Monthly Archives: May 2024

EXODUS 14 THE ISRAELITES FEARED & GRUMBLED

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June 4

EXODUS 14

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

                                                                   – Exodus 14:10-18

EXODUS 14 THE ISRAELITES FEARED & GRUMBLED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Egyptians came to pursue the Israelites

God’s people were terribly afraid and grumbled to Moses

They feared that they were going to die in the wilderness

But Moses assured them that that will be the last they’ll see them.

When the Israelites saw that the Egyptians were out to get them, they regretted leaving Egypt. They thought their lives were better off when they were slaves to them because they feared that they would die in their hands. It is very easy for us humans to start grumbling when we feel danger around us just like these Israelites did. We panic when we don’t know what’s next to happen in the midst of danger. When we are in the midst of adversities, we try to think of times when we are comfortable and convenient. We go back to those times instead of moving forward and depending on where God takes us to.

REFLECTION

  • How can we avoid panicking and grumbling when we are in the midst of trials?

EXODUS 14 PHARAOH PURSUES THE ISRAELITES

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June 3

EXODUS 14

Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

                                                                   – Exodus 14:1-9

EXODUS 14 PHARAOH PURSUES THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As the Israelites left Egypt towards the wilderness

God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and he pursues them

The king had no idea that God was planning this all along

It was to make Egyptians know that he is the one true God

The Egyptians came after the Israelites with all their chariots

They have no clue what was about to happen to them all.

In this account, we are given a glimpse of the powerlessness of humans and God’s total sovereignty and power. It shows us that we have no control over anything. God has control over our mind, hearts, body and soul. God manifests his wondrous deeds in this event to ensure that the Egyptians and also the Israelites will know who the One true God is. It seems like a script where the only one who knows the ending is the playwright and the only one who can kill and bring to life any characters he desires.

REFLECTION

  • What can we learn from this account?

EXODUS 13 THE LONGER WAY TOWARDS THE WILDERNESS

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June 2

EXODUS 13

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” 20 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.  – Exodus 13:17-22

EXODUS 13 THE LONGER WAY TOWARDS THE WILDERNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the Egyptians released the Israelites, God led his people

He told them to take the long route towards the Red Sea

This will prevent them from witnessing the Philistines’ wars

God didn’t want them to get discouraged and go back to Egypt

The Lord provided them with the pillar of cloud during the day

And at night, a pillar of fire covered them so they can see in the dark

They also took Joseph’s bones with them as his sons swore to him

They moved from Succoth and encamped in the wilderness at Etham.

The Lord didn’t lead the Israelites towards the easy and faster way, but towards the wilderness. He didn’t want them to witness the terrible wars in the land of the Philistines for it might discourage them and lead them back to Egypt. Isn’t this very true to us humans? When we experience conflicts and adversities, we back out and look for an easier way out. In the long journey, God never left them. He provided pillars of cloud and fire to ensure they are provided and protected.

The Israelites also brought with them Joseph’s bone as a fulfilment of his request to be out of Egypt too when God visits them.

REFLECTION

  • Why isn’t the shorter way always the best option when following a direction?

EXODUS 13 REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE

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June 1

EXODUS 13

11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” – Exodus 13:11-16

EXODUS 13 REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of slavery

He wants his people to never forget this day of deliverance

God wanted all the firstborn males both animals and man as sacrifice

They must all be offered to him so they won’t forget God’s goodness

This was a condition to recall how God rescued them out of Egypt

It was a reminder how he saved his people from their cruelty.

Why was it important for God to require the Israelites the offering of the firstborn? It was a reminder for them how the Egyptians idolized their firstborns. This was why God killed all their firstborns. He didn’t want his own people to follow the idolatry practiced by the Egyptians. The Lord separated his people from them and they are not to follow the ways of the wicked. When they offer the firstborns to God, they will be reminded of the wonderful deeds that God brought about so they can be freed from the slavery of sin.

It is essential for all believers to never forget the miracles and how he punished evil ways of the Egyptians. Even in our present lives, it is important for us to remember how God has freed us from our flesh and sins through the perfect sacrifice of the firstborn, Jesus.

REFLECTION

  • What happens when we don’t recall the wonderful deeds of God’s deliverance?

EXODUS 13 FIRSTBORNS’ CONSECRATION & FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

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May 31

EXODUS 13

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.” 3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. 8 You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year. – Exodus 13:1-10

EXODUS 13 FIRSTBORNS’ CONSECRATION & FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Leaving the land of Egypt marked God’s plan of redemption

He wanted his people to consecrate the firstborns to him

Unlike the Egyptians who idolized their firstborns

God wants his people to offer their firstborns to him

He required and made clear to them that they are his

They need to remember the unleavened bread and celebrate it.

When God killed all the firstborns of the Egyptians, he did so because they treated their firstborns as gods in their family. It is only right that God protects his people from this idolatry of firstborns. All his people were required to dedicate all the firstborn to him. In ancient tradition, the firstborns have a very important role in society, they are the best and are given double portions of blessings. Firstborns are not always the eldest as in the case of Jacob who was the younger. First-born refers not to birth order but to rank. The first-born possessed inheritance and leadership. It is just right for God to ask that they be offered to him so they can avoid making them their idols as the Egyptians did.

REFLECTION

·       How can firstborns easily become an idol in a family?

EXODUS 12 THE DECREE OF THE PASSOVER

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May 30

EXODUS 12

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” 50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

                                                                   – Exodus 12:43-51

EXODUS 12 THE DECREE OF THE PASSOVER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord God instituted the Passover and made a decree of it

No foreigner or hired worker may eat of the meal

Unless a bought slave has been circumcised, he cannot partake

It shall be eaten in one house and not take any flesh outside    

There shall be no bones broken from the lamb

All Israelites shall keep these bones with them

Strangers who come can only partake if all males are circumcised

Then they can be allowed to come and be part of the Passover.

In 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, we can surmise why the Passover is very important for us all Christians.  It says “7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” The Passover meal is a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ, the perfect lamb of God. It may seem like a ritual for the Israelites, but it is to commemorate the sacrifice that Christ was going to go through in order for all those who believe in him to have a clean slate again and be freed from sins’ shackles.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think foreigners and hired workers were prohibited to partake of the Passover unless they were circumcised?

EXODUS 12 GOD’S PEOPLE LEAVES EGYPT

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 May 29

EXODUS 12

37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. – Exodus 12:37-42

EXODUS 12 GOD’S PEOPLE LEAVES EGYPT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the death of the firstborns in Egypt, the Israelites left Egypt

They stayed in that place for 430 years as slaves to Pharaoh

This last plague finally made the king decide to let them go

It was a night of watching over them as God led them in their Exodus

The Israelites were set free from the slavery of Pharaoh and the Egyptians

They were led by the Lord of Hosts himself to the land he promised Abraham.

In this account we see God’s faithfulness in multiplying his people from the time he called Abraham out of Ur. Just in 200 years, they have multiplied so much.

In a commentary by Cole, he discusses a few ideas that would make the number 600,000 much less, such as saying that thousand really means clan and that 600 extended family-clams left Egypt. By the time they reached Canaan, they were certainly a sizable horde (to use the historian’s term), judging from the archaeological impact on Canaanite civilization.

Can you imagine 600,000 men on foot plus their wives and children? That must have been over a million counting the women and children with them. What a faithful God we have.

REFLECTION

·       How is it that we don’t have as many children in families nowadays as they had during the time when the Exodus happened? Has God stopped blessing us?

EXODUS 12 THE EXODUS BEGINS

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May 28

EXODUS 12

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians. – Exodus 12:33-36

EXODUS 12 THE EXODUS BEGINS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Egyptians’ firstborns died, they let go of the Israelites quickly

The Israelites didn’t even have time to even leaven their doughs

They were also instructed to plunder the Egyptians and not be empty handed

So, the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt begins after the plague of the firstborns.

It is interesting how suddenly the Egyptians were shooing the Israelites away after their firstborns died. They were scared for their lives and allowed the Israelites to plunder them. In haste, the Israelites were not even able to prepare for their journey to leave Egypt. Sometimes, this was how the Lord turned upside down the status quo of their slavery. They were even sent off with gold and silver. This was all in God’s design to show off his power and make himself known to these people who didn’t want to bow down to him.

In the previous verses, Pharaoh didn’t only let them go, he commanded them to leave right away and asked Moses and Aaron to bless him as well. Could it be that he now sees that the God of the Israelites is much more powerful than he was giving him credit for? For him to ask Moses to bless him shows that he was beginning to fear for his life as he witnessed how this God can do anything with them, gives us a glimpse of him realizing the One True God is not someone he can mess with.

REFLECTION

  • What other favors did God give the Israelites as they left Egypt?
  • What do you think was going on in the minds of the Egyptians as the Israelites were leaving?

EXODUS 12 PLAGUE OF THE DEATH OF FIRSTBORNS

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May 27

EXODUS 12

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!” – Exodus 12:29-32

EXODUS 12 PLAGUE OF THE DEATH OF FIRSTBORNS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the plague of the firstborn struck Egypt

Cries and wails were heard over the land

Then Moses was commanded by Pharaoh to exit Egypt

Their flocks and herds will go with them too to serve the Lord.

What a big unforgettable plague this was for the whole of Egypt. According to bibleproject.com “The Passover event is a strike not only against humans and animals but also against the gods of Egypt. We read that human choices to do evil are always intertwined with the influence and animating power of spiritual forces-spiritual beings set against God and his purposes.”

For God who created everything and own all creatures, isn’t this plague justified to punish all those who bow down to other gods? In another commentary they mentioned that the firstborns in Egypt were considered gods in each family. Isn’t it just fair that God strikes down those gods who were competing with him? We also see God’s mercy and justice at how many plagues before this plague came about that shows God was giving the Egyptians all the time to turn against idolatry and turn to him, the only One True God.

This plague is the climax of the punishment for the Egyptians before the Exodus of the Israelites. What a big dramatic event this was! It only shows God’s power and might and how he wouldn’t tolerate idolatry and wickedness in all his creatures.

REFLECTION

  • What lessons can we learn from this plague of the firstborns?

EXODUS 12 HYSSOP & BLOOD IN THE LORD’S PASSOVER

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May 26

EXODUS 12

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. – Exodus 12:21-28

EXODUS 12 HYSSOP & BLOOD IN THE LORD’S PASSOVER

In this detailed instruction of God to the Israelites, we hear of hyssop and blood mentioned. According to some commentary, “hyssop” is a small bushy plant with minty leaves which can be used in cooking. The plant has also been used for medicinal purposes. In Scripture, hyssop is a wild shrub used for purification as mentioned in Leviticus 14:6, Numbers 19:6 & 18. Scripture says how hyssop was used as a sign of spiritual cleansing especially when David mentioned it in Psalm 51:7 when he said “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Enduring.com also said that in John 19:29 that the wine on the sponge that they gave to Jesus while he was on the cross was on a hyssop branch when they held it to his mouth.

Leviticus 17:11 and 14 tells us the importance of blood to God. The life of a creature is in the blood and God gave it to us so we can atone for your sins. To shed blood, a victim must be killed in place of the sinner. Blood is also used for covenant between two persons resulting in union or relationship. So, we can understand why God required lambs that were unblemished, a year old and male.

REFLECTION

  • What is the significance of spiritual cleansing in our Christian lives?