Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

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?

EXODUS 4 GOD GETS ANGRY WITH MOSES

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April 29

EXODUS 4

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”– Exodus 4:10-17

EXODUS 4 GOD GETS ANGRY WITH MOSES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the signs that God showed Moses to get him to go to his people

Moses continued to be doubtful and fearful that he won’t be able to

God gets angry with Moses’ unbelief and lack of trust in him

So, God told him to bring Aaron his brother to be his spokesperson.

I can hear God’s frustration over Moses’ resistance and lack of trust in him. He already showed signs that will be done through him and yet, he seemed to be unable to let go of insecurities and fears.

Fear always cripples us. We witness here the natural tendency of humans to doubt himself and thereby doubting God as well. If we are given a task to do by God, we fail to see that it is not us doing that task, but God working in us. People-pleasing and approval addiction are prevalent in most of us since the world has corrupted our minds to be self-focused and not God-pleasers. What a difference our lives would be if we only choose to believe and rely on God for everything. We witness God’s suggestion to have Aaron be his spokesperson just to appease Moses’ insecurities, but we also see God’s anger at Moses’ constant unbelief.

REFLECTION

  • Why was God angry at Moses in this account?

EXODUS 4 FIRST TWO SIGNS GIVEN TO MOSES

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April 28

EXODUS 4

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” – Exodus 4:1-9

EXODUS 4 FIRST TWO SIGNS GIVEN TO MOSES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Moses doubted that he could do what God asks him to do

The Lord asked him to put his hand inside his cloak

Then God made Moses’ hand full of leprosy as white as snow

But when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his skin

God told him that if the first sign didn’t make them listen to him

He can do the second sign to turn the Nile water into blood.

We are given a glimpse of the little faith Moses had when God asked him to deliver the Israelites. He was an old man and probably insignificant at that time that he was a shepherd. Interestingly, some commentaries said that the Pharaoh that time was his step-brother. He was probably thinking of the circumstances of his fleeing Egypt and how Pharaoh would not be able to trust him at all. But God showed him two powerful signs that should be able to assure him that it is not his work, but God’s power in him.

REFLECTION

  • Share an instance when you felt unworthy of a calling that God asks of you to do?