Exodus Chapter 15

EXODUS

 CHAPTER 

15

Unlike other chapters that we have meditated on this chapter has the form of a song that comprises the majority of the chapter:

1. Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

" I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 1)

As humans and more as Christians on reflecting we all have special moments for which we can sing to God in gratitude. For anything or any situation that takes place in our lives we are to foster and attitude of thanksgiving to God. This something that God really loves and appreciates from us humans.

2. The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 2)

On reflecting I personally own this verse. I also declare that God is my strength, might and salvation, even during moments when situations do not unfold as I had planned them or according to my agenda. God is always on my mind in the morning I meditate on your Word Oh God, during the day I thank You for all the help care and support that You give me. I exalt your name in prayer but never defame it with negative words or oaths such as in swearing or other foul words against the Word of God.

3. The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 3)


I also proclaim that God is my strength and my might, I was ill due to a chronic condition in my intestines and He delivered me and is still delivering me every day of my life. I attribute all the goodness that happens in my life to You my God because all goodness flows from You alone. I will exalt Your name forever and speak of You amongst Your people. Forgive me when I did not exalt Your Holy Name due to my weakness as a human.


4."Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea; his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 4)


Our fears, anxieties and or worries we give to You in God and You handle them without difficulty. On You in faith we give all our burdens as You yourself asked us to do and You promised to give us rest. Let us stop yes now stop and offer in our moments of peace and meditation and give all our burdens on to God and He will deliver us.

In order to continue in this spirit of praise and worship please click on the following link and give praise and worship to God by means of this song "Cast Your burdens on to Jesus"

Cast Your Burdens on to Jesus 

5. The floods covered them: they went down into the depths like a stone.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 5)


Our problems will also drown like stones or other heavy objects once we give them to God. They will never exist any more if we give them to Him in faith and truth.


6. Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power- your right hand, O LORD shattered the enemy.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 6)


Even  with just looking God can destroy the evil one, moreover even nature and its forces are subject to God. If no other force can find a solution to an issue, even if they use missiles and destroyers, God is able to handle the issue. God there is none like You.

In a spirit of praise and worship let us continue to give praise and worship to the LORD our God please click on the following link:


There is none like You


7. In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries; you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 7)


God is good and great He is loving and caring but God is also just and does justice in the face of the enemy. Nobody can compare with His love, mercy and justice. Many focus on God's divine mercy however, we are not to take Him for granted for God is also a just God.


8. At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 8)


God is portrayed with human properties in order to pass on to the reader the meaning of the message, however even though this may be a literary device, God is able to bring a radical change in our lives if we give him permission to be a part of it.


9. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have it fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 9)


This is the aim of the evil one. His sole aim is that of destroying as many of us as he possibly can and carry the souls to hell for eternal damnation. However the devil is a loser.


10. You blew with your wind, the sea covered them: they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 10)


Nothing and nobody can withstand the might and power of God. Indeed my God there is none like You forever and ever. Your name shall be praised forever.


11. "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, ding wonders?

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 11)



Holy God nobody could or ever can match you love, holiness and justice. The justice of the world is corrupt, there is no justice save for the corrupt, who by means of sinful means under the power of evil are able to manipulate the system at the cost of others, there is no love like Yours Oh God, because as humans we prefer to receive more than to give, we are avaricious by default even in our love, in holiness we can never survive without your presence, your wonders are more than awesome. On being present for the birth of my daughter I could not stop being amazed at your wonders on seeing my daughter being delivered from the womb.


12. You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 12)

 Nature Oh God is also subject to Your Holy Name, once you utter the command the earth trembles in obedience to your will, oh if only I had a gram of that obedience oh God, for I am a sinner and love to do more my will than Yours.


13. "In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed: you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 13)


Every single day Oh God You lead us out of our Egypt. You show us the path to our salvation and liberation from the clutches of the evil one. Every day, hour by hour, second by second, we are walking on the way to our holy abode in heaven. It is a matter of time before we meet again in a relationship of love, where nobody and no situation can be of a barrier to us.

14. The peoples heard, they trembled: pangs seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 14)


On reflecting it could be that these poetic verses could have been elicited from some other chapter of the bible and inserted to continue to project the grandeur of God and His might and power. This is due to the fact that up to now we have not met the name Philistia in any chapter.


15. Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed: trembling seized the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 15)


This verse as also verse 14 has also been taken from a previous chapter in the bible. However it can be said that it may  have been inserted in this chapter to project the message that nobody or any thing can stand unchanged before the Holy and mighty presence of God. When in the presence of God we are subject to change.


16. Terror and dread fell upon them: by the might of your arm, they became as still as a stone until your people, O LORD passed by, until the people whom you acquired passed by.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 16)


God is able to silence the lion in us and bring out the good us. God was able to quieten the Egyptian people who had been harming His chosen people for such a long time. God can even silence those who oppose us or cause us trouble so that His justice can reign on earth.


17. You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession, the place, O LORD that you made your abode, the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established. 18. The LORD will reign forever and ever."

(Exodus chapter 15 verses 17 to 18)

God loves us so much that we are the apple of his eyes. He gave us a place were we can meet Him and have fellowship. God raised us from the murky waters of our sins and raised us to the dignity of the sons and daughters of God forever. Indeed his reign will stand forever.


19. When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 19)

When putting our trust in God He can perform wonders. Many people who have opened themselves to God have experienced such mentioned experiences of God's presence and even more.

In order to enrich our experience please click on the following link and experience this amazing life experience:

Life experience

20. Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21. And Miriam sang to them: 

"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea."

(Exodus chapter 15 verses 20 to 21)

On making such an experience of God we cannot contain it inside us, but we have to manifest it externally as in joy merriment and even singing and dancing. This was the case of Miriam sister of Moses. Along with others she started praising and worshipping God for all that He had done to them. In order to share this experience please click on the following link:

Song of Miriam

22. Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went three days in the wilderness  of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 22)


Now that the whole event with the Egyptians was over God wanted His people to move on. There are times when as humans we tend to get stuck in our past and decide to want to stay there. It could be that staying in the past gives us a form of security which however becomes a strong barrier in facing the present reality, goals and challenges of life. In which ever stage we may be God wants us to move on in life.


On the other hands we may have achieved our major aims in life, but still feel empty and thirsty. The events of the world are not enough to satisfy our thirst. Therefore we always aim for more, we want more, we aim to know more. What we have and what we know is not enough. We are like a bucket with a hole in it. We are always leaking and losing our water our source of life. With God it is the same. We may have achieved, degrees, status and even more, however if God is not active in our lives it is useless. We remain in our desert or wilderness of solitude because our spirit is not yet satisfied. Only God can satisfy our thirst for Him and not the world.

23. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; that is why it was called Marah. 24. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink? 25. He cried out to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

(Exodus chapter 15 verses 23 to 25)


We are to give all of our problems and situations to God, because He can change a seemingly bitter situation into a sweet one. Moreover as in the case of Moses, God can give us the means on how to see the positive in the negative situation. It is always there under our noses, however due to our sin and the consequences of the situation we are not able to put our finger on the solution. However God is always near to give us His support.


26. He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you."

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 26)

When God makes a promise He never goes against his word. In this verse a very important word is used by the author. This is the term if. It all depends on whether we are ready to go against our will and listen to God.


 27. They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.

(Exodus chapter 15 verse 27)


When we obey God's will His providence is shared with us. God provides us with all his bounty. From one spring of water that was not good to drink of God gave His people twelve springs of water. In order to view the route taken from the red sea to Elim please click on the following link

Map of Red Sea to Elim


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:

Thank You Oh God for helping me meditate on this chapter. It has been a wonderful experience. Thank You for giving me insights to share in according to every verse in this chapter. Hallowed be Your Name. May we all adopt an attitude of praise worship and thanksgiving to You my Father. May Your Name be praised and honoured throughout all the corners of the earth both above and even below the oceans.

Thank You God

I would like to end this chapter with the following song of thanks giving please click on the following link:

Songs of Praise and Worship

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Exodus Chapter 14

EXODUS 

CHAPTER

 14

1. Then the LORD said to Moses: 2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall camp opposite it, by the sea.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 1 and 2)

God gives Moses the exact location where to camp. God was aware that the Egyptians were in pursuit of the Israelites. According to the given bearings and landmarks the Israelites were to be trapped or sandwiched between the land and the sea. According to the given instructions the people were to make a u turn and retreat a couple of meters back to their previous location. At times God asks us to change our ways. This may lead us to go back to previous situations that we had considered as being not that pleasant. Although we may view this change in event as being weird or strange, this may be part of God's plan for us in order to get us back on track.

In order to obtain a better perception of the location of the two mentioned strategic points please click on the following link:

Location of Pihahiroth and Migdol

3. Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, "They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them." 4. I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall Know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 3 to 4)

When in dialogue with Moses God makes his intention clear to Moses that their going back on their tracks would give Pharaoh the impression that the Israelites were trapped and had  no other option but to retreat in the wilderness. On seeing the Israelites in this delicate position God would persuade the Pharaoh to give chase and capture the Israelites once again. 

On reflection one would wonder who could ever completely understand the mind of God. Time and time again He has told us that His ways are not our ways. Therefore this means  that we have a total different perception of truth and reality. At times as humans we are disillusioned by what we consider as being an optical illusion. Thus when considering that even our senses are not hundred percent reliable we are to place our complete trust in God who is never wrong and who permits us to experience even strange situations as part of His plan for our salvation.

5. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, "What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?"

(Exodus chapter 14 verse 5)

In order to continue showing signs to the chosen people of God, in order to strengthen their faith God convinced the Pharaoh and his officials that it had not been a wise move to let the people leave Egypt. The chosen people while in Egypt had been the main source of their labour force and without them they would have to do all the harsh labour. According to Mr. Devain Pewar the author of this chapter we often fall into the trap of taking for granted special people or people of value and then when they move out of our life we start feeling guilty about our mistake and at times show a motivation to have them back. The same thing happens in our spiritual life with God. As sinners we tend to take God lightly in our lives and put aside those moments of love and care manifested to us by Him. However there comes a moment maybe that of a crisis when we realise our big mistake and manifest a great want and need of God, who is always ready to welcome us back in His arms. However at times we become so blinded by the ways of the world, that even if we want to change our ways, the evil one blocks every attempt so that we remain away from God. 

6. So he had his chariot made ready, and took his army with him; 7.'he took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 6 to 7)

Then the Pharaoh and his 600 best men on chariots decided to give chase in order to bring the Israelites back to Egypt and get them back to work. The devil also acts in a similar way. He always takes advantage of our condition and does his dirty deeds by exploiting or taking advantage of some ones condition for his personal gain. At times we are convinced by the evil one to to do the same. A typical example is that of employing illegal immigrants or people from closed or open centres and promising them to work for a sum of money with the intention of not paying them at all or decide to pay them less than agreed on. This is also an exploitation of the persons skills for our advantage and the deprivation of the employee's right for a justified wage in order to help sustain the well being of his family. As people who love and try to follow God we are also employed with Him in the greatest project of all, that is our salvation during His final visit. We are duty bound to encourage others to change their ways in order for them to obtain their wages that is our home in heaven. In our cases we are not slaves of God but associates in this labour of redemption and love. 

8. The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out boldly. 9. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pihahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 8 to 9)

Up to the point that the Egyptians were still far away the, Israelites were confident they the Egyptians would not catch them up but they were proved wrong by the fact that the Pharaoh did eventually overtook them. Without doubt God permitted this to happen in order to test the faith of the Israelites. 

According to the author of this chapter

During our lives at times we feel so confident, that we overlook many things along with the consequences of our actions and decisions that we end up in deep trouble. However as is the case we need not worry for everything and anything that happens throughout the course of our life is according to God's will and when we permit Him to take control of our lives the results are always positive.

10. As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. 11. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 10 to 11)

In order to cope with the pressure and stress that they were undergoing the people of God referred to God in a state of panic. Moreover they started blaming Moses for all that was happening to them. Up to the point that things or situations happen according to our agendas we say 'Thank You God ! and 'Praise the LORD! however when the pressure starts escalating we may not keep on chanting these positive exclamations. Although works wonders in our lives we still tend not to trust Him and show unbelief during moments of trial and tribulations.

In order to comprehend the pending danger that the Israelites were facing please click on the following link:

Moses parting red sea

12. Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

(Exodus chapter 14 verse 12)


The Israelites were facing one of the greatest dilemmas of their lives. They had to choose between following what Moses was saying to following the present here and now which meant doom and slavery. The reality that we perceive at the given moment is dull and illogical, while if we view it in a spirit that is coming from God the choice would be more than clear. On the other hand some of us may prefer to remain in our negative Egypt with all the pain being endured, than to have our values and beliefs challenged in order to change our ways. The proverb says 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'. The Israelites may have preferred the devil they were aware of than roaming in the desert without a sense of direction as they may have been perceiving the situation. We long for security. The devil offers us the security of the world as in pleasure and material gain. God offers us everlasting security that is unlimited in both quantity and quality.

13. But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.

(Exodus chapter 14 verse 13)



God gives us perfect instructions in relation to times of trouble. The first rule is that of not being afraid. This means that we are to place our trust in Him and face the challenge with firm certainty that He is with us to help us in sharing the tribulation.

14. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still."

(Exodus chapter 14 verse 14)


In contrast to raising the alarm and tell the whole world that we are in trouble, we are not to be passive, give up and simply place the problem in God's hands. We are to do our duty but be assured that God is doing the major part of the work on our behalf. When we put in faith in God we see miracles taking place.


15. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. 17. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself  over Pharaoh his chariots and his chariot drivers."

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 15 to 18)


God turns on Moses as if saying I have given you all the signs all the instructions, why are you not using them. Go ahead trust in me and all will be well because I am with with you. God does not treat us like little children who are dependent on their parents. God wants us to do our share by taking responsibility of the roles that He has given to us. Again and again God explains his reasons to Moses that all is being done with a purpose and that God's will was going to be done. God was to manifest his glory over the forces of evil so that the faith of the people including Moses would be strengthened. Even in the situation of the Christians in Iraq and all that is going on in the world. God is in control. We might question God's intention for letting his children be massacred, why has He hardened the heart of the people of Israel? God always has a good intention at heart in order to help the process of our salvation to continue unfold. I stop and wonder and as myself if we are close to God's final visit. People's hearts are being hardened especially those of many rulers. Wars are taking place. The crisis of Iraq is escalating. Is this the beginning of the end or is there more to come? Are we being prepared? Does it all match into the tapestry of God's plans for his final visit and judgement of the earth? If this is so, then let us pray that we be ready for the final hour were God will manifest his love, power and glory as He did with the people of Egypt.


19. The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 19 to 20)


God was totally in control of the situation at the perfect time God's angel moved in between the Egyptian army and that of the chosen people of God thus making it impossible for both to come in contact with each other. Moreover from the new position God accepted on Him the curses and anger of the Egyptians and the fears, complaints and anxieties  of His own people.of the God is able to bring wars under control and is also able to harden the hearts of leaders or people involved in wars, so that His will be done.


21. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 21 to 22) 

On obeying the will of God Moses witnessed God's intervention taking place. The waters divided in to and provided access for the Israelites to pass through. God is able to create order stability from a state of chaos and disorder in order for His will to be done. For those who may still be in doubt please click on the following link that leads us to proof that this great act of God did take place.

These sources have been given to us by Delphos G

at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d90NM9tgDQE)

( Delphos G  at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d90NM9tgDQE)






( Delphos G https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-v6dzIrGR4)


23. The Egyptians pursued and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots and chariot drivers. 24. At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 23 to 25) 

When God intervenes He does so in full force, according to the following link amongst the findings in the red sea, the wheels of the chariots were indeed clogged that is meaning with spokes missing thus greatly reducing the performance of the chariots, which according to the given source were of the best quality. God can do wonders. Even though there exists ballistic weapons, guided missiles, anti air radars and missiles, God can make these weapons of mass destruction useless in order to protect us or those concerned. In order to view the evidence related to the clogging of the chariot wheels please click on the following link taken from the same source.






( Delphos G https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-v6dzIrGR4)



26. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers." 27. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 26 to 28)


According to author of this chapter God is in control of every moment of our live. God knows our character, feelings thoughts and personality. As spirit God has unlimited power and is omnipresent omnipotent and omniscient. God always has a contingency plan ready just in case we spoil His plans with our stubbornness or lack of faith. 

29. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 30. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31. Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and his servant Moses.

(Exodus chapter 14 verses 29 to 30)

On having witnessed this mighty deed of God His chosen people, once again were motivated to put their faith in God. On reflecting as commented by Mr. Deevain Ajit Pewar as humans:  

"We are all witnesses of God. One of God's greatest miracles was when He created  the earth along with all the other animals and created a balanced perfect world order. Moreover as humans if we reflect and recollect we can all remember moments when God intervened directly or indirectly in our lives. "

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer,

                                    God thank You for your presence, thank you for the plan you have made for me and for being with me and making me a part of it .Thank you for your love and blessings, thanks for having helped me to overcome negative moments in my life. Thank you God for your Word and many other things that happened for a particular purpose brought joy in  my life.

thank you God for everything

Exodus Chapter 13

EXODUS 

CHAPTER 

13

3. Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the LORD brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten, 4. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out.

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 3 to 4)

Funnily enough the first verse number of this chapter is the number 3. The reason is that the chapter seems to have continued from chapter 12 of the book of Exodus. In chapter 13 of the book of Exodus God by means of Moses reminded the people that they were never to forget those four hundred and thirty years that  they had spent in the bondage of Egypt. God is also telling us, now that I have healed from from that addiction, cancer, sin or condition, do not go back to your old ways or else you will have to face the consequences. Therefore the day of our deliverance is very important. As Christians God has already delivered us as a people by means of His passion, however God also delivers us from our personal crisis or situations of Egypt. Moreover we are still waiting in hope and in faith for our final deliverance at the time of God's final visit and judgment of the earth, where all shall be reconciled back to him.

5. When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month.

(Exodus chapter 13 verse 5)

The Canaanites, Hivites, Amorites and |Jebusites may be people or situations or even our sins that are keeping us aware from God who is our promised land. God promises to give us a victory over such situations and instead of hardship give us an idyllic situation in His presence. The analogy of milk and honey has an interesting significance. Milk has vitamins as can be given by the world, but it is not sweet. God can give us the milk of the world and even more. The homey that God can give us is far sweeter than that of the World for it is ever lasting.


6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the LORD. 7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory. 8. You shall tell your child on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 6 to 8)


According to God's commandment to His people who were still as we all are in a state of spiritual, social and psychological formation, were to eat leavened bread only on the seventh day of the week. After some digging I found that the leaven was the raising agent in the dough that also gives sweetness to it. Therefore before having left Egypt the people especially on that special day before leaving Egypt ate unleavened bread which was flat like a cookie, however when God liberated them sweetness and uprightness was given to the people and their life was given both a value, meaning and a purpose that of getting to know God again with the aim of being reunited with Him in a relationship of love. God's message of love is also to be transmitted to our children and their children so that the raising agent of God's love will continue to spread in the world.


9. It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the LORD may be on your lips; for with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10. You shall keep this ordinance at it's proper time from year to year.

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 9 to 10)


God's teachings are to be forever in our hearts and in our minds, we may not practice certain Hebrew traditions as in the Word of God, however we have God's rule of love inscribed in our heart, that only our sinful self can hinder us from practicing. Our sinful self which is always in conflict with the spiritual grace of God in us.


 11. When the LORD has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you, 12. you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the LORD's. 13 But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck.

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 11 to 13)


On reflecting on verses 11 to 13 which have a somewhat macabre tone, we can reflect on God's choice of the first human offspring. When compared to the firstborn of the animals there seems to be another classification thus placing sheep as superior to donkeys. The bottom line seems to be that all firstborn were to be consecrated to God. On reflecting as sons and daughters of God we are all set apart to be consecrated to God. At the moment of baptism we are consecrated to God, however there are certain religious groups and orders who personally consecrate themselves to God by chanting particular prayers to God.


14. When in the future your child asks you, what does this mean? you shall answer, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

(Exodus chapter 13 verse 14)


According to the Word of God we are duty bound to transmit God's Word to our sons and daughters. We are also duty bound to share with them all the wonders great and small that God has performed in our life, especially those important moments of deliverance.


15. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem'. 16 It shall serve as a sin on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt."

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 15 to 16)


 When passing on the faith to our sons and daughters we are to explain in detail the greatness of God, especially during our moments of trial and tribulation. Every day of our life is to be an offering to God. Every time we go to Church we celebrate the renewal of this great even or events in our life, when God delivered us again and again from the forces of evil both within us and around us, and also the great deliverance at the time of His loving passion.


17. When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, "If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt."

(Exodus chapter 13 verse 17)


What seems to be the easy way is not always God's way. God is aware of human frailty and deficiency and does not want us to experience more than we can take. Therefore for our own good some things or processes may take a bit longer than we planned to take place because it may not be exactly good timing and according to God's timing. God is aware of what we think and feel before we even experience the given situation. He is so sensitive and loving.


18. So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle

(Exodus chapter 13 verse 18)


The chosen people of God had no other alternative but to trust in God's directions. They placed their lives in the hands of Moses and of God. When we do so we experience God's love, wonders and even power. At times as in the case of chosen people God, we would need to experience a round about turn in our lives, which may be a time to reflect before setting our tracks again and continuing on the path that God has prepared for us. At times the roundabout turn may mean a complete change in our lifestyle or what is called a Copernican Revolution which conditions us to make radical changes in our lifestyle in order to correct previous behaviour patterns.


19. And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph who had required a solemn oath of the Israelites, saying, "God will surely take notice of you, and then you must carry my bones with you from here."

(Exodus chapter 13 verse 19)


Jacobs bones were like an important document which contained the authenticity to an important deed. Through Joseph God promised the chosen people of God that in the time chosen by God they would be delivered from their bondage. Jesus Christ in person was a living document who promised liberation by means of love that although it was the means that led Him to the cross, it was enough to claim our redemption from the forces of evil, from living a life in eternal damnation.


20. They set out from Succoth, and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21. The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. 22. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

(Exodus chapter 13 verses 20 to 22)

Throughout their time of Exodus and even after God, remained with His chosen people. He appeared to them by means of symbols that provided them with the necessary directions. Even though today we do not have the pillar of cloud or fire, God has given us His Word which is a lantern of light to our mind and a perfect reference manual on which to base our life. God has also given us the Holy Spirit which is the driving force of the Roman Catholic Church, that if we obey this Holy Spirit we will make it to our promised land in Heaven and even enjoy the peace of God on earth.


In order to picture the way that God chose for His chosen people on their way out of Egypt as referred to in Exodus chapter 13 verses 20 to 22 please click on the following link:

The way out of Egypt


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh God Almighty creator of heaven and earth, I would like to thank You for all those moments when You have entered my live and saved me from my moments of Egypt. Thanks for the promised land in heaven that You have promised me and humanity. Thanks for delivering Your chosen people and for wanting us to keep on remembering this important event which changed the course of humanity. I pray for Your chosen people during this difficult period in their life. I pray for all Christians who are facing persecution for who they believe in. Please give them the endurance to remain faithful in You during this moment of trial. 

Please deliver them as You delivered them in the past. Please do not let unbelievers say that you have abandoned Your chosen people and try to use this issue to make more harm against You and all Christians. I pray that You will give Your chosen people the lands that You personally promised them to claim as being theirs forever. Please enact Your justice in this situation and let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank You God

Exodus Chapter 12

EXODUS 

CHAPTER 

12

1. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2. This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3. Tell the whole congregation on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbour in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat it.

(Exodus chapter  12 verses 1 to 4)


According to Exodus God was choosing s particular time in history in order to liberate his people from the bondage of Egypt. God chooses particular moments at a time that we would not be waiting for. God's moments are special therefore they are to be treated a such. The people of God were to celebrate this important moment in their life by sacrificing a lamb. This is symbolic of the Son of God who was also sacrificed on a particular day at a particular time in history in order to obtain our salvation. In the above mentioned verses it is written that the parts of the lamb were not to be wasted but consumed according to the number of occupants. On reflecting the lamb is wasted when we receive God without being properly prepared to receive Him.


5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 5 to 7)


Our offering to God is also to be perfect, in the sense that when we give Him worship our offering is to be from our heart and not simply lip service. We are to participate and not be passive. This is our personal celebration of our deliverance and not only that of the priest or celebrant. Therefore our contribution is very important in order to make our offering complete.


On the other hand the blood of the lamb was to be shed on the two doorposts of the shelters or homes where the people lived. This was done for a particular reason that we will be referring to. May God's blood always protect us from the snares of the evil one.


8. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10. You shall let none of it remain until morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 8 to 10)


According to verses 8 to 9, the sacrificial offering is to be completely consumed and nothing is to be left to the following morning. When we receive communion the Host is totally consumed by the recipients and nothing is left of it, in the sense that even the chalice of the celebrant is wiped clean of all possible traces. On reflecting God gave His full self to us without any exceptions, therefore we are to be a complete offering to God and to others without holding anything back of our selves including skills, financial assets, contacts and other means that we may possess with the help of God.


11. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. 12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute JUdgements I am the LORD.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 11 to 12)


God was aware of the pressure that the people would be under during their exodus out of Egypt. Therefore time was not to be wasted. God gave them orders to eat very quickly and not lose time. Not wasting time is always a very good habit or practice to adopt. As humans we have limited time on this earth. Every second is a gift to us, that is why it is called the present, therefore we are to make the most of each second that God has given to us.


13. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

(Exodus chapter 12 verse 13)


The blood on the doorposts was a sign of protection for the people of God, who would pass by on seeing the sign of the blood of the lamb. May God always protect us and cleanse us of our sins with His Holy blood.


14. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

(Exodus chapter 12 verse 14)


According to verse 14, every sunday is like the American Independence Day or the Great Siege of Malta or the commemoration of Malta's Independence from British rule. Every sunday we recollect that special day when God's people were liberated from the bondage of Egypt, when Jesus arose liberated from the clutches of death that could not keep a grip or hold on Him. Therefore Jesus's liberation is also our liberation if we want it to be that way. There are some who prefer to remain slaves in the Egypt of their sins, than to follow God and Moses out of Egypt. The choice is ours!


15. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel. 16. On the first day you shall hold a solemn assembly; no work shall be done on those days; only what everyone must eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 15 to 16)


Even before the people of God had left Egypt, God had already instituted a programme according to which the people could lead their life. God gives us many sign posts that we are to follow. On reflecting I now appreciate more my meetings with God where He gives Himself to me time and time again. Love You Jesus, blessed be Your Name.


17. You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance. 18. In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you shall eat unleavened bread. 19. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land. 20. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your settlements you shall eat unleavened bread.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 17 to 20)


As from verses 15 to verse 20, God is strict on the observance of this rule or commandment. Therefore we are to obey it in the sense that no work that has a profit is to be done on a sunday and that this special day is to be always respected. In the New Testament Jesus continued to expand on this issue, when He said that if a person needs help on a Sunday we are not to say no due to the observance of the Sabbath but we must be practical and lend a hand. This is applicable for people who work in hospitals and powers-stations or airports but not for those who have supermarkets and give service on a Sunday.


21. Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go, select Lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of Hyssop dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood in the basin. None of you shall go outside the door of your house until morning.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 21 to 22)


God gave the Israelites strict orders on how they were to conduct themselves in order not to be harmed by the angel of God who was to unleash God's wrath on the firstborn of the Egyptians and even the firstborn of the livestock. As Christians or people who wish to follow God, we are to show obedience to God and His representatives. Obedience to God means that we truly love him, disobedience means the contrary.


23. For the LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians; when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down.

(Exodus chapter 12 verse 23)



Apparently it is the Devil who is under God's control and who has been assigned the role of destroyer. It is nice to now that the evil one is under God's thumb and that he is being controlled.


24. You shall observe this rite as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children. 25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance.

(Exodus chapter 12 verse 24)


The Hebrews were ordered by God to observe these rites and practice them even when they would be liberated from their land of bondage and slavery. God also wishes us to observe His Holy Word that leads us to our "Promised Land' that is Heaven in His Holy presence forever. This is to be our life long goal to strive to live a life according to God's will with the positive consequence of reaping our reward in heaven. This can only be done due to God's grace because as humans at some time or another we are bound to step on the snake's head as in snakes and ladders and slide down a level or two or even to our point of origin on the board of life.


25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance. 26. And when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this observance? 27. you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.'

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 25 to 27)


As people who worship God we are duty bound to our children who are our future descendants to share the faith with them. This requires that we are both informed so that we can be formed in order to be able to  transmit the right answers according to the teachings of our faith and the will of God.

 28. The Israelites went and did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.  29. At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of the livestock.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 28 to 29)

In order to help picture this damned situation please click on the following link:

Plague of death

Since the Pharaoh did not obey the will of God he had to suffer the mentioned consequences. The death penalty was imposed on Egypt so that the faith of the chosen people of God would be strengthened on having witnessed the wrath of God. Some say seeing is believing however feeling is also a means that helps one to believe. Unfortunately at times we have to witness the consequences of our sins, as in the case of the Pharaoh.


30. Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, "Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go worship the LORD, as you said. 32. Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 30 to 32)

Finally it was time for God to continue unfolding His plan for our salvation. The Pharaoh was downsized enough to surrender and obey the will of God. In order to view this great event please click on the following link

Moses parts red sea

33. The Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, "We shall all be dead." 34. So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35. The Israelites had done as Moses told them; they had asked the Egyptians for jewelry of silver and gold, and for clothing, 36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they plundered the Egyptians.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 33 to 36) 

Now that the people of God witnessed the power and great marvels and wonders of God they obeyed Him to the letter and fulfilled all of God's recommendations that had been transmitted to them by Moses and Aaron. In our every-day life the same thing happens. In order to really and effectively sustain our belief we need to see results. However the big question is 'Do we need to see results in order to believe? This is not faith! We still need to grow in faith like Noah who obeyed before he had seen result!

37. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38. A mixed crowd also went up with them, and livestock in great numbers, both flocks and herds. 39. They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 37 to 39)


The Israelite chosen people of God experienced their first hours of liberty from the bondage and traumas of Egypt. However they were now under the conditioning of God who gave them strict instructions on how to behave on having left Egypt. On the path of our salvation, every day is a new day on the pilgrimage of life. Throughout the way leading to our salvation we encounter many personality types as in the case of the referred to 'mixed crowd', however although mixed we are and may have different agendas we still believe in God and our primary objective is to be reunited with him.

In order to view the route taken by the chosen people of God from Rameses to Succoth please click on the following link:

Please click to view route


40. The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41. At the end of four hundred thirty years on that very day, all the companies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42. That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their generations.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 40 to 42)



On reflecting this is why the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Easter Sunday with such grandeur and solemnity because this marks a very important event in the life of Christians who are still on the pilgrimage to our heavenly home, but who on the other hand trace their roots through Jesus who traces his roots to Abraham and the Patriarchs, Isaac, Jacob etc

43. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance for the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but any slave who has been purchased may eat of it after he has been circumcised; 45 no bound or hired servant may eat of it.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 43 to 45)

God strictly specified that communion with Him as in the breaking of Bread was to be strictly for those who believe in Him mainly Christians and any other person who has become a Christian.

46. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the animal outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47. The whole congregation of Israel shall celebrate it. 48. If an alien who resides with you wants to celebrate the passover to the LORD, all his males shall be circumcised; then he may draw near to celebrate it; he shall be regarded as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it: 49. there shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 46 to 49)


God mad a special emphasis that the lamb was to remain whole and not be dismembered and torn to pieces to be shared amongst families. The sacrificial lamb is a replica of Jesus who remained whole on the cross for us. As humans our lives are also to be a sacrificial offering to God.


50.  All the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51. That very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company.

(Exodus chapter 12 verses 50 to 51)

As previously mentioned God kept his word and brought His people out of the bondage of Egypt. This is very encouraging. God never leaves us more than our capacity in our state of persecution. On seeing that we will be harmed God intervenes and delivers us. The moments of trial and tribulation are moments of formation for us, because it is a good time for us to slow down and reflect on God our-selves and the situation. This in turn gives God a chance to touch our hearts and place us back on track.

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:

Oh God my father I would like to thank You for those moments of tribulation. I am referring to the long period of unemployment and crisis that I experienced due to the fact that the supermarket that I used to work in terminated its operation during that same week. I thank you because although the situation was indeed stressful, You were always with me and my family. I would like to thank You for all that has happened in my life, the happy moments and even the crisis, which has been an important part of my spiritual, social and psychological formation as a human and best of all as a Christian.

Thank You God my father

I would also like to end this chapter with the following reflection given to us by our online source Yeshuas friends

Does God have a plan.

Some people mistake God's plan and God’s purpose for them as a mode of some kind of transportation, something like a bus. They assume he takes you where he wants you to go, from point A, to point B while he drives. You climb aboard, and off he goes, without you even knowing where point B really is. So to better understand God's plan and purpose for you think of it more like communication system. God is available to talk with you, to diagnose your dilemmas, guide your decisions, and help you when you are lost. 

We all walk around with mobile phones in our pockets, well we have all got a built in mobile phone in our heads and it’s been there for centuries, but so few of us know of it. You have a direct line to our Father. Anything you need, anything that troubles you, if you have a need for love, a need for comfort and companionship, he is there waiting to pick up that phone to take your call, and It wont cost you a single penny, for his love for you is free, Jesus paid the bill for you that day when they hung him up on that cross like a piece of butchered meat, so that me may suffer the agonies of our sins. You have nothing to pay, all he asks of you in return is your love and your faith.

More importantly my dear friends are that, God is active in caring for you. God is not merely a passive servant, idly sitting around waiting for your prayers. He offers you so much more than a place to call for help and assistance. 

In his Word he tells you about your Savoir, Jesus, and he encourages you, and directs you, and empowers you, deep in your soul he permeates your entire being. 

God wants you to join him in heaven.

God watches over his people with all his glorious and loving angels. He also filters everything that happens to his people so that it accomplishes his eternal goal. 

All I want to assure you all here today is that God is with you always even in the dead of night when you sleep. He is always caring for you, watching over you, guiding you, and most importantly loving you. 

You are his child, he watches over you when you sleep and he feel such love and compassion for you as he watches you. 

All of you who have children of your own, you know how you feel as you sit by your children as they sleep, you see and feel the love, the peace the innocence as they lay there slumbering away the night, so if you being a mortal can have such powerful feeling as this love for your child, How much more love shall God have for you, you that he knows loves him, Just as you know how much your child loves you.

God Bless you all my Brothers and Sisters may he keep you all safe.

Exodus chapter 11

EXODUS 

CHAPTER 

11

1. The LORD said to Moses, I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here; indeed, when he lets you go, he will drive you away. 2. Tell the people that every man is to ask his neighbor and every woman is to ask her neighbor for objects of silver and gold."

(Exodus chapter 11 verses 1 to 2)

All persecutions and tribulations have a start and end. When God deems the moment as being proper God will deliver us from our Egypt and lead us out of our bondage. As a consequence of sin we experience poverty of our selves. Sin strips us of our human dignity and causes us to be stripped from what we considered as being our treasures as in the case of the Egyptians.

3. The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was a man of great importance in the land of Egypt, in the sight of the people.

(Exodus chapter 11 verse 3)

When God permits us to do something such as getting married or engaging on a professional work or becoming a priest, God gives us all the needed resources, however when it is not the will of God, on the contrary God closes all the doors so that we will not get hurt by means of our wrong decisions. So when we feel that we really want something at all costs, and we cannot obtain our goal, we are to stop pray and reflect, whether our desire is according to the will of God or not.



4. Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go out through Egypt. 5. Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the female slave who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the livestock.

(Exodus chapter 11 verse 4 to 5)



Finally God played his trump card. The Pharaoh had been shown too many yellow cards, received many warnings and even experienced the wrath and power of God by means of many signs and wonders. Now he had overdid it and God had to take action. It was now time to free His people. God had to implement a means that was beyond reverse and that the Pharaoh would directly be affected by.



6. Then there will be a loud cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as has never been or will ever be again. 7. But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites-not at people, not at animals-so that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8. Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, leave us, you and all the people who follow you.' After that I will leave." And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.


(Exodus chapter 11 verses 6 to 8)



When God grants fool liberation and protection He is sincere and true. As in the case of chosen people of God to whom He granted full protection God will also assist us during our moments of help. In the New Testament God did not permit the person in the parable to remove the wheat from the bad seed sown by God's enemy. This would have been showing positive partiality in favour of those who wilfully wish to follow in God's steps, however in Exodus chapter 11 verse 7 God declares that He does make a distinction from those that are His to those who are not. Therefore we are to rest assured that He is always with us.


9. The LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."10. Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.


(Exodus chapter 11 verses 9 to 10)


In contrast to the given situation where the Pharaoh is denying the people of God to leave Egypt in order to go and worship God, today in the year 2014 the people of God are still being denied access to the land promised to them by God. After 'World War 2' the British signed the 'Balfour Declaration' which gave the people of God the right to set up a nation in palestine and claim it as there own, however this declaration was violated by the British who in order to favour the Arab nations handed over the issue to the 'League of Nations' for more information please click on the following link


Balfour Document and League of Nations


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:

Oh God and loving father I humbly declare that I have not always obeyed your will. Moreover, I have not always accepted doing your will instead of mine in my life. I pray that You give me a spirit of obedience to Your Holy Will so that I can walk in Your ways. I would also like to offer a prayer on behalf of Your chosen people so that when You deem as being the proper again they will enter and occupy the land that You promised them as being their own forever,

Thank You God

Exodus chapter 10

EXODUS 

CHAPTER 

10

1. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials, in order that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2. and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them-so that you may know that I am the LORD."

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 1 to 2)

God has the ability to soften or harden the hearts of humanity, however this is always done with a particular purpose. When God hardens the heart of a person He always wants to give us a message about ourselves or a particular situation. So when we find ourselves confronted by a person or a situation we are to stop, pray and think about what God may be telling us. It might mean a moment of growth on some level or another.

3. So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 4 For if you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country.  5. They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land.They shall devour the last remnant left you after the hail, and they shall devour every tree of yours that grows in the field. 6. They shall fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and of all the Egyptians-something that neither your parents nor your grandparents have seen from the day they came on earth to this day." Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 3 to 6)


On reflecting if God had to ask a question about us it would may be the following;


'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? What has to happen more in the world that would convince you that I am God and not yourselves. How long will you keep on playing God and destroying each other and the world that I have created?


In order to view the plague of Locusts please click on the following link:

Plague of Locusts


7. Pharaoh's officials said to him, How long shall this fellow be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God: do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?"

(Exodus chapter 10 verse 7)


As people who believe in God we are stumbling blocks to unbelievers in the sense that if we stick firm to our belief in God and His Holy Word we will challenge the current trends and biases that some of them offer a direct challenge to the Word of God.


On reflecting the Empire of Egypt was still standing boldly and physically, however the administration of the Pharaoh was crumbling. Psychologically the officials of the Pharaoh had already given up in favour of God Almighty. Nobody can withstand the power and might of God not even the devil who trembles when His name is mentioned.


8. So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go worship the LORD your God! But which one's are to go?" 9. Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old; we will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, because we have the LORD's festival to celebrate."

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 8 to 9)



Some people would really like to have a relationship with God, as in the case of the Pharaoh, however as in the case of the latter he outlined the terms and conditions as in which areas of his life God was to be active. This is something that we are all prone to do with God. I may accept God in my prayer life or as 'baby Jesus', I may also do the best to love and respect others, but I will never invite Jesus at my place of work or in my business so that my operations and or financial transactions, will be more honest and fruitful. On the other hand I may give God a place in my present life, but will not permit Him to enter into my past that is full of hurts and that needs intensive care leading to my healing and becoming whole as a person and as a Christian. We may set boundaries for God thus making it hard for God to have a relationship with us, since God always respects our boundaries. God only violates the rule on perceiving (in human terms!) that we are going to be hurt or are in the process of hurting others.


10. He said to them, "The LORD indeed will be with you, if ever I let your little ones go with you! Plainly, you have some evil purpose in mind. 11. No, never! Your men may go and worship the LORD, for that is what you are asking." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 10 to 11)


Some people may have a hidden agenda such as the Pharaoh suspected. Even with God we might try to do the same thing. I might pray that my friend will win the lottery, while knowing well that my friend is so generous that he or she would willingly want to share the winnings with me. Therefore my hidden agenda will be successful at the cost of my friend's having to buy the ticket.


12. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may come upon it and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left. 13. So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night: when morning came, the east wind had brought the locusts.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 12 to 13)


When a word or command is uttered by God it is never wasted. The word of God is followed by action that takes place as a consequence. The same can be said to the Word of God that is transmitted to us by the priest or minister. Once the 'Word of God' has been proclaimed it will not go back to God without leaving its fruit in our hearts.


14. The locusts came upon all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever shall be again. 15. They covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was black; and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left; nothing green was left, no tree, no plant in the field in all the land of Egypt.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 14 to 15)


The land of Egypt became possessed by the Locusts which covered all the land of Egypt. Sin does the same thing. Just like a cancer it destroys the body  bit by bit until it is physically and spiritually destroyed. Therefore when the symptoms are detected at the early stage we are to do our best to take action and go for confession.


16. Pharaoh hurriedly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, " I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17. Do forgive my sin just this once, and pray to the LORD your God that at the least he remove this deadly thing from me."

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 16 to 17)


The first step towards repentance is that of admitting that we are sinners and that we have sinned against God and against each other. However the awareness as in the case of the Pharaoh is not enough if it is not accompanied by a sincere act of contrition or repentance.


18. So he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 19. The LORD changed the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea, not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 18 to 20)


On reflecting God has control over nature and not science and Technology. God has the authority to reverse the course of nature in order to suit His good purposes. So if somebody is worried about global warming God is the only reliable reference point to refer to. He is the Master builder and has all the necessary blue prints.


21. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt." 22. So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was dense darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23. People could not see one another, and for three days they could not move from where they were: but all the Israelites had light where they lived.

(Exodus chapter 10 verses 21 to 23)



Darkness is one of the consequences of sins. It may not manifest itself as in a total blackout or eclipse, but the effect of sin is so strong that it can cause us to lose our sense of direction and lose contact even with the here and now. The day to day life patterns and mental attitude and behaviour can also be negatively effected. In the case that a person has an illicit relationship with another person while in marriage, that person's brain will compel him to want to spend time with the partner and not with his wife and family. The person becomes tense and restless and even violent or aggressive.  Sin is destroying his mind and changing his or her behaviour pattern, to the point that the Devil may have such a strong hold on the person that the marriage can easily come to an end.


24. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Only your flocks and your herds shall remain behind. Even your children may go with you." 25. But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must choose some of them for the worship of the LORD our God, and will not know what to use to worship until we arrive there.


(Exodus chapter 10 verses 24 to 26)


The Pharaoh is playing the game of compromise a means that ever since we existed we are professionals in using. We are never to compromise with the forces of evil or with sinful situations. The devil may persuade us that a one night stand is not bad, if your husband or wife is not giving you the needed attention, or maybe a little cannabis or alcohol is not that harmful compared to heroin or cocaine, but when the intensity of the need is stimulated in the brain the damage is at times non reversible and at times even fatal


27. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was unwilling to let them go. 28. Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Take care that you do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die." 29. Moses said, "Just as you say! I will never see your face again."


.(Exodus chapter 10 verses 27 to 29)

   
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:

Oh loving father thank You for delivering me from situations where I was really stubborn. This is one of my weakest points. I pray that You give me a new brain that thinks like You a new heart that is loving and compassionate like yours. I also pray for humility so that Your will be done and not mine. Thanks for these precious moments of prayers for they are indeed precious.

Thank You God