The passage for today continues the discussion of the consecration of the firstborn, and extends the concept to cattle and other animals as well. This will further serve as a reminder of the delivering power of God. He then went further and told them to preserve the story through frontlets and a sign on your … Continue reading Which Way Do We Go? (Exodus 13:11-22)
Consecration and Leaven (Exodus 13:1-10)
As Moses is leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt, God chooses to elaborate on two of the finer points of the Passover instructions: the consecration of the firstborn and the forbidding of the use of leaven during the feast. In the matter of consecration, each family would be required--since God spared them during … Continue reading Consecration and Leaven (Exodus 13:1-10)
The Exodus Begins (Exodus 12:31-51)
Once the firstborn of all Egyptian households was stricken, God instructed Moses and Aaron to be gone and the bless the Lord. The Egyptian people, weary from the plagues and losses, urged the Israelites to go, and Israel easily plundered the Egyptians, taking their jewels and fine metals. A mixed multitude left Egypt, over six … Continue reading The Exodus Begins (Exodus 12:31-51)
The Passover and the Death of the Firstborn: Plague Ten (Exodus 12:1-30)
The Passover is one of the primary feasts of Israel. It marked the beginning month of the year. On the tenth of the month, they would take a lamb without blemish, a male about a year old. The lamb would be killed at twilight on the 14th of the month, roasted in fire, and eaten … Continue reading The Passover and the Death of the Firstborn: Plague Ten (Exodus 12:1-30)
One Last God Conquered: Plague Nine (Exodus 10:21-11:10)
The Sun-god of Egypt, Ra, was a powerful deity in the nation of Egypt. Ra was thought to be "the father of the gods, head of the great ennead (Chuck Pierce)." He was thought, perhaps, to be the greatest of all the Egyptian gods. God was making a definitive statement, a crowning win over the … Continue reading One Last God Conquered: Plague Nine (Exodus 10:21-11:10)
Here Come the Locusts: Plague Eight (Exodus 10:1-20)
Pharaoh entertains Moses and Aaron again after consultation with his advisors. They made sure that he understood that the nation was practically in ruins, as a result of the plagues of the Lord. He tentatively agrees to let them go into the wilderness to sacrifice to their God, but when they said that everyone must … Continue reading Here Come the Locusts: Plague Eight (Exodus 10:1-20)
The Hard Heart: Plagues Six and Seven (Exodus 9:8-35)
In the accounts of plagues six and seven, we find a new development in the saga of Moses v. Pharaoh, God v. the gods. The development is this: for the first time in the story, the Scriptures record that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. In every plague up to the fifth, the stories recorded that Pharaoh … Continue reading The Hard Heart: Plagues Six and Seven (Exodus 9:8-35)
Lord of the Flies: Plagues Four and Five (Exodus 8:20-9:7)
In the story of the fourth plague on Egypt, God threatens to and then does send flies all over Egypt, which contaminates the entire land. In this case, however, the writer makes it clear that the plague does not touch the land of Goshen, which is the dwelling place of the Israelites. So not only … Continue reading Lord of the Flies: Plagues Four and Five (Exodus 8:20-9:7)
The Finger of God: Plague Three (Exodus 8:16-19)
After the first two plagues, God's superiority was established over the false gods of the Egyptians. Now, God instructs Aaron to strike the dust of the ground and that all the dust would turn into lice. He did as God commanded, and then the lice appeared and attached to all the people of Egypt. Just … Continue reading The Finger of God: Plague Three (Exodus 8:16-19)
The First Two Plagues: God[Yahweh] v. gods[The Nile and Heqet] (Exodus 7:14-8:15)
God tells Moses how that Pharaoh's hard was hardened, then proceeded to instruct him on how to inflict the first plague. Many inanimate objects and animals were regarded as gods in the Egyptian nation. In the first plague, Moses was sent to turn the Nile River to blood, as well as all the water of … Continue reading The First Two Plagues: God[Yahweh] v. gods[The Nile and Heqet] (Exodus 7:14-8:15)
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