16 Pharaoh confesses “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore, forgive my sin please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” Thus, Moses pleaded with God and God removed the locusts from the land of Egypt but God also hardened the heart of Pharaoh and Pharaoh did not let the people go. So the Lord brought forth the plague of darkness over the land and there was pitch black everywhere but over the Israelites. For three days the Egyptians suffered in complete darkness and Pharaoh eventually caved to the power of the Lord. Pharaoh cast out all of Israel and declared to Moses: “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.”

In the final words with Pharaoh, Moses declares, as the Lord instructs him, that every man and woman shall be given gold and silver jewelry from their neighbor prior to their departure from Egypt. In the midst of this discussion, Moses declares that the Lord will bring one more plague upon the land of Egypt in which the first born of all, men and beast, shall die at midnight. This passage indicates that there will be a clear distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites as it states that “… not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. As God had stated, Pharaoh did not listen and his heart was hardened and therefore he did not let the people go. Thus initiating the passover.

The passover is a very symbolic event that not only represented Israel’s deliverance out of a land of which they were greatly oppressed but also a symbol of our deliverance. The selection of a lamb without blemish or defect, the sacrifice of this lamb and the placing of it’s blood on the doorposts, the feast or celebration, and the death of the firstborn. All performed out of faith in the Lord our God, all performed by His direction and through such, the deliverance out of a hostile world. This is just as we have been called by God to His Son Jesus. Jesus, as our lamb without blemish or defect, His sacrifice for our sins, His blood washed over our heart and soul, and the Lord’s Supper – a celebration of His providing power. We are delivered out of a hostile world and we are delivered from our chains of sin, from our slavery of the sinful nature within us. Exodus 12:14 states “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

And thus, the tenth plague came upon the land of Egypt. All the firstborn were struck down by the Lord except for those who kept His commandment. There was a great cry throughout the land, and the Egyptians gladly provided gifts of gold and silver as they had been told for they feared the Lord. The nation of Israel departs Egypt and the haste of their departure is why we see unleavened bread commonly eaten. The last section of Chapter 12 references the institution of the passover and the rules associated. Any who partakes in the passover shall abide by the rules of the nation of Israel and maintain the commandments of the Lord becoming one of the natives. In addition, the Israelites’ firstborn were to be consecrated to God as a reminder of the redemption brought forth by the death of the Egyptians’ firstborn. Jesus was consecrated to God in accordance with this law as He was Mary’s firstborn.

We see that God continued to be with the Israelites, providing them both direction, guidance, and protection. Through the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, the Lord maintained His presence with them. These pillars did not depart from before the people (verse 22). When the people of Israel reach the Red Sea, the Lord indicates that Pharaoh will pursue them. As a final demonstration of God’s endless power over all the world, He leads the people of Israel through the Red Sea. Parting the waters and creating a “wall of water” on both sides of the people, until drawing in the Egyptians, the Lord returns the water to it’s normal condition, drowning all of the Egyptians pursuing them. This not only declared the power of the Lord to all of the nations in that region but it reassured the people of Israel that they feared the Lord and believed in Him and Moses as His servant.

I believe it to only be right for Moses and hopefully all of Israel to sing the Song of Moses captured in Chapter 15. The proclamation that “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” The Lord is all we need for the battles of this world. He is our salvation and through Him we have no fear. All else in this world is under His power and glory. All that we do should be for Him and His honor. As stated in Exodus 15:26 “… ‘If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” He protects us, fights for us, and heals us when we fall. We must continue in faith and trust Him.

Unfortunately, the Israelites lost sight of these principles when they faced the hardships of the desert life. The Israelites in Exodus 16 begin to think of the luxuries they had in Egypt rather than trusting in the Lord and what He would provide them. We do see here that God declares He will “… rain bread from heaven …” for the people to eat. As the Lord declared it, the Lord provided it. Here, God also provides quail for the people. The Lord continued to provide the bread (manna) for the people, each day for the 40 years they were in the wilderness without interruption. The Sabbath was maintained and instead the people gathered twice as much on the sixth day in honor and observance of the Sabbath. In Chapter 17 we see that God continues to be with the people of Israel when He provides water for them from a rock. Moses diligently obeys the Lord and follows His guidance. You can see however, that Moses is getting frustrated with the Israelites impatience and trust as he, on multiple occasions, states “Why do you test the Lord?”

In Chapter 17 we find that Amalek comes out and fights with Israel at Rephidim. We see that Joshua enters the battle with Amalek and through Moses, God protects the Israelites. As a result however, God declares in verse 14 that He “… utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses builds an altar and reiterates this through a statement that “The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Lastly, we come to Chapter 18 where Moses encounters his father-in-law and the two exchange information. The biggest point of note in Chapter 18 is that even in Moses’ greatness as a servant of God’s, God utilized human advice to provide Moses with great counsel on the improvement and efficiency of his nations organization.

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