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EXODUS 8 GOD SETS APART HIS PEOPLE

May 11

EXODUS 8

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.” 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. – Exodus 8:20-24

EXODUS 8 GOD SETS APART HIS PEOPLE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Pharaoh continued to harden his heart after the plague of gnats

The Lord commanded Moses to warn him of the fourth plague of flies

He told Moses that swarms of flies will skip Goshen where his people lived

God sets apart his people from the Egyptians who were evil and wicked.

God’s wrath continued on as Pharaoh hardened his heart more and more. This is so interesting to watch because it seemed like there is nothing this tyrant can do to stop God from saving his people. It is part of God’s plan that his heart is hardened. This is clear evidence of God’s sovereignty and power. It is amazing how patient he is with the Egyptians because he could have just wiped them out instantly. God is so gracious that he wants every human being to have a chance to repent and turn to him.

God’s love for his people was clearly manifested by not letting the swarms of flies cover the land of Goshen, which is also a part of Egypt. This is where Joseph placed his father Jacob and his siblings and their family to settle during the big famine in Egypt. The Lord honors his word to his people.  Even though they may not see how God follows through his covenant promise, the absence of the swarm of flies is evidence of his constant protection. He separates his people from wickedness and evil.

REFLECTION

  • Share how God manifests his setting you apart from the world as a believer.

EXODUS 8 THE THIRD PLAGUE

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May 10

EXODUS 8

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. – Exodus 8:16-19

EXODUS 8 THE THIRD PLAGUE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Pharaoh didn’t release the Israelites after the plague of the frogs

The Lord sent the third plague to the Egyptians by swarming them with gnats

Every beast and man were covered with gnats in all the land of Egypt

But Pharaoh’s heart continued to be hardened and would not listen.

In my own experience as a gardener, gnats are the most annoying creature. I remember one time when I had a mason jar indoor herb garden in the winter and had an infestation of gnats. It consumed me for many months trying to get rid of it. I can not imagine how any of those Egyptians could deal with this plague of gnats all over them.

According to a commentary from the-scripture co.uk, Pharaoh was not given a warning or thinking time about this plague from God as he did with the others. The commentary says that this was a judgment against “Set”, the god of the desert. Unlike the previous plagues, the magicians were unable to duplicate this one and declared to Pharaoh that this must be the finger God. Biblewise.com says that what was alarming was that the gnats came from the dust of the ground, from the earth. The first plague of frogs came from the water. The next plague will come from the sky. So, by having the gnats come from the earth, the narrator is showing the totality of creation- water, earth, sky. The undoing of all aspects of creation will be involved in the lessons for Pharaoh and his people.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God sent this plague of gnats to Pharaoh and the Egyptians?
  • What is God warning mankind about this plague?

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?”