Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

EXODUS 14 PHARAOH PURSUES THE ISRAELITES

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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 12 THE DECREE OF THE PASSOVER

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

 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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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?

EXODUS 12 THE INSTITUTION OF THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

Posted on by

May 25

EXODUS 12

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.” – Exodus 12:14-20

EXODUS 12 THE INSTITUTION OF THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Before the last plague of the firstborn, God instituted a feast

This memorial will be to eat unleavened bread for seven days

The removal of leaven in their household was required by the Lord

It symbolizes removing sin and corruption in their daily lives

The Lord wants his people to be pure and uncorrupted

If anyone eats leavened bread, they’ll be cut off from the flock.

The institution of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread is another manifestation of God’s protection and love for his people. Just before he will bring the last plague to Egypt, he wants those who belong to him to be cleansed and uncorrupted by sin.

According to David Guzik’s commentary, leaven was also a picture of sin and corruption, because of the way a little leaven influences a whole lump of dough, and also how it puffs up-just like pride and sin does too.

REFLECTION

  • How can a small sin affect a person’s life? What is God’s solution for this?

EXODUS 12 PASSOVER INSTRUCTIONS

Posted on by

May 24

EXODUS 12

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. – Exodus 12:1-13

EXODUS 12 PASSOVER INSTRUCTIONS

In this account, we witness a God of details. He laid out clear instructions for the Israelites to follow so that they will be protected when God destroys Egypt. He knows their limitations, so he adjusts accordingly. We serve a wise God who knows all our needs. Notice how he required a lamb without blemish. He wants purity in all his people. He is also required to share the lamb with their neighbor if the household is smaller. Charles Spurgeon comments that “The paschal lamb was not killed in order to be looked at only, but to be eaten; and our Lord Jesus Christ has not been slain merely that we may hear about him and talk about him, and think about him, but that we may feed upon him.”

REFLECTION

  • What does the Passover mean for us Christians today?