Is the amazing story of God's deliverance of His people through his faithful obedient servant Moses.
Exodus begins with Israel in slavery and Egypt wary of the growing number of Jews. So worried was Pharaoh that he commanded every baby boy born from the Jewish slaves be put to death.
Exodus begins with Israel in slavery and Egypt wary of the growing number of Jews. So worried was Pharaoh that he commanded every baby boy born from the Jewish slaves be put to death.
Baby Moses.. Now enters stage left. Baby Moses was the son of a Jewish slave and so to avoid Pharaoh's 'kill all baby boys edict' was placed him in a basket in the Nile.
He is then discovered by Pharaoh's daughter who takes Mose as her own. She raises him as a prince of Egypt and uses Moses real mother as his.. Super Nanny.
He is then discovered by Pharaoh's daughter who takes Mose as her own. She raises him as a prince of Egypt and uses Moses real mother as his.. Super Nanny.
Next we are told of Moses as a man observing the abusive treatment of a Jewish slave and in response Moses murders the Egyptian responsible for this abuse and buries him in the sand.
This of course is discovered and Moses must run for his life where he ends up in the land of Midian.
In Midian Moses interviews and gets the job of sheep tender for a man named Reuel and in the benefits package gets Reuel's daughter Zipporah for his wife.
In the years to follow the mistreatment of the Jews in Egypt is heard by God and God is faithful and loving in his response to these children of faithful Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob. This is God's chosen people, and they will be freed.
This of course is discovered and Moses must run for his life where he ends up in the land of Midian.
In Midian Moses interviews and gets the job of sheep tender for a man named Reuel and in the benefits package gets Reuel's daughter Zipporah for his wife.
In the years to follow the mistreatment of the Jews in Egypt is heard by God and God is faithful and loving in his response to these children of faithful Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob. This is God's chosen people, and they will be freed.
The Burning Bush..
While tending sheep one day Moses enounters a burning bush where the Lord speaks to Moses from the fire. The bush burns but is not consumed ..
From this burning bush Moses is called to free the people from slavery in Egypt. Very understandably Moses is shall we say overwelmed. He is first of all wanted for murder, and second of all he is just one man, and third of all.. he don't speak so good'r.
But God shows Moses signs of his power turning his shepherd staff into a serpent, and back again into a staff. Then God turns Moses hand leprous and then heals it instantly. God assures Moses it will be through him He will free his people.
While tending sheep one day Moses enounters a burning bush where the Lord speaks to Moses from the fire. The bush burns but is not consumed ..
From this burning bush Moses is called to free the people from slavery in Egypt. Very understandably Moses is shall we say overwelmed. He is first of all wanted for murder, and second of all he is just one man, and third of all.. he don't speak so good'r.
But God shows Moses signs of his power turning his shepherd staff into a serpent, and back again into a staff. Then God turns Moses hand leprous and then heals it instantly. God assures Moses it will be through him He will free his people.
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Still Moses is hesitent to God's directive to the point where God decides to kill Moses!
I do not understand how this next sequence played out it must have been a cultural thing.. BUT to save Moses his wife Zippy cuts off the foreskin of one of their sons and throws it on Moses feet to save him. Nuff said about that.
Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to EGYPT we go.. So Moses after cleaning off his feet... is obedient and goes to Egypt, tells the leaders of Israel God's plan to deliver them from slavery and then it's off to see Pharaoh.
Pharaoh is neither amused or impressed by Moses demands to release his Jewish slave workforce go. So Moses shows signs from God that are truly supernatural versus the low budget sorcery of Pharaoh's magicians who should have stuck to pulling rabbits out of hats.
In response to Moses intial attempts to free his people Pharaoh ups the demands on his Jewish slaves. They must now make more bricks BUT without stray.
Pharaoh is neither amused or impressed by Moses demands to release his Jewish slave workforce go. So Moses shows signs from God that are truly supernatural versus the low budget sorcery of Pharaoh's magicians who should have stuck to pulling rabbits out of hats.
In response to Moses intial attempts to free his people Pharaoh ups the demands on his Jewish slaves. They must now make more bricks BUT without stray.
In response to Pharaoh's Bad Attitude.. God send plagues on Egypt..
The Nile and all the water in Egypt turns to blood.
There are infestations of flys, gnats, frogs, locusts, sickness in the livestock BUT
after each time when Pharaoh would agree to release the Jewish people, he would then change his mind as God hardened his heart so in the end there was no question this was the very Hand of God.
The Nile and all the water in Egypt turns to blood.
There are infestations of flys, gnats, frogs, locusts, sickness in the livestock BUT
after each time when Pharaoh would agree to release the Jewish people, he would then change his mind as God hardened his heart so in the end there was no question this was the very Hand of God.
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Free at last..
The final plague on Egypt was the death of all the first born children in Eypt while this death curse was 'passed over' all the Jews who were obedient to God's command through Moses to put blood on the doorframes of their homes.
The result of this night of death in Egypt was Pharaoh now insisting Moses and the whole blessed (ironically truly blessed) people of Israel to leave, and DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT!
Of course Pharaoh's hard heart hardens again and he sends his chariots and army in HOT PURSUIT of the recently freed nation of Israel... all the way to (insert drum roll here) THE RED SEA.
The final plague on Egypt was the death of all the first born children in Eypt while this death curse was 'passed over' all the Jews who were obedient to God's command through Moses to put blood on the doorframes of their homes.
The result of this night of death in Egypt was Pharaoh now insisting Moses and the whole blessed (ironically truly blessed) people of Israel to leave, and DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT!
Of course Pharaoh's hard heart hardens again and he sends his chariots and army in HOT PURSUIT of the recently freed nation of Israel... all the way to (insert drum roll here) THE RED SEA.
Caught between a Wet Sea and a Hard (hearted) Pharaoh, the on the run with no place to go Jewish nation calls collectively to Moses..
HELP!
In response Moses prays to God the same God we have access to today, and God parts the Red Sea using Moses and his shepherd staff and a conduit for the very power of God.
HELP!
In response Moses prays to God the same God we have access to today, and God parts the Red Sea using Moses and his shepherd staff and a conduit for the very power of God.
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THE RED SEA CROSSING
The Sea parts.. the ground is dry and taking the short cut like a bat out of.. of.. a bat cave traveled the nation of Israel. It had to be a sight like none other walking between these great walls of water with the army of Egypt on your tail.
NOW THAT TAKES FAITH.
Of course once they had crossed the chariots of Egypt were on their way in hot pursuit UNTIL.. Moses lowered his staff, and the walls of water came crashing down on them.
NOW THAT TAKES FAITH.
Of course once they had crossed the chariots of Egypt were on their way in hot pursuit UNTIL.. Moses lowered his staff, and the walls of water came crashing down on them.
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If a Miracle Happens Long Ago.. Did it Still Happen?
Much like the saying.. if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound?
While this was obviously the very hand of God that could be denied by no one except today by a number of scientists, athiests, and secular humanists who would have denied the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea even if they witnessed it themselves then were soaked by the splash as these walls of water came together. As they say.. DENIAL is not just a river in EGYPT
For me I find the ability to believe in the miracles, providence, FAITHFULNESS, and love of the one true God easier than for those above mentioned cynics. To have doubts and to not understand is part of the human condition, but for me TO BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A GOD.. that takes a whole different kind of faith.. or as I once read to believe that .. you have to be a special kind of STUPID.
Much like the saying.. if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound?
While this was obviously the very hand of God that could be denied by no one except today by a number of scientists, athiests, and secular humanists who would have denied the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea even if they witnessed it themselves then were soaked by the splash as these walls of water came together. As they say.. DENIAL is not just a river in EGYPT
For me I find the ability to believe in the miracles, providence, FAITHFULNESS, and love of the one true God easier than for those above mentioned cynics. To have doubts and to not understand is part of the human condition, but for me TO BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A GOD.. that takes a whole different kind of faith.. or as I once read to believe that .. you have to be a special kind of STUPID.
The Wilderness Family of God .. This newly freed hungry nation of Israel stomachs collectively growled as all their paper bag lunches with PB&J sandwiches packed and oreo cookies when they left Egypt were now depleted. AND with no nearby exits to a fast food drive-thru windows capable of handling 600,000 Jews they cried out to Moses.. WE'RE HUNGRY LET'S GO BACK TO EGYPT!
In response God sends
In response God sends
- Quail & Manna Happy Meals for everyone!
- and for something to drink.. water from a rock.
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A little later on in Exodus 17 there was the battle with the Amalekites. The Israelites were attacked, and so in response Moses stood on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” while Joshua fought the Amalekites.
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. So as Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset and so Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. WHEW!
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. So as Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset and so Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. WHEW!
Exodus 19, At Mount Sinai.
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him giving him The TEN COMMANDMENTS Exodus 20
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him giving him The TEN COMMANDMENTS Exodus 20
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Exodus 28, The Priestly Garments
including.. 42 “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Exodus 28, The Priestly Garments
including.. 42 “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.
Exodus 32, The Golden Calf
1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” 18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.”
19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.
19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.
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20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.
21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” 22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” 22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
Exodus 33
Moses and the Glory of the LORD
12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Exodus 34, The New Stone Tablets
The Radiant Face of Moses
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.
Moses and the Glory of the LORD
12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Exodus 34, The New Stone Tablets
The Radiant Face of Moses
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.
