Exodus 8-12  As the events chronicled here progressed, not only did the Lord reveal Himself as I wrote about yesterday, but there are noticeable changes in the people through these days.

Look at Moses.  He didn't want this job, but with Aaron's help, he did what the Lord told him to do.
It was an overwhelming task!  He had to confront Pharaoh, convince the people of Israel to follow him, and speak for God.  When the first contact with Pharaoh did not go well and he actually increased the workload of the Israelites.. it looked like utter failure.  But, Moses went to the Lord who told him, "Now you shall see what I will do..  I am the Lord... " The Lord gives Moses some very precious and powerful promises..

" I am the Lord, and I will bring you out form under the burdens of the Egyptians, 

and I will deliver you from their bondage. 

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements.  

Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; 

and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, 

who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 

And I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 

and I will give it to you for a possession; 

I am the Lord."(6:6-8)

Moses spoke these words to Israel, but they would not listen. He was not convinced even then that speaking with Pharaoh would produce any results, but the Lord gave Moses and Aaron "a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt.. "  He told Moses, " See, I make you as God to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet."  And Moses and Aaron obeyed. 

Notice the changes in Moses, Pharaoh, and both the Egyptians and the Israelites. 

In 7:8-13 Aaron's rod became a snake.. and Pharaoh did not listen. 

In 7:14-25 The Nile's water turned into blood and Pharaoh did not listen or act concerned. 

In 8:1-15 - Moses commanded Aaron to stretch out his staff and the frogs came.  Pharaoh asked Moses to "entreat the Lord" and he did.. and the frogs died.  But Pharaoh did not listen. 

In 8:16-32 Moses instructed Aaron to strike the dust and gnats covered everything;  Pharaoh's magicians couldn't compete; the land of Goshen was spared.. and  Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses.. offering a time of sacrifices for the Israelites, but not far away.. Then he hardened his heart and would not keep even that agreement. 

In 9:1-7 Moses spoke directly to Pharaoh about the pestilence that would kill the livestock.  The Hebrews animals were spared.  Pharaoh's heart was hardened.

In 9:8-17  Moses threw the soot into the sky and boils broke out on all the Egyptians.  This time we are told that "the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart".  Moses has a specific message for Pharaoh. The only reason Pharaoh is still alive, is because God is allowing him to live and see the Lord's power. 

In 9:18-35 The Lord warned everyone that He was going to send hail.  If they "feared the Word of the Lord" and brought everything inside.. they could be safe.  If not, they would be struck.  Even some Egyptians believed and were helped.  It is now Moses, not Aaron, who stretched out the staff.. and the hail began.  Only in Goshen was there no hail.  This time Pharaoh confessed that he had sinned, that the Lord was righteous, and asked Moses to pray for him.  Yet after the storm ended, he again hardened his heart. 

In 10: 1-20 The plague of locusts is sent.  Moses tells Pharaoh that he needs to humble himself before God.  Pharaoh's servants try to convince him to let the Israelites go before all Egypt is destroyed; and again Pharaoh tries to bargain with Moses, offering to allow the men alone to go offer their sacrifices. 

When the locusts come, Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, confesses his sin, asks for forgiveness and for prayer to remove the locusts.  But, again the Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart. 

10:21-29 This time the plague is darkness.  Pharaoh's bargain this time is to allow all the people to go, but without their animals.  Moses bolder and more confident.. refuses.  Pharaoh throws him out and threatens him if he ever sees him again. 

11-12  The final, most horrific plague is set in motion.  All first borns in the land of Egypt, including Pharaoh's own son, would die.  Only those of Israel would be spared and then only when the blood of the passover lamb was applied to the doorposts.  Not only would Israel be allowed to leave.. they would be driven out!  They would go with gold and silver from their Egyptian neighbors.  They would go with unleavened bread.  They would go 430 years to the day.. 600.000 men plus their families.. They would go, according to the Word and the Power of the Lord. 

Father in heaven, You are mighty to save.  You accomplish Your will Your way.  And Your ways are perfect.  We don't always understand, but we are thankful to have Your Word and Your Spirit that we might walk in faith, believing that You alone are God, there is none like You, and that You will do what You have promised.  Have your way in us today, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. 

Exodus 8-12  These chapters chronicle the plagues sent by God upon Egypt.

Pharaoh had a hard heart and it would become harder and harder as he refused to listen to God's Word.  In Ex. 5:2 Pharaoh said, " Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and besides I will not let Israel go."  In Ex. 7:17 the Lord said, "By this you shall know that I am the Lord.. "   Everything that happens from then on reveals Who the Lord really is!

In Ex. 8:22b the Lord excludes the plague of insects from Goshen "in order that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land." 
In 9:14 He says, " For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth." He also adds, " For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you  would then have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this cause I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power, and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth." 
In Ex. 10: 1-2 the Lord says to Moses, " Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them; that you may know that I am the Lord."
In Ex. 11:7 Moses tells Pharaoh that all the first born of Egypt will die but the Israelites will not be touched, "that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel." 
Verse 9 "Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

The Lord made Himself known to the Egyptians and to the Israelites with these signs and wonders -
He is the Lord - Yahweh, Jehovah; The self-existant One; the great IAM; The God who reveals Himself;  He is God - Elohim; Creator, powerful, Master; Sovereign;
He is omnipresent - "in the midst of the land"
There is no one like Him.
He in omnipotent  - His power was revealed so that His name would be proclaimed.
He is the Judge of all the earth and He will distinguish between those who are His and those who harden their hearts against Him.

Everything that happened there in Egypt, happened because God planned it and brought it to be.
Jacob went down to Egypt with his family.
Four hundred and thirty years passed.
Israel became slaves and cried out to the Lord.
Moses was called to be God's servant and bring Israel out of slavery.
Pharaoh continually hardened his heart.
God delivered His people - His way.

Father in heaven, You are the Lord and there is no one like You. You are in the midst of our land and You see the needs of Your people here and in Israel.  Once again, we see so many hardened hearts.  So many have been deceived and refuse to humble themselves before You. Reveal Yourself to us Lord, and may many more take heed, repent, and obey Your Word. May the blood of the Lamb, our precious Savior, shed for redemption and forgiveness of sins.. be made known, so that the lost will be saved.  Pour out Your Spirit upon the church and revive us again. Bring life so that we will do the work of evangelism as you have called us to do.  We ask this in Jesus' name . Amen.

Exodus 4-7   Moses starts out on his assignment with fear and worries...  He makes the Lord angry with him, complaining about his inabilities instead of having courage and faith.  But, the Lord helps him, allowing Aaron to be his mediator and helper.  Then, there is a problem at the lodging place and Zipporah has to take the initiative to circumcise their sons, since Moses hadn't done it as he should have.

Finally, Moses meets with Aaron, who seems more than willing to take his position in the upcoming events. Even as they meet with the elders of Israel, there is a good response and things seem to be going well, until...

Pharaoh does what God said he would.. he refuses to listen and walks away unconcerned even by the signs that Moses was given to perform. Aaron's rod becomes a snake. The river water becomes blood.
Yet, Pharaoh is unconcerned and unwilling to let the people go even three days.

But, the Lord has a greater plan.  He is going to show all of Egypt as well as all of Israel that He is Lord. "By this you shall know that I am the Lord.. "   Israel needed to come to true faith in their God.  They had a weak faith at first.. when it seemed easy... but when things got harder they wimped out quickly.  Before it is all over they would need a greater faith.  A faith that would require the shedding of blood, a passover lamb... they would need to be all in.. completely obedient and trusting in the Lord their God.

Just like us.  If we come to Jesus and expect an easy life without struggles, we will be easily disappointed and weak in faith.  It is through the difficulties of life that we begin to know the grace and power of our Lord.  As Peter wrote, " In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." ( I Peter 1:6-7)

Hebrews 11 is a tribute to men and women of faith, their testimonies given to encourage us to keep walking in faith no matter what happens.. good or bad,  for God has a plan and it is good.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and keep walking in faith and trusting Him to give us a greater faith through the trials and struggles of this life.  We have a great and wonderful Father and He is preparing us for a Promised Land so much greater than even the one He had prepared for Israel in the days of Moses.

Father in heaven, we pray for Your will to be done and for Your kingdom to come.  We honor and praise You, the Lord of heaven and earth.  Help us to have a growing and real faith no matter what we are facing this day.  We ask it in the name of Jesus our Savior and King. Amen.

Exodus 3 As Moses pastures the sheep.. an ordinary day at work.. he sees a burning bush and everything changes for him in that moment .

His relationship with God is forever changed.
His family life is forever changed.
His dwelling place is changed.
And his purpose for living is also changed.

Moses is brought first - to the Presence of God.. holy ground.
Then he is given a revelation from God - the I Am.
Then he is given an assignment from God - go back to Egypt.
Finally, he is given resources for the job - power to do signs, words to speak, insight into the responses, and  a helper, Aaron.

God introduces Himself to Moses as "the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."  He reveals His name - I AM - Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord;

As Moses tries to talk God out of choosing him because of his lack of good speech, God says this interesting statement, " Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I the Lord?"

We don't want to think about this, do we? But, all things are in His hands.. all things. Including our mouths, our eyes, and our ears.  How important it is that we  understand this truth! We hear and speak and see.. because God gives us the means to do it!  May we do all things.. all things.. for His glory!

Father in heaven, You are holy and mighty.  You are God and there is no-one like You.  We worship You alone. Draw us near to the holy flame of Your Presence and sanctify us through and through.  May we know You more, love You deeper, and serve You faithfully every day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray this.. Amen.

Exodus 1-2  Jacob and 70 of his family went to live in Egypt while Joseph was alive.  Exodus begins hundreds of years later.  Joseph is long gone. The leadership of Egypt has completely changed.  The family of Jacob/Israel has grown into a vast, mighty multitude. Unfortunately they were made slaves and driven to hard labor. The midwives were ordered to kill all male babies so that the people would not gain any more power.. but they would not do it.  Then, came Moses.

Moses was born in one of the worst periods of history. He was born in one of the worst places for a Hebrew child to be born. Yet, God had His hand on Moses from the moment he was born.
His life was preserved.
His family was blessed.
His opportunities were multiplied.

But, Moses killed an Egyptian man and had to run for his life.
Even then, God directed him to Midian and prepared him for a future ministry.. to become a deliverer of the people of God.

Moses spent 40 years as a prince in Egypt.
Then he spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian.
It is only after these two periods of preparation.. does Moses meet God.  From that minute on everything changed.

Life is complicated sometimes.  We cannot know what changes God has in store for us.
But, we know that He has us in His hands and He is preparing us to meet Him .. face to face.

Heaven is nearer then we think.
Jesus is coming soon.
I'm convinced that it could be any time now.
Yet, even so,  I live like the Israelites in Egypt.. groaning and sighing.. and not knowing that the Deliverer is on His way.

Father in heaven, open our eyes and fill our hearts with Yourself.  May we be alert and ready.. listening for the sound of the trumpet and the return of our Lord Jesus.  May we wait with expectant hearts.. and may we be faithful to the end.  Father, we live in a world that needs to turn to Jesus, to repent, to fear You.  We need revival of Your church and revival among the nations.  May the Word of the Lord "spread rapidly and be glorified" in our land and around the world.  Stir us up and strengthen us in Your Spirit.  May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done! Send workers into the harvest.. in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Mark 16  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

The two Marys come to the empty tomb and are greeted by an angel.. Mary Magdalene meets Jesus and reports this, but her report is not believed.
Jesus meets the two disciples on the road.. and their report is not believed.
Jesus meets the eleven and they finally believe!

Mark's account leaves out some other details, but leaves us with this important Word from Jesus, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." ( v16)

 Unbelief - the Greek word is apisteo and also is translated disobey, faithlessness, untrustworthy...  

Believe. Trust. Commit. Be persuaded. Rely on Christ. Entrust your heart, soul, and spiritual well-being to Christ alone.  This is the ONLY way to be saved. The One who was crucified, buried, and resurrected again...  Jesus Christ.. is the only One who can bring us out of death and into life.

Praise and honor and blessing to God the Father and to Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Mark 15

Mark's account skips some details, but gives us the most important ones...

Jesus taken before Pilate and condemned to die.
Jesus beaten, abused, mocked, and crowned with thorns.
Jesus crucified.
Jesus buried.

Jesus, the Beloved Son of God.. the Lamb, perfect, innocent, kind, and compassionate..
was bound
was accused and cursed
was mocked and beaten beyond imagination

They nailed Him to the cross and 9:00 in the morning; the world turned dark at 12:00 noon; and at 3:00 - He gave up His life. The centurion, a Roman soldier, brutal and hardened by his work as an executioner.. "saw the way He breathed His last.." said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Watching from afar we find Mary Magdalene and Mary "the mother of James the Less and Joses and Salome."  One Mary, delivered from demons;  one Mary, the mother of Jesus, James, and Joses...
They would not leave Him even in the end. They followed Joesph of Arimathea as he took the body of Jesus, wrapped Him in linen, set Him in a tomb, and rolled a stone across the entrance.

"O sacred Head, now wounded, 

with grief and shame weighed down; 

Now scornfully surrounded,

with thorns, thine only crown;

How art Thou pale with anguish,

with sore abuse and scorn;

How does that visage languish,

Which once was bright as morn!"

How can it be?  That  You, My God should die for me?

Father, we pause to think again of this great sacrifice, unbearable pain, complete surrender and restraint.. for the One who is the Heir of all things, the One through whom all things were made, the One who is the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your nature... the One who upholds all things by the word of His power... allowed evil men to bind Him, mock Him, beat Him, and crucify Him... "What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend... What Thou My Lord hast suffered, was all for sinners gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain."   Amazing grace, amazing love.. that You delighted in us.. You loved us so much.. that You gave Your Beloved Son to die this way, for us.  All praise and thanksgiving we give to You!  We having nothing else to offer...but ourselves.  We are Your servants forever in Christ Jesus the Risen Lord!  Amen.