Notes on Exodus 14-17

 

Pharaoh has finally let the people go and they are headed to the Promised Land armed for battle. However, armed for battle does not mean ready for battle, as we shall read. God is leading the way and Pharaoh has changed his mind. He wants the people back. God knows the people are not ready to face Pharaoh. God knows the people do not trust Him fully so it is time for a little exercise known in the Bible as a trial.

 This trial has several goals. It will bring the people to the place where their heart and true beliefs are revealed. This is rarely pleasant but absolutely necessary if they are to grow stronger in the Lord by faith.  Trials also demonstrate God’s power over the enemy and the old way of life, thus developing trust in God. Finally, through the trial, God will be glorified.

 God is leading the people with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. As night falls on the people they come to the sea and realize that Pharaoh and his army are in hot pursuit.  The trial has come upon the people and they respond in fear. Unexpected is what God does next. He switches the cloud and the pillar of fire. The pillar of fire is now in front of the people and the cloud behind. The light is leading the way for Israel through the sea which God parted, while Pharaoh is in the dark following behind. 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  NASB

 Israel following the pillar of fire through the parted sea crosses on dry land arriving safely on the other side. Pharaoh, following in the dark, finally comes to his destruction.

 God is praised in Chapter 15 but before the chapter is over the people are having water problems. In the first water crisis they faced, water was blocking the way;  in the second crisis they could not find water until they came to Marah. There they found the water bitter and the bitter water brought out the bitterness in them. Trials reveal what is in the heart. Trials are also God’s way of training us. God gives them a conditional promise in 15:26.

 In Capter 16 the people grumble again. This time the problem is food. God provides bread from heaven along with quail.  He also gives specific instruction regarding the collecting of the manna. This will be a test to see if they follow the instruction in 15:26.

 Again in Chapter 17 there is no water but there is plenty of grumbling. There is also a new threat.  Amalek attacks Israel. We are introduced to Joshua who leads the Israelites into battle. He is victorious with a little help from Moses, Aaron, and Hur. God tells Moses to be sure and write down the details of the victory making sure Joshua gets a copy.  He is going to need it; God has big plans for him in the future.

 We all go through trials just as the people of Israel did.  It is important for us to look, observe, and learn. Hopefully, we won’t make the same mistakes. Remember that though God may seem distant in the trial He is as close as a prayer.  He will never leave you or forsake you.

 I like to keep a journal of blessings. Whenever there is a blessing or a victory in a trial I am going through I write it in my journal.  When people grumble against God they cannot see God but they see God’s people. God’s people, like Moses, become the target of the grumbling. When this happens I like to get out my journal and remind myself of the victories.  I think that was the reason God had the victory against the Amalekites recorded and given to Joshua. There will always be trials. I have found that my book of blessings helps the grumbling roll off rather than sticking.

 Expect trials. Glorify God. Be blessed.

Pastor Dave

Notes on Exodus 11-13

 

It is unclear how much of the conversation between God and Moses was heard by the Israelites, but they were certainly in the place where they experienced and observed the plagues. Understanding and knowledge are largely learned from experience and observation. Verse 3 in Chapter 11 makes it clear that when Moses spoke, people listened. This is important because God is going to bring on one more plague and, unlike the latter plagues, this one will affect Israel as well.

 In one night the first born will die, whether they are the first born of Pharaoh or the first born of a slave girl. Both man and beast will suffer the loss of the first born. This will also include Israel.

 There is a way of escape however, the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. God gives detailed instructions regarding the sacrifice of this lamb from selection to how they are to eat it.  Also they are told to put the blood of the Passover Lamb on the door post and the lintels of their houses.

 Now at this point one might scoff saying, “What is putting the blood on the front of my house going to do?  We are in a crisis here with all these plagues! Let’s leave town and come back when all this blows over.” Or one might respond saying, “This is not going to happen! Pharaoh’s magicians will take care of this, so no worries.”

 It is important to understand that whatever the people’s response will be it would be based on what they believed and then their actions would follow. This of course is faith. In this case the people had to put their faith in the words of God that Moses spoke. They didn’t have to understand how putting the blood on the door frame was going to save their firstborn, they just had to believe and act.

 It is clear that God wants us to respond to Him by faith.  He makes known His plan in His Word. The Word tells us we must be born again. The Word tells us we are born again if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word tells us that Jesus is coming again as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Word gives us promise after promise, but all of the above must be received by faith and from our faith our actions will follow because our actions are always based on where or what we have put our faith and hope in.  Make no mistake, if we say we believe in Jesus but everything we do is for ourselves and based in the things of the world we may need to take a second look at what we truly believe and in whom or what we really trust.

 God doesn’t ask us to be perfect. He knows we have a sin nature and we will fail at times.  He does ask us to listen to what He has to say in His Word and put our faith in Him. From faith in Him we are to live our life. For Egypt and Israel God told Moses to tell the people that life was going to dramatically change for everyone in one night.  How each person was affected by what took place was based on what they believed and acted on.

 Do you know where your faith is? Is it time to look at what you are doing to find where your faith is? In our text today we see that being short of faith and a day late was a disaster.

 Take inventory.

Pastor Dave