9:00 AM Sunday School
MOSES & the DELIVERANCE from EGYPT
There is hardly a more exciting man in the whole Old Testament. Man of God and man of sin. God used him to perform some of the most outstanding miracles in the Bible. God also used him to organize and establish the nation of Israel.
1. SLAVERY & OPPRESSION (Ex. 1:1-22)
3. MOSES’ 1ST 40 YEARS (Ex. 2:10)
4. MOSES’ 2ND 40 YEARS (Ex. 2:11-25)
5. THE BURNING BUSH (Ex. 3:1 - 4:17)
6. MOSES’ RETURN TO EGYPT (Ex. 4:18 -31)
7. PHARAOH’S DENIAL (Ex. 5:1 - 7:7)
9. BLOOD, FROGS, LICE & GNATS (Ex. 7:14 - 8:32)
10. DISEASE, HAIL & LOCUSTS (Ex. 9:1 - 10:20)
12. DEATH OF FIRSTBORN (Ex. 11:1-11; 12:29-36)
13. PASSOVER PREPARATIONS (Ex. 12:1-10, 22, 46)
14. PASSOVER CELEBRATION (Ex. 12:11-14, 21-28)
15. UNLEAVENED BREAD (Ex. 12:15-20, 34, 39; 13:6-7)
16. DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT (Ex. 12:37-51)
17. DEDICATION OF FIRSTBORN (Ex. 13:1-16)
18. TO & AT THE RED SEA (Ex. 13:17 - 14:20)
19. THROUGH THE RED SEA (Ex. 14:21 - 15:21 )
MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999 252 W. State Street , Doylestown , PA 18901 215-348-8086 jerry@schmoyer.net |
1. SLAVERY & OPPRESSION (Ex. 1:1-22)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
A visitor to Israel saw a shepherd bringing flocks into their fold. All walked on their own but one, which he carried because it had a broken leg. When asked how the leg got broken, the shepherd said he had broken it himself because the sheep was stubborn and kept wandering away from the shepherd. With its leg broken, the sheep was dependent on the shepherd for everything: food, water and transportation. The shepherd said that by the time the leg healed the sheep will have learned to trust the shepherd and obey him, not wandering off on its own any more.
You know, God does that same thing to His people – only we don’t learn so quickly! He’s been doing that throughout history, up to today. A clear example of it is with the Jews in Egypt.
INTO EGYPT No nation on earth is so mixed up with the history of Israel as Egypt. From patriarchal times through today, Egypt and Israel have been closely connected. When God formed a nation from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph He told them to stay pure, to not marry unbelievers. This was necessary for Him to grow a nation of His people. Instead they intermarried with the Gentiles around them and their faith in God fades as they brought idols and other gods into their families. Thus God had to intervene to save them from themselves.
Through Joseph and the famine, He had all 70 of them move into Egypt (Exodus 1:1-5). There they had to stay pure and marry only among themselves, for the Egyptians were very prejudiced towards them and would not intermarry among them. This was God’s loving way of teaching them to obey and depend on their Shepherd (Hebrews 12:5-10; Rev. 3:19). It was, in effect, a “time out” for the nation of Israel. The prodigal son had to go into the world to learn his lesson the hard way. Often we must, too.
IN EGYPT Eventually Joseph and his contemporaries died (Ex 1:6) and the nation of Israel grew (Ex 1:7) from 70 to 2 ½ million over 400 years. God has said He would make a great nation of them, and God always keeps His promises. However Egypt wasn’t a vacation spot but a furnace to refine and mature them. They were there to grow spiritually. When they didn’t God kept gradually turning up the heat more and more.
PLAN 1: LABOR CAMPS When a new dynasty arose in Egypt which was antagonistic to outsiders, the Jews felt the brunt of his persecution (Ex 1:8). In the Bible, Egypt is a type, a picture of the world system under Satan’s (Pharaoh’s) control. It is the place of material wealth and power (Heb 11:26) and fleshly wisdom and false religion (Ex 8:7; I Ki 4:30). It appeals to the flesh with its leeks, garlic and onions. God’s manna is not found there. It persecutes God’s people (Deut 4:20) and is eventually overthrown by God’s judgment (Ex 12:29; 15:4-7).
Pharaoh took out his hatred of foreigners by oppressing the Jews. Of course Satan is always behind anti-Semitism just as he is behind persecution of Christians. If he can’t get at God directly, he attacks those He loves – His children.
To keep them from growing larger (and joining with enemies of Egypt to overthrow the government) he put them to hard slave labor (Ex 1:9-14). This would weaken them, discourage and disorganize them, and also help his economy. God allowed it to happen to the Jews so they would turn to Him for help. He did it for their benefit, because He loved them (Psalm 119:67, 95).
God was behind all this. He even foretold that they would be slaves in Egypt (Gen 15:13). In order to cut loose the bonds that bound them to Egypt, the sharp knife of affliction must be used. Pharaoh was God’s instrument in weaning them from the Egyptian world and helping them take up their own place as God’s people.
A little girl was traveling on a train, romping up and down the isles, free from care and worry. Suddenly the train entered a long, dark tunnel. She was terrified and immediately fled to her father’s lap as fast as she could.
All of us sometimes need a tunnel to send us back to God’s lap. Slavery in Egypt was such an event, only they didn’t run back to God. Even so, God kept His promises and they continued to grow stronger (Ex 1:12), so Pharaoh came up with another plan.
PLAN 2: SUBTLE GENOCIDE Pharaoh turns up the heat by ordering the midwives to kill all male babies (Ex. 1:15-16). It was a simple matter of shutting off their breath while being born and having them born dead. By killing the males there would still be women as slaves to work for Pharaoh, but no soldiers to fight against them. Obviously Satan was behind it all – trying to destroy the line of Christ (the same as he had babies killed in Bethlehem).
The plan didn’t work, though, for the midwives put God before Pharaoh and didn’t kill the male babies (Ex. 1:17-19). God limits Satan’s opposition, and uses it for His purposes (Romans 8;28). God controls and limits Satan’s efforts against His people, using it for His purposes. Here is was to cause the Jews to turn back to God.
The people continued to increase, as He had promised, and the midwives were rewarded by God for their obedience to Him (Ex. 1:20-21). But Pharaoh/Satan isn’t done yet!
PLAN 3: OVERT GENOCIDE Then Pharaoh turned up the heat, ordering that every male born be cast into the Nile River. Gradually the pressure gets worse, all to get the Jews to turn back to God. God allows painful experiences to come into the lives of His children when they drift from Him so they will turn back to Him.
One day a workman was stuck on a high ledge of a building. He needed to get the attention of someone below so they could send for help for him. He called and no one heard. He dropped a little pebble but it fell unnoticed. A larger one wasn’t felt by the person it hit, either. He kept dropping larger and larger objects until finally someone felt the hit and looked up. That’s what God was doing to the Jews. He was dropping larger and larger objects on them so they would look up and He’d get their attention. He does that today, to us, as well. How big an object does He have to drop to get your attention? Could He be trying to get your attention about something now.
Unfortunately it’s going to take another 80 years before the Jews finally look up. Then they will be ready to obey God and follow Moses out of Egypt.
Please understand that not all suffering is discipline from God. You should know in your heart if things are right between you and God or if there is something there that needs attending to. His Spirit will convict you of anything wrong. Make sure you don’t rationalize, justify or explain away what His Spirit may be convicting you of. If He isn’t showing you anything then there is nothing to confess, but if there is something between you and God please confess it now. Remember, “All things DO work together for the good of those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28).
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Sometimes God makes everything as dark as possible just so the light may shine through more brilliantly. Ishmael must faint before Hagar is led to water. Joseph must go into slavery before his family can be preserved. Daniel must go into the lions den before being made the number two man in the nation. The early church had to be persecuted before it grew. We must face trials to stretch and mature us. The same was true when Moses was born.
MOSES HIDDEN FROM PHARAOH Amram was a grandson of Levi and Moses’ father (Ex 6:20). He was the 3rd generation in Egypt, making Moses the 4th – when God said He would deliver them (Gen 15:16). Jochebed was Moses’ mother (Ex 6:20). They trusted God and lived normal lives in times of extreme danger and trials. They married and started a family while in slavery and male babies were being killed. They hid Moses for 3 months after he was born, for he was something very special about him (Ex 2:2).
This brought a great risk to everyone in the family, including Aaron (4) and Miriam (12). Still they his him by faith (Heb 11:23). Most of their neighboring Jews were apostate and idolatrous, but Amram and Jochebed had a strong faith in God. Maybe their faith wasn’t as ‘glamorous’ as stopping lions mouths or marching through fire, but it was just as great. It wasn’t a once-and-done, spur-of-the-moment faith. It was a planned activity every minute of the day and night for 3 months. As God was allowing the pressure to come on the Jews to turn them back to Him (see article 1), some were responding and returning to God.
But before long they could no longer hide their baby. As he grew he cried louder and louder. Jealous neighbors were sure to find him, or spies among them would hear, or even a periodical house search by the Egyptians would find him. Thus they came up with a another plan. This didn’t mean they lost faith, for using common sense doesn’t mean we don’t have faith. Being reckless and presumptuous isn’t a sign of faith. Faith does overcome carnal fear, but not common sense. They made some wise decisions and didn’t ‘test’ god by foolish actions. We drive carefully, watch our health, lock our doors and look both ways before crossing streets. Is that lack of faith?
MOSES PROTECTED BY PHARAOH What a plan they came up with to preserve Moses! At first it seems strange to put him in a basket and float him in the river (Exodus 2:3-4), but when we look at their thinking it seems to make perfect sense. Let’s develop the story and see what was really happening.
The ‘basket’ they made was woven reeds. I guess this makes Moses the first ‘basket-care’ in the Bible – but not the last! The word translated ‘basket’ is really the Hebrew word for ‘ark.’ It is also used of Noah’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle – both places of protection and deliverance. That it was covered over with tar and pitch is also significant. ‘Tar’ was mud from the Nile which was very hard when dried. ‘Pitch’ was mineral tar, waterproofing. It is the same word used for ‘ransom’ in the Bible - a picture of Christ’s atonement. Thus this ‘ark’ is a picture of Christ’s atonement as being our deliverance and redemption. What a beautiful picture this is, but there’s more. Many years ago the director of Standard Oil Company read this verse and knew that where there was tar and pitch on the surface there was oil underneath. He drilled there and found much oil, with 30 wells soon functioning there. That shows the amazing accuracy of the Bible.
Back to our story. Notice the text says Miriam put him in the reeds by the bank – right where he’d be found! He wasn’t floated out in the water, as if this would hide him. He would drown or starve to death – and people would certainly hear his screams when he got hungry. No, there was more to the plan than that.
For one thing, this was the only branch of the Nile that wasn’t infected with crocodiles and therefore safe (Ps 78:12-13). Thus baby boys thrown into the river weren’t drown, they were eaten by crocodiles – as an offering to their crocodile gods. Isn’t it ironic that the way God chose to save Moses from death in the Nile was by putting him into the Nile? The world and Satan’s instrument of death became God’s means of life – just like with the cross and Jesus. Worldly wisdom says to run from the Nile, but God says “I’ll use their evil for my own purpose” (Romans 8:28). Maybe what He is doing in your life doesn’t seem to make sense, that He is leading you in the wrong direction. Trust that He knows what He is doing! That’s what Miriam did.
Miriam risked her own life to help those in her family. That’s how families need to work together. She wasn’t watching to see if he was found, the plan was to put him where he would be found. They put the basked in the path where they knew Pharaoh’s daughter would come about that time that day. They wanted her to find Moses!
It seems she was coming for a religious ritual (Ex 2:5-6) – that isn’t where she’d go for a bath, it was way too muddy and public a place. Moses was crying and making a real racket. When she looked at him she knew he was Hebrew. She could probably tell by the material he was wrapped in. Also when a servant changed his diaper to stop the screaming, they could see he was circumcised – something the Egyptians abhorred and never did. But then why did she keep him, why not throw him back into the river as her father commanded?
Here’s where Amram and Jochebed’s plan and faith came in. They must have known something of the princess. Some say they worked on the grounds and that’s how they knew her habits and their way around. They knew she had a kind heart, and trusted God to touch it. They knew that Egyptians believed strongly in life after death, based on the record of their deeds done during life (one of Satan’s oldest lies). One of the most important considerations was how they treated helpless babies. To make it even more certain, and to explain the reason they chose to put Moses in the Nile to be found, we need to understand some Egyptian history. The great Egyptian pharaoh Sargon I of Akkad, had been placed in a backed of reeds covered with pitch and put him in the river. Pharaoh found him and raised him as he own son, to be the next Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s daughter knew the story, and would see history repeating itself.
The plan worked! Major events in history often turn on small hinges. Because of this act God’s promises and prophecies will be kept. Pharaoh’s daughter will be heart-broken and Egypt’s power crushed. The Jews will be delivered from Egypt to their own land.
Now here’s why Miriam was waiting. A diaper change is a start, but a hungry baby won’t stop screaming until fed. Babies were nursed in those days – there were no bottles. The princess and her servants were unable to feed the baby, so what to do? Up steps Miriam, who as a servant working there would be permitted access to the area, and offers a wet nurse to solve their problems (Ex 2:7-9). Who better than a Hebrew wet nurse, for an Egyptian woman wouldn’t want to nurse a Jewish baby, and it was against the law!
Notice how marvelously God works? Moses is saved alive, his own mother is allowed to keep and raise him, and she is actually PAID by the Egyptian government to raise him! Is that wonderful or what? God does take care of His own in times of adversity, despite what enemies may try to do (Prov, 15:6). Trust Him to take care of you in your situation, no matter how impossible or ridiculous it may seem! God takes care of basket cases today, too!
3. MOSES’ 1ST 40 YEARS (Ex. 2:10 )
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
The US Army Naval War College has a course known as “Command and Decision” to teach officers how to make decisions. One class was talking about the importance and difficulty of making sound decisions under pressure. A visiting officer from a small foreign navy was sitting in one day and spoke up: “You talk about decisions. I was 700 miles to sea in my destroyer when I received a dispatch from my country which said, ‘We have just had a revolution. Which side are you on?’”
That decision has major consequences. Naturally one would want to go with the winners. Moses had a similar decision to make. He could choose to go with the winners (Egyptians masters) or loses (Jewish slaves). The decision had eternal consequences.
MOSES’ DELIVERANCE (TO EGYPT) Moses was raised by his mother, Jochebed, and father, Amram, until he was about 4 years. At that time he was weaned and turned over to Pharaoh’s daughter to be raised. Still, those years formed the rest of his live (Prov 22:6). The faith his family instilled in him lasted and was the basis for his life-changing decision. The first few years in life are very important in planting the seeds for future spiritual growth and faith.
It was actually the Princess that gave him the name “Moses” (Ex 2:10) meaning “born of the Nile God” in Egyptian but “drawn out of the water” in Hebrew. Years later the passive “drawn out of the water” will change to the active “the one who draws out of the water” as Moses leads the people through the Red Sea. From the delivered he will become the deliverer.
MOSES’ DEVELOPMENT (IN EGYPT) The rest of the first 40 years of Moses’ life were spend growing up in Egypt (Acts 7:21-22). Moses was raised in Thebes, a city of splendor with the finest cultural benefits in the world. He had the best education and was raised to be the next pharaoh. Hebrew tradition, Josephus and archaeology fill in some details about these years. It seems Moses was an excellent athlete, perhaps the best in Egypt. He had a very pleasing personality. He mastered Egyptian hieroglyphics in 40 years, a feat which usually takes a lifetime. He also could read and write in Akkadian and Ugaritic cuneiform. He was a fast learner, brilliant, a real genius in many areas. He would go on to write more of the Bible than any other person, 25% of it (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and Job). He was reputedly a tremendous public speaker and also very advanced in mathematics (Egypt was very advanced in this, even beyond some things we can do today) and music. He designed some of the great cities of Egypt. He had a great reputation as a soldier, too.
Reportedly the Ethiopians conquered north Africa and moved against Egypt. One by one Egypt’s four armies marched to face them, and one by one they were destroyed, leaving Egypt open to their advance. It seems Moses gathered the remnants of these armies and the national guard, organized them, and marched against the Ethiopians and defeated them. Of course this made him a great public hero! The world was at his feet!
With the possible exception of Solomon, no other Old Testament person was superior to Moses in training or ability. He was one of the greatest men who ever lived, a real genius. Charleston Heston in the “Ten Commandments” actually falls short of the real man!
In order to correctly understand all that was involved in Moses’ decision, we need to know something about Pharaoh’s family. First of all, “Pharaoh” is a title, not a name. It’s like ‘king.’ It actually means ‘crocodile’, which was a sacred animal. Not too long after Joseph and his family moved into Egypt a group of foreigners called ‘Hyskos’ took over key government positions. They were disliked, actually hated, by the Egyptians. Ahmose I drove them out and brought power back to the Egyptians. His son, Amenhotep I, was the ruler who put the Jews into slavery. Hatred for all foreigners (non-Egyptians) was strong.
Thutmose I, his son, was Pharaoh when Moses was born. He didn’t have a son by his official wife, just a daughter Hatshepsut. He did have sons by concubines, but they weren’t in line for the throne. Hatshepsut, who found Moses when she was a young princess, was forced to marry one of the concubine’s sons, who was called Thutmose II. She was a strong woman who was the real power behind the throne but she, like her mother, failed to produce a son as an heir. She had a daughter, Nefrure. It seems she actually poisoned her husband and took over the throne herself. The people followed her because she was of royal blood and a strong leader. She was the first great queen in history, superior to the better-known Cleopatra.
She legally adopted Moses and groomed him to be the next Pharaoh. His only rival for the throne was an illegitimate son of Thutmose I. Because of this Hatshepsut hated this person and did all she could to keep him from the throne. History will prove that he, Thutmose III, would go on to be one of the greatest Pharaoh’s in Egyptian history but Moses was more gifted and far more popular. All he needed was to marry Nefrure to make him legally the Pharaoh. History tells us that he deeply loved her and she greatly loved him. According to Jewish law he couldn’t legally marry and take the throne until he was 40, and Hatshepsut was holding the throne open for him until he reached that age. Now the state is set for Moses’ decision.
When he turns 40 Moses must decide. Why not be Pharaoh and help the Jews that way? The Egyptian Pharaoh was also the priest of Heliopolis, trained in the Temple of the Sun there. To be Pharaoh would be to present himself as a god and to lead the people in worship of false gods. It was all the world had to offer to the maximum: all the wine, women and song, versus faithfulness to the God of the Hebrews which his family had taught him about during the first few years of his life. Take all the world had to offer and be a god, or turn it all down – what a choice?
MOSES’ DECISION (FROM EGYPT) Moses’ faith in God caused him to turn it all down (Heb. 11:24-26). It’s one thing to decide to give it all up to follow God when you are on the bottom, but to do so when you are on the top is much greater. And we think we have some hard decisions, some things to give up for God! Moses looked beyond the day to the future. He made his decision based on what would be best 100, 1,000 even 1,000,000 years from then. That’s an important part of maturity, not doing what is easiest and most pleasurable for the moment but what is best for eternity.
Moses wasn’t satisfied with just having salvation, he was committed to living for God in this life. That’s the difference between salvation and discipleship. Salvation is free for us, Jesus paid the price and all we do is accept the gift. Discipleship does cost us everything. It means giving up our own pleasure now to serve Jesus and do what He wants, to live for His kingdom not ours. Salvation is for eternity, discipleship determines who we will live for in this life. God wants and needs us to accept salvation but then make the commitment to be disciples
Moses knew he had only one life to live, and NOTHING he could gain in this life for himself was better than serving God and living in light of eternity. He now has no regrets. What about you? Whose kingdom comes first for you? When you get to heaven, will you have regrets if you keep living as you are? NOW is the time to do something about that.
4. MOSES’ 2ND 40 YEARS (Ex. 2:11 -25)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Have you ever watched a child trying to get a knot out of its shoelace? He will pull here and there with all his might. What happens? He just makes it worse. Only when he realizes he can’t do it on his own will he turn to a parent for help and then the know will come out. This is true in our lives, too. It was true of Moses as well.
Moses made a great decision to give up the throne to Egypt as well as the woman he loved so he could stay faithful to God. But then he developed a knot in his life. The more he pulled at it the worse it got until, finally, he took it to his heavenly Father for help. Let’s see how this all developed for Moses.
A NEW KNOT We are always very vulnerable to defeat after a great victory. Following through on his commitment to serve God and identify with His people, Moses acted quickly. He killed an Egyptian who was beating a Jewish slave (Ex. 2:11-12). He knew it was wrong for he looked around to make sure no one saw him and he hid his body in the sand to cover up his sin. He wanted to help God, but wasn’t doing it God’s way with God’s strength. It was Moses’ plan and Moses’ strength, and it backfired!
Moses was guilty of murder, as was Paul (both leading writers and theologians, Moses of the Old Testament and Paul of the New Testament). Covering up the sin didn’t eradicate it. Man has been trying to cover up his sin from Adam on. Think of David. Think of President Nixon. Sin leaves its mark.
A NEW DIRECTION Moses expected the Jews to respond to his actions on their behalf but instead rejected his sacrifice for them (Ex 2:13-14; Acts 7:27-28). Israel isn’t ready for deliverance. The heat has to be turned up higher. Both the nation as a whole and Moses have lessons to learn before they are ready to be in God’s perfect will.
Thutmose III, Moses’ long-time rival for the throne and the new husband of the woman Moss loved (and whom loved Moses), found a perfect excuse to get rid of Moses – kill him for murder (Ex 2:15; Acts 7:29). Somehow word had gotten to him of Moses’ rash act. Sin will find you out. No one is immune to its consequences, no matter what you have given up to follow Jesus. Moses’ decision to follow God puts him in the position to be trained and taught by God, and that’s next on the agenda for Moses. To save his life Moses runs away from Egypt.
A NEW COUNTRY Geographically there weren’t many directions for Moses to go. He fled southeast to the area of Mt Sinai, at the bottom of the Sinai Peninsula (Ex 2:15). It is very likely he knew the area, having traveled there to oversee Egyptian mining operations in the area. Also, he may have been aware that there were those living in the area who were followers of the true God. He would end up living with one such family.
A NEW FAMILY Again Moses has an opportunity to help the oppressed (Ex 2:16-17). This time there is no murder, no looking around and hiding his actions. Male shepherds are taking advantage of some female shepherds, using water they drew from the well to water their sheep. Now he has nothing to gain personally, he just does it because it is right.
God uses this to bring him into the family of Reuel, a follower of God (Ex 2:18-20). He married his oldest daughter, Zipporah (Ex 2:21). He finds himself with a new family (Ex 2:22), new country and new opportunity. God isn’t punishing him, but educating him.
A NEW EDUCATION At 40 years of age, after all he has gone through, Moses now finds himself a shepherd. For the next 40 years he will lead a herd of sheep. Little did he know that at the end of those 40 years God would have him leading a people worse than sheep – the Jews. They will come to this same place. God is now teaching him the geography of the area so he will know it when he leads the Jews there. God is beginning a new phase in Moses’ education.
Moses has lots of knowledge, not God is teaching him wisdom. He needs to learn to do God’s work God’s way. With all his responsibilities and activities in Egypt, Moses probably didn’t have much opportunity for time alone with God. Now he will have 40 years in the wilderness, traveling from water hole to water hole with his sheep. Perhaps God allows us to find ourselves in a desert so we will spend more time with Him, learning what He wants to teach us.
All the luxuries of Egypt are gone in the desert. It is hot, sandy, dry and rocky. Old patterns and habits need to change for Moses to be used by God. He must learn to be content with just God. He had no way of knowing he would ever leave the desert. He must have assumed, and rightly so, that he would be there the rest of his life.
Obviously God is trying to teach Moses patience. In Egypt he went ahead on his own and killed the Egyptian. Now he will spend 40 years, from age 40 to 80, his most productive years, taking care of sheep in a desert. For 40 years he will learn patience. All together God is training Moses for 80 years. God is quite patient, in no hurry at all. We must be the same.
All of this must have been very humbling for Moses. From the grandeur of Pharaoh’s court and the adulation of the whole nation, now he sits alone with sheep. What will it take for God to humble us? He can’t use us until He does.
The lessons Moses must have learned during those years! He got his B. S. degree (Back Side of the desert). Moses really learned about God during that time. Reuel must have taught much. God used him to write down the story of Job during this time. What lessons that must have had for him!
A NEW BEGINNING God is a God of new beginnings. If you have failed God, I mean REALLY failed Him, God will use that to train and mature you for a new beginning. Even if you haven’t failed God, He will put everyone He is going to use through a personally tailored training program. God found a desert for Moses (Deut 32:10). He will find a desert for you, too. There God will spend time with you, train you, teach you patience and humility, and prepare you for upcoming service. In doing so He’ll give you a new start, a new change.
He did this with Moses and Abraham, with Jacob and David, with Peter and with Paul. Abraham became a ‘friend of God’ after being a coward and liar. Jacob started as a ‘chisler’ but became the ‘Prince with God.’ Jonah was very disobedient, but was used to lead the greatest revival ever. David was an adulterer and murdered, but then became ‘am man after God’s own heart.’ Peter denied Jesus, then led the early church. Paul murdered Christians, then became the greatest missionary ever.
He’ll get the knot out of your life when you let Him. Then he’ll teach you what you need to keep that from happening again. Jeremiah 18 explains how God, our great Potter, will take a vessel that is misshapen or marred and remake it into a thing of beauty. He doesn’t reject it and throw it away, but transforms it by His hands into something beautiful and useful. Let Him do so with you.
5. THE BURNING BUSH (Ex. 3:1 - 4:17)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Recent Gallup polls show that nearly everyone in America believes in God, even the vast majority of those who have no church involvement. But look at our country: the crime, hatred and morality show that belief in God is far different than obedience to God.
That is nothing new today. It was true on Moses, day too. In fact, it was true of Moses himself. He firmly believed in God, but he didn’t always obey Him. God had put Moses in a desert for 40 years, turning up the heat on him so He would follow God. At first it didn’t seem to be working. The same could be said for the Jews in Egypt.
THE LOCATION Moses is now 80 years old. He spent the first 40 years of his life in Egypt learning the world’s knowledge and skills. Then he spent 40 years in the desert shepherding sheep learning God’s wisdom. Now its time to put it to work. God meets him as he is shepherding near Mt Sinai (Ex 3:1).
THE BUSH It wasn’t unusual to see a dry, dead bush burst into flames in the hot, dry air of the desert. It would flair up and soon be gone. But when the one Moses was watching kept burning and burning it got Moses’ attention (Ex 3:2). Of course, it doesn’t take much to get one’s attention when sitting around the same desert day after day (Ex 3:3). When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Moses really started paying attention (Ex 3:4). “Here I am,” Moses answers. That’s what God is looking for from Moses: availability. Moses looks at his ability but God doesn’t care about our ability, only or availability.
THE REVELATION As a sign of respect, Moses was told to remove his sandals (Ex 3:5). Where ever God is, the place is holy. Moses was in the presence of God almighty. It was His Shekinah glory that was in the bush, no ordinary fire. Then God reminds Moses of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex 3:6) and says He is ready to fulfill them at this time (Ex 3:7-9). God’s people had forgotten Him, but He hadn’t forgotten them. Things were bad for them, but things were about to get much worse. God would deliver, but they had to be willing to let Him.
THE COMMISSION God tells Moses that He will now do what Moses tried on his own to do 40 years earlier, but this time it will succeed (Ex 3:10). “I will send you,” God says. This is why success is guaranteed. All He needs is for Moses to be available for God to work through him. It’s not Moses’ ability but availability. To God, any bush will do. It’s the fire in the bush, not the bush itself. “My grace is sufficient,” God says. “You tried in our own strength and failed, Moses. Now let me do the work through you.” But Moses isn’t so willing.
He should have said, “You bet I’ll go! I’m sorry about last time and I appreciate another change. This time I’ll trust you, just use me!” But Moses doesn’t say that. At least you’d have thought he’d say “At last! It’s about time I get to do something worthwhile, after all the time I’ve wasted watching these sheep!” He doesn’t say that, either. What he does say, in effect, is “No.”
Was he afraid to take the risk, choosing instead to stay safe and secure in a familiar environment? Had he lost zeal and become apathetic, in a rut? Was he thinking only of himself and no longer willing to sacrifice to help God’s people? Was he afraid of rejection again?
THE OBJECTIONS 1. Who am I? Moses’ first response is to question God’s choice (Ex 3:11). He doesn’t oppose God delivering the Jews, but why did God choose Him to do it? God tells Moses that He will be with him (Ex. 3:12). It’s not that God needs Moses, it’s that Moses needs to do this as the next step in His growth and spiritual maturity. God doesn’t ask Moses for His sake but for Moses’ sake. Moses needs to do it for himself. The next step in his training it practice trusting God for more than a few sheep.
2. What’s Your name? Then Moses, still thinking only of himself, says he is afraid he won’t know what to say if the people don’t believe that God sent him (Ex 3:13). It sounds very similar to the excuse we often use to not witness. God reminds Moses that He is in charge (Ex 3:14-22). He explains that He is Almighty God of the universe. He has everything planned and is in charge of each detail. His plan will be done!
3. What if they don’t believe? “What if” is the worry-wart’s motto. Moses is worried, fearful, thinking only of himself (Ex 4:1). What if he is rejected again? Moses hasn’t forgotten the pain of last time. In response God gave Moses 3 signs that he could use to convince the Jews that God was with them (Ex 4:2-9). First Moses, rod turned into a snake. Then God told him to pick it up by the tail. Anyone familiar with snakes, as Moses was, would know you pick it up behind the head so it can’t turn and bite you. Moses obeyed God and the snake turned back to his rod. Second God turned Moses’ hand leprous – a deadly and incurable affliction. Moses knew he was as good as dead – a slow and painful death where he’d have to avoid any contact with any other people the rest of his life. God then healed His hand, showing His greatness to Moses. Finally god turned some water to blood. What more would Moses need to convince the people that God was with him. It truly wasn’t Moses’s ability God wanted, just his availability.
4. I can’t talk well. Moses still thinks of himself, underselling the gifts God has given him and focusing on his ability (Ex 4:10). He was a good speaker (Acts 7:22). God reminded Moses that He had made Moses’ mouth and could put the necessary words there at the necessary time (Ex 4:11-12). Moses would only have to trust God. Moses was just to be the vessel, the mouthpiece. Unfortunately Moses hasn’t learned his lesson yet.
5. Send someone else. “Do it, but use someone else!” Moses says (Ex 4:13). “Stop asking me so I won’t have to keep saying ‘No.’” This is the final stray. God gets angry, very angry at Moses (Ex 4:14-17). He’s done trying to work with him. “OK,” God says, “I’ll let you off the hook and send Aaron instead.” Moses must have felt relieved, but it turned out that was a tragic mistake for Moses.
For one things, Moses is now in God’s permissive will, not His perfect will .For another thing, Moses lost the priesthood to Aaron and his family. Instead of Moses’ sons and descendants being the priestly family, that privilege went to Aaron.
Worst of all, Moses had to put up with Aaron’s blunders and sins. He eventually got so disgusted with him that he went ahead and did the speaking himself anyway. He could talk – he just didn’t want to!
THE LESSON What about you? Does God have someone He wants you to speak to? Is there something He wants you to do? What excuses are you using? Are you too busy? Do you think you won’t know what to say? Are you afraid of being rejected or criticized? Is there some past hurt you haven’t gotten over? Are you fearful - a worry wart? Remember, God wants your availability, not your ability. He doesn’t care about ability – He can give or take that at will. He wants availability. He won’t force us against our will. He wants us to be willing.
6. MOSES’ RETURN TO EGYPT (Ex. 4:18 -31)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Have you ever moved from one area to another? You get a big opportunity for a new job or home. You pack and get ready to move. Your good-byes are said. You are all packed and ready to go. Last minute details are completed. You are anxious and excited with anticipation. However there is also a sadness, a hesitation about cutting the ties with good memories and experiences. Feelings are mixed. Finally it is time to go. The door changes on one chapter in life and opens on another one. That is what Moses was experiencing when he left Midian and started back to Egypt.
LEAVING MIDIAN Moses has spent the first 40 years of his life in Egypt learning worldly wisdom. Then he spent 40 years in the desert learning God’s wisdom. Now he is ready for the last 40 years of his life. Moses has said his good-byes to his father-in-law Jethro (v. 18). God had gotten things ready in Egypt, for Moses’ rival for the throne, the one who would have killed him if possible, was dead (v. 19). Moses then packed up his family and started back to Egypt (v. 20). Before he left, God reassured Moses that He would be with him so Moses could perform the miracles God showed him. God also said that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart so he wouldn’t let the Jews go. This must have confused Moses, but He trusted that God knew what He was doing. The same is true for us today. God will ultimately have his will done (v. 22-23).
Notice that there is no arguing from Moses. He obeys God. He leaves and follows. But there is some area where Moses is not ready. He knows it. God knows it. Now that he has committed to follow and serve God, God must remove this problem.
TRIP TO EGYPT When Moses, Zipporah and their two sons stopped for the night, God struck him down so he almost died! It might seem strange that god would do this. Here was Moses, His servant, obeying and giving up all to follow Him and serve God. Why would He kill His obedient servant? Because there was an area in his life where he wasn’t obedient. It was no little thing, or God wouldn’t have done this. At least God didn’t kill him instantly, but gave him in effect one final chance.
SIN UNTO DEATH I John 5:16 says that if we see someone committing a sin not leading to death he should pray for that person, but that if it is a sin unto death we shouldn’t pray for the person. The question is, what is this sin unto death? Nothing is mentioned, here or anywhere in the bible. If it is that serious, why doesn’t God say what it is? Because it isn’t any one (or group of) sin. It is an attitude to any sin we won’t give up, a willful and continual refusing to give up the sin, even after God prods and disciplines. The result is death. Examples of this abound in the Bible. King Saul died for his sin (I Chron 10:13), so did Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) and Corinthian believer who partook of the Lord’s Supper with unconfessed sin (I Cor. 11:30). All of these were believers and didn’t lose their salvation. God just removed them prematurely, as He does the branch that doesn’t bear fruit (John 15). Why does God do this? For one thing, He is showing the seriousness of sin and that He is a holy god. For another thing, He wants to keep the sinning believer from more sin in life (he won’t lose salvation, but will lose reward). Also removing him keeps him from having a negative influence on others. Actually it is mercy. It’s like pulling a football player who is fumbling, causing penalties, and hurting his team and his reputation. That is mercy for all, not punishment. That’s what God does for His people.
MOSES’ SIN So what was Moses’ sin? He listened to his wife! No don’t misunderstand, that in itself isn’t a sin, but when a man listens to his wife when he knows God is telling Him the opposite, then it is sin. Evidently when Moses’ first son was born he was circumcised, as God had commanded the descendants of Abraham. For whatever reason Zipporah didn’t like this and seemed to put her foot down when the second son was born. As a result he was never circumcised. Zipporah had a rebellious attitude. She wasn’t following God or Moses. Still, Moses, as the head of the family, was responsible. Man is the leader of the family and God directs the family through him. When Satan removed Job’s whole family he left his wife, who told him to curse God and die.
Don’t think that all women lead all men into sin! It’s just that women are more subjective, more feeling-oriented than men. While that adds richness and meaning to life, feelings can be misleading. That’s why God says men are to be leaders (I Timothy 2:11-15). Men are more rational, objective. This doesn’t make them superior to women, but it does mean in the are of judicious decision-making men as a whole are usually better able to consider just the facts and consequences of each. Zipporah emotionally didn’t like to see circumcision done to her son, even though on day eight suffering was very minimal. Maybe Moses wasn’t the father he should have been. Maybe he was gone with the sheep too much. How much of Zipporah’s rebellion against God and Moses was her free will choice to sin and how much was because Moses failed as a father and husband, we will never know. Still, it was up to Moses to be the leader in his family and guide them in obedience to God (I Timothy 3:14). No matter how much Zipporah would nag, pout, get angry, etc., Moses is responsible to obey God. Since this had been going on since the birth of the second son, and that could have been as long as 35 years ago, it’s natural to assume that Moses and Zipporah didn’t have very much of a loving relationship between them. She couldn’t respect a man she could manipulate. He couldn’t honor a women whom he allowed to control him.
MOSES LIVES! Moses is too sick to perform the circumcision so he tells Zipporah to do it. Local superstition, though, said that if she didn’t carry out her husband’s dying wish she would be cursed for life. Thus she did it, not for Moses or for God, but for herself. When she was done she threw the foreskin at Moses’ feet in rejection of what circumcision stood for. She called Moses a “bridegroom of blood.” Then she stomped out in anger. The implication was that “If you want to be with me and you sons you’ll stop this nonsense and come back home with me. Then you better straighten up! You owe me big time and you know I always collect!”
Moses could either have his wife and sons or His God. He had to decide between the two. Jesus says this will happen when we follow Him (Luke 14:26). This was actually the second time Moses gave up a wife to follow and obey God.
THE REST OF THE STORY Zipporah did return home with the sons. It seems her father tried a reconciliation about a year later but nothing came of it. God did provide Moses with a fine wife later, however. Still, it doesn’t seem he saw his sons again. That was the sequence of his sin of compromise, of giving in to ‘keep peace’ with Zipporah.
God did provide for Moses, though. Long before this ever happened He had started Aaron on a trip towards where Moses was. Seeing his brother again must have really encouraged and helped Moses. The Jews in Egypt were glad to see him and responded well to his message from God and the miracles he did. God came through again!
7. PHARAOH’S DENIAL (Ex. 5:1 - 7:7)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Have you ever had a day that was a bad day, I mean a REALLY bad day? We all have ordinarily bad day, but I’m talking about a bad day to beat all bad days? The day starts off like all others but soon you can’t believe all that’s happening. It’s more like a dream than reality – EVERYTHING seems to go wrong. Can you think of a day like that?
Moses certainly could. In fact his terrible day is recorded in Exodus 5.
MOSES TALKS TO PHARAOH (5:1-4) The big day for Moses finally arrived, the day he was to go before Pharaoh and ask for the Jews’ freedom. This was the culmination of the first 80 years of Moses’ life. God had trained him in human wisdom for 40 years and then in spiritual wisdom for the next 40. All his training, gifts, natural ability and God-given talent came to this point. He’s ready to obey and serve God. He even lost his family over this commitment. So Moses gives Pharaoh God’s message. To make it easier for Pharaoh to comply, God starts out only asking for a short leave of absence so the Jews could go worship to their God. God is making it as easy on Pharaoh as possible.
The Pharaoh now is Amenhotep II who was a very great pharaoh. God chose the greatest nation in the world up to that time, and at its peak in greatness, to challenge. This will all the more show His greatness. The stronger our adversaries, the more impossible humanly speaking our situation, the more God is glorified as He provides and protects His people.
Amenhotep II had never met Moses, but he certainly had heard of him! His father, Thutmose III, was Moses’ rival for the throne of Egypt and the hand of the princess Nefrure in marriage. Moses beat him out in both counts. His grandmother Hatshepsut had kept the throne open for Moses, but he turned it down instead of worshipping false gods and being worshipped as a god. When Moses murdered an Egyptian for beating a Jew, Thutmose III sought to kill Moses. Now, with Thutmose dead, Moses’ life was no more in danger, but it is easy to understand why Amenhotep II hated this man whom his own mother chose over his father!
Thus Pharaoh had no desire to let the Jews go to worship their God. He didn’t want to recognize their God’s claim on them, and he didn’t want to let them stop working. Also, he didn’t want them to organize as a group for they were far too large and he didn’t want them to turn against the Egyptian rulers.
Why didn’t God immediately destroy Pharaoh right away? It would have made things quicker and easier, but that isn’t important to God. He wanted to give Pharaoh more opportunity to obey. He was willing to let Egypt (and Satan) take their best shot at His people so that His deliverance would be all the more obvious. This would bring more glory to Him. Also, the Jews weren’t weaned off Egypt yet. God knew they weren’t ready to leave. Oh they were tired of the misery Egypt brought, but that didn’t mean they were ready to follow God wherever He led them.
PHARAOH TALKS TO THE JEWS (5:5-14) Not only did Pharaoh say the Jews couldn’t go to worship their God, he then makes a proclamation that the Jews would have to gather their own straw to make bricks. This was a real hardship on the Jews. God is allowing this so the Jews will want to follow Him completely. This day isn’t going the way Moses had figured, for God has assured him of success and told him that Pharaoh would let the Jews go free. God didn’t say that it wouldn’t happen right away. Moses needed patience to await God’s deliverance, as do we today! The day isn’t over, though, it’s going to get worse!
JEWS TALK TO PHARAOH (5:15-19) The Jews went to Pharaoh asking for relief. They were told this was all Moses’ fault for asking them to go worship their god.
JEWS TALK TO MOSES (5:20-21) Instead of trusting God to bring their deliverance, the Jews complained and blamed Moses. All he is doing is obeying God. When we follow God we, too, will get blamed for things that are less than perfect, even by (especially by) God’s’ own people. There’s never been a godly leader who hasn’t experienced this.
The day started out with so much promise. Now Pharaoh is against Moses, and so are the Jews. God is using this to stretch Moses’ faith. How does he respond to this test?
MOSES TALKS TO GOD (5:22-23) Moses does the right thing in going to God with his problems, but he does the wrong thing in that he blames God for it all! Moses’ old weakness, impatience, is still active. He was impatient when he killed the Egyptian. He’ll be impatient and strike a rock twice and thus not be able to enter the Promised Land. God is working on Moses to help him develop patience. Tribulation brings patience (Romans 5:1-5). You see, there are real advantages to our disadvantages!
So Pharaoh dumps on the Jews who dump on Moses who dumps on god. How does God respond? With lightning and judgment? No, God has what Moses and the Jews lack – patience.
GOD TALKS TO MOSES (6:1 - 7:7) First (6:1-9), God reaffirms His plan and purpose to Moses. He reassures him that He is in charge and control of it all. He promises ultimate deliverance from Egypt. What God does is give Moses promises to claim. That’s where we need to turn when things are tough for us, when we have a bad day. God has promised all we need!
Second (6:10-13), God reaffirms His charge to Moses to lead the people out and tells him to go back to Pharaoh and insist on their release. Nothing has changed, Moses is just impatient.
Then God inserts a genealogy of Moses and the Jews (6:14-27). I think He does this at this point to remind all that He is in sovereign control over history, as is seen in the lives of Moses’ ancestors. Also, He is composing a passenger list of those who will leave Egypt as proof that the Jews will leave Egypt.
Third (6:28 - 7:7) God again repeats His orders to Moses and His command for Moses to carry them out. Moses must be patient and trust God. That is lesson number one in serving God! Moses is willing to obey God and do what God says (7:6). Now when he talks to Pharaoh it isn’t’ with the assurance everything will work out right away, but with the knowledge that Pharaoh will use the might of Egypt and do all he can to keep Moses from carrying out God'’ orders. Moses must trust God’s promise of deliverance and act on it!
It’s been an awful day for Moses, but God uses it for His glory and Moses growth.
GOD TALKS TO US
Today, too, God expects us to patiently trust God and His promises no matter what happens. That means we must know God’s promises. Memorizing promises that apply to your situation is wonderful ammunition to fight whatever comes your way. Writing the promises out and putting them in prominent places is another good idea. Make sure you know and use God’s promises – it’s our only refuge when we have a bad day. And any day without God’s promises is a bad day!
PROMISES
ALL OUR NEEDS METFor the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Ps. 84:11
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt. 6:33
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
ANSWERED PRAYERAsk and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Mt. 7:7
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Mt. 21:22
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:13
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it John 14:14
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. John 5: 14:15
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
You will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:l2
BLESSING THROUGH TRIALSThose who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Ps. 126:5
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem . Isa. 66:13
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
You know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:3
No temptation/testing has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted/tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted/tested, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield. Ps. 91:4
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him & honor him. With long life will I satisfy him & show him my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16
FAITHFUL WITNESSWhoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Mt. 10:32
I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. I Samuel 2:30
FEARThe Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Ps. 118:6
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4
"I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." Gen. 26:24
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Gen 15:1
"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Ex. 14:13
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid. Mt. 14:27
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the King of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and fight our battles. 2 Chron. 32:7-8a
FORGIVENESS OF SINFor if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Mt. 6:14
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me. Jeremiah 15:19
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
GUIDANCEFor this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Ps. 48:14
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Ps. 32:8
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isa. 42:l6
NEVER ALONE"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Gen. 28:15
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:38-39
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
PEACEAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7
REST
Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt. 11:28
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
REWARD FOR PATIENCE, FAITHFULNESSBut those who hope (wait upon) the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:31
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Ps. 40:1-3
SECURITY IN CHRISTI am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9
STRENGTH FOR WHATEVER COMESI can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9
Your strength will equal your days. Deut. 33:25
He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Isaiah 40:29
VICTORY OVER TEMPTATIONNo temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Satan is a deceiver who will do everything and anything to draw people from God and to himself. Nature provides a fitting illustration of Satan's tactics. Observers tell us that in the spring of the year the cuckoo bird can be seen mimicking the flight of the sparrow hawk. Flapping, gliding, and soaring like a natural predator, this impostor frightens songbirds and distracts them to the point that they leave their nests unattended. She then moves in and devours an unguarded egg, leaving one of her own in its place. Satan counterfeits God to distract mankind so he can swoop in to destroy and kill. This has always been his way. We see it clearly in the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, which was really a confrontation between God and Satan.
GOD’S MIRACLE (7:8-19) God had already set Moses up with 3 miracles, which He had used at the burning bush to prove to Moses that He was with him. Moses then used them to show the Jews God was with him. But when Moses spoke to Pharaoh, his request was flat denied. Now he uses the first ‘sign,’ the walking stick to a snake and back to a stick, to show Pharaoh that God is really with him.
SATAN’S MIRACLE (7:11-12) Instead of believing, though, Pharaoh sent for his “wide men and sorcerers” and they were able to do the same miracle. We know the names of the two leaders as Jannes and Jambres. Their reputation went so far as to be known by Paul, so he called them by name in II Timothy 3:8 when talking about false teachers who imitate the product of godliness but instead bring uncleanness and death.
As we said before, Pharaoh is a picture, a type of Satan as Egypt pictures the world which tries to hold God’s people in bondage and oppression. Pharaoh or his wise men don’t try to discredit Moses’ miracle for they know it is genuine. What they do instead is to duplicate it to depreciate its value. They counterfeit it. Perhaps they thought Moses, whom they had taught 40 years earlier, was using the same power source they were using to bring this about.
Note that this was not a trick, a slight-of-hand deception. Satan has the power to do miracles. In the past he used the forces of nature such as storms and lightning (Job 1:16) and strong winds (Job 1:19). He instantly took Jesus to the top of the temple when he was tempting Him. Paul was confronted by this same power in Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:8).
In the future Satan will give the Antichrist power to do signs and false wonders. “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,” II Thes 2:9. “He (the Antichrist) performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (Revelation 13:13-14).
Not only with the Antichrist do miracles, but the False Prophet as well. “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” (Rev 19:20)
In fact, in the last days “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-- if that were possible.” (Matthew 24:24)
It’s not just a few select ones that will be used by Satan to do miracles, Satan will use many to confuse and deceive. “Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:22-23)
Satan’s purpose in all this is to get attention away from God and onto himself, so he is worshipped instead of God. He counterfeits God and His words in order to deceive man (Rev. 12:9,11). “For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:13-14). The closer it appears to the original, the more dangerous a counterfeit is.
Nature provides us with an illustration that closely parallels the insidious tactics employed by our adversary. According to scientists, Arctic polar bears feed almost entirely on seals. To enjoy such a meal, they sometimes resort to a cunning bit of trickery. If the hole through which the seal gets his food is near the edge of the ice, the polar bear will take a deep breath and swim under water to its exact location. Remaining below the surface, he will then make a tiny scratching sound, imitating a fish. When the charmed seal hears this, he dives in for a quick supper, only to find himself suddenly entrapped in the huge, hungry embrace of his predator. One of the ways Satan does this with people is by counterfeiting God’s miracles. He has power and he uses it to get people to follow him.
Today the occult is in and is growing rapidly. There are over 200,000 registered witches in the U.S. and many more are not registered. In fact, the famous witch, Sybil Leek, who now resides in Melbourne Beach, FL said in the New York Times that there are over 8 million witches in the world today.
GOD’S MIRACLE IS GREATER (7:12) So if Satan has power equal to God’s, how can any of us be safe from him? Even thought Satan has power, God’s is greater! It must have been exciting to watch Moses’ serpent slither over to the many serpents the smug wise men had created – and swallow them all whole! “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4). That was an obvious statement of who was greatest!
PHARAOH’S CHOICE (7:13) Now its up to Pharaoh to decide if he will submit to God’s power or not, and he doesn’t. He wanted an excuse to not believe in God, and his wise men gave him one. No matter that they didn’t have as great power, it was enough to distract glory from God and give man an excuse to not follow God. Satan is a master at that strategy today, too. He throws an inferior scientific ‘theory,’ called evolution, against the pure facts of creationism but that is enough to give many men an excuse to keep from giving God the glory due to him.
A boy and his father went to the zoo. While there they saw a lion in a cage. The boy was really frightened while the father was not. The boy was frightened because he saw the lion. The father was not frightened because he saw the cage with the lion in it. Which do you see? The lion has power and can cause fear if you focus on him. Jesus defeated him on the cross, thus the bars. When we look to Jesus we can have peace. Satan has power, as seen in the life of Job. However he can’t do anything without God’s approval, also seen in the life of Job. When we stick close to our Shepherd, we are safe from the onslaught of the lion who would devour us. Don’t fall for Satan’s tricks. Just because something miraculous or supernatural happens doesn’t mean it is from God. Test the spirits. Just wait for God’s power to ‘eat up’ Satan’s counterfeits!
9. BLOOD, FROGS, LICE & GNATS (Ex. 7:14 - 8:32 )
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
In Virgil there is an account of an ancient king who was so unnaturally cruel in his punishments that he used to chain a dead man to a living one. It was impossible for the poor wretch to separate himself from his disgusting burden. The carcass was bound fast to his body, its hands to his hands, its face to his face, its lips to his lips; it lay down and rose up whenever he did.
Repulsive as that sounds, it shows how man is locked up with sin. We may not think of sin as that disgusting, but it really is. We get locked into our sin and get so used to it that it doesn’t seem bad to us any more. God tries to open our eyes, but we don’t see what we don’t want to see. That was true of Pharaoh and the people in Egypt in Moses’s day as well as today.
God’s electrocardiogram of the human heart says it is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:10). God’s solution is a new heart - being ‘born again’ (John 3:3). Sinful man must see his sin and need for cleansing. Man, like Pharaoh, has a sinful, stubborn heart and refuses to turn to God no matter what (Exodus 7:14).
THE NILE TURNS TO BLOOD (Plague 1) To alert Pharaoh to his sinful condition God turned the Nile to blood (Exodus 7:14-15). The Nile was the heart of Egypt. Egypt was the Nile. The country was 10 miles wide and 750 miles long, following the Nile River. The Nile brought life. There was no rain water so the Nile provided water for drinking, cleaning, industry and agriculture. The priests called the Nile “Father and Savior of Egypt.” Many gods were associated with it. Khnum was the guardian of Nile sources. Hapi indwelt crocodiles and was the spirit of the Nile. Crocodiles were very special. In fact, ‘Pharaoh’ means ‘crocodile.’ Osiris was one of their greatest gods, the god of the underworld, and the Nile was his bloodstream. Neith was a warlike goddess who took special interest and care of the large fish in the Nile. Hathor protected smaller fish. Fish were an important food source. Without them starvation would come to many people. The Nile was worshipped daily (as when Hatshepsut found Moses). One reason Moses rejected Egyptian priesthood was because he would have to worship the Nile. The main time of worship of the Nile was yearly when it began to rise (mid June), for that fertilized the whole land and assured crops for another year. Parades through the streets (like Mardi Gras) celebrated this. It seems this was what was going on when the water turned to blood. What a way for God to take on the greatest gods of Egypt and show His superiority! The Nile, bloodied with the blood of Hebrew babies, now turns to blood (7:16-21). What an obvious way of showing that judgment on sin requires blood!
However the Egyptian magicians were able to also turn water to blood. What was needed was to turn blood to water, but God didn’t allow them to reverse His judgment (7:22). This was enough, though, to give Pharaoh the excuse to reject that he wanted (7:23-25).
FROGS (Plague 2) To the Egyptians, frogs were a blessing. When the Nile receded in late August frogs were left behind. They were a sign of fertilization completed and thus they were worshipped. Hapi was the god who controlled the waters and deposits on land. Heqt was a goddess composed of a woman’s body and frog’s head. He was the symbol of resurrection and fertility. Frogs were so sacred they couldn’t be killed – even accidentally, under punishment of death. So God, in effect, said, “If you want frogs, we’ll give you frogs”! And He did (8:1-6).
Frogs came everywhere! Small green frogs, distended toads the color of mud, mottled frogs like bloated vegetation, frogs motionless, frogs that leaped into the laps of screaming children, frogs like droppings of much, frogs trailing their slime after them, frogs that died and bred death. Like a blanket of filth the slimy wet monstrosities covered the land until men sickened at the continued squashing crunch of the ghastly pavement they were forced to walk upon. If a man’s feet slipped on the greasy mass of their crushed bodies, he fell into an indescribably offensive mass of putrid uncleanness, and when he sought water to cleanse himself, the water was so solid and soiled from frogs that he got no cleansing there. There were frogs in the dough when they tried to beak bread. There were frogs in their beds when they tried to sleep. There were frogs in their hair, clothes – everywhere. For a people who worshipped cleanliness this was awful! God was attacking their pride, showing them how awful their sin of pride was. The magicians could make more but not remove others (8:7). Pharaoh said the Jews could leave if they would make the frogs leave (8:8-14) but when relief came Pharaoh changed his mind (8:15). Still, there were huge piles of rotting frogs left all over Egypt.
LICE & GNATS (Plague 3) God again shows Pharaoh and the people the awfulness of their sin and the coming judgment it brings by sending lice, perhaps from the rotting frogs. He sent great amounts of lice, gnats, ticks and similar insects that suck blood and carry disease (8:16-17). This brought judgment on the land of Egypt. Seb, the earth god, was unable to protect his ground from these.
These insects came from the dust (8:18). In Genesis 3:17 the ground was cursed, and this curse comes upon the ground, which they worshipped for its fertility. It was a picture of what results from man’s sin. Adam’s sin resulted in the ground of Eden being cursed. Pharaoh’s sin results in the ground of Egypt bringing forth a curse.
This time, however, the magicians were unable to do what Moses did – not that more of these insects were needed (8:18-19). They were stopped in such a small matter, turning dust to lice and gnats. Satan’s power is limited, as seen in Job. He can bring judgment (water to blood and frogs) but can’t tamper with that which speaks of God’s curse on man. Gnats and lice are small but have great results. They defeated the idols, gods and demonic powers in Egypt. They defeated the priests of Egypt, but their pride kept them from turning to God. Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he did not listen to them (8:19).
Still, despite these things, Gods grace is shown in that He always gave a chance to repent. God is trying to show man the awful sin he carries around with him so he can come to God for cleansing and deliverance. He first step is to recognize our sin and need for forgiveness.
Today, too, God tries to show man his pride and rebellion, the sin he carries around with him everywhere. Why would anyone want to carry a dead corpse around all the time if it could be removed? Why would anyone want to carry sin around, when a loving and merciful God is available to forgive and remove it? Have you accepted His gift of salvation so that your sin is removed? Don’t let your pride stand in the way! If you have accepted this gift of salvation, you may still be carrying a sin around with you. Come to Him for its removal. Only God can defeat sin, and it’s already been done! Don’t live in that bondage one more moment, confess it now (I John 1:9). There is mercy and forgiveness in God!
10. DISEASE, HAIL & LOCUSTS (Ex. 9:1 - 10:20)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
One day Satan called a meeting of his officers to discuss the best method of getting sinners into hell in the greatest numbers. Each one made a suggestion. One said, “Tell them there is no God.” “No,” said Satan. “Only a fool would believe that.” “Tell them there is no hell,” said another. “No, conscience refutes that.” Finally one said, “Tell them there is a God and there is a hell, but there is no hurry!” The resolution was unanimously endorsed. It’s been said that Satan has many whiles, but his favorite is ‘wait awhile.’
That strategy works today, as it worked with Pharaoh. He didn’t disbelieve in God or hell, he just kept putting off obeying God. God kept the pressure on him, though, through a year-long series of plagues. God turned the Nile to blood. He covered the land with frogs. Then he sent lice and gnats to suck blood. Still Pharaoh is putting off doing what God has required of him. Therefore more plagues will come.
SWARMS (Plague 4) Pharaoh was probably lading a procession to open the solemn festival which was held 120 days after the first rise of the Nile. Thus it would have been in late September. Even though the Nile had been totally defeated, they still worship it. God says that if they don’t obey Him they will be hit with swarms of insects (8:20-21). The test just says they are ‘swarms’ and doesn’t say of what, but the Septuagint translation (done in Egypt) is more detailed. It says these are dogflies, which are worse than gnats or lice. Their bite is more painful and they, too, suck blood. They wee abhorred in Egypt because they contributed to the unusually high rate of blindness. Isaiah 7:18 says that flies were part of these swarms. This was the most numerous and troublesome insect in Egypt (and often a symbol of Baal-zebub, Satan himself). They fasten to the moist and tender parts of the body and won’t let go (eyes, nose, ears). In addition, Psalm 78:45 says “devouring beetles” were included. These devour vegetation and food as well as biting people. They were very rare, and thus worshipped as a sign of the sun god. “Have a beetle” in Egyptian meant to “have a good day.” Probably similar insects were included like mosquitoes, bees, wasps, hornets, etc. There were huge amounts of them eating, stinging, biting, ruining food and crops and spoiling property. They brought much destruction, torment and even death. They are a picture of the eternal torment in hell for those who continue to put off submitting to God
Notice how the plagues gradually get worse and worse as they go on. The first plagues pictured consequences of sin in this life, something believers and unbelievers had to face. Now, however, they picture eternal judgment on sin. This only applies to unbelievers. Thus God keeps His people, the Jews, free from this and all coming plagues (8:22-23). There is no judgment for God’s people (Romans 8:1; II Corinthians 5:21) for Jesus took all of it on the cross. That was God’s way with Noah as well as Lot. That’s why we won’t have to go through the Tribulation or ever face God’s judgment.
This plague shows an increase in God’s warfare against Satan and his forces in Egypt. The magicians are out of the picture. The judgment is worse. There is an obvious pattern in these plagues. The first 9 lead up to number 10 which is death. Thus these 9 can be divided into 3 groups of 3. 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9. In each group Pharaoh was warned about the first plague in the morning, the second was announced beforehand, and the third not announced. These aren’t arbitrary, random acts of nature. These are well-planned, meaningful announcements by God. These clearly show God’s greatness and His desire for all people to repent and turn to Him. They may seem like judgment, but they are mercy for they are warnings of judgment to come. Their purpose isn’t to punish but to alert people, to give them opportunity to repent. Still, Pharaoh rejects. He tries to get Moses to compromise, but Moses doesn’t ( 8:25 -32).
ANIMALS DISEASED (Plague 5) Plagues 1 and 2 were against the Nile (blood, frogs), 3 and 4 composed of insects (lice/gnats and swarms), and 5 and 6 are of disease (on man, then on animals). When Pharaoh refuses God’s warning (9:1-3) a “severe pestilence” comes on the land. This is some kind of highly infectious and very fatal disease on the livestock. Naturally, this has a great impact on the land. The economy is based on livestock for labor (oxen), transportation (camels, donkeys and horses) and for food (cattle, etc.).
Many of these very animals were worshipped as God. They believed Jupiter dwelt in the ram, Apollo in the crow, Bacchus in the goat, Diana in the cat, Juno in the white heifer, Venus in fish and Mercury in birds. We know that demons do like to take refuge in animals. Apis was worshipped as a sacred bull who was treated like a king in life and embalmed and buried in a pyramid when dead. Hathor, a cow, was a goddess of love. Mnevis was a sacred bull and Osiris, their savior-god, lived in a bull. These gods couldn’t even save the animals their own souls dwelt in.
Again, God protected the livestock of the Jews (9:4). He had grace on the Egyptians, though, in that He gave them a day’s notice (9:5) and a way out. This only applied to animals “in the land” (9:1-5). Those inside or in barns would be safe. Still, most didn’t avail themselves of God’s grace but instead suffered the consequences of their sin (9:6-7).
PEOPLE DISEASED (Plague 6) This plague, being the last in its group of 3, comes unannounced. Moses it to take soot from a kiln and throw it into the air, bringing boils on people (9:8-9). These boils were open, running sores which were very painful and could result in death.
This was a direct attack on many Egyptian gods. Imhotep was the god of medicine and the guardian of healing. The Egyptians were very advanced and skillful in their medical treatments. Sekhmet was a lion-headed goddess who had power over epidemics. Isis was the most celebrated goddess. She was a preventer and healer of disease. Typhon was the god of healing. God is taking on some of their greatest gods and showing them to be powerless before Him. The severity of the plagues continues to increase.
The connection with the kilns is clear, too ( 9:10 -11). These were used for making bricks, which the Egyptians used to plague the Jews. They were also used for human sacrifice to Typhon, the god of evil. God is turning this around and using it to curse, not bless them. The magicians, who were extra responsible and accountable for misleading the Egyptians, received extra punishment from this plague ( 9:11 ). Still, Pharaoh didn’t repent ( 9:11 -12).
HAIL (Plague 7) Next God sends hail which destroys all the crops which were growing ( 9:13 -18). He gives them opportunity again to bring in livestock to keep it safe ( 9:19 -21). This plague attacked Nut, the sky goddess, Shu, god of the atmosphere, and the gods of agriculture, Iris, Osiris and Seth. Water (hail) and fire (lightening) which brought destruction were also worshipped ( 9:22 -25). The Jews were safe ( 9:26 ). Pharaoh submits until the plague is over, then again refuses permission to leave ( 9:27 -35).
LOCUSTS (Plague 8) Locusts can be one of nature’s most awesome example of collective destruction. God sent this plague (10:1-6) to destroy what vegetation grew back after the hail. Seraphis, the god which protected them from locusts, was impotent. This was in March, when vegetation was at its full and it brought tremendous economic troubles and famine. The Egyptians wanted Pharaoh to let the Jews go (10:7) and Pharaoh tries another compromise (10:8-11) but the judgment comes anyway ( 10:12 -15). When Pharaoh gives in it is stopped ( 10:16 -20) but once more Pharaoh turns back.
The ‘wait awhile’ attitude of Pharaoh and the Egyptians is making things much worse for them. Not only are they suffering the consequences in this life, but they are in danger of passing into the next without God’s forgiveness and thus having much worse consequences of sin. Don’t put off getting right with God. Don’t put off serving Him. Don’t put off living for Him in all ways. It may be that God, in His love and mercy, is allowing you to suffer the consequences of some of your sins so you will turn to Him for forgiveness and cleansing. Remember, Satan’s strategy is to get you to “wait awhile.” God says that “NOW is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Don’t wait!
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
Man always denies what he doesn’t want to face. A perfect example of that is hell. Surveys show that 70% of people believe in life after death but only 30% believe in hell. Hell has become so trivialized it has even lost its force as a curse. It is a whimsical place, more joke than a reality. It’s no wonder people want to deny it’s existence. Pharaoh denied it, too. God gave him a preview of what it was like but he chose to ignore the warning.
DARKNESS (Plague 9) This is the worst plague so far (only #10 will be worse). God sent a darkness like none other (Exodus 10:21). It’s the same word used for the darkness the world was in before God created light. It was a perpetual, supernatural, absolutely impenetrable blackness of darkness. If you’ve ever been way down in a cave when the tour guide turned off the lights you’ll know what it was like. You couldn’t see your hand 1 inch in front of your face. It was a picture of God’s judgment of hell, showing the nearness of His final judgment of hell on them.
Hell is described as being bound in chains of darkness (II Peter 2:4; John 8:12), bound in everlasting chains under darkness (Jude 6), blackness of darkness (Jude 13), and outer darkness (Matthew 8:12; 22:113; 25:30). God is light (I John 1:5). He will be the light for eternity when even the sun won’t be needed. Therefore the absence of God (hell) is the absence of light. Satan and his demons today try to bring darkness to the world. With it comes depression, despair and hopelessness. Hell will be eternity in darkness with unsatisfied desires, hopelessness and terrible physical and emotional suffering.
What made this plague all the more powerful was that it was directed at one of Egypt’s greatest gods, Ra, the sun god. Egypt had a cloudless, rainless climate so nothing hid the sun. This also defeated Orpheus, the god of darkness, which was Satan worship pure and simple. He couldn’t control or remove that which he was to be a god of.
For three days there was this total darkness over all Egypt (10:21-22). It was so bad, so oppressive, that people didn’t move from where they were for 3 days. Imagine: they couldn’t eat, wash, get comfortable, or go to their bathroom facilities. They could talk to each other but not see each other. For three days this went on. To really make it a picture of hell, Psalm 78:49 says God allowed demons to have free access during these times. Jewish tradition says Satan and his angels went among the Egyptians, frightening them with fearful apparitions, piercing their ears with hideous shrieks and groans, driving them almost to madness with the intensity of their fears, making their flesh creep and their hair stand on end. It would be worse than the most awful horror show on TV or in the movies – and it was real!
Contrast this with God’s people in Goshen. They had light in their homes (10:23). God’s Presence was with them, and God is light. It was the same Shekinah glory that would lead them in the cloud and dwell in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. This is how Noah had light on the 3 levels of the ark (with only one window at the top). God’s presence provided the light. Thus the Egyptians had a darkness they couldn’t light but the Jews had a light that couldn’t be put out. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior you, too, have gone from darkness to light (I Peter 2:9).
Unbelievers prefer darkness to light, so God is just giving them what they want and warning them of eternal hell judgment at the same time. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:16-21)
Today, too, sin is attracted to darkness. Bars, X-rated stores, seances, occult worship – all take place in the dark. Windows are shut, lights are low. Crime is higher at night than during the day. Darkness is a picture of spiritual blindness (II Corinthians 4:4; I Corinthians 2:14; I John 2:11). When Jesus healed physical blindness, He was showing He could heal spiritual blindness.
COMPROMISE… this darkness so affected Pharaoh that said the Jews could go – on his terms (10:24-26). He offered Moses a compromise. This wasn’t the first time he did that. Satan is good as offering compromises. If he can get us moving just the slightest bit from 100% strict obedience to Jesus he knows he has us moving in the right direction and its only a matter of time until we move a little more, and then a little more. Satan is very patient.
Compromise 1 was for them to go worship, but to stay in the land (8:25). Worship God, but don’t get so carried away that you leave Satan’s system! Be a Christian, but stay in the world! God is OK, but don’t give up everything for Him. There’s room for everyone to worship however they want right here. Don’t be a fanatic! Moses turned the offer down (8:26-27). Pharaoh then modified the offer to let them go, but not so far they couldn’t easily return (8:28). Satan is willing to lengthen the chain, as long as you don’t cut it! Don’t give up everything you have here! Keep the best of this world nearby so you can return when you want. Don’t leave your friends, priorities and values. Follow God, but stay close to the world, too.
Compromise 2 was for them to worship, but leave their children back in Egypt (10:8). Moses knew that if they didn’t take their children they wouldn’t be obeying God, so he rejected this, too (10:9-11). Today, too, Satan tells us that we can be totally sold out to God, but not bring our children. We don’t want to deny them all the ‘fun’ the world offers!
Compromise 3 was for them to leave the land, with their children, but not take their possessions (10:24). Moses knew that they couldn’t leave their possessions in the world and still serve God, that we much bring our material things with us and offer them to God, so he rejected this compromise as well (10:25-26). You can’t give your heart but allow your possessions to be controlled by worldly principles. God wants all of us and all we have!
When Moses turned down this compromise, he told Pharaoh it was over, he’d had his last chance and Moses would never be back with another offer of mercy from God (10:27-29). They never met again. This was Pharaoh’s last warning. For a year God has been gradually turning u the heat. Next would come death: first of the firstborn, then of the army in the Red Sea.
Yes, sad as it is to think about, hell awaits those who reject God. He is merciful in trying to warn the Egyptians of what they are bringing on themselves, but He is holy and will judge sin. Thank God that, if you have accepted Him as Savior, you never have to fear hell! Thank Him for the light in your life, and make sure you live in that light without any compromise.
12. DEATH OF FIRSTBORN (Ex. 11:1-11; 12:29-36)
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1999
On July 3, 1826, Thomas Jefferson, ill since February t Monticello, aroused himself from sleep. “Is it the Fourth?” he asked. When the doctor said it soon would be, he appeared content. He died at 1 PM on July 4th. In Quincy, Mass., John Adams, his political opponent, lay dying on the very same say. “Thomas Jefferson survives,” he said. He was wrong. Both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which they had much to do with.
How people die is sometimes surprising. That people die shouldn’t surprise us at all. “It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment” (Heb 9:27). A sociologist traveling in a third world country asked an official there what the death rate was. “The same as everywhere else,” the man replied. “One per person.”
We all know we will die, yet somehow many people manage to ignore that fact. They live as if they will never have to give an account of their lives. They live as if this life is all there is. That isn’t new. Pharaoh was a prime example of this as well.
DEATH (Plague 10) Moses had told Pharaoh he would never see his face again (Exodus 10:28-29) and he was right. God had told him that deliverance was coming, that Pharaoh wouldn’t just let them go, he would force them to leave (11:1). God also told Moses, during the 3 days of darkness, that the Jews should ask their neighbors for silver and gold and they would be given much of it (11:2-3). This would be payment for the work they did as slaves and would finance their building of the Tabernacle as well as their years in the wilderness.
God also told Moses that it would be the death of the firstborn that would bring about their deliverance (11:4-6). The firstborn male had the prime position. He received a double portion of his father’s inheritance (Deut 21:17). He received the special blessing from the father (Genesis 49:3). He took over family leadership when his