Pastor Billington's Blog

Exodus 11

The Egyptian people understand that something miraculous is going on. My guess is they’re a little scared! They are more than willing to provide resources to the Israelites, just as God predicted.

Exodus 3:21-22 (WEB) “I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her who visits her house, jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing.”

Once again, this final miracle is to show God’s glory, but is it more than that? There is a reckoning coming for the death of the Hebrew children. It’s brutal, but we’ll see that even the Israelites won’t necessarily be saved from it.

Thought for the day: People are supposed to see God’s glory in/through us too, and it should cause them to react!

Matthew 5:16 (WEB) “Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Exodus 10

Pharoah continues his pattern. He starts out being repentant but then recants. At first, it’s because the Israelites want to take their children with them, and then it’s because they want to take their herds.

Pharoah’s response in verse 28 almost seems over-the-top. Has he simply reached his limit? Or is there more to it? There’s a good chance that Moses tells him about the death of the firstborn here, and we have the recap in chapter 11. That would explain his outburst, and Moses’ response: “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”

Thought for the day: It’s quite the spiritual image: darkness all around, but not with those that know the Lord!

Isaiah 9:2 (WEB) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.”

Exodus 9

God continues to lay waste to the Egyptian gods and goddesses. There are several that are represented by cows, including Hathor, the goddess of protection. Sekhment is the goddess of the plague, and Nut is the sky goddess. God reveals that He is the own who controls their food and health, and that He protects those that are His own. He also allows Moses to tell Pharoah that there is no way out at this point. They have enslaved and looked down on the Hebrew people, even to the point of making them kill their children. The Egyptians are going to learn to fear the one true God!

Exodus 9:16 (WEB) “but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth”

We also see that some people are already beginning to get the message.

Exodus 9:20 (WEB) “Those who feared the LORD’s word amongst the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses.”

Thought for the day: We should be thankful that God promises to care for and protect us. That doesn’t mean we’ll never experience trouble. But it does mean that we are His forever!

John 10:27-29 (WEB) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Exodus 8

How do you show the difference between miracles and magic? You do something magic can’t duplicate, and you make it do something completely unnatural: “I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen.”

Pharoah does what so many do. He’s willing to lie to get concessions, but then he goes back on his promise. Does he harden his heart, or does God, or is it a combination of both? We know that God does (7:3), and it states here repeatedly that Pharoah does. It could be that Pharoah hardened his heart, and God in His sovereignty allowed it, effectively hardening Pharoah’s heart. But it seems to be more than that:

Romans 9:17-18 (WEB) “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.”

Pharoah was a petulant king. I’m sure that he hardened his own heart. But, when he was wavering, God hardened his heart for him. After all, God had a purpose behind it all!

Thought for the day: Unlike Pharoah, we should make sure that we are truthful and honest in our dealings.

Matthew 5:37 (WEB) “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”

Exodus 7

Exodus 7:5 (WEB)“The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring the children of Israel out from amongst them.“

Perhaps we should understand this to mean ‘the one and only Lord.’ After all, one of the points of God’s miraculous acts was to prove His sovereignty.

Exodus 12:12 (WEB)“I will execute judgements against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.”

The Nile was supposed to be the bloodstream of Osiris. Apis was depicted as a sacred bull. Sekhmet was the goddess of medicine. Nut was the sky goddess; Set, the storm god; and Ra was the sun god. It’s possible that, by each of the plagues, God is showing His power and authority over specific realms that the Egyptians had assigned to different gods. That would also explain why God hardens Pharaoh’s heart (7:3). He has a point to prove!

Thought for the day: The Egyptian priests were able to mimic some of the signs. That should be a reminder to us that we need to be discerning about what we believe and who we listen to.

Matthew 24:24 (WEB) “For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”

Exodus 6

This comes right after Moses cries out to God to find out why his people are experiencing so much trouble. God uses the opportunity to remind Moses that He is “I am,” He is “Lord,” and that He is “God Almighty.” He is sovereign, He is Savior, and He is eternal and all-powerful. He has a plan, and Moses is supposed to be His prophet. Moses still balks however, and God reminds him that Aaron will be his mouthpiece. The genealogy shows how Moses and Aaron are in the lineage of the promise, as well as foreshadowing the future priestly line.

Exodus 6:26-27 (WEB) “These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, ‘Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.’ These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.”

Thought for the day: Sometimes we need a reminder of who God is in order to fully trust Him.

Job 42:1-6 (WEB) “Then Job answered the LORD: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained. You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” therefore I have uttered that which I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know. You said, “Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’ “

Exodus 5

How quickly the people go from worship (4:31), to fear and anger. They were just told that God had remembered them. It’s quite likely that Moses revealed (through Aaron) that God was going to deliver them from bondage. They were probably excited about the chance to worship God, but they instead received additional work and were accused of laziness. They get upset with Moses, and Moses gets upset with God!

The key word here is expectations. We get into trouble when we expect things to happen, or things to happen in a particular way, and then they don’t. It can make us angry! But things happen, good and bad, and God uses all those things to work in our lives. And His promises always come to pass, but not necessarily according to our timing.

Thought for the day: When things don’t go the way we want, do we get mad, or do we trust?

Isaiah 55:8 (WEB) ” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,’ says the LORD.”

Exodus 4

Was it surprising that Moses was reluctant to serve God, even after God showed him miraculous deeds. God even got angry with him! I find it interesting that, as time goes on, Moses seems to end up speaking for himself. I think this happens a lot. Once we get over our own individual reluctance to serve, we become more comfortable as time goes on. Sometimes it just takes that first step of faith.

Some people still find circumcision to be distasteful and horrid. When God gave it to his people it was to physically show that they were different from the other nations and to mark them as his special people. It was also a sign of obedience and devotion. It was supposed to remind them that their hearts were to be as committed to God as their bodies! Physical or outward signs of our devotion to God are only good if they are accurate. They need to be a representation of hearts that are wholly devoted to God and that want to serve Him.

Romans 2:28-29 (WEB) “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.”

“The people believed…” After those signs, who wouldn’t! But that doesn’t mean smooth sailing. There are still rough patches ahead for both the people and Moses.

Thought for the day: Serving God is a day-by-day commitment. It requires diligence, devotion, and dedication.

Matthew 16:24 (WEB) “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’ “

Exodus 3

God has not forgotten His people, and Moses is a big part of His plans for them. Moses is concerned. Why would Pharoah listen to him? Why would the Israelites listen to him? How should he reveal who God is to them? God says, “I AM WHO I AM.” It could mean one or, more likely, all of the following: 1) that He is self-existent (He was not created), 2) that He is the creator and sustainer of all that exists, 3) that He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (which means that His character doesn’t ever change), or 4) that He is eternal.

What is amazing is that Jesus identifies Himself in the same way: “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM” (John 8:58, WEB). After that declaration, the religious leaders immediately try to stone Him! Why? Because they understood what He was saying – He was making Himself God. And this is one of the reasons why we believe that God is triune, or three in one: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the day: If we are ever concerned about our ability to serve God, we should remember that the creator and sustainer of the universe who is all powerful, eternal, and doesn’t change, is working for us and in us!

Philippians 2:13 (WEB) “For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”