Exodus 10-6.2.2021
Scripture
Exodus 10:7, 27-29
Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”... But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.”
Observation
Moses and Aaron continue to go before Pharaoh requesting the freedom of the Israelites, and he considers their offer. Yet, after hearing that they require the freedom of every Israelite he reconsiders again and denies their request, even after his advisors tell him otherwise. Then the Egyptians suffer from a plague of locusts and of darkness for three days.
Understanding
I remember learning about this Bible story in Sunday school and remembering it so clearly because I loved this lesson. However, two things from this story that I did not remember: 1) I didn’t know that Pharaoh actually considered their offer and 2) I didn’t know that Pharaoh’s advisors told him to let the Israelites go. Which brings me to my understanding today: sometimes our most trusted advisors have the best advice. I know what you are thinking: WELL DUH! But think about it for just a moment, put yourself in Pharaoh’s shoes. He had become so attached to the situation that he turned to those around him for advice, and they tell him to him pretty straight. He then decides “you know what maybe I’ll let some of them free,” and when Moses and Aaron want all of them free, he goes back to his Pharaoh ways and denies them freedom. His advisors probably hate him, and because of his unwillingness to perhaps listen to his those around him every one else had to suffer as well.
I can think of many times I was so connected to a certain situation that I turned to those around me, and they gave me some trusted and solid advice. It was then up to me to actually listen to those placed around me. As harsh as this sounds: there is no point in asking for guidance from trusted friends if you aren’t going to take said advice. Pharaoh gets what he wants for a brief moment, but then suffers the most in the end.
Life Application
What’s the last thing that God told you that was confirmed by a trusted friend that you haven’t done yet? Don’t trade instant relief for long-term heartache. Pharaoh had it all, until he didn’t… I don’t want to spoil the story if you’ve never read it but I mean God’s Chosen People kind of have the upper hand. And we as God’s children now have it too, but we have to be willing to take advice when necessary.
-Allison Khan
Exodus 9
Scripture
Exodus 9: 1
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.”
Observation-What does it say?
Something I observed in this chapter was that the Lord had started speaking directly to Moses now, meaning, it was Moses who was given the first instruction, it was Moses who threw the soot in the air for God to create the boils, it was Moses who spoke to Pharaoh and raised his staff to cause the hail storm. Although Aaron was still present, God worked primarily through Moses in this chapter and Moses no longer made excuses that he wasn’t qualified for this role.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Moses gained confidence in God’s power to work through him after everything the Lord had showed him throughout the past chapters. He still had his brother’s help, but instead of giving direction in the background, he came out and led from the front.
Life Application
The Lord is able to work through anyone who says “Yes” to Him.
It doesn’t matter if we lack confidence, are slow of speech, feel like the task is too great for us to do, feel like we are not a good enough person, etc. When we put our faith and confidence in Him and His abilities, He will use us to do amazing things and He will eliminate the excuses. It is all about Him receiving the glory, honor and praise and not ourselves because we are His vessels. It’s all Him giving us the words to speak, giving us the desire to fulfill our call, giving us the gift of faith, giving us the desire to live a set apart life for Him and giving us the tools we need to accomplish the task. We just need to say yes to the call and he will supply everything we need to prepare us to fulfill that call.
-Michelle Gaddi
Exodus 8
Scripture
Exodus 8:15
“But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.”
Observation-What does it say?
Moses and Aaron go back to see Pharaoh to request that he let their people (the Israelites) go, so they could worship God. If these requests were not met, God would unleash a plague of frogs all over the land of Egypt. But the Pharaoh refused to listen to them. So, God instructed Moses to tell Aaron to raise his staff over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and to drive out all the frogs all over the land. So there were frogs literally everywhere! Although Pharaoh’s magicians were able to perform the same miracles with their magic, I think the plague of frogs became too unbearable for Pharaoh and his people. So Pharaoh called in Moses and Aaron, and begged them that they plead with their God to take away all the frogs from their land. Then he would let the Israelites go so they could worship their God. So Moses and Aaron did as Pharaoh requested. God brought relief from the plague of frogs from the land, but Pharaoh’s heart was still hardened. Once the relief from the plague of frogs came, he changed his mind, and reneged on his promise.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Don’t treat God like your personal “genie in a bottle”!
We can all get upset with Pharaoh in this story. We can all point the finger at his stubbornness, or how he keeps breaking his promises to Moses and Aaron. But before we start pointing our finger at how awful Pharaoh is, can we take a look in our own lives and see if we do the same thing? Are we ever in desperate need of something, and then all of a sudden seek God’s help? I mean here we are, a crisis hits us. Then all of a sudden we are worshipping and praising God day and night. We are suddenly seeking God daily. We are on fire for God! Then once those prayers are answered, we go back to our old ways, doing our own thing, and neglecting God (the One who answered our prayers). Why do we do that? Why do we treat God that way? It reminds me of a story of a man who is working on a high rise rooftop. This man loses his footing, and begins slipping down the slope of the rooftop. The man cries out to God for help. He says “God, if you save me from this catastrophe, I will worship you the rest of the days of my life!” And as the man says his prayer, his belt loop gets caught on a nail, and it stops him from sliding completely off this roof. The man gathers himself, and tells God “Never mind God. I got it.” Talk about missing the point! Just know this. God hears our prayers. God answers our prayers. He may have us wait on our requests, or even decline them at times, but God ultimately has His best intentions for His children-(Jeremiah 29:11). But let me encourage you to regularly seek God. Develop a close relationship with Him. Don’t treat Him like some genie in a bottle, only there at our beck and call. Then when God answers our prayers, we are quick to “stuff Him away back in that bottle”, and simply forget Him. No! Seek Him daily! Reflect on all the good things He has done. Use those answered prayers as stepping stones to build our faith so we can continue building our relationship with Him. Learn from the mistakes of Pharaoh and the man on the roof. Be faithful to God because He is always faithful to us.
Life Application
Being a disciple of Jesus takes discipline.
Set up a time and place to meet with God daily. Don’t just try to “wing it” and fit God around your schedule. Instead, have your schedule work around Him. Use that time and place to spend with God in prayer, reading His Word, and journaling (PB&J). (Personally, I like spending time with Him first thing in the morning when everyone is still asleep and the house is dead silent so I can focus). But make it a point to keep your appointment. Don’t just seek God when you need something. Seek God regularly. Seek Him through the good times as well as the bad times. He is always there for us willing to give us His best. Doesn’t He deserve ours?
-Moses Gaddi