Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 30
Today's reading (Feb
3) is Exodus 1, 2 & 3. Tomorrow's is Exodus 4, 5 & 6.
Exodus starts about
400 years after the events in Genesis. The twelve sons of Jacob have now become
twelve tribes of thousands each. Exodus is a stunning testimony to the
faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. He will make Israel a great
nation in spite of the opposition of the most powerful nation on earth and the
faithlessness of His children. In looking at the big picture of how it fits
into the Bible, we’ve seen God create everything, choose a people and begin to
refine them and multiply them in Genesis. By the end of Genesis, His people are
provided for, but find themselves as slaves, living among slaves. In Exodus,
we’ll see how God delivers His people out of slavery.
Ch 1 opens with a
veiled reminder of Genesis and the fact that God sent His children to Egypt.
His promise is being fulfilled as they multiply into a huge number of people,
so many that Pharaoh feels threatened. Hardship ensues. But God had told
Abraham his descendants would struggle and He would deliver them. We see God's
hand of protection upon them even though they are suffering. This is shown when the midwives
refuse to murder the male babies for fear of God. In this, there is a
lesson to be learned. The midwives are blessed for their commitment to the
Hebrews babies. God blesses those who bless His people!
Moses, after fleeing
Egypt, is living in Midian when he encounters the burning bush. God speaks
through the bush sending Moses back to Egypt to lead his people out. Moses
feels inadequate for the task and objects, asking God what to say if he is asked who sent him. God does not relent, saying, "Tell them
I AM!", effectively saying, “This is not about you, Moses. It is about Me!”
I love the burning
bush story. So frequently we desire to hear a word from God. We hear about the
burning bush and think, "I wish God would speak that clearly to me."
Yet, what Moses heard was, most likely, the last thing he wanted to hear, 'I'm
sending you back to Egypt." Ex 2:21 tells us Moses was content right where
he was.
Posts
I was stunned when I read Ex 1:12. This time is just hit me in the face. Egypt was in dread of Israel because of their increasing number. Odd though, in spite of the fact the Israel had such great numbers, they fell into subjection under the Egyptians because the Egyptians rose up against them in fear and to keep them from gaining power.
ReplyDeleteI had to ask myself, "How many times have I shrunk away from something out of a perceived belief?" Do we shrink away in dread, assuming something about the other person that may not be anything close to true? Egypt feared Israel, yet Egypt ruled over Israel (until God rescued them).
Don't assume something is true of someone else simply because you perceive it to be so. The exact opposite just might be the case. And don't shrink away in fear. If God is for us, who can be against us? What can man do to me? Remember what Matthew 10:28 tells us, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."