Abundant Deliverance Promised

Abundant Deliverance Promised

Exodus 3: ¹⁶ Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; ¹⁷ and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ ¹⁸ Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ ¹⁹ But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. ²⁰ So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. ²¹ And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. ²² But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

 

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GOD continues to give the words HE wanted Moses to say to the children of Israel. HE told Moses to gather the elders of Israel so they could announce what GOD was about to do.

 

My Observations:

• The elders of Israel passed verbal history down to the generations and knew about what GOD did in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s life.
• GOD said that HE saw what the Egyptians did so Moses would convey to the elders that GOD knows what is going on.
• GOD promised that HE not only would cause the Egyptians to want the Hebrews to leave, HE would also cause them to give up all their stuff.

 

One thing I notice is GOD seems very riled up, but was in full control of the situation. HE said exactly what would happen and how the Egyptians would not respond favorably. HE also said how HE was going to handle the situation and what the result would be.

 

GOD did not say the children of Israel had to be better, try harder, pray more, give more or dismiss their pain. In other words, it seems like GOD is saying, “I GOT THIS!” I believe GOD had to speak to the elders to alter the stories being told.

 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had remarkable situations that were handed down from generation to generation. BUT GOD was about to do something with this generation. HE still does this with those who believe. HE is still doing a marvelous “wonders” that will not leave HIS people “empty-handed.”

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS prophecy HE wanted to be delivered to the elders of Israel?
• Have you been waiting on GOD’s deliverance for a long time?
• Will you trust that HIS promises to deliver you are solid and you can place full trust in them?

Gaining Clarity

Gaining Clarity

Exodus 3: ¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

 

¹² So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

 

¹³ Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

 

¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” ¹⁵ Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 

 

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Moses seemed content with his life. He lived in the desert with his wife and child. He had plenty to eat and faced no contention. BUT GOD told him to “bring MY people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Moses asked some clarifying questions.

 

My Observations:

• Moses seemed scared to address any Pharaoh after being labeled a wanted man for killing an Egyptian.
• Moses was probably addressing an issue he saw with the children of Israel where their beliefs were mixed with other cultures polytheistic beliefs when he asked GOD HIS name.
• GOD gave the vaguest, yet sovereign answer to tell the children of Israel, “IAM WHO I AM.”

 

You would think that Moses would have asked more questions about the problems he would have with the Egyptians. He seemed to be more worried about the children of Israel needing to be convinced that they should leave. He may have sensed that they feared GOD, but they also had been in Egypt for a long, long time. They may have started to believe in the Egyptian culture of many gods.

 

When Moses asked, “” What is HIS name?” regarding the question the children of Israel might ask, GOD did not say “Tell them” or “persuade them” or “MY name is.” HE replied “I AM WHO I AM.” This is the final say. No more will be said. No convincing needed. No more is needed.

 

GOD is known as the great I AM. People have tried to separate JESUS from the FATHER and from the HOLY SPIRIT. Later, when JESUS became a human, HE called HIMSELF, “I AM.” This enraged the Pharisees. GOD sent Moses and said HE would be with him. Moses needed that boost of confidence, and perhaps you do as well. I AM is with you.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the conversation HE had when HE called him to be HIS leader?
• What questions do you have about your calling?
• Did GOD’s calling on your life scare you enough to make you ask HIM questions for clarity?

Deliverance From Pain and Sorrow

 

Deliverance From Pain and Sorrow

Exodus 3: ⁷ And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. ⁸ So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. ⁹ Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰ Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

 

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Speaking in unison, GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT told Moses that HE has heard the cries of HIS people who are in Egypt. HE then said “I have come down to deliver them.”

 

My Observations:

• All the Hebrews could do is cry out to GOD.
• GOD knew who was doing the oppression, how long they were doing it and when.
• GOD made a promise to Moses that HE would deliver HIS children out of Egypt.

 

Telling Moses that HE heard the cry of the people is one thing, but to tell him, “Okay, here is what I am going to have you do something about it” is another. Moses was not crying out. In fact, he was getting older and was content to spend the rest of his life with his wife Zipporah tending Jethro’s flock.

 

I believe GOD has a time limit on oppression. After the cure HE put on creation and after the flood, GOD allowed free will to take its course. Unfortunately, humans usually do not turn to GOD, rather they seek other humans for wisdom. The Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites, to me, represent various human beliefs that people easily fall into without consulting GOD.

 

Egyptians were oppressing the children of Israel the most. GOD also saw that they would run to other humans that did not have their best interest in mind. Only GOD knew how much HE cared for them and HE decided to send Moses.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS promise HE told him when speaking from the burning bush?
• Are you seeking contentment away from the troubles that other people are facing?
• Are you available to join up with GOD as HE executes HIS plan of bringing HIS people back to HIM?

Unprotected Interaction

Unprotected Interaction

Exodus 3: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³ Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

 

⁴ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

 

And he said, “Here I am.”

 

⁵ Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” ⁶ Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

 

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Moses was a Hebrew who believed in GOD’s direction. He would live with the murder he did for the rest of his life. He fled the murder scene and lived in the desert where he found peace. One day, Moses went a different route to graze the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro. GOD appeared to him as a flame in a bush and told him to remove his sandals, for where he stood was holy ground.

 

My Observations:

• Moses was content to stay in the desert the rest of his life.
• GOD pursued Moses and appeared to him differently than he had ever appeared to anyone before.
• GOD seemed to want a special interaction with Moses that required the physical touch of his feet.

 

I believe when writers use the words “the Angel of LORD,” it usually represents JESUS. But this morning I see more than JESUS here. I see the totality of GOD speaking to Moses. The FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT are present here, versus one entity. If the FATHER spoke, HE could say “I am GOD.” JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT could say the same thing.

 

Appearing as a fire that did not harm HIS creation seemed like GOD’s way of showing that HE means no harm, but could if HE wanted to. I also believe that it is impossible to comprehend GOD so HE showed HIS appearance to Moses in a unique way.

 

We try to separate GOD into roles and sometimes leave out one entity or another. GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT wanted to interact with HIS creation without any manmade item getting in the way. Moses sin did not block the desire of GOD to want the interaction.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD appear to Moses and why does HE want Moses to remove his sandals?
• Have you ever felt unworthy to have GOD pursue you?
• Is GOD pursuing you  and does HE want you to remove something that blocks a holy interaction with HIM?

Life Is What You Do With It

 Life Is What You Do With It

Exodus 2: ²³ Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. ²⁴ So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ²⁵ And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.

 

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Somewhere over the course of forty years, the new Pharaoh died, but the affliction on the Hebrews remained. The people groaned and cried out to GOD because of their bondage. GOD heard the cries.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph was placed in Egypt as a blessing to him.
• The children of Israel were free while Joseph was alive, but enslaved after his death.
• GOD knew HE would free HIS people before they were enslaved.

 

When GOD made Adam and Eve, HE did not create them with problems. They had freedom to eat anything, say anything and go anywhere. Unfortunately, Satan tricked them into desiring what GOD said they shouldn’t. This is the fall of humanity. Ever since then, humans have tried to rule over other humans. Pharaoh spent his life in pursuit of ruling over people. He died without pleasing GOD.

 

Our free will is documented in the Bible. GOD knew and saw everything, but the Bible is written from a human perspective of what HE revealed. Humans were in bondage in Egypt and needed GOD’s rescue. The timing was right for GOD to put things into action to free HIS people. “GOD acknowledged them.”

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the death of the new Pharaoh and the Hebrews groaning?
• What are you spending your life’s time on?
• Can you make GOD your purpose in life despite the situation?

Moses Finds a Family

 Moses Finds a Family

Exodus 2: ¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

 

¹⁸ When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”

 

¹⁹ And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”

 

²⁰ So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”

 

²¹ Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. ²² And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

 

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Moses wanted to get away from the Egyptians because he killed one of them. He also wanted to get away from the Hebrews because they saw what he did and asked him “Who made you prince and judge over us?” Moses went to Midian.

 

My Observations:

• Moses was scared and confused when he left Egypt.
• Moses was a physically strong, brave fighter who could kill someone easily.
• Moses was actually a gentle servant.

 

Reuel, or Jethro would eventually become Moses’s father-in-law. Zipporah would become his wife. They were Midianites. This group of people would fight the Israelites later. But for now, Moses was accepted into the family.

 

Zipporah would bare a son named Gershom, meaning a stranger. Gershom would not inherit the leadership of the Hebrews because GOD chooses HIS leaders. Not much was said about Gershom. Midian was probably near the mountain where Moses would eventually meet GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses to talk about his encounter with the Midianites?
• Have you ever felt like getting away from the problems you may have caused?
• Has GOD sent you to a strange place for you to start over?

Vigilante Approach

 Vigilante Approach

Exodus 2: ¹¹ Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. ¹² So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. ¹³ And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”

 

¹⁴ Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”

 

So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” ¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.

 

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Moses knew he was a Hebrew being raised as an Egyptian. He had the best Egypt had to offer at his every whim. He was the adopted grandson of Pharaoh. One day, Moses had enough of the Egyptian tyranny. He took it upon himself to kill an Egyptian. He thought he hid his murder, but was exposed by the Hebrews. He fled from Pharaoh.

 

My Observations:

• Moses felt he had the right to murder someone, just by watching someone else’s mistreatment.
• Moses was growing a heart for the salvation of the Hebrews, but he was going about it in a way that was not pleasing to GOD.
• Moses fled to the land of Midian, otherwise known as the desert.

 

While Moses motive was good, his method was not. Killing someone is appalling to GOD. Ever since the first murder of Cain, GOD saw people killed and felt every one of the murders. Moses had to confess that he was a murderer when writing Exodus.

 

This passage of scripture brings Moses up to date. From this point on, Moses can recall clearly what happened. Yet, GOD had to bring the information to his memory. This slice of history is less about Moses and more about the Israelites. Moses did not know that he was being choses to be the leader of the Israelites and would take them out of bondage someday.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses to write down his act of murder and his attempt to cover it up?
• Have you ever tried to cover something up?
• Have you made some mistakes that needs GOD’s forgiveness so HE can make you the leader HE needs you to be?