God Sends Moses to Pharaoh, Exodus 5:1-6:13

Posted on November 25, 2016 by KD Manes under Bible Study

This is what the LORD the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so they may hold a festival to me in the desert.’” –Exodus 5:1

You may read Exodus 5:1-6:13 here: Bible Gateway.

The Israelites acceptance of Moses’ message quickly sours as Moses’ fears are realized: Pharaoh defies God’s demands. Although historical records show that Egyptian serfs were allowed to take time off for religious festivals, Pharaoh did not know or respect God. He believes Moses is lying.

So Pharaoh exasperates the Israelites by demanding the same quota of bricks. But this time they would have to gather their own straw to mix with the mud. After the Israelite foremen were beaten, because the Israelites couldn’t keep up with the slave drivers demands, they appeal to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh stubbornly persists in oppressing the Israelites.

Now Moses and Aaron are the foremen’s target of frustration: “May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us!” (v. 21).

Frustrated, Moses questions God. So God repeats His promises of the Abrahamic covenant: His commitment to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. But His promise does little to encourage the Israelites’ hope.

Reflect

This seems like a drab message, especially on the heels of Thanksgiving. But when our focus is on God’s eternal perspective when facing trials, we actually have reason to rejoice. (I am preaching to myself here!)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything,” (James 1:2-4).

“Sometimes a clear message from God is followed by a period when no change in the situation is apparent. During that time seeming setbacks may turn people away from wanting to hear more about God. If you are a leader, don’t give up. Keep bringing people God’s message as Moses did. By focusing on God who must be obeyed rather than on the results to be achieved, good leaders see beyond temporary setbacks and reversals,”(NIV Life Application Bible Study).

Wishing you a refreshing Thanksgiving weekend!

The Deliverer Sent, Exodus 4:18-30

Posted on November 18, 2016 by KD Manes under Bible Study

The LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’” -Exodus 4:21-23

You may read Exodus 4:18-30 here: Bible Gateway.

To say this short passage scares me a little is an understatement. It certainly doesn’t paint God as a lovey-dovey guy in the sky. Not only does God plan on killing Pharaoh’s firstborn son because Pharaoh refuses Israel’s freedom, but God also comes close to killing his commissioned servant: Moses himself!

Why would a loving God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Why would a loving God kill anyone, especially Moses?

**Five Encouragements God Gives Moses (Warren Weirsbe, Be Delivered)**

His father-in-law’s blessing (v. 18). Although Moses only tells Jethro that he wants to visit Egypt to see if his family is still alive—with no record that he met with Jehovah—Jethro is gracious towards Moses.
The promises of God (vs. 19-23). God tells Moses not to be afraid to return to Egypt because his enemies are dead. Then He assures Moses that He will enable him to do the miraculous signs, but Pharaoh would only harden his heart and thereby invite more judgments from the Lord.

500 Questions & Answers from the Bible offers some helpful insight into Pharaoh’s hardened heart: “Pharaoh was stubborn, hardening his own heart. He continued to harden his heart throughout the first six plagues . . . then after the sixth plague, when it became apparent that Pharaoh wouldn’t change, God confirmed Pharaoh’s decision. God didn’t make Pharaoh reject Him; instead, God had given Pharaoh every opportunity to change his mind and trust in the one true God. But Pharaoh refused.”

God also assures Moses of His special love for Israel, His firstborn son (Jer. 31:9; Hos. 11:1). “In the ancient world, the firstborn in every family had special rights and privileges, and God would see to it that Israel, His firstborn, would be redeemed and rewarded, while the firstborn of Egypt would be slain,” (Weirsbe).

Zipporah’s obedience (vs. 24-26). Moses didn’t circumcise his second son, Eliezer. Weirsbe suggests that God struck Moses with an illness that could have resulted in death. “We get the impression that when Moses had circumcised Gershom, his firstborn, Zipporah had been appalled by the ceremony and therefore had resisted having Eliezer circumcised. Moses let her have her way and this displeased the Lord. After all, Moses couldn’t lead the people of Israel if he was disobedient to one of the fundamental commandments of the Lord (Gen. 17:10-14). Even if the Jews didn’t know it, God knew about his disobedience, and He was greatly displeased.” (For more see The Meaning of Circumcision.)
Aaron’s arrival (vs. 27-28). Despite Aaron’s faults, God sent this elder brother to meet Moses at Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai) to minister along Moses for the next 40 years. Aaron would also become the founder of Israel’s priesthood.
The nation’s faith (vs. 29-31). Just as God had said (Gen. 3:18), the Israelites accepted God’s message and believed from the signs God gave Moses. They responded to God’s care with grateful worship.

This was the calm before the storm.

Reflect

As I wrote of God’s promises, a beautiful double rainbow momentarily appeared in the dark sky. It reminded me that God is both perfectly just and merciful. He is always faithful to keep His promises.

God reminded Moses that he was a servant of a powerful God with unlimited wisdom and knowledge. Moses’ anxiety and fears that the Jewish elders would reject his message and/or leadership never materialized.

Under Old Testament Law, failure to circumcise your son was to remove yourself and your family from God’s blessings. Moses learned it was more dangerous to disobey God then to tango with a stubborn Pharaoh.

Because Pharaoh rejected God numerous times, God finally gave him over to his hardened heart: the most dangerous place to be in relation to God. Although we face consequences from disobedience, God never forces Himself or His will on anyone.

Moses was about to face the greatest challenge of his life. But God would not send Moses where His Spirit wouldn’t be or provide. Faith in the Lord and obedience would unlock the door to victory.

What challenges do you face? Commit them to God. Although God doesn’t promise an easy journey, we can trust that He will always lead and provide.

Signs for Moses, Exodus 4:1-17

Posted on November 11, 2016 by KD Manes under Bible Study

Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”

Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the LORD, “is so 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,” (Exodus 4:1-5).

You may read Exodus 4:1-17 here: Bible Gateway.

In Exodus 3, God used a burning bush to reveal Himself to Moses before commissioning him to tell the Israelites of God’s plan of deliverance from their Egyptian bondage. While Moses doubts his calling at the burning bush, it’s God’s word he doubts in chapter 4. For God had just told him that the Israelite leaders would accept him (Gen. 3:18) and everything would work out.

So God graciously gives Moses three miraculous signs to show the Israelites: He exists; His words to Moses are true; and His power is superior to Egyptian gods.

Miraculous Signs

Moses gets a front row seat as God uses three ordinary objects to demonstrate His power. Not only is God commissioning Moses, but He’s also giving Moses the power he needs to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

A shepherd’s staff was a simple wooden rod, three to six feet long, with a curved hook at the top. Shepherds used their staffs for walking, leading their sheep, and killing snakes among other tasks. Moses probably never dreamt the power his simple staff would yield when it also became God’s staff!
Similar to the first sign, the second sign involves Moses’ hand. Moses follows God’s order to put it inside his cloak. His adrenaline most likely rocketed again when he pulled his hand back out. For it was covered with the most feared disease of his time: leprosy. But when Moses obediently repeated the process, his hand was completely restored.
As if the first two signs weren’t enough, God patiently gives Moses one more sign. “Take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground,” (vs.9). This time Moses would need to take God at His word and step out in faith before seeing the result.

Moses Struggles

I always thought Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s call came from inadequacy of speaking. For he told God that he was “slow of speech and tongue,” (vs. 10). But Stephen’s report of Moses describes him as an eloquent speaker (Acts 7:21-22). It’s possible he developed his oratory skills as he stepped out and obeyed God. Maybe he just lacked courage, or it could have been a combination of the two.

Anyway, God sees through Moses’ excuses as He reminds him that He is the One who fashioned him. He who gave him his mouth will also give him the right words (vs. 11).

But Moses is persistent. He pleads with God to send someone else.

Although God is patient and long-suffering, He is now angry.

So God tells Moses that his brother Aaron can speak for him. But as time goes on, Aaron is not only a burden to Moses, but he also proves to be a stumbling block to others at times (Exodus 32:1-5; Numbers 12:1-12).

Reflect

I like to think of leaders in the Bible as always being giants in the faith. Although Numbers 12:3-8 commends Moses for his humbleness and faithfulness, we’re also given a picture of how he began his journey when God called him. Like us, he also struggled with failure, fear and uncertainty.

Although Moses was passionate and quick to defend the people around him, it’s comforting to know that God wasn’t dependent on his strengths. Even though God knows we will mess up at times, He chooses to use fallible people to do His will anyway.

If God asks us to do something, He will help us. In our weakness, He will supply the resources. We don’t need miraculous signs to prove His existence or power. We have numerous examples in His Word, not to mention His power in creation.

What ordinary tool(s) does God want to use in your hands? A hammer, laptop, mixing bowl? What is God asking of you? He delights in using the ordinary to do the extraordinary. But we may need to step out in faith first before He demonstrates His power to us. For He delights in our trust.

The Burning Bush, Exodus 3

Posted on November 4, 2016 by KD Manes under Bible Study

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” –Exodus 3:1-3

God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God, (Exodus 3:4-6).

The God of the Burning Bush

Some of the clearest and dearest revelation of God’s character is found in verses 11-15. Moses, who had failed the first time to deliver the Israelites by his own strength, had 40 years to ponder his actions and consequences of stepping ahead of God’s time table. He wanted some clarification before stepping out in this deliverance mission God had for him. Moses’ questions to God boiled down to: “Who am I?” and “Who are you?”

God’s answer to Moses’ questions directs his attention to God and away from himself.

Yahweh is derived from the Hebrew word for “I Am.”
The author, Moses, gives us the reason why this burning bush wasn’t consumed. It was supernaturally aglow with the angel of the Lord (Gen. 16:7; 22:11; Exodus 3:2; Judges 6:11; 13:3), the preincarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ (the second person of the Godhead).

The basis for Moses’ obedience—as well as the nation of Israel—stems from God’s revelation to Moses.

The eternal, powerful, and compassionate God reminds Moses of His unchanging nature through His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob hundreds of years earlier. God wasn’t changing His plan, but simply working out the old plan through Moses.

Layman’s Bible Commentary asserts: “The character of God who is calling and commissioning Moses is the basis for Moses’ faith and obedience. The God of the burning bush is a holy God, an object of fear and reverence. . . . How is the holiness of God a significant factor in the Exodus? The sins of the Egyptians must be dealt with, and additionally, the possession of the land of Canaan by the Israelites (Exodus 3:8, 17) is a judgment on these peoples for their abominations in the sight of God (see Genesis 15:16; Leviticus 18:24-28).”

After receiving the revelation of who God is, Moses is given God’s plan for him and for Israel. The commands are based upon the prophecy and promise given Abraham (Gen. 15:12-20). Moses is to do the following: Tell the Israelites the God “I Am” sent him; request a three-day leave for the Israelites to worship God in the desert; collect the wages due to God’s people for their hard work in Egypt.

Reflect

God invites and commissions people to participate in His purposes.

God did not change Moses’ personality, or give him new abilities. Instead, He took Moses’ unique training and characteristics, then molded them for His purposes. Instead of asking God, “What should I change into?” maybe we should ask, “How do you want to use my gifts and abilities?”

While training is important, our usefulness for God is only as good as the object/person we place our faith in. God knew how the details would play out for Moses, the Israelites, and Pharaoh. Because He is all-knowing and good, we can trust Him with our future.

Finally, Layman’s Commentary has some great observations:

The measure of our faith is proportionate to our grasp of the greatness and the goodness of our God.
Moses’ authority is wrapped up in the presence of God, which is assured when he is obedient to God’s command.
Just as the burning bush was not consumed by the fire, so Israel will not be consumed by the fires of affliction and adversity, now or forever (see Malachi 3:2-3, 5-6).

Have a wonderful weekend!