WHINY, FUSSY, CRYBABIES

In the days following God’s miraculous salvation through the crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites show what they’re made of. As a nation, they are very childlike… always whining and complaining, not really listening to their leader, and being incredibly selfish and self-centered.

Not very commendable for a nation that is God’s chosen people! In these three stories, we can glean some insights into the nature of people (which includes ourselves) and into what God wanted from Israel (and wants from us)… Continue reading “MOSES – PART II – WEDNESDAY – WK 6”

THE PATH TO FREEDOM

Israel is free and on its way back to the Promised Land.

But the Lord does not take them on a path directly to the land of Canaan. Instead they are led out of their way along the shoreline of the Red Sea… Continue reading “MOSES – PART II – TUESDAY – WK 6”

THE PASSOVER LAMB

The tenth plague was what put everything over the top. God had shown over and over again that He was real and superior to the Egyptian gods, yet Pharaoh would not be swayed. But after the plague on the firstborn, Pharaoh finally gave in.

The plague on the firstborn is the hardest to swallow. It seems so harsh, even unfair. Every firstborn son in Egypt died. In this plague God was bringing his judgment down on the people of Egypt. They had taken the lives of countless newborn Israelite sons, and now a similar tragedy would strike them.

This plague put the fear of the Lord in all the Egyptians including Pharaoh. It was, quite possibly, the only thing that would get their attention and be the necessary motivation to let the Israelites go. Continue reading “MOSES – PART II – MONDAY – WK 6”

CLASH OF THE TITANS

There are a couple movies out right now that have mythological gods fighting each other and fighting humans. Admittedly, I think these movies look pretty entertaining, but it would also be frightening to find yourself mixed up in all of that.

Well, this storyline is essentially what we see playing out between Moses and Pharaoh with the ten plagues that God brings upon the Egyptians.

The Egyptian people worshiped dozens of gods. In the way that God brings His people out of Egypt, God is showing His people, and really the whole world at the time, that He alone is the one true God. Continue reading “MOSES – FRIDAY – WK 5”

OFF TO A ROUGH START

After 40 years, Moses returns to Egypt with his brother Aaron at his side. They show the Israelites the miraculous signs; they are convinced and worship God.

They are ecstatic that God is going to set them free!

Then Moses and Aaron go and talk to Pharaoh. This does not go as well.

The man who is now Pharaoh is quite possibly someone who grew up at the same time as Moses did in Pharaoh’s house. It is possible that Moses and this man were at one time friends; it is very likely that they were at least acquaintances. Continue reading “MOSES – THURSDAY – WK 5”

A RELUCTANT HERO

God has chosen Moses to be His point person to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. But Moses is not very gung ho about this. In fact, he comes up with 5 questions and excuses why this is a bad idea.

Exodus 3:11-12

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” Continue reading “MOSES – WEDNESDAY – WK 5”

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

Drawn Out

Exodus 2:1-10

About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Continue reading “MOSES – TUESDAY – WK 5”

FROM RICHES TO RAGS

Before we’re introduced to Moses, we need to check out the back story from Joseph to Moses, which is told in Exodus 1.

For a long time, the children of Jacob/Israel and their families were honored guests in the land of Egypt. They lived in the region of Goshen, a fruitful land where they were safe and able to prosper in possessions and in size.

But as the years went by, what Joseph had done for the nation of Egypt was forgotten, and a new king looked at these Israelites and was afraid of them. So he decided that for the preservation of his own people, these honored guests must be forced to become lowly slaves.

And God’s chosen people were slaves in another country for 400 years… Continue reading “MOSES – MONDAY – WK 5”

THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE

The famine is bad and everywhere. It is bad where Jacob lives with his eleven sons and their families. Word comes to Jacob that food can be purchased in Egypt, so he sends ten of his sons to go and bring back food.

He does not let Benjamin, his youngest son, go because he can’t bear the thought of losing him. Benjamin is Joseph’s full brother, the daughter of Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife.

In Egypt, Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. Joseph takes out his father Jacob’s playbook and uses a little trickery to play mind games with his brothers.

Long story short, he makes them bring Benjamin back with them, and then makes it look like Benjamin has stolen from him and must become his prisoner. And that is where we’ll pick up the story… Continue reading “JOSEPH – FRIDAY – WK 4”

FROM ZERO TO HERO

Genesis 41:1-57

Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 2 In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 3 Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 4 Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. Continue reading “JOSEPH – THURSDAY – WK 4”