Moses: the Chosen One (Exodus 1-12)
-It is likely that the exodus happened around BC 1445. A lot of data on Exodus cannot be historically placed. While a lot about the origins of Exodus is highly debated in intellectual circles, the unity of the Word of God provides me enough data to convince me about the authenticity of the Exodus story.
-The pharaoh of verse 8 may not be the same as the one in 1:15, and may not be the same as the one in 2:15. There could be at least 4 different pharaohs in the chapter 1-2. A long period is covered in these chapters.
-Note that God remembered the names of the two midwives, not the pharaohs. God remembers a lot of VIP's who are seemingly smaller, lesser ones while in the World.
-Isn't it interesting that God uses Pharaoh's daughter to bring forth the man who would eventually rescue Israel from the Pharaoh.
-Note the last paragraph in Exodus 2 where it says the Israelite's cried out to the Lord. God hears their cry. It is possible that God was ready to deliver them and was waiting for such a response from Israel.
I believe the moment when God chose Moses to be the chosen one to liberate Israelites happened when he stepped out of his comfort zone as a prince to walk into the world of the suffering Israelites (Exodus 2:11). God sees our response to the suffering that is around us. He may pick us for specific purpose based on our response. Remember this point, and meditate on it.
Exodus 4:12 - "Now therefore go, and I will be with you and teach you what to say"
The burning bush - a theophany (a physical encounter with God)
Jehovah (the Angel of the Lord) appears in a physical appearance of God himself with man.
This is the first time the word Holy is used as an adjective in bible. It's not a holy thing - does not mean that the object is blameless, it only means that the object is set apart for the exclusive use of God.
In this encounter, God takes the initiative of meeting with Moses. It has been four centuries since God talked to man. Forty years ago, Moses went searching for God when he thought he was the deliverer of Israel. Here, God comes searching for Moses. The redemption of mankind is initiated by God. He initiates the encounter that saves you and me. We have a luxury of the written word of God that speaks to us. Moses did not have it.
Chapter 3 verse 7-8
God sees
God hears
God speaks
God saves
God sends
God's name: "I am who I am" - "I will be what I will be"
Here God explains the name Yahweh. It points to the self existence of God. It is something we cannot ever relate to. God as a just God is something we can relate to. But his 'self-existence' is something we can never comprehend.
God's self-existence means:
- he has no needs
- he is not affected by anything outside himself (he cannot be pushed to do anything, he does hear cries and moves to it, but it is at his time)
- he never changes
Moses' questions God (Exodus 3-4)
- Who am I?
- What's you name?
-Why should they believe me?
- Why me?
- Why not someone else?
Exodus 5-7: Moses encounters Pharaoh
What would have happened if Pharaoh had given the permission to go worship the Lord for 3 days?
God says beforehand that the Pharaoh will not permit the Jews. Maybe it is given here to just show how harsh the Pharaoh was.
What you can see from these events is that the Gods of Egypt is also powerful and demonic. They also reproduce a lot of 'miracles'. But they have limited power. In this power encounter (between Kingdom of the demons and God), the demonic forces does strike back. But God always wins. Watch for evil miracles as end times approach. Never assume that the demons of the world are powerless.
Moses' staff has an important lesson for us. God shows him something wonderful with the staff and checks to see if Moses trusts God ("pick up the snake"). If we do that, God has a remarkable habit of using whatever we have in our hand to serve his purpose - as a mighty instrument of his.
"I have hardened the Pharaoh's heart". Romans 9 confirms this. But chapter 8 in Exodus shows that the Pharaoh himself refused to heed the warning from Moses. God uses the powerful to teach us a lesson in faith - He is sovereign. He has a plan for redemption of his people. Men and women are responsible for all the
choices that they make.
Finally, note that God's first wrath was against the Nile, which is a source of a lot of religious significance in Egypt.
Exodus 8-10: The ten plagues
-Examine the struggle of Pharaoh against God. The lesson for us is that such a struggle is futile.
-Pharaoh then tries to negotiate - you can go worship, but do not leave Egypt. Lesson: Do not negotiate with God. It is futile.
-Examine how Pharaoh hardens his own heart.
-See how Pharaoh's repentance differs from the repentance that God expects.
-Note that each of the plagues were targeted against specific Gods of Egyptians.
-Note that the Pharaoh's prophets could also do some miracles - but they could not reverse them, like how Moses could do. As the plagues progress, the Pharaoh's prophets were unable to do anything at all.
We read through an exciting period in the history of our faith. How does it apply to us in today's world? Think about it.
-It is likely that the exodus happened around BC 1445. A lot of data on Exodus cannot be historically placed. While a lot about the origins of Exodus is highly debated in intellectual circles, the unity of the Word of God provides me enough data to convince me about the authenticity of the Exodus story.-The pharaoh of verse 8 may not be the same as the one in 1:15, and may not be the same as the one in 2:15. There could be at least 4 different pharaohs in the chapter 1-2. A long period is covered in these chapters.
-Note that God remembered the names of the two midwives, not the pharaohs. God remembers a lot of VIP's who are seemingly smaller, lesser ones while in the World.
-Isn't it interesting that God uses Pharaoh's daughter to bring forth the man who would eventually rescue Israel from the Pharaoh.
-Note the last paragraph in Exodus 2 where it says the Israelite's cried out to the Lord. God hears their cry. It is possible that God was ready to deliver them and was waiting for such a response from Israel.
I believe the moment when God chose Moses to be the chosen one to liberate Israelites happened when he stepped out of his comfort zone as a prince to walk into the world of the suffering Israelites (Exodus 2:11). God sees our response to the suffering that is around us. He may pick us for specific purpose based on our response. Remember this point, and meditate on it.
Exodus 4:12 - "Now therefore go, and I will be with you and teach you what to say"
The burning bush - a theophany (a physical encounter with God)
Jehovah (the Angel of the Lord) appears in a physical appearance of God himself with man.
This is the first time the word Holy is used as an adjective in bible. It's not a holy thing - does not mean that the object is blameless, it only means that the object is set apart for the exclusive use of God.
In this encounter, God takes the initiative of meeting with Moses. It has been four centuries since God talked to man. Forty years ago, Moses went searching for God when he thought he was the deliverer of Israel. Here, God comes searching for Moses. The redemption of mankind is initiated by God. He initiates the encounter that saves you and me. We have a luxury of the written word of God that speaks to us. Moses did not have it.
Chapter 3 verse 7-8
God sees
God hears
God speaks
God saves
God sends
God's name: "I am who I am" - "I will be what I will be"
Here God explains the name Yahweh. It points to the self existence of God. It is something we cannot ever relate to. God as a just God is something we can relate to. But his 'self-existence' is something we can never comprehend.
God's self-existence means:
- he has no needs
- he is not affected by anything outside himself (he cannot be pushed to do anything, he does hear cries and moves to it, but it is at his time)
- he never changes
Moses' questions God (Exodus 3-4)
- Who am I?
- What's you name?
-Why should they believe me?
- Why me?
- Why not someone else?
Exodus 5-7: Moses encounters Pharaoh
What would have happened if Pharaoh had given the permission to go worship the Lord for 3 days?
God says beforehand that the Pharaoh will not permit the Jews. Maybe it is given here to just show how harsh the Pharaoh was.
What you can see from these events is that the Gods of Egypt is also powerful and demonic. They also reproduce a lot of 'miracles'. But they have limited power. In this power encounter (between Kingdom of the demons and God), the demonic forces does strike back. But God always wins. Watch for evil miracles as end times approach. Never assume that the demons of the world are powerless.
Moses' staff has an important lesson for us. God shows him something wonderful with the staff and checks to see if Moses trusts God ("pick up the snake"). If we do that, God has a remarkable habit of using whatever we have in our hand to serve his purpose - as a mighty instrument of his.
"I have hardened the Pharaoh's heart". Romans 9 confirms this. But chapter 8 in Exodus shows that the Pharaoh himself refused to heed the warning from Moses. God uses the powerful to teach us a lesson in faith - He is sovereign. He has a plan for redemption of his people. Men and women are responsible for all the
choices that they make.
Finally, note that God's first wrath was against the Nile, which is a source of a lot of religious significance in Egypt.
Exodus 8-10: The ten plagues
-Examine the struggle of Pharaoh against God. The lesson for us is that such a struggle is futile.
-Pharaoh then tries to negotiate - you can go worship, but do not leave Egypt. Lesson: Do not negotiate with God. It is futile.
-Examine how Pharaoh hardens his own heart.
-See how Pharaoh's repentance differs from the repentance that God expects.
-Note that each of the plagues were targeted against specific Gods of Egyptians.
-Note that the Pharaoh's prophets could also do some miracles - but they could not reverse them, like how Moses could do. As the plagues progress, the Pharaoh's prophets were unable to do anything at all.
We read through an exciting period in the history of our faith. How does it apply to us in today's world? Think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment