God Draws Us Near Exodus 24

 

Exodus 24 – God Draws Us Near

 

 

God invites us to draw near, but often we are unwilling to do what is necessary to meet Him.  The Israelites had the Book and the blood, and they made promises to obey God; but they did not have the vision of the glory of the Lord that Moses had on the Mount. God told 70 men to come up into the mountain, but even these men were in a unique position at that time as they were told to worship afar off.  Under the law man must worship afar off but today Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”  God saves us and leads us along life’s pathway today by His grace.

They have been given the Ten Commandments and believe they can keep them.  If you say you do not sin, you deceive yourself.  I John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” The best thing to do is not boast of your goodness. Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  We live in a day when sin is called good and bad is called good.

All that we know today about God is through the Son. We don’t know how God looks, feels or thinks, because God has told us in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts, saith the Lord.”

Moses wanted to see God. If you want to see God, you will have to go through Jesus Christ.  Christ puts one hand in the Father’s hand and one in your hand and brings you and God together.  We do not reach God the Father on our own, and we must recognize that.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

Laws of the Land Exodus 23

 

Exodus 23 – Laws of The Land

 

Be careful what you say, this is God’s rule of conduct.  A gossiper is as bad as a murderer, a thief, or an adulterer in your midst, yet in our society a gossiper gets by easily.

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” It would put us out of the marching, protesting and rioting business.  It would rid our society of the growing menace of gangs. Freedom is not following a multitude to do evil.

Judgment should be exercised without respect of persons, whether they are rich or poor.

Treating people justly would seem to be an easy thing to do, but the sinful human heart can lead us astray with rumors, false witnesses, crowds, and money.  The fact that a person may be rich or poor, a friend or enemy must not blind us to the truth.

The Sabbath Day was the seventh day of the week and was a day of strict rest.  The Sabbatic Year was the septennial rest for the land from all cultivation.  Every fiftieth year the Hebrews who had been forced to sell themselves into slavery became free.  Lands that had been sold reverted to their original owners. Three times a year all the Hebrew males were to appear before the Lord God in Jerusalem.  Three feasts were to be celebrated: The Feast of Passover, The Feast of Pentecost, The Feast of Tabernacles.  It is the Lord Jesus that they were to obey.

God told Israel that He intended to put the enemy out of the land because of their sin.  He is telling them that His intention is to put them in the land of Israel and make it their land. The children of Israel were not to make any covenants with the inhabitants of the land nor with their gods. The nation would be entering enemy territory and would be tempted to compromise with the wicked people of the land.  They must not even speak about false gods, or they would be led to bow down and serve those gods and make covenants with them. The reason the nation of Israel finally went into Babylonian captivity was because they went into idolatry and served other gods.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

Property Rights and Humanity Exodus 22

 

Exodus 22 – Property Rights and Humanity

 

God’s law of restoring fourfold is much better with human nature the way it is.  If we had to restore fourfold anything that we destroyed or damaged, we would be more careful. It is not enough to admit the crime and show sorrow over it, there must also be a readiness to make things right for those who have been hurt.

God wants us to respect personal property. God’s law protects a man’s property and his home.  Under this principle a man is justified in protecting his property, his home, and his loved ones.

We have men who administer law today with no background in the Bible.  Because of this, we are in deep trouble.

If a man steals, he must make restitution for that which he has stolen, even to the point of selling himself into slavery to help make payment. If a man’s cow or sheep breaks through into another man’s field and they cause damage, he is to make restitution. If a man rapes a girl, he will be forced to marry her.  If her father does not agree to the marriage, the rapist must pay a penalty for what he has done. 

Today we are seeing an increase of Satan worship and of the supernatural.  This trend is potent, and it is real. 

Having sexual intercourse with a beast shows just how low man can go.

Utterly destroying anyone who sacrifices to any other god except God is harsh, but when you have cancer, you want to rid yourself of it. This is what God is talking about.

I believe that God protects the helpless.  Great judgment is coming for those individuals who have mistreated people who are in need.

If one person lends money to another, he is not to charge excessive interest.  God says it is wrong to take advantage of others.

These many laws reveal the holiness of God and His desire that we be a holy people. When obeyed, these laws protected the people from violence, extortion, oppression, and affliction.  God has compassion on widows and orphans, poor workers, and strangers.

If we truly love God with all our hearts, we will have no desire to hurt others.  But if God is not first, we will start exploiting people to get what we want.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

The Law of Slavery Exodus 21

 

Exodus 21 -  Law of Slavery

 

 

The Israelites could never permanently make one of their own brethren a slave. The law states that if a man is a slave, after seven years he can go free.  If he was married when he became a slave, he can take his wife with him.  If he married while a slave, and the woman was already a slave of his master, at the end of seven years he can go free, but his wife would still belong to his master.  If he loved his wife and master, he could decide to stay on his own free will.  Then his master would bore his earlobe through with an awl signifying that he will serve his master forever.

As far as injuries, God commanded the nation Israel to put to death any murderer.  There were six cities of refuge throughout the land of Palestine so that one charged with manslaughter could go there for shelter until the matter which he was involved could be settled. If a man commits a premeditated murder, that man is to be executed.

God’s law shows that He is concerned about everything, men, women, children, the unborn, property, and even animals. This is His creation, and He has the right to tell us how to manage it.  The Law did not change people’s hearts, but it did help to control their conduct, and give order to the nation.  Laws and government have been instituted by God and we should respect them.  Romans 13.

Some penalties given here may seem harsh to us, but keep in mind that the nation was in its beginnings, and children learn best through rewards and punishments.

 

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

 

The Ten Commandments Exodus 20

 

Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments (please read Exodus 20)

 

Under the Old Covenant, God’s law was written on tablets of stone, but under the New Covenant, God writes His word on our hearts. The first part of the law was the Ten Commandments, a moral code. They are divided into two different divisions.  One-part deals with man’s relationship to God, and the other part deals with man’s relationship to man. In the first commandment, God is condemning the belief in that there is more than one God. In that day it was popular to worship many gods.  Today it is popular not to worship any god.  In Romans 1:21-25, it states: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…..Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.”

1-3. Anything you give yourself to, anything to which you give your time, heart, and soul, becomes your god.  God says we are not to have any gods before Him.

4. It is wrong to use God’s name in vain because He is God, and He is Holy!  It reveals a lack of vocabulary.  Many people cannot express themselves without using profanity.

5. The Sabbath Day was given to the nation Israel in a very unusual way.  It was a covenant between God and the children of Israel.

6. A father and mother should be worthy of the honor of their children.

7.  The commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” Was not given to a nation; it was given to the individual.  One man should not kill another. It has nothing to do with soldier service or with the execution of a criminal.  It is speaking of murder, which our Lord said comes from anger – and we are not even to be angry with our brother.

8. Sex is certainly not new, but it is still adultery when it is committed outside of marraige.

9. Bearing false witness against your neighbor is lying.

10. Covetousness, according to the apostle Paul is idolatry.

Along with the commandments God gives instruction for an altar.  An altar is used for sacrifice. The peace offering reveals that man needs a sacrifice that will reconcile him to God, and that Christ made peace by the blood of His Cross.  The burnt offering speaks of who Christ is; it speaks of His worthiness and ability to save. God instructed them to build a plain altar of stone with no engraving.  The moment a tool was put to stones, it was polluted.  God rejected it. In that day a man would have to lift a skirt and his nakedness would be revealed.  God says, “I do not want to see your nakedness.” Therefore, steps were not permitted to the altar.

Grace or Law Exodus 19

 

Exodus 19 – Grace or Law

(Please read the scripture to get a greater understanding of God’s Word)

By Grace God brought Israel out of Egypt and to Mount Sanai.  He is bearing them on Eagles’ wings.  The eagle is used as a symbol of God and deity.   The eagle is admired for its wings and its ability to soar to the heights. On the way from Egypt to Mount Sania, Israel had seven experiences which correspond to our Christian experiences.  God gave Israel

Manna when they were hungry and water when they were thirsty.  God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah. God delivered them from Amalek.  All the way God carried Israel on eagles’ wings, and that is the way He bears us today, He leads us by grace, and we walk by faith.

Once they arrived at Mount Sania God reminds Israel how He has led and cared for them.  Then He gives them a choice- grace or law. God saves by grace. He does not save by law.

Law demands – grace gives.   Law says “do” – Grace says “believe”.

Law exacts – grace bestows.  Law says “work”- grace says “rest”.

Law threatens, pronouncing a curse – grace entreats, pronouncing a blessing.

Law says “Do, and you shall live” – grace says, “Live, and you shall do”.

Law condemns the best man - grace saves the worst man.

The law was given to reveal that we are sinners.  It was given temporarily until Jesus returns.

The giving of the law to the nation Israel at Mount Sinai was the beginning of the dispensation of the law.  This lasts from Mount Sinai to the Cross of Calvary, from Exodus to the Cross.

No one can measure up to God’s standards.  The Israelites chose the law over grace and they say, “Bring it on, we are ready to keep it.”

There are multitudes of men and women today that claim they keep the Law even after God clearly demonstrated that no one can be saved by the Law- because no one can keep the law.  The giving of God’s law was a terrifying experience and the people trembled because it was frightening.

Israel’s pledge to keep the Law was a mistake they never would have made had they known more about themselves and how weak they were.  There is a great contrast between that dispensation of law and our dispensation of grace.

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary

Jethro visits Moses Exodus 18

 

Exodus 18 – Jethro visits Moses

 

Jethro, the priest of Midian and Father-in-law of Moses came to visit and brought Moses and his children with them. It is interesting to see the relationship between Moses and his father-in-law.  They seem to be very close.  Jethro obviously loved Moses and had great respect for him and was enthusiastic about him.

Sometimes an outsider can see things more clearly than those doing the work, and we must always be open to counsel.  Moses was trying to do all the work himself, and he was not making a distinction between major matters and minor problems.  He needed assistance and he needed priorities. Jethro expected Moses to seek God’s counsel in this matter. We must always ask for God’s direction. 

There are two kinds of wisdom in this world, the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world.  Jethro’s proposal was based on the wisdom of the world.  One of the reasons the church gets in trouble today is because they attempt to run the church by the methods of the world, and they have no spiritual discernment..  The recommendations that Jethro made were good.  They would take the load off Moses and expedite matters. The thing is, that this was not the will of God.  God permitted it all right, but He did not suggest it.  If this were the best method, God would have already made this arrangement. He did not want others included who would dissipate or insulate the power of God in coming directly to Moses.  There are many people who do not like to do business directly with God.  They would rather deal with other people.  We need to go directly to God.

These seventy men were no more efficient for God than one man. What we need is wisdom of God to guide us. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” I Cor. 3:19

In verse 21 we read the description of the kind of leaders God needs. People who are characterized by ability, the fear of God, honesty and hatred for covetousness.

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

Water From A Rock Exodus 17

 

Exodus 17 -Water from A Rock

 

The children of Israel were always complaining.  They have a need and start to complain.  God graciously meets their needs.   Then something else comes up and they begin to cry out, complain, and find fault.

This is the first mention of the “rock” and the “water” that came out of the rock. The rock is a beautiful portrait of Jesus Christ. One upon whom we rest and the One upon whom the church is built – a rock is the last place we go for a drink of water.  You can fall on the rock, Jesus Christ, for salvation, but no human effort is able to get water from this Rock.  Only when the rock was smitten did it bring forth life-giving waters.  Jesus was crucified, and nothing short of believing that He died in your place and bore your sins on that Cross will save you.  The smitten rock is a picture of the death of Jesus Christ.

Are you satisfied with the work Christ did for you on the Cross?  He died to save you.  All that God is asking is that you believe in His Son.

During their wilderness march the Israelites ran into the Amalekites.  These are descendants of Esau and had never ceased to be Israel’s enemies.  It is a war between Jacob and Esau. For the first time on this journey, the children of Israel engage in warfare. Esau was a picture of the flesh.  As Israel could not overcome Amalek by their own efforts, neither can we overcome the flesh by our own efforts. This battle was not won by Israel’s fighting ability because they were not experienced soldiers nor adept at warfare.  This battle was fought and won by Moses.  The moment Moses was no longer able to hold his hands up, the children of Israel began to lose the fight.  If it had not been for Moses, Israel would have lost the battle.

Now we meet Joshua, God is preparing him for the task that is ahead of him. Little does he know that he will become Moses’ predecessor.

Every difficulty you meet is an opportunity for testing yourself and trusting your Lord, for going forward or going backward.  The flesh and the spirit will always war against each other.  Only the Holy Spirit of God can give us victory.

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Manna and Quail Exodus 16

 

Exodus 16 – Manna and Quail

 

God had no intention of letting his people starve.  His plan was to lead them through the wilderness, and He promised to take care of them.  God has heard our murmurings and we see the glory of God.  Every time Israel murmured, the glory of God appeared.  This tells us that God does not like griping, complaining, fault-finding Christians.  The church is filled with complaining Christians.  If you are in a church where you must complain and gripe, get out and go somewhere else.

God not only gave the Israelites manna, but He sent quail too.  Manna was Israel’s sustenance as they journeyed through the wilderness. The manna was to be gathered every morning.  Each man was to gather it.  This was to be a personal experience.  The manna speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life. “For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world... I am the bread of life; he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:32-35. Before the Sabbath Day they were to get enough for two days. The Sabbath Day was given to Israel before the formal giving of the Law. Manna could be prepared in many ways.  They could grind it, beat it in a mortar, bake it in pans, or make a casserole.

The children of Israel began to despise God’s heavenly food and complained about eating it. They grew tired of the manna. They wanted to go back to that which they had been delivered.

There are Christians today who need to make a complete break with the old life and give up living like the world.  The Israelites needed to give up the things of Egypt to be serviceable to God and have the peace of God in their heart. 

A pot of manna was put in the ark along with Aaron’s rod, and the Ten Commandments. The manna also speaks of Christ’s death for us.  He is provided as spiritual food for us.  The children ate manna and quail for forty years until they reached the promised land, then it ceased.

Just as the Jews could not live on yesterday’s manna, so we cannot live on yesterday’s spiritual diet. Begin each day with the Lord, and He will give you what you need for facing the burdens and battles ahead.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary, NKJ Bible and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary

 

Israel's Song of Redemption Exodus 15

 

Exodus 15 – Israel’s Song of Redemption

 

Immediately upon their safe journey across the Red Sea, the children of Israel join in singing a song.  (This is the same crowd that only a few hours before on the other side of the Red Sea were moaning, crying that they wanted to go back to Egypt). Their song told the story of what they had seen God do and what God had done for them.  It was something they were not apt to forget, but this song certainly kept the experience in them. Can you imagine the exhilarating feelings they had once they had experienced this miracle?!! 

God brings us to the place where we can lift a song of redemption to Him.  Then we are joined to Him.  We are baptized into Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who joins us to Christ and causes us to become one with Him.  We are members of the body of Christ.  What happened to Israel is an example for us.  It is a picture of our redemption and what the Spirit of God does when we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. The Israelites have a wonderful time of praise.  They are a redeemed people. 

They went three days journey into the wilderness.  They thirsted!

There is always that trip into the wilderness after you are saved.  You look for living water and do not know where to find it.  Jesus says, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” John 7:37. Thirsting and not finding water was their first experience.  Now they have a second experience that was not much better. When they finally come to water, it is bitter and unfit to drink. 

When a bitter experience comes to a Christian, it is a puzzling and confusing thing. I cannot tell you why certain things befall Christians, but I do know that God is not punishing them.  He is educating them and preparing them for something.

The Israelites cast a tree into the water and made it sweet. It is the Cross of Jesus that makes sweet the bitter experiences of life.

Elim was a place of abundant blessing and fruitfulness.  There were seventy palm trees and twelve wells. God’s plan for usefulness always leads to bitterness and to fruitfulness.

Beyond every cloud, there is the sun.  Beyond every shadow there is the light.  Beyond every trial, there is triumph.  And beyond every storm there is a rainbow.

Let God be your strength, your song, and your salvation.

 

Whose Plan is This? Exodus 14

 

Exodus 14 – Whose Plan Is This?

 

No matter what the enemy plans to do to you, God has already taken care of it and will tell you what to do.  The pillar that brought light to Israel brought darkness to the enemy.  The people of the world are walking in darkness, but God’s people have “the light of life” John 8:12.

The host of Egypt moves against the children of Israel with six hundred chariots. The Red Sea is ahead of the Israelites, and the hosts of Egypt are behind them. These poor defenseless people are caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. 

The Israelites, when they were in the land of Egypt, cried out for deliverance.  God provided the opportunity for them to leave; but the minute they were in danger, they wanted to return to Egypt. Unless God moves on their behalf, they are doomed.  And you and I could never be redeemed unless God did it.  Redemption is the work of the Lord. The Lord will work on behalf of His people; all they have to do is accept, repent and be baptized, and receive His salvation.  They are to stand still, and God will do the work.

Their faith will be evidenced in whether they will go forward. The thing that must be faced here is that a miracle took place.  You either accept it or you do not.  God, by a miracle, opened the sea and the Israelites walked through it on dry ground. Israel crossed safely to the other side of the Red Sea, and Pharaoh and his army perished in the waters of that sea, and the Egyptians left in the land will know that the God of Israelites is the Lord. He worked through the pillar of fire and the cloud, which represents the Holy Spirit.  As a child of God, we are led by the Spirit of God.

At the beginning of their wilderness march they saw the power of God when He delivered them by the blood out of Egypt.  Now at the Red Sea He demonstrates His power again by taking them safely across the sea and by destroying the Egyptians pursuing them.  God delivers His children by power.

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

 

God Claims The First In Everything Exodus 13

 

Exodus 13 – God Claims the First in Everything

 

God wanted Israel to remember what His hand had done for them in case in the future they forget to trust and serve Him.  The annual Passover would remind them to keep their lives pure.  God freed them from bondage, and He frees us from bondage, and He guides us to the inheritance He has prepared for us.  His word is like the pillar of cloud and fire, and He will show us the way if we trust in Him.

The firstborn in Egypt had died.  The gods of Egypt had always claimed the firstborn as their own, and now God claims the firstborn of Israel as His own.  God does not promise material prosperity to anyone, but it is interesting how He has blessed men and women who have put Him first. The Lord has given Himself to us!  We have been bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  The blessing comes when you give yourself to Him voluntarily and put Him first.

The firstborn of their sons had to be redeemed with silver. We are redeemed by the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ.

The Israelites coming out of Egyptian slavery had no weapons to fight with; so, God graciously took them through the wilderness. It was a longer route to the land, but it would spare any warfare.  They would not have to face an enemy until they entered the Promised Land.  It took them forty years to get through the wilderness. 

When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses took the bones of Joseph. At least two hundred years had passed since Joseph had said that they will take his bones out of the land of Egypt.

The children of Israel are moving toward the hot, burning desert that even Moses called a great and terrible wilderness.  They went through it and did not even get sunburned because they had a pillar of cloud over them by day. The people had the glory, the visible presence of God.  We do not need the visible presence of God to walk by faith.  They needed the “glory” because the redemption had not yet been worked out in history as it has now.

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

 

The Passover Exodus 12

 

Exodus 12- The Passover

 

The Passover is a festival that laid the foundation of the nation Israel’s birth into a new relationship with God. The Israelites have become a nation and God is going to deliver them, but He will do it by families and by individuals in the family.  The lamb, of course, speaks of the blood that will be put on the doorpost. This is because the final plague is about to descend upon the people.  Jesus is the perfect lamb who had to die to save us.  We are saved by applying His blood to our own hearts by faith. Inside the home the family is eating the lamb, and by faith they are partaking of Christ.  The blood covers everyone in the family.  No one will be left behind. They were to eat the flesh of the lamb roasted with fire.  Fire speaks of judgment.  They were to eat the lamb with unleavened bread.  Leaven speaks of sin, and unleavened bread speaks of Christ as the One we are to feed upon. Yeast begins small but spreads quickly; it puffs up, and it works secretly. The Jews got rid of the leaven because God saved them.

All the gods demanded the offering of the first born. Now God is turning against all the Egyptian idols.  Keep in mind that the Israelites were not saved because they were the seed of Abraham, or because they were doing the best they could, nor because they might be honest or a good person.  They were not saved because they were circumcised, or because they belonged to a church.  It did not matter how good they were or how much charity work they did.  God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” God tells me that the shed blood of Christ will save me and nothing else will. Up until Christ came, it was a lamb.  Then Jesus was the lamb of God, He is the one who takes away the sins of the world.

They ate the unleavened bread on the wilderness march because on the night of the Passover they were expelled from Egypt.

God has prepared His people for this last plague.  The land of Goshen had escaped the last three plagues but could not escape this one unless there was blood on the doorposts.  The final judgment claimed the life of the firstborn in each house where there was no blood on the doorpost.

The Egyptians did not know where the judgment of God would end.  God had taken their firstborn; Perhaps He would bring death to all the Egyptians, and so Pharaoh and the people told the Israelites to get out of the land because they feared for their own lives.

If a Gentile wanted to identify himself in belief with the Israelites, he was welcome. All of us are called to go with Jesus and be saved from ours sins.

 

 

Israel Collects Their Wages Exodus 11

 

Exodus 11 – Israel Collects Their Wages

 

 

When we trust in the Lord, it means the difference between light and darkness and life and death. God made this difference, and His people must maintain it. God has been longsuffering and forgiving, but He must make Pharaoh understand that it is time for Israel to leave Egypt.  The Israelites had served for years as slaves and had never received any payment for their labor.  Now they were going to get their money.  They were literally to go to their neighbors and ask for their back wages.  The Lord gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they were glad to pay the children of Israel their just payment. 

Now the firstborn of both man and beast belonged to the gods of Egypt.  The Lord God will claim the first fruits of the Egyptian gods.  He is going to show that there is a difference between the children of Israel and the Egyptians.  The difference did not lie in the fact that one race was Jew and the other Gentile.  The difference lay in the blood of the lamb put upon the doorpost.  Each home protected by the blood would not be touched by the death angel.  This was the beginning of the oldest religious holiday of the Jews, the Passover Feast.  The Passover is one of the most eloquent portraits of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Old Testament.

 

 

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Other Reads by Sherry Southard are “Gerald’s Life” and “Keeper” which can be found on Amazon.com

 

 

Locusts and Darkness Exodus 10

 

Exodus 10 – Locusts and Darkness

 

A person might ask, what will it take to cause Pharaoh to let Israel go? 

God has many reasons for doing what He does.  One reason for the plagues was to make Pharaoh reveal that he was a godless man. He wanted to give Pharaoh the opportunity to let Israel go and the opportunity for salvation.  God also wanted to demonstrate to His people what He was able to do before He took them into the wilderness.

At this point in the story Pharaoh’s servants try to reason with him.  “Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?  How much longer are you going to permit it?  Let them go!”  Pharaoh had already tried two compromises and was turned down.  Now he tries again by telling Moses that the Adults can go but the children must be left behind. 

Just as Pharaoh tempted and tested Moses with compromise, so the child of God today is also tempted.  Christian parents want the best for their children.  Wanting the “best” of the world for their children is the most subtle temptation that can come to Christian parents.  Some are so anxious and ambitious for them to get on in the world that they lost them to the world. Moses did not accept this compromise either.

Locusts were prominent In the Asian area and this wind had brought them over a broad expanse of desert, and they were hungry.  They stripped all the land of vegetation. 

The first plagues were directed against the gods, idols that infested the land.  Now God is directing the plagues in a manner that works a hardship upon the people and their struggle to stay alive.  Pharaoh repented when the locust came but once they were gone, he changes his mind and goes back to his original position. Then darkness came over the land of Egypt in the daytime. God moved in with the darkness against the chief god that they worshiped.  The darkness was a miracle of God, and it caused Pharaoh to propose a fourth compromise. You would think that leaving their flocks and herds behind would be a compromise that Moses might accept for the Israelites. But that is not what God told them to do. There would be no compromise.  Egypt, by the way, is a picture of the world.

 

If you have missed any lessons you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.com.

 

Pestilence, Boils, Hail - Exodus 9

 

Exodus 9 – Pestilence, Boils, Hail

 

So long as Pharaoh resists the Lord God, anguish and disaster will be poured out upon the land of Egypt and its people.  Up until this chapter Pharaoh had hardened his own heart.  Now we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God told Pharaoh through Moses that if they did not let His people go, there will be a severe pestilence upon their cattle, donkeys, oxen, and sheep.   You might say that what they had here is the worship of a sick cow.

The sixth plague of boils may have begun in the presence of Pharaoh.  He may have been the first one to get boils.  His magicians were able to duplicate the first three plagues and miracles, but they were not able to duplicate the others.  Now they are plagued with boils also.  For the first time God is touching man as well as beast with judgment.  He is afflicting man’s physical body.  The priests who served in the Egyptian temples had to be clean, without any breaking out or sickness.  Suddenly this plague of boils comes upon them and they are unclean, unfit to serve in the temples.  This brings to a halt all of the false worship in Egypt. Even though Pharaoh himself is afflicted with boils, God continues to ask for the release of His people through His servant Moses.  Still Pharaoh refuses to let Israel leave the land.  His heart is hard.

Egypt is a land of little rain.  God tells them that they are going to have hail. God says, “get yourselves and your cattle inside.”  Many people did not believe the words of God, and they suffered from the judgment.  God gave them the chance, but it was their choice whether they believed what He said.  The same holds true today.

This plague also touches man and the animals. The message God gave to the Egyptians is the same one He gives to the world today.  Judgment is coming.  Man is not wise to go on as if nothing is going to happen.  All God asks is that you believe Him.

God is striking at the Egyptians to wake them up and shake them out of their false worship. God’s judgments had practically ruined the land, yet Pharaoh would not give in.  In so doing, Pharaoh thought he was showing great strength; actually, God was using him to display his own sovereignty.

 

 

Study from J. Vernon McGee commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Frogs, Lice and Flies, Oh MY! Exodus 8

 

Exodus 8 - Frogs, Lice and Flies Oh My!

 

 

God is directing His attack against a people immersed in idolatry. The frog goddess is one of the oldest of goddesses. She was the goddess of fertility and rebirth. Frogs were in Egyptian bedrooms, kitchens, in every room in the house, in kneading troughs and in ovens. When they walked, they walked on frogs.  When they sat, they sat on frogs.  Of course, they were sacred and should not be killed. Once again the Egyptians magicians duplicated the plague of frogs. This reveals the power of Satan. The magicians cannot remove the frogs that God sent, nor the ones that Satan sent. Pharaoh was so upset by this plague that he was ready to promise anything. We are told that instead, he hardened his own heart.  God’s part in this was to bring to the surface that which was already there.

When God sent the lice the magicians finally acknowledged the finger of God in the plagues.  Gradually God was convincing the Egyptians that He was the One and Only God.  The lice could eventually rid the land of the frogs and could therefore become a blessing as well as a curse.  The plague of lice could not be duplicated by the magicians. God is beginning to level His judgment against life itself in the land of Egypt.

Up until this time the plagues had touched both the lands of Egypt and Goshen where the children of Israel lived. God then makes a distinction and does not send anymore plagues among the children of Israel. From now on the judgment will only fall upon the land of Egypt. The Egyptian flies spoke

of eternal life.  Imagine this most sacred thing becoming a curse to the people and a plague upon the land. Pharaoh said, “You may sacrifice, but stay in the land.”  This compromise says we can be Christians but not narrow ones.  Be a broad-minded Christian and do not change your life.  If your life does not change, how can you build on your relationship with  Jesus? If there were church members in the land of Egypt at this time, they may have been broad-minded in wanting to live like the world.  Moses did not accept Pharaoh’s compromise.  So, pharaoh’s, second compromise is to not go very far and to pray for him. This compromise says, Let us go to church on Sunday but adopt the ways of the world the rest of the week. Moses did not accept this compromise either.

Great experiences are no guarantee that one has grown spiritually.  It all depends on what happens to the heart.

 

Commentary by J. Vernon McGee and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Hardened Hearts - Exodus 7

 

Exodus 7 – Hardened Hearts

 

When God speaks, people either obey and submit their hearts or disobey and harden their hearts.  God sent the judgments and therefore caused Pharaoh’s heart to harden.

In this commission from God, Moses was going to be a god to Pharaoh and Aaron would be a prophet.   A prophet is one who speaks for God, one who has a message from God to the people.  A prophet is not to represent the people, he is to represent God.

Pharaoh did not want to let the children of Israel go, and yet he wanted to appear as a benevolent ruler.  He wanted everyone to think he was a generous man, but in this matter of Israel, he was hard. God, however, is going to force the king’s hand in this matter.  Every person who enters heaven will be seen as they really are before God.  There will be no more secrets.

Pharaoh will stand revealed for what he is, and the Lord God of Israel will be revealed for who He is.  The Egyptians will know, and the Israelites will have it confirmed, and Moses and Aaron will be justified.

So, the Lord God of Israel attacks the gods of Egypt to show who He is. It is interesting that the Egyptians worship the serpent, and it is Aaron’s rod that swallows up their serpents. This should have impressed Pharaoh, but it did not.  Pharaoh hardened his heart and persisted in his set ways.

The second blow to the worship of Egypt is when the sacred Nile River was turned to blood.  They worshiped the Nile because it indicated to them the powers of fertility and nourishment.  It was the lifeblood of Egypt. What had been a blessing in Egypt is now a curse.  This is God’s judgment.

Pharaoh was not convinced this was the hand of God because his magicians were able to duplicate the plague.  This is an amazing thing!  It was a manifestation of the power of Satan, of course but they were powerless to change the blood back into pure water.

Satan will always fight against God to be like God but be certain.  God prevails and will prevail in the end.

 

 

Commentary by J. Vernon McGee and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

To view previous lessons, go to:   God Plans For You.  https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.ccom

 

The Seven "I wills" of Redemption Exodus 6

 

Exodus 6 – The Seven “I Wills” of Redemption

 

God is telling Moses that He is THE LORD. He does not have to prepare for the future.  He is self-existing and needs no reserve.  God is not dependent of anything in creation.  He does not lean upon anything; rather, all of creation leans upon Him for support.  God wanted Moses to lean upon Him too.

I will bring you out from your burdens: The things of the world are an oppression to the heart.  We are told not to love the world.  God can deliver us from the burden of sin through faith in Jesus Christ.

I will rid you out of bondage: When we dive into the truths of the Bible, the darkness begins to roll away, and the light breaks through into our heart.

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm: God has a great plan of salvation, but man must come to Him for it.  He will redeem you with an outstretched arm.

I will take you to me for a people: God has lifted us up out of the muck and mire of sin and made us His sons by faith in Christ Jesus! He wants us to know Christ as Savior and Lord.

I will be to you a God: God loves His own because it is His nature to love.  He wants to be our God.

I will bring you into the land: Canaan is not a picture of heaven.  It is a picture of the Christian life as believers should be living it. Are you living today in the life, light, and love of a living Savior?

I will give you the land for a heritage: We have been justified by faith and have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have been given the Holy Spirit of God to indwell in us and the love of God has been made real to us.

It is also essential that Moses and Aaron are who they claim to be.  It has been forty years since Moses left Egypt.  In the meantime, he has married the daughter of the priest of Midian.  Now here he is back in Egypt.  He belongs to the tribe of Levi and his father and Mother are Amram and Jochebed.  The genealogy provides the necessary credentials for Moses to accomplish the work he is sent to do in the land of Egypt. It is not a very pleasant task he has to perform.  He has been rejected all along the way.  Even after he shows his credentials of being in the tribe of Levi, he is rejected.  “I’m in the right line” says Moses, “but I hesitate to go.”

 

Commentary by J. Vernon McGee

 

Perseverance Exodus 5

 

Exodus 5 - Perseverance

 

When Moses and Aaron began their work in Egypt, their first problem was with Pharaoh.  Not only did Pharaoh refuse to let people leave Egypt, but he made their work more difficult.  That gave Moses a second problem – his own people, who blamed him for their troubles.  He had a taste of the criticism and rebellion he would experience for the next forty years. 

Moses’ third problem was with the Lord Himself.  God had promised success, but Moses failed.  Even the Jews did not believe him! 

In our spiritual life we encounter neighbors, ourselves, and God. In our perseverance we build on our relationship with each.

God gave Moses the assurance that he needed and told him to return to his job and stay with it.  God does not solve every problem immediately, nor does He follow our schedule.  When you think you have failed even when you obeyed God’s will, ponder other examples in Isaiah 55:8-9 and Jeremiah 29:11.

 

If Moses had given up after his first try in saving the Israelites, there would have been no salvation.  They would have remained slaves and not received the promised land.  But Moses did not give up.  He knew ahead of time that the road ahead would be difficult.  He may have experienced periods of discouragement, but Moses relied on God to instruct him and lead him on the job he was commissioned to do. He was faced with many obstacles from Pharaoh, his own people, and his own securities.  But with trust in God and his perseverance in obeying the instructions of God, we will see that Moses accomplishes the task at hand and with God’s blessings. Let us persevere in trusting and obeying our Lord, even through the obstacles.

 

 

To view previous lessons, go to:   God Plans For You.  https://sherrysouthard@blogspot.ccom

 

 

Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe

 

God Encourages Moses Exodus 4

 

Exodus 4 – God Encourages Moses

 

 

God gave Moses everything he needed for success.  All he had to do was trust the great I AM. 

God already had Aaron prepared and on his way to meet Moses.  While Aaron at times created some problems for Moses, he was still a valued helper in the work.  He was the speaker, and Moses was the doer.  But in time, Moses himself became a great orator.

God spoke to Moses and gave him the instructions and encouragement he needed.  Before he arrived in Egypt, Moses knew that his work would be difficult, and that Pharaoh would oppose him. 

Moses was sure nobody would believe him; however, when the elders saw the signs and heard the message, they believed and bowed to God.

When we face a tough job and are afraid that we will fail, remember Moses.  God keeps His promises, no matter how you feel or how people respond.

 

God also provides people in our life who are great encouragers. Whenever we need a shoulder to lean or someone who we can consider our accountability partner, God always sends someone our way.  If you need a friend, see what happens when you ask God to send you one.  He never fails!

 

If you are in a hard spot and you have not the confidence in yourself to make it better, ask God to provide a way out.  God never fails!

 

Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe

 

God In the Burning Bus Exodus 3

 

Exodus 3 – God in the Burning Bush

 

We never know what a day may bring, so it is important to keep our eyes and ears open to the leading of the Lord.  Curiosity changed Moses’ life.  God calls busy people to serve him, and He reveals Himself to them.  

God is faithful. He called Abraham, cared for Isaac, guided, and protected Jacob, and He would be with Moses.  He is the God of the individual as well as the nation, and He does not change from generation to generation.

God is concerned and compassionate. He saw the affliction of his people, and He heard their cries. Then why didn’t He act sooner? Because He was following a perfect timetable.  We must learn to wait on the Lord. 

God is Longsuffering.  The Lord answered all of Moses’ objections and gave one assurance after another to encourage him.    Moses said, “I am not!”  and God replied, “I AM! Faith lays hold of what God is and obeys what God says.  Faith sees the opportunities while unbelief sees the obstacles.  Are you arguing with God about something He wants you to do?

 

God never give us more than we can handle.  We may think so when overwhelming experiences come our way, but it is in God’s desire to strengthen us and build our character.  He sees things in us that we do not see in ourselves.  Just as He did with Moses. When we are faced with hard situations, we must ask God what it is that He wants us to learn from this. Be open to instruction and do not fall into the “poor me, why me” pit.  Focus on what God’s plan might be for us instead of the hardship itself.

 

Relax – God is taking care of everything.

 

“Do not tell God how big the storm is, Tell the storm how big your God is.”

 

 

 

Nelson’ Quick Reference Bible Commentary.

Moses Exodus 2

 

Exodus 2 – Moses

 

 Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed knew that times were difficult, but they had faith to get married and have a family.  Aaron and Miriam were already in the home when Moses was born.  It was not easy to provide for another child, but God enabled them, as He still does parents today. 

It also took faith for the parents to put their son into the river, obeying at least the spirit of the Egyptian law.  God rewarded their faith.  Jochebed not only got her son back, but she was paid to take care of him!

Moses had a great education, but he was lacking in faith.  He fought the wrong enemy at the wrong time with the wrong weapon. When you start to look around and ask yourself “is it safe?” and not “is it right? You have stopped living by faith.  Sometimes God must “set us aside” to teach us what we need to know – and to help us forget the way the world does things.

 Moses’ impulsive deed sent him to the back of the desert for forty years, just as his impulsive words would keep him out of the Promised land (Numbers 20:9).  An impatient spirit is a dangerous thing.

Our first line of defense whenever contemplating a decision between right or wrong is to take it to the Lord.  God answers all our prayers whether it be “yes”, “no” or “wait.”  Trusting in God means not acting until we are certain it is within God’s plan for us. God provides a source of peace when our decision is the right one. Impulsive decisions can only lead to mistakes.  “But those who trust in the Lord, they will find new strength, they will soar high on wings like an eagle.  They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 NLT.

 

 

Nelson’ Quick Reference Bible Commentary.