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EXODUS 8 THE SECOND PLAGUE

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May 9

EXODUS 8

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.  – Exodus 8:1-14

EXODUS 8 THE SECOND PLAGUE

You may be wondering why God specifically gave the plague of frogs. According to David Guzik’s commentary, the Egyptian goddess Heqek or Heket was always pictured with the head of a frog. According to ancient Egyptians, frogs were considered sacred and cannot be killed. Another commentary says that they are symbols of renewal, vitality and good luck, good omen and prosperity. Because they dwell in both land and water, God is returning Egypt to a state of disorder and chaos as judgment for their wickedness.

REFLECTION

  • How is the second plague another judgment by God on their idolatry?

EXODUS 7 THE FIRST PLAGUE IN THE NILE

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May 8

EXODUS 7

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’” 19 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” 20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.25 Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.  – Exodus 7:14-25

EXODUS 7 THE FIRST PLAGUE IN THE NILE

In this account, we witness the first plague that was sent to the Egyptians. According to a commentary by Matthew Henry, the Nile River was the idol of the Egyptians since they derived so much benefit from it and worshipped it more than the Creator. The Egyptians did not know the Lord who made that river and they worshipped the river instead of the Lord. God’s judgment was manifested in this plague. It was in this river that they also killed the Hebrew children, staining it with their blood, so it was God’s judgment that he turned the river into blood to remind them of their murder and idolatry.

REFLECTION

·       Why did God decide to turn the Nile River into blood?

EXODUS 7 POWERS GIVEN TO MOSES & AARON

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May 7

EXODUS 7

And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.  – Exodus 7:1-12

EXODUS 7 POWERS GIVEN TO MOSES & AARON

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the charge was given to Moses and Aaron for delivering God’s people

Moses was given powers to do miracles to free the Israelites from Pharaoh

The Lord declared to Moses that he made him like a God to Pharaoh

And Aaron is his prophet, but after the sign, the king didn’t let them go

Pharaoh called other wise men and sorcerers to do the same miracle

Even though Moses’ serpent ate theirs, it didn’t soften Pharaoh’s heart.

What a privilege it was for Moses to be lifted up to the level of having God’s power. I don’t think any other bible characters were given such power to a man who had little faith. There is hope for all mankind because it is God who chooses whom he wants.

REFLECTION

  • What was revealed here when Pharaoh called other magicians and sorcerers?

EXODUS 6 CHARGE GIVEN TO MOSES & AARON

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May 6

EXODUS 6

8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

                                                                   – Exodus 6:8-13

EXODUS 6 CHARGE GIVEN TO MOSES & AARON

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Moses told the Israelites that God will deliver them

They didn’t listen to Moses because of the harsh slavery

So, Moses went back to God and told him he can’t do it

The Lord charged Moses and Aaron to do as they are told.

After hearing how Moses continually groaned and try to get himself out of the task God had asked him to do, I marvel at God’s patience. From the beginning Moses was giving all the reasons why he is not worthy to do this job. God solved his first excuse which is his inability to speak well. He got Aaron to join him to do this calling. Now, each time Moses hears rejection both from Pharaoh and the Israelites, he groans to God and convinces God that he isn’t the right person for the job. God is such a loving and understanding God that he still insists that Moses can deliver his people. What Moses was forgetting was the fact that he isn’t the only one who is going to make this deliverance possible. He forgot that it is God doing it, using him so that God’s power can be manifested and that the people’s faith will grow stronger. Each time an obstacle comes, Moses backs away.

Can we identify with Moses’ lack of trust? He didn’t trust the Lord enough to press on with the task despite the obstacle. He made excuses and God never stopped supplying resolutions to his roadblocks. Eventually, God didn’t take his groans, but charged them instead.

REFLECTION

  • Why are humans always running away from difficulties and rejection?

EXODUS 6 GOD’S PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE

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May 5

EXODUS 6

But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptian.

                                                                      – Exodus 6:1-7

EXODUS 6 GOD’S PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Moses cried to God for the burdens that the Israelites were going through

The Lord heard him and shared with him what he was going to do to Pharaoh

God reiterated to Moses his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

And because he has heard the people’s cry, he will deliver them soon

The Lord promised to be their God and he will be their people

He will redeem them with outstretched arm and with miracles.

It is amazing how patient God is to Moses when he confronts him about the burdens of the Israelites, as if God doesn’t know that already. We humans are very limited with our knowledge and we don’t see everything, but God is Omniscient and Omnipotent. How loving God was that he didn’t take offense with the groans of Moses and the Israelites. Instead, he assured them of what he was going to do to Pharaoh and the promise of deliverance from this tyrant. God hears our cries but he doesn’t always rescue us in our time frame. He allows suffering to grow our dependence on him and to strengthen our faith. He wants us to go down on our knees until we let him have all the power and glory.

REFLECTION

  • Share how God has delivered you from some of the adversities you went through.

EXODUS 5 BLAMES, GROANS & IMPATIENCE

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May 4

EXODUS 5

19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

                                                                        – Exodus 5:19-23

EXODUS 5 BLAMES, GROANS & IMPATIENCE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Pharaoh ordered to take the straw away and give them more work

The Israelites met with Aaron and Moses and blamed them for asking Pharaoh

If they didn’t ask the king to let them go, they would have had the same burdens

So, Moses came to God and groaned and showed his impatience at their predicament.

We hear a lot of groaning, blaming and impatience in this account. The Israelites blamed Moses for asking Pharaoh to let them go to worship the Lord in the mountains. If he had not done so, the straws would have been supplied and they could have continued to work with the loads of task given to them already. They felt they were punished for something they didn’t deserve to get any more than the burdens they already have. Removing the straw supplies which they now have to supply themselves and produce the same amounts of bricks they were making was more abuse and cruelty.

It is human nature to find someone or something to blame for situations that make us suffer. We are by nature selfish and we are prone to make things comfortable for ourselves. Naturally, when we are challenged with more adversities, we try to make sense of it. We want to be in control of the situation so that we can say to ourselves that we are okay and we did well. Instead of groaning or being impatient, couldn’t we run to the throne of God instead and wait for his wisdom and ask for endurance?

REFLECTION

  • What instigated Moses to accuse God of doing evil to the Israelites in v.23?

EXODUS 5 MORE INJUSTICE FOR THE ISRAELITES

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May 3

EXODUS 5

10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.”  – Exodus 5:10-18

EXODUS 5 MORE INJUSTICE FOR THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites worship God

Pharaoh ordered his taskmasters to give them more work

The Israelites have to get their own straw to make bricks

Their foremen were beaten up and told that they were idle.

The Israelites didn’t know that the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart hardened. Only Moses and Aaron knew this, so it is only understandable that they would ask Moses why there’s more abuse done to them. Because the king didn’t know the Lord, he was dubious about their practice to worship their God in the mountains. Instead of believing them, he suspected they were trying to use that excuse to be idle.

When we don’t know God, we will automatically live in the lies that the world system propagates. The world’s system is about control and power and subjugation. So, the king only did what he knew best, to add more burden to the Israelites and terrorize them.

REFLECTION

  • What should Christians do when injustice is done to them?

EXODUS 5 PHARAOH’S HARDENED HEART

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May 2

EXODUS 5

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

                                                                   – Exodus 5:1-9

EXODUS 5 PHARAOH’S HARDENED HEART

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Aaron and Moses approached Pharaoh to ask for permission

They asked him if they could allow the Israelites to worship their God

Pharaoh’s anger was kindled when the people will stop working hard

So, he ordered his taskmasters not to give them straw to make bricks.

Moses and Aaron followed the instruction of the Lord to go to Pharaoh and release the Israelites so they could worship their God. As the Lord told Moses, he will make his heart hardened. Pharaoh dismissed the importance of the people to worship their God in the wilderness. He didn’t care about their God. He only cared about them not stopping their work so that he could have his way. Even our hearts are ruled by God. He can always do what he wants with it.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think Moses was thinking when Pharaoh responded with a “no?”

EXODUS 4 AARON AND MOSES MEETS WITH THE ISRAELITES

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May 1

EXODUS 4

24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.   – Exodus 4:24-31

EXODUS 4 AARON AND MOSES MEETS WITH THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

At a lodging place on his way to Egypt, God wanted to put Moses to death

He hasn’t obeyed the covenant promise of his son’s circumcision

His wife Zipporah had to circumcise her own son which she loathed

Then Moses proceeded to meet his brother Aaron at the mountain of God

He told Aaron what was God’s directive to him and to his brother

They gathered the Israelite elders and relayed God’s message to them.

In this account we can be surprised by verse 24. God wanted to put Moses to death. One can wonder why he would want this when he initially chose him to deliver his people. Is it because of his false humility that he cannot do the task? Is it Moses’ constant justification that he isn’t cut to do what he wanted him to do? Verse 25 gives us a clue of why God’s wrath was kindled. He hasn’t even circumcised his son. It was a requirement of God from his people to have all male circumcised. Interestingly, his wife Zipporah did the circumcision ritual which was supposed to be done by Moses himself. In verse 26, we are given a clue that she must have left Moses on his own to meet his brother because he was going to deliver God’s people. The Israelites believed after seeing the miracles.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God chose Moses who lacked faith and always resisting?

EXODUS 4 MOSES’ RETURN TO EGYPT

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April 30

EXODUS 4

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” – Exodus 4:18-23

EXODUS 4 MOSES’ RETURN TO EGYPT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After a lot of convincing by God, Moses finally obeyed the Lord

He asked Jethro’s permission to leave with his household

Jethro gave Moses his approval and send him peace

He took his wife and his sons and left Midian to proceed.

In this account, we still witness God’s loving protection and provision for Moses. He informed him that those people who wanted him dead were all dead by that time. But Moses was reminded again that he has to do what he asked of him. He needs to see to it that Pharaoh and the Israelites know who his One true God is. Through the miracles that he gave Moses, he will manifest his power and might.  He also reiterated to Moses that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart and will give him a hard time. In other words, Moses was truly prepared by the Lord to face all these obstacles that will come his way as he is directed to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. But I don’t think Moses had any idea how big the task ahead of him was to deliver very rebellious and hard-hearted people. As we all know how the story ended, the few months journey out of Egypt turned into a forty years journey. Because of grumbling, unbelief and idolatry, God’s people were in the wilderness journey for decades.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think was going on in Moses’ mind as he travelled back to Egypt?