Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 3 (Feast of Unleavened Bread)

 

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 3 (Feast of Unleavened Bread)

Exodus 12: ¹⁴ ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. ¹⁵ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶ On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. ¹⁷ So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. ¹⁸ In the first month, on 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 shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. ²⁰ You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ”

 

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GOD continues with HIS instructions to Moses to give to the children of Israel. HE gives precise instructions regarding the Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

My Observations:

• GOD instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread for the Israelites to follow until sin is abolished.
• GOD wanted the people to celebrate the start and finish of this week.
• GOD seems to equate leaven or yeast with false doctrine and the poisonous mindset of religious leaders who wanted followers versus making followers of GOD.

 

Ever since the garden of Edan, GOD was fighting a mindset that there is no need for HIM or no need to place faith in HIM. Even before religious leaders were established, GOD put together an annual feast that would help the leaders recognize that GOD needs to be followed, not man. Unfortunately, religious leaders focused people on activity versus heartfelt belief, causing people to think they could earn GOD.

 

JESUS would later say, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Their doctrine did not point to JESUS as the Messiah; rather, they were focused on building selfish kingdoms, misusing HIS name. For seven days, GOD wanted purity and to focus on HIM with no manipulation from human mindsets.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
• Have you wanted something so badly, that you believed you could manipulate GOD by following a religious leader?
• Can you focus your mindset on GOD as your leader versus your favorite religious or political leader?

Seventh Plague: Hail

Seventh Plague: Hail

Exodus 9: ¹³ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, ¹⁴ for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. ¹⁵ Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. ¹⁶ But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. ¹⁷ As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. ¹⁸ Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. ¹⁹ Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ”

 

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This is the seventh plague against Egypt and the sixth warning GOD gave to Pharaoh to let HIS people go. This time GOD reiterates that HE is the GOD of the Hebrews and HE states HIS purpose.

 

My Observations:

• GOD allowed Pharaoh to think he was in control and raised him up so that GOD’s true power would be shown.
• GOD warned Pharaoh that the animals they may have stolen from the Hebrews, would be killed if left out in the fields.
• GOD was clearly stating that HIS purpose was to show everyone that HIS power is the ultimate power that all should bow down to.

 

I believe GOD is warning Pharaoh to relent in his pursuit to have people bow down to him and to let people choose the one true GOD. I believe GOD wants us to do the same. Even if you and I were to build an audience who listens to us, we need to point them to GOD.

 

This plague is also a plague that will be used in the future. In the book of Revelation, hail is used as one of the final plagues on earth. Dealing with free will must be more difficult than we think. GOD provides a warning of what HE would do if Pharaoh did not relent his belief of being a god, or being in control.

 

GOD wants our faithfulness and surrender. HE gives us a choice to follow HIM or to be like Pharaoh, who would never surrender his belief. GOD pointed out that the people were being controlled by a tyrant. HE was in control the whole time.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh about the hail?
• Is GOD raising you up for HIS purpose to guide people to HIM?
• Is there an opposing mindset that you can address by giving it to GOD

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” ¹⁷ And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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GOD does a switch up and does not give a warning to Pharaoh. HE goes from making frogs overrun the land to having Moses tell Aaron to use his rod to create lice. Aaron obeyed Moses and struck the dust and lice were everywhere.

 

My Observations:

• The Egyptians looked down on the Hebrews and could not even eat with them because they felt the Hebrews were unclean.
• Lice was a form of uncleanliness to the Egyptians.
• Aaron’s rod was used for the third time to do something supernatural.

 

Shortly after digging wells to get fresh water, frogs came in epic proportions. GOD listened to Moses and allowed the frogs to die. The land stank, but eventually the Egyptians cleaned up the rotting frogs. Just when they thought their homes were restored, GOD told Moses to tell Aaron to strike the dust. Lice were everywhere.

 

This action by GOD came without warning. The first two plagues were used to tell Pharaoh to let GOD’s people go. But this plague was probably performed in front of Pharaoh and his magicians, so that they would know GOD did it. GOD was dismantling the attitude of superiority.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD went directly into the next plague without warning Pharaoh?
• Have you learned a skillset and felt superior to other’s who do not possess the skill?
• Does GOD see you as inferior to other people and if not, then do you feel you are superior?

Second Plague: Frogs

Second Plague: Frogs

Exodos 8: And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go 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 smite all your territory with frogs. ³ So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. ⁴ And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”

 

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GOD sends Moses with the third warning to tell Pharaoh. HE warned him to “Let MY people go,” otherwise frogs will overrun the area.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was about to face the second plague and could respond with obedience to GOD.
• GOD was clear in HIS words to Pharaoh.
• GOD did not speak directly to Pharaoh, but to HIS chosen leader Moses.

 

Frogs were revered by the Egyptians as gods. They worshiped frogs more than humans. They treated the Hebrews worse than frogs. GOD decided to warn Pharaoh first before sending frogs. If Pharaoh would change his heart, then frogs would not plague the land. But if he does not change his heart, then frogs will be everywhere.

 

GOD shows HIS sense of humor and said HE would put frogs “on your people.” This is funny and scary at the same time. GOD would produce so many frogs that there would be no place to go. The frogs represent a useless idol. They would have so many useless frogs and no way to get rid of them. They would place their hope in frogs but nothing would come from it.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh about the frogs?
• Have you ever placed your hope in a thing or a human versus placing your hope in GOD?
• Is your hope in GOD strong enough to keep you from placing your hope in something or someone else?

Safety Instructions

Safety Instructions

Genesis 19: ¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

 

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Morning dawned and the day of destruction had arrived. The angels seemed to already set in motion the destruction of the city and its people. They urged Lot to leave with his wife and two daughters. But Lot lingered. He may have been thinking of ways to take all their stuff with them because he was extremely wealthy. While Lot lingered, the angels grabbed his hand and his family’s hands, pulling them out of the city in haste.

 

My Observations:

• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would have come whether Lot left or not.
• GOD wanted to keep Lot safe, so HE sent angels to provide urgent instructions.
• Lot could have ignored the instructions and would have been destroyed with the city.

 

Having no time to ask question, Lot and his family were pulled out of the city. All of their possessions, comforts and animals were left behind. One angel said “Escape for your life!” Lot’s short-term decision caused him to lose all of his possessions.

 

This is the first mention of Lot’s wife. She and her daughters had been captured and rescued by Abraham, along with Lot and the rest of the Sodomites. Lot’s wife may have been raised in the ways of the Sodomites. This group of people were against GOD ways and wanted to do the opposite of HIS desires. GOD graciously rescued Lot’s wife. The angels held her hand tightly, leaving the city.

 

Even though the instructions were given with urgency, Lot lingered. I can understand this. Sometimes it depends on how many other urgent, life-threatening things have popped up with no time to think. GOD sent angels for the first time, to help Lot out of his bad decision. GOD’s grace and patience was shown in extreme measures.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the dire instructions the angels gave Lot and his family?
• Has GOD ever told you to do something urgent?
• When GOD gives you an instruction to keep you safe, do you act with immediacy?

 

You Gotta Be Kidding

You Gotta Be Kidding

Genesis 19: ¹² Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! ¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

 

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

 

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Majority ruled in Sodom. Everyone else was doing whatever they pleased and Lot seemed like a judgy nag. The angels asked Lot if he had any other relatives in Sodom, because they were going to destroy the city with the people in it because their sin had reached a point of no return. Lot went to his future sons-in-law, begging them to leave. They scoffed at him in disbelief.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s future sons-in-law were probably raised in the Sodomite ways.
• Angels are not all knowing, so they asked Lot about his relatives.
• GOD sent the angels to do a special intervention for the first time.

 

Destroying a beautifully made city seemed preposterous to Lot’s future sons-in-law. Why would GOD destroy anything? Sounds like the questions of today when GOD says HE will destroy the earth. The imminence of destruction was seemed like a joke.

 

The angels knew what they were told to do and when. Destruction of the city would happen whether Lot stayed or left. This is the second time Lot had to be rescued. The choice of the city that looked so great was a disaster. GOD intervened.

 

Challenge

• Why do the angels explain why they were there to Lot?
• Have you checked to see how much grace GOD is extending to you?
• Is GOD about to do something in your life that requires you to realize how great HIS grace and power really is?