Exodus – Page 11 – Be Still…

Exodus 7:1-13 – If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Do the Egyptians know who God is? Pharaoh said he didn’t. If there was any question, God is going to wipe that away with his mighty acts. Moses is hearing again from God about how the Israelites are going to be rescued. Moses and Aaron are to be his mouthpieces. How would you feel if you had this responsibility for the lives of the whole Israelite nation? Well, they are in God’s hands.

This first act of God was meant to cause curiosity. Do you think in Moses’ mind it was going to be a one and done kind of meeting? God had said he would harden Pharoah’s heart. Why? So God could “multiply” his miraculous signs and wonders. That tells me even today God could be hardening hearts as he sees fit to further his kingdom and show his power. What do you think about that?

Exodus 6:1-30 – When the Going Gets Tough

Read Exodus 6:1-30

Moses is feeling defeated. He had such grand hopes of success when he first arrived in Egypt. God was orchestrating this differently than Moses had imagined. God’s power will look all that more impressive in light of the turn of events. Pharaoh wasn’t going to back down and give in. I just feel bad for the Israelites who are taking the brunt of the punishment by the slave drivers.

Moses tries again to bring God’s message, and now the Israelites have seemingly turned on him. But God had promised the land of Canaan to their ancestors, and he was going to make good on that promise. Would it happen overnight? No. Good things are worth waiting for.

Exodus 5:1-23 – God’s Timing

Read Exodus 5:1-23

How many times have you felt abandoned by God in your life? Even the most devout followers have had to have moments of doubt or concern wondering “where is God?” We often hear that after a calamity or natural disaster. Why does God let us go through trials? Why did God allow the Egyptians to be even crueler?

Why does God allow things to happen is an age-old question, and I’m afraid I don’t have an answer either. What a wise old woman once told me is this, “If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.” She said her Daddy used to tell her that growing up. Trials and struggles will come. We are not promised a trouble-free life as followers of Jesus. But we can control how we handle the challenge.

Exodus 4:18-31 – Egypt Here We Come

Read Exodus 4:18-31

Today’s reading seemed a bit disjointed, didn’t it to you? I understand that is common in Hebrew writing. From start to finish in only a few verses, we have moved from the mountain where Moses is commissioned to arriving in Egypt to complete the mission. We can also get stuck on an event that happened on the journey.

What did you think about the attempt on Moses’ life by God? I thought it a little strange that God would kill him before he arrived in Egypt and finished his assignment. If you look closely, it never says Moses was the target, yet that is what is assumed by the use of pronouns. Who else would it be? But why? Was it a test?

Exodus 4:1-17 – God’s Power

Read Exodus 4:1-17

Moses is still not sure he’s the best man for the job. God is making a HUGE ask here, and Moses continues to question the Almighty. That takes some gumption to question God. In the face of the same situation, I don’t know that I would have been any different. I would not have felt worthy for the mission. In our business, we call such thoughts – limiting beliefs. We, like Moses, often halt our own progress and success because of our limiting beliefs.