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How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 17

Pharoah has a change of heart.

God speaks to Moses:

“Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told. Ex. 14:2 – 4. NLT

God gains glory by rewarding good and punishing evil. Dennis Prager: Exodus: God, Slavery, and Freedom.

Where Jehovah told Moses to have the Israelites camp left them in a place where they were trapped against the Red Sea.

            Meanwhile, back at Pharaoh’s palace, he is now regretting (God is hardening his heart once more) his decision to free the Hebrews:

 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. Ex. 14:5 – 8. NLT

            When Pharaoh’s vast army became visible, the Israelites panicked – crying out to God and rebuking Moses, saying it would be better to be a slave in Egypt than to be killed in the wilderness.

            However, this is not the same old Moses. Having been the conduit of God’s judgments upon Egypt, he has learned that Jehovah is a promise-keeper and that He is omnipotent. He addresses the people powerfully:

“Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Ex. 14:13, 14. AMP

            As per God’s instruction, Moses tells the Hebrews to face the sea. Then, again, at the behest of Jehovah, he raises his staff over the sea. Simultaneously, the angel of the LORD that was leading the people moved between the Hebrews and the Egyptian army, separating the two until the Hebrews could escape:

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and turned the seabed into dry land, and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Ex. 14:21, 22. AMP

            The Israelites crossed the sea. The Egyptian army pursued them, but things didn’t work out so well for them.

So it happened at the early morning watch [before dawn], that the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and put them in a state of confusion. He made their chariot wheels hard to turn, and the chariots difficult to drive; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” Ex. 14:24, 25. AMP

            Notice that the Egyptians finally recognized the God of the Hebrews and the true God. They tried to escape, but Jehovah had Moses wave his hand over the sea and the walls of water drown every single soldier and Pharaoh as well.

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Ex. 14:31 NLT

            Moses then composed a song to glorify God and His victory.[1]

The Hebrews have a short memory.

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Wilderness of Shur; they went [a distance of] three days (about thirty-three miles) in the wilderness and found no water. Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink its waters because they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah (bitter). The people [grew discontented and] grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we going to drink?” Ex. 15:22 – 24. AMP

            The people have been delivered from bondage by their Creator, Who demonstrated, through His plagues, that He is the Master of all aspects of the Universe and over life itself. And just 3 days prior, He parted the Red Sea and crushed their enemies. O ye of little faith…

Then he cried to the Lord [for help], and the Lord showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. Ex. 15:25a. AMP

            When you think about it, this was a HUGE miracle. Two million plus people and their animals required sweet (potable) water to drink. God used that branch to convert what must have been a huge body of water.

            Then, Jehovah tells His children how to have a better life:

It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Ex. 15:25b, 26. NLT

            Afterwards, the people traveled to an oasis located about 60 miles southeast of Suez, named Elim, which is now called Wadi Garandel in present time. And they set up camp.

            The Hebrews complain again:

Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. Ex. 16:1, 2. NLT

            They are whining about not having meat or bread to eat and that they wished that God had killed them in Egypt instead of starving them to death in the wilderness. (Of course, they could have eaten some of their farm animals, but they needed them as provisions when they arrived in Canaan).

            Our most patient Creator comes to their rescue:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.” Ex. 16:4 NLT

            Aaron and Moses are angry with the Israelites for complaining about God:

“By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him.” Ex.16:6 – 8. NLT

            That very evening, huge flocks of quail entered the camp to provide meat, and in the next morning, the ground was covered with white wafers tasting of coriander and honey. The Israelites called it ‘manna’ which means ‘what is it?’

And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” Ex. 16:15, 16. NLT

            Moses also instructed them not to keep any manna overnight. Of course, there were some who disobeyed, and the manna became putrid and filled with maggots.

            On the sixth day of the Jewish week, they were allowed to gather twice as much, so that on the seventh, they would not have to gather manna on the Shabbat (Sabbath). This provision did not spoil. Manna did not come on the seventh day, even though some Israelites disobeyed again and tried to find some.

            Indeed, this was the commencement of the first Shabbat, as Moses explains:

“This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord…“Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord.” Ex. 16:23 & 25. NLT

            God is getting a little frustrated with those who disobey and asks Moses:

“How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. Ex. 16:28, 29. NLT

            Manna would stop flowing after the people would reach Canaan. So, God commanded that a two-quart container (called an ‘omer’), be filled with it and preserved for future generations to see. Moses eventually would place it in the ‘Ark of the Covenant’, kept in the Tabernacle that would be constructed when they got to Mount Sinai.

            That journey now begins again:

At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.

“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”

But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Ex. 17:1 – 3. NLT

            This is now the third time the Hebrews have complained against God and added Moses as their target as well. Moses entreats Jehovah to help him out, fearful for his very life. God answers:

The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Ex. 17:5, 6. NLT

            In short order, the Israelites were met with their fourth ‘crises, when attacked by the Amalekites. At this point, all we know is that they were descendants of Esau.[2] Neither do we know what motivated them to strike the Hebrews.

Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” Ex. 17:9 NLT.

            This is the first time Joshua is introduced. He would become a general for Moses and ultimately his successor. Battle time:

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Ex. 17:10 – 13. NLT

            That was God working through Moses.

            While still at Sinai, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came to visit, and reunited him with his wife and two sons. Jethro had heard of all the miraculous deliverances the God of the Hebrews provided for the Israelites.

            Subsequently, Jethro declared that Jehovah was greater than all other gods, (he, being a Midianite, i.e., ‘pagan’ priest himself). He watched Moses’ methods of governance where he submitted himself alone to be an intercessor between the people and God and representing God’s will for the people. In addition, Moses would play the part of a magistrate, settling disputes between the people. It took all day, and people would have to wait for hours.

            Jethro concluded that there was a better way, and offered Moses wise advice:

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.” Ex. 18:17 – 23. AMP

            Moses did so with great success. So, what just happened here? A Midianite priest formulated the entire Israelite judicial system. Fancy that…

            Next time, the Ten Commandments…

            Goodnight and God bless.

[1] Ex. 15:1 – 19.

[2] Gn. 36:12

How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 15

The Plagues / Miracles

After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” Ex. 5:1 NLT

            Moses is paraphrasing what God said. Moreover, he is making a demand of Pharaoh. This is exactly what Jehovah had previously told Moses:

“…go to the king of Egypt and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; so now, please, [we ask and plead with you,] let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’” Ex. 3:18 AMP

            God had said that He was to be addressed as the ‘God of the Hebrews’, something Pharaoh would more readily understand. And Moses and Aaron were to make a polite request of Pharaoh, with a definable time frame.

            So, Pharaoh gets his dander up:

“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.” Ex. 5:2 NLT

            Aaron and Moses take a step back and speak as God willed:

“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.” Ex. 5:3 NLT

            However, they did put in a comment that was not from God. The LORD did not say anything about divine retribution against the Hebrews, and Moses did not perform the miracle that God directed him to.[1]

            If anything, Pharaoh got angrier:

“Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your labor!” Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor.” Ex. 5:4, 5. CSB

            That very day, Pharaoh issued an edict saying that no longer would the Egyptians supply the Hebrews straw to make bricks. Instead, the Hebrews would have to scavenge it for themselves. Yet, they would still have to produce the same quota of bricks as they did before in the same timeframe!

            What was Pharaoh’s motivation?

Let labor be heavier on the men, and let them work [hard] at it so that they will pay no attention to [their God’s] lying words.” Ex. 5:9 AMP

            Things did not go well. The Egyptian ‘taskmasters’ beat the Hebrew foremen when the people did not perform.

            The foremen pleaded with Pharaoh:

“Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged. “We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!” Ex. 5:15, 16. NLT

            Pharaoh calls them lazy and tells them to go back to work. As the foremen are returning, they come upon Aaron and Moses and confront them:

“May the Lord look upon you and judge you, because you have made us odious (something hated) in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and you have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Ex. 5:21 AMP

            Of course, this was part of Pharaoh’s plan as well, to make Aaron and Moses the scapegoats. And Moses became disheartened and prayed to God:

“O Lord, why have You brought harm and oppression to this people? Why did You ever send me? [I cannot understand Your purpose!] Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmed and oppressed this people, and You have done nothing at all to rescue Your people.” Ex. 5:22, 23. AMP

            God answers Moses:

“Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will [not only] let them go, but under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.” Ex. 6:1 AMP

 “I am the Lord.I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Israel) as God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles]. I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as strangers (temporary residents, foreigners). Ex. 6:2 – 4. AMP

“…say to the children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage. I will redeem and rescue you with an outstretched (vigorous, powerful) arm and with great acts of judgment [against Egypt]. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God…” Ex. 6:6, 7. AMP

            Moses relayed God’s promise to the Israelites, but the message was not received well because of the forced labor that they were enduring.

            However, God is on the move:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now hear this: I make you as God to Pharaoh [to declare My will and purpose to him]; and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go out of his land. And I will make Pharaoh’s heart hard, and multiply My signs and My wonders (miracles) in the land of Egypt. Ex. 7:1 – 3. AMP

            Moses was 80 years old and Aaron 83 when they approached Pharaoh. As per Jehovah’s instructions, Aaron threw his staff to the ground, and it changed into a serpent. But Pharaoh called up his practitioners of dark arts, and they all produced serpents from their staffs as well.

            However, God shows His ultimate dominance over the dark arts by having Aaron’s serpent eat all the others.[2] But Pharaoh is unmoved. He does not free the Hebrews.

            God tells Moses and Aaron to approach Pharaoh by the Nile River and tell him that the God of the Hebrews says to let His people go into the wilderness to worship Him. Because Pharaoh has not done so, Jehovah will now demonstrate His divine power to change the river’s water into blood (first judgment):

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood!The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. Ex. 7:20, 21. NLT

            This was a demonstration of God’s power over the Egyptian’s pagan god of the River, Hapi. However, the Egyptian ‘magicians’ were also able to use their witchcraft to do similarly, compounding the effect of God’s judgment. 7 days would pass…

            At that time, Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh to demand the freedom for His children to worship Him in the wilderness, threatening to plague Egypt with frogs. This time, to demonstrate God’s power over the pagan Egyptian frog god, Heqt:

So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! Ex. 8:6 NLT

            Again, Pharaoh’s magicians were able to mimic this with their sorcery, which worsened  the (second plague) judgment’s effects.

It is at this juncture that Pharaoh appeals to Moses and Aaron, instead of his magicians, to ask their God (whom he now calls ‘YHWH’) to rid his nation of the frogs. Then he will allow the Hebrews to leave and worship Him. Moses, to further demonstrate Jehovah’s power, asks Pharaoh when he would like to be granted this relief. Pharaoh asked for it to come the next day.

And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died.The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. Ex. 8:13, 14. NLT

            Yet, just as God predicted, when Pharaoh got his relief, he hardened his heart and forbade the Hebrews their worship time in the wilderness.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become [biting] gnats (lice) throughout the land of Egypt.’” Ex. 8:16 AMP

            This third judgment was far more powerful. Pharaoh’s magicians could not replicate it. Pharaoh was again unmoved.

Now the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he is coming out to the water [of the Nile], and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. For if you do not let My people go, hear this: I will send swarms of [bloodsucking] insects on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of insects, as well as the ground on which they stand. 

But on that day I will separate and set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the earth. I will [c]put a division (distinction) between My people and your people. By tomorrow this sign shall be in evidence.”’” Ex. 8:20 – 23. AMP

            This fourth plague was an attack against the Egyptian god of the land, Geb. Notice that the Hebrews are now separated from the Egyptians in God’s eyes and will be unaffected by this trial. God also tells Pharaoh (through Moses), when this judgment will take place.

            Overwhelmed by insects, Pharaoh sends for Moses and Aaron and tells them that the Hebrews may worship their God, but only within the confines of Egypt. Moses negotiates with Pharaoh:

“It is not right [or even possible] to do that, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is repulsive and unacceptable to the Egyptians [that is, animals that the Egyptians consider sacred]. If we sacrifice what is repulsive and unacceptable to the Egyptians, will they not riot and stone us? We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us.” So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go…” Ex. 8:26 – 28. AMP

            However, when God removes the insect swarms, Pharaoh reneges again.

 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, now hear this: the hand of the Lord will fall on your livestock which are out in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks—a horrible plague shall come. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelites will die.”’” Ex. 9:1 – 4. AMP

            This fifth plague decimates the Egyptian livestock, but Pharaoh digs in his heels. This was an attack against an Egyptian male fertility god, Apis, represented as a bull, and / or Hathor, a goddess of the sky, symbolized as a cow.

God answers with a sixth judgment that only affects Egyptians and their animals – striking them with festering boils. Even Pharaoh’s magicians could not ward them off. This was an attack on Qadshu, goddess of sex, clearly suggesting the foci of these lesions.

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen. Ex. 9:12 NLT

            Notice that this is the first time that God has hardened Pharaoh’s heart – strengthening his resolve to exercise his free will. And God Himself tells us why:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 

By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth. 

But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt. Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.’” Ex. 9:13 – 19. NLT

            God is telling Pharaoh that He could have sent him and his subjects into oblivion at any time, but instead preserved them to wield His mighty miracles upon for the world to see and hear about. This is obviously strengthening the faith of the Israelites as well.

            We also see the grace of God as He gives the Egyptians and any of their animals a forewarning about the coming destruction, so that they could seek shelter and remain unharmed from the seventh judgment. God is making a large-scale demonstration of His power over everything. However the Pharaoh had this warning spread to his people, he had to be humbled at having to kowtow to serving God’s purposes.

            This was also an attack against the Egyptian god Seth of wind and storms.

…the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The Lord sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning. It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field—people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed. The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived. Ex. 9:23 – 26. NLT

            Pharaoh hastily sends for Aaron and Moses and admits that he and his people are in the wrong and that God is in the right. He pleads with them to speak with God to call off this plague, saying that he will let the Hebrews go.

            As soon as the hailstorm ends, Pharaoh returns to his rigid stance.

            God is getting ready to send Moses back to Pharaoh, but first tells him to remember why He sent the judgments, and to be sure to teach it to others:

“…tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.” Ex. 10:2 NLT

            Then Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh to warn him of the impending eighth plague:

“This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will bring a swarm of locusts on your country. They will cover the land so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will devour what little is left of your crops after the hailstorm, including all the trees growing in the fields.They will overrun your palaces and the homes of your officials and all the houses in Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt have your ancestors seen a plague like this one!” And with that, Moses turned and left Pharaoh. Ex. 10:3 – 6. NLT

            This can be God’s attack on the Egyptian gods Serapis (god of land protection), Isis (goddess of life), or Min (god of fertility and vegetation).

            Pharaoh’s advisors counseled him to not thwart the Hebrew God, feeling Egypt was about to be destroyed. Pharaoh demands that Moses and Aaron be brought back to him and angrily tells them that they could go worship, but he infers that some of the Hebrews must stay behind, so as not to flee Egypt for good.

            Moses retorts:

“We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.” Ex. 10:9 NLT

            Pharaoh has a fit and says only the Hebrew men can go, and he has Moses and Aaron expelled from the palace. The locusts strike:

…the locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt, settling in dense swarms from one end of the country to the other. It was the worst locust plague in Egyptian history, and there has never been another one like it. For the locusts covered the whole country and darkened the land. They devoured every plant in the fields and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt. Ex. 10:14, 15. NLT

            Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and fakes a little contrition, for a little forgiveness, just this once. God delivered. The locusts were cleared, and He hardens Pharaoh’s heart again.

            God works through Moses to bring the ninth plague upon Pharaoh and his people:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived. Ex. 10:21 – 23. NLT

            This would be an attack on the sun gods: Re, Ra, Amon-Re, Atem, Atum, and Horus.

            Pharaoh summons Moses and tells him that if he gets rid of the darkness, his people can worship God, but they cannot take their flocks and herds with them. Moses answers back that they need their flocks and herds present with them to determine which ones Jehovah would choose to sacrifice.

            Pharaoh rescinds the offer angrily:

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. Then Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get away from me! See that you never enter my presence again, for on the day that you see my face again you will die!”

Then Moses said, “You are correct; I will never see your face again!” Ex. 10:27 – 29. AMP

            God tells Moses that His delivery of His children will soon be complete:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will most certainly drive you out of here completely.Speak so that all of the people [of Israel] may hear, and tell every man to ask from his neighbor, and every woman to ask from her neighbor, articles of silver, and articles of gold.”

The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Ex. 11:1 – 3. AMP

            The Hebrews were slaves. They could not possess anything of great value. So, the ‘neighbors’ in question must be Egyptians, whom God has divinely convinced to be generous to His children.

            God then expounds upon His tenth and final judgment, which Moses relays to Pharaoh:

“This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at the grindstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock.Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before or ever will be again. But against all the Israelites, whether people or animals, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Get out, you and all the people who follow you. After that, I will get out.” And he went out from Pharaoh’s presence fiercely angry. Ex. 11:4 – 8. CSB

[1] Ex. 4:21

[2] Ex. 7:10 – 12.

Do You Need a Miracle?

It just so happens that God is in the miracle-making business…

            After Moses’ unsuccessful attempt to dissuade God, with regards to having to go to Egypt, to be Jehovah’s representative in the process of freeing the Hebrews from the Pharaoh’s oppression, (see my last post Fearless ), he and his brother Aaron made the journey. Moses was eighty years old.

And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and you brother Aaron shall be your Prophet.” Ex. 7:1 ESV

            Moses told Pharaoh that the God of the Hebrews demanded the release of His children, so that they could gather in the wilderness to worship Him. Pharaoh refused. In answer, God struck Egypt with ten plagues – each a miracle in their own right.

            The Nile river was turned into blood, the land was filled with frogs – followed by lice (or gnats, depending upon the translation), and then by flies. The Egyptian livestock was struck by disease, (the Hebrews’ livestock were unharmed). Egyptians were covered in boils. Hail and locusts decimated their crops. The light of the sun was blotted out for three days. Finally, the tenth plague brought death to all of the Egyptian firstborn, included those of their livestock.

            However, these plagues were not put upon the Egyptians just to incite Pharaoh into capitulating. God speaks to Pharaoh through Moses:

“For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put my hand out and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Ex. 9:14 – 16. ESV

            God is in control of everything. He even created Pharaoh just for these events. Jehovah is telling him that he could have killed him and his people at any time; but, He is using him and his obstinate posture to demonstrate His command over the entire earth. Indeed, God even gave Pharaoh that obstinance:

Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s sons the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you my know I am the LORD.” Ex. 10:1, 2. NKJV

            God purposely hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he wouldn’t let His children go, until all of the plagues were completed. One reason, was to show the Egyptians, (and all people who do not believe in God), that their ‘gods’ were no match for Him.

            However, God’s major intent was to demonstrate His complete command over the entire universe – both to the Hebrews and all the future generations of the children of God. We saw that He is Lord of the amphibian world, the insect world and the mammalian world.  Jehovah proved His Lordship over health, the waters of the earth and sky, and over the nature of the heavens. Finally, God showed us His sovereignty over life itself.

            Yet the miracles don’t end there. After the death of the Egyptian firstborn, Pharaoh let the Hebrews go, (after 430 years of captivity), to enter into the wilderness to begin their trek to the Promised Land. However, God hardens the heart of Pharaoh once more – leading him to decide to pursue the children of God with his army.

            The Hebrews have approached the Red Sea, when they see the army coming, and they panic, (already forgetting the mighty deeds that their God has done). He speaks to them through Moses:

“Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm, confident, undismayed] and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Ex. 14:13, 14. AMP

            What God promises any of His children in the past, also applies to all the future generations of them.

            Jehovah parts the Red Sea, allowing the Hebrews to cross, yet when the army follows in hot pursuit, God brings those walls of water crashing down upon them. Problem solved…

            God continued to work miracles through Moses and other prophets, like Ezekiel, Elijah and Elisha. They show up again in Samson, for Jonah, Daniel and the Apostles, and finally through Christ (raising the dead, healing the sick, commanding the weather, and walking on water, to name just a few).

            Ultimately, the miracles are for you. Jehovah is showing you that there is nothing that could ever get between you and His love(as long as you keep confessing and repenting when you sinfully slip). There is no mountain that He would not move for you, nor would He fail to part any ‘Red Sea’ blocking your path. God will deliver you from your circumstances and bring you closer to Him in the process:

You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. Ex. 15:13 ESV

            God will bring the entire universe to bear, to lift you out of your situations. That is BIG love. So, don’t be afraid to ask:

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Sam. 22:4 NKJV

…know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. Ps. 4:3 ESV

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Ps. 145:18

            God always responds, because He is forever faithful:

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15 NKJV

            Your deliverance glorifies God. Thus, be sure to give Him credit for it and show your gratitude. Jehovah will meet your every need and surpass them:

…my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19 NASB

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph. 3:20, 21. NKJV

            There are miracles, even now, waiting for you – because God cherishes you.

            Goodnight and God bless.

The Meaning of God’s Miracles

God turned Moses’ walking stick into a snake and then back again into a stick. Similarly, He afflicted Moses’ hand with leprosy and turned around and healed it. He did that to convince Moses that by being equipped with the ability to call down the power (miracles) of God, he’d be able to convince Pharaoh to let His children free from their slavery in Egypt to pursue the Promised Land.

When Moses clashed with Pharaoh, God struck Egypt with ten plagues: He turned their water into blood, filled the land with frogs, lice and flies, struck their livestock with disease, covered the Egyptians with boils, brought invasions of locusts, deluges of hail, blotted the sunlight out for 3 days, and ushered in death to all the firstborn Egyptian population and livestock. 

Who were these miracles for? First, they were for Pharaoh and his subjects: 

“For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put my hand out and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Ex. 9:14 – 16. ESV

God used His miracles to show Pharaoh His sovereignty over every aspect of the earth, its inhabitants and the immediate cosmos; and He proved that no other ‘god’ could stand against Him. Much more importantly though, the plagues were to demonstrate His same supremacy to the Hebrews and to all the future children of God. 

When Pharaoh finally let God’s children go, He also parted the Red Sea to provide them with a route to escape the pursuing Egyptian army when Pharaoh’s heart had hardened once more. 

Again, these miracles are meant for you, so that you may get a glimpse of His wonder and power and how He brings it all together to show that He is always there for you and will let nothing get between you and His love:

“Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today…The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Ex. 14:13, 14. AMP

There is no mountain that God would not move or Red Sea that He would not part, that blocks your path to Him and His designs for you. He delivers you from your circumstances to bring you closer to Him: 

You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. Ex. 15:13 ESV

Miracles upon miracles. God provided for the Hebrews as they trekked through the desert towards the Promised Land: He made brackish water potable to slake their thirst; He fed them with manna and quail; called water out of rocks, and at the end of their journey, He stopped the flow of the Jordan River so that they could enter Canaan. 

God miraculously prepared a fish to swallow His prophet Jonah, so that he could be transported to the city of Nineveh to save a pagan nation with His words. He miraculously uses the pagan King Cyrus of Persia to save His wayward children from Babylon, repatriating them to Israel.

Finally, God brings us the greatest vehicle for His miracles – Jesus Christ, who freed us from spiritual darkness, healed the sick and the demon possessed and raised the dead. Jesus performed these at the behest of His Father to show us who God is, what He wants from you, and He painted a picture of what God’s eternal miracle looks like that awaits you.

Our Father implores us to ask for His miracles:  

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15 NKJV

God always responds; and when He does, He delivers way beyond what you expect. You can count on God because His word is unbreakable:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph. 3:20, 21. NKJV

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Num. 23:19 ESV

Goodnight and God bless.

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